"We understand. You hate everything that speaks."
"TROLL! IN THE DUNGEON! T-TROOLLL IN THE DUNGEON!"
"Stupid famous Potter."
"The basilisk. Its the monster that lives within the chamber and the monster that had been attacking muggle borns."
"What? Why are you doing this to me?"
"Shouldn't that scar be gone by now?"
"I don't care if you ignore me! But do not ignore your injured son!"
"If you fall I'm not saving you."
"Snapes gonna kick pretty boys ass."
"W-wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mean that...I-I just meant-"
"Watch your mouth, traitor. Girls have claws."
"I'm not in the mood to play with you today, run along and dust the banisters or something."
"Do you truly believe that a being as powerful as Voldemort would be complacent with his current position?"
"Professor! Professor, there's something wrong with Valentine!"
"Val...she...she changed."
"And so the gates of hell open."
"Clean that up."
"I have a head ache and I swear to god if you make it worse I will destroy those stuffed animals in front of you one by one."
"If I didn't know better, Lestrange , I'd say you were scared."
"Second-floor corridor. You might want to do a head count of the all the muggle born students, professor. The females in particular."
You have got to be kidding me.
Valentine hid her scowl as she looked at the news papers, and anyone holding them. She knew the screaming face that was plastered on the front cover of each and it made bile rise in her throat.
Sirius. Freaking. Black. Escaped. From. Freaking. Azkaban.
First Year-
Valentine leaned forward in the chair, listening intently on everything the elderly wizard had to say.
"...he was close friends with James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, thought out all there years here, at Hogwarts." Dumbledore explained. "But Sirius Black, like so many other Slytherins, fell into league with Voldemort. It was he, who revealed the location of the Potters. After committing the murders of twelve muggles, Sirius Black was captured and sentenced to life in Azkaban."
Out of the corner of her eye, Valentine watched her stoic potions professor stiffen at the mentions of each of the names. He stood turned away from the two, silent and non-contributing.
"And you believe that if he ever managed to escape, however impossible that is, that he would seek out Harry Potter?" Asked Valentine.
"Yes. We have reason to believe that he would." Dumbledore nodded, a almost pained look in his eye. "Hogwarts is extremely secure, but Sirius Black is also extremely clever, and if the event arises that Sirius attempts to attack Harry Potter we must be prepared for anything."
Present Time-
I'm so stupid. I completely disregarded Sirius Black as a threat simply because he was locked away. How could I be so incredibly stupid?
Draco slid open the compartment door and ducked as Leah came flying directly at them.
"VAL!" The girl exclaimed joyously, clamping her arms around Valentine. "YOUR ALIVE! HIP, HIP, HOORAY!"
"Get off me Leah." Valentine hissed cold, shoving the girl on the floor. "Of course I'm alive."
"Your just bitter cause you haven't grown an inch since we were ele...ven..." Leah grew silent as she realized the nature of the words that come out of her mouth. "Uh...I didn't...say...uh...Blaze! How could you say such a thing about our beautiful, amazing, fantastic, darling Valentine!"
"Don't try to pin this one on me, you nut." Blaze laughed.
"Yeah, I don't think your getting out of this one." Liam nodded.
"OLIVIA! THEY'RE BEING MEAN TO BE!" Leah pounced into the other girls lap, tears in her eyes.
"I might have not grown since we were eleven, but you haven't gotten any smarter." Valentine turned her nose up in the air, crossing her arms sitting down beside Liam, to avoid Leah spastic convulsions as she whined on and on to Olivia about the struggles of being her.
Valentine felt eyes on her and looked out of the corner of her eye to find Liam, the now annoying tall Liam, who stared down at her curiously.
"Have something to say Highcourt?" She sneered not bothering to look at him.
"Oh...um...how was your holiday?"
"Perfectly sound." Valentine shrugged indifferently. "Leah only visited once."
"Thats because you kept saying you were busy!" Leah huffed.
"We were busy." Draco smirked.
"Ignoring you." Valentine looked out the window.
"SEE? See how they treat me Olivia? Why can't everyone just be nice like you?"
For all Leahs whining, Olivia didn't answer, this caught Valentines attention. Looking over at the other girl, she found that Olivia Benson was immersed in sixth year potions text book.
Olivia has always been a decently intelligent girl, but not even I push myself to a sixth grade level.
Crabbe and Goyle waddled there way into the compartment, arms full sweets, just as the train pulled away from the station.
"You guys read about that Sirius Black?" Crabbe mumbled through a mouth full of food.
"Of course we have." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Its practically everywhere." Liam added.
"So?" Goyle asked expectantly.
"So...what?" Blaze asked.
"How do you think he did it?" Goyle asked, almost a whisper before shoving more food into his mouth.
Valentine tuned out to the conversation, not willing to hear Leahs theory that involved, strawberry jam, two unicorns, a house elf named bumpkin and four litres of butter beer.
I can't wait to get to Hogwarts. Then Harry Potter might actually be safe...Hogwarts is extremely secure...We best hope so...
Valentine half listened as the conversation topic turned from Sirius Black, to Olivias sudden interest in sixth grade books, to the new horse Blazes parents brought over the holidays. She didn't even notice when Crabbe and Goyle left to track down the trolley lady, or when the rain had begun to fall so heavily. What she did notice is when the train gave screeched as it begun to slow down.
"Huh? Were not there yet." Blaze said.
"What's happening?" Draco demanded no in particular.
"You think the train may have broken down or something?" Liam wondered aloud.
"Blaze. Go and see what's happening." Draco nodded at the other boy.
Blaze stood from his spot and pulled open the compartment door.
"Can you see- AH!" Leah was cut short as the train knocked to a stop and Blaze was thrown back into the cabin, door sliding shut behind him.
Well, this can't be good.
"Olivia, I'm scared." Leah clung to the other girl as the lights flickered out, back on, then out again.
"It will be alright." Olivia said, sounding just as terrified as Leah.
The train gave a horrible jolt and Leah gave out another shriek.
Yeah. Not good.
"What's happening?" Liam added, worry filled his voice. "I can't think of any reason why we'd be stopping."
Valentines eyes widen as she watched the rain on the window pane freeze, taking on the appearance of ice, more than glass.
Dementors...It has to be. They must be looking for Sirius Black. What other reason would they have?
"I can." Valentine spoke up, pointing towards the window.
"What's going on, Val?" Leah squeaked.
The students breath turn to cold mist and they grabbed at there robes, trying to pull themselves deeper into them.
"Draco," Valentine spoke up again. "You've read books on dementors, right?"
"Dementors!" Leah and Blaze cried together.
Draco gave a shaky nod, his eyes wide and fearful as the train jolted violently again and Valentine fought to keep her place on her seat.
"Would you say this is at all possibly being caused by dementors? Draco!" Valentine snapped and her cousin turned to her.
"Y-yeah." He nodded again.
"What do we do?" Liam whispered.
"What the hell would dementors be doing here?" Blaze added.
"Do you think they could be looking for Sirius Black?" Olivia said quietly. "Do you think he could be on the train?"
"How are you two not cold?" Liam gestured to Draco and Valentine weakly with an awkward laugh.
Suddenly doubt filled Valentines mind. She wanted to go back to Malfoy Manor and curl up in her bed, forget all about her mission. She felt like she'd never be happy, she'd never succeed, she'd never-
NO! Stop it!
Valentines mind screamed at her. She turned to look at the compartment door, where stood a cloaked figure. Leah gasped and shakily pointed a finger at the menacing shadow of a creature, tears steaming from her eyes that quickly froze. Draco gave a whimper and Liam and Blaze grabbed hold of each other, but Valentine refused to let fear and doubt take hold.
"Nobody...move." Valentine voice was softer then I had been in years.
The figure waved a gnarled skeletal hand over the door handle and it slid open.
No...no...no...
The creature floated through the door way swiftly, its hidden gaze ignoring all but one. Olivia Bensons. Nobody moved, nobody let a single breather escape they lungs.
No...no...NO! What was that spell! What is it! I got it! Think happy thoughts!
The grim figure leaned down over the small girl, the hole in its dark face widening. Neither Olivia or Leah taking any kid of action. Both of them paralysed with fear. Everyone knew what a dementors kiss did to ones mind and soul.
First Year-
Valentine jumps back against the wall in shock as the three Gryffindors come bursting through the door. Her eyes widen in shock as she watches the three struggle to close the door as a huge dog head pushes on the other side.
Fluffy? Dumbledore wasn't kidding. What he said about the Philosophers stone must also be true then! They can't get it shut! Well I can't run out there and help them. Think. Think. Got it!
" 'Colloportus' ." Valentine whispered as she gently flicked her wand at her side and begged god that the three Gryffindors hadn't heard her.
Thundering foot steps echo down the hall as the three exit the 3rd floor without a second thought.
Valentine peels herself off the wall quietly.
"It worked..." Valentine mumbled in disbelief.
It worked on my first try...the door shut on my first try! Oh, thank you uncle for forcing Draco and I to study hours and hours of magical theory! It actually came in handy!
Present Time-
" 'Expecto Patronum!' " Valentine leaped to her feet, wiping her wand out from her robes and all but screamed the words.
A brilliant sliver light illuminated the compartment. Valentine could almost feel the magic flowing through her and out of her wand.
The creature backed away quickly. It move through the door way and out in to the corridor. Valentine had saved her friends, but before she could form a cohesive thought, she felt darkness consume her mind, blood on her lip and her body become weightless.
-Pretending to Hate-
"We understand. You hate everything that speaks."
"TROLL! IN THE DUNGEON! T-TROOLLL IN THE DUNGEON!"
"Stupid famous Potter."
"The basilisk. Its the monster that lives within the chamber and the monster that had been attacking muggle borns."
"What? Why are you doing this to me?"
"Shouldn't that scar be gone by now?"
"I don't care if you ignore me! But do not ignore your injured son!"
"If you fall I'm not saving you."
"Snapes gonna kick pretty boys ass."
"W-wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mean that...I-I just meant-"
"Watch your mouth, traitor. Girls have claws."
"I'm not in the mood to play with you today, run along and dust the banisters or something."
"Do you truly believe that a being as powerful as Voldemort would be complacent with his current position?"
"Professor! Professor, theres something wrong with Valentine!"
"Val...she...she changed."
"And so the gates of hell open."
"Clean that up."
"I have a head ache and I swear to god if you make it worse I will destroy those stuffed animals in front of you one by one."
"If I didn't know better, Lestrange , I'd say you were scared."
"Second-floor corridor. You might want to do a head count of the all the muggle born students, professor. The females in particular."
The same dream that had haunted Valentines nights for over the last year slowly dissipated from her mind. She could here voices, she could feel hands and fingers.
What's going on?
"Val...Val...please..."
Why do I feel so heavy?
"Wake...up..."
Who's holding my hand?
"Help...help...get...help..."
Valentines bright eyes snapped open, before quickly shutting them against the light.
"Oh, thank god!" Valentine felt the viperous grip before she recognized the voice. It was Leahs. "We were so worried! Oh, my, gosh!"
"She's alright."
That was Liam.
"Bloody hell."
That was Draco.
"I swear she loves to give people heart attacks..."
That was Blaze.
"Get...off me." Valentine wheezed though Leahs tight hold.
"What was that?" Leah asked innocently.
"I said get off!" Valentine pushed the girl off her with all the strength she could muster.
Valentine looked up at the faces of the people surrounding her. Her friends standing around her, Leah sprawled out on the floor, Draco sitting beside her, holding her hand.
"You scared the hell out of us." Blaze gave a shaky laugh.
"Thank you so much! How can I ever repay you for saving me?" Olivias voice filled the compartment and Valentine turned her gaze on her, an eyebrow arched. "Thank you."
"Don't you remember?" Draco frowned.
"You saved Olivia from that thing." Liam added.
"Thing?"
"The Dementor." Draco explained.
Oh, yeah. That. Stupid creature. Wait...what!
"You pulled out your wand and a glorious, super awesome light went straight at the dementor!" Leah exclaimed, throwing her arms around Olivia. "You saved my sweet little Olivia from that big bad monster!"
"And I'm forever in your debt." Olivia nodded sincerely.
Valentine studied the other girls face for a moment. Her eyes were wide and glassy with tears. Her face was pale at the horror she had just witnessed.
That means I cast the Patronus...I cast the Patronus on my first try! I've only ever read about it before this. That's amazing!
"Don't mention it." Valentine mumbled pulling herself to her feet and stumbling in the process. Draco moved to help her and she battered his hands away with a growl and pretended not to notice the light day in his eyes. "I'm not a child. I can stand on my own."
"Um..." Liam hummed aloud.
"What?" Valentine snapped, rubbing her aching temples.
"Uh, your bleeding." Liam tapped his upper lip.
Valentine pulled out her black handkerchief and wiped at the drying blood on her lip.
"Are you sure your alright?" Blaze asked.
Before Valentine could answer the compartment door slid open and Pansy Parkinson stood in the door way.
"Is everyone alright in here?" She asked, her eyes mainly trained on Draco, then she saw Valentine. "Oh, my, god! What happened to your face?"
"Valentine saved us all from a dementor! She faced it alone like a valiant hero! She used her wand like it was a glowing sword and fought the monster in to submission!" Leah explained, retelling the event with her own flare.
"I doubt she even knows what 'submission' means." Blaze mumbled.
"What spell was that?" Olivia asked, eyes wide and full of wonder and humbleness.
"Its called the Patronus Charm." Valentine answered non-nonchalantly.
"But...but that's extremely advanced magic." Olivia stared at her wondrously.
Yeah. It was pretty awesome, as Leah would say.
"So, it is." Valentine frowned, picking at dried blood that had got stuck beneath her nails.
"No. Its like incredibly advanced magic. Some of the worlds most powerful wizards struggle to perform the Patronus Charm. Where did you learn it?" Olivia asked eagerly.
"I've read about it."
"Seriously!" Liam and Blaze exclaimed in unison.
"Yes. Anyone have a problem with that?" Valentine glared at the other members of the compartment.
"Nope." Blaze shook his head quickly.
"Were all good!" Leah whimpered.
"And you." Valentine turned her gaze on Pansy Parkinson who had been watching from the doorway. "Clearly everyone here is fine so I suggest you leave."
The girl went pale as a sheet of paper and moved silently away from the door as if Valentine was a wild animal who would strike at any moment.
"I really am grateful." Olivia spoke up again. "You saved my life. I owe you everything."
Valentine suddenly felt light headed and quickly sat down before she could collapse again.
"Are you alright?" Draco asked.
"I'm fine. Just light headed."
Her cousin nodded, but seemed unconvinced.
-Pretending to Hate-
"Welcome! Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts! I'd like to say a few words before we become befuddled by our excellent feast."
Valentine sat amidst her friends and fellow Slytherins as Dumbledore begun his speech. She found that someone was missing and new face had appeared.
"First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, Professor."
The new face at the staff table stood, giving the applauding students a small bow. Valentine quickly noticed the scars that stretched across his face and his pale skin, her bright eyes narrowed darkly.
Well, he has his work act out for him. Our last two Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers have been Voldemort hiding beneath the turbine of a stuttering fool and narcissistic moron with nothing but lies to his name, and more recently, no memories to speak of. If were lucky he's not some snobbish dim wit or another form of Voldemort after Harry Potter.
"As some of you may know, Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid! Finally, on a more disquieting note, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban. Until such a time as Sirius Black is captured."
Leah gave a whimper at the mention of the grim cloaked beings and burrowed herself into Olivias side.
"There insane." Liam whispered to Draco at his side.
"The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now, whilst I've been assured that there presence will not disrupt out day to day activities, a word of caution: dementors are vicious creatures. They will not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It's not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you know happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light." Dumbledore gave the crowd of students strange smile before wishing them another happy year at Hogwarts and taking his place at the staff table.
Cryptic words of wisdom from the ancient bearded wizard: Story of my life.
The students then proceeded to dig in to the feast set out before him, Valentine noticing a new arrival in her entourage of companions.
"Blaze." Valentine genitally elbowed the boy next to her.
"Yeah?" The boy mumbled through a mouth full of mush potato.
"Whats Parkinson doing here?"
"Oh, yeah, her. Rumors been going around since the end of last year that shes got a thing our Draco." Blaze explained.
"Really?" Valentine arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Uh huh." Blaze nodded in reply. "I'm guessing we'll be seeing a lot more of her this year."
"Um, excuse me?" Valentine and her friends all turned there gazes to a handful of Slytherin first years.
"Yes?" Liam answered.
"Are Valentine Lestrange?" Asked the tallest of the bunch; a thin girl with a dark mess of hair that hung over her shoulders.
"Who wants to know?" Valentine asked, her eyes narrowed at the students who tensed under her gaze.
"I'm Leila. This is Jason, Samantha, Kelly and Rose." Said the same girl, gesturing to her friends ."We, uh, we heard you performed the Patronus Charm."
You must joking...
"Did you now..." Valentine turn her icy gaze to the girl who was currently throwing herself all over her cousin. "Parkinson. You clearly need a lesson in keeping that over sized hole in your face, that you call a mouth, shut."
The girl stiffened and looked more terrified then the group of first years, who stood by watching nervously. Pansy Parkinson sat there, opening and closing her mouth, but not daring to make a sound.
Valentine turned back to the first years and smiled.
"Yes. Yes, I did performed the Patronus Charm. Also, both of my parents are serials killers, Sirius Black is my cousin and in my first year I burnt a hole though a third years neck. Anything you would like to know?" The students shook there heads, fear painted across there young foolish faces. "Then get lost."
The students turned so fast Valentine could swear there blurred.
"Oh, and one more thing." Valentine added and the first years froze as her smile dropped and was replaced by a mask of stone. "Welcome to Slytherin. Lets hope you last the year."
The first years scampered off and Blaze slapped Valentine on the back, her friends laughing at how she had sent the children running.
Now, just one more annoying little child to deal with.
"Parkinson. I get that your greatest desire is to shove your tongue down my cousins throat. But could you doing it someplace where I don't have to see, hear or even smell you." Her friends laughter grew silent. They all knew Pansy was on thin ice. "If you intend to burden us with your stagnant presences, I suggest you keep your mouth shut about certain things. I'm a Lestrange, not a topic of gossip for you to- ah."
Why now?
Valentine gave a breathless groan and wave of pain flew over her.
"Val!" Draco and Leah cried in unison.
"I'm fine." Valentine replied automatically.
"Thats bull." Shot Blaze.
"I said, I'm fine." She glared at the boy who shrunk back.
"Are you sure? This is the same thing as last year isn't?" Liam asked quickly.
"Shut up!" Valentine growled, another wave of pain crashing though her skull.
Dammit! It hurts!
"Val!" Draco cried.
"Shut up...all of you. Another word about it and I swear I will-"
Valentine held her head in her hands. The palm of her hands digging into her temples.
"What's wrong with her?" Pansy mumbled fearfully.
Why do my temples feel like there on fire? Arg! It hurts so much. I gotta get out of here.
Valentine stood from her spot.
"Val!" Leah exclaimed.
"Where are you going?" Olivia asked.
"You should go to the hospital." Liam added.
Then Valentine turned to her friends with a look that made them all stop. In fact, most everyone with in ear shot had frozen, as if Valentines eyes brought a blizzard.
"I am going to the common room. You are going to sit here and finish dinner. If I see even one of you in my sight before this feast is finished I swear, I vow that I will pull you limb from limb and feed you to the bloody Grindylows."
When on one moved, Valentine walked out of the great hall.
I'm sorry. God, I'm sorry.