Houston, we've had a problem.-Apollo 13
"Do you have a dress to wear to court today?" Alana asked, stepping around me to pin my hair up in an intricate bun. I nodded my head, cringing when I realized I probably messed up my hair.
"I'm sorry!" I said, holding myself perfectly still. "I won't move again. Yes, I do have a dress for my appearance. Thank you for fixing my hair, you're doing a lovely job of it." I finished, fighting the urge to twitch. Something about someone fixing my hair always made me feel fidgety.
I was going to see King Arthur in front of an official court today, along with Harry, Fred, and George. I believe it had to do with my using magic the other day, but I wasn't sure if that was what it actually was about. I was nervous about meeting him though, I felt like a child being called to the principal's office. We had been in Camelot for three days, and this was going to be the second time we had met him. We'd spent most of the days together, trying to figure out how to get back home. Fred and I also had gotten to spend some alone time, he would sneak in my room with a disillusionment charm and that let us see each other with out anyone knowing and talking about us. Our relationship was progressing wonderfully, and I found myself falling more for him every day. I couldn't believe I hadn't dated him earlier. How had I ever looked at Ron when I had the choice of him?
"I am done, Milady. Good luck." Alana said, stepping back and letting me see my hair in the mirror. It was beautiful, and extremely fancy. I turned back towards Alana.
"Thank you, it's beautiful!" I exclaimed, smiling at her. She bowed her head in respect and then left the room, leaving me alone with ten minutes to fix my dress. I pulled my wand out from my bodice and started transfiguring my skirt into a deep burgundy color, changing the vine work to a solid color. I added a lace trim. I made the top the same color, and gave myself long sleeves. I added a beaded belt that was as long as my skirt. The sleeves covered the scar on my arm, and turned to points at my hand.
It didn't look bad, and was far more comfortable than the dresses I'd had to wear at Beladale. A knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts and made me jump. I whirled around, almost tripping on my skirts and righted myself. I stepped towards the door and then paused, removing my hand from the door knob.
"Who is it?" I asked, gripping my wand more tightly in my hand.
"Fred." Fred's voice said. I grabbed the door knob again and I couldn't help but smile as I opened the door.
"Hi!" I said, stowing my wand away in my skirts. Fred stepped into the room, wearing a black tunic and brown breeches. He was smiling broadly and his eyes were sparkling.
"You look really nice, 'Mione." He said, stepping into the room. I blushed and shut the door, turning toward him once it was shut. I stepped up to him and wrapped my arms around him in a hug. He returned it, bringing his long arms up around me in a tight hug. He was extremely warm and I loved being pressed into his strong chest.
"Nervous?" I asked, snuggling into him. He gripped me even tighter and raised his hand up to my hair. He buried it in my hair and while his other hand cupped my chin, lifting it up. He leaned towards me and I pressed a kiss to his lips. I locked my arms around his neck and leaned up into him. He brought his hand down to my waist and tugged my hips closer to his. I almost moaned at the contact but managed to hold it in. I deepened the kiss, delighted to have a moment with him.
I knew we needed to be heading to Arthur, but I just wanted to stay there. We wouldn't have any chance to be alone any time soon, we weren't even supposed to be here right now. If we were caught my reputation would be ruined.
I really didn't care though, not at the moment anyway.
Fred gently pulled away, from the kiss, still holding me close and securely. "We probably need to go." He said quietly, eyes locked on mine. I nodded my head and smiled softly. I dropped my hand from his neck and grabbed his hand loosely in mine. We turned towards the door and opened it.
George and Harry were standing in front of it, both with their hands raised like they were about to knock. I fought the urge to blush and drop Fred's hand. I smiled instead and stepped forward.
"Come on guys," Fred said with a big smile. "We're going to be late." He finished chipperly, stepping past Harry and George. I followed him, still holding his hand and trying not to laugh at the disbelieving look on their face. They watched us go with wide eyes, unfreezing as we passed them.
"You're joking, right?" Harry asked, running up to Fred with a frown. "You were in there for over ten minutes. You were just supposed to bring her out." He said.
"Ten minutes?" I asked, walking by Fred. "Was it really that long?" It didn't feel like it had been anywhere near as long as that. Well, I had been rather busy though, it could have been a while.
"Come on guys," George said, walking past us and shaking his head. "We're already late."
We made our way down the stone halls, and a few moments later we were standing in front of the doors that led to King Arthur's court.
They opened up and we were ushered into the hall by Sir Ector. Harry led the way, followed by, Fred, George, and then me. Everyone was quiet, and it felt like we were about to be punished. I suddenly found myself growing worried and tense. I didn't know what was about to happen, but it couldn't be good. We walked up to the very front of the hall and stopped in front of the throne. Arthur stood up from the throne and looked down at us.
I bowed down in front of him along with Fred, George, and Harry. We stood up after a moment and faced him, all of us scared and worried.
"You wish to speak to us, Milord?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. Arthur nodded his head, his eyes lingering on mine for a moment before he turned towards Harry.
"I do." He stepped back towards his throne and sat down again. "I have a bit of a dilemma." He explained, with a disapproving frown. "By order of the law if someone practices magic in the land of Camelot they must announce themselves. You however, neglected to tell us." He said, turning towards me again. I felt a shiver of fear course through me. This could potentially be very dangerous for us, I could have messed everything up for everyone. "You kept the fact that you are a spell caster from us. However, in light of the circumstances, I am going to send you on a task to test your loyalty instead of just casting you away from Camelot. You are going to have to find and kill a quintaped."
A quintaped? He had to be joking, those things were seriously dangerous! What had I done? How could I have been so stupid as to use magic? I'd put everything in danger, our cover, and now our very lives.
"Thank you, Mileage." Harry said, bowing again and then stepping back.
I nodded my head numbly, and followed the others out of the hall. We walked down the corridors until we were back at my room. We all walked in quietly, feeling numb as we looked at each other. I sat down on the bed stiffly, scooting back until I was against the head board. Fred took the spot next to me, and George and Harry sat across from us. We sat in silence for a moment, but I took a breath and decided to finally break it.
"Why do we keep gathering in my room?" I asked, with an attempt at a smile. Fred squeezed my hand beside me and spoke up, using my question to lighten the room.
"She hasn't seen our room yet, has she guys?" Fred asked, giving a real grin. The others shook their head, a faint grin lifting their own lips.
"It's bloody awful, 'Mione." He continued, turning towards me. "Literally half this size, and messy. Plus, Harry's smells like something died in it."
"Yeah, it's awful." He said with a frown. "But mine at least has a nice paint job, yours is that awful green color."
"I've without doubt got the worst one." George said, laughing at Harry's description of his room.
"Oh really?" Fred and Harry asked together.
"Yeah, I've got an awful color and I'm next to Harry so I have to deal with his smell as well." They all laughed at that, Fred loudest. I even snorted much to my embarrassment. Once we all managed to get our breath back we sat silently for a moment until Harry fidgeted and broke the silence.
"So how did you get such a nice room anyway?" He asked, frowning.
"Yeah, you got a really nice room." George said, looking around my room wistfully.
"Why did we get the crummy ones?" Fred asked, sounding as though he had been personally wounded.
"Because she's got the best assets of us four." George answered, waggling his eyebrows. I laughed, flushing as he grinned even wider.
"Yeah, her 'ass'est are great." Fred said, grinning at me and bumping my shoulder. I blushed even more and looked over at Harry. He was looking like he wasn't sure whether to laugh or smack Fred and George. He just settled for rolling his eyes and fidgeting with his glasses.
"Sooo." George said after a moment. "What is a quintaped and why did it make you grow so pale?"
I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay calm. "The Quintaped, also known as the Hairy MacBoon, is a dangerous magical beast that is only found of the Isle of Drear. It has five legs, each ending in a clubbed foot, and is covered with thick, red-brown hair. It is carnivorous, with a particular taste for humans." The others had grown quiet at my explanation, one I had gotten directly from the Monster Book of Monsters. I took another breath and continued.
"According to legend, the Isle of Drear was populated by two wizard families, the MacBoon clan and the McClivert clan, who were apparently rivals. The family heads, Dugald McClivert and Quintius MacBoon, got drunk and engaged in a wizard's duel, which resulted in Dugald's death. In retaliation, the McCliverts attacked the MacBoons, turning them all into monstrous five-legged beasts. However, the MacBoons were infamously inept wizards, and the McCliverts realized too late that they had made the MacBoons infinitely more deadly. The MacBoons kill all the MCliverts, and now kill anyone who sets foot on the island." I paused and then gave the last bit of information I knew on the subject.
"That's actually why it was made unplotable. A lot of wizards and muggles died on it."
"Okay, so we need to kill a freaky five legged monster with a taste for us?" Fred summarized, looking like he found the whole thing rather funny.
"Yes, essentially that's right."
"Were is it?" Harry asked, fidgeting with his glasses.
"Scotland." I answered. Fred and George grinned at each other, a mischievous grin lighting their eyes,
"Well, it looks like our hair is going ta com in handy, Lassie." They said together in a perfect Scottish brogue. I grinned unconsciously and had to fight the urge to shiver, I really liked the way he sounded when he used the accent.
"What about us?" Harry asked with a grin, not trying to imitate the accent.
"We can always die your hair and lighten your skin." George replied, fingering his wand with a mischievous grin.
"Do you know the spell, Hermione? My hairs likely to end up neon pink and my skin green with these two." Harry said, looking at their wands with alarm.
I waved my wand over my hair in response, turning it a red to match Fred and George's vibrant shade. I ran my wand over my skin and it also lightened, making my hair look more natural. Last I ran my wand over my eyes, making them a lighter shade of brown. I smiled at Harry and fluffed my hair.
"How do I look?"
He grinned and clapped while George wolf whistled. Fred laughed at his twin and pulled me into a hug before fingering my red hair.
"Do me now." Harry said, sounding like a little kid. I nodded my head and leaned forward on my legs so that I could reach him with my wand. I waved it over his hair, turning it from raven to red. I then lightened his skin to match mine.
"Hermione pulls it off better." Fred and George said together.
I laughed and Harry pouted.
A/N: I hope you like this chapter. I'm posting a new poll tomorrow, so today is your last chance to vote on this one. Enjoy the story and don't forget to leave a review, especially if you've favorited this story but haven't said anything, don't be shy :oD I love hearing from you guys
Also, The Polls for the Twin Exchange March Challenge have officially opened, read the stories and vote for your favorite one! (You can get to the twin exchange by clicking on my profile and then the link on my page.) My story for the challenge was "A Hiking We Will Go."