22. Human Again

As the last petal touched the table, the glowing light from the rose petals and stem faded away, and Hermione continued sobbing, clutching Adam's fur and holding him. Ron kneeled awkwardly behind her, toying with his wand in his lap.

Then, just as Hermione's tears began to subside, and she drifted into a dulled sorrow, a ball of white light appeared above Adam's chest, hovered for a moment, before launching itself into his chest. The light spread through his body, and Hermione's cheek became warm. She pulled herself away from his fur and gasped. Just as the roses had been illumined so brightly, so now was Adam's body. It glowed with a beautiful inner white light, and as both she and Ron watched, dumbstruck, Adam's body lifted off the ground. Streams of light burst one by one from his hands, his feet, even his head. The light grew in intensity and became so bright that Hermione turned her face toward Ron's chest and he ducked his head into hers.

Eventually, the light dimmed and Adam's body drifted toward the stone floor. But when Hermione finally turned her face to see what had happened, she saw not a large furry form, but a tall, muscular man with a long mane of reddish hair. The man stirred, rolling to his side. Hermione stayed where she was as the man's eyes fluttered open, and he sat up. When his eyes landed on Hermione, he smiled. "I hoped you would break the curse," he said.

She crossed the few steps to him and flung her arms around his neck. "I thought you had left me," she said. "I thought I would never see you again." It had felt too much like Hogwarts, and so Hermione clung to Adam even more tightly, pressed herself to him before finally letting go.

"We should see how the rest of the staff is doing," Adam said. Hermione grasped his hand, trotting with him, Ron following behind. When they reached the ballroom, they saw that the battle had calmed and the inanimate objects had become human again. Babette was drawing lecherous leers from the few townsmen who were still fighting, and Lumiere was wielding a rapier and with a wide smirk slashed a man's pants so that they fell down.

Entering the room, Adam clapped his hands loudly. A few people turned to look at him, but as he began to speak, the room quieted entirely.

"People of Molyneux," he said in a loud, clear voice, "I know you have been led here under false pretenses. The hunter named Gaston informed you that there was a witch in my castle, but in inciting you to trespass onto our property and attack my staff, he led you to commit act of treason against me, the crowned prince of the province.

"However, I am a forgiving man. Cease and desist, and return to your homes, and I shall seek no reparations for tonight's damage. Continue to fight, and I will call upon my entire guard and have you imprisoned. Gaston himself has become incapacitated and will be punished for his actions. Leave now and spare yourselves the same fate."

The people blinked at him in confusion, and a few whispers broke through the silence. A few men turned to go, and a few of those that had been stunned were now stirring. Adam, Hermione, and Ron made their way to the entrance hall, and Adam delivered the same speech though the fighting here was still somewhat passionate. As some of the mob began to center on Hermione, Ron, and Adam, the castle guard arrived and began pushing the people back toward the entrance, arresting those that resisted.

Finally, the castle was quiet—the villagers having either left the castle and returned to the Molyneux or been imprisoned in the castle dungeons. Gaston was alive, though out cold, and Hermione and Ron had unceremoniously levitated his body to one of the open dungeon cells, locking it magically in the case he was somehow clever enough to get a key. They then began to clean the castle using their magic, removing the bloodstains and repairing the banister of the stairs in the entrance hall while Adam checked in with his castle staff.

It was as they were doing this work that Ron broke the silence and spoke. "I'm sorry, Hermione," he said. "I'm sorry I was such a prat that I probably put Malfoy to shame. I just… I just missed you."

Hermione was silent and lowered her wand and her gaze. "I know, Ron. What you said a few weeks ago really hurt me, though. Adam was just a friend for quite a long time, and I also never made you any promises. You and I have always argued, Ron, and it's been hard even just being friends with you. I think it's better that whatever was between us ended before it really began."

"You really believe that?"

Hermione looked at Ron, saw his pale blue eyes intensely staring at her, pain causing his irises to clench. She turned away. "Yes, Ron. I do."

The silence was thicker than the dust on the rug that hadn't been beaten once during the curse. "All right then," Ron said slowly. "I'm heading back to Harry's."

His footsteps echoed in the empty hall but grew fainter as he climbed the stairs toward the East Wing. Hermione stared at the wall until the stone and the blood began to blur. She rubbed at her eyes; her hand was wet, and she quickly wiped it on her dress.

"Well, it looks like you've done quite the job in here—it only looks like a minor scuffle happened instead of a full-on battle."

Hermione smiled as she turned to see Adam behind her. "Merci, Adam. How is the staff?"

"They're doing well, a bit shaken up and very thrilled to be human again. Thank you for breaking the curse."

"You're welcome." It felt stiff and formal to be speaking with him. And now knowing that love broke the curse, she felt an enormous weight—she didn't want to think about what would happen, at least not tonight. "I should probably retire for the evening. I'll finish cleaning the hall tomorrow."

"I'll escort you to your room."

They walked to the East Wing, and the door to Hermione's room was ajar. The sight of it made her heart ache. "Adam," she said quietly, "what do you expect to happen now that the curse is broken?"

He stood with her in the hall and placed his hands on her upper arms before moving one to her cheek. "You have already given me so much, Hermione. I have no right to ask anything of you, and I certainly will not coerce you into anything. But I hope that you'll wish to remain with me here in France and, one day, become my queen."

"That's a lot to consider, Adam. I'd be leaving my homeland permanently, and I likely wouldn't see my friends or family. And I also have career ambitions in my own time that I wouldn't be able to satisfy here. Not to mention that while I care for you deeply, we've only known each other a few months."

"I know," he said, and he moved his hands to hold hers. "I'm willing to wait for you, Hermione, and to give you what you need. And if that's time, or freedom to continue a somewhat active life in your home world, I will gladly grant that to you."

He brought her right hand to his lips and kissed it. "Good night, Hermione. I hope you sleep well, and I look forward to seeing you in the morning." Adam bowed and then left heading to his own wing. Hermione shut the door behind herself.

She should have been tired, but once Hermione finally made it to bed, she was turning and shifting position almost constantly, unable to fall asleep.