A/N: Thanks for reviewing, if you did. Means a lot.
IndigoStar12020: No, my real name is not Vikki Valentine; my nickname is Vikki if that counts! But yes, I suppose I just do like that name. lol. Random question.
Riles: I'm so glad you've put your wits about and figured something out. It's a miracle! And it's not a fetish, crappit. I just don't realize it, to be honest. xD
Resentment: Colls, this won't be one of my typical fics. Lol. But hopefully it'll be just as good. I need to make Manny read this... Remind me to make Manny read this! She'll like this if I decide to do what I want to do in the back of my mind. Hmm... But anyways... On with fic.
And for the record: I don't own no Potter. If I did, we'd be married... No, if he was real we'd be married and if I did, I'd be rich. There. :D
Harry scowled as his friends departed for the Prefect's carriage. He narrowed his eyebrows as he scanned around for a carriage to sit in. He ran over to one that just pulled in, or so he thought and hurried inside.
"Oh, it's you again," drawled Vikki's voice.
Harry widened his eyes. "Erm… Sorry, I'll leave if you—"
"It'd be a waste of a carriage just carrying me... At least you make it worth something," she said, shrugging.
"Why you say that?" questioned Harry, a light casual tone to his voice.
"Well, why should a Thestral be stuck carrying a Slytherin like me? It's preposterous!" She said, making a slight sneer.
Harry blinked. So, she could see Threstral's too? What happened to her? Questions raced through Harry's mind, the one he knew he shouldn't ask unless they were on a friend level, at least. He pushed them aside and tried to make a friendly gesture by thinking of an apology for offending her earlier.
"Look, I'm sorry if we offended you—"
"Not all of you—Well; your reaction to me being a Slytherin was enough said, but that little Weasley kid—"
"I honestly thought you were going for the weasel remark," admitted Harry, not exactly meaning to interrupt. "Sorry…" he added, quietly.
Vikki scowled, "Maybe I'll like that more than the 'king'. Weasel. Sounds low enough to me."
"Hey, watch it," said Harry, narrowing his eyebrows.
"I'm just setting things right, is all... This is how I'm supposed to act... Being a Slytherin an all. I guess that's why my father is a lousy Minister! Because he was in SLYTHERIN!"
"Vikki, causing scenes—"
"What scenes, Harry?" she laughed, "I mean, they're only the two of us in here and if your worried I'm stealing your attention grabbing tactics, you're wrong. But I'll stop if you're still worried..."
"Wow, this is crazy," said Harry, in an undertone. "Look, I honestly don't care that you're in Slytherin!"
"... You don't, now do you?"
"No," said Harry, sighing, "really, it just took us by surprise that-- Well, your smart for a Slytherin and you were quite nice to us."
"Well, that what you get from stereo-typing and assuming, isn't it? Not all Slytherin's are bad people..."
"Yeah... I'm sorry."
"So I heard about twice... Three times, now?"
Harry chuckled a bit. "So, you have siblings?"
"Changing the subject, well known tactic of mine, Potter... I'll sue you," she teased.
"Funny," he said, laughing quietly.
"But yes..." she replied, through gritted teeth.
"Erm... Houses?"
"Three in Gryffindor, two in Slytherin—not counting me, of course—and one in Ravenclaw. That's all you'll get out of me. Your nosey, I hate to see Granger and Weasley's curiosity about...
"What about the 'weasel'?"
"Oh yes! Weasel. Thanks for reminding me. But anyway... That's all I'm going to tell you until you run into them."
"All right..." said Harry, slightly disappointed.
"There's only one who's a stereo-typical Slytherin, that's Morissa, so stand clear her closing doors, if you will."
Harry laughed. "How bad can she be?"
"There days she's been replacing Pansy Parkinson's job of personal lap dog," said Vikki, scowling, "and that's putting it nicely... though of course Draco doesn't want her... going after the one he's supposedly marrying... Yeah, so that's sibling rivalry for you... But she doesn't believe that I have no interest what so ever in that rich snob... So, it's a waste of her already half worthless time," she said, the scowl still remained on her face.
Harry stared, nodding lightly, trying to understand the situation. It must have been hard to have all those siblings. Harry somewhat envied her, but it seemed like she would be willing to give them all away to an extent. The fact that any girls would spend time fighting over Malfoy—much less two sisters—frightened Harry to a great extent.
The carriage came to a stop and Harry opened up the door. He took a step out and held it open for Vikki.
Vikki came out, smiling lightly at him. "Thanks," she said, setting her feet on the ground. She started to walk away, following the large crowd of students into the castle.
Harry frowned slightly, trying to catch up with her. "So, who do you socialize with mostly during school?" he questioned, lightly.
Vikki shrugged lightly. "Not too many close friends, loads of acquaintances. Blaise Zabini can be a thrill to talk to at times whenever Draco isn't around... Although, I'm going to cut down talking to him at all and I don't need any more empty threats from Parkinson. They're quite annoying and give me a headache. Plus, I think that's what makes Draco so conceded. Parkinson that twit, always rushing to his side even though he's blown her off. Sickens me how she stoops so low to that level to have to go out of her own way to get attention and very little affection from him. That's why I don't like him that way. He'd make a terrible husband because of all that parental neglect. I feel sorry for him and then I don't. He shouldn't be following in daddy's footsteps anymore. Time to grow up, you know?"
"That's a very genius way of putting things," stated Hermione, from the back of the two.
Harry turned around, in slight surprise. He smiled slightly at Hermione and glanced over at Ron, then faced Vikki again.
Vikki nodded. "Thanks, Granger," she said, smiling. "Ooh, look its little Weasel! What's he hiding from?"
"You, I'm assuming," chuckled Harry.
"He can go right ahead. I'm still a bit mad at him," she said, shrugging.
Harry turned back to face him, to see him frowning at the ground, his hands shoved in his pockets. Hermione patted him on the back and started to whisper to him words that seemed to make him feel better; a small smile crept on his face as he looked up at Hermione.
Harry smiled at the two, and once again resumed looking back at Vikki. "Leave Ron be, Vik— Can I call you that?"
Vikki laughed slightly. "Vik? Cute," she said, shaking her head, 'yes'.
He smiled, "Good. I just think he's been a bit dramatized by the name in his younger years here,"
"Aww, poor baby!" she rolling her eyes, over her shoulders and at Ron, who was frowning, still. "Don't take it personally, you just offended me more than the other two. Which means I'll remember you the most when we're friends. So, feel special!"
Ron blinked. "Friends? Who said—?"
"Ron, think about your words before they come out of your mouth, hmm?" asked Hermione, politely.
"I wasn't going to go off and offend her again! Now leave me be," he scowled, taking a few steps forward to catch up with Harry and Vikki. He stepped in between Vikki and Harry's small gap and pushed Harry to the side. "So, you want to be friends?" he asked, Vikki, a bit surprised.
"Of course, Weasel! Think of it as a pet name!"
"... That frightens me since the fact Malfoy's been calling me that for years," said Ron, a horrified face on his pale features.
"I honestly wouldn't put it past the bloke," said Vikki, shaking her head.
Harry and Ron went into a fit of laughter, while Hermione shook her head, making a sour looking face.
Ron ceased his laughter a second before Harry had and smiled. "But yeah... Can you think of a different pet name?"
"Ronniekins!" chimed Hermione.
"No! Not—"
"Aw! HOW CUTE!" squealed Vikki. "Is that her name for you?"
"W-what?" asked Ron, he felt his ears glowing red.
"Aren't you two—?"
"No," said Harry, shaking his head. Indicating that wasn't exactly the thing to discuss at the moment.
Vikki took the hint to stop the conversation before lots of awkward moments came about. She nodded and whispered, leaning forward to Harry. "Fill me in later, okay?"
Harry nodded. "Will do," he said, smiling over at Ron, who had another frown on his face.
"Hmm... Can I call you Ronnie?"
"That works..." he said, shrugging carelessly.
"Aw, I'll only call you that when we're together, okay?"
"Together as in..." Ron gulped, "talking together?"
"Interpret the meaning however you like," she smiled, reaching up to ruffle his hair. She smiled satisfied with what she had done to his hair and waved to them all, as they arrived in the Great Hall.
"I'm off to the table of fellow snakes. See you, lot!" she said, speeding her pace to head to her table.
"Bye!" Hermione and Harry chimed at the same time.
"Er... Bye..." said Ron, quietly. He blinked as he reached up and tried to flatten out his hair. "How's it look?" he said, barely managing to fix it as much.
"I see no difference Ron," said Hermione, taking a seat.
Ron scowled slightly and sat right next to her and Harry filled the next seat. He looked up and saw McGonagall was starting the sorting. He really didn't feel like listening to this. He tapped Ron, who tapped Hermione and they all began to converse quietly.
"All right, so there's three Valentines in Gryffindor..." said Harry.
"Really?" asked Hermione.
"Yes, we can get to them for information if Dumbledore doesn't say too much," said Ron, nodding lightly.
"Where are the others? Just out of curiosity…" asked Hermione.
"Two in Slytherin and another in Ravenclaw," answered Harry.
"Jacobs, Raymond," chimed Professor McGonagall's voice.
"Why does that name sound familiar?" asked Ron, narrowing his eyebrows
"Erm... Doesn't ring a bell..." said Harry, shaking his head.
"I swear... I heard that name before," he said, turning his head around to observe the tall dirty blond boy. "Doesn't look familiar though..."
"Oh, Ron, stop making up conspiracies!" snapped Hermione.
"I am not making up conspiracies!"
"Hush," said Ginny, from across the table.
"Slytherin!" shouted the sorting hat.
Ron blinked. "I don't want to know him anymore..."
"Of course you don't," said Hermione, rolling her eyes.
"Leave me be," snapped Ron, quietly.
Harry grinned to himself and took to notice that there were only five more students to be sorted. He sighed and glanced over at the Slytherin table, to see Vikki tapping the table boredly. Malfoy was staring at her, with a slight eyebrow raised. He nudged her and she shot him a glare in return. He then scowled and started to whisper to Crabbe and Goyle.
Harry shook his head and looked back up. The last three students had been sorted, two Ravenclaw's and a Hufflepuff. He looked over at Ron, who had started to tap the table in boredom, himself. He looked over at Harry and smiled slightly.
"Hey, do you think..." he lowered his voice, so Hermione wasn't listening, "Vikki could help me out with Hermione?"
Harry smiled. "That might work, I'm sure she'd be up to it once I fill her in on you two either tonight or tomorrow," he said, shrugging.
"Can I go with you? I'll blow off the first ten minutes of Prefect's duties," he said, again in a whisper so Hermione couldn't hear.
Harry nodded. "Sure, we'll meet up right outside the Entrance Hall, we have to make sure she," he said, nodding to Hermione, "doesn't see us, all right?"
"Yeah, that'll work," said Ron, nodding.
"What are you two talking rubbish on this time?" said Hermione, turning around.
"Well it's just—"
"Welcome new and old students! We have a very eventful year ahead of us and I don't want a single one of us putting it to waste! We will make sure our N.E.W.T. savvy students will make it up to complete them successfully and continue onto the wizarding world with their majors and right now, I wish you all the best of luck. Those tests seem to be rather tough as years go on. Don't let the stress get to you. If you have any questions and concerns about the exams or your schedules go to your scheduled head of houses, Professor McGonagall for Gryffindor, Professor Sprout for Hufflepuff, Professor Flitwick for Ravenclaw, and Professor Snape for Slytherin house.
"Now, on another note, I know that most of you have no idea about the new Minister of Magic elected this year. Due to many protection policies that he had requested before and after he had taken this job, it took a while for his name to be released to public. He apologized sincerely if he had people thinking he wasn't willing to reach out to them. He says, he cares deeply for the entire wizarding community and you all will see his face tomorrow in the Daily Prophet. There will be a few questions answers as to what he plans to provide for the safety of our school and us as witches and wizards alike.
"Ah, I see you all are starting to fidget about. I know, we all would like to eat, I do, too. I just have to address that the progress on Voldemort isn't as great as hoped to be, but I wish no one to feel unsafe here. We have many protection charms on this school and we will do our best to provide safety for all of our students. Well, I'll cease my long speeches for another night. Let the feast begin!"
And so it did and Harry couldn't be happier. He wanted this night to go rather quickly. Mainly because he looked forward to talking to Vikki, spending time with her, just to talk. Besides, the talk wasn't going to be all about Ron. Surely they could possibly talk about her father. That would be much helpful. But Harry had to be sly about these things. He couldn't just have those questions pop out of his mouth at random. He just hoped that as time passed, she would be more willing to help him in end. He needed all the help he got, though he knew he could suffice with the few friends he had for now.
He finished filling his plate and grabbed a few breadsticks and looked over at Ron and Hermione. Hermione was shaking her head, as Ron kept forgetting to not talk with his mouth full and getting very hard raps on the head for reminders. The feast actually ended quickly as Harry anticipated. There were a few conversations about summer, the Minister, and N.E.W.T's.
Harry got up from his seat and tapped Ron on the arm. "C'mon," he whispered. He started to gesture for him to hurry up and get a move on.
Ron turned around to see Hermione in a conversation with Ginny that probably wouldn't end for another five minutes. Ron grabbed a muffin and got up from his seat and walked out of the Great Hall, which had started to empty.
Harry spotted Vikki walking by and he grabbed a part of her robe. She widened her eyes. "DRACO, DAMN IT STOP— Ooh... Potter you scared me!" she said, sternly.
Malfoy rushed over. "Looking for me?" he questioned Vikki.
Vikki made a disgusted look. "No, just a little confusion... I'm fine," she said, scowling as she walked out of the Entrance Hall.
Harry dragged Ron behind as he tried to keep up with Vikki. "Hey, Vik, I thought we could do the whole Ron and Hermione history lesson?" he asked.
"Ooh, yes!" she said, smiling, cheerfully. "Fill me in, please," she said, smiling over at Ron.
"Well, we're we going?" asked Ron.
"Let's go to the portrait gallery," she said, grabbing Harry's arm and dragging him down the hall. She walked through a doorway and down the hall. It was quite empty, but as she said, it was a portrait gallery. She continued to walk towards the middle of the third hall they passed by and sat down on the floor.
"Come on, you two, sit," she said.
The boys glanced at each other and sat down across from her.
"So, you come here often?" asked Ron.
"To think... To plan... Only when the Room of Requirements isn't available. I didn't feel like walking all the way up and I don't feel like taking a short-cut, this will do," she said, nodding lightly.
"Okay," said Harry, nodding.
"All right then, you start, Ron," she said, smiling.
Ron nodded. "Okay... Well..."
Sorry to cut it short, but I have to go, mates! Review and I'll try to finish ASAP! Ttyl peoples. (Yes, I am writing this as I go...)
-Vikki