Chapter 3

"What do you think Weasley will say when he notices that the Hermione Granger he knew won't be returning this year?" Draco asked as he took his seat across from his cousin on the Hogwarts Express. Harry was seated across from them, his invisibility cloak in his lap. It was the only way for him to get onto the train without being noticed by the Weasley family, who were so obviously searching for him on the platform.

"Ronald is not my problem nor my concern, and should he stand in my way at all I'll simply hex him into oblivion," Val crossed one leg over the other, offering a casual dismissive wave of her hand.

"How am I supposed to behave normally around him after knowing everything he and his family have done?" Harry questioned. That was a part of Valentina's plan, you see. To make it seem as if Harry didn't know the truth. That he simply wasn't able to get away this summer, and that was why he couldn't attend the Quidditch World Cup. Not that he wasn't there. They all were, when Valentina had Lucius send her father's mark into the sky during the tournament, Harry and Draco were right at her side.

Of course, they didn't stay long to be discovered, Lucius having disapparated them out as soon as the crowds had started to gather.

After that night, Valentina came up with the brilliant plan to use Harry as the inside spy. He would play his role as the faithful Gryffindor Savior, the-boy-who-lived, the best friend of Ronald Weasley, and so on and so on. He would find out whatever information he could, and he would relay it to Val. And he'd do this until Dumbledore was truly none the wiser and ready to be taken down.

"You can do it, Potter. I have faith in you," Draco said, a casual smile tugging onto his lips. Harry scoffed at Draco's idea of a pep talk, shaking his head in disappointment.

"Yes, that was a great pep talk, thanks, Malfoy," Harry sassed, shooting a glare in the young Malfoy's direction. Draco merely beamed proudly, probably not recognizing that Harry was being sarcastic.

"Harry," Val's voice sounded, causing Harry to turn his head in her direction, once she was sure she had his attention, Val continued, "You can do this. There isn't anything you have to do except to play along. Don't let Ron know that you know anything, understand? Just smile, nod, joke, do whatever you must, but remember that when the time comes, we will have our revenge and they will all pay. I promise. You just have to trust me, and know that I know what I'm doing."

Harry sighed in resignation, but nodded his head once, "I understand, Val. I trust you."

"Good. Now, you should go and find Ron. He'll be barreling down the corridors any second to search for you," Val said softly. Harry nodded his head again before rising to his feet.

"Good luck with your resorting, Val," Harry flashed Valentina a small grin, causing Val to sneer playfully at her best friend.

"Luck? I don't need luck. I know where I will end up, and I know where I am meant to be," Valentina said simply before waving her hand dismissively, "Now go."Harry grinned at his best friend before turning to open the compartment door, lifting his cloak slowly, "Oh, and Harry…" Harry turned to look at Valentina, "Be careful," Val said sincerely.

Harry grinned at Val again, "Come on, Val. I have survived death since I was one. I can do it again," he winked before he turned to leave the compartment, pulling his cloak on and shutting the door behind him.

Valentina rolled her eyes as she leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms against her chest, "That boy is a Gryffindor through and through. I wouldn't be surprised if Ron says something that makes Harry react with actions instead of words."

"Have you heard Weasley speak? Sometimes I too want to respond with actions instead of words, but a Slytherin always uses their bite before they use their bark in order to warn their enemies that they aren't something to mess with, unlike Potter who finds the best course of action is wands first, talk later."

"Let's hope after spending the last two months with Slytherins, he's finally learned some control," Valentina sighed as she rubbed her temples, "I don't want him to expose himself and end up being hurt in the process."

"Are you sure you're not in love with him?" Draco teased as he glanced over at his cousin, who had struck him the arm faster than he could have blinked.

"Of course I'm not you daft idiot!" Valentina huffed in annoyance, her penetrating glare staring daggers at Draco, who was merely grinning, completely unphased by his cousin's quick temper, "And never say those words again, do you understand? You know I'm not interested in him that way. Him or any boy for that matter."

Draco knew this was true. Not long after having the love spells keyed to Weasel lifted, Valentina had entered a short lived summer fling with his own ex girlfriend, Pansy Parkinson. Draco said summer fling, but in actuality it was constant letters to one another and secret snogging sessions in Val's room at the manor. He was sure something would come of it, but it seemed that Valentina wasn't ready to enter a relationship, either that or she simply wasn't interested in entering one with Pansy.

Pansy seemed more than alright with that, because the two still continued to write to one another even after Valentina broke it off. It wasn't like whatever they had was long, it started after Val formally met Pansy during his father's annual midsummer holiday's dinner, and ended a week before term.

Draco didn't mind that Val explored her sexuality with his ex, it wasn't like he was all that interested in her anyways. He had his eyes on someone else, someone he had found intriguing last year, but never had the gall to talk to. That was a reason why he had ended his relationship with Pansy, not wanting to hurt her in the process of digesting his own messy feelings. She took it rather well, nothing was thrown or hexed off. She even volunteered to help him sort out his feelings. So no, Draco didn't mind that his cousin snogged his ex, because his cousin deserved to explore with someone they both could trust. And who better than Draco's closest most trusted friend since the age of 5?

"Speaking of Pansy, I thought she'd turn up by now. Her, Theo, and Blaise, wonder what that lot is up to," Draco hummed softly as he leaned back in his seat, putting his hands behind his head.

As if the mere mention of their names had summoned them, the compartment door slid open and entered Draco's fellow Slytherins. They all piled into the compartment one by one and sat down across from Draco and Val, well not all of them. Pansy chose the seat on Val's left.

"We've been searching the whole bloody train for you two," Blaise huffed in annoyance as he glared at his best friend and Val.

"You've found us," Val stated simply as she opened the book that was in her lap silently.

"About bloody time too," Theo began, "If I had to walk past Weasel King searching for Harry one more time, whining and droning on about how he lost his best friend, I was going to hex him."

"You? I swear if he called me Pugface one more time, I was going to use an unforgivable on him," Pansy rolled her eyes, "Stupid ginger. It's like he can't come up with a better insult. It seems out of all his 100 siblings, the twins are the only ones with brain cells."

"I hear Charlie's intelligent," Val spoke up now, her eyes never leaving her book, "He must be to be able to work with dragons. You can't be a fool and work with one of the most dangerous magical creatures in the world."

"Then maybe the intelligent gene skipped a few siblings," Draco chuckled. His words brought a small grin to Valentina's features because it was true, not all of the Weasley children were an intelligent bunch. Makes sense that none of them were ever sorted into Ravenclaw. They would never survive.

"Where's Harry?" Theo asked, glancing around the compartment silently in a futile attempt to try and spot Harry, "Wasn't he supposed to be with you two?"

"I've sent him on his way. He has a job to fulfill," Val said, lifting her gaze from her book to meet Theo's eyes.

"Ah, I see," Theo nodded his head, "Well, let's hope he won't do anything foolish."

"That's what I said!" Draco chimed in causing Valentina to roll her eyes.

"If you lot don't shut up, I'm going to allow Pansy to use her favorite hex on each and everyone of you," Val warned as her eyes returned to the pages of her current read. That seemed to effectively shut the Slytherin males up, much to Val's pleasure and Pansy's disappointment, who had wanted to try out the new hex she had learned.

The train ride was spent in relative, familiar ease. Theo and Pansy made conversation, discussing this upcoming school year while Draco, and Blaise partook in a game of Wizard's chess, and Valentina read her book.

Soon it had been time for them all to change into their school robes, and the boys left the compartment first to allow Val and Pansy to change before switching out. By the time all five of them had dressed in their school robes, they had arrived at the station in Hogsmeade. Valentina slipped out of the compartment first before leading the way off of the train, each of her friends trailing along after her. Once her feet had touched the ground, Draco made his way to stand on her right, keeping a safe foot behind her while the rest of their friends trailed along behind him. There was a hierarchy to be seen here.

Valentina was the leader, Draco her second in command, and the rest her loyal followers. But not just followers, trusted friends. Friends she had only known for a mere three months, but trusted more than those she had called friends for an entire 3 years.

Their heads were held high, a slight swagger in their step. The way they moved spoke pureblood, born and raised. In sync, no step out of place. Their robes flowed behind them with an elegance not many have seen before. Val noticed that some of their peers had stopped to stare, to whisper to one another, to point Val out in the group.

She couldn't help the slight tug at the corner of her lips, a smirk pulling onto her features. She wasn't an attention seeker, far from it. But if rumors were already starting to spread, it wouldn't be longer before even Albus Dumbledore was shaking in his boots.

Val grunted when she felt someone bump into her, but she maintained her composure. She did, however, turn to fix whoever dared to touch her with a glare before her eyes instantly softened at the sight of Luna Lovegood, who had been wearing that same dreamy smile, her eyes holding that same faroff look, as she looked at Hermione, "My, Hermione, you've sure grown taller," Luna said her voice as soft and calming as ever, her smile never disappearing. If Valentina was surprised, she didn't show it. Though the same couldn't be said about the rest of her group, who were all gaping at Luna like fish out of water. Well all of them except for Draco, who was smiling a bit too much at the sight of Luna, "Oh, but you don't go by Hermione, anymore, hmm? No, it is Valentina now? I believe that name suits you far better. I am to learn you've discovered the truth."

"How could you possibly have known that?" Pansy spoke for the group, her eyes narrowing suspiciously on Luna. Val held her hand up to stop Pansy from taking the threatening step that she was verging on taking without ever taking her eyes off of Luna.

"We should talk later, Luna. Somewhere less open," Valentina spoke softly, her tone gentle, causing Luna's smile to widen.

"Oh of course! I must hurry and find Neville anyways, he'll be wondering where I've gone to," Luna beamed before she turned to wander off, disappearing into the crowd of students boarding the boats and carriages.

Val watched her go silently before turning to climb onto one of the carriages, the rest of her friends joining her and taking the only available seats., "How could Luna Lovegood possibly know your old name, Val?" Blaise asked as he looked at the bushy haired witch, lifting an eyebrow in question.

"She's a Seer, of course," Valentina offered a shrug of her shoulders, "Perhaps she could be useful to our cause. She doesn't seem to fear me, and she obviously knows the truth."

"Also, she'd be the least likely person to be suspected of helping us," Draco volunteered. Val hummed as she nodded her head in agreement to her cousin's words.

"You're right," Val said before she turned her eyes to Draco, "You'll talk to her for me, then."

"W-what? Me? But I-," Draco stammered, however it was of no use. Val's mind was made up. She saw how Draco looked at Luna, and she knew he'd be the better choice to get through to her. She didn't need a Seer or even Legilimens to know that Draco had some form of a crush. This way she was killing two birds with one stone, helping her cousin to get his head out of his arse as well as getting Luna to join her cause.

"Right, it's settled then," Val stated simply as the carriage began to move. Draco fell silent, his eyes wide as he slumped back in his seat. 'What just happened?,' Draco thought to himself silently.

The rest of the ride was held in easy conversation, mainly centered around Valentina's second sorting. Though, Val wasn't worried. As she had told Harry, she knew which house she would end up in.

Once they arrived at Hogwarts, the small group of wizards and witches piled out of the carriage and made their way to the entrance. The Slytherin teens escorted their leader to the doors of the Great Hall before stopping at the doors.

"You sure you're not worried, Val? What if that hat tosses you somewhere crazy? Like Hufflepuff," Blaise teased playfully,

"I'm not worried. I know exactly where I will end up," Val stated indifferently as she looked at Blaise.

"Right, well then. Good luck and we'll see you soon," Draco spoke up this time, giving his cousin a quick hug before leading his friends into the Great Hall.

Once she was left alone, Val took it upon herself to lean against the wall outside of the Great Hall to wait for McGonagall and the first years. Once they finally arrived, Val pushed off of the wall and waited for McGonagall's yearly speech to be finished before following the deputy Headmistress and the first years into the Great Hall.

All eyes were on her as she stepped into the hall. No one knew who she was, but they all knew she was definitely not a first year student. The whispers continued, the pointing, the staring. 'Merlin, how did Harry deal with this?', Val huffed to herself in her thoughts. She'd never be used to this.

When the group of first years stopped, as did Val. She first looked over at the Gryffindor table to check on Harry. He seemed to be getting on well, making polite, probably boring conversation with Ron. After checking on him, she turned to look at the Slytherin table, and noticed that Blaise was giving her a dramatic thumbs up, Draco flashed her a small reassuring smile, Theo nodded his head once at her, and Pansy winked.

Val had to suppress the urge to smile, wanting to keep up her cold, indifferent appearance. She turned her attention forward as the Sorting began. She was completely uninterested in the sorting of the first years, but clapped respectively when they each were sorted. It felt like ages before finally, the sorting of the first years were done and it was finally her turn.

"And now, before we continue to hear from our Headmaster, there is one other student here that needs to be Sorted. She will be joining the Fourth Year class. She has been homeschooled these last four years of her schooling, and we hope that she finds Hogwarts pleasurable enough to return again," McGonagall explained calmly before glancing down at her clipboard, "Miss Valentina Riddle, please come up here."

The entire Great Hall went silent as they watched Valentina make her way to the stool. None of them truly recognized the last name Riddle, the only person, other than Professor Snape, that did, stared at Val with eyes filled with horror. Val was sure the old coot was going into shock. She couldn't help the smirk that pulled on her lips as she sat down and placed the hat on her head herself.

Ahh, Miss Riddle, I see you have finally discovered your true heritage. Complete ignorance of that old Headmaster to believe you wouldn't. They do not call you the smartest witch of your age for nothing, the hat hissed softly.

"Yes, what a shame. But I have found where I belong and I trust you will place me where I belong," Val requested calmly.

Of course of course. There is no way the Old Coot could stop me now that you know, the hat assured calmly.

"Slytherin!"

There was a loud uproar from the Slytherin table as they applauded Val, the loudest being her group of friends. Val took the hat off of her head, rising to her, and setting it down before walking off to the Slytherin table. Others in the hall clapped slowly, almost fearfully as they watched her stride to the Slytherin table confidently before taking her seat between her cousin and Pansy.

"Welcome to Slytherin, Val," Blaise grinned as he winked at the newly deemed Slytherin witch.

"Happy to be home," Val smiled before turning her gaze towards the front of the Great Hall where Albus Dumbledore gazed down upon her intently, fear evident in those old eyes of his. Her smile slowly shifted into a smirk, and as she stared the old Headmaster down, she mouthed the words, 'Time for you to pay.'

Dumbledore's eyes widened in horror before he glanced away quickly, causing a small feeling of triumph to rise in Val's chest.

One interesting year, indeed.