The Fool, Upright - Teddy Lupin/Victorie Weasley

Chapter 12: Broom Closet Trope

Some remarkable things happened after Halloween.

Victorie had begun making a habit out of asking people questions every now and again. No major things, just general pleasantries. But it worked surprisingly like a charm. Who would've thought?

It came with many benefits — people liking her more being one of them.

She became closer with some of Teddy's friends as the first week of November went by. Her new persona seemed to send shock waves farther than she anticipated, and she'd even received a box of chocolates.

Roxanne had felt the need to explain to her that boxes of chocolate from admirers wasn't exactly a common trade off after having exchanged a few pleasantries, and not something she should expect to happen every time.

But never mind the chocolates, the biggest change of all was that she realised how much she was missing out on for not having taken an interest before now.

Maya, she found out, wanted to be a musician. Her mother had gotten her into music from a young age, and she was now in the Hogwarts orchestra where she played drums.

Victorie always knew that Maya was in the orchestra, but she'd never paid much attention to it. Listening to her now though, how passionately she spoke about music and drumming, made Victorie like her more somehow.

Teddy explained it as being a result of complexity in the viewing of a person, and how it prompts more compassion toward them. Victorie was not prepared to agree with that sentiment just yet however.

She'd also learned that Delilah was failing Astronomy, and had received a succession of poor marks on her homework. This revelation was less sweet, although it had led Victorie to help Delilah with her next assignment, which made her slightly more popular with the girls.

But her success did not come without making some blunders here and there. Like when she ran into Roxanne on one of the moving staircases...

Roxanne had begun rummaging around in her backpack, then shoved the Tower Tarot triumphantly into Victorie's hand and explained, "You dropped this that time you tried to teach me tarotmancy."

Victorie stared cluelessly at the reversed tarot in her hand and the girl continued, "I kept forgetting to give it back to you."

Victorie nodded, mind clouded by the vision of The Tower, she absentmindedly attempted conversation. "What are you up to?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, the staircase started moving. Victorie grabbed onto the rail and lamented over the fact that they had lingered for too long.

Roxanne stared at her as they regrettably moved further and further away from the designated path. "I swear I forgot I even had it. If I'd remembered I would have given it back." She relayed anxiously.

Victorie grabbed the railing tighter and refused to look down the sheer drop that awaited whoever fell off.

Once she had put it out of her mind, she backtracked to Roxanne's reaction. "No! I meant where are you on your way to?" She tried to smile reassuringly. "I wasn't being suspicious of you, Roxanne. Just making conversation."

"Oh." The staircase lined up with another staircase and stilled. The two got off onto the other one as soon as they could. "Well I was on my way to choir practice, but I guess I'm taking a detour now." She sighed.

"Gosh!" Victorie lit up like a flame on a dry day. "You've joined the Frog Choir, that's wonderful!" She clapped Roxanne on the shoulder cheerfully.

Roxanne laughed. "I joined in my first year." She'd told an embarrassed Victorie.