Chapter three:

Detention

When Victoria returned to her living quarters, she couldn't help but think of how aloof Snape was at his office with her there. What exactly happened between him and her twin sister? Was it that terrible where it caused him to be withdrawn? She could only think her sister's death was so traumatic that it had a bad affect on him. That was something she had to find out but for now it had been dinner time and she figured she mine as well go. Entering the great hall, Victoria took her seat at the professor's table and couldn't help her gaze to fall onto Snape when he reached his seat. Dumbledore had been seated and tapped his glass to announce the feast dinner as every night. "Let the feast begin." Dumbledore said as the food appeared onto the tables. Victoria didn't know why she was drawn to Snape, perhaps it was because of her twin...or maybe she just found him interesting, having potions as a common interest helped a little too. Once Snape was settled in, he looked to his left and down the table to spot Victoria's hesitant gaze on him before looking away advertently. Victoria sighed before looking at her dinner plate and began eating. Snape couldn't help himself but be attracted to Victoria due to her likeness of Lily and finding her knowledge in potions to be intriguing but he couldn't find himself to trust again, especially with what happened with Lily.

Once dinner was over, everyone was once again heading back to their houses and living quarters. As Victoria walked down the podium and through the great hall towards the doors, she had a small look of disappointment on her expression from feeling avoided the rest of the night by Snape. Snape had indeed noticed that when she looked back at him and the remaining professors getting up to exit the great hall as well but refused to unwaiver his distance for the meantime. To Victoria's relief, Lockhart seemed to have been keeping his distance from her the rest of the day. The next day approached and it was Friday, meaning she had a first period class to teach fourth years and a second period class to teach second years again. Prepping for the fourth years to arrive, Victoria kept her name on the chalk board and etched their study next to the other years, 'Goblin Rebellions, page 430 to 439, three foot essay about why Goblins rebelled and how the modern day compares to the seventeenth and eighteenth century on their treatment, did it change?'. Once Victoria turned around, she spotted students taking their seats, including Fred and George Weasley. "Finally History of Magic will be interesting for once." Fred pointed out. George smirked at his brother's remark. "Should be better than boring, old Binns...despite the dreadful homework already on the board." George replied, discouraged from the amount of homework. "At least it's a heads up compared to Binns delaying it through the boring class, saving it til the end. Ron and Ginny seemed to like her." Fred stated. George shrugged.

"Welcome back to History of Magic, fourth years." Victoria announced after roll call, setting the paper down. "I assume you expected Professor Binns, but I'm positive you will enjoy my class as well." Victoria added, leaning against her desk in front of the class and loosely crossing her arms. "Most likely." both Fred and George said together, smirking crookedly. Victoria did hear that remark but kept professional, slipping a faint smile in the process. "Today, we are going to be studying the Goblin Rebellions. I need you turn to page 430 please and follow along with me." Victoria instructed. The students got their books out and as they did so, Victoria opened her bookmarked page and took out the carton of sugar quills. "The Goblin Rebellions were a series of rebellions in which the goblin population of the Wizarding world revolted against, what? Can someone tell me?" Victoria read out, then looked for hands. "Yes, Angelina." Victoria called on a student. "Discrimination and prejudice toward their kind by wizards and witches." Angelina answered. Victoria was pleased by the answer and rewarded her with a sugar quill and five house points. As she let the students read on, Victoria walked back over to the front of the class and sat her book down. "Can anyone tell me the three years of the rebellions?" Victoria asked. She called on individual students who each had a year to answer, 1612...1752...18th century. Victoria then turned around, bending over her desk to grab a new pack of sugar quills sitting on table near her chair to reward the students that answered, when there was a loud, cat calling whistle coming from the classroom. George chuckled along with Fred as they were the ones guilty of the act, causing the class to laugh. Victoria turned around quickly holding the carton of the candy. Standing up straight, Victoria spotted the twins having a proud smile on their faces before the rest of the students quieted down.

Victoria had mixed feelings on being cat called but being someone serious about her job, she wouldn't show her satisfaction in the compliment. "Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley...my office after class." Victoria stated, attempting to conceal a smile. Fred and George took it lightly. "Brilliant." George replied confidently with a smirk as Fred placed a grin on his face. "Perfect." Fred also replied as it went according to plan. Victoria adjusted herself before continuing class and upon the end of class, Victoria had summoned McGonagall to her office while the twins sat in the chairs, not seeming too worried as the amusement remained plastered on their faces. "I bet those students at Ilvermorny are quite missing her." Fred whispered to George, George flashing a crooked grin. "I believe so, Fred. Our gain." George replied in a whisper. When Victoria returned to the office, she took a seat while the twins waited. "What's our punishment?" George asked in a teasing tone, lifting his eyebrows. Fred smirked. Victoria held back an amused expression. "Too bad it's not my authority to give out punishments." Victoria slightly teased back, smiling softly. The twin's eyes shifted to McGonagall entering the office. "What seems to be the problem, Victoria?" McGonagall asked in a serious tone. Victoria looked at McGonagall and folded her arms on her desk. "These two found it somehow humorous to cat call me during class today. Quite inappropriate." Victoria explained. The twins smiled crookedly. McGonagall was not at all surprised that it came from Fred and George Weasley but as a professional and a woman, she did deem it inappropriate. "That is very inappropriate of you two! You both will receive a days detention. Come with me." McGonagall commanded. Fred and George followed their head of house out of the office. "So worth it." Fred stated. "Agreed." George replied. Further down the hall, McGonagall turned to the potions class while students were shuffling from class to class as the first period had just ended. "Severus, i need to have the Weasley twins serve detention with you this evening, i am far too busy." McGonagall stated. Snape looked rather unamused by the idea of the two pranksters being in his presence for an extra hour or two after school. "Reason?" Snape asked curiously. McGonagall sighed. "They cat called Miss Hawthrone during class. She summoned me to handle the inappropriate behavior." McGonagall explained with unease.

Snape shifted his eyes to the twins in surprise yet irritation, noticing their smirking expressions before responding to McGonagall. "I suppose I'll have something they can do." Snape replied in confidence. The twin's expressions fell a little before McGonagall exited the office along with the twins who now had detention with Snape after their last class. Meanwhile, Victoria had to teach her next class which happened to be the second years again and taught on the same subject of the Medieval Assembly of European Wizards, while keeping an eye on Harry, still surprised to know her sister had a son. After collecting the worksheets for the day, the class was excused and she had remained in her living quarters for the day until lunch which she had to teach sixth years for fifth period. Lunch was the usual with the food and sitting at the table on the podium, but it had seemed that Snape had his attention on Victoria more than before but Victoria wasn't expecting him to open up to her anytime soon. Fred and George at the Gryffindor table had spoke about their dreaded detention with Snape. "For what?" Hermione asked curiously. Fred and George smirked before replying. "We cat called Professor Hawthrone." Fred stated. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "Cat called?" Harry asked curiously. "It's inappropriate behavior involving whistling, Harry." Hermione explained, seeming bothered. "Inappropriate? Very appropriate." Fred said. "She's fit, it was perfectly appropriate." George added. Hermione shook her head as Harry and Ron hid a laugh.

Once lunch had ended, classes resumed and Victoria taught the sixth years the period following after lunch. After all the classes had ended for the day, Victoria made her way up to the headmaster's office after being summoned there. Making her way up there, she figured she should ask more about her sister and Snape's relationship in order for it to be easier for her to understand but once she arrived, she spotted not only Dumbledore but Harry there as well. "You summoned me, headmaster?" Victoria asked as she came to a halt near Harry, facing Dumbledore. Dumbledore turned his attention to Victoria once she arrived. "Yes, Professor Hawthrone. I felt the need for a proper introduction between you and your nephew, Harry." Dumbledore explained. Victoria understood but Harry seemed slightly confused at Dumbledore's words. "I'm what?" Harry asked in confusion. Dumbledore chuckled briefly. "Harry, Professor Hawthrone is your aunt. As it does bring a shock to everyone that knew your mother, no one knew she was a twin. You see, Victoria here was adopted by a friend of your grandparents at birth and had moved to the United States. She found out a little later in life about your mother and came to teach at Hogwarts to know more about her." Dumbledore explained. It had seemed that Harry was shocked to hear what he had but it explained why she reminded him of his mother. "That's why you looked like my mum..." Harry stated as he eyed Victoria.

Victoria nodded and smiled warmly. "Yes. I've been told that a lot lately." Victoria chuckled softly. Harry had astonishment painted on his face as he approached Victoria closely. "May i?" Harry asked, motioning for a hug. Victoria was glad that he took it better than she assumed he would and nodded in reply. "Of course." Victoria replied. Harry gave Victoria a warm hug, thrilled to know another relative of his other than the Dursleys whom he had been living with since he was a toddler. "As i stated before, your sister Petunia and her husband have been the guardians of Harry. You ought to pay her a visit." Dumbledore informed. Victoria had planned to at some point but had first focused on work when she got to England. "I will have to." Victoria replied. Harry pulled back and looked up at Victoria. "So, i can now call you Aunt Victoria?" Harry asked curiously. Victoria chuckled. "Yes. Or Aunt Tori, outside the classroom. I'm still your teacher also." Victoria replied, slightly amused. Harry grinned. Dumbledore stood up from his desk and looked over at Harry. "For now, Harry must run along to Professor Lockhart to serve his detention...as you may know about the whomping willow incident, Harry was one of the students that were involved." Dumbledore informed Victoria. Harry was slightly embarrassed by having his new aunt know of his detention. "Good thing you weren't harmed, Harry." Victoria replied. Harry nodded. "Oh yeah, me too." Harry replied as he looked to Dumbledore who was giving him a look. "I'll have to get going. Goodnight." Harry stated before exiting the office. Once Harry left the office, Victoria looked back over at Dumbledore.

"That went better than i thought." Victoria pointed out. Dumbledore nodded. "He needed to find out sooner than later. He's not fond of Petunia and her family as they are rather unpleasant people but were the only living relative he had at the time according to my knowledge twelve years ago." Dumbledore explained. Victoria took that in and noticed how thrilled her nephew seemed. "I wonder how that would've worked out if i had grown up here..." Victoria trailed off. "Might've been different circumstances." Dumbledore replied before parting his lips to speak once more, noticing there had been something else on her mind. "Is there something you wish to tell me?" Dumbledore asked, studying her. Victoria had intended to ask about Snape. "I want to know more about Severus and his relationship with my sister. He seemed quite standoffish when I'm around him." Victoria asked. Dumbledore sighed. "He and James Potter became bitter rivals in school which involved Lily, James was quite the bully. I'm not entirely sure what went down with him and Lily but know Lily married James eventually. You will have to ask Severus for the entire story I'm afraid, Victoria." Dumbledore explained. Victoria sighed, unsure how she would approach Snape about the situation from the first introduction she had with him previously. "Thank you, Albus." Victoria replied and exited the office. Dumbledore suspected Victoria's interest in Snape was a little more than about her sister but he didn't have the full story - that laid with Snape.

As the night edged later, Harry had been serving his detention with Lockhart that went on and on about himself, even mentioning his attraction to Victoria. "How nice it would be with such a successful wizard like me to capture the beauty of Miss Hawthrone...oh, we would be a magnificent couple no doubt." Lockhart went on. Harry seemed annoyed. "You do realize that Professor Hawthrone is my aunt, right Professor?" Harry asked in seriousness. Lockhart stopped his words. "Is she really? Huh. I never would've guessed." Lockhart replied in surprise yet embarrassment. Harry nodded in reply. A minute passed and Harry just shook his head moments later, at least it shut Lockhart up about her the rest of detention. Ron had served his detention polishing trophies for Filch, trying to hold down barfing up slugs from his wand backfiring earlier and of course, the Weasley twins were now serving their detention with Snape from their cat call towards Victoria. As the twins entered Snape's office to serve their detention, they were then greeted by Snape entering from his living quarters. "As you both serve detention, you will first be organizing my ingredients in alphabetical order. Once finished, i expect a one foot essay on the term respecting authority. This will be done tonight." Snape instructed sternly. Fred and George sighed in disbelief. "Respecting authority?" Fred asked in astonishment. "We always respect authority. Most of the time anyway." George added cheekily. Snape narrowed his eyes at the twins as he kept his expression flat and expressionless. "Cat calling Professor Hawthrone is not defined as respect, Mr. Weasley. Go organize my potion ingredients...now." Snape hissed. Fred and George dreadfully walked over to the potion ingredients on his shelves and began sorting through them. "If you break any vials or bottles, that will be twenty-five points each from Gryffindor." Snape warned. The twins looked rather unamused as they grabbed bottles and looked at their labels. "She was still worth it." George stated, peeking back at Snape. "I agree. Cannot wait for next class on Tuesday." Fred added smugly. Snape looked up from his desk and pierced his eyes at the twins after overhearing their statements about Victoria. "Shut it...and get to work." Snape ordered sternly. The twins smiled to themselves as they continued organizing in silence. Snape realized that Victoria was trying to get to know him from their first introduction but he wasn't one to spill at the first meeting. With talks about Victoria from the males at the school (mainly Lockhart and the Weasley twins) on her appearance, he found himself rather irritated as he kept his attraction to Victoria concealed but he knew not to make the same mistake he had done with Lily, knowing Victoria is also the same - muggleborn.

As the night got later, the twins finally got finished with alphabetizing the potion ingredients and tirelessly moved onto their foot long essay on respecting authority even though they think it was rubbish. After a half hour, Snape got up from his desk and walked over to them writing in the classroom. "You can leave...now." Snape commanded. The twins didn't question it and immediately departed the potions classroom to see if they can try to catch some dinner. Snape had went to dinner as well for a good ten minutes before overhearing of an incident. There was then a gathering in the hallway where Harry, Ron and Hermione stood before others approached such as Draco, other students and then Victoria was a first staff to approach a moment before Filch, noticing the writings on the wall. "Enemies of the heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!" Draco spat. Victoria bit her cheek at the statement since she, too, was muggleborn. "Mr. Malfoy, that was uncalled for." Victoria warned behind him, catching him off guard as Harry smirked as Malfoy kept quiet, glaring at Harry. The rest of the staff including McGonagall, Sprout, Lockhart and Snape showed up as Victoria then brushed off the rude remark, Snape noticing her keeping her composure over something that occurred. "What's going on here? Go on now! Make way..." Filch screeched before stopping dead in his tracks as he noticed his cat hanging on a lamp fixture before turning to Harry. "You! You've murdered my cat! I'll kill you! I'll-" Filch spewed before Victoria went over and stepped next to her nephew impulsively as in defense, Draco seeming confused why the new professor went to protect Harry while Snape noticed.

"Argus!" Dumbledore shouted, cutting Filch off as he approached the scene. "Everyone will proceed to their dormitories immediately." Dumbledore instructed before looking over to the trio. "Everyone except you three." Dumbledore added. All the students left the scene as instructed by the headmaster and it was now just the staff and the trio. "It was definitely a curse that killed her -- probably the Transmogrifian Torture. Encountered it myself once, in Ouagadougou. The full story's in my autobiography." Lockhart stated. Victoria and Snape rolled their eyes almost in sync with each other at Lockhart. "She's not dead, Argus. She's been Petrified." Dumbledore corrected, comforting Filch a bit. "Precisely! So unlucky I wasn't there. I know the very countercurse that could have spared her." Lockhart pointed out arrogantly. Victoria looked at the wall to avoid eye contact with Lockhart. "Sure, you would, Gilderoy..." Victoria said in sarcasm. Lockhart furrowed his eyebrows as Snape lifted his eyebrows in slight amusement. "But how she's been Petrified... I cannot say." Dumbledore observed. Victoria edged closer to the petrified cat but couldn't figure out the cause entirely. "If i had to guess, perhaps some dark magic was involved. There may be a dark spell that does the same, from what i can observe." Victoria observed before looking back at her co workers. Snape watched Victoria curiously before parting his lips to speak. "How do you know there's dark magic involved, Victoria?" Snape questioned. Victoria stepped back and crossed her arms. "There's certainly no normal magic that would cause one to be petrified, Severus." Victoria replied, explaining herself. "Ask him! It's him that's done it. You saw what he wrote on the wall! Besides, he knows I'm - I'm a Squib." Filch pointed accusingly at Harry.

Victoria watched every move, keeping an eye on the scene. "It's not true, sir! I swear! I never touched Mrs. Norris. And I don't even know what a Squib is." Harry replied in defense. "Rubbish!" Filch spat. Snape stepped up and look towards Dumbledore. "If I might, Headmaster..." Snape asked, watching as Dumbledore motioned to go ahead. "Perhaps Potter and his friends were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time... However, the circumstances are suspicious. I, for one, don't recall seeing Potter at dinner." Snape explained, narrowing his eyes at the trio. "I'm afraid that's my doing, Severus. You see, Harry was helping me answer my fan mail." Lockhart pointed out. Snape was irritated by the defense Lockhart gave. "That's why Ron and I went looking for him, Professor. We'd just found him when Harry said..." Hermione explained, trailing off. "Yes, Miss Granger?" Snape asked curiously. "When I said I wasn't hungry. We were heading back to the Common Room and... found Mrs. Norris." Harry finished Hermione's sentence. Snape stared coldly at Harry, knowing he was lying somehow. "Innocent until proven guilty." Dumbledore stated. Filch was still angry. "My cat has been Petrified! I want to see some punishment!" Filch spat. Dumbledore sighed. "We will be able to cure her, Argus. As I understand it, Madam Sprout has a very healthy growth of Mandrakes. When they have matured, a potion will be made which will revive Mrs. Norris. In the meantime, I advise caution. To all." Dumbledore explained. The trio were then dismissed and the staff left the scene to turn in for the night. "Why was the new teacher defending you like that? That was odd how she stepped nearly in front of you." Ron asked curiously. Hermione waited for an answer. "I never did tell you guys...Professor Hawthrone is my aunt. Dumbledore introduced me today before detention." Harry explained. Ron and Hermione sounded baffled. "How? I thought you only had one aunt, Harry." Hermione stated. Harry sighed. "Apparently my mother had a twin sister she never knew. They were separated at birth." Harry replied. "Better than the Dursleys, i reckon." Ron stated. Everyone had turned in for the night, knowing some point this week would be the dueling lesson.