Hermione meets the Beast
Hermione almost tripped on a candelabra and a mantle clock standing just before the doors. The candelabra looked to be just in the middle of raising one of its arms to knock.
"Lumiere! I don't think–" the mantle clock was in the middle of saying to the candelabra, who Hermione supposed must be Lumiere.
"Oh, hello, ma chère! You are already awake!" Lumiere exclaimed. "Cogsworth and I were just coming to see if you would like another tour of the castle. There's so much we didn't cover!" The mantle clock who must be Cogsworth seemed to give Lumiere a dirty look, but it was also kind of hard to say since he was, well, a clock.
"Oh, I'd love one," Hermione said happily. "I was just going to start wandering around, but this is a much better idea."
"Great!" Lumiere said happily. "Allons-y!"
They set off, Hermione walking at a slower pace to accommodate the speed of the two household objects leading her. Without needing any prompting, Lumiere started talking about the locations of everything in the castle. Cogsworth had, at first, seemed reluctant to give a tour, but then started warming up to the idea and jumping in to correct Lumiere or add in certain details about the style of the castle.
"As you can see, the pseudo-facade was stripped away to reveal the minimalist rococo design," Cogsworth was saying as they walked through a passageway near the entrance hall. "Note the unusual inverted vaulted ceilings. This is yet another example of the neoclassical baroque period. And, as I always say, if it's not baroque, don't fix it." He laughed at his own joke and Hermione laughed with him. Lumiere rolled his eyes.
"You are so dull, Cogsworth!" he exclaimed. "You told her that yesterday. You must be getting old." Lumiere turned to Hermione pleadingly, "Surely, you'd rather hear stories about the castle."
"I'd love to hear both," Hermione said honestly.
"Cogsworth, do you remember when ze master was a boy and loved pretending zat zese suits of armor were soldiers in his army?" Lumiere asked as they walked through a passage flanked by suits of armor.
"Oh, yes. That I do," Cogsworth replied fondly. "I always worried he'd get himself crushed somehow."
Hermione smiled. She'd been hearing so much about "the master" but still hadn't met him. She decided to ask about it.
"And where is the master this morning?" she asked.
"We do not know," Lumiere confessed, somehow looking both disappointed he couldn't help her and thrilled that she'd asked. "He should be resting after zat injury, but of course he is stubborn. Cogsworth, why don't you go look for him?"
"Me? Shouldn't you go look for him?" Cogsworth asked.
"You're the butler! He respects you the most," Lumiere said.
"Which is exactly why you should listen to me," Cogsworth replied.
As if on cue, a roar echoed throughout the halls. The skin on the back of Hermione's neck stood up. It sounded like a lion or another great beast.
"Ah, the master must be back," Cogsworth said. "I should go to him."
"Yes, great idea, Cogsworth!" Lumiere said. "And while you're there, tell him that our guest will be joining him for lunch." He looked at Hermione. "You will join him for lunch, won't you?"
Hermione didn't see why not and thought this would be the best way to meet him. "Sure, I'll join him for lunch."
"Lunch! Splendid idea. Oh, there's so much to prepare though," Cogsworth said. "Lumiere, do go and tell Mrs. Potts that we have a lunch to put on."
"Aye, aye, mon capitaine," Lumiere said. Cogsworth hurried off back down the passageway and up the stairs. He looked at Hermione, "Would you like me to accompany you back to your chambers?"
"No, no," Hermione said. She couldn't imagine going back to her chambers now. "Could I go with you to see Mrs. Potts? I'd love to see more of the castle." Hermione wasn't quite sure who Mrs. Potts was but she'd learn soon enough.
"But of course!" Lumiere said, pleased she was showing so much interest. "Right zis way." He led her to what clearly was the castle's kitchens.
As they entered the kitchens, Hermione realized that saw the teapot she'd met earlier this morning. The teapot was in the middle of everything: directing a whirling mass of kitchen items in a cacophony of cooking.
"Ah, Lumiere, and Miss Belle," she said, Hermione noted that the teapot addressed her as Belle, which confirmed her earlier theory about the name of the woman she supposed she swapped places with. "It's good to see you both. What do I owe the honor of this visit?"
"My dear Mrs. Potts, Belle will be joining the master for lunch!" Lumiere exclaimed, not bothering to hide his excitement one bit. Hermione was glad to now know the name of the kindly teapot.
"Lunch! Oh my! So much to prepare," she exclaimed. Immediately, Mrs. Potts whirled around and began issuing orders with renewed vigor.
"I don't want to put anyone out," Hermione said. "I'm perfectly happy with a simple lunch."
"Simple lunch? Pish posh. Not on my watch are we to have a simple lunch," Mrs. Potts dismissed her protests.
"We better get out of her way," Lumiere advised.
Lumiere showed Hermione around more of the castle, including a beautiful ballroom and terrace overlooking the grounds. "After lunch, you might enjoy walking around the grounds," Lumiere said. "Perhaps the master will accompany you." Hermione nodded at him. At that, Lumiere's grin was huge.
"Say, I noticed you seemed different this morning," Lumiere commented. "I only met you for the first-time last night, but somehow you seem different." He then seemed to realize how that might have sounded. "But not in a bad way! You actually seem more comfortable than you did yesterday. Maybe it's because you saved the master's life. Of course, he saved your life first, but it was good of you not to leave him to the wolves."
Again, with the wolves. What could have possibly happened with wolves? Hermione didn't remember that particular detail in any of the Beauty and the Beast stories she'd read.
It didn't seem like Lumiere needed her to respond because he kept right on talking.
"Whatever the reason, I am glad you are more comfortable," Lumiere continued. "You are very brave. I saw what you did for your father. It was very noble of you to take his place and stand up to the master the way you have so far. You must miss him though."
In fact, Hermione did not miss Belle's father as she didn't know him. She did miss her real parents back in her time. She still hadn't reunited with them after she'd modified their memories. She was afraid to. She was both afraid that they were happier without her and afraid that they might still miss her. She wasn't sure it was wise to tamper with their memories again. After seeing what had happened to Professor Lockheart, she knew the dangers of memory charms. Yet the risk had been worth it in the interest of keeping them safe. So, she understood Belle's desire to keep her father safe.
"I do miss my father," Hermione said truthfully. Then she continued, pretending to be Belle, "But it was best for him to leave this place."
Lumiere hummed sympathetically. Cogsworth appeared behind them. "It is time for lunch!"
Feeling a bit apprehensive, Hermione followed the candelabra and the clock to the dining room Lumiere had walked her through earlier. Pacing in front of the fire on all fours was a huge creature.
Hermione had seen a number of creatures in Care of Magical Creatures and through her adventures. This creature looked different than the others. Hermione eyed him critically. He looked like a mismatch of various animals she recalled from zoo visits and her primary school studies in the Muggle world. He seemed almost to have the head of both a lion and a buffalo and the body reminded her of a bear. Yet, he had tusks like a boar and legs like some kind of four-legged creature. Perhaps…like a wolf?
As he faced her and rose up on two legs, she looked into his eyes and saw piercing blue eyes. Intelligent eyes. Human eyes.
Yes, she thought, she was indeed in the story of the Beauty and the Beast. There was a human man inside of this creature.
And at that moment, as she held the creature's gaze, Hermione determined that she was going to break the spell. But not in the way of the fairy tale by falling in love with him. No, she was going to find a magical solution to this herself.
"You're not afraid of me," he said. His voice was deep and powerful. It was clear and easy to understand.
"Should I be?" Hermione asked.
"You were yesterday," he replied. "When you saw me for the first time, you couldn't look at me. You shrank away in fear." He almost looked sad at the memory. "But maybe after that encounter with the wolves, you've changed your mind."
This was the third time someone had talked about wolves. What had happened? Hermione but didn't want to ask and appear foolish. She'd have to find out that story somehow. But for now, she'd just play along.
"A good night's sleep can really change one's perspective," she said simply.
"I suppose you're right," the Beast said. "Shall we go in for lunch?"
And, leading the way, the Beast guided Hermione into the dining room.