╔═══════════════╗

╚═══════════════╝

     VICTORIA ENDED UP RECEIVING THE INVISIBILITY CLOAK FROM LUCIUS AS PROMISED. the girl excitedly headed back to hogwarts along with draco, who had once again kept up his bullying demeanor.

     "watch it potter! can't you see the prefects are walking through?", the blonde boy snarled, making harry roll his eyes.

     "do you own this passageway? no? I didn't think so", harry retorted as him, ron, and hermione tried to get past, only to be blocked by draco once again.

     "apologize", draco demanded.

     harry scrunched up his face in confusion.

     "can you please just move? we don't have time for your insignificant insults", hermione scoffed.

     "I wasn't talking to you, you filthy mudblo—"

     "DON'T CALL HER THAT!", ron shouted as he hastily took his wand out, only to be stopped.

     "immobulus!"

     all eyes were on victoria now, who had swiftly intercepted the boys' meaningless banter.

"my apologies ron, hermione, and harry", victoria said as she unfroze ron, making the boy stumble back a few steps.

"victoria, did you even hear what that git said?! he called hermione a—"

     "I know what he said", victoria interrupted. "but I couldn't allow you to hurt my boyfriend now could I?"

     ron nearly choked on his spit.

     "e-excuse me?", harry asked, nearly just as surprised as ron.

     hermione just simply rolled her eyes as she had seen this coming a mile away. the two were nearly the same, with the exception that victoria seemed more cunning and didn't bully people for the fun of it.

     "she's my girlfriend weasley. got a problem?", the boy grinned, clearly enjoying the surprised expression on ron's face.

     "why would you...him?? seriously??", ron asked.

     victoria just simply nodded.

     "anyways, it was nice seeing you three. see you three in class?"

"yeah...see you", harry replied as draco wrapped his arm around the girl's waist, walking away with a shit-eating grin.

the male then proceeded to flip the trio off as ron was held back by harry and hermione, who had so wanted to wipe that smirk off the boy's pale face.

"would it hurt to not insult them", victoria asked as the couple sat beside each other in the dining hall.

draco merely scoffed. "yes, it would", the boy sarcastically answered.

victoria merely chuckled as she shook her head, squeezing draco's hand as he held her closer. the girl leaned her head on draco's shoulder as the rest of the fifth-years ate, some being just as baffled about the two royals' get together.

"draco, don't forget to meet me at the astronomy tower tonight", victoria mumbled, to which the boy had just hummed in response.

some awed at the two's date at such a romantic place, while others nearly gagged.

"remember, don't be late".

•♛•

"occlumency is the magical defense of the mind against external penetration. quite obscured but highly useful. but I'm sure you already knew that", victoria smiled as she glanced at draco, who just nodded.

the two weren't actually dating, as they had only used it as an excuse so no one would suspect anything when victoria would be spending an absurd amount of time with draco alone.

it was all for the malfoy boy to learn the skill of occlumency. per lucius's request of course.

"firstly, you must clear your mind of all thoughts and emotions", victoria said, walking closer to the boy who just took a deep breath in.

after all, it was natural for draco to conceal all his feelings, especially since he's been doing it for years.

"now, I'm going to attempt to break into your mind. try your best to resist", victoria said as she looked into the boy's stern eyes.

for a first-timer, draco actually performed pretty well, though victoria was still able to run through the boy's thoughts, as expected.

     the girl was able to come across many memories, especially the more prominent ones, such as draco's first few years at hogwarts.

     however, one particularly interested her.

     it had seemed to be the boy's third year. he was at hogsmeade with crabbe and goyle, making fun of ron as usual.

     though out of nowhere, the trio got mud thrown at them, and it was surely not the doing of ron weasley.

     with all the screaming, a head suddenly popped out: harry potter.

     though only his head was visible. it was only a quick moment before draco had ran off to go find snape, and the rest wasn't all that interesting.

     'so harry potter has an invisibility cloak too...'

     "not bad for your first try. now focus on staying neutral. remember, no matter the circumstances, you must suppress all emotions. and no matter who stands in front of you, you must not show weakness", the girl instructed as she took a step closer to draco, making him unconsciously hold his breath.

     "now, shall we try again?", the girl asked, merely above a whisper.

     draco merely nodded as he found himself not being able to verbally agree, as the strong scent of peppermint and wintry snow filled his nose.

victoria then once again looked into draco's mind, this time more clearly, as she was able to witness many more memories. memories that were of him and his family.

when draco had received his first wand, the eleven year-old boy was elated! a thawhorn wooded wand with the core of a single unicorn hair.

draco's wand was quite opposite from victoria's, as hers was nice and pretty on the outside while innately bad. draco's core represented his morality, something victoria did not possess.

"is something on your mind? I could read you more easily this time", victoria inquired, making the boy slightly tense.

"n-not really", draco mumbled.

victoria's lips curled up into a slight grin. she inched even closer to the boy, making draco stumble a few steps back.

     the girl slithered her arms around around draco's waist, pulling him close to her so that his eyes looked down upon hers.

     "your eyes say otherwise", the girl said, to which draco immediately avoided the girl's gaze.

     "it's nothing. really", draco once again protested.

     "hm~ then why's your heart beating so fast?", victoria teased as she leaned the side of her face against the boy's chest.

     "can we...must we be in a fake relationship?", the boy muttered out, making victoria just tilt her head.

     "isn't that what you wanted?"

     draco suddenly looked into victoria's devious eyes.

     "I like you victoria", the boy finally admitted, much to the girl's delight.

     victoria caressed the boy's cheek as he slightly leaned into the warmness of her hand.

     "you're a special one draco. I'm indeed fond of you", victoria quietly murmured, making draco ever so slightly smile.

     indeed, throughout christmas break, the girl had spoiled draco, helping him whenever he needed, presenting him with gifts that she knew he would fancy, and even as to giving him small kisses here and there.

     "however, I am no good for you", the girl suddenly said, making draco's heart nearly wince in pain.

"wha—"

"I'm a death eater draco. look at it", victoria slightly frowned, harshly scrunching up her sleeves as she showed the boy the dark mark.

"but my father is one too! I don't see the problem here".

"draco, you're too soft. you're not meant to follow in his footste—"

"yes I am! I can be just as cruel, just as malicious!"

victoria slightly smiled.

"you're willing to be with me...even if it means going down the wrong path?", the girl quivered.

"of course", draco breathlessly answered.

victoria immediately embraced draco, making the boy snuggle into the crook of the girl's neck. victoria ran her slim fingers from the back of draco's head, up towards his platinum locks.

"you're willing...do to anything for me?", victoria meekly asked.

a muffled response was heard.

"of course".

victoria then proudly grinned, as she had successfully captured the malfoy boy's heart.

     'oh, what a loyal piece he'll be~'

╔═══════════════╗

╚═══════════════╝

•

•

•

     a/n: hello my lovely readers!! highkey don't know why y'all are still reading this trash, but it's much appreciated!!

     if you liked it, please don't forget to comment and vote! I love hearing from all of y'all!

     thank you all so much and see you guys soon <33