A/N:

I won't be able to keep up the speed of these updates but I will keep them coming as I get them ready! Also no I have no idea how many chapters this will be but there's plenty to come.

I posted a map of the region on tumblr. It's not perfect but it can help visualise where is what. If someone has the skill to do this prettier than me, hit me up?
I also make a playlist for myself when I write so I am also sharing that in case you need vibes to listen to. I am still updating it when I come across fitting songs.

(I can't link either of them here unfortunately but you can find them on this story on AO3 or on my tumblr under the Knight of Mine tag ( tagged/knight of mine)

Thank you for the beta, megonagall410!

Harry had been pondering a lot since he accidentally asked Ginny to marry him — wondering why he had done that. Sure, they enjoyed spending time together, but he never had the desire to marry other women before, even when they were perfectly tolerable. Even when it was expected of him. There was something different about her.

He observed her as she stood still, sometimes for hours as he dined with guests, unmoving, patient. He wondered what went on inside her head. A fluttery feeling rose in his stomach that had nothing to do with his food. He nodded at something Lord Antonin had said and took another bite before his eyes flitted back to her.

It made him happy to look at her, even if he couldn't see her face. He knew her face would be stern under her helmet, observing the room carefully. Maybe she was frowning a little.

He loved it even more when he could look at her. The way her eyes grew softer when they landed on him, the way they sparkled when she laughed. He loved how she flushed so easily and how sometimes she would touch her hand to her cheek, as if she could chase the blush away. He loved the way her hands were so quick, wielding a dagger or sword as it was just an extension of her arm. Even as she aimed it at him, he had been impressed by how smoothly she moved and how precise it was. The dagger may have been right by his neck; the blade never touched his skin. He loved the way her touch soothed him, like warm honey spreading through his veins, comforting and familiar. He loved every thing about her.

Mid-dinner, trying to keep a conversation going with Antonin, he came to the startling realisation. She was more than a friend or a companion to him. He had fallen in love. His eyes landed back on Antonin. He took a sip of water from his cup.

"I just think we should cull the cattle if they're sick, you know," Antonin said.

"I would argue we should try to treat them first," Harry replied with a frown.

"Weed out the weak, I'd say," the Lord told him.

Harry put his cup down a little hard. "This Kingdom prides itself on helping the weak. I would hope you reconsidered, Antonin."

Harry hardly ever put his foot down during casual interactions, but the conversation had interrupted his train of thoughts and he didn't like the topic much either.

Harry took another bite, resisting the urge to look back up at her.

Ginny shifted her weight as the Council ended and everyone stood up and streamed out.

"Alecto, are you coming to the Masquerade ball?" Kingsley asked.

"I think I will," Alecto smiled.

"I am glad everyone is on board that it is a masquerade this year," Harry said. He looked quite excited about it.

Kingsley turned around. "I am curious, what gave you the idea?"

"I am naively thinking that maybe people will let me be if they can't recognise me," Harry said with a smile.

"I don't think a mask is going to hide your identity, Sir," Kingsley replied.

Harry shrugged. "One can hope."

Hagrid stepped into the room. Harry looked at him questioningly.

"I need to talk to Gwyn," Hagrid said.

Ginny nodded and waited until the last council member was out of the room and closed the door. She opened her visor and looked at Hagrid.

"It's Red, she keeps trying to escape her stall and I can't figure out why. I have put extra rope on the door because I am pretty sure she has figured out how to undo the lock," he said.

Ginny met eyes with Harry, who was trying to hide his smile behind his hand.

"I know why," Ginny said as she looked back at Hagrid.

"Red has got a boyfriend, we discovered. I think that is where she is trying to go," Harry said, biting his lip.

Hagrid looked at Ginny and she nodded to confirm.

"Who is the lucky horse?" Hagrid asked with mild amusement.

Ginny sighed. "It's Lightning."

Hagrid let out a laugh. "Oh, I see. She has got good taste."

"I did not raise her like this," Ginny said with a shake of her head.

Hagrid turned to Harry. "What does Lightning think of this?"

"It's mutual. He was showing off the other day, you should have seen him." Harry grinned.

"Right." Hagrid rubbed his beard as he thought. "I can just put Red in Lightning's stall, he has a big one."

"No."

Harry and Hagrid both looked at her.

She turned at Harry. "Harry, what do you think will happen if we give them unlimited time together?"

Harry shrugged. "Alright. Can we give her the stall next to Lightning? Not on the right, Prongs would have an absolute fit. She could change with Sepio, no?" He looked at her. "Is that acceptable for you?"

"Fine," she agreed.

"I will go do that then," Hagrid said. "Before she destroys half the stables."

"I'll join you," Ginny said, she stood up and followed Hagrid outside.

When they arrived, Red was already halfway through the rope.

Ginny pushed Red's head away from it. "Red, this is not good. I don't care how much you like Lightning, you have to behave." She received a shove from Red. "I would pipe down if I were you or I won't move you next to your boyfriend."

Hagrid got Sepio ready to change and Ginny took Red and they changed stalls. Lightning immediately stuck his head over the dividing wall to greet her.

"Aren't they precious?" Hagrid said. "Now they have adjacent rooms like their owners do."

Ginny's eyes widened. "For vastly different reasons though. Though I bet Red would bite an assailant if they tried to get to Lightning."

Hagrid chuckled. "I bet she would. She is very strong-willed."

"Yes, she gets that from me," Ginny said with a sigh.

"Did you move Red?" Harry asked as she walked into his room in the evening.

"Yes, she's all settled into her new stall. They were very happy." She sat down beside him.

"Personally, I think we should let them go on dates," Harry told her with a smile.

She cocked her head, deciding if she should tease him. "You are a romantic, aren't you?"

"Maybe a little," he admitted. "You're not?"

"Once upon a time perhaps. Wee little Princesses dream about handsome Princes. Regulus was pretty keen on crushing all my hopes and dreams though. Work hard, stay alive," she said as she sat down on the couch.

"Yes, I have gotten that impression from you," he commented. "Wine?"

She nodded and he poured their goblets. Her fingers touched his when she took the goblet from him and he froze for a moment, her fingers over his. Then she curled her fingers further over it and he let go.

"Don't think I am heartless," Ginny said.

His gaze landed on her. "I know you aren't. You have a lot of passion for the things you care about. You're just not the swooning type." He smiled.

"You're right about that. It's not that I am against Red... dating. It just took me by surprise. She never showed interest in 'boys' before."

"Lightning must be really special to her," Harry suggested, looking amused.

She smiled at him. "Yeah, must be."

Harry drank from his goblet and set it down.

"Harry."

He looked up curiously. "Yes?"

"Why do I still not have any security details for the masquerade ball?" she asked.

Harry looked as though he had been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. He turned a little more towards her. "Because you will be off duty for the night."

Her brows furrowed. "That is a terrible idea. Guests —in masks— and you think I don't have to work?"

"I have doubled the guards, I went over it with Alastor."

She folded her arms and looked at him. "Harry, even then. I need to be there."

He smiled. "But you will be there. As a guest."

Her eyebrows raised higher.

He looked a little unsure. "Only... only if you want to. I just figured you would enjoy a ball perhaps. That's why I made it a masquerade," he admitted softly, not looking at her.

She felt the sudden urge to hug him, but she didn't. "So I'd be safe?"

"Yeah." He looked at her. "I took the liberty of ordering a dress and a mask for you. I just thought you deserved a nice night off too."

She smiled. "That is the sweetest thing anyone has done for me." She thought it over for a moment. "At least if I am present, if something does happen..."

He shook his head rapidly. "No, that would reveal your identity, let's not ..."

"If it's between that and you dying..." she told him. "How would that work if we're married?"

"That's different. We can plan that. If people find out after we're married that you're a Knight, it's going to be less of an issue," he told her.

"Currently it is a little bit of an issue indeed," Ginny agreed. "Still, if it comes to it, I am determined to keep you alive."

"So you'll attend?" Harry asked softly.

"Sure."

Harry smiled brightly. "I am glad."

Ginny sat on the floor in front of the couch, bent over a piece of paper. They decided to do any planning around her brothers in his room, at least until they had a more tangible plan they could bring forward.

"So what are you telling Alastor?" she asked with a quill in her hand.

"I will try to keep it vague but I will imply it's about my mother, considering you're all redheads... Alastor has only been working for me after my parents died, so he does not have too much background to question it, I think," Harry said.

Ginny nodded. "Be careful, he picks up on lies like that."

"He doesn't have to believe it, he just needs to make sure they are retrieved," Harry answered. It was not up to Alastor to question his motivations.

Ginny nodded and dipped her quill in the ink. She started writing. "Bill is the most important. He is the rightful heir to the throne."

"William," Harry said.

She nodded. "He is the only one who is currently in Harpia. He goes by the name of Arctus."

Harry bent over and saw her write down his approximate location.

"Then there is Charlie, Charles," she specified for him. "He goes by Darko..." Her eyes suddenly widened.

"What is it?" he asked.

Ginny put the quill down and turned towards him. "Do you know the rest of Bellatrix' family?"

"There's Andromeda, whose daughter is married to Remus," he recalled out loud. "Then there is Princess Narcissa who is married to Lord Lucius."

Ginny nodded. "They have a son called Draco."

"What about him?"

"When I was about five, when my parents were getting desperate... I was betrothed to Draco," she said. "So if we were to get married as you so smartly suggested..."

Harry wasn't about to let one pesky Lord get in the way, if that what it took. "I'll duel him."

Ginny chuckled and looked up at him. "May I suggest you outsource the duelling to your Knight?"

"That's not very honourable. I am pretty good with a sword, you know. Did fight off a few assassins myself before you came around," he told her.

"I can fight for my own hand, though." She turned back to her paper. "That is if we got married. I only remembered just now that I am betrothed... Where was I?" She read what she had written. "Right, Charlie. He works with dragons in the mountains on the border of Orion and the Moonlands."

"Don't tell Hagrid about that."

"No, I know. He'd have a fit." She wrote his location down. "They could be friends."

"Who else do we have?" Harry asked.

"Percy. He does some type of clerk work. He works in Durmstorm but close to the Harpian border. He goes by, you'll never guess it, Ignatius." She wrote his name down too. "Then there is Frederick and George. No one had the heart to separate them. No idea what they're up to but they're in Ogyon."

"Ogyon?"

"Well, it's now part of the 'Harpian' Empire," Ginny replied.

He frowned. "Gin. I know where Ogyon is. Considering that is basically... Bellatrix' home base, you'd think they'd find another place to stay."

She looked up with a smile. "They are perfectly fine. They're who I learned sneaking and climbing from, they know how to stay safe."

He shot a fond smile back. "Of course." She turned back around, and he looked over her shoulder. "We are just missing Ronald then, right?" He counted the names on the list.

"He should be in the neighbourhood. If I am correct, he's working in Nidus, so he is already in the country. Funnily enough, he goes by Bill."

Ginny finished writing everything down and folded over the paper. She held it out to him but as he reached out, she moved it out of his grip. "If this gets into the wrong hands, I may very well be signing their death sentence and perhaps my own."

"I understand," he said softly. "I know how dangerous it can be."

She placed the paper in his hand. "I trust you, don't fuck it up."

He folded the paper over once more and put it into his pocket. "I promise."

She leaned back against the couch, her eyes locked with his and she sighed softly. "If this works..."

"We're going to make it work," he reassured her softly.

"All of us hoped all this time... but how do you take a country back if you're seven stray Royals?"

He put on a hand on her shoulder and for a moment she leaned her head into the touch. He smiled softly, his thumb grazing softly against her cheek. Then her head shot up again and he removed his hand, glancing away from her. It was silent for a moment.

"I cannot thank you enough for even being willing to try this. You have no obligation to." She stood up and sat on the couch now, her knees tucking into her nightshirt as she folded her legs up.

He didn't know how to tell her he'd move the world for her. "If I have the power to do so, then I must."

She only shook her head with a smile.

Ginny found the dress for the ball on her bed. Excitement had been building for it since she found out. She was secretly very excited to go. It would be her first real ball. Her hand slid over the soft light green fabric. She loved the golden details on it. She looked at the mask beside it in the same green colour but with even more golden details, especially around the side.

She took off her armour and stepped into the dress. She found it was a bit tight around her arms, but she blamed that on the muscles she had built as a Knight. Otherwise, she found it fit her well, Harry must have guessed her size pretty accurately.

It took some time to tighten the back of the dress and she carefully knotted it. Then she took her dagger with its straps, and she put it on under her dress the way she usually would under her nightshirt, because she was not willing to go about this evening unarmed.

She left the mask be for a second and knocked on the door. When Harry's reply came, she stepped into his room. He was just finishing closing the clasps on a dark green vest that matched his trousers. His eyes landed on her.

"I hope this looks alright," she said, tugging on one of the sleeves to adjust it as she spoke. "I haven't worn a dress in fifteen years. The sleeves are a little tight but I think it fits okay."

Harry stared at her in awe; seeing Ginny in a dress was a whole new experience. The dress fitted her perfectly and it hugged her shape just right. The large skirt further accentuated her waist. The agility and light-footedness she showed as a Knight translated into a wonderful elegance he couldn't quite put into words. He met her eyes, worried if he looked too long, she may tell him off.

"Harry?" she called him out his thoughts. "What do you think?"

"It fits you perfectly, I think." He offered her a smile because she looked a little unsure. "You look really pretty," he told her honestly.

"Thanks," she said. She looked down at herself. "I have cleavage, who knew!"

Harry's eyes flickered down and immediately went back up before she looked up again. He cleared his throat. "Is that an appropriate topic to be discussing with me?"

He smiled as her cheeks flushed. She bit her lip before she recovered. "You're the only person I can tell of this grand discovery, so you'll just have to suffer through it."

"Unfortunately," he responded with sarcasm.

She met his eyes. "Now let me look at you." She frowned and cocked her head. "Turn around."

He turned around and faced her again. "I thought about what you said about my eyes and thought maybe if I wore something green, it would bring my eyes out more."

"You look handsome," she said lightly. Her eyes fell on the mask. "Put it on."

He obliged and put on the mask. She walked closer to him, her eyes locked with his. "Yes, compliments your eyes perfectly."

"Where's your mask?" he asked, trying to ignore how close she was standing as he lifted the mask off his face. He was desperately trying to ignore how she made his heart skip.

She stepped away and retrieved it from her room. She put it on. The mask stood in nice contrast with her hair and the golden details complimented her skin and the golden details in her eyes.

"Definitely can't recognise you as a Knight like that, that's for sure," he said.

"Good." She took the mask back off. "How am I supposed to sneak in undetected?"

"Apparently I am good at causing diversions, something about me being King." He smiled. "I think you can sneak in while I open the ball."

She nodded in confirmation.

"Unfortunately I can't escape Romilda tonight. It is tradition for an unmarried King to dance with any eligible ladies."

Ginny stepped to him once again. "Will my King ask me to dance then? Or am I not eligible?"

Harry forgot how to breathe for a moment as he looked at her, his heart thundering. "I'd love to have a dance with you."

Her eyes sparkled. "I hope I don't step on your toes, unfortunately Regulus taught me how to dance."

"You're good at everything, I bet you're a great dancer," he replied.

Their eyes widened as a knock came on Harry's door. Ginny turned on her heels and quickly disappeared into her room. When her door closed, Harry said 'Enter'.

"Were you talking to someone?" Peter asked as he came into the room.

"No, no," Harry said quickly. "Just practising my speech."

"Well, it's almost time, I was just coming to retrieve you," Peter said.

"Let's go then."

He followed Peter downstairs, hoping Ginny would manage to sneak into the ball safely.

"Thank you for all coming to this yearly ball to celebrate the end of summer. It's wonderful to see you all, you are all dressed wonderfully."

Ginny walked in and joined the crowd as he talked.

"Do you think the King organises balls just so he can dance with all the ladies?" the man next to her asked.

She took in the man. He was quite tall with dark skin, and he looked at her with a certain curiosity.

"I don't know," she replied. "I imagine if the majority is just interested in you because of your status, it gets boring fast."

He chuckled and looked back at Harry. "I suppose you're right."

"I won't keep you any longer," Harry said. "Let the ball begin, please enjoy the evening."

The music started playing and several people started dancing.

"Can I interest you in a dance?" the man asked.

"Sure," she agreed, taking his hand so he could pull her to the dancefloor.

His hand landed on her waist as they started dancing.

"I don't think I have seen you around," he said.

"Oh, I am not from here," she said as they turned.

He looked at her. "Really? Where are you from?"

Ginny looked around the room, trying to think of an answer. Her eyes fell on the King. "Henrosia." Her eyes fell back on her dance partner. "Are you from here?"

"Yes, I am," he said, he seemed to be quite rehearsed in dancing, he did it almost mindlessly. "My father used to be on the Council but he was removed in the aftermath of the King and Queen's death. My father died shortly after and now I am old enough, I am hoping to restore his honour and get back on the Council."

"Really?"

"I would be the first Lord in my family in 500 years not to be on the Council, I have to set it right," he told her.

"Maybe I can put a word in for you," she said. "If he asks me to dance," she added.

"Well, he's glanced over here three times since we started dancing, so I think there is a good chance he will."

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Lord Dean, what's yours?"

"Lady Luna," she answered. At least she had decided that beforehand.

"I've never heard of Henrosia, whereabouts is that?" Lord Dean asked.

Fairly simple, it didn't exist. "West of here, past Orion."

Harry danced with a Lady whose name he had unfortunately already forgotten. Tears sprung into his eyes as she stepped on his toes for a third time. He blinked rapidly, trying to will the tears back. Ginny was talking to Lord Dean and he kept glancing at her, hoping she was having a good time, hoping Dean was being nice.

He was relieved when the music stopped and the Lady curtsied to him. He bowed his head. He walked to the side, taking up a drink and sipping it.

"Excellent party," Lady Minerva told him, a drink in hand.

"That means a lot coming from you. You organise excellent parties," Harry replied.

She gave him a grim smile. "One must keep busy as a widow, life is dull otherwise."

"I imagine it can be," Harry responded. His eyes landed on Romilda.

"Are the assasination attempts getting any better?" she asked.

He shrugged. "If you mean by better that they're getting more insistent, then yes."

"Poor lad. I do hope that will stop, the gods know you don't deserve it," she told him with a frown.

"Thank you, Minerva." He excused himself, deciding to get the next dance over with.

Romilda perked up as she saw him approach.

"Would you do me the honour of the next dance?" he asked.

Her eyes lit up in her red mask. "Of course, King Henry," she said with a smile.

He took her hand and lead her to the dance floor. At least they had danced together often enough that they were well-coordinated and he knew his toes would be spared.

He saw Ginny was now dancing with Lord Cormac and he almost suggested a switch, knowing Cormac's interest in Romilda. She didn't seem to return his interest.

"I love the masks, wonderful idea," Romilda commented gently.

His eyes landed back on his dance partner. "I quite like it too, I may consider it again for next year," Harry responded.

It took another three dances before he finally managed to go up to Ginny, she was chatting with Dean again.

"Would you do the honour of dancing with me?" he asked.

She curtsied. "Would love to, King Henry."

He took her hand and they walked to the dance floor. His hand landed on her waist, and they started dancing.

"I knew it, of course you are a good dancer," he remarked.

She smiled. "I am a quick learner; Lord Dean really suffered that first dance."

He turned her around before pulled her to him again. "No, I saw you. You were managing perfectly fine."

"Lord Dean wants to get on the council, by the way. He said his father was wrongfully removed," she told him.

"Oh." He frowned. "There were a lot of changes after my parents died but I honestly don't know who oversaw those. As you may recall..."

"You were twelve," she finished his sentence. "I just promised him I'd put a good word in for him."

"I can't assign new Council members just like that but ... I'll look into it," he said. "Are you having a nice evening?"

"Quite good," she replied with a smile. "How are your toes?"

He chuckled, surprised she had noticed. "One may need to be amputated, but I suspect I will live."

She let out a snorty laugh and ducked her head in embarrassment.

"It's not funny," he told her, smiling. "A toeless King is an issue. How will I find a wife?"

Ginny looked back up to him, her eyes sparkling. "Maybe that was the Lady's intention, so she could have you to herself," she responded.

Her eyes flickered to the side and her face dropped. He could feel her body tense.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"A man just went into the side-room, I think he had a knife," she whispered.

The music ended and they stalled.

"I got it handled," she told him.

"Ginny, be careful," he warned her, still holding her.

"It's Lady Luna and don't worry, I won't blow my cover for one pesky assassin." She curtsied with a wink and then disappeared off the dancefloor.

She looked about the room to see which guards were working. She spotted Seamus but he seemed to be distracted by someone. Ginny followed his gaze to find out he was looking at Lord Dean.

She walked up to him and cleared her throat. "Distracted?"

Seamus turned red. "No, I am just checking—"

"Don't worry," she reassured him. "I did see a suspicious guy go into that room a moment ago. You know how the King's assassins are. You may want to check, to make up for your distractedness, you know."

Seamus looked at her. "I— Yes, I will go do that."

She walked back to the guests and joined Harry who was talking to Kingsley.

"Lord Kingsley, please let me introduce you to Lady Luna," Harry said.

"So nice to make your acquaintance," Kingsley said.

She offered him a pleasant smile. "Likewise."

Most of the guests looked up in surprise when Seamus came out of the room with the assassin, whose hands were bound and his shoulder bleeding.

Two guards came to help Seamus and he handed the assassin off before he made his way to the King.

"Another assassin, Sir. He carried this letter with instructions," Seamus explained, handing him the letter.

Harry took the letter and conveniently held it that way that Ginny could read along. It gave instructions on the course of the ball and when to strike. He folded up the letter again.

"Great work, Seamus. Please bring the letter to Sir Alastor." He handed the letter back.

Seamus' eyes flitted to her to check but she gave a small shake of her head, asking to leave her out of it.

"Thank you," Seamus said before he took his position at the side of the ballroom again.

She enjoyed the food and the drinks, and most of the chatter was pleasant. She was quite surprised when Harry came up to her again.

"Will you dance with me?" he asked.

She took his hand. "Should we be dancing together more than once?" she asked him. "Is that appropriate?"

His hand landed on her side again and she wanted him to pull her just a little closer, but they had to keep it proper.

"Maybe that will get the message across to the rest, don't think I have proposed to any of them," he told her with a smug smile.

She squeezed his hand rather hard. "Don't say that out loud here!"

He chuckled. "Fine."

They fell silent as they danced now. Harry spun her around a few times before pulling her back in, his hand on her waist steadying her. She kept her eyes locked on him, and for a moment she forgot there were other people in the room. All she could see was him, holding her tightly and never looking away from her gaze.

Then the sounds of the ball, the music fell back into her ears. She averted her eyes, abruptly remembering the situation she was in.

Harry started to undo his vest when Ginny knocked on the door. He spun around. "Yes?"

She popped her head in. "I hate to ask you this, but I can't undo the knot in this dress. I can't see it, and you are the only person I can ask."

He tried not to laugh at it, especially since her blush had already reached her ears.

"Come here," he said.

She sighed and walked over to him.

"Did you have a nice time?" he asked her.

She nodded with a wide smile. "It was great. Thank you."

He was relieved to hear it. "My pleasure," he said. "Turn around."

The dress was knotted right by her waist. He stepped closer to her and took the ribbon into his hands. He pulled at the ends, but the knot didn't give in the slightest. He tried to get a clearer look.

"So, you spent a lot of time with Lord Dean," he spoke as he tugged at the knot from another angle.

"He is friendly," she replied lightly.

"I am sure he was," he responded a bit too snippy.

She almost turned around, but his hands came to her waist, keeping her in position. She stilled in his hands.

"Just stop moving for a moment, maybe I can figure this knot out." He removed his hands softly from her waist and returned to the knot.

"Harry," she said in a teasing tone. "Are you jealous?"

"No." Too fast, she wasn't going to believe him.

"Don't worry, I found out who he is interested in. I can assure you it isn't me." She paused and her tone changed. "If I were to marry someone else, would you still help us get Harpia back?"

His hands halted. He couldn't deny that the question stung. He was glad she couldn't see his expression. "I told you I would."

"Are you nearly done?" she asked now.

He scoffed. "No! This thing won't budge! You put yourself in this situation, just give me another minute."

She stepped away again but he didn't let go of the ribbons and pulled her back. She almost fell into him before she could stabilise herself. "I will cut it," she said when she had regained her balance.

"Gin, I will get it, I just needed to figure out which way these ribbons ran," he said. He was sure he had it almost figured out.

"Do you think that's what married life is like?" she asked.

He wouldn't mind undoing her dresses for the rest of his life, he wouldn't mind undoing her armour either. "What? Undressing each other?"

"I meant helping each other, but sure, that too," she replied. She looked at him over her shoulder with a rather bashful expression.

His insides turned to goo and he was relieved when she turned her head away again, so she couldn't see the stupid grin he had on his face. Everything she did made him smile.

"I think married life is what you make of it," he responded honestly.

He was finally making some headway with the ribbons and started pulling on one of the loops.

"How was it with Romilda today?"

Harry sighed. "I don't understand why she won't go for someone like Cormac."

"She can't marry Cormac," Ginny said strongly.

"Aha!" he said as the ribbon finally came free. He pulled until the knot was open completely. "You're free."

Ginny turned around to him.

"Why can't she marry Cormac?" he asked now.

"Because he is both a douche and an idiot," she responded without a sliver of a doubt.

He frowned. "How do you know?"

"You know nearly all my dance partners remarked you were looking at me," she said. "Yet it seems you have missed entirely that his hand was on my ass."

He felt a little embarrassed at the fact that multiple people had noticed, he thought he was being subtle. "To be fair, I wasn't looking at your ass. Cormac's hand shouldn't have been there."

She shot him a look. "So, Romilda cannot and should not marry him. She deserves better than that."

"I don't understand why she didn't tell me," he told her as his brows furrowed. "I wouldn't have suggested it, had I known."

"You're both a man and a King, I don't think she felt like she could bring that up with you," Ginny responded. "She should find some other Lord to marry."

"Like Dean?" he tried.

She shook her head. "No, I told you Dean has his eye on someone else."

"Who? Did he tell you?" he asked.

"He didn't tell me, but it was obvious. I can't tell you, though. That person works for you. No, not me," she added when he opened his mouth to speak. "And I would not wish to put either of them on the spot."

"Fine," he said, deciding to drop it.

Ginny sat at the table in the kitchen, smiling to herself over the conversation happening there. Lucretia was talking to one of the cooks.

"They told me he was quite taken by a red-headed lady that attended, but no one seemed to know who it was."

Walto looked up from his pan. "Oh, Seamus mentioned her."

Damn, Seamus.

"Lady Luna, I believe."

Lucretia looked straight at Ginny, who froze.

"Too bad you weren't working to see it! I know you care about the King too by now..."

Ginny bit down hard on a piece of meat, undetected by Lucretia.

"She is the only one who managed to make him laugh genuinely at the ball." Lucretia shook her head as though she was sad at the thought. "I do hope we see her again."

Ginny wondered if they would ever connect the dots if she showed up as Princess Ginevra later. She suspected some of them might.

"Seamus said she also helped him catch the assassin," Walto muttered. "How she did help, he did not want to share."

She sighed, Seamus and his loose lips. If you wanted something to get out fast, mention it to Seamus and you can trust the whole castle will know by dinner.

"Maybe that's why he was so taken by her," Lucretia wondered out loud.

Walto set his pan aside and came up to Lucretia. "No, can't be. Apparently she didn't want the King to know."

Lucretia looked up with a frown. "Why wouldn't she want him to know?"

Walto crossed his arms. "I have been wondering the exact same thing."