I'm going on holiday for a couple of weeks! Roadtripping through the UK. I'm not going to be able to post any chapters during my stay, or at least not from my laptop. I'll try posting them from my phone, if this doesn't work, please be patient with me! I'll post as soon as I can!
Chapter 4: Rivalry
The next morning Hermione was told by her ladies that she was to go riding today so she dressed appropriately. She wore a black coat that reached all the way down to her feet and looked more like a dress, lined with fur and gold and underneath she wore black pants. The woman dressing her had frowned at her but Hermione had insisted she wouldn't ride horses wearing a skirt. She pulled on her thigh high boots, laced to her legs and dark gloves. Her hair was strapped in a ponytail, several strands escaping to dangle in her face. Her guards walked her down to the stables.
"My lady, we've prepared your horse for you, it's in the courtyard with your tutor. She thanked the stablehand and walked to the courtyard. The horse was beautiful. It was black as night, his fur shining in the sunlight of the early morning. She walked over to the horse and carefully let it sniff her hand before petting it on the neck.
"He's beautiful" she whispered to no one in particular.
"A fine thoroughbred Spanish horse, is he not?" she heard a voice behind her. She turned around and found, once again, Lord James.
"You're my tutor, I could've figured" she rolled her eyes.
"careful, My lady, you're sounding a bit distressed" he smirked.
"Well, let's just go riding." She answered and before anyone could rush to her aid she swung herself atop the horse. She dug her heels into its sides and sped off down to road, leaving James behind to stare at her in awe. Hermione had enjoyed riding for as long as she could remember, she rode before going to Hogwarts and every summer since. After a little while she slowed her gallop down to an even trot and enjoyed the landscape. It didn't take James long to catch up to her.
"I was told you didn't know how to ride" he laughed.
"Well, you underestimated me, clearly" she smirked. "clearly" he repeated.
"Let's see what you can do then" he told her before speeding of. Hermione smiled and followed suit.
Draco was standing on the balcony of his chambers, looking out over the castle grounds. He saw her, riding a black horse. Her hair was moving in the wind and he was pretty sure she was smiling. There was someone with her and there was no doubt in his mind that it was that wretched James dude. His page entered the chambers and announced some lady named Lola. The girl that entered was pretty, blonde hair and bright green eyes. The page left the room and the innocent face of the girl in front of him contorted in a wicked smile. She dropped her cloak and revealed she was wearing nothing underneath.
"Before you speak, My lord, I wasn't seen, I never am." She smiled. Draco was to baffled to speak.
"I've missed you" she purred, her hands resting on his chest. She pressed her lips on his and started working on his belt. When he recovered from the shock he grabbed her wrists.
"who are you?" he hissed.
"My Lord? I'm lady Lola, we have loved eachother for months" she questioned.
"Have we now?" he raised his eyebrows. "Well, I don't feel like loving you today, so you may leave" he commanded before turning away from her. He heard a sob before the girl rushed out of the chambers. He returned his gaze towards the grounds where two horses where still running. He smirked when he saw that she was in the lead now, jumping over obstacles as if they were nothing. It surprised him, he never thought she would be the type to ride horses, but he had a feeling that Hermione was full of surprises.
Hermione dismounted her horse in the courtyard. A stable boy was there to take the reins.
"I want to take care of him myself." She smiled politely.
"My lady?" Hermione had a feeling that again, this wasn't the normal way royals did anything.
"I want to brush him myself, just get some rest, or go see your family, not to worry, no one will fault you for this." She reassured the man and it seemed to please him enough to let her go about her way. She guided the horse to its stable, reading the name on its door. Rogue. An odd name for a horse, but fitting none the less. She had been in the saddle for a couple of hours and felt like Rogue was a proper name for a horse like he was. She looked around the stables and saw that no one was around so she shed her coat, leaving her standing in nothing but her black corset and her black legginglike pants with her boots. She didn't want the coat to get filthy. She started by drenching the horse with water, washing of all sweat of a long ride. Afterwards, she started to brush him. She would brush until she was satisfied that he was dry enough before throwing a quilt atop him.
"I don't know many ladies that know how to care for a horse" she turned and found James standing there once again.
"Haven't you heard? I am no lady, I am a princess." She responded.
"You most certainly are." He answered before grabbing a brush and joining her in her efforts to dry off the horse.
"He is magnificent" she whispered.
"He certainly is" he responded. "As are you, I've never seen anyone ride the way you did today." He commented. Hermione blushed.
"Well, I'm sure you have, I'm sure all the men in this country ride better than me" she returned her gaze back to the black beast in front of her.
"They are fine riders out there, don't get me wrong, but you ride with a certain wildness and recklessness that I haven't witnessed before." He admitted. She looked at him for a second.
"thanks" she whispered. After a couple more minutes Hermione grabbed the deep red and gold quilt that she threw over the horse.
"I'll come back soon, Rogue, I promise" she whispered to the horse before pressing a kiss on its nose. James stood in the doorway and Hermione pressed to get by him. He blocked her way and his form towered over her.
"You are not at all who I thought you were" he whispered, raising his hand to push a stray of hair behind her ear.
"I'm not?" she asked.
"No, you aren't" his hand pressed against her cheek and he carefully pressed his lips on hers. Hermione's eyes widened in shock. His hand travelled down to her waist and he pressed her against the doorframe. His kiss grew hungrier and she slowly responded. They heard voices down the hall and he broke the kiss.
"You are wild and reckless and you are the most magnificent creature I have ever laid eyes on" he whispered against her mouth before leaving her. Hermione stood there for a moment, her fingers resting on her lips. She had never been kissed like that before, hungrily and passionate.
She grabbed her coat and retreated to the castle, on her way to her chambers but ran straight into Draco.
"Hermione, there you are." He smiled at her, but his smile soon turned to a frown. Hermione looked down and realized she was most certainly not wearing proper attire for a princess.
"You look" he started.
"Horrible, I know" she finished.
"No, you look beautiful" he smiled.
"But I do think, however, that the king and queen might not agree" he smirked.
"I think you might be right about that" she smiled back.
"Let's go back to your chambers then and get you dolled up for dinner" he offered her his arm, as is proper. She hooked her hand through it and they walked through the castle. "I saw you riding today" he started making conversation.
"You did?" she asked.
"Yes, I was surprised that you could ride, I didn't think you ever ventured outside libraries" he laughed.
"There is more to me than books, you know." She stated.
"I'm beginning to understand that" he agreed. They reached her chambers and they both entered them.
"Let's see those options, shall we" Hermione frowned.
"Excuse me, am I to understand you are going to choose my outfit for the evening?" she enquired. He nodded.
"It can't be worse than anything you'd pick" he smirked. He picked out a black dress, laced and beaded with silver pearls, there was green in it as well.
"The Slytherin colours? Seriously?" she raised her eyebrows.
"Yes, indeed, but only, here it's merely green and silver, no one knows what Slytherin is" he handed her the dress.
"You do know I can't put this on by myself right? She asked.
"ah, naturally, fine, I'll help" he stated. "What?" she raised her eyebrows even higher if possible. He walked over to her and stood behind her. He started unlacing her corset carefully. "Malfoy, you do know that I can just throw on this dress over the corset, right?" she whispered. He bit his lip, something she couldn't see.
"Right, I forgot" he reversed his work, sealing her once more in a tight corset before she pulled on the dress. He helped her get into it and helped her get her unruly hair back in her ponytail.
"Let me look at you" he whispered, turning her around.
"You look good enough for this dinner, so let's go, we're already late" He offered her his arm once more and they walked in silence to the dining hall.
They joined the table and the other guests sat down as well.
"Ah, Lord James, good of you to join us" Hermione turned her head and saw James. He took a bow and took a seat next to her.
"Hello again, My lady" he smiled at her. Hermione simply nodded as Draco eyed them from across the table. The sevants served the meal as scheduled and Hermione dug into her plate. She had to hand it to these royals, they knew something about food. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt someone grab her hand under the table. Her eyes shot to James, giving him a warning look. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, but Hermione didn't even feel slightly reassured. Her eyes went to Draco. He looked angry.
"I was thinking of taking Hermione to our castle tomorrow." He stated.
"But Draco, that's two day's ride at least." The queen protested.
"I need time to get acquainted with my wife to be, and a four day trip seems like the right opportunity." He insisted. "Well, honey, leaving court for four days" the queen didn't seem happy about the idea.
"It sounds like a fine plan to me" the king interjected.
"take eight guards with you" he simply stated and that was the end of the conversation.
"I'm not feeling too well, I think I will retreat to my chambers for the night. I apologize." Hermione got up from the table.
"I'll escort you" James immediately stood too.
"I don't think that will be necessary, I'll escort my fiancée" Draco snapped. He was at Hermione's side in seconds, wrapping his arm around her waist and walking her out of the room.
"What was that all about?" she hissed.
"I'm not feeling that James guy" he shot back.
"He was just going to walk me back to our chambers." She retorted.
"I don't like the way he acts around you, you're my fiancée, it just isn't appropriate." He sounded mad.
"Malfoy, I'm not your fiancée, I'm Hermione Granger, Mudblood and Harry Potter's best friend." She looked surprised. His arm put a little more pressure on her waist.
"In this timezone you are" he whispered before dropping her of in front of her bedroom.