The Altercation
The Gryffindor common room had been too loud for Vi to focus, so she and Caitlyn had taken their books outside to study by the Black Lake. Well, Caitlyn was studying. Vi was lazily flipping through her Transfiguration textbook, watching the water ripple in the breeze.
“I swear, McGonagall’s out to get me,” Vi groaned, shutting her book and flopping back onto the grass. “Half of this isn’t even gonna be on the test.”
Caitlyn didn’t look up from her notes. “It’s all important, Vi.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Vi muttered, stretching her arms over her head. “You say that now, but just wait— I get stuck trying to turn a hedgehog into a pincushion while you get some fancy theoretical question about the fundamentals of magical matter or something.”
Caitlyn smirked. “If you actually paid attention, you wouldn’t have to rely on luck.”
Vi rolled onto her side to reply but froze when she saw someone approaching.
Maddie Nolen swaggered toward them with two of her friends trailing behind her, hair as dumb as ever, permanent smirk affixed per usual. Vi immediately tensed. Maddie had taken a particular liking to making snide remarks whenever Vi was within earshot.
“Well, well,” Maddie drawled as she stopped in front of them. “If it isn’t Zaun’s own little charity case.”
Vi sat up straight, eyes narrowing. “What do you want, Nolen?”
Maddie tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Oh, nothing. Just wondering if they let anyone into Gryffindor these days. Or Hogwarts for that matter. Guess standards are dropping.”
Vi clenched her fists. “Why don’t you shove off?”
Maddie grinned, clearly pleased to get a reaction. “Relax, Lanes. I’m just curious. What’s it like, being the school’s biggest pity invite?”
Vi could feel her anger rising—her face felt hot, and her muscles coiled, ready to throw a punch, but before she could, Caitlyn snapped her book shut and stood up.
“That’s enough,” Caitlyn said, stepping between them. Her voice was sharp, commanding. “Go find someone else to bother, Maddie.”
Maddie raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what are you, her personal guard dog?”
Caitlyn’s expression didn’t waver. “No, just someone who knows she’s ten times the person you are.”
Maddie’s smirk twitched. “Careful, Kiramman. Wouldn’t want people thinking you’re lowering yourself by hanging around with the likes of her.”
Caitlyn didn’t hesitate. “Funny. I was about to say the same to your little lovesick puppies that follow you everywhere. Did you have to bribe them?"
Vi’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected Caitlyn to fight her battles for her, but there was something fierce in the way Caitlyn stood her ground, something that made Vi’s anger cool just enough for her to smirk.
Maddie, clearly not expecting resistance from Caitlyn Kiramman of all people, took a step forward, her hand wrapping around the handle of the wand that was peeking out from its holster on her waist. “You should watch your mouth, Kiramman.”
Vi took a step forward, stepping forward so she was even with Caitlyn. “Or what?”
Maddie’s smirk twisted into something meaner.
Before Caitlyn could react, Maddie yanked her wand from its holster and aimed it straight at her chest.
“Exp—”
Vi didn’t think—she just moved.
Her own wand was in her hand in a flash, instincts kicking in before Maddie could finish the incantation. “Expelliarmus!”
A flash of red light shot from Vi’s wand, hitting Maddie’s hand with enough force to send her wand spinning through the air. It landed a few feet away in the grass with a soft thud.
Maddie gasped, eyes widening in shock as she clutched her stinging fingers. Her two friends took nervous steps backward, looking between her and Vi like they suddenly weren’t sure they wanted to be involved in this anymore. Maddie scrambled to grab her wand.
Vi tightened her grip on her wand, breathing heavily. “Try that again, Nolen,” she growled, stepping closer. “Go on. Give me an excuse.”
Before Maddie could raise her wand again, a sharp voice rang out from behind them.
“What exactly is going on here?”
Professor McGonagall.
Vi and Caitlyn froze as she approached, Maddie quickly concealed her wand. McGonagall’s gaze was piercing as ever.
Vi shoved her own wand into her pockets, trying to look as innocent as possible. Caitlyn, ever composed, squared her shoulders and kept her expression neutral.
Maddie, of course, turned on the charm. “Oh, nothing, Professor,” she said sweetly. “We were just having a friendly chat.”
McGonagall’s eyebrows raised slightly. “Is that so? Because it looked rather unfriendly from where I was standing.”
Silence.
McGonagall sighed. “Detention. All of you.”
Maddie’s face twisted in annoyance, but she didn’t argue. Vi just let out a long breath. Great.
McGonagall’s gaze flicked to Vi and Caitlyn. “My office. Twenty minutes.” Then she turned to Maddie and her cronies. “And you lot—Professor Slughorn will be expecting you.”
Maddie scowled but nodded. She shot Vi and Caitlyn one last glare before turning on her heel and stalking off.
Vi sighed dramatically. “Well, that went great. Like come on, detention? It was defensive!"
Caitlyn shrugged and bumped Vi's shoulder with a smirk. "At least we'll have detention together."
Vi hummed in response and the two walked quietly up towards their doom that awaited them in the castle, until Caitlyn broke it with a quiet, "Thank you."
Vi glanced over at Caitlyn, brows furrowed. "For what?"
Caitlyn hesitated, her gaze flicking ahead toward the castle before settling back on Vi. “For stepping in,” she said after a moment. “I wouldn't have been fast enough. I'd have gotten hit if not for you.”
Vi scoffed. “Please. Like I was just gonna let her hex you.” She stuffed her hands into her pockets. “Besides, she had it coming.”
Caitlyn smirked. “Still. You didn’t have to.”
Vi rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the way the corner of her mouth twitched up. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t get all sentimental on me, Kiramman.”
Caitlyn let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “I mean it, Vi."
Something in Caitlyn’s voice made Vi glance over at her again. There was something serious in her expression, something deeper than just gratitude.
Vi swallowed, suddenly feeling a little too warm. She turned her attention back to the castle. “Anytime,” she muttered.
Caitlyn nudged her shoulder and smirked. "It was very impressive."
Vi suddenly felt like she couldn't swallow. She kept her eyes steady ahead as they walked the rest of the way in silence, side by side, until they reached McGonagall’s office. Right before stepping inside, Caitlyn bumped Vi’s shoulder again.
“Try not to look too smug in there,” she teased. “I doubt McGonagall will appreciate it.”
Vi grinned. “No promises.”