Leagues Away Chapter 11

The morning sunlight streamed into Hermione's room, overcoming the megger light from the candles she had lit. Her cheek was pressed against a piece of parchment, one of three, which she had been writing vigorously since the early hours of the day. The medical books were littering the table, pages bookmarked with string and in an order that could only be thought of as organized chaos.

Sunshine tickled Hermione's nose, softly waking her from the slumber she'd found herself in. Thoughts of Draco's challenge had brought out a bought of paramount curiosity on her part, so she quickly found herself pouring over history books and searching for St. Catchpoles' positive aspects. By morning light, she had accomplished marking up three rolls of parchment with notes about agreements and the past relationship Salazar had with St. Catchpole.

Overcome by tiredness, Hermione slept cheek first on a fresh patch of inked writing, effectively smudging it and rendering it illegible. Hermione might have not noticed the writing at all had it not been stuck onto her face as she lifted her head.

Hermione sighed, wincing at the sound of paper separating from skin. Now she would need to rewrite the smudged places. If she could remember what she was pulling her notes from.

She sighed, leaned back in her chair and gazed out of her window. The water glistened against the sun sitting in the sky, a soothing sensation washed over Hermione. What she would give to just swim away from all of this. She yawned, making the dried ink pull at her face.

"I can do this." Hermione murmured to herself. "I-"

A harsh knock came at the door, Hermione could hear a few female voices peeking up shrilly.

"Please, she's asleep sir." Came the familiar of Lisa, it was high and waverly.

"No lady should be woken in such a manner." Penelope echoed.

Hermione leapt from her seat, covering herself up with her thin robe.

"Be reasonable," came the snide voice of the privileged prince, "I would never enter the room of any woman, regardless of standing. She is needed in the grand hall. She should have been awake and ready hours ago."

Hermione just made it behind her partition as the doors swung open. She peeked around to see only Lisa and Penelope had entered. Hermione let out a sigh of relief, clutching her robe against her bare skin, that would have been disastrous.

"Merlin's beard, what have you done to your face?" Penelope declared.

Hermione covered the inked part of her face, stepping out from behind the partition. "It's only ink. A bit of water and I should be fine. What is going on? I heard the prince's voice."

Lisa went off to the side of the room where a water basin and towel set prepped to wash her face. The Penelope ushered Hermione forward to sit on a small stool.

"I'm not sure," replied Penelope, striding over to Hermione's wardrobe, "but we need to be in a hurry. From what I gather you are needed in the grand hall."

"I have no business there, hardly anything to speak of." Hermione mused aloud, but her mind was combing over all the information that she'd been reading.

Lisa returned to her side and began scrubbing the ink from her face while Penelope began laying out Hermione's outfit. It looked to be another corset dress, ivory with lace embellishment.

Hermione sighed, another gorgeous, cumbersome dress. If Penelope heard her, she made no comment or expression. Lisa, on the other hand, sighed as well- although it was very unlike Hermione's.

"Do you like dress?" Hermione asked Lisa.

Lisa's face was close to Hermione's as she scrubbed, so Lisa was unable to hide the dark circles beneath her eyes, or the blush that crept up her cheeks. "It's a beautiful dress, anyone would love to wear it."

"It is beautiful, but I prefer simpler dresses, they're much easier to do labor or other work in."

Lisa blinked at her, startled. "You mean, this isn't something you wear as a royal tutor?"

"Heavens no, I would hardly ever wear those types of dress at home. I don't think my own mother owns one. The queen gave me these dresses since my own luggage was- well- lost on my way here."

"Ah, alright." Lisa continued to clean Hermione's face, "I had assumed, from how well you carried yourself, that you have worn these dresses before."

"Hardly, but if the dresses could be less restricting to wear, then I'm sure many women would be thankful."

"That is a thought," Lisa mused, "I'm sure that could be done."

"Lady Hermione," Penelope called, holding out the dress, "We should hurry. I don't want the prince angry with you."

Hermione was ushered into the new dress and tightened into it rather quickly. Lisa draped her in a faciful necklace and shoes as Penelope finished her face off with a puff of powder.

Hermione coughed, waving away the air away from her. "That was a bit much."

Lisa smiled, standing at attention off to the side as Penelope bustled over to the door to announce to Draco she was ready.

As Penelope threw the doors open, Hermione readied herself for an whomever stood behind those doors. Instead of Draco, the doors opened to reveal Spell Castor Snape.

A cold draft came into the room, or perhaps it was all of the life from the room leaving. Snape's cape billowed out behind him as if he were a bat with wings. He stopped at the midpoint in the room, giving a quick glance around before addressing Hermione.

"You are wanted in the grand hall at once. The prince requested you to be present for the discussion between the baron and the king. If you are ready, I'm here to escort you." Snape bowed forward, slightly but not enough to show any sort of respect.

"Ah, thank you. I truly appreciate the escort. Lead on." Hermione inclined her head to Lisa and Penelope before stepping forward to exit the room.

As the room's door closed behind her, Snape fell into step next to her.

He was a surly man, and seemed every inch a man who would lock himself away to dabble in spells and potions. She could almost see him in a dungeon, but she could always be wrong. Afterall, Karkaroff had an affinity for gardening as a Spell Caster despite his appearance of being a hardened criminal.

Snape led her right to the main hall doors, his hand resting on the handle, but he did not open the doors. Instead, he looked down his long, hooked nose at Hermione.

"This is a rare occurance, to have a lady of your status to enter a meeting such as this. Do not open your mouth under any circumstances. If you put a single toe out of line the king will do worse than banishment. Do you understand the severity of this situation?"

Hermione nodded, "Clearly."

Snape breathed in, to open the door.

Before Snape had a chance to reach the handel, the door went flying out, smacking Snapes hand. Snape cursed, clutching his hand as the baron, red faced and coughing. He turned back to the open door and shouted profanity so vulgar it made Snapes own words seem like warmed honey.

The baron stormed down the hallway, his son, Cedric, following close behind, bowing back into the room as he left.

Hermione gawked after the two men, what had happened in such a short span of time? What had been said? Hermione stepped into the grand hall, Snape behind her, where the queen was seated at her throne looking chalk white. The king had risen from his throne, and his son sat rigid in his.

Suddenly, the king whirled around and stalked off behind the thrones, disappearing through a side door. Hermione stared as the prince shakily rose from his throne and followed his father.

"What happened?" Hermione mused to herself.

"The short version?" Kingsley questioned as he approached the grand hall doors. "The prince is an arrogant, misguided child."

"It was something the prince said?" Hermione inquired, stepping closer to the Spell Caster. "Do you recall what exactly?"

"In so many words, he had said something to the nature that St. Catchpole was a self-promoting waste of resources led by a man who was more likely to drop dead than have St. Catchpole prosper due to his incompetence."

Hermione's hands curled up, her shoulders tensing as her words betrayed her. "What- No, no that's- How did he possibly think that would sway any man to agree? That's madness."

Kingsley shook his head, gripping his fists tight. "There is nothing we can do besides track down the Baron and calm him down."

"Quite right," Snape clipped his words, turning on his hell and sweeping past the two of them. "I expect the king is dealing with the insolent brat right now."

Snape whirled and went down the path he and Hermione had seen the baron and Cedric barreling down. Kingsley went after Snape, leaving Hermione in the doorway.

Hermione glanced back at the door the king and prince had disappeared behind. If what Kingsley said was true, it was an awful thing to say. The prince was well deserving of punishments from that, so then maybe Luna's prophecy will come true regardless of what Hermione does. Was that arrogant boy even worth saving?

But if he isn't, then the world will sink beneath the waves.

Hermione shook her head, storming out of the grand hall, determined to find the baron and set things right. As she re-entered the hall, glancing down the way the men had gone, saw nothing but an open stretch of hallway. Hermione let out a sigh, hitched up her dress, and began her search down the halls, pausing beside doors to listen.

As she made her way down the hall, she heard coughs, muffled and around the corner, but coughs. Hermione began pressing her ear to each door in turn until she came across one where a horrible hacking cough was loudest.

Hermione leaned back from the door, raising her hand, she knocked on the door.

"Hello?" She called out, her hand on the handel as she turned it. "Is the Baron of Ottery St. Catchpole, and his son inside? I would like to speak to you."

Only silence met her for a moment, but then the door slowly opened. Cedric was behind the door, surveying her. His features were pleasant despite the furrowed brow and tense upper body.

"You are Cedric Diggory?"

"Ah, yes, yes I am."

"Hello, my name is Hermione Granger. I am the newly appointed tutor to the Salazar Kingdom, and I wanted to have a moment to speak with you about what transpired."

"I don't think that would be a good idea." Cedric blocked her view into the room with his body. "My father isn't feeling well and-"

"Is that a snake at our door Ced?" came the voice of the baron.

"No, not exactly," Hermione called back, startling Cedric. "I was only appointed yesterday with the promise of safe passage home. I have no loyalty to them but to my own home, the Durmstrang Kingdom."

"What do you mean by that young lady? Cedric, let her in to speak."

Cedric glanced back over his shoulder, but stepped out of the doorway. Inside she saw it was a waiting room similar to the one she had occupied days before. There were two chairs, one either side of a mahogany, snake-legged table. There was a matching table and a couch adjacent to the chairs, as if it was ready for an afternoon tea.

The Baron was collapsed in one of the chairs, leaning heavily against the table beside him. Up close, his skin waxy and his hands were quivering at the rate of a hummingbird's wings. Cedric went to crouch next to him, offering him a handkerchief. She approached the men slowly, careful to make her presence known.

"Young lady," the baron wheezed out, holding the handkerchief to his damp forehead. "Why do you work for the king if you are not loyal to him?"

"Why stay in the kingdom if you are not loyal to him?" Hermione retorted.

The baron grinned. "Fair. I appreciate you coming to remedy the situation, but I have no intention to succumb to the King's demands, or come back after the disgrace his son caused."

"I understand you are upset with the prince and king; but, I have heard word of the kindness you've shown travelers and of your business deals. Under your guidance, St. Catchpole is a well established hub. It is a pleasure to meet such men as yourselves."

The baron he puffed out his chest and clapped Cedric on the back. "Those stories were probably all my Ced, anything recent. He's got quite the eye for business when it comes to stone. He's also got quite a good eye for character; he takes after his old man, and I've learned to trust his gut."

"Father please." Cedric muttered, his cheeks flushing.

"You'll be next baron, and I am looking forward to seeing that day." The Baron smiled widely, but then his face contorted as he began hacking violently once more, teetering backwards in his chair.

Cedric immediately placed a hand on his father's shoulder, his face slackened.

"Father please don't overexert yourself." Cedric pleaded, his hands wrapping the Baron's shaking ones in his own. "I want you to be there on that day and this ordeal is making your condition worse."

The baron sighed, lightly coughing this time. "I-I'm fine Ced. I won't cave into his damned demands. After his son's outburst, he can hardly expect a deal."

"I realise that it does not seem possible, but, please, Baron Diggory, will you explain to me why you refuse?" Hermione pleaded, sitting in the couch across from him and Cedric. "I simply wish to understand your stance."

Hermione's wide, curious eyes met with the Baron's narrowed ones. He looked to his son, who nodded and patted his hand. The Baron sighed heavily, settling into his chair.

"Well alright then, since you seem so eager to know." The Baron cleared his throat and spoke in a low but clear voice. "Besides the treatment I have seen from the royals, much of my reservations come from the rumors about this Kingdom during the Spell Caster War. I assume you know how they had magic we knew not. That power could part oceans and bring Hell's fire from the sky. Whatever the case, it caused mass panic and fear. This Kingdom was a smothering fog, bringing darkness and misery. Mind you, Ottery St. Catchpole was a pivotal spot in this War, we were on the border of the Kingdom and the natural defenses made it a fortress. I opened my arms to those who fought against the Salazar Kingdom, and to this day I have no regrets for my actions. Regardless of the strained relationship we now have, or the lack of funding we've seen in the following years of recovery.

"But not a day goes by that I don't see where wounded men lay bleeding, those who had died in battle, or in defending St. Catchpole. Men and women laid down their lives, and for ten years we fought and held true. Ten years, Lady Hermione." The Baron went quiet, pinching the bridge of his nose as his shoulders shook. "Then, all of a sudden, the battles suddenly stopped. Kingdoms from all over were wondering what in the world had happened to the Kingdom of Salazar and why all of it's men surrendered. Everyone was on edge while the walls of this castle were finally silent.

"Now the King and at the time, King Tom, disappeared almost overnight with the rest of the royal family. Not a single person knew where he went, or why they had been following him. It was as if they were all under a spell, which is where more rumors sprung from. 'We were bewitched' or 'We don't know what happened, it was a blur' well it's all very hard to swallow. No Spell Caster could more such large magic; I've asked Kingsley the same thing and there's no way their Spell Caster could have held such strong magic and spread it that wide. I had never liked the Malfoy family much before, but I disliked them even more when they ascended the throne as the next heirs. They played themselves as 'truthful' and 'a new era' but I never believed them. Their shady ascension is why I will not grant them, or any of their men, passage through Ottery St Catchpole. To many questions have been left unanswered. Do not trust them, Lady Hermione. A snake is a snake."

Hermione stared into the Baron's eyes, noting his shaking shoulders and wrinkled nose of disgust. This man had lived through the Spell Caster War; he had seen more about the matter than any book could tell Hermione. His seemed sincere, but a small part of Hermione wondered the same as many before her had. What had made the men retreat, and where did King Tom disappear to? Was it magic, as many speculated, an inside job? One thing was for sure, Hermione needed a library more than ever.

The baron covered his mouth within the handkerchief as another hacking cough overtook him.

Cedric patted his father's hand reassuringly. "Father, you should-"

"No, no. I'll be fine Ced. What I need is to put an end to this."

"May I ask something?" Hermione inquired, shifting forward in her seat. "Just to clarify, but the King is asking for passage. Has he offered you anything in return?"

The Baron straightened up, nostrils flaring. "I would not accept anything from-"

"Yes," Cedric interjected. "Yes it was for passage. It was to let any royal with the Salazar seal to pass through unquestioned and safely. As for compensation, their offer was monetary, more than we'd seen from the family since the end of the war. I have one of their letters, the most recent one that Spell Caster Kingsley gave to me. Read it if you'd like." Cedric opened his cloak and pulled out two tight rolls of parchment, handing them to Hermione.

"Ced! You will be a great Baron, but you-."

The Baron and Cedric started conversing quick and sharp between themselves. Hermione bit her lips as she blazed through the written document. It was as Cedric had said, monetary compensation, yearly, for safe passage for the royal members of Salazar, but there was a small line following that statement. Hermione read through the line twice, then thrice to drink it in. It was that one line that screamed desperation. The Baron would not give, that was for certain, but the King did certainly did not want a 'no' at any cost. The line read '... safe passage to those with the Salazar seal whilst barring those without.' They wanted that passageway open to them and barred from others; perhaps they wanted to keep certain people out? She could be wrong, but calling the baron to the castle seemed rather important for such a small matter of passage. What was the king planning? An escape? Would there be some unwanted person following?

Hermione glanced up at the two men, realising that they had forgotten her presence. "Baron? Sir Cedric? I have a theory."

"A theory?" The baron questioned, a perplexed expression painted over his red features.

"Yes," Hermione replied. "A theory. The king not only wrote you, but sent a messenger and a third party to bring you to the castle. He must desperately want that passage open to him while closed to others. Whether it is to keep people out or have an escape route of some sort, but it is reminding me of how pivotal St Catchpole was during the war. If you read this line here," Hermione pointed to the line in question, speaking softer so as to not be heard from behind the door, "then you'll see that they want control over the people allowed through, perhaps they want the certainty of your protection should calamity befall the royal family. I think, if you wanted something more from them, you could request an amendment to the deal. If you wanted to hurt the king's pride, that could also be something you might consider. You would also know who they see as friend or foe, and if I were in your position I'd like to know that very much."

The Baron took the document back, reading it more thoroughly. A wide grin spread across his face. "My lady… you are an incredible find. You must make your parents glow with pride." The Baron gripped his son's hand, chuckling under his breath.

Hermione grimaced at the parent comment, thinking of her parents back home, but otherwise thanked the Baron for his compliment. If the Baron, who seemed like a good-natured man, could feel a sense of safety and power over the Kingdom of Salazar, then all the better.

To Hermione's surprise, the Baron stood, a hand on the table to support him. He puffed his chest out and lifted his chin. Then, the Baron caught her eye and gave her a sly wink. "I believe it is high time we finish this ordeal."

Cedric rose to his feet, "Father, are you sure?"

"Never been more sure, I want that man groveling at my feet. If he wants this deal so much then he'll get it at the expense of his pride."

The baron swept from the room, chortiling as he went.

Cedric turned to Hermione, taking her hand in both of his. "Thank you," he whispered, "You have no idea."

He lifted his hands away, his cheeks blushing more vibrant which made Hermione's neck heat up. Cedric bowed quickly as he hurried from the room after his father.

Hermione stood from her seat, staring after the men, taken aback by the baron's sudden jump in his step and Cedric's genuine thank you. Regardless, she had -with surprising ease- managed to bring the baron around to agreeing on a settlement.

Considering what the prince had said to the baron, it was time to track down the arrogant boy. They had spoken yesterday about this very matter of being polite. If he refused to apologize, or at the very least refuse to see his mistakes, then she'd have to see if Luna saw any other way from keeping the world from drowning.


Hello everyone, I wanted to leave a quick footnote that this is more or less the end of the 'Draco being a HUGE jerk' arch. We'll see more Dramione interactions from here on in.

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