Here is the next dose of RotH! Don't get worried as you read this chapter, as I guess some of you will. All will be explained at the end.

Enjoy!

The cold of winter, with its churlish winds and icy fangs, soon dissolved into the wonders of spring. The pond had melted, the skates put away and a certain little elephant couldn't wait to play outside for longer in the soft haze of April.

Now my dear readers, the incident of the past winter had opened a gateway for Enjolras. He had stepped through it quite willingly and with great renewed vigour. Over the months that followed the festive month of December came hope and joy. Christmas, after ten years of its absence in the Amis lodgings, had been allowed to commence. Little Gavroche couldn't have been more happy. He had few memories of his first Christmas or his second or third. Now, at the age of thirteen when all little boys must become little men, our patchwork elephant was overjoyed. Christmas had come and gone smoothly. Eponine managed to make presents for all of her friends in the lodgings. A book had been specially made for Enjolras with the help of Gavroche and Feuilly. It told the tale of a man who overcame his beastly past. The tale rang true for the lodgings resident "beast".

The bitter months of January through to March past by quickly as Eponine spent more time with Enjolras. She told him of life in Paris and before in her birth town. He told her of his childhood. As the days went by the rose continued to shed its vibrant petals, and each day Enjolras wondered what to do.

Eponine P.O.V

"Enjolras has asked for you to join him for dinner."

"What? But we dine together each night. Why must he ask for me to dine with him this evening?"

I was confused. Enjolras and I had taken to dining with one another every night since Christmas. I didn't understand what made this night any different from the last three months.

"Ah, but you see 'Ponine. Tonight will be special."

"Jean, Courfeyrac. What are you talking about?"

"You will see 'Ponine. Meet Enjolras at the top of the grand stairs at precisely seven o'clock."

I tried to call Jean and Courfeyrac back, but they left my room and closed the door behind them. I sat back down on my window seat and stared out into the gardens.

I chuckled to myself.

"This really is home to me now."

My mind switched to all the people who I left in Paris. Marius and Cosette would most likely be married soon. Cosette had told me she always wanted a spring wedding. Monsieur Fauchelevent may have retired from helping out at the bookstore near the Café Musain.

I jumped slightly as my door creaked open, revealing Gavroche and Feuilly.

"Hey 'Ponine. Wanna come outside and play?"

"I can't 'Roche. Not this evening."

"But why-"

"Now 'Ponine. It's time to get ready. We need you looking even more beautiful for tonight's dinner."

Feuilly flapped and fluttered around my room as only a fan could. It never would stop amusing me to watch my fan friend try to gather all that he needed to get me ready each day.

"Let me help you Feuilly. There's only so much a fan can do."

I heard Gavroche chuckle behind me.

"I wonder why tonight is so special."

Enjolras P.O.V

"Tonight's the night Enjolras. This is the night you confess everything to 'Ponine." Jean hopped around me as Joly helped me in getting ready for dinner. I could see Grantaire smirking at Jean in the looking glass in front of me.

"To think, soon we'll be human again. And I can catch on those wasted years without women around."

"Courfeyrac, is all you think about women and joking around?"

I had to agree with Combeferre on this. Even as children before we were cursed, Courfeyrac had this obsession with women. We probably wouldn't see him for about a week if the enchantment was ever broken.

"There, you're all set now 'Jolras."

I looked at myself in the looking glass. My fur had been trimmed and smoothed back, and I was wearing a deep green jacket and black trousers.

"You look dashing Enjolras. But I wonder what 'Ponine looks like now."

I wanted ever so badly to reach over for the small looking glass that Fantine had left me all those years ago. Unfortunately, Feuilly had taken it with him and Gavroche.

"It doesn't matter, she'll be beautiful anyway."

"Wait, did I just say that? Maybe they are right. Maybe I do…love her."

Eponine P.O.V

I wished that Cosette was here with me. I wanted to talk to a woman. All these thoughts about Enjolras were starting to make crazy. His kindness, his smile, and his eyes. Especially those fathomless eyes.

"Argh, my head hurts."

"'Ponine, Enjolras is waiting for you at the grand stairs."

"Thank you Combeferre."

I took one last look at myself in my looking glass. The floor length violet dress clung to me like a second skin at the bodice. The skirt was exquisite, flowing around me as though it were fabric water. My hair was up in an elegant bun, just like how Cosette wears her hair whenever she tutors the urchins of Paris. I don't even know how Feuilly managed to keep it held up with only a velvet ribbon and a few black feathers, but he did.

"Time for dinner I guess."

I was trembling; my hands shaking underneath the elbow length gloves I wore. My heeled slippers clicked slightly on the floor. Why I was so nervous, I have no clue to that myself. It was only dinner, just like every other night. But I couldn't stop myself from wringing my hands.

Then I saw him.

Enjolras P.O.V

She was beautiful, truly beautiful. She was a vision to me. Surely she couldn't be real, this couldn't be happening. Eponine approached me, a smile gracing her face.

"You look rather handsome tonight Enjolras."

"I…I…You look wonderful 'Ponine."

Dinner went by in a blur to me. All I was focused on was how angelic Eponine looked tonight, like she did every night, everyday. The dishes were cleared away and I stood, offering my arm to the beautiful woman in front of me. I led her to the old ballroom.

"Oh, I…I'm not much of a dancer. I mean… I never learnt how to dance."

I chuckled at Eponine. She gave me a scowl and hit me lightly on my arm.

"Don't worry 'Ponine. I'll lead and you follow."

I hesitantly placed me right paw on her waist. I didn't want to hurt her, but instead I felt her shiver slightly. I took her hand in my left and twirled her around the ballroom.

Now readers, you may seem to have noticed the absence of other our enchanted friends. But be sure of this now. As the couple gracefully glided across the ballroom, the Amis were watching behind the pillars that upheld the top walkway of the ballroom.

"I told you she was the one."

The others signed and nodded at Courfeyrac. The night had been one to remember for all at the lodgings.

The night had past by in a dream like haze. Enjolras still had one thing to do though.

"'Ponine, will you come out to the balcony with me?"

The grisette girl nodded and followed Enjolras outside into the crisp spring night, all the while holding onto his arm.

"'Ponine, I have greatly enjoyed your company over the last few months."

"I've enjoyed being here too. This place feels like home to me now. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else but here the Amis and 'Roche….and you."

Eponine was trying without success to hide the blush that was slowly spreading across her face. If it weren't for his fur, Enjolras would surely have red cheeks also.

"Now is the time. Just tell her."

"'Ponine…I-"

"Enjolras, I don't know how or even when, but… but I think I've fallen for you."

Enjolras sat there utterly bewildered. However, Eponine took this to mean something was wrong and decided to flee the balcony. The Amis watched the scene unfold from behind the balcony doors. Before Eponine reached the door a paw grabbed onto her arm.

"Wait! Wait 'Ponine."

Eponine turned around to face the beast of a man. The man that she had slowly fallen for. Fate must have been fate that made her stumble across the lodgings months previously, not just her father's cruel words and the wolves. Enjolras cupped her face with his paw and smiled.

"'Ponine, I do believe that I have fallen for you too."

Now readers, the event that occurred next was one that must be recorded and remembered, for it symbolises the beginning, not just the end. The rose that sat upon the table in the Western wing, as it had done so for the last ten years, started to glow. The fallen petals that had gathered at the bottom of the bell jar burst into red fantastic dust. The glow from the rose grew so bright that it lit up the night sky. The stars were no match for it. Red lights streaked across the dark night canvas, hitting the ballroom balcony with a great force. The lodgings started to rumble as though they were awakening from a deep sleep. The red lights continued to descend upon the balcony.

Eponine P.O.V

I watched in horror as Enjolras collapsed.

"Enjolras? Enjolras!"

I could hear the collective clatter that meant the Amis were coming up behind me.

"Wake up Enjolras! What's happening?"

"'Ponine look!"

I saw little Gavroche snuggle into my side as I dropped to the ground. I could see red lights in the sky. I didn't understand what the hell was going on.

"What the hell is happening?"

The lights hit the balcony. They hit Enjolras and me and everyone else. The light glowed on my skin, making patterns as though a flower was blooming on every surface it could find. The light seemed to lift the others from the ground and suspended them in the air.

"'Ponine!"

I saw Gavroche float up to my face, a scared expression on his little matted face.

"'Roche!" I cried out as he floated higher and higher above me to where the others were hanging. Light burst from all of them and I couldn't see a thing; it was too bright.

I opened my eyes again when I heard a small yelp. I uncovered my eyes and saw a group of men sat on the balcony. A young boy of about thirteen sat next to me, a huge smile on his face.

"'Ponine!"

Wait… that was…that is…

"Oh 'Roche! You're a boy!"

I bundled Gavroche in my arms. I didn't think it was true. Enjolras had told me of the angel who'd punished him. I didn't believe Gavroche when he first told me either over Christmas. Now I was seeing with my own two eyes that the enchantment was real. That it had been real all this time.

I looked up when I heard someone groan. One of the men was lying on the floor, trying to stand up. He seemed to be looking at his hands, running them through his curly honey blonde hair. I gasped.

"It couldn't be…"

The man turned around and I gasped again. Those eyes. The eyes from that painting in the Western wing. No…they were Enjolras's eyes.

"Enjolras?"

I let go of Gavroche and tentatively walked over to him. He looked surprised to see me, but that melted into a smile. He started laughing, wrapping his arms around me.

"'Ponine, it's me. I'm… I'm human again."

My mind went completely blank when he pressed his lips to mine. I may've melted if Enjolras's strong arms weren't securing me to his chest. I'd never felt so loved before in my entire life.

"This is my home, here in his arms."

The Amis groaned. They had been placed back onto the balcony none to gently by the red lights. They looked around and saw each other back in their human forms, albeit about ten years older than before. They were taller, slightly more muscular, and they already knew that their voices had broken and taken on deeper tones through the years as enchanted objects.

"'Ponine!"

The Amis turned to see Gavroche, no longer an elephant toy, but a young man with a mop of dirty blonde hair. Eponine hugged the boy to her chest. Next to Grantaire, with his ebony waves and green eyes, Enjolras groaned. The Amis knew it was him instantly thanks to his trademark honey blonde curls and eyes the colour of the ocean. They watched as he embrace Eponine, kissed her and laughed. The spell had been broken.

Up on high, Fantine perceived these events unfold. She smiled. The young boy she had punished had changed for the better because of her daughter's friend. She cast her gaze towards Paris and frowned. The people had been growing restless of late. They wanted change for Paris, for France. The people's man had grown gravely ill too. She knew that her darling Cosette's lover was trying to help the people, but it wouldn't be enough. Fantine looked back at the people on the balcony, celebrating their fate.

"The time is near."

There's the end of this chapter. And just to calm your thoughts, just because the enchantment is broken doesn't mean the story ends here. Far from it. This is were the nitty gritty comes in as Fantine foreshadowed.

I hope you all enjoyed this one my lovely readers. Please review - I'd like some ideas for what you think I should do next. There will be a poll on my profile.

Love Frances XX :)