Disclaimer: MINE!!!!!!!! IT'S ALL MINE!!!!!!!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. ::ahem:: *looks around furtively in hopes that no on saw that* hehe. not really. The only things I own in this are part of the storyline, Harry and Athena Weasley (not Potter) and a few house- elves. Summary: This is a Beauty and the Beast adaptation, I'll be taking ideas from several versions of the story. For example, the Disney version, the original, and Rose Daughter and Beauty by Robin McKinley.

        Thought's, dreams, and flashbacks

        Setting: Seven years after Harry and Co. graduate. Ron and Hermione are twenty-five, married and have twins, Harry and Athena who are about three years old. The war has been over for 7 years (Harry defeated Voldemort in 7th year). Ginny is 24. Ginny/Draco ship!!!


~* Beauty is Found Within*~

"But she warned him,
not to be deceived by appearances,
For beauty is found within."
Beauty and the Beast – Prologue

        For as long as I can remember I've been the plain and boring one of the family. Bill is the typical wild party animal, with enough charm to bend even Voldemort to his will. On top of that, he was Head-Boy for goodness sake! Charlie was the star seeker of the Gryffindor team and has just earned an Order of Merlin, First Class for almost single-handedly saving a town of Muggles from a crazed Hungarian Horntail. Percy, the model worker of the family, following in dad's footsteps, is well on his way up to head of his department. Fred and George, what more can I say? Their joke shop has become immensely popular and they're now Witch Weekly's two most eligible bachelors. Ron is an Auror for the ministry along with his wife Hermione. They've already had two children and Hermione is pregnant yet again. Then, there's me, the only girl awash in a sea of testosterone, with the exception of my mother, of course. I have the most boring job in the world, shelving books for Flourish and Blotts, the most boring bookstore in the world. You'd think that after 1000 years in business, they could come up with some better sales gimmicks than, "Come get your books signed by Gilderoy Lockhart, the wizard who can't remember himself!" Day after day, week after week, the same old books put on the same old shelves, the same wizened old wizards and witches coming in to buy useless spell books. I wish something would happen to me. I wish I had someone in my life besides my family. But wishing's no use, nothing ever changes.

        "Miss? Miss?? Could you tell me how much this book is? Miss?" A screechy, elderly voice snapped me out of my reverie. An eighty-year-old woman stood in front of me, brandishing her cane and shoving an old, dusty book in my face.

        "I'm sorry ma'am, my brain just stopped. You know how you're going along some days and suddenly, whoosh, your brain stops?" I smiled weakly, hoping that my light manner would cover my complete detachment. The old lady looked at me skeptically and shoved the book in my face again, asking loudly about the price. With amusement, I realized it was Hogwarts, a History, Hermione's favorite book. I told her it was two galleons, she paid, and finally left.

        As soon as she stepped out the door, a face, surrounded with bushy brown hair appeared right in front of me. I screamed bloody murder (what else would you do?) and began fumbling for my wand. Luckily, I realized who it was before I could do anything.

        "Calm down Ginny!" Hermione said, "Geez, and Ron said that *I'm* moody and jumpy nowadays."

        "I'm okay," I answered shakily, "You just scared me, popping out of nowhere like that."

        Hermione smiled, "Well that's good then," she then looked around at the various book buyers, who were staring rather intently at us, and said loudly, "Go back to your books! There's nothing to see here!" The shoppers immediately complied, Hermione was obviously pregnant and no one wanted to mess with a pregnant woman.

        She turned to me, smiling, and said, "Why don't you take a break? We can go get a snack at Florean's."

        "Sure," I said, "my next break's in 10 minutes, so can you just hang around here for a while?"

        "You bet" Hermione replied cheerfully.

        I returned to shelving books and Hermione began drifting in the direction of several bookshelves. After ten minutes, I dusted off my hands and set off to find Hermione. I found her at the checkout counter trying to balance a towering stack of books and find her pocketbook at the same time. Before she fell over, I managed to grab the gigantic pile of books and deposit them on the counter.

        "Sorry, Gin," she wheezed, brushing a lock of stray hair away from her face, "but I couldn't resist."

        I sighed, Merlin, I could just picture Ron's face. "How could you leave her alone in a bookstore Ginny???? Our house already looks like ten bookstores!"

        Hermione finished paying for her books and shrunk them to fit in her purse. Then the two of us stepped out of the store into the bright sunshine. As we walked slowly to Florean's, Hermione stopping to buy quills and ink every so often, I contemplated on what Hermione wanted to talk about. She was usually so busy with the twins that she was rarely able to come visit me. And now, out of the blue, she just came and said, "Why don't we have a snack?" It seemed very un-Hermione-like.

        Finally, we reached Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor. Hermione quickly snagged a table outside and we placed our orders. A small hot fudge sundae for me, and a root beer float with marshmallows, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate syrup, and a pickle on the side. I tell you, pregnancy can give you some pretty weird cravings. When Hermione was pregnant with her twins, I had to run down to the store every day while Ron was at work to buy her salami, olive loaf, raspberry bagels, and mint chocolate chip ice cream.

        "So." I asked uncertainly, "What did you want to talk about 'Mione?"

        All of a sudden, she looked fidgety and uncomfortable. "Well, Ginny, today is the… er… I mean… it's been about five years since Harry, you know, er, passed."

        I stared at her apprehensively and she continued, eyes downcast. "And well… the ministry is going to have a ceremony in about five months. They'll erect a statue on his gravesite and… they want you to give a speech."

        She looked at me timidly, as if I was going to blow up any second. I was speechless (pardon the pun), how could they expect me to do something like that? Just because Harry and I had been… no, I wouldn't think of that. It'd only lead to heartache.

        "Gin?" Hermione's worried voice intruded rudely upon my thoughts.

        "I'm fine 'Mione," I lied. "I just zoned out for a minute." "Okay," she replied disbelievingly, "Why don't you take the rest of the day off? Come to my house? We can chat for a bit."

        I nodded numbly and stood up, preparing to go back to Flourish and Blott's to check out.

        "Why don't you head home Gin?" Hermione suggested, "I'll go to Flourish and Blotts okay?"

        I nodded again and made my way through the street, past the stone wall, and into the Leaky Cauldron. I didn't even realize I had stepped into the fireplace and Flooed to Hermione's home until I felt two small wriggling lumps crash into me, yelling, "Aunt Ginny!!! Aunt Ginny!!"

        I could hear Ron laughing as I tried to pry the squirming twins off of me. Finally, after several minutes of futile efforts, I stopped trying and slumped back into a chair, exhausted. Ron smiled at me, looking about as tired as I felt.

        "I don't know what 'Mione was thinking." He said wearily, "No one can control these two except for her."

        I grinned back, then looked down at the twins sprawled in my lap. Harry, just like his namesake, was a cute little charmer who rarely paid attention to his mother's admonitions. Athena, however, was a sweet, curious, and outgoing little girl. I couldn't help but laugh when Athena pushed Harry off my lap and he started glowering at her with a glare worthy of Snape. Luckily, Ron and I were able to distract the kids before one of them started bawling. There was a small pop behind me and I turned to see Hermione standing there, hands on her hips, shaking her head and tutting at us.

        "By Merlin, Ron," she said, trying to sound firm but failing miserably, "you can't even control two children! What are you going to do when this one comes?"

        She smiled indulgently and Ron grinned as he wrapped his long arms around her and gave her a small peck on the lips. As I watched their tiny display of affection, I felt tears spring to my eyes. It reminded me so much of Harry and how we used to be, innocent and happy. Unable to stand it anymore, I set a fidgeting Athena on the floor and practically ran into the bathroom.

        After putting my head underwater in the sink (A/N: Think Romeo in the sink in Romeo and Juliet) and drying off, I leaned my forehead on the mirror and stared at my reflection. Involuntarily, I began thinking of Harry again. Of his beautiful bright green eyes. Of his unruly black hair that I had to constantly sweep aside. Of the four wonderful years I had him to myself.

        Memories assaulted me. Harry, standing red-faced in front of me, asking me to the Halloween Ball in 5th year. Harry, grinning proudly as he accepted his diploma. Harry, flying swiftly and surely for the Chudley Cannons, narrowly missing a bludger, diving to catch the snitch. Harry, swinging me around in the air with tears in his eyes on Christmas morning, when I had given him his mother's diary, which had taken me months to find. Then, darker memories. Harry, standing menacingly over Pettigrew, preparing to kill him. Harry, chasing several Death Eaters into the forest and failing to return. Harry, sprawled on the forest floor, wide-eyed and lifeless. Harry, so peaceful in his handsome mahogany coffin. Harry, Harry, Harry, Harry… the myriad of memories swam before my eyes, blending together into a swirling cyclone of vibrant color and sound.

        And then, merciful darkness.

A/N: Well, there's the first chappie! I'm sorry 'bout killing Harry, but he didn't fit in the storyline anywhere. At least I put his name in somewhere! Besides, I'm not the biggest Harry fan (check my bio). What do you think of depressed Ginny? She wasn't really in love with Harry, she thought she was but she wasn't. She loved him as a friend and a crush but she interpreted it as more. I made it sound like she really loved him, but she's just confused, or she might have another, secret, underlying reason. I'm still undecided. Suggestions are VERY welcome! Review PLEEZ!!!!!!!!!! ^___^

P.S. Ginny says Voldemort because after the war was over, they weren't afraid anymore.

P.P.S. I don't know if any of you guys noticed this but there are some lines in there from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I just saw it and I couldn't resist. Well… after divulging that completely useless bit of information, on to write the next chapter!