A/N: Ron and Hermione attend Rose's dance recital. Granger-Weasley family fluff. I do not own Harry Potter.
Submission for:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Speed Drabble - muggle, fairy, stupendous, "I swear I'm not crazy", "It's always darkest before dawn", "We need to stick together."
Countdown to Christmas Drabble/Oneshot Competition!: Day 3 - 'sugar plum fairy'
The Lottery Competition: Ron/Hermione, waiting, snow, chocolate, delicious
"There are a few seats near the front," Hermione said as she tugged on her husband's arm and pointed ahead. "Come, stay with me. We need to stick together or you may get stuck at Mrs Graham's cookie table."
Ron just shot his wife a cheeky grin as he let her lead him up ahead, shifting the sleeping Hugo on his shoulder. "But you know she always bakes the best chocolate chip cookies for Rose's recitals."
"With the way your midsection has been expanding, I would hope so," Hermione replied as they finally made it to the row. "Weren't you supposed to actually be losing weight this Christmas?"
"It's always darkest before dawn, my dear," Ron said, leaning away when she made to poke his stomach. "Besides, how can I lose weight with all the cooking Mum will be doing over the holidays."
"Don't I know it," Hermione agreed. "Mrs Graham has nothing on Molly's delicious cooking."
They finally took their seats, which Ron had to agree that they were in a very good spot. He could see the entire stage from here without moving his head too much and without his little dancer looking like a goblin. "What's this dance called again?" Ron asked.
Hermione was rifling through her bag to pull out her Muggle camera. "'The Nutcracker'. The Nutcracker was made by a toymaker. One night, he comes to life and gets into a swordfight with a Mouse King. Then he turns human goes through some snowy woods to the Land of Sweets. The Sugar Plum Fairy is the ruler of the Land of Sweets who welcomes the Nutcracker into her kingdom before they all sit down for tea and scones," she explained.
Upon Ron's odd look, she sighed and said, "I swear I'm not crazy. Just watch your daughter be the best sugar plum fairy she can be, okay?"
Ron smiled and said, "I can do that."
After a few moments of waiting, the lights dimmed as Rose's ballet teacher, Ms Primrose came onto the stage.
"Good evening, parents and guardians. All your little ones have been working hard these past few months to wow you tonight. So without further ado, I present to you 'The Nutcracker'"
Hermione clapped loudly as Ron shouted, eager to see their little girl. Ron watched as the Nutcracker fought the Mouse King about the stage, though the little boy playing the Mouse King ended up tripping on his tail. All the parents clapped encouragingly for the boy to continue his dance.
There was a slight stage change, from a child's bedroom to a winter forest, complete with snow-covered trees, large hanging stars and fluffy snowbanks of cotton on the floor. Ron then watched as the Nutcracker began to venture off into the snowy woods with the little girl, Clara. "This is when Rosie comes in," Hermione whispered.
Sure enough, Rose spun into her position in the centre of the stage with her subject lined up along the edges. The music began and they watched Rose jump and twirl about the stage. Ron had seen the dance at home enough times to remember certain parts, but it was much better on the stage. Rose had an affinity for dance and it showed in the grace of her little movements. When she was finished, he and Hermione clapped the hardest, though he was careful not to wake up Hugo. He could sleep through anything though he wasn't one to like being moved about too much.
"Our little sugar plum," Hermione commented as she continued to watch the performance. Ron couldn't agree more. Though she made a few little bumps, no one could tell him his little girl wasn't the perfect sugar plum fairy.