Ages ago, Robert started inserting the Muses into the action of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. First, the whole gang burst into Chapter One. Then, in a scene unlike anything in the book, Feather met Fleur Delacour and discovered her poetic side.
Robert planned some other scenes that he never got around to posting. This one is from Chapter 24, “Sectumsempra.” Looking for the girls’ bathroom, Mimi accidentally walks into the boys’ loo a few minutes before Harry Potter arrives for his fateful encounter with Draco Malfoy….
As soon as she stepped through the door, Mimi realized that she had made an embarrassing mistake. This wasn’t the girls’ bathroom at all. A boy was standing with his back to the door, his hands clutching the sides of one of the sinks, his white-blond head bowed. He was crying, Mimi saw, while beside him the ghostly figure of a girl hovered, cooing words of comfort and encouragement.
“I can’t do it,†the boy sobbed. “I can’t … it won’t work … and unless I do it soon …â€
Before he could finish, the ghost-girl spotted Mimi. With a yelp she swooped into the nearest stall and disappeared down the toilet.
The pale-haired boy wheeled around, drawing his wand. Instinctively, Mimi raised her right arm to shield her face. There was a flash of bright light, and sparks settled harmlessly around her. The boy aimed his wand again. “Stupefy!†he barked. “Petrificus Totalus!†Mimi squinted as bursts of red and white light erupted around her. Then, as Urania had done in the Prime Minister’s office, she stepped briskly forward and snatched the wand from the boy’s hand.
“Now–†Mimi began. She stopped short. The boy was standing stock-still, his arms rigid at his sides, his fists clenched. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut, his jaw set. She regarded him for a few seconds, amazed. Then her Muse instincts began to kick in.
She had seen him before, she realized, when Dumbledore had shown her and the other Muses around Hogwarts. Someone had mentioned his name … Draco Malfoy, the memory came back to her. He had been standing in a knot of other students, “Slitheries” or something. Slytherins. The center of attention, the leader of his crowd — a different creature from the fearful form that stood before her now.
The boy’s knees began to shake. “Well?†he demanded in a high, strained voice. “What are you waiting for? Finish me off!â€
“Finish you–? Oh, my goodness, don’t be silly. I’m not going to hurt you.†The boy opened his eyes and looked at her uncertainly. The Muse of Getting Along With People felt a wave of pity wash over her, as it always did in situations like this. Suddenly she liked this boy and wanted more than anything else for him to like her, too. “Here,†she said. “Take your stick back. But no more fireworks, please. They didn’t work for Mr. Scrimgeour, and they won’t work for you.â€
Draco relaxed noticeably. “Scrimgeour? You don’t mean to say you’ve been dueling with Scrimgeour?â€
The scorn in his voice and the lack of the honorific “Mr.†told Mimi volumes. She was beginning to sort out this boy’s alliances and now knew where to position herself. “If you could call it a duel,†she said with a laugh that surprised her. “He never knew what hit him.â€
“But… You’re his goons, aren’t you? That’s what we all assumed when we saw Dumbledore squiring you around the school.â€
Goons? Mimi frowned for a moment over the unfamiliar word but then picked up the thread. “Work for him?†she snorted. “As if! We work for ourselves. Scrimgeour was just as surprised as you were when we showed up.â€
All of that was true enough, Mimi reflected. Until they had interrupted his meeting in the Prime Minister’s office, Mr. Scrimgeour had never heard of Muses. Now they were working with the Ministry of Magic, but not actually for it. Although perfectly capable of lying through her teeth when necessary, Mimi much preferred to stick to statements that were at least technically true. Things just seemed nicer that way, and in some vague corner of her mind she suspected it made her more convincing.
Draco wasn’t quite won over. “Which side are you on, then?â€
“Well,†Mimi said with a conspiratorial smile, “I found you, didn’t I?†She saw an involuntary grin flicker across Draco’s face and went on quickly. “And none too soon, either, because at this moment you are one person in the world who could certainly use more friends. Crikey, when I think of all you’ve been going through…†Mimi was guessing, but she sensed she was guessing well.
All at once, Draco’s defenses crumbled. His shoulders slumped, and tears welled up again in his red-rimmed eyes. “If you knew how hard it’s been…†he said.
“I can’t imagine.â€
“So very hard …. to know what I have to do … and not know … if I can go through with it.â€
“Oh, of course you can,†Mimi said. “You’re stronger than you know. And you’ve come so far already. And you’ve got friends.â€
Draco looked at her hopefully. “Do you really think so?†he asked.
“I’m sure of it,†Mimi responded heartily. Pat him on the back, or not? Not, she decided.
Draco ran his sleeve across his face quickly and squared his shoulders. “Thanks,†he said. “I don’t know what you are, but you’re just what I needed. I’m all right now.†He strode toward the door just as a dark-haired boy with glasses and a curiously scarred forehead started to enter. “One side, Potter!†Draco commanded, pushing the other boy back into the hall. Then the door closed with a bump, and Mimi was alone again.
What had just happened? She wasn’t sure, but she felt good about it. The boy Draco had been hostile and suspicious, and she had befriended him. He had been wracked with doubt and indecision, and now he was self-confident and purposeful. She had no idea what sort of task or mission he had been so worried about, but whatever it was, she wished him good luck with it and hoped it went well. All in all, she thought with satisfaction, a fraction of an hour well spent.
And now she really needed to find the ladies’ room.
You are playing dangerously with boundaries that have never previously been shaken, Mr. Coontz!
I like it.
-A
Publish more! I want to see what Pwt does! Crookshanks?
Pwt would have to meet Hagrid, don’t you think?
Oh, that would be good. En could tame the blast ended screwts!
Or try netting them right and left, your choice.
.I like it! You must publish more on here!
Thank you, Robert, you have officially made my morning! I’m looking forward to future installments…. *coughcoughhinthinthintcoughcoughcough*
Mimi means well, and she’s very good at what she does. In this case, however, …
I love this. Can’t wait to read more!
Wow, this is amazing. So much potential for the Muses. Hmm…. Pride and Prejudice and Muses?
I just realized a creepy coincidence. At the Mos, they just opened Harry Potter: The exhibition, for members only today. I went! It’s PWNSOME!!!
*shoots death glares at all the lucky people in the MA area who get to go to the exhibition*
Dangit, the closest I’ve been is I was in the same timezone as the Chicago one for about a semester, but I still didn’t get to go! And now it’ll probably go from Boston off to the rest of the world and not return to the US….goodness knows it’s never coming to Alaska. *sigh* Maybe it’ll hit Washington or somewhere else on the Westcoast and I can con my parents into taking me. We do have relatives in both Washington and Oregon, afterall, and even if, say, the exhibition were in California….that’s hardly more than a daytrip away.
*sees kokon opportunity* *springs for it*
So, anyone interested? Who’s already a member? Amblystom?
Well, now it’s open for everyone, with timed tickets.
Luna: It’s mostly movie stuff. Props, ect. The audio tour is really amazing. They have Umbridge’s office, and some of the notice rule things from the fifth movie. On the bottom of the rule thing, it says “BlahblahblaHblAhbLah…..” over and over again.
The exhibit isn’t very good…I saw it at the world premiere in Chicago.
Make a move in chess…
Sorry! I didn’t know if you had.
It’s not fair. I live in lame ol’ AZ, so NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST comes to Phoenix, so we’re just frying while you lucky people get to go to OSM! exibits.
Oh well.
Cali isnn’t TO far away…
Mos. Museum of Science (In Boston!)
Long post warning.
OK, I was bored earlier today, so I went ahead and wrote the beginning of “Pride and Prejudice and Muses.” Miss Austen’s first chapter remains intact, but it ends as follows.
Mrs. Bennet wandered back to her room. Her poor nerves would do no good in persuading her husband. He was just inconsiderate that way. She went to lie down on her bed, but, to her surprise, had company.
“Why, I didn’t know you would stop by for a visit, Miss…†She paused, trying to find the name, and then looked at the woman on her bed. This woman did not seem to resemble any woman Mrs. Bennet knew or any woman at all, for that matter. Her garb was unusual, to say the least. And the hat. Mrs. Bennet knew not to be rude, but this hat was hideous.
Pursing her lips, she said, “I’m afraid I do not know you. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss…â€
“Call me Mimi,†said the woman.
Mrs. Bennet was slightly taken aback at this young woman’s lack of proper formality, but quickly launched into her usual round of gossip. “Have you heard about Netherfield?â€
“Yes, and I’ve heard that your husband has been rather uncooperative on these matters.â€
Mrs. Benet was shocked. Did all of society know about Mr. Bennet’s disgrace? “Who told you about Mr. Benet?â€
“Oh, nobody told me. Before, you stare, my dear madam, I should inform you that I am a muse.â€
“A what? Oh, my nerves must be acting up again.â€
“A muse. There are nine of us. We help people. Don’t worry. We’re mostly harmless.â€
“I should hope so, given that you are in my chamber. I do hope you can help my poor nerves.â€
“That was my purpose in coming here. I am the muse of getting along with people. You, my dear madam, need to get along with your husband.â€
“Oh, I know I should, but he is so intolerable at times. What he does to my nerves.â€
Mimi resisted the urge to yell at Mrs. Bennet. All this talk of nerves was getting rather tedious. Yet, her job was to ease these nerves, not to provoke them. “Don’t worry. He’ll come to his senses eventually,†she said, although she was afraid that Mrs. Bennet might be the one who needed to come to her senses.
“That is what they all say,†replied Mrs. Bennet. “Are you certain of this?â€
“Absolutely. I am a muse.â€
And with that, the mysterious woman left, just as abruptly as she had arrived.
I’m thinking about assigning each major character a muse. Maybe:
Mrs. Bennet – Mimi
Mr. Bennet
Jane – Aeiou
Lizzy – Chad
Bingley – Bo
Darcy – Urania
Wickham – Kokopelli
Lydia – Crraw
Mr. Collins – Pwt
Oh, and Mr. Bennet gets Feather. I’m thinking that some of the muses have known their respective characters a long time while others are meeting their characters throughout the story. For example, I’m thinking that the Darcy/Wickham originated as an offshoot of the Koko/Urania conflict.
My first reaction was that Mimi sounded awfully formal. But then I realized that the Muse of Getting Along With People would talk that way if she wanted to get along with people of the Bennets’ social class in Regency England. Even Elizabeth’s parents call each other Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.
If somebody has found a way to work zombies into Pride and Prejudice, there’s certainly room for Muses. More, please!
The people who made Pride and Prejudice and Zombies are making Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters.
A third installment at last! It’s very good (although the Feather-Fleur conversation is still my favorite).
OK, Pride and Prejudice and Muses continues as follows.
Chapter 2
A few days later, Mr. Bennet took a stroll in his garden. Unbeknownst to his wife, the garden had provided great solace to him ever since he had met Feather.
Feather was another of these mysterious muses. Feather was the muse of plants, so while Mimi liked the intimacy of Mrs. Bennet’s chamber, Feather preferred the open air of the garden. Several years before, Mr. Bennet had been walking around the garden when he had encountered a large odd-looking bird. This bird had introduced himself as a muse, and Mr. Bennet had welcomed the opportunity for help. After all, although Mrs. Bennet found Mr. Bennet intolerable, there was much less to tolerate about Mrs. Bennet. This day, Mr. Bingley was the text of Feather and Mr. Bennet’s discourse.
“So, are you planning to visit Bingley?†said Feather.
“Without a doubt. As my wife said, it is not every day that a young man of four thousand a year moves to Netherfield.â€
“Then why mislead her so?â€
“Oh, I feel as if she would vex me more if she knew I would visit. I did not mean to mislead her; I merely did not want to be perpetually asked if I had visited Bingley yet.â€
“Well, just visit him soon, then. Your wife’s… nervous fits are enough of a spectacle to be heard from the garden.â€
As promised, Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had not lied to Feather. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with:
“I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.”
And then the rest of the real second chapter.
My mom might like this. I like how you’re keeping the muses as an add-on, instead of completely taking over the story.
I really should get (re)started on my MuseBlog-Star Trek fanfic
I’m trying to keep all the original text. As is, the muses are devices to illuminate more about the characters they interact with. I’m sort of taking this as a writing challenge to use the muses to help develop the Pride and Prejudice characters. (As you can tell, this is rather challenging, and my writing is in serious need of an editor.)
now for : a wrinkle in time: muse edition
Meg sits in the attic on the floor tring to finish her math homework when she hears knocking on the door, “come in!” Meg says. When the door opens, instead of her little brother, charles wallace, a black figure walks in holding a pie. meg screams and then everything blacks out. ” KOKOPELLI!” a voice screams.
TO BE CONTINUED!!
sorry. that attempt was pathetic. i know. i know.
I’m working on a Muse version of the Sorcerer’s Stone.
maybye i should muse-ify percy jackson and the olympians…
And now… The muse version of the lighting theif!!!
Never mind!Can I just make this a thread?please!!!!
hahahaha “hoped he succeeds” . in killing Dumbledore you mean XD