This isn't going to be like any beauty and the beast story you have read (at least I don't think so… I don't make it a habit of reading fanfictions about Beauty and the Beast…). I guess what I am trying to say is, forget what you know about Beauty and the Beast because I am going in a totally different direction (at least character wise… you'll see what I mean as the story progresses). There are going to be some twists that you aren't expecting, even right from the beginning. I hope you are as excited about them as I am, they will certainly make the story much more entertaining. Well, enjoy!
Albus Dumbledore was bored. Anyone who knew the man would you tell you that this was a big problem. You see, when Dumbledore gets bored, he likes to meddle; and this leads to unfortunate circumstances for whomever he targets. Dumbledore always saw his meddling as a blessing upon those he bestowed his wisdom and magic, however, no one else saw it this way. People had tried to tell him, but he just waved them off. It was just better to steer clear of the crazy man and his meddling ways. Beware to those who cross his path.
Albus Dumbledore, in his neon blue robes, with little phoenixes allover, was walking through a very large forest. He wasn't sure what to do, or who to mess with… erm help, but he was sure he would stumble upon someone soon. To his great delight, he eventually came upon a large castle. He was certain he would find someone worthy of his attention in there. With a smile on his face, he skipped over to the large double doors of the castle and knocked. He waited for a few minutes then knocked again… and again, this time with more vigor. He tried the handle, but it would not budge.
Dumbledore rubbed his beard. How odd… one would think someone would answer the door. He thought. Dumbledore merely shrugged and went around to the back where he found a garden. Dumbledore smiled when he saw two large glass doors which led into the castle. As he was heading towards the door he stopped by a rose bush. "Oh, how pretty." He picked one off the bush and carried it with him, thinking his day could only get better from here.
When he came upon the doors he found they were unlocked, so he just let himself in. Dumbledore strolled throughout the castle as if he owned the place until he heard talking coming from a room nearby. He came upon two closed doors. He tried one of the handles and found it to be unlocked. What fortunate luck! He thought. Dumbledore slowly opened the door and peered in.
His eyes were drawn to the back of the room where he saw a man, with short black hair and piercing dark brown eyes, sitting on a throne like chair. The man wore a black coat with green embroidery around the edges, and a green shirt underneath. His pants and boots were all black. It looked expensive, but Dumbledore thought it could use more color. Upon further inspection, Dumbledore noticed that the man looked bored. He had his left arm propped up on the armrest, holding his head while he was petting what looked to be a very large snake. He didn't look like he was paying any attention at all to whatever the other people in the room were saying.
Dumbledore thought that this would be his perfect target. This man definitely needed more excitement in his life. How fortunate for this man that Dumbledore found him! Dumbledore proudly strolled into the room, ignoring how the chatter died down and people were now staring at him. He proceeded to walk all the way to the man in the chair, stopping only a few feet away. "Hello there! My name is…"
"I don't care who you are crazy old man! Get out of my house! You are trespassing!" Voldemort yelled at the old man before him. How dare this man have the nerve to talk to me, does he not know who I am?! Voldemort thought angrily. "Either leave now or I will have my guards kill you. I am feeling merciful, so I will allow you to leave with your life if you go now."
Dumbledore shook his head. This poor man, he didn't know what he was saying. The man didn't know the wonder and excitement Dumbledore could bring to his life. "Pardon my intrusion, but I come bearing gifts. I am an enchanter you see, I have only come to aid you. If you will only accept a humble man's gift…"
"Ha! As if you could be an enchanter! Just look at you! You are nothing but a crazy old man! Go back to the hole you crawled out of and don't infect us with your disease!" Voldemort was standing by the end of his rant. He was tired of this old man. He wanted him gone now.
Dumbledore tutted and shook his head once more. "Such an insolent child. I suppose I will have to teach you a lesson. It will be a long hard road, but you will appreciate it in the end. After all, life is filled with sacrifice and hardship." Dumbledore took out what appeared to be a stick from who knows where and pointed it at Voldemort. "To help you learn about patience and love, I will bestow upon you this gift. I will transform you and your staff until such a time that you learn your lessons. However, should you not be able to succeed you shall remain in said forms for the rest of your lives!" There! That should get him motivated to want to work on himself. Dumbledore thought. The man had quite the temper on him, if he could find someone to love then he would surely calm down… and be a little nicer as well.
Dumbledore tried to think about what he could use to motivate the man further; there should be a time limit after all. Dumbledore looked down at his hand that held the rose. Of course! A rose would be perfect! As it wilts and the petals fall the man will come to know that his time is drawing near. "I present to you this rose, keep it safe, for it shall be your life-line. Once the last petal falls your transformation will never be removed. I shall freeze time here until you either find love, or the last petal falls. A petal will fall each year that passes by. So, try your hardest to find someone to love you before the last petal falls, it would be such a shame otherwise. All my hard work for nothing…" Not that Dumbledore was doing much…
Voldemort went to shout to the guards to the remove the man, but a bright light ensconced the room as the old man chanted out a spell.