Platform nine and three quarters was as crowded and bustling as ever before. Valentine shoved an older student out of her path, causing a chain reaction of cries of pain, all of which Valentine ignored. Draco walked beside her, not bothering to hide his laughter at what she'd just done.
"Hey." A gasping figure threw itself in front of them.
"Draco." Crabbe joined Goyle, both standing in silence for a moment to catch their breaths, faces red.
"So...uh, the game..." Goyle panted.
"The World Cup." Crabbe was the first to string together intelligible words. Then he grinned. "How awesome was that right? Our parents told us everything-"
How is anyone this stupid?
Valentine's hand slapped over his fleshy mouth before he could speak another word.
"Another word and I'm pushing you on the tracks." She hissed with a burning glare that made Crabbe visibly shiver.
"Are you both crazy?" Draco leaned in, fighting to keep his voice low. "Don't talk about that here, you idiots. Didn't your parents mention that it was a secret?"
The two boys gave hurried nods.
"Then keep your mouths shut." Said Draco.
Valentine pulled her hand away, wiping it on Crabbe's robes. Crabbe and Goylestood there for a moment, glancing at one another, unsure of what to do.
"Are you brain dead? Get on the train." Draco kicked Goyle in the shin.
"Ouch!"
"Yeah! The train! Let's go." Crabbe grabbed Goyle and started pulling him away.
"Why the hell do you keep them around?" Valentine fought the urge tofacepalm.
"Youthink I haven't tried to get rid of them?" Draco growled in annoyance. "Every time I've told them to get lost they just keep coming back!"
"It's your own fault. You fed them and now they won't leave you alone." Valentine flicked a dark curl over the shoulder and started moving towards the train herself, Draco following.
Crabbe and Goyle weren't actually around that often, although Valentine always complained whenever they were. They may bethick, but they still knew better than to test her patience and tended to hang around the others when she was present. It was a fact she ignored. She'd take the two idiots over Pansy Parkinson's noxious presence any day.
"Val, look."
Valentine turned to her cousin who was waving over at Liam and Blaze down the aisle. Liam was standing just outside it while Blaze had forced himself half out of the compartment window, waving wildly to get their attention.
"Speaking of things you can't get rid of." Valentinegrumbled with a roll of her eyes. Her tone was much lighter, although if you weren't part of her inner circle, you would never have noticed.
They hurried along the aisle on the train, several people scurrying back into their compartments when they saw Valentine coming.
Liam was still outside the compartment door waiting, with a warm smile. When they reached him, Draco ignored Liam and gave Blaze a prompt smack up the back of his head.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"Do you know how stupid you both lookedhanging out a window like that?"
"I haven't got much of a choice?"
"What?"
"He's stuck." Liam explained, barely holding in a laugh.
"Only because you won't help, you git!"
"His shirt got caught on the window latch about ten minutes ago." Said Liam. "I really was going to help. You know. When it stopped being so damn funny."
"When I get free I'm going to kill you, Highcourt!"
The three others turned a blind eye to his squirming and annoyed huffs, they just followed Valentine inside the compartments, taking their places. Valentine at the window, Draco beside her and Liam opposite.
Leah isn't here yet. I know she's coming. Her parents would never let her get away with missing the beginning of school.
"Okay, guys!" Blaze tried to yank himself out of the window but only succeeded in smacking his head on the frame. "This isn't funny."
"Hmm..." Liam hummed thoughtfully. "No, it totally is."
Blaze growled in frustration. He was kneeling on the seat, backside turned towards Draco, arms, head and upper torso through the window. Valentine could see where his shirt was stuck and that he wouldn't be able to reach it on his own.
"You're all evil."
"Well, obviously." Draco scoffed. "But what's that got to do with anything?"
"EVIL!"
God, we don't even need Leah here if he's going to carryon like this.
"By the way," Valentine shot Liam a look. "I hope you two haven't been speaking loudly about anything you shouldn't."
"As if." Blaze laughed. "Who's that dumb?"
They all turned to stare at him, the boy caught awkwardly in the window.
"Okay, I can feel all those judgemental eyes and I do not appreciate it!"
"What do you expect?" Asked Draco. "You've never looked more stupid than in this particular moment."
"I know, right?" Liam grinned. "Where's a camera when you need one?"
"Stop being a bunch of assholes and help me!" Blaze squirmed and rattled the window violently.
"You probably shouldn't move so much." Said Valentine.
Blaze immediately froze.
"Uh, why?"
"Because if you shake the frame too hard and the window comes loose, it's going to fall right down onto your back. Hardwood and glass? Not so gentle. You probably wouldn't break anything at that distance, but a fraction is possible. Not to mention all the nerves in the spinal cord. If it struck the wrong one you could easily end up paralysed from the waist down."
"Bloody hell. I'm in a death trap."
"And we are so grateful for your sacrifice at the expense of our entertainment." Liam wiped away an invisible tear.
"I'm going to kill you, Highcourt!"
"Sure. If you can ever get out."
"ARGGGGGG!" Blaze's entire body tensed with the effort it took not to move.
"What are you doing?"
"Leah?" Blaze's head snapped up, hitting the frame with a thunk.
And there she was, standing in the aisle, staring at Blaze in obvious confusion. Three more heads turned her way. Long waves of caramel the same as ever but golden brown eyes not holding the child-like light they had always seemed to.
"Welcome back." Liam gave her a little wave.
"Hi everyone."Leah smiled so weakly it hurt Valentine like a knife to the chest.
Leah was someone who never masked her feelings, never pretending to be anyone she wasn't. She smiled when she was happy and cried when she was sad and she had never done otherwise. But now here she was, wearing a smile so obviously forced that it didn't even look like Leah anymore.
"So, um." Leah turned back to Blaze. "Is this supposed to be a game?"
But Blaze was too caught up with staring at her to speak.
Draco and Liam shared a knowing glance.
"He's stuck." Said Liam. "Because he's an idiot."
But not even that jab seemed to pull Blaze out of his daze.
"...why are you looking at me like that?" Leahbacked up slightly, eyeing him.
"Huh? What?" Blaze finally snapped out of it. "Oh, uh. Nothing. Forget I said anything."
"But you didn't say anything." Leah frowned.
"Oh. Well, then ignore that I said to forget what I said."
"Okay."
Bloody hell. What is going on? I feel like I'm having a stroke. They're having a civil conversation! They're not even arguing!
"...do you want some help?" Asked Leah.
This time Valentine, Draco and Liam all shared a glance.
"Would you?" Blaze's voice brightened. "These jackasses won't help."
"Yeah, sure, but...how are you even stuck?"
"My shirt collar. It got caught on the window latch. Do you see it?"
"Ah, yeah. It's right here." Leah stepped into the compartment and reached for it.
"Did you get it?"
"Stop moving. Give me a second...there."
She unhooked the shirt and Blaze quickly slipped out of the window.
"Thanks." He heaved a sigh, locking eyes with Leah and stay there.
"It's cool." Leah shrugged.
Then the two proceeded to stand there, staring at one another like they were the only two people in the world.
Ew. What are they even doing?
It probably could have gone on until they reached Hogsmeade if Liam hadn't sneezed.
Blaze's gaze abruptly switched to him with a venomous glare.
"YOU." He seethed.
"Oh, boy."
Blaze launched himself across the compartment and sat on Liam's lap heavily.
"Are you serious?" Liam groaned in pain as Blaze got comfortable.
"I hope both of your legs go numb!"
"Why couldn't you just murder me instead?"
"Because we both know that pins and needles are way worse!"
"Who's the evil one now?" Liam huffed trying to push Blaze off, but the boy just dug in his heels in.
Then the train's whistle sung out and Leah shut the compartment door before sitting beside Draco just in time for the train to pull out of the station.
"Blaze." Liam sighed. "You can't really just sit on me all the way to school. I mean, come on. You know I wouldn't have really left you there."
"No, I don't know that."
This is going to be a long trip.
"So..." Leah cleared her throat. "What has everyone been up to?"
"You're kidding." Draco shot her a look. "We don't see you for weeks and that's what you have to say?"
"Well, what am I supposed to say?" Leah shrugged.
Draco blinked.
"...Fair point."
"Oh!" Leah quickly leapt up and scrambled past Draco to Valentine. It was probably the most 'Leah' thing she had done since she showed up. "Are you alright? Is your hand okay?"
Valentine held up her previously injured hand.
"Perfectly fine."
"That's good." Leah melted back into her seat with a sigh.
"Hey...is it just me...or did Leah shrink?" Blaze narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Did not." Leah frowned.
"I think what you're seeing is that Val grew over the holidays." Draco grinned. "She had a growth spurt actually. A whole inch and a half."
It was true. Only another half an inch and she would finally exceed five feet. Valentine had had little time to think on it what with the Quidditch World Cup.
"Yeah, now I see it." Liam nodded. "Congratulations, you're no longer the shortest in the group."
"Wait, what?" Blaze's jaw dropped.
"Well, from tallest to shortest it used to be; Me, Draco, Leah and then you and Val were pretty much the same height." Said Liam. "You've only grown, what? Half an inch? So, Val has an inch on you now."
"Huh? No way! I can't be the shortest!" Blaze leapt to his feet before Valentine. "Stand up."
When Valentine just arched a brow at him he motioned for her to stand, eyes pleading. Valentine rolled her eyes but stood all the same. And there it was for all to see. She stood easily an inch taller then Blaze.
"This hell. I'm in hell." Blaze dropped dramatically down ontothe seat as Liam moved just in time.
"Uh-huh." Liam muttered, attention elsewhere. He was leaning into the middle of the compartment, watching a trio of girls walk past. "Have fun with that buddy."
"Are you going to actually talk to her?" Asked Draco.
"Does my hair look alright?" Said Liam, patting down his pockets, probably looking for a comb.
"Begrudgingly prefect." Draco sighed. "Now, hurrying up before you lose her."
"Right. Wish me luck." And then Liam was hurrying from the compartment and down the aisle.
"What was that about?" Leah blinked.
"You mean who." Blaze corrected.
"Her name's Jane Philips." Said Draco.
"Oh. I've heard about her." She didn't seem thrilled, but she didn't seem all that thrilled about anything right now. "Are they like a thing?"
"Liam hasn't decided yet, but she so likes him." Said Draco.
The conversation continued but Valentine didn't listen for long, staring out the window, twisting the serpent ring on her finger.
She wondered if anyone else felt like there was someone missing. That there was a voice they weren't hearing, a face they weren't seeing. Somehow, Leah's uncharacteristically subdued behaviour made it all the more obvious. Things had changed and they would never be the same.
--Pretending To Live--
Hurrying down the aisle, Liam craned his neck to see past an older student. From this position, he caught sight of the girl he was looking for. She had two other girls with her, two other Ravenclaw's in their year. Calloway and Bolton if Liam was remembering correctly. They tended tofollow Jane Philips everywhere. Often in total silence, only speaking when spoken too, seemingly devoted to being the dull bookends that they were.
"Philips!" Liam called out, trying his best to keep a casual tone and manner.
Pretty people sometimes made him nervous. Especially smart, pretty people. He shoved his hands into his robe pockets. He had a habit of fiddling when he uneasy. He usually hoped it wasn't as noticeable as he thought it was. It probably was. He buried his hands deeper.
Jane paused and turned with a bounce of mahogany waves.When she saw him, her lips widened to a pleasant smile.
"Why, if it isn't Liam Highcourt?" Her hazel eyes twinkled. She didn't walk any further, allowing him to shorten the distance. She seemed to tower above him on a great hill of sweet, humbleness, despite being quite a bit shorter. To Liam, it felt almost like being around Valentine with the pure authority soaked into her skin. Not exactly the same, but the presence of each of palpable.
"Yeah, It's me." Liam smiled in a manner that he hoped oozed charm. "Think we can talk for a moment?"
"Sure." Jane gave a nod of dismissal to her followers who continued on without question. "Now then, what is it you wanted to talk about?"
"Oh, nothing important. I just wanted to see how you've been. Did you enjoy your holiday?"
Jane laughed at Liam's lame excuse for conversation although she didn't say so. It was a light laugh. Calming and coy and simple. Valentine never laughed like that. He'd heard her snicker and scoff and even chuckle a few times, but to produce a sound so warm? Liam wasn't sure if it was even physically possible for her.
"Very much so, and you?"
"It was alright."
"I supposed you missed your friends?"
"Oh, well, I was able to see them a few times so it wasn't that bad. It's just that there's never anything going on compared to at school."
"I can't disagree with you there." Jane laughed again. "It's certainly a new adventure every day."
"Although, I will admit the exams and homework are a bit of drawback." Liam gave her a boyish grin.
"Hmm, yes." Jane gave a curious tilt of her chin. "Can't all be purebred prodigies, now can we?"
"True." Liam shrugged. "I'd kill to have even a fraction of Val's power."
"As many would, I'm sure." Jane's eyes were twinkling again, almost glowing. "She is quite extraordinary."
"You know, I should introduce you to the others some time. I wouldn't pretend that they're always the most welcoming bunch, but they shouldn't take issue with it."
That wasn't entirely true. He knew better than to just bring her by randomly one day. Draco and Blaze seemed to approve of her just fine but they didn't have the final say. He would have to bring it up with them first and set up a situation where they could quickly leave if they needed to. Like a venomous snake, Val was dangerous when backed in a corner.
Jane smiled, verging on the edge of meek and yet somehow still taking up all the space in Liam's mind with her very presence.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you." She titled her head slightly again. "Now, I should get back to the girls. They wouldn't know what to do without me."
Liam was hoping they could have talked longer but didn't want to come off as overbearing or needy.
"Alright. Well, it was nice talking to you. See you around then?"
"You certainly will." Jane touched his arm just for a moment as she turned away.
Liam watched her go, mahogany waves bounce with each unwavering step she took. She was perfect and poised and, Liam hoped, totally into him.
"Oh, uh." An accented voice spoke out from behind him, pulling him from his gazing. "Hey."
He turned to find Meriton Hasani peering up at him with dark blue eyes, through long blond bangs. Liam desperately wanted to style his hair for him but could never figure out a way to bring it up politely. He knew not everyone fussed over their appearance like he and Draco did, but he also knew that Meriton had a very nice bone structure under all that hair and it was such a pity for him to keep it hidden. He wondered if he could get Draco to say something. He certainly didn't mind coming off a bit uncouth.
"Hey, Meriton. How have you been?"
"Alright, I guess. You?"
"I'll manage." Liam chuckled.
He liked Meriton. He was very friendly once you nudged him out of his shell a little. A little too friendly, unfortunately. It meant he would never have a real place in their group but that was probably for the best. Meriton preferred to watch things from the sidelines as opposed to standing in the spotlight and being who they were often garnered plenty of attention, especially with Val at the helm. Meriton really didn't seem to have a problem with anyone and it was rather nice to be around someone who didn't shout or speak with enough sarcasm to kill to man every now and then. For Liam, that had once been Olivia, but things were different now and Meriton's shy disposition was reminding him of the kind girl they had lost only months ago.
"Um." Meriton glanced down at his feet. "I'm really sorry about Olivia."
Liam blinked, wondering if he had said something out loud. Then his lips twitched into a sad smile.
"It's alright."
"I wanted to say something before the summer started but I didn't want to overstep my boundaries..."
"It's really fine." Liam smiled wider to show that it really was.
Meriton smiled back, blushing a little. That reminded Liam of Olivia too. They were both quite possibly the most wholesome people Liam knew.
"How's Leah been? I know she was taking it really hard. She and Olivia were practically inseparable."
"I actually only just saw her since she left school early. She looks good though. All things considered. Losing someone is tough, but she's tougher."
"Yeah, I think she'll pull through." Meriton nodded. "How are you though?"
He was thoughtful too, Liam remembered.
"Like I said, I'll manage."
"Well...um, just let me know if you need anything, yeah? I mean, I know this stuff isn't easy." Meriton was glancing at his feet again.
"Thanks, man." Liam clapped a hand on his shoulder, although not too hard like he would with Draco or Blaze. Those two needed a good smack every now and then. "I should get back to the others, but I'll see you at school. We should hang out."
"Yeah, that'd be cool."
There was a sparkle of something in Meriton's eyes that Liam had never noticed before.
"Sweet, see you around then."
"Okay, see you."
With one last smile exchanged between the two of them, Liam headed back the way he had come.
--Pretending To Live--
Valentine could smell the age of the castle all around her. She was glad to be back.
She lead the way to the Slytherin common rooms as they still had half an hour before the feast started and the first years arrived. It was hard to believe that she had been like them just a few years ago. Anything before the life she lived now was nothing but a distant memory and not all of them fond.
Draco, Liam, Blaze and Leah were following behind, gossiping like old ladies about two things in particular. Valentine's new heightstatus over Blaze and Jane Philips.
Jane Philips, as Valentine recalled, was one of the smarter students in their year and had often scored just below Hermione, as she scored just below Valentine. The boys had said she was a 'Solid eight and a half', whatever that meant. Valentine had a feeling that it had nothing to do with intelligence. She definitely wasn'tsomeone who registered in Valentine's mind as anyone of importance. She seemed generally pleasant and problematic and so she'd almostforgotten the girl's existence altogether. But now she seemed to be a reoccurring theme. Valentinewondered if the boys had stopped and thought long enough past the girls appearance to know where she stood on blood purity. If Liam wanted something serious and she didn't agree with him, that could be a problem.
Arg. Just thinking about this stuff gives me a headache. Why are people liking others all of a sudden?
Valentine was about about half way across the common room when a hand grabbed at the hood of her robes. She turned to kick the offending person and snarl a threat at them. When she saw who it was, she almost didn'tbother to stop.
"I hope you have achieved some semblance of maturity over the summer, Lestrange." Professor Snape hissed viciously. It was as though she'd been a painfulthorn in his side all day, despite the fact that this was the first time she had seen him in months.
Valentine rolled her eyes. The other students in the common room all froze, all to worried about Valentine's possible impending wrath to push ahead and keep going.
"Calm your cape, Professor." Valentine attempted to shake herself free, causing Snape to grab tighter, curling his fingers in the back of her shirt collar. She felt something small slidedown the back of her neck and glared at him.
What the hell is he playing at?
"Your a nuisance." Snape shoved her forward and Valentine seriously fought the urge to pull a childish face in his direction. She wondered if she could still flip her eyes inside out. It was a trick that used to make Draco vomit on sight and so was soundly banned by Narcissa when they were six.
She just straightened her robes and glowered over her shoulder instead. Snape ignored her, storming off like berating her for nothing was all he had come here to do.
"Well that didn't take long." Liam quipped.
"They usually don't get at each others throats so quickly." Blaze nodded and then grinned. "This is going to be a great year.'
"Professor Bored-And-Lonely needs to get a better hobby then annoying me." Valentine scoffed.
"Oh, I dare you to say that to his face!" Exclaimed Blaze.
"Please. As if that's a challenge." Valentine rolled her eyes.
"Doesn't mean I don't want to see it. Like really bad. Do you think there'll be blood?"
"I can't believe this still amuses you so much." Said Draco. "It's been three years!"
"God, just let me enjoy things alright!"
The boys continued on to their dorms, while Leah paused at the bottom of the girls stairs, simply staring up them.
"Leah?" Valentine frowned.
"Uh, it's nothing!" Leah jumped like Valentine had been trying to frighten her and hurried up the stairs.
Valentine hung back, watching her go. Then, instead of following, she headed across the common room over to the windows where no one was standing. They were as inky and black as ever and attracting no attention.
She covertly reached up a hand to scratch the back of her neck as she swiftly fished out the small item lodged in her shirt collar. She felt the parchment fold against her palm and glanced around above removing it.
She then cupped it in her hand and unfolded the small message. Once read, she walked over to the fireplace, throwing it into the flickering emerald flames. She watched the tendrils devouring the words hungerly, leaving behind nothing but ashes.
Potions room. As soon as possible.
--Pretending To Live--
Valentine didn't pause to knock as she pushed open the door and slipped inside, closing it behind her.
"Greetings, Professors." She nodded to the two men as she headed to the front of the class where they stood.
"Welcome back, Miss Lestrange." Dumbledore nodded, that twinkle not nearly as bright as it should have been.
"So, what's with this emergency meeting?" Valentine lent back against a desk in the front row. "The Quidditch World Cup?"
"That is one thing we must discuss, yes." Dumbledore confirmed.
"I wish I knew more, but I was kept out of the loop purposely." She sighed. "My uncle told Draco and he got us both out before anything started. He refused to even tell me what was going on until we were too far away for me to do anything Liam knew as well from his grandfather. William Lovat and Crabbe and Goyle's parents were definitely involved as well, but I'm fairly certain Blaze's parents were not."
"Do you have any idea of their motive?" Asked Snape.
"It was something of a power play really. They wanted to remind everyone that Voldemort still has supporters that believe in blood purity. They're frightened by what way the world is turning and so they lashed out like the petulant little terrorists they are. And it worked. People were terrified." Valentine looked to Dumbledore. "I'm told no one was hurt?"
"A few minor injuries. Nothing serious. Far less thanwhat they could have inflicted."
"Good." Valentine sighed again. "Knowing Harry was down there was torture. I nearly went in after him."
Snape snorted to himself and she sent him a glare which he heedfully returned. Before either one could spark a fight, Dumbledore continued.
"The Ministry is conducting an investigation, of course, but Fudge is far from prepared to take real action." Said Dumbledore. "He clings to the peace of these times every tightly and refuses to see this attack as a real sign of danger."
"I knew there was a reason I didn't like him." Valentine huffed. "I supposed we can't let it slip who was involved then?"
"Unfortunately, that would be more difficult a task then words would suggest. The Malfoy's and Lovat's are currently both on very good terms with the Ministry, as I'm sure you know. And then there would be the matter of proof. You could not come forth yourself for obvious reasons and I do not believe your friends would do so willingly."
"I understand." Valentine pouted. "It's just nice to think of Lucius behind bars is all. So, what else is going on that I should know about then?"
"I do feel as though I should make you aware that this school year will be unlike the others."
"Uneventful and without risk to Harry's life?"
Dumbledore smiled.
"While I do hope Harry will be safe, uneventful is not something I can promise."
Oh, great.
"This year we will share Hogwarts with two other wizarding schools, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute for Magical Learning. Twelve girls from Beauxbatons and twelve boys from Durmstrang to be precise."
Valentine knew of them both. Beauxbatons was a school based in France while Durmstrang was somewhere inNorwayorSweden, the actual locationalways having been a school secret. Lucius had initially wanted Valentine sent to the former and Draco to the latter, but Narcissa had been concerned about the distance and splitting them apart, although Valentine was fairly certain that was her uncle's intention. Durmstrang didn't allow admittance of Muggle Born students and was known for its rather...dubious reputation involving Dark Arts so naturally, Lucius had been eager to send his son there. While he had argued that sending Valentine to Beauxbatons would honour her French roots. That was a weak argument even for him. If Valentine recalled correctly, it was a discussion that went on for months before Narcissa finally won out.
"And why exactly would we be doing that?"
And then with much reluctance, Dumbledore said;
"The Triwizard Tournament will be held here at Hogwarts between our three schools."
"I'm sorry. What?" Valentine immediately stood straight. Just like Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, she had heard of that too. "You can'tbe serious? That was outlawed for good reasons. People have died during the tournament. It's worse than bloody Quidditch!"
"Fudge believes that it will curry favour for him in a political sense."
"By possibly, indirectly killing a group of students?"
"Apparently so." Dumbledore nodded solemnly.
"That's insane!"
"Only students seventeen and older are permitted to compete, of course. One champion from each school will be chosen to perform three tasks to determine the winner. Durmstang and Beaubaxtons are both eager to be involved, it seems."
"This is madness." Valentine slapped a hand over her eyes.
"Politics." Dumbledore corrected.
"Any other mind fields you want to lead me onto?"
"I suppose it's also worth mentioning that the Defense Against the Dark Arts position has been filled by an old friendof mine, Alastor Moody."
"As in MadEye Moody? The Auror?"
"The very same." Dumbledore nodded. "I have complete faith in him."
"Sir, at this rate, you're going to run out of friends to employ. God forbid the day we finally have to resort to Professor Bored-And-Lonely over here."
"Excuse you?" Snape's face immediately darkened.
"Blaze dared me. I had to. Oh, by the way, probably not the best time to bring this up but," Valentine dug into her robe pocket and pulled out an empty vile. I need a refill. Just ran out the other day."
"You insult me and then expect me to help you?" Snape spat.
"Sure do. And how's that other potion coming along? You know, the one to stop me dying before the school years out?"
"Oh, dear. I'd completely forgotten."
"You're hilarious, Professor. Really. You should do stand up."
"It's in the process." Snape finally snatched the vile away from her. "I had a breakthrough during the holidays, but it's not there yet."
"Aren't you supposed to be good at this sort of thing? As one child prodigy to a former child prodigy; That's lame."
"Shut up, Lestrange or you can deal with this yourself!
"Please, as if you could carry out this mission without me."
"One day Lestrange, you'll regret that attitude of yours!"
"Perhaps." Valentine shrugged and then gave him a sly grin. "But that day is not today."
--Pretending To Live--
Liam was talking to Jane Philips again. He'd gone straight over to the Ravenclaw table the second he'd spotted her, leaving the others to watch him.
"Look at him go for it." Blaze sniffled and wiped away an invisible tear. "They grow up so fast."
Liam laughed at something Philips said and reached back to casually rest a hand on the table behind him. At least that's what would have happened if he didn't misjudge the distance in an obvious blunder and had to stumble and grab the table for support.
"He's making a complete fool of himself." Said Valentine. She found it rather odd. Liam usually didn't get so flustered.
"Okay, so that was embarrassing, but our boy Liam can be pretty slick when he wants to be." Blaze rebutted.
"Yeah, I actually have to agree." Draco shrugged. "Liam's got game."
Got game? What the hell does that even mean?
"It's the hair." Blaze pouted his lips prettily and rubbed a hand over his own buzzed head.
"Which explains so much about you." Draco snickered.
"Shut up! All the men in my family have their hair like this, thank you very much."
"Oh, you mean the family you never want to talk about and insist are all completely nuts?"
"Yes. No. Shut up!"
"Where's Liam?" Leah asked as she arrived.
She'd gone to the bathroom on her own while the rest of them found a place to sit. She'd missed the entire sorting and now Valentine could see why. When she caught sight of the other girls face, her hand clenched under the table. Leah had clearly been crying and had done a less than spectacular job of hiding it. Her eyes were red and puffy, her skin blotchy and dry. They all looked and saw the same thing but no one dared speak of it aloud.
"Making a mockery of himself." Valentine was the first one able to put words together.
"Where?" Looked over at the Ravenclaw table. When her eyes landed on the two in question, they widened. "Oh! That's Jane Philips? Wow. I was thinking of someone else entirely."
"Shocker." Draco scoffed.
"I don't really like her." Leah wrinkled her nose and sat beside Valentine.
"Why not?" Asked Draco.
But before Leah could answer, Liam appeared as well.
"What are we talking about?" In Liam slid in beside Blaze.
"You." Valentine, Draco and Leah answered in unison.
"That's...seriously concerning." Liam wasn't quite sure how to react. Then he glanced over at Blaze and frowned. "What's wrong with you?"
"Huh? What?" Blaze blinked.
He'd been staring off at nothing since Leah had joined them. Valentine supposed it must have been a side effect of his crush. It was still something she couldn't quite wrap her head around. Blaze. Blaze Zambini liked Leah. Leah Lovat. Someone he had vowed to murder in the dead of night on multiple occasions.
Okay. So maybe that's fair. We've all vowed to murder her in the dead of night at least once.
"Now we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement." Dumbledore's voice suddenly rang out in the hall, causing an almost immediate hush. "This castle will not only be your home this year but home to some very special guests as well. You see Hogwarts has been chosen..."
The hush didn't last long as Flich came jogging up between the centre tables in some sort of demented skip, causing giggles and snickers to spread like wildfire.
"Is that a Squib thing?" Leah snorted.
"Wouldn't surprise me." Said Draco.
Flich hurried up to Dumbledore and whispered in his ear. Dumbledore whispered something back pointedly and then Flich quickly left the way he'd came, hobbling out with the same skip.
I've seen some strange stuff but bloody hell.
"So, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event." Dumbledore continued, pulling in everyone's attention once again. "The Tri-Wizard tournament. Now for those of you who do not know, the Tri-Wizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school, a single contestant is selected to compete."
"Oh, I've heard about this." Said Blaze. "It's supposed to be really dangerous or something. That's why they haven't done one in like a century or something."
"Two centuries, actually." Said Valentine.
Then Dumbledore's tone changed. Valentine had heard him speak with it before all too often.
"Now let me be clear, if chosen you stand alone. And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint-hearted, but more of that later." Then, like nothing of all, the tone of the entire hall shifted again and he gestured to the large double doors. "For now please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their Headmistress Madame Maxime."
The doors swung open and a flurry of girls dressed in blue silk entered. They marched forward, shoulders square, back straight. The perfectposture that Narcissa had been drilling into Valentine for years. They paused once with a graceful wave of a hand and a feminine sigh.
Boys all around the hall gawked openly. Draco, Liam and Blaze were no different, standing in their seats to see. Valentine stared at them liked they'd gone mad.
"Oh, my, God!" Leah gasped. "They're so pretty. I wish our uniforms looked like that!"
Knowing she could have been sent there instead of Hogwarts, Valentine couldn't have imagined having to dress like that for school. And heels. And those little hats. It was certainly something Leah had more appreciationfor than she ever would.
The girls kept walking and then paused again with another quite dramatic sigh. A noticeably younger girl clad in a sliver and fiery red leotard flipped her way up the aisle along with them. The school's Headmistress followed also, her incredible height drawing a great amount of attention.
Valentine looked around the hall at all the boys now standing and openly staring as the girls passed with a frown.
There are enough hormones in here for all of us to go through puberty twice over.
Leah wasn't much better, craning her neck and muttering about the injustice done against her that Beaubaxtons robes were just so much nicer than theirs.
Valentine eyed Blaze's goblet, forgotten on the table. With everyone so firmly distracted, she was able to reach out across the table and push the goblet several inches in her desired direction.
The Beaubaxtons girls paused once again, right at the heads of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw's tables. With one last sigh, a soft bloom of white and pale blue birds rose from between them.
What the hell am I looking at right now?
As the girls moved to stand before the podium and give an elegant bow, the boys throughout the hall clapped and whistled. Draco, Liam and Blaze shared knowing grins with each other as they did the same. Luckily for them, none of them had the audacity to whistle it shout something at them, Valentine certainly wouldn't have let them get away with it, they weren't dogs to be howled at, after all. That was part of the reason Valentine found she had no sympathy for Blaze or Liam as the former sat and knocked the newly located goblet into both he and Liam's laps.
"Blaze!" Liam hissed.
"It was an accident!"
Wow. He's actually right for once.
Madame Maxime stopped to greet Dumbledore, the man looking up at her to kiss her hand. She was easily taller than even Hagrid and from Valentine's estimate, very nearly ten feet.
Another half-giant perhaps? If not, that's impossibly impressive. Damn tall people. Memo to me; Never stand beside Madame Maxime. Ever.
Dumbledore rose two hands to silence the students and they quickly became so.
"And now our friends from the north, please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and their High Master, Igor Karkaroff." At Dumbledore's words, all attention returned to the doors again as a group of fur-clad young men marched through.
Liam immediately forgot all about trying to dry himself off and stood again to see, eyes wide.
"Durmstrang? Really?"
The students twirled long wood staffs with perfect precision and stabbed them against the stone floor, sending up bright sparks as they did so. It was an impressive display, even Valentine would admit. But she still didn't understand why Draco and Blaze had to jump up as well.
"That's Viktor Krum's school!" Draco grinned.
"No way!" Blaze exclaimed.
"Yes, way!" Liam looked about ready to hunt him down and beg to shake the man's hand. Or hug him. Or cry at his feet.
Down boy.
The Durmstrang boys then threw down the staffs and dart forwards, showing off an impressive stunt of flips.
"Dang..." Leah's jaw dropped open.
"I see him!" Liam almost freaking squeaked. "It's Viktor Krum!"
"Where! I can't see!" Blaze jumped on to the beach so he could see over the expanse of students.
"Bloody hell!" Said Draco. "Why did mother have to convince father to send me here when I could have gone there?"
Valentine fought the urge to laugh out loud.
Oh, please, Draco. Those boys would have eaten you alive.
The huge figure of a firey Phoenix suddenly erupted at the front of the hall, an obvious show of respect towards Dumbledore. The hall filled with applause at the sight.
Valentine took this opportunity to lean further across the table this time, reaching for Liam's goblet and moving it strategically.
Igor Karkaroff marched up to Dumbledore arms open wide to embrace the man.
"Albus!"
"Igor." Dumbledore smiled as he hugged him back.
Unlike Madam Maxime, Igor Karkaroff was someone Valentine actually knew a few things about. He was an ex-Death Eater that had escaped imprisonment after the war by throwing of Death Eaters into the fire to save himself. And he knew her uncle personally. It was how Lucius had intended to assure Draco's admittance there although Hogwarts was far more the obvious choice.
When Draco and Blaze sat back down, Liam was still standing, in fact, he was the only one in the hall standing.
"I can't believe he's actually here..." He muttered in disbelief.
"Sit down, you idiot." Valentine hissed.
He turned to look at her in surprise and then seemed to realise where he was again.
He sat quickly, elbow bumping his goblet and sending juice onto both him and Blaze's all over again.
"Oh, well done mate." Blaze scowled sarcastically. "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."
"Shut up." Liam gritted his teeth, rather uncharacteristically embarrassed. He immediately busied himself with shrugging off his robe to mop up some of the juice.
"They're sitting with us." Said Leah and the three boys were suddenly sitting straighter.
Who knew all Narcissa ever needed to make Draco sit properly was have a well-built, thick accented young man around?
"Oh, God." Draco muttered. "They're looking this way."
"Act cool." Said Liam.
A dark-haired Drumstrang boy threw a glance down the table as he sat. He locked eyes with Leah who naturally, being Leah sent him a wave and a toothy smile. The boy returned it with his own wolfish wink and grin. Then he elbowed the boy beside him and pointed Leah out.
Draco and Liam looked almost offended that Leah was the one getting the attention and not them. Meanwhile, Blaze looked like he was enduring some kind of endless crisis inside his own head, face twisted somehow into fear, anger, worry and sadness all at once.
One day I should ask him if liking Leah is even worth all that emotional labour because I really doubt it.
"Val." Leah nudged her arm. "Val, look. They're looking at you too."
Valentine glanced over at the Durmstrang boys and now found that there was at least four looking their way.
No, thank you.
Valentine narrowed her bright eyes on the smirking boys, glare sharp and dangerous, turning them from wolves to puppies in seconds.
They all looked rather shocked and overtly uncomfortable before quickly looking away.
Draco patted her on the shoulder with nothing less than a proud grin.
"Don't worry. You'll always be the most intimidating person in the room."
"That's our, Val." Blaze held out his fist for her to bump it triumphantly.
Valentine glanced at the fist and then to him. His face immediately dropped and so did his fist.
"Let's forget I did that."
"Your attention please!" Dumbledore rose his hands again, but it took a little longer than before for everyone to calm down.
Turning back to the front, Valentine saw that a tall, ornate golden structure had been placed in front of the podium.
"I would like to say a few words. Eternal glory, that is what awaits the student who wins the Tri-Wizard Tournament. But to do this, that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks. For this reason, the ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule. To explain all this we have the Head of the Department of International Magic Cooperation, Mister Bartimus Crouch-"
A sudden thunderous rumbling and crackling interrupted the Head Master. The bewitched ceiling above them turned from its usually starry sky into that of a raging storm. Rain began to fall, lightning struck and student screamed.
Valentine's eyes went straight for Harry, finding him with Ron and Hermione, looking as shocked as everyone else.
A stream of light shot up into the thunder and lightning. It rippled across the ceiling like a wave, calming it. Val immediately sourced out the caster.
She spotted the man limping up towards Dumbledore from the side door near the staff table. Valentine had never been a great judge of beauty but he was not a man she would consider a 'looker'. He was a rather stocky man, face wrinkled, scarred and weather-beaten with age. He was breathing heavy, brown trench coat wet with rain, as was his hair. Most obvious about his appearance was a metal artificial leg and the strap that crossed over his face, holding a false eye in place over his right.
I was wondering when he'd show up...
"That's MadEye Moody." Said Draco. "Alastor Moody. My father said he's gone completely mad in his retirement."
"Mad like nuts?" Asked Leah.
"Yes, Leah." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Creepy..." Blaze frowned at the man.
Dumbledore greeted him with a warm handshake.
"My dear old friend, thanks for coming."
But the man appearing to be the naturally disgruntled type.
"Stupid ceiling." Valentine could just barely hear him grunt in reply.
Then he limped off to the side again and pulled a flask from his coat, taking a deep swing.
Oh, and a drunk too. Fantastic. We haven't had one of those yet. It's like Bad Professor Bingo.
Then Bartimus Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magic Cooperation and the man Dumbledore had been attempting to introduce, stood before them. He was a thin man, not overly tall with a joke of a moustache.
"After much deliberation, the Ministry has concluded that for their own safety no student under the age of seventeen shall be allowed to put forth their name for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. This decision is final."
The booing and outcry were immediate.
"That's rubbish! You don't know what you're doing!" One of the Weasley twins hollered. Unsurprising as the twins were most certainly not seventeen.
Dumbledore moved forward, looking less than pleased.
"Silence!" His voice carried throughout the room, stopping everyone in their tracks. It reminded Valentine of the Halloween of her first year when Quirrell had fearfully announced that there was a troll in the dungeon.
Dumbledore then lifted his wand from his robes and pointed it towards the golden structure. His lowered his wand slowly and with it, disintegrating what appeared to be only an outer casing. Once gone, it revealed a large ornate goblet, a brilliant blue flame blooming from inside it.
"The Goblet of Fire." Said Dumbledore. "Anyone wishing to submit themselves for the tournament merely write their name upon a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly, if chosen there's no turning back. As from this moment the Tri-Wizard Tournament has begun."
Well, that all sounds like a horrific disaster waiting to happen. Or happen again in this case. Thank God, Harry is too young to be involved in this madness.