Authors Note:
In response to a prompt by Anonymous in the FremioneFairytales collection.
Hello this story was written for the Princess and the Fool: A Fremione Fanatics Fairytale Fest 2022.
The claim I chose was: Alice in Wonderland
I hope you guys enjoy reading this Wonderland themed proposal quest fic. 😀
It was Saturday morning and Hermione awoke with a yawn; shielding her eyes from the sun that cast hues of warm orange through the open window of her and Fred's bedroom. Hermione stretched, pushing herself up into a sitting position, frowning when she realised, she was alone in the bed, where on earth was Fred she wondered, casting her eyes about the room. Her eyes settled on her desk where a fresh vase of wildflowers sat alongside a tray laden with foods, Hermione smiled padding across the room to get a closer look. As she got nearer, she realised there was a note as well, she reached out taking it in hand and read her boyfriend's neat looping handwriting:
Hermione; my love, my life, my sugarplum,
Happy anniversary, five years ago today you made me the happiest man when you agreed to date a humble prankster. I'm still surprised I get to wake up everyday to you by my side. Today I have a treat for you, a quest if you will, if you follow every step and solve every clue, they should lead you to me for a romantic rendezvous. Now enjoy your breakfast, drink some juice, enjoy a shower and dress for your quest. I think you'll like this day my love, your first clue is from one of your favourite books…
" Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where—" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
"—so long as I get somewhere ," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough." - Chapter 6, Pig and Pepper
Enjoy your day my love, I'll be the handsome man waiting for you when you complete your quest.
Love Fred
xox
"Alice in wonderland," she breathed, it was a book her father had read to her as a child, Hermione had begged him to read it again and again when she was young, she loved the story so much it reminded her of some of her best childhood memories. Hermione sat down at her desk smelling the wildflowers with a smile. The rich tray of food called to her, her stomach rumbling as she took in the selection of Danish pastries, fruit, yogurt, and granola along with a cafetiere of fresh coffee and a class of freshly squeezed orange juice. She ate it all, savouring it, her mind thinking on the clue her boyfriend had given her.
After finishing the delicious meal, Hermione had a quick shower and dressed for her quest, the clue implied she'd have a lot of traveling to do so she opted for a pair of comfortable white trainers; she paired them with a blue sundress similar to the one she'd imagined Alice to wear when she had been a child and placed a blue headband in her hair, keeping her dark curls out of her face. Dressed fittingly for her quest, Hermione went off in search for her battered copy of the book.
"Oh my, what has Freddie done to you," she gasped as she entered the living room, reaching out to grab Tinkerbell, the formally white cat meowed at her; her thick fur now made of purple stripes.
"My very own Cheshire Cat," she smiled, tickling the cat under her chin, Tinkerbell purred, and Hermione placed the cat down on the teal sofa with a soft kiss to her fluffy head.
"Oh there you are," she spoke to herself, approaching the mahogany bookshelf in the corner of the room, stood prominently on display, in front of the other books was her copy of Alice in Wonderland facing out into the room invitingly. Hermione stroked the books worn spine lovingly before flicking it open to the sixth chapter, where another note of Fred's was waiting for her to read, she pulled it out, reading it happily:
My darling Hermione,
I hope you enjoyed the flowers and food, that your dressed for this quest and not skipping ahead. Tinkerbell wanted to dress for this quest, no harm will befall her, I reassure you. Well done my love, you solved the first clue, a very easy one that is true. Many more clues lie ahead in this quest, you'll find the next where Weasels rest. I love you my love and so too does my mum, she's waiting for you with some bumbleberry tarts.
Love Fred
xox
"Be good my love, I'm off to the Burrow," she told her cat, scratching her striped ears sweetly before she apparated to her boyfriend's childhood home.
