III
They’d been shown to the library and introduced to the Maester Luwin- whom she’d assumed was some kind of Healer and Archivist from her brief conversation with the man- before being delivered to a room and asked very politely to please inform the guards posted outside their room before going anywhere.
Hermione thought it was kind of cute in a depressing way that the Starks were so eager to keep her here and watched, even though Teddy’s little gift had upended their lives in a matter of minutes. Regardless, she had no plans of disappearing with Teddy, especially given that they clearly not on any Earth that she recognized, and there was a library here for her to find answers in.
She let Teddy slide out of her arms and looked around the room as the door closed behind her. There was a simple but large bed in the center of the room, directly across a lit hearth. There was a writing table, for which she was grateful, and two lounging chairs near the fireplace. She spun in a circle to see if she’d missed anything and when she turned back to Teddy, she found him looking up at her.
“Aunt Mione, where are we?” he asked, his eyes wide and his hair tinging to black the way it did when he was nervous.
For a moment, she wished she could lie to him. Even though Teddy knew better than to call her or Harry out on their lies in public, he would demand the truth if they were in private.
She sighed and kneeled to look him in the eyes. “I don’t know, Ted. But I’m going to get us home and kill your Uncle Harry, I promise, okay?”
He looked her straight in the eyes for a few seconds, and apparently liking whatever he saw, he grinned. “Uncle Harry says nothing can kill him.”
Hermione made a noise in between a grunt and a harrumph. “As if he’d have made it this far without me.”
Teddy climbed onto one of the lounge chairs and leaned over the hand of it as he laughed. She sat in the chair opposite him and let the fire warm them for a moment. Hermione could tell that Teddy was still a little nervous as his hair was mostly black and straight- at a glimpse exactly like Harry’s.
She smacked her hands together and braced herself on her knees, looking straight at Teddy. “Okay, Ted. First, we’re going to get some food. Then, we’re going to find out how to get out of here.”
She held her hand out palm faced upwards and waited while Teddy scrunched his nose at her. He leaned forward, smiling, completely trusting, with a copy of Tonks’ bright eyes (and Andromeda’s, and Sirius’s, and Bellatrix’s) shining at her, and smacked his palm onto hers.
She was Hermione Granger. Given a library, her wits, and her magic, there was no mess she couldn’t work her way out of. She was going to get them home.
XXX
For people that had caused so much drama, Lady Hermione and Teddy were very difficult to find. Winterfell was a large keep, of course, but Robb had the home-grown advantage and a network of guards, servants ,and Arya Underfoot to keep him aware of their movements- and yet.
After she’d seen Jon collapse, wrecked from Father’s lies, Lady Hermione had quietly and firmly asked to be excused, and Father had rushed them out and handed them off to some guards. Robb had mostly ignored the two oddities as they left, focused on Jon, who’s head was in his arms, and chest braced on his knees. It looked like his brother- cousin?- couldn’t draw in enough breath.
The situation could not have gotten worse- or so Robb had thought.
And then Father had returned, but not alone. Mother was with him, and she had demanded answers.
Suffice it to say: no one had left that room satisfied.
Jon was sullen and brooding, spending most of his time down in the crypts with Aunt Lyanna’s statue, and the girls were confused at the sudden chill between Mother and Father and curious about the guests they hadn’t seen but heard whispers about. Father hadn’t asked to see Lady Hermione but had locked himself in his solar. Mother was flurrying around Winterfell in a passive-aggressive anger.
It had been two days, though, and aside from Maester Luwin and the one maid that brought their visitors’ meals, no one had any information about Lady Hermione and Teddy. Maester Luwin said she visited the library tower early each morning and stacked up dozens of books before somehow sliding them into her small drawstring bag. These books were all neatly stacked on a table in the library by nightfall. The guards, however, promised Robb that they had not seen her leave her room. How she was getting to and from the library remained a mystery that Robb had a bad feeling could only be answered by magic.
The maid, Senna, had plenty to say about their guests, but her words just left Robb with more questions. Lady Hermione had invited Senna into her and Teddy’s room and very kindly offered her a seat and some of their meal before hitting Senna with a barrage of questions: how are you treated here? what are the wages like? do you have a form of plumbing?
What this ‘plumbing’ was, Robb could only imagine.
But now he was determined to get some answers.
He’d been standing outside of her door for a few minutes at this point, the guards outside Lady Hermione’s room shifting nervously at the sight of him- or perhaps at the thought of the woman behind the door?
Suddenly, the door swung open and he was faced with the woman herself. He took her in, and he felt his mouth drop into an unattractive gape but couldn’t help himself. Behind him, he heard a guard choke.
“Yes?” she demanded; her arms crossed across her chest.
Her hair was loose and frizzy down to her waist, and her cheeks had blue smudges on them-probably ink- but her clothes were most shocking. Her legs were almost entirely bare, with only short trousers covering her a few hands up from her knees. Her top was low cut and shaped with thin sleeves like small clothes. She was wearing something fuzzy and long, cut like a sleeved cloak over the whole outfit, that matched her bright red and gold socks.
By the old gods, why did she insist on wearing Lannister colors? They were in the North! Robb thought to himself, shaking his head for a second to clear himself of the haze her exposed skin had put him in.
She’d had enough of his gaping, though, because she followed up with a stern, “You’ve been standing in front of this door for ten minutes, do you need something or are you lost?”
Robb had the sudden desire to ask her who she thought she was to come into his keep and speak to him this way but was reminded of the green light that had struck down eight of their men, and instead asked, “May I come in Lady Hermione?”
She looked at him, and then past him, before stepping back and gesturing for him to come inside. He stepped inside and let the door fall closed behind him. No doubt one of the guards had run to tell his Father he was here, but if Lady Hermione had wanted to harm them, she would have done so already.
He looked around the room they were in. It was arranged how most of Winterfell’s guest rooms were, albeit larger than a traditional guest room. However, most guest rooms didn’t have a small tent pitched in front of the hearth or the floor covered with maps, books and sheets of parchment.
Robb noticed that Little Teddy was nowhere to be found, and he doubted Lady Hermione would have let the boy out of her sight. “Where is your godson?” Robb asked as he sat in one of the lounge chairs, only stuttering over the unfamiliar word for a moment.
Lady Hermione sat across from him and responded by waving her hand towards the tent. She leaned back in her chaise, her eyes boring into him. Her gaze made him feel unsettled low in his stomach.
“Ah, Lady Hermione, I was wondering if I could ask you some questions?” Robb asked.
She smiled and corrected him, “Please, just call me Hermione.”
Robb continued, taking her response as implicit permission. “Has the library helped you much, Lad-,” she raised her eyebrow, and he grimaced, quickly correcting himself, “Hermione?”
She bit her lip.
Robb was suddenly glad that Teddy was in the tent- even if he didn’t understand why the boy wanted to be in such a small space.
“A bit, yes. The magic here is-“ she trailed off and raised her palms and held them side by side.
“It’s unbalanced, but the extra weight on this side,” she moved one palm down, “it’s not that there’s too much magic. It’s more like there’s oil covering it, making it heavier.”
Robb didn’t really understand the nuances of what she said but was interested anyway.
“What does that mean for you and Teddy?” he asked.
She plopped her hands down in her lap, before shaking her head in frustration. “I don’t know. We’re going to have to leave and find somewhere more balanced.” She stood from her seat and waved for him to follow her over to one of the maps she had of the known word splayed across the floor.
He knelt on the floor next to her, following her lead as she sat crisscrossed on the ground. She placed her index finger on the direwolf symbol that marked Winterfell on the map and dragged it to White Harbor. “We’re going to go to White Harbor and make our way to Bravos.” He followed her finger with his eyes, noting the colored polish that made her nails sparkle dark red. “The books your Maester let me borrow made it seem like there is more magic in Essos than Westeros.”
Robb nodded. Most stories of magic started in the Lands beyond the Wall or in Essos. “And after that?”
Hermione tilted her head to the right and bit her lip again- probably a nervous habit, Robb noted to himself.
“Pentos. I think given that we-“ she paused and said the next word bitterly, “landed in Westeros, I’d like to stay closer to the Narrow Sea. At least at first.”
Robb’s head had shot up at her mention of Pentos. He’d heard Father mention Pentos to Jon in his solar two days ago. Father had received a coded message from Jon Arryn three moons previous, telling him that the remaining Targaryen’s were hiding out in the city.
Before he realized that words were leaving his mouth, Robb turned to Hermione and leaned towards her demanding, “Take us with you.”
She looked confused, but recovered quickly, before laughing in his face. She continued to laugh until his unchanged expression made her laughter stutter out. “Uh, no,” she said with a dubious shake of her head and furrowed eyebrows.
“Just me and Jon!” he insisted, leaning forward to capture her wrists in his hands. Later, he would reflect that the move was brave. She could’ve broken his wrists and left.
Instead, she raised an eyebrow and shook her wrists a little until he loosened his grip, but didn’t fully release her.
“Robb, no offense,” she started in a tone that suggested that she was about to offend him. “Have you ever left Winterfell on your own before?”
He hadn’t.
“No, but-“
She cut him off, “This isn’t a field trip.” Robb mouthed the words field trip to himself, and she caught the movement and shook her head in frustration. “Robb, this isn’t an adventure. I need to get Teddy and I home.”
“I know that!” he exclaimed.
Hermione looked unconvinced. “I can’t slow down for you. I don’t even know you or Jon.”
Robb released her wrists and moved to grab her hands instead.
All his life, Jon had supported him quietly. Jon had taken the blame any time they had found themselves in trouble, had whispered the answers to him when Maester Luwin tested them, had pretended to lose when they were sword-fighting and Father was watching.
Jon had loved Sansa, even as his sister began to follow their Mother’s example and shunned Jon. He had taught Arya to use a sword in the Godswood even though it left him tired in the mornings. He sang to Rickon and always made time to play with Bran and tell him stories.
Jon had never asked for anything in return for all the love he gave. This was Robb’s chance to give his brother something he’d never asked for but always wanted- a family.
Robb knew there would be consequences for his actions. He was the Heir to Winterfell. His Mother would be heartbroken. His Father would be furious. Robb had responsibilities. But this was for Jon.
“Lady Hermione,” Robb said, as seriously as he could, trying to imbue his voice with the bone-deep desire- obligation- he had to give his brother something good. “Hermione, please. Jon’s only remaining family in Pentos. Father won’t let us find them. If you can get to Pentos, please take us.”
Hermione considered him, but he knew she was trying to find a kind way to deny him.
“Have you ever loved someone like they were an extension of yourself?” Robb asked desperately. She nodded slowly.
Robb wondered who she was thinking of.
“Jon is the best part of me. The world has given him nothing, and this chance to find his family is the only brightness I can promise him. I do not know you and there is very little I can give someone with your powers, but I would give you my life if you could give Jon this piece of happiness.” He had thought he wasn’t someone that would ever stoop to begging, but he realized he wasn’t above it.
Hermione continued to stare back at him. Her eyes softened. He wanted to say more, beg more, but something stopped him.
She opened her mouth and Robb braced himself for an inevitable rejection. Instead, she called out, in a voice only slightly louder than they’d been speaking, “Teddy, come out here for a mo’.”
A few seconds passed, and then Teddy stuck his head out the slit of the tent. Robb had to stop himself from reacting in shock for a second time at his guests’ appearance. Teddy’s hair was bright pink.
“Aunty Mi?” Teddy asked, twitching his nose at the sight of Robb and Hermione holding hands.
She shook Robb’s hands out of hers and then reached a hand out for Teddy to grab. The little boy skipped over to her happily. He shot Robb a smug look.
Hermione leaned towards Teddy’s head as if she was going to whisper in his ear, but seemed to change her mind at the last minute. “Teddy, tell me out loud if he is lying, okay?”
Teddy nodded very thoughtfully as he settled into his godmother’s arms and Hermione turned her attention back to Robb.
“If we take you with us, you will protect Teddy with your life,” she stated, enunciating very clearly.
Robb nodded his head. That was easy enough. Robb didn’t need to make a promise to protect a child.
Teddy spoke up, very matter of fact, “You have to say it.” Robb didn’t know what he had done to the little boy, but Teddy didn’t seem to think much of him.
“I will protect you and Teddy with my life,” Robb stated.
Teddy looked at him, his gaze as piercing as Hermione’s, and then nodded an affirmative.
Hermione continued, “If we take you with us, you will not betray us under any circumstances.”
Robb repeated her statement and felt a cold breeze run down his spine.
Was she using magic?
Teddy nodded an affirmative again, looking to Hermione as Robb was, for an answer.
She considered Robb for a few more moments before nodding her head, looking as if she was angry with herself for agreeing.
“We leave when the moon is at its highest point tonight. Don’t be late,” she emphasized the word ‘don’t’ as if she was used to having to say it.
Robb nodded eagerly as she continued, “Pack well and a lot. I can shrink your stuff, but I don’t know how long it will take us to get to Pentos.” She sent him a sharp look. “We’re still going to Bravos first,” she said, and he didn’t argue with her. If they could find Jon’s family that would be a minor sacrifice.
“Okay,” she paused and then repeated, “Okay,” but this time it was quieter like she was whispering the word to herself and Teddy.
“Thank you, Lady Hermione. I owe you a debt I can never repay.”
She looked uncomfortable at his statement, so he backed away and leapt to his feet.
“Thank you, my Lady,” he repeated, and she looked at him with a grimace, and even though he was grateful to her, the look on her face was so reminiscent of Arya that he couldn’t resist needling her. “Thank you,” he repeated over and over as he practically danced to the door of the room and opened it. “Thank you!” he sing-songed as he left the room.
He didn’t see Hermione shut the door behind him with a wave of wandless magic or hear Teddy giggle as Hermione smacked her palm against her forehead in disgruntlement.
He had so much to do before nightfall.