A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Writing Club March

Fabulous World of Comics: 19 - (emotion) sarcasm

Showtime: 7 - My Mother's Eyes – (animal) Sparrow

Liza's Loves: 9- Monarch - Write a royalty AU – (Bonus)

Sophie's Shelf: 30 - Ezekiel, The Walking Dead: (word) King

Word Count: 786

The lacy collar of the dress itched my neck. I tugged at it for what seemed like the fifteenth time.

"Princess, you need to hold still!" my lady stated.

"Ginny, please. It itches, my hair is always going to be a bushy mess, and what the bloody hell are you putting on my lips!"

"Lipstick, Princess. Lipstick. You want to look the best for your wedding day."

"Why? He's not going to care what I look like. He's not going to care about me at all. All he cares about is cementing this stupid alliance."

"He probably also cares about diversifying the bloodlines," Ginny stated. I wanted to smack her. Most days, I could tolerate her nonsense, but today, today was already the worst day of my life.

"Ginny."

"Princess."

"For the millionth time, enough with the princess nonsense. You've been my maid for the last five years, please, just today, call me by my name?" I asked. Ginny nodded, pulling the brush through my bushy hair again.

"Very well, Hermione. And I'm sure King Lucius won't be so terrible. He's a widower, and I'd always heard he was kind to Queen Narcissa."

"He's old enough to be my father, Ginny."

"Yes, but he does have a large kingdom, if you care about that sort of thing."

"I don't."

"You should! Now, hold still. I'm going to try and braid this mess you call hair," Ginny stated, tugging on my hair again.

"I should just run away, become a hermit poet somewhere," I sighed. Ginny scoffed.

"Hermione, your poetry is rubbish. The last one was an ode to not eating your pears."

"I was seven. I've written much better things since then," I tried to argue. I could see Ginny shake her head.

"There, it's braided, for now. Here's your crown. Come on, I'm sure everyone is waiting for you at the church. If I fail to deliver you, it'll be my head on the chopping block."

"That's the only reason I haven't already run," I replied, picking up my skirts and following Ginny from the room.

I paused in the doorway. This was the end of my life here. My rooms, my chambers, I'd never see them again. Tonight I would leave for Lucius' kingdom as his wife. I was met with several other ladies as I stepped out into the corridor. They took my skirts for me so they wouldn't touch the ground. Ginny put a veil over my face. She smiled at him. Her family had fallen from grace decades ago, in doing so, she'd lost all claim to the crown.

We stopped outside the church. I could see the sunlight glittering off the stained glass windows. One depicted the symbol of the kingdom, a sparrow. Such a common bird to stand for the rise of the common people.

I could hear the music start. I was practically pulled forward, my feet put up a bit of resistance, but soon I was entering the double wooden doors. The carpet leading to the alter was bright red, reminding me of blood.

For a brief moment, I remembered Ginny's comment about bloodlines. I would be expected to consummate this marriage tonight. I felt a lump grow in my throat. I looked up, seeing the room through the transparent lace of the veil. The man standing at the alter had long blond hair, sparkling grey eyes, and a large silver and emerald crown on his head. This must be Lucius. I bowed my head again as I reached him.

"Princess," he whispered. His voice was firm, the kind of voice people listened to, the kind of voice people respected. It sent a shiver down my spine. I raised my head, my eyes meeting his as he lifted the veil revealing my face. I gave him a nervous smile. He took my hand in his. His skin was soft, smooth. The hands of a man who had never done a minute of hard labor.

He nodded to the priest who started the ceremony. Lucius kept watching me, his eyes never stopped sparkling. I could feel him studying me. I was terrified he would decide was unworthy of his attentions. I realized I wanted his affections, his attention. I wanted those lips against mine. I wanted to grab his long blond hair in passion.

"I do," he stated. The priest turned to me. Lucius was watching me still, my heart pounding loudly in my chest.

"I do," my voice echoed. Suddenly his lips were on mine. The whole world seemed to erupt in sparks. My heart seemed to explode. Lucius broke the kiss and we turned to my people, the new King and Queen of the Malfoy name.