Authors Note: so this is kind of a turning point for Hermione! Hope you guys like it! Read/Review!

If this is the moment I stand here on my own

If this is my rite of passage that somehow leads me home

I might be afraid

But it's my turn to be brave

If this is the last chance before we say goodbye

At least it's the first day of the rest of my life

I can't be afraid

Cause it's my turn to be brave

Idina Menzel - Brave

Chapter 7: Brave

Luna was content to put her problems out of her mind, at least for the moment. She helped Hermione into a dress the color of cream made of lace. Then ushered her to the vanity where she helped with Hermione's long curly hair.

Hermione let Luna have free reign with her hair while she was stuck in her mind, she needed to find a man that would take care of Luna. A man whose family doesn't have a reputation for cruelty towards their wives. She remembered Harry mentioning that one of his friends who is a lord or something is visiting the castle for the next few months. Maybe he'd be interested in a betrothal between himself and Luna?

There's a loud knock on the door to her chambers, she turns to look at the door, "Enter!" She calls.

The door opens to reveal Lavender and a young man. Lavender positively glows when she looks at the man. She rises from her seat in front of the vanity. "Hello, Lavender, who is your escort?" Hermione asks kindly.

Lavender beams at Hermione, "Hermione, this is Neville..." She looks at Neville apologetically.

"Oh right, sorry, Lord Neville Longbottom, your majesty..." He says as he bows.

"Oh no, please rise, we're not in public! Plus, I think I'll be seeing you around for a long time!" She says with a small smirk. Lavender bows her head to hide her blush.

Neville does no such thing, he holds his head high and the stain on his cheeks proudly displayed for Hermione to see. Hermione smiles broadly, "Why don't you head out Neville, I'm sure you have much to prepare for supper later on. Although, it's like every supper is a great feast!" She says teasingly.

Neville nods once, bows his head in Hermione's direction, then kisses the back of Lavender's hand surprising her. Hermione waits until Neville is out of the chamber before turning to Lavender, "Have we found a match Lavender?" Her eyes sparkling mischievously.

Lavender blushes profusely, "Well, I hope so. I just want to get to know him for the time being..."

"Maybe he intends to put in a word with your father!" Luna squealed happily.

Lavender puts a hand to her chest, sighs dreamily, "I hope so!"

Hermione giggles softly, "See, everything is falling into place!" She says looking at both of her friends happily.

Lavender smiles brightly, "Now, all we need is to get you ready for your wedding in a few months! How many months is it now?"

"Sixth months," Hermione says with a sigh. "I almost wish it would happen sooner, I just feel like something wrong is going to happen..." Hermione says warily, smoothing down her hair nervously.

"Oh Hermione, you'll be married in no time!" Lavender consoled her.

"I hope so," Hermione whispered.

They soon got back to finishing the final touches of getting Hermione put together. Then Hermione helped Luna and Lavender get dressed. She looked at her ladies in waiting and deemed them beautiful. "You ladies look beautiful, be sure to not cause a riot when we get to the dining hall!" Hermione says with a slight wink of her eye.

Luna and Lavender giggle, "Well, who can compare to your beauty and status?" Lavender asks with a grin.

Hermione looks down at her feet, "Well, we can't all be queen," she sighs.

There's a loud knock on her chamber doors and harry is announced by her guards. He enters quickly, the halts in front of Hermione, his jaw agape and his eyes wide. "Wow," he whispers.

Hermione smiles softly, "Are you ready for supper?" She asks softly.

Luna and Lavender hide their smiles behind their hands as they watch the wide eyed, goofy smiles that Hermione and Harry are exchanging.

Harry nods fervently, he holds his hand out for Hermione to take. When she's next to him, he leans in and whispers, "You look beautiful."

Hermione's ducks her head to hide her blush, "Thank you, you look quite dashing too."

As Hermione and Harry walk ahead, Luna and Lavender talk quietly amongst themselves. They occasionally hear snippets of Harry and Hermione's conversation. "They did! Oh, that's amazing! I knew you could convince them!" They hear Hermione exclaim.

Luna looks questionably at their backs, she looks at Lavender, but she only shrugs in response.

Maybe Hermione will tell them later on, after supper.

Hermione was having a splendid time talking with Harry. They were talking about the whole day that they did not spend in each other's company.

Hermione listened with rapt attention as Harry told her about the onslaught he took from the knights in training. He told her about a knight who almost took his hand because he was desperate to prove his strength. The look of pride on his face made Hermione feel warm on the inside and she was desperate for some more time spent with Harry.

Harry took her hand and helped her into a seat and sat next to her. As their plates and goblets were filled, they heard a commotion across from them. A women was staring straight at Hermione, her eyes bulging, her face red, foam erupting from her mouth. Hermione stared in horror at the women and then she was torn from her seat. Her guards ushering her out of the dining hall. She turned to look back at the scene, but all she could see was chaos as people ran and screamed in horror.

Before she was about to enter her room, the guards checked ever knock and cranny before leaving her inside and barricading the doors. She paced back and forth in front of the door in anguish. Who was that women? Was she poisoned? Why her? All these thoughts ran through her mind.

Padma and Parvati arrived early to supper and sat in a dark corner, they whispered back and forth between themselves. Parvati kept an eye on everybody who was milling about.

Padma noticed a man looking suspiciously around the room. He was dressed in a black and had shoulder length greasy hair, and a hooked nose and beady eyes that were meandering over every woman with long curly brown hair. Padma nudged Parvati softly, "Look at that man! He's staring at every woman who has long curly brown hair!" She hissed.

Parvati stared at the man, "Well, he does look decidedly scary. Do you think this man is just some pervert?"

Padma shook her head, "I'm positive he's suspicious!"

They heard Hermione's tinkling laugh and looked at her briefly then quickly looked at the strange man with an interest in ladies with long brown curly hair. His eyes widened a fraction and a small smirk appeared on his face. They watches as he studied Hermione and Harry as their plates and goblets were filled. Before Hermione could eat a parcel of her food, they heard a gurgling across from Hermione.

Parvati chanced a glance at the strange man and noticed him scowl at the woman who looked like she was choking. She continued watching as he rose from his seat and quietly leave the dining hall.

Just as the doors closed behind him, chaos reigned over the hall. They stared wide eyed at the chaos. They stayed seated in case they were to be trampled on by the guests trying to leave.

They watch as Harry scrambles towards his parents to ask what is going on. Then abruptly he runs out of the dining hall. They carefully get up and creep out of the hall after him, when they see it's relatively clear, they run towards Hermione's quarters.

Hermione is sitting on the chair of her vanity where earlier she was talking with her ladies in waiting about her wedding. She rubs her cheeks and realizes there are tears on her cheeks. She looks up into the mirror, and sees the state of her hair which is all wild and her dress has some tears from where the guards held her roughly when they were trying to get away safely.

She hears the door creak open, she sees Ms. McGonnagall enter, she rushes into her arms and sobs against her. Ms. McGonnagall rubs her back comfortingly, she whispers sweet nothings in her ear. "It'll be okay," she whispers in her ear.

Hermione looks at her with puffy eyes, "What happened?" She sobs.

McGonnagall opens her mouth to speak but is interrupted by the door reopening, Harry enters in a rush. He spots Hermione in McGonnagall's arms and rushes to comfort her himself. Hermione launches herself into his arms and sniffles against his chest. They stand in each other's arms, reveling in each other's warmth and comfort.

Ms. McGonnagall ushers them to sit on the chaise, they look up at expectantly. "What happened tonight was an attempt on your life, Hermione...that women, she has been the taster for all your meals. Since you've been a child, every meal and drink you've taken has been tasted by her. That she has died is proof enough that there was an attempt on your life." She finishes solemnly.

Hermione nods sadly, "I should've known that it was a possibility..." She replies, voice strong, now resolved to what is to come. She must be brave now.

She is a queen. Sometimes she forgets in the midst of everyday life.

She wipes her eyes and straightens her back, shoulders back. Her eyes harden and anybody who looked at her then realized that something had changed within the young queen. She was ready to fight.

Harry looks angry, "How could this person get into the castle? Everybody who enters is always checked for vials and harmful weapons!" He says loudly. Hermione places a strong hand on his arm, silently asking him to be considerate of Ms. McGonnagall.

Just as McGonnagall is going to reply, Padma and Parvati enter. As soon as the door closes, they say something astonishing, "We know who did it!" They say breathlessly.

Authors Note: so new chapter! Had a bit of writers block on this chapter tbh. But I fought through it and this is the product. I hope you guys like it and review!