Author's Note: Hi! Part two here. The Grimm story I picked out had a lot of room for fleshing out, so turns out this one is in three parts!
Disclaimer: Same shenanigans apply, I don't own it. Just the fatty plot bunnies.
Reviews appreciated! They keep me warm at night!
Three Years Later
"The KING'S hunting party?! Again?!"
Hermione was tending to the garden beside their small cottage when Harry came from the mass of trees. He stopped beside her and drew crudely in the dirt his message. It was still rough, but it was their best way of communicating larger messages, even three years past the fateful day they ran away and Harry had transformed into a buck.
Hermione quickly wiped away the image of a crown and looked up at Harry. "How many? Are they coming this way again?"
Harry cocked his head to the left to tell her he had no idea and Hermione sighed.
"Well, perhaps it's time you stay around the cottage for a few days? We don't know how long they'll stay."
Harry's face took on what could aptly be described as pouting. For a deer. He gently folded himself into a sitting position to watch her weed the ground. Chuckling, Hermione held out her hand full of berries and offered them to her brother. "Hopefully they'll be gone in a day or so. Then you can go off and do whatever deer things you do."
"Deer things? Do deer participate in extracurriculars?" A strange, deep voice called out from the treeline.
Immediately, Hermione scrambled up to her feet, brandishing her gardening shears in shock. Harry charged up, snorting at the shadow emerging from the woods. A tall man with a kind face and charming smile showed himself. His hands were empty and raised so that both siblings could see he was unarmed, except with a smile. His skin was darker than Hermione was used to seeing, though she rarely saw anyone after her father died. Mostly the occasional hunter from the nearby villages. Dusky, her mind provided. His hair was close cropped, neatly styled, and his clothes typical of a hunter. Except, probably a higher quality than either Hermione or Harry had ever seen, even on the King's huntsmen. The leather sturdy, the buckles gleamed, and the cloth looked professionally dyed and sewn with nary a loose seam to be found.
"I come with no ill will. I merely followed this extraordinary buck the last two days and wondered why he seemed to have a collar made of gold." The man took a few more steps forward before stopping, Harry's antlers deterring him from coming much closer to the pair.
"Who are you? You can't have him.." Hermione snapped, waving her shears.
The man chuckled. "Be calm. I have no weapon. And I do not want your...pet. I merely was curious. My name is Blaise."
Harry snorted indignantly, stamping his hoof in the dirt. "He isn't a pet, he is my brother, thank you." Hermione bit out, glancing to Harry. "Why are you in the forest?"
"I'm hunting with the King's men." The man, Blaise, paused a moment, his face full of curiosity. "Your brother?"
Hermione didn't answer his question, merely continuing to glare warily at him.
Blaise seemed to ponder a moment. "Was he cursed?"
She faltered a moment, dropping the shears on accident. "How...How do you know about curses?"
Blaise's smile didn't falter. "I'm a wizard. I can feel it with the two of you. You're a witch and he's bound to be a wizard who got in a sticky situation. Am I wrong?"
Hermione and Harry glanced at each other before turning back to Blaise. "Our...our stepmother did this three years ago. We've since lived here. Will you tell people of us?"
"No. I think not." Blaise seemed to think a moment. "I will keep the party as far from your home as I can, but don't stray far, young buck." He bowed and turned to leave. But before disappearing, he turned and asked, "May I return to visit? We've only been here three days and plan for at least another week."
Harry snorted and shook his antlers at the man, but Hermione hesitated. "I...don't know."
Blaise laughed softly. "Perhaps I'll get lost and need guidance through the woods, then. If so, I'll come to you."
/*\
True to his proposal, Blaise wandered back to their cottage most days. He stood by at first, trying to chat with Hermione as she gardened and thinking up counter-curses for Harry on a whim. On day four, he sat down with Hermione as she cleaned vegetables for their supper and helped. Harry had wandered off to do his 'deer business' as Hermione put it. Day five meant Blaise told Hermione he loved nature, but not so much the hunt itself. Hermione explained why they were living in a tiny cottage in the middle of nowhere. Day six came and there was no Blaise, nor on day seven. Day eight came and Blaise came back, startling Harry awake and nearly causing the man a heart attack. Hermione sat kneading bread, holding back snickers for hours while Blaise picked dried sap from his clothes and Harry preened. The next day, Blaise seemed a bit somber, and only asked to keep silent company as Hermione did the wash leisurely. The whole time she wrung out clothes and hung them on the line, his eyes followed her actions thoughtfully. He did the same the next day, snapping peas for her as she attempted to weed the garden once more.
Day eleven dawned and Blaise did not show up until a couple hours before sunset. He was dressed for more fanciful than Hermione or Harry had ever seen him, not in hunting clothes, but in a stately affair which reminded Hermione of what people wore in princess tales. When she saw him appear outside the cottage window, she couldn't help but to grin, leaving Harry confused as he dozed near the hearth. Ignoring her, Harry went back to his nap, sensing no danger.
"Blaise? I wondered if you'd visit today!" Hermione smiled and wiped her hands on her apron. "What kind of clothes do you have on?"
Blaise sighed. "We're heading back to the castle in the morning. A few of the men got drunk and shot another with a couple arrows. He'll need a doctor, more than any of our magic can deal with without proper aids."
"You're leaving?" Her frown was automatic, something she didn't realize she was really doing until Blaise's mouth mimicked hers.
"Yes. But before we left, I wanted to talk to you. Ask you some things, tell you some things." If Hermione didn't know better, she would have thought the eloquent Blaise was nervous. She didn't think the man ever became nervous.
She smiled encouragingly. "What is it?"
"I haven't told you about who I am. And it's part of why I am going and where…."
His brows knitted together in frustration. He clearly didn't relish the news. He took a deep breath, "I am the king. King Blaise Zabini II, and this was my hunting party. I'm going back to the castle, Hermione."
Hermione gaped like a fish out of water, her hands flying up to her hair to rake it nervously. Eyes wide, her brain took in the information...Her first thought aloud was,
"Oh my Nimue! I made the king peel vegetables!"
Her second, "No wonder you were terrible at weeding!"
Blaise could tell that Hermione was about to start pacing and stopped her, his hands grabbing her by the wrists and catching her eye. "Hermione, please look at me. I'm the same man as yesterday."
"You're the bloody king! You could have me executed for not letting you hunt my brother!" Her eyes narrowed and she threw off his hands. "You need to either kill me or get off my land. I don't like liars!" She made to dash back into the cottage to get Harry, but Blaise grabbed her around the middle and brought her against him. Spinning her around, her deftly planted his lips on hers to silence her gasp of surprise. He could feel Hermione's resistance fade slightly before it came back full force. She pushed him away, but found his hand over her mouth to keep her quiet.
"Please, listen to me! Hear me out, Hermione. I did not mean to lie, truly. I want a chance to explain." Blaise waited until she nodded before removing his hand from her mouth. He grabbed both her hands in his and gave her an explanation.
"The hunt is always something done as a gift to the king from various dukes and such. This year was the Malfoys. However, I cannot break tradition and refuse it, so I come along and pretend to hunt. However, finding your brother and having him lead me here was a blessing. I did not tell you of my status because at first, I did not plan to stick around or come back. But I was intrigued...And I thought you were very pretty. After a few days, I was scared of telling you who I was, I didn't want you to treat me differently. I enjoy the way you are frank with me, honest and true. Everyone else either hates me or kisses my behind because I am king. I didn't want to lose that. The last two days, I realized I very well could be in love with you." Blaise let out a deep breath and looked at Hermione for her response.
"Love?! It's a bit soon for that, yes?" Hermione spluttered out, blushing didn't try to break away from his hands this time.
"Of course it is. But if I let you go so easily, I'd never really know, right?" His hands migrated from hers, up her arms and shoulders until they rested on either side of her head. Tenderly he caressed her cheeks. "Will you come back with me? I wish to know you properly. I can protect you and Harry from that vile woman, if she's still alive, if I have you at the castle. You can harness your magic, learn as much as you'd like, and we may even be able to reverse Harry's condition."
Hermione sighed. She wanted to say yes, but she knew he could sense the hesitation in her eyes. "And what if we are not meant to be?"
Blaise gave her a small smile. "I would be more than happy to give you a home in town, outside the castle walls, or still within the castle. Whatever would make you happy. I would be the reason you're leaving the cottage, after all. I would never turn you out with nothing." He waited as she seemed to have an internal debate. He was not prepared for her answer in the form of a kiss.
Not one for passing by an opportunity, Blaise gladly took Hermione's offering eagerly. His own lips captured hers and the two engaged each other passionately for several minutes before breaking apart to breathe.
Hermione reached up to stroke Blaise's brow. "Let me speak with Harry. Will you come for us tomorrow?"
"Dawn, or just after," Blaise nodded, smiling.
"I best get to making sure he's okay with that, then. Do you want to come with, or are your men expecting you back now?"
He heaved a sigh. "I've already been gone too long. I'm sure they think a bear has eaten me…."
Hermione looked at him, confused. "There are no bears in this part of the wood."
"I know...They don't." He grinned and pecked her on the lips. "Until morning, Hermione!"
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Part three, the final part, to come soon! Reviews make me want to write more things, just saying. There may even be some lemon pie involved for those who keep me going.