Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, but here's the new chapter! It features two other points of views along with Victoria's. One is Snape's and the other is a new OC, Victoria's mother. Be sure to check out my new companion story, "Runaway," which focuses on Victoria's parents and provides some background on things beyond Victoria's narrative. Please enjoy and review!
9. The Labyrinth
June 10th, 1994
The constant foul mood of the potions master was known to all those of Hogwarts, but on that afternoon in June, the students quite literally ran from Severus Snape as he strode through the corridors. When he reached the headmasters' office, he entered without any courtesy, but faltered upon seeing Albus Dumbledore's knowing glance. Severus loathed being beholden to anyone.
"Ah, Severus," the headmaster said casually, "To what do I owe the pleasure?" His blue eyes were twinkling.
Severus gritted his teeth, "I am in need of a Portkey."
Dumbledore sobered up, "Naturally. Fortunately for me, I have had one ready to this particular destination for sometime, though I didn't expect for you to be the one to use it," he said, a bit patronizingly.
"Sir," Severus glowered. He knew he'd made a mistake and was about to expose himself to the mercy of maternal instinct to correct it.
"But in coming, I feel you see the error of your ways. In an effort to humiliate an old school bully of yours, you've wounded Miss Thomas terribly," then quite seriously, Dumbledore postulated, "You do realize that this may not repair your friendship, or at least make it what it once was."
"I know," Severus said, somewhat humbly. But anything was better than nothing.
"Good," the headmaster said before handing the potions master a small bull statue, "Please send my regards to Miss –"
From behind the Dumbledore, a wizard with a pointed-beard 'harrumphed' from his portrait.
Dumbledore sighed, "You made your opinion clear thirteen years ago, Phineas." He turned his attention back to the young teacher, "In a minute, at precisely two, the Portkey will activate. Then you will arrive at –"
The clock struck and Severus felt the uncomfortable sensation of being hooked behind the navel before his feet found purchase on solid ground. He put the small statue into his robes and surveyed his surroundings. He had landed on the rocky side of a mountain; below him were numerous canvas tents which nearly reached the mass of crumbled walls and classical columns. Feeling uncomfortable with the temperate climate, he resisted the urge to tug at his neckline before making his way down the mountainside to the village of tents.
Once Severus had reached the tents, his ears were assaulted with the language of men arguing, perhaps violently, with one another. He reached the scene of the argument and saw a large, mustached blond man arguing with a dark haired, dark skinned man. Severus found their confrontation not only incomprehensible, but also unimportant.
He continued through the tents, earning a few odd looks from the workers, but none stopped him. Eventually he reached the centermost tent, a large one with a sign in another language. Stepping inside, he found it nearly empty except for a witch seated away from him in the far most corner. She was wearing simple brown robes and her long dark hair was plaited. As he approached, Severus made some noise so as to not startle the woman.
When she heard someone come up behind her, she turned around quickly, and her blue eyes widened as she took in the visitor, "Severus Snape?" she asked in disbelief with a refined English accent.
"Ariadne Black," Severus greeted her.
She was still in shock, "What…Why –" Then something struck, "Is she alright?" She stood up and approached him, "Severus?"
Severus raised a hand to stay her, "She is fine…physically, Ariadne," he said. Although they were never really friends and she was two years younger than he, they were prefects together and had always been amiable, or at least until she defected. Despite their history, he was unsure about how to relate the gross injuries he'd committed against Tori to her mother.
Expectedly, his response did little to reassure the mother, "What happened, Severus?"
"It is a…long story," he answered, still reluctant to risk upsetting Aridane Black. Although she'd always been rather mild tempered, she, like her daughter, he suspected, would become vicious when protecting those important to them.
"Severus…" Ariadne Black said, now become more desperate and although not a compassionate man, he couldn't let her suffer any longer.
"Dumbledore hired Lupin as the defense teacher, and after your wretched cousin escaped, I exposed Lupin's secret to my Slytherins which caused him to resign," Severus said unemotionally, summarizing and simplifying the situation.
Ariadne Black, although not the most ideal Slytherin, knew he was leaving large parts of the story out, "Is that all?" she asked, shrewdly, her eyes narrowing.
Her eyes, which she had passed on to her daughter, were his undoing, "Lupin planned on suing for custody of Tori at the end of the term, hoping that the fact that he had a solid job would overshadow his…condition. He never told Tori that he was her father – he wanted to wait until he had custody – but somehow she figured it out and was…distraught at his departure." That was putting it mildly; the girl was heartbroken.
Ariadne Black was glaring at him now. Obviously the pain he'd caused both her daughter and her father was not appreciated. "What about the Thomas's?"
Severus scowled, both because he didn't like Tori's adoptive parents and because he didn't want to be the one to explain their treatment of Tori to Ariadne Black, but he did nonetheless.
He'd barely finished before Ariadne Black exclaimed, "Dumbledore said that she'd be going to a good home, that the Thomas's would love her!"
"They did," Severus explained, "At least until her magical talents were brought to light."
"And now because of you she'll have to spend the summer there?" Ariadne Black asked, a mad glint in her eyes…maternal instinct.
Severus, guilty, admitted, "Yes."
Ariadne Black returned to her table and gathered her things before walking past Severus and out of the tent.
Severus followed her through the maze of tents to one on the far side of the camp, right next to the ruins. If he had to hazard a guess, he, taking age and size into account, guessed it was the fabled home of the monstrous Minotaur. Turning from the ruins, he ducked down into the tent. Inside, Ariadne Black was magically packing a battered trunk, which rested upon a rickety cot.
Realizing her intent, he questioned, "Are you allowed to leave so suddenly?"
She slammed the trunk shut and shot Severus a filthy look. He had never seen this side of her. Perhaps the years, visible in the slight aging of her face, had made her more aggressive and confident, but more likely, it was emotion channeling from anger and guilt. Pushing wavy wisps from her face, she replied, "That doesn't matter, Severus. Nothing else matters when your child's happiness and safety is at stake. Both of which you disregarded when you let your old prejudices affect Victoria."
As she gathered books into a briefcase, Severus bowed his head in shame; she was right.
XxXxX
June 13th, 1994
Ariadne Black, the paperwork securely in the official envelope, Apparted to the small Welsh village of Coedbryn. It looked different in the light of a summer day, but she remembered the quaint buildings from a memorable Christmas night over thirteen years and a half years ago. According to the records, Remus Lupin purchased a cottage here after the war ended. She'd spent her pregnancy here, working in a Muggle bookshop, but he couldn't have known that since until last summer, he hadn't known they had a child. A long dead part of Ariadne hoped he had chosen to live here because this place held the same special meaning for him as it had for her.
Remus's cottage was located on the outskirts of the village and it took Ariadne a good while to locate it. The cottage was tiny and was obscured from the road by large, thick trees. Only the faded wooden gate alerted her to any habitation within the forest. Walking down the walkway, she concluded that the cottage had seen better days, at least by British standards. Thirteen years in Crete and surrounding Greece had expanded her knowledge of architecture and its upkeep.
When she was halfway down the path, Ariadne heard shuffling inside before the door opened. She had expected wards, knowing from limited experience about how cautious he was.
The Remus Lupin that emerged from the cottage was both very similar and different to her memory. He had aged; his hair was peppered liberally with gray. He was scruffy, as though he hadn't shaved in days and his eyes were bloodshot and given the time of the day – midmorning – she figured he must have been drinking. He was however, very much like how she remembered him: he was just as frail, just as gaunt, and just as handsome. He also still looked surprised in the same manner as he said incredulously, "Ariadne?"
"Remus," she said likewise, cursing the fact that seeing him, hearing him, made her feel like a school girl. She was thirty-two years old for Merlin's sake.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, still stunned. He had though, taken a few steps forward.
Ariadne held up the envelope, "I've just come from the Ministry, Remus, from the Magical Health and Family Department," she forced her legs to walk up to him – somehow they seemed weak – and handed him the packets, "We'll need to visit the Thomas's for custody."
Remus took the offered paperwork and squinted as he read it, his eyes red and bleary. He then looked up at her confused, "I've read the custody laws. You can't sue for custody, you gave her up." There was definitely accusation there.
Ariadne didn't appreciate him making light of her decision; it was the hardest she'd ever made, even harder than leaving her family and their arrangement that would have had her marry Julian Montague. "As I recall, Remus, it was much too dangerous for you to have a relationship with me, so how could you have done so with Victoria?" She said coolly
Remus seemed to be a bit humbled, but said, "You could have told me."
"How? I had no idea where you were or how to get in touch with you. I didn't want to risk going back into the magical world, lest my family find out about my pregnancy. In the end, my sister, Cissy, did. Unknown to me, the intern that worked with my magical midwife had intimate connections with the Death Eaters. My other sister, the deranged one, Bella, tried to visit. I managed to get to Hogsmeade and Dumbledore before she caught me," Ariadne finished, blinking back tears at the memories. Terror became so much greater when one had a child.
Remus looked sincerely saddened, "I'm sorry." His apology hinted at more than her giving their daughter up. He attempted to change the subject, "So how did you get around the custody laws?"
"I didn't," Ariadne explained, "I can't sue for custody since I waived it and you can't since you don't have a steady job and you're a werewolf. However, we can get the Thomas's to waive custody," she pointed to the topmost paper, "And then it automatically reverts back to the birth parents. All they have to do is sign." She then added, "I came to you first because I thought we should do this together."
He smiled and said, softly, "Thank you." He then checked his wristwatch, "Did you want to go today? It's nearly noon, so we could get them at lunch."
"Yes, but," She said, "Remus, Severus only hinted at it...is Victoria truly miserable with them?"
Remus nodded sadly, "Yes, she's told me about it and I saw it myself last summer after I took her to get her school things."
"Right. I just don't want her unhappy we're taking her from the only parents she's ever known without her consent," Ariadne admitted.
"She'll be elated," Remus said softly, his gaze distant. He then blushed and asked, "Do you mind if I shave first?" He only then realized the state he was in.
" Don't," Ariadne said, and then pointed out, "The wilder you look, the more likely they'll sign without a fuss."
Remus smiled again and then said with emotion, "Slytherin."
Ariadne felt her heart catch at the memory this brought forth, but pushed it away as Remus locked his door and motioned her down the path.
As they walked to the boundary of the wards, he asked, cautiously, "Are you planning on going back to Crete?"
Ariadne was surprised, "How'd you know I was there?"
Remus explained, "I bought Tori your book for her last birthday. Ironic, isn't it?" He then sobered up, "You're not leaving, are you."
"No, I'm not going to get a second chance with Victoria only to leave. I've transferred to the Ministry's Department of Magical Artifacts, specializing in Ancient Greece," Ariadne explained, though to be honest with herself, she wasn't staying only for their daughter. Changing the subject, she asked, "She likes to go by Tori?"
Remus looked at her peculiarly, "Dumbledore didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Ariadne asked, confused. "Severus was the one who came to Crete."
Remus cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable, "Perhaps you should arrange another meeting with Dumbledore."
"Remus?" Ariadne asked, not liking being kept in the dark about her daughter.
"But yes," he said, ignoring her second question and answering the first, "She does go by Tori, or at least to those she's closest with." Before she could question him further, he announced, "Here we are." He then, slowly, hesitatingly, drew Ariadne closer and she at once felt that they were young once more and it was that Christmas night again before she felt the familiar suction of Apparation and something else that had to do with a completely different type of magic.
XxXxX
June 14th, 1994
Only after being under the watchful eye of Madame Pomfrey for five days was Victoria Thomas permitted to leave the Hospital Wing. After she had changed out of her nightgown, she gathered up all of her get-well cards and gifts.
Lastly, she gathered up the three letters sent by her father Professor Lupin. They weren't very long, though it was obvious that he was as miserable as she was. Throughout the last few days, whenever alone, she found her thoughts drifting to him, and she didn't bother to keep the tears from falling. Sometimes, she'd sob loud enough to alert Madame Pomfrey, who'd rush in and then, unsuccessfully, try to comfort her. Victoria suspected that was why she was kept so long for a standard concussion.
Her friends had visited everyday, especially after they found out Professor Lupin was her father. Aaron and Ginny had been a bit hesitant concerning his lycanthropy, but Colin, who was Muggle-born, had no preconceived prejudices and was the first to console Victoria about Professor Lupin's departure. Luckily, after seeing their friend despondent and, Victoria suspected, a good argument with Colin, the other two were both were willing to overlook Professor Lupin's condition. However, they asked about the night at the Shrieking Shack on more than one occasion and Victoria, for Sirius Black's sake, said nothing, claiming amnesia.
Along with her friends, Harry Potter visited too and sometimes his two friends came as well, though that was always awkward. There was some inside joke between the three that had Harry Potter blushing and his friends smirking. It was equally frustrating when Harry Potter visited alone. Victoria was sure she sounded silly most of time and her face never ceased to become red.
Despite his flustering presence, Harry Potter had been very good at preparing Victoria for a summer at Owlhill, which would be even harder to endure knowing there was a much better alternative that was robbed from her. Harry Potter faced the same thing, though regarding the Dursleys and Sirius Black.
Victoria had left the Hospital Wing and was in the adjacent corridor when somebody called out, "Tori!" There was only one person at Hogwarts that called her that, or at least one who she'd talk too. Immediately, she felt her face warm. Harry Potter rushed over to her, a rumpled piece of parchment in his hand, "Madame Pomfrey's finally let you out?"
Victoria nodded, "Yes, but only after I promised to go to her the moment I become nauseous."
Harry Potter grinned, his own face flushed, "Keep this up, you'll end up like me. At the end of every year I find myself in the Hospital Wing."
"Hopefully, I can avoid it next year, though I'm sure with Quidditch I'll be there enough," Victoria joked, laughing awkwardly at the end.
Harry Potter ran his free hand through his hair and chuckled uncomfortably himself and then said, "Actually, I wanted to show – share something with you since technically it belongs to both of us."
"Harry, what –" She began.
"Not here," He then looked about before he said, "This way." Victoria, still carrying her bag of cards and gifts, followed Harry Potter up a flight of stairs and into an abandoned classroom, "We should be okay in here," he announced. He then offered her the parchment he'd been holding.
Victoria took it and looked at the faded paper. "Harry?" She asked.
"Remember in the Shrieking Shack, the map?" Harry Potter explained.
"Oh, yes," Victoria nodded, staring hard at the parchment, "It doesn't look like a map."
"Well, you're holding it wrong. Let me take that," he said, grabbing her bag and setting it on a desk. He then turned the parchment aound in her grasp, their hands brushing together. His were rather sweaty. Both of them were blushing.
Then Victoria realized, "Oh! This is what Prof –" She began, but, ignoring the pain, amended, "is what my dad was reading in his office."
"Yes," Harry Potter confirmed. He then pulled out his wand, "to use the map, all you have to do is tap it with your wand and say 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good' and…" he trailed off.
Before Victoria's eyes, the once blank parchment began to fill with dark ink. Along with a map of a neatly labeled Hogwarts was the message: "Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, purveyors of aids to magical mischief-makers, are proud to present the Marauders Map."
"Our dads made it, Sirius too. Your dad's Moony, mine was Prongs. Sirius's Padfoot," then Harry Potter scowled, "You don't need two guesses to figure out Wormtail." He sighed deeply, "Anyway, I figured we should share it."
"Thanks," Victoria said, before turning her attention back to the map. She followed the lines up to the top of the paper and saw Gryffindor Tower. "I should probably head back," she remarked, "I said I'd meet up with my friends before dinner."
Harry Potter frowned, and then asked, "Aren't we friends, Tori?"
"Of course," Victoria said, surprised, "Did you think we weren't?"
"No…" he said, "I just wanted to make sure."
"Oh, okay," She said and then folded up the map.
"Wait!" Harry Potter said, reaching for the map, "You have to wipe it first. Just tap it with your wand and say 'mischief managed'," and the lines on the paper faded.
Victoria handed the map back to Harry Potter, "You hold onto it. It seems like you'll need it more than I will."
He smiled, "Are you saying that I'm very mischievous?"
"No," she shrugged, "But you do have a talent for finding trouble."
"Remember, you've made the habit of ending each school year in the Hospital Wing."
"So have you," Victoria pointed out, "And you've got a year on me!"
Harry Potter's smile broadened, "True, true," he conceded, laughing.
Victoria laughed with him until their laughter simultaneously trailed off, awkwardly. They stood there, only a few feet apart, alone in the classroom, just looking at each other. Both, although, usually flushed around the other, were blushing imensely and looking away from the other, but still trying to sneak glances. Both messed with their hair. Victoria could feel her heart beating rapidly.
It was Harry Potter who broke the odd tension. He cleared his throat and said, "Back to the tower, then?"
Victoria nodded, "Yes." She grabbed her bag as Harry Potter stowed the map inside he robes. They then both walked over to the doorway and after opening the door, he let her through first. "Thanks," she muttered.
The walk back to the common room was unusually quiet. They always had something to talk about, even if it was filled with awkwardness, whether it was Quidditch, or more recently, their home lives. But there was no conversation, at least until they ran into Professor McGonagall in the seventh floor corridor.
"There you are, Miss Thomas," Professor McGonagall hurried over to them. "You're needed in the Headmaster's office." When the older woman saw the anxiety cross the girl's face, she added, "You're not being reprimanded. You have a visitor."
Victoria immediately perked up. Could it possibly be Professor Lupin, her father? She only just remembered to say goodbye to Harry Potter before following the professor back down the staircase.
Professor Dumbledore's office was guarded by a stone gargoyle and required a password to enter. Professor McGonagall gritted out, "Licorice Wand," obviously not pleased with the word. The gargoyle jumped aside and a stone staircase was revealed. "Go on up, Miss Thomas," Professor McGonagall said.
Victoria walked up the rounding stairs until she arrived at a door, which she respectfully knocked on.
"Come in, Miss Thomas," the headmaster called through the door cheerfully.
Victoria opened the door and saw the headmaster seated behind a magnificent desk, surrounded by portraits of elderly witches and wizards on every wall. In front of the desk, a woman sat, a tea cup in her hand. She had dark, wavy hair and was looking at Victoria was a very familiar expression, but that wasn't all that was familiar. From the foggy reaches of her memory of a newspaper article, she realized, "You're Ariadne Black?"
Ms. Black nodded, and covered her mouth with her free hand. Victoria was startled when she saw the woman's eyes well up. The girl looked to the headmaster.
However, Professor Dumbledore didn't get a chance to speak, for a portrait behind the headmaster sneered, looking down at Victoria critically, "A descendant of mine in Gryffindor," he then gestured to Ms. Black, "Her cousin was worse though. He was a proper pureblood."
"Don't talk to her like that!" Ms. Black cried, glaring at the portrait.
"Phineas, please," Professor Dumbledore said. Several other portraits also scolded the offending portrait.
Victoria reasoned that these portraits were quite different from the ones she usually interacted with in the corridors and her common room.
"Miss Thomas," Professor Dumbledore began, and then motioned at the grumpy man in the portrait, "This is your great-great-great grandfather, Phineas Nigellus Black, former Hogwarts headmaster."
"And a lifelong Slytherin," Headmaster Black added.
"Oh, quiet," Ms. Black told the portrait, "Why must you insist on butting into everything?" She had pulled out a hanky and had wiped her eyes.
"Because my family insists on making foolish choices," Headmaster Black argued, "Your cousin is sorted into Gryffindor and runs away from Grimmauld Place at sixteen. Your sister marries a Muggle. You run away from a perfectly suitable pureblood match and," he shot Victoria a filthy look, "Consort with a werewolf."
Professor Lupin?...suddenly, looking at the woman, Victoria realized, "You're my mother, my birth mother?"
Ms. Black, her eyes moistening again, nodded before standing and approaching Victoria. She held her arms open hesitantly, and Victoria slowly accepted her embrace. It made her feel like she had with her father. Her mother was trembling and Victoria felt several kisses along her temple. "My baby," the woman murmured tearfully. Her mother pulled back and held Victoria's face, "So grown up," she remarked proudly, though there was lingering sadness.
Curious, Victoria asked, "Not that I'm unhappy you're here…but why?" Inwardly, she was also hurt. This was the woman who'd given her up; the one who'd kept her from her birth father, from her family.
"Perhaps," Professor Dumbledore interrupted, "You should start from the beginning, Ariadne."
"Of course," Ms. Black said, and then sniffled. She gestured to the other available chair, "Please, sit Tori."
Victoria, who'd hadn't missed the use of her nickname, sat down, setting her bag at her feet.
"Tea?" Professor Dumbledore offered.
Victoria politely accepted and after she'd been served, her mother began her story.
"I should probably start with my fifth year," Ms. Black said, more to herself, "I was made a prefect that year. And, I was in Slytherin," she told her daughter, almost apologetically.
"I know," Victoria admitted. At her mother's curious look, she added, "The Sorting Hat told me when I was sorted."
"Did it? Well, since you're in Gryffindor and you grew up with Muggles, some things may be difficult to understand. I'm a member of the 'Noble House of Black'," her mother said, slightly sarcastic, ignoring the huff from Headmaster Black, "And I'm the youngest of four sisters. The eldest, Dromeda, married a Muggleborn and was subsequently disowned. After that, my parents were going to make certain the rest of us didn't disgrace our family. Both of my other sisters were married into affluent pureblood families. Both of their husbands wound up being Death Eaters, my sister Bella too. When I was fifteen, my parents arranged a marriage for me to Julian Montague –"
Victoria gasped.
"What?" Her mother questioned, concerned.
"Well," Victoria began, toeing the floor, "There's a Slytherin boy in my year named Brett Montague."
"Roma's son?" Ms. Black asked, genuinely surprised.
"Yes," Professor Dumbledore provided.
Ms. Black was frowning and at her daughter's curious glance, explained, "After I found out about the engagement, I was unbelievably depressed. One of my greatest supports was my best friend of years, Roma Cross. However, I couldn't go through with it, for many reasons, and left the night before the wedding…about a year before you were born. There was still a wedding, though the bride was my very eager former friend, Roma. After I left, I spent some time with my," she shot Headmaster Black a look, "foolish family until," Ms. Black, then a bit red in the face, said, "I became pregnant with you. I lived in a Muggle village in Wales until after you were born."
"What happened?" Victoria asked, cautiously.
Her mother knew to what she was hinting, "Your father was doing some very dangerous work for…" she looked to Professor Dumbledore, "you, I believe, sir, and was unable to help me in anyway. I didn't have any way to contact him. However, shortly after you were born, my mad sister, Bella, tried to visit me," as if lost to her thoughts, she concluded, "we only just escaped and I saw the headmaster the next night…" Ms. Black trailed off, the tears coming once more and she used her hanky.
Professor Dumbledore, seeing Ms. Black becoming overwhelmed by her emotions, finished the story, "It was decided that the best scenario was to hide you in plain sight and send your mother abroad. Neither of us believed that if she remained in Britain that she could keep away from you. She's been in Crete for nearly thirteen years now, but returned the moment she heard of yours and your father's predicament from Professor Snape."
At this, Victoria frowned, but her mother scowled, "It was the very least he could do."
Professor Dumbledore sighed, "Severus was wrong to act the way he did, Ariadne, but he regrets what he'd done," he finished, his blue eyes resting on Victoria.
Victoria, however, didn't want to think, much less talk, about Professor Snape, so she asked her mother, "What happens now?"
"Well," her mother said, "I've moved back from Crete, permanently, and have gotten a job at the ministry. And, yesterday, your father and I visited the Thomas's and they've waived custody of you. You're ours now, Tori Lupin."
Victoria was so stunned she couldn't say anything.
"Tori, what's wrong?" Ms. Black asked nervously.
Victoria felt fear well up within her as she asked the most important question, at least to her, "I'm going home with you?"
Her mother smiled, seemingly relieved, "Yes, sweetheart. We're moving into your father's home in Coedbryn."
"W-with you and P-professor Lupin?" Victoria questioned, her words stunted by her tears. She couldn't say anymore she was so happy.
"Oh, Tori," Her mother remarked, before she rushed over and gathered her sobbing child into her arms. "Yes, dear, you're coming home to us, we've gathered your things from Owlhill, and…" Ms. Black trailed off and continued to mutter soothing things to Victoria.
From behind the desk, two headmasters, although one rather reluctantly, were touched to see the two reunited where they'd been separated many years ago.
XxXxX
June 17th, 1994
As the Hogwarts Express pulled into Kings Cross, Victoria Lupin, could hardly keep still. Three days ago her world was altered to an extreme comparable to when she discovered she was a witch. She would be going home to Professor Lupin, her father and her mother, Ariadne Black, who was just as loving and warm as her father was.
The last three days went by entirely too slow.
She had told her friends about her mother and how she wasn't going back to Owlhill. This included Harry Potter, who, surprising Victoria, was generally happy that Victoria was to go home to a loving family when he wouldn't. She didn't have to tell the rest of the school about her real parents. There was a rather insulting article in the Daily Prophet about her parents, focusing on her father's lycanthropy and her mother being estranged from her family, but any unpleasantness disappeared when Professor Flitwick was the first to call her Miss Lupin.
Fortunately for Victoria, the last few hours passed in a blur. Before she could register it all, she had packed her bags, left Hogwarts, and arrived at London. She'd said goodbye to all of her friends, Harry Potter included, all of whom gave Victoria hugs. However, she still blushed when hugged by Harry Potter, who'd pressed a note into her hand with his address and a letter from Sirius Black. Although, all of this was pushed out of mind when she spotted her mother, smiling brilliantly, waiting for her on the other side of the barrier. In the blink of an eye, she'd shared a warm greeting with her mother, introduced her to all of her friends, and the pair had Apparted to the front of their new home Coedbryn.
There, everything slowed down.
Victoria walked slowly down the walkway to the quaint cottage alongside her mother, who was levitating her trunk. Halfway there, the front door of the cottage opened gently and her father stepped out into the thick and colorful light of a summer sunset.
Victoria paused there for a moment, taking in his familiar features and warm demeanor, his awed smile, her own loud breath bleating from her chest. Then, she ran.
He didn't move, but instead opened his arms, welcoming her as she launched herself into his arms.
It was so good…so safe…so right, that Victoria knew nothing except the sound of his jubilant, free laughter and the warmth of his tears upon her face and of his embrace.