Unofficial Portkey Archive

Four Kingdoms by Horcrux Seeker
EPUB MOBI HTML Text

Four Kingdoms

Horcrux Seeker

Ah the reviews are slowly trickling in…

There have been reviews stating that the prior chapters were kinda short-well careful what you wish for coz this chapter is QUITE LONG! :D

Without any further ado-the next chapter!

Many thanks to VacantSkies again for lending his magic to this story-visit his website: http://www.fanfiction.net/~vacantskies

Disclaimer: never owned them and obviously I never will

Chapter 5

All hail Ravenclaw!

Long live Crown Princess Hermione Jane!

Hermione, true heir of Rowena!

May Merlin bless you Princess Hermione!

These were the few chants that greeted Hermione while she waved to the crowds gathered in the court yard below the balcony. Moments ago she joined the Royal families of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and the ruling bodies of Ravenclaw who were her parent that stood at her side, waving occasionally.

Hermione chanced a look at Cedric, who was glancing at the people below. He had a large smile on his face and he too sometimes would wave in acknowledgment when someone below shouted his name. She caught his eyes and the two of them chuckled simultaneously; Hermione blushed slightly, embarrassed by all the attention.

The princess then dared to venture a glance to her right. "Honestly, what is Prince Harry thinking? I bet he's trying to unnerve me! Yeah, that's what he's trying to do…I bet he's just waiting for me to fall on my face so he and…what's the name of that red haired friend of his?...um…Ah yes, Lord Ronald Weasley can spare a laugh at my expense!" Hermione thought, their past encounters at the Grand Library and the coronation of Cedric coming immediately to mind. She looked at him challengingly, for the Prince of Gryffindor had not once tore his stare away from her. Hermione noticed that even when Queen Lily whispered something to her son, his emerald eyes not once shifted in any direction but remained steadily on her. The hair on her nape stood at attention, "Even with all these people watching at me…Why am I bothered by Prince Harry staring at me…Hmmm, do I have something between my teeth?" Hermione smiled lopsidedly at the last thought.

Looking back at the crown prince of Hufflepuff, "I've always considered Cedric like a big brother, but Harry…along with that friend of his…they made sure they were the bane of my existence!" Hermione contemplated.

"It is time to step inside, your majesties," Albus said; all of those on the balcony stepped back inside the corridor leading to the Great Hall.

Minerva McGonagall approached the princess. "Your highness, allow me to take the Staff of Rowena and keep it first. You shall not be in need for it tonight."

Hermione looked questioningly at her parents behind the caretaker of Stonehenge. They both nodded as she handed over the staff with a warm smile to McGonagall and for a few seconds, Hermione saw the stony face of the caretaker drop and return her grin. It had a warming effect on her and she began to relax again. Albus Dumbledore then approached; he nodded to McGonagall and after a muttered spell and a wave of the wand from the caretaker, the Staff of Rowena disappeared.

"Not to worry Princess, the staff is in a safe place in the castle. I dare not mention where, since the walls have ears," Albus told her softly, moving his eyes swiftly over to the only guests from Slytherin.

"Let us now return, everyone has settled back to the Great Hall for the feast. I am sure all of us should heed the call of our empty stomachs!" Albus exclaimed lightly, which brought a giggle from the princess and a smile to the queens in the group who heard the slight growl from the stomachs of the men who were present and future rulers of powerful kingdoms.

Before they went in, the doors of the Great Hall had shut closed again. Hermione heard the same voice that heralded her entrance in the beginning of the coronation ceremony speak again in an explosive voice behind the doors. She was pulled back by her parents to the end of the line and the procession was about to begin.

Dumbledore stood with McGonagall at the front of the line, followed by Lord Malfoy and Draco, who looked over at the Princess and gave her a small uneven grin while his father bowed ever so slightly to her. They were followed by the king and prince of Hufflepuff. Prince Cedric took his opportunity and came over, took her hand, and with a bow brought it to his lips, a soft smile playing on his face before joining his father at his position in the line. Then the Royal Family of Gryffindor stood before Hermione and her parents.

King James placed one arm around King John's shoulders and shook his hand with the other. "Wonderful ceremony-eerie occurrences -- but wonderful all the same!" James chided John, and they both let out a loud laugh. Queen Lily and Queen Sara, who were whispering on the side, looked at their husbands inquiringly. This left Prince Harry standing in front of Princess Hermione, who was trying for her part to avoid having anything to do with him.

"Well, it's now or never," Harry thought, looking at the vision of beauty before him. "I never noticed her height; she isn't as short as I remembered. May be she's wearing heeled shoes." He looked down only to see the princess' flat satin slippers and he smiled. "Simple," he thought, taking in her whole ensemble again, "She is simply radiant." He then remembered Prince Cedric kissing her hand; he scowled at the flashback, as a pang of jealousy rose in him like a monster in his chest. "He sure moved fast…Smooth, Cedric, very smooth." For the first time, his eyes left the princess as he turned and glared at the back of the head of the Crown Prince of Hufflepuff for a moment. "Now or never…Come on, buck up-where's that Gryffindor courage?" Harry thought as he brought his attention back to the princess before him.

"Princess Hermione…"he started. She turned her head towards him and their eyes met again. Harry forgot the line he was supposed to say. He inhaled rather sharply as he looked into her eyes. "Oh Merlin, help me!" he shouted out the prayer in his mind.

From the small distance between them, Harry became acutely aware that the princess' warm amber eyes had golden flecks in them, they were softly surrounded by long, dark lashes, eyes that he just wanted to lose himself in, and then she blinked once. Harry knew from that moment on, he was in trouble. He could feel his heart hammering; he was amazed that no one else seemed to hear it. He saw Hermione's eyebrows crease slightly and the look of annoyance that was once reflected in the pair of brown pools was now replaced with a look of concern.

With that single look, the Crown Prince Harry James of the House of Potter and heir to the throne of Godric Gryffindor had for all the life in him, lost it. Although he would not admit to anyone - especially to himself - for the moment, he lost something which usually resided in the middle of his chest to this woman who was gazing at him. He could not explain it but he felt a wave of possessiveness for the princess. Harry wanted to erase that look of apprehension from her eyes even if it killed him. He wanted to bring back the warm smile and glow on her face that he saw when she reached the stage during her ceremony. He felt the urge to knock out Cedric for touching her. He wanted to hold her in his arms and whisper words of love. Harry also felt something-something powerful fill him, though he could not put a name to that feeling nor was he given the opportunity to recognize it. "What in Hades is happening to me?" His panicked mind thought, "This is not normal!"

Harry felt a small hand rest on his arm and he heard a soft worried voice asking, "Yes?" As he experienced a slight shock from the contact, he heard a small gasp and as he looked at the princess, Harry knew that she felt the same thing. A sourceless wind enveloped them and ended when the princess quickly withdrew her hand. "Princess Hermione…" Harry began again this time in a very low, husky voice. That was all he was able to utter as his father turned him around to begin the procession.

XXXXX

"Those eyes…Merlin help her…How did he get those eyes?" Hermione thought. She could not tear her own eyes away from Prince Harry. He had called her attention, then he'd abruptly stopped when she looked at him. At first Hermione felt irritated, not wanting to even acknowledge him. But he said her name, "It would be impolite if I kept on ignoring him, considering he did want to say something to me…I will not stoop down and be as rude to him as he was to me. Harry did me no offense-yet. I should at least be civil for the moment," Hermione thought to herself.

But when he did not continue, she saw him look down at the floor and smile slightly. Then he turned his head behind him to look at something, before returning his attention to her. Hermione was worried at what was happening to Prince Harry, he just looked at her and he seemed to have trouble breathing, so she touched his arm, hoping that it would calm him down-an erroneous move. When her hand met his arm, she became aware of the muscles that contracted under his sleeve as a tingling jolt traveled through her. She felt a soft breeze engulfing her and let go of his arm immediately.

"What just happened? Why is it with him, I feel so awkward? I bet he placed a charm on all females… yes that's it! I heard he is a powerful wizard, maybe that's what he does. Prince Harry makes any female not related to him fall under his spell. That's the only rational explanation…" Hermione reasoned with herself as she saw King James turn Prince Harry to face forward. "Yes, he makes all women feel like their hearts are going to explode out of their chest. And if you look in his eyes, his spell becomes stronger and it would make you like to gaze into them for all eternity, yes I read of this-hypnosis, a magic spell from the lands in the East, past the borders of the existing kingdoms. But what spell could he have conjured to be able to make me feel like I can't breathe when he looks at me, or make me want to run into his arms..." Before Princess Hermione could expound on her thoughts of the effect of Prince Harry James over all females in general and convincing herself that she was not the only one who experienced this, she felt her parents' hands on either side of her elbows. They gave her a gentle nudge forward and with a smile plastered back on her face, they started their walk to the high table for the great feast.

XXXXX

"Son, what has gotten into you?" Queen Lily asked the prince when they stepped down the high table to begin the next part of the celebration which was the required dances with the princess. She had noticed that her son had only one point of focus, and that was the heir of Rowena. Queen Lily knew that Harry's behavior was way beyond scolding ever since his vulgar gasp during the coronation. She had also felt the surge of magic when the princess placed her hand on the arm of her son. That action did not go unwarranted by the parents of the two young royals involved. Harry did not eat much during the great feast, he just played with his food, pushing it around his plate, and every so often he'd glance in the direction of the princess. He did not say a lot during the feast, only giving cursory monosyllabic responses.

A mother knows her offspring and Lily knew her son was having some sort of internal argument with himself. She also knew from the way her son was acting that he had somehow finally fallen in love with the princess-and had fallen very hard and rapidly indeed. She didn't need her motherly instincts to realize that, she was a woman after all-in fact, she was a woman very much in love herself. She glanced over at James who was now deep in conversation with the other two Marauders and Arthur the Minister of Magic for Gryffindor. She sighed and continued to prod the heir of Godric, "Harry", nudging him a bit. "If you continue looking at her like that, she would surely melt…"she chided her son.

"Wha…What? Did you say something, mother?" Harry answered, still not taking his eyes off the princess dancing in her father's arms. He was quite excited now about the prospect of holding her. It seemed as if the dances were too long and he could not wait till his turn came up. Lily smirked at her son, noticing he became fidgety, craning his neck occasionally when the princess disappeared from his line of vision. "Dear Merlin, he's got it bad. I've got to talk to his father about this. I'll leave it up to James to take care of this aspect in his son's life, before Harry embarrasses himself. Oh no…" she muttered, glancing at the other two men her husband was talking to, "I better make my presence available when James talks to Harry. Sirius and Remus may wish to lend their expertise on the subject of the heart and leave my son more screwed up than he already is." Lily thought while shifting her emerald green eyes between her son and her husband, a knowing smile growing on her face, "May be it is too soon to seek out Sara and start talking about floral arrangements, color motifs and grandchildren…" but with this thought, a sudden feeling of melancholy accompanied her wishful thinking, for Lily knew that this chemistry between the heirs of Godric and Rowena came with it a dark precursor.

For before the eternal light was to shine among the kingdoms, there will be a battle with the darkness. Lily's eyes unconsciously sought the Steward of Slytherin who seemed to be in deep thought himself.

"Before the golden age of unity shall come the war of darkness. The three founders shall send their own flesh and blood into hostilities, their successors shall crush the head of the serpent, the heir which Salazar had erroneously chosen. Upon their victory shall the golden age gush forth. Love shall bind the land of the lion and the eagle as loyalty binds the badger and the serpent that once was excluded shall be reunited with the three. But the darkness must be vanquished before the golden age shall begin…For the defeat of those chosen shall be the end of peace."

Lily and Sara, even Cristina-Merlin bless her soul- knew this prophecy by heart. Ever since the queens were present at the birth of each other's offspring, they were told this prophecy by Albus himself. It was a forewarning of what was in store for their children. They were told this to prepare their own child for what is to come. When Lily saw the eagle during the coronation of Hermione, just like the lion that appeared during Harry's and the badger at Cedric's and the sudden gust of wind when her son and the princess came into contact-those events just confirmed the roles of their children in the war against the darkness. This was not a war that they were to fight and keep their children shielded from the horrors of it-this was a war to be fought by their children. They had no choice, Lily sadly realized as she sent a small prayer for her son, for Amos' son, and her soon-to-be-daughter-in-law.

XXXXX

"Enjoying yourself, poppet?" King John asked his daughter as he spun her around the dance floor.

"Father, my face is about to crack from smiling. I wasn't able to eat properly during the feast because of all the speeches given in my honor and now you just stepped on my toes!" Hermione exclaimed. "Do you think I'm enjoying myself?"

King John just laughed. After a look of amusement he turned solemn and asked his daughter, "Love, do you know what happened during your coronation ceremony?" his eyes probing his daughter's expression.

"Funny you should ask that, dad. After mum placed the necklace on me, I just felt a warm sensation wash over me. Mind you, I was a complete bag of nerves when I walked in. Albus' voice had a calming effect on me during the pledge but the necklace just magnified that effect. Now when you placed the cloak, I just felt a gust of wind blow over. It was during the crowning that an odd awareness came over me…" Hermione's voice trailed softly, afraid that she may have said something wrong and anxious that her father might think that she was going mad.

"Tell me love, what odd sensation was this?" John prodded gently.

"I felt like something just took over me. Like I was being embraced by a warm, peaceful sensation. It was like a new confidence took hold of me, a sudden strength and an explosion of wisdom-something which I have never felt before just burst inside me. Then when the Staff of Rowena was handed to me, I was aware of a shock radiating from my fingers to my whole body-it wasn't a scary or harmful shock, but…I do not know how to describe it." Hermione answered honestly. She tried to look for the proper words to depict it but the words she gave her father were an understatement to what she experienced.

"Did you see anything?"

"No, why? Was I supposed to see something?" Hermione raised her eyes to her father.

"No poppet, you weren't suppose to see anything. But an image of an eagle made an appearance twice during the ceremony in the Great Hall and according to the accounts of those outside, there was an eagle of blue hovering over the castle. Hermione, you were surrounded by a golden aura when you turned towards the crowd in the Great Hall, and everyone except those on stage bowed down simultaneously when you faced them," John whispered to his daughter in a comforting tone.

"Dad, what does that mean?" Hermione questioned, panic starting to rise in her voice.

"I honestly do not know, love. But no cause for alarm, if there was I'm sure Dumbledore would have told me immediately after the coronation," King John assured the princess. "Well, let's just keep what you experienced under our confidence. Your next dance I believe will be with Lord Malfoy, Steward of Slytherin. So if I were you," King John glancing over to the elder platinum blond male approaching them, "I'd get your other toes ready for another onslaught of murder!"

With that, Princess Hermione threw back her head and let out a hearty laugh as her father relinquished her hand to the Steward of Slytherin.

At an area off the dance floor, another platinum blond gentleman much younger that the one on the dance floor was making his way to a red headed maiden in a burgundy gown.

"Fair maiden of Gryffindor, may I introduce myself? I am Draco Malfoy, heir to the Steward of Slytherin." He bowed down and took the hand of the said maiden and acted like he would raise it to his lips, but then he ran his thumb over her hand in a brief caress before turning her hand over and brushing his lips over her wrist.

After that bold action, Lady Ginevra Molly of the House of Weasley from the Kingdom of Gryffindor widened her eyes in amazement. "How dare this man commit such an improper act!" she thought to herself.

Lady Ginevra, or Ginny to everyone else but her parents, looked around anxiously, afraid that someone from her family saw the bold act done by this man before her or there would be hell to pay. He was still holding her hand, gently rubbing it with his thumb. The act was so improper, but it lit a fire inside her. "Draco…as in dragon" she ran his name through her mind-it suited him. Draco Malfoy from the Kingdom of Slytherin…the thought of her associating with a person from that kingdom seemed like she was committing an act of treason against her kingdom and family. She had noticed him looking at her when he caught her curious glance at him during the coronation ceremony; he leered at her, obviously ogling her as his eyes raked over her body.

"Master Draco, my I please have my hand back?" Ginny asked firmly, trying to pull her hand away.

"Tell me your name, fair lady, so I may know the owner of the softest hand in the world," Draco answered with a drawl.

"I am Lady Ginevra Molly of the House of Weasley from the Kingdom of Gryffindor, sir." Ginny spat out. "Please I ask of you kindly to let go of my hand. I shall not repeat myself, Master Draco. But if you do not end this uncivilized act, I shall see to it that my brothers will end it for you!"

Draco let go of her hand, not because of fear for her brothers, but because of the fire that lit her light brown eyes. "A storm is brewing, such a change from the warm honey," he thought. "Lady Ginevra has not disappointed my assumption. She is fire and ice packaged in a petite form. I must be careful not to get burned," he warned himself.

"So Lady Ginevra…"

"Ginny."

"What?"

"Lady Ginny," she corrected.

"But you said that your name was Ginevra?" Draco questioned, starting to become confused at the way the conversation was turning.

"Please, sir. I am only called Ginevra by my parents and sometimes my brothers when they are angry with me or simply want to annoy me. But to everyone else, I am Ginny." She told him, with a slight grin on her face. Ginny thought the look of confusion made Draco look-adorable, if that description could apply to someone from Slytherin. "What in Merlin's name am I getting myself into?" Ginny thought, she knew how to easily put down a gentlemen if she did not want to continue a conversation with them, but somehow this heir to the steward of Slytherin tweaked her curiosity.

"Oh, I see. Well then, Lady…Ginny. May I have the pleasure of asking for a dance?" Draco inquired, already planning his next move. For some reason, he did not want to bed the Lady Ginny-yet. This was unusual for him, Draco wanted to-court-Lady Ginny, find out more about her. He could see the internal battle that she was waging with herself, for he prided himself in the art of reading a person, something that royalty of the Kingdom of Slytherin had an innate knack of doing. He wanted to know this Lady from the House of Weasley first before taking the relationship a step further. "Bloody hell, I've been outside the walls of Slytherin for only a few days and now I'm growing soft. Courtship? Who would have thought I'd be capable of doing such a thing!" he thought to himself, amazed that the word `courtship' was even in his vocabulary.

"It is Princess Hermione's time to dance. But perhaps, Master Draco, if I am still here at the ceremony, I shall allow you one dance, and only one dance. That is if I am still here," Ginny answered, looking up at the young Malfoy.

A brilliant smile appeared on his face. "Is that a promise that I can hold you to fulfill?" Draco asked.

"Aye, an oath indeed, Master Draco. If I am still here, that is. You may hold me to my promise," Ginny answered confidently.

Before Draco could reply, a silver head of a serpent appeared on his shoulder. He winced slightly as Ginny's eyes widened, feeling his father's walking stick, against his back. Turning, Draco's expression hardened as he faced the elder Malfoy who had just finished his dance with the princess.

"Tell me Draco, who is this that you have made an acquaintance of?" Lord Malfoy asked with a sneer, looking down his nose at the red head before him.

"Father this is…"Draco started.

"I, your grace, am Lady Ginevra Molly of the House of Weasley from the Kingdom of Gryffindor. Your son has asked me for a dance which I have promised him-if my presence is still available. I believe that he will hold me to this oath which I for one am looking forward to," Ginny answered with a cynical tone at the Steward. She gave a graceful curtsy, to which Lord Malfoy bowed in response. Draco was flabbergasted at the woman's response, she did not shrink away as other ladies did under the calculating gaze of his father. She completely challenged his father, meeting his eyes for all her petite form would. His respect and admiration for this maiden increased by a hundredfold. "Strong willed, intelligent, and beautiful… Lady Ginny is truly fire and ice," Draco thought proudly of this lady whom he had already marked as his.

"I see…" Lucius answered, slightly taken back at her reply. "Well, Lady Ginevra, I have come to fetch my son for his dance with Princess Hermione. So if you would please excuse us…" He then placed a hand on Draco's shoulder, tightening his grip subtly.

Draco looked at Ginny, vaguely ignoring the biting grip of his father and said, "Lady Ginny, it would be my honor and pleasure to hold you to your oath." He smiled softly and took her hand again and kissed it the same way he did the first time they met.

"And I, Master Draco, look forward to your holding me to that promise later," Ginny answered looking straight into his gray eyes.

Draco turned toward his father, avoiding his intense gaze and trying to ignore him as he hissed, "May I remind you that we are here on a mission and not for you to go gallivanting? Concentrate on the plan dear son, or it will be your mother who will pay for your folly!"

Draco started to walk towards the dance floor, seeing King James dancing with the princess. He smirked to himself, realizing that he had allowed the petite lady with flaming red hair and an attitude to match to have the last word…

At another part, on the edge of the dance floor, a couple watched as the princess was handed by the King of Gryffindor to a young man who was the son of the Steward of Slytherin for the next dance. The couple was standing too closely to each other for protocol, the man bearing the colors of yellow and ebony, was holding the hand of the woman with almond shaped eyes discretely.

"Cedric," whispered the female with almond shaped eyes, "I want you to tell Princess Hermione about us."

Cedric looked down at his fiancée and with a big grin replied, "Afraid that she'll steal me from you?"

"No, you git!" Cho answered with an exasperated sigh. "Merlin knows when I'll be able to talk to her and I heard King Amos telling King John that we are to leave the day after next. I just may not be able to tell Hermione about us. Oh Cedric, I just desperately want her to be present at our wedding!"

"She will be at our wedding, love. Etiquette you know…"

"But I would have wanted her to be my maid of honor and walk before me down the aisle. You know, you could choose Prince Harry to be your best man and stand with you, so we can pair them up, don't you think?" Cho's voice took a dreamy tone as she started to formulate a matchmaking plan.

Cedric shot down that plan by replying, "Love, I do not want you to meddle in other people's love lives. Princess Hermione and Prince Harry have enough bad water running between them as it is. It will make the beginning of their relationship quite complicated. We should not meddle."

"But love…" Cho started to whine.

"Cho, I know that there are some things that Prince Harry did that offended the princess when they were younger. But looking at my friend," Cedric looked over at Prince Harry who was still intensely watching the princess and scowling at her platinum blond haired dancing partner. "I believe that Harry will try to rectify his offenses to Hermione in the near future," he finished with a knowing smile.

"Do you know something I do not?" Cho jokingly asked him. "A vision of events to come, perhaps a double wedding?"

Cedric laughed suddenly, causing those around him to look at him disapprovingly as Cho blushed with the sudden attention. "No love, not a double wedding…but a close one after ours. We must not divulge this information to anyone. We have to let those two move their relationship in their own accord, with no meddling from anyone-do you understand?" Cedric whispered.

Cho nodded slowly, the romantic side of her wanting to do more. But looking at her friend, she had to admit that Princess Hermione had bloomed into the beauty that she was now, no matter how delayed her transformation was. Yes, her friend can handle the Prince of Gryffindor, who was reputed to have a wandering eye. She knew the heir of Godric gave her a once over during the ceremony, and though it fed her self-esteem because Prince Harry is a very handsome specimen, her heart was totally taken by her fiancée. She just sighed as she resigned her matchmaking plan.

"Well, looks like it's my turn." Prince Cedric squeezed Cho's hand as he went to take his required dance with the princess.

XXXXX

"Cedric! I am so happy for you!" Princess Hermione exclaimed as she was dancing in his arms. She gave him a fierce hug at the same time as he lifted her in his arms with a bright smile on his face.

"So when is the date?" Hermione asked excitedly as Cedric placed her back on her feet.

"Cho still has to finish her last year of healer training, so I'm not pressuring her since I know that she has a lot on her plate to deal with," Prince Cedric replied. "She wanted to tell you herself when we arrived but you were indisposed at that moment. Cho wants you to be her maid of honor at the wedding, you know."

Princess Hermione let out an awfully loud squeal. She could not contain herself from feeling giddy for her friend's engagement to a man she called brother. Her reactions to the Prince of Hufflepuff had not gone unnoticed by a certain dark haired prince with emerald eyes. In fact, if it was any indication, the expression on Prince Harry's face was growing darker by the second as his eyes took in the reaction of Princess Hermione toward Prince Cedric.

"Oh my! A maid of honor? I accept! Tell Cho that we must talk immediately. Cedric, please make the arrangements for a meeting between me and Cho before you leave…" Hermione's voice was pleading as she tried to scan the crowd for Cho.

"I most certainly will not! I know how you girls are when you discuss these things! You'll both talk about gowns and flower bouquets, then the topic will come to a point of ridiculing me and men in general. Knowing your intelligent mind, Hermione, you may even teach her a spell or two to make me a gibberish whipped man who she will keep under her foot-which may I inform you, I already am!" Cedric jokingly replied.

He always considered Hermione a little sister that he never had. He would write to her asking her how she was and what books she was reading at the moment. She would immediately send her peregrine falcon with a reply. Cedric would make it a point to seek an audience with her when he would come to the Grand Library of Ravenclaw for an assignment or for research. Then he'd realize that he didn't need an appointment after all since he would always find her there anyway. The Prince of Hufflepuff always had a soft spot for the Princess of Ravenclaw and it only magnified when Cho told him stories about their very timid princess. Cho used to be part of the princess' entourage when she lived in the Kingdom of Ravenclaw a few years back. She said that it always took a lot of effort for them to convince Hermione to leave the library and just unwind for the day. He knew that Cho was concerned about her friend when they were coming to the coronation. She had remembered the insecurities the princess would voice out about her appearance. But they both saw that the princess did indeed flourish into the woman she is now.

The princess kept her eyes on the crowd as they twirled around the dance floor. When she spotted her intended goal she stopped dancing abruptly, almost causing Prince Cedric to topple over her. "In fact…" Cedric heard her murmur, "There she is!" the princess gushed and without any preamble she got out of the arms which held her and pulled on the hand of the prince of Hufflepuff rather roughly, the princess then made a beeline towards the lady who use to be a close friend when the said lady lived there.

When the princess stood before Cho, who had a sheepish grin on her face, she curtsied politely and as she returned to her standing position she muttered, "I take it your highness has been informed about the current state of affairs between the Prince of Hufflepuff and I?" The Heir of Rowena then pulled Cho into a bone crushing embrace and when they pulled apart, they just shrieked and started talking excitedly as Cho showed her left hand to the princess and both gushed at the ring as Hermione turned toward a bewildered Cedric and hugged him again, "Hurt her and I swear, Cedric, you will be waging a personal war on Ravenclaw," Hermione threatened.

To which Cedric replied, "If that is the only reason to wage war with the Kingdom of Helga your highness, then I shall assure you our kingdoms shall remain at peace." Then all three laughed out loud simultaneously. Those around them had no clue as to what had happened and the protocol aides were almost faint as this was the first breech of proper code of behavior that was committed by the princess. But the crowd could not help but smile as they looked at the three and saw all false demeanor and tension leave the features of the Crown Princess of Ravenclaw as she gushed on with the daughter of Healer Chang and the Crown Prince of Hufflepuff.

At the edge of the dance floor a raven haired prince gawked at the scene before him of a trio that was excitingly talking about something.

"Well son, I guess you're off the hook with that dreaded required dance with the princess," King James said as he took in the expression of his son and looked at the three young ones still oblivious to the crowd as they conversed.

"Uh…yes father you said something?" Harry answered still not tearing his gaze away from the princess and trying to access the situation so he can plan his next step.

"I just said, at least you do not have to dance with Princess Hermione," James enunciating each word as he put an arm around his son's shoulders, he was trying to keep the knowing smile from erupting on his lips. "Did you not just complain about that since you found out that we were to attend this ceremony? As I recall, someone kept whining about how horrid an idea it was to dance with the princess, also an occasional comment about who was mental enough to create these rules of having to dance…did I leave anything out son?"

Harry awkwardly shook his head and gulped. "Did I honestly say those things? `Horrid an idea to dance with the princess'-I honestly said those things? Well if this isn't bloody irony then I don't know what is!" chastising himself. And to the horror of Harry, his godfather and his close enough to be an uncle joined his father around him looking too at the direction his eyes were fixed. "Great, as if I need this! Argh! I guess this is a cruel twist of fate as one may poetically say…the Marauders will certainly play this to a hilt now wouldn't they-do they care that I'm a son to one of them? May be they'll just let me be…' Harry thought, though knowing that it would be an impossible task for the Marauders to keep their trap shut at his expense.

"Well, well, James, what do we have here? A pouting Potter? What's wrong son? Seems to me a kneazle's got your tongue since the princess stepped through those big, heavy doors. Am I right, Moony?" Duke Sirius said as he glanced at his two best friends.

"Right you are, Padfoot!" Earl Remus Lupin answered. "If my keen wolf senses are to be believed, your son, Prongs, is in dire need for a talk on the birds and the bees." He raised his goblet to King James. "Now if you feel the task is too daunting, your Majesty," Remus continued with a slight bow to the King of Gryffindor, "The Duke and I will be at your undying service to handle the task for you, for I am sure our friend here, the Duke, has much knowledge which he wishes to impart to the young prince on how to tackle the confounding topic of women."

At the end of this statement, the three older men let out a hearty laugh as the Crown Prince of Gryffindor, lowered his head, feeling a blush rising to his face.

"Please Moony, Padfoot…Let us not embarrass my son. He is already in a predicament that he has yet to solve." James was trying to get the two off the case of his son, even though he knew that it was a lost cause.

"Prongs, when did that ever stop us?" Sirius asked.

"Very true," Moony answered.

"Bloody hell! Can you please stop!" Harry spat out. "Father, there is no predicament that I need to solve. And it is true, I was relieved of the situation of having to dance with the princess. I have honestly no idea of what you three elders are going on about concerning women. I pride myself in knowing how to deal with them, thank you very much! I believe my expertise in that area may even exceed yours, Godfather!" Harry exclaimed.

"Well, I'll be a two headed flobberworm! Harry can certainly handle his own among us `elders' did he say?" Sirius said as he looked from the boy to his father who was trying so hard to prevent his laughter from bursting forth. "Where did that come from, boy? Learned a thing or two from your mother, `ey?"

"Yes he most certainly has, Padfoot!" came a firm soft soprano voice from behind him. Queen Lily was listening from a short distance to the conversation going on between the four men who were dear in her life. She did pity the position of her son, but she wanted to see just how far James would allow his friends to needle Harry. Lily knew that the three `elders' as her son put it eloquently, were just trying to have him admit to what they all knew he was feeling. But that would not be the case tonight and from the look of fury on her son's face, she decided to intervene before Harry could embarrass himself in public.

"Your Majesty," Remus and Sirius simultaneously said, a look of slight guilt and mirth on their faces as they bowed down before her.

"And don't you forget it!" Lily retorted, not able to keep a serious face.

"Argh! Can it get any worse?" Harry thought as the five of them were huddled now as a group calling more attention to them than he wished. Then a sudden flash of red caught the corner of his eyes "Apparently it can…" He sighed as the Weasley brothers decided to join the fray.

"Oi, Harry. Aren't you suppose to be dancing with the princess now?" Lord Ronald Weasley asked, being the daft friend that he was. Then the twins each placed a hand on the shoulders of their brother Ron.

"Harry are you allowing," Sir George Weasley began.

"Prince Cedric of Hufflepuff to have all the fun?" his twin, Sir Fred finished off.

"Not mighty Gryffindor of you, I might say." The twins continued simultaneously.

Ron sidled up to Harry and whispered, "Harry, is that the same mental girl we kept on encountering all these years in the Grand Library?" to which Harry nodded slowly, watching the princess and starting to feel uncomfortable as he saw her share a glance with Cedric. Her laughter was like music to his ears and he so envied the Crown Prince of Hufflepuff since he was sharing this joyous outburst with her. Harry saw the lady with almond eyes that he noticed before Hermione walked into the Great Hall lean against Cedric. "So it's not enough to have the attention of the princess! He has to have the mysterious woman as well!" Harry's nostrils flared for a moment as he tried to control his jealousy and anger that he felt for the Prince of Hufflepuff that he once considered his close friend.

Ron, being a dense thick headed man for the moment, did not notice his best friend's conflict as they looked at the Crown Princess of Ravenclaw and admired the slim figure and gorgeous features of the princess which seemed to have magnified since she started talking animatedly to the couple before her. The princess' shoulders were now exposed as she was waving her arms around while talking, sometimes her hand would be on Cedric's arm or clutching the left hand of the lady before her. The cloak which she had on had gathered behind her and being held only by the clasp which was around her neck, completely unaware that her back and shoulders were too exposed to the gentlemen from Gryffindor who were examining her intensely.

"Oi, Harry. If you don't want a dance with her, I'll willingly take your place," Ron said in a choked whisper.

"Brother, sorry to disappoint you, but a more senior member of the House of Weasley will have to take that honor," Fred interjected, the beauty of the princess not leaving his attention.

"Yes, my dear twin, I very much agree with you-did you not forget Sir Fred, that I was born ten minutes before you?" George stated with a cocked eyebrow as he looked at his two siblings.

"Your Majesty, if Prince Harry would not want to dance with the Crown Princess, would that refusal not tarnish the image of Gryffindor?" Ron asked King James, taking up his cause with the ruler of his kingdom. "I regret that should happen Your Majesty, and so I humbly ask your permission for me to remove the task from his highness, who is my close friend I may add, and take the mission of being the official representative to the Crown Prince of Gryffindor and take his place for the required dance with the princess." Ron stated with an official air in his voice, much to the alarm of his brothers and the Crown Prince and to the amusement of the Queen and elder Marauders.

"My, Lord Ronald, that was a mouthful," Queen Lily said slowly, noticing the creeping blush on the face of the young gentleman. "What do you say, James? Lord Ronald is right. The refusal of Prince Harry to take his required dance shall surely be frowned upon by the code of ethics in these ceremonies. It could even be considered an insult by the King and Queen of Ravenclaw." Lily subtly took into account the expression of protest starting to appear on her son's face. She continued, "Harry, I believe that Ronald is being such a gracious friend, you should appreciate the fact that he is willing to undertake this burden for you."

As she finished her statement, Remus and Sirius had to excuse themselves from the group as their faces were growing red and tears were forming in their eyes from the pressure of restrained laughter at the comedy of the situation.

James too had tears in his eyes and sobered quite quickly from the stern look his wife gave him, but he saw in her eyes the mirth dwelling in those emerald pools. "Lily is certainly taking into her hands the situation of our son. She recognized Harry's powerful attraction to the princess, he just needs a strong nudge towards the right direction! My son in big trouble with the Marauders and with his mother on his case, he'll be proposing to the princess in no time flat… or making a big fool of himself in the process." James thought.

"Yes dear, I believe you are right. Harry you should be proud of the quick thinking your best mate did for you!" James exclaimed, having his voice carry over to where the rest of the Marauders were standing, which added another roar of laughter from the two.

"But I have not…." Harry immediately replied as he looked at the growing smile on his former best friend's face.

"Your Majesty, as our brother so fluently said, it is true that there should be a representative of the royal house of Gryffindor to dance with the princess, but protocol also points out that a much more senior member should be the one-which would be me!" George started.

"But I was the first to state it!" Ron exclaimed.

"Listen, I have NOT…"Harry started to yell.

"Your Majesty, Sir George has two left feet when dancing, I'm a better choice!" Fred stated matter of factly.

"I do not!" George countered

Lily looked on at the three Weasley brothers as they argued amongst themselves with King James caught in the middle. She looked at Harry and a knowing smile started to form on her lips. Harry had an expression of determination burning in his eyes as he lifted his head slowly, gazing at the princess who happened to stop speaking mid-sentence, her hand still stuck in the air as she turned slowly toward the only person who could cause the hair on her nape to stand with a single look.

"Where are you going, son?" Lily asked quietly as Harry took two determined steps forward.

He stopped and looked at her with a glint in his eyes, the green darkening slightly, "Why mother, I am taking my required dance with the princess. I would not want to tarnish the name of our family and of the kingdom…" He replied with a smirk on his face as he turned to walk directly to his intended, excited about having her in his arms for a moment at last.

Harry did not see his mother's smile on her face as she looked at his husband who was still holding the attention of the Weasley boys. "Game set…" she thought and her husband returned her smile with a knowing one of his own.

XXXXX

Draco tried to make contact again with the lady of fire and ice from Gryffindor. He had a feeling that his stay in Ravenclaw might be short, which caused him to frantically try to break enough ground with Lady Ginevra Molly.

He tried to keep his eyes open for that trademark red flaming hair. After searching hysterically, he looked up at the high table and his gaze made contact with the reputed greatest wizard since Merlin who was sitting there drinking from his goblet. He saw that the old wizard's gaze moved slightly to his left. Taking the hint, Draco looked in that direction and true enough he saw his intended. Looking back at Dumbledore, he nodded his thank you and could have sworn the wizard winked at him.

He went straight to his lady and again bowed before her. He made no attempt to kiss her hand because he was afraid that he would never let her go.

Lady Ginny stood up and excused herself from the other ladies of the court who gave her scandalous looks for her acknowledgment of the handsome guest from the Kingdom of Slytherin. She curtsied to Draco and when her eyes met his gray ones, she knew that she had set her cap for this gentleman. In his eyes she saw her future, she knew that she would forever be protected and Ginny made a pact to herself that she would face whatever consequences a forbidden relationship with a member of the Kingdom from Slytherin had in store for her. For in Draco's eyes she saw kindness, compassion and she could also detect uncertainty. She knew the confusion he was going through, for she was going through it herself. But some hidden power drew her to him and so she for the first time in her life, she followed her heart.

"Master Draco, I am sorry to inform you, but after the required dance of the princess with my prince, my parents and I will be departing back to our quarters," Ginny said, revealing a sense of regret in her voice and in her face.

"Well then, I must hold you to your promise of that one dance for me," Draco whispered.

"But the princess' dance has not yet ended, sir," Ginny murmured back as she felt Draco placing a gentle hand around her elbow leading her to the side of the Great Hall.

"Who said we had to wait for her to finish dancing?" Draco replied, as his anticipation for dancing with his lady of fiery red hair started to peak.

"Master Draco, I will not allow you to make me break protocol!" Ginny answered indignantly.

"My lady, you will not be breaking any protocol if no one is to witness our transgression."

"Master Draco, I am not that kind of lady, now if you will excuse me. I have made a lapse of judgment with you and I wish to rectify it. Good bye, Master Draco, heir of the Steward of Slytherin, I wish I could say that the pleasure of meeting you is mine, but that would be an insincere statement." Ginny attempted to turn around to walk away from the young man with gray eyes, but he was too fast for her.

"Lady Ginny, I know that you are not…how did you put it? `That kind of lady' was it? I was not implying anything other than that dance. I will not force you to do anything you are not willing to do. Whether you believe a person from Slytherin is capable of it, believe that I do sincerely respect you and will not harm you in any way. It is so important to me that you trust me…" Draco said, mustering all the sincerity he had into his voice. And amazingly, he was afraid that he had offended her. "I'm in danger. I would never be this nervous with any other woman. This Lady Ginevra is trouble with a capital T!"

Ginny looked into his eyes, and her instinct recognized the sincerity of this citizen of Slytherin. For some reason, she did trust him. So she replied lightly, "Well Master Draco, how do you propose I give you that one dance that I promised you? The dance floor is still occupied…"

"Who said we needed a dance floor?" Draco murmured as he led Lady Ginny to a small balcony on the side of the Great Hall. "Lady Ginny, may I have the honor of this dance?" Draco asked as he bowed down with suave finesse and he took her hand, turned it over, and kissed her wrist as his eyes held hers.

Ginny was surprised when he opened the doors to the alcove on the side of the hall, and then felt her cheeks burning as he kissed her wrist again. "Who needs a dance floor indeed…" she muttered as she eyed the small balcony just large enough for two people.

She closed her eyes as she was about to step into the arms of the young gentleman from Slytherin. Ginny took a deep breath, letting the allure of the brisk night air intoxicate her senses and held it. Feeling her heart racing like it was more of a leap of faith into the unknown rather than one small step toward him. Ginny felt a strong arm wrap gently around her waist as she released her breath.

"Ginevra Molly!" she scolded herself, "What has possessed you?! It's like you never dance with a gentleman before!" she shook her head slightly as if ridding herself of her nervousness and slowly opened her eyes.

She blinked once, and smiled vaguely as she felt Draco's hand a bit sweaty and cool to her touch, "Hmm…seems as if I'm not the only one who's all nerves about this…" Ginny thought smugly, confidence slowly seeping back into her and finally she dared to look up and meet his eyes.

"Mercy be Merlin!" Draco thought to himself as Lady Ginny stepped into his arms. He gently held her, staring at the top of her head as he felt her start breathing again. She has yet to look up at him, but he was grateful for these few moments as he wiped his hand on his pants discreetly trying vainly to prevent them from becoming excessively cold and clammy.

Draco knew Ginny was very nervous, whether it was because she could be caught breaking protocol by dancing out here on a balcony with darkness of night as their only witness while her kingdom's prince and the princess of Ravenclaw were waltzing OR if it was because her partner was from Slytherin-he had yet to decide. As he held her in his arms, Draco felt invincible and giddy-sensations which were new to his numb system, no one had ever elicited this from him and because of this he felt edgy.

"Suffering Salazar help me…" he gulped as Lady Ginny lifted her head and her light brown eyes full of mirth met his he reflected, "Aye, definitely and officially in trouble…"

Ginny's next move stunned him as she actually took a step and succeeded in taking the lead in their dance, he smiled at her sweetly and let her continue for a few moments before a mischievous glint invaded his once cold gray eyes and he finally took over as they continued to sway gracefully under the stars to the music filtering from the hall.

Little did the couple know that a man with an eye that swiveled wildly was watching them carefully; after he saw that Lady Ginevra was safe for the moment did he scan the Great Hall again. "Damn it!" Alastor Moody swore under his breath. He had lost the father of Lady Ginevra's dance partner!

XXXXX

"What is he doing?" Hermione stopped mid-sentence of her ranting about the disadvantages of having a winter wedding to her friend Cho and her fiancé Prince Cedric. She felt that familiar rise of small hairs at her nape and knew that only one person could have elicited that reaction. Under a power of its own, she felt her body turn toward the direction of where the person staring at her was. Princess Hermione's eyebrows shot up as she saw the Crown Prince of Gryffindor taking big strides to get to her with a determined look on his face. She felt like she wanted to shrink back and hide behind Cedric and Cho for protection, but she lifted her chin in defiance and readied herself for whatever this prince had in store for her.

The couple was surprised by the abrupt end of her lecture and they simultaneously looked behind her and saw a determined man in white dress robes with the colors of Gryffindor on his cloak approaching them. "Here we go, love…" Cedric murmured into Cho's ear. An amused look on the couple appeared and they relaxed, getting ready to watch an interesting show unfold before them.

Prince Harry, now stood before the trio. He turned toward Prince Cedric and addressed him first, "Cedric, I believed you could have had the patience to at least finish the song when you were dancing with the princess. Proper etiquette, you know. Now, I seem to remember that you were to hand her to me, and alas your song is over and we are in the middle of the song intended for our dance and I am without a partner. Lo, I should be astounded to see that my intended partner was here on the sides talking to you. Now tell me, Prince Cedric of Hufflepuff, how did this come to be?" Harry asked in a low menacing voice.

Cedric was startled, "Did Harry just question my sense of protocol?" he thought, anger flaring up immediately which was quenched when Cedric looked into the eyes of his accuser. He saw, annoyance, anger and…something…Cedric had seen that look earlier that night in the eyes of his fiancée…it was jealousy! "Oh this is rich!" he thought, trying to suppress his chuckle. Harry was jealous of him! "Is it because of Princess Hermione or Lady Cho? Hmmm…this is good fodder for torturing him. Should I be so unkind to my friend? But somehow I do not think it's a good idea to poke at a rampaging lion unless I have a death wish!" Cedric thought.

"Prince Harry, I apologize for my blunder in protocol. You see, I…" Cedric did not finish his statement since Princess Hermione interrupted him.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Cedric…" Hermione blurted out, rolling her eyes.

Turning to the offender, she said, "Prince Harry James of the House of Potter, out of all the people present here, I can't believe you have the gall to lecture the Crown Prince Cedric of the House of Diggory on propriety? Might I remind you of that disgusting sound that you expelled during my coronation ceremony?" Hermione's voice went an octave lower as all the aggravations she felt for Prince Harry started to spill forth. All his misdemeanors that he had committed over the years which had offended her one way or another were taking hold of her as blind rage started to take possession. "How dare you lecture a close friend of mine, at my-I reiterate, MY coronation ceremony about proper behavior when you yourself along with that red headed friend of yours do not even comprehend the meaning of those words!" Hermione was on a roll, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were glowing at the speechless Crown Prince of Gryffindor. "How dare you come up here to interrupt a pleasant conversation I was having with a man who I consider my brother and his fiancée who I consider a lost friend since she's relocated to his kingdom!"

At this information, Harry's eyes widened as a look of shame started to etch its way on his face. He looked at Cedric with a look of contrition and Cedric returned his look with a smile that told him he was forgiven. Harry then looked at the rampaging princess in front of him, her chest heaving from fury and breathlessness from her rapid tirade, her cheeks were flushed and though Harry felt that she just wanted to smack him across his face, all he could think about was how her eyes glowed with anger, how beautiful she looked with her cheeks all rosy and how kissable her lips looked slightly opened as it was inhaling and exhaling deeply.

"I- I…beg your forgiveness, Princess Hermione…" Harry stuttered and he lowered his head as he could feel his cheeks burning from humiliation at making the wrong move. "What a way to blow this one-can't say that I didn't do it in style. Since I wanted to humiliate myself, I figured I might as well do it in front of a crowd in another kingdom and get berated by a beautiful princess for accusing my dear friend who is a prince of another kingdom of disregarding protocol-which, by the way, is such a shallow reason. I might as well have declared war on the two kingdoms!" Harry thought to himself, trying to figure out a way of correcting his errors. He just wanted to hold the princess, and make as good a lasting impression as he could, "Ha! What a great impression I certainly made…She obviously didn't forget about the pranks and side comments Ron and I made about her when we were at the Grand Library…That git of a friend of mine placed me in this position…and to believe Ron was to save my arse from this! I should have let him bear the grunt of her anger, then swooped in…" he thought regrettably.

Princess Hermione had lost control of her temper! She rarely let that happen. But now looking at the aftermath of her barrage, she felt remorseful. "What did I do?! How could I have let myself go like that?! Honestly, what type of spell does this Crown Prince have on me?!" she started to chastise herself. Looking around, she just wanted to cry, as she realized the Great Hall had grown silent as they witnessed and heard her outburst. She could see the parents of Harry and her parents just staring at her, King Amos was beside Dumbledore and they were staring at her as well. She didn't want to acknowledge the look of disappointment she was sure to see in their eyes at her immature behavior. And worst of all, she felt physically ill with guilt when her eyes took in the figure of the Crown Prince of Gryffindor. Harry had a dejected slump in his shoulders and since his head was bowed, she could not see what his expression held. She was so sorry for ending this night-her night on such a sour note.

Hermione was about to turn and run back to her room, tears threatening to fall, when she felt strong arms encircle her waist and a hand grabbing hers. She looked up and saw Prince Cedric take her in his arms, positioning her like they were in the middle of their dance, she spied Cho running over to the musicians telling them to start playing immediately, and as the music began she was twirled by Cedric who spoke to Harry from the corner of his mouth, "This is where you come up to me and take her for your dance, my friend."

Harry realized that this was the opening he was praying for, his act of deliverance. Looking at Cedric with gratitude for saving face, he bowed down toward the couple and loudly asked the princess, "May you bestow upon me the honor, Crown Princess Hermione Jane of the venerable House of Granger and Heir to the throne of Rowena, of this dance?" Then begging with his eyes, he whispered so only Princess Hermione would hear, "Please princess, I implore your absolution for all my past transgressions that may have upset you. I know that I cannot make up for it at this moment, but I beg of you to grant me the opportunity to try…" Harry was fighting the strong urge to add, "Till death do us part."

Princess Hermione looked into his emerald eyes, her vision was blurring with unshed tears, she smiled at him, knowing in her heart that she had already forgiven him, and then hugging Cedric she whispered in his ear, "Thank you so much for that save there, brother." Cedric looked down at her and answered, "Anytime, sis." With a warm smile, Cedric looked at his friend from the kingdom of the lion, extended his hand, and told him in a soft voice, "Take care of my sister. I entrust her to you, Heir of Godric."

Harry heard the statements exchanged by the two before him, then when Cedric murmured the last sentence to him, he felt humbled. He placed an arm around the waist of Hermione as Cedric's arm slowly retreated. He knew that what he said would be his salvation or his sentence, looking straight into Cedric's eyes and shaking his extended hand, "I will protect the heir of Rowena which is this precious gift you entrust to me with my life and take care of her with the last fiber of my being, this I swear to you heir of Helga." At this response, the three heirs who had unconsciously formed a triangle fortified the bonds that had previously been established - unknown to them - but recognized by their parents and the overseer and caretaker of Stonehenge. A sudden surge of magic was again felt by all present at the Great Hall. Everyone was astonished to see that the three heirs were surrounded by an aura and their eyes were glowing, their cloaks fluttering from a strong gust of wind, and then it happened…

Before anyone of the three could break their contact, a loud crack was heard and a wave of energy was felt all around as it rippled the crowd and even reached the other kingdoms, as would be reported the following day. Stonehenge rumbled and at the throne room in the Kingdom of Slytherin, a piercing wail could be heard.

Somewhere in the dark corner of the castle of Ravenclaw, a hooded figure carrying a black walking stick with a silver serpent head seemed to be speaking to air, only to the most sharp eyes can they see that he was not alone, there was a rat at his feet.

"I take it that the preparations have been made, Pettigrew?" the hooded figure asked softly.

"Yes mi'lord. I have made all the arrangements. The passage has been kept open and the creature will be guided there." The rat having transformed into a small bulky withered man, wringing his hands in nervousness replied to the towering hooded figure before him.

"Good, Pettigrew. I expect no catastrophe in your mission. I have been paying for your failures for quite a while now. If this plan does not succeed due to your incompetence and my wife pays for it again, I swear, Pettigrew, there will be no hole you can crawl into that will keep you safe from me!" the hooded figure threatened.

"Mi'lord, you have nothing to worry about. I swear I have checked the entrance, it will remain open for the creature to enter," a shaking Peter Pettigrew assured.

"Very well then, when will the plan be executed so I may prepare my son?"

"Tomorrow morning, mi'lord. I plan to guide the creature in the morning after breakfast," Pettigrew said.

"Where will the creature be stationed?"

"At the gardens in the back courtyard. I heard that the princess is fond of going there to enjoy the morning air before heading to the Grand Library," Pettigrew stated, proud of his discovery.

"Finally, some information that has worth!" The hooded figure continued, "I shall have my son waiting in the area to carry out his part in this plan. I cannot wait till this is over and I may return to our untainted courts of Slytherin. Do not fail me…"

"I shall not mi'lord." With that the man shifted into a rat again as the hooded figure blended into the shadows as if no conversation ever took place.

XXXXX

A/N

So any rants or raves? There's a small box to fill in at the bottom, please take the time to jot something down. :D

A teaser of things to come-quidditch, another character introduction and finally Harry's "saving the world" complex makes an appearance…

Now if the reviews-flames or not-are great in numbers-well I'll be FORCED to update ASAP then now wouldn't I? ^_~

1


-->