Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognise. If I did, you would be reading this in a book and the plot wouldn't be a film.

A Cinderella Story

By Araidel

Identical Smiles

Harry shut the diary, staring at it. A Cinderella Scandal was the key to bringing his parents together? He thought. A hand crossed his line of sight and Harry blinked. He looked up to see Joseph and Remus both looking at him intently.

"That's how my parents got together?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly.

Joseph nodded. "I know it's not the … traditional way for two people to, well, fall in love, but that's how your parents did it."

He then reached into Lily's box and pulled out the bag. Harry put the diary down and looked at the bag in Joseph's hands. It was a small, blue pouch and, when the older man opened it, Harry saw that it contained three items – a watch, a locket and a mask. The golden mask.

Joseph placed the bag on the table and Harry picked it up instead. His eyes were wide and staring at the mask that his mother had worn to the Halloween ball. It looked small and delicate but the netting that covered the mask was in perfect condition.

"Lily wrote me a letter," Joseph said conversationally, "Which she left in the box. I got in when Dumbledore sent it to me. It said that she wanted you to have this and she asked that the mask stays intact." Joseph offered and smile and Harry smiled slowly back.

"But," Harry asked, something that had been bothering him from the end of his mother's diary, "Where did Linda go?"

"If I knew," Joseph said, tipping his head to the side, "I would tell you, Harry." Remus nodded his agreement. Harry then picked up the locket. Flicking the catch, Harry opened it to find a shrunken picture of his mother and his father on one side, and on the other, a shrunken picture of him in his mother's arms, with his father's arms around them both.

"Lily had that made, directly after you were born." Remus added, nodding at the locket. Harry, squinting slightly to see the small picture, saw it was the one he had himself, in his photo album.

The three men were silent for a few moments before Harry slipped the locket back into the purse. He then put it into the box and slipped the lid onto it. He looked up at the two before him; his mother's friends. "Thanks." He whispered. But both Remus and Joseph heard him.

"Don't worry about it." The dark man said. He stood up and stretched his legs, luckily breaking the moment. Harry also stood up, his hands clutching onto the box. The third man also followed suite and they left the library, Joseph dimming the lights until the library was cast in darkness.

They walked along the corridor before Harry left them. At their curious looks, he explained. "Just going to put this in Gryffindor Tower." They nodded and walked down to the Great Hall. Harry walked on his own up to the seventh floor.

The box was clutching to his chest and it drew the teen's eyes a few times. Reaching the portrait she said the password and walked inside. Most students were downstairs at the ball but a few first years were scattered here and there. One group of girls giggled shrilly as he passed them but Harry didn't even spare them a glance.

He pushed open the door to his dormitory and sat on his bed. The box landed on his bed with a soft thump and Harry pushed the lid off. The diary was in the centre, staring him in the face. A picture, he know saw, of his parents was on the cover. He smiled slowly and an idea came into his head. He grinned even more, taking out his wand and picking up the diary.

A few days later, Irma Pince was in the library. She took a slow breath and walked around the back shelves. She pursed her lips and her sharp eyes caught the sight of food on one of her precious books.

Her nostrils flared and she quickly took it down. "Scourgify." She muttered. The food disappeared and she placed it delicately back on the shelf.

A torrent of students came into the library as the bell rang for break. Why the pupils spent their breaks in the library, Irma didn't know. All she did know was that she needed to get back to her desk.

As she walked to the front of the library, her eyes caught sight of the emerald-eyed Harry Potter. Even though she had seen him nearly every day for the past six years – this one being the seventh – she still was caught off guard of how much she saw of Lily in him. The eyes were only the beginning.

The bushy haired library addict Hermione Granger was with him, as was his tall gangly red haired friend Ron Weasley and the small Weasley girl, Ginny. Ron and Hermione, Irma saw, were holding hands and that small fact was the sole interest of Harry and Ginny's attention. In her other hand, Hermione held a book.

They neared the librarians' desk and Hermione deposited her book on the flat top. Harry's hand also followed but then dropped back by his side. The foursome then turned on their heels and left the library. Before Irma even got within a few metres of her desk, her vision caught sight of a young first year girl popping a frog into her open mouth.

Her nostrils flared again and she stalked quickly over to the girl. The girl's friends nudged her and Irma was the chocolate-eater swallow quickly before Irma reached their table.

"Were you eating chocolate?" she asked. Irma knew this girl. She was always disobeying the simple rules like no eating in the library and no going into the boy's dormitories. She shook her head.

With a wave of her wand, all the girls' belongings flew up into the air. "Out!" she barked. The girls stood and were out of the library before Irma could blink. Their bags and books went after them.

She walked back to her desk to re-check Miss Granger's book but was waylaid by two Ravenclaw third years. She pointed out the section where they could find the book and walked to the desk again.

She opened the cover of Miss Granger's book and passed her wand over the magical bar-code. Picking it up, Irma moved swiftly over to the Potions section and replaced the book almost lovingly in its place.

She then slowly walked to the desk again. She sat down and picked up the book that she was reading. An owl flew into the open door and landed on Irma's shoulder.

She relieved it of its letter and said "Thank you." The owl nodded, as if it understood, and flew off again.

A Slytherin girl timidly came up and put her book onto the desk. Irma too it from her and said "Your name?"

"Acacia Parkinson." She said, her voice shaking with nerves. Irma smiled and jotted the title of the book, Miss Parkinson's year, house and name. She flicked the bar-code and an imprint appeared on the paper. Writing the date of three weeks time, she gave Acacia back her book.

"Enjoy reading." She said, with another small smile.

Acacia said "Thank you, Madame Pince." She then ran off to join another Slytherin girl and a boy.

Irma opened the letter and barely spared the weekly newsletter from Flourish and Blotts a glance before another package caught her eye. It was a small rectangular package that was wrapped in brown paper. Irma pulled it towards her but before she could open the paper, another student came up to the desk.

"Yes Mr Creevey?" she asked. Dennis Creevey was peering at her.

"I was wondering if Quidditch Through the Ages was in yet?" he asked.

Irma reached down and pulled out a copy of the requested book. She quickly wrote Dennis' name on the sheet, scanned the bar-code and gave the book to the third year. He thanked her but Irma's attention was once again on the brown paper package.

The paper torn off, Irma saw a rolled of parchment folded up. She opened it to find a time note.

I know this isn't really anything but it is the first thing I thought of. And thanks.

Harry

Irma's eyes widened and she looked down at the other thing that occupied the brown packaging. It was a photo frame. She turned it around to see a black and silver frame with a picture inside.

It was of a smiling Lily Evans and a younger Irma Pince. The older lady's eyes crinkled with happiness as she remembered the picture being taken.

Flashback

It was the final day of Lily's seventh year. Irma was sitting in the library, behind her desk, when the door opened. A loud burst of noise and then the muffled noises alerted the librarian to the new-comer.

Looking up, Irma stood up and walked around her desk. "Lily." She said. "Why are you in here?"

Lily smiled at her friend. "Can't I say good bye?" she asked, cheekily grinning.

Irma held out her arms and Lily hugged the older woman. Then she held out her other hand, which had felt unusually bulky against Irma's back.

"And a picture?" she asked. Irma nodded happily and Lily pressed a few buttons to the camera. She placed it on the desk and moved so that she was next to Irma. After a few moments the camera flashed.

Present Day

It was only now, with Irma looking at the picture from a viewer's view, that she saw where Lily had placed the camera. Her father's words were behind the two women.

Irma looked up at the saying for a few moments before placing the photo almost loving on the desk. She felt someone's eyes on her and looked up. The feeling of being watched came from the door so Irma looked towards the entrance.

Harry stood watching her and when they locked gazes he grinned. Irma's eyes flicked to the picture and saw the identical smile on his mother's face. Irma smiled back. Then, as another student came up to the desk, Irma tore her eyes away to deal with the boy.

Yep, she thought as she marked the name down, Harry also had Lily's smile. Irma paused in her writing. She realised something – the first time Lily had truly smiled was when she had first got together with James: when the Cinderella Scandal was over. I should write a book, Irma thought, about the real-life Cinderella Story.

The end

AN: Finally finished! This chapter was the worst to write – so many writer's blocks! Arg! But I shouldn't apologise – sorrys are only meant with actions… Although I do apologise...

Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed this story!

Thanks so much to -

DDwelling

Guitarprincess (love the name by the way!)

? (its anon) – but I hope you had a tissue handy

Queen of Day Dreams –Don't worry about taking long to see the movie – I didn't see Pirates of the Caribbean until it had come out on DVD. I am sorry if I ruined the film for you. But I also imagined that! That is why I actually wrote this story!

My-Choice

hpandfriendsruletheword – Thank so much! I still prefer the movie but that's because I find faults with all my work – but thanks so much!

IcyCrystal

sexyirishBeep

Princess of Rivendell

Thanks to all:D

AN 2: Also, can you read Days of Old. It's my own word Lily/James story. It goes from Graduation until just after Halloween. And I have really no reviews… :D