Unofficial Portkey Archive

A/N: Happy Holiday's to everyone! Here's the next chapter for you all-hope it will have enough fluff to make the cold days a bit warmer…

I must warn you that between the fluff there is a dark side that you will read-I did "strategically" sandwich it between the Red Moon and the Pumpkin Pie…

WARNING: I did change the ratings of this chapter to PG-13…

Again my undying gratitude to VacantSkies, as usual I'm pimping his fine beta-ing qualities by asking you to visit his website: www.fanfiction.net/~vacantskies His magic is unbelievable!

Disclaimer: Never owned them and never will…

So without further ado…

Chapter 8

She sat in the library reading as he observed her from behind a stone pillar, taking in the loose tendrils of her flaxen hair as she chewed on her lower lip, the sunlight streaming from the window beside her making her look angelic.

"I do sense your presence there, you know," Luna said without raising her head from the book.

Ron swore under his breath and felt ridiculous at being caught. He straightened his back and stepped out from his hiding place, slowly approaching the small hovel at the corner in the Grand Library of Ravenclaw.

"Good day, Lady Lovegood," he greeted with a slight bow, "I…"

"Is it really good?" Luna asked.

Ron looked at her frowning, "Wha--?"

Luna closed her book slowly, a dreamy expression on her face as she raised it to meet Lord Weasley, "I asked if it really is good."

"What is good?"

"The day," Luna replied, seeing his baffled expression she sighed then in a mimicking tone, "You just said `Good day, Lady Lovegood.'"

"That was a greeting."

"So you are saying that the day is not good but you just decided that that was the proper way to address me?"

Ron looked at her completely bewildered; he didn't know where this conversation was getting them. He was informed about her discharge by Lady Cho and he had this unquenchable need to seek out the lady he had escorted to the infirmary the day before.

Ron began to stutter then closed his mouth as he tried to rethink his next move.

"You are staring at me, Lord Weasley."

Ron blinked and saw an ethereal grin on Lady Lovegood's lips. He realized how eerie that smile would have been on another woman's face but on Luna, it befitted her. His eyes wandered from the ashen blond hair in disarray at being held up by her wand, the widow's peak on her forehead emphasizing her heart shaped face, the hue of her eyes like that of twilight breaking over the horizon to her lips with that ghostly smile. He caught himself as realization dawned on him that he just gave this lady from the Princess' court an improper once over. Then he saw a brow cock up as if she knew what he was thinking.

"Satisfied?" she asked softly.

"I beg your pardon?" Ron replied using the most distinguishing tone he could muster.

"No need to beg, Lord Weasley. My pardon is not worth it."

Ron felt one side of his lips quirk up as he gave her a lopsided smile, "Quick witted one, aren't you?"

"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure, Lord Weasley," came her smug reply.

Ron again gawked as he felt his stability slowly ebbing away. He'd known in advance what he'd be up against if he decided to do some verbal sparring against a Ravenclaw, but this woman was surpassing his expectations and defeating him with ease.

Straightening his back he bowed before her, "Let me start again, I am Lord Ronald Bilius of the House of-"

"Weasley hailing from the Kingdom of Gryffindor-yes, yes I know all that," Luna stated, cutting him off effectively.

"Merlin, woman! Let me finish!" Ron exclaimed running a hand through his hair.

"Why have you waste such precious time introducing one's self when I know of what you were about to say before saying it?" Luna wondered. "Very well, I love games-hence I shall play by your rules, Lord Ronald Bilius of the venerable House of Weasley from the Kingdom of Gryffindor."

She stood up and curtsied gracefully before him, when she was upright again she said rather airily, "I am Lady Luna of the House of Lovegood, daughter of the venerated Sir Lovegood, chief scriber to the Rulers of Ravenclaw, a proud citizen from the Kingdom of Rowena, a member of the court of the Crown Princess Hermione Jane of the venerable House of Granger and-"

"Are you mocking me?"

She smiled, "Ne'er. Sarcastic parody is not a trait I regard highly. For that you must see the House of Dursley-specifically Vernon and Dudley, the courts jesters of Gryffindor. I hear they are a duo that everyone finds amusing especially if they serve as targets for vegetation cast upon them after their acts."

Ron snorted, recalling the father and son team that had entertained them during feasts back at his kingdom. They certainly were a portly pair and they were able to cause a stitch at his side especially when they weren't even trying to be funny.

"You seem to have much knowledge about my kingdom."

Luna sat down again and pulled out her wand from her hair, ultimately causing it to fall in soft curls around her. Swishing it about, she conjured up a cushioned chair behind Ron then tucked her wand behind her ear. Waving her hand, she gestured for him to sit down, "If we must carry on with this verbal banter then I insist that you have a seat."

"Tiring you with this `verbal banter, am I?" Ron replied conceitedly as he moved to sit down.

"Ne'er, Lord Ronald, I do not find it tiring…in fact I perceive it to be quite stimulating. Though, I am afraid that you may need something to keep you upright as our conversation may make you feel a little lightheaded."

Ron, who was about to sit down, stopped and raised his head to search her eyes. He just felt his mental capacity had been insulted. But all he saw was playful mirth in her deep, lavender eyes.

When he was comfortably seated, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and smiled at her knowingly, "Aye, you may be right, Lady Lovegood. I may need something to keep me upended because you are doing a fine job at knocking me off my pedestal."

Luna shrugged and leaned back herself, closing her eyes while she rubbed her temples. Ron immediately leaned forward and asked with a worried voice, "What's wrong? Must I escort you to the infirmary again-no, wait! I'll call a healer for you-"

"No need, I am just experiencing some residual effects from the emotional outburst of my princess," Luna said with a shake of her head as she opened her eyes to meet the clearest blue orbs filled with anxiety.

She just stared into Ron's eyes and felt her mouth go dry at the strong apprehension that she felt rolling off from him to her. Luna shivered as she felt the run of emotions that went through the gentleman's veins and she knew that there was a certain connection that was made when she collapsed in his arms yesterday at the courtyard after the troll attack.

"Are you sure?" Ron asked as he reached out to touch her. Luna nodded, looking down at his masculine hand on her dainty one which had completely engulfed it.

Ron followed her gaze and felt a jolt pass through him. He couldn't see Luna's hand under his but he could feel its warmth and softness. He let it rest there for a bit then slowly withdrew.

"I am sorry," Ron said in a hoarse voice he didn't recognize as his own.

Luna raised her eyes to meet his, "Are you apologizing for touching me or are you sorry that you did?"

Ron saw a hurt look pass fleetingly on her face, "I apologize for caressing you without your permission, dear lady. I am sorry that I prolonged the touch to your discomfort but I do not apologize for ever touching you."

Luna smiled and nodded, "Lord Weasley, I am very glad you said that and with such conviction."

"Why?"

"Because kind sir, caressing and touching will all we will be doing in the future…" Luna said dreamily.

Ron blushed, completely speechless at her bluntness. He wondered if it was a Ravenclaw trait to be so brutally frank. "I…I…well…uh…Lady Lovego-"

"A very eloquent gentleman," Luna giggled as Ron's blush deepened. "Please address me as Luna-for now. We will hash out the endearments in the coming days."

Smiling ridiculously at her comment about endearments, he just said, "Very well…Luna. You may call me Ron."

Shaking her head, she tenderly said, "I will not. I will call you Ronald-my Ronald."

"Your Ronald? We have only had the pleasure of knowing each other for a few hours if we include the time from yesterday and already I am your possession?" he asked with a chuckle.

Luna snorted, "I own nothing that does not wish to be possessed. Tell me Ronald, why is it you sought me out today? I heard your friends had arrived yesterday along with Madam Pomfrey - why did you not stay in their company and explore this wonderful kingdom of Ravenclaw and all it has to offer? The notorious reputation precedes the gentlemen of Gryffindor, especially among the ladies as they are known to swoon with the mere knowledge that they will be in your presence. I must wonder why a handsome man such as yourself, would be here in the Grand Library on his own accord having a verbal tryst with someone like me?"

Ron paused before he inquired, "I will answer all your questions if you answer me this, what do you mean by `someone like you'?"

"Ah, I see that unlike you, my notoriety has not yet reached your ears," Luna stated knowingly. "Very well, I am what you may call peculiar, odd…eccentric even. My Princess coined a very fitting pet name for me that only she uses which is `Loony'. Others may find it insulting, but I find it endearing since I know very well that Princess Hermione would never hurt me consciously. You see Ronald, I believe in things that others do not. I do not follow what is to most, the norm-hence I seem to threaten their sanity."

Luna paused and watched his reaction carefully as she let her empath powers flow. She felt his confusion, then something that she thought she would not feel-his sorrow for her. Warmth suddenly filled her as it radiated from him. Finally she saw a smile grace his features as she felt his acceptance.

Ron leaned forward, "Luna," he whispered, "I am sorry…"

"I need not your pity, Ronald."

"You do not have my pity, you have my sadness, I am certain you felt that. I apologize on behalf of all those fools who had regarded you less because of your uniqueness. Now in fairness to answer your questions," Ron took her hand, "Whatever reputation you have heard about my Prince and his court are probably true. I would never lie to you, so I will not try to hide my guilt of what you have accused me concerning the feminine gender. But rest assured that a man can change-if there is a reason to."

Luna was quiet for a moment as she absorbed what this man had just said. She liked the fact that he declared that he would not lie to her. It made her feel special.

"I do not believe that someone should change against their own accord, even for the right reason. People, though dynamic, are afraid of change and oddity. So I beg to differ with your opinion," Luna finished with a sigh.

She realized that though she erroneously assumed that the man before her had a certain shallowness about him, he was quite complex. The reputation that she had heard about Lord Ronald Bilius was from a good source-another lady of the Princess' court, specifically from Lady Lavender of the House of Brown who had regaled the other ladies-in-wait with tales of her short but quite passionate affair with the gentleman who now sat before her.

"Everyone is entitled to their own sentiment," Ron said quietly.

After a pregnant pause, Luna decided to change the topic, "Well, you did promise to answer all my questions, and you have only one that remains-why are you here?"

Ron looked her straight in the eye and said rather firmly, "I felt like you needed me."

Luna burst out laughing and then abruptly stopped at seeing the serious expression on Ron's face, "Are you claiming that you have empathic powers too?"

"And why not? You just claimed a while ago to have the third eye by predicting that you and I are destined to become friends with benefits. As far as I know, the only true seers hail from the Kingdom of Helga," Ron quickly replied.

Luna giggled. "I did no such thing! I claim no power of foresight-although an Augurey's knack of predicting rain would be a helpful trait."

Now it was Ron's turn to laugh, "Ah, the peculiarity has finally made its appearance! I have been warned that you like to go off in strange tangents."

Luna looked at him with a stunned expression, then her eyes glazed over and the dreamy look returned.

Raising an eyebrow, Ron continued in a soft tone, "You are not the only one who listens to stories. You forget that my infamous twin brothers are the creators of the Extendable Ears. So you see, Lady Lovegood, I am not the only one whose reputation precedes them."

Luna remained silent as Ron leaned closer to her, "I do know what people say about you. I know about the ridicule you endure from others when you turn your back. You tend to run away and shun yourself from the hurt it causes you by reverting to that endearingly beautiful dreamy expression of yours. But I also know that you are in need to have someone feel for you, for a change."

Luna's eyes widened at what he said and he smiled, sensing an accomplishment at making this scintillating lady speechless and coming out of it alive. Ron softly continued, "And I wholeheartedly agree - touching, caressing, whispering sweet nothings, and calling each other silly names will all certainly be in our future."

"Why do you say that?" Luna whispered back, feeling like she was just cornered at her own game.

"I may be a dense, thick-headed prick of a gentleman from the court of Gryffindor, but Luna, I have come to realize the inevitable."

"And what realization is that, Lord Weasley?" Luna asked rather shakily.

"That I have finally found the reason for me to change," Ron said plainly while looking into her eyes.

Luna slowly pulled back and placed her hand on his cheek as Ron smiled back at her, "Thank you," was all she uttered.

They spent that afternoon talking to each other as the battle of wits ended and their romance began.

XXXXX

"CRUCIO!"

A man with platinum blond hair was on the floor curled in a fetal position, writhing in pain in the Slytherin throne room. A hairless man, with eyes of red and pale white skin adorned in green royal robes was pacing in front of him.

"FINITE INCANTATEM."

"I am sorry, your Majesty. We were not expecting the group from Gryffindor to foil your plan…Forgive me for my idiocy…"

"CRUCIO! You will not speak unless I order you to," the King of Slytherin hissed. It had irritated him no end that again the royal family of Gryffindor had ruined a grand plan of his!

King Voldemort watched the man before him convulse in pain as he let his mind wander to his past. He recalled with fondness his grandfather, the last great King of Slytherin. King Marvolo had been a harsh wizard and Voldemort had admired him and considered him his role model. Under Marvolo's reign, Slytherin had flourished in the Dark Arts and the mighty Kingdom of Salazar was feared by all. He remembered with pride how even their own citizens feared the House of Gaunt. But then his mother had to ruin it all by falling in love with a Muggle.

Voldemort felt his bile rise up at the mere thought of his father. Tom from the House of Riddle had been a wealthy, influential Muggle who was well traveled. He came from a land beyond the borders of the four kingdoms and happened upon the land of Salazar by chance. It had only taken that one encounter between Tom and his mother, Crown Princess Merope for everything to get shot down to Hades!

From what his grandfather had told him, his mother, a humiliation to Salazar's teaching and being weak in character, had easily fallen for the traveling Muggle. She'd always follow him around and listen to tales of his adventures as he roamed the lands of the world beyond her castle. It was during this chance stay that Princess Merope brewed a love potion that caused the Muggle to reciprocate her feelings and after a single night of passion, the princess had found herself pregnant.

The royal House of Gaunt had immediately gone into action and despite their disgust, had Tom wed Merope. They had guarded the tidbit that Tom was a Muggle by obliviating those that knew and circulating the news that he was actually a squib. They created charms and spells that would prevent the news from proliferating about the true blood line of the now Prince Tom of the House of Riddle, who by some twist of fate would be the first Muggle and first in line to ascend the thrown of Salazar.

Then Tom was born and his grandfather had taken it upon himself to educate him on the true teachings of Salazar. Voldemort had recalled the many times King Marvolo would bring him to a secret chamber far below the castle and teach him about the Dark Arts and of the prejudices that were instilled in all Slytherin citizens. He inwardly flinched as he remembered the times he would get a spell or potion wrong and his grandfather would immediately cast the Cruciatus curse on him. He was always told it helped him to build character.

"Tom," his grandfather spat out, practically revolted by his name - the same as his father's. "You are Salazar's last chance. The time of my existence in this world is soon to come to an end. Your parents are weak and under their reign. Slytherin will be no more."

Sighing, the old king sat down and looked at him with dark, cold eyes. "You must be the wizard who will ascend to the throne and not your parents. Do you know that Merope told me that the first law she and that husband of her's would decree would be the banishment of the Dark Arts?"

Tom was baffled. "What?!"

"Yes, they have this notion that Slytherin should be reunited with the other three kingdoms," Marvolo answered as he pounded his hand on the table. "It will be a cold day in Hades if I ever allow that!"

"But grandfather, I have not had my coronation ceremony yet, I have no official stake to the throne."

"Yes, I know, you have a mere two years to master these arts," Marvolo's eyes bored into Tom, as he continued, "You must remember and practice all that I have taught you."

"Grandfather, you will be there during my coronation and together we shall instill terror among this land!" Tom shouted as he felt his blood boil at what his parents had planned on decreeing.

"Death is a weak being's escape…My time has passed," Marvolo said a bit wistfully, "But your time is upon you, and yes, you shall be great."

Tom smiled discreetly at what his king stated.

"You must change your name, however. Though you are Prince Tom Marvolo of the House of Riddle, I do not wish for you to carry the added burden of humiliation because of a name which you can easily change."

"What name would you wish me to take?"

"I have given it much thought," Marvolo replied as he waved his wand and a tome appeared on the table. "Voldemort-you shall be known as King Voldemort-true heir of Salazar."

Tom was quiet for a moment, before he said hesitantly, "Voldemort?"

"Aye, a loose translation would be `flight from death.'"

"I do not understand," Tom questioned hoping that he would not be Crucio-ed for asking. "How can I run from death? It is inevitable!"

King Marvolo opened the tome and showed Tom the context. "That, Tom, will be my last gift to you-immortality!"

Tom stared at his grandfather in awe, "Immortality?"

"Do not make me raise my wand to you again, boy!" Marvolo threatened, pointing to the tome before them. "It is all here, you must read this; study the finer points and learn to use it."

Scanning the page, Tom whispered, "But would this not just be lessening my life span?"

"No, Tom, you will not be lessening life expectancy. You are assuring yourself of a resurrection!" Marvolo pushed the open book in front of his grandson. "This is all that prevents the true line of Salazar from disappearing."

Tom looked back at the book and started to read the text, `How to create a Horcrux.'

Two years later, after his own coronation ceremony as Crown Prince from the House of Riddle, heir to the throne of Salazar, his father Tom was now the King of Slytherin, the only Muggle to ascend to the throne of Slytherin. King Marvolo had died a year ago. King Tom had been mourning for a few months about the mysterious death of his wife.

"Son, your mother would have been proud of the ceremony today," King Tom stated softly with pride lacing his voice. "So what did you need to see me for?" he asked the prince after his entry.

Tom looked at his father and seethed with anger and hatred and thought, "How could I have been sired by a lowly Muggle! A humiliation that I will live with till the day I die! Well, not for long-his bogus reign will end tonight. I am meant to be the rightful heir of Salazar-not some deprived being!"

"Really? Well, it is a shame that she had died so suddenly-are there any leads to her murderers?" Tom asked in a low voice as he walked around the room.

"We have been looking into that, Tom, but every lead ends in a dead end!" The king replied, frustration enveloping his voice.

"A dead end for you-you worthless Muggle!" Prince Tom thought. "Look how stupid a Muggle mind is! He has no inkling that mother died in my hands! She deserved it! Marrying a creature beneath her was her downfall! And all these talks about a unification of Kingdoms! Salazar would be appalled at the idea! Have they no foresight that the Kingdom of Slytherin is meant for greatness? The kingdoms will be united-under my reign, under the flag of Salazar Slytherin!"

"Father," Tom spat the word, "why have all the dark arts books been locked away?"

"We do not need it, Tom. It is bad enough that our kingdom has been known to be dabbling only in Dark Magic-we need to show the other three kingdoms that we have changed towards the light. Only defenses against the dark arts would be taught in our kingdom from now on. It is what your mother would have wanted," King Tom ended in a whisper. Every time he referred to his queen, he felt a great loss.

Gazing at his son, he recognized a sense of failure at raising Tom; it was no secret that his son was so absorbed in dark magic and it did not help that he was personally educated by his grandfather, something his mother had not wanted. King Tom promised himself that his wife's death would not be in vain, so he had anything that was related to dark magic banished from the kingdom. It was not easy, but small steps would lead to the greater good for everyone.

"How do you expect defenses against dark magic to be in the best interest for the citizens of Slytherin if they have no grasp as to how dark magic works?" Tom argued.

"To study dark arts in theory would be enough. But to apply magic with the intention to harm is unforgivable…" the king started to reason.

"Unforgivable?! Salazar Slytherin had a vast knowledge of dark magic and the insight that only Purebloods are best at handling it."

"Tom, you know that you are not Pureblood…"

"DO NOT TREAD THERE, FATHER!" Tom shrieked. "If it weren't for your dirty blood coursing through my veins I would have been renowned before my time, but despite this burden I carry-I WILL BE GREAT!"

"Tom-son, I wholeheartedly agree that you will be great and in time, you will become ruler to this powerful kingdom. But there is no need to give in to the darkness in order to achieve greatness. Look at Gryffindor…" King Tom was about to expound.

"Gryffindor is pathetic! To allow their citizens to mingle with Mudbloods, Muggles and lowly magical creatures is a sign of debility! Only Purebloods are worthy of power!" Tom said, cutting into his father's reasoning. It made him feel nauseous that he was even having this discussion with a mere Muggle who had never had the comprehension of magic.

"There are other roads to greatness. Being Pureblooded has nothing to do with it-it all has to do with the choices we make," King Tom said in a calm voice, choosing to ignore how his son viewed Muggles as second class citizens. "Where did we go wrong? How can my son-conceived with so much love - be consumed with hatred and greed?" the king pondered sadly.

"There are no other roads to power-father-except through fear and domination and the only way to have control is through dark magic. Choices and willpower have nothing to do with it!" Tom continued. He now had a glassy look in his eyes, something bordering on madness.

Tom turned his back to his father. He cautiously took out his wand from his cloak and changing the topic, said in a low voice, "Father, you need not look any farther for mother's murderer. He is standing before you…"

King Tom's eyes grew wide. He felt panic and fury. How could his own son take away the life of another-and the woman who gave him life and love? He slowly reached for his dagger, his only defense.

Trying to control his emotions, King Tom choked out, "Son, I forgive you. I am sure your mother forgives you. I will not ask for the reason as to why you would take the life of someone whose only fault was loving you…We will get through this, I'm sure it was an accident…"

"It was no accident! Get it through that minuscule Muggle brain of yours! Mother was weak-she fell in love with a lowly creature! You are a mere Muggle and because of this, I despise you…As you said father," Tom drawled on the word, "I will be a great ruler. Grandfather knew that and made sure that I would not be hindered by the disability of having a Muggle sire me. He made sure that I would follow the teachings of the founder of this kingdom-for I truly am the heir of Salazar, and in order for me to be a powerful king I must rid myself of the weaknesses that surround me…" Turning to the man who sired him, he raised his wand and said, "Farewell to the last of my weaknesses, farewell father…my reign now begins…"

Seeing the fear in the eyes of this man just added a sense of supremacy to Tom. He loved the look of terror he caused in the eyes of those who beheld him. With no further words uttered between them, Tom waved his wand and said:

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

His father fell from his chair as Tom casually walked to his corpse and looked into his vacant eyes. Slowly he bent down and took the ring of Salazar from his father's finger and pushed it onto his own. Raising his hand, he admired the band and then he placed his hand on his father's neck. Feeling around the now cold body, his fingers found what he was searching for. Pulling the chain roughly, he snapped it from around the former king's neck. He stood up and looked upon the locket in his palm. With an evil leer he silently left the room and started to head down to the secret chamber below the castle to split his soul…

Annoyed, King Voldemort looked upon the two Death Eaters, one a traitor to Gryffindor who had gone limp due to the effects of the Cruciatus curse yet breathing still and the other, the steward of his kingdom who was still under the curse.

"FINITE INCANTATEM."

Breathless, the steward of Slytherin did not speak; he did not have the courage nor the capacity to do so as he was still reeling from the agonizing pain of the curse. The king looked upon his two servants with disgust.

Voldemort came up with the plot that a rescue of the Princess of Ravenclaw by the heir of the Steward of Slytherin would cause her kingdom to be in debt to Slytherin. He would have them repay it with the hand of the princess, assuring the bond between the two kingdoms. Voldemort knew that upon his marriage to the princess, it would give Slytherin an heir and he knew of the innate power of Rowena's heir which would be an added bonus to his strength. With such power, no one would stand in his way of total domination. Yet here he was, heirless, and now from the information given to him by his Steward, it seemed as if the Crown Prince of Gryffindor was to stake a claim for the hand of the Crown Princess of Ravenclaw. If those two kingdoms would be bound by marriage, they would be invincible!

Looking at his steward, King Voldemort asked, "Tell me, Lucius, why should I spare your life?"

"Your Majesty, my son will be awarded the Order of Merlin…" Lord Malfoy panted out.

"You boast of the Order of Merlin?! Might I remind you if you had not foiled my plan I would be greater than Merlin! All the more reason to take your life... AVADA-"

"YOUR MAJESTY, WE WILL USE THE CEREMONY TO OUR ADVANTAGE! THE CEREMONY WILL BE A SHOWCASE OF YOUR INFINITE POWER!" Lucius screamed before his king could cast the spell.

King Voldemort paused and then said, "Go on, Lucius, I am now listening. I am not totally heartless-as you see, I too can be merciful…"

"Your Majesty, thank you…" Lucius let out a sigh of relief, and then he continued. "Draco, my son, will be given the Order of Merlin in a ceremony in the Kingdom of Gryffindor; all the royal families of the two other kingdoms will be in attendance, may I suggest a kidnapping of sorts or revenge on the House of Potter? My king, the possibilities are endless…"

"Interesting…We can complete the circuit of betrayal by this traitor…" Turning to the still unconscious body of Pettigrew, Voldemort muttered "Inneverte."

Pettigrew woke, howling in pain. The king, irritated, screamed, "SILENCIO" and the throne room became eerily quiet.

"Listen well, Pettigrew, for another failure will mean your life. You are to go to Gryffindor and find out every minute detail of the ceremony for Draco Malfoy. I know that the castle has been reconstructed to prevent you from using the secret passages, so find a way in and a way out. There is some unfinished business between me and the Potters…. But Pettigrew, I reiterate-fail me and die."

With that, the man slowly crawled out of the throne room, shifting to his rat form.

"Lucius, you have once again escaped my wrath though your wife will pay for it tonight," King Voldemort stated, turning away to leave the throne room. He did not see the loathing in the eyes of his steward as a single tear rolled down his cheek for the benefit of his wife Narcissa.

XXXXX

"What are you doing here?" a soft surprised voice asked.

Smiling, Prince Harry answered, "I am enjoying the cool autumn weather, join me?" as he turned to the princess from where he was sitting.

The prince of Gryffindor was still a guest in the castle of Ravenclaw despite the fact that it had been three and a half weeks since the troll attack. He was not in any hurry to go back to his kingdom and his best friend Lord Ronald Weasley had remained with him. The prince of Hufflepuff had returned to his kingdom a week ago, horribly missing his fiancée and running out of valid excuses to continue his stay to aid the prince of Gryffindor in his plot of romancing the princess.

Princess Hermione looked upon the young man, who, in such a short amount of time, had become fundamental in her everyday activities. Since the troll attack she had never left the side of Prince Harry, she kept convincing herself that it was guilt that made her keep vigil. But a week after Harry regained consciousness and was slowly recovering as the troll's poison was gradually leaving his system, the princess thought she should feel relieved to be leaving his bed chambers and going on with her life. Although, in truth, Hermione dreaded the day that she would be of no use to the prince. That day came two days after the prince awoke. Then Princess Hermione was literally kicked out of the guest bed chamber at the north tower. Madam Pomfrey and the healers of Ravenclaw put their feet down, stating that they should be maintaining proper decorum.

It was scandalous enough that the Princess of Ravenclaw had stayed in the bed chambers of the Prince of Gryffindor for more than a week! The protest though, was most vocal and violent from Prince Harry-but the parents of Hermione and Harry also had intervened and stated that a certain code of behavior had to be upheld. So Princess Hermione was again back to her bed chambers in the main castle and her visits to the Prince of Gryffindor's bed chambers were now limited to the point of restriction. Therefore Princess Hermione took advantage of any opportunity she had with the prince.

Prince Harry for his part was having difficulty in acting as if he was still in poor health whenever Madam Pomfrey would check him. However, upon his insistence that he still felt ill, the healer exclaimed that the affliction was mental and not physical when she found nothing wrong except for the residual poison which was very benign and would soon be eliminated. Even so, he was still adamant that he should stay longer-just in case.

The Prince of Gryffindor told Madam Pomfrey that he needed fresh air to recuperate faster, hence the healer of Gryffindor allowed him to leave his bed chambers to wander the grounds of the castle as long as he would not tire himself, wherein Harry made it a point that those times out would be spent wooing the princess. He found out the many likes of the princess through information given by her confidant, Lady Lovegood. It helped that he had a spy from the court of the princess on his side and what made it much easier was that his best mate was completely smitten by the peculiar empath. The information that Lady Luna provided was basically a short list comprising of books and more books. So the Prince of Gryffindor would ask his best friend to go to the Grand Library of Ravenclaw and borrow them so he could be well prepared when conversing with the princess; Lord Weasley would in turn ask Lady Lovegood to accompany him. The arrangement served the prince and the lord well, making them grow closer to the ladies that were their intended.

The prince now looked upon the princess who gracefully sat down beside him on the stone bench at the outer courtyard, he knew she was near even before she spoke; being that the wind carried her scent of jasmine and cinnamon. They were always like this, having a chance meeting of sorts as Prince Harry would find out where the Princess might be heading to or what she had planned for the day, then he would "happen upon" that area for her to discover him there. They would talk most of the time, mostly about the books that the lord had borrowed for him and they would leisurely get to know each other.

Harry discovered another item he added to his growing list of why he fell in love with the princess and that was her smile. It completely made her face glow and he would feel his senses warm up whenever the princess let out a laugh-the sound was always music to his ears. Harry found out that it was easy to get a laugh out of the princess, regaling her about the many adventures and mishaps he, the Weasley boys, and sometimes the other young men in his court would find themselves in.

He'd revel in any physical contact the princess he would have: a touch on his arm to get his attention, their fingers brushing against each other when she'd point an interesting topic in a book they were reading, or when she'd act like a human crutch, which was by far his favorite (he discovered this one by accident). As he and the princess would stroll through the many gardens of her castle, she would point out certain things of interest and Harry, being totally engrossed in what she was saying and staring at her like some love-sick imbecile, tripped over a loose step. Before he could fall flat on his face, the princess tried to steady him by immediately encircling her slender arms around his waist to keep him up. Upon regaining their balance, Harry had wrapped an arm on her shoulder and Hermione did not release him either. With a worried frown she aided him for the duration of their stroll, inquiring often if he was okay. Sometimes he would fake a limp because of this, exaggerating at times so that Hermione would tighten her hold on him.

The Prince of Gryffindor deduced that he had it bad for this woman as he took pains in trying to impress her, hoping that he could banish any awful memory or impression the princess had of him in the past. He also prayed that the feeling was mutual; sometimes he would catch her staring at him, a look of confusion on her face as if she was having an internal argument with herself. Other times Hermione would have a certain look as she stared off into space with a delicate smile on her lips. So Harry prided himself that his efforts were all for not....

"What are you reading?" Hermione asked, spotting a book on the prince's lap. "Wandless magic? Did you know that I just finished that book before my coronation ceremony? I was planning to start self training for it, but for the past three weeks I had not found the time."

"Well from what I heard, you are able to do it with a natural flair," Harry replied.

"Yes, but unconsciously, with no control whatsoever, unfortunately," Hermione answered ruefully.

"I have been training a bit when I was at home. Care to see what I have learned?" Harry asked her shyly.

"Please, go on then."

At a wave of Prince Harry's hand a crimson rosebud flew to his outstretched hand. He handed it to the princess who brought it to her nose to inhale its scent. Then with another wave of his hand the rose started to bloom slowly till it was fully opened.

"That was amazing!" Hermione said excitingly.

"Your highness, I am not finished…" Then Harry waved his hand over the fully bloomed rose and it multiplied till the princess was holding not one rose but a dozen!

The princess' eyes were wide as she looked from the prince to the bouquet in her hand; she was totally astonished and flattered as she felt a blush creeping on her cheeks.

"Okay, now you are just showing off!" she joked but continued, "I am officially rendered speechless, your highness. You truly are a great wizard, you know..." Hermione complimented and seeing Harry blush made her feel pleased with herself.

"Well, conjuring up a rose and turning it into a bouquet is not equivalent to shattering every window in a tower and having the power to heal!" the prince countered.

Shaking her head, "Prince Harry, I cannot control this type of magic. Not like you, you just wave your hand and there you go-wandless magic. Those incidents with me are merely tied up to my burst of emotions." Hermione was feeling insecure and just stared at the brilliant bouquet in her hands, afraid to meet the emerald eyes she loved to gaze into.

"Princess Hermione…" Harry continued, "All magic is linked to a burst of emotions. Why, if I was not inspired by your beauty, I would never have been able to conjure up a rose and have it bloom for you much less make it into a bouquet…"

The princess heard the subtle compliment he gave her-but chose to ignore it "Me, beautiful?-I guess Harry did crack his head…" she thought.

"Princess, you do not need to train for wandless magic, you are a natural. You are the smartest witch of our age…" Harry said softly.

"Me? Books and cleverness are not everything…There are more important things like bravery and friendship and…" the princess let her voice trail off before adding the one word she so desperately wanted to say to the prince before her.

"But all you need is a little confidence…. Want me to try to help you?" Harry asked tentatively, but seeing her eyes brighten at his suggestion made him smile widely.

"Please?" Hermione asked quietly, thinking that she was imagining his offer.

"Okay, close your eyes. Focus your magic to your hand, then move your hand in the motion that you would with your wand, and then finally utter the spell."

Harry watched her as she put down the bouquet and followed his instructions. He heard her mutter "Wingardium Leviosa" as she aimed her hand towards a large stone.

Nothing happened.

"See?!" Hermione whined. "Told you nothing would happen," she pouted, embarrassed that nothing had occurred.

"Wait, come here." Harry then wrapped his arms around the princess giving her a small hug, taking her face in his hands he looked into her warm brown eyes, "Merlin! Her eyes should come with a warning `Drown at your own risk'!"

"Your highness, it is Levi-O-sa, not Levio-SA" Harry joked softly, hearing the princess giggle he continued solemnly, "I believe you can do it…Now focus."

Harry then turned her toward the direction of the stone; he pulled her towards him so her back rested on his chest. "I wonder if she feels my heart pounding in my chest because of her?" Then he whispered in her ear, "Try it again, love."

"Did he just call me `love'?!" Hermione reacted by leaning in more. "Wait, he wants me to focus! How in Merlin's name can I focus with his arms around me and his breath tickling my ear?! Oh bloody hell-come on, Hermione-focus, you can do this-he believes in you, believe in yourself…."

Repeating her earlier actions, she closed her eyes and waved her hand. She felt a slight tingling sensation pass through her waving hand but then nothing. Hermione felt Harry's heart pounding against her back as his chest pressed into her and he tightened his grip around her and whispered, "Open your eyes, love-I did say you could do it…"

Hermione heard his voice and it was a while before it registered in her brain what Harry had said, since she was enjoying the feel of his solid chest and his arms around her waist, "Hmmm…smashing! He is just pure muscle." She inhaled deeply, "spicy and very--delicious…Bugger!" then it registered in her muddled mind that Harry said something, "Get your head out of the gutter, Hermione! What did he say? Merlin, his breath is warm against my cheek…What did he say?...Oh yeah-open my eyes!" And when she did, Hermione saw the rock floating in front of her following in the direction her hand was waving. She face broke out in a big grin as she turned towards the prince behind her.

As Hermione turned her head, the prince looked down at her. Their lips were suddenly mere inches apart-both smiles dimmed slightly as their eyes met, their breath hitched slightly as lips moved closer together, and their eyes not breaking contact. The princess saw the emerald green eyes darken to a forest green shade. She saw a question in his eyes as if asking permission to proceed and she just held her breath as she felt the need to close her eyes and wait…

Prince Harry could not believe this was happening; he was so close he could count every gold fleck in her eyes. He had never wanted a kiss from any woman this badly, but he was afraid that he might be pushing the princess to fast. Harry saw her brown eyes acknowledge his questioning ones; he was afraid that if she rejected his request he'd crawl into some hole and die but then he saw Hermione's eyes close as she stilled with her lips slightly parted.

"Hermione…" Harry said reverently like a prayer, as his lips met hers.

At first the kiss was soft, each adjusting to the feel of the others' lips. Then the princess brought her hand to his cheek, caressing it. The prince's arms tightened as he deepened their kiss, tentatively, he ran the tip of his tongue on her bottom lip. Hermione gasped, shocked at the contact as a shiver ran through her body. She felt Harry begin to pull back slightly, but her mouth had a mind of its own as she opened it to his kiss and let the tip of her tongue meet his. Harry let out a groan. Pulling her more tightly into him he leaned back into the bench, taking her with him. He couldn't get enough of her, he loved the way she tasted-sweet like nectar - and he felt like a man in the desert and she was his oasis-his thirst for her was voracious.

The Lion Prince and the Eagle Princess had no idea that when their lips met there was a wave of energy that emanated from them and rocked the walls of the castle slightly. Their two companions, Lord Ron and Lady Luna who had distanced themselves when they saw the prince conjure a rose for the princess rushed back to the bench with wands at the ready, only to be thrown off slightly as if there was a shield surrounding the two who were now reclined on the bench, still kissing each other! A gust of wind swirled around the courtyard causing the Lord and the Lady to widen their eyes as they looked at each other and then at the couple on the bench.

Luna then felt a warm, powerful sensation fill her; she gasped slightly and reached for Ron's arm to steady herself as she became woozy from the energy of the combined emotions of Harry and Hermione.

"Such a pure love, their souls have finally met their match…" Luna whispered in awe.

"Luna, are you okay? Do you want me to take you away from this?" Ron asked quite concerned, but he saw her eyes were closed and her face was illuminated with something powerful that left Ron awestruck. She shook her head in reply.

Opening her eyes, Luna looked into the sky blue ones of Lord Ronald, tears hovering behind her lashes. "Ronald-their love-it's beautiful…I can't describe the intensity…but by Merlin, those two are at peace…"

Ron looked at his best mate and a woman whom he could only describe as `mental, terrifying, and beautiful,' and a wicked grin started to grow on his face, the lion had finally caught the eagle that tamed his heart. "There is intensity, all right! Luna, my best friend may have found his mate for life-but I do not think being at peace is what is on their minds and you don't have to be an empath to know it!"

Luna whacked him on the head but had a sheepish grin on her face. Turning towards their best friends, "You may be right, Ronald. Peace is the farthest thing on their minds now. Merlin! If they can cause the castle to tremble with a kiss-can you imagine when they…" Luna blushed as she realized it was not proper to speak of such things in such a public place with her Ronald.

Ron had a huge smile on his face as he knew what Lady Lovegood was about to say. Looking at her, he replied, "Well, I certainly will be moving to another kingdom if they plan to have their first night as a couple in Gryffindor. I am not too keen on having the kingdom crashing around me while I sleep!"

"What if they held their wedding ceremonies here in Ravenclaw?" Luna countered.

"Then we would be one kingdom short now, wouldn't we? Sad, all the great minds crushed under the massive rocks of Ravenclaw! All because the Prince and his wife answered the call of the flesh!" This caused Ron and Luna to crack up laughing, the sound penetrating the clouded minds of the couple on the bench.

Hermione raised her head, registering someone laughing loudly close by and that her lungs were in dire need for air. She opened her eyes and saw the Prince of Gryffindor below her with a very smug grin on his face. He looked triumphant, relieved, and in love. She wanted to scold him for his arrogant expression, but she felt that he was reflecting the same expression she had on hers!

The Prince muttered, "Your highness, not only can you wield magic without a wand…But you can definitely wield devastating magic with your lips! Which may I add will be the death of me-because I am dying to kiss you again, but I am afraid that if I do give in to that wonderful temptation, I will not stop-and I do have to breathe."

Harry felt whole-completely whole! He had no other words to describe the sensations in his body, mind, and soul at holding the one person he needed for the rest of his life. "Sweet Arthur! Help me…I love her-I honestly love her! No other being has made me feel this way-I love her…I LOVE HER!" His mind was screaming as he felt his smile growing wider and his vision brightening as he looked into her shiny brown eyes.

Harry thought before that what he felt for the princess was just mere infatuation, something that the adrenaline rush of the troll attack had magnified; he had believed that once he tasted her, he could again move on with his carefree life-but he knew the risk of that one kiss…it had proven that it was more than mere passion, he could see that this was for eternity. And the Prince of Gryffindor saw that life would not be worth living without the princess at his side.

Prince Harry cleared his throat and said in a voice filled with awe and love for the lady in his arms, "Therefore, Crown Princess Hermione Jane of the venerable House of Granger, heir of Rowena…before you slap me for taking advantage of you and compromising your proper code of behavior-I, Crown Prince Harry James of the House of Potter and heir of Godric, do beg for your hand in marriage…"

The couple who were the best friends of the prince and princess who moments ago were laughing vigorously abruptly stopped after hearing the proposal of the lion prince. They were shocked at the unexpected turn of events!

"WHAT?!" an exclamation that came out from Lord Ron as Lady Luna raised her hand to cover her mouth in surprise as her other hand still clutching the arm of the lord tightened.

The lord and lady suddenly realized that Hermione's parents were standing opposite of them in the courtyard. Having panicked when they felt the walls of the castle shake, they had swiftly ran out of the castle in search of their daughter and the prince of Gryffindor in fear for their safety, accompanied by the head Auror and other Aurors of the kingdom.

Ron could only envision their surprise at having found their daughter on top of the said prince on a stone bench in the outer courtyard of their kingdom, snogging each other senseless, and then hearing the said prince propose marriage to their daughter who just had her coronation ceremony not more than a month ago! They were beyond disbelief. They were absolutely flabbergasted!

The King and Queen of Ravenclaw knew that the joining of Hermione and Prince Harry was inevitable-yet to hear it personally and without any preamble was like being hit by ten Bludgers simultaneously on the head!

Hermione's eyes grew wide as what Harry had just uttered finally registered in her brain. She looked down at the prince and all she could see was love, "Merlin…Does he really love me? Maybe he's just caught up in the moment…But, by all things holy, I really do love him…Wha? Where did that come from?!-From your conscience, you idiot! And they say you're the smartest witch in all the land?! Can't even recognize LOVE even if it drops on your head? Hmmm, is that fear and uncertainty I see in those gorgeous emerald pools? Maybe I should play this? How cruel can you get! Well answer him, you fool! Don't leave the poor man hanging…"

Hermione took a deep breath and exhaled shakily, the move causing her to press her breasts firmly to the chest of Harry, who let out a small groan and closed his eyes briefly. She smiled, "Do I really have that much control over him?"

"Hermione?" Harry whispered, still waiting for her answer.

Brushing an errant strand of hair from her face and trying to buy time to make her decision, Hermione realized that there was only one logical conclusion to the situation that she was in.

"I, Crown Princess Hermione Jane of the House of Granger, accept thy proposal, Crown Prince Harry James of Gryffindor."

Then she let out a squeal and tightened her arms around him as the prince of Gryffindor let out a shout of triumph and squeezed her tightly. He jammed his fingers into her soft brown hair and pulled her head towards his as they sealed their agreement with a mind searing kiss which left them breathless and the Kingdom of Ravenclaw felt for the second time that day the walls shudder but with much more magnitude, and the magic radiating from the newly betrothed couple, which was the deepest and purest love for each other, reach to the farthest borders of the kingdom of the eagle and affecting everyone it rippled through, leaving a smirk on their faces though they knew not why, and filling them all with a sudden urge to hug or kiss someone.

A/N: So do you all like? Wasn't that such a gigantic leap in their relationship? I just couldn't help myself anymore! Tell me what you think by dropping a small review-even a big review if you have the time! ^_~

I've got to ask though-to the readers, would there be a problem if I raised the rating in future chapters? As I warned you all in the beginning of this chapter, I had to change it from PG to PG-13 for obvious reasons…I'm not completely sure about the age group of the audience…so here's another ploy to get some of you to review… but seriously I would need to know…

Teasers? The next chapter will be fluff-the only Slytherin seen will be Draco-Red moon will be taking a rest in the next chapter but the other couples will be on deck…

To everyone-enjoy your holiday!

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