Victoire Weasley

15. An Unexpected Gift

Hello, it's me again!  I'd just like to say that I hope you enjoy this chapter, and that I'm sorry for not publishing earlier.

I'd just like you to know that the curse, Petrificus Cruciamen, as it's named in this chapter, is a curse created by me.  The main effect of it is pretty straightforward if you've read Harry Potter before, or even remember spells from the movie.  If it's unclear, please just comment and I'll add a better description.  Enjoy reading!

And also, I'd like to pick a cast for the characters.  Any ideas?

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Teddy's P.O.V

I couldn't remember the last time when I'd ever felt this rested. For once, I'd actually woken up on the 'right side of the bed,'. It was great. Not only was it Christmas (I know Christmas isn't all about the presents, but who doesn't love getting things? The presents had been great too, just so you know...), but Victoire and I were officially 'a thing', or whatever you wanna call it. One problem was that I hadn't given Victoire my gift for her yet, and I was worried she thought I'd forgotten about her. I hadn't gotten a gift from her yet, not that it really mattered, but I couldn't help but to think she was going to do the same thing as me: give it later that evening. I'd rather see her face when I do give it to her.

I had just pulled my pants on when Prof. McGonagall herself marched into the room. I frantically grabbed my shirt and covered myself. I didn't care much, but I knew she'd rather not see me half naked. She didn't seem fazed or sorry at all, but more as if she was terribly worried about something, and that made me worried. If McGonagall came across as something other than her normal, stern self, then you knew something was wrong or out of the ordinary.

"Mr. Lupin, I think it's best if you come with me right at this instant."

My first instinct was to say, 'I didn't do anything', but I kept my mouth shut. If I had done something, she would look more angry than concerned anyway. I just nodded and pulled on the homemade sweater Mrs. Weasley had been kind enough to knit me, even though she had more than a couple of handfuls of other people to think about.

We hurried down the hallways, McGonagall always remained a step ahead. For a woman shorter than me, she could sure walk a whole lot faster it seemed. I wasn't sure if it was safe to ask but I did anyway, "What's the matter? What do you need me for?" but she'd just say, "Wait until we're in my office,"

The hallways that morning were very quiet. Most were probably still recovering from yesterday (especially those who had smuggled in fire whiskey) and the rest were enjoying their new gifts. Now and then a few students would run past us with large smiles plastered on to their faces. McGonagall remained silent and sour. You'd think Christmas was a time even for people like McGonagall to relax a little bit. Guess not.

We arrived at the stone statue that led into the Headmaster's office. I had been there a great deal of times and spent many hours waiting for punishment or scolding, and considering McGonagall was the Headmistress, those hours were taken to the extreme. "Hiems Nivis," McGonagall said clearly, and the statue jumped away to allow entry. I just continued to follow her, still keeping my mouth shut.

Everything seemed in place, except for a recognizable person. Kyra. She seemed to be recovering from sobbing uncontrollably and had rolled herself into a ball on one of the seats. The portraits on the walls were glaring down at me in a manner that would have suggested that I'd burned down the whole of Hogwarts. One portrait, however, wasn't glaring, but was rather watching me with curious interest, almost looking into my very soul to see if I'd done something wrong. I knew him as Albus Dumbledore. Harry always spoke highly of him, and I knew why. Whenever I had been in this office due to having caused trouble, he'd always ask me questions about why I was there, and instead of scolding me, he'd smile knowingly. He'd even wink when McGonagall began lecturing me, and at that point, I'd find it hard to not laugh.