Full Summary: It was obvious why Dumbledore concerned himself with Harry Potter's safety and strived to protect 'The Boy Who Lived'; it was much less obvious why he was concerned for Valerie Hinge's, too. She had no special qualities or abilities to her and came from a normal, magical family - the question 'why me?' had plagued her for six years. When Draco Malfoy, a rumoured Death Eater, also takes an interest in the young witch, her whole world is flipped upside down and she becomes riddled with more questions, secrets and lies than she knows what to do with.
Your classic enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn Draco Malfoy fic.
"How does it feel, Val? You ready, kid?"
Valerie blinked out of the hypnotic state that staring out of the car window at the many buildings of London put her in, and looked forward at her father, having completely missed what he'd said.
"What?"
"Your second to last year! You've only the two left and then you'll be out in the big, bad world. I was asking, how does it feel?"
"Um, feels pretty weird?" she replied noncommittally. She hadn't given the topic that much thought.
"Pretty weird? That's one way of putting it I guess, I mean, I remember the things that I…"
Valerie returned to her vacant staring out of the window, tuning out her father's usual annual rambling. Every year it was the exact same stories, reminiscing on his glory days at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He told the same tall tales on the car journey to King's Cross that Valerie could now recite them backwards if the mood so took her. 'Merlin, the things we used to do,' he would sigh wistfully, 'we were fearless, Val, with the amount of things we got caught doing - we should have been thrown out! And then there's the stuff they didn't catch us doing!' Pride beamed through the vocal recounting of his memories, not a shred of regret. A reformed troublemaker he certainly was not.
Valerie's father was a sunny man, always laughing, always telling jokes, always a cheeky grin on his face. Her father, ever the optimist, was tedious in his constant glass-half-full philosophy. Her mother, on the other hand, offered the counter-attitude to combat and balance out her husband's relentless positivity. A fiercely intelligent and laid-back woman, Valerie's mother was content enough to allow her husband to take centre stage where she managed and supported things around him. Valerie's father saw goals, Valerie's mother saw the journey to achieving them.
On paper, it would seem almost as though the two would repel each other; that Valerie's father would have to constantly drag along her mother, while she always attempted to hold him back. However, a moment in Yvonne and Rowan's company was enough to know that there were never another two more in love. When it came to the idea that opposites attract, Valerie's parents were exhibit A.
Sensing her daughter's detachment from the reminiscing, Valerie's mother turned and offered a small smile as she held out her hand to Valerie. Valerie loved her mother's smile. Her lips tilted ever so slightly upwards on the right side, and despite its subtlety it felt warm. To those who knew how to translate it, it revealed all of her love for her family.
Valerie smiled in turn, and clasped her mother's hand in hers.
While her father preferred to fill silence with endless stories, and reveal every thought that dared to enter his mind, at this time of year it was always about Valerie's future - ever doting; ever praising. He gushed with all the refinement of a bull in a china shop, and Valerie wouldn't mind all that much, had she done something worthy of celebration. She adored her father, but his constant exclamations of how wonderful she was made her feel embarrassed and uncomfortable more than anything else. Her mother had mastered the art of conveying all of what her husband said into a single touch. The ever so slightest squeeze of her daughter's hand in hers let Valerie know just how loved she was. It was a super-talent, Valerie supposed, how her mother could communicate with the simplest of gestures. Valerie knew she leaned far more to her mother's communicative nature; quiet and docile, even, however she could not quite replicate her mother's art yet. Even though she never meant for it be so, she knew that her quiet nature occasionally came off as aloof, or rude.
Valerie's father saw the two holding hands and allowed his words to quieten to a small sigh and a rueful smile.
"I'm doing it again," he observed, "Sorry, Val."
Valerie shook her head and released her mother's hand in favour of squeezing her dad's shoulder.
"No, dad, it's okay, I know you're just excited for me."
This reassurance seemed to set her father off again.
"I am! I really am! You're going to have such an amazing year and I can't wait for you to come back with all of your crazy stories - and you know when I get excited it just all comes out at once!"
Valerie's mother placed her hand over her father's on top of the gear stick.
"We know, darling."
The small family continued their warm conversation, the streets becoming more recognisable to Valerie as they neared the station. The warmth of the summer had yet to concede to the cool winds of autumn, and Valerie knew that the next time she made this journey, winter would be well underway. She enjoyed the changing of the seasons, the knowledge that the world was always shifting, always on the cusp of bringing something else her way.
Soon, the three found their way to platform nine and three quarters. Valerie's father wheeled her trunk behind him, while she tightly clutched hold of the cat carrier that presently contained an angry large cat named, quite aptly so, Nyx.
As they stood before the train, Valerie's mother raised the cat carrier to her eye level, and was met with a low hiss from the feline.
"Now, you will take care of her again for me, won't you, Nyx?" she asked.
Nyx replied with another hiss.
"She'll be alright - she just doesn't like being cooped up, I might get a larger carrier for her in Hogsmeade this year. I'll let her out in my compartment for a bit," Valerie said, lowering the carrier again.
She smiled at her mother, and then blushed a bright red when she saw her father beginning to well up. Ah yes, she thought to herself, the second annual tradition whereby her father, now confronted with another year of her going off away from him, became emotional at the prospect of her growing up.
"Oh, Merlin - dad, it's okay," she comforted, putting the carrier down so she could hug him - and perhaps hide her glowing cheeks from her school-mates.
Valerie's father dragged her in for a bear hug and Valerie felt her lungs actually deflate beneath the force of it. He was a lovable puppy of a man: annoying at times, definitely, but his heart was always in the right place and his intentions were always pure. With a manly cough, an opportunity for him to reign in his emotions, he released Valerie from his clutches and stood back, smiling proudly. His eyes beamed with affection.
"I can't believe it's already your second to last year. You're growing up way too fast," he laughed, sniffing slightly.
"She's a big girl now," Valerie's mother said soothingly, her hand slipping into her husband's, where Valerie now knew she was squeezing his hand, "A young woman." Her other hand, she placed to Valerie's cheek before she planted the smallest of kisses to her forehead. "We love you so much, Val. We're so proud."
Valerie took a moment to look at her parents once more before turning to find a spot on the train. It was at this point when her father's influence on her shone through her otherwise guarded exterior as she surged forward to hug her parents for the last time until Christmas. Suddenly, she realised just how few moments like these the three of them had left, and her heart squeezed ever so slightly at the prospect of missing them. One, two, three more seconds before she pulled herself away and exhaled slowly. Both Valerie and her father - comedically, almost - avoided eye contact for fear of setting one another off. Valerie's mother placed a hand to her lips to hide the smile that threatened to burst forward after noticing the similarity between the two.
"Thanks Mum, Dad. I love you guys, too," she answered softly. Saying goodbye to her parents each year always left Valerie with the feeling that her words could never convey the actual way that she felt. As an only child, Valerie was always close with her parents and missed them dearly whenever she returned to Hogwarts. The three months until Christmas seemed to pass so slowly every year. She couldn't openly gush about the way she loved them, like her father, and no gesture or sign seemed to convey the depth of her feelings like her mother. She tried her best, she really did, but everything she did seemed to be so hollow by comparison. In spite of her own feelings on the matter, her parents understood that she felt more for them than she knew.
The scarlet train beckoned her to wrap up her goodbyes and embark quickly with a piercing whistle.
"All aboard!" cried one of the platform hands.
With little more said, Valerie boarded the train with her trunk and Nyx's carrier in tow. She placed her trunk on one of the luggage rails, and turned to wave one last time just as the train released its final shrill whistle. They waved back, wide smiles adorning their warm faces.
"See you at Christmas," she whispered under her breath as they disappeared from view.
Valerie trudged down the aisle searching for an empty compartment. She didn't relish having to stare through the glass of the platform screens in the hopes one of them held a friend. Not only did it make her seem like she was spying, she ran the risk of obtaining the ire of the Slytherins if they thought she was being nosy. She passed the first few, feeling rather creepy, and offering diplomatic half-smiles in apology. Nyx was growing more and more restless, meowing loudly at the constant stopping and starting while her owner searched for somewhere to place her down. Just at the moment Valerie considered cutting her losses and joining a group of fifth year Hufflepuffs, she felt a tentative tap on her shoulder.
"Hey, Val," greeted none other than the famous Harry Potter as she turned, an easy smile already on his face.
Valerie never really knew where she stood with The-Boy-Who-Lived, and if he was being honest, he'd probably have said the same about her. The only thing the two had in common, apart from being in the same year, was that Dumbledore had taken the two under his wing and appeared to trust them both wholeheartedly. Dumbledore's interest in Harry required no analysis - after all, he had single-handedly brought an end to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's reign of terror when he was no more than an infant. Valerie didn't have any such exceptional story. She was not particularly powerful or skilled; she was just, well, Valerie. She knew she was undeniably one of the brighter students in her year, but it hardly seemed enough reason for Dumbledore to trust her as unwaveringly so.
Nevertheless, Dumbledore had found her worthy of his notice, just as much as Harry Potter, and she was resolved to prove she was worthy of it, somehow. Of course, preferring to remain out of the spotlight, she maintained a steady distance from Harry Potter who managed to find himself in the middle of whatever trouble was brewing within the school year after year. So they were kind of friends, she supposed. They didn't speak all that much aside from when Dumbledore summoned them. Valerie figured that they would likely not become bosom companions any time soon, but she was polite to him and treated him with kindness.
"Hi, Harry, how are you?" Valerie offered with a smile.
"I'm good, I'm good. Glad to be heading back to Hogwarts. You've not found a compartment yet?"
"No shit," she joked, holding up her loud and angry feline. "Did the pissed-off cat give it away?"
"Well, uh, I'm just heading up that way a bit," gesturing ahead of her, "Did you want to join me, Ron, and Hermione in our compartment?"
Valerie pressed her lips together. Nyx seemed to let out a pathetic, little meow that begged her to take up the boy on his offer.
"Oh, um - that's really nice of you, but I'm hoping to stumble on Luna somewhere. Thanks a lot, though, really - you know me and Hermione don't really get along all that well anyway," she shrugged, "I don't suppose you've seen Luna anywhere, have you?"
Valerie watched as Harry's eyes kept darting between her and the other end of the aisle.
"Did you want to get past?" Valerie asked, scooching forward. Her observance of his actions seemed to bring his attention back to her.
"Yeah, no worries, I just figured I'd ask - if I see Luna I'll tell her you're looking for her. I'll see you later, though?"
"Of course. I'll see you later, and thanks again."
As Harry passed her, Valerie continued on her search for the elusive Ravenclaw.
Fortunately, Valerie's voyeuristic journey looking through compartment windows was brought to an end when she saw the unmistakable long blonde waves of her friend accompanied with her tell-tale brightly coloured clothing.
"You took your time," Luna said pointedly, "Did you get lost?"
"Sorry about that," Valerie answered, taking the seat opposite, "We arrived late to King's Cross and I had to walk up from the very back of the train. I also bumped into Harry and we got chatting."
As soon as Nyx's carrier was placed on the seat next to her, Valerie knew that Luna's attention was stolen from her and her list of obstacles in the journey to find her compartment became redundant.
Luna Lovegood instantly began poking her fingers through the bars to pet Nyx, and the black cat, as though exorcised from his previous demons, purred and began rubbing her face against the offered appendages.
"Would you mind if I let her out?" Luna asked.
"Please do, she hates being in there. Wouldn't stop screaming at me." Valerie responded.
Nyx leapt out as soon as Luna opened the cage, freed from her tiny prison. Luna began to attack her with pets which Nyx was more than happy to be receiving and Valerie smiled at the way in which her friend and the feline seemed smitten with one another.
Luna and Valerie were an unlikely and greatly unexpected pair. Neither of the girls could boast of a thriving social life, but they were both in Ravenclaw, so it was beneficial to them two of them to be able to rely on one another to have company at meal times, or to assist with homework. Valerie wished they were in the same year, too, so she that had a default partner for her classes, but then, she figured, that would just be too lucky. Luna never pried - Valerie liked that about her - and neither hardly minded the space both of them occasionally needed. Unlike everyone else who wrote Luna off as being a bit unusual, Valerie enjoyed listening to her conspiracies and her facts about creatures who may or may not have been real. Luna, in turn, enjoyed that Valerie had Nyx. It was a win-win.
The two talked amiably about the goings on during their summer holidays and whatever else took their fancy as the hours rolled by. Nyx had long since curled up to sleep in Luna's lap as the Scottish highlands came into view. The mountains signalled that it was time to change into robes, Luna and Valerie doing so accordingly, and after a short time the train began slowing to a halt at the familiar station.
As the two readied themselves to disembark, Valerie became aware that Luna was becoming distant and she had retrieved a pair of extravagant fuchsia glasses from where she was using them as a bookmark in the most recent copy of her father's magazine, The Quibbler. Valerie blinked in confusion, but certainly not surprise.
"I have to go," Luna informed matter-of-factly, "I think the nargles are trying to show me something important. I'll see you at dinner… could you try and save me some pudding, any chance?"
"Sure," Valerie nodded, "Don't worry, I know what you like."
"Thank you. I'll see you soon."
Without another word, the mysterious girl that was Luna Lovegood, disappeared down the train.
Valerie glanced down at Nyx who now watched her, alert. Not only had her favourite human left, but they had stopped moving.
"Let's not have a repeat of home," she begged, eyeing the faint claw marks that littered her hands, "How about we just take it nice and easy and go in the cage without trying to skin me?"
As Nyx, frankly masterfully, began to evade Valerie's clutches in the small compartment, Valerie became increasingly aware that the noises from the aisle were lessening and that most of the students were already off the train.
"Please, Nyx," she hissed, "I don't want to walk up to the castle again."
In a moment of divine beauty, Valerie managed to get the feline cornered, and coerced her as gently as possible into the carrier. Nyx was practically frothing at the mouth with rage, but Valerie hardly had time to care as she rushed out, only to be run into head first by another student. Valerie hit the deck with a wheeze as the other student fell on top of her with a grunt. Nyx yowled at the sudden upheaval.
Valerie opened her eyes and found herself face to face with the very last student she wished to encounter. From the look on his face, he seemed greatly displeased too.
"Of fucking course," she growled frustratedly, trying to climb out from beneath him in the narrow expanse of the aisle. "What is so bloody urgent that you have to flatten anybody in your path to get it done?"
Draco Malfoy was on his feet in an instant, dusting off his immaculate black robes. His face was twisted into the mean grimace that Valerie was all too familiar with, as if it had been Valerie that had chosen to use him as a crash mat. Valerie looked at the pretentious robes he had now set to righting on his form, a far superior set to the ones that most students had. At the look of disdain that marred his features, Valerie felt her own anger rising. How dare he run into her - knock her to the floor even - and then look at her like she was filth?
"What I get up to is none of your concern. Merlin - couldn't you at least try to keep your ugly nose out of matters that don't concern you?" Malfoy snarled, rubbing his elbow - Valerie figured he must have bruised it when he jabbed it into her ribs.
If there was one thing in this world that Valerie truly hated, it was the attitude that some people possessed that made them believe that they were far more important than they actually were. That the world should revolve around them - in fact, Valerie almost felt that Draco Malfoy believed that the world only moved because of him. He was rich, pureblooded, and Slytherin; the perfect trifecta to produce a bully. He preyed on the weak, and on people's insecurities. Valerie had watched him take advantage of people ever since they started at Hogwarts. The only logical conclusion she could come to as to why he subjected so many to his torture was simply because he could. He carried himself like a king surrounded by peasants, but Valerie didn't see a king when she looked at Malfoy - she saw an uptight, little asshole. Once again, words failed to live up to the sentiment she wished to convey.
As if him being a cruel prat wasn't enough, it was no secret that his family had closely aligned itself with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and that his father had been sent to Azkaban for his Death Eater status. Anyone so deeply entrenched in that darkness had to have evil running through their veins.
Valerie despised him, more than she despised anyone else. She couldn't help the rage that coursed through her veins - it was instinctive, like two predators poised to attack. It was all encompassing.
Not wanting to dignify his rude comments with a response - her anger too vivid to allow her any cohesive words, rather - Valerie picked the carrier containing her disarrayed cat up off the floor, turned on her heel and stomped off the train. She could still feel the pressure that was him atop her and her skin pricked.
Merlin. She really fucking hated Malfoy.
A/N: Just wanted to say thank you to my amazing beta, TillyTheGoblinGirl, for working on this with me. You the real MVP :)))