Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Author's Note: Since finishing my last fic I've been throwing around ideas for more, and though I've started on several none had really caught my interest until tonight. I have been inspired by the Arthurian Legends (blame it on reading historical fiction too often and watching a special on Viking culture on tv, among other things) and I have the basic outline completely worked out for it. I'll probably be looking at updating about once a week, though may do so more often (or slightly less) depending on my moods.

I decided it was high time I wrote one where Draco got the girl (Hermione specifically, that is), though how that works will be mostly a mystery in the earlier chapters. I'm really rather interested in everyone's theories as this story comes along, and all thoughts/comments/etc. are welcome!

~ andarte

Hermione dragged herself under the brush, casting a quick disillusionment charm and holding her breath in worry. The gashes in her side were bleeding profusely, and her body still twitched from the hours of Crucio she had endured at the wand of Bellatrix Lestrange. Dull pain radiated from her right ankle, with sharper pain shooting through her leg at random intervals. She was pretty sure it was broken, but that must be dealt with whenever she managed at least temporary safety.

Voices could be heard in the woods around her, and soon enough several figures in Death Eater robes could be seen from her hiding spot. They walked smoothly through the forest, speaking in hushed tones between each other. They saw nothing of her though, and did not seem to expect she would be hiding so close to the Manor she had just escaped from. Granted, Hermione knew the most logical thing would have been to run as far as she was able before hiding, but she was recognized as the Gryffindor know-it-all and she hoped that she would be about to use that reputation to her benefit. So far, it seemed to be working.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Hermione took out the Time Turner she had hidden under her robes. She had seen it in Malfoy Manor while Bellatrix was torturing her. Lucius Malfoy had held it carefully, examining it, and then placed in gently back into a small wooden box. When she had taken her chance at escape, Hermione had grabbed the Time Turner as well. After all, it was a rare magical object, and one she had experience in using.

Studying it for a moment and taking a deep breath, Hermione began to carefully adjust it and turn the wheel. This was a more complicated version than she had used in her Third year, but she had studied so much on them in preparation that she found it easy to use. This one was meant for travelling further back in time, and just then Hermione believed that was exactly what she needed. This place was sparsely populated now; if she went back several centuries then it should be wilderness and a relatively safe place to rest and recover. Travelling forward in time was trickier, and not everyone knew it to be a possibility, but Hermione was confident in her knowledge. Carefully counting the turns, Hermione released it and allowed herself to be pulled through time.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

When the world finally stopped spinning, Hermione glanced around to find herself in a similar looking forest, the sun just beginning to rise on the distant horizon. Birds were chirping and the entire setting was one of peacefulness to her. Sitting up and carefully adjusting her leg, Hermione stuck her wand in her pocket and grabbed a decent sized twig to bite down on. Now was the time to heal her broken leg, she knew, and Hermione was fairly certain the bones would need to be set first.

She gripped her ankle firmly as all the books she had read had mentioned. Taking a deep breath, she quickly applied the needed pressure. The bones snapped into place after a bit of work, but the pain involved caused her to drop the twig and cry out loud in pain. It was as bad as the Crucio, and being self inflicted -- for however good a reason -- only made it that much more difficult.

When finally set, Hermione took her wand back out and began the healing spells on her ankle. Time would heal the rest, but the spells enabled her to at least walk if she must. Just then, though, she didn't feel all that inclined to move.

A sudden movement to her left, not sounding anything like a forest creature, caught her off guard. Whirling to the side, she held her wand out before her and prepared to defend herself. Through the brush rode a male figure on a tall, dappled horse. He had a sword in hand, his garb indicating himself to be a man of some importance. When he saw her, a woman collapsed on the ground and no enemy in sight, he dismounted and walked over to her.

"I mean you no harm, lady," he said softly, his voice youthful but with a weary edge. "I heard your scream. I feared that something or someone might be hurting you."

Hermione lowered her wand, though kept it securely in hand. "That may well be. May I ask who you are?"

"Aye, of course," the man said, removing his head covering and kneeling beside her. "I am called Sir Galahad du Lac, but call me Galahad if you will. And you? What is your name, and how did you come to hurt yourself?"

"Galahad..." she said softly, liking how the name sounded coming from him. Could it be? Thinking quickly, she realized the number of times she had turned the Time Turner fit. "Surely not... King Arthur's knight?"

He smiled gently. "Is that all I am known for?" he asked with a chuckle. "The very one. I do his bidding at times, but for now I am here to learn from the woman who raised my father. She is a wise woman, and she says that it is time I learned some wisdom."

Hermione could barely contain her emotions. It was a shock, and she was still decided whether or not it was a pleasant one. She tried to remember everything she had read of Arthur and his Knights as a child. Let's see... Galahad was the son of Lancelot and Elaine... Lancelot was of French birth, but he was taken as a child and raised by... "The Lady of the Lake," she said, unaware of her words being out loud until after they had been spoken and the look of surprise crossed his face.

"You seem to know rather a lot about me," he said, "and still you have not answered my questions."

"I'm not sure you will believe me," answered Hermione, "but I hope you will. My name is Hermione. I have... magical abilities. I used my magic to bring me here, though I am from a time far in the future where you and the rest of Arthur's knights are known to us. I was injured in battle, and for some strange reason my first thought of escape was to bring myself back in time while I recovered."

Galahad laughed. "Most would doubt your words, but I do not. How could I, when I go to learn from the Dame du Lac herself? I am sure she would wish you to come with me to see her, as this is just the sort of thing she revels in and her abilities with healing can help you."