“Professor Lupin?” I knocked on the slightly ajar door of the empty classroom. I peeked in and saw him look up from his desk.
“Victoria” He spotted me. “It’s after dark”
“Well, I’m not the only one sneaking around after dark” I said, slightly stepping into the classroom more.
“What do you mean?” He seemed a little defensive. “You shouldn’t be sneaking around when there’s a killer on the loose”
He didn’t mean that. You can see it in his eyes.
“That’s what I came to talk to you about” I said cautiously. He motioned for me to come closer to him. I slowly did.
“You want to hear more stories about-“
“No” I shook my head
“Well, then, what’s troubling your brilliant little mind?” He asked with a smile
“I know you were friends with him” I said quietly. Lupin looked shocked so I quickly added. “He told me”
“He told you?” He questioned
“Sirius Black” I whispered
“How?” He seemed almost emotionless
“I met him in an alleyway” I whispered
“And he…?”
“Told me everything” I finished and he sighed
“I was told you were a lot like your mother…I didn’t think you got yourself into trouble as much as she did” Lupin came to me and hugged me. I hugged him tightly back and let a few tears fall. It was odd how much I felt for people than knew my mother.
“I’m scared for him” I sniffed
“There’s nothing we can do. We can only hope. Hope will always be our best friend” Lupin said wisely. I looked up at him with pained eyes.
“But what if hope only brings us so far? What if they find Sirius? What if they find Sirius and try to kill him?” I sobbed quietly
“Victoria” Lupin whispered. “This isn’t something for you to worry about”
“Yes it is” I cried. “There are only so many people that really knew my mom. Professor, I don’t even have my dad to look to. I don’t even know my dad’s name”
“If it helps at all” He rocked me in his arms. “I was good friends with your mother too”
“You were?” I sniffed
“Yes, I remember in her second year, she came up to the front of the Great Hall and to Dumbledore’s podium, wearing-“
“A beard and a blue bath robe?” I guessed
“Actually, I was going to say a grey cloak and a red hand bag on her head” Lupin laughed and so did I
“Sirius didn’t kill anyone” I stated
“Well, that’s not entirely true” I nodded. “Sirius did destroyed Peter Pettigrew”
I decided I wouldn’t argue. It would do no use
“Thank you Professor” I said. “For making me feel better”
“Thank you, Victoria” He said
I looked at him, confused
“For not making me look like a fool like that Lockhart fellow”
“No problem” I laughed
“Goodnight, Victoria”
“Goodnight, Professor”
I started to walk back to Gryffindor tower the way I had come and was curious as to why a thirteen year old girl could get by so easily when everyone thinks there is a killer on the loose. Seriously, I didn’t even have Harry’s invisibility cloak.
“Oy!”
Spoke too soon
I froze and turned to Percy who was briskly walking towards me. He was still puffing out his chest with pride of his badge. He’s so gullible.
“Hey, Percy” I said innocently
“Don’t ‘hey Percy’ me. Why are you out of bed?”
“I should be asking you the same thing” I said, crossing my arms over my chest
“I’m serious, Victoria”
“You’re Sirius Black? What have you done with Percy?” I faked shock
“Hello, Percy. What seems to be the problem?” Professor Lupin asked, coming up behind me.
How did he get over there?
“Victoria was wandering out of bed, sir” Percy said, satisfactory
“Ah yes. I know” Lupin nodded
“What?” Percy asked, his satisfaction fading
“She was just visiting me” He confirmed and I grinned. “Come now, Victoria. I’ll walk you the rest of the way”
“Thank you, Professor” I stifled a laugh and looked behind me at Percy who looked shocked. I stuck my tongue at him and continued walking.
He walked me as far as the portrait hole and then said his fare wells. I said the appropriate password and climbed into the common room. I then traveled to my dormitory and was met by someone I definitely wasn’t expecting to be awake.
“Where have you been?” Hermione scolded
“Nowhere” I said and climbed into bed
“Were you with Cedric Diggory?” She asked and I gave her and odd look. “Oh come on. Don’t play dumb with me. I saw him walk you to dinner. You two are so cute together. Is he taking you to Hogsmeade?”
“Hermione, calm down” I said
“I can’t!” She squealed and then started muttering to herself. Something about Harry being too scared to do something and then something about me.
“What?” I asked
“What”
“What did you just say?” I asked
“Well, Victoria, you’re a very pretty person and a lot of boys are now noticing that-“She started but I covered my ears
“I don’t need the puberty talk right now” I said
“It’s just that you’re developing in the mental state as well as the physical-“
“Hermione, please. Please do not do this to me” I begged
“But it’s just that at this point, boys start getting ideas about-“
“I’m going to bed” I interrupted
“But-“
“I’m. Going. To. Bed” I said and hid under my covers
So awkward
~
“Well, look who we have here” Draco’s cold and maniacal voice rang out in amusement. He stepped in front of me and blocked my way on the spiral staircase.
“What do you want?” I groaned
“Hold her” He commanded to Crabbe and Goyle and they grabbed each of my arms to keep me from moving. I struggled against them but to my dismay, they were too strong. I could see that a crowd was forming around us to see what would happen.
“Let me go!” I growled
“What do we have here? A little hedgehog is it?” Draco smirked evilly and pulled Bert off of my shoulder.
“Put him down!” I shouted
“I wonder what were to happen if…” Draco put his ‘good’ hand that held Bert over the railing and to where it was a more than a sixty foot drop. I gasped and began to struggle harder against Crabbe and Goyle. “…I were to put him down”
No luck.
“Don’t” I gasped
“Why should I listen to you?” Draco asked
“Don’t!”
“And I specifically remember you saying that you’d like to see me try to make your life hell. Are you going against that?”
The crowd had formed and was very large yet no one was willing to help me. No one even said a word. I could feel tears starting to run down my cheeks.
“Aww, we’ve made the little orphan girl cry” Draco laughed and situated Bert so he was hanging by his leg. I watched Bert squirm and more tears came.
“Draco, please” I pleaded
“Ooh, now we’ve gone to begging. I wonder how far we’ll get” Draco hissed
Just then, Bert took a big swipe at Draco’s hand leaving a big scratch and startling Draco. It startled him enough to make Bert slip through his fingers. I screamed and the crowd gasped. I squeezed my eyes closed, not willing to look, but then another gasp came.
This gasp was different though. It seemed to be a relieved gasp.
I felt my arms be released and then heard footsteps running away. I looked up and saw my Hero standing there…
Holding an ALIVE Bert in his hands.
“Cedric, you saved him” I breathed
“I caught him one level down. I think his leg is broken though” Cedric said apologetically, handing Bert over to me. I welled up with tears of joy and smashed into his chest, giving him a big hug. He hugged me tightly back.
“Thank you, so much” I grinned at him. “Do you have to go to class?”
“Not right now” He smiled down at me
“Will you come with me to see if Madam Pomfrey can fix his leg?” I asked hopefully
“Of course” He nodded and we walked away from the crowds, leaving them with a scene meant for a movie. I held Bert close to my chest in a protective manor and it seemed to calm him. We entered the Hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey immediately sighed.
“What is now?” She put her hands on her hips
“Come here often?” Cedric laughed and I nodded
“Um…my Hedgehog broke his leg” I said, biting my lip.
“Let me take a look at him” She said patting a table. I set Bert on it and watched Madam Pomfrey intently with my hands at my side. I felt Cedric’s fingers brush against my hand. I blushed but slid my hand into his and interlaced our fingers. “Yes, the bone is broken but I can get someone to fix it”
“You can’t fix it?” I asked
“I’m not a veterinarian. If you want it done right then it’s best to bring in someone who knows what they’re doing” She explained. “I’ll need to keep him here though, to make sure nothing worse happens”
I nodded and left with Cedric. When we were outside the door I let go of his hand and started to panic a bit.
“It’ll be alright. He’s in good hands” He reassured me and pulled me in another hug. I hugged him back tightly and then pulled away to look at him.
“I can’t thank you enough” I said. “Is there anything I can do to thank you?”
He scratched the back of his neck and seemed nervous which was an obvious yes. I looked at him expectantly.
“Well, the Hogsmeade trip is this weekend, and, if you wanted to, you could maybe…”
“I’d love to come with you” I smiled
I mentally thanked Professor McGonagall for giving me the permission to have Luther or Francine sign my slip.
Go McGonagall!
~
“Today was really fun” I said to Cedric, swinging our hands back and forth. “But you should hang out with your friends. They keep calling you over”
“Really?” He asked, unsure
“Yes. Go be social” I laughed
“Alright, but there’s something I wanted to ask you-“
“Hey, Cedric!” A voice called
“Victoria!” I heard Ron call for me
“Later” He promised
“Ok” I blushed and we went our separate ways.
“I hope Ron didn’t interrupt you two. We just haven’t had the chance to see you so far” Hermione apologized as we walked together
“That’s ok. He said he would just ask me later” I shrugged and Hermione gasped
“Ask you something? Oh my god! I wonder what he’s going to ask you” Hermione blabbered on and on not stopping until we got to the gates of an odd looking home. It looked old and abandoned and…haunted. “That’s the Shrieking Shack” Hermione said
“Well we should go get something from Honeydukes for Harry”
~
“Nasty temper he’s got, that Sirius Black” Peeves said slyly. I gasped but not for the same reason everyone else had. See, what was going through my mind was…
Oh my gosh! He could have gotten caught! Where is he now? Am I supposed to find him?
And what most other people were thinking was…
OH MY GOSH! I’M GOING TO DIE! A MURDEROUS AND EVIL MAN HAS ENTERED THE SAFEST PLACE THERE IS!
We were all taken to the Great Hall and given information about why we were here. I ignored everyone and their wonderings of how he got in. Frankly, I was scared for him. I wondered about him, and the more I wondered the more confused I became.
Why was he here? Why did he make himself so obvious? Was he still looking for Harry?
I didn’t even move when the lights went out. I just lied there, motionless. I wanted to talk to someone. No…I needed to talk to someone. I figured that when I felt a tear fall from my eye. I blinked it away but Hermione had caught sight of it already. She was about to say something when Dumbledore had entered the Great Hall and began to speak to Percy.
I could only hear bits of the conversation and it was mostly about where they had checked and that they hadn’t found him. Snape then came in and gave the idea that there was a helper in the castle that helped him in.
I immediately thought of Professor Lupin.
~
“Hey Harry” I said. I walked into the common room very early one morning since I was having trouble sleeping. I found Harry sitting in the chair almost motionless.
“Hi” He said simply as I sat next to him
“I know you’re scared, but you should keep in mind that everyone here is here to protect you” I said soothingly. “Even me” I said and he laughed a bit.
“How do you always know what to say?” He asked
“It’s a gift” I waved dramatically and we both laughed
“I’m just…nervous?” He tried to find the right word
“Well, I think you’re forgetting that the most powerful wizard in the entire world is right here at this school. He will, without a second thought, risk his life to save you” I said. “Dumbledore would protect any of us”
“You’re right” Harry smiled I smiled back and he looked away, blushing.
“What?” I asked
“Nothing”
“Harry, you can tell-“I began but just then, Harry pressed his lips to mine. It was much unexpected and after a few seconds, he pulled away. I looked at him with shock and then we both looked away from each other. Then, we both burst out laughing.
“Sorry” Harry chuckled
“Don’t be, but is this what Hermione keeps muttering about?” I giggled
“Oh, yeah. I kind of…um… let it slip to Ron that …um…that I thought you were really pretty and that I kind of liked you a little more than like a friend, um…Hermione heard and did like this non-stop questionnaire about it” He stuttered. “But now I think that we should just be friends”
“Agreed” I nodded. “Plus I could never do that to-“
“To who?”
Ginny
“No one”
“But you-“
“I have to go” I said and slipped out of the common room. I wasn’t lying though. I promised Cedric that I would meet him so he could ask me whatever it was that he wanted to ask me. I saw him sitting on the bench and sat next to him. He smiled up at me and I smiled back. “So, what is it that you’ve wanted to ask me?”
“Well” He took my hand in his and I blushed furiously. “We’ve seemed to enjoy each other’s company very well-“I nodded for him to continue. “-and I was wanting to know if you…this sounds like an invitation”
“No! No, keep going” I nodded and smiled
I think I know what he wants to ask!
“Ok. Do you want to be my-my girlfriend?”
I grinned from ear to ear and crashed onto him, wrapping my arms around his neck and hugging him closely.
“Yes!”