Disclaimer: I do not own HP, J.K Rowling is le author.
Chapter 25: The Change Inside Us
'1 August, 1997'
'The marquee showered with the uplifting laughter of the family and friends that surrounded them. Bright wisteria coloured banners swinging across the ceilings, elegant light fixtures above every table, and giddy gyrating feet twirling on the wooden platform below as their drunken owners kept balance on their partners. The soft music of the violin eased the pace; and while others felt weightless as their faces flared red with excitement, Victoria couldn't keep her eyes steady and her teeth from gnawing at her bottom lip.
"Stop that, you're bleeding." His eyes fell down to her broken lip, his expression hasn't changed since this morning.
Victoria released her teeth, but it didn't stop what she was thinking. Her eyes scanned around the tent, completely unfocused on the environment around her, even the man clutching at her waist. It was like reading a book her mind solely composed spontaneously. Scanning the words from the pages around the room, while thoughts and ideas kept writing themselves out; that is, until the typewriter in her brain jammed and there was only one solution that seemed rational.
"We should leave." Her voice swayed at the uncertainty of her words.
"What? What do you mean, it's not over yet-"
"I mean…" She swallowed any sense she had left, "We should leave everything. We can leave England if we have to." Maybe it wasn't so rational; eloping.
His feet came to a sudden stop, and their once-swaying bodies stood cold in front of each-other; like two opposite statues complimenting their existence. "I can't leave, Victoria. I've got friends and family here, I can't just… leave them behind while a war is going on. A war that I'm mainly involved in."
"That's the thing! You're so involved in it… I just… I don't know how much longer I can-"
"-deal with it?" Her lips snapped closed as her words were snipped short. He looked disappointed; and suddenly all the air that existed inside her chest, disappeared.
"We have the funds for it. We can find a house…"
"Then what? Watch my friends die while I sit behind a picket fence – hiding?"
Shame corroded her insides. It was unlike any other feeling she'd ever experienced, one she'd never thought would explode from her chest, and coil her with guilt. That golden armor she equipped in her earlier years was shattered. It was slowly cracking at the core truthfully, since the death of her aunt and father, yet now it was complete – leaving behind a triumphant panic assailing her from inside out. At first she thought it was that type-writer in her mind that muffled the soothing sounds of the violinist, yet to her surprise her surroundings were noiseless. All she could notice now was the bright illuminating wisp in the reflection of his round spectacles that caught the eyes of many around her. What was next, she wasn't prepared for. She had no thoughts, no more solutions; her type-writer was jammed.'
XX
Victoria stood, unimpressed, in front of the Gryffindor fireplace. Her quidditch robes were on, her long black hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and her eyes were skyward every time Lavender said, "Just one more." Another bright flash of light blinded her dark gray eyes, and finally she had enough.
"No more pictures." Victoria said, placing her hands on her hips.
Another bright flash of light was the final straw and Victoria shifted from her spot. Lavender waved the photograph in the air as the picture came to life on the small piece of film. "I think I'll send the sassy one to Remus."
"You love this, don't you?" Victoria said exiting the dormitory with her friend.
"In fact, I do." Lavender smiled looking through the photographs she took of Victoria… which was about ten. "I'm preserving these moments."
"What moments do these happen to be?"
"Those that you kick and scream to try to get out of; but you lose and have to do it anyway." Victoria flipped Lavender's hood over her head and began to fast pace through the hall while Lavender rushed to keep up.
Ernest MacMillan was standing at the opening of the Great Hall; his arm around Hannah as they talked with fellow Hufflepuff's. His eyes caught on Victoria's like a hook, and he waved frantically as the two emerged. It wasn't long before Hannah caught the sight of the two from Ernest's waves, and she gave the same dry look to Victoria as normal. Victoria didn't necessarily like Hannah; the unnecessary looks she gave, and the jealousy… it wasn't a pretty look on her... but it kept Ernest from obsessing over Victoria; so, it was nice to talk to him without him saying some cheesy pick-up lines he got from a textbook.
"Look at you." Ernest said, walking from his friend group to meet up with the two.
"Shut it." Victoria said, looking down at her white pants and maroon robes.
Ernest grinned, "Never thought I'd imagine this… not since first year when you… what was it again? Flew into the bushes?"
Lavender pulled out a photograph of Victoria, handing it to Ernest. "Here. Forget imagining, now you have a hard copy."
Victoria tried to swipe the photograph, but Ernest had already grabbed it; inspecting the photo.
"Oh c'mon Black, at least smile and mean it. It's just quidditch." Ernest said, handing the photograph over to Victoria, who shoved it in her pocket. "Besides, there are no bushes on the field for you to dive into."
"Fuck off." Victoria said, crossing her arms as Ernest laughed.
"Yea, what are you afraid of?" Lavender asked.
"I don't know… making a fool of myself I suppose. Did you hear how the Slytherin's treated Ron last year? It was brutal…"
"Oh yea, I had to hear about it a lot." Lavender exhausted.
"I'm also not great at flying… I'm on the team for my arm strength, and I just don't want to let Harry down. This is like… his thing."
Ernest laughed, "Honestly, just keep the game even for twenty minutes and he'll have already caught the snitch by then."
"And if he doesn't?"
"You're doomed." Lavender joked, patting Victoria on the back.
Victoria dropped her arms heavily to her sides and walked into the dining room. As normal, especially during Gryffindor quidditch games, it was busy with loud laughter and cheers from the Gryffindor table; with the additional clinking of plates and cups. Lavender shook Victoria's shoulders from behind as the two looked over at the end of the table. The entire Gryffindor quidditch team was grouped up. Katie and Demelza were sitting on the table with their feet on the benches, while everybody else but Harry and Ginny sat at the table. Victoria walked up to them; getting an animated look from Ginny who put an arm around her surprisingly.
"Shh! Sh!" Ginny said, pushing Victoria in towards the group.
Victoria looked around as everybody began staring at her now; Harry giving her a shy smirk.
"Guys, shut up!" Ginny said, hitting Cormac from the back of his head.
"Uhm… What's going on?" Victoria said, looking over at Lavender for comfort, though even she too, looked confused.
"Belle came earlier." Harry said.
"Belle? What for?" Victoria asked, looking around the table for her small brown owl.
"To drop off a package."
"Why'd she do that when I'm not here?"
Harry shrugged at her unknowingly. "I don't know; she likes me I guess." Victoria raised an eyebrow.
Ginny pointed over to where Katie Bell was sitting; she had moved over and revealed a large package for Victoria that was sitting on the table.
Victoria walked over to it; eyeing the package suspiciously. She knew what It was, it was obvious… it was a broomstick. She grabbed the tag that hung at the end of the broom.
'To Victoria,
You're very much your mother's daughter.
Harry told me.
Enjoy,
Remus.'
Victoria dropped the tag and looked over at Harry. "When'd you do that?"
"Few days ago, after you were sobering up."
Victoria looked back over at the broomstick embarrassed; opening the package to reveal it. It was a dark wooden broomstick, with the labelling 'Comet 290' on the handle in silver letters. She picked it up, standing it beside her as Harry looked at the broomstick.
"You know, this actually might be a good one for you." He said, inspecting it.
"Why's that?"
"Well it's got good speed, but not amplified."
"And It make good turns, so you'd be able to work on those to get better." Katie pointed out, jumping off the table.
Victoria pulled Harry aside as the Gryffindor team started conversing loudly again. "How did Remus afford this?" She whispered, holding the broomstick close to her as if it was treasure.
Harry shrugged, "I don't know. I suppose he used what he made at Hogwarts."
"That was three years ago…" Victoria looked at the broom anxiously. She wasn't sure how to feel. Remus could never really hold a job because of his werewolf tendencies, therefore he didn't make much money… just enough to scrape by. She felt a bit guilty that he went out of his way to buy her a broomstick; even though it's not the best, but it's still a decent one. She was grateful anyhow.
Harry placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling. He was thinking the same thing.
"There's no need to worry. He's living with you." Harry pointed out. Victoria could understand that; Remus is living comfortably at Grimmauld place. "Come on, we've got a quidditch game to win."
A few minutes later the Gryffindor quidditch team left together, amongst other students, out to the quidditch field. Lavender broke off from their group to find seats, and Victoria went inside the Gryffindor tent preparing herself for introduction. She could hear the amplified voice of the announcer calling the Slytherin team; and looked over at her teammates preparing themselves on their broomsticks. Her heart began racing now.
"You okay?" Ginny said, looking over at Victoria who was trying to maintain a steady breath.
"I erm…. I just…"
"I get it. You got the whole school watching you. Waiting for you to make a mistake, just so they can call you out on it later. Like they did to Ron, basically." Ginny noted, looking over at her brother laughing with Harry in the front of the line-up.
"Basically." Victoria said through dry lips. 'That and among other things.'
"But who cares if you make a mistake. As long as you're out there having fun, who cares what others think. I mean, Angelina dove inside the Gryffindor tent one year, and Harry has fallen from his broom countless times." Ginny laughed. "Ron took a Quaffle to the head, and Oliver face planted into the sand… So what I'm trying to say is, we've all made mistakes at some point – but we don't let it get to us. You just have to get back up, and prove to them that Gryffindor is the best!"
Victoria looked at her amazed. The last thing she expected from Ginny was a pep talk about playing quidditch; and there she was, giving an amazing speech as if the words tailored themselves out from her lips. The Gryffindor team was called out on the field, and while everybody began flying off on their broomsticks, Victoria looked over at Ginny who took a step back towards the other substitutes. She smiled, just before flying off behind Demelza and being blinded by the sun that flashed down at her gray eyes.
The team took position; Victoria was at the far left by the Gryffindor posts. She looked over, noticing Lavender clapping rapidly with the rest of the stands, and waving over at Victoria. Suddenly, the loud whistle sounded and everybody began flying around the field in top-speed; except for Harry, who just sat there per-usual.
She felt over-whelmed; this was a lot different than practice. Instead of five people watching her; it seemed like the entire school, and any mistake she made, they could all see.
Scanning the field, Katie Bell had the quaffle and she was flying down centre field with two Slytherin chasers on either side of her. Bludger's were drilling across the field towards Katie and Demelza as they made the pass for each-other and scored through the Slytherin's keeper. The entire crowd went wild, as the announcer shouted "10 points for Gryffindor!" She hadn't moved from her spot…
Demelza came flying beside Victoria. Her long brown hair falling from its pony tail as her fringe spiked up in different directions from the wind. "You okay?" She shouted, out of breath.
Victoria parted her lips, "Uhm…"
"Listen, you've got to move around the field otherwise you're a sitting duck for a bludger. Besides, we need you up there. I'll pass it from the right side okay?"
"Okay-" Within a quick moment, Demelza flew away back to her right position, and Victoria looked across the field to where Harry was still sitting. He gestured his hand for her to fly forward while a smile appeared on his lips. He was enjoying this much more than she was.
She took a deep breath, and began to fly across the field and caught up with Katie Bell who once again had the quaffle she snagged from Blaise, the Slytherin chaser.
They began flying at equal speed and Katie looked over at Victoria, nodding. She felt her heart begin to pound at her chest. She was about to have the quaffle thrown to her – this was it. Whether she'd fuck up, get demolished by a bludger, or miss her shot and completely embarrass herself. A sudden large brown ball came spiralling towards her and Victoria snapped out of her own thoughts. She held her hands up, cupping the quaffle – looking down at her hands as she was amazed she made it this far.
Vaisley, another Slytherin chaser, flew past Katie trying to intercept Victoria. Quickly, she flew forward and looked up at the Slytherin keeper.
"No fucking way."
A short, skinny girl stood in front of the hoops. Short, pin-straight black hair sitting on top of her shoulders with a devilish grin playing on her lips.
"THROW IT!" Katie yelled from centre field.
Victoria lifted the quaffle and spun the ball from the tips of her fingers and threw it as hard as she could at Pansy Parkinson. Maybe more at Pansy than to get the actual goal…
Pansy ascended her broom, trying to block the quaffle with the end of the stick; but instead began to spiral out of control because the speed of the quaffle went straight through. Katie met up with Victoria, patting her on the back.
"Excellent job. It's their ball now, just sit left-midfield and we'll pass it on." Katie said, flying back to the centre of the field for the quaffle toss.
Victoria looked back over at Harry who moved slightly mid-field, and was giving her a thumbs up with his brown seeker gloves. She grinned, getting into position like Katie suggested in mid field and waiting. The quaffle was released again, and Blaise flew past Katie towards the mid-field with the ball. Victoria sat there, watching over the two fight over the quaffle while a bludger nearly knocked Katie off her broomstick. Blaise threw the quaffle at Ron and scored.
"10 points for Slytherin!"
Everybody got back in their positions, and in the corner of her eye she noticed Harry and Draco had begun circling the field for the snitch. It was Gryffindor's ball, and Katie had begun going down the field with the quaffle. Victoria followed down the left field, while Blaise continued to bump into Katie's broomstick. She nearly fell off as Blaise took another hard hit to her side. Katie turned towards Victoria, throwing the Quaffle and passing it to her. Victoria grabbed onto it, holding it tightly under her arm as she flew forward towards Slytherin's keeper.
Pansy looked at her in a defensive stance in front of the goals, preparing for Victoria's toss. She retracted her arm, preparing to score through the bottom left goal when a bludger came directly into contact with her arm mid-throw.
Victoria screamed in pain as she threw the quaffle horribly at Pansy who caught it easily in defence. She held onto her arm that stayed limp on her side while the Gryffindor stands groaned in disappointment. She took in a sharp breath as the pain began to grow up her arm; she caught the dirty smirks from Crabbe and Goyle from the mid-field – two Slytherin beaters.
"Are you alright?" Jimmy yelled.
"I- I don't know…" Victoria said, trying to move her arm but the spiking pain ceased her from doing so.
"It's alright, we got Weasley on stand-by." Katie said, gesturing Ginny onto the field. "Get yourself wrapped up, Black."
Victoria nodded and descended on her broom. Once her two feet hit the ground, Ginny ascended and the game resumed. She walked inside the Gryffindor tent where she saw Dean and Cormac watching the game on the bench.
"What happened to you?" Cormac asked, throwing his helmet down on the floor.
"Aren't you watching the game?" Victoria said, resting her broom down and sitting on the far end of the bench.
"Horrible angle from down here."
"Bludger."
"Want me to fix it?" Cormac took out his wand from his pants and held it up to Victoria.
Victoria pulled back, holding her arm defensively. "Put that thing away. I'll probably end up without an arm if you mess with it."
"Suit yourself." He slipped his wand back in his pants then began to throw his body armor on the ground as well. "No use wearing these. It's not like Ron's going to get a bludger to the arm like you. Though it'd be nice if Jimmy did."
"What do you have against Jimmy?" Dean asked.
"Know-it-all bloke. Had you heard him at Hogsmeade? I swear he makes up half the shit he says just to sound smart." Cormac said completely annoyed.
"You just make problems with everybody in your house, don't you?" Victoria added, narrowing her eyes at him. He rolled his eyes at her, and continued looking back out at the game.
Loud footsteps began to descend the steps of the Gryffindor stands; Victoria looked over and saw her strawberry-blonde friend entering the tent.
"Hey." She said, giving a short wave.
"Hey, Lav."
"You alright?" Lavender walked over to Victoria, taking a seat beside her. "I saw you hurt your arm from that bludger."
"Yea. It's alright… not my writing hand I suppose."
"Want to go to the nurse?" Lavender suggested getting antsy.
Victoria shrugged. "Was going to wait till the game finished… Why do you want to go so bad?"
"I don't know. I've suddenly found Quidditch un-interesting lately…"
"Is it because Granger suddenly got insanely attractive?" Cormac added, leaning back on the bench.
Lavender grounded her jaw, while Victoria leaned forward – sending him a disgusted look.
Cormac looked at them confused, "What? I assume that's why Ron's sudden interest is in the library now-a-days. Can you blame him?"
Lavender's breaths became jagged as she tried to hold in a sudden burst of tears. "Just because you're insecure that Katie fancy's Jimmy over your big head, doesn't mean you have to be an asshole and put your two cents where they don't belong." Victoria snapped, wrapping an arm around her mate for comfort.
"I suppose he's right…" Lavender said, clearing away a few tears that found its way out from her glistening eyes.
"No, he's a bloody idiot. Don't listen to him."
"No… I've been meaning to tell you. I just… I guess I feel like a total idiot." Lavender threw her hands on her lap, letting out a deep sigh.
"What do you mean?"
"Ron and I…"
"Broke up." Cormac added, slightly annoyed.
"Honestly, what is wrong with you."
"Just come out with it. You two broke up because Ron fancy's Hermione. Merlin, at your rate I'd be sitting on this bench all game listening to you girls talk."
Victoria rolled her eyes, "Is it true, you two really broke up?"
Lavender nodded her head, pulling a strand of hair behind her ears.
"Aw, I'm sorry Lav…" Victoria hugged her mate as best she could with her injured arm; throwing her middle finger at Cormac from over her shoulder as he looked at the two. She released her arms and cleared a tear off Lavender's reddened cheek. "Want to do something? You and me, to get your mind off things?"
Lavender sniffed, "Can we get ice-cream?..."
"Yea, we can get ice-cream." Victoria grinned.
Loud cheers erupted from the stands above them. Victoria looked out onto the field and saw the Gryffindor team descending as Harry held up the golden snitch in his hand proudly. His messy hair, sweaty, sticking to his forehead as he pulled off a glove with his teeth holding the golden snitch in the other hand for the students to see.
She loved this view; it was much better than the one she got on the field. She couldn't watch her boyfriend as much while trying to focus on whether the quaffle would be passed to her or not – but at least she'd never miss that smile of his that extended across his face when he caught the snitch.
Victoria stood up from the bench, looking down at Lavender. "Tomorrow?"
Lavender smiled, and Victoria took that as a yes. She ran out of the tent holding her arm and meeting Harry on the field. Finally putting down the golden snitch, he wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her closer to his body, placing his lips on hers.
"You're brilliant." Victoria said, looking down at the golden snitch he held up between them. She grabbed onto the small golden ball and rolled it around in her fingers.
"Just another snitch Draco can't catch." Harry grinned. "What happened with your arm? I noticed Ginny started playing."
"Oh…" Victoria looked down at her limp arm, rubbing her shoulder. "Bludger."
"Ah want to-" Victoria's eyes trailed behind Harry, focusing on Draco who was rushing off the field with his broomstick in hand; his green Slytherin robes flying behind him as he paced up to the castle. "Vic? Are you there…?"
"Huh?"
Harry looked behind him, in an attempt to find whatever was interesting to her. "Eyes on another guy?"
"Where can I find another guy who has the same goofy spectacles and messy hair as you?"
"You're right. These glasses are one of a kind." Harry said, fixing his glasses up his nose and giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Let's get you to the nurse."
The two walked over to the hospital wing inside the castle, where they were greeted with Nurse Pomfrey who had just gotten done treating a third year Hufflepuff who was throwing up slugs.
"That'll take you about two days to recover." Harry pointed out to the young boy, as the two walked past him down the aisle.
Victoria sat down on the bed waiting for Nurse Pomfrey to assist her.
"Ah… Ms. McKinnon… you're becoming a regular of mine, aren't you? Picking up habits from Potter here I see…" Nurse Pomfrey said, rolling her cart of potions and first aid over to the bed.
"What is it today Potter?"
"Oh, no. I'm just here for her."
"Shocking. Ms. McKinnon?" She said, placing her hands on her hips.
"It's Black now, and just my arm. Bludger hit it during quidditch."
"Lovely game quidditch. Most of my patients come here because of that game." She said, mixing a blue potion with a white one and stirring it inside a cup. "I can't tell you how many times I've had Potter in here because of quidditch…" She handed Victoria the cup and she looked down at it disgustingly. "Thank Merlin Lockhart isn't here to get rid of the bones on this one." Pomfrey said, pointing at Victoria's arm. "Drink up. It's not as bad as the last one you had."
Victoria shivered as she remember the taste of iron sludge that slinked down her throat in 5th year. She took a quick sip, and to her surprise it tasted like milk. Rotten milk, but milk.
"There you are. Should feel better in no time. For now, get some rest." Nurse Pomfrey grabbed the cup from Victoria and rolled her cart back toward her office.
"You heard her." Harry said, standing up and taking Victoria's hand. "You've got to get rest. I believe my bed is vacant."
"Very cute, but we've got detention later." Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"Ah… about that…" Harry ran his fingers through his hair.
"What 'about that'?"
"Well… I won't be there."
"And why not?"
"Dumbledore wants me at his office tonight."
"Dumbledore? Why's that?" Victoria looked up at him concerned. Truthfully, anything with Dumbledore now a days seemed way too serious to ignore.
Harry leaned in closer as he lowered his voice. "He's… giving me lessons."
"Lessons?"
"I'm not sure on what yet. It's my first time going, but I think it's about… well you know."
"Voldemort?" Victoria felt herself grow anxious.
"So unfortunately you'll have to deal with Snape on your own." Harry said, stretching out his back.
"Just what I need. To clean every fucking vile in his office once again." Victoria groaned.
Later that night, Victoria walked down to the dungeons alone as she approached Professor Snape's office. She gave a few knocks on the door before his slinky figured appeared through the small opening.
"Ms. Black." He said, opening the door wider.
"Professor." Victoria mocked in the same tone.
He stared at her blankly then closed the door behind him; locking his office.
"Uhm… aren't we-"
"You'll be doing your detention elsewhere." Professor Snape said, walking forward down the dungeon's hallway.
Victoria sighed and followed him.
They passed by the Slytherin common room entrance, and right across from Mr. Filch's broom closet was Professor Snape's potion's closet. He unlocked the door and ushered her inside. Victoria walked in and looked around the room. It was quite a small closet, with shelves filled with potions on each wall.
"You will be organizing my potions by name, and sweep up this place it's filthy."
"Organize these? There are like a thousand in here." Victoria complained.
"-And try not to break anything." Professor Snape slammed the door and Victoria caught a potion that nearly fell off a shelf.
"Bloody ridiculous." She murmured to herself, replacing potions with their correct alphabetical place.
After a while, her arms grew tired and she was sick of hearing the loud clinging of each potion she tried to organize. Even her injured arm couldn't take it anymore; if she lifted another potion with it, it might as well just fly out of her hands because she barely had the strength to hold onto it.
A few hours of potion organization and she still wasn't done – granted she was on the final wall though. She had about 6 potions on her chest being held up by her arm, as she shifted potions on the shelf with her free hand.
"Alright… Vampire tooth… Vampire tooth… where are you…" She said to herself, shifting the potions looking for the ingredient bottle. "Who the fuck uses all these? What do you possible make that you need a thousand fucking ingredients… and can't even spare a shampoo bottle." Victoria placed the Vampire dust ingredient beside Vampire tooth on the shelf when she heard footsteps approaching the closet. She huffed, preparing for Professor Snape to return and complain how something wasn't done right – but he hadn't. Instead the footsteps walked directly past the closet and continued up the stairs of the dungeons.
Victoria looked at the door, confused. Who would be out at this hour? For a moment, she shook it off.
Probably Professor Snape going somewhere for something.
But what if it wasn't?
Needless to say, this sparked her interest. She shoved all the potions she was holding onto the shelf and creaked open the closet door. She looked down each hallway and noticed it was clear. She turned off the lights inside the closet and closed the door, starting to follow the footsteps up the dungeon's stairs.
She peaked around the corner and noticed a small speck of light disappear around the corner towards the stairwell. She quickly followed, running up the steps on the ground floor and hurrying over to the stairs, where she took out her wand and flicked the light on from the tip. She climbed the stairs to the second floor, finally catching up to whoever she was following.
She squinted, holding her light close to her as she saw the moving figure scurry down the corridor as if they were in some sort of rush.
This wasn't Professor Snape.
Victoria hurried behind him, growing closer to the figure as he stopped and waiting for the revolving staircases to change.
The figure's features began to grown clear to her; short silver-blonde hair, Slytherin sweater – his wand was illuminating him so she could match a name to the man.
But what was Draco Malfoy doing out at this time of night?
Victoria moved steadily forward, not sure if she wanted to stop him now or find out what he was up to; but some part of her just wanted to stay away. The last time she bumped into Draco his eyes were as cold and black as her father's the day he died. She could barely recognize those gray eyes of his, they were completely taken over by something else… and for the first time she feared him. Victoria began subconsciously scratching at her arms again, moving forward as Draco stepped onto the staircase. She felt a light tug on her cloak and suddenly a loud clinging sound from behind her. She looked over, noticing her Gryffindor robes were caught on the Knight's javelin and it had fell out of its hands and slammed onto the stone floor. She moved out of the way, pressing her body against the wall as Draco turned around and pointed his illuminated wand down the hallway.
'Fuck, I did it again. I messed up. He's going to find me.'
Her heart began pounding; she couldn't hear anything for a while. Then suddenly the footsteps came closer towards her. She shifted against the wall behind a tapestry; holding her breath as best as she could. She listened as the fallen javelin scraped against the stone floors and got fixed back on the knight's hand.
She held her wand up by her side, pointing it upward as the footsteps walked closer to her. The imprint of a hand trailed along the tapestry and she could feel her grip tighten around her wand. Five fingers grabbed onto the fabric, pulling the large tapestry back and revealing the little black haired girl shaking her wand at the man.
"Stupefy!"
A blast from the tip of her wand pushed back the man; she watched as he slammed against the wall opposite of her and the tapestry fell back down in front of her. She pushed the tapestry out of the way, stepping out onto the hallway.
"What the fuck?"
Victoria looked over; recognizing that voice she illuminated her wand once again, and pointed it over at the man she charmed.
"Harry?" Victoria ran over, picking Harry's spectacles from the ground and placing them on his head sloppily. "Oh, Harry… I'm sorry."
Harry rubbed the back of his head, groaning as he tried to stand up. Victoria helped him up, feeling quite guilty she hurt him.
"Hold on…" She placed her wand in front of his glasses; causing him to squint because of the light. "Oculus Reparo." The glass on his spectacles were fixed, and she lowered her wand.
"What the bloody hell were you doing?" Harry asked, brushing off his pants.
"I was just... coming back from Snape's detention." Victoria said, holding her wand by her side.
"Do you always hide behind tapestry's when you do that?"
"Anyways… what are you doing out here?"
"I'm coming back from Dumbledore's. I told you this morning."
"Right…"
"I heard a loud noise coming from this direction and saw someone shift underneath the tapestry. I've known you for a year now, and you expect me to believe you were hiding behind a tapestry because you enjoy it?"
Victoria bit her lip, twirling her wand in front of her. "Er, well I heard you coming and I didn't know if it was a teacher or not."
Harry crossed his arms, looking at her suspiciously. "You've been acting odd lately."
Victoria lowered her eyebrows, "I have not!"
"Have so. The thing at Hogsmeade and now this?"
"Come on, you know I like a bit of mischief in my years." Well she wasn't lying.
"Weren't you the one who told me in the beginning of the year to stay out of mischief?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Technically I meant for you to stay out of Malfoy's way. Have you been doing that?"
"To the best of my ability."
"What does that mean?" She looked at him defeated.
"C'mon, obviously, there is something up with the bloke. I've seen him traveling around the castle with two fifth year girls."
"Seriously? Malfoy walking around with two girls is suspicious to you?"
"It was during Slytherin's quidditch practice." Victoria looked up at him blankly, still waiting for something to strike her as odd.
Well, besides what she already noticed about Draco so far… but she didn't want to validate his points.
"Don't look at me like that." Harry said, placing a hand over Victoria's face.
"I'm sorry, I just don't see the use in involving yourself with Malfoy this year." She said, as the two started walking up the revolving staircases to the Gryffindor Tower.
Harry leaned against the banister, "I'm surprised you're not so interested. Normally you'd be all for getting Malfoy in trouble."
Victoria gave a half shrug. "So what'd you do at Dumbledore's?"
Harry began to explain how his lessons with Dumbledore went – how he would look into the pensive and watch memories surrounding Tom Riddle's adolescence. Victoria tried to act interested, but she hated listening to Harry talk about Voldemort. She always remembered Voldemort as someone she'd stop, someone she'd fight against – someone simple. Nothing about him seemed simple anymore. Not since she met Harry, at least. She hadn't known what Voldemort was truly capable of, till she met the one boy who correlates with him; body and soul. It was like a huge realization was hitting her in the back of the head, ever since Sirius passed.
"Victoria?" Harry began snapping his fingers in front of her. She looked up at him, startled. "Why do you keep shifting out of focus with me?"
"Sorry. I don't mean to." Victoria yawned. "I'm just tired. I had to organize Snape's potions bottles all night."
The two walked up to the Fat Lady portrait, opening the door with the Gryffindor password and entering the common room.
Victoria kissed him on the cheek and hurried towards the stairs. "Well, goodnight."
Harry pulled down on her arm, stopping her mid-flight. Victoria looked back at him confused.
"Did I ugh… did I do something wrong?" Harry asked, letting go of her arm.
"Wrong? You? No, no, no. You've done nothing wrong." Victoria looked down at him at the bottom of the stairs.
"You just seem… I don't know, maybe I'm being stupid." Harry lost eye contact with her; and she could feel his embarrassment draw to her.
Victoria stepped down, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him tightly.
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Nothing has changed. I love you." Her voice cracked, and she released her arms around him. She looked at the scar that peaked through the hair that laid on his forehead, and took a deep breath.
"This doesn't have anything to do with what you told me at Hogsmeade does it? Because, I meant what I said when you could talk to me…" Victoria placed her lips on his passionately; she felt horrible. She couldn't control how she felt about the situation with Voldemort and his Death Eaters, and it seemed as if her feelings towards it hurt Harry in some way. She didn't want him to feel like she loved him any less, because that definitely wasn't the case. She still looked at him the same way she had when she met him, smiling uncontrollably at his happiness, and savoring the moments his arms were around her. She just needed time to sort out her thoughts…
How did Ron and Hermione deal with it?
"Do you want to go out tomorrow?" Harry asked, putting his arms around her waist. "Maybe lunch?"
"Sorry." Victoria immediately noticed Harry's face fall. "Not that I don't want to, but I've sort of told Lav we'd go out. Girls day."
"Ah. Where at?"
"Diagon Alley. So, I better get some sleep." Victoria said, moving up the staircase towards the girls' dormitory.
"See you later then?" Harry said, scratching the back of his head.
"Not if I see you first." Victoria grinned. She opened the dormitory door, and stepped inside; preparing herself for a night's rest.
XX
'Later That Day:'
'A loud ringing sang in her ears like deafening sopranos. Her eyes were fighting through the clouded pillars around her, as she staggered to her feet. A sultry touch melted against her skin, nearing a profound sweltering burn on the backs of her legs. She wrapped her hands around the cloth of her shirt, pulling it close to her mouth. Choking on the clouds that accompanied her, she stepped over the fallen structure towards the entry way. She pulled hard at the metal handle, her palms feeling as though fire was in her grasp. After her failed attempts, she curled her hands into fists; throwing them hard against the door. She turned around, listening to the soft crackling blaze that had her surrounded.'
The next morning Victoria kneeled down behind Lavender, who sat In front of the body size mirror. Victoria ran the tip of her wand down Lavender's curly hair, straightening it.
"You hair is so much longer when it's straightened." Victoria said, holding Lavender's hair in her hands and watching it fall to the ground.
"Because it's normally scrunched up." Lavender said, playing with her own hair.
"Why don't you straighten it more often, you look cute." Victoria began putting Lavender's hair in a half-up bun fashion. "I wish I had your hair. It has like three different shades of blonde in it." She smiled, "Kind of reminds me of my mum."
"You have nice hair. You have your dad's hair."
"I suppose you're right." Victoria looked a lot like Sirius. It was hard to look into her eyes, and not feel as if she was looking into her fathers. "All right, finished." She said, backing away from Lavender and standing up.
Lavender looked at her hair and smiled, running her fingers through it. "It's beautiful! Thank you."
She wanted to make sure Lav had the best day possible; to get her mind off of Ron.
"Don't forget a jacket, it's getting cold outside." Victoria said, putting on her leather jacket over her white shirt.
"Says the girl wearing a skirt." Lavender said, throwing on a warm grey sweater.
"You know I'll always choose my skirts over pants." She slipped her wand in the band of her skirt and swung her purse around her shoulder. "Ready?"
Lavender grabbed her purse, "Let's head out!"
The two left the girl's dormitory and went out to the common room where Harry was talking with Ginny on the couch. Ginny looked up, "Don't you two dress up nicely."
Harry looked over, gazing up at Victoria as she walked over to him. She blushed slightly as his eyes moved down her figure.
"Stop that." Victoria said, sitting beside her boyfriend.
"I'm not allowed to appreciate how good my girlfriend looks?"
Victoria grinned, "We'll be back later. We're taking the train."
"Yea, since the floo network still seems to be frozen." Lavender complained.
"Alright, you two have fun then." Harry said, giving her a quick kiss.
"Don't go getting yourself into trouble when I'm gone."
"What fun is that?"
Victoria looked over at Ginny who gave her a reassuring look. "I'll look after him for you."
"Brilliant." Victoria got off the couch and waved the two goodbye.
"Two for London please." Victoria said, through the small hole in the glass at the ticket stand.
"Twelve Sickles' ma'am."
Victoria grabbed twelve sickles out of her purse and handed it to the young man at the ticket stand. He tore the two tickets apart and slipped them through the hole in the glass.
"Thank you." She said, grabbing on to the tickets and giving the other to Lavender.
The two walked across the platform to the large red train, and boarded. They walked along the compartment aisles and sat inside an empty one. They threw their purses down, closing the compartment door and getting comfortable for the long ride.
After a short period of time the train began moving and they were off to London.
"So" Victoria said, stretching her legs out so they rested on the seat across from her. "How's your mum."
Lavender raised her eyebrows, "Erm. She's good. Bit bored lately without Elise really."
"You could say I'm bored without Elise. Less fighting."
"Oh you don't mean that." Lavender said placing her purse on her lap.
"I sort of do. I mean it is true."
"She just had your best interest at heart." Lavender grabbed The Quibbler out from her bag and began reading it.
"Which was-"
"Which was keeping you safe from everything that is happening now. Hate her ideas all you want, but she was right in the end." She said, turning The Quibbler upside down.
Victoria watched her friend read the magazine upside down; placing her feet back on the floor. Maybe Lavender was right. Maybe Elise had a right to be so afraid; it resonated inside Victoria that maybe she was starting to feel the same way too.
"One more year and you'll be an Auror, don't worry. Then everything you guys fought for would be proven, huh?" Lavender said, turning the page.
"Auror. Right." It was still something she wanted to do. "Lav."
"Uh'huh?"
"What would you do if you er… lost your parents?"
"I don't know what you mean. At like, King's Cross or something?"
"No, no. Like, forever." She said, anxiously playing with her fingers on her lap.
Lavender placed The Quibbler down on her lap, looking over at Victoria concerned. "Like… if they died?"
"Yea."
"Uhm… well… I've never thought about it. Well maybe once at Sirius' memorial. I don't know, I'd be upset? Why do you ask?"
"Just wondering." She didn't expect a complete answer from Lavender, how could she when she didn't know how it felt.
Lavender placed a hand on Victoria's leg, "Is it about Sirius?"
"I've been sort of… lost lately. Since what happened at the Ministry."
"Lost? Like you're confused?"
"No. I mean… maybe. I just…" Victoria took a deep breath, it was ridiculous of her to stretch this on. It was easy words that needed to come out of her mouth, but for some reason she swallowed them back.
"You just?"
"I knew what they did to my mum. I always wanted to fight back you know? It was almost like revenge. But when I heard Sirius was in danger that day, and I saw him pass through that veil… I just."
"It felt more real?"
"Yea. Like this is what they are really capable of, and I saw it before my eyes."
"You know… Harry-"
"I know, I know." Victoria pressed her fingers to her lips, thinking.
Lavender sat back, holding The Quibbler back up. "I'm just saying, he's dealt with the same things you have. He'd be the person to talk to."
"It's alright. I'm fine. I'm sure it'll pass." Her inner-self shook her head disappointedly. She didn't want Harry to see this side of her; sober at least.
"Why are you reading The Quibbler upside down?"
Lavender looked up, feeling a bit ashamed of herself. "Well uh… Luna said it's a better read from this angle."
"Since when do you believe Luna with that sort of stuff?"
Lavender shrugged, "She isn't wrong. The pictures look cool from an upside down angle." She said, spinning the magazine in different directions in front of her.
Victoria grabbed onto the magazine, fixing it right side up and placing it back in Lavender's hands.
"You can't read upside down."
"Tell Luna I tried." She pouted, closing the magazine.
After a few hours of their train trip, the two got off at King's Cross and took the knight bus to the Leaky Cauldron where they entered to Diagon Alley.
The place was much livelier than when they went to get their school supplies. People were on the streets sweeping up the rubble, and others were actually walking along the roads shopping. Granted, there was much less people on the streets of Diagon Alley than there used to be, but people nonetheless.
"Glad to see this place is doing better." Lavender said, as the two walked up the stone streets.
"Yeah, it's looking less like Knockturn Alley…"
"Had you ever gone down there?" The two stopped at the entry way towards Knockturn Alley; it was a small enclosed alley way that lead to a darker part of the town.
"Once. Lost Elise in my second year and wondered off through the alley way. I saw Hagrid helping a boy who had gotten lost just the same and followed them out."
"No one hexed you?" Lavender asked half seriously as the two continued up the street towards the small restaurant at the corner.
"No, but I bet they were thinking about it."
They walked around the corner and stood before a small restaurant called 'Nifty Eats'. The outside was a very small building, covered in light stoned brick with a wooden sign that hung over the door with the restaurant's name. Lavender opened the door and the two stepped inside, and with the ring of the welcoming bell the waitress who was cleaning the counters in the back of the room looked up and smiled.
"Hello!" She yelled out happily. "Sit anywhere you'd like!"
"Thanks." Victoria said, and they walked over towards the corner of the restaurant and sat inside a booth by a window.
The waitress walked over to their table; she had short straight blue hair, and green eyes. Smiling down at the two she took out a quill and notepad. "Drinks?"
Victoria looked down at the menu, "Yeah, could I…" she started scanning her finger down the drinks and became disappointed to learn they didn't sell butterbeer. "Water."
"Same for me thank you."
The waitress placed two glasses on the table, pointing her wand and filling the cups with water.
"Anything else I can get for you two?"
"Er, do you know what you want?" Victoria asked, looking down at the menu.
"Ice-creammmm?" Lavender smiled like an innocent child waiting for their sugar rush.
"Two ice-creams. Chocolate and strawberry?" Lavender nodded. "Chocolate and strawberry." Victoria said, handing over the menus.
"Will be out in just a moment, if you need anything just give a shout out my name is Penny."
"Thank you."
The waitress walked away and began making their ice-creams at the counter in the back of the room. The restaurant was quite small, there was only 5 booths and three tables and one waitress. Victoria had never been here before, but she liked the aesthetic of the place. The walls were painted a deep green, and the woodwork on the floors and ceiling were dark brown. It was a dark restaurant, but the candles and opened windows brightened up the area. They weren't the only one's inside the restaurant either; it looked as if there was a couple sitting at one of the tables closest to the counter, and a family of three sitting at one of the booths.
"It feels nice to get out of Hogwarts." Lavender said, looking outside the window at the street.
"Or anywhere other than Hogsmeade." Victoria chimed in.
"Or anywhere that doesn't sell alcohol." She said eyeing her best mate.
"So is that a no at spiking our drinks?"
"Here you two are." The waitress said, placing the ice-cream on the table.
"Thank you very much." Lavender said, digging her spoon into her dessert. "So have you thought about what you're doing after school?"
"What do you mean? I'm going to be an Auror remember." Victoria said taking a bite of her ice-cream.
"Well yea, but I mean… where you will live and you know… with Harry."
Victoria looked up at Lavender who was licking the strawberry off her spoon.
"What? We only have like, barely two years left." Lavender said.
"I er…" She never really thought of that. She knew she wanted to be with him, but they never talked about their future like that. They were more of a spontaneous couple than anything.
"Whatever you choose, make sure you're near me."
"Because what would you do without me." Victoria joked.
"I'll be livin' alone. Never finding love."
"Oh stop that. You'll find someone. I can help you out… what about Fred he's kinda cute."
Lavender narrowed her eyes. "I date one Weasley, you expect me to date another?"
"Well I don't know. It was just a friendly offer. What about Justin?"
"Finch-Fletchey?" Lavender considered it for a moment then shook her head. "He gossips way too much. Not really my type."
"Oh! You know who's cute?"
"Ron?"
"…No. Zacharias Smith."
"The Hufflepuff?"
"Yea, he's close with Ernie. I've met him once and he seemed nice."
Lavender dropped her spoon beside the bowl of ice-cream, threading her fingers through her blonde hair. "Maybe I'll let them come to me this time."
"You could do that…"
"Just promise when you two get married, you won't do it when I'm dateless. Alsooo I have to be the maid of honour."
"That was already the plan my dear." Victoria smiled finishing up her bowl of ice-cream.
"I'll also be the godmother of your children." Lavender insisted.
"Okay, you're looking way too far into the future."
"Are you saying you don't think you'll go that far with Harry?"
Victoria rested her chin on her hand, "He's got to ask me first, doesn't he?"
"He seems like a commitment kind of guy."
"I suppose."
"Great, it's settled then. You'll also be naming your first-born after me."
"Okay now you're definitely going too far." The two laughed and with that came a sudden silence between them.
Victoria tucked a strand of black hair behind her ears and cleared off her lips of ice-cream. Lavender kicked her lightly on the leg with her feet, getting Victoria's attention.
"Hm?"
"Thanks for taking the day to do this for me." Lavender said sincerely. "It really helped."
"There's no need to thank me, you're like my sister. I'd do anything for you."
"I know, I'm just… glad you're my friend."
Lavender was the only person Victoria knew that was tolerable in sounding corny.
"Same. I mean, you kicked McLaggen for me. I don't think I'd ever seen you as much as slap someone before."
Lavender laughed, "Except for you."
"Yea, except for me."
"Remember that time first year you accidentally cut my hair?"
Victoria widened her eyes as she remember accidentally cutting off a chunk of Lavender's hair during Herbology when they should have been cutting vines. "Holy fuck, yea. Then you stomped on my foot."
"Yup. Then during my sleep you taped my hair together with spello-tape thinking it would fix it."
"Yea! Turns out I was wrong and you were left with a bunch of sticky tape stuck to your head." Victoria laughed. "Oh Merlin, I was terrible…"
"Yeah, you were." Lavender grinned.
"Can't believe our mums got us together to try to work it out."
"That's when we became friends!"
Victoria smiled up at her friend, being momentarily distracted by the waitress who brought the bill.
Lavender shuffled through her purse but Victoria shook her hand. "No, I've got this."
"You sure?"
"Yea, it's not a big deal." Victoria started looking through her purse for her money when she heard a loud screeching sound coming from outside the building. It sounded almost like an innocent child playing out on the streets.
"Do you hear that?" Victoria said, looking out the window.
"Hear what?" Lavender said, trying to find Victoria's gaze.
"That laughter? There it is again! You hear it?"
"Yea, I sort of hear it actually… probably just some kids."
Victoria's eyes scanned the streets; it was quiet with sudden shutters of laughter. A few people were walking on the street and they seemed to notice it too when they stopped to look around. An unexpected inky black mist appeared on the streets, startling Victoria with its appearance. Her heart drummed when about five others appeared in front of the shop, and without delay they pointed their wands. Victoria widened her eyes, grabbing onto Lavender's arm and pulling her down to the ground before a high pressure of wind and debris grazed their legs and arms. She could feel her body be forcefully pulled in one direction like the strong rip currents of the ocean grabbing onto the legs of the restless; and ripping her grasp from Lavender's. Her head smacked against something hard, and the muffled sounds of cries died out around her. She looked up, her arms struggling to push herself in an upright position. The restaurant was engulfed in magnificent red and yellow flames, and a shower of glass came trickling down around her. A loud ringing sang in her ears like deafening sopranos. Her eyes were fighting through the clouded pillars around her, as she staggered to her feet. A sultry touch melted against her skin, nearing a profound sweltering burn on the backs of her legs. She wrapped her hands around the cloth of her shirt, pulling it close to her mouth. Choking on the clouds that accompanied her, she stepped over the fallen structure towards the entry way. She pulled hard at the metal handle, her palms feeling as though fire was in her grasp. After her failed attempts, she curled her hands into fists; throwing them hard against the door, crying for help; crying for someone, anyone out there to let her out. She turned around, listening to the soft crackling blaze that had her surrounded. Her eroding fear was soon to be checking out, because this was it. There was no way she was getting out of this.
She dropped her shirt, placing her hands that carried soot on her face and embracing the environment around her. Falling to her knees, she could feel the warmth creep up behind her as the building began to fall apart. She saw a small movement underneath the rubble in front of her, which sent a chill through her spine. She hurried over, pulling off the wood planks and finding Lavender who was coughing uncontrollably.
"Lav!" Victoria screamed, pulling her up. "Lav are you alright?"
Lavender took a deep breath, her eyes spinning momentarily as she got to her feet and kept balance on Victoria's arm. "Vicki?"
"Yea, it's me… we've got to get out of here."
"I don't think there's getting out of here…"
"We'll find a way, Lav. My dad wouldn't give up, so I won't give up on you." Victoria said, looking around the restaurant for an exit. She couldn't open the door, and the windows were blocked by wooden planks that had fallen from the ceiling.
Victoria searched for her wand, then began looking on the floor. She hurried over to the counter with Lavender still holding on to her shoulder and grabbing her wand that laid beside the waitress.
Lavender cupped her hands at her mouth as they began walking over bodies lying on the floor. "Oh Merlin. Fuck, fuck…"
"Just don't think about it right now." Victoria said, holding her wand up at the wooden planks by the window.
"They're gone, Vicki. Holy fuck."
"Cover your eyes." Victoria said, flicking her wand at the planks. "Bombarda!"
The wooden planks exploded leaving the way clear by the window. The building's support beams began to finally collapse and the ceiling began to cave in. "Quickly!" Victoria said, pulling Lavender in the direction to the window and shoving her through.
Victoria stepped out, one leg at a time and collapsing on the stone ground below. She began to crawl backward, looking up at the building as it completely collapsed. Lavender was behind her, holding a hand to her forehead as she cried uncontrollably.
A bright green spark smashed on to the stones at Victoria's feet and immediately she stood up, looking down the road by Knockturn Alley where another green spark nearly missed her friend.
"Go!" Victoria yelled, pushing Lavender down the street.
The two ran down the road, nearly dodging the curse as Victoria looked back and shot spells back at the Death Eater following them.
Another spark of green light came towards the two running girls and they separated at the explosion down an alleyway.
Victoria looked back, watching as Lavender disappeared behind the corner and she couldn't do anything but to keep running; that is until a pair of icy cold hands grabbed onto her arms tightly, sinking its fingernails into the surface of her skin. Her body was pushed back into the wall, and her eyes froze onto the woman's black eyes. She'd recognize this woman before. Pale skin, untamed curly black hair, and purple rings around her black malevolent eyes. She recognized her from another place other than the papers; but the same woman who murdered her father – and she was well aware Victoria pieced that together.
"Well… If it isn't my favourite cousin's daughter." She said, her eye's dancing along Victoria's features. "It's funny, I look into those eyes and I see him. Before they turned cold and lifeless I mean."
Victoria tried to struggle her way out of her grasp but she was too strong; and she knew it. She smiled at Victoria's attempts.
"Yes. We knew when Sirius turned out to be different than the others that he'd eventually destroy the family name. Though I must be honest, I never saw Sirius to a fatherly man. How long did he get to play the role? Few months?"
"Let go of me you barbaric witch." Victoria yelled, struggling once more.
"Another Black, helping another Potter. Well we can't have that now can we?"
"Fuck off."
Bellatrix smiled, her teeth infected with yellow spotting as her eyes rounded on Victoria's fearful expression. "Please, this is an honour for me. If you just close your eyes," She said, placing a long wrinkled finger along Victoria's hairline, dragging the tips of her nail along her cheek. "You'll be back with your father soon."
Victoria felt the stab of Bellatrix's wand touch her chest, and her lips moving as she, with much ease, said the incantation. Just as Victoria pinched her eyes closed, she felt a shock run through her body and the pressure on her arms disappear. For a moment she thought she was finished, but when she opened her eyes a new pair of hands grabbed onto her arm.
"Let's go!" Remus was looking down at her, holding his wand out at Bellatrix as he casted another spell and pulled Victoria out of the alleyway.
They got back to the main street, and it looked like it had been a war zone. Aurors were walking along the street, nurses were pulling bodies from the restaurant they were in, and Ministry officials were talking to the Aurors.
"Wait, my friend. Lav-"
"She's safe. She's with Tonks." Remus said, holding his wand out at the alleyway as Bellatrix approached. She pouted, disappearing in an inky black smoke that cleared in the sky. He took a deep breath, lowering his wand. "Are you hurt?"
Victoria removed her eyes from the alley and looked down at Remus who bent down and pointed his wand at her legs; mending the deep graze from the debris in the restaurant. She watched as Remus stood up, slipping his wand in his suit pocket and looking completely relieved that her goddaughter was okay. Victoria's feet fell forward and she wrapped her arms around Remus, her chest tightening in fear.
Remus could hear her breath shake, patting down on the back of her head for comfort. "You're alright, Victoria. You're safe now."
"Thank you Remus. Thank you for the broomstick."
"Wha- what?" He looked down at her befuddled.
"The broomstick, the pizza, the lessons, being here when you're needed." She didn't know how else to say it; but she was grateful. The Marauders were turning out to be an amazing group of people.
"Thank you for being more level-headed than Sirius. He would've thrown a few fists at his cousin…" Remus said, as the two started walking up the street.
"How did you know I was here?"
"I didn't. Kingsley found out and told The Order."
"Those were Death Eaters…" Remus nodded. "Why are they doing this… in broad daylight and in Diagon Alley?"
Remus sighed deeply, "They're becoming reckless, and they aren't afraid to prove that point. They're growing stronger, Victoria. And we're afraid this isn't all they can do…"
"We're?"
"The Order… and the Ministry. They've gotten the dementors on their side now, and recent news is now they're gathering the giants."
"Giants? Dementors?"
"Precisely. It's becoming a difficult battle to fight… I don't remember it being this messy since the 1970's."
"But why here? What benefit was it to blow up the restaurant…"
Remus stopped in his tracks, looking down at Victoria very gravely. "I think it's less to do with the restaurant and more to do with you."
"Me?"
"I don't know if it's because you're a Black, or because you're associated with Harry; but I think this was a pin-pointed attack on you."
"Wait… if-if they're…" Victoria tried to process this information…
Was she being hunted down because of Harry?
"What am I to do if you're right… am I supposed to hide?" She could feel the same fear find its way back inside her.
"No. I suggest staying at Hogwarts, close to Dumbledore. If you need to get out, send me an owl… but don't go alone or even with Harry."
Victoria looked down at her feet, it was the first time she felt caged up.
She couldn't go anywhere now without being hunted?
Is this how Harry normally feels?
Victoria sat on the bench outside of the Hogwarts castle; her legs closed together as she shivered in the cold night. The wind was calm, and so were the waves of the Great Lake. The only thing that illuminated her surroundings were the calm fire burning torches above her. She dug her shoes into the dirt, looking up into the night sky. She had started counting the stars, before giving up on thirty; she was just looking for an excuse not to think. In her hands she fumbled with her new pack she had grabbed at Grimmauld's before returning to Hogwarts with Remus. She opened and closed the lid with her thumbs, watching the plume of smoke escape from Hagrid's chimney and sweep across the sky.
Her inner-self was patiently sitting, waiting – for an explanation; but she had none to spare. She was confused. Lost by something that had affected her so greatly, and it only got worst. It was like this slow moving parasite gnawing inside her; and it wasn't that she was afraid for her own good, but for Harry's. She had already lost her mum, Elise, and then Sirius; she couldn't imagine what it would feel like to her if she lost Harry too. She wanted to fight with him, she promised she would – but now it just felt like a battle greater than they could handle.
She placed the smoke between her lips, remembering what it felt like to just light it and momentarily exhale all her problems. She took it out, fumbling with it between her fingers.
"Fuck. Why do you have to be so difficult?" Victoria said, placing it back between her lips and rejecting it immediately. "I could be asking myself the same question, huh?"
"That'd be nice." Victoria looked up and noticed Harry in his pajamas. His dark hair sticking at odd ends and his hands deep in his pants pocket. "That way I don't have to ask it." He said, holding a hand out. "C'mon, let's go for a walk."
Victoria reluctantly took Harry's hand, and the two walked down the hill towards the edge of the Great Lake. He hung his invisibility cloak around his arm, looking out at the moon reflecting off the water's surface.
"Reflecting on bad habits?" He said, looking down at the pack in her hands.
"More like considering." She felt disappointed in herself; looking down at her feet.
Harry stood in front of her, grabbing onto the pack and stuffing it in his pocket. He began lifting her chin up so her gaze was on his. She looked into his emerald green eyes, she understood what he was thinking.
When did she become so broken?
'I've been thinking the same things lately.'
A grin played on his lips as he cupped his hand at the side of her face. "You look beautiful in the moonlight."
Victoria couldn't help but bite back her smile, bashfully looking down at the grass beneath her.
"I've been up all night, waiting for you to return."
"Sorry. I've needed some air."
He dropped his hands down to his side, looking out at the Great Lake. "Are you okay?"
"Define okay." She said, moving closer to the water and kicking rocks as they lightly splashed back at her.
"Where to start… the explosion… the death… Bellatrix."
"I see Remus talked to you."
"He's only looking out for you."
"I know..."
Harry grabbed onto her hands, caressing them lightly with his thumb; leaning in closer so she could smell the peppermint toothpaste on his breath as he placed his lips on hers softly. Warmth spread through her body as he wrapped his hands around her waist. She moved her fingers down the base of his chest, melting in his embrace. He released his arms, smirking down at her as he slowly took off his blue shirt and threw it on the ground, followed by his sweat pants. Victoria raised an eyebrow as he kicked off his shoes and walked backwards into the lake.
"It's past midnight, like 40 degree and you want to take a swim?" Victoria said, watching as the water reached his neck.
"It's not bad once you get used to it." He said, waiting for her to join him. She thought about it, and for a moment she thought about just sitting and watching him freeze in there; but another part of her wanted this release. Harry seemed to be the root of her worries, yet knew how to make them go away… it was odd, but it's just how it was. As long as he was safe now, standing in front of her, there was no reason to worry. She slipped off her clothes and stepped into the lake with him.
"See? Not so bad." He said, floating beside her.
"You've had experience swimming in here, I haven't… and I'm not used to it." She said, shivering as she held onto her arms.
Harry stood up, walking against the waves over to Victoria and wrapping his arms around her. She ran her wet fingers through his hair, in an attempt to flatten it but didn't work; It never worked.
The corners of her lips turned up, as she brushed her fingers against the scar on his forehead.
"Lavender said this funny this to me earlier."
"What was that?" He said, clearing the water from his glasses as best he could.
"That you're a committed man." She laughed at how ridiculous that sounded.
"Committed man, huh? Not sure I follow."
"It was stupid." She said, splashing the water between them as she floated before him, wrapping her legs around his waist with his arms securely around hers.
He splashed her lightly. "Just tell me, Black."
"That you know, in the future who knows maybe we'll still be together. And we'd be married; it's just stupid girl talk."
Harry smiled, "Oh, I'll definitely marry you."
"Oh?" She said, looking up at him surprised; though she wasn't sure why, she sort of thought it was a default choice this far in their relationship.
"Yea, and we'll have three kids."
"Three? Isn't one enough?" She said, running her hands along his bare chest.
"Eh…We can discuss that later on."
"Alright, so when are you going to ask me. To marry you, of course."
"I can't tell you that."
"Why not? I've got to prepare myself for the chosen one to pop the question." She joked.
"Sorry, Black… hate to break it to you but that's not how that sort of thing works. You'll have to wait for it."
"Victoria Potter… hm." She said, kissing him lightly. "Sounds nice."
"We can name our kid… Pansy Potter." Victoria gave him a dead stare and he laughed, "I'm just kidding of course, lighten up Black."
"That was cruel." She watched his emerald green eyes light up with excitement as he laughed at her reaction. She tightened her arms around his neck, never wanting to let go.
"I love you, Harry Potter."
She could feel his chest rise against hers, and his voice vibrate against her ears. "I love you, too."
A/N: Thank you for the lovely reviews and support. Sorry this took a while to update; truthfully i had this massive explosion of ideas for their 7th-8th year and i started building my outlines for that. xP
Hope you enjoy it, if it's confusing now there will be explanation soon enough!
Review's make me smile C:
Have a great snowy day; i know i'm enjoying my 20"!