Valentine peeked around the heavy black curtain lining the wing of the stage. There were easily several thousand people filling the square, all there for the same reason. They were rather rowdy, smiling and laughing, awaiting the entertainment eagerly.
She noted that they all dressed similarly to the band in one way or another. Brightly coloured hair, piercings and tattoos, clothing often black, ripped and studded.
" 'Cuse me." A voice said gruffly behind her and Valentine quickly stepped out of the way to let a man wearing a t-shirt reading 'Tech Crew', get on to the stage.
She glanced at the busy scene of people rushing about in the wing. She decided it was best she stood clear out of the way. It was times like this she realised how often she was in her element. As difficult as her day-to-day life at Hogwarts was at times, she managed it well. It wasn't always easy but it would have been a lie to say that she didn't excel in the situation she'd agreed to be a part of. Here in the wings, waiting for a band- that were apparently much more popular than she had realised- was not her element.
She'd come here with the band, but as soon as they arrived they had all been whisked away to get ready. As they were hurried along into the tall building that the stage backed up on, Axel had quickly pressed a plastic card hanging from a lanyard into her hand. He told her to look for a tall man in a suit named Adrian.
At first Valentine had tried asking around, but everyone she'd come across didn't know where to point her or were preoccupied. Since this was a completely new experience for her, she opted for just staying out of everyone's way.
She looked down at the plastic card in one hand. It read 'All Stage Access- VIP PASS'.
Well, at least I'm not going to get kicked out.
The show itself wasn't set to begin until dark and she could see the sun slowly disappearing behind the buildings in the distance. She knew she wouldn't be waiting too much longer. She also knew that this was 'Ashes 2 Ashes' last live performance in London, as Del had told her on the way over.
In two days they would be going on a European tour and if that went all well, they would be extending it to Asia. She didn't like to think too hard on them leaving. After all, it's what they wanted, it was their job, their life and apparently a tour was a very big deal.
Valentine didn't jump when a hand suddenly touched her shoulder, but she hid her surprise well.
She turned to the man standing behind her. He was fairly young, no older than thirty-five at the most. He had bright white hair- clearly not natural- and a face sprinkled with freckles from ear to ear. He was lanky and also quite tall, not as much so as Axel, but still easily taller than everyone else in the band. He wore a closely tailored grey suit, far more formal than anyone else in the wing.
She realised immediately that this had to be Adrian.
"Axel told me to find you." She said.
"Yes, I know. I've been looking for you everywhere. You're Val, right?" He gestured to the card in her hand, speaking with a thick Irish accent. "Axel told me you'd be looking for me but it's a total maze back here if you're not used to it."
"So, I've noticed."
"I'm Adrian O'Connor, 'Ashes 2 Ashes' overworked and underappreciated manager." He stuck a freckled hand out towards her, the one not clutching a clipboard. "At the band's insistence, I am at your service."
Valentine hesitated for a moment before taking his hand and shaking it.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Adrian glanced down at his bulky wrist watch. "They should be finishing up with hair and makeup in about two minutes. Well, five minutes for Parker. He does like to preen like a peacock, that one."
"He thinks quite highly of his own face." Valentine agreed with a smile.
"Very true." Adrian laughed heartily, although it seemed tinged with exasperation. "We should be on in about sixteen minutes. Follow me, now, let's go greet them on their way up."
Valentine let him lead her through the bustle of workers and off the side of the stage. He took her over to a door that opened into the building behind the stage. He pulled it open and stepped aside to let her enter first. She nodded her thanks and did so.
Now, they stood in a brightly lit hallway, up the far end there was an elevator.
"So, are you excited?" Adrian arched a brow in question.
"Sure." Valentine shrugged.
She wasn't even sure what to be excited for. She had very little idea as to what was actually going to happen during the concert. The closest thing she could relate this to was the Weird Sisters' performance at the Yule Ball, which she honestly had not paid all that much attention to given everything else that happened that night.
"Not nervous are you?"
"Why would I be?"
"Well, there's a lot of people out there and-"
Before Adrian could finish his sentence a loud 'ding' interrupted her.
Both Valentine and Adrian looked to the source of the sound as two doors slid open, revealing the band in all their glory. They stepped out into the hall and the doors slid shut, looking quite the part of an alternative music group.
Del and Zoe were done up with dramatic makeup, bright eyes and dark lips. Del wore tight black ripped jeans and a purple lace tank top, cut dangerously low at the neckline and displaying the lion creeping up the side of her neck. Her bright pink hair was pulled into two short braids on either side of her head and she stood several inches taller in her heels. Her copious amounts of jewellery jingled when she moved but she seemed to delight in it.
Zoe's dress was slinky and floor-length with a long slit running up one side of the dark red material, exposing her bare leg. Her combat boots were heavy in appearance but she moved as if she was stepping on air. Her usual red bandana was gone and instead, her blonde hair flowed freely down past her elbows. Long ornate earrings hung on either side of her face, gems glinting in the light.
Axel's long black coat was gone, although his cowboy hat remained and his dirty blonde hair was still pulled back in a low ponytail. A tan leather jacket hugged his broad shoulders, framing the ripped t-shirt beneath it, showing the hidden lines of a tattoo Valentine didn't know he had. His jeans were tight, his belt was studded and his boots went almost up to his knees.
Bobby was still dressed in his usual all-black, however now he wore a black vest and tie that hung loosely around his neck, over his equally black t-shirt, dragon tattoo on his forearm for all to see. He had suspenders hanging from his hips, clearly only there for aesthetic reasons, black jeans and combat boots almost as clunky in appearance as Zoe's. His hair was surprisingly even more spiked then usual and the black lines around his eyes made it hard to look elsewhere.
Valentine smiled when she saw them but frowned when she realised someone was missing.
Where's Parker?
"Where's Parker?" asked Adrian.
"Val!" Del squealed and dived for her, entrapping her in a hug.
"He was still arguing with the hairstylist when we left." Axel told Adrian.
"He's such high maintenance." Adrian sighed in frustration. "You guys are on in a few minutes. Head over to the stage and I'll go get him. If he puts us behind schedule I swear..."
Adrian started down the hall as the elevator 'dinged' again and the doors slid open.
Parker stepped out, breathless and it became clear to Valentine why he had taken so long.
Parker wore a short-cropped shirt, displaying his stomach and lower ribs, a dark grey scarf layered over that. Valentine didn't think she'd seen such short pants on a boy before but there he was, black vinyl shorts cut off just an inch before being at risk of exposing himself. A black and grey flannel was tied low around his hips although it did nothing to cover him. His boots were taller than Axel's and definitely pushed him closer to the other man's height, with a solid platform base, at least five inches thick. His already bright blue eyes were accentuated by smokey black makeup and a fedora sat on his head, covering most of his blue hair. As for the fish netting, well, it was everywhere, the entire length of his legs, his torso and going his arms and hooking around his thumbs.
And I thought they looked interesting when we first met...
"Damn that woman." Parker growled. "You should have seen what she wanted to do to my hair! She could have ruined me, Adrian!"
He grabbed at his hat protectively.
"Uh-huh." The other man just shook his head and started pushing him down the hall towards the others. "Now, hurry up. You guys have a show to do."
Del stuck two fingers in her mouth and wolf-whistled at the sight of Parker.
"Hey, sweet thing." She waggled her brows at Parker, marching up to him and slinging an arm around his shoulders. "You come here often?"
"I hope you know that no one is helping you out of all that later." said Axel.
"Yeah, don't look at me." Bobby shook his head.
"Don't be such a mood killer, I'm hot as fuck." Parker cocked a hip and then seemed to remember Valentine standing there. "Uh..."
"If you hadn't just spent forever getting all that stuff on your face, I'd slap it." Axel glowered at him.
"Saved by my own beauty." Parker sighed in relief, then turned to Valentine and grinned. "So. What do you think?"
"I think if it was winter you'd freeze to death."
"Is that really all you have to say?" Parker frowned.
"Don't you guys have a show tonight?" Valentine reminded him.
"Yes!" Adrian exclaimed. "Thank you! They do!"
He then ushered them out of the building.
When they neared the stage the waiting crowd caught a small glimpse of them and immediately grew louder.
Valentine saw a camera flash somewhere in the corner of her vision and she shifted her hair over her shoulder, covering her face from the screaming fans. She moved casually to the other side of Axel, hidden by his size.
They climbed up into the wing where Valentine had first met Adrian and watched them get fitted with mics and small devices being put in their ears.
"Hey, Val." Bobby jerks his head at her and she moves to stand beside him.
"What is it?"
"You haven't got stage fright by any chance do you?"
"No." Valentine frowned. "Why do you ask?"
"Bobby, shut up!" Del whined, jumping about and making life difficult for the tech crew member trying to run a wire down the back of her shirt. "I wanted to tell her!"
"I haven't told her anything yet!"
"Guys, come on." Zoe scolded. "You actually have to ask her first."
"Ask me what?" Valentine sighed, irritated at being left out.
"We want you to perform a song with us." said Parker.
What?
"Hey!" Delaney pouted at him but was ignored.
"Why would you want me to do that?" Valentine blinked in honest surprise.
"We've seen you with a violin in your hands." Axel smiled warmly. "Why wouldn't we want you out there? Hey, Adrian? You got that sheet music I gave to you the other day?"
"Of course." The man in question replied, ruffling through some papers on his clipboard and eventually freeing a piece and handing it to Valentine. "Here. You won't be on until after the intermission."
"I never even agreed to this." Valentine stared down at the sheet music. "Why am I only hearing about this now?"
"We kinda wanted it to be a surprise." Bobby shrugged. "Now, I see we probably should have just asked you sooner."
"Wait, you mean you guys didn't ask her beforehand?" Adrian groaned. "You told me that you had it all worked out! It's in the schedule and everything!"
"We do have it worked out!" Insisted Parker, who turned to Valentine. "You'll do it, right?"
"Please?" Del stuck out her bottom lip. "Pretty please with a gay on top?"
"Come on, Val." Bobby bumped his shoulder against her own. "It'll be fun."
"We can't force her." Zoe spoke up, the voice of reason.
"I'm not forcing her!" Bobby shot back. "Seriously. It's a hell of a time out there."
"I don't mean to be a bother, but the SCHEDULE." Adrian tapped his clipboard meaningfully.
"It's just one song." Del pouted.
"What have you got to lose?" Parker grinned at her.
"Guys, Zoe's right." Axel interjected, another voice of maturity amongst the chaos. "She doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to do."
Valentine stared down at the papers in her hands again.
This is crazy. This is insane. If by chance someone recognises me, I'd be absolutely done for, full stop. A student from Hogwarts could very well be in the audience!
She glanced up at Del, with the wide begging stare, at Bobby's and Zoe's encouraging smiles.
Well...when has my life been anything but crazy and insane? With everything I've done and everything, I've been through. I was chased by a werewolf, attacked by a pervert, had a chunk ripped out of my arm by a mad man. This is nothing compared to those times. If I can't even walk on stage and play a damn song, how can I expect to do the dangerous and horrifying things I know are waiting for me when summer ends? But...it still stands that I cannot be recognised.
"I'll do it." Valentine said resolutely. Del immediately gave a cheer of triumph. "But!"
Del's expression deflated.
"What's up?" Axel looked at her curiously. "Got a condition for us?"
"If my aunt or uncle found out about this, I'm dead. And even if they don't kill me, it doesn't matter because I'm not going to leave their sight ever again."
"So, basically no one can find out it's you?" asked Bobby.
"Essentially, yes."
"Well never fear!" Del announced valiantly. "We can have hair and makeup fix you right up, can't we Adrian?"
"Uh, well..." Adrian looked at Del and then to Valentine and then back to Del. "They'll be in more trouble if she doesn't go on at all."
"That's a yes." Parker supplied, mostly for Del.
"But seriously, you have about four minutes until the show starts, so say your goodbyes and I'll have this one off to hair and makeup." Adrian gestured to Valentine.
"Okay, so real quick before you go." said Del, grabbing Valentine's shoulders. "Don't worry about us, we know what we're doing. All you have to do is play the notes at the right time."
"Uh-huh." Valentine stared at her dubiously. She had serious doubts that it was going to be that simple.
"You'll be fine." Parker rolled his eyes. "You're a prodigy, right?"
"When I said I never competed, I mean it. I never even performed. I don't think I've ever played for more than a handful of people."
"You got this." Bobby assured her. "Just don't overthink it."
"We'll be out there with you." Zoe smiled.
"Awe, so sweet, but it's time to get moving guys." Adrian nudged them along.
"You heard the man." said Axel, then turning to Valentine with a wink. "See you at the intermission."
--Pretending To Live--
The heavily tattooed woman pulled Valentine's long curls back and started brushing through them. Valentine watched the woman in the large mirror before her and fought the urge to push her away. She had always hated the feeling of other people's hands in her hair and the mental image of the absolute bird's nest that brush was going to turn her ringlets into didn't help.
"Your hair's so thick and beautiful!" The woman told her, cheerfully unaware. "I wish my hair was like this?"
Valentine wondered briefly if this was the same hairstylist that Parker had been talking about, but the roar of the crowd and the heavy bass in the distance caught her attention. The concert had started.
"Exciting, isn't it? Getting to perform with the band must be a dream come true." Another woman, this one wearing bright pink lipstick, peered around the first, smiling at Valentine in the mirror.
"Exhilarating." said Valentine, tone not conveying her to be exhilarated in any meaning of the word.
She was currently sitting in a brightly lit room, surrounded by clothing racks and more mirrors than she'd ever seen in one place. Makeup and hair artists and other crew members milled about behind her, all focused on their separate tasks.
"She needs a complete makeover." Valentine could hear Adrian speaking somewhere behind her. "Not that there's anything wrong with the way she looks now, but she needs to look like a different person...for reasons she didn't exactly explain but we're on a time crunch so just roll with it."
"No problem." another man's voice answered. "Ladies!"
Valentine looked at the new face in the mirror, he was a young man with dark skin, long braided hair and a shirt that she could see completely through.
"What do you think, Hale?" The woman running the brush through Valentine's hair asked. "She's so pretty, isn't she? And look at these curls!"
"Del was right." The man, Hale, grinned. "She's adorable."
"Thank you." Valentine frowned. "But I have no idea who any of you are."
"Oh, right!" The tattooed woman stopped brushing her hair for a moment. "I'm Millie. I'm the head hairstylist for the band."
"And I'm Carla." The other woman added. "I'm the head make up artist."
"And you can call me Hale, darling." The man introduced himself last. "I'm in charge of wardrobe."
"So, what are we going with?" Charity asked him. "Got a particular idea in mind?"
"Nothing risque, please!" Adrian spoke up again from an angle Valentine couldn't see. "She's only fifteen and we don't need a lawsuit!"
"Oh, you're no fun." Hale waved him off, flicking a long braid over his shoulder. "Don't worry, darl, I've got it all figured out."
Hale hurried off towards the clothing racks and Adrian stepped into Valentine's.
"You're in good hands. I promise." He told Valentine with a smile.
"He'll set the tone for your entire ensemble." Carla added. "Then we'll go ahead and finish you up with what we think will look best."
Valentine frowned at her own reflection, bright blue eyes, dark hair and brows, the light pink scar hidden partly in her hairline. The closest she'd ever been to a makeover was the Yule Ball and even then she hadn't let anyone touch her hair.
I feel as though I might regret this...
She put her hands on the dressing table before her, looking down at the sheet music she'd been given. She read the notes and could hear the music in her head.
I've never even heard this song before. So much could go wrong with this whole situation.
"I was shocked when they asked if you could do this." Adrian told her. "I was even more shocked to find out they hadn't even told you. I swear, if I'd known they were going to pull something like this I would have found you and told you myself, but they are completely incorrigible. You need time to learn the song. Time to practice and get some on-stage experience...it's not too late to back out, you know."
Valentine looked up at him. She was being given a chance to walk away.
"What about your schedule?"
"My schedule included you being fully prepared for this to happen. Like I said. You can back out."
This is my last chance to say no. How do I ever get myself into these kinds of situations? Well, usually it's because of Harry but this has nothing to do with him. I was just high on the fact that I wasn't going to die.
"...Is there any way for me to listen to the actual song?"
Adrian blinked twice and then grinned.
"I'll be right back."
He disappeared through the clothing racks.
"Ta-da!" Hale returned, carrying a bundle of clothes. He held up one item, a dress. "How do we feel about blue?"
"I don't think I've ever even worn blue." She replied, eyeing the dress dubiously and twisting her ring in her lap.
"Seems we have another Bobby on our hands." Hale sighed. "Always with the black on black. At least it should make you looking like a different person an easy task. Just leave it all to me, you're going to look amazing."
Charity and Carla had started work by the time Adrian returned. He had given her a portable CD player and a pair of headphones, which she had to quickly remind herself how to use. Although the buttons had confused her at first, Muggle Studies hadn't gone too deep with how to actually use the device. When Adrian also handed her the instrument she immediately recognised it as the one belonging to Axel.
Valentine gripped the violin bow in her hand and listened to the music in her ears. The song itself had several layers, the vocals, guitars, drums. She focused on her own part, reading the sheet music and perfecting her timing.
Behind her, she could feel Charity still ploughing away at her hair and Carla was trying to hold her face steady along enough to paint her lips with the unnatural colour, unfortunately, Valentine's aversion to having her face poked at was making her a difficult customer.
Once Carla was done and stepped back to look over her work, Valentine removed the earphones and played the opening chords to assure herself that it was so all correct and flowing smoothly.
"Wow. Just...I can't believe you learnt it so quickly." Carla shook her head in amazement.
"Now I just have to do it in front of several thousand people."
"Come now, darling." Hale scolded her lightly. "A face as pretty as yours really should be seen, you know."
"I'm not even sure if my face is even under here somewhere." Valentine squinted at the mirror, she hardly recognised herself, which for the current purpose, was a good thing.
It wasn't necessarily bad and certainly not as big a deal as she'd convinced herself it would be. It actually looked rather good in her opinion. Narcissa would have been filled with glee just to see her in any makeup at all even if it wasn't something she'd ever pick...but then there was the hair. The hair was the biggest difference to be sure.
"Are we ready?" Adrian came flying back into the room. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Valentine. She turned to look at him, stepping carefully in the high heeled boots. She'd never stood so high before and briefly, wondered if this was how Leah saw the world. "Where's Val and what have you done with her?"
The others laughed in triumph.
"You look perfect." Adrian shot her a thumbs up.
"My face weighs about fifty pounds right now." said Valentine, more disgruntled than she felt. "But, the dress...the dress is nice."
That was a point she definitely couldn't argue. Even if it wasn't black.
"You're going to kill it out there!" Hale clapped her on the shoulder.
"Time to get going, the intermission is after this last song." said Adrian.
"Good luck!" Charity beamed.
"You got this!" Carla added.
--Pretending To Live--
Valentine followed Adrian back through the building, into the elevator and back outside. She could hear Del singing clearly now, the crowd almost matching her for volume. The music was so much louder out here she could feel the vibrations through her feet. Del's voice was just as it had been on the CD recording she'd practised to although it wasn't the same song.
"Break the skin, spread like poison.
Dying slow when we all attack.
How it feels to be broken.
You took a piece now I'm biting back."
Adrian led her up into the wing where again the music was even louder. Valentine knew without even trying that if she tried to speak, no one would hear her. From their position in the wings, they could see the band clearly.
Del upfront, clutching the microphone, Zoe, Axel and Bobby all holding guitars and Parker further back on the stage at the drum kit. The audience screamed, singing along with the lyrics and jumping about in ways Valentine knew could not be safe with them all standing so close together. But the band was what really had everyone's attention. For Valentine, it was almost like seeing a different group of people and it suddenly dawned on her that besides from the CD, she'd never actually heard them perform seriously.
She'd seen Bobby fiddle with a guitar and Del humming under her breath but not much more than that. Even when they'd played music in the apartment, she'd never noticed if they'd played any of their own. Generally speaking, they were all ridiculous, although some more than others. But out there on that stage, they appeared to be an extremely talented group of strangers.
When the song ended the crowd rippled, cheering and applauding. It reminded Valentine of the Quidditch matches back at Hogwarts.
Zoe glanced over into the wings and waved at her. Valentine waved back with the hand that held the bow.
"Y'all having a good time?" Del asked, grinning into the microphone. The audience roared in response. "Heck yeah! That's what we like to hear! Now, we're going to take a little break, give poor old Axel a rest and we'll be back shortly."
The audience screamed again, although Valentine wasn't sure what for that time.
Zoe was the closest to the wings and so was the first to come over. She was immediately handed a towel and a bottle of water from a crew member standing to the side.
"You look fantastic, sweetheart." Zoe beamed at her, taking a sip of the water and dabbing at her face with the towel, careful of her makeup. "Really. I'd never know it was you if it wasn't for those eyes."
"Val!" Del all but pounced on her. "You look so hot!"
"Calm down creeper." Bobby teased her. "She's underage."
"My God...Your hair!" Parker gapped at her. "You look like one of us now, that's for sure."
"Well, not like myself at the very least." She nodded.
"Hey, guys-"
Valentine looked up at Axel as he joined them, pushing past Del and staring down at her, face unreadable.
"What?" She arched a brow at his expression.
"Isn't the dress a little short?"
"It's the same length as the one I had on before." Valentine glanced down at herself.
"And don't you think those boots are a little too high?"
"Come on, man!" Bobby elbowed him. "She looks great. Don't be such a dad about it."
"Yeah, don't listen to the old goat!" Del insisted. "I think you look amazing!"
"Thanks." Valentine had to smile.
The dress was black and patterned with a layer of light blue grinning skulls, dark blue roses and green vinery. It had thin straps and a v-neck that wasn't especially low. It stopped just above her knees, flaring out at the hips, black lace peeking out from beneath the dress. Lace stockings faded in with the hemline seamlessly. They were largely hidden by the high heeled boots that came up below her knees, adding several inches to her height. Her arms were also mostly covered by fingerless velvet gloves, ending in frills over the top of her hand, attaching to her middle finger and reaching just past her elbows. Around her neck, a black choker was adorned with sparkling blue gems and her face was painted with bold striking eyes and dark blue lips. Then there was her hair. Her unruly curls were gone, replaced with pencil straight raven locks, flowing longer than usual.
"You don't even look like a Val anymore." Parker shook his head, sipping from his water bottle. "Now you look more like a Valerie or...like a Valentine or something."
"Good." Valentine bit down on the inside of her mouth to hide her grin. "I'm not supposed to be recognised after all."
"So, inappropriate clothing aside," Axel interjected. "You've taken a look at the music, right? We can have a stand set up for the music if you need."
"I should be fine."
"Quite the genius this one." Adrian patted her on the shoulder. "Gave the girls a bit of a hard time though."
"That's the way." Parker winked at her.
"Little hell raiser this one." Bobby laughed.
"Don't encourage her." Zoe flicked his ear sourly.
"Ouch, fuck!"
"BOBBY!" Valentine almost jumped when Axel, Zoe and Adrian all scolded him at once.
"Honestly." Adrian clicked his tongue disappointedly, covering Valentine's ear with his hands. "She's far too young to hear your vulgarness."
Valentine shook her head from his hands, she'd had enough of being touched.
"If I wanted this kind of judgement I would have just stayed at home with Abby." Bobby grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm sure one of the fans would take you home." Del pursed her lips devilishly.
"Yeah, no thanks. I don't want my bones to end up part of someone's shrine."
"Okay! Getting back on track." Adrian stepped in between the two.
"Right." Axel agreed, nudging Parker towards the stage. "Let's go guys."
"I'm going, I'm going." Parker rolled his eyes and stepped out into the crowd's view, which immediately had them screaming. He waved to them enthusiastically and moved to sit at his drum kit.
"Okay, now hang back here and I'll introduce you first." Del informed Valentine and then slipped out onto the stage with Zoe.
"See you out there." Bobby ruffled her hair as he walked past.
"Not too late to put on something more conservative." said Axel.
"Bloody hell, just go!" Adrian pushed at his shoulder but didn't actually have the strength to move Axel's large frame. "Get! Go on! Get!"
Axel just smiled in amusement at his futile attempts and walked out on to the stage.
"You know sometimes I regret every decision I have ever made since I met those wackjobs." Adrian glared after the taller man, blushing brightly on his pale complexion.
"Annnnd we're back!" Del's voice echoed all around them. "Y'all still doing good?"
The audience screamed in reply.
"Fantastic! Now, we have a little surprise for all of you. You've never seen her before so don't bother trying to rack your brain on this one. Give a big hello and welcome, our special friend!" Del gestured to the wing where Valentine stood with Adrian.
"Have fun." Adrian pushed her forward gently.
Valentine sucked in a deep breath, clenched her fist around the bow and stepped out onto the stage.
The crowd cheered, but she could barely see them through the lights beaming back at her, making the night seem almost like day. She wasn't sure if she was even nervous or not. She felt fine all things considered, but she'd never had so many people looking right at her. A couple hundred of students from Hogwarts had nothing over a thousand screaming fans.
Zoe was closest to her and nodded her head over in Del's direction. Valentine made her way over, watching her feet and being careful of the power cords.
Del wrapped an arm around her shoulder and smiled.
"This cool lil' babe here is gonna give us some accompaniment." She announced. Then she took her mouth away from the microphone and turned to Valentine. "There's a mic set up over between Axel and Bobby. You know what to do?"
Valentine nodded.
"Great. You got this, hun."
Valentine moved over to a lone mic stand between the two guitarists as Del had said. She found herself thankful for the high heeled boots as at her regular height the mic would have come up to her brow.
"Get it into position." Axel came up beside her and she put her chin into the rest, holding the neck of the instrument in her hand. Axel wrenched the microphone downwards to be pointed at the strings but as to not get in the way of her bow arm. "Now, wanna give them a taste? Play a scale?"
Valentine pulled back the bow and moved through the scales smoothly, the crowd clapping and hollering. Again, she wasn't sure why.
"Okay, so the first song we're going to play for you guys is one you should probably all know, 'Not Gonna Die Tonight'!" Del sent a grin over to Valentine and she nodded in return.
Raising her bow arm and striking away at the opening chords. She almost stumbled on the rapid fingering but managed to keep a visual of the notes clear in her mind. Then just like in the CD recording, she heard a guitar chime in and then the drums. Then Del leaned into the microphone and started singing in a low intense voice.
"Death surrounds.
My heartbeat's slowing down.
I won't take this world's abuse.
I won't give up, I refuse."
Valentine focused on the timing, making sure she came in at the right times, her bow arm always poised and ready. The crowd was louder than ever before, almost louder than the music itself.
"This is how it feels when you're bent and broken.
This is how it feels when your dignity's stolen.
When everything you love is leaving.
You hold on to what you believe in."
Then Parker's voice sang out. It didn't have the same intense, entrancing quality that Del's did, but something in it made you take notice and listen.
"The last thing I heard was you whispering goodbye.
And then I heard you flatline."
Del and Parker sang the chorus together, voices not clashing, instead giving the song a powerful boost.
"No, not gonna die tonight.
We've gotta stand and fight forever, don't close your eyes.
No, not gonna die tonight.
We've gotta fight for us together.
No, we're not gonna die tonight."
Valentine pulled and pushed over the violin strings, playing the same cords she'd opened with.
"Break their hold, cause I won't be controlled.
They can't keep their chains on me.
When the truth has set me free."
Valentine found herself tapping her foot, keeping up with the rhythm, even when she wasn't playing.
"This is how it feels when you take your life back.
This is how it feels when you finally fight back.
When life pushes me I push harder.
What doesn't kill me makes me stronger."
Then Parker's voice was there again, leading up to the chorus.
"The last thing I heard is you whispering goodbye.
And then I heard you flatline.
No, not gonna die tonight.
We've gotta stand and fight forever, don't close your eyes.
No, not gonna die tonight.
We've gotta fight for us together.
No, we're not gonna die tonight."
Now, Del's voice lost its intensity. It sounded desperate, almost like she was begging but somehow still in control of everything.
"Don't you give up on me.
You're everything I need.
This is how it feels when you take your life back.
This is how it feels when you fight back."
Then Zoe stepped forward, holding her glossy red guitar low on her body. Just like on the CD, she performed her solo, fingers moving deftly and precisely. The audience screamed particularly loud at this. When she stepped back the chorus kicked back off, Del and Parker singing together once again.
Valentine played the last violin section in the song, pushing and pulling at the strings. When she finished her part the song still had several moments before the end, she stared out at the audience, blinded by the lights they were swamped in. She could feel a bead of sweat roll down the side of her face. She hadn't realised how hot it was under those lights.
"Not gonna die, not gonna die.
Not gonna die, not gonna die.
Not gonna die tonight."
When Del and Parker's voices faded, the crowd screamed so loud there wasn't a second of silence to be found.
Del leaned into the microphone, wiping sweat from her face.
"We love you!" She shouted back at the fans, laughing breathlessly.
Valentine felt Axel and Bobby on either side of her. Bobby grabbed her bow arm and thrust it up into the air triumphantly. The crowd cheered at this and Valentine had to laugh herself.
That was ridiculous. But fun.
--Pretending To Live--
"That was ridiculous." Adrian laughed heartily, still somewhat in disbelief. "Really. Out of nowhere you just absolutely destroyed that stage. It was insane!"
"Thanks, but this is the third time you've told me that." Valentine rolled her eyes, sharing an amused look with Bobby beside her.
After she'd performed with the band, she stood in the wings with Adrian and waited until the last few songs before going to retrieve the clothing she'd arrived in. Her feet ached from the heels and her knees itched slightly from the lace stockings, but she hadn't hated the outfit. Naturally, this surprised her seeing as she never wore anything other than black and by choice at that.
Now, she sat in a long black car with Adrian and the band, heading back to the apartment.
"Really, you should go to a classical music school or something." Adrian insisted. "You could play in world-famous orchestras!"
"Again, thanks, but I'm too busy for that kind of thing."
"But that talent!" Adrian stared at her in bewilderment.
"Don't be so loud." Zoe hushed him, gesturing to the sleeping Del in her lap.
"Sorry." Adrian immediately quietened.
Zoe and Parker sat on one side of the car, Del stretched out in Zoe's lap, while Axel, Bobby, Valentine and Adrian sat across from them.
"Does she always do this after a show?" asked Valentine.
"Pretty much." said Axel.
"She leaves everything out there on the stage and leaves nothing for herself." Zoe smiled down at her girlfriend and gently brushed some hair from her face.
Bobby cleared his voice a mite awkwardly.
"So, you finally gonna stay the night with us, Val?"
"Yeah, you never have, have you?" Parker realised.
"I don't want to worry my cousin." Valentine lied smoothly. Well, it wasn't a complete lie, but she wasn't being all too honest either.
"Oh, come on." Bobby nudged her with his elbow. "Just one night? We're leaving soon, you know."
"What? Need me to tuck you in?"
The others quickly tried to smother their laughter.
"Please." Bobby rolled his eyes. "That's Axel's job."
"Next time you fall asleep on the kitchen floor, you can stay there." Axel warned him.
"Whatever." Bobby gave him the finger. "Really, though. We could kick Parker out, you could have his bed."
"Excuse me." Parker reached over and slapped Bobby's knee. "She can have your bed."
"How about she doesn't sleep in the same room as three fully grown men." Zoe shot them a look.
"Don't be gross. It's not like we'd do anything weird." Parker pouted.
"Yeah! And are we really considering Parker grown?" asked Bobby, earning himself a kick in the shin.
"It's her choice." said Axel firmly.
"Exactly. You boys can't be pushing her to do anything she doesn't want to." Adrian added.
"Barf." Parker stuck his tongue out at them.
"Thanks for the lecture grandma and grandpa." Bobby crossed his arms over his chest and slouched in his seat.
"No problem, sonny." Axel pinched his cheek.
"Ouch!" Bobby battered away his hands.
"We're here guys." Zoe yawned, clearly getting annoyed with their childish behaviour and more than ready for bed.
Adrian, Valentine and Bobby clambered out onto the sidewalk. Next came Axel, carrying a Del in his arms, followed by Parker.
As the sounds of the city carried on the breeze, Del roused from her sleep. She blinked up at Axel grumpily.
"I'm trying to sleep here."
Axel slowly lowered her to her feet, standing beside Zoe.
"I'm taking her up." said Zoe as she turned to enter the building, slinging Del's arm around her shoulder. "See you later, Adrian. Thanks for your work tonight."
"Good night. And no problem " Adrian called after her, then turned back to the others. "Well. Great show tonight everyone. Especially you, Val. Fantastic work. It was good to finally meet you."
"You too." She inclined her head to him with a smile as he climbed back into the car.
"Good night all."
"Night, man." said Bobby.
"Later." Parker waved with a yawn.
"Looks like it's past your bedtime." Bobby scoffed.
"Leave him alone." Axel scolded. "We're all tired."
"Made up your mind about staying the night?" Parker asked Valentine, yawning again.
"I'd like to but-" As Valentine's eyes carried down the street she noticed a dark figure duck into a side alley. She quickly turned back to them. "-but my cousin really will worry."
Was that...?
"Well, if you're sure." Axel nodded, although she could tell he wanted her to stay as well. "It is pretty late though."
It couldn't be...
"I'll be fine." She insisted, trying not to glance down the street again. "I'll come back and see you guys before you leave for the tour."
"You better." Bobby smiled and ruffled her still straightened hair.
"I really wish you'd stop doing that." She slapped at his wrist, taking the opportunity to turn her head away to where she'd seen the figure.
Now there was nothing.
I know something was there. I know it.
"Night, Val." Parker rubbed at his eyes.
"Careful on your way back." said Axel.
"I always am." She rolled her eyes but smiled in amusement. "Good night."
She turned casually, sticking her hands in her pockets, not looking back. She hoped that they went straight up to the apartment, but didn't want to risk a glance.
She walked the couple dozen metres before she met with the turn into the alley.
She turned nonchalantly taking easy steps, like she was any other person out on a late-night stroll. The figure was standing there in the shadow of the alley. She immediately recognised the person and probably would have been frightened if she'd been anyone else. Instead, she was just annoyed.
I'm going to murder him in this alleyway, I swear.
"What the fuck are you doing here, you great big creep!" Valentine marched forward and slapped the man's shoulder.
"Were you not taught to keep your hands to yourself?" Snape snarled at her, grabbing the wrist of the arm that hit him so she couldn't do it again.
"My hands? My fucking hands! You're hardly one to talk on the fucking subject, sir!"
"Language, Lestrange!"
"Oh, to hell with my language!" Valentine struggled to pull her hand back. "Why are you here? Did you follow me?"
"Hey!"
Valentine's head snapped over to the alley's entrance. Bobby was standing there, he looked back up the street and shouted for Axel and Parker.
Why me?
"Now you've done it, Professor." Valentine forcefully took her hand back. "Just shut up and let me handle this."
"Don't touch her!" Bobby came racing down the alley, wearing a dark glare.
"Bobby-" Valentine raised her hands to stop him but he ignored her and pushed her behind him.
"Get lost you creep." Bobby spat at him in disgust.
Snape glared back at him but said nothing.
"Val!" Parker shouted as he and Axel charged down the alley towards them as well now.
"Bobby, stop." Valentine tried again.
Axel shoved past them both aggressively, coming right within inches of Snape.
Oh, great. He's mad. Perfect.
"Are you alright?" Parker gripped both her shoulders from behind worriedly.
"I don't know who you are, buddy." Axel's voice was low, calm, dangerously sharp and it put Valentine very much on edge. "But if you want to make it out of this alley in one piece, I suggest you leave now."
Snape stared back at him silently for a moment before softly uttering;
"Fool."
"You want us to call the cops? I told you to leave!" Axel shoved Snape back several feet.
Then Valentine's eyes caught something, something the others would never have noticed. She barged her way through Parker and Bobby without another thought.
She slipped in between Axel and Snape before anyone could stop her. She came up face to face with Axel's rage, one hand going behind her to squeeze Snape's wrist tightly. She hoped it hurt.
"Stop this right now!" She ordered, growling deeply in a way that made both Parker and Bobby jump.
"Val..." She heard Bobby mutter.
They'd never seen her like this. Never heard her snarl like a beast. Never seen that look in her bright eyes. She'd never thought they'd have to.
"Who is he?" Ask Axel, she could hear the venom in his voice, despite the even beat of his speaking.
"He's a teacher from my school." Valentine held his gaze steady and of Snape. "He wasn't going to hurt me or do anything else that you're thinking, alright?"
"It's a misunderstanding?" Parker asked, still cautious.
"Exactly." Valentine agreed. "He's no threat to me."
Behind her, she heard Snape scoff lowly and she turned on him. She gave him a solid kick in the shin, eyes burning.
"You're making it worse." She hissed. He gritted his teeth and glared furiously at her, but when he had nothing to spit back she turned back to the others. She watched Axel's eyes soften slightly as she stepped closer to him and touched his arm. "See? Everything is fine. And however appreciated it may be, I can look after myself. I'm not the helpless little girl you think I am. I have to go now, but I will be fine. And I'll prove it when I come to see you off."
She could see the conflict in Axel's gaze. He was taken aback by her words and by her stance, but he could see the control she had on the situation.
Snape clamped down a hand on her shoulder impatiently. Axel's eyes darted to it. She noticed Bobby and Parker tense.
"I will be fine." She insisted again, emphasizing each word. "I don't need any of you to stand up for me. Trust me. I don't need help with this old bastard. I'll see you all soon, alright?"
Valentine turned from them and let Snape steer her down though to the other end of the alley. Behind her, she heard Parker give a small
"Bye."
--Pretending To Live--
As soon as they were gone from the others' sight, Snape's grip tightened on Valentine's shoulder and they disapparated.
She felt that familiar pull and squeeze and then they were standing in Snape's living room. As they appeared, the fireplace lit itself, illuminating the small space with an orange glow. Valentine immediately threw his hand off her shoulder and spun on him. She'd kept silent as they walked away from Axel, Bobby and Parker as to not worry them but she didn't need to hold back here.
"Are you crazy?" She snarled. "Are you completely insane!"
"Oh, that's rich." He spat at her.
"You were going for your wand!" She seethed. When Axel had shoved him and she saw Snape's hand reach for his wand she'd almost put him on his backside then and there. "What were you going to do? Attack a bunch of innocent muggles? And you say 'that's rich'?"
"If I recall correctly, I was attacked first." Snape arched a brow haughtily.
"He thought you were going to hurt me!" Valentine threw her arms up in frustration. "You were lurking in a dark alley just waiting for me! Not to mention you don't exactly look all that inconspicuous!
Valentine gestured to his typical black robes.
Snape looked down at his clothes. Offended, he crossed his arms over his chest.
"It's time you stopped this nonsense." He growled.
"What?" Valentine almost choked on the words as they came out. She was used to Snape's arrogance but his level of pure audacity caught her off guard. "What the fuck did you just say to me? Who are you to tell me what I can't do? What were you even doing there!"
"There's been enough of your foolishness! I've watched idly as you went gallivanting around London with a group of delinquents for long enough!"
"They're not delinquents, they're my friends! Not that it's any of your business!"
Snape's gaze darkened even further.
"If it becomes a distraction towards our task then it is my business. As well as Dumbledore's."
"Do you think I don't know that!" Valentine all but screamed and she could tell he was slightly taken aback when he blinked at her. "I know that if I did anything to jeopardise our mission then, of course, it affects us all, but this isn't anything like that! I've thought of nothing but protecting Harry for the last six years! Having some harmless fun will not prevent me from that!"
"Ha, fun." Snape scoffed at her. "You really are nothing but a child, aren't you? Well, you can have all the fun you want when it's over."
What the hell is his problem?
She sighed from the sheer exhaustion of the conversation, pushing a lock of straightened hair from her face.
"Why are you acting like this? This has nothing to do with you or the mission. They are my friends whether you like them or not."
"It's stupid and reckless." He hissed through his teeth as though that should explain everything.
"Stupid and reckless! Is pulling a wand on Muggle not stupid and reckless?" Valentine continued before Snape could reply. "You followed me despite knowing I'd bite your head off for it? Is that not reckless also? Fucking hell! I'm fifteen! At least I'm supposed to be stupid and reckless! Narcissa probably wishes I was. If I was like other girls my age, worried about my hair and giggling over boys, then I wouldn't make her worried all the time. But that's just not me. God, if anything, it's Draco."
Valentine sighed, somewhat subdued as she fell into the chair by the window. She laughed bitterly.
"Yes, at least she has Draco to fill that void. But I almost died, if you remember. Is it so wrong of me to go out into the world? At least just to see some of it now that I know I haven't got an expiry date slapped on my forehead."
"You shouldn't see them again." Snape turned from her, her words seemingly going in one ear and out the other.
"I might not. Though not because I choose to." Valentine leaned back in the chair, letting her head drop back and shutting her eyes. "They're leaving the country in a few days. They're going on a tour of Europe and if it goes well they'll be extending it to Asia. Soon I have to say goodbye and who knows that'll happen in the time they're gone."
"It'll be for the best."
"Whatever you say, creep."
Snape growled and yanked open the door leading from the front room to the hall.
"Go home, Lestrange. I'm sure your aunt is worried about you."
Valentine groaned.
Home? I don't know if I ever really called the manor my home. I certainly never considered it such. What even is the difference between a house and a home? You live in both of them after all. Whatever you call it...I don't want to go back yet. If I go back I have to be Valentine Lestrange again. I have bullied the staff and agreed with all the ways Draco wants to torment Harry. I have to sit through Leah's many visits and tell her how annoying she is even when I want to laugh. I don't want to go back to that just yet. It would be like wasting everything that happened today.
With her eyes still closed, she shuffled about on the chair, getting more comfortable.
"You know what? I might just stay here."
"What?" She could feel all the rage return to Snape's voice in full force.
"I don't feel like going back yet. After London, Malfoy Manor is so...just not where I want to be." She explained.
"I don't care. Get out."
"I won't be a bother. I'd even sleep on the floor."
"Not the point and not happening."
"My uncle isn't even a problem at the moment. The last time I told him where to shove it seems to have stuck."
"Not. Happening."
She could feel him glaring down at her but she showed his temper no mind. She stood and walked over to one of the bookshelves, trailing her fingers along the spines, looking for something to read.
"Lestrange..." He growled in a warning tone.
"Ah." She hummed to herself as she spied the second volume of a book she personally loved.
Snape made an annoyed, strangled sound in the back of his throat that reminded Valentine of the time Leah slammed Blaze's foot in the Charm's classroom door.
Valentine opened the book and held it up in front of her face so he wouldn't see her trying not to laugh. She had no goal to goad him into letting her stay the night and certainly no goal at plucking a sentimental cord that mentioned her less than spectacular home life. She was more than positive that Snape didn't have a sentimental bone in his body. She simply planned to make kicking her out more trouble than it was worth.
"...If you're still here in the morning, Lestrange, you're going to wish you weren't."
She heard him stomp up the stairs like an angry teen and this time she let herself chuckled.
"Good night, Professor." She replied in a nonchalant, singsong tone.
Then she heard him thunder across the floorboards overhead and slam a door. Hard.
Now, she laughed out loud.
Childish much?
She was rather surprised that this worked at all.
She brought the book back over to the chair by the window and turned it to the first page. For the next few hours, she only stood to throw another log on the fire, occupying herself with the book and thoughts of the day. It was such a different world she'd seen. Even different compared to that of a standard Muggle. And as risky as it was, she couldn't bring herself to regret it.
Snape's house was old and creaked and groaned with every stiff breeze and even that didn't bother her. It seemed his surprise appearance had far from ruined her day, which she thought was good as she was unlikely to ever have another like it.
It was the early hours of the morning when she fell asleep in the chair by the window. She felt the need to prolong this day of hers but when sleep came calling she compiled. Even rarer for her than a good day was a good night's sleep. She didn't even care if she risked a rude awakening from Snape in the morning. For now, she would sleep and greet the reality of the world tomorrow as she always had; without looking away.
The songs performed by Ashes 2 Ashes belong completely to Skillet! I just borrowed them!
Not Gonna Die; https/youtu.be/njJ7NZMH70M
Back From The Dead; https/youtu.be/W44HrKFTPaE