What Does the Fox Say? (Victoria)

Zander's Bark

Zander had been up late the night before preparing a special Valentine's Day dinner for Victoria the next day. However, being the overachiever he was, he'd managed to finish dinner, laundry, clean his apartment and now he was studying his animagi training, which Victoria knew nothing about. He wanted to surprise her one day by transforming. Recently he had discovered his animagi was a red fox and he had begun practicing transfiguring into his animagi and back, however he'd never attempted to transform outside the classroom.

However, choosing to practice outside the classroom on a day he wasn't completely rested and clear headed was probably a big mistake. He knew Victoria would be over soon and despite the fact they'd been dating since November, he still got extremely nervous around her. He was terrified of screwing up and losing her, especially because he didn't think he'd ever find someone else like her. He didn't even deserve her, or at he that's what he thought.

The boy had transfigured perfectly into the pup form of a red fox. Even his suit and tie had shrunk to fit him still. He was told that as he developed, the fox would too so eventually, it would be an adult fox as opposed to a young one. However, he was stuck, he couldn't figure out how to turn back and tat worried him. He tried and tried for hours with no luck and finally, defeated he hopped onto his bed and took a nap.

A knock on the door woke him and he panicked. Victoria. What was he supposed to do? He tried to tell her to come in, but instead, a bunch of chirps and purrs and barks came out, none of which the poor girl would understand. Sighing, or at least trying to sigh, he accepted defeat and laid his head back down as he heard the doorknob turn. At least he left the door unlocked.

His felt horribly embarrassed and also realised his training would no longer be a surprise to her.

As a fox, everything looked different to Zander. Colours seemed more vibrant and his vision was different, better in a way, however everything was angled weird, almost like looking through glass and Zander found that odd. His blue eyes locked on Victoria as she opened his door and knelt down beside him, confused it seemed. She was beautiful, stunning in her dress and it took Zander's breath away, though it was hard to tell because he was a fox.

At his name, he gave her a happy chirp sound because that was all he could make. He made different pitched tones, some for each emotion he could feel but he had no idea if they actually sounded any different. Letting out another chirp, he tried to explain his reasoning behind telling her but quickly realised it would be pointless as she didn't understand fox speak. He heaved his head back down on the bed and looked up at her with sad eyes, hoping she'd understand that he was in fact, stuck.

He watched as she reached into her bag and pulled out her wand and for a moment, his breath stopped and panic rose. She was going to change him back. What if his clothes didn't grow with him? Oh Merlin. He moved his tail to cover his eyes as she pointed her wand at him.

Looking down, he let out a sigh of relief to see that his suit had grown back to accommodate his human form. "I was told to practice," he said, looking down to the ground. He was extremely embarrassed. "I just didn't have enough sleep to successfully transfigure back into human form."

The more he admitted out loud, the more he felt ashamed. "I was wanting to surprise you, it's why I never told."

"Of course I'm doing this legally, I'm going to be an Auror after all," he noted, there was no way he'd get into trouble and ruin his future career.

"Hello beautiful," he smiled and gave her a small kiss before escorting her to where he had a candlelit dinner prepared.

He nodded feeling a bit defeated. "I'm sorry Vic," his head hung down, "I'll be more careful." He felt bad that Victoria had found him like that and he even felt bad that he had told her the truth because she worried a lot and it was understandable even if he did wish she wouldn't worry quit as much. He wrapped his arms around her, comforting her and trying to show that he was okay and that he was, in fact, sorry.

"I know you do," he kissed the top of her head. He liked her the way she was too and he didn't know why this was such a big surprise but it was. He couldn't explain why it was meant to be so special, it just was. He blushed, still embarrassed, "Thanks, I'm glad my clothes grew with me," his voice trailed off a bit causing him to turn an even brighter shade of red. "From a fox' eyesight, you're just as pretty, if not prettier, assuming that's possible," he whispered to her, his finger caressing her cheek.

Every time their lips met, it took Zander off guard and he assumed one day it wouldn't but he he hoped it did. He liked the shock of kissing Victoria. He liked the way it made him feel, the tingling of his body, the warmth that drew from her into him and vice versa. If there ever came a day where kissing Victoria Newbury wasn't thrilling, then he would for sure be in Hell. At her exclamation, he looked up after having pulled out her chair for her to sit and then sitting after. He was worried something happened, instead he was being handed a box.

He nodded as he listened to her and wondered what on earth her friends thought he could like. He opened the box as he let his mind wonder.

When he pulled out the bear he smiled and when she told him to give it a squeeze, he did and smiled even bigger. "It's perfect, like you," he smiled to her. Now he'd always have her with him. "I love you too," he laughed a bit, looking to his girlfriend.

Suddenly remembering the little box, he pulled it out his pocket and handed it to her. He waited for her to open and when she did, he caught the familiar glint of the ring. "A crown for my Queen," he smiled.

He laughed when her face flushed. "Well I definitely would've been embarrassed," he said, his cheeks turning a dull pink colour. He couldn't imagine being near naked in front of Victoria, well at least not yet. Eventually, maybe, but not now. Also, he would've felt bad about it because it would've been his fault for not having rested before trying to transfigure into his animagi.

He could feel Victoria watching him as he opened his gift and he wondered if she was worried he wouldn't like it. Didn't she mention that already? Zander didn't know. However, there had been no reason for her to have worried because he loved it. He loved everything from it just like he loved her. How couldn't he? Her grin at him caused him to grin back at her. He knew he didn't need to tell her he loved her because he proved it, quite often. He proved it with their dates and his hugs and cuddles and kisses.

He knew that Victoria hated when he spent money on her. it was just her. She didn't like Zander spoiling her and she tried to repay him back. In fact, the first time she repayed him back had been because he let her stay in his room after she locked herself out. It was a nice gesture that he never thought would lead them to where they were now, however, he would never change any of it. He wished she didn't feel the need to constantly repay him, but he knew he could never change that and he wouldn't want to. He'd never want to change her. "I'm glad you like it," he smiled.

He wanted to roll his eyes in a joking manner but he didn't, mainly because he didn't know how she'd take it. "I didn't spend all my money on your present." He gave her a smile and grabbed her hand before bringing it to his lips and kissing it. The ring fit her perfectly and Zander was quite proud of himself. "I spent all my money on today's events," he smiled, "just kidding." He chuckled a bit. He was happy, content. "I know I don't, but I like to."

"I know," he replied, "but I work in order to be able to buy you nice things and take you places," he offered her a smile. He also worked to pay for University and she knew that but also, Hogwarts had given him plenty of scholarships so he really hadn't even needed to worry about it.

When Victoria smiled and squeezed his hand, he smiled back. He really enjoyed being with Victoria and he often told her. In fact, he probably told her so much that she was probably growing irritated with him every time he said something but he didn't care.

Zander cleared his throat, "Zander's Special Italian Alfredo," he gave her a slight smile and a wink as he moved to grab their plates and place it in each respective place on the table. It was simple chicken alfredo but it was also a family recipe, and he was Zander and has to make it sound spectacular because it was. He laughed a bit at her, "I wouldn't have been offended, I would've just sent it home with you."

"We just may," he smiled to let her know that they did have something planned for after but that he would not tell her.