There was once a beautiful and magic kingdom called Gold Crown. It was filled with many beautiful forests, high sculpted mountains, winding silvery rivers, and dense forests.

The people were very cultured there and adored one thing above all: dancing. There were many festivals in which the people would preform their best dances and ballets before the rulers.

The one who wrote the best ballets was a man named Albus Dumbledore. No one quite knew why, but many of the tales he wrote had such a ring of truth to them that they resonated with the people. He was lauded for his work.

The kingdom was ruled in alliance by the good King Arthur in the North and the wise Queen Lily in the South. Sadly, it had never been bound by blood, and the alliance had been made by King James (Lily's deceased husband) and King Arthur long ago.

But that was all about to change.

Arthur and Lily had cooked up quite a scheme—to wed their unwilling children! It was so perfect, they would bring them together every summer in hopes they would fall in love!

In Lily's castle, Lily and Harry awaited Arthur and Ginny's arrival.

"Hehehe, oh, here they come, hee!" Lupin said, smiling.

"Dear Lily, as lovely as ever." Arthur said to her.

"And who might this strapping young man be? Young Prince Harry, no doubt." Arthur said.

"Welcome to our fair kingdom, dear Arthur. And to you, young princess. Go on, Harry." Lily chuckled. "Dear, go on…"

"Mother!" Harry said.

"Harry!" Lily said.

"Hello, Princess Ginevra. I'm very pleased to meet you." Harry choked out.

Harry was eleven years old. He had shaggy dark hair, bright green eyes, and pale skin. He bowed to the princess, but was not happy to meet her at all. He could be outside, learning to swordfight or firing his bow, not inside with this, this—

"Pleased to meet you, Prince Harry." Ginny rolled her eyes as she curtsied.

Her tiny hands were balled into fists. Ginny had long straight ebony locks. She had bright brown eyes and caramel skin. Her mother had been very beautiful before her untimely death.

Their parents, his father, her mother, had died the same way. The evil sorcerer Voldemort had destroyed them. Ginny's mother had died the day she was born.

For a moment Harry gazed into her eyes, seeing the loneliness mirrored there. For a moment...then...

"Yuck!" Harry said. "I'm going to swordfight with Ron!"

"Harry!" Lily shouted moving to go after him.

"No." Ginny said imperiously. "I think its time I teach Prince Harry a lesson."

She drew the blade Excalibur hidden at her waist and strode outside.

"One match. If you win, I will leave and never return. If I win, you have to teach me how to fight like a man." Ginny said.

"No problem. You'll lose, princess." Harry said.

"Alright you two. Go!" Ron said.

Ginny struck faster than a cobra, and Harry's sword flew through the air, striking the center of the target behind him.

"I'm also fairly good with a bow. Don't ever underestimate a woman, prince."

"Well she's certainly...something." Arthur laughed. "Quite a match, wouldn't you agree, Lily, dear."

"Yes well, my son had it coming." Lily said. "He should have known. I hope Ginny comes around. She would be good for him."

"And for our plan," Arthur said. "A marital alliance."

A few years later, in Arthur castle, Arthur was trying to get Ginny ready.

"Good heavens, child, don't dawdle," Arthur said. "We can't keep Harry waiting."

Ginny sheathed her sword and put her bow over her shoulder. "This year I'm going to learn martial arts. Harry has an excellent tutor, and he's great at teaching me. This arrangement is perfect."

In Lily's castle, in Harry's Room Lily was urging Harry to get ready.

"She soon will be arriving" Lily said. "Is that respect you're showing?"

"If she knocks me out one more time..." Harry said. "I'm throwing her out the tower window."

On the docks, Lily came to receive Arthur and Ginny.

"One day Prince Harry will be her intended" Arthur said.

"Splendid" Lily said.

The children were playing at Lily's castle.

"Ha!" Ginny swung and decked him. "Got you again."

Harry stood and glared at her.

"No matter how many times and you still show me no respect, all because I'm a woman!" Ginny swung her foot and knocked him to the floor. "Do I have to get you on the floor!"

"You haven't, for one instant this whole time, done anything but look down on me! Why should I respect someone like that! Your just a snob!" Harry retorted.

Ginny ran out in tears.

In Lily's Castle, the teens were playing.

"Ginny hasn't bothered us in a while." Ron said. "Not really at all this summer."

"Yes, she's been training alone all this time. In the kitchens a lot too. I'm afraid her dad got through to her about the big wedding." Harry said.

A maid knocked on the door.

"Yes what is it?" Harry asked.

"A gift for you." The maid said.

"Who from?" Harry asked.

"Probably one of your many admirers." Ron laughed.

The maid presented him with a sword.

"This is..." Harry lifted it. "It's Clarent! The twin sword to Excalibur! But that would mean..."

Harry ran out into the docks where Ginny was boarding the ship, Excalibur shining at her waist.

He lifted a hand and waved to her. "Thank you! Next year I'll teach you to hunt!"

Ginny paused and came out to meet him. "You really like it? You aren't still angry?"

"Angry? I'm..." Harry paused. She had really taken the snob comment seriously. He grinned at her. "You were right. You always were. We both lost our family to Lord Voldemort. We should destroy him together. And with the twin blades, it will be easy!"

Ginny and Harry were meeting for the summer now as adults.

Ginny headed for the courtyard, dressed as a warrior despite what her father wanted. Her sword was at her waist, her bow at her back, and her ebony hair braided down to her waist. Those sparkling blue eyes had a flicker of mischief as she drew her sword.

"I want to see how good my teacher has become, prince."

Harry, for his part, was now taller than her, with broad muscled shoulders from years of training to be a warrior. He was faster now, faster than her, and he knew it. His green eyes flickered to her, taking in her beauty for a moment before he drew his blade.

"I want to beat you at last, princess."

For hours they struck and parried at each other. She was fast and strong, but he had become faster and stronger. And he could tell her swordplay was partly for show. She was trying to impress him! Well, it was distracting her! She spun her sword to look fancy and he struck! The sword went flying through the air, and struck the target behind him.

"I'm also fairly good with a bow. Don't ever underestimate a man who fights for his bride, my love."

For a moment the words echoed through the courtyard. He had done it. He had said it.

What would be her answer?

"I suppose I never really knew...it was you I was dreaming of, my love." Ginny returned his words to him

The two sheathed their swords and turned to their parents.

"For the record." Their hands were joined. "This was our idea."