We've Only Just Begun

She didn't sleep that night as she stood on the balcony that overlooked the ocean. Thoughts swept in and out as she watched the waves crash against the tall walls that surrounded the castle.

She couldn't stand being here. Here where he could not help them. Where she was no good to them. She shook her head and leaned on the stone railing that kept her safe on the high balcony.

She couldn't think on it longer and made her way from her rooms and through the castle. She wound her way through halls and rooms having no idea where she was going and no mind to think about it.

Coming to two large doors she opened them quietly. It seemed a bookworm need only follow their feet and they will be lead to their very own sanctuary.

She entered the large library and saw that it had to be much larger than that of Hogwarts. She walked through a row of books and let her hand trace the titles as she passed. Many books caught her interest, but she pushed herself on past them. She came to the books that would detail Kruphios's history and pulled out a couple. Holding them tight in her arms she went to find a chair to sit in and found two near a fireplace. She smiled at the not needed piece and sat down in a chair.

Opening the book she read. She let new information and stories wash through her taking her to a world that wasn't hers, yet was a land she resided in.

"Sorry I didn't know anyone would be here." She turned quickly to see Blaise's back as he left the library.

"Wait." He stopped and turned to face her. "I think this library is big enough for the both of us, don't you?" She asked. He smirked and nodded his answer. She watched as he walked over to her with a book already in his hands.

"May I ask what you are reading?" She said sitting up in the chair.

"It's a fictional account of this country's past." He said sitting in the chair next to her. "You?" He asked.

"Non-fictional accounts." She answered.

They both sat and read until the sun rose prominently in the sky declaring morning.

"Are you training today?' She asked interrupting the silence. He nodded. "Then I will see you at breakfast before the fields?" She asked. He nodded once more and she rose leaving him alone in the large library.

She went and made her way through the castle again. Taking turn after turn she was making no gains in finding her rooms. Groaning she leaned against a wall for a moment.

"Princess Katherine?" She turned to see Rashidi coming around a corner.

"High Councilor!" She spoke happy to see the man.

"Please, princess, call me Rashidi." He bowed his head slightly as he walked towards her. "May I help you with something?' He asked. She looked up at him realizing for the first just how tall he was.

"Truly? I can't find my rooms." She said. The tall man smiled.

"This way my Princess." He spoke offering her his arm. She looked at him for a moment and took it awkwardly. He repositioned her hand on his arm and they made their way through the winding halls of the castle.

!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!

Though he knew the soldier fought slower for him, Draco match the soldier's sword blow for blow.

"My Prince you are doing quite well. Although you are still not up to par with the sword and your hand to hand. You must learn to see things quickly. As with the wand you must anticipate your opponent's actions based on his movements with the sword." Draco nodded at the advice from Alastair as he begun to speed up the exercise.

Wiping the sweat from his brow the soldier bowed before leaving him. "You have been in battles before my prince?" Draco nodded thanking a soldier for the water he had just been given.

"I was surprised by your sister's ability with a wand. She even learnt fast in the sword."

Draco smiled at this. "Yes, Katherine will continue to surprise everyone in Kruphios." Alastiar only nodded at this.

Hearing his sister's name his thoughts immediately went to their relative. Katherine had sounded worried about him and it was time for a check up of his own.

"I will be leaving for a bit." He said walking quickly through the house, grabbing a black cloak on the way out he apperated.

He reached the old rundown house which looked less foreboding in the day light. Approaching the door he knocked three times, waited three seconds and then knocked three times more before touching his wand to the door.

The door opened and he walked in closing it behind him. The room was dark despite the light outside as he continued on to the couch.

"So I see you've returned?"

Draco only responded by removing the hood of the cloak. Taking a sip of the tea he waited for the man on the couch across from him to so the same.

After seeing him do so he spoke. "My sister was right. You are not looking well." He drank a bit more of the warm tea.

"Your sister? So you have accepted her as family then?"

"Malfoy's protect each other." He said simply.

"If your father had believed that then perhaps he would still be alive." Draco only nodded at the truthful words. "Will I ever have the pleasure of knowing where the two of you are going for two weeks at a time?" Draco nodded.

"One day I hope." Draco's words were spoken quietly as he stared into the eyes of the frail man. "It seems the dark lord has been quiet after his last attack is he searching for Potter?"

He sneered as he spoke. "He has not thought of Potter since the battle. Besides, while Potter is important he is not on the forefront of the dark lords thoughts."

Draco looked at him curiously. "Than what is?"

"She did not tell you of my warning?" Draco shook his head at this wondering just who he was speaking of.

"Your sister. He wants your sister."

"Katherine? Why?" Draco asked tensing at the words.

"She told you of the happenings during the battle yes?"

"Yes she spoke of the peculiar wandless magic she did." Snape let out an amused laugh at this.

"Wandless magic? Yes, I suppose you could call it that, but no it was much more. Your sister radiated power much greater than Potter's and even the dark lord. White light extended from her hands as she protected those soldiers. This caught the eye of the dark lord and this is why he wants her within his ranks."

"She would never."

"No, but if captured the dark lord has ways of making people do things they normally would not." Draco nodded understanding. He thought over this for a moment.

"Then she will never return. I will not let him take her." Draco stood in anger.

"I fear she will not listen to you. She is as headstrong as she has ever been." Draco nodded knowing it to be the truth. She would not give up fighting at Potter's side and he knew it.

"Has the dark lord anything else planned?"

Snape shook his head. "Only to find Katherine."

"Then he will have no luck on that." Draco spoke as he lifted the hood on his head once more.

"You had better hope so for her sake." Draco gave one more nod before leaving.

!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!

Hermione fought moving slowly as she still was learning the movement and the steps.

"Good princess, but you must become one with the sword. Let both you and your magic flow through the sword." A man named Adofo explained as she moved. "Make your movements strong. They are too light, you risk dropping the sword." She did as she was told moving harder, swifter as she struck her sword with her opponent's.

After a bit both bowed and she turned to Adofo. "Better, but you still have yet to fight up to speed. Do you wish to practice with the wand?" She nodded as she reached for her wand, but was stopped.

"No, Katherine is done for the day." Hermione turned to see her Uncle striding towards them.

"Uncle?"

"You train far too much. I think it time you see the city."

"Uncle? I am to move on to the wand."

"Do not argue, Katherine." She looked to Adofo and gave a gracious bow of her head as she resigned and followed her uncle through the fields. Looking out she saw Blaise practicing hand to hand combat. She hadn't seen him at breakfast, but had paid no mind to it.

Her thoughts then turned to her uncle once more. "You are just doing this because I am a woman. I bet Draco spent hours out here." Her voice was quiet and low causing her uncle to stop. He turned to face her quickly.

"You will hold your tongue and never speak like this to me again." He spoke quietly at first. "To think, a princess with such manners. The council will never take you seriously if you act like this." She dropped her eyes to the ground as they continued to walk through the fields. Rethinking her action she raised her head once more looking proud and confident.

She was lead to her rooms to bathe and change. Once she came out dawning royal robes and smelling fresh she was led to the carriages. "Awe yes, a beautiful princess. Yes well I thought we could ride for a bit before going to the ceremony." Her uncle spoke as Rashidi helped her in and joined them once both were in.

"Ceremony?"

"The soldier Eairrsidh MacFie. His family has chosen the traditional burial at sea." She nodded and remained quiet as they rode; wishing she could be getting tips on her wand movements from Adofo at the moment.

Her uncle spoke of all the monuments, statues and buildings that dated back generations, but Hermione hardly paid attention. Thoughts of every where else flew through her mind. Of every one that was training at this very moment preparing for Voldemort's next attack or finding more information on the horcruxes. She sighed as she looked out the window.

"Alright, I suppose we should be heading to the ceremony now." Her uncle spoke as the carriage changed directions.

They reached elegant docks ones which Hermione had yet to see. Made of deep rich wood she saw that intricate carvings ran along the dock though she could not make out what they were of.

All bowed as they came closer to a large group of people on the sides of the dock. She followed just behind her uncle on his right while Rashidi followed on his left.

They came straight to the MacFies who stood by what looked to be a muggle style casket.

"My King." Spoke the father as they all bowed low. "We have graciously accepted your offer for the traditional burial at sea."

"Rise, this is a time of remembrance." Uncle Evanander spoke and soon everyone on the docks rose to standing positions. "Why have you chosen this burial?" He asked although sounding as though he already knew the answer.

"My son…" Spoke Mrs. MacFie with tears in her eyes. "…fought for Kruphios, he gave his life to save Princess Katherine. We thought it only right that he be remembered in the ways of Kruphios." Uncle Evanander nodded.

"Remember this day. Remember one who gave his life to save another and not just any other, but my niece. Princess of Kruphios." He then turned to Hermione. Her eyes still lay on the wooden casket.

All eyes now lay on her, waiting. But she didn't notice. Slowly she walked to the casket. Looking at it with care she kneeled next to it.

It was ordinary, the wood was shined and polished to show the rich wood it was made of. Feeling as though another force drove her she placed a hand on the top of the casket.

A glow, the same light that had appeared at the battle, came forth from her hand and surrounded the casket. As the white glow grew Hermione whispered words that came to her lips of their own accord. "To the truly brave, I give protection." With that the light quickly diminished. What was left, however, caused the crowd to gasp.

The casket was no longer wood, but made of light silver. Emeralds, rubies, diamonds covered it in an ornate showing of riches.

Hermione stood stumbling a bit and felt arms stretched out to steady her. Looking up she saw a smiling Rashidi.

"Katherine? Are you alright?" Her uncle asked worried. She looked at the casket and gave a faint smile.

"Yes, Uncle, yes I think I am now." She said standing on her own. She watched as two soldiers slowly pushed the now beautiful casket out to sea.

"Yes, well you look very pale. Perhaps we should leave." He held out his arm for her letting her lean on him as they walked from the elaborate docks.

She was helped into the carriage and with Rashidi in they were on their way once more. She looked out the window watching the docks become smaller as they rode farther.

"Katherine? What was that?"

"I'm not sure." She spoke quietly her eyes still on the ocean although the docks were gone.

"You…I've never seen such…" Her uncle's voice trailed off. "Can you not explain it at all?" He asked.

"I think it was…closure." She whispered not bothering to look at him.

!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O

Draco sat there wanting to be anywhere else but there. Sure he had attended meetings before, but he always felt the same. Being around so much red hair unnerved him a bit as though he were outnumbered.

He looked around at the table which seemed to pay him no attention as they each spoke of their lives and the going ons.

"Have you gotten any more information from our informant?" Asked Potter. Draco looked at him with impassive features.

"Only that he wants Katherine." Draco voice was monotone as he spoke. Voices around them soon died away as every eye turned to watch the interaction.

"He wants Hermione?" Asked Potter.

"Katherine, he doesn't know who she used to be." Draco sneered.

"Who she still is." The Weaslett spoke. Draco turned his head to face the others.

"He spoke only of Katherine. He does not know her past and I don't intend to let anyone else that is not in this room know." His voice was threatening.

"Draco, we know as well as any why Voldemort can never know that Katherine is truly Hermione." Spoke Remus. Draco nodded curtly.

"Then this is his only plan. To find Hermione?" Asked Arthur. Draco nodded.

"And she is safe now?" Asked Molly.

"Yes." Potter spoke this time. "She is safe." Eyes went from Draco to Harry.

"You know where she is then?" Asked Molly. Harry nodded. "Then you can tell us?" Molly looked hopeful at this, but her face drooped when Potter shook his head.

"No I can't. Although perhaps soon you will all be able to know." Potter directed this to Draco. He hesitated as he looked at all the faces surrounding the table.

"Yes, perhaps." He said and the meeting went on. They spoke of trying for an attack of their own. This posed a problem as to where when they didn't know of the dark lords hiding places.

"Draco you know nothing of this?" Draco shook his head.

"I have told you all I know." At this he stood. "And I think I have stayed much too long." He said sweeping through the kitchen to the door where he went outside to apperate.

!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!

Hermione skipped dinner that night as she stood on her balcony once more. She stared at the waves as she had done since she got there. She heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." She spoke without turning around.

"Princess it is always proper ask who is coming into your rooms before you allow them to do so." She turned to see Rashidi. His smiled was broad and filled with white teeth causing a faint smile to come to her own lips. "It was an impressive thing you did today." She nodded as he joined her on the balcony.

"Do you understand what happened?" He asked leaning a bit on the railing. She turned to him. Looking at his features she smirked.

"No, but I am sure you do." He smiled at this.

"Yes you are very perceptive. I know more than you would expect."

"Will you make me look this up also?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"No, you will not find this in the history books. Hints of it yes, but not what you are and will truly be going through." She nodded and waited for him to speak. He did not for quite a while, but she was learning patience and put that into practice here.

"I told you my short tale of the founding of Kruphios, though I did not tell you all." Hermione nodded for him to continue.

Your ancestors came to this land to flee from persecution themselves."

"But the Malfoy family line is said to be from Britain there was no persecution of witches and wizards then."

"No not yet, but only the Malfoy line comes from Britain. Medora, was from Greece."

"Of course that explain the name Kruphios." Rashidi nodded.

"She was a pureblooded witch from Greece and there she was feared and considered evil. When she met the first Evanander they fled to keep her safe. That is where they found Kruphios and that is where my short tale connects and grows."

"There is more?" He nodded once more.

"Much. Tomorrow I ask you meet me at the carriages so we may go to the same docks we visited today. It seems your training with me must begin."

"But Uncle? He does not approve of my training." Hermione's voice came out a little more irritated sounding than she liked.

"Your Uncle has forgotten much about his country. I will speak with him. I expect to see you there at sun rise." He said before giving a small bow of his head before leaving.

Hermione didn't understand any of this. Slipping out of her robes and into silk pajamas she slid into the silk sheets of her bed. She would not sleep well that night as thoughts and dreams fluttered through her sleep.