Inspired by: Sandra23: Phoenix from the ashes. Checkout her amazing her story.
Hermione laid on the couch in the Gryffindor Tower thinking about Horatio's offer once again. She wondered what it would be like to be the next queen of Wizarding Britain. Horatio believed she would make a fine ruler but she had her doubts. He believed in her and friends believed in her but she wasn't princess material. She was a muggle-born.
Fawkes appeared in the common room on the coffee table. He cocked his head to the side and studied Hermione carefully. She turned her head and gently stroked the phoenix's head.
"I just don't know. I'm not princess material. I'm just a muggle-born unworthy of such things." whispered Hermione.
Fawkes shook his head. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He flew over to the couch and rubbed her cheek with his head. 'Don't say such things dearest. You are worthy and most unselfish person I know. Father will love you.'
"My family wouldn't believe this. They barely understand my world. My older twin brothers, Dan and Kimbert understand better because they read my books. I love them dearly but they just don't understand. My father, John is extremely streaked and will never allow it and my mom, Jane believes in the muggle aspects of things. The only reason I was allowed to come to Hogwarts was because Professor McGonagall and Snape came and explained things and my brothers told them to give it one year. The twins have moved to Wales and I barely see them. So, I have my little sister, Anna. She'd believe me. I'm close to her too."
'Do your friends know?' thought the phoenix.
Hermione sighed heavily and said, "Yea they know. Mom and Dad aren't paying for my education. I'm here on a scholarship. Dumbledore pulled a few strings after he saw my primary scores. He told me to keep it to myself. But I know Dumbledore is paying for it out of his own pocket. Because there are no Hogwarts scholarships. I confronted him in my second year when I reread the Hogwarts A History. Dumbledore told me not to worry about. He wanted me here. So I didn't argue with him."
'That was a very smart move, because you would lose the fight. Trust me I've seen it.'
"I'll think about your offer some more. I just need more time." she told him.
Fawkes gently licked her cheek and was gone with a puff of smoke. Hermione sighed heavily. She smiled when she saw Ginny and Luna. They pulled Hermione to her feet and drug her from the common room telling her she needed fresh air. Hermione didn't protest. She knew her two friends were correct. They needed girl talk. Luna and Ginny trying convince her to take Horatio's offer of marriage.
November came to a close. The midterm exams were complete and the students and professors welcomed the holiday break. The Weasely family, Harry and Hermione were spending Christmas at Number 12 Grimmauld Place or better known as Order for the Headquarters for the Order of Phoenix.
The Weaselys, Harry and Hermione walked into the dark raggedy house that was decorated in Christmas decorations. It cheered up the gloomy house greatly, but it was still dark. The Black family house elf had died from the news of the Dark Lord's death. The elf apparently died from shock. Sirius, the last remaining Black was glad to be rid of the creature.
Sirius walked into the entrance hall and pulled his godson, Harry into a tight embrace. He hadn't seen him since September. Harry smiled and returned the hug. Sirius looked at Hermione and was shocked at her appearance. He hadn't seen her since she was unable to make it to Grimmauld Place before the school year started. Sirius whistled at the witch. Hermione blushed. He laughed and pulled her into a hug.
"How are small fry?" he asked pulling back from the embrace.
"I'm good."
He greeted the rest of the group in the same fashion. Until Mrs. Weasely told the kids to get settled into their rooms. They turned and went up the stairs to their rooms. She walked passed the man to start on supper for everyone.
Hermione sat down on her bed that had been hers since the summer before her fifth year. Ginny sat down across from her best friend. Hermione chewed on her bottom lip.
"So what have you decided on Fawkes offer?" said Ginny hoping for a 'yes' from her best friend.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders still not knowing what to do. "This will change my life Ginny! I just can't jump in and say, "Yes Horatio I'll marry you." What would that say. It will say I'm disparate."
Ginny hit herself upside the head. Hermione had been laying off answering the Prince for nearly three months. "Hello! You've spent months getting to know each other. He's watched over you in his animgus form. He's comforted you when your nightmares haunted you. He told you the marriage wouldn't be soon."
"I just don't know."
The redhead stood up and walked over to her friend. Ginny grabbed Hermione's shoulders and shook her. "Prince Horatio Caine loves you Hermione." whispered Ginny not to be over heard if Fred and George were listening in from outside the door.
Hermione sighed and said, "OK. Ok. I'll marry him."
Ginny squealed and threw her arms around her best friend's neck.
"Owww." said Fred and George, who were listen into the conversation with expendable ears.
"Must Ginny squeal so loud." said Fred twisting his finger in his left ear. "I'm going to be deaf in this ear.
"Serves you right for ease dropping." said Bill.
"Hey! It's what we're best at big bro." said George. "Hermione said something about marrying someone. But we just don't know who."
"Than it's none of your concern is it now." said Bill but cracked a laugh and went down stairs. He called back, "Oh and tell the girls Mom has supper ready."
Fred and George popped in the girls room. The twins laughed when they screamed out in surprise. They told Ginny and Hermione that supper was ready and popped down stairs.
"Idiots." mumbled Ginny. "They were listening in on our conversation."
"Yep." said Hermione as they left the bedroom.
The long dinning room table was full of food that only Mrs. Weasely could make with roast turkey, beans, potatoes, fresh baked bread that was spread with fresh made marmalade. The group fixed their plates and engaged in active conversation.
Hermione told Harry and Ron about her excepting Fawkes proposal. The boys beamed at their best friend. They knew that Hermione would make a wonderful princess and future queen. Horatio would love and protect her from Miranda.
"I'm happy for you Mione." whispered Harry. "I'm glad your excepting Fawkes's offer."
Hermione smiled at her best friend of seven years. She was glad that her friends were behind her in what ever she chose to do in her life, and becoming the next queen was huge deal. "Thanks guys that means a lot."
"We love you too much to leave you." said Ron with a bright smile.
"You guys are the best!" said Hermione and pulled them into a hug, well the best she could at the table.
The table got silent when the others saw the interaction between the trio. Harry, Ron and Hermione pulled back and they returned to the plates.
After a nice supper and a few games they all turned in for the night. All full and ready for a nice warm bed.
Fawkes sat on the bedside table watching Hermione sleep. It had become a habit of watching over her. It was something he didn't want to break. He longed to hold her in his arms as he slept and wake next to her. The phoenix flew off the bedside table and transformed in midair into human form. Horatio sat down quietly on the edge of the bed. He smiled at the sleeping woman. He pushed a strain of frizzy brown hair from her face.
"You are worthy of everything dearest." whispered Horatio.
Ginny rolled over and saw the prince sitting on the her best friend's bed. She smiled at the scene. She thought it was sweet that he checked on her while Hermione slept.
"Sweet dreams Hermione." said Horatio and kissed her gently on her forehead. He rose to his feet, transformed and was gone with a puff of smoke.
Two weeks went by quickly with the twins working on new jokes for their shop. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione giving them new ideas. Hermione making sure that each product met the laws to be sold.
The Order of Phoenix walked into the dinning room for meeting that Dumbledore had called. The members took their seats. Hermione walked into the room and nodded to Professor Snape. He returned the nodded and watched her sit down between Ron and Harry. Albus was the last one to walk into the room. Fawkes appeared in the room and land on Dumbledore's shoulder.
"I want to thank you for coming." said Dumbledore. "We have much to discuss and plan."
"Than quit staling Albus." growled Mad Eye Moody his magical eye moving around looking at everyone.
"To the younger people in the room." Albus started looking at Remus and Tonks Lupin to Kingsley Shacklebolt. "The wizarding world has a royal family."
"A royal family!" said Tonks in shock.
Sirius nodded his head. "Yes, but they haven't taken control in nearly 30 years. They've-"
Hermione narrowed her eyes at the Marauder. He was disrespecting the royal family. "You know nothing. You don't know what's happened. They have their reasons." she hissed dangerously at Sirius.
Fawkes flew over to Hermione and landed on her shoulder. He nudged her neck lovingly. 'It's all right dearest. Just let Albus talk.'
Hermione took several deep breaths and nodded her head. "Sorry. They do have their reasons."
"Hermione is correct. The royal family has had their reasons. You see when Prince Horatio vanished he actually had gone into hiding." said Albus and continued to tell the Order of Phoenix Horatio's story.
The members sat in silence. All stunned at the surprising news of the reason behind the royal family. Fawkes let out a peaceful soothing melody. The room relaxed.
"Fawkes if you will." said Albus.
Fawkes flew off Hermione's shoulder and transformed into a human in midair. Horatio chuckled slightly at the stunned room. "No stay seated please." he told them just as they began to rise from their chairs.
"You've been here this whole time." said Remus taking in the prince's features.
"Yes. Now I need your help. Please." said Horatio just as Albus laid out the layout of the palace on the table. He wand his wand and it raised in the air forming a 3D model. "I need to get my father from the palace. Will you help?"
"You don't have to ask such a thing. Of course we'll help." said Tonks with a slight nod.
Horatio sighed in relief when he saw the members nod in agreement. Hermione stood up and walked over to Horatio. He looked down and smiled.
"I'll be with you every step of the way." said Hermione. She took his hand. "I mean every step of the way."
"Are you-"
"My answer is yes." said Hermione, knowing that answering his proposal in the middle of meeting wasn't the best way but she didn't care.
The Order members looked at the couple in confusion while Hermione's friends smiled. Albus's blue eyes sparkled behind his half moon spectacles. Horatio removed a chain from his neck and slid a ring off of it.
"It was my mother's ring. Father gave it to me to hold on to." said Horatio and gently took her left hand. He slid the single square medium size 86 krait diamond that rested on a gold band onto her hand. "It suits you well Princess." he whispered and gently kissed the top of her hand.
Horatio slowly filled the gap and gently captured Hermione's lips with his own. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. Fred and George whistled when the kiss became more passionate. Horatio and Hermione pulled back from their sweet embrace. She looked around the room and blushed. She buried her face into Horatio chest. He laughed slightly and held her close.
"Can we get on with it." growled Mad Eye Moody.
Horatio nodded and helped Hermione to her seat. He walked over to Albus and they began to plan a way to get King Richard and Michaela to safety.
After the meeting the women gathered around Hermione and she told them her story about her and Horatio. Horatio sat back with the men and smiled. The woman he loved had agreed to marry him and become his queen.
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