Sorry for the bit of the delay and sorry this is shorter than the others, I'm trying to push through some writer's block before I start writing the good stuff
In response to the reviews (I love you guys so much:
Kavernista: Yeah in the later movies I just pretended that was a younger version of him and puberty was kind to him ;) hahaha. I think your prediction comes true in this chapter though! I'd love to give a long in depth comment about it but I don't want to give it away!
ErikaconlaK: Thanks for the really sweet review, I'll try and pump them out as quick as I can
KirikaAndo: Also thanks for the nice review but also thank you for introducing me to the spelling of "Noot" haha, all weekend I was running around the house yelling "Noot, noot!" Pingu style
The first few days of school were exactly as I anticipated. Fairly mundane, with the teachers giving us lots of homework whilst telling us about how hard N.E.W.T year was and how we had to take it seriously. I took the teacher's warnings well, but at the same time I wasn't sure how well I'd do. Even when I keep up with my homework and pay attention during lessons I still find the work difficult.
Tom and I began to talk a little more as well. He sometimes sat with me at meals to talk about my day and had invited me to sit with his friends a few times in the Slytherin common room. Rangvald Lestrange had stopped taunting me and I wondered if Tom had said anything else to him about it.
Most people in Slytherin had become a little nicer to me now that Tom was paying attention to me. The girls began to include me in more of their activities and the boys started acting more chivalrous towards me. It was a little odd, I thought it would be the other way around as it seemed every girl had a crush on him, but he had managed to make my life at Hogwarts a little more enjoyable.
The big news and gossip however was our new Care of the Magical Creatures teacher, Professor Newton Scamander. The seventh years had yet to participate in the class as all of our Care of the Magical Creatures lessons were scheduled towards the end of the week. But we had heard many exciting stories from students in younger years.
"He told us many tales from when he was travelling around the world collecting and studying creatures, he's so knowledgeable!" I had heard one fifth year squeak at breakfast yesterday.
I was really excited for Care of the Magical Creatures class granted a breath of fresh air. Our previous teacher was very old and had ended up conducting more classroom based tasks rather than ones outside where we got to study the creatures. Learning from the world's most famous Magizoologist seemed like the best way to learn.
Wednesday afternoon finally came around – the day I would have Care of the Magical Creatures for the first time this year. The seventh years had a single period on Wednesday, a single period on Thursday and a double class last thing Friday afternoon.
A few of my fellow Slytherins were taking Care of the Magical Creatures and were headed down to the grounds but Tom Riddle was not one of them. He had (very politely) told me had had no use for the class in his future and had told me instead he had elected to take Arithmancy alongside other noble electives. I wasn't offended, in fact I was almost jealous I wasn't smart enough to do that subject myself.
However my dorm mates Beatrice, Drucilla and Cordula were in the class and invited me to walk down with them. Rather than me having to force conversation on them, they spoke in an excited manner, including me in their exchanges. It was very different to start of term when they had (in a condescending manner it seemed) forced me to make all of the conversation.
"I'm actually quite excited for the class. Scamander is quite good looking, isn't he?" Beatrice stated loudly.
I only shot her a weak smile as we made our way down the cobbled footpath to where the lesson would be held today. Just a few days ago when she didn't know who he was she had loudly exclaimed he was "strange". Now that she knew he was a famous researcher he was suddenly "good looking". I could see straight through her thought process but didn't feel strong enough to say anything about it. I'd rather not create drama now they are finally being nice to me and including me.
"He doesn't shine a light to Tom Riddle though. You're so lucky, Tori. He's taken quite the liking to you." Cordula said, lighting patting me on the shoulder to emphasize the point.
I was about to respond modestly and inform her nothing was going on between us and that we were just polite acquaintances when Drucilla spoke up first, just as we were within earshot of the rest of the class we were joining.
"Can we please drop this pathetic act? She's half-Veela for Merlin's sake, she may not have any dirty mudblood in her but she's still a half-breed. She doesn't belong with us. She's not a pure blood and will never marry into any respectful family!" Drucilla hissed loudly.
The entire class looked over at us upon Drucilla's outburst and I felt a lump forming in my throat. The Slytherin boys all had smirks on their faces and I could see a few snicker upon her words. I wish I could be a person who didn't get so emotional. In my head I imagined myself keeping cool and saying something witty straight back at Drucilla. She would be highly annoyed and embarrassed that not only did she not get the intended reaction out of me, but my comment would just drive the stake in further.
In reality though if I spoke up, I knew I'd burst out crying. No witty comebacks to her argument entered my head. Staying silent may not have been a great solution, but it was still above her seeing me cry.
"You clearly don't know much about magic and non-magic beings in that case, so I would advise you to close your mouth and pay attention in my class if you have that mindset." Professor Scamander snapped at Drucilla.
I hadn't even noticed he was present, but he was and he was also leaping to my defence. Being angry and authoritative didn't seem to suit him. It just didn't match up with his kind and sweet face, and I could tell Drucilla wasn't taking him very seriously.
"Come on, Scamander. You out of everyone should understand Hogwarts is no place for anyone with Veela genes. You said it yourself in your book. 'Near-human intelligence' ring a bell? They're not even human, and the offspring of one would remain the same. She's not a witch. This is a school for witches and wizards." Drucilla ranted loudly and it became obvious to me this was the result of days of holding it in after most of the Slytherin house had now accepted me now I was affiliated with Tom. She clearly had been wanting to say this for a while, perhaps even longer than I had realised.
I didn't know how to feel at Drucilla's words. They were incredibly hurtful both to myself and my mother. I was now beyond upset and almost felt numb at her words. I decided to try and see the humour, it was all I could do to not break down. She sounded uneducated and pathetic, and I began to laugh loudly at her stance.
"Oh, ha, ha. Laugh it up. You know it's true, no point deluding yourself." Drucilla scoffed, rolling her eyes towards me.
The whole class was silent as they were watching the exchanges between Drucilla and I. A quick glance confirmed my suspicions that all eyes were on us. I didn't know what to think or how to behave.
My eyes flicked to Professor Scamander. I didn't know him well enough (or at all really) so I couldn't read his expression well. I would have to say he looked conflicted, like he didn't know what to do. I guess any teacher on their first week would feel the same if two girls were about to break into a fight over one of them sprouting out racist insults.
I could tell Professor Scamander was different to most teachers though. He seemed very sweet and kind by the sort of aurora he shined. I also knew it took a considerate and friendly person to care and study creatures to the extent he had. Somebody kind-hearted would always struggle in difficult situations such as the one Drucilla was starting right now. A strict teacher would have sent her to Professor Dippet's office. The punishment Drucilla was about to get may not have been strict, but exactly what was required.
He motioned for us to follow him as he took a few steps away from the rest of the class so we would be out of earshot. I happily followed whilst Drucilla sighed and begrudgingly came after us.
"What are both of your names?" Professor Scamander asked us both.
It dawned on me that even though we spoke just before the start of term feast, we didn't introduce ourselves. I had at the time wondered why he didn't state who he was or why he was there but never even considered I was just as rude.
"I'll tell you her name. Victoria Black. She doesn't deserve such a prestigious and powerful surname though." Drucilla scoffed loudly.
"What is your name then?" Professor Scamander asked her, ignoring all of her insults towards me.
"Drucilla Carrow." She proudly stated and even stood up straighter to puff her chest out. I rolled my eyes.
"Alright then Miss Carrow. I suggest you take yourself to the library and do some reading about Veela. It appears your knowledge in this area is lacking and by seventh year a basic knowledge on Veela is required. You may come back next class when your knowledge is up to date." Professor Scamander said to Drucilla. Although his choice of words were harsh, his tone was not. He used a neutral tone, as if he were speaking to a friend. I thought Drucilla would eat him alive due to his lack of authority.
However I was completely wrong. She was silent for a while and looked him in the face. He copied her actions, and half a minute later she let out a loud, annoyed sigh and dramatically picked up her book bag as she stormed her way back up to the castle.
As her back faced us I turned to look at Professor Scamander. I expected him to stay firm but instead he broke into a large grin. He seemed to go back into the cheerful person he is straight away.
"How'd I go? Firm but fair? I was really trying for firm but fair." Professor Scamander asked me excitably, a big grin on his face.
"You succeeded. Not only is she punished, it's a useful form. She'll become more educated. It won't help her racist attitude, but she'll come out a bit wiser." I weakly smiled. I knew Drucilla's 'punishment' wouldn't change these feelings she must have been holding onto for a while, but I didn't want to ruin his spirit.
Professor Scamander dropped his smile a little, as he started to grow a little more serious.
"I do apologise if the comment in my book 'near-human' intelligence was offensive. You see-"Professor Scamander began, but I cut him off abruptly.
"It's fine. I've done quite a bit of reading in the subject. It's a term used to compare how similar these creatures are to humans. Besides, most humans are dumb anyway, and most creatures are much better company than silly people." I giggled.
"Yes, well I'd love to agree with you, but it's perhaps not very professional as a teacher to say," Scamander agreed with me, but then added on "Being part-Veela isn't such a bad thing anyway. They have their advantages."
I cocked my head a little bit as I was confused at what he had added on. It had nothing to do with what the topic had shifted to, but he had obviously mentioned it in an attempt to cheer me up as I was picked on by Drucilla for my mother's heritage. He was either still mulling over what had happened, or maybe he was really scared that agreeing creatures were better than humans was off-limits as a teacher.
"Well hearing the great Newt Scamander's words about my mother's background in depth would be amazing, but you kind of have a class to teach." I whispered to him, nodding over to where the rest of the class were waiting. Some of them were watching over in anticipation of the class beginning.
"Oh, maybe some other time then. Besides, the most obvious holds true. Veela's possess almost unimaginable beauty, to which you have clearly inherited from your mother. That's a pretty strong advantage." Professor Scamander declared.
I snapped my head up to look him in the eye, but unfortunately he swiftly turned away to walk back to the class. I really wanted to read his expression to see if he meant something by that comment, or whether it was a matter-of-fact observation that had come out the wrong way (or perhaps I was reading too much into it).
Either way I had a huge smile on my face. My cheeks turned rosy and I mouthed 'oh my god' as I bought my hand to my mouth. It wasn't rare for someone to call me beautiful but it was rare for me to have this reaction.