The Restricted Section of Hogwarts was shrouded in gloom. The air was heavy, saturated with the scent of old dust and ancient parchment. Dozens of books lay scattered on the floor, some open, some closed, their pages fluttering with the quick movements of a pair of hands. Viktor, looking possessed, flipped through one tome after another, his eyes burning with a feverish gleam.
— Where is it... — he mumbled.
The door creaked softly, and Daphne quietly entered with a tray in her hands. She carefully placed it on a table next to another, from the morning, which Viktor had not touched. The girl sighed heavily and looked at Viktor, who was completely engrossed in his search.
— Viktor, I brought you lunch, — she called softly.
He didn't react at all, as if he were in another reality.
— Viktor, — she called again, a little louder this time.
He finally looked up at her, his gaze wild.
— Oh, Daphne, are you still here? — he asked. — Yes, thanks for the breakfast. I'll eat later, I'm a bit busy.
— You told me the same thing this morning, but you didn't eat anything, — she sighed. — This is lunch.
Viktor didn't even turn around. He reached for another book and replied, — Breakfast, lunch—what's the difference? I'll eat later, I'm busy right now.
She shook her head, took the morning tray, and, with a quiet sigh, left. In the corridor, the others were already waiting for her, anxiously expecting news.
— Well, how is he? — one of them asked.
— He's getting worse, — Daphne sighed. — He didn't even touch breakfast.
— What is he doing in there? — a girl asked with concern. — It's been four days since he locked himself in there!
— He's constantly reading and writing something. We need to get him out of there somehow.
— But how? — a boy replied worriedly. — We can't just burst in and drag him out by force. If he gets angry, we'll be the ones needing help to get to the hospital wing.
— You're right. At least he's the best in class, and the teachers don't mind that he's skipping lessons, — another girl noted.
— Maybe we should tell the Head of House, and he'll kick him out? — one girl suggested.
The same boy replied, — Yeah, we'll tell the teachers, and as soon as he gets kicked out and punished, he'll come after us... And you know the result: the hospital wing.
— But we can't just leave him in there like that, — someone exclaimed. — Daphne, you're the one he talks to best! Try to talk him into it.
— You think I haven't tried? — Daphne replied. — I even told him the final Slytherin match is coming up, but he didn't react at all.
— So what do we do?
Daphne thought for a moment, and then her eyes lit up.
— There's someone in this school who knows Viktor better than me.
— Right! — a boy shouted. — Hermione! We have to ask her for help.
Daphne nodded.
— I'll go and talk to her.
Daphne quickly found Hermione walking outside, heading somewhere.
— Hermione... can I have a word with you for a second?
Hermione stopped, surprised. It was the first time Daphne had ever spoken to her. Without wasting time, Daphne quickly explained the situation.
— So, Viktor is missing classes because he locked himself in the Restricted Section and is studying something there? — Hermione clarified.
Daphne nodded.
— Yes. Can you talk to him?
Hermione sighed.
— I can, but I doubt he'll listen to me. If he's set a goal for himself, he won't stop until he achieves it. And if you say he's been there for four days, that means he's planning something very serious.
— So what should we do? — Daphne asked.
Hermione thought for a moment, and then her eyes lit up.
— Wait for me by the Restricted Section, I'll be right back.
Daphne stood by the door to the Restricted Section and watched through the crack as Viktor wrote something, constantly giggling. Hearing quick footsteps behind her, she turned and saw Hermione running towards her.
Reaching Daphne, Hermione handed her a small, battered diary.
— Here. The answer should be in here.
Daphne read the title on the cover: "Instructions for Viktor." She looked at Hermione strangely.
— What is this?
Hermione smiled.
— I found it at his place this summer. I thought it was his diary and I stole it.
— Why did you steal his diary? — Daphne asked.
Hermione answered awkwardly.
— Well, you know... he's always so mysterious, so I figured I could learn more about him. But it's filled with nonsense. — She opened the diary to a random page. — For example...
Hermione began to read:
— "Hello, it's me again, Viktor. After I described what to do if Viktor becomes a ghost and what to do if a demon possesses Viktor, it's time to provide instructions for what to do if Viktor becomes a zombie."
— "First, you need to understand the severity of the world. If it's the end of the world and more than ninety percent of humanity is infected, don't touch him, just let him wander. The world is ending anyway, long live the zombie dominion."
— "If half of humanity is infected, lock Viktor up and put on some music for him, let him party alone and not cause problems for the living."
— "If he's a loser and gets caught in the first ten percent of the infected, put a bullet in his head and burn his body."
— "So we have covered the instructions for what to do if Viktor becomes a zombie. Next, we will see the instructions for what to do if Viktor becomes a phone scammer..."
Daphne raised an eyebrow.
— Are you sure this will help us?
— Well, the nonsense is only at the end, — Hermione replied. — The beginning has some pretty useful advice. Just a second, I read something about it... — She began flipping through the diary. — "What to do if Viktor is bored"... "What to do if Viktor is cold"... Oh, I found it! "What to do if Viktor locks himself in a room."
After reading for a while, she snapped the diary shut.
— Let's go, — she said determinedly. — I know what to do.
They entered the Restricted Section. Viktor was sitting at a table surrounded by books, his eyes glowing as he excitedly copied something. He was giggling, barely holding back his delight.
— Yes-yes-yes! Ha-ha-ha-ha! — he was muttering.
Hermione walked up to him.
— Viktor, — she called.
He looked up.
— What is it?
SLAP.
A loud, clear slapping sound echoed throughout the Restricted Section. Daphne stood with her eyes wide open in shock. Viktor blinked, his hand instinctively going to his reddened cheek.
— My dear Hermione, — he asked quietly, — why did you hit me? And mind you, your answer will determine whether I spank you right now or not.
Hermione, unfazed, snorted.
— What the hell have you been doing here for four days?!
Viktor's eyes widened.
— How many days have I been here?
Hermione repeated, clearly, syllable by syllable.
— Four.
Viktor turned sharply to Daphne.
— Are you my secretary or what?! Why didn't you tell me I've been sitting here for half a week?!
An eye twitch started on Daphne's face.
— I did tell you.
Viktor scoffed.
— Then why don't I remember?
A vein popped up on Daphne's forehead. She looked at Hermione.
— Can I have that diary? I want to copy it.
Hermione nodded.
— Yes, of course, — and held out the diary to her.
Daphne reached for it, but with incredible speed, Viktor jumped up and snatched it away.
— Why do you have this? I thought I lost it!
Hermione looked embarrassed and, turning away, began to mumble something about the large book collection in the Restricted Section. Viktor sighed and looked at Daphne.
— And why do you want this diary? You don't want an excuse to slap me, do you?
Daphne smiled.
— No. I just want to know how to better handle my boss, — and she giggled softly.
Hermione, seeing Daphne's behavior, shook her head.
— You need to stop hanging out with him. He's a very bad influence on you.