The morning the Yule Ball was announced held excitement for many. Valentine didn't include herself in that. It wasn't that she abhorred the formality or the dancing or even the socialising, she could take all of those things in reasonable dosages. It wasn't exactly her idea of a night well spent but she had long since decided that nights like these weren't for her. In any case.
She could already picture the chaos a character like hers could reign at such an event and if she did so, she could very well ruin it for everyone else there. Especially her friends of whom were actually suitably excited for it. She wasn't sure if she would or even should, attend. She knew the chances that the night could transpire without the dark cloud that followed her everywhere weren't overly likely if she was indeed to intend. Things would just be easier for everyone if she stayed away. She thought maybe she could give them all an untainted night without her.
"I know I said either blue or purple the other night but now I'm thinking green? Like a pretty light green. Oh, and with ruffles! Mama said green and ruffles should always go together." Leah hadn't shut up about her Yule Ball gown since Valentine had received Narcissa's letter the night before.
Draco and Liam were actually paying attention and giving her feedback, while Blaze seemed content to sit back and stare at her like a weirdo.
Valentine watched from across the table as he missed his mouth with his spoon and dribbled milk and cereal onto his tie.
"Awe, crap." She heard him curse quietly as he tried to clean it up before anyone noticed.
"I still think blue." Said Draco, unaware of Blaze's fumble. "Not yellow. God, please not yellow."
"But yellow is so cute!"
"Hmm, the green isn't a bad idea though." Said Liam. "Certain shades of blue and green go together so maybe you could do both."
"Yeah, but blue and yellow can go together can't they?" Asked Leah.
"Well, yes-"
"No, yellow." Draco cut in firmly.
"What is your problem with yellow?" Liam frowned.
"It's too...bright. It'll just make her look like some kind of freaky, humanoid banana."
"I was thinking of a pretty pastel yellow of your information!" Leah humphed. "Besides, you're just jealous because yellow would look dreadful on you."
"I am not jealous." Draco gritted his teeth.
"Alright, alright, you two." Liam interjected. "It's just a colour. It isn't going to hurt anybody."
"So you say." Draco grumbled.
"No one is going to force you to wear yellow, Draco."
"Good. Because they wouldn't survive the attempt."
Their conversation faded into the background as Valentine felt the odd sensation of eyes on her.
She looked over at the Gryffindor table where she found the Weasley twins and Jordan Lee staring at her and whispering to one another.
She narrowed her glowing eyes in her signature glare and they all quickly turned away. Valentine wished such stares were rarer for her but they simply weren't.
"What?" Draco's confusion bought back Valentine's attention. "But what about Philips?"
"What about her?" Said Liam.
"Look, I know you like Krum a disturbing amount, but the chances he'll go to the ball with you are slim."
"Um, rude?"
"No, he's totally right." Said Blaze.
"Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence you guys." Liam frowned.
Draco rolled his eyes.
"I'm just saying that Philips is the safe option. It's obvious that she likes you. She'll definitely say yes."
"Well, maybe I don't want to be safe. Maybe I want two muscular arms to hold me at night and feed me chocolate coated strawberries on picnics as we watch our two labradors play in a field."
They all stared at him in silence for a moment.
"Did you seriously just say that out loud?" Draco made a face.
"Sounds great to me!" Leah shrugged, unabashedly. "I love chocolate and labradors! I think you should go for it!"
"Thank you. See?" Liam looked from her to Draco and Blaze pointedly. "This is what a supportive friend looks like. Take notes boy."
"I'm not trying to be supportive." Said Draco bluntly. "I just don't want to hear you crying in your sleep for the next week when he turns you down flat."
"Yeah, I second that." Said Blaze.
"Noooooo." Leah moaned and reached across the table to clasp Liam's hand. "Let him try. Think of the labradors!"
"This will only end in tears." Said Blaze.
"You guys worry too much." Said Liam. "Look, Jane is really nice. She's pretty and smart and I have no issues with her. But, come on. This is Viktor Krum. The Viktor Krum. I have to at least try."
"Do you though?" Said Draco.
"He's the man of my dreams so yes."
"Ugh." Draco sighed. "Fine. Go for it. I won't stop you. But do not come crying to me when he breaks your poor little thirsty heart."
--Pretending To Live--
Valentine had never imagined that she would be the target of anyone's affection in a romantic sense. It had never crossed her mind before the ball and now she just thought that anyone who had those affections must have been either stupid or insane. That's why she was baffled and slightly annoyed to run across three boys, in the span of one day, who must have been either of the two.
The first had been a boy she'd recognised as beater for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.
He'd walked right up to her as she was leaving Charms with her friends and asked her straight out.
"Hey, Lestrange. Would you like to go to the ball with me?" He said.
Valentine had let out a snort of laughter that morphed into a chuckle that grew into a full, loud howl. It was so ridiculous and unbelievable that she couldn't have possibly kept a straight face. She didn't stop until the boy's own embarrassment made him flee with his tail between his legs. Her friends couldn't believe what had just happened. For someone to just walk up and ask like nothing could go wrong? Blaze had commented that he was surprised that the boy left with only a damaged ego.
Valentine had thought that the Ravenclaw had to have been it. Who else would be so lacking in either intelligence or sanity that they would want to go to the ball with her?
She wasn't used to being wrong and it put her on edge.
The second boy was a Gryffindor in their year with stupid hair. And like the idiot he must have been, he passed her a note during Defense Against the Dark Arts. Valentine had scrunched it into a ball in her fist without even reading it. She then looked him dead in the eyes as she lit it a flame and blew the ashes across her desk and right on to Moody's shoes.
He had been standing there with an unimpressed expression as Valentine played the pyromaniac in his classroom. He told the boy to keep his poor attempts at wooing outside the classroom, and that if he was going to try Valentine again, he was better off wooing a dead rodent.
Valentine was mystified that even Moody had gotten the memo but these boys, who had known her for four years and more, somehow hadn't.
The third was, most surprisingly, a Slytherin. She'd thought that at least a Slytherin would have known better and yet it appeared she was wrong. Again. He was a sixth year name Darren and was currently approaching her.
"Another one?" Draco grumbled under his breath on the couch beside her.
"Uh oh." Leah said from her other side.
"Hi, Lestrange." He smiled in a manner he probably thought was charming.
Valentine did very well to show exactly zero emotion on her face like a good little psychopath.
"So, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the ball with me? I think we'd have a great time."
Darren was tall. Far taller than Valentine was ever likely to be. He had pleasant features and an easy going manner. He was cocky. Too cocky to be safe.
Valentine sat, back straight, shoulders square, hands in her lap. She didn't tilt her chin up to look at him but lifted her eyes. Just like Narcissa had taught her. Pure, indifferent condescension to match the words about to come out of her mouth.
"What makes you think I'd ever even consider you as a possibility? What makes you think you have any sort of worth to me?"
The boy flinched slightly but kept up his smile.
"Ouch, that's a little harsh don't you think?"
"Is it? If you can't even withstand that, a night with me would likely leave you suicidal." She sighed and glanced at Draco as if to say 'can you believe this guy?'.
Draco returned her look with a 'what do you expect?'.
"Look, I just thought it'd be fun, alright?" Darren shifted awkwardly, tone hinting at the defensive.
He was a bold one, she gave him that. For every hundred heads of frightened sheep, there was always a border collie or two willing to risk a bite from the wolf. Even so, she had him right where she wanted him.
Her near inhumanly bright eyes fell into a deadly glare. Draco and Leah grew stiff from sheer experience.
Valentine stood slowly. Everyone in the common room was nervous and watching. Darren suddenly didn't seem so cocky.
"Darren." She said. "That is your name, isn't it?"
"It is."
"Well, Darren." Valentine stepped towards him. "I hope you realise what you're doing. I hope you realise what's about to happen to you."
"What...what are you talking about?"
She could have launched into a villainous speech but those could be rather arduous and she really didn't think this, poor, stupid, cocky boy was worth it.
She launched herself at him, grabbed hold of his robes. He struggled on instinct and when he pulled back, kicked at her shin. She forced his head down to her height, glaring eyes now level with his. Her gaze made him freeze. She leaned closer to whisper in his ear.
"I will break you into thousands of itty bitty pieces if you ever so much as look in my direction again. You are nothing. You're not the air in my lungs. You're not even the dirt beneath my feet. You are absolutely and utterly nothing. Understand? Do you understand me Darren? Nothing."
She slowly slackened her grip and the boy stumbled backwards as if out of a terrifying trance.
He tripped over a side table and landed on his back in an attempt to make a quick escape. No one moved to help him. There was no one who dared to.
Valentine stood over him, eyes shifted down, chin never having moved in the slightest.
"I'm sorry, was that a little too harsh?"
Darren gaped at her for a moment, blinking rapidly. Then he scrambled to his feet and bolted for the exit.
--Pretending To Live--
"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."
"What were you thinking? Attacking a teacher like that! If you had injured Moody even the Malfoy's reach wouldn't be able to keep you here! Is that what you want!"
"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!"
"Look, Malfoy, projecting your issues onto me isn't going to make your daddy love you."
"You are not worth the effort of an insult."
"I get it. Krum is awesome. You don't have to get everyone else wet as well. Bloody hell, you weren't even this bad at the cup."
"I think you may be one of the most cynical children I have ever met."
"I punched a window."
"I know I'm the last person you would want to hear this from but...I'm sorry. About your friend."
"Ah, Miss Valentine Lestrange, so good of you to finally bless us with your presence."
"You really think Leah could pick between men and women? I've seen her take three days to choose a pair of socks to wear and you think she can make that kind of decision? Haven't you been paying attention?"
"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."
"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."
"He's not even seventeen yet!"
"I mean, they've got the Viktor Krum on their side. I don't see how they could lose with that kind of skill. The man's a monster! A very buff monster!"
"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."
~~~
Valentine's eyes creaked open in the dark. She'd been lying there awake for some time now, essentially in denial about the fact that she was awake at all.
She saw Leah across the room, buried under those stuffed animals, snoring lightly. She had been sleeping better lately. Leah that is, not Valentine. She was still awoken several times a week by the same strange, ever-changing dream.
I probably won't know what to do with myself once this thing is out of my head. I might actually sleep a decent eight hours a night. Damn. Now, doesn't that just sound like heaven?
Of course, she knew the possibility that the parasite killed her was a decent percentage but she remained unworried.
Hell. Being dead might just be my best chance for a nap.
She rolled onto her side and tugged the blankets up higher over her mouth.
Now, if I could just get some sleep tonight...
--Pretending To Live--
In only two days since the Yule Ball's announcement, Valentine was sitting on a total of seven traumatised and slightly maimed boys.
The seventh had just transpired with the assistance of Blaze. Valentine had had the Gryffindor backing away in fear in the middle of the hall and Blaze stuck his foot out at just the right moment. It was rather a thing of beauty as the boy yelped and tipped over backwards, arms flailing.
Valentine's sympathy for these boys had near run dry. With six rejections before him, it should have been clear that she didn't want to be bothered. At this point, they were starting to deserve it.
"And don't come back!" Blaze snarled at the boy as he fled. He turned to Valentine, almost as tired of this as she was. "What was that? Number six?"
"Seven."
"Bloody hell. You'd think they'd get the message by now."
"I'm not entirely sure they're doing much thinking at all."
"Point taken. Have you seen Draco?"
"In the courtyard. Why?"
"I heard Parkinson was looking for him and it struck me to the core with fear."
Valentine's eyes narrowed darkly.
"Oh, that is so not happening."
They found Draco just where Valentine had said he would be, although she knew that Liam had been with him and now he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, it was Pansy that stood with him. She looked nervous, Draco looked obvious and Valentine looked murderous.
"Let's stab her." Said Blaze.
"Do you have a knife?"
"...no."
"Then why would you suggest that? You actually got my hopes up for a second there."
"...you're not joking, are you?"
As they approached, Pansy's voice carried over to them.
"...have to say yes. No pressure. Not that I won't be upset if you say no. But, I just wanted to ask you if you'd go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Before Draco could form an answer, Valentine all but appeared out of nowhere and slung her arm over Pansy's shoulders rather forcefully.
"Ah, Parkinson." Valentine smiled and saw how Pansy immediately started to panic. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Oh, uh...I..." She was obviously regretting many things at this current time.
"Draco! You have to hear about this guy that just asked Val to the Yule Ball!" Blaze moved to stand between Draco, Valentine and Pansy. "Well, tried to anyway."
"Say, Parkinson?" Valentine shifted to whisper into her ear.
"Yes?" The girl asked so softly Valentine could barely hear her even at this close distance.
"If I do recall I told you to back off my cousin some time ago. Surely you haven't forgotten?"
"N-no. I haven't."
"I didn't think so." Valentine squeezed the crook of her arm around the girl's neck, not enough to hurt her, but enough to get the point across. "Now get lost before I end you."
Valentine recoiled her arm and Pansy jerked back as though she'd been slapped. She stared at Valentine for a second, eyes glassy with tears. She threw a helpless glance at Draco and then ran off with a whimper like an injured dog.
"And that is the end of that." Valentine watched her go with a hand planted on each hip.
"I wasn't going to say yes, you know." Draco frowned.
"That's not the point."
"Hey, guys!" Leah half screamed across the courtyard.
She was with Liam, coming towards them.
"Have you heard?" Asked Liam.
"Heard what?" Said Draco.
"You're not going to like it." Liam replied, sighing bitterly. "I don't."
"Alright...but what actually is it?" Said Blaze.
Liam's gaze drifted over to Valentine.
"You're really not going to like this."
She could see the sheer apprehension in his dark eyes, laced with something that looked like irritation.
It's not often Liam gets riled up about anything.
"Hurry up and spill would you." She snapped at him.
Liam and Leah exchange glances.
"Well, Leah heard from Crabbe and Goyle, who overheard from Finnigan and Thomas that the Weasley twins have a bet going. It's called the 'Who Can Date Lestrange Game'."
"That has to be why so many boys have asked Val to the ball, right?" Asked Leah, brow creased. "That's so mean!"
"It's likely." Liam grumbled.
Ugh. Why me?
"This is ridiculous!" Draco spat so fiercely that Leah and Blaze flinched.
They could have picked anyone to screw with so the hell did it have to be me?
"Damn, they really must have a death wish." Said Blaze.
"What nonsense." Valentine rubbed at her eyes with a groan. "They're only setting themselves up for failure. And multiple accounts of bodily harm."
"I'm going to write to father about this right away. It's insulting and disgusting." Draco seethed.
Maybe I should write to Fudge about this. It's his damn fault the Tournament and ball are happening. His freaking politics are screwing with my already messed up school life! Jerk.
--Pretending To Live--
Liam had tried and failed in his grand task to get Viktor Krum to go to the ball with him. Valentine didn't see what the big deal was. He had Jane Philips and there were probably a decent handful of others that would go with him as well. Why did he even need a date? What did any of this really matter? But Liam did see this as a big deal and that's why he was sulking under the tree outside the castle's walls even though it was cold enough for there to be frost on the ground.
"I will never be happy again." He grumbled miserably, head in Leah's lap.
"Don't be silly!" She said. "Of course, you will be."
"You don't understand."
"Ain't that the truth." Blaze scoffed. "We did tell you not to get your hopes up, man."
"Thanks, Blaze." Liam grunted bitterly. "Thank you so much."
Leah shot Blaze a look and he was immediately all aflutter.
"What? We did tell him! Don't pin this on me!"
"Just ignore the mean boy." Leah cooed, petting Liam's head. "Right now you get to be sad so that you can be happy later."
"I don't want to be happy, I want to die."
"Okay, slow down there." Said Draco. "Suicide is my thing."
"You can't just keep it to yourself." Said Liam. "Other people want to die too, you know."
"Yeah, and some even have good reasons. You? Not so much."
"Draco!" Leah scowled.
Draco just rolled his eyes like this was all drama. And well. It kind of was.
"He still has Philips. This isn't the end of the world."
"Well, where's your date then?" Leah quipped.
"I'll have you know that I'm still deciding. I have two very attractive Beauxbaton's ladies to choose from."
"Yeah, and they should choose life." Blaze snorted.
"Shut up! I'm a damn catch!"
Valentine was pretty good at reading people but she honestly couldn't tell how serious Liam was about this. She never pictured him as the type to get so cut down by something that sounded like a polite rejection because Krum already had a date. But then again, she'd never seen Liam in a situation like this. Maybe this was just how he handled rejection? Not that she really considered it handling.
Heh. Like I can talk. I can't even handle people asking me out as a prank let alone seriously.
"Nothing this bad has ever happened to me." Said Liam mournfully.
"Didn't your parents die within months of each other?" Draco frowned.
"That was different."
"Yeah, that was a legitimate reason to be upset."
"This coming from the guy that was hysterical because Leah told him that his shirt made him look like a butler once?"
"That was below the belt, Highcourt! And speaking of belts? That one you were planning to wear to the Yule Ball? Yeah, it makes your hips look asymmetrical! Like some kind of cripple!"
"No, it doesn't." Liam snorted. "We both know that belt looked amazing on me."
"Damn it." Draco hissed under his breath. "I know it does."
"If you're so bent out of shape about this, why not stop talking about the ball?" Blaze shrugged, like he was trying to be helpful but not really. "Take your mind off it for a little while."
"No, I think I'm fine now." Liam sat up, smoothing down his hair. "That belt really does do something great for me. Makes me feel better to think about it."
"I will never understand you."
"That's because you're short and aesthetically challenged."
"Are not!"
"Your screaming isn't very aesthetic, Blaze."
"Yeah, well, maybe my aesthetic is screaming!"
"Hey, mine too!" Leah giggled and then let out the most, horrific, high pitched screech that any of them had ever heard.
A bird in the tree took off in fright, the tree itself seemed to quake. They stared at her in shock and confusion. It sounded like something that really should not have been possible to produce with human vocal cords.
What the actual hell, Leah?
"What?" She grinned, proud. "It's my aesthetic."
"It's disturbing." Said Draco, disturbed.
"It's terrifying." Said Liam, terrified.
"I'm so confused by how that noise even came out of you?" Said Blaze, utterly confused.
"Aesthetic." Leah just shrugged like that should explain everything.
Valentine felt like it was her duty to all living things to make sure that never happened again.
"Leah, if you ever do that again, I will rip out your vocal cords and make you wear them like a hat."
There was a moment of silence and then Blaze snickered.
"I guess that's Val's aesthetic then."
At first, the others just sat there, bewildered before Leah burst out laughing. Followed by Liam, Blaze and then Draco.
Valentine just rolled her eyes and opened the book in her lap.
Weirdos. Well, Liam seems much better now. I suppose Draco and Blaze actually knew better for once.
"Hey, Val." Said Liam, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "I heard you turned down another guy this morning. You filled his book bag with water or something?"
Blaze burst into another round of laughter as he tried to force out words.
"Was it...was it to...quench his thirst?"
"You're such an idiot." Draco slapped at his arm even though he was red in the face from laughing himself.
"Come on...that was a good one!"
"I don't get it." Said Leah, grinning eagerly, waiting for someone to explain. They didn't.
"Good to know you'll never stop being a badass." Blaze wheezed as he slowly pulled himself together. "Are you going to turn down every guy who asks?"
"Yes." Came the immediate answer.
"Oh." Blaze blinked and then nodded in approval. "Nice."
"There's really no one in the whole school you'd say yes to?" Said Liam.
"When I find someone worthy I'll let you know." Said Valentine.
"Well, that's just...incredibly humbling." Said Liam.
"You're so cool." Leah whispered, eyes wide and mystified, still grinning.
"I never even said I was going to the damn ball." Valentine shrugged. "Sounds like a waste of time."
"What? No! That's not cool!" Leah's grin disappeared. "I can't go without my best friend. Don't leave me with the boys!"
"Hey!" Liam laughed, mockingly offended.
"Hush." Leah shook her finger at him, looking very much like her mother. "The women are talking now."
"Leah-"
"Please." Leah cut her off. "Please, please, please!"
I'd honestly rather set myself on fire then go to some ball and ruin the whole night for everyone there. Come on, don't look at me like that Leah!
"Please, please, PLEASE! I won't stop begging until you say yes! NEVER SURRENDER!"
"Fine, shut up!" Valentine snapped. "I'll think about it if you shut your damn mouth."
"That's not a no!" Leah did a little triumphant wiggle.
"It's not a yes either." Draco chimed.
"No one asked you!"
"So? I'm still right."
"Am not!"
"Am too!"
"Am not!"
"Ugh. You're giving me a headache!"
"You are a headache!"
And at that moment, with no prior warning, something inside Blaze snapped.
"SHUT UP! If anyone argues with Leah it'll be me!"
They all stopped to stare at him. This was someone weirder than the inhuman noise that Leah had produced earlier.
Blaze?
Draco and Liam exchanged meaningful glances but Leah was too busy with her mouth hanging open like a fish.
"Oi! I can fight with whoever I want!" She pointed accusingly.
"Well...well, I'm saying you can't!"
"You can't stop me!"
"Just watch!"
"Who died and made you King of the Arguments!"
"Why can't you just accept it and move on!"
"Because I DON'T WANT TO."
"Ah. Finally back to normal." Liam muttered under his breath.
Yes. Normal. Finally. And now I'm back to wishing they'd cut it out.
Since they'd returned to school, Leah and Blaze had hardly spoken to each other let alone had one of their ridiculous arguments. She had almost missed them. Almost.
--Pretending To Live--
"Leah, I'm going back to the common room." Valentine gathered her things and headed for the door.
Leah turned to face her, toothbrush jammed in her mouth, blue froth covering her lower face. She made a gurgling sound in reply and nodded. Valentine just rolled her eyes and left. Leah tended to take her time when it came to bathing and Valentine was often finished in half the time she was.
So, Leah went ahead and finished up, humming as she went. Two older girls in the bathroom were laughing and whispering to each other as they entered but Leah wasn't paying them any mind. She was far too busy thinking about unicorns. She tried to do that at least once a day for her health and seeing as she was still very much alive and kicking, she assumed it must have been working. Eventually she too gathered her things and exited the bathroom, before having to duck back inside and grab her tooth brush off the edge of the sink.
She skipped as she moved through the halls at her leisure. It was nice to be happy again. She didn't think of Olivia any less often than she had a month ago but now that ache, that pain that squeezed her lungs until she could hardly breathe was fading away. Little by little. Day by day. She thought Olivia would have been proud of her for that. She hoped anyway.
As she skipped, she naturally wasn't paying complete attention to her surroundings. She usually wasn't. So when a voice called out to her, she didn't hear it at first. She didn't hear the footsteps as they approached.
Then a hand touched her elbow and she jumped like a cat suddenly drenched in water.
"Holy cheese and jelly!" Leah squeaked, coming up off the floor by several inches.
"Sorry." The boy chuckled, words heavily accented. "I called but I guess you didn't hear me? I really didn't mean to frighten you like that."
"Yeah. That happens sometimes." Leah sucked in a breath. Then she took in his Durmstrang uniform and familiar face. "Oh, hey! I've met you before! Yes? No?"
"You have."
"What was your name again? Oh, wait, don't tell me. It started with a 'E', right? No, no. It was 'W' or 'H'? Definitely either 'W' or 'H'."
"Nayden. My name is Nayden."
"Oh." Leah pursed her lips. "Nevermind then. I was way off."
"It's no problem. I remember your name though. Leah." The boy grinned.
"That's nice." Leah smiled back. "It was good running into you again, but it's almost lights out and my friends are waiting for me so-"
"Oh, come. A few minutes won't hurt." Nayden pressed with an easy smile. "I won't keep you long, I promise."
"Well, I guess not." Leah shrugged. "So...How are you? What's it like living on a ship? That has to be so cool."
"I'm very well thank you and the ship took some getting used to but I rather like it." Nayden chuckled.
"Yeah..." Leah sighed dreamily. "I guess the one main downside would be if a kraken attacked."
"A kraken?" Nayden frowned.
"Yeah, you know. The big octopus, squidly thingy." Leah tried to show him with her hands but just ended up wiggling her fingers in his face.
Nayden chuckled again. He laughed a lot, Leah thought.
"I suppose that would be a downside, yes. Oh, where are my manners, I never asked how you are?"
"I think I'm getting a rash."
"Um."
"I'd ask you to look at it for me, but I feel like I shouldn't for some reason." Leah nodded.
"No, no. I've got no objections to that." Nayden gave her a lopsided grin and a once over. "So, where is this rash of yours?"
Leah laughed loudly as that must have been a joke. She slugged the boy in the arm like she'd seen Draco, Liam and Blaze do to each other. He flinched.
"You're very funny, Jayden."
"Nayden." He corrected, grin tightening. He rubbed at his arm, surprised by the force of the punch.
"Oh, right. My bad."
"Say, Leah?"
"Leah."
"What?"
"You said, 'Say Leah'." She explained.
"You're adorable." Nayden chuckled. He really was always laughing. Io "Anyway, I wanted to ask about those friends you mentioned."
"What about them?"
"Your friends with the daughter of Bellatrix Lestrange, right?"
"Sure am. We're like sisters only she'd never admit it."
"Do you happen to know if she's got a date to the Yule Ball?"
It suddenly dawned on Leah that this nice, laughing boy could have been another player in the 'Who Can Date Lestrange Game?'. So many different boys had already asked Valentine that it could have been possible. She hoped not. Valentine was getting more and more fed up with it all and it was only a matter of time before someone ended up in the hospital wing.
"She's not. Like at all. As in she doesn't want to go with anyone. Ever. Never ever. Never, ever, ever. She actually hates the idea. Just told me so this morning." Leah wanted to make things as clear as possible, both for him and for Valentine.
"Oh." Nayden's face fell only for a moment, then that grin was back. "Well, how about yourself? I'm sure someone as cute and fun as you has already had multiple offers."
"You'd think that! I mean, I think I'm great! My hair is really shiny and my legs are really long and you don't even have to talk if you don't want to because I've got it covered, but Draco says that I'm loud and annoying and scare boys away or something. I think he's just a big baby."
"But you're not annoying at all." Said Nayden. "And certainly not scary. In fact, maybe you'd like to go with me? I think we could have a great time together. Your long legs and all."
Leah paused and stared at him, lips pursed. Had she really just been asked to the Yule Ball? By a handsome, older student? Nayden was nice. He laughed a lot and smiled a lot. He had those big shoulders and hands. So...so why wasn't she already saying yes? A pretty new dress, a night of dancing AND a date? That should have been a dream come true. So, why was she still standing there with that lost look on her face?
She didn't know how she suddenly saw it but she did. She hadn't been his first choice. First he'd asked about Valentine. He'd only asked her after she'd made sure he knew that Valentine was interested in a date. She wasn't entirely certain why she didn't like it, but she didn't want to be someone's safety net because she would have said no. It was the kind of thing her mother would have warned her against.
She decided she had to be sure, so she said;
"But wouldn't you rather go with Val?"
"What gave you that impression?" Nayden asked, blinking innocently.
"Just now. You asked if Val had a date to the ball."
"That was for a friend of mine." He waved her off casually. "Several actually. They are quite interested in her, although I think we can agree that she's somewhat out of their league."
"Well, Val would definitely think so. And so would Draco and Blaze and Liam. And I guess since they all think so it must be true. She is really special, you know. So, she would need another special person."
"I see. And your reply?" Nayden gave an expectant glance.
"What?" Leah asked, confused.
"The Yule Ball. Would you like to go with me, Leah?"
"Ummmm..." Leah stared at him, lips pulled into a thin line.
Nayden had said that he didn't want to take Valentine, but she was still so unsure and it confused her. Nayden really was nice. And he thought she was cute and funny so what the heck was her problem here? She honestly didn't know. She hated thinking this much about anything. It was way too much effort to be using up so late in the say. So, she decided to just go with her immediate reaction and hope for the best.
"No."
"No?" Nayden's smile dropped completely.
"Yes. I mean, no. I'm saying no."
"Hey, Leah!" A familiar voice echoed down the hall before Nayden could speak again.
She looked towards it and saw that Liam and Blaze were at the end of the hall. It had been Liam that had shouted to her.
"Hey, guys!" She went to wave her arms and then remembered that she was still holding her towel and toiletries. She turned back to Nayden. "Those are my friends now so I should probably go. Good night, Jayden!"
As she spun to make her escape from what had become an awkward mess, Nayden grabbed her upper arm and yanked her back. She squeaked and glanced back at him.
"That hurt!"
"I'm sorry, but please wait." He smiled but didn't let go. "Why not? Why won't you go with me?"
"Oh, man...I'm really sorry." Leah grimaced from sheer guilt. "I just don't want to."
"What kind of reason is that?" Nayden sighed.
"Oi!" Blaze's annoyed voice echoed down the hall this time as he and Liam approached. "What's going on? It's almost lights out."
"Who's this?" Liam had his eyes on Nayden.
Leah noticed immediately that both Liam and Blaze were on edge. She could see it in the way they stood, the way they held their chins. They always looked just like this when teasing some student or backing up Valentine. Like they were ready to fight at any moment.
"This is Jayden. I met him the other day, remember? The Durmstrang that wanted a hug?" Leah explained and Nayden didn't bother to correct her.
"Right." Blaze scoffed, dark eyes flicking down to Nayden's grip on her arm. "What's that about?"
"I'm sorry, but we were having a private conversation." Said Nayden.
"Too bad-" Blaze started to snap but Liam put a hand on his arm.
"Look, our school curfew is pretty strict. We really need to get back to our common room."
Leah was struck by Liam's expression. There wasn't a single grain of warmth in it. Blaze on the other hand looked ready to blow.
"Yeah, I don't want creepy old Flich tracking us down, so I'll see you around, okay?" Leah tried to step away but he still had her arm and squeezed. Hard.
"Ouch, that hurts!"
"Let go of her!" Blaze was suddenly beside her, shoving Nayden back. "What is your problem?"
This time the grip on her upper arm disappeared and she felt Liam standing behind her.
Nayden took a step back, both hands raised.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt her." He said calmly and looked to Leah. "Are you al-"
"Do not speak to her." Blaze cut him off with a razor sharp edge.
"I said I was sorry and I mean it. I'm not trying to cause any trouble."
"Good." Said Liam firmly. "You can do so by leaving."
"And by staying away from us." Blaze added, glaring up at the older boy like he was an inch away from murder. "If I see you anywhere near Leah you'll regret it."
"He didn't hurt me that much, you know." Leah frowned but Liam turned her away.
"That's not the point, Leah. But it doesn't matter because he's not going to be a problem anymore."
Leah saw that cold look in Liam's eye quickly warming and nodded.
"Blaze, let's go." He said and at first Blaze just stood there. "Blaze. Val and Draco are waiting for us."
Blaze didn't take his eyes off Nayden but started to back up slowly until he was standing with Leah and Liam.
"Come on." He muttered bitterly and nudged Leah's shoulder to push her in the right direction.
Liam took Leah's things from her and they started up the hall. Leah turned and glanced back at Nayden. She gave him a small wave and he simply walked away. Not smiling.
"What a creep." Blaze spat.
"He seemed so nice, though." Leah mumbled, rubbing at her. It was like she could still feel his hand there. Why did he have to be so rough?
"Don't worry about it." Liam assured her, seemingly his usual self.
"Just stay away from him." Blaze added gruffly. "And tell us if he tries to bother you again."
Leah looked at him for a moment. She thought of Nayden's hand on her arm, how it stung when he squeezed. How Blaze could have very easily thrown a punch if Liam hadn't been there. How Blaze still looked ready to kill something.
She reached out and flicked him on the tip of his nose.
"Ouch!" He gaped at her. "What the heck was that for!"
She shot him a wide grin. She had always loved how easy it was to get a reaction out of him.
"You're so boring when you get all quiet and broody. It doesn't suit you, that's more Val's thing."
Blaze stared at her, confounded and then seemed to snap out of it and poked Leah on the forehead.
"Hands to yourself!" He said
"Hey! You can't tell me that and poke me! You're damn hippo!"
"Huh?"
"You're. A. Hippo!"
"I think she means hypocrite." Liam snorted, biting down a laugh.
"Yeah, that!"
"You're an idiot!"
"I know you are but what am I?"
"What are you? A four-year-old?"
"Four times cooler than you!"
"You're delusional!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"You suck, Blaze!" She pointed accusingly, feeling a smile breaking out on her face as Blaze fired back another insult.
Yeah. It was nice to be happy again.