This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Word Count: 2511

Title: The Gryffindor Queens

Note:

Warnings:

Beta: Screaming Faeries

Quidditch League:

[Team]: Pride Of Portree

[Position] Captain

[Theme]: Procrastination Thread

[Prompts]: [Quotes] [10G] 'Occasionally we're allowed out to terrify the populace' — S.A Chakraborty

Hogwarts

Assignment 7: Aquatic Studies: Types of Shark: Task #9 - White Shark: Write about someone who appears to be mean, but is really a big softy.

Yearly:

Prompt 977 [Trait] Loyal

Seasonally:

Days of the year: March 30th - I am in Control Day: Write about someone gaining strength in a stressful situation.

Colours: Lime

Tarot Cards: The Hierophant: (theme) Tradition

Hufflepuff Challenge: Loyal

History Of Spring: Prompt: Write about the 'strength of love' in a scenario.

King Harry Potter of the Viking clan of Gryffindor was eyeing his advisor sceptically.

"Ron," he started slowly. "You know I love your sister."

"But, your majesty, an alliance with Slytherin is essential to strengthen the clan against the threat of the Hufflepuff clan's invasion. Rumour has it that their king, Cedric Diggory, is a fierce warrior that intends to claim our lands as his own, and without their aid, we will surely fall to them." Ron's eyes were downcast; he hated giving the king bad news, but he knew it would be even worse for his sister when it was announced that King Malfoy of Slytherin wanted a union between King Potter and King Malfoys' ward, the lady Pansy Parkinson.

Harry's eyes flickered between the open roll of parchment and his friend and noble advisor. "Call in Lady Granger," he insisted, dismissing Ron from his chambers. As soon as he was alone, he sighed. It didn't do for a Viking to show weakness, not even in front of his advisor. He couldn't stand anyone thinking they could take his throne from him. Lady Hermione Granger entered, and curtsied to him. She had wild, curly hair, and was wearing a dress of cream and red. Gold and red were the Gryffindor colours, and it was only fitting for a lady of her status to be wearing them.

"Lady Granger," Harry nodded towards a seat across from him at the large round wooden table. She took a seat, remaining silent until he asked her a question. She knew her place after all.

"I assume Sir Weasley has informed you of King Malfoy's request?" he said, trying to sound firm.

"Yes, my Lord," she said softly. "Lady Weasley won't be pleased, but am I to speak freely?"

Harry nodded, and it was like a dam wall broke when she spoke again.

"Harry, you couldn't possibly be considering an alliance with Slytherins, they are the worst lot of bad Vikings, they give us all a bad name, there's no sense of honour in them, and as for the marriage request of the King Malfoy, how can you even consider it? What about Ginny? She would be heartbroken if she hears you are going to wed a stranger." Hermione's triade continued.

"Good Lady," Harry interrupted. "I have no intention of breaking my commitments to Lady Weasley."

"You — well of course, your Lordship, I shall send a letter to the Slytherin's, then?"

"I still intend to wed Lady Parkinson," Harry continued, and he could see that Hermione was puzzled by the news.

"I am aware that the subject of the leader taking multiple wives has been a subject of controversy among our people." Harry tried to explain. Lady Hermione went red in the face.

"You couldn't—" Lady Hermione tried, but then stopped. She had no place to dictate to the king what he should or shouldn't be doing. Surely he had considered this carefully before making the choice that he believed was for the best of their clan. "Have you spoken to Lady Weasley regarding this change?"

Harry shook his head. "I was going to ask you to go and fetch her from her quarters. As we are not married yet, it would be improper of me to go into her room."

Hermione nodded. "Of course, my Lord," she said, curtsying to him before leaving the room to find Ginny.

"He said what?" Ginny fumed. She was pacing the room in her undergarments, and Hermione imagined she could see lines being worn into the carpet.

"I think you should speak to the king yourself." Hermione attempted. She knew how furious this Viking woman's temper could be, and she shivered internally at what was awaiting the king when he spoke to his betrothed.

"Help me with this." Ginny gestured to her corset. Hermione knew how much Ginny hated it, but it was what was needed of a Viking king's wife, so she needed to either get used to it, or make peace with losing Harry. It wasn't often a love arose as strong as the one between Ginny and King Potter, even Hermione could see it, she just hoped it was enough to manage to take on another partner in the marriage, and that Ginny had the strength to realise what was best for Gryffindor, at least the king believed, is this merger. Lady Hermione had her own feelings for the king's advisor, Ron Weasley, but she knew she wouldn't give up everything for him.

Ginny sighed, and she threw open the door of her room to go and talk to the king. She walked down the long corridors of the Potter house, and her eyes scanned the portraits of the previous rulers of Gryffindor. "I will be up there with Harry," she said stubbornly. "One way or another."

She walked into the room, and she saw a tiredness in Harry's eyes. "Lord Potter," she addressed him, bowing.

Harry stood up straighter. "Lady Ginny," he said, trying to conceal his feelings. She smiled at him, seeing through the exterior.

"I heard some things," she said.

"I knew Lady Granger would tell you," Harry sighed. "I have decided to accept the offer of an arranged marriage from Lord Malfoy, the leader of Slytherin, to forge an alliance between us."

"What about us?" Ginny asked softly.

"If you're willing, I intend to wed you and Lady Pansy Parkinson," Harry said firmly.

"Really, Harry," Ginny said, exasperated.

"It's the only way," he sighed. "You know I have feelings for you, but my duty is to Gryffindor, first and foremost."

"I know, my Lord," Ginny said with a sigh. "I will try to keep an open mind."

"Thank you," Harry said, dismissing her with a bow.

"It's time." Ron was fighting the urge to run his hand through his red hair. The Lords Court needed to be presentable, especially owing to the fact that they were due a visit from King Potter's betrothed, Lady Parkinson, and her escort and benefactor, King Malfoy.

"We know, Ron," Hermione said testily. Harry was sitting in his throne at the head of the round table, Lady Weasley was sitting a couple of chairs from him, and Ginny seemed to be staring off into the doorway. She was clearly fighting not to fidget, same as Ron.

"He is here," Neville said, rushing inside breathlessly.

"Show him inside, Neville," Harry said. He popped back outside, and he breathlessly showed a stern blond man with a crown, wearing a cloak of emerald green. Harry's eyes widened at this curious sight. A man wearing a cloak? How unusual. There was a stern faced woman with long black hair, wearing a lime green dress, and with her hair pulled back from her face. Her face seemed to be curiously eyeing everything around her.

"Potter," King Malfoy said, walking towards him and stretched his hand towards Harry.

"Malfoy," Harry said. "And this— is this Lady Parkinson?"

The stern faced woman nodded wordlessly. "These are my associates," Harry said, gesturing to the other people in the room. "And this is Lady Weasley."

"This viking clan seems to be of Scottish or Welsh descent," Malfoy said, eyeing all the redheads.

Harry laughed. "This isn't the half of it," he stated. "My advisor is the youngest of seven brothers."

"Goodness," Parkinson muttered. "Fertile bunch, aren't they?" Her tone was snide, but she attempted to shrug it off lightly. It seemed like Parkinson had that vile Slytherin bite; saying nasty things without realising what she was saying.

Ginny's face went as red as her hair, but she bit her tongue, clenching the bottom of the table. She felt a chunk of wood come loose in her hand and she dropped it to the ground.

"Occasionally we're allowed out to terrify the populace," King Malfoy remarked, seemingly to pacify the anger of the Gryffindors that Parkinson just offended. Ginny forced a laugh. It would be rude not to laugh at the king's joke.

There was a small discussion between King Malfoy and Harry, but mostly all that King Malfoy was concerned with was that his ward would be taken care off. It was clear despite the Slytherin's offish mannerisms; Malfoy believed Harry would take good care of Pansy.

"Shall we speak without all this interference?" Harry asked Pansy directly. Parkinson nodded, and Malfoy and the rest of the advisors left the room. When Ginny remained seated, Parkinson eyed her curiously.

"So Lady Parkinson," Harry said. "I know that this is a curious development, but I have already promised my hand to Lady Weasley before the contract was given to me."

Parkinson's eyes flickered between the two of them. "Oh really?" her grey eyes seemed puzzled. "So, what am I doing here in the Lion's den then?"

"He wants to wed us both," Ginny said suddenly, speaking up against the proud Slytherin woman.

"I see," Parkinson said. "Very interesting."

"Yes, well, of course this is between the three of us," Harry said. "I want to keep my word to Ginny, but yet, I know my duty is to my clan, and I want to forge this alliance between the Slytherin and Gryffindor clans."

"I am not opposed to not being part of an unusual relationship," Parkinson said, surprising the Gryffindors.

"You're not?" Ginny asked.

Parkinson laughed. "You are rather cute, for a Gryffindor." She winked at Ginny, and Ginny felt her face getting hot again, but not quite for the same reason as before.

"Well then," Harry said, clearing his throat with a non-subtle cough. He looked between his two betrothed, seemed like things would be working out for the best, after all.

"This place is quite a dump though, isn't it?" Parkinson said snidely, and Harry was horrified. This woman sure knew how to say some really nasty things to people.

A couple of weeks later, the brides of King Potter were preparing for the ceremony. The two women were in rooms' right next to one another, while Ginny had her friends helping her get ready; Lady Parkinson was assisted by Lady Bulstrode, an equally foul mouthed and foul tempered Slytherin woman. Pansy overheard the ladies giggling in the other room, and she felt lonely. She should be happy; this was the biggest day of her life. She was about to become one of the Queens of Gryffindor, forging an alliance between Slytherin and helping both their clans against the sheer number of Hufflepuffs that were said to be out for their land.

"You look lovely, Pansy," Millicent said.

Pansy nodded. "Would you just go away?" she asked suddenly. She was feeling unhappy, she had no friends, her only friend had been King Malfoy, and she had always struggled befriending other women. She liked Lady Ginny, but other than a couple of small talks, the two have yet to get to know each other. She realised that Ginny was a lot more popular than Pansy was. Her jealousy spiked as she looked at her reflection. 'I look the part, don't I? The part of a queen?' Pansy thought. She was wearing a simple floor length cream dress, very elegant and demure. Her yet black hair was tied back, and upon her hair rested a flower crown of red and green, a symbol of the upcoming union.

She wanted to open the door, and longed to join the laughing ladies in the room next to her, but she didn't believe she would be welcomed. It wasn't like she hadn't said a couple of nasty things to the busy haired Lady Granger, asking her if she knew that even Vikings were allowed to have tweezers.

Pansy heard a knock on the door, and opened it, seeing that Ginny was dressed in a bathrobe, although her fiery red hair was styled in gentle curls, and placed up into a loose bun.

"Wow," Ginny said. "You look stunning." Pansy couldn't help but blush. She wasn't used to receiving compliments, and this was going to be her wife. Pansy couldn't help but feel a little smug.

"Thank you, why aren't you ready?" Pansy asked suddenly, checking the clock on the wall as if she was worried she was early.

"There is still loads of time, come with me," Ginny said, holding out a hand to Pansy and pulling her towards the busy room of Gryffindors. There were "ooohs" and "awwwws" from most of the ladies in the room, while Granger attempted, but failed, to look unimpressed.

"I was hoping you could help me," Ginny asked gently. "I saw you have a real talent for all this." She gestured at the makeup that was littering the vanity. The lipsticks in various shades, the blushes, and multiple hair brushes. "We only just managed to get my hair to work with us." Ginny grinned cheekily at her.

"You want my help?" Pansy asked, she was shocked.

"Of course, surely you want to help your wife look as stunning as possible, don't you?" Ginny asked nervously.

"You—" Pansy paused. The whole room went quiet, waiting for the hurtful remark, but instead, Pansy surprised them all. "You are already stunning, Ginny."

Ginny smiled. "So is that a yes?" she asked in confirmation.

"Of course I will help you." Pansy insisted, and the ladies in the room set about making Ginny Weasley look like the other future queen. Once Pansy and the ladies were done, they almost didn't recognize Ginny. She looked beautiful and refined. A look that Pansy was sure had never been seen on a Weasley before.

"After all, it's Potter now, isn't it?" Pansy grinned, and Ginny nodded eagerly. They took each other's hands, and walked towards the ball room, where all the guests were awaiting the presence of their future queens.

Harry's eyes teared as he saw both women walk into the room together. It hadn't been the original plan, as King Malfoy had wanted to give Pansy away, but he grinned broadly as he saw them walking inside. The crowd of both Slytherin and Gryffndor alike were in awe. Not only were they gaining an alliance, but they were also gaining not only one, but two beautiful queens. Everyone was pleased with how things had turned out.

That was, all except for one man. He was small and mousy looking, and held the expression of someone smelling something unpleasant. He was a spy, but since he was so small of stature, he was easily overlooked by both tribes.

"Well done, Wormtail." Tom Riddle said to the small man upon his return to the Death Eaters tribe. "Your information is invaluable as always." The tall man turned his cold eyes upon his tribe. Wormtail scurried away as soon as possible, before the man spoke again.

"This, Death Eaters, is going to cause a problem." He said, pacing back and forth.

"But, my Lord," another man said. "Surely we can still take them all."

"We no longer have the numbers, the rumour about Hufflepuff wanting power has set us back, but we shall regroup, and we shall rise again, stronger than ever before."