Hermione sighed sat back against her pillows. She turned her head to see the time on her alarm clock. '20:23PM'
Hermione cursed. Her Grandmother was meant to arrive at 9. Hermione had decided to get in some extra sleep while she waited. She mildly wondered what her grandmother would say if she knew Hermione had missed her beauty sleep in the last weeks.
She rolled her eyes imagining the hour and a half lecture she was sure to get. It was a shame, she loved her Grandmother to bits, she just couldn't stand the lectures. Things would be so much easier if they weren't Royal.
Hermione smiled at the thought. 'No use wishing for impossible things.' Her grandmother had once said.
Mione pushed her gold quilt off herself and climbed out of bed, and walked into the house sized bathroom. Just one more of the perks of being Head-Girl. Her own room and her own bathroom. The only thing she shared with the head-boy was the common room. Some times she and Harry would meet in the common room and talk late into the night, somehow their friendship was stronger than ever.
They had been at the burrow when they got their school letters. Everyone was so proud of Harry for getting Head Boy. Hermione, everyone knew was sure to get it so even though they weren't surprised, they where still proud.
For some reason Ron had started a big argument over it, and they hadn't spoken to each other for the whole weekend, still it seemed Ron had gotten over it.
Though both Hermione and Harry knew he wasn't.
As she walked into the bathroom she nodded at the marble mermaid that was watching her from the side of the large bath. The Mermaid smiled and nodded back waving her hand as she did. Hermione watched contently as the mermaid's wave filed the bath.
She brushed her teeth and pulled off her school robes, then stepped into the bath, sighing as she slid lower into the warm water.
By 20:53 Hermione had her hair done and was dressed for the formal dinner Dumbledore had planned for her Grandmother, she pulled on a white silk, sleeveless dress, with a square neckline, with a bubble hem.
Her hair was done with a quick hair styling spell her grandmother had shown her. She had her hair pulled away from her face in a stylish half up do.
She picked up a small, Silver chain with an emerald hanging off it, and tied it around her neck.
Hermione smiled at her reflection, as she painted her lips in a subtle pink.
She walked over to the portrait of Catalina Mon-Real. An amazing student at Hogwarts, that went on to be the greatest singer in magical history.
"Never look for perfection, it does not exist." Hermione said, Catalina smiled and nodded.
She turned a sharp left and pushed the wall in front of her and stepped out she was on the first floor landing.
"Mione!"
Hermione looked up at her three best friends. Ron and Harry were dressed in black dress robes, looking very tall and handsome Hermione thought.
While Ginny was dressed in a red dress robe, that made her look amazing, even if Hermione could tell that they were ones Molly had sent second hand.
Ginny's blue eyes showed the jealousy she was trying to hide as she looked at Hermione from head to toe.
"Hermione, You look... amazing." Gin said rather menacingly, Hermione thought.
"Thanks Gin. You do too."
"Really Mione, you look beautiful." Ron told her.
Hermione smiled at him. "Thanks. Oh Harry!" Hermione smiled playfully at him. Reaching her hand up to push his hair down flat.
"Don't waste your time, you know it won't work." Harry shook his head.
Hermione giggled. "I know. Should we go down?"
Ron nodded.
They walked elegantly down the stairs of the entrance hall, and walked into the Great Hall with the rest of the Gryffindor house.
Hermione noticed the Halls decorations; the ceiling was magicked showing a beautiful night sky. With black flags, with a silver and green crest printed on it, the Avalon flag. Hanging from invisible strings.
The four tables had white table cloths over them and the best plates had been placed.
The students all sat down waiting for the Avalon Dowager Princess to arrive.
As the clock suddenly struck 9. The doors to the Hogwarts Great Hall opened with a loud bang.
The students looked up in shock and watched in awe the grand entrance. They watched silently as Gold smoke fill the entrance and ten hooded figurers appear out of the smoke.
The teens all watched in amazement, except Hermione who had seen it all once too many times.
Hermione stood up and pulled Harry up with her, slipping her arm through Harry's much to Ginny's shock and walked down along with her to the back of the Hall. "Moral support?" Harry asked smiling.
"Oh Yes."
They watched the ten hooded figures, Harry could see that they where dressed in black hooded cloaks, similar, Harry thought to the death eaters robes. But these where black lined in Silver, with a Silver chain around the neck line with a shiny Green emerald dangling off the chain.
"The 'Queens Guard'." Hermione told him in a whisper barely audible.
"Like bodyguards?" Harry asked.
"Uh Ha, completely different from the royal guard, these are only ten, and hand picked, they only serve the Dowager Princess." Hermione told him.
The hooded figures divide five to the left, and five to the right. After them, came four others dressed in Green this time, Harry could tell that they where women by the elegances that radiated from them.
"And the women?" Harry motioned to the ladies in green.
"The ladies in waiting. Most would die to be one." Hermione told him, smiling at the one she knew to be Vanessa.
The four women divided themselves as the first group did.
Next came a woman dressed in the same Green as the others, but with Silver emerald in the fabric, as she lowered her hood. She was a very pretty French woman, Gold blond hair, with large blue eyes, and blood red lips.
Her hair was done up in an amazingly complicated French twist.
"Rosella Riviera. Secretary to the Dowager Princess. And Royal planner." Rosella smiled to Hermione who bowed her head in response.
Rosella move to the side then raised her wand. As she made the movement, the men and women raised their as well making an arc, waiting for the Dowager princess to appear.
An older woman walked into the hall. Everyone knew instantly that she was the Dowager Princess. She wore her Gold robe open reviling a Gray satin gown embroidered with Gold beads and pearls. She wore her light brown hair in an elegant bun, with a silver and green diamond tiara placed on her head.
Hermione suddenly felt a rush of happiness hit her as she saw her grandmother glide through the doors.
Harry and Hermione waited till she walked to them. Once Her Royal Highness had stopped in front of them Hermione and curtsied elegantly and kissed her grandmothers cheek, as Harry bowed.
"Harry, May I present you to my grandmother Isabella Maria Grimaldi Monogotte Renaldo the Dowager Princess of Avalon. Grandmother, this is Harry James Potter, also known as The-Boy-Who-Lived."
"Mister Potter, it is a great honour to meet one of my granddaughters closest friends and the boy whose fame could reach my own." Isabella smiled kindly. Harry noticed her face, she didn't look a day over 60 and had proud Hazel eyes and the French accent she had, not heavy, but still enough to make him think she had lived in France for the better half of her life.
"The honour is mine, to meet the woman who raised my best friend, your Highness." Harry said honestly.
"Such a charming man, Mon amour." Isabella smiled at Hermione.
Hermione smiled. "He is."
"Students and Teachers of Hogwarts, you are now in the presence of Isabella Maria Grimaldi Monogotte Renaldo the Dowager Princess of Avalon and her granddaughter Hermione Annaliese Grimaldi Mignonette Granger Renaldo, Princess of Avalon."
"And cue gasps." Harry whispered. Hermione giggled.
Dumbledore took Isabella's hand in his own, and walked with her to the teachers table.
While Hermione and Harry took their places at the prefect table, a place they only sat on formal events.
"Before we eat, I would like to give Her Royal Highness and the people who work for her, a formal welcome, to Hogwarts School. It is a true honour to have you all here with us. That said let us eat!" Dumbledore sat down as applause erupted.