Chapter 7

Ever since Marcus started dating Hannah, he seemed to have lost all his focus. Even the Defense Against the Dark Arts class failed to capture his attention. This surprised Victoria, considering Professor Moody's intense presence. His imposing posture and towering height, which must be around 1,90 metres, demanded respect. His face bore the marks of battles, and he was missing a piece of his nose bridge, a testament to his lengthy and storied history.

Moody's steely, penetrating eyes seemed to miss nothing, as if they could pierce through the very souls of those who met his gaze. His ash-blonde hair, though slightly faded, added a touch of distinguished maturity to his appearance.

His left eye, a magical eye that moved independently of the other, was a vivid electric blue, its gaze sharp and piercing. The magical eye swivelled around the room, scanning every student with a discerning intensity. His gnarled staff, which he leaned on, appeared to be as much a part of him as his own arm, its surface etched with intricate carvings and symbols.

As Victoria observed him, she couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and respect. Professor Moody's aura of authority and experience made it clear that they were in the presence of a true wizarding veteran.

Unbeknownst to everyone, it was actually Barty Crouch Jr. who stood at the front of the classroom. He used the magical eye to scrutinise each student as they entered, evaluating them with a discerning gaze. When his eyes fell upon Victoria Ollivander, he felt a subtle shift in the air. His gaze lingered on her as she entered the room with a presence that demanded attention.

Victoria Ollivander, with her wavy chestnut hair cascading down her shoulders, exuded an aura of quiet confidence that set her apart. The waves of her hair delicately framed her face. Her tie, perfectly knotted at her neck, was part of the Ravenclaw uniform she wore with an effortless grace.

Her freckles stood out, adding a touch of whimsy to her otherwise serene appearance.

Her hazel eyes, sharp and inquisitive, seemed to dissect the world around her, reflecting a keen intelligence that intrigued him. He sensed a sharp mind, one that could pierce through even the most intricate disguises. It was a trait he admired and feared simultaneously.

As their eyes briefly locked, Victoria felt a shiver run down her spine and she quickly shifted her gaze towards her notes.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was shrouded in an eerie silence as Professor Moody stood before his class, his magical eye scanning the students with an intensity that sent shivers down their spines. Today's lesson was on the Unforgivable Curses, and Moody had a way of making even the most seasoned witches and wizards nervous.

Moody's gravelly voice broke the silence. "Today, my dear students, we'll be discussing curses of the darkest nature, the unforgivable curses."

He proceeded to explain the first curse in detail, the Cruciatus Curse, demonstrating its incantation and the wand movement required. The tension in the room was palpable as he scanned the sea of faces before him, his eyes falling upon a certain Ravenclaw Head Girl.

Barty couldn't help but be intrigued by Victoria Ollivander, a pureblood scion of the esteemed Ollivander family, boasting a remarkable 12 O.W.L.S. to her name. He had labelled her as a force to be reckoned with, a potential threat to his carefully constructed identity. Yet, there was something about her that lured him in, a magnetic quality that he found both captivating and disconcerting.

As he continued teaching the class, Barty found his attention repeatedly drifting back to Victoria, watching how she carried herself with poise and confidence. Even in the midst of the lesson, her presence demanded attention, her every movement reflected the refinement of a pureblood upbringing. He found himself captivated by the way she carried herself. Even her posture exuded confidence, her spine straight and her shoulders squared, as if she were ready to face any challenge that came her way.

As he dared his class to perform the curse, Barty's inner thoughts raced. What if I ask Miss Ollivander to perform the spell? He couldn't deny the anticipation that coursed through him at the mere thought.

Moody nodded, his gruff voice softening slightly. "Very well, Miss Ollivander. Show us how it's done."

Hesitation gripped the room as all eyes turned to her, but she didn't falter. Her chin raised defiantly, she met his gaze head-on. Moody's hand reached out, steadying hers as she poised to perform the incantation.

"Remember to maintain focus, Miss Ollivander." Her wand was poised and ready, still she couldn't help but feel a rush of nerves. Barty moved closer, his rough, calloused hand surprisingly gentle as it reached out to grasp hers, helping her find the correct position. She looked up as she felt the unexpected tenderness in his touch, their fingers entwining, and a soft yet confident voice spoke close to her ear.

"Relax, Victoria. You've got this," Moody murmured almost inaudible.

Victoria's heart skipped a beat as he subtly adjusted her grip on the wand, his touch light and almost protective. His presence felt surprisingly reassuring as he continued to subtly adjust her stance. It was as if he wanted to ensure she succeeded.

Victoria took a deep breath, her wand held firmly in her hand as she incanted the curse and directed it toward a target. “Crucio,” she whispered. Barty watched in awe as the green light of the Cruciatus Curse erupted from her wand. His hand lingered on hers, and for a brief moment, he found himself lost in thought, unable to contain his astonishment. “She's a prodigy,” he realised. Her control, her precision—it's remarkable.”

The spider contorted in agony as Barty Crouch Jr. watched her with an intense and assessing gaze. As the curse ended, Victoria withdrew her wand, her expression a mix of determination and realisation of what she had just done. Her pulse still raced, still she couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

As Victoria's eyes remained locked on the spider, she felt a sudden, firm grip on her hand and the gentle brush of a thumb over her wrist. He removed his hand from hers, the touch gone as quickly as it had come. Startled, she glanced to her side and met Moody's gaze, only to find a glint of admiration in his eye. He nodded in approval, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Impressive, Miss Ollivander. You handled that curse with precision.” Victoria's cheeks flushed, both from the intensity of the spell and the unexpected praise from her teacher. "Thank you, Professor."

A mischievous glint sparkled in his eye, and he leaned in closer, his lips almost brushing against her ear. "Impressive... I knew you had it in you," he murmured, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. Quickly composing himself, Barty grumbled, "But remember, power is nothing without control, constant vigilance!" He stated loudly for the whole class. Her heart raced as she nodded, recovering from the adrenaline of the curse performed.

"That was... intense," Nina Patel whispered to Eleanor, as the Hufflepuff girl shook her head, her eyes reflecting a mixture of admiration and concern. Eleanor's eyes were wide, and her mouth slightly agape. She had never seen Victoria perform a curse like that.

Hannah Turner leaned in closer and said in a hushed voice, "I knew she was dedicated to her studies, but I didn't expect her to be that skilled with the Unforgivable Curses."

Marcus furrowed his brow as he observed Victoria, his expression betraying deep concern for his friend. "I hope she's okay. That curse... it's not something to take lightly."

Hannah sent him a confident wink as tried to reassure him. “I’m sure it’s fine, Victoria seems to be able to handle it. I know it's troubling, but Victoria's always been resilient, hasn't she?”

As Victoria returned to her seat, she couldn't shake the memories that the Cruciatus Curse had stirred within her. She had acted on the adrenaline of the pressure to perform for the whole class and now had to endure the aftermath. Though she maintained a composed exterior, her mind flashed back to moments she'd rather forget–moments when she had felt the searing pain of dark magic herself coursing through her veins.

Eleanor placed a gentle hand on Victoria's arm, her voice soft with concern. "You seem distant, Vic. Is everything alright?"

Victoria forced a smile, her gaze flickering to her notes. "I'm fine, just... recovering my breath."

Marcus, sitting beside her, met her gaze with understanding. He didn't press her for details, knowing all too well the weight of unspoken burdens. Instead, he simply reached out and squeezed her hand under the desk, a gesture of support. Victoria's eyes softened as she returned the squeeze, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.

Nina frowned, her brows knitting together in confusion. "But you performed the curse flawlessly. It almost seems like you have some experience with it?" While Nina did not intend for it to be an accusation, Victoria's heart skipped a beat, her grip tightening around her quill. "I... may have read about it once or twice," she replied evasively, careful to keep her tone light as she refocused on her notes.

Hannah raised an eyebrow, a hint of scepticism in her voice. "Just reading about it doesn't explain how skilled you were with it, Victoria."

Victoria's gaze flickered, a shadow passing over her features before she quickly masked it with a smile. "Well, I suppose I just have a knack for Defence Against the Dark Arts," she said, though her words rang hollow even to her own ears.

Marcus's grip tightened on Victoria's hand, a subtle reassurance that didn't go unnoticed by her. She met his gaze with a small, grateful smile, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken understanding between them.

"Besides," she said, regaining her usual poise, "I don't back away from an intellectual challenge. Professor Moody is an Auror. I’m confident he wouldn’t have let us perform the curse if he didn’t deem it necessary.”