She was pale once more, bags clearly defined as though she were an insomniac. She sat taciturnly on her stool, staring blankly in the contents of her cauldron as Snape droned on.
"After careful slicing up your horn of dragon, gently grind it into a powder and add it along with 5 drops of bat's blood. After waiting exactly 10 minutes, stir it three times to the left, once to the right and add in 2 spoonfuls of Monk's Hood. Can anyone tell me what result you should get; I doubt any of this is beyond your scope."
Hermione raised her hand politely, Snape grinning darkly as his glossy eyes fell upon Victoria.
"You, Jacent." She looked up numbly.
"The desired effect of this concoction should be a shrinking draft, in which when drunk, the user shall decrease 80 of their normal body mass and can last up to three days if given the right instructions." A smirk threatened on her lips, "However, if you exchange the blood for a tincture of valerian, you may find the effects are shorter and fewer repercussions."
"Thank you, Jacent. One Hermione is enough for my sufferance." Malfoy sniggered, "Five points from Gryffindor for your cheekiness." Victoria's eyes grew cold.
"Because I knew something that is beyond my years, Professor Snape? Or the fact that, unlike most, I read?" Harry winced; Snape turned, his eyes livid.
"Ten points from Gryffindor and not a word more or you'll serve detention." Victoria bit down on her tongue, glaring darkly as he turned to face the chalkboard, "Now before I was rudely interrupted-"
"Look!" Snape wheeled around, glaring at Neville.
"Five-!" He stared blankly.
The chalk was rising from the board, forcing the edge onto the surface as it wrote out:
Do not insult the wise when ignorance is to be had
It dropped to the floor, breaking into three pieces as Snape was first shocked then infuriated.
"Who used a levitation charm! WHO!" He glared at Hermione.
"You; detention! And another 10 from Gryffindor!" Hermione exploded in outrage.
"I did NOTHING, Professor Snape! My wand wasn't even out!"
"Sit down before I remove the ballets entirely!"
"But Professor Snape-!"
A sudden, harsh thud was heard as a bright green substance flowed from the cauldron. Students screamed as parts of their bodies shrunk, frantically escaping the mess. Victoria lay on the floor, unconscious as her eyes lay a quarter way open.
"Those who have been affected by the potion come to me for a reversal. Granger! Your detention will be to clean up this mess! Class dismissed! Dean, take this girl up to the Hospital Wing immediately!" Harry had never seen Snape in such a rage as he reversed the effects of the shrinking potion.
Hermione was in tears as Dean Thomas knelt down and hoisted Victoria into his arms. Harry didn't know what to do but squeeze Hermione's shoulder gently. She looked up, smiling weakly before burying her face in her hands.
----
"What the bloody hell just happened!" Ron was also flushed from the excitement, both walking to Care of Magical Creatures as Harry shrugged.
"I don't know; she just fainted and knocked her cauldron over." He ruffled his hair in confused thought, trying to understand what happened.
McGonagall was in shock as Harry and Ron had walked out, seeing a near empty ballet and reprimanding Snape for making such harsh punishments. She fixed the count for Gryffindor, but had to admit some of the punishments were legitimate.
Walking out of the Castle and onto the school grounds, they saw Victoria chatting with Hadgrid. Turning, the giant's grin spread.
" 'Arry! Ron! Just 'n time for the lesson. You'll never guess whu' I got in store." Harry and Ron looked at each other nervously.
"What is it, Hadgrid?"
He heaved out a crate, plopping it onto the ground as the Crate gave a jolt. Harry and Ron backed away, Victoria looking down softly.
"It's a baby chimera."
"A CHIMERA! Hadgrid, don't you need a permit to look after those things?" Hadgrid looked left and right before hushing them.
"Quiet. Don want Dumbledore to git into trouble just cause I thought we needed a new lesson. And besides, you can handle it, can't cha, 'Arry?" He winked, Harry feeling uneasier.
"Right then. Afternoon, class!" Slytherin rolled their eyes and mumbled, Victoria taking her place among the Gryffindors as some color had returned to her complexion.
"Today I thought we'd try something a little different." The crate gave another slam, a burbling cry between a roar and a hiss heard from within, "Ye've faced hippogriffs, ye've faced Blast- Ended Skrewts. But now," He took a crowbar and pried off the top, "Yer going ta face a whole new kind o' creature."
A small lion cub's head popped out, whiskers twitching as she sniffed the air. Parvati awed in an affectionate way, Malfoy rolling his eyes in disdain. Its small paws clung to the side of the crate, raising its head up as it yawned widely. Crawling out, its body faded into that of a goat's, hooves lightly pattered on the ground. What made most of the students jump was the hissing cobra that was the tail.
"So, 'oo'd like to try and pet 'im?" He clapped his hands together, looking at the students.
Many swallowed hard, backing away as whispers rippled in the crowd.
"Aren't you in need of a permit to have these things?" Malfoy folded his arms, one hip thrusted out as he smirked darkly.
Hadgrid went silent before Victoria stepped in.
"And I suppose you need a permit to be obnoxious too, do you not?" Most of the Slytherins jeered as Malfoy turned to look at them before looking to her.
"And this is coming from a Yank who's too frail and weak to survive a Potion's class." The Slytherins laughed, the bridge of Victoria's nose furrowed in rage.
The chimera snarled at Malfoy and suddenly attacked, biting into his robes as she warbled. It was the Gryffindor's turn to laugh as Malfoy ran in circles, screaming like a small girl.
"Oh god, help! It's going to eat me; help help!" Victoria doubled over, laughing heavily as the tear of robes could be heard.
"Easy, girl; down! Down with ye." Hadgrid came over with a dead bird in his hands, tossing it to the baby as it scampered off to fetch her snack.
Victoria went from laughing to wheezing, backing into the crowd of Gryffindors as she gripped her chest tightly. Seamus saw this and gulped.
"Victoria? Are you ok?"
"I'll will be; I've just never laughed so hard in my life." Both smirked yet Seamus went red in the face at the way she grinned.
The chimera cantered back, rubbing her cheek against Victoria's hand as it started to purr. She smiled gently and ruffled the creature's ears, Malfoy trying to get his robs back in order. Letting go of her tongue, Victoria chanted:
"I see London,
I see France,
I see Malfoy's underpants!"
The Gryffindors roared with hilarity, Malfoy's pale face blushed scarlet as he grabbed his pants and heaved them up. Hadgrid couldn't muster up enough oxygen to say the words "Class dismissed" but instead waved his hand as if to send them away. Malfoy went barreling up the side of the hill, racing to the castle doors as the Gryffindors were left hooting in glee.
Victoria merely smirked smugly as her fellow classmates clapped her on the back. Harry looked to her, seeing how her hand rested on the creature's head. He swallowed and backed away slightly, the other Gryffindors cheering, even Ron couldn't help but laugh.
----
Most were seated at their tables for lunch, chatting and munching on luscious courses. All except Victoria.
She sat on the windowsill, her eyes looking out to the scenery below and out as it rained. She looked lachrymose, but she was beyond tears now. Her cheek was pressed against the glass, an impassive look on her face as she watched the clouds drift by.
Harry saw the sorrow she carried with her, looking up from his Charms homework as he felt a slight pang of pity for her. Telling his friends he'd return shortly, he stood up from his table and walked over to her.
"Why are you so sad, Victoria?" Her shoulders dropped as she exhaled a large sigh, garnet looking to his emerald gems as she turned back to the window.
"You wouldn't understand," She pressed her forehead against the window, her breath condensing on the glass.
He could sense she was ensconcing the truth from him, but he wouldn't press the subject.
"If you feel like telling me, I can listen when you wish." He turned to leave her alone when he felt her smooth hand grasp his gently.
He turned to look back at her, a hand resting on her temple as though she were amidst in thought as she scanned him warily.
"Harry…" He nodded his head up slightly to show he was listening.
"I…" The clock suddenly chimed, signaling the end of the period as he squeaked slightly.
"Listen, I have to get to class now, but if you need a friend to talk to, I'm here." He left, her hand sliding from his grasp as she watched him leave.
"I feel so aloof." She looked back out the window, Alder swooping in as he perched on her shoulder, "Here in a world that is as dark as my own."
She stroked Alder's breast feathers, growling and denouncing herself as tears slid down her cheeks.
"Alder, what am I going to do? If they find out, I'm done for." He warbled gently and bit her earlobe softly in a sign of affection.
She smiled up at him, feeding him a spare piece of meat as she looking back out the window and cried silently.
"I miss him so badly. I miss Cian."