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Chapter 2: The Girl From the Woods
"How is she doing Madam Pomfrey?"
"Mother what happens now, will the Prince delay his visit here?"
A buzz of voices pound inside my head as I try to crack my eyes open; but the pain in my head is so severe; it seems I will never be able to fully open them. From the side of my eye, I can make out blurry figures near me. The healer, Father, Celine... Harry is nowhere to be seen.
A cold wave of dread washes over me as I fully begin to comprehend where I am. I am back in my room at the castle, meaning Harry must have gotten me back and if he got me back he must have had to tell Father where we actually were. The punishment for endangering the Lord's daughter, even if she has gone with her own consent, is no small one. It is probable that he would lose his knighthood, or at worst, suffer banishment. No, father would not do that to Harry, I console myself.
"Hermione, darling are you awake?" I strain my eyes open and find myself looking into the bright green eyes of my mother. There is no anger there, only concern.
I nod my head, the splitting headache robbing my tongue of words.
"Oh for Heaven's sake, give the child some Laudanum" I silently thank the Lord for sending us Madam Pomfrey, who for her all fussy ways, could never bear to see anyone in pain.
"Darling, you need to rest, I'm going to go down to the kitchens and make sure Sir. Harry gets something to eat; poor boy's been waiting all night to hear news of your health. We owe your life to him, he must be properly thanked."
I blink at my mother in confusion, what did he tell them? Oh well, whatever it was, he was safe and I was saved from a lifetime of tedious knitting lessons.
"Hermione, did you really see the Prince? How was he?" my sister's voice trills.
"Celine, this is hardly the time to be quizzing your sister on Prince Draco's looks, I'm sure he is a perfectly decent looking fellow" my father's stern voice interrupts.
"Oh Father but do you think he will still come? The servants told me he seemed furious at their delay in procuring horses for him and his friends"
"Darling, they are coming tonight, the King himself has informed me of his arrival, so if you would stop taxing Hermione with these questions she would be able to recover peacefully."
A dreamy look comes into Celine's eyes as she nods her head in agreement and rushes from the room. This was typical Celine, so absorbed in her own thoughts no one else mattered. Not that I particularly minded of course, the laudanum was taking effect and the absence of her shrill voice was a welcome relief.
"Hermione, you are not to go riding in the woods with Harry any longer, do I make myself clear?"
I gulp. Father knows, Harry's story might have fooled my mother and sister, but Father was too smart to fall for the rouse.
"Since you were a little girl, I have encouraged you in pursuing whatsoever it is your heart desires, but I demand that you do not sneak out to go riding with Sir Harry, however capable an equestrian you are. You could have died Hermione, can you comprehend that?"
His voice shakes at the end and I feel a terrible guilt rising in my belly.
"You have disappointed me greatly. I now ask just one thing of you: that you behave properly in the presence of King Lucius and Prince Draco, do not give them a reason to shame us, for it is now a question of your sister's future."
With that, he sweeps out of the room and I am left in silence to ponder the damage I have wrought. I determine to never go behind his back again, and steel myself for giving up what I value so dearly – my freedom. With that depressing thought, I drift into a listless slumber.
It seems not much later that a voice beckons me to wake up. I pretend not to hear it, clinging to the vestiges of peaceful slumber. It is only when I feel a strong hand on my forehead that I open my eyes - staring directly into Harry's sapphire orbs.
"Hermione, how are you feeling? I've been worried sick about you" the lines on his face concur with the statement. He seems to have aged overnight.
"Harry, I'm fine now, but please leave my bedchambers before anyone comes in and we land in further trouble"
His face relaxes immediately. "When did you start caring about propriety? Anyhow, do not worry yourself, your parents are downstairs and I've told your maid to keep a watch out in case anyone wanders nearby."
The tension coiling up in my stomach eases.
"Go on then, what story did you tell them?"
"Just that you had gone to pick some flowers for your hair, and as the most beautiful ones grow deepest in the wood, you ventured too far, into unfamiliar parts, where the terrain was unknown to you. Here, you slipped on a vine and hit your head on a rock. Luckily for you, I was riding nearby and discovered you not long after."
I stare at him in disbelief. "And they believed this crock of cow dung?"
He smirks in response. "I doubt your father did, but it worked well enough on your mother and sister. Though I have to add, your sister was not pleased to have to care for you instead of preparing herself for the Prince."
The prince, I had almost forgotten he was coming to the castle tonight. "That man near the hedge, he was Prince Draco, was he not?"
Harry's gaze darkens. "Yes, the Pompous git nearly killed you, but acted like we had greatly inconvenienced him instead."
A vision of a gold haired man with steely grey eyes swims in front of my eyes. "What was he doing there anyway, in the middle of the woods?"
"Hunting. Turns out the great Prince and his crew of fools were dissatisfied with the festivities provided by the Lords of Vayloth, so they took it upon themselves to hunt down wretched animals for amusement instead." I can hear the barely concealed anger in Harry's voice – it was against the laws of Emmeria to hunt animals for jest.
"But why was he standing near the hedge then? Shouldn't he have been on his horse?"
"His horse took lame. He sent his fools back to procure another ride for him but turns out they got delayed. He killed the poor animal Hermione, she could have been fixed, but he just killed her." His voice quivers and I can tell he is exerting himself to not fall into a rage.
So, the Prince was even worse than the stories. Not only was he pompous and selfish, he was cruel as well. I shiver inwardly as I remember his cool gaze; his eyes were not those of a forgiving man. Again, I am glad that it is Celine who must make this match, for the thought of having to face him again makes me feel nauseous.
"You must rest now, Hermione, I'm sorry to have taxed your mind with his cruelties, I'll see you tonight at the feast." He takes my hand and softly kisses my wrist. Something he's never done before. It gives me goose bumps.
I close my eyes as he leaves, but sleep evades me as soon as I fall into its slippery grasp, as Mother soon nudges me awake.
"Darling you must get ready for the feast; it will be ill fitting if you are not there."
I groan inwardly, wishing to be anywhere but here. But I made father a promise and I would not let him down so easy.
"Okay mother, I'm getting up."
"I've gotten out one of my special gowns for you. It might be a little loose but I think it should suit you just fine." Ah, of course, Celine was supposed to be the centre of attention tonight, not me. It mattered little to me, because unlike Celine, I cared naught about beautiful gowns and grand jewels.
"Oh Darling, and please try and stay on your best behaviour tonight. It is imperative your sister make a good impression on Prince Draco." Another plea to not embarrass my family, was I really that out of control?
I nod my head in silence as my hand maid starts dressing me in a gown of gauze pink silk. My head is still throbbing, though it is now more of a dull ache than a migraine. Another unwelcome thought enters my head, what if Prince Draco announces at dinner that it was I he saw riding in the woods? Mother would never live down the embarrassment. He wouldn't, what would be the point? I reassure myself.
"You actually look human" Celine's snide voice interrupts my thoughts. I gaze back at her; she is resplendent in a chiffon gown trimmed with silver lace, every bit a princess. The rubies dripping from her ears and neck are a reminder of just how serious this occasion is. Mother never lets us wear those.
"You look lovely Celine" I say stiffly, irritated at her lack of concern for my health.
"Here, I've bought you mother's pearls. She says you are to wear them with your gown. Though I can't see why, the Prince will have eyes only for me tonight." I give a resigned sigh, poor Celine, if only she knew what she was in for.
"All the girls in the castle are impatient with excitement to see him, though they know they cannot have him, he is meant for me only." A glazed look comes over her face.
"Oh, for god sakes Celine, you haven't even met the man yet. He might look like a god, but what of his person? What kind of a man is he?" I cannot resist saying.
"Your just jealous he isn't coming to see you" I sigh, there is no point talking to Celine, only harsh reality will awaken her to see that the castle of dreams she has constructed is made of thin air.
"You look lovely, Madam" Harriot whispers into my ear as she finishes pulling my hair into a sleek up do.
"Thank you Harriot" I smile, at least someone is on my side.
"Yes, yes, it'll do, now we must go down, the Prince is almost here." Celine chides. An icy fear splashes over me, as I hope against hope that he doesn't recognize me.
Linking her arm in mine, Celine guides me downstairs into the Great Hall. It is decked to impress, with fresh roses entwined around the marble pillars. It is like stepping into a fairy tale, a world of enchantment. Lights wink at me from the suspended ceiling, with tiny crystals hanging from them. A banner of red velvet embroidered with a golden flag hangs over the entrance, our kingdom's flag. The sultry scents of honeysuckle, tuberose and tulips hang fresh in the air, sharpening my senses and elevating my grey mood. Mother has outdone herself.
"Isn't it beautiful? The perfect place for our first meeting" Celine whispers into my ear. And our second meeting, I think to myself.
"Ah girls, both of you look lovely, you're just in time, the King and his riders have just entered through the Gates." Father holds out his hands to both of us and clasping them, we take our place beside him. My stomach churns with anxiety as I see the royal banner come into view; God please let him not remember me.
"Hermione, that's him at the far end, he's unreal" my sister trills. I avert my gaze to the ground, unwilling to give him the benefit of finding me out easily.
"Look at that face; he's even more handsome than the tales say - a real life Grecian God" I bite my tongue, willing myself not to make a harsh comment on Celina's idolatry of the pompous Prince.
"Oh God, he's getting down from his horse, I think I'm ready to faint."
I steel myself; I must be a proud princess. He was, after all, the one that callously left me injured rather than help Harry take me back to the castle. Yes, it is he who should be ashamed.
I finally lift my gaze as the King enters the Hall. With a patrician face and wispy gold hair, he seems untouched by age. He waits for us to bow to him, after which he politely exchanges greetings with Father. The Queen is nowhere to be seen, there were rumours that she was estranged from the King, but mother had put them down as vile gossip.
I feel Celine tense next to me, and I know my moment of reckoning is here. Right behind his father, emerges Prince Draco. The gossips for once, are true. He is breath-taking. His golden hair shines in the light, highlighting his velvety grey eyes. As he kisses mother's hand, I can fully see the power of his lithe, masculine form. But, on the masklike, chiseled, haughtily angular planes of his face is stamped a ruthless nobility that makes me shiver.
"Princess, it would be right to say that the reports of your beauty are duly unjust. You are far prettier than they all say." He drawls in a haughty voice as Celine quivers with excitement. Kissing her hand, he starts turning back towards the King, who is still conversing with father, when his eyes alight upon me.
I struggle to keep calm, gluing a passive smile onto my face. However, now there is no laughter on his face, no cordial resolve, he narrows his eyes and it reminds me of a cat in front of a mouse hole. I feel like a criminal waiting to be arrested, every step he takes towards me sets my heart pounding with a guilty fear.
"Ah Princess, how lovely to meet you as well" he finally says, his sensual mouth curving into a sardonic smile. He motions towards my hands, and I instantly clamp them to my sides. It is only the blazing look in his eyes that makes me hesitantly offer one to him. It is not protocol to kiss the hand of younger sisters, and Celine's puzzled smile is not lost on me.
I nod mutely; glad to have gotten the confrontation over with. His gaze flickers over me once more and I know he recognizes me as the girl from the woods.
"Come now, our honorable guests must be hungry. We have prepared a fine feast for them and they must not be kept waiting" Father announces. I give an inward sigh of relief; I need no longer be plagued with Prince Draco's withering glances. He offers his arm to Celine and she floating in a cloud of dreams, takes it with a lost look on her face. She is already in love.
"So, first impressions of the Grand Prince?" Harry's voice whispers into my ear. I reel back to see Harry decked out in his knight's armour. He offers his arm to me and I take it, happy to have his silent strength to lean on.
"The man looks like he's never smiled a day in his life" Harry laughs.
"Really, I thought you too would fall under the spell of his beauty" I laugh in response, but am taken aback to see Harry's unsmiling face. He's being serious, I realize.
"Oh please, he's beautiful enough, but that kind of beauty is better observed from a distance, plus he's haughtier than his father, and that's saying something." I feel Harry visibly relax.
As we reach the dinner table, I am thankful to know that I am seated on the opposite end of the table, far away from the Prince and close to Harry. As Cook brings out one elaborate course after another, I begin to feel all the tension of the day ebb away as I realize the Prince will not say anything of my escapade, at least not today. He barely spares me a glance as he talks animatedly to Celine, who like a lost puppy, hangs on to his every word. Though to be fair, all the young ladies at the table are also busy staring at him, tittering softly at his jokes and praising his qualities. The whole thing makes me quite ashamed of my sex.
I decide to ignore them best as possible, instead conversing with Harry on the latest goings on in the Kingdom of Vayloth. The kingdom of Vayloth was governed by the Weasley Clan, and as their treasuries had run dry, it seemed they were desperate to marry their daughter, Ginny Weasley to a rich neighbouring Prince.
"Why didn't they dangle her after Prince Draco" I say softly. "He'd be the answer to all their problems."
"They did I think. Apparently he wasn't interested at all, and why would he be, when he could have the daughter of one of the richest lords in the land instead?" I look at Celina, sorry that she is to be bartered in this way. But, I do not feel too bad because judging from the worshipping look on her face; she wouldn't have it any other way.
It is then that I notice the Prince's penetrating glance. He is not looking at Celine, but me. His lips curve upwards, in a smirk only I can see. It is like a cold bucket of water has been doused over me, is he hinting that he is about to tell my sister of the truth of what happened today?
A moment later, I almost think I imagined it because he is again deep in conversation with Celine.
Dinner is now over and I decide I need a breath of fresh air, away from the Prince's suffocating presence.
"Harry, I'm going to go out on the terrace for a bit, it's too stuffy in here." He looks at me with concern.
"Is your health fine? I can ask one of the maids to take you upstairs instead"
"No, no, I'll be fine, I'll be back in a little while, just make sure poor Sir. Thomas doesn't drink himself to death." I say, gesturing towards the inebriated man on Harry's right.
He gives me an odd smile as I turn to walk towards the terrace. The revelries are still going on in full swing and I know our parents will be satisfied with tonight's feast. I also managed to keep from ruining them, I think sardonically, as the warm summer breeze splays itself across my face.
I close my eyes, thinking of running through the woods, feeling the soft gross under my feet, the stream bubbling near the hedge and the trees blooming with wild flowers. Only a few more days and everything will be back to normal, I'll apologize to father and with his consent return back to my old routine. I stand outside for what is probably a quarter hour, but I know my absence will soon be noted. Ah, the pitfalls of being a princess.
I turn around and begin walking towards the doorway when a hand suddenly clamps down upon my arm and pulls me into the darkness underneath the balcony. "What in Heaven's name…." I start; ready to shower the man with a string of harsh expletives. However, even in the darkness, I see his feral grey eyes gleaming at me. I am in the iron clasp of the devil himself – Draco Malfoy.
