A/N: I'd just like to say a big thank you to anyone reading, because to be perfectly honest, I really didn't expect many to, particularly when it's only been up for one day! This chapter, and I think the next as well, are little experts to give an idea of their lives before Hogwarts. I just thought I'd clarify, that yes, the Swan Princess stuff will come into the story eventually, but probably not until 6th year. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter One:

Five-year-old Harry Potter ran down the stairs of Potter Manor, dragging his training broom behind him. Today was Christmas, and as they did every year, they were going to spend the day at The Burrow, with the Weasleys, Sirius, and Remus. Harry flung himself into the lounge room, landing in a heap right in front of the fireplace and his amused parents.

"Nope, sorry" His twin sister, Hermione, called from the top of the stairs "that was only 48 seconds. You told Ron you could do it in 35." She grinned at him as he pouted, walking down the stairs at a much more sedate pace.

Lily was tutting in disapproval, trying to hide a grin at her son's petulant face. James, however, had no such compunctions, and was openly chuckling in amusement.

"What do you owe him now?" he asked, as Harry continued to scowl. The sight of his young son trying to sulk whilst still panting heavily was too much for James, who promptly burst out laughing.

"I told him he could have my Agrippa card."Harry said, before turning to Hermione with a pleading look on his face.

"Come on, just one more try. Please?" he begged.

Hermione merely laughed and shook her head.

"Uh uh, the deal was you only got one shot, and besides, I want to leave to see Ginny already."

"That's right" Lily spoke up "Come on Harry, we're all ready to go. Grab some floo powder and get into the fire."

With a defeated sigh, Harry threw the powder into the fire, called out 'The Burrow', and stepped into the green flames. When the dizzying ride was over, he landed in The Burrow's familiar living room.

"Harry dear, Merry Christmas!" Molly greeted as she pulled him into a fierce hug.

He returned the greeting before turning to observe the large Christmas tree sitting in the corner. As Molly moved on to hug Hermione behind him, he spotted the four Christmas baubles he, Hermione, Ron and Ginny had made just last week. With a proud grin on his face, he moved through to the kitchen to continue his greetings.

"Ginny, you're not coming!"

Harry watched as Ron argued with his sister. They were standing nearly toe to toe, Ron looming over Ginny's head, but she was not giving up without a fight. Christmas lunch was over, and he and Ron had just been heading out to play with their training brooms when Ginny insisted on accompanying them. While Ginny was definitely more of a tom boy than Hermione, she generally didn't mind going off and playing with their dolls together while the boys did their own thing. The one exception to this was Quidditch, which she loved with the same fervour as the two boys. Only Ron was adamant that she not play.

"Why not? I'm on'y one year younger than you!" Ginny's face was going red, and Harry knew it was from rage.

"Girls can't play Quidditch, and that's final!" Ron shouted.

At this, Ginny set her jaw and folded her little arms.

"Oh yeah? Then I'll race you. If I win, you have to let me play, but if you win, then I'll go colour with 'Mione." She turned to Harry "Harry, give me your broom."

With this, she stuck out her hand. Harry hesitated. He really loved his new broom, and wasn't quite sure he should trust Ginny with it. Her eyes narrowed as he paused, and he quickly passed her the broom, remembering what she'd done to Fred and George just last week when they had thrown her favourite doll in the lake.

Ginny turned back to Ron and stuck out her right hand.

"Shake." She commanded.

With a smirk, Ron shook her hand and headed out to the backyard. They were not allowed to go past the first line of trees, so they couldn't play in the paddock as the older Weasley brothers did, but the backyard would be big enough for a race on the training brooms.

Hermione had followed them out and took up position at the garden shed.

"Right," she called "First one to reach me is the winner."

Harry moved out of the way as the two Weasley siblings took their places.

"On your marks, get set, go!" he shouted.

With a look of fierce determination on her young face, Ginny launched the broom and shot straight towards Hermione. Ron, looking surprised at the familiarity with which she moved on the broom, struggled to catch her as they crossed the hundred metres to the shed. Harry watched, impressed in spite of himself, as Ginny let out a whoop of victory and landed squarely in front of Hermione. Despite the fact that the broom only had a limited speed and height, her face was flushed with the pleasure of flying, and she grinned as she handed Harry back his broom.

"How did you learn to fly like that, Ginny?" Ron's tone was accusatory, but it was clear that he was mildly impressed.

Ginny grinned mischievously up at him.

"I've been practising on Fred's old training broom for months!" she said proudly. "Every time you went out to watch the others play in the paddock, I took it out of the shed and flew around the yard."

Hermione was laughing at Ron's dumbfounded look.

"I guess you'll have to let her play now!" she grinned.

Ron sighed, but reluctantly agreed, as Ginny threw her arms around Hermione's neck, laughing gleefully.

Harry smiled as he lay on the floor in the living room, next to Hermione. Ron and Ginny were to his left, arguing softly about whether or not the HollyHead Harpies were a better Quidditch team than the Chudley Cannons. The familiar sound was comforting as he watched the adults laughing together on the couches. Sirius was telling a story Harry was too tired to pay attention to, but by the reactions of the others, particularly James, Remus, and Arthur, it must have been funny.

The twins were lying on the floor under the Christmas tree, pretending they hadn't been the ones to stripe Percy's hair green, so that he looked rather like a candy cane. Percy himself was unaware, his nose buried in the transfiguration book Remus had given him. Bill and Charlie were having an animated discussion in the corner, bent over a game of chess. As he watched, Charlie's knight sent Bill's bishop flying off the table, landing just near Harry's arm and narrowly avoiding Hermione's head. Harry half-heartedly threw it back to Charlie, who grinned at him and gave a thumbs-up in thanks.

It was late, long passed his bedtime, and the quiet atmosphere of The Burrow, along with the cheery glow of the warm fire, was causing Harry to drift off, even as he laughed at Ginny's comment that, judging by their last game, the Cannons would have a better chance of winning the championship blindfolded. Hermione was fast asleep, her head resting on a cushion. Harry briefly thought of mentioning that Puddlemere United could beat both of their teams in a heartbeat, but couldn't seem to work up the energy. He'd just have to tell them later, probably when he saw them tomorrow. With a soft sigh, Harry gave in and let sleep enfold him.