Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 4: A Different Kind of Encounter
Victoria was having a perfectly ordinary morning until she saw Harry Potter coming towards them. She was walking down the second-floor corridor with Draconia and Georgina, listening to Georgina complain about their latest Potions assignment. Draconia had already finished hers, naturally, and was being particularly unhelpful about it.
“I’m not writing it for you, Georgina.”
“Didn’t ask you to.”
“You asked to borrow mine.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“I’d change a few words.”
Draconia rolled her eyes. Victoria laughed.
“You’d probably change the wrong ones.”
“Thank you, Vic. Very supportive.”
“Anytime.”
They rounded a corner, and Victoria nearly walked straight into someone coming from the opposite direction. Harry Potter. Her first instinct was immediate and familiar. Out of my way, Potter. She even raised her hand, ready to plant it against his chest and shove him aside. It was what she’d have done yesterday. Or last week. Or at any point during the previous six years.
Potter was Potter. He was a Gryffindor, their longstanding enemy, and someone who had always been particularly irritating simply by existing. But her hand stopped halfway. Harry had already halted. For a moment, they stood facing each other. Victoria was taller than he was. She was also broader across the shoulders, and under ordinary circumstances she’d have enjoyed reminding him of both facts. Instead, she found herself looking at his face. He was smiling. Not smirking. Not laughing at her. Just smiling.
“Morning, Victoria.”
She blinked. Victoria. He’d always called her Crabbe. Everyone outside her circle called her Crabbe.
“Potter,” she replied automatically.
Harry glanced at the other two girls.
“Malfoy. Goyle.”
Draconia regarded him suspiciously.
“Potter.”
Georgina folded her arms.
“All right?”
“Fine, thanks.”
There was a short silence. Victoria became unpleasantly aware that both her friends were watching her. Harry looked back at her.
“How are you?”
She stared.
“What?”
“How are you?”
It was such an ordinary question that she had no idea what to do with it. For six years, their conversations had consisted almost entirely of insults, threats, and arguments. Potter had never asked how she was feeling.
“Fine,” she said.
“Good.”
He smiled again. Victoria felt an inexplicable urge to hit something. Not Potter, exactly. Just something. Draconia cleared her throat.
“Well, if you’ve finished exchanging pleasantries, Potter, we do have somewhere to be.”
“Of course.”
Harry stepped aside. Victoria automatically started forward. Then he spoke again.
“Victoria?”
She stopped. Oh, bloody hell.
“What?”
“I hope you have a good day.”
She stared at him. Behind her, Georgina made a peculiar noise. Victoria knew that noise. Georgina was trying not to laugh. Harry didn’t seem to notice. He simply waited. Victoria could have insulted him. She could have told him to piss off. She could have reminded him that she wasn’t interested in his ridiculous compliments. Instead, she heard herself say, “Yeah. You too.” Harry’s smile widened slightly.
“Thanks.”
Then he continued down the corridor. Victoria stood motionless for a moment. What the bloody hell was that? She turned her head and watched him walk away. He didn’t look back. That somehow made the encounter even stranger.
“Well,” Georgina said.
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Don’t.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“You’re about to.”
Draconia was watching her with an expression Victoria couldn’t quite read.
“Victoria.”
“What?”
“Did you just wish Harry Potter a good day?”
Victoria scowled.
“He wished me one first!”
Georgina burst out laughing.
“Oh, Merlin!”
“Shut up!”
Draconia raised an eyebrow.
“And you didn’t shove him.”
Victoria turned sharply.
“What?”
“You nearly did. I saw your hand.”
Victoria looked down. Her right hand was still slightly raised. She lowered it immediately.
“So?”
“So you stopped.”
“Well, he moved!”
“Not until afterward,” Draconia observed.
“Maybe she didn’t want to hurt her admirer.”
Victoria gave her a murderous look.
“Keep talking, Goyle.”
“See? That’s the Vic we know.”
“Honestly, Georgina, leave her alone.”
“All right, all right.”
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