Castle Guard by greenflowerpot

Chapter 8

- NOT MY STORY!! ALL CREDITS TO @greenflowerpot ON A03!!
-
Hermione woke up to the sound of yelling.

"—firing spells like imbeciles while the princess was right there, what were you thinking?" came Arlo's furious voice. "She could have been killed!"

"My apologies, your highness, we were following protocol—"

The voices flickered in and out of Hermione's attention as she tried to catch up to her surroundings. She was on a bed. Had she fallen asleep?

Malfoy was hurt.

Hermione sat up with a choked gasp as her memory came crashing back.

Through still-bleary eyes she saw that were a few servants and a Healer in the room, in addition to Arlo and a man whose uniform seemed to indicate he was the Harloft Head of Guard. Arlo walked to her, concern written all over his face.

"You're up," he said gently. "You silly girl. How are you feeling?"

"Where is Draco?" she asked, hardly hearing him. "Is he alright?"

The prince clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

"Your guard is in prison. He was a Death Eater—we're lucky he didn't kill you. I am not exactly pleased that he attempted to seduce you, but at least my servant saw his Dark Mark as a result."

"Draco would not have hurt me—I don't understand—"

"Forgive me, I forget that things of this nature are not often mentioned around ladies. Your guard is branded with the Dark Mark—it means he is a servant of the Dark Lord. Or was, anyway, before the Dark Regime fell."

"That's not possible," Hermione responded instantly. Malfoy was kind, and funny, and sweet. He was not any kind of dark.

Arlo just looked at her pityingly.

She realized how she must seem to him—a naïve innocent charmed by a guard with a handsome face—and tried to fight the feeling of humiliation rising in her.

"He was saying something about trials when your guards attacked him," she continued, dogged. "Did you let him explain? The King's Army would not have allowed a Death Eater in its ranks, there must be a mistake."

"Hermione," Arlo said, taking her hand in his. "I know the real reason you're upset, even if you don't. You're afraid I will be angry with you for letting the guard kiss you. But please do not fret—I understand that young ladies are susceptible to romantic flights of fancy. It is just your nature and I don't blame you a whit. I only ask that you wander with a chaperone you from now on—"

"What? Arlo—no—that's not why I'm worried," she said, incredulous, pulling her hand away. "I'm asking about the possibility that you've wrongly imprisoned Draco!"

"There is no such thing as wrongful imprisonment when it comes to Death Eaters," Arlo said, taking her hand again. "Malfoy did attempt to tell us a tale of how he was pardoned—a fabrication, no doubt. Harloft has learned the hard way what these monsters are capable of. My men show no leniency to dark wizards—I would be surprised if Malfoy survives the week in their care. This is the right way of things, darling. Trust me."

Panic, slowly growing in Hermione all this time, reached fever pitch.

"That's illegal."

"Not in my kingdom."

"I demand you release him at once! He is my guard, and I am—I am representative of West Haven here."

"Please, Hermione," Arlo said, and he sounded actually worried. "You're agitating yourself. You need rest."