Once upon a time there was a pretty princess. She lived in a magical fairytale land and she was the most beautiful and the clever girl in the kingdom. She didn't have many friends, but that was only because all of the other boys and girls were intimidated by her, because she was so special and wonderful, they didn't think that they could ever be as good as she was, and that made the jealous of her. But despite this, the pretty princess was happy. She was loved by her parents and she had a thirst for knowledge that could never be quenched! The pretty princess knew that, one day, she would find her prince charming and then she would have all the love and all the friendship that she deserved…

A tear dripped down onto a page of the storybook Hermione Malfoy was reading, and she wiped it away quickly, before the ink was smudged. She remembered her father telling her this story when she was very young, before she went to sleep each night. Every night she would ask for a bedtime story, and every night her would ask her which she wanted, the one about the pretty princess had always been her favourite, until one Christmas, her father had made a book of it for her. This book was one of her most prized possessions, and she always got nostalgic when reading it. She gave the book one more glance, the smiled, and looked down into the crib beside her. Sleeping there was a beautiful blonde baby girl, she looked like an angel, so peaceful and beautiful, Hermione had never thought she could love anything this much.

The book was for her daughter now. The story had always kept Hermione strong, kept her going, through all the challenges she faced in her life, but now she was happy, and she knew that she shouldn't need the book anymore. It was time to pass it on.

She laid the book down, next to her daughter's crib and smiled sadly. What if she still needed the book, what if she hadn't really found her happy ending, what if she needed it again, to keep her strong?

She heard the door open behind her and felt a wave of love and happiness wash over her. Her husband walked up to her and put his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind. She leaned back into his embrace.

'Isn't she gorgeous?'

'Oh yes… almost as gorgeous as her Mummy'

Hermione hit her husband playfully,

'Oh, don't be silly, look at her; she's the most beautiful thing in the world!'

Her husband spun her round, and turned head so her deep brown eyes were staring into his grey ones,

'Hermione, you will always be the most beautiful thing in the world to me, and nothing will ever change that… to me you are perfect. My perfect pretty princess…'

Hermione smiled and hugged him. She knew she would miss the book but, as her husband leaned down to kiss her, she realised she really didn't need it anymore. She'd found her prince charming, and they were going to live happily ever after.

A/N - Sure, it's not the best story ever... but it's kind of sweet, I think!

Hope you leave a review, and positive or negative comments are welcome! Haven't written anything in a long time, so I'm just getting back into it... but now, I have to leave for a science exam... wish me luck!!

~Izzy xxx