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ONLY A FEW LADIES FROM BEAUXBATONS HAD FIRST PERIOD WITH SNAPE. one of them being victoria, much to ron's pleasure.

"even though we have a few new students, that doesn't mean that we will go any slower", snape started as he stood in front of the entire class with a solemn expression.

     "in fact, we'll be hosting a mini competition today, so I can evaluate everyone's skills", snape slowly said, glancing over at harry.

     "your task will be to brew the pepper-up potion in 45 minutes. your time begins now".

     victoria arrived at a table with a nervous gryffindor and two slytherins that seemed to be snickering at the poor boy's attempt at even starting.

     "o-oh merlin! I-I'm so sorry!!", the boy apologized to victoria as he got bicorn horn pieces all over the table after trying to pulverize it with a mortar and pestle.

     victoria just simply smiled. "it's quite alright. if you crush it in pieces, it'll be easier", she advised as she had already moved onto the mandrake part.

     indeed, the boy had succeeded as he had taken smaller parts of the bicorn horn and mushed it piece by piece.

"t-thank you! y-you're victoria right? I'm neville. neville longbottom", the boy meekly introduced, making victoria smile even wider.

she liked boys who were nice and shy; they were the easiest to manipulate. yet she knew potential when she saw it. someone like neville could benefit her in the future, the very near future.

     the slytherins in front of them snorted, making neville's ears burn red like peppers.

     "something you two find funny?", victoria boldly asked, making them slightly taken aback.

     no one, rarely anyone except probably harry and his friends stood up to the slytherins. and victoria, seemed very much like a slytherin herself.

     "obviously! his name sounds as lame as him", one mocked.

"I hope you do know that longbottom is a very valorous name. his parents fought in the first wizarding war against the dark lord", victoria casually stated as she waited for the potion the brew for 30 minutes.

"however, I suppose I can't say the same for you two, can I now?", victoria slightly grinned, making neville taken aback and the two slytherin boys grit their teeth.

"I'd watch it if I were you!! wouldn't want to accidentally get hurt now, would you?", one of the boys threatened.

"is there a problem over here?", snape suddenly asked, making neville flinch as he hastily focused on salvaging his already ruined potion.

"it's nothing professor sn—"

"actually, professor snape, there does seem to be a problem", victoria started. "it seems that your two students here have taken the initiative to intimidate me before I have even transferred. I hope this isn't the reputation that hogwarts has built up", victoria smiled, making snape scowl even more.

     "is this true?", snape inquired, making the two slytherin boys slightly shuffle their feet in guilt.

"detention for you both after school. I'm quite apologetic about their behavior ms. noir. I hope that you find it in your merciful heart to forgive them", snape unapologetically stated.

victoria sarcastically sighed, as everyone in the class nervously watched the interaction between the two.

no one has ever stood up to snape and tattled on the slytherins like that, not even harry.

"actually, I was hoping the two would at least apologize. you know, human decency", victoria said, letting out a small chuckle.

snape raised a brow, glancing over at the two boys who had their fists clenched under the table.

"w-we're sorry", they mumbled in sync.

"hm? who are you saying sorry to?", victoria asked.

"we're sorry...noir".

     "it's much appreciated, but I'm afraid you've got the wrong person. it's neville you guys should be apologizing to isn't it?", the girl sweetly smiled, making the boys nearly bleed from curling their fists so hard.

     "we're...we're sorry...longbottom".

     "now that it's over, we may resume to potion brewing", snape announced, keeping note of victoria, as she was quite the brave one.

     "actually professor, I've finished brewing the pepper-up potion. perhaps you could examine it and critique my exertion?", victoria chimed in, making snape reluctantly turn back around.

the hook-nosed man slightly hovered over the girl's cauldron, watching as the potion was the perfect shade of sunset orange.

"it seems you've gone beyond standards ms. noir. congratulations, you've completed the task within the time limit. I only hope that others can achieve such success like yours", snape robotically said as he glanced over at neville's bubbling pot.

     "why thank you professor. I hope to exceed your expectations later on as well", victoria smoothly replied.

"we'll have to see about that", snape swiftly said as he left to go check on another student's potion.

"t-thank you victoria. y-you really didn't have to", neville whispered, making the girl just smile.

"don't worry about it", victoria winked, tugging on neville's heartstrings.

draco watched from across the room as the interaction had indeed intrigued him.

there was no way a girl like her was so perfect. indeed she had the looks and the brains, but those characteristics couldn't be faked. her smile though...it wasn't impossible to put on a good show in front of everyone.

"checking out the new girl too I see", blaise zabini chuckled, making draco scoff.

"please, I'm only merely accessing her", draco responded, making blaise shake his head with a grin.

"just admit it. she's hot and you want to try and win her over", blaise stated, already used to draco's dating habits.

     most of the times, he'd date just for fun, a week or two at most. there was perhaps only one girl that lasted for a whole month: pansy parkinson.

     but even then, no one could keep draco malfoy strapped down to a committed relationship, as the boy dated consecutively.

     "so what? I'm sure she'll fall for me in no time. after all, no one can resist this", draco boasted, making blaise snort.

     "she doesn't seem like the type to date boys who fuck around", blaise said, making draco slightly furrow his brows.

"are you challenging me blaise?"

"I'm just simply saying she doesn't seem to be the type of take anyone's shit, as you saw earlier", the male responded.

"we'll have to see about that then", draco grinned.

•♛•

"harry potter is it? victoria", the girl smiled, extending her hand out for the boy to shake.

harry reluctantly shook the girl's soft hand as he just nodded.

"then you two must be hermione granger and ron weasley", victoria said, glancing at the two who were beside harry.

"you...you know my name?!", ron internally fangirled.

victoria merely chuckled.

"of course. ron weasley, brother of many and son of arthur weasley right?"

     "you know my father?"

     "my mother used to work for the ministry, so she would tell me about her coworkers", victoria explained.

     "your mother? nora noir is it?", hermione suddenly spoke up, making victoria nod.

     "wasn't she the one that—"

     hermione quickly elbowed ron to shut him up, making him slightly wince in pain and offense.

"well then...I'll see you guys soon? I have a feeling that I'll be getting to know you very well, harry".

     ron rolled his eyes as he jealously glanced over at harry.

     "man, why do you have to get all the girls. can't I just have one for once?!"

     "I don't think she meant it in that way", harry mumbled.

     "so that means I still have a chance?!", ron excitedly asked.

     hermione just huffed as she was nearly about to walk away before ron had stopped her.

     "hey wait! why'd you punch me in the stomach earlier?"

     hermione spun around with a dead look in her eye.

     "don't you know the story of nora noir?"

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