This is for Super-Zelda-Fanatic's The Modern Rendition of a Fairytale Competition and for my 5 Couples, 5 Days Competition, both on HPFC.
The fairytale that I got is 'The Robber Bridegroom', which is a Brothers Grimm Fairytale that I'm not all that familiar with. Hopefully, wikipedia got most of it right.
WARNING! The original fairytale is a little bit gruesome, and so chapter 2 of this is definitely T-rated for violent implications.
Day 3: Teddy/Victoire
"Just go and meet him," Bill asked beseechingly, holding out a piece of paper with a name and address scribbled on it. "Your mother knows his father from a long time ago. I think it would mean lot to Mr Fox if you'd just introduce yourself to his son."
Victoire stood in the foyer at Shell Cottage, a scarf wrapped around her neck and a warm, luxurious coat draped over her shoulders. Dominique was beside her, shaking her head as the girls' father tried again-
"I know you've heard that Simon Fox is a bit of recluse, but that's all the more reason to pay him a visit. Besides, I assured Mr Fox that you'd be going to see his son."
"Simon Fox is creepy, Dad!" Dominique interjected, speaking her sister's mind. "They say he was the one who stole the Fat Lady while he was at Hogwarts. Didn't even break into the Gryffindor Common Room behind, just stole their portrait for no reason at all. He's weird."
Bill rolled his eyes. "I thought you'd know better than to believe tales like that."
Dominique blushed, silenced by her father's condescending tone. She looked up at Victoire, meeting her sister's eyes.
"But Victoire doesn't want to go," Dominique offered lamely. "Right, Vic?"
Bill glanced at his eldest daughter, holding her gaze as if daring her to agree. Victoire let out a reluctant sigh, her resolve crumpling at her father's expression.
"Fine, I'll go," she conceded, taking the piece of paper. "But I hope you know that I'm not happy about it!"
Smiling, Bill nodded, opening the door to the frosty evening air. Dominique shivered as a gust of wind blew inside, ducking behind her father to shield herself from the cold.
"Have fun with creepy Simon!" Dominique called out, earning a glare from Victoire as she stepped outside.
Bill and Dominique watched Victoire to the end of the garden path, waving goodbye to her and she stepped out the gate, glanced down at the paper in her hand and spun on her heel, Disapparating.
"If she dies it's your fault!" Dominique teased as her father closed the door.
...
Victoire opened her eyes when she came to a stop, the uncomfortable feeling of Apparating fading as she steadied herself. Looking around, she noticed the rickety wooden fence in front of her, with a rusty iron number nailed on the gate. The number matched the one on the paper in her hand, and as Victoire scanned up and down the silent street, she assured herself that, yes, this was the place her father had directed her to.
She stared apprehensively ahead, into the wildly overgrown garden of the apparently deserted block of land. She couldn't see any lights through the trees and shrubs that were packed thickly behind the wooden fence but (checking the paper again), this was definitely the right address. The area certainly fit the description she'd heard of Simon Fox – eccentric, eerie and just a little bit feral.
With a reluctant sigh, she opened the gate, trying not to let her mind wander to the story of the Three Brothers and their lonely journey through the dark woods, only to be met at the end by Death. It was beyond Victoire's comprehension why her father had even wanted her to see Simon Fox but, mustering her courage, she decided he was right. She was being silly letting these fairytales and rumours scare her. Everything would be fine.
Stuffing the paper in her pocket, now resolved to see this obligation through, Victoire strode into the overgrown yard, her pace slowing as she peered through the trees, trying to make out the right direction to go in. Hand still in her pocket, Victoire felt something in there, and paused to pull out a packet of Puffskein seeds. The packet was unopened, and the tiny, sweet-tasting seeds seemed to be begging to be eaten.
Would Simon Fox be serving snacks? It seemed unlikely. So, with a shrug, Victoire pulled open the packet, a small scattering its contents falling to ground, and pulled out a pinch of Puffskein seeds, dropping them into her mouth and smiling as she swallowed. Everything was better with Puffskein seeds around.
Victoire looked back up, licking her lips as she searched for some clue of where to go. The street was still directly behind her, but in the cold, overcast evening, it seemed somehow darker than before. Then she noticed the ashes.
It seemed beyond creepy – possibly entering the realm of morbid – to scatter ashes instead of a garden path. And yet, Victoire moved forward a couple of steps, the grey-white trail snaking across the dark ground was undoubtedly supposed to serve as a guide. Grabbing another pinch of Puffskein seeds, Victoire ventured forwards, glad she'd worn boots as she continued through the ankle-high grass, twigs and leaves brushing against her jacket and catching on her scarf.
The trail of ashes continued all the way to the rotting wooden door of a small house. Through a grimy window, Victoire could see a candle flickering inside. She knocked on the door, hoping that no one would answer.
"I'll just be a second!"
The words were surprisingly casual for such an unusual setting, and once again Victoire internally reprimanded herself for being so paranoid. She stuffed the packet of Puffskein seeds back into her pocket and drew her coat more tightly around herself, hoping to look as if she hadn't just trekked through a miniature forest to reach this house.
"Hey-" the door flew open, the person behind it stopping their greeting halfway through as they gaped at her.
"Victoire?"
Victoire stared back at the man in the doorway.
His hair, usually turquoise, was a dull, grubby brown, his bright eyes sunken and his jaw wider and brow more prominent than usual. But, none of that mattered, because she'd recognise that voice anywhere.
"Teddy?"