Author's Note: Sorry I've been neglecting this fic for so long! I promise to try to keep up with the story and update asap! Hopefully you guys like this chapter and it's not ooc or anything! R/R!
Oh little ghost, you see the pain
But together we can make something beautiful,
So take my hand and perfectly,
We fill the gaps, you and me make three,
I was meant for you, and you for me.
Birdy - Strange Birds
Hermione was wondering the courtyards, her skirts flowing behind her like water flowing downstream. The wind was ruffling her hair and tangling itself in the circlet on her head. She huffs in annoyance, "bloody circlet, I can't wait to throw you in my trunk later."
She hears a chuckling behind her, she spins in surprise, she looks into the face so much like Harry's it's startling. She schools her face into one of peace, "King James, to what do I owe the pleasure?" she says monotonously.
"I heard that you were here in the gardens, I wanted to see how your trip here has been." He says in false inquiring.
Hermione reigns in her eye roll, she didn't miss the meaning behind his wording. Her trip. Like it was temporary. She wasn't going to be intimidated out of here. "It's going splendidly. And how are our kingdoms, from what I've inquired, they're prospering. But I would like to know the viewpoint of our king." She jibes, she refrains from smirking, simply letting her eyes speak for her.
His eyes widen angrily, "They are as you say, prospering. I have heard from your mother, she says the wedding shall be soon." He says with a wicked grin.
She simply nods, "I too have heard from my mother. She approves of Harry. She would never let me marry somebody who she did not like. She wishes for me to be happy." She touches a bright red rose, her fingers trailing down the stem, and she pricks her finger on the thorn. She watches fascinated as a drop of crimson blood pools on her finger. She squeezes her finger into her palm. Not letting King James see her bleed.
King James watches as she stares at the bed of roses, all in the color of crimson. He almost wishes to push her into the bed and watch as her pretty face gets scratched up. He holds his hands tightly behind him, "Of course, your mother would do anything for you, wouldn't she?" he asks rhetorically, his voice low and rough.
She looks back at him, her eyes hard and cold, "Are you asking if my mother is dangerous, you're asking the wrong person. All I've ever known of my mother is the kind and respected Queen of Ravenclaw. I think it's time I retire of the gardens. I'm supposed to meet Queen Lily in the library. Good day King James." She walks quickly away from the mad King.
When she gets inside the castle, she pulls her hand up and looks at the dried blood on her hand. She rushes towards her bedchambers and doesn't notice the shadow following her. She opens her doors with a bang and they reverberate loudly as they bang close. She rushes to her washbasin and throws her hand in the scented water.
"Hermione?" somebody whispers. Hermione looks back at the intruder.
"Oh, Harry, what is it? What's wrong?" she asks quickly.
His brows furrow, "Nothing is wrong, are you okay? I saw you practically running to your room. I tried to catch up to you, but you were too quick. What happened?" He inquires.
"Oh, nothing, I just needed to wash my hands before it stained my dress. McGonagall always got after me if there was a hair out of place, imagine a little stain." She says with a wry grin, the humor not reaching her eyes.
"That's not what's wrong, tell me the truth." He grabs her hand, the one that isn't dripping wet, then moves to dry her other hand. He gently dries it with the washcloth next to the basin.
She calms down as he dries her hand. "It was nothing. Just me overreacting, I promise." She smiles softly at him.
He looks at her skeptically, "Okay, but if somebody is scaring you, you have to let me know! We are in this together. You and me, makes three, right?" he says with a grin.
She looks at him strangely, "Makes three? Your tutor must have been horrible if you think that you and me makes three!" she says with a giggle.
He chuckles softly, he points to her, "You and me," he points to himself, "makes three. You, our kingdom, and me, it makes three."
Her eyes light up, "I do believe you have outwitted me this time, my love!" she says with a girlish giggle.
He rolls his eyes, a blush taking over his face, "I can't believe you love me!" He says in whisper. His finger traces the contours of her face. His finger traces her lips, "I do love you. I wish to marry you soon. As soon as possible."
Hermione holds his hand up to her lips and says, "Soon!" Then she gently places a kiss on his knuckles. "I have to go meet your mother to talk about the wedding. It is coming up. There are many things that are left to be attended to. I'll see you at dinner." She reaches up to kiss his cheek and smiles at him softly.
He watches as she leaves him in her bedchambers. What has caused her to look scared?
Lavender was waiting. Waiting for the reply that would confirm that she was indeed to be betrothed to the one and only Neville Longbottom. She couldn't wait to hear back from her father. Even Neville would be a great person to hear from. He had been gone too long. Why was it taking him so long to negotiate a deal?
Neville had left a month ago. He had made a promise to meet her father. He was supposed to negotiate a betrothal. He had been gone too long. It wasn't a long ways to Ravenclaw kingdom. It was weeks ride to get to her home.
Something must be wrong!
Lavender paced her room, "Where is he?" she mutters.
There's a loud banging on her door, she whirls around in fright, letting a squeak out of her mouth.
She clamps her mouth shut and composes herself before allowing anybody in. "Come in," she says loudly.
Neville comes in looking disheveled and travel worn. His clothes are wrinkled and dirty, there is dirt streaked across his cheek. "Neville!" she shrieks. "What happened? Why are you so dirty?" she asks rapidly.
He looks at her solemnly, "Bandits. They were waiting for us at the edge of Gryffindor, near the Slytherin borders."
Lavender looks at him confusedly, "Slytherin? But Ravenclaw is on the other side of Gryffindor, nowhere near Slytherin…" she says slowly.
Neville nods slowly, "I was on a business trip. It was a stop before heading here. Back home. I didn't make it to Hufflepuff. But I did have a betrothal contract signed with your father…" he says slowly, a grin overtaking his face.
Lavender's eyes light up, "Truly?"
"Truly." He intones.
"Oh I'm so excited! I must go tell Hermione!" Lavender says with a squeal before running out of the room in excitement. She's halfway out of the door before she realizes that she didn't thank Neville.
She rushes back in, she takes on of his hands in her and squeezes his hand tightly. She looks at him with bright eyes, "Thank you! I'll be the wife you deserve. A wife to be proud of, I promise." She squeezes his hand again, before rushing out of her chambers.
He looks after her goofily. His cheeks red and eyes bright, "Wow," he says softly.
Author's Note: As I said earlier, I will hopefully update asap and the story is not abandoned! I've just been busy with school and its my senior year of college. It's got me stressed but I will keep the fics coming!