A/N: OK, next chapter! Onward we go - and by the way, I disclaim this totally. It is JKR's and based on 'Ever After'. I own nothing! Don't sue!

By the way, in this fic, Minister of Magic is like a King, something that is of royal blood. Since James Potter is Minister of Magic, Harry is next in line for the position. It is AU, see? Courtiers are members of the Ministry.

Dumbledore is a Professor who is a genius that no one takes seriously, he also paints. Storyline subject to change slightly.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

'Why is it so hard for you to take responsibility, Harry?' asked Dumbledore.

Dumbledore and himself had become friends since the incident with the gypsies and were having lunch together. Harry groaned. He was right again. Dumbledore was always right.

'It is not just a matter of taking the position of Minister of Magic, Professor. They want me to get married.' He spat out the words in disgust. 'To some Spanish girl I know nothing of.'

Dumbledore looked at him in sympathy. 'Well, Harry -'

The clock chimed and Harry started. 'Sorry, Professor. I must thank a servant.'

Dumbledore watched him in amazement as he grabbed his cloak and ran off. 'That boy . . .' he murmured. 'Call me Albus!' he shouted through the open window.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

'Well, well.' Said Elizabeth coming to the door. 'What a pleasant surprise. To what do we owe the honour?'

'I just wanted to thank a servant girl for borrowing a horse.' He said simply, smoothing down his messy hair.

'Oh.' Said Elizabeth sharply. 'Was it borrowed?'

'Yes. Well - I took it this morning and was punished,' he said ruefully. 'I think I scared her into throwing apples at me. Great aim though, would make for a fantastic Chaser perhaps, er . . .' he trailed off, looking at Elizabeth's less-than-happy face.

'She's mute.' Was all she could say.

'Mute?' said Harry, giving a short laugh. 'Well, she certainly told me off all right.'

'It comes and goes. She's not in anyway.'

'I should be going then, thank -'

'Have you met my daughters?' said Elizabeth quickly, spotting them and presenting them foreword. 'Marguerite Francis De Ghent. And Jacqueline.'

Marguerite curtsied flirtatiously, her eyes placed on Harry. She wore a low-cut gown with a large brooch they bought that morning was placed directly center at the low neckline of the dress, giving him a full opportunity to look at her. Jacqueline shot her a look of disgust.

'I can't believe you are the same girls I went to Hogwarts with.' Said Harry, charmingly. 'You seemed to have - grown . . . overnight.' This he said to Marguerite, much to her satisfaction.

'We look forward to celebrating your engagement, sire.' Said Elizabeth.

Harry suddenly looked flustered. 'Nothing is finalized.' He said shortly. 'That brooch is stunning.'

'That old thing? You are such a flatterer.' Said Marguerite demurely. 'You are welcome to look.' She added.

'Good day, ladies.' He said before leaving.

The three curtsied again, and as he left, Marguerite gave a shriek of delight and hugged her mother. Jacqueline rolled her eyes and went inside.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

'Come along, move it!' said the gruff voice of a wizard, slapping the reins against a horse which was carting a load of house-elves and servant men.

'Here we go.' Said Hermione taking a deep breath. 'Excuse me, sir.' She said, stepping directly in front of the cart.

'Whoa!' called the man, stopping the horse. 'What do you want, miss?'

'I wish to pay the debt against this house-elf. I wish to take back the clothes and take him home this afternoon.' She said boldly.

'No such luck.' He said shortly. 'Bought and paid for and will be shipped to America.'

'I'll pay ten galleons for him!' she shouted.

'Lady, you can have ten galleons for me. Now, move it.'

'Release him at once or I will take the matter to the Minister of Magic!' demanded Hermione.

'He's the one that paid for him. He is property of a man in America who needs twenty house-elves.'

'He isn't property of anyone, you filthy idiot!' cried Hermione passionately. 'How dare you think it is right to chain men and house- elves and ship them across the Channel! You make me sick!'

Harry was watching this scene and stepped closer.

'Get out of my way!' the cart-driver barked at Hermione.

'How dare you speak to a young lady like that.' Interrupted Harry.

'Sire, I am simply doing my job. These thieves and criminals are sent away for a reason.'

'That rubbish! These servants and house-elves aren't thieves and those who are can't help themselves!' shouted Hermione, tossing her hair indignantly.

'They aren't?' said Harry in surprise.

Hermione scowled at him. 'You send these ill-educated creatures away for crimes which they have been accustomed to since infancy. You make thieves and then punish them. As for house-elves, they are shockingly unrepresented in the Ministry, I'll have you know!'

Harry smiled at the young lady who was speaking so passionately, with fire in her eyes and looking more beautiful than anyone he has ever met - but she looked so very familiar. 'Well you heard her. Release him.'

'But -'

'I said, release him.'

Tinkle was unchained and ran towards Hermione clutching her dress in his dirty hands he hugged her and smudged her dress. She didn't seem to mind and hugged him back.

'I'll get your transport ready, miss. I'll meet you at the bridge.' And with that, he ran off, ripping his sock off triumphantly as he went.

'Have we met?' asked Harry turning to her.

Hermione shook her head at once. 'I don't think so.' She said quickly.

'I could have sworn I had seen you before. I thought I knew all the courtiers of the Ministry.' He said, furrowing his brow.

'I'm visiting a cousin.' Said Hermione, crossing her fingers behind her back.

'Who?'

'A cousin.'

'Which one?'

'The only one I have.' She said simply, dodging his questions.

'Are you trying to seduce me with your mystery or don't you want to tell me your name?' asked Harry finally.

'Yes - and no.'

'Well then tell me your cousin's name. I think you're worth the effort. I think I heard some utopian lines that you said.'

'You've read Utopia?' said Hermione, smiling brightly.

'Yes.' Said Harry. 'But it was so boring.' He continued candidly, 'I'm not interested about poor people's lives. Commoners, some even muggleborn or half-blood!'

'You don't talk to many commoners.' Said Hermione, narrowing her eyes at the conceited man before her. She was disappointed at his attitude, and was disappointed at her disappointment. Who was she to think he was any different?

'You think I'm arrogant?' he said with a teasing smile.

'You gave one house-elf back his life, but did you think of the others at all?' said Hermione shortly.

'Please, can you tell me your name?'

'I can only give you one: Daniella.' Said Hermione, using the name of her late mother. That would have to do, and she wouldn't be seeing him again anytime soon.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Hermione and Tinkle ran towards the kitchens and opened the door of the laundry where they found Molly washing clothes. She leapt up when she saw them.

'Tinkle! Tinkle, you're back!' said Molly happily.

'He looks wonderful, doesn't he?' agreed Hermione.

MEANWHILE:

'Your father wants to speak to you face to face.' Said Lily, as soon as she found Harry, who surprisingly, was in the library with the book Utopia clutched in his hand.

'That's usually how he speaks to me.' Said Harry, energetically catching his mother's arm and waltzing her down the corridor into their bedroom where his father stood by the window.

'We have come to a decision.' He said quietly.

All energy left Harry and he slumped into a chair. The fated news. Would he or would he not be asked to date and probably marry a total stranger from Spain?

'We are throwing a ball in honour of Professor Dumbledore's new discovery. We don't wish you to get married, but we want you final decision -'

'On whether you accept the position, five days day after midnight that night.' Finished Lily sympathetically. She glanced at her husband. 'It worked for us. It will work for you.'

Harry stood up abruptly and the chair toppled heedlessly to the floor. 'I hate this.'

'You are crowned Minister of Magic -'

'And it is my life, not yours!'

'- and you have obligations. You will make the right decision or so help me God, I'll live forever.'

Great. Gives him many options, doesn't it? Harry thought, retreating back to the library.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

'Somebody's in trouble,' mocked Marguerite in a sing-song way as soon as she saw Hermione. 'Mother, she's here!'

'What on earth do you mean?' asked Hermione airily.

Elizabeth swooped upon her and grabbed both her shoulders, shaking her violently while shouting a torrent of angry words. 'You stupid, idiotic girl! How dare you go behind our backs and do this to me and Marguerite? It's deceitful and disgusting considering what I have done for you! I will not accept these underhand ways of yours and not in my house!' she shouted, so angry that she sprayed Hermione with her spittle.

'What did I do?' cried Hermione, shrugging herself away from her clutch.

'Think about what you did this morning.' Said Marguerite smoothly. 'Think very hard.'

'I was in the woods and Harry stole a horse.' Said Hermione, furrowing her brow.

'Yes and wouldn't that explain when he came here this afternoon looking for you!' said Elizabeth angrily.

'I'm sorry.' Was all Hermione could think to say.

'Luckily for you, Marguerite was absolutely stunning. She has Harry wrapped around her little finger.' Elizabeth sneered.

'I wouldn't be surprised if he came to see me tomorrow!' declared Marguerite, tossing her hair.

Elizabeth clapped her hands briskly. 'I want to know exactly what you said to him. He hinted in no uncertain terms that you scolded him!'

'I called him a thief.' Said Hermione. 'I didn't see him!' she added defensively.

'You stupid, pitiful girl. Now we must work extra hard to keep this Manor spotless. It wouldn't do to have his noble bottom sitting on a dirty chair, now would it? And I thought I gave you clothes, Tinkle.'

'They let Tinkle go - they had many house-elves, they did not want Tinkle, miss.' Said Tinkle, cowering behind Hermione.

'Fine. Go - go clean something!'

Elizabeth watched as Hermione and Tinkle scurried away into the servants quarters. Hearing a knock on the door, she found Earnest, the castle guard. He was a chubby, short man who always came around with the tit- bits of the Ministry's doings.

'What news of the Spanish girl?'

'Cancelled. Not happening, apparently. Rumour has it, they're forgetting the marriage concept entirely.' He whispered, as he always did for fear of being overhead, which was, of course, absolutely ridiculous. 'He must make his decision about accepting the position the night of the ball in honour of that loony, Albus Dumbledore.'

'I shall need to know everything, his agenda, what he is doing - but what is this?'

'And invitation for the ball.' He said, presenting an envelope. 'For the ladies of the house. Lily Potter has made the option of meeting a possible bride very clear indeed.'

'Thank you Earnest, thank you.' Said Elizabeth, running her cupped fingers down his cheek. 'Once my daughter is the wife of the Minister of Magic, we shall make a new arrangement.'

'Yes, ma'am.' He apparated with a pop.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

'I would have given anything to see you dressed all posh like a courtier,' said Molly, and she sat on a barrel in awe. 'And to think you spoke to the Harry Potter.'

'Telling him off is more like it and I can't believe I gave him my mother's name.' said Hermione, charming the potatoes to peel themselves. 'He is absolutely insufferable. I hate him.'

'Yes, and you've been saying that all day.' Said Molly, giving her a sideways look.

'Well I hate him as much now as I did in the morning.' Said Hermione, watching the potatoes zoom into a pot.

'He's royalty, love.' Said Molly, as if that explained everything. 'They're born that way.'

'I just can't believe that people are born arrogant.' Said Hermione. She paused, contemplating this. 'When your rich, you live with rich people, that's why.'

'Maybe he's charming when you get to know him.' Suggested Molly.

'Honestly, I think he and Marguerite deserve each.'

'Don't tempt fate, dear. The other throne I want that brat sitting on is the one I clean everyday.' Said Molly, patting Hermione affectionately on the shoulder.

Hermione smiled at Molly and cast a spell on the window to create a beautiful picture of beaches, which they watched quietly as the potatoes boiled.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~