Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Author's Note: Based on Beauty and the Beast.
Prologue
Draco Malfoy walked into Hogwarts after getting off the boats at the beginning of his first year. As he followed the rest of the first years towards the Great Hall, he heard a commotion down one of the hallways. He followed the noise away from the group and into a dark hallway. There, he saw the school's resident poltergeist, Peeves, poking a stick through the ghost of a young woman and teasing her. The ghost turned to him with a pleading look in her eyes. She begged, "Please help me."
Draco just laughed and went to walk away. The woman had other ideas, though, and she flew into his path with an angry expression. She screamed, "Since you didn't offer your help to a maiden in need, you shall be cursed."
"What are you doing to me?", Draco screamed, as he flew along hallways and up staircases with the ghost cackling behind him. As he was pulled along he felt terrible pain running all along his body. He finally landed in a heap in an empty hallway with no doors.
The ghost floated in front of an expanse of wall three times. As she did this she spoke to Draco. "My name is Helena Ravenclaw. I am also known as the Grey Lady, the ghost of Ravenclaw house. My mother was Rowena Ravenclaw, and because of my lineage, I am still powerful enough to do some magic even though I am just a ghost."
As she finished talking, a door appeared in the wall in front of her. She motioned for Draco to follow her and disappeared through the doorway. Draco pulled open the door and saw a house with a huge lawn and a Quidditch pitch in the backyard. He quickly ran up the path as he saw the Grey Lady go into the house.
When he arrived in the house, he saw that it was well equipped with furniture and other accessories. He walked through the house until he found the Grey Lady in the living room.
She looked him right in the eye and said, "Draco, you have been cursed. You are now as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside. You have until your seventeenth birthday to find someone to truly love you. If this girl agrees to marry you before midnight on your birthday, you will return to normal. However, if your birthday ends without a proposal, you will stay like this forever. This room will open to allow a girl searching for love in, but it will not let you out except on your birthday each year. You must be back before midnight though, or you will be forced back and that privilege will be taken away. On your seventeenth birthday, the room will let you out forever. Good-bye, Draco."
"No, wait!", Draco shouted as the Grey Lady flew back towards the door. She ignored him, and left without another word.
Draco stormed back into the house and saw his reflection for the first time. He was ugly! He had scars marring his entire body! How could anyone love someone as hideous as he was now?
Time passed slowly for Draco. He had plenty to do in his house, but he was lonely. He spent his time in solitude, not even venturing out on his birthday, June 5th, because he didn't want anyone to see him. He lived completely alone for a year, until, on September 1st, a girl finally entered the room...
Author's Note: Oohh, cliffhanger...
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