Thanks to all those amazing people out there who are reading and/or reveiwing the story, and I hope you continue to enjoy it. If you have critisisms, I'm open to them too. Enjoy.

Valkyrie was especially careful to avoid the pink blob over the next few days, especially in corridors, as although she would have loved to rub it in the old hag's face, she wasn't in the mood for a screaming match. Instead, Valkyrie focused on Harry's upcoming lesson with them. She had been wondering about it all week, and now that Friday's lessons had officially ended, he was supposed to be arriving at any moment.

Valkyrie wondered if it would just be combat defence they'd end up teaching him. She had a feeling that Skulduggery was curious as to whether a wizard could also be a sorcerer. According to the teachers, Harry was quite talented, had a knack for trouble, and it wasn't difficult to see he had both friends and enemies. This was all Valkyrie needed to hear before she would have been recruiting him for the Sanctuary, had he not been a wizard already. She suspected that Skulduggery was thinking the same.

The knock on the door interrupted Valkyrie thoughts as Skulduggery barked

"Come in." The door opened slowly, and Harry peered around the side. Valkyrie smiled at him.

"Come on in Harry." Skulduggery said, walking over to Valkyrie. He had his jacket off, and when he stood in front of the window the silhouettes of his ribs and the gun held in his pocket were visible though his shirt. It was very unnerving, and Valkyrie had made sure to close the blinds.

Harry looked around cautiously

"I could come back at another time…" he muttered.

"Nonsense we've been waiting for you." Skulduggery stood behind Valkyrie as Harry closed the door and put his bag on the floor.

"Harry, if you don't want to do this, then you don't have to." Valkyrie said.

"No, I'm just a bit nervous." He muttered.

"I wouldn't worry Mr. Potter, we don't bite" Skulduggery tilted his head – smiling again. Harry raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly.

"Right ok" Valkyrie clasped her hands together and smiled "Combat." Skulduggery nodded as Harry walked further into the room. Valkyrie moved to the middle of the room and brushed her hair back with her hands.

"Ok, Harry. Come on." Harry let Skulduggery guide him to face Valkyrie, who smiled reassuringly. Skulduggery moved Harry into position, making him move his leg backwards, spine straight, hands held close to his chest, fists locked.

"Ok, now when Valkyrie comes to punch you" Harry looked up worriedly "she won't really, don't panic. But when she 'appears' to come and punch you, all you do is raise this arm slightly" Skulduggery moved it for him "and throw the punch. Keep your fist locked, and your muscles tense, and just focus on trying to hit her shoulder. Keep both eyes open and don't worry about how hard you punch, that'll come later. Ok?"

"Yeah, ok." Harry took a deep breath in as Valkyrie smiled, raising her fists.

"Ready?" She asked. Harry nodded and Valkyrie moved forwards quickly. Her fist dashed out, hitting him lightly on the shoulder. Harry lashed out, feeling his own fist connect with Valkyrie's shoulder blade. Valkyrie pulled back and grinned, rubbing her shoulder slightly. It had almost hurt. That was good. She lunged again, this time dodging his attack before he punched with the other fist, almost catching her off guard.

"You're good for a first timer." Valkyrie grinned, taking another light swipe. Harry began to smile as his fist connected with Valkyrie's shoulder again before Skulduggery clicked his fingers. Valkyrie immediately pulled back, and Harry lowered his fists, standing normally.

"Well done Harry." Skulduggery said pleasantly, and Harry smiled. Valkyrie flexed her shoulders. The jacket had absorbed most of the punch, but even then it was quite strong. Strong was good.

They practised like that for a while, Skulduggery correcting Harry on his posture, movement, until Harry was faster, lashing out a lot more. Valkyrie was never hurt of course, her jacket either absorbed the punch or she dodged it altogether, but even so it was impressive.

By the end of the half-hour session, Harry's fringe had started to stick to his forehead with effort, and he was almost panting. Valkyrie grinned at him as he grinned back.

"Excellent. We'll continue this next week, shall we?" Skulduggery said as Harry picked up his bag and grinned, nodding quickly.

"Yeah definitely!" He grinned even wider and opened the door.

"Mr Potter?" Skulduggery asked, causing Harry to turn, still smiling "Have you ever thought about broadening your range of magic?" Harry frowned slightly.

"Isn't that what we do at Hogwarts?"

"I didn't quite mean it like that." Skulduggery chuckled "I was meaning, if you ever wanted to see if sorcery was a better suit for you."

"Oh, no I haven't really thought about it. I mean, I'm a wizard aren't I?"

"Of course. I was just curious. If you ever do want to learn more though, we're right here."

"Y-yeah. Ok. Sure. See you later."

"Goodbye Mr Potter."

"Bye Harry" He closed the door behind him and Valkyrie turned to Skulduggery "Wow, didn't think you'd ask so fast."

"His teachers are right, he has talent. I'm merely curious." Skulduggery shrugged. Valkyrie rolled her eyes and sighed slightly.

"Do you think he could do it?"

"Possibly."

"'Possibly'" Valkyrie imitated him, and he tilted his head towards her.

"Are you mocking me, detective Cain?"

"'Possibly'" She grinned again. Before she knew it Skulduggery had grabbed her and slung her over his shoulder. She screamed slightly and began laughing as Skulduggery twirled her around. She hit his back, still laughing.

"Put me down!"

"Not until you learn to respect your elders."

"You're not my elder, you're just old!" She giggled. He pretended to take offence, and twirled her faster.

"Give up?" He laughed.

"Never!" Valkyrie declared, still laughing. Eventually, Skulduggery gave up and put her down. They laughed together as they walked towards the teachers dorms. Valkyrie smiled. She liked moments like these, where she and Skulduggery could just have a laugh, and didn't have to worry about serial killers and murder scenes and maniacs taking over the world. It was times like this that had allowed her to take back her body from Darquesse after she destroyed O'Connell street.

Thinking of Darquesse brought Valkyrie back to reality with a 'thud'. Why had she even thought about her? Ruining everything by thinking about her? Valkyrie sighed as she walked into Skulduggery's room after him.

"What's wrong?" He asked as she closed the door.

"Nothing, just thinking about Darquesse." She muttered. Skulduggery was silent for a moment before he wrapped her in a hug. Valkyrie appreciated it before Skulduggery drew back and looked at her.

"Val, Hogwarts is one of the safest places you can be when dealing with sorcerers. Hardly any of them even know it exists, and even fewer know where it is. No one will threaten your life here, which means no one will give Darquesse the opportunity to take over. You're safe here." He said quietly. Valkyrie sighed.

"But what about remnant-Tanith? It'll never give up on Darquesse. And Billy-ray Sanguine can tunnel anywhere. What if they find us and unleash Darquesse? I don't want to be responsible for any more murders." Valkyrie said quietly, thinking of the many people she had killed, especially when Darquesse had first arisen in the remnant hoard.

"You're not responsible for the people Darquesse has killed. You can't control her."

"I know, but even you've said she is me. She's my 'bad mood', right?"

"Valkyrie, just because she's a part of you, doesn't mean she is you. I mean look at me: am I Lord Vile? Without the suit and the shadows, am I him?"

"Well, no-"

"And Tanith. Is she the same, even with the remnant in her?"

"No, of course not-"

"Then stop fretting about it. Val, you're you. You and Darquesse are different personalities of the same person. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Except the fact that she's a mass murdering, sadistic world breaker?"

"I never said there was nothing wrong with her."

"But, just say she gets loose, and we can't get me back, you'd kill me, right?"

"Val?"

"You would wouldn't you? Please, I want you to. I don't want to go out any other way." Valkyrie whispered, and Skulduggery slowly wrapped her in another hug.

"You won't. I promise."