Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction using characters and elements from the world of Harry Potter, created and trademarked by JK Rowling. I do not claim ownership over any Harry Potter characters or the Harry Potter world. This story is for entertainment purposes only, and is not claiming to be any part of the Harry Potter canon. Thank you to JK Rowling for letting me play with the characters and not suing me for writing them into a new situation.
Light of the Moon
Chapter 10
Surprisingly, Hermione slept soundly through the night. Having been up so late and expended so much energy, after the adrenaline rush ended, her tired body crashed on the incredibly soft, silk bed linen that covered her new bed.
She woke to bright morning sunlight streaming through the windows. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was, and her trial of the night before seemed like a fantastic dream. But then the memories all surged back to her. She fell back against her pillows amazed at everything that had transpired.
She'd done it! She'd solved a magical riddle that the smartest and strongest witches of an entire generation had failed to do. She was going to marry a king and become a queen. She was going to have the chance to help rule a country, affecting thousands of wizards and witches, and possibly influencing all of Wizardingkind.
She grinned to herself, excited at how all of her research and hard work had paid off.
Sleep having completely worn off, she became aware of voices beyond her door. One very low murmuring voice, and the other slowly rising louder.
". . .happy to wait. Just. . . her that. . . waiting."
The distressed sounds of a house-elf answering the woman made it clear that they were not going to be allowed in.
Hermione quickly got up, sure that it was her friends who had no doubt been anxiously waiting for news.
She pushed open the tall double doors that led from her bedroom into the luxurious sitting room with the matching décor. It was meant to entertain several intimate guests, so it was furnished with chairs, a low table, a settee, several lamps and ottomans—everything antique and well-preserved. Everywhere she looked she saw intricate engravings, inlaid designs, and ornate filigree.
She hadn't had a chance to examine all the designs the night before, but the few runes that she could see mingled in the pattern looked like they were for protection and for enhancing power. She almost thought she could feel the hum of magic in the walls around her.
Thinking she'd take the time to explore later, she went around the corner to intercept the house-elf.
It was Pheme, the helpful little gossip who had been serving her in the Suitor's Wing. She was struggling to push against the door to the outside corridor, trying to close it against the would-be visitors.
"Mistress is tired! Mistress is trying to sleep!" the little creature cried in a hoarse whisper. "Pheme will deliver a message later!"
"Pheme," came Luna's amused voice. "You remember us? We're Hermione's friends. She will want to see us right away when she wakes."
"Then Mistress will summon you when she wakes!" Pheme said, still pushing on the door, which appeared to have a booted foot stuck in the bottom.
"It's all right, Pheme," Hermione said, quickly coming to the house-elf's side. "I'm awake now."
"Mistress!" Pheme said, dropping quickly into a curtsy. "These loud visitors have woken you!" Her troubled voice was just on the verge of a wail.
"No, no, it's high past time I woke up. I'm glad I wasn't allowed to sleep the day away. Are those my friends, come to visit me this morning?" She gestured to the door, which had been pushed open by a single gloved hand.
"Oh, yes, Mistress!" The house-elf hurried to open the door wider and wave in the now-welcome guests. After closing the door behind them, she rushed to stand before Hermione and said, "Presenting Miss Astoria Greengrasidi and Miss Luna Lovegood!" Then she bowed awkwardly, and stood nervously wringing her little hands.
Hermione felt a swell of affection for the little house-elf. It was clear that, like her, she was new at her job and was quite anxious about doing it properly. They would learn all the rules of propriety together, then. She thanked her profusely for her diligent care, and as Astoria had done once before with her own elf, sent her to the kitchen to get some galatopita for them.
With the frazzled Pheme out of the way, Hermione turned to her two guests and was immediately enveloped in an effusive embrace.
"You did it!" Astoria crowed, jumping up and down in her excitement. "I knew it was going to be you, I knew it!"
Luna held her tight, while Astoria's movements jostled them both. "The whole castle is talking about it. I'm so proud of you, Hermione Granger."
"It's going to be Hermione Riddle now," Astoria corrected, happily. "A royal wedding! It's so exciting!"
Hermione finally extricated herself from her friends' arms and asked, "Has the news already been spread, then?"
"Well," Astoria answered, once again their expert on Ophidian custom, "the announcement hasn't been made. It won't be confirmed until you are officially presented to the court. But we woke up to the flags on the castle announcing a wedding, and anyone who was paying attention to the list of Suitors would know whose trial was last night." She grinned mischievously. "I'm sure Lady Carrow was fit to be tied when she found out."
Hermione permitted herself a very small smile at the thought, although her mind was already spinning thinking of how fast events were moving. The wedding was being planned already? She'd barely exchanged two sentences with her betrothed since winning the competition.
Seeing the contemplative look growing on Hermione's face, Astoria waved her hands to distract her. "Wait, wait! First, you have to tell us everything! What happened? What was the test like? Was the moonlight the answer, after all?"
The women pulled her to the settee as Pheme arrived with their breakfast, and they listened with rapt attention as Hermione told them everything that had transpired during her trial.
Astoria was particularly awestruck at Hermione's inventiveness and skill. "Even if I had known what was required," she said, "there's no way I would have been able to accomplish it. Perhaps if I'd had time to practice. . . but undertaking such a huge feat for the very first time?" She shook her head, amazed.
When Hermione described the treasure inside the box, both women frowned, trying to think of what it could signify.
Luna had just asked if they could see it, when there came another knock on the door.
With a squeak, Pheme, who had been listening just as attentively, hurried away to answer it.
The three women heard the corridor door open, and then there was a weighty silence.
A moment later, Pheme slowly came around the corner. She was standing as stiffly as her starched uniform, but Hermione noticed with some alarm that the little elf's ears were quivering rather violently.
"Mistress," she said, with tremors in her squeaky voice, "may I present His Majesty Athanasius Riddle, King of Ophidia."
For a moment, all three women froze in shock. Then, they scrambled to their feet as the King's imposing figure came around the corner.
He didn't look at all like he'd been up late. His handsome face was every bit as clear and vital as it had been when she'd faced him in his Throne Room.
His dress robes of the night before had been exchanged for the leathers she usually saw him wearing. This close, she could see that they were extremely well-sewn, undoubtedly with magic, and probably with considerable protection spells woven in. What looked like several small weapons were secured around his waist, disguised in the metalworking of his belts. She didn't see where he kept his wand, but it was likely very close to hand.
As Astoria delivered another perfectly-formed curtsy, her skirts fanning out around her, Hermione was acutely aware of the fact that she was standing before the King in her flannel pyjamas and bare feet.
Surely queens had better clothing for receiving guests, especially royal ones, but Hermione had simply changed into her most comfortable nightclothes before falling into a heavy sleep, and she'd given no thought yet to changing.
She wasn't sure who was more embarrassed, her or little Pheme, whose eyes were wide at the scene before her.
"Miss Astoria Greengrasidi, daughter of Ophidia," the elf said, clearly addressing the King.
Astoria held her right hand out to the King, who took it in his and pressed a light kiss to the satin back of her glove. "A pleasure to see you again, Miss Greengrasidi," he said, formally.
Hermione thought she saw Astoria's arm tremble before she lowered it and gave another small curtsy.
Then the King turned to Luna, who stood beside Astoria.
"Miss Luna Lovegood, of Brittania," Pheme intoned, frowning slightly when Luna stuck her hand out for a handshake.
Without skipping a beat, the King took her hand in his and pumped it gravely twice. "I am honored to meet you again, Miss Lovegood."
"I am pleased to meet you again, also, King Riddle," Luna said. "I'm not certain I was pleased the first time we met, as I can't remember it, but I'd like to think so."
The King seemed to consider her words for a moment and then he said, "I cannot speak for you, but I can assure you it was a pleasure on my part to have you honor this competition with your entry."
Luna seemed quite satisfied with this response, and as one they all turned to look at Hermione.
Pheme gave a little embarrassed cough. "Her…Her Future Majesty, Miss Hermione Granger, of Brittania, soon to be Queen of Ophidia."
Hermione stood tall in her practical flannels, refusing to allow herself to show any discomposure. She hadn't expected to be receiving a king in her private suite, after all.
Although, after this, and especially after they got married, she'd be sure to consider that every moment of her life could involve the need for royal introductions. She'd be sure to be better prepared next time.
Unsure if she should hold out her hand, she settled instead for the same short bow she'd given him the night before. "Your Majesty," she said.
"Miss Granger," he acknowledged her, with his own small bow. His expression held that sense of amusement that she seemed to see him with the most, and he said, "I know that you, at least, remember our previous meeting; hopefully with the same pleasure that I do."
"I—I—" Was he flirting with her? She couldn't be sure, and thought it best if she didn't try. She fell back on the same advice from the night before. "I would like to thank you for your generosity and kindness. I am well aware of the honor you do me by recognizing my claim to winning the competition." She swallowed a little bit of her pride and added, "And I do apologize that I am not well-prepared to receive such an important guest this morning."
His eyes were on her face, and though they had not once strayed to look at her clothing, she knew he must be aware of how incongruent it was for the future Queen of Ophidia to be greeting guests in her plain nightclothes.
He dismissed her apology with the slightest shake of his head. "It is I who should apologize. I had assumed you would sleep in late this morning and had not thought to find you with other guests. It was not my intention to meet you formally, or I would have given you proper notice, but I had wanted to extend an invitation and thought it would be best if I delivered it personally."
"No apologies necessary, Your Majesty," Hermione said, firmly, "for moving about at will in your own home."
He smiled at her words. "Then no apologies from you, either, for doing the same."
The implications made her feel suddenly warm, and she felt rather than heard Astoria's tiny squeak of excitement. The woman was nearly as excitable as the house-elf, whose ears were still quivering at the thrilling scene before her.
Hermione swallowed. "An invitation, you said?"
He glanced at the other two women and then back at Hermione. "I wished to see if you would like to have lunch with me this afternoon. With such a late start to the day, I thought it would be prudent to see that we both have a nourishing meal."
His wording subtly indicated that the invitation was for Hermione alone. The prospect of lunching alone with the King was both incredibly exciting and extremely nerve-racking.
"Of course, I would be honored, Your Majesty."
He nodded. "The honor will be mine." He stepped backwards, taking his leave. "Pheme will show you the way at the appropriate time, Miss Granger. Until then."
As the house-elf escorted him from the room, the three women stood stock-still waiting to hear the door close. Even then, they didn't move until Pheme reappeared.
Simultaneously, they all let out a whoosh of breath, and with the nervous laughter of tightly strung nerves, they collapsed back onto the settee.
But it was only a moment before Astoria was tugging them back onto their feet and in the direction of the bedroom. "Oh, Hermione, lunch with the King! We have to find you something to wear!"
"But my galatopita!" she protested, suddenly aware of how very hungry she was. All the excitement was taking a toll on her stomach. She was glad, for several reasons, that lunch was not very far off.
"Mistress, do not worry, Pheme will bring your galatopita and help you find your robes for lunch!"
"Well, thank Merlin for you, Pheme!"
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