Madam Pomfrey fussed over the wounds Tanith had sustained, still pale faced after being told the news. She had made it a rule long ago not to ask questions, but after everything that had happened, she couldn't stand being in the dark. The answer of the events that had taken place on the Hogwarts grounds had not reassured her, much less the news that she was tending to one of the people who had organised it, despite Skulduggery assuring her that Tanith was not in control of her own actions when she had being doing so. This made Poppy Pomfrey think about the Imperius curse, and all the people during the war who had suffered under it with full memory of the atrocities they had committed. She made a mental note to watch the blonde woman when she woke up, to make sure she didn't do anything…drastic.

Skulduggery paced the hospital ward, refusing to be treated despite his serious injuries, including the two broken ribs that Poppy had seen the moment he walked in carrying the unconscious woman. Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore were the only other two members of staff in the room, and despite Poppy's protest, three students had joined them.

Skulduggery didn't pause his pacing as they questioned him, and kept his answers to the briefest words he possibly could. But eventually, Dumbledore seemed to have had enough.

"Detective Pleasant," he said, in that grave tone of voice he always had when he was talking about something serious "for the safety of the students and staff here at Hogwarts, I must ask you, and ask of answer longer than five words, why was I not informed Miss Cain had a separate, more hostile, personality?"

"Ghastly doesn't know Valkyrie is Darquesse." Skulduggery said darkly "There's only myself, and a few others, including Tanith, and now, unfortunately, Sanguine, who know it. Contrary to what you might think, this isn't something that is widely shared about amongst our community. Nor would we want it to be."

"Then why did you not inform me when you arrived?"

"Like I said, it's not widely shared information. We thought there would be no need for people to know, as Hogwarts was supposed to be unplottable, and therefore, safe. There should have been no opportunity for Valkyrie's life to be put in danger in the first place."

"But you said that Darquesse was going to destroy the world?" Ron said, speaking up for the first time "Shouldn't someone be out looking for her before she does something else?"

"What I said about Darquesse destroyed the world is still true: that is the future the sensitives have seen, but there's no need to look for her. She'll come to us." Skulduggery said promptly.

"She's coming back?" McGonagall said, horrified.

"She will. Darquesse is partially incapable of human emotions, however, she seems to have taken a liking to putting people through mental as well as physical pain. She'll be back to finish off them" he gestured to Tanith and Sanguine "and me."

"She said she had a lot of time to 'think things over'." Hermione said quietly "She said she was going to make a statement."

"Yes well, she enjoys that too." Skulduggery said shortly.

"I cannot have her returning, detective pleasant, to put my students in more danger." Dumbledore said, watching over the rim of his spectacles.

"As long as they stay out of her way, they'll be fine." He said shortly "When she comes back, I'll be able to resurface Valkyrie."

"And how will you do that?" McGonagall said. Under any other circumstance she may have sounded sceptical or condescending, but her tone in that moment was partly professional, and partly scared.

"Yes, Skulduggery, how will you do that?" A voice came form the doors of the hospital wing. They turned their heads. Darquesse was grinning as she leant against the wall. The once white t-shirt was coated in crimson, turning maroon in places whilst dripping in others, and had been torn in a few places. Skulduggery drew his gun and pointed it at her as McGonagall grabbed Harry, Ron and Hermione and nearly threw them behind her with Madam Pomfrey. Darquesse glanced to Tanith and snickered slightly before she spotted Sanguine in the next bed along (handcuffed to the bed frame, but unconscious).

"I thought I killed him." She said bluntly.

"No, he'll make a recovery."

"Pity. I'll have to try harder next time."

"There won't be a next time."

"You're scowling at me, I know you are. Don't, I have a surprise for you." Her face lit up like an excited child "Actually I have two surprises, well, three if you count the one for Valkyrie, but two for you. Want to see?" She didn't wait for a reply, but instead, stood from the wall and pulled the door to the ward open, and whistled slightly. A man walked in, scowling, and for a brief moment, Skulduggery's gun wobbled and lowered.

"I'm not a dog, I don't respond to whistling." The man scowled at Darquesse.

"Kenspeckle Grouse…" Skulduggery muttered, then he raised his voice "You're supposed to be dead!"

"I was, apparently." The old man scowled further as he saw Skulduggery's gun "Now why does that not surprise me?" He didn't get an answer. "I suppose you killed me then."

"No, Clarabelle."

"Clarabelle?" He frowned "I always thought she was a nice girl. Stupid, but nice."

"She was possessed by a remnant." Kenspeckle grunted to this reply.

"Reunions, eh?" Darquesse grinned, looking between the two men "I always loved them. Aren't you impressed? I'm impressed with myself."

"I'm not a showpiece." Kenspeckle scowled again. "Will someone please tell me why I'm here?"

"Kenspeckle move away from Darquesse."

"Who?" Skulduggery gestured with his gun. Kenspeckle looked to her.

"Valkyrie?"

"That's not Valkyrie. A lot's changed since you died. Right now, just trust me when I tell you to move away." Kenspeckle narrowed his eyes slightly at Skulduggery, and then glanced to Darquesse who was still grinning. He side-stepped away, to the right.

"I thought she smiled too much." He muttered.

"First surprise over. One left." Darquesse grinned before she moved to the left wall. Kenspeckle moved silently towards the closest bed, his back to it. Darquesse placed her hand against the wall and the shadows pooled around it to form a figure. Darquesse grabbed it and pulled it out of the wall. The darkness was like a sheet being whipped off as Darquesse dragged the woman to the middle of the room and threw her onto the floor. She was bleeding in various places, dark hair falling over her face. She tried to climb to all fours before Darquesse grabbed her hair and pulled her face up to face them. Her bottom lip was cut and bleeding, a long gash running from her forehead to her cheek, but she was still the most beautiful woman that had ever been seen.

"You recognise her, don't you Skulduggery?" His gun was steady "How could you not." Darquesse continued "I mean, after all she did, how could you forget?" She grinned "For those who don't know, Miss Sorrows here." Darquesse twisted her hair, making her cry out slightly "Is the reason that Skulduggery's family was murdered. And let's face it, she's the reason you're dead too, isn't she." Skulduggery lowered his gun, silent.

"Told you you'd like the surprise." Darquesse grinned "Here she is. Go ahead. Take revenge, I won't stop you. Or I could do it for you. I'll kill her, if you want. I'll take her away and put her through so much pain she'll be begging before I kill her. Or we could do it together, that'd be fun, right? Just like old times, huh?" Everything was silent for a few moments, as Darquesse's grin got wider. China said nothing, but was breathing heavily as the Hogwarts occupants looked on in horror. Then Skulduggery spoke.

"No."

"No?"

"You won't kill her."

"Really?"

"I'll do it myself." He paused "When the time is right. But right now, you're going to give Valkyrie back."

"And we're back full circle." Darquesse sighed, standing as she let go of China's hair. She didn't move, but instead looked down again, her head no longer being forced upwards.

"I suppose I knew it was coming."

"You're going to give her back willingly?"

"Ha! No! But I am going to wait to see what marvellous method you've developed this time." That was when Kenspeckle struck with the bed pan he'd picked up from the bed. There was an almighty 'smack' as it connected with the back of her head, and for a moment, nothing happened, everything was still and silent. Then Valkyrie fell to her knees, and screamed. She covered her ears with her hands as Skulduggery pocketed the gun quickly and dashed over, bending onto one knee to her height.

"I didn't hit that hard." Kenspeckle grumbled under his breath.

"Valkyrie," Skulduggery said softly, his voice barely audible.

"Oh God!" She wailed "She burned it down! She burned it!"

"What did she burn, Val? Calm down, and tell me, what did she burn?" Valkyrie's screams turned to heavy sobs as she managed to open her eyes slightly. The look of pain they showed was almost unbearable.

"My parent's house." She began to cry "They were in the house!" She buried her head in his shoulder as she wailed, the muffled words 'she burned it' repeated over and over between sobs. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Professor Dumbledore, I need to contact the Sanctuary. Now."