For a Loaf of Bread
Chapter 1
By: hermioneeeeeee
A/N: THIS STORY IS SET AROUND THE MEDIEVAL TIME PERIOD.
Hermione slowly crept towards the stall. No one could see her in the crowded street. She sidestepped a suspicious person and gave them an innocent smile. With that, she snatched the loaf of bread and dashed away as inconspicuously as possible. Phew.
"Hey! Did you pay for that?" a vendor sneered.
"Yes, yes. Of course." Hermione stammered.
"I suppose you wouldn't mind if I asked what your name was."
"Penelope-"
"Don't let her lies get through to you. It's her, the one on the wanted poster." a royal guard said, gesturing to the paper in his hand. Hermione swore.
"You know that King Malfoy will want to see this young lady." the guard continued triumphantly.
"Ah, I thought she looked familiar." the vendor nodded.
"You," the guard said, pointing at Hermione, "Come with me."
Hermione darted away as fast as possible which was not fast enough.
"Ha! Nice try! Or, rather, not-so-nice try. You'll have to run faster than that, peasant!" the guard laughed, grabbing hold of Hermione's tangled hair. He yanked her the whole way to Malfoy Castle, Hermione struggling the whole time. After about five minutes of walking, pushing, and pulling, they arrived. The dark façade of the castle made Hermione gulp every time, especially now that she knew that she had been caught.
"Sire, the criminal has been captured."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Thank you. Put her into the dungeons. Now." King Malfoy drawled. The guard did some more pulling and tugging and then the two were in the dungeons.
"You are to stay in here until further notice. Don't even try escaping, nothing you can do will work." the guard said, bored. He tossed her into an empty cell and left.
"I'm so sorry! I really am! I'm trying, honestly, I am. I know you can't hear me, Mum and Dad, but I wish you could. I wish you could." Hermione cried. Her tears fell onto the ground and made dark trails in the stone. Ever since her parents had died, Hermione had been alone and a fugitive. Her house had been burned so nobody else could catch the disease, making Hermione homeless in the process. They had not made much money, all that they had had been taken away by the tax collectors, so Hermione was poor too. Nobody wanted a girl without parents to work for them so, that left Hermione with two options. Be a beggar on the streets or be a criminal and steal your way through life. Obviously, Hermione had chosen the latter and it had worked so far. She had always been able to escape, why not this time? Hermione wiped her eyes as she saw a guard come near.
"King Malfoy requests your presence."
Hermione stood by the cell door as he unlocked it. He tied her hands behind her back and led her through to the main hall. Hermione eyed the paintings, sculptures, and other fine art. It wasn't fair that the rich people got absolute luxury and the poor were starving and dying! The guard stopped abruptly, shoved Hermione into the room, and left bowing. King and Queen Malfoy were sitting upon their thrones, as well as their son: Prince Draco Malfoy. Hermione stared at them.
"Aren't you going to curtsy?" Queen Malfoy asked. Hermione obeyed and then waited for a response.
"Better." she said.
"Hermione Jean Granger, criminal accused of theft. Your parents died and left you houseless and poor. Am I right?" King Malfoy asked curtly.
"Yes." Hermione said, wishing that she could talk back.
"Your sentence is torture. However, it has not been decided when yet. You are to stay in the dungeon until a certain date has been confirmed." King Malfoy said monotonously. Hermione bit her lip. Torture? The whole village would see her die! It was horrible. Hermione tried not to cry but found it difficult. She was led back to her cell to brood over her unfortunate fate.