Valentine had never been the biggest fan of oranges but Leah had taken all the bananas, apples and grapes to create faces on several pieces of bread. The banana was mushed up for the hair, the grapes for the eyes and noses and the apples cut into slices for the mouth. It would have been quite ingenious if Leah had been, let's say, a two-year-old and not thirteen.
"Could you at least leave something for the rest of us?" Blaze grumbled, staring down at his pilfered lunch in despair.
"Shush." Leah just hissed at him, eyes on her work. "I'm creating a masterpiece."
"You're creating a mess." said Draco.
"You are going to eat all that though, right?" asked Liam. "Otherwise it's just a waste of food."
Leah's head snapped up, staring at Liam in horror.
"Eat my children? How could you ever suggest such a thing! I'd expect it from Blaze and Draco, but not you!"
"Would you calm down?" Blaze rolled his eyes. "It's bread and fruit, Leah."
"I will not calm down! I feel threatened for my children right now! How can you expect me to calm down!"
"Again, bread and fruit."
"Have you ever heard of found family!"
"I seriously doubt that applies to this."
"Well, I say it does!"
"Well, I say it doesn't!"
"I don't care what you say!"
"Tough luck!"
"Could you both shut up?" Draco grumbled.
"Stay out of this!" Leah pointed at him accusingly.
"That's easier said than done when you two aren't screaming!"
"She started it!" said Blaze.
"Actually, Liam started it by suggesting I devour my own children!" said Leah.
"Hey, hey, hey." Liam waved his hands about in surrender. "I want no part in this."
Valentine huffed quietly to herself as she finished the chapter she was reading. It seemed like today was going to be a loud day. They had on average about three per week. Valentine wondered if the other students found her friends' screeching to be particularly annoying. She knew it grated on her nerves after the first few hours of non-stop howling.
"Ah, excuse me." A deep accented voice was suddenly clearing itself behind her. "Valentine Lestrange?"
At the sound of that accent, Valentine's first thought was that Nayden Andonov had snuck off the ship to find her and extract some kind of revenge. That was why her hand was going for her wand as she turned in her seat.
She was faced with a group of nine Durmstrang students all standing before her looking utterly sheepish. They easily made up half of the Durmstrang students at Hogwarts. Each one was tall and muscular, looking every much like they could have bought down a brick wall with one punch, despite this they all seemed nervous.
Draco, Liam, Leah and Blaze turned as well, their shouting forgotten.
"Yes?" Valentine irked a brow when the boy who's spoken didn't continue.
"I'm Dimo." He said, offering her his hand. He was blonde-haired, blue-eyed and very tall. "We've never met."
"Obviously." Valentine drawled boredly, her eyes flicked down to his hand but she made no move to take it.
Georgi Lukanov, whom Valentine had met before, cleared his voice as well.
"My friends and I wish to apologize."
"Yes." Dimo dropped his hand. "We would like to apologize for Nayden's disgusting actions. We've already spoken to the other girls he hurt. You're the last one."
"Oh." Valentine blinked but quickly covered up her surprise.
Well, now this is something you don't see every day.
She could have made a scene. She could have blamed these boys for Nayden's doing. Or maybe just shunned them outright. It would be a very Lestrange thing to do, she thought.
"He was completely out of line." said Georgi sincerely. "I am- we are, very sorry for what he has done."
"Yes, I only wish we could have done something to stop him. He's always been a difficult person but we never imagined that he would stoop this low." Dimo explained. "We wanted you to know that we stand with you and all the girls he hurt."
"We also want to thank you." A boy at the back of the group added.
"Ah, yes." Georgi nodded. "You stood up to him. Actually, from what we heard, you stood over him."
"You're very impressive." Dimo gave a chuckle of admiration that spread throughout the group. "I feel as though we've wasted our time not using this year to get to know you."
"It's never too late." Liam spoke up out of nowhere, smiling like someone had presented him with a very large cake. "We've still got plenty of time before the school year is out."
"Um. You are?" asked Dimo.
"Liam Highcourt." Valentine answered before Liam could. "This is my cousin, Draco Malfoy and those two morons are Leah Lovat and Blaze Zambini."
"Nice to meet you all." Georgi smiled and Valentine swore she could hear Liam drooling.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Liam was watching her intently, brown eyes bright and hopeful. She knew what he wanted and knew that he couldn't get it himself given the general hierarchy of their group. If he wanted the Durmstrang boys to sit with them, he was going to need them to go through her first. She would have been more impressed with the dynamic she had created if it wasn't just another level of abuse.
Draco tugged on her sleeve and leaned in to whisper.
"I know that we're not above spreading torment and suffering but I really don't feel like hearing him cry himself to sleep tonight."
Valentine sighed and slowly appraised the group of boys standing before them, somewhat confused and wondering if this was their cue to leave.
"Sit with us." said Valentine, gesturing to the table.
"Oh, uh..." Dimo exchanged a look with Georgi. "Thank you?"
"You're welcome." Valentine was already turning back around to continue her reading.
"Hi!" Leah greeted brightly. "Want to see my masterpiece?"
"You really don't want to see her masterpiece," said Blaze.
"Shush, shush!" Leah poked at his side. "I'm talking to the buff boys, not you."
"Ouch." Blaze pouted.
"Really, you should sit." Liam gave them all a smooth smile. "I promise we don't bite."
"No, Leah definitely bites." said Blaze.
"Quiet, Blaze." Liam gave him a stern look.
The Durmstrangs did indeed sit, splitting up to be on either side of the table. Liam gestured for Dimo to sit beside him, surprising no one. Leah showed off her creation proudly, the boys seeming to find it both a mixture of endearing and strange. Which was how most people perceived her. And once Draco got started about Quidditch a conversation struck up that looked like it had no end. Valentine kept her eyes on her book, purposely avoiding getting caught in such a conversation herself.
It was an odd situation, to say the least. Valentine didn't think that she'd ever been with such a large group of people all actively being social together.
Ten minutes had passed before the first boy, one with dark auburn hair whom Valentine didn't know the name of tried to speak to her.
"So, Lestrange. I hear you are very smart."
"You hear correctly." She spoke so sharply that the boy was taken aback for a moment.
"Right, well uh, what subject do you enjoy the most?"
Valentine raised her head slowly to stare at the boy. He was at least twice her size but seemed to be rapidly shrinking under her gaze.
She noted that several other boys were watching her as well, now waiting for her to reply. It wasn't lecherous or overly bold like Nayden's had been. It didn't make her skin crawl or send urgent messages to her brain to be rid of them. If anything they seemed honestly interested, if not intensely so. It might have been nice if she enjoyed such attention. She picked up her book and stood.
"Val, where are you going?" asked Draco.
"It's almost time for class." She said and not two seconds after, the bell rang out to signal the end of lunch.
--Pretending To Live--
If Valentine had thought that she'd seen the last of the Drumstang boys, she would have been sorely mistaken. They had been waiting for her at the end of the day once classes were over, eager to continue their 'discussion'. Liam was overjoyed. Valentine, not so much.
She had no ill will against them but she already had enough people following her around like loyal puppies. Although these boys were less like puppies and more like fully grown Siberian Huskies. The only reason she hadn't sent them packing yet was because her friends seemed to like them so much. Liam in particular.
They stayed with them through the afternoon and dinner. Most of the boys had gotten the hint that she wasn't interested in conversation, others weren't so astute. Georgi told more than one boy to lay off before Valentine stood to leave early. The Durmstrang boys all pouted like she'd taken their favourite toy away. It was clear that while they seemed to like Draco, Liam, Leah and Blaze just fine, the main source of their curiosity was based on Valentine herself.
This wasn't going to last, she knew that. She'd give her friends some more time to get to know them, this way they could seek out the boys on their own later without every day turning into a damned parade whenever they tried to walk anywhere. Besides, these boys didn't know her. They asked too many questions, pondered on too many of her actions. She didn't need more eyes on her.
By the time Valentine's friends would have headed to bed, she was already gone, enjoying the blessed silence while it was still there.
Dumbledore was surprised to see her so early in the night.
"Oh, good evening, dear." He closed the book he had opened before him on the desk. "I usually do not see you until past ten o'clock. Severus is still yet to arrive, but I heard you made some new friends today."
"I wouldn't call them friends." Valentine shrugged. "And they won't be around for long. All they wanted to do was thank me for putting Andonov on his backside and they have so I don't know why they're still hanging around like a bad smell."
"I do think, Miss Lestrange, that it is entirely possible that they like you."
"Then they have bad taste in company." Valentine scoffed, walking up to her chair and plopping into it with a sigh like she'd had a long day's work.
"I think you're marvellous company, my dear."
"Yes, but you know I'm not some lunatic of a blood purist unlike everyone else."
"Well, clearly they think more of you than that."
"Which isn't necessarily a good thing given the circumstance."
"I don't think there is much harm in this instance." Dumbledore chuckled. "One such as yourself was bound to drum up some admirers eventually."
"Admirers?" Valentine frowned. "What would I ever want with those?"
"I don't think it's a matter of you wanting them, my dear. It seems to me that they're very impressed with you."
"Well, yes. I am very impressive, after all, but I don't see why that means they have followed my every step. Who do they think I am? Gilderoy Lockhart?"
"Your friends don't seem to mind the extra company."
"Hmm, that's the only reason I haven't sent them packing yet. And Liam is the only reason they sat with us in the first place. I never thought his preoccupation with muscular men would become such an inconvenience for me."
"Surely there are better things to discuss than muscular men?" Snape arched a brow as he slipped in through the doorway.
Tell Liam that.
"You're late." said Valentine, purely because of all the times he had said it to her.
"I am not. You're early."
"Give the man a prize." Valentine drawled sarcastically, sharing a look with Dumbledore.
"Do you wish to hear the progress of the potion or not?" Snape hissed between gritted teeth.
"How is it going?" asked Dumbledore.
"It's coming along just as I hypothesized it would. At this junction, I see no reason why it will not work."
"That's good to hear."
"However..."
"However?" Valentine turned in her chair again.
"Several ingredients within this latest potion are not at all compatible with the two you are already taking. It is vital that both other potions are completely gone from your system."
"It sounds as if you're telling me to stop taking them."
"Give the girl a prize." Snape smiled sardonically. "Taking the cure while the other potions are still present could cause irreversible damage. There is no telling how fragile the incompatible ingredients will be when within the same organism, especially when some of these components have been present for an extended period of time. Any trace could tip the balance and perhaps even kill you. Although, if you choose to ignore this, I certainly won't stop y-"
"I get it, I get it." Valentine groaned. "How soon should I stop taking the other two potions?"
"Immediately. It could take days for the remnants of the potion to completely disappear from your system. The sooner you are rid of them, the better you chances."
"Prefect." Valentine huffed. "I so missed the nosebleeds and headaches and all the sneaking about trying to hide both aforementioned symptoms. My life is just far too much easier without them. Professor, if this cure doesn't work you are going to regret ever being born."
"Quite bold of you to assume I don't already."
"As you should."
"As you should as well."
Dumbledore cleared his throat, drawing their attention.
"I believe you both should, as the youth of today say, lighten up."
--Pretending To Live--
When you had a gaggle of Durmstrangs on your tail, hiding away in the common room like a good little Slytherin wasn't really an option and in the Great Hall, they took up so much space that it was honestly ridiculous. That's why they were all out in the courtyard, taking up space there instead.
Liam squeezed Dimo's bicep and nodded appreciatively.
"Wow. That's seriously impressive." He damn near batted his lashes.
On his hands and knees, Blaze leaned his head in between Valentine and Draco who were both sitting beside each other on the grass.
"When did he become such a hoe? Or like. Was he just a secret hoe this whole time and I never noticed?"
"I think he's just a hoe in this particular situation." said Draco. "You can't blame the guy for having a type."
"Hmm. This feels wrong though. Like, is this technically cheating? How would Phillips feel about this?"
"It's not as if they're officially dating. Liam probably wants to drool over arms some more. How much do you want to bet that Liam only gets serious about Philips after the Durmstrangs and Beauxbatons leave?"
"Woah!" Leah gave a sudden shriek and they turned to see one of the boys, Daniel Borkov, hoist her up and planted her in his shoulders.
With both their heights combined, they nearly put Hagrid himself to shame.
"Oh, my, God!" Leah laughed. "I can see everything from up here!"
"Don't drop her!" One of the other boys, Stefan Michacoff warned with a chuckle.
"Oi! Excuse me!" Blaze marched over. "Would you please put down MY girlfriend?"
"Sorry." Daniel laughed. "She asked."
"Of course, she did." Blaze grumbled under his breath.
"I think his height complex is the only thing about him that's growing." Draco murmured to Valentine.
Daniel went to put down Leah as asked but she hissed like a cat and held on tight.
"Noooooo! I don't want to come down yet!"
The other boys laughed to themselves, speaking in their own languages to one another under their breath. Daniel shot Blaze a helpless expression.
Blaze turned to Valentine, dark eyes wide.
"Val..."
"Yes."
"Val..."
"What, Blaze?"
"...Val?" He squeaked.
"Ugh. Fine." Valentine sighed and lifted her eyes to meet Leah's. "Get the hell off that boy's shoulders right this second or I will torch your ribbon collection."
Leah gasped like she'd been stabbed.
"But that's not fair!"
"You couldn't pay me to care about what's fair, Leah."
"Uh." Daniel seemed lost.
"Down, down! Right now!" Leah tapped the top of his head frantically. "Trust me, she's not kidding!"
Daniel did so, quickly but carefully. He knelt in the glass and leaned back, letting her slide off and settle back on to the ground.
Blaze was on her in an instant, arms wrapped around her. He whispered in her ear.
"You are never allowed to be that much taller than me." He said in complete seriousness.
Draco snorted.
"It's fun being right."
"Hmm. It must be such a rare luxury for you." Valentine hummed.
"Yeah...hey!"
"Hey, Lestrange?" said Stefan.
"What?"
"We heard students talking the other day. They said you could perform the Patronus Charm."
Valentine groaned inwardly.
"And? So, what if I can?"
"Will you show us?" asked Daniel. "They don't even teach it at Durmstrang."
"I am not a show pony." Valentine narrowed her gaze and both boys' smiles dropped immediately.
"Forgive them." said Georgi, shooting the two boys a look. "We just hear so much about you and your skill that it's hard not to ask."
"Oh, Val's a powerhouse, alright." said Liam, his hand still very much on Dimo's bicep.
"But like, a scary powerhouse." Clarified Blaze.
"It runs in the family." said Draco proudly.
"So, does a receding hairline but Val definitely doesn't have that." said Leah.
"Shut up!' Draco slapped a hand over his forehead. "There is nothing wrong with my hairline! Is there, Val?"
"But I thought you always wanted to be like your father."
"What is that supposed to mean!"
Their much larger than usual group laughed and was quickly turning bright red.
One boy elbowed another with a wink and a smile.
"Smart and witty." He chuckled lowly.
"And powerful." added the other boy.
"And beautiful."
"What doesn't she have?"
Valentine frowned. She didn't do all that she did just for these boys to like her so much. She knew that Durmstrang Institute generally taught Purebloods. That was part of the reason why Lucius had wanted to send Draco there and was evident in how the school barred entry to Muggle Borns. Without that influence in their lives, she doubted the boys would find her ideal company at all. She hadn't asked for this when he gave Andonov what was coming to him. She was going to have to handle this sooner rather than later.
She reached for her book pointedly to show that she was removing herself from all conversation when she paused. She could feel a strange tingle in the back of her throat. While it was familiar, it was not one she had felt in a while.
Crap. This could not have happened at a worse time.
She snatched up her book and stood.
"Val?" Draco frowned.
"Bathroom." She said in explanation and stepped over his legs to leave.
She moved quickly, head ducked low. The nearest bathroom was most certainly not near and would take several minutes to get there even if she hurried. She could feel the pressure back past the bridge of her nose and rose her sleeve to her face. She shoved her way through a group of younger students that were being seemingly scolded by Professor Moody without a second thought.
If she couldn't make it to a bathroom then she needed to get somewhere less crowded than a hallway. She rushed up a flight of stairs onto the second floor as she felt the blood start to drip.
You have got to be freaking kidding me.
She passed a classroom with its door opened a crack. A single peak inside and she could see that it was empty. Without another second to ponder, she scurried inside. It was clearly an unused room. There were desks and chairs but no books or signs that it had been used in recent years at all.
She dropped her book to the floor and leaned against one of the desks, disturbing the layer of dust settled upon it. She kept her head bowed low, letting the blood purposely drip onto her robe. With it being black she'd be able to get away with it, unnoticed until she was able to change.
She watched the red droplets hit the fabric, holding together for a moment before starting to soak in. It was almost a surreal experience to see it again after so long. It was easy to forget that you were dying when you could avoid the symptoms like she had.
She heard the echo of laughter out in the hall and looked to the door. In her rush, she hadn't shut it the whole way.
Damn it.
Her hand went for her wand so she could shut it but then a shadow fell out of the doorway.
Crap.
Mad-Eye lumbered inside, shutting the door behind him. He observed her with his magical eye, seemingly unsurprised to find her in her current state. Perhaps he didn't even care.
"You get into a fight, Lestrange?" He asked, limping towards her.
She took a purposeful step back, letting the blood now drip over her upper lip.
"So, what if I did? Mind your own business."
"You can't have won, running away like that."
"I don't recall confirming that I actually got into a fight. Either way, it's none of your concern." Valentine scooped up her book from the floor, tucking it into her robes.
When she stood, she found that Mad-Eye was extending a handkerchief out to her.
"Thanks but no thanks."
"You're too stubborn for your own good girl." He grumbled, dropping his hand to his side. "Come on, I'm taking you to the hospital wing."
"I'm fine." She snapped, feeling the blood start to slow. "Now, leave me be."
"I'm sure your aunt won't be happy to hear of this."
"This isn't any of her business either." Valentine shifted her eyes to the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
Mad-Eye held his ground for a moment before moving aside.
Valentine wiped the blood from her mouth with her sleeve, hurrying past him when he grabbed her arm.
"Get your hands off me!" She snarled and pulled up but his grip tightened into a crushing hold.
"Just be patient, girl." He yanked her closer to him, his tongue slithering out between his lips in a disturbing display. His eyes bored into hers, glassy and intense. "Just be patient and things will change for the better. You'll have a part to play. Everyone will."
She whipped out her wand and jabbed it into his stomach.
Mad-Eye froze but his eyes seemed to get brighter.
"I said, get your hands off me." Valentine hissed between gritted teeth.
He released her and she immediately backed up, staring at him incredulously.
"I get the feeling you'll play your part well." He murmured.
"What the hell are you talking about?" She demanded.
"Nothing." He said gruffly, eyes dimming. "Clean yourself up."
Then he turned from her and limped out of the room without another word.
What the hell was that? He really has gone mad.
--Pretending To Live--
And thus, much to Liam's dismay, that had been the last of the additional Durmstrang entourage. The bloody nose incident had been far too close for comfort and the boys asked far too many questions when she finally returned. They took it well, if not a little apprehensive when Valentine described what she would do to them if they didn't back off.
She'd never imagined what it would be like for her friends to be truly mad at her. She was much too scary for them to be upset or blaming her for anything serious. Even Leah's sulking wasn't true anger and Liam's disgruntled pout as his eye candy- new friends- were sent packing, was probably the closest thing to it that Valentine would ever see to it.
Liam would recover, she was sure. He'd managed just fine in life before he had solid pectorals on hand twenty-four seven and he could do it again. It was just going to take him a few days to realise that once he stopped grieving his loss as if Valentine had actually killed them.
She had told Dumbledore all this and he thought it a riot. Valentine had noticed some time ago that he had a predilection for gossip. Perhaps that was how he seemed to know near everything. But what he had told her weighed much heavier on her mind as she left his office that night.
The third and final task was only two days away. All the madness would be over. Of course, that was assuming Harry would get out alive.
The four Champions would be sent into an enchanted maze one after another, all with the task of finding the Tri-Wizarding cup hidden in a centre. The maze was designed as to halt the Champions progress at every turn, some traps more deadly than others.
Valentine had tried to figure out a way to go in herself, maybe hide, use an enchantment of her own, but Dumbledore insisted that it was too risky despite her arguments. There would be too many eyes and maze, sensing that she wasn't either a teacher or a Champion, was likely to either attack her or simply divert her out of the maze altogether. For this task, just like the others, Harry would have to go it alone.
She'd trudged down the stairs, twisting the ring on her finger. She had a horrible feeling about this. Well. She'd had a horrible feeling about all the tasks but this was different. She didn't care who won, she just wanted Harry and everyone really, to get out of it all unscathed. It was all so pointless to her, risking students' lives like this all for some attention and glory? If she had it her way, they would have called the whole thing off right now. Especially with the likelihood of Voldemort somehow being involved.
Valentine ducked down behind a statue as Madam Hooch and Professor Burbage walked on past. Valentine held her breath, watching them disappear around the next corner.
She saw so much that others did not, but surely there were others realised how stupid this entire situation was? She knew Dumbledore agreed with her. And likely Hermione. But three against an army of over-excited idiots weren't bound to make a ton of difference in public opinion. People were so focused on the competition that they forgot real lives were at stake here.
She looked down at her forearm where the old man had bitten her. It had been completely healed with a simple potion but she could feel the teeth in her flesh like they were still there. She supposed that was the privilege of the ignorant. Some people were able to ignore the reality of death their whole lives.
Your life is more important than winning, Harry. I hope you know that.