The next morning, Hermione attended breakfast downstairs again. Unsurprisingly, but still disappointingly, the Beast wasn't there.
"Your master still doesn't want to join me for meals?" Hermione asked sadly.
Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Mrs. Potts all looked dejected. "We tried," Cogsworth said. "He wasn't in his chambers when we stopped by."
Hermione nodded, getting down to business. "Right then, so did anyone come up with any ideas about how to weaken Maestro Forte's influence over your master?"
"You want to do WHAT?!" a voice roared from behind them. Everyone jumped, including Hermione who slopped tea down her front. The Beast prowled into the room, looking at Hermione menacingly.
"Good morning," Hermione said primly from her seat, refusing to be cowed by him. "Good of you to join us."
From the doorway, Hermione saw Fife peeking into the room. She smiled at him warmly and he waved nervously at her. Hermione decided it wouldn't be a good idea to reveal where much of her information about Maestro Forte came from.
Hermione watched the Beast closely, noticing how his eyes flickered with a dangerous glint as he stood before her. She took a deep breath, preparing herself to confront him about Maestro Forte.
"Please listen to me," Hermione began, her voice steady despite the growing tension in the room. "I know you don't think much of me, but I genuinely want to help all of you. I wish you would give me a chance."
The Beast huffed a cynical laugh, "Why should I trust you when all you've done is skulk around the castle, going to places you shouldn't go, and speak ill of my closest advisor?"
The words stung Hermione. He pierced at her insecurities with a bulls-eye precision. Back home, she had no idea where she fit in the post-Voldemort wizarding world. And now, she put herself in a completely foreign land where she didn't even fit in at all. And didn't deserve to ever fit in. Hermione was grasping at straws, trying to figure out productive ways to spend her time. Yet, the Beast's words were spot on. All she'd done was wander around the castle.
No, she said to herself. You unearthed a manipulative being. And, hopefully, found a way to break his influence. Holding onto that thought, she stayed firm in her conviction and refused to let her emotions show.
She drew a deep breath. "Please, Maestro Forte has been using his music to manipulate you, to cloud your judgment, and emotions."
The Beast's brows furrowed in anger, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "How DARE you speak ill of Forte! He has been by my side for all these years, his music guiding me through these dark times. He understands me when no one else has."
Hermione stood up, her hands open beseechingly and her eyes pleading with him to see reason. "But can't you see? His music is not bringing out the best in you. It's controlling you, keeping you from realizing your true potential."
The Beast let out a growl, glaring at her. "I'm just about done with you. I have half a mind to throw you out now," he snarled.
A flash of fear crept through Hermione. She couldn't let that happen. "Please don't!" she pleaded. Without being able to help herself, she began shaking at the thought of being displaced.
"Master, remember it's not safe outside," Mrs. Potts chimed in, coming to Hermione's defense.
"We're responsible for her," Cogsworth added. "She's our guest and it's on us to ensure her well-being."
"Besides," Lumiere said. "We think she's truly trying to help. Why not give her a chance?"
The Beast stood there breathing angrily. Slowly, his breath became more even and deep. Seeing Hermione's fear and absorbing his servants' words, his anger seemed to fade. "All right," he said. "You may stay, but no more speaking ill of Maestro Forte."
Hermione nodded. "I can do that," she said, standing up straighter and shrugging off her fear. Inwardly she thought, at least no speaking ill of him while I'm in your presence. "Will you join me for breakfast?" she added.
"Yes," the Beast said gruffly. "That is why I came here after all."
He slumped over to the other side of the breakfast table.
He grabbed food from the elaborate breakfast spread with his large paws, chomping down without bothering with table manners. Crumbs flew and sauces dripped down his face as he ate furiously, his sharp teeth tearing into the food. Hermione couldn't help but watch in a mix of fascination and mild horror at the sight.
Hermione picked at her food, finding herself at a loss for words, still reeling from the earlier encounter. The emotions that had run through her reminded her of flying. The unsettling feeling of being in the air with nothing but a stick supporting her always put knots in her stomach.
The tension in the room was palpable, and the sound of the Beast's eating was all that filled the awkward silence. She stole glances at the Beast, who seemed intent on devouring his meal with a ferocity that both fascinated and unnerved her.
After a few moments of strained silence, Hermione cleared her throat, trying to break the ice. "So... um, how do you like your breakfast?" she asked, attempting to steer the conversation to safer ground.
The Beast paused mid-bite, looking up at her with a mixture of surprise and suspicion. Swallowing his food hastily, he grunted, "It's fine."
Hermione mentally sighed, realizing that small talk was not going to be his strength. She scrambled for another topic, anything to ease the tension that still hung heavy in the air. "Did you sleep well last night?"
The Beast's brow furrowed. "No one ever asks me that," he replied. "Not since my mother…" he broke off either unable or unwilling to continue his sentence.
Hermione was curious to know more about his mother and what he might have said but felt it would be unwelcome to ask more. Instead, she asked, "Well, I did ask and I'd like to know."
"I slept terribly, if you must know," he said. "As always."
Hermione noted that. Poor sleep does not contribute to a balanced mental state. From what she'd seen, it seemed that he both struggled to overcome his beastly nature and stay mentally balanced.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Hermione said genuinely. "It makes for long nights when you can't sleep."
"It does," the Beast said. "Going into the forest helps."
"Nature has a magical way of making all our worries seem insignificant," Hermione said.
"I couldn't have said that better myself," the Beast agreed.
They looked at each other with fresh eyes. Hermione was glad that they'd been able to have a normal conversation. Even if it had started off strange and awkward.