Female Harry Potter Crossover with Pride and Prejudice
I don't own or have any rights to either books all rights to respective parties,
Just a bit of fun with an idea I had in my head after reading a cool one-shot of this particular crossover.
No beta, but if one is open to being, I'm happy for the help.
Hepatica woke up instantly, though she didn't open her eyes or give any indication to the outside world she was awake. She spent the few moments assessing where she was. It was warm and soft, so she wasn't at Grimmuld Place (though it had gotten better she still never felt this comfortable there.) or even in a bed in Hogwarts infirmary (way to naturally soft). She could be in St Mongos; she hadn't been on their hospital beds before.
She heard some shuffling off in the distance like it was muffled by a door, the sound of a page turning to her left with steady quiet breathing – someone sitting by her bedside, possibly Hermione – she couldn't feel much ambient magic around her so maybe she wasn't in the magical hospital. The elder wand that wouldn't leave her alone after she broke it in half was humming to her right, so she had all her stuff or at least that with her which was a relief. She then assessed herself internally.
She ached badly all over, making it hard to pinpoint any one place that was specifically injured though her ribs and head stood out more than the rest, she hoped she didn't have broken bones or such. The idea of Skelegrow had her metaphorically gaging. Though there is a sharp pain in the back her head when she tried moving it some. Hepatica tried to remember what happened to land her on bed rest. After moving she noticed her wand holster on her arm was also gone, she was sure it should have stayed invisible there as muggles shouldn't be able to see it, only assuming she was in a muggle environment with the lack of ambient magic. She couldn't remember much, just that she was at the ministry, it had been 6 months since the war ended. There was a ball for the new government Kingsley had built, there was a random terrorist attack – probably from rouge Death Eaters or sympathisers. Lots of running and defending the guests. Attacking and chasing the offenders, she had ended up in the room with the Veil of death with Neville Longbottom and Theodore Nott (and wasn't that a surprise, to have him declare before Riddle's downfall for our side, helping the resistance in Hogwarts with Nev while Hepatica was Horcrux hunting.) Whom had flanked her, chasing after the masked instigators. A sense of dejavu with the fight around the Veil archway, reminiscent of her 5th year and the loss of Sirius. Though nothing after feeling something hit from behind her.
Unable to get anymore answers from her assessment she purposely stirred, opening her eyes. She was met with a bright room, not overly decorated nor modernly sparse as some muggle places seemed nor was it seeming wizardly cluttered and dusty, it seemed like a cosy bedroom out of the Victorian era or an old manor she saw in a magazine maybe. The sound of a book closing on her left making her turn sharply – too sharply if the pain in her head and neck were any indication – to look at a small women dressed in what looked like regency style dress her dark brown hair up in an intricate looking bun with soft brown eyes.
"Finally, we were starting to worry you wouldn't wake up after the fever broke yesterday." The pretty stranger stated quietly while putting the book down and coming over to the bed. It was then she realised she was in a thin night dress not her dress robes she was wearing before.
Opening her mouth to speak resulted in a coughing fit from the dryness in her mouth. The pretty stranger handed her a cup of water. "Thank you." Harry whispered still not having the strength to speak louder, clearing her throat once more she tried again a bit louder. "Thank you, could you tell me where I am please?"
"Of course, you're at Longborne my family's home. I'm Elizabeth Bennet." The now identified Elizabeth, smiled kindly. Suddenly there was a quiet knock at the door and a classically beautiful, according to the little snide voice of Aunt Petunia in the back of her mind, poked her head in. Seeing the occupants both awake she stepped in fully.
"Oh Lovely, you're awake. Lizzy why didn't you call us? Are you trying to keep our mysterious guest to yourself?" She quietly teased. She seemed a very soft spoken, kind woman, barely into her 20's if that, also wearing similar dress to Elizabeth. It had Hepatica thinking something must have happened when she was struck from behind. At least that was the last memory she had before waking up here. Wherever here was. Longborne – though that doesn't tell her much.
"Sorry dearest Jane, I hadn't had the chance yet. Miss Mystery just woke up." Elizabeth teased back. They seemed very comfortable with each other, their hair and eyes were different one brunette with brown eyes the other blonde with blue eyes but their feature were similar enough to presume siblings or possibly cousins. Closely connected either way.
"How are you feeling?" Jane asked. Coming to stand by Elizabeth
"Besides a general ache of the body and the pain in my head, I feel terrible but I can say I've felt worse before. Thank you for taking care of me. Elizabeth mentioned I'm at Longborne your home. I wonder if you can tell me anymore. I'm having trouble piecing together how I got here."
"We don't want you to push yourself." Elizabeth said "Why not tell us your name first? We can go from there."
"Uh," Hepatica closed her eyes working through her headache that was pounding almost as bad as when Voldemort was still around and using their connection to torture her. "My names Hepatica Potter."
"It's nice to meet you, Miss Potter." Jane smiled. "I think I'll go get papa he should hear the information shared as well. Maybe some food and tea?" She asked the last bit directed to Hepatica who smile and nodded yes.
Hepatica sat herself up more in the bed with Elizabeth's help as well as helping her slip into a dressing robe to cover the shift she was wearing. She reached over to her bag on the table on the right. It wasn't big but big enough to look like it should hold money and possibly some small items. She had taken it with her at all times since before they went on the run, actually she had had some form of emergency magically extended bag on her or easy access with most of her belongings in it since third year. Like an emergency to-go bag, she never wanted to risk being without her stuff and non-perishable food again after the summer of first year. She had emptied out her vault almost completely at the end of fifth year in preparation for the war she knew was to come eventually. Having the Goblins convert 80% of the money left by her parents, leaving the money left by Sirius, into pure gold coins with no markings. Essentially removing anything that signified them as Goblin coins. The Galleons themselves were half ounce pure gold coins with enchantments to stop them from being multiplied or used as anything else when melted down or sold to muggles. Luckily, she had managed to sweet talk the goblins into doing this for her with many promises on her end. She did come through for them before the attack that landed her here. The resulting blank gold coins were almost worthless in the wizarding world though worth enough in the muggle world as raw gold, more than if she had the Galleons converted to muggle Pounds by the goblins. She would have to go through what was in the bag when she got a moment alone. She noticed her Holly wand and holster sitting under the bag when she lifted it so she had both wands at least.
Half a year after the war, she hadn't brought herself to emptying the bag completely and settling down, always feeling like it might be needed and keeping it on her persons' constantly as she did her Holly wand – usually in its holster on her wrist or under her pillow when sleeping. Mad Eye Moody had rubbed off on her and the paranoia from the war as well as being routinely starved and neglected as a child still lingered. Glad to see it all there still and for the feather light charm alongside the undetectable extension charm. The bag was still locked she noticed with her magical signature being the only way anyone could see inside was if she let them and opened the bag herself, so anyone who did open it would only see an almost empty soft leather clutch with a few trinkets and a mundane seeming book, a cleaver little rune stitched into the clasp, found in an obscure dusty book at the back of the shelves in fourth year.
There was another knock at the door which opened to a rather tall older man, wearing a tailored suit of reasonable quality, well better than anything Uncle Vernon wore. Greying hair and kind intelligent eyes that took her in as if trying to assess her without actually talking to her first. She watched him back. This must be Mr Bennet then.
"So it is clear you have awoken. My daughter said your name is Miss Potter? My name is Mr Bennet. Do you think you could tell us any more about yourself. I must admit it was quite a shock when you accompanied my wife and daughters' home from a dinner party. Dressed and looking the way you were, though unconscious." Hepatica remembered being in an elaborate gown Ginny had chosen for her, a modest emerald green dress robes of Acrumantula silk with green beaded details.
"I'm trying to make sense of it myself sir." Hepatica took a deep breath, they were clearly muggle and by the looks of their manor of dress she wasn't in the turn of the 21st century anymore, so she would have to modify whatever version she came up with. "I remember… I'm sorry I struggling to remember much at the moment." She stated stalling for time. The weight of a bandage on her head a good indicator it would be a valid response to be disorientated for a bit longer. "I can remember being at a party then explosions, running. Lots of pain. There was laughing and screaming… Chasing. I… I honestly can't remember how I got here, wherever Longborne rests. I'm sorry Mr Bennet."
"That's alright dear, I'm sure more will come to you in time. To answer, you are indeed at Longborne in Hertfordshire. My wife, as I mentioned found you on the side of the road. Apparently, you were almost hit by our carriage on their way home from a dinner party. We were not sure you would survive."
"Heh," Harry couldn't help but snicker at the idea of being killed by a carriage, more dangerous and deadly people and things have tried for years, since the day she was born really. The gasp from her side told her she had said that out loud. Looking up into the stunned faces of the two young women and their father. "Forgive me I didn't mean to say that aloud nor interrupt."
"That's alright Miss, uh, as I was saying they brought you home we tended to your wounds though you were unconscious. That was 3 days ago and my daughters and housekeeper tended you and waited for you to wake up, you had a fever for a few days; it broke last night I'm told."
"Oh, okay. Could you tell me the date then please?"
"It's November 8th, 1811."
Harry was unable to keep her face straight, gasping at the date, feeling tears swell in her eyes. So much time. It hadn't been heard of before according to Hermione, that's what she gets for leaving the house on October 31st. You would think by now she would know even with the Potter luck, there was never anything good happen on that day. How was she ever to get back. Maybe she would find some of the Potters here in this time, if they could help. There wouldn't be a chance of running into herself or parents someone who might know her, being so far back not even Dumbledore was born yet. Hopefully she wouldn't create a time paradox that Hermione tried explaining to her in third year, if she did have any contact with her relatives.
"I'm guessing the date is not what you had though it would be?" Mr Bennet asked quietly.
"No. Not at all." Still choking back tears at the thought, almost whispering, "it was October 31st last I knew." Year 1998, she mentally added.
"Oh dear. And you were unconscious for only 3 days with us." Jane exclaimed taking her hand brushing her thumb over the spidery scrawl still carved into it, Hepatica could tell the moment Jane noticed she was touching written scaring though she did try to be discrete about it. Truly a kind soul it seemed. Her horror and care were so genuine in her eyes it was hard to look at her.
Another knock at the door had an older lady in less fine clothing with an apron bustling in with a tray and 4 cups, a pot of tea, cakes and a bowl of soup on it leaving the tray on the table near the chair Mr Bennet was in, with a quick curtsy left again.
"Here, have some soup you haven't eaten in at least 3 days, best start with something light." Jane bustled around handing Hepatica the soup then preparing the tea to each person, including Hepatica before sitting on the end of the bed with her own. Hepatica ate in silence with the others pretending not to watch her. It wasn't until she had the first bite that she realised she was ravenous, like Mr bennet said it had been at least 3 days at least. It also gave her time to get a back story solid. Considering her state, she could tell mostly the truth leaving out the magic side of it, make the trials she went through in the war seem more recent. The best lies were the ones that had truths that could be confirmed in them or so she was told once.
"That was wonderful. You must thank whoever cooked it. It was just what I needed." Hepatica said picking up the tea placed beside her.
"Can you tell us about your family. They must be worried maybe I can write them, let them know you're here and safe?" Mr Bennet started.
"I don't know if I have any family. The only family I knew of are dead as far as I'm aware. There was a man. A madman, he wanted… Well, me. He thought my birth would be great for him either rising him in power or destroying all he was building. When my parents wouldn't bend to him, they tried to hide; he killed them. I was 15 months old at the time. He tried to kill me next once they were out of the way, I was left with the scar on my forehead. I was hidden away and placed with some people I was told were my mother's family. They didn't like me, when I was 11 someone came and said they were my Guardian, that I had done my time being raised with my aunt and uncle, he said I was to go to a school he ran. It was my parents' wishes, to have the same education they did. My father's family were well off apparently. Though I grew up not even knowing my parent's names. However being brought to the school put me in the way of the madman again he thought he could get me there. He tried a few times. He decided it would be easiest to kill me when I wouldn't join with him. Finally when I turned 17 I was able to leave the school and hide for a few months, though he found me, there was a lot of fighting. Eventually I killed him. He had killed everyone that could have been a relative or family, friends, teachers whoever tried to help me. Anyone, man women or child to try and get me. So many innocents. But he was powerful. He got away with it. He had followers in high society I remember. After I killed him, he had almost mortally wounded me." I rubbed the mark on my chest left by the killing curse. "I thought I was free. Guess one or two of his followers were more devoted than originally thought. I don't remember much on how I got here. But I know they are no more as well; I can remember fighting to be free but details are still fuzzy."
It had been only 6 months since the end of the war; she had spent that time rebuilding all that had fallen with the other survivors. Rebuilding the school and the Ministry. Even working with mind healers for the nightmares, at Andromeda's insistence so she would feel safe leaving Teddy with her. But talking about it, in anyway, especially to strangers it still felt so recent and raw inside her. It wasn't easy but to have the little baby in her arms and to be with her she was prepared to do anything.
Jane was sniffling, Elizabeth was holding her hand looking upset or angry. Mr Bennet had a thoughtful look on his face. It wasn't unreasonable that something like that would happen behind the scenes, that the average people wouldn't know of, she hoped. As far as she was aware in her limited muggle history it was currently during the times of the Napoleonic wars. Was it that farfetched she might have been a victim of war raging on the continent, even with her genuine English accent though hints of Scottish shows through? She does remember reading of many wars constantly over Europe during the centuries and many family lines wiped out, though she knows she shouldn't claim too high a family connection, as most of the hierarchy of Europe was family to each other.
"That is quite the tale. I feel there are parts missing or glossed over, but I will leave them be. I am glad you are awake and looking a bit better. You are safe here. I promise you. You have a bed here until we can find some family for you. If you think of anyone that I might contact for you let me know. For now, I think you should rest some more. Jane, Lizzy your mother should be back and would like to know our guest is awake it might be best to waylay her and your sisters from overexerting our guest with their enthusiasm." The girls nodded. Jane patted her foot under the blanket before leaving.
"Thank you again, Mr bennet for your hospitality. Before you go, can you tell me what happened to the clothing I was wearing? I imagine it would have been damaged but maybe I can salvage some of it to better fit in here." He smiled at her saying he would get Hill to deliver it to her once it was finished being laundered, before closing the door behind him.
Hepatica spent the time alone looking over what was in her bag. She had taken a few things out but most had its permanent home there. She had the pouch of gold, a few simple potions – (4 for pain, 3 pepper-ups, a small vial of Veritaserum [That one lingering from the time on the run, and half a bottle of Sleakeasy) That was it. She took half of a pain potion but not knowing when she might get to an apothecary or be able to brew some basic potions herself, she still had Snapes potion book even if she was mediocre at brewing them, she thought best to make them last. The headache though, was just unbearable now she was awake and no matter how horrible it tasted Skele-gro would have been great for her ribs, she suspected a few were cracked, she tried a few quick Episky's to help with the speed of her healing without making it look unnatural. There were still all the books she saved from Sirius' cleaning of the Library at Grimmuld along with many of her school books and private reading material – that was more laziness in not wanting to sort them out again to put back in the library at Grimmuld. Her Cloak, the Stone and the Elder wand sat in front of her with lastly the mirror Sirius gave her Christmas fifth year rounding out the most important things Hepatica always wanted with her, among a few bits of clothing, food and essentials along with the tent. The pain potion worked well in dulling the ache, the smaller serving not being able to completely rid her of the pain but helped to let her relax once more. She spied the book Elizabeth left, summoning it to herself confirming her magic was still there she figured why not to pass the time.
It was another week before she was able to get out of bed and leave the room. In that time, Jane had gone to dine with a Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst the sisters of the wealthy Mr Bingley who had moved into Netherfield, a manor 5 miles away, Elizabeth had followed the next day when Jane became ill to nurse her back to health. She had gotten to know the other sisters as well as Mrs Bennet, with the eldest two gone. The youngest two Kitty and Lydia reminded her a bit of Lavender and Parvati back in school. Though these girls seemed sillier. Lydia was the youngest and knew exactly how to act to get her way. Kitty seemed to ride on Lydia's coat tails afraid to be the forgotten middle child. Mary was the middle child with Elizabeth – call me Lizzy – and Jane the next eldest in order. Mary was a studiously religious young woman. She seemed to take her role of forgotten middle child as a sign to be the most accomplished of the sisters by practicing the Piano Forte constantly while quoting Fordyce's sermons any chance she could, though in their talks together when Mary kept her company, she had managed to get her to think of other things, see the world as not so Black and White. It seemed she just needed some validation in what she said was being listened to and discussed, she opened up more and was your average teen girl at heart hoping for a marriage to someone polite and kind to her and was as religious as she was. Hepatica was quite proud when Mary started carrying other books that weren't Fordyce's, some of the time. Even managing to talk to her older sisters when they had returned, about things besides some misogynistic writing of a man's ideals for women. It seemed really brought her out of her shell having someone to actually listen and not dismiss what she says.
Lizzy was well read though not in the bibliophile way Hermione was, she had shared a few of her favourite books with Hepatica and they had some interesting discussions about them, she had a sharp wit though it had an air of meanness similar to the way Ron used to, as Luna described him one time – unthoughtful meanness but not malicious.
Jane was just a serene kind soul who looked for the good in any situation, she didn't show much emotion – not in the way the Slytherin pure bloods had a mask but just that she seemed to find it hard to show too much emotion on her face – if you watched her eyes, they said everything she couldn't. Hepatica didn't think she had it in her to be as boisterous as her younger sisters.
It wasn't until she was sitting with the family more of an evening after dinner, before she got to notice how Mrs Bennet doated on the eldest and youngest the most. Though it seemed she showed her love for the other daughters in a way they didn't see. At first glance it seemed all she cared about was getting her daughters married. When Mary mentioned the entail on the property linked to the male line and the fact the girls would only have their mothers dowery of £5000 split between them after their mother passed, the interest of the sum would be all Mrs Bennet had to live on if she lived longer than Mr Bennet with no house to call her own. Though £5000 was a respectable enough dowery but not very large if one wanted to focus on marrying someone in the Ton or close to upper class. It was unsurprising to Hepatica her attitude when she was clearly deathly afraid of being thrown out of her house and being practically destitute unless at least one of the girls marry at least decently. This fear seemed to show itself in her fits of flutters and nerves, Mr Bennet it seemed was so used to this act that he ignored it, which could have resulted in it getting worse as he appeared to ignore her fears.
She had tried to understand the difference in the worth of £1 in the late 1990's/2000's to £1 in this time. The girls seemed to get £50 each, a year allowance, which would pretty much reflect their income from their current dowry, according to Mary. It seemed £1 equalled roughly £45-50 her time. With 1 Galleon being transferred to roughly £5 in 1990's, though in her brief research and buttering up Griphook for information on the Galleon back in first year she learnt they were a half ounce of pure gold, once she found out the gold value of the Galleon being around £155 on average in the modern muggle world if she did the maths a coin would get her £3 here or £150 her time. Having a few thousand coins converted she could live very comfortably anywhere in this time eventually, if she found she had to. Maybe pay back the Bennet's for their hospitality in the process. As much as she was missing her friends back in her time Harry was enjoying the anonymity and peacefulness here with the Bennet's, peaceful being relative in not fighting for her right to live against mad men, opposed to the noise level usually heard within the Bennet household.
It gave her a bit of a headache to try and calculate how much a small handful of coins would be valued at here but not wanting to rely completely on the hospitality of the Bennet's to buy her supplies. It wouldn't seem unreasonable if she had sewn a few coins into the lining of her bag or undergarments. The Royal families throughout history would always do that with priceless jewellery when sent to exile or similar. They had done so much for her already it would be nice to repay them in one way that she knew she could. If she managed somehow to get to a bank and open an account. She would have to talk to Mr Bennet, she didn't like borrowing all her clothes from the girls, lucky Elizabeth and Mary were similar in size, though Mary wasn't as well endowed as Lizzy and Hepatica, the style of dresses were easy enough to modify until she can get to the Modiste, though that will take a while for a few morning dresses and an evening dress or two to be made, if she needed a proper evening dress or ball gown before then she would have to modify the dress she came in, luckily it wasn't so damaged (Acrumantula silk being very durable) when it was returned to her that she could change it enough to fit the style of the day.
Hepatica was feeling better even without any of the potion help she had become accustomed to; it just took a lot longer than she remembered. She was loath to admit she hadn't replaced any of the basic potions in her bag after the battle knowing she could have got access to anything she needed easily enough. Though her magic had helped like it always did when at the Dursleys and Uncle Vernon had one too many brandies or she didn't run fast enough from Dudley – she felt ready to face the public. She had met a few of the local ladies when they called on the Bennet's and had got along well with the calm serene Charlotte Lucas, she was a practical woman compared to Lizzy's dreams of loving her husband and him loving her back even with her small portion, Charlotte knew her place in life and would be happy to have a comfortable house and a husband treat her nicely she didn't have to particularly like the guy. Considering she was older than Jane at around twenty-six her prospects had dimmed even more; it may have contributed to her views on the married state.
Her years of living with Aunt Petunia and the kaleidoscope of criticism, guidance and mean barbs that woman spewed at her on a regular basis helped her with the none too subtle probing of Mrs Phillips, Mrs Bennet's sister. She was a shrewd lady though not malicious, mostly just cautious and in need of good gossip. Though she did let slip while Hepatica was in the room, almost carelessly, about not being much of a competition in the marriage compartment against the Bennet girls what with her unfortunate 'deformity' – read scar – on her forehead marring her otherwise 'rather simple yet pretty face at least she has those bright green eyes'.
She suspected Mrs Bennet thought the same since she didn't seem to see Hepatica as competition, even the near spinster aged Charlotte still was. Hepatica was okay with that view if it helped Mrs Bennet to not moan loudly and want her gone from the house, she was pretty destitute without the protection of Mr Bennet and his connections at the moment, large pouch of gold or not. Though Mrs Phillips' Attorney husband – Mr Phillips was willing to help her transfer the 'remaining' 5 gold coins to Pounds Sterling with the local bank branch. His and Mr Bennet's reputations were enough to help her not be questioned too much when it was proven by the local jeweller/black smith that they were pure Gold of half ounce each. Having the £15 cash would go a long way with getting her own wardrobe. She had claimed she sew them into the lining of her bag which was the only thing she could claim was with her always, sometimes stuffed down the front of her robes (true story).
The 5 coins equalled to £15 and if her maths was any good it would equal close to £770 in value in modern times which should set her up enough to be able get by until she either found the other Potters or can get to London to find the Leaky Cauldron and set herself up in the wizarding world possibly. Mr Phillips was even willing to help her with making enquiries with his contact in London about a Potter family of decent means – honestly even if they weren't it would be nice to know, though Hepatica wasn't sure any of her family had anything to do with the Muggle world it was worth a shot. She doubted she would transfer all the coins she had on her, roughly 800,000G of the roughly 1,500,000G she had in her vault left from Sirius and her family. If she did put all of it in an account in this time, it would give her a monetary value of unprecedented amounts in this time, equalling almost £2.5 million in a time when tens of thousands of Pounds were considered extravagant amounts. But she thought to put maybe 50,000G in a good bank and live off a yearly income from the interest, she would have roughly £7,700 a year to live comfortably and claim the original value of the coins as a dowery or something. That was if she did not find a way home to her time, any time soon. She didn't hold her breath being able to get home as she had no idea how she got here in the first place since she was in the room with the Veil of Death, last she remembered nor did she want to pin her hopes onto marriage like the Bennet's needed to be comfortable in a lifestyle similar to what they already had. But if she could subtly add more of the coins to her bank account over time, she could live comfortably pretty easily until such a time as one option happened.
