This drabble story is written for THC/The Houses Competition (Round 8 -

Never be Forgotten).

House: Slytherin

Class: Transfiguration

Prompts: [Character] Hermione Granger

Link/Title: God Save the Queen

Word Count: 990

Betas: Butterflies765, CupCakeyyy, Aya Diefair, and DaughteroftheOneTrueKing

Note: This is a Muggle Royalty!AU where Hermione is about to be crowned as the Queen of England.

"Ron, I don't know if I'm ready."

Hermione stared at her reflection in the mirror, observing her shaking limbs as her tall, fiery-haired husband embraced her from behind.

"Don't worry, love. You'll do amazingly."

"You're sure, Ron?" Hermione turned around and looked up at the love of her life with worry and fear swimming in her eyes. Her currently jittering nerves stemmed from the fact that her coronation was taking place in just four hours. "God, I don't know if I'll be able to fill my father's shoes."

Hermione's father, King Timothy, had died just a month ago from lung cancer. The decades he'd spent smoking had contributed to his illness and eventual death. As the only child, Hermione had been the heir to the throne.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door followed by, "Your Majesty?"

For a startled moment, Hermione looked around, expecting her tall, lithe father to be standing nearby. At the empty space, she fought tears, realizing that it was her that the voice was calling for. For the nth time, she was bitterly reminded that 'Your Majesty' was her title now.

Regaining her bearings, Hermione composed herself with as much grace as she could muster before answering, "Come in."

She smiled slightly as her children's nanny, Irma Pince, walked in with her daughter and son.

"Rose! Hugo!" greeted Hermione.

"Mummy!" cried Hugo, his little legs running up to Hermione as fast as they could. Rose followed close behind. Looking up, Hermione's heart warmed as she saw Ms. Pince smiling lovingly.

"Ready to be the queen, Mummy?" asked Rose, eyes sparkling.

"Of course, she is!" argued Hugo with conviction. Hermione laughed slightly, touched that her son was so confident in her. Unfortunately, her time with the children was cut short as she heard hurried footsteps from outside the room.

"Your Majesty!" called a voice from down the hall just as Hermione drew her children close to her. The queen-to-be stood up as her personal maid, Clara, entered the room. "It's time to put on your coronation dress."

"Already?" asked Hermione shakily, the anxiety within her rising to almost unbearable levels. As a child, Hermione had been dedicated to learning. Because of this, she'd developed high-functioning anxiety from the pressure she'd put on herself to make perfect marks.

"Yes, ma'am."

Trying to suppress her nervousness, Hermione gave quick hugs to Rose and Hugo before sending them off to let Clara do what needed to be done.

…

"All finished, Your Majesty," said Clara proudly. "You definitely look fit for a queen."

"Th-thank you, Clara," whispered Hermione. It was all she could do to not break into sobs. The truth was that she hated how she was taking her father's place. She hated the fact that, at just twenty-six, she was preparing to be crowned as a monarch and the head of state. It was at that moment that Hermione realized that she needed her husband more than ever.

"Would you send Ron in?" asked the future monarch, trying to keep the desperation out of her tone. "I need to speak to him."

"Of course, ma'am." Clara walked briskly to the door, exiting the master bedroom and bringing Ron in that same minute. "Your Majesties," the maid murmured respectfully with a curtsy before leaving the husband and wife alone in the room.

"Oh, Ron," moaned Hermione as soon as the door clicked shut. She fell into his arms, being careful as to not damage her intricately-woven dress.

"What's the matter, love?" asked Ron worriedly. "Darling, look at me!" Hermione felt herself being righted by her husband just as tears escaped her eyes. "Oh, my love," he murmured as he got a good look at his wife's face, pulling Hermione close. As the queen-to-be began to cry, he said, "Your father was a good man. He'd be so proud of you, I know it."

"But he should be here, Ron," Hermione whispered brokenly. "He should see me be crowned."

"I know, darling, I know."

"It doesn't feel right!" insisted Hermione, leaning into Ron again. "God, it doesn't feel right."

"Hermione," said Ron quietly, his tone very serious. It was the manner in which it was said that Hermione looked up with curiosity.

"Ron?"

"You, my love, will make a wonderful queen. I know I said this already, but I will say it again. Your father would be so proud of you. He'd be so happy to see you be crowned. I might add that I am happy, too. The fact that the love of my life will soon be the queen of England is really something, don't you think?"

The awe and excitement in Ron's eyes was undeniable. It was enough to make Hermione forget the reason why she was being crowned — even if it was for a short time.

"You always make things better, Ron," Hermione said with a watery smile, standing on the tips of her toes and pressing a loving kiss on her husband's lips. He responded in kind, and as they pulled away, Hermione felt a surge of confidence course through her veins.

The two of them broke apart as they heard a knock on the door.

"Yes?" called Ron. The door opened to reveal one of the royal footmen, dressed in red-and-black livery.

"It's time for the coronation ceremony, your Majesties. A car is waiting for you both outside the palace."

"Thank you," said Hermione. "We'll be out shortly."

As the door shut once more, Ron turned to face the monarch-to-be.

"You can do this, Hermione," he said, sounding every bit the optimistic man he was. "I will be right by your side."

"Thank you, Ron. It means more to me than you'll ever know."

With that, Hermione left the room with Ron following close behind her.

Contrary to what Hermione had thought previously, she now felt like she was capable of being crowned.

She was capable of taking her father's place.