Chapter Twenty-One

"You want to tell me what that was all about?"

Hermione looked up at her husband and waited patiently. He kept his eyes looking up at the ceiling of the tent as his fingers danced along the skin on her upper arm. She had her arms wrapped around his torso whilst her legs were intertwined with his. She felt him sigh before he looked at her. She could still see some anger lurking but mainly just sorrow.

"Ma mère was passionate in her defence of our people. She refused to back down, be it to the guards or to Frollo. I was around seven years old when she was arrested. I still remember the day since we had gone up to the surface for a birthday present for mon père. I raced back here as quickly as I could to tell him what had happened.

I still remember the look of pure terror on my father's face as he ran through the crypts and up towards the Palace of Justice. She was hanged the next day. I wasn't allowed to go up to see her but my father did. When he came back,' Clopin took a deep shuddering breath, making Hermione tighten her grip on him. 'well, he wasn't the same.

A few months later, Bartley found my dad washed up on the bank of the river. There's a lot of stipulation as to whether or not he jumped off the bridge or not. I became King that night. To this day, I still don't understand why she didn't escape since she was a real witch."

He looked deep into her eyes before cupping her face in his warm hands. Pressing his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes for a moment, making Hermione do the same. Feeling his breath against her face, she allowed a few tears to fall. For the In-laws she would never meet. For the childhood Clopin never got to have.

"Please, Hermione. Promise me you'll be careful. I'm not strong enough to watch you hang."

Smiling softly, she could only offer a small nod. They both knew that she would do her best to fulfil that promise but they also knew that she would give Frollo a headache. Sighing, the young couple laid back against the pillows and tried to relax.

"What were their names?" Hermione whispered into the dark, feeling rather sleepy. It was a few moments before he spoke.

"Blake and Mala."

Hermione nodded against his chest as she yawned. They were both still fairly annoyed with one another but after the rigorous sex they had just enjoyed, they were too tired to do anything but fall into a deep sleep in each other's arms.

The next morning had Hermione pacing in circles around their tent. A group of gypsies had been arrested only an hour prior and she was panicking since Frollo had been overheard trying to exchange information on her whereabouts for silver. She could easily bust them out of the Palace but Clopin had all but forbid her from doing so. As angry as that had made her, she understood his concern. It wasn't like she could tell the group of outcasts she was a witch and it would be incredibly dangerous, especially if she was caught.

Biting her lip, she wondered if it was worth doing anyway. Quickly glancing at the tent's exit, she padded over to their bed and searched for her wand. Frowning, she was sure she had thrown it in that direction after re-casting her glamours that morning. Grabbing her beaded bag, she reached in and searched, wondering if she had put it in there without realising. When that search came up empty, Hermione started to panic. Casting a wandless accio, she was terrified when if didn't come to her. Just as she was about to go find Clopin, he entered the tent with an annoyed look on his face.

"Looking for this?" He raised her wand up to show her that he had it. Tensing her jaw, she held out her hand.

"I want it back, Clopin." He shook his head and tucked it back into the pocket inside his tunic.

"Not a chance. I don't want you risking your life!" Practically growling, Hermione glared darkly at him.

"Give. Me. My. Wand."

Clopin just fixed her with a stern look. Hermione almost felt as though she was being scolded by her father but quickly shook it off. Clopin should know better than to take a witch's wand. Dropping her hand, she sighed heavily.

"What is one life compared to five?" She muttered under her breath but based on how Clopin tensed, he had heard her. Suddenly, Hermione found herself with Clopin's hands tightly gripping her shoulders and his face only an inch away from hers.

"Do not say that! You promised me you would be careful. That does not mean going off on some ill-planned rescue mission and throwing your life away.' He let go of her and moved towards the exit. Before he left, he turned around and gave her a rather cold look. 'As of now, you're confined to the Court of Miracles. My word is law here, Hermione. Don't forget it."

Hermione stared, mouth wide open in horror, as he left. He had actually pulled rank on her. Stunned, she sat down on the bed and stared down at the floor. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, she thought to herself.

Snorting loudly, Hermione folded her arms and closed her eyes. It would do her no good to get angry now. As much as the prat annoyed her, she still loved her husband and respected his wishes... most of the time. Sighing, she slumped and laid down on the bed. She knew he was just worried and being protective, but she couldn't help but have her thoughts constantly turn back to the gypsies who had been arrested.

What if they were executed? What if they were being tortured that very minute? Letting out an angry huff, Hermione jumped when Djali bounced on her stomach. Groaning, she pushed him off to the side and let him cuddle into her side, his head resting on her chest. He looked at her knowingly, causing her to chuckle as she pet his head.

"Have you been sent to keep an eye on me?"

Djali let out a bleat, which Hermione took as a yes. Huffing, she lay there for some time before she decided to bite the bullet. She had been confined to the Court, not to their tent. Forcing herself up, Hermione led Djali out of the tent. Immediately, she felt all eyes on her. Huffing, she stalked towards the square and grabbed some bread to eat. She soon found Selina at her elbow.

"I've just heard. Are you alright?"

The gypsy grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her over to a table. Djali curled up by Hermione's feet. Sighing, she shrugged her shoulders.

"Not really. I understand his concern but that doesn't mean he can order me about. He's my King, yes, but I am his Queen. He should know that I would do anything for our people."

Selina reached across the table and rested her hand on top of Hermione's.

"He does know that, that's why he's scared. Clopin is terrified of history repeating itself. He loves you so much, Esmeralda. It would kill him if anything happened to you."

Sighing, Hermione offered a small smile and nodded. The older woman caught her up on how things were going. It was once she had finished her bread when she spotted something shine on Selina's hand. Grasping her hand, Hermione stared down at the ring and smirked.

"So, he's finally asked you, huh?"

Hermione's smirk became more pronounced when Selina blushed a bright red. She could now get pay back for all the teasing she had received from the newly engaged woman. Selina proceeded to tell Hermione how Duke had proposed whilst the witch stared at the ring Duke had made her. Smiling softly, Hermione was glad that despite all the unrest, their lives would continue on.

It wasn't long before Kezia joined them. The two women tried to perk Hermione up as much as possible. Smiling at their efforts, Hermione tried to let her anger go. She hadn't lied when she said she understood why Clopin was doing what he was doing. It didn't mean she was going to listen to him though. She was her own person and she would do what she wanted. Better to beg for forgiveness than ask permission.

Hermione looked down and let her hair fall around her, acting as a shield as she smirked. If Clopin thought he could control her then he had another thing coming. Thinking about it whilst the other two women chatted, she figured she should give it a few days before going up into the streets of Paris.

The young witch quickly became annoyed when she realised that Clopin had asked Selina and Kezia to keep an eye on her alongside Djali. They were practically following her everywhere and Hermione was ready to burst. Taking a deep breath, she eventually managed to corner Clopin the moment he stepped into their tent that evening.

"Clopin, I get it. You've proved your point, now please ask Selina and Kezia to leave me alone. I would like two minutes to myself in order to breathe!"

He looked at her for a long moment before slowly nodding. Hermione watched him carefully as he placed his hat on the table before running his hand through his hair. He glanced at her once more before sighing and sitting next to her. Clasping her hand in his, he looked her in the eye.

"I don't like this either, mon amour. However, until I can believe that you won't go risking your life, you'll remain under house arrest. Can you look me in the eye and honestly say that you won't go after Frollo or the gypsies in the Palace?"

Biting her lip, Hermione gave it some thought as she stared down at their clasped hands. Drawing patterns with her thumb, she ultimately sighed.

"I won't go after Frollo. I'm not that much of an idiot, no matter what you may think.' Hermione raised her hand when Clopin went to disagree. 'You've insulted my intelligence enough, Clopin.' She sighed. 'But, I know you didn't mean it. I will admit it was pretty stupid to go against him the way I did but someone had to.

However, I can't promise not to go after the people in the Palace. It's my fault they're there in the first place. I want to right the wrong, Clopin. Can you not let me do that?"

She stared at him for a long, long moment, beseechingly. She hoped that he would see things her way. All Hermione felt in that moment was guilt for getting her people into trouble. She had to set things right. Hermione almost felt hopeful when he sighed but it was dashed when he removed his hand from hers.

"You're to remain here. That's my final word on the matter."

Without another word, he grabbed his hat and left. Tears streaming down her cheeks, Hermione wanted to scream. Infuriated with both herself and Clopin, she grabbed a hold of one of the pillows and screamed for all she was worth into it. She was certain she had scared the crap out of Djali for doing so but couldn't find it in her to care at that second. Slumping down to the floor, Hermione was surprised when she woke up a few hours later to complete darkness. She knew it was late, early hours of the morning late, and a quick spell confirmed it. 4am.

Blinking, she had no idea she had been so tired. Shaking her head, she couldn't help but smile when she realised that someone had moved her onto the bed and covered her with a blanket. She assumed it had been her husband but since she couldn't find him anywhere in the tent, she wasn't sure. Frowning, Hermione stepped out of their tent, leaving Djali to sleep at the end of the bed.

Stepping out into the square, Hermione was confused as to why there were so few people out and about. Normally there were at least ten, if not more, around constantly. Nodding to the occasional person she did come across, she made her way towards her old tent. It was now being used as a place to discuss various problems. She assumed that Clopin would be there if he wasn't in their tent.

When she spotted a light on in her old tent, Hermione moved to enter but just before she did, she heard voices. Pausing for a moment, the young witch realised that Harry had rubbed off on her more than she thought. Ducking around the side, she sat down and listened to what was being said. She could hear Clopin, Duke, Bartley, Selina and Kezia. Frowning at why they would all be together in the middle of the night, she listened.

"You can't keep this from Esmeralda forever, Clopin." Bartley grunted.

"I know. Just long enough for her to get to safety." Clopin sighed heavily. Hermione's frown deepened at the suggestion of her going anywhere. She heard Selina snort.

"You've got another thing coming if you think she's going anywhere. We all know that Esmeralda would rather fight for us then bugger off elsewhere to hide." Nodding along, Hermione agreed with the woman. She wasn't going anywhere.

"Her safety is my top priority. I don't care if she likes it or not. It's the most logical solution."

"You know Frollo won't rest until he finds her though." Duke spoke up for the first time. Hermione heard Clopin sigh once more.

"I know. That doesn't mean she's going to be staying here."

"What do you suppose we do then? She's not going to go along with this quietly." Kezia mumbled as she yawned. Yawning herself, Hermione tried to keep quiet.

The tent was silent for a long minute before Bartley spoke up.

"We need to tell her about the second lot of gypsies that were captured. At the very least. If not, then warn her how Frollo is burning places down trying to find her."

Hermione's heart stopped. Another group of people arrested because of her. Homes, and no doubt people, were being burned because of her. Trying to keep the tears from falling, Hermione bit her lip as she continued to listen.

"I will, eventually. She doesn't need to worry about that right now. You didn't see the state she was in when she found out about the first group. Never mind what she'll do when she finds out what Frollo's been up to."

"We could drug her." Duke mused but was met with a firm whack, no doubt from his fiancée. Hermione made a mental note to check all her food and drink from that point on.

"Don't be such an idiot! No one is drugging anyone, for fuck sake. Clopin, you need to tell her before anyone else lets it slip. If she finds out you've been keeping things from her, she'll never trust you again."

Smiling softly at Selina's outrage, Hermione let out a quiet sigh. Perhaps she really should have left all those months ago. Whilst she would love to say that Selina was right, Hermione understood why Clopin was trying to keep this from her. That didn't mean she liked it. Not at all.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she remained quiet whilst everyone processed Selina's statement. She heard Clopin sigh before groaning.

"I know. I'm just trying to keep her alive. I can't lose her like my father lost my mother."

The sheer despair that rang out in his voice made Hermione pause. Her heart clenched at the sound but if anything, she was more determined to make things right. She stood up and moved to leave when she heard Kezia whisper to the group.

"You lost your parents that day, Clopin. If you're not honest with Esmeralda, you could lose her."

Tensing her jaw, Hermione quickly, but quietly left them to their meeting knowing that Kezia was wrong. Clopin wouldn't lose her, she would make sure of it. If she can forgive him for keeping things from her, then he can forgive her for taking action. Slowly walking back through the square, she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep it together. Biting her lip, she came up with a variety of different plans before scrapping them and trying again. She needed to fix this.

Arriving back at her tent, Hermione paused for a long moment. She didn't think she could go back in and pretend nothing happened. However, when she heard footsteps from behind her, her choice was made for her. She ducked in and jumped on the bed, jolting Djali awake. Throwing the blanket back over her, Hermione evened out her breathing, making it look like she was still asleep.

The seconds dragged for ages before Clopin entered the tent. Hermione heard him sigh as he took off his boots and changed his clothes. Biting her lip, she refused to make a sound as he crawled into bed next to her. She lightly closed her eyes when she felt him lean over her. Clopin pressed a kiss to her temple as he whispered.

"I love you, mon amour. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you alive."

Feeling a lump grow in her throat, Hermione continued to breathe evenly until she knew that Clopin had fallen asleep next to her. Easing the blanket off her, she met Djali's questioning gaze. Pressing a finger against her lip, she urged him to be quiet as she padded around the tent. Shifting through Clopin's clothes, she found her wand. Holding it to her chest, Hermione cast an uncertain gaze towards Clopin, who simply shifted in his sleep.

Sighing, she solidified her resolve. She would help her people if it killed her. Grabbing her beaded bag, she made to dash out of the tent when she hesitated. Moving back towards the bed, she kissed Clopin's forehead.

"I love you too, mon Roi. I will set things right."

Gulping quietly, she slowly backed away and ducked through the tent. Stepping against the cold cobbles, Hermione hid around the back of the tent whilst she took a breath. She moved to head off through the tunnel just behind her when the bottom of her skirt was pulled.

Glancing down, she realised that she should have known that Djali was going to try and stop her. Sighing, Hermione knelt before him and patted his head with a small smile.

"I have to do this, Djali. They're in prison because of me. I need to do something."

Staring into the goat's eyes, she knew she had won. He slowly released his jaw and let go of her skirt but moved to stand in front of her. For a second, she thought he meant to stop her. However, when he looked back at her, she knew that he meant to go with her. Smiling at her companion, she nodded. Creeping through the tunnel, Hermione made sure that they were both as quiet as possible. Pausing just long enough to let the soldiers leave above her, she cast a disillusionment charm on herself and Djali.

Djali wouldn't notice a difference thankfully but she would need to be careful when she lifted the spell. Ducking through the gate that led to another set of tunnels, Hermione set her sight on the Palace of Justice. She was going to set her people free. She was going to finish what Mala started. One way or another.