Chapter Nine (written with both authors at the same time and this is right before Christmas)

Valencia, Zoey, and Stefan stood before a wall. Suddenly a door opened and Harry led them inside where people were waving their wands at each other.

"What are we learning today Harry?" Valencia asked.

"Patronuses," He replied happily yet seriously.

"Awesome!" exclaimed Zoey.

They lined up in a row and one by one released their Patronuses.

"Expecto Patronum!" A cheetah pounced out of Zoey's wand, running and roaring around the room, knocking several people over.

"Expecto Patronum!" A mighty falcon sprang from Valencia's wand and flew around the room, beating its powerful wings. Everyone stared in wonder as it let out a mighty cry.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" And a powerful-wisp came out of Stefan's wand. He tried again. And again. And again and again and again. And then finally on the Umpteenth try a giant wolf came charging out of his wand. It howled by his side and Stefan laughed with joyness.

"Well done," Harry said absent mindedly, staring at Cho Chang, who was struggling. Zoey glared at him.

After about an hour, they all started leaving. Valencia and Stefan were chatting with Zoey and George when Professor McGonagall approached them.

"Valencia, Stefan, Dumbledore would like to see you in his office."

Zoey said goodbye and Valencia and Stefan followed McGonagall.

They entered Dumbledore's office and stood and stared at him. "You may wish to sit down for the news I bear," he said politely.

They sat down in two chairs in front of his desk.

He folded his hands and started, "Your mother has died."

Valencia's heart hit her feet. She couldn't believe it. It had to be a joke. What had happened? How could her mother be...gone? She felt her eyes water with tears and Stefan squeezed her hand.

"What?" Stefan exclaimed.

"I could lie and try to sprinkle the story with sprinkles and sunshine but I believe in the cold hard truth. You mother was murdered by a Death Eater."

"A-a-a Death Eater?" Valencia stuttered.

"Yes," Dumbledore said coolly. "I believe your brother must explain the family relation with Death Eaters."

Valencia looked at Stefan. "Stefan..."

"I'll explain in a little while." Stefan muttered nervously.

"Good, because your new guardian should be arriving by now."

"Guardian?" Valencia asked. "Shouldn't Uncle Severus be our guardian?"

"Well there was one other person that was before him in line. Let us go meet him."

He led them to the Great Hall were a person was waiting.

He was very tall and lanky, with long greasy gray hair and a mismatched scraggly beard. He had a really creepy smile on his face. He smelled of fire whiskey.

"This is Douglas Snivile," Dumbledore said.

The man smiled wider and said, "Call me Uncle Snivile." His breath smelled REALLY bad.

"Umm, hi," Stefan said. Valencia said nothing. They both thought he was REALLY REALLY creepy.

"You'll be joining me for Christmas break," he said.

"Umm, I already had plans to stay at a friend's house for Christmas."

"That's fine as long as one of you stay at my house." He smiled cruelly.

"I guess that'll be me Uncle Snivel," Valencia said quietly.

"SNIVIIIILLLEEE!- I mean, of course dear child." He laughed nervously.

Dumbledore, Stefan and Valencia all looked at him like he was a creeper.

"Well, I believe that these children should have some time with each other," Dumbledore stated.

Snivile nodded and stalked off.

They turned to thank Dumbledore but he was already gone.

Stefan walked with Valencia and told her the secrets of their family.

"Well, you see, mom and dad were both Death Eaters. When they got married, they decided to quit. Which was very hard to do. But they did, and ever since the other Death Eaters had wanted to kill them. Dad died shortly after you were born, and now mom has gone."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Valencia asked. Her heart was sinking lower and lower.

"Well, mom told me not to tell you until you were 17."

"Oh," Valencia said. Some how she felt somewhat betrayed. "I think I need to walk by myself for a while."

Stefan nodded and walked away.

Valencia walked aimlessly around the halls until it was almost midnight. A teacher saw her and escorted her to the Slytherin Common room.

Valencia plopped herself on the couch, buried her head in her hands and sobbed her eyes out. She felt someone sit beside her and she didn't bother looking up. After what seemed like hours the person asked, "What's wrong?"

Draco.

"Go away," she mumbled, but it turned out to sound like 'mo fafay.'

"But you're obviously upset. And the best way to relieve the stress is to talk about it."

So Valencia poured her heart out. Her mother's death, the Death Eaters, Uncle Snivel (SNIVIIILEE!), and everything else that was on her mind. Which accidentally happened to be how she secretly kinda liked him though she still thought he was a total jerk. But at least he wasn't one now. Now he was her best friend.
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