Disclaimer: Pffft! As if I own this stuff…..
A/N: Welcome, one and all, to the eighth chapter of The Phoenix Princess! I've been bending over backwards (i.e. working really, really hard!) for my teachers and myself at my homework. I expect only a B in bio and that's with my extra Honors points :(. Anyway, you guys don't wanna hear about my grades, so, here goes nothing! On with the show…..
Chapter Eight: Courting and Coveting
Summer season was already heavily in swing on the morning the Gryffindor court arrived at the gates of Ravenclaw castle, fifteen-year-old Prince Harry and his mother Queen Lily in tow. The sun beat down hard on the backs of the gardeners and peasants working in the fields, tending to what would become that year's harvest in the autumn months.
Everything was green, growing and reaching toward the sun's warmth. Everything, including, Ravenclaw's one and only Princess Hermione. The summer had given her a light touch of a tan, and with spring had arrived a smattering of freckles all across her face. She was still quite short for her age, but carried herself with grace.
Today she stood staring out from the glasses the family healer had deemed necessary with a small silver tiara dotted with glittering sapphires. She sighed dreamily, and directed her gaze to the newest royal visitor.
He was called Victor Krum, the son of an Archduke who lived in Bulgaria. Tall, with dark hair and broad shoulders, he played quidditch for his country's best team as their seeker, and Hermione was smitten with him.
The only draw backs, of course, being his uni-brow and the way he pronounced her name. Ron had often ranted about that, mumbling and grumbling about being a traitor to her bloodline for showing any interest in someone who could hardly say her name with out unintentionally calling her a 'ninny'. His real problem with 'Vicky' -as Ron often referred to him- was that his squad had crushed Ron's favorite quidditch team at a match last Thursday.
"Princess Herm-own-ninny, I haff not seen you look as beautiful as you do today. Vould you like to accompany me to the welcoming feast?"
Blinking, it took Hermione a few moments to realize that Victor had actually spoken. And to her no less! She was thrilled, and just about to blurt out an excited 'yes' when she noticed a withering glare aimed at her from King David's eyes. He gently shook his head, and then jutted his chin in the direction of the oncoming Gryffindor carriages.
Ah yes. Potter was here. And her father would certainly not pass up a chance to attempt to push- no, ram Potter and herself together. On the other hand, without Harry's presence, there was no feast for Victor to have asked her to in the first place. Perhaps she shouldn't be so hostile.
"Hermy."
"Potter." Hermione growled as he passed. If there was one thing she hated above all else, it had to be that nickname. She'd once given Ron a black eye for using it when she was six.
"Such a charmingly pleasant girl today Herm. In a good mood, are we?" Harry teased, tapping her nose with his finger. Hermione tilted her head upwards and snapped his finger between her teeth.
"Ouch! Feisty today, Miss Granger." He said smirking.
"And you, Harry, I must compliment. Where on earth did you find such a revolting Halloween mask? Or is that just your face?"
The Prince narrowed his green eyes a bit, and it looked to Hermione as if he was ready to insult her, but instead, he just slung his arm roughly around her neck, yanking her head down just a bit, and walked her into the castle. He was laughing, and she had to smile herself.
Her comment hadn't been correct at all. Truthfully, Harry was coming out of his awkward faze, and turning into a good-looking young man. In fact, if she wasn't so interested in Victor, and Harry wasn't so much of a prat, she might even consider calling him cute.
That reminded her- Victor! She had left him out in the crowds that followed the Gryffindors to fend for himself! How could Potter make her forget so easily?! Princess Hermione spun around, her curls swinging into Harry's face, and rammed right into someone.
"Herm-own-ninny!" Hermione sent a glare in the direction of a sudden snort from Harry, then turned back to Victor. "I vas vondering vat happened to you!"
"I'm terribly sorry, Victor! I was…distracted."
"Vell, I am here now, so ve may continue to the welcoming feast."
"Ah, just one moment! I think it would be nice for…Herm-own-ninny to introduce us first, sir."
Grumbling at Harry, Hermione rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. "Potter, Victor, Victor, Potter."
"Was that so hard, Herms dear?" Harry asked, again slinging his arm around her roughly. He leaned a bit towards Victor and started to talk quietly. "She's a bit snippy when she's hungry. Guess I'll need to get used to that if I'm to live with her for the rest of her natural life." He said, adding a wink.
Hermione's eyes widened in horror. He had just let slip to the boy- no, man, she liked that she was doomed to spend the rest of forever- starting in two years one month and a week (she was counting)- with the Master of Marauding.
"Oh, Herm-own-ninny did not tell me that. I vish you had, now, if you vill excuse, I must go."
Hermione was furious. "Harry James Potter! Your natural life ends NOW!"
Harry leaned back against the wall casually. "Oh, get over it. We're doomed to spend the rest of eternity together." He said in a teasing voice, his messy black hair falling into his eyes.
"Well, my eternity is longer than yours. Women live longer than men!" She said triumphantly.
"Oh, as if I'd leave you to fend for your lil' ol' self. I'll come back, of course, and haunt you until you go mad." Harry said smiling.
"UUUUUHHH! How do you do it? I mean, seriously, how is it you can make me this infuriated?"
Harry pushed off the wall with his foot, and smirked charmingly. "Talent, Princess. Sheer talent."
Sometimes, Hermione hated being a princess. Like now, for instance- she was having difficulty following protocol and not yawning in the face of Lady Cho Chang, the hostess of her own coming out party.
"Princess Hermione!" The older girl squealed, pulling her into a hug and kissing the air above each of her cheeks as if they were old friends. "I was ecstatic to find you had accepted my invitation. I shall be the envy of all my friends!"
"Of course I accepted. How could I not?" Children were taught lying is bad. But, as Hermione had observed, they are later taught that lying is indeed acceptable, so long as you're a royal lying to her public's face.
"Well, punch is over there, cake shall be served at three, and you can find some of the most eligible bachelors in that corner there." Cho said, pointing and winking.
Hermione frowned a bit. Cho's family had come to the Ravenclaw courts recently from a distant land. She must not know of the curse called betrothal that Hermione bore.
"As much as I'd love to go over there and dance the evening away, you see, there's this thing, called a betr-"
The Princess was interrupted by the familiar aloof voice of Harry Potter.
"Ah, don't bore her with such things, Herms. She's much too pretty for that." He added to the conversation, grabbing on to Cho's arm. "May I have the first dance, Lady Cho?"
Cho giggled, and nodded, the two disappearing into the crowd, nothing but two shining heads of black hair visible. Something welled up insider Hermione's chest. It burned painfully, and her veins pumped with anger.
She dropped roughly into a nearby chair, and grabbed some red-hued drink off of a tray a house-elf carried, not even thinking of the oppression of the poor creatures she was so angry.
Downing the liquid, she was most unpleasantly surprised with a fiery smoldering in her mouth, and smoke bursting out of her ears as if she'd swallowed pepper-up potion. Sputtering, she held the glass away from her face, horrified. It was fire whiskey.
Never in her life had she tasted anything quite like it. It was burning hot, with a fruity aftertaste. To be truthful it was quite good. Intrigued, Hermione called the house-elf over again. She grabbed a few more drinks from the tray, and began to guzzle them happily.
Needless to say, this wasn't going to be pretty. A peeved princess with a dash of boredom and a shot of jealousy clearly did not mix with the three or so drinks Hermione consumed on an empty stomach.
Drunkenly, she stood and swayed across the room. 'I'm a cat. A prowling cat looking for…a mouse? No, that's not it. I'm looking for…catnip? No, no, I'm looking for…'
She stopped abruptly after bumping into someone. She glanced up, prepared to apologize, and found herself staring into a pair of green eyes behind wire-rimmed spectacles.
"Le's dance, 'arry!" Hermione slurred out, yanking the Prince towards the dance floor. She let out a happy sigh and rested her head against his shoulder.
"Hermione, why do you smell like…What is that? Fire whiskey? Are you drunk?!?" Harry asked, pulling away from her a bit.
"Off cous'- cose- course not! Why would I, Herminese- Hermoseniee- Herm Granger be drunk?" She asked him, slipping over the words.
Harry let out a belly laugh, smiling. "You are, you're totally smashed!"
Hermione ignored him, closing her eyes while leaning against his shoulder. "So?"
"So? You're father will kill you, you know that?"
"Then you'll jus' haff ta rescue me!" Hermione said in a husky voice.
"Somehow, Hermione, I think I'll be doing a lot of that."
A/N: Didn't plan on the party stuff. I only write having a general idea, nothing else. The title: Coveting, for some people who don't know, is a synonym of jealousy or envy. They aren't supposed to be in love until they're seventeen, so, next chapter it's time! Thank you for being so patient with me, and I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'm not sure I did, wouldn't blame ya if you didn't, but submit a review either way ;)!
Review responses:
Sally- Hope you enjoyed!
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Hermione Graner Potter- Read the chapter, here's mine! Hope you like what happened…
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the-power-of-love- As hard as it is to believe, this was asap. I hate school :(.
Jade-eye Halliwell- I hope you love this one too!
HyDrOmAtIc- I'm glad you liked the way I did that! Romance starts next chapter ;).
Misty331- Here's the update! Really? It's funny enough?
Meaka- Ah, I don't know if you'd like my other stories, but I'm extremely happy you're enjoying this.
TTnHPlover- Lol, I think you did mention cute. I'll mention it again: It was CUTE! Like your review ;).
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