A short Drabble written for Hermione's Haven facebook groups monthly Roll a drabble.

Hermione is dancing in the library, Prince James is watching her. Royal AU.

Ballerina Princess

"You've never once looked at me like that," Lily teased, "she's beautiful, do you know who she is?" Lily followed James's eyes as he gazed at the curly haired girl who was humming to herself while she danced in the library, unaware that anyone was watching. The girl had earpods in her ears and was replacing books upon the shelves, pirouetting and twirling elegantly to a rhythm that only she could hear.

"Hermione Granger," James said with a dramatic sigh. "She's one of the support staff. And, your right Lil, I'm sorry."

Lily grinned, "s'alright. I never wanted to marry you anyway."

"Cheeky!" James chided, giving Lily an affectionate smile.

Lily laughed, high pitched and melodic, both of them still transfixed by Hermione Granger's dance.

This wasn't a chance encounter. James had learnt Hermione's routine. Every Wednesday at 1pm she was tasked with returning previously borrowed books to the library and re-organising the shelves.

She spent little time with the newer books, it was the old ones that drew her attention. The ancient, leather bound ones specifically, and any that were written in Old English...

"I'm only joking, James, I have my eye somewhere else too," Lily said, bringing his attention back to the present.

"Seriously Lil, you're not still... oh God... yes you are! Why? I mean, I accept that you don't want me, though I think the entire country will have a coronary when we announce that to the public, but why him?! "

"He's mysterious!"

"He's creepy!"

"Yep!" Lily grinned, "Go say hello to your ballerina, then we can do double dates!"

"I...I can't!"

"Course you can, James. You're second in line to the throne. You can talk to anyone you choose. Now, off you go!"

As James shuffled off to do as Lily said, he ruefully admitted that she was right. He could talk to anyone he liked. What he couldn't do was approve of the idea of Severus Snape accompanying him and Hermione on a double date.

He'd stood in the doorway with a smirk, his winter coat pulled high and his flat cap pulled low. He'd approached silently and she hadn't noticed, still too caught up in her dance. He'd watched her for at least a minute before he'd cleared his throat and she had yelped in response, spun around, then blushed a deep, charming red.

That had been a year ago. Now, she stood by his side, dressed elegantly with her wavy hair tied back into a deliberately messy bun, her chin tipped up defiantly and a look of determination on her face.

James grinned at her feistiness. This was her formal introduction to the public as his bride to be. Her first official engagement with him, as his betrothed, and she looked beautiful, all doe eyes and corkscrew curls.

The event was a public meet and greet, followed by an international banquet hosted by the Queen. If Hermione was nervous she didn't show it. James, however was terrified, he knew exactly how savage the public and the press could be.

Hermione was faultless. She smiled when the reporters asked inappropriate questions, and she just slammed back perfectly intelligent replies to them all.

The Queen herself was watching with a glint of approval in her eyes. Once or twice James caught the elderly Monarchs attention, and he swore the Queen of England was smiling in acceptance.

This made their after dinner escape all the more exciting. Hermione excused herself to visit the toilet, and a full five minutes later James slipped away too. He met her underneath the Grand Stairs, beside the Grandfather clock.

Hermione was giggling like a schoolgirl as James stalked towards her. "Well hello young lady, do you often skulk around Palace staircases, or is this occasion especially for me?"

"It's not something I make a habit of, Sir. Not unless I think my handsome Prince will come to whisk me away." Hermione grinned as she pulled her dress tightly across her bra, showing James the cleavage that she knew drove him wild. "Come and get me... if you dare?"

"Oh darling believe me, I'll always dare."

Giggling, she turned and ran, trying to stay steady in her unreasonable heels. James chased her down the long corridors of the Palace, followed her up more stairs and into the West Wing, then laughed at the startled glance they drew from the footmen.

James caught her and she shrieked with laughter as he swung her up into his arms, kissing her hard as they both caught their breath.

"Kissing in the Queen's private suite huh?" he laughed again as her shocked eyes widened. She clearly hadn't been paying attention to where she was leading him, had only turned and run, and now they were in a part of the palace she'd never visited before.

This part was different from the rest of the Palace. It was older, more traditional, and was decorated to the Queen's personal taste. Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth. "Why didn't you tell me?! No wonder the footman looked shocked as we came in!"

James shrugged, "I was enjoying myself too much. Just like I'm enjoying watching you look so guilty now." He ducked as she swatted at him. "Stop worrying, one day this will be ours anyway. Look at you, Hermione Granger, Soon to be Princess Hermione. Unofficially anyway, we'll get some weird and wonderful Duke and Duchess title when we actually marry. You'll always be my Ballerina Princess though."

Hermione smiled, ruffled James' perpetually messy hair and adjusted his glasses. "And you'll always be my Handsome Prince."

James led her through a bedroom and out onto a balcony, pulled her into his arms and kissed her. When she pulled back she gasped, looking out at the view of London.

James smiled at her awed face, knowing that one day they really would be King and Queen of all they surveyed.