She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you
There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...
Ron sighed and pushed aside a huge stack of paperwork from work. This really wasn't his thing, doing paperwork- it was more of Hermione's forte. He supposed he could always pass it on to Harry, him being head of the department and all, but he figured his best friend had enough on his plate already- James and Albus had managed to simultaneously fall off their brooms and were both currently in St. Mungo's overnight.
Rose giggled and twirled into Ron's small office room. She was wearing a fluffy pink dress and a tiara and sparkly shoes. "Daddy, Daddy!"
He looked at her, smiling a little wearily. "Hi, Rosie. Daddy has some work to do, can you maybe go find Mum or Hugo right now?"
Rose pouted. "Mum took Hugo to get new shoes. No one's here to play with me. Daddy, pleeeeease…"
Ron sighed and pushed away the stack of papers. It wasn't like he would be done anytime soon, and there was something about his daughter's big brown eyes, so like Hermione's, that was absolutely irresistible. He pushed his chair back, stood up, and grabbed Rose around the waist, swinging her in a big circle high over his head.
Rose giggled. "More, Daddy, more!"
He laughed and set her down. "First you have to tell me what you're wearing."
"Silly Daddy. Obviously I'm a princess."
"Oh, obviously." He kissed the top of her head.
"Anyway, Daddy," said Rose importantly. "I'm Cinderella, and-"
"Cinderella? Who's that?"
"Only the prettiest princess in the world, Daddy!"
"Oh, of course." Ron privately made a mental note to talk to Hermione about these weird names that sounded like illnesses. Merlin, his wife and her Muggle stories.
"I'm Cinderella, and there's going to be a ball at the castle. With yummy cake and pretty dresses and dancing, Daddy."
Ron smiled down at her. "That sounds wonderful."
"It is. But, Daddy?"
"Yes, Rosie?"
"I don't really know how to dance."
"That's not a problem, Rosie. I'll teach you."
"Really?"
"Of course!" He picked her up and held her close to him.
He set her down and held her hands. "Okay, Rosie. First, you step this way-" He pulled her to the left.
"Now you twirl-" She fluttered around in circles, and he laughed.
"Now what, Daddy?"
"Now I give you a huge hippogriff hug!" He lifted her high into the air and she squealed. She wrapped her arms around him and they spun around together.
Hermione appeared at the doorway, smiling. "Lunch is ready when you're done."
"Ooh, Daddy, let's go eat!"
Both Ron and Hermione laughed. "Well, no surprise where she got that from, eh, Ronald?" They shared a quick kiss and went to stand in the hallway, watching their little princess dance along the hallway.