A/N: I'm experiencing a really bad writer's block, that's why this took so long. I'm trying to overcome it and fix my grades at the same time. -_-
4. Cinderella
It was a normal evening in the Ravenclaw boys' dormitory. Terry Boot was reading a book, Michael Corner and Anthony Goldstein were having a heated debate about Arithmancy and Stephen Cornfoot and Kevin Entwhistle were playing chess. After a while, Terry raised his head from the book he was reading.
"Hey, guys, do you think you're up for another Muggle fairytale?" he asked.
Kevin, who was Muggle-born, rolled his eyes, but the other three boys nodded their heads enthusiastically.
"This one won't have blokes kissing corpses, will it?" Stephen asked worriedly.
"No, Steve, I promise it won't," Terry said with a chuckle. "I'm going to tell you the story of Cinderella."
The boys sat on their beds comfortably and turned to Terry, who stood up on his own bed.
"Once upon a time," he began, "there lived a rich man who had a beautiful daughter. Her name was Cinderella."
"Whoa, whoa!" shouted Michael. "What man in his right mind names his daughter Cinderella?"
"Well, at least it's not as bad as Snow White," said Anthony with a snort.
"Well, Cinderella was more of a nickname, per se. You'll see why later," said Terry. "Cinderella's mother died a few years ago and soon, her father married a woman that was very beautiful, but rotten on the inside."
"Here we go again..." muttered Kevin. "It's always the step-mother."
"Yes, well, she was mean," said Terry. "Cinderella's step-mother had two other daughters she had brought into the marriage."
"Were they beautiful as well?" asked Michael.
"No, they were quite ugly, actually," said Terry. "They weren't the best of persons either, quite mean. Cinderella's father died soon, so she was left with her evil step-mother and step-sisters."
"Did they happen to have names?" asked Stephen.
"Well, there are many versions..." Terry said.
"In the Disney version, they're Lady Tremaine and Anastasia and Drizella," said Kevin helpfully.
"All right," said Terry, seemingly satisfied. "So, Lady Tremaine forced Cinderella to dress as a scullery maid and clean the house. She used to sit in cinder and cry, that's how she got her nickname. One day, the prince of that kingdom organised a ball and invited all ladies in the kingdom, so he could find a wife."
"All ladies in the kingdom?" asked Anthony incredulously. "How big was his castle?"
Terry rolled his eyes.
"I don't know, Tony, maybe it was just a small country, like Vatican or San Marino, or something," he said. "Anyway, Cinderella wanted to go to the ball, but Lady Tremaine said she could go only if she made her own dress, got her own jewellery, finished all work beforehand and got her own ride to the castle."
"Wow, this lady is really starting to annoy me," said Michael.
"Only now?" asked Stephen. "So, what did Cindy do?"
"Well, she went and sat in the cinders, starting to cry," said Terry. "Suddenly, her fairy godmother appeared!"
The boys looked at each other blankly.
"Why does she have a fairy godmother?" asked Stephen. "Don't get me wrong, they're cute little creatures, but they're not exactly bright."
"Well, Muggles have a different view on fairies," said Kevin. "They think they're like humans, only more beautiful and dangerous."
"So, sort of like a Veela?" asked Anthony.
"Well, yeah, something like that," said Kevin. "Although, if I remember well, this particular fairy was old and chubby, but she had magical powers."
"How strange," Michael said.
"It is quite odd," said Terry. "Anyway, her godmother asked her what was wrong. Cinderella explained her problem, crying all the while."
"Well, someone's very emotional," said Stephen.
"PMS," said Michael knowingly. "A week ago, Ginny tried to strangle me when I said red and gold clashed with her hair."
"All right, maybe Cinderella was PMSing," said Terry. "Whatever it was, she was feeling hormonal. Her godmother took out her wand and transformed Cinderella's dirty clothes into a beautiful dress, along with glass slippers."
"Glass slippers?" asked Anthony. "Aren't those a bit impractical?"
"You know, I've never thought about it," said Kevin, "but that does sound a bit odd. Surely Cinderella was worried her brand new shoes would break?"
"Well, if the fairy had a wand, maybe she simply charmed the slippers so they wouldn't break," said Stephen sagely. "Maybe Cinderella was extremely light, or something."
"Well, the slippers didn't break," said Terry. "The godmother also took a large pumpkin and transformed it into a carriage, while turning a few mice into horses."
"Maybe it was McGonagall," said Michael with a snort.
"Wait till she hears you compared her to an old, short and chubby fairy," said Stephen, grinning at Michael.
"That would be quite a scene," noted Terry. "The godmother also told Cinderella she had to come home by midnight, because that's when everything would be turning back to normal."
"What, she couldn't have given her another hour?" asked Anthony.
"Apparently not. Cinderella agreed and left for the castle. When she got there, the prince immediately asked her to dance with him. Her step-mother and step-sisters saw her, but didn't recognise her."
"Just because she was wearing another dress?" asked Michael. "Well, talk about family."
"They danced the entire evening, but midnight came fast. Cinderella ran outside and down a large staircase."
"Better be careful when running down a set of stairs," said Kevin. "I once fell down from the top staircase and Flitwick levitated me up."
Everybody laughed.
"That was so great..." Stephen remembered fondly.
"Anyway," Terry continued, "the prince ran after Cinderella. He noticed she'd left her shoe in hurry, so he picked it up. He didn't know her name, so he decided he would marry the girl who could fit into the glass slipper."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" said Michael. "He's going to marry the girl who can put on a shoe?"
"He doesn't even know her name!" said Anthony. "How can he marry her? Doesn't he know marriages are based upon common interests? How will he know what she likes? Many marriages nowadays end in divorce because..."
"Whoa, Tony, mate!" Stephen cut him off. "I think you're over-analysing this."
"Yeah," said Kevin. "In the old days, blokes just got married to a girl they met once or twice. It wasn't anything unusual."
"I agree with Tony, though," said Terry. "This marriage is destined to fail. Anyway, the prince and his servant went all through the kingdom, making ladies everywhere put on the shoe, but no one's foot seemed to fit."
"Kingdom of Bigfootia," muttered Stephen.
"Nah, that just makes it look as if Bigfoot lives there," Kevin replied.
"Soon, the prince arrived at the house where Cinderella lived. Lady Tremaine seemed to catch on, so she locked Cinderella in the attic."
"What a bitch!" shouted Michael.
"Well, at least she's smart," said Stephen. "Everybody else seems stupid or blind or something."
"She might be smart, but she's extremely unpleasant," said Terry, disgust etched on his face. "When the older daughter, Drizella, was to try the shoe, her mother noticed her foot would be too big, so she... Well, she cut of her toes."
The whole room was silent for a moment.
"Whoa," said Michael. "Just... Whoa."
"Muggles tell this story to children?" asked Anthony, adjusting his glasses. "Blimey, I'm glad I got to hear about Babbitty Rabbitty and the Three Brothers."
"It is quite terrible, isn't it?" said Terry sadly. "Unfortunately, that's not all. Drizella tried on the shoe and it fit, so the prince took her to the carriage..."
"...While she was screaming like a banshee," added Michael.
"Quite possibly, yes," said Terry with a grin.
"The prince didn't notice how his bride seemed uglier than before?" asked Kevin.
"Well, he was probably disappointed but didn't want to show it," said Anthony. "Quite a nice guy, if not a bit near-sighted."
"Well, on the ride back to the castle, the prince's servant noticed there was something wrong. They noticed Drizella's, um, predicament, so they drove back to the house. Lady Tremaine was furious that her little trick didn't work, so she prepared Anastasia as well."
"Let me guess, she cut her heal off?" asked Michael bitterly.
Terry seemed confused.
"That's, actually, exactly what she did."
The room fell silent again.
"But, but, how would she walk without a heal?" asked Anthony.
"Wouldn't she just be falling backwards?" added Stephen.
"Probably, but never mind that," said Terry. "Anastasia tried the shoe on and it fit perfectly."
"And no one bothered to check for any more body parts?" asked Michael.
"The prince was not only near-sighted, but fairly daft, obviously," said Terry. "Anyway, they noticed Anastasia's agony in the carriage and came back again. The prince asked if there were any more young ladies in the house. Lady Tremaine said that her scullery maid was up in the attic, but the she did not attend the ball. The prince demanded that she be allowed to try on the shoe as well."
"See, he is a smart guy after all!" said Stephen. "Well, if not particularly smart, then at least noble."
"I agree with you there, Steve," said Terry. "But, unfortunately, Lady Tremaine doesn't. She tripped the prince's servant so he would fall down and break the shoe."
"Well, it appears the fairy didn't charm it after all," said Anthony.
"But, Cinderella was smart, so she went to her room in the attic and brought the other, matching shoe!" said Terry triumphantly. "She tried it on and it fit perfectly!"
"Well of course it did, it was her shoe!" said Kevin. "She could've bought it anywhere!"
"Well, I don't know how many stores sell dangerous glass shoes," said Terry, "but the point is, the prince took her to the carriage, they got married and everyone lived happily ever after."
"Except the horribly mutilated sisters," muttered Michael.
"Well, that adorably disgusting story made me sleepy," said Stephen, adjusting himself on his bed. "'Night, all."
"Good night," the boys all mumbled, sleep overtaking them. Terry's last conscious thought was a hope he wouldn't dream about foot-chopping step-mothers.
