Harry Stared in horror at the cloaked group in the middle of the great hall. They must be powerful to have unarmed all the professors. He wondered why Dumbledore did not pull forth his wand. Surely they were not powerful enough to take him on. Harry was positive. Just as he was afraid this stalemate would last fore hours, with the cloaked group brandishing weapons and the teacher's wands floating harmlessly overhead. A tinkling voice could be heard. "Nestoir! Stop it."
The Princess stood and gave Snape a smile; he took her hand and helped her around the table. It was then that Harry realized, that Snape was not just following court rules and leading her around. She was having difficulty walking. Once they reached the irate young man, Andromache placed her hand on his sword. The crowd gasped as it vanished. She then smiled brilliantly and threw herself into his arms. Snape's hands stayed close in case she fell. "I knew you'd find me!" she squealed delighted to be back in the arms of her love. "They are really nice here, they took me in and bandaged me, naturally I wanted to wait for Clarisande to come and heal me in proper Arcadian style, but this young man..." She pointed to Harry who paled when he could feel every eye turned in his direction. "Saw me fall in the forest and alerted his professors. And this gentleman..." She turned and beamed at Snape. "Along with the nice tall man, His name is Hagrid rescued me and Carious, she is fine, by the way, she just has a scratch on her leg and a fractured wing." The Princess opened her mouth to say more but was soundly kissed by the man she had called Nestoir.
"Thank you," The tallest among them said to Nestoir before removing his hood. Harry was immediately contrite. Just because of the height and the low voice he had assumed that it was a male. The large almond shaped eyes and pale skin, along with the gentle, yet sensuous lips could only belong to a woman. When she tossed her head and her hair fell down to her waist, Harry felt even worse.
"She's gorgeous." Ron whispered to Harry who could only nod his head as he stared in awe at the tall beauty. "All the Princesses of Arcadia must total babes." Hermione folded her arms and vowed to kick them both later.
"Well of course we are all gorgeous, but that is our high Prince Daphnus." Harry, Ron and Hermione all startled to find a blond girl smiling at them. How she had materialized beside them was a mystery, since it was impossible to apparate inside of Hogwarts.
"I take it," The High Prince was saying. "That we can not just blow up the place and take you out of here. Then there are the children, you know, we can't blow up the children. You can stop with the glowering at me midget; my violent tendencies have been put to rest for now, although you do look positively adorable." Daphnus turned to Professor Snape and smiled. "Thank you for rescuing our jewel, and keeping her safe. This building is ideal for staying hidden. My apologies for the way we stormed inside. I hope we did not cause too much of a fright."
"Ah...no, allow me to introduce you to our Headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore." Snape inclined his head towards Dumbledore and stepped aside.
"Welcome, guests, to Hogwarts. Please do sit we were just having a feast in honor of our esteemed guest, now we shall honor you all." Dumbledore waved his hands and another long table appeared covered with plates and food. The royalty bowed and moved towards the table. Harry blinked as the crowd began to murmur. The cloaks had vanished and the royals appeared dressed as finely as Andromache.
"Do allow me to introduce ourselves to you. I am High Prince Daphnus of Arcadia. The gentleman currently attached to High Princess Andromache, whom you have met, is high Prince Nestoir husband to Andromache. You two please sit, it is obvious that she is wounded." Daphnus said to Nestoir and Andromache. Nestoir placed her in a chair and sat beside her. "Ladies please step foreword. May I present the Lady Clarisande, A princess of Arcadia." A willowy slim Asiatic girl curtsied to the crowd. Her long dark hair brushed the floor before she came up and smiled.
"My sisters, the ladies Althea and Amalthea, Princesses of Arcadia," Daphnus continued. The two girls looked liked clones of Daphnus. Only their curves marked them as female, to help differentiate between them and their brother. Their maroon dresses fell in multiple folds to the floor "The tiny lady." Daphnus paused and winced as a smallish blond reached up and pulled his hair. "Lady Chimaera, a princess of Arcadia." Her black pants set seemed to glow red in the dim light. A bright red bolt of cloth was wrapped around her waist, and pulled back to allow the black pants to be seen. "And the lady Tisiphone, A princess of Arcadia." Harry noted that she was the young lady who had spoken to him earlier.
Daphnus then extended his hand to the gentleman in his group. "My I present Sir Deipyros, a Prince of Arcadia." A tall red haired gentle man bowed before the crowd, his emerald eyes seemed to glow in the dim light of the great hall. "Sir Kronos, a prince of Arcadia, and Sir Angel, A prince of Arcadia. Please accept our thanks as you have accepted us into your home."
Dumbledore waved away their thanks and smiled at the entire royal assemblage. "Please do allow us to extend our hospitality to you, in any capacity that we can."
"Oh!" Andromache exclaimed. Snape Came forward as Andromache began to bounce around in her seat. He was fearful she may have hurt herself more in her exited state. "I have the most marvelous idea, but we should eat now, I am starving. Daphnus dear, please tell the other mounts to find Carious and stay near her. Then we should meet with Prof. Dumbledore, because..."
Nestoir kissed her again. "Seeing as how you are so hungry, you should endeavor to eat something." He said quickly as he saw a pout forming on her lips. "I know what you want and I shall see to it."
"Thank you dear," Andromache said and giggled.
"And," Clarisande said and stepped forward. "When you are done eating I shall take care of your wounds and wrap them in fire cloth, it should help with the swelling, and ease the pain a bit." Androache nodded, her eyes as round as saucers as she knew she would also get a lecture about being separated from the group in a battle.
"I am sorry you all, it won't happen again, but I was so certain I had them." Andromache began to defend herself.
"Don't tell me..." Daphnus pointedly looked away from her. "I no longer have sole jurisdiction over you; it is not a high Prince that will have words with you for recklessly putting yourself in danger, but a husband, more importantly, your husband."
At the menacing look Nestoir gave her, Harry found himself wanting to protect the Princess. He was not the only one. Snape wedged himself in between the chairs. "Perhaps a discussion should wait until the lady is feeling better."
"My good man," Nestoir said with a smile, Snape was lifted from his feet and set aside, although the prince had not moved one finger from his comfortable perch on the bench. "Do you think to stand between me and my wife, be warned that the last person who tried it was immolated from the inside out. But rest assured I love her too much to ever abuse more than her ears." The last was said with a slight hiss and Ron gulped and grabbed Harry's shoulder as he swore he saw fangs in Nestoir's mouth as he stared at Snape. "Please remember, she is MY wife."
"Now, now," Dumbledore said. "I am sure that Severus was just acting in the best interest of the Princess."
"Which is why he still stands," Nestoir said.
"Enough," Daphnus interjected and placed a hand on Nestoirs shoulder. "Please forgive the high Prince's foul mood, it is always thus when he has worried about his beloved, and there is nothing for him to extend his excess energy on, why he would happy to rip anything and anyone to shreds, but seeing as how there is no villain, he must amuse himself by yelling at his wife for her foolishness." Daphnus nodded to Snape who accepted the apology and went to the teachers table.
"Well, now that that's settled, enjoy." Dumbledore said and motioned for the feast to continue.
"Wow!" Ron exclaimed as they all made their way into the Gryffindor tower after the feast. "Did you see that? The Prince lifted ole' greasball right off his feet without using his hands or a wand or anything. And Snape's hand went out to try to catch himself, it was great."
"I wonder what they are talking to Dumbledore about." Hermione said as she sat in a plush chair in front of the Fireplace. Harry sat silent and stared in to the flames, missing the days when his Godfather had spoken to him and guided him. How could they just say that he was dead? No one knew where that mirror lead anyway. Harry thought, these royals seemed to now a lot, perhaps they knew the fate of Sirius Black.