Unprecedented jubilation reigned in the Great Hall. The Slytherins happily celebrated their victory, and the other Houses—even Gryffindor—sincerely congratulated them. This year, everyone saw Slytherin in a different light: they no longer walked around aloof and arrogant, but blended into the general school "vibe," showing that they were just children like everyone else. Even groups like Gemma's faction and those who hadn't joined any group were grateful to Viktor for the discipline and the victory, though they would never admit it aloud.
Of course, there were those who were displeased. The pure-blood faction merely frowned and clicked their tongues contemptuously. They considered it a disgrace for Slytherin to behave that way, especially when someone from their House befriended and socialized with Gryffindors, their sworn enemies. But they could only endure in silence. Yes, Viktor's group consisted almost entirely of half-bloods, and if this had happened before, they would have simply been punished. But now, with a protector in Viktor, they were even afraid to talk to them, which infuriated them even more. But what could they do? As long as that mudblood was in the school, they could only silently endure.
Viktor looked over his happy comrades. An honest, warm smile bloomed on his face for the first time in a long time.
However, his gaze suddenly dimmed. He quietly rose from the table, his movements graceful but silent, and headed for the exit.
— Viktor, where are you going? — Daphne called out to him, but her voice was lost in the general noise.
He didn't reply. Without looking back, he simply walked out of the Great Hall in silence.
Daphne, shrugging, decided he had just stepped out on business and continued to enjoy her breakfast, joining the general merriment.
Stepping into the corridor, Viktor inhaled. The sound of cheering from the Hall became muffled but was still distinctly heard—like a loud but distant party he had decided not to attend. Viktor silently walked through the empty school. His footsteps echoed loudly in the silence, broken only by the sound of his own steps.
As he walked, he pondered: what next? He had a lot of ideas about what to do over the summer, but something was deeply upsetting him. Surveying the empty corridors, bathed in the morning sunlight, he genuinely didn't understand why he wasn't sitting and celebrating with everyone.
— Wait up, where are you going! Come back, you foolish beast! — a loud, anxious voice suddenly sounded.
Looking in the direction the sound was coming from, he saw a massive body running around the corner. It was Fluffy. Running up to Viktor, the dog lowered his enormous heads and whimpered happily, looking at him with his big eyes.
— Hello, big boy, — Viktor knelt down and happily began to stroke his huge, shaggy muzzles. Fluffy licked his hand in response.
Following him, a breathless Hagrid appeared from around the corner. Seeing the student next to Fluffy, he shouted:
— Don't be afraid, and don't make any sudden... movements! — His sentence broke off mid-word when he realized that Fluffy was simply playing happily with the student.
— Viktor, why aren't you with everyone? — Hagrid asked, approaching him. He watched in surprise as Viktor calmly petted the dog. — I see Fluffy clearly likes you.
— Yes, we managed to become friends with this big boy, — Viktor replied, without stopping his petting.
A happy smile bloomed on Hagrid's face. He was glad to hear this from someone; usually, everyone called his pets monsters, but here was an ally who was not afraid and saw all of Fluffy's beauty.
— And where is this fellow heading? — Viktor asked, remembering that Fluffy no longer appeared in the plot after the first film.
— He's going home, back to his homeland, — Hagrid replied with a sigh, visibly saddened.
— To his homeland?
— Yes, to Greece, to his kin. I wanted to keep him in the Forbidden Forest, but the professors were against it. And Dumbledore decided to send him there, — the giant said mournfully.
— So you're from Greece? Of course, how could I not have guessed! You're a Cerberus, — Viktor murmured, continuing to scratch the dog behind the ears.
— A Cerberus? — Hagrid asked in surprise.
— Yes, in Greek mythology, that's what they called the three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to the underworld, — Viktor explained.
Hagrid nodded.
— Well, I think it's time for us to go. Time is running out, — he sighed sadly.
— Why are you sad? That's good! He'll go to his homeland, maybe find a mate there, have little three-headed Fluffies, — Viktor tried to cheer him up.
Hagrid whimpered, his eyes tearing up.
— Yes, I hope so... It's just a bit sad that he's leaving. You know, they grow up and leave so quickly, leaving me alone, — he wiped a tear. — Alright, Fluffy, let's go. — He said, crying, pulling the dog by his thick hide.
Viktor remained standing, watching them go.
— Alone again, — he said quietly in the ensuing silence. Yes, alone again. The school year was over, and he had to go to an empty house. Hermione was nearby, of course, but she couldn't constantly be with him; she had a family and her own affairs.
Sighing, he headed for the main exit to wait for all the students to leave for the train outside.
After some time, as the main streams of students began to leave Hogwarts, Hermione and Daphne approached Viktor, who was standing at the marble steps.
— Viktor, where did you disappear to? — Hermione asked, her voice full of slight reproach.
— I had something to do. Well, the event is over, now let's go home.
Hermione nodded, heading toward the path leading to the station.
— Yes, let's go. God, I don't understand why the Headmaster makes us sing those silly songs... — As Hermione complained passionately about school traditions, Viktor retreated into himself again. He had already forgotten when he had been in such a terrible mood.
When they reached the platform where the scarlet Hogwarts Express was already standing, Hermione lightly nudged Viktor in the side, snapping him out of his reverie.
— Viktor, who do you think is right?
He stopped and looked at both girls, frozen in anticipation of his verdict. Having no idea what the dispute was about, Viktor decided not to give up so easily. Maintaining complete composure, he thought for a moment, and then answered with absolute seriousness:
— I think a navel piercing looks quite sexy.
Hermione and Daphne froze.
— What are you even thinking about, you pervert! — Hermione exclaimed, blushing with indignation and surprise.
Viktor sighed.
— Fine, I give up, I wasn't listening to you. So I decided to guess what you were arguing about.
— And why a piercing, specifically? — Hermione crossed her arms over her chest.
— I don't know, you're girls, — Viktor shrugged.
At that moment, Daphne, who had been silent until now, listening intently, interjected.
— What is a piercing? — she asked with genuine curiosity.
Hermione looked at her in surprise but immediately softened, remembering that Daphne had lived far away from Muggle realities her whole life.
— It's when they pierce their nose, or tongue, or ears, and insert something like an earring.
Daphne frowned, trying to make sense of what she heard.
— Why put earrings in your belly button? — she asked in surprise.
— Well, it's beautiful, — he replied with a smile.
— Viktor, — Gemma suddenly called out to him, next to whom stood two older Slytherin students.
— These guys want to tell you something.
— Viktor, we are so sorry! We truly didn't think that information would reach the Head of House! — one of the guys blurted out quickly, without pausing, his face pale as a sheet of paper.
— Ah-ha, so you're the little rats, — Viktor nodded, then looked at Gemma. — Well, why did you bring them to me? I said next school year, and now I'm on vacation. So the trial for these two is postponed until September.
With those words, he turned abruptly and stepped into a compartment of the Hogwarts Express. Then he instantly poked his head back out of the doorway and squinted at the guilty parties. They were too afraid to even move under his gaze.
— Daphne, remember them. Just in case I forget, — he said, finally disappearing into the train.
Daphne looked at the trembling Slytherins.
— The date and location of the trial will be announced in advance. Failure to appear will be punished by broken legs.
She took the bewildered Hermione by the hand and followed Viktor.
When she entered the compartment, he was sitting alone. Hermione had said she needed to talk to Harry and Ron and quickly left. Daphne sat opposite Viktor, who was turned away, looking out the window, and stared intently at him.
Viktor, feeling the continuous gaze, slowly turned around.
— What?
— What's wrong with you lately?
— I'm fine.
— I don't think so. The Viktor everyone knows wouldn't put off dealing with a couple of students until next school year, — she insisted.
— I'm just not in the mood right now.
— Well, then all the more reason to blow off some steam!
— With those weaklings? All I need to do is wave my hand to scatter them across the station.
— You didn't care about strength before, — Daphne noted quietly. — I'm weaker than you too, but at the beginning of the year, you almost choked me.
He stared at her, frowning.
— Did you suddenly become my psychologist? Fine, you want the truth, here's the truth: I don't want to leave. I like being at school; at least I'm not lonely here.
Daphne stared at him, and then laughed loudly. But seeing Viktor's completely serious face, she instantly fell silent, realizing he wasn't joking.
— Are you really sad because you don't want to leave?
— It sounds so strange.
— Coming from you—yes, it sounds strange. You always act so grown-up. Immaturity—yes, but this is the first time in nine months I've seen the child in you.
— Spoken by a child just like me, — Viktor weakly chuckled.
Daphne looked at him and smiled gently. Due to her family background, she had to grow up much earlier than most of her peers. As the firstborn and heiress of the Greengrass family, she was raised with the strictest discipline; she was not allowed excessive liberties so as not to disgrace her ancient lineage.
But thanks to Viktor, she could be a child, if only for a short time. At first, she fooled herself that she had no choice, but over time, she realized: she liked this freedom, she liked their faction and what they were doing, from the very day he created the Slytherin Quidditch fan club.
She would never have allowed herself to go out painted in public before, but on that day, she finally felt like a child who was simply having fun.
Viktor's faction now accounted for almost half of Slytherin, and it didn't happen by chance. Yes, he initially used force to suppress and seize control of the entire first year, but Viktor didn't hold anyone against their will. After Malfoy left, anyone could have stated their unwillingness to be under his command. Those who were tired of discrimination from the pure-bloods joined him, but most came because it was fun with Viktor. He could easily brighten up any boring Slytherin weekend.
There was even an instance where he didn't like that they couldn't dance, and he forced everyone to learn moves: all day long, all they did was laugh and dance. Viktor showed them that being a Slytherin didn't mean always walking proudly and demonstrating their superiority over everyone.
Therefore, seeing him now in such a depressed state, she wanted to help him.
— Listen, it's only three months, — she said reassuringly. — I'm sure the summer will fly by quickly.
Viktor sighed.
— I guess you're right.
— And didn't you write a bunch of plans for the summer? I don't think you'll be bored.
Viktor thought for a moment and took out his wand. Conjuring his diary, he opened it and began to flip through the pages.
— Yes, I have a bunch of plans and ideas here, — he said, his voice a little more cheerful.
The train started, picking up speed, and they pulled out of Hogsmeade Station. He closed the diary, hugged it to himself, and, looking out the window, smiled broadly.
— I have a lot of things to do, you know... Maybe the summer won't be so boring after all.