Victor Calza
He couldn't help but grin at the stupid quodpot introduction he'd made, as well as the suggestion Teiver had fired back. Him trying out was indeed about as likely as Herve casting a decent spell. There had been a time, perhaps four years ago or more, when Victor would have jumped at the chance to play for Vulpes House on the Quodpot team. But he'd always been too small back then, and his subtlety and typically impenetrable calm demeanor were not things that were rewarded well on the pitch. By the time he grew into himself fully, as he had the past two years, he no longer valued the sport as he once had. There were far more valuable things to concern himself with than the rivalries of the houses and the outcomes on the Quodpot pitch.
Victor gazed up at the sky in the Great Hall as Teiver explained the work she'd been doing. To be honest, Victor had not really considered the potential importance the ceiling in here could have. As each year went by, he was convinced Teiver had a much deeper understanding of the castle than he'd ever get. It was just one of the reasons he found spending time around her so enjoyable. She had such a way of opening his eyes to things he had overlooked, or written off. In essence, she had the ability to make him feel less intelligent. She taught him things he'd never thought to learn, and he had to admit, it was times like this when he found her particularly attrac--
Particularly valuable as a friend. Yes. That's what he had meant.
Then he heard a string of words he found particularly displeasing. Finn joined her last night. Almost got her caught. By Herve. Freaked her out. Had his hand in his pocket. Obviously where he kept his wand. Victor had stopped looking at the stars, but instead turned his gaze at Teiver, his concern perhaps a little more visible than he would have preferred. Pollack represented pretty much everything Victor simply couldn't respect. And here he was nearly getting Victor's closest friend caught on the first night. He found himself gritting his teeth in frustration, wishing he could have been around last night, wishing his father hadn't sent him off as some kind of delivery boy.
It crossed his mind that he was feeling awfully protective over Teiver, but he dismissed the thought. She was a friend; of course he would look out for what was in her best interest. And Pollack didn't fit into that picture, that he knew. Before he could voice his concern, however, she had turned the tables on him, prodding him for information about where he was last night. Certainly understandable that she'd want some kind of answer, as he hadn't made a habit of missing opening feasts, even if he did find them a little dull, and even if the majority of the people around him had him feeling nauseous by the time he was done eating his meal.
"Father had a request for me," he said, a subtle hint of weariness in his voice, "it kept me from making the boat on time. I only arrived a few hours ago, in fact. Never went to bed."
It wasn't an uncommon occurrence. Victor had been known to stay up long after Teiver was through sneaking about after curfew. It wasn't insomnia, really, but there were often nights when Victor simply couldn't help but think about whatever crossed his mind, and it kept him from falling asleep, or even feeling tired, really. He'd grown accustomed to it. Though by midday today he'd likely be feeling the effects. Perhaps because there had been an added dose of stress in this particular sleepless night.
"Pollack didn't do anything stupid, did he?" he asked, not feeling much like talking about his family at the moment. "Stupid for him, I mean. And... surely he'll try to follow you again. Especially if he suspects something of you, but doesn't know what. I could talk to him. Get him to lay off."
Talking to Pollack would probably just make him more suspicious, and more eager to investigate, and sniff out the despicable rule-breakers, but Victor was feeling particularly annoyed by the Ferre's actions. And the last thing he wanted to see was Teiver getting punished because Pollack couldn't handle a few students doing the occasional nighttime excursion. Teiver meant a lot to him and--well, she was a very valuable friend.
Dammit, he had to stop doing that. He blamed it on the lack of sleep.