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Chapter 2: The Ball that started it all
Elementals
Soft but lively music can be heard from the beautiful Gryffindor palace. Most of the guests were amazed with the extravagance and elegance of the palace at the middle of a deep green forest.
Currently Roi James and Prince Harry are both standing at the entrance hall welcoming guests as they arrive. Almost all those who have been invited have arrived except for the High Elder Albus Dumbledore, The Malfoy Royal Family, The Weasley Royal Family and Princesse Hermione Granger. "Papa, do you mind if I leave you here to greet the guests? I just need to make sure that everything is going smoothly. I'm sure I can meet the people you want to introduce to me a little later after the party has fully started." Prince Harry asked, he was wearing scarlet robes with gold trimmings and stitching of a lion and a phoenix surrounding a letter 'P' at the left side of his chest area. And a gold circlet with an oblong shaped emerald hanging at the middle had been placed on top of his usually messy raven locks.
"Go ahead Harry. I can welcome the guests on my own. Go and make sure everything is fine." Roi James smiled reassuringly at his son. He is wearing blue robes with silver trimmings and the same insignia of the lion and phoenix surrounding a 'P' at the left of his robes. "See you later then papa." James nodded and watched his son enter the ballroom located at the left side of the entrance hall. 'You have grown a good and a wise man Harry.' His musings was broken by a soft tapping on his shoulder that caused him to immediately turn around.
As he turned around a pair of sparkling silver eyes greeted him. The smallest of smiles graces the lips of the owner of the astounding silver eyes. "You've never change James still not alert with your surroundings." The owner drawled out. "And so have you Lucius you've never changed as well, still like to startle people from behind." The two men chuckled until Roi James noticed a sophisticated woman with blonde hair wearing turquoise blue robes and beside her a young man with silvery blonde hair much like his father's, wearing long pure black silk robes. The woman James recognized at once as Reine Narcissa but the young man he isn't familiar but he assumed that the man is the heir to the throne of Slytherin. "It's a pleasure to meet you once again Narcissa." He said as he took Narcissa's hand and kissed it. "But I don't seem to know who this dashing young man is?" He motioned towards Draco. Lucius smiled proudly while adjusting his long black robes with silver trimmings to avoid wrinkles and stated. "He is my son, Draco, the crowned prince to the throne of Slytherin." And with that James shook the teen's hand. "Pleasure to meet you, you're highness." James said, to which Draco replied. "It is my pleasure to meet one of my father's powerful allies." James just smiled at this.
Narcissa and Lucius seem happy to be there but Draco is a bit reluctant. Noticing the bored and hesitant expression on the young prince's face James gave Lucius a questioning look. Lucius in turn whispered. "He doesn't want to attend the ball. He thinks that this is one of the silly parties that we are required to attend but I told him that this is different because a loyal ally is celebrating her birthday therefore we cannot miss it." The Roi nodded and spoke to Draco. "I don't know if this will make you feel better but my son Harry is also hesitant to come to the party but of course not attending is not an option as it is also a celebration of his mother's birthday. But I just want to let you know that you're not the only one who doesn't like this type of gatherings. I'll introduce him to you later on if you like." The blonde teen just nodded.
"Well you should get settled inside. The party is about to start as soon as the High Elder decides to make an appearance." Lucius escorted his wife towards the ballroom James pointed while Draco was following them behind.
Not long after Roi Arthur and Reine Molly arrived with their sons and daughter, James couldn't spend much time with them because the High Elder is standing behind them. Arthur entered the ballroom with the promise to James that they will talk later, for they were good friends as well.
"Good evening High Elder." James greeted an old man with long silvery hair and a long silvery beard with twinkling blue eyes. Dumbledore was wearing deep purple robes and smiled kindly at James. "Good evening James. I hope I find you well." "Yes everything is fine. I'm glad you were able to come." 'Good as you might have heard I came here with Princesse Hermione. I'm sorry if we're a little late. I have to go all the way from Ivory tower, to Ravenclaw and then to Gryffindor." "Where is she Dumbledore?"
Stepping aside Dumbledore motioned for a young woman to come closer. When the lights illuminated her Roi James can't help but be amazed at her splendid beauty. "Bonsoir Roi James Potter. I am Princesse Hermione." "It's a pleasure to be able to meet you princesse. Come inside its time for the party to start."
As soon the high elder entered the room, the guests got to their feet and greeted him. Roi James went on top of the marble staircase and got everyone's attention. "First of all I would like to greet you good evening." Murmurs of good evening answered the king's greeting. "Thank you for joining my kingdom and I in celebrating my dear wife's birthday. So I would like to present to everyone my wife Lily Potter and escorted by my dear son Harry." Slowly the double doors behind him opened to reveal Prince Harry holding his mother's hand.
Reine Lily smiled at the crowd. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Her auburn hair let down in waves and she was wearing carnation pink robes. The crowd was amazed at the beauty of the reine. Harry gave his mother's hand to his father and went to stand at an inconspicuous corner. Roi James escorted his wife down the stairs and as they reached the last step a three-layered cake decorated with butterflies was wheeled towards the queen and the orchestra started to play 'Happy Birthday'. After blowing the candles the two stood at the middle of the dance floor at the applause of the crowd. A little while after other couples joined them in dancing because it is custom that the guests should dance first before dining together for supper. Seemingly everyone is enjoying the party.
An hour along the party the Roi and Reine were looking for their son and found him standing and talking animatedly with Lord Seamus of the west valley. Lord Seamus is wearing golden brown robes and he greeted the king and queen respectfully. "If you will excuse us Seamus I want to have a talk with my son. You don't mind do you?" The sandy blonde-haired young man shook his head and stated. "Of course I don't mind your majesty. I'd talk to you later Harry and Happy birthday Reine Lily." Harry nodded as Seamus walked towards another group of his friends. He then turned to his father and asked. "What is it papa? Is there something wrong?" "No there is nothing wrong, I just want to introduce you to the sons and daughter of a few friends of mine and the Princesse of Ravenclaw. "Sure papa where are they?" "Come with me then." They walk towards the foot of the stairs were three blondes, a bushy brown-haired princess, a silver bearded man and four red heads are standing.
Two of the blondes smiled at Harry and James and Lily as they approached, as well as the bearded man and two red heads. "Hello." James greeted the group of people. "Well I would like you all to meet my son Harry and here of course is my wife Lily." Lucius smiled and said. "It is nice to meet you Harry. And we wish you a Happy Birthday Lily. This is my wife Narcissa and my son Draco." Everyone said hi to Lily, Draco, Harry and Narcissa. Soon enough Molly, Narcissa and Lily walked away and started talking amongst themselves leaving Lucius and Draco, James and Harry, Albus and Hermione and three red heads. "Draco, Harry, Ronald and Ginny, I want you to meet Hermione, Princesse of Ravenclaw." Albus said. Arthur also introduced Ginny and Ronald to the group..
Now that the introductions have been finished their parents and Dumbledore left them together to get to know everyone. It was awkward to say the least Draco looked bored, Hermione looked confused, Ronald a bit anxious, Harry a little curious and Ginny looked frustrated.
A couple of minutes passed Ginny broke the silence. "If you don't plan on talking I'll be leaving then after all I'm not the heir and I thought I saw Lord Neville a friend of mine. So glad that I've finally met you people but I better go." And with that the red-haired girl left the four.
The young man named Ronald cleared his throat. "Sorry about that. She's a bit rude but once you get to know her I'm sure you'll like her." Hermione and Harry nodded understandingly while Draco just scoffed. "A bit rude, you say? That's an understatement." "Uh Draco if you don't mind me calling you that." Harry stated uncertainly and Draco just nodded. "I'm sure she didn't mean to be rude." Ron's blue eyes twinkled in disbelief. Prince Harry, a prince he barely knows is actually taking his side, defending him from Prince Draco, the second richest prince in the land next to Prince Harry of course. Draco just nodded but did not comment. Uncomfortable silence surrounded the four until a sudden commotion brought them out of their personal musings. People especially women and young ladies started screaming.
The four were startled when men in black cloaks entered and started destroying the place; some are even carrying daggers and swords. Immediately Prince Harry took a sword from a guard standing nearby and started helping people to get out. Ron and Draco did the same. The three tried their best to stop and catch the men. Prince Draco who is busy fighting with a man in front of him didn't notice another one creeping towards him.
Harry immediately ran behind Draco and met with the attacker. A thankful smile graced the face of the young Malfoy Prince. But because of the distraction caused by Draco's attacker Harry lost his concentration and was unable to get away from the dagger thrown at him by his own attacker. The dagger hit his left shoulder and a quick slash by a sword on his stomach sent him sprawling unconscious to the ground in pain. The last thing he heard was Draco's voice asking if he is alright and a woman's scream that sounded like someone he was familiar with. And then everything went black, fully unaware of what is happening around him and the pain that he would undergo in a matter of hours.
AN: I hope you like my story so I can't wait to hear from you of course through your reviews. Please take time to review my story; I might actually consider stopping the story for good if nobody reviews on it. Thanks and enjoy. The next chapter will be up very soon probably in a day or two.