A/N: So, yeah, I love prank stories. And this basic idea has been floating around in my head for a few years, but only recently became what it is now. Initially, this was only going to be 5 or 6 chapters, but in discussing ideas with the awesome dreamchild333, I just might have to extend that chapter order.

Anyway, this first chapter is more of an introduction. And, the M rating will come into play later. But enjoy Chapter 1!

Chapter 1

Welcome to the Weekend

The loud crack that accompanied Ron and Hermione's arrival by Apparation to their destination reverberated throughout the sun-drenched countryside. The couple let go of each other's hands and took in their new surroundings.

"Well ... this is it," announced Ron.

The home of Ron's Uncle Albert and Aunt Gwendolyn wasn't much different from The Burrow and its surrounding geography. Much like the towering home that Hermione had become so accustomed to, miles of greenery stretched on from every side. A small shed not unlike the one Arthur Weasley had sat to the left of the main house under a large tree which provided a good amount of shade, while a larger dark red farmhouse rested a few feet away, completely out in the middle of the sunlight. Ron had told Hermione that Albert, one of Arthur's two brothers, was into raising animals and the lush countryside he and his family inhabited afforded him that opportunity. Just outside the farmhouse, Hermione could see a pig pen where five fully-grown pigs were either roaming around in their mud or contentedly eating from their troughs. She could only guess what other animals lay inside the farmhouse.

As for the home of Ron's relatives itself, the first noticeable difference on the outside from The Burrow was that it wasn't nearly as tall. This house had the same ramshackle appearance, but a much more manageable two stories, easily accommodating for a family of four. There was Albert, Gwendolyn and their two children Abby and Jack.

Ron and Hermione had come for a weekend stay because the next day, Saturday the 15th of March, was young Jack's birthday. He was to be eight years old, and seeing as how Hermione had yet to spend enough time getting to know any of Ron's non-immediate relations, she had wholeheartedly agreed with Molly's idea to use the opportunity for an extended stay. After all, Ron was now her boyfriend, so it was only logical.

"It seems warmly familiar," said Hermione as she smiled at Ron. "I like it."

"Good," Ron smiled back as he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Come on." He tightened his hold on each of their bags and guided Hermione to the front door.

On their way, Hermione gazed up at one of the windows and saw a quick flash of red that almost immediately disappeared. That must be Abby and Jack, she thought to herself.

"Right on time," noted Hermione as she glanced at her watch and saw that it was 11 a.m. on the dot. Ron knocked firmly three times on the door.

"Just a minute!" rang out a friendly female voice from the opposite side of the door. A few seconds later, it opened to reveal a slender red-haired woman with kind blue eyes dressed in a green dress and an apron: Gwendolyn. When Gwendolyn's eyes found Ron, her face lit up.

"Ronnie! You made it!" She wrapped him in a bear hug.

"Of course we did," Ron answered, his voice slightly muffled. "Couldn't miss Jack's birthday now, could I?"

Gwendolyn let him go and moved her gaze to Hermione. The smile on her lips never faltered. "And this must be Hermione!" Hermione barely had time to nod before she herself was pulled into a warm embrace. She was immediately reminded of Molly's disposition. "It's so good to finally meet you, dear. Ronnie's talked so much about you, and I only caught a glimpse of you at Bill and Fleur's wedding."

"It's nice to meet you too, Gwendolyn," Hermione said into the fabric of the arm encircling her.

"Oh, please, call me Gwen," Gwen told the teenager as she let her go. "No need to be so formal. Now, come in."

She shepherded Ron and Hermione inside and closed the door behind them.

"So ... that's her? She definitely doesn't look good enough for Ron!" declared Abby as she watched Hermione step into the house along with Ron.

"Yeah, I thought Ron hated her!" agreed Jack. "Any time he talked about her before now, he was always complaining and saying how annoying she was. So how come they're dating?"

"I bet she tricked him into becoming her boyfriend!" proposed Abby. "With how 'smart' she is, I could see her doing something like that. Just using Ron to get what she wants."

"It's bad enough that they're together," sighed Jack. "But it's even worse that she's intruding on my birthday weekend! I want to spend time with my favorite cousin, not the evil witch that stole him away!"

"Me too!"

Abby and Jack had watched Ron and Hermione arrive from the window of Jack's room. Abby was slightly taller than her brother, mainly because she was one year older, and wore her bright red hair in pigtails that hung from either side of her head. She was dressed in a purple shirt and pink pants and was sitting on one of the two benches she and Jack had pushed under the window to properly spy. Jack had a mop of red hair that was strikingly similar to Ron's hairstyle and his attire for the day consisted of a maroon Chudley Cannons t-shirt and brown pants.

Furthermore, if Jack's shirt wasn't indicative of his love for Quidditch, then the posters, action figures and the themed bedspread that made up the design of his room made it crystal clear. It was no secret why he and Ron got along so well.

"So ... what do we do?" asked Jack as he swung his left leg back and forth.

"I say we do Ron a favor and show him Hermione isn't the right one for him," said Abby with an evil smirk.

"Ooooh, good idea! But if she really does have a spell over him, then the right way to do that would be to make her lift it."

"How do we do that, though?"

After a few seconds, Jack got his own evil smirk. "I think I can come up with a few ideas."

Albert Weasley was just what Hermione had expected. It seemed unfailing kindness ran in the family, because the open-armed welcome into his household she received from him seemed so natural. Even if Hermione being Ron's girlfriend had anything to do with it, she was still practically a stranger to them, so this was reassuring all the same.

Albert's head of red hair was thinning, which gave him a prominent forehead, and Hermione could definitely see a resemblance to Arthur in his facial structure. Unlike Arthur, though, Albert had a dark red mustache to set himself apart.

"You're even lovelier than Ron described, Hermione," he said in a pleasant tone. This made both Hermione and Ron blush.

"Thank you, Albert," Hermione said graciously. "And might I say you really have a lovely home."

In fact, Hermione had realized the interior of the house wasn't too far off from the look of The Burrow: slightly cluttered, but welcoming.

"Yes, it's not much, but it's home. Arthur, Arnold and I always did share similar tastes. Either that or we all married women even more similar." Albert shared a chaste kiss with his wife.

"You have uncles whose names all start with 'A'?" Hermione asked Ron in amusement.

"Yeah, Gramps and Gran are funny that way," Ron said with a grin.

"By the way, I apologize for Jack and Abby still being upstairs." Albert walked over to the kitchen doorway. "Kids!" he called out. "Don't be rude, come down and greet our guests!"

Immediately, the sound of shuffling footsteps drifted down, and everybody in the kitchen could track their movements as they came from the upper level, to the staircase and finally through the hallway until two small children stood in the doorway.

"RON!" Jack and Abby both exclaimed simultaneously.

The kids darted past their father and completely ignored Hermione as each of them dashed by on either side of her with so much speed, she was nearly knocked down.

Ron had dropped his and Hermione's bags so that he could squat down and take his young cousins into a huge hug. "Abby! Jack! Great to see you guys again!"

"It's been too long!" Jack agreed.

"We missed you!" Abby added.

"I missed you, too," said Ron as he ruffled their hair. "But I wouldn't miss this weekend for anything. Hey, there's someone I want you two to meet." He stood up and turned them around. "This is Hermione, my girlfriend."

Abby and Jack were staring at Hermione with very unreadable expressions. It made Hermione slightly nervous, so she decided to step forward and take matters into her own hands.

"Hello! I've heard so much about you two!" she greeted in the friendliest voice she could muster.

Abby and Jack kept their slightly unsettling looks on their faces for a few more seconds before they ultimately smiled at the 20 year-old witch.

"Hi, I'm Jack," the boy said, sticking out his hand. Hermione eyed it a moment before returning the gesture with relief.

"Nice to meet you, Jack," replied Hermione. "And thank you for letting me come to your birthday party."

"Sure! I'm glad you're here!"

Abby mirrored her brother by extending her own hand for Hermione to shake. "I'm Abby, and I can't wait to spend time with you!"

"Aww, thank you, Abby! I'm sure we'll have lots of fun this weekend!"

Nobody in the room picked up on the devious nature of the smile Jack and Abby shared at that moment.

"Well," said Ron, "I'll just go ahead and take our bags up to the rooms."

"Good, you know where the guest rooms are, Ron," supplied Gwen. "Yours is the one on the left when you first get off the stairs, and we put Hermione in the one at the end of the hall."

"Oh, can I help Ron with Hermione's bag?" asked Jack eagerly. Both he and Ron looked to Hermione for her permission, which she gave.

"Here, let me make it easier for you, Jackie." Ron took out his wand and shrunk Hermione's bag to a more manageable size for Jack. The boys soon trekked upstairs.

Not thirty seconds had passed after they left before Abby grabbed hold of Hermione's hand. "Come on, Hermione! I want you to meet Nigel!"

Hermione threw Albert and Gwen a curious look. "Who's Nigel?"

"Oh, he's our Greyhound," responded Albert. "Sweetest dog you'll ever meet. The children adore him, and I'm sure he'll think the same of you."

"Just remember, Abby, we're all having lunch together in a little over an hour," said Gwen as a few enchanted kitchen tools lined themselves up in the same fashion as soldiers reporting for duty. "So don't stay outside too long."

"Okay, Mummy!"

And with that, Abby tugged on Hermione's hand and led her out into the backyard.

These kids seem really nice, Hermione thought along the way.