"How was your holiday?" Neville had asked cheerfully as he joined Hermione, Victoria, Andrew, and Eridani in their compartment on the train ride back to Hogwarts. "Well, I hope."

"Not too bad," Eridani answered, leaning back and crossing her arms behind her head. "Loads of Ministry people were in the ballroom for that Christmas Gala."

"We escaped to the kitchen, though," Victoria added with a smile. "I managed to see mum during the holiday."

"Christmas at my aunt and uncle's was good, except for my cousin being an immature prat," Hermione shared as she sifted through what looked like a bag of Christmas candy.

"How old is he anyway?" asked Victoria as Hermione handed her what looked like balls wrapped in colorful foil of red, silver, and green. Mother had some too in the living room in a glass bowl.

"Just a year younger than me, but I don't remember being that childish at ten," Hermione rationalized as Millicent – who was carrying her cat – and Kevin stepped into the compartment.

"We're still children," Kevin pointed out. "We're not little adults, Hermione."

The seven of them had yet to relax, and Andrew had just pulled out his deck of Exploding Snap when the compartment door slid open. At the doorway stood Cassiopeia. Twirling her dark hair as her chestnut-colored eyes turned to Eridani.

"Remember the conversation Uncle Lucius and Aunt Cissy had with you the night you came home for the holidays, Eri?" Cassiopeia dryly demanded. "About you hanging around with the riff-raff like Granger and Entwhistle?"

"Never thought you want a say on my friends, Cassiopeia," Eridani sent on tightly.

"It does matter if you want to still be a part of the family," she maintained. "Great Aunt Walburga would have burnt you off the tapestry if you part of the Black family, as Aunt Cissy would say. I'd leave this compartment if I were you, Eridani. You, too, Victoria," Cassiopeia added, looking at Victoria. "You already have gotten enough filth attached to you being the bastard child of Gaius Mulciber. You're only dirtying your hands even more by talking with the likes of Granger, Black, Weasley, Longbottom, Potter, and Entwhistle."

Andrew was about to stand up –

"I don't care," Victoria declared, having enough at the moment.

If it wasn't tense in the compartment, it seemed to be taken to a stiffening notch as Cassiopeia's face had turned a shade of puce. "Don't care?"

"If my hands are dirty, let them be," Victoria snapped, about to pull out her wand. "Now, get out of here before one of us hexes you."

Cassiopeia's nostrils flared as she coldly regarded them. "I just hope that you don't come to regret it," she sniffed before slamming the door shut with enough force that it would have broken off the hinges if it did.

Victoria slumped against the chair, and she could see that everyone else in the compartment had seemed tired. Especially Eridani.

"That is what we have to deal with in the common room," Millicent said after a few moments of silence. Pointing to the compartment door. "One of those Slytherins who goes on about blood purity."

"As if she's not in a Hogwarts House where most of them are half-blood," muttered Kevin. "I'm one of the few Muggle-borns."

Eridani hadn't spoken for most of the trip back. Rather she had gazed resentfully at the window. Victoria had wanted to say something but perhaps thought it was best not to.

Something that everyone else had seemed to realize, and they didn't talk to her for the rest of the train ride. Yet, when they embarked on Hogsmeade station under a dark amber sky from where snow fell, she could hear Neville trying to talk to her.

"Not only is Draco Malfoy rotten, but most of that family is too," Hermione seethed as the carriage took them to the school.

"When you believe something stupid as blood purity, you are rotten," Andrew scoffed.

As they entered the castle, while Hermione, Neville, and Andrew made their way up the marble staircase towards Gryffindor Tower, Victoria, Eridani, Kevin, and Millicent made their descent to the Slytherin Dungeon.

Before following Millicent into the dormitory, Eridani said, "If I had a choice, I wouldn't be a Lestrange."

If Victoria could have a choice, her father wouldn't be the Dark Lord. That she knew as much.

The first day back after the Christmas holidays went quite well, aside from Victoria trying to make herself sparse in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Even with the Christmas cheer preoccupying her mind during the holidays, she had no trouble remembering what they learned prior to break.

A few of her year mates, however, felt differently.

"I wish it was the Christmas holidays again," Ron expressed, wistfully glancing at the falling snow when they convened at the library before dinner. "Why did we have to be given a heavy workload on the day we come back?"

"We've got to use our minds somehow." Victoria tapped her forehead. "We can't vegetate." Then moving to the subject, "How was your Christmas holidays here? I know I saw you at mother's, but I want to hear how it went here. How did you like my presents, Harry?"

At the start of the Christmas holidays, during a trip to Diagon Alley with Mrs. Malfoy, Eridani, and Cassiopeia, she'd purchased Quidditch Through the Ages, Modern Magical History, the Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, Greatest Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century, Hogwarts, a History, Tales of Beedle the Bard, and The Dark Eleven Years for Harry. Having them delivered to Hogwarts for Christmas. The first one because she felt he'd want his own copy of Quidditch Through the Ages after the time where Severus took that book from him. The rest because she had a feeling that he might need them.

"I liked them, thanks," Harry answered with a smile. Of course, there be only one of the seven that she'd given him that he'd like the most. Only he wouldn't say it to her face.

"No offense, but there's only one present that he got that he really likes," Andrew beamed, to which Harry's cheeks turned red.

"Shhh." Ron looked around the library. "Not here, you tosser. Not out loud anyway."

At that, Ron scribbles down something hastily and folds it vertically. Pushing it towards her. Millicent and Kevin watching curiously as she opens it to read it.

He received an Invisibility Cloak. Not one of those dodgy ones that wear off years later. One of those real, rare ones.

An Invisibility Cloak that doesn't fade off? Interesting. Sounds like the Cloak that Death gave the Third Brother. Every tale has some semblance of truth, she once heard.

"Interesting." Victoria passes the note back to Ron before turning back to her notes. If something like Death's Cloak did exist, the same could be said for Death's Wand and Stone. Except the latter seemed more unlikely than the former.

When she had left the library, Victoria took the route to the third-floor corridor instead of following Eridani, Kevin, and Millicent to the Slytherin common room to put their books away before dinner. Certainly, to see if she can catch Quirrell try and attempt on the door.

That time on Halloween might not have been his first.

Halfway to her destination, Victoria hid close by one of the torches. Glancing around to see if anyone was watching. She saw no one, even if she had a feeling that perhaps someone was.

Calamita, she thinks, intently envisioning herself blending into the surroundings as she flicks her wand at herself. Victory coursing through her to see that she perfectly blended into the wall.

Trying as hard as she could to make sure her footsteps were inaudible as she trekked through corridor after corridor. It was late at night when she, Andrew, Hermione, Harry, and Ron ran through the corridors to escape from Peeves and Filch. Yet, she still had an idea which turns to take.

Victoria had just caught sight of that wooden door when Quirrell had brushed alongside her. She freezes, the tension licking up her body like flames as Quirrell looks around to see if anyone was there before stepping close to the door.

And by that time, she presses herself against the stone wall. Swallowing hard while she watches Quirrell put his hand on the doorknob. Palms sweating as he turned it.

Upon opening the door, Victoria had heard the familiar growling that she heard the night she encountered the three-headed dog. She had fought herself not to wince as Quirrell did when he shut the door.

"It's awake," Quirrell murmurs. "I can't. Not right now."

"Not right now," rasped that disembodied voice of her father. "You have until six months to retrieve that Stone, and I can assure you that those six months will pass quickly. If you don't find a way to get past that dog until then, I should reconsider even enlisting you."

"No, My Lord, I'll do it." There was a certainty in his voice. Confidence that she had never heard before. "I have just the idea."

With that, Quirrell walks from the door. Victoria staring after him, frozen against the wall as he leaves.

The next day, Victoria had sent notes to Andrew, Harry, Ron, and Hermione to meet with her somewhere they couldn't be heard. During the morning break, the five of them met in one of the empty classrooms.

Andrew made sure that Peeves was not in there before closing the door.

"What is it, Victoria?" asked Hermione.

Victoria twiddled her fingers. Swallowing a few times before stuffing her clammy hands in the pockets of her robe. "After we met in the library, I decided to wait outside the third-floor corridor to see if anyone would try to get through the door. Guess who I saw?"

The answer that came was predictable.

"Snape," said Andrew and Harry in unison.

Victoria shook her head. "No, not Professor Snape. Quirrell."

It was as if they'd seen a dog walking on its hind legs. For they all had varying degrees of bewilderment on their faces.

"Quirrell?" asked Ron.

"I mean, he's probably trying to make sure no one was trying to breach it," Hermione suggested. "He is the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, after all."

"He's probably onto Snape," Ron pitched in.

Victoria shook her head. "It wasn't just that." Then with a shiver, she continued, "I heard a disembodied voice talking to him."

At that point, she thought they were going to laugh at her. That she was being daft. However, they must have seen her fear, for they became as pale as Baron Godfrey.

"What did that voice tell him, Vic?" asked Harry.

Victoria swallowed hard as if the Snitch was stuck in her throat. "It said, 'You have until six months to retrieve that Stone, and I can assure you that those six months will pass quickly. If you don't find a way to get past that dog until then, I should reconsider even enlisting you'. Quirrell told him he had an idea, and he walked away before he could say anything."

She didn't tell him of her earlier encounter with that disembodied spirit of her father. How her father had taken possession of Quirrell's body just to speak to her. That it was even Voldemort and that he was her father. She didn't want to imagine their reactions, as Severus said that Gryffindors tend to think in black and white. That they rarely believe in shades of gray.

There was no sound but the chirping of the birds outside.

"It doesn't make sense," Hermione said with a frown. "I saw Snape saying what looked like a curse; he wasn't taking his eyes off Harry…."

"Neither was Quirrell," Victoria had pointed out.

Victoria would have an idea that Harry wouldn't like it if she had told anyone outside that group of five that knew about the Philosopher's Stone. Yet, it wouldn't be right to keep Eridani in the dark when she's told her things in the past.

You never told her about the thing with your father, whispered the voice in her mind.

No, not now. Not today. Perhaps another time. If she was going to tell anyone, it was going to have to be Eridani first.

Before dinner, Victoria and Eridani went to their dormitory. Fortunately, it was empty save for Tabitha licking one of her legs on Millicent's bed. That did not stop Victoria from incanting, "Muffliato," as she and Eridani had sat on her bed. In case anyone was to happen to enter their dormitory during their conversation.

One of the spells from Severus' notes within his old copy of Standard Book of Spells: Grade 5.

"What do you want to tell me, Vic?" Eridani asked, taking one of her pillows and setting it on her lap.

Where to start, she thinks before answering, "You know what they said about the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side? That it was out of bounds?' At Eridani's nod, Victoria continued. "Um, Harry, Ron, Andrew, Hermione, and I did some nosing around when we shouldn't?"

"Sweet Salazar," Eridani gasps, eyes wide. "What did you find out?"

"Erm, I mean, we didn't mean to," Victoria admitted, looking down at her hand. "It all started when I tried to warn Harry and Ron that Draco was setting them up. Well, Andrew and Hermione came along with them, and the five of us had to run from Filch and then Peeves. We hid from them, and it turns out it was that corridor. Not only that, but we saw this three-headed dog there."

Eridani's eyes couldn't have been wider than Galleons as she turns pale white. "They are keeping an animal like that in a school?" she asked. "Why?"

Victoria bit her lip. "Probably because they think that it will make people not want to get killed stealing the Philosopher's Stone. Unfortunately, it's a teacher that's trying to steal it."

"Hold the Floo." Eridani waves her arms. "The Philosopher's Stone, really? And what teacher is trying to steal it?"

"You know what Kevin said about Quirrell not being in the feast?" Victoria asked. "I decided to lurk around that third-floor corridor, without being seen, of course, and I saw Quirrell trying to breach the door. But he was unable to because of that dog. There's more too."

Victoria swallows. Maybe she should tell her now and not later. It wasn't like Eridani was a complete stranger. It's not like Eridani wouldn't be there for her either.

"What I am going to say next seems odd and perhaps outlandish," she continues. She takes Eridani's hand. "Please, don't find me odd."

"You know I won't," Eridani swore.

Victoria took a deep breath and paid attention close attention to Eridani's face as she told her. Watching the blood drain from her face and at some point, she turned her face away.

"I -erm – You m-mean, h-he's h-h-here?" Eridani stammered. "I-inhabiting Q-Quirrell?"

"Yes," Victoria answered. "You're not shocked, a little disgusted that my father happens to be Voldemort instead of Gaius Mulciber?"

"You're still my friend, Vic!" Eri exclaimed, wringing her hands. "It wouldn't have mattered even if your father was the Giant Squid!"

Eridani Lestrange was true to her word. Ever since the revelation of her parentage, she hadn't looked or treated her any different than before. Perhaps what was helpful was Eridani's parents were said to be the most fanatically loyal of the Dark Lord Voldemort's followers. That she wouldn't naturally have any reservations.

"Also, you mustn't tell anyone what I said about him being here," Victoria had bid. "Not even to Severus or Dumbledore."

"Are you sure, Vic?" Eri had asked uncertainly. "It might be something that they'd want to know. That the Dark Lord is inhabiting one of the teachers."

Eridani did have a point. It would be something they'd want to know. Especially Dumbledore, for the murderer of Harry's parents and many others. However –

"No, it will be just like that time in 1943," Victoria stressed. "They all thought the Chamber of Secrets was opened, but it turned out to be something else."

Eridani didn't seem happy at Victoria's insistent on staying mum about Voldemort's presence in the school but had offered to tail Quirrell. "One of us has to," she said. "Can't someone from Gryffindor. They aren't known for their self-preservation."

Towards the end of January, she had something else to think about aside from her father and Quirrell. The Quidditch season was starting up again. Harry was hardly in the library on the first two Saturdays, for he was at practice.

One such Saturday, Victoria was studying with Andrew, Neville, Eridani, and a handful of her other friends. She was reading the text from Magical Theory when she heard Neville groan in frustration. Breaking her out of her reading. "My Herbology notes," he moans. "I must have left them in the dormitory. I'll be right back."

Victoria, Andrew, and Eridani watched as Neville hurried from the library. Before they heard a 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. A throng of students was still gathering around what appeared to be a dissipating scene. With some of the Slytherins – Lavinia and Pansy among them – jeering as Neville bunny hopped 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. In her mind, she was going through the various ways on how to get back at Draco later as she watched Andrew unsheathe his wand –

"Mutatio Skullus!"

Eridani was faster than Andrew. Pointing her wand at her cousin and sending the hex his way. The laughter receded to a halt as Draco's head began to mishappen. Twisting and distorting itself until he was unrecognizable. Pansy shrieked in horror, her hands covering her hands.

"What is going on here?" demanded Alphard as a 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 a portion of the students dispersing.

"Now, Miss Lestrange, can you explain why you hexed Mister Malfoy outside the library?" Professor McGonagall demanded.

"He hexed Neville, Professor McGonagall," asserted Eridani. "Someone had to do something."

"And instead of going to either one of us, you chose to take care of it yourself," Professor McGonagall seethed, nostrils flaring.

"I do not have words for how disappointed I am with you, Miss Lestrange," Severus drawled. "It would be something that I would expect your friend here to do" – at that, he gazes at Andrew – "not from a student of your House. In the future, if you plan to get back at your cousin, it wouldn't be wise to be so rash about it and do it in the open where everyone can see. Now, if you can come with me."

Without so much protest, Eridani follows after Severus. "Now, will you all return to your studies," Professor McGonagall prompted before going on her way.

When Professor McGonagall was out of earshot, Lavinia huffed, "So much for being loyal to one's House."

"Rich coming from someone that has given me a hard time out in the open in front of those of other Houses," Victoria retorted before she can stop herself.

"As if a bastard child warrants respect," Lavinia sniffed. Moving her auburn hair from her shoulder. "I am simply reminding you of your place, child."

"Child, when you're one yourself?" Victoria pointed out. "I'm just as good as Slytherin as you are. I know what my place is, where you belong, and I don't care what you think, Lavinia Mulciber."

"Goes to show that those Gryffindor riff-raff are rubbing off of you," Lavinia sneered. "You should care, brat."

"I said I don't!" Victoria exclaimed with such force that it would have shaken the castle. "I know my place is not with you, but I'm glad that it isn't! Why don't you go get yourself eaten by the Giant Squid!?"

Victoria turns her heel, not bothering to look behind her. Though she could feel Lavinia's gaze burning to the back of her head. "You'll regret that one, Victoria Mulciber! You'll regret you ever decided to challenge me! Not even your Potions Master of a guardian can help you!"

Oh, she's even bothering to use her surname while threatening her. How rich.

"Want me to help you watch your back?" Andrew offered. "In case she tries anything."

"Thank you, but I'd rather not drag you into trouble," she said. "It might be messy if you do. Anyways, you might want to make sure that Neville gets back to your common room."

Whatever Lavinia was planning, she was probably already cooking it up and waiting when to do it. A Slytherin thing to do. And cunning was among the things Salazar Slytherin himself coveted.

She'd have to watch her back.

Andrew nods, and Victoria returns to where their friends were sitting. Quietly returning to her work. Neville had come back half an hour later. His legs were now apart from each other. His mood slightly improved as he referred to his Herbology notes for his homework.

"I hope Eridani didn't get into trouble," said Neville as they left the library. "If I had a 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.

When she returned to the Slytherin common room, she saw Eridani surrounded by Alphard and Cassiopeia. Alphard was crossing his arms, disappointment etched on his features. Cassiopeia, on the other hand, was curling her lips in apparent disgust.

"Don't you have any self-respect at all?" Cassiopeia demanded. "To hex one of our own, especially our cousin, in defense of that spineless Squib?"

"He's not a Squib," Eri argued. Hair turning just as red as the angry flush on her face. "And just because he might not seem like he has a spine doesn't mean he won't eventually."

"The problem that I have is that you had no qualms on hexing our own cousin, your house mate, for all to see," Alphard stressed. "It sends a terrible message to the other first years on Slytherin unity."

"If I'm sending a terrible message, Draco sent one, too," Eridani argued as she made eye contact with Victoria. "Don't go after just me."

With that, she pushed past them and walked towards Victoria. Taking her by the hand and dragging her towards the dormitories.

"How much trouble are you in?" Victoria asked.

"Thirty points from Slytherin and a detention," Eridani sighed. "When I asked about Draco, his words were: I'll speak to him when his head turns back to normal. Professor Snape's tongue lashing was enough. I didn't need Alphard and Cassiopeia to harp on me."

"It's not like he didn't ask for it after doing that to Neville," Victoria pointed out. "Anyways, let's go to the Great Hall and beat some of the others for dinner."

As the day for the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match drew nearer, there was talk and speculation on Severus being the referee instead of Madam Hooch. And when Victoria went to Severus to see if it was true:

"It is to ensure that no one tries to murder the Gryffindor Seeker as they did the last time," Severus had answered as he straightened the pile of parchment in his hands.

Victoria thinks back to when Severus also locked his eyes with Harry that Quidditch match a few months ago. She already figured out that he wasn't the one who wasn't jinxing Harry's broom. However, she took it as confirmation.

"I mean, I'm sure others will be quick to act anyway," she said.

"One can't take chances, Toria," Severus pointed out. "Especially these days."

He might not have been totally wrong, given the predatory and vindictive glances that Lavinia was sending her way ever since that incident outside of the library. Whenever she passed by Lavinia and her posse, it would be as if a dung bomb went off.

Eridani, Hermione, Daphne, Millicent, and Tracey even took it upon themselves to go with Victoria to the lavatory. Should Lavinia ambush her unawares. For even they saw how hostile she had carried herself with these days.

"Merlin, Victoria, what did you do?" Daphne had commented one day.

Victoria shrugged. "I told her I didn't care what she thought. To go get swallowed by the Giant Squid."

This incited laughter in the other girls. Until slowly, they became serious. "You probably stepped on her pride there," surmised Tracey. "In that case, she's probably dangerous."

"Could try to find a way to destroy you or get you expelled," Eridani said.

"When we're only eleven?" asked Victoria. Even if she knew better. Draco lured Harry to the Trophy Room under false pretenses and had tipped off Filch. There was a chance that Lavinia could do the same to her or worse.

On the day of the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff Quidditch match, whatever plan for vengeance that Lavinia would have was pushed out of her mind. Primarily for two reasons.

The first was making sure that Harry made it out of the game alive. During the entire match, she gripped the front of the stands tightly. Clenching her teeth as she watched Harry flying on his broomstick in search for the Snitch. Trying to ignore what Draco was saying ("You know how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team?" he said loudly as Severus had awarded Hufflepuff a second penalty. "It's people they feel sorry for. See, there's Potter, who's got no parents, then there's the Weasleys, who've got no money – I'm certain they'll even choose Longbottom. He's got no brains." "I think you're the one without the brain, Draco!" Eridani had exclaimed) to avoid hexing him.

With Professor Dumbledore present, Quirrell wouldn't have been able to do anything to Harry anyway. When Harry caught the Snitch, with Lee Jordan excitedly announcing Gryffindor's win of one hundred to forty, did she feel the tension leave her body.

The second thing that had preoccupied her mind occurred just before dinner. Victoria and Eridani had just left the dungeons when Victoria caught sight of Quirrell slip from the two front doors without managing to be noticed.

"Think he's up to something?" Eridani whispered.

"I think so," Victoria whispered. "Go ahead to dinner. I'll follow him."

With that, she disillusions herself nonverbally with her wand before trailing him out the door. Making sure to keep herself several paces behind him.

Quirrell, it turned out, was going quite a reasonable distance from the castle. Going in as deep as into the Forbidden Forest. Victoria made sure not to even step on a twig as she ventured deep into the forest behind him.

Her teeth chattering as she looked around the ominous trees around her. Almost jumping when she thought she heard some rustling in the distance. Swallowing repeatedly as she hoped not to come across any snakes.

At last, when he stopped at a patch of clearing, she hid behind a tree. Not even dispelling the disillusionment charm as she made sure that she made no sound.

When it had seemed like minutes. When she could have sworn that the cold was seeping into her bones as her teeth chattered, did she approach someone arriving at the same clearing where Quirrell was standing.

The man let down his hood, and as clear as day, she could see that it was Severus.

What was Severus doing here? Meeting Quirrell in the middle of the Forbidden Forest?

"We're rather punctual today, Quirrell," Severus drawled. "I would have thought that you'd choose the coward's choice of not meeting me."

Overhead, she thought she heard something rustle in one of the trees above. Victoria looked up, and from where she was standing, she could see a glimpse of black hair.

"I-I-I r-received your l-l-letter, Severus," Quirrell stammered. "I-I d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus..."

"I thought we keep this private," Severus icily maintained. His sallow features were cold as stone. "Students aren't supposed to know about the Philosopher's Stone, after all."

Still disillusioned, Victoria peered her head around to hear things more clearly. Quirrell was mumbling something under his breath before Severus interrupted him.

"Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?"

"B-b-but Severus, I-"

"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," said Severus, taking a step toward him.

"I-I don't know what you-"

"You know perfectly well what I mean," Severus spat. Black eyes narrowed into slits. "All this stammering, stuttering, and fiddling around of yours is nothing but an act. You may have fooled Dumbledore, Minerva, and the entire faculty and students, but you have not fooled me. Now, tell me your secret to your little bit of hocus-pocus. I'm waiting."

"B-but I d-d-don't-"

"Very well," Severus cut in. "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie."

He threw his cloak over his head and strode out of the clearing. Leaving Quirrell standing still as a statue. Victoria had waited a few minutes before quietly moving away from her hiding place. Retracing her steps as she looked down at the ground to watch for any snakes slithering in her path.

By the time she was a few feet away from the forest, Victoria had lifted the disillusionment charm by the time she saw Harry land on the ground beside her.

"That is going to scare someone someday," Harry commented, holding his broom. "Were you there, too?"

"I heard everything that was said," she said as they headed towards the castle.

"Did you hear everything that Snape said to Quirrell?" Harry asked. "An owl hooted loudly in my ear, and all I could hear was something about Quirrell's hocus-pocus."

Victoria swallowed. "He said that Quirrell didn't fool him like he had with the other teachers and students. That he knew it was all an act."

At those words, she could see the realization in his green eyes. As if everything that she had said about Quirrell had now made sense. As if any doubts had disappeared.

"Let's go find Ron, Andrew, and Hermione," said Harry. "Tell them what we heard. That Snape is not after the Stone."

And just like that, the two of them make a beeline for the castle.