The household had taken on a melancholy air, matching its master's mood. Billy rarely left the kitchen, Harmony was hardly ever seen, Remus didn't know who to worry more about—his master or his girlfriend, and Mrs. Weasley remained constantly in Severus' chambers. And Lily and James hadn't had a fight since Kristin left. The castle was eerily quiet and driving everyone insane.

Everyone but Severus, who had taken to haunting Kristin's old room. Madame Femme Gras had to relocate, but no longer from fear but from pity. The hallways were quiet and fires hardly ever burned at all.

In other words, it suddenly became an extremely depressing place to live.


But late the night after Kristin had left, the silence was broken. Chants of "Kill the Beast! Kill the Beast!" filled the air surrounding the castle. Harmony rushed over to the window to see villagers carrying torches and weapons marching towards the castle. "REMUS! MRS. WEASLEY!" she yelled, frightened.

The clock and the teapot soon burst into the room. "Good heavens, child, what is it?" Mrs. Weasley asked as Lily and James came in behind them.

Harmony could only blubber and point to the window. Remus looked out. "Invaders!" he screamed. "Barbarians coming to kill the master!"

"What?!" James said, pulling Remus away from the window to see better. "Merlin, they are! And they have the mirror!"

"He gave Kristin the mirror," Harmony said. "But I highly doubt she would send a crew to kill him!"

Remus shook his head. "We'll worry about who gave them the mirror and why later. Right now, we need to rally together to fight against them. Let's go!"


Sirius had instructed his men to cut down a tree and prepare a battering ram. "When we get inside, take on any servants that may be foolhardy to protect this Beast. You can take any booty you can find but remember I get the Beast!" The crowd roared in agreement and prepared to break down the door.

After a few good attempts at the door, the mob finally broke into the castle. It appeared to be deserted, with various household objects strewn about. "Well, we know he isn't a neat freak," Sirius joked. The others laughed nervously as he led them deeper into the main foyer.

As soon as everyone was in the center of the room, the double doors suddenly slammed shut. "It must be the wind from that brewing storm," Sirius commented. But that did little to ease his followers.

"Sirius, this place gives me the creeps," Peter said. Sirius quickly shushed him. "But it does," the blonde man continued to complain. Sirius shook his fist in front of his sidekick's face to shut him up. "I want to go home!" he still cried.

At that, the lights went up in the castle and all the objects sprung to life. The various items chased the villagers, who were too scared from the normally inanimate things coming to life to fight back.

Peter, in the middle of fighting with a bureau, saw a clock instruct a teapot on something. The pot nodded and hurried down the stairs. Peter, though never very bright, did figure that's where the creature was. He finished with the bureau, whose attentions had been diverted by a flaming villager, and found Sirius. "I think I know where he is!" Peter called, but his friend didn't really hear him.

"Can this wait, Peter, I'm kinda busy!" Sirius yelled, fending off an attacking afghan.

"Sirius," Peter tried again, closer. "I think I know where the Beast is." Sirius kicked the afghan over and turned to his friend, signaling him to continue. "I saw a teapot go into the dungeons—most likely to warn him." Peter pointed towards the door he saw the kettle hustle through.

Sirius smiled, clapped his friend on the shoulder and strode across the room. With one look back to the chaos of the room, he slipped into the blackness. After that, the items were able to kick all the villagers out of the castle and celebrated. Peter waited by the bridge for Sirius' triumphant exit with the slain monster.


Severus lay on his bed, wishing to die right then and there. He no longer cared about the flower or the pain of having to remain a beast forever. He just cared about the ache of his broken heart. He hadn't even bothered to change from the clothes he had been wearing. They still smelt like her—however faint that scent was.

Mrs. Weasley pushed her way into the room, Severus could tell right away. "Go away, Mrs. Weasley, please? I'm not in the mood to eat. And I don't need a lecture how I can't starve myself to death," he said.

"Sir, I'm not here to pester you to eat, although you really should," she said. "But I'm here to tell you that the palace is under attack!"

Severus groaned. "Tell the others to leave if they can and go to safety. Don't worry about me—just let them come," he instructed. This way would so much easier and he wouldn't have to deal with the hurt any more. He could hear Mrs. Weasley gasp but leave. Alone again. Good.

A while later, the door opened again. "Mrs. Weasley, I said that I didn't care! Just go and save yourselves!" he said, this time sitting up. But Mrs. Weasley wasn't the one standing there, but a strange man instead.

"I'm not Mrs. Weasley," the man said. "So you are the great and powerful beast, aren't you?" He gave a condescending laugh. "You don't look great or powerful—hardly a beast at all! Well, this will still be my greatest kill."

The man cocked his bow and prepared to shoot. Severus just sat there, waiting for the release of death to come. The other man put down his bow and admonished Severus. "Come on, Beast, put up a fight at least. Kristin mentioned you were gentle, but I would think you would at least try to save yourself!"

Kristin? This man knew Kristin? It was then that Severus noticed his mirror tucked into the other's belt. This must be the Sirius Kristin had told him about—the one who wouldn't realize she wasn't in love with him. "Sirius?" Severus asked.

"Ah, so you know my name. Glad to know Kristin spoke of me to you," he said, in a haughty manner. "Now, Beast, prepare to die!" With that, Sirius let his arrow loose, which landed in Severus' side.

He howled in pain and instinct took over. He charged at Sirius, who ducked out the way. Their brawl spilled into the hallway and up the stairs into one of the upstairs rooms. Severus didn't try to kill Sirius, and eventually calmed down.


Sirius laughed when he realized that Severus was out of power. "Your head will make a nice wedding present for Kristin," he said. Severus' eyebrow went up in question, but a look of defeat crossed his eyes. "What, Beast, did you love her? What made you think she would want someone like you? She's the one that sent me to kill you, by the way."

"Liar!" a female voice cried out. The two turned to see Kristin, rain soaked and hair blown about, standing on the balcony of the room next to theirs. Severus was happy to see her and suddenly found the strength to fight back.

He battled Sirius until the other man was about to fall off the balcony. "Please," Sirius gasped. "Please, let me live. I'll do anything, anything."

The pleading got to Severus, and he decided he would let Sirius live. "Alright. First, return the mirror." The object soon changed hands. "Next, leave me and Kristin alone."

Sirius stammered out his agreement and Severus let him back onto the balcony. That settled, he turned to Kristin, who was pale white from fear. "You're back!"

"Duh!" the woman cried. "You think I would let him hurt you. After all, it's all my fault. I showed him you in the mirror to clear my father's name. I didn't expect him to come down with an army to kill you!" She was now trying to help Severus across.

"Shh," he comforted. "It's all right. I understand." Kristin smiled, but then a look of panic crossed her face. Before she could warn him, Sirius plunged his knife into Severus' outstretched body.

The Beast roared in agony, his paws giving way. Kristin grabbed him and he was able to push himself up onto her balcony. Sirius, however, lost his balance from the water and was soon plunging to his death.


A/N: Thanks to uncannyinstigator and Ashleigh Snape, my two reviewers! You guys really brightened up my terribly homesick week! This is coming rapidly to a close soon, probably by the end of the weekend or sometime next week...and for those interested, the big story with all these characters, "Elaborate Lives" is now posted...enjoy!...Mac