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"Faster Lia!" said Princess Hermione as they rode away from the castle. The only time that Hermione ever felt really free was when she was out of the castle. "No one understands me. Father sometimes understands me, but no one else." She hadn't been paying attention to where Lia was taking her. Hermione was lost in her thoughts. When she finally realized that they were farther than usual, Hermione pulled on the reigns. Lia stopped abruptly, but she wouldn't move when Hermione pulled on the reigns again. Lia began to rear and Hermione couldn't understand why. Hermione tried to calm her down, but she suddenly saw what frightened Lia so much. It was a serpent. Lia started to gallop away from the serpent. Hermione no longer had control over her horse. She began to panic as they started galloping faster.

They were coming close to a brook and Hermione once again tried to pull on the reigns. This time Lia stopped, but she stopped so suddenly that Hermione flew off the horse and into the water. Her ankle had slammed into a large rock. She just lay there in pain for what seemed like minutes before she tried to get up.

"Oh, my head," she said groggily. She tried to stand up, but realized she couldn't. "Oh no! My ankle must be broken! Mother will be so upset!" Hermione realized the helpless situation that she was in. Thoughts flooded her head as she sat there in the water. How am I going to get home? My birthday is in 2 months! I'm sure my ankle will be better by then! She began to lose all hope. Suddenly she heard someone coming. She then saw a handsome young man on a black horse. He saw her in the water and began to speed up so he could get to her faster.

"My lady, are you just washing yourself or are the darker forces at work here?"

Hermione couldn't help but smile even though her ankle was paining her. "Latter I'm afraid. I was riding when a serpent scared the wits out of my horse and-"

"Your horse began to run, you pulled on the reins, and she stopped so abruptly that she threw you off and you went flying into the brook," the stranger said.

Hermione didn't know what to say. She just stared at the handsome stranger with an open mouth.

"Don't worry. You're not the only one it has happened to."

Hermione laughed. She couldn't tear her eyes away from his eyes. They looked like sparkling emeralds. She was brought back to reality when she realized he was offering his hand to help her. She took it, but she couldn't pull herself up because her ankle was still causing her great pain.

"Oh, you're ankle!" The stranger jumped off of his horse and walked over to where Hermione was. "Can you put your arms around me?" Hermione nodded and put her arms around his neck as he lifted her off the ground and helped her onto his horse.

"Thank you so much, Mr--"

"Just call me Harry. And you are?"

"Just call me Hermione," she wondered if he suspected that she was the Princess.

"Very well Hermione. Let me help you home. Do you mind if I ride your horse?" he asked.

"No, but she doesn't usually like strange men. She-" But there was no need to tell him anymore. Lia seemed to warm up to him rather quickly. Harry mounted the horse and he and Hermione started to ride together.

"Do you live here?" asked Hermione after a few minutes.

"Oh no. I'm visiting from another kingdom. Where do you live?" Harry tried to change the subject. He didn't want Hermione to know that he was a prince. He was actually on his way to the castle of King Colin. He was going to offer to serve in the king's army when the Wizard War started, which would be any day now. He wondered whether the Hermione he was with was actually the Princess at first, but why would she be wearing commoner clothing? Maybe it's the same reason you're wearing commoner clothing, a voice inside his head said.

"I live here in this kingdom. I've lived here all my life."

"I used to visit here when I was a child. I have so many memories of this kingdom. I was so happy here as a child." Harry began to remember all the happy times he used to spend with his friends. "Do you have happy memories of your childhood?" He asked Hermione with curiosity.

"A few. Most of my childhood was spent in the cas-- I mean in my home. My mother wouldn't let me go out very much. She was always afraid that I would get hurt."

"I see," said Harry. "How did you put up with it?"

"I would sneak out when they were asleep or when they weren't home."

"They left you at home by yourself?" Harry asked.

"No, my nurse would watch over me. I used to worry her so much. Still, when I would sneak out, I felt so free and nothing in the world seemed to matter. All my cares were forgotten as I would ride my horse in the moonlight. I became free of my gilded cage."

"That sounds wonderful," Harry said. "I used to sneak out sometimes too when I was visiting here. I would ride my horse to a lake and look up at the stars. Sometimes I would talk to my parents. I liked to pretend that they could hear me."

"Oh, did your parents..."

"They were killed by Lord Voldemort when I was a baby. My godfather raised me."

"I'm sorry." Hermione couldn't imagine losing her parents at such a young age.

"Well, the dark lord will soon get what is coming to him," said Harry with a hint of anger in his voice.

"I certainly hope so," said Hermione.

"Well, are we almost to your home? It's beginning to get dark and I don't want your parents to worry," said the prince.

"Oh no! It is getting dark! My parents must be worried sick!" Hermione hadn't realized how long she had been out. She could see the castle in a distance. She didn't want Harry to know she was a princess. She decided to have him leave her some place close to the castle so that he wouldn't suspect anything.

"Drop me off over there please," she said as she pointed to an abandoned cottage in the distance. When they got there, Harry dismounted and helped move Hermione from his horse to hers.

"Are you sure you will be all right, my lady?" Harry didn't want her to hurt herself even more, but he was quite sure she could take care of herself. She was not like the other girls he knew. She didn't whine about her ankle or anything. All of the other girls he knew would've have been crying about it the whole time.

"Yes. Thank you so much for your kindness, Harry. Will I see you again?" Hermione asked. She was afraid of walking away from a potential romance. Hermione had always said that she had to have two things in her life: adventure and romance. She had already developed something for Harry. Just looking at him as they rode made her want to be in his arms. His eyes were so enticing.

"I certainly hope so," said Harry. He wanted to see her again very much. As they rode, words didn't seem to be necessary. During the few minutes that they rode in silence, they seemed to be able to read each other's minds. He took Hermione's hand and kissed it. He saw her blush a little and it made him blush as well.

"Farewell Harry," said Hermione as she began to ride towards her castle.

"Farewell….my Hermione." He uttered the last part under his breath. I know we shall meet again. He decided to take a shortcut to King Colin's castle. I wonder what her last name was.

Hermione looked back once more as she saw Harry ride off on his horse. She decided that she had to get to the castle quickly before her parents sent out the royal guards to look for her. I wonder what his last name is.

Please review! I'm sorry it took me so long to update. School was really hectic for me this year. Now it's summer and I have time to write. In the next chapter, identities will be revealed.