A/N: First off, let me apologize for the extremely long wait on this chapter. It's just that college and other miscellaneous things have been consuming my time. Not to mention a visit from a much hated, muse-killing, enemy called Writer's Block. Gives me the collywobbles just thinking about it. ((shiver)) Anyways... onto the expression of appreciation.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed in the last chapter: the tofuubeaver, pottersgirl91, Ezeldia EnimiesEntwined, Autumn's-Smile, ellamalfoy8, Silver Tears 11, san01, nothingmatters, nehimasgift, hanvu (twice, my friend, how'd you do that, lol), hippychick21, Shadows08, pyromaniac102, Charming-Lynn, SoMe wEirDo, Skavnema, NightAtTheRoses, bumblebee115, nina-luvs-mnms (the peanut or peanut butter kind per chance?), LandUnderWave, PhanPhic-adict, .o0Aurelie0o., lily1121, and last but not least dragondolphin1990.

Thank you so much all of you! I never tiring of typing all those names at the beginning of each chapter because it gives me such joy to know that you've all taken the time from your busy, precious days to read something that was partly from the mind of yours truly. (Exclude canon characters and the like. I own nothing but the plot and some charries.)

So I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as the last. ((wink))

Chapter 22 – A Holyhead Vacation

Hermione rushed over to the door.

"Just a minute!" she yelled as she tried to hold the door shut. "Hide!" she hissed to Tom.

He ran for the wardrobe, but saw that he couldn't very well hide there; things were entirely too cluttered unlike last time. He whipped around, his eyes darting about the room as another knock issued on the door and made Hermione jump away from it.

"Under the bed," she ordered urgently as she rushed over and made him drop to the floor.

He was laying on his stomach, prepared to slide under the bed as Hermione shooed him when someone cleared their throat. Riddle froze, wishing to appear invisible.

"What are you lot doing?" asked Mima with her brow cocked as she stood just inside the door with Arthos at her side looking both amused and a little surprised.

"Um... well, you see-," Hermione began.

"She lost her-," Tom cut in.

"Conta- hair pin!" Hermione finished.

"Lost your conta hair pin?" Mima repeated in a disbelieving manner. "Uh-huh," she nodded slowly. "And I suppose you lost it while you two romped the bed?"

"Yes. I mean! No! No!" Hermione recovered.

"Absolutely not," Riddle added as he stood up and brushed feathers from himself.

"Then would you care to tell us how the pillows exploded all over the room and why you both look so disheveled?" Mima quizzed.

"Yes, do tell," Arthos teased as the other couple flushed a bit while gaping like fish.

"It was purely an accident-"

"And a complete misunderstanding," Tom butt in on Hermione for the second time in two minutes, which earned him a glare from her as she brushed stray hairs from her face.

"An accident and a misunderstanding?" Arthos repeated, sounding unconvinced.

"You had to be here to understand," Hermione assured him.

"I've known you for quite some time, Ana. You can't lie to me," Mima supplied. "I won't question you any further on the matter though," she added a moment later. "But I will ask you to join Arthos and I. We plan to go horseback riding on the trail behind the castle."

"Absolutely," Hermione answered. "Coming Aramis?"

"Sure," Riddle replied stiffly.

"I don't think that this is the time to be gallivanting through the forest on horseback," Tom hissed at Hermione as they rode behind Mima and Arthos who laughed and chatted animatedly.

"And what else should we be doing?" she snapped quietly.

"We should be back at the castle trying to figure out a reversal spell to send us back where we belong," he said.

"Yes, me back to my time, and you back to yours," she retorted dryly before cantering ahead to ride next to Mima.

Riddle rolled his eyes and rode up next to her. They trotted on in such a manner until the sun was setting, and they were deep enough into the forest that it would take them until the moon was out to return to the stables. Hermione and Tom were starting to feel stiff from riding for so long, and it seemed that Mima and Arthos themselves were getting tired and hungry.

"Should we maybe head back?" Arthos suggested as he watched Mima stretch, and Hermione yawn.

"Certainly," the Princess of Austria agreed as she urged her horse into a brisk trot.

"Maybe we should let the horses stop for a drink," Hermione suggested as she pointed to a stream which was just visible through a thicket of trees.

"We should," Mima nodded as she patted her horse's neck and turned it toward the stream and galloped forward.

Arthos laughed and galloped up behind her, the two of them laughing about something Tom and Hermione didn't quite understand. Shrugging, Riddle rode forward and paused at the trees as Hermione struggled with her horse.

"What's the matter, Granger?" he asked as Mima and Arthos splashed about in the stream.

"It doesn't want to go," she replied, uncertain of what to do.

"Here... we'll trade then." He jumped down and walked up to her horse, grabbing the reins before helping her down. She walked over and took the reins of his horse, leading it to the stream and stroking its mane as it drank. He, on the other hand, was pulling and gritting his teeth as he drug Hermione's horse to the stream. "Something's... wrong with... this... thing," he grunted as he gave a tug with each pause, finally getting the horse to the stream where it looked about frantically, tossing its head.

"Want some help, Aramis?" Arthos asked as he tethered his own horse to a nearby tree.

"Um... no," Tom replied as he watched the horse finally drink from the stream. "I just don't know what was wrong with it."

"I'll take it back," Hermione said, handing him the reins to his steed and grabbing the other leads from his hand.

Moments later, they were on their way back to the trail as the last rays of the sun were shining through the far off hills that surrounded the vast valley in which the kingdom set. As they rode, Hermione began to drift in thought, her head bowed as she pondered what Harry, Ron, and the others were doing back home. For once, she laughed inwardly as she thought about getting back to the future and telling them that she had been a princess. Would they ever believe her? They might; after all, this was the wizarding world and anything was possible.

Up ahead, Arthos moved a branch back for Mima, letting it go as Tom took hold and passed by himself.

"Watch it," Riddle called politely over his shoulder as he let the branch go.

Hermione looked up just in time to see the branch springing toward her. She gasped and threw up her hands to block her face, but was knocked from her horse which became spooked. The horse rared back, and its front hooves came crashing down on the ground next to her, yet she didn't notice. Tom whipped around, turning his horse quickly and moving swiftly back to where she lay on the ground. He jumped down and crouched beside her as her horse took off along the trail into the depths of the forest. He cradled Hermione into his arms as Arthos and Mima came riding up. Mima sat wide eyed with shock as her soldier friend jumped down and walked over to where Riddle knelt.

"Is she breathing?" asked Arthos.

"Yes," Tom replied. "I think she's just fainted."

"We need to get her back to the castle," Mima commanded urgently. "Before a fever breaks, or worse even."

Arthos handed Mima the reins of his steed and helped Tom lift Hermione up onto his horse with him. Once they were securely into the saddle, Riddle broke out into a gallop, not looking back as the other two raced after him. He pulled on the reins as they came up the castle drive. Gravel ground under the shooed hooves of the animal as it put its hind quarters closer to the ground in an attempt to obey the order. After skidding several feet, Tom leaped down and pulled Hermione from the horse. Cradling her in his arms in a bridal fashion, he moved as quickly as he could which wasn't too fast seeing as he was tired and weighed down by her body. He burst through the front doors with the help of Arthos and Mima, the three of them scaring some nearby servants.

"Fetch the King," Mima ordered one of them as they others helped Tom carry Hermione up to her room.

Once there, she was laid upon the bed, and a nurse was brought in along with the King, the Duke, Johnalin, and three soldiers.

"What has happened?" demanded the King in a tone of outrage. It was the first time Tom had seen the King in such a manner, and Riddle knew to never underestimate anyone so he remained quiet and calculating while Mima stepped forward and spoke.

"We were riding along the forest path-"

"And I held back a branch for her," Tom broke in, "and before I could do anything, it slipped from my hand." It wasn't the complete truth, but close enough to it.

The King asked no further questions of them as he turned away and toward the nurse who was sitting on the bed dabbing Hermione's cuts from the branch with a wet cloth.

"Any damage?" asked the Duke.

"None too serious," answered the nurse. "She'll need a night or two of good rest and some ointment put on these cuts. That seems to be all."

"Does she have a fever?" asked Johnalin, though Tom still eyed him suspiciously; this was the first time he had seen the tutor around the castle in a long time.

"No. No fever... just a slight bump above her right eye," the nurse informed. "I'd say she'd be safe to leave the bed in at least another two days if you keep giving her some of the tonic I have downstairs."

"I'll see to it that she does," Tom interrupted. Everyone's eyes turned to him, and he felt compelled to explain himself, which was something he hadn't really experienced before. "I feel responsible, so I'll care for her," he commented.

"T'wasn't really your fault, boy," said Duke Rodden through his thick mustache.

"And it's not proper for you to care for her," sneered Johnalin. "That's what her ladies in waiting are for."

The King, however, remained silent as he observed Riddle.

"I think it's a grand idea... and I, myself, will help," Mima offered. "That will eliminate your feeling of worry and impropriety as well as put two more careful eyes upon her health."

"That settles it, then," the King nodded. "Come... she needs her rest."

Johnalin was pushed from the room by Rodden who was followed by the King and the three soldiers. The nurse was the last to leave, informing them that she would have dinner sent up to the four of the young people as well as the tonic she had spoken of earlier.

Hermione awoke to see that the sun had barely risen. She turned over in the semi-darkness and snuggled under her goose down blankets. That's when her eyes landed on Tom. It seemed to her that she had awakened like this a lot lately. But this time, he was sitting in a chair, his chin resting on his chest. His shirt was unbuttoned slightly, and his boots were tossed on the floor before him.

She sat up, prepared to wake him because she knew that he would have a cramped neck, and that's when she spotted Mima. She was asleep on a divan, her hands clutching a small pillow to her chest as her head laid on the arm of the couch. She was covered over with a large, red blanket, and a book lay on her hip.

Hermione slide to the edge of the bed, her feet dangling just above the floor. She watched Riddle for a moment and saw him stretch before giving a quick shiver. She grabbed a blanket and tossed it over him as the door to her room opened. Turning around, she saw Janessa and Mary entering the room, one of them carrying a bucket of wood, and the other holding two bed pans for hot coals.

"Good morning, Princess," said Mary as she sat down the bucket of wood beside the dying fire. "Feeling any better?"

"Yes," Hermione said as she walked around the bed to stand beside them.

"You still shouldn't be out of bed," Janessa said as she grabbed a fire stoker. "You'll catch cold or something."

"The nurse maid did insist that you get plenty of rest," Mary agreed as she put more wood into the fire which was beginning to come back to life as the other lady in waiting stoked it.

"Oh, I'm fine now. It was just a little fall from a horse, and I'm feeling good as ever," she assured them.

They said nothing as they looked at each other and shrugged. Mary walked over to the couch and sat a bed pan of coal near it so the heat would emanate toward Mima. The other was slid under Hermione's mattress.

"Breakfast should be served in another hour," Janessa informed.

"A nice, warm, and hearty breakfast would do you good," Mary pointed out.

"Thanks," Hermione said as they both curtsied and left the room.

Hermione turned and looked to Tom. She pondered him for a moment before deciding that she would dress and go to the library until breakfast.

She had spent a little more than an hour in the library. She had even started to nod off when she finally decided that she should go to the dining hall. Standing, she laid her book on the table and stretched before leaving. When she entered the dining hall, the King occupied the head of the table, Mima to his left, and the Duke to his right. The Duchess, Tom, or anyone else was nowhere to be seen.

"Ah, good morning, my darling daughter," the King beamed. "Feeling much better?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded.

Mima tapped the seat of the chair to her left, and Hermione followed her gesture by taking the seat. She had barely began to tuck into breakfast when the King announced something to her.

"My dear," he began, "I feel that things have been... awkward for you since you've gotten back home." Hermione said nothing as she returned his gaze in an faultless manner. "So, I've arranged with the Duke and Duchess for us to join them for a week in Holyhead."

"All right, but just so you know, I feel fine. There's no need to take yourself away from the duties of the kingdom at my expense," she commented before returning to her breakfast. Then something occurred to her, "Where is the Duchess?"

"She took an early return home," the Duke replied while sounding slightly annoyed by his wife and any mention of her. "She said that she missed being there and that she felt that her presence was needed back at our mansion."

Hermione gave a curt bow of her head before tucking into her breakfast. She had hardly gotten a bite into her mouth when Tom, who looked rather disheveled, came jogging into the room.

"Have you seen-," he gasped urgently before laying eyes on Hermione. "Oh."

"Good morning, Aramis, m'boy," the King greeted, eyeing Riddle from top to bottom.

His uniform was put on in a haphazard style with his jacket merely slipped on and unbuttoned. His boots had been just placed on his feet without even being laced, and his hair was messed. His face styled red marks of his sleep manner with the imprint of his knuckles on his cheek, and his white undershirt was partially untied at the collar and somewhat twisted under his jacket.

"Won't you uh... join us for breakfast?" the Duke asked with a hard fought chuckle.

"Rough night?" Mima asked with a polite smile as the youthful, dark-haired man crossed the room to the chair next to Duke Rodden.

"Must have been," remarked Rodden.

"Well, it was well worth it," the King spoke up. "Just look at my Anastasia! She's feeling good as ever."

Tom smiled politely toward Hermione before bowing his head and beginning to eat.

She saw some slight bags around his eyes, which gave them a sunken look. He was tired, and it was very apparent. She nudged his shin with the toe of her shoe, and his eyes shot up to her; quick with the reflex of concern. She mouthed the words 'thank you' to which he showed no expression, emotion, reaction, or otherwise. Unsure, she turned her attention back to her breakfast. If only she had known that he had felt personally to blame for her fall. This was his reasoning because he had been the one holding the branch, and the one who let it go. He felt that he should have held it a bit longer and maybe then she would have passed unharmed. But he hadn't done that.

So after Mima had slipped off to sleep, he had gotten out his wand and healed her as best he knew. Without potions it hadn't been that easy, but he had ensured that any headaches would be prevented or ridden from her. He had also made sure that no ruptures had came to her internal workings. That had taken a great deal of energy from him, placing him in his now drained and tousled state.

He was slow to finish his breakfast as he tried to pace himself so that he finished exactly as Hermione did. His plan worked, and they both left the table together. Although just as they reached the door of the dining hall, the King called to her.

"Anastasia... you should pack your things. We'll leave tomorrow with Rodden," he informed.

"Yes, Father," she answered before leaving the room.

"Pack your things?" Tom repeated once they were in the safety of the deserted hallway.

"The King plans to take me to Holyhead for a week," Hermione explained. "Don't worry though. I'll insist that you accompany us."

"Granger," he said as he grabbed her gently by the elbow to stop her before she started up the stairs. "I'm not worried about being left behind here; I'm worried about what kind of delay this will put on our workings."

She seemed to think about this for a moment before speaking.

"I think a small break will do our brains good," she advised.

"A small break?" Riddle hissed before she could say anymore. "We've been taking a small break ever since Meg-," he stopped as hurt flashed on Hermione's face. "I'm sorry... Maybe you're right. We'll go."

She just bobbed her head for a moment before turning and going up the stairs. He hesitated, which caused her to stop halfway up and look back at him.

"Aren't you coming?"

He said nothing, but simply climbed the stairs to join her as she continued on. It had seemingly become custom that they accompany each other everywhere, even within the castle. Tom wasn't sure if that was such a good idea, but for now he would make no argument.

"You know," she said suddenly in a thoughtful fashion as they reached the door to her room. "There's a Quidditch team in Holyhead." A half smirk broke on her bemused face. For once, she was thankful for Ron and Harry's Quidditch nonsense.

"Yeah, so," Tom shrugged, not quite getting the point. He had never liked Quidditch; it seemed barbaric and time wasting to him. And that was something he had sort of liked about Hermione, that she too disliked it. At least she appeared to have not liked it. However, he thought wrong. 'Guess that's what I get for assuming,' he mused to himself.

"So," Hermione repeated as she got an emphatic expression to both her voice and face, "that means there are more witches and wizards there."

Riddle had finally caught on, but he didn't know if he liked it.

"We can't go telling every witch and wizard that we see that we're from the future, and we need their help," he scolded. "You should know that."

"I'm not saying we should," she quipped.

"Then what's your point?"

"That where there are magical people, there's bound to be some sort of magical community or connections to it," she stated in a know-it-all, matter-of-fact way.

Maybe that fall was just what she had needed. It had obviously knocked some sense into her. 'Maybe I should take a little tumble from a horse,' Tom thought in an amused fashion as he smirked at the possibilities of what she had just pointed out.