It was one of the most difficult-to white-chapters (well, 9th was difficult too, but not that much - I presume having great holidays and planning to write about 3 more new fics doesn't help either :) )
Chapter 11
Memory
~*~*~*~
Hermione heard foot steps and looked up to see who it was. But tears were deforming the picture, so she couldn't recognize this person. Besides it was very dark in the Dungeons, especially at the deepest corner.
"Harry? Ron?"
Then she heard slight laughter. Feminine laughter.
"No, silly. It's me"
"Victoria?!"
Hermione was quite shocked. She feverishly rubbed her eyes to get her vision back. Yeah. It was truly Vicky. Standing at some distance and observing her.
"What do you want? Haven't you make fun of me already with love potion? I bet it was you who suggested to use it."
"Yes, the idea was mine. And I'm not going to deny it."
Hermione choked with anger.
"Don't you have any conscience?!"
Victoria didn't reply, instead she came to Hermione and sat by her. They both remained quiet. Finally Hermione asked question, that was hunting her all that time.
"Why me?"
Victoria, who seemed to be to absorbed in her thoughts, looked at Hermione, then shrugged her shoulders and gave no answer. She stared at the dark space in front of her and started talking in emotionless voice.
"I met him last year. Of course I noticed him when he appeared in Hogwarts for the first time, but as I didn't have luxury of coming freely with all other students, I just eyed him from the distance. But one day..."
She made a pause, as thinking how to continue, how to put all her emotions in simple sentences.
"... one day my stepfather", - as Hermione gasped with surprise Victoria had to interrupt her speech, -"I do have a stepfather, I'm an orphan. Anyway, he decided that I should be hidden more carefully when some events took place"
"When you-know-who had risen?"
"Right. So he put me to one secret place, which appeared to be not so secret. Draco used to go where when he needed to be alone. Well, that time..."
she smiled, as if she was replaying most precious moments in her mind:
"... he came and I met him with all my might. I thought he came to kill me. He wasn't that defenseless to. To make this story short, we both were taken to the med wing. At first we were really inimical to each other, but spending a couple of days in the same room with a stranger somehow was intriguing and tantalizing. So we talked, not much at the beginning, but as 3 days passed... it was so easy to be with him. He didn't know who I was. Neither did I. "
She stopped abruptly.
"And then my stepfather came. And saw us having fun together. I can't tell you how mad he was. It was terrible. It was a nightmare. After I found out why he was mad, I finally understood him, but I couldn't stop thinking about Draco... We started meeting secretly. One time we were almost discovered. And when stepfather was following Draco, he bumped into you. And he chose you to be our alibi. You know the rest."
"But why did you have to use love potion?!"
"Well, we thought that it'd be impossible for you to fall in love with Draco, so we decided to make it easier for all of us. Today I decided to uncast that spell, Draco objected, because he was afraid he won't be able to be dating me without an alibi. So we had a quarrel. I presume you saw it. But what we both didn't expected that you really could have some feeling for Draco... I know you made potion perfectly right. Though I can't make them myself I know a lot about it."
"And what about that paper you gave me before class's end?"
"Oh, that. It was anti memory spell. So you won't forget me, while all other students will."
"But why Snape would cast such spell? Was he helping you?"
"Snape? Of course he was helping me", - she laughed, - "He's... well. I think he'd better tell you this if he wants. Coming back to your first question. Noone should know about my existence. But today something went wrong. And Harry did obviously remembered me. And he would be the last person to be allowed to know about me."
"That's why Snape was so mad. His spell somehow didn't work for Harry and Ron."
"Clever girl."
"But why Harry would be the last person to know about your existence?!"
Victoria chuckled.
"You ask too many question. Besides I already told you too much."
She rose and stretched her hand for Hermione:
"Let's go. Or we will be late and Snape wouldn't like it at all. And we don't want to see pissed off Snape, do we?"
Hermione doubtfully stared at hand in front of her, then slowly took it for a brief moment while she was standing up. Victoria smiled a bit and two girls left cold Dungeon halls.
~*~*~*~
"So you knew all this time?!"
"Of course not all the time, Potter! Please, do you think she parades with budge 'I am...' "
Draco was hushed with Harry's hand on his mouth.
"Don't tell it out loud! Portraits have ears, you know"
"And you don't touch me with your dirty hands, Potter!"
"But how did you guess? I mean, it took ME several years to notice, though I have an excuce - I was under memory spell charms"
"Well, and I wasn't! So I could remember whom I saw. Besides, when we... I... she.. oh, what the hell Potter! - when we make out and the light fells with such angle... you can see it pretty clear"
"That's disgusting!!!" Ron could hardly stop himself from vomiting. Harry looked disturbed:
"Though I have to agree with you Ron, that the picture Malfoy gave us, and especially me, is kind of gross, I also have to say that nothing connected with Victoria can't be disgusting!"
"How noble you are, Potter! Defending victims of evil Malfoy is his scared duty!"
"Shut up, Malfoy! That's not the point! We found you to make sure you won't tell anyone, and especially your father, about Victoria. If you would, I'll..."
"Save your threats, Potter, I'm not suicidal to admit I'm dating... you know what I mean!"
"I guess I am, but I still can't trust you. So I'm afraid we have to take some measures..."
With those words Harry and Ron took out their wands.
~*~*~*~
"Victoria, what Snape is doing here? I though he was in the..."
"Dungeons?"
Hermione nodded.
"No, he left it with me, though I didn't followed him."
Girls approached Professor Snape who looked slightly less mad and furious than 10 minutes ago. He stood still by the Portrait, leading to the Dumbledore's office.
"Where are Potter and Weasley?"
Victoria looked at Hermione. They seemed to forget totally about boys.
"Perfect. Can't remember simple task of bringing your two friends here!"
Hermione felt like she was coming back to hell from which she escaped for depressively short time.
"It's not her fault", - Victoria took one step forward, - "I distracted her with my talks."
Snape shook his head:
"Nice, protecting new friend, aren't we, Victoria? Well, if you're so kind, then go and help Miss Granger to find her lost friends. And hurry. I'm not gonna wait here for hours." Then he lowered voice a little:
"You do perfectly well know how important it is to find Potter as soon as possible, don't you?"
Victoria didn't reply, instead she pulled Hermione with her, holding her sleeve and not letting go.
~*~*~*~
"OBLIVIATE!" - both Harry and Ron shouted, pointing their wands on Malfoy.
"What the?!..." all Draco managed to breath out before two guhe lightening sparckles hit him.
"Sorry, Malfoy, but there are some things we can't allow you to remember."
Pale Slytherin boy was standing very still, his stare blank and somehow curious.
"Ron, what do you think, did it work?" Harry carefully waved a hand in front of Malfoy's face. "Now his look scares me."
"Nah! He's the same git, only without memory of Vic..."
"Shhh! What if he still remembers?"
"Harry, whom are you kidding? He didn't have time to even think of counterspell!"
"Of course you're right, Ron, and still..."
"HARRY! RON! Finally we found you!", - Hermione, still panting from her sprinter's walk, came to take boys with her, when she noticed Malfoy.
"What's wrong with him?", - she was mad at Malfoy for playing his dirty game on her, and yet Victoria's story at least made some sense, and let's not forget that Hermione actually loved Draco.
"What have you done to him?!"
While Hermione was frantically making rounds by Malfoy, Victoria stayed calm. Too calm.
"I know what they did. They cast really strong memory spell on him."
"How do you know?", - said Hermione not quite believing that girl.
"I just know!", - snapped Victoria, - "He'll be this way for next half an hour. We can't leave him here like this. We're taking him to Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore?" exclaimed Harry, Ron and Hermione in unison.
~*~*~*~
Though Snape was highly annoyed that they brought Malfoy with them, he assumed
that statue-like Malfoy, standing in the Hall, would attract unwanted attention.
After whispering password tangerine orange an odd procession, consisting of angry professor, strangely excited Hermione (to much stress), confused Harry and Ron, vegetable-like Malfoy and out-of-place Victoria entered Dumbledore's office.
End of chapter 11.
A/n I hope this doesn't count as a cliffhanger, coz I really tried to make this chapter as long and imformative as possible. And preferably not that boring. Oh, I don't know. It's weird chapter. Coz I know truth about Victoria. And readers still do not. Maybe someone will be able to guess who Victoria is? Ah? That would be funny! And I'll make a special notice if one would guess right :)
~*~*~*~
Now for the great part - answers to all your great reviews (of chapter 10 mostly)!!! THANK YOU ALL SO MUUUUUUUUCH!!!!!! :)
Goldensilence - thank you for so lovely review. I totally agree that homeworks are pointless. And still you have to do them. Though I was alwas an A's student at the school. So I had to make all homeworks - due to my status. And I kinda get used to it.
Polygon would be funny, really, but not in that fic - all my friends are reading it, even my paretns, so I'd be too emarassed to write such stuff. In some other fic (i'm planning to write Harry/Draco/Hermione triangle) it'd be really great.
LadyLily - thank you! I did really had a wonderful trip :) and as I didn't have my comp nearby I had to only think about future plot twists and type them down (dont wanna use pen and paper for fics - I'll have to retype them afterwars, so why to make doublework? :) ) am I bubbling? :))
Teethshaver - thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!! So many reviews :) I was parying on you when my dad printed new reiews and brought them to me and I saw that you reviewed so many times - I was happy :) Glad you liked names and robe's thing :)
Cyn James - thanks :0) and I hope you'll find time to read other chapters :) They're nice too (at least readers say so :) )
JoeBob1379 - Thank you!!!!! (blushes) I'm so happy that you liked all those names :) I had fun creating them :)
AngelzGase - thank you! And thanks for wishing :) I had great time in China! That was great :) So maybe Draco and Hermione would take a trip where too? :)
Krissy - thanks for critisicm :) It's pretty useful :) When I was upset about it my parents told me that such reviews are mo precious as they tell the truth ;) I had to agree :) As for Draco - he's supposed to be bad boy here. I think he's not perfect at all in the books, so why would he'd change here? I think it's impossible. And it he'd have an affair with Hermione it was be in a very uneasy way. Without happy realizing that she became so hot and sexy over summer and that he has felling for her, inspite she's a mudblood. As for vicky - she's a person you know. Maybe repulsing for others, but quite fitting for Draco. As for Harry/Hermione - I don't think it'd work in that fic. Hermione doesn't love him. When (if) he'll get a girlfrien in that fic Hermione would possibly feel gealousy, but not love. As for death eaters endings you suggested (both) - they're cool and funny :0 ) I think you might try to write your own fic! It'd be great :) While poor me have to finish this one :)
Clarity - thank you so much for your wonderful words :) It means a lot for me :)
Answers to reviews of bloopers chapter
Strife21 - Thanks :) I'm glad you liked it :) As for China: now 6 votes (reviews, to be more correct) are for China and 3 votes are for Russia :)
Alisha - I missed you too ;) and I'm sooooooo happy to be back, though China was great :) But home, sweet home is always better :)
Myst Enchantress - thanks ;) Very glad to hear! :)
Venus Saturnalia - he-he :) glad to read it :) thanks :)
Mae Noelle - :)
OK, sorry, I was palnning to thank everyone, but my dad came and said that I spend too much time near copm, so I better upload this chapter with not all thanks to all reveiwers, how do you think? And I promise to thank all of you tomorrow (to update thanks list). Sorry again!