Valentine sat amidst her friends and fellow Slytherin's, pretending that she didn't notice how it seemed that everyone besides herself and Blaze had grown full inches over the summer. The voices of the school's choir filled the hall and she just stared plainly down at the polished tabletop.
Across the table, Leah bobbed along to the music far too enthusiastically. The second she looked away Blaze would start mimicking her actions at Valentine's side, making Draco and Liam struggle to smother their giggles.
Valentine rolled her eyes as the music came to an end, the hall echoed with applause and the choir moved to join their houses. Now, she could see the staff as clearly as she possibly could, trying to peer over everyone else's heads. Lupin was sat beside Snape and neither looked comfortable although the former wore it better. She almost wanted to throw Snape a mocking smile and a wave just to let him know she knew how very unhappy he must have been, but then Dumbledore was stepping up the golden podium.
"Welcome! Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts!" He smiled warmly. "I'd like to say a few words before we become befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, Professor."
Lupin stood a tad hesitantly, giving the applauding students a small now in greeting.
"Wow, look at his face," Blaze whispered a little too loudly to even bother with whispering. "How do you think he got those?"
"Looks the man was in a bear fight." Liam frowned.
"Why are you even looking at his face?" Draco snickered. "Look at his clothes!"
"As some of you may know, Professor Kettleburn," Dumbledore continued. "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!"
Once more the hall was filled to it's enchanted ceiling with applause. Hagrid was well-liked,the Students whistled and cheered as he stood and laughed when his knees hit the table and sent the cutlery clattering.
"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."
A cold pit formed in Valentine's stomach.
Leah gave a whimper at the mention of the Dementor's and burrowed herself into Olivia's side. Olivia herself didn't look any more pleased to hear this than Leah was.
Well, that practically answers my question of whether or not there is reason to believe Black has the intention of coming here. The Ministry must know why and that's why they'll risk letting the Dementor's stray so far from Azkaban.
"They're insane." Blaze hissed under his breath. "You can't just have those things hanging around a school."
"Well, what can they do if the Ministry requested it?" Asked Liam.
"What if they can't find Black?" Leah looked over at them with wide eyes. "Will they have to stay around all year?"
No one had the chance to answer when Dumbledore spoke again.
"The Dementor's will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now, whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our 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," Dumbledore shoot them all a whimsical smile. "happiness can be found even in the darkest of times when one only remembers to turn on the light."
Cryptic words of wisdom from the ancient bearded wizard: Story of my life.
Dumbledore wished them all a good and safe year before announcing the feast to begin. With a wave of his arms, the tables were lined with delicious dish after dish. The students proceeded to dig in without ceremony, especially Blaze who hadn't stopped complaining about his hunger pains even when they had reached the Hogsmeade Station.
"Hi." Pansy seemed to pop out of nowhere and nudged her way in between Liam and Draco so she could sit.
"Hello?" Liam blinked at her questioningly.
Valentine sent the girl a glare but she was purposely avoiding her gaze.
"I can't believe what happened." Said Pansy, eyes glued to the side of Draco's face. He was too busy filling his plate to even notice she was there. "On the train I mean. You must have been so terrified Draco."
"Hmm?" Draco glanced at her as if she'd appeared out of thin air, which she pretty much had. "No. As if I'd be afraid."
"Huh?" Leah gaped at him. "You were just as scared as the rest of us!"
"Shut up, Leah!" Draco kicked at her leg under the table.
"Ouch." Olivia winched when he evidentally got her instead.
"Oh, crap. Sorry, Olivia." Draco apologized to immediately.
"You jerk!" Leah threw one arm around Olivia a scathing glare at Draco. "You hurt my Olivia!"
"I was aiming for you!"
"Say you're sorry!"
"I did!"
"Then say it again!"
"It's okay, it's okay." Olivia tried to smooth things over. "I'm sure I'll survive, Leah."
"But he kicked you!"
"I'm alright, really."
"You said 'ouch' so it must have hurt!"
"Bloody hell." Draco cursed. "I'm really sorry, alright? Next time I'll make sure to kick the right person."
"Thank you." Leah pursed her lips, seemingly not catching the half-hidden jab at her.
"So, Draco, having the Dementor's around doesn't frighten you at all?" Pansy seemed somehow more obvious then Leah.
"Of course not." Draco scoffing.
Valentine caught Liam rolling his eyes over the Draco's shoulder.
"You're so brave." Pansy cooed. "I just knew you would be."
To Valentine's left, she could hear Blaze parroting Pansy's words in a soft, whiney voice.
"Blaze." Valentine elbowed the boy next to her.
He froze as if waiting for her to snap at him.
"Yeah?" He swallowed.
"What the hell does Parkinson think she's doing?"
"Oh. Actually, I heard this rumour before summer that I kind of completely forgot about. Apparently, she's got a thing our Draco." Said Blaze in a low voice.
"A thing?" Valentine arched a brow.
"You know. A thing...thing."
"English, Blaze."
"She likes him. Like really likes him."
"You are alluding to romantic intentions?"
"Yes." Blaze blinked. "That."
"How...disturbing."
"You're telling me." Blaze sighed. "I'm guessing we'll be seeing a lot more of her this year."
Over my dead body.
"-and did you hear about Potter?"
Pansy's arrogant tone caught Valentine's attention and as did the mention of Harry's name.
"Oh, you mean the great and wonderful Harry Potter himself?" Draco couldn't have been more condescending if he tried.
"He got attacked by a Dementor too," Pansy said, a little too gleefully in comparison to the way Valentine's skin prickled.
That's why he looked shaken on the train.
"He fainted and everything!" Pansy actually laughed. "Can you imagine being such a wimp?"
"I fainted." Said Leah.
"Yeah, but you're a girl," Pansy replied as if that explained everything. "Anyway, I heard the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor used the same spell Lestrange did to fight off the Dementor. Crying shame if you ask me."
"Yeah, too bad." Draco scoffed. "He should have just let the Dementor finish him off."
Valentine glanced back over at the staff table. If Snape had appeared uncomfortable before, now he almost looked like he was in pain. That urge to smile and wave in the most jovial manner she could have definitely increased. Lupin seemed to be completely ignoring him, talking to Professor Sprout on his left.
Well, at least he's capable of something. If it had been Lockhart, the Dementor would have laughed in his damn face.
"Um, excuse me?" A voice directly behind Valentine spoke up.
"Ah, Val?" Blaze looked over his shoulder. "They're are children standing behind you."
Valentine grumbled under her breath as she and the others turned their attention to a handful Ravenclaw's she recognised as first year's.
"Yes?" Liam irked a brow.
"Are you 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 dangerously and the first years looked ready to duck for cover.
"I'm-I'm Leila." The girl swallowed thickly and offered a hand.
Valentine didn't even consider it with a glance.
"Say what you came here to say and then get lost."
"We, uh, we heard you performed the Patronus Charm...on the train the today?"
"Is that a question?" Valentine replied so sharply the girl flinched.
You've got to be freaking joking. How the hell did they even hear about it?
"No!" The girl bit her lip, appearing very much like she regretted this. "I- we were just wondering."
The only people who know about what happened are myself, Draco, Leah, Olivia, Blaze, Liam and...
Valentine's eyes shifted smoothly over to Pansy, colder than ice.
"Parkinson. You clearly need a lesson in keeping that over sized hole in your face that you have the audacity call a mouth shut."
Pansy looking whiter than snow, and looked more terrified than the group of first year's. She sat there, opening and closing her mouth in panic, looking quite look a fish caught with a hook in its belly.
Valentine slid her eyes back over to the first year's. She let a small, untrustworthy smile slip on to her face.
"Yes. I am Valentine Lestrange. And yes, I did perform the Patronus Charm." The smile grew ever wider. "I also attacked a student in my first year, unprovoked and a year later a teacher that more than deserved it. And just a few months ago I was suspected of opening a secret chamber inside the school, unleashing a dangerous monster and using it petrify the, let's just say, less than worthy students at this school. You can assume the things you hear about me are correct, that is assuming the things you hear aren't kind. I'm not someone you should approach casually. Remember that."
The students nodded their heads in fearful earnestness, anxiety painted across there young faces.
"Did that cover all your curiosities?"
They nodded harder this time.
"Good. Then get lost."
Valentine had never seen anyone move as quickly as the group of shaking first years did that night. They scampered off and Blaze snickered at Valentine's side. The others joined in the laughter, watching the students flee. Valentine wasn't laughing.
Now, just one more annoying, little child to deal with.
"Parkinson." Valentine turned sharply in her seat, smile wiped clean from her face. The laughter around her stopped. "I get that your greatest desire is to shove your tongue down my cousin's throat, but could you make you pitiful attempt somewhere I don't have to see, hear or even smell you. If you intend to burden us with your stagnant presence, I suggest you keep your mouth shut. I'm a Lestrange, nota topic of gossip for you tell all your pathetic little friends about."
Pansy glanced around at the others almost as if she expected them to say something. They didn't and Valentine knew they wouldn't dare. Not after what she had just said.
Pansy seemed to fight some kind of internal struggle before standing and hurrying off.
Good riddance. Did she seriously think she could just-
A wave of pain smacked into her without warning. She choked down a groan and gripped a handful of her cloak.
Why...now? I need to get out of here.
The throbbing lessened for a moment before striking again. This wasn't like on the train. This was easily three times worse. She could feel her nails biting into her palm even through the material of her cloak.
Another wave and she couldn't help the way her shoulders hunched inwards.
"Val?" Blaze was the first to notice and his question drew in the others one by one.
"Val?" That was Draco.
"Are you not feeling well?" That was Olivia.
"This is what happened last year." That was Liam.
"Should we get a teacher?" That was Leah.
"No," Valentine said immediately. The pain was lessening again but she doubted it was over.
"Val." Draco touched her shoulder and she slapped him away.
"I'm fine." Valentine growled.
"That's bull." Blaze spat.
"Excuse me?" She sent a glowing glare in his direction and he shrunk back in an instant.
"Liam is right, isn't he?" Olivia stared across the table, her eyes almost as intense as Valentine's. "This is the same as before."
"Keep your theories to yourself." Valentine snarled and a new wave of came crashing through her skull.
Bloody hell, it hurts! What the hell is this?
"Val!" Draco cried out when the pain showed ever so slightly on her face.
"I'm getting help." Liam went to stand.
"Don't you dare. Just...shut up...all of you. Another word about it and I swear I will-"
Valentine's head dropped into her hands, her palms digging into her temples. Her instincts were screaming at her to run.
My head feels like it's on damn fire! I can...I can barely focus.
Valentine stood from her spot, willing her legs to move.
"Val!" Leah exclaimed.
"Where are you going?" Olivia asked.
"You should go to the hospital." Liam added.
The look she gave them all made them fall into immediate silence. In fact, most everyone within earshot had frozen, as if Valentine's eyes brought a blizzard. Draco stared up at her, almost begging. Valentine pinned him to his seat with a glare somehow darker than before.
"I am going to the common room. You are going to sit here and finish your damn 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 without a single glance behind.
I'm sorry.
--Pretending To Hate--
Valentine sat slumped on to the stairs in the dark. She'd thought going outside might help clear her head but couldn't tell if it was working or not. She pressed a hand to her chest, forcing herself to slow her breathing. The pain had already faded and returned again. She couldn't remember it everlasting this long before. She kept checking her nose but nothing. God, how she preferred the messiness of blood to this pain. Even more so she preferred before any of this was ever a problem.
The throbbing in her temples was starting to calm down and she massaged them gently. The cool night air swirled around her, picking up her hair.
Why the hell did this have to happen? I can't stand being like this. I feel so weak and I hate it.
She looked around the courtyard wearily. It was painted dark blue and golden in the contrasting lighting flooding in through the large doors. She could hear the rumble of chatter coming from just inside the castle. Out here it almost felt like another world. She rubbed at her face and sighed. She needed to talk to Dumbledore about the situation with Harry and Black. Then she'd get on to Snape about the potion. This wasn't like Malfoy Manor. She would be surrounded all day, every day and her friends wouldn't accept her ignoring this for long. Someone would tell Snape or Draco would write his parents or worse another teacher or student would witness this and it would become a school-wide affair. Whatever ever the outcome, she dreaded it. But first, Harry and Black, that was definitely her first move.
Valentine heard the footsteps and then saw the figure standing in the doorway, casting a long shadow. She straight and then realised who it was.
Ugh.
"It must have hurt quite a lot to make the almighty Valentine Lestrange miss out on dinner." A familiar voice observed, a touch of amusement in its depths.
"Thank you. I'm so grateful you noticed." Valentine replied, her words thick with sarcasm."If you wanted to watch me suffering in pain you just missed your chance."
Snape stepped out into the courtyard, shadows shifting across his face as he moved into the darkness.
"I take it you've no potion left?"
"I do, actually. Plenty in fact." Valentine gave a humourless laugh. "The problem is it stopped working about three weeks ago. You have no idea how inconvenient this is."
"Oh, forgive me for not having a perfected potion to treat a practically unheard of ailment." Snape narrowed his black eyes at her.
"Apology not accepted." Valentine tossed her hair over one shoulder.
"Will your ungratefulness ever crease?"
"Most likely not. It gives me personality, Professor."
Snape looked like he wanted to spit another insult but just scoffed at her instead.
"Come with me." He turned back to the doors. "We ought to get this done before your friends come looking for you."
Valentine stood and followed the man, rolling her eyes languidly as she did.
"They won't come looking. Trust me. They won't be leaving that hall until dinner is over."
"You threatened your own friends?"
"With the promise of dismemberment and becoming Grindylow feed, yes."
"I've no idea why they continue to keep your company."
"Honestly? Neither do I. I suppose that's just the kind of loyal fools they are." Valentine shrugged. "But then, of course, look at us. Fully devoted to this mission. To Dumbledore. Knowing we'd do just about anything he'd ask of us makes one realize there's more than one kind of fool."
Snape's footsteps halted for but a fleeting moment. If Valentine hadn't been already watching him she probably would have missed it.
"I am no fool." He ground out.
"Foolish enough to hold on to rivalries going back two decades." Snape's sharp gaze twisted on her and she caught up to stand beside him. "Hit a nerve did I? Quite a picture. You and Lupin. Perhaps the scraps of maturity you've gathered throughout the years will help you mend a fence or two."
"Why such interest in my past?" Snape growled suspiciously. "You should mind your own business, Lestrange."
"Probably. But what fun would that hold for me?"
Snape curled a lip at her, turned again and kept walking.
Time to bait the bear. Though I may regret this, at least it'll be enjoyable.
"Oh, surely you have a story or two to tell from your school days, Professor?"
"None that I would care to speak of let alone tell you."
"Really? None at all? I inquire out of pure curiosity, of course."
"Your curiosity does not concern me, Lestrange."
"Not even about Remus Lupin? I do believe you attended school together and now find yourselves co-workers."
Snape spun on her violently, black eyes burning.
"Just what the hell are you trying to get at?"
Valentine cocked her head to one side and tapped her chin in consideration.
"I do wonder Professor," Valentine started to pace in a circle around the man like a vulture and it's dying pray. "who you hate more? Me or Remus Lupin? Or perhaps, James Potter, Sirius Black or Peter Pettigrew hold that special little place deep down in that rotting, black mass you call a heart?"
Valentine paused to study the man's reaction. His shoulders were held stiff, his brow twitched noticeably, either from sheer irritation or from holding back unimaginable anger. She couldn't decide which. None of this gave her cause to stop and certainly not to hold back.
And now to go for the jugular.
"Now, now, sir. No need to be so shy. Am I, to be under the impression that even with years of childhood torment at the hands of James Potter and his friends, including our new Professor, coupled with your infatuation with Lilly Evans, there is nothing to tell?"
One second Snape had been standing there, ready to lose it and then like the flick of a switch, he had. Suddenly Valentine's back was slammed into the cold stone wall. She didn't even flinch under the weight of his murderous stare.
Snape's eyes, although they had always seemed dark to her, we're now like pits of fire seeking to drag her in and burn her away to ash. His hands pinning her shoulders to the wall squeezed but she just stared up at him, the only interest on her face suggesting this was all a joke to her. She supposed it was.
"How..." Snape forced out a menacing growl. "How do you know?"
Valentine could feel the pure anger and malice radiating from his body. She wasn't sure if she regretted her words, and so to see if she did, she goaded him.
"It must have hurt quite a lot to make the almighty Severus Snape lose his composer."
"Your a stupid, foolish girl! You know nothing about it!" Snape's fingers dug into her shoulders and she made no move to stop him. "Nothing!"
"No. I don't know anything. But I do know that you loved her for years and in the end, she didn't choose you." Valentine's voice was calm and even, without a single tremble or dip.
She never imagined love could make a person so angry, or at the very least, make them capable of such a furious expression. She'd never seen another person with one quite like it. He was hardly the first full-grown man she'd devolved to a growling animal. But something about this was so unlike her uncle's rages. There was something in Snape's eyes that was just out of reach, something she could only describe as sadness, perhaps? No, she decided, it's more than that. Sorrow? She'd never seen that in her uncle's eyes to be sure. Was this sorrow brought on by her callous mention of Lilly?
"Does this love business usually hurt so much or we're you a special case?"
"I said...How do you know?" Snape swallowed thickly.
Valentine saw another flash of that odd something in his gaze.
"Dumbledore told me. Although I had some of my own speculating to do, which you have now confirmed for me. Thank you, Professor." Valentine didn't smile, she didn't narrow her eyes, she simply looked up at the man, as if she was simply another student and he a teacher and there was nothing more to this.
"The one thing I can't quite figure out...is how you manage to look so angry and sad at the same time."
Snape blinked. Once. Twice.
"What?" His voice was laden with something unreadable.
"Whatever." Valentine sighed. "It's probably pointless asking you. You don't seem like the kind of person who could decipher your own emotions if your life depended on it."
She reached up and pinched the top of one of Snape's hands. Hard. He leapt back with a pained hiss, releasing her shoulders. It seemed to bring him back to life. His black eyes now nothing but.
"I wouldn't exactly consider you an authority on deciphering one's emotions, you vindictive little brat." He snarled at her.
"Well, then. What a pair we make." Now, where we're we?" Valentine stepped away from the wall, straightening her school robes. "Ah, yes. Let's go get this dealt with before I pitch myself off the goddamn Astronomy Tower."
Valentine stepped into place beside Snape and he glared daggers down at her like it was a decision he would very much support. Valentine just laughed at him.
"Professor, if I was be sent running by mere hateful looks alone, I'd never get to go anyway."
--Pretending To Hate--
"Evening, Headmaster." Valentine nodded to the pacing Dumbledore as she shoved past Snape into the office.
"Welcome back, my dear," Dumbledore replied, somewhat absently.
Valentine frowned. She had just spent the last hour with Snape going over potion particulars and waiting for Dumbledore to finishing meeting with Lupin. If anyone should have been in a bad mood, it was her.
"Sir?" Valentine asked. She could tell something was off. He never paced like this for the fun of it. "It's to do with Sirius Black, isn't it? I've heard some disturbing things I'd rather like you to confirm before I lose my mind."
"The topic of Sirius Black is one we will have to return to, there is something else we must discuss first."
Valentine studied the man's blue eyes, watery with age and missing their usual sparkle.
"What is it?" Asked Valentine. "Does Lupin have Voldemort tucked away under his arm or something?"
"I will just cut straight to the matter." Dumbledore stopped pacing and looked at her. He wasn't laughing or even smiling. He'd always found her funny before. "I believe you could handle as much."
"What?" Valentine irked a brow at him. "No riddles filled with cryptic and confusing metaphors?"
"Just tell her, Albus," Snape spoke up, tone impatient.
Valentine shot Snape a questioning look. He stared back at her blankly.
"My dear." Dumbledore stepped forward, eyes never leaving her's. "You're dying."
...What?
For a long waning moment nobody moved, nobody spoke. They were waiting for her to react first. Valentine blinked up at Dumbledore like she'd maybe heard him wrong.
"Dying?" She asked. "Are you certain?"
"Yes." Dumbledore nodded solemnly, touching her shoulder gently. "I am certain."
Valentine gave a bark of bitter laughter that seemed to shock both Professors. The abruptness of it all was actually quite humorous to her in its own absurd way. She didn't expect to come in here and be told she was dying. It was Sirius Black they were supposed to be discussing, but no, because life could just never give her a break, she had another little problem to deal with. She couldn't die just yet, she still had work do to. It seemed like some ass of a divine power wanted to make that difficult for her. She crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes. How typical.
"Of course, I'm dying. Of bloody course. That's just what I need right now, isn't it? Talk about inconvenient." Valentine stepped past Dumbledore, his wrinkled hand falling from her shoulder. She sat in her chair by his desk, throwing one leg over the other. "You must have had more luck than me if you reached that conclusion, sir. I scoured the entire library at Malfoy Manor and couldn't find a damn thing. Care to share?"
Dumbledore turned to her, seemingly having shaken off some of the shock.
"I believe it's what some would call a 'magical parasite'. It's hardly surprising you weren't able to find mention of this." Dumbledore moved over to the desk and opened a large book sitting its surface. "I borrowed this from a good friend of mine. It's one of only two forms of documentation on cases similar to this, of which there have only ever been four reported. Severus?"
Dumbledore held a hand out to Snape. The Professor pulled a small writhed book from his robe pockets and passed it to the Headmaster. Dumbledore placed both books on the desktop.
"These two books both contain accounts of four cases from the seventeenth and eighteenth century, all suffering the same symptoms as you, my dear. Other than a distinct connection to and cold climates and all being either a witch or wizard, there is no discernible link between the four."
The Falls.
Valentine raised a hand to the scar half-hidden in her hairline as Dumbledore pushed the books towards her.
"With it being so rare, there is little documented research, no name and no known cure. Everything we know is in here."
"Figures." Valentine huffed. "It would be too simple for me to contract some kind of well known and easily treated disease, wouldn't it?"
"You are a constant trial, yes." Said, Snape.
"I do try, sir," Valentine replied smoothly and looked down the books before her. "You said 'magical parasite'?"
"Yes." Said Dumbledore. "It seems the symptoms you've experienced are all caused by the infection of a magic seeking parasite. If the profiles of the other victims are anything to go by, then it's likely the parasite is attracted by particularly strong magic."
"Well. I suppose I should be flattered then." Valentine almost laughed again. It really was ridiculous. It's like she was being punished for being strong. "What of these other victims? Did they all die?"
"Yes." It was Snape that answered. "Three long, painful deaths."
"Three?" Valentine ignored the obvious jab. "What about the fourth?"
"Took their own life."
"Ah. Well, don't get your hopes up, Professor, because I will not be doing that."
Dumbledore cleared his voice pointedly.
"It would seem the parasite is first drawn in by a surplus of magic and once it infects its host, it lives off that same magic and feeds off it until the host dies. There is little information known about the parasite's nature, although it's actual existence was confirmed in the seventeenth century when the first recorded victim died. Apparently, once the host dies, the parasite sees no need to stay and will physically remove itself from the body. In the case of the third victim, they attempted to remove the parasite themselves but didn't survive the process."
"So, attempting the same would be ill-advised." Valentine hummed.
Snape made a noise in his throat like he didn't entirely agree and pretended to not notice her glare.
"Perhaps if we had extracted it soon after the infection we may have had a small window, but that's not an option." Said Dumbledore. "Forcibly removing it from your head very well may cause the parasite to kill you as it fights to stay attached."
Something clicked in Valentine's head and she sat up straighter.
"What if we were to kill it internally first?"
For the first time since she had stepped through the door, Dumbledore smiled.
"It would appear great minds think alike. I have advised a plan to do just that, although Professor Snape will be responsible for the majority of it."
"I do not recall agreeing to this," Snape grumbled.
Valentine snorted out a laugh.
"Calm down, Professor. Don't jump at the chance to save my life."
"Shut it, Lestrange!"
"I suppose I should hold off on my sarcastic comments and dynamic insults, for the time being, my life being in your hands and all."
"That is advisable. I won't get my hopes up."
"That's probably for the best."
"Professor," Dumbledore spoke up again. "you have already made substantial progress in the area of suppressing the symptoms.What we need you to do is create one that will the parasite without bringing harm to Miss Lestrange. Naturally, you will have anything you might need. Now, my dear, can you remember when you came about that scar? The two victims that died without outside intervention survived a little over two years."
"The twenty-fourth of December, nineteen ninety-one," Valentine replied without missing a beat.
It had been the Christmas holiday of her first year. It seemed a lifetime ago when in reality it hadn't even been a full two years.
"Meaning you have been infected for approximately one year and eight months." Dumbledore nodded, following along."The longest case of survival was two years and three weeks."
"Which in turn means I have five months at the most to live?" Valentine posed her words so casually she could have been enquiring to the weather.
"We will not accept that with ease." Dumbledore's mouth was set into a firm line.
"Well, nice to see someone doesn't want me dead!" Valentine shot Snape a pointed look. He rolled his eyes at her and clicked his tongue.
I'm going to die. I'm going die unless Snape manages to create an entirely new potion that as far as we know, no one has ever even attempted to make before. Well, at least I know what's wrong with me now. It all must have happened when I fell that day at The Falls. It was nothing but an unlucky accident. Like I don't have enough of those. I suppose I have had some small measure of luck. This way I can focus on the situation with Sirius Black like I should be.
Valentine stretched out her arms and tucked them behind her head.
"Now that that's out of the way, what of Sirius Black? Those Dementor's were searching the train because they thought he may be there. Is Harry in danger? Not that I'm surprised because he always is, but a heads up would be appreciated."
"Yes." Dumbledore sighed. "I have reason to believe that Sirius Black means to seek out Harry at the very least."
"Why can't Harry attract nice, harmless people instead? Why does it have to be serial killers?"
"And that is precisely why the Ministry has the Dementor's searching for him before he can do any harm."
"Right but, sir...Dementor's? They're about as trustworthy as Snape."
"Have you already forgotten that I am responsible for keeping you breathing?" Snape growled.
"No, actually." Valentine snarked back at him. "Speaking of which, shouldn't you be getting on that?"
"I'm in no hurry."
"I doubt you're in any hurry to age either but it would appear your complexion is a decade or two ahead."
"You disrespectful-"
"Little brat." Valentine cut him off. "Blah, blah, blah. You're like a broken record."
Dumbledore cleared his throat for not the first time that night.
"I believe we were discussing the Dementor's?"
"Right." Valentine turned back to him. "The Dementor's are loyal to whoever can provide them with the most snacks, which at the moment, is the Ministry. But you said so yourself, sir, they won't don't distinguish between a murderous madman and a student."
"My dear, I am as hesitant about this as you are."
"Just tonight they attacked Harry and my friend!"
"Yes." Dumbledore sighed again. "It's certainly a troubling start to the year."
"You don't say?"
"But you did handle it, did you not?"
Valentine frowned and Dumbledore quickly elaborated.
"You did perform the Patronus Charm during the train search, did you not? Congratulations are in order, my dear."
How did he...?
"You what?" Snape stared at her incredulously.
Wait...That freaking loud mouth.
"That's quite the difficult spell, Valentine." Dumbledore added with a smile.
"Dammit, Parkinson." Valentine growled under her breath. "She can't keep her mouth shut, can she? It'll be printed in the freaking Daily Prophet next."
"I take you discovered this spell, yourself?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Uh, Yes. Malfoy Manor's collection is fairly extensive. I read about it over the summer. I honestly had no idea if it would even work, but options were thin on the ground as you could imagine."
"I can."
"You cast a Patronus Charm?" Snape's arched sceptical brow. "Without proper instruction or study?"
"I think you may have forgotten how wonderfully brilliant I am, Professor."
"It's a pity all that talent is wasted on such an arrogant child." Snape turned away from her with a sneer.
"Did you hear that, Headmaster? Severus Snape just admitted I was talented, quick someone pinch me!"
"I thought we were talking about Black?" Snape growled.
"Right again, Professor." Valentine gave him that mocking smile she had held back all dinner.
"I believe," Said Dumbledore,"so long as Harry is here at Hogwarts then he will be safe. It is highly unlikely he will attempt to get anywhere close to the castle with the Dementor's searching for him."
"It would not be impossible if he was to have help." Said, Snape.
"Help?" Valentine frowned. "Who the hell would help him?"
"Perhaps an old friend?" Suggested Snape, eyes on Dumbledore.
"I will not go through this with you again, Severus." Dumbledore gave him a wary side-eye. "Remus has no desire to put Harry in any kind of danger."
Snape just scoffed at that.
"Lupin?" Valentine arched a brow. "His friends were betrayed and killed by Voldemort because of Black. Why would he help?"
"You know nothing." He spat at her viscously.
Valentine rolled her eyes heavily and leaned back in her chair.
"I don't mind Lupin." She shrugged. "I actually ran into him in Diagon Alley during the summer."
"Hmm, he mentioned that." Dumbledore's face brightened. "He seems to find you rather interesting, if not lacking in manners."
Valentine grinned at that.
"Good to see my first impression stuck then."