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Chapter Text

There was a letter for Victoria Euphemia Potter in the mail.

Which was strange, since she never got any kind of mail sent to her outside of letters from school, which she never showed the Dursleys. Yet here was a letter, made in thick parchment like the kind used centuries ago and written in emerald green ink, address to her, with such accuracy it baffled her.

Miss V. Potter

The Smallest Bedroom

4 Privet Drive

Little Whinging

Surrey

She examined the letter, noticing that there was no stamp. And it was sealed in purple wax with a lion, snake badger, and eagle circling the letter 'H'

"Hurry up, girl!" Vernon yelled from inside the house. His voice was so loud she could hear him all the way from the mail box, causing her to roll her eyes. "What are you doing, checking the later for bombs?"

Victoria ignored her uncle with ease and opened the letter, reading it.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WIXENRY, WITCHCRAFT, and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Well, Victoria thought. That explains a lot. Magic exists.

It explained how she destroyed the cupboard under the stairs when she was five (forcing the Dursleys to move her to the small bedroom), how she grew all her hair back in one night, how she turned that one nasty third grade substitutes wig bright orange, and several other little incidents she could never explain or understand, but now she could.

It was magic, and she was, apparently, a witch.

Victoria reread the letter again and her heart sank. It was already July 31st, her eleventh birthday. There was no way she could write back in time.

"Oh hello dear." a familiar voice said, and Victoria looked up to see Mrs.Figg, a widowed neurosurgeon who worked at St.George's Hospital in London, who was one of her favorite people in the world (the kind librarians of the local public library were also on the list) approaching her.

Mrs.Figg had always been incredibly kind to her, unlike most people in Little Whinging. Mrs. Figg had been the one to teach her how to stitch and sew so she could resize and reinvent a lot of the hand me downs she got from Dudley, or let her spend time in her house to get away from the Dursleys, and giving her small birthday and Christmas presents where her biological family never bothered.

"Morning, Mrs.Figg." she greeted.

"I see you got your Hogwarts letter." Mrs.Figg said.

Victoria gawked. "Y-You're a witch too?"

"No," Mrs.Figg sighed. "I'm a Squib." At Victoria's confused look, she just smiled sadly. "I was born to magical parents, but I lack magic myself. I moved here to keep an eye on you."

"That's so unfair."

"It is." Mrs.Figg agreed. "But I didn't let that get me down, eh? I got into the University of Oxford, did a year abroad in Harvard, and graduated at the top of my class. But I've been waiting for you to get your letter, so you can get away from that horrible family."

As if on cue, Vernon and Petunia appeared in the doorway. "GIRL! Bring the mail in!" Vernon bellowed.

Victoria, throughly fed up with her uncle, just wished for him to be quiet.

Vernon continued to rant, but not a sound escaped his mouth.

Petunia gasped in horror, and Victoria held up the letter.

"I'm going to this school." she said. "You can't stop me."

"N-No." Petunia gasped.

"Hogwart is a boarding school, and runs from September 1st to almost the end of June." Mrs.Figg whispered in her ear. She grinned at the new ammunition Mrs.Figg had given her.

"Uncle, Aunt, you've said so many times you would send me away to a boarding school at the first chance. Now, here's an opportunity for me to be away for almost an entire year, and you refuse to let me go." she drawled, pinning down her aunt and uncle with her emerald green eyes.

Petunia's eyes narrowed, while Vernon turned almost purple. The couple exchanged a long, drawn out look before Petunia turned to her.

"Very well," her aunt said. "You may go to this... school."

"I'll handle this from now, Mrs.Dursley." Mrs.Figg said firmly. "Come with me, Victoria."

She nodded, leaving the mail for the Dursleys and, with her Hogwarts letter in hand, followed Mrs.Figg to her house on Wisteria Walk.

"I think this is going to be a very good birthday." Victoria told Mrs.Figg.

Mrs.Figg nodded. "I do believe that you are right, Victoria."

Chapter Text

Victoria watched in minor disbelief as Mrs.Figg summoned Professor McGonagall by throwing something called "Floo Powder" into the fire place, which caused the flames to turn green, then say "Minerva McGonagall's office" and then stick her head into the flames.

The only reason Victoria didn't scream was because Mrs.Figg hadn't died the moment she placed her head through the green flames. But she was still majorly freaked out.

After around five minutes, Mrs.Figg emerged from the flames, her head perfectly intact.

"Oh, sorry dear." Mrs.Figg said when she noticed Victoria's stunned look. "I assure you, Floo calling is perfectly safe."

"Just give me a warning next time." Victoria asked, adjusting her rectangular framed glasses (a tenth birthday gift from Mrs.Figg).

"Can do." Mrs.Figg said cheerfully. "Now, Minerva should be here—"

There was a sudden knock on the front door.

"Right now." Mrs.Figg said. "You can wait in the living room if you want, Victoria. I'll get the door."

Victoria nodded and made a beeline for the living room, suddenly feeling nervous. Minerva McGonagall was the deputy headmistress according to the letter, and Victoria badly wanted to make a good impression on her.

And how could she, a scrawny eleven year old with black hair that could only be tamed by being braided, wearing clothes often always remade from horrible hand-me-downs, and a lightning bolt scar, impress Professor McGonagall?

Just then, Mrs.Figg entered the living room, followed by a tall, stern looking older women, black haired pulled into a tight bun at the top of her head and a dressed in a set of tartan patterned emerald robes. Paired with a set of square spectacles, she gave off the vibe of a stern yet fair teacher. Victoria's instincts told her she could trust this women.

"Hello Miss Potter." the women, Professor McGonagall, said warmly, a hint of a smile forming on her face as she sat down on the couch across from Victoria. "I dare say, you look like a female version of your father, but with your mother's eyes."

"Thank you." Victoria said shyly, her tanned, bronze skinned hands fidgeting in her lap. "I, um, don't know anything about the wixen world, and Mrs.Figg said that you're the best person to explain it to me."

"Did she?" Professor McGonagall said dryly, shooting a look at Mrs.Figg.

"Lily and James were your two favorite students, Minerva." Mrs.Figg said calmly. "Who better to properly reintroduce their daughter to the wixen world?"

Victoria perked up at those words. She knew next to nothing about her parents.

Mrs.Figg checked her watch and sighed. "As much as I would love to join you, Victoria, I have a shift at the hospital. But I'll be back home by 6:45."

"Have a good day, Mrs.Figg." she said.

"Thank you, dear." Mrs.Figg said with a smile, before hurrying away to the car.

"Now, Miss Potter." Professor McGonagall said. "I need to tell you a little bit about the wixen world before you go to Gringotts, the goblin run Wizarding bank, so you may meet your account manager and collect the needed money to purchase your supplies." Professor McGonagall sighed. "And I'm sad to say, that most of this tale is not a happy one."

Victoria listened with rapt attention as Professor McGonagall told her about the wixen world: Its rules, its laws, its currency, the difference between accidental and underage magic, told her a bit about Hogwarts, and then informed her of the most recent history in magical Britain. The elven years of war from 1970 to 1981 waged with Lord Voldemort at one side and the British Ministry of Magic (the government of magical Great Britain) on the other side.

And— her. Victoria Potter, the Girl Who Lived.

When Professor McGonagall told her how the war ended, her parents deaths yet her impossible survival, Victoria suddenly remembered her earliest, oldest memory: a high, cold laugh and then a sudden flash of green light uncannily similar to her own bright, almond shaped emerald green eyes.

"And Voldemort's been gone for ten years this Halloween." Victoria said, resisting the urge to touch her scar. She had always thought it was something left from her parents death, but now it was also the mark of her miraculous survival at the hands of the Killing Curse.

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Indeed."

She nodded, feeling a new stab of grief for her parents. Who had died, not drunks in a car accident like the Dursleys insisted, but who had died for her, standing up against a dangerous, dark wizard until their very last moments.

She quiet for two minutes before clearing her throat. "T-Then shall we go to Diagon Alley, then?"

Victoria felt the sudden urge to honor her parent's legacy, and she felt like reentering the wixen world and going to Hogwarts was a step in the right direction.

Chapter Text

Professor McGonagall teleported (or as she called it, Apparated) them to a small alleyway in London.

"Stay close to me." Professor McGonagall instructed her.

Victoria nodded. "I will."

She stuck close to the older women as Professor McGonagall strode over to what appeared to be a dirty looking old pub, but Victoria could feel a sort of elusive, powerful magic that she deduced was hiding the pub for being seen by non-magical (also known as mundanes or muggles) people.

Professor McGonagall opened the door for her and Victoria entered first, then the older witch entered the pub behind her, closing the door shut as she did. Victoria followed her new teacher into the pub. "Hello Professor McGonagall." a kind looking old man said with a toothless grin. He spotted Victoria and gave her a kind smile. "A new student?"

"Yes, Tom." Professor McGonagall confirmed. "We'll be on our way, no time to stop."

And with that, Professor McGonagall effortlessly cleared a path through the crowd of people to the back entrance, entering a small back yard. She drew her wand and tapped the brick three times up and two across from the rubbish bin. The ravenette gave an impressed whistle when she saw how a gate smoothly formed, showing off a brightly lit and crowed shopping alley.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley." Professor McGonagall said, seeing the look of awe on Victoria's face. "Now, this way to Gringotts."

Victoria stuck close to Professor McGonagall's side as they made their way through the bustling crowd. All around her, Victoria could sense magic being used, either by adult wixen or demonstrated in the windows of the shops. She wished she had more eyes so she could see everything, but comforted herself knowing that she would be able to see the rest of Diagon Alley when she and Professor McGonagall collected her school supplies, the list of which was tucked away in the pocket her her jacket.

Gringotts was an imposing, snowy white multistoried building that towered over many other shops. Victoria saw two goblin guards in scarlet uniforms standing at each side of the front door, and when the guards bowed to her and Professor McGonagall as they walked inside, she bowed back.

The interior of the bank was a but more interesting than the exterior, and the inner doors were also guarded by goblins, who also bowed to both witches. She bowed back, wanting to be polite to the bankers. On the silver doors, a poem was engraved into the doors:

Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.

Victoria gulped nervously as she stared at the poem. Well, that's intimidating. she thought.

"Professor McGonagall!" someone behind them boomed.

She turned around to see a giant of a man, over ten feet tall with hands the size of dustbins, and a long mane of black hair paired a wild black beard that hide half his face. But his eyes, dark eyes that glinted like black beetles, were warm and jovial.

"Hagrid." Professor McGonagall said warmly. "What are you doing here?"

"Professor dumbledore sent me ter pick up, the, um, package, from vault 713." the man, Hagrid explained. He then spotted her and smiled warmly. "Why hello there. I'm Hagrid." he said cheerfully, holding out a hand.

"Victoria Potter." she said, shaking his hand.

He gasped, almost crushing her hand in his with his grip before he let go. "Victoria Potter? Nice ter meet yeh. Yeh have your mother's eyes."

"So I've been told." she responded, unable to stop smiling. "It's nice to meet you, Hagrid. What do you do at Hogwarts?"

"Oh? Little old me?" he said as he waved a hand. "I'm jus the gamekeeper."

"That sounds interesting." she sincerely said.

Hagrid beamed. "Why thank yeh!"

After that, Victoria, Professor McGonagall, and Hagrid all entered the lobby of Gringotts. There, several goblin bankers were at work, guarded by several other goblins in armor. There were too stations open. Hagrid went to one, and Professor McGonagall guided her to the second open goblin.

"Good morning." Professor McGongall said, getting the attention of the banker. "I'm here to escort Miss Victoria Potter to her vault, preferably we would like to have a meeting with her Account manager."

The goblin paused, and peered down at Victoria, who wasn't at the heigh too reach the top of the counter. She politely smiled and bowed like she had down early. "Good morning." she said.

"I see." the banker said, and made a signal to one of the guards, who vanished through one of the many open doors. "Right this way, Professor McGonagall, Heiress Potter."

The use of such formality caught her off guard, but she didn't have enough time to be surprised as the goblin led her and Professor McGonagall through an open door. Several goblin guards followed them.

The goblin led them to an office door, with a plaque that read Senior Accountant Rodlok, who opened the door for them. Victoria steeled her nerves and entered the office.

It was very big, with three seats in front of a grand oak desk. A goblin, Rodlok, was sitting in the chair behind the desk.

"Heiress Potter," the goblin greeted her, "I've been waiting to meet you for a very long time."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Victoria said, glancing back at Professor McGonagall, who hadn't entered the office.

"Meetings like this are just for Accountant and the wixen member only." the elder witch explained. "I'll wait outside for you here."

"Okay." Victoria said, and turned her attention back Accountant Rodlok. "Please, sit, Heiress Potter." the goblin said.

She did as she was told, sitting in the middle chair right across from Accountant Rodlok.

"I am going to assume you learned of the wixen world today?" Accountant Rodlok asked.

"I did." Victoria confirmed. "Professor McGonagall told me the basics of the wixen world and Gringotts. Can you please explain to me more about the vault my parents left me?"

Accountant Rodlok looked pleased. "Well, your trust vault, Vault 887, has nearly a million galleons in it, as according to your parents will, your trust vault is given ten thousand galleons on your birthday. The main Potter vault, Vault 975, has well over 400 million galleons, 80 million sickles, and 75,000 knuts. The investments your parents made into both mundane and magical business paid off wisely— your father did inherit both Lord Fleamont and Lady Euphemia's eye for business. Lady Lily was quite skilled at finances as well, and after their tragic deaths, I ensured that the wealth of your family grew to the best of my ability." He paused, as if to give her time to absorb the information and get over her shock. "And if you sold even one of the many Potter artifacts, heirlooms, precious gems, rare and ancient books, and paintings in Vault 976, you could fetch a price of over two million galleons."

Victoria was stunned. How many times had the Dursleys complained about feeding her, clothing her, and spending money on her?

And all this time, was a literal fortune left for her by her parents.

"Thank you." she croaked out, unsure of what else to say.

"That is just the Potter vaults, Heiress Potter." Accountant Rodlok informed her.

"What?" she asked.

"Your father, Lord James, preformed a blood brother ritual with Sirius Black in their seventh year at Hogwarts," Accountant Rodlok looked uncomfortable at mentioning the latter name. "As a result, you are technically the biological niece of Black, and he designated you his Heiress by changing up the inheritance laws of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black in January of 1981, and then declaring you his heiress. So in total, you are now in first line to the Black vaults, Vaults 801 and 800, though you are the only one able to fully access them. You would have to ask Senior Accountant Nadlor for a proper report on the Black vaults, however."

"I see." Victoria said. "Is there a way to arrange a meeting with Senior Accountant Nadlor on a later date? I don't wish to offend him, but I want to just keep today simple for now."

"That would be possible." Accountant Rodlok informed her. "Would the day you come in for your school supplies next summer work?"

"It would." she confirmed.

"Very well." Accountant Rodlok said, looking pleased. "Now, for your Heiress ring."

He pulled out a small box, and placed it on the desk. She had to stand up from her chair and move closer to the desk to see the box, feeling the swirling magic around it. It reached out to her and it seemed to sing with happiness.

"You must place a finger on the box." Rodlok explained patiently, and she did as he instructed her. The box hissed and opened, revealing a ring inside.

The ring was comprised of a platinum band engraved with amaranth flowers, topped with a single circular white opal set with several diamonds. On the opal was an odd symbol: a triangular with a circle inside it, and a single line gone through the triangle and circle that split it in half. She could feel the ancient, powerful magic embedded in the ring.

"That is the Potter Heir and Heiress ring in its base form. Once you turn seventeen, it shall transform into something unique just for you." Rodlok informed her. "Only you can take it off once you put it on."

Victoria put the ring on, and felt the magic of the ring croon with happiness as she put it on. "Is there anything else my parents left me? Or any other information I need to know?"

Rodlok filed through some papers. "There are no blood contracts, blood debts or blood feuds, betrothals, and marriage contracts. Now, your family, the Potters, are a Most Noble and Ancient House, which is the top tier of wixen nobility. Less then ten other families, including yours, have that rank." he pulled out another paper. "And now for politics. While Potter seats in the Wizengamot have remained unused since your parents death, you could appoint a proxy to act as your stead. In addition, you have a good deal political sway as the Girl Who Lived, and once you turn seventeen and formally claim your spot on the Wizengamot, I expect the sway shall increase."

"Oh." she said faintly. I have so much to study.

She shook her head. "I don't want to appoint a proxy yet, but maybe in a year or two. I'll take your list of recommendations. I have a question, is there any way to convert wixen money to mundane money?"

"Yes." Radlok said.

"I would like to do that, then." Victoria said.

An hour later, she had a pouch full of wixen money and a pouch full of mundane money. As she and Professor McGonagall descended on the steps of Gringotts, Victoria was filled with excitement to discover the mysteries of Diagon Alley.

Chapter Text

Now armed with money, both mundane and magical (Professor McGonagall had explained how wixen money was transferred to mundane money), Victoria started her shopping.

First, Professor McGonagall brought her to a magical trunk shop, where she got a sturdy looking enchanted oak trunk, which had four levels and a decent security system so that only she, with her wand, could open it. Next up was Madam Malkin's Robes of All Occasion, where Professor McGonagall sent her in while the teacher would collect her potions supplies at Mr. Mulpepper's Apothecary shop across the street.

"And if I'm not back before you're done," Professor McGonagall told her sternly. "Then wait there."

Victoria agreed, and entered the shop. A smiling women greeted her in the front of the shop.

"Hogwarts, dear?" she asked. "We've been having so many of you this past week."

"I'm here for my uniform." Victoria confirmed.

"Very good, follow me." Madam Malkin said. "We have a young man being fitted up right now."

She followed the shop owner to the back of the shop, where a boy her age with white blonde hair and a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. He sneered slightly at her, but she gave him a cool look in return. Victoria got on the footstool next to him as Madam Malkin slipped a long robe over her head, and began to pin it to the right length.

"Hello," the boy said. "Hogwarts, too?"

"Yes." Victoria confirmed.

"My father is next door buying books and my mother's up the street looking at wands. Then I am going to drag them off to look at racing brooms." the boy said in a bored, drawling voice. She didn't find it very impressive, and guessed her was mimicking one of his parents. He spoke a bit more about brooms and how he would try and smuggle one into school despite the rules.

"Oh, look at that man!" the boy said suddenly, nodding to the front window.

Victoria looked to see Hagrid standing in the front window, holding two large ice creams in his right hand.

"That's Hagrid." she said with a smile. "He's the Gamekeeper at Hogwarts."

She was very unimpressed by the how the boy talked lowly of Hagrid, finding herself annoyed with him and offended on Hagrid's behalf.

"And where are your parents?" the boy suddenly asked.

"They're dead." the Potter Heiress said shortly, feeling the ring on her left middle finger magic curl up, as if it was disliking the boy as well.

"Oh, sorry." the boy said, not sounding sincere at all. "But they were our kind, weren't they?"

Now she really felt annoyed at the boy. Victoria looked at him cooly, not flinching away from his pale grey eyes. "My mother and father were a witch and wizard, they were wixen just like you and me."

The boy just shrugged. "I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, I imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families." he narrowed his eyes at her. "What's your surname, anyways?"

At that moment, she realized why the boy had been sneering at her. She was wearing a dark blue skirt she had made herself, under which she wore black tights, paired with a white t-shirt, scuffed trainers, and a black zip up jacket. All of it screamed mundane-born.

Before she could answer, Madam Malkin said "You're done dear." and Victoria, relieved at having an excuse to stop talking to the boy, hopped down from the footstool.

"Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose." the boy said.

"I'll see you there too." she said, in an effort to be polite. She then followed Madam Malkin to the cashier, where she paid for her three sets of robes, in addition to getting the required winter cloak and her pointed black hat, all of which she placed in her trunk. Madam Malkin was kind enough to point her out to where she could get dragon hide gloves.

Professor McGonagall and Hagrid were waiting for her outside. Hagrid handed her an ice cream. "It's chocolate and salted caramel." he said. "I thought you would like a treat for your birthday."

The ravenette smiled. "Thank you."

They sat outside so she could finish her treat (with Professor McGonagall getting some Beef Wellington for herself from a nearby lunch shop), and she asked Professor McGonagall about the school houses that the boy in the robes shop had mentioned. She also learned the Professor McGonagall taught Transfiguration at Hogwarts, and she was eager to start her lessons in that field of magic.

Once finished, the shopping resumed.

In Flourish and Blotts, Victoria purchased her required text books, in addition to the books Professor McGonagall recommended for her: The Modern History of the Wixen and Magical World by Justina Smith, Hogwarts: A History by Bathilda Bagshot, A Guide to the Culture and Society of the Wixen by David Jones, and Recent History of Magical Great Britain and Magical Ireland by Fion Keenan. She also got a few other books as well: All You Need to Know About Household Spells by Brigid Quinn, Curses and Counter Curses by Vindictus Viridian, and How to Protect Yourself: Protection Spells by Salus Angela.

After the trip to the book shop, she bought a pewter cauldron, dragon-hide gloves, a collapsable telescope, and a set of scales. She had decided to go with binders, notebooks, and pens and pencils for her writing materials, but she did buy a pretty, enchanted messenger bag made from sturdy black material with an iris flower on one end of the strap. She also got a watch, to keep track of time.

Then Hagrid surprised her by taking her to the owl shop, Eeylops Owl Emporium, to purchase an owl as a birthday gift.

The moment she stepped foot in the shop, she instinctively glanced up at the rafters. There, a gorgeous snowy owl was looking down at her with striking intelligence in their yellow eyes.

And she just knew this was her owl.

The owl agreed, and promptly flew down to settle on her shoulder, preening at her hair.

"Oh Merlin!" the shop-keeper exclaimed. "Miss, are you alright?"

"I think I found my owl." Victoria said, softly petting the owl, who hooted in agreement.

Having found her owl (or, the owl found her, and the shop keeper told her that the owl was a girl), the emerald eyed witch purchased a comfortably sized cage and owl treats. Her owl was easily convinced to enter the cage, and tucked her head under her wig to nap.

"Thank you." she told Hagrid.

"It was nothing." Hagrid said.

"Now," Professor McGonagall said, joining them as she and Hagrid emerged from the shop. "It's time for your wand."

She grinned. A magic wand— that was what had excited her the most out of her entire shopping list.

The wand shop, Ollivanders, was a narrow and shabby looking shop with a single wand laying on a dusty purple pillow in the front window. A tinkering bell rang as the group of three entered the shop. The inside of the shop was crowded with narrow boxes that tingled with magic. Wands. she guessed.

"Good afternoon." said a soft voice, and Victoria startled. Before them was an older man, with wide pale eyes and a thick shock of white hair.

"Ollivander." Professor McGonagall greeted. Hagrid gruffly added his own greeting.

"Hello." Victoria also greeted.

The man, Ollivander, greeted his fellow adults before turning to her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Victoria Potter." the man said. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems like just yesterday she was here, to purchase her wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made from willow with the core of a unicorn hair. It was good for charm work."

He stepped closer, and she reflexively stepped a bit behind Hagrid. Ollivander sensed her uncomfortableness and held up his hands in lieu of an apology, stepping back. "But your father... you look like a female version of him, dark hair and all. His wand was mahogany with a dragon heartstring core, eleven inches. A little more power and excellent for Transfiguration. Which I dare say was his favorite subject, and he was a prodigy in it."

His great pale eyes found her lightning bolt scar, despite the strands of her dark hair that hid it. "I'm sorry to say I sold that wand that did that." Ollivander revealed. "Thirteen and a half inches long, made from yew with the core of a phoenix feather. The Dark Lord did many great and terrible things with that wand."

He shook his head then, and turned to Professor McGonagall and Hagrid. "Ah, and I suppose you still have your wand, Professor McGongall? Fir, 9 and a half inches long, dragon heartstring core."

"I do." the elder witch confirmed.

"And yours, Hagrid? Oak, sixteen inches long, and the core of a single unicorn hair. Good wand, that one. Shame it was snapped in half when you were expelled."

"Shame." Hagrid said, and squeezed his pink umbrella tightly.

Professor McGonagall cut in. "Miss Potter's wand, Ollivander."

"Ah yes." Ollivander nodded. "This way, Miss Potter. The wand chooses the wixen, so let's find which wand chooses you."

He waved his hand and summoned a horde of thin, narrow wand boxes. "Which wand is your wand hand?"

Victoria blinked. "I'm ambidextrous, but I favor my left."

"That will do." Ollivander said, and gave her a wand. "Try this one. Beech and dragon headstrong. Nice and flexible. Just give it a wave."

Feeling a bit foolish, she did so. And immediately caused one of the lamps to explode.

Ollivander snatched the wand and gave her a new one. "Here, try this. Maple and phoenix feather. Quite whippy. Try—"

She did, and a torrent of blue flames burst from the tip.

"Oh, a fire affinity do we?" Ollivander said even as he took the wand. "And a tricky customer, eh? Here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, and give it a try."

This attempt resulted in the window of the door bursting into a million pieces.

Alder and unicorn hair resulted in a loud bang, while hazel and phoenix feather ended up with the stool exploding into dust, and hawthorn and dragon heartstring ended up with a shelf toppling over. As she tried more wands, ceasing to count after the twentieth fifth attempt, Ollivander seemed more happy as he pulled out more wands, the used ones lying in a separate pile that steadily grew bigger.

"A tricky customer, eh?" Ollivander said happily. "Here, why not an unusual but powerful combination? Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

The moment Victoria took the wand, her hand felt simultaneously cold yet warm. She waved the wand in a circle, causing all of the lamps to glow brightly. She smiled, knowing that this was her wand.

Hagrid cheered while Professor McGonagall clapped politely. Ollivander looked fascinated. "Bravo, bravo... but curious, how curious..." he trailed off, looking uncertain.

"What's wrong?" she asked hesitantly.

Ollivander looked at her. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Miss Potter. Every single wand. And the wand of You-Know-Who had the core of a phoenix feather. The twin to the phoenix feather inside yours."

A sudden feeling of foreboding griped Victoria. "That doesn't mean this wand is evil, though."

"No it doesn't." Ollivander agreed. "Wise words, Miss Potter. It's the wixen that makes the wand, who shapes its legacy."

Victoria paid seven galleons for the wand, with another six for a durable dragon hide wand holster. Ollivander bowed she exited the shop, with her watch indicating it was now evening.

Professor McGonagall gave the Potter Heiress her ticket, explained how to get through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, and Apparated her back too Little Whinging, walking her back to 4 Privet Drive.

The last thing that crossed Victoria's mind before she fell asleep that night was I can't wait to go Hogwarts.

Chapter Text

The month of August was surprisingly enjoyable.

Victoria had used her mundane money to go to the nearest shopping mall and purchase several notebooks, pens and pencils, and several books she was fond of in preparation for Hogwarts.

The Dursley situation wasn't pleasant, but neither was it bad. After the first week of her relatives pretending she didn't exist, Mrs.Figg let her unofficially move into her house on Wisteria Walk with all of her belongings, though Victoria was still upset with the knowledge that she had to go back to the Dursleys when the school year ended.

"But I talked to Dumbledore. So did Professor McGonagall." Mrs.Figg had informed her. "Dumbledore's not happy with how you've been treated. But to keep up the blood wards, the wards that keep you safe from magical threat, you need to stay there for just a month. Then you came stay with me."

"I can deal with that." the ravenette had replied.

Once safe on 12 Wisteria Walk, Victoria first read through the Recent History of Magical Great Britain and Magical Ireland, and what she learned horrified her.

Professor McGonagall had given her an overview of the war, but the history book painted a much grimmer, darker, desperate tale: eleven years of war, with hundreds of deaths every year, thousands if a particularly bloody atrocity happened, vicious battles, and given that both sides had magic, it was a stalemate on both sides. Many families, such as the McKinnons, were all wiped out, while other families like the Bones family and the Potter family, were reduced to one or two members.

Until October 31st, 1981. When Voldemort had come to the Potter Cottage, as her family had been sold out by a close family friend, murdered her father, then her mother, and then turned his wand to her.

And failed to kill her.

Voldemort was now dead, the book informed her, and the war had ended. Victoria read further on the aftermath of the war, and what happened to the Death Eaters, and didn't believe that so many 'former' Death Eaters had been forced to due what they had done by the Imperius Curse (a curse that made the victim do the casters bidding). The author didn't seem to believe it either, but did its effort to present neutral stance on the subject.

After learning about that, she read up on A Guide to the Culture and Society of the Wixen, A History of Magic, and The Modern History of the Wixen and Magical World, learning what she could. While reading A History of Magic, the emerald-eyed witch found out about Hedwig the Wise, a Polish witch who had lived in the 15th century, and decided to name her snowy owl after her.

Hedwig approved of the name, and was a very good owl. She enjoyed preening at Victoria's hair, and showed affection by gently nibbling at her ears or fingers.

Then Victoria turned to her school books.

First, she read Hogwarts: A History, learning about the four Houses of Hogwarts (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin), and while the book mentioned a 'Sorting Ceremony', there was no information on what exactly happened. She read more about the defenses of the Hogwarts castle (Anti-Apparition Wards, several powerful protection spells bound into every stone of the castle, moving staircases, enchanted figures of armor, and more), the history of the school, and the electives offered.

Arthimancy and Ancient Runes looked particularly fascinating, in her opinion.

As she read through her school books, the more she grew utterly enchanted with going to Hogwarts. All the classes looked intriguing, but what interested her the most was Potions. And as her books listed several spells, she couldn't help but test out a few.

Mainly Charms, given that the Transfiguration ones looked like they required proper supervision. She also didn't try to practice Potions, opting to wait until she got to Hogwarts.

But the handful of Charms Victoria did learn were exciting: The Locking Charm, the Unlocking Charm and it's counter-charm the Anti-Alohomora, the Mending Charm, the Levitation Charm, the Wand-Lighting Charm and its counter-charm the Wand-Extinguishing Charm.

Victoria, sadly, had no time to test out any curses, counter curses, protection spells, or household spells after learning her school spells, but she took comfort in the idea that she could practice over the Christmas holidays, or next summer.

She also sent out a letter to Radlok, asking about her family history. He sent her a small book, and she read through it diligently. It was how she learned that she got her middle name from her paternal grandmother, Euphemia Sita Potter nee Patel, a witch who came from Bengaluru, and her grandfather Fleamont Potter, was half Indian from his mother, Swati Potter nee Kumar, who came from Madurai. Several other times, the Potters had married wixen from India, she learned, due to their potions business, Potter Potions, which had been sold by her grandfather Fleamont Arnav Potter, in the mid 1950s for a vast profit.

When the final day of August came, she and Mrs.Figg went to a fancy Indian restaurant in London for dinner, and Victoria knew that the only person she would miss in Little Whignig would be Mrs.Figg.

Victoria woke up on September 1st, packed her trunk and enchanted messenger bag, and got dressed in mundane clothing. Given that the trip to Hogwarts would take the entire afternoon according to Hogwarts: A History she figured that she would change on the train. She went downstairs to find that Mrs.Figg was already up, and had cooked up a delicious breakfast.

"Thank you." she said, beaming at Mrs.Figg.

Mrs.Figg smiled at her softly. "Anything for you, dear."

The two had a lovely breakfast before Victoria went upstairs to double check she had everything packed, then coaxed Hedwig into her cage. She used the Levitation Charm to get her trunk down the stairs, but stopped it before she headed outside. From there, it was easy to get her trunk into the trunk of Mrs.Figg's car, place Hedwig in the backseat next to Victoria's eat, and then Mrs.Figg drove out of the small-town to King's Cross.

Mrs.Figg got to King's Cross forty five minutes before the train was set to depart. They got a trolley and found the entrance to Platform Nine and 3/4, but from there, she had to leave Mrs.Figg behind. Only people with magical ability could get onto Platform 9 and 3/4, and Mrs.Figg, being a Squib, could not get onto the platform.

Victoria hugged Mrs.Figg tightly. "Thank you for everything. I can't express how much you mean to me."

Mrs.Figg hugged her back. "You mean very much to me, Victoria. So go to that school, and you be happy. That's all I ask."

The Potter witch nodded. "I'll write to you."

Mrs.Figg smiled. "I would like that."

With a final hug, Victoria took her trolley and casually leaned against the wall. Once the crowd was distracted by a new train, she leaned against it harder and fell- fell through the wall, and onto a new platform.

A large, old fashion steam trained painted red and gold stood proudly, gleaming in the sun. Already, many families were present, children boarding the train.

She felt a twinge of jealousy at the parents who were there to see off her children— her parent's would never be able to do so. But she forced that emotion aside by focusing on how to get her very heavy trunk and Hedwig's cage onto the train.

She made use of her practice of the Levitation Charm to get both to levitate off of the trolley and onto the train. She found an empty compartment at the end of the train, settled Hedwig into the luggage rack and stowed her trunk next to it, and settled down next to the window, pulling out her new copy of The Return of the King to read for the hundredth or so time.

It was quiet for several long minutes, until, fifteen minutes before the train was due to leave, there was a knock on the door. She looked up from her book to see a tall red-haired boy with friendly blue eyes and a freckled face around her age standing there.

"Hi." the boy said. "Is it okay if I sit here? I checked all the other compartments and they're full."

Victoria nodded. "Sure."

The boy smiled. "Thanks." he told her, looking grateful. He easily got his trunk into the luggage rack and sat down across from here.

"I'm Ron Weasley, by the way." the boy, Ron, said with a cheerful grin. "What's your name?"

She hesitated. "Victoria Potter."

Ron's eyes widened. "I'm sorry for your parents." he said, catching her off guard. Ron fiddled with his hands. "I can't imagine losing my parents. I'm really sorry for yours."

"Thank you." she said, nodding. It was the first time anyone outside of Mrs.Figg gave her sympathy for her parents.

Ron's eyes found her book. "What are you reading?"

"The Return of the King." she said. "It's a mundane book, the last of the fantastic The Lord of the Ring trilogy, and really good."

"Really?"

"Yeah." she said, smiling. "Here, I have a similar book written by the same author. It's kinda like the prequel."

Victoria dug her copy of The Hobbit out of her messenger bag, and handed it to Ron, who thanked her. Within seconds, she could tell that Ron was engrossed by The Hobbit.

A few minutes later, there was another knock and Victoria looked up again to see a Black girl with rich dark brown skin, intelligent light brown eyes, and a mane of dark coffee brown hair standing in the doorway. "Hello. Do either of you mind if I sit here?" the girl asked.

She looked a Ron, who nodded. "The more the merrier." Ron said, getting the girl to smile. She and Ron helped the new girl get her trunk into the luggage compartment, and the girl sat down a few paces away from Ron.

"Thank you." the girl said. "I'm Hermione Granger. Who are you?"

"Ron Weasley."

"Victoria Potter."

Hermione's eyes widened at Victoria. "Oh, I've read about you."

She winced at the mention of how her fame was rooted in her parents death. "I know." she muttered. Hermione seemed to realize this was a mistake. "I'm sorry." she said frantically.

"It's fine." Victoria said hastily. "Um, what books do you like to read? I've introduced Ron here to The Hobbit."

That got Hermione to grin. "Good choice, I love Tolkien's work as well. I also enjoy Jane Austen's work, Les Misérables, The Chronicles of Narnia,, and more."

"I love those books too." Victoria said, smiling.

"Do you think I would like those?" Ron asked tentatively.

"Yes." Victoria and Hermione chorused at once.

After several more minutes of small talk, Victoria couldn't help but think that this was the start to a great friendship.

The train eventually pulled out of the station, with Ron waving goodbye to his mother and younger sister. That prompted a small round of talk about their background.

Hermione was from London, mundane-born, and both of her parents were dentists. The Granger family was in the upper middle class, and she had more relatives in the medical field. Prior to learning she was a witch, Hermione had wanted to go to law school.

Ron talked about his family as well. His father, Arthur Weasley, worked as the Head of the Misuse of Mundane Artifacts Office, while his mother, Molly, stayed at home. He had five older brothers: Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, and George, and a sister, Ginny, who was a year younger than him. Bill and Charlie had already graduated Hogwarts, Bill worked as Gringotts Curse-Breaker and Charlie work with dragons on a Romanian reserve. Percy, a fifth year, as a prefect, while Fred and George were third years and notorious pranksters. The entire family so far had been in Gryffindor.

Victoria talked a little about her life in Little Whignig, but subtly steered the conversation to what houses the group thought they would be in. None of them where confident on where they would go, but came to an agreement to stay friends no matter what.

As the train kept moving, they encountered a few people: Percy, who had come in to check on Ron, and a boy named Neville who had lost his toad. Hermione directed him to Percy, who had left them only minutes prior to keep up his patrol. At one, a witch with a cart full of food and sweets came around, and Victoria purchased some sandwiches and a little bit of all the sweets, splitting them with her new friends.

But then three new people opened their compartment door without bothering to knock, and Victoria's instincts went on alert.

It was the blond boy from Diagon Alley, accompanied by two other thickset boys who gave off the impression of bodyguards, and he was looking at Victoria with more interest than he had in Diagon Alley. "Is it true then? They're saying all down the train that Victoria Potter is in this compartment."

"Yes." Victoria said, showing her Heiress ring. "I am Heiress Victoria Potter, Heiress of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Potter."

The boy looked briefly surprised, as if he didn't expect her to know the basic etiquette she learned from A Guide to the Culture and Society of the Wixen. "This is Crabbe and Goyle," the boy said. "And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

She remembered that name— the Malfoy's were a Most Ancient House, technically below her family in social rankings, and the current Lord, Lucius Malfoy, had claimed to he have been Imperiused to be a Death Eater.

And by not giving her a proper introduction, he was subtly showing he believed his family was superiors to hers.

"Anyways, you don't need to be with a blood traiter Weasley and the muggle-born here." Malfoy continued, sneering at her two friends. "You can do better than that, Potter. Some family's are better than others, and mundane-borns aren't worth the time." he looked at her expectantly, as if she was to agree. She just looked at him coldly. "I can help you find the better ones, and not the wrong sort."

"I," the Potter Heiress said frostily. "Don't really like it when people are impolite to my friends. And I can tell the wrong sort for myself."

Ron and Hermione looked touched.

Malfoy went pink at his cheeks. "I'd be more careful if I were you, Potter." he said, looking down his nose at her. It didn't do much to intimidate her. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents—"

"And if you go the way of your father, you'll find yourself Imperiused to a mass-murdering terrorist." Victoria shot back coldly, her anger rising.

"You dare insult my family?" Malfoy asked angrily.

"You insulted hers first." Hermione snapped.

"Shut your mouth—"

"Is there a problem here?" a loud voice asked, and all six eleven year olds looked up to see Percy Weasley, his prefect badge pinned to his chest.

"Heir Malfoy," Ron said, spitting out the two words. "Insulted Victoria's parents. Said she would wind up dead like them if she was friends with a blood-traitor and a mundane-born."

Percy looked utterly livid. "Truly?" he asked her.

"Yes." Victoria confirmed.

"You three, with me." Percy snapped, and lead the three boys away. The compartment door slid shut behind them.

There was a solid beat of silence.

"Thank you." Ron said. "For standing up for us."

Victoria looked at Ron and Hermione. "You're my friends." she said. "Of course I'll stand up for you."

Chapter Text

As the train continued northward, Victoria, Ron, and Hermione all got into their school uniforms and robes. She and Hermione stepped out of the compartment to let Ron change with the blinds pulled down, then he did the same for them.

Twenty minutes later, a voice echoed throughout the train: "We will be reaching Hogsmeade station in five minutes time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately.

Just as the voice said, the train came to a gentle halt five minutes later. Victoria exchanged nervous but excited looks with Ron and Hermione, said goodbye to Hedwig, and exited the compartment with her friends.

Train doors were open, and she got out through the nearest one and stepped onto a small platform, shivering lightly in the cold night air. Ron and Hermione found her easily, and Victoria blinked when a lamp cam into view, but grinned at the familiar voice that followed.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Hagrid's voice boomed, coming into view. The trio hurried over. Hagrid grinned when he spotted her. "All right there, Victoria?"

She couldn't help but grin back. "I made some friends." she gestured to Ron and Hermione. "This is Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."

Hagrid beamed. "Pleasure ter meet yeh!"

All the first years crowded around Hagrid, and he lead them down a steep, narrow path lined on both sides with thick trees. Nobody spoke, a nervous feeling filling the air.

"Ye'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called out from the front. "Jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud "Ooooh!"

The path had lead them straight to the a large beach of a large lake. And sitting on top of a cliff was a splendid castle straight out of a fairy tale, with several levels and many turrets and towers. Even on the other side of the lake, she could feel the immemorial, welcoming magic that filled the lake, consumed the castle.

Victoria couldn't help but love it immediately.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid announced, pointing them to a small fleet of little boats waiting for them. Victoria, Ron, and Hermione clambered into a boat together, joined by Neville. As soon as everyone was ready, the boats suddenly moved forward, propelled the ravenette knew magic, gliding across the smooth as glass lake.

"It's so beautiful." Ron breathed. "Grandad Septimus stories don't do it justice."

Eventually, the little boats took them through an opening in the cliff face that was hidden by a curtain of ivy, through a dark tunnel that Victoria suspected was underneath the castle, until they reached an underground harbor lined with docks that the little boats smoothly lined up against.

Hermione got out first, followed by Ron and Victoria. She helped Neville get out of the boat, making sure he didn't fall back into the boat as he clambered out.

"Thanks." Neville told her as they hurried to join the other first years on a flight of stone steps.

"No problem." Victoria assured him.

Soon, Hagrid stopped in front of a giant oak door. He counted to make sure that everyone was there, before knocking on the door three times.

The door swung open, revealing Professor McGonagall on the other side.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid said gruffly.

"Thank you, Hagrid." Professor McGonagall said. "I'll take them from here."

Hagrid nodded and lumbered off, and Professor McGonagall took the first years through the entrance hall and to a chamber off the hall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." Professor McGonagall said. "The start-of-term feast will begins shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleeping your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room."

She paused before continuing. "The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding wixen. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is aware the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours." there was another pause. "The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourself up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."

Professor McGonagall then left the chamber.

The ghosts came to visit, and soon Professor McGonagall returned, had them form a line, and lead them into the Great Hall. Victoria glanced up at the ceiling, which she knew was charmed to look like the sky outside, and made a mental note to learn the spell that did it.

After the Sorting Hat did its song, the Sorting Ceremony began, with Professor McGonagall calling up the students by alphabetical order to put on the hat and be sorted.

Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones both went to Hufflepuff, while Terry Boot and Mandy Brocklehurst went to Ravenclaw. Lavender Brown became the first Gryffindor, and Millicent Bulstrode was sorted into Slytherin. Stephen Cornfoot was sent to Hufflepuff, Vincent Crabbe became a Slytherin, and Michael Corner into Ravenclaw, Tracey Davis was sorted into Slytherin, and Kevin Entwhistle became a Ravenclaw.

Victoria became more nervous as soon, after Justin Finch-Fletchly was sent to Hufflepuff and Seamus Finnigan was put into Gryffindor, it was Hermione's turn. She gave her friend a quick, comforting squeeze, as did Ron, before Hermione was summoned to the front.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat declared after a minute.

Neville Longbottom was up, and was sent to Gryffindor after two minutes. The girl after him, Morag MacDougal, was sorted into Ravenclaw, Ernest Macmillan was placed into Hufflepuff, while Malfoy became a Slytherin the second the Sorting hat touched his head.

Victoria knew that after Sally-Anne Perks was sent to Ravenclaw, that it was her turn.

She was correct.

"Potter, Victoria!" Professor McGonagall called.

Near instantly, whispers flew and she felt the stares of hundreds of people focus on her. Ron gave her a comforting nudge, and she steeled her nerves and strode forward to the Sorting Hat, taking a seat on the stool and putting the hat on.

"Hmm," a voice, the Sorting Hat she realized, said. "Difficult, very difficult. You have plenty of courage, a very intelligent mind, more than enough cleverness and cunning, sharp instincts, and the ability to work hard and go the long, tough route. Ah, you could do well in all the houses. And Slytherin... you would very well there. Though I don't think it would be safe for you. But hmmm, where shall it put you, where will you be able to flourish? Slytherin is a strong chance but... oh Ravenclaw would love your mind..."

I want to be with my friends. she thought, squeezing the edge of the stool. I want to be with people who will care about me.

"That's some strong Hufflepuff loyalty, but hmm... lions are a pride. Let's go with— GRYFFINDOR!"

Victoria made a weak laugh when she heard the Sorting Hat yell it to the entire hall. She took off the hat, handing it back to a beaming Professor McGonagall as she made her way to the Gryffindor table, all of whom were yelling in glee. She shot Ron a smile before sitting next to a beaming Hermione.

"Now we just need Ron!" Hermione squealed.

Ron did come to Gryffindor, and after some words from Professor Dumbledore, a wizard who reminded her of Gandalf with several feet of silver hair and bear, half moon spectacles perched on his nose, the feast began. Dinner had appeared right onto the plates.

Victoria helped herself to some pork chops, salad, and roast potatoes as she listened into the chatter around her. There was a buzz of the first years on which classes they were most interested in, and Victoria put in hers— Potions and Transfiguration.

Percy Weasley looked a bit uneasy when she said Potions. "Well, Professor Snape," he gestured to a black haired, black eyed professor with a hooked nose "Is very strict with Potions. He only takes the best."

"I can do that." she said determinedly.

"As for Transfiguration," Percy said. "You'll all be starting small. Just matches into needles and that sort."

"Cool." Dean Thomas exclaimed.

She was introduced to Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, also known as Nearly Headless Nick as a result of his boxed beheading, the Gryffindor House ghost. When dinner finished, desert began and talk of the first years drifted to their families, leading her to learn some more about her Gryffindor year-mates.

Seamus Finnigan was a half-blood, with a witch mother and mundane father. Dean Thomas, a tall Black boy, was a mundane-born like Hermione, while Lavender Brown was a pureblood and the Heiress of the Most Noble House of Brown. Neville Longbottom was also a pureblood, and she knew he was the heir to the Most Noble and Ancient House of Longbottom. And Parvati Patil was a Desi pureblood witch, who's identical twin sister was in Ravenclaw and their family came from Bengaluru.

"Your grandparents were friends with mine." Parvati told her.

"Really?" Victoria asked. "I didn't know that."

Parvati frowned. "I can ask my grandparents for some stories if you want."

"I would like that." Victoria said with a shy smile.

The feast wrapped up with a small speech from Dumbledore, who mentioned a forbidden corridor on the third floor. Once that was done, the Perfects escorted the first years to their common rooms.

After an encounter with Peeves the Poltergeist, the prefects Percy Weasley and Brooke Jamison brought them before a portrait of plump lady in a pink dress on a large landing.

The lady in the portrait peered down at the first years. "Ah, first years. I am the Fat Lady, guardian of the Gryffindor Common room. Now," she said, looking at the prefects. "Password?"

"Caput Draconis." Percy said confidently.

The Fat Lady nodded and her portrait swung open, revealing a round hole in the wall. All the first years got through the hole and found themselves in the Gryffindor Common room. It was round, cozy room decorated in red, black, and gold with a merrily crackling fire, several tables, and multiple stuffed chairs.

Brooke lead the girls into the girls dormitory. Given that it was just Lavender, Victoria, Parvati, and Hermione, the fifth-year girl escorted them all the way to their room, telling them about the girls dorms as she did.

The girls dorm held four beds that were four poster with red sheets and matching curtains. Their trunks and luggage had been arranged.

Victoria said good night to the other girls, and fell asleep in her bed utterly content. But she had the oddest dream, and when she woke up, she couldn't remember it.

Chapter Text

As Victoria left the Gryffindor common room the next morning to head down to the Great Hall for breakfast with Hermione and Ron, she really would've appreciated it if everyone stopped staring at her and whispering about her. Which she did her best to ignore as the trio discussed how amazing The Hobbit was as they retraced their steps from the night before.

It got worse when the trio entered the Great Hall. People didn't bother to hide the stares at this point and she resolutely kept her attention on Hermione and Ron.

"They'll get over it." Ron said from her right as he tried to comfort her. "Once the Quidditch season starts up everyone will be focusing on that."

"I hope you're right." Victoria said, not even needing to look up to feel the stares burning into the back of her neck and head.

Hermione, sitting across from her and Ron, threw an annoyed look at a blatantly whispering Hufflepuff third year, causing him to look away.

"Thank you." the ravenette murmured.

"Anytime." Hermione promised.

Mercifully, most of the Gryffindors did not stare or whisper, and her fellow first years were far more excited about starting up their classes. Right on cue, Professor McGonagall came strolling down the Gryffindor table, handing out slips of paper that Victoria deduced were timetables.

She was right— Professor McGonagall paused at the section of the table were the first-years had all sat down, looking faintly amused as she easily distributed the first-year timetables. Hermione, Victoria, and Ron all huddled together as they took in their new schedule.

Monday: 9:OO AM to 11:30 AM - Double Charms (with Slytherin), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 3:30 PM - Double Herbology (with Hufflepuff)

Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM - History of Magic, 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - Potions (with Slytherins), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 - Defense Against the Dark Arts (with Ravenclaw), 2:20 to 3:30 - Common Subjects (with all first years)

Wednesday: 9:OO AM to 11:30 AM - Double Transfiguration (with Ravenclaw), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - Charms (with Slytherin), 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM - Herbology (with Hufflepuff), 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM - Astronomy (at Night, with other first-years)

Thursday: free period, 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - Defense Against the Dark Arts (with Ravenclaw), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM Common Subjects (with other first years), 2:20 AM to 3:30 Herbology (with Hufflepuff)

Friday: 9:OO AM to 10:15 Transfiguration (with Ravenclaw), 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - Common Subjects (with all first years), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 3:30 PM - Double Potions (with Slytherin)

"This looks exciting." Victoria murmured with a smile.

While living with the Dursleys, the moment she stepped foot into the local public school, was the moment she promised herself to not hold herself back for Dudley. This had enraged the Dursleys when she came back home with a better report card than Dudley, outraged that she dared to do better than their precious son, but she refused to stop.

And she silently promised herself to do the same here.

Victoria wouldn't hold herself back.

Charms was located in room 2E on the second floor. Victoria, Ron, and Hermione got help from Sir Nick to find the classroom and arrived five minutes early, selecting three seats in the middle row together with Ron in the middle. By the time a bell-like sound rang through the castle, the entire class had assembled.

The teacher stood up-yes, stood, on a pile of books Victoria realized, on his chair. He was very tiny, under five feet, with a shock of white hair. He introduced himself as Professor Flitwick, mentioned being half goblin on his mother's side, began roll call, and when he got to Victoria's name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight. She withheld a groan but did glare at the snickering Slytherins.

After Professor Flitwick got back on the stack of books, he finished roll call. "Now, as you are first years, let us begin with the theory of charms for the first portion of this class. Please bring out your notebooks."

Victoria pulled out one of the notebooks she had purchased over the summer, this one navy with a white and gold floral pattern. She also pulled out a pencil, and realized that she wasn't the only mundane-born or raised student to have done so— Hermione also had a notebook and pen, as did Parvati, Dean, and Seamus. Only Lavender Brown and Ron had parchment and quills out of the Gryffindors, while all the Slytherins had parchment and quills.

"Sir, aren't we supposed to have only parchment and quills?" Malfoy said loudly, throwing a nasty look in her direction.

"Oh no!" Professor Flitwick waved a hand. "The shopping list gives permission to use reasonable alternative methods for note taking and writing. Now, to begin with the beginning of the theory of charms..."

The lecture was very detailed and comprehensive, and the Potter witch dutifully wrote down notes. After ninety minutes with small breaks, Professor Flitwick had them put away their note-taking supplies and pull out their wands.

"Now, we will begin the year with the the Wand-Lighting Charm." Professor Flitwick announced. Victoria perked up- the Wand-Lighting Charm was one of the charms she had practiced and been able to get the hang of over the summer. Professor Flitwick drew his wand. "Now, bring out your copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade One and pay attention! The incantation is Lumos and the wand movement is like this-" he waved his wand in a direct motion. And then did it again with a proper demonstration, getting light to appear at the end of his wand.

There was an applause, and Professor Flitwick put out the lights with a flick of his wand. He then demonstrated the Wand-Extinguishing Charm, and set them to work on practicing the spell.

Seamus Finnigan cast the spell and there was a small explosion. Professor Flitwick cast several spells to find that Dean had yanked Seamus and Neville behind the desk in the nick of time, getting five points to Gryffindor, but Seamus was still sent to the infirmary to be checked for injuries.

After everyone calmed down and order was restored, Victoria waved her wand and cast the charm. "Lumos"

A bright light appeared at the end of her wand, which made her grin. Professor Flitwick gave a laugh of delight which doubled when Hermione pulled off a perfect Lumos charm as well. Both girls got two points to Gryffindor.

Ron was struggling. The incantation was perfect as was the wand movement, but no light appeared.

Victoria leaned closer. "Imagine the light appearing at the end of your wand." she suggested in a whisper.

Her friend nodded, and did the spell again. A very faint light appeared, but Ron beamed in pride. Professor Flitwick gave a nod and encouraged Ron to keep practicing.

His second attempt was slightly brighter, and on his twentieth attempt, he got a perfect Lumos. That got him two points to Gryffindor.

By the end of class, only the trio, Daphne Greengrass, and Dean Thomas were able to cast the spell, all of them earning two points each. Professor Flitwick gave out homework in the form of practicing the Lumos charm for Wednesday.

Lunch was a pleasant affair, and then came Herbology with Hufflepuff. Like Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, a sturdy looking witch with grey hair, took roll call like Professor Flitwick, pausing at Victoria's name to nod at her, before continuing on.

Herbology turned out to be hardworking but fairly interesting as they learned about Puffapods and Asphodel, and Victoria observed that Neville Longbottom was best out of all of them, with Hannah Abbott being second best and Lavender Brown, third best.

When class ended, she assigned them two pages to write on the two plants they had just learned. Victoria, Ron, and Hermione hurried back to the Gryffindor Tower to shower (as did the others), but that didn't kill the good mood that had infected the Gryffindor first-years.

Victoria just hoped the rest of her week were as excellent as the first day.

Chapter Text

The rest of the week passed, and Victoria was both correct and incorrect about her hope on the rest of the week being as as excellent as it had been on her first day.

On Tuesdays, the first class of the day was History of Magic. It was taught by a ghost, Professor Binns. Legend had it that he had fallen asleep in the teacher's lounge, and when he had gotten up the next morning, he had left his body behind. This was not the problem Victoria had with the class: it was that Binds was so boring that within three minutes, the only two people who were paying attention were Victoria and Hermione.

And Victoria stopped paying attention within ten minutes when she realized that Binns wasn't going to cover anything but goblin rebellions.

While she could easily understand why knowing the history between goblins and wixen was important to avoid any future rebellions, she also knew that she would be spending the rest of her time at Hogwarts self-studying actual magical history.

The ravenette was disappointed in total with History of Magic— she always enjoyed learning history back in primary school, and Binns had sunk her expectations for the class in less than ten minutes.

After History of Magic was Potions, and all of her high hopes for this class was destroyed near instantly by Professor Snape, who outright despised Victoria as if her mere existence had personally offended him.

Potions took place in one of the dungeons, thus making it a very chilly place to learn. And one the first day, Snape, who took roll call, paused at Victoria's name to look at her with a sneer. "Ah yes, Victoria Potter," he spat her last name bitterly in a way that made her want to go for her wand. "our new celebrity."

She remained tense as he continued through the rest of the list, then launched into a speech.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and ver stopper death— if you aren't as big as a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

That would've been an excellent speech if he hadn't just insulted us. Victoria snarked silently. At Hermione's anxious look she squeezed her friend's hand under the desk, as did Ron. Hermione gave them both a relieved smile.

"Potter!" Snape barked, causing her to jump slightly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

She frowned, mentally running through what she had memorized of her copy of the textbook Magical Drafts and Potions that she had read several times over the course of the summer. "I don't know sir."

"Tut, tut." Snape sneered. "Fame clearly isn't everything."

He ignored Malfoy's obvious sniggering.

"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" he asked her.

It felt like an interrogation, to be honest.

But it was also a question she knew the answer to. "You would find a bezoar in the stomach of a got, sir." she responded.

Snape looked like he wanted to scowl. "Ah, so you did study, Potter. And what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"None, sir." she said carefully. "Monkshood and wolfsbane are the same plant, aconite."

That she had discovered in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, and was relieved to have been able to remember that little detail.

"I see you're actually trying, Potter." Snape said with a sneer. "You're correct on both accounts. One point to Gryffindor. And why aren't the rest of you writing that down?' he barked at the rest of the class.

"Because you didn't tell us too." Ron hissed under his breath, voicing what Victoria had been thinking. But the class dutifully pulled out their writing materials to note down what Snape had said, before splitting up into pairs.

Victoria saw how nervous Neville Longbottom looked to be, so she decided to partner up with him. He gave her a relieved smile as they began working on a simple potion, the Cure for Boils, with the instructions written on the board by Snape with a wave of his hand.

"Longbottom," she murmured softly. "I've noticed that you're really good at Herbology. So just focus on the plants and what they'll do when mixed together, and I'll working on the stirring and weighing."

He nodded. "O-Okay."

She gave him an encouraging smile, and that seemed to make him relax a bit. They worked together comfortably, each focused on doing their part of the potion making. It was quite like cooking in how things need to be cut or weighed in exactly one way, and in how the recipe needed to be followed. It also remained her of chemistry, seeing how each new step added on to the rest.

Halfway through, the Potter witch stopped Neville as he lifted up the porcupine quills. "Wait, we add those only after we take the cauldron off of the fire. Put those back."

Neville nodded, his eyes wide as he carefully placed the quills back down.

That was the only hiccup, and the rest of the potion making went smoothly. She and Neville finished with ten minutes to spare, and Snape came over to peer at their potion.

"Good." was all he said before sweeping away with billowing black robes. "Two points to Gryffindor."

After lunch was Defense Against the Dark Arts, which turned out to be a bit of a joke. Professor Quirrell stuttered a lot, but she attributed it to a stutter he must've been born with instead of the gossip the others believed in, and while he looked terrified about dangerous creatures, he did know a lot about protective spells.

The last class of the day was Common subjects, or Commons, as it was called. This class included all of the first-years and took place in a large, sun lit classroom on the first floor, and was taught by both Professor Sinistra (who also taught Astronomy), and Madam Hooch, who taught flying lessons and was the Quidditch referee.

"This class," Professor Sinistra said. "Will be three times a week for now, but this is not a class you can drop after your O.W.L.'s." she shot a pointed look at the Slytherins. "It is a core subject."

"Common subjects," Madam Hooch said, taking over. "Is what it says. No magic will be learned here. Practical but vital topics is what Professor Sinistra and I will teach."

"Economics, chemistry, physics, mathematics, literature, finances, biology, and," Professor Sinistra tilted her head at Madam Hooch. "Physical Fitness will all be taught here."

Madam Hooch once again spoke. "And while these seem dull, they are very important to know. Science does influence how spells may affect certain environments, and can be used to enhance certain spells. Finances are a must know for your futures as adults!"

"So do pay attention," Professor Sinistra said, wrapping up the speech. "You'll need to learn here."

Victoria shared a grin with Hermione, and a small vindictive part of her was pleased at the outraged look on Malfoy's face.

After Commons, classes ended and school was over.

Wednesday brought Double Transfiguration as the first class of the day. The Ravenclaws and Gryffindors sat in rows in Professor McGonagall's classroom as she stood at the front of the class, looking impossibly stern.

"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." Professor McGonagall announced.

She then changed her desk into a pig and back, earning her an applause.

Professor McGonagall then stared a lecture akin to Professor Flitwick's, with all the students dutifully scribbling down notes until Professor McGonagall stopped her lecture and used magic to distribute matches with a snap of her fingers. The rest of the lesson was spent attempting to turn a match into a needle.

It took Victoria three tries to do it, while Hermione got it perfectly on her first go. By the end of the lesson, both Dean and Ron were able to turn their matches entirely silver, but not into a needle, while two Ravenclaws, Padma Patil and Michael Corner, succeeded in turning their matches into needles. Victoria, Hermione, Padma, and Michael all got two points each for their respective houses, and Ron and Dean were awarded one point each.

Either way, it was still an enjoyable lesson.

Friday arrived, and Victoria was mildly shocked with Hedwig appeared at breakfast, fluttering down to land between the sugar and marmalade, a letter tied around her leg. She held it out for Victoria, looking very pleased with herself.

The Potter Heiress was slightly stunned and excited. The snowy owl would often come to visit her, get affection (and steal some toast), before flying back with the other owls to hunt and sleep.

It was in Victoria's completely unbiased opinion that Hedwig was the most beautiful owl in Hogwarts. The snowy owl stood out against the many barn, screech, great grey, and eagle owls that most students had.

But she hadn't yet gotten a letter. She was still mentally compiling a letter to write to Mrs.Figg, to tell Mrs.Figg all about her first week of classes.

"Thank you." Victoria said, taking the letter and opening it up. The letter was from Hagrid, who was offering her a chance for tea after classes were done.

Her last class was double Potions, which made visiting the friendly gamekeeper twice as appealing. She would've accepted visiting Hagrid anyways.

Victoria scribbled back Yes, I would like that very much. See you later. with one of her pens and looked up to see that Hedwig had helped herself to some abandoned French toast.

"Really?" she asked Hedwig dryly.

Hedwig just hooted, taking the response and flying away.

After successfully making a vial of the Pompion Potion, Victoria crossed the castle grounds to reach Hagrid's hut with Ron and Hermione, both of whom had tagged along.

Hagrid welcomed them with open arms as he introduced them to his fierce looking but harmless boar hound, Fang. The hut was small and one roomed but very cozy and obviously well loved.

As he served the trio some well cooked and delicious pheasant, they told him about their first week at Hogwarts. Fang had picked out Hermione as his favorite and rested his head on her lap.

But the article about the Gringott's break in she found made her uneasy about what package Hagrid had picked up from Vault 713, and it left a bad feeling in her gut that last the entire weekend.

Chapter Text

Flying lessons began on the second Thursday of the school year, and Victoria held in a groan when she learned that the the Gryffindors would be sharing the class with the Slytherins from the poster on the notice born in the Gryffindor common room.

She had been looking forward to learning how to fly, and she dreaded the idea of Malfoy making the class horrible for her. He already went out of his way to annoy or her just be a prat whenever she got within twenty feet of him.

"Madam Hooch won't let him do anything." Hermione offered.

"Yeah, she won't take any of his bullshit." Ron said with a nod. "Remember Commons?"

Victoria nodded in agreement. "You're both right." she agreed.

Both Professor Sinistra and Madam Hooch had quickly established that neither would take no bullshit in their class, and Malfoy had already lost several points from Slytherin for his rude behavior during Commons.

The announcement of flying lessons brought in a wave of excitement for all the first years, and everyone who had been on a broomstick began talking about it.

Victoria didn't believe any of the tales Malfoy boasted about in class, but she was inclined to be Seamus's childhood anecdotes of him and his cousins in the Irish countryside, Ron's own story about his one time on his brother Charlie's old broom, Lavender's stories about her own (mis)adventures on a broom in Brown Manor, and Parvati's reminiscence of her and Padma on their brooms, often with their cousins in India.

Mainly because Malfoy's tall tales were utterly ludicrous, while Lavender, Ron, Parvati, and Seamus's tales did sound realistic and plausible.

It also brought in a resurgence of Quidditch gossip in the first years. Victoria had learned from Ron about Quidditch and its rules, and a few of professional Quidditch teams from all of her Gryffindor year-mates who had grown up with the sport.

This meant she learned who support which team— Ron supported the Appleby Arrows, Parvati and Lavender were both fans of the Holyhead Harpies, Seamus was a follower of the Kenmare Kestrelsm and Neville was an avid fan of Puddlmere United.

Victoria had made a point to always evacuate when a particularly heated argument about which Quidditch team was the best got going. Hermione and Dean always did the same thing, the three mundane born and raised students sneaking away whenever the argument(s) got heated.

Quidditch fanatics, Victoria learned, where in a whole different league of craziness.

Thursday morning arrived, and Victoria grinned when she saw Hedwig among the mass of brown and gray. Hedwig gracefully landed in front of her, a letter neatly tied to her leg.

She and Mrs.Figg had started exchanging letters, and Hedwig was always happy to ferry the letters from Scotland to Surrey. The fact that Mrs.Figg always had some owl treats to spoil her with probably helped with Hedwig's willingness to fly such a long distance.

"Thank you, Hedwig. You're a very good owl." she said, petting Hedwig, who preened at the praise. The snowy owl then helped herself to some of Victoria's bacon, causing the green eyed witch to smile.

Victoria tucked the letter into the inner pocket of her robe, looking up in time to see Malfoy snatch a marble filled with red smoke from Neville. In a flash, Professor McGonagall was suddenly there before any Gryffindor could jump to Neville's defense.

"Is there something going on here?" she asked serenely, but was fixing them all with her signature There will be no trouble here in the morning look.

"M-Malfoy has my Remembrall, Professor." Neville said softly.

Malfoy dropped the Remembrall back onto the table, scowling. "I was just looking, Professor."

And with that, he sloped off with Crabbe and Goyle at his heels.

After Common Subjects, the Gryffindor first years headed to the designated lawn on the opposite side of the Forbidden Forest. The Slytherins followed them, and a tense sort of silence surrounded them. Madam Hooch was already there, with twenty brooms lined up in two neat rows.

"Everyone, stand by a broomstick." Madam Hooch instructed.

All of the students did as they were told, with Victoria standing in-between Ron and Hermione. Victoria could feel the magic coming off of the broomstick, it felt like the wind and tasted like lightning.

Madam Hooch waited before continuing. "Now, you will stick your wand hand over the broom and say 'Up!'"

"UP!" everyone shouted at once.

Victoria's broom immediately jumped into her hand, and it was one of the few that did. Ron had gotten his broom to jump to his hand, while Hermione's had just rolled over.

"I'm scared of heights." Hermione mumbled, her dark skin hiding her blush.

"That's okay." Ron assured her.

"Maybe the brooms are like horses?" the Potter Heiress suggested softly. "They can tell if you're afraid, if you don't want to fly or not."

"Quite correct, Miss Potter." Madam Hooch said, causing her to startle slightly. "Brooms are designed so they can tell if you want to fly them or not. There's no shame if you're scared of heights or just don't want to fly." she looked at them all in a very Professor McGonagall like manner. "So I don't want to hear any talk about not being a proper wixen just because someone doesn't want to fly."

Malfoy closed his mouth with an audible 'click'. Victoria noted, with a slight amount of petty delight, that his broom was still on the ground.

Eventually, everyone got their broomstick into their hand. Madam Hooch then used her own broom to demonstrate how to correctly mount their brooms and the proper way to grip it. She then walked down the row, having everyone demonstrate it and correcting them if they did it wrong.

But the next phase of the class rapidly went downhill.

Neville pushed off too hard before Madam Hooch blew her whistle, and fell from his broom before Madam Hooch could rescue him. Victoria winced when he heard the crack of his wrist as he hit the ground hard, her own left wrist briefly throbbing in memory of when it was broken by Dudley when she was nine.

Madam Hooch was instantly at his side, helping him sit up as she waved her wand and had Neville's wrist splinted in an instant. She helped him to his feet, giving the entire class a ferocious look. "I'm taking Mr.Longbottom to the infirmary. The rest of you will stay here, do not mount your brooms or you will get detention and lose your house thirty points!"

With those words, she began to escort Neville back to the castle.

Victoria anger on Neville's behalf, when Malfoy snatched Neville's forgotten Remembrall, flying into the sky with it as he mocked Neville and taunted her.

So she gave chase.

And flying was easily the most wonderful thing she had ever experienced.

"I can't believe it." Ron said in excitement over dinner. "You're on the Quidditch team for Gryffindor!"

"You have to be the youngest seeker in a century!" Seamus added, grinning like mad.

"When do you start training?" Parvati asked.

"Next week." Victoria answered. "Just don't start gossiping about it."

She had gotten to know Lavender and Parvati and she knew while the two girls took their education seriously (but not as seriously as Hermione), they did enjoy gossiping.

"We won't." Lavender promised. "We'll keep it secret."

Fred and George Weasley entered the Great Hall and immediately joined the first-years.

"Well done, Victoria." George said, failing to try and get Hermione to move. "Wood just told us. We're on the team too- Beaters."

"I tell you, we're going to win the Quidditch cup for sure this year." Fred said. "We haven't won in years, but this years team is great. Wood was almost skipping when he told us."

A dark skinned girl showed up. "He was skipping when he told me and Alicia. Hello Victoria, I'm Angelina Johnson. I'm one of the Chasers."

"Hello." Victoria said, feeling slightly overwhelmed by everyone crowding around.

Ron and Hermione immediately noticed this, and began subtly shooing the twins away by claiming they needed more room and the twins eventually left. Angelina stayed, and Victoria found her to be very nice.

But then Malfoy showed up, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Having a last meal before you're sent back to those muggles, Potter?" Malfoy sneered.

"No, I'm enjoying my dinner with my friends, though because of your presence all the food has now gone bad and I can't enjoy it." Victoria deadpanned.

Malfoy flushed. "How many points did you lose, Potter?"

"Heiress Potter." she corrected. "I don't remember giving you permission to use my last name, and since my family is ranked above yours, the correct etiquette is to address me by my title."

"Why should I call a half-blood like you Heiress?" Malfoy sneered.

"At least I have the title." she said, looking pointedly at his fingers. "I don't see the Heirship ring for the Most Ancient House of Malfoy on you. Does your father not trust you enough to give you it?"

Lavender let out a poorly stifled giggle, while Ron, Dean, and Seamus openly laughed. Parvati, Hermione, and Angelina were shaking with silent laughter.

"I'll start a blood feud Potter," Malfoy tried to threaten. "If you don't start acting in your place."

Victoria just took a sip of her peppermint tea. "My place is above you, according to all of the wixen nobility books I've read and my account manager."

Ron was laughing so hard that he promptly fell off the bench, rolling on the ground with laughter.

Malfoy stuttered and she just raised an eyebrow. "Well, do you have anything of important to try and attempt to immediate me with? Because let me tell you, Pippin is doing a much better job than you are."

Dean and Angelina crumpled to the ground with laughter, Ron was wheezing on the floor from laughing so hard, and Hermione was now openly giggling. All of them had clearly understood the reference.

"I challenge you to a honor duel, Potter." Malfoy snapped, as is scrambling to try and get in control of the situation.

"One, it's Heiress Potter." she corrected. "And two, this is obviously an attempt to get me out of bed after curfew and then report me to one of the staff to get me in trouble. Also, I don't know any martial magic yet."

Percy Weasley then showed up, looking at the group with a raised eyebrow. "Is there something going on here?"

"Malfoy was just leaving, Percy." Victoria said.

The redhead nodded slowly, looking at the flushed and stuttering Slytherin boy. "Well, if you are finished, do get going, Malfoy."

With a final (and very unimpressive) glare, Malfoy skulked away with Goyle and Crabbe following him.

Once he was gone, Victoria burst into laughter with the rest of the first-years, and didn't stop laughing until she made it back to the Gryffindor Tower.

Chapter Text

Victoria never intended to go near the forbidden corridor on the third floor, but that didn't mean she was curious.

She knew that whatever was in Vault 713 had been moved by Hagrid the day she and Professor McGonagall had been in Gringotts, and later that day someone had tried to steal it. And if she factored in Professor Dumbledore's speech at the beginning of the year, it was easy to deduce that the package in Vault 713 was being guarded in the forbidden third floor corridor.

She had filled in Hermione and Ron on her theory, and both of her friends agreed. Though the trio was curious about what made the package in Vault 713 so important it needed to be moved from the very secure Gringotts to Hogwarts, they were cautious about poking around something dangerous.

"Probably something really old, powerful, and dangerous. Like what Bill finds in Egypt." Ron said thoughtfully one night in the Gryffindor common room. The trio had claimed a table with three chairs close to the fire place and near the windows, and were dutifully doing their Transfiguration homework. She and Hermione were almost done, and Ron was over halfway to completion.

Ron was good at the practical application of Charms, but he struggled on the theory side of both Charms and Transfiguration. He was more of a hands on, learn through experience kind of student, unlike Hermione, who could learn all she needed to know through a book. Victoria was in the middle of both, able to learn through the textbooks but also thriving in a practical setting.

The redhead was a good student, but Victoria knew that he dealt with a lot of insecurities about being 'just another Weasley' and how anything he would do, his brothers probably would've been there first. So why should he try?

But Hermione and Victoria had been there to drag him out of that horrible mindset.

"You're our friend, our Weasley." Hermione told Ron. "I don't care about your brothers accomplishments, you're my friend and your accomplishments matter to me because those are your firsts, your achievements."

"You're the first wixen my age that I met that treated me with kindness." Victoria added. "That means so much to me. And you might have a lot of brothers but they aren't you. They'll never be one of my best friends."

Ron was visibly moved to tears. "Tori, Mione, you're both amazing."

That was the pep talk Ron obviously needed, and his mood had soared.

"What does Bill find?" the Potter Heiress asked curiously.

"Well, he doesn't really specify, but it's basically old treasure, heirlooms, and ancient artifacts in the tombs that the Egyptian Ministry of Magic gets because those belong to Egypt. But Gringotts gets some of the gold, mainly what the magical Egyptian government doesn't want. He also has to break and deactivate the curses and traps laid around old ruins, tombs, and temples in remote areas, and Egypt has a lot of those." Ron explained.

"So, again, whatever is being guarded in the third-floor corridor is something very dangerous." Hermione stressed. "In other words, we leave it to the adults."

And Victoria was more than happy to do that.

A few days later on Thursday, six owls brought Victoria a long, thin, package in the middle of breakfast. A seventh owl dropped a note in her lap, which she opened up to read.

Dear Miss Potter,

DO NOT OPEN THE PACKAGE AT THE TABLE!
This contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand broomstick, and if everyone knows you have one then they'll be trying to get one as well. Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch stadium at seven o'clock to begin your first training session.

Good luck,
Professor M.McGonagall

Victoria grinned, shooting a smile at Professor McGonagall, who smiled slightly back.

She showed the note to Hermione and Ron, the latter being highly impressed by the broom. At Hermione's urging, they got the broom out of the Great Hall before their way up was blocked by Crabbe and Goyle.

Malfoy appeared, trying to yank the broomstick out of her hands but Victoria's grip was stronger. All Malfoy could do was feel the broomstick through the wrapping.

"That's a broomstick, Potter." Malfoy sneered.

"Wow, good to know that you still can do basic thinking, Heir Malfoy." she deadpanned. "And its Heiress Potter. Do I need to write to Lady Malfoy about your horrible lack of basic social etiquette when talking to someone above your social rank?"

Ron laughed and while Hermione tried to look disapproving, Victoria could see the laughter in her friend's light brown eyes.

The pale boy flushed with anger. "Listen here—"

Professor Flitwick appeared at Hermione's side. "Is everything all right, everyone?"

"Potter's been given a broomstick, Professor." Malfoy said quickly, grey eyes glittering with delight. Victoria just rolled her eyes.

How petty could this boy be?

"I see." Professor Flitwick said. "Professor McGonagall told me about the special circumstances, Miss Potter. May I ask what model it is?"

"A Nimbus Two Thousand, Professor." the Potter witch said. She shot Malfoy a saccharine smile. "And it's thanks to Malfoy that I got on the team, really."

It took all of her self-control to not burst into laughter on the spot at the horrified look on Malfoy's face.

After classes, Victoria had just completed all of her homework for the week and was scribbling down small edits to the recipes in her copy of Magical Drafts and Potions when Oliver Wood marched up to her, Ron, and Hermione's table. He was carrying a heavy looking crate in his arms.

"Come on, Potter." Wood said with a massive grin, his eyes glinting. "It's time for training."

"Good luck!" Ron and Hermione told her as she got up.

Victoria fetched her broom from her dorm room and followed Wood out to the stadium. The older boy was practically skipping with delight.

"Do you know the rules?" Wood asked her.

"Ron told me the basics." she replied.

Wood hummed. "Well, let me explain again. Once we get to the stadium."

Once they arrived, he set down the crate and opened it, revealing four different kinds of sports balls.

"So, there are seven players on every Quidditch team." Wood explained. He held up a bright red ball the size of a football. "This is the Quaffle. The three Chasers on the team pass the Quaffle around and try and throw it through the other teams goalposts. Every goal earns ten points."

Victoria nodded. "Like football or basketball."

"What are those?"

"Mundane sports, I'll explain later." she said.

Wood merely shrugged. "Now, it isn't easy to score a goal. There's a Keeper on every team, who flies around the goalposts to prevent the other team from scoring. I'm Gryffindor's Keeper." he said proudly.

"Got it." she said with a nod.

He then pointed to two black balls smaller than the Quaffle, and straining against the clasps that held them in the crate. "Want a demonstration?"

She could feel the slightly malevolent and mischievous magic coming off the two metal balls. "No thanks."

"Okay then." Wood said. "Those are Bludgers. They fly around trying to knock the players from their brooms. Two Beaters on every team keep the Bludgers from attacking their own team, and whack them to the other team. The Weasley twins are the Beaters for our team, and they're basically human Bludgers."

Victoria had seen enough of the antics the twins got up too in the Gryffindor Tower that she fully agreed with Wood.

"Now, you're the Seeker of the team." Wood said and gestured to a small, walnut sized ball made from gold. It was also restrained, and she could see faint silver wings fluttering, and feel the elusive magic embedded in the metal. "Which means you have to catch the Snitch. If you catch it then you get an extra one hundred and fifty points to our team, and the game ends."

She tilted her head. "Out of the sheer curiosity, what's the longest a Quidditch game as gone?"

He grinned. "The record for the longest Quidditch game was the 1898 Quidditch World Cup Final hosted in Canada, Russia Verses France, and France won. It went on for three months, they kept having to bring in substitutes so the actual players could get some sleep."

"Now, it's too dark out to practice with the Snitch." Wood said, shutting the crate closed. "We might lose it. So, let's practice with these." he pulled out a bag, and withdrew a painted gold golf ball.

Seconds later, Victoria and Wood were up in the air on their brooms. Wood threw the golf balls in every direction and Victoria caught them all.

Wood looked like he could die from happiness by the time the practice session ended and they headed back to the castle.

"The Quidditch Cup is going to have our name on it this year!" Wood crowed, looking like a toddler set loose in his favorite store.

Halloween came, and Victoria didn't know how to feel about it.

Today's the day my parents died. she thought, staring blankly up at the canopy of her bed.

"V?" Hermione called, poking her head through the curtains.

"It's Halloween." she said, curling up under her blankets. Trying to feel warm even though she felt so, so cold.

Understanding dawned on Hermione's face. "Oh Vicky... Do you want to stay here today? I'm sure the teacher's would understand."

"No." Victoria said, getting up. She slid on the Potter Heiress ring from its spot on her nightstand. "Snape wouldn't care, so I might as well go. And..." she took a breath. "I think they would want me to enjoy life."

Hermione hugged her, and she hugged her back.

When they got into the common room, Ron pulled them both into a deeply comforting hug.

And Victoria knew that she had found her own little family.

Chapter Text

The Friday before November Break (in which most Hogwarts students would go home), Lavender insisted on a girls night in their dorm room.

"I know it's been over a month already," the Brown Heiress proclaimed. "But I feel like we barely know each other! And I want to fix that."

Victoria did mind that at all, so it was how she found herself sitting on a several blankets on the floor of the dorm room with Lavender, Parvati, and Hermione. All of them in their pajamas with snacks and drinks arranged on a few platters.

"So, to break the ice, what your favorite color?" Lavender proposed.

"Green." Parvati said.

"Blue." Hermione informed them.

"Wisteria purple." Victoria said. "My neighbor, Mrs.Figg, has wisteria and I visited her house a lot, so it became my favorite color."

Over the years, the color of the wisteria flowers hadn't just become her favorite color. It was something she associated safety and happiness with.

"That's sweet." Lavender said with a soft smile. "And my favorite color is pink."

Lavender seemed suddenly stern. "And don't hint because I'm blonde and I like pink that I'm dumb. I hate that stereotype."

"I won't." Victoria promised.

"Neither will I." Parvati agreed firmly.

Hermione nodded. "Me neither."

"Thank you." Lavender murmured, looking touched.

There was a soft moment of comfortable silence.

"So, now that the ball is rolling," Victoria spoke. "What electives are you guys thinking about? I'm inclined to Arthimancy and Study of Ancient Runes. Maybe Care of Magical Creatures as well."

Learning how to handle and care for magical creatures couldn't hurt, after all.

"Ooh, Arthimancy is really hard!" Parvati exclaimed. "But I'm going to take that as well. Along with Divination and Care of Magical Creatures."

"I hard that Divination is taught by a fraud." Hermione said with a frown.

"You have to be a born Seer to see visions of the future or have prophecies. But you can learn methods of how to predict the future from Divination, it's a skill any wixen can learn." Lavender patiently explained. "As for me, I'm going with Divination, Study of Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures. My family will be training me in Enchanting."

Hermione perked up. "Is Enchanting taught at Hogwarts?"

Victoria wished it was. Enchanting was very useful and powerful. It could be used to bestow preternatural qualities more powerful than any charm to both inanimate objects and people, create powerful glamours, curse or bless others, influence or control other people, weave incredibly advanced illusions, and more.

"It was, but Professor Armando Dippet shut it down in 1966." Lavender said. "It caused a massive uproar in the wixen community and the school board tried to reverse it, but it hasn't been reinstalled. Dumbledore tried, but he couldn't get enough support because of Circe Rowle."

"She was a major Death Eater in the war, right?" Victoria asked, recalling her history books.

Lavender nodded. "You're right. Circe was a very powerful and notorious Enchantress— and one of You-Know-Who's top lieutenants. Her kill count is in the top five of confirmed Death Eaters. Way up in the triple digits. She was killed in April of 1981, but it was a pyrrhic victory— it took three squads of Aurors to kill her, and only Dumbledore, Mad-Eye Moody, my mama, your mother, Victoria, and Amelia Bones survived the battle."

"Why my mom?"

"Well, your mom was an Apprentice to my grandfather alongside my mother." the blonde said shyly.

The pieces clicked into place. "Enchanting is your family business?"

"Yup." Lavender said proudly.

"Wait," Hermione said. "How does this matter to Enchanting now being taught here?"

"Well, Enchanting was one of the offered electives for third-years, and families who's business was, well, Enchanting, like mine, used the class to scope out potential Apprentices, who could in turn pass down the craft. it takes seven years to complete an Apprenticeship and it's very hard, and the brilliant ones get their Mastery— which is the equivalent of a mundane college degree— in their third or fourth year of it. Anyways, the class was very very hard, only three or four graduates every year. And then Circe Rowle came around."

"And used her Enchanting for Voldemort." the Potter Heiress deduced, getting the other three girls to flinch.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes— it was just a name!

"And the Rowle family business was Enchanting." Hermione said tentatively.

"Yup." Lavender confirmed. "But their family went extinct by the end of 1982, Circe was the only child of old Lord Cassius, and she predeceased him with no children. So my family got all of their Enchanting information because we're distantly related to them through his aunt, my great-grandmother, Cecelia Rowle, who married my great-grandfather Alfred Brown. So the Most Nobel House of Brown is the only family with Enchanting as the family business in Great Britain, and we're open to teaching anyone with the talent, no matter their blood status."

"And it's still not being taught here because of politics." Parvati added bitterly. "Same for Alchemy. There was an Alchemist in Voldemort's Inner Circle, Benedict Bulstrode... and thank Merlin he's dead too. He tried to switch sides in the summer of 1978, and the Dark Lord killed him personally."

"How did my mother get into Enchanting?" Victoria asked in an attempt to steer the conversation back to lighter waters.

"Well, she was roommates with my mothers, Julianne Brown and Serena Brown, formerly Daniels, along with Marlene McKinnon and Mary MacDonald." Lavender said calmly. "Mama noticed her talent for it and introduced her to my grandfather, and he took her as her Apprentice. And Lady Lily got her Mastery in her third year of the Apprenticeship." Lavender happily explained. She looked around. "And I'm happy to recommend any of you if you want to go down the path of Enchanting."

Victoria smiled. "Thank you."

Later on, as the conversation drifted to a discussion of Quidditch, she opened a Chocolate Frog, and saw that the card inside was one of Dumbledore. And she read the little blurb below it, her eye catching on the piece about Nicholas Flamel.

A famous Alchemist she had read up about in an ancient book the library (which Percy had showed her, Ron, and Hermione during in their first week of Hogwarts), who had made the Sorcerer's Stone... which granted immortality.

And that was when Victoria realized that what was hidden in the forbidden third floor corridor was the Sorcerer's Stone.

Chapter Text

"The Sorcerer's Stone is here? In Hogwarts?" Ron whispered, looking shocked.

Victoria had not gotten the chance to tell Ron or Hermione what she had learned before the two left for November break. So she had spent the week researching more about the Stone (and about Enchanting), taking advantage that she was the sole student who remained at Hogwarts to make use all the library books available.

Now, in the middle of Monday's double Charm period to inform Ron and Hermione about what she had learned.

"Well, it makes sense." Hermione whispered. "Dumbledore must've known that the stone was in danger of being stolen, and moved it here before it could be potentially stolen."

Ron nodded. "And Dumbledore's the greatest wixen of this century!"

"Start up with your Knockback Jinx, you three!" Professor Flitwick cried, and the trio hurriedly got to the task.

The Potter witch pointed her wand at the pillow before her. "Flipendo!" she cast and a red light came flying from her wand, and the pillow was sent flying back, landing a solid three feet away from her desk.

Ron's practice pillow landed a half a foot from hers, and Hermione's practice pillow landed next to Victoria's pillow.

"Nice." the redhead said to her and Hermione, looking impressed.

"Very good, you three!" Flitwick praised, and with a wave of his wand the three pillows went flying back to the trio's desks, landing in front of each of them. "Now try again! Practice makes perfect!"

Seamus cast the Knockback Jinx, and his pillow hit Malfoy right in the face with enough force to topple Malfoy out of his chair. The Potter witch bit her lip to not burst into laughter on the spot, but Ron had no such restraints and roared with laughter. Hermione was visibly holding in her giggles.

Within a few minutes, the trio calmed down enough to resume practicing.

"Who do you think tried to steal it?" she wondered. "Flipendo." she cast and sent her pillow five feet away from her desk.

"Snape?" Ron suggested. He cast the spell and sent his pillow four feet away. "He was the one that tried to jinx your broom in the game against Slytherin."

Victoria frowned. Something in her told her that it wasn't Snape, but... Ron did have a good point.

"But Snape's a teacher." Hermione whispered before casting the spell and sending her pillow flying.

"My dad said that Snape was a Death Eater for You-Know-Who." Ron whispered.

The ravenette's jaw dropped. "Than how is he a teacher here?!"

"Well, Dumbledore vouched for him, said he came over on our side. He got the Potions professor job in 1986, when the previous one retired at the end of the previous school year." Ron murmured. "I can remember Bill and Charlie complaining about Snape when they came back home that summer."

The ginger made a face. "And given how he acts in the classroom, it's well deserved. Not even Percy respects him, and he respects all of his teachers."

"I'm inclined to agree with Percy." Victoria muttered, remembering how Snape would always treat her in Potions. To her eternal confusion, he acted like her very existence was a blight against him, and had no problem in belittling or demeaning her. Which made her determination to be the best in Potions was a mixture of spite and her love for the craft.

And because of Snape, Transfiguration was her favorite class, with Charms below it and then came Potions. If Snape was a better teacher (or if any other decent wixen was teaching), then Potions would absolutely be her favorite class.

"Well, let's keep quiet for now." Hermione suggested.

"And keep an eye on the third floor corridor." Victoria added.

Christmas was coming, and the entire castle was looking forward to it. Professor Flitwick had already decorated his room with garlands, fake icicles, snowflakes that fell from the ceiling but didn't hit the ground, a small Christmas tree tucked placed behind his desk, and hovering blue balls of light that floated around the classroom.

Professor McGonagall hadn't decorated her classroom, but she did teach them how to turn a block of wood into a glass snowflake.

And while the looming holiday had brought a feeling of excitement and happiness to most of the castle, there was a handful of students determined to be their very worst.

"I feel so sorry," Malfoy said loudly one day in Potions. "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."

Victoria didn't need to look up from her work at her cauldron to make the Antidote for Common Poisons to know it was directed at her, and she feel Malfoy's gaze burning a set of holes in the back of her neck. She ignored him, and shot a meaningful look at Ron to make sure he didn't try anything.

The blond boy had spent the past week taunting her about her choice to stay at Hogwarts over the holidays, and before that he had been trying to mock her about how a tree frog could replace her a Seeker in his disgust at Slytherin losing to Gryffindor during her first match.

But the Potter Heiress ignored him with long practiced ease. She wasn't ashamed of her choice to stay at the school for the holidays, nor did she care at this point that the Dursleys never wanted her. Mrs.Figg had even encouraged her to stay at the school for all of the breaks, so she could properly enjoy the holidays.

Malfoy's taunts were petty and childish and she didn't care one about about them.

And while Hermione was going back home to her parents, Ron, Percy, and the twins were staying as well while Mr. and Mrs.Weasley went to visit Charlie at his dragon preserve in Romania. She was confident it was going to be one of the most enjoyable Christmas's in her life.

Upon leaving the dungeons at the end of class, an enormous fir tree was blocked the trio's access the corridor ahead. The pair of massive feet and the loud, laboring breaths told them it was Hagrid.

"Hi Hagrid!" Ron said. "Do you need any help?"

"Nah, I'm all right. Thanks, Ron." Hagrid said with a wave of his massive hand.

The emerald-eyed witch saw Malfoy approaching them out of the corner of her eye, and leaned closer to Ron. "It's Malfoy, don't react to him." she hissed.

A second later, both she and Hermione were both tripping Ron before he could try and lunge at Malfoy. The two girls physically dragged Ron to the Gryffindor Tower, not letting go of their friend until they were safe inside the common room.

"I hate him." Ron said angrily. "He's a spoiled little prick and I hope reality bites him in the arse soon."

"And he's not worth your time." Hermione added. "He's nothing compared to you. Malfoy's used to getting his way while you work and you earn all of your good grades."

Victoria nodded in agreement. "Hermione's right. Malfoy's got nothing compared to you. He's weak and a coward. You're one of the most loyal and kindest people I've ever meet."

Ron was moved to tears. "Your the best friends anyone could've asked for, Mione, Vicky."

Chapter Text

Christmas Break began, and Victoria was correct in that that her Christmas the castle was rapidly proving to be the most enjoyable Christmas she had ever gotten.

Victoria had the entire girl's dormitory to herself and the only other Gryffindors in the Tower were Ron, Fred and George, and Percy. She and Ron picked out the good chairs by the fire to use as they completed their Christmas homework in two days (much to Percy's approval) so they could spend the rest of their break without it looming over them.

After completing their homework, she and Ron would join Fred and George in furious snowball fights (with Percy acting as the referee), or do ice skating on the Black Lake with Fred, George, and Percy under Professor McGonagall's supervision, or visit Hagrid in his hut, or read by the fire in the homely armchairs with a tray of snacks from the kitchens on the table next to them. Percy would sometimes join them, and Victoria had lent them a few of her mundane books.

Percy had completed The Hobbit in a single day and was working his way through The Fellowship of the Ring by the third day of the break. Ron had already read all of the trilogy and The Silmarillion, had finished Moby Dick at the end of October and Little Women by the end of November, and was currently reading Jane Eyre, which Victoria had let him borrow.

"Is this really a good book, Perce?" Fred asked one night as he threw himself onto the back of Percy's chair, peering down at the pages of The Fellowship of the Ring that Percy was devotedly reading.

"Yes." Victoria, Ron, and Percy said at the same time.

She pointed finger at Fred and George. "And if you dare to damage it, I will hex you. And Percy will cover for me."

"Right." Fred scoffed.

Percy looked up from The Fellowship of the Ring. "I would."

Both of the twin's jaws dropped.

"Wow." George said. "Can we borrow this?"

"When I'm done." Percy muttered. "Now shoo. I'm trying to read this masterpiece."

I might be starting a Lord of the Rings addiction... eh, who cares. It's the Lord of the Rings. Victoria thought with a shrug.

Ron started trying to teach her wizard chess, and routinely beat her at chess. Even when Victoria, Percy, and Fred and George teamed up against him, he would handily defeat them all.

When Christmas Eve rolled around, Victoria and Ron had a sleepover in the common room, gathering pillows and blankets and claiming a spot in front of the fire place. She contented herself with the expectation of fun the next day, but didn't expect many presents outside of Mrs.Figgs (whom's gift she had already sent with the aid of Professor McGonagall), and she had done her Christmas shopping to get her new friends their own gifts.

But she had Ron and Hermione, and that was the best gift of all.

"Vicky, wake up!"

The ravenette groaned, blearily looking up. "What?"

"It's Christmas, Victoria!" Ron exclaimed, already sitting up. "And look! We both have our presents to open!"

What. she thought, grabbing her glasses and putting them on before sitting up underneath her small mountain of blankets. At the foot of her makeshift bed of blankets was a small stack of gifts, with several parcels giving off magic she could sense. Ron had a stack of gifts as well.

"Oh wow." she murmured, throwing off the blankets as giddy excitement flooded her veins. Victoria opened up the first parcel, which contained a carved wooden owl—Hedwig, she realized, in addition to a roughly carved wooden flute. When she blew it, it sounded like an owl hooting.

Now very giddy, she began opening up the rest of her gifts.

From Hermione, she had gotten two books: Frankenstein by Mary Shelly and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, while Ron had gifted her a small box of color changing ink for her pens, the magic of the ink light and colorful. Padma had gotten Victoria an enchanted hairbrush (which hummed with soft, curling magic) that came with instructions on how to properly use it, while Lavender had given her a very pretty necklace that bore an oval cut emerald, and Percy had gotten her a copy of Rare, Ancient, and Obscure Potions and Elixirs. Mrs.Figgs had gotten her a copy of The Odyssey, and Victoria knew exactly it would get her through the summer.

The Dursleys had not sent her anything, but it did not dampen her joyful mood.

"Oh," Ron said as he pointed to a lumpy looking parcel. "I think I know what that is. A Weasley sweater. Mum always makes one for us during Christmas, along with ones for our best friends. I hope Hermione got one."

Victoria opened the parcel, revealing very cozy looking hand-knit emerald sweater which was embroidered with a large golden V in the center, which perfectly fit Victoria when she put it on, along with a box of fudge.

"This is perfect." she said, burrowing into the sweater. "I'll write a thank you letter to your mum."

"You don't have to." Ron said as he revealed his maroon colored sweater.

"I want to." she insisted.

With that settled, she turned to her last two gifts.

She opened up the wrapped parcel, feeling how light it was. Something silvery and fluid spilled out of the gift, sliding down to the floor. Victoria could instantly feel the ancient, no, eldritch and elusive magic that the cloak gave off, whispering a lovely song in her ear.

Whoever made this, she realized. Was not human.

Ron gasped, dropping the seven Chronicles of Narnia books that Hermione had gifted him. "Merlin! I think I know what that is!"

Victoria quirked a brow. "What is it?"

I think it's an Invisibility Cloak! Try it on!" the ginger encouraged.

At her friend's encouragement, she put on the cloak, pulling the hood over her head. When she looked down, she couldn't see herself.

"It is!" Ron exclaimed. "Wow, that might be a Potter family heirloom!"

She removed the cloak. "I wonder who sent it." she mused.

Ron spotted something and handed it to her. "Here, I think this came with the cloak."

It was a note, and she read it. Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well. A Very Merry Christmas.

She examined the note for a signature. "I don't recognize the writing."

The youngest Weasley son looked thoughtful. "I think there's a spell or something to track anonymous letters from the sender's writing."

"Let's try that later." Victoria said, looking at her final remaining gift.

The last gift was a slightly worn looking stuffed red deer. A note was attached to the neck of the stuffed deer. Pulling the stuffed toy closer, she removed the note and read it. She instantly recognized Professor McGonagall's handwriting.

This was your favorite toy as a baby, and was a Christmas gift from a friend of your parents during Christmas of 1980. I was able to rescue it from your family's cottage after the attack. Your mother told me that it's name is Comet. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Sincerely,
Professor McGonagall.

Her hands shook as she showed the note to Ron. Instantly, he pulled her into a tight hug, and they remained like that for several minutes.

Eventually, Percy and the twins came down, all wearing Weasley sweaters as well. Fred and George wore blue ones that had a yellow F and G respectively, while Percy's was copper with a white P on it.

When she saw the twins, she discreetly hid the Invisibility Cloak. She didn't want them to see it, 'borrow' it, and accidentally burn down the castle.

"Thank you for the gift, Victoria." Percy said with a smile, holding the copy of The Iliad.

"I hope you enjoy it." she said with a smile. "And thanks for the potions book!"

"Ah!" Fred exclaimed. "Enough about books! It's Christmas Day! Let's have a snowball fight!"

Ron looked at the window, which showed them a blizzard on the outside, and then looked back at Fred. "Pass. I'll read in here, where it's warm and lovely."

Fred looked ready to protest, but George gestured dramatically at Victoria. "Mum sent you a Weasley sweater! You're part of the family now!"

Those simple words made Victoria's heart almost burst from happiness.

When dinner rolled around, the five Gryffindors headed down the Great Hall, still in their pajamas and Weasley sweaters, warm slippers and fuzzy socks adorning their feet. The Gryffindor table was ladened with food, and Victoria dug in alongside Ron.

The food was incredible and the atmosphere was full of jubilation.

And before she left the Great Hall once dinner was over, she made a point to hug Professor McGonagall and thank her for returning Comet to her. The stuffed deer was now proudly perched on her nightstand.

Later that night, unable to sleep, Victoria pulled on the Invisibility Cloak and wandered through Hogwarts.

She could see her breath as she walked through the halls, invisible to anyone. A strong pulse of magic, caught her attention, and she followed it into an abandoned room on the seventh floor, coated with powerful magic. With a grunt, Victoria was able to crack the door open and squeezed through.

In the center of the room was a very tall mirror, which radiated old, powerful magic. It murmured in her ear, promising her something she couldn't hear but in her heart, she knew.

Victoria took a step forward, removing the cloak to look into the mirror.

A man with bronze skin identical to hers stood there, his hazel eyes soft with love. He had black hair and looked like a male version of herself. A beautiful women stood at his side, bearing long dark red hair and vivid emerald eyes identical to hers—

"Dad," she croaked, her fingers touching the glass. Trying to reach her parents. "Mum."

She didn't know how long she remained there until there was a sound behind her. She turned to see a sad looking Professor Dumbledore.

"Professor!" she exclaimed. "I'm sorry—"

"Students sneaking out at night, especially during the holidays, is a castle tradition, Miss Potter." Dumbledore assured her. "I'll let you off this once, but please try and limit any night escapades... Professor McGonagall is already going grey because of Mr.Fred and Mr.George Weasley."

He then frowned at the mirror. "And please, do not tell anyone of this mirror, or try and look for it. The Mirror of Erised has driven many wixen mad, and I don't wish that fate onto any of my students."

The Potter Heiress nodded, feeling the gravity of the headmaster's words. "I... I won't come back. I just sensed it, and I was curious."

"I don't find fault in your curiosity, which you share with your parents." Professor Dumbledore assured her. "But be careful."

There was the faint sound of footsteps, and Dumbledore looked over his shoulder. "Ah, that would be Filch... I encourage you to return to your dormitory, Miss Potter."

"Okay." Victoria said, shakily pulling the cloak back on and walking out of the room. She did not look back at the mirror, despite her hearts please.

Mum and Dad are dead. she reminded herself, now feeling very cold. They aren't coming back.

She didn't have to dwell on such dark thoughts for long, because Ron easily dragged her back into a more happy mindset the next morning.

Victoria did not think of the Mirror of Erised for the rest f the break, and had almost forgotten it if the mirror hadn't showed Victoria her parent's for the first time she could remember.

Chapter Text

Christmas Break ended sooner than Victoria would've preferred, and soon everyone who had left for Christmas had returned. Classes started up again, as did Quidditch.

Oliver Wood was working the entire team harder than ever. Practices were four nights a week now, no matter the weather: if the team could get their brooms into the air, then they would practice.

The Weasley twins complained, as did Angelina, Alicia, and Katie, but that just made Wood drill them ever harder. Laps around the arena both on their legs and on their brooms, maneuvers in the air, and specialized, meticulously made workouts in the gym for each player.

Victoria would've joined in on her fellow teammates to grumble about Wood, but she found that she slept easier with no nightmares after practices. So she didn't complain out loud, but she did on the inside.

And then, the weekend before their game against Hufflepuff, did Wood deliver them a very bad piece of news: Snape would be referring the match against Hufflepuff, and that meant that Angelina, Fred, Katie, George, and Alicia all needed to avoid any penalties and Victoria needed to get the Snitch as quick as possible.

Yeah, no pressure.

Victoria gritted her teeth as she circled the stadium, looking for the snitch. She dodged a Buldger sent her way and her heart leapt when she saw a flash of gold below her.

She dove, speeding downward. "Come on, come on!" she murmured to her broom, trying to encourage it to go faster as she reached out her left hand.

The broom responded to her commands and put on a burst of speed. Her fingers closed around the Snitch, gripping the winged golden ball tightly as she pulled up from the dive.

Noise erupted all around her and she yelped as her teammates slammed into her as an impromptu group hug. Wood was roaring with delight as the team descended to the ground as a mass of tangled limbs.

Only after several minutes was the Potter witch able to slip out of the hug and immediately ran into Ron and Hermione. She frowned when she saw Ron's bloody nose and black eyes. "What happened to you?" she asked.

"Doesn't matter." Ron said, waving his hand. "I'll have Madam Pomfrey look at it."

"It does matter! You're hurt!" she protested.

Ron ducked his head. "I'm fine, Vicky. Mione, back me up."

"He doesn't have a concussion." Hermione said. "But he does need to see Madam Pomfrey."

Fred and George appeared, the smiles on their face slipping off when they saw Ron. "What happened to you?"

"I punched Malfoy." Ron admitted. "He insulted Neville."

Fred beamed. "Wonderful, Ron."

"Now, we there's a party in the common room!" George declared, wrapping his arm around Ron. "But first, let's get you fixed up, little brother."

And with that, he began guiding Ron away to the infirmary.

"We'll see you at the common room!" Victoria called to Ron.

"Party time!" Fred said gleefully. "Let's go you two!"

Over an hour later, Victoria slipped out of the raging party in the common room underneath her Invisibility Cloak, flipping the hood over her head to completely vanish. She loved her house and their loyalty, but it was too loud and she needed some fresh air, a moment to breathe.

She headed down the stairs, deciding to visit Hedwig in the Owlery. Goal in mind, she began taking the quickest way through the castle to the Owlery.

Halfway there, she heard a small scuffle and paused, slowing down. The ravenette cautiously looked in the direction of the noise and gasped when she saw Snape slam Quirrell against the wall of an abandoned corridor.

Luckily, neither man seemed to hear her.

"What are you planning, Quirrell?" Snape sneered.

"I-I d-d-don't know w-what y-you're t-t-talking about, S-Severus." Quirrell stammered.

The Potions master clearly didn't believe it. "I sincerely doubt that. What were you doing at the forbidden corridor on Halloween when I found you there?"

"I-I found y-you there." the DADA professor said back.

Snape just scoffed. "Have you found a way past Hagrid's pet Cerebrus? Because you do not want me as your enemy, Quirrell."

Victoria was frozen, unable to move, not daring to breathe too loudly. She wanted to run and report this to Professor McGonagall or another teacher, but she physically couldn't move.

Then her scar burned, and she bit her tongue to muffle her sound of pain as she crumpled to the ground, one hand pressed against the lightning-bolt scar on her forehead.

When the pain receded, she looked up in time to hear the last of the conversation. "-but S-S-Severus, I–"

Snape just sneered again. "We will be having another conversation soon, Quirrell, about were your loyalties lie. Because if what I think is true is correct, then you're in grave danger from me."

For a moment, Quirrell sneered right back. "S-She h-has her mother's e-eyes, d-doesn't s-she?"

"DO NOT!" Snape roared as he drew his wand and Quirrell trembled.

And Victoria fled, running as fast as she could, the conversation echoing in her head like a broken recorder and questions burning away inside of her.

Ron noticed it first, when Hagrid was in the library one day when the trio were completing their both Common subjects and Transfiguration homework. Victoria, Ron, and Hermione had long since gotten into the habit of completing all of their assigned work before Friday night, so they could enjoy the weekend to the fullest.

"I wonder what's he looking up." Ron murmured, getting up to head to were Hagrid had just been.

After a few minutes, he came back looking slightly alarmed. "He was looking up dragons! All sorts of books about how to raise one! But dragon breeding's been outlawed since the Warlock Convention of 1709, which pushed the International Wizarding Confederation to pass the Dragon Acts of 1712!"

Hermione frowned. "Which means?"

"You can't privately raise a dragon. Sure, some families like the Most Ancient House of Fawley, the Most Noble House of Jones, the Most Ancient House of Slughorn, the Most Noble House of Reed, and the Most Noble House of Goldstein each have dragon reserves but that isn't private breeding." Ron explained.

"I'm going to guess you know all of this because of Charlie, your brother who works with dragons?" Victoria asked.

The ginger nodded. "Yeah. Mum has several 'reasons why we can't have a pet dragon and why you can't privately raise one' speeches she had to give him five times a week."

A horrible feeling built up in Victoria's gut. "What if Hagrid has a dragon egg, and is going to try and raise one?"

Silence engulfed the trio.

"I really hope I'm not right." she groaned.

Victoria was right.

She stared in disbelief at the baby Norwegian Ridgeback that was waddling around on the table. "Hagrid, you can't keep him." the emerald-eyed witch said.

"O' course I can!" Hagrid protested.

Hermione shook her head. "Hagrid, Norbert here is going to burn down your hut once he can and then you'll be in massive trouble!"

Hagrid looked stubborn, but after several minutes of logical arguments, they were able to persuade him that no, he couldn't do it.

"But how are we going to get him out of here?" Ron wondered.

An idea bloomed inside Victoria's head, the panic at how much trouble Hagrid was going to get in fading away. "I have an idea. Hagrid, you bring Norbert to the Care of Magical Creatures teacher, and say you found the egg in the Forbidden Forest, and brought it here for safe keeping, but then it hatched. Professor Kettleburn can then take Norbert to Charlie's reserve in Romania, or some other preserve here in Britain."

"Probably Charlie's reserve." Ron said mildly. "Magical Great Britain doesn't allow foreign dragons, in order to not disrupt the ecosystem. Romania is a bit more relaxed, if I remember correctly."

Hagrid nodded. "Alright. I'll do it. Thank yeh fer the help. I won' mention yeh ter Professor Kettleburn."

Now much more calmer, the trio bade farewell to Hagrid and headed back to the castle underneath the Invisibility Cloak.

"I really hope this works." the Potter Heiress murmured.

It worked.

Soon, the entire gossip mill was talking about how Hagrid accidentally found a dragon egg and gave it to Professor Kettleburn for safekeeping. Professor Dumbledore even spoke at dinner to assure the school that Norbert was on his way to a reserve in Romania to spend the rest of his life in peace.

Percy, somehow, was able to deduce that the trio had a hand in it, and corned them. Victoria, Ron, and Hermione gave him the full story, and luckily Percy accepted it with the promise to not breathe a word of the truth to anyone who could get Hagrid in trouble.

And so, for a small period of time, a brief bout of peace settled down on Hogwarts.

Chapter Text

As May turned into June, the weather became even more lovely. The sky was a perfect cobalt blue, the grounds were inviting with lush green grass, and the beach around the Black Lake was the perfect spot for a picnic. Students might spend time outside with their friends.

But they couldn't do that. June meant the school year was ending, and that meant exams. Students could be found in three places when not in class or in the Great Hall: their common room, dorm, or the library, pouring over books, practicing spells and memorizing notes.

Exams came in two forms: practical and theoretical. For the theory portion, they were given quills or pens charmed with the Anti-Cheating Charm, and scribbled away answers in sweltering hot classrooms. The practical part was more fun: in Transfiguration, they had to turn a mouse into a snuffbox, with points given for how pretty it was and points taken away if it had whiskers.

Victoria had managed to get her mouse into a pretty silver snuffbox with minor floral patterns, while Hermione's snuffbox was solid golden decorated with diamonds and emeralds. Ron's was plain silver, but there was no hint of whiskers on his.

For charms, they had to make a pineapple dance across Professor Flitwick's desk. The trio had all passed that exam easily, but in Potions, things were more tense. The first-year students had to make a Forgetfulness potion on their own, and despite the stabbing pains that laced through her scar ever since her visit to Hagrid two weeks prior, she was able to produce a cauldron of the Forgetfulness potion.

The final exam was History of Magic, and given that Victoria had mainly self studied the entire year over learning endless goblin rebellions that Binns seemed to deal the only worthwhile history, she struggled hard on that test. She could only hope that Dumbledore somehow exorcised Binns from the castle and replaced him with a more professional teacher.

And given that Binns had been residing in the castle for more than a century since his death in the mid 1800s, it was an unlikely hope.

When exams ended, Hermione, Ron, and Victoria headed down to the Black Lake to relax. But when they spotted silver-blue blood leaking onto the beach, they ran for Hagrid's hut.

Hagrid instantly believed them, following them to the blood, a loaded crossbow in hand. He swore up a storm and began following the blood.

Nervously, the trio followed him.

When she saw the source of the blood, in a sunlight clearing, Victoria couldn't help but gasp, while Hermione fainted. Ron, white faced and horrified, caught her.

There lay a unicorn, its throat slit, and—

And there was a hooded figure, drinking the blood.

"Hey!" Hagrid roared. For the first time since Victoria met him, Hagrid looked furious. "Wha' in the name o' Merlin are yeh doin', yeh heartless bastard!"

The mysteriously person instantly got up and ran.

"Yeh killed a unicorn! get back here so i can teach yeh a lesson!" Hagrid bellowed.

Hagrid fired his crossbow, hitting the figure in the leg. But that didn't stop cloaked person fired a curious that bounced off Hagrid, but bought him enough time to run away into the forest.

Victoria hesitantly stepped forward but Hagrid had already strode forward, placing his great hands on the neck of the unicorn to try and stop the blood flow. She glanced to see Ron evacuating Hermione, and confident that her best friends were safe, she approached the unicorn.

She had never seen anything so beautiful and heartbreaking: the unicorn's slender legs were obviously broken, its mane pearly white and its hide silver in color, stained with silver-blue blood. The unicorn let out one desperate whine, locking its purple eyes, before going still.

"I've known summat has bin goin' after the unicorns." Hagrid said sadly, voice thick with grief. "I found one a few months ago, a foal, all bleeding an' bones broken, managed ter save it in time, but two others I found dead. Throats slit, jus' like this one."

There was the sound of hooves, and the ravenette looked up to see three centaurs enter the clearing. All of them grim faced and sad. Hagrid pushed her behind him.

"Hagrid." the leader, black haired and bigger than the two others, said sadly, eyes fixed sadly on the unicorn. "Another one gone."

"Indeed, Bane." Hagrid grunted, tears leaking out of his beetle-black eyes. "I saw who it was, some human's bin doin' 'this. I'm goin' ter go straight ter Professor Dumbledore 'bout this."

"And the young one with you?" the red-haired centaur asked.

The Potter Heiress stepped out, bowing politely like she had done to the goblins. "Victoria Potter. Pleasure to meet you."

She didn't need to look up to see them glance at her scar, stark white against her tanned bronze skin.

"Miss Potter," the third centaur, who had pale blonde hair and large blue eyes, and appeared younger than Bane and the red-haired centaur, addressed her. "Do you know why it is a crime to kill a unicorn?"

She nodded tentatively, remembering what she had read in a book about unicorns in the library. "Because if you kill something so pure, so good, then you're cursed."

"And if you drink the blood, you will be kept alive, even if Death is at your door." the fair haired centaur continued. "But you will be cursed until you die. A half-life is what you have, and no matter how hard you run, the curse will come and get you."

Her jaw nearly dropped. Who would want that? Who would want to kill a unicorn and drink its blood, only to be cursed? Dying and joining loved ones in the afterlife was a much better fate.

"Firenze." Bane hissed.

Firenze looked at Bane cooly. "You know who marked her as his equal, Bane. She needs to know."

"You think Voldemort did this?" Victoria asked.

"Victoria." Hagrid warned, trying to steer her out of the clearing.

"He's the only one desperate enough to do so, especially if he drinks enough blood to obtain the Sorcerer's Stone." Firenze warned. "Be on your guard, Miss Potter."

She nodded nervously. "I will be. Thank you for the warning."

The body of the unicorn suddenly turned into flowers. Specific flowers: white lilies, black roses, and red spider lilies.

Bane looked grim as he knelt beside the flowers. "The body of a unicorn turns into flowers that signify how it die." he said grimly. "And in this case, it was murdered."

"You should go." Firenze said. "Don't come near this forest again, Miss Potter."

"I won't." the emerald-eyed witch promised.

And with that, she and Hagrid left.

Victoria told Ron and Hermione what she had been told by Firenze, and then the encounter between Snape and Quirrell that she had witnessed. Her friends were shocked and horrified, and they agreed to go tell a teacher.

But when no one listened, they did the most Gryffindor thing they could do:

The trio entered the forbidden third-floor corridor to stop Voldemort from getting the stone.

Chapter Text

Victoria, Ron, and Hermione got past the three headed dog easily— Ron had learned a lot about magical creatures from Charlie, so he had been able to hurriedly whisper that the way to get past a Cerebrus was to play music to make it go to sleep.

Luckily, Victoria had the wooden flute Hagrid had given her for Christmas, and Hermione had charmed too to play itself while they slipped through the trapdoor into the next obstacle.

Which was how the trio found themselves in their current predicament: getting past the Devil's Snare.

"We get past with fire and light!" Hermione cried as the Devil's snare prevented her from using her wand.

Victoria gripped her wand, very glad she had quickly gotten the hang of the Bluebell Flames spell when Professor Flitwick had taught them the spell during December. As if responding to her thoughts, blue flames burst from her wand, cutting her free. She did the same for Hermione, while Ron had escaped with the use of the Wand-Lightning Charm.

"Go!" Ron cried, pushing her and Hermione forward as they scrambled onto the stone passageway and dashed away from the Devil's Snare. They only stopped at the next door, panting.

Cautiously, Victoria opened the door. She was greeted with a chamber full of keys, three brooms, and a locked door on the other side of the chamber. Naturally, the door was enchanted against any unlocking spell, so the resorted to the old fashioned method: getting the old, obviously injured key that was the one that unlocked the door.

The ravenette, as she mounted her broom, was very glad that Oliver had trained her relentlessly over the past school year. It was all thanks to the endless training exercises that she was able to get the key in under two minutes and bring it back down so they could get through the door.

Once the key was inserted, the door swung open, revealing a large chest set. And she could sense the magic that came off of each of the larger than life chest pieces. Professor McGonagall was the genius behind this. she knew instantly.

"Okay." Ron said, stepping up. Chess was his domain, after all. "Here we go."

Victoria and Hermione got through the troll room on swift feet, tears in their eyes from what had happened in the chess room. Ron's absence was a painful thing, like the two girls couldn't properly breath without the remaining third of their trio.

The moment they entered the next room, purple fire sprung up to block the passage back. On the other side of the room was a table full of vials, with black fire standing in place of a door. Victoria could feel the magic in the two fires: one prevented the way back, the other blocked the path forward.

"Alright." the Potter witch murmured, cautiously approaching the table with Hermione. She picked up the piece of paper and read it with Hermione.

Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here for evermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onwards neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.

"Snape." she muttered instantly. "Clever. This is logic based."

"Which we still have." Hermione said.

Together, the two witches rapidly figured out which bottle would let them go forward, which would let them go back, the ones that were wine, and the bones that were poison.

But there was only enough in the potion to go forward for one person.

"Hermione." Victoria said, picking up the potion that would let her go forward. "Take the other potion, go back through the flames, get Ron, and use the broomsticks to get through the Devil's Snare and to get by Fluffy. Drop Ron off at the infirmary. Then get Hedwig and send an owl to Professor Dumbledore." she handed Hermione her Invisibility Cloak. "And use this to dodge the teachers."

"Tori—" Hermione protested.

"Go." Victoria insisted over her pounding heart. "I was lucky once. Maybe I'll be lucky again."

Hermione hugged her tightly. "Don't you dare die, Victoria Euphemia Potter."

She hugged her dear friend back just as tightly. "I won't."

And with those words, she drank the potion and stepped through the black flames.

To her shock, it wasn't Snape who was on the other side.

It was Quirrell.

Quirrell gave his speech, and Victoria watched in horror as he took off his turban. And revealed the second face on the back of his head.

"Voldemort." she said.

"Lord Voldemort." the second face, Voldemort, sneered. "Watch your tongue, you little half-blood."

Before she could move, Quirrell her dragged her in front of the mirror. "What do you see?"

In a split-second, she saw her reflection, saw herself hold the red stone in her pocket.

And she felt the wait of the Sorcerer's Stone in her pocket.

"I see myself with my family." she said. "Which you took from me, Voldemort."

The face sneered. "You're lying." then the face smiled. "But I value bravery. Your father died fighting, but your mudlood mother didn't try to fight. She tried to protect you. And if you don't want her death to be in vain, give me the stone."

Victoria told Voldemort to do something she would've never dared to say in front of Professor McGonagall.

Or any teacher, really.

The face spasmed. "KILL HER!"

Quirrell lunged, wrapping his hands around her neck as he pinned her to the floor, slamming her head against her stone floor so heard she felt blood trickle from her temple.

But then he screamed loudly, his hands blistering. Victoria realized he couldn't touch her: and so she grabbed his face, pressing her thumbs against his eyes as she shut her own eyes tight.

Jumping off of her, Quirrell screamed even louder, wailing at the top of his lungs. Voldemort was screaming as well.

She cracked open her eyes to see the burns spreading rapidly, and she closed her eyes again. Her own breathes shaky and unstable, her skin feeling like it was burning from where Quirrell, were Voldemort, had touched her.

Victoria passed out just after she heard Quirrell's body hit the floor.

When she woke up, Professor Dumbledore was sitting next to her. He sighed in relief the moment she opened her eyes and her gaze landed on him.

"Thank Merlin you are okay." the Headmaster said. "I dare say that you gave us all quite a fright, Miss Potter."

"Sorry." she said instinctively.

"Don't be. You prevented Voldemort from returning."

"And Quirrell?"

Dumbledore paused. "Miss Potter, when your mother died protecting you, her death enacted a very powerful protection spell around you. A spell that is very ancient, for it has existed since the start of the magical world."

Victoria sat up gingerly, feeling exhausted. "That's why Quirrell and Voldemort couldn't touch me. It burned them to touch me, and it killed Quirrell."

"Yes." Dumbledore stated bluntly. She appreciated how he didn't try to sugar-coat it. "The ancient protection spell you have on you, the Protectio Sanguinis et Amoris, protects the one casted on at all costs."

He leaned forward. "But in the spells haste to defend you, I see how it exhausted you. While it operates independently from your magic, it can drain you if it seeks to kill Voldemort."

"What happened to him?" the emerald-eyed witch asked.

"He abandoned Quirrell as the spell ate away at him and Quirrell. He's since fled, and I checked the castle a hundred times to make sure he did. As for Quirell... well, a mix of the spell and the rough abandonment of the soul he's been hosting, he died."

She let out a shaky breath, glancing through the window in the direction of the beach. The beach, the place where she, Ron, and Hermione had seen the unicorn blood. "Quirrell's been the one killing the unicorns, and drinking the blood. Does the curse apply to Voldemort?"

"The curse touched both souls." Dumbledore confirmed, face grim. "So yes. No matter what or how long, the curse of the blood of a unicorn will come back to haunt Voldemort with vengeance."

"Good." she said, pulling her knees closer. "He's too much of a threat to prison. Death is the only way he'll stop."

Dumbledore smiled sadly. "It pains me to see how brutally accurate you are, for someone so young."

"I'm not wrong." Victoria said quietly.

"No you are not." Dumbledore acknowledged. "No you are not."

Because of her, Ron, Hermione, and Neville (who had realized they were gone and had helped Hermione get Ron to the infirmary), Gryffindor won the House cup. The school year soon ended, and the Potter Heiress sadly boarded the Hogwarts Express.

Victoria took comfort that in only two months, she would be back in Hogwarts.

And that she had friends that would be there when she returned.

Chapter Text

When Victoria had been researching the Sorcerer's Stone over Thanksgiving Break, she had found an interesting quote about death.

"To fear Death is to fear living. For Death is part of the natural order, and the gateway to the afterlife, where you may rest in eternity with your loved ones."

She hadn't learned who said it, but something about the quote resonated in her.

And as she lay in her bed, stricken with fever and deprived of any medicine, Victoria wondered why she wasn't scared about the potential of dying. Fevers could kill a person, and yet-

Victoria wasn't scared of dying from the fever.

Distantly, she could hear muffled shouting from down below. Someone storming up the stairs and blasting open her bedroom door. A cool hand suddenly pressed against her forehead.

Mustering up her strength, she cracked open her eyes to see who it was.

"Professor McGonagall?" she slurred before passing out.

When Victoria woke up, she felt much better.

Once she realized that the fever was gone and her body felt much healthier, sat up in the soft, cloud-like bed she was in, examining the room.

The room was quaint and lovely, with dark wooden walls and lighter wooden floorboards with rugs placed about. The bed was four-postered like her bed back in her dorm room in Gryffindor Tower, but the sheets were navy blue and white. A single window opposite of her bed let in the sunlight, with a desk placed near it and a large bookcase next to the door, with a comfortable tucked neatly into a corner.

She sat up straighter when she realized that her textbooks were neatly stacked on the desk, and her other books were filed away in the bookcase.

The door opened, and in entered Madam Pomfrey, holding a tray. She sighed in relief when she saw Victoria.

"Oh thank Merlin, you're okay." the older witch declared as she strode over to the bed, conjuring a wooden chair to sit in, letting the tray, which was full of potions, float midair.

"Madam Pomfrey?" she said, blinking. "What am I doing here?"

"You're in Minerva and I's cottage, two miles out from Edinburg." Madam Pomfrey said. "You've been out for three days because of that fever."

She handed Victoria a potion. "Luckily, Minerva and I got to you in time after Arabella called us that she hadn't seen you in a solid month, and that the Dursleys had potentially locked you in the house. And when your friends Ron, Hermione, Lavender, and Parvati said they hadn't heard from you since summer started, we decided to check in on you. And once we saw that the Durselsy were depriving you of medicine despite having one foot in death's door, we took you back home with us."

A tsunami of relief, thankfulness, and adoration overwhelmed her. "Thank you." she said, her throat thick.

Madam Pomfrey placed a hand on her knee. "You're our student, Victoria. It is our duty to make sure you are safe. So that means you're never going back to those horrible people."

The ravenette grinned. "That's music to my ears."

"As it should be." Madam Pomfrey said. "Now, you're still very weak, so you'll need to take these potions."

She obediently took the potions. "These can't all be for the fever." she noted.

"They aren't." Madam Pomfrey said, pursing her lips. "I ran a few diagnostic spells once I got you here. You're severely malnourished and underweight, a few of your bones weren't set but healed correctly, your white blood cell count is far to low, your eyesight is something that makes me furious, you have slight anemia, and you need more vitamins in your body."

"The Dursleys only took me to see a doctor when my left wrist broke." she said.

"Well, I might be a retired Healer from St.Mungo's but I still have my High Mastery of Healing, my Mastery of Potions, my Healing practitioner license, and my private Healing practitioner license. So I can help you get better through a strict potions regime without the press catching wind of this." Madam Pomfrey said. "

"I will bow to your knowledge." Victoria said weakly.

Then she remembered what Madam Pomfrey had said earlier.

"Are you and Professor McGonagall married?" she asked. "I have nothing against same-sex relationships or homosexual people, but—"

"We're together." Madam Pomfrey said with a smile. "On July 14th of this year, Minerva and I celebrated our thirty seventh wedding anniversary."

"Congratulations." Victoria said with a smile.

She hoped that one day, she could find someone to have such a long marriage with.

Professor McGonagall was just as delighted as Madam Pomfrey that she was awake and doing better. Hedwig showed her delight by bringing Victoria several dead mice, but she persuaded her owl to keep the mice.

She wrote to her friends to confirm that she was okay, and sent off Hedwig with the letters. While she waited for the replies, Madam Pomfrey made sure she got all of her medical potions three times a day.

The Potter witch also started working on her summer homework. She first completed her Commons, History of Magic, and Charms homework, then her Herbology and Astronomy homework. She had been in the middle of her Potions essay when she got the replies.

All of her friends were thrilled that she was okay and safe. Ron offered for both her and Hermione to visit the Burrow one a scheduled day together.

Professor McGonagall gave her permission, and the three friends were able to arrange August 23rd as the day to go to the Burrow.

While waiting for August 23rd to come, she went to Gringotts to have a meeting with Radlok and Nadlor as they requested via owl.

"Hello, Senior Accountant Rodlok." she greeted Rodlok as she entered the room the goblin guards had escorted her too. She saw a second goblin. "And hello, Senior Accountant Nadlor."

Nadlor seemed pleased as he looked at Rodlok. "You're right. She is much more politer than the other human brats."

Victoria opted to not question that. She instead took a seat opposite of Rodlok and diagonal of Nadlor. "Shall we get to business, Senior Accountants?"

"Yes, Heiress Potter." Rodlok agreed. "Now, the Potter vaults remain stable and full of gold, as nothing financially dangerous has happened. But the Black Vaults..."

"The Ministry has made their three hundredth and twenty first attempt to seize the Black vaults in March." Nadlor said with a scowl as he shuffled his papers. "Once we revealed that you are the designated Heiress, they stopped. This, however, has prompted Lord Lucius Malfoy to try and steal your inheritance on the grounds that his son is closer related to the Black family. We refuted this with the Black Inheritance Laws, which confirms you as first in line. However, Lord Malfoy will absolutely try again on the grounds that you have not claimed the Black Heirship Ring... which Heir Malfoy also does not have, as Lord Malfoy is keen to forget."

Nadlor slid her a small box that vibrated with magic. "I am the Senior Accountant of the Black Vaults, and I take my job seriously to protect the Black fortune. As you are the Heiress of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black, it is my advice that you take the ring in order to ensure that Lord Malfoy doesn't have a piece of ammunition to try and steal your inheritance."

She placed her thumb on the box, and it opened instantly. Inside was a ring made of titanium, with a large black pearl in the center set with small amethysts. A single seven pointed star was engraved on the center of the black pearl. Victoria placed the ring on, feeling the magic of the ring spread out over her before humming in approval and withdrawing back into the ring. The Potter Heiress ring flared out in response, simultaneously happy and sad, a call the Black Heirship ring responded to.

Well, that was weird.

"Thank you for the advice, Senior Accountant Nadlor." she said. "Can you tell me about the Black family vaults?"

"Well, the main vault, Vault 800, contains over 300 million galleons, 33 million sickles, and 11 million knuts. Unfortunately, because of the war, the fortune has suffered, but the overseas partners continue to pay back toe investments."

The Potter Heiress nodded, thinking everything over. "What business investments do I have? For both the Potter and Black families. What shares do I owe?" she asked.

Rodlok went first. "You own 35% of Potter Potions, as your grandfather Fleamont made sure to keep an investment in the business he built from scratch. For magical companies, you also own 12% of Nimbus Racing Broom Company, 5% of Wilson, Jones, and Anderson, a very good lawyer company, 3% of Madam Malkin's Robes of All Occasions, 10% of Vêtements de la chambre, 15% of Elixires, pociones y brebajes de Martínez, 11% of Helio Bakery, and 11% of Honeydukes Sweets. The latter two are a bakery and sweets shop respectively, both of them have branches in all over Magical Great Britain and in Magical Ireland."

"And the two foreign companies?"

"Elixires, pociones y brebajes de Martínez is a Spanish potion company, and a very good one. They're based in Spain, specifically in Cádiz, but they have branches in Paris, London, Hamburg, Rome, and Lisbon." Rodlok informed her. He suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Vêtements de la chambre, on the other hand, is a clothing store... for the bedroom. It was your mother who suggested it."

Her face went red. "Oh." she squeaked.

"If it helps you, it's a very successful store. It's based in Paris but they four other branches in Venice, Liverpool, Madrid, and Vienna."

Victoria nodded, still red-faced. "And the Black vaults, Senior Accountant Nadlor?"

"As I said earlier, the war has caused the fortune to suffered. I've been forced to use you as a reminder for the handful of businesses the Blacks own as to pay back the investments and shares. On the other hand, the French and Italian businesses we own shares of have still been paying everything back."

He listed off the shares and investments, and Rodlok also handed her a list of the mundane companies her family had invested in.

The meeting wrapped up sooner after, and Victoria used the Floo Network to return to Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey's cottage. It had been a good day in her opinion, and she looked forward to going to the Burrow to see Ron and Hermione.

Chapter Text

When Victoria entered the Weasley home via the Floo network, Ron immediately pulled her into a hug.

"You're okay!" the redhead said with a beaming smile.

She laughed, leaning into Ron's warmth. "I'm okay."

Hermione also joined the hug, laughing and smile.

And for the first time since the school year had ended, Victoria felt like she could breath again.

"You don've have your glasses anymore." Ron noted as the trio meanders through the streets of Ottery St Catchpole. The trio had decided to visit the small village under the supervision of Percy and his girlfriend Penelope Clearwater, who was also visiting.

Percy and Penelope had apparently started dating the previous year, and Ron had found out over the summer by accident. He had then promised Percy that he wouldn't tell anyone until Percy was ready, and Percy had given him permission to tell Hermione and Victoria, because according to Ron, Percy knew the two girls would also not tell anyone without the couple's permission.

The third eldest Weasley child was right about that.

"Madam Pomfrey gave me several medical potions, and one of them was brewed to fix my eyesight." Victoria informed them. "So I don't need them anymore."

"I'm so glad Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey saved you." Hermione said. "And that you're never going back to the Dursleys."

"So am I." Ron added. "I'm glad you're safe now."

Her heart swelled with warmth for her friends. "I am too. And I'm glad I have the two of you as my best friends."

The trio found a local cafe to hang out at. They paid for their food and drinks and began to talk about Hogwarts (using vague terms and code words to make sure any mundanes nearby wouldn't learn that magic existed) and the upcoming school year.

An adult came over, looking concerned. "Are your parents nearby? You're all alone."

Ron quickly spoke. "We're okay. My older brother and his girlfriend are in the chocolate store over there," he pointed to a shop "And my house is just half a mile away."

A second adult, an older woman, waved over the first adult. "That's Ron Weasley, David. He and his siblings wander in here during the summer, and they know the place like the back of their hands."

The man, David, relaxed slightly, nodding and walking away.

"Well," Hermione said. "That was thoughtful of him."

"Three kids alone isn't common in the mundane world." Victoria whispered to Ron.

The redhead blinked but nodded. "Okay. Oh! And we have birthday gifts for you, Vicky."

Her jaw dropped a bit as Ron handed her a hand-made beaded leather bracelet, while Hermione gave her a copy of Les Misérables. Percy and Penelope soon joined them, also ordering food, and Percy also gave Victoria a gift: a glass statue snowy owl in the likeness of Hedwig, small enough to be held.

"I made it myself." Percy told her as she held the glass statue in awe. "It's charmed to be unbreakable, explosion proof, fire-proof, and just about everything Fred and George proof."

The Potter witch couldn't help but laugh at that, as did Ron, Hermione, and Penelope.

Penelope also had a gift for her: a copy of the book Dracula, which Victoria had heard great recommendations about.

"Thank you." she said, grinning. "Thank you so much."

As August drew to a close, Victoria, headed to Diagon Alley to purchase all of her new school items. The Weasleys, Hermione, and her parents Sarah and Andrew Granger, would all be there as well.

After a quick trip of Gringotts to get some gold— and Victoria quietly loaned Hermione and Ron some galleons, knuts, and sickles out of her trust vault after seeing how empty the Weasley vault was, the group stood in the sunshine of Diagon Alley.

"Since there's so many of us, why don't we split up?" Fred suggested. "George and I can go on our own—"

"Absolutely not." Mrs.Weasley said. "I don't want you to burn down Diagon Alley."

Percy stepped up. "I can keep an eye on Victoria, Ron, and Hermione, mother. Mr. and Granger can come with us."

"And the twins can stay with us and Ginny." Mr.Weasley suggested.

Victoria glanced at Ginny, who had been gawking at her for several minutes, which was making her uncomfortable. "You're starting Hogwarts?" she asked.

Ginny blushed and nodded.

Ron came to her rescue and pointed them in the direction of a paper and ink shop. "Let's get some ink for our pens, shall we?"

The trio, Percy, and Mr. and Mrs.Granger all headed to the little shop. It was pleasant inside, and comfortable chatter started up as Percy patiently answered all of Mr. and Mrs.Granger's questions.

An hour later, they had finished up their shopping, and found themselves at Flourish and Blotts.

"Why don't we share Gilderoy Lockhart's books?" Victoria suggested. "Percy, Fred and George, Ron, Hermione, and I are all in Gryffindor, and even if Ginny is Sorted into a different house, we can still loan her the books."

"That sounds like an excellent idea." Fred said. "Let's do it."

Flourish and Blotts was teeming with lots of middle-aged witches, and the trio all got copies of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 while Percy got the assigned Lockhart books, frowning at them.

"I've heard Bill and Charlie complain about these. They say that these books are junk." he muttered.

"Professor McGonagall said the same thing." Victoria added.

"Shush, Percy, Victoria, he's done great things." Mrs.Weasley snapped.

As they got closer to Lockhart, Victoria got an uneasy feeling and maneuvered herself behind the twins, who glanced at her with raised eyebrows. "Bad feeling." she muttered and they both nodded.

"Don't worry, we've got you." Fred assured her and both he and George became an unmovable wall in front of her.

This came into play when Lockhart somehow spotted her and lunged forward to try and grab her, causing her to flinch— only to meet Fred, George, and Percy's icy stares and unmoving bodies as they stood in front of her.

"It's very rude to grab a young witch without her permission." George said calmly.

"Especially an Heiress of a Most Noble and Ancient House. It's a fine of five hundred thousand galleons." Percy added.

Lockhart chuckled nervously. "I never meant any harm! I just wanted to bring Victoria up front—"

The ravenette immediately disliked him. "Heiress Potter." she corrected, cutting him off. "I didn't give you permission to use my first name."

The man stuttered and stammered before retreating back to where he had been signing books, made a pretty speech to save face and gave her a free stack of his books.

She gave them to Ginny, told off Malfoy when he tried to harass her, and went back to Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall's cottage relieved to get away from Lockhart, dreading having to put up with him all year, and excited to start the school year.

Of course, nothing was easy for her, and a House-Elf appeared in the middle of dinner telling her to stay away from Hogwarts before vanishing.

"The universe is out to get me." Victoria sighed once the House-Elf, Dobby, apparated out.

Professor McGonagall just sipped her wine. "As it seems."

"But we'll make sure to comb the school, Victoria." Madam Pomfrey assured her.

Victoria nodded, and desperately hoped the teachers would be able to handle the threat.

Chapter Text

When September 1st arrived, Professor McGonagall Apparated Victoria to directly Platform Nine and Three Quarters two hours before the train would leave. The Transfiguration teacher had insisted on Apparition in case Dobby tried to prevent the barrier from letting her through.

Professor McGonagall had to leave to get the school ready, but stayed long enough for Victoria to find a compartment at the back of the train, store her luggage, and place Hedwig in the overhead area.

After waiting an hour, Hermione found her. "We're second-years now!" the dark skinned girl excitedly said, her light brown eyes filled with excitement.

Victoria grinned at her friend. "We are."

Hermione stored away her trunk and took a seat across from Hermione. The two girls only had to wait thirty minutes for Ron to join them, the redhead beaming brightly. "Time for second year!" Ron said, sitting down a few paces from Hermione.

"I wonder if Lockhart is better than Quirrell?" Hermione wondered.

"He's not sharing a body with Voldemort, as far as we know of." Victoria said. "But I don't like his behavior."

Lockhart just rubbed all of her feathers wrong. She had only met him once, but she just knew he was a glory-hungry narcissistic fame seeker, if Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall's word could be trusted.

Which, for the record, she did.

The train whistle sounded right on time, and pulled out of the station. Victoria waved goodbye to Mrs.Weasley with Ron and Hermione, and only stopped once the train turned a corner.

"So, what do you think this year will be like?" Ron mused.

Victoria winced, remembering what Dobby had claimed. "I have something to tell you guys."

She explained to them what Dobby had told her, the alleged plot that was against Hogwarts, how Dobby insisted she didn't come back, and everything else.

Ron and Hermione were both looking very pale when she finished. All of Ron's freckles stood out against his skin, looking like blood against his ashen face, while Hermione's dark brown skin was leeched of color.

"Do you think that one of the Death Eaters, You-Know-Who's followers, are going to try and hurt you?" Ron asked.

"They lost their chance this summer, before Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey rescued me." Victoria pointed out.

"And," Hermione added. "They'll be trying to hurt you right under all the teacher's noses. And anything they try, like a dark ritual, will have to get through the school wards."

A deep silence engulfed the trio.

The ravenette cleared her throat. "Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey said that they'll tell Professor Dumbledore about Dobby's claims and check over the school."

Ron looked relieved. "That's good."

"Yeah." Hermione added with a nod, looking slightly better. "The teachers should be able to handle it."

The trio got a small stream of visitors: Oliver Wood, Alicia Spinnet, Fred and George Weasley, Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, Neville, Lavender, and Parvati. The trolley witch, whose name was Ruth Hall, passed by at one, and Victoria, having resupplied her purse with money, purchased some water, orange juice, Cauldron Cakes, turkey breast sandwiches, and Chocolate Frogs for the trio to share.

Percy and Penelope checked in on them just after two. They stayed for a bit before leaving to take on their shift again. Ginny also came by, turned red at the sight of Victoria, stammered a few words, and then hurriedly left.

She groaned. "She's a fangirl, isn't she?"

Ron gave her an apologetic look. "I'll talk to her about it. I promise."

"Thank you." she said with a smile.

But the moment Victoria saw what had to be a first-year boy with a camera approach the compartment, she used her wand to cast a Locking charm on the door and then used a spell to lower the compartment blinds.

"Tori." Hermione said with a frown.

"If he isn't a fanboy of me," she said with a grimace. "Then I'll sell my broomstick. I really don't want to get my picture taken, Hermione. I'm famous because I survived the night my parents were murdered, and I'm not proud of that. And I'm not happy of the fame that it brought me. I would give it all for my parents to be back. So forgive me if I don't want to have to tolerate anyone who'll praise me for surviving my parents murder."

Ron nodded. "That's fair."

Hermione also nodded. "It is."

Forty five minutes later, a soft knock was heard. Ron peered through the blinds, smiled a bit, and reversed the Locking charm to let in a first-year girl with dirty blonde hair and pale silver eyes in. She was in her Hogwarts robes, but around her neck was a necklace made from Butterbeer corks. "Hi Luna. How are you doing?"

"Hello Ron." the other girl, Luna, said with a dreamy smile. "I can I stay here? Some others have pushed me out of my compartment."

Victoria frowned. "Really?"

"Yes."

"I'll tell Percy." Ron promised. He then turned to Hermione and Victoria. "Mione, Vicky, this is Luna Lovegood. Her family lives in the hills near mine. Do you mind if she stays with us?"

"Not at all." Victoria said, sympathizing with the girl. She could guess why Luna had been unfairly kicked out of her compartment: she was different. And the emerald-eyed witch could vividly understand being treated harshly for being different.

"Thank you." Luna said, sitting down next to Victoria. She appreciated how the younger girl didn't start fawning over her, and instead enjoyed listening to the other girl talk about The Quibbler, finding the topics of the magazine interesting. Hermione frowned a bit but offered Luna some Cauldron Cakes, which Luna happily accepted.

Percy came by, was told about Luna's situation, and hurried off to restore order and justice.

And for the rest of the ride, nothing major happened. The train pulled into the station right on time, and the trio said goodbye to Luna as she made her way to Hagrid, while Victoria, Ron, and Hermione, all dressed in their Hogwarts robes, followed the older students along a rough dirt path.

At the end of the short path were around a hundred or so stagecoaches that looked something right out of the Regency era dramas that made Petunia cry into soft handkerchiefs. But instead of horses, there was instead two of the weirdest horses she had ever seen. The creatures had a skeletal bodies with bat like wings, dragon-esque faces, and glittering, pupil-less white eyes.

"What's pulling the stagecoach?" she asked, observing the creatures.

Hermione frowned. "Victoria, there's nothing pulling the stagecoach."

"But there is!" she protested. "Right there! There's skeletal winged horses!"

Ron went deathly white. "Thestrals." he said very quietly.

Victoria was confused. "What do you mean?"

"Thestrals are a species of magical creatures that can only be seen by those who have witnessed death." the redhead said very softly.

Her blood went cold. "Oh." she whispered, suddenly feeling very cold.

Victoria knew exactly why she could see the Thestrals: she had witnessed her mother die.

"Let's go." she said weakly and climbed into the stagecoach. Ron and Hermione followed her, with Ron closing the door shut. At once the stagecoach began to move, but she was to consumed in her thoughts to join her friends desperately light-hearted talk.

The stagecoach dropped them off at the front of the castle, and Victoria fled into the castle in a desperate attempt to escape the presence of the Thestrals. Ron and Hermione just held her hands, giving her silent warmth and support she dearly appreciated.

They found seats at the Gryffindor table, sitting near Percy. He noticed her pale complexion and worriedly asked her, but she just mumbled an excuse.

After waiting, Professor McGonagall entered with the first-years, the Sorting commenced, and then Dumbledore stood up to make a speech.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" the Headmaster said with a pleasant smile. "Let us celebrate to another year of learning. May I present to you—"

Lockhart then stood up, obnoxiously clearing his throat. "Thank you, Headmaster." the man said and Victoria's jaw dropped— he had interrupted Professor Dumbledore!

Whispers broke out, several students looking angered on the Headmaster's behalf. Lockhart, completely oblivious, launched into a speech about him, his hair, his alleged adventures, his talents, his hair, himself, his old books, his new book, his hair again, and himself.

The Potter Heiress stopped listening within three minutes and began talking with Percy and Ron about Pride and Prejudice. When Lockhart finally stopped his speech, (forcefully by Professor McGonagall), dinner commenced.

And when Victoria finally got back to her dorm room in the Gryffindor Tower, she knew that she was home.

Chapter Text

The next morning at breakfast, Victoria received her new schedule with the rest of her year-mates. She took one look at the schedule and grimaced.

Monday: 9:OO AM to 11:30 AM - Double Potions (with Slytherins), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - Herbology (with Hufflepuff), 2:15 PM to 3:30 PM- Common subjects (with all other second-years), 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM - Astronomy (at Night, with other second-years)

Tuesday: free period, 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - History of Magic, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 3:30 PM - Double Transfiguration (with Ravenclaw)

Wednesday: 9:OO AM to 11:30 AM - Double Herbology (with Hufflepuffs), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - Defense Against the Dark Arts (with Ravenclaw), 2:15 PM to 3:30 PM - Common subjects (with all other second-years)

Thursday: 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM - Transfiguration (with Ravenclaw), 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - Common subjects (with all other second-years), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - Defense Against the Dark Arts (with Ravenclaw), 2:15 PM to 3:30 - Potions (with Slytherins)

Friday: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Double Charms (with Slytherins) 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 3:30 - Double Transfiguration (with Ravenclaw)

It was a Wednesday.

And while she did enjoy Professor Sprout's Herbology lessons and Commons under Professor Sinistra's and Madam Hooch, but she would have to be dealing with Lockhart today.

Ron leaned close to her. "How much do you want to skip DADA?"

"A lot." she hissed.

"Professor Lockhart can't be that bad." Hermione protested as she buttered up some toast.

The redhead looked down at Hermione's schedule. "Why do you have all of Lockhart's classes outlined with hearts?"

Hermione's blush was hard to tell with her darker skin tone, but Victoria knew her best friend well enough to see the blush. And because she was a good best friend, she came to Hermione's rescue. "

"So, what do you think that Professor Sprout will teach us?" she asked.

That struck up a conversation between the trio, and after they finished their breakfast, they headed to the greenhouses, joining the waiting crowd of second-years. Professor Sprout was also there, obviously waiting for the rest of the class. Once everyone had gathered, she took them to greenhouse three.

Victoria held in a groan when she saw Lockhart waiting for them there.

"Ah, Professor Sprout!" Lockahrt said with a to white smile. "I was just wondering if I can give you a few tips for your—"

"I have a class to teach." Professor Sprout snapped, suddenly looking very grumpy. "Inside, everyone!"

She placed Ron in-between her and Lockhart, but the man still grabbed her shoulder before she could get into the greenhouse. "Ah, Victoria—"

"Heiress Potter." she snapped, yanking herself out of his grip as she looked at him coldly. "No, I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to hear anything you have to saw."

And with that, she entered Greenhouse three, taking a particularly vindictive pleasure with how Professor Sprout slammed the door in Lockhart's face.

That day, Professor Sprout taught them about mandrakes, and ended the class with assigning them a two paged essay about mandrakes and their uses.

Victoria, Ron, and Hermione first headed to the Gryffindor Tower to get a shower. As she entered the common room, talking in low voices with Ron and Hermione, she was suddenly aware of someone watching her.

She looked to see a very small first-year boy holding a mundane camera, watching as if transfixed. He went bright red the moment Victoria looked at him.

"All right, Victoria? I'm — I'm Colin Creevey." ht said, his eyes never leaving her face as he took a tiny step forward. "Can I have a picture?"

"What?" she asked.

"So I can prove that I met you!" he said, taking another step forward. "I know all about you." Ron scoffed at those words. "Everyone's told me about you and I've read all the books about you. About how you survived You-Know-Who's attack on you, how he died and you survived with a scar." (His eyes raked Victoria's hairline) "and a boy in my dormitory said that if I use the right potion to develop my pictures, it will move. My dad's a milkman you know, and he can't believe magic exists either. And so I'm going to take lots of pictures to send him to him and my family. I wanted to meet you on the train. Can one of your friends take the picture so I can stand next to you?"

He said that all in one excited breath and then took a picture of her.

"No." Victoria said. "I don't do pictures or autographs. So please destroy that picture."

"But I want to prove that I met you!"

"And I want my privacy and personal rights to be respected." she snapped back.

Hermione stepped in. "Also, it's against the rules to take pictures of students without their permission."

"But—"

"No." Victoria insisted. "Please don't."

She then headed to the girls dormitory, hoping the end the conversation. Colin tried to follow, but the charms of the dorm prevented any boy from getting through the doorway. The Potter witch made a beeline for her dorm, entering one of the bathrooms to shower. As she did, she made a mental note about the books Colin had mentioned. Maybe she could ask the goblins if there was any lawyers to stop those books.

Victoria finished her shower, got into a clean uniform, and wrote the letter to Rodlok about the books and possibly shutting those done, along with another letter for Mrs.Figg. She then headed down the stairs of the dorm, peering through the door to see Percy scolding Colin. She seized the chance to slip out the common room unnoticed and headed for the owlery.

The owlery was just like she had seen it last time, and Victoria easily spotted Hedwig amongst the owls. Hedwig was gobbling down a plump mouse.

"Hello Hedwig." she greeted softly, petting Hedwig's feathers. Hedwig hooted in greeting, fluttering to Victoria's shoulder and preening at her jet black hair. "I got some letters for you, okay? For Mrs.Figg and Senior Accountant Rodlok at Gringgots.

Hedwig hooted in confirmation, letting Victoria attach the letters onto her leg. She nibbled at Victoria's ear before flying away.

She waited until she couldn't see Hedwig in the sky, before going to the Great Hall.

Lockhart's class was a complete disaster. Ron's wand was snapped by one of the pixies, and by the end of Commons (in which they had done physical education under Madam Hooch's watchful gaze), the entire school knew about his failed first class.

"We're definitely self-studying this year." Victoria said to Ron during dinner.

"We are." Ron said. "Hermione still believes in him."

"It's a fangirl crush."

"But Mione's smarter than that!"

Victoria nodded. "Yeah." she said, and then spotted Percy. "Also, you need a new wand." she said, loud enough to get Percy's attention.

Percy's head shot up and he joined them, frowning. "Why does Ron need a new wand?"

"The Cornish pixies Lockhart unleashed snapped his." Victoria said without missing a beat.

"He did what?" Percy asked in a deathly calm voice.

Victoria repeated what he said.

"Ron, with me. We're telling Professor McGonagall." Percy hissed.

The younger Weasley son didn't try to protest and got up to follow Percy.

"Also, do you know any good places to self-study for DADA?" he asked.

"Room 3I is a good room." Percy said. "But if you two are going to practice spells, then I want to be there to supervise."

The Potter Heiress nodded. "Fair enough. Your runes partner and Luna can join us."

Percy smiled at her. "I'll ask."

By the next morning, Victoria got confirmation that yes, Penelope and Luna would join them in room 3I for a DADA study group. Ron also had his new wand: willow, fourteen inches longer, and with the core of a single unicorn hair. She easily saw, during Transfiguration the next day, how his spells improved with a wand that had chosen him.

Maybe, she thought as she turned her beetle into a button. This year wouldn't be so bad.

Chapter Text

As the week went on, Victoria got very used to dodging Lockhart, in addition to Colin Creevey. Despite the first-year getting talked to by Percy Weasley and Professor McGonagall, this didn't stop him from constantly trying to follow Victoria and take pictures of her. In the end, his first camera was confiscated, but he somehow got it back.

The rest of school was pleasant, and the lessons proved just as fascinating and interesting as the previous year. But instead of learning anything in DADA, Victoria learned through her self study in her study group with Percy, Ron, Luna, Penelope, and Neville, who had been invited into the study group by Ron.

The three second-years and the Ravenclaw first-year learned many useful spells over the course of the first week. Victoria's copy of Curses and Counter-Curses proved very useful, and Penelope provided a few other books from the library: Defense Against the Dark Arts: A Guide to Protection, Jinxes for the Jinxed, and An Introductory to Spells for Defense Against the Dark Arts all proved to be very useful.

Among the spells Victoria learned where the the General Counter-Curse, the Shield Charm, the Bat-Bogey Hex, the Full Body-Bind Curse, the Impediment Jinx, the Stunning Spell, and her favorite—

"Expelliarmus!" Victoria shouted, sending Percy's wand flying.

"You have really good reflexes." the older boy complimented as Luna gave him his wand back.

She smiled shyly. "Thank you."

"Can I go?" Luna asked.

"Of course." Percy said, and let Ron volunteer to be Luna's practice partner.

She leaned closer too Penelope. "How's Luna?"

"She's been okay, but I've had to intervene a few times with the bullying." Penelope said with a scowl. "I told Professor Flitwick, and he's cracked down on the bullying. He also gave her a private room, enchanted so only him, Luna, and I can get in, so people won't steal her stuff."

"Professor Flitwick's great." Victoria said.

Penelope nodded. "He really is."

Luna and Ron both disarmed each other, and then it was Neville's turn. He looked very nervous, and Victoria squeezed his hand in encouragement. "Imagine disarming your opponent as you say the spell." she suggested.

Neville gave her a shaky smile. "I will. Thanks."

When Neville succeeded in disarming Ron, Victoria cheered for him.

The Longbottom Heir had been doing really well in the study group. With Penelope and Percy both willing to calmly explain to him the spells and theory, he had been thriving.

"I got a few requests to join." Percy told her quietly.

Victoria scowled. "Do they want to join to learn, or to try and worm their way into my good graces?"

Her study group wasn't the only one— with Lockhart teaching nothing, several students had formed study groups to self-study DADA. And when her study group's existence had been discovered, students where constantly trying to get in.

The ravenette had refused them all. She knew they where only trying to court her favor, and she hated that idea.

"The latter way." Percy informed her. "I already told them no."

She smiled. "Thank you Perce."

"You're my honorary little sister. Of course I'll help you."

Percy's words made her feel as if she had won the lottery.

On Saturday morning, Victoria was woken up earlier than she would've liked.

"Angelina?" she croaked, peering up at the older girl.

"Oliver's having practice." Angelina informed her grimly.

"It's six in the morning." she protested.

Alicia appeared, looking both annoyed and exhausted. "It's Oliver. What do you expect?"

The last Potter muttered a curse and fumbled for her wand. "I have a plan."

Victoria stumbled out of the bed and headed down the stairs. She quietly opened the door of the girl's dorm to see Oliver in the common room, his back to her.

"Stupefy." the emerald-eyed witch whispered, and Oliver fell face first onto the floor.

Katie applaud. "Excellent."

"Back to bed then." George said through a yawn.

The team got another three hours of sleep before they let Oliver drag them out to the Quidditch pitch, but only after Fred and George brought everyone coffee, tea, and five trays worth of breakfast food from the kitchens so they could eat.

Victoria did her best to pay attention but was still very tired. So when the chance to start flying came around, she was relieved to get into the air.

Of course, nothing was that simple, because the Slytherin team had apparently book the pitch the same day as the Gryffindor team, and Malfoy was apparently the new seeker after bribing his way onto the team.

Predictably, a fight broke out, and once Malfoy insulted her mother by calling Lily Potter a "mud-blood", Victoria hexed him with the Bat-Bogey Hex.

Professor Sprout came over to break up the fight, and once she heard the story, removed fifty points from Slytherin for using the slur and gave Malfoy detention. Practice was over, and Victoria decided to visit Hagrid.

She grimaced the moment she saw Lockhart and hid behind a bush until he was gone. Then she knocked on Hagrid's door.

The gamekeeper looked very annoyed when he opened the door, but then he saw her. "Victoria! How have yeh bin?"

"Good." she said, entering his hut as Hagrid stepped aside. "A fight broke out in the pitch though."

"Really? Wha' happened?" Hagrid asked.

Victoria explained what had happened, and he looked very upset.

"Malfoy had no righ' ter call your mother tha'. Your mother was one o' the most brilliant students ter attend hogwarts." Hagrid informed her as he handed her a plate of treacle tart, her favorite dessert. "Absolutely killed it at care o' magical creatures an' potions. She was really good at potions, could give Professor Snape a run fer his money. Lily was better 'n loads o' the pure-bloods she went ter school with."

She smiled. "Thanks Hagrid."

"Anytime, victoria. I got loads o' stories abou' your parents if yeh wan' ter know." Hagrid told her. He then slapped himself on the face. "An' before i forget! I got yo summat. Bin working on it fer over a year."

He handed her a neatly bound leather book. When Victoria opened it, she saw that it was filled with wixen pictures of her parents, and of her.

"Hagrid." she said, her voice breaking. "Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

The Potter Heiress hugged him tightly, and he hugged her back very gently.

"I was goin' ter give it ter yeh fer Christmas. But i think yeh need it more now." Hagrid told her.

Victoria left Hagrid's hut with a small basket full of baked goods she planed to share with her year-mates and Luna, the photo album tucked securely under one arm. The day couldn't be ruined in her opinion.

Then she woke up in the middle of the night when she heard a mysterious voice echoing through the walls of Hogwarts about killing someone.

Chapter Text

As September turned into October, bring its chill, a sudden spat of colds amongst the students and staff had Madam Pomfrey handing out the Pepperup Potion to anyone who needed it. Ginny Weasley, who had looked very ill, was persuaded into taking some by Percy, but the steam that came out of her ears, paired with her vivid red hair, gave the affect that she was on fire.

The cold of the Scottish autumn didn't stop the teachers from teaching, but Professor Flitwick's popularity soared when he taught the second-years both the Drying Charm, the Umbrella Spell, and the Warming Charm, spells that were frequently abused by students of all years.

But despite the rain, classes kept on. Professor McGonagall had revised the Avifors spell, before teaching them how to turn animals into a water glass, and then a porcupine into a pinch cushion. Herbology was in the green houses, but Professor Sprout kept the greenhouses warm, but Potions was in the very cold dungeons, and Astronomy was held at night. Commons was held in the warmth of class 1D, but the rain didn't stop Madam Hooch from hosting physical education in a modified classroom on the fourth floor.

The rain also didn't stop Oliver from his fanatic training sessions. Three times a week, the Gryffindor Quidditch team was on the pitch practicing, in addition to Sunday's in the gym for other training.

It was this training that found Victoria making her way back to the Gryffindor Tower three days before Halloween, shivering as she cast several Drying and Warming Charms on herself, in addition to the Cleaning charms that Penelope had taught her a few weeks ago. This got rid of the mud and water that practice had left her soaked in.

Victoria spotted Nearly Headless Nick looking out of a window and muttering something. "Hey Nick." she greeted with a yawn, longingly thinking of her bed.

"Oh, hello Victoria." Nick greeted. He looked agitated. "May I ask you a question?"

"Sure." she said.

"Would you think that getting hit forty-five times in the neck with a blunt axe would qualify you to join the Headless Hunt?" Nick asked.

She froze, remembering Percy's grumblings. "Yes." she said, not wanting to annoy Nick.

"And yet, I am continuously denied entrance!" Nick groaned.

"They sound like assholes, so you shouldn't bother." Victoria said carefully. "Maybe you should start your own group."

Nick paused, before suddenly looking thoughtful. "Back in 1733... then in 1616, well, he is a raging—" he cut himself off, looking at her. "I do say that you are right, Victoria."

She gave him a thumb's up, swaying on her feet. "Anytime."

Nick then looked around. "You better go, Victoria. Filch is on the prowl. I'll try and distract him for you."

"Thank you, Nick." she said, and hurried off.

Halloween arrived, and with it, Victoria's grief for her parents.

Her roommates had been extra kind to her when she woke up the next morning, with Parvati bringing her a delicious Indian chai. Lavender had done something that got Colin Creevey out of the way as well, and the older Gryffindors gave her not pity, but support.

At this point, they all knew how she thought of Halloween: not the day she defeated Voldemort (somehow), but the day she lost her parents.

Summoning her courage, that afternoon, she walked to Professor McGonagall's office.

"Professor McGonagall?" she asked, knocking on the door.

The door opened. "Yes, Victoria?" the Transfiguration professor asked.

Victoria had given the older witch permission to use her first name in private.

She steeled herself. "I want to visit my parent's grave. It's a Saturday anyways."

Professor McGonagall's eyes softened instantly. "Oh, oh of course! Here, get let me get ready and I'll take you. I presume you're all set?"

She nodded. "I am."

It took Professor McGonagall ninety seconds to get ready, another thirty to send word to Professor Dumbledore about what she was doing, and then they walked down to Hogsmeade before Professor McGonagall Apparated them away.

Victoria blinked as they reappeared in a small village. It was quaint and quiet, with cobblestone streets and fairytale like houses that seemed instantly familiar to Victoria.

"Their graves are this way." Professor McGonagall said gently, and lead her through the small town to a church, and the graveyard in the back of it.

With ease that told Victoria this wasn't the Deputy Headmistress's first time visiting, she lead Victoria to a grave.

Her parent's grave.

A small noise escaped Victoria as she knelt down before her parent's grave.

The tombstone was made of white marble, and it held the dates of her parents. She read them, learning that her mother's birthday had been January 30th and her father had been born on March 27th, both in the year 1960.

She hadn't known that, and a deep bitterness bubbled in her gut, directed at the Dursley's, who had told her nothing about her parents, and had seemed to delight in depriving her of any knowledge of her mother and father.

"Hi." Victoria said. "I... I know I'm pretty late to visiting the two of you. But... but I'm here now."

Tears formed in her eyes but she didn't stop them. What could she say— "Thank you for dying for me?"

Instead she decided to say something different. "I'm at Hogwarts now. In Gryffindor, like both of you. And I have these two amazing friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and—"

She kept on like that, talking about her life at Hogwarts and her friends. About how much she missed them, how much she wished she knew more about them, and the Potter family.

After around four or five hours, Professor McGonagall joined her. "Lily and James would be very proud of you."

"You think so?" the ravenette asked.

"I know so." Professor McGonagall said.

Victoria glanced back at the tombstone, at the lack of anything there. "What were their favorite flowers?" she asked.

"Lily's favorite flowers were irises, and James's loved amaranth flowers. The family flower of the Potter family." Professor McGonagall informed her.

She pulled out her wand, looked around for any mundanes, but saw none. She murmured the incantation of the flower-conjuring spell, creating a bouquet of iris and amaranth flowers.

Victoria got to her feet, looking at Professor McGonagall. "I'm ready to go now."

Professor McGonagall nodded, and gently took her shoulder before Apparating them back to Hogsmeade. They headed back to the castle, but Victoria opted to skip the feast and go back to the Gryffindor tower.

She was midway through completing her chemistry homework for Commons when she heard it. The voice that she had heard over a month ago.

Victoria froze, wanting to go both stop the voice but also not wanting to get herself killed. So reluctantly, she stayed in the Gryffindor tower.

And listened, shocked, when Lavender, Hermione, Ron, and Parvati all told her about Mrs.Norris's mysterious petrification.

Of course, rumors spread and somehow, Victoria was a suspect.

Professor McGonagall instantly intervened in those rumors, explaining (with Victoria's permission), where she had been on Halloween night, and with the Fat Lady's confirmation that she hadn't left the Gryffindor Tower once inside, it left only the deeply suspicious people thinking that she was behind the petrification.

"Which is ridiculous." Parvati said as she worked on some paper. "Professor Dumbledore even made a point this morning in his speech that what petrified Mrs.Norris was done by some serous dark magic that a second-year can't do."

"And you have a solid alibi." Lavender said, peering down at the paper Parvati was working on.

"What are you two doing?" Hermione asked.

The two girls exchanged a look.

Lavender cleared her throat. "We're working on the finances for our five-year plan straight out of Hogwarts for our fashion company."

"And we have yet to pick a name." Parvati sighed.

Ron looked at their paper. "Well, you've made a few errors. Year three should have 4,500 galleons."

Both girls instantly checked out what Ron said, and then looked at him the way a predator eyed their prey. "You're good at finances." Lavender said.

The redhead nodded warily. "I am."

"Care to join us?" Lavender said. "You can be vice-president and our business partner."

"I want a blood contract." Ron demanded.

Parvati nodded. "Deal."

And just like that, Ron was signed on as Lavender and Parvati's business partner.

"But who petrified Mrs.Norris?" Hermione wondered.

"Someone with a lot of knowledge in the Dark Arts." Victoria said.

"What about Snape?" Ron suggested. "Or Malfoy?"

"No, Malfoy's not descended from Salazar Slytherin, and Snape was away for a family emergency." Lavender said.

Victoria opted to not ask how Lavender knew the latter part.

"Well, let's keep our eyes and ears out." Victoria said. "And if we find anything important, we can report it to the teachers."

That got a murmur of agreement from her friends, Lavender, and Parvati. Curfew came, and Victoria fell asleep hoping that the teachers would be able to handle it.

Chapter Text

The day of the Slytherin verses Gryffindor Quidditch match came, and it quickly went to hell.

Victoria dodged the Bludger that always came after her with a grunt. Fred whacked it again while George swiftly repelled it.

"Someone's charmed this Bludger!" Fred grunted as he gave the Bludger another smack

"No, it's acting perfectly normal!" Victoria sarcastically remarked.

George successfully signaled for a team meeting. There, Fred reported the Bludger to Oliver and the rest of the Quidditch team.

"There's a Bludger coming after you?" Alicia repeated, aghast.

"I don't have a Bludger coming after me, Alicia, I have a kitten." Victoria snarked dryly.

Just then, she sensed something coming after her and ducked. Fred gave the Bludger a powerful whack, sending it the other way.

"Holy shit." Katie blurted out, horror written all over her face. "Oliver, forfeit the game. The cup isn't worth this!"

"No, I can handle it. I can sense magic, and it will give me a sixth sense on keeping away from the Bludger." Victoria said. "I'm also ambidextrous, so if hits one of my arms then I still have my other one. Fred, George, protect the others."

"But—" Angelina tried to protest.

"I can handle it." the ravenette said. "Just trust me."

Oliver looked torn. "Alright, if Victoria says she can handle it, then she can handle it. But get that Snitch quick."

She nodded. "I will."

And so the Quidditch game, the stakes now much higher for the Gryffindor team.

Victoria speeded around the stadium, flying through the Slytherin chasers formations to lead the Bludger on a wild goose chase. She then paused when she saw the Golden Snitch hovering above Malfoy's head.

She pushed her broom to its maximum speed, causing Malfoy to scream and flee while she quickly grabbed hold the Snitch. Sensing the malevolent magic of the Bludger, she rolled midair.

The Bludger slammed into her right elbow, and she could feel the bones get destroyed. Luckily, her broom was only a few feet off the ground and she was able to land roughly but quickly.

But the Bludger wasn't done yet. It rose up again, but she snatched her wand from where she stored it in her wand-hostler. She rolled on the ground again to avoid the Bludger, the iron ball slamming into the ground were her head had just been seconds ago.

"Bombarda Maxima!" she shouted, pouring her magic into the spell she had learned in her group's DADA study group only five days ago. The Bludger exploded into several pieces.

Angelina landed next to her and helped her to her feet. "Are you okay?" Angelina asked.

"Yes, my arm is perfectly fine." Victoria snapped before wincing. "Sorry."

"No, I deserved that." the older girl said. "Here, let me help." she withdrew her wand. "Ferula."

Instantly, her broken arm was bandaged and set in a splint. "Thanks." she said.

Fred landed next to them, took one look at her, and grimaced. "Where's the Bludger?"

"It tried to kill me, so I destroyed it." she revealed.

"Yeah, everyone saw that." George said as he landed next to Fred. "Oh, and we won. 220 to 60."

She gave them an exasperated. "I'm so glad that my broken arm means something in the face of victory."

Fred burst into laughter while Angelina rolled her eyes and began helping Victoria out of the pitch and to Madam Pomfrey.

Only for Lockhart to cut them off.

"Victoria—" he said, lunging for her.

Angelina cut him off with her wand.

"It's Heiress Potter." Victoria snarled, baring her teeth. "Now step aside so I can go to Madam Pomfrey."

"No, there's no need for that." Lockhart waved a hand. "I can repair your arm in a jiffy—"

"No!" Victoria snapped.

"She said no!" Angelina cried, trying to get the ravenette away from Lockhart.

But he waved his wand, causing Victoria to try and get out of the way of his wand.

Only for her to scream as suddenly, all the bones in her left leg were gone.

"That horrible, incompetent, idiotic, inept, unskillful, substandard, no good, unqualified, bungling, inexpert, useless, foolish, witless, fatuous, nonsocial, stupid man!" Madam Pomfrey roared as she quickly fixed Victoria's broken arm with a snap of her fingers.

Madam Pomfrey then turned too Angelina. "And ten points to Gryffindor for an expert use of the Bandaging charm."

"What about Vicky's leg, Madam Pomfrey?" Ron asked worriedly.

"I just want to know if I can press charges." Victoria snarled.

"You can." Madam Pomfrey said as she pulled out a potion. "What he did was a direct violation of the 1694 Laws of Healing Magic and Healers."

"Good. Can I have some paper and a pen to write to Rodlok about it?" she asked.

She had already won the lawsuits against the books and newspaper articles illegally written by her, and got a heft amount of gold from it. The goblins had taken their fee, but the rest was transferred to the main Potter vault.

"Tomorrow." Madam Pomfrey declared, coming back to her hospital bed with two potions. "Now, this potion is Skele-Gro." she tapped the larger bottle. "This one," she held up the purple bottle. "Is a pain numbing potion. You're going to regrow all the bones in the leg, and it isn't going to be fun."

Victoria dutifully drank the potions, and Madam Pomfrey used a spell to swap her Quidditch robes for a soft pair of hospital pajamas.

Percy entered, levitating a small stack of books. She grinned. "Thank you Perce!"

"Lockhart's popularity has dropped in the Gryffindor Tower. Literally one his fans are on his side." he informed her.

"And Fred and George?" Ron asked.

"Lockhart's locked himself in his office. He lost his hair, his skin is neon rainbow, his eyes are a disgusting shade of magenta, his teeth are now black. All of his robes are gone and someone burned his office."

"Why isn't he here?" Ron wondered.

"Because that idiot can he heal himself!" Madam Pomfrey declared from her desk.

Hermione came in. "Victoria, are you okay?"

"Lockhart vanished all the bones in my leg. I'm not okay." she pointed out.

"Surely it was a mistake." Hermione protested.

"Dumbledore examined his wand, that blonde bumbling boneheaded blockheaded buffoon was using a Vanishing Charm, not a healing spell." Professor McGonagall said as she entered. "Damn the DADA jinx, incidents like these are why we should suspend DADA and let the students self-study until we can break the jinx."

"Percy, Ron, Neville, Luna, Penelope, and I have already been doing that." Victoria admitted as she took out Pride and Prejudice from the stack of books Percy had brought her, mouthing "thank you" at him. Percy just gave her a reassuring smile, nodded, and then left.

"Very good." Professor McGonagall praised.

"But Professor Lockhart did all of his achievements in his books." Hermione said.

"Things he said he's done." Ron grumbled.

Later that night, Victoria woke up to someone dabbing her forehead.

She reflexively cast a jinx, causing the person to yelp and jump away. Victoria sat up straighter, trying valiantly to ignore the stabbing pains in her leg as she squinted at the person, and realized who it was.

"Dobby." she hissed. "What did you do?"

The House-Elf looked miserable. "Victoria Potter went to Hogwarts. Why didn't she stay home when Dobby told her to not go to Hogwarts?"

"You really didn't have much evidence or solid ground on why I should've not come." Victoria bluntly stated.

Dobby blew his nose in the pillowcase he was wearing. Victoria knew from Madam Pomfrey's explanation about House-Elves that they wore pillow cases, rags, or tea towels as a sign of their bondage to their family, and could only be set free by being given proper clothing.

"Victoria Potter must go home!" Dobby wailed. "Dobby thought that his Bludger would be enough—"

"Your Bludger?!" she snapped, her anger rising. "That was you? It didn't just break my arm, it almost killed me!"

"Dobby would never kill Victoria Potter!"

"It went for my head! If I wasn't able to get out the way, I would be in a coffin." she hissed.

Dobby wailed again. "No, Victoria Potter would've been sent back home! The Bludger would've knocked Victoria Potter out cold, not killed her! Victoria Potter must go home because the Chamber of Secrets is open again—"

That caught her attention. "Chamber of Secrets?" she echoed. "What do you know of the Chamber of Secrets? Is that why you're trying to get me out of Hogwarts? But I'm not mundane-born, I'm a half-blood. Hermione's the one in danger, along with all the other mundane-borns! I can't leave Hermione."

Dobby sobbed. "Victoria Potter is as selfless and as honorable as Dobby heard! But Victoria Potter must go home—"

"I don't have a home outside of Hogwarts. The Dursleys left me to die when I got a fever."

That stopped Dobby could. "Surely Victoria Potter is mistaken—"

"Ask Madam Pomfrey that. Or Professor McGonagall." she pointed out.

Suddenly, footsteps approached and Dobby Apparated out of the hospital wing with a loud crack! while Victoria pretended to be asleep.

And listened to the revelation that Colin Creevey was petrified.

The next day, Victoria was released during lunchtime, and she hurried to find her friends. She entered the Great Hall to a wave of cheers by the Gryffindors, and she had to dodge many first-years to get to Ron and Hermione.

She quietly whispered what Dobby had told her to them as they ate their breakfast. She felt the suspicious stares from the other houses, but ignored them.

Gryffindor, her house, they knew she wasn't the one who had petrified Colin. Several even cracked jokes or made sarcastic remarks about how obvious it wasn't her, and many flat out declared that they believed she wasn't the heir.

"Well, Lavender confirmed that Malfoy isn't descended from Salazar Slytherin." Ron whispered. "And I checked out Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy to confirm it."

"Maybe Hagrid has an idea about it." Hermione suggested. "He knows a lot about magical creatures."

It was a Sunday, and since the trio had completed their homework and schoolwork for the week, they headed down to Hagrid's hut for a visit.

Hagrid was happy to see them, and offered them fried eggs, tomatoes, and hash browns with a jovial smile, and slightly teased Victoria about Ginny Weasley's inflation with her. But his smile quickly turned into a frown when they told him why they were there.

"Slytherin's monster? i don' have the faintest clue wha' it is." he stopped, looking torn before continuing on. "The las' time the chamber o' secrets was open, it was when i was attending hogwarts. It was 1943, an' a girl was murdered by the heir an' their monster. I was framed an' expelled. They said it was me spider, but spiders don' petrify people. Neither do they kill without leaving so much as leaving a mark, like the Killing Curse."

He then looked at them. "And I haven' bin the one behind mrs.Norris an' creevey's petrifications. I was in hogsmeade during halloween, in the three broomsticks, an' las night I was helping professor kettleburn get the thestrals he is goin' ter show sixth year class ready."

"We believe you." Victoria said. "You're not a murder, Hagrid."

"Someone framed you." Hermione murmured. "Who was it?"

Hagrid shrugged. "I don' have a clue who framed me. But the person who reported me was Tom Riddle, a Slytherin prefect."

Chapter Text

The Dueling Club incident was a complete disaster.

Or, not entirely. On the plus side, Victoria learned she was a Parselmouth, something that she shared with her dad, grandmother Euphemia, and great-grandmother Swati Potter, all of whom were Parselmouth. Parvati also told her that one in four Indian wixen were Parselmouths, as the ability of Parseltongue was incredibly common in Indian and several Asian countries.

But on the down side, because she could speak Parseltongue had the near entirety of the school (barring the staff and Gryffindors) believed she was the Heir of Slytherin.

Which was completely false, given that she had been in the hospital wing when Colin was attacked and in the Gryffindor Tower during Mrs.Norris petrification. But when she found Justin and Nick both petrified, it seemed to solidify everyone's belief.

Victoria was walking to Transfiguration when it happened. She sensed a spell and quickly cast "Protego!"

A spell bounced off her shield, and she turned to see a completely unrepentant fourth-year Ravenclaw boy readying another spell.

"Expelliarmus!" she quickly cast, sending the boy's wand flying.

The door to the Transfiguration class flew one, and Professor McGonagall stood before them. She took one look at the scene and exploded in fury.

After that incident, Gryffindor closed ranks and took her side for the scandal. Older students coordinated walked with Victoria and the second-years to their classes, Percy Weasley kept watch when the trio was in the library, and minor scuffles broke out between the Gryffindors and those who believed Victoria was the Heir of Slytherin.

And many scuffles had broken out. Victoria had quickly learned to master Shield charms, and she had also mastered the Disarming Charm. Professor McGonagall was ruthlessly handing out detentions to those who tried to hex or jinx her, and those who had detention with the Head of Gryffindor often left Victoria alone.

"Why does everyone believe it's me?" Victoria hissed in the common room one night after having to deal with no less than six scuffles. "I have alibis that involve people confirming were I was for all the attacks!"

"People will believe in anything if they're scared." Parvati said wisely as she, Ron, and Lavender huddled together over a project for their fashion business.

"I'm still mad about it." she grumbled.

Neville nervously cleared his throat. "Are you going to stay here for Christmas, Victoria?"

"Maybe?" she shrugged. "I don't know, I might stay with Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall if they'll let me."

"You're staying with them?" Neville asked.

She explained to him the series of events that lead her to stay with the two staff members during the summer, and he looked horrified.

"It's fine now, I'm never going back." she tried to assure him. "And I might just stay here and read up on wixen etiquette."

"My gran can teach you." Neville offered. "You can spend the holiday with me and my gran."

Victoria blinked, tilting her head. "If you're okay with that."

"I am." he assured her. "I'll write to my gran first, though."

Augusta Longbottom sent a reply the next day, assuring Neville and Victoria she was more than happy to let Victoria to come to Longbottom Estate for Christmas. From there, she got a permission slip from Professor McGonagall, and on the last day of the term, rode the Hogwarts Express to Platform Nine and Three Quarters with Ron, Hermione, Neville, Lavender, and Parvati.

Longbottom Estate was a truly lovely place.

The ancestral Longbottom home was located near the coast of Suffolk, just an hour long walk from the coast. The manor house was four stories high and appeared as if it had grown straight out of the ground. Jasmine grew around the walls of the manor, which had several windows to let in the sunlight.

On the inside, the walls were a handsome Oxford blue shade, with the first floor containing a glass room, a dinning room, a sitting room, and the foyer. A large staircase lead to the upper floors, and the second floor was split into a massive library on the left and the guest rooms on the right. Victoria's guest room was cozy, with soft purple walls, a four-poster bed with pale purple and white sheets and bedspread, a nightstand, a desk, and bookshelf. Her windows gave her a gorgeous view of the grounds.

And the grounds extended from the manor house for several acres, and contained beautiful gardens and several greenhouses, three of which were Neville's private greenhouses, and he showed her his plants, many of which were very rare.

Victoria couldn't help but observe how alive Neville became in his greenhouses. How his eyes light up and his face broadcasted 'happiness' and his body relaxed when in the greenhouse.

Alongside Neville's greenhouses, she got very familiar with the sitting room of the manor house, given that was were Augusta drilled her in wixen etiquette.

"Your the Heiress for two Most Noble and Ancient Houses." Augusta told her on the first day. "And given that Dumbledore foolishly left you blind and forced you to learn the basics yourself, I will personally see to you learning all the etiquette and duties for a proper lady of your station."

Etiquette classes consistes of politics, finances, Language of Flowers, Laws and Ethics, how to greet people depending on their house and station, and how to walk properly without slouching— which did include walking around with books on her head like those old princess cartoons she and Mrs.Figg used to make fun of, and now she envied Heiress Daphne Greengrass, who could walk with her back straight as easy as breathing.

Augusta also gave her The Talk when Victoria got her first period two days into her stay at Longbottom Estate. That had been a mortifying yet descriptive, enlightening, and detailed five hour long conversation.

Luckily, Augusta also gave her and Neville time to relax and have fun. Exploding snap, reading, Dueling practice, visiting Ron and Hermione, spell casting practice, time in the greenhouses, a shopping trip of London to do their Christmas shopping, and a few trips of the beach were some of the actives that they did.

"I'm so glad you offered for me to come here." Victoria told Neville as they walked to the beach. "This has been so wonderful."

Neville beamed. "I'm glad you love it here."

The ravenette nodded. "I really do. Would you be open to me coming here for summer?"

"Be open?" Neville echoed. "Victoria, Gran would love that! I would love that!"

"So thats a yes?" she asked, feeling hopeful.

"Of course it is!" Neville declared.

Christmas Day came, and Victoria headed downstairs to see piles of presents stacked beneath the Christmas tree.

"Happy Christmas, Victoria!" Neville said.

"Merry Christmas, Nev." she said with a grin. She then nodded to Augusta. "And Merry Christmas, Augusta."

"Happy Christmas, Victoria." Augusta replied.

She and Neville began opening their presents, while Augusta also opened her own presents.

Victoria got three books in a series called Society and Culture of Magical India from Parvati, a platinum bracelet designed as snake with emerald eyes from Lavender, a copy of The Color Purple from Hermione, a copy of Dracula from Ron, a set of dragon-hide Seeker gloves from Neville, a pair of Snitch earrings from Fred and George, and a copy of Rebecca from Percy. She had also gotten an emerald green Weasley sweater which had a golden Snitch embroidered onto it.

"Thank you for the gloves, Neville." she told Neville.

Neville smiled, holding the gift she had gotten for him: A rare book on magical plants in Africa. "Thank you for the book, Victoria."

A small but heartfelt Christmas lunch was held, and when the break ended, she was very sad to leave Longbottom Estate.

But Victoria took comfort in that when summer came, she would be going back to Longbottom Estate, as Neville and Augusta had agreed to let her stay with them until she took her O.W.L. exams. After that, then Victoria could then live on her own in Potter Estate. But until then, both had welcomed her into their home with open arms.

Chapter Text

Two weeks into January, the trio was walking to the Gryffindor tower after visiting Hagrid when they heard wails.

"Should we check it out?" Victoria suggested.

"Wands out first." Ron declared, drawing out his willow-and-unicorn hair wand. Victoria drew her wand as well, and so did Hermione, and they headed in the direction of the wails.

"Oh no." Hermione groaned as they got closer. "It's Moaning Myrtle. She haunts this bathroom."

"Maybe she saw something related to the Heir?" Ron suggested.

Victoria nodded. "And if not, we can just check on her."

Hermione sighed. "Fine."

"Pedes sicco." Victoria cast on her feet, using the Dry Feet Charm Professor Flitwick had recently taught the second-years alongside the Freezing Charm. She then braved the great slosh of water and entered the bathroom.

"Myrtle?" she called, looking around. "Are you okay?"

The ghost of a fourteen year old girl appeared. "What now? Are you going to throw something at me?" she demanded, looking upset.

"No, because that would be rude." Victoria replied. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Ron gingerly entered the room at Hermione's side.

"I didn't do anything!" Myrtle complained. "I was just minding my own business, then someone threw a book at me."

A tiny squeak told her that Hermione had pinched Ron.

"I'm sorry about that." Victoria said. "Do you want us to get rid of the diary for you?"

Myrtle seemed to calm down a bit, and the water receded. "Yes, that would be nice. I don't want to have to deal with it."

"Okay." Victoria said. "We'll get get rid of it, and then you won't have to deal with it again."

"Promise?" Myrtle sniffed.

The ravenette nodded. "I promise."

Myrtle pointed to a stall. "It's right in there."

"Be careful, Vicky, it might be cursed!" Ron warned.

"I'll just levitate it out." Victoria promised. She entered the stall, saw the offending book, and then jerked back. For a brief moment, all she could sense was foul tasting magic that almost made her physically sick.

But then it was gone, and she wasn't sure if she imagined it.

"W-Wingardium Leviosa." she cast, and the book levitated up. "Locomotor Book." she then cast, and the book followed her out of the stall.

"Bye Myrtle." Hermione said, and the trio waved goodbye at Myrtle before leaving the bathroom. As they did, the water receded and the hall was no longer flooded.

They headed straight to the Gryffindor common room, and took up their usual spot near the fireplace. Victoria carefully placed the diary away from her, but also out of sight. The three then pulled out their Transfiguration, Herbology and Charms homework.

"Why do you keep glancing at the book?" Ron asked her.

Victoria swallowed. "It felt really dark for a moment, back in the bathroom. But maybe I just imagined it?"

No. her instincts told her.

No she had no imagined it.

Ron tensed. "You should give it to Professor McGongall. Or Professor Dumbledore. My dad's told me all about books that can hurt people, books that can burn your eyes, ones that make you speak limericks until you can get to a healer, others that force you to never stop reading it, and one that killed a person!"

"It feels normal now." Victoria murmured.

Hermione looked worried. "You've never been wrong on your instincts or your magic sensing, Tori."

The Potter witch was about to respond, but then she sensed it trying to coax her or Hermione or Ron into trusting it, into reading it.

"Alright, I'm going to put it in my trunk." she said, grabbing the book and heading into the girl's dorm. She headed up the staircase, so determined to get to her room that she didn't notice running smack into someone.

"Ouch," she hissed, and reflexively grabbed the person she bumped into so they didn't fall over. Victoria then recognized the bright red hair. "Sorry Ginny."

Ginny nodded. "It's fine." she whispered, and those were the first words Victoria had heard her say around her.

Victoria nodded and headed up another flight of stairs to her dorm, almost missing the horrified look Ginny sent the book.

But how did Ginny know the diary?

Still very uneasy, she buried the book in the deepest level of her trunk, and then covered it with a spare blanket she scrounged. Now confident she wouldn't be able to sense it, she closed the trunk.

Funny. She could almost feel how angry the book was.

As if it was a living thing.

January turned into February, but there wasn't anymore attacks. A few people realized that she wasn't the Heir, but they struggled to get to her and apologize when there was still a constant wall of Gryffindors surrounding Victoria.

Victoria kept going about her routine. Attending classes, learning new spells, doing her homework, and meeting up with her study group.

"I have an idea for today." Penelope proposed in the first few days of February, holding a book. "Let's learn what our elemental affinities are. Everyone has a natural affinity for elemental magic, so let's learn what ours are. It's a harmless spell."

"I'm in." Victoria agreed. She remembered what Ollivander had told her over a year ago, when she was looking for her wand, noting that she apparently had a fire affinity.

Everyone else agreed to, and began casting the Elemental affinity revealing spell.

Victoria did, in fact, have a fire affinity. Ron had an earth affinity, while Luna had a light affinity, Hermione had a water affinity, Neville had a flora affinity, Percy had an air affinity, and Penelope had a water affinity.

After that, they began trying out more spells. The Banishing Charm was something the three second-years and Luna learned, while Percy and Penelope refined their use of the Reductor Curse and and then learned began practicing non-verbal magic.

The latter looked cool, and Victoria couldn't wait to learn non-verbal magic.

The study-group ended with revising the Knockback Jinx, and then they all departed.

"Do you think the monster is gone?" Luna asked her.

"I really hope so." Victoria told her.

"You're not the Heir." Luna informed her. "You're just someone bad things happen too, but you come out stronger and a better person."

Victoria squeezed Luna's hand. "You're a great friend, Luna."

Valentine's Day came.

Victoria, who had slept in because of a late running Quidditch practice, took one look at the pink monstrosity that the Great Hall had been turned into, and walked away. Ron, Percy, Neville, Luna, Penelope, Alicia, Angelina, Katie, and Fred and George all joined her.

"You guys go to the Gryffindor common room." Fred said. "We'll bring food."

"No, we'll meet you in 3I, Penelope and Luna aren't Gryffindors." Ron corrected.

George nodded. "Okay then."

The twins broke off, and the rest of the group headed 3I.

"So this is your study-group room?" Angelina asked through a yawn, pulling out a magazine. It read Teen Witch Weekly on the front.

"Here, you can have my copy. I already read it." Alicia told Victoria.

Victoria shot her a smile. "Thanks."

The Quidditch players all gave Percy and Penelope high praise when the two prefects turned wooden chairs into cushy couches, sinking into them. While Neville and Ron chatted about something, Victoria and Luna curiously looked through Teen Witch Weekly together.

The emerald-eyed witch had seen Lavender and Parvati giggle about it, but she had never gotten a subscription. Maybe she should, given that the magazine, along with providing articles about makeup, clothing, and jewelry, also had information about useful practical things (such as the instructions on how to brew a Period Pain Relief Potion) for teenage witches.

Luna snuggled closer. "This is cool."

"Yeah." Victoria said, almost feeling normal for once.

The moment was ruined when a cupid dressed dwarf entered the room, singing a horrible Valentine for Victoria. She stunned him halfway and used the Banishing Charm to remove the troll.

"Do not tell the twins. Or anyone." she pleaded.

"We won't." Neville assured her, but he was shaking with laughter.

Easter holidays came without any attacks, and more people had apologized to Victoria. She only accepted the ones who genuinely meant it, but as Percy had insisted, she did nor forget just because she forgave them.

The holidays also brought in the topic of electives. Professor McGonagall hosted a career advice for all of eight of the second-years.

"Electives are new topics that begin next year. All of them are different, and different careers require different electives. For example, Arthimancy is used in both spell creation and ward creation, so Cure-Breakers need both and O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. in Arthimancy."

"And aspiring Enchanters need an Enchanting O.W.L. and N.E.W.T., but unfortunately it's no longer taught here." Lavender said with a scowl.

"Miss Brown, I can inform you that Professor Dumbledore has made his 679th attempt to restore Enchanting to the electives, but Lucius Malfoy ensured that his vote prevented that." Professor McGonagall.

Lavender groaned in disappointment.

Professor McGonagall continued explaining how all the electives worked and which jobs required them, before sending them to bed.

Victoria submitted her choices two days later: Arthimancy and the Study of Ancient Runes.

Ron had picked Ancient Runes, Divination, and Care of Magical Creatures, while Hermione had signed up for all the electives minus Muggle Studies (something Ron and Victoria coaxed her out of taken), but would be taking the self-study course for Divination and Care of Magical Creatures.

The Easter holidays ended, and the Potter Heiress returned the remaining school year happy and content.

But because she was Victoria bloody Potter, it all came crashing down.

Chapter Text

The evening before the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff Quidditch match, Oliver forced one final team practice.

He stood before them on the field, eyes blazing with pride. "The Quidditch Cup is definitely going to be ours this year!" he crowed. "Now come on, let's get going!"

After the practice ended, Victoria returned to the girl's dormitory with Angelina, Katie, and Alicia, feeling as though Gryffindor had already won the cup. Her cheerful mood didn't last long, because when she got to her dorm, Parvati stood there, utterly frantic.

"I don't know who did it!" the British Indian witch informed her. "But—"

Parvati opened the door, revealing their dorm room.

Victoria's jaw dropped. Her part of the dorm was completely and utterly trashed— the drapes of the four-poster slashed to shreds, sheets and bedspread savaged as if a a wild animal had ran its claws through them, desks flipped over, textbooks, pens, pencils, and notebooks everywhere— and even some pages of her textbooks and notebooks had been ripped out!

Her nightstand was missing a leg, and its drawer had been completely torn out, thus leaving her non-academic books splayed across the floor. Her closet doors were hanging limply at the sides, her clothing, uniform and casual, all battered.

And her trunk— the top of it had been torn off by the hinges, and everything inside it joined the mess on the floor.

"What the hell." the Potter witch whispered.

The sixth-year prefect, Melissa Walker, a half-blood appeared in the door way, her hazel eyes going wide. "Sweet Morgana. I'm getting Professor McGonagall."

Professor McGonagall appeared within five minutes, and looked equally aghast.

"I found it like this, Professor." Parvati said nervously. "The last people here who where Lavender and Hermione, to get some textbooks for Professor Lockhart's class."

Victoria narrowly resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Professor McGonagall clucked her tongue. "Well, stand back everyone." she raised her wand. "Reparo."

Instantly, Victoria's section of the dorm room was restored. "Let's check if anything's missing." Professor McGonagall declared.

By the time the search was done, Victoria realized what was gone from her trunk: the book.

And the only person who could've gotten into her dorm was a member of the Gryffindor house.

The next day, everything got worse.

Hermione and Penelope had been petrified.

Hermione and Penelope had been petrified.

Hermione had been petrified.

Victoria did not clearly remember how she got back to her dorm, only remembered Percy keeping a tight grip on her and Ron as he steered them back to the tower. Vaguely recalled Parvati and Lavender guiding her to their shared dorm.

Only then did she burst into tears.

Parvati and Lavender hugged her, holding her tight as she cried and cried until her tears dried up.

"The mandrakes are almost mature." Lavender murmured in her ear. "That means that Hermione and Penelope are going to be back soon."

"I find hair-brushing to be calming." Parvati said. "Do you want us to brush yours?"

Victoria nodded. "Sure." she croaked, wanting a distraction from the pain of Hermione's petrification.

She settled on her bed, and Lavender and Parvati instantly got to work on her jet-black hair, which fell to just below her armpits. Parvati was right, the sensation was very calming and it made her relax.

"How's you guys and Ron's business doing?" she asked.

"It's been good." Lavender said. "We picked out Enchanted Hemlines, Jewelry, and Cosmetics as our business name. And we've planned out different sections of it."

The ravenette hummed. "What are the sections?"

"Well, I'm going to be focusing on the jewelry and makeup, while Lavender is handling the clothing and shoes. We'll work with Ron on the accessories, and his domain is the business strategies and marketing. He's already got so many useful ideas." Parvati explained.

"I can give you guys a start-up loan and invest in Enchanted Hemlines, Jewelry, and Cosmetics." she offered.

Both girls paused, stunned.

"You don't have to do that." Lavender said weakly.

Victoria turned her he'd around to look at them dead in the eye. "But I want too, I really do."

The weeks after Hermione and Penelope's petrification passed in a bit of a blur. She and Ron stuck together like glue the entire time, and not even Snape tried to separate them.

Hagrid was fired, and Dumbledore was suspended. Exams were announced to be happening, to the mutinous mumbles of the students.

But Victoria didn't register the grumbles about exams. She was more focused on the many people who flimsily tried to apologize to her, only to back off when she called them out on their behavior too her, or an older Gryffindor (almost always Ron, Neville, one of her fellow Quidditch players or Percy) chased them away.

Maybe she would forgive them one day.

Maybe.

But she wouldn't forget.

Three days before exams would happen, Professor McGonagall announced that Colin, Mrs.Norris, Hermione, Justin, and Penelope would be revived. The entirety of Gryffindor celebrated that afternoon with an impromptu party, but Victoria and Ron slipped away to visit Hermione.

Madam Pomfrey let them in, and Victoria hurried to her friend's side.

"You're going to be back soon, Hermione." Victoria murmured.

Ron nodded furiously. "Just hang on."

Something caught Victoria's eye. Hermione's fist was clenching what looked to be a scrap of paper. Carefully, and with Ron covering for her, did Victoria pry out the scrap of paper.

The scrap of paper was a page of a magizoology textbook... about Basilisks. On the edges were two words: Pipes and bathroom.

"What do those mean?" Ron wondered, frowning.

But in Victoria's mind, it was like everything had made sense.

"The monster is a Basilisk— that's why I can hear it and no one else. I'm a Parselmouth! And the Basilisk is moving through the school via the enchanted pipes. And you can access the pipes with a bathroom—"

"Which bathroom?" Ron frowned.

"Myrtle's." Victoria breathed. "Remember what Hagrid told us? That a girl was murdered the last time the Chamber was open? The girl was Myrtle! She's still haunting the bathroom she died in—"

"And no one would think to look for the Chamber in an abandoned girl's bathroom!" Ron finished. "And no one's been petrified because they didn't look at it! Mrs.Norris saw it in the water, Colin through his camera, Justin saw it through Nick, and Hermione and Penelope through the mirror that was found with them!"

"We need to tell the teachers." Victoria said breathlessly. "Come on!"

Of course, it wasn't easy.

Ginny had been kidnapped by the Heir, and had been taken into the Chamber of Secrets.

Victoria and Ron went too Lockhart, but he turned out to be a fraud.

A useless fraud, given how easy it had been for her to disarm him and snap his wand.

"He's Basilisk bait." she murmured to Ron as the two forced Lockhart, at wand-point, to Myrtle's bathroom.

They arrived at the bathroom, and Myrtle was very agreeable in helping them.

Victoria opened up the entrance of the Chamber with a hiss of Parseltongue and—

"Really?" she asked Ron, who had just kicked Lockhart backwards into the Chamber of Secrets by booting Lockhart where the sun didn't shine.

"I've been waiting to do that." he said defensively.

She shrugged. "Fair enough."

She paused, tilting her head. "Stairs. Lights." she commanded in Parseltongue.

The entrance rumbled, stairs forming and green tinted lights flickering on.

"Huh. So Salazar Slytherin did think ahead in accessing this." Ron mumbled. He straightened up. "Now let's go get Ginny."

And together, they descended into the Chamber of Secrets.

Lockhart lunged from the shadows, tackling her and Ron off of the stairs. Ron yelled as he landed awkwardly on his leg, while Victoria rolled, gripping her wand as she stood in front of her friend/brother.

"My apologizes, Victoria, Ron." Lockhart said as he stood up, holding Ron's wand. "But my reputation needs to stay—"

"Impedimenta! Stupefy! Petrificus Totalus Tria!" Victoria shouted. Her spells hit Lockhart rapidly, and Ron's wand fell from his hand, causing an explosion. Victoria cried "Protego!" and the semi-invisible shield sprung up.

When the dust settled, she and Ron were perfectly okay (minus his broken leg).

"Is he dead?" Ron asked as Victoria gave him his wand back.

Victoria carefully stepped through the rubble to see that Lockhart was pinned below rubble, though he was breathing.

She pointed her wand at him. "Incarcerous." she cast and a set of thick ropes appeared and ensnared Lockhart.

"I'll get Ginny." she said calmly. "Wait here, and feel free to keep him trapped. If you can," she looked at his leg, and remembered the spell Angelina had used for her. "Ferula."

Ron let out a sigh of relief as his leg was splint and got to his feet. "I'll get the teachers. You get Ginny and get out. Don't fight the Basilisk."

She nodded. "I promise."

Victoria heisted. "I love you, Ron. You're my brother and Hermione is my sister."

Instantly, Ron's face softened. "I love you too, Victoria. You and Hermione are the sister's I never asked for but I love you both so much."

Victoria entered the Chamber of Secrets, wand gripped tightly in her hand. She tried to ignore the shedded Basilisk skins as she forged froward through the Chamber.

She saw Ginny and ran forward, checking the the redhead's pulse. "Ginny come, wake up." she hissed, trying to wake up the other girl. The Reviving Spell failed to wake up Ginny, causing Victoria to panic.

"She won't wake up."

The emerald-eyed witch turned her head in the direction of the voice, seeing a dark haired, pale faced boy no older than fifteen standing before her.

Somehow, Victoria knew who he was.

"You're Tom Riddle." she said slowly, gripping her wand. "You're the Heir, you framed Hagrid, and now you're back by possessing Ginny."

Her eyes found the book. "That's how you got back." she said.

Tom Riddle bared his teeth. "You're just as smart as Ginny gushed about. All she did was talk about her hero, Victoria Potter. Why do you think she stole back my diary? To prevent me from telling you all the secrets she spilled, like how she was the one who killed the roosters, how she was worried that the great Victoria wouldn't ever like her back—"

"Confrigo!"

Victoria was shocked when her Blasting Curse did nothing to harm Tom.

"What the fuck are you." she demanded, gripping her wand tighter.

Tom scoffed. "Did you really think a little Blasting Curse would hurt the greatest sorcerer to ever live?"

She nodded, along. "Hm, you're right. Gandalf would've no-selled that."

"Gandalf who?" Tom asked, frowning.

"The greatest sorcerer to ever live." she said. "Gandalf the Grey."

Tom bared his teeth. "It's not wise to mock your greatest enemy, Victoria Potter."

"You mean Snape? He might fantasize about poisoning me, but Professor McGonagall would've known its him." she said, taking pleasure in mocking Tom.

"No." Tom said, waving a hand to create three words: TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE, and then with a snap of his fingers, rearrange them into—

I AM LORD VOLDEMORT

He then spilled her his entire backstory.

"Wow, you're so cliche." Victoria snarked.

Tom snarled. "Enough. Speak to me Slytherin, Greatest of the Hogwarts Four."

The mouth of the statue of Salazar Slytherin's face opened, and exited the Basilisk.

Victoria shut her eyes, panicking as she tripped on something and lost her wand. She did get up, sensing the faint magic of the Basilisk and using that to track where it was.

"Kill her." Tom ordered.

Her panic increased. She needed something, she needed her wand or something to kill the Basilisk—

A golden song filled the air, but she was focused on two things: the weight her wand in her right hand, and the sudden heaviness of a sword in her left hand.

She cracked open her eyes, saw the Basilisk lunge with its mouth open, and quickly sidestepped. A plan formed in her mind. Acting quickly, she rapped the sword against the wall, baiting it. As the Basilisk twisted around and grew closer, its mouth opening to hiss at her, she lunged forward, slamming the sword into the roof of its mouth and into the brain.

Victoria put her whole body weight behind it as she drove the sword as pierced through the Basilisk's brain. She felt it shudder and die, the Basilisk going still as life left it.

She opened her eyes, removing these word but gasping in pain as she felt something burn. Looking at her arm, she saw a fang buried in her forearm, the venom spreading.

"You're going to die, Victoria Potter—"

The final proverbial straw snapped, and she ripped out the Basilisk fang, marched over to the diary, and looked Tom dead in the eye.

"Look's like round three is in my victory." Victoria told him, and then drove the dagger straight into the diary.

Tom screamed and crumbled, his screams growing louder and louder. She wished for him to shut up and her magic willed it.

A phoenix, Fawkes she recognized, landed next to her and began to cry on her injury. After a few tears she nudged him in Ginny's direction.

"Ginny needs it more than me." she insisted.

Fawkes huffed but obeyed.

Victoria now examined the sword: It was made from a lustrous silvery white metal with traces of lighter silver. The handle was made from steel, with a symbol in the cross guard: a triangular with a circle inside it, and a single line gone through the triangle and circle that split it in half.

The same symbol etched into her Heiress ring. The magic of the sword, old and strong, it's song matching the ring, hummed in excitement as it reached out to the ring, and the ring responded, just as delighted.

She also saw another sword, made from silver and decorated with rubies.

Victoria took it and used it to stab the Basilisk again.

Just in case.

Ginny woke up soon after, and the two girls stumbled out of the Chamber. Fawkes lead the way, clutching the silver and ruby sword while Victoria carried her sword.

There, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Madam Pomfrey, and two squads of Aurors awaited them.

Madam Pomfrey was on them in an instant, casting diagnostic spells on both of them.

"Miss Potter, Miss Weasley, are both of you okay?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"We're alive but banged up." Victoria replied. "The Heir's gone and the Basilisk is dead. I killed it."

A woman she didn't recognize stepped froward. "You killed the Basilisk?" she asked.

"Yes." the Potter Heiress replied, holding up her sword. "I stabbed it through the brain. It works wonders. Can Ginny and I go now?"

Professor McGonagall huffed. "Yes, for now. I expect the DMLE and your account managers to be here very soon."

"The Basilisk corpse and its wealth is yours by right of conquest." Professor Dumbledore added. "I will stand as your second for those who try and challenge your claim."

No one did, and with that, Victoria and Ginny were lead out of the Chamber of Secrets.

Chapter Text

The very next day, Gryffindor held a party for two reasons:

One, to celebrate Victoria's slaying of the Basilisk. That was where she learned she had been given the epithet 'The Slayer of Slytherin's Basilisk' to her shock and horror.

Two, to revel that Hermione was now perfectly restored. Ron and Victoria had been at her side when she woke up, and many tears were cried as the trio finally reunited.

And so the trio joyful joined in the jubilant festivities to celebrate their reunion.

The day after she completed her last exam (DADA, ironically enough), was the day that Rodlok and Nadlor escorted her down to the Chamber of Secrets. A small army of goblins, Professor McGonagall, and the entire Auror department accompanied them. Hermione and Ron had understandably declined to tag along.

"How much is the Basilisk worth?" she asked Rodlok and Nadlor. She took a sip from her mug of matcha tea.

Rodlok and Nadlor conversed with another goblin, and Rodlok cleared his throat. "Given that it's a Basilisk over a thousand years old, killed in a way that perfectly preserves its body, combine with the collected shedded basilisk skin, the total wealth earned is 4 billion galleons, 14 million sickles, and 47,987 knuts."

The emerald-eyed witch was stunned. "Really?"

"Yes."

Madam Bones, the witch from before, cleared her throat. "Out of interest, Heiress Potter, what do you plan to do with the Basilisk skin?"

"Gringotts is also curious to know if it can purchase some Basilisk skin for our warriors and Curse-Breakers." Nadlor added.

Her brain quickly spun. Luckily, she was always good at numbers. "May I suggest 25% goes to the DMLE, 25% to Gringotts, 35% will be auctioned off, and then I'll keep the remaining 15%?" she suggested.

Nadlor nodded. "That sound agreeable."

"I agree as well." Madam Bones added.

What what would happen to the rest of the body parts were also touched on: the eyes were quickly destroyed, the venom would be diluted into a more harmless form, the flesh and the organs would be harvested for potion ingredients, the brain would be harvested for ritual ingredients, and the tongue would also be used for ritual ingredients. All sold to the highest bidder on the top markets, with a majority of the profit going to Vault 975.

But 35% of the profits would be divided up between Hermione, Colin, Justin, Penelope, and Ginny. The former four would be getting their own Gringotts vaults, while the gold given to Ginny would be placed in the Weasley vault.

"We have one request before the dilution of the venom." Nadlor said. "We pride ourselves on how goblin silver weapons absorb what can enhance its lethality. We would be honored to add Basilisk venom to our weapons."

All the Aurors tensed.

Victoria nodded. "I will let that happen, but only the primary weapon of all the goblins here, who braved the Chamber of Secrets, may have the honor."

Which was roughly a little more than two hundred goblins.

Furious whispers broke out amongst the Aurors, but Madam Bones shut them down. Professor McGonagall also gave her a proud smile, which made Victoria smile.

"And I have a question, Senior Accountant Rodlok." she said. "What's this?"

She focused on the magic of the sword that had appeared answered her call. It appeared in her hand, just as beautifully dangerous as she had first seen it.

Rodlok smiled. "Ah, that." he said. "Heiress Potter, meet Starfall, the family sword of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Potter. Created by your ancestor Alice Potter in 1412, made from Iridium and goblin silver she purchased, forged Alchemically with her own magical blacksmithing talents in her private blacksmith shop, blood enchanted to answer the call of any Potter, and imbued with the family magic of the Potter family."

"Now enhanced with the venom of a Basilisk." Victoria murmured.

"Yes." Rodlok confirmed.

She looked at Nadlor, who sighed. "The Most Noble and Ancient House of Black sadly doesn't have a similar sword."

Victoria pouted, but did not miss the several sighs of relief from the Aurors.

One couldn't kill a Basilisk without the incident getting noticed.

Thanks to the Hogwarts rumor mill, all the students and their grandmother knew of the story.

Which meant the press found out.

Luckily, the Potter witch was a minor and could dodge an interview.

But she couldn't dodge the international attention and fame the small incident had earned her, to her eternal despair.

"This is seriously unnecessary." she grumbled one fine June day only a week before the end of the school year.

Prior to the incident, her only title was Heiress of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Potter. Or Lady of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Potter, given that she was the last of the Potter family. And unofficially, the Girl Who Lived, a title she would loathe to the end of her days.

She did not need to be reminded that she had survived where her parents had died.

Now Victoria had even more titles: Order of Merlin, First Class, Medal for Gallantry, Honorary Member of the Dark Forces Defense League, King Arthur's Platinum Sword, William the Conqueror's White Star Award, Honorary Member of the British Monster-Hunting Guild, Silver Horn of the Order of Arawn, and the Sword of the Fianna.

And those were just from Magical Great Britain and Magical Ireland.

As the news about her Basilisk skilling incident spread through Europe and beyond, it had brought in International awards.

She had been given the Global Wixen Award of Merit, Platinum Class from the ICW, the Prix ​​de la Plus Grande Bravoure from France, MACUSA Certificate of Achievement from MACUSA, Orden der Großen Tapferen Seelen from Germany, the Artemis Award of Monster Hunting from Greece, Honorary Member of the Odensjakt from Sweden, Grand Slayer of Basilisks from Egypt, Honorary Member of the Swiss Monster Hunting Guild from Switzerland, Orden de las Nobles Espadas from Spain, and she was pretty sure there was a lot more waiting for her to find in the mail.

There was also the gifts: lots of rare books in English and foreign languages (including entire collections with three dozen on the short side, sweet Morgana) on fields of magic, fifteen enchanted daggers, six dozen magical trinkets, more jewelry than she could ever wear in her entire life, five gold cauldrons which she planned to split between her, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna, twenty swords (and counting) several valuable potions ingredients, around two dozen precious and rare gemstones, exotic dragon scale gloves and boots (the only practical gifts), and lots of enchanted clothing, both antique and modern.

"Wow Vicky," Ron snickered. "You got an—"

She shot a glare his way. "Shut up."

Ron and Hermione had both found the entire situation as hilarious, given that Victoria hated attention, and she had just gotten a whole lot more.

Rodlok coughed, and the trio returned to helping him sort through everything.

"What's happening to Lockhart?" Hermione asked after several minutes of work.

"He was arrested and then extradited by the ICW." Ron replied. "All of the families of his victims are pressing charges, and he lost all of his awards, which were redistributed the toe people who actually did the selfless, gallant deeds he falsely claimed to do."

"Good." Victoria said shortly. "He deserves it. Now he'll face proper justice for his crimes."

The school year ended and summer came.

The trio rode the Hogwarts Express back to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, with Neville, Lavender, Parvati, and Luna sharing their compartment. Several rounds of Exploding Snap were played, with the compartment door locked and the blinds drawn. The door was only opened when they had to go to the bathroom or when the trolley cart came around.

"You know that they know we're in this compartment, right?" Hermione told her with an amused smile.

"I don't care." Victoria grumbled.

Ron patted her back. "Colin's definitely hero worshipping you now."

The Potter Heiress groaned loudly. "And Ginny?"

"She's calmed down." Ron assured her.

"Is the scar rumor true?" Parvati asked her.

Victoria nodded, rolling up the sleeve of her lavender long sleeve to show off her new scar: a massive scar on her left forearm that went from her wrist to just above her elbow, the white tissue covering almost her entire forearm. The stark white scar stood out against her tanned bronze skin.

"The sign of a hero, who pushes through the worst." Luan said dreamily.

She grinned slightly. "Thank you, Luna."

Eventually, the train pulled into the station, and Victoria disembarked with her friends, bringing their luggage with them.

"Ready to go?" Augusta asked her and Neville.

"Absolute." Victoria agreed. "Let's go."

"Let's go home." Neville said with a grin, bumping her should excitedly.

Augusta took her and Neville's shoulders, and Apparated them to Longbottom Estate.

Victoria let out a sigh of relief. The Chamber of Secrets was over, and summer was here.

Normality and peace was back.

Chapter Text

The summer Victoria spent at Longbottom Manor was incredibly pleasant.

She and Neville worked with Ron and Hermione to complete all of their assigned summer homework by the end of the break. Thus giving them more time to enjoy their summer.

Mostly.

Augusta was still insistent that Victoria needed more etiquette lessons, given that she hadn't a lot of time to learn everything during Christmas break. Victoria knew at this point which battles to fight, and this was one to not fight.

So she bowed to Augusta's iron willpower and submitted herself to even more etiquette lessons.

All the lessons Augusta had taught her during Christmas were expanded on, and a few were added. French classes, business handling, how to behave during formal dinners (informal ones she could relax in), how to handle awkward moments, dance lessons, learning the social hierarchy of both the British and international wixen worlds, and how to behave in formal.

There was also the fencing lessons. Augusta quickly learned of Starfall's existence, and insisted that Victoria learn how to wield it properly. And while Augusta picked out her fencing teacher, it was Victoria who paid for the lessons.

Augusta also wanted her to appoint a proxy, but Victoria hesitated. She didn't know enough adults to trust them with the power of the Potter and Black voting seats. Though she did do the paperwork to move the Black seats into the Grey/Neutral bloc.

The Black's were a traditionally Dark family while the Potter's were a Grey family, and Victoria wanted the Black seats to be with the Potter seats. Nadlor had also dropped a bomb on her when he casual revealed that once she turned seventeen, her surname would be legally Potter-Black.

Not yet though, due to her being underage.

Summer just wasn't etiquette classes.

It was also full of fun.

Victoria, Hermione, and Ron all went on a day trip to mundane London, chaperoned by the Grangers. They saw a screening of Jaws before visiting Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum (Victoria complained about all the Indian artifacts in the museum), and ended the day with a tour of Borough Market.

And even though Ron went to Egypt with his family in the third week of July, and Hermione and her parents went on vacation to France at the same time, it didn't stop the leisure.

Lavender and Parvati stole the Potter witch away for a 'girl's only day'. That was the day she got both of her ears pierced.

She also visited Luna at the Lovegood home. The Ravenclaw girl was happy to see Victoria just as she was to see Luna.

She and Neville, accompanied by Augusta, went to both Hyde Park and the Kew Gardens for Neville's birthday (which was July 30th, funnily enough). During the lunch party, filled with Longbottom family members, she gave him the gift she had purchased for him: A rare book on flora magic.

Augusta gave Neville a whole series of rare Herbology books, then topped it off with a trip to Diagon Alley so Neville could get his own wand. He came back with a Cherry and unicorn hair wand, 12 inches long.

For her own thirteenth birthday, it was small celebration. Just her, Luna, Neville, Lavender, and Parvati having a small beach party.

She had opened her presents with them on the beach. From Percy, she got a copy of Elixir's of Egypt, from Luna she got a handmade painting of Hedwig (which Hedwig, perched on her shoulder, approved of), from Parvati a copy of An Introduction to the Glyphs and Runes of India, from Ron a small glass statue of a Basilisk, from Hermione a copy of Les Misérables, from Neville a copy of Offensive and Defensive Magic written by Gunnar Moody, and from Lavender she received an enchanted jewelry box. Oliver had sent her a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, Fred and George had given her a rune carving dagger from Egypt, Angelina and Alicia had sent her a book on monster-slaying, and Katie, who had a muggle grandfather, had sent her a copy of Emma.

Augusta had given her a book on fire elemental magic, in addition to signing her Hogsmeade permission slip, and Victoria was itching to test it out.

All in all, it was a very lovely party, with many wonderful gifts.

Five days later, everything came crashing down.

Victoria read the headline of The Daily Prophet, the magical newspaper she had gotten a subscription too.

It read, in all capital letters, SIRIUS BLACK ESCAPES AZKABAN!

Frowning, she read the article below it.

Sirius Black, one of the most infamous wizards to ever be imprisoned in Azkaban, has been confirmed to escape. He made his get away on July 31st (the fourteenth birthday of Victoria Potter, the Girl Who Lived), five days ago, and one can't help but wonder if Black will go after Heiress Potter.

After all, Sirius Black was imprisoned for not only killing thirteen people with a single curse, but for betraying the Potter's to You-Know-Who. And to escape on her birthday...

One cannot help but worry that Black will try and complete the job where his master failed.

"Victoria?" Augusta asked, and she looked to see the Longbottom matriarch standing next to her.

Augusta offered Victoria her hand. "Come with me. I'll tell you everything.

The emerald-eyed witch took her hand, and followed Augusta into the living room.

Augusta did, in fact, tell her everything. Then she let Victoria be angry and sad and grief-stricken before helping her work through her emotions.

Victoria also vented her emotions with practicing fire magic on the beach, within the boundary ward of Longbottom estate.

"Ignis hastae." she cast. A wave of spears of sapphire colored fire shot from her wand and launched themselves into the sky, and she watched the spears hit the ocean and extinguish.

She readied her wand again. "Vincula Hestiae."

Chains of shimmering gold fire appeared, giving off heat without burning. She canceled the spell after holding it for twenty seconds, and then cast another spell. "Armatura flammarum."

Ancient Greek like armor made of golden fire covered her, and she had to cancel the spell after thirty seconds.

The Potter Heiress let herself have on final spell. "Damnatio Ignis!"

A wave of red-black flames surged from her wand, sizzling the ocean. She had to cancel it after ten seconds, feeling it drain her magical core.

But at the same time, her magical core grow stronger as she pushed it.

Victoria and Neville attended Lavender's birthday part on August 8th. The party helped cheer up Victoria, and she got to meet Lavender's family.

She gave Lavender a set of enchanted earrings made from small Basilisk fangs and a bracelet made from Basilisk scales. The Brown Heiress was thrilled at the gifts and immediately put them on.

Parvati and Lavender joined her and Neville in purchasing all of their school supplies.

September 1st came, and Victoria braced herself for another year she knew was going to be full of surprises and danger.

Chapter Text

"Everywhere's full." Victoria noted as she, Ron, and Hermione tried to find their own compartment.

"Wait, here's not to bad." Ron said, peering into one compartment at the very back of the train.

Inside, the only other person was a sleeping adult man dressed in a set of very shabby wizard robes. He looked young, maybe his early thirties, but his light brown hair was already flecked with grey, and there was a long scar that extended from the collar of his robes to just below his right eye. He looked ill and exhausted.

But Victoria sensed the magic on him, and it felt odd. It felt feral and beast-like, the whispering of wild winds at night and tasted like musky fur. The wild magic was woven into the stranger's very skin.

She glanced at a small, battered case held together by large quantities of neatly knotted string that was situated above the stranger. It read, in peeling letters, Professor R.J. Lupin and she realized that this man had to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

"Is there anywhere else?" Hermione whispered.

Ron shook his head. "Nope."

The trio quietly entered the compartment and put away their luggage. Victoria placed Hedwig in the rack above and deposited her new school trunk below the seats.

"Do you think he'll be a good teacher?" she asked Ron and Hermione.

"Hopefully." Ron said. "And if not, then we can do what we did last year, but with Hermione now."

Hermione crossed her arms. "I had a crush!"

"And he vanished the bones in my leg." Victoria drawled.

"Out of curiosity, what's happened to Lockhart?" Ron asked. "I wasn't able to keep attention to his case in Egypt."

"He's been convicted Thailand, Hungary, Australia, Great Britain, Transylvania, and Romania, and right now he's on trial in Burkina Faso. The ICW is pissed and so are the families of his victims. Two died immediately after he modified their memories and another three are also dead because of the overpowered Memory Charms." Victoria explained. "He's lost all of his awards, the monetary compensation is coming straight out his personal wealth, and he's facing very long sentences in Romania, Australia, Transylvania, Hungary, Thailand, and Great Britain. He's also facing charges in Fiji."

"He's ruined." Ron said with a pleased grin. "Good."

Victoria smirked as well. "Definitely."

The train eventually left the station, and began making its yearly journey to Hogwarts.

Lavender, Parvati, Neville, and Luna joined them in their compartment. Padma, Parvati's twin sister, also joined them after a while, having gotten into a fight with her friends. The topic of electives was something that immediately sprung up.

"I'm taking Arthimancy and Ancient Runes." Padma informed them.

All the students then looked at Neville. "I'm doing Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies, and Divination." Neville admitted.

Then it was Lavender's turn. "I've signed up for Ancient Runes and Divination." the Brown Heiress informed them.

Parvati took her turn. "Arthimancy and Care of Magical Creatures, and I'm self studying for Divination."

The trio told their electives to their friends, and the conversation drifted away into a chess tournament, which ended up with Padma and Ron as the finale with Padma narrowly squeaking out a win in the end.

Victoria could easily tell that Ron was interested in Padma as he coaxed the Ravenclaw Patil twin into another game of chess.

"He's got a crush." Hermione whispered, grinning.

The Potter witch grinned. "We're so teasing him about that."

Later on, she broke out her copy of Dracula to read again, and when she finished she read The Two Towers for the fiftieth time and Rebecca for the tenth time. She also reread Elixir's of Egypt for the fifteenth time and Rare, Ancient, and Obscure Potions and Elixirs for the one hundred and fifth time, finding the two potions books just as fascinating as the first time.

Edith the trolley witch came around at one, and the group pooled their money together to buy several snacks: Cauldron Cakes, Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and Pumpkin Pasty's were all purchased, along with some chicken breast sandwiches, pastrami sandwiches, water bottles, apples, mango slices, bananas to share.

"We should be set for the train ride." Padma noted. She offered Ron and Cauldron Cake, who blushed a bit as he accepted it.

Victoria caught Parvati's eye. Her dorm mate grinned at her and she grinned back.

Operation Get Padma and Ron Together was now official.

"That's a good book." Luna's voice said, and she looked up from her copy of Pride and Prejudice to see Luna looking at the book.

"You've read it before?" she asked.

Luna nodded. "I have. I enjoy Elizabeth Bennett's strength."

"So do I." Victoria agreed.

Just then, Malfoy, flanked by Goyle and Crabbe, appeared. "Look who it is." he said.

"So you didn't deliberately search for us?" Victoria snarked.

"Wow Malfoy," Ron snickered. "I didn't know you were so interested in us. Is there a confession coming along?"

Malfoy went red and fled the compartment.

It was Neville who led the soft applause for Ron's verbal victory.

The train kept moving north, and outside, the landscape was now dark and wild. Rain furiously poured down, the water droplets sounding like bullets against the roof and windows of the train.

"I hope the Sorting is quick." Parvati commented.

"I hope the first-years will be okay." Neville commented.

"The teachers might've spelled the boats." Victoria suggested.

Hermione nodded at her words. "They do. The boats are charmed so that no matter the weather, they'll be able to safely go along the Black Lake. And they're charmed to keep rain out, like the Impervius Charm."

"Now I'm really thankful our first day here was not raining." Ron dryly said.

"I'm glad my first night here was pleasant too." Luna agreed, looking up from her copy of The Quibbler.

Suddenly, the train began to slow down.

"What's happening?" Lavender asked, looking nervous.

"Is Sirius Black doing something?" Ron worried, drawing his wand.

"No, the train has a lot of protective spells." Padma said. "And the only way he could do something is if he's already on the train."

Victoria, who was closest to the door, got up. Just then, the train came to a sudden halt and she was thrown into the wall, her head slamming against it with a crack!

She groaned, trying to pick herself up off the floor as all the lights went out.

"Victoria!" Hermione cried, kneeling down next to her. "Here, let me— Episky!"

"Thank you, Hermione." she croaked, letting her best friend/sister help her to her feet. Both of them sat down again as the cabin was filled with cries of Lumos and was filled with light again.

And Professor Lupin was up, eyes sharp and wary. "Stay here." he said. "The guards of Azkaban are here."

The emerald-eyed witch opened her mouth to ask how he knew that, when suddenly, the door of the compartment swung up. A tall wraith-like creature stood in the entrance, completely garbed in a cloak. But she saw its rotted hand, and suddenly, as if noticing her gaze, the hand was withdrawn back into the cloak.

Silence, horrible, tense filled silence filled the compartment as the creature seemed to look around. When it settled on her, a deep cold that went straight to her heart hit Victoria and she gasped. The cold found it's way into her bones, sinking its claws into her heart as she drowned in the cold, her eyes rolling up as terrible, pleading screams filled her head—

"Victoria! Vicky!"

A gasp escaped Victoria opened her eyes, peering up as the lanterns flickered back on. The floor beneath her was moving. She realized that she had somehow slid out her seat, and Hermione and Ron were crouching on either side of her, with everyone else watching.

"Are you okay?" Ron asked.

"Yeah." she croaked, letting them help her to her feet again. A glance to the door told her that the creature was gone. "What happened? What was that thing?"

She didn't voice that she had heard someone screaming. That fact felt a little too personal to share with her closest friends as there was too many people listening.

Professor Lupin then passed out some chocolate, and her friends filled her in on what had happened.

Victoria just listened, and soon Hedwig started making a fuss in her cage. Victoria let her out, and the snowy owl perched on her shoulder, staying in place as she returned to her seat. Hedwig began preening her hair and nibbling her ears, and she stroked Hedwig's feathers, finding comfort in the snowy owl.

The train arrived at Hogsmeade, and the group fought their way through the crowd to exit the train. Madam Pomfrey was there on the station, handing out chocolate and checking up students. The trio headed to the thestral-drawn stagecoaches.

"They're beautiful." Luna said, and Victoria looked at Luna.

"You can see them as well?" she asked.

Luna nodded. "I can. I saw my mother die."

"I saw mine die too." the Potter Heiress murmured, and reached out to squeeze Luna's hand. Luna squeezed it in return, and a new understand formed between them.

Victoria, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville, and Padma rode together in the stage coach, let Professor Lupin handle Malfoy, and watched the Sorting. Victoria found herself cheering for her new housemates, finally feeling happy again.

Professor Dumbledore made his speech, the feast was held, and Victoria fell asleep in her dorm in the Gryffindor Tower, looking forward, despite all the danger, to another school year at Hogwarts.

Chapter Text

The first thing that greeted Victoria when she entered the Great Hall was Malfoy entertaining a group of Slytherins with a very funny story, then looked dead at her, and pretended to faint.

"Asshole." Ron seethed. "That wasn't funny!"

"He's not worth it." Hermione said, grabbing Ron's arm to steer him to the Gryffindor table. "Just ignore him, he's a petty bully who doesn't matter."

"Hey Potter!" Pansy Parkinson shrieked. "Hey Potter! The Dementors are coming—"

Victoria turned her head to give the Parkinson witch the most baleful, unimpressed glare she could muster. It worked, and Parkinson shut up. Smirking, the trio all sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"Did you know, Victoria," George said as he buttered some toast. "That Malfoy pissed himself in fear when the Dementors came on the train?"

"We can make sure everyone knows if you want." Fred offered.

She shook her head. "Malfoy's not worth it."

"Besides, you'll be beating him in the Gryffindor-Slytherin match in front of the entire school." Hermione pointed out.

That got her to grin. "I will be." she agreed.

Feeling a bit better, she helped herself to some kipper, toast, and sausage. Percy Weasley came around, handing out schedules. Victoria took her schedule and looked it over.

Monday: 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM - Charms (with Hufflepuff), 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - Defense Against the Dark Arts (with Ravenclaws), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - History of Magic, 2:15 PM to 3:30 PM - Study of Ancient Runes

Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Double Arthimancy, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:10 PM - Transfiguration (with Ravenclaw) 2:15 PM to 3:30 PM - Herbology (with Hufflepuffs)

Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM - Charms (with Hufflepuffs), 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - Potions (with Slytherins), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - Transfiguration (with Ravenclaw), 2:15 PM to 3:30 PM - Defense Against the Dark Arts (with Ravenclaw)

Thursday: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Double Arthimancy, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - Study of Ancient Runes, 2:15 PM to 3:30 PM - Herbology (with Hufflepuff)

Friday: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM: Double Transfiguration (with Ravenclaw), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM - Potions (with Slytherins), 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM - Common subjects (with all other third-years), 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM - Astronomy (at Night, with other third-years)

She looked at Hermione. "Are you starting Arthimancy this morning?"

"I am." Hermione confirmed with a nod.

Victoria looked at Ron. "And you?"

Ron leaned over to compare his schedule to her's and Hermione's. "I'm taking Divination and Care of Magical Creatures this morning while you guys in Arthimancy." he confirmed.

"Professor Grubby-Plank looks competent." Hermione said. "I'm sure she'll keep you safe."

"Hagrid's her Assistant professor, right?" Ron nervously inquired.

Victoria nodded. "He is, but I doubt Professor Grubby-Plank would introduce seriously dangerous creatures for the first day."

That made Ron relax a bit. "Good luck in Arthimancy."

"Good luck in Care." Hermione told him.

"Stay safe." Victoria agreed.

The trio finished up their breakfast and parted ways— Ron to the North Tower and Hermione and Victoria to room 7A on the seventh floor of the castle in the Defense Tower. Parvati joined them, and the three girls journeyed up the stairs together.

"Why is this so far up?" Hermione bemoaned, gasping for breath. Parvati nodded in agreement, sucking in lungfuls of air.

"It's not that bad." the ravenette responded, before realizing thanks to Oliver's extensive and brutal Quidditch practices, she was in much better shape than her roommates.

She drew her wand from its wand-hostler. "Here, let me help. Facile Respiratio."

The spell worked, and both Parvati and Hermione breathed easier as they continued the climb to the top of the tower.

Eventually, the three Gryffindor witches arrived at room 7A. Several other students were waiting outside. Ernie Macmillan, Susan Bones, and Megan Jones of Hufflepuff, Padma Patil, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, Sue Li, Terry Boot, and Morag MacDougal of Ravenclaw, and Daphne Greengrass, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, and Tracey Davis of Slytherin.

All in all, sixteen students had signed up for Arthimancy.

Ernie sent her a guilty look that she ignored. He hadn't attempted to apologize once since the truth about the Chamber of Secrets had come out, something that had made her bitter.

Professor Septima Vector opened the classroom door ten minutes before the school day would start. "Come in and take a seat." she ordered.

The students entered, and Victoria sat with Hermione at a desk, with the Patil twins in front of them and Susan Bones and Megan Jones behind her and Hermione. Victoria studied Professor Vector. The witch looked to be in her late thirties, with skin the color of dark chocolate, black hair worn in multiple cornrows, and sharp, intelligent umber brown eyes.

Professor Vector took roll call after the bell rang, and immediately gave them all a severe, assessing looking. "Welcome to Arthimancy. In this field of magic you shall learn the components of both spell making. If you make it to fifth year, I shall teach you how to make spells. If you graduate my N.E.W.T. level class, then you will be able to create wards."

Professor Vector then gave them a severe look. "Arthimancy is a one of the most dangerous fields of magic to exist. If you make even a single mistake in the creation of a spell as simple as the Wand-Lightning Charm, you can be serious injured at best and die at worst. Which I why the first three quarters of this year will be devoted the theory of Arthimancy, the analysis and theoretical reverse-engineering of spells."

"But I have seen your records." she continued. "You are all very bright students, all in the top twenty of your year. If you prove to me that you are strong and smart enough, then I will let you begin learning the basics of practical Arthimancy ahead of time under, my supervision of course."

"Now, Arthimancy is both the creation of spells and wards, the study of the magic certain numbers can give us, the use of Numerology to predict the future, and many more. And I shall teach you all of this."

Professor Vector paused. "Now it is time for you to take notes while I lecture."

"So, how was Arthimancy?" Lavender asked during lunch.

"Harsh." Parvati exclaimed. "But very interesting."

"Difficult." Victoria admitted. "And exciting."

Hermione nodded. "It's fascinating."

Arthimancy was just as difficult as Professor Vector had claimed it would be, given how complicated Victoria's notes were from the class. She had also assigned them homework, an essay with a minimum of 1,500 words on the structure of the Lumos spell, and another essay on the importance of the number seven. The latter essay was fittingly a minimum of seven hundred words long.

Ron sat down. "Hey Vicky, Mione."

"How was Divination and Care of Magical Creatures?" the emerald-eyed witch asked the redhead.

"Well, Professor Trelawney predicted that you are going to die." Ron drawled. "And in Care of Magical Creatures, which is really good, Professor Grubby-Plank introduced us to Bowtruckles, and Malfoy was too busy making fun of you that he slapped one, and got bit in response. So he lost ten points for not paying attention in a dangerous class, and another ten for making fun of a fellow student."

"I should feel sorry of him, but I don't." Victoria dryly noted. That set off a round of laughter, and then the group of third-years began to descend on the food.

She helped herself to some roast beef, salad, fish and chips, and scotch eggs, listening to the chatter around her and contributing in at times.

Ancient Runes came, and the trio headed to room 6A. A crowd of students stood waiting outside the door, and Victoria recognized some of her fellow Arthimancy students: Ernie Macmillan, Theo Nott, Susan Bones, Padma Patil, Michael Corner, Daphne Greengrass, Sue Li, and Megan Jones. But Lisa Turpin, Justin Finch-Fletchy, Hannah Abbott, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Pansy Parkinson, and Malfoy stood there as well.

She remembered Percy mentioning that there was usually two separate classes of Ancient Runes, given that it was a fairly popular elective amongst the half-blood and pure-blood students. So she deduced that Lavender, Parvati, and Neville were all in the second class.

Ten minutes before the bell would ring, Professor Babbling let them all in. The trio took a table that could sit three people, with Dean and Seamus sitting in a two-person desk next to them.

As Professor Babbling took attendance, Victoria took the chance to observe the Runes professor. With greying brown hair, tanned skin, and blue eyes, Professor Babbling was in her lates sixties and had been teaching at Hogwarts for over a quarter of a century.

"Welcome to Ancient Runes, and I will tell you right now that I take my class very seriously. Ancient Runes is older than potions, then spells, then wands. It is called Ancient Runes for a reason. There are at least 1,000 rune languages. If you learn well and graduate as a seventh-year, then you should've learn at least seven languages. A very good student would learn ten, and the prodigies of the field of Ancient Runes, twelve."

Professor Babbling continued on. "There are five major rules of this class. Rule One: Do not ever try to bring back the dead. Rule Two: The more power put into a rune or runic sequence, the more you will get out of it. Rule Three: Knowledge is everything. Rule Four: Creating a new rune is dangerous, do not practically make one without supervision. Rule five: Your imagination is both your boon and bane."

"Now, we shall spend this year studying Elder Futhark. The first portion of this year will be the theory of Elder Futhark. In the second semester, we shall begin learning how to carve runes and practically learn Elder Futhark. So take out what you need to write, it's time to take notes and learn."

"Wow." Ron said as the trio huddled together in their usual spot in the common room. "Today was something."

"Yeah." the Potter Heiress agreed. "I'm proud of my elective choices. It's going to be fun."

It was only when she went to sleep that Victoria realized that she had not even thought of the Dementors all day.

Chapter Text

It was really hard to understand just how thorough and outlandish the Hogwarts rumor mill could be until you heard a rumor about something that was almost entirely incorrect about what had really happened not even twenty four hours earlier.

"So, let me get this straight," Victoria asked as she braided her jet-black hair into a neat French braid. Her hair had always been long, so she had learned at a young age how to style it in ways to keep it tame and out of her face. And in Hogwarts, braids were the best way to make sure her hair wasn't at risk in turning into fuel for fire. "According to the most widely believed rumor, Malfoy wasn't just bit by a single Bowtruckle, he was attacked by a whole swarm of them."

Lavender nodded. "Yes."

Victoria couldn't help but laugh. "Wow."

"Ooh," Parvati said, holding up her copy of Teen Witch Weekly. "Victoria, there's a nail polish here that would suit you. And Hermione, there's a new lipgloss shade that would look fantastic on you."

Hermione, Victoria, Lavender, and Parvati had always gotten along fairly well. But after the past summer, there was a new understanding and layer of friendship between them all. Lavender and Parvati had helped Victoria figure out her feminine side over the summer, and had now moved to helping Hermione with her own feminine side.

"How much?" Hermione asked.

"Five galleons for the nail polish, and four galleons for the lipgloss." Parvati said. "And—"

"Parvati, I love you as a sister," the Potter witch said. "But if you start recommending clothes, please remember that I refuse to wear anything that's practically glued to my skin. Especially now."

Puberty had really kicked in for Victoria over the summer, and her body had developed curves everywhere— hips, breasts, you name it. Nothing really big, but she was no longer flat chested, instead starting to become very curvy young witch.

And while the thick, sturdy black robes worn with the Hogwarts uniform, boy or girl, would hide it, she was very aware that the casual clothing she wore probably wouldn't. Especially if her... body's maturation continued over the years.

"It's actually fairly modest." Parvati assured her.

"How's Enchanted Hemlines, Jewelry, and Cosmetics?" Hermione asked.

Lavender and Parvati beamed. "It's been doing really well." Lavender exclaimed.

Parvati nodded in agreement, smiling. "Ron has a great knack for finances and he's made so many great ideas."

Victoria grinned. "That's great."

Friday's started with Double Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall started the class with reminding Terry Boot that "hormones or not, it's considered very rude to gawk at a girl's chest" (said girl was Lavender, who had become large-breasted over the summer to the point not even the black robes of the Hogwarts uniform could hide it) and then sprung into a very thorough lecture about Animagi, which ended with her transforming into a tabby-cat with spectacle like markings around her eyes.

The class applauded once she turned back into her human form.

Ron leaned over. "Is it just me, or does Professor McGonagall in her cat form have the same trouble-dispelling look in her human form?"

Victoria very nearly died of laughter.

"Ron, stop." Hermione whispered. "But yes, she does."

Hermione's words nearly caused her to collapse, and her best friends/soul siblings were just barely able to cover for her.

After lunch, the first afternoon class was Potions. The lesson for the day was the Shrinking Solution, and like usual, Snape used his wand to write the directions on the board without bothering to explain it all to them, announced it was a solo day, and began prowling between students.

Victoria ignored Snape's snide comments about her with long-practiced ease. She just pretended he didn't exist, set up a spell that would prevent anyone from messing with her Potion, and got to work.

She also ignored Malfoy, who had set up right next to her. It was very easy to ignore his desperate comments as she quietly focused on her potion. Her Shrinking Solution was finished in under an hour.

Snape examined her potion. "Good." he simply stated. "It passes. Start working on the homework, Potter, and two points to Gryffindor."

That's probably the most points he's ever given me and the nicest thing he's ever said to me. Victoria privately mused.

With a wave of his wand, Snape bottled up her Shrinking Solution and she got to work on the homework assigned on the board, an essay about Shrinking Solutions. As she quietly wrote, Malfoy still kept hissing comments.

"Still here at school, Potter?" he muttered. "I would be looking for Black, if I knew—"

"Malfoy," the ravenette said, not looking up from her homework. "I know about Black. I would suggest you start really working on your potion, given that it's too runny to get even an A by Professor Snape's standards."

She then fully ignored Malfoy until the end of class, when the eight Gryffindors headed to Common subjects. Professor Sinistra and Professor Hooch focused the class on economics.

The trio were quick to complete their assigned homework (with both Hermione and Victoria finishing their Arthimancy homework by 5:30), and headed down to visit Hagrid.

Hagrid was glad to see them, but reminded them about Sirius Black and to visit him when it wasn't almost dark out.

"So, how have your firs' two days back ter hogwarts have bin?" Hagrid asked them.

"Great." Ron replied.

Hermione nodded. "It's been fun."

"Arthimancy is hard but really enticing." Victoria admitted.

"I'm surprised you two," he gestured to her and Hermione, "Didn' sign up fer care o' magical creatures. 's a great class, I took it meself when I was a third-year."

"Hermione's taking it, just the self-study route." Ron explained.

The brunette nodded. "The books Professor Grubby-Plank assigned are really good."

Hagrid smiled underneath his bushy black beard. "Yeah, Professor Grubby-Plank is a good teacher. I would've liked to teach, but I don't have the credentials."

"You got cleared of what happened last year, right?" Victoria asked him.

"I was. Madam Bones made sure ter clear me record. She's a good witch, Madam Bones's is. I've got a new wand now, an' i've bin studying up ter take me O.W.L.'s over spring break or nex' summer."

"That's great!" Ron exclaimed.

When dinner rolled around and the trio (with Hagrid escorting them) made it to the Great Hall, Victoria was able to hear all the rumors about Professor Lupin. Surprisingly, all the whispers uniamously agreed that Professor Lupin was a fantastic teacher.

"So, maybe we don't need to self-study this year." Hermione mused.

"You should've joined us last year." Ron said. "You would've learned a lot more spells with us."

"Ron." the Potter Heiress said dryly. "She had a crush."

"On Lockhart." Ron pointed out.

Hermione groaned. "Ron!"

"I mean, he's right." Victoria muttered, and dodged the jinx Hermione sent her way with a laugh.

Chapter Text

The weekend passed peacefully, and Monday rolled around.

For the Gryffindor third-years, Monday's began with Charms. Professor Flitwick spent that lesson with teaching them the Banishing Charm, which Victoria, Neville, and Ron had already learned via their DADA self study-group the previous year.

But it was good class to refine their use of the spell. Victoria, Neville, and Ron began competing over who could banish their pillow the farthest. The winner was Ron, who scored thirty feet and 'accidentally' hit Malfoy in the face when the pale blond tried to mock Victoria over the train incident.

After Charms was DADA, and Victoria was excited to see how the class would turn out.

Professor Lupin wasn't their when the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw third-years arrived, took their seats, and brought out their assigned textbook The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts and writing materials.

She and Hermione did shoot Ron mischievous grins when he sat with Padma Patil. He subtly glared back but was pulled into a conversation with the Ravenclaw Patil twin.

Professor Lupin came in just before the bell rang. "Please put your books away and follow me. Bring your wands as well. Today's lesson will be a practical one."

Victoria and Hermione exchanged looks, remembering their last practical 'lesson' from the previous year. But the students followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom and to the staff room, their respect for him increasing when he neatly dealt with Peeves.

Snape was in the staff room when the class entered, but left with a few cutting remarks about Neville that made Victoria furious. But Professor Lupin quickly got her attention with the topic of his lesson: Boggarts.

"Boggarts like dark, enclosed places," Professor Lupin informed them. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks- I once met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third-years some practice. But the first question we must ask ourself is, what is a boggart?"

Hermione raised her hand instantly and Professor Lupin called on her. "It's a shape-shifter, which will take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us the most."

"An excellent explication, Miss Granger." Professor Lupin praised, and Hermione glowed. "Now, the boggart we are going to face doesn't know there are so many of us. How does that give us an advantage, V-Miss Potter?"

Victoria quickly thought of the best answer she could give. "Because there's so many of us, the boggart won't know who to focus on and to scare."

"Good." Professor Lupin nodded. "That's what's going to happen."

He then explained the Boggart-Banishing Spell, helped Neville prepare for going first, and then instructed them to think about what scared them the most. Instantly, Victoria's mind went to the Dementor, but she didn't have any time to plan before the lesson began.

Neville did a fantastic job on the Boggart, forcing Boggart Professor Snape into Augusta's clothing. Victoria nearly died from laughter at the sight, laughing so hard she nearly fell to the floor.

Parvati went next, and came out victorious against the Boggart. Terry Boot, Seamus, Padma, Michael Corner, Dean, Sue Li, Lavender, Anthony Goldstein, and Ron all went.

Then it was Victoria's turn. The Boggart focused on her and transformed into a Dementor.

Instantly, the faint screaming in her head from the train began but Victoria tried to focus and—

"R-Riddikulus!" she snarled, and the Boggart burst into into thousands of black wisps. But she still felt slightly faint and didn't protest when Ron clamped a hand on her shoulder to steady her.

"Well then," Professor Lupin said, cutting through the thick silence. "Five points to everyone who went against the Boggart, and five points to Hermione for correctly answering my question at the start. Your homework is a four hundred word essay, and just four hundred words, about Boggarts and how to deal with them, to turn in on Wednesday."

The bell rang, and the trio stuck close as they followed the student body to the Great Hall.

"Vicky," Ron asked. "Are you okay?"

"No." she said, not trying to lie to her best friends-soul siblings-platonic soulmates. "I just want to rest a bit."

"History of Magic is after lunch. We can skip that and visit Hagrid." Hermione suggested.

"Are you suggesting we ditch a class?" Victoria teased.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "We always ditch History of Magic. It's a useless class with Professor Binns teaching it anyways, and we learn more from self-study anyways."

"Fair point." Victoria agreed. The prospect of visiting Hagrid already made her feel better.

September became October, time flying by. There was no word about Sirius Black but Victoria was too busy with her classes to pay attention to the escaped Azkaban prisoner.

Charms, Potions, Transfiguration, and Herbology had stepped up in difficulty. Now with the basics covered during first and second year, more advanced spells, plants, and potions were now the focus of class. Astronomy was more or less the same, with the current planet of observation being Mars. Common subjects had also leveled up in difficulty in the sciences and mathematics, and Sirius Black being on the loose didn't stop Madam Hooch from having them run laps around the Black Lake.

Arthimancy was still focusing on analyzing and reverse-engineering first and second year spells. By late September, the Lumos spell analysis was done, and now the class was focusing on dissecting the Levitation Charm and the Avifors spell, along with analyzing magical important numbers. The difficulty of the class didn't stop Victoria from valuing and appreciating the subject.

Ancient Runes was still dedicated to Elder Futhark, and the several affects the 24 runes could have alone or when combined with other runes. It was a thrilling class that Victoria enjoyed immensely and she was itching to see what Elder Futhark runes could do when combined with other runic languages.

Funnily enough, when she mentioned this to Ron and Hermione in hearing range of Professor Babbling, the Runes professor looked like she had just had a heart-attack.

But October also brought something else: Quidditch.

Oliver Wood held the first training session for the Gryffindor team on the second weekend of October, in addition to holding tryouts for the spot of reverse Keeper to find his successor. Victoria had been thrilled when Ron beat out all the other competitors to earn the spot as Wood's successor as Keeper.

"We should probably get Ron a better broom." Fred said as Wood pulled Ron to the side. Victoria guessed it was to tell Ron the training schedule Wood had almost certainly written up during the summer.

"I can get him one for Christmas." Victoria offered. "What broom would he like?"

George smiled. "Thank you. And you should go to Wood about the best broomstick for a Keeper."

She gave him an incredulous look and George winced.

"Just check out a broomstick catalogue." Angelina assured Victoria. "Go to Wood as a last resort."

Victoria nodded. "I can do that."

October 31st came around, marking the twelfth anniversary for her parent's murder. October 31st also brought a Hogsmeade weekend trip.

Victoria wasn't tempted to go until she thought that her parents would want her to live her life and not eternally mourn them.

She still did a proper mourning ritual for them, one Augusta had taught her over the summer. Then she joined her friends in heading to Hogsmeade.

Hogsmeade was a cozy little village that looked right out of a Christmas card. Several picturesque homes? Check. One or two story level buildings with wooden signs? Check. A single Main Street with smaller roads branching off? Check. Woods outside the village? Check.

"Wow." Hermione said, eyes sparkling softly. "This is lovely."

Victoria nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

The trio first checked out Honeydukes, the famous sweet store that all the older students held in reverence. Inside, the store was warm and filled to the brim with all kinds of wixen sweets, and a mob of older students had descend onto all the products.

"How much do you want to bet that this is where Fred and George get all of those sweets?" she asked Ron and Hermione.

"I'm not taking that bet." Ron proclaimed.

After poking around the store, the trio all selected their favorites to purchase with Victoria's money. Both Ron and Hermione had tried to protest, but as the Potter Heiress was the only one with enough money, they had eventually caved in.

So the trio left Honeydukes with three bags in-between them stocked with Bertie Bott's Every-Flavor Beans, Cauldron Cakes, Chocolate Frogs, Salt Water Taffy, Nougat, Chocoballs, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and Ice Mice. The trio each had a sweet they had picked out for themselves in their respective bag: Sugar Quills for Victoria, Peppermint Toads for Ron, and Cheering Cherry Tart for Hermione.

Hermione insisted on stopping by the bookstore Tomes and Scrolls, were the trio looked at the offered books and Hermione got a mystery novel while Victoria purchased a book about aquatic magical creatures in the Mediterranean for Luna.

Victoria got a new ink pot made from enchanted glass from Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, and owl treats for Hedwig from the post office. Ron got Ginny a pretty cream colored scarf from Gladrags Wizardwear. The trio then ducked into the Three Broomsticks for a while, trying out some non-alcoholic drinks and observing the other customers.

After a while, the Hogwarts students returned to the castle, the trio among them. Victoria dropped off her purchases in her dorm before heading to the Halloween feast with her friends. She also brought the book for Luna down to the Great Hall with her to give to the younger Ravenclaw.

So Victoria as she headed to the Ravenclaw table, she was aware of the eyes on her. "Hey Luna." she greeted and then smiled at Penelope, who was sitting with Luna. "Hi Penelope".

Luna smiled at her. "Hello Victoria. I'm sorry for your parents."

"I am too." Penelope added. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay and you." she said to both of them, and then handed Luna the book. "I found this in Tomes and Scrolls, and since you really like magical creatures, I thought you would enjoy reading it."

Luna beamed as she accepted the book, pale eyes bright with happiness. "Thank you, Victoria."

"I also charmed it earlier so that if anyone tries to destroy it, they'll be stung." she informed Luna. "Once you touched it, it's now keyed to your magic. No one else can touch it."

Thank you Percy for teaching her (and Ron) that spell. Percy had actually invented that spell to keep Fred and George out of his belongings.

So if it kept Luna's bullies from destroying her gift, then it was worth it.

Luna hugged her and she hugged Luna back before returning to the Gryffindor table, and was dragged into the merry air of the Halloween feast.

But the good mood of the day and feast was ruined when it was discovered the Sirius Black had attack the Fat Lady in an attempt to get into the Gryffindor common room.

Chapter Text

The Gryffindors were immediately sent back to the Great Hall. The Hufflepuffs, the Slytherins, and the Ravenclaws quickly joined them.

"Sirius Black has somehow gotten into the castle." Dumbledore announced, killing all the noise in the Great Hall. "To make sure he doesn't hurt anyone, you must all stay here for the night, so the teachers and I can conduct a sweep of the castle. The doors will be charmed by me so only the staff and I can enter and exit. Head Boy Weasley and Head Girl Clearwater are in charge. Until further notice, classes are canceled tomorrow."

Dumbledore then waved his wand, piling the four ton gables into a neat stack at the edge of the hall. Another flick of his wand conjured several purple sleeping bags and pillows."

"Lights out in fifteen minutes." Percy Weasley announced, voice magnified. "Fifteen minutes until lights out, and if you must talk, then I suggest you keep your voice down, given that there are several hundred students trying to sleep here and if someone hexes you because they can't sleep, then it's your fault."

Victoria shot Ron a look, brows high. Her second favorite Weasley had to be talking out of personal experience.

Ron shook his head. "Later. Let's get a spot to ourselves first."

The trio quickly grabbed three sleeping bags and pillows, and tucked themselves in a quieter corner. Luna and Neville were swift to join them, and Victoria smiled at them.

"I think." Neville said. "That we should start up the study-group again. To refine our spell-work and to learn some new spells to protect ourselves."

Victoria nodded in agreement. "We can put Offensive and Defensive Magic to very good use."

"And we can get some books from the library." Hermione suggested.

"Percy should know all the good books. Penelope too." Ron added.

"Gran's a former Dueling champion. I'll write to her for some more books." Neville promised.

"Professor Lupin might have a few recommendations." Luna suggested.

Percy came their way, so the group of five quickly quieted down. Rumors and suggestions of how Sirius Black could've gotten in quickly became the topic of conversation, and Victoria fell asleep a bit after midnight.

She woke up a few hours after dawn. Looking around, she saw Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Snape quietly talking together with Penelope and Percy.

"There's no sign of Black." Professor McGonagall grimly announced. "He fled, though I didn't expect him to stay. Percy, has there been anything odd here?"

"No." Percy confirmed. "Black hasn't tried to come in here."

"Good." Dumbledore said. "I just saw Professor Sinistra, and she's cleared the seventh-floor. Professor Vector has cleared the Owlery and fifth floor as well."

"Dumbledore," Snape murmured. "Did you remember what I said—"

"I remember." Dumbledore said sharply. "And not for a second, Severus, do I believe that any member of my staff, or a single student, has willingly cooperated with Black to let him past the castle defenses."

Victoria stayed very still. There could be a possible traitor?

"Then," Snape said. "I would recommend we tell Potter the truth. All of it, not just what Lady Regent Longbottom told her."

"Augusta told her everything." Professor McGonagall said.

Snape bared his teeth. "Lady Regent Longbottom hasn't told Potter the entire story, and while I don't like Potter, I, for one, believe she deserves to know the entire truth."

"Enough." Dumbledore spoke, voice firm and cold. "We must focus on clearing the castle. We shall handle Miss Potter later."

Victoria didn't get any sleep for the rest of the night.

After Sirius Black's break in, life marched on. Victoria was now under heavy supervision, though. Older Gryffindors now walked with the third-years again, Madam Pince lingered near the trio when they studied in the library, and in the study-group, she and her friends learned rather advanced martial magic from the books Augusta Longbottom loaned them.

Victoria idly wondered about pursuing a professional career in Dueling, given how good she was at combative magic. The idea of becoming an Auror wasn't very appealing to her. She didn't want to fight her entire life.

But another part of her rejected pursuing a professional Dueling career. She liked Dueling for fun with her friends, not for money or anything else. Still, she had four years to figure out what she wanted to too with her life, and she was confident she would find a career that called to her.

The last training session before Saturday's match, Wood arrived, looking furious.

"We aren't playing Slytherin!" he announced in the changing rooms. "Flint's claiming that his seeker his sick. We're going up against Hufflepuff instead."

"Malfoy isn't sick." Victoria seethed. "I just saw him in the library."

"But we can't prove it." Wood sighed.

Fred waved a hand. "Don't worry, we'll beat Hufflepuff easily, just like last time."

"That was in very different conditions!" Wood shrieked. "And the roster's changed in two years. Their new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory—"

Angelina, Katie, and Alicia all suddenly giggled.

"What was that?" Wood asked, frowning.

"He's the handsome one, right?" Katie asked.

"Strong and silent." Alicia sighed.

Wood made a horrified noise and spun around to face Victoria. "Victoria! You aren't distracted by Diggory, right?"

The ravenette blinked owlishly at Wood. "Who's Cedric Diggory?"

George and Fred burst into laughter, Wood nearly fainted in relief, while the Gryffindor Chasers stood at the intersection of 'horrified' and 'amused'.

"Cedric Diggory," Angelina sang. "Is in my year and one of the most popular boys in the school."

"Prefect, top of our year, Seeker, and Quidditch Captain." Alicia added.

"And he's really dreamy." Katie sighed.

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so he's Prince Charming then?"

The three Chasers giggled, and Victoria got the feeling that she had said something very dangerous.

The day of the game came, and it came with horrible weather. Victoria grabbed her gear and headed down to the Great Hall, very keen about the Hufflepuff's eying her the moment she entered the Great Hall.

Instead, she let George distract her with a conversation that went nowhere as she tried to eat some kipper and toast, a strong feeling of dread coiling inside of her. It didn't go away as the Gryffindor team assembled in the changing rooms; her instincts were practically screaming 'danger!' at her.

But Victoria swallowed it all as she quickly cast Heating Charms on her Quidditch robes and an Impervius Charm on her face. Angelina nervously fluttered over and redid her already done crown braid, but she let the older witch do it without complaint.

Wood wasn't able to make his usual speech, and the Gryffindor team headed out into the pouring rain. The Hufflepuffs came out a few seconds behind, dressed in bright canary yellow robes. Diggory was polite enough to smile, but Wood was stone faced and grim.

The game began and Victoria shot ahead of Diggory, quickly scanning the stadium for the Snitch. But with the pouring rain, the Snitch was successfully masked.

She heard a whooshing noise and she dodged a Bludger. Fifteen minutes past, and she avoided two more Bludgers before Wood called a time out. The team huddled under an Umbrella charm Katie cast.

"We're leading by elven goals." Wood announced.

Victoria shot Katie, Angelina, and Alicia a thumb's up. "Nice work."

Alicia smiled tiredly. "Thanks."

George cleared his throat, and had to yell over the thunder. "And Hufflepuff?"

"They scored a goal, I had to dodge a Bludger aiming for my head." Wood said with a grimace.

For a moment, she couldn't help but finally appreciate Wood's relentless practices that went on no matter the weather. This wasn't even the worse storm the Gryffindor team had flown in. The storm was only slowing down the Gryffindors, giving them a minor annoyance, but she guessed that it was crippling the Hufflepuff team.

"Victoria," Wood said. "You need to get the Snitch."

The timeout ended, and the game resumed. She could barely hear Lee announce that Katie had scored another goal as she scoured the arena.

Then she saw it.

It was a great black dog, looking right at her. She couldn't fixate on it because a second later, she saw a flash of gold— the Snitch.

Victoria immediately blasted after the tiny golden ball, not paying attention to anything else. She heard a scuffle behind her and guessed that Diggory was following her, and one of the twins had tried to stop him.

She gained on the Snitch, plowing through the rain as her fingers slipped around it and—

Cold.

Soul touching cold.

A women with dark red hair and green eyes crouched before her, tears shining in her eyes. "Vicky, Victoria you are loved... So loved. Victoria, Mama loves you. Dada loves you. Victoria, be safe. Be strong."

She babbled, trying to grab one of the women's fingers that rested on the bars of her crib. The women squeezed her tiny hand, smiling through the tears running down her face before suddenly, the door blew open. She wailed as the women stood up, putting her body in-between her and the intruder.

"Not Victoria, not Vicky, please, not Victoria!" the women pleaded.

"Stand aside girl, stand aside." the intruder commanded.

"Not Victoria, please, no, kill me instead—" the women begged.

"Stand aside, girl, and if you do you'll live." the intruder commanded.

"Not Victoria! Please, have mercy, have mercy—"

"AVADA KEDAVARA!"

There was a flash of green light again, and the women fell. She cried as the intruder pointed his wand at her. "AVADA KEDAVARA!"

A green light, identical to her eyes, burned itself into her retinas as someone screamed—

With great effort, did Victoria open her eyes. She knew where she was in a heartbeat— the Hospital Wing.

"'H-hello?" she called, her voice barely a whisper.

"Oh Merlin!" a voice cried, grating against her ears. She flinched a bit as Madam Pomfrey appeared. "Oh thank goodness, you're okay."

"What happened?" she asked.

Madam Pomfrey filled her in as the Matron handed her half a dozen potions to drink. Dementors had attacked the game, she had fallen from her broomstick just as she caught the Snitch due to Dementor exposure, and Cedric Diggory had been able to grab her in time, managing to safely crash into the ground of the arena, even at the cost of his broom. Her own broom had been destroyed by the Whomping Willow. Dumbledore had driven off the Dementors and she had been out for several hours.

Victoria accepted this all, while the memory of her mother's murder played in her head like a broken-recorder.

Chapter Text

Victoria did not get much sleep that night. After the fifth time she woke up from the nightmare-memory of her mother's murder, she gave up trying to sleep at all, just curled up on one side and listened to the pounding rain.

The door opened, and someone entered. She inconspicuously glanced over her shoulder to see a tall Hufflepuff she didn't recognize enter.

Madam Pomfrey bustled over. "Mr.Diggory? What can I do for you?"

"Hi Madam Pomfrey." the boy, Diggory, said softly. She could feel him glance at her. "I was wondering if I could talk with Heiress Potter?"

Well, he called her by her last name and automatically didn't assume he had the right to call her Victoria right off the bat, which granted him a point in his favor. Additionally, she slightly startled with how he used her proper title.

"I think she's asleep." Madam Pomfrey said.

Victoria decided the polite thing to do would to hear Diggory out. So she sat up. "I'm awake. What do you want to talk about, Diggory?" she asked, her green eyes meeting his grey ones.

Diggory flushed for some reason as he looked down, shuffling. "I-I just wanted to check on you, Heiress Potter. You weren't in the best state when..." he trailed off.

The Potter witch saw Madam Pomfrey discreetly smirk for some reason and leave them alone. "When we crashed into the stadium ground and I was out cold?"

"Yeah." Diggory confirmed. "Are you okay?"

Victoria gave him a look of disbelief. "I suffered from Dementor exposure, suffered some minor fractures and bruises, and now I relive the memory of my mother's murder every time I close my eyes. Yes, Diggory, I'm perfectly fine. Absolutely nothing wrong here." she sarcastically commented.

"I'm sorry." Diggory said. "That was a stupid thing to say."

He then cleared his throat, stormy grey eyes meeting her emerald green ones. "And I'm sorry for your parents. I still have my parents, but my paternal grandmother died when I was thirteen, so I understand losing someone."

She studied him. "Thank you."

"And," he added. "I'm sorry for the Heir of Slytherin drama."

"You didn't do anything." she assured him.

Diggory shook his head. "No, but my house-mates did. And I didn't do anything to try and stop it."

"Diggory," Victoria drawled. "I forgive you. At least you didn't try and attack me. And don't try and apologize for what those people did."

He held up his hands. "I won't, Heiress Potter."

She laughed slightly. "You can call me Potter or Victoria, I don't mind either."

"Then you can call me Cedric." Diggory, Cedric, offered with a charming grin and glittering storm-cloud colored eyes.

Ron and Hermione arrived first thing on Sunday morning after breakfast. The moment she saw her two best friends, joy sparked to life in her heart.

"Victoria!" Hermione cried, pulling her into a hug. "You're okay!"

"Don't you dare scare us like that again!" Ron said as he joined in the group hug.

Her two best friends/soul siblings filled her in on what she had missed, which was not much.

But their presence made Victoria feel infinitely better.

A small stream of visitors followed Ron and Hermione, who refused to leave her side, especially after she told them what the Dementors had forced her to relieve, the memory now returned to her mind in full-force.

Luna, Neville, Percy, and Penelope, all visited, bringing her several books to read that would keep her entertained. Dean and Seamus also visited, along with the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team, Hagrid, Hermione's cat Crookshanks, and Professor McGonagall.

She barely hid a wince as a blushing and stuttering Ginny offered her a card. "H-Here, V-Victoria." the only girl of the Weasley family stammered

"Thank you." she said politely taking it.

Ginny somehow blushed harder and practically fled. Victoria turned to Ron the moment she thought Ginny was out of earshot. "She knows that I don't like her, right?"

"I don't think she cares." Ron admitted.

Victoria resisted the urge to smack her head on the wall. "She doesn't even know me. She thinks she does but she doesn't."

Hermione squeezed her hand. "She'll come to her senses, don't worry."

"Hopefully." Victoria murmured, but all thoughts of Ginny left her as Cedric entered.

"Oh, sorry." Cedric said. "I'll go. Are you feeling better now, Victoria?"

"I am, Cedric." she confirmed.

Cedric nodded and left.

Ron gawked at her. "What was that?"

"Cedric just checking in on me." Victoria replied.

Just then, Lavender and Parvati burst in. "Why did I just pass Cedric Diggory?" Lavender demanded. "Victoria, why was the Hufflepuff Hottie here?"

Victoria didn't know Cedric properly yet, but she was fairly convinced that he would die of embarrassment if she told him the... interesting sobriquet he had.

Monday came, and with it, Defense Against the Dark Arts.

An idea bloomed in Victoria's head while learning about hinkypunks. "Go ahead." she told Ron and Hermione. "I need to ask Professor Lupin a question."

"We'll wait outside." Hermione promised, and both she and Ron exited the room.

"Professor Lupin?" Victoria asked, noticing Professor Lupin's nearly unnoticeable flinch as shea dressed him. "I have a question?"

"Yes, V-Miss Potter?" Professor Lupin asked, turning around to face her.

She shifted her messenger bag a bit. "Ron and Hermione told me about how you drove off the Dementor on the train. Can you teach me that spell?"

"It's called the Patronus Charm." Professor Lupin said. "And it's an incredibly advanced spell, it's not taught until a student's sixth-year here."

"I can deal with any trouble that comes with learning it." Victoria said. "I just don't want to have to relive my mother's murder every time I get near a Dementor."

Professor Lupin went white, suddenly looking much older. "Y-You what?"

The emerald-eyed witch told him everything. By the time she was finished, the DADA teacher looked like he had aged twenty years and nearly died of heart palpitations.

Maybe I should get him something nice for Christmas. she thought with a wince.

Professor Lupin suddenly looked very determined. "I'll teach you, Victoria. Let's start after the holidays, however. I've picked a bad time to fall ill."

Victoria smiled. "Thank you, Professor Lupin."

Life at Hogwarts kept going, and Victoria waited impatiently for next Thursday to arrive.

Classes were just the same, but with all Quidditch matches being canceled while Professor Dumbledore fought the Ministry in attempt to get rid of the Dementors. Until that legal battle was over, there would be no Quidditch matches in order to prevent a repeat of what had happened.

A minor change to her life was Cedric Diggory. Given that they are separated by two years and in different Houses, she didn't see him outside of meals and the small waves, greetings, and smiles they exchanged in the hallways.

It was something that Lavender and Parvati had pounced on like wolves on deer.

"Seriously, Lavender, Parvati," Victoria grumbled as the third-years headed to Herbology. "He's just being nice!"

"But it could be more!" Lavender proclaimed.

Victoria scoffed. "Who would be attracted to me?"

Seamus grinned like a fiend. "Ginny Weasley."

"Who would be attracted to me for who I am, not because I'm unfortunately famous for surviving my parent's murder?" Victoria corrected herself, resisting the urge to jinx Seamus.

"I can name a few people." Parvati sang. "Like Cedric Diggory."

"Right." Victoria drawled. "Cedric has everyone attracted to men drooling after him. Why would he pick me?"

"First name basis, are we?" Lavender teased, eyes sparkling.

"And you got Diggory a new broom." Ron threw in.

She glared at him. "I was being nice. He lost his broom when he caught me."

"You got him a Nimbus Two Thousand." Seamus pointed out.

"I was being nice and from personal experience, I know it's a good broom." Victoria insisted. She then realized the accidental innuendo. "And I didn't mean it like that!"

Too late, she knew that her year-mates would never let her lives this down.

"He saved you." Parvati sighed. "It's the perfect start to a romance."

The emerald-eyed witch was saved by the arrival of Professor Sprout.

November turned into December, and like last year, Victoria would be spending Christmas with Neville and Augusta.

One December morning, early into the twelfth month of the year, brought a minor stir.

"Dumbledore's resigned from being Supreme Mugwump of the ICW and from Chief Warlock." Hermione said as the trio read the Daily Prophet together. "He said that he wants to focus on being Headmaster of Hogwarts and protect his students."

"It's probably because Fudge still won't remove the Dementors." Victoria said.

The trio all looked in the direction of a grim faced Dumbledore as he quietly conversed with the Heads of Houses.

Ron nodded. "You're probably right, Vicky. And I think what he did was good, because now he'll be around more."

On the day of the final Hogsmeade weekend visit before Christmas break, the twins slipped her the Marauder's Map to protect herself from Sirius Black.

That was not the biggest thing that happened to her.

It was hearing what Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Professor Flitwick, and Fudge all discuss in the Three Broomsticks, a clandestine discussion that the trio unwittingly heard, had heard about Sirius Black and things not even Augusta Longbottom had known, had told her.

About the absolute trust her parents had put into Sirius Black when he had been made their Secret-Keeper, the deep history between her father and Black.

And how Black had gone around and spat on it by handing her parents over to Voldemort.

The next day, Victoria went to Longbottom Estate shaken and devastated.

Chapter Text

"Why didn't you tell me that Black was my dad's best friend?" Victoria asked Augusta the first day of Christmas holidays.

Augusta sighed. "I don't haven an excuse, Victoria. But I didn't tell you because at the moment, I didn't want to burden you with the knowledge that your father's blood-brother and your godfather was the mastermind behind the murder of your parents."

"You should've told me. This is my life." Victoria angrily said.

"I should've." Augusta agreed. "And from now on, I'll tell you and Neville everything."

Victoria studied her, and hew instincts told her that the Longbottom matriarch was telling the truth.

She nodded. "Thank you."

In order to get her mind off what she had learned, she let Neville drag her to Jardin de Plantes in France, both to see the new exhibition in the magical side of the famous botanical garden and see the mundane side of the garden. Luna was invited to come, and the younger witch happily accepted. Augusta accompanied them to the garden as their adult chaperone.

There was the added bonus of practicing their French. After several rigorous French lessons over the past summer, Victoria now had conversational level skill in French, and Augusta had made it clear that there would be more French lessons the in upcoming until she was fluent.

After touring the garden, the group spent the rest of the day in Paris. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre Museum were all visited, and a cruise on the Seine River wrapped up the day.

"Today was lovely." Luna said. "Thank you for inviting me."

"Anytime." Victoria promised.

"How's it been in Ravenclaw?" Neville asked.

"Most people are leaving me alone. Professor Flitwick has doubled down on breaking up all the petty bullying going on." Luna admitted. "I'm a bit scared for when Penelope leaves."

The emerald-eyed witch squeezed the other girl's hand. "We'll watch your back."

Luna smiled. "Thank you."

Christmas Day came, and she, Augusta, and Neville opened all of their gifts together.

Victoria had wrapped up her own Christmas shopping and sent out the gifts she had purchased: a pair of glasses that were charmed so that when worn while reading foreign languages for Hermione and Percy, it was translated into English, a Cleansweep Eleven for Ron, a new set of paints, colored pencils and pens, and an enchanted sketchbook for Luna, a stack of books about how to start and run a business for Parvati and Lavender to share, while a book on Divination was given to Parvati and a book about mundane fashion was bought for Lavender, seeds for some rare plants for Neville, a rare book on Runes for Penelope, and for Augusta, an expensive dragon-hide wand hostler with runes embroidered on the inside.

All of those gifts were expensive, yes... but it hadn't made a dent in her trust vault.

Yes, Victoria was that wealthy. The Potter family had never been lightweights in the wealth department, and the Basilisk corpse had brought in even more money. Needless to say, Victoria was financially independent and wouldn't need a job to support herself after Hogwarts.

And if someone told her that three years ago, she would've thought they were high on something or drunk.

The ravenette's gifts were lovely: A book about rare potions from Ron, an elegant Rune-carving dagger from Lavender, a copy of A Tale of Two Cities from Hermione, a carved wooden Basilisk statue from Hagrid that she could hold in the palm of her hand, a small glass statue of the Golden Snitch from Luna, a copy of Anna Karenina from Mrs.Figg, a copy of Persuasion from Penelope, a floral themed planner from Percy, a book about legends, myths, and folklore of India from Parvati, a useful set of enchanted hair clips from Lavender, a book on fire magic from Neville, a hand-knit dark purple jumper with a golden V from Molly Weasley, and a—

Firebolt?

Neville gawked at the beautiful broomstick. "That's a Firebolt!

"There's no note." Victoria said, trying to find anything that came with the Firebolt. A sudden suspicion bloomed in her mind, and she glanced at the Firebolt, trying to sense its magic. All she could taste was the usual air and sky magic that most broomsticks had.

"It could be from Sirius Black." Augusta said. "Victoria, we should tell the Aurors and send this back to Ellerby and Spudmore so they can strip it down for any traps or curses."

Victoria nodded. It was the only reasonable thing to do when a mass-murder has possibly sent her a Christmas gift.

The Aurors came by, and Madam Bones's investigation proved to be efficient as several clues were pulled in— an anonymous order form to the local Quidditch shop in Hogsmeade and the withdrawal of money from Vault 711, Sirius Black's personal vault that once belonged to his uncle Alphard Black but was given to him through Alphard's will.

She told all of this to Hermione and Ron when the trio met up in the Burrow, huddled together in Ron's room, all of them in their Weasley jumpers— Ron had a burnt orange jumper with a golden R on the front and Hermione had a sapphire blue jumper with a golden H in the center.

"You have to admit, it's a creative way to try and murder someone." Ron muttered.

"Wow, Ron, I'm feeling the love." Victoria snarked.

"Vicky, everyone knows you love flying, you play Quidditch, and you recently lost your broom." Ron pointed out.

Hermione buried her hands in her face. "Stop making me agree with you!"

Ron held up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. Let's talk about something else?"

The Potter witch smirked. "Alright. How about you and Padma getting kicked out by Madam Pince a few weeks ago? How true was Lavender's theory of a romantic chess game between the two of you?"

Ron turned redder then his hair while Hermione and Victoria burst into laughter.

Molly Weasley poked her head in. "Is something wrong?"

"We're asking Ron how his date with Padma Patil was." Hermione proclaimed.

Molly's eyes glittered. "Oh? I see. Carry on. And do try and bring home your girlfriend, Ron. Your father and I would love to meet her."

Victoria nearly died from laughter, and Hermione was not far behind her.

Later that afternoon, the trio, dressed in mundane clothing, headed into the village under the supervision of Percy.

It was fun, just enjoying the light-hearted demeanor of the village as they wandered the streets. They found a nearby music shop and for fun, began to browse.

"Victoria?" a familiar voice called, and she turned to see Cedric.

"Hey Cedric." she greeted. "I didn't know you live here."

"My family lives nearby." Cedric admitted. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting Ron." she replied. "We came down here with Percy as our chaperone so we wouldn't somehow get in trouble."

Cedric laughed softly. "Given the rumors surrounding you three, I'm not surprised."

Her lips quirked into a tiny smile. "You don't know half of it."

"Victoria! There you are." Percy said, appearing at her side. He then noticed Diggory and deliberately paused to look him over. "Oh, Diggory. Hello."

"Percy." Cedric said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. A nervous tic. she guessed. "I just ran into Victoria here and wanted to say hello?"

"I gave him permission to call me by my first name." the Gryffindor witch said, knowing Percy disapproved of people calling her Victoria without asking first.

The third-eldest Weasley nodded. "I see." he said, and placed a hand on her shoulder as if to make sure not to lose her again. "Let's go, I know mum will want us back soon and you need to return to Longbottom estate."

He then guided her away, but Victoria shot a quick 'goodbye' at Cedric before the older Gryffindor whisked her away.

As the holidays wrapped up, Victoria got her Firebolt back the day before Hogwarts would start up again. The broom had been quadruple checked by the company, Curse-Breakers, and the Auror department for anything suspicious, but nothing had been found.

Victoria knew that once Oliver saw the Firebolt, he would probably die of happiness.

She was close enough, because the moment she told Oliver this on the train back to Hogwarts, he fainted.

Chapter Text

School started back up again, and with it came a new round of Quidditch games. Ravenclaw flattened Hufflepuff, but then lost to Slytherin.

Victoria was a more focused on her classes, especially in Runes, which had now begun its practical side under Professor Babbling's watchful gaze.

She nervously stood at the side as Professor Babbling examined her carved Futhark runes. "Very good." Professor Babbling said. "Now, can you invoke at least one? Verbally or through drawing them in the air."

"I can." she said, and summoned her magic. "Kenaz!" she said, pouring some of her magic into the rune.

The rune blazed to life and a burst of blue-violet flames shot through the air.

Professor Babbling smiled. "Very good. And that is the first time I saw someone get anything hotter than red fire on their first try at invoking the Kenaz rune. Is your elemental affinity fire?"

She nodded. "It is."

"Then I would recommend studying Ancient Baltic Fire Runes next year." Professor Babbling said. "Those would go well with your elemental affinity."

"I will." she said.

Professor Babbling nodded briskly. "I'll send you some book recommendations later, Miss Potter."

"Thank you." she said, smiling.

Victoria then watched Ron successfully invoke the Wunjo rune and Hermione succeed in invoking both the Ansuz and the Gebo runes. The trio left the class feeling very pleased with themselves.

One week later, she began her patronus casting lessons with Professor Lupin. Wood had been thrilled when she informed him about learning the Patronus Charm and nearly had a heart attack because of his happiness.

There was exactly two words that best described Oliver Wood: Quidditch Fanatic.

"A happy memory is the fuel of the Patronus Charm." Professor Lupin told her. "You need to concentrate on it and use it to power the spell."

Victoria closed her eyes and thought through her happy memories. She immediately settled on one: her Christmas during her first year, celebrating with Ron, Percy, and the Weasley twins.

"I found it." she said, opening her eyes. She braced herself for the effects of the Boggart Dementor— because of course Boggarts could mimic the effects of a real Dementor.

Professor Lupin nodded, looking tense. "Alright. One... two... three!"

The Boggart exploded from his briefcase and took the form of a Dementor. Victoria gritted her teeth against the last words of her mother. "E-Expecto Patronum!" she cast.

A faint silver mist spewed from the tip of her wand and hung between her and the Dementor. The her mother's last words began to die down as she focused on pouring more of her power into the silvery mist as she clung to the memory.

But then the memory shifted into the Mirror of Erised, and then the silver mist vanished and a new memory assaulted her.

Someone put her into her mother's arm. She immediately fussed, reaching back out to the hazel eyed, bronze skinned, dark haired man before her. "Victoria, I'll be back in a second." the man said. "Just say here with your mother."

Her mother shifted. "James..."

"Lily, love, please." the man, James, said. "Stay here. Just in case."

He then kissed her mother. "I love you both."

The man exited the rom and headed down the stairs. Then there was the sound of an explosion.

"Lily, take Victoria and go!" James yelled. "It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off—"

"AVADA KEDAVARA!"

"JAMES!" her mother screamed, as if someone had ripped out her heart and shattered her soul into a million pieces.

"Victoria!"

She came back into the waking world with a gasp. Professor Lupin helped her into a seat as she shook, her tanned bronze skin drained of color.

"I saw my dad." she said, gripping the fabric of her jeans as she tried to calm her erratic breathing. "It's the night my parents died. We're in my nursery, I think. He puts me into my mother's arms and told us that he loved us. Then he headed down to check on something. Voldemort blew in the door and he screamed at us to go and then—" she choked on a sob. "Then Voldemort kills him. And my mother screamed his name, and it sounded like some part of her died with him at that moment."

The ravenette looked up to see Professor Lupin's back to her, one of his hands on his face. Was he... crying?

"Did you now my parents?" she asked.

Professor Lupin turned around. "I did. I was in Gryffindor in their year, I was prefect with your mother and I shared a dorm with your father."

Victoria wanted to ask more questions, but she felt like it would be crossing a line. "Can I have another go?" she asked.

The DADA teacher hesitated. "Are you sure you're ready?"

"Yes." she said, getting up and picking her wand back up.

Lupin sighed but nodded. "One more go."

The Potter witch racked her mind for a better memory. She found the perfect one and cursed herself for not using it earlier: September 1st, 1991, the Hogwarts Express. Where she, Ron, and Hermione had become the closest of friends.

And as the fake Dementor reappeared, she concentrated on that memory and poured it into her Patronus Charm. "Expecto Patronum!"

Something huge, something on four hoofed legs erupted from her wand. It was so bright she reflexively squeezed her eyes shut. But then she opened her eyes again to see that her Patronus was a stag, powerful and majestic, as it charged down the fake Dementor and forced it to retreat back into Professor Lupin's spare briefcase.

Then the silver stag turned to her, padding over as it looked at her. In awe, she reached out to touch it, but it faded away milliseconds before she could almost touch it.

"Wow." she whispered. She noticed Professor Lupin's stunned, shocked face. She tentatively assumed it was because she had gotten a notoriously difficult spell on the second try.

"Amazing." Professor Lupin said. "I would strongly suggest you keep practicing, Victoria, though I think you don't need my help anymore."

He gave her some Honeydukes chocolate and sent her back to the Gryffindor common room.

But as Victoria headed back to the common room, she couldn't help but feel like she had seen her Patronus somewhere.

Any thoughts on that was thrown out the window upon entering the Gryffindor Tower and walking into the drama of Crookshanks possibly eating Scabbers.

Luckily, Ron and Hermione forgave each other. Crookshanks's alibi of being with Hagrid and that there was at least five other ginger cats in the Gryffindor Tower helped. Ron also forgave Crookshanks, but politely banned the cat from entering his dorm.

Both of her friends were thrilled when she informed them of successfully conjuring a Patronus. So on a free day, they headed down to the Black Lake so she could show them it.

Victoria concentrated on the memory of meeting and befriending Ron and Hermione. "Expecto Patronum!"

Instantly, her silver stag burst from her wand, pranced around the lake, and then vanished.

"That was awesome!" Ron yelled. "I have to learn that!"

Hermione hugged Victoria. "Your Patronus is breathtaking! And a stag fits you, given that stags symbolize protection, intuition, and wisdom."

The Potter Heiress hugged Hermione back. "Thank you. Maybe your patronus is an owl?"

"Definitely an owl." Ron said. "Owls are really smart, just look at Hedwig. And Hermione's the resident genius of Hogwarts."

The trio headed back to the castle, chatting and laughing together.

Victoria spotted Cedric as they walked the trail and waved at him before Hermione dragged into a debate about Charms.

Chapter Text

Gryffindor's next Quidditch match would be against Ravenclaw. Given that Gryffindor was still in the lead for the Quidditch Cup, Ravenclaw needed to win by more than a hundred points.

And Oliver refused to lose any chance of winning, so he was adamant on five practices every night. The presence of the Firebolt seemed to increase his already intense obsession on Quidditch.

So when the day of the match arrived, it came with great excitement. Wood insisted on all of his players eating healthy before Angelina forced him to eat, and then the team exited the Great Hall.

Victoria spotted Cedric shooting her an encouraging grin, but Wood grabbed her by the collar and dragged her out of the Great Hall before she could respond.

"Focus on what's important, Victoria." Wood murmured. He then turned to look in Cedric's direction, a glare on his face. "And Diggory! Get away from my Seeker or I'll sic the twins on you!"

"Oliver!" Alicia and Angelina simultaneously barked while Fred and George loudly cackled.

Victoria escaped Wood's grasp. "Merlin, Wood, Cedric's just being nice."

"Cedric?" Wood echoed, looking slightly murderous.

She threw up her hands in exasperation. "Look, I'm focused on winning. But I can still be friends with him. It's not like we're going to play against Hufflepuff again."

Wood grumbled but dropped the subject as the Gryffindor team exited the castle and began striding to the stadium. He started lecturing them on tactics against the Ravenclaw team for the one thousandth, nine hundredth, and forty seventh time (and no, Victoria wasn't exaggerating) and only stopped when the team entered the locker room and began changing into their scarlet Quidditch robes.

By the time Victoria and her teammates emerged from the locker room, the stands were split between scarlet and gold on one side and blue and bronze on the other. Slytherin was backing the Ravenclaw team, while Hufflepuff was split between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Victoria scanned the stands and saw Ron and Hermione levitating a poster that read, in large letters that changed color every other minute: VICTORIA POTTER IS THE #1 SEEKER!

Best. Friends. Ever.

The Ravenclaw team emerged, dressed in navy blue robes. The only girl on the team was their Seeker, Cho Chang, a witch of Chinese descent who was a year above Victoria, whom she knew through the rumor mill was incredibly popular with the male population of Hogwarts.

Victoria immediately clocked Chang's gaze and gave her a polite smile, ignoring Wood's patented 'stop being friendly with the enemy' glare.

Madam Hooch blew the whistle, and the game began. Victoria immediately kicked off and flew high above the field, scanning the stadium for the Golden Snitch. She saw Chang following her and quickly utilized the speed away, leading the Ravenclaw witch on a goose chase.

Within the first five minutes, Gryffindor pulled ahead with seven goals— which proved that Wood's insane number of practices did pay off with how skilled the Gryffindor chasers were and in-tune Angelina, Alicia, and Katie were with each other.

A sudden flash of gold caught her attention when Katie scored another goal for Gryffindor, bringing the total to 90-20. She saw the Golden Snitch and quickly dove in the opposite direction, getting Chang to follow her. Then Victoria swerved and blasted in the direction of the Snitch.

Then Alicia screamed and Victoria looked to her left to see three hooded Dementors.

Somehow not seeing the last memories of her parents' life, Victoria drew her wand and pointed it at the Dementors. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" she bellowed.

At once, her silver stag burst forward and charged the Dementors. She barely paid attention to how the Dementors tried to run as she lunged forward with her free hand to grab the Snitch.

"GRYFFINDOR WINS! 240 TO 20!" Lee roared. "AND A SPECTACULAR DEMONSTRATION OF THE PATRONUS CHARM BY POTTER! I WOULD ASK HER OUT ON A DATE, BUT I DON'T WANT WOOD OR PERCY TO MURDER ME!"

Victoria didn't hear Professor McGonagall's reaction because her team-mates initiated a group hug, the seven Gryffindors descending to the earth with cheers and smiles while the Gryffindor supporters screamed themselves hoarse.

"Oh!" Katie gasped, pointing too something. "Guys, look!"

The Potter witch looked where Katie was pointing. She saw an enraged Professor McGonagall standing over the Dementors— No, wait, that was Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Flint in poorly illusion charmed Dementor costumes.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF MERLIN WERE YOU ALL THINKING!?" Professor McGonagall roared.

"They weren't." Victoria snarked.

"DARING TYRING TO SABOTAGE THE GRYFFINDOR SEEKER!?"

Fred whistled. "Wow, are we sure she isn't Wood's grandmother?"

"AND HOW DARE YOU TRY AND MOCK AND ASHAME A STUDENT FOR THEIR TRAUMA!" Professor McGonagall added at the top of her lungs, sounding very much like one of Molly Weasley's Howlers to the twins. "SEVENTY FIVE POINTS FROM SLYTHERIN TRYING TO SABOTAGE THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM, MOCKING ANOTHER STUDENT FOR THEIR TRAUMA AND WEAKNESS, AND DISRUPTING A QUIDDITCH GAME, EACH FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE! AND YOU WILL WRITE A LETTER OF APOLOGY AND A LETTER TO YOUR PARENTS EXPLAINING WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND DETENTION FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS!"

Alicia hissed. "Dear Morgana. Slytherin's near the negative points now."

"Which means Ravenclaw is in the lead for the House-Cup." Victoria said.

Wood waved a hand. "We're winning the Quidditch Cup. That's what matters."

Katie, without missing a beat and despite Wood being 6'4, used a spell to smack him over the head.

The party that raged in the Gryffindor Tower to celebrate their victory was something to behold.

No less than five disco balls levitated overhead, projecting holograms of Quidditch players, constellations, and other patterns. Someone had rigged a mundane DJ booth, and several tables had been put together to create a buffet of dinner and sweets, with an extra three tables devoted to drinks— nothing alcoholic, of course.

Victoria, after switching into a whit tank-top, black skirt, and ballet flats eagerly joined in the dancing and celebrations. After several songs, both mundane and magical, she sat down at the side, sipping a cherry soda. She saw Ginny try and approach her, blushing furiously before chickening out.

She withheld the urge to grimace, and hoped that someday, someone would fall in love with her for who she was, not for being the Girl Who Lived.

At one in the morning, Professor McGonagall shut down the party. The Gryffindor third-years all stumbled up to Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville's dorm. They put a Silencing Charm on the door, and had their own little part. Several rounds of Exploding Snap, truth or dare, and other card games ensued before Percy showed up to tell them to go to bed.

Given that the four witches where already in the dorm, the third-years collected the blankets and pillows to make one nest and sleep together.

Victoria had a very odd dream. She was following her Patronus through the woods, and it always just within reach. It was leading her somewhere, somewhere important—

"ARRGGGGGGG! NOOOOOOOO!"

The Gryffindor Seeker's eyes snapped open. She immediately saw a tall figure looming over Ron. Instantly, she snatched her wand and yelled "Expulso! Vincula Hestiae!"

Black dodged chains of golden fire and but was thrown back by her explosion curse. He narrowly dodged a Stunning Spell from Neville, danced out of the way of Lavender's Body-Binding Curse but was sliced up a bit by a conjured dagger from Hermione. Black somehow dodged a Bombarda Maxima from Seamus with the skin of his teeth, and escaped out the room just seconds before Dean's Leg-Locker Curse could've hit him.

It was Ron who lead the charge out the dorm, and the remaining seven Gryffindor's followed. By the time they got to the common room, Black was gone.

People came to investigate, and to the House of Godric's shock, Sir Cadagon confirmed that he had let in Black, who had somehow stolen the passwords of the week Percy had made for the first-years and the Gryffindors who had bad memory.

The Aurors were summoned, and the Gryffindor third-years, with their various legal guardians and Professor McGonagall's present, told Madam Bones and her contingent of Aurors what had happened. Detailed how they had all woken up when Ron, who had woken up when Seamus kicked him in his sleep, had screamed at the sight of Black. The third-years told them about reflexively attacking Black, who escaped.

Classes were canceled the next day so the entire grounds of Hogwarts could be investigated, with the students confined to their common rooms with meals brought to them by the House-Elves.

And when school resumed, with Victoria handing over the Marauder's Map to Professor Lupin, the Gryffindors once more closed ranks under the grim understand that while the Fat Lady, their devoted protecter, was back, that no Gryffindor would be alone again until Black was caught.

Because Gryffindors were lions, and lions were a pride.

Chapter Text

As the Quidditch finale, which would be played between Gryffindor and Slytherin, tensions rose between the two Houses. Several scuffles broke out between the students of Slytherin and Gryffindor, culminating in a straight up duel between a Gryffindor fifth-year and a Slytherin seventh-year.

Victoria and the rest of her team could no longer go anywhere alone without the risk of being jinxed, hexed, or cursed. Even something as simple as going to the library required at least five bodyguards, forcing the Quidditch players to do all of their work in the common room for safety. It got so bad that Victoria taught Angelina, Katie, Fred, Wood, and Alicia how to cast a Shield Charm so they could protect themselves.

Not event threat of Professor McGonagall could or would stop the Slytherins.

That was how Victoria found herself in the library to research a few numerology books for the backbreaking homework Professor Vector had assigned. All of her year-mates, and Percy and Luna, had joined her. And it was the sight of the Head Boy which made several Slytherins sulkily depart the library.

"Hey Victoria." a voice greeted, and Victoria turned to see Cedric standing in a different aisle across from her.

She smiled. "Hi Cedric. How are you?"

"Other than making sure not to get caught in an impromptu duel between a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, very good." Cedric noted. "I know things can get intense between Gryffindors and Slytherins, but this is a whole other level."

"As someone who can leave the Gryffindor Tower under the risk of being attacked, I sincerely agree with you." the ravenette told the Hufflepuff. "Luckily the match will be in a few days, so it will all be over."

"Thank Merlin." Cedric said. "Oh, and Victoria? Good luck."

Something warmed bloomed in her chest at his words. "Thank you, Cedric."

The Quidditch finale proved to the most brutal game Victoria had ever played.

With a grunt, she dodged a Bludger and then flew straight at the Slytherin chasers, forcing them to break up. Without missing a beat, George smacked a Bludger at Puecy, forcing him to drop the Quaffle. Katie snatched it and zoomed towards the Slytherin end, and scored a goal.

80-40, with Gryffindor in the lead.

Victoria saw Malfoy zooming toward her and pretended not to notice. She waited until the last second to move out of the way. The Malfoy Heir couldn't stop and slammed into the stands with an audible crack of his bones.

It got even better when Angelina scored another goal. 90-40.

Twenty harsh minutes went by, with Gryffindor pulling ahead by another six goals, while Slytherin got in two. Malfoy was out of the game, as he had broken his collarbone, nose, and shattered his right arm.

Which gave Victoria more wiggle room as she searched for the Snitch. She distantly heard Angelina score another goal. 160 to 60.

A flash of gold caught her eye, and Victoria barreled in the direction of the Golden Snitch. It tried to run, but she snatched it.

"AND GRYFFINDOR WINS THE HOUSE CUP! 310 TO 60!" Lee screamed as the Gryffindor supporters burst into a cacophony of cheers.

Victoria's teammates slammed into her, forming a group hug as they all screamed in delight. Wood was sobbing and praising all of them at the same time, looking as if he had died of happiness and somehow came back to life even more jubilant.

And as Wood put her on her shoulders as she held the Quidditch cup over head, Victoria knew that this memory would be a Patronus worthy one.

After a week along euphoria, it came to a crashing halt when the pressure of exams came. Even Fred and George were studying hard for their O.W.L. exams. Victoria had two extra exams to study for, and made daily visits to the library to get extra supplies to study.

She saw Cedric one day, tucked away in a back corner as she whispered notes.

"Need any help?" she offered, stepping into view.

Cedric looked up. "If you can spare it, I would love for someone to quiz me. Except my best friend Althea nearly hexed me when I asked for her help, and Ryan's practically a hermit now."

"I have time." Victoria said, and joined him at his table. An hour passed, with the Potter witch patiently quizzing the slightly twitchy Cedric, until Angelina and the twins found her and made flimsy excuses to get her away.

"Why does no one like it when I'm alone with Cedric?" Victoria asked, thoroughly confused and exasperated.

"Reasons." Fred said solemnly.

Victoria rolled her eyes. "I would prefer an explanation."

To her deep displeasure, she got none.

As the end of the school year got closer, the trio formed a betting pool on what big incident would go down.

Needless to say, none of them thought visiting Hagrid to celebrate the end of their exams would wind up with Scabbers turning out to be alive and a black dog kidnapping Ron.

Chapter Text

Victoria snarled as the Whomping Willow once again blocked her in rescuing Ron.

"Sorry Professor Sprout!" she yelled and pointed her wand. "Flammae Solis!

The tree recoiled as flames sprouted from her wand and set it on fire. It aggressively beat itself, putting of the flames, and then aggressively lashed out in her direction. Victoria dodged, but a thinner branch hit her in the face with enough strength to knock her to her feet. A flash of pain told her it had made a cut on her face.

Hermione was at her side an instant, helping her to her feet. "Oh! Crookshanks! No!" Hermione cried, and Victoria looked in time to see Crookshanks press a knot on the tree, causing it to go completely still.

"Come on!" Victoria said and charged into the tunnel below the Whomping Willow. She heard Hermione follow her. The tunnel lead them to a... house?

A house full of clawed up walls and slashed furniture. Victoria gripped her wand tighter, ready to cast a spell at a moment's notice.

"This is the Shrieking Shack." Hermione whispered. Her wand was out too as she nervously looked around. "But ghosts don't do this. Poltergeists like Peeves only have a limited ability to interact wit the physical world."

"Which means," the Potter witch said as she cautiously looked around. "That whatever made the screams all those years ago was something that could interact with the physical world."

There was a sudden noise upstairs, and the two witches quietly, carefully, crept up the stairs. The noise, which Victoria automatically knew was Ron, lead them to a slightly ajar door.

She looked at Hermione. Warn Ron. I'll blast the door down.

Hermione nodded. Got it.

"RON!" Hermione yelled. "GET DOWN!"

"BOMARDA MAXIMA!" Victoria roared.

The door was blasted away, causing Ron to roar in approval and another person to yell in shock. Victoria charged in, moving straight to Ron with Hermione on her heels. She saw him on a banged up four-poster, his leg at an awkward angle. Once she and Hermione are at Ron's side, Victoria spun around.

Sirius Black stood there, with filthy black hair and swallow skin stretching over a figure that was more skeletal than anything.

"Expelliarmus!" he croaked, holding Ron's wand.

Protego!" Victoria barked.

Her Shield Charm worked, preventing her wand from getting forced out of her hands, and it shielded Hermione as well.

"Impressive." Black rasped. "Your mother was always good at Shield Charms."

Rage erupted inside of her. "And thanks to you, I will never get to know them." she snarled.

"You're right." Black said, catching her off guard. Crookshanks slinking around his feet also surprised her. "My decision lead to Lily and James's murder. I was arrogant. I thought that switching at the last moment, to let Peter be the Secret-Keeper, would keep you and your parents safe. I was wrong."

What?

Victoria was stunned.

Peter Pettigrew had been her family's Secret-Keeper? But if Voldemort knew where her family was, then it meant Pettigrew had to be a Death Eater.

Some part of her wanted to disregard Black, but the rest of her refused.

Sirius Black had betrayed her family.

But he wasn't making any move to kill her.

He had been found by Pettigrew, whom he killed.

Or...

She looked at Scabbers.

Or, if Black was right, and her instincts told her he was right, then that meant Pettigrew had secretly joined the Death Eaters, had accepted the secret switch of who would be her family's Secret-Keeper, and had sold them out. Pettigrew hadn't tracked down Black, Black had tracked down Pettigrew.

Pettigrew had shouted that Black had betrayed her parents, had cut off his own finger, cast a curse that probably hit a gas line which triggered an explosion, then turned into a rat and found his way to the Weasley family, picking a wixen family with a member of the family working for the Ministry of Magic, to be able to keep tabs on the wixen world.

She looked closer at Scabbers.

Who was missing a toe.

"You're right." a voice said, and Victoria realized she had said all of that out loud.

The Potter Heiress turned her head to see that Professor Lupin and an angry looking Snape had arrived.

And Scabbers was thrashing in Ron's hands, fighting a little too hard for a normal rat.

Ron wordlessly extended the hand holding Scabbers. "If Scabbers is Pettigrew, then the spell to force an Animagus out of their animal form should work on him."

Scabbers bit Ron's finger, but Ron didn't let go.

Lupin took Scabbers into his hand, threw him into the air, and cast a spell. Scabbers morphed and changed into a fat, blading man in tattered robes.

Peter Pettigrew.

"Don't kill him." Victoria said, surprising herself. "We need him to prove your innocence." she told Black. "Then the Ministry can handle him."

Black, no, Sirius smiled. "You're a smart as your mother."

"P-Please." Pettigrew stammered. "Remus, Sirius, Victoria—"

"Shut up." Sirius snarled. "I don't want to hear any of it."

Victoria cleared her throat. "We're not killing him." she said. "We need him to prove Sirius's innocence. Professor Snape, you can handle this."

"With pleasure." Snape all but purred, his lips twitching into something that wasn't quite a smile but the closest thing Snape could give to an actual smile.

Five seconds and three spells later, Pettigrew was bound, gagged, petrified, and stunned.

SIRIUS BLACK REVEALED TO BE INNOCENT! REAL TRAITOR: PETER PETTIGREW!

"At least this means you'll be able to get a trial and clear your name." Victoria said. She fidgeted. "And... And can I move in with you?"

"Of course." Sirius said, squeezing her hand.

The aftermath of the incident in the Shrieking Shack had been spectacular.

Snape had summoned Dumbledore to the castle entrance, where the headmaster had taken them all to his office— Ron was sent with Hermione to the Hospital Wing, however, to treat his broken leg. Madam Bones and a squad of Aurors had been called and there, an impromptu interrogation had gone down. There, it was revealed that Sirius, Pettigrew, and her dad had become Animagi in order to keep Professor Lupin company during his monthly transformations as a werewolf.

Pettigrew had been taken into Ministry custody, while Sirius would remain in a special holding cell at Hogwarts until his trial would happen. Madam Pomfrey and a small team of Healers were already working on restoring his physical, mental, and emotional health in the few days since the truth had come out.

"If anything happened to your parents, I was suppose to choose you no matter what." Sirius told her, silvery grey eyes meeting her emerald green ones as he gently squeezed her hand. "I failed once. I won't fail you again."

Warmth bloomed in Victoria's heart. "Thank you."

Chapter Text

The end of the term feast came with Ravenclaw winning the House Cup and Professor Lupin's resignation when it was publicly revealed he was a werewolf, when one of the Aurors present for Sirius and Pettigrew's interrogation revealed it.

Absolutely no one was happy, and several letters and howlers had been sent to the Auror to express their extreme displeasure at what he had done.

"Victoria," Katie Bell asked her. "Where will you be staying until your godfather's trial is over?"

"I'm staying with Neville." Victoria explained, shooting the Longbottom Heir a bright smile. "He and Lady Augusta have already been letting me stay with them for a while now."

"Feel free to visit the Burrow anytime." Percy said. "I'll be there while I'm looking for flats together."

Victoria nodded. "I will. And congrats on landing a job in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Percy had scored a job working as an assistant Madam Bones. Penelope had been able to score a Runes Apprenticeship under one of Professor Babbling's colleagues in Portugal, and she and Percy had amicably split up, staying as friends.

"You all better keep up the good work. I will know if you aren't training seriously." Oliver announced.

Oliver had been immediately recruited to Puddlmere United, signed on as the new Keeper since the old one had retired.

Victoria sincerely believed that Oliver was right that he would know if the team wasn't training to his insanely high standards.

With her trunk already packed, Victoria headed up to the Owlery to collect Hedwig. On her way up, she made a mental note to get Ron an owl for Christmas, and to ask Percy what Ron's favorite owl species was. Hedwig, she was sure, would enjoy having a friend.

She entered the Owlery and scanned the masses of barn owls, eagle owls, and screech owls for Hedwig. She quickly spotted the snowy owl, Hedwig's white feathers standing out sharply against the grey and brown.

"Hey girl." she crooned, carefully stepping around the owl droppings and small skeletons to get to Hedwig. "Schools done."

Hedwig hooted and fluttered down to perch on her shoulder. "Do you want to fly back?"

The snowy owl hooted again in confirmation.

"But you'll wait until the train's already left and you know I'm on it?"

Hedwig nodded

"Alright. And if the trial goes well, and with Madam Bones on a crusade, we should be moving in with Sirius."

Hedwig whistled in a questioning manner.

"No, I don't know where. Maybe London? He mentioned a townhouse his family owned, but also an estate in Cornwall. If we move to London, then'll I'll write to Mrs.Figgs so we can see her again. I miss her. But either way, I'll never lock you up."

Hedwig gave a pleased hoot and settled more comfortably on her shoulder. Victoria turned to go when someone else entered the owlery— Cedric Diggory.

"Oh." the ravenette said. "Hi Cedric."

Cedric smiled. "Hi Victoria. I didn't know you would be here."

Hedwig twittered, pointing a wing at Cedric while looking at Victoria, as if to ask, Who is he?

Victoria gave her owl an amused look. "Cedric, this is Hedwig. Hedwig, this is Cedric. Play nice with him."

A dubious hoot was all she got from Hedwig.

"Hello there, oh great and beautiful snowy owl." Cedric drawled, an amused smile on his face.

This time, Hedwig looked very pleased as she preened and hooted.

There was a loud barking noise, and a screech owl flew down to on Cedric's arm. The owl made an upset hoot as it waved its wings at Cedric, screeching a few times to make its displeasure known.

"Sorry Ra." Cedric said with a wince. "Yes, you're very handsome. No, you can't fight Hedwig."

Both owls got into a brief stare down before Victoria carefully broke it up by promising Hedwig some of the expensive duck flavored owl treats.

"Victoria," Cedric called as she descended the stairs. She stopped and turned around to meet his gaze. He looked slightly flustered and nervous, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was wondering if you would be open to writing to each other this summer?"

"I wouldn't mind that." she said with a smile. Internally, she wondered why her stomach felt like it had just down a flip at Cedric's bright smile.

The train ride back was peaceful. So where the next first few days as Victoria followed Sirius's 'retrial' (and she had sent a very pointed letter to the Daily Prophet pointing that out) through the mail.

It took two days, and Sirius was both exonerated and cleared on all charges. He would, however, have to spend two weeks in St.Mungo's to keep improving his health.

Victoria kept up letters to Sirius, as she wasn't allowed to visit him, and after the two weeks where up, Sirius came right to Longbottom Estate to pick her up. The moment she saw him, she tackled him in a hug.

"Where are we going to live?" she asked.

Sirius hummed, looking much better than when she had first seen him. The Lordship ring of the Black family rested on his right index finger "I was thinking of 12 Grimmuald Place, my family's London townhouse. If it's bit too much, then we can relocate to Black Estate in Cornwall."

"I'm packed." she said. "We can go now if you want."

Sirius laughed. "Alright then, Doe."

Victoria grimaced slightly when she and Sirius appeared in the foyer of a victorian style townhouse, the old magic of which she could sense responding to the Black Heiress ring she wore. It looked newly cleaned, as if someone had come in earlier, and she could detect the remaining traces of cleaning magic. Hedwig, in her cage, hooted in a displeased manner.

"I hired Carter's Cleaning Company while in St.Mungo's to come in and clear this place up." Sirius explained. "There might be some stuff they missed, so be a bit careful."

"Got it." the Potter witch said with a nod, looking around.

"Now, let me give you a tour." Sirius declared.

Sirius showed her around, letting her pick her own room. She chose the one on the third floor, which had a window that overlooked a neighbors quite pretty garden. She deposited her trunk there and let out Hedwig from her cage, and the owl opted to perch on her shoulder as Sirius continued the tour.

The tour ended in the library on the fourth floor.

"Now, I have to introduce you to someone." Sirius said. "Kreacher!"

A very old House-Elf appeared. "Yes, Master Sirius?" he asked in a croaky voice, glaring at Sirius.

"Kreacher, this is Victoria. She's my goddaughter and Heiress Black." Sirius said, looking equally unhappy to see the House-Elf. "You are to take orders from her as if they were orders from me, and treat her as her rank as Heiress of the family requires."

"Yes, Master Sirius." Kreacher said.

"Hello Kreacher." Victoria said. "It's nice to meet you."

Kreacher froze but bowed and then vanished with a small pop!

"I'm going to treat him right." Victoria told Sirius. "You might not like him, but I saw how Dobby, one of the Malfoy family's House-Elves, was treated. I won't stoop to that level."

"That's a good thing to do, Victoria." Sirius said. "Now, let's get your room ready, shall we?"

The next week at Grimmuald Place was very nice. She and Sirius cleared out a few of the things the cleaning company had missed.

"Kreacher," she said when Kreacher snuck into the library two days after moving in. "I don't mind if you take the harmless trinkets, but any of the cursed objects or harmful heirlooms— you have to turn those over to Sirius or I if you find them. Those are going to the Black vaults."

"Yes, Mistress Victoria." Kreacher said.

After that interaction, Kreacher began joining her more often. She gave him a new fluffy towel to replace his dirty loincloth, and after that, he began serving her favorite meals more often than not for dinner, and his cooking improved massively. Victoria had a mild suspicion that Kreacher preferred her to Sirius, and Sirius didn't mind this.

"You remind him of my brother, Regulus, I think." Sirius explained. "I think that's why he likes you so much."

Victoria didn't ask about Regulus, but she did note how quiet Sirius had become after he had said that.

She and Sirius let Kreacher do the cooking, through sometimes Sirius could be found baking during one his bad days. She had explained to Kreacher that Sirius baking was a way to calm down and cope, not something that got in the way of Kreacher's duties as the chef. It was during meals that Sirius would talk about her parents: their days at Hogwarts, how her mum finally gave her dad a chance at dating, their wedding. He also talked about the fifteen months between her birth and that tragic Halloween night.

Victoria wished she could remember those fifteen months of unconditional love. And her hate for Voldemort strengthened when she learned more of the childhood she could've and should've had with her parents.

Five days into living at Grimmuald Place, Mrs.Figgs came by.

"Mrs.Figgs!" the Potter Heiress cried with a grin when she saw the elderly lady on the other side of the door. She immediately let Mrs.Figgs inside and then hugged her. "I missed you." she said.

"I missed you too." Mrs.Figgs said. "I was relieved to get Hedwig's letter about you moving in with Lord Black here, and I decided to come by and visit. I live in London now."

"Really?" Victoria asked.

"Oh yes. I couldn't stand to be near your horrible relatives, so I moved into a very nice neighborhood here in London close to St.George's hospital." Mrs.Figgs explained patiently.

Sirius appeared. "Are you the Mrs.Figgs Victoria keeps praising."

"I am. And you better treat her right, or I'll sic Minerva on you." Mrs.Figgs said.

"Oh I like you." Sirius said with a grin. "Kreacher's making French onion stew if you would like, and feel free to visit anytime."

Mrs.Figgs had to go after lunch, but left with the promise to visit when she could.

Victoria knew it was a promise Mrs.Figgs would keep.

Chapter Text

Five days after moving into 12 Grimmuald Place, Victoria found herself writing a letter to Cedric while Sirius was visiting Nadlor in Gringotts.

Dear Cedric,

How has your summer been so far? Sirius and I have moved into 12 Grimmuald Place, the Black family's London Townhouse. We've started a rooftop garden at the top of the house, and it's coming along really well. We've also been exploring mundane London in our free time. I've been showing Sirius some places that have changed, and he's shown me some places my parents and I would go to before we had to go into hiding.

What I find funny is when we go to any sort of restaurant and cafe, and all of the staff, both men and women, are just smitten with Sirius. Along with the customers a few times. It's not in the 'oh, he's cute' way but jaw drop, gawk, and sometimes forget that he's not alone. Sirius pretends not to notice but there's no way he missed that one Irish bloke's blatant hit-ons or how that one waitress put her number on his coffee cup at a cute cafe/bakery we found together yesterday. Mrs.Figgs, my old neighbor who lives in London now, also noticed it when she met up with us at that bakery.

Percy joined us at lunch in a restaurant three days ago for his lunch break, and he definitely noticed how our waiter tried to flirt with Sirius. So I'm convinced Sirius isn't just ignorant, he's pretending to not notice.

And I'm sorry for how long it took for me to write this letter. I've just been excited to be with Sirius.

Have you been in any activities or clubs this summer? I'm doing some fencing lessons, but if you're willing to share, I'm open to listening. I hope you have a good summer, Cedric.

Sincerely,
Victoria Potter

She folded the letter and placed it into an envelope. Since Hedwig was out, she just looked around her room, and not for the first time, she enjoy how it was her room.

The walls were a nice shade of wisteria purple, and she had a four-poster canopy bed, but with violet and white sheets and bedspread, and a nightstand stood next to it. An oak desk was placed below the window. A behemoth bookshelf was to the desks right, stocked with her favorite books, and a cushy armchair was right across from it. She had a walk-in closet (which she still couldn't get her head around) that was stocked with her clothes and shoes, including the new clothes and shoes Lavender and Parvati had insisted she get when the two witches had visited her and Hermione, and the four had gone to Harrod's.

Which was both a fascinating and overwhelming experience.

Hedwig came back and landed on her desk. In her beak was a fat mouse, and Victoria petted her white feathers, causing her snowy owl to preen.

"I have a letter for you." the Potter witch said, and Hedwig perked up. After Hedwig finished eating, she took the letter and flew away.

Victoria looked forward to Cedric's reply, and she didn't understand the odd feeling on why she was so excited for it.

The next day, in the middle of breakfast, Hedwig brought Cedric's reply.

"Is that from Ron or Hermione, Doe?" Sirius asked.

Doe. It was Sirius's nickname for her, a nickname that started with her parents and got adopted by Sirius.

"Cedric Diggory." she replied.

Sirius's eyebrows shot up but the sound of the doorbell prevented him from asking any further. He then suddenly went still, and Victoria got worried. "Victoria, go to your room for now. Stay there until I call you down." Sirius said, standing up.

"Why?" she asked carefully.

"Please." Sirius said. "Just go. I'll answer your questions later."

Victoria was still confused but did as he asked. She was had made it to the third floor when she heard the door open, and a familiar voice say "I was hoping you would be here. Is... Is it okay if I come in?"

It was Professor Lupin.

Now very curious, Victoria stopped in her tracks and quietly slipped closer to the railing to eavesdrop.

"Remus." Sirius replied. Sounding colder than she had ever heard him before. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to check on you and Victoria." Professor Lupin replied. "After abandoning both of you, I couldn't walk away again. From Victoria and you."

"You can come in." Sirius said, and she heard Professor Lupin hesitantly enter the house.

"How have you both been?" Professor Lupin asked.

She could hear Sirius take a breath. "A lot better now. Victoria and I cleaned up what the cleaning company missed, and Kreacher's incredibly found of her now. He likes her more than he does for me, and I don't mind. And we've been exploring the mundane side of the city. And no," there was a pause. "I haven't been seeing anyone. I'm focused on Victoria, and no one could be you."

The ravenette quickly backed away from the railing and ducked into her room. When she came back down, she found a very content and happy looking Sirius and Professor Lupin.

Professor Lupin, or Remus now, moved in a few days later. Mrs.Figg welcomed him with an apple pie and joking shovel talk that made Sirius laugh.

Summer kept on, and Victoria visited Hermione, Ron, and her other friends while keeping in touch with Cedric.

Sirius and Remus took her to the beach at Black Estate in Cornwall for the second week of July. There, she met Andromeda Tonks, Sirius's first cousin, her husband Ted, and their daughter Nymphadora. Victoria quickly warmed up to them.

Narcissa Malfoy, on the other hand, tried to visit but after insulting Remus, she was politely but swiftly removed from the estate.

As her birthday marched closer, Sirius insisted on throwing a party. Victoria agreed and sent out the invites: Hermione, Luna, Ron, Neville, Lavender, Padma, Seamus, Dean, Parvati, Percy, and the Gryffindor Quidditch were all invited. She would've invited Cedric, but he was in Spain with his parents. Penelope also couldn't make it, but she did send a gift— a simple bracelet with fire runes to help her channel her fire magic.

"Victoria!" Angelina squealed, hugging her. "Happy birthday!"

"Thank you." the Potter Heiress said. "Go up to the rooftop garden. That's where the party is."

Angelina nodded and headed upstairs. After Luna arrived last, Victoria showed Luna and Mr.Lovegood upstairs to the rooftop garden.

The rooftop garden had several tables with umbrellas for rain and shine, with a small grill tucked in a corner. Lavender, marigolds, lilies, asters, tulips, and daffodils made up the flowers neatly arranged around the roof. Wisteria had also been planted and now provided shade.

Sirius had wanted to plant a willow, but Remus had overruled him.

For the party, a buffet had been set up on the tables. A radio had been set up and enchanted to play music, and some games had been set up.

First up was Jenga, which, with magic, proved to be infinitely more fun. After Fred and Katie made it to ten feet, Mrs.Weasley had to put her foot down on the height limit.

After that was a vicious round of Monopoly, which ended with the trio allying against Fred and George against Parvati and Lavender, with Oliver as the referee. After Fred flipped the board when Hermione made him go bankrupt, the game was canceled for cake and gifts.

And Victoria's gifts were lovely: homemade larkspur earrings from Luna, a book about fire runes from Ron, the first book of a wixen fantasy series from Percy, a ruby pendant necklace from Lavender, a copy of Persuasion from Mrs.Figgs, a book on Celtic mythology from Seamus, an enchanted painting of snowy owls in a V formation against the winter sky from Dean (which Hedwig audibly approved of), twin bracelets with snowy owl charms from Parvati, a photo album of her mother, father, and her from Remus and Sirius, a photo album of her paternal grandparents from Augusta and Neville, a book on Indian potions from Padma, a copy of The Once and Future King from Hermione, a Holyhead Harpies scarf from Oliver, a copy of Dune from Angelina, a copy of Villette from Katie, a copy of Little Women from Alicia, and a book on prank potions from the twins.

Once that was done, the group went to see a screening of Alien.

Needless to say, ice cream was needed as therapy.

Victoria ended the day with a grin and her heart bursting with love.

Chapter Text

Victoria woke up from her dream with a gasp, trembling in her bed as her fingers clutched her sheets. She kicked off the blankets and crept out of her room, gripping the railing of the stairwell as she headed for the kitchen.

She got to the kitchen and flicked on the lights, hands still shaking a bit as she opened the fridge.

"Is Mistress Victoria okay?" Kreacher asked, and she turned around to see Kreacher, looking up at her with worry.

"I had a nightmare." she said. "And I just wanted to make something to calm down."

Kreacher hummed. "Would Mistress Victoria like her favorite chai if Kreacher was to make it?"

A tiny grin appeared on her face. "I would. Thank you."

Kreacher shooed her into one of the dining chairs and began bustling around his kitchen, his undisputed domain. Victoria half-watched half tried to focus on the events of her dream... or was it a dream? It felt like she was right there, watching what had happened like a spectator but unable to speak.

"Mistress, here is your drink." Kreacher announced, handing her the mug.

"Thank you Kreacher." she said, smiling at the House-Elf. The House-Elf didn't smile but almost glowed with pride.

Victoria didn't get a lot of sleep that night due to the pain in her scar, just a few more hours before she gave up and retreated to the library with a pot of chamomile tea. She picked up a rare book on Potions and began to read, absorbed by the text.

"Doe," a soft voice called and she looked up to see Remus. "Breakfast's ready."

"Okay Moony." she said, using the Marauder nickname that Remus and Sirius had given her permission to use. She saw Remus grin slightly at her use of it as they headed downstairs to the breakfast Kreacher had prepared.

She as she helped herself to some breakfast, she silently debated telling Sirius and Remus her dream. In the end, she decided to reveal it.

Both men were instantly alarmed as she described what she had seen.

Sirius cursed. "I'll try and get in contact with Madam Bones. She might not believe it, but if I can persuade her to give it a chance, then hopefully we can catch Voldemort and Pettigrew."

"Victoria, you shouldn't wander around alone for the next few days." Remus said, worry in his voice. "Not for the entire summer, just for the next few days."

"Okay." she said, nodding. "I won't, I promise."

In the end, nothing came out of the dream. Madam Bones wasn't able to officially send her Aurors to the Riddle Manor, but unofficially, Sirius, accompanied by Mad-Eye Moody and Tonks, checked it out.

"They moved." Sirius said with a scowl. "I don't think they knew about your dream, Victoria, but they probably moved given the interest the murder of Mr.Bryce generated."

Her heart fell. "But at least we know that Pettigrew is with Voldemort, and he has some kind of makeshift body."

"And a snake." Remus said with a frown. "Not a Basilisk again, thank Merlin, but a snake deadly enough to kill a man."

The day of the Quidditch World Cup came. Hermione was dropped off by Mr. and Mrs.Granger, who couldn't attend due to being mundanes, but Sirius promised them that they could see everything through his personal pensive, which stored memories.

"We have seats in Box One, the best place to be." Sirius crowed as the group got ready. Clothes, books, and food were packed, along with an enchanted tent.

Victoria grinned a bit. Her godfather had gotten four seats in the Top Box, for her, Remus, Hermione, and herself. Ron would be in the top box as well, as Arthur Weasley had gotten ten tickets to Box One, and had let Ron give the two extra tickets to Luna and Neville.

"We'll be Apparating to the designated wood." Remus said. "So hold on."

The emerald-eyed witch took Sirius's hand, and Hermione gripped Remus's hand, obviously nervous for her first time Apparating. Victoria shot her best friend/sister an encouraging grin, and Hermione relaxed a little.

Then Sirius twisted on the spot, and with a soft pop! they were gone.

Victoria shuddered when she and Sirius reappeared in a thick wooded area. Remus and Hermione appeared a split second later.

"Lord Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Hermione Granger, and Heiress Victoria Potter?" a voice asked, and she turned to see a witch in her late twenties, wearing in a blue and white floral dress, sturdy brown boots, and a black blazer standing a few feet away, a check list and pen hovering next to her.

"That's us." Sirius said with a nod.

"You're in with Mr.Payne, just over a mile's walk that way." the witch said calmly.

"Thank you." Victoria said with a smile.

The ministry witch nodded and the group of four left the woods. They got a map and further directions from another ministry official, and continued the walk to Mr.Payne's field.

Mr.Payne turned out to be a no nonsense half-blood wizard who calmly pointed them in the direction of their campsite. He also informed them of the ward he set up to prevent the nearby mundane, Mr.Roberts, from noticing magic.

With that information in hand, Sirius set up their tent with a flick of his wrist.

"Show off." Remus said with a fond grin. "Alright girls, in here."

Victoria entered and was impressed by what she saw as Sirius and Remus gave them the toor. Inside the tent was a luxury house with a fully stocked kitchen, a dueling room, a drawing room, and another two floors with six bedrooms, a library, and three bathrooms.

"Can we go find Ron?" Victoria asked.

"Yes." Sirius said. "But get back before the game starts."

She and Hermione agreed and dashed out of the tent. All it took was a few questions to the some ministry workers to learn where the Weasley family was, and she and Hermione set off to Mr.Roberts field.

It was easy to find the Weasleys after that.

"Hermione! Victoria!" Ron cried, dashing over. The three fell into an impromptu three way hug, laughing as they nearly tripped and fell in the grass.

"Where have you been?" Ron asked. "We got here just after daybreak."

Victoria smiled. "We got here a few minutes ago."

Neville and Luna hurried over. "It's good to see you." Neville said with a grin. "This is going to be fantastic!"

"Oh yes," Luna added dreamily. "The Nargles are quite happy with the excitement."

"I suppose they are." the Potter witch said.

"Ron," Mr.Weasley called. "Introduce your friends to your brothers."

The redhead huffed but obeyed, introducing Victoria and Hermione to Bill and Charlie Weasley, his two eldest brothers. Bill looked like someone you could find at a rock concert, only his boots were made of dragon-hide and he had a fang earring. And Charlie definitely fit the idea she had of him when Ron had told her he was a dragon-tamer— tanned skin, muscular arms covered in burns, and a slightly wild grin.

Percy warmly greeted her and she greeted him back with a bright smile, always happy to see her second favorite Weasley and pseudo-older brother. Fred and George jumped in with exaggerated greetings that made her laugh, but internally winced at Ginny's furious blush and stammering when she greeted the youngest Weasley.

Neville came to the rescue with the suggestion of exploring the campsite, and the fourteen year olds and Luna headed off under Percy's supervision so they wouldn't get in trouble. It was fun, and they got to see their fellow students: Seamus and Dean with Mrs.Finnegan in the Irish section, Lavender, Parvati, and Padma with Lavender's mothers, Angelina, Alicia, and Katie together with Angelina's parents, and Oliver Wood with his parents.

Victoria was mildly convinced that Oliver was hitting on Percy, and Percy was flirting right back. Ron seemed to have figured this out as well, but kept his mouth shut.

As night grew closer, Hermione and Victoria returned to Sirius and Remus. An early dinner was held and then they got ready for the game: Hermione was taking no sides, while Remus, Sirius, and Victoria were rooting for Ireland. Which meant Remus and Sirius got several shamrocks painted on his face, and Hermione painted the right side of Victoria's face green.

The four then headed to the stadium (the magic of which tasted like ozone and felt like a strong breeze) while browsing the merchandise being sold. Victoria bought a green rosette and Irish green scarf along with three Ominoculars— one for her, one for Hermione, and one for Ron, while Hermione got a red scarf for Bulgaria. Victoria was laughed when Remus got a dancing shamrock hat while Sirius went with an Irish flag and green rosette.

As she looked around, she spotted Cedric. "Cedric!" she called, grinning.

Cedric turned around and grinned when he saw her. "Victoria!" he said, joining her. "It's good to see you. I'm sorry for missing your birthday."

"It's fine, you where with your family. That matter more." she assured him. "And what team are you rooting for?"

"Bulgaria. And you?" he asked.

"Ireland. Seamus might murder me if I don't." she replied.

"Ced!" a voice cried and a man she deduced was Mr.Diggory joined them. "There you are? And who is this fine lady you're charming?"

"Victoria, let's go!" Sirius said, appearing at her side.

Mr.Diggory's eyes widened as his gaze flicked to Victoria's forehead, were she had deliberately hidden her scar under her hair. "Victoria Potter? Well, at least you know that you didn't fall of your broom Cedric in a game!"

Cedric flushed. "Dad, it's not like that—"

"Now Cedric, you're obviously the better flier! She fell off her broom, and you didn't fall off—"

"I fell off because the Dementors who attacked me forced me to relieve the memory of my mother's murder." Victoria snapped, emerald eyes flashing. "And yet, I still caught the Snitch, so I would say that I'm the better Seeker."

She turned on her heel and stormed off, Sirius following.

"Do not listen to him." Sirius said, squeezing her shoulder. "His opinion isn't worth it."

"I know." she said, hands still shaking. "I know."

The game between Ireland and Bulgaria was the most exciting Quidditch match Victoria had ever seen. She and Hermione lingered at the Weasley tent for hours discussing the game until Ginny passed out, and then Mr.Weasley, Sirius, and Remus declared it was time for bed.

Victoria had just fallen asleep in her room in the Black tent when she woke up to the sound of screaming.

Chapter Text

"Victoria, Ron, Hermione, you need to run!" Remus barked as he hurried Victoria, Ron, and Hermione outside, Sirius at his side, grim faced.

"What's going on..." Victoria's voice faded away when she saw what was going on: A crowd of people, flattening and trampling anything in their path, while several figures floated above them.

Mr.Roberts and his family, she realized with horror.

"Death Eaters." Ron, who had been allowed to come over with Hermione and Victoria, breathed.

Sirius swore violently. "Merlin's beard... Hermione, Ron, Victoria, get to the woods. Find somewhere safe and stay there. Remus and I will send a patronus when the situation is done."

Victoria hugged both Sirius and Remus before grabbing Hermione's hand, Ron gripping her other one, and took off running. As she ran through the fleeing crowd, she was nevermore thankful for Oliver's ruthless training program, since it let her run without loosing much stamina. Ron, who had been trained as Oliver's successor, was able to keep up. Hermione was able to keep pace with both of them, but wasn't in as good shape as Victoria and Ron.

Suddenly, a massive wizard slammed into Victoria, causing her to let go of Hermione and fall to the ground.

"NO!" Ron screamed as the crowd swallowed up the redhead and brunette and separated them from her.

Victoria gritted her teeth, forcing herself not to scream as she scrambled to her feet. She pulled out her wand and kept running for the woods.

A Death Eater shot a curse in her direction. "Protego!" Victoria yelled and the Shield Charm kept her safe. She kept moving for the woods, only to run right into someone.

"Are you— Victoria?" a familiar voice asked, and she instantly recognized it.

"Cedric." she breathed. "I'm fine. Are you?"

"Yeah." the older wixen said. The screams got louder and he grabbed her hand and began guiding her into the woods, his taller form allowing him to move through the fleeing wixen more easily.

"Where's your friends?" Cedric asked once they got into the woods, and he let go of her.

"Somewhere." Victoria said, looking around. "We got separated in the panic. Lumos." A bright light appeared at the end of her wand, illuminating the area around them. Cedric followed her lead, both of them silently agreeing that the Ministry would probably understand the act of underage magic.

Victoria grimaced as she heard the sound of the fighting. "We should get deeper into the woods."

Cedric hummed in agreement and together, they moved through the woods. They found a clearing and lingered near the edge of it, close enough to the woods to be able to get back in and vanish.

"I hope the mundanes are okay." the Potter witch said.

"The Ministry should be able to handle it." Cedric assured her. "Though I wonder why the Death Eaters have even done this."

"Everyone who was able to dodge justice has been clinging to freedom zealously." Victoria said. "They could've just gotten really drunk."

"Alcohol and magic doesn't mix well." Cedric told her. "This was probably deliberate—"

His voice trailed off when a new figure emerged from the woods and yelled "MORSMORDE!"

Victoria's skin crawled as she felt the dark magic erupt into existence. She looked up to see a hologram of sorts in the sky, a skull with a snake emerging from its mouth.

"The Dark Mark." Cedric gasped.

"Wow, Riddle is showing just how little creativity he has. The fifteen year old decided to be a Dark Lord just to be important, and now his sigil is essentially ripping off how the Basilisk comes out of the mouth of Salazar Slytherin in the Chamber of Secrets." Victoria drawled. "He gets an F minus for a lack of creativity."

Cedric made a strangled noise. "Victoria, not now."

He gripped her shoulder and began rushing them both back to the woods when several pops! indicated that wixen had apparated to their location... in a circle surrounding them. Wands pointed at them.

"GET DOWN!" Victoria yelled, yanking Cedric to the ground. As she hit the ground, Cedric rolled over her, using his body as a shield while she gripping the front of his jumper, fear making her heart race as she gripped her wand tightly.

"STOP!" a familiar voice roared. Sirius, she knew immediately. "STOP! THAT'S MY GODDAUGHTER!"

"VICTORIA!" Remus cried.

"CEDRIC!" another man, Amos, yelled.

Cedric rolled off of her, helping her to her feet while not letting go of her hand. Victoria appreciated it, squeezing his hand in return.

I'm okay. Thank you. she silently tried to convey.

But she had to let go when Sirius and Remus got to her side, quickly checking her over. "I'm fine." she said. "Cedric and I weren't hit."

A senior Ministry official tried to blame them, but no one believed them. "It was man's voice." Victoria said.

"From over there." Cedric added, pointing in the direction they had heard the caster.

Amos Diggory vanished into the woods, and came back out with a House-Elf.

Barty Crouch's House-Elf, Winky.

The rest of the conversation was a complete mess. First Amos Diggory accused Remus on the sole basis of him being a werewolf... despite the entire party having seen Remus help fight the Death Eaters. Victoria had to grip Sirius's hand to prevent her godfather from verbally destroying Amos. Then almost everyone wanted to accept it was Winky who had done it with Ron's stolen wand instead of trying to find the man Victoria and Cedric had heard.

"Let's go." Remus murmured. "Now."

"Bye Cedric." the emerald-eyed witch called to the older boy before letting Sirius and Remus guide her away.

Victoria gave Ron his wand back at the Weasley tent, and after picking up Hermione, Sirius used wandless magic to pack up everything, and the group Apparated back to 12 Grimmuald Place.

The last week of summer was a mess for the Ministry. Anytime Victoria saw Percy when she visited Ron alone (Hermione's parents understandably wanted to have a family trip with Hermione in Cornwall) at the Burrow and saw Percy, the third-eldest Weasley son was exhausted. But he still made the effort to check in on her and Ron, getting them to promise to write to him during the school year.

Which Victoria already would've done. This also gave her another excuse to get Ron an owl for Christmas— and Percy had happily informed her that Ron's favorite species of owls were Eagle Owls.

At last, summer came to an end and September 1st arrived.

Hogwarts started its school year once more.

Chapter Text

Victoria rode the Hogwarts Express in her usual competent with Ron, Hermione, Parvati, Luna, Neville, Padma, and Lavender. It felt weird to not be on the train with Percy, but she knew that he was happy with his job in the DMLE.

Malfoy, of course, tried to stick his nose into their compartment, but a simple Locking Charm and Anti-Alohomora Charm kept him from getting in.

"I've heard rumors that the Triwixen Tournament is starting up again." Lavender announced to the compartment.

"Didn't it get shut down because the last time it happened in 1792, a Cockatrice killed all three judges, ate two of the Champions, and killed two thirds of the crowd watching the task?" Neville asked.

There was a long beat of silence.

"Yes." Lavender said. "Though I doubt they'll bring in a cockatrice."

"No, just dragons most likely." Ron quipped. "Maybe that's why Charlie isn't going back to Romania just yet... I'll have to write and ask him."

"I sincerely doubt that Madam Bones would let anything super dangerous happen." Victoria pipped up.

The conversation headed into the direction of the Quidditch World Cup and more lighter topics. Victoria and Hermione routinely dropped teasing quips at Ron when he and Padma engaged in a very romantic game of chess, while Neville and Luna chatted about magical plants, and Lavender and Parvati gossiped about cute boys in their year.

And that gossip was more vicious than Angelina, Katie, and Alicia gossip. Lavender and Parvati psychoanalyzed and dissected everyone they discussed, and very rarely swooned over someone. So Victoria was mildly surprised when the both agreed that Cedric was 'very gorgeous.'

"Victoria, didn't you run into Cedric during the attack?" Hermione suddenly asked.

She shuddered when Lavender and Parvati turned to her, eyes gleaming. "Did you now?" Lavender purred. "Do tell, what happened?"

"I ran into Cedric after I was separated from Ron and Hermione. We stuck together, and he watched my back when the Dark Mark was conjured."

Parvati nodded. "A true prince charming."

The ravenette didn't know what to make of it when her heart immediately agreed with Parvati.

Victoria navigated through the hallway of the train, resolutely ignoring the staring, whispering, and gawking as she passed by the compartments to get back to her own.

"No, Colin, I'm not going to give you an autograph." she said when the boy poked his head out of his compartment, seeing his question from a mile away. Colin deflated like a balloon as she kept going.

Malfoy suddenly appeared from his compartment. "Wow, Potter, not giving out autographs? I thought you would enjoy it."

She just quirked an eyebrow. "No, I'm pretty sure that's you and Lockhart. You would be signing away any autograph if people kissed your arse enough about your Quidditch skill. Oh wait, you don't have any."

With her piece said, she walked away only for Malfoy to grab her wrist and yanked her around..

"Listen here—"

"Is there something going on?"

Victoria sighed in relief at the sound of Cedric's voice. "Heir Malfoy very rudely grabbed my wrist and has yet to let go, despite the fact I have no wish to talk to him."

Cedric looked at Malfoy, who sulked but let go of her. He skulked back into his compartment, visibly upset.

"If he didn't hate my very existence, I would swear that he has a crush on me." Victoria drawled, rubbing her wrist. "Thank you for the back up, Cedric."

"Your welcome." Cedric said. "And Victoria, I'm sorry for what my dad said at the Quidditch World Cup."

"It's not your fault." Victoria said. "I get that he's proud of you."

"Too proud." Cedric grumbled. "Want me to walk you back to your compartment so another situation doesn't happen."

Victoria could imagine Lavender and Parvati absolutely going haywire if Cedric arrived with her. "No thanks." she said. "Thank you, but I'll be fine."

"Right." Cedric said. "Stay safe."

She waved and headed back to her compartment, mentally making a note to consult Lavender and Parvati over the way her heart was pounding as she walked away from the older boy.

At the Start of Term Feast, Dumbledore officially announced that the Triwixen Tournament was starting again, with Hogwarts hosting the tournament. The Durmstrang and Beauxbaton's parties would arrive a week before Halloween, so they could settle into the Scottish castle.

There was also an age limit for the Tournament: Seventeen or older. Of course, several students were in an uproar, but Victoria sighed in relief.

Someone else could have the spotlight this year.

"Do you want to give it a go, Victoria?" Fred asked her.

"No." Victoria said without missing a beat, shaking her head. "Someone else can have the attention this year. I'm not interested."

Chapter Text

The next morning, Victoria got ready for the first official school day, dressing in her uniform, robe, packing the books she would need and then letting Lavender braid her hair into a fishtail braid.

"It looks really pretty on you." Lavender told her as Victoria looked at the braid in a conjured mirror.

She nodded in agreement. "It does. Thank you, Lavender."

Lavender smiled. "Anytime! I've always enjoyed hairstyling, it's how me and my mama used to spend time together when I was small."

"That sounds nice." Hermione added.

Once Hermione was ready, the two girls headed down to the common room, where Ron was patiently waiting for them. Now together, the trio headed to the Great Hall.

Victoria easily ignored the whispers, pointed fingers, and stares from the first and second-years, but Ron scowled at them and said. "You know, that's very rude." to a first-year who was pointing a finger at her while talking to his friends.

The boy flinched and stopped.

Victoria shot Ron a relieved glance. "Thank you."

After a few more minutes, the trio made it to the Great Hall, and sat at the Gryffindor table. Victoria calmly ignored all the eyes on her from the students younger then her as she began to gather herself some tomatoes, fried eggs, mushrooms, and kipper to eat.

"Do they have to stare?" Hermione grumbled as she helped herself to porridge, tomatoes, and eggs.

"Everyone stares at least once." Victoria pointedly out tiredly. It was something she had resigned herself to getting used to every since entering the magical world.

"Hermione and I didn't stare." Ron pointed out. "So they don't have to either."

"Yeah, but the books sold about me haven't helped. I won that lawsuit so the books are all gone, but that hasn't meant those books have been around for over a decade and have influenced a lot of people." Victoria pointed out. She glanced at Ginny, who was staring and blushing at her. "Like Ginny."

Ginny obviously heard her words and looked away, still blushing and giggling with some other girls her age.

Ron rubbed his temple. "I'll get Bill to talk to her the next time I see him."

"Thank you." Victoria whispered fervently. Ginny's infatuation on her had always made Victoria deeply uncomfortable and honestly, a little annoyed. Couldn't the Weasley girl see, like Ron, the twins, and Percy, that she was human as well?

"We'll help if you need it." Alicia offered. "Older girl to younger girl."

Victoria shot her a smile. "I would like that. Thank you."

"Oh, and Ron, Victoria, I'm still holding team tryouts. They're happening the weekend after this one." Angelina said. "Ron, I know you're Oliver's designated successor, but you still need to try out. But if you do get in, then you're part of the team."

"I'll be the one to win." Ron vowed. Fred roared in approval, clapping Ron on the back.

Victoria sincerely believed that he would live up to that.

Professor McGonagall came around, using her wand to hand out several schedules at once. Victoria took the one that hovered in front of her, thanking Professor McGonagall when the Transfiguration professor passed her.

She looked at her schedule, reading over her class schedule for the year.

Monday: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Double Arthimancy, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM - Double Charms (with Hufflepuffs)

Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM - History of Magic, 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - Potions (with Slytherins), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - Transfiguration (with Ravenclaw), 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM - Common subjects (with all other fourth-years)

Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Double Arthimancy, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM - Double Study of Ancient Runes

Thursday: 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM - Charms (with Hufflepuffs), 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - Common subjects (with all other fourth-years), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - Defense Against the Dark Arts (with Ravenclaw), 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM - Potions (with Slytherins),

Friday: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Double Transfiguration (with Ravenclaw), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:10 PM - Study of Ancient Runes, 2:15 PM to 3:30 PM - Herbology (with Hufflepuffs), 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM - Astronomy (at Night, with other fourth-years)

After comparing her schedule with Ron and Hermione's, the trio finished eating and headed to the Transfiguration classroom, with the rest of her classmates filing in. Professor McGonagall took roll call, and then launched into a lecture about Cross-Species Switches while the students took notes.

Once the lecture was over, Professor McGonagall had them practicing how to turn a hedgehog into a pincushion. Victoria was able to get her hedgehog to fully transform into a pincushion, alongside Padma, Michael Corner, Hermione, Sue Li, Dean, and Parvati. All students who succeeded were awarded three points each.

Lunch was held, and the trio headed to Ancient Runes.

"Welcome back to Ancient Runes." Professor Babbling greeted them. "This year, I have a surprise for you all. Each of you will be pursuing a solo project on studying a Runic language of your own for the entire year. For the project, you will be studying the language's history, development, power, specialization, and use in combat and in day to day life. You must submit at least five potential Runic languages to me by next Friday, with your top choice being the language you study. This project will count as a third of your final grade."

Professor Babbling paused. "And, if you can invoke your language, you get extra credit."

Victoria exchanged grins with Hermione and Ron.

"This is going to be fun." the Potter Heiress murmured.

Hermione nodded. "A worthy Gryffindor challenge."

"An obstacle that determination and heroic stubbornness will overcome." Ron drawled.

"Without risking death." the Potter Heiress murmured, thinking of her own misadventures.

Herbology was up next, and Professor Sprout spent the lesson teaching them about Bubotuber and Bubotuber Pus. Neville, who had taken placement tests to now study Herbology with the seventh-years, now served as Professor Sprout's teaching assistant. Neville seemed so happy helping teach that Victoria couldn't help but smile.

"You should be a Herbology teacher." Ron told Neville. "You're really good at teaching Herbology, and you obviously love the subject."

"I'm not sure." Neville admitted.

"Neville, you're tutoring saved my life last year for the Herbology theory exam." Dean said. "You made it all so understandable, and you kept the tutoring sessions fun."

The Longbottom Heir blushed as the rest of the Gryffindors buried him under a pile of compliments and encouragement.

After sleeping in on Saturday following Astronomy, Victoria spent the next morning completing the homework assigned— an essay about the medical properties of Bubotubers and another essay about Cross-Species Transfiguration by early afternoon, and then she headed right for the library.

"Hieroglyphs, Elder Futhark, Venetian Water Runes, Druidic Runes, Polynesian Ocean Runes, Aztec Blood Runes, Incan Sun Runes, Ancient Baltic Fire Runes..." the emerald-eyed witch murmured, browsing through the Ancient Runes section of the Hogwarts library.

The Hogwarts Library was organized by subject, then by sub-divisions, then by alphabetical last name. For the Ancient Runes section, the books were organized by runic languages, and then by the author's last name.

Madam Pince could be called many things, but no one could deny that she was an incredibly organized and competent librarian, who frequently searched for new volumes and texts to add to the library.

Victoria picked out the rune books that interested her— Hieroglyphs, Ancient Baltic Fire Runes, Incan Sun Runes, Viking War Runes, and Akkadian Earth Runes. She skimmed through the books, compiling a list of which runes she wanted to study, with Ancient Baltic Fire Runes at the top of the list.

"Potter." Malfoy drawled, appearing next to her. "Desperately trying to grasp something out of your league?"

"I think that's you in Care of Magical Creatures, unable to grasp why you don't insult creatures that can hurt you." she snarked.

Malfoy spluttered, but she collected things, put the books back in their place with a spell she had learned over the summer, and then walked out.

"Here I was hoping he wouldn't be such a prat this year." Victoria grumbled to herself.

The moment she stepped foot into the tower, the antics of Fred and George tossed those thoughts out of her mind.

Chapter Text

Victoria turned in her list of Runic Languages to Professor Babbling on Sunday, and got approved to study Ancient Baltic Fire Runes.

Hermione had decided to pursue Hieroglyphs. Ambitious yes, but Victoria knew her friend would succeed. Ron had picked out Akkadian Earth Runes as his own Runic language to study for the year.

Within the first week, Victoria saw that while the structure of classes was near-identical to the previous year, the criteria was harder. Charms, Herbology, Potions, and Transfiguration become more advanced, while Astronomy now focused on calculating how the position of planets and stars affected magic.

History of Magic was still a joke. No one bothered to attend classes on endless goblin rebellions, instead self-studying the history of the wixen world.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was... something.

On the very first class, Professor Moody demonstrated the Unforgivable's, causing Neville to have a panic attack and run out of the classroom, with the other Gryffindors following him. They found him in the greenhouses, and Dean ran to get Professor McGonagall.

Their Head of House escorted Neville to the Hospital wing and showed up during the Potions lesson to give Snape a written excuse for Neville's absence... which prevented Snape from taking twenty points from Gryffindor because Neville wasn't present.

Professor McGonagalls screams of rage as she chewed out Professor Moody could be heard throughout the castle. Augusta Longbottom's Howler to Professor Moody put Professor McGonagall's shouting to shame, however.

Victoria read the book on Ancient Baltic Fire Runes, absorbing the information about the fire runes. She stuck her hand out of the nearby window and carefully invoked one of the runes by drawing it in the air.

A massive burst of sapphire flames erupted from the rune before she canceled it.

"Nice." Ron said.

The Potter witch smiled. "Thank you."

"You should be careful, Victoria. Fire is dangerous." Hermione warned.

"I didn't set off in the library, Mione." Victoria said. "I know better than to do that."

She looked at Ron. "And your book on fire runes has helped me figure out some stuff about Ancient Baltic Fire Runes as well."

Ron smiled. "I'm glad it's helping."

There was a low murmur of chatter, and the trio glanced in the direction of it. They had put up a privacy ward to prevent students interrupting their study time to badger Victoria or just gawk at her, but they were still aware of what happened outside the bubble.

It was Cedric and two of his friends, a tall Black boy and a blonde girl, all of them talking.

"When we're sixth-years, we'll have to adapt our study schedules." Ron mused. "We're not even fifth-years, but the Professors are acting as if we are."

Victoria nodded. All of her classes (except for History of Magic) had seen an increase in the workload and difficulty.

Her electives were as difficult as she had been warned. Alongside the independent Runic language project, Professor Babbling was teaching them the runes Druids had used. Arthimancy was now studying, analyzing, and reverse engineering fourth-year and fifth-year level spells, along with studying magical numbers.

It was very thrilling.

Dear Victoria,

How's Hogwarts so far? I miss it sometimes, it was where I made a lot of good memories with Remus, your father, and your mother.

You told me that you're taking Arthimancy and the Study of Ancient Runes. Or, well, Crookshanks told me that. He's a very smart cat, Crookshanks.

I'm still convinced he could eat me, however. - Padfoot

Anyways, Victoria, please say hello to Professor McGonagall for us. Mrs.Figgs says hello as well and has recently purchased an owl, so expect to get some letters from her. She's a very lovely lady, and has helped Sirius got into some college classes for fun. - Moony

Kreacher misses you as well. I knew he was fond of you, but I didn't expect him to be THAT fond. Really, I might as well give him to you if you want. I'm pretty sure he would like that. -Padfoot.

Padfoot! You can't just spring that on her! - Moony

I did. And V, do take pictures for when you start creating your own spells and wards. I know that your teachers will have heart attacks after all the trouble your parents caused when they learned that skill. - Padfoot.

Victoria, don't listen to him! - Moony.

The Potter Heiress laughed softly, smiling down at the letter. She had been thrilled when Sirius's new Eagle Owl, Artemisia, had appeared that morning with a letter. Artemisia had long since left, but Victoria had Hedwig to send her reply with.

"Rumor has it that Cedric Diggory is going to enter the tournament!" Lavender announced, pulling Victoria back into reality. She looked in Lavender's direction, sitting on her bed while the Brown Heiress sat on her bed.

"Is he?" Victoria asked.

"From what I've heard, yes. All of Hufflepuff is going insane about it." Lavender said.

"At least I'll be out of the limelight this year." Victoria said, smiling. "I'll have a normal, quiet year."

Please. she prayed, hoping whatever higher deity out there was listening. Please let me have a normal year.

Please.

Chapter Text

The day of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team tryouts rolled around. Victoria showed up with the rest of the team, standing behind Angelina as she stood in front of the crowd of Keeper potentials. Twelve members of Gryffindor had showed up, but five of them were instantly disqualified for being first-years.

"Welcome to tryouts. The only open spot on the team is the Keeper position. Whoever blocks the most out of five goals gets onto the team." Angelina said after dismissing the first-years. "But first, all of you do a warm up lap around the stadium.

After the warm up lap, the tryouts began in earnest.

The first four failed to block more than three goals. The next one only blocked four, as did Cormac McLaggen, a fifth-year who kept winking at Victoria.

Ron blocked all five goals, and won the spot to be Keeper.

"Yeah Ron!" Victoria cheered from her spot in the stands, grinning at her best friend. Fred and George shot celebratory sparks into the air from their wands. Even the other Keeper contestants applauded Ron. Except for McLaggen, who scowled and glared at Ron.

He stopped when George shot a threatening glare his way.

The first Hogsmeade weekend was scheduled for the last weekend of September. Excited whispers floated around as couples planned dates.

Victoria was very aware of Ginny's shy, expectant looks in her direction, as if waiting for Victoria to ask her out.

Unfortunately for Ginny, the emerald-eyed witch was fairly confident that she was straight. And she barely even knew the Weasley girl outside of her being Ron's little sister.

Which was why she was hiding out in the library behind the most powerful privacy charm she could conjure while Ginny tried to find her.

"Hiding from someone?" a voice asked, and she looked up from her Arthimancy homework to see Cedric, who was entering the privacy bubble.

"From Ginny." she said. "I know she wants me to ask her out or she wants to ask me out. And I'm not interested in her. I don't even know her."

"Ouch." Cedric hissed, sitting down across from her. "I've had to deal with that for a while now."

"According to Lavender, you're the most handsome boy in the school." she said, turning back to her essay on reverse engineering the Avifors Spells.

Cedric quirked a brow. "Is that a complement?"

"Lavender takes her gossip very seriously. You're the first person she's ever called handsome without immediately picking out some kind of flaw." the Potter Heiress said with a shrug. She suddenly felt a bit weird as Cedric's grey eyes stared at her, she she changed the subject. "Anyways, are you entering the Triwixen Tournament?"

"I'm not sure." Cedric said. "Almost all of my house thinks I'm going to do it. My dad's been writing nonstop about me being the Hogwarts Champion and 'earning eternal glory for the family'."

Victoria picked up the tenseness that had spiked when he mentioned his father, the strain in his voice when he said the last words. She didn't know what it meant, but she knew better than to ask.

"Personally, I think you would do great." she offered, reaching out to tentatively squeeze Cedric's hand in support. "You're smart and you're really good at magic."

Cedric smiled. "Thank you, Victoria."

Eventually, Madam Pince kicked out Ginny and Victoria was able to head back to the common tower. Neville instantly dragged her over to the table her year had claimed as their own to work on their Herbology and Charms homework.

It prevented Ginny from trying to approach her, and she was very grateful for that.

Victoria, with Ron's permission, wrote a letter to Percy about Ginny's behavior, asking for help. She hoped the third-eldest Weasley would come to her aide in how to deal with the infatuated Ginny.

At least the Hogsmeade day was incredibly enjoyable. The trio gave Luna a grand tour of Hogsmeade, which the Ravenclaw witch visibly enjoyed. The day ended in laughter and smiles, and Victoria wished it would never end.

Chapter Text

The parties from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would arrive a week before Halloween, in order to give them time to adjust to their new surroundings. As the day of the foreign schools arrive drew closer, the more excited the Hogwarts students grew.

The rumor mill also focused on how the Champions would be selected. Books on the Triwixen Tournament were always checked out, but nothing contained how the Champions would be chosen. Which meant outlandish rumors and wild theories on the matter.

Victoria didn't pay much attention to it. She wasn't going to be partaking in the Tournament, and she had no interest in being the Hogwarts Champion. So she focused on her friends, her schoolwork, and Quidditch practice.

One day, Victoria was visiting Hedwig in the Owlery, stroking the snowy owl's feathers and feeding her treats.

"Victoria?" a voice asked. She turned around to see Ginny.

"Yes?" she asked, feeling instantly wary.

"I, was um, w-wondering when you where going to ask me out." the redhead asked, blushing and avoiding eye contact.

Her jaw dropped. "What?"

"I mean, since—"

"Ginny, let me stop you right there. I don't like you." Victoria said.

The redhead was confused. "But you hang out with Ron all the time! Isn't that to get closer to me?"

"I spend time with Ron because he's one of my best friends and platonic soulmates. I knew him before I even knew you existed." Victoria said. "Ginny, again, I have zero romantic interest in you."

"B-But I like you!" Ginny cried, trying to step closer. Hedwig barked at her, making Ginny step back.

Victoria shook her head. "You're infatuated with me. Not in love with me. Ginny, please understand that I have no interest in you. And expecting me to ask you out, holding on to your infatuation, it's not healthy. You don't even know me."

"I do! You're the Girl Who Lived-"

"What's my favorite color? What's my favorite food? What's my favorite Quidditch team? What's my favorite book?" Victoria asked.

Ginny struggled to find an answer. Realization dawned on her face and she flushed, looking down. "I... I-I..."

The ravenette sighed. "Ginny, you're not in love with me. Nor am I interested in you at all. You have an infatuation that honestly makes me really uncomfortable."

She didn't say 'I'm sorry' because she couldn't find it in herself to be apologetic.

"So you finally gave Ginny a reality check?" Ron asked her the next day.

"I also broke her heart in the process." Victoria added with a sigh.

"Honestly, you needed to say what you needed to say. Percy and I have been trying for years to get her to realize that you have no interest in her, but she never believed us. Hearing it from you was what she needed to hear." Ron said.

"And," Hermione added. "Not even Angelina and Alicia's talk with her worked as well. You were honestly the best person to get her to wake up."

The Potter witch nodded. "Is it bad I don't feel sorry about it? I mean, I don't even know her outside of her being your younger sister, Ron."

"I don't know about that, but like you said, you don't know her at all, and she doesn't know anything about you." Ron said. "I wouldn't feel bad shutting down someone who makes me uncomfortable."

Hermione nodded. "Neither would I."

"You guys are the best." Victoria said, smiling.

As the date for the foreign schools arrivals grew closer, more rumors flew about potential Champions. Almost all of Gryffindor supported Angelina Johnson, but the entirety of Hufflepuff supported Cedric. The Slytherins supported Cedric to spite the Gryffindors, while the Ravenclaws had claimed neutrality.

But several scuffles and fights broke out between the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. Victoria had to deal with several snide remarks from the Hufflepuffs in her year about 'finally getting someone famous of their own' and 'no longer having to share the fame'.

"You're aware I don't give a damn about the Tournament outside of supporting the Hogwarts Champion, whoever it is, right?" the Potter Heiress finally snapped at Ernie during Charms. "So stop making inaccurate assumptions about me when you don't even know me."

That shut up the Hufflepuff fourth-years at least. Cedric was keen enough to not try and apologize on their behalf when they ran into each other in the library the next day.

Victoria, despite knowing how far off the end of the school year was, couldn't help but finding herself excited for the end of the year and the tournament, if only to get the Hufflepuffs to stop being rude to her, as her opinion of the badgers lowered and lowered.

Chapter Text

The day of the arrival of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students arrived. All of the Hogwarts students were gathered on the front lawn to greet the foreign students when they arrived at Hogwarts.

"Hopefully all the teachers will stop losing their minds over the tiniest speck of dust now." Ron whispered from her right. Hermione, standing on his other side, nodded subtly.

Victoria also nodded subtly. The extreme level of crazy that the staff had reduced to as the arrival of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students grew closer was very disturbing and slightly distressing.

After what felt like several hours, someone screamed and pointed at the sky. "There! Right there!"

The Potter Heiress looked in the sky and quickly found what the student meant. A very large... something was flying too Hogwarts. It landed, revealing itself to be a carriage the size of a five story house, pulled by several magnificent winged horses. The carriage was light blue in color, with the front door having the words Académie de Magie Beauxbâtons written on it. She could sense the air magic imbued into the very structure of the carriage, along with the powerful protection magic.

The Beauxbatons party had arrived.

A boy opened the door of the carriage, and a very tall woman exited the carriage. The woman was easily as tall as Hagrid and very beautiful, with olive skin, shining dark hair cut in a bob at her chin, and large black eyes. She was dressed in black satin, and despite her size, she moved gracefully. Victoria knew rigth away that she was the Headmistress.

Behind her, several boys and girls wearing robes made from pale blue silk had emerged from the carriage, shivering in the cold and looking around with nervous, skeptical expressions.

"Madam Maxime." Dumbledore said, greeting the Headmistress. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I hope your journey was pleasant."

"It was, Dumbledore." Madam Maxime said in lightly accented English. "I do hope you do not mind if my students wait in the castle, we are not used to the cold."

"I do not mind, Madam Maxime. I am sure Karkaroff will not mind." Dumbledore said.

With a please nod, Madam Maxine lead her students into the castle.

Two more hours passed before the Durmstrang party arrived, and they did it in their own unique style— a massive ship emerging from the Black Lake. Dark magic reeked from the ship so strongly that Victoria could sense it even though she was very far from the ship. Another magic, older, deadlier, more beautiful, crooned a quiet song from its place in the ship. It reminded her of the magic of her Invisibility Cloak.

The Durmstrang students followed their Headmaster, Karkaroff from the ship, who exchanged tense, curt words with Dumbledore. The Potter witch didn't realize that Viktor Krum was part of the Durmstrang party until a Hufflepuff seventh-year squealed in delight and sixth-year Ravenclaw girl fainted.

Which was a bit over the top in Victoria's opinion.

She felt silent pity for the Bulgarian Seeker, who would have to deal with fan girls for his entire stay at Hogwarts.

With the foreign students now at Hogwarts, the Hogwarts students went back inside. The Great Hall was superbly decorated, and the Beauxbatons students were sitting at the Ravenclaw table. Victoria watched intrigued as the Durmstrang students students sat at the Gryffindor table. She noticed how tense Krum seemed, and nudged Hermione.

"You should ask him about the curriculum at Durmstrang." she whispered. Hermione's eyes lit up and she switched seats with Ron, and politely greeted Krum in German. "Hallo, Herr Krum. Könnten Sie mir bitte ein paar Fragen zum Lehrplan in Durmstrang beantworten?"

Krum relaxed a bit. "Es macht mir nichts aus."

"Nice." Ron whispered.

Victoria shrugged. "He's our guest. The least we can do is make him comfortable given how many fan girls are going to be... a lot."

Ron hummed in agreement. "Fair point."

A Durmstrang girl tapped Victoria on the shoulder, introduced herself as Helmi Mäkelä, and thus began a very interesting conversation with her and Ron on Ancient Runes. The emerald-eyed witch was genuinely saddened when dinner came to an end and all the students had to disperse.

But she did comfort herself in that the Durmstrang students would be here for the year, and she had more chances on being able to debate magic with the other students.

Chapter Text

The week leading up to the Champions Selection was interesting.

The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students spread out amongst the Hogwarts tables. Conversational topics ranged from comparing schools to Quidditch to literature to magic.

Krum, accompanied by his close friends, stuck to the Gryffindor table, often conversing with Hermione, but he started to branch out to the older Gryffindors. A majority of the lions were polite enough to not badger him for an autograph, but he indulged the first and second years shy requests.

But just because the Tournament was coming closer to starting, didn't mean that classes were going to let up.

Victoria found herself in the library focusing on her Arthimancy, having completed the rest of her homework earlier in the day. Arthimancy was by far her hardest subject, but also her most intellectually fascinating.

So as she dutifully completed her essay on the theory of the magical properties of the number 12, she was aware of the curious glances and looks shot her way by the lingering Beuaxbatons and Durmstrang students.

Looks that she knew was about: the Girl Who Lived.

Not about her.

Not about Victoria Potter, a fourteen year old with dreams and flaws and emotions like everyone else.

"Can I join you?" a familiar voice asked and she nodded, not looking up from her homework.

She and Cedric worked together in comfortable silence until, when she had just a few lines left to write, she heard Cedric curse under his breath, causing her to look up incredulously.

"Did you just swear?" she asked, legitimately flabbergasted. It was an ongoing bettering pool amongst the Gryffindors if a Hufflepuff could actually swear.

Cedric gave her an unimpressed look. "Why do you act like if the world is going to end?"

"Because this is the first time I heard a Hufflepuff swear." Victoria answered. "What's wrong?"

"Snape and his bullshit Dreamless Sleep Potion." Cedric grumbled.

Victoria peered down at his essay. "Huh, that's easy. I read about the Dreamless Sleep Potion ages ago."

She tiled her head. "Want some help?"

"Absolutely." Cedric responded.

Victoria quickly began pointing out the flaws in his essay and what he had gone wrong about the Dreamless Sleep Potion. Within twenty minutes, she had helped him fix up and complete his Potions work.

"Thank you." Cedric said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I probably would've lost my mind over this if it wasn't for your help."

The Potter witch grinned at him. "Anytime. I really like Potions, so I read a lot about it."

She finished her Arthimancy and bade him good night, her mind briefly wandering to how good-looking Cedric was. She blinked and then banished that thought, though her heart felt weird.

The day of selecting the Champions came.

Fleur Delacour for Beauxbatons.

Viktor Krum for Durmstrang.

Cedric Diggory for Hogwarts.

And—

And her.

Chapter Text

Victoria, for years to come, only remembered the immediate chaos of her—somehow— being chosen as a Champion.

But she remembered Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore's unwavering support as they logically pointed out how she couldn't've gotten past the numerous wards, enchantments, and spells that kept out underaged wixen.

She remembered Cedric turning his back on her.

She remembered Fleur siding with her. Believing in her.

She remembered Sirius and Remus showing up with Madam Bones, two lawyers, and a few investigators in Dumbledore's office. Sirius hissing and cursing as theories were bounced around, Remus growling under his breath and gripping her hand, being a lifeline for her to cling to, as the werewolf watched her back.

She vividly remembered the tight hug Ron and Hermione pulled her in when she got back to the deathly silent Gryffindor Tower, and how desperately she had clung to her two friends.

The rest of the aftermath was... a lot.

Just like two years ago, all of Gryffindor closed ranks around Victoria. The Hufflepuffs hated her, not believing in the detailed confirms from the Daily Prophet confirming she hadn't put her name in the Goblet, that was someone was trying to kill her. The Ravenclaws were split and the Slytherins sided with the Hufflepuffs.

Victoria raised an eyebrow when Fleur sat across from her in the library. "Delacour? What are you doing here?"

"Showing that I believe in your innocence." Fleur said in perfect, slightly accented English. "I saw the panic on your face, and I know from the past week that you never showed interest in competing. I believe in you."

A tiny smile formed on her face. "Thank you. You can call me Victoria."

"Then you may call me Fleur." the older witch said.

Two days into the nightmare, Professor McGonagall summoned Victoria into her office.

"Now, I'm fully aware that you're among the top three of your year." Professor McGonagall said. "But this tournament is life or death. And I refuse to stand by and watch another student of mine die."

The look in the Transfiguration teacher's eye told Victoria that Professor McGonagall was thinking about James and Lily Potter. About every single student that she had taught and then had outlived when the war ended and so many were dead. Hundreds of students she had personally taught among the body count.

"When I investigated Professor Snape's ability to teach you N.E.W.T. level potions, I was appalled by his severe strictness."

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "So the rumors of him being on academic probation are true?"

"Yes." Professor McGonagall said, calmly taking a sip of her tea. "So with Professor Snape not an option, I got you a private tutor. Horace Slughorn. He taught here for fifty years with wonderful reviews, and I got along with him quite well. He taught your parents, and your mother was one of his favorite students."

"Thank you." Victoria said. "Is there anything else?"

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Oh yes. I'll be teaching you nonverbal magic, wandless magic, and Occlumency."

The Potter witch blinked back tears. "Thank you."

Her first tutoring session with Slughorn came, and Victoria headed to an old room, 3E, to attend the lesson. She knocked on the door, and when it opened via magic, she couldn't help but let out an impressed whistle when she saw the room.

At least eight potions were already set up, there was an open brewing station, and a large blackboard, still clean and waiting the lesson. "Hello? Professor Slughorn?" she called, entering the room.

"Ah! Miss Potter!" a voice cried, and a bald, jolly-looking wizard with gooseberry colored eyes and an enormous, silver walrus-like mustache appeared. He smiled even wider when he saw her. "My apologies, I was getting our lesson ready."

"It's fine." Victoria said, venturing further into the room. She looked at one of the already made potions. "Is that the Draught of Peace?" she asked.

Professor Slughorn nodded approvingly. "It is. Can you identify the other potions?"

The Potter Heiress nodded, her old love of Potions coming back in full force. "That's Polyjuice Potion," she said, gesturing to the second cauldron. "That one is the Befuddlement Draught," she pointed to cauldron number three. "Right here is the Wit-Sharpening Potion," she waved her hand to cauldron number four. "This one is Felix Felicis," she identified the fifth cauldron. "This potion is the Dreamless Sleep Potion," she pointed to cauldron number six. "Right here is Veritaserum," she gestured to cauldron number seven. "And that's the Wound-Cleaning Potion." she identified the eight cauldron.

Professor Slughorn beamed with approval. "You're right on every potion, Miss Potter! I've only had a handful of students able to guess such advanced Potions at a young age without knowing them at first, and your mother was one of them! Very good, Miss Potter! Very good!"

"Now, for our first lesson, I would like you to make the Draught of Living Death. It's doesn't have to be perfect, just give it your best shot. I will show you the steps, and then you can make it. If you have any questions, or need help, I am more than willingly to help." Professor Slughorn said, suddenly stern and Professor McGonagall-like.

Victoria grinned. "I understand. When can I start brewing?"

She made a perfect Draught of Living Death on her first try.

Her tutoring sessions with Professor Slughorn became a haven for her in the ever increasing animosity a good two-thirds of the Hogwarts students showed her. With every lesson, her old love of Potions increased. The rest of the world fell away— it was just her, Professor Slughorn, and the potion for the day.

Her private lessons with Professor McGonagall was another spot to look forward too. She easily got the hang of Occlumency, and was now learning nonverbal magic.

As for her other classes... Professor Sprout was giving her the cold shoulder until Neville apparently, allegedly, "talked some sense into her" and Professor Sprout was back to treating her like normal.

But Victoria could no longer bring herself to trust the Herbology Professor. To go to her Herbology classes. Not after seeing how easily the teacher had turned on her over something as idiotic as a school competition.

At least her other professors all treated her normally, and handed out detentions for any harassment they saw. Which culminated in Ernie Macmillan landed in detention for three weeks when he tried to sabotage her displaying the Ancient Baltic Fire Runes she had learned in Ancient Runes class.

The incident just increased her ever growing bitterness to the Hufflepuffs. House of fair play and fairness her ass.

Fleur was a safe spot as well. Sticking with her during the day in her free time, the two girls studying either in the Beauxbatons Carriage or in the Gryffindor common room. The library was sadly no longer a place safe enough for Victoria to spend time in.

Fleur turned out to be a fencer, and taught Victoria several new tricks in fencing lessons, Starfall in her hands as she and the French witch sparred.

"Victoria, you need to eat." Angelina said, sitting down next to Victoria and pulling her out of her thoughts.

Her stomach twisted and turned. "I'm not hungry."

"You've lost ten pounds in the past week. George is this close to going to Madam Pomfrey and Fred has written to Percy." Angelina said, eyes bright with concern.

"I can't eat in the Great Hall." she said, forcing out her words. "Not with all the..."

The emerald-eyed witch trailed off, but Angelina nodded. "Let's ask the House-Elves in the kitchens if there's any other place for you to eat."

Angelina guided her to the kitchens, sneakily avoiding the Huffelpuffs as they entered.

Inside, a small army or two of House-Elves greeted them warmly. Victoria grinned when Dobby approached her, looking very happy with his freedom.

The smile died when she saw Winky, who looked miserable.

"Dobby," Victoria asked. "Do you think Winky would be happy if a new family hired her?"

"Yes, Victoria Potter." Dobby said. "Dobby enjoys his freedom. Dobby is a happy free elf. But Winky is sad. Winky needs a new family, but can't bring herself to find a new family. Winky misses Mr.Crouch."

Victoria hummed and approached Winky. "Winky? Would you be open to being a Black family House-Elf?"

Winky perked up. "Victoria Potter would like to hire Winky?"

"I would." Victoria said firmly. "You would be a House-Elf for the Black Family, however, under my godfather Sirius."

"Winky would love to be one of a Black family House-Elf!" Winky said, beaming brightly. "Where must Winky go to find Master Black?"

"Number 12, Grimmuald Place, in London." Victoria answered promptly.

"Winky thanks Victoria Potter!" Winky declared and vanished with a small 'pop!' and several House-Elves murmured with approval behind Victoria. Knowing that she had done something to help Winky out of a bad place made her feel warm on the inside.

Dobby smiled. "Victoria Potter did a very good thing. Dobby is happy for Winky."

"Sirius will treat her well." Victoria promised. "Winky will be safe. I promise."

The ravenette tiled her head. "And Dobby? I have a question for you."

"How can Dobby help Victoria Potter?" Dobby asked.

"Do you know a place where I can train without being found?" she asked.

"Oh yes! Dobby knows just the place! Dobby suggests the Come and Go Room, or the Room of Requirement!" Dobby said. "The Come and Go Room is on the seventh floor of Hogwarts in the left hallway, opposite of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach trolls to dance. One has to focus and think about what they want, and the Come and Go Room changes."

She smiled. "Thank you, Dobby. Thank you so much."

Angelina and Victoria exited the kitchens loaded with pastries and sandwiches, and headed to the Room of Requirement. Victoria closed her eyes and imagined what she needed from the room. When she opened her eyes, a door was there. And inside was a room perfect to train, to learn, to hide.

Victoria made a mental note to get Dobby the best socks for Christmas.

Chapter Text

The Room of Requirement quickly became Victoria's new haven and training ground. As the date of the First Task grew ever close, the trio began looking into the history books of the past Triwixen Tournaments to see if there was any sort of precedent.

"So, I have good news and bad news." Ron solemnly announced one day a week before the task.

Victoria looked up from her Arthimancy homework. She had completed the rest of her homework ages ago. "What is it?" she curiously asked.

"Well, I figured out what the First Task would be." Ron said. "That's the good news."

"And the bad news?" Hermione asked.

"It's most definitely going to be you and some kind of monster in an arena. Either you're going to have to fight it, or get around it to grab an important clue for the Second Task." Ron grimly told her and Hermione.

Victoria groaned. "Why is it always big scary monsters that can kill me?"

"Because the universe hates you." Ron deadpanned. "Who knows, you might fight a dragon!"

"That is not the support I need, Ron!"

Of course it was dragons.

Victoria cursed under her breath as she navigated her way out of the Forbidden Forest and back to the castle.

Dragons.

Big, mother dragons that could kill with just their fire breath.

Who could absolutely kill her.

No, Victoria thought. I just need a plan to get to whatever clue the dragons are guiding...

It's a good thing I've been studying fire runes and I have a fire affinity, hasn't it?

Victoria, Ron, and Hermione quickly got to work on a plan.

A plan that was thought out, but felixaeble enough that Victoria could adapt in on a fly if she needed too.

Speak to the dragon with Parseltongue (Thank you Charlie for telling Ron that dragons could understand Parseltongue), have fire runes and fire spells at the ready. Use the Summoning Charm (Which she already knew how to cast), to grab the egg as another plan.

"Cedric doesn't know." the Gryffindor witch said during one of the training sessions, after she casts several old fire battle-spells in a row. She could feel her magical core's exhaustion, but also it getting back to full power at the same time. "We should tell him."

"Do we have to? He's been a right prick to you for something that isn't your fault." Ron complained.

"Okay, that's fair." Victoria said. The familiar reminder that Cedric didn't believe in her innocence hurt her more than she thought it would, given that she and Cedric had just been friends. "But he's the only Champion who won't know."

"And, it will show the Hufflepuff's that while we Gryffindors can be petty, we're not that petty to withhold life-or-death information." Hermione grumbled.

Ron sighed. "Okay, I have to agree with Hermione, Vicky. I still don't like him anymore, but it's the least we can do."

Telling Cedric about the dragons was... odd.

But even if he didn't believe her, at least Victoria had warned him.

The day of the First Task arrived.

The champions picked their dragons, and Victoria wound up with the Hungarian Horntail. The last contestant to go against the dragons.

Victoria was halfway convinced that the universe really had it out for her.

"You can do this." Sirius whispered, hugging her tightly. She hugged him back, and only let go when the adults had to leave.

Her turn came too quickly.

"Hello." the Potter Heiress said, speaking Parseltongue.

The dragon roared and breathed fire.

She cursed and ran. She needed to move, move, move as the dragon fire got closer—

Crack!

The emerald-eyed witch gasped and she was suddenly right behind the dragon, but she tripped and slammed her head into a sharp rock. She grunted but ignored the flare of pain.

The dragon spun around to breath fire at her again.

But this time, Victoria was ready.

"ALGIZ! KENAZ!" she yelled, pouring her magic into the runes. The runes blazed to life and created a powerful shield against the dragon fire. The dragon breathed harder, but Victoria had a spell in mind.

"Voluntas Hestiae!" she cast, and the flames suddenly shot upward into the sky at Victoria's will.

The Hungarian Horntail stopped breathing fire, as if impressed.

Victoria cast a quick Amplifying Charm on herself. "LISTEN TO ME!" she roared in Parseltongue.

This time, the Hungarian Horntail fully stopped. Then it hissed. "You speak the tongue."

"I speak the tongue." Victoria echoed back, nonverbally casting the Quieting Charm. "And I would really appreciate it if you would stop trying to kill me. I've been having a really bad month already."

"At least tell me what I am doing here. My eggs are close to hatching, and I want to go home." the Hungarian Horntail demanded.

As quickly as she could, Victoria explained the entire situation.

"So, this explains why this egg smells... odd." the Hungarian Horntail hissed, nudging the golden egg. "It is a fake. I do not want a fake in my nest. You may have it."

Victoria smiled. "Thank you."

She used the Summoning Charm, and the egg was in her hands. She then headed back to the tent while the crowd burst into an applause.

Even the Hufflepuffs, she noted with a bitter taste in her mouth.

As soon as she got back into the tent, Sirius and Remus pulled her into a hug. Then Madam Pomfrey came over to quickly heal her minor head injury.

Ron and Hermione burst into the tent. "Vicky!" Ron yelled as he spun her around. She laughed, still high on the thrill and adrenaline. "You did great!"

"What you did was so amazing!" Hermione added, smiling brightly. "It was wonderful! And you talking to the dragon— that was some good negotiating."

She quirked a brow.

"We used a spell Hermione invented to understand what you were saying." Ron explained.

Victoria whistled. "Spell inventing at fifteen? That's our Hermione."

Hermione blushed while Sirius roared in delighted laughter.

Remus cleared his throat. "We should go outside to the judges, for the scoring."

As the group of fire headed out, they told her about Fleur, Cedric, and Krum's strategies. Everyone fell quiet as the judges began to score her. The judges weren't the Headmasters or Headmistress, but instead three neutral judges in addition to Bagman and Crouch.

The first judge, a witch from Egypt, gave her an eight.

So did the second judge, a wizard from Sicily.

Victoria got a nine from Crouch.

Then an eight from the third judge, a wixen from Greece.

And Bagman... Bagman gave her a ten.

"What the hell." Victoria said, stunned. "Is he trying to suck up to me?"

"Probably." Remus sighed.

Victoria groaned in dispair.

"At least you're in third place now." Ron pointed out softly. "Fleur's in first place, then Cedric. Krum was docked points for causing his dragon to trample the eggs— fake eggs, but they still docked him."

Fred and George appeared. "Vicky! Let's go! We're throwing a party in the Gryffindor tower!"

Before Victoria could follow her house, Fleur appeared next to her. "I'm having a Champion's only party by the lake at ten. Can you make it?"

"I can." Victoria promised, though she silently dreaded having to face Cedric.

Chapter Text

Let it be known that Gryffindors knew how to party.

The celebration in the Gryffindor Tower surpassed the party thrown to celebrate winning the Quidditch Cup. A Space Extension Charm had been cast on the common room, at least five disco balls levitated above the crowd, alternating between beams of color, colorful sparks, and holograms of scenes that looked straight out of an adventure novel. A magical DJ booth had been set up with Lee Jordan serving as the DJ, blasting music as the crowd danced, and in side of the common room, seven buffet tables had been set up, ladened with food and drinks.

At random intervals, the Weasley twins would set off animated fireworks to the cheers of the crowd. Mainly because everyone had purchased at least two of Ron's brain child, a Prank-Proof Cloak (Also known as the Weasley Twins-Proof Cloak) from Lavender, Parvati, and Ron's makeshift storefront in one of the abandoned rooms on the fourth floor of the castle.

Victoria had seen Ron, Lavender, and Parvati's notes, sketchbooks, and notebooks. They definitely planned to expand the Prank-Proof Cloak into shirts, sweaters, pants, and more.

And given how popular the cloak had been amongst the Hogwarts population, she couldn't fault them.

As the time for the Champions only part got closer, Victoria slipped into her room to grab her Invisibility cloak, and snuck out of the common room without anyone noticing.

She headed down to a private spot on the beach of the Black Lake, her footsteps getting heavier with every step. She breathed a small sigh of relief when she saw it was just Fleur and Krum so far.

"Hi." she greeted, removing the cloak. Both of them jumped when they saw her.

"You have an Invisibility Cloak." Krum said. "Impressive."

"It's a family heirloom." the emerald-eyed witch explained.

"Wish I had one to escape all the girls after me." Krum said with a scowl.

Victoria hummed in sympathy. "This has been useful given all the... negative attention."

"Blaming you for something you obviously did not do." Krum snarked.

"It's easier to blame me than acknowledge that it honestly wasn't me this time." Victoria said.

"Speaking of that." a familiar voice said from behind her, and Victoria went ridged. "V—Heiress Potter, can we talk?"

Victoria counted to ten before turning around slowly, keeping her face impressively emotionless and her Occulmency shields up at full force.

After a minute of tense silence, Victoria nodded. "You have a minute, Diggory."

"I can work with that." Cedric said.

"And you can do it here and now." she said.

Cedric rubbed the back of his next. "Alright."

He took a breath. "I am so fucking sorry for everything. Everyone in Hufflepuff was pissed at you, and then my dad was writing to me about what an attention stealer you are, and I... I just got wrapped up in it. I started believing them about what they said about you then just asking you directly or doing something. I know it's not an excuse, but that's what happened."

"You hurt me." the Potter Heiress said calmly, though rage bled into every word. "All of you did the Chamber of Secrets again, assuming without even bothering to ask me about my side, and then once I get my name cleared or I prove myself, you all pretend we're friends again. At least you apologized this time. Not a single one of you have apologized for the harassment and bullying from the Chamber of Secrets. Because of fucking course a twelve year old is responsible for the petrification of people just because she speaks Parseltongue. Guess what, so do hundreds of other wixen. Parseltongue is in my family! House of fairness my fucking ass. You Hufflepuffs are the biggest hypocrites I've ever seen, and the next time shit goes down, I'm not lifting a finger to save you all."

Cedric smirked mirthlessly. "We reap what we so."

"Big, fucking time, Diggory." she snarled, her heart pounding with hurt. She took a breath, trying to calm down. Trying to figure out why Cedric's betrayal had hurt her more than a friend should've had. "I hope I can trust you again. But you'll have to work for it."

"I will." Cedric vowed, and something in her heart lightened.

Fleur then appeared, several picnic baskets and blankets levitating next to her. "Did I miss something?"

The picnic went smoothly after a tentative start. All four champions shared bits and pieces about them.

Still, even as Victoria headed back to the Gryffindor Tower, she wondered why Cedric had gotten such a reaction out of her. It was like she had a—

Of fuck, I have a crush on him. Victoria realized.

Chapter Text

With the First Task done, life at Hogwarts returned to a tentative peace. Victoria could breathe a bit easier now, focus on her classes without being tense all the time, but she was still on her guard. The Gryffindors had realized as well, but were sharp and alert when interacting with the other houses.

Especially the Hufflepuffs. She had cleared Cedric's reputation a bit in the lions den, but the word 'Hufflepuff' had become synonymous with 'two faced b*tch' in the Gryffindor house.

The Potter Heiress couldn't bring herself to try and stop her housemates. Not when she silently agreed with them about the insults thrown at the badgers.

So she focused on her schoolwork and her life. She focused on her Potions lessons with Slughorn, on her tutoring sessions with McGonagall, on her other classes— Charms, Ancient Runes, Transfiguration, History of Magic (she didn't attend the class, but she self studied), Astronomy, Arthimancy, and... Herbology.

She had finally attended her first Herbology class in weeks, but she resolutely ignored the Hufflepuffs when they tried to talk to her.

Except when they dod try to pretend that nothing happened. When Ernie Macmillan treated her as if he hadn't tried to hurt her, she had snapped and screamed at him in the Great Hall.

"YOU FUCKING HURT ME, TRIED TO SABOTAGE ME, AND NOW YOU TRY AND PRETEND YOU DIDN'T DO ANY OF THAT? YOU FUCKING TWO FACED BASTARD, THAT'S WHAT YOU HUFFLEPUFFS ARE!" she had screeched, uncaring of who saw. "WHY THE FUCK SHOULD I WANT TO START A STUDY GROUP WITH YOU WHEN YOU'VE SHOWN TIME THAT YOU HAVE NO PROBLEM IN MAKING ME THE VILLAIN AND THEN TURN AROUND AND TRY AND PRETEND NONE OF THE SHIT YOU PULLED EVER HAPPENED! FUCKING COWARDS!"

"P-Potter, please, I—" Ernie tried, face pale and wide eyed.

"You know, I read a book in the mundane world, and it had a quote 'Never trust someone who hurt you, because then you'll let them hurt you twice. Giving a second chance is exposing yourself to be hurt again.' It's honestly so correct when it comes to you two faced backstabbers." Victoria snarled. "Never expect my family's help in the political arena, Heir Macmillan. And its Heiress Potter, for all of you. I've never given anyone outside my friends permission to use my first name. You aren't entitled to using my first name right off the bat just because I survived my parents murder."

She then turned on her heel and marched away.

It had been two days since that incident, and Victoria resolutely pretended that any Hufflepuff outside Cedric didn't exist. Even Cedric was on thin ice, and the older boy knew it.

Most of her friends supported her decision to ignore the Hufflepuffs until they genuinely apologized, both for their actions and the consequences. The older Gryffindors, lead by Angelina, Alicia, and the Weasley Twins, played interference with the older Hufflepuffs who tried to find her.

Percy sent her a long letter detailing how to mess with someone and not get her caught.

Best. Older. Brother. Ever.

Sirius and Remus responded similarly to her friends when she wrote to them about what she had told Ernie (and by extension, all of Hufflepuff)— the emerald-eyed witch didn't have to automatically forgive them. She was entitled to be angry at them, but Remus cautioned her to not let her anger blind her.

Victoria had sent a reassurance to Sirius and Remus that she wouldn't.

So, for a few days, a fragile peace settled onto Hogwarts.

And then the Yule Ball was announced.

Chapter Text

Victoria had never thought that Hogwarts would lose its collect mind over a ball.

Logically, she could understand why everyone was so excited— Hogwarts didn't have many large-scale events like the Yule Ball, but still. No need to panic over every small detail of your fucking shoes.

But the issue Victoria had the most problem with was the people who kept trying to get her to ask them to the Yule Ball.

She refused a vast majority of them, but she could only find refuge was either in her lessons with Professor Slughorn or in the Gryffindor Tower, were no one was stupid enough to try and bother her. Not even Ginny Weasley, who had gotten a proper Talk by Percy, as Ron assured her.

She believed him, because Percy had sent her a letter confirming that he had had a Talk with Ginny.

"I fucking hate this." Victoria groaned as the Gryffindor fourth-years huddled together in their corner of the common room. "I can't even breathe without someone trying to ask me to the ball."

Ron patted her on the back, but didn't look up as he, Lavender, and Parvati went over order forms from the dresses and gowns they were going to make. "Didn't Krum teach you a few spells to 'get the stubborn fuckers to back off'?"

"He did." the Potter witch confirmed. "Which worked when I needed to get those Ravenclaw fifth-years to back off."

"Do you have any idea who you would like to go with?" Lavender asked slyly.

Cedric. she almost said, but on the other hand, he had hurt her, and she was still wary of him.

"I can go with you." Neville offered. "We can just go as friends, Vicky."

That made her smile. "I would like that, Neville. So, would you like to go with me to the Yule Ball, firmly as friends, Heir Longbottom?"

Neville smiled. "I accept, Heiress Potter."

In Victoria's very unbiased opinion, the rumor mill's reaction to the news that she and Neville were going to the ball together was completely unnecessary.

Victoria stood to the side as Professor Slughorn examined her attempt at the Omni Antidote Elixir.

Slughorn tested the Elixir, and then turned to her with a smile. "Well done, Miss Potter! This is a perfect potion. And for a potion so complex, getting it right on your second try is a very notable feat." Slughorn sighed. "If I was still a teacher, then I would've given you fifty house points for such an achievement."

"You're approval matters, Professor." the emerald-eyed witch replied with a smile. "Will this be our last lesson until the new year?"

Her tutor nodded. "Sadly, yes. But I will be at the Yule Ball, so we'll see each other again."

Victoria smiled. "I look forward to it, Professor."

Chapter Text

The day of the Yule Ball arrived, and Victoria volunteered using the Room of Requirement to get ready for the ball with Fleur, Hermione, Lavender, Padma, and Parvati.

And when Lavender and Parvati had finished getting her ready, Victoria almost didn't recognize the girl staring back at her in the mirror.

She was wearing an elegant dark purple and gold lehenga choli, dark purple wedges on her feet. Parvati and Padma had helped her pick her jewelry: a small but stylish Guttapusalu Haram necklace, Jhumka earrings adorned with pearls, gold bangles adorned with amethysts on her arms, and a Vanki Armlet on her right arm. Dark purple eyeshadow was above her eyes, with clear lip gloss on her lips, and the faintest touch of blush on her cheeks. Her hair was done up into an elegant bun, with a few strands to frame her face.

Victoria, she realized, was beautiful.

Fleur placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you ready to steal the breath from everyone, Victoria?"

"Je pense que ce sera toi, Fleur." Victoria said dryly, looking at Fleur.

The French witch was wearing a strapless, backless sapphire blue gown that brought out the color of her eyes, with delicate silver embroidery on the bodice. Her hair was worn loose in a waterfall of silvery blonde waves, with waterfall sapphire earrings, a sapphire necklace, and silver and sapphire bracelets on her wrists. Silver stiletto heels enhanced her height, and she had blue eyeshadow and red lipstick.

Hermione joined them. "Ne m'oubliez pas!"

Victoria grinned at Hermione, who grinned back. Hermione was wearing a floaty off-the-shoulder white gown, with gold bracelets, a delicate gold necklace, and golden earrings. Her hair was done into dozens of cornrows, with with black beading at the end of each braid.

"We are the princesses of the night!" Parvati declared, gliding over in a pink and white lehenga choli. Her jewelry choices were the same as Victoria's and Padma's, but with her own unique flair. Lavender was at her side, wearing a pink gown to form a natural duo with her girlfriend, her hair done in a braid and rose quartz's glittering at her ears, wrists, and neck.

Padma nodded as she joined them, grinning brightly. The Ravenclaw witch was wearing a midnight blue and gold lehenga choli, her jewelry matching Parvati's but also uniquely her own. Her makeup was blue and gold in color.

And all of them were nearly glowing with excitement.

"Let's go, ladies." Fleur declared, and lead the way out of the Room of Requirement. Fleur, Victoria, and Hermione's dates— Neville for Victoria, Ron for Padma, and Viktor Krum for Hermione, were all waiting in the Great Hall.

The stares and whispers that Victoria felt were different then the ones she usually had to deal with.

But then she saw Ron and Neville, wearing tuxedoes with respectively dark blue and dark purple ties, and Victoria in a red uniform and fur cape like a viking nobleman right out of a raid as the looming presence of his formidable friends somehow kept the toadying students away, she knew this night would be okay.

Victoria was beautiful.

Cedric had noted that as soon as he had laid eyes on her, and felt something in his chest ache.

"Are you okay?" Ryan asked, and Cedric nodded.

"Yeah." he said, forcing himself to not look in Victoria's direction when he heard her laugh, a real laugh that sounded like silver bells and the wind.

Merlin, he was acting like a lovesick fool with a crush—

And then it dawned on him.

He weakly decided that it was not the best time to realize he had a crush on Victoria Potter.

The magic that coated the Great Hall tasted like cherries and frost and mint to Victoria. It curled around her skin, feeling soft and sweet and silky.

It truly was a magical night.

It was a night that Victoria was never going to forget.

Chapter Text

There was the matter of the golden egg. Time was running out for Victoria to figure out the egg, and she had thrown everything she could think of at it: Runes, potions, Arthimancy calculations and spells she had invented.

Nothing worked.

Sighing as she sat in the Room of Requirement, she reached out at the egg with her ability to feel magic. Victoria could feel the elusive magic that came off of it, and the other kind of magic that thrummed around it. She narrowed her eyes and focused on the second magic.

Water. It tasted like salt and felt like she was submerged underwater.

Great— the element opposite of her natural affinity.

But she wouldn't give up.

Victoria closed her eyes and wished for a table and a basin of water. She opened her eyes to see that the Room had provided what she asked for, and she hurried over to it. She dropped the egg into the basin and then opened it, and from under the water, she could hear muffled singing.

A grin broke over her face. "YES!" she shouted and then put her ear under the water.

A song, lovely yet haunting, was what she heard.

Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching, ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took.
But past an hour - the prospect's black
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.

Victoria inhaled sharply as she yanked herself away from the basin, mumbling a spell to dry off her ear and wet hair.

What she would sorely miss—

Someone she loved.

Ron.

Hermione.

Neville.

Sirius.

Remus.

Percy.

Luna.

"Fuck." the Potter witch swore vehemently.

But even as she shook in terror, her mind swirled as she began to plan.

The day before the Second Task, the Champions had another meeting.

"Does everyone have a plan?" Viktor asked.

"I have one." Cedric said, shifting on his feet.

Fleur nodded. "So do I."

They all looked to her and she nodded, thinking of the Potion she had been brewing, and rubbed her arms as well. "I have a plan. But this task isn't going to be fun for me— my elemental affinity is fire."

Krum swore. "Then you will have to be quick, or you will suffer elemental exhaustion."

"I promise to do my best." she said, and wondered over and over again who would be taken from her.

Ron.

It was Ron.

Ron, one of the first people to love her, one of the two thirds of her soul.

And Hermione was gone as well.

If Viktor didn't get to her in time, Victoria was grabbing both of her friends and damn the rules.

She stood at the edge of the platform, gripping her potion in one hand and her wand in the other.

"Champions, begin!" Bagman declared loudly.

Victoria instantly downed the potion and then stripped off her jacket, revealing the hundreds of water-based runes she had painted on the day before. The runes started at her fingers and marched up to her neck.

She fervently thanked her ancestors for all those rare books on runes they had collected. And she thanked her best and the very best Account Manager for getting her those books without asking questions.

Best. Account Manager. Ever.

The Potter Heiress then muttered an invocation and jumped into the lake. The water was cold and dark but thanks to her preparations, she could see and breathe underwater fine.

Gritting her teeth, she cast a spell she had invented in Arthimancy, one that would guide her to the person she wanted to find. A silver thread appeared and vanished into the depths, and Victoria began to swim. She murmured evocations to let her manipulate the water in order to move faster.

Because she had a fire affinity, she had a limited amount of time before her magic began to fail her.

But the runes worked and she arrived in the mer village in ten minutes. She quickly scanned over the hostages— a tall, broad shoulder Black boy, Ron, Hermione, and a little girl with a head full of silvery blonde hair. Fleur's sister, she quickly deduced.

Viktor showed up just as Victoria used the Severing Charm to free Ron. She wordlessly cast it for him, and Viktor, whose who was now a shark (cool), nodded to her in thanks as he took Hermione and began to swim away. Cedric appeared next, she quickly freed the boy before leaving.

Fleur didn't appear.

The Gryffindor witch waited another twenty minutes before realizing that Fleur wasn't coming.

So she cast the most powerful water spell she knew to throw off the mermaids, freed the little girl, and then began swimming to the surface with both Ron and the little girl.

A grindylow swam up, but Victoria called on her magic and breathed fire at the creature. It shrieked and ran and Victoria kept swimming for the surface. Her magic began to strain halfway.

She pointed her wand at the surface and cast the Patronus Charm. Coming, don't worry. I have your sister, Fleur. she thought as the silver cloud shot away and formed a stag that galloped to the surface.

After another five minutes of swimming, she made it to the surface.

Victoria greedily inhaled the air as both Ron and the little girl woke up.

Ten minutes later, Victoria found herself sipping a very warm and hot potion, Ron at her right with Sirius and Remus behind her and at her left respectively.

And her jaw metaphorically dropped as she somehow tied with Cedric for first place.

Stormy grey met emerald green, and for the first time in months, Victoria couldn't find herself to be mad at him, but she instead shot him a grin and nodded at him.

And her heart skipped a beat when Cedric grinned right back at her.

Chapter Text

"Apparition?" Victoria asked as she stood with Sirius, Remus, and Professor McGonagall in a clearing in early March.

"It's what you did in the First Task." Sirius explained. "And while it's been far too long, we want to teach you how to do it."

Well, teleporting away would be useful in needing an escape. Victoria thought. "Alright, when do we start?"

Sirius grinned wolfishly. "Right now."

"So, how has learning to Apparate been?" Hermione asked her.

Victoria groaned, rubbing her forehead as she completed her Arthimancy homework. The rest of her homework had already been completed. "Exhausting as fuck."

In the month since her Apparition lessons had begun, Victoria could Apparate around half a mile if she knew where to teleport. That was her limit, and her training sessions were twice a week.

"Still, it has to be cool." Ron said.

"And useful, given all the life threatening situations we land in." Hermione added.

The Potter Heiress nodded. "You're both right." she said. "But it's still really tiring."

"You can do this." Ron said. "No matter what, you keep getting back up. This is just a walk in the park compared to everything that's happened to you."

"To us." Victoria said. "Both of you were there too."

The next few months were a fragile state of quiet and peace. Victoria trained, learned, and hung out with her friends and fellow Champions. Almost all of the Hufflepuffs other than Cedric she had not forgiven nor had they attempted to apologize, but she could deal with that.

Then the Third Task began to get closer, day by day.

And in her bones, Victoria knew something was going to go down.

As the date of the Third Task came ever close, Victoria began training herself even harder. Advanced runes, O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. level spells (graciously provided by Percy Weasley), elemental magic, advancing her knowledge of spell invention, wandless and nonverbal magic, and Apparition classes.

Admittedly, she was better with nonverbal magic than with wandless magic, but she quietly acknowledged that wandless magic was hard for any wixen.

Sirius had given her a few Black family books on nonverbal magic, which did help.

"Alright, that's enough for today." Ron said, giving her a pointed looked when she opened her mouth to try and protest. "There's a Hogsmeade trip tomorrow, and you're going. No excuses."

"Don't you have a date with Padma?" the Potter Heiress asked teasingly.

Ron and Padma had been a couple ever since the Yule Ball. Victoria was happy for both of them.

"I do." Ron said with a grin. "Hermione and Viktor got permission to go to mundane London."

The emerald-eyed witch shot a grin at a blushing but smiling Hermione. "Have fun, Mione."

Hermione nodded. "I will. You two have fun as well."

With practiced ease, Victoria dodged any toadying student who tried to wiggle into her inner circle as she meandered through Hogsmeade.

The protective circle of Luna, Neville, Fred, George, Angelina, Parvati, Lavender, Katie, and Alicia certainly helped. Percy joined them in Honeydukes, having taken the day off when Ron had contacted them.

Seeing her second favorite Weasley just made her day even better.

But the happiness, love, and warmth of the day didn't take away the deepening feeling in her bones, that something was going to happen at the end of the school year.

Because something always happened at the end of the school year.

And Victoria just knew that it would happen in the Third Task.

Which was all the more the reason to lose.

Chapter Text

The day of the Third Task arrived, and Victoria was excited and nervous.

Excited, to finally end the tournament, though she would miss her new friends.

And nervous, because she just knew something bad was going to happen.

The incident with Barty Crouch a few weeks ago had only confirmed her rising dread and her wary instincts.

Classes had been cancelled, as the teachers known that no one would be able to focus on learning.

Victoria spent the day in the Room of Requirement, hiding from the mob of students who tried to follow her around. Her fellow Gryffindors had her back, but even they could only do so much. So she had found refuge in the Room of Requirement, reading and practicing as the time for the Third Task drew ever closer.

Ron, Hermione, Luna and Neville kept her company, trying to ease her nerves.

Their combined efforts worked, but she was still so nervous.

"Sirius, Remus!" she called with a grin when she spotted her godfather and honorary uncle. She ran over to them and jumped into Sirius's arms, laughing as her twirled her around. Remus joined the hug and she reveled in the warmth and security they brought.

"What am I, chopped liver?" a familiar voice asked and Victoria gasped. She squirmed out of Sirius's arms to see Mrs.Figg, her eyes twinkling.

"Mrs.Figg!" she exclaimed and hugged the older woman. Mrs.Figg hugged her back tightly. "Hello dear. It's good to see you again."

"I missed you." Victoria murmured.

"So did I, Victoria. You must write to me." Mrs.Figg said.

"I will, I've just been... busy." she said.

"That's okay." Remus said. "You've had to deal with a lot."

"Now," Mrs.Figg said as she looked around. "May I ask for a tour?"

The Potter witch grinned. "Of course!" she exclaimed and began to lead the way out of the antechamber.

As they walked by, they passed the Diggory family.

"Finally feeling the pressure, Potter, aren't you?" Amos called out. Victoria ignored him. "Now that my Cedric—"

"Dad." Cedric snarled. "Shut. Up. Victoria was forced into this, she didn't ask to be in this. She didn't steal anything!"

Victoria barely suppressed her smile as her heart skipped a beat. Cedric was well on his way into getting back into her good graces, if he wasn't already there...

"The tour, Victoria?" Mrs.Figg asked patiently.

She nodded. "Right, this way, Mrs.Figg."

Night fell, and it brought the Third Task with it.

Victoria stood next to Cedric, gripping her wand tightly.

"Good luck, Cedric, Fleur, Viktor." she said, glancing around at her fellow champions.

Cedric nodded. "Good luck, guys."

"May magic be on your side." Viktor rumbled.

Fleur smiled brightly, somehow. "Bonne chance, mes amis."

Good luck, my friends.

Yeah...

Victoria was going to need that good luck.

Desperately.

The Potter Heiress ring on her finger hummed with magic, offering wordless, silent support that soothed her nerves.

The whistle blew, and Victoria and Cedric raced into the maze.

Victoria had been having an easy time in the maze after getting through the Sphinx.

A too easy time, in her opinion.

Then there was a scream, and she knew instantly who was screaming.

Spinning around, she pointed her wand and a blast of controlled blue flames erupted from the tip. The flame ate through the hedges and she slipped through to find Viktor standing over Cedric's thrashing form.

"Stupefy!" she shouted, and Viktor crumpled to the ground.

She darted to Cedric's side, helping him to his feet.

"Thanks." he rasped. "I think he was under the Imperius Curse."

Victoria grimaced, remembering her own lesson about that spell. It hadn't ben fun learning how to throw it off.

"He'll feel horrible when he wakes up." she murmured.

Cedric cast the red sparks to signal for help, and then the two went their separate ways.

Victoria gasped as she landed on the ground, her ankle throbbing. She reached for Cedric, trying to yank him down when he tried to get up.

Then a horrifyingly familiar voice cut through the air.

"Kill the spare."

Chapter Text

There was a beam of green light and Victoria reflexively yanked Cedric down harder. But the beam of light still hit the Hufflepuff Champion.

He was sen flying and then he hit the ground, still and unmoving.

No. Victoria thought, her heart breaking.

"CEDRIC!" she screamed, trying to get on her feet even though her ankle was broken to reach him—

A spell hit her back, and she fell down. Pettigrew dragged her to a headstone and tied her to it even as she fruitlessly struggled.

The, before her eyes, a ritual began to happen, and the magic she could sense and taste on her tongue was twisted, vile, and evil.

The magic of the Potter Heiress ring hummed in agreement, twisting around her angrily.

She struggled against her binds as Pettigrew approached, sliced her arm to get some of her blood, and then dumped it into the cauldron. She took petty satisfaction when he had to cut off his hand seconds later.

It vanished the second Voldemort, now reborn, erupted from the cauldron.

The Cruciatus Curse hurt.

Despite the agonizing pain wracking her body, she refused to scream as Voldemort hit her with it again and again, the newly arrived Death Eaters watching.

When it stopped, she inhaled quietly but deeply. "Wow Tom, I thought you would've gotten cleverer if you fancy yourself as the greatest wixen of all time."

Voldemort roared in anger. "You dare call me that name."

"It's your name, isn't it? Tom Marvolo Riddle, a halfblood, son of a mundane—"

"CRUCIO!"

Worth it. the Potter witch thought even as the pain hit her all over again.

Once Voldemort stopped torturing her, in his grand and over-inflated ego, he demanded that they dueled.

"Expelliarmus!" Victoria shouted as Voldemort yelled "AVADA KEDAVARA!"

At the same time, the magic of her Potter heiress ring flared and powerful, black colored magic surged out around her, twisting and swirling as it lunged for Voldemort.

Pop!

What—

She looked to see Cedric next to her as he grabbed her waist. With a snap of his wrist the tournament cup went flying to them, and she reflexively caught it with her free hand.

The sound of Voldemort's scream of rage was music to her ears as she and Cedric vanished.

Victoria gasped in pain as she slammed into the ground of the stadium. Cedric collapsed next to her, gasping and struggling to get breath in his lungs.

"Cedric!" she yelled, and began casting the few healing spells Madam Pomfrey had taught her in an attempt to stabilize his breathing.

More people rushed over to them and she shrieked when someone took Cedric away, but Sirius was there to hold her. "I got you, Doe, I got you." he murmured and she collapsed into his arms.

"He's back." she rasped. "Voldemort's back."

Chapter Text

Victoria's hands shook as she silently accepted the offer of tea from Professor Dumbledore. After the graveyard, then getting kidnapped by Barty Crouch Jr and nearly killed by him, she was so tired.

But Amelia Bones needed her testimony even as the Minister called her a liar, so here she was.

"Miss Potter," Professor Dumbledore said gently. Amelia Bones stood next to him, stern but sympathetic. "Can you tell us what happened?"

"Is Cedric okay?" she asked.

Remus gently squeezed her hand. "Madam Pomfrey said that he's exhausted but alive. It was a near-death experience, from what she says. The Killing Curse Pettigrew cast wasn't strong enough."

She nodded, feeling slightly better. Then, after taking a small dose of Veritaserum, she began to tell Madam Bones, Dumbledore, Sirius, Remus, and Madam Bones's assistant everything that happened in the graveyard. From the portkey to the ritual to the Death Eaters to her ring's black magic, that had bought time for her and Cedric to escape.

And then her and Cedric's reappearance in the front of the maze.

Madam Bones took notes feverishly as one of her assistants used a magical recording device to record her testimony.

"Thank you, Heiress Potter." Madam Bones said. "We'll talk to Barty Crouch Jr next— we got a makeshift interrogation after he tried to kidnap you, but we'll need a second, proper one for further questioning. Then we'll talk to Mr.Diggory."

Victoria nodded, leaning into the hand Sirius had on her shoulder, one of the few things keeping her grounded. "Alright."

She hesitated. "What about Fudge?"

Madam Bones's eyes hardened. "Fudge will accept that Voldemort is back, and if he doesn't, then he'll remember Clause 3.1 of the Wizengamot."

The Potter Heiress had learned enough politics from Augusta Longbottom to know exactly what that clause meant.

"-isn't back!" a voice woke her from her sleep.

Victoria looked up from her bed to see Fudge storming into the infirmary, purple faced and flustered.

"I just showed you Heiress Potter's testimony, Barty Crouch Jr's own Vertiaserum confirmed confession, and Mister Diggory's testimony as well! He's back, Fudge! You cannot close your eyes to this just because you do not want it to exist!" Madam Bones yelled.

"Enough!" Madam Pomfrey barked. "Heiress Potter and Mister Diggory are trying to recover from what happened in the graveyard!"

"The graveyard didn't happen!" Fudge said desperately. "T-They're confused!"

Madam Bones scoffed. "With me, now, Fudge. Let's see if the Wizengamot remembers if they are confused as well."

Ron whistled softly, impressed. "Go Madam Bones!"

Percy looked furious. "I'm resigning if Fudge doesn't get fired."

"You don't have too, Percy." Victoria said.

"I won't work for fools, Victoria." Percy said. "You're a sister to me, and I won't stand to work for someone who will shut his eyes to what you've endured and the war that is going to happen just because he doesn't want to acknowledge that a dangerous threat is back."

"He's right." Hermione agreed.

Tears pricked her eyes as Victoria was reminded again at how many people she had to support her now.

The school year ended with tenseness and unsureness.

Madam Bones had been fired, but not before confirming to the Daily Prophet that Voldemort was back, giving Barty Crouch Jr's testimony as evidence. The school was divided between those who believed Fudge's desperate lies, and then those who backed Victoria and Cedric.

The Potter witch mainly stayed in the Gryffindor Tower or in the Room of Requirement when not in her classes. Cedric joined her in the Room of Requirement, the two of them growing closer due to their shared experience. Professor Slughorn's potion tutoring classes were another safe haven, and he commented that he had applied to teach at Hogwarts again, so that was something Victoria was looking forward to once her fifth year began.

The school year ended, and a grim, bleak summer began.

Chapter Text

When summer had started with Voldemort back and running around, Victoria had expected reports of murders, violet massacres, and the destruction like what she had read about the British Wixen War.

Not this.

Not tense silence, grim planning, and a war fought in the shadows.

But somehow, it was expected. Voldemort was obviously going to be careful, in his planning and in his recruitment. He would want the deck in his favor before moving into the open.

So Victoria and the rest of the teenagers in 12 Grimmuald Place trained under the real Moody and Kingsley, forced their way into Order meetings to know what was happening, and avoided going into the public to dodge any attempts on them.

On her.

A war was being fought in the shadows, and yet life kept going.

Victoria woke up with a gasp, the image of Cedric falling still burned into her retinas. Shaking, she got to her feet and exited her room. She headed down the stairs of 12 Grimmuald Place, and as she did, she she heard voices drifting up the staircase.

"I can't thank you enough for taking us in." a woman's voice said, tired, exhausted, and relieved.

Sirius's voice followed. "It's not any trouble, Melinda. I promise."

Victoria finished walking down the stairs and entered the living room, and she was greeted with the sight of Sirius sitting across from Cedric and a woman who could be his mother. Two suitcases were at their feet, and they wore traveling clothes.

Her emerald green met Cedric's gray and she smiled. "Cedric, Mrs.Diggory."

Cedric smiled tiredly back. "Victoria."

"I'll check if Kreacher has breakfast started." she promised and quickly headed into the kitchen. Kreacher was already cooking, and she smiled at the old house elf, who smiled back.

"Did Mistress Victoria have a nightmare again?" Kreacher asked her.

"Yeah." she said, closing her eyes.

"Kreacher has her favorite chai." Kreacher said as he snapped his fingers and a mug floated over.

She took it gratefully. "Thank you, Kreacher."

Kreacher smiled and went back to work, and Victoria sat down at the table, where a pot of tea and some mugs had been set up. Cedric joined her a handful of minutes later, when Kreacher was almost done.

"Are you okay?" Victoria asked him as Cedric poured himself some tea.

Cedric's jaw clenched.

"You don't have to tell me." she said quietly.

He nodded, and a silence fell in-between them.

"It's my dad." Cedric muttered. "He... he doesn't believe you, doesn't believe what we're saying. Even when I showed him my memory, he said it was a fake you implanted. Never mind the fact that you can't do any memory spells. He's siding with the ministry."

She went still. "And you and your mom..."

"We left this morning. Mum finally snapped and it was just a big screaming match. I came with her, and I can only imagine how my dad is reacting to losing his perfect golden son." Cedric snarled.

Victoria hesitantly placed a calming hand on Cedric's arm, but Cedric relaxed under her touch. "Are you okay?" she asked again.

Her heart ached for Cedric, for what he had gone through. That his father hadn't supported him. If Amos DIggory knew the real Cedric, she didn't know, but she knew that Cedric cared for him.

Oh, she realized gently, softly. I'm in love with you.

Emerald green met gray.

"It hurts." Cedric murmured. "But... I have my mom, and my best friends, Ryan and Althea."

"You have the Order now." she added.

Cedric nodded. "Yeah." he agreed, and then he smiled a bit brighter at her. "And I have you."

Chapter Text

Cedric slid into the dynamics of Fred, George, Victoria, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione with ease.

He dodged the pranks Fred and George threw at him (Victoria was secretly funding the twin's dream), exchanged banter with Ron, studied with Hermione, and helped Ginny with her homework. But he and Victoria spent most of the day together, taking comfort in the physical confirmation that they were alive, that they had survived the graveyard.

When Neville and Luna came, he was patient as Neville chattered about his plants, and didn't talk down Luna when she would talk about her creatures.

Cedric also joined Moody's training program, and quickly become the next best student after Victoria in it.

"He's vicious." Cedric panted one day after a long Dueling training session.

Victoria huffed. "He's Mad-Eye Moody. What did you expect?"

"Fair point." Cedric said, taking a sip of water. Victoria firmly looked away as his muscles flexed. "But he's more... gentle than the imposter."

"Yeah." she agreed. "He also won't stop bitching about how no one noticed for an entire year. Which— he's a known recluse and master of Occlumency. Dumbledore hadn't seen him since the end of the first war by the time he reached out."

Cedric waved a hand in her direction. "You should tell him that."

"And get killed? Absolutely not." Victoria scoffed.

Reading the newspaper was a thing.

There was the Ministry propaganda through the Daily Prophet which was busy slandering her and Dumbledore, and then people actively discussing the truth in the other newspapers. People noticing things, picking up the signs, and preparing for a war.

So recruitment to the Order was mixed. The Order had to be careful of who to approach, of who to recruit. But a steady number of people were joining, were organizing with others to protect the wixen and mundanes who couldn't protect themselves.

But there was also the people like Fudge, like Amos Diggory. Who preferred to close their eyes and ignore the rising threat.

And people like them, who Victoria had read about in history books, were going to get several people killed.

Summer came.

Summer ended.

And the brand new school year began.

Chapter Text

Victoria, Ron, Hermione, George, Fred, Cedric, and Ginny all arrived at Platform Nine and Three Quarters as soon as it opened up for the crowds of students on September 1st, in the hopes of beating the crowds.

It worked, and the group was able to locate and claim a cabin in the very back of the train.

As more students trickled in, the group cast powerful Notice-Me-Not Charms to avoid the unwanted, gawking attention. It kept out a majority of the hecklers (Draco Malfoy and his gang), but they did open the cabin door to talk to people who were on their side.

Like Alicia, Angelina, and Katie. Neville and Luna joined them in the compartment, as did Lavender Brown, Parvati, and Padma.

Then came in Althea Fawley and Ryan Williams, Cedric's best friends.

"Althea, Ryan." Cedric greeted with a grin.

Ryan Williams was a tall, broad shouldered Black boy with curly black hair, dark skin, and light blue eyes. "It's good to see you again, Cedric. Where the hell have you been?" he said as he hugged Cedric.

"Mum and I left Dad. We found friends who let us stay with them." Cedric explained.

Althea Fawly looked at Victoria, who cooly returned the stare. "With the Black family?"

Cedric's eyes went cold. "Do you believe me, or the Ministry?"

"We believe you." Ryan said. "Mum and Dad were there when getting Crouch Jr's confession, man. They let me see the memory, so I believe you."

"My family narrowly clung to neutrality in the last war." Althea added. "And my grandparents are friends with Augusta Longbottom. She told them everything, and they told Mother and Father. Mother is good friends with Madam Bones. We believe in you, Dumbledore, and Heiress Potter."

Victoria hummed. "You can call me Victoria."

And like that, Althea Fawley and Ryan Williams joined their crowd of supporters.

By the time of the Welcome Feast, Victoria had been told by the near entirety of Gryffindor that they believed her. That they didn't believe in Fudge's lies, and were on her side.

Her house's loyalty, not for the first time, moved her to tears.

And while that was the most positive thing of the Welcome Feast, the new DADA teacher was someone who set off every red flag in her head.

Dolores Umbridge made Victoria want to get the hell away from her, and the looks on the rest of her fellow Gryffindors told the Potter Heiress that her fellow lions agreed with her. There was just something wrong that she sensed in Umbridge that made her skin crawl.

But at least Professor Slughorn was here, to teach Potions to the first through fifth-years while Snape just taught the O.W.L. students, and Victoria lead the applause for Slughorn.

If Umbridge wasn't going to teach them proper DADA—which her speech heavily implied—, then at least the students of Hogwarts had a proper Potions professor.

The next morning, as soon as Victoria set foot in the Great Hall, she felt the stares and whispers again. But after so many years, she merely kept walking to her, Ron, and Hermione's usual spot at the Gryffindor table and sat down with her best friends.

"Yet again with the staring." she said mildly as she helped herself to some smoked salmon, eggs, toast, and grilled tomatoes.

Ron didn't even blink as he cut up his own sausage. "Every year."

"You know why they're staring, right?" Hermione murmured. "And don't look, but Umbridge is giving you a nasty glare right now... oh Professor McGonagall just shut her down."

"There's a reason Professor McGonagall is in charge of the lions... and it's because she's one of the few authority figures here that we don't ever question." Ron said dryly.

Victoria nodded in agreement. Gryffindors could get wild, and during those times, Professor McGonagall was one of the few, unquestioned authority figures that they always listened too. Fred and George, for example, obeyed to only one person without question: Professor McGonagall.

That also applied to her father, apparently, if Sir Nick's claims were true.

"It's rude to point." Hermione said to a couple of whispering second-years who flushed and instantly looked away. Her new prefect badge was pinned to her vest, and Victoria knew that Dean Thomas was the new boy Gryffindor prefect.

Both of them had earned it, in Victoria's opinion.

Schedules were soon passed out, and Victoria took hers and read it over.

Monday: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Double Arthimancy, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM - Double Potions (with Slytherins)

Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM - History of Magic, 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - Charms (with Hufflepuffs), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - Commons subjects (with all other fifth-years), 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM - Study of Ancient Runes

Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Double Arthimancy, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM - Double Transfiguration (with Ravenclaws), 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM - Astronomy (at night, with other fifth-years)

Thursday: 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM — Potions (with Slytherins), 10:20 AM to 11:30 AM - Charms (with Hufflepuffs), 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:10 PM to 2:15 PM - Defense Against the Dark Arts (with all other fifth-years), 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM - Study of Ancient Runes

Friday: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Double Arthimancy, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM - Lunch, 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM - Double Herbology (with Hufflepuffs)

It was a Monday, so Hermione and Victoria bade Ron farewell and hurried away to the Arthimancy class.

Professor Vector greeted them all, and had them all take out their note taking supplies before she swiftly launched into a lecture about spell creation, a field of magic Victoria was particularly excited to start learning about.

As Victoria walked with Hermione to the Great Hall, she heard someone call out for her. She instantly recognized Cedric's voice, and turned around to see him walking over to her, an urgent look on his face.

"Go ahead." she whispered to Hermione, who nodded and walked over.

"We need to talk." Cedric said.

The Potter Heiress nodded. "Okay then."

She followed Cedric to a private area, and he wandlessly threw up a privacy spell.

"It's about Umbridge." Cedric told her. "She's a ministry spy, and she's not going to teach any sort of magic. She has it out for me, and she definitely has it out for you."

"That explains the only one DADA class a week thing." Victoria said, grimacing. "It's a self study year again, then."

Cedric laughed softly. "You think Mad-Eye will lend us some books?"

"He might as well come here and teach us." Cedric dryly pointed out.

An idea sparked in Victoria's head. "What if we did that?"

The Hufflepuff boy's brows furrowed, before it clicked and he grinned. "That's not a bad idea."

Potions was right after lunch, and Victoria excitedly lead the way to Slughorn's room on the third floor. Slughorn gave her a wide smile and shook her hand as she entered the room, obviously seeing how giddy she was. "It's good to see that you're excited for today's lesson, Miss Potter."

"You're the best Potions teacher, Professor." the Potter witch said, grinning.

Slughorn beamed and let her set up her station. She ignored the Slytherins stares and glares as she got ready, setting up a spell to ensure that no one would sabotage her station.

Thank you Percy, for teaching everyone in their study group that spell during her second year.

"Welcome to Potions!" Slughorn said as class started. "Today, we will be brewing a simple O.W.L. level potion, the Draught of Peace. It doesn't have to be perfect by the end of class, but I still want you to try. Now, since this is a class of Gryffindors and Slytherins, I know you're all rivals. However," Slughron glared at them certainly. "I will not tolerate any disruptions in my classroom. Nor any form of harassment, bullying, hazing, sabotage, or torment against another student will be allowed. You will instantly loose a minimum of 15 house points if you try something."

Malfoy looked sullen, and Victoria resisted the urge to smirk.

"Now, this is how you make the Draught of Peace." Slughorn said, and spent the next thirty minutes patiently walking everyone through the steps and another fifteen minutes answering questions and clarifying everything.

"Why did he retire!? I would gladly kill Snape to have had Professor Slughorn all these years!" Ron muttered as the class began to brew.

Neville shrugged. "At least he's here now."

By the end of the class period, Victoria had completed her attempt at the Draught of Peace perfectly with over an hour to spare. Next was Hermione, with Neville finishing ten minutes after her, and Ron ten minutes after him. Parvati, Lavender, Dean, and Seamus all finished their potions as well with minimal flaws. Slughorn gave everyone who completed the potion, or got halfway done with it, five points.

Malfoy had lost Slytherin twenty five points for an attempt to sabotage Neville. Slughorn, very enraged, had given him a weeks worth of detention on top of it.

Essentially making Ron's day.

The rest of the week marched by, and then it was time for DADA.

Victoria was unnerved over how little magic she could sense in Umbridge's classroom, and her instincts screamed danger the second she stepped inside. But with no reason to skip class, she entered and sat next to Hermione and Ron.

Umbridge kept setting off every red flag, and the passive aggressive digs at Victoria frayed her nerves. But she kept her mouth shut and got out of the class unnerved.

Later that night, when she told her Gryffindor year mates her and Cedric's idea, all of them were on board to join.

Chapter Text

"The Hog's Head?" Victoria said, raising her eyebrows at the dirty looking pub even as she walked closer to it.

"It's a bit more private than the Three Broomsticks." Hermione pointed out.

As the first Hogsmeade trip grew closer, the trio had carefully spread the word that they would having a meeting about a DADA study group in the Hog's Head. Luan and Padma had spread the word in Ravenclaw, while Cedric, Althea, and Ryan had gone recruiting in Hufflepuff.

Ron nodded, even as he fingered with his wand. "Hermione's right."

Victoria sighed and nodded, and entered the pub with her friends. As threw up the new pell she had invented during Arthimancy—one that would keep any of Umbridge's lackeys from overhearing the meeting and it would compel them to stay away as well.

It had taken her five days to invent the spell, but it was so worth it.

"Anyways, Ron, how have you, Lavender, and Parvati's fashion business going?" she asked.

The redhead beamed. "Really good. The loan you offered was helpful, and I think the twins might try and convince you to give them a start up as well."

"Fred and George are really good... I'll be interested to see what they have." she said.

There was a lot of noise from outside, and she carefully looked at the door. "How many people are coming again?"

Ron and Hermione exchanged looks, and before the emerald-eyed witch could bolt, her friends grabbed her as the door opened, and a crowd of students entered. She instantly spotted Fred and George, Angelina, Alicia, Katie, Lavender, Parvati, Dean, Seamus, the Creevey brothers, Ginny, Neville, Lee Jordan, and three other Gryffindor seventh-years all enter.

And that was jut the people she identified as Gryffindors.

From Ravenclaw, Cho Chang, Padma, Luna, Anthony Goldstein, Terry Boot, Michael Corner, a lot of Cho's friends, and two other Ravenclaw girls who had to be in Ginny's year entered. The Hufflepuffs who had arrived were Ernie Macmillan, Susan Bones, Megan Jones, Hannah Abott, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Leanne, and Zachary's Smith.

Cedric, Althea, and Ryan followed in soon after, and she shot Cedric a strained smile. She did quirk a brow at how Ron let Cedric take his seat but she was silently relieved at Cedric's steady presence.

Ron shot her a 'start talking' look and she glared at him before clearing her throat as the crowd settled down. The poor barkeeper looked overwhelmed by the sheer amount of students who had arrived, and she silently pitied him.

"Hello everyone." she said. "I'm just going to cut to the chase and not dither around. This group would be an illegal study group to study the practical of Defense Against the Dark Arts, since our illustrious and enlightened DADA professor isn't going to teach us anything useful."

There was a round of laughter.

"And what about You-Know-Who?" Smith asked, cutting in before she could keep talking. "You say he's back, so where's the proof?"

"Oh yes, let me just pull out the proof of the overgrown psychotic man child who fancies himself the greatest wizard of all time and has decided that I'm his greatest enemy." Victoria snarked. "Smith, you really think that Voldemort—" Almost everyone flinched "Okay, for fucks sake, it's just a name! It's an anagram of his actual name— Tom Marvolo Riddle. Riddle is a half-blood so he's not even a pureblood like he pretends to be. If you let yourself fear him, then you've already lost. If you can't call him Voldemort, then just use Riddle. It will piss him off."

There was a stunned silence from anyone who wasn't Ron or Hermione.

"I can testify that." Cedric said dryly. "I heard you taunting him in the graveyard... impressive."

The Potter Heiress nodded, and carefully didn't think of the torture that followed. Cedric subtly squeezed her hand in silent support.

"Anyways, back to the point." she continued, clearing her throat. "We don't have a schedule yet, but we can make one."

"But You-Know-Who—" Smith tried again.

Ernie promptly kicked his chair out from under him with an unrepentant look on his face.

The meeting ended with Victoria and Cedric somehow made co-leaders, and everyone signing the sheet of paper Ron had made. The promise of the first meeting being on the next Friday— the one day everyone would have some free time, excited Victoria.

"So, how has Quidditch been for you?" she asked Cedric. "Umbridge has tried to get me kicked off, but Professor McGonagall threatened to bring in the lawyers."

Cedric snorted. "I stepped down as Captain and Seeker to focus. But good luck against my successor."

"I doubt he could give me a challenge like you did." she said. "As for the meeting on Friday, I think the Disarming Charm would be a good place to start."

The older boy hummed. "That's a good idea."

Victoria and Cedric spent the rest of the day together, and when Cedric kissed her forehead goodbye, she nearly died of happiness.

Chapter Text

The week went by way to quickly, even with the mounting stress of fifth year and Quidditch practice— Ron was a fantastic addition to the team— and the first D.A. meeting came. She had brought the Marauders Map with her as well.

Victoria had arrived at the Room of Requirement an hour early and closed her eyes to concentrate on what she wanted. I want a place where we can practice safely, where Umbridge and her supporters can't find us or get in, where we won't get caught.

She could feel the pulse of magic, light as a butterfly's wing but strong as a mountain and a door appeared before her. She entered to find a massive room big enough for more than twice the group to comfortably practice with room to spare, a row of bookshelves with tomes on martial and combative magic along the left wall, a row of practice dummies in the back, a rest area, and a few black boards. The magic of the room tasted like coffee and felt like old books, and gave off the feeling of complete and utter safety.

"Thank you." she whispered to the room.

Cedric entered the room and whistled, impressed. "This is good, Victoria."

"Yeah, Cedric." she said. "Alright, all we have to do is wait for the others. I asked the room to make sure Umbridge and any of her cronies can't get in."

"Good call." Cedric said with a nod and smile.

Hermione, Ron, Lavender, Parvati, Luna, Althea, Neville, George, Fred, Angelina, Ryan, Alicia, Katie, and Padma were among the first to arrive. Seamus, Dean, Michel Corner, Anthony Goldstein, and Terry Boot came in shortly after. Ginny entered with Hannah Abott and Susan Bones, and Cho Chang and her group of excited friends— except for one girl who made Victoria uneasy followed a few minutes later. One by one, the entire D.A. group arrived.

Victoria took a breath as everyone focused on her, and Cedric squeezed her shoulder in support. "Hi everyone, welcome to the first meeting of our study group. If you want to name this, then go ahead, but I have no ideas."

"How about the Defense Association?" Cho Chang proposed. "Or the D.A. for short."

"It could stand for Dumbledore's Army, that's what Fudge is afraid of." Ginny suggested.

Ron shook his head. "That's not a good idea, Ginny. On the slight chance Umbridge gets a wind of this, then our group being named Dumbledore's Army is the exact excuse Fudge needs to fire Professor Dumbledore."

Whispers and murmurs of agreement spread out through the group, everyone looking thoughtful.

Cedric stepped in before a fight could break out between the two Weasley siblings. "Let's vote, Ron, Ginny. All in favor for Dumbledore's Army?"

A few tentative hands.

"All in favor for Defense Association?" he asked again.

Nearly the entire group raised their hands.

"Defense Association it is!" Victoria said. "Good idea with the name, Cho."

Cho smiled. "Thank you!"

"I have a piece of paper we can all sign." Hermione offered. "That way, if we get more members, we can keep track. And I already spelled the parchment so only members of the D.A. can see the names, to everyone else, it just looks like a piece of Charms notes."

"Nice spell work, Granger." Terry Boot murmured with a wink.

The Potter Heiress shared a look of amusement with Ron. Hermione and Viktor had been in touch all summer with Hermione even visiting Bulgaria and Viktor coming over to see Hermione, and the two were making an honest effort to make their new long distance relationship work. Mr. and Mrs.Granger approved of Viktor, seeing how he genuinely wanted to make Hermione happy while also keeping in mind their age difference.

Victoria signed the piece of paper, and everyone else followed.

"Okay, for today's lesson, we're working on the Disarming Charm." she announced.

Zacharias Smith scoffed. "Really? The Disarming Charm?"

"If your opponent doesn't know any wandless magic," Victoria made one of the bookshelves levitate without her wand. "Then they're screwed."

With a grunt, she dropped the bookshelf. "Any objections?" she called.

"No, this sounds like the perfect way to begin the D.A., Victoria." Luna said dreamily.

"Thank you, Luna." Victoria said. "Cedric and I will give a quick demonstration, and then everyone should get into pairs of two to start practicing."

The group parted to give her and Cedric space to demonstrate.

"One, two, three—" Ron yelled.

"Expelliarmus!" Victoria yelled the second she could, dismaying Cedric.

"Fast reflexes also help in a duel." Hermione called out.

Cedric nodded, summoning his wand back. "Good point, Hermione. Let's get to work, everyone."

The D.A. members split into pairs, and Victoria walked around the room to gently correct people.

"Macmillan, don't go with the over the top wand movements, it negatively affects your casting, nor is it very impressive. No offense. Quicker, more controlled wand movements gives you an advantage in a fight." she told Ernie.

"Oh, right. Thank you, Potter." the Hufflepuff said. Then he turned to her. "And Potter? I'm so sorry. I know my apology is way to late, but I want yo to know how sorry I am."

The emerald-eyed witch was stunned, but nodded. "You're here now, and you're saying it at least. After Cedric, you're the first person to properly apologize to me. Thank you."

Ernie nodded and returned to practicing. He appeared to take her advice seriously, and won against his partner three times in a row.

Satisfied, she started to walk around the room again. She corrected Cho Chang's posture, fixed Dennis Creevey's pronunciation, gently reminded Seamus against yelling the spell, and more. But she also praised Susan Bones's swift reaction time, Justin Finch-Fletchley's ability to not let his guard down, Luna's surprising knack for nonverbal magic, and Neville's sheer determination that powered his spell every time he cast.

The meeting came to an end, and everyone was pleased.

"Parvati, Lavender, and I made a method to communicate." Hermione announced. Lavender pulled out a coin purse and distributed fake galleons. "Parvati's jewelry line that lets the wearer communicate that they need a way out inspired this. See the little gold numbers? Real galleons have them, but these ones change when Cedric and Victoria, who have Galleons of their own, change the numbers to the date of our next meeting. Lavender added the spell so we can all send out little messages on the coins, if we need to warn everyone, but only Victoria and Cedric can set the date. The coins will burn, not enough to hurt, but enough to get your attention, for win the dates change, and will grow cold when a message is sent out."

Victoria grinned. "You guys are awesome."

She spotted Fred and George taking notes, as if to try and take this into their prank products, and quickly approached them when the meeting ended and everyone was being sent out with the help of the Marauders Map. The twins accepted her offer of a loan eagerly.

Victoria left the Room of Requirement with Cedric, who walked her to the Gryffindor Tower like a gentleman. The entire meeting, how good it had been, made her dizzy with happiness.

Chapter Text

With the D.A. as a way to outlet her slowly building anger at Umbridge, Victoria found dealing with the rest of her school life easier. Her teachers, minus Umbridge, treated her normally, and she found the ever increasing difficulty of O.W.L. standards a thrilling academic challenge, delighting in it all. Hermione and a handful of the Ravenclaws in her year were the only ones who agreed with her on that part, since Ron was adamant about how 'Snape sabotaged the fuck out of us, thank Merlin for Slughorn.'

And... he wasn't wrong. The difference between Slughorn and Snape was outstanding, in their teaching methods, effectiveness, and personality. Where almost all of the Gryffindors despised Potions, even if they needed it for their career, it was now one of the most popular subjects in the lions den.

Slughorn himself was incredibly popular, and his willingness to tutor students who needed help in learning what Snape didn't bother to teach or couldn't do it effectively certainly helped. Potions itself had become a sort of haven for Victoria again, were she could work on her Potions without having to deal with stares and whispers, since Slughorn made sure that everyone, no matter their house, connections, social standing, or friends, was equal.

Victoria knew, with every fiber of her being, that Ron was very smart, being one of the top three in Charms, top five in Runes, top seven in Potions now, and top five in Transfiguration, and was among the top ten in their year over all. But she could sympathize with the other students who were struggling with the new difficulty, and helped whenever she could. WHile Lavender and Parvati were adapting, Dean gratefully borrowed her notes every now and then.

And so life marched on. The war in the shadows, the war in the media between Fudge and the Ministry and those who believed her, Umbridge's desperate attempts to exert authority, classes, the D.A., and Quidditch.

When Hedwig came to her injured in the middle of Ancient Runes in early October, Victoria instantly knew that someone had tried to intercept her letters. When she brought it up in the D.A., it was Susan Bones who spoke up.

"Yes, I think someone's intercepting my letters with Auntie Amelia." Susan confirmed.

"Umbridge." Anthony Goldstein said instantly. "She's trying to intercept our letters."

"Which professors do we tell?" the Potter Heiress asked. "We have to be careful."

"Professor McGonagall." Lavender Brown said instantly.

Luna spoke up. "And Professor Flitwick."

"Professor Sprout will believe us." Cedric added, leaning against the wall in an unfairly attractive way.

"Alright, let's do it." Victoria murmured.

Three days later, Umbridge was dealt a serious warning for violating the Hogwarts Charter not by Professor Dumbledore, but by the Board of Governors, which Sirius sat on. If she got another warning, then she would be suspended.

It was a victory that caused the Gryffindors to throw an impromptu party that Professor McGonagall joined in on.

"Why is it always like this?" Cedric asked when they met up in the library.

"Like what?" Victoria asked as she tripled checked the privacy spell around their table.

Cedric gave her a pointed look. "Tensions between Slytherins and Gryffindors prior to a Quidditch match."

She grimaced. "Fair point. There's also a whole new reason, now."

Victoria knew exactly why Draco was strutting around with a new swagger in his steps, why him making snide remarks about halfbloods and mundane borns had increased. Which is why she used every trick Professor McGonagall taught her about Occlumency to ignore him and the comments he threw her way. The fact that he wasn't worth her attention made it easier.

"Good luck in the game, always." Cedric told her.

She smirked. "I'm going against Malfoy. I don't need any luck."

Victoria, still breathing hard from catching the Golden Snitch, gripped Ron's shoulders before he could lunge forward.

"I dare you to say that again!" Ron snarled.

Malfoy smirked. "Oh, I'll call her exactly what she is. A filthy little—"

"12 million galleons." Victoria said.

Malfoy's smirked faltered. "W-What?"

"The Most Ancient House of Malfoy owes the Most Noble and Ancient House of Potter 12 million galleons, Heir Malfoy. A loan to help rebuild after the Malfoy-Rosier Scandal in 1949 resulted in Malfoy Manor burning. Add in the other 7 million owed in interest... that's 19 million galleons that your family owes mine. I think it's high time for the debt to be called in, don't you think, Heir Malfoy?" Victoria calmly explained.

Ron was shaking in her hold, not from anger, but from silent laughter.

"Y-You can't do this, Potter!" Malfoy yelled, taking a threatening step forward.

"I can." the Potter witch replied serenely. "And it's Heiress Potter."

"Is something going on?" Professor Hootch barked.

"A fight." Umbridge simpered. "Fifty points from Gryffindor—"

"Wait, Professor." Hootch snapped. "We'll be interviewing both sides to see what's caused this."

The Slytherins lost one hundred points for hate language, the Gryffindors got twenty for protecting their own, and Victoria mailed off a letter to Sirius and Radlok over the debt she was calling it.

Seeing Malfoy's ego be crushed by the financial mountain or two she had just dropped on his family made her smile widely for weeks after.

Cedric's surprise gift of wisteria blossoms and Sugar Quills, her favorite flowers and sweets respectively, just made it better.

Chapter Text

November bled into December. Victoria cheered for Cedric when Hufflepuff trumped Slytherin, and the two spent more time together, both to hang out and to plan the D.A. meetings. She enjoyed the Hogsmeade weekend they spent together, and firmly ignored Ron and Hermione's relentless teasing.

But even she could acknowledge how deeply in love she was with Cedric now.

To her pride, the members of the D.A. were all steadily progressing.

Ginny had mastered the Reductor Curse, while Justin had gotten the hang of the Shield Charm the quickest, and Padma was one of the most gifted with the nonverbal magic. The older students enjoyed refining their skills while also learning the more esoteric spells from Victoria's arsenal of spells.

She and Cedric had developed an easy rhythm of teaching. While she focused on precise spells to control the flow of battle and to build into ones dueling style, Cedric worked on more protective and defensive spells. He also taught healing spells and potions, lessons that proved to be useful and popular.

And more students trickled into the D.A., carefully recruited. They all signed the parchment list and got their fake galleons, and the students continued training in secret.

Victoria knew that the teachers knew about the D.A. It was very obvious when Madam Pince would hand her books on martial magic, when Professor Flitwick would find excuses to tell her about charms that would work in battle, when Professor Babbling taught straightforward offensive runes, when Professor McGonagall assigned her an extra credit research essays about the best Transfiguration spells one could use in a fight, when she got homework essays about creating theoretical martial spells in Arthimancy from Professor Vector.

All information she turned around to teach in the D.A. The spells and the runes she learned, and then the spells she created on her own time.

Umbridge was losing her mind, but she was just the DADA professor. She had no power, no influence outside of the students who allied with her, since the Board of Governors blocked the Ministry's every move, with Sirius leading the charge.

"We've all been doing well over the past few months." Victoria said. "Now, I'm going to teach you all the Patronus Charm."

Excited whispers broke out.

"That's an incredibly advanced spell." Anthony Goldstein said.

"We haven't even learned it yet." George threw in.

Victoria shrugged. "I learned it in third-year. It's not that hard."

"Your idea of difficulty is slightly skewed, mate." Ron said.

"Let's do it!" Megan Jones cheered.

The Potter Heiress quickly instructed them all on how to cast the Patronus Charm, and stepped back to watch everyone try.

And by the end of the hour, almost all of the D.A. had gotten a corporeal patronus. Even the third-years, the youngest members of the D.A., had been able to do a corporeal patronus.

Ron had a Jack Russell Terrior patronus, Hermione had an owl patronus, Fred and George both had a hyena patronus, Cho Chang had a swan patronus, Lavender had a butterfly patronus, Parvati had a tiger patronus, Padma had a leopard patronus, Seamus had a fox patronus, Dean had a coyote patronus, Justin Finch-Fletchly had a crow patronus, Luna had a hare patronus, Ernie had a boar patronus, Neville had a wolf patronus, Althea had a hummingbird patronus, Ryan had a black bear patronus, Susan Bones had a doe patronus, Megan Jones had a sparrow patronus, Angelina had a eagle patronus, Alicia had a fox patronus, Katie had a blue jay patronus, and those were just half of the corporeal patronuses running around the room.

All around her, Victoria could feel the protective magic, washing over her skin like a song.

With a laugh, Victoria wordlessly and wandlessly cast the Patronus charm, letting her stag run around. Prongs pranced around the room, and fell in pace with a large elk patronus. Victoria's eyes found the wielder of the elk patronus: Cedric.

"That fits you." she said, joining him.

Cedric grinned at her, his grey eyes sparking. "Your stag fits you as well. King of the forest and all of that."

"Queen of the forest." She murmured, a smile eon her lips.

Something in the air shifted, and she leaned closer to him as he he did the same.

And they kissed.

Chapter Text

"YOU KISSED!?" Lavender shrieked.

"No, we held hands. Yes, we kissed." Victoria snarked as she sat on her bed.

It was later that night in her dorm with Lavender, Parvati, and Hermione. And as soon as she had switched into soft sleep clothes, Lavender and Parvati had pounced on her for more gossip about her and Cedric. Leading to Victoria to cut straight to the point.

"About time? Who initiated it? What was it like?" Parvati asked eagerly. "I can win so much money."

The emerald-eyed witch's brain took a minute to process what Parvati had said before her eyes widened. "YOU BET ON ME!?"

Lavender immediately began fussing with her hair, Parvati dove for a stack of order forms, and Hermione was avoiding making eye contact with Victoria.

"Hermione, you too!" she cried, both exasperated and slightly amused. She paused. "I expect half of the winnings if one of you three won."

When she fell asleep, it was to silver animals and the man she loved.

Victoria woke up screaming.

She staggered from her bed, and feeling bile rising in her throat, was barely able to conjure a bucket in time to throw up as she fell to her knees, sobbing and gasping. Then she fumbled for her wand, summoning it to her as her magic instinctively brought it to her.

"D-Dumbledore, Sirius and Remus, M-Mrs.Weasley, Mad-Eye Moody. Mr.Weasley's been attacked in the Ministry by a snake." she gasped out. Expecto Patronum. Expecto Patronum. Expecto Patronum.

Three stags burst free from her wand and raced off.

She flinched when she felt Hermione touch her shoulder. "Vicky, what's wrong?"

Victoria gasped for breath, trying to steady her breathing. "We need to go. Now."

Time blurred, and she wasn't exactly sure how she, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George made it to Dumbledore's office. But soon, they were in the kitchen of 12 Grimmuald Place with Sirius and Remus hovering around.

And that was when something in her broke, as she realized that she had been dreaming from the view point of the snake that had attacked Mr.Weasley. And the panic attack hit near instantly.

"Move!" she heard someone yell, and felt someone—Ron, she knew it was Ron in her bones— as he lead her away. They stopped and he began rubbing her back soothingly.

"Breathe, Vicky, breathe." he murmured. "It's okay to panic, it's okay to feel this way."

Hermione gripped her hand. "It's going to pass. Deep breathing, just like me and Ron, okay?"

She began to follow her best friends/platonic soulmates words, because she trusted Ron and Hermione and they would never hurt her, and together they just breathed in the silence. "You're here." she rasped, shaken but steady with her two people she loved the most in the world.

"Where else would we be?"

"Of course we are." Ron said and she hugged them both. They hugged her back and the trio became a tangle of limbs, awkwardly shuffling into a more comfortable position on her bed. The familiar presence of the magic in 12 Grimmuald Place helped anchor Victoria.

"Vicky, what happened?" Ron said.

The Potter Heiress forced herself to breathe, and began telling them everything.

"That's not a normal dream." Hermione murmured.

Ron nodded. "I've never heard anything like that in even the old folklore and legends. And those stories contain a lot."

"I think, whatever my connection to Voldemort is," she said as she reinforced her mental shields. "It has something to do with that night."

Hermione and Ron nodded, knowing what she was referring to.

"Maybe there's something here in the Black family library... but Sirius maybe moved a lot of the books on the really Dark magic to a different room only he can access." she murmured.

"We can still ask him." the redhead reminded her.

"Yeah." she agreed.

"And Mad-Eye." Hermione suggested. "Mad-Eye knows a lot about Dark Magic, I asked him a few times over the summer."

"Man's the Auror. Of course he knows." Ron pointed out. But then he nodded thoughtfully. "But it's a good idea."

"I can ask Rodlok about an inventory of my family's books. Maybe there's something there as well." the Gryffindor witch offered.

There was a sharp rap on the window, and she turned to see Hedwig. Victoria quickly opened the window, and Hedwig moved to perch on her shoulder and began preening Victoria's hair. She laughed and began stroking Hedwig's feathers. "Thank you." she told the owl. "I love you guys."

"We love you too." Hermione said.

Ron nodded. "Until the end."

Chapter Text

Victoria did tell Sirius and Remus about her dream. By the end of her recounting her tale, both men were completely and utterly still.

"I don't know anything about this, but it could full under soul magic." Sirius said. "There is a chance your family does have some books that could help us..." he trailed off. "When we got too Gringotts, we should ask if they have any magic that could detect something on you."

Gringotts did, in fact, find something.

A piece of Voldemort's soul, stuck inside of her scar.

"Are you ready, Heiress Potter?" Rodlok asked her.

"I'm going to get the parasitic piece of Riddle's soul that has been living in my head for the past fourteen years ripped out. Yes, I feel fine." Victoria snarked. She then winced. "Sorry, Senior Accountant."

Rodlok waved a hand. "Given your situation, I'll let this one slide."

Victoria let out a nervous sound. "I'm scared."

After the scan had gone down, Sirius had dragged in Dumbledore. That conversation had resulted in shouting, cursing and the reveal of Horcruxes, and had ended Sirius breaking Dumbledore's nose.

Rodlok had given her a list of soul magic-based heirlooms in the Potter family's possession— and conveniently, one of them was a Horcrux tracker.

Given that the symbol on the Potter Heiress ring was the symbol of the Deathly Hallows, the magic she sensed from the Cloak, and her rings reaction to Voldemort in the graveyard, Victoria wasn't surprised. Her family had some kind of connection to soul magic and maybe Death itself.

Her ring hummed, as if to confirm what she thought.

"Admitting fear is the first step towards bravery." Rodlok told her.

She nodded. "Thank you."

Victoria greedily drank the offered tea, Cedric rubbing circles on her back while Ron and Hermione flanked either side of her.

"Well, that was exhausting." Victoria murmured, stretching out her legs.

"The tracker is currently locating the other Horcruxes." Rodlok said, examining the ancient scroll shaped item. It gave off the same primal, eldritch magic that the Cloak of Invisibility had, and her Heiress ring had been buzzing since it got close enough to the scroll.

One day, Victoria would be ready to figure out all of the secrets of the Potter family.

Today was not that day.

"If this works," Amelia Bones murmured. "Then this war will be over very soon."

Just then, the scroll glowed gold.

Chapter Text

Victoria picked up the scroll with shaking hands, and read the locations of the remaining Horcruxes.

Gaunt Family Ring — Gaunt Shack, Hangleton
Salazar Slytherin's Locket — Kreacher's Cupboard, 12 Grimmuald Place
Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem — Room of Requirement, Hogwarts
Helga Hufflepuff's Cup — Lestrange Vault 786
Nagini — Malfoy Manor

"Well, Potter, at least we know where Riddle has his base of operations." Moody grunted. "This counts as a legal justification for a raid by Article 3, Section 12 of Dark Artifacts and Raids."

"Why the hell is one of the Horcruxes in my house?" Sirius hissed. "Why does Kreacher have—"

The blood drained from Sirius's face. "Regulus." he whispered, his voice faint and broken and sorrowful.

"We'll ask Kreacher once we get back." Victoria said, but she knew it would likely be her who would get the answers from the House-Elf.

"I shall handle Ravenclaw's Diadem." Dumbledore said. "As for the Gaunt Family Ring..."

Victoria's ring hummed against her skin, strong and powerful. She cleared her throat. "I can go." she offered. "My Heiress ring just reacted to the mention of it and... I think it's a sign for something."

Sirius looked like he wanted to argue, but nodded and sighed. "With Moody, of course."

"Who else would go?" Moody grunted.

"And me." Ron said.

Hermione nodded. "I'm going with Victoria and Ron."

Cedric just gripped her hand, a silent message of support.

"I'll come as well." Remus said calmly.

Moody waved a hand. "I can handle them just fine."

"For Sirius's peace of mind, and for mine, I'm coming." Remus said, his voice calm and unyielding.

Moody looked at Remus, grunted, and nodded.

"I'll handle the Cup." Rodlok declared. "I shall alert the upper management of this breech of Gringotts, and the Cup will be exorcised."

"Thank you." Victoria told the goblin.

Upon returning home, Victoria sought out Kreacher.

"Kreacher?" the Potter Heiress called as she headed to the kitchen, and the House-Elf appeared. "How can Kreacher help Mistress Victoria?" the House-Elf asked.

"I know that Slytherin's locket is here. I know it's a Horcrux. I need you to give it to me so I can destroy it." she told him.

The House-Elf froze. "M-Mistress Victoria will destroy the locket?"

She nodded.

"Kreacher has tried to hard to fulfill Master Regulus's last command. Kreacher will assist Mistress Victoria in destroying the locket, for Master Regulus!" Kreacher declared. He hurried away and returned with a locket.

The magic around it was dark and wrong and evil. It felt just like the diary from her second year, and she nodded to Kreacher. "Thank you." she told him, and summoned Starfall into her hands.

With zero hesitation, Victoria drove the sword into the locket. The soul shard screamed as it died, and then it was gone.

Kreacher burst into tears of happiness, and Victoria dismissed the sword as she hugged him, both of them crying.

That was how Sirius found them, and he wordlessly joined in the hug.

Moody insisted on going first as the group entered the hovel at the edge of Little Hangelton. Victoria had Starfall in her hands as she looked around the depilated shack, and she instantly found the ring.

"Now, Potter." Moody barked and she struck with her sword, killing the Horcrux. As soon as the soul shard was gone, Moody cast a series of complicated spells on the ring. After ten minutes, he grunted and nodded. "Alright, I got rid of the nasty curses Riddle left behind. It's safe to pick up."

Victoria hesitantly picked it up, and could feel the primal, eldritch magic on the stone in the center of the ring. Magic that mirrored the magic of the Cloak of Invisibility.

"By right of conquest, I claim thy as mine." she murmured, invoking a variant of the war spoils claiming ritual. Her family magic hummed and twisted and the ring became hers.

"Badass." Ron said with a nod. "Now, can we torch this place? It's giving me the creeps."

"It's like a scene on a mundane horror movie." Hermione added.

Victoria nodded. "I agree."

"Essentially giving Riddle the middle finger if he ever comes back?" Cedric dryly drawled.

Moody roared with laughter. "I like that! Everyone outside!"

It was mildly unsettling at how gleefully Moody burned down the hovel, like a child in a candy store. But after everything that the old Auror had been through, this was possibly his demented idea of fun.

And a way to stick it to the dark wizard he had been fighting against for years.

By the time Victoria returned to Hogwarts with her friends, Dumbledore had destroyed the soul shard in Ravenclaw's Diadem, before returning the diadem to Rowena Ravenclaw's tomb. The goblins had already destroyed the cup, leaving only Nagini.

Some part of Victoria wanted to be there when the raid on Malfoy Manor happened, if only to be there to spite Riddle.

But the other part was glad to step back and let the adults handle it.

"Hopefully this will all be over soon." Ron murmured as the Hogwarts Express moved through the countryside to Hogwarts.

"We could have a normal school year for once." Victoria dreamily stated.

Everyone looked at her oddly.

"What?" she said defensively. "Is it that odd I just want a quiet school year after everything that's happened?"

"I mean, you have a point." Hermione agreed.

"Thank you—"

Boom!

Chapter Text

Victoria's magic flared as she cast a protection ward around her compartment as the train flipped and skidded before landing back on its wheels. She gritted her teeth and shoved her self to her feet.

"Is anyone hurt!?" she called, looking around with her wand out.

Confirmations swept the compartment and Victoria cautiously peered through the window, and cursed.

"Death Eaters!" she snarled. She quickly dug out the mirror that Sirius had given her for Christmas— a two way mirror that acted bit like a phone. "Sirius! Sirius answer me!"

Sirius appeared on the other end. "Victoria? What's wrong?"

"Death Eaters just attacked the Hogwarts Express." she said.

"I see a snake!" Hermione cried.

"And Nagini is here."

Sirius cursed. "We just finished a raid on Malfoy Manor. Many of the Inner Circle were able to escape. Victoria, Apaprate now."

"I'm not leaving my family!" she hissed.

Then Voldemort's voice echoed through the train. "Hand me Victoria Potter, and all of you will be let go. I do not wish to spill pure, magical blood. I only wish to be handed Victoria Potter, and end the resistance against me."

"FUCK YOU!" she heard Fred and George shout.

"Damn it." she hissed and pulled out her D.A. galleon. As a plan sprung in her head, she began issuing orders through the galleon.

Victoria emerged from her compartment and began to make her way to the exit. As she got closer, two Death Eaters and Nagini approached her.

Now or never. she thought.

Fervently thanking Oliver for his insane Quidditch training, she summoned Starfall and cut off Nagini's head.

Before the Death Eaters could react, Ron and Hermione emerged from underneath the Cloak of Invisibility to stun and petrify the two Death Eaters.

"NOW!" she yelled, and the older members of the D.A., accompanied by many seventh and sixth year students, charged from the compartments as members of the Order and the Auror Department appeared to circle the Death Eaters and Voldemort.

Sirius let out a roar and with a crack of his wand, Voldemort's head was blown from his body. Molly Weasley took down another Death Eater while screaming the names of her brothers, Moody took out six Death Eaters at once, and as the students entered the fray, the battle was over before it begun.

And when the dust settled, it was all over.

Chapter Text

"I can't believe that we made it."

Victoria couldn't help but nod in agreement as she, Ron, and Hermione curled up together in their spot in the Gryffindor common room.

It was the night before graduation, and the three seventh-years were still in slight disbelief over it.

They had made it to graduation.

They were going to graduate Hogwarts.

"It's only been six years since we met." Hermione said. "Six years, and my entire life was flipped upside down."

"Six years, and I found the people who saw me." Ron added.

"Six years, and I found my family." Victoria finished.

Without even needing to speak, the trio cuddled closer together. Listening to the steady heartbeats and breathing of the other two, the familiar feeling of peace and calm settled over Victoria.

The aftermath of the Battle of the Hogwarts Express had been messy. Fudge was sacked, Umbridge fired and forever disgraced, and Amelia Bones had taken over as Minister of Magic. In the past two years, a great many reforms and innovations had been planted in not just the Ministry, but the British wixen world. Its culture was still itself, but it lost many of the toxic and archaic elements. Remus had returned as the DADA professor with the curse now broken, and had easily become a popular professor.

Sirius, a great champion of werewolf rights, had worked with Remus to promote the civil liberties and rights of werewolves. And when they had gotten married, Victoria had served as both the flower girl and Maid of Honor to Sirius.

Her parents, Victoria was convinced, had been there, if not in body, but in spirit.

The D.A. still remained, but it was more of a DADA club now. And it was incredibly popular.

She and Cedric were still together, and she enjoyed every minute of time with her boyfriend.

Victoria thought about getting that letter all those years ago. About Mrs.Figgs and Professor McGonagall helping her back into the wixen world.

About meeting two smiling eleven year olds on September 1st, 1991, who had become her best friends and platonic soulmates and siblings in everything but blood.

Her life had changed so much in only six, almost seven, years.

And Victoria would not change a single bit of it.

Every laugh, every broken bone, every smile, every despair, every laugh—

All of that had been worth it.

To have her own family, her friends, her loved ones.