Chapter 6: Kings Cross Station

The following night found Gwaine, Lancelot, Percival and Elyan sneaking through the night. Gwaine had the same afternoon, told them how important it was, that Agravaine didn't spot them. Inside the forest, Leon would wait for them with five horses.

They got into the forest without much difficulty. Agravaine wasn't to see anywhere, and the other knights didn't find it strange that some of their colleagues left Camelot at that time of night. It would not be the first time.

As soon as they had shelter in the forest, Leon appeared with the horses, and before long, the five knights were on their way to Ealdor.

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Hermione looked down at the table, when she was finished with her story of Arthur, Merlin and Gaius.

"I see." Mrs. Granger said after what felt like hours of silence, "And Arthur doesn't know anything about Merlin's powers?"

Hermione shook her head

"But don't you think that it would be a good idea for Arthur to know the truth?"

"Maybe so, but it is not my secret to tell really, so I will just have to wait until Merlin feel comfortable to tell Arthur himself."

"That sounds fair. I think we should go home, before, your friends think, something happened to you."

A couple of minutes later, and Hermione went inside the house with her mother. Gaius still sat on the couch, but there was no sight of either Merlin or Arthur.

Hermione sat down in a chair beside the couch and Mrs. Granger went into the kitchen,

"Thank you." Gaius said

"What for?" Hermione asked confused,

"For not telling Arthur about Merlin."

"You don't have to thank me for that. That is not my secret to tell, so therefor I didn't."

"But you still could have done it, but you didn't do it, and for that Merlin and I are grateful."

"Well, if you feel that way: You're welcome."

It was precisely at this moment, the door opened, and Merlin and Arthur came into the living room again,

"Hey Hermione," Arthur started somewhat nervous, "I was thinking, if we could just pretend like that argument didn't happen. I know that you are our only hope of survival in this strange place."

Hermione looked at him for at few seconds before she nodded,

"That's right. But we do have to go to Hogwarts, go get help and get you back to your own time. Hogwarts is the only place I know that would be able to help you."

Arthur just nodded, and turned to leave again. Hermione had never seen someone with that much prejudice. Not even Malfoy and his pureblood maniac, could come close to Arthur and his prejudice of magic. He wouldn't even stay in the same room as Hermione anymore. She couldn't help but feel a little bit sad about it. It was not as if they had become best friends while he was here, but he did sort of hold a place as a friend for her, and seeing him, suddenly ignoring her, was very uncomfortable.

"Well, I better be heading up to my room to make sure, that I have everything packed." She mumbled and went out of the living room, so that Gaius and Merlin were the only one left.

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The next morning, Mrs. Granger made a big breakfast for Hermione and her guests. She wanted her daughter and friends to be full when they left for that long train trip. After breakfast they got in the car and drove to Kings Cross station so that Hermione, Arthur, Merlin and Gaius could get to Hogwarts.

Merlin stared at the stone wall where Hermione stopped with her luggage.

"Just walk directly into the wall. It is magical, so you will get out on the other side without trouble."

Arthur looked at her, as if she had lost her mind, "You can't mean that I have to run into a solid stone wall. I am going to get seriously injured."

"No you are not." Hermione tried to explain. "It is magical, so you won't even feel that the wall is there."

Arthur was about to retort, when a boy, Hermione figured he was about second or third year student, ran through the wall.

Arthur and Gaius stared at the place, where the kid had disappeared,

"I told you so," Hermione said in triumph, "Now, go all three of you. I will come right behind you."

Arthur still looked at through he didn't believe a word she said, but he did at she said, and a few minutes later, they were gone. Hermione was breathing a sigh of relief, and followed them through the secret passage.

The faces of Arthur, Gaius and Merlin made Hermione giggle. They looked like they were about to faint, all three of them. Arthur glared at her, and that just made Hermione laugh harder. It wasn't until she heard a yell, that she stopped,

"HERMIONE!" she looked the way, the voice cam from, and a second later, all she saw was long red hair.

"Ginny." Hermione exclaimed at returned the hug, "Who are the hot boys?" Ginny asks in Hermiones ear, and Hermione couldn't help but laugh a bit again.

"Well. They are Arthur and Jack Smith." Hermione said in a hurry she lent in an whispered in Ginny's ear,

"The old man is called Gaius. He is their grandfather."

Ginny looked at the three strange men, "But what are they doing here?" she asked confused,

"They have an appointment with professor Dumbledore. I agreed to make sure, they got to the train on time."

Ginny nodded, and before she could say another word, a whole gang of redheaded people came over,

"Hermione!" screamed and pulled her in to a bone crushing hug.

"Hi to you to Ron." Hermione said, as soon as he let her go. After that she was the whole way around in the gang of redheads for a hug, and everybody wanted to know of her summer.

Merlin, Gaius and Arthur stayed out of the crowd. They hadn't seen so many people since they were home, and they didn't like it.

A couple of minutes more, and Hermione got out of the crowd and got her three guest with her on board on the train.

"Finally," Arthur mumbled, when they sat in the compartment in silence.

"Well, some of my friends will probably come here, when they are finished saying goodbye." Hermione said. Arthur looked scared, but he didn't have the time to say anything before the compartment door opened,

"Well, well, well. Look boys. The mudblood without her two companions. That must be the first time like ever."

Hermione looked up, into the grey eyes of Draco Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle was standing behind him, with grins on their faces.

"Get out of here Malfoy," she said and turned to the others again,

"Oh. Did I hit a nerve Mudblood. Did Weasley and Potter finally tire of you? I can't say I blame them. But I see, that you already have replaced them."

Now Arthur stood up, "Didn't you hear the lady? She told you to get out."

"And who are you? Her new bodyguard?"

"I don't need a bodyguard Malfoy." Hermione had rose and was standing beside Arthur with her wand ready.

"And now I warn you for the last time. Get out of here, or I will hex you well into next week."

For a minute, Malfoy looked as though he would continue, but a good look at Hermione's wand and he murmured to his two companions,

"Let's go. The mudblood is not worth the trouble." And then he left.

A couple of minutes later, Harry, Ron and Ginny came inside,

"Malfoy was coming from this direction. Did he do anything?" Ron asked already looking as though he would kill.

"Nothing I couldn't handle." Hermione smiled. Ron sat down beside Hermione, Harry on the other side of Ron, and seeing as there was not any more seats in the compartment, Ginny sat down on Harry's lap.

Arthur's eyes was about to pop out of his head at the sight, but before he could say anything, Merlin had stabbed his elbow in the side of him, to keep him quiet.

After quick intruductions (Harry and Ron got the same explanation as Ginny) Harry, Ron and Ginny started talking about Quidditch, Hermione started to read a book, and the three guests, just looked at them, not knowing what they were supposed to do.

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The five Knights were almost at Ealdor, when a group of kids, and a few adults made their way towards them,

"Gaius!" some of them called, and Gwaine felt how his blood froze upon hearing that. They would not run all the way out here, calling for Gaius, if he was already there,

"Where is Gaius," a man in the thirties asked, when they were within hearing distance.

"He was supposed to be here," Percival said, "He left with his assistant and the king, two weeks ago."

"They never showed up." The man said, "We were beginning to believe that the king had refused our request."

"We better find the king, Merlin and Gaius, and we have to hurry." Leon said from behind Gwaine.

Gwaine nodded, and turned his horse, "We better ride back the way we came, and see if we see something unusual." And with those words, all five knights rode back into the forest.