Authors Note: you guys are lucky I don't have a life and that I like to write! Jk! R/R
Your eyes whispered, "Have we met?"
Across the room your silhouette
Starts to make its way to me
The playful conversation starts
Taylor Swift - Enchanted
Chapter 2:
Hermione felt the carriage lurch to a stop, she looked out the small window of the carriage. The castle looming on the hilltop was far more extravagant and bigger than what she remembered. There were flags of Crimson waving in the wind and a crowd of people waiting at the top. Just looking at the castle caused butterflies to swirl in her stomach.
She took a deep shuddering breath as she stepped out of the carriage. She turned to her right as she watched her ladies in waiting proceed cautiously out of their carriage. Awe flashing on their faces.
There were four of her ladies in waiting. Each different and unique in their own way. There was Lavender who was girly and frivolous, but she could be trusted. Luna who was as eccentric as they came was one of her most trusted friends; she valued knowledge as much as she did. Parvati and Padma were twins, each with different characteristics. Parvati was just like Lavender, girly and frivolous. Padma, while still being girly, was more serious. It helped that Padma was closer to Luna then her own sister and Lavender.
Luna's the first one to see her, and with a cry of her name rushes towards her to embrace her. Soon she's almost on the floor as all four girls hug her at the same time. Ms. McGonnagall makes a subtle hissing noise to get them to behave like ladies. They all giggle and Hermione stands at the head of the line as she walks forward to greet the royal family.
She feels the fabric of her deep blue skirts billow out behind her as she walks. The crown on her head feels like lead, either way she walks with her head held high, hands clasped tightly in front of her. A polite smile etches her face, she smiles at the servants as she walks by them. She first sees Queen Lily of Gryffindor, she looks resplendent in a crimson gown with gold detailing, her face kind and inviting. Then there's the king, King James looking stonily at her, his crimson blouse looking intimidating and like blood.
She bows her head slightly, "Your highness," she says to first King James. His stare meant to intimidate her is not working. She's met more men who've looked far scarier. If his intentions are to scare her away, they won't work. He was part of the betrothal contract making, if he didn't like her, it was his fault. She is a queen, she will not back down. She stares back at him in the same manner before turning to face his queen.
Lily rushes forward and hugs her softly to her and kisses her cheek, breaking her stare between the king and herself, she tenses at the contact. She hesitantly puts her arms around the queen. "Hello, your highness."
Lily laughs softly, "Oh my dear, nonsense, no formalities needed between us, we'll be family soon. You're also a queen, call me Lily. Us Queens, we must stick together." Lily turns to look behind her, she looks around before huffing angrily. "Where is my son?" She mutters.
Hermione stiffens, he did not come to greet her. That can be considered an act of defiance. Hermione starts to feel humiliated when she notices somebody running towards the party of people. She feels two guards come up to stand in front of her, they pull their swords out of their casings. The man comes to a stop and has his hands on his knees, a circlet on his head signifies that he is the prince. The guards put their swords away and go back to the places.
Hermione eyes the elusive prince, his black hair unruly and sticking out of his circlet, his face flushed but clear of any markings, then he looks up. His emerald eyes capturing her attention.
She stands in front of him rigidly, she waits for him to greet her. Finally after what feels like hours, he stands up fully and bows at the waist. He's taller than what she imagined. He's wearing her colors though. At least there's that, she thinks.
She bows her head in turn, a soft smile on her lips. "My prince," she says softly.
"My queen," he says just as softly, a lopsided grin on his face. Her posture relaxes a little, her shoulders dropping a fraction, her hands now held loosely in front of her.
She holds his stare and starts to feel the butterflies flutter much faster than they did when she arrived. She urges them to stop.
Ahem, they hear somebody cough. Hermione snaps her attention to the noise, she notices Lily looking at her with a wide smile. Lily holds her arm out for Hermione to hold, "Come, you must be tired." Hermione grabs her hand and follows beside her.
She turns one last time to look at the prince who she's supposed to marry. He's still staring at her, and she wonders if maybe it wouldn't be all that bad here.
Harry rushes out of the castle but waits in a shadowed area, where he can't be seen. He wants to size up the girl before he has to meet her. He sees as she steps out of the carriage, and his breathing stops. She's beautiful.
Her hair is no longer bushy, it hangs in long shiny curls, almost to the top of her hips. Her gown a deep blue, her bodice detailed with silver and bronze designs that shine and accentuate the smallness of her waist, her skirt simple but not stiff because as she walks it billows like curtains in the wind.
He watches as she smiles at the servants, her smile kind. He's captivated of her as she walks and greets the people. He tenses as she greets his father, his father looks at her stonily, he's never approved of her. He remembers hearing his father saying that if she wasn't queen, she would never be worthy of his son. How wrong his father was! This girl is so different from that three year old he met so long ago.
She greets his mother in as much the same fashion as his father, only his mother doesn't tolerate it. His mother hugs her and kisses her cheek like if she was her own. He smiles softly, the kindness of his mother astounds him.
He watches as they talk softly to each other then his mother looks around. What is she looking for?
He tenses, "Oh no," he mutters. He starts running toward them, his circlet almost flies off his head and he clutches it as he runs. When he reaches them, he's out of breath and puts his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
He's so focused on reaching the gathering that he doesn't notice the two guards who come forward to protect the young queen.
When he has some of his breathing under control he looks up. His eyes clash with wide brown doe eyes. He stares at the girl before him. He stands up fully and watches as she releases a breath and relaxes her stance. He smiles softly at her and formally bows before her.
"My Prince," she says softly, bowing her head slightly.
"My Queen," he says softly, a grin on his handsome face. She loosens her hands and her shoulders drop a fraction. He can't stop staring at the beauty in front of him, the way her lips are curled on the corners, her eyes wide and radiant, the way she carries herself.
He's so intrigued to find out how different this girl standing in front of him is to the little girl he met so long ago. Is she still bossy, is she still curious, does she talk as much as she did when they were younger? Or did they condition her too much to follow the orders of others?
So many questions he wants answers to.
Ahem, he hears his mother distract them. He would know that sound anywhere, it was always his mother interrupting something important. She finally turns away from him and turns to answer his mother, but he keeps his gaze on her. He's so entranced by her that he doesn't hear his mothers words, he just soundlessly follows behind them.
She turns to look at him again, a small smile playing on her lips, then turns to listen to his mother. He's almost going to follow them again, when his arm is yanked back, he turns to face whoever dared pull him away.
Anger shows on his face for a fraction before he schools it into the easy going face when he sees his best friends face. He smiles broadly at him, "Ron, did you see her? She's beautiful!" He says, a goofy smile on his lips.
Ron's red hair is just as unruly as his and the freckles stand out against his face, his grin just as prominent on his face as Harry's. "She's lovely, your highness." He says formally.
Harry rolls his eyes, "Your highness? Did we revert back to three years ago? We're friends, you don't have to be so formal..." He says indignantly.
"Of course, your, I mean, Harry." He says with a small indulgent grin.
Harry chuckles, "Come on, let's go to the stables until the feast begins..." He turns back one last time to get a glimpse of the girl. But she's so far up the stairs that he can't see her. He sighs, maybe later.