Victor stayed in the Headmaster's office until dinner. When it was time to leave, he made an excuse about personal business and said his goodbyes. However, as soon as the doors closed, he didn't head for the stairs; instead, he slipped into a dark niche around the corner.
After waiting about fifteen minutes for the corridors to finally empty, a black balaclava appeared in his hand. As soon as he pulled it over his face, magic concealed the Slytherin markings on his robes. Checking his appearance once more, he silently glided back toward the Headmaster's office.
Half an hour later, Victor, now back in his usual form and wearing a defiantly satisfied smile, entered the Great Hall. He didn't go to his own table but headed straight for the Ravenclaws. Approaching Adele from behind, he leaned close to her ear and whispered:
— Don't leave after dinner. I have a surprise for you... You'll like it.
Adele startled at the unexpectedness, but quickly regained her composure and gave a sharp nod:
— Alright.
A flash of curiosity gleamed in her eyes.
Victor, never ceasing to smile, headed to the Slytherin table and lounged regally in his seat.
— You have a very smug smirk on your face, — Daphne noted, watching him intently. — What have you managed to do already?
— Nothing yet, but I'm in the process, — he tossed back cryptically, beginning to fill his plate.
— You weren't at Defense Against the Dark Arts, and you missed quite a show, — Daphne shifted her gaze to the staff table. — By the way, it seems Lockhart is a poor professor?
Victor focused on cutting a juicy piece of meat.
— He's not just a poor professor. He's a mediocre wizard at best.
Daphne laughed and shook her head:
— What are you talking about? He's a first-class mage; just read his books — dozens of his exploits are described there. Perhaps teaching just isn't his forte, that's all.
Victor merely snorted. He truly didn't understand how this fraud had managed to cloud the minds of the entire female population. The only thing worth learning from him was the art of seduction and self-promotion.
— Well, believe whatever you want. What about the trial? — he changed the subject.
— I warned the others. Gemma isn't particularly thrilled with the idea. By the way, she asked who the judge will be, — Daphne replied.
— What a silly question... Me, of course. And pick someone from our lot to serve as the jury.
Daphne frowned and set down her fork:
— Then what's the point? It's obvious to everyone that this trial is just a farce.
— Pfft, I don't care what they think. By the way, you'll be acting as the prosecutor. Prepare the papers, question witnesses, look for evidence... and all that.
— What?! I'm not going to do that, find someone else! — she protested.
— No, I've already decided. Those idiots defiled the name of our faction. More than that — a shadow has fallen on my reputation! And you, as my deputy, are simply obligated to defend my honor and dignity.
Daphne sighed wearily, realizing that arguing with him was useless.
— Fine. There isn't much to do anyway — the verdict is already clear in advance.
— What is this place? — Adele asked when Victor led her to an inconspicuous oak door after dinner.
— Professor Snape allocated this office personally to me. Last year, I held extracurriculars for my house here, — Victor explained.
He made a sharp gesture with his hand, and they were enveloped in a cloud of thick red smoke. When the mist cleared, their clothes had turned coal-black, absorbing all light. Two balaclavas materialized in Victor's hands. He handed one to his sister and pulled the other over his own head. Adele turned the mask over in her hands, confused, looking from Victor to the door.
— Why all this?
Victor laughed softly. He cracked the office door just enough so his sister could peer inside. There, on a massive table, bathed in the cold light of the moon, rested the Sorting Hat. Victor closed the door and turned to Adele.
— I'm fulfilling my promise. I've sealed the room from the inside with a silence charm: no matter how much it screams, no one outside will hear a sound. But I'm warning you now — I don't know all of its magical properties. It might recognize us even in masks. If you don't want to risk it, I can do it all myself.
Adele thought for a moment, and then a cold, almost cruel expression settled on her face. She decisively pulled on the mask. Victor helped her adjust the eye slits.
— No, — she said firmly. — It was the hat that separated us. I want to settle the score personally.
— Well then... — Victor smiled predatorily under his mask. — Then let's go.
Victor pushed the door open, and they stepped into the dimness of the office.
— And where have you been?! — a grumbling voice rang out immediately. The Hat on the table twitched, the folds of fabric forming something like a scowl. — When are you finally going to clean me? I'm covered in the dust of centuries!
Victor stepped closer, hiding a smirk under his mask.
— Sorry, I got held up at dinner. Но I didn't come alone — I brought a friend, they'll help me... update your style a bit.
— Fine, just make it quick! Bring water and soap. And let the soap have a floral scent! I have no idea what they smell like, but the portraits claim it's simply divine.
Victor couldn't help but chuckle softly. In his hand, a bright red marker materialized. He handed it to Adele. The girl removed the cap and froze in surprise: the tip of the marker wasn't just soaked in ink; it emitted a faint glow.
— I tinkered with the composition a bit, — Victor told his sister. — A regular "Scourgify" won't wash this off. The drawing will stay for at least a couple of weeks.
— What drawing?! — The Hat narrowed its eyes suspiciously, trying to see the object in the "stranger's" hands. Noticing Adele slowly advancing with a determined look, panic seized it. — Hey! What are you planning? Wait! Get that away from me! Stop, I'll complain to the Headmaster! NO! NOT THE BRIM! NOOOOOO!
An hour later, Victor and his sister were strolling leisurely through the school grounds. A rare, truly happy smile bloomed on Adele's face.
— Are you sure the Headmaster will find it? — she asked, remembering her "artwork."
— Oh, don't you doubt it. It's screaming so much I'm sure it's already been returned to its place. Dumbledore is probably trying to calm it down right now, — Victor chuckled.
They reached a bench by the lake and sat down. Adele leaned against his shoulder, and together they looked up at the stars.
— This is all so strange... — she whispered. Victor looked at her questioningly. — Just a month ago, I was locked within four walls, having lost hope of ever coming out. And now I'm here. Studying at school, I have a brother. — She looked at him. — You know, sometimes as I fall asleep, I'm afraid that all of this is just a dream. That I'll wake up and find myself in that empty room again.
Victor gently put an arm around her shoulders, warming her.
— Yes, I understand you. Probably better than anyone else.
— I don't think so, — Adele shook her head sadly. — You always seem so confident.
Victor laughed quietly.
— Believe me, dear, you and I have much more in common than you can imagine. — He gently stroked her hair. — For instance, I know you sleep in my room not because you're scared. But because you're afraid of being alone again. I understand your attachment to me. After all, I was once saved from loneliness, too. That person became my only support; I couldn't imagine life without him.
— Are you talking about Madame Perenelle? — Adele asked.
Victor shook his head:
— No. That was long before meeting the Flamels.
— And where is he now?
— He vanished. Sacrificed himself so that I could live on. So that I would have at least a drop of sanity left.
Adele felt a pang of pity in her heart and hugged her brother tightly. Victor smiled sadly and continued:
— Listen, Adele... I'm telling you this as someone who is already hard to save because I've dived too deep into the abyss: stop clinging to me so tightly. Focus on your studies, make friends. Hogwarts has a wonderful quality — these walls heal scarred souls.
Adele frowned and stubbornly shook her head:
— I don't need that. I just want to always be by your side.
— Ha-ha-ha! You've known me for just over a month. Where does this certainty come from? Even I don't understand myself sometimes.
Adele thought for a moment, choosing her words.
— You were the only one who didn't give a damn about me. That day, I saw how you hesitated, but you pulled me out anyway and showed me this world. — She paused. — I know you hide your cruel side from me. I feel it. But I don't care.
— Are you sure? — Victor's voice dropped lower. — You know, even I got scared when I let myself go recently. I've done many terrible things. Since childhood, I was taught that the strong can do whatever they want. My "dear" parents hammered it into my head that someone else's life is worth nothing. If you were hit — you are weak. If you are commanded — you are weak. And if you were killed, it means you aren't worthy of living because you are...
— Weak, — Adele finished for him.
Victor nodded, his smile turning bitter.
— Yes. And when I broke free from that family, I swore to myself that I would become strong. So strong that no one would ever dare to mistreat me again.
— And you began moving toward that dream?
Victor laughed mirthlessly:
— Not immediately. Escaping one cage, I landed straight into another. There, I dreamed of only one thing: tearing my tormentors to pieces. Everyone holding me, especially my loud neighbors. I listened to their suffering every minute.
A frightening, oppressive aura began to emanate from him, making the air around them feel heavier.
— And along with them, I was slowly going insane, sinking to the very bottom. I was so tired that I began to seriously think about suicide... — Suddenly, the aura vanished, and Victor was back to his old self. — But my mind proved stronger. It helped me live until today.
— You went through a literal hell, — Adele whispered.
Victor stood up from the bench and held out his hand to her.
— I suppose so. By the way, you can be proud of yourself: you're the first person I've ever spoken to about this. Now come on, I'll walk you to your dormitory before Filch catches you.
Adele nodded and took his hand firmly. In the silence of the night, they slowly headed toward the castle.