**Chapter 1: The Eternal Winter**

The snow fell gently around the castle, casting a serene silence over the frozen landscape. The once-lush forest, now a barren and icy expanse, stretched out as far as the eye could see. Within the castle walls, a different kind of chill had taken hold. Eleven-year-old Neville, the young prince, wandered the empty halls, his lion-like features a constant reminder of the curse that had ravaged his life. As he padded through the cold stone corridors, his paws echoed off the walls, a lonely sound that seemed to match the beating of his heart. He had grown accustomed to the isolation, but it didn't make it any easier. The weight of his transformation, combined with the crushing knowledge that his parents were trapped in a portrait, unable to help him, had taken its toll. Neville's thoughts often drifted back to the day the curse was cast. He was just a toddler, barely one year old, and couldn't fully comprehend the horror that had befallen his family. But as he grew, the memories of his parents' laughter, their warm smiles, and their gentle voices began to fade, replaced by the haunting image of Lord Voldemort's dark magic. The animal-servants, once loyal and dedicated to the royal family, now scurried about, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy in the castle. They had been tasked by the portrait King and Queen to raise Neville, to teach him, and to love him, despite the beastly form he now wore. And they did their best, but Neville couldn't shake the feeling of being an outcast, a creature unworthy of love or compassion. As he wandered, Neville stumbled upon a small, ornate mirror hanging on a wall. He approached it cautiously, his reflection staring back at him. The lion-like features were a harsh reminder of his fate: the tawny fur, the sharp claws, and the piercing yellow eyes. He let out a low growl, frustration and despair boiling up within him. Just then, a soft voice called out from behind him. "Neville, dear, what are you doing?" It was Mrs. Rabbit, one of the animal-servants, who had become like a mother to him. She scurried into the room, a warm smile on her face. Neville turned away from the mirror, his ears folding back in embarrassment. Mrs. Rabbit approached him, her eyes shining with kindness. "You know, Neville, your parents loved you so very much. They always will, no matter what form you take." Neville looked up at her, his eyes searching for reassurance. He wanted to believe her, to trust that there was a way to break the curse, to become human again. But as the years went by, hope had begun to dwindle, and he was left with only the faintest glimmer of a chance. "What do you think, Mrs. Rabbit?" Neville asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think I'll ever be free from this curse?" Mrs. Rabbit's expression turned somber, but she didn't hesitate. "We will find a way, Neville. We will. Your parents will find a way, and until then, we'll keep you safe, and loved, and... and hopeful." Neville nodded, a small smile creeping onto his face. For a moment, he felt a spark of hope, but it was quickly extinguished by the crushing weight of his reality. He was a beast, a creature trapped in a world that didn't understand him. As the snow continued to fall outside, Neville retreated into the shadows, his heart heavy with the knowledge that he might never find a way to break the curse, to become the prince he once was. But with Mrs. Rabbit's words echoing in his mind, he held onto the faintest glimmer of hope, and wondered what the future might hold.