Disclaimer: you know the drill.

Author's note: this is the first chapter where Harry starts to realize his feelings for the princess. And- because I'm tired of typing "the princess" or "she"- I've given her a nickname. Hope you like, and read on...

Chapter Four: Gwen and Leo

Once the portrait swung open, Harry stepped inside and quickly peeled off his robes and shirt. On the way there, Peeves had surprised him by dumping a bucket of freezing water over his head. Harry currently had a large and very cold piece of ice down his back. He hung his wet clothes on a nearby coat rack, and put the coat rack by the fire so they would dry. "Damn Peeves," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. He heard the sharp intake if breath, and turned around.

There was the princess, wide-eyed at Harry's near nakedness. She had taken off her purple satin cloak and heavy blue silk robes; he saw that she was still wearing her sleeveless purple dress and veil. On her feet Harry saw blue satin slippers, curled up at the toe. She covered her veil where her mouth was and looked him up and down. "Oh!" she cried out in surprise. "I-I'm so sorry!" she apologized taking a few tentative steps closer to him and curtsying. "I had gone upstairs to find my book when I heard someone come in, so I came down to see who it was. I was afraid it might be Dra-...er...a stranger..."

Harry had the distinct impression that she was going to end her sentence a different way, then changed her mind. But he didn't press her. He had more important matters to see to, like aquiring a clean shirt. She set her book face down on the nearby table. "I-I'll just go upstairs- to change for bed..."she told him awkwardly. She lightly ascended the staircase to the right. He went up the stairs to the left and went to his dorm. All of his things were already there. Hedwig, he thought, must be in the Owlry. He changed into his pajama pants and a T-shirt and went downstairs into the Head's commonroom.

The princess wasn't down yet. Harry collapsed into a soft squishy couch in front of the fireplace. Closing his eyes, he pondered just what his feelings were for the princess, until he got the feeling he was being watched. Opening his eyelids, he nearly had a heart attack. Staring back at him were large, worried hazel eyes. The princess' face was so close to his that he could see every long eyelash around her eyes. "GAH!" he shouted in surprise, nearly falling off of the sofa. The princess jumped back in alarm.

Harry sat up and he saw that the princess had fallen to her knees and was bowing to him as in worship, her forehead to the floor and her arms outstretched. She was wearing what looked like a white silk nightgown and her purple veil. "I'm so sorry to disturb you, Master! Please forgive me!" she said hurredly. "Er-no..That's okay. You just- I'm not used to having people stare at me like that." He said, rubbing the back of his neck, wishing she'd get up. The girl got up, but remained sitting on the floor, her legs tucked underneath her and her hands on her knees. "It shan't happen again," she told him, her eyes cast to the floor.

"Is-er- there anything you.....um....wanted?" Harry asked, swallowing hard. "Oh!" she jumped up as though scalded, placed her fingers under her veil and into her mouth, and whistled loudly. Hedwig flew from the door to her dormitory and landed on the princess' shoulder."This owl came tapping at my window. The letter is addressed to you."

Herry walked over and took Hedwig with a mumbled "Thanks." He sat on the sofa, Hedwig on his knee, and opened the letter.

Leo,

Meet Scurry & me at the library tommorrow after dinner.

T.S.

It was from Hermione. Ever since the three of them had become unregistered Animagi, they had used nicknames and symbols. Hermione became an eagle, and was called Twittersing. Ron became a ferret, but every time they called him a ferret or a weasle, he woud always say indignantly, "I am not! I'm a mongoose!" They called him Scurry. And Harry became a lion, hence the name Leon, or Leo for short.

Harry crumpled up the letter in a ball and tossed it into the fire. Hedwig soared swiftly out of the window and dissapeaed into the night. He looked at the princess, who- in the meantime- had curled up comfortably in a nearby armchair, reading her book.

"Er...you know..." Harry said. She looked up. "You don't have to call me 'master'"

She nodded. "As you wish, Mr.Potter."

Unable to stop himself, Harry laughed. "No, I mean, you can call me 'Harry', if you like"

Smiling, she replied, "No, I may not. I can only call my fiancee by his first name. So you see, I could not call you 'Harry', even if I wanted to."

"Do you want to?" Harr was only vaguely aware he had said something. At that moment he was thinking of how her long, dark lashes curled up on her cheeks.

"Of course I do.... Harry. But I must not."

"Oh, come on. Only when we're alone then"

She sighed. "Fine."

He folded his arms on the arm of the couch and rested his chin on them, looking at her in thought. "Now what should I call you?"

She looked at him. "My name is Guenivere."

"You need a nickname..." he said, trying to think of one. She laughed. To Harry, it was such an angelic sound, like the ring of a bell, or the strum of a harp.

"And why, perchance, do I need one?" she asked playfully. Harry grinned.

"Because I say so...now let's see...Wency? No. ...Gen? No...Hm...Hooowww.....aboouuut.... Gwen...Yes! That's it! I'll call you 'Gwen'!" She giggled.

"Alright Harry. But only when we're alone."

"Yes," he agreed, "only when.... we're alone..."

When she looked into his eyes, her face changed. "D-Don't look at me that way." She said in a strained voice.

"Why not?" Harry asked smiling.

She stood up abruptly and said in a cold tone "It makes me feel uncomfortable." And with that, she walked off towards the dormitories. Halfway up her staircase, she called to him in a firm voice. "Good night, Mr. Potter." However, he could hear the smile in her voice, so he went to bed with a grin on his face.