July 13th, 1893 — outside Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop

It wasn't that Victoria was bored, she just didn't want to be here.

At the end of the school year, some of her peers had gone around offering white strips of cloth, saying they would play a game over the summer. A game that, because Victoria lived in Greyback Reach, she wouldn't be able to properly participate in on a regular basis. So she'd turned down the offer of an enchanted strip of cloth, citing the truth. She would be uncommonly safe for the game, because she didn't live in Hogsmeade or London regularly, and she highly doubted her family would allow her to host a game day at the Reach.

No, definitely not.

And yet, here she stood outside of Scrivenshaft's, where her governess was shopping for a new quill to replace one that had been lost, dressed in indigo with white trim. She'd insisted on wearing a dress with white ruffles rather than simple banded trims, so she wouldn't be mistaken for a participant — not that she told the governess that when she was going through her wardrobe. At a distance, though, one could confuse her for a participant in the game, despite her attempts to look like she wasn't.

Still, she was aware of the game, so when she heard the shouted spell, she instinctively flinched and covered her head. "You almost hit me!" she shouted in the direction the spell had come from.

---

Open to 1-2 participants in Wizards vs. Inferi! Victoria is a non-player.

The following 1 user Likes Victoria Greyback's post:1 user Likes Victoria Greyback's post
   Millie Potts

It was a stupid game for bored children, at least, that’s what she kept saying to herself from the moment she overheard her sibling telling their little sister about it over tea. Amarantha had better, more mature things to be doing, such as doing the summer homework she had, heading back to the Flint Institute before their social mixer that afternoon, or pestering Mr. Flint in the institute’s library until he gave her something worth studying. And yet... here Amarantha was, her pristine white status band tied to her wrist like a bracelet, eyeing Miss Victoria Greyback like she was her prey with her yew wand in hand.

It was Thursday which meant today was meant to be a safe day anyway, but the only rule stopping her was one built on peer pressure and Amarantha felt rules were meant to not just be broken, but to be shattered. “REDUCTO!” Amarantha called out, a smirk on her lips; of course, there were much calmer spells that would have worked against her opponent, but she had a flair for the dramatic. Unfortunately, or, at least unfortunately for Amarantha, Victoria ducked in time for the spell to blast apart a bunch of wooden crates stacked near the door of the quill shop, causing their contents to spill out. Her wand was quickly put away and she gave an innocent smile to the younger year as she approached her, “That was the point, dear.”

The following 1 user Likes Amarantha Valenduris's post:1 user Likes Amarantha Valenduris's post
   Gwyn Conway

---

interested in a secret society for dark arts? join the nightshade society!
Beautiful Set by Athena ♡ !

To say Victoria was livid was putting it mildly, as she planted her hands on the sides of her waist for the moment and faced the older student who had fired off such a spell at her. "I heard about the game," she said bluntly, not bothering to glance about and watch for her governess, who would certainly be unhappy at such a game's existence. Especially that such a seemingly-proper young lady was playing it.

Victoria didn't know much about her older house-mate. She hadn't spoken to her much, and if she was honest, had been kind of avoiding interacting with older students in general after what happened in fourth year. "I'm not playing. I don't live locally, and so I would have an unfair advantage in participation because it would be harder to get me."

---

The following 1 user Likes Victoria Greyback's post:1 user Likes Victoria Greyback's post
   Amarantha Valenduris

Amarantha wasn’t in the least bit concerned about her own governess as she had both Hyacinth and her other younger sibling with her on this shopping trip and between those two, she’d probably be too distracted to chastise the girl for her behavior. But, she did consider toning down her bloodlust just a tad, after all, she wasn’t exactly trying to make enemies here - it was just a stupid game. “Then you shouldn’t be surprised if you almost get hit,” She mused, though maybe assuming most every student was playing the game was a bit bold, especially ones that were meant to be proper young ladies like the both of them.

She supposed it was quite honorable of that Victoria would opt out of playing the game in order to make it fair for the other students, but Amarantha would have taken that advantage and ran with it. “Look,” she said sweetly, softening her features, “I’m not really playing either - this,” she lifted her wrist to show the white band, “Belongs to my dear sister and I just wanted to help her out since playing this game means so much to her and she’s not really a great dueler. You understand, yes?”

  

---

interested in a secret society for dark arts? join the nightshade society!
Beautiful Set by Athena ♡ !

Settling down a little, Victoria folded her arms across her chest, giving Miss Valenduris a pouty look. "I thought the game was supposed to be subtle, anyway," she commented as she looked from the older girl to the scattered goods from the destroyed crate. "You're lucky none of that hit me. Mother would be livid if I ruined a dress in town. At least at home there's a reason for things to get messy."

Not that Victoria's mother really approved of her riding through mud and muck on the estate, but at least riding habits were meant to get filthy. And her hems were not quite fully lowered to the floor yet, so she didn't get them too muddy running about the estate on foot, though her shoes were quite another story. She didn't wear her nice clothes for running about, but the thought still crossed her mind. "Aren't the white bands supposed to mean you're meant to play the defender? And those with bands of black are meant to be the aggressors?"

---

  

---

Victoria was right, of course, the game was supposed to be something that was subtle enough that the students could get away playing it without fearing any of the adults would catch on to it, which was the reason why today should have been a safe day; because there were more adults out and about shopping and could possibly witness it. “Perhaps,” is all she said, shrugging, easily stepping over the spilled contents, as if she had no idea why they were like that to begin with, “Nothing hit you and you weren’t playing anyway, I suppose we can put this behind us then. Your gown is still pristine, I promise.” She found no reason for Victoria to act like she was traumatized by the whole experience, though Amarantha wasn’t going to apologize.

“It’s called strategy,” Amarantha rolled her eyes as if she couldn't believe Victoria didn't even consider the idea she had one; yet again, Victoria was right about how as the ‘Wizard’ in the game, with a white band, she was on the defense and not the offense, but even so, “If I incapacitate you with a spell before you see me, you can’t take me out first and I last another round. And if you so happened to be another ‘Wizard’, well, I guess accidents can happen, but all’s fair in love and war, as they say.”

  

---

interested in a secret society for dark arts? join the nightshade society!
Beautiful Set by Athena ♡ !

If Victoria was honest, she could understand what Amarantha meant. Every word. She was fine, her dress unadulterated. Her governess wouldn't be outraged and she wouldn't have to come up with a lie as to the state of anything. That no one had witnessed or overheard the spell strike was all but miraculous, but the contents had spilled, and someone would have to answer for it. If Victoria was quick, it wouldn't be her. The redhead pursed her lips slightly to the side, surveying the circumstance. "Strategy though it may be, I think we have lingered here too long, Miss Valenduris," she explained. "That no one has come upon us with this mess here is already too much good luck." She gestured to the contents of the shattered box, before taking a step towards the shop door. "I suggest returning to your chaperone, Miss Valenduris. We need never speak of this again."

But of course, Victoria was a Slytherin, and no Slytherin turned down potential leverage. If she could use the information to her advantage somehow, she would. But until that moment, it would remain between them.

---

  

It was incredibly lucky that she would be able to get away with what happened with no evidence that such a thing took place in the first place, aside from the broken boxes; and that could easily be explained away with the innocent claim that it was like that when they were passing by and nobody would question the idea that two upper class ladies had nothing to do with it. “What? Are you scared the constable is going to rush out and arrest you?” she questioned, an amused look on her face, “With what evidence do they have?” She probably should return to her chaperone now; she was probably away from her too long and it wasn’t quite proper, but she seemed too amused to do it. “I could,” she replied, “But she’s an awful bore, I assure you.”

  

---

interested in a secret society for dark arts? join the nightshade society!
Beautiful Set by Athena ♡ !