For MaryandMerlin, I hope you like it! Sorry that I'm late!
This features a dark skinned Hermione, you have been warned.
Also it's a Royalty!AU.
Word Count: 496
Birds and Books
In Fred's opinion, the best thing about being the fourth—or fifth, possibly—born Prince was that he had almost all of the privileges and almost none of the responsibilities. So yeah; that was pretty nice.
It was barely noon and he was already done with his chores, so he decided to go on a stroll through the village, as his twin brother, George, was currently stuck in a lecture from their big brother, Percy.
Fred didn't know what he had done, but he did not particularly want to find out either. He would hear it soon enough.
He absently started whispering as he moved towards the small town. Fred observed the birds flying in odd formations . It was absolutely beautiful.
Then his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden voice. "Oi! Watch where you're going! You nearly ran into me."
Fred moved his head away from the sky and towards the origin of the voice. His eyes took a second to focus, but then he saw a beautiful young woman. Her hair was just a few nuances darker than her face that was partly obscured by the stack of books she was carrying.
"I'm sorry, Milady. I was watching the movements of the birds." Ugh, he was not really fond of speaking like this, but it had become a reflex somewhere down the line.
At least he wasn't half as bad as Percy.
"Well, lucky for you I actually pay attention to where I am going." Then she took a look at him and realised who he was. Her cheeks turned a couple of shades darker. "Uhh, your Royal Highness, I'm sorry." She turned to leave.
"Don't be." He stopped her with an outstretched arm. "I actually prefer the you from before."
Fred slowly moved his hand towards hers, raising it and giving it a kiss.
It was so much darker and rougher than a lot of those he had seen before. He found that he actually quite liked it.
"May I inquire your name?"
She kept her head bowed. "My name is Hermione."
He raised her chin with his fingers and looked into her brown eyes. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Hermione."
She shook her head and laughed. "Oh, I certainly am no Lady."
"Why ever not? You are certainly beautiful enough to be one. And based on those books you are carrying, more than twice as intelligent as the average one is." He surveyed the heavy stack in her arms. "Would you allow me to carry some of them for you?"
"Oh, I couldn't possibly-"
Fred cut her off. "I insist."
Hermione smiled. "Well, I suppose that is alright then."
The prince nodded as he took a bit more than the half of the stack. "Indeed, it is. Now lead the direction, would you please?"
"Of course, I will! Do you think I would let you run off with those books, I worked hard for the, you know?"
"Really? Tell me more, please."
Please tell me what you think!
~Marvelgeek42
