Chapter 1: Listening at the Door

Here is my first installment of Pride and Severus! I just came up with this idea and I would love to see where it goes. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, but please, no rude comments.

One other thing: I do not own most of the characters. They are a mix between Jane Austen's creation and J.K. Rowling. Also, this is taking the plot from the movie and I'm adding elements of Harry Potter. There will be a few diary entries on some chapters from various characters at the beginning or the end of some chapters; it just depends on the chapter and the circumstances.

Read and Review!

And most of all, enjoy!

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Chapter 1: Listening at the door

"Mr. Evans! Wouldn't you like to know my absolutely wonderful news?" shrieked an excited, rather plump woman quickly shuffling her way towards her husband who rested back in a chair in the home's study. "I'm quite sure that I will hear the news either way, my dear…" he replied, seeming rather bored.

"Why, Mr. Evans!" she cried again. She always addressed her husband by Mr. Evans when she was truly excited, which seemed to be the case the majority of the time. "Godrick's Manor has finally been taken! Would you like to know by whom?" she questioned, leaning forward as her hands were clasped tightly together at her bosom.

"Who, my dear?" he asked, setting down his newspaper and looking at his wife, simply to appease her.

"Why! It's Mr. Binns and his sister! They have taken up at Godrick's Manor! You know we must see them at once! Already Mr. Lucas has made a point to introduce himself and his daughter… Don't you think it would be wise to introduce us? You know he must marry one of them." She said quite quickly, as if she was running out of time to talk. The 'them' she was referring to were her daughters: Jane, Lily, Kathryn, Lydia, and Mary.

The Evanses were quite known for their numerous daughters despite their financial status. True, they did not have very much money, but Mrs. Evans always felt that they made up for it in character. She was quite right it some sense. However, in the wizarding world, it was always a mother's main job to make sure that her children acquired an adequate future.

While this entire conversation took place in the study, two of the aforementioned daughters huddled outside the door, shushing each other's giggles as they struggled to listen in on the exciting news.

"Hush, Kitty!" Lydia whispered as Kitty pressed a hand over her own mouth in an effort to mute the giggles escaping her lips. Meanwhile, Lily, the second-eldest sister found the two. "What did I tell you about listening at the door?!" she said, a frown set in her brows.

Both of the eavesdropping sisters gave a loud 'SHUSH' and continued to press their ears to the door, straining their ears. Lily sighed, catching part of the conversation and drew nearer, now intrigued by what was going on in the study.

"Five-thousand galleons a year!" they all seemed to silently mouth as they continued to listen. Whoever this Mr. Binns was, it seemed like there would be no preference in what he looked like, as long as he chose one of the girls, they would be set for life.

"HE'S SINGLE" the two younger sisters shrieked in a low whisper.

Suddenly, the door opened and Mr. Evans found himself confronted with three daughters at once and the eldest, Jane, descending the staircase to see what was going on. Moving past them, they shuffled along, needing to know more about this Mr. Binns.

"Will he come to the ball at the Hollow tomorrow, Papa?" Lydia asked abruptly, nearly shouting it out with all the excitement that seemed to be pent up inside her.

"I believe so…" he answered and left the girls as they began to laugh and shriek, jumping up and down while Lily and Jane moved toward their father with Mrs. Evans following up behind.

"Oh, Mr. Evans! You spoil such things for me…" she said with a light pout, but she could not hide her own excitement about the company they may receive at the ball tomorrow night. It would be the biggest news to reach the town in quite a while.

Lily, on the other hand looked toward Jane who had the same look in her eyes. Jane, being the oldest of the sisters, was the one who would most likely to receive a proposal from Mr. Binns if anything of the nature should occur. The two other girls seemed to get the same idea and rushed to Jane's side, ushering her upstairs, giggling about ribbons, dresses and other things having to do with the ball that would take place within a matter of hours.