Note to my subs: rereading is recommended, as I made changes for the first chapter and included an additional character.
"How was your holiday?" Victoria asked Andrew next time that she saw him the first week of term as they sat in the library.
"It was good," he answered brightly. "Mum got me an racing broom. An Cleansweep. Not as fast as Harry's Nimbus, but it still flies just as smooth."
Even beneath his cheery demeanor, she could tell that there was something he wanted to talk about. "Something on your mind, Andrew?"
"Well…" He sighs, his smile fading an little. "I had my suspicions when I first met you at Madam Malkins'. And well, it seems you are trying to find answers as well with the question about mum's graduation year."
Andrew went directly to his mother or next to kin about it rather then discreetly connecting the dots as she was doing. The Sorting Hat wasn't wrong to place him in Gryffindor, then.
"I overheard an conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy over the summer," she admitted. "I always knew there was something off about me but…your father's name is mud with them even if he was an big bad death eater. I didn't think it was an good idea to fish out answers from them, even if I never made an direct mention of them."
He shrugs. "Yeah, I see that. If you have anymore questions, mum might be happy to answer some of them," he offers. "She's not too unapproachable."
Even if Andrew didn't know it, Victoria had an feeling which question of hers might make her birth mother uncomfortable. One in which doubts recurred in her mind. She was an Mulciber, at least that's what she thought.
For, at least she knew, there were no Parselmouths in every branch of the Mulciber line, coming to think of it.
One weekend in the early part of the second term, rather then watch Harry and his Quidditch team practiced, Victoria chose to study in the library. Her book on Occulmency open as she sifts through the Muggle newspaper archives. To see if she could find anything more on the Riddles while also studying how to improve closing her mind.
To her luck, there were old newspapers from the Great Hangleton area. The very thing she found wasn't on the front cover no doubt. Rather, it was tucked in an corner of the section dedicated to scandals and gossip. Village Squire Elopes With Plain Tramp, it read in bold letters above the text:
The Village of Little Hangleton is still reeling in shock after Thomas Riddle II has left the area in the company of the tramp, who locals identify as Merope Gaunt, not living far from the Riddle Manor. Perhaps what is the most alarming, was that the two were never known to have an prior relationship.
Across from her, Neville cries out in duress. Breaking her out of her reading. "My Herbology notes," he moans. "I must have left them in the dormitory. I'll be right back."
Out of all the Hogwarts subjects, it seems that Herbology was the only subject he excelled in. From her observation, he seemed more confidence when doing his homework for Herbology then Potions.
Victoria, Andrew, and Eridani watched as Neville hurried from the library. Before they heard chorus of laughter that followed what Victoria thought was an incantation.
"Neville!"
Andrew was the first to leap from his chair, and Victoria thought she saw Madame Pince cast disapproving looks at them as the trio rushed out of the library. An throng of students were still gathering around what appeared to be an dissipating scene. With some of the Slytherins jeering as Neville bunnyhopped away.
"The Squib couldn't even take out his wand to defend himself," Draco preened. "What's he doing in Gryffindor anyway?"
Vincent and Greg chuckled as Victoria felt the heat go to her face and hands. With Andrew turning beet red beside her. She was about to fetch a teacher when Andrew pulled out his wand. "Mutatio Skullus!"
The laughter receded to an halt as Draco's head began to mishappen. Twisting and distorting itself until he was unrecognizable. Pansy shrieked in horror.
"What is going on here?" demanded Alphard as an frightened Greg and Vincent dragged Draco to the hospital wing.
"Excuse me, but I believe I happened on the scene first," drawled Percy Weasley.
"Shouldn't it matter that we both are probably on the same side in this? I saw everything."
"Mister Lestrange, Mister Weasley, we'll take it from here."
It was Severus. With him was Professor McGonagall. The two of them apparently were in the midst of some conversation when they came upon the scene. The sight of the two of them resulting in an portion of the students dispersing.
"Now, Mister Black, can you explain why you hexed Mister Malfoy outside the library?" Professor McGonagall demanded.
"He hexed Neville, Professor McGonagall," asserted Andrew.
"And instead of going to either one of us, you chose to take care of it yourself," Professor McGonagall seethed.
"Then of course, it shouldn't surprise me," drawled Severus, "as your very own father loved to hex other students left and right. Maybe I should mention that he and your uncle one time tried to do worse then Engorging a student's head."
"That's enough, Severus," said McGonagall, pursing her lips. "That be thirty points from Gryffindor, and an detention. Since the target was Severus' House, it's up to him what it should be."
"I know just what to do. Mister Black, come with me. The rest of you, go back to what you were doing."
Andrew mutters under his breath as he follows Severus. With Pansy following Victoria and Eridani back to the library.
"Don't know why anyone would stick up for Longbottom," said Pansy. "Can't he just – oh wait, he's an spineless crybaby."
"Can you just shut up for once?" Victoria said. "No one cares for your callous opinions."
"Maybe if you weren't such an mean spirited pug face, you might make more friends," spat Eridani. "At least with you, your heart is as ugly as your face."
Esme and Laelia gasped in horror. Both of them looking to Pansy, who looked as if Eridani had slapped her in the face before turning to an cool mask. "You'll regret that, Lestrange," she said.
Eridani just shrugged as they returned to their table. Quietly returning to their work. Neville had come back an half an hour later. His legs now apart and his mood slightly improved as he referred to his Herbology notes for his homework.
"I hope Andrew didn't get into trouble," said Neville as they left the library. "If I had an spine…"
"Hey, don't doubt yourself," said Victoria. "The Sorting Hat doesn't just place people in Houses for no other particular reasons."
This was only their first year, and whatever the Sorting Hat saw in him…well, it might surface at some point.
At dinner, Victoria took one look at Gryffindor table and saw Harry looking pale as an sheet ("The worst he could do is make it impossible for Gryffindor to win," she told Harry when he said that Severus was refereeing the next match) and with Andrew in an foul mood ("Disemboweling horned toads! That's what I have to do simply because I defended Neville!"). She noticed with great satisfaction that Draco was still in the Hospital Wing.
On the way to the dormitory, she happened to pass by Pansy Parkinson. Not oblivious to the devilish smirk on her face. Recalling her threat to Eridani, Victoria hated to see what Parkinson had in mind.
Harry thought he could feel Snape's eyes on him as if he was watching him closely. Like he might find an weak spot to later exploit. Maybe at the next Quidditch match where he was going to be referee. No doubt trying to make sure that no one – not excluding first year students – interfered with his plot to take the Philosopher's Stone.
He could finally feel the tension leave his body when Snape moved on from his and Victoria's work station.
"Um, Vic," Harry asked uncertainly when he made sure that Snape was distracted with critiquing Crabbe and Goyle. He never showed the same vitriol to his Slytherins as he did to the Gryffindors.
"Yes, Harry?" she asked, her cocoa-colored eyes looking at him.
Your guardian is up to something, he wanted to say. Something bad.
In his first few months here at Hogwarts, Victoria Mulciber was one of the few Slytherins that showed him that not all of them were as horrible as Draco Malfoy. She even sat next to him their second Potions lessons when she saw how unfair her guardian was to him during their first. As he had suspected, it didn't prevent Snape from demeaning him – and even attempting to kill him – outside of the classroom. She could be able to listen.
Unfortunately –
Telling Victoria would mean telling her about the Philosopher's Stone, and even if she was willing to keep it an secret, one of her unsavory house mates would surely overhear and be happy to report to Snape. Who'd be happy to find an excuse to petition for his expulsion or – as displayed by the last Quidditch match – worse then that.
"I hope you don't mind if you allow me to borrow your notes for Potions," he utters. "I don't want to give your guardian an reason to give me an low mark on an assignment."
As Harry thought more of it, Victoria wouldn't want to believe that Snape was up to something nefarious. From what he saw, Snape treated her better than the Dursleys' treated him, if she gave any indication. It would be hard for her to think anything bad of him.
Throughout the day, aside from Eridani's unusual withdrawn behavior, she thinks about her exchange to Harry during Potions. She could see it in those emerald green eyes of his that he was thinking of something else to talk about before asking to borrow her notes for Potions.
If the rumors were true about how he doesn't like his aunt and uncle, he certainly would think that Severus had no good intentions. And if she were to assure him, Harry would assume it was her bias of being his ward.
Oh, Harry, she thinks sadly. Even with Severus treating you unfairly, he doesn't have the capacity to hurt anyone he doesn't like.
He must have a very bad home life to even think an adult wouldn't give an regard to his safety. Especially one that hates him.
Before dinner, all thoughts regarding Harry were pushed out of her mind when a piece of folded parchment falls out of an page from her copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration. It's when she takes an glimpse of what she recognizes as Eridani's handwriting that she gets the idea to not read it around prying eyes.
Victoria looks around the library before going to the sparsely populated corner of the library. Making sure no one is looking as she unfolds the piece of parchment.
Dear Victoria,
I like the way your eyes light up when you laugh. How they light up when you smile. I love it when we read together in the library. If I were to write you an poem, it wouldn't be enough to speak of my love for you,
Your friend, who wants to girlfriend someday,
Eridani
Victoria feels the heat reach her cheeks as her heart does that pitter patter. Eridani liked her too. She also had a crush on her as well.
That excitement, however, came as it went. Taking into account her friend's withdrawn behavior and Pansy's smirk as if she did something followed her threat to her, it was clear what this was. Victoria remembers Eridani trying to hide something from her.
This was Pansy's revenge. Her way of getting back at her for Eridani's jab at her physical appearance the other day. Stealing something that Eridani didn't obviously want to share and putting it in her textbook.
Victoria tries to think about the situation if the circumstances were different. If she didn't have an crush on Eridani as well. Another person might have been disgusted by the idea that another girl liked them, and maybe tell everyone about their disgust of an girl liking them. Eridani would probably hide somewhere in the castle crying her eyes out while avoiding Cassiopeia and Alphard and everyone else in Slytherin. No doubt that Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy would be alerted to it as well.
That's what Pansy Parkinson was hoping would come out of this, it seemed. Almost as if she didn't think that the crush would be mutual. Well, seems it backfired.
Victoria folds the letter and puts it in her folder before going back to her spot. She was going to have to show Eridani that she thought nothing bad about it. That she felt the same way.
Chances were, that she might attempt to vocalize it, and it will be then that she'll let her know how mutual their feelings are.
In the days leading to the Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor match, Eridani's mood had improved. With Pansy's mood growing increasingly foul indicating that things didn't go as planned. That didn't mean that she couldn't have kept an watch on her in case she did anything.
That day came with no incident, with Gryffindor managing to obtain an win. Though, Harry seemed distressed sometime later, as if something had come up. She had half the mind to ask him why, but decided not to. That perhaps it was best not to and that it might become a mess if she became entangled in it.
Around Easter, even if finals were months away, their teachers were preparing for them (Vincent and Greg were complaining how Severus was no fun for giving them piles upon piles of homework for exam preparation). Even Professor Quirrell, who was growing increasingly pale and thin, would nervously stress the importance of their exams.
"He's losing it, I tell you," said Kevin one day as they descended down to the dungeons for Potions after one such Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson.
"I'll be surprised if he doesn't drop dead before exams," Millicent vocalized. "It looks like something is draining the life out of him."
"He's under a lot of stress," Hermione Granger put forth as she walked past them. "It would drain the life out of you."
They stared after her and after an moment, Eridani asked, "Does she know something we don't?"
Kevin gave an snort. "At least she's not rubbing it under our noses. I don't hate her, but she seems to think like she knows everything."
What did Hermione know? It couldn't have been the same thing that Severus must have known. For she sounded concerned then wary of him.
When Easter came and went, whatever knowledge that Hermione had of Quirrell was replaced by something else. Perhaps it was seeing the smile lurking on Draco Malfoy's face once in an while.
"Oh, I'm going to get Potter, Granger, and Weasley for something," she heard him telling Denmore Pike one afternoon during Transfiguration. "Potter, especially, has been coddled too long."
"Weasley apparently is in the hospital wing for an dog bite," replied Denmore. "I took an peak in there and it doesn't look like an dog bit him."
"Oh, I know what bit him," said Malfoy. "I'm not telling until when the Golden Trio packs their bags after I catch them."
Victoria had once visited Ron in the hospital ring during his stay. Given the swelling of his hand, that was no dog. Almost like something else did bite him.
Saturday night, when Victoria and Eridani were on their way from the Great Hall after dinner, the former thought she heard some hushed whispering.
"We can't let Malfoy catch them," Neville said in panicked whispers.
"Good afternoon," Victoria said, in her best imitation of Severus' tone. "Whatever you're talking about, anyone is going to hear. What's going on?"
Frantically, both Andrew and Neville whispered what they were talking about.
"A dragon?" Eridani whispered.
"They are going to see it off tonight," whispered Andrew. "Malfoy says he's going to beat them to the Astronomy Tower. That he's going to sic Filch on them."
Malfoy wasn't turning them in because he honored the rules. It was to get back at Harry and his friends, as evidenced by his words during Transfiguration. Victoria thought of the joy in Harry's green eyes at his first night in Hogwarts, and she did not want to imagine those green eyes full of sadness when he packs up.
She didn't want to see Draco walking around the school as if he were made Head Boy either.
"Where do you want to meet?" she asked.
"Are you serious, Vic?" Eridani asked her. "We get into so much trouble for being out of bed after hours."
"Rather get into trouble for that then have Malfoy try to get Harry out of Hogwarts," Andrew pointed out.
It was settled. That night, Victoria stared at the pocket watch that the Malfoys gave her for Christmas. Ten minutes to the time, she quietly woke up Eridani. The two of them making sure that no one noticed them leaving.
The hallways of the dungeons were quiet. With only the torches being the source of light as their feet walked across the cold, stone floors. When they got to the entrance hall, they saw Andrew and Neville peering over where they last spoke to them.
"Seen Malfoy?" asked Andrew.
"No," Eridani whispered.
"If he hasn't beat us, maybe we can warn them," said Neville. "Now, do any of you know where the Astronomy tower is?"
When they ventured from the entrance hall, they only got as far to the second-floor corridor when they heard what sounded like chainmail clattering. Followed by maniacal chuckles.
"Peeves," Andrew hissed. Down the darkened hall, Victoria could still manage to see the Poltergeist leave one fallen heap of armor before jumping into the next. "We got to get a move on before he sees us, and alerts Filch."
"I don't think you need to worry about the Poltergeist alerting the caretaker," came a familiar languid drawl from right behind them.
The four of them turned around to see the Potions Master towering over them. His obsidian eyes glittering in fury as he regarded them. Victoria could feel the blood drain from her face as Neville gave a whimper and Andrew fixed on Severus a scowl that mirrored his.
"Good evening, Professor," Eridani said nervously.
Please share me your thoughts if you can