Chapter 2

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Ron stood statured as his grooms carefully put parts of his armour on him. He was getting ready for another round of sword play. His Highness Ronald Weasley was a real athletic young man, very active and very strong. He succeeded in all lessons and training in sword play, defense plays, horseback, tennis and chess. It was always he who came in first and His Lordship Harrius who came in second. They had grown up as brothers and like true brothers there was always a little competiveness between them in sport.

Ron peered forward and noticed the peasant girl he had captured from the nearby town yesterday, Hermione Granger. She walked about in torn footwear, scabby clothes and her face drenched with sadness and exhaustion. Ron smirked lifting a hand as to tell the men to stop tending to him and leave him to himself. "Tell His Lordship I shall be a little late." He straightened his robes before approaching her. "My, my, aren't we looking delightful this afternoon?" Ron remarked. Hermione hadn't moved nor had she said anything. She stood her ground and kept her head and eyes bowed. "Why so glum? It is a great honour to be bestowed within the walls of Hogwarts."

"Please, Your Highness, Prince Ronald, I must return to my duties as instructed," she replied with a tremble in her voice.

Ron merely smiled and he placed his hands behind his back and began to circle her. "You see, my Father the King has given me permission to do as I please with you." Hermione's lip started to quiver as she heard that deep voice whisper into her ear and his hot breath pass her neck.

She was able to catch her own breath, "please, my Prince, please let me go. Please let me go back to my family who will suffer greatly if I do not return." Ron covered her mouth with his large hand.

"You should feel honoured, my Father, King Arthur, only captures the best." He now seductively ran his finger across her face, down her neck, past her chest until it stopped at the silver pendant that hung down her neck. Hermione tried to move away. He frowned at her attempt and yanked it off without snapping its joints. The sterling silver pendant had the initials H.G on it.

"Please don't."

"Now, where did this come from?" Ron asked examining it. "Have you nicked it? A person like you would never have something like this in their possession."

"M-My mother gave it to me," she said anxiously wanting it back, "Please, Your Highness, it's all I have of hers, please." Ron eyes turned from the pendant to look in her eyes. Hermione noticed in that moment he now looked at her with a mixture of sadness and anger. He dropped his hand to his side still holding the pendant in his hand. He glared and shook his head at her.

"You are such a fool...so naive," Hermione stood quietly now curious to know hear what the Prince would say next, "If you are no longer with your Mother, hasn't that told you quite enough? There is a reason that you are apart. There was no bond between a mother and child. No ties that bind and no chance of knowing..."

Hermione still had her head bowed, her eyes averted to the twiddling fingers. "I know why you say such things, my Prince. My Mother would often tell me stories of Her Majesty Queen Molly when I was girl. She was a wonderful woman."

WAM

Before she knew it, the Prince's backhand came into contact with her face causing her to flinch back and to cover her face to null the stinging she felt. "How dare you mention my Mother! You are in no position to speak before me!" Hermione had hot tears running down her face she stood still clutching her face in her hands. She softly whimpered into her hand.

Ron stormed off, but not before ordering that Hermione's work to be doubled that very afternoon even though he knew that his Father the King probably had plans for her. He pushed open the door to his chambers demanding that everyone leave him in peace. He stepped out onto the balcony where there bestowed a magnificent view of lake Gryffindor, the hills of every shade of green and mountains just beyond the fog. He stood there with his hands braced on the ledge just staring out into this painted picture; this is what he often did when he needed to clear his mind. Another painted picture stood over his head on the wall. A picture of the late Queen Molly in her royal robes of red and gold, a humble smile etched on her face.

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After what seemed like hours standing on the balcony alone, Ron shook out of his thoughts and left out of one of the secret passages in the chambers. What seemed like one of the normal walls was actually a door that was made for his protection and also for when he just did not feel like facing his everyday company. As he walked down past the pillars and corridors, past people who put their one foot before him to bow, he stopped by the entrance of the Great Hall. He peeks from the side of a pillar and notices his Father in conversation with Harrius' Father, His Lordship James Potter of Godric's Hollow and a man Ron had never seen before. The only thing that he knew for sure is the man was from Durmstrang, an empire North of Hogwarts. They hadn't always had an easy rapport with Hogwarts, mostly because of their ruler Igor Karkaroff and Ron has had his dealings with them in the past. He knew he didn't trust them to this day. He couldn't make out what his Father was discussing with the two men, but whatever it was, it was something that was to be kept within their small circle. Ron knew it was a matter of time before he would know what they were plotting as nothing ever stays quiet within the castle walls of Hogwarts. He brushed it off his shoulder and continued walking down the corridors. At this point he didn't really know where he was going, but he decided to follow his feet. They led him to one of the stables behind the castle. Horses were whining while being tended to, some women milked the cows while others fetched buckets of fresh milk into the barn house and cestas of various fruits and vegetables. Ron noticed how everyone working in the area avoided eye contact with him and tried to keep busy as he walked by. He noticed Hermione crouched down in the corner sweeping near the side of the barn. He approached her easy with his hands folded behind his back.

"Hermione?"

Startled, Hermione rose to her feet. "Your Highness." Ron noticed the red mark on her face from when he struck her.

"I will not harm you again...I've come to apologize, to ask your forgiveness for what I did."

Hermione shook her head, "Tis already forgotten, my Prince. I know that one's Mother can be a sensitive and hearty topic. I know how you feel."

Ron was now curious. He has never in his life met someone who's experienced a loss like he has. He for the first time examined Hermione not for her physical appearance which to him was a beautiful sight. She had these golden brown curls that went perfectly past her shoulders. And her chocolate brown eyes that matched her creamy white skin perfectly. This time he started to look at her from inside. "Would you care to join me for a walk around the grounds?"

Hermione looked a little unsure as she had an early experience of Ron's person. Plus she hadn't liked how he and his Father ruled Hogwarts; constantly putting power before their people, raising taxes, destroying land for their own condescending endeavours, not providing help to the poor and the ill. Hermione's surrogate Father, Roger would constantly grumble about the royals of Hogwarts. He for the life of him couldn't understand how Queen Molly could be disgraced in such a way. How they could be so cold-hearted and selfish. But Hermione wasn't the one to not open up to a person and getting to know them better. "Alright then, Your Highness."

She and Ron went strolling among the grounds. It was beautifully structured with plants and flowers of all sorts and colours. There was a beautiful fountain in the center with blue waters reflecting from the sky. Pigeons and doves circled around it drinking, bathing and flapping joyfully. "What has happened to your Mother, Hermione?"

"I-I honestly don't know, my Prince," said Hermione, "I-..." Hermione closed her eyes and took a breath. Ron could tell it pained her to talk about this. For some reason it bothered him to see her like that. She was beautiful and suddenly got the urge to wrap his broad arms around her and embrace her. But then he shook the feelings off as she found her courage to continue her tale. "I was not born at Hogwarts, Your Highness, I was born in a village called Hogsmeade, far east. I do remember my Mother would often tell me stories of Hogwarts, King Arthur and Queen Molly. Then one night our village was raided and I was snatched up and taken away from my Mother."

Ron stopped walking and turned to her, "Do you know if she's still alive?"

"I-I don't know…before I go to sleep every night I pray that she is alive and well…still thinking of me." Hermione was now close to tears. "I was taken in by some elders, a lovely couple…they are my parents. I miss them…" A wave of guilt now ran through Ron as he realized that he had taken her away from the only family she has left. He reached for her hand, but she quickly took it back. "If you please, Your Highness, I must get back to work."

He stood silent in daze just watching her. His feet shuffled before sighing and nodding, "Very well then, but before you go-…" Ron reached into his robes and pulled out her pendant and placed it in her hand. "I believe that belongs to you, ." Hermione immediately smiled as she saw her pendant. Ron thought it was nice to her smile. He felt a churn in his stomach as their fingers touched. Hermione indeed felt it too as she stood with the handsome Prince of Hogwarts. "You are dismissed from your duties. You may retire to your room." As Ron walked away, Hermione couldn't help but smile. She realized that the Prince was not a bad in person as many gossiped him to be.

As Ron walked back down the sides of the castle he was met by a galloping white horse. Harrius came riding through wanting to know where his Prince had gotten to. "I don't believe the Prince has ever been this delayed. Have you finally swerved your talents against yours truly?"

"I apologize, mate," Ron patted the horse, "I…there was something that needed taking care of."

Harrius hopped off his horse so he could talk to the Prince properly. "Are you alright, Ronald?"

"I just have times where I think about my Mother," said Ron, "I wish I could've had a chance to-…"

Harrius rubbed his shoulder, "Yes I know…I know."