A/N: Please read this, well, part of it at least! I'm sorry to make you wait for this chapter. I was going to post, then finals crept up on me. When I finally came to do final editing, I was like, "Omg, I wrote this??" So, it took longer…Now, the only thing that I really have to warn you about is, in this chapter, it's the same day that Harry was there in the last one, but I've made it Herm's birthday, because if I didn't, she would never prick her finger in time for me to finish this extremely long and tedious story. I didn't want to have to write a bazillion more chapters. I think in the third chapter somewhere, I said that her birthday was coming in two weeks, well, just pretend for me please, just until I've gotten it fixed. Thanks! I'm sorry for not keeping my facts straight. Thanks to all those who reviewed! Please do so again this time, especially since this is the second to last chapter and if you don't mind, could you say what you liked about it? That'd be great. J Oh, and, I forgot to mention. I have absolutely no clue how you work a spinning wheel, so I made it up. If anyone does know, can you tell me so that I can make it sound like I do know what I'm talking about?

Disclaimer: This does not belong to me, just like it hasn't belonged to me in any of the other chapters that you all have thankfully read and (hopefully) reviewed. The characters themselves belong to J. K. Rowling and the characters they are based on, and the plot, both belong to um…someone who isn't me *shruggs*.

Characters: The whole lot is in this one, except for Ron, he's in the next chapter. Harry, Hermione, the king of Hogsmeade (Herm's dad), Elizabeth, Virginia, and *gasp* yes, Rita Skeeter too.

Parings: Same as always R/Hr, H/G. There was supposed to be a lot of H/G last chapter but I cut it short. So there should be some in this one.

Setting: The castle in Hogsmeade…like always, enjoy J

Rating: G

Summary: It's Hermione's eighteenth birthday and she finds out something that will change her life from this point on. She is just getting really hyped about it when, something happens. *sigh* Poor Hermione, you'll see…

Sleeping Beauty-Harry Potter Style

Chapter 6

Hermione had woken up that day, and had totally forgotten that it was her birthday. If it hadn't been for Virginia, thrusting a present into her hands as soon as her eyes had opened, she would have forgotten completely.

"Happy birthday sleepy head!" Virginia called, sitting on the edge of her best friend's bed.

"Virginia! You know you didn't have to get me anything!" Hermione protested, though she was smiling all the same. She may have been a princess but she had many years when only Virginia had remembered why the day was so special. Her parents rarely went out of their way to surprise her but she didn't blame them. They were always busy. Still, she would have liked for them to acknowledge it at least.

"Open it!" Virginia said excitedly, interrupting Hermione's thoughts. Hermione followed the command and slowly began to unwrap the delicate paper. The wrapping revealed a lovely drawing of her, and a certain red head, hand in hand and smiling. Hermione blushed and smiled brightly. The quality of the piece of artwork was amazing.

"You did this for me Virginia?" She asked in a whisper.

"Yes. I was, well, hoping you would like it. I didn't want you to be angry with me. After all, it is Ron, and, well, I don't want you to feel like I'm suggesting anything, even though I know everything that I would be suggesting is true." A smile played on Virginia's face as she tried not to laugh.

"I love it Virginia. And, if you must know, yes, everything you would be implying, is true. Ron is," Hermione stopped and fingered the red headed figure in the drawing, "he is a very special person to me. He's more than just that." She smiled, "I'm starting to sound like a love sick maiden now. The point is, this is very lovely. I never knew you were such a wonderful artist."

"Oh, well, I never really told you how much I liked drawing. I remembered that your birthday was today and I wanted to give you something very special. I drew the scene from my memory. You two were so darling together. I just had to do it." Virginia stopped, and, taking a chance, said, "Hermione, you know that you care about him more than a normal friend would. I was just wondering, well, when are you going to tell him that?"

Hermione eyed her friend suspiciously. "I was thinking never. I don't think I'll ever be able to tell him. He can't know, especially since I'm a princess. It would hurt too much for me. I wouldn't want him to know, not if it had to be like that…" She trailed off, feeling unhappier than she had all week long.

"You can't be saying you won't even try to tell him. I'm sure he feels the same way and he won't mind if you are a princess. You could probably do the same thing you are doing right now. You could have him come here and…it would be so romantic don't you think. A secret romance…" Virginia sighed dreamily. She had always been the romantic type.

"But I won't be able to do that forever Virginia. I am already arranged to be married after all. What am I supposed to do when I get married? I can't," She didn't want to think about doing something as terrible as cheating on her husband. "It just won't work Virginia…"

"Don't you worry, Hermione. I'll figure something out so that it will work. You just enjoy yourself today. I'm doing research!" With that, Virginia hugged her friend goodbye and was gone before Hermione could stop her.

"Why do I always get into these situations?" Hermione thought out loud. Sighing, she traced her finger around the outline of the drawn Ron's face. Twelve thirty could not come soon enough. She couldn't wait to see Ron.

* * * *

Fifteen minutes earlier, Harry had been talking to Elizabeth and he had learned something that would change Ron's life forever. Right now, he was heading to the library, going the correct way this time, to see Virginia. As he got to the library door, he began to get worried. Just knowing that she was sitting in there made his heart beat faster. He took a deep breath. Everything was going to be fine. It was Virginia. Virginia was reasonable enough. She would talk to him. She wouldn't suspect that he was nervous at all, and she wouldn't be able to hear what he was thinking so it was going to be fine.

Finally realizing how ridiculous he must look standing and staring at the library door, he knocked. Soon afterward, it opened to reveal the person Harry had been waiting all day to see.

"Virginia." He smiled what must have been a very goofy grin.

"Why hello Harry. I'm sorry, you're a bit early. Herm-um, Rose isn't hear yet, and neither is Ron." She smiled at him and for a second he forgot why he was there in the first place.

"Oh, well, um, I wasn't coming to see them. I was really looking for you."

"You were? Well then, by all means come in and sit down. I would never refuse the chance to talk to a handsome young man like yourself." She smiled again, opening the door wider and letting him inside. "So, why did you want to talk to me today?" she asked as he sat down in an armchair. Hearing her question, Harry blushed slightly. Why did he come? He wasn't very sure himself. All he knew was that he had to talk about Rose being a princess. Besides that, the only reason he had wanted to come was to see her. There was no real reason behind that.

He decided the truth was always the best, even in this situation.

"Well, um, I just kind of wanted to er, see you." He stopped for a second while a blush crept onto Virginia's cheeks before rushing on. "You know, Ron was out early this morning and I had enjoyed your company yesterday. I figured it would be all right if I came to talk to you." This was when he eyed all of the books and papers that were spread out on the low table in front of him. "But of course, if you are busy…"

"Oh, don't worry. I'm not all that busy. I'm…very glad that you came today." She bit her bottom lip. "I had wanted to talk to you too. I enjoyed your company yesterday as well." She blushed again but she was smiling. "I'm glad we met. You are a very interesting person. I was hoping we could get to know each other better…"

"So was I." There was a long awkward silence that was broken finally by Virginia.

"Do you want to take a walk? The library is so musty and old. I don't know why er, Rose likes it so much in here. I never got to show you the gardens yesterday. They are amazing. It's like being in heaven."

"With that description, how could I turn you down?" He smiled as she took his hand and led him outside.

* * * *

As far as birthdays went, Hermione was having an absolutely terrible one. She still had a long time until Ron came to visit her and it seemed as if her parents had forgotten the day again. She was just about to start working on her embroidery of Ron again (it was almost complete) when her father came in, forgetting to knock.

"Dearest, honey bear, I really do need to talk to you about your arranged marriage, seeing as your birthday is coming up in a few days." Hermione sighed, putting her embroidery down, and giving her father a withered look.

"Father, it is my birthday."

"Today?" He thought for a second. "Weren't you born later? I could have sworn it was coming up still."

"No father. Today is my eighteenth birthday."

"Sweetie pie, why didn't you tell me it was today? My dearest honeysuckle, if you had told me, I would have planned a party for you. But, now that I haven't, I still must talk to you. And now that your birthday is today instead of in two days like I thought, I must tell you about your arranged marriage as soon as possible. Your beloved will be meeting you soon and I think you should know something about him before you actually marry him. Now-"

"I'm sorry father. I know how much this means to you and how much you really want to tell me all about my future but I am quite busy trying to finish this embroidery and then I have to finish reading that new book you gave me. I just don't have time to listen to you about this arranged marriage. Are you sure that you can no longer wait?"

"Aww, pumpkin, if I could do something to change it, I would. But today is the day that I absolutely must tell you. You will stay won't you? I will not take no for an answer." He said in an all too happy voice.

She sighed. This was the end of her relationship with Ron and the beginning of her new life. The life of pain and sorrow, that had taken eighteen years to finally surface. She had enjoyed her freedom while it lasted. She would definitely miss it.

"Ok father. I'll listen."

"Now, like I was telling you a few days ago, he is the prince of Ellia. I know I haven't seen him since he was just a baby but his father is a fine fellow, one of my best friends. And he wouldn't raise a mean child. I'm sure Ronald is a pleasant fellow." Hermione had been barely listening up until this point. When he had said Ronald her eyes shot open and the color drained from her face.

"Ronald?" She said in barely a whisper.

"Yes. Ronald is your husband's name. Is there something wrong sugar? You look deathly ill."

"No, nothing is wrong father." She swallowed. There were probably plenty of people from Ellia named Ronald, or Ron, or anything like that. She couldn't believe how much wishful thinking was affecting her. Still, she had to make sure.

"Was there anything…noticeable about, um, Ronald? Any physical features you remember on him when he was little?" The king smiled, thinking that she was getting interested; finally, in the man she would be marrying.

"Why, actually darling, there was. He had the most beautiful eyes you will ever see in your life. Gorgeous ones they were. Crystal blue."

Hermione's heart began to beat faster. Why was she so nervous about this? The chance that Ron was Ronald was one in a trillion. There could be no possibility that Ron was the person she was going to marry. Blue eyes weren't that unusual, and Ronald was a common name. There were plenty of Ronalds…

"Father, what color was his hair?" She was almost afraid to ask.

"The strangest color in the world actually. I'd never seen it. You wouldn't think he'd have that color considering that his father's is different."

"White?" She asked hopefully. Even though she desperately wanted Ron to be the one she would have to marry, she was beginning to think that if he were, she would die right there. Her father would surely realize something was up.

"Heavens no buttercup. It was a beautiful color. The same color as fire itself. Orange."

Hermione sat disbelieving. He couldn't be. Ron couldn't be the same Ronald that her father was talking about. It seemed as if the world had stopped turning and her heart had stopped beating. She must have been very pale indeed because her father gave her the strangest look she had ever seen.

"Are you sure you're ok honey bunch?"

"Yes, I'm fine father." She said, trying to reassure him, but her voice shook as she spoke. She asked one more question.

"Father, Ronald's mother, is, is she still alive?"

Her father looked sadly at her. "No. I'm sorry to say she passed away when she had him. It was such a terrible thing. That poor boy had to grow up with out a mother."

"Yes," Hermione said weakly, "yes, it's dreadful. I think that is all you need to tell me about him. Thank you for coming here to talk to me. I greatly appreciate it." She didn't even have the strength to smile because of how shocked she was. "Goodbye father. I will come down to talk to you again later." With that, she ushered her father out the door, walked back, and fell onto her bed, not able to think one clear thought. She was marrying Ron. She was getting to marry Ron, the only person she had been able to think about for the last week, the person that she found herself falling in love with. For the first time since her father had come, she smiled brightly and began to laugh out loud in glee. She was marrying Ron!

"Hermione," The voice interrupted her thoughts and she looked up. She recognized the voice. It was odd, but it sounded a little like Ron. Ron didn't know her name was Hermione though. There was no one in the room so she figured she was imagining it and she went on to daydream about her new life.

"Hermione, come here please. I want to see you" Ron's voice called again. Hermione looked up again. There was still no one there but the voice seemed to be coming from outside her room anyway. She got up and went to her door, opening it and looking out into the hall. There was no one there either. She stood and thought for a second about it. The hall was long, and the closest door was a long way away. No one could have said that with out being in the room with her.

"Hello? Ron?"

"Hermione, I want you to look for me." She shrugged and followed his voice. "You're almost there, come on." Hermione started to run down the hallway. The realization that Ron would be there was wonderful. The faster she got there, the better. Finally, she got to the first room in the hallway.

"Ron? Are you here? I have wonderful news for you."

"Come in. Let me see you." She stepped into the room but Ron wasn't in site.

"Ron?" She asked. She was utterly confused now. How was she able to hear him with out seeing him anywhere? She stepped farther in the room and heard the door click closed behind her. It was locked. She spun around quickly.

There, standing before her was a lady not more than twice her age. Hermione stepped back, immediately afraid of her. Somehow, she knew this person wasn't someone to be trusted.

"Where's Ron? What did you do to him?" Hermione asked as her back hit the wall lightly. There was nowhere to go now. The woman smiled in what was an obvious attempt to look kind but Hermione felt very uneasy. "You had better not do anything to me. My father knows I'm here. He'll come looking for me."

"Oh, I won't do anything to you. I just want to talk to you. And Ron is fine. He's perfectly all right."

Hermione stared back defiantly. "If you are not going to hurt me, why did you lock the door?"

"Dear, would you like it better if it is unlocked? I will unlock it for you. I just called you up here because I thought you might like to know that we're out of thread. We need to spin some more onto this spinning wheel in the corner." She waved her hand at a spinning wheel that seemed to suddenly appear. Of course, it must have been there before. It was illogical to believe it just got there. The woman continued to speak.

"The problem is, your father did not have time to teach me how to do it. The king is a busy man. But he told me to come to you. You must have done this a thousand times. I thought you might help me."

Hermione still looked skeptical but she moved away from the wall and toward the woman. "Well, I suppose I can teach you except, I've never done it either. I've never seen one of those. We import all our cloth. Didn't you know that?"

The woman seemed to pale for a second before smiling widely and saying, "Oh, yes, your father told me about that. But you see, I told him about the fine quality of homemade cloths and he seemed to agree that it would be a better idea if we made our own. You seem like a very bright girl but if you can't do it…" Hermione had been studying the spinning wheel but when the woman said this, her eyes shot up in a glare. She hated people implying that she could not do something.

"Oh, I can do it." Hermione replied haughtily, striding over to the wheel and studying it once more. "Hmm," After another few seconds of glancing at it, she found what was needed to be done.

She sat herself on the small chair in front of it and took the wool, spreading it out slowly in her fingers. She noticed how beautiful the dragon tooth needle looked on its perch. It really was an elegant piece of furniture, the spinning wheel. She would have to tell her father to buy more. She took the now string like wool between her fingers and wrapped it around the tooth but just as she was doing so, the woman interrupted.

"Very nice work." The woman said, looking almost hungry with desire, for what, Hermione didn't know. She turned to look at the woman but soon felt a stinging pain in her finger. She turned her face sharply around and found a small red dot of blood dripping off her pinky. She quickly put it into her mouth, trying to stop it from bleeding. She turned back to the woman and stood.

"You understand how to-how to," Hermione stumbled back a step but caught herself on the wall. She was feeling dizzy and unstable on her feet. The room seemed to be spinning but she continued to speak, "spin w-wool now?" She felt her knees buckle and hit the floor with a thud. Soon the rest of her body came tumbling down. "Please, g-get my father. Something's wrong." She said in barely a whisper. The woman cackled loudly and triumphantly, leaning down near Hermione's face.

"Oh dear, you won't have to worry about him. He'll be in the same predicament you're in soon enough. Nighty-night!"

The last image she saw before her eyelids became to heavy to stay up, was the woman, laughing madly, and disappearing in a cloud of green smoke.

* * * *

Virginia guided Harry through the garden. It really was like heaven. The flowers sent up a strong and beautiful aroma that seemed to make Harry giddier than he already was.

"These flowers were made by the royal herbologists. They really are amazing. There's a legend about them, though I'm sure it isn't true." Virginia was saying to a grinning Harry. "I'm sure it was just a fable passed along but they say that these flowers make you want to do very bold things…I don't know what those would be," She said, turning to Harry and smiling, "but it's a nice story." Harry was no longer looking at Virginia but at the flowers. She looked up at him and waved her hand in front of his face.

"Harry?" He didn't reply. "Are you all right?" Still nothing, "Perhaps we should-" but whatever she was about to suggest was completely wiped from her mind when she found that she was being kissed. Apart from being completely surprised she found that it was actually nice. She was about to wrap her arm around his neck when she became rather tired. Harry too, was beginning to feel sleepy. Not more than a second later, they were asleep, frozen on their feet and unable to move, but peaceful all the same.

The same affects began to take place all over the castle. Maids yawned as they hung wet clothing on the line and resorted to resting against the huge tubs of warm water. Dogs, cats, and cows alike all closed their eyes to dreamy thoughts of their next meals. Even the king and queen began stretching and rubbing their eyes as they sat in their thrones and fell into the deep sleep. It seemed as if no one inside the walls of the castle could escape it and soon, there was not a single living thing that had not begun to dream.

Up in a high tower of the castle, a slightly annoying but all together evil laugh rang through the halls. If it had not been for the dear fairy Arabella, Hermione would have been left lying on the cold floor. However, Arabella did come and with a kind smile, she gathered the young girl in her arms and flew her down the hallway toward her bedchambers. Only Arabella, Molly, and Minerva knew of the young man racing to get to the castle.

A/N: Oh, wow! I'm so proud of that chapter! I hope you are too J. Please review for me!!! And if you didn't read the extremely long and tiresome author's note at the beginning of this extremely long chapter, can you tell me what part you've liked, and it doesn't just have to be in this chapter, it can be through the whole story. Only one more chapter to go! I haven't even started on it yet…sorry. I hope you all liked this one and sorry again for the wait!