A/N: There is no excuse. It has been way too long since I've even thought about this story. School has eaten me alive, but I'm hoping to update more often.

I hope you like it, it gets a little dramatic and it's not nearly long enough to make up for the unofficial hiatus, but it's something.

HERMIONE'S P.O.V.

Adelaide

Ariel

Angelina

Cho

Fleur

Jaylene

Luna

Pandora

Scarletta

Parvati

Pasire

It was a week before Christmas, and Hermione sat at her desk, caught in a staring match with the list of remaining girls Rose had written up for her. Eleven in total.

How on earth was she to choose, though?

They were each wonderful and amazing in their own ways. Adelaide, or Addie as she preferred, was kind and sophisticated. Ariel was charming and gentle, Angelina friendly and compassionate. Cho was graceful and quietly intelligent, Fleur elegant and passionate. Jaylene was fun, and kind, although Hermione suspected the girl had a few secrets, as did everyone. Luna didn't really count, but Hermione would be keeping her around for as long as possible. Pandora was a sweetheart, Scarletta was rough around the edges but had a very strong heart beneath it all. Parvati was classy and beautiful, and Pasire was fiery and quick-witted. They were all much more than that, of course, but Hermione was making an effort to think in simpler terms.

That day, she finally decided on someone to send home. Parvati Patil was gone before dinnertime, and Hermione felt a small portion of the weight on her shoulders lift.

HARRY'S P.O.V.

Things were progressing surprisingly fast. He had gotten to the Elite the week before, the final six. There was Lady Daphne Greengrass, Lady Ginevra Weasley, Lady Padma Patil, Lady Hannah Abbott, Lady Katelin Bell, and Lady Melody Watson. Of course, there were only really two options, had only been two options for quite some time now.

He did not know exactly how his sister was doing, but his father had revealed he was farther than she. He felt no sense of competitiveness in this, but the part of him that was still twelve was smugly satisfied. He ignored that part and continued thinking of his two options, and how they could each affect both him and the rest of Illéa in the future.

FLEUR'S P.O.V.

Fleur didn't know what to think. Sure, she had gotten the first kiss, but it seemed like every time she turned around Hermione was taking Angelina horseback riding, or sneaking down to the theater with Scarletta, or taking Adelaide to the gardens, or doing numerous other things with any of the others.

Her last date with the princess had been five days prior, and Fleur was getting antsy. Parvati had been sent home just the previous day; did that mean things would soon be getting narrowed down to the Elite? That meant four girls would get sent home soon, would she be one of them? She hoped not. She cared immensely for the princess, perhaps even loved her. She thought getting sent home now would feel something like a gunshot to the chest.

Her maids reassured her, even though she hadn't spoken. They had gotten to know her very well over the previous few months.

Jennie chattered on and on as she slid a hairbrush through Fleur's silken locks.

"She's got to adore you, Miss, there's no doubt about that. No way she couldn't, not you. Those other girls ain't much at all compared to you, and you just remember that."

Fleur didn't know whether to believe her or not.

JAYLENE'S P.O.V.

Jaylene got sent home two days after Parvati. The princess was very kind about it, all things considered, and it almost broke her heart.

"I'm terribly sorry, my lady, only I don't think you're quite right for me," she said gently. Jaylene nodded.

"I understand, Your Highness," Jaylene replied quietly. She was informed the train would be ready at six.

Her beloved maids packed her belongings, Jaylene asked them to be very careful about the the drawings and poems and songs she'd received for her birthday from the other girls. She said goodbye, and at six, she was gone, taking one last long look over her shoulder at the palace, murmuring a last goodbye.

ANGELINA'S P.O.V.

Angelina was . . . unsure of herself, though she'd never been certain to begin with. They were down to nine. She stared at her reflection late one night, wondering if she was very close to the princess's heart, or if she was just a day away from dismissal. Christmas was in a few days, what if she was just waiting until after that to dismiss her? Angelina didn't know if she could deal with it. She was in love with Princess Hermione, that was one thing she was certain of.

Her maids told her to get some rest, and she did.

On Christmas, they all exchanged little trinkets. The princess had bought them each a charm bracelet, with different charms for everyone. It was very thoughtful, while still showing no favor to any of them over the others. Angelina thought it was a very Hermione-ish move.

When she got back to her room, she found a bouquet of white roses on her dresser, with a little tag signed 'H' in elegant script hanging from one of them.

She smiled so wide she thought her face might split open. Of course, there was every possibility the princess had had roses delivered to all of them, but still.

The next day, Angelina was woken up at five in the morning to be informed the princess had been attacked, and was severely injured.

She was swiftly escorted to the Hospital Wing, where most of the other girls stood gathered outside the large double doors leading in.

"The head nurse, Madam Pomfrey, won't let us in," Ariel informed her quietly, "The king and queen and Prince Harry are in there currently, we've been told we may be allowed to see her, if she wakes soon."

"But what happened?" Angelina demanded, "Who attacked her?"

"An assassin from the east," Addie said from her other side. "He was going to –to kill the princess, but she was awake, and stronger than he'd thought. There was a sort of wrestling, but he had a knife. It looked like she's been caught with it somewhere in her midsection, she was bleeding very badly." Addie's eyes screamed anxiety, as well as Ariel's. That was the first time it occured to Angelina that perhaps she was not the only one so achingly in love with the princess.

HERMIONE'S P.O.V.

She woke up drowzy, in the Hospital Wing, with her family crowding around her. She had dim memories of the confrontation merely a few hours before.

Her mind was hazy, through the thick fog of thoughts, one stood out.

"I want . . . "

"What is it?"Came her brother's gentle voice, "Mya, what d'you want?"

"I want . . . to . . . see her."

She was dimly aware of him asking her who 'her' was, but before she could speak the name she drifted off into unconsciousness again.

I'm interested to know what you thought. Sorry if it's something of a cliffhanger, and I would've preferred to write more, but its been so long since I updated I just had to get something decent done and posted.

Requests? Criticisms, comments, angry demands? You know what to do.

Also, in case you didn't realize, the SYOC is closed now. Let me know your preferences for pairings, and feel free to tell me every chapter. I'll be tallying how many reviews in favor of each pairing, but please don't review like 70 times in one chapter for your preferred pairing.

Til next time, I suppose.