First of all, thank you guys for the follows and the reviews! I've tried to take the suggestions you guys made and use them for this chapter! I know the first chapter felt a bit rushed, I'm trying to slow it down a little bit. Enjoy this new chapter!
Chapter 2: Your Grace
Hermione turned in her bed, wrapping the blankets tighter around her petite form. She heard the cracking of the fire and wished it were bigger. The room was cold and she still wanted to remain in her soft fortress for some minutes later. She heard someone open the door and enter her room. Probably some other Gryffindor.
"Your Grace, it's time to get dressed" she heard a voice say.
"Your what?" she answered, slowly opening her eyes. She was definitely not in her rooms in Hogwarts. The room was big and she was sleeping in a four poster bed with beautifully lavish sheets atop her.
"Who are you?" she looked at the girl standing in her room. She looked confused.
"I am your maid, your grace, I came to help you get dressed and prepared for your meeting." Hermione got up and looked at the girl.
"Surely I can dress myself?" she raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry, your grace, but they insisted." The girl walked over to Hermione and started her dressing. Hermione wasn't sure what was happening, but this dressing ceremony seemed something she couldn't get out of so she let it happen. The girl wrapped her in a very tight corset and laced it so tight Hermione wasn't sure she could still breathe.
"What's your name?" she asked, trying to distract herself from the lack of oxygen.
"Anna, your Grace." The girl never looked her in the eye. "Which of these dresses would you like me to dress you in?" she asked. Hermione looked at the three dresses on mannequins in her room. They were all stunning but she decided on a white off shoulder gown.
"Where are we?" she asked the girl.
"We're at English court, your grace" The girl responded.
"Well, alright then, and what am I doing here?" she asked.
"You're meeting your fiancée today, your Grace." Hermione frowned, her fiancée. What in the name of god was happening. She needed to find Malfoy and get back to Hogwarts. When Anna had finished with her, she looked positively regal. The white gown flowed down with an elegance Hermione had never witnessed. A silver belt made of leaves wrapped around her waist, which was crazy tiny after being tied into a corset. Her golden brown curls cascaded down her neck, tamed with beautiful silver leaves.
"I don't think I've ever looked so feminine" Hermione smiled at herself.
"Your Grace, you always look beautiful" the girl whispered.
"Thank you Anna, so where do I go now?" she smiled.
"The royal guard is outside and is waiting to escort you" Anna continued.
"Royal guard? Well, alright then." Hermione held her head high and she was going to play along with this charade until she found Malfoy. Outside her door were three man carrying weapons.
"We are here to escort you to your fiancee, your Grace" they explained. She nodded and followed them. She was definitely in a castle. The walls were made of stone and the hallways seemed endless.
They walked her into a very large room with lots of people. She heard someone shout her name.
"Hermione, princess of Argon" they announced her. What. This couldn't be happening. Was someone playing a sick joke on her? Was this Malfoy's doing? She walked into the room.
"Welcome to English court, Hermione, princess or Argon." A woman with white hair wearing a lavish golden crown smiled at her. Next to her was an older man, wearing a crown as well. Hermione looked around and decided to take a small bow.
"Thank you for welcoming me to your home" she stated.
"We are sorry to inform you that our son is currently unavailable, but no matter. You'll meet him eventually." The woman explained. Hermione could only think that these people were the king and queen of England, and that she was to marry their son.
The next hour, she spent having breakfast with her family in law, they didn't talk to her, and she was left to her own devices soon after. She slipped from the eyes of her guards and decided to find Draco Malfoy on her own, he had to be here somewhere and maybe he knew what was going on and he probably had her wand as well. She searched the castle but found him nowhere. No one had heard of someone named Malfoy either. She walked the grounds and found him, finally in the stables.
"Malfoy!" she yelled at him and he turned, looking very regal. He was wearing silver and black clothes, his coat was velvet. His hair looked as silky smooth as ever.
"Granger? Hell, I've been looking everywhere for you" he walked over to her.
"What did you do? Is this some kind of sick joke? What the hell is going on Malfoy, you better start telling me the truth." She hissed, pointing her finger at her.
"What? You think I did this? I didn't do anything, I'm stuck here, just like you. Now maybe if you can give me my wand back, I can fix this" she corked her eyebrow.
"I don't have your wand, but I need you to give me back mine." He shook his head.
"I don't have your wand, Granger. I woke up here, without any of my belongings" Hermione's eyes grew big and she grunted.
"We need to get out of here, I need to get out of here. Do you know what they plan to do to me? I am engaged to some foolish prince of England who couldn't even be bothered to show up to our official meeting." She hissed.
"What?" he smirked a little.
"You heard me!" she punched his chest.
"You are engaged to the prince of England?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"YES! And some crazy woman came into my room this morning and she dressed me, do you hear me, Malfoy? She dressed me! I need an escort everywhere! And on another note, the king and queen are terrible people, they aren't even nice to me!" she was ranting.
"Granger!" he hissed.
"Granger, shut it, people are staring" he hissed again. She just continued ranting so he grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Granger!" she shut her mouth and stared at him.
"What if this is about the prophecy?" he asked.
"What? That's ridiculous, I've never heard anything about someone getting sent back in time, cause that is what we're both thinking right?" she looked at him, her golden brown eyes boring into his steely grey ones.
"I don't know. But I feel different" he whispered.
"I haven't been able to do any magic since we got here" he explained.
"But we haven't got our wands," she argued.
"I was able to do wandless magic, Granger." He sighed.
"You were? That's really impressive Malfoy" she whispered.
"Nevermind that, I'll find a way to get us out of here. Now, why don't you get back to where you're supposed to be and we'll meet again later" he whispered. She nodded and turned to walk away from him, looking back for a second to make a mental note that Malfoys, in fact, do look amazing in black.
She walked back to the castle, her dress bundled up in her hands.
"Your majesty, I've been looking everywhere for you!" The girl named Anne came running towards her.
"The queen wanted me to inform you that they expect you for a banquet later this evening, to formally announce your engagement to the prince." She bowed her head.
"I was sent here to help you get ready." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'll escort you to your bath" the girl bowed again. They walked what felt like a mile before finally reaching her chambers. "I want to be left alone to bathe" she insisted. The girls in the room reluctantly agreed, making sure that the guards remained by the door. She undressed, which was quite the achievement. She ended up cutting her corset with a knife, which would probably be frowned upon by many, but who the hell cared. She was here just for a couple more hours and then this nightmare would be over. When she got up and wrapped herself in a sheet she looked at the dresses laid out for her. She decided on a white lace dress, wrapped tightly around her bodice and flowing down like water to the floor. She walked out the door but was soon stopped by her maid.
"Your grace, you're not completely dressed yet, let me help you" she smiled. Hermione followed the girl back into the room, her eyes rolling to the back of her skull. Apparently, some gold harness jewelry thing was part of the outfit. The girl also dealt with her hair, combing it and taming it into a beautiful loose French braid, some strands were tickling the side of her face.
"Okay, so am I ready now?" she asked, sounding encredibly annoyed. The girl bowed, which seemed to be the way to agree with her. She once again walked out. There were three guards standing by her door.
"So, where do I go?" she asked them with a big smiled.
"Your grace?" they asked, sounding confused.
"Yes? Where do I go for the dinner?" she asked again.
"Just point me in the right direction here, thanks" she smiled again. The guards were looking very awkwardly at her before another man joined in.
"I'll take you there, Lady Hermione, not to worry" The guards mumbled something that sound like Lord James. He was beautiful, raven hair and ice blue eyes. He looked like trouble though.
"you know my name?" she asked, following the boy down the corridor. He looked at her, one eyebrow raised.
"Well, Of course I know your name. We met several times before." He told her. Now it was her turn to frown.
"We're here" he finally said.
"Well, great, can't wait to find out all about my fiancée." She mockingly said. "Yeah, I heard he's a total ass." He smirked, before pressing a kiss on her hand and walking away. Hermione went to open the door, but was, again, halted by her guards.
"Your grace, you need to be announced first." The man whispered.
"Okay fine, announce away." She threw her hands up. She heard her name announced. Hermione, princess of Argon, heir to the throne. What.