Ch.3; Hands Clean - Part 1
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger began their 3rd year at Hogwarts. Witch such curious events rising up, like the escape of Siruis Black, the man accused to Lily and James Potter's murder. But apart from the political issues, hearts were still heavy, and angst in the air. Victoria had indeed come back to Hogwarts for her 7th year, greatly welcomed by all her friends, except for Penelope Clearwater who had graduated last year, but they owled each other during the summer. The only person who wasn't there was Oliver Wood, and with the up coming Welcome Back Ball coming up that friday, she wondered if he would back out on that too. Over the summer, she had gone through serious thinking...and she feared she may not ever be with Oliver again, but she promised herself that she would still stand tall, and that she would still always love him, no matter what happened.
The day of the Welcome Back Ball rolled around quickly. Victoria sat infront of the mirror. She had grown out of her "fairy" look, and now went for a more "mysterious" appeal. However, she had never given up on wearing tennis shoes to formals- heels just bothered her. She had her straight jagged black hair comed neatly and parted, with some dark brown highlights, and she wore a long simple black gown whose flowy hem barely touched the floor, and was held up by two thin black straps. She had on black and orange tennis shoes underneath, and pulled a black cloak over herself before heading out. As she headed out, she saw the trio, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, coming back from their welcome back ball. (It was seperated where as, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years attended and earlier ball and 5th, 6th, and 7th years attended a later one.)
"Hey, how was your ball?" Vicky asked the trio. They all stopped and started chatting about the few cute girls, the even fewer hot guys, and then about how Draco Malfoy was once again an intruding git. "Yikes. Now I'm nervous."
"Don't be!" Harry protested. "Oliver's going to be there." He whispered. Vicky's heart fluttered with releif.
"Good luck." Hermione whispered befor epulling her two "men" along with her back to the Gryffindor tower. Vicky practically pranced down the halls and into the lit up Great Hall with excitement. It was packed. She spotted Cedric and walked over.
"Have you seen Oliver? Harry told me he was going to be here." Vicky asked. Cedric shook his head.
"Nope, sorry."
"It's okay. So, too bad Cho couldn't come because she's a 4th year."
"Actually, it wouldn't matter, I ended it with her last year...I beleive it was the day you left."
"And you never told me by owl?"
"I never thought of her again." Cedric smiled.
"Gee, you're mean!" Vicky giggled. Cedric didn't laugh.
"Vicky, there's something you don't know, or else you wouldn't defend her." Cedric started.
"Oh my god!" VIcky pointed behind Cedric and he spun around seeing Oliver walk in with Cho by his side.
"Oh my god is right!" Cedric panicked. "What is she doing here? And with him?"
"You're right! I wouldn't have defended her if I knew this, this was going to happen!" Vicky said shakily. Cedric decided not to tell Vicky the other truth about Cho at the moment, she looked near tears.
"Hey, hey, don't- don't even think of crying. Don't let him see you as pathetic." Cedric said handing her a tissue to stop her etars before the came. Vicky took a deep breath.
"Thanks." Victoria sat down at a table and Cedric sat down next to her. "Oh Cedric, what am I going to do?"
"Um, wait here." Cedric ran off towards Oliver and Cho. "Can I talk to you?" Cedric asked Oliver. Oliver shrugged and walked over to an isolated area with Cedric.
"What?" Oliver asked.
"You're killing her."
"Whatever."
"How did Cho come here? She's a 4th year."
"Special permission from Mcgonnagal."
"Oh. Well..."
"Look- there's nothing more for you to say, you got your part out already, a long time ago, just go back to Vicky and...keep her okay."
"Keep her okay?" Cedric scoffed and walked back towards Vicky.
"Where did you go?"
"To find out why the Bytch is here- special permission from Mcgonnagal."
"Oh." Victoria lifted up a butterbeer and took a few sips. "Well, this absolutely, sucks."
"Ya. I know what you mean." There was a long pause, of practical boredom. "Do you wanna dance- as friends, I swear."
"Sure, and don't worry. Oliver is too absorbed with Cho to notice."
"I dunno about that." Cedric said leading her to the dance floor. She put her hands on his shoulders and he put his hands on her hips, and they danced at a safe distance. But Victoria's eyes searched the crowd, and her heart was somewhere else. Oh god, she was hopeless! Cedric smiled in sympathy. After their song had ended, Victoria and Cedric moved back towards their table, but on the way Victoria bumped into Marcus Flint who was accompanied by a Slytherin girl. Marcus stopped and shooed his date away before turning on Victoria.
"You see what mess this has gotten you into?" He taunted. "Now you're a hopeless nobody, and it's all because of that Wood-chucker. Ha! I can't beleive I was angry when we broke up, because now, it's hilarious." Flint snickered.
"Don't let him shove you around like that." Cedric said. "F*ck off Flint." Cedric warned.
"We know you want to, but I'm not that way!" Marcus laughed and walked off not before shoving Victoria with his arm.
"Vicky!" Cedric said catching her. Victoria felt time stop itself as visions filled her head. Slytherins. She saw them, Marcus, his date, some others...They were drunk, definetly. Playing with their wands like babies with new toys. Marcus howled and waved his hand up in the air, "CRUCIO!" He laughed out and a jet of green laser shot fomr his wand hitting Oliver in the back, the Slytherins laughed and Cho Chang ran away leaving him there. The pain subsided from Victoria's head and she looked up.
"Sometimes I don't know if these visions are good or bad." She muttered to herself. A slow song began to play and she looked over to see Oliver dancing with Cho. Turning her head she saw the Slytherins...their dirty ass pranks. "Ugh!" Victoria pounced back on her feet and ran through the crowds...thank god for her tennis shoes. She reached them just in time as she heard the faint cry of "Crucio" before pushing Oliver out of the way. They both fell down and the curse hit Snape who subsided in screaming...but Vicky didn't notice. She looked down at Oliver who looked up at her confused...
"Come to me now, and lay your hands over me.
Even if it's a lie, say it will be allright, and I shall beleive.
I'm broken in two, and I know you're on to me.
That I only come home, when I'm so all alone, but I do beleive.
That not everything is gonna be the way you think it ought to be.
It seems like every time I try to make it right, it all comes down on me.
Please say honestly, you won't give up on me, and I shall beleive. And I shall beleive.
Open the door, and show me your face tonight.
I know it's true, no one heals me like you, and you hold the key.
Never again, would I turn away from you.
I'm so heavy tonight, but your love is allright, and I do beleive.
That not everything is gonna be the way you think it ought to be.
It seems like every time I try to make it right, it all comes down on me.
Please say honestly, you won't give u on me, and I shall beleive. And I shall beleive."
Had the whole song really gone by in that one swift moment? No, Victoria knew it had been sooner, but she did know that for at least a second- they were once again gazing in each other's eyes, and the comfort was all too familiar. If only Cho hadn't screamed his name, snapping him out of the moment...maybe it would've lasted longer. She knew he felt something too, it was in his eyes, and in his lips, and written all over his skin. He missed her. Unfortunately, Oliver was going to be stubborn and not admit this. So Victoria retired early to her bedroom. While she slipped into her blue satin pajamas and brushing her hair, there was a knock at her window so Victoria walked over and opened seeing her precious cockatoo there.
"Hey Garnet!" Victoria smiled letting the plumerous bird fly in dropping a letter onto her bed. Victoria sat down on the bed and stroked the bird's white back while opening the letter up.
You've saved me twice now.
All I can say, although I still have my suspicions, is thanks.
-Oliver
"How...thoughtful." Victoria said placing the letter on her bedside table. She contemplated about writing back, but decided not too. She gave Garnet a kiss on the head before sending her to the owlery and then she snuck under the covers, and dreamt a little dream, about, hmm, guess.