"I'm really not looking forward to this." AJ grumbled, and then resumed her perfect posture.

"No worries." Paul said. She looked up at him. He saw the doubtful expression on her face and laughed. "Come on, you know you can do this." He smiled down at her. "Trust me; you have since you were born."

"Sixteen years isn't quite enough." She said, and looked back to the closed double doors in front of her. She sighed.

"Hey, don't worry. You look fabulous." Paul said. She looked back up and smiled at him.

"Thank you."

"I must say, it's a little weird seeing you like this, I'm used to tomboy AJ. Now you really look like a princess." Paul teased. AJ smiled and was once again insecure about her looks. For some reason she had let her mother, the queen, dress her up for her own 16th party that they were hosting. Paul, her best friend standing next to her pulled one of her long, blonde curls and then let go. It sprung back up quickly. There were hundreds of these blonde curls coming down to just past her shoulders. Her beautiful, long, red dress fit her perfectly as her parents had it tailored just for her. This being AJ's first party, she would be introduced to all of the eligible young men, having to dance with them. She would pick the one she liked best and he would be the one she was to marry.

"This is a really big thing." AJ said.

"Yeah. I'm just looking forward to our dance." Paul smiled.

"You're lucky my parent's see you as eligible."

"Hey, my father's a Duke." Paul said.

"Yeah yeah." AJ waved her hand at him and turned the other way. The announcer spoke and AJ stood back from the door.

"The princess' best friend Paul Garrett Sage." The doors opened and Paul mumbled.

"I hate my middle name." As he put on a large smile and took a step forward into the grand ball room of the palace. The doors closed quickly behind him as AJ laughed at his comment. Standing there, the next one to enter the great hall, AJ breathed in and out slowly many times. She readied the smile she had been working on late the previous night.

"Her royal highness princess Anastasia Jacqueline Damir." The announcer proclaimed to all in the ball room.

"Not my full name no!" AJ said and her spine bent in a pout. The doors opened and suddenly she was faced with all eyes on her. She straightened up again and smiled her smile. Slowly, she made her way down the stairs to the ball room floor.

"Anastasia dear, you do look beautiful this evening." Her lady in waiting said for about the tenth time. AJ forced a smile. She hated her full name.

"Thank you Marie." She said. Marie had met AJ at the bottom of the long, curved staircase. AJ stepped off the satin carpet and onto the marble floor. She was still a little uncertain on her feet even with the many practises wearing the high heels. The conductor of the orchestra was turned around and watched her step onto the dance floor. At the very moment that her foot touched the marble, flowing, happy music started playing, as it did the entire night. AJ tilted her head so she could whisper into Marie's ear. The smile still plastered on her face as she continued to look out at the three rows of 'eligible' young men, all staring at her wide-eyed and hopeful. Behind them were all of the young ladies, hoping that their dates wouldn't be picked.

"Don't forget to tell me which ones are muggles and which ones are magic." AJ whispered into Marie's ear. Marie had organised all of the dancing and all of the young men. She nodded and stepped back to let AJ through. Suddenly the music stopped and everybody looked over to the orchestra, wondering why there was a sudden silence. The announcer then spoke up and everyone's curiosity was satisfied.

"Presenting their royal highnesses, Queen Pricilla May Damir and King Robert Alexander Damir." The double doors once again flew open and AJ saw her mother and father walk into the grand ballroom. Her mother went right, following the same path that AJ had taken. While her father went left down the symmetrical curved flight of stairs. Looking up, AJ watched her mother as she practically floated down the stairs. As she came around to meed her husband, all of the heads bowed in respect. Mum had to go through this to. AJ thought. For the past five generations, the Damir family had had only daughters. The men they had married took on the royal last name as was usually done. The King and Queen met perfectly in the middle and linked arms. Her father led his Queen up the satin carpet to their thrones which were nestled neatly in between the flights of stairs. AJ smiled, but she was extremely nervous at the thought of one day, that would be her. AJ sighed as the music began to play again.

"It's alright Anastasia." Marie whispered behind her. AJ clenched her jaw.

"How many times have I told you not to call me by my full name?" AJ whispered without turning around, she continued to smile at the many guys that were once again looking at her.

"I'm sorry ma'am" Marie said. AJ shook her head as she let out her breath. Marie would never get it right. "Would you like to start the dances now miss?" She asked. AJ rolled her eyes at Marie's lame continued attempt at not saying her name. Despite this, she nodded. The sooner it was over, the better. "Muggle." Marie whispered as they walked up to the first one. "Francis Duker." He smiled and bowed his head. She curtsied. He led her onto the floor and AJ had her first dance. They were silent the whole time. Francis looked up into her eyes and she had the same smile plastered on her face the whole time. When their dance was finally over he went back to find his date after not seeing any signs that he would be the future King. His date was overjoyed and they danced together. "Wizard." Marie whispered as AJ walked up to the next one. "A pure blood like you." AJ arrived in front of him. She looked up and was scared whitless. "Marcus Flint." He bowed slightly and she curtsied again. Once they started dancing, AJ decided to say something.

"Marcus." She started

"Flint, call me Flint." He smirked.

"Sorry... Flint" AJ said, then continued. "You wouldn't happen to know a spell to get me out of this ball would you?"

"Anastasia, a witch." Flint said.

"Call me AJ." She said firmly. "Yes, I'm a pure-blood." Flint nodded in thought.

"But I'm only your second dance." He said.

"Only the second?" AJ mumbled. Flint laughed as he spun AJ around and brought her back into him. The dance ended soon. "I'll see you later." AJ said. She didn't like his looks but she liked his personality. Flint smirked, happy that she enjoyed their dance. The dances went on. Muggle after muggle. AJ liked none of them. Eventually, there was another pure-blood wizard.

"Blaise Zabini" Marie said.

"You don't want me to call you by your last name do you?" AJ asked.

"What?" Blaise was confused. "No, not like Flint. Just call me Blaise." AJ nodded her head as she danced. "And what may I call you your highness?" Blaises' flattery was making AJ blush slightly.
"Call me AJ." Blaise smirked and nodded. She recognised his smirk to be similar as the one on Flint's face before. "Do you go to the same school as Flint?" AJ asked.

"Yes." He replied. Blaise was wondering why she brought him up. Was it because she liked him? He thought.

"Which school is that?" AJ asked.

"Hogwarts." Blaise replied.

"I've heard about it." AJ said. "Harry Potter goes to that school right?"

"Yeah." Blaise said and rolled his eyes. She's probably another 'oh my gosh it's Harry Potter' girl, typical. He thought. "He's here tonight. You'll probably dance with him later." AJ let out a short 'hmm' as she pondered. Their dance finished and Marie came up to her again.

"You're half way through the dances your highness."

"Thank you Marie." AJ said and Marie nodded. "Will I be dancing with Harry Potter tonight?" She asked.

"Yes." Marie said. "He's not in the nobility, but his reputation makes him eligible." AJ seemed to be thinking.

"Are there any other guys from Hogwarts?"

"Yes, there's one other it's..." AJ wouldn't let her finish.

"Good." AJ said. "Save them for last."

"Yes ma'am." Marie said.

"Can I dance with Paul next?"

"Sure thing miss." Marie said and AJ walked up to Paul, curtsying after he bowed.

"Good evening your highness." Paul said as they begun to dance.

"Stop it Paul. You'll always be my best friend." Paul seemed to relax a little and AJ giggled. "I'm halfway through." AJ said.

"Congratulations AJ!" Paul exclaimed. AJ smiled. "Any guys you particularly like so far?"

"I like the Hogwarts guys." AJ said.

"They're interesting." Paul said. "There's the purebloods, and then there's Potter."

"So the third one is a pureblood as well?" AJ asked.

"Well, yes." AJ smiled. She liked those boys. Their dance ended and AJ was back to dancing with muggles. It seemed to go on for hours. There was the occasional half-blood and muggle born wizard, but none of them seemed to be as good as the Hogwarts guys.

"It's just the Hogwarts gentlemen left my lady." Marie said. "Would you like to dance with Harry Potter now? Or save him for last?"

"I'll dance with him now. Thank you Maire." AJ said politely.

"Yes miss. By the way, you're doing a marvellous job tonight." AJ smiled over at her. She placed a hand on Marie's shoulder.

"Only two more." She said with a spark of hope in her eyes. Marie laughed.

"Yes, two more. Then you will have to choose one." AJ's mouth immediately came out of a smile as she though of how hard the decision would be. "You can do it." Marie said as she led AJ up to Harry and introduced them.

"Princess Anastasia." Harry said as he bowed. AJ clenched her teeth.

"Not- the full name." AJ started out harsh and then she smiled as she curtsied. "Please, call me AJ." She said in her politest voice. The two quickly began to dance. Harry led AJ perfectly all over the dance floor. They were silent, but AJ just loved him. By the time their dance was done, AJ was so tired. She was happy that there was only one dance left. She politely said goodnight to the famous Harry Potter and smiled over at Maire. Marie figured the last gentleman could introduce himself. She gestured for AJ to walk over to him by herself. After each dance, the rejected gentleman would then go off to dance with his date. AJ only saw one gentleman standing, waiting. She walked up to him, looking around to make sure that she didn't interrupt and collide with a dancing couple. When she reached him, she looked up at his smirking face. Her heart skipped a beat, then another, then another. AJ took a breath to make sure she was still alive. Her heart came back quickly as AJ continued to stare at whom she would have to share her last dance with. She couldn't believe she was so lucky. She was standing in front of the most gorgeous-looking young gentleman she had ever seen. The young man bowed slightly as he introduced himself.

"Draco Malfoy." He said and held out a hand for her to take.