The Owlery was empty when Valentine arrived. She'd written up the letter the night before. She was certain Haley would get the shock of her life when she received it and felt a pang of guilt. Even when she wasn't around she would still be causing the girl trouble and trouble from her was trouble to be feared. But she didn't see what other choice she had.
If Snape couldn't be caught buying wares on the shady side of the market then Dumbledore certainly couldn't be. And Valentine definitely couldn't ask Narcissa and would never ask Lucius. If worst came to worst, Valentine could retrieve it herself but that would most likely mean sneaking off the school grounds and getting to London which was a whole fiasco she would much rather avoid.
As she held out the envelope to Darcy, she made a mental note to largely ignore Haley when she was back at Malfoy Manor next. It hardly made up for anything, but temporarily halting her torment was everything Valentine could do.
"Take this to Malfoy Manor, to Haley specifically. No one else can get their hands on this." She told the owl.
Darcy blinked slowly as if in understanding before stretching out his wide wingspan. He was such a large bird that he had claimed the perch in the centre of the Owlery Tower all to himself. He wouldn't have fit in the cubbies along the walls like the others and no other owl was about to challenge him for it.
Valentine ducked down out of the way just in time for Darcy to clear her and then even more narrowly clear the doorway.
She knew this was serious business. Her life was at stake here and as it was, regarding the only other known victims of her particular affliction, it was likely enough that she could end up like them. The research in this area was so thin, there wasn't anything even hinting that these people had attempted to cure themselves, though Valentine thought that it seemed odd that they wouldn't. What if they had? What if Snape was following the same path as they had with his breakthroughs and this cure was damned to ineffectiveness? All these questions to ponder but Valentine felt no worry or urgency. She supposed she probably should have, most people understandably fret when their life is on the line, but in all honesty, she didn't have time to fret over herself. Harry was being forced to compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. That's all that was occupying her mind these days. Her possible death was hardly an afterthought until Dumbledore would prompt her to bring something up to Snape.
Is that normal? Hmm. Probably not.
She simply shrugged to herself and shoved her hands in her coat pocket. She wasn't going to waste time and energy over worrying about how worried she wasn't.
She headed down the stone steps from the Owlery and started around the corner, not expecting anyone to be near. That's why she was surprised to almost collide right into Meriton's chin.
"Watch where you're going, idiot." She hissed and took a large step away from him as if he'd burned her.
"I'm sorry!" He exclaimed, jumping back himself. He eyed her in lightly veiled fear. "It was my fault."
"It sure as hell was." She spat and moved to walk around him and keep going. Meriton was a nice boy and she had no reason to torment him when she could make a quick and unquestioned exit.
That's why she was doubly surprised when he called out to her before she'd gotten ten steps away.
"Le-Lestrange?"
She turned slowly to him with an arched brow.
"Hasani?"
"Ah." He stared at her through long blond bangs like he hadn't expected her to answer. "I-I..."
"Spit it out." She snapped at him. "Or are you making a nuisance of yourself just to piss me off?"
He shook his head hastily
"No, no, of course not." He gulped as if attempting to swallow his fear. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Well?" She prompted impatiently. "I'm getting younger here."
"About Liam."
"I believe I may require more details than that."
"Sorry, I- ah..." Meriton raked his hand back through his bangs and let them drop back over his eyes. "I wanted to ask about him and Jane Philips. As in, are they...you know, together?"
Together?
Valentine crossed her arms and cocked her head, shooting him a look that said 'what the hell does that mean?'. Meriton picked up the sign loud and clear and blinked, seemingly more embarrassed than ever.
"Like...Dating? Are Liam and Philips dating?"
"No." Valentine frowned. "Not to my knowledge and I can assure you it would not happen without such."
Meriton let out a breath and gave her a small smile like she'd delivered him some very good news.
"Okay. Thank you. That's good."
"Good?" She frowned deeper.
Meriton's smile immediately dropped.
"I mean, I..."
"Ugh, whatever. I don't even care enough to continue this conversation. Just mind your own damn business." She turned on her heel and headed off in the direction she'd been leaving.
"Sorry." She heard Meriton say as she did so.
What the hell was that about? Since when was he so invested in other people's lives? Weird.
--Pretending To Live--
Leah was sitting in her usual spot on the floor of their dorm. Back to wall, long legs pulled tight to her chest, eyes trained on the stone floor but far from focused. She was in the place Olivia's bed had once sat. Since their room only had two occupants now, the third bed that had been between them, had been removed.
"Hello, Leah." Valentine grunted in greeting when she entered. This had become a habit of Leah's and so she was far from surprised to see her there. "You missed dinner."
"Hi." Leah replied, voice a solemn whisper. "I know."
Valentine opened her trunk and knelt down to go through it. She had a particular need to read one of the books she'd bought with her from Malfoy Manor. It was a favourite of hers and she always brought it with her despite the fact that she hadn't opened it in two years.
Valentine had to lift several things up and out of the trunk to get to the bottom. Leah just sat there for those impossibly long minutes.
Valentine found the book and quickly put everything back into its place before shutting the lid and latching it shut. She paused, glancing at Leah who still just sat there, staring aimlessly at the floor.
A wave of guilt crashed against Valentine and she fought to keep her grip on her book lax. Leah should have been with the other, fighting with Blaze and Draco, trying to pull Liam into their drama. Not sitting along trapped inside her own head.
"Surely you're bored out of your mind by now." Valentine arched a brow at her. "How do you sit here for so long?"
Leah shrugged indifferently.
"There's nothing better to do."
"Don't be stupid." Valentine huffed. "You've plenty to do. There's your homework for one thing. I know for a fact that you never finished your Charms essay."
"I don't wanna."
"Well, don't come whining to me when you get a detention."
"I won't."
Valentine suppressed a sigh. She didn't know how to handle this. The last time she'd spoken to Leah in a state relative to this she ended up putting her hand through a window and scaring the crap out of Leah. On the bright side, anything but that could probably be considered a success.
"The boys are in the common room, you know. Blaze as well. You haven't screamed at him in weeks. I may even give you express permission to do so seeing as I don't intend to linger."
"I don't feel like doing anything, okay?" Leah's eyes misted over and she wiped them with her robe sleeve. "It's not any fun without Olivia so just leave me alone."
Valentine growled lowly under her breath and dropped her book heavily on to her bed. She crouched down in front of the other girl so they were at eye level.
"She's not coming back, Leah."
"I know that." Leah sniffled, hiding her face in her hands.
"Then stop moping. You're not a damn toddler."
"Why?"
"What the hell do you mean, why?"
"Why can't you just leave me like this?" Leah's voice broke and her shoulders began to tremble. "I'm not bothering anyone. You should be happy."
Well done to me. Freaking idiot.
Groaning, Valentine dropped down against the wall next to Leah. She sat with her friend in silence for a long while, until her sob's began to fade.
"Do you remember that summer when we were five?" Said Valentine, not looking directly at Leah but noticing the tilt of her head in her direction. "We were in the gardens at Malfoy Manor. You, Draco and myself. We stole all of those pots and cooking utensils so we could pretend to be knights, using them as shields and helmets and weapons. We spent hours running around with those stupid pots on our heads. I remember taking mine off and watching you and Draco walking into each other over and over. And then you two even tried to form some alliance and take me down together. But you were both so obvious about it, that of course I knew. You never had a chance. Then Draco was trying to get away from me and he walked straight into his damned father. The stupid pot was covering his eyes and he thought it was the gardener and ordered him to get out of his way. Well, that was the end of that. And just about all our fun for the rest of the week. Do you remember what you said to me just before you were sent home, Leah? While Lucius was shouting and Draco was crying like a baby and Narcissa was trying to calm everyone down? You turned to me with the most disgustingly happy grin and said 'I've smiled so much my face hurts'. That was a long time ago. Nine years. Six before we even met Olivia. You were happy then, you moron. You had more fun than what we were even allowed to have. So, don't feed me this crap that you need Olivia to enjoy yourself. You did so for years before she came into the picture."
Valentine still kept her eyes forward, gaze on the door, but from the corner of her eye she could see Leah staring, tears dripping down her cheeks.
Damn it! I should have kept my mouth shut!
"...I'm sorry." Leah's voice came out like a wrecked sob, that nearly broke Valentine's heart.
"I don't want your apologies, give them to Blaze." Valentine waved her off dismissively. "He's the one who spent all summer killing himself with worry."
Leah blinked at Valentine through her tears, brows furrowed in honest confusion.
"He was worried? But...but Blaze hates me."
"He thinks you're annoying as hell, we all do. It's a basic fact of life that you are so. But he doesn't hate you. He doesn't have enough sense for that."
"Oh."
"Honestly, Leah." Valentine gave her a withering expression. "You've been friends for over three years."
"Yeah." Leah wiped at her puffed-up eyes. "We have been, haven't we?"
"Yes, Leah." Valentine sighed in annoyance. "All caught up now?"
"I think so."
"Good."
"So...Blaze doesn't hate me even though I'm awesome-"
"-I said annoying."
"I know what you said. Let me finish, alright? Blaze doesn't hate me and he's my friend. Anything else?"
"As in?"
"What else has been happening? What have I missed? I haven't paid all that much attention but you probably couldn't tell."
"No, believe me. Everyone could tell."
"Oh."
"Draco ran into a wall this morning. Blaze and Liam have been calling him by your name all day."
A grin broke out across Leah's red face.
"He's stupid." She giggled, completely missing the joke.
"Well, you can't pick your family." Valentine grumbled.
Leah sat up straighter as if she could come to a sudden realisation.
"But you can pick your friends."
"What?" Valentine frowned.
"You can't pick your family, but you can pick your friends. Blaze picked me. You all did."
"So?" Valentine arched a brow at her. "I don't see your point."
Without warning Leah leaned over and wrapped her arms around Valentine, squeezing her tightly.
"Leah get off." Valentine tried to wriggle free like an animal in a trap.
"Thanks for picking me." Leah smiled against her ear. "And sorry for making everyone worried."
"I was never worried!" Valentine snapped and forced up her hands between them to shove the girl back. "Go hug someone else would you?"
"Yeah." Leah's face lit up brighter then it had in months and she sprung to her feet. "Val, that's a great idea!"
Before Valentine could open her mouth and ask what the hell she was talking about, Leah dashed for the door, yanking it open and running off down the hall.
At least she seems like she's in a better mood now?
Valentine stood as well to collect her book and hear the sounds of what sounded very much like two bodies colliding out in the hall.
Valentine peeked her head around the door frame and saw Leah had her arms around Pansy Parkinson not five feet away.
Great. Now she's going to get a rash.
Leah squeezed the other girl with all her crushing might and then ran off down the stairs towards the common room.
Pansy just stood there in the hallway, utterly bewildered. When she noticed Valentine's eyes on her, she jumped in fright and quickly hurried onwards with her head ducked low.
Finally ready to read her book, Valentine shut the door behind her and headed down to the common room. Boys were sitting in their usual place by the large fireplace. Each one wore an perplexed expression, the next more shocked than the last.
When Valentine approached, Liam looked up at her.
"Leah was here, I suppose?"
Liam was still too confused to speak so Valentine simply shoved his outstretched legs off the couch and sat between him and Blaze.
Draco, who was standing by the fire, turned to them with a curled upper lip and a shiver.
"That nut just ran down, hugged us and ran off saying she was going to hug every person she could find. I thought she was still upset about Olivia?"
"I may have told her to 'go hug someone else'." said Valentine. "I didn't realise that she would get 'go hug the entire student body' from that."
Liam laughed, seemingly broken out of his stupor.
"Maybe she's finally getting past it then."
"Can't she do that without hugging me?" Draco scowled.
Then, in a brief moment of quiet, they heard Blaze muttering softly to himself.Out of the three, he was the only one who'd been rendered practically comatose.
"She was so warm..."
Valentine, Draco and Liam exchange exasperated glances.
"That's just gross." Draco literally shivered in disgust.
Liam waved a hand in front of Blaze's slack face.
"Hello? Anyone in there?"
When Blaze remained in his zombified state, Liam shook his shoulder hard. Blaze abruptly snapped out of it and back to life, blinking rapidly and looking around him.
"Where's Leah?" He asked,desperate.
"He's got it bad, huh?" Liam sighed, hands on either hip.
"You think?" Draco scoffed.
"It's disgusting." Valentine scooted further along the couch.
"You can't catch affection, you know." Liam tried to smother a laugh.
"I'm not taking any chances." Valentine eyed Blaze cautiously.
"And he's gone again." Said Draco as Blaze's gaze clouded over again like he was in a trance.
The three looked at the vacant expression on Blaze's face and shared a sigh.
"Absolutely revolting." Valentine hissed and quickly got up from the couch.
"A little weird, when he zones out like that, yeah." Liam agreed.
"Like you can talk." Draco snorted. "You'd snog Krum on sight if you could."
"Yeah, but that's Krum. I mean, come on. He's a legend. A legend with really big biceps. This is Blaze and Leah."
"Leah..." Blaze muttered under his breath like her name was the only thing holding him to this world.
"It's a sickness, I swear." Valentine backed up even further.
"Ah, Val." Liam bit back his smile. "I don't think it's contagious."
"It better not be." Draco started inching away as well.
"It's not the flu, guys." Liam laughed.
"No, I'd say it's more like chemical warfare." Valentine muttered darkly.
"It's just love."
"I meant what I said."
"So, you don't like...love?" Liam frowned.
"What's so good about it?" Valentine bit out. "I already have you lot and Narcissa under my feet twenty-four seven. Why would I want to put up with another idiot?"
Liam's frowned deepened, almost flinching.
I am really not good at this.
--Pretending To Live--
"Okay, so this makes entirely no sense." Liam shoved his homework away from himself in exasperation.
Valentine rolled her eyes and pulled the book across the table towards her. She quickly scanned the book and then glanced up at him in pure annoyance.
"Maybe you'd have an easier time if you wrote down your notes correctly, instead of spending the lesson drooling over Philips." She pushed the book back towards him.
"I wasn't..." Liam read over his potion notes once more and then froze as he found the glaring error that he himself had made.
"I was going to say that I wasn't thinking about her but I literally wrote her name twice and now I just feel like an idiot."
He grabbed his quill and began scratching out his mistakes in haste.
"That's because you are one."
Valentine's effortless jabs didn't bother him. There was a lot worse she could do or say and all of her friends were long since used to it.
"I'll never understand why the others don't reap the benefits of your infinite wisdom." Liam mumbled absently. "I mean, we're literally friends with a genius-level prodigy."
"Ignorance is bliss, I suppose." She shrugged offhandedly.
Today Valentine had planned to go to the library alone so she could actually study and by study, she meant finding another difficult and likely dangerous spell to test out. But when Liam had found out he practically begged her to let him come as he was starting to fall behind in potions. He promised her he wouldn't get distracted and so far, he had kept his word.
Of course, what Liam didn't realize through their little impromptu studying session, was Valentine's eyes straying away from her book, to where Harry and Hermione sat together. She couldn't hear what was being said over the dull buzz of the library, but it was evident that neither were in the best of moods. She hadn't seen Ron with them lately and assumed that likely had something to do with it. It was rather odd as Ron and Hermione fought like cats and dogs but Harry and Ron were generally inseparable.
"You know, I think you'd really like Jane."
Valentine's head snapped up to shoot him an unimpressed expression.
"You said you wouldn't get distracted."
"Sorry." Liam quickly diverted his attention back to his work.
Valentine then heard a rush of teenage giggles and felt the sudden urge to throw her book across the library. This had been happening way too often lately.
Viktor Krum came strolling in, his gang of rosy-cheeked groupies not far behind. He had enough good sense to look somewhat sheepish by all the noise they were making and the attention they drew.
Out of the corner of her eye, Valentine watched Harry stand from Hermione's side and navigate, with some difficulty, around the girls to make his way out of the library.
There were at least twelve of them today, twice as many as there had been the last time she spotted them trailing after him like little stalkettes. She never saw Krum do anything to entice them to do so and he certainly didn't seem thrilled by this constant, giggling entourage, but she also hadn't seen him do anything to stop them. He probably didn't want to ruin his image towards his fans by telling them to get lost and stop being creepy, she figured. She honestly didn't care all that much so long as they weren't in the library destroying the peace of those trying to study.
She watched Krum catch sight of Hermione between the bookcases and freeze in his tracks with an almost dazed look on his face.
What's wrong with him? He looks like he's going to be sick.
"He is sooooo cool." Liam whispered, half out of his chair and neck craned so he could stare so very obviously.
Oh, right. I forgot. Liam wants to have Viktor Krum's babies. Where's Blaze and Draco to tie him down when I need them? Maybe I should just hose him. That's what they do to dogs don't they?
Instead, Valentine gave Liam the most exasperated expression she could muster and kicked him under the table.
"Ow! What was that for?" Liam pouted, reaching down to rub at his shin. "Those boots of yours really hurt, you know."
"Look." Valentine grabbed Liam's face roughly in one hand, not noticing his blush and wrenching his head around to look past Krum to Hermione. "What the hell is wrong with him? Staring at that troll."
It took a moment before something seemed to dawn on him.
"No way." He muttered in disbelief. "No, freaking way. He could do so much better. He could do me!"
Valentine groaned and pulled her hand away from his face as she realised what this was. She felt like she was hearing Olivia's speculations about Leah and Blaze all over again. She was the top of the grade and yet this stuff had always escaped her.
"If he has a brain under all that muscle, he'll run for the hills when he realises what she is." Valentine's muttered darkly.
"He could have me any time he wants and he goes for her?" Liam sounded genuinely confused and definitely offended. "That frumpy little thing?"
"Draco and Blaze were right." Valentine scoffed. "We should put on you a leash."
"It's not fair." Liam turned back around with a huff.
"You sound like a petulant child."
"Yeah, I tend to get like that when my hopes and dreams have been crushed."
Valentine rolled his eyes at his dramatics. She didn't know what it was about Viktor Krum that turned a sensible boy like Liam into a fool but here it was, plain as day.
The giggling that had faded to the background broke through again and Valentine rubbed at her temples with a low growl.
The librarian hissed at the girls as she pasted, glaring daggers. This only seemed to quieten them for a moment before they saw Krum tentatively talking to a bewildered Hermione. One girl gasped in literal horror and turned to the others to whisper just a little too loudly.
Valentine wondered if they knew how ridiculous they looked. She knew crushes were a normal occurrence among teenage girls, even if she would never pretend to understand it, but this was beyond ridiculous.
The girl who had gasped, a Slytherin Valentine recognised as a sixth year, was pointing at Hermione accusingly and then gesturing around her head as if mimicking the shape of Hermione's thick hair. The girls laughed and snickered among themselves.
Valentine frowned deeply at the sight.
Okay, so they're obsessed with Krum on a clearly unhealthy level, but that's no reason to mock Hermione's appearance because she gets a scrap of attention from him. He probably just wants to have a normal conversation instead of being gawked up. Can't they save that for his Quidditch games instead of being jealous little snipes?
"Watch this." Valentine nudged Liam's leg again, this time much more gently.
"Hmm?" He blinked at her, slowly coming out of his sulk.
She pulled her wand from her robes and held it down by her side.
"Silencio." She whispered, hushed but firm.
Immediately, the Slytherin sixth year that seemed the most intent on ridiculing Hermione found that she had suddenly lost her voice mid-sentence. Her mouth was moving but no sound was coming out. She quickly started to panic, the girls around her at first just confused or thinking she was joking until they realised too that their voices were gone.
They floundered about for several moments until one girl bumped a passing student and knocked the tall stack of books from his arms. The noise they made when they hit the floor was thunderous and everyone stared.
The librarian immediately zoned in on them and descended upon them like a Dementor in flight. The girls panicked further,realising that they had no voices to defend themselves with.
Valentine was almost concerned that none of them had thought to try any counter curses, especially the older students who would more likely be able to perform non-verbal spells. She feared for their small minds.
Liam smothered a laugh behind his hand and Valentine let an evil smile stretch over her lips.
"See! A genius!" Liam grinned. "Is there anything you can't do?"
"When I find something, I'll let you know." Valentine spared the girls one last look before the librarian ushered them out into the hall, then she turned her attention to the book in front of her.
"Uh, Val? I'm going to ask Jane to hang out with us." Liam had a hopeful glint in his eyes as his laughter subsided. "I really do think you'll get along."
"Uh-huh." She glanced up at him for perhaps a second.
"So, you don't mind then?"
"Liam, think about this. If I minded, you would know."
"Fair point..." Liam trailed off and then cleared his throat. "So, you're just generally indifferent then?"
Valentine looked up at him sharply.
"What do you want? A handwritten permission slip? If she bothers me, then I'll be getting rid of her and if she doesn't, then I don't give a crap what she does."
"Oh. Okay." Liam nodded, quickly wiping away an expression of hurt from his face that lingered in his eyes.
Valentine studied him for a moment.
Why has everyone been so damn weird lately?
--Pretending To Live--
Once again, she utilized the Room of Requirement as her own personal training ground and each time it showed her a clear space, with a table and stocked book shelf. The last time had been over a week and the wall length mirror that had been destroyed by the fiery curse that had gotten quite nearly out of hand was mysteriously back into one complete piece. Valentine didn't question it. The table was back as well. The book she had accidentally incinerated the last time however...well, that was a different story.
She bore down over the sixth year text book. She'd been focusing on the same spell for almost an hour and she found it extremely humanizing and outright awful. It couldn't have been any more difficult than Fiendfyre and she'd even casted it on her first try but when she attempted it a second time- nothing. It was baffling and irritating. Very irritating. And the more irritating things became, the less hold she had on her focus and the less hold she had on her focus, the success she would have overall. It was maddening and yet she couldn't seem to steady herself, she could barely stay still, right leg bouncing at her own displeasure.
She turned away from the table and faced the vase of brightly coloured flowers that sat upon a lone stool in the centre of the room. She sucked in breath, trying to calm herself and raised her wand.
"Duro!"
Come on.
Seconds past. Nothing. She growled under her breath. Yes, this was a sixth year spell, but she had conquered a handful of others at that level and this spell wasn't even supposed to be particularly difficult. It made her brow twitch.
She positioned her wand and tried again.
"Duro!"
Please...come ON.
The vase and flowers within it began growing a stoney grey at around the edges. For a singular moment Valentine thought she had finally succeeded. Then the grey retreated and disappeared altogether and something in Valentine snapped.
What. The. HELL.
Valentine let loose an animalistic growl and not one for show. She had been at this for an hour but now she was done. She marched up to the stool, anger vivid in her eyes. She kicked the stool hard, sending it flying into a corner, ceramic vase shattering against the floor and flowers lying destitute in the water. But Valentine wasn't done yet. An hour. A whole DAMN hour WASTED.
She kicked at the flowers, crushing them under her boot pointlessly and then set her eyes on the table. She stormed over to it and shoved the heavy text book off the surface with no manner of grace nor care. She gripped the edges of the underside and flipped it back violently against the wall, just the anger fuelled adrenaline coursing through her.
She knew this was ridiculous. She knew she was acting a child, throwing a tantrum like this. Of course the spell wouldn't work, not with her like this. But logic had been thrown out the window the second that grey faded to failure. This should have been easy for her! She had gotten it right the first time! What the hell was going on!
Still not satisfied with the destruction, Valentine left the room with a snarl. She stepped out into the thankfully empty hallway. She rounded the closest corner, running straight into another student.
"Move!" She hissed and shoved the other student into the wall forcefully. She didn't linger to see if she had hurt them.
Valentine had never been more angry, more frustrated than this. Students parted ways for her in the corridors quicker than usual. They sensed her mood like animals before a storm, scattering in either direction. It spread without delay that the terrifying Lestrange girl was on some sort of rampage and no one wished to be on the receiving end of it.
She shoved another student out of her way and swore she heard them shout out but took no move to listen.
Where are you even going?
The more rational, the more HER, part of her brain spoke up but it sounded so far away.
Do you really want to walk around like this? Someone is going to get hurt. These people don't deserve your rage over something like this. This isn't even for the mission. It's just because you're mad at yourself.
That made her falter and almost pause in her tracks. Just as she felt the anger begin to subside, receding ever so slowly from the forefront of her mind, she rounded a corner and was met with a courtyard containing quite the gathering.
Valentine pushed forward to see what had drawn the crowd and heard a familiar voice twisted into a blubbering yelp.
She forced her way to the front in time to see Draco be transformed from ferret to human and by Moody no less. He stood there looking as smug as anything while Professor McGonagall looked positively livid.
That didn't scratch the surface on how Valentine felt as she watched a wide eyed Draco scramble to his feet in fear, Liam and Blaze at his side. And suddenly all that rage was back.
"My father will hear about this!" Draco growled as Liam helped him up.
"Is that a threat?" Moody lunged towards Draco and Valentine snapped.
Her wand was in her hand. She vaguely realised that she had never put it away in the first place. Her arm raised past the line of students at the front of the crowd.
McGonagall noticed and gaped at the chaos descending around her.
"Lestran-" The Professor didn't have the chance to finish that thought.
"Duro!" Valentine cast and this time the spell worked and would have hit Moody square in the back if someone hadn't knocked her arm away and caused her to hit the tree instead.
An all too familiar grip clamped down on her wrist and she immediately started to struggle.
"Let me go! Let me go now!"
Another hand around her wrapped around her midsection in an attempt to hold her still.
"Stop, you bastard! STOP! LET ME GO!" By now Moody's shouting had been completely eclipsed by Valentine's. The crowd didn't know where to stare and McGonagall looked about ready to retire.
"I could tell you stories about your father that would curl even your greasy hair boy!" Moody screamed after Draco as he and the boys fled. "It doesn't end here!"
"I said let me go!" Valentine was still struggling as though for her life.
She managed to wrench herself away for a second but hands grabbed at the hood of her robes and yanked her back.
"Miss Lestrange!" McGonagall stared wide eyed at her frenzy.
"I'll deal with her." Said Snape with some difficulty as she tried to twist out of his hold again.
"Get off me! Let go!"
Snape's hold just tightened on her and he swung her around, shoving her forward, wand arm bent across her back. She hissed feeling the pressure go up to her shoulder.
He marched her back through the crowd, students parting once more. Valentine could distantly hear McGonagall admonishing Moody but she wasn't listening. She still itched to get away but her emotion filled adrenaline was quickly fading and any strength it lent her was going with it.
Snape found the first empty classroom and pushed her inside. She landed heavily on her hands and knees with a wince.
"Are you insane?" Snape's growl left his mouth so beastly that Valentine barely recognised it as human.
"What...?" Valentine turned over and fell onto her back. She stared up at him, panting as her pupils undilated.
"Is it your goal to end up expelled?" Snape continued. "What were you thinking? Attacking a teacher like that! If you had injured Moody even the Malfoy's reach wouldn't be able to keep you here! Is that what you want!"
"Shut up! Shut UP!" Valentine snapped at him, bolting up into a sitting position. Snape watched her closely, silenced by her near desperate tone. She heaved out a breath and let herself fall back onto the floor. "I...have no idea what happened. I was just...so angry."
"That much was obvious, yes!" Snape spat. "If you cannot control your volatile temper-"
"No." Valentine cut him off sharply, eyes narrowed at the ceiling. "It was beyond that. I have never been that angry before in my life. Ever. This isn't normal. There's no way I could have controlled that."
"It's probably hormones." He scoffed dismissively.
Valentines head snapped up to glare at him.
"I'm only saying this because you went through puberty back in the Stone Age, but hormones don't tend to make people completely lose it." Valentine sighed, pulling herself back up and crossing her legs. She frowned deeply. Pieces were falling into place and she wasn't liking where they were landing. "This isn't the first time this has happened. The first time I used the Room of Requirement, I used this spell, well a curse and quite a difficult one at that. I could cast it just fine but not control it and because I couldn't stay calm. And it wasn't that I was in a dangerous situation because I've been in plenty of those and performed just fine. I was frustrated and I let that control me. Nearly lost my damn eyebrows in the freaking process too. And then today, I was in the Room of Requirement again, I just could not get a grip on this stupid spell that should have been so simple for me. And I just...lost control. Again. That's what just happened. I was still pretty wound up when I walked in on freaking Moody transfiguring my cousin from a ferret! But I'll unpack that once I'm done with this load of crap."
Snape's face was set like stone, cold and contemplative, brow furrowed as he thought over her words.
"Are those the only instances?" He asked.
"Hmm. Well, I did put my hand through a window over the summer before I even realized that I'd done it." Valentine pursed her lips. "Why?"
"It could be another symptom of your condition."
"Oh, right. That whole parasite thing. You don't suppose I could just ignore it and it would go away?"
Snape scoffed at her jest and rolled his eyes heavily.
"Well, if I can't just ignore it..." Valentine stood, brushing off her robes. "If I lose control again who knows what I'll do? Hurt someone. Burn down the school. Start running around in front of everyone protecting Harry from paper cuts. Everything I do relies on my self control."
"As much as it pains me to say, you have a point." Snape admitted.
"Of course I do. I always do."
"Every past victim has been either a witch or wizard, but they were not strictly infected by areas only populated by magical persons." Snape theorised, ignoring her last comment. "If it's attracted to magic in general then it's entirely possible that your magic could be the reason for the initial infection. It may even be sustaining itself off your magic. After all this time, it's finally showing the more drastic effects of it."
"That's so...bloody hell that's inconvenient, isn't it?" Valentine sighed and looked down at the wand still clutched in her hand.
Damn. I could have seriously hurt someone today. Sure, I missed Moody and hit the tree, but that could have just as easily been a student or even Draco or one of the boys. This could have ended so much worse than it did. This freaking sucks.
She held it out to the Professor.
"Take it."
Snape blinked.
"Take it?"
"Yes. Are you deaf? Just take it before I blow something or someone up." Valentine huffed. "There's not too much I can do harm-wise without it. It's a precautionary measure. Just tell the other teachers that you're holding on to it as punishment for me attacking a teacher."
Snape took it from her with an all too satisfied smirk.
"I always knew you'd surrender your wand to me, although I'd never imagined you would do so willingly."
"Shut up." She glared, bright eyes glowing venomously. "It's a goddamn precautionary measure so that I don't kill anyone. Not a surrender. The day you see me waving a white flag will be the day your nose shrinks."
--Pretending To Live--
The common room would have been completely silent if it wasn't for the sound of a quill tip hurriedly scratching on parchment. Everything else seemed so still too. Although only if you ignored Valentine pacing in front of the fire, her face twisted into a vicious snarl. Herself, Draco, Liam and Blaze were the only people around. Valentine's clear agitation had sent everyone else to bed without exception.
The boys had explained to her everything that had happened, first with Harry and then with Moody. Of course, she knew that they should have just left poor Harry alone, but for Moody to do that? And to a student as well? And to her own cousin at that? She knew something was off about Moody and this only solidified her suspicion. Even Snape wouldn't go so far as to turn a child into a literal ferret.
That's why Draco was scratching away at his parchment so frantically. He was writing to his father to report this. Valentine wasn't sure what he could do about this though. He'd lost his seat on the Board of Governors over a year ago now and Moody was trusted both by Dumbledore and the Ministry itself.
Liam and Blaze exchanged glances from either side of Draco.
"Uh..." Blaze cleared his throat awkwardly. "I feel as though if someone doesn't break this silence now, the room's gonna spontaneously combust or something...so, here I am. Breaking the silence."
Valentine continued her pacing and Draco continued scratching away at his letter.
"I actually think you made it worse." Liam whispered like he was afraid to speak too loud.
"Shut up." Blaze hissed lowly.
"You're the one who tried to break the ice."
"They just make me so nervous when they get so quiet, okay?"
Then, without warning or reason, Valentine struck out one leg and kicked the side table at the end of the couch, sending it clattering across the floor.
Both Liam and Blaze jolted on the spot and each gave startled yelps, but it was as if Draco hadn't heard a thing, still scratching away.
"And that...is why I get nervous..." Blaze swallowed thickly, a hand gripped on Liam's arm.
When Draco's frantic scribbling finally stopped, he dropped the quill and reached for an empty envelope.
"I'm going to the owlery." He said, already halfway across the room.
"Uh, I'm coming too." Blaze added quickly.
"But it's after lights out." Liam warned.
"I don't care." Draco spat and kept walking.
Blaze just shrugged uselessly and Liam sighed, following them both from the room, leaving Valentine alone.
She gave a frustrated growl and pulled a hand through her unruly curls. She glared at the table lying on its side beneath the large windows and thought she saw something shift. Her eyes flickered up to the still inky blackness of the lake but there was nothing to see. She sighed as she dropped on to the closest leather couch and proceeded to stare at the ceiling, twisting her ring rather forcefully.
This year is already such a disaster and with the Tri-Wizard Tournament as the main course, this is just the icing on the cake.
With the whole magical parasite making me act like a crazy person as a punchy little after-dinner mint.
If...I do die...if this thing kills me, what will happen to Draco? He needs someone to protect him and if I'm not here, who will? Narcissa tries but just trying isn't enough. And Leah? Can Leah take another blow? Lose another friend? Then there's Liam and Blaze. Liam puts on a brave face, but Olivia's death hurt him as much as it did the rest of us. And Blaze was probably only distracted from Olivia's death by Leah's reaction to it. I don't think they can all stand another loss. Then there's my mission. Dying would mean I failed. What about Harry? Can Snape and Dumbledore do this alone? This is all just such a complete and utter disaster.
Valentine lifted her hand and traced the thin pale scar half-hidden in her hairline with a tentative fingertip.
Valentine's eyes narrowed and she snapped up into a sitting position.
No. I don't have time for self-pity. I can sit here and let my thoughts consume me until the sun comes but it won't change anything. The Tournament will still take place, the parasite will still slowly chip away at my life. Right now I just need to focus on what I can do that keeps Harry alive.