Hello people of the world! This is my 2nd Fanfiction, I got the inspiration last night when I saw Beauty and the Beast in theatres (gotta love the classics). It loosely follows the plot of the movie, hope you all like it!
Disclaimer: Because I'm sitting in a bedroom in Central Pennsylvania, I'm guessing I don't own Harry Potter, Beauty and the Beast, or Pride and Prejudice…damnit…
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young Prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the Prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the Prince sneered at the gift, and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for Beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful Enchantress. The Prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart. And as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast, and placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there. Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The Rose she offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom for many years. If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair, and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love…a Beast?
Chapter 1: Arrivals
"Lily! It's so fantastic to see you!"
"Thanks Aunt Carla, how are you?" London was as dreary as I imagined. Grey skies and rain had to be a bad omen. But, I just had to keep thinking about what Alice said; Carla was taking me in so I should be nice.
"Oh dear, I'm wonderful! Everything has been splendid at home. Robert just got promoted and-" She kept talking, but at this point all I heard was white noise. I already missed Salem; all the history, the farmers markets, but most of all, Salem Witches Institute. Alice and I had met there during sixth grade, our first year. Now, I was seventeen. At home I'd be a senior, most likely class president; but here, I'm in seventh year. It's bad enough starting a new school in the UK, but throw in the accents, and it's ten times worse. Everyone is going to think I'm some dumb American. More people talking about me is the last thing I need…
"So dear," Carla said as I tuned back in, "how're you holding up?"
"I'm fine, Aunt Carla. Just tired I guess." I'm sure for the rest of my life that'll be one of the first questions my family asks me. Honestly, my parents died my last year of middle school, you'd think family would stop with the pity questions.
"Oh, I'm sure you are dear. But don't worry, you'll love Hogwarts. It will be your home away from home." I already had a home away from home; Salem. Throughout all the drama of my parents' deaths, Salem was there. For the past three years, I've been shuttled from family member to family member during vacations, Salem was always the place I could come back to. While the rest of my life changed, it was my constant. Now, even that's gone. For some reason, all my parents' siblings decided I needed to experience something new. And, that something new just happened to be Europe. So, here I was, at the house of Aunt Carla and Uncle Robert.
"Well, let's get out of the airport. Honestly, the things muggles come up with to get around flying…" Her comment made me snort. Sometimes, I think my family forgot that there were people that survived without magic, in fact, that they didn't even know about magic. Mom and Daddy always made sure I knew what muggles lived like. They had the utmost respect for muggles, they had rarely used magic at home. We didn't even have house elves, Mom and Dad and I shared the work.
"So how's America? Still as gaudy as I remember?"
"Probably more so," I said as we headed towards the bathroom to find a safe place to apparate, "has disco hit here yet?"
"I don't think so, is he an author?"
"Sure, lets go with that," I muttered as we entered the bathroom. I forgot how disconnected wizards were from pop culture.
"Okay, you're still sixteen, correct?" I nodded, "Right, then lets go to the handicapped stall. You can side-along." Oh Oz, how I hated apparating. Alice has been able to apparate for two months. For some reason, the freak loves it. Personally, the feeling of being shoved in a tube is unappealing. But, since Aunt Carla didn't like taxis, I guess I'd have to suck it up. We got in the stall and stood facing each other.
"Keep a strong hold on your bags now Lily, here goes nothing!" With that, we apparated. I felt like my insides were being compressed to the point of popping, the pressure kept building until we expanded once again, standing in the front room to Carla's house in Chelsea. Well, she was richer than I remembered, if that was possible.
"Winky! Could you take Lily's bags and put them in the crème room?"
"Yessus ma'm."
"Thanks Winky," I murmur. In response, the house elf bows low, then winks.
"So Lily, how about a tour?"
"Actually, could you just point me to the library?"
"Still love to read I see?"
"Now more than ever."
"Well, follow me then." On the way to the library, we passed a drawing room, tearoom, formal dining room, and what looked like a small ballroom. A "get-together room" Aunt Carla called it. Finally, we reached my safe haven, the library. God, how I loved libraries. Something about the smell of books seemed to calm me. Daddy used to tell me when I was little, he'd bring me a book and I'd sniff it to calm down. "I knew you were going to be an odd one," he used to say. While my dad couldn't help me anymore, books still could.
"I'll just leave you to it then," Aunt Carla said. She looked at my face for a few seconds before adding, "I'm so happy you're here Lily." Before I could respond, she left.
"It's good to be home…" I said to the library at large. If I couldn't go back to Salem, then at least I could have a nice library to stay in. I looked around. It wasn't huge, but it was warm. The wood panels went nicely with the rosy marble floor. I walked through the shelves for a few minutes. I had read most these. Eventually, I settled on one of my favorites: Pride and Prejudice. It was time to settle into the world of Elizabeth Bennet. I know she thought her parents (well, mother) were annoying; but right now, thousands of miles away from home, I would give anything to switch places with her. Besides, she gets the dream eventually. Sure, Darcy seems like a beast, but underneath it all, he's exactly what she needs.
"So, Lily" Uncle Robert says later that night during dinner, "How would you feel about attending a ball?"
I choked on my clam chowder; that came out of nowhere.
"Balls still exist?" I ask while coughing.
"But of course dear. What else would wizarding families hold? A rock concert?" Sometimes, I forgot that it was the 1970's; the wizarding world is permanently set in 1775.
"It's at Potter Manor this year. There are usually six balls a year among purebloods, but this one is by far the most extravagant."
"What's the point of the ball?" I ask.
"To celebrate the founders of Hogwarts. The Potter's are descendants of Godric Gryffindor himself. Each year, one of the four founders' families holds a ball to raise money for Hogwarts. There's always an auction, but the clothes are what everyone ends up talking about."
"And, of course, there is the grand prize" Uncle Robert adds.
"Well, what's the grand prize?"
"One person in attendance gets to stay the summer in the house, which dates all the way back to the founders. Very prestigious honor."
"Especially when it comes to the Potters. No one ever sees Mr. and Mrs. Potter. And their son James only comes out for the ball and to go to Hogwarts. People don't know that much about them anymore, they used to be exceedingly popular."
"When's the ball?"
"Tomorrow night." Before I have a chance to say anything, Aunt Carla interrupts, "Don't worry dear, I already picked out a dress for you. It'll fit you like a dream."
"Well, if the plans are already made, then I guess…"
"Excellent!" Aunt Carla chirps.
"Don't unpack your suitcase tonight Lily. Who knows, maybe you'll end up staying in Potter Manor for the summer…."
"Oh Robert, don't make me laugh," Carla says, "there's a one in five hundred chance of that happening. It's as likely as me calling James Potter a son-in-law…"
Uncle Robert gave his full body laugh and said, "Eh, we can always dream, can't we Carla? What do you say Lily, would you marry James Potter? He's got more money than the rest of the students at Hogwarts combined."
"And," added Aunt Carla, "he's ruggedly handsome."
"If that's all he's got going for him, then I don't think we'd hit it off too well." I say in response.
"Well, there go our dreams Carla, I guess we'll just have to be content with shaking the boy's hand at the ball tomorrow."
"I suppose you're right Robert. Lily, why don't you head to bed? You've got a big day ahead of you tomorrow."
"Alright. Goodnight."
Aunt Carla was right, I should get some sleep. I may not care about James Potter, but I still didn't want to show up to the ball with dark circles and entirely jetlagged. Who knows, maybe I'd meet my Darcy there tomorrow…