A Cinderella Story - In the Universe of Harry Potter

~Oh Ronald~

As Ron stood inside the door of the kitchen, watching her in the garden, he nervously wrung the rag in his hands.

Cutlery was clicking in the backround of the rather lagre kitchen, the quiet bubbling of the lunch stews in the large cauldron, and the murmuring of Grandmother Minerva and Remus at the servants' dining table.

"Ron - you are a miserable mess," came the voice of his younger sister. "Just go and speak with her - she won't laugh at you."

Ron sighed.

"I - I don't know."

But his sister would not take no as an answer. She pulled the rag out of his hands and pushed him out into the garden, locking the door behind him.

"Ginerva Weasley!" Ron roared, pounding the door.

His sister simply smiled in the window, waving before she shut the curtains.

Ron looked around to see Hermione smiling at him, a slightly confused expression on her face. She stood in front of a large patch of vegitables - all greener than anyone could ever imagine. The Sinistra family was widely known for this, as odd as it was.

There were long rows of vegitables lining the large garden: carrots, peas - all types.

"Er - hello, Hermione," Ron called to her. "Lovely day."

"Lovely it is," Hermione answered, turning to pick up her basket full of vegetables.

But as she heaved it up, it toppled over and the produce spilled everywhere, nearly down into the embakement just feet away from the young woman.

"Oh no," she murmured, bending down to pick it up.

"Oh - let me help," said Ron, hurrying to her.

He quickly scooped up the green beans, pea pods and carrots and brocoli, heaving it back into the basket.

"One more," he said as he reached for one.

But to his surprise, his hand clasped around Hermione's smaller one.

For a moment he was utterly still, his hand tingling from the contact. Then his eyes shot up to hers and he blushed, quickly taking her hand to help her stand up.

"Erm - I'll help you, shall I?" he asked, picking up the basket for her.

But unfortunately, his constant clumsiness had reared it ugly head, and he tripped on his own two big feet, toppling down the small slope, spilling the basket once more.

"Ron!" squeaked Hermione, rushing after him as he continued to roll.

Ron landed in the embankment, covered in mud and weeds, surrounded by the once clean vegitables.

"Merlin, Ron, are you all right?!" Hermione cried as she came to him

Ron seemed to be seeing two women as he looked dazedly at her.

"Hermione's," he said with a dazed smile before he fainted.

*~*~*~*

"Oh Ronald," sighed Ginny as she helped her brother to lay on his bed.

Immediately you could tell that this small, cramped bed was Ron's side of the shared men's room. News paper articles and rolls of parchment were spread about, all about Ronald's favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannon Knights.

There were also several shabby volumes of books on Quidditch on the small table beside the bed, all given to him by Father.

Ginny watched amusedly as they waited for Remus to bring up the hot water.

"I feel like a fool," Ron murmured as Ginny leaned over to pick a weed from his bright red hair. "Could it be any worse? Not only do I take a terrible fall but sprain my ankle in the process."

Dirt was all over his already shabby robes, with weeds and grass stains. Dirt also covered his freckled face.

Ginny couldn't help the grin upon her lips as she took a hanky from her robe pocket to wipe the smudges from his face.

"Hermione is your best friend," she said calmly. "She could never be angry with you or think of you any less. She's known you almost as long as I."

"Yes, but this is different," said Ron, his eyes downcast.

"It does not mean you cannot try again," Ginny replied.

"But I want to do things right next time," said Ron. "I mean, I -"

"Ron?"

Ginny and Ron looked around to see Hermione enter the room, a rag and bowl of steaming water in hand.

"Ah - Hermione, just what we needed," said Ginny, smothering a grin at the sight of her brother turning red beneath all that mud. "I'll get a cane for you, shall I Ronald?"

Hermione took her place as Ginny hurried out of the room, giggling madly as she descended the stairs to the basement.

*~*~*~*

"Oh, Harry James, those robes are perfect!"

Harry spun around slowly to look at himself at all angles in the deep blue robes he was wearing, lightly tugging on the silver threaded hood and broach. Quite good, he thought as he looked into the multi-paneled mirror.

He was rather exasperated this late afternoon, and they had been about this in his quarters for quite some time now. At least two hours.

His mother and Madam Malkin's entourage had evaded him in his time for solace absolutely insisting that they fit him for robes at once, as the ball would be tomorrow night.

His mother had taken to sitting on the fine scarlet and gold bedspread, her hand around the intricately carved wooden post.

"Well I'm pleased they see fit to your tastes, Mother," said Harry, discarding the robes and pulling on his own black ones.

The young maid that worked for Madam Malkin blushed as he handed new the robes to her.

"Harry? Harry where are you?"

"In here, Draco," Harry called back.

Draco appeared in the large doorway, smiling handsomely.

"Ah - one more day until the end of your life," he said.

"Now, Draco," said Mother with warning. But if you looked closely you could see a small smile tugging on her lips.

"Hello, Mother - I-I mean, Queen Lily," said Draco as she hugged him.

"Draco, how many times have I told you!" laughed Mother as she kissed his cheek. "You may call me 'Mother' we did take you in, after all!"

Draco smiled back at her.

"I expect you'll want these pressed and wrapped, then, Prince Harry?" Madam Malkin asked, a plump, blonde witch in finely tailored robes.

"Erm - yes," said Harry. "Please."

"We'll have them back to you by the afternoon, I expect, my Queen," Madam Malkin and her entourage bowed to Harry, Draco and Lily before exiting.

"So - have you found an escort to the ball, Draco?" Mother questioned, sitting in the chair at Harry's parchment covered desk.

"Why should I when all the women will be swooning over my dear friend?" Draco teased at Harry.

The corners of Mother's mouth twitched.

"I'm sure they all won't be 'swooning,'" she said evenly.

"I am," said Draco. "Did you see that young maid?"

Lily couldn't help but grin. "Well - he does have his father's looks -"

"All right," said Harry, exasperated, "can we please strict all talking of the prince to a minimum?"

"Sorry, dear," said Lily.

"Harry!" came a voice. "Harry - are you in here?"

"Yes, Father," answered Harry.

James strided into the room, briefly nodding to Mother and Draco. He looked anxious.

"What is it, Father?" asked Harry.

"W-well. . . . We've had a visit, and . . ."

"Yes?" prompted Harry.

"And - well, she's just traveling through but she wished to stop by and see you."

"Well - who is it?" asked Harry impatiently.

"Fleur Delacour."

"Fleur Delacour?" asked Harry. "But -"

"Well, she is the Princess of Beauxbatons," said James. "And as doing so she's bound duty to visiting other kingdoms. She's just arrived from the Americas and would like to see you."

"Me?"

"Yes - and she won't wait much longer - she insists -"

"Where iz 'e?" came an utterly female voice behind father. "I want to zee 'im."

There was the pounding of many feet on the stone flagged floors, the unmistakable sound of fine heels, and the murmuring of many voices.

Next moment a young woman entered the room.

My, she was beautiful.

She had a long sheet of silvery blonde hair, large blue eyes, and when she set eyes on Harry, smiled with even, dazzling white teeth.

"You must be 'Arry," she said in an almost purred voice.

Harry cleared his throat, suddenly standing up straighter than he had been before.

"Yes," he said. "And you must be Fleur."

"Why yes," said Fleur, striding to him, offering her hand.

Harry took it in one of his own, bowing slightly and kissing the top of her perfect pale knuckles.

"'Ow wonderful it iz to finally meet you, 'Arry," said Fleur. "But I fear my visit must be brief - I must be getting home - I very much miss my muzzer."

"Won't you stay for dinner?" asked Mother. She nudged Draco as she walked by, who was gaping at the Princess. She smiled gracefully at the young woman as she took Father's arm.

"Well - I think I can find a reeson or two," said Fleur, smiling at Harry.