This was exactly the last thing Valentine Lestrange wanted to do. And she had done several rather unsavory things in her short thirteen years. She had already been reasonable in the loss of somebodies life and now she was about destroy the fairy tale world Leah had seemed to have built for herself.

Valentine knew her mission was important, she knew from the very beginning that there would be things she would have to do. Things that were twisted and dark. This was what she signed up for. Dumbledore had made it abundantly clear what her life would be like. He left out no details, and yet Valentine found the risks and actions she would take were worth the final outcome. She knew death would be involved. In one way or another, life would be lost.

Despite the inevitability of the situation, Valentine dreaded seeing the face of her friend.

This is my life. I have mission and I intend on following through with it to the very end.

The Slytherin common room door slid open and Valentine forced herself inside, fighting the urge to run and not face the inevitable. She clenched her hands at her sides, the image of bone ricocheting off stone floors infesting her mind.

One step.

Two steps.

Deep breath.

Three quick steps.

"Val!" Leah sprung up from the couch, a stuffed caterpillar falling from her lap to floor. "Where have you've been! Its so late! Olivia went after you to help you look for the others, but they got back ages ago! Did you see Olivia? She hasn't come back."

Valentine looked into Leah's wide, glassy brown eyes.

"No, I didn't see her." Valentine answered, voice and expression flat too the point of boredom.

"Come on, we have to go look for her!" Leah grabbed hold of Valentines elbow. "She'll be lost without me."

Valentine glanced up at the clock above the mantle.

Its past eleven already...How long did it take for me to get here? I don't suppose I would have rushed here.

"Olivias not stupid. She'll be fine." Valentine shook herself from Leah's grasp.

"You don't understand! I need to know that she's OK!" Leah pleaded.

"Stop being such a nuisance, Leah." Valentine growled. "Its late and I want to go too bed."

"Well, I can't sleep until I know that Olivia is safe! She left so long ago." Leah crossed her arms stubbornly and pursed her lips worriedly. "What if she hurt herself and can't move? There's a murderer running around, Val! We need to go and find her. I'm going to wake up the boys so they can help."

"Could you for once in your life, stop being unreasonable." Valentine sighed in annoyance.

"I don't care about being reasonable! I'll do it alone if I have to, but I'm going to find Olivia."

"You will do no such thing. " A deep voice hissed from the door way. "Why are always involved in some kind of trouble, Lestrange?"

"Comes with name I'm afraid." Valentine presented a smug smirk, it fit her face with practiced ease.

"But, professor, Olivia isn't back yet!" Leah whined.

"Do not make me repeat myself, Lovat." Snape glared down at the two with his dark eyes, cold and an forgiving. "Too bed, both of you."

"But what about Olivia!"

"I will find her and give the foolish girl appropriate punishment for rules she's neglected to follow." Snape said, frustration clear in his voice, he turned his gaze to Valentine. "And unless you would like the same punishment, I suggest you to retire to your dorms and stay there."

He's knows.

Valentine narrowed her eyes as if glaring, but in reality was showing that she understood.

"And if we choose to ignore your suggestion?" Valentine planted her hands on her hips, looking every bit the part of and entitled brat.

"Then you will be taken to the head master and he have you sent home."

"Oh, calm down. Your always so overdramatic." Valentine rolled her eyes and nudged Leah. "Let's go to bed. Our lovely own professor Snape will find Olivia and I can get some sleep."

"Don't you even care?" Leah mumbled softly. "Don't you care that she might be somewhere hurt?"

"Oh god, she'll be fine." Valentine gave an irritated huff. "The both of you. Overdramatic."

"But-" Valentine grabbed hold of Leah's arm tightly and begun dragging her towards the girls dorms. "Let me go! Val, please!"

"This is ridiculous!" Snape exclaimed, exasperatedly. He marched forwards and took hold of the back of Leah's sweater, lifting her several inches from the floor and shoving her forwards. "Get. Now. Or you will never step foot in this school again."

Leah glared up at the professor for a moment, her bottom lip trembling. She let out a loud sob and ran off down the hall towards the dorms.

"Can't you handle anything, Lestrange? " Snape glared down at her, as if she was nothing but the ground beneath his feet.

"Apparently not." Valentine answered, her eyes locked with his emotionlessly.

For a brief moment she swore she saw a flicker of something in the mans eyes. Some strange mixture of pitiful surprise. Something very uncharacteristic of her professor. She passed it off as annoyance. Now, that was an emotion he held for her often and willingly.

"To bed, Lestrange." Snape ordered plainly, gesturing with his head to the path Leah had taken.

"I think for once," Valentine sighed, pulling a hand through her hair and exposing her scar. "that I'll actually take your advice."

"That was not advice." Snape narrowed his eyes irritability.

"Good night, Sir." Valentine yawned and turned away from him, rolling her bright eyes as she went.

She felt his gaze on her back as she walked away, unhurried, but she didn't turn back and give a smug smile or utter another sarcastic remark. She simply made her way to her dorm room.

I wonder if we'll get another room mate?

Valentine shut the door behind her, and as much as she wanted to fall to the ground right were she stood, she still had a part to play and a audience to play it for.
Leah was curled up in her blanket on Olivias bed, her shoulders shakings and soft whimpers filling the room.

Valentine wanted to hold her, to tell her everything about her mission and about Olivia. But, that wasn't even close to occurring, not even slightly.

Valentine undressed silently and slipped in to her nightgown. She climbed into her bed, Leah's sobs filled her ears as she pulled the blanket over her body and looked up at stone ceiling.

Valentine didn't dream that night. But of course, she didn't sleep either.

-Pretending to Hate-

The atmosphere that morning, after Dumbledores several shocking announcements, was quite like that of the morning the school woke to find Harry Potter had killed a giant snake in the bowels of the castle.

The sudden news of Olivia Bensons death was shocking to all of those who knew her. And with the fast spreading rumour of professor Lupins hairy little problem only added to the silent hysteria.

"It saddens me deeply to the core to inform you all of tragic death of third year, Slytherin student, Olivia Benson." Dumbledore spoke in a clear and sombre voice.

That's probably the least cryptic thing he's ever said...

Valentine watched her friends out of the corner of her eye. Their reactions were expected.

Blazes mouth dropped open in disbelief. Liam wore a almost confused expression, as if he hadn't understood the words spoken. Draco's eyes stared down at the glistening table top, his hand clenched at his side. Leah watched the headmaster silently, the information seeming to have no effect on her.

Shocked whispers dragged out though the hall and Dumbledore raised a hand to silence them.

"I'm sure many of you have jumped to the conclusion of Sirius Black having some sort of connection with Bensons passing, and sadly as of yet, we have not been able to neither confirm or deny that possibility. " Dumbledore continued. "She was found in the west tower court yard this morning. She appears to have fallen from the court yards second story landing. We are currently working with the Ministry of Magic to fully understand this tragedy. I urge anyone with any form of information to-"

"SHUT UP!"

Valentine felt her heart slam against her rib cage as Leah suddenly screamed out beside her.

"YOU SHOULDN'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT! YOU SHOULDN'T LIE ABOUT SOMEONE LIKE THAT!" Leah jumped to her feet, her voice twisted in anger.

"Leah..." Draco mumbled.

Every eye in the room was on Leah, gazes pitiful and morose.

"OLIVIAS NOT DEAD! I KNOW SHE ISN'T!"

"Leah." Valentine hissed, grabbing the now balling girls arm.

"Leah, calm down." Liam urged softly.

"SHE CAN'T BE DEAD! ITS A LIE!" Leah ripped her arm from Valentine grip and turned to her. "You believe me don't you Val?"

"You can't run from the truth." Valentine said, emotionlessly.

"SOMEONE HAS TO BELIEVE ME!" Leah turned to the others with pleading eyes. "WE HAVE TO FIND OLIVIA!"

"Get her out of here." Valentine hissed, her eyes burning like blue flames. When the others didn't make a move Valentine grabbed Leah's shoulder and directed a murderous glare towards the three boys. "Now."

Draco was the first one on his feet, grabbing Leah's other shoulder.

"LET GO OF ME! I HAVE TO FIND OLIVIA!" Leah pulled against her friends, thrashing about wildly.

Valentine felt a tear from Leah's face connect with her neck.

Blaze and Liam cambered over the table top, quickly helping restrain her and start moving her towards the hall entrance, Leah resisting all the way.
"NO! NO! STOP! I HAVE TO FIND OLIVIA! Please...please..."

The boys struggled to forced her though the door way as Valentine let go and turned to look at the entirety of the school. She hadn't had so many eyes on her since the day of her sorting.

She gave them all a terrifying scowl, before slipping her wand from her robes. The students closest to her flinched at the sight of her wand, glancing at her wearily. She took a quick step forward. Several students jumping slightly and a girl letting out a loud yelp. Valentine let a cruel smirk colour her features.

For a brief moment she locked sights with the headmaster, he seemed to pity her most of all.

"Colloportus." Valentine spoke simply, flicking her wand and retreating though the door way as it closed, the Great Hall disappearing from view.

Valentine could hear the sounds of a struggle up the hall, and hurried to catch up.

She entered upon the scene of Liam holding his nose, blood trickling down his fingers, while Draco and Blaze fought to hold Leah down.

"Let me go! WE HAVE TO FIND OLIVIA!"

"She's dead Leah." Valentines voice was cold and silenced Leah's cries in three words. "She's gone."

Leah quickly dissolved into tears, Draco and Blazes grip going limp as she fell to her hands and knees.

Valentine watched her silently, pretending not to notice the water in both Blaze and Draco's eyes.

"How...did this even happen?" Liam was the first to speak, wiping his nose on his robe, his voice small and weak.

"She was just with us last night..." Draco knocked away a tear that fell down his cheek. He dug his nails into his palms, trying force the tears away.

"Leah..." Blaze knelt down beside the sobbing wreck, he placed a tentative hand on her shoulder, only for Leah to throw her arms around him, sobbing louder then before.

Blaze looked up at his friends hopelessly, his own tears falling onto Leah's robe.

"This...this can't...can't...can't be real..." Leah choked out words between her cries, Blaze patting her back awkwardly.
"I think it is." Liam said, his voice almost whisper.

Valentine turned to him as blood continued to drip over his lips, mixing with the water from his eyes. She pulled her black handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to him wordlessly.

"Thanks."

"What...what do we do?" Draco looked over at his cousin, confusion on his face.

Valentine drew in a heavy breath and let out a equally heavy sigh. She pulled a hand though her hair and looked back over at her cousin.

"We move on."

"How can you say that?" Blaze snapped suddenly, his eyes alight anger.

"Easily." Valentine stared down at him, almost boredly.

"That's not what I meant. I'm sorry." Blaze turn his gaze away from her.

"Yes, well, I suppose some sort of mourning is in order." Valentine yawned.

"What about her parents?" Liam mumbled.

"What about them?" Valentine quirked an eyebrow.

"You think they'll...like sue the school?"

"I don't particular care what they do." Valentine looked over at her friends, the boys ready to crumble and Leah having already done so. "Let's get out of here before breakfast is over."

"Where to?" Draco asked.

"Does it matter?" Liam practically sighed.

"Leah, come on." Blaze prompted, as he attempted to pull her to her feet.

Leah, who still wept openly refused, shaking her head.

"Leah, stop being a child. Stand up." Valentine frowned.

Leah didn't answer and Valentine once more pulled her wand from her robes.

"Petrificus Totalus." The spell took affect and Valentine yawned again. "She's always got to make things difficult."

-Pretending to Hate-

Valentine looked down at her lap, instead into the blazing emerald fire like she normally found herself doing. Her friends sat around her, dominanting the two couches by the fire place as usual. Draco, Blaze and Liam sat along the first couch silently. Goyle and Crabbe sat in front of the fire, close enough to be considered part of the group, but far away enough to not be a nuisance. And Valentine sat alone, whereas normally she would be flanked by Leah and Olivia, that was how it had been for three years, how times had changed for the group of Slytherins.

Valentine had moved her friends into the common room, knowing that with morning classes they would be alone. Leah had went up to there dorm room, tears still dribbling down her cheeks, saying she was tired. Several minutes after, Goyle and Crabbe appeared in the common room, no one said a word against it and the two moved down in front of the fire.

"She's just gone." Liam threw his head back, looking at the ceiling, voice soft devoid of emotion.

"People do that when they die." Draco said, humourlessly.

"The last thing she saw me do was fight with Leah." Blaze sighed.

"Don't let it eat you, man." Liam continued looking up at the ceiling. "That kinda thing isn't healthy."

"How did it even happen?" Blaze wondered.

"The school says she fell, didn't they?" Crabbe added.

"How? She's never been clumsy, or anything like that." Blaze shook his head in disbelief.

"You don't think it was...Sirius Black? Do you?" Goyle said nervously.

"I don't know." Blaze lowered his head into his hands miserably.

"The ministry are looking into." Liam added.

"That probably means, we'll likely be questioned." Valentine spoke suddenly after being silent for so long.

"Questioned?" Asked Draco.

"They'll likely want to talk to those who saw her last." Valentine added.

"The last person to see her was Leah, wasn't it?" Said Liam.

"It was." Valentine answer, without a beat. "I left to find you guys, and Leah and Olivia stayed behind. Leah told me that Olivia went after me, but I never saw her."

"This seriously sucks." Liam covered his eyes with his forearm. His voice was steady and Valentine tried to ignore the single tear that escaped down his cheek, shining in the light of the fire.

"How much do you think this sucks for Leah?" Draco mumbled.

"Dear god..." Blaze sighed, as if in realization. "She worshipped Olivia."

"What will they do with her things?" Crabbe asked.

"Won't her parents come and get all her stuff?" Goyle said.

"The ministry will probably look though her things too." Draco added.

"On that note, I need to make sure that Leah isn't messing with her things." Valentine stood from the couch, making her way over to the girls dorms.

"You think that's a good idea?" Liam asked. "Shouldn't we leave or alone for a while?"

"No." Draco shook his head.

"Leaving Leah to her own devices always leads to trouble. This is no different. " Valentine turned and continued to her dorm room.

She pretended not to hear Blaze wonder softly, yet aloud, how she could be so cold when one of her friends had died.

Valentine opened her dorm room door to find Leah curled up on Olivias bed, shoulders shaking. Valentine sighed, and shut the door behind her. She sat down on the edge of the bed, crossing her arms and legs.

"Well, are things are going to be different now." She spoke matter-of-factly. "But we will adjust no matter the situation."

"I...I don't want it to be...different." Leah whispered, her voice raspy and dry. "I just want...her back."

Valentines heart twisted viciously in her chest at Leahs words.

"I know you do. So, does everyone else." Valentine sighed once more. "They always seem to take the nice ones."
Leah's tears turned to loud sobs.

"Come on." Valentine stood. "You should get into bed.

Valentine attempted to move her weeping friend on to her own bed, but Leah only twisted herself into the sheets. Valentine gave up and pulled the blankets of Leah's and her own beds, throwing them over the girls trembling form.

"I'll be back later. Try to do the opposite of what you normally do and don't do anything stupid." Valentine disappeared back though the door.

She made her way back down into the common room, where Blaze immediately stood.

"How is she?"

"Still crying." Valentine took her usual seat. "Although that is to be expected."

Blaze practically fell back into his seat.

"What do we do now?" Liam mumbled.

"What we always do." Draco answered.

"What?" Liam asked, confused by Draco's cryptic statement.

"He's right." Valentine caught there attention. "We sit back. Watch. Were Slytherins. No expects anymore or any less."

"But Olivia is our friend." Blaze hissed suddenly. "...Was. She was our friend."

"And yet the world keeps spinning. Funny how it does that." Valentine eyes flashed coldly, daring Blaze to snap at her once more. "It will do the same thing when you die and when I die. The faster you realize your own insignificants, the faster you can change that."