Disclaimer: I don't own the Hp characters, names, settings, etc. or the plot of the Swan Princess.

A/N: Ah, I feel much better now that I've passed my germs to my father! Which means, kiddies, you get an update, written again, you guessed it, late at night before school .

Chapter Three: Pranks and Pouts

Five year old Princess Hermione stood at the mirror, screwing up her face into various pouting and pained expressions. She rubbed at her nose furiously, creating a blotchy reddened appearance, and held a handful of ragweed near her sensitive face, creating a string of sneezes and watery brown eyes.

"You'll never fool Mum," Warned Ronald Weasley, one of the servant's children. "She's been an expert since Percy was born."

Molly and Arthur Weasley had seven children, Ron the youngest boy of the red-headed freckled faced family. They were a warm, merry lot, save maybe when angered, whereas then their famous tempers came out.

"There has to be something to get out of this!" Hermione said desperately. Every summer, since she'd been born, she was forced to spend with a wretched little prince from a neighboring kingdom. All for the sake of some stupid pact made when she was only a babe, hardly the clever little thing she'd grown into.

Prince Harry was notorious for pulling pranks, during the summer the majority of which were on her. Last year he put ants down her pants, just as the royal court came out to greet the public. Given, she was four, but she looked so stupid, hopping around like an idiot!

"Nah, it's set in stone. No way will you be able to. Want my advice?" Ron asked the pacing princess, while stuffing some food into his mouth.

"No." Hermione said shortly. Ron was so immature. She was a posh princess, expected to be charming and smart and graceful and....And she had no idea what to do.

"Oh, alright."

"Prank him back! You have to have loads of ideas, what with the all of that useless junk you get from those books up in that bushy head!"

"..." Hermione said nothing. For once, Ron had had a good idea!

"Maybe it could help if you were there...."

"No! No way am I going to hang out with royalty on my summer vacation!" He exclaimed.

"Yes, you will, 'cause I'm a princess and I say you have to."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"NO!"

"YES!!!"

"What in the name of King David is going on here?!" The voice that had entered the argument- something commonplace between Ron and Hermione- belonged to a plump woman, an apron tied around her stomach with frazzled red hair in a knot. Molly Weasley looked at the youngsters, from her son, purple-faced and glaring, to the young princess, eyes red and a handful of ragweed tossed on the toy chest.

Hermione smiled sweetly at her nanny, showing off a number of shiny white teeth, the front pair particularly large. "Ron and I were just deciding what to do first when we got to Gryffindor, seeing as he's decided to go." The last few words spoken through gritted teeth held a silent threat: You tell her the truth, and I'll have you exiled...Or, tell everyone at Lessons you were once dressed up as a girl.

Ron nodded at his mother, who had looked between them with raised eyebrows. He gulped, and left the room, muttering excuses about packing. Molly snatched the ragweed and tossed it outside, away from the small child.

"What's with the weeds, dearie?"

"I-I don't wanna gooooooo!!" Hermione wailed loudly.

"Aw, hush now luv. One day, one day you'll see. He won't look so bad to you then!" Molly winked, and stood. "Now, to pack!"

Queen Lily of Gryffindor tapped her foot against the stone floor of the corridor. In front of her stood Prince Harry and his partner-in-crime, Seamus Finnigan, a son of a stableman. They both had their heads hung, dirt spilling out from the top.

They were a mess. Faces smudged with grime, and clothes slightly torn. At least they had the decency to look guilty. They had decided to have a good old fashion hog-tie. In the hallways of the freshly cleaned palace.

Lily wasn't so daft she'd fall for the excuse that it had gotten loose by accident, no. Harry had a particular liking for pulling pranks, due to exposure to his godfather, Sirius. He also could care less the court of Ravenclaw was coming, and impressions were to be made, marriages to form....

The auburn-haired crowned Queen also knew he didn't think so highly of Princess Hermione, the stunt with the ants....the frogs in the soup...All not something a person usually thought of as being on good terms with some one.

Still, she felt there would be a union and a peace between the two kingdoms someday. Just not this one.

"Harry, please go up stairs and change. Seamus, find and lead the hog to its pen. Lara, Meg, Caroline, clean up the mess, quick!"

It was time! He thought nervously. The Ravenclaw courts were rolling up in a gaggle of carriages, flags and trumpets following. One marked by the sign of the House of Granger opened up, and pulled to a stop in front of a red carpet laid out just for this occasion.

Harry smirked, and pulled something out of his bag. He smiled charmingly towards his mother, Lily, where she stood waving at King David. Quickly, when he knew his mother was distracted, he gave the thumbs up to Seamus.

Taking out a round, ripe tomato, he raised it discreetly, and launched it at a target. And a hit! Harry resisted the urge to cry out, and instead, erupted into a loud burst of laughter. He had hit the younger royal smack dab in the center of her freckled face. Hermione looked murderous. The adults had all moved away, none noticing the angry girl.

"I'll get him back so good; he won't know what hit him!" Hermione shrieked in Ron's ear, as they made their way up to the palace doors.

Ron had started to laugh, as Hermione wiped the remains of the vegetable off her face. He was punished by his Princess, when she pinched his ear and dragged him by it the rest of the way up the stairs. This was going to be one looooong summer.

A/N: Aright, done for this chapter! What did you think guys? Continue? No?

Reviewers:

The-power-of-love: Aw, dear, I'm glad to be on the alert and favorite author's lists! Thanks, hope you enjoy my update!

Tigerlil: Thanks, I feel much better, actually! Glad for your review!

Beth5572: Well, Terri, here's what I wrote next, hot off the presses! Keep up the reviews, and I just might be encouraged to write longer chapters ;).

Wildkat: Here's your update! Thanks, I love both too. I actually used to own a Swan Princess t-shirt –is embarrassed-.

Lexa: Aw, thank you! Encouragement will get you every where ;). Ever After and the Swan Princess are both such good movies!