Daphne, noticing him at the table, marched over and crossed her arms over her chest.
— Victor, which word in the phrase "do not wander the school alone" did you fail to understand?
Victor broke into an innocent smile.
— Sorry, Mommy. I was honestly sitting in my room, but then a strange man in a striped suit came by, promised me a mountain of sweets, and I just couldn't resist.
Daphne's frown only deepened.
— Victor, that's not funny.
— Agreed. This is a school after all; how did they even let him in?
— Ha-ah... Why are you so insufferable? — Daphne sighed wearily, looking at her younger sister.
Astoria, smiling, was vigorously waving her hand right in front of Victor's face. Suddenly, he lunged forward and snapped his teeth just an inch from her fingers.
— Ow! You almost bit me! — Astoria shrieked, jumping back.
— Don't mock the blind, — Victor said primly.
— If you're blind, how did you see that?! Admit it, you're faking it just to slack off from classes.
— I'm not faking. It's just that even without eyes, I see better than you. And speaking of knowledge... I heard you refused to work in Herbology today?
— Hmph! I have no intention of rummaging around in dirt and manure, — the girl declared with a wince.
Victor turned toward Daphne, who had already settled in beside him.
— Daphne, did you hear that? Your sister has become utterly brazen. I demand an immediate spanking.
— Why? — she replied calmly, reaching for some juice. — I don't do anything in Herbology either.
Victor froze for a moment, realizing it was true.
— Come by my room today, I'll spank you myself... Oh, right, almost forgot about the punishment... — He suddenly straightened up and shouted at the top of his lungs: — GEMMA!
— No need to yell, I'm sitting right across from you, — Gemma grumbled, lazily poking at her plate with a fork.
— Ah, sorry, I didn't see you. Today one of your followers lost points in Potions; I demand the rascal be punished! No one is allowed to disgrace Slytherin, — Victor commanded. — Anyway, I'm full; I'm going to find my sister. She is here, right?
— Yes, Adele is having lunch at her house table, — Daphne replied.
Victor nodded:
— Gemma, either you punish him, or I'll deal with him myself. Hmm, idiot can't even brew a simple potion... — Continuing to mutter something under his breath, Victor slowly walked away, tapping his cane.
Gemma watched him go with a long stare and then looked at Daphne.
— What's with him?
— He's just bored, — Daphne sighed. — Last night he gathered those who weren't sleeping, and we played a Muggle game called "Mafia" in the common room until late.
— He-he-he! Yes, and in the last round, I was the Super-Mafia and killed everyone, including my sister! — Astoria laughed proudly.
Gemma smirked:
— Wait, Astoria, I thought you hated him. And now you're playing games with him at night?
The girl was instantly embarrassed.
— I still hate him! He bosses my sister around however he wants! But what can I do if she clearly likes it... Ow! Don't pinch! — Astoria rubbed her leg resentfully, glaring at Daphne.
— So, you like it when he bosses you around? — Gemma squinted slyly at Daphne.
— I don't "like" it. It is my duty to carry out his instructions.
— Hmph, while he's blind, you could easily seize power in the house, — Astoria muttered.
Daphne gave her sister a cold look:
— And when his sight returns, will you be the one picking up the pieces of my body all over the school? Besides, even in his current state, I think he would destroy me with ease.
Gemma fell silent, watching Victor sit down next to his sister, and nodded in agreement.
After lunch, Victor walked slowly down the corridor, holding Adele firmly by the hand.
— And where are we headed? — he asked, listening to the echo of their footsteps.
— Our year has Charms now; we're going there, — Luna replied, strolling serenely on the other side.
— Oh, to Professor Flitwick! I haven't dropped in on him today yet.
— "Yet"? Who else have you managed to visit? — Adele asked curiously.
— I visited Madam Sprout in the greenhouses, peaked into Transfiguration, but Professor McGonagall politely kicked me out. So I sat with Snape until lunch.
When they entered the classroom, Adele immediately pulled him toward their row.
— And why are you here? — Astoria's voice came from behind them.
Victor turned toward the sound:
— Child, you're here too? Shouldn't Slytherin be with Gryffindor?
— The years are split based on the number of people so the rooms don't get overcrowded. We were paired with Ravenclaw because there are more of them and fewer of us, — Astoria explained.
— Oh, I see... Curious.
Professor Flitwick entered the class with a bouncy stride.
— Right, students! Today we continue practicing "Reparo."
He flicked his wand, and a sheet of paper landed in front of each student.
— Tear the paper and try to return it to its original state. Today our lesson will be... — Flitwick stopped, noticing Victor. — Oh, Victor, my boy! Why are you here?
— Sorry, Professor. Decided to stop by and sit in on your lesson, if you don't mind.
— I don't just "not mind," I'm delighted! Come over here, please.
Victor stood up and, navigating confidently between the desks, approached the teacher's table.
— Victor, I need to step away for a moment—I've been invited as an honorary judge for an international dueling tournament, — Flitwick lowered his voice. — Could you keep an eye on the class today?
Victor lowered his head with a theatrically offended look:
— Well, of course... I'll watch them.
Noticing his expression, Flitwick flushed a deep red and looked flustered.
— Oh, forgive me, my boy! I completely forgot about your... condition. You move so skillfully through the castle that it slipped my mind entirely...
Victor suddenly laughed cheerfully:
— Oh, come now, Professor, I'm joking. It's no problem for me. You can safely leave them to me.
Flitwick exhaled with relief. From Victor's behavior, he had long ago realized: if the boy didn't see with his eyes, he certainly sensed his surroundings.
— Thank you! Then I shall go. Right, students! Mr. Moss will conduct the lesson today. I expect your full obedience.
With those words, the professor hastily left the room. Victor hummed, turning to the class.
— Of course, you will listen to me. You simply have no other choice, — he walked slowly along the teacher's table, tapping his cane. — And why don't I hear the sound of tearing paper yet?
The class instantly came to life. Sheets crinkled, and the room filled with a disjointed whisper of "Reparo!".
Victor went to sit down but bumped into the stack of books that the short Flitwick used as a footstool to reach the desk. Smiling, he neatly moved them to the edge and took his seat. He listened to the vibrations in the air until he turned his head in the right direction.
— Hey, you.
— Me? — a boy asked in surprise.
— No, behind you. The girl. Take your paper and come here.
The Ravenclaw girl, looking around shyly under the gaze of her classmates, stood up and approached him.
— Is it not working at all? — he asked softly.
— I'm just bad at practice... — she admitted sadly. — I can only consistently manage "Lumos."
— And what do you visualize when you light the flame?
— A lightbulb... or a flashlight.
— I see. You don't care much for fairy tales, am I right?
— No, I prefer science books and encyclopedias, — the girl blushed.
— That's the problem. You look for a logical explanation for everything. Your brain refuses to believe that you can just stick a torn paper back together with words. You need to decide who you are: a witch or a little Sheldon Cooper.
— Who?
— Doesn't matter. You'll find out one day, — Victor smiled. — Now, close your eyes.
The girl obediently squeezed her eyes shut.
— Raise your wand. Don't think about "how" or "why." Feel the magic flowing through your fingers. Flick it gently and just say the spell. Believe in it the same way you believe in gravity: we can't see it, but it works.
She took a deep breath and made a precise gesture:
— Reparo!
A second later, she shook her head disappointedly:
— No... it won't work for me.
— Are you sure? — Victor asked.
She opened her eyes and gasped: the paper on the table was perfectly whole, without a single seam.
Astoria, at the back desk, poked Adele in the shoulder:
— Did you notice that it was *his* spell that fixed the paper? — she whispered.
— Don't talk to me, — Adele turned and gave Astoria an icy look.
— See? It worked, — Victor tore the paper in half again. — Now once more, but with your eyes open this time.
The girl focused, her gaze becoming more determined.
— Reparo!
The edges of the paper slowly, as if alive, reached for each other and fused together.
— Remember: once you believe in magic, magic will believe in you. I hold extra lessons on the second floor on Saturdays. They've allocated a classroom for me; we start after breakfast. If you want to learn to cast better—come. You'll see where the Slytherins gather, or just ask my Adele.
— Thank you, — the girl nodded and returned to her seat.
— She actually did it... — Astoria murmured in amazement.
— I told you: don't talk to me! — Adele stood up abruptly and, grabbing Luna by the hand, moved their things several desks forward.
— What is wrong with you?! — Astoria grumbled after her, offended, but Adele didn't even look back.
— Adele, did something happen? — Victor asked, sensing her movement.
— Nothing, I just decided to sit closer to you.
Victor smiled.
— Ooooh, how sweet of you. But right now, I am a strict teacher and won't be giving even you any slack. Do your task and stop wandering the class.
Adele looked at him and rolled her eyes.
— I don't need your slack; I'm the best in my year. After these two weeks you've spent attending classes with me, you should have figured that out.
Victor wanted to laugh proudly but suddenly turned serious.
— How long has it been since we returned to school?
Adele thought for a moment.
— Almost two weeks.
— So, including the time I was unconscious, it's already been four weeks... — he whispered so softly that no one heard him. For the rest of the lesson, he didn't utter another word and paid no attention to anything happening in the class.