A Cinderella Story - In the Universe of Harry Potter

Wench! Pig!

"'Arry - 'Arry, where are you?"

Harry cringed as he heard that light French accent.

"Yes," he called back.

He had been standing on his favourite balcony of the Castle, the one the House Elves called the "Astronomy Tower." The reason? If one was to peer up into the heavens, they would spot many, many constellations.

"Are you cross with me, 'Arry?" Fleur asked from behind him.

Harry, who had been leaning against the high wall, his hands planted on the cold stone, turned about to look at her, his hands clasped behind his back.

"No, Mistress," he said with a small smile.

Her beauty radiated in the moonlight, and she gave a glittering smile, stepping towards him.

"But 'Arry, I was just wondearing about our . . . engagement."

"What . . . about it?" asked Harry. He felt a slight pang in his stomach for not being entirely truthful with her.

"Well - since it was my father zhat made the suggestion, and I am to move into your castle, we must make some . . . settlements."

"Such as?"

"Well, for one - our belieefs on Elf rights," said Fleur, taking one of his hands in both of her own. "It is not a custom of our country to give the elves such privileges you 'ave. We do not treat zem like equals, 'Arry."

Harry's mouth formed into a grim line.

"And anuzzer fact is that we do not keep our castle so . . . untidy -"

"Untidy?" asked Harry, pulling his hand away.

"Well - we obviously run our lives different, 'Arry."

"Yes," said Harry. "But, Mistress, you are moving into my castle - offered by my father. I'm afraid you'll have to abide by our laws -"

"Wait one moment, 'Arry - I shall not live an insufferable -"

"Insufferable!" cried Harry. "Once more, Mistress, you insult the Hogwarts Castle! The man you are bound to marry!"

She looked ready to slap him.

*~*~*~*

"Come on, Mother," Draco sighed as he, Lily and James left the dining room. "I expect we should find the Princess and Harry."

"Yes, I agree."

They walked up the nearest corridor.

"So - er - do you think the Princess suspects us?" Draco asked, his voice hushed.

"Well - one can say we've acted . . . strangely," Lily said, taking his arm. "But we shall not know for a while, I suppose. . . Where do you think Harry's gone off to?"

"He likes the Astronomy Tower," said James. "It gives him space to think."

"Ah - let's go check on him, then," said Lily. "I expect the Princess has gone to find him as well."

Draco led his surrogate mother and father up many flights of changing stairs, all the way to the West of the castle, where the Astronomy tower resided.

"Do you hear that?" Lily asked as they ascended the dark, moonlit stairs.

"Sounds like . . . shouting," said Draco slowly.

Indeed it was. When the three of them emerged through the door, it was to find Harry and Fleur shouting at one another, at the top of their voices, toe to toe.

"OUR CASTLE!" Harry was shouting. "OUR LAWS!"

"Harry!" said Lily shrilly. "Miss Delacour!"

Harry and Fleur stepped apart. Harry's face was bright red, his breathing fast and furious. Fleur seemed to be glowing with anger.

*~*~*~*

Harry stared at his mother, father and best friend. While the men were gaping at him, his mother had her hands on her hips, tapping her foot.

"What is the meaning of this?" she asked, looking between the young royalty.

"I shall tell you," said Harry curtly. "I am not going to marry a pompous wench that believes everyone is below her!"

There was a collective gasp, even from Fleur.

"'Ow dare you!" she said shrilly. "Then I am certainly not going to marry a foolish boy who -"

"That is enough!" said Mother. "I cannot believe you two would sink so low as to having a shouting match right in plain sight of -"

"As of now the agreement if off," said Fleur, stamping her foot. "I shall not be marrying him and I zhere shall be no joining of our nations!"

She turned on her heel, making to storm off, but she paused, whirling about. She marched back to Harry and stamped hard on his foot.

"Ow!"

"Pig!" she cried, slapping him across the face.

Mother's hands flew to her mouth and Draco's eyes were as wide as saucers. Harry, too, was gaping at her, a hand to his reddening cheek.

"Good riddance, then!" he shouted as she disappeared down the dark staircase.

"Harry!" cried mother.

"You cannot convince me otherwise!" exclaimed Harry, looking furiously between his mother and father. "If I do not find a bride tomorrow night, so be it. But I will not marry her!"

And with that he marched passed them all and down the dark staircase, leaving them all shocked.

Draco recovered first, clearing his throat. "Erm - that went well."

Mother scowled and swatted him on the arm.

*~*~*~*

"Oh Mother, look at this!" gasped Pansy as she thrust the Daily Prophet under Francesca's nose. "Prince of Hogwarts, otherwise known as Prince Harry Potter caught in shouting match with unknown woman!"

"What?" gasped Francesca, Millicent and Ginevra at the same time.

They were eating supper in the fine dining room when Pansy had announced this news. Ginevra nearly dropped the plate she intended to set in front of her mother.

"Yes," said Pansy excitedly as she sank into the chair on her mother's right-hand side. "Listen to this, Mother: 'I, Rita Skeeter, observed a loud argument between one Harry Potter and a mysterious witch - one, that I proclaim - is royalty. Some of the words shared were: "I am not going to marry a pompous wench that believes everyone is below her!" by that of Prince Harry. And by the miss: "Pig!" It is a very good thing that the King and Queen have decided to hold a Ball. Ones hopes Prince Potter will keep his tongue in check.'"

"Wow," said Millicent. "Sounds like my kind of suitor."

"Only if you get to him first," said Pansy, eyeing the parchment hungrily. "Which you won't."

Ginny sighed. She couldn't imagine a Prince acting like that. That Mistress must have been one bad one, as the had always done things for the good of the Kingdom and was known for his kindness.

"You're excused, Ginevra," said Francesca as the girls began to argue about their chances of meeting the prince.

Ginny curtsied for her family before disappearing through the back door, yawning widely.

"Ginny - quick, come here," said Ron from the stove.

Ginny went to her brother. "What is it?"

"We have something for you," Ron said, taking her hand.

He led her through the spacious kitchen, leading her down into the basement. She could hear the voices of Grandmother Minerva and Hermione.

Remus was gone on this night. 'Twas the full moon.

"She's here," said Ron.

"Ah - there you are, Ginny," Hermione said.

"What's going on?"

"Well - Ron and I were . . . rummaging through your mother's old things in the attic, and we've found a little surprise," said Hermione, throwing a rouge grin at Ron.

Immediately tears sprang into Ginny's eyes. "And . . . what?"

"We've found a dress for you," said Hermione, casting a look at Minerva, who's smile widened. "Your mother's old dress."

*~*~*~*

"Harry - look at this!"

Draco thrust the latest addition of the Daily Prophet under his best friend's nose.

Harry had been lounging about in his quarters, sitting in his favorite chair. He'd been in a rather bad mood since last nights "episode" and nobody had been able to cheer him up.

"What is it?" Harry asked, completely uninterested.

"It's you," said Draco.

"Me?"

"Yes, you - in the Daily Prophet - somebody heard your little . . . teté-a-teté with Fleur Delacour last night."

"What?!" exclaimed Harry snatching the paper from his best friend.

Harry read the article, his mouth wide open.

"WHAT?!"

Draco had his arms crossed, leaning against the wall nearby.

"I don't believe it!" Harry jumped to his feet, outraged. "How did that Skeeter wench hear us!"

Draco shrugged. "Then again, you were really loud -"

"That is beside the point!" Harry spat. "We're a mile away from the nearest mansion!"
"Yes, well, she's known to be sneaky," said Draco evenly.

"She has always hounded anyone of importance with poisoned stories," said Harry furiously. "And I fear we haven't seen the end of this."