January 4th Esme's POV

Everybody got up late on Boxing Day. The Gryffindor common room was much quieter than it had been lately, many yawns punctuating the lazy conversations. Hermione's hair was bushy again; she confessed to Harry that she had used liberal amounts of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion on it for the ball and why she doesn't use it everyday.

Ron and Hermione seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement not to discuss their argument. They were being quite friendly to each other, though oddly formal. Ron and Harry wasted no time in telling Hermione about the conversation they had overheard between Madame Maxime and Hagrid, but Hermione and I weren't surprised when the boys told us Hagrid was half giant.

George and I have been spending more time together recently. I won't deny that my feelings for him are growing. They only got stronger when he took me to the Astronomy tower on New Years. And set off fireworks for us to watch.

Last night George asked if we could meet at the Astronomy tower tonight. I agreed. Anyway today we went back to classes and people have been acting strangely around me. Parting for me in corridors, whispering when I passed them. Hermione told me to ignore them as we headed to Care of Magical Creatures with the other two.

When we reached the meeting point, we were by Professor Grubbly-plank instead of Hagrid. Apparently she was teaching us today. She lead us to a paddock past the Beauxbatons carriage. Where a large and beautiful unicorn was tethered.

"Oh it's so beautiful!" Lavender says in awe. The unicorn was so brightly white it made the snow all around look gray. It was pawing the ground nervously with its golden hooves and throwing back its horned head.

"Boys keep back" Professor Grubbly-plank instructs. ""They prefer the woman's touch, unicorns. Girls to the front, and approach with care, come on, easy does it" she tells us. Somehow I was the first student to greet the unicorn. It bowed it's head to me and nudged my hand. I give it a pat.

"Professor how did you catch her?" I ask her curious.

"She was hand raised until she was fully whined. Makes her a little more trusting" she states. "Now who can tell me what colour Unicorn foals are and at what age do they change colour?" she asks us. Hermione raises her hand.

"Unicorn foals were born pure gold in colour. They remained so until they were about two years old, at which time they turned silver in colour" Hermione explains.

"They become full grown at seven years old. And by then are pure white" I add.

"Excellent, ten points each to Gryffindor" Professor Grubbly-plank says. "Are you paying attention over there?" she asks the boys by the fence line. I notice Harry was reading a page from the Daily Prophet and frown in confusion. Professor Grubbly-plank then gives a lecture about the many magical properties a unicorn has.

Half way through the lesson Professor McGonagall appeared. "Wilhelmina, may I borrow Miss Bourette?" she asks. Professor Grubbly-plank nods her head. "Grab your stuff Miss Bourette" she tells me. I nod my head and give the unicorn one last pat before going to get my bag. Before leaving with Professor McGonagall.

"What's going on professor?" I ask her.

"You'll find out when we reach Dumbledore's office" she tells me. We soon reached the gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office. "Cockroach cluster" she says and we're allowed up. We entered the office to see Dumbledore and a young woman with blue hair.

"Please take a seat Miss Bourette" Dumbledore tells me. "Do you know why you're here?" he asks me. I shake my head and he hands me the Daily Prophet. I gasp at the headline on the front cover: Hogwarts has a Princess.

"How did she find out?" I demand.

"We do not know" Dumbledore admits.

"This explains everyones weird behavour today" I mutter.

"We understand you didn't want to world to know your heritage" McGonagall says.

"Yeah and now everyone is going to treat me different" I grumble.

"That is not the only problem, I thought it'd be best if you had a guard" Dumbledore tells me. I groan in annoyance.

"I don't want or need a guard, I just want to be treated like a normal student" I tell him.

"I understand that Miss Bourette, but it's only for when you leave the school to go to Hogsmeade" he tells me. "Allow me to introduce you to Nymphadora Tonks, an auror. She prefers to be called Tonks" he says introducing the blue hair witch.

"Wotcher Esme" she says.

"Hello" I say.

"Now I know you wouldn't be comfortable with having a body guard, which is why I choose Tonks" Dumbledore tells me.

"I'm a metamorphmagus" Tonks states. "So I can change my appearance at well, example" she says. And turns into a teenage witch. "This way no one will know you have a body guard and will think I'm just a friend of yours" she states.

"Thank you" I say grateful for their consideration. I look back at the paper and see the article about Hagrid. "She's a fool woman" I scowl.

"I have no doubt she'll be punished soon" Dumbledore states. "Now the press has been wanting to get a quote from you" he tells me.

"Not going to happen" I tell him. "You can tell them I'm no princess and that I want to be left alone" I state. He nods his head in understanding. "Is that all?" I ask them.

"Yes, you may return to class" Dumbledore tells me.

"I'll see you in a couple of weeks for the Hogsmeade trip" Tonks tells me. "If anyone asks, my name is Violet" she tells me. I nod my head and I thanked them for their time before leaving. The rest of the day passed by better then I thought it would.

I was so happy when I went to the Astronomy tower to meet George. "So your secrets out" he says. As we looked up at the stars.

"Yep and it sucks, but I'll get used you it. Just as long as no one bows" I state. "So why did you want to meet tonight?" I ask him.

"I know how others might react, but I don't really care about public opinion. I like you Esme, a lot. More then a friend" he tells me.

"I like you too" I tell him with a smile.

"So how would you feel if I asked you out?" he asks me.

"I'd like that" I tell him.

"How about the next Hogsmeade visit?" he asks.

"Sounds good, but there is one tiny problem with that plan" I tell him sheepishly.

"What problem?" he asks me.

"I'll have a bodyguard, disguised as a student following me" I tell him. He laughs and I give him a look.

"Oh, you're serious" he says.

"Yep" I say.

"Well she can seat at a table near us. It's not like she has to sit with us" he tells me.

"You're right" I say with a smile. "So what do you want to do?" I ask him.

"Leave that to me, I'll take care of everything" he tells me. I nod my head. We star gaze for awhile, before going back to the common room. Where I did my homework, before calling it a night.

A/N

Picture above of a unicorn and picture on the external link of the article about Hagrid.