Chapter twenty-three:

With Confidence

Victoria found herself walking down the hall and towards the office of Dolores Umbridge. She knew she shouldn't let herself act on her temper but unfortunately she was. As her heels clicked against the stone floor, Victoria found herself be pulled away from her destinationand into a temporary embrace by Snape, hidden in a corridor. "Severus!" Victoria exclaimed in a hushed tone, surprised that Snape had just snatched her on her way towards Umbridge's office - she was determined to give that pink baboon a piece of her mind for harming her nephew. "Where exactly...were you going? Strutting along the castle towards a particular office, I presume?" Snape questioned. Victoria was spun around and now faced Snape, seeming a child that had been caught with it's hand in the cookie jar. "I think we both know exactly where I was going, Severus." Victoria pointed out. Severus parted his lips in reply but before he could, there was a sound of a door opening from down the hall, which the only assumption was it could be Umbridge as the clicking heels verified the assumption.

Snape motioned Victoria further down the corridor as they both left to avoid being seen by Umbridge or any wandering eyes before stopping in an empty hallway despite the moving portraits along the hall. "Do you have any idea how serious my warning to you was, Victoria? It was for your own good." Snape pointed out, of course out of concern though it came across a little harsh. Victoria once more had stood across from Snape but not too far apart, having only an inch or two separating them but though his words pierced like a sword, she understood how this could be serious and felt foolish. "Yes, I understood, Severus. Finding out the harm she did to Harry bothered me...I tried to refrain from confronting her but I slipped." Victoria explained, she honestly was relieved that Snape had caught her before she even knocked on the door, perhaps it had saved her teaching position. Snape sighed a moment before Victoria spoke once more. "I'm sorry, and thank you...for correcting me." Victoria expressed, placing a light, warm smile onto her lips.

Snape wasn't used to being thanked for his harsh criticism, but he would be lying to himself if he didn't enjoy hearing the words that he had. Snape had tried to be concerned for Lily when in school but had been brushed off unintentionally, so this was definitely a new experience for him - not that he would tell Victoria that it was. "Pleasure...I expect you wouldn't attempt to make the same mistake again?" Snape question, lifting a critical eyebrow. Victoria knew that the fact Umbridge harmed her nephew would never leave her mind but apparently the situation with getting on Umbridge's bad side was to be taken seriously. Perhaps not confronting the dragon lady would he a good idea for now but she also couldn't inform Dumbledore since she promised Harry. "No, Severus." Victoria replied simply, holding back her annoyance with the idea of Umbridge getting away with harming her nephew.

Victoria was stuck on choices to go about the situation, whether to break her promise to either Harry or Snape, or to simply sit back and do nothing which make her feel like a bad guardian. Snape was satisfied with the confirmation and eased up only slightly. "Good." Snape stated, giving a quick quiver of a smile before he walked with Victoria to dinner in the great hall. Dinner had been a mere silent one while Victoria had shot darts with her eyes in Umbridge's direction before Snape would notice, causing Victoria to deflect her attention back onto her plate. "Control your emotions, Victoria." Snape murmured, slicing a piece of his thin roast beef. Victoria sighed, knowing if she would do anything in a negative manner towards Umbridge, it would somehow affect more than just herself.

"I'm trying my best, Severus. I've become quite protective." Victoria pointed out. Severus knew that Victoria was as stubborn as she was sharp-witted but in order to keep the ministry of magic from having any suspicion in the school, they had to be on their best behavior. Snape knew from Dumbledore, along with McGonagall, that Umbridge was there to interfere with Dumbledore on Fudge's behalf. "I can comprehend your situation, Victoria...however, we both know the reasoning behind her appearance at the school. Unfortunate, as it may be." Snape pointed out inconspicuously. Victoria remained silent and simply nodded as she finished eating dinner.

The next day, it had seemed like a normal school day despite the fact Umbridge was still walking around the school when she wasn't teaching or holding detention. Victoria found it odd, as if Umbridge was looking for anything out of place to pin on the headmaster. There was talk going around the school among the professors that Umbridge was planning to evaluate every professor on their teaching methods and such, which Victoria knew would bound to test her patience being face to face with the pink wench. By the end of the night, Victoria had been alerted by McGonagall about Harry's condition, regarding his detention with Umbridge all week. "Victoria, I have some news on Potter." McGonagall stated, entering Victoria's office, stopping by her desk.

"What's wrong with Harry?" Victoria asked, furrowing her eyebrows in concern. McGonagall folded her hands in front of her before speaking, having a slight expression of worry on her face. "He's in the hospital wing." McGonagall alerted, her tone was of unease. Victoria stood up immediately before passing by McGonagall and exited her office, making her way to the hospital wing. Upon entering the hospital wing, Victoria's green eyes scanned the room, glanced at each bed before spotting Harry lying on the bed in the middle of the room with Madam Pomfrey pouring a dark red liquid into a cup beside him. "What exactly is that?" Harry asked Madam Pomfrey, who quirked an eyebrow as she set the bottle down and handed the cup to Harry. "Blood-Replenishing potion. Drink, you will be better by the morning." Pomfrey stated, glancing over at Victoria who had just walked up to the opposite side of the bed.

"How are you feeling, Harry? Why are you in the hospital wing?" Victoria asked in a tone of concern after eying the potion bottle that Pomfrey had poured for Harry. Blood-Replenishing Potion. What did happen to Harry? Victoria had no clue but had a smidge of an idea that it may be Umbridge related due to the detention her nephew was receiving, having to replenish his blood was a sure indicator. "Still light headed a bit...aunt Tori, don't worry about it." Harry replied, taking a gulp of the potion, making a bitter reaction to the sour taste of the potion. Pomfey shook her head as she fetched the cup back after Harry finished the potion quickly. "Potter was found in his common room by his housemates, nearly passing out from blood loss. Stubborn as he may be withholding the reason, I suspect the wounds on his left hand has something to do with it." Pomfrey explained to Victoria before walking away to attend another bed.

Victoria watched Pomfrey leave before turning her green gaze onto her nephew. "Not to worry? Harry, there I'd a difference between a detention and abuse. I let it go last time but, this time I'm afraid I cannot. As not only your professor but as your guardian, I need to step up." Victoria explained. Harry sighed before attempting to get out of bed. "Potter, I did not release you yet. Be settled." Pomfrey stated from afar, apparently having kept a watchful eye on the scene. "Rest, Harry and stay here until Madam Pomfrey says you can go." Victoria demanded before turning around to exit the hospital wing, her black heels clicking against the floor on her way out. Harry was frustrated, not wanting to have anyone fight his battles and not wanting to risk his aunt losing her job possibly. Victoria left the hospital wing moments before Pomfrey turned out the lights for bed and headed back to her living quarters.

The next morning was like other mornings with students heading into the great hall for breakfast, including Harry who had been excused from the hospital wing. Victoria had sat at the professors table that was full except one seat left empty which was Hagrid's seat which caused Harry, Hermione and Ron to look up seeing that he was missing. Victoria continued eating breakfast in silence, briefing looking over at the Gryffindor table at the trio, as her mind was busy thinking of ways to confront the old pink bat of the ministry when Snape noticed her quiet disposition, becoming skeptical of Victoria but decided to keep to himself, knowing it most likely had to do with Umbridge. Some students and a couple of professors had left the great hall after finishing their breakfast to begin the last day of classes when Victoria spotted one of the professors leaving was Umbridge.

Once spotting Umbridge, Victoria decided to stand up from her chair and leave the professors table, noting that she was finished and made her way up the great hall with her heels clicking against the stone floor and came to a stop near the doors where Umbridge was edging towards. Snape had watched the scene unfold by the front doors from the table, not surprised in the slightest that Victoria couldn't hold back on the treatment of Harry, causing him to get up from the table and make his way down. "The next time you decide to punish my nephew or any student for the matter, Dolores, send them to the Head of House for the detention. Your sadistic methods are repulsive." Victoria snapped, making direct eye contact while remaining her composure shortly afterwards. Victoria was serious and disgusted by the heinous acts she's heard of Umbridge doing and refused to standby to watch not only her nephew but other students be inflicted pain by an adult.

Umbridge turned to Victoria in surprise at the confrontation before scanning the room filled with students who were now semi-quiet and looking over at the scene, spotting Snape and McGonagall making their way towards the scene from the table. Umbridge turned back to Victoria with a look of intimidation, as if she had been insulted. "Pardon me, Professor, what exactly are you implying?" Umbridge asked, remaining passive. Victoria's expression turned into a stunned look for the moment, knowing she was pretty clear on what she was implying. "Your 'methods' are revolting." Victoria clarified in a slight blunt manner. Umbridge let out a light, fake giggle that she normally had before folding her hands in front of herself calmly. "It sounds to me that you are questioning my authority in my own classroom...Victoria." Umbridge pointed out. Victoria bit her tongue for a moment while Snape rushed to her side, gently pulling Victoria a few steps back, away from Umbridge. "I'm fine..." Victoria whispered to Snape, who on the other hand, begged to differ. "Obviously...not." Snape replied in a direct manner.

McGonagall stepped in shortly upon arriving to the front with Snape . "Not at all, Dolores. Merely your medieval methods, including the procedures of detention." McGonagall pointed out. Umbridge looked as if she was offended by the words spoken by both female professors and held her head up high as she spoke in front of all the students in the presence of the professors as well. "I'm a tolerant woman, Minerva...but for Victoria and yourself to question my authority, my practices is to indefinitely question the ministry...and by extension, to question the minister himself." Umbridge stated in a brief pause before speaking once more. "The one thing I will not tolerate is disloyalty." Umbridge added.

Victoria wanted to give Umbridge her two cents about disloyalty but she had been silently directed by Snape to remain silent. "Disloyalty." McGonagall repeated in a tone of disdain. Umbridge seemed to pay no attention to the response before looking further upon the students. "Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius, the minister of magic, will want to take immediate action. There is much work to be done." Umbridge announced before exiting the great hall, passing the professors and headed to her office. Both McGonagall and Snape had looked at each other before turning to Victoria, not in judgement but in fear of what Umbridge was going to put forth at the school.

Harry and the rest of the students had witnessed the scene that was just played out and he was surprised by his aunt's action over the abuse Umbridge had been inflicting on students but also was disappointed that she wouldn't let him handle it on his own like he told her. "Harry, you should be proud of Professor Hawthrone..." Hermione told Harry in a soft tone. Harry remained silent, still a little bothered before turning to Ron. "She's right, mate. Professor Hawthrone is the only one to stand up to the old bat until McGonagall made her way in." Ron pointed out before digging back into his breakfast sausages. "I'm going to head to class." Harry stated before standing up, grabbing his bag and leaving his friends in the great hall.

Victoria had been followed back to her classroom by Snape, before entering her office, to have a conversation over the small mishap. "You made it clear that you wouldn't interfere with Umbridge." Snape stated as he closed the door, time was limited before they both had classes to teach. Victoria sighed, knowing she had told Snape she wouldn't confront Umbridge but she felt that she was just sitting idly by and if she wouldn't do a thing about it, she would be just as guilty. "I'm sorry, Severus...I - actually, no, I'm not sorry. It needed to be done. No one else was speaking up for the students and if anything, I have the authority to do so." Victoria stated boldly, face to face with Snape Snape admired Victoria's boldness and was impressed how she stood up to him in such way, though he had feared for her job at Hogwarts for the most part. "Dumbledore has more than enough authority to do so, Victoria. More so, the ministry believes he's forming an army against them. As much as I...admire...your valiance, however, i believe turning to Dumbledore is in our best...interests." Snape explained in a rather rapid tone as they remained inches away.

Both Victoria and Snape lingered for a moment before Victoria would go to respond, her green eyes diverted from his lips and back to connect with his dark eyes. "I can handle it." Victoria stated confidently. Snape quivered a small smile for a moment, amused by her confidence before parting his lips to reply. "I'm not doubting your ability to do so, Victoria. Though, I must express the seriousness in the situation and that Dumbledore is headmaster, he knows exactly how to...handle things..." Snape trailed off. The silence was deafening between them after the last words spoke, causing their lips to touch for only a second, breaking off the gentle kiss due to the sound of students entering the classroom from the other side of the office door. Snape took one last glance at Victoria before swiftly exiting the office and out of the classroom full of first years, brushing passed Harry and his friends down the halls towards his potions classroom as his black cloak swept barely above the floor.

Classes had resumed for the rest of the week until there had been announcement of Umbridge planning to interrogate all professors at Hogwarts for the full week the following week. Victoria had picked up the note that had been left on her desk, delivered by spell, reading:

'Victoria,

I'm writing to inform you that I will be conducting visual, informative interrogations of each and every professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry starting at the beginning of the week and ending at the last day of classes for the week.

I may enter at anytime I please, so you must be prepared to provide the precise curriculum and answer any given questions.

I trust you will be ready.

Dolores Umbridge '

Victoria didn't like the thought of that woman I her classroom nonetheless in the school but she had no choice - Dumbledore would have to handle it, as Snape had explained. Victoria was confident in the way she taught her classes and had nothing to worry about in that aspect - she was very much prepared. Leaving the pink paper with a cat seal on the desk in her office, Victoria left her office and prepared herself to face her last class of the day until the weekend, hoping to discuss this interrogation issue with the other staff and the headmaster.