I did promise another chapter, and I know my word means pretty much nothing after this huuuuuuuuge break between the previous few chapters but this is me getting my A into G ;D
Disclaimer: don't own anything but Valerie (and her parents?) I actually don't know who Viktor's parents are so I guess I made them up in a way? Idk.
Anyway, some things with the deatheaters and the actual film plot have/will be altered to better fit Valerie's relationship with Tom/Voldemort and the storyline. (Hope that made sense)
Oh and thoughts are in italics :D
-o0o-
Ivan dusted his robed off as he exited the fireplace within Headmaster dumbledore's office. His wife sniffled beside himself, trying to remain the composed pureblood wife she was expected to be, and he couldn't find it within himself to reprimand her.
Collecting herself, Katerina stepped from the hearth with the assistance of her husband before turning to the other occupants of the room.
Karkaroff stood next to Snape across the room, while Dumbledore stood politely behind his desk, waiting for their guests to be seated. Ivan helped his wife who was struggling to maintain her facade into a chair while he stood with his hand on her shoulder, offering silent comfort.
"While it is nice to convene, I believe the circumstances are unfortunate,' Dumbledore addressed the husband and wife.
Katerina said nothing in fear of losing all control, and simply bowed her head in acknowledgement. Ivan nodded his head in greeting to Snape and Karkaroff before turning back to the headmaster.
"We came as soon as we could, we would just like to see our daughter."
Sighing Dumbledore took in the frail looking mother, "Perhaps it is best Katerina sees her, but I would like to speak with you, Ivan."
Ivan knew it would come to this, and despite how much he wished to see his daughter safe and alive, he needed to hear what was to be said.
Without wasting another moment, Katerina stood from the chair seated before Dumbledore's desk, using the support her husband offered. Seeing this, Snape extended his hand to the woman before leading her to the infirmary.
"I want to know, everything, leave nothing out."
Dumbledore, expecting this, folded his hands on his desk in front of him, "She was in divination, they were reading crystal balls, making predictions I believe Professor Trelawney said."
Ivan sighed heavily, his face falling, "Valerie, she had a vision, no?"
"Student's accounts of the ongoings all confirmed that she did, and Trelawney identified her as a seer in the lesson before she walked out. She has since, not attended any classes or meals outside her living space, Viktor brung her evening meals, and Dmitri gave her breakfast. I have been told Viktor has tried to find out what the vision was about, but he has not heard more than what was said during the lesson," Dumbledore accounted.
"She said she saw death, that one lives and it is inevitable," Karkaroff spoke up.
"I think we all know who she speaks of," Ivan concluded, it had to be about the boy and his Master, and only Valerie knew the outcome, and she clearly did not want to ever speak of it.
Dumbledore nodded solemnly, "Dmitri came to visit her, and found she was in the shower and decided to wait, until he heard a thump, he called out to Miss Krum but she gave no response and on trying to get in, his hand burnt when grabbing the door handle which had been hexed."
Dumbledore went on to explain the following events and although he considered himself to be a stern, proper, pureblood male, he allowed himself to shed his tears. He had been strong for his wife, allowing her to grieve openly in their manor but had yet to come to terms with his daughter's attempted suicide himself.
Smoothing out his suit and standing taller Ivan asked to be taken to the infirmary.
X
Katerina had nearly fallen to her knees when she finally saw her daughter, had it not been for Severus catching her. Viktor could only watch his mother sob in the Professor's arms as he still remained behind his sister. The movement of Valerie drew his attention away from his heartbroken mother to his sister, and noticed that Valerie had turned her head towards her mother.
Draco watched the scene from the side of Valerie's bed, feeling out of place and if he should not be there, but a reassuring nod from Snape kept him there.
Viktor whispered in his sister's ear, and receiving a nod in return slowly and gently moved from behind her, coming to stand next to her betrothed.
Katerina shakily made her way towards her daughter, having since halted in her sobbing but the tears continued down her cheeks.
"My poor daughter," Katerina whispered, and with a sudden burst of energy, she rushed to embrace her daughter.
Valerie just looked on hopelessly, she didn't want to be here, it wasn't meant to be, she was supposed to be with Him. And he definitely was not here.
Katerina held her arms firmly, yet comfortingly around Valerie.
"I need Him."
Katerina sighed, she knew exactly who her daughter spoke of and agreed with her. Valerie needed Him but He was not yet ready for her.
Instead, Katerina ran her hands through Valerie's locks, smoothing her hair back. Looking over to her son, she nodded to him in dismissal, hoping he would leave to tidy himself, he didn't of course and his mother couldn't find it in herself to reprimand him for his appearance.
Dumbledore and Ivan entered the infirmary with Karkaroff following behind them. Katerina, seated beside Valerie, tutted as she tucked the thick fur blankets around her daughter, trying to assure herself that her daughter was fine.
But she isn't, rang through Katerina's head.
Ivan stood next to the Malfoy heir, offering his hand to the young man, "I had hoped to meet under better circumstances, Ivan Krum," Ivan introduced himself to his daughter's betrothed.
Taking the hand offered, Draco introduced himself, "Draco Malfoy, it is a pleasure Mr Krum, but I too believe this meeting should have been due to better circumstances."
Ivan shook off the pleasantries, "Please, call me Ivan, we are to be family, no?"
Nodding his agreement, the pair turned their attention back to Valerie.
"Poppy has said she believes Miss Krum can be released in a few days at the most," Viktor spoke, trying to break the heavy silence.
Dumbledore exhaled heavily, "My dear, would you please enlighten us as to what happened?"
Valerie slumped her shoulders in acknowledgement of the question, "It hurt, I kept seeing it , over and over and over, He's alive, but he's been ripped from his body."
Katerina's mind was racing, she now knew exactly what her daughter had tried to do, having believed Tom Riddle to be dead, Valerie had simply been living, not the happy, joyful daughter she once had. They had a connection, and Valerie tried to weaken herself to the furthest point she could go to try bring his attention to her, and apparently, he hadn't noticed.
Valerie broke her mother out of her thoughts as she tried to shrug of her embrace, her wrapped arms coming out of the blanket and into the view of her family. Ivan's eyes softened but his daughter took no notice as she tried to clamber out of bed.
Karkaroff and Viktor came to her sides, both placing a hand on one of her shoulders, trying to push her back into bed.
"I have to find Him, He needs me," Valerie tried to fight off their hands.
In her struggle to escape her bed, Valerie had allowed her bandages to come loose around hr arms, the gauze sliding down to her wrists, allowing those surrounding her to see the vivid red lines marring her skin.
Almost everyone sucked in a sharp breath at the sight, her mother shed another silent tear, but Valerie paid them all no mind and continued to try to get out of the bed. The tutting of Madame Pomfrey halted her as the matron was quick to push aside Viktor and Karkaroff as she tried to reach her patient.
Poppy gently grabbed Valerie's wrists, not restraining her, but not allowing her to hurt herself further. Valerie soon gave up leaving as her mother continued whispering soothing words and combing her hand through her daughter's hair.
Valerie finally allowed herself to cry, distraught that her plan had failed and He was not showing.
He promised.
Her quiet tears turned into sobs as reality sunk in, she needed him and he didn't come.
Valerie soon cried herself to sleep, Katerina gently climbing out from beside her sleeping daughter. Dumbledore nodded to himself, "We have some more guests visiting," and a raised eyebrow towards Draco confirmed that the visitors were his parents.
X
Draco followed Dumbledore and Snape up the staircase to Albus' office, his thoughts whirring, everyone knows she needs him, so why am I to marry her? The thought of taking something of the Dark Lord's away from him sent a shudder down his spine. Here he was, a fifteen year old boy, betrothed to the love of the Dark Lord, Merlin.
Entering the office, his mother and father turned to greet them, having already arrived. Lucius wore his usual cold mask, but Draco could not figure out why there was a hint of fear in his father's eyes. His mother looked to almost be in the same state as Lady Krum, but that didn't surprise him.
"We're here to take Draco home," Lucius spoke.
Draco nearly choked on air, home? Why would I need to go home?
Seeing the shock on her son's face, Narcissa stepped in.
"Just for the night and most of tomorrow, Albus. There are a few things we must discuss with Draco," She clarified.
Dumbledore, although he would never normally do this, nodded his head in agreement to the Malfoy wife, "I understand, Lady Malfoy, but I believe it would be in everyone's interest if he was back before classes tomorrow. Save him from catching up on any classes he could miss."
Knowing it was the best option they had, Lucius nodded his agreement, Daft old man.
"Please pass on our support for the Krum's Albus, we do hope Valerie a swift recovery," Narcissa rushed out before her husband pulled her and their son into the fireplace.
Dumbledore nodded his head, although they could not see it past the green flames of the floo network.
X
Later after dinner had been served in the Great Hall, and Valerie had since woke to eat her own dinner upon her mother's insistence, but to the woman's disappointment, only a few mouthfuls at most were swallowed before her daughter pushed the plate full of her favourite meat and vegetables away, "No more."
Katerina did well in hiding her disappointment, opting to continue smoothing her daughter's' hair back from her slightly clammy forehead. Looking to her husband who had taken the seat next to the bedside, and then her son sitting at the foot of the bed, she realised how close she had become to losing her only daughter. She loved her family dearly, despite the arranged marriage with her and Ivan, they had been friends beforehand and she soon fell in love with the man who gave her their children.
"I tried to see Him, mother, I couldn't see him. I couldn't even find Him!"
Sensing her daughter was not going to let the topic drop, Katerina pressed her lips to Valerie's head. Sighing in resignation, she looked to her husband, and upon receiving a grim smile and a nod from him she looked down to her daughter.
"Why were you trying to find him Valerie? He's gone, you need to let him go," Katerina tried to sooth her daughter despite the fact she knew very well the man her daughter longed for was very much still around for lack of better term, but Valerie did not know that.
Throughout the years since they had departed from one another she had continuously checked in on Him, seeing Him, but He did not get the same opportunities, for He himself was not one of them. Ivan, as one of His trusted confidants, knew exactly what was happening, and in turn so did his wife. Along with the Lord and Lady Malfoy, a select few also knew. And as much as he hated seeing his daughter lost, completely distraught over this, he knew it would be over soon and better in the long run.
"It's stronger here mother, He has been here, I needed to see Him, but he wasn't there," Valerie whispered.
Another look was shared between husband and wife. He clearly did not want Valerie seeing what he was doing, He knew she saw him, watched from afar, checked on him. And that made him love her even more, for he knew she had his best interests and his safety at heart. But He could not have her seeing this, what He was doing, it was not a side of him He wanted her to see.
Deciding to bite the bullet, Ivan spoke to his daughter, "Did you see anything else, little one?"
Valerie's forehead creased as her brows pulled together, trying to remember what else had happened, which was difficult considering she only wanted to see him, she didn't care for anything else.
"I think, I think I saw death, no, I know I did, a lot of it, there is a war coming."
X
Review?
-One last thing, I do hope to find a regular(ish) updating schedule. I'm still making some tweaks to Uni life and then everything should fall into place, hopefully! :)