A new day in Hogwarts began with a special atmosphere. Today, students were returning to school from their Christmas break, and everyone who had stayed behind was eagerly awaiting their friends. The Great Hall, usually quiet and half-empty during the holidays, now buzzed with voices. The long tables groaned under the weight of food, golden plates and goblets gleamed in the light of the floating candles, and the air was filled with the delightful aroma of freshly baked bread, roasted sausages, and sweet pumpkin juice.
Viktor sat at the Slytherin table, seemingly serene as he sipped pumpkin juice from his goblet. But the most observant would have noticed his impatience. His eyes, like scanners, were fixed on the main entrance to the hall, where he had earlier sprinkled a thin line of rock salt.
He took his notebook from his robe. On one of the pages was written: "Theory #1: Testing the effect of rock salt on otherworldly entities. Goal: determine if it is dangerous to them, as in 'Supernatural'." A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
Finally, the first ghost appeared in the doorway—Nearly Headless Nick. He floated majestically toward his usual spot, talking to one of the students. Nick was approaching the line of salt. Viktor held his breath. He was ready to see the ghost hit an invisible barrier or cry out.
But nothing happened. Nearly Headless Nick passed right through the line of salt, not even noticing it. No reaction. He continued to float as if the salt didn't exist. Viktor frowned, his brows meeting at the bridge of his nose, and he furiously crossed out his notes in the diary.
Setting aside his disappointment, he decided to conduct a more direct experiment. He took his notebook, stood up, and with a determined stride, headed toward Nearly Headless Nick. The ghost, noticing him, bowed politely, his head nearly falling off.
— Oh, Viktor, good morning, you look very... energetic, — Nick said in his piercing, ringing voice, trying to be polite. But seeing no reaction from him, he added:
— Can I help you with something?
Viktor nodded, smiling.
— Could you please hold your palm out? — he asked.
Nearly Headless Nick was surprised by such a strange request but complied. Viktor took a handful of rock salt from his pocket and began to carefully pour it onto the ghost's palm. The salt passed through his hand and scattered on the floor. Nearly Headless Nick looked at him strangely. Viktor squinted, his gaze becoming dangerous. He turned away, shook the salt off his hand, and with a shout of "Ha!" he abruptly turned around, swinging an iron poker that had appeared in his hand at some unknown point. But it, just like the salt, passed through the ghost without harming him.
Nearly Headless Nick just stood there, staring at Viktor, not understanding what was happening.
— How boring, — Viktor muttered in disappointment.
He threw the poker on the floor and, without another word, headed for the exit. When he had disappeared through the door, Nearly Headless Nick turned to the other students and asked:
— What was that?
The others just shrugged, not knowing what to say.
Viktor walked down the corridor, muttering something in annoyance.
— A crappy world. Ghosts aren't even afraid of salt. — He stopped abruptly and looked around thoughtfully. — So, where am I going? — Then, remembering, he slapped his fist into his palm. — Oh, right, my little Hermione should be arriving soon. I need to meet her.
A smile appeared on his face. He continued to walk, humming something to himself. When he reached the stone bridge, he jumped onto the railing, sat down with his legs dangling, and waited, looking at the water. After waiting for about ten minutes, Viktor noticed the first arriving students appear on the bridge. He got down and stretched.
In the crowd, he saw Daphne talking to her friends. A cunning smile appeared on his face, and he hid in the crowd, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. He quietly walked up to her, hugged her, and lifted her into the air.
— Daphne, I missed you so much! — he said, hugging her tightly.
Daphne was initially surprised by the sudden embrace, but when she heard who it was, her face turned red. She became embarrassed and tried to break free from his arms.
— Viktor, put me down, — she whispered, trying not to attract attention.
With the same smile, he put her down, ruffled her hair, and said:
— It's so good to have you back.
Suddenly, he felt someone bump into his shoulder. He turned around, frowning, to see who dared to be so rude, but he calmed down when he saw a shock of long red hair. He sighed and turned back to Daphne.
— Look what you did. Now my little Hermione is mad at me because of you.
Daphne asked in surprise:
— Because of me?
Viktor replied:
— Who else? Now go apologize.
Daphne was indignant and wanted to say it was his fault, but Viktor covered her mouth with his hand and shouted into the crowd:
— George! Don't hide, I see you! I'll be waiting for you in my room after dinner.
George, who was hiding behind his friends, trying to pass unnoticed, replied:
— Okay.
Viktor nodded and, lost in thought, asked:
— So, what was I talking about? — He froze, trying to remember what he was doing there.
Daphne, noticing that Viktor was frozen and not moving, cautiously asked:
— Viktor, are you okay?
Viktor snapped out of it, looked at her, and replied:
— Me? Yes. I mean, no. And it's your fault. I have so much in my head that the most unimportant things get erased, and I sometimes just shut down. Oh, right, write this down, — he said, addressing her.
Daphne sighed and took out the notebook she always carried with her to write down Viktor's instructions.
— What should I write? — she asked.
Viktor, looking at one of the students who was walking by, said:
— Dear diary... I finally saw Edward Cullen again. He didn't look his usual self today. His face wasn't as pale, and he even had a blush on his cheeks. Though that didn't spoil his beauty at all.
Cedric, whom Viktor was staring at intently, became flustered and quickened his pace.
Daphne asked:
— Pale? What next?
Viktor looked at her:
— Who's pale?
Daphne, blinking, answered him:
— You said his face wasn't as pale.
Viktor looked into the notebook and began to read what she had written. He gave her a disapproving look.
— Daphne, you can't rest too much! Why did you write that down? I wasn't serious! Didn't it strike you as odd that I was speaking in a female voice?
Daphne, embarrassed, replied:
— Well... it's strange. But it's you.
Viktor was surprised:
— What do you mean, "it's you"? Am I that strange?
Daphne didn't answer him, she just started looking at the lake as if she had seen something very interesting there. Seeing that she was shamelessly ignoring his question, he sighed.
— Just write down that I'm giving George an exam after dinner. And don't forget to remind me about it.
Daphne nodded and began to write.
— Right, I forgot something else, — he ran a hand through his hair. — Ugh, it's just alchemy and charms in my head.
Daphne, finishing her writing, reminded him:
— Hermione.
Viktor blinked.
— What about Hermione? Oh, right, my girl, — he turned around and, walking away, shouted: — HERMIONE, WAIT UP!
One of Daphne's friends, who had been standing next to her the whole time, asked cautiously:
— Don't you think he's become more... insane?
They all nodded.
Daphne hugged her notebook and said desperately:
— I just got back, but I'm already tired, — she looked at her friends, — I want to go home.
They just looked at her with pity.