Chapter Twelve
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Back at Hogwarts, Valencia, Stefan, Zoey, Ron, Hermione and Harry, were all heading off to dinner. In fact they were heading down the stairs when Ron finally discovered that Severus was Valencia's Uncle.

"SNAPE IS YOUR UNCLE?" He exclaimed.

"Umm, yeah, he is," Valencia said cautiously.

"Didn't you already know that orange one?" Zoey snorted.

Ron stood there with his mouth agape then burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHA! Uncky Sevvy-Poo, would you pwease read me a stowry?" He cooed in a baby-ish voice, and then laughed harder.

The others smiled nervously as they saw that Snape was behind Ron when he said those words. "See ya later Ron," they all said, almost running away.

"Wh-why are you guys leaving?" Ron stuttered, still laughing.

An oily voice cleared its throat and someone tapped Ron's shoulder.

Ron slowly rotated and faced Snape. His face froze in horror and he paled.

"Mr. Weasley, detention for a month." Snape sneered.

"But, but, but," Ron stammered.

"Don't throw your but's at me," Snape snided.

"But,"

"100 points from Gryffindor."

"But-"

"150."

"B-but-"

"175. Do you want me to continue Mr. Weasley?"

"N-no, n-n-not really, professor." Ron trembled.

"200 points." Snape retorted, and then stalked off.

Ron stood there for several moments then finally walked towards the Great Hall.

Valencia was enjoying dinner until it showed up. Draco sat beside her and happily said, "Hello."

"What gave you permission to sit by me?" Valencia questioned.

He shrugged. "'Cause I can."

"I thought I said what happened between us didn't happen," Valencia said.

"It did."

"You couldn't be serious at Christmas," Valencia replied.

He gave her a dead serious look. "I was dead serious."

"How do I know you're telling the truth? And that you actually will be around?" Valencia asked.

"Because I made it a promise to myself that I won't leave you and I've decided to make that promise to you."

Valencia snorted. "Whatever."

Draco gazed deeply into her eyes. "I don't break promises."

Valencia thought she should've said something better or more comeback-ish than 'Okay,' But that's what she said.

And they both seemed to be perfectly happy with that.

Valencia lied in bed restlessly for hours. It was about midnight when she decided to go for a walk. She made sure the girls in her dorm were asleep then transformed into a cat. She slipped out of the common room then roamed the hallways aimlessly.

She wondered if Zoey would be around that time of night and decided to search. She went down a hallway and soon figured out that her nighttime stroll was a big mistake.

"AWWWWWW WHAT A CUTE KITTYYY!" a woman with a sickly sweet voice gushed.

Umbridge.

Uh, oh.

Umbridge picked Valencia up and said, "You are so adorable I could maul you to death!"

Valencia meowed loudly and hissed.

"No no, that's not what good kitties do," Umbridge scolded.

Umbridge started to open her office door and Valencia decided that she needed to act fast.

She hissed louder and scratched at Umbridge's face. Umbridge went "OW!" then held Valencia away from her at arm's length.

She stepped inside the office and said, "BAD KITTEH! YOU GET TO STAY INSIDE THE CAGE TONIGHT!"

Then she proceeded to lock Valencia in a solid gold cage. (Where did she get that?)

Umbridge then left the room and left Valencia alone.

Valencia yowled loudly, hoping someone would hear. She hoped Zoey would hear.

Then she hears a response. By someone breaking through the door. Zoey. In wolf form.

She came up to the cage and asked, Why are you in a cage in the Thing's office?

Valencia sighed a cat sigh. She thought I was a cute little kitteh cat. Can you help me out?

Zoey gave a wolf nod and warned Valencia to stay back. Valencia got as far back as possible wondering why.

Then Zoey took her powerful jaws and ripped the bars of the cage off. Valencia was free.

OW! That is SO going to hurt in the morning!

Valencia nodded a cat nod. I'll make it up to you.

Then they heard a voice. "Kitty, is that you?"

Oh snap! Valencia said.

Zoey jerked her head toward the door. You go on ahead. I got this.

You sure? Valencia asked.

Zoey growled as if insulted and Valencia bolted back to the Slytherin common room. There she met Draco who was shaking his head, and saying, "Getting yourself into trouble, aren't you?"

Valencia groaned.
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