Brief Summary of "Portrait of a Pince:" So little is known about Madame
Pince, the librarian of Hogwarts. However, a fate that shrouds her past
and future alike awaits her as she returns to Hogwarts in her seventh year
as Head Girl. Several run-ins with the Head Boy, Tom Riddle, go unnoticed
as part of normal life for Victoria Pince. But what she doesn't know is
that the pale, dark-haired boy that makes her life miserable is going to
take her for a life-changing ride that she will never forget for as long as
she lives.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot.
Portrait of a Pince
Chapter One
Taking a deep breath of fresh Hogwarts air thick with magic and anticipation, Victoria Pince bounded down the steps from the Hogwarts Express. Here she was again, back for one more go around. Excited beyond belief, she turned around, tapping her foot as she impatiently awaited the emergence of her best friend from the train.
"MINNIE! Come ON!!" she shouted when she could no longer wait. Her stomach rumbled as she thought of the delicious feast just screaming to be dug into and the friends that she hadn't seen in an entire summer all waiting for her in the Great Hall.
"Awwww, is pooooor Torrie HUNGRY?" a simpering voice teased in her ear, laced with false pity. Victoria knew at once who it was. "I suppose you came back to Hogwarts just to get a good meal. Completely understandable, what with YOUR family's economic status. After all, it certainly wasn't your talent or grades that brought you back."
Whirling around, she smiled smugly when she heard a good slap as her hair whipped Tom Riddle's face. Thinking quickly, aiming to attack as he was still blinking his watery, assaulted eyes, she prepared for the first battle of the year.
"Look, Tom, I know you really wanna talk to me all the time, but making fun of me is simply not the way to go about it. Perhaps if you REALLY wanted me to like you, you'd be nice and treat me like a human being with feelings," Victoria suggested helpfully, barely able to keep the vicious grin off her face.
" Want YOU to like ME? YOU, Victoria Pince? Oh, please, give me a break. In your dreams," Tom broke into a cruel laugh, tears streaming down his face, clutching his stomach which appeared to be aching from such raucous laugher. He apparently thought the idea of having a crush on Victoria was extremely hilarious. Victoria, however, was not amused.
"Bug off, Riddle," she growled, no longer in the mood for witty, scathing comebacks.
"My pleasure, Pince," Tom managed to squeeze out between maniac chuckles. Motioning to his two cronies, Venomous Malfoy and Malcolm Flint, Tom Riddle waltzed confidently away through the crowd of returning Hogwarts students, ignoring the adoring stares he got from several fourth-year Hufflepuff girls on his way.
"OOOOOO that Riddle makes me SO MAD! Just because I'm not exactly rolling in gold like him doesn't make me inferior!" Victoria exploded, noticing the appearance of her best friend and Gryffindor room-mate, Minerva McGonagall.
"Oh, would you shut your mouth?! You've been going on about that Riddle almost the entire train ride. If I hear one more bitter word escape your mouth, I do think I'm going to haul off and slap you! You, Victoria Pince, Head Girl of Hogwarts and Gryffindor Quidditch Seeker and Captain have much more to talk about. Don't waste your breath on scum like Tom Riddle!" Minerva burst out, startling Victoria from her fuming and rather frightening thoughts concerning what she'd like to do to Tom Riddle.
An apologetic and sheepish look upon her face, Victoria realized that Minerva was right. "I'm sorry, Minnie, I know you're right. It just seems that he's there around every corner. I can't seem to escape him, stupid git."
"Ah-ah-ah, WHAT did I say?" Minerva reiterated menacingly.
"I know, I know. Not one more word," Victoria agreed with unmistakable resolution in her clear voice. Sweeping her long, reddish- brown hair over her shoulder, she changed her tone almost immediately. "Now, let's go up to the Great Hall and get the Sorting over with. I'm starving, and it's bloody hot out here!"
Victoria joined in the contagious cheers and whistles as the Gryffindor table exploded in applause for its newest member, Jonathan Weasley. With only a handful of scared-looking first-years left to be sorted, everyone was buzzing with excitement, attempting to quickly pass the time before the delicious Hogwarts feast magically materialized onto their plates.
Catching sight of the newest Weasley in a state of panic, seeming not to be able to locate his horde of brothers and sisters among the wildly enthusiastic Gryffindors, Victoria ignored Crystal Trelawney being sorted into Hufflepuff and called out to the nervous, red-headed boy.
"Jon-jon, come sit next to us!"
Jonathan turned a brilliant shade of red that complimented his hair nicely and glared daggers at Victoria, but complied with her request. Plopping down into the empty seat next to the Head Girl, he said in a sidelong whisper, "Torrie, I would really appreciate if you'd keep some aspects of our home relationship confidential. I don't think it's very dignified to be called Jon-jon among one's peers."
Victoria rolled her eyes in exasperation. Jonathan was undoubtedly the most intelligent Weasley yet, but some things never changed.
"Fine, Jonathan," she said, emphasizing his full name to the point that it sounded quite ridiculous and unfitting for the small boy, "I won't tell a single soul that you're practically family to the Head Girl. Or should I let that part be known?" She smiled widely and smugly as Jonathan took hardly seconds to consider this proposal.
"No, no, that part's all right. Just don't. Don't. Oh, look, just don't embarrass me, ok? I plan on having a smooth and unnoticed life here, if I can manage that with the blokes I happen to have the misfortune of calling my brothers," Jonathan hurriedly explained. Being so close to the Head Girl would undoubtedly gain him at least a few friends.
"Too late, I'm afraid, Johnny-boy," a familiarly mischievous voice confirmed Jonathan's worst fears as a tall boy with similar flaming hair slid into a recently vacated seat next to his little brother. Daniel Weasley was somewhat of a lady's man in Gryffindor, with his tall, muscular frame and tussled carrot-colored hair.
"Oh, no," Jonathan groaned. "I'd thought you'd finally decided to leave me alone and stop ruining my life."
"Are you kidding? That's what big brothers are for! Now, if I'm not mistaken, the fun is about to begin," Daniel rebuttled with a jaunty grin as his eyes refocused themselves on the staff table where Professor Dippet was just standing to make his start-of-term announcements.
"Welcome, students, to what I'm sure will be the best year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry yet!" the old headmaster stated grandly, his arms wide open in a gesture of hospitality and grandness.
"He ALWAYS says that," Minerva moaned in disgust. "Doesn't he posses the intelligence to come up with something different every once in a while?"
"I think that'd be too much of a stress for that 'ole guy. After all, you can't teach an old dog new tricks!" Victoria giggled back maliciously.
"Before I begin my announcements, a young man has asked that he be allowed to make an announcement of his own. I turn the spotlight over to Ernest Weasley!"
"Oh, no, please say I'm dreaming," Jonathan whispered desperately.
"Sorry, old boy. Ernie and I have planned a little something for your first day at dear old Hogwarts," Daniel smiled cheerfully.
"Someone please shoot me," Jonathan begged.
"HELLLLOOOOOOOO HOGWARTS!" Ernie called as soon as his voice had been magnified. There was a round of thundering applause amid more than a few whistles and whoops in response to Ernie's bold greeting. Ernie seemed to possess the same charm as his twin brother.
"As I'm sure you all know, as of this year, there's a Weasley in every single year! It shouldn't come as any surprise, on the contrary, it should be an event to be celebrated!" Ernie continued cheekily. There was a spattering of laughter around the Great Hall.
"Now, the least we could all do is commemorate this day by giving a great Hogwarts welcome to the Weasley that made the Weasley Invasion complete! I'd like you to give a great round of applause for my dearest little brother, JONATHAN WEASLEY!!!!!!"
There was again thundering applause accompanied by several craning necks as the student population of Hogwarts attempted to catch a glimpse of the most unfortunate little guy. Everyone was completely aware that this was not a kind, brotherly introduction, but an extremely hilarious hazing joke played on a little squirt of a sibling.
"Run for it, Jon-jon. You know where the Tower is. The password is Ridiculously dressed rhinoceros. GO!" Victoria urged a terrified Jonathan, and on her word he stood up to run as fast as his little legs would carry him.
"Where do you think YOU'RE going, pipsqueak?!" Daniel asked amusedly, and grabbed a handful of Jonathan's robes to stop him from going anywhere.
"Here he is, Ernie!" Daniel shouted up to his twin brother at the staff table. "Everyone, meet Johnny-boy!"
Victoria had never heard more laughter in one place before. Nor had she ever seen someone as red and livid as little "Johnny-boy" Weasley. She feared to be Danny and Ernie when their little brother and the other Weasleys got hold of them. Not to mention what would happen when their mother caught wind of their little prank.
But she had to admit, it sure was a heck of a joke.
Eventually the giggles died down and the staring, pointing, and whispering minimized and stopped all together. Usually nothing stayed in the minds of the teenage witches and wizards of Hogwarts for long, especially when food was involved.
Professor Dippet had decided it would be best to make his announcements once the excitement around Ernie's little announcement had died down and he could be easily heard without having to struggle against poor little Jonathan for the students' attention. He had simply announced the feast, muttered something to Ernie, pointedly glared at Danny still holding Jonathan's robes, and stalked back to his chair at the head of the staff table. By the look on Ernie's face, his family would not be the only ones extracting payment for his and his brother's stunt. Victoria had smiled triumphantly as Danny had let go of Jonathan and sulked back to his place next to Ernie with the rest of the Weasleys further down the table.
"You know, Jon-jon, if you'd like to go sit with your brothers, you can go ahead and move down there," Victoria prompted Jonathan after taking a swig of ice-cold pumpkin juice.
"That's ok, Torrie. I don't think I could stand sitting near those two buffoons. I should have known it would be impossible to live a normal life. I've already been labeled as the stupid, silly, poor little brother of Ernie and Danny Weasley. I'll never live this down. I'd much rather stay here if you don't mind," Jonathan sighed as he started down at his plate of roast beef and mashed potatoes. He reached for another buttered roll.
"No problem, John. We're pleased to have you," Minerva called from around Victoria. It was no secret that Minerva thought Jonathan was the most adorable thing that had ever walked the planet. Victoria wouldn't have been surprised if she offered to adopt him as her own little brother.
Jonathan rolled his eyes and stuffed his mouth with bread. If there was one thing all of the Weasleys had in common, it was that absolutely nothing ruined their appetites.
Just as Jonathan had finally finished his last bite of heavily frosted and sprinkled chocolate cake, with all the people around him watching in fixation and disgust at his ability to eat more than all of them combined, Professor Dippet stood up to try again with his announcements.
"Now that we've all eaten and settled down," he began, a slight undertone of aggravation in his pleasant voice, "I'm going to make a few announcements. As always, the Forbidden Forest is, just as its name suggests, strictly forbidden. Also, I'm pleased to introduce your new Defense Against the Arts teacher, Professor Arietta Jenkins, and your new History of Magic teacher, Professor Yaanagun Binns. I expect you'll treat them with respect and obedience just as you regard the rest of our teaching staff. Without further ado, it is my pleasure to announce that the school year has officially begun! Follow your prefects to your House dormitories, please, and get a good night's rest for your first day of classes!"
Victoria rose dutifully and began her work as Head Girl of Hogwarts and Gryffindor prefect. "All Gryffindors, follow me! I will escort you to the common room and issue the password!" she called proudly. Her House obediently headed toward the doors of the Great Hall as she purposefully led the way. Victoria Pince was one who commanded respect from all of her peers without doing much but being her amazing self.
Victoria had almost reached the first flight of stairs, engaged in a joint effort with Minerva in telling Jonathan how much fun he was going to have at Hogwarts and that his brothers hadn't ruined his chances surviving normally when a cold, malicious voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Well, well, well, it seems the worst Head Girl in the history of this school has befriended the outcast of all time. How's your face, Weasley? Is it still red or is that fading? You must be a pretty large bugger of a nuisance if your own BROTHERS turn against you. Of course, if another snothead little kid had come along to eat up my family's scant amount of money, I'd be annoyed, too. Perhaps they're trying to make you run away so they can afford more for themselves?" Tom Riddle called up the staircase, his eyes narrowed and a twisted grin upon his foul, pale face.
Victoria couldn't take it anymore as Jonathan lowered his head in shame, unable to defend himself against the cruel monster.
"Oh, and I suppose you don't have any bigger fish to fry, Riddle? Going after the first-years now, are you? Scared that one of these days someone else a little bit more your size is going to make you look like a fool?" Victoria called back on an impulse to Riddle and his cronies. She mentally kicked herself as soon as she heard her voice echo through the entrance hall, knowing full well that a quarrel between the two Heads was considered unacceptable. But her infringement became well worth the consequences when she had the pleasure of witnessing Riddle's smug smirk waver for a moment.
"No, dear Victoria, I just have a better grasp of my station and responsibilities than you, obviously. I have the brains not to pick a fight with the Head Girl. Or, in your case, the Head Boy. Perhaps you'd like to rethink your rash accusations," he replied. He managed to make the lamest comeback sound absolutely scathing. And he managed to make normally level-headed Victoria Pince's blood boil.
"I will not, you pompous git. Now go pick on someone your own size before I report your simply shameful behavior to Professor Dippet. I'm sure he wouldn't take kindly to his Head Boy heartlessly teasing the first- year students. Unless of course you wish to have your title removed. In that case, you can go to him yourself," Victoria fired back, her face flushing with anger and spite.
It was one of the more rewarding feelings of victory in Victoria's life as she witnessed Tom Riddle at a loss for words. Without anything to come back with, he resorted to name-calling.
"I would look in the mirror before you go so far as to call me a pompous git," he spat desperately, and with a swish of robes and a motion of the hand to Malfoy and Flint, he was gone, his shoes tapping faintly as he strode quickly back into the Great Hall.
The Gryffindors cheered and Jonathan looked up at Victoria, his face shining with admiration and gratitude. "That was bloody brave of you, Torrie. I reckon you saved my life!"
"I did no such thing," Victoria assured him briskly, her face flushing scarlet from all the praise. "Now, we must get to the Tower. I daresay Professor Dumbledore will not take kindly to an entire House being out after hours."
And with that, Victoria turned and began to climb the stairs, bringing the ordeal to a closure. As soon as her face was not visible to the rest of the lot behind her, a satisfied smile snaked it's way onto her fair, heart-shaped face.
Down in the dungeons, brooding before the lukewarm fire in a firm, high-backed green chair, Tom Riddle could only say one thing to his expectant followers.
"Victoria Pince has crossed Tom Riddle one too many times. She will pay."
A/N: Okie-dokie, there it is. I worked really hard on that chapter. The idea jumped into my head, but I must say that getting the story off the ground did not. Lol. Hoooooooow aboooooout, OH I'VE GOT IT! Some nice reviews to reward my hard work!! Please? If I get good reviews of my story, I'll continue it. If I don't, well, there's no point, now is there? Just some tidbits about the setting: I figured that Madame Pince was old, just by the few descriptions that are found in J.K. Rowling's books. Does everyone remember who Madame Pince is? The librarian at Hogwarts. No one knows a single thing about her, and she's hardly ever mentioned in the books. So, I figured I'd give her a chance to shine, and communicate my version of her history to any readers who happen to be interested. So, since Madame Pince was old in my mind, at least, I decided to put her in school with everyone's grandparents/great-grandparents. Which one seems more likely? Now, I decided that the main fire behind my story would be that Tom Riddle was also in school with Victoria. And there you have it. My story was born.
One more thing. I've noticed that Rowling gives many of her characters extremely significant names. If you can pick up on a few of these names, you get a cookie!!! Hehehe. And I'll mention your handy detective work in my next chapter. Some are pretty easy. Others aren't. I'll tell you, also, if they're all discovered. Now, that's about all I got to say! Review, please! I hope to catch whoever reads next chapter!
~*Mitie Mouse*~
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot.
Portrait of a Pince
Chapter One
Taking a deep breath of fresh Hogwarts air thick with magic and anticipation, Victoria Pince bounded down the steps from the Hogwarts Express. Here she was again, back for one more go around. Excited beyond belief, she turned around, tapping her foot as she impatiently awaited the emergence of her best friend from the train.
"MINNIE! Come ON!!" she shouted when she could no longer wait. Her stomach rumbled as she thought of the delicious feast just screaming to be dug into and the friends that she hadn't seen in an entire summer all waiting for her in the Great Hall.
"Awwww, is pooooor Torrie HUNGRY?" a simpering voice teased in her ear, laced with false pity. Victoria knew at once who it was. "I suppose you came back to Hogwarts just to get a good meal. Completely understandable, what with YOUR family's economic status. After all, it certainly wasn't your talent or grades that brought you back."
Whirling around, she smiled smugly when she heard a good slap as her hair whipped Tom Riddle's face. Thinking quickly, aiming to attack as he was still blinking his watery, assaulted eyes, she prepared for the first battle of the year.
"Look, Tom, I know you really wanna talk to me all the time, but making fun of me is simply not the way to go about it. Perhaps if you REALLY wanted me to like you, you'd be nice and treat me like a human being with feelings," Victoria suggested helpfully, barely able to keep the vicious grin off her face.
" Want YOU to like ME? YOU, Victoria Pince? Oh, please, give me a break. In your dreams," Tom broke into a cruel laugh, tears streaming down his face, clutching his stomach which appeared to be aching from such raucous laugher. He apparently thought the idea of having a crush on Victoria was extremely hilarious. Victoria, however, was not amused.
"Bug off, Riddle," she growled, no longer in the mood for witty, scathing comebacks.
"My pleasure, Pince," Tom managed to squeeze out between maniac chuckles. Motioning to his two cronies, Venomous Malfoy and Malcolm Flint, Tom Riddle waltzed confidently away through the crowd of returning Hogwarts students, ignoring the adoring stares he got from several fourth-year Hufflepuff girls on his way.
"OOOOOO that Riddle makes me SO MAD! Just because I'm not exactly rolling in gold like him doesn't make me inferior!" Victoria exploded, noticing the appearance of her best friend and Gryffindor room-mate, Minerva McGonagall.
"Oh, would you shut your mouth?! You've been going on about that Riddle almost the entire train ride. If I hear one more bitter word escape your mouth, I do think I'm going to haul off and slap you! You, Victoria Pince, Head Girl of Hogwarts and Gryffindor Quidditch Seeker and Captain have much more to talk about. Don't waste your breath on scum like Tom Riddle!" Minerva burst out, startling Victoria from her fuming and rather frightening thoughts concerning what she'd like to do to Tom Riddle.
An apologetic and sheepish look upon her face, Victoria realized that Minerva was right. "I'm sorry, Minnie, I know you're right. It just seems that he's there around every corner. I can't seem to escape him, stupid git."
"Ah-ah-ah, WHAT did I say?" Minerva reiterated menacingly.
"I know, I know. Not one more word," Victoria agreed with unmistakable resolution in her clear voice. Sweeping her long, reddish- brown hair over her shoulder, she changed her tone almost immediately. "Now, let's go up to the Great Hall and get the Sorting over with. I'm starving, and it's bloody hot out here!"
Victoria joined in the contagious cheers and whistles as the Gryffindor table exploded in applause for its newest member, Jonathan Weasley. With only a handful of scared-looking first-years left to be sorted, everyone was buzzing with excitement, attempting to quickly pass the time before the delicious Hogwarts feast magically materialized onto their plates.
Catching sight of the newest Weasley in a state of panic, seeming not to be able to locate his horde of brothers and sisters among the wildly enthusiastic Gryffindors, Victoria ignored Crystal Trelawney being sorted into Hufflepuff and called out to the nervous, red-headed boy.
"Jon-jon, come sit next to us!"
Jonathan turned a brilliant shade of red that complimented his hair nicely and glared daggers at Victoria, but complied with her request. Plopping down into the empty seat next to the Head Girl, he said in a sidelong whisper, "Torrie, I would really appreciate if you'd keep some aspects of our home relationship confidential. I don't think it's very dignified to be called Jon-jon among one's peers."
Victoria rolled her eyes in exasperation. Jonathan was undoubtedly the most intelligent Weasley yet, but some things never changed.
"Fine, Jonathan," she said, emphasizing his full name to the point that it sounded quite ridiculous and unfitting for the small boy, "I won't tell a single soul that you're practically family to the Head Girl. Or should I let that part be known?" She smiled widely and smugly as Jonathan took hardly seconds to consider this proposal.
"No, no, that part's all right. Just don't. Don't. Oh, look, just don't embarrass me, ok? I plan on having a smooth and unnoticed life here, if I can manage that with the blokes I happen to have the misfortune of calling my brothers," Jonathan hurriedly explained. Being so close to the Head Girl would undoubtedly gain him at least a few friends.
"Too late, I'm afraid, Johnny-boy," a familiarly mischievous voice confirmed Jonathan's worst fears as a tall boy with similar flaming hair slid into a recently vacated seat next to his little brother. Daniel Weasley was somewhat of a lady's man in Gryffindor, with his tall, muscular frame and tussled carrot-colored hair.
"Oh, no," Jonathan groaned. "I'd thought you'd finally decided to leave me alone and stop ruining my life."
"Are you kidding? That's what big brothers are for! Now, if I'm not mistaken, the fun is about to begin," Daniel rebuttled with a jaunty grin as his eyes refocused themselves on the staff table where Professor Dippet was just standing to make his start-of-term announcements.
"Welcome, students, to what I'm sure will be the best year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry yet!" the old headmaster stated grandly, his arms wide open in a gesture of hospitality and grandness.
"He ALWAYS says that," Minerva moaned in disgust. "Doesn't he posses the intelligence to come up with something different every once in a while?"
"I think that'd be too much of a stress for that 'ole guy. After all, you can't teach an old dog new tricks!" Victoria giggled back maliciously.
"Before I begin my announcements, a young man has asked that he be allowed to make an announcement of his own. I turn the spotlight over to Ernest Weasley!"
"Oh, no, please say I'm dreaming," Jonathan whispered desperately.
"Sorry, old boy. Ernie and I have planned a little something for your first day at dear old Hogwarts," Daniel smiled cheerfully.
"Someone please shoot me," Jonathan begged.
"HELLLLOOOOOOOO HOGWARTS!" Ernie called as soon as his voice had been magnified. There was a round of thundering applause amid more than a few whistles and whoops in response to Ernie's bold greeting. Ernie seemed to possess the same charm as his twin brother.
"As I'm sure you all know, as of this year, there's a Weasley in every single year! It shouldn't come as any surprise, on the contrary, it should be an event to be celebrated!" Ernie continued cheekily. There was a spattering of laughter around the Great Hall.
"Now, the least we could all do is commemorate this day by giving a great Hogwarts welcome to the Weasley that made the Weasley Invasion complete! I'd like you to give a great round of applause for my dearest little brother, JONATHAN WEASLEY!!!!!!"
There was again thundering applause accompanied by several craning necks as the student population of Hogwarts attempted to catch a glimpse of the most unfortunate little guy. Everyone was completely aware that this was not a kind, brotherly introduction, but an extremely hilarious hazing joke played on a little squirt of a sibling.
"Run for it, Jon-jon. You know where the Tower is. The password is Ridiculously dressed rhinoceros. GO!" Victoria urged a terrified Jonathan, and on her word he stood up to run as fast as his little legs would carry him.
"Where do you think YOU'RE going, pipsqueak?!" Daniel asked amusedly, and grabbed a handful of Jonathan's robes to stop him from going anywhere.
"Here he is, Ernie!" Daniel shouted up to his twin brother at the staff table. "Everyone, meet Johnny-boy!"
Victoria had never heard more laughter in one place before. Nor had she ever seen someone as red and livid as little "Johnny-boy" Weasley. She feared to be Danny and Ernie when their little brother and the other Weasleys got hold of them. Not to mention what would happen when their mother caught wind of their little prank.
But she had to admit, it sure was a heck of a joke.
Eventually the giggles died down and the staring, pointing, and whispering minimized and stopped all together. Usually nothing stayed in the minds of the teenage witches and wizards of Hogwarts for long, especially when food was involved.
Professor Dippet had decided it would be best to make his announcements once the excitement around Ernie's little announcement had died down and he could be easily heard without having to struggle against poor little Jonathan for the students' attention. He had simply announced the feast, muttered something to Ernie, pointedly glared at Danny still holding Jonathan's robes, and stalked back to his chair at the head of the staff table. By the look on Ernie's face, his family would not be the only ones extracting payment for his and his brother's stunt. Victoria had smiled triumphantly as Danny had let go of Jonathan and sulked back to his place next to Ernie with the rest of the Weasleys further down the table.
"You know, Jon-jon, if you'd like to go sit with your brothers, you can go ahead and move down there," Victoria prompted Jonathan after taking a swig of ice-cold pumpkin juice.
"That's ok, Torrie. I don't think I could stand sitting near those two buffoons. I should have known it would be impossible to live a normal life. I've already been labeled as the stupid, silly, poor little brother of Ernie and Danny Weasley. I'll never live this down. I'd much rather stay here if you don't mind," Jonathan sighed as he started down at his plate of roast beef and mashed potatoes. He reached for another buttered roll.
"No problem, John. We're pleased to have you," Minerva called from around Victoria. It was no secret that Minerva thought Jonathan was the most adorable thing that had ever walked the planet. Victoria wouldn't have been surprised if she offered to adopt him as her own little brother.
Jonathan rolled his eyes and stuffed his mouth with bread. If there was one thing all of the Weasleys had in common, it was that absolutely nothing ruined their appetites.
Just as Jonathan had finally finished his last bite of heavily frosted and sprinkled chocolate cake, with all the people around him watching in fixation and disgust at his ability to eat more than all of them combined, Professor Dippet stood up to try again with his announcements.
"Now that we've all eaten and settled down," he began, a slight undertone of aggravation in his pleasant voice, "I'm going to make a few announcements. As always, the Forbidden Forest is, just as its name suggests, strictly forbidden. Also, I'm pleased to introduce your new Defense Against the Arts teacher, Professor Arietta Jenkins, and your new History of Magic teacher, Professor Yaanagun Binns. I expect you'll treat them with respect and obedience just as you regard the rest of our teaching staff. Without further ado, it is my pleasure to announce that the school year has officially begun! Follow your prefects to your House dormitories, please, and get a good night's rest for your first day of classes!"
Victoria rose dutifully and began her work as Head Girl of Hogwarts and Gryffindor prefect. "All Gryffindors, follow me! I will escort you to the common room and issue the password!" she called proudly. Her House obediently headed toward the doors of the Great Hall as she purposefully led the way. Victoria Pince was one who commanded respect from all of her peers without doing much but being her amazing self.
Victoria had almost reached the first flight of stairs, engaged in a joint effort with Minerva in telling Jonathan how much fun he was going to have at Hogwarts and that his brothers hadn't ruined his chances surviving normally when a cold, malicious voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Well, well, well, it seems the worst Head Girl in the history of this school has befriended the outcast of all time. How's your face, Weasley? Is it still red or is that fading? You must be a pretty large bugger of a nuisance if your own BROTHERS turn against you. Of course, if another snothead little kid had come along to eat up my family's scant amount of money, I'd be annoyed, too. Perhaps they're trying to make you run away so they can afford more for themselves?" Tom Riddle called up the staircase, his eyes narrowed and a twisted grin upon his foul, pale face.
Victoria couldn't take it anymore as Jonathan lowered his head in shame, unable to defend himself against the cruel monster.
"Oh, and I suppose you don't have any bigger fish to fry, Riddle? Going after the first-years now, are you? Scared that one of these days someone else a little bit more your size is going to make you look like a fool?" Victoria called back on an impulse to Riddle and his cronies. She mentally kicked herself as soon as she heard her voice echo through the entrance hall, knowing full well that a quarrel between the two Heads was considered unacceptable. But her infringement became well worth the consequences when she had the pleasure of witnessing Riddle's smug smirk waver for a moment.
"No, dear Victoria, I just have a better grasp of my station and responsibilities than you, obviously. I have the brains not to pick a fight with the Head Girl. Or, in your case, the Head Boy. Perhaps you'd like to rethink your rash accusations," he replied. He managed to make the lamest comeback sound absolutely scathing. And he managed to make normally level-headed Victoria Pince's blood boil.
"I will not, you pompous git. Now go pick on someone your own size before I report your simply shameful behavior to Professor Dippet. I'm sure he wouldn't take kindly to his Head Boy heartlessly teasing the first- year students. Unless of course you wish to have your title removed. In that case, you can go to him yourself," Victoria fired back, her face flushing with anger and spite.
It was one of the more rewarding feelings of victory in Victoria's life as she witnessed Tom Riddle at a loss for words. Without anything to come back with, he resorted to name-calling.
"I would look in the mirror before you go so far as to call me a pompous git," he spat desperately, and with a swish of robes and a motion of the hand to Malfoy and Flint, he was gone, his shoes tapping faintly as he strode quickly back into the Great Hall.
The Gryffindors cheered and Jonathan looked up at Victoria, his face shining with admiration and gratitude. "That was bloody brave of you, Torrie. I reckon you saved my life!"
"I did no such thing," Victoria assured him briskly, her face flushing scarlet from all the praise. "Now, we must get to the Tower. I daresay Professor Dumbledore will not take kindly to an entire House being out after hours."
And with that, Victoria turned and began to climb the stairs, bringing the ordeal to a closure. As soon as her face was not visible to the rest of the lot behind her, a satisfied smile snaked it's way onto her fair, heart-shaped face.
Down in the dungeons, brooding before the lukewarm fire in a firm, high-backed green chair, Tom Riddle could only say one thing to his expectant followers.
"Victoria Pince has crossed Tom Riddle one too many times. She will pay."
A/N: Okie-dokie, there it is. I worked really hard on that chapter. The idea jumped into my head, but I must say that getting the story off the ground did not. Lol. Hoooooooow aboooooout, OH I'VE GOT IT! Some nice reviews to reward my hard work!! Please? If I get good reviews of my story, I'll continue it. If I don't, well, there's no point, now is there? Just some tidbits about the setting: I figured that Madame Pince was old, just by the few descriptions that are found in J.K. Rowling's books. Does everyone remember who Madame Pince is? The librarian at Hogwarts. No one knows a single thing about her, and she's hardly ever mentioned in the books. So, I figured I'd give her a chance to shine, and communicate my version of her history to any readers who happen to be interested. So, since Madame Pince was old in my mind, at least, I decided to put her in school with everyone's grandparents/great-grandparents. Which one seems more likely? Now, I decided that the main fire behind my story would be that Tom Riddle was also in school with Victoria. And there you have it. My story was born.
One more thing. I've noticed that Rowling gives many of her characters extremely significant names. If you can pick up on a few of these names, you get a cookie!!! Hehehe. And I'll mention your handy detective work in my next chapter. Some are pretty easy. Others aren't. I'll tell you, also, if they're all discovered. Now, that's about all I got to say! Review, please! I hope to catch whoever reads next chapter!
~*Mitie Mouse*~
