Disclaimer: AH, is that a DUCK? > I bet JKR owns it.

Far away
Long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember

And a song someone sings
Once upon a December...

Chapter 2

The chilly December night proved incapable to ruin the pleasant mood radiating from the passengers inside the glimmering white carriage. As the horses trotted towards their destination, a sweet melody could be heard coming from the Everard Palace.

A voice faded in with the music and began to sing. Hermione knew it was the most beautiful song she had ever heard even though they were too far way to hear the words.

The woman's voice was heavenly, but there was a tinge of sadness. Hermione was mesmerized by the voice, but also troubled by it. She felt goose pimples slowly creeping up her arm as the sweet voice and music continued to serenade them.

Hermione felt her brother's arm wrap around her as he could sense what she had been feeling. She looked up at him and smiled warmly. His dark blue eyes twinkled as he looked at his twin. No one believed that they were twins at first glance. Blaise had straight, midnight black hair while Hermione's curls were a chestnut brown. Even at 10, Blaise was already half a head taller than Hermione.

But even with all the glaring differences, with close inspection, the two undeniably shared the same characteristics. Their mouths were both inherited from their mother, and the two of them often pouted or smirked at the same time. Both of their noses were a little more flat than sharp, and if ever one of them wrinkled their nose, the other would have a crinkle in between their eyebrows from doing the same thing. They loved the same exotic foods and avoided flying as much as possible (more Hermione than Blaise).

After a few moments, the twins both looked towards their Mother who sat across from them. Éliane's eyes were closed and single, crystal tear slowly made its way down her face. Hermione reached to wipe it from her face, but Father beat her to it.

In half a second's time, Bastien Everard had seen the tear fall and reacted. He felt his wife's soft skin and for that moment knew no other pleasure. The two adults both knew what was to happen. The signs had been there for years; even before the birth of their twins. If the chosen prince and princess did not fall in love before Everard's Eve, then all of royalty would vanish.

-Flashback-

Lady Amarante of Everard stumbled upon a secret passageway in her palace even after 30 years of having lived there.

"This castle's always full of surprises," she chuckled to herself. Without hesitation, she followed the winding passageway until it led her into a dark chamber hidden deep underneath her palace. A cold wind chilled her to the bone, and she wrapped her cloak tighter around herself. The passageway ended and the room was almost pitch black with only a waning light behind her. When suddenly the light went off she instinctively reached for her wand, but it was nowhere to be found. She resolved not to panic and walked a straight left to try and feel her way against the walls.

She felt for a torch and lit it. As soon as she did, she wished she hadn't. Only inches away from her own frame was a ferocious black dragon. It almost took up the space of an entire dungeon and was as tall as one of the palace towers. Amarante's thoughts raced inside her head as she struggled to keep a calm composure. She could not stop her hands from trembling.

Amarante had been around dragons many times, but this wasn't like other times. Never in her life did she wish to encounter this particular dragon. It was simply known as The Black Dragon, and it held no distinction with the rest. Every part of the dragon was pure ebony, and it camouflaged well with Dark. However, the real reason why everyone was afraid of The Black Dragon was not because of its intimidating appearance, but because of the Dark omen it was said to carry.

It spoke:

Courageous thou art for meddling in a place of Dark.

Amarante shuddered in response.

Speak if thou wisheth or perish as thine mind collides with mine.

The Queen found her voice, but requested a silent challenge with her mind.

Brave or foolish, are you? The dragon snorted a small flame as Amarante appeared on the other side of the dungeon. This show of magic infuriated the dragon and it rammed itself into Amarente's barriers. The dragon was not prepared for such a defense in her mind and this slight hesitation was all that Amarante needed to gain a small advantage.

The Queen pried through the dragon's mind and felt enormous amounts of pain and devastation jolt throughout her entire body as she discovered the omen. The dragon hissed and spoke once more.

Foolish girl. Thou hast taken thine own life with a trespass of mine.

As hopeless as Amarante had felt at that moment, she found a small string of hope in the dragon's words. As the link between the two powerful beings was still not severed, Amarante knew she had to make the ultimate sacrifice.

A silver dagger appeared in Amarante's hand. She looked defiantly up at the dragon's black eyes. Her eyeballs clouded up until the irises could no longer be seen. A cold sensation ran through the dragon's interior. The dragon was not aware of the dagger in her hands, so she struck quickly and flawlessly.

Amarante knelt taking no heed to the cold stone beneath her injury. Across her cheek was a thick black acid which created a deep gash. In her palm was a single dragon scale the same size as her hand. The Black Dragon yelped in surprise and breathed fire at Amarante, but she easily dodged out of the way. A voice entirely not her own pierced through the cold air.

"Your magic cannot harm a ROYAL! LOVE SHALL CONQUER." The Queen threw the dagger off to the side and instead took the sharp dragon scale and stabbed herself in the heart before casting her final spell.

"When my blood touches The Black Dragon's scale, a dark omen sent by fate will fail.
A daughter of my blood must survive to kiss the son of yours or let no Royals be alive
The two who are chosen must soon meet or the Royals surrender to you in utter defeat."

To be continued in Chapter 3.

AU: Yuck, I had a really hard time writing that last bit. Maybe, I'll change it. Please review! -D