Divination was one of few classes that Valentine allowed herself a less than spectacular grade in. It was a very specialized area and if you didn't have a gift for it, well, then, that was that, and Valentine certainly did not have that gift among her many. It made her wonder why such a class would be compulsory when the vast majority of students would never get a real grip on it. Despite that, she didn't particularly dislike the class or the strange Professor Trelawney. Valentine rather considered her like apart of the scenery here at Hogwarts, just always wandering about, doing and saying strange things, weirding the hell out of everyone. Very odd but very harmless. Valentine could accept that Hogwarts wasn't known for normality. Draco didn't seem to feel as lax about this situation as Valentine did.
"What the hell are we even doing here?" Sitting across from Valentine, he picked up his teacup and squinted inside it. The first thing they had been told when they entered was to drink the tea set out for them, leaving only the tea leaves behind. "This class is pointless."
"My grandfather said most seers and prophets are frauds, anyway." Liam shrugged.
"You know, I think I had a premonition once?" Said Blaze.
"Oh, I've got to hear this." Draco turned around in his chair to talk the boys, Leah and Olivia at the table behind them leaning down also.
Valentine had chosen their seating as she usually did without intending to. She always sat where she could see Harry clearly and the others always followed. The same could usually beside with Ron and Hermione following Harry but today Hermione seemed to be absent. Valentine couldn't ever imagine her being late and assumed she must have been sick or something of the like.
"I dreamt that I would stub my toe on my trunk while getting dressed and then I woke up and I did!"
"Blaze, you stub your toe on that trunk at least once a week." Liam shot him an impressed look.
"Yeah, but the dream looked exactly like it had happened. Right down to me putting my pants on backwards and forgetting one of my socks!"
"Those are things you do all the time." Draco rolled his eyes.
"I'm telling you, I saw it and then it happened!"
"That's lame." Leah snickered.
"Shut up, Lovat or this tea is going on your head."
"Welcome, my children." Trelawney's voice cut them off before they could start with one of their regular arguments. "In this room, you shall explore the mysterious art of Divination. In this room, you shall discover if you possess..." As she stood she bumped into a table, sending a giggle about the room. "...the Sight."
Trelawney shot them all a sheepish smile as she stepped around the table.
"Only an old coot like Dumbledore would hire such an idiot." Draco scoffed under his breath.
"Hello. I am Professor Trelawney." She announced with a small flourish. "Together, we shall cast ourselves into the future. But know this. One either has the Gift or not. It cannot be divined from the pages of a book. Books only cloud one's Inner Eye."
"What rubbish."
Harry, Ron and Valentine all twisted to stare at Hermione.
"Where'd you come from?" Ron exclaimed.
"Me?" Hermione huffed, straightening her collar. "I've been here all along."
No. No, she sure as hell hasn't.
Valentine narrowed her eyes at the back of the girls head in thought.
That...was definitely something.
"You, boy!" Trelawney suddenly lunged at Neville. "Is your grandmother well?
"I-I think so." Said Neville.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Trelawney hummed offhandedly and then floated along the first row. "The first term will be devoted to the reading of tea leaves. So, please exchange cups with the person sitting opposite of you. If all goes well, we will proceed to palmistry, fire omens, and finally the crystal ball."
Trelawney hovered beside Parvarti Patil, a Gryffindor and then said lowly;
"By the way, dear, beware a red-haired man."
Parvati eyes shot over to Ron, who stared back in confusion. Parvati quickly looked away, inching closer into her table. Ron blinked rapidly, mildly insulted and still very confused.
Trelawney seemed to notice none of this and drifted back towards the centre of the room.
"Unfortunately, classes will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of flu. I myself will lose my voice. And in late spring, one of our numbers will...leave us forever."
That's...dubious.
The students exchanged bewildered and concerned whispers and glances but Trelawney just smiled without a care in the world.
"Well then. Shall we?"
"Here we go," Draco grumbled, although neither he or Valentine moved to take any action.
"Hmm. I think I'll sleep through this class." Blaze hummed decidedly.
"You already sleep through History and on occasion Charms and Herbology." Said Liam.
"So?"
"How are you still tried?"
As if on cue Leah took her teaspoon and used it as a catapult to fling a tea drenched wad of parchment at the back of Blaze's head. It stuck and Blaze grimaced as he used the table cloth to try and wipe it away.
"Never mind." Said Liam. "You sleep all you want buddy."
"Leah, you shouldn't do that." Olivia scolded quietly.
"But it was funny."
"Not for me." Blaze glare over his shoulder at her.
"It wasn't supposed to be." Leah just shrugged.
"Broaden your minds, my dears." Trelawney caravaned about the room, peering over students shoulders. "And allow your eyes to see beyond!"
Trelawney picked up Pansy's cup and peeked inside expectantly.
"A five-leaf clover..." She clicked her tongue and set it back down. "You can expect to wake with a horrible rash tomorrow morning, dear."
Pansy looked positively mortified and both Blaze and Liam shared a meaningful look of joy.
"Mr. Longbottom," Trelawney floated back over to Neville next. "after you've broken your first cup-"
There was a loud clatter and then the sound of smashing china echoing throughout the room.
Neville flushed bright red as the room burst into laughter. Trelawney seemed none the wiser, muttering and waving her wand to clean up the mess.
"-would you be so kind as to select one of the blue ones? I'm rather partial to the pink."
Then as Trelawney continued past, she stopped at Ron's side, something Ron seemed less than thrilled about.
"Your aura is pulsing, my dear!" Trelawney shifted from foot to foot, seemingly excited and anxious at the same time. "Are you in the beyond? I think you are."
"Uh...sure."
"Look at Mr Potter's cup." She instructed urgently. "Tell me, what do you see Mr Weasley?"
Ron did as he was told, flicking open the textbook in front of him for assistance.
"Well. He's got a wonky sort of cross...that's trials and suffering."
Oh, goody.
"That there could be the sun and that's happiness." Ron glanced over at Harry unsurely. "So...you're going to suffer but you're going to be happy about it."
Oh, please tell me more. This is just what I wanted to hear.
"Give me the cup." Then as Ron passed it over to Trewlaney, she took in a single peek inside and yelped. "Ah!"
She dropped the cup, sending it smashing against the stone floor just like Neville's.
"What is it, Professor?" Asked Parvarti.
Trelawney gaped down at the broken china at her feet, hands shaking. She slowly raised her head to stare at Harry with wide, pitying eyes.
"My dear boy...You have the Grim."
"The Grin?" Seamus asked aloud from across the class. "What's the Grin?"
"The Grim." Corrected Parvarti. "Not The Grin, you idiot."
"But what does it mean, Professor?" Asked Dean from Seamus's side.
"The Grim..." Neville had his textbook in his lap, scanning the words frantically. "Taking the form of a giant spectral dog, it is among the darkest omens in our world. It is an omen...of death."
Neville looked over at Harry, almost apologetically.
You know what? I don't like Divination anymore.
--Pretending To Hate--
"I can't believe they're going to make us walk all this way just for a damn class." Draco huffed. "And they have that bloody oaf teaching too. I bet Potter's overjoyed."
"Oh, come on Draco." Leah ruffled his hair as she skipped past. "The sunshine is good for you."
"Hands off," Draco growled and glared after her, quickly arranging his hair back into place.
Valentine rolled her eyes and wondered how many hours a day he spent doing that. They trudged down the hill towards Hagrid's house on the edge of the Forbidden Forest for their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson. To Valentine, it sounded like an accident waiting to happen. Hagrid may have been very kind and never meant any harm to anyone but things had a habit of turning to chaos in his wake. This was the man that wanted to raise a dragon on the grounds of Hogwarts, after all.
Well, at least he hasn't caused anyone's death. Yet.
"What I want to know is what's up with these books?" Liam frowned, holding up the growling, fur bound book away from his face.
"I'd be careful with that." Blaze warned him, electing to keep his book safe in his bag. "My brother let mine loose around the house as a joke. No one was laughing. Not even him."
"I think they're almost cute." Said Olivia, cocking her head to one side and staring down at the book in her arms.
"Almost being the keyword here." Draco scoffed.
"I named mine Winifred." Leah smiled.
"That's nice," Olivia replied. Everyone else rolled their eyes.
"All this walking is going to get real old, real fast." Blaze sighed. "And isn't the forest out of bounds anyway?"
"Oh, do you think we'll see a unicorn?" Leah jumped about enthusiastically, tugging on Olivia's arm.
"Maybe." Olivia gave her a warm smile. "Val, you saw a unicorn when you served detention that time in first year, didn't you?"
"I did." Valentine remembered that night full well whether she wanted to or not.
"OH! OH! OH!" Leah bounced from Olivia's arm to Valentine's. "Tell me everything about it! How tall was it? What colour was its eyes? Did it have bad breath? OH! Did you get to name it?"
"It was dead, Leah." Valentine shouldered her away.
"...What?"
"I said, it was dead." Valentine rolled her eyes irritably. "It had been killed before we got there. Our detention was to find the body."
"Wow." Liam frowned. "That sounds totally age-appropriate."
"Noooooo! Olivia!" Leah howled and threw herself to Olivia's arms once more. "Did you hear what she just said? Poor Gerald!"
"Gerald?" Blaze scrunched up his nose.
"Yeah," Leah sniffled, peering up from Olivia's shoulder. "that's what I decided to call the unicorn."
"You named a unicorn that died almost two years ago? And you named it Gerald?"
"Yeah!" Leah narrowed her glistening eyes. "Got a problem with that!"
"No, no. No problem." Blaze shook his head. "You clearly enjoy being insane."
"Um, guys," Olivia spoke up meekly.
"We're going into the forest now."
"Oh." Leah and Blaze mumbled in unison. They both turned to see the other students following after Hagrid. They quickly followed to join.
"Oi, Draco." Blaze came up between the two of them.
"What is it?"
"Me thinks I have a plan to make this class a little more interesting."
"Does it involve pushing Potter into a vat of lava."
"No, but we can do that tomorrow. For the moment, I have a much less permanent plan."
"You're losing me, Blaze."
"Just come on." Blaze grumbled, grabbing Draco's arm and gesturing to Liam.
Can't imagine this being a good thing.
"What are you to up to?" Valentine arched a brow at Blaze.
"Don't worry, Val." He grinned. "Just sit back and enjoy."
Nope. Not good.
As they trampled their way through the trees they reached a clearing. Hagrid stopped and turned to them all.
"Right you lot! Less chattering! Form a group over there." He instructed with a vague gesture. "And open your books to page forty-nine."
"Um..." Leah looked down at the book in her arms worriedly.
"Beware." Blaze hummed. "I'm not kidding."
"Exactly how do we do that?" Draco demanded loudly so that Hagrid would hear.
"You just stoke the spine, of course." Hagrid shook his head like the answer had been obvious. "Goodness me."
Valentine frowned, watching the man disappear off into the trees. She felt eyes burning into her and looked around at her friends, still giving their books questionable looks. One by one they turned to look at Valentine sheepishly.
"Oh, for crying out loud." Valentine snapped.
She turned her own book around in her hands and stroked her fingers along the spine. The book gave a contented growl and Valentine proceeded to easily open the book without resistance. The others, now assured there books wouldn't maul their faces off, opened their own their accordingly.
Someone needs a lesson in independent thinking.
The boys headed to the back of the group which Valentine quickly knew wouldn't work at all. She preferred to be believed tween Harry and whatever danger Hagrid was about to expose them too. Not a mention she and Blaze would never be able to see from all the way back here.
Leah had been cooing and talking to her book like it was a small child when Liam tapped on Olivia's shoulder and whispered in her ear. Valentine watched Olivia turn a little pale, but nod none the less.
"Olivia." Valentine approached when Liam turned away to talk to Crabbe and Goyle. "What was that about?"
"Oh, uh..." Olivia glanced over at the boys. "It was a warning."
Why don't I like the sound of that?
"I think they're funny." Another voice cut through the chatter in the crowd and Draco scoffed loudly.
"Oh, yeah. Terribly funny. Quite witty really."
Harry, Ron and Hermione all shot him withering glares, the other students watching the growing situation with apprehension.
"God, this place is going to the dogs. Wait until my father hears Dumbledore's got this oaf teaching classes."
Liam, Blaze, Goyle and Crabbe had drifted to stand at Draco's side in support but Valentine got the sense it was far more than that.
"Shut up, Malfoy." Harry stepped forward boldly.
"Ohhhhhh." Draco and the other boys laughed, not finding Harry intimidating in the least.
Draco passed his bag off to Blaze and swaggered towards Harry, looking him up and down as if it was ridiculous that this skinny, messy-haired boy was confronting him. Draco stood a good inch or two above Harry but the boy didn't flinch. He found Draco about just as impressive as Draco found him.
Valentine crept forward, pushing past the other boys. If a fight broke out then Valentine was going to have to stop it before things got serious.
"Wow, Draco really has gotten tall hasn't he?" Valentine almost rolled her eyes when she heard Pansy somewhere behind her whispering not as quietly as she should have been. "It must not run in the family though. With how short Lestrange is-"
"Shush!" Leah hissed. "Some things should never be said aloud."
Harry met her eyes briefly and she saw a small glimmer of worry. It was no secret that she was much more intimidating, impressive and dangerous than three of her cousin could ever be.
Valentine was actually surprised. Usually, Draco would be either spitting venom or eating dirt by now. Then his shoulders went ridged and he half stumbled backwards. He pointed up beyond Harry's shoulder and gave a fearful shout.
"Dementor! Dementor!"
Harry and the rest of the class all whipped around but found only the clearing behind them.
The boys laughed again, pulled the hoods of their robes up over their heads. As the students turned back to them, their all held up their arms, wiggling their fingers and moaning like ghosts.
This is what all that whispering was about? Are you kidding me? When did we all suddenly revert back to six-year-olds?
Harry just stared at them all blankly, expression torn somewhere between indifferent and solemn.
This is indeed the saddest thing I have ever seen.
The boys all found this terribly funny, still giggling as Hermione grabbed Harry and pulled him away, shooting Draco, in particular, a dirty look.
Blaze and Liam shared a triumphant high five and Valentine fought the urge to roll her eyes. She then heard Hagrid clearing his voice but couldn't see him over the crowd.
"Isn't he beautiful?" Said Hagrid. "Say hello to Buckbeak."
Eyes forward, all Valentine could see was the backside of the other students.
Okay. This is not fair. Is there some unspoken rule stating that I can't be smart, magically talented and of reasonable height?
"What the hell is that?" Draco made a face.
"Well, its no unicorn." Leah grinned, creeping forward to see more. "But it'll do."
"Yeah." Blaze gave both the infinitely taller Draco and Liam at his sides a saucy glare. "It'll do alright."
Valentine growled lowly and smacked at Blaze's shoulder before she set off to push through the crowd forcefully.
"Oh." She heard him stumbling to follow her.
"Hagrid...exactly what is that?" Asked Ron as Valentine broke through to the front of the group.
She frowned. Buckbeak stood a bit further back in the clearing, watching them with sharp golden eyes. The creature seemed to be the byproduct of two with the head, wings and grey feathers of an eagle but the four legs and hooves of a horse. It was a rather bizarre-looking to be sure and she knew immediately what it was.
"Eh?" Blaze blinked as he arrived at her elbow, now able to see as well. "A bird horse?"
"It's a hippogriff." She shot him a terse look.
She could feel eyes burning into her from all directions but ignored them.
"Ah, right." Blaze nodded and then paused. "A what?"
"Aye, as Lestrange says, this here is a hippogriff. First thing you wanna know about hippogriffs is that they're very proud creatures. Very easily offended, you do not want to insult a hippogriff. It may just be the last thing you ever do." Hagrid clapped his large hands with an excited toothy grin. "Now, who'd like to come to say hello?"
As if all of one mind, the students, including Valentine and Blaze took a prompt step back. Valentine wasn't known for class participation and didn't want to be caught as an accidental volunteer. Harry wasn't so lucky.
"Well, done Harry! Well, done!"
Valentine stuck her hands in her pockets so she could clench them to her hearts, bitter, frustrated content.
Is he asleep standing up? What the hell is he doing?
Harry stood there, stupified for a moment. He looked back at the others and then to Hagrid again, realising what had just happened.
"Come on." Hagrid motioned for him to step up as Ron snuck forward and nudged Harry a little.
"Now, you have to let him make the first move. It's only polite." Harris instructed as Harry moved forward slowly. "So, step up, give him a nice bow. Then you wait and see if he bows back. If you do, you can go and touch him, if not...well, we'll get to that later."
I'm sorry, what?
Harry did as he was told, creeping towards the hippogriff and bowing.Buckbeck let out a loud cry of displeasure. Valentine had never heard anything like before. It sent her heart dropping into her stomach.
"Back off, Harry. Back off." Hagrid urged and Harry took a few small steps back, keeping his head low.
Valentine was suddenly regretting that she'd backed off with the others. She's much rather be standing before the creature herself than watching Harry do so. But Buckbeak seemed to approve of the distance and Harry's respect, craning its own neck down to bow in return.
"Well done, Harry. Well done." Hagrid congratulated, the students applauding but not without an air of caution. "Right, you can go and pat him now."
Oh please, for the sake of my sanity!
While Valentine was occupied with her minor internal breakdown, Draco, Liam, Leah and Olivia came to stand at her side to watch the scene before them.
"Nice and slow. Nice and slow." Hagrid spoke softly as Harry offered Buckbeak one hand, inching forward. "Not so fast, Harry."
Just as Hagrid said those words, Buckbeak snapped its beak at Harry as if in warning. Harry paused a little but kept his hand raised.
Valentine heard Draco laughing under his breath beside her and remembered that this was something she was supposed to enjoy. She pulled a dark smirk onto her face and thanked her genetics for the paperwhite skin that hid how all the blood had drained from her face.
"Now, let him come to you." Said Hagrid.
Harry, eyes trained on Buckbeak, stilled. Buckbeak seemed to consider him for a moment before padding forward and pressing its nose into Harry's waiting hand.
Valentine suppressed the need to sigh and rub her face like an exhausted mother.
"Well done! Well done, Harry!" Hagrid applauded, smiling widely. "Well done!"
Harry looked positively tickled pink with his achievement, the other students chattering excitedly.
"Isn't he just great?" Liam drawled, words thick with sarcasm.
"Oh, of course." Blaze scoffed.
Then Hagrid just had to take it one step further.
"I think he may let you ride him now."
He's going to what?
Harry looked almost as worried as Valentine felt. Hagrid hefted him up and deposited him on to the hippogriff. Then before Valentine could form even the shadow of a plan, he struck the creatures rear, sending it bounding across the clearing and flying off through the trees.
Two times! He defeated Voldemort two times and this is how he dies?
"And he was never seen again..." Said Blaze.
"Good riddance." Draco scowled.
--Pretending To Hate--
After Harry had left it had taken approximately three minutes before Leah and Blaze started up their arguing again. Leah was currently chasing Blaze around the clearing, holding up her book like a weapon.
Hagrid had tried to stop them but he had been completely ignored and ultimately decided it was best he leave them to it.
"I'll never understand how Olivia puts up with you!" Blaze shouted over his shoulder at her.
"What do you mean 'put up with'?" Leah gasped, offended. "I'm a joy to be around!"
"Oh, really!"
"Yes, really!"
"Is that what your mama told you?"
"She didn't have to tell me! It's clear as day!"
"Then it must be a pretty cloudy day!"
"Why are you always so mean to me!"
"Because it's fun!"
"ARG!"
Valentine would have rolled her eyes but the entire rest of the class seemed to have that covered for her. Leah and Blaze's antics were funny for the first week or so but after two years of this, they were probably known as the most annoying people to ever attend Hogwarts.
The others had turned their backs as of to pretend they didn't even know the two idiots scrambling around like forest rodents. Valentine listened distantly, occupied with keeping an eye out for Harry.
"Potter's such a show-off isn't he?" sniffed Pansy. "I bet you could have done all that, couldn't you Draco?"
"Of course." Draco scoffed.
As if.
"I don't think you'd need that filthy animal help either." Pansy glared at Hagrid from the corner of her eye.
"Why would I?"
Draco, you are probably the least courageous person I know.
From the looks Valentine watched Olivia and Liam exchanging, she knew they were thinking the same.
"Couldn't be more obvious, could she?" Liam muttered under his breath.
"Well, she's not exactly...subtle..." Olivia spoke lowly.
"COMING THROUGH!" Blaze barrelled through the group, almost taking out Pansy as he did.
"GET BACK HERE!" Leah followed, hot on his trail.
"Be careful!" Olivia shouted after them with a look of concern.
"Eh, let them wear themselves out." Liam shrugged.
"Don't you ever run out of energy!" Blaze shrieked at Leah incredulously, vaulting over a bolder.
"Don't you ever get tired of picking on me!"
"Not really, no!"
"Well, I DO!"
"Why don't you go complain to the werewolf aliens and leave me alone!"
Liam face palmed.
"They'll never change." Olivia sighed.
"Hold still so I can rip your head off!" Leah growled, flinging herself after him and sending them both crashing to the ground.
"Why don't you go back to your home planet and get off me!"
"I'm not an alien!"
"Really? Then what are those things sticking out of your head? Because they look like antenna to me! Maybe you're adopted! Might want to ask your parents!"
"Nope." Liam popped the 'p'. "Never."
The sharp sound of Hagrid whistling grabbed everyone's attention. Through the trees, Harry and Buckbeak circling the clearing, ascending at a steady pace. Valentine was filled with relief at the sight, none of it showing on her face.
They landed to the sounds of applause and cheering, shared by all but Valentine and her friends.
"Well done, Harry! And well done, Buckbeak!" Hagrid exclaimed.
Hagrid hefted Harry down off the Hippogriff just as he had put him up there. Harry was grinning, usually messy hair now an utter birds nest.
Valentine would have been completely at ease in that moment until Draco strode put into the clearly without hesitation. She felt all the panic of that lesson hit her all at once like a tidal wave.
Draco!
"You're not dangerous at all are you!" You great ugly brute."
No!
"Malfoy." Hagrid's eyes widened at the sight.
NO!
Valentine took a step forward but felt a strong grip on her arm and found she couldn't move.
Buckbeak reared up on its hind legs and opening, its wings with a screech. The students screamed and quickly backed away. Buckbeak came back down, a hoove striking Draco as it did.
"Draco!" Valentine's voice echoed out each and every scream surrounding her, fighting against the grip on her arm.
Then Hagrid jumped in, holding out his arms and speaking sternly and quickly calming the creature.
"Buckbeak. Buckbeak!"
Valentine tore her eyes from the scene to look at her hand clenched tightly around her upper arm. It was Leah, face pale and terrified. Valentine hadn't even seen her get up off the ground, but she did see red.
Seeing her eyes narrow into such a vicious glare Leah's hold weakened and Valentine ripped her arm away.
"Why did you do that?" Valentine snarled like a wild animal.
A picture of guilt painted across Leah's face but Valentine was too mad to care in that moment.
Valentine just shoved Leah away, sending her crashing into Liam and Olivia.
"You really are a goddamned idiot, aren't you?" Valentine seethed already turning back to the scene.
Now, unhindered, she headed straight for Draco. He was lying in the leaves, clutching at his arm.
"It's killed me! It's killed me!"
"Stop moving." Valentine dropped to her knees beside him. "You'll make it worse."
"It's killed me!" Draco continued to writhe about.
"Draco!" Valentine snapped, grabbing his face and forcing him to look at her. "You are still very much alive."
He nodded shakily, blinking as if fully realizing what had happened. If he wasn't already injured she would have slapped him.
"He needs to be taken to the hospital," Valentine spoke pointed and loudly.
"Ah, right. I'm the teacher, I'll do it." Hagrid quickly stepped forward and heaved Draco into his arms.
"You're going to regret this!" Draco's mean spirit quickly returned. "You and your bloody chicken!"
Valentine went to follow and then paused. She threw a glare over at her friends, all watching in shock. Tears dribbled down Leah's face and Valentine wanted nothing more to rush over to her and apologize. Instead, she just shook her head in bitter disappointment and hurried off after Hagrid and Draco.
--Pretending To Hate--
Valentine had twisted Draco's ear until it had turned purple and Madam Pomfrey had threatened to kick her out of the hospital wing.
It wasn't often Valentine was truly this mad and when she was it was usually aimed at either Snape or her uncle. Neither of them were exactly easy to get along with.
Valentine sat on the end of the bed opposite Draco and glared a hole through the floor while Madam Pomfrey got to work. Draco complained and whined the whole time. By now both Valentine and Madam Pomfrey had figured out that he would be perfectly fine. He only stopped when Valentine snapped at him for being so dramatic.
Liam and Blaze had poked their heads in hesitantly a little after they'd arrived themselves. They didn't say where Leah and Olivia were and no one asked. Meriton had appeared for a split second, handing over the books everyone had left behind to Liam and then practically running for his life. Valentine was so good at pretending to be a angry that it only made sense she would be completely terrifying when it was genuine.
When she had stormed into the common room with the others after dinner she was still as prickly as before, face set in a permanent scowl. Draco would be fine and she knew that. That wasn't the issue. The issue was his own pomposity and insolence. The issue was Leah's hand grabbing her arm and stopping her from doing the only thing she could do that really mattered. Protecting people.
If Draco wasn't such an arrogant brat...If Leah hadn't stopped me...Arg. Why are they both so damn stupid? I could have stopped what happened and what happened never should have!
She paced in front of the fireplace, Liam and Blaze throwing awkward glances back and forth at one another. Draco would be staying in the hospital tonight and Leah and Olivia hadn't been seen since Care for Magical Creatures. They hadn't even attended their afternoon lessons or dinner. Valentine assumed Leah was brooding and Olivia was doing her best to comfort her. Leah's tearful face flash through her mind and it just made things worse. She had done that. Leah probably just didn't want Valentine to get hurt as well but Valentine had hoped she'd known better, known that Valentine could handle herself.
Her anger had been steadily dissolving into frustration all afternoon, not that anyone else could tell. She was frustrated with Draco, Leah and most of all herself. Letting herself be so angry with a situation that was already over was pointless and the waste of the day.
She crossed her eyes and turned her glare on the emerald flames burning in the hearth. Today was not a good day.
--Pretending To Hate--
Olivia's P.O.V-
I had never seen Leah so...dull and lifeless. She cried for hours and hours and now that she's exhausted herself she just...we've been sitting here, huddled together on her bed hidden amidst Leah's her stuffed animals so long my legs have gone numb but I can't just leave her. She even hasn't said anything for hours now.
What do I do? Why would Val do this to her? Leah adores her so much! Can't she see how much she hurt her?No. No, Val has her own reasons. She's smart so of course, she can see she just...doesn't care about that I supposed.
Leah burrowed closer to me, I could feel her breath on my neck. She whimpers and starts crying again. I just stroke her back because what else can I do? I hate to see her like this. So destroyed, the shining light in her eyes, while not gone completely...is so dim. She's worried about Draco and racked with guilt about what happened.
I know I'm not supposed to care. I know it would be easier if I didn't but I failed that years ago. If I didn't love them all, if Val was more than just a monster, then I wouldn't feel like this. How am I supposed to take down Val like this? What am I going to do? And what about Leah? She sees Val like a sister. Wherever she goes, Leah will follow, the others are no different. I don't think there is a way for me to do as mother asks and not hurt them all, but what choice do I have? Mother wants her gone. She's gone as far poison. I'd be a murder now if I had gone through with it.
"Hey, Olivia?" Leah's voice snapped me out of my mental spiral, reminding me that right now my attention should have been focused on her.
"What is it?"
"Do you think that Val hates me now?"
Those words her like a knife, stabbing me in the chest and slicing my heart up into a million pieces
"No," I said quickly, blinking away tears. "No. Val thinks the world of you, Leah. We all do."
"Then...then why..." Leah words were clouded by the gasping of her sobs. "...why do I...feel like she does?"
I swear somehow, somehow these words cause physical pain. I can feel that knife wrenching. What do I do? How do I fix this?
Leah pressed a hand to face and I've never felt more useless.
"Trust me. You two are like sisters. She could never hate you, no matter what she says." All I can do is hold her tight so that she knows I'm there, remind her of things I'm not completely sure of myself at times. "You know what Val is like. She's not the type to say it, but she cares a lot and she definitely doesn't hate you."
I can feel her tears soaking through my shirt collar again. I don't want her to fall asleep with tear-stained cheeks tonight but I don't know if I can help that. If I can't manage this how will I do as mother asks? I could never tell Leah about it. It would break her. I have to do it alone. It's the only way.
I try to garner some kind of hatred for Valentine Lestrange. She hurts people. She's the reason why Leah is crying now. When I expose whatever secrets she's hiding her family will disown her and her friends will have no choice but to turn her away. That's what their world is like. I wake up every morning and try to hate her, I try and I try but nothing works. She's so smart and powerful. She saved my life and she would do anything to protect her friends. She a monster but she's one of my closest friends. She can be cruel but it's her who reminds me to stand up for myself. Why did I let that happen? Why the hell did I let my guard down?
I've tried to convince myself that I'm just doing what mother told me to do, but my mind drifts to Val standing before that Dementor without a single shred of fear, the tip of her wand glowing like nothing I'd ever seen. I'm reminded of how I felt staring into the endless black of that creature's mouth and it forms a cold pit in my stomach. She pulled me from that. She saved me. She saved me and I'm going to do whatever I can to destroy her life.
Why the hell did I let this happen? Mother even tried to make it easy, pressing the poison into my hand and I still couldn't do it. How am I going to survive this?