There will be a reference to one of the pranks done by the Marauders from MsKingBean89's fic All the Young Dudes (I asked beforehand, in case you're wondering).

"A Philosopher's Stone," Ron had said in wonderment. "I could buy my own Quidditch team with that. What about you, Andrew?"

"Probably make a better potion for my uncle's illness that he wouldn't take one once a month," Andrew answered. That was just half the truth. The thing he didn't say was that he would have one to have a father that wasn't locked up in Azkaban and didn't serve Voldemort. That way, McLaggen and his friends wouldn't give him such a hard time. In fact, he would use a Philosopher's Stone so all the kids wouldn't have parents locked up for serving Voldemort.

As Andrew watched Harry and Ron play Wizard's Chess – more like Ron teaching Harry how to play – in their dormitory with Neville, Dean, and Seamus also watching, his thoughts had turned to why Snape could steal the Stone. Be all-powerful, perhaps? Given that Snape seemed like he hated to be in the classroom, it couldn't be that. He had to be doing it for someone.

"No, it's not Severus," Victoria would say. "You only think it is him because he hates you."

She'd say something like that as he was her guardian. She wouldn't want to believe that her guardian was up to no good, just as Hagrid wouldn't want to believe that a Hogwarts teacher could be up to something nefarious. Victoria seemed to stick with her accusation towards Quirrell. He'd heard the Slytherins – Lavinia Mulciber and her friends among the resentful few – talk about how Quirrell seems taken with Victoria and that Victoria wants nothing to do with him. Perhaps making her creeped out.

Andrew knew what Uncle Moony would say if he told him what was going on. "You're going by your feelings and pointing the finger at the one that is the source of your discomfort. All while the true perpetrator could be under your nose." He'd also say, "Just because it points to Severus Snape doesn't mean it could be him."

He'd also say the same thing to Victoria about Professor Quirrell about the latter.

Mum would say, "It's almost as if the true mastermind would want you to believe it is your Potions professor or Defense teacher. How convenient that the trail would supposedly lead to either of them."

Well, you are not here, he would have said in response, thinking that as he watched Harry's knight being obliterated by Ron's queen.

His mum and uncle had good perspectives on things, but they would've understood better if they were here. They didn't see Snape try to curse Harry off his broom.

During the second week of December, Severus had passed around the list of students staying behind for Christmas. Victoria was very tempted to sign it, for it would have been a wonderful magical experience to see how Hogwarts celebrated it.

However, her desire to keep distance between herself and Quirrell (whose body was hosting her actual father) overpowered the temptation, and she didn't sign it. Both Harry and Ron had signed the Gryffindor list. Harry, for apparently having no place to go, and Ron, for his parents and Ginny were seeing his older brother Charlie who was studying dragons in Romania. Hermione was leaving for the holidays as she and her family were going to Minehead to see extended family.

And apparently, Andrew invited Harry to join him for Christmas. Only to be told by Harry that he had already signed the list.

"I'm sure mum could arrange it with Professor McGonagall so you can come over for one day at least," Andrew told Harry when they were studying in the library. "Christmas isn't Christmas without having family surrounding you at home."

"I'm sure it be nice," Harry replied with a shrug. Draco's mocking comment from this morning in Potions: "I do feel so sorry for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home," had come to mind. In the past months that they have been here, Victoria had only gotten an idea that Harry's home life wasn't all that great, but Harry wasn't too keen to share too much of the details.

She knew that his relatives being poor wouldn't be an excuse for why he didn't get any post from his family. For the Weasleys' manage to scape a few Galleons and still send their kids things.

On their way out of the library, they happened to cross with Lavinia and her posse. The four girls gazing at Victoria and her friends as if they were something unpleasant in the hallway.

"The bastard child and her collection of riffraff," Lavinia sneered. Pansy, Laelia, and Rosalie had all giggled unpleasantly.

"Oh, stick a sock in it, Lavinia!" Millicent exclaimed as they walked past.

Hermione shook her head. "I don't understand how you can even tolerate her," she said. "It makes me glad that it's Lavender and Parvati that I share a dorm with."

"We, for one, would be happy to trade," Eridani pitched in.

"Lavinia and Malfoy can go on about us being riffraff," Ron said. He turns to Victoria. "You belong with us, and that's what matters."

Victoria could see that Ron had a point. She was making her own set of friends outside the bubble of those she grew up with, though Eridani was her friend before Hogwarts. She didn't necessarily need Lavinia or Draco to make it here in Hogwarts.

You are not some mere bastard child, Victoria. You are so much more, for you have a greater inheritance than you would have ever received from the likes of Gaius Mulciber. Something that those foolish children will realize, and they'll have to bend their knees to not only me but you as well.

She shook her head. Whatever it was, she didn't want it. Not from someone who killed one of her friend's parents and that she had classmates whose parents went to Azkaban due to doing terrible things on his behalf.

He told you that you will be greater than those tossers, that voice in her mind told her. Wouldn't it be great to be something that Lavinia Bloody Mulciber would never be? That Draco Malfoy wishes he was but wouldn't?

It was a dangerous thought. One that would taste good but also poisonous. A thought that seemed so tantalizing that she tried awfully hard shaking it from her mind as she ate her dinner.

On the day before she was set to leave Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays, Severus had summoned her to his office. He wasn't as grim as the last time he'd called her to his office, and that must be good.

"I'm under the impression that your mother wanted you to fit a time you could see her during the Christmas holidays," he began.

Victoria knew her mother had said something about that in a letter to her early during the year. She supposed that her mother had spoken about it with Severus too at some point. Victoria would very much spend one day at her mother's home for the holidays, perhaps see some of the people that she never met but spoke with her mother. Such as Andromeda Tonks' and her family.

Yet, she remembered what her mother wrote. How there was that thing that she wanted to talk about with her about. After that incident involving Quirrell, Victoria had tried as she did before to not think about that certain thing. Except because of that strange conversation, it would come back to her mind.

Victoria wanted to get away from both Quirrell and her father for the Christmas holidays, and she made sure to push that into the back of her head. Even the knowledge that the Dark Lord was literally in the school.

She didn't want anyone to panic.

"I love to," she answered, clutching the fabric of her robes. "I just don't think that Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy wouldn't like it if I did."

Victoria feels a push against her forehead ("if you feel a brush or push against your forehead, it's the Legilimens trying to access the contents of your mind) before it fades. Severus regarding her for a moment and nods before saying, "I believe Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy shouldn't be a problem, but if it's that much of a concern, there are other methods in which you could visit your mother without drawing attention."

When they have got on the platform, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy were already waiting for them. Their fur-lined cloaks draped over their shoulders, and Mrs. Malfoy's smile was the warmest of the two as Victoria, Draco, and the Lestrange children approached them.

Though Mrs. Malfoy's gaze became as steely as that of her husband's when she glanced at Eridani. Victoria saw Eridani shift uncomfortably, and she had a feeling what might be discussed at dinner.

"Let's return home before we all freeze to death out here," said Mr. Malfoy before leading the way to the fireplace. Taking them directly from the cold platform to the warm and toasty manor.

When they all seated at dinner, did Draco begin to talk about the unfairness of Harry being on his House team and Draco not being on his House team.

"I literally lost twenty points and was given a detention for flying on my broomstick when it was not allowed," Draco said as he stabbed his roast chicken with his fork. "Potter did the same thing, and what does he get? A Seekership on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He's not even that good, and his Nimbus Two Thousand nearly threw him off. Why does he get to be in the House team before me?"

Leave it to Draco Malfoy to leave out that he literally had flown to put Neville's Remembrall out of reach.

"You're not telling the whole story," Eridani muttered, echoing Victoria's thoughts.

Cassiopeia scoffed. "What is there to expect from you when you have gallivanting around with that Neville Longbottom and blood traitors like that Weasley boy?"

"Eridani, I understand the need to extend the olive branch to those outside of Slytherin," said Mr. Malfoy, and Victoria had an idea that it was a subject that he had been most eager to address. "However, that does not mean being friendly with blood traitors like the Weasleys and those whose blood status is questionable."

People like Hermione Granger and Kevin Entwhistle, even if the latter was in Slytherin.

"One of them is from Slytherin, even," Alphard bought up.

"As rare as it is, it is an unfortunate circumstance that we cannot control," Mrs. Malfoy replied before turning her gaze to Eridani. "It worries me, dear. You have a bright future ahead of you, and you are going to throw it all away by associating with children like that."

Victoria, who was silent at the table thus far, thought she could see Mrs. Malfoy glancing at her for a moment. Even if she had addressed Eridani directly, her words could have applied to Victoria as well. Thanks to the new information she'd rather not have known, she could have easily been thinking, Oh, Victoria. A child set for greatness like that should not be mingling with Mudbloods and children of blood traitors. She should be grateful that her father is not here at this time.

"Now, Toria," Mr. Malfoy addresses, bringing her out of her thoughts, "I hear you have better luck at extending the olive branch to Potter when Draco failed to."

There was no sign of critique or criticism in his tone; rather, he sounded impressed. Draco must have heard it in his tone, for he scowled at his plate.

Victoria swallowed, leaning back in her chair. "I wasn't planning for it to happen that way," she answered truthfully. "Eridani and I only went to his compartment on the train because the others were full."

"Something came out of it, didn't it?" asked Mrs. Malfoy, tilting her head to the side. "If that boy knows what's good for him, he'd drop some of those people."

Except that they were her friends too. Especially Hermione Granger.

Later, up in Eridani's room, Eri slumped on her chair, frowning at the window as Victoria turned to a particular page in her Alchemy book.

"Don't you wish you had a different family sometimes?" she asked.

Victoria knew that she was referring to the Mulcibers, except the truth was far more unpleasant. "At least I don't live with them. Severus is the closest thing I have to family."

"Might have to hex either Cassiopeia or Draco before they can continue telling me off to them," she suggested as Victoria found what she was looking for.

The Elixir of Life

Made from a Philosopher's Stone, the Elixir of Life imbues the drinker with immortality. It also allows the drinker to return to their bodily form should they lose it in some circumstances. However, the Elixir of Life needs to be drank at least once a year to ensure immortality. Once the person stops drinking it, it shall render them mortal, and they'll die the following year.

The only known person to have consumed Elixir of Life is the famed alchemist Nicolas Flamel.

So, of course, it will return the drinker to their body as well. He probably knew that, or else he wouldn't be trying to go after the Stone. He has to keep drinking, though, but Victoria had a feeling that perhaps he'd try different, darker methods to get immortality.

She turns from her book to see Eridani gazing at the fireplace. The orange of the flames reflecting off of her silver hair.

"Eridani," she starts uncertainly.

"Vic?" Eridani had asked, turning to look at her.

I like you, she wants to say. I want to be more than your friend.

"I'll still be with you if your family won't," she said instead.

Eridani smiled. "I'm glad that I have you for a friend."

"He may attempt to breach the door again," said Severus as he paced the office. "I'm going to have to patrol the third floor again."

"Has he made any more attempts recently?"

"Quirrell has been lying low since Halloween, though he might use the holidays to take advantage of the low number of students present. I don't want to risk it. Even if he has not figured out how to get past Hagrid's blasted dog yet." Severus pauses. "I may fear that he might see an opening should I even leave for a few hours to take Victoria to see her mother just for a day. Not just an attempt for the Stone but on another attempt on Potter's life as well. That last Quidditch match showed his ill regard for the lives of the students."

"I'll ensure that Quirrell is distracted for you to do such," Albus assured. "Protection of the Stone is just as important for a mother to spend quality time with her daughter."

As his protégé left the room, Albus leaned in his chair. Still glimpsing of the piles of parchment containing each students' progress. In ways, these children were like their parents before them, and in some ways, they were not. Minerva had reported that Andrew "had a mischievous streak just as his father before him." Except that Andrew had scored less detention. Despite Severus' spiels of the boy being self-centered, it was reported that Harry had seemed more like his mother even if he was the spitting image of his father: kind and modest is he.

For even if Ronald Weasley didn't seem like it to others, Albus sensed a bright mind from the son of Molly and Arthur Weasley. Victoria Mulciber, though they nearly matched those of Hermione Granger, it was as if he was looking at Tom Riddle's when he had first entered. Even if he shouldn't have been surprised.

Academics aside, she seemed to have no trouble making bonds with those outside of Slytherin. The Gryffindors are a prominent example, for she was said to hang around Harry and his friends. It had taken Tom some time in his first year to charm those around him, except that Victoria's would be genuine.

Her friendship with Harry was both a benefit as much as it was a concern. She might be less willing to stab him in the back, though her father would find ways for her to bring Harry to him on a silver platter.

Speaking of Harry.

Perhaps it was time to gift him with the heirloom Cloak he'd retrieved from James that fateful year. And what better time than Christmas?

Three days before Christmas, Victoria had just woken up when Dobby – the jumpiest of the Malfoys' house elves – entered her bedroom.

"Dobby was sent by Master and Mistress Malfoy to tell Miss Victoria Mulciber that Severus Snape will retrieve her after breakfast," Dobby squeaked. Clutching his bandaged hands together very tightly.

Victoria didn't need to ask why. For it was the very thing that she and Severus discussed before she left Hogwarts for Christmas. Victoria would rather not discuss that specific topic, but it seemed that she'd have no choice.

"Thanks, Dobby," she answered with a smile, which the house elf returns.

Following a hastily eaten breakfast, she leaves Malfoy Manor via Floo with Severus Snape to his office. "Now, to get there by Floo, the place of address is 'Yorkshire Black Residence.' I'm certain you have an idea to use Floo. Mrs. Malfoy says you have."

Victoria had taken the Floo a few times when she and Eridani had visited Daphne Greengrass or Theodore Nott at their homes in the past. She was pretty familiar with dropping the powder and enveloping in green flames to get to her destination.

She nods as she takes the handful of the glittering Floo powder. "Thank you, Severus."

"I shall retrieve you before the day ends," he says as she steps into the stone fireplace.

"Yorkshire Black Residence," she said, dropping the powder to the grate. Those green flames enveloping her and taking her from the fireplace in Severus' office. She stepped inside a familiar-looking vestibule, hearing familiar voices engaged in soft conversation a few rooms away.

"Hello?" she called as she stepped outside the vestibule. The first thing that caught Victoria's attention was the Christmas tree adorned with blue, bronze, gold, and red bulbs when she sees a mass of black curls before she's pulled into a tight hug.

"I see that the Malfoys have freed you," Andrew beamed.

"It's a good thing that they are friends with Severus," she said. "Otherwise, they wouldn't have allowed him to retrieve me for the day."

When Andrew took Victoria to the kitchen, she saw Harry, Ron, and Violet speaking with Remus. Harry, she wasn't surprised to see, for Andrew had mentioned his mother convincing Professor McGonagall to come over to the house for the day. Ron, on the other hand –

"I asked Professor McGonagall if I could come, too," he said, for the surprise must have been on her face. "Percy is a nightmare today."

Something that Eridani would say about Alphard on some days.

At the sight of her, both mother and Remus had greeted her with friendly smiles. "There is some breakfast on the cooker if you're hungry," she offered, nodding at the cooker.

Victoria did have some breakfast in Malfoy Manor, though she supposed it wouldn't be bad to have some more. She put some eggs, kippers, and tomatoes on a plate before sitting between Violet and Andrew.

"Your father and I were in the same year," Remus had told Harry, with that hint of nostalgia in his tone. "He always had that sense for trouble."

Violet didn't seem to be paying attention to what their uncle was saying. For her sea-green eyes were too focused on Harry, who was doing his best to eating his breakfast and listening to what Remus had to say.

"Uncle Moony, may you tell us that story about what the four of you did with the Master Clock in your fourth year?" Andrew prodded. "Where you messed about with time?"

"How do you mess about with time?" Harry asked cluelessly.

"Not in the way you're probably thinking, Harry," Remus answered. Slight mischief in his smile. "More of a Muggle prank than anything else. I accidentally gave James and Sirius the idea when speaking about how mum fixed that grandfather clock. That gave them an idea to mess with the time."

"So happened that it was my sixth year," mother pitched in, shaking her head. "Gave me a pulsing headache and confused the House Elves when it came to preparing meals. One time we literally had eggs with meat pies. It had lasted for nearly a month."

"I originally had it to be a half an hour's difference," explained Remus. "However, James and Sirius wanted to be a bit more mischievous and moved the clock by a couple hours, for it seemed no one noticed. Which means that we woke up in broad daylight when the clock said seven o'clock. For every time I tried to adjust it, Sirius would always move it by one extreme." Victoria struggled to keep her Pumpkin Juice from going down the wrong pipe as she shook with laughter. Harry, Ron, and Andrew were shaking with laughter as Remus concluded with, "On the day that the sun rose at eleven in the morning, it was up. For the three weeks it lasted, we were given three weeks detention."

"Because dad said that three weeks wasn't all that bad, right?" asked Andrew.

"Better not tell Fred and George," Ron said. "Mum goes after them for their pranks loads of times as it is."

Waking up at eight in the morning when it was pitch black out and having your hours messed about with? Victoria tried imagining it, and even thinking about it had given her a headache.

When they were done clearing their plates, Andrew insisted that she, Harry, and Ron go to his room to play some Exploding Snap or read up on Quidditch.

"Victoria and I need to discuss something first, and then she can join you, alright?"

Discuss something first. Victoria felt her throat go dry, and she clenched her fists.

"I don't suppose you wouldn't mind if I pitched in as well," Remus offered. "Unless you just want it to be the two of you."

"Of course, you may pitch in, Remus," said mother.

As the three boys went upstairs, Victoria followed her mother and uncle to a room off the living room. It had appeared to be a study with all the books and the chair behind a desk. Except for that, it would be what Mr. Malfoy would call unkempt with the books and papers scattered in various places. The surface of the desk was barely seen.

"I apologize." Remus conjures up two chairs for her mother and her to sit in. "As you can tell, I'm not the most organized person in this house. Unorganized to the point where your mum here has to remind me to take my potion."

That potion. Severus said that mother would brew a potion for him (the Wolfsbane Potion, to be exact), which was why he hadn't probably turned into a beast around them.

"The living room in the house where I live with Severus is like a library," she said, trying to make him feel better. "He has like a pile of books sitting by one of the chairs."

"Perhaps organization isn't in the forte of those that are studious."

Following Remus' response, silence rang through the room. As if the two adults were hesitant to speak on the matter.

Mother cleared her throat before massaging her temples. "Now, Victoria, you should know that I love you. Despite whom your father may be."

Despite whom your father may be. Victoria looks at her hands as her vision goes blurry. Swallowing as she tasted the salt in her mouth. Everything shaking around her as she struggled to hold back the tears.

All that pressure that she had been holding back. That suffocating pressure seemed to now be bursting out as if the windows of the Slytherin common room would have given way. Flooding her until she could barely keep her head up.

"W-why d-d-does i-it have t-to b-b-be m-me, t-though?" Victoria sobbed. "W-w-what d-d-did I-I d-do?"

"This isn't your fault," she could hear her mother say through her sobs. A hand on her shoulder. "You didn't ask for this any more than I did."

"Exactly," said Remus. "You didn't ask for all of this just as I haven't…" he drifts off, hesitating. "I don't know if your guardian has told you or not. I suppose Severus has."

Victoria wiped off the tears from her tears. Clearing her vision, whimpering as she looked up at her uncle. She nods. "Y-yes, h-he told me," she said. "T-that you're a-a werewolf."

"As with you, I didn't have much of choice about what I am," Remus sighed, averting his eyes from her. "I was only a boy of five when I was attacked. The werewolf that bit me did it out of revenge against our father, your grandfather. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only child he targeted. There was this girl I knew that was afflicted as well. Met her during a dark time a few years ago when I felt I was better off alone than being dependent on your mother."

Victoria knew what he was talking about. Even if her memory of it was vague at the time due to her age. Snide speculation from Cassiopeia and her friends about an older Hufflepuff student – who graduated before Victoria even started Hogwarts – who had a habit of being in the hospital wing once a month were one of the things she'd hear.

"It may be overwhelming," said mother. "That you got the worse end of the deal than some of those other kids considering that he led that cause. It may seem scary, and it is scary, but remember that you're not an extension of him. You are your own person, and if anyone tells you otherwise, then that means that they don't know you."

"Precisely," said Remus, and she didn't notice it before, but now she noticed healed-up scars were streaked across his face. "Listen, what I am, I struggle with. There are times where I still see myself as a monster. That everyone else is better off without me. Victoria, I rather you do not place that type of burden on your shoulders."

What about when he comes back? she wants to ask. What if he wants me by his side?

But that would mean that she'd be in here forever. Victoria would rather be with Andrew, Ron, and Harry and have fun with them. Instead, Victoria nodded and managed to give a feeble smile. "I'll try, Uncle Remus," she said. "I swear I'll try."

Maybe it wouldn't be hurt to address him as uncle from now on. For he, along with her mother, had tried his best to help her. Even if it didn't seem to work for her.

"Remember when I tell you this, Toria: Don't let that biological connection to your father rule you," she advised, gently lifting Victoria's chin up. A gentle smile curling her lips. "You'll only give him a foothold later on if you do. If you ever feel like you're drowning at sea again, disconnect yourself from him and remind yourself that you're not like him."

Disconnect herself from him and remind herself that she's not like him so she wouldn't feel as if she was drowning at sea. Now, that would probably work better if he wasn't in the school via Quirrell.

Not that mother should know. Mother would panic should she find out.

Victoria gets up from her chair and wraps her arms around her mother's shoulders. Nestling her chin on her shoulder as she could feel her mother's arms wrap around her. "Thank you," she murmured. "Thank you so much."

"I know you have Severus Snape, but I'm also here if you need anything," mother offered as they pulled apart. Her eyes were glassy as she brushed Victoria's golden locks past her ear. "My brother here as well."

Victoria takes a deep breath as she walks towards Andrew's bedroom. Trying to set it into a skip so they wouldn't think anything was wrong. Not that they needed to know.

"We have to convince her somehow. I know he's her guardian, but –"

"No, that's probably going to push her away."

"Or just do it without her. How's it going to work with her eyes on Quirrell while it all leads to Snape?"

Frowning, Victoria pushed the door open. It only took moments for them to take notice of her presence. All three boys stopped talking as she strolled in. They tried to act casual as they picked up their Exploding Snap cards.

Except that Harry's blush on his cheeks was betraying that as his green eyes gazed at her. "What did she want?" he asked.

Victoria shrugged as she took sat on the empty spot of carpet. "Just asking if I might fit some time for her this summer holiday," she lied as she scratched her neck. "I told her that it shouldn't be hard since I'm with Snape in the summer."

"I don't understand how you put up with him," said Ron as he handed her a few of the cards he was holding. "I don't think I'd last a day under his nose."

As they continue that game of Exploding Snap, she could feel Harry gazing sideways at her. Perhaps one didn't need to be a Legilimens to sense if someone was lying.

Even if she disagreed with them about Severus. For if it comes down to it, they might have to work together despite who they suspect, contrary to what Ron said.

Perhaps, she might have to prove to them that Quirrell was up to no good. Even if it meant breaking her word to Severus about avoiding him outside of class.

The Ministry of Magic always had Malfoy Manor as their venue for their annual Christmas galas on Christmas Eve. The Malfoys' ballroom would be full of Ministry officials (high level, to be exact. Mr. Malfoy would not want Mr. Weasley there, and Victoria knew that Mr. Weasley himself would not want to be at a function that was in the place where Mr. Malfoy would lay his head every night) and other important people.

Even if the adults didn't feel that way, Victoria sometimes felt that she and the other children were present for their amusement. To chuckle and shake their heads as if they were cute. Draco had seemed to bask in some of the attention, especially when he was asked by Dolores Umbridge, the Minister's Undersecretary, what he had wanted to do.

"Have a seat in the Wizengamot?" Miss Umbridge answered, seemingly pleased by his answer. "My father was once a very respected member of the Wizengamot. Had to retire early due to poor health." Then she turned her eyes to Victoria. "Now, Lucius has also spoken highly of you, my dear. Hoping to be our next Minister of Magic, I assume."

Minister of Magic. That was a great position, and should she turn out great, it might be something she would look towards. However, it was too early in her life, she decided. Besides, even the greatest of people had humble backgrounds.

"I was thinking of maybe being Potions Master of Hogwarts," she answered, twiddling the piece of candy in her fingers. "Like my guardian."

Miss Umbridge gives that girlish giggle that Victoria ever so despised, for it didn't seem real at all. "And move on to one of our best potioneers that we have seen?" she said with that sickly sweet smile. "With all that Lucius has shared about Severus Snape, I shouldn't be disappointed."

Fortunately, Draco grew bored and tired from being fawned over by the adults. When he suggested that he, Victoria, and Eridani go down to the kitchens to sample the pudding for tomorrow's Christmas dinner, Victoria didn't argue.

"You don't really want to be in the Wizengamot, do you?" Eridani asked as both she and Victoria took a spoonful of the same slice of trifle.

Draco shrugged. "I only said that because father was there. Why do I care about politics?" he took a bite full of the Christmas cake. "I want to be the next Newt Scamander, but greater. Be a Magizoologist."

How she'd seen Draco act around others at school, Victoria didn't see it as a lie that politics held no interest to him. He'd probably only want to be what Newt was for the adventure of it all.

"Not as great as being high up in the Ministry," said Eridani.

The three of them had scraped their plates clean and left the kitchen in a sprint. Racing each other to the grand sitting room.

"I beat you two!" Draco shouted in triumph as both Victoria and Eridani leaned back against the wall to catch their breath. Victoria wiped the sweat off her face before stepping further into the room.

"Childish, the three of you," Alphard scolded, and Victoria turned to see him sitting by the fireplace. The flames illuminating him and the Christmas tree a few feet away.

"You were eleven," Victoria pointed out.

"Yes, but I wasn't this childish." Alphard shakes his head before setting the book on the armrest. "Such behavior would be a deduction of house points, you know."

"But we're not in Hogwarts," Eridani challenged as she crossed her arms. At that moment, Cassiopeia enters, followed by two more people. "And that be a pity."

"Sweet Salazar, just when I wanted to study in peace," Alphard groans as he sees the number of people in the sitting room. "The library is quieter."

He picks up his book and briskly walks away from the sitting room. Victoria, Eridani, and Draco could only stare at each other before the three of them dissolve into giggles.