Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw had come together in the Age of Legends to build Hogwarts. For hundreds and thousands of years Hogwarts had been the centre of learning and arts in the four kingdoms. Men and Women, Witches and Wizards, Maesters and Septons all thronged Hogwarts to tap into the magic and the knowledge. The avalanche of people to Hogwarts had slowed down to a slow rush after the conquest by the Potters. That rush had slowed further into a trickle after the rebellion that ended with Sirius Black sitting on the High Seat of Hogwarts. Before the rebellion, it had not been uncommon for nobles from all four regions to travel to and take residence at Hogwarts. Once Ginny had been old enough, she had hoped she might be allowed to go to Hogwarts but her father had dashed those dreams. She couldn't blame her father for that. Her aunt Lily had gone to Hogwarts once and only her bones had returned back to the Burrow.
She had never seen Hogwarts but scarcely any child in the four kingdoms grew up without being enthralled by its stories. Stories about the mysterious Forbidden Forest, about the magical corridors and staircases, about the largest library known to mankind, about the house elves and ghosts that roamed it. But none of those stories could have prepared her for what she saw.
A giant of a castle rose from the ground high into the air. Mist covered the top part of the castle making it hard to estimate how high the castle rose. Tall spires with conical ends from various parts of the castle. Four towers representing the four founders stood tall at the corners giving the entire castle an impenetrable feel. A wide, long lake, the Black Lake with waters as black as coal separated the city that had risen around Hogwarts through the generations from the castle itself. To the South-West of the castle the Forbidden Forest stretched unendingly and forbiddingly. Birds filtered in and out of the misty heights adding to the mystique. It was magical!
Her brothers would be envious, especially Ron and the twins. They had badly wanted to go to Hogwarts. The city gates opened to admit them. There were a few murmurings and pointing towards the banner of House Weasley, a red roaring Lion but most people went about their daily tasks. Hawkers cried their wares, merchants moved about in their richly colourful wagons, dogs lazily strolled across the streets with not a care in the world, seers beckoned onlookers to come and have their futures looked at. Occasional cries of 'Long Live the King' permeated through the idle chatter to her ears. This close to Hogwarts, magic was thick in the streets. She could see it, she could feel it. Small paper birds conjured flew about lazily, names of the shops glittered magically, often in the colours of House Black or Slytherins but now and then, the red and gold of Gryffindor also caught her eye. She was so caught up in the bustle and sights of the city that it almost came as a surprise when they came to a stop on the banks of the Black lake. A huge number of big boats were docked at its edge. The boats would carry them and their horses to the castle. With the sea to the East, the Forbidden forest to the South and West and the Black lake to the North it was not too hard to see why the Potters had chosen Hogwarts for their seat three hundred years ago.
Ginny had never been on a boat in her life. At the first lurch of boat, she clutched her stomach hoping and praying she would not retch in front of everyone and most of all Draco. Looking over the sides was no comfort. The Black waters shimmered menacingly at her.
"Do you think there are actual mermaids in there?" Lucy asked.
"Maybe," Ginny replied. Merlin knows what was in the Black Lake. Rumour had it that the Black lake was created magically by the four founders of Hogwarts. Other rumours told of mermaids and mermen living deep inside the lake, of fishes so big that they could swallow men whole, of giant squids thirty foot long. She had no interest in verifying any of these rumours. She turned her attention to the castle and almost gasped. This close the castle seemed almost on top of her and looked even bigger than it had from outside the city gates.
The founders had created large spaces inside the castle for their own regions. All men and women who visited the castle were given accommodation based on which of the four kingdoms they came from. A tradition followed to this day. She was eager to see how the Gryffindor rooms looked like.
As they reached closer to the shore, she realized with a start that the city extended to the other side of the lake. It wasn't as noisy as the part of the city they had just crossed but it wasn't quite either. The City guards, dressed immaculately, were numerous this close to the castle with stripes of Red, Green, Yellow and Blue on their chests. Hogwarts supported a total of twenty thousand swords and wands, sworn directly to the King and the city.
Ginny heaved a sigh of relief when the boat docked on the shore. She hurried off the boat as quickly as she could without giving the impression that she was running. The journey through the streets of the city to Hogwarts did not take too long. Even right next to Hogwarts, she could not make out how high it extended. The layer of mist at the very top still obscured her view.
The first thing she saw when she entered castle was the monstrous throne high up, reached only by two stairways either side of it that seemed to wind up unendingly. The High Seat of Hogwarts. The throne shimmered brightly and splendidly in the four colors of the kingdoms. Eighteen Potter kings had reigned supreme on that seat until Sirius Black killed James Potter on his way to becoming the first King not named Potter to rule the Four Kingdoms. Two sets of three guards stood stiffly at the beginning of each stairway.
Everything else paled in comparison but was no less thrilling for Ginny. Where the ceiling should have been, sunlight streamed through illuminating the great hall. Corridors and stairways ran in all directions, rotating and changing directions magically. Servants scurried about, some with their eyes glued to their feet, other staring wide eyed at the new arrivals. Transparent ghosts flew about lazily drifting through solid stones and whole walls. On her own, she would have been helpless but her father knew the way around. A long walk, and many twists and turns later they entered the Gryffindor room through the portrait of a very fat lady, who eyed them suspiciously.
There was nothing particularly special about the Gryffindor quarters. A life sized bust of Godric Gryffindor stood on a raised platform with an imitation of the Sword of Gryffindor at his hip decorated what was otherwise a standard room, albeit a very big one. Ways led from this room to the rooms they would be staying in. Servants, with the Black insignia sewn on their breast, guided her to her room. The room looked out into the harbor and the open sea beyond. Hogwarts was the greatest port in the known world and harbor teemed with ships looking to trade, ships from the four kingdoms and from the lands beyond it.
The door swung open as she was looking out towards the sea, admitting Arthur Weasley into the room. The badge of the hand of the King was pinned to his chest.
"It's wonderful, father," Ginny said, her eyes shining excitedly. This was the best day of her life.
"I thought you would like it," Her father said with a smile but the smile disappeared quickly. "I want you to stay away from Draco until I tell you its fine,"
"But why?" Ginny said dismayed. "He's my betrothed. We'll get married when I'm of age and I need to get to know him!"
"Because I am telling you to," her father said firmly. "When we're in public or in Court you can be with him. The smallfolk will like to see the Prince with his betrothed but when otherwise try to stay away for now,"
"It's not fair," Ginny said obstinately. "He's a very nice and gallant man," Nothing like his drunk fool of a father, she added silently.
"Life is not fair," He said grimly. "If he's as nice and gallant as he seems, you'll marry him. I promise you that but until then do as I say,"
Ginny said nothing and tried to appear as meek as possible. She had seen enough of Hogwarts to know they it wouldn't be too tough to sneak away from her guards if it were needed. The last thing she wanted to do was make any sort of promise. She hung her head, refusing to let her father see the defiance in her eyes. She felt her father's stare at her before he got up.
"I'll leave five guards for you personally," Arthur said. "Try not to stray too far from them," he added before leaving the room. Ginny sighed in relief.
"Oh, the view is beautiful from this room!" Lucy said breathlessly as she entered the room. "Mine looks out to the Forbidden forest. I don't think I'll be able to sleep well. The servants told me, you can often hear noises echoing around the place," Lucy visible shuddered before she noticed her frown. "Did your father say something?"
"He told me to stay away from Draco," Ginny told her indignantly.
"Oh..Well he must have his reason for that," Lucy said diplomatically.
"If it had been important he would have told me why," Ginny replied.
"You can't disobey him!" Lucy said open-mouthed. Ginny grunted in annoyance. Lucy was a good friend but she was a follower and didn't have disobedient bone in her body. But Ginny wanted to be free and unstifled. There would be no harm in occasionally doing what she wanted, she reasoned. What her father did not know wouldn't hurt him. Lucy wouldn't betray her, she was too good and a loyal friend for that but nor would she lie outright if questioned. Ginny would have to take care that such a situation never arose.
"He's not going to find out," Ginny told her finally. Lucy's eyes were wide and mouth open but she nodded her head in agreement.
She spent the next week getting used to the castle itself which was no easy task. Time and again she found herself getting lost in the maze of passages that wound through Hogwarts. Fortunately, liveried servants seemed to be everywhere and were glad to help out the Hand's daughter, as some of them called her. Her father was true to her words and after two days later five of his own personal guard was assigned to her. Truthfully, she didn't mind having them when she went out of the castle and into the city itself but inside the castle she wished she could be rid of them.
As much as she disliked the daily mundane court proceedings she had taken to attending them each morning in the hope of catching Draco's eye; she hadn't seen much of him since reaching Hogwarts. Her father took charge when the king wasn't present but Draco turned up every day alongside his mother. Occasionally, his younger brother Scorpius would accompany him. The dull court proceedings were only brightened up the times she caught Draco's eye and he smiled at her! He really was beautiful and handsome. Her father had to see that. He had to!
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