The Cursed King: Part One
`Why do I have to dress up and you don't?' Hermione said a little sulkily as she joined Harry back by the silver basin. She had just had to change into a kind of peasant looking dress, while Harry had gotten ready, which she just found out was by him taking his glasses off.
`I'm wearing black' Harry replied shrugging `it just fades in everywhere you go. You ready to go?'
Hermione stopped to think, she was changed already into her brown `dress', and now she was ready to travel through time. She had to suppress a little giggle as she realized just what her life had become.
`Sure am, handsome' she said happily as she sat down on the floor cross legged, holding the skirt in place, before looking up at a very confused Harry. She smiled at the idea that she could possibly do something that Harry, with all his eccentricities, didn't expect.
`What are you doing down there?' Harry asked, positively joyous at what was happening.
`Preparing to travel, no falling over for me this time!' Hermione replied watching as Harry threw his head back and laughed.
`I think we should invest in a chair!' Harry said, and even though she was excited to watch as Harry pulled his wand up to his head and removing another long stream of silver steam, she couldn't help but be more excited by the use of the word we. Harry took the silver steam like had previously done and placed it into the basin, Hermione spreading her hands out along the floor ready for what she k new was coming. Instantly the room threw itself around, but this time ready for it all that happened was Hermione slipped back and forth a bit. When the vehicle had stopped and everything was once again stationary in her world, she stood up and looked at Harry.
`And I know just the little place for a nice chair' Harry said smiling as he held out his hand. Hermione took it and was led towards the door, Harry opening it instantly like it led to the living room instead of the past.
`Fantastic!' Harry said as they stood outside, and Hermione thought the same. The whole street looked exactly how she had always pictured it, old wooden houses and dirt tracks on all sides, and people rushing about in their everyday business. Hermione couldn't help but love this place. Well, this time, she figured.
She stepped forward and walked up to the nearest house and placed a hand on the wooden surface, just to check that this was all real.
`Get off that!' a middle aged woman shouted at her almost instantly from behind, and as Hermione let go the woman wandered off, muttering to herself. Hermione could swear she heard the woman say `Kids these days' and `stupid weird clothes'. Hermione laughed at how little some things had changed.
`Excuse me sir' she heard Harry say, and as she spun around she saw Harry in conversation with a guy about their age `Do you know what the date is?'
`Don't you?' the guy said suspiciously.
`Plainly me and my companion seem to have mislaid that information' Harry replied quickly, beaming at the stranger and indicating Hermione. The man looked at her puzzled for a second before speaking.
`What is she wearing?' he said confused, Hermione looked down and realized that her outfit was quite different to everyone else's, it had a fitted cut and looked more like a 21st century prop than an actual real life outfit. Harry only beamed back at the man, who eventually shrugged before answering the actual question `its 1597, our year of the king' the guy said, still suspicious but also a little angrily. Harry didn't carry on the conversation but walked over to her and smiled.
`1597!' Harry said excitedly `A very fine year too'
`Didn't I ask for 1594?' Hermione asked confused, falling into step beside him as they walked through the crowds. She assumed he must know the way and was content to follow him.
`And I was only 3 years out' Harry said looking at her with a grin.
`How come you messed up?' Hermione asked curiously
`You think its easy traveling over four hundred years through time!' Harry replied sounding put out.
`But haven't you done more than that?' Hermione stated trying to rectify any offence she had caused.
`And I'm usually happy to get the year right!' Harry said laughing, Hermione sighed as she realized that he had previously been faking hurt `Although this one time I was aiming for 21066 and missed out the two, ended up between King Harold and William the Conqueror in 1066'
`And I'm guessing they weren't too pleased to see you?' still amazed at the life Harry had led.
`William was furious! I still owed him a goat farm from a few years previously!' Harry said smiling as he stopped dead in his tracks `We're here'
`Where?' Hermione said confused, looking at the shabby little house before them.
`Here' he said happily opening the door and walking through and calling `Charles?'
`Who wants to know?' a harsh voice called from behind another door. Now that Hermione was in the room she could tell that it was a shop, and seemed to sell furniture of all sorts of descriptions. Chair after chair was piled onto of each other, with tables and other things littered around the place, Hermione was impressed that they had managed to get all the stuff into the room, let alone have room for people to walk around as well.
`Just an old friend' Harry said smiling as the man stopped dead in his tracks before him.
`Why, if I never! It's Harry Potter!' the man said, his voice pleasant with an almost musical quality to it, walking up and pulling Harry into a hug. `It's great to see you again!'
`You too' Harry said breaking the hug and looking content. For a few moments the two men looked at each other in silence, Charles was probably in his mid twenties, with sandy blonde shoulder length hair and a good build. Before long the man named Charles broke eye contact with Harry and noticed Hermione, quickly smiling at her.
`Now what do we have here, Harry Potter with a girlfriend?' Charles said stepping friendly towards her `and a pretty one as well! Although if you don't mind me asking, what are you wearing?'
`Why do people keep on saying that?' Hermione said slightly insulted `What about Harry here!'
`What? He's just wearing black, miss' Charles said laughing loudly, before turning back to Harry `Follow me into the back, I've got something to show you'
Charles started to walk away towards the room he had come from, Harry smiled at Hermione to tell her that everything was ok, and followed after him.
`Harry, you don't look a day older than when I last saw you, and that must have been 10 years ago!' Charles called as he made his way around the obstacle course of his stock
`I use duck water daily' Harry said as he followed quickly, barely noticing the intricate winding path he had to take.
`Duck water, eh? I think I'll try that…' the man said in deep though as he led walked through the door
`What will that do to him?' Hermione whispered curiously into Harry's ear.
`Make him smell like a duck, I guess' Harry whispered back shrugging, making Hermione giggle slightly.
She walked through the door and found herself in a smaller room which was tidier and with fewer items. It didn't take a genius to work out that this was where he kept his rarer items. Charles stood before them, looking excited at them, Hermione quickly noticed that he had something in his hands, but was gripping it too tightly for her to see what it was. Harry looked at him interestedly, not noticing the item he held.
`Firstly, did you ever find that thing you were looking for?' Charles asked him.
`Not yet' Harry replied simply.
`Then this may be of interest to you' Charles said handing Harry the object, which she realized to be a heavy bound book. Harry looked at it in interest, but before Hermione could crane her neck enough to see he had pocketed it and was looking back up at Charles.
`How much do you want?' Harry said in a determined tone that told Hermione that any price the man said Harry would pay.
`Nothing' Charles said nicely with a smile `I haven't forgotten what you did for me'
`But…' Harry said trying to argue, but Charles just shook his head and looked at Hermione.
`Harry here saved my life… twice!' Charles said, and from the look in his eyes Hermione had no doubt of the respect he had for Harry.
`I only did what any man would do' Harry said shrugging modestly.
`Ha! You managed to get the queen herself to pardon me!' Charles said roaring with laughter at Harry's modesty.
`If you put it like that then I guess that I did what any other hero would do!' Harry said with a laugh and a fake little bow.
`Talking of Heroes, are you in town to see Bill?' Charles asked.
`Yeah, Hermione here hasn't seen any of his plays live before' Harry said.
`Then you're in for a treat missy!' Charles said turning quickly and rummaging through a cabinet before turning and giving her a piece of paper, it was an advertisement for a play but she couldn't read the minuscule handwriting `Richard the third starts in 10 minutes!'
'10 minutes?' Harry said looking towards the door `I guess we've got to go'
`You will be back?' Charles said a little note of panic in his voice.
`I promise' Harry said honestly.
`It's been nice meeting you, Charles' Hermione said before turning to Harry with a grin on her face `Lets go, pleeeease?'
`Ok, Hermione!' Harry said laughing as she took his hand and started to pull her towards the door.
`See you soon, Harry' Charles shouted as they made their way out of the shop and into the main street, Harry taking over the leading as she didn't know the way.
`He seemed nice' Hermione said faking normality, a million questions shooting through her mind.
`He is' Harry said beaming at her as he side stepped to walk around some rubbish just left out in the street. The rubbish, left out all day in the sun had become to rot and the smell that it gave of was beyond reasonable for Hermione. Walking quickly away she was happy when she got out of smelling distance of it, `Although trust me when I tell you he's one hell of a drinker! We had a few too many nights proving just how good he was compared to me'
`I'll have to ask him about these nights!' Hermione said, making Harry chuckle. Hermione wondered how she could phrase what she really wanted to know, so she asked curiously `So when did you meet Charles?'
`About a year ago' Harry said, sliding them between crowds that were buying vegetables from a stall.
`Oh' Hermione said, a little confused.
`What's wrong?' Harry asked stopping dead in his tracks to look at her.
`It's just…' Hermione said, not sure how to phrase the words inside her head `…Well, it's just you seem really good friends…'
`Yeah, I guess we are' Harry said looking at her directly. Hermione was a little lost in his green eyes with her eyes missing half a beat. His eyes seemed clearer as they were now uncovered by his lack of glasses, she took a quick breathe and regained herself pretty quickly.
`Then, how come you didn't take him with you?' Hermione asked finally.
`I'm not really supposed to, there are laws and stuff' Harry answered seriously.
`So why was I different' Hermione blurted out before she could stop herself. Harry only smiled sweetly for a few moments before replying.
`You just…were' Harry said, Hermione thought he moved a fraction of an inch closer but before she was sure he had stepped away, still holding her hand and led her down the road.
`So…' Hermione said a little awkwardly, thinking of something to say `…have you seen this one before?'
`Yeah, it's fantastic!' Harry said happily, shooting her a quick glance.
`I just love Shakespeare!' Hermione said `I use to be a right geek when I was younger'
`And you're hoping that you'll one day grow out of it?' Harry said teasing.
`Very funny!' Hermione said laughing. Suddenly she stopped at the same time as Harry, for once she knew exactly where they were and where they were going. And before them stood the Curtain.
`Oh it's…so…' Hermione said this, thinking of the perfect word.
`Decrepit?' Harry said helpfully.
`No…well, yeah…' Hermione said quickly `…but…Fantastic!'
`Come one, it'll be starting soon' Harry said leading her up to the door. A man stopped them but Harry instantly showed them his piece of magic paper and the guard bowed, she wondered how respectable that piece of paper had just made them, fortunately enough respect must have been made that all her clothes got was a funny look and no comment. She sighed at this, next time she would work harder on an outfit.
They walked round and looked for a seat, only about a hundred people were in today as Hermione figured it was a midday session, and consequently a lot of space was left with fortunately a few of the seats. They sat down and tried to get comfortable, the butterflies in her stomach and the adrenaline in her blood not letting this be too easy.
`Oh, this is exciting!' Hermione squealed, looking up at the stage where Shakespeare in all its glory and more would be performed for them.
Before she could even get comfortable a group of players came out on stage, the audience quiet with expectation.
`Old John of Gaunt, time-honored Lancaster, Hast thou accordingly to thy oath and band brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold son, here to make good the boist'rous late app…app…appeal…' The man stuttered slightly, putting a hand up to his throat. Hermione felt worried, the man playing King Richard seemed in pain. Moment passed where all the actors looked confused. Hermione looked at Harry whose eyes weren't moving, staring intently at the action before him.
`I have, my liege' the man playing Gaunt said, missing the rest of King Richards opening lines in the hope that it would make him snap out of it, which seemed to work. Hermione wondered if King Richard had had a bit of stage fright and forgotten his lines temporarily
`Tell me…moreover…' King Richard seemed to be recovering but was out of breathe slightly `…hast thou sounded him, if he appeal the duke on ancient…ancient…ancient…' The man fell to his knees and the audience gasped in anticipation, only Hermione and Harry knew that it wasn't part of the play, Harry leaned forward in deep concentration. Everyone on stage was still for moments before King Richard made another sound, screaming the next words at the top of his voice `ANCIENT MALICE!'
Harry stood up instantly, Hermione joining him a fraction of a second later.
`Stop!' a mans voice bellowed throughout the theatre from the front doors directly behind her. Hermione spun round quickly but stopped dead in her tracks, mouth open in shock at the man before her `I order you to stop this play before it's too late!'
`On whose command?' a man in the audience shouted out in anger as the man walked up the length of the theatre and stood before the stage.
`On my command!' the man said confidently.
`And who may you be!' an old woman practically screeched.
`I?' the man said confidently looking around him `I am William Shakespeare'
*
So that's the first part of this one, there will be 3 to this adventure…I know it's a little late, but its deliberate, and the next part will be out tomorrow so I hope that make sup for it…hope you liked it anyway, let me know what you're feeling…
Oh, and the Shakespeare's all correct…
Jms Granger
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