I fell asleep without dinner last night, thinking about Sirius. When I woke up it was 9:30 and movement could be heard from the others in the house. Ginny and Hermione were nowhere to be found in the bedroom so I figured they were downstairs. As I groggily made my way downstairs I could see that everyone was already up and ready to go for the day ahead. Mrs. Weasley smiled lightly at me before handing me a large plate of scrambled eggs and hash browns. I thanked her before scarfing the food down into my empty stomach, not eating that night really made me hungry this morning. Quickly getting up, I skipped up the steps and threw open Ginny's bedroom door. I put on a black and white striped dress with a jean jacket, and a pink scarf. My hair was pulled back into a bun and did very minimal makeup. Strolling back down the stairs I noticed Fred and George sitting together on the love seat, a small space between them. I ran up and jumped at the space, landing with a soft thud.
"Good morning boys!" I smiled. They both laughed and looked down at my now sinking body.
"Good morning Victoria, what has gotten you in such a cheery mood?" Fred smiled, I sighed letting the couch devour me.
"I just got a burst of energy that is waiting to be used. I was thinking that a prank would be the only proper solution." the twins smirked at each other highfiving. They burst off of the couch and pulled me up with them. We went up to their room where George pulled out a box. He Carefully handed it to me and sat down on his bed across from me. I looked at the two of them, took a deep breath and opened the box.
"What is this stuff?" I shuffled around the box seeing goo, cans, string, and a few other things.
"Well Georgie and I have a lot of interesting ideas for gadgets to sell for pranks or other mischievous things, but we can never figure the magic out. Like this" he pulled out the cans attached to string." We want this to be able to stretch and go through portals as well as turn invisible, but we can't figure it all out."
"We figured that you were smart enough to figure it out for us." I nodded my head looking at the mechanism. I would need a book for this type of magic, but I could do it.
"FRED, GEORGE, VICTORIA! WE'RE LEAVING!" Mrs. Weasley called up at us. I looked between the twins confused, I wasn't told we were going anywhere. Fred noticed this and motioned for me to follow them. We made our way to the chimney where the rest of the family was, except for Percy. There was a burst of green smoke and in less than a minute we were in Diagon Alley. Molly and Arther glide over to a tall building climbing a large staircase at the main entrance. We follow in hot pursuit and find ourselves at this little flat. A boy with dark hair and glasses cracks the door open. His smile deepens as he fully lets the door go and we all shuffle in. It is a cute little place although it seems to be only one room. I feel a nudge on my right shoulder. Glancing over at fred he whispers.
"That's Harry Potter." My jaw drops. My father had told me many many things about this boy, He was the boy who lived, and here he was standing in front of me. He didn't seem like the trouble maker my father described him as, just a little curious. He immediately took notice my presence, shifting uncomfortably around the room.
"Sorry for the slight mess, I wasn't expecting any guests." He blushed slightly, picking up a pair of socks and tee shirt from the floor. Molly brought him into a hug, almost squeezing the life out of the poor boy. "Always nice to see you guys though, but may I ask who are you?" I could still feel Fred's eyes on me, and for some reason it made me nervous.
"I'm Victoria Snape. I used to go to Beauxbaton but my father has switched me to Hogwarts." Harry nodded slowly, I could tell he was trying to take in what I just said. I get the feeling my father doesn't act the way he does with me, with his students.
"Oh" Harry fixed his glasses. I could faintly see a scar which I presumed to be his mark from Voldemort. No I'm not afraid to say his name. Sirius, Lucius, nor my father are afraid to say it so I grew up thinking it was normal to say it. "Well I'm Harry, it is nice to meet you." This boy wasn't very good at hiding his feelings. You could see in his body position and his eyes that he was uncomfortable with me. I wasn't sure if it was because of my father, who I knew for a fact didn't like Mr. Potter very much, or the fact that he just didn't know me.
"We should go for a quick look around. I would like to buy a pet." Hermione broke the silence that consumed the room. She looked around wondering if anyone would go with her. Ron quickly stepped up.
"Okay, let's go." Harry, Ron and Hermione turned to the door, Ginny right on their heels. Her eyes seemed to light up in Harry's presents. Every time the boy speaks, she sits up looking at the dark haired boy. I would ask her about it, but I didn't really get close to her.
"Fred, George. Why don't you take Victoria around as well. I'm sure she would like to get her school supplies." Mrs. Weasley had a bright smile on her face, but I could tell her words were a command, not a question.
"Yes Mum." We got outside and I looked around. There were so many workshops and stores. You could spend a whole day on one block. I stood in awe until someone nudged my shoulders. George smiled down at me before asking,
"Do you need to go to Gringotts and get some money?" I hadn't even though of that. I didn't have any money on me. I blushed and nodded. George started down the street with Fred at his side. They were talking about some troll, but I was too busy looking at all the little shops. I had no idea what books I would need, or any supplies that I would use. I quickened my pace and pushed between the twins.
"So what books and things will I need?" Each twin stared at the sky, pondering. Fred was the first to speak.
"We can't say as we remember. We didn't really use the books or anything. We like to wing it." I had to laugh at this. How could two boys be so care free, my father tried to push perfection on me. Only a few times did he realize that I am still a human. Once when I broke my arm flying, as well as when he tried to teach me the bloodroot potion. Let's just say it blew up in my face and he had to conjure up Altheda's potion to make sure there would be no side effects. Of course I'm not giving my father enough credit, he did his best and I knew he cared for me deeply. Once we were inside a large white building, I realized where we were. I had been there a few times when I was younger, but didn't go often because the goblins scared me as a child. One particularly small one walked up to us.
"Ms. Snape, how nice to see you again. It's been about 6 years hasn't it." The elf hurried us along and into a cart. He pulled the lever and we were on our way through the tunnels. "Your father said we may be seeing you in the next few days. Says you are now going to Hogwarts. Good for you, it is a very safe school." acknowledging her interest in my life, I decided to speak about it.
"Yes, that is correct. Although I can't say I'm very pleased. I quite enjoyed Beauxbaton. Hogwarts sounds nice though." I saw Fred's face fall when I said I was displeased.
"So you don't want to go to Hogwarts?" He looked to George, who also looked upset.
"It's not that. I just wish that I had switched schools earlier or not at all. I have beloved friends at Beauxbaton and now the only way I can contact them is through letters." I could tell the boys were still muddled about what I said. "You guys are the only thing that is making this change enjoyable." I glanced at them both to see their attitudes had lightened. Their heads were held high with large grins appearing on their lightly freckled faces. The cart jolted to a stop and the Goblin held a key out to me.
"You may do the honours." I skeptically took the key from him and put it into the hole. The door opened and I saw stacks of coins. I had no idea my father had this much money.
"Holy crow, Snape is rich!" The twins stared in awe as I stepped into the room, finding a small bag and filling it with coins. I didn't figure I would need that much. We made our way back outside and ran around each store looking for different books and supplies. In the end I bought: The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, A History of Magic, Intermediate Transfiguration, Monster Book of Monsters, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Unfogging the Future. I already had the potions book and the year four spell book. My father bought them for me to practice with over the summer. We made our way back to Harry's room where we found the four laughing and talking about the new year. Fred and George easily began conversation, but I was left wondering what the group was talking about. I began thinking about my time at Hogwarts. Would I make lots of friends? What house would I be in? What other houses were there? My father only spoke of Slytherin, the others were 'irrelevant'.
"So Victoria, do you think you will like Hogwarts?" The question came from Ron, but the others watched me intently waiting for my answer. I didn't want to have them act the same way as Fred and George earlier so I decided to be optimistic about it.
"I'm sure it will be a fun time. You guys are all very nice and friendly, I'm sure all the other students will be as well." Harry spoke up this time.
"All except the Slytherins. Of course they may be nice to you because of your dad." This took me by surprise. My father only said good things about Slytherin.
"What are all the houses?"
"Well you have the most amazing house ever, Gryffindor. Which we have all been placed in. It is for the courageous and determined wizards. Then there is Ravenclaw, for the smart. Hufflpuff for the strange but good, and Slytherin for the cunning and evil." George described the houses as everyone else nodded in agreement. Why would my father want me to be put in a house for the cunning and evil. Why is he there to begin with?
