𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍, george weasley

007

SEVEN

The train screeched to a halt at Hogsmeade Station, the familiar call of, "First years! First years, this way!" echoing down the platform. Victoria felt a surge of excitement as she stepped off the train with Fred and George, her boots crunching against the gravel. 

"Another year," she said with a smile, looking at the castle in the distance. 

"Another opportunity for mischief," George replied, nudging her. 

Fred grinned. "And another chance for us to get you into trouble." 

Victoria laughed. "You're forgetting who's really the bad influence here." 

As they joined the crowd of students heading toward the waiting carriages, Victoria spotted Harry, Hermione, and Ron a little ways ahead, Hermione already lecturing them about something. She was tempted to call out, but before she could, a group of younger students approached her hesitantly. 

"Excuse me, Princess Victoria," one of them stammered, wide-eyed. "Can we... can we walk with you?" 

Victoria hesitated, feeling a pang of awkwardness. She had hoped to avoid the "royal treatment" on her first day back, but their eager faces softened her resolve. 

"Of course," she said warmly, falling into step with them. 

Fred and George exchanged a look behind her. 

"Do we get a royal escort too?" Fred muttered. 

"I'm feeling left out," George added, pretending to pout. 

"Shut it, you two," Victoria said over her shoulder, though she couldn't help but laugh. 

By the time they reached the carriages, the crowd of younger students had dispersed, leaving Victoria free to join her friends. She climbed into a carriage with Fred, George, Angelina, and Lee, who were already animatedly discussing their plans for the upcoming year. 

"So," Lee said, leaning forward, "we're thinking of upping the ante this year. More fireworks, bigger pranks—" 

"Maybe involving Peeves," Fred interjected. 

"Absolutely involving Peeves," George agreed. 

Victoria shook her head, smiling. "You lot are going to give poor Professor McGonagall a heart attack." 

"Ah, she secretly loves us," Fred said confidently. 

"Like a mother loves a constant headache," Angelina muttered, earning a laugh from everyone. 

As the carriage rattled along the path to Hogwarts, Victoria couldn't help but glance out the window, her gaze lingering on the castle. Even after three years, it still took her breath away. 

⠀:¨ ·.· ¨:⠀
⠀ '· . ୨୧⠀

The moment they entered the Great Hall, the familiar warmth of the enchanted ceiling and the chatter of hundreds of students enveloped Victoria. She stuck close to the twins as they made their way to the Gryffindor table, where Harry, Hermione, and Ron were already seated. 

"Move over," Fred said, nudging Ron aside. "Royalty coming through." 

Ron rolled his eyes but shifted over, and Victoria slipped into the seat between Fred and Hermione. 

"Excited for the feast?" Victoria asked Hermione, who was practically bouncing with anticipation. 

"Of course! The food's always incredible. And I can't wait to hear Dumbledore's announcements. I wonder if he'll mention the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor..." 

"Probably another fraud," George muttered, earning a stern look from Hermione. 

Once everyone was seated, the hall quieted as Dumbledore stood at the head of the room, his twinkling eyes surveying the students. 

"Welcome, everyone, to another year at Hogwarts," he began. "Before we begin the feast, a few announcements. First, the Forbidden Forest is, as always, forbidden to all students. And secondly, I am pleased to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart." 

Polite applause rippled through the room, but the Gryffindor table erupted into muffled laughter as Fred and George exchanged exaggerated, swooning looks. 

"Oh, Gilderoy!" Fred said in a high-pitched voice, clutching his heart. 

"Stop," Victoria whispered, trying not to laugh. "You're going to get us all in trouble." 

"But he's so dreamy," George added, fluttering his eyelashes. 

Even Hermione cracked a smile, though she quickly composed herself when Lockhart stood and gave the room a dazzling smile. 

As soon as Dumbledore finished speaking, the tables filled with food, and the hall was filled with the clatter of silverware and excited chatter. 

"So, what's the plan for this year?" Angelina asked, loading her plate. 

"Stay alive," Ron muttered around a mouthful of roast chicken. 

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Is that not a given?" 

"Not with Harry around," Hermione said dryly, though there was a fondness in her tone. 

Harry sighed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence." 

"Oh, don't listen to them," Victoria said, patting his shoulder. "I've got your back, remember?" 

"And we've got hers," Fred said, pointing his fork at Victoria. "So you're basically invincible."

As the feast wore on, the group fell into their usual rhythm of banter and teasing. Fred and George made a game of seeing who could stack the most chicken legs on Ron's plate before he noticed, while Angelina tried to recruit Victoria for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. 

"I keep telling you, I'm hopeless with a broom," Victoria said, laughing. 

"But you'd be great for team morale," Angelina argued. 

"Yeah, you could wave to the crowd and distract the Slytherins," George said with a grin. 

"I'll take that as a compliment," Victoria replied, rolling her eyes. 

As the plates cleared and the students began heading to their dormitories, Victoria noticed a few lingering glances and whispers directed her way. She sighed, trying to ignore them, but Fred caught on immediately. 

"Don't let them get to you," he said quietly as they made their way out of the hall. 

"Yeah," George added. "We'll prank anyone who looks at you funny." 

Victoria smiled. "Thanks, but I can handle it. Besides, I've got my royal guard, don't I?" 

Fred gave a mock bow. "At your service, Your Highness." 

Laughing, Victoria followed her friends up to the Gryffindor common room, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation for the year ahead.