A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Writing Club March

Sophie's Shelf: 1 - Daenerys Targaryen, Game of Thrones: (word) Queen

Word Count: 640

Hermione glanced over her shoulder. She could see them starting to catch up. Her brown eyes darted frantically around, looking for any hiding place. She could see a structure a bit further. If only she could make it.

Cedric sighed pulling out an apple and feeding to the prince's favorite horse, Apple Jack. He had been the stable hand at the royal stable since his father had passed. This wasn't the career he'd dreamed of having, but it was a job. The royals were a horrible spoiled lot and he wanted nothing more than to find something else. But it was a job.

He was about to fill the trough with feed when something flew in through the door and landed with a soft 'thud' in a pile of hay. He grabbed his pitchfork, figuring it was an injured animal of some sort. He pushed aside some of the hay to reveal a head of bushy brown hair. A pair of equally brown eyes looked up at him from the hay. Cedric lowered the fork slightly.

"Um, hello? Look, I know you don't know me, but could you please, please, not tell them I'm here? Please?" she asked, glancing at the door. Cedric could hear the guards outside. Their armor clanked as they moved.

"I don't even know who you are," he hissed. "How could I tell them anything?"

She nodded slowly.

"I could tell you who I am, but then, you see, I might have to kill you. I kind of made a mess of things and got in over my head. Now, well, they want my head," she explained. Cedric blinked.

"You!" one of the guards yelled. Cedric turned, kicking some hay over the girl's head.

"Yes, sir?"

"You're the stable hand here?"

"Yes, sir," Cedric answered.

"Have you seen a girl, brown hair, tattered clothing?"

"No, sir. All I've seen are horses. Why are you looking for her?"

"She's a thief, and a traitor to the crown. She's to marry Prince Draco and she's done a runner."

"As I said, no one here but me and the horses. I'll let you know if I see her. Who is she?"

"Princess Hermione of Hogwarts," the guard answered. Cedric had to fight to keep his jaw from hitting the floor. He was hiding a princess in a pile of hay! He watched the guard leave and turned to Hermione.

"You're a princess."

"Yes, and I'm supposed to marry, as you heard. I couldn't stand the idea of marrying Prince Draco, so I stole some clothing, ran away, and now I really need to get back to my own kingdom. My mother, Queen Minerva will understand, but..."

"You've been labeled as a traitor to the crown. How are you going to get back?"

"There's a ship, a man named Karkaroff can take me home, but I just need help getting to the shipping yard."

Cedric smiled.

"I can take you, on one condition?'

"What's that?" she asked, picking hay from her hair. Cedric couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful she was.

"Take me with you. I never wanted to be a stable hand, surely you've got something better for me in your kingdom?" he asked. Hermione looked him over, at his muscular arms, at the dirt on his face. She smiled.

"I can most certainly think of something for you to do," she smirked. Cedric blushed brightly.

"Let's go then, can you ride?"

"I'm a princess, what do you think?" she asked. Cedric smiled, leading a large horse from its enclosure.

"Hop on, we'll ride Big Mac here to the yard. He'll get home on is own," Cedric said, climbing onto the horse. Hermione climbed up in behind him, wrapped her arms around him, and smiled.

"Let's get you home, princess," Cedric stated, nudging Big Mac into a trot.