Chapter 2



The guests were all in the grand ballroom when the caller cried out.

"Princess Serenity of Slytherin!"

The guests bowed as Serenity walked gracefully threw the ballroom to Queen Malory and King John. Serenity bowed to her parents and took her seat beside her mother. "Bring forth the guests," King John called out. One by one, every noble and lord in Slytherin kissed Serenity's hand and gave her a gift. Serenity tried her best to keep smiling threw all this. She was board out of her mind. Serenity sighed with relief when it finally ended. She was talking with her mother when she heard the caller cry out again.

"Prince Harry of Gryffindor!"

Serenity looked up and she saw a handsome young man dressed in Red and gold walk up to her and her parents and bow. It was Prince Harry, her closest friend and the boy she had fallen in love with as a little girl. She stared at him, not able to keep her eyes off of him. He is so handsome. "Hello King John, Queen Malory. I bring you greetings from my parents King James and Queen Lillian of Gryffindor." Queen Malory smiled and hugged the young man. "Harry, my godson, look at you. You've grown so much since we last saw you. You're practically a man now." Harry smiled. "Thank you godmother. My parents sent me in their stead for they had important matters to attend to back in Gryffindor." Malory smiled. "Well, I am glad they had sent you. Serenity, look who's here." Harry saw a young girl stand up and walk towards him. She was very beautiful. Her brown eyes sparkled in the candlelight. He bowed. "Princess Serenity, I wish you the most happiest of birthdays and I hope you have many more." He gently kissed her hand. Serenity bowed. "Thank you for attending my party Prince Harry." Harry smiled. "I have something for you princess." Harry got out a red box. "This gift is from my parents." Serenity smiled and opened it. It was a beautiful gold locket with a diamond heart in the center and her name engraved on the bottom. "It's beautiful, please tell your parents thank you very much." Harry smiled. "I'll be sure of it. I have one more thing for you. I heard you loved the roses back at Gryffindor so I got you these." He took out a bouquet of roses tied in a red and gold ribbon. Serenity took them and smelled them. "Oh, I would pick these when I visited there as a little girl." Serenity smiled. "We used to play together all the time. And you would always put a rose in my hair. Remember Harry." Harry smiled. "Of course. I loved it when you came to visit. It was the best time of my life. I missed you Serenity." Serenity smiled. "I missed you too Harry." They continued to look at each other. Harry is so handsome, I can't seem to keep my eyes off of him. Like when I was a little girl. Do I still love him?

Serenity is more beautiful than when I last saw her all those years ago. I can't keep my eyes off of her, have I fallen in love with her?

Malory looked at the two of them and smiled. She saw the love in their eyes. King John stood up. "May the dancing begin!" the band started playing a slow waltz. Harry looked at Serenity and smiled. "May I have the honor of having this dance Princess?" He held out his hand. Serenity smiled. "I would be delighted." She took his hand and walked out onto the dance floor where they began to waltz. Queen Malory sat beside her husband and smiled. "My lord, look at Serenity and Prince Harry dancing. Do they not look wonderful together?" King John looked at them and smiled. "Yes, Serenity looks quite smitten with him. I haven't seen her so happy." Queen Malory smiled. "And Prince Harry is a strong man, very educated, and future High King. He would make a fine husband." John looked at his wife, he knew where she was going. "Darling, I have already promised Serenity to Lord Draco. They have been betrothed since Serenity was a little girl, and besides, Prince Harry is betrothed to Princess Cho of Ravenclaw." Malory smiled. "Ravenclaw canceled the engagement. Princess Cho was in love with Prince Cedric of Hufflepuff, and they decided to marry." John looked at Serenity and Harry. "She would be well taken care of, Gryffindor is the richest kingdom in the land." Malory smiled. "And look at their eyes, there's something they had for a long while, but couldn't speak of it. They're in love John." John smiled. "Then who am I to get in the way of my daughter's happiness." Malory smiled. "Thank you my lord, but let us wait till Prince Harry formally asks us for Serenity's hand, no doubt he will."

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Serenity and Harry looked at each other, not able to take their eyes off of one another. Even though they hadn't seen each other in years, they were falling deeper and deeper in love the more they danced. They finelly stopped dancing and smiled. "Serenity, how about we take a walk in the gardens to cool ourselves," Harry said offering his arm, "I heard the Slytherin gardens are even more beautiful then when I last saw them." Serenity smiled and wrapped her arm around his. They walked out of the ballroom and into the gardens. They walked in silence, not knowing what to say, wanting to confess their love for each other. " I heard you're betrothed to Princess Cho of Ravenclaw," Serenity said. "There were so many things I wanted to tell you, but I'm happy for you. I hope you have a lifetime of love and happiness." Serenity choked back her tears, not wanting to show Harry how much it hurt. Harry looked at Serenity. "Actually, Ravenclaw canceled the engagement. Princess Cho was madly in love with Prince Cedric of Hufflepuff and they married. What did you want to tell me?" Serenity looked at Harry's green eyes. How much she loved his eyes. "I wanted to tell you for the longest time that I was madly in love with you. I have been since I was a little girl." Serenity looked away. "I still am." Harry stopped walking and faced Serenity. "I've been in love with you since we played together as children. I wanted to tell you, but then, our fathers started fighting and we were separated. Now that our fathers are friends again and I'm no longer engaged I can say this. I love you Serenity." Harry wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. Serenity's heart was racing. He was kissing her, and she loved it. But she soon remembered her betrothal to Lord Draco and quickly pushed away. "I can't Harry. I'm betrothed to one of the rich lords of Slytherin Lord Draco of the house of Malfoy. He's awful, all he wants is the crown. He doesn't even care about me. I don't know why my father promised me to him." Harry touched her face. "I don't care, I love you, and I'll always love you." Harry smiled and they kissed again. "Princess," Serenity's servant Lavina whispered. Harry and Serenity parted. "Is there something wrong Lavina?" Lavina bowed. "Your highness, Lord Draco is here and wishes to see you." Serenity sighed. "Tell him that I will be in shortly." Lavina bowed and left. She turned to Harry. "I guess this is it, my future husband awaits and I have to be with him even though I eurn to be with you. Oh Harry, if there was a way for us to be together." Harry touched Serenity's soft cheek. How much he wanted her to be with him. How he wished she were his bride. "I think there is a way for us to be together." Just then a young man with blond hair and dressed in black walked out to them and bowed . "There you are Princess Serenity, I was beginning to worry." Serenity forced a smile and bowed. "Lord Draco, what a pleasure that you could come to my ball." Draco smiled. " I wouldn't miss the coming of age of my future wife and queen." Serenity thought she would vomit, for he smelled of rum, but she kept her smile. "Lord Draco, this is Prince Harry of Gryffindor. He's a very old and dear friend of mine." Draco bowed "It is a pleasure to meet you your highness." Harry nodded his head. The man looked horrible. How could King John promise Serenity to such a horrible, disgusting man. He forced a smile. "I will leave you two alone to talk, while I have a word with the King and Queen." "You don't have to go Harry," Serenity said her eyes looking at him as if begging him not to go. Harry smiled. "No, I must. I have important matters to discuss with your parents. And it would be rude to intrude on the conversation of a future wife and husband." He hugged Serenity. "I shall be back soon," he whispered, "do not worry, I won't leave you with him." Harry kissed her on the cheek and walked into the ballroom. Draco smiled and gently kissed Serenity's hand. "Princess, when your father the king announces our engagement, please accepts this ring as a sign of our coming commitment to each other. He pulled out a big diamond ring. "Thank you Lord Draco, I only hope I will be a good wife to you." "Your highness," a man said walking out and bowing, "The king wishes for you in the ballroom to announce your engagement." Draco turned and smiled. "Well, I will see you later your highness, when I accept your hand." Serenity smiled weakly. "Yes, we shall meet again." Serenity turned and walked back inside the ballroom and took her seat beside her father, preparing to give her hand to a man she did not love. Oh, if there was only a way to tell my father that I love Harry and I want to marry him. King John rose and the entire hall was silent. "Tonight we not only celebrate Princess Serenity's birthday, but we also announce her husband." He held out his hand to Serenity. She stood up and took it. "I am pleased to announce the engagement of Princess Serenity of Slytherin," King John looked at his wife, smiled then back at the crowd. "To Prince Harry of Gryffindor." Serenity gasped. She couldn't believe what she heard, she was engaged to Harry. She looked at her father who smiled. "I've been happy with your mother for many years, you deserve to be happy with the one you love." Serenity hugged her father. "Thank you father," she whispered. King John smiled. Harry walked up beside them and bowed. King John took Serenity's hand and put it in Harry's. "May this marriage be a blessing to both Gryffindor and Slytherin." Harry smiled and slipped a diamond ring on her finger. Serenity looked at Harry and smiled. "Was this your way of us being together?" Harry pulled her close to him and smiled. "As I said before Serenity, I love you. I want you to be queen of Gryffindor, and my heart." He softly kissed her. "NO!" A voice screamed in the crowd. Lord Draco walked threw the crowd and up to the king and queen. "You promised my parents that I shall be wed to Princess Serenity!" King John was furious. "How dare you question me Lord Draco! I have made my decision, Serenity shall wed Prince Harry." Draco was furious. "You cannot go back on your word! Serenity was promised to me!" "I am the king I can do what ever I please!" Draco turned to Serenity and gently took her hand. "Serenity, please tell your father that you love me, that you want to marry me." Serenity snatched her hand away and glared at him. "I don't love you and I never shall. You are a mean, greedy man, who cares only for money and power. Not of more important like love and happiness." She wrapped her arms around Harry and laid her head on his shoulder. "This is the man I love, this is the man I want to marry. My only hope is that you find someone just as cold and greedy as you!" Draco glared at Serenity. "You'll pay princess, your whole family will pay for doing this. Just wait, I will have my revenge." "GET OUT!" King John yelled. "And never return!" Draco turned and stormed out of the castle. Serenity looked at Harry. "Do you think he'll take revenge on my family?" Harry sighed. "I have no doubt he will, he seem very angry. But I won't let him hurt you, so long as I live. I love you Serenity." He kissed her. King John looked at them and smiled. He faced the crowd. "Let the festivities continue, today is a happy day, for my daughter is to marry!" The music started again and everyone started talking and dancing. Harry looked at Serenity and smiled. "May I have this dance, my love?" Serenity took her future husband's hand and smiled. They walked out to the dance floor and begun dancing again. King John took his wife's hand and smiled. "I can't believe our little girl is to marry. It seems like only yesterday she was holding my hand asking tons of questions about the family and what she will do when she was queen. Now look at her, she's a woman about to wed a fine man who will take care of her and loves her dearly. I'm just so proud." Just then, King John started coughing blood in his handkerchief. Malory put her arms around her husband. "My lord, let us get you to bed." John smiled weakly. "No my darling, I want to watch my daughter dance with her love." King John and Queen Malory smiled and watched Serenity and Harry dance.

"This is unfair!" Draco yelled. "Princess Serenity was promised to me! How dare King John let her marry the High king's son Prince Harry." "My son, do not be angry, for you will be king." Draco looked at the middle- aged woman sitting in a chair by the fire. She was Narrissa, Draco's mother. "Mother, how will I be king if I'm no longer betrothed to the princess." Narrissa smiled. "Draco, you will go up to King John, formally apologize for your actions at the ball, and formally ask for your father's place as his right hand. You will do this at the princess' wedding feast. Horrible things will happen to the royal family and Princess Serenity will die without leaving a heir, and then my son, you will be king." "Mother, that's perfect, but how will you make sure that the Princess will not conceive an heir?" Narrissa smiled. She walked up to the fireplace, grabbed a small bowl from a mantle, and threw what was inside into the fire. The fire turned green and rose into the air. "Powers of the dark side come to my aide. I put a curse on Princess Serenity, may she never bring forth an heir." The fire went back to its red glow. Draco smiled. You chose Prince Harry over me princess, now you will pay.