I only own Lindsay, Lance and Brooklyn a.k.a New York

Lindsay POV

This summer will prove to be more interesting than the last one was. Because this year I have to go to a world council meeting as part of my princess slash possible ruler in training.

The world council meeting should actually be called worlds council meeting because not only does it involve the world Aboveground, but the magical world of Underground or Underland in some areas. These meetings are held with the not so much as a human representative from other countries, more like the personifications of those countries, sometimes states are included. Brooklyn or New York as she is formally known as was one of the few states who always made it to the meetings. She was also one of the countries that I see the most often as she basically lived next door to my grandparents.

Brooklyn, human name Lydia, is someone that if you had to compare her to a famous character I would say that she was a lot like Hell Boy. Argumentative, stubborn, has a bit of a temper at times, but just can't help but like her. Her looks, well one of the reasons I hang out with her so much is because we have similar features, mostly with hair. She has brown hair two long blonde strands. I have brown hair with blonde tips. She's pale. I'm pale. We both are strong, her from her job as a police woman and me because of training. Differences she has bluish gray eyes and wears glasses most of the time. Me one green and one brown and no glasses needed. She is also taller and favors clothing that expresses urban flair. She also is my ride to the meeting.

"Hey there, Peanut." Brooklyn said leaning a bit out of the car window. She was in a skirt instead of the detective attire she tended to wear most of the time. Unless she was going bar hopping with the boys. By boys I meant Prussia, Scotland and Ireland.

"Hey, Brooklyn. Was the commute as bad as it normally is?"

"Don't get me started." She said as I slipped into the front seat of her car and buckled up.

"Is the 'radio' on?" I ask her.

"You hear it don't you?" We pull out of the drive way and go down the street and when we are away from all eyes the portal opens and we enter Underground. A short drive through it takes us to the U.W, United Worlds. We park near the front entrance and when we enter the building we find Japan in fetal position on the floor. No need to guess why. He must have made the mistake of letting Italy drive him again. Not that Italy is a bad driver; he just has an issue with speed.

"Japan are you going to be alright?" Brooklyn asked hovering above him.

"I just need minute. Prease, go on without me."

"Lindsay, you can go on inside and find your seat. I'll stay with Japan and make sure he doesn't get the get go from an ambulance."

"Kay." I said to her as she looked on over Japan. Italy meanwhile was freaking out about what was going on outside and Germany was doing everything in his power to not scream for silence. I zoom over to where China and Russia were talking.

"Oh there is my little peach blossom." China said to me. As he pats me on the head. "I hear you have grown up. And are going to big school in England. Why would you go there we have much better school for magic in China?" he said looking hurt.

"Your school system is nothing compared to my countries institutions."

"Nothing compares to yours." Russia beams. "Thank goodness." I feel a strange pressure emanating from a dark place.

"China. Why you have to say things like that, da?"

"What has ze two of you so wound up?" France is in the house.

"We were discussing merits of our magical schools and how Irida should have gone to one of ours instead of jerk England's." China said.

"Zis is true. I still think that it would have been better if you had gotten into ze lovely academy of my country. Where beautiful girls flock together to study the arts of magic in such sophistication that ze very core ez art." France said as a perfectly placed spot light lay upon him with rose petals faded into the background. Nice theatrics. Where does he keep the rose petals?

"Francis (his human name)." Brooklyn said with a warm sound.

"Ah my Jolie! My Coeur! My amore! My beauty Lynda! (Her human name)" With each exclamation he would kiss her arm up till he reached her lips and then he lingered a good deal there. "You have been keeping me waiting." His smile was one that if you didn't know him would look like a lecher, but it was farther from it. It was still perverted but not towards the hide ya kids hide ya wife thing.

"Japan was in need of help calming down from the drive here."

"Zat explains Italy's freak out about hurting Japan." He said holding on to her waist as she tickled the under his chin. The mark of his and her claims of boyfriend and girlfriend. Hard to believe such a guy like France had become a pretty much one woman man. Since he started dating Brooklyn. Even if one of those reasons was to stick it to England.

"Good morning blokes." Speak of the devil oh and England's here too.

"Ah Lindsay, just the girl I was looking for. How do you like school so far?" I'm going to be honest with him on this one. Sure I could mess with his head, but I just don't feel up to the task of such a thing today. Since my parents are just bagging on me to be serious at this meeting instead of all pranking and sarcastic this time around. So yeah I will just straight up tell him what is going down at the school.

"Well it has been an experience going to Hogwarts." I end and he waits expecting me to tell more. He actually insists about me going on with my experiences at Hogwarts.

"Don't leave everyone waiting. Go on and tell us all about your first two years at Hogwarts."

"Are you sure…" He doesn't have to answer verbally the eyes and their brows said it all. "Okay. Here it goes. Besides having to deal with the rich snob typical school bully named Malfoy who got me detention for sticking up for someone. The detention I served lasted for months with the teacher who is ready to expel me at a moment's notice. Oh then there was the scare fest of a threat known as the Chamber of Secrets. Where a large dangerous creature called a basilisk lived and it could petrify or kill someone with a glance or its poisoned fangs. A psycho ghost kidnapped my friend in order to steal her life force, but Harry and I took care of him."

"That is…"

"Hold your horses. That was only my first year at Hogwarts wait till you hear about the second year. It's much juicer." But oh wait there are some things I don't know that I can repeat most of it though. "But there were reports of dangerous escaped convicts from Azkaban, a hippogriff that was wrongly accused of being a menace to society and an issue with a whomping willow. And how could I forget I met dementors, boggarts and werewolves. Other than that I had a great time at school and can't wait for the new year at school. Oh yeah I also have a boyfriend named Neville now." I walk away with wide eyed, open mouthed countries and one Englishman who was unsure if his soul was leaving his body. Oh poor Iggy, maybe I should have been honest in a more reserved way. I mean more reserved than just editing out the kiss Malfoy gave me and the ongoing prank wars I started up.

"YOU LET MY LITTLE PEACHBLOSSOM GO TO A SCHOOL WITH DEMENTORS!" China shouted at Iggy. Who was lucky that Australia and Taiwan were restraining him.

"And a basirisk!?" Japan added. Confused since he didn't look like he had heard of one before. Not that I blame him it's not exactly one of those creatures that gets its name out there much.

"Don't forget the convict." Brooklyn added with a bit more growl to her tone. Iggy was sputtering out things to everyone trying to calm everyone into understanding that this was not normal at the school and there were circumstances and so on and so forth. Oh was Brooklyn ready to just punch him in the face, not that she wouldn't do that at a drop of the hat anyway, but you get the idea. England was in the dog house with everybody but me since I actually love my school and the friends I have made while attending said school. Granted you have to minus factors like the basilisk, Malfoy and Professor Snape's attitude towards me. Still everything else was fantastic.

I look at Iggy and his puppy dog pouting face. Guilt is starting to creep up. I better go and save him. If I can that is.

"Little Lindsay! How you have suffered." Italy this is not the time for being dramatic! Even if this is a norm for you to give a death grip hug. "Don't you worry; everything is gonna be molto buona!" He does this for several minutes 'calming me'. Till Germany ripped me from his arms allowing me breathe and put us both in our respective seats so the meeting could begin.

Not that these things ever really begin in the first place. The meetings are best described as being this. They are argumentative scream matches that work better than having to declare war, because by the time everyone has sore throats from yelling they are ready to make peace and go home. Oh sure there are meetings when they actually accomplish stuff but those always seem to be the meetings I'm not a part of. Including this meeting. It took ten minutes for a fight to break out most of it between France and England with a sprinkling of Brooklyn rage added for texture. So I slunk out of the room to find something to eat from the café slash restaurant they had built into the building. I wasn't the only one heading that way. I was joined by Bulgaria, Scotland (surprising I know with a fight against England going on) and Northern Ireland. They too were ready to take a break from the humdrum. We sit together at a table were pleasant conversation is given and taken mostly about food, weather and of course alcohol. I don't have a lot to say in terms of alcohol experience, but I am learning from their experiences. And keeping the juicy parts locked in my memory. You never know when you need a secret laugh. Then the conversation took a turn for the interesting.

"I tell ya Bulgaria. Yer Viktor Krum has nothing on any a 'my players." Ireland said in no way boastful, but rather demure. Most likely to irk Bulgaria without seeming to try. Bulgaria flinched for a second before regaining himself to throw a comment back.

"I wouldn't appear so boastful if I was you. Krum will wipe the floor with any opponent in his wake. He is the favor to win after all."

"Aye tis true. I saw the numbers not ta long ago. But I still say my sister has the winnin' team." Scotland said taking a swig of his Guinness. His sister happily asked the server for another one to give to her supportive brother. "Ya aren't tryin' ta bribe the one already on yer side are ye?"

"No my brother. Just payin ya back from last time's venture. Though hardly one drink is enough to do so." Ireland's eye held a twinkle I wonder if there is another story attached to it. Not the case it seems as she turns her gaze to me and begins to say something but was soon interrupted by one of the servers saying I had a phone call with a Ms. Ginny Weasly on the line. This peaks my interest most. It's been awhile since I had heard from Ginny. I sent her a letter a week ago. I guess she wanted to talk instead. I excuse myself politely from the others and follow the server to the phone.

"Hello? Ginny?"

"Oh good. I finally got a hold of you. I called your grandparents house twice today till they told me you weren't home. Thankfully they gave me a number to reach you. Where are you anyway?" Oh dear spirits of nature what could I tell her that wasn't an outright lie? If I say that I am at a world meeting she will want to know why I am there. I can't say it was school related, because we go to the same school. My parents (on the outside) don't have careers that deal with world politics. That also applies to anyone else in my family, except maybe my cousin Alistair, but he is on sabbatical at the moment. I have to think of something.

"Oh I'm visiting some family friends who have come into town." See not a total lie. Actually it is the truth in some ways. "What about you?"

"Dad had some errands to run in London and brought me along. He's in one of the muggle bookstore's now looking for your mum's book."

"Oh he didn't have to do that. My Mom would have been happy to send him a copy."

"Well no use crying over spilled milk. Tell me how has your summer been, especially after your parents found out about the excitement we had this year?" Even though I couldn't see her I could swear that she was rolling her eyes playfully at the question. She already had a clear idea, but wanted to hear it straight from the source.

"For about a month and half I was on virtual house arrest and after that I couldn't go anywhere without someone coming with me even into the backyard to clean Bijou's water bowl." I release a breath from the tired way I feel mentally going through it all again. Coincidently I start to feel antsy.

"I am amazed by the way your parents are so quick to put you on lockdown. I mean it's not that farfetched when you remember what all of us went through. Still a month and half stuck inside the house during summer vacation seems like cruel and unusual punishment. Did you go stir crazy at all?" Not exactly the easiest thing to do when one of your castles could rival a country in size. But can still happen. It just takes a while for it to do so. "Well did you?"

"Sometimes. Did you get my letter that I sent you last week?"

"Yes, I did. It is part of the reason I called you today." Ginny said her voice speeding a little towards the end. Was she being rushed? "You will never believe what I have to say…"

"I know you just got a purple pony with blue glitter wings, giraffe neck, clawed hoofs and lived off of words spoken to it. Because anything else I of course wouldn't believe." I broke a bit in the middle because it was hard to say that without confusing yourself.

"No, but if that ever happens you will be the first notified. No, it's about the quidditch world series. Would you be interested in going?" Quidditch World Series? Is she for real?

"I would be, but with what has happened at school in the past few years, I don't know what my parents are going to say about it." They were getting more than protective there was so talk of taking me out of Hogwarts and putting me in a different school or at the worst putting me back in homeschooling.

"I see. Just ask them the worst they can say is let us think about it."

"What ever happened to the worst they could say is no?"

"I am overachieving. No is not going to be an option. Not if we have anything to say about it."

"We?"

"Yes, we, you don't think that I am the only one who wants you to come to the Quidditch World Series, do you? Harry, Ron and Hermione also want to see you at the matches. They are coming too."

"Then I am going to do everything I can to go if everyone is going. I can always use the safety of good grades and having it count as a Christmas present or birthday gift."

"Good touches to the cake. I have to scoot now. Dad's just gotten out of the shops and we still have to pick up a few things before going home. Ring me when you find out for sure alright? Oh and before I forget Neville says he can't wait to see you at school."

"I will and it will be soon. Bye Ginny." Ginny said her goodbyes and I hung up. I walked over to the table I had sat at previously and found that there were a few more that joined. Germany, Japan, Canada (sadly being ignored) and America (the ham).

"Oh there you are we almost thought about sending out the search party. Meaning me since I am the hero after all." America added his heroic smile with the glittering teeth special effect.

"A friend from school decided to call me. We had a nice chat about the upcoming Qudditich World Series. She invited me to come with her, but the problem is to convince Mom and Dad. All of you can probably guess why." Nods go around, but for the very few who were unsure the others were more or less egger to explain them.

"To be honest. I am not surprised they will say no. Trouble is following like my bruder follows beer." I wanted to say to Germany that he is doing the same thing with beer. Pot calling the kettle black example to a T. But Scotland beat me to it.

"I still don't see why the wee lass can't go. It's a sporting event for god's sake the worse that can happen is a small fan kerfuffle breakin out. But they always lay those to rest before they get too out of hand."

"Prease keep in mind Scotland-san that they have not said no to the request. Since she has not asked them yet."

"Good point, Japan. Why don't you call them up right now, Dudette?" America managed to pat Japan's back and then grabs a phone waiting for me to start dialing. "What are you waiting for?"

"My Dad is at a recording session and my Mom is in a meeting of the council. I wouldn't be able to get a hold of them till tonight at the earliest. Tomorrow hopefully being the latest." I said knowing that when I ask them if I can go to the quidditch world series it will be a courtroom experience. Debating back and forth of the pros and cons. Saying objection every now and again to points taken. Blah, blah, blah. Can't wait to do that when I get home.

The Next Night at her Grandparents place before Lindsay has to go Home to Underground/Underland.

Narrator POV

Fidgeting was Lindsay's response to pacing. Tapping her fingers loudly against the hard wood of the table sounded off the pitter patter of her mind at loopholes her parents may try to pose at her for reasons she may not go to the matches. She wanted too badly go, not just to see her friends and see other parts of the magical aspects of the Aboveground. Despite the fact her family had both muggle and magical backgrounds, both Lindsay and Lance led rather sheltered lives. For the people of Aboveground including the majority of wizards and witches knew little of their past with the fae, as it has become twisted, turned, morphed, destroyed, beaten, practically anything you could do with long ago history possible. Sure the two children of the First crown went aboveground to visit family and such but they did not interact with other wizards and witches. Thus she was most egger to see the other side of magical life.

However that was not as apparent with her grandparents. As they kept insisting that she had nothing to worry about and her parents will see reason and let her go. (Keep in mind they knew nothing about the adventures she had shared these past two years at Hogwarts.) Still the young princess continued to fidget. Till her brother came to pick her up in the car that was to take them to the halfway point.

The two 'talked' the whole ride over about how their meetings went. Lance was at the meeting of the goblins of Above and Underground. His responses to how they went were rolling eyes, shrugging shoulders and raised eyebrows. Ending with a half-smile.

Translated he was saying. The meeting began with a bang as the Underground goblins brought over a half dozen chickens into the meeting room. This caused an up roar as the chickens got spooked easily and went ramming into the piles of coins that some of the goblin bankers brought with them to finish up some excess work they had. This irked them into squabbling and ended with a silence spell I used to subdue the fighting. To further end the squabbling and keep it from coming back up again. I wrangled half the chickens out lowering the chaos and keeping both sides mildly happy with the arrangements. After the meeting I had a little fun and had the chickens enlarged to chase the Underground goblins.

"You must have had fun. My meeting day was the same as last time. Except there was a time of peace and it was mostly about that event I want to go to." Lance nodded sagely already informed of the event that his sister wanted to go to. He also knew that she kept a picture of Leonardo DiCaprio under her bed with lipstick kisses all over it. He planned to show that to her little boyfriend when he gets the chance. What a sweet big brother.

They arrived at the vast gates of the city which opened up to a horde of goblins and other magical beings happily greeting home their returning prince and princess. Waving to their subjects in the way of regal bearing the two cruised through the city, not the Goblin City, but Magnum Domus Nabila, translated means Great home of the Nobles. The first city built by the fae. No human city has ever topped it in any regard. The beauty, majesty, grandeur and impact of history could be felt by all who gazed upon it. Towering buildings that looked as natural as mountains and trees upon the landscape. Lovely homes with small gardens spread here and there giving the city depth. Creatures and beings of many walks of life chatted, shopped, played and married. A paradise it would seem. A utopia without consequence of epic proportions. The subjects and royals would say that it was not a utopia, but a close second. They knew well enough how utopias shatter.

The castle of the royals was far grander than that of the city. Crafted from a vast of rare crystal that still grows as it is being used as a home for the royal family and other dignitaries. It is the fifth home of the Goblin King. The other four reside in the compass directions of the lands (including the one normally used by the king and his family which resides in the Goblin City.)

Lance and Lindsay now having to get used to her first name again Irida entered the throne room. Mother and Father seated on plush purple cushions of deep silver chairs. Dressed in fair garments and robes of the finest material. Queen Sarah dressed in deep blue dress with the flair of the renaissance showing the classic beauty of her well defined features. King Jareth dressed in riveting red and deep brown, a flowing cloak and golden crown embellished the ensemble with great care. The effect was imposing on not just the subjects and nobles, but their children. A gulp was heard coming from the youngest and a squeeze of comfort at the shoulder was seen given by her brother to her. She took one long breath and proceeded to her parents. In accordance with her upbringing she bowed to her parents respectfully and they acknowledged her bow with a nod of the head.

"I humbly ask to speak with the king and queen, my father and mother privately. With the exception of my brother Prince Lance of course."

"We accept your simple request." Her father answered. Her mother sent the commanding look for the others to leave. They bow and head for the exit and once the doors were shut and closed the family was able to relax a bit from formality.

"Precious, what is it that you want to talk to us about?" Jareth swaggered from his throne to the window. Gazing over his kingdom but through the corner of his eye looking at his daughter awaiting an answer.

"I got a call from Ginny today while I was at the World Meeting." She said clearly. Her mother's head perked up happily at the mention of her daughter's friend.

"Oh really? What did the two of you talk about?" She asked not moving from her seat.

"She was in the city doing errands with her father, one of those errands being buying a copy of your book or book series."

"The dear man. I would have sent him a copy if he asked."

"That's what I said. But I think he wanted an excuse to go shopping at a muggle book store."

"I don't doubt that." Her mother said chuckling along with her father. The mood was good and deemed appropriate for the question at the tip of her tongue.

"She invited me to go with her and some of our other friends to the Quidditch World Series. Please can I go?" The good humor was lifted and the two royals looked at each other and then to their daughter with silent worry and uncertainty.

"Irida. We have to talk. This may not be the easiest thing for you to hear, but you need to hear it. Your father and I have been talking…debating really, about whether or not you should continue to go to school at Hogwarts and…"

"Wait. Before you go on there is something that I have to point out to the two of you. Very important something's." Parents are no fool to something that they had said about to be thrown back at them. Still they let her continue.

"It was your idea to send me to study at Hogwarts and I didn't raise much of a protest in doing so. I have made more friends, had gotten good grades for the two years I have gone. Faced challenges instead of running away or having someone else do they for me. These things are all things that the two of you have wanted for me. Now that I have accomplished these things you want me to quit halfway? I don't think that is the original game plan."

"You are right it wasn't. But there have been two events that have caused us to rethink this game plan. Events that could have costed you your life and another's." Her father was quick to point out.

"Only one event really involved a life or death sequence and I have already pointed out to you that the so called danger of Sirius Black was misled as he is in fact innocent of all charges, but no one is willing to listen to reason."

"Regardless. There is a presence coming. A darker presence that can be felt through the air . Something is coming. We are not sure what it is, but we do know that it is going to start in the Aboveground."

"If something bad is to happen in the Aboveground than the best place for me to be is at Hogwarts. Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world right now almost at par with Merlin. He is the best defense and since he is headmaster of Hogwarts it stands to reason that I would be safest there."

"It does not…" Her father began.

"Before you object remember this. On the day I left for Hogwarts you said to me this. The Aboveground is losing its strength of magic. Our bond is too light now and if it gets any lighter than all magic will disappear from the Aboveground and we will be sealed off from them forever. You are not going to Hogwarts solely to learn, but to strength our bonds and cement the bricks of reintegration with Aboveground. With every test you take, every spell you attempt and every friend you make you are forging strength back into those bonds. One day it may not be today or tomorrow or a year after that, but it will be one day soon that we no longer will hide in the lore of yester year and instead reside in the flesh and blood of today. No longer fiction, but truth. I have made friends, I have learned spells and taken tests for them, but I have also made an impact on being in the Aboveworld. I don't think anyone is willing to let me go that easily, besides it will save you two a lot of trouble if you just let me go back to Hogwarts. Imagine how many pranks I could set off at meetings being homeschooled." The two knew the case may not have been the best but she made her points and they listened. With sighing breathe they agreed to give her another year at Hogwarts. "Does this mean that I also can go to the Quidditich world series?"

"Not so fast, Irida." Her mother cautioned this time rising from her seat to speak to her daughter. "There are some rules to go over first. One Celesta and Jena shall be guarding over you while you are at school. Second you are not to do anything this year that will involve you will getting into trouble whether it is school or legal. Third we expect you to get excellent grades this year, no C's."

"I haven't had one of those yet, except for penmanship. I really have bad handwriting."

"At least its readable." Her mother sighed. "Fourth you have to be on your guard and listen to any signs that may show up around you. If you haven't seen them already that is." The memory of the prophecy came back to mind. The words secret revealed stayed with her, but what secret was it? "Fifth if we allow you to go to these games. We expect…"

"That you have your brother go with you, help pay for your ticket and have the ministry allow you a body guard. One that will be as covert as possible." Jareth finished with a rather James Bondish smile.

"I can understand a bodyguard and helping to pay for the ticket, but why Lance? I'm not complaining about having him come with me, but why him?"

"Simple. He is better with magic than you are and he does give us some peace of mind." Her father's hand rested on her mother's shoulder at the sentence.

"Then I agree to those terms and ask that I have permission to run and call Ginny to tell her I can go?" They grant her permission and like a firecracker runs off past Lance. Lance shakes his head in playful banter at his sister's reactions before sneaking off to see his secret lady love one last time before his journey to the Quidditch games. The sacrifices one has to make for family.

Irida/Lindsay POV

"This time going back to Europe is really long. Can't we get there any faster? I am sure we are running late. Okay I am definitely sure that we are running late." Lance looked up from his book to me. Rolling his eyes at the sentence I have repeated for the last ten minutes. He pointed to the clock on the wall of the train showing that we were actually a bit ahead of schedule.

"I guess I'm a little anxious." I said pink cheeked and rubbing the back of my head.

"That's apparent." Shock and awe fell over me. Lance didn't speak often. When he did it normally caught me off guard. He smiled at me in his I know I just caught you off guard way.

"You just spoke." I said sounding out the syllables to him. He nodded. "Does this mean you are going to become a chatty Kathy?" He shook his head before answering.

"No, just a bit. Not a lot." He went back to reading his book but the announcer came on saying we arrived at our destination the train station for muggles. Mr. Weasley would meet us there and then take us to the Weasley house to stay for the night before going to the Qudditch World Series. Quickly we gathered our things and go out to the platform to look for the Mr. Weasley.

"Tap my shoulder if you see him before I do." I tell Lance. It is crowded and hard to see where Mr. Weasley is with the crowds moving around like tuna in a school blending together to form one identity. I feel at tap at my shoulder. "You found him already?" I say turning around expecting Lance, but instead I find Harry. "Harry?"

"You were expecting Jack the Ripper?" I questioned him about that comment. His reply. "You look like you were hoping not to see me."

"When have I ever given you reason for that?" I roll my eyes for emphasis giving leeway for laughter. Lance soon towers over us looking at Harry like he was a boy who was trying something on me. Causing a bit of a stir in the fear center of the fourteen year old boy before us. The fear was not present on the face of jolly Mr. Weasley though as he raced over to meet us. Already happy to chat the day away.

"There you are. Well glad to see that you made it with no trouble." He looked at me and Harry and then up at Lance. "And you must be Lance. Pleasure to meet you. I've heard all about you from my daughter Ginny who heard about you from your sister. I guess that means I really heard all about you from Lindsay." He put out his hand out for Lance to shake and then all of us headed to an area that would allow us to use floo powder without the worry of being seen by a muggle. Our stop was at the wonderful home of the Weasley Family. Needles click clacking in mid-air as they knit a nice scarf or sweater. Dishes being scrubbed clean to the sound of a clock chime. Followed by footsteps running with the blurry vision of the twins laughing and Ron trying to catch them for something they obviously have done to deserve. They sail by saying hello of course. Mrs. Weasley comes in and greets us properly and helps us put our bags away.

Upstairs we follow her and are greeted by Ginny and Hermione who I can tell are immediately smitten with Lance. Oh if only they knew that his heart belonged to a ghost. I mean that literally not figuratively. As in he is love with someone from his past. I mean that he is in love with the disembodied spirit of a woman who in middle age times was accidently drowned in the lake in the forest. Her name (at least the one she would give us) is Cornelia, a golden haired beauty and really rather nice. For a dead person she is surprisingly lively.

Hermione introduces herself first a bit of a stutter is heard from her voice especially when Lance kisses her hand by way of introduction. He does the same for Ginny when she introduces herself.

"Do you always do that?" Hermione asks him. Smiling sweetly at him. He doesn't say anything and that is my cue to speak for him.

"It's our upbringing. Lance is very much a true gentleman. Even when he doesn't speak." I tease him.

"I only speak when I have something to say dear sister. Pardon me ladies, but I need to get a message together for our father to assure our safe arrival." He nods and then exits the room leaving me to have at least ten uninterrupted minutes with my friends to gossip, chat and be girly before the guys show up or we can come up with a prank to place on the boys. We can do both.