Title: The Prince and the Pauper

Author: louisaeve

Rating: T

Summary: Hermione is nothing but the local dressmakers daughter, but when the Queen regent sweeps into her mother store, she finds herself suddenly and abruptly engaged to the heir to Avalie, the heir prince, Draco Malfoy.

Characters: Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Blaise Zabini, Lavender Brown, Ginny Weasley, Narcissa Malfoy


Day 50 - Part One ~ The Arrival at Hogwarts

Hermione felt herself being woken up by her mother, who shook her awake.

"What is it?" She asked, before her mind flickered back to the events of yesterday. The Queen. The betrothal. Her fathers face lighting up ('an honour for for our family Hermione!'). The carriage that had been ordered to pick her up the next morning. This morning.

Of course her father had accepted the proposal. Why wouldn't he? A marriage between his daughter and the heir to the throne? He'd have to be insane not to accept.

And so the dressmakers daughter was going to the castle to be wed.

"Get up!" Mrs Granger shook her head, and pulled the linens from around Hermione, exposing her nightdress, and causing her to jump up and head towards the box that held her clothes. "We need to pack your things!"

Hermione quickly stripped out of her worn nightdress, before quickly pulling her under clothes on and then her best dress, a dark (practical) velvet thing, with a slim lined skirt, and worn thin under the shoulders.

The pair quickly worked through the room, collecting Hermione's few possessions that were of value.

The chest of clothing was soon topped off with her soap, her comb and her repair kit, needles and thread etc. A pair of scissors with worn handles that had been hers since birth.

"Come here and let me do your hair," Mrs Granger pulled Hermione by her arm to bring her closer to her body, more robust now, certainly bigger than Hermione's, and yet an observer needn't look far to see where Hermione got her figure.

Mrs Granger picked up the comb, and pulled it through Hermione's hair, tugging it through the knots, in a way so familiar, that she couldn't help but remember being in this situation a hundred other times throughout her childhood.

And all of a sudden she heard a gasp, and felt it lift from her own lips, as tears filled her eyes. Was she merely going to head to a marriage she did not want, that she did not know? How was it fair that she was being forced into this, with no warning, no opinion? She felt like she was a toy, now fresh and bright, handed from her creators, the painter and the carpenter, to a spoilt child, who would play with her until she was worn and tired and abused, and would then cast her aside in favour of a brighter, fresher toy.

"Shh," her mother stroked her cheek as she pulled her hair into an elaborate bun that the women of the high court seemed to be favouring now a days. "Shh, it's okay. I'll see you soon. Very soon."

"I shall miss you," Hermione threw her arms around her mother, and hugged her close, allowing Mrs Grangers arms to fit around her shoulders as she hid her face into her shoulders, feeling like a child comforted at night, her mother chasing away the nightmares.

"And I will too," Mrs Granger pressed a kiss to Hermione's chestnut hair, with merged against her own, straighter hair. "It will be okay. We will see each other soon, and Her Grace has promised she will make sure you are taken care of."

"Of course," Hermione pulled herself away from her mothers chest. "The carriage will be here soon," and sure enough they could hear the faint sound of the horses outside, alerting them of the fact that the horses and carriages had indeed arrived.

A man employed by the castle and it's reigning family hurried into Hermione's (ex) room, and upon Mrs Grangers direction, picked up the chest that held all of her life possessions, and hurried out to the carriage, where as Hermione and her mother made their way out, past the boutique, which ought to be opened soon, where a woman garbed in a dark green stood, her hair pulled back firmly, in a way almost exceedingly unfashionable, with a face that showed age.

"Mrs Granger," the woman nodded and turned her gaze to Hermione. "Miss Granger. I am Lady McGonagall and I am here to take Miss Granger to the castle."

"Yes," Mrs Granger smiled half heartedly, and ran a hand over her hair. "Yes, she's here."

"Shall we be going then?" Lady McGonagall raised an eyebrow, which Hermione could observe had been perfectly plucked, much like the rest of the court ladies who occasionally ventured into town.

Mrs Granger ran a hand down Hermione's face and hugged her close. "My beautiful, darling, baby girl," she whispered into her ear. "You shall be a fine wife for the prince. He shall be mad not to love you."

Hermione allowed a smile to arch over her face, and pushed all thoughts of the prince far from her mind, and instead focused on the beautiful castle she would soon be living in, as she waved to a couple of gaping children who were standing in the sun outside the bakery, as the rest of the townsfolk hurried about their business, too busy to care about the carriage or the lady in it, or having decided in their mind that Hermione and her mother must simply be continuing with their dressmaking business.

"Bye," Hermione said, the word falling too simply, too easily from her lips, to show what she truly thought. "Tell father I will miss him and I hope to see him soon," she thought of Mr Granger, who had left to look at a house on the other side of town, to fix the roof or the floor this morning.

"Of course," her mother smiled, "Now hurry on. You can't keep the Queen waiting."

Hermione smiled weakly and allowed the man who had carried bags to help her up into the plain carriage, obviously designed for supposed discretion. Lady McGonagall continued in after her, and seated herself directly opposite her, nestling against the plush red cushioned seats. After the door was closed up, and Hermione realised that the carriage had the faint odour of horses and wine, the carriage started moving, and Hermione waved frantically goodbye to her mother, who had brushed a tear away from her cheek, triggering Hermione's eyes to gather their own. She turned away, and hid then from Lady McGonagall, who was watching her with interest.

"Hermione is it?" Lady McGonagall asked.

"Yes my lady," Hermione turned back to her.

"My lady? Soon you shall be Queen. Calling me my lady is improper. You will be above me in a short time."

Hermione looked up at her. "Yes . . ." she trailed off, unsure what to call her.

"Just Lady McGonagall, not my lady," Lady McGonagall said once more. "You are to be wed in fifty days."

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "I know."

"That isn't long," Lady McGonagall looked her over once more. "But I think that you're smart and you can fight your way through the court."

Hermione felt her gut wrench. Fighting her way? She didn't want to fight. She'd prepared her entire life to take over her mothers position in town. Her nice, comfortable position, where there was no fighting of any sort.

"You will be fine for now," Lady McGonagall nodded. "The Queen has evidently taken her under her protection."

Hermione turned away and settled for ignoring her. She was weary and excited and nervous and happy and sad all at the same time and it was horrible. This was the first time she wished she could go home, although it certainly wouldn't be the last.


"Welcome Miss Granger," the man from before, who Hermione had decided to call a footman (although she wasn't quite sure if that was the proper use of the term), helped her out of the carriage, as the day began to noon. It was sunny and bright, and in the light of the day, the castle looked quite pleasant, surrounded by gardens with roses and other flowers decorating them. "To Hogwarts."

"Thank you," she smiled, her smile spreading wide.

"Miss Granger," Lady McGonagall led the way to the castles entrance, where a butler stood waiting, and bowed as the pair neared, the former picking up her notably heavier skirts, as they made a rustling sound, reminiscent of the sound of wind blowing through the dry leaves of autumns trees.

They walked through the castles hall, where a couple of maids stood cleaning, and small groups of noblemen and women stood, talking. Immediately their eyes seemed to catch over Hermione, taking in her clothes and styled hair, and her lack of make up. She was quite certain that she heard one whisper to another "Is that a new maid?" only for the other to reply that she was the cheap downtown bride of the prince. Hermione's cheeks flushed and she followed Lady McGonagall quickly down the hall, as she alighted a flight of stairs, only to continue on, until the reached a portrait with a door next to it, and two guards at the door.

"My Lady," the guards bowed, and moved back, their leather feet moving quickly against the stone floor, as Hermione took in with large eyes the swords that swung at their belt, pointy and sharp and decidedly dangerous.

Lady McGonagall nodded and led Hermione into a large room, which was well lit by the large windows, whose elaborate and heavy curtains had been pulled back. There was a fire going in the fireplace, despite it not being too cold, and comfortable armchairs and bookshelves spread throughout the room, as well as a few young gentlemen and ladies, talking and chatting in the room, talking amoungst themselves and reading books, or poetry, or a couple of ladies embroidering pieces of fabric in bright colours.

Their eyes once again flitted over to her, and Hermione ducked her head, as the young women, each dressed brighter and more flamboyantly than the last, muttered and whispered to one another.

Blushing, Hermione followed Lady McGonagall up a staircase, which led to a set of doors, where a few guards stood watch.

"The majority of the courts ladies who are unwed stay in these rooms," Lady McGonagall pointed out. "However you have been given a suite to yourself until you are wed, as the future Queen."

"Yes," Hermione said, at loss of what else to say, before Lady McGonagall pushed the door open, and Hermione was led into a room more decadent than she could of imagined. There was a four poster bed in a bright red, with a large silk pillows resting on it as well as a faint pink printed quilt, a large wardrobe, hand carved, a wooden desk with writing equipment on it, a bookshelf with a collection of tomes in it and a wash basin and a mirror.

"Now, you will be expected at dinner, so I will arrange for a maid to be sent up with a lunch tray, and another will help you dress for dinner, before I return to take you to dinner," and with that Lady McGonagall left the room.


Hello again! Quick update eh? Anyway I really hope some more people will review and tell me what they think (hint, hint) and then maybe I will see whether or not this is actually worth continuing? IDK if anyone is really interested. But how did you like my portrayal of Hermione? McGonagall? Hopefully we shall see some Draco in the next chapter or two (definitely on the list) and Queen Narcissa will make an appearance, along with some of our favourites, including the Weasley's, our favourite Potter and the ever charming Blaise Zabini. Please do however tell me what you think and also thanks to those who did previously review! Much love all the way from Australia, Louisa xx