Chapter Ten

September 6th, 1557 was a beautiful day and Hermione was delighted to see the sun's casting it's rays over the lake from her window. She remembered last year around this time, in the future, when she was sitting with Harry after breakfast, looking out over the Black Lake. It too had been a sight to see.

Hermione looked over the water feeling a calmness surround her, "Do you ever wonder about it all?"

She knew he thought like her, the two of them were alike in some ways. While she was close to Ronald Weasley, nothing compared to the connection she felt with Harry Potter. He was closer to her, like a brother.

"As if it were all a dream," Harry murmured, his eyes too on the sparkling water. "Yes"

She leaned her head on his shoulder, "Ron, God bless him, but he wouldn't understand."

There was a smile in his voice, "He didn't grow up without magic."

She thought of the upcoming year, her new courses and the Time Turner she was given, but what most was on her mind was the Azkaban breakout.

"I'm really worried about this year," she said worried as she looked to her favorite emerald green eyes.

Harry frowned, "Me too, though you're not the one with a serial killer after you."

Hermione took his hand, "Harry, you're my best friend. I would never let anything happen to you. I don't care how crazy he is, Sirius Black will not hurt you."

The witch felt sad as she thought about her best friend. Soon enough she would be home… she prayed.

She got dressed for the day in another dress from Paris, ate breakfast with her Scottish-but French Renaissance friends and wore and apron as she headed to Nostradamus' infirmary. She hoped Bash was doing better.

As she walked into the double doors it was just in time to hear Michael tell Francis, "Great news. His fever's broken."

Francis let out a relieved breath, "Oh, thank God."

Hermione fought not to roll her eyes. She knew that would happen, but she had hoped, that Nostradamus remembered his expertise during the plague. Obviously, his attention had drifted to Divination.

"Great- so I can get up," Bash went to get out of the bed but let out a gasp of pain.

The wizard gently put the king's bastard son back on the bed, "I would not recommend it. You're going to live if you don't tear your wound open, if you keep resting, if you take proper care."

Hermione clicked her tongue, having all the men aware she had entered the room, "Well to prevent fever, you should have taken care to clean your hands and his wound before you patched him up."

Nostradamus arched an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"

They watched as Hermione grabbed a few towels, a bar of soap and a bowl of water, "During your days when you treated the plague. What do you think helped cure your plague patients? Cleanliness, Low-fat diets, and fresh air.

She could tell by the slight tinge on his cheeks that he hadn't thought of it. She decided she wouldn't give him a hard time about it though, as he had lost his family from the plague. He probably refuses to think of that time in his life often.

Bash grew irritated, "Yes, I like her idea. Fresh air. If I have to spend one more moment in this bed-"

"You're not ready yet," Nostradamus stood. "I'm going to make us both feel better… and leave."

Hermione smiled, "I'll watch over him."

Bash looked to her, "Yes, another pretty face. And one I have not yet formally met."

The witch sat down on the other side of him, opposite of Francis, "I'm Hermione Granger."

"I know," the brunette male winked. "I heard people wondering of the fortune you wore when you arrived at court."

She held her cross in hand, "The cross was my grandmothers."

His blue eyes held curiosity, "But you do practice the faith?"

She nodded, "I do."

"She also has been in the eye of Count Malfoy," the crowned prince of France reminded his half-brother. "You remember when she came back to the castle late, even though we were both drunk from wine."

"Well," Hermione told them. "Count Malfoy and I share a few things in common."

Bash arched an eyebrow and looked over her person and she could only guess he was trying to figure out if there were any identifiers of her being a witch, "Interesting."

Francis looked to her impressed, "You seem to know a lot about medicine."

Hermione shrugged, "When I was in school I visited the infirmary very often, either for myself or my best mates. Unlike some of my professors, the physician was always welcome to answer my many questions and show me a few things here and there."

Nostradamus left the infirmary and Francis gave Bash a mug.

"You promised you'd sneak me some wine, you liar," Bash told the blonde as he took a drink.

Francis chuckled, and Hermione smiled as she sat back in her seat.

Bash looked up to his younger brother, "You look worse than I do. It's Tomas, isn't it? Lola told me about your… inquiries."

Hermione watched as Francis glanced at her before he spoke, and she figured he deemed her trustworthy as he responded to Bash, "I don't have any proof yet, but everything in me says he's a monster. There are whispers at court that he murdered his first wife."

Hermione's face fell, "That's horrible!"

Bash frowned, "If they couldn't find proof in Portugal, how will you find it here?"

"I don't know yet…" The blonde told them. "But I have to try. I can't let Mary-"

"Oh, but you can," Francis stood up as Tomas walked into the infirmary with the witch following suit. "And you must. You've been asking questions about me."

She didn't like the threaten sound of his voice. Gone was the charming disposition she had been exposed to. She instinctively went to her pocket for her wand, as she did many time with her encounters with Harry and Ron against Draco and his goons.

Bash held her arm, just when her hand made contact with her wand and whispered, "No."

While he had never seen her wand, she knew he could read a situation very well.

"Did you think I wouldn't know?" Tomas asked Francis.

Bash sat up wit a grunt as his brother answered, "No. No, I hoped you would."

"Why?" The Portuguese prince demanded.

"Because your future wife is a friend of France," The French prince's voice was confident. "Her well-being concerns this country, and always will."

"Is that a threat?" Tomas stepped forward. "If anything happens to Mary, you'll… what?"

"I would hope we won't need to find out," Francis challenged. "Wouldn't you, as her fiancé?"

Bash stood next to Hermione.

"If anything happens to her, it will be up to me." Hermione's eyes narrowed as Tomas went on, "She's my property now, not yours. No matter how many touches you steal, you'll never be more than the powerless princeling who couldn't even send a few men to defend her country."

With a temper that reminded Hermione of Ron, Francis went to hit Tomas, but Bash grabbed his brother's arm and held him back, letting out a painful grunt, "Francis, no!"

With concern for Bash, Francis turned and helped Hermione lead Bash back into the bed, "Sit. Don't."

"Easy, Bash," Hermione said softly.

Let looked up when Tomas scoffed at them and left the room.

"He's such a toerag," Hermione frowned.

Francis sat down next to Bash while Hermione lightly wetted a towel and put soap on it, "Go ahead, say it- I'm not thinking with my head."

"Head, heart, who cares? He is a monster, no matter what the Pope chooses to call him, and if you won't kill him, I will," Hermione lifted the front of Bash's shirt, happy to see there was no blood on the bandage. "If you wanted my shirt off, all you had to do was ask."

Hermione looked up and laughed at the smirk on his face, "I was just making sure you didn't open your stiches. Now, let's clean this wound so that fever won't come back. It may hurt, but I think it's time to give you a small dose of pain potion."

HGHGHG

That night there was casual card playing and music in the throne room. It all surprised the witch. By day it was a place of judgement, of negotiations, and declarations, but by night it was the center of entertainment for the castle. Hermione stood by Queen Mary in a beautiful pink embroidered dress with lace and pearl and gold trimming.

Apus came up to them, looking rather dashing as well, wearing Slytherin green that suited him. She had an idea what he was about to do, they had planned it, but she still felt a thrill as her heart slightly beat faster.

Apus bowed to Mary, "Your Majesty."

Hermione saw that Henry was watching, a look of intrigue replacing his previous bored expression.

"Count Malfoy?" The French King asked his subject.

Apus nodded to him and turned to Mary, "If you'll join me and Miss Granger?"

Mary nodded, "Very well, Count Malfoy."

The three stood before Henry and Catherine and the music and talking stopped. It seemed everyone was wondering what was going to happen.

Apus bowed, "You're Majesties, I wish to court, Hermione Granger."

Catherine scoffed, "Are you serious?"

Henry glanced at his wife, "Catherine." He looked to Hermione, though he was addressing Apus, "She has no money, no land, or title." He then looked to his subject, "You're a Count."

Hermione fought angered embarrassment of the king's rebuke. He had pretty much stated publicly, that he was nobility and she was nobody. She was good enough for company, but not good enough for marriage.

She could tell from the tension in Apus' stance that he hadn't liked his king's words. Not at all.

"She is very lovely," Apus replied. "But she is worthy and would make the perfect companion."

Hermione's face went from turning red with anger to turning red at Apus' praise.

Catherine held her head high, "You don't know her. None of us know her."

Apus turned to his queen, "With all due respect, your Majesty, I do know her. I've looked into her eyes and felt like I knew everything about her."

The witch now fought not to roll her eyes. While it all seemed a very romantic thing to say to the entire room, she and Apus knew better. He had literally looked into her eyes and into mind and looked through all or most of her memories.

"Very well. As my subject, I will allow it, but Miss Granger is also Queen Mary's subject," Henry nodded to Mary.

Mary turned to Hermione, "Is this what you truly want?"

Hermione though of home, returning to her family and friends, "I do."

The Scottish queen turned to the wizard, "Will you protect her?"

Apus nodded, "I will." He turned back to Henry, "Which is why I would like to buy her the title of Lady and request she stay in my quarters. I have two bedchambers for propriety. I will provide all her needs."

Hermione's nearly mouth dropped open. This was beyond what she had expected. There were shocked murmurs around the room. She wasn't sure whether to be happy about his support of her or to be angry as she had told him she could take care of herself. For the moment she chose to portray surprise and happiness.

"Buying her a title is no cheap cost," Henry told Apus. "We'll discuss this further behind closed doors."

"Of course, your Majesty," Apus bowed.

Mary was grinning happily, "I'm more than happy to support the engagement."

Apus bowed to the royals and turned to Hermione, producing a gift from his robes, "Will you accept my betrothal gift?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes."

She opened the box and there a surprisingly simple, but very beautiful necklace and matching earrings. The chain was silver, and the main piece was a circular emerald surrounded by diamonds. Attached was drop down emerald in the shape of a crystal. She could feel the magic surrounding the piece, and it was pure and kind, bringing tears to Hermione's eyes.

After he put the necklace on her, she turned to him with a hug and kissed his cheek, the emotions real, and while the room was loud with clapping she whispered to him, "Thank you so much for helping me. How can I ever repay you?"

Apus kept her in an embrace, "You've already helped me more than you know."