I own nothing of either Harry Potter or the movie Ever After and receive no money for the writing of this fictional tale around the two. I also do not own the copyright to the songs listed.
Music is my muse:
Song for this fic: Put Your Arms Around Me; Texas
Lyrics for this chapter: Do you feel that you're already numb?
The song and trailers for the movie can be found on my YouTube channel: Crystal Jean Red
Artwork found on my Instagram: CrystalJeanRed and done by the amazing Trinkisme. Thank you, dear.
Tell Me A Fable
Chapter 7
Things Left Unsaid
As predicted by the movie, the next day was a circus, punching Daphne in the face resulted in the book being burned and her being threatened with a whipping. When Daphne attempted to do so, however, Hermione had hit her with a memory charm leaving her thinking she had, in fact, whipped her when instead she had just sat in the barn. Pansy stayed behind thinking Hermione could use the company.
Hermione knew that she had to go to the ruins that day and that when the Prince got back to the castle, he would be informed that she was engaged to another. She then would have to make a spectacular appearance at the ball. It was what would happen there that she was crying over as Pansy talked with her.
"You really shouldn't have done it, you know," Pansy said sadly. "Punched Daphne as you did. She will try to make your life miserable now."
Hermione scoffed. "As if you didn't enjoy watching her fly backwards over the bed. And she has always made my life miserable, Pansy."
Pansy snickered and then sighed. "Did you hide the dress?"
Hermione gave a stiff nod. She had made it invisible. It was tucked away in the room she knew her stepmother would lock her in when she returned later that day. This wasn't a film; she didn't have a lot of time to get ready so she knew she would have to be in the dress when Dumbledore showed up to save her.
She took a deep sad breath, and Pansy sighed. "They shouldn't have burned your book, Hermione. I am rather ashamed to have to call them family."
Hermione nodded her eyes kind. "Pansy, you know you're very pretty, right?"
Pansy looked at her with a sorrowful expression. "Not compared to Daphne, or you."
Hermione shook her head. "Pansy your sister is evil. That takes away greatly from her appearance. As soon as she opens her mouth, she becomes the ugliest person in the room. You are good and kind and perfectly lovely to look upon, and considering who raised you, that speaks highly of your character."
Pansy looked regretful. "I was just as mean as Daphne when we were younger; you must hate me too."
Hermione grabbed the woman's' hands. "I do not hate you. You were young and had a witch for a mother," Pansy chortled at that as Hermione continued. "Pansy when you could think for yourself when you saw that I was mistreated, you changed. That is an incredibly brave and wonderful thing to do. It's okay that it took a bit, what matters is that it happened."
They stared at one another and Pansy nodded. "Thank you, for saying this."
Hermione nodded. "It needed to be said. Now, when you are at the ball I want you to hold your head high and ignore anything and everything either of them says. You are not fat, you are not ugly, and you are not worthless."
Pansy took a deep shuddering breath. "Truly?"
Hermione smiled at her. "Truly. Practice saying all that in your head. You are smarter than both of them too. Neither of them can read."
Pansy shook her head with a small smile. "You wouldn't teach them."
Hermione looked at her. "They never asked, you did."
Pansy sank back looking wistful. "I wish I could meet someone. I fear I will never find a husband, not with Momma so entrenched in Daphne's chances. And I fear any dowry there might be left will go to Daphne, not me."
"Some men won't care about a dowry, and I have a strong feeling that you will meet someone at the ball tonight," Hermione said with a dazzling smile.
Pansy gave a small giggle. "Oh don't say such things. I will have hope only for it to be dashed."
Hermione smiled and stood up. "Nonsense, hope is everything. Thank you, for tending to me."
Pansy looked down embarrassed. "I- I should have done more over the years. You should not be a servant, Hermione."
Hermione shrugged and then winced. She would have to heal her back; it was very painful.
"I won't be here when they return, they will tell you why I am sure, all I ask is that you tell them I left and did not tell you where I was going. When I come back things will get—" she paused and then sighed. "worse for me, please don't try to help me. You must get to the ball. You will understand why when you are there, okay?"
Pansy nodded tears shining in her eyes. "Good luck, with whatever it is that you are doing, Hermione."
Hermione gave a small smile and quickly dashed out. She transfigured her clothes to the appropriate dress and shoes and quickly did her beauty charms. When her hair was shining, and her nerve was about to fail her, she apparated away before she could change her mind.
OoOOoOOoO
When she next opened her eyes, she was standing just below the ruins. She rushed up the stone steps quickly and as she expected her Prince, who looked like Draco Malfoy, was waiting for her. He was pacing, and she watched him for a bit before she made a small noise.
"You made it! I had all but given up hope," he rushed over and took her in his arms kissing her forehead tenderly.
Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes. How often had she wished for the real Draco to act this way?
"I am sorry I made you worry. It took me longer to get away than I had anticipated."
He nodded looking around. "Still ditching your servants I see."
Hermione gave a sad smile. "Yes, I- I should tell you something, but I fear I don't know how."
"You could say anything you wish."
Hermione looked at him and blinked away her tears, he saw them and wiped one away with his thumb. "What has happened?"
"I fear I am simply not myself today," she said smiling at him.
He nodded his excitement building. "I know how you feel. I woke up today, and for once I did not feel as if I was trapped in a life without meaning. I knew I would see you and the feelings that overcame me were intoxicating. Come I must show you something."
Hermione allowed him to pull her along as he prattled on about the trees and how he had come here as a child. She felt her throat closing up.
"I used to think that if I cared at all, I would have to care for everything and I would go raving mad. But, now I feel like I have a purpose in life, and that I wouldn't be serving it alone." Draco said excitedly.
Hermione looked at him and gave a small half smile. "It is always good to have a purpose, your highness."
"Nicole, you are the most unique courtier I have ever met. And please, you know you are to call me Draco."
Hermione jerked as he touched her, it was all getting muddled in her head, the dream and reality.
"At the ball—" He said at the same time Hermione said. "I must tell you something!"
He paused laughing. "What?"
Hermione chewed her lip and said softly. "Last night was the most wonderful night of my life," she had almost told him the truth, just to avoid the scene at the ball, but she was afraid of altering the storyline of the movie in her dream. Perhaps if she did that too much, she would be trapped here. No, it was better to play along until she could escape this world.
His smile made her breath hitch, and she couldn't do this anymore. This wasn't real, this was a dream, and it was breaking her heart. "I must go," she said pulling away from him.
"Wait, Nicole!"
"I am sorry, Draco."
And with one last look, she rushed away, uncaring that she was sobbing and he was calling after her. When she made it behind some trees, she closed her eyes thinking of the apple grove near the Manor and was gone. She sobbed for what felt like hours before she headed for the delightful confrontation awaiting her in the house.
OooOOoOOooOO
Her step-mother was shrieking at her, but she was too numb to care.
"I should have you hung Hermione. Imagine you, a courtier!"
"What makes you angrier?" Hermione asked tilting up her chin. "That I am common or that I am competition?"
Her step-mother glared down at her clearly livid, and it was hard for Hermione not to draw her wand and kill the woman. She looked so much like Bellatrix had as she was torturing her. Her face was twisted in hate and rage.
"You belong in the gutter; you are filth! Now, where is the dress?"
Hermione flinched but didn't back down. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"The gown and slippers, where are they?"
"I would rather die than see my mothers' dress on that selfish cow."
"I knew you had hidden it!" Daphne screeched!
"You produce that dress, Hermione, or so help me—"
Hermione cut her off, "where are my fathers' books and tapestries and the silver? Perhaps the dress is with them!"
She allowed herself to be thrown in the wine cellar and smiled as the door locked in place. She sat in the corner and dozed as time did that weird thing of speeding up in her head.
"Hermione, are you well?"
She looked up and saw Harry looking at her through the slits in the bars. "I am fine, Harry. However, you need to fetch Senor Dumbledore immediately."
"I- I can't do that!"
She sighed. "You must, or I will never be out of this cellar."
She watched him rush away, his face pale, and quickly stood up to use the transfigured loo and conjure water into a bucket she had cleaned so that she could bathe and get ready. Ultimately she decided just to do her hair and not her makeup, how would she explain how she got ahold of such things as cosmetics. She could easily say she had been locked in with the gown and a hairbrush. So now she was simply stuck waiting for Dumbledore to show up and rescue her.
Author Note
Yeah, just no, Daphne was not going to whip Hermione Granger. Not gonna happen.
