✧. ┊ And I know you could fall
for a thousand kings.
𝗂𝗇 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁， 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝖺 𝖿𝗎𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗊𝗎𝖾𝖾𝗇
𝗈𝖿 𝖾𝗇𝗀𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗂𝗇𝖿𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗈𝗋
𝗐𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗌𝖾𝗒 𝗍𝗐𝗂𝗇．✧˖*°࿐
george weasley...
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TWELVE
The days following Mrs. Norris's petrification were unsettling. Rumors about the Chamber of Secrets circulated at every corner, and the students whispered nervously about who—or what—might be behind the attack.
Victoria noticed Harry had been quieter than usual. At breakfast one morning, as George and Fred debated the merits of enchanting all their textbooks to sing annoying jingles when opened, Victoria nudged Harry.
"You okay?" she asked softly.
Harry shrugged. "Just thinking about everything that's happened. It's strange, isn't it?"
"Strange doesn't begin to cover it," Hermione interjected, setting down her goblet. "We need to find out more about the Chamber of Secrets."
Ron groaned. "Can't we just let the professors handle it? That's their job, isn't it?"
Hermione glared. "We're not going to learn anything if we just sit around."
"Exactly," Victoria agreed. "We need to do something."
"Like what?" Harry asked.
Victoria paused, then her eyes lit up. "Hagrid," she said.
That evening, under the cover of darkness, Victoria, Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way down to Hagrid's hut. Victoria had donned her warmest cloak; the chill of the autumn night seemed sharper than usual, as though the castle grounds themselves were uneasy.
"I don't know why we're doing this at night," Ron grumbled, pulling his scarf tighter.
"Because," Hermione said briskly, "Hagrid might say something he wouldn't in front of a teacher. He's a lot more relaxed when it's just us."
Victoria chuckled softly. "Plus, I think he likes Harry best out of all of us. He might spill a secret or two."
Harry smiled faintly, but Victoria noticed his shoulders were tense. She slowed her pace to walk alongside him.
"Whatever this is," she whispered, "we'll figure it out together. You're not alone in this, Harry."
Harry glanced at her and nodded.
When they reached Hagrid's hut, the soft glow of firelight spilled through the window, and the sound of Fang's barking greeted them. Hagrid opened the door, his massive frame silhouetted against the warm interior.
"Evenin', you lot!" Hagrid boomed, his face breaking into a wide smile. "What're yeh doin' out here this late? Come in, come in."
They filed inside, grateful for the warmth of the fire. Fang bounded over to them, wagging his tail enthusiastically, and Victoria knelt to scratch behind his ears.
"Any excuse to avoid homework, eh?" Hagrid teased as he bustled around, pouring them mugs of steaming tea.
