Disclaimer: I don't, nor will I ever, own Harry Potter.

Genre: Action/Adventure, Humor, Angst, Hurt/Comfort

Chapter Word Count: 8,811

Rating: M

Warning: Language, Gender bending, Violence, Mentions of Child Abuse

Life and Royalty Chapter Three: Blossoming


It had probably been the best summer of Lin's life. She had spend most her time in her room reading A Guide to Animagus, talking to Wanda, or provoking Delilah. Hedwig got to go out, and Lin even ate properly, having also managed to finish off all her candy.

She knew it wasn't gonna last.

Lin sat with the Dursleys the morning of her birthday and everything was quiet until Vernon cleared his non-existent throat.

"Now, as we all know, today is a very important day." Lin didn't so much as blink, she knew about the stupid dinner party the whale of a man had been blabbering about for days.

"I think we should run through the schedule one more time," The fat man continued, "We should all be position at eight o'clock. Petunia you will be –?"

"In the lounge," Petunia answered promptly, "waiting to welcome them graciously to our home."

Lin's lips twitched, the Dursleys gracious? That would be the day.

"Good, Good. And Delilah?"

"I'll be waiting to open the door." Delilah put on a horrid ugly smile. "May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?"

"They'll love her!" Petunia cried rapturously. Lin snorted loudly, trying to block the laugh that desperately wanted to come up.

"Excellent Delilah," Vernon nodded before rounding on Lin. "And you?"

"I'll be in my room, making no noise and pretending I don't exist." She said happily.

"Exactly." Vernon said nastily, ignoring the fact that Lin was happy about this. He went through several more steps in which Lin replied the same and Vernon left to get his jacket and Delilah her dinner dress.

Lin walked out the back door. It was nice sunny day and she sat down in the garden on the bench.

None of her friends, which she supposed she counted about 5, had written her all summer. Unfortunately Lin, already being a naturally pessimistic person, hadn't thought this was out of the ordinary, despite the fact that they – Su, Padma, Theo, Hermione, and Ron – had promised to write. But with only Wanda to talk to, it got boring fast. She had even, while talking to her snake about nothing, wondered what Voldemort was doing.

Looking at the hedge she was sitting next to, she saw that the shrub had eyes. Amused, Lin stared at it until Delilah's sneering voice cut in from across the garden.

"I know what day it is." Delilah warbled out, hobbling over to Lin.

The eyes disappeared and Lin looked at her cousin not really interested.

"That's good, you learned the days of the week. Gonna learn to spell your name next?" Lin asked mockingly.

"Today is your birthday," Delilah snarked. "How come you haven't got any cards? Haven't you even got friends at that freak place?"

"Dunno, why? Are you concerned?" Lin asked disdainfully. Delilah pulled up her spandex shorts that had disgustingly started to slip off her lard filled bottom.

"Why're you staring at the hedge?" She asked suspiciously.

"I'm trying to decide with spell to set it on fire with." Lin said softly. Delilah stumbled back and stuttered out some sort of threat about telling her mom. Deciding she wanted her to go away, Lin started saying the first things that popped into her mind.

"Avada Kedavra!" She snarled callously. "Crucio – Imperio –!"

Delilah screamed for her mother as she ran into the house fast as her stubby legs could carry her.

Petunia and Delilah gave the Potter heiress a wide berth that day but Lin was set up with chores to do for her fun.

Delilah sat eating ice cream as Lin trimmed the flowerbeds, weeded the plants, and watered the roses. She thought about the Animagus transformation and the potion for it that she wanted to make when she got back to Hogwarts.

At half past seven Petunia called Lin in and rushed her upstairs with a plate of food. Just before she opened the door of her room, Vernon called up the stairs.

"Remember, you – one sound –"

Lin slammed the door behind her. Turning to her bed, she saw a weird looking creature standing on it.

"Why are you wearing a pillowcase?" Was the first thing that Lin asked as she put her plate down on her small broken desk. The creature blinked.

"This? It is a mark of the house elf's enslavement." It said in squeaky voice that Lin just knew carried downstairs.

Lin felt a surge of anger at that fact for no reason she knew of and looked at the elf in annoyance.

"Not that I care if you have a reason or anything like that but why are you in my room, uh…?"

"Dobby, madam. Just Dobby, the house-elf!" The thing squeaked again.

"M'kay, Dobby. You didn't answer my question." She said narrowing her eyes.

"Yes miss, Dobby has come to tell you… it is difficult…" Dobby said earnestly. Lin's patience snapped.

"Spit it out and get out!" She snapped. Dobby recoiled.

"Gwendelin Potter must not go back to Hogwarts." He said staring at her with orb like green eyes.

"Like I would listen to an idiot like you." Lin folded her arms and snorted.

"No, no, no." Dobby said shaking his head so hard his long ears slapped him. "Gwendelin Potter must stay where she is safe. She is too great, too good, to lose. If Gwendelin Potter goes back to Hogwarts she will be in mortal danger."

"What gives you the right to dictate my life?" She asked in a low voice.

"There is a plot, Gwendelin Potter." Lin ignored what he was saying and sighed.

"Will you go away now?" She cut in exasperated.

"Will Gwendelin Potter stay?" Dobby asked wide-eyed.

"No, why would I want to stay here? I'd rather go back to Hogwarts thanks."

"Back to friends that don't write Gwendelin Potter?" Dobby asked slyly.

Lin's fists clenched when she saw the letters that Dobby had been stopping.

"You took my letters." It wasn't a question and Dobby's eyes widened as the temperature dropped sharply in the room.

"P-please don't be mad. Dobby only –" His plea was cut off when Lin's hands closed around his throat. The letters tumbled to the ground.

Dobby disappeared with a crack and reappeared by the door.

"Please say you won't go to Hogwarts!" Dobby begged.

"Come here, let me choke you!" Lin snarled.

"Then you leave me no choice." He said opening the door and rushing downstairs. Lin bent down and grabbed the letters before sitting on her bed, not caring about the mental house elf. Something crashed downstairs and there was a scream.

A few minutes later an owl swooped into the dining room, dropped a letter on Mrs. Mason's head, and left as quick as it came.

The Masons angrily left and Vernon stomped into her room with a demonic glint in his eyes brandishing a letter.

"Go on, read it!"

'Dear Miss Potter,

We've received intelligence that a Hover charm was used at your place of residence…'

It kept going along those lines about how she couldn't use magic outside of school and Lin felt livid at what that house-elf had done. She swore if she saw him again she would kill him.

"You didn't tell us you weren't allowed to use magic outside if school," Vernon said with a mad gleam in his eyes. "Forgot to mention it… slipped your mind I daresay…" He bared his teeth cruelly.

"Well I've got news for you… I'm locking you up… You're never going back to that school… Never…" Lin stopped listening to the rest of his words with practiced ease and Vernon left soon after.

The next morning Vernon's words were was truthful as he was ugly. He paid a man to fit bars on Lin's windows and put a key lock and cat flap on the door and locked her in the room except to use the bathroom twice a day.

Lin went back to starving half the time but was glad she had thought to let Hedwig and Wanda out that morning, at least they weren't locked up with her.

Staring at her ceiling, Lin's stomach growled with a hunger she never thought she'd feel again and she felt a familiar resentment of the world and her parents grow as it had before at the injustice she suffered. As she closed her eyes, a hatred deep within her stirred.


The next morning, Lin sat up and was about to pull her trunk from her locket when her bedroom door clicked open and Theo burst into the room.

"Lin, why haven't you been answering my letters?" He demanded sitting next to her on the bed. She smiled at how indignant he looked.

"Why are you here Theo?" She asked bemused.

"Everyone said that you hadn't been answering their letters and I finally managed to convince dad to take me here. So spill!" Theo explained.

"Your dad's here? Whatever. What happened was…" She told him about Dobby, ("Malfoy's elf Dobby?" Theo asked shocked) and her uncle locking her up.

"Well don't worry about your relatives, my dad's talking to them now. Very unpleasant lot you know, called dad a 'freak'. He wasn't too happy." Lin felt amused that the Dursleys had really been that stupid after the Snape episode.

"Got everything with you?" Theo asked. "We can leave now. Dad's taking you with us to my house."

"Hold on let me get Hedwig and Wanda." She went downstairs and walked out the front door.

Lin walked back into the house with an irate Wanda and Hedwig to find that Theo had come downstairs with Hedwig's cage.

"How dare you leave me out there? Hedwig and I were worried sick, you didn't come out for a week. I ought to bite you!" Wanda threatened.

"She sounds angry." Theo said as Hedwig settled into her cage with a hoot.

"You don't know the half of it." Lin replied shaking her head and then walked to the lounge where she could hear people talking.

"I'm sure there won't be any more trouble." Demetrius was saying when they walked in.

"Hello Mr. Nott." Lin said gazing at the Dursleys, who looked very scared and were clutching each other on the couch.

"Good morning Gwendelin, all packed?" The man's eerie brown eyes bored into hers.

"Yup, do you guys mind if I said goodbye to my relatives?" She asked politely. They both left, with Nott Sr. saying they would be outside.

Turning to her relatives she sighed.

"I hate you all and I know you feel the same. I wish I didn't have to come back here and as soon as I find a way out, I'm gone. I wish you nothing but death and unhappiness and I will unfortunately see you next summer. Good day." Lin said curtly before walking out the front door into the bright sunlight.


The Nott estate was pure Victorian era.

The furniture and over all decoration was that theme. Theo proudly told her that all the furniture was really from that time and the manor had been in their family since long before. And while not as monstrously huge as Hogwarts, the Nott manor was sprawling. It even had a Quidditch field. It was all surrounded by a big forest.

"I'm gonna teach you to play." Theo promised as Lin scowled.

"Not now children," Demetrius told them. "Theodore I want you to show Gwendelin to her room then come to the dining room for breakfast."

"Alright dad," Theo said leading Lin away, "Su and Ron are here."

She blinked in confusion as they walked up a flight of stairs.

"Why?"

"I invited them, your room is here. Hermione's still on vacation and Padma is coming tomorrow. Su's room is to the left of yours." He told her as they came to the end of the hallway.

Lin went straight to the window to let Hedwig out, who seemed reluctant to leave.

"I'll be outside in a bit. Go on and fly girl." She told the cautious owl, who hooted and soared away.

Looking around she took in the décor of the room, which was in cream and red colors, before turning back to Theo.

"Breakfast then?"

After eating then being forced to play 2-on-2 Quidditch with three sports and/or challenge junkies Lin was exhausted. Begging off more Quidditch after lunch as a stomach ache she wandered to the place that had caught her attention since she had arrived: the forest that surrounded the grounds.

Walking in, Lin immediately felt much calmer then she had all summer. She'd always liked trees, often climbing them when her cousin and her friends decided they wanted to chase her. After stopping to let Wanda down so she could explore she continued down a small but well worn path where she found herself in front of a clear pond, where a family of unicorns was drinking. The biggest one looked up when she had stepped into the small clearing and the others had backed away warily.

The big one tossed it head before turning to the unicorns behind it and neighing. The unicorns, which were all adults except for one golden fawn, wandered over to her and bowed low before her.

"What the –?" She started.

"Don't be alarmed, it's natural for them." A male voice floated over to her. Her head snapped up and she saw a blue haired, grey eyed boy who looked a few years older than her, standing a few feet away.

"What do you want?" Lin demanded coldly narrowing her eyes, reacting as she always did with strangers.

"Isn't the more appropriate question 'who are you'?" The boy asked seemingly amused.

"Will you be offended if I say I don't care?" She asked sarcastically.

"If I say yes?" The boy's eyes were filled with mirth. Lin scowled, and then looked at the unicorns that were all staring at her funnily.

"I'll say I still don't care." She grunted. The boy's lips twitched up.

"I'm –" The boy was cut off by Lin.

"Go away. Take these weird things with you." She said irritated that her peace and quiet had been interrupted.

"I'm sorry you feel that way. Although I can't say I'm surprised a rude girl like you wouldn't question such a phenomenon." The boy said mockingly as she walked away. Not bothering to stop or respond Lin wandered deeper into the forest.

"You know very it's rude to walk away when someone is talking to you." The boy's voice sounded from above and she scowled harder seeing him in a tree up above her.

"It's a crime to stalk someone." Lin said calmly turning away from him only to see that the golden baby unicorn had been following right behind her.

"Cute isn't he?" The boy asked jumping from the tree and walking over.

"What do you want?" She growled, getting angry. Was it so much trouble to be alone when you want to be?

"I wanted to see what kind of person you've grown into, Gwendelin." He said and Lin took a step back, worried.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." He told her.

"Why do you know my…" Lin drifted off as she touched her forehead in aggravation.

"No it wasn't that scar." The boy said softly, "You look a lot like your mum."

"Did you know Lily too or something?" Lin asked tiredly, already wanting this conversation to end.

"Lily? Is that how you address your mother?" He asked disapproving. Lin shrugged.

"She's dead, no room for her to complain I suppose." She said not caring how he felt either way.

He sighed, shaking his head sadly at her attitude. "I didn't know her closely but I was there the day you were born."

"And I care why exactly?" Lin said rudely, hoping he would go away.

"You should care," He said, no longer amused, "Seeing as how you were promised to me at birth."


"Where's Gwen? I went to her room but she wasn't there." Su said as she stepped into the Nott's living room where Theo and Ron were playing chess.

"She said she had stomach ache and was going to explore the forest till it went away." Ron said not looking up from the game.

"What? Why didn't you say something?" Theo said alarmed. Ron looked confused.

"It's really easy to get lost in there and not everything is friendly." Theo explained jumping up and heading outside with Ron and Su on his heels.


"So James and Lily find yet another way to screw me over from beyond the grave? That's not surprising." Lin said sarcastically.

"It wasn't your mother or father's decision. You should stop being so judgmental." The blue haired boy said looking exasperated.

"Oh joy, yet another advocate of parental love. Save it, okay? I don't care." She said aggravated.

The boy glowered at her and Lin felt cheerful at that.

"Why don't you stop acting like a brat? I've got a lot to tell you and you're making this harder than it needs to be." He told her running his fingers through his blue hair.

"When do I have to be with you as 'promised'?" Lin asked using air quotes.

"Before you turn 16." The boy said.

"Leave me alone till just before then." She said turning away.

"You haven't got any choice in the matter. Some things can't wait till then." The boy appeared before her silently. It was odd because he didn't faze in or anything like that. The only sign he hadn't been standing there was that Lin had been looking at the spot he was now in.

"I've never had any choice in my life. People always seem to make it their business to make them for me." Lin sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, frustrated.

"I'm sorry." The boy said sincerely, taking some of the edge off her anger. "My name is Edmond Grodenwell."

"You sent me that weird egg on Christmas!" Edmond looked amused.

"You didn't try to open it?" He asked tilting his head a little.

"No, I didn't know who you were so I put it away." Lin told him.

"Well since you have it with you let's open it together shall we?" Edmond smiled a bit. Lin narrowed her eyes.

"How do you know I have it?" She asked suspiciously.

"I can sense it." He said simply. Lin blinked, and then shrugged pulling it from the locket and holding it up.

Edmond walked over and put his hand on top of hers. The egg glowed before opening like the petals of a flower. Inside was three rings fashioned of polished wood, one with a bright green emerald and diamonds on it. All three had silver leaves running along them and little runes on the inside.

Edmond took out the emerald ring and one of the wedding rings and slipped them both on Lin's left ring finger. Almost on auto-pilot Lin took the last ring and put on Edmond's ring finger.

"Wedding rings?" She asked confused.

"I made this with my magic the day you were born to symbolize the fact we were bonded and married." He explained as she gazed at the beautiful ring on her hand.

"Uh, why?" Lin asked feeling disturbed. Edmond raised an eyebrow at her feelings.

"I don't know why you find that disturbing, humans must not do that. However it was your grandmother's wish that that happen, to prevent any complications."

Lin frowned.

"What do you mean 'humans', and why does my dead grandmother get a say in my life?"

"The grandmother I speak of isn't dead and I said 'humans' because I'm not one." Edmond told her.

"Okay one problem at a time. I was told a long time ago that the only family I had left was my aunt, uncle, and cousin." Lin dearly hoped this wasn't true.

"You have an uncle but no aunts I'm afraid." He said taking the now closed egg, grasping her hand and leading her deeper into the forest.

"What? I'm not related to Aunt Petunia? My mum was adopted?" Lin asked hopefully, practically bursting with joy.

"No, you're not. Why do you think they look so different? Your mum was born to Petunia's parents but she isn't her sister. They don't have an ounce of the same blood running through their veins." He said stopping before a very large ash gray tree with dark purple leaves that looked like a weeping willow and sitting down in its giant roots, inviting Lin to do the same.

"That doesn't make any sense." She said sitting next to him.

"I'll explain more clearly then. Your mum was born Lily Selene Faunus to Queen Alavorsa Demoria Selene Faunus some thousands of years ago. About thirty years ago your mother became very ill, incurably so. They only way to cure her was to give her a rebirth, cleansing her completely. The only problem was that your grandmother had become barren and couldn't carry your mother again. They would have both died. Your grandmother looked to her people to carry their princess but no one was compatible and the only other species that was close to our body structure was human and high elves. Since the elves weren't compatible, they chose for it to be a human carrier." Edmond took a deep breath.

"Your grandmother looked but the only person who was compatible was pregnant already. However she saw that the woman's child was going to be miscarried and switched the dying child with your mother." Lin listened entranced.

"What happened to Petunia's real sister?" She asked him.

"The child died I'm afraid. It wasn't developing correctly and even the Queen's magic couldn't save it." Edmond explained quietly.

"Oh, that's so… sad." Lin shook her head. "What happened after that?"

"Your mother was born again to Rosemary and Charles Evans. She grew up around humans but her memories returned when she was ready, I'm not sure when."

"And what are you and my mother?" Lin said getting to another point she wanted to know.

"We are fae. Fairies, if you will." She blinked, and then snorted.

"You had me till you said that. Nice joke though, you even knew my grandparents names, and sent those presents. Real classic." Lin said with a light mocking smile on her face.

"I'm not lying." Edmond frowned at how cynical she was. "I meant every word. Here I'll give you proof."

He brushed back his blue locks and showed pointed ears. When Lin opened her mouth to say something, translucent wings unfurled from his back. They were a like a butterfly's with a mix of blue, white, and black designs. The ends curled slightly at the top.

"Beautiful." Lin mumbled to Edmond's amusement.

"Why thank you. That means a lot to me coming from you." He smiled widely at her and Lin felt her heart jump, a blush forming on her face.

"Why's that?" She asked looking away. He let out a chuckle.

"You're my wife, it will help if you are attracted to me at least a little." Lin sniffed looking at her rings.

"Why did my own grandmother force me into such a thing?" She asked looking at Edmond, feeling lost.

"Your grandmother didn't approve of your mother marrying a human. Somewhat for the fact that she was the princess but mostly because it risked the lives of our kingdom if word got out about us. So for her choice of marrying your father, your mother made a promise to the Queen that her children would marry by your grandmother's choosing." He explained. Lin felt like he had left out something major but decided not to say anything about it.

"So Lily really did find a way to ruin my life? Before I was even born, all for her own selfishness!" Lin felt a familiar wave of anger and hatred at her mother and it must have shown on her face.

"I wish you wouldn't feel this way. Rage and hatred can lead you down a path you don't want to go." Edmond frowned, "Your mother made her mistakes and I know it hurt you. However I hope you know that I love you. I have since I first saw you."

"What?" Lin's cheeks went red. "No one's ever said that to me."

Shock crossed his face.

"What do you mean?" Edmond asked curling his wings again so they were out of view. "You lived with your aunt Petunia right? Surely she said it."

Lin shook her head and spent the next half hour telling him about her life at the Dursley's and at Hogwarts.

When she finish Edmond closed his eyes briefly before wrapping his arms around her. Lin vaguely noted that the golden unicorn fawn was lying on the ground near them, snoozing in a patch of sunlight that filtered through the tall trees.

"I don't want you to ever have to go back to that house. I won't allow it." Grinning, Lin wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.

'I never have to go back!' She thought happily.

"Wait a minute. How would you be able to do that? You're not my guardian." Edmond smiled at her.

"You are quite correct. However we are legally married because your parents and mine signed the papers in the human world. I can have you with me any time I like. Plus I'm 17, which is the adult age in the wizarding world if I'm not mis –" He was cut off by Lin kissing him hard on the lips. When she pulled away she was grinning from ear to ear. Edmond snorted.

"I'm afraid that you'll have to grow up a little more for that." Lin punched his arm, scowling.

"Would you like to hear about the day we met?" Edmond asked pulling her close. Lin nodded before laying her head on his shoulder.

"My mother and I walked into the hospital…"


July 31st, 1981 at St. Mungo's Hospital, Elena Grodenwell held onto her five year old son Edmond's hand as they walked to the room where Princess Lily and the princess's new born daughter were waiting.

"Remember child," The green haired woman said kneeling in front of the boy and putting her hands on his shoulders.

"You will be meeting the Queen and Lady Lily this day, along with the new born Princess. Mind your manners."

Edmond smiled as Elena kissed his cheek and took his hand once more.

"Yes mummy."

Elena nodded and opened the door they were in front of.

"…understand that you love him and I'm glad you are agreeing to what I ask." A woman with long blonde hair that was over her right shoulder in braid said in a quiet voice.

Elena and Edmond moved into the room and the blonde woman turned her bright blue eyes to them.

"Auntie El!" The red haired green eyed woman lying on the bed exclaimed.

"Lily-pad, how are you?" Elena asked walking over to her.

"As good as I can be, giving birth and all –" Lily started and was cut off by the raven haired man beside her.

"Is that him?" He asked staring at Edmond with resentment and sadness in his hazel eyes.

"James!" Lily snapped as the bundle in her arms squirmed. "Sorry Elena, this is hard for us to accept…"

"This is what you chose." The blonde woman put in calmly. James glared at her. Lily turned to Elena and Edmond.

"El, you met my husband James at the wedding." She motioned to him then to the other people in the room.

"This is Sirius black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew." The blonde woman frowned heavily.

"You trust too easily child. I can sense the beast within this one and the coward I that one. How much have you told them?" The woman asked in a calm voice, her eyes cold like ice.

"They have all sworn to secrecy before we told them just now, Lady Alavorsa." James said coldly as Peter looked upset and Remus lowered his head.

"Not good enough." Alavorsa's voice cracked like a whip. Lily's eyes widened but she did nothing to stop what was going to happen.

"I will bind their tongues with my magic. To swear to secrecy does nothing for the information, even with the messenger dead, is still told. With my oath, if any of your little friends choose tell of our secrets and heritage, the moment they open their mouths to speak all the air in their lungs will disappear and their tongues will swell in their throat. They will suffer. Are you humans willing to guard our secret with your lives? If not I will rip the memory from you. It will be excruciating, because refusing my magic means that you would have betrayed my daughter's trust given the chance."

James looked at his three best friends and Sirius leaned forward.

"I'll go first. I'd never betray James, Lily, or little Lin." He said fiercely, chin up. Remus and Peter echoed his words and were bound to the secret of who Lily and her family were.

Alavorsa smirked then looked at Lily and spoke in a commanding voice.

"Let Edmond see the child."

Lily coaxed the five year old to sit beside her and he gazed at the small green eyes and fluffy red hair on her head.

"She's pretty, mummy." The boy said touching the baby girl's cheek tenderly.

"Should we do the ceremony now?" James made a choking sound when Lily asked. The Queen smirked before answering.

"Yes, it's for the best."

Lily sat up straight in the bed and turned Gwendelin so the baby had her back to her mother and was laying her head on Lily's stomach. Elena sat behind Edmond and put a hand on the boy's back.

"I'll begin now." The Queen murmured as all the pressure in the room rose and she placed her hand on Lin's and Edmond's foreheads.

Whispers filled the room and all the misery and sadness in the room left.

"Gwendelin Lily, third princess of Lesra-nrina. Edmond Kalien, child of the King's sworn guardian." Alavorsa said quietly as the whispers became faster.

"Bond together from this day forth, Hiram." A light glowed above both the children's hearts then died down after a bit and then whispers stopped.

"That's it?" Sirius asked confused.

"Were you expecting brighter lights, maybe an explosion or two?" The Queen asked snidely.

"Yes that's it." Lily cut in before Sirius did something stupid. "Their bond will grow with them."

James sighed softly and gently ran his fingers through his infant daughter's hair.

"What's Hiram?" Peter asked confused.

"My father's name." A low voice grunted from near the door. Lily looked up and smiled.

"Myrddin you came!" She said happily. The man stepped forward and snorted.

"Why would I not come to greet my own niece? Even if she is a half breed, she can't help it…"

Edmond was ushered out of the room by Elena as Lily opened her mouth obviously about to snap.


"I should get back, everybody is probably worried." Lin said back in present day looking over her shoulder.

"Ah, don't worry about that. Fae magic is much different than human magic, if you had a watch on you would have seen that time hasn't moved since we sat down. Well, that or thought your watch was broken. It would have been amusing either way." Edmond smirked.

"We're in a 'pocket dimension', if you will. I can control anything here so long as I've got the magic. I've held it as long as I have because we're sitting beneath a Fairywood tree, which has an immense amount of natural magic that I can tap into. All fae can do things like this but florna fae, whose magic doesn't have any training, are wild and often use it for mischief. They are mainly only about 3 inches in height and love to stare at their reflection and will crowd a sentient being for attention if complimented. Most fae are very vain."

"You don't react that way. I said you were beautiful." Lin pointed out.

"I am bound to you so I can take complements without preening. I'm also what is called a Lesra fae. I have much more control of magic and I have the greater sense not to stare at myself, unlike florna fae."

"Oh okay," Lin said resting her head on his shoulder. The odd reassurance he seemed to exude calmed her.

"Feel better?" He asked her quietly.

"Yeah, I just have one more question." Lin said feeling slightly angry again, not noticing him tense because of that.

"Go ahead and ask." He prompted.

"If my grandmother is alive, why didn't she take care of me? Is it because I'm a half human?" She felt her heart ache because of that. Edmond, feeling her pain told her the real reason.

"The Queen couldn't take care for you because at first she hadn't known your mother had died. As I said fae magic is different from human magic and when your grandmother found out that your mother was gone she couldn't get to you because of the wards that surrounded your house, which prevented her entrance. They depended on your aunt's blood and bound you there because your mum and aunt were 'sisters'."

"She couldn't have written me a letter? Why are you able to talk to me now?" Lin asked feeling suspicious.

"Your mail is screened. Why do you think that if you are really that famous in the human world that you got no fan mail? We were barely able to send you those Christmas presents because the screenings are less strict. Also, I was able to find you because the wards are around your house, neighborhood, and that school, not you." Edmond said to her as she blinked.

"Who would do such a thing…?" Lin felt angry again when she knew the answer to that question and more.

He had left her with the Dursleys, written the letter to Petunia the day he left her, kept her parents things from her, put up those wards and he had stopped her from living with the woman she should have.

Lin felt rage and frustration swirl inside her until it exploded and she did what any other bitter child would and for the first time in a very long time, Gwendelin cried.

Gripping Edmond, she buried her face in his neck and cried for everything she had suffered – every beating, starving and hateful word – all because of one man.

Albus Dumbledore.

It took nearly ten minutes for Lin to stop crying in which Edmond had just rubbed her back soothingly, letting her finally get the feelings out after years of holding it all in.

Lin sniffled a little bit and asked question, that made her smile when she thought of it.

"Edmond? What's my full name? Mine and Mom actually."

"Your mother's is Lily Selene Faunus Evans-Potter. Quite a mouthful, but yours is nice and long too because you are princess and must carry your mother's maiden name too. It's Gwendelin Lily Demoria Faunas Potter-Grodenwell. I feel all out of breath now." Lin giggled as Edmond grinned at her.

"Demoria? I didn't know I had that as a middle name." She said thoughtfully.

"Any other questions?" He asked her.

"What did you mean when you said we were bonded?" Lin wondered as she stared into his bright grey eyes.

"It means that we share a connection. If we were to let each other in mentally we can feel each other's emotions and if we get really close, we can hear each other's thoughts and speak through our bond to each other. I've felt you before but it was really extreme emotions like pain or anger. The wards blocked our connection too and you sitting here with me is reestablishing it. Also, I can stop others from intruding on your mind now. You have pretty strong natural mental shields, though." Lin took a deep breath in and then blew it out as yet another thing that was ruined came to light.

"Can you feel my emotions now?" She asked him. He nodded and Lin frowned.

"I can't feel anything from you." When she said that, Edmond gently kissed her cheek.

"You've got enough emotion to deal with without mine adding to it." He told her truthfully.

"That's not fair. I thought that married couples shared things like that. I wanna know about you. Tell me what your life was like growing up." Lin demanded as he laughed. She felt a surge of happiness knowing instinctively it wasn't her that it came from.

She smiled knowing he was opening up to her.

"Well I grew up with my mother Elena, father Rylis, and little sister Julie in the Lesra-nrina, where your grandparents, the Queen and sleeping King live…"

Lin wandered back to Theo's house in high spirits.

Edmond had told her that his mother had been the Queen's midwife when Lin's mother and uncle Myrddin – who had played a grand prank on the witches and wizards of the world and the fake name he has used 'Merlin' was still sworn to that day – were born. Also about her grandfather, who had been in an enchanted sleep for the last few millennia. He told her about Lesra-nrina where he and just about every fairy had been born, that it was filled with all types of flowers and trees as old as dirt, some thought extinct and very dangerous to humans because of the many animals and poisons that lived in them and how the people there lived trees that had been grown in specific was to form houses.

When they had parted ways, in which he was going back to Lesra-nrina he had given her a hug and told her he would be seeing her soon.

"Gwen! Where have you been, we've been calling for hours!" Su demanded as she stomped over to the girl.

"It's only been like ten minutes." Theo said amused.

"Quiet you." She scowled. Lin snickered quietly.

"I was just wandering around for a bit. Sorry to worry you." Lin said as the three dragged her back for more Quidditch before dinner.

The next day Padma came to the Manor and Theo's owl Hermes dropped a letter they received from Hermione at breakfast.

"I wrote to her saying me and dad were gonna bust you out, Lin." Theo explained.

Su read it out loud.

"'Dear everybody,' okay well she wrote everybody's name but I didn't feel like saying it," Su explained as the others just looked amused.

"'Dear everybody,

I hope everything went alright and that Gwen is okay and you didn't do anything illegal to get her out, Theo, because that would get her in trouble too. I've been really worried and if she is alright, will you please let me know at once.

I'm very busy with schoolwork of course,'."

"How can she be?" Ron asked in horror. "We're on vacation!"

Su snorted and continued,

"'And we're going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. Why don't we meet up in Diagon Alley? Let me know what's happening as soon as you can. Love from Hermione.'" All the kids looked at Demetrius who stared back over his coffee cup before nodding slowly.

"We can go Wednesday, I suppose." He said to them quietly.

"Alright, I'll go owl her back." Theo said hopping up from the table.

The group spent the rest of the day lounging outside on the grass or teaching Padma to fly on a broom. Lin had been sitting watching Ron and Su race for a snitch when she felt joy go through her and wondered what Edmond was doing to be so happy.


When they all stepped off the knight bus – which Mr. Nott paid for because he said they were 'all reckless children who would definitely get lost if they used the floo' – they stepped into the Leaky Cauldron and Lin adjusted the hat she was wearing, showing only a bit of the bangs of her long hair.

When they were about to walk up the stairs Gringotts when a shout to the left caught their attention.

"Su! Ron! Over here!" Hermione called and the kids all rushed over to greet her.

"Are you all going to Gringotts?" She asked as Demetrius walked up behind them in his slow measured pace.

"I want you all to stay out here when I go get the money for your supplies." He told them. "Go get some ice cream."

Lin spoke up before he could leave,

"Actually sir, I wanted to go down to the inheritance manger about my vault." Demetrius regarded her for a moment before nodding.

"Meet me back in the lobby when you finish. Theodore, be careful will you?" He said turning as the children scattered.

Turnok didn't ask why or how she got married. He merely told her she could get into her family vault now after she showed him proof.

When she got there Lin could safely say she would never have to work a day in her life. Piles of jewels, old tomes she salivated over and pushed into her locket after she made a list of them so she could call them out later, money, and various family heirlooms lined the large cavernous room.

After scooping a couple thousand galleons in one bag which she put in her locket, and about one hundred in another she left the vault and meet with Theo's dad before they headed over to the ice cream shop where she bought a mint chocolate chip double scoop.

"Where to next?" Hermione asked as they all stood outside the shop with her parents.

"Books shop!" Lin, Su, and Padma said to the boy's exasperation as Hermione beamed. Her parents looked amused, Nott Sr. looked uninterested and Ron groaned as Theo groused.

"That's what I get for having Ravenclaws and a Gryffindor who should be a Ravenclaw for best friends."

When they made it to the bookshop they was a big sign on the window screamed that Gilderoy Lockhart was there. Well that and the mass of squirming women inside the door.

They had walked up to the front where Ron had spotted his mum, who was there with the rest of his siblings that needed supplies.

"Oh good you're here," Mrs. Weasley said, she sounded breathless and kept patting her hair. "We'll be able to see him in minute…"

Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated at a table surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking and flashing their teeth to the crowd. The real Lockhart wore forget-me-not blue robes that matched his eyes, with a wizard hat to top it off set at a jaunty angle on his wavy hair.

A short irritable-looking man was dancing round them with a camera clicking pictures until he stepped on Ron's foot.

"Watch it! This is for the Daily Prophet." The man snarled as Ron swore under his breath.

"Big deal." Ron gripped, rubbing his foot.

Lockhart heard him. He looked up and saw Ron… and then stared when he saw Lin before basically shouting,

"It can't be, Gwendelin Potter!"

Lin growled under her breath as the crowd parted and Lockhart lunged over, seized her arm and pulled her to the front.

"Smile Gwendelin, together you and I are worth the front page." Lockhart told her through his smiling pearly-whites.

Lin responded by slamming her elbow into his stomach. Lockhart gasped and fell over clutching his belly. After a few moments, he looked up at the stunned crowd and grinned in a painful sort of way.

"Heh little tike, very strong this one." He laughed and the tension cleared up. Chatter started up again and Lin escaped to the back, where all the people she had been with had conveniently gathered up.

"That was nice of you all to abandon me to that pedophile." She grunted at Su, who grinned in response but said nothing.

"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" A snide voice mocked from behind her. Lin turned to see Malfoy sneering at her, obviously jealous.

"The famous Gwendelin Potter; can't even go to a book-shop without making the front page." He drawled delightedly.

"Shut up Malfoy she didn't want any of it!" Ron snapped. Malfoy smirked.

"Look Potter, you got yourself a girlfriend." He said deliberately calling Ron a girl. "Bet your family'll go hungry for a month to pay for your supplies…"

"Ron," Mr. Weasley interrupted, trying to stop the fight that was brewing. "Let's go outside you all, it's a bit crowded in here."

"Well, well, well… Arthur Weasley…" Mr. Malfoy slithered up.

"Lucius." Mr. Weasley glowered slightly.

Lin wandered away unnoticed and went on perusing the books, picking up a couple she liked. She watched Mr. Weasley get into a fight with Malfoy Senior and paid for her books without anyone any the wiser.

As the group was ushered out of the shop with Mrs. Weasley sputtering in anger, Lin turned to Ron who was grinning ear to ear.

"Dad won." He whispered to her as they walked into the Leaky Cauldron. Lin snorted.


"The Templars have come in contact with Gwen." Myrddin told the assembled audience.

"Truly?" Elena asked surprised.

"Who are the 'Templars'?" Edmond questioned. The Queen spoke up quietly,

"The Templars have gone by many names throughout history. They are a fraction of humans that remember how the world was before they started the war."

"War? Which one?" He echoed.

"I told you about the war that created the earth separate from ours." Elena told him patiently.

"Which one was that again?" Edmond asked sheepishly. His mother sighed.

"Long ago, all species on earth were equal and immortal as we are now. However the fae of the shadows, Arsel fae, who felt that they were eternally cursed to darkness and resented all those who lived in the light, grew restless in their darkness and whispered evil into the hearts and minds of the humans. The humans, formerly Myrna fae, who considered themselves inferior to us because though they were blessedly beautiful and powerful in magic, they could not fly as we do. So the Myrna in their jealously, the Arsel fae in their resentment, and the other species that they drew to their side declared war on our perfect strife-less world and darkness covered Lesra-nrina." She paused and took a deep breath.

"His royal highness the King saw the all the blood and the carnage and created a whole new Earth out of a large piece of land from our planet that sits parallel to ours. He then sealed the powers of the Arsel fae and took away the magic and beauty that the Myrna had coveted for so long, sealing their memories of our world. The strain of all that magic forced his majesty in the deep sleep he has yet to awaken from. That is why humans are so looked down upon here. No one has forgotten."

Edmond absorbed all that slowly and posed a question that suddenly worried him.

"What about Lin? Do you guys hate her for being half human?"

"No, I hate the filth that pollutes her veins and I hate that my sister was seduced by one of those creatures. I love my niece but I will never accept her." Myrddin said grimly.

Alavorsa frowned but nodded slowly.

"I have never liked the fact that she ran to the arms of that man but that is one of the reasons why I have put the two of you together. I will never accept another human in my family." She told Edmond.

He felt very incensed at that.

"How can you say such things? Why can't you let it go and not judge people because of their ancestors?" he asked harshly. Alavorsa raised a hand and spoke calmly.

"It's not that simple –"

"Why can't it be?" A rich deep voice cut her off.

"Hiram! You're awake." Alavorsa gasped as she gazed at her husband in wonder.

"I understand that letting go of the past is hard but don't blame our granddaughter for her ancestors' mistakes." Hiram told her cupping her cheek.

"Father…" Myrddin started.

"I have heard a great many things in my sleep but the worst that I have heard was when you shunned your sister for loving who she desires to. It is neither your right nor place to dictate such a thing, Myrddin and I fully expect you to treat your niece with love and respect since her mother is beyond our touch." Hiram murmured knowingly as Myrddin gazed at him.

"I will never accept her." Myrddin told him defiantly.

"Then you've no place in my kingdom." Hiram said softly. Alavorsa gasped and Myrddin's eyes widened.

"You can't be serious!" The queen sputtered in shock.

"Intolerance, anger, and hatred brought about the war that killed many and now separates us. Why would you believe that if you bring such things here that you have a place here? You are now what you hate so much because of those festering negative feelings Myrddin. Can't you see? Yahiya hated our light and power and you now hate their darkness."

Edmond whispered to his mother as Myrddin absorbed this.

"Who is Yahiya?"

"Yahiya is the Queen of the Arsel fae. She led them to war with us." Elena told him softly.

"I have not yet met Gwendelin," The King continued. "However I plan to and if you can't bring yourself to forget your hate and begin to heal then leave this place. This goes for all people of this kingdom."

There was a long pause and Edmond took a minute to take in the regal features on his King. Hiram had pale unblemished skin and high cheekbones framed by a curtain of long black hair that fell freely into his eyes and to his hips. He was tall and slim, around 6'5" at least two inches taller than anyone there. He had Lin's bright green eyes which regarded him serenely.

"Edmond I presume?" Hiram asked the only minor in the conversation.

"Yes, Edmond Kalien Grodenwell, your Majesty." He replied quietly.

"Thank you." Hiram said simply.

"For what?" Edmond asked curiously.

"Gwendelin is, as I have seen in my visions, a fragile child. She harbors feelings of anger and resentment in her heart and this had at one point brought her to the end of her rope. I could have awakened five years ago but I used my magic to bring Gwendelin back to life."

"WHAT!" Myrddin whirled on his father with a furious look on his face.

"Gwendelin tried to take her own life by drinking chemicals and forcing her magic not to filter it out her system." The King informed them calmly. Tears welled up in Elena's eyes and Edmond's darkened.

"Why?" Alavorsa asked horrified.

Hiram told them about Gwen's childhood and the people involved in it.

"You want us to forgive the Myrna still? After everything that they have done to our family? My sister – dead. My niece – abused! How far must we tolerate this? We need to -" Myrddin exploded only to be cut off by Elena of all people.

"Love Gwen and remember that you cannot judge a nation by one man. Yes, there are corrupt and downright disgusting humans but there are those that abhor violence and aren't monsters that they are surrounded by. The most important thing, more so than your anger, is that you niece needs you. Not your hate, but your love. She needs you to look beyond the past and the hurt and show her that you care. Can you do that?" She asked him tearfully.

Everyone looked at him expectantly and Myrddin slowly nodded.

"Good. I suppose we should be penning a letter to my precious grandbaby. I wish to see her this winter solstice." Hiram said smirking before turning back to Edmond.

"You will deliver it personally I trust? As her bonded, now that you have reestablished your bond, you can go through any ward to get to her, so that blood ward trouble is over now." At Edmond's nod he continued.

"As for why I thanked you, it is because with the trust that you've given back to her. You have also made it clear to her that you love and care for her which is something she couldn't remember having. So once again, thank you." At the king's praise Edmond blushed.

"I couldn't have done anything else. I love her." He muttered softly as all the adults smiled softly.


END