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    "BEST OF LUCK MY DEAR", MADAME MAXIME WORRIED AS VICTORIA JUST SMILED. the professors had swiftly left as the four contestants were once again left alone in their tent.

"how're you feeling victoria?", harry asked, sitting beside the calm girl.

"I'm feeling quite swell. you?"

"just fine", harry lied, though the sweat that slowly rolled down his forehead said otherwise.

victoria just chuckled and patted harry's head, making the boy slightly flinch.

"don't worry harry. you'll do perfect. you'll definitely make it to the last round", victoria smiled, trying her best to contain her excitement.

     "LET'S WELCOME VICTORIA MILLICENT NOIR!", lee jordan announced.

victoria then patted harry's shoulder as she walked out the tent in her usual baby blue dress uniform and shawl, without the beret of course.

many wondered if it was appropriate attire for the girl to be fighting a welsh green dragon, but nonetheless, they were there for the show.

     as soon as victoria stepped onto the rocky field in her polished black shoes, she whipped out her wand: a white and fine-grained aspen wood with the core of a basilisk scale.

"immobolus!", victoria casted, making the dragon freeze in its spot before it even had the chance to attack her.

victoria then calmly casted the hardening charm at the dragon's feet, now securing it to the ground and just to be safe, a dark charm, "oscausi", to secure the dragon's mouth so that it couldn't breathe fire.

victoria's mood had suddenly deflated a bit, as she was hoping the dragon would put up more of a fight.

nevertheless, the girl stretched her hand out, and with a quick "accio", the golden egg flew to her palm, making the crowd in shock at how easy she had conquered the beast.

     as victoria exited the field, it was harry's turn to enter, fighting the most ferocious dragon of all.

victoria would've stayed to watch, however, the girl was a bit preoccupied by a letter that was placed on the counter of her tent.

     the girl's nimble fingers hastily fumbled open the pristine white envelope. pulling out a card with gold lining the boarders, a short note was written with quite neat handwriting.

     "hm~ interesting".

•♛•

     "roses are quite cliché don't you think?", victoria smiled as she twirled the stem of the blooming flower between her fingers.

     "true, but they also seem to do the job", draco replied with a shit-eating grin.

     victoria sighed, clearly faking her distress.

     "I thought I was special, but it seems that you've done the same with the others", the girl slightly pouted, making draco raise a brow.

     "well, if you go with me to the yule ball, I can assure you that it'll be special", draco smoothly replied.

victoria, who's noggin had already started spinning just simply smirked.

     "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I already have a date. perhaps I'll go with you when you decide to treat me like special from the start", victoria said as she had already left before draco was able to say anything.

     the boy stared in shock for a moment before huffing and throwing the rest of the roses off the astronomy tower.

     he ran his hand through his hair as he loosened up his tie, gritting his teeth as he leaned against the bars.

meanwhile victoria headed towards the slytherin common room, she had nearly made her way there until she had witnessed a pale girl with waist-length, straggly, dirty blonde hair.

normally, victoria wouldn't have even batted an eye, but the girl was beyond eccentric, almost rivaling uric the oddball.

     not only did she have bottle cap necklaces, her feet had no shoes and her navy blue leggings was paired with a black space skirt and a light maroon coat.

     "you're a disgrace to ravenclaw! what even is this article about?? the quibbler by your father? a whole bunch of bogus I say!", a ravenclaw mocked, while the other two laughed.

     "speaking of disgrace, it seems that you three are the perfect epitome of it", victoria interrupted as she strode closer to the four girls.

     "and who do you think you are?", the main girl snarled.

     "I think she's one of the tournament competitors. victoria noir I heard", one of the girls whispered.

     "indeed, I am victoria. honestly though, I thought hogwarts was more friendly than this. are you alright?", victoria asked the girl while extending her hand out.

     "nice to meet you victoria. I'm luna, luna lovegood", the girl smiled as she accepted the girl's hand and stood up, brushing off the slight dust off her skirt.

not only did the girl dress oddly, she was quite the weird one too.

"well luna, would you like to accompany me to the library? I could use some help on my charms homework", victoria smiled.

"if you insist", luna smiled back, heading off with victoria as if the three girls weren't there.

"HEY! WAIT—"

"if I ever witness you hurting her again, I can't promise professor dumbledore won't be acknowledged about inter-house bullying. so I suggest that you cease your meaningless threats before it gets to the professors", victoria swiftly responded before heading off again.

the three girls stood fuming, nearly about to stomp towards them before victoria gave them one last look.

an ice cold glare was sent down the girls' spines, making them nearly shiver and kneel in fear.

victoria's default face was a plastic smile. however, once dropped, a wicked glare was in session. if looks could kill, the three girls would be down in hell burning in flames.

     "thank you for that. you really didn't have to", luna softly spoke.

"you ought to really stand up for yourself", victoria said, as she entered the library with luna following.

"and where are your shoes?"

"I'm not sure. I suppose they've been stolen and hidden somewhere. but no worries, I'll find it sooner or later", luna smiled, taking out her charms textbook even though she knew victoria probably most likely didn't need help with her homework, and only used it as an excuse to leave.

     though just as victoria had predicted, a male had suddenly approached the two girls, making luna temporarily glance up.

     "harry, what brings you here?", victoria asked, smiling once again.

     "oh, I was just researching about the egg...you know?", harry said as he took a seat beside the girl. "and you are?"

     "luna, luna lovegood", luna introduced.

     "nice to meet you luna", harry said as he shook the girl's hand and flashed her a smile.

     "say harry, how did it go with cho?", victoria innocently asked, knowing full well that the ravenclaw girl had rejected him for cedric.

"oh...umm...it didn't exactly go as expected", harry dejectedly said as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head, avoiding victoria's gaze.

"you know harry, I don't have a date either...so if you want, perhaps we could go together?", victoria asked, trying to act as embarrassed as possible.

     harry's mouth gaped open for a bit, not exactly believing that the beautiful girl in front of him was asking HIM to the yule ball.

"well?"

"o-of course! I mean...is it possible for us to keep it to the down low until the ball?", harry requested, as he didn't exactly want ron coming for his head.

"for sure", victoria smiled, as she benefited from this deal too.

"you won't tell, right luna?", victoria asked, turning to the girl who just shook her head in response.

after all, what better way to spite draco malfoy than to turn the boy down and go to the yule ball with his worst nemesis?

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