Thanks so much to everyone who's read and reviewed! There has been some expressed anger at Ron's insecurities, and I want to warn everyone that the riff between our two lovebirds is going to get worse before it gets better. However, in about three to four chapters, we'll begin seeing a new Ron, I promise! Again, thanks for reading!

Hermione stared out the window of the large bedroom, watching a flock of hippogriffs romp around playfully in a field. Beyond them was a great rock formation where two dragons slept peacefully. Between the formation and the hippogriff field was a large lake where Hermione had noticed some mermaids swimming earlier, and in the sky a phoenix could be seen flying around the premises from time to time.

Leopold hadn't been kidding about the magical creatures element of this place. Since arriving at the front gates of the magnificent castle, Hermione had already seen two leprechauns, a troll, a herd of acromantula, and three Cornish pixies. Apparently, magical creatures of all sorts were drawn to this place; it was a sort of embassy for displaced beings.

Hermione had done a good amount of further reading since arriving at the castle. Some of the past princesses had made great strides for the magical creatures of the wizarding community. Princess Calliope of the year 1342 made it so goblins could apply for employment at institutions outside of Gringotts. And Princess Genevieve of 1682 was the first to petition for the freedom of houselves. Hermione had smiled at that part. Genevieve hadn't succeeded, but that was a different time. Perhaps, someday soon, it could happen.

Hermione closed the book and looked around the room. It was ornately decorated with velvets and fine furnishings. She remembered a trip to Versailles in France she had taken with her parents the year she turned nine. The room reminded her of what she had seen there.

Ginny walked in from the parlor room connected to the bedroom. The redheaded woman had wasted no time exploring their lodgings and had spent many moments so far pointing out the large bathtub, silk robes and fragrant flowers she had discovered. Ginny had been particularly impressed upon finding a small violin in one corner of the parlor, which was enchanted to play soft music on its own whenever someone walked by.

"How do I look?" Ginny asked, doing a twirl in the room. Ginny had pulled on a light blue, silk robe and a pair of fluffy slippers.

"You look ready for bed."

"Here, put yours on," Ginny ordered, handing out a matching pink robe toward her friend.

"Why is it always pink?" Hermione muttered as she dutifully took the robe and tugged it on. She cinched the belt around her waist. "Happy?"

"Much," Ginny answered. "So, what's got Ron so mad?"

Hermione, who had just taken a sip of lily water from a jug on the desk, choked over the gulp at her friend's question. Ginny never was one for small talk. Finally swallowing the water down Hermione wiped her hand over her mouth.

"What do you mean?" Hermione said eventually. Ginny didn't respond, just stared pointedly at her brilliant friend and raised one eyebrow. Hermione relented, sinking into a chair and letting out a sigh.

"I don't know Ginny. He's been so angry at me the last few days."

"Yes, but the two of you were acting strangely before that. Like you were both afraid to be in the same room. Don't get me wrong, you've both always been odd, but this is even more so than usual."

Hermione nodded. She was well aware her and Ron had been having difficulty acting normal around one another. Since the battle, there had been a silence between them, which Hermione had chalked up to Ron grieving for his brother. Then there was an awkwardness and Hermione began to fear Ron regretted kissing her in the Room of Requirement. Or rather, letting her kiss him. Perhaps he had just been being polite, and had returned the kiss out of obligation to a friend. Now, he didn't know how to tell her, so he was ignoring her.

However, ever since Leopold had arrived to announce this whole Sylvan business, Ron's complacence and silence had turned to anger. She was now more confused by his behavior than she had been in a long time, which was really saying something.

"Excuse me miss, I'm here for your consultation."

Hermione looked up to see a petite young woman had entered the room. In her arms she held two large cases. The woman moved to the bed and set the cases down on the duvet, wasting no time in opening each one up. A series of small shelves sprung from the cases and Ginny walked over to inspect the woman's wares.

"What's all this?"

Hermione shrugged in response.

"Are you the lady in waiting?" the petite woman asked. Ginny nodded and the new woman instructed the redhead to take a seat at a vanity on one side of the room.

"I am the mistress of the wardrobe and I will be organizing all the essentials for your appearance during your time here. Along with my ladies, we will supply you the gowns, jewels and hair accessories you'll be needing."

Ginny clapped her hands in appreciation and began demonstrating with her fingers just how she wanted her hair to be put up for the evening. Hermione couldn't help but smile at the sight. However absurd she herself found the idea of having a woman on hand just to dress you, Hermione was glad Ginny was having some fun with it.

Ginny wasn't the only one getting into the princess spirit. Upon arrival, Hermione had been introduced to three of the other candidates, as the fifth hadn't arrived yet. There was Georgiana Hastings, whom she had read about before in the paper, and two girls named Olivia and Anastasia. The girls were as different as night and day. They all came from different towns, had different interests and different backgrounds. But they were all thoroughly excited by the prospect of possibly being a princess.

Hermione was starting to wonder if there wasn't something wrong with her.

"And what about you Miss Hermione?" the woman asked, turning to Hermione now. "How would you like your hair styled this evening?"

"Oh, that's all right, you don't need to…"

"Nonsense, that's what we're here for." The woman paused, taking in Hermione's unconvinced expression. "If you'd like, dear, we can just show up later in the evening and come up with something."

The woman brushed out of the room then, leaving the cases behind.

"Hermione, you have to look at this," Ginny said. Ginny was peering into one of the cases, pulling out a long strand of gold that sparkled from the sunlight pouring in through the window. Hermione walked over herself and looked the wares over. There were a few glittering tiaras, plenty of heavy looking earrings and rings, and bracelets covered in stones of red, green and blue. Hermione knew nothing about jewelry, but it all looked expensive.

"I think it's goblin made," Ginny said. Hermione turned to look at her friend and stifled a laugh. Ginny was already wearing a crown atop her head, two strands of pearls around her neck and about five large rings on her fingers.

"What?" Ginny asked cheekily. "Don't you think it suits me?"

Hermione was about to answer that Ginny looked lovely, but she was silenced by a loud screeching sound coming from outside her room. It sounded like howling and Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. Ginny looked concerned as well and the two girls sprinted toward the doorway, anxious to make sure no one was hurt. They came to a halt once in the hallway outside the bedroom, Hermione turning her head both ways to find the source of the noise. The screech sounded again and Hermione realized it was coming from behind a door beside her own. Running to the door, Hermione threw it open, not sure what she would find on the other side.

There, dressed in a floor length purple gown, stood Lavender Brown.