A/N: Here it is, the musical number I originally said I wasn't going to write! I was stuck as to where to go next with this story, but a conversation on AIM with Sango-sama proved quite inspirational. "There are invisible servants in this castle, right? Why not let them do their musical number? Let Fred and George and Percy lead them!" She thought Percy was a lot like the character of Cogsworth in the Disney movie. Needless to say, the idea had too much potential not to try it.

This chapter is, therefore, dedicated to Sango-sama (and to the other members of the Harry Potter Plot Bunnies) and to my husband, Kevin, who helped with the song. It's also dedicated to Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Greg Proops, Wayne Brady, and the other performers from the wonderful show Whose Line Is It Anyway? because without their inspiration, the Irish jig portion of the song would have been a lot harder to write.

In case it's not glaringly obvious, this chapter has very, very little to do with advancing the plot of this story. It's mainly here for fun and laughs.

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It was the middle of the night at the Beast's castle. Hermione had dozed off in front of the fireplace in Gryffindor Tower, an open book dangling precariously off her lap. The Beast himself was settling down in his own chamber on the third floor, ready to drift off to a pleasant dream about returning to human form and marrying Hermione. A light snow was sprinkling over the grounds outside.

It had been a very good day, he thought. Hermione, aghast at the discovery that the Beast no longer remembered how to read, had set about helping him relearn. This had involved much sitting close together to look at the same book, and several times her hand had brushed lightly over his furry arms as she reached to turn the page. Every time it did, he was astounded by the little electric jolt which rushed through his whole body...and couldn't wait for it to happen again. He let the memory run through his mind one last time before he fell asleep.

But downstairs...

A small fire continued to burn in the fireplace of the palace kitchen. The room was quiet -- too quiet. It seemed to be waiting for something to happen. Finally, something did.

The fireplace gave what could be compared to a great sneeze, and a tall, thin, redheaded young man came tumbling out of its depths. He got quickly to his feet and straightened the spectacles which sat crookedly on his long nose. Two more "sneezes" produced two more redheaded young men, identical to their last freckle, shorter and stockier than the first. They brushed soot from their fine garments and looked around, blinking in the dimness.

"Where do you suppose he is?" said one.

"Asleep, probably, if he's got any sense left," grumbled the tallest boy. "I still don't know why you insisted on coming here. You know he's got to solve his problem on his own, much as we might like to help him."

"Ah, but Percy, you know you miss him," said the third, grinning. "Besides, we're only going to stay down here for a bit. I don't fancy a search through this giant maze of a castle." His smile faded. "Do you reckon we should have brought Mum?"

"So she could see for herself what her son's temper got him into?" The one called Percy glared at the other two. "You want to break her heart all over again, George? Bad enough she had to be told about the curse he's under. I hope he sorts his problems out soon; she's out of her mind with sorrow as it is, hasn't seen him in years."

"Why was he sent here in the first place, that's what I'd like to know," mused the other twin.

"I don't think you're supposed to ask that sort of thing, Fred," observed George. "Anyway, he's not about, so maybe we could make ourselves at home for a bit?" He looked meaningfully around.

There was a rustling sound, and the air around them seemed to shimmer for a moment. Twenty live, startled-looking people came suddenly into view. They stared at each other for a moment, then at the three visitors.

"Y-Your Highnesses?" one woman ventured. "How did -- why did -- " She appeared lost for words.

"Why are we visible?" asked a man. "We're under the same curse as our master, we aren't supposed to be seen until he meets the terms of the enchantment."

"Has he done that?" whispered yet another servant.

George (Prince George, actually, but let's not be stuffy) shook his head. "Trust me, if that had happened, we would know," he said, a trifle sadly. "And you'd be seeing our whole family, not just the three of us. No, you're just visible because...because..." He trailed off, looking to his brothers for help.

Percy sighed. "Because our presence here tonight has caused a ripple in the enchantment. We" -- he threw an accusing glance at the twins -- "are violating the terms of the magic spell by coming here. The magic appears to be sympathetic, however, so it has granted you a temporary period of visibility. You are, for this brief time, existing outside of the spell."

The servants stared at him. They had no idea what Percy was talking about, but they were visible for a little while, so they decided not to get into it.

"Couldn't offer a fellow something to eat, could you?" asked George hopefully.

"And -- let's have some fun, Perce -- could you sing and dance for us while you cook?" added Fred. Percy shot him a bewildered and somewhat appalled look. The servants, on the other hand, appeared delighted by the request.

"Ooh, we haven't done a musical number in years!" squealed one of the maids. "Our master doesn't care for them much."

"Well, then!" George clapped his hands. "Have at it, why don't you?"
The musical instruments, not being privy to the sympathetic magic which rendered the servants visible, remained hidden from sight. They could be heard quite clearly, however, as they began to play an elegant melody. The servants paired off and started to waltz around the kitchen, collecting dishes from cabinets and putting together an elegant-looking meal for the three visiting princes.

One man jumped up onto a conveniently placed chair and began to sing.

In the garden of my master's heart
A magic rose is growing
And ever brilliant in the night
The fire of love is glowing

The rose was planted on the day
A maiden came from far away
And gave herself to save her brother
At once our master came to love her

Fred grimaced. "'Love her' as a rhyme for 'brother'?"

The singer tried not to glare. "Begging your pardon, Your Highness," he said stiffly, "but this is the first time I've had the opportunity to sing in about ten years. I find myself inventing the song as I go. If you would care to try it yourself, I'm sure everyone would enjoy the results." He climbed off the chair and looked at Fred expectantly.

"Well, I've never been one to shy away from a challenge!" Fred replied brightly. He jumped to his feet, and the instruments, as though sensing the change of mood, made a smooth transition from the waltz music to a lively, bouncy sort of tune. The servants, who were now setting plates of food in front of Percy and George, also ceased their ballroom dancing and began to perform something more along the lines of Irish step dancing. As they kicked their heels into the air with great energy and surprising skill (they hadn't danced in ten years either, after all), Fred took the singer's spot on the chair and opened his mouth.

My brother Ron is such a prat
He has a real bad temper
An enchantress wanted to spend the night
But he would not let her

She offered him a magic rose
He didn't care in the least
That wasn't very smart of him
She turned him into a Beast!

The servants danced around Fred in a large circle, stomping the floor rhythmically, and sang, Oh, ei-dee-die-dee-die-dee-die-dee, die-dee-die-dee-die! He grinned, pleased by the encouragement, and went on.

So now he's covered with lots of fur
From his head down to his toes
Ron, you git, why didn't you
Just take the stupid rose?

At least there's still some hope for you
You've found Hermione
And soon you might be normal again,
Or as close as you can be!

Oh, ei-dee-die-dee-die-dee-die-dee, die-dee-die-dee-die!


Fred jumped off the chair and seized a chicken leg from a platter. "Go on, George," he said around a mouthful. "It's your turn!"

George groaned. "I don't want to!" He looked longingly at his plate.

"Hey, it's my turn to eat, it's your turn to sing."

So George climbed reluctantly onto the chair, still ringed by the step-dancing servants.

I'm not the song-and-dance type
This really isn't fun
I'm not very musical
Two verses, then I'm done

Ol' Percy didn't want to come
But we were in the mood --
Fred to sing and dance with you,
And me to eat the food!

Oh, ei-dee-die-dee-die-dee-die-dee, die-dee-die-dee-die! Ei-dee-die-dee-die-dee-die-dee, die-dee-die-dee-diiiiiiiiiiie!

True to his word, George promptly abandoned the chair and resumed eating.

"All right, then, Perce, do us a number and we'll go on home," said Fred.

"I will not."

"You will, or we'll stay here all night." Fred pulled a small container out of his pocket and waved it threateningly at his older brother. "Don't forget, I've got the Floo powder."

Percy sighed, resigned, and climbed onto the chair. The Irish jig eased into a mellower, folk-music sort of riff, and the servants altered their dancing style accordingly.

Feelings
Whoa-oh-oh, feelings

At once, the music stopped, the dancers halted, and every pair of eyes in the room locked on Percy.

"What?" he asked.

"What in the world was that?" asked George in disbelief. "I knew you couldn't sing, Perce, but what was that horrible noise? It sounded like a sick cat!"

Percy, looking indignant, got down from the chair. "You told me to sing," he said accusingly.

"I think the sympathy magic or whatever you called it is wearing off," said Fred, looking around. The dancing servants were fading from view. Before she vanished entirely, one of the women called out to them.

"Thank you, Your Highnesses! This has been great fun!"

"Suppose they enjoyed that, anyway," said George cheerfully. "Best be getting on home, then?"

"Might as well," said Fred, and tossed a handful of powder at the flickering embers in the fireplace. A bright green blaze sprang to life at once. "After you, Percy."



A/N: Was that incredibly silly or what? Please leave a contribution in the little box. Thank you and drive through. =)

Coming up: Hermione learns to play chess, and the Beast learns to let go of what he loves most.