AN: To all readers, thank you for beginning to read my story, I have not quite decided which route this story will take, whether it be a dramione, harmony or any other sort of fic. It is up to you as the reader and reviewer to help me decide as the plot slowly unveils itself.
Disclaimer: Rowling owns the characters, I own the plot.
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Chapter 1: A Prestigious Arrival
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The carriage slowly creaked towards a halt in front of the gleaming gates of the Gryffindor Palace. The gatekeeper spoke with the head of the caravan and nodded in understanding as he motioned towards the guards to open the gates for the royal entourage.
Inside the boldest of stagecoaches, Princess Hermione pushed aside the satin curtains of her carriage and gazed out towards the castle looming ahead, her eyes slightly widening in awe. Beside her, the princess' one and only first-cousin, Lady Lavender sharply gasped at the sight in front of her. The land of the West was truly as majestic as legend had it.
Princess Hermione settled back into her former more comfortable position, allowing the curtains to gently close again, and let out a content sigh. She closed her book, Ancient and Primordial Spells for the Advanced Mind, and clasped her delicate hands above it. Her mind reeled back to the previous day when their journey had begun in the fine Land of Ravenclaw.
Hermione had arisen so early that morning that the cold night air still resided within the castle walls and darkness firmly held its hold over the sky. Pushing aside her luscious honey-brown curls with a natural grace, she stepped out of her four post bed and padded across the marbled-floors in her woolen embroidered slippers. Hermione's lady-in-waiting quickly scurried towards her with a fleecy bathrobe in hand helping the beautiful princess take care of her morning rituals before settling down for the long journey ahead of her. Hermione put on a brave and confident face as she readied herself for her first trip without her parents, King Richard and Queen Ella of Ravenclaw, a sign of her adulthood and responsibilities she held as heir to the throne.
With everything packed into their trunks, the travelers took their places in their respective coaches, compiling a caravan of 28, quite a sight to behold to any passerby. As the procession made their way through the countryside Hermione leaned her head against the side of the carriage as it gently jostled along the roads. Her thoughts settling on the fact that she had left her homeland for the revered grounds of Gryffindor where King James and Queen Lily would be holding the grand ball to announce their son's return from boarding school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
At her own home, Princess Hermione and Lady Lavender had studied under the guidance of the world's best tutors and governesses. The land's magical finishing school was restricted to men and Hermione wistfully wondered what it would be like to study at the likes of Durmstrang. In the fair lands of the North amidst the Hufflepuff terrain, the ladies boarding school, Beauxbatons resided, but Queen Ella had always fretted alongside Duchess Brown, Lavender's mother, that the school was simply too far from home for their liking, and thus their castle reigned studying began. King Richard had preferred it this way alongside his wife, being an avid learner himself, for within the walls of Ravenclaw resided the brightest of the lot. After all, the most Esteemed House of Ravenclaw was known for their sheer intelligence and superior wit. So alongside her general studies, Hermione learned of her homeland and gained the proper training she needed for a future ruler as only heir to the Ravenclaw throne.
The princess was quickly drawn from her thoughts as she heard the sound of trumpets around her, and Lavender let out a very unladylike squeal as the entourage had finally reached the exterior of the Gryffindor castle's main entrance. Hermione lightly accepted the hand of her best friend's father, Lord Xenophilius Lovegood, as he helped the princess out of her carriage. The Lovegoods were known across the land of Ravenclaw as a family full of quick-minded wizards and promising seers. The Lovegoods had long been the caretakers and dutiful advisers of the royal family ever since the days of Rowena Ravenclaw herself, the founder of the Land of Ravenclaw.
Followed quickly by her cousin, Hermione stood surrounded by her court as King James' Royal Adviser Kingsley Shacklebolt, helped the royal train of Ravenclaw enter the castle. Hermione quickly glanced about the interior of the palace. Grand was an understatement for what she saw. Elegance and royal magnificence reflected from ever corner and niche of the Gryffindor home. Tapestries hung inch by inch across the walls leading towards the Throne room enshrouded in the lush colors of Red and Gold. The princess lightly gathered her skirts as she walked up the golden granite steps leading towards the room where the King and Queen of Gryffindor waited for their arrival.
Murmurs from her own court members alerted the princess of the fact that the Prince of Slytherin, Draco Malfoy and Prince of Hufflepuff, Cedric Diggory had already arrived with their respective courts earlier that morning. Hermione slightly frowned, worried that her court had made too late of an arrival and possibly may have upset the Gryffindor Royalty. Lord Lovegood looked upon the fair princess and gave her a reassuring smile as if reading her thoughts,
"No worries, your majesty, the King and Queen are more than pleased to hear of your safe arrival on palace grounds and patiently await your presence."
Hermione nodded, as Lord Lovegood, herself and Lady Brown along with two other royal supervisors readied themselves for their presentation to the Gryffindor monarchs.
The large doors slowly swung open, and the sound of trumpets once again along with the melodious sounds of the court's other instruments was heard as Princess Hermione proudly stepped foot into the Throne room.
"Welcome," King James bellowed from his throne, taking stand. Princess Hermione and the others of Ravenclaw bowed on one knee in the presence of the sovereign. Hermione stood up to see King James smiling from his throne beside Queen Lily who too graced her beautiful features with a soft smile and nodded in greeting. The Queen stepped down from her throne and took Hermione's hand and squeezed it with a motherly gentleness,
"We are most pleased to have you here, Hermione. The last time you set foot in our castle was when you were only two years of age and had to come for the celebration of the defeat of the Dark Lord, 15 years ago with your family. We are glad to have you back in our home and hope you find the warmth of your own within these walls."
Hermione smiled at the other woman.
"Of course your highness, we are truly blessed to have been invited to lands of Gryffindor and hope to find a happy alliance with this gracious land of the West,"
King James came and stood by his wife, his raven hair proudly holding his Gryffindor crown in place.
"Please, do not mention it. It is our honor to have the royalty of all the land, North, South, East and West celebrate with us the return of our son after 7 long years,"
Hermione smiled at the King, and moved her gaze over to the Queen as she spoke:
"Yes my dear, tonight you will meet Harry."
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AN: Please review and share your thoughts on the plot and possible is my first fanfic, so any constructive criticism is much appreciated. I suspect there will be an update in the near future.