On the day of the First Task, Hogwarts had morphed into an energy centre. Students bounded through corridors unable to contain their excitement. They cheered and chanted for their favourite champions and wagered against the others.
Victoria had almost dodged breakfast, but after missing it the day before and considering the duties she may have to perform later on, she had thought it best to gain some energy. Sitting in her usual spot the witch silently ate whilst listening to the dozens of conversations around her. Every single person was talking about the task, trying to work out what it could be.
After five minutes into breakfast Victoria started to grow curious. Neither of the twins were seated beside her like they would be during meals. She let her gaze flicker around the hall, but she saw no sign of them. The witch's brow creased, it was bizarre for them to break what had become such a strict routine, let alone miss a meal.
"They're taking bets," chimed Ginny from the opposite side of the table. She was sat next to Hermione, who was trying to console a very nervous Harry. Ron was no where to be seen.
Victoria stared at the youngest Weasley, a little surprised she was talking to her. They hadn't spoken a word to each other since the day she was dragged into the eccentric group of Gryffindors.
"Never thought I'd see a Weasley skip a chance to eat," said Victoria.
Ginny chuckled. "Shocking, isn't it?"
"Quite," she hummed.
"Are you going to be watching with the judges today?" Ginny asked her tone light and friendly.
Victoria glanced at the distressed expression upon Harry's face and said, "actually I'll be close to the arena. I'm here to protect the champions from getting hurt."
"You are?" Hermione chimed in. "I thought the Ministry wasn't allowed to interfere?"
"They're not, but they also don't want anyone to die," she informed them before addressing Harry directly. "You've got nothing to worry about Potter."
"Nothing to worry about! Are you joking?" Harry choked on his words. A bitter twist of shock and aggression over took him. "You've just said people could die!"
"I believe I said that won't be happening this year." She said before her sympathetic tone hardened to something more determined, "I won't let it."
Harry let out a short cynical chuckle. "You're barley eighteen. Forgive me if that doesn't fill me with confidence."
Victoria let his comment go and took up a different approach.
"I hear you've fought a basilisk." She paused letting the weight of her statement settle. "A creature like that... I don't think even I would have the will to stand against one. Like I said Potter, you have nothing to worry about, a basilisk is far more dangerous than this task."
"I nearly died in the chamber." Harry spoke quietly.
"But you didn't. And you won't today either."
Harry's dark eyes darted away for a second as her words resonated truth.
"You're a smart boy Harry." Victoria started, but she stopped for a few seconds to consider her next words. The witch knew she was not supposed to help the champions before the task, but there was something about seeing someone look so hopeless and afraid that pushed the words from her mouth. "Don't let the adrenaline distract you."
ϟ
By late morning, the students were allowed to enter the stands for the First Task, whilst the champions congregated in a tent off to the side of the arena.
Victoria had joined Harry on the walk down to the task, their journey silent. They had both dressed into their respective combat protective uniforms. Harry's red and golden robes had significantly more padding than Victoria's regular black robes. The witch only had a guard around her torso, fitted similarly to a corset. It was not her choice to wear the armour, she would prefer to wear her normal robes, as she found it rather difficult to move freely in the contraption wrapped around her.
The circular tent they had gathered in was bare and beige. A single bench rested on one side, the rest was open space for the champions to pace in. Ludo Bagman had been in and explained the process of the task, which had only set everyone on edge. The growing sensation that it was all real had started to settle in the minds of the champions. Victoria stood out of the way on the edge of the tent watching them all mentally prepare, a mixture of determination and worry shone through their features. Eventually the tense silence was interrupted by Ludo rejoining the group with a clap of his hands.
"Everyone ready?" Ludo called the champions together with a wave of his hand. They grouped around him slowly, all of the watching curiously as Ludo peeled opened the purple silk bag he carried with him.
"Ladies first." He offered the open bag to Fleur. Victoria straightened, the anticipation tightened her posture as Fleur reaches inside with a shacking hand.
Cautiously the blonde witch pulled out a tiny model of a green dragon with a number two hanging around its neck - Fleur would be the second to start.
Krum was next and much more confident as he dipped his hand into the silk bag. The Bulgarian Quidditch player had chosen the Chinese Fireball and would be going third.
Two left, Swedish Short-Snout and the Hungarian Horntail. Victoria would not condemn any of the champions to the latter of the remaining dragons, but one of them had to chose and she could only hope the more experience wizard picked the short straw. Tensions rose Cedric reached into the bag just as slowly as Fleur had and gradually pulled out his model... Swedish Short-Snout - first to go.
Victoria heart stopped. Dread filled her stomach as Harry took the remaining dragon and consequently the most lethal of all of them.
"Well, there we are!" Ludo grinned brightly at the champions as he closed the bag. "You have each pulled out the dragon you will face and the numbers around their necks are the order that you will compete in, understand?"
A series of nods later and Ludo continued in a low and serious tone, "Now if you find yourselves in mortal danger, don't panic, help will be provided." He passed a small wave of recognition to Victoria.
Each champion inspected her. Fleur was the only one who's look turned sour.
"Her? She barely looks old enough to compete, let alone protect us," the female champion complained.
"Miss Nightingale is more than capable -" Ludo tried to defend Victoria but he was interrupted by Fleur who continued her point.
"C'est ridicule. Est là pas quelqu'un de plus expérimenté?" (This is ridiculous. Is there not someone more experienced?)
"You're a champion." Victoria started blankly. "You entered off the basis of your beliefs in your own abilities to compete, and you were picked because at least some of those beliefs are true. Am I correct?"
"Of course. The cup would have only chosen the best." Fleur raised her chin as she glowered.
"Then if you are as good as you say you are, there will be no need for my protection... so what are you worried about?"
Fleur's jaw clicked shut and for a moment she looked hostile until realisation crashed over her. She had no ground to stand on, any response to Victoria's undermining question would further destroy her reputability as a champion.
Victoria heard someone snicker quietly drawing her attention from the champion. She looked to Ludo in silent questioning to which he answered after clearing his throat, "If you could head to your position in the arena Miss Nightingale."
Victoria heeded his words and left promptly just as he started to address the champions. "The rest of you, please prepare yourselves. Mr. Diggory, you are going first..."
Ludo's voice trailed out of hearing range as Victoria walked towards her place for the event. There were very few people outside the arena, just a few stragglers who were running behind time were left scrambling to their seats.
Rather than following them into the main stands Victoria turned off to the side and followed the edge until she came to the wide clearing she was stood in a couple of days ago. Stood by the side entrance to the arena was Charlie, looking very excited and completely unconcerned by the rabid dragons that were a few meters behind him.
"They look restless," Victoria announced her presence and took the place next to Charlie. From her position she could see the whole arena and the fierce blue dragon in the centre. The giant beast was on high alert as she circled the clutch of golden eggs in the centre.
Without taking his eyes off of the dragon Charlie answered, "more like true dragons now. Frightened yet?"
"Never." There was no twitch in her voice that would reveal the lie, but in truth she was feeling a tad apprehensive. They were stark contrast to when she had first laid eyes on them, the beasts were now a wild and uncontrollable liability that Victoria had no experience in handling.
"Fearless in the path of Death Eaters and confident when pitched against a pissed off dragon. Is there anything you're afraid of?" Charlie finally acknowledged her although, he did not smile. His straight face and analytical gaze spoke volumes.
"You've asked about me." She stated.
"You made quite the first impression." He spared her a quick twitch of a smile before continuing, "I asked my dad about you. He said you were rescued by the Ministry when you were sixteen and you've been working with them ever since."
Victoria shifted, straightening her posture. She clasped her hands behind her back and raised her chin. "I don't know your father."
"Well, he knows you. You know I'd never have pegged you for someone with such a bad reputation."
She swallowed the thick lump in her throat and weakly defended herself, "The Minister won't appreciate you talking about me. He never does."
"What he doesn't know isn't going to hurt him." Charlie shrugged, "besides dad didn't say much."
Victoria felt an ever too familiar burn of anger grow hotter in her chest. "Then why bring it up?"
"Curiosity mostly." He gave her a friendly smile, evidently not picking up on the witch's souring mood. "What were you rescued from?"
A cold wash of fright prickled her skin into gooseflesh, he was asking all the questions that she keep so deeply buried. She could feel her elastic temper nearing its breaking point.
"Dad wouldn't say. He just went really quiet about it," Charlie continued entirely unaware of the terror he was causing. "To be honest, I'm not even sure he knows."
Victoria distanced herself with a couple of staggered steps back; a last attempt to restrain herself from lashing out. Her senses were alight;the sensitivity of her skin was overwhelming, her robes smothered her as she gulped at the November air. Screwing her eyes shut she heard a distant shrill of a whistle and roar of a crowd.
Second by second she lost more of her control, until her initial panic had been crushed by intense fury.
"... but given his reluctance to talk about it, I would guess it was probably something to do with De-"
Inevitably she snapped. Her wand fell from her sleeve into her awaiting hand as she spat through clenched teeth, "what does it matter?!"
Her interruption drew the Weasley's attention the problem he had gradually be creating. Charlie's face dropped at the sight of her narrowed glare, but his the second his gaze met her armed wand he went pale. A course of heavy dread drained the wizard, he was nervous and confused, not understanding what he had done to cause such a reaction.
"Sorry I didn't -"
"Silencio." She jabbed her wand stealing his voice. Twisting her pointed wand at him in an unspoken command to stay still. "Didn't anyone ever teach you it's rude to pry?"
Charlie tried to speak, but it was futile. The sight of his soundless apologies and pleas ended the surge of rage within the witch. Whilst the fire no longer spread, the feeling still burnt deep.
Victoria lowered her wand and pushed past the wizard to the gates of the arena edge. Cedric had already collected his egg. His dragon stomped around huffing puffs of smoke, growling at the handlers that tried to encourage it back into a cage.
"I believe you have a job to do Mr. Weasley. You'd better go and help your coworkers."
Keeping her focus on the arena Victoria waved her wand and released him from the charm. Thankfully, Charlie thought better than to try to apologise, and so without sparing a syllable, Charlie left Victoria standing on the edge of the arena, alone.
ϟ
Victoria watched as the champions fought their way passed each of the dragons. One by one they brought her an inch closer to interfering, but none pushed her closer than Harry. The boy was as careful as he was prepared, and yet he still survived. Victoria couldn't decide if it was sheer dumb luck that he beat the dragon or a miraculous ability to improvise, but if she knew one thing for sure, it was that she had underestimated him.
By the time Victoria had returned to the tent, each champion was being personally congratulated by the Minister and Ludo. The witch took a quick glance around the room before promptly joining her old mentor at the back of the tent out of the way.
All of the champions were clutching a single golden egg, looking a little worse for wear. Victoria's eyes then settled upon Harry, who was being complimented by an overexcited Ludo.
"How did he do?" She asked the man next to her.
Alastor huffed and shifted on his cane, "forty points; puts him in first with Krum."
She hummed, having no further opinion on the boy's placement.
Settling into her spot next to Moody, Victoria observed the champions. All of them had muddy and torn robes, with the exception of Fleur who's robes weren't torn but burnt. The darkened patch on her once pale blue outfit had been scorched by dragon fire. It was the one moment during the task that Victoria felt her anger subside and be replaced by amusement.
All of a sudden Madame Maxime was rushing towards Victoria spewing countless curses in French. The Headmistress towered over Victoria's small frame; her pungent almost acidic smelling perfume invaded Victoria's senses forcing her to take a step away.
"How could you let this happen! You are supposed to protect them, no?" Maxime exclaimed with a jab of an accusing forefinger in Victoria's direction.
Still fuming from her earlier battles, Victoria rose to her own defence and moved reinstate her position in front of the Headmistress with an equally threatening stance. However, she barley made it an inch closer before she ran directly into Alastor's outstretched cane.
Victoria looked at her mentor, nostrils flaring and jaw clamped shut. Alastor lowered his cane and replace it with a gentle hand upon the witch's shoulder.
"This is not your fight," he whispered to her and gave her shoulder a light squeeze. "Just let it go."
Victoria shrugged his hand away and gritted her teeth together as she fought with herself. Regardless of her want to hex the accusative witch she reined in her desire and squared her posture, dropping the issue.
Silence filled the tent. Victoria could feel the glare from the Minister baring down upon her. She dipped her head and dropped her gaze to the floor, hoping her submission would spare her fate.
"Madame Maxime." The Minister's voice cut through the growing tension, collecting the attention of everyone. "Nightingale is here to prevent fatalities, notburnt skirts. Miss Delacour will just have to be more careful next time."
Victoria took satisfaction from hearing the headmistress's huff in defeat.
"I believe that concludes our day." The Minister spoke to everyone. "Allow me to pass one final congratulations to our champions who preformed incredibly. I do hope you all continue to do well in the following tasks."
Raising her head, Victoria restrained a spiteful smirk from spreading on her lips as she watched Madame Maxime stomp out of the tent with Fleur in her trail.
The Minister gave a nod to the room and departed with his colleagues in tow. Ludo had been reluctant to leave, however he soon followed Cornelius out.
With the oppressive presence of the Ministry gone, Victoria felt like she could breathe again. She had expected the Minister to chastise her for nearly attacking the French Headmistress, however it seemed she was off the hook and the witch had no intention of questioning it.
One by one the champions fled the tent in order to join their evening celebrations with the rest of their respective schools. Harry spared a quick smile of recognition to Victoria before too darting out.
"That's quite the temper Missy. I thought you were better than that," Alastor commented once they were alone.
"Rough day."
Victoria passed the weak excuse and moved to leave as well but she stopped short when Alastor stepped in front of her.
"Rage is a terrible thing," he said before levelling her with a dark look. "Don't let it control you."
And with that he hobbled out, leaving her to ponder what she could only consider to be an impossible piece of advice.