TRIGGER WARNING; Contains moderate gore and violence. He deserved it though.
Valentine twisted the serpent ring on her finger as she paced the room.
"There's nothing you can do." Snape sighed, he was probably sick of watching her walking back and forth.
"I know!" She snapped at him and continued to pace. "This is just maddening."
"You are maddening."
"Something I learnt from example. Now, shut your face and let me fret."
It was the day of the third task. The four Champions would be sent into the maze to find the Tri-Wizard Cup. But it was more than that. The maze had been charmed and manipulated to do anything to stop the Champions. Only one could win and all could die.
Dumbledore was checking over every aspect of the task one last time. They couldn't discard the incident regarding Snape's and Karkaroff's Dark Marks. Not when that more than likely meant Voldemort's involvement. It just added another deadly, convoluted layer to the mess they were in.
"You achieve nothing by acting like the ceiling will fall in at any moment." Snape scoffed at her.
"False. It's annoying you greatly and I consider that an achievement."
Snape narrowed his eyes threatening as the office opened Dumbledore stepped inside.
"The third task is set." He said somberly, gaze distant. No
Valentine finally stopped pacing and looked at him.
"Any signs of Voldemort?"
"I've looked." Dumbledore shook his head slowly as he spoke. "Without even knowing what to look for, I looked. If he is somehow involved, I could not find it."
"Something is going to happen tonight. I can feel it." She told him earnestly. "We have to do something."
"There is nothing to be done but a problem we cannot even fully ascertain." Snape jeered at her.
"We can't just sit here!"
I know something is going to happen.
"We have no choice!"
It happens every year.
"Potter could die tonight!"
"When will you get it through your thick skull, Lestrange?" Snape looked as though he pitied her for a moment, a fleeting second. She could see a flicker of something in his black eyes that she couldn't quite make out, but it was there. "We can do nothing. You can do nothing."
"Someone is going to get hurt." She swallowed thickly, somewhat taken aback. "This happens every year."
"The events of tonight, however regrettable, cannot be avoided." Dumbledore spoke up, sounding no happier than either of them. He wandered to his desk, almost seeming lost, sitting down behind it.
Snape scoffed and turned away, but Valentine walked over to the desk.
Dumbledore had been searching for weeks now while she went about her life, always keeping Harry in her peripherals. He'd been bent over the pensive for hours a time looking for any clue or hint. She planted her hands on it and stared directly into the old wizard's eyes.
"I just wish we could stop this." She spoke so lowly that it was barely a whisper.
"I understand that." Dumbledore reached out and touched her hand gently, his gaze apologetic. "And although he may deny it, Professor Snape also understands. I know you've already had to sit back and watch Harry face danger after danger. But for each danger he's faced, he's always come back. He's strong. You know this even better than myself. When you are needed, you will know. But that day hasn't come yet."
"...if we're lucky, I won't be needed at all." She sighed and straightened slowly.
Twisting her ring one last time, she sucked in a breath and glanced over her shoulder at Snape. He immediately recognised her expression and scowled.
"Do not ask me again." He warned her. "The potion will be done when it's done. Rushing will get you nowhere but the grave."
Valentine let her head drop back and groaned loudly.
"Well, here's to hoping my head doesn't explode before it's done."
"Honestly. You are so ungrateful. I feel as though I've done this for nothing."
"Excuse me! This is my life we're talking about!"
"I know."
She snarled at him, her hand wrapping around where the old man had sunk his teeth into her flesh.
"I didn't get bitten for nothing!"
"Oh, please." Snape grumbled. "When will you get over it? You were bitten but it's healed completely so you can stop complaining now."
"Let's hear you say that when a crazy old man takes a chunk out of your arm!"
"Miss Lestrange." Dumbledore cleared his voice. "Soon the other students will be gathering to watch the third task. I suggest you join your friends in the stands before you're missed."
"Right." Valentine nodded and shot Snape one last glare that he gladly returned.
Then she looked back to Dumbledore, a reluctance in her stance and a grim set to her jaw.
"Something will happen tonight." She warned them both. "Watch out."
--Pretending To Live--
Draco, Liam, Leah and Blaze were waiting in the courtyard when she arrived, surrounded by the other students.
"Val!" Blaze shouted across the crowded space to her.
"Val!" Leah joined him.
She pushed her way through the students, many of whom immediately made room for her.
"What took you so long?" Draco asked.
"Dean Thomas ran into me." She lied smoothly with a roll of her eyes.
"Are you okay?" Liam frowned.
"Yes." Valentine shrugged casually. "I am at least."
"Very ominous." Blaze nodded in approval.
"Yes, very ominous." Leah repeated.
"Very funny." Blaze laughed.
"Very funny." Leah did her best to mimic his laughter.
"Okay. We're not doing this."
"Okay. We're not doing this."
"Leah stop."
"Leah stop."
"Oh boy." Liam facepalmed.
"Not this again." Draco groaned.
"Why are you so damn weird?" Blaze whined.
"Why are you so damn weird?" Leah whined back at him.
"I thought she grew out of this." Valentine grumbled and moved to stand with Liam and Draco.
"She used to do this a lot then?" Liam looked like he feared the answer.
"All the time. For hours." Draco replied through gritted teeth.
"Draco was her main victim." Valentine explained.
"Leah, come on. Just cut it out." Blaze grew continually more agitated.
"Leah, come on. Just cut it out."
Blaze let out an ear-piercing, anguished scream and Leah immediately followed suit, screaming in turn.
"Okay, now everyone is staring." Liam glanced around nervously.
"I'm an idiot." said Blaze, like he'd figured it all out.
"You're an idiot." Leah swiftly returned.
"That's not going to work." said Draco, a haunted glaze in his eyes. "Trust me."
"That's not going to work." Leah twisted to him with an evil grin on her face. "Trust me."
"Nope." Draco turned on his heel and started walking away. "Not happening."
"Nope. Not happening." Leah mimicked, hurrying after him.
"Poor soul." Blaze murmured to himself as they heard Draco shouting in the distance. He didn't even bother to mask his relief. "May he always be remembered in our hearts."
"Rest in peace, Draco." Liam clasped a hand over his chest for a moment and then dropped it with an excited smile. "So. Shall we go then? They already have a head start on us."
"Yeah, sure." Blaze nodded. "We can just follow the sound of tortured screaming."
And so, the three of them left the courtyard, heading in the same direction Leah had chased Draco.
"Have you heard what they built down there?" asked Blaze.
"Isn't it like a maze or something?" said Liam. "Jane told me that someone saw Professor Sprout using magic to grow what looked like a maze of hedges."
"You think that the Champions will have to find their way out or something then?" Wondered Blaze.
Close but not quite.
"I guess." Liam shrugged. "I can't really think about anything else they could do in a maze."
If only that's all that could happen.
"Sounds kinda anticlimactic." Blaze said, slightly downtrodden.
I hope so.
--Pretending To Live--
Draco waved to them. He was already in the stands with Leah. She seemed to have tossed aside her mimicking to speak excitedly with Anna and Chloe.
The stands were rumbling with eager students, dressed warmly, carrying flags and banners to support their Champion of choice. Everyone was talking and laughing, almost drowning out the brass band playing proudly.
"I hate walking." said Blaze. "Let's go sit."
"It really wasn't that far, Blaze." said Liam.
"Any is too much."
A group of younger boys came barreling past them, one clipping Valentine's shoulder and almost knocking her off her feet.
Liam grabbed her elbow to keep her standing.
"Watch where you're going!" He shouted after them. "You okay, Val?"
"I'll be just fine once you let go of me."
"Oh, uh." Liam immediately released her. "Sorry."
"Come on." Blaze urged them along. "Let go sit down before we all get trampled to death."
They waited for Valentine to take the first step forwards before following behind.
Anna and Chloe took their leave as they saw the rest of the group arriving, going off to find their own seats.
Sitting between Leah and Draco, their giddiness was damn near infectious. Even Draco appeared to be in a good mood now.
Valentine sat poised and outwardly bored. Inwardly, every nerve in her body was on fire.
Everything about this feels wrong. Something bad will happen. It always does.
"Oi, Liam." Blaze nudged the other boy and nodded across the stands. "Look who's over there. Isn't that your future wife?"
Valentine glanced over to where Blaze had gestured to and saw Jane Philips sitting with her two little followers.
Liam laughed sarcastically and then gave Blaze a stiff elbow in the side.
"Ow! I was only kidding."
"Val." Draco touched her arm, speaking lowly. "What do you think about her?"
"Philips?"
Draco nodded.
"Hmm. Not as annoying as Pansy, not as smart as me by a long shot." Valentine shrugged. "She's rather inconsequential."
Draco frowned.
"Inconsequential?"
"She's beneath us." Valentine elaborated.
"Oh." Draco nodded. "But not too far? Liam said that her family is Pure Blooded."
"Well, he could certainly do worse."
"Hmm, yeah. Unlike Leah and Blaze. I doubt they could have done better."
"Someone say my name?" Leah was suddenly leaning over Valentine's laps curiously.
"Nope." Draco pushed her back with two fingers on her forehead.
"Stop that!" Leah slapped his hand away. "I swear I heard my name!"
"Leah, you hear things all the time. As in things that aren't really there."
Leah opened her mouth to argue but then paused with a slump.
"Actually, you're right."
Valentine rolled her eyes and looked out at the crowd beneath her. The stands were raised in a semi-circle, the other half was a view of never-ending hedges that faded into a mysterious fog. The enchanted maze. It almost reminded Valentine of the gardens at Malfoy Manor that she had spent so many hours in. Four pathways had been carved out of the hedges. Clearly one meant for each champion.
Then from the lower section of the stands, a middle-aged man that Valentine had never seen before came bounding out. He pointed gallantly to Cedric Diggory who wasn't far behind.
That must be his father perhaps?
At the sight of Cedric, the crowd only grew louder. Fleur Delacour appeared next with Madame Maxime standing at her side.
A flurry of blue shimmered in the stands as the Beauxbatons students cheered for their contender.
Then Viktor Krum followed by Karkaroff appeared. Krum put his fists in the air triumphantly, his school mates also showing their pride rather loudly. Valentine could recognise Georgi, Dimo and all the other boys that had apologized to her for Andonov's actions, all with beaming smirks on their faces. The crowd around her was practically vibrating.
Then Harry and Dumbledore made their way out before the stands. Valentine felt her stomach churn.
Dumbledore left him to stand behind a podium at the middle of the fanfare, ready to address them all.
"Silence!" He called out into the crowd, wand pointed to the hollow of his throat, amplifying his voice so that all could hear him. "Earlier today Professor Moody placed the tri-wizard cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position. Now as Mr Diggory-"
At the simple mention of his name, half the stands erupted, all on their feet in a show of support. The man with Cedric joined their hands and raised them triumphantly, as though they had already won. Valentine could have laughed at the embarrassment on Cedric's face if she weren't so nervous.
"And Mr Potter," Dumbledore continued speaking even when another large section of students stood and screamed for Harry. "tied for first position they will be the first to enter the maze. Followed by Mr Krum and Miss Delacour. The first person to touch the cup will be the winner. I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter. If, at any point, should a contestant wish to withdraw from the task he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands. Now, contestants gather round. Quickly!"
By now the stands had fallen into a sudden lull, almost eerily quiet. The four Champions stood with Dumbledore while he spoke to them in a low tone that no one in the stands could discern. Everyone was on the edge of their seats.
"Champions!" Dumbledore broke away from the four students. "Prepare yourselves."
Each Champion moved to stand aligned with their respective entry into the maze.
"On the count of three." Dumbledore announced. "One-"
The cannon went off suddenly, cutting Dumbledore off. The lull from before disappeared as the band picked up again and the students cheered.
Harry and Cedric were to start at the same time, but Valentine's eyes were only on the former. Mad-eye clapped him on the shoulder encouragingly and Harry took the first tentative steps inside. The entrance closed up behind him, hedges shifting so that it appeared as if there had never been an opening at all.
Valentine sucked in a shallow breath.
Be careful, Harry.
"Now what?" asked Leah, shouting over the roar of the crowd and the band.
"Now we wait." said Liam.
"Not again." Blaze groaned loudly.
"And this time there's no time limit." Liam added. "By the sound of it, the task will end whenever someone reaches the cup. However long that'll take."
"Oh, kill me now!" Leah exclaimed dramatically.
"You probably shouldn't say that too loudly when surrounded by people you annoy on a daily basis." said Liam.
Leah's eyes widened and she quickly slapped her hands over her mouth.
"That's a good look for you, Leah." Draco snickered, leaning over Valentine to speak to her.
Leah yelled something at him from under her hands. This only served to make him laugh.
"Blaze!" Leah let her hands fall.
"What is it now, Leah?"
"Draco's picking on me!"
"And?"
"Make him stop!"
Blaze rolled his eyes and reached over Liam to hold out his hand to her.
"Just move away from him, you moron."
"Oh. Right. That might work."
Leah stood and paused for a moment, realising that there were three people between them and not a whole lot of space. Then she just shrugged and proceeded to force her way past Valentine, Draco and then Liam.
"First you have to get over there without dying." Draco was clearly finding this all hilarious.
"Shut up." Leah flicked him in the chin as she stumbled past.
Once she and Blaze linked hands, he all but pulled her over Liam's lap into his.
"Oh, gross. They're doing it again." Draco made a face.
"Doing what?" said Liam, leaning back to let Leah wriggle over his knees.
"Being publicly affectionate."
Valentine wanted to laugh at the mere sight of Leah on Blaze's lap, mostly because Leah had almost three inches on him.
"This is...kinda awkward." Blaze admitted.
"You could always sit in my lap?" Leah suggested.
"Ha, ha. Not happening."
"Oh, come on! It's not like you're heavy or something."
"Yeah, Blaze, come on!" Liam chimed in with a laugh.
"Keep out of this, Highcourt." Blaze warned with a glare.
Valentine rolled her eyes and as she did, she saw the red spark shoot right up into the sky. The crowd gasped.
"Look!" Leah pointed.
"Who was it?" asked Draco.
"Who knows." Valentine shrugged.
"Please be, Potter." Draco crossed his fingers hopefully. "Please, please be, Potter."
Fifteen minutes passed and the crowd was growing restless and unsure. The news that it had been Fleur Delacour who had been the source of the sparks spread like wildfire across the stand. The girls from Beauxbatons sat together in a tight-knit group, whispering to one another.
God knows what happened to her in there. She'll be lucky to get out uninjured.
Another ten minutes dragged by before the news that another student had been pulled out of the maze was being whispered across the stands. Despite this, no one had seen any signs of red sparks like before. Something about that put Valentine even more on edge than before.
She glanced over at her friends. Draco and Liam were muttering to one another in a way that probably seemed very disconcerting from an outsider's vantage point, but Valentine, knowing them both well, was fairly certain they were either discussing hair products or pocket squares. On the other side of Liam, Leah had fallen asleep on Blaze who seemed content to just watch her.
It was a little weird Valentine thought, to watch someone while they slept but she supposed it would have been much weirder if Leah was alone in bed and Blaze had snuck in just to watch her. Yes. That most definitely would have been a lot weirder.
She studied Blaze's face herself for a moment. He looked so...at peace. He was still but calm, silent but content. It was odd to see Blaze so collected and not screaming or arguing with Leah. He gazed down at the girl slump against his chest like he wouldn't ever want her anyone else.
How the hell can he look at Leah like that now but look like he's in extreme pain whenever she's awake? I mean, sure Leah's irritating but does love really work like that? It doesn't make any sense.
Valentine sighed and looked back over at the maze. She had too much going on right now to worry about irrelevant things like romance. This really was quite boring though.
Just as Valentine was cursing herself for not bringing a book, she felt a familiar warmth in her left nostril.
No.
She quickly held a hand over her nose as she dug through her pocket for the handkerchief she'd made certain to bring. She placed the black cloth over her nose and held it there. She felt the blood dripping and soaking through the material. It felt like more than usual.
This is bloody unbelievable.
Valentine nudged her cousin at her side.
"Draco." She said, her voice muffled by the handkerchief.
"Hmm? Yes?" Draco turned to look at her, his eyes widening in panic. "Are you okay?"
"Could you not freak out over nothing for once in your life? I'm fine." Valentine wiped at her nose and pulled the cloth away from her face so she could speak clearly. "I need to go clean up. I'll be back."
"Wait. I'll go with you." He said.
"No." She turned a cold glare on him, the blood dribbling over her upper lip as she stood. "Just stay here."
"Val? Are you okay?" Liam noticed her, brows creased.
She quickly covered her nose again.
"I said I'm fine- ah!" As she tried to speak she felt a stab of pain at her temple. She clutched at the side of her head with her free hand.
"Val!" Draco stood, grabbing her shoulders. His face was paler than natural. "You are not fine."
"What's wrong?" Blaze noticed as well.
"Stop it." She shook off Draco's hands and threw a glance over at the still sleeping Leah. "You'll wake her up."
"Let us help." Liam insisted. "I'll get Madam Pomfrey."
"I said no." Valentine slid her viperous gaze over to him. She watched every muscle in his neck and shoulders restrict. "I'm a big girl, Highcourt. I can look after myself."
As she said this, a droplet of blood escaped her and made a stark track down beside her mouth.
Draco sent a pleading look over to Liam, but he just nodded stiffly and let Valentine pass.
As she stepped past Blaze and Leah she felt another strike of searing pain blossom from her temple. She stumbled out into the aisle as she choked down a pained cry.
"Val..." Blaze stared at her helplessly from under Leah.
Valentine shook her head firmly, gritting her teeth through the pain that cause. There was no way she was letting Leah see her like this again.
"Just keep that idiot asleep." She said and quickly headed up the stairs to the top of the stands before her friends could try and intervene further.
Valentine careened down the back stairs that led out on to the green opening where the stands were placed.
"This is just bloody perfect." She grumbled to herself.
She spotted a tree a ways off and made for it, head-spinning lightly. Once there, she rested against it, keeping herself standing. She removed the handkerchief and leaned forward to let the rest of the blood drain. There was definitely more of it than usual.
"Disgusting." She muttered, watching a droplet splatter on the toe of her boot.
Another sudden stab of pain hit her. It felt like fire burning inside her skull, quickly spreading down her neck and gripping her throat. She clapped a hand over her mouth to smother the scream that threatened to rip from her mouth. The pain disappeared as quickly as it arrived, leaving behind the periodic twinge in her temple.
I don't think the pain has never been this bad before. Hmm. It must be because I'm nearly done for.
The agony struck her again and she whimpered, biting down on her hand as she let herself crumble to her knees. The pain was disorientating, making the world flicker and tilt around her. Then it was gone again like it had never been there at all.
She dislodged her hand from her mouth, noting the marks left behind. She wiped at her nose again, the blood seemed to be slowing, or at least she hoped it was.
She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, leaning back against the tree trunk. She hopes the pain wouldn't be back and that she wouldn't need to put up with this for too long before the potion was complete.
If I could make Snape feel even a fraction of this pain, I'd be happy.
"Ouch. That doesn't look like much fun."
Valentine felt every part of her being tense. She didn't have to open her eyes to recognise the voice but she did regardless.
"Back for more, Andonov?" She raised her head slowly, eyes bright with a murderous glare.
Nayden grinned, showing white teeth.
I knew this night would end badly.
"You don't look like you couldn't put up much of a fight." He took an almost curious step closer. "Which is just perfect for me, of course."
I seriously must be cursed or something.
"One more step and I'll kill you where you stand." Valentine hissed at him like a feral cat, showing her own as though they were fangs.
Then pain slammed into her again, fires stoked once more. She bit down on her lip, forcing herself to stay silent. She refused to allow him to hear her cries of pain.
"Now, you see, I doubt that." He didn't come closer, but he squatted down to her height, several feet away. "What's wrong with you anyway?"
His tone was vaguely interested as if he didn't really care to know.
"None of your business, scum." Valentine spat a mouthful of blood at him, her pain eclipsed by her anger.
Nayden grimaced and wiped the spray on his face away with his uniform cloak sleeve.
She wanted to get up and run, put some distance between her and the creep, but she knew if she stood her legs wouldn't carry her more than a few metres.
"I say we start where we left off last time." He smiled.
"You mean with me walking away and you on the ground crying? I think I can manage that."
"You're a tough little thing aren't you?" He reached out a hand towards her. "And far too pretty to be covered in blood."
"Back off!" Valentine snarled at him, she lunged forward as if to claw at his face.
"No!" He barked back, leaping to his feet and jabbing a finger down at her. "No! I'm going to make you pay for what you did! I got a letter from my parents today, you see. They've damn near disowned me! I've been unfairly punished, humiliated and now my parents don't know what to do with me!"
This time it was Valentine who smiled. She slid her hand down her side to her pocket. She felt the outline of her wand.
"Then perhaps you should have pondered the consequences before you put your hands on me or any other girl."
"I don't deserve this!" His face was contorted with pure rage. "You should have just done what you were told! I'm a man and you're a woman, that's how this is supposed to work! If you'd just given me what I asked for then none of this would have happened!"
He fell silent, chest heaving as he glared down at her.
All the while she stared at him indifferently.
"You finished with your little temper tantrum?"
"YOU RUINED MY LIFE, YOU BITCH!" He gave a furious scream and lurched down at her, hands outstretched.
But Valentine was quicker. She already had her wand in her hand and a spell on her lips.
"Confringo!"
An explosion burst from her wand and sent Nayden flying back through the air, screaming. He landed hard on his back almost ten metres away.
She could hear him wheeze, desperately trying to breathe as the wind was knocked out of him.
Valentine braced one hand against the tree and forced herself to stand despite the tremors in her legs. She kept her wand trained on Nayden's battered form lying in the grass. In no hurry, she wandered over.
His shirt was nothing but singed threads. She could see the flesh of his chest had been blown apart in a bloody mess. There were several slithers of white bone visible. His ribs. From what she could tell, past all the blood and tissue damage, all his organs were intact.
Nayden finally managed to suck in a shaky breath. The one he let back out was laced with a pained wail.
"Quite!" She snapped at him, pointing her wand directly into his face. "If I have to strike again I won't leave you breathing."
Valentine thought about Astoria Greengrass. This boy hadn't just hurt her or even just Astoria and her. And now he came to blame her for the consequences of his own actions. She couldn't fathom what kind of logic made him believe that this was anyone's fault but his own.
He pressed his trembling lips together, his face splattered with his own blood.
"Please...please, don't let me die." He started sobbing. "Please...it hurts so much...I don't want...to die..."
"This is what you asked for, Nayden Andonov. You wanted to pick up where we left off, remember?" She said. "Now, this is the part where I walk away."
Valentine turned away from him, truly ready to leave him there alone in the darkness to die if that was his fate.
"Val!"
She blinked at the sound of her cousin's voice. Draco and Liam stood with Snape at the base of the stairs, all staring in disbelief.
"I knew I had a bad feeling about tonight." She grumbled, raking a bloody hand back through her hair.
Snape was the first one to start moving towards her, her friends still too stunned to move.
She barely had time to blink again before he had grabbed her chin roughly in one hand and was tilting her head back, searching for a wound.
"When will you cease getting into such messes?" He growled lowly, brow furrowed.
"It's just a nosebleed." Valentine yanked her head out of his hands. She realised that if she had blood on her hands, then her face was definitely a mess.
"Val, what happened?" Draco panted out, the distress clear in his eyes. "There's so much blood, are you hurt?"
"Nayden Andonov." Snape stepped away from Valentine to observe the sobbing boy.
"Help me..." He choked out, reaching out a weak hand. "...please..."
Snape frowned down at him unsympathetically and made no move to do so, folding his arms over his chest.
"This bastard again?" Liam hissed, voice laced with venom.
"The wounds are not deep." Snape assessed dryly. "He'll live."
"And what a tragedy that is." Valentine scoffed.
"Val, what happened?" Draco asked again.
"Calm down." Valentine snapped at him. "Look at me, I'm fine."
"I am looking at you. You're covered in blood!"
"Yes, well." Valentine looked down at Nayden. "He's definitely got me beat in that department."
"Val, this is serious!" Liam shouted at her in utter frustration.
Not now, Liam.
She turned her head towards her two friends. Both boys fell completely silent, each inching back half a step.
Valentine's eyes glowed maliciously.
"Raise your voice at me again and you'll find out what that feels like." Valentine pointed with her wand at Nayden, still crying on the ground.
"Give me that." Snape ripped the wand from her grasp, effectively redacting from her villainous aura. She glared up at him but he ignored it. "Highcourt, Malfoy. Go get Madam Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore immediately."
"But sir-" Draco tried to argue back.
"Get lost!" Valentine spat viciously at them both.
Draco and Liam shared a dejected glance and then hurried off back towards the stands.
I'm sorry.
"Someone help me, please..." Nayden cried out into the night.
He was left ignored.
"I suppose I'll somehow be blamed for this." Valentine grunt. "Even though he came after me! He wanted revenge for me humiliating him and for my uncle ruining his family name or whatever."
"As per his probation, he should be immediately expelled from Durmstrang. He'll never graduate."
"Good."
"Unless Karkaroff refuses to do so."
"Karkaroff can go to hell!" Valentine snarled. "I am sick of the blood and pain and being bitten and most of all, being attacked by this sick bastard!"
Snape just watched her. Gaze unreadable.
"You're useless." She rolled her eyes and took in a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
Then her legs gave out.
"Damn it." She cursed, legs bent beneath her on the ground. Snape took a step towards her but she held up one hand. "I'm fine. I don't need your help."
Snape cast another cold glance at Nayden.
"Apparently so."
--Pretending To Live--
Valentine wiped away the last of the blood from her face as Madam Pomfrey looked her over for any injuries. No one seemed to believe her when she said she hadn't been hurt, there was a lot of blood after all. But everyone believed her when she said that Nayden Andonov had attacked again.
"Your uncle and aunt will be contacted immediately, Miss Lestrange." Dumbledore told her.
Valentine just shrugged. There wasn't a whole lot they could do to Andonov that she had just done herself.
All I want is for Potter to finish this task alive so I can go to bed.
"And High Master Karkaroff agrees that Mr Andonov will be expelled and sent back home without delay." Dumbledore added. "If you wish to press legal charges, you'll need to speak with your guardians. You have the full support of everyone here."
"Hmm."
"I don't see any injuries." said Madam Pomfrey with a frown.
"No, really?" Valentine drawled sarcastically. "As I told you, I had a nose bleed."
"And I heard you. But that is an awful lot of blood for one nose bleed."
"What can I say? I exceed expectations in all areas of my life."
She stood at the bottom of the stands by the teacher's seats. She could overhear snippets from the crowd. Viktor Krum had been the one pulled from the maze. Harry and Cedric were still unaccounted for.
"Maybe your aunt and uncle should lock you up." Snape just had to add. It seemed it was his turn to pace as he moved about, unable to keep still. "It might actually keep you out of trouble."
"Yes, thank you for that assessment professor." She muttered, not paying full attention to him.
Suddenly Harry appeared before them all. With the Tri-Wizard Cup and Cedric. The stands erupted into cheers, the music starting up again. It seemed the winner had been revealed, but those standing close enough could see what had really happened.
Valentine's blood ran cold. Cedric wasn't moving.
"I knew it." She murmured, unheard over the crowd and band.
Fleur, standing near with her schoolmates screamed at the sight before her.
"Harry! Harry!" Dumbledore rushed over to his side. He tried to wrap his arms around Harry and pull him from Cedric but the boy held desperately tight.
He's so still...I've seen stillness like that before.
"He's dead," Said Valentine.
Snape gaped at her for a moment and then rushed over to the scene himself.
"For God's sake, Dumbledore! What's happened!" Fudge cried out, panicking upon realising what had happened.
The band stopped playing, the crowd stopped cheering and fell into silence. Dread and the sounds of Harry's crying filled the cold night air as many stared upon the first dead body they had ever seen.
"Tell me what happened." said Dumbledore to Harry.
"He's back, he's back!" Harry wept as he spoke. "Voldemort's back. Cedric. He asked me to bring his body back. I couldn't leave him, not there."
Voldemort. He said Voldemort.
"The body must be moved Dumbledore, there are too many people." Fudge hissed over the Headmaster's shoulder.
"It's a bit too late for that." Valentine didn't bother to speak softly. In the quiet, everyone heard her.
"Let me through!" The man Valentine had presumed to be Cedric's father shoved his way into the scene. "That's my son! My boy!"
The man knelt down over Cedric's still body, shoulders shaking. Everyone watched in horror and confusion as he broke down, wailing over the body of his dead son.
"MY SON! No! My son! My boy!"
While everyone stared, Valentine's gaze, more on instinct than anything else, shifted to Harry. She found Mad-eye dragging a pale and trembling Harry away and off towards the castle.
"Everybody! Everybody!" McGonagall moved into action. "Everyone please exit the area! Please follow your house leaders back to the castle!"
The students' began shuffling about in the stands but many still had yet to move. The sight they had seen would never be forgotten.
"Please follow your house leaders back to the castle!" McGonagall called out again as the other teachers again to usher people out.
Valentine glanced around and slowly stepped into the background. She climbed back up into the stands, head low. As the students steadily drained away, she crouched down behind the first row. Unless anyone looked in that direct area, in all this commotion, she would stay hidden.
Voldemort's back. He's killed Cedric. An innocent boy. And Harry's off with Mad-eye...something's missing here. What is it? What is it!
She stayed hidden for several minutes before near all of the spectators had left. When she popped back up, they were in the process of moving Cedric's body.
Her mind churned and spun as she processed what had happened and even more so, what it meant.
Every time something like this has happened to Harry, it's come from an outside source, some outside of the school. But there are so many people here from outside Hogwarts...but...but not all of them have the motive. Voldemort's back and clearly involved but with everything that happened this year, it means he has some on the inside. The first that comes to mind naturally is Karkaroff, an ex Death Eater, but what Snape said stands, Karkaroff gains nothing from Voldemort's return but a nervous disposition.
Think. I need to think! There has to be something that can point me into the direction of whoever has been helping Voldemort. If we start from the beginning, Harry's name mysteriously ended in the Goblet of Fire. Then that dream. He told Dumbledore that he'd had a dream involving Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew and Barty Crouch Jr.
Crouch. That's the next thing. Crouch Sr was killed after the second task. And if we consider the motive, then Peter Pettigrew has none to murder Crouch. That just leaves his son.
A son he personally sentenced to life in Azkaban.
Valentine stepped down from the stands. She weaved through the people left over, teachers and Ministry workers, largely unnoticed in a situation so dreadful. She spotted Snape in the crowd and hurried towards him.
"Professor." She spoke softly but urgently.
Snape barely glanced down at her.
"Go. Back to the castle with the others."
"No." She kept her voice low. "Professor, it was Barty Crouch Jr."
"What?" This time he did look at her.
"Barty Crouch Jr is behind everything that has happened this year. I am certain of it."
Snape glanced around at those around them and then grabbed her arm. He pulled her over to one of the maze entries, eyes narrowed.
"He couldn't have." Snape hissed. "Barty Crouch Jr died in Azkaban over a decade ago."
"Yes. In an 'inescapable' prison, that just last year was broken out of." said Valentine. "He could have escaped years ago and faked his own death. He could have killed another prisoner and somehow made everyone think it was him. Maybe he even managed to get past the dementors- don't know how he did it but I know that I'm right. There were only two people other than Voldemort in Harry's dream and only one of them would want Crouch Sr dead."
An expression of realisation came over Snape, eyes widening.
"The Dark Lord would never leave such an important task to Pettigrew alone; he's far too fickle...I will find Dumbledore. Get back to the castle. If Crouch is here, we will find him."
Snape was already walking away when Valentine reached out to stop him.
"Lestrange-"
"I'm not arguing with you." She shook her head. "There's more. You said that ingredients from your storage have gone missing, right? Ingredients needed to make a Polyjuice Potion. He's not going to be Barty Crouch Jr. He's going to be someone else. Someone...who got to Hogwarts before this started. Someone who no one would suspect. Someone whom Dumbledore would trust."
--Pretending To Live--
Even if she had wanted to, Valentine didn't think she would have the energy to pace right now. It was three, maybe four in the morning, she couldn't be certain. It had been a long night. She sat slumped in her chair by the Headmaster's desk, head tilted back to stare unfocused at the high ceiling. It had been a really, really long night.
She'd been right. Something bad had happened. Barty Crouch Jr hadn't been dead. Someone new to Hogwarts had been behind everything and behind him, had been Voldemort himself pulling the strings.
She wanted a nap. Her head ached. Her eyes were dry and tired. Harry was alive, yes, but Cedric was dead and Voldemort had returned. She didn't exactly feel like this had been a win.
Dumbledore and Snape were off elsewhere dealing with things in a more official capacity. She may have pieced things together at the last moment but that was their little secret, after all. Or rather, their very big secret.
It had been Mad-eye that had stolen from Snape's stores, killed Crouch Sr and put Harry's name in the Goblet. Or, to be more precise, a man with Mad-eye's face. A pretender. The reality was that it had always been Crouch Jr. He must have escaped from Azkaban years ago before his reported death.
She cursed herself for not knowing it sooner but did recognise that Dumbledore himself had been fooled by Crouch's act. She knew better than most that people can be convinced of almost anything provided they believe what you want them to.
Mad-eye, the man himself, had been found alive, locked into the bottom of a bewitched chest. He was mostly unharmed discounting what he'd been through. It made Valentine wonder, if the real Alastor Moody was, in fact, mad, would this make him madder still? She didn't know how she would survive at least a year locked in a box, knowing that no one knew what had happened.
The fact that they'd been taught by a Death Eater all year irked her. They really did have no luck with Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors.
Then suddenly, words spoken to her not long ago echoed in her mind.
Just be patient and things will change for the better. You'll have a part to play. Everyone will...I get the feeling you'll play your part well...
God. She hadn't even given it a second thought. Mad-eye was as his namesake was, mad. But now she knew that he was not Mad-eye at all and actually a Death Eater who had tried to send her a message. He believed them to be on the same side and so he told them to wait and that things would go their way. She'd been giving the most glaringly obvious clue right to her face and she had missed it.
Her hands clenched into white-knuckled fists.
I'm so freaking smart and it just went over my head. I'm supposed to be some kind of genius and I didn't even bother to take his words into consideration, I just wrote them off as the words of a mad man despite knowing that I expect people to do the same to me! That's how I manage to get away from anything! How the hell did I not see it? It was right in front of me the whole damn time. What kind of genius am I?