When the wards placed in the Slytherin dormitories notified Severus that Victoria Mulciber was the only one unaccounted for in her dormitory, panic was the first thing that Severus had felt. As if someone had pulled him down into unforgiving waters.
He hadn't seen her during dinner, and Severus loathed to wonder in which time she went missing. It hadn't helped that Quirrell seemed satisfied with himself that day, and he knew he should have locked the door to his study when he found his bottle of Sleeping Draught missing. If Quirrell hadn't found out how to get past Hagrid's dog…
An equally horrific possibility had also crossed Severus' mind. If Victoria was missing, what's to say that Quirrell hadn't snatched up Harry Potter as well? Something he'd do when he got what he wanted.
With this disturbing epiphany, Severus' pulse pounded in his ears as he knocked on the door to Minerva's room in the teacher's wing.
"Severus, what is it?" Minerva had asked, the worry visible on her face. "What's happened?"
"Have you thought to check if all your students were to bed?" he asked. Even if he had tried to hide it, he could still hear the panic in his voice.
"All the students were in their dormitories last time, I had checked," she answered promptly. "Unless Potter had left his dormitory as soon as –
She didn't finish, for the blood drained from her face. As if that exact horrific comprehension had dawned on her as well. "Just this afternoon, Potter and his friends had said something about someone stealing the Philosopher's Stone. Victoria was quite concerned that someone would steal it even with the barriers we had put in place. I hope they haven't…."
Minerva's words alone had given Severus another horrific possibility. Victoria, Harry, and their friends were acting preoccupied when he saw them this afternoon. The way they looked at him as if there was something they were talking about that they didn't want him to know. That foolish and reckless boy. Of course, he'd go try to stop whoever was stealing the Philosopher's Stone despite only having a first-year education. Pulling his friends into his reckless plans, thus getting them all killed.
No, Harry Potter wasn't going to die by his own recklessness. Severus wasn't going to allow it. It would be failing his promise to Lily to keep her son safe.
"I suggest you go to your dormitories to check that no one else is gone," Severus suggests. Minerva had wasted no time to run towards the direction of the Gryffindor Tower. His cloak billowing behind him as he ran towards the direction of that third-floor corridor.
He had failed. He ignored Quirrell today, and he gave Quirrell the window to steal the Stone. Severus should have pulled both Victoria and Potter aside to see what they were talking about. Why didn't Victoria trust him to tell him? Then again, Severus had a feeling that there were things that Victoria wasn't telling him.
No doubt she was doing good in her Occlumency. He didn't see anything in her mind, though she still had some ways to go. As even if he didn't know, he could still feel the emotions pertaining to whatever she might be hiding.
When Severus had arrived, he nearly fell to the ground on his knees at what he saw. Albus, a pale and stricken Victoria, Weasley, Black, and Granger (the last three just as pale as stricken as he was), were gathered around a levitated stretcher. Severus could get a glimpse of who it was, and for that moment, he thought he failed one child.
He failed.
"Albus," Severus uttered, struggling to keep his composure.
Albus had turned towards him. "Ah, Severus," the aged wizard addressed genially as Severus took each step towards them. "I was wondering if you would come here."
"I was too late, Albus," he pointed out. It was the truth. "If I was any sooner…."
"No, you weren't too late," Albus had assured him.
Victoria had stood with Andrew, Hermione, and Ron as they watched Dumbledore take the levitated stretcher holding an unconscious Harry towards the hospital wing. Leaving them with Severus. His fists clenched and eyes wide as he towered over them.
She was sure that a tongue lashing was to follow. That the four of them were reckless. That she didn't have any self-preservation in spite of being Slytherin.
"The four of you go to bed," he said in clipped tones, apparently having no words for what just happened. "Victoria, I will talk with you first thing tomorrow morning."
Victoria couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. All she could think was Harry in the hospital wing and unconscious. He wasn't dead, Professor Dumbledore has assured that he was alright, but she hoped that he wasn't terribly hurt. To think that he took on Quirrell alone. That he could have gotten killed.
What about the Stone? Professor Dumbledore said to Severus that they weren't too late, but what would happen to it? Take it somewhere else where it would be out of reach from her father and anyone else?
She should have told them that her father was inhabiting Quirrell. Then this all would have been avoided. Harry wouldn't be in the hospital wing unconscious.
The above things were what she was more worried about than her coming meeting with Severus. When she got up and came to his office as bid, he was already there.
"Come in," Severus had prompted crisply.
She clenches her hands as she strides over to the chair in front of his desk. Looking up to see his nostrils flaring and eyes glittering.
"How's Harry?" she couldn't help but ask. "Is he hurt bad?"
"He's not mortally wounded if you are asking," he answers. "He should be fine before the End-of-the Term feast. Now, as to why you are here: Do you have any idea what danger you had put yourself in?" he had demanded. "Going along with Potter to stop Professor Quirrell from stealing the Stone when you could have gone to me or any other teacher about it. When I had specifically told you not to get anywhere near Quirrell outside of class? How long have the five of you had known about this when it was clear that it wasn't for you to know?"
Victoria took a deep breath. He was going to find out anyway. So, she told him everything, well, almost everything from start to finish. How it all started when they found themselves face to face with the three-headed dog when gallivanting around the castle at night ("We didn't actually intend to find Hagrid's dog there. We were just trying to get away from both Peeves and Filch) and how everything had unfolded ("All Hagrid did was name drop Nicolas Flamel and that's how we found out that it was the Philosopher's Stone.").
In the end, Severus had narrowed his eyes. "No, I don't think that's everything," he deduced. "There's something else. Something that I'm afraid that you are hesitant to tell."
At this, Victoria had hung her head. There was no point in keeping it a secret now. She should have told Severus about it as soon as it happened. "If I had told you as soon as it happened, Harry wouldn't be in the hospital wing," she admitted, the tears streaming down her face. "Maybe this all would have been avoided."
Before Severus could even ask her to clarify what it was, she could hear the door open.
"Albus," he addresses.
No! She wasn't comfortable telling the Headmaster this yet! Victoria had felt more of the tears come as she started to shake.
"Is this a wrong time, Severus?" asked the Headmaster.
Don't say it yet! Don't say it yet! Don't say
"I-I k-knew he was here!" she tearfully exclaimed. "I knew t-t-hat h-he w-was in Q-Quirrell b-b-before C-Christmas!"
Silence. There were no words from the two men as the silence was filled by her own sobs.
"You knew?" asked Severus, the cold horror evident in his tone. "How?"
"H-he p-possessed P-professor Q-Quirrel so h-he could s-speak with me," she continued to sob. "I-I didn't w-want t-to s-scare a-a-anyone. N-n-not m-m-mother. N-not even Severus."
"Oh, Victoria," she could hear Severus sigh in exasperation. She could easily see him shaking his head as he put his forehead to his hands. "There are some things you have to talk to us about, and that was one of them."
"Indeed," Professor Dumbledore mused. "However, we must not be too hard on her. The two of us would have done the same thing if we were in her situation. It's not uncommon for children to withhold certain information from their elders in fear that it might scare them. Could last night have been avoided if she had come earlier? They would, however, not everything is as simple as we'd like."
Victoria rubbed her eyes before gazing at both her guardian and the Headmaster. Severus was stern as he crossed his arms. Professor Dumbledore, however, was gently smiling at her.
"Harry isn't in the hospital wing because of a decision you made," he said. "I would like you to not have that burden on your shoulders."
"What punishment will I get for this?" she asked, as she had still broken school rules.
"Even if it was for a good cause, there is no denying that you broke school rules," Severus had said. "I do believe that this warrants a detention, which you will serve tonight."
"Also, I do believe that twenty points to Slytherin are in order," Dumbledore beamed. "If you don't mind, Severus."
Victoria frowned. A detention and twenty points to Slytherin? Did she hear this right?
"I thought that points were docked along with detentions," she pointed out, "not given with them."
"Only for this time," said Severus. "Don't expect it any other time."
"What happened?" Eridani had asked when Victoria had met her at breakfast. "Is Harry alright? I heard he's in the hospital wing. Did you get into trouble?"
Victoria had shrugged as she reached for a bread roll. "Just detention, and that's about it. As for Harry, he's unconscious. I saw Professor Dumbledore himself take Harry on a stretcher to the hospital wing."
Looking over the Gryffindor table, it was pretty odd to see their assembled Quidditch team without a Seeker. The six of them appearing out of sorts. Victoria wondered who they were going to have in Harry's place this game, though she had a feeling that they might not do as swell as the last two games.
"I heard Laelia Carrow tell someone he tried breaching the third-floor corridor," Tracey whispered. "What did he try to do?"
Tracey wasn't the only one who had asked that question. Everyone was asking this one question for the entire morning: what happened with Harry Potter in the third-floor corridor?
Victoria wasn't up to watching the last match of the season. It wouldn't be the same without Harry ("We'll tell you how it ends," said Millicent. "Though I don't think Gryffindor would stand a chance against Ravenclaw without Harry"). Andrew, Hermione, and Ron were thinking along the same lines as her. For they too preferred not to follow the rest of the school.
"Professor McGonagall didn't give you detention, did she?" Victoria had asked them as they approached the hospital wing to check up on Harry's situation.
"No," said Ron. "Maybe it was because she was too shocked to even say anything. I'm sure she'll tell us tonight when she's overcome her shock."
"Did Snape give you detention?" Andrew asked.
"Yes, and I have to see him tonight," she answered. "I'm just glad I didn't get expelled."
When the four of them arrived at the hospital wing, Victoria could see a curtain around a bed. "I've never seen that before," Andrew noticed. "I wonder what that means."
Their answer came when Madam Pomfrey approached them. "You can send things to him, but visits are prohibited at the moment."
"May you at least tell us how he is?" Hermione demanded.
"Apart from a concussion where he'll be unconscious for a few days, it's lucky that he's not mortally wounded," Madam Pomfrey replied. "Now, don't come back until you have something. Don't you have a Quidditch match to go to?"
They didn't go to the Quidditch match. Instead, the four of them went to the Viaduct Courtyard. Lazing around under the sun as they waited for the rest of the students to come back.
At the first trickle of students coming towards the castle, Victoria could see what the outcome was. It was easy to tell by the Gryffindors' downtrodden faces and the exuberance of the Ravenclaws.
"Ravenclaw flattened us," Neville said as he and Eridani joined them. "A hundred and twenty to fifty."
"I don't know what Wood was thinking with having McLaggen as a reserve," Eridani had said, shaking her head. "Tosser spent more time showing off on his broom than trying to look for the Snitch."
"Bleh," Andrew gagged. "You wouldn't pay me to see a game with that tosser present."
"How's Harry?" Neville had asked when they walked back into the castle. "Is he alright?"
That night, Severus had her write, I must not endanger myself. Her fingers had felt better at breakfast when she went to collect the post that Perenelle had offered her. There was a piece of folded parchment among the usual post from her mother, The Daily Prophet, and Seeker Weekly.
After unfolding it, she read.
Dear Victoria,
I hope it wouldn't be a problem if you decided to come to my office at four in the afternoon for a chat. You're not in trouble; rest assured.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore.
P.S.
The password is Peppermint Frog.
Victoria swallowed as she reread the letter. The Headmaster wanted to speak with her. Yes, he assured her that she was not in any trouble, and even if that should ensure her, it still made her swallow repeatedly and made her palms clammy. The last time she spoke to him in his office was in early July last year, and no doubt it was to speak about that she knew that her father was in the school.
Maybe he wanted to discuss it with her when she wasn't crying, like when she released that information.
When she stood before the gargoyle at four in the afternoon, the heart pounded in her chest as she said, "Peppermint Frog." The gargoyle jumped aside at once, and she clenched and unclenched her hands as she went up the spiral steps.
"Ah, Victoria," Professor Dumbledore greeted genially once she had entered his office. "Have a seat."
Victoria maintained eye contact with Professor Dumbledore as she sat in the chair in front of his desk. Folding her clammy hands on her lap.
"Good afternoon, professor," she said. "You wanted to speak with me?"
"Why, yes," he answered. "There was something that I wanted to ask you after you revealed your first encounter with your father, but I held off because you weren't in the right frame of mind for that question: Now, what did Voldemort tell you when he possessed Quirrell that day?"
At that question, Victoria had looked at her feet. She had a feeling that Professor Dumbledore would ask that question. To know what was said between them. Technically, she wasn't comfortable answering that question.
However, this was the man who agreed to have her meet with her mother.
"He told me that I was so much more than how some people perceive me as," she said. "That people will be bending their knees to me as they did and will to him."
"Last night, your father's spirit had left Quirrell to meet his demise," Dumbledore had answered. "He was just another expendable servant of your father's, and even if he helped him get what he wanted, he still would have discarded him as he did then. Now, you could have tried to stop Harry last night. Stop him from thwarting the plan that would help bring your father back."
"I didn't want him to come back," she said, shaking her head. "Not after he tried to kill one of my friend's parents. I don't know what he did to my mother, but it was bad. I don't want him to come back, and that's why I helped Harry."
"That's the difference between your father and yourself," Professor Dumbledore asserted. "Voldemort only prizes his own life while to you, the feelings and the lives of your friends come first. Especially at your age. Even when he was a boy, anyone else was a little regard to him."
Victoria wasn't surprised to hear it. That her father would have little regard for others. "Almost like the wizard from the Warlock's Hairy Heart. Perhaps he too thought that love was a weakness."
"He has an inability to understand love and to even feel it is why he loathes it," Professor Dumbledore said. "One tends to despise things they do not understand. For Voldemort, love was one of them. Should you have any doubts, simply because you're tied to him by blood doesn't mean that you're doomed to make the same choices. With his absence, you have the privilege that you wouldn't have should he be around."
It wasn't hard to determine what Dumbledore was saying.
"Without him, I'm able to make a name for myself," she deduces. "I mean, I've wanted to. To detach myself from the Mulciber name, as it wasn't doing anything for me."
"Exactly," said Dumbledore. "You may make the name how you want it to be. Unless you prefer to change it if you prefer."
Change it. Victoria never thought of it like that. To give herself a new surname. She never quite belonged with the Mulciber family, who disregarded her as illegitimate and disdained her for her existence.
She did, however, was not disregarded by her birth mother, Edythe Black nee Lupin. Andrew could have cared less if he thought she was tied with a Death Eater. Even if he was ignorant of her true parentage. If there was any family that didn't disregard her outside the Malfoys and Severus, it was the Blacks. She could take her guardian's surname, except that any new person who comes her way would think that she was doing well in Hogwarts because of her association with her Head of House.
Well, at least she would shed any association with Lavinia.
"I suppose that Victoria Black sounds better than Victoria Mulciber," she admitted.
"You changed your last name?" Hermione had asked her as they went to the hospital wing the next day. Carrying gifts for Harry. "Can you even do that?"
Victoria shrugged. "Yes, but I heard there's a lot of paperwork to get it done. Though Mr. Malfoy might make sure it's not too difficult."
For all that she would know, Mrs. Malfoy might see it as restoring honor to her family that she thought fell into disarray years ago.
Andrew clapped her on the shoulder. "You're more of a Black than a Mulciber, anyway," he said appreciatively. "Sounds good on you."
As they rounded the corner, they heard Madam Pomfrey shout, "Don't you two have better things to do than offer unsanitary objects! Out! Out!"
No sooner did Fred and George Weasley come out of the hospital wing. Both of whom smiling and laughing as if amused by something.
"What happened?" Ron asked. Victoria thought that she saw him open the Chocolate Frog box that he was meant to give Harry.
"Just Madam Pomfrey not understanding the point of a joke," one of the twins answer with a shrug. "That Chocolate Frog wasn't meant for Harry, was it?"
"Ronald!" Hermione scolded as Ron had already pulled out the card.
"I was just curious to see what it was," Ron defends, and his eyes light up as he sees the card. "Oh, Agrippa! Finally!"
Victoria shakes her head. She might have to give Harry another Chocolate Frog to compensate for the one that Ron opened.
When they arrived, they saw that they weren't the only ones to come bearing gifts. For there were a few gifts on the tray next to Harry's bed.
Victoria would have been scratching her head if this story didn't circulate around the school. That Professor Quirrell was up to no good and that he was after whatever was on the third floor. That Harry Potter faced him down.
No one knew what Quirrell was after, though the common speculation was that he was in league with the Dark Lord or that he was trying to be the second Dark Lord. Of course, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side was still out of bounds.
Some of the theories floating around were so wild that Victoria knew they couldn't be true.
Harry did wake up on the seventh of June. Three days after trying to prevent Quirrell from stealing the Stone. Victoria, Millicent, Kevin, and Eridani were watching Blaise and Theo play a game of gobstones when there was a commotion outside the Slytherin common room.
"What in the Merlin's sodding hat is going on?" Cassiopeia exclaimed in indignation.
The answer came soon enough when Draco and his lackeys went down the stone steps and approached Victoria. "Vic, your lion friends are here to see you," he drawled.
She knew that there was the only reason why they come: Harry was awake at least.
Without a word, she leaped from her seat and ran up the stone steps. "He's awake?" she asked when she met up with them outside.
"Yes, just now," Hermione answered.
The five of them running from the dungeons and heading in the direction towards the hospital wing. As before, Madam Pomfrey didn't want them in at first and left them outside the hospital wing door for a minute before coming back.
"Alright, but five minutes," she said. "He needs his rest."
Then the four of them ran in.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed.
Harry had a few scratches on his face and, otherwise, wasn't in too terrible shape. However, the four of them kept their distance, for he could have still been healing from whatever happened. Victoria had to clench her hands to restrain herself from wrapping her arms around him.
"Oh, Harry, we were sure you were going to - Dumbledore was so worried-" said Hermione.
"The whole school's talking about it," said Ron. "What really happened?"
Harry told them everything: Quirrell; the mirror; the Stone; and Voldemort. Even if four of the five of them had speculated that Voldemort was the source of that disembodied voice Victoria heard, Hermione still screamed when Harry had confirmed it to her.
Victoria had made sure that she appeared just as shocked. She didn't feel comfortable telling her brother and her friends that she knew that Voldemort was in the school this whole time. The adults were a different story.
"So the Stone's gone?" said Ron finally. "Flamel's just going to die?"
"He might have a year left," Victoria pointed out, remembering what she read about the Elixir of Life.
"That's what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that - what was it? - 'to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.'"
"I always said he was off his rocker," said Ron, looking quite impressed.
"So what happened to you four?" said Harry.
"Well, Andrew and I got back all right," said Hermione. "We brought Ron round - that took a while – Victoria stayed outside the door as the three of us were dashing up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall - he already knew - he just said, 'Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?' and hurtled off to the third floor."
"D'you think he meant you to do it?" said Andrew. "Sending you your father's cloak and everything?"
Victoria frowned. "I don't think so. At least, I hope he didn't, as it is terrible. You could have gotten killed, Harry, and I had half a mind to go down there myself, so you wouldn't do it alone until Dumbledore showed up."
"No, it isn't," said Harry thoughtfully. "He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could..."
Andrew nodded. "Yes, Ron, I'd say Dumbledore is off his rocker," he said impressively.
"At least you'll be alright for the End-of-Term feast in two and a half weeks," Ron said. "The final points have yet to be rolled in, and no doubt, Slytherin would win again - you missed the last Quidditch match, we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you - but the food'll be good."
After that, Victoria didn't see much of Harry. Obviously, from what she'd seen when he left the hospital wing, people swarmed up to him. Presumably for a first-hand account of what had actually happened. As if a good number of them hadn't been insulting Harry for all those loss of Gryffindor points.
All this interest in Harry had put Draco in a foul mood ("He's tried to make himself relevant again after being a failure to Gryffindor"), and Victoria had tried to tune him out every chance she had got.
The day of the End-of-Term Feast, the points rolled in, declaring Slytherin the seventh year winner of the House Cup, and their marks for the year came in. Victoria was pleased to see that she was top of the class and checking with Hermione; both girls were neck-in-neck. With Hermione a close margin after her. Draco came trailing in third, and Victoria was surprised that Vincent and Greg had managed to scrape enough points to follow them to the second year.
"Another year gone," Professor Dumbledore had announced as they all gathered in the Great Hall that night. Which was decorated in the green and silver banners of Slytherin. "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were... you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts...
"Now, as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."
"Yes!" Eridani and Victoria slapped each other's palms in celebration as everyone around them erupted in cheers. Draco banging his goblet on the table across from them.
They did it! They won for the seventh year in a row.
"Yes, Yes, well done, Slytherin," said Dumbledore. "However, recent events must be taken into account."
What?
The room went very still as it finally occurred to her. Of course, he'd acknowledge it here of all times! She often thought it was strange that Dumbledore didn't say anything about it until now.
"Ahem," said Dumbledore. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes...
"First - to Mr. Ronald Weasley..."
Victoria looked at the Gryffindor table across the Hall and saw that Ron went purple in the face. He looked like a radish with a bad sunburn.
"... for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Ron had spoken about how he'd beat Professor McGonagall's giant chess set. "I was sure that I was going to die," he said at one point a week ago. It was quite a feat that Victoria assumed that most of the professors that put the obstacle course together didn't think that a student would beat it without getting killed. Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the bewitched ceiling, and even across the Hall, she could hear Percy Weasley yell, "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!"
At last there was silence again.
"Second - to Miss Hermione Granger... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Victoria watched as Hermione buried her face in her arms; Victoria strongly suspected she had burst into tears. When Hermione had spoken about the riddle and the line of potions, Victoria didn't have trouble figuring out which professor made that obstacle. "She solved Professor Snape's riddle!" she exclaimed as she couldn't help but applaud. "She figured out what potion to drink to get through the fire!"
Lavinia, who was put out as much as Draco by Dumbledore's dishing out of points, wrinkled her nose at her. "Please, you're making yourself look ridiculous." When Victoria had decided to change her last name, Lavinia had said, "Well, you should have done that a long time ago. Not that anything will change." Victoria raised her eyebrow as she clapped harder, hoping to spite her.
"Third – to Mr. Andrew Black – for displaying such a skill that would have earned him a place on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, I award Gryffindor House fifty points."
Victoria locked eyes with Andrew as she smiled. Giving him a thumbs up. Remembering his recount of the room with the flying keys ("I offered to be the one to fly the broom," he said jauntily one afternoon. "Told Harry that he didn't need to show off.")
"Third - to Mr. Harry Potter... " said Dumbledore. The room went deadly quiet. "... for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."
The din was deafening. Those who could add up while yelling themselves hoarse knew that Gryffindor now had five hundred and twenty-two points. Catapulting them up to the first place. However, Dumbledore seemed to not be done yet, for he didn't announce Gryffindor as the new winner.
Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell silent.
"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I, therefore, award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."
"He gave the spineless squib ten points?" Cassiopeia demanded in an enraged tone, but no one else had seemed to hear her. Someone standing outside the Great Hall might well have thought some sort of explosion had taken place, so loud was the noise that erupted from the Gryffindor table. Neville was white and in shock from the announcement. As if he too couldn't believe what he had heard.
"Which means," Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, for even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were celebrating the last-minute victory of Gryffindor, "we need a little change of decoration."
He clapped his hands. In an instant, the green hangings became scarlet, and the silver became gold; the huge Slytherin serpent vanished, and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place. Severus was shaking hands with Professor McGonagall's hand, and most of those around Victoria grumbled in disappointment. Some of the first and second years seemed to be on the verge of tears, and eventually, Pansy did burst into tears.
Victoria didn't know what to think. On the one hand, it was disappointing. To have the Great Hall draped in your House Colors and announced as the winner of the House Cup for the seventh year running only to have it taken from you. On the other hand, she liked that Dumbledore didn't push what they did under the rug, except that he seemed to give her twenty points in private rather than the pomp and circumstance he gave to her Gryffindor brother and friends.
But, she was not going to let that bother her. Why would she if Harry was the one that did the most dangerous thing out of the five of them?
The next day, their wardrobes were empty, their trunks were packed, Eridani had managed to find Neville's pet toad near one of the lavatories; notes were handed out to all students, warning them not to use magic over the holidays ("As if some of us don't go back to homes where magic is practiced daily," Draco grumbled). Hagrid was there to take them down to the fleet of boats that sailed across the lake; they were boarding the Hogwarts Express; talking and laughing as the countryside became greener and tidier; eating Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans as they sped past Muggle towns and played Exploding Snap; pulling into platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station.
"It feels strange to be going home," Hermione noted as they removed their luggage from the racks. "Doesn't it?"
"Well, I won't be going home," Harry murmured. "Not actually."
Andrew had clapped Harry on his shoulder. "I'll write to you all summer. Give you something to smile about while you're with those relatives of yours."
"Me too," Victoria had concurred. "Maybe I could come to see you as well."
She didn't think that Harry would very much go to her house. Not with Severus as her guardian.
Victoria and Andrew bid goodbye to Hermione, Harry, and Ron as the former two made their way to the parties that were waiting for them on the platform.
Victoria feeling a little lighter than she did when she boarded the train to start the term.
Thanks to those who read this until the end. It might take some time to publish the second installment, as I have two projects I'm working on. One of which published.