Authors Note: This chapter is mostly about the other ladies of the story. No H/Hr moments, just a mention...you'll see. Anyway, hope you guys like it! Read/Review!


Next time I'll be braver

I'll be my own savior

Standing on my own two feet

Adele - Turning Tables


Chapter 6: Turning Tables

Lily Potter stared at her reflection contemplating her life. Well, her husbands life as of late. She remembered when they were first married, he was at times charismatic, but pigheaded too. When he was with her, he was different, he could be sweet to her, then when he thought she wasn't looking she would catch this look on his face. He looked too serious, like something was going to go wrong soon.

As they got older, he seemed to get colder, harder, he would anger more quickly. Jump to conclusions faster. He banished one of his closest friends because Albus Dumbledore suggested that he was going to commit treason against the throne. Sirius has been gone from this kingdom for many years. She misses who James was when Sirius was around. He would smile more and joke around. He was more himself with Sirius around. She misses that James.

Not the James who went to Albus for everything. He never consulted her with anything anymore. After they had made the betrothal contract, Albus became a more prominent member of the castle. Sometimes she would see Albus whisper things into James ears, always so mysterious.

She wishes James would confide in her again.

"Lily?" She heard somebody calling. She stilled her hand from continuing her hair brushing. She turned to her visitor.

She stares at her husband, "James, what is it?"

His brows furrow, "I was wondering where you were. Have you been in the room for so long?" He asks her, running a hand along her shoulders.

She leans back into his warm familiar caress, "I was just finishing up, have you seen Harry?" His hand stills for a moment, then continues on it's path.

He kisses her temple, "No, I have not, I'll ask Albus as soon as I've seen him, if he's seen our elusive son. Maybe he's with Hermione somewhere in the castle?" He asks her.

She looks at his eyes, how his eyes are squinted and dark, almost angry. "James, are you regretting the contract?" She asks suddenly. His eyes widen, then his face neutralizes.

He shakes his head quickly, "No, never," he says quietly. He starts to retreat, before returning and planting a soft kiss on her lips.

She savors the feeling of his soft familiar lips on hers, "I'll see you at supper tonight?"

"Of course you will darling," he says with one last kiss to her lips. "I love you," he whispers in her ear, a soft smile on his lips. The look in his eyes is soft and loving, and she can almost pretend that they're in the first year of their relationship.

But they're not.

She watches as he retreats from their chambers, why must he always ask Albus about the going ons of the castle? She stares at the place he occupied before forcing the traitorous thoughts away. Her husband loves her, their son, and he wouldn't jeopardize their son's life...right?


Luna Lovegood was perfectly content to pretend that there was no betrothal contract for her to the young scion of the Malfoy house. She went about her duties, making sure that Hermione was happy and getting what she needed from home.

Luna was walking towards Hermione's chambers when she was stopped and handed a letter. She looked at the front of the letter where her name was inscribed. She recognized her fathers handwriting but didn't know why he was writing to her. She stepped into an alcove hidden by shadows and opened the letter.

She read the letter in entirety, she read it five times before rushing off to Hermione's rooms. She finally let the tears drop when she closed the door. She felt somebody's arms around and then she smelled the familiar scent of Hermione's scented oils of vanilla and honey. She feels Hermione's wet hair on the nape of her neck.

"Shh, it'll be okay, I'll protect you!" Hermione whispers.

"No, you can't! They're Malfoy's! They're ruthless, everybody knows that!" She wailed.

Hermione pulled Luna tighter against herself, "No matter, I will protect you. I am your queen, and if I say I'm going to protect you, I will protect you! That I promise!" She says fiercely.

Luna nods slowly against Hermione's shoulder, "Okay, okay," she stutters.

"Now tell me what has you in tears, besides the betrothal," Hermione says as she steers Luna into a chaise near the bed.

Luna looks hopelessly at her, "They're coming."

Hermione stares at her incredulously, "How soon?" She finally asks afters she gets over the shock.

"A month," she whispers brokenly.

Hermione sighs loudly, "Okay," she nods her head. "Here's what we're going to do, we are going to make sure that you are ready. You're going to learn everything there is to know about the Malfoy line, then we're going to have a refresher on etiquette. Then we'll decide on wardrobe, we're not going to give them a reason to hurt you. You're going to be the vision of perfection, and in the meantime I'm going to find you a different suitor. I'm going to try me best for you Luna!" She promises.

Luna smiles a wobbly smile at Hermione, "Thank you, my friend."

Hermione smiles sadly at her, "I would do anything to protect those I care about Luna. You may be one of my ladies in waiting, but I count you as a friend, I do. And friends protect each other. It's what we do."

Luna nodded slowly, "Friends," she says softly, a true smile on her face.


Lavender was in a snit, everybody was getting betrothed, and it looked like she was going to be an old maid in no time! She was stomping through the garden muttering to herself about her misfortune. Why couldn't she be born into a family with a small fortune? That way she could at least find a suitable match.

She wouldn't mind a match with a man who could provide her with a little house, maybe a few children. She didn't want to marry too rich. She'd settle for a knight, if nothing else presented itself!

She's so inside her own mind that she doesn't notice the body of a man crouched down by the flowers. She let's out a yelp as she trips over the man. The man straightens up but ends up making it worse and they both fall over into each other. Lavender is on her back looking up into the face of a young man with eyes so blue and blonde hair that it looks golden. His is face has a little roundness to it and she finds herself fascinated with the way his face contorts with everything he is feeling in this moment.

"I'm so sorry! I was just checking on the plants while I was visiting!" He stumbles over his words as he pulls her up. "I'm so sorry!" He says again.

Lavender looks at him with wide eyes, he's taller than she thought, "It's okay," she says softly.

"Neville," he says holding his hand out to her. He finally notices who he is talking to and blood rushes to his cheeks. He takes note of her long pink dress that flows seamlessly down her legs and it compliments her soft looking creamy skin. Her hair flows softly around her face like a golden halo, and her hazel eyes shine brightly, her cheeks a soft pink.

Lavender grasps his hand tightly, "Lavender," she says softly. She tilts her head, "What were you doing with the flowers? I couldn't understand any of your muttering, it was too fast..."

His face reddens more violently, "I was just checking on them. Harry, I mean Prince Harry," he says hurriedly, she raises her brows in confusion. "He's a friend, well sort of, he asked me to design the garden and plant everything earlier this year. I obliged of course, it was an honor, plus, I do love working with plants..." He trails off.

"Prince Harry? He hired you? Hermione, my queen, she's his betrothed. She says the garden is the loveliest thing she's ever seen!"

His eyes brighten, "Tell the queen, that I appreciate her kind words. Uh, do you need an escort to your chambers?" He says nervously.

She nods her head once, the corners of her lips quirk up, "Thank you, that is kind of you!" She grasps his elbow and they walk towards her chambers.

She looks at him closely, she thinks that getting to know this man is better than anything she could ever do. She could learn to love this man. He is handsome, in his boyish looks, and mannerisms. Maybe luck is on her side and he is not promised to another?

He looks at her and realizes he must work fast. He knows he's just met her, but a girl like her will be snatched up quickly. He must get in contact with her father and soon.


Parvati and Padma were taking turns braiding the others hair. Getting ready for the feast tonight. They remembered the story Hermione told them about the prince going to teach her how to have the fun she missed as a child.

"How do you think Hermione's day went?" Parvati asks, as Padma finishes the braid.

Padma giggles, "I think it went well, but we won't know until we see her. Do you remember her face as she told us. The wonder and happiness in her eyes..." She says wistfully. "Do you think we'll have something like that?"

"I hope so," Parvati fiddles with the bracelets on her arm. "Do you think Thomas and Finnegan are all right men?" She asks worriedly.

"Parvati, I sincerely hope they are..."

Parvati nods fervently, "Padma, have you noticed anything weird around the castle?" She asks in a hushed voice.

Padma looks around nervously before nodding her head. "It's like eyes, eyes everywhere, especially when we're near Hermione. It gets worse, do you think somebody in this castle is out to harm her?"

"Should we investigate?" Parvati asks, eyebrows raised, worry in her eyes.

"What if it's too dangerous?" Padma says aloud. "No, I won't risk our lives! Well take our worries to the head of the queens guards! We must! We're just ladies in waiting! We don't have any combat skills or anything!"

"We could learn! This is Hermione we're talking about! She's our friend!" Parvati fought.

Padma sighs loudly, "Okay, we'll do something. But we are ladies, we'll do what we do best. Be subtle and socialize. We will find the person spying on our queen!"

They shake hands and head to supper where they know they'll be able to see everybody who is in the castle and observe who is paying too much attention to their queen.

A feast is the perfect place for an investigation for young ladies


Authors Note: sorry if some of the characters are ooc! Remember this is heavily AU, so not all the characters are going to be the same as in canon! I'm trying to make them as in character as I know from canon, so I hope that shows through!

Thank you you for all the reviews! I truly appreciate all of your thoughts and suggestions. And I'm pretty sure there will be a sequel, so be on the lookout for that when this story ends, which won't be for a long while!