Prologue

"Ginny dear are you up here?" Molly called as she made her way into the attic.

"I'm having tea Mummy," replied Ginny with a smile as her mother made her way over to where she had set up her dolls.

"And what's all this?" asked Molly, indicating the dolls set up in a semi circle around where Ginny was sitting.

"My court, Mummy," replied Ginny innocently.

"Your…court?" questioned Molly suspiciously.

"Yep, I'm Queen Guinevere and this is my court."

"Ginevra Molly Weasley, what have I told you about pretending to be royalty," Molly snapped as she grabbed seven year old Ginny by the arm and started dragging her from the attic.

"Mummy, you're hurting me," Ginny cried as tears started falling down her cheeks.

"Being noble is not all it's cracked up to be and I will not have you playing around pretending to be one of those stuck up spoiled brats. I taught you better than that young lady," Molly snapped as they neared Ginny's room. "Now get in your room and stay there until I say you can leave and think about just how lucky you are to not be one of the so called nobility," she finished as she shoved Ginny into her room, slamming the door behind her and locking it before storming off back downstairs.

Wednesday October 15th, 1997
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The Gryffindor Tower
Sixth Year Girls' Rooms
5:09 a.m.

As the sound of the door echoed Ginny sat bolt upright in bed, her hand over her heart as she tried to get her breathing to calm down. As her breathing returned to normal, along with her heart rate, Ginny took a look around her at her surroundings, pulling the bed curtains back to reveal the fact that she was sitting in her bed in Gryffindor Tower.

After looking at her clock, Ginny collapsed back on her bed with a groan. "Five in the morning," she mumbled as she rubbed her face tiredly. "There is no way I'll be getting back to sleep now," she sighed as she rolled over. As quietly as she could, Ginny climbed out of bed and grabbed her shower things before making her way into the girls' washroom. After a nice long shower, Ginny made her way back to her dormitory and dressed quickly before picking up her book bag and heading down to the common room.

Sitting down in front of the fireplace, she quickly cast the spell needed to light the fire in the grate before pulling out her latest book from the library. "I really need to stop having that dream," she mumbled to herself as she rubbed her face once more. "Course if Mum knew I was reading the books I am she would have an even bigger fit than that one. I'd be grounded for the rest of life."

When Hermione came down just shy of two hours before breakfast, she was a bit surprised to find Ginny asleep on the couch, a book in her lap. Crossing over to Ginny's side she picked the book up, noticing it was about the nobility and wizarding noble etiquette, setting it aside she leaned down to gently shake Ginny. "Ginny... wake up..."

"Mmm…what?" asked Ginny with a yawn.

"What are you doing down here?" Hermione asked softly as she sat down on the edge of the couch.

"I couldn't sleep," Ginny said as she pushed herself upright. "Thought I'd come down and read, where's my book?"

"Right here," Hermione smiled as she passed it to her. "Interesting subject... do you know a lot about it? I mean I've always been curious but for some reason I can never find any books in the library. They don't even talk about the Wizarding Nobility in schools and such..."

"I know some," replied Ginny as she wiped her eyes and ran her hand through her hair to detangle it a bit. There aren't many books in the library here. Unless you grow up in the wizarding world you're not going to be told about it because it's not something the wizarding world likes to talk about in general," she continued with a shrug.

"Is it like Muggle nobility?"

"Well, we don't have a king or a queen anymore, the ruling noble is…is the Duke of Grey," Ginny said, not really meeting Hermione's eyes as she finished her sentence.

"There was once a King and Queen then?" Hermione asked surprised.

"There was," confirmed Ginny with a nod. "They were extremely well known and loved. Even the Muggle world has heard of them although most Muggles don't really believe they existed."

"Muggles know of them?" Hermione frowned. "Who?"

"The last great King and Queen of the wizarding world were Arthur Pendragon and his wife Guinevere," replied Ginny.

"King Arthur and Guinevere? I knew Merlin was real but always thought Arthur and Guinevere were legends," Hermione sat back surprised. "That is amazing..."

"It's believed that the Duke of Grey and his family are direct descendants of Arthur and his sister Morgana."

"Wow, that's just... wow," Hermione shook her head.

"The nobility isn't like us Hermione," Ginny said quietly. "The rules they live by are very different from ours. They could kill you for even the smallest of insults and given the way Ron talks about Malfoy, I'm surprised I still have a brother," she said rubbing her eyes.

"Malfoy's nobility? There's nobility here at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked surprised.

"Who do you think makes up Slytherin House Hermione? It's not just because they're dark witches and wizards like Ron thinks. Most of the noble houses here send their kids to Hogwarts for schooling," explained Ginny. "And trust me, Malfoy is the last one you want angry at you. Those threats he makes to Harry and Ron are no idle threats. All it would take would be one word to his father and there is nothing the Headmaster could do to prevent it from happening."

"No wonder Malfoy acts like the world should bow down to him..." Hermione shook her head. "All nobility isn't like him though, spoiled rotten that is? Or like the other Slytherins?" she asked after a moment.

"I don't really know since the only nobles I've ever been in contact with are the Slytherins," Ginny shrugged.

"That wouldn't necessarily give the best impression would it," Hermione agreed before reluctantly rising. "I better go, I'm supposed to meet Zabini so we can hold a meeting with the Prefects before breakfast," she sighed before shaking her head. Being Head Girl wasn't all it was cracked up to be at times. At least she wasn't sharing the duties with Malfoy though...

"No it wouldn't," agreed Ginny. "Oh and Hermione, watch what you say and do around Blaise Zabini."

"He's nobility too?" Hermione asked glancing back at Ginny. "Merlin, next you're going to tell me Parkinson is..."

"Well…" Ginny trailed off with a grimace.

"Oh brother," Hermione sighed. "Thanks Gin," she shook her head before heading out of the Common Room.

When Hermione had made her way from the Common Room, Ginny picked her book back up and continued reading, making sure to change the cover of it before Ron came downstairs. The last thing she needed was word of what she was reading getting back to her mother. Ginny hid in her spot on the couch while the other Gryffindors started making their way through the Common Room on their way down to breakfast. She watched as Ron and Harry made their way from the room, being the first two to leave before putting her book into her book bag and making her own way down to breakfast.

As Ginny made her way into the Great Hall she thought nothing of the fact that Ron and Harry walked past her as she made her way towards the Gryffindor Table, figuring they were on their way to Quidditch practice or something, that is until she heard Ron's voice echo around the hall.

"Who was stupid enough to make a female member of your family a Countess? Merlin's blood she's a woman, women don't get titles, she's probably some dumb blonde on top of it and doesn't do anything besides run around spending money."

Ginny froze the minute she heard Ron's words, the Great Hall having fallen silent when Harry and Ron had approached where Draco and Blaise were sitting at the Slytherin Table.

"Now hold it right there Weasley, you have no right to be insulting her..." Blaise growled.

"You can't be trying to get on Malfoy's good side by protecting some chick you don't even know..." Harry countered rolling his eyes. "She's related to him, which makes her no doubt an idiot and a jerk without even trying. She's probably a spoiled brat as well..."

"Not to mention she probably sleeps around with half the guys in town," Ron smirked.

/-/Ron you are such an idiot/-/ Ginny groaned as she dropped her head into her hands before dropping her bag on the bench.

"Ginny, wait…" Hermione began as she watched Ginny spin and take off towards the Slytherin Table.

"Why you little..." Blaise began as he started towards Ron, his arm pulled back to punch him.

"My Lords wait please!" Ginny called as she slid to a halt in front of Ron and Harry so that they were behind her and she was facing Blaise and Draco, Blaise's arm angled for a direct hit at her. "My Lords please," she said as she dropped into a rather awkward curtsey, her eyes dropping to the floor in front of her, "They know not of what they speak and therefore meant no disrespect to you or your families."

Blaise lowered his arm as he looked down at her. "Who knew there was a Gryffindor who had some respect in her..." he began as he glanced at Draco, looking back at Ron and Harry he smirked. "Better thank your little sister Weasley."

"Insult my Aunt again and even she can't save you," Draco glared before they both turned and left the Hall.

Ginny waited for a few moments after Blaise and Draco left before standing up once more and turning to make her way back over to the Gryffindor Table, never once saying a single word to her brother or Harry.

"Wait a minute," Ron began as he stormed after her. "What the hell was all that about?" he demanded as he grabbed her arm and spun her around. "What, are you taking their side now?"

"I was saving your neck you idiot. Yours and Harry's," snapped Ginny in return as she tried to wrench her arm out of Ron's grasp. "Do you have any idea what they could have done to the both of you?"

"We yelled at Malfoy, what's the big deal about that?" Harry asked confused.

"You insulted his Aunt Harry, something for which he could have killed you and there is nothing Headmaster Dumbledore could have done to stop him because it would have been perfectly within his right to seek retribution on the ones that insulted his family. Ron you of all people should know better than to insult Malfoy like that," argued Ginny.

"Dumbledore wouldn't have let him harm us," Ron snorted. "Besides Malfoy is nobility, he's not that bloody Queen of England that the Muggles have."

"You are a complete and utter idiot you know that right Ron?" asked Ginny sarcastically as she finally got her arm free and crossed them over her chest. "Malfoy is of the nobility, they don't live by the same rules as the rest of us. You insulted his family and neither the Headmaster nor the Ministry would do or say anything if Malfoy were to kill you right where you stood. Maybe if you read something once in a while Ron you would realize that Blaise Zabini is the Duca di Piancenza. That alone gives him the right to kill you on the spot for even the slightest insult to him or his family," Ginny ranted as she began to pace, grabbing the Daily Prophet out of the hand of some poor unsuspecting Ravenclaw, glancing through it as she paced. "By the Goddess Ron did you even bother to actually read this before you started spouting off your mouth like a jackass? You know what; don't answer that because it's quite obvious that you didn't because if you did you would have known better than to insult Draco Malfoy about his Aunt's return. You should be bloody well on your knees thanking me for saving your sorry arses. I can't believe you insulted the Duke of Grey like this," she mumbled as she rubbed her face tiredly.

"She's right you know," Pansy spoke up from beside them where she sat next to Millicent, both women grinning as they watched the show. "His Grace is very protective of his sister's honour. So are Blaise and Draco. Be glad they actually didn't still kill you even with her apologizing for your stupidity."

Ginny swallowed nervously as Pansy's words snapped her back to the reality of the situation and just where exactly she was standing. Without a word she spun around and ran as quickly as she could over to the Gryffindor Table where she grabbed her book bag before bolting out of the Great Hall.

Once Ginny was gone, the rest of the Hall sat there in relative silence, before Millicent turned to Pansy, "Come on Pans, I think we need to go write a letter." Both smirked at the two Gryffindors before they rose and made their way from the Hall, laughter trailing after them.

Harry picked up the paper from the floor where Ginny had dropped it before running from the Great Hall.

The Countess de Winters Returns at Last

By B. Gandalf

Yes dear readers it is true, the Countess de Winters has returned. It's been seven years since she left to travel the world, but she's returned at last. Perhaps one of the few good highlights we are going to have during this horrible time. And it's about time for her to return in my own mind.

Many of you may barely remember Josephine Malfoy, the younger sister of Lucius Malfoy, though many of us also can't forget her. After all this one woman has links to three of the most powerful wizarding families alive today. Her father was the Duke of Grey, and her mother the granddaughter of both the Duca di Piancenza and the Vicomté de Chagny. If that wasn't enough, her sister-in-law is the daughter of the late Earl of Harrington and her lifelong companion is the Duquesa di León as well as the daughter of the Marqués di Castile. Not to mention she is one of the last of the line that traces back to the last great King of our kind. Never in the last four hundred years has the nobility seen one who has such ties.

Which, personally, I think if we could get her to join the Ministry and work against He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named, then we'd be all that much stronger, though I have learned that the Minster of Magic is trying to convince her to help. We'll have to wait and see what happens in that regard.

Until then though, the members of the nobility are already welcoming the Countess back with open arms, and it is said that this year's Winter Ball is to be ten times grander than those of years past. After all, it seems only fitting that the Winter Ball should be the official coming out of the Countess de Winters now that she's returned to England for good.

With all these events in the works, there seems to be only one question left in my mind. The Countess is famous for her 'pet projects', having taken many a young woman under her wings during her sabbatical and turned them into proper young debutants. Now that she's returned to England, just who is she going to pick as her next pet project? Whoever it is will be quite the lucky young lady.

"You really are an idiot you know that Ron," Harry said shaking his head as he shoved the paper into Ron's chest. "Remind me again why we became friends in the first place?" he said to himself as he strode away, making his way back over to the Gryffindor Table to pick up his book bag before heading off to the library with Hermione, leaving Ron where he was.

Thursday October 16th, 1997
Wiltshire, England
Malfoy Manor
Lucius' Study
7:23 a.m.

Lucius Charles William Malfoy was a man who few messed with. He had grown up with expectations that many in the world would never know. And he lived up to them all. He had not even been thirty when he became the Duke of Grey and found himself as the highest ranking noble in the entire world. No one crossed him; no one interrupted him during the day without an appointment, not even his wife. Anyone who did usually ended up in a position they did not want to be…

Of course he had been blessed with a baby sister who would laugh at his threats and just pat his cheek before continuing on her way. Which was why he wasn't exactly surprised when the door to his study swung open and his sister came strolling in, her companion with her. Shaking his head he simply sat back to watch as she walked over to flop into the chair across from him, her jaguar walking over to curl up in a spot of sunlight coming through the open window.

"Josette," he greeted after a moment. "Can I help you?"

"Can you kill someone for me?" Josephine asked with a sigh as she flipped her waist length braid of silvery blonde hair back over her shoulder.

"Do I ask?" Lucius asked with a smirk. His sister may give off the appearance of a well-bred Lady, and she was one no doubt about it… but she was also his baby sister and she had an evil streak a mile wide.

"I want you to kill that idiot Dumbledore," Josephine huffed.

"Kill the saviour's champion," repeated Lucius. "What may I ask has the old fool done now? You've only just returned to England, I hardly think he could have done something to you so soon."

"You're going to just love this," Josephine growled. "I got a letter from Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode today, as you know their parents sent them to me for training ages ago..."

"I do," agreed Lucius with a nod.

"Dumbledore is denying them their ability to leave the school to visit me," Josephine explained rather calmly before pushing up from her chair. "That damn stubborn idiot. What right does he have denying two daughters of the nobility their Gods given right to go and continue their training with a higher noble. It's a given right of our status. I mean it's not like that fool of an idiot actually teaches the students how to act and hold themselves. He doesn't even acknowledge that the nobility exists in that school. Gods, can we get Severus to slip him a poison in his food you think?" she stopped pacing long enough to turn and look back at her brother.

"Severus is too deep in Dumbledore's pocket to ever agree to something like that Josette," countered Lucius.

"I know," Josephine sighed before crossing back to her chair. "Bloody bastard of a man. But Gods Lucia, I've been training these two since they were twelve, I've seen them through their debut but they're not done yet. And Lord Pembrook is already trying to arrange a betrothal for Milli... I can't afford to loose any time with either of them..." she trailed off with a heavy sigh. "We both know he won't listen to me..."

"But he will have no choice but to listen to me. Never fear my darling sister, you will have your girls," Lucius said reassuringly.

"Thank you Lucia," Josephine smiled. "Times like this, I have no idea how you survived going to that blasted school or how Draconis survives it. I am going to have my children taught by tutors like I was... no dealing with idiot non-nobility who refuse to understand us or accept our laws and rules."

"We do it so that we can understand how to deal with those not of our birth," replied Lucius almost as if it had been drilled into his head. "Bloody hell," he mumbled as he rubbed his eyes. "I'm tied up in meetings for the better part of the day but I should be able to swing by Hogwarts later this afternoon to have a word with our esteemed Headmaster. Will that be sufficient sister?"

"Thank you," Josephine smiled gratefully. "I'll have a drink waiting for you when you get back."

"It better be some of the good stuff my dear sister, I'm going to need it after dealing with the old man," sighed Lucius as he rose and made his way over to his sister, kissing her on the cheek. "I must go."

"Good luck," Josephine smiled. "And I'll have the sixty-year-old whiskey for you," she called after him before rising and calling Saraphine to her side before she left his study as well.