Victoria was icy cold on the return trip to Hogwarts. When Ethan tried to snuggle up, she moved away. When her friends tried to draw her out, she was snide. Astoria gave a worried look for the girl she had grown close to at the beginning of the Holidays. But now Victoria seemed like a totally different person. She was unapproachable. While the other three Ice Queens gave her space, having had their own moments of iciness, Ethan seemed to refuse.
“What’s wrong, Victoria?” Ethan asked.
Victoria growled, “I don’t feel very good today – that’s all –“ she responded.
“Did something happen after the party at home?” He poked.
Suddenly, the room seemed to get very cold. Victoria turned and gave him a look that a spider might give a fly. Astoria caught it and shivered in spite of herself.
“What’s the problem, Rosier –“ she said with a suddenly wicked grin, “You afraid I found another guy?”
The three girls gasped, while Ethan narrowed his eyes. Quickly Astoria realized that comment had hit close to home. Astoria – who normally did not like to involve herself stood up and pulled Ethan outside.
“Ethan,” she pulled, digging her immaculate nails in. “I have a question that I need to ask you – right now.”
Victoria looked up at the two of them. Astoria cringed, fearful that Victoria was going to say something else – something nasty to her. She quickly pulled Ethan out of the room.
Everyone remaining in the room looked carefully at Victoria, but no one dared to say anything. Taylor and Adriana nodded at each other, a look of understanding passing between them. They would need to stay out of the bedroom tonight so that Astoria could get Victoria talking. That was the only hope.
Shortly after, Astoria returned with Ethan. Ethan went to sit down with Bulstrode and Gideon. Astoria sat near Victoria – in case she needed something – but not too near to annoy the other girl. The awkwardness with their leader made things very awkward for the Slytherin 2nd years on the way back to school. No one dared to speak too loudly or disturb Victoria who just stared out the window or stared into space.
The ride in the carriage from Hogsmeade was quiet also. Victoria still seemed quite sullen, and no one wanted to call her out on that. Victoria remained quiet through dinner and sure enough Victoria announced,
“I’m going to head to bed early –“
Astoria quietly followed her got ready and sat across from her in the bed. They looked eye-to-eye. Victoria seemed to struggle with whether she should snap at her friend or not. Finally, Victoria sighed.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Astoria,” she said quietly. “My uncle has me learning some things that I don’t really agree with. On New Year’s Eve I did.”
Astoria nodded her head and moved closer to her friend.
“Is it the Dark Arts?” she asked.
Victoria shook, “Will you keep my secrets?”
Astoria shook too. She asked herself, “What was so terrible of the Dark Arts that would make Victoria request a promise like that?” She knew the answer – “The Unforgivables –“
Astoria gasped. She raised her hand. “Let’s just deal in hypotheticals. That way you admit nothing, but if you need to get something off your chest, you can.”
Victoria looked carefully at her friend and nodded.
“Hypothetically,” Astoria began, “You are learning something Dark and something that would force you to do something more than Dark – say hard to forgive?”
YOU ARE READING
The Secret of Tom Riddle's Diary
FanfictionWhen Harry discovers Ginny Weasley in the Chamber of Secrets, he is unable to save her - that is until Tom Riddle proposes a deal. If you take her place, I will spare her. If Harry had the time to think it through, he might have thought that bad g...
