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Once upon a time, there was an orphaned boy that was left with his stepmother and siblings.
They do not care for said boy, if it were up to them they would have left him on the streets as soon as his father passed. They kept him around for appearance's sake and when they came to the realization that they could save the money that was left by the boy’s father if they fired the house staff and had him do all the work instead.
This boy’s name was Harry. But his step-siblings called him Scarhead because of a scar on his head that he got as a baby.
It was a normal day. Harry woke up at dawn to clean the living spaces and set the table for breakfast. He then made breakfast for his stepmother and siblings, careful to not burn anything.
“When will breakfast be ready?! What’s taking you so long or are you that incompetent Scarhead?” Shouted his stepbrother, Wendell.
“Come on Scarhead. Hurry it up!” Came his stepsister, Megan.
“I haven’t got all day boy. I have things to do in the market.” Came the snappy voice of his stepmother as she elegantly sat down at the head of the table. Her hair was as curly as ever and done up, her clean and polished nails tap tap tapping on the table.
He quickly serves their breakfast. Pancakes and his homemade jam, their tea and juices, their scrambled eggs and bacon in the middle up for grabs and of course, their fresh fruit and toasted bread. Despite wanting to save his father's money, they could not give up their lavish lifestyle.
“You are dismissed.” His stepmother said coldly.
Harry continued on cleaning the bathrooms. He swears he only cleans them every day because they want to keep him busy. Alas, it is this or being a beggar on the streets.
He comes back to his stepfamily to clean up their breakfast and see what his stepmother allows him to eat.
“Here you go boy.” His stepmother hands him a plate with a spoonful of scrambled egg, a bite of pancake, and half an apple.
He holds back a sigh, “Thank you stepmother.” He takes his scraps to the kitchen to eat and sneaks bites of what his step-family left over, not everything was edible after deliberately being messed with. With that, he goes to tend to the flower and vegetable gardens.
On the other side of the kingdom, in a gleaming castle overlooking the kingdom. King Blaise is desperate for his son and only child to finally marry. Prince Draco however, has the silly notion of marrying for love. In the end, the King wants his son to be happy so he gives him a chance to find someone to marry for love. To speed up the process, he will invite everyone in the kingdom to a ball hosted in his son’s name after coming back from a trip abroad.
Harry was about to go back inside to continue his chores when he saw his stepmother briskly walking back to the house from the market.
“Children! Children! I bring the most wonderful news!” She bellows and his step-siblings come rushing to her.
“What is it mother?”
“Prince Draco is hosting a ball, and it is decreed that everyone who is in the kingdom is invited!”
“Oh, to dance with thee Prince Draco!”
“Oh mother mother, we have to get new clothes for this ball!”
Before he could stop himself, Harry asked, “Can I go too?”
Everyone turns to look at him, the mood souring.
“You? Going dancing Scarehead?” His step-siblings mock him.
Harry decides to go through with his request. “Well, I don’t see why not. It was decreed that everyone was to attend.”
“Very well, if you complete all your work and find something suitable to wear, I don’t see why you couldn’t attend.” His step-siblings look at their mother in shock.
“Oh thank you step-mother!” He naïvely rushes out of the room to finish his work and find something to wear, oblivious to his step-family plotting against him yet again.
Harry finishes his chores as quickly as he can, escaping the watchful eyes of his step-family every so often to find something to wear. He finally found something amongst his father’s clothes he was able to get before his stepmother sold them off or threw them out. He couldn’t believe that he could finally go somewhere other than the house or market. He'll finally have a dance partner other than the broom. Despite his step-sibling’s sabotage and having to redo chores he was able to adjust one of his father's Sherwani and manage his hair just as his step-family was ready to leave.
He came down the flight of stairs in his sherwani. The off-white almost creamy base complemented his skin color while the slightly darker embroidery gave it texture. He paired it with his late mother's long pearl necklace that was still long and fell to his chest even after wrapping it thrice, along with cufflinks with his family's crest, his nicest shoes, and a green dupatta a few shades lighter than his eyes draped on his shoulder. He carefully coiffed his curls to the side and to somewhat hide his scar.
He thought he looked nice. He even gave his glasses an extra polish.
“Mother he can’t go!”
His step-siblings begged, throwing a tantrum whilst tugging at their mother’s sleeves. Wendell left the room and came back as his mother was trying to pacify his sister.
“Mother said you could only go if you had something suitable to wear.”
His step-sister looked at him with a malicious look in her eyes. “That's right.”
Wendell looked Harry in the eyes, “You can’t go to the ball with that big stain.”
Harry looked down to check himself just as Wendell threw wine on his late father’s sherwani and stared in shock.
Megan then grabs scissors and cuts his dupatta. “You wouldn’t want to go to the royal palace in this state, it would be a dishonor, wouldn’t it be, Scarhead.”
“Well, it looks like you don't have something to wear after all. Come along now children, we don’t want to be late to the ball.”
Harry stands in shock as his stepfamily leaves for the ball. He runs to the garden to his safe space within it. He curls up into a ball and silently cries when there's a big flash of light.
Harry looks up and the light slowly takes shape in the air. There is a pop when the being stops glowing.
Gravity takes hold and the shimmering man falls into the bush under him.
“...”
“...”
“Sorry, I have to work on my landings, one second.”
The shimmering man emerges from the bush. Small twigs stuck in his wild ginger hair. He stands up in the bush, showing how tall he is. He struggles to get out of the bush itself on account that his neon orange tutu is stuck. He eventually wins his fight against the bush and steps in front of Harry.
“Bipitty Bopitty.” The man waves his wand and his disheveled appearance cleans itself up.
“Sorry about that, let me introduce myself. I’m Ron and today is your lucky day because I’m your fairy godmother.”
“Sorry, I assumed you were a man.”
“I am, it’s more of a title. Now, what can I do ya for? What’s got you all upset?”
“There’s this ball that I was really looking forward to going to. But my step-siblings ruined my clothes and my step-mother just watched like always. I worked so hard doing the housework and outdoor work to finish on time so I could go but I can’t go like this!” He gestures to himself.
Ron looked at the ground and mumbled “I can’t go on probation again.”
“What was that?”
“Don’t worry about it. I can make you clothes for the ball! I’ll even throw in a carriage to take you, free of charge.”
“I have to pay you?” Harry raised his eyebrow.
“That was a joke.”
His fairy godmother raised her wand. “Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boo!”
In the blink of an eye Harry’s clothes change. The base of his sherwani, now a rich red color, had intricate golden embroidery that gave it texture. His late mother's long pearl necklace now had a golden shine to them and his cufflinks with his family's crest stayed, his shoes felt more comfortable and looked more expensive when he looked down, it was all paired with a white dupatta with some golden undertones to go with the golden embroidery along the edges, draped on his shoulder.
“Sala-gadoola-menchicka-boo-la Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boo!” Ron points his magical wand at some stones and a pumpkin and Harry watches in awe as they transform into a carriage.
“And now for a coachman and a horse.”
“Skibidi Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boo!” A garden snake resting under a bush, along with a mouse come forward and transform before their very eyes. The snake becomes the coachman in a reptilian-patterned jacket and the mouse becomes the horse with very strange ears.
“This was not what I had in mind for tonight but I’ll play along. I’m Layla and it seems I’ll be your coach-man tonight.” Says the snake turned temporarily human.
“Fairy godmother, what if my step-family recognizes me tonight.”
“On it! Bobbidi Boo!” With a wave of his wand, Harry's glasses turn into a mask, with lenses so he can still see of course.
“This is wonderful!”
“Yes sir, unfortunately, the magic will wear off when the clock strikes thrice at midnight. So be back by then!”
And with that, Harry rode off into the night excited to finally be out of the house to go dancing and meet people.
When Harry got to the Castle he stared at the display of wealth in awe. The towers seemed to touch the sky. The castle’s marble shined and gleamed along with the golden accents under the starry sky. The scene before his was pulled straight out of a fairy tale.
Harry knew he was late, he could feel the guard's gaze on him. But if he was late anyway he might as well take in the scenery. He doesn’t know when his next time to get out will be.
He’s startled out of his thoughts when he feels a tap on his shoulder. He quickly turns and backs away to face the person.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. What are you doing out there? That party is inside you know?” The man said with a smirk.
He was tall and quite frankly handsome. His fair hair and skin should have washed him out but for some reason didn’t and instead made him look like an ethereal being. He wore clothes that Harry could work for his entire life and still not be able to afford. Harry looked at this god on earth and decided to shoot his shot.
“Can I not appreciate the outside on this lovely night? It’s not often I see a sight like this.”
“Fair enough the stars are quite beautiful tonight.”
“They're not the only thing beautiful tonight,” Harry said in a teasing tone.
The man’s face turned red and all Harry could think was how beautiful that shade of red was on his face.
They could hear the melody of the Waltz start from the ballroom. The blond cleared his throat and held out his hand while bowing slightly. “May I have this dance?”
“You may.” Harry smiled
They danced for what felt like forever. When the song came to an end they walked in the gardens talking about everything and nothing all at once. Harry was able to make the blonde's face turn red again through both teasing and making him laugh, oh how Harry loved the sound of his laughter.
“So what’s with the mask? Afraid you would distract everyone too much with your handsome face?” It was the man’s turn to make Harry’s face turn red.
“I like being mysterious.”
“Really?” The blond raises an eyebrow.
Harry takes a moment to respond, deciding that he will probably never see the pretty blond again. “I didn’t really want my.. Family to know I was here. Also I truly am not that great-looking. My forehead has an ugly scar, quite the butt of many jokes in my household.” Harry lifts up his hair and gives an awkward laugh at his self-deprecating joke.
“That? That gets you made fun of? It’s hardly an imperfection, it must mean that the rest of you is perfect.” The blond says as he steps closer.
They both lean in but unfortunately, all fairy tales must come to an end. The bell strikes for the first time at midnight, startling Harry.
“It’s midnight! I- I have to go.” Harry rushes off.
The blond chases after him. “Will I see you again?”
Harry pauses for a split second. “No. Never.” And rushes off to the front of the Castle where Layla is waiting for him.
“Come on! Come on! Come on!” Layla opens the door for him and jumps into the driver's seat.
“Wait. please!” The blond shouts.
Harry’s mask falls off to make way for his usual glass to reappear but Harry doesn't pay it any mind, solely focusing on getting back on time. Not noticing the blond behind him picking it up before chasing him again.
Harry jumps into the carriage and slams the door closed and Layla gets the horses going as the bell strikes for the second time at midnight. The blond not being able to follow watches the carriage leave into the night
Morning finally came and Harry had woken up later than usual and had to rush many tasks. Thankfully, the rest of his family also woke up later than usual so he didn’t get in trouble for it.
“I can’t believe Prince Draco just left in the middle of his own ball like that! I wanted to dance with him.” Whined Megan.
“I heard that he spent the rest of the night with a mystery man,” Wendell grumbled.
“It should’ve been you son. I’m sure you’re far more suitable for Prince Draco. Not to mention this mystery man is rude for not only coming late but not even entering the castle.” Said step-Mother.
The day passed as normal until the family got a message in the evening. Stepmother had just returned from her outing from the shopping district and seemed to be in a hurry to get back home to share the news with her children.
“Wendell! Megan! Come down here!”
Harry peeked out of the kitchen to hear the news.
“The mystery man from the ball has captured the heart of the prince but disappeared at midnight. The Prince is looking for this mystery man. Tomorrow he will come to every house in the city and have every son of suitable age to try on a mask the mystery man dropped that seems to carry the mystery man’s prescription!”
As his step-siblings were figuring out a way to trick the prince into thinking that Wendell was the mystery man, Harry came out of his hiding spot as he came to a realization.
The blond he spent the night with was THE Prince Draco.
This was a mistake as his stepmother noticed him and looked at him with sharp eyes when she came to a realization of her own.
“It was YOU, wasn't it boy! I had said you wouldn’t be going but you went anyway! I don’t know how you pulled it off, but you won’t be marrying the prince!”
Even though Harry was stronger than his family, he couldn’t put up much of a fight against all of them. They managed to drag him up to an upstairs cover and locked it with a key.
“You don’t deserve the prince, you’re a nobody, when the prince doesn’t find his mystery man I will be there to charm him.” Wendell sneered.
Harry was too exhausted to break out of the cupboard so he had to spend the night there. He hadn’t been in this cupboard since he was little. When his father had recently passed, and he couldn’t follow his stepmother‘s new rules for him.
The next day, the prince hadn’t arrived until the evening, so they didn’t let him out of the cupboard. Megan had given him food through a gap that was too small for him to fit through at the top of the cupboard like she always had been made to do before when he was locked in there.
There was a knock on the house door when the Prince arrived. His stepmother opened the door with Megan and Wendell behind her
“Hello ma’am, I am Dame Pansy, I’m sure you’ve heard by now that the Prince is looking for someone.” The women in the royal armor looked tired yet as ready as ever to defend the prince behind her. She stepped into the house first. Looked around and stepped to the side to let the prince walk forward.
The prince with mask at hand, looked at the last family in his kingdom and sighed in disappointment, already knowing that none of them were who he’s looking for. Wendell had insisted on trying on the mask on anyways but quickly regretted it.
“AHHH MY EYES! WHY DOES THAT HURT SO MUCH IS HE REALLY THAT BLIND?!”
While this was happening Harry had finally loosened as many screws on the cupboard door hinge as he could. The last time he was in here he was a kid now he’s all grown up. Harry braces himself at the back of the cupboard and kicks forward towards the door. At his third kick, the cupboard door flew open.
“What was that sound? Is there someone else in this house?” The Prince demanded to know.
“Oh, that’s nobody, my Lord. Don’t worry about him.”
Harry came running to the front of the house. His hair was a wild mess and sticking up in every direction, his scar on full display.
Prince Draco doesn’t even take the mask back from Wendell and smiles at Harry. “It’s you! I’ve finally found you!”
Harry runs up to the prince. “You didn’t tell me you were a prince!”
“I thought everyone knew? And I was wearing my family crest on my ring. Plus, you didn’t even tell me your name.”
“Harry.”
Prince Draco repeated his name with a smile on his face.
“You look like you got into a fight with a bear. I’m sure with what little you’ve told me you don’t want to live here anymore, what if,” Draco took Harry’s hand in his, “ you came to live with me in the castle, we can get to know each other more.”
Harry looked at his stepfamily and then looked at Draco. “I would love to.”
A year later Wedding bells chimed and the prince and the mystery man lived happily ever after.