First Step into the Golden Age: Part One
Hermione looked up at the building and was impressed, she had never been to Windsor Castle before and not she stood before it, the castle dripped in pure white snow with soft lights highlighting it against the dark background of a winters night time.
`Now that's a palace' Hermione said taking Harry's arm in hers as she walked up towards the castle `sure makes you proud to be English, doesn't it?'
`Sure does' Harry said brightly `I grew up around castles and I'm still impressed by it!'
Hermione thought on his words and found she wasn't surprised. She could just imagine Harry as a child running through a castle and getting into trouble, the normal life would never have produced a man like him.
They approached the main door that was flanked by two guards, dressed immaculately in full red timeless suits of the British royal family, although both had ear pieces attached to listen to commands from above.
Harry held up the piece of paper, Hermione gripping his arm tightly as she waited to get in out of the cold street.
`Everything's in order, Baron Smith' the kind man said, he was wearing a heavy coat to protect himself from the cold air blowing outside `Baroness Granger'
They walked through the doors and entered a massive corridor, full to the brim of people in light conversation as they laughed together.
`Couldn't you have made me a princess?' Hermione said nudiging him slightly.
`What's wrong with Baroness?' Harry said rolling his eyes teasingly.
`Because the most famous Thatcher in the 21st century was Thatcher' Hermione said nodding to a man that was staring at her who nodded back.
`Point taken' Harry said after a moments thought and led her through the doors into the main hall.
Hermione looked around and breathed a sigh of relief that Harry had warned her to dress up. She was wearing a long cut dress, cut of the shoulders and pinched slightly at her waist, while Harry was dressed in his trademark black still, but highlighted by a white shirt with his suit. Everyone else though was probably dressed even more extravagantly than them, with enough jewellery around to pay for the country for a whole year.
`Do you care to Dance, Baroness Granger' Harry asked taking her hand softly in his.
`I thought you'd never ask' she said with a smile as she pulled him onto the dance floor and put her arms around his shoulder. She unknowingly closed her eyes momentarily as she felt his hands touch softly against her waist as they started to sway in time with the music.
`This song is lovely' Hermione said breathlessly as she rested her head against Harry, him leading her softly with the music.
`Number one in 298…' Harry started to explain but stopped mid sentence, resting his chin on top of her head for a few seconds as he sighed and said `yeah…it's nice'
Hermione closed her eyes, feeling Harry tighten his grip ever so slightly making her push closer into him made goose pimples shoot up her arms.
She stood there for a few moments swaying until the music died to be replaced by a faster paced song which she wasn't ready for yet, so she tore herself from his chest and pulled him to the side of the dance floor.
`I would have bet anything it would have been me giving up first!' Harry said teasing her.
`I like to throw surprised from time to time' Hermione said grinning.
`Surprises you say?' Harry said, a mischievous glint behind his eyes appeared for a moment before he turned away from her as he said `wait here'
And with those enigmatic words he walked of through the crowds, of to no doubt give her some sort of surprise that would end in someone trying to kill the pair of them.
Sighing she pulled out a chair form the table and sat down, hoping that whoever it was would wait until after the party so she could change and not ruin this dress.
`How come a beautiful girl like you is alone?' a man asked from next to her, he was slim and had his long dark hair brushed out of his eyes as he smiled at her.
`My…friend…is planning a surprise' Hermione said rolling her eyes.
`Well you're…friend…' he said grinning `is luck to have you re as a guest'
`Thanks' Hermione said absent mindedly as she searched the floor for any sight of Harry.
`If I was in his shoes I'd definitely know what surprise I'd want to give' the man said leaning closer to her in a very obviously charming manner.
`Mr…' Hermione said looking at him.
`Jonathan' the man said with a smile.
`John' Hermione said simply `I don't mean to be rude but whatever you think might happen, isn't going to'
`I was just trying to be nice' the man said hotly.
`And I was just trying to be honest' Hermione said as nicely as she could `you're a very handsome man, and there are hundreds of beautiful women here who you could definitely chat up here, I'm just not one of them'
The man named Jonathan looked at her in a mix of shock and anger for a few moments before he quickly stood up, averting his eyes from her as he walked away.
She watched as he walked away, wondering why she had been so quick to dismiss him as she saw Harry walking towards her and a smile came on her face.
`Been fun without me?' Harry said as she stood up and took his arm, he was leading them around the room towards something.
`You know how it goes…' Hermione said brightly `sat down on a chair, got chatted up by a man named Jonathan…the usual'
`A man named Jonathan came onto you?' Harry said quickly `I don't like the sound of him…which one is he?'
`He's not an alien or a wizard or anything bad' Hermione said laughing `just a guy looking to pull'
`I'll see about that!' Harry said looking around the room, obviously checking in his way for anything out of the ordinary.
`Harry, are you jealous!' Hermione said laughing.
`No!' Harry said stopping in his tracks.
`Are you sure?' Hermione teased. Harry looked at her affronted for a moment before he shrugged, sighed and carried on leading her across the room.
`That's the new president of Europe' Harry said pointing over at a man, decked out magnificently in a black satin tuxedo that his blond long hair clashed with magnificently `good man…poor guy doesn't last for very long'
`What happens to him?' Hermione asked curiously.
`You know that thing that the Tory guy did in the eighties?' Harry said looking at her interestedly.
`You mean with the…' Hermione dropped her voice so no one could hear her `the rope and…you know?'
`Did it on a Reality TV show' Harry said simply as he picked up a glass that was on the table near them and took a gulp of it.
`That's my drink, Sir' a man said roughly as he looked at Harry in complete disgust.
`And I thank you for it' Harry said brightly to the man who looked taken aback by Harry's behaviour, so Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him away towards the bar `remind me not to order Bourbon'
`He was drinking bourbon?' Hermione said in surprise, she was sure that that drink would have died out by now.
`Oh, not bourbon as in the South American drink…bourbon! Made from those chocolate biscuit things that children love' Harry said chuckling.
`That sounds disgusting!' Hermione said shaking her head.
`People would have said that about all the alcopop drinks your generation has' Harry said laughing `Dandelion and burdock with vodka!'
`Don't forget my personal favourite of Archers with lemonade!' Hermione said nudging him slightly.
`In the year 21st century their really juts starting on their mission of putting as much crap as possible into alcohol…' Harry said walking beside Hermione `by now they've perfected that art'
`Is there anything the human race can't achieve?' Hermione said laughing.
`Given enough time they'll mess up anything you can throw at them' Harry said chuckling `and somehow still turn it around at the end'
`So people stop drinking rubbish?' Hermione asked.
`Maybe not anything then' Harry said laughing.
Hermione stopped in her tracks as a voice spoke across the room and the music quieted down, straining her ears to hear the voice above the dim of people conversations.
`And for all you retro lovers out there we the next song is sure to have you smiling' the voice said making Hermione laugh, the cheesy party disco dj had somehow managed to break into the elite circles in a thousand years `Athlete's Street Map…'
`I love that song!' Hermione said in amazement at how Athlete could be seen as Retro.
`Listen…' Harry said taking her hand and leading her into the middle of the dance floor.
`Dedicated to a certain lady named Hermione Granger' the voice said as Harry grinned at her, `and after that we get onto the business of the night' Hermione heard these words like they were spoken a mile away as she looked up into Harry's deep green eyes and wished the evening would never end.
I would like to think our paths are straight,
Disconnected from the choices we make,
That there is no reason why it can't be like you said,
`Thanks' Hermione said with a grin.
`That's ok' Harry said placing his hands on her waist as she fell into him, her head back in what now felt like its natural position as it rested against his chest `I saw their album Tourist last time we visited your mum…'
`That was a couple months ago' Hermione said amazed.
`I…' Harry said softly, swaying her in his arms `guess I just remember things'
`But never the date of where you've travelled to?' Hermione teased.
`You're a thousand more times interesting than dates and time' Harry said honestly. Hermione's heart sped up, she didn't know why but the words sounded powerful to her.
I would like someone to make a map,
Mark my home and draw some lines that match,
All of the reasons why,
It can be like you said,
`Thank you, again' Hermione said as she listened to the words.
`What for this time?' Harry said softly, a smile on his face as she looked up slightly into his eyes
`Bringing a little piece of my old life here for me' Hermione said, her head still pointing upwards as Harry looked down at her.
`For you I would do anything, rearrange time itself if it pleased you' Harry said, his words were slow and pointed as he kept his eyes locked on hers, seconds past where only the piano from Athlete sounded in her ears `I've grown attached to travelling with you now!'
`Better than being alone?' Hermione said laughing.
`Sometimes' Harry teased `although waiting for a shower is annoying as hell!'
`We have six of them in the Anglia!' Hermione said slapping him on the chest slightly.
`Not the point' Harry said in his mock serious voice.
Hermione stood there, swaying in time with the music against Harry as she listened to the music, and knew there was no one she would rather share this moment with than Harry.
But I know one day it's gonna happen,
You're gonna be swept off your feet
The music suddenly died, and Hermione pulled her eyes from Harry's face as she slipped out of his grip realizing that all eyes were now staring straight up at the huge television screen she hadn't yet noticed attached to one of the walls.
`And let the evening really begin' The DJ said loudly and joyously over the chattering crowd as the screen turned on and Hermione saw the sight of Big Ben, thousands upon thousands of people all standing and staring at the clock.
`Only 30 seconds left of this historic year, and then the English people embark on a new page of human history' the presenter said as he appeared on the screen, Big Ben now directly behind him, looking strangely like Terry Wogan.
`Still haven't lost the flair for the dramatics, have they?' Hermione said watching as the people in the streets all started to cheer having noticed they were now on TV.
`End of a Millennium' Harry said `grabs the attention like nothing else'
`Now to Big Ben so we can count in the seconds of the first step into England's Golden Age' the Terry Wogan look-alike said with a characteristic TV presenter smile as the TV switched to the view of the worlds most famous clock.
`Starting in a second ladies and Gentlemen' the DJ said loudly sounding slightly annoyed that peoples attentions were momentarily of him `everyone grab their lucky someone, to kiss in the New Year…'
Hermione felt her heart lunge slightly as she hadn't thought of this part of the evening. Harry looked at her with a smile and took both of her hands in his as he moved to stand before her.
The loud chime of Big Ben echoed throughout the room but she could barely hear it over her beating heart as she looked at Harry. She tried to rearrange a smile on her face but guessing by Harry small little laugh she had failed.
`10…!' the crowd roared around them, every voice sounding ecstatic but Hermione couldn't find hers yet as they shouted `…9…' in time with another ring of Big Ben.
Harry inched closer to her, shuffling his feet slightly awkwardly as he did.
`8…' the crows roared, Hermione felt her throat getting dry as all she could see was Harry's green eyes `…7…'
Harry let go of Hermione's left hand, which fell quickly to her side, her mind unable to control it anymore.
`…6…' the crows cheered again, Big Bens chimes still echoing around the room as the spoke `…5…'
Hermione somehow managed to step forward, taking a little shuffling step as her feet only allowed this, her heart though seemed to be throwing itself into a panic at what she knew must be coming.
`…4…' the choir of people sang happily as Hermione put a hand out softly onto Harry's chest `…3…'
Harry raised a hand and ran it along her cheek, softly touching her skin and sending shivers down her spine.
`…2…' she lent forwards, her mouth pushed together to meet Harry's lips `…1…'
Time had seemingly slowed down as Harry lent towards her, his lips only inches away from hers, her heart beating as fast as it ever had in any life and death situation she had ever been in.
The whole world seemed to crumble around her as his lips touched hers, touching softly against her lips, his hand moving slowly along her cheek and running its way through her hair. The bells of Big Ben rang throughout the room as her lips slipped tenderly against his as she pushed slightly closer against his. She wanted to open her mouth, feel his tongue search through her mouth, but she couldn't' bring herself to as Harry pushed slightly harder, desperate for the intimacy to continue and deepen.
She ran a hand up through Harry's hair as the kiss intensified and she pushed her body harder against Harry's, but something seemed to scream in panic inside her and she pulled away.
`Happy New Year!' the crowd cheered, music playing loudly amongst them as she stared at Harry, a look of slight confusion on his face, but he quickly rearranged it into a smile.
`And a Happy New Millennium' Harry said with a grin, Hermione's heart was still threatening to tear a hole in her chest.
`And to many more' Hermione said, surprised that she could actually get the words out as she had believed that her beating heart now owned her.
Harry broke eye contact and looked around the room, smiling as he saw all the people hugging and kissing each other throughout the room, each one looking delighted with themselves.
`I love new years' Harry said looking back at her `so many people brought together by the hope that things will get better, not just for them but for everyone on this little amazing planet!'
`How many people do you think are like us here?' Hermione said nervously.
`Time Travellers?' Harry said laughing in disbelief `probably none'
`No, I meant…you know…' Hermione said nervously, she didn't know what words she exactly wanted to use `…friends…'
`Well…' Harry said looking at her as if he was examining her with his eyes `most people think it's normal to kiss someone who's more than friends'
`Harry…' Hermione said softly, she still couldn't think of the words and wasn't sure even what those words would be or mean.
`But no one could call us normal' Harry had put some emphasize into the word `us' that made Hermione's heart drop slightly.
Hermione shook her head and smiled. They, literally, had all the time in the world together, and Harry had taught her that things always worked out, the way they had been meant to. With only slight tinkering on their behalf.
`Let's get out of here' Hermione said laughing to herself.
`How come?' Harry said looking at her.
`No one here is ever going to try and kill us…' Hermione said simply, smiling to herself as she looked at Harry, looking like he did in that suit `and I don't know about you, but I want some…adventure…'
And she gave him one last grin before she took his hand and led him back to the Anglia, ready to travel through time again, ready for danger to find them, and ready to succeed against whoever might get in their way…together.
*
Ok, so not the beginning of the adventure I promised, but I hope you won't hold that against me?
That was my 20th Chapter special, and I hope everyone liked it? I hope you did as I really enjoyed writing it, especially as it's quite out of pace from the ordinary of this story and so it let me have fun…
I hope that at least some people got a little worried that this was the start of a new adventure and that their kiss would be interrupted by the next thing that wanted to kill them? Also, that was my first EVER attempt at a song-fic part of a chapter, although not even slightly important to the plot I wanted them to dance so I put in a song that means something to me…
Anyway, for those who care, this shows time has passed, they've now been travelling about 5 months, nearly 6 months...
Till the next adventure…
Jms Granger…
P.S - For those who find it interesting, I have started writing the finale for this story, and am already past the 10,000 word point and only half way through, all written in very very short! So far, in my personal opinion, it will be one hell off a finale!!! I'm honestly really excited by it!
-->