Chapter two:
Tension
Once the feast had came to an end, the students exited the great hall to their houses as well as the professors did. But during the feast, Dumbledore had noticed Snape's fixation on Victoria the entire time at the feast, which got him thinking that he needed to mention to Victoria about Severus and Lily. As Victoria left her seat, Dumbledore had approached her swiftly, in time before she stepped down from the podium. "Victoria. I need to speak with you in my office, if that's alright?" Dumbledore asked politely. Victoria nodded before walking off with Dumbledore while Snape watched from the front door of the great hall in bewilderment. Upon hearing a crash into the whomping willow in the front of the castle, Snape decided to investigate it, leaving the great hall. Once in Dumbledore's office, Victoria turned to Dumbledore who walked over to a dish on the counter, taking a couple of Toothflossing Stringmints. "Would you like some? Toothflossing Stringmints are very useful after dinner." Dumbledore asked generously. Victoria eyed the black wire-like wrapped treats before shaking her head politely. "No thank you, Albus. What is it that you need to speak to me about?" Victoria asked.
Dumbledore turned to face Victoria once more, standing across from her. "I need to speak to you about Severus Snape. He and your sister Lily were quite close friends while attending Hogwarts...he loved her so deeply. He did what he could to protect her from Voldemort but it wasn't enough even though she had married. I promised nobody would find out the best of him, but i consider this is something you should know, it being your twin sister." Dumbledore explained. Victoria didn't know that about her sister and finding something new about her intrigued Victoria more and more, finding out what her sister was like. "Well, i surely hope my presence doesn't cause any pain to those that knew my sister." Victoria replied. Dumbledore knew it would be further from pain on most but shock would be the better word for it. "Think of it more of a shock than pain, Victoria." Dumbledore stated. Victoria felt bad for Snape having lost her sister. "Yes. Well, i best return to the feast, i have yet gotten dessert." Victoria said before departing. "Nor have i." Dumbledore replied, following her before being stopped by McGonagall, whom told him about Harry and Ron arriving.
Meanwhile, Snape had caught Harry and Ron being late to school while having disrupted the whomping willow and had flown in a flying car where muggles had seen them, causing Snape to be furious, slapping down the Daily Prophet. "You were seen! By no less then seven Muggles. Do you have any idea how serious this is? You have risked the exposure of our world. Not to mention the damage you inflicted on a Whomping Willow that has been on these grounds for hundreds of years, here before you were born." Snape stated, he was practically chewing them out. Harry and Ron both were worried. "Honestly, Professor Snape, I think it did more damage to us." Ron replied, trying to divert the damages. Snape was already having a rather unruly night. "Silence! I assure you, were you in Slytherin and your fate rested with me, the both of you would be on the train home tonight. As it is-" Snape spewed, but was cut off from Dumbledore walking into Snape's office with McGonagall beside him. "They are not." Dumbledore declared. Snape bit his cheek at Dumbledore's words. "Professor Dumbledore. Professor McGonagall..." Harry said out loud in surprise. Snape stood up from his chair and faced Dumbledore. "Headmaster, these boys have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. As such..." Snape stated in fury, as he narrowed his eyes at Harry and Ron. "I'm well aware of our bylaws, Severus, having written more than a few myself. I understand that you are having quite an astonishing night but however, as Head of Gryffindor House, it is for Professor McGonagall to determine the appropriate action." Dumbledore explained. Snape listened to the headmaster's words, taking it as he knew about Victoria looking close to Lily and would precisely be speaking to him about such.
Ron looked gloomy as a sad child would look. "We'll go and get our stuff then." Ron said. McGonagall looked puzzled for a moment. "What are you talking about, Mr. Weasley?" McGonagall asked curiously. Ron looked up from the ground. "Well, you're going to expel us, aren't you?" Ron replied. McGonagall smiled sweetly, knowing she wouldn't do such a thing over a simple incident. "Not today, Mr. Weasley. But I must impress upon both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be sending owls to both of your families tonight. And you will each get a detention." McGonagall stated. Snape shot a glare towards the boys before Dumbledore went to speak. "Splendid. Now, I suggest we return to the feast. There's a delicious-looking custard tart I want to sample." Dumbledore stated. As the boys left the office with McGonagall to the great hall, Dumbledore remained there with Snape. "When were you planning on telling me that the new History of Magic teacher would look closely like-" Snape spewed before being cut off by Dumbledore. "-Lily? Eventually, Severus. You are correct when you say she looks like Lily, because she is in fact Lily's sister." Dumbledore began, studying Snape for a moment. "Lily only had one sister..." Snape pointed out, slightly confused at Dumbledore's statement. Dumbledore knew that Snape wouldn't know about Lily being a twin, of course Lily had never known. "One that you know of, Severus. Victoria is Lily's twin. Fraternal, yes but in fact twin. I came upon her when she had submitted an application to the school to teach and was curious about her biological family. I knew after looking at her file that she had to come to Hogwarts." Dumbledore explained.
Snape was taken back a little from the information given to him, taking a moment to take it all in. "She never knew about Lily?" Snape asked in his astonishment. Dumbledore shook his head gently in response. "No. Victoria was adopted by a muggle friend of their mother who married a wealthy American muggle. Her adoptive parents told her not long ago from what i know. This is a good thing, Severus. Get to know her if you will. I'm going back to the feast to get myself that custard tart." Dumbledore explained before he departed. Snape was left there in silence, absorbing the information that he had gotten from the headmaster about Victoria. Perhaps this would be a second chance at someone like Lily, perhaps she is different than Lily. Snape then departed his office and back to the great hall while the students remained a chatter, noticing Victoria sitting back in her seat up by the podium once again next to Sinstra. As Snape walked back to the podium and to his seat at the table, he passed the trio. Harry had noticed the ginger haired female he had seen at Diagon Alley previously that reminded him of his mother, sitting up by the professors. "That's who i was talking about when at Flourish and Blotts. She looks like my mum. " Harry pointed out, pointing at the new professor, Victoria. Ron and Hermione looked over at her. "That's the new History of Magic teacher, Victoria Hawthrone. When she was announced earlier, Ron's twin brothers made googly-eyed remarks about her." Hermione explained. Fred and George looked over when Hermione said that and rolled their eyes. "Did not." both twins said together. "Don't let me mention your very own googly-eyed reaction to Lockhart." George stated with a smirk. Hermione frowned as she looked away in embarrassment. "Blimey, Harry. Do you suppose she knows you?" Ron asked curiously. Harry shrugged. "I don't...know." Harry replied hesitantly. Soon, the feast was over and the students headed out of the great hall and to their houses. As Victoria headed down the podium, she noticed stares from behind her - the stares coming from Snape, a stunning look and Lockhart, a intrigued look. Victoria figured this was going to be a long and interesting year ahead of her. Victoria walked to her classroom on the first floor and through her office to her living quarters, settling in for the night in her night gown.
The next morning, classes began after breakfast. Sitting in the great hall at the professors table at the podium, Victoria began eating her breakfast while Snape still seemed rather surprised from the previous night. The professors were talking, Victoria talking with Sinistra before Lockhart walked up behind them, focusing on Victoria. "So, Tori...are you free this upcoming weekend? We could have a drink at the Three Broomsticks or the Hogs Head, whichever." Lockhart chuckled flirtatiously. Victoria stiffened at his presence, closing her eyes in annoyance before opening them to turn to Lockhart - Snape watched from his seat, noticing her reaction. "No, I'm not, Gilderoy. I'm positive i would have homework to correct over the weekend. I take my job very, very seriously." Victoria replied. Lockhart felt a little awkward for being rejected of his invitation and walked off immediately. "That man." Victoria stated in irritation as she rubbed her temple with her right hand for a moment. Noticing Lockhart was rejected by Victoria caused slight pleasure to Snape, noticing she has morals after all. Once breakfast ended, Victoria had gotten her classroom set up for the second period in which she was going to be teaching her first class of the day which happened to be first years. Gathering her papers for the curriculum of the first years class, she studied it, keeping her desk organized and each year's curriculum filed in her filing cabinet. After reading through the first year paper, she got up and went over to the chalk board, etching her name 'Professor Hawthrone'. As Snape was teaching his first class, fourth years, he kept thinking that he would have to eventually speak to Victoria but what to speak about had become a stumbling block in his mind.
The first period had been dismissed and the first years began crowding the classroom of History of Magic. Once everyone was seated in the section of their houses, Victoria got up from her desk and walked up to the front, facing the class and called out roll call, having one student be absent or tardy. "Welcome to History of Magic class. This is where-" Victoria stopped as she noticed a ginger Gryffindor girl walk in a moment late. "I will excuse you this time, Miss Weasley, i presume?" Victoria questioned the identity of her student. Ginny Weasley nodded. "Yes, professor." Ginny stated. Victoria narrowed her eyes at the girl. "Try not to be late again, Miss Weasley. I do not want to deduct house points this early in the year." Victoria pointed out sternly before marking her present. She may have sounded strict but she didn't want her students to assume they could get away with disrupting her class or fooling around, she was the same way at Ilvermorny. "Welcome to History of Magic class. This is where you will be taught the history of the wizarding world and all its contents. I am Miss Hawthrone." Victoria announced, passing out papers with a silent charm, students watching them float by them as papers laid on their desks in front of them, the first study paper of the year. "I assume you all have your textbooks, A History of Magic written by Bathilda Bagshot? Please take them out and read the first two pages please." Victoria ordered. As the students took out their textbooks, Victoria grabbed a piece of chalk and wrote 'Gargoyle Strike of 1911, page 5.' and 'Homework - read pages 5 through 10, fill out worksheet and one and a half foot essay by next class' across the board. Victoria then took out a carton of sugar quills from her desk and sat them on the flat surface. "Can anyone tell me what kind of strike it was in 1911?" Victoria asked, taking out a sugar quill that was wrapped in plastic. First hand in the air was Ginny Weasley. "Yes, Miss Weasley?" Victoria called on her. "It was a wildcat strike." Ginny answered. Victoria smiled softly as she parted her lips in reply. "Correct. 5 points for Gryffindor. " Victoria stated, using a charm to float the sugar quill over to Ginny who grabbed it. "Last question. Can anyone tell me exactly what the wildcat strike was about? It's for another sugar quill." Victoria smirked. Hands shot up in the air as Victoria called on a blond boy by the name of Colin Creevey. "Mr. Creevey." Victoria called on him. "Stopping of work by unionized workers without authorization from the union." Colin read off from the textbook. Victoria nodded. "Correct. Another 5 points for Gryffindor." Victoria stated, passing out another sugar quill, Colin grabbed it.
Victoria then discussed the essay and the students were excused to their next classes. Meanwhile, Victoria had to wait for her class to teach, second years until the fourth period which was after lunch. This was time for her to relax and prep for her next class. As the time went by, it had been lunch time and Ginny of course told her brothers that Professor Hawthrone was a decent teacher, little strict but makes the class tolerable. Ron, Harry and Hermione had her class that day and the twins the following day. During lunch, Victoria simply ignored Lockhart as she ate while tempted to speak to Snape about her sister. Her attention turned when there was a crash of an owl at the Gryffindor table, hitting a bowl of chips before there was a howler unleashed, echoing through the great hall. "RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR! I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! YOUR FATHER'S NOW FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT! IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT HOME!" the howler shouted. Victoria didn't know what that was about but surely, Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore did. Harry caught the attention of Victoria towards their table and just simply smiled, she still reminded him of what he saw of his mother.
As lunch ended, Victoria had made her way back to her classroom while some of the more eager second years awaited her arrival. Victoria immediately went to pull out the second year curriculum papers and drew a line to separate the first year's homework in order to write the second year's down. As she etched down 'Medieval Assembly of European Wizards, page 119 through 128' the trio had entered the room and seated themselves. Harry was eager to take her class due to her likeness. Victoria turned to look back at the class and smiled to greet them after roll call. "Welcome back to History of Magic. I assumed you all would've expected to see Professor Binns, however i certainly hope you would enjoy my class even more. I am Miss Hawthrone." Victoria introduced before using a charm once again to pass out the papers to the students. "Take out your textbooks and turn to page 119. I assume you all have learned about the Gargoyle Strike of 1911...the Soap Blizzard of 1378...Werewolf Code of Conduct...Emeric the Evil and Elfric the Eager last year correct?" Victoria asked in review. The class all said 'yes' together but Hermione Granger raised her hand. "Yes, Miss Granger?" Victoria asked. Hermione put her hand down. "Actually, from what i remember, we only covered all but Elfric the Eager. Professor Binns took too long going over the Soap Blizzard of 1378, professor." Hermione corrected. Half the class including Ron and Harry rolled their eyes and sighed, not wanting extra work. "Thank you for your insight, Miss Granger. However, i will attempt to retract to that later in the year. For now, we will begin learning about the Medieval Assembly of European Wizards." Victoria explained, giving some students a sigh of relief. As Victoria instructed them to begin reading, she once more took out the carton of sugar quills which caught Ron's attention. "Now that's more like it." Ron whispered to Harry at his sighting. Harry just smiled. The class continued with questions and rewarding the students with correct answers with a sugar quill and house points, even to Hermione's surprise, Ron participated on the simplest answer in order to get the candy.
"I need you to read those pages 119 through 128 and i also want a minimum of a two foot essay due by next Thursday on this subject on the organization operating across continental Europe and how they had some relation to the International Warlock Convention of 1289. I'll give extra credit if you mention your opinion on their organization and what you may have done differently." Victoria stated, etching it on the board before class was dismissed. Victoria cleaned up her papers and restacked the books since her classes were done for the day, having to teach the second years again and fourth years the next day. Once finished with getting things in order, Victoria found herself sitting in her office, looking through the roll call lists and house points she gave to the students which happened to be Gryffindor and Hufflepuff that day. After a half hour had passed, Victoria decided to feed into her curiosity and exited her office and classroom, heading towards the dungeons. Walking down the hall to the dungeons in her black heels and usual black knee length dress and sleeves to the elbows, Victoria entered the dungeons and approached Snape's office, knocking gentle knocks on the door. Snape, who was sitting in his office looking through papers from the first day of classes, heard the knocks and turned his attention to the door. Getting up from his desk, Snape walked over and opened the door, expecting to see either a student to pester him with questions or a familiar co worker but to his surprise, he had opened up the door to spot Victoria standing there. There was silence for a mere moment before Snape parted his lips to speak. "Can i help you?" Snape asked, slightly nervous but attempting to hide it. Victoria folded her arms from being nervous herself before speaking. "I wanted to personally introduce myself as we haven't talked yet. I'm Victoria..." Victoria trailed off, trying to ease the tension. "And i wanted to talk with you, knowing you're the potions master at the school and i, too, have experience in potions...or just to talk generally." Victoria added. Snape stepped aside and motioned for her to come inside. Victoria took it as a welcome and entered Snape's office before he closed the door. "Have a seat. If you wish." Snape stated as he kept his eyes on Victoria.
It was obvious there was tension in the room, enough tension that it could be cut with a knife. "Thank you, Severus." Victoria replied, sitting down across from his desk, catching more of his attention when she spoke his first name. "So, you taught potions back at Ilvermorny?" Snape asked curiously as he quickly turned his attention to the papers once again to avoid showing his nervous state. "Yes. I taught advanced potions, which students that were high ranking took only, so it was a side job apart from History of Magic precisely." Victoria replied. Snape flickered his eyes back onto Victoria, wanting to challenge her out of pure curiosity. "Ingredients and duration for Veritaserum..." Snape challenged, something highly advanced. Victoria liked a challenge especially when it came to subjects that she knew. "32 fluid ounces of Standard Potioning Water, 1 vial of Ptolemy, 10 ounces of Powdered Moonstone, 1 Adder's Fork, preferably sliced, 12 whole Jobberknoll Feathers, and 3 Sopophorous Beans, lightly crushed. And as for duration, the average duration lasts for 1 hour but for great success, the duration lasts 3 to 6 hours." Victoria listed. Snape rose an eyebrow at her correct ingredients and duration. "Correct." Snape replied. Victoria bit her lower lip, wanting to mention her knowledge of he and Lily. "From what I've been told, you had known my sister, Lily, and the two of you were close..." Victoria pointed out rather gently. Snape dropped the quill he had in his hand at the words spoke, deciding to remain aloof. "Yes...i was." Snape replied. Victoria nodded a little. Victoria had wished she known both her sister and Severus back in school, but she didn't get that luxury. "I best let you get back to work. I apologize if i had intruded. I take my job just as serious as I'm sure that you do." Victoria stated, standing up from the chair. "Of course. No intrusion as introduction was in order. Have a pleasant evening, Victoria." Snape pointed out. Victoria smiled briefly before exiting the office, Snape watched her as she left, shutting the door. He wanted to remain distant as she reminded him much of Lily and he had loved Lily much more one could ever imagine, but he lost her. He remained this way in fear of getting hurt again. Victoria's presence had reminded him of that. Victoria was hoping to speak more before leaving back to her living quarters but it seemed that Snape wasn't one to easily open up as he stayed aloof. Only time will tell.