Disclaimer: All the original characters and setting belong to Christa Winsloe.
Summary: AU: Silver Hill Institute is no ordinary school. Hundreds-year-old pact talks about a time machine, usable only in need of a rehab of a particularly ill-mannered students. How will a young Max manage upon finding herself sent back in time to a school located in Northern Germany?
Pairing: EvB & OC /femslash/
Rated: M/MA for future chapters
ONE DAY THREE AUTUMNS / MR DE CLARE / CH. 1
Hundreds of years ago, London /
"Mr De Clare, what you are saying... it—it is absolutely insane! You are throwing away the greatest discovery this world could ever witness," a small, dark eyed-woman blurted in disbelief.
It did not make any sense. Why would the scientist want to keep something so important all to himself?
"Great discoveries carry a great deal of responsibility," he smiled sagely, gazing at the fireplace. "I would be tossing and turning in my pine overcoat till the end of times, knowing it lies in the wrong hands."
The woman moved closer, her breath quickening. "Wrong hands? What do you mean by wrong hands? Do you have any idea how many things could have been prevented? Right at this moment!"
"You can't change the past." De Clare looked at her almost sympathetically. "But." He shifted, wisdom dripping from every wrinkle painted on his face. "If you use it to change the future—to learn—"
"To learn from what? From the past," she interrupted. "Impossible!"
"My dear Magdalene, the past has always been smarter than the future. Always. All is but an illusion. We think we're wiser by each generation, while the truth lies thousands of years prior."
The woman couldn't tear her eyes from De Clare's, her desperation almost tangible.
"You would truly leave this masterpiece in this school and use it—pardon me—so foolishly to fix the students?!"
"Why not? They are our future after all. It is in their hands to make the world a better place." The scientist took off his glasses. "Believe me, there are dark times ahead of us. Faceless. Our society needs to remain pure."
"I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe. Everything seems to be going so well, these days. The science is on the rise, ethics. We are so much wiser!"
"We are not wiser. We are just a group of narcissists. That is all."
Shaking her head, Magdalene kneeled beside the man, piercing the flames mirroring in his eyes.
"You are mad."
"Maggie, I'm flattered!" He bowed his head "Trust me, I know what I'm doing."
"You could change the world!" She let out harshly, putting a hand over his.
"Oh, no machine in the universe, have the ability to do that—but to start with small steps—to change the world of a one person... you know the mystery of a chain reaction, don't you?"
Nodding, Magdalene had no argument left in her sleeve.
"Well, maybe you really are visionary, whose name won't ever be remembered," she proclaimed with a sour face, making the old man laugh.
"There's nothing better to be not known for!"
Hundreds of years later, London/
"Miss Maxwell, could you explain to me how did those drugs get into your possession," Samantha Blackstone, a headmistress of Silver Hill Institute spoke in a clear, patient voice, observing a frowning student in front of her.
"No idea. Somebody must have slipped them into my backpack." The girl shrugged her shoulders arrogantly, not even bothered to look at the woman.
Blackstone rose her eyebrows, placing her hands on a table in front of her. "Of course, together with these," she pointed at a few bottles resting on a stack of papers "and these." another hand gesture, showing a clear sac of a white powder.
The student's eyes widened. "Okay, first of all, I cannot believe you've been through my stuff, it's a violation of a privacy!" She leapt from her chair, inching forward, taking one of the bottles into her palm. "And the second thing—these are no drugs—it's my medication, so I'd rather you to sustain from any accusations, lady."
"Sit down and mind your tone," the woman drawled dangerously. "I'm not one of your friends to be spoken to in such a manner! Are we clear?"
However enraged the girl might have been, she took the advice and sat back down, gripping her jumper nervously.
"And when it comes to your privacy," the headmistress emphasized every syllable of the word, "if there's any reason to break it, it's no longer called a violation, but inspection and that is, correct me if I am wrong, allowed as far as this country declares," she let out triumphantly, looking at the student with a stiff expression.
Exhaling softly, the woman went on. "May I remind you, Max," she lowered her voice and slightly leaned in across the table, "this is the fifth time you're in this office and it's only September! I told you, any more errors and you are finished."
"I remember, thank you very much." The girl called Max pursed her lips together as she gave the woman a venomous look.
"Do you want to be expelled?" Blackstone tilted her head.
"No."
"Than why do you keep doing things like that?"
Max only smirked, putting her knees up toward her chin. "I won't bother explaining anything anymore. It's clear you are biased and won't believe a word I say."
"You're not being fair, now." The woman's voice went cold. "I gave you a chance—a lot of chances, but you keep blowing them off like it's nothing."
"Throw me out then. I don't see a point in staying here any longer, I am a dealer, after all, aren't I? Let's also call my parents and the police to deal with a trash, sorry, me."
Blackstone was looking at her with a slightly opened mouth, thinking hard what to do next. Max could practically see the amount of thoughts piling up in the woman's brain, each trying to become an end game.
After minutes of silence, she finally found her words again.
"Fine, you want yourself out? All right... go back to your room, I'll arrange everything."
Heeey! I hope at least some of you, beautiful souls, will be able to find a place in their heart for this major AU/OC fanfiction.
I don't know how many of you heard of a book called The Child Manuela by Christa Winsloe, but I can assure you, it's a good stuff. I must admit, I stumbled upon a movie first - actually, there are three of them - a 1931 version (black and white), a 1951 Spanish version and finally 1958 version, I decided to base this off on (if anyone's interested - you may find an HD movie on youtube - it's called Mädchen in Uniform.)
Also, I should probably mention there's actually not that old movie, inspired by MiU called Loving Annabelle, which however felt a little too cringy for me, but I couldn't help thinking what would happen if a girl with a similar attitude as Annabelle would meet Elizabeth... And here I am after a few years, trying to project my thoughts into a real story and I couldn't be more excited!
So what to expect? Another slowburn, of course, another time period jumps (you should know me by now), another femslash (what else)
And for the fans of Manuela - I am so sorry I won't be bringing the girl to life, but I hope you'll give Max a chance.
With all my excitement and love right now, AP.