The capital of the Snow White Kingdom was a scene straight out of a medieval painting. Gray-white brick houses huddled together, their short chimneys puffing out plumes of black smoke. The wooden windows stood open, offering tantalizing glimpses and the aroma of freshly baked bread. Today was no ordinary day; it was Snow White's birthday, the anniversary of her ascension to the throne! Whispers also circulated about the king's initial designation of Queen Snow White as his heir, a detail that seemed…peculiar.
Hermione couldn't help but feel that even the original Grimm's Fairy Tales were more sensible than this. If I had studied them more closely, I'd probably be spitting fire. This was beyond a waste of time! The Grimm's Fairy Tales were turning out to be as reliable as A History of Hogwarts.
...
Earlier that morning, Tom, eager to immerse himself in the customs and culture of medieval Europe, had insisted on a carriage ride after their farewell to Little Red Riding Hood. The journey offered them a glimpse into a world vastly different from their own.
But why crawl along like this when we could fly? What if we're too late, and Snow White takes a bite of that apple? Tom wasn't concerned for Snow White's well-being, of course, but worried that the poisoned apple might be digested, complicating their mission.
Harry and Malfoy, consumed with the urgency of extracting the poisoned apple, were visibly agitated. After much deliberation, they had concluded that the "special item" associated with Snow White was undoubtedly the poisoned apple. Nothing else seemed remotely plausible.
This realization fueled their anxiety. Unlike Little Red Riding Hood's hat and coat, the poisoned apple was meant to be eaten. What if Snow White consumed it and her digestive system took over? Were they seriously going to have to stake out the princess's privy, waiting for nature to take its course before diving in to retrieve it? The thought alone was enough to make their faces pale.
Strangely, Harry seemed to be mirroring Malfoy's behavior. At an age where romance should have been blossoming, his focus had shifted entirely, a far cry from just days ago. Perhaps the Little Red Riding Hood incident had been a traumatic blow.
It was as if they'd prepared for a passionate love affair only to find themselves in an entirely different world. The feeling of anticipation followed by crushing disappointment could indeed lead one to embrace the Buddhist concept of "form is emptiness." Beauty, after all, was just a fleeting illusion. Only the coveted position of second-in-command held true value!
Channeling their sorrow and pain into unwavering determination, Harry and Malfoy now had a singular goal: to pry that poisoned apple from Snow White's grasp!
...
Back to the present: the bustling, vibrant parade hinted at the grandeur of the city. Even before they entered the town proper, they could see it looked as if some grand festival was underway. The tantalizing aroma of food drifted from the stalls, street performers—a rare sight—filled the lanes, and exotic animals from far-off lands drew curious onlookers.
A wide avenue, deliberately cleared, led directly to the castle. Precisely at noon, the wooden bridge connecting to the moat was lowered, and a procession led by knights in shining silver armor emerged from the castle gates. At the head of the procession was an ornate, jewel-encrusted carriage drawn by magnificent, pure white horses. Snow White rode inside.
"Hail! Hail! Hail!"
"Your Highness! We adore you!"
The cheers and jubilation that erupted from the crowd were genuine.
But within the throng, Harry and the others remained silent, their expressions…odd. There was something inexplicably unsettling about how this fairy tale was unfolding. They swiftly regained their composure, though. After all, they had more pressing concerns. Since Snow White was still alive, the poisoned apple hadn't yet made its appearance. So, they would wait. There was no need to rush until the deed was done.
Tom watched the ornate carriage with detached amusement. He had, just moments ago, questioned why the poisoned apple had to come from the Snow Queen. We're all wizards here. If the Snow Queen can conjure a poisoned apple, why couldn't the Dark Lord? In fact, I could probably brew one far more lethal!
So why couldn't I, Tom Riddle, simply poison Snow White myself, seize the apple, and be done with it? It would certainly cut out all this unnecessary complexity.
Unfortunately, the system had just informed him that the poisoned apple had to be crafted by the Snow Queen and consumed by Snow White.
"..."
A minor inconvenience, but nothing more. It will simply take time.
Harry and Malfoy, however, did not share his sentiment.
Upon hearing Tom's "new requirement," their faces fell. Damn it, did they really expect Malfoy to keep watch over the royal outhouse?
Thankfully, Tom clarified that they only needed to retrieve the apple before Snow White digested it.
A glimmer of hope returned to their faces. While they lacked specialized extraction methods, they possessed ample strength.
As for why they couldn't simply rely on the original's "true love's kiss" to dislodge the apple…
First of all, they weren't Prince Charming and certainly shared no "true love" with Snow White, whom they'd only just met. Just looking at the current plot, aside from the names, what else resembled the original fairy tale? Even as wizards, they weren't foolish enough to believe in such a ludicrous method.
Snow White, don't blame me. While you may be a cherished childhood memory, I must solidify my position as second-in-command, no matter the cost.
But the mention of "childhood memories" only fueled Harry's frustration. He had been so sure of himself, confident that his familiarity with fairy tales would make Tom's task a piece of cake. Now…this damn fairy tale was as unfamiliar as it was absurd!
---
---
Don't be a silent reader; I read every comment you post and they truly mean the world to me.
Take a few minutes to Review the story and smash that Powerstone button now.
Your support is the only way we hit the Top 10
let's get it done!