I've updated again! Please read and review and tell me what you think? Here comes the exciting next chapter! Hope you enjoy!

Valkyrie was nervous as she ran through the corridors. It was definitely him but he was a week late.

She stopped and watched as he got out of the Bentley. He had his façade on and was it her imagination, or was he nervous?

Valkyrie thought about running and hugging him but decided against it. She wasn't going to forgive him that easily.

Skulduggery walked up to her and swallowed.

"Hey Valkyrie." His voice was as smooth as it always had been and that's what set her off.

"Better late than never, eh? Even if you are a week late. Even if the person you're going to see has been kidnapped, threatened, attacked or even attacked by a werewolf." Skulduggery cringed at her every word.

"I'm sorry, I was side tracked."

Valkyrie could feel the tears welling up inside her. How could he care so little about her that he gets distracted from coming and saving her?

"I needed you. I needed your help, your guidance and your protection." Valkyrie whispered.

"We've already spoken about how I can't always be there." Skulduggery's voice was sad and quiet too.

"Fine, understandable. You had more important things to do than just come pick me up." Valkyrie smiled and after a second she knew it was realistic.

"Val, the game's about to start. Are you coming?" Hermione asked. She was standing a few meters away with Ginny and Luna. Luna was wearing the most ridicules hat in the world. It was a massive lion head.

"I'm seen some weird things in my day but that hat takes the top spot." Skulduggery whispered and Valkyrie almost laughed.

"Sure I'll come. I mean, I promised that I would and I always keep my promises." She smiled and walked with them to the Quidditch pitch.

Ginny and Hermione glared at Skulduggery as they passed.

Valkyrie spent the first five minutes of the match biting her nails. After ten minutes of play Dumbledore appeared and with him was the walking skeleton.

Everyone gasped and Valkyrie could have sworn that someone fainted. Skulduggery wasn't wearing his façade and everyone stared at the live skeleton.

Then he did something that shocked everyone even more. He hugged Snape, and for once the man smiled.

"I didn't know Professor Snape knew your friend." Luna said vaguely.

"Me neither." Valkyrie glared at her mentor. That's all he needed; more people fawning over him. His head was big enough as it is.

"Let's go back to the match. I'm beginning to like this sport." By the end of the game Valkyrie loved it.

Gryffindor beat Slytherin thanks to Fred, or George, sending a bludger into Malfoy's face.

"PARTY IN GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM!" The twins yelled as everyone headed back to the castle. The celebratory mood was interrupted by a motor bike's engine.

Valkyrie stopped and watched as the bike roared up the drive and parked not far from her.

"VAL!" Tanith squealed and ran and hugged her sister. "Are you alright?"

Valkyrie laughed. "I'm fine. What's taken you so long to get here?"

"Well, ummm." Tanith looked at her boots.

"We were making sure there was protection around your family house." Skulduggery walked up.

"Oh, I didn't realize that my family's blood could be used." Valkyrie felt ashamed. She'd been rude and they had been looking after her family.

"And then I stayed back to wait for Ghastly to finish your new clothes." Tanith pulled out a package from the back of her motorbike.

Valkyrie frowned and opened the package.

"I don't need new clothes. Mine are just fine." The clothes were gorgeous.

There were the pants: tight, the way she liked them but able to move with her movement, and black, as dark as the night yet able to blend in with any dark background.

Then there was the top: an emerald green tank top.

New boots: black like always but with a subtle green tinge.

And last the jacket: long sleeved, perfect sized hood, and zipped up it would sit perfectly on her.

But it was more than the appearance that made the new clothes different, it was the fabric. It seemed to be made of stronger material, more flexible, darker, and there was something else Valkyrie couldn't put her finger on.

"This material, it's different to my normal clothing?" Valkyrie frowned.

"You may have noticed that it's stronger, more flexible. But it's also special." Skulduggery told her.

"It's made by necromancers in Bolivia." Tanith continued.

"Necromancers? Why would I want them then?" Valkyrie turned to Skulduggery, but he seemed reluctant to talk, to look at her even.

"It's got a special herb woven into the fabric that gives better protection against death magic. That means Warlocks and other things." Tanith trailed off.

"Sounds like it was expensive." Valkyrie bit her lip.

"I guess it was, but they'll last for a long time." There was something in Skulduggery's voice that made Valkyrie uneasy.

"Val, you coming to the party?" Dean Thomas called out.

"Umm, yes I am." Valkyrie called back and he left. "Where are you guys staying?"

"With Severus." Skulduggery told her.

"Yeah, how do you know him?" Valkyrie asked.

"We were good mates once. I mean he dated my cousin for a couple of years." Valkyrie made a face.

"What happened? To your cousin?" Tanith asked.

"Oh, nasty business that. Let's just say that Severus and her broke up much to my relief." Skulduggery chuckled.

"Well, I gotta go. Talk to you guys tonight." Valkyrie smiled and ran up the stairs.

"Don't forget the clothes!" Valkyrie heard Skulduggery call out to her.

xXxXxXxXx

Harry was in a partying mood. The whole tower was in high spirits and everyone laughed and danced as they drunk butter beer and celebrated.

Hermione kept saying they'd ruin their appetite for that night's dinner, but no one listened. Valkyrie appeared after a while and put something in her room.

"Did you enjoy the game?" Ron asked Valkyrie as they all sat down in a corner.

"It was great." She exclaimed. "You guys were amazing."

"Thanks." Harry laughed. "Why aren't you with Skulduggery and Tanith?"

"I just can't talk to them now."

"Why?"

"Could you invite your parents' killer to your Christmas party? This is just the same." Valkyrie frowned.

"How?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know." Valkyrie shrugged. "Maybe you're right. I should go talk to them. Thanks guys." Valkyrie jumped up and left.

Harry realized that someone had turned the music off.

"What happened to the party?" Harry asked Fred and George.

"Nobody feels like celebrating." Fred told them.

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Get it in your head bro." George started tapping his younger brother on the head.

"What in our head?" Harry asked.

"Valkyrie's friends have come to get her." Fred said.

"So?" Ginny came and sat down.

"Valkyrie's probably leaving tomorrow. She was only waiting for the skeleton and the lady and now….. There's no reason for her to stay." That definitely put a dampener on the party.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters in this chapter! Sadly :(
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