After reading and pouring over books for what felt like hours, Cogsworth and Lumiere came in and found them.
"Master," Cogsworth said. "I have a report on Belle's father."
Hermione and the Beast immediately looked up from their books. "Yes?" they said in unison. Hermione laughed and the Beast huffed a little in amusement.
"It seems her father is at home, resting," Cogsworth said.
"How did he seem?" Hermione pressed, knowing that Belle would want as many details as possible.
"It appears that he might have had some kind of illness, but that he is fine now and recovering," Cogsworth said.
"That's good," Hermione said. "I hope he'll be okay."
"We'll continue to check on him," Cogsworth assured Hermione. "And report back on his progress."
Hermione was touched by the kindness. "Thank you," she said. "I know it'll mean a lot to Belle. And it means a lot to me."
"It's nothing at all," Cogsworth said. "We're glad to help in any way we can."
"Speaking of helping," Lumiere said. "You've been inside for hours! You need to take a break. Why don't the two of you tour the gardens?"
"Has it been hours?" Hermione asked. "It feels like we only got here."
"You need to take a break," Lumiere insisted. "It'll help you come back and have even more focus."
"Okay," Hermione said. "I suppose that's wise."
So, at the urgings of Lumiere, the Beast escorted Hermione outside to show her the snow-covered grounds. Before they exited the main doors, the coat rack handed Hermione a fur-lined cloak that matched her dress. Touched at the thoughtfulness, she gratefully accepted the warm garment and followed the Beast outside.
Surveying the grounds of the Beast's castle, Hermione was fascinated by the similarities and differences between these grounds and the Hogwarts castle grounds. The overall layout was different, but both had bodies of water. The lake at Hogwarts was much bigger, she thought, since it went all the way to Hogsmeade, but there was a nice-sized pond here.
The Beast showed her his favorite places. First, they walked through a courtyard full of various statues. Hermione noted an empty fountain. Perhaps they'd drained the water for the winter.
He took her to a bridge that crossed the icy pond. "I used to go ice skating here when I was younger," he mused.
"You used to?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, I stopped when my mother died," the Beast said. "My father took over my upbringing and he thought it was a waste of time."
"I'm sorry about your mother," Hermione said. "What happened?"
"I'm not entirely sure," the Beast admitted. "I was told she died of an illness, but it seemed so sudden and I don't remember any doctors being called. It was like one day she was there and another one, gone."
"How old were you?" Hermione asked.
"Ten," the Beast said.
"That's old enough to remember clearly and be aware of someone taking ill," Hermione mused. "There certainly are illnesses that can kill fast, but unless it was something like a stroke or heart attack, usually there is more notice."
"What's a heart attack?" the Beast asked, curiously.
"It's when the flow of blood someone's heart is suddenly blocked and the heart can no longer function," Hermione said. "It's becoming more and more common where I come from."
"Curious," the Beast said. "I've never heard of it before. What's a stroke?"
"It's a similar concept to a heart attack," Hermione said. "But instead, the flow of blood is blocked to the brain."
"Hmm…" the Beast said. "I might ask the staff what they recall. I haven't thought about this in a long time. The suddenness of her death is very strange."
They fall into contemplative silence. Hermione enjoyed looking at the beautiful, snow-covered landscape.
"It's really peaceful here," she said.
The Beast follows her gaze. "True," he said. "No one from the village or elsewhere comes here anymore. They've forgotten about us. It's part of the enchantment."
"A complex piece of magic," Hermione commented. "Once we go back to the library, I'd like to know the exact details of the spell."
"I suppose I can give you as much as I know," the Beast said. "After all you stole away the woman I'd hoped would save me and discovered the enchantment's existence on your own. What do I have to lose now?"
"Were you not allowed to tell me?" Hermione asked, intrigued.
"It's more like I couldn't say anything about it," the Beast said. "The subject couldn't even leave my lips to a stranger."
"Interesting," Hermione said. "Some of the staff shared what they knew with me. I hope that was okay."
The Beast nodded. "Perhaps the servants have a little more flexibility with the enchantment than I did. However, now that you know, my lips seem to be unlocked."
Hermione wondered if it was possible that her experience with magic allowed others to speak more freely to her. She knew so little about this type of enchantment. Or was it really a curse? She remembered the stories she'd heard from Bill Weasley about Cursebreaking and accounts she'd read about Cursebreakers. It seemed more like a curse by an extremely talented caster.
"We'll get to the bottom of this," Hermione said, assuring herself as much as the Beast.
They came across a beautiful rose garden, the blooms peeping out of the icicle covered bushes. "This is the garden where I like to come and read sometimes," he said.
"How do the roses grow in the snow?" Hermione asked, amazed at the beautiful red and white roses emerging from vibrantly green bushes, despite the frost and ice.
"I don't know," the Beast admitted. "My mother tended to this place. She loved it."
Something in Hermione's instincts made her think that they should learn more about the Beast's mother. She couldn't put her finger on it, but it seemed important.
"What's your name?" Hermione asked suddenly. "I've never heard anyone refer to you by name yet."
"My name…" the Beast said. "It's been so long since I've heard it." He gazed at a rose for a really long time. "I almost forgot my name. It's Adam," he said.
"Adam," Hermione repeated. "That's a nice name. Nice to meet you, Adam." She smiled at him and extended her hand. "I never properly introduced myself, did I? My name is Hermione Jean Granger."
The Beast, or rather, Adam, took her hand and shook it, his large paw engulfing her hand. "Nice to meet you, Hermione. Like Helen of Troy's daughter," he commented, referencing the origin of her name. He released her hand.
"Yep," Hermione said, beaming in surprise that he understood the reference. "No one has gotten that before. My parents are dentists who couldn't possibly give their daughter a common name."
"It means 'Messenger,' right?" Adam asked. "In reference to the god, Hermes, if I'm not mistaken."
"I believe so," Hermione said, smiling broadly. "I read that it's a feminine derivative of the name Hermes. Not that I'm an expert in Greek."
"If you want to brush up," Adam joked. "I have a whole section of books in Greek in the library."
"Can you read them?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I once could," Adam said. "I had an expensive education. But I haven't practiced in years. Not since my mother died…" His eyes regained that faraway look. "My father thought I should focus less on legends of the past and instead emphasized politics, manipulation, and tactics."
"It might come back to you," Hermione observed. "If you practiced."
"Well, I don't remember the enchantress speaking Greek, so I doubt I need it for this particular situation," he said wryly.
"True enough," said Hermione. "True enough." Hermione thought for a moment. "You've mentioned an enchantress several times. She was female then."
"Yes, as far as I could tell," Adam said. "She appeared to me as an elderly hag. Or that's what I thought at the time. She offered me a rose in exchange for a warm night's stay. I refused, repulsed by her appearance. She gave me another chance, but I turned her away again. She transformed into a beautiful woman. I thought she was a fairy at first. Then she warned me not to be deceived by appearances. That beauty is found within. And cast the enchantment over me."
Hermione was riveted. It followed the legends she read, but with some nuances. "I'm going to need you to tell me this again. And in more detail. In the library where I can write all of this down."
"Yes, ma'am," said Adam, amused.
"But first, let's go find Mrs. Potts for a nice warm cup of hot chocolate and ask her some questions about your mother," Hermione said.
"My mother?" Adam asked, surprised.
"Yes," Hermione said. "Something tells me that there's something there that's important."