Disclaimer and other such sundry: Harry Potter is copyright by J.K. Rowling. I believe Pride and Prejudice is no longer under a copyright protection, the original dates being long past and some issues regarding copyright extention prevented it from going further. Fanfiction is written in honour of the original authors and creators. And, in the case of this story, in adoration of Colin Firth's Mr Darcy. May you all continue to inspire creativity.
All reviews are appreciated (and well loved!), but I no longer respond directly to reviews after my chapters unless it is something I deem as important. If you would like a response to something in particular (i.e. a question answered, clarification made, recipes, whatever), please include your email address in the review. Or just email me directly at: lonesongbirdyahoohi.com (be sure to remove the 'hi' after yahoo; it's a spam prevention thing) and I'll reply! I only ask that you include the title of the fic in your email subject line to clue me in that it is not junkmail.
This is also when I tell you that this story, a fusion fic, is written outside of canon. I won't sport with your intelligence by going into detail, but I thought I would make this a bold statement due to a bad experience with a review from a rabid fan. Cheers.
Far in the north of England, secluded amid the wilderness and hidden from the eyes of Muggles, Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry stands proud and impressive. For many, it is a safe-haven, a second home, and the heart of fond memories. The friendships made and nurtured there last forever and bonds are formed that are thicker than blood.
At one time, there was a particular group of friends: three girls constantly found in one another's company. The eldest was Charlotte, being two years ahead of the others. A brunette of average height, she was rather pragmatic and rarely indulged in fanciful whims. Because she had none of the same classes, nor was she even in the same dorm room, as the other two, she sometimes felt slightly on the outside edge. But the others would have none of these sentiments and could easily quash such fears.
The second was Jane. An angelic blonde with clear blue eyes, she possessed a nature as sweet as her face. Excessively patient, she never had an unkind word for anyone and was quick to give the benefit of the doubt in any situation. She was actually a year older than the other students in her year, but had fallen terribly ill when she had intended to come to the school. So, enrolment had been deferred and she came a year late. This was a blessing in disguise, truth be told, for this way she met the last girl on the train and they became as sisters who were somehow separated for eleven years. Not five minutes passed before they were sharing their deepest secrets, darkest fears, and dearest hopes for the future.
The final member of this trio was named Lily. A small redhead with bright green eyes, there were those who would call her wild. This was not entirely true. She was simply fiercely independent with a quick mind, wicked sense of humour, and lively spirit. She had a bit of a temper and spoke her mind openly, honestly, and, at times, without thought of the effect of her words. There were few things she loved better than taking long walks every day and analyzing the personalities and characters of everyone she met. In this last trait, she found a surprising companion in the Headmaster, a wizened Wizard by the name of Albus Dumbledore.
No one was entirely sure how it came about. The Headmaster would normally not have had such a direct role in the life of a student. But at some point, the two discovered a similar temperament and sense of humour hidden within the other. Students and teachers alike would overhear brief conversations made up of quick sallies regarding the follies of human nature, little realizing the quips overheard were frequently comments on the listeners themselves. Because of their friendship with Lily, Jane and Charlotte were privy to some of these conversations as well. However, as Charlotte was more often than not studying and Jane's sweet nature made it difficult for her to criticize, such inclusions were infrequent. Nevertheless, Professor Dumbledore became a sort of father figure (or well-liked uncle, in the case of Charlotte) to the girls during the school year.
The Head Girl that year, Sybil Trelawney, took an avid interest in the welfare of little Jane and Lily. Though they were only twelve and eleven, she believed that the greatest skill to be learned at school was the practice of catching a husband. Why Jane and Lily were so selected was beyond anyone. Charlotte, Sybil had decided, was a lost cause whose company should be avoided in favour of more beneficial encounters with members of the opposite sex, though this decision did little to separate the three from each other.
Whenever the opportunity arose to 'educate' the two girls, Sybil took it. They were given beauty tips, fashion advice, dancing lessons, dietary supervision, and a whole score of other things that, supposedly, would make them irresistible once they were old enough to date. Jane bore it with great equanimity and Lily tolerated it only because Jane did, which was much better than she would have done had Jane not been there to keep her in check -- and had Dumbledore not had a knack for showing up at just the right moment to say something off-hand inadvertently antagonizing poor Sybil into fits of hysterics.
In any case, the year passed swiftly for the students at Hogwarts. There was little excitement outside of the normal student actions requiring either a detention or the rewarding of House Points. Finally, the end of year exams were taken and, as the Hogwarts Express pulled into King's Cross Station, many promises for summer visits and owls were made, and three friends parted company knowing they would see each other very soon.
In the years that followed, there were many changes and additions to the Hogwarts community. Sybil Trelawney became Professor Trelawney, the new Divinations teacher. Her position as a staff member, however, did not prevent her from continuing her attentions to the 'welfare' of Jane and Lily. Luckily for them, Jane's younger sister, Narcissa, entered the school two years after they.
Different entirely in temperament and interest from the other girls, it surprised anyone with the ability to think that Narcissa was related to Jane and that she managed to stay at Hogwarts at all. Her mind was constantly on clothes and boys instead of her studies. Thankfully, being placed in the same House as her sister helped to keep some of her irresponsible behaviour in check.
In Narcissa, Sybil found the ideal protégée. Sybil's interest began initially because Narcissa was Jane's sister, and things simply escalated from there. Jane could do nothing more than sigh helplessly. Lily, being more outspoken and practically adopted into Jane's family after their first summer as friends, used her own status as 'pseudo big sister' to help Jane curb Narcissa's behaviour when she could. However, it remained the source of much eye rolling and laughter on the parts of Lily and Dumbledore.
The students came and the students went, and the years did pass without much ado. Then, at the end of Lily and Jane's fourth year at Hogwarts, it happened...
