Chapter One

The sun shone through the beautiful stained-glass window of the remodeled convent as Hermione Granger kneeled before the praying candles. The convent was one of her favorite places to pray and meditate when she was on holiday with her family in France. Not only was it quiet and peaceful, it was also rumored to once house Mary, Queen of Scots from the age of six until she was fifteen in 1557.

She spread her hands to straighten out her new dress robes. When she had spotted the canary, yellow dress made of chiffon, lace, and silk at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions in the store window, she had instantly fallen in love with it. When she first tried them on she felt like Belle from Beauty and the Beast in her yellow ballgown, who was her favorite Disney princess because their shared love for books and knowledge.

While she normally didn't wear dress robes and dresses, whenever she went to Mass or a church she felt the need to, out of respect and reverence. She did have church acquaintances that dressed only to impress others and cater to their vanity, but Hermione had no intention of doing so. Her main purpose in going to Mass, or any church, was to worship.

She lit a candle and sent a prayer for her parents. While they had been proud of her achievements at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and were bemused by her 'oddities' when she was younger, she knew because of their religion a part of them still worried for her. She felt her 10 and three quarters long vine wood, dragon heartstring core wand hidden beneath her dress robes and her Time Turner laying across her chest, the only two things that could place her as a witch if a person knew what they were. She knew that witchcraft was against her religion, but she didn't see it as a choice because she was born with magic. Even when she was little, there was no preventing what her untamed magic would do. She also wore her golden catholic cross today. She had gotten it when her grandmother on her father's side died last month, and she vowed to wear it, not only as a representation of her religion, but also as a representation of her Muggle family.

She lit another candle and sent a prayer for her best friend, Harry Potter. He always seemed to find trouble… well, as of the last two years trouble seemed to find him. With addition to herself and their friend Ronald Weasley. She lit a candle for him too. Just as she went to light a candle for her beloved American cousin, Spencer Reid, she heard footsteps and paused. Whoever was walking must have heard Hermione's soft murmuring stop, because they stopped what they were doing as well.

She looked up from the candles and peered over her shoulder, "Is anyone there?"

There was no answer. Perhaps It was a nun walking down the hallway to her office. Hermione lit the candle for her cousin, praying for him to have the strength when his mother had her schizophrenic episodes. At that thought, she lit a candle for her aunt, Diane Reid. The sound of footsteps continued and grew closer. Hermione quietly got up, a sense of foreboding and danger overcoming her. She quickly went to the side of a confessional booth and hid.

The sound of the footsteps stopped at the doorway and she heard a dark harsh, male voice mutter, "Where'd she bloody go? I was told Potter's Mudblood would be here."

She didn't recognize the voice, but she instantly felt sick to her stomach. To her knowledge the only wizards and witches who called Muggle-borns 'Mudbloods' were pureblood extremists. The fact that this wizard had sought her out because she was also Harry's friend, did bode well for her. Could he possibly be a Death Eater? She had read about them in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century. She didn't even know they were still in operation.

She looked around the room, knowing she had to get away. She spotted another door across the room, but she knew it led to the roof. She peered over the corner of the confessional and saw that the stranger was blocking the exit. He was wearing black robes. Covering his face was a terrifying whitish silver mask with high cheek bones and very few designs, except around the eyes, which were shadowed black. The door to the roof was her only hope.

Sending a quick prayer, she took off, her heart racing along with her feet when she heard the man chase after her with an irritated yell. Once she made it through the door she slammed it in the wizards face to give her extra time as she ran up the winding stairs. When she made it to the roof, she hid behind a pillar.

"Come out you Mudblood bitch!" His voice was close by and she could hear the tiredness behind it.

This told her he was an older dark wizard.

Her heart was still beating frantically as she looked around for a way to reach safety. She, Harry, and Ron had been in dangerous situations before, but not against a Death Eater. This man had to be one, which meant that they were planning something terrible, as they were followers of Voldemort. She had no idea who else would be an enemy of Harry, with an extension to herself and Ron. With that thought she desperately hoped her boys were safe.

Hermione looked to the ledge across the roof and saw a newly installed ladder. If she could get to the parking lot, she could get lost in the crowd. She thought about fighting back, but there were too many Muggles below and she didn't want to get expelled.

"My speed never failed me before," she muttered before she ran towards the ladder.

Just as she was about to make it to the ladder, she heard a shout of "Expulso!" and blue light coming her way. She never heard the spell before, but she had a feeling it was worse than a hex. She went to duck, but to her dismay she felt the curse hit her in the chest, her Time Turner probably saving her life. The force of the hit was too great as she fell, hitting her head on the ledge of the roof before toppling over the side. She was disoriented as she fell, seeing a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes and sounds, as well as feeling pain in her head, neck and chest.

Before she hit the ground, for some reason she heard the sound of galloping horses and a woman say, "Mary, you are the Queen of Scotland."

Even though she landed grass, it was still hard as she felt pain shoot down her arms, back and legs. Just as she was about to look to the two women standing before her, the pain became unbearable and her world went dark.

HGHGHG

When she woke up, Hermione felt dull pain in her arms and legs and had a massive headache. Confused when she heard horses galloping, she opened her eyes to see a very pretty, dark brown-haired girl watching her.

She wore a beautiful silver flowered headband with a few pearls in her hair and dangling earrings. Over her stone blue dress was a lovely red velvet cloak and hood with a diamond embroidered silver clasp. The girl wore very light makeup and her light brown eyes shining bright.

Hermione lifted her hand to her head and wince at the pain and pulled away, looking down to see blood on her palm, "Bloody hell…"

"I decided to bring you with me because the care at the castle is far better than the convent," the young lady told Hermione, her voice soft but confident. "You took quite a fall from the roof, though I have no idea why you were up there. Or how you even came to be here as I've never seen you before."

Hermione arched an eyebrow at her and sat up gently. The girl seemed to be her age and she looked familiar, though the witch could not place her.

She looked down and to her horror her face turned white when she discovered that her Time Turner had broken, "Bloody hell!"

"A curious necklace," the girl leaned closer to Hermione from her seat across the witch. "Was it important?"

Hermione looked up, "What is the date?"

The other girl smiled, "August 28, 1557, of course."

The witch felt her heart pounding in her ears and suddenly felt lightheaded.

She put her head between her knees and took a few deeps breaths muttering, "This is bad. It's all wrong. What am I going to do?"

The girl put a hand on Hermione's shoulder, her voice holding worry, "Are you well?"

Hermione took another deep breath and looked back up to the Muggle, "I'm sorry. I've been rude. Thank you for bringing me along for help. I'm Hermione Granger. And you are?"

The girl sat back in her seat, confusion on her face, "You don't know who I am?"

The witch blinked, "… Am I supposed to?"

She shook her head, "No, I just didn't expect it. I'm Mary Stuart."

Hermione stuttered, "… Mar… Stu…. Queen of Scotland?" She looked around, noticing for the first time that they were in a carriage. "1557. We're on our way to French Court."

Mary smiled, "Of course. What other nearby castle would I be talking about?" The sudden sound of trumpet filled the air, marking their arrival and causing further discomfort to Hermione's headache. "Speaking of, I believe we are here," She looked over Hermione and frowned. "You need a cloak. I hate to cover that interesting but beautiful dress, but there are bruises on your arms." The witch watched as the queen opened a trunk next to them and pulled out a royal blue cloak, "Here you are. You can keep it."

It was so soft and beautiful with a silver Scottish coat of arms clasp.

Hermione felt her heart swell with the kindness this stranger was sharing, "Thank you so much.

As she pulled on the cloak, Mary watched her, "Are you a royal or titled? The dress looks expensive and not only is your Catholic cross gold but you are also wearing diamond earrings."

Hermione tilted her head at the queen, "… Not that I know of? I highly doubt it."

Mary nodded, "Then you are rich."

Hermione felt her cheeks redden, "One of my friends would say my family is, but I would say they're well off."

Mary smiled, "Then you're being modest. Where was your family? There was no one else at the convent."

The witch felt her eyes begin to tear up, knowing she would never see her family and friends again, "I lost them."

A look of concern crossed the queen's face, "Where are you from?"

"I was born in England, but I went to a private school in Scotland and spent half of my holidays in France," Hermione replied honestly.

Mary glanced at Hermione's cross, "And you're Catholic?"

She smiled and held her grandmother's cross, "Of course."

The girl then looked as if she had made up her mind, "Then would you like to be one of my ladies?"

Hermione stared for a moment, "… Seriously? … You don't know me."

Mary gave her a kind smile, "I think you are a good person. You also have no home and have lost your family. This world can be harsh and cruel, and I'd hate for it to fall upon you."

The witch nodded, "Thank you."

The carriage stooped and Mary grinned, "Now, remember to smile."