Chapter fourteen:
Astonished
It was the end of November and the first task was beginning the next day. The students were talking about the first official task happening on the 24th and everyone was looking forward to the task - besides Harry and those that seemed worried about him. Victoria had just wrapped up her only class of the day before sitting at her desk in front of the classroom when someone entered the room, someone she had not expected - McGonagall. "Victoria?" McGonagall asked, causing the ginger haired professor to look up from the papers at her desk and to place her attention onto the deputy headmistress. "Yes, Minerva?" Victoria replied, curious as to why she was being paid a visit. McGonagall approached closer and stopped beside her desk, hands folded at the front of her. "I know that you are worried about Potter, especially tomorrow being the first task. But, so am I." McGonagall expressed, being sympathetic to the situation, knowing that Victoria is Harry's aunt and guardian. "Yes, though I'm new at being in his life, I've grown to be protective of my nephew. Assuredly, I know that Dumbledore will try his best to help Harry. But, I still worry. The next thing I need is for my nephew to die at the hands of a tournament under my guardianship." Victoria explained, being pessimistic and stood up from her chair before taking the papers and setting them into a shelf to be corrected in her office. McGonagall followed Victoria into the office with a look of concern on her a expression. "Victoria, you may be his guardian, but while at school you are first and foremost his professor, though I do understand your situation. Dumbledore has decided to let Potter continue in the tournament, I disagreed but it's out of my hands. He ought to have something planned I'm sure, I hope that everything will go well and no harm will be done in this tournament." McGonagall stated.
Victoria didn't like hearing that Dumbledore was letting him compete despite the situation but she, too, had no say even though she was now his guardian. "You are right, while I'm at Hogwarts I am his professor but that still doesn't keep the worrying away, unfortunately, I'll have to bear it. Thank you for understanding, Minerva." Victoria replied. McGonagall stepped over towards Victoria and placed a hand on her upper arm in empathy before leaving the classroom to her own. It was then the next day where the first task would take place and everyone was in the great hall for breakfast. Victoria has noticed looking at the Gryffindor table that Harry and Hermione had sat a distance away from Ron, which got her to think about what Harry told her previously about a friend being mad at him. Snape had kept an eye on Victoria during breakfast, noticing her composure but refrained from showing too much concern, as he wasn't fond of Harry but he was of Victoria. Victoria finished her breakfast as students had as well before exiting the great hall and got ready for the first task. Before Harry had left the great hall, Victoria went to meet up with him near the door of her classroom to wish him good luck. "Yes, professor Hawthrone? Or...aunt Tori?" Harry asked curiously with an amused smile on his face. Victoria chuckled softly before parting her lips to speak. "I wanted to wish you good luck on the task today. Please be safe." Victoria stated, expression of concern. Harry nodded and appreciated her support but it wasn't hard to notice Harry was quite nervous. "Harry, you're going to be late to divination." Hermione warned as she approached Harry and Victoria. Harry looked at Hermione for a second. "Okay, thanks." Harry brushed her off quickly, Hermione then left to class.
"I'll try to. Found out that dragons is the first task." Harry confessed, obviously frightened.Victoria was taken back by what she heard about the first task, now even more worried but what could she do? The situation was out of her hands and she hated the fact that it was "I'll be watching and rooting for you, Harry. I believe you're able to forfeit if you cannot bear it. Please do if you need to, just come out alive, okay?" Victoria expressed. Harry smiled nervously before giving his aunt a quick hug and went off to class, Victoria watched as he left before entering her classroom once again. Late afternoon, the task was to begin while students and staff made their way to the stands and the four champions went into the tent to get ready for the task. The stands surrounded the pit where rock was mounted and tons of cheery students sat in the stands. Victoria had took a seat next to Snape in the stands, causing side glances from him at first as Victoria wore a light smile on her face before turning attention onto the dragon keeper, Charlie Weasley, placing the first dragon into the pit. After about ten minutes of waiting, the cannon went off for the first competitor to begin.
"Our first contestant, Cedric Diggory!" Dumbledore announced to the crowd as Cedric stepped out of the tent and out from under the den into the pit. Cedric used all the tactics that he knew to get the golden egg before it was over and now the next dragon was placed once the other was removed and the next competitor entered. "Our next contestant, Fleur Delacour!" Dumbledore announce. Fleur nearly got the golden egg once but missed it before finally succeeding in getting the egg. The dragon was changed again. "Our next contestant, Viktor Krum!" Dumbledore announced once more. Victoria watched Krum dodge the Chinese fireball dragon and kept thinking of how Harry would handle this task. Krum ended up getting the golden egg as well and then again, the dragon was removed and replaced it with a new dragon. This was the last one, meaning it was Harry's turn. "Now, our last and final contestant, Harry Potter!" Dumbledore announced lastly. Harry appeared from out of the den and went to face the Hungarian horntail dragon which looked like a nasty piece of work. "I cannot believe they're making him still compete." Victoria stated, causing Snape to turn his attention onto her. "Not particularly our choice...however, whether or not Potter put his name into the goblet, it has a very strict contract, obviously." Snape pointed out. Victoria knew that and remained silent as she watched her nephew take on the dragon. The moment the dragon had gotten loose and chased after Harry, the staff in the stands, along with Victoria and Snape, ducked out of the way when they passed through. The staff including Dumbledore watched on, most concerned, as Harry battled the dragon around Hogwarts before there was a dead silence. The silence was deafening and Victoria's heart sank during the time that passed by in the silence. McGonagall was concerned as well, before suddenly there was a sound of a broom in the air, heading towards the pit once again - it was Harry. Harry then swerved and grabbed the golden egg and there was applause everywhere including from Victoria.
Later that night, both Gryffindor house and Hufflepuff house celebrated with the two Hogwarts champions for succeeding in the task while the other two visiting students had with their own classmates. Harry and Ron had ended up being friends again during the celebration in the common room as well. After dinner had ended, Victoria had congratulated Harry on finishing the task before he went into the Gryffindor common room to celebrate. The next week, the head of houses set aside one day of that week to begin teaching their fourth years about the Yule ball and that included dancing lessons, happening to be on a Friday. That meant that Victoria had a free day that week and decided to peek into a couple of the classes to listen in on the lesson to hear about the Yule ball. Passing by the transfiguration classroom, Victoria peeked in to hear McGonagall teaching the fourth year Gryffindors. "The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since its inception.On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for a night of well-mannered frivolity." McGonagall explained. Victoria watched on by the door frame, spotting Harry sitting beside Ron amongst the boys. Victoria had taken interest in listening to hear more about the Yule ball. "As representatives of the host school, l expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward...because the Yule Ball is, foremost, a dance." McGonagall added. The boys seemed to groan at the idea of the dance and the girls were giddy - including Victoria but inside of course.
Victoria then left the doorway and walked further down to the Potions classroom, curious in watching Snape teach his fourth year Slytherin students about the Yule ball and dance steps as well. Stepping inside the classroom, Victoria remained by the door, crossing her arms as she watched on. Several Slytherin students looked her way but then turned their focus back onto their head of house. "The Yule ball is held for the Triwizard tournament by the host school...for each and every student to mingle with the other schools. However..." Snape began explaining before coming to a halt. Snape noticed Victoria's presence by the doorway and merely turned his glance back at his students. "The Yule ball, is a dance and it is mandatory that you participate, representing our school properly. Therefore, it is required that I teach you how to dance for you will not bestow shame and humiliation upon yourselves and the entire school." Snape stated in a slight harsh tone. Victoria attempted to hold back a laugh, pressing her lips together as she composed herself. Snape inadvertently looked over to Victoria, noticing her expression before turning to his students once more. Snape took a couple steps forward as he looked at his fourth year students. "I will need a volunteer to help demonstrate the waltz, that is taking place at the Yule ball..." Snape stated sternly before stopping his steps. "Anyone?" Snape asked, raising a brow. None of the Slytherin girls offered to dance with their professor, not that they didn't like him but that it was embarrassing to waltz with a professor as a teenager. The Slytherin boys began snickering and cracking grins at the situation unfolding. Snape looked over to Victoria who seemed quite amused by the scene she was watching, noticing that she had let a soft snicker slip before Snape had came up with an idea.
Snape decided to march over towards the doorway. "I believe Professor Hawthrone had just volunteered herself to help me demonstrate the waltz." Snape stated along the way. He then stopped in front of Victoria before taking her arm gently, pulling her along with him to the middle of the floor of the classroom. Victoria was surprised at the action that Snape had made as she involuntarily followed his steps to the middle of the classroom. "Oh, no I have not, Professor Snape." Victoria refuted but played a gentle smile on her lips before stopping in the middle of the classroom. The students were amused and began laughing. "Quiet..." Snape warned them before turning to Victoria. "Any spark of amusement in my classroom, is a sheer indication that you are willing to participate, Professor Hawthorne." Snape explained, obviously entertained by his action. Victoria caught the entertained look on Snape's expression and bit her cheek at the awkward silence before parting her lips to respond. "If that's your rules, Professor Snape, then I must oblige." Victoria said in a playful tone. Snape formed a smirk onto his lips at her words before beginning the directions of the waltz in a more serious manner, placing his right hand on her waist. "Place your left hand on my shoulder...and take my left hand...with your right hand." Snape instructed. Victoria felt his hand touch the left side of her waist which shot goosebumps up the side of her body before placing her left hand immediately onto his right shoulder.
Victoria then placed her right hand into Snape's left hand before awaiting the next instructions. Snape had taken a moment to observe how close he and Victoria were, taking in every detail of her - pink lips, green eyes, the hints of cherry, sandlewood,amber and musk from her perfume momentarily distracted Snape from his presentation. Victoria had took in every detail of Snape up close as well - his dark eyes, pouty lips, subtle expression and smell of musk, peppermint toothpaste and old shoes. "Now, we step back once then forward...one...two...three..." Snape directed before he quickly flicked on the music, obvious that he wasn't the dancing expert but doing his best to not only instruct the class but to impress Victoria. "One..two...three.." Victoria repeated as they began waltzing. Victoria was enjoying her dance with Snape even if it was just merely a presentation. There was a loud whistle that came from the direction of Draco Malfoy that caused laughing from the students. "Quiet, Mr. Malfoy." Snape warned as the waltz came to a stand still. "Everyone, time to get on your feet and practice, come on." Victoria instructed the Slytherins but they remained seated, grumbling. Snape stared down his students. "Why aren't you all doing...as you're told?" Snape questioned harshly. The Slytherin students immediately gotten up, grumbling as they paired up, mainly the boys.
The lesson lasted for another half hour, as they were taught how to properly dance for the Yule ball before the class was dismissed. Victoria enjoyed dancing with Snape and being as close as she was. Snape had also enjoyed it even though he wouldn't admit it. "I appreciate your assistance today, Victoria." Snape politely thanked in his own way, putting away the music player. Victoria wore a gentle smile on her lips at Snape's appreciation. "No problem, Severus. You are a good dancer, believe it or not." Victoria replied, folding her arms. Snape flashed a rather faint smile as he sorted out the classroom before turning his attention back onto Victoria. "Not my area of expertise, however, picking up some dance lessons as a child with my mother while my father was gone perhaps came in handy. Not that anyone knows here at the school and would much appreciate your secrecy." Snape pointed out. Victoria noticed that Snape was beginning to open up by sharing private information clearly on his own to her, which she felt honored to be trusted with. "Of course. My lips are sealed." Victoria promised. Snape finally had gotten his classroom back in order and looked back at Victoria. "Good." Snape simply stated.
Victoria had her mind clouded with the event of the Yule ball the last few months, ever since she had been told about it and hesitated on asking Snape if he was attending. Perhaps this could be her chance to ask since they were alone. "I was wondering...if...you were going to the Yule ball? I mean, if you had a date or...?" Victoria asked, tongue-tied on the words playing on her tongue as she bit her lower lip in hopes of hiding her nervous body language. Snape was taken back by the question, never thought of going to such event of the Yule ball as a guest but merely just as a chaperone, though he took this question of hers as an indication of her possible interest in him, as a date. A romantic date. Something that seemed to be forming that he wasn't used to but wouldn't be opposed to in the future. "Unfortunately, I will be chaperoning at the Yule ball along with several other professors, therefore I doubt I will be needing a date." Snape explained. Victoria felt her heart drop to her stomach a little at the response but had understood as well. She knew she had to be professional but sometimes she relied on her heart too much. "I understand, Severus. I should chaperone as well, though I'm positive if my sister had asked, you would oblige in a heartbeat." Victoria replied, composing herself before she walked out of the potions classroom, her heels clicking against the stone floor and the door shut behind her. Snape stood there pale faced at the reaction he had gotten from Victoria, the statement received out of jealousy of her late sister getting the best of him. The silence filled the room before as he departed back to his office to dive into his thoughts before dinner would begin.