A/N: The way I've ended this one is a little open, so if wanted I may add an epilogue, I might just leave it as it is!
Final part (for now) so please enjoy!
Edited: 2019
The princess had summoned Luna, spilling out her plan to the bizarre maid in waiting before Luna tugged on her hand to calm her fervour.
"Princess, think this through, what you want to do could get you punished, and there is nothing more than this Court wants is to get you out of here."
"Have faith Luna." Ginny hummed. "If you do not wish to travel with me, I understand."
"Don't be silly, of course I'm with you."
With those final words, plans were put in place. The day after, while Cormac and his court hunted, Ginny and Luna saddled up their own mounts and left the gates sedately in the opposite direction. Soon they were flying across the moors, and sensing no tail they veered off course, slowing only as they reached the edge of the Great Woods. Legend had it that a witch lived at the very edge of the wood, they just had to find her.
"Excuse me ma'am, we search desperately for a witch." Ginny stopped a woman a little older than herself, gathering wood.
"Dangerous words." The woman didn't look up, instead she secured her bundle of twigs before rolling out more rope for another bundle.
"The wise woman of Exmoor, living on the boundary of the Wood is supposedly the greatest healer in the kingdom." Ginny murmured. "I need her guidance."
"For what purpose?" The woman finally looked up, and Ginny was surprised to see the youthful face, mass of brunette curls and wary eyes.
"Woman advice." Luna cut in before Ginny could open her mouth again.
"Of what sort?" The woman asked tartly, narrowing her eyes at the blonde.
"Something to help with a straying husband." Ginny removed her own hood and looked at the woman before her.
"Then I can help you Ginny of Ottery." The woman nodded. "I am the witch you seek, the Wise Woman of Exmoor, but you can call me Hermione." She balanced the wood in her arms before turning back into the woods. "Please dismount and follow me."
Ginny and Luna passed a look between them but dutifully they dismounted, took up one of the bundles of wood, earning a small smile from Hermione before the trio disappeared into the depths of woods . It was almost sunset by the time Ginny and Luna arrived back in the courtyard of the Palace.
Cormac was waiting for her outside the front door, eyes narrowed against the orange glare. It was at the point that Ginny could see how she fell in love with man before her. He was strong, powerful looking and gorgeous but it was all a façade. She had fallen in love with the idea of love, not with Prince Charming. She smiled brightly up at her husband and kissed him briefly on the cheek.
"Where on earth have you been?" There was no real suspicion in Cormac, he was far too self-absorbed to think his wife would ever do anything illicit.
"Riding! Now you don't want me all dirty do you, let me freshen up for you." She said cheerfully, careful to hold her expression in place until she was the other side of the door. Summoning a separate maid to unlace her dress and help her pull on a fresh one Ginny spent the rest of the evening at her Prince's side until she feigned exhaustion; allowing her freedom and him the night with his latest tart now Astoria was pregnant.
~G.W~
It wasn't until late next morning that she walked sedately to the stables, having freed herself from her attendants once more and she met with Harry.
"Good day." Ginny nodded, shutting the door behind her.
"Good morning Ginny." Harry's use of her first name told her they were alone and quickly she got to the point.
"Harry, do you believe in magic?"
"What a question." He flushed red and Ginny realised the clumsiness of her question. Magic was an almost taboo here, witches were feared and while their numbers had dwindled, women like Bellatrix was still a feared curse word on everyone's lips.
"Okay, I'm not hunting for information, I am trying to save your life." She murmured, pulling the brush from his hands and moving him away from Arnold.
"What do you mean?"
"This court is to be cursed."
"What on earth?" He rubbed the back of scalp and she shook her head.
"A curse is to be laid upon this castle. They will learn how shoddy this court and Prince are. I am going home to my family and I wish you to come with me." The pair settled into a sun flooded nook but Harry was still staring. Ginny's quick speech had not helped one iota.
"But why me?" Then he inwardly cursed himself for that being his first serious question. He understood he could never have the princess, he was nothing but a groom, and she was princess. He was sure that his yearning and love for her was unrequited and it would remain that way.
"Why do you think?" She stroked her thumb across his cheek in a sudden moment of intimacy and there was a moment between the two of them until Ginny realised what she was doing and snatched her hand away. "Please Harry, you need to be out of this court by sunset tomorrow." She nodded and with another kiss pressed to his forehead, she stood smoothed out her skirts. She was planning her own departure, but she needed Harry to be safe, safe with her.
The next morning saw Harry begging leave from the Stable Master, his guardian sick over the moors, a scrunched letter in his hand. Luna had given him a small sack that he saddled to a borrowed horse, and directions to Ginny's family home. The sunrise saw Ginny and Luna saddling their own mounts once more, bags not exactly bulging, but clearly packed out as well. They had almost cleared the courtyard when the already awake and grumpy Stable Master stopped them.
"M'lady where are you going at this hour?" The stable master sneered, keen for information to spread around court, especially when it came to the princess. Astoria paid a high price for nuggets of information such as illicit visits.
"Her Highness is on a charity visit, I do not presume you are important enough to know this." Luna's sharp reply was unexpected by all parties and the chastised Stable Master stepped back respectfully, allowing the two women to trot away from the Court. They didn't dare to speed into a canter until they reached the base of the tor.
~G.W~
The pair would not see Hermione lay her curse upon Cormac's castle. They would be far away, back to a life Ginny had missed while parading as a princess. She had been away for too long. But even as she looked back upon the castle, it's inhabitants waking with no concept of what would happen to them today, Ginny felt a little pity for them. Maybe the vapid court would learn; maybe Cormac Charming could learn what true love was and then he would be free.
"Come along Luna." She cried out and the pair raced down the other side of the tor towards her home.
Towards Harry.