"Bishop to 7E." Said Valentine. Her tone was indifferent, but her eyes told a triumphant tale of her future victory.

Blaze looked up at Valentine, down at the board and back up at Valentine again. He did this often and it was a firm sign that he knew she had that upper hand.

Easy pickings, Blaze. Easy pickings.

"You told me you'd go easy on me!"

"I did not. I told you I would simply destroy you, opposed to utterly destroying you." Valentine defended herself without much effort.

"There's a difference?" Blaze muttered bitterly.

"Would you like a demonstration, or are you going to make your move?"

Blaze's hand shot across the chest board with such speed that he knocked over half the pieces in an attempt to move one of his own.

Valentine gave an exasperated groan and placed a hand over her eyes in annoyance.

"I don't know why you bother, Blaze." Liam laughed at his friend's expense from his place on the couch. "You'll never beat her even if she was going easy on you."

"Give up while you still have your dignity." Draco scoffed.

"That's a pretty big word, Draco." Liam considered with mocking thoughtfulness. "You might want to let him know what that means."

"Waste my breath you mean." Draco corrected snidely

Blaze sent a silent glare over at his friends who just chuckled to themselves and returned to their conversation.

This day found the four at the Highcourt residence. Liam had invited all of them to stay for as long as they wished and while the others had spent the last several days laying about the near ancient estate doing very little of anything important, one of their party was missing.

Leah had refused all offers of social interactions since Olivia's passing well over a month ago, instead opting for hiding away in the darkness of her room. The boys had mourned their pieces, they'd moped and sulked and cried and now they were ready to get back to normal. Or least find a new kind of normal to adapt to. They couldn't mourn forever and they knew that but Leah didn't seem to care about anything like that, too wrapped up in her own grief.

"Knight to 3F." Said Valentine and the black chess piece moved across the board.

"Oh, come on!" Blaze whined as the black knight unsheathed its blade and ran his own white knight though.

Valentine smiled innocently as if she hadn't ordered the very slaughter they had just witnessed herself, while Blaze stared on in horror.

"Who's up for cards?" Liam interjected.

"Not me. I've still got a fighting chance!" Blaze declared, causing both Draco and Valentine to scoff.

You wish.

"Uh-huh." Liam gave Blaze a deadpan stare. "You have fun with that. I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" Asked Draco.

"To get my new deck."

"I'll go with you." Draco stood. "It'll be more entertaining than listening to Blaze complain some more when he gets crushed, anyway."

"I'm trying to concentrate here, people." Blaze hushed them.

Draco and Liam left the room with another laugh.

Blaze made his move and Valentine swiftly took her turn and put her piece into checkmate. Blaze made a loud, strangled type of groaning. It made Valentine smirk with satisfaction and when he saw that smirk his eyes lit up with determination.

"Best two out of three!" He demanded.

Valentine rolled her eyes and began moving her pieces back into the starting position. Blaze was one of the only people still willing to play against her with her masterful skills. Most everyone else knew better and if she was being completely honest, none of them posed much of a fight.

I should challenge Dumbledore one day. If anyone could make it an interesting match, it would be him.

Blaze scooped up a large number of his pieces from beside Valentine, where'd she'd placed them after each victory. He glanced over at her once. She wasn't looking at him, focused on organising her pieces. He glanced over at her again.

The look in his eyes wasn't the same as it had been before. It wasn't a sign of defeat but much rather a look of concern. Like he wanted to say something but didn't know if he should or just how to say it in the first place.

Another glance.

Oh, for the love of-

"What Blaze?" Valentine snapped so suddenly that he jumped.

"Oh, uh." He stared at her blankly for a moment. She stared back, waiting for him to form intelligible words with an impatient expression. "You've...have you spoken to Leah, at all?"

Valentine had known this would come up eventually and was honestly surprised it hadn't sooner. Blaze had been holding things together remarkably well for someone as emotional as he was, but every time he wasn't directly invested in some conversation or activity he had this almost pained look on his face. It was so pensive and lost that Valentine couldn't help but feel bad for him.

"Yes," Valentine replied sardonically. "But she'd rather mope then be here with us apparently."

"Well, that makes sense." Blaze nodded solemnly. "She lost her best frien- one of her best friends. She must miss her so much."

"She'll get over it soon enough. We can't grieve Olivia's death forever. And neither can Leah." She pretended to not notice the way Blaze flinched at the raw mention of the name. Like it was some kind of taboo.

"I wrote her a letter," Blaze added. "But she...never answered it.".

"When Draco and I visited last, there was a pile of unopened mail on her floor."

"Bloody hell." Blaze dropped his head into his hands with a sigh. Valentine was suddenly afraid he was going to start crying but he didn't. "We just lost someone, you know? And now it feels like we're losing her as well. Honestly...I don't know who I miss more."

Valentine growled deep in her chest.

I'm sorry, Blaze.

"Missing the dead isn't going to bring them back."

"I know, but if you tell Leah that we want her back she just might." Blaze looked up at her with misty eyes, borderline begging.

"I already tried!" Valentine snapped again. "Both Draco and I have. And Leah's parents. You haven't seen her, Blaze. The way she's acting. Like a bloody unreasonable child. More so then she was before! Talking isn't going to get anything through that thick skull of hers."

Blaze seemed to grow smaller under Valentine's glare, directing his eyes back down to the board.

God. He really does like her, doesn't he?

"She'll be returning to school at the start of term just like everyone else," Valentine added and Blaze visibly perked up. "She's not lost, Blaze. Just stupid. So, get it together."

He nodded that determination from early shining in his eyes once more. He reached out and moved his first piece.

"Pawn move to 2A."

-Pretending To Live-

"I cannot wait for the Quidditch Cup. I'm seriously going crazy waiting for it." Liam told Draco excitedly, as they made their ways through the halls. "Especially since there isn't a thing to do here. I'll be bored out of my mind the second you're all gone."

"Well, I say give it a few more days before Val gets bored herself and we have to leave. As for the cup, Val and I get to sit in the Minister's box with father." Draco grinned. "That's what I can't wait for."

"Woah, lucky. Blaze is coming with me and Grandfather in our box since his family isn't going. It's weird, you know. My grandfather doesn't even really like Quidditch but he won't pass up the opportunity to attend when so many other important people are as well." Liam glanced at Draco out of the corner of his eye. "And Leah. You know, if she wants to."

"Leah's been sulking ever since she left school." Draco huffed lightly. "She hasn't left her room once as far as I know. I wouldn't hold your breath on her going."

"But it's been over a month." Liam frowned. "Aren't her parents worried?"

"Of course they are, but you should have seen her. Her hair was disgusting. She's totally fallen apart!" Then Draco sighed, shifting almost uncomfortably. "I get it. Olivia died and she's sad. None of us are happy about it. I mean, I...I was as shocked as anyone...just... would it kill her to have some self-respect? People would talk if they heard."

"This is Leah we're talking about." Liam shrugged. "I doubt she has appearances on her mind right now. She just needs some more time."

"Val says she should get over it."

"Well, far be it for me to question Val but Leah just... doesn't handle things as well as she does."

"Ain't that the truth."

"I think she'll be okay." Liam nodded decidedly. "We all lose someone eventually. Just well, not usually out of the blue like that."

"I suppose the good thing about freak accidents is that they don't happen every day." Said Draco.

"Hmm, yeah." Liam hummed. "Lucky us."

They rounded the corner into a wide hallway and went to the second door on the left.

"Anyway, Val says that Leah should be over it by the time school starts." Draco followed Liam inside. "Then things can go back to normal."

Liam paused and looked at him contemplatively.

"Draco, I don't think things can go back to the way they were."

"I know that!" Draco glanced off to the side with a deep frown. "I'm not stupid. Things won't be exactly the same but they...they won't be like this anymore."

"All we can do is wait." Liam smiled warmly, although a little sad. Then he turned and moved across the room to rummage around in the top drawer of his bedside table. "I know they're in here...I saw them just this morning."

Draco wandered about his friend's room at his own leisure, peering at the few photographs of Liam's deceased parents. They were happy and smiling in all of them, Liam sitting on his mother's lap in one, maybe four or five years old, hair sitting perfectly even at that age. Another was his father pulling a goofy face at his wife and her laughing at him. Draco's father never smiled in photos let alone did something like that. He moved on.

Liam's summer Astrology homework sat open on the finely polished desk and Draco made a mental note to ask him if he could copy it, seeing as his cousin was cutting him off. Something about 'You'll never learn if I just give you all the answers'. And at Blaze's level, his other friend would be no help to him. Olivia would have done it though. She would have offered to help before he could even ask. She was always doing that. Being helpful. Draco wondered where she'd learnt to be like that and why he was never taught it.

"Hey, Draco?" Liam suddenly spoke up, an air of apprehension in his voice.

"Yeah?" Draco turned to him.

"You and Val are close right? What am I saying?" Liam chuckled nervously, fiddling with the top button on his shirt. "I know you are. You're super close and tell each other everything so you'd know stuff about her that other people wouldn't like...what type of guy she likes?"

Draco stared at him for a moment. He blinked. And then blinked again.

"Val and a guy? Like romantically? Like Val and a guy involved romantically?"

"Uh. Yes?" Liam smiled, weak and hopeful.

"Liam, what planet are you living on? I don't think she would even have a type and if she has, she's never told me."

"She's never said anything?"

"You know Val isn't like most girls. I don't think she ever thinks about things like that."

"Oh." Liam's face was falling faster by the second.

"I mean, be realistic here." Said Draco. "What kind of person would catch Val's attention like that? I doubt she could stand an idiot so it would have to be someone smart. And they couldn't be a wimp either, that would just piss her off. And what would be the end game there? Every time mother even so much as mentions marriage Val nearly bites her head off. She's basically allergic to the idea. What brought this up anyway? Oh, hell. Do you know someone that likes her? God, that'll be a disaster!"

"Uh, no! It's nothing!" Liam almost squeaked and then quickly quietened himself. "Just a random thought, you know? So...cards?"

Draco narrowed his eyes at the other boy.

"Spill it Highcourt. I can smell the crap you're shovelling from a mile away."

"...your mother would so kill you for talking like that."

"Don't change the subject!" Draco barked. "If someone likes my cousin then I need to know!"

"It was just a thought, okay?" Liam waved him off. "Seriously, why are you thinking so deep into this?

Draco narrowed his eyes further.

Liam tried to look away but couldn't.

"What's with the look?"

"You know what."

"No, I really don't."

Draco pursed his lips.

"Either you know someone who likes Val or...you are that person."

"What?" Liam laughed weakly, eyes darting about the room frantically. "Me? Like Val? What planet are you on, Draco?"

"You do!" Draco gasped, literally pointing a finger at him. "You like Val!"

"Didn't you hear what I said? I don't like Val. I mean, not like that."

"You so do!"

"Really I don't!"

"But you do!" Draco marched over and slapped Liam's hands away from his top button. "You always fidget like that when you're nervous! I know you Liam Highcourt and you're usually a much better liar!"

"I'm not lying." Liam forces himself to look at the other boy. "See? Eye contact. Look, Val is my friend and objectively she's very attractive, I'll admit it. Maybe you haven't noticed because you're cousins but she's kind of a looker. I think Leah's pretty too, but it doesn't mean I like them in that way. I'm just...looking out for Val."

"Wow." Draco blinked at him, clearly unconvinced. "I so totally didn't buy a word of that. Looking out for Val? How does knowing her type lookout for her? And by 'looking out for' do you mean protecting her? Really think about those words, Liam."

"Yeah. Wow. That actually sounds dumb when you say it like that. She's really not the kind of person who needs looking after."

"Let alone the kind of person who would even let you."

"Bloody hell. I walked headfirst into this didn't I?"

"More like ran."

"I feel so incredibly stupid right now."

"So..." Draco almost leered at him. "...you do like her, then?"

Liam glanced at his shoes and then over at Draco. He sighed and dropped heavily down onto his bed.

"Yeah, I do. And it's stupid, I know. You don't have to tell me. I know she'd never go for me."

"Well, your right." Draco sat down next to him. "You really don't have a chance."

"Okay." Liam laid back on the bed with a wince. "That hurts a lot more coming from something that isn't the voice in my head."

"What? Did you want me to lie to you?" Draco rolled his eyes and laid back as well.

"No." Liam sighed again. "I know I don't have a chance. That's why I never brought it up before. I thought, what's the point? It won't get me anywhere. But I've liked her for so long now and I've been waiting for it to just go away but it won't."

"I don't know what to tell you." Draco shrugged. "Other than, you know, stay the hell away from my cousin."

Liam looked over at him.

"We're friends?"

"You know what I mean! That's my cousin!"

"Draco, I'm not going to try anything." Liam rolled his eyes. "I value my life far too much for that."

"I thought you liked the hot girl from Ravenclaw?"

"Philips? Yeah, I do. She's really cool, sure. But Val is different."

"But doesn't Philips like you?"

"I'm pretty sure she does."

"Well, then I suggest you go after her and not my cousin."

"Draco...are you getting protective of the Valentine Lestrange?" Liam asked, an incredulous smile creeping onto his face.

"What? No. Val can look after herself." Draco sat up quickly. "It's just that father says it's my job to keep an eye on her. That probably includes keeping her away from boys. You know, for propriety's sake."

"Okay, we both know Val doesn't care about propriety."

"That's not the point!"

"Don't worry. I won't tell her." Liam snickered, sitting up as well. "She might not accept anyone's protection, but she is your cousin. It's only natural you don't want some guy messing with her. Can you imagine how long it would take to clean up the mess?"

"This isn't a joke, Liam! I will skin you alive!"

"I think that's really more Val's department."

-Pretending To Live-

When Draco and Liam returned to the sitting room, Blaze was sitting by the window wearing a war-torn expression and Valentine looked far too smug for her own good. They didn't ask.

Liam called for a maid to clear away the chest board as Blaze was very clearly done for good this time. He dropped his deck of cards and a large bag of candy onto the table unceremoniously.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's gamble." Liam rubbed his hands together in rather a devious manner that didn't suit him.

Valentine rolled her eyes so hard she thought they might get lost in the back of her head. The boys liked to use the word gamble like they were dealing with truly high stakes but the losers always complained and the winnings would be evenly distributed to appease everyone.

"I'd rather read thanks." Valentine reached past Blaze to retrieve her book from the window seal. Seeing her sudden movement, Blaze almost fell off his chair in shock, crying out:

"Stalemate!" With wide horrified eyes. He was, for the most part, ignored.

The boys indulged in their game while Valentine read, taking Blaze's spot by the window and occasionally motioning to Liam to hand over some candy.

"If you want some, you should just play." Said Draco.

"Please. I want some. Not all."

They couldn't argue with that and it was the end of the questioning concerning Liam's handouts.

After close to an hour of Draco losing and Liam trying to hide candy down in his pockets not-so-discreetly, an elderly maid entered the room.

"Forgive me for the intrusion, Master Liam. Your grandfather has returned."

"Thank you, Velma." Liam threw a polite smile over his shoulder. The maid bowed and left the room. "I should go greet him. Touch my winnings and you're all dead."

Liam stood, slowly walking from the room, watching his friends with a suspicious, narrowed gaze.

"So, has anyone ever actually met him?" Asked Draco.

"Who? Liam's grandfather?" Blaze blinked, seemingly free from his chess induced trauma. "Nope. This is my first time visiting and he hasn't really been around since we've been here."

Blaze shrugged and delved a greedy fist into Liam's pile of candy.

"What do we actually know about him?" Asked Draco. "Other than the fact that he's Liam's grandfather? All my father has said is that he's a man of upstanding breeding."

"His name is...Grayson? Graham?" Blaze pursed his lips in thought, peeling back the wrapping on a piece of candy.

"Gordon." Valentine corrected. Both Draco and Blaze turned to look at her expectantly. Valentine sighed and closed the book in her lap. Liam rarely spoke of his parents or their deaths, so it was easy for one to forget that they had died at all. Even his grandfather was hardly ever mentioned. Liam never seemed interested in talking about himself as much as he did others. "Gordon Highcourt. Sixty-seven years of age. Patriarch of the Highcourt family. Naturally, he comes from a long line of Pure Blooded wizards and witches, easily as old as any of our own families.

His son and daughter-in-law both died within months of each other eight years ago and he has been raising Liam ever since."

"Well, that's depressing." Said Blaze.

"You asked." Valentine scoffed. "The Highcourts are a fairly well known and respected bloodline. Meaning it is expected that we behave politely in his home and indulge in such other dull niceties."

"Okay, why do I feel like that was directed at me?" Blaze's expression fell flat.

"Well, it wasn't directed at me." Draco snickered.

"Wasn't it?" Valentine shrugged.

Draco shot her an annoyed glance but didn't say anything. Now both he and Blaze were sitting there brooding, eating Liam's candy.

"And, I'm back." Liam said as he returned. "Dinners at seven, so everyone needs to bathe and prepare. Dress nicely, please. We're dining with my grandfather tonight and he is really old fashioned so keep that in mind and- Blaze, I'm going to kill you!"

"Wah?" Blaze looked up at Liam, his mouth hanging open, sprinkles on his lips, tongue stained various bright colours.

"I'm going to go get ready." Valentine stood, making a quick getaway from the drama about to unfold.

"I'm going with you." Draco hurried to catch up with her.

As they walked away they heard a loud scuffle, a shout and crash like something hitting the floor. Then Blaze screamed something unintelligible and Liam laughed.

"Idiots." Draco scoffed under his breath.

"You taught them well."

"Hey!"

-Pretending To Live-

Valentine laid out two dresses side by side on the bed, deciding which one would be most suitable. They contrasted darkly to the creamy gold bed covers.

Black or black?

She made her choice and slipped it on. She felt it cling slightly to the damp spots on her back from her bath as she smoothed out the non existent wrinkles. The thing about wearing black was that it often rendered things like water or even blood near invisible. She was sure it was something that would benefit her in the future.

She moved over to the dressing table and large mirror, giving herself a quick once-over. It was white and gold and very finely made. It was something Leah would have been able to appreciate more than her but she pushed that thought from her mind.

Acceptable. Very acceptable indeed.

The dress was velvet, capped sleeved and collared at her throat. A line of silver buttons went down the front to where the dress met her knees but they were for decoration purposes only. It was a little more flashy then she typically wore compared to her endless supply of cotton dresses but Liam has said to dress nicely.

As Valentine was pushing the hair from her face, there was a knock at her door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

Valentine recognised the voice of her cousin and called back.

"Come in."

Draco stepped inside and shut the door behind him. He was dressed in formal attire; black slacks, black blazer and a dark red turtleneck. He stepped up next to her and peered at himself in the mirror.

"What do you think?" He asked, smoothing out his own nonexistent wrinkles.

Valentine looked at his reflection in her mirror beside her own.

"You look like a Muggle lawyer."

Draco turned to her, shocked, offended and confused at all once.

"Bloody hell, I wasn't being serious, you idiot. You look fine."

"You can't just say stuff like that to me." Draco heaved a sigh of relief, hand over his heart.

"Honestly. You're totally ridiculous." Valentine just shook her head. "So, what about me then? Do you think Liam might send me back upstairs to change?"

"I think he would sooner throw himself into a pit of scorpions." Draco snorted and then paused, seemingly noticing something.

"What? I'm not changing, Draco."

"No, the dress is fine, just ah, let me..." Draco reached towards her hesitantly and when all Valentine did was arch a brow at him, he tucked his fingers under her collar and straightened it. "Right. There."

Valentine rolled her eyes at him and fought the urge to burst out laughing.

"You know, you have never looked more like your mother in your entire life."

"Thanks," Draco replied dryly and turned back to the mirror, running his fingers through his bangs. He bit his lip, glanced at Valentine's reflection for a split second and then looked away.

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"That look. I know that look anywhere, Draco. Hurry up and spill."

He hesitated before caving like an avalanche, words coming out in a slurred rush.

"Liam's worried about you."

"What? What the hell for?"

"Well, he said that objectively, you're good looking and that, uh, you are probably going to start attracting unwanted attention from unwanted people. Namely of the opposite gender."

"I can take care of myself." Valentine frowned darkly.

"That's what I told him," Draco said quickly. "I said that there's seriously nothing to worry about and that you're not interested in that kind of thing anyway."

"Good," Valentine said stiffly and went over to the bed, to pull on her black stockings.

"I'm sure he'll just forget all about it."

"He had better. If he thinks he can coddle me because some boys look where they shouldn't then he has another thing coming. And so do those boys as a matter of fact." Valentine pulled her shoes out from under the edge of the bed.

They were just about the only pair of shoes she owned that weren't boots. Simple black leather dress shoes with silver buckles.

"Please, try and limit any unnecessary bloodshed."

"No promises." Valentine dug her feet into the shoes. "Liam's not the only one acting strange, you know. Blaze is so concerned about Leah that I could bury him six foot under and I still feel his pensive frowning."

"Yeah, he's so worried that it's starting to freak me out a bit." Draco laughed.

Valentine headed over to the door, Draco following. She opened it and they stepped out into the hall.

"I never would have guessed he'd end up having a silly little schoolboy crush under all those insults. I thought most people were nice to the ones they liked romantically? Not that Blaze could be included in 'most people'."

"Speaking of silly little schoolboy crushes..."

"Yes?"

"Um. I, uh. I..." Draco trailed off, biting his lip again.

Valentine raised a brow at him.

What is up with him? Why the hell is he so nervous?

"Why the hesitance? Have a schoolboy crush of your own?"

"No, not me." Draco laughed, somewhat breathlessly. "Liam actually. He, uh...has a thing for that Ravenclaw girl. Jane Philips."

Since when? First Blaze now Liam? How do I keep missing these things? What kind of signs are other people picking up that I'm not! Bloody hell!

"The girl he paired with for Astronomy last term?"

"Yeah, that's her."

"She's decent. He could do much worse."

"Decent?" Draco's eyes bulged. "She's a fox!"

She's not an animal, you know.

"Uh-huh." Valentine shot him a dull look. "She also seems well-liked and vaguely intelligent. I suppose I'd approve if Liam decided to pursue her. Unless she gave me a reason to feel otherwise."

"I told him he should."

"Who should what?" Blaze asked, approaching from further up the hall.

He was dressed in a similar manner as Draco, except that his slacks and blazer were a navy blue, paired with a button-down a few shades lighter.

Nice. Two lawyers.

"Liam should ask out Jane Philips." Said Draco.

"Oh, nice. She's hot." Blaze nodded.

"And she likes him," Draco added.

"And she's of appropriate social standing." Said Valentine, starting to lead the way down the hall.

"And, you know, she's one of the hottest girls in school," Blaze repeated as if that held great importance over all other attributes. Valentine sent a cold look over her shoulder and Blaze balked. "Not that you aren't a catch, Val. Really. You're pretty and stuff. It's just, you know...you're like...a sister? I guess?"

Valentine scoffed and kept walking.

"That wasn't my meaning. Besides, you're not exactly what I would consider a viable option."

"Okay." Blaze winched. "That stung a little."

A little way up the hall, Liam's door opened and he stepped out. When he caught sight of them and waited, straightening his collar. Also dressed similarly to Draco and Blaze, in black corduroy slacks with a matching suit jacket, dress shirt underneath a crisp white.

"Oh. Would you look at that." Liam appraised Blaze's attire in mild surprise. "Well done."

"Um, excuse me? Why am I being singled out here!" Blaze growled. "If you've somehow forgotten, we do have the same social standing! I wasn't raised in some hole in the ground!"

"No, that would make you a Weasley." Draco laughed

"And you'd look awful as a redhead." Liam just clapped Blaze on the back and then turned to lead the others down the main staircase. "We'll be eating in the main dining room tonight. Mind your manners and all that."

"We know." Draco rolled his eyes.

"Oh, and my grandfather's not shy about letting people know his opinion on just about anything. So, you know. If he says something...vaguely offensive, try not to take it to heart."

-Pretending To Live-

Gordon Highcourt was standing against the mantel checking his pocket watch when they entered. They weren't late, Valentine was certain of that.

"Good evening grandfather." Liam was the first to speak, leading them all towards him.

"Good evening." The man eyed them all openly. "You may sit now."

They did so, the old man taking the head of the table, Liam to his right with Blaze, Draco to his left with Valentine.

Before the servants could even step forward to begin serving, Draco spoke.

"Thank you for your hospitality." Draco said, his tone formal and clear, just as Narcissa had taught him. "You have a fine estate, sir, although I expected no less."

Gordon peered over at him, almost squinting as though it was hard to see even in the brightly lit room. Draco didn't break eye contact under the intense stare, but Valentine saw his jaw clench slightly.

Before they had left for the Highcourt manor, Lucius had given them a hefty lecture in the art of personal connections. Valentine didn't listen to half of it but Draco drank it all in like gospel.

"You must be Lucius and Narcissa's son, correct?" The man finally spoke.

"I am, sir." Draco didn't miss a beat.

"Hmm, yes. You look quite like them. I spoke with your father not too long ago, as a matter of fact. Always a pleasure to discuss worthy topics with one of matching ideals."

And by that, he means, 'It's always a good old time finding another bigot to trash a group of people for simply existing. Oh, what fun.'

"And you." Gordon's gaze shifted a noticeable fraction to Valentine. "You must certainly be the daughter of Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange."

"I am," Valentine replied.

"Hmm." The man sat back in his chair, looking her up and down as if taking in her appearance. "Your parents were quite interesting people, you know. And those eyes of yours. A Lestrange trademark to be proud of. A symbol of your lineage."

Oh, here we go.

"So, I've been told." Valentine muttered offhandedly.

Both Liam and Draco shot her a look but she ignored them. Her attitude didn't go unnoticed by Gordon but his only reaction was the slight narrowing of his dark eyes.

"Unfortunate thing that." He said, voice steady. "Them getting caught."

"I agree."

"Hmm, yes."

The tension in the room was thick enough to swim through and Valentine's dismissive tone did nothing to thin it.

Blaze leaned over towards Liam.

"Is...is he just going to ignore me?" He whispered.

"Shush." Liam quickly shushed him.

"Yes, I see you down there Mr Zambini," Gordon spoke drolly, eyes never leaving Valentine as she picked up her fork to start eating. "Your parents still keeping to themselves then? Of course, they are."

"Um." Blaze was taken aback by that. "I guess."

"They always did like to stay in the middle ground, Samantha and Nathaniel." Something about the way Gordon said those words didn't suggest outright hatred, it more like bitterness if anything.

And by that he means, 'What buzzkills they are, wanting to stay out of the toxic drama that follows upper class, Pureblood families like a bad smell. For shame upon them'.

Blaze shared a look with his friends, Liam shooting him an apologetic half-smile.

"Liam tells me you're extremely intelligent, Miss Lestrange?" Gordon had already moved on, full attention on Valentine again.

Bloody hell. What's his deal with me?

"I am."

"Some would even say a prodigy, correct?"

"Most would, yes."

The man gave a dry laugh that didn't seem all that humorous.

"Good that you know of your abilities. False modesty is often such a waste of breath." He nodded in approval. "Liam could learn a thing or two from you."

"I'd say more than a thing or two!" Blaze snorted out a loud laugh, slapping the table with one hand.

The elderly man shot Blaze a terse glare and he immediately stopped, yanking his hand under the table.

If Liam was bothered by his grandfather's comment, he didn't show it. He seemed more preoccupied having a telepathic argument with Blaze.

Gordon already had his focus on Valentine once more.

"I'm sure you have an interesting life ahead of you, my girl. A mind and lineage like yours. Any family would be happy to have you."

That did catch Liam's attention.

"Any family?" Valentine arched a brow.

"Any family you marry into, I mean." Gordon raised his goblet to his lips.

Valentine could feel the dread rolling off Draco in waves.

"Marriage is not something that interests me."

The old man almost choked on his drink, coughing and sputtering.

"Grandfather, are you alright?" Liam stood half up out of his chair.

Serves him right. Nosey old goat.

The man held up one hand to stop him, reaching for the napkin beside his dinner plate.

"I'm not an invalid!" He snapped, wiping the wine from his chin and lips.

"These pork chops are delicious, don't you agree, Draco?" Valentine hummed.

Draco just stared at her incredulously, shaking in his head ever so slightly in disbelief.

Worth it.

-Pretending To Live-

That night Valentine laid in bed, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling that had been her sky for the past several nights. It was late, she and the boys had stayed up talking much later than Narcissa would have ever let them, but Valentine was used to late nights.

Blaze was the first to drop and soon after that Valentine bid them goodnight and went off to her own room. She needed to take her symptom suppressants anyway, that was something else she was used to by now. It was nearing close to a year since Dumbledore had told her that she was dying and in all honesty, the thought of it didn't really occupy much of her time.

Valentine looked to her left in the dark. That's where Olivia and Leah's bed would have been if this was her dorm room. But now one was dead and another may never be the same. She felt a twinge, like pain deep in her chest. She wished Leah had come with them.

I can't believe I miss her. Usually, she's around so often that it feels like she never leaves even when she does. If I missed anyone, you'd think it would be Olivia, but something about having Leah so close but so out of reach makes it all the worse.

Valentine grabbed fistfuls of the bedsheets in frustration.

What can I do to help her? I can't suddenly become affectionate and sympathetic. I'm not even sure I know how to convey those feelings if I wasn't in this position, so how the hell can I do now? Arg. When did I become so useless? Why did everything have to go to shit like this?

Valentine could almost hear the sardonic drawl of her potions Professor telling her she'd always been useless and sarcastically congratulating her on becoming self-aware.

Jerk.

Even in her own mind, he was a miserable old creep.

Maybe if he can't save me and I die a horrible, painful death then he'll feel so dreadful that it haunts him for the rest of his life. It'd serve him right.

Valentine sighed and rolled onto her side, pulling the soft sheets up to her chin. She closed her eyes and thought that maybe if she was anyone else, then she could have had an undisturbed nights sleep.

"Hit me. Kill me. Make your choice. Be the tyrant the students know you as or the Death Eater you once were."

"It's hardly you against the world, Valentine. I think you have fewer enemies than you see."

"Don't underestimate the size of my mouth!"

"No! No! Stop! I have to find Olivia! Why won't you let me look for her? What if she thinks we forgot about her? We have to find her, we have to find her now!"

"Okay, that's just wrong."

"You are not worth the effort of an insult."

"Even if Leah can be childish at times, she cares about you so much. I think that's part of being a kid. You're not afraid to show people how you feel."

"I think you may be one of the most cynical children I have ever met."

"Why does she have bigger balls than every male in this school combined?"

"I know I'm the last person you would want to hear this from but...I'm sorry. About your friend."

"...Buckbeak's been sentenced to death!"

"How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?"

"I'm a liar too. You don't know what I'm really like. I've been planning against you since before we even met. You don't know me at all."

"Because it seems to me that someone who is so obviously disgusted, would have turned me in the first chance they had."

"The one thing I can't quite figure out...is how you manage to look so angry and sad at the same time."

"I can accept that. We can't all be interesting, then nobody would be."

"Taking the form of a giant spectral dog, it is among the darkest omens in our world. It is an omen...of death."

"The only thing impressive about you is your bounds of endless arrogance."

"I've quite a lot of information for you to take in but I trust you'll keep up just fine."

"Careful now, professor. Look at me like that and I might just spill all my frivolous hopes and dreams."