𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍, george weasley

029

TWENTY NINE

Victoria Windsor lay in bed, wide awake. The soft breathing of her roommates, Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet, filled the dormitory, but sleep continued to evade her. The canopy above her bed felt oppressive, and her mind was a tangle of thoughts.

What will it be like when I'm Queen? she wondered for what felt like the hundredth time. The weight of it pressed heavily on her chest. Would she be ready? Could she lead a country while still feeling like a girl who barely understood herself? Her father's criticisms from the summer still echoed in her mind. "Unfit. Immature. A disgrace to the crown." She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push his voice away.

Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the silence.

Victoria bolted upright. The scream was sharp, shrill—a sound of pure terror. 

"Did you hear that?" Angelina whispered, already pulling on her robe.

"I thought I imagined it," Alicia replied, her voice shaky.

The three of them scrambled out of bed and rushed down the spiral staircase to the Gryffindor common room. A cluster of students had already gathered, whispering anxiously, their faces pale with fear. 

Fred and George Weasley stood near the middle of the room, looking alert. The moment Victoria appeared, George's eyes locked on her, and he crossed the room in quick strides, pulling her into a tight hug. 

"I thought it was your scream," he said, his voice low and urgent. "It sounded like a girl." 

Victoria hugged him back, her heart still racing. "I'm fine, George. But what happened?" 

Before anyone could answer, a figure emerged from the center of the room. It was Ron Weasley, standing frozen, his chest heaving with panicked breaths. His face was pale, his freckles standing out starkly against his skin. He was hyperventilating, struggling to speak.

"S-Sirius Black," Ron finally managed to gasp out, his wide eyes filled with fear. "He was—he was standing over me. With a knife."

A collective gasp rippled through the room.

"What?" Fred's voice was sharp, disbelieving. "He was in your dormitory?"

Ron nodded frantically, his hands trembling. "I woke up... he was right there. Just standing over me. He had a knife."

George's arm tightened protectively around Victoria's shoulders. "Bloody hell," he muttered. "How did he get in?"

Professor McGonagall appeared moments later, her lips pressed into a thin line, her face ashen. She took one look at the frightened students and quickly assessed the situation. "Everyone stay calm," she instructed, though her voice carried a tension that made it clear she wasn't calm herself. "Prefects, lead your houses to the Great Hall. You will sleep there tonight. No exceptions."

As the students began to file out, McGonagall's eyes landed on Neville Longbottom, who was shrinking into the background, trying to go unnoticed. 

"Mr. Longbottom," she called sharply. "May I remind you that you were instructed to keep the passwords secure?"

Neville's face crumpled, and Victoria felt a pang of sympathy for him. He looked as though he might cry. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a comforting hug. "It's okay, Neville," she whispered. "This isn't your fault."

Neville sniffed and gave a small nod, though he still looked miserable.

The Gryffindors were herded toward the Great Hall, where the long tables had been pushed aside, and sleeping bags were laid out for the students. Victoria stayed close to Angelina and Alicia, who were whispering between themselves, their faces still pale from the night's events.

"This is insane," Victoria murmured, her eyes scanning the room. The sheer idea of a convicted murderer breaking into the castle, standing over Ron's bed with a knife—it was too much to process. How can anyone sleep after this? she thought.

But Alicia, apparently, had other priorities.

As they settled into their sleeping bags, Alicia grabbed both Victoria and Angelina by the arms, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "This is my chance," she whispered eagerly.

Victoria blinked. "Your chance for what?"

"To get close to George!" Alicia replied as if it were obvious. "He's finally noticing me. Did you see how concerned he was tonight? And he looked so strong standing there."

Angelina's face lit up with excitement. "Oh, Alicia! This is perfect for you. He's been looking really good lately."

Victoria stared at them, bewildered. "Alicia... a murderer was just in the school, and you're thinking about George?"

Alicia shrugged, smiling mischievously. "What better way to distract ourselves than a bit of romance?" She straightened up and fixed her hair. "Wish me luck."

Victoria watched in stunned silence as Alicia made her way across the hall toward George, who was sitting with Fred, staring into the distance with a furrowed brow. 

"This isn't the time for sleepovers and crushes," Victoria muttered, shaking her head.

Alicia was already leaning in toward George, her hand brushing his arm, her voice soft and flirtatious. Victoria hung back, crossing her arms over her chest. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but seeing Alicia with George left a strange, uncomfortable feeling in her chest.

Before she could dwell on it, the doors to the Great Hall opened, and Dumbledore entered, his presence commanding immediate silence. His eyes scanned the room, calm yet intense.

"Students of Hogwarts," he began, his voice resonating through the hall, "I understand tonight has been frightening. But I assure you, every precaution is being taken to ensure your safety. The staff is investigating how this breach occurred, and I have complete confidence that we will resolve this matter."

He paused, his gaze landing directly on Victoria. "Miss Windsor," he said softly, "would you come with me?"

The room fell silent. Every pair of eyes followed Victoria as she stood, her heart thudding in her chest. She didn't notice George's head snap up from Alicia's conversation, his eyes fixed on her as she walked toward Dumbledore.

"Of course," she said quietly, following the headmaster out of the hall.

As the doors closed behind her, George watched, barely hearing Alicia's words anymore. His eyes lingered on the door where Victoria had disappeared, his concern etched into every feature.