CHAPTER SIXTEEN


Summary: Finding herself one thousand years back in the past and in the legendary Kingdom of Camelot was something Hermione had never seen coming. But with no possible way back to the future and being stuck in the past, Hermione had no option but to form a new life for herself, and hopefully without changing the timeline. Unfortunately, matters of the heart cannot be controlled and she finds herself entwined in the lives of Prince Arthur and the great and powerful sorcerer, Merlin. Hermione x Arthur pairing.

Disclaimer: I do not own canon events and characters, they belong to J.K Rowling and the creators of Merlin, and the BBC. I am not making a profit from writing and posting this fanfic. I'm also making some big changes to the Merlin plotline so don't be surprised that nothing matches with canon. If I'm being honest, it's been years since I last saw the series, so I'm mostly going off what I remember and episode reviews and notes. And I've decided Arthur won't be dying.

Q&A

I do love to read your reviews and see what theories/thoughts that are flying around in the comments. But as usual, I'm not going to give anything away as I love to keep you all in suspense and surprise you.

Lmsd1994 – I plan to work on a Hermione x Merlin and a Hermione x Merlin x Arthur in the future.

Angiforever2016 – I am doing very well, thank you. I know there are hundreds/thousands of crossovers between particular fandoms and as much as I love adding to them, I enjoy writing about pairings that aren't often seen or heard of. And I have no plans of stopping writing fanfics, I shall be doing this even on my death bed, lol.


Page count: 10


It was another three hours later when Hilda and Marcella were finally pushing the fabric laden cart out of room after coming to an agreement on designs, fabrics, colours and taking both hers and Ginevra's measurements and quickly leaving to make a start on the young girl's dress that she would need for the feast that was due to start in a few hours time. Luckily, Hilda already had a dress that was almost completed but the order had been cancelled by the woman, so with a little alteration, it would do for Ginevra.

Once the women were gone –of which Hermione knew they were horrified by a couple of items that she'd asked for as well as the dresses- Hermione barely restrained herself from doing a victory dance and she returned her chair to the vanity table and made her way into the other room, taking a seat on the edge of the large bed. She could already feel the difference between the bed she'd slept on in her hut in the village, and it even felt more comfortable than the bed she'd had at home and at Hogwarts, too.

She hadn't very much time to do all the things she wished to do to settle in, and she couldn't make a start until Ginevra left, so she decided to see to her first.

"Ginevra, please come here, I wish to speak with you."

The young girl returned the chair to the writing desk and then approached the bed, stopping before Hermione with her hands clasped and her head lowered, her eyes briefly glancing over at the slumbering wolf and then back to the ground.

"Look at me," she instructed and the young girl lifted her head until their gazes locked. "How old are you?"

"I am seventeen, Your Highness," she responded quietly.

Hermione quietly sighed. "Why do you work in the castle? What did you do before you were made my handmaiden?"

"My mother has worked in the kitchens since before I was born. When she fell pregnant with me, my father died of an illness that couldn't be cured. The King assured my mother that she would be taken care of and that I would have a place in the castle if I should wish it. I have been helping in the kitchens since I was fourteen and I have been cleaning the castle for almost two years."

"That was very generous of King Uther," Hermione said, feeling surprised that he'd done such a thing. "But I must confess something to you, Ginevra. I like to think of myself as a very tolerant and patient person, but I must warn you, I do have a temper and when my patience is tried, I can be quite snappy. I am sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier, I am usually more contained, however, I was annoyed Hilda and Marcella were here for so long and by your reactions to Akela, despite the warnings that had been issued before you met him. I understand it is frightening but there is no need for such loud exclamations, luckily for you, the loud noises didn't annoy him either or it may have ended badly."

"You are too quiet, too shy, and unless you can look me in the eye and pass me something without trembling, I'm sorry to say, you may not be my handmaiden for very long. I am a physician; I work long hours and I see some terrible things that can make me irritable. If you cannot handle me when I am in such a mood, then there is no point in you being here. I don't wish to upset you or hurt your feelings, I am only telling you the facts. If you do not think you can handle it, please tell me now, and I will ask for another handmaiden."

"I can manage," she said quietly.

"You'll have to speak up, Ginevra."

The young girl took a deep breath. "I can manage," she repeated louder.

"Excellent, now, let's go over what I expect of you. I am not like others you may encounter. I much prefer to do things for myself; therefore, your list of duties will be quite a bit shorter than any other handmaiden or manservant. I do not require your help with dressing unless I ask for it, I do not require your help with bathing, but I would like for you to bring the hot water as expected. I do not require help with my hair unless I ask first. On a morning, I am able to wake myself but I would like you to bring me breakfast. If I wish to leave the castle and explore, I may ask you to accompany me, I may not, that will depend on whether or not I plan to purchase anything that I may not be able to carry by myself. I intend to work in the city, therefore I won't be here that often and when I'm not or you're not with me, you may do as you wish as that time is yours."

"I'm sure you are already given a wage but I will also be giving you a wage for your services. The dresses that have been ordered are yours and yours alone. They are yours to keep and I don't expect anything in return. As I said previously, now that you are my handmaiden, you are under my care and I will ensure that you have anything you may require. If you find yourself in a spot of trouble, please tell me and I will do what I can to help you. I may be irritable and snappy from time to time, but I will treat you with kindness and respect. I am quite independent and I don't require much from you. Akela, if you are afraid of him, simply stay out of his way and he shan't bother you. He is capable of finding his own food but if you bring him some meat or cheese when bringing me my meals, I'm sure he'll grow to like you."

"Cheese, Your Highness?" The young girl questioned in surprise, her eyes darting to the sleeping wolf who'd not long since rolled onto his back with his legs in the air and Hermione snorted at him.

"Yes, cheese, he is quite fond of it, surprising, I know. His favourite meat is rabbit but he is able to hunt that himself. If you bring him something he may not be able to catch in the wild, maybe mutton or pork, I'm sure you'll be the best of friends. Unless you mean to harm me, he is of no concern to you and he shall leave you be. Are there any questions you wish to ask me?"

"No, Your Highness."

"Well then, I shall unpack my belongings and I don't require your help with it, so you may do what you wish with this time. An hour and a half before the feast, I would like to bathe and your dress should have arrived by then. Fifteen minutes before my arrival is expected, I would like for you to return and be ready and we will leave for the feast together. Understood?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"You may go, Ginevra, and I shall see you later this evening."

"Your Highness," she said, curtseying and all but scurrying out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Despite her words and assurances she could handle the job and the little duties Hermione had given her, –knowing other handmaidens and manservants practically did everything for their charges- she honestly didn't think Ginevra would last long. She was nothing like the fiery and stubborn witch she'd grown up with. A name was all they had in common.

She would've much preferred to do everything herself and she honestly had no need of a handmaiden, it being the reason she'd given her so few tasks, but she knew it would be rude to decline the King's gift and it was expected of her to have such people working for her. She didn't mind being unusual, different, but not so much that she stuck out like a saw thumb.

Sighing, Hermione stood from the bed, pulled her wand from her sleeve and sent a Locking Charm to the door before she reached for her beaded bag and tipped it upside down, emptying the contents of it onto the mattress.

She was surprised by some of the items that came free; books, ingredients, clothing from the future, towels, canned foods, an actual kitchen sink, -why did she have a kitchen sink?- a tent, some of Harry and Ron's clothing, hygiene and bathroom supplies, medical supplies, Harry's Invisibility Cloak and a pouch that was charmed on the inside to be bigger and that contained a large amount of gold, silver and copper coins. The money had belonged to Harry who'd managed to slip away to Gringotts –she still wasn't sure how as he refused to tell her lest she go mad and hex him- and he'd withdrawn a large amount to be used in cases of emergency.

She'd barely touched it since arriving in the past, but she'd since come to understand that it no longer held any use to Harry and that he would want her to use the funds to make a better life herself. As such, she planned to use the substantial pile of gold, silver and copper to help others that may need it. There was far too much for her to spend in any lifetime, especially now with her being in the past and there being no such thing as inflation. The amount she held currently was just shy of five thousand pounds in the 20th century, so she could only imagine what it would be worth in the late 5th century, likely hundreds of thousands, she couldn't be sure.

Pursing her lips in thought and lightly tapping the tip of her wand against her thigh, Hermione turned to the cabinet in that side of the room and approached it, opening it up to reveal it was empty and held two shelves and two drawers. After a quick Enlargement Charm, she placed her rarer ingredients inside the cabinet and locked it once she was done. With a whispered spell, she had a second cabinet summoned from the other room and placed beside the other one, and after charming it bigger on the inside, she unpacked her books and tomes and placed them all inside, once again locking it behind her so only she would be able to open it.

Harry and Ron's belongings, the food, tent, sink and her clothing would be returned to her bag along with the rest of her ingredients until she had a building to practice out of, and her medical supplies were placed in the trunk. The Sword of Gryffindor was hung on the wall on the pegs and stand that was already there, positioning it above the fireplace and she had the pillowcase containing the Horcruxes stashed away in her bag once more to be forgotten about.

She knew there were still items that had yet to be found so she returned to her beaded bag and dug around inside until she found a wooden jewellery box that had been gifted to her by her Grandmother, of which, she stashed the pouch of coins inside before locking it in the drawer on the writing desk. She found an old blanket, too, which she left out for the time being and she would place it by the fireplace once the wolf had woken, and finally, she found what she'd been looking for.

It was a little wrinkled as it hung from the hanger but a spell or two would easily take care of that, and Hermione hung it from the torch nearby before returning the rest of the items into her beaded bag and then she locked that away in the writing desk, too.

Sighing to herself, she climbed onto the bed and laid in the centre, looking up at the wooden slab that was the ceiling. Hermione thought about potentially charming it to show the stars; it would certainly be nice for it to be the last thing she saw before falling asleep.

~000~000~000~

A knock on the door startled Hermione awake and she sat up, rubbing at her eyes realising that she'd fallen asleep, and she wasn't the only one to have woken as Akela seemed to be glaring at the door in annoyance.

Snorting, Hermione climbed from the bed and crossed to the door, releasing the Locking Charm and opening it to reveal that Ginevra stood on the other side with a large flagon of steaming water by her feet, a collection of cloths gathered over her shoulder and a metal bucket with a selection of scented oils and soaps. Behind her stood another two older looking girls, a flagon of steaming water between them and a large metal tub sat before them.

How long had she slept?

Shaking her head, she smiled. "Please, come in girls," she said, opening the door wider and allowing them entrance.

The two girls who looked similar in appearance were likely related and they both carried the large tub into the second half of the room, before returning for the flagons of water and pouring the steaming liquid into the tub. Once done, they left with a curtsey to her and out the door, leaving her with Ginevra who stood in the doorway nervously.

"Has your dress arrived, Ginevra?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, Your Highness," she replied.

"And is it to your liking?"

"It is beautiful, I have never owned such a dress," she blushed.

Hermione smiled. "I am pleased you like it, I'm certain Hilda and Marcella would be happy to hear that. Do you have somewhere you may dress and prepare for this evening?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Then I shall take these from you and see you in a little while. Thank you, Ginevra," she said, reaching for the bucket and cloths.

The young girl curtsied before turning and leaving out the room and down the corridor without a second glance towards the wolf that eyed her with a narrowed gaze for waking him up. Chuckling, Hermione kicked the door shut and reapplied the Locking Charm before heading towards the tub.

There wasn't quite enough water for her but that was easily rectified with an Aquamenti, which also helped to cool the steaming liquid. She summoned two towels, placing one on the ground by the tub and the second she hung over the lip of the tub, before she quickly divested of her clothing, released her hair from the hair tie and then she climbed into the tub, hissing as despite her adding extra cold water, it was still hot and she could already see her skin turning pink.

When she was able to take the heat, she sat down in the tub, reached over to edge to dig through the selection of bath oils and soap until she found one she liked, a floral smelling oil and she dumped it into the water before relaxing back against the tub and towel.

She took in the silence and solitude, relaxing her aching muscles that still hurt from the journey on foot and the day's ride, and it stung against the slowly healing cut on her arm. She relaxed for as long as she could before she knew she had to ready for the feast she was dreading. She used the nice smelling soap to scrub her body clean, shaved her underarms and legs with a previously blunt razor which she always charmed to be sharp and then she summoned her hair care products.

She'd long since run out of shampoo and conditioner, but she'd learned to make her own with natural ingredients and with the use of one of the books she'd taken from Grimmauld Place. There hadn't just been medical texts, but books surrounding history, spell casting, dark magic, arithmancy, potions and hair and beauty charms and products, too. And she never thought she'd say it, but they certainly came in handy.

After washing and rinsing her hair and feeling cleaner than she had in a long time, she stepped out of the tub and wrapped herself up in a towel, casting a quick Drying Charm over her hair and body.

Now she was clean, it was Akela's turn and she emptied the tub and refilled it with warm water. They'd only done this once before and he hadn't particularly liked it, but his fur was still stained with blood and he was filthy. She knew he'd accompany her to the feast with so many unknown people being present and him being so protective of her. People would be afraid of him regardless of what she told them so she at least wished to make him look less frightening and more presentable.

"Akela, we need to clean you," she said, popping her head through the archway and looking at the wolf. "Come on, it'll be quick."

The look he gave her all but said she was insane if she even thought for a moment he'd willingly get in the bath.

"Akela," she sighed. "There is to be a feast tonight. I promise that if you let me clean you, I shall feed you cheese beneath the table."

At the mention of the bribe word –that's what she called it as he'd yet to refuse to do anything he didn't want to with the bribe of cheese- the wolf slowly rose to his feet and stretched himself out like a cat before begrudgingly approaching her and the tub.

"We just need to clean the blood from your fur and then you can get out," she said.

The wolf sent her an annoyed look before jumping into the tub and splashing water everywhere. Hermione knew he'd done it on purpose and she couldn't even be mad at him as he sat in the tub, the water coming up to his stomach and he held a far from pleased look on his face, much like a child at bath time.

Biting her lip to stop herself from laughing, she conjured a jug and used it to wet the remainder of the wolf which hadn't been easy as he refused to sit still and allow her to do it. Once done, she lathered him up with a sweetly smelling soap and rinsed away the blood and dirt from his fur. There was still a red-pinkish tint around his chest and mouth but it was certainly better than before and his dark-silver fur helped to hide it.

"All done, get out," she said.

The wolf had been waiting for those words as he launched himself from the tub and onto the ground, shaking his fur dry and covering her with the water droplets. She couldn't scold him, he looked too cute with his wet fur sticking out and a sulky look in his eyes. Looking at the water, she saw that is was nearly black with dirt and blood.

God! He really had been in need of a bath!

Shaking her head, she banished the dirty water and quickly gave the tub a rinse before casting a Drying Charm over the wolf, his fur seeming to puff up like a poodle that had been brushed. He looked soft and fluffy like a cloud and reaching out and running her hand through his clean and nicely smelling fur, Hermione thought she wouldn't mind using him as a pillow. The wolf skulked away from her and sat himself down in front of the fireplace once she'd placed the blanket there for him and he made himself comfortable.

As it was getting dark and cold in the castle, she lit the torches as well as the fireplace and she cast a Warming Charm over herself before she retrieved her dress and crossed back into the other room. She dropped the towel and put her under-things on and then she slipped on her dress, fastening the buttons at the back with a wave of her wand. She took a seat at the vanity table and did what she could for her hair before slipping on her footwear and then moving to stand before the mirror. With some effort and a bit of magic, her dress was now suitable for this time period, well, mostly.

As she slipped her wand beneath her sleeve, she glanced at herself in the mirror. She currently wore the dress she'd worn to Bill and Fleur's wedding, though no one would ever know due to the alterations she'd made, or the fact they hadn't been there, obviously. It was still the same ruby red colour only now it had sleeves that fell down to her wrists and they sat off her shoulders, showing her collar bones, the column of her neck and the very top of her cleavage, so it was nothing too revealing and she still felt comfortable. The dress fit to her frame and cinched in at the waist, clinging to her bum and legs before flaring out in a mermaid style until it touched the ground. She knew such a style would be unseen in Camelot but it was easy enough to say it was a custom from Hogwarts. And yes, the dress was form-fitting but she'd done so on purpose. If they were going to stare at her, she was going to give them a reason to, or so Fleur had told her to do twice before.

She wore her silver-studded earrings, her mother's silver locket –which had since been repaired- around her neck and it rested just above the line of her dress, and on her feet, she wore a pair of red flat shoes that were more of a medieval-type ballet flat with a strap around the ankle. For her hair she'd gone simple, allowing it to spill down her back until it reached just above her waistline, with some of it pulled back into a half-up half-down do held in place with pretty hairpins, but one or two curls framed her face. Thanks to her hair products, her hair was still a wild, tangled mass of thick curls, but it had lost the frizz and bushiness and now appeared soft.

Knowing there was nothing else she could do and actually, she felt pretty which couldn't often be said, she was as happy with her appearance as she could be and she stepped away from the mirror, making sure her wand was hidden and out of sight and that visible scars were glamoured.

Crossing to the other room, Hermione debated tying a bow around Akela's neck to make him look less frightening and more like a large fluffy dog, but she decided against it. She didn't want her wolf to be uncomfortable, he'd already had a bath and looked far too fluffy and cuddly for his own good, and she reminded herself that he was still a wild animal no matter how domesticated he appeared to be.

"You look very handsome," she told her wolf, crouching down at his level the best she could in the tight dress and running her hand through his fur. "I promise, I will feed you all the cheese you can eat and if you behave and don't growl at anyone this evening, I may even slip you a sweet treat, too. There are people here to protect me, tonight you needn't do so."

A knock on the door sounded and Hermione rose to her feet and crossed the room to the door, opening it and revealing someone she hadn't been expecting, Merlin.

He stood there in surprise, staring at her with parted lips, wide eyes and a blush to his cheeks. She noticed that his clothing appeared to be of a better quality than usual and he didn't look as unkempt either. Her eyes fell down to his hands, seeing the velvet cushion that sat what was unmistakably a beautifully designed and crafted tiara made of gold and that held a number of small rubies, maybe six or eight, she couldn't be sure at the angle she stood.

"Hermione..." Merlin started.

Hermione's mouth pulled into an amused smile despite the heat she felt flooding her cheeks.

"Yes, Merlin?"

"You...Well...You look...I...I've never seen such a dress," he stuttered.

"I hadn't expected you to have; it's something of a custom from Hogwarts. Luckily, I had this stashed away in my bag, I was able to alter it a little to better suit the occasion."

"You...You look beautiful."

"Thank you, Merlin," she replied with a smile.

"You'll have all eyes on you this evening."

"That would have been the case no matter what I wore, but a friend of mine used to say if they're going to stare, give them a reason to."

"You've certainly done that," he muttered, shaking his head. "I have been asked to give you this before your arrival. The guests are still arriving and are being seated, you are expected shortly so you may make your entrance."

"Give me it?" She frowned, looking down at the beautiful and no doubt expense item.

"Yes, Arthur insisted that you have it."

"Merlin, I appreciate the gesture and the thought, but I cannot accept such a gift."

He shrugged his shoulders. "It's Arthur's doing, not mine. But please accept it, at least just for tonight. He said I have to polish every piece of armour in the castle if I can't convince you to wear it. Please, Hermione, for my sake. Do you have any idea how many that is? I don't, I can't even count that high! I feel nauseous just thinking about it. Even if I had a little extra help, I'd take me weeks. Please, please, save me from a life of servitude and boredom. I might steal a sword and end my life. Do you really want to be responsible for my death?"

"I'll be sure to write you a lovely eulogy," she deadpanned.

He scowled at her but she could see his mouth twitching as though he wished to smile.

"Please, I swear, if I kill myself I'll come back as a spirit and haunt you."

Despite being amused with his dramatics, Hermione sighed. "I'm not comfortable with this Merlin, but for you, I will make the sacrifice."

"Oh, thank God," he sighed in relief, before he removed the tiara from the cushion and sat it in place on her head, Hermione reaching up to right it so it wouldn't fall off. He smiled as he stepped back. "Now you look like a Princess," he said. "But I best not keep Arthur waiting, I'll see you at the feast," he said, giving her bow and darting out of the way when she made to smack at his arm, his laugh echoing as he darted down the corridor.

Hermione rolled her eyes and closed the door before moving over to the mirror, staring at herself in surprise. She'd hardly noticed herself in the dress before, but now she wasn't even sure if she were the same person. It was a wonder how a single piece of jewellery could change your appearance. A simple tiara –that wasn't quite so simple- sat on her head, looking as though it belonged there. Merlin was right; she did look like a Princess. The Gryffindor Princess.

A knock on the door startled her and Hermione returned to it, knowing this time it would be Ginevra and when she opened it, she was right. She smiled at the nervous, shy girl before her, seeing she looked rather pretty with her hair intricately braided and being clad in the soft yellow-orange dress. A quality she noted that was above a villager but below nobility and for those in-between.

The young girl stared at Hermione with wide eyes; her gaze darted between her tiara, face and dress.

"You look lovely, Ginevra," Hermione commented with a smile.

"Your Highness..." She trailed off.

"Shall we head down to the feast, I believe they are waiting for my arrival?" The young girl merely nodded as she stepped back to allow Hermione room. "Akela, time to go. You can nap later," she called softly, the large wolf letting out a grunting noise of displeasure before he climbed to his feet and walked until he reached her side. "Would you mind leading the way, Ginevra, I'm not yet familiar with the castle?"

"Yes, Your Highness," she muttered.

Oh great, she was back to being timid again, Hermione thought with a sigh.

"Then please, after you," Hermione gestured with her hand, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind her, quietly following the young girl through the castle with a large wolf obediently by her side.

Oh, what a sight she would make when she stepped into the room. She could only imagine the reactions of Harry and Ron if they were with her right now. She was certain they'd be beside themselves and Ron would be laughing his arse off, repaying her in kind to the way she and Harry had teased him for his dress robes for the Yule Ball all those years ago.

It was times like this her heart ached at the knowledge that she would never again see her friends, that she'd never again get to speak with them. It was times like this when she needed them by her side, the way they'd been for years.

Looking down at her wolf, she was grateful she had him and that she wasn't completely alone.