Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 49: The Price of Friendship
Harry found Victoria in the entrance hall shortly after breakfast on Sunday morning. She was standing beside one of the tall windows, waiting for Georgina, who had gone to fetch something from the Slytherin common room. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders, and she was studying the grounds with a thoughtful expression. Harry approached quietly.
“Morning, gorgeous.”
Victoria turned. Her face brightened immediately.
“Harry!”
She bent to kiss him, then slipped her arms around his waist.
“Sleep well?”
“Not badly. You?”
She made a face.
“I kept thinking about Draco.”
Harry nodded.
“I thought you might.”
Victoria sighed.
“We’re telling her today. Before detention.”
“Good.”
She looked at him.
“You really think that’s best?”
“I do.”
Victoria rested her forehead briefly against his.
“She’s going to be furious.”
“Probably.”
“She might never speak to us again.”
Harry smiled faintly.
“Somehow, I doubt that.”
Victoria looked unconvinced. He hesitated, then took her hand.
“There’s something I wanted to tell you.”
She looked up.
“What?”
“I spoke to Snape yesterday evening.”
Victoria stared.
“You what?”
“I went to his office.”
“Voluntarily?”
“Yes.”
“Harry Potter voluntarily went to Severus Snape’s office?”
“Try not to sound so astonished.”
“Harry, that’s like a mouse voluntarily walking into a cat’s mouth.”
“Charming comparison.”
“What happened?”
He squeezed her hand.
“Snape isn’t going to tell Lucius about Alex.”
Victoria went very still. For a moment, she stared at him.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
“He actually said that?”
Harry nodded.
“He has no intention of informing Draco’s father about her date.”
Victoria let out a long breath.
“Oh, thank Merlin.”
She threw her arms around Harry and hugged him so tightly that he made a small noise of protest.
“Vic! Ribs!”
“Sorry!”
She loosened her grip but didn’t release him.
“Harry, that’s wonderful!”
“I thought you’d be pleased.”
“How did you persuade him?”
Harry hesitated. Then shook his head.
“That’s between Snape and me.”
“You’re not going to tell me?”
“No.”
“Not even a little?”
He smiled.
“Not even a little.”
She studied him suspiciously.
“Did you threaten him?”
Harry laughed.
“With what?”
“I don’t know. You’re Harry Potter. You have a talent for doing ridiculous things.”
“Thank you.”
“Did he take points off Gryffindor?”
Harry’s smile widened.
“I’m not discussing the conversation, Vic.”
She narrowed her green eyes.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“A little.”
Victoria considered pressing him further, then thought better of it. Instead, she kissed him.
“Thank you.”
Harry brushed a strand of black hair away from her face.
“You’re welcome.”
She smiled. Then her expression grew serious again.
“Now we just have to tell Draco.”
“Yes.”
Victoria sighed.
“Suddenly, I’d rather face a Hungarian Horntail.”
Harry grinned.
“Having met both, I’d say the Horntail might be the safer option.”
She punched his shoulder. Hermione was waiting in an unused classroom on the second floor when Victoria and Georgina arrived. She had brought a book, but it lay unopened on the desk beside her.
“Well?” she asked.
Victoria closed the door.
“We’re doing it.”
Hermione nodded.
“Good.”
Georgina looked nervous.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t wait until after detention?”
“No,” Hermione replied. “If we wait, we’ll spend the entire afternoon thinking of reasons not to tell her.”
Victoria sighed.
“She’s right.”
Hermione glanced at the clock.
“Draconia said she’d meet us here in five minutes.”
Georgina began pacing.
“What if she gets really angry?”
“Then we’ll let her be angry,” Hermione said.
“What if she starts crying?”
Hermione’s expression softened.
“Then we’ll apologise.”
Victoria sat on the edge of a desk.
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