I'm sorry I haven't been updating often, but I still have exams. For example, my next exam is another German speaking, noly this time we get to choose our own topics. Guess what I'm doing. VALKYRIE CAIN! I'm going to freak my teacher out so much... Oh well.

My good friend u/3180690/hollyleaf988 is wiriting a maurada era Harry Potter story s/8943339/1/, so it would be really appreciated if you awesome peoples could check that out! It's really good! Anyways, enjoy!

Professor McGonagall walked with the scarred man towards the detectives' classroom, to find they were already out, having a small argument.

"I said not to punch him."

"He shouldn't have insulted me."

"You broke his nose!"

"I warned him beforehand!"

"That doesn't mean you just go ahead and do it anyway!"

"He should have listened to the warning."

"It's Scapegrace! If you told him his arse was on fire he probably wouldn't listen!"

"…you may have a point."

"Oh for the love of God!" Professor McGonagall coughed slightly, causing Valkyrie, who it seemed had been criticising some actions of Detective Pleasant that McGonagall would rather not go into, to turn and face them. Valkyrie smiled widely.

"Ghastly!" She exclaimed, grinning, and they exchanged a small hug before Skulduggery stepped forwards.

"Good to see you again, Elder Bespoke."

"Good to see you again Detective Pleasant." There seemed to be some joke that McGonagall wasn't quite familiar with, at least the humour in their voices seemed that way.

"So, I have the cleavers. They're stationed outside waiting to be called forth, if we need them of course." Ghastly smiled, his scars rippling.

"I don't think that'll be a problem." Skulduggery said smoothly. Valkyrie rolled her eyes and opened the door, striding in.

"It's quite an impressive school Albus is running, isn't it." Ghastly said brightly, before Minerva realised he had been talking to her.

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore has certainly improved the standards of Hogwarts." She agreed quietly before she noticed that one of the two men bound to the chairs had his nose slightly impaled or collapsed, blood slowly dripping from his chin. He was also hurling curses, the verbal kind that struck the air blue. McGonagall shifted uncomfortably.

"Oh dear. You two really are causing more trouble than you're worth for the Sanctuary. I hope you realise that." Ghastly sighed, and Valkyrie ran her fingers through her dark hair, wanting to sigh too. Scapegrace hurled another insult.

"Right. How are we going to do this?" Valkyrie asked. Ghastly shrugged.

"Doesn't matter, our plans never really work anyway do they?"

"I guess you're right." Valkyrie nodded "Well, I'll take Thrasher. Is that ok with you Gerald?" She asked Thrasher, who looked slightly startled at having his real name used, before he nodded slightly. She smiled.

"Good."

"They're still handcuffed, so it shouldn't be that much of a bother." Skulduggery said to Ghastly as Valkyrie undid the ropes tying Thrasher to the chair.

"I'll take Vaurien." Skulduggery muttered, and Scapegrace's eyes widened.

"Come one step closer and I'll, I'll…" He stumbled over his words, thinking of a threat "I'll take your skull!"

"You're handcuffed, so I don't see how you could achieve that. Besides, I can easily break your nose again, and even if you do somehow manage to take it, I've got a spare." Skulduggery said calmly as Scapegrace began to panic. Skulduggery undid his ropes and made sure Vaurien's hands were behind his back before beginning to walk out of the room.

"I'd stay quiet if I were you, Mr Scapegrace. There are Cleavers positioned outside just waiting to be despatched." Ghastly threatened, cracking his knuckles at the same time before clasping his hands behind his back. Scapegrace whimpered and silenced.

"Come on. I'd like to talk to you, Ghastly." Skulduggery said. Ghastly nodded and they departed the room, Valkyrie and Thrasher, who remained silent, at the back. McGonagall walked close to Valkyrie whilst trying to avoid being in the reach of the criminals. Minerva wanted to talk to the young detective, but was fearful of saying anything the criminals could use against them. She wouldn't want to get the detectives into trouble, nor would she want to be on the troubled end of the scale.

The students were in lessons, a deliberate timing, as the 3 Sanctuary officials, the criminals and the professor walked outside. There was a large grey van, with four grey armoured men holding long dangerous looking scythes stood beside it. Just looking at them made McGonagall quiver, but that was nothing compared to the effect they had on Scapegrace.

"No! No!" He began to scream and struggle until Skulduggery hit him over the back of his head with the butt of a revolver McGonagall hadn't even known existed. Skulduggery pocketed the revolver in his jacket as Scapegrace began to whine before locking both Vaurien and Thrasher in the van with all four cleavers. Skulduggery noticed McGonagall's facial expression.

"Don't worry, the cleavers won't harm anyone unless instructed." He said, but somehow Minerva didn't feel reassured.

"As long as they don't come back, it has been a most worrying event." She said calmly. Skulduggery nodded before turning to Ghastly.

"So, any word from the Sanctuary?"

"There's been 2 more murders, two male mages, mid-forties, both with similar wounds."

"At the same location?"

"No, separate, but we think we're closing in. There are several suspects and at least 5 of them are in custody, as of when I left anyway."

"Of course." Skulduggery nodded "Any word on Sanguine and Tanith?" Ghastly's face grew pained.

"No, nothing." He said slowly. Skulduggery patted his friend on the back of his shoulder comfortingly.

"We'll find her, don't worry."

"Yeah," Ghastly sighed "Anyway, I'd best me getting back, they'll be lost without me." He grinned slightly and turned to Valkyrie.

"It's good to see you again Val."

"You too Ghastly."

"Keep in touch." Skulduggery said as Ghastly smiled and nodded, before getting in the front of the van and starting the engine. A few moments later the van grumbled to life and trundled down the hill towards the gates. Valkyrie sighed.

"Well, at least they're gone now." She said brightly.

"Indeed, one less annoyance." Skulduggery said smoothly. At that moment the two detectives seemed to realise Minerva McGonagall was still with them.

"Professor Dumbledore instructed me to tell you that it will be your turn to supervise the third to seventh years on their trip to Hogsmead this weekend." She said. Valkyrie raised an eyebrow.

"Hogsmead? What's that?"

"It's the nearest wizarding village. I'll be coming as well, and Professor Flitwick, but the rota states it's your turn to aid in supervising."

"Of course. Where and when shall we meet you?" Skulduggery said smoothly.

"Saturday, 10am in the main courtyard. No doubt you'll be able to follow the students if you get lost." McGonagall said.

"We'll see you there." Skulduggery said, nodding. Minerva looked as if she were going to say something more, but then decided against it and turned, walking back up to the castle.

"I didn't know there was a wizarding village." Valkyrie said as she and Skulduggery stood alone where the van had left.

"Neither did I. But, duty calls." Skulduggery said brightly, putting his hands in his pockets and stalking back up to the castle. Valkyrie walked alongside him, brushing her fingers through her hair. So, Hogsmead. Valkyrie wondered what it would be like. Hopefully not like Roarhaven. Hopefully, definitely not like Roarhaven.