"That is possibly the stupidest thing I have heard all day." Said Valentine. "And I'm friends with Leah."
Dumbledore had just finished explaining the details of the second task and she was far from thrilled.
Basically kidnapping students and tying them to the bottom of the Black Lake was just as insane as it sounded. And entrusting them to more students, under enormous amounts of pressure was even more so.
"Why couldn't the tasks be simple and less life-threatening? Like an egg race or hopscotch?"
"I believe that would be counterintuitive to the goal of earning eternal glory." Said Snape dryly.
"Eternal glory is overrated." Valentine scowled, slumping in her chair by the Headmaster's desk. "Is that all I have to worry about or is there more?"
"I'm afraid there is." Dumbledore sighed.
Both Valentine and Snape watched him closely, waiting.
"Earlier today, Harry divulged to me a reoccurring dream of his." Said Dumbledore. "He spoke of a scene involving Peter Pettigrew, Barty Crouch Jr, a large serpent and Voldemort himself. He described Voldemort as something not quite human."
"Are we to believe that this is more than just a simple nightmare?" Asked Snape, brow furrowed. "Something prophetic?"
"I believe so." Said Dumbledore. "Harry informed me that he has been having this same dream since the beginning of the school year."
"If this is more than just a dream, then I doubt it means anything good." Valentine hummed thoughtfully. "Not if Voldemort is involved. What are the chances he's back again?"
"It's likely." Dumbledore nodded solemnly.
Snape cleared his voice.
"More than likely." He rolled up the left sleeve of his robe and then his undershirt until it reached his elbow and displayed his Dark Mark.
Dumbledore immediately stood from his seat and moved to observe it closer. Valentine did so as well.
A skull and a snake slithering out of its open jaw and twisting into a narrow design. Valentine had seen it before, most recently when it had been cast into the sky just after the chaos of the attack on the Quidditch Cup. This was different. It was nearly a solid black and Valentine was certain that it shouldn't have been.
"I thought the marks faded after Voldemort's defeat in the war?" Said Valentine. "I've seen my uncles several times and he was never that dark."
"They did fade. But today it burned as it did when I was first marked. It's a sign." Snape explained. "Karkaroff came to me not even an hour ago with the same result. He knows the most likely cause and he fears it."
Valentine's gut wrenched tightly. Even in the years previously when Voldemort had tried to kill Harry, this hadn't happened. Something was different about this time.
"So, if it's so likely that Voldemort is involved, then where is he? Should we be checking the backs of people's heads?" She Valentine. "Or is he controlling or masquerading as someone else? There are more than a few new faces at Hogwarts this year. He could be anywhere. Or anyone."
"No. If he was here he would have already attacked Harry." Said Dumbledore, decidedly. "You can be certain that if he was here at Hogwarts, we would know."
"With all due respect, sir, he was hiding under a turban for a year and no one had any idea. Who's to say he isn't pulling another scheme along the same line?"
"Are you forgetting that it didn't work last time?" Asked Snape.
"Only because he revealed himself to Harry." Said Valentine.
"Whatever his scheme," Dumbledore interjected. "we must keep our wits about us for any signs of his plans or whereabouts."
"You mean like Harry's name mysteriously ended up in the Triwizard Cup?" Valentine arched a brow. "Because we still have no idea how that happened in the first place."
"The Dark Lord would never be able to come here unaided. Too risky." Snape straightened his sleeve. "If he is here, he's got help."
"Then perhaps he had someone enter Harry's name. Karkaroff?" Valentine suggested.
Snape scoffed in response.
"Igor Karkaroff wouldn't benefit from Lord Voldemort's return in the least." Dumbledore elaborated. "He gave the identity of every Death Eater he could to get himself free from Azkaban after the war. It was Barty Crouch Jr's name that did it. When Voldemort returns, he's sure to be hunted down for his betrayal."
Valentine pulled a hand back through her hair.
"Then maybe it's our darling Severus that helped his old buddy Tom out." She muttered, clearly not being serious.
"You caught me." Snape said monotonously, equally insincere. "Now, I guess I'll have to kill you."
Valentine rolled her eyes and twisted her ring. She fell back into her chair.
"I suppose another year without Voldemort was just too much to ask for."
"Will we keep this information to ourselves?" Asked Snape.
"I have already informed the Minister." Said Dumbledore, Valentine didn't like his tone.
"How deep in denial is he?" She said.
"I believe the only thing that would prove to him any chance of the Dark Lord's return would be his own eyes." Dumbledore sighed.
Despite herself and the black hole opening up in Valentine's stomach, she laughed.
"Shall we set up a date then? Maybe tea and crumpets?"
--Pretending To Live--
Valentine turned the last page of her novel, readying herself to finish the story, give her final farewells to the characters. The book itself was covered plainly with no obvious markings. She'd been working her way through it between studying and with the non-descript appearance, no one knew that she was, in fact, reading a novel.
She drank in the last few sentences and then took a breath. Finished. She closed the book and glanced about the library. This kind of this always left her feeling a little forlorn, particularly if it was a good book with characters she liked. Sometimes the book was so atrocious and the characters so unlikeable that she couldn't have been more glad to finish it. She tried to stay away from Narcissa's romance novels after that.
Originally, Draco, Liam, Leah's and Blaze had been with her, making a barely convincing show at studying. Several hours ago, Blaze had pleaded that his head was about to explode and they'd taken their leave and Valentine had stayed under the pretence of extra study. In reality, she knew she needed less than two hours to finish her novel. And that, in all honesty, had been her first goal of the night. She second was finding a way to help Harry with the second task.
She recalled at one point during her two hours of reading, Harry entering the library with Ron and Hermione. They'd been obviously nervous and very on edge. Valentine had watched them discreetly through a gap in the shelves for a while. It appeared they were hunting for something that would help Harry breath underwater for a certain period of time. It didn't take her long to discern that this had to have something to do with the second task. The general students hadn't been told much about, but Valentine wasn't a general student.
Valentine shifted and peered through the same gap she had as before. Harry and his friends were still there and seemingly no closer to an answer.
"Harry, tell me again." Said Hermione, pacing back and forth.
"Come seek us where our voices sound." Harry replied tiredly.
That must be part of the clue the Champions got from the dragon eggs, I presume.
"The Back Lake, that's obvious." Hermione nudged Ron as he slowly started to drift off in his chair. She pushed the golden egg into his hands and gave him a passing look.
"An hour-long you'll have to look." Harry continued.
"Again obvious, though I must admit, potentially problematic."
"Potentially problematic?" Harry stared at her, tone sharp. "When was the last time you held your breath under the water for an hour, Hermione?"
Well. Someone needs a nap. Especially since this really isn't that hard. They're just asking the wrong question. They are more options than just holding your breath for an hour. There are numerous ways a person can make themselves be able to breathe underwater in general and for any length of time. I'm surprised Hermione at least hasn't thought about it.
"Look Harry, we can do this." Hermione knelt beside his chair, a comforting hand on his shoulder. "The three of us can figure it out."
From her viewpoint, Valentine saw MadEye before the others and backed away. The last thing she needed was to be spotted snooping by his magic eye.
"I hate to break up this scholar session but Professor McGonagall would like to see you in her office." He said, almost causing the three Gryffindor's to jump.
Harry went to stand, assuming the summons included him but then MadEye said;
"Not you Potter, just Weasley and Granger."
"But sir, the second task is only hours away and- " Tried Hermione.
"Exactly." MadEye cut her off. "Presumably Potter is well prepared by now and could do with a good night's sleep. Go. Now!"
Hermione and Ron left reluctantly and Harry glanced at MadEye nervously as he quickly started to pack away the mess before him.
"Longbottom!" MadEye shouted over his shoulder and Neville appeared from behind a bookcase almost immediately.
"Why don't you help Potter put his books back?" Asked MadEye, although it was clearly not a question.
He limped away without another word, leaving Harry and Neville together.
Valentine leaned back in towards the gap.
Harry stared down at the books around him, frustrated and lost.
Valentine frowned deeply.
Oh, come on. Aren't you at least going to look at this from another perspective? The Bubble Head Charm isn't exactly obscure and with Harry's abilities, he should be able to manage it. This really isn't the difficult part of the task.
She twisted the serpent ring on her finger and thought on it. If Harry wasn't going to figure it out then she would need a way to get him a clear message without anyone knowing.
"You know..." Neville spoke up, glancing down at the book in front of Harry. "if you're interested in plants you'd be better with Gorshok's Guide to Herbology. Do you know there's a wizard in Nepal who's growing gravity resistant trees?"
Yes, actually I did know that.
"Neville. No offence, but I really don't care about plants." Harry sighed, trying to sound as least irritated and fatigued as possible. "Now, if there's a Tibetan turnip that will allow me to breathe underwater for an hour, then great."
"I don't know about a turnip..." Said Neville. "But you can always use gillyweed."
Wait. That's actually...a great idea.
Valentine's mouth twitched into a smile.
"Gillyweed?" Asked Harry, his attention now gained.
Valentine turned away from them and leaned against the bookcase, feeling like a weight had been lifted off her chest.
Gillyweed. That will work. That will definitely work. Well done, Neville.
--Pretending To Live--
"Why is it so damn cold?" Blaze hissed and grabbed Leah's hands. He rubbed them together furiously. "And why are you so damn warm? How is that fair?"
"Is that your roundabout way of saying I'm hot?" Asked Leah, in totally oblivious honesty.
Blaze stuttered hopelessly for a moment, eyes growing large by the second as they all stared at him.
"As much as I hate her and this whole romantic scene," Draco smirked from the back of the boat where he sat with Valentine.
"Leah definitely won that one."
"Thanks..." Blaze grunt bitterly, while Leah chittered away happily.
"Blaze does have an actual point though." Liam pointed out from the middle seat. "Why do they have to do this out here? In the middle of the bloody lake?"
"Maybe this is all a ploy for Potter to be ripped apart by grindylows." Valentine shrugged, staring out at the ripples created as their boat moved by its own accord.
At this point, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.
"Please, Val, do not get my hopes up." Draco scoffed.
"Stranger things have happened." Valentine muttered, casting a glance at Leah and Blaze who were hanging off one another.
"Maybe we should feed them to grindylows." Draco lowered his voice.
"Bold of you to assume that they wouldn't just throw them back." Said Valentine.
"Do you just not feel the cold?" Liam looked Valentine up and down, clearly annoyed with her unaffected state.
Unlike her friends Valentine wasn't wearing gloves, a scarf, or a woollen cap. She wore her coat that barely brushed the bottom of her knee-length dress and her black stockings. Despite this, she felt just fine.
"She's always been like that." Draco rolled his eyes. "She can feel the cold but it doesn't bother her. Drives my mother mad."
"It's just a bit of weather." Valentine drawled sardonically.
"Oh, hey!" Leah leaned over the edge of the boat and peered down into the inky black depths with far too much enthusiasm. "I think I saw something move down there!"
"Okay." Blaze grabbed her and pulled her away from the side. "That's enough of that."
"You're such a worrywart!" Leah side-eyed him bitterly. "You can't tell me what to do!"
"Really?" Blaze bristled at her sudden attitude.
"Really."
"Oh, hey Look." Draco nudged Valentine.
Valentine took her eyes off Leah and Blaze's childish bickering as the three, high standing, metal towers came into view.
They protruded far above the glassy black surface of the lake, five platforms each filled with cheering students.
"...when were these even built?" Liam frowned.
"I assume they were built for today's task." Said Valentine.
"Look, it's Meriton!" Leah shouted and pointed over the nearest tower, where said boy stood on the lowest platform.
"Oh, right." Liam suddenly seemed to remember something. He turned in his seat to look at Valentine and Draco. "I told Meriton we might be able to hang out during the second task."
"Okay, sure." Draco didn't seem to care.
Liam nodded but didn't turn around, still waiting for Valentine to speak.
"Whatever." She shrugged. "He's not nearly as annoying as those two idiots."
Liam smiled widely and this time did turn back around.
Soon enough their boat came up beside the tower, slowing to a stop.
"Uh..." Blaze was closest to the short ladder and realized he not only needed to get off first, but he'd have to take quite the step to get onto the platform. "Okay, so this is a crime against people with short legs."
Leah, on the other hand, wasn't worried about it.
"Don't be lame." She said and climbed over his lap, ignoring his protests about her elbow being in his spleen.
She leapt up onto the platform with no problems and turned back to the others expectantly.
When the other students saw Leah they knew who would follow and made a wide berth, many heading up the stairs to the higher platforms.
Leah extended a hand down to Blaze with a triumphant grin.
"It's not so difficult."
"I could drown you, you know." Blaze grumbled.
"Fine. Be like that." Leah shrugged and took back her hand. "Chicken."
"I'm not a chicken, Leah!
"Whatever you say, chicken."
"I am NOT A CHICKEN!"
"Get out of the damn boat, you chicken!" Draco snapped.
"I'm going ahead." Leah turned away and started toward the stairs.
What! No! Leah..." Blaze growled as he forgot his fears and pulled himself up onto the platform out of sheer annoyance. "Wait for me, idiot!"
Valentine bit back a chuckle and watched Liam get out next and then Draco.
Once they were all on the platform, they simply followed the trail of irritated students Leah had left in her wake as she shoved through the crowd.
"Hey, Meriton." Liam gestured for the other boy, wrapped up in a thick coat and his Slytherin scarf, to join them.
"Hi." Meriton smiled.
They continued until they reached the top, pushing their way past the other students and to the railing for the best view. The six of them were pressed up against the metal rail, looking out across the Black Lake when Leah said;
"You know, I think if you puked from here, it would probably get all over the people below us."
Everyone stared at her in confusion.
"Leah?" Said Blaze.
"Hmm?"
"Shut up."
Leah opened her mouth to retort him but was cut off as Dumbledore's voice echoed around them.
"Welcome to the second task." He announced. "Last night something was stolen from each of our Champions. A treasure of sorts. These four treasures, one for each Champion, now lie on the bottom of the Black Lake. In order to win, each Champion need only find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough. Except for this, they will have one hour to do so and one hour only. After that, they'll be on their own."
"On their own?" Leah frowned.
"Fingers crossed; Potter drowns." Draco grinned, tapping his fingers on the trail excitedly.
Fingers crossed he comes out of this alive and well.
Valentine stuck her hands in her coat pockets casually to hide their need to clench until her knuckles turned white. Draco put his hands in his pocket as well but instead fished a pair of binoculars.
"You may begin at the start of the cannon-" Just as Dumbledore spoke those words the cannon sounded with a boom and three out of four Champions dove into the Black Lake.
Valentine leaned over the railing, rapt eyes searching for Harry.
"Where's Potter?" Asked Blaze, noticing the same.
Valentine spotted him just in time to see MadEye shove him into the water.
"What the hell?" Blaze blinked.
"We all just saw that, right?" Said Liam.
Valentine, knowing how gillyweed functioned, held her breath and just hoped Harry was currently transforming beneath the water's surface and not drowning.
"Someone stop me before my hopes get too high." Said Draco all too eagerly.
There was a brief moment of stillness and a hush that moved over the crowd. Then Harry broke through the lake's surface, flipping in the air, feet now something akin to fins, before disappearing back beneath the ripples.
"I knew it." Draco huffed and slapped his hand against the railing. "Why doesn't anything ever turn out like it's supposed to?"
"He must have used gillyweed." Said Liam.
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing." Meriton nodded.
"What are you two on about?" Draco scowled.
"Gillyweed." Said Liam. "It's this plant that grows in water. If you eat it, you grow webbing in between your finger and toes-"
"Like a duck!" Leah grinned wildly.
"Well, yeah, I suppose. But more than that, you can breathe underwater. That'd be why Potter's using it."
"It's not a bad plan." Said Meriton. "I wonder where he got the gillyweed though."
"How long does it last?" Asked Leah. "How long will he be a duck person?"
"There isn't an exact time frame, but in freshwater, over an hour."
"Ugh, can't we stop talking about this now?" Draco groaned. "I don't want to hear about his chances of survival."
"Wait. So, what are we meant to do for an hour?" Said Leah.
"Wait." Said Blaze.
"But that's boring!"
"Here we go..." Draco sighed, dropping his head down onto the railing.
This was the part of the task that might have actually made it worse than facing a dragon head-on. For Valentine, at least. With all four champions under the water for so long, she wouldn't be able to see a thing. If something happened, they'd be no jumping in after Harry because she wouldn't know something had happened in the first place. Not until an hour and then some passed at least.
"Seriously? That's so dumb!" Leah continued her whining. "We just have to stand around freezing our butts off and waiting to see if someone drowns or if they find the treasure or whatever?"
"Now, would be a great time to form some sense of patience." Said Valentine.
"Patience is boringgggg." Leah moaned. "I want something to happen right now!"
"We can always throw you over?" Suggested Draco.
"Only if you go first!"
"Alright. Only if the fall will kill me though. Val, will the fall kill me?"
"Okay, calm down." Liam shook his head at them. "No one is jumping. If you think it's cold up here, it's got to be freezing down there."
"Below freezing more likely." Said Blaze. "Believe me. I live right next to the water and it's like swimming through ice."
"You live near the water?" Leah's eyes grew wide.
"Uh, yeah? Have I not mentioned that before?"
"No!"
"Oh, well. There you go. I live near the water."
"Like a beach?"
"Technically, yes-"
"You live near a beach and you never told me!" Leah grabbed Blaze's scarf and tugged hard.
"Yes, damn it!" Blaze tried to pry her hands off him. "The waters like a thirty-second walk from the house. What the hell are freaking out for!"
"You can swim whenever you want! That's not fair!"
"That's no reason to bite my head off!"
"I can't believe you never told me!"
"Would you shut the hell up." Valentine snapped. "If you're going to scream about nonsense then do it somewhere else."
"Where are we supposed to go?" Leah gestured out at the wide expanse of water around them.
"You know..." Said Blaze. "I saw Henley and Connolly on the way up."
"So?" Leah arched a brow at him.
"They were carrying a bag of liquorice. Like a really freaking big one. There is no way the two of them can eat it on their own. What do you say we do the nice thing and help them out?"
"Okay. I'm nice! Let's do it!" Leah beamed and latched on to Blaze's arm.
Draco made a face and Blaze looked embarrassed enough to push her away but didn't.
"See you guys when something actually happens." He said and let Leah drag him away.
The remaining four of them settled until a comfortable silence, Draco immediately seemed less irritated.
"I like Leah best this way." He nodded thoughtfully. "Right where I can't see her."
Liam laughed at that and Meriton looked like he wanted to but was unsure if he really should.
As the time stretches on Valentine's stomach twisted into violent knots. She knew partly what could be found at the bottom of the Black Lake. And it was nothing good. The image of Harry being surrounded by dangerous aquatic beasts filled her mind. Specifically the angry little grindylow she'd helped Lupin set free the year before. The beasts swarmed Harry and his screams of pain were muffled by the water, leaving no evidence of his suffering but the inky red bubbles that floated to the surface. And that was just what she knew for sure was down there.
Damn. My mind is a dark place.
Liam and Meriton had started up a conversation surrounding Quidditch and Draco had moved to join them. Valentine kept her gaze on the lake's black surface for any signs of whatever might have been happening beneath it. It reminded her how stupid this whole tournament affair was and that if she ever had the chance to punch Cornelius Fudge in the face, then she should take it.
About twenty-five minutes into the task by Valentine's estimate, Dumbledore's voice crackled around them.
"The Beauxbatons Champion Miss Delacour has unfortunately been forced to retire. She will take no further part in this task."
"Now, we're getting somewhere." Said Draco.
"What do you think happened to her?" Asked Liam.
"You think she got hurt?" Said Meriton.
"Who knows." Draco shrugged. "Building a school beside a lake full of monsters wasn't my idea."
"Draco, I'm not sure you've ever even had an idea."
"Shut up, Highcourt." Draco hissed.
They all leaned over the railing to see Fleur Delacour retrieved from the water, alive but looking very pale and startled.
Minutes ticked by like hours and the longer Harry stayed hidden beneath the water's dark depths, the tighter the knots in Valentine's stomach twisted. The wait was practically torture.
There were only ten minutes until the hour was up and they'd heard no news about any of the other Champions.
Maybe no one will win this task? The lake is huge after all. Finding the treasures might be something that takes much longer than an hour.
Then two heads burst through the water's surface. Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang. The towers erupted into cheers.
"What?" Liam's eyes bulged.
"The treasures are people?" Draco was equally surprised. "That's insane."
"What...what do you think happens if they can't find their person?" Asked Meriton. "Is Delacour's treasure still down there?"
"I mean, they can't just leave them there, right?" Said Liam. "Whether they get found or not. There is no way that would be allowed."
"You say that like crazier stuff hasn't happened in this place." Draco snorted. "Last year we had a bloody werewolf as a teacher, Liam."
Another two minutes passed and Blaze and Leah returned with Anna and Chloe just as Viktor Krum and Hermione breached the surface, sending up another round of cheers.
Crap. That's everyone besides Harry and time is nearly up.
"Any sign of Potter?" Blaze asked
"None." Draco answered with a too wide to be innocent smile.
Come on Harry, come on!
Valentine schooled her features to remain neutral as she stared down the inky ripples, panic growing deep in her chest.
"Time's almost up." Said Anna.
"At least something is actually happening now." Said Blaze.
Please...
The clock on the central tower chimed and in tandem, Ron appeared in the water alongside a small girl. She was from Beauxbatons, Valentine realised. They were Harry's and Fleur's treasures but Harry was still nowhere to be seen.
One second passed. Then two.
"Damn." Blaze muttered. "You think Potter really drowned or something?"
"Heh, so much for The Boy Who Lived." Draco scoffed.
Three seconds.
Four.
Five.
When she got to ten she fully intended to jump into the water herself, cast the Bubble-Head Charm and go after him. The gillyweed should have still been working but that wouldn't protect him from everything else down there. She slipped her hand into her pocket and wrapped her fingers around her wand. If he needed her, she was going to do whatever she could.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Ni-
Harry shot up into the air, wand in his hand and pointed towards the sky. He landed amongst the crowd on the Champions platform, the last to arrive.
If Valentine wiped a hand down her face in sheer exhaustion but stopped herself.
"Well, there he is!" Said Chloe.
"How did he jump that high!" Leah exclaimed.
"You're kidding!" Draco growled in indignation. "See what I mean? Nothing ever goes like it should!"
Draco ranted and raved but Valentine could feel all the tension in her body steadily dissipating.
Harry was alive.
"Attention!" Dumbledore's voice spoke out again, a hush falling over the towers. "The winner is...Mr Diggory! For showing unique command of the Bubble-Head Charm."
"Well, at least Potter didn't win." Blaze said to Draco pointedly.
"Shut up, Blaze! The day has already been rui-!" Draco's scowl was cut off by Dumbledore continuing.
"The way I see it, Mr Potter would have finished first had it not been for his determination to rescue not only Mr Weasley but the others as well. We've agreed to award him second place! For outstanding moral fibre."
"Oh, come on that's rubbish!" Blaze groaned. "He came in last place!"
An excitable younger student behind was jumping about and bumped into Blaze as he cheered.
"Wahoo! Yes! Go Potter!"
The group of Slytherin's turned on the boy and he froze on the spot, looking as though he was ready to make a run for it.
"Let's just go." Draco spat bitterly. "I want to sleep for a week and forget this even happened."
You know what? That might be the first smart thing he's said all day.
--Pretending To Live--
Meriton, Anna and Chloe join the others for the trek back up to the school. Valentine headed the group, eager to have a moment alone with Dumbledore or Snape to scream incessantly about what had just happened.
"Bloody hell, it's cold. I feel like I have frostbite. I probably have frostbite. Val, what does frostbite look like?" Blaze rubbed his hands together hurriedly.
"You don't have frostbite." Said Liam.
"How would you know!"
"It's cold, Blaze, but it's not cold enough for frostbite."
"What's frostbite?" Asked Leah.
"Well, you know how the extreme cold slows your blood flow?" Said Chloe.
"No, but continue."
"Long story short, frostbite is when parts of your body start freezing." Said Anna, knowing that a full in-depth explanation would probably be a waste on Leah. "It's usually fingers and toes and parts of your face like the tip of your nose or your ears and stuff."
"What happens if they freeze?"
"They fall off!" Blaze looked down at his hands in despair.
"What!" Leah looked at him, aghast. "Your poor fingers!"
"Okay, so that can happen but the frostbite has to be pretty bad." Anna added quickly. "And that's not a problem because Blaze doesn't have frostbite."
"But what if I do!" Exclaimed Blaze.
"You don't." Liam groaned.
"We could always give you frostbite." Draco suggested. "A quick freezing spell would do it."
"Don't you even think about it, Malfoy!" Blaze forcefully shoved his hands into his pockets.
Valentine noticed Madam Hooch passed them on the path through the trees, shaking her head.
The day we go anywhere and don't cause a scene will be the day Blaze actually does have frostbite.
"I hate walking." Liam huffed.
"It's not that bad." Said Meriton. "But I wouldn't call this the right kind of weather for a hike."
"Yeah, you can say that again."
"Why would he say it again?" Leah frowned.
"It's a figure of speech, moron." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Don't call me that!"
"Then perhaps you should stop being a moron."
"Never!"
"So, you confirm? You are a moron."
"What? No! I never said that!"
"You insinuated."
"What does that even mean!"
"Both of you." Valentine growled. "Shut up. You've had this exact argument about two thousand times since the day you were born."
"Hey, guys!" Pansy called out as she ran towards Anna and Chloe. "You'll never guess what I just heard-"
She stopped dead in her tracks when she realised who they were walking with and purposely avoided Valentine's gaze.
"What is it?" Asked Anna, looking very much like she didn't really care but had to ask to get this conversation over with.
"It's about that Ministry guy, Barty Crouch, the one overseeing the Tournament."
"What about him?"
"Well, I heard from Daphne Greengrass who heard from his Ravenclaw kid, Flint-Fetchly and he heard from his older sister who's a seventh year Gryffindor-"
"Get to the point." Blaze groaned dramatically.
Pansy sent him a glare and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Apparently, he's dead."
What?
"What?" Chloe blinked.
"Dead. You know. Gone from this word?" Pansy explained slowly like Chloe was hard of hearing.
"But he was just at the task with everyone else." Meriton mumbled.
"If he's dead, it would have to have been between then and now." Said Liam.
"What actually happened though?" Blaze pressed. "Like how did he die?"
"Daphne thought it must have been an accident but Flint-Fetchly's sister said he was found just lying on the ground like someone had stunned him."
"If he was dead I wouldn't be because he was stunned." Said Valentine, everyone turning to look at her. "It's more likely someone used The Killing Curse."
"But...that would make it murder." Said Meriton.
"Yes." Valentine smiled faintly. "It would."
--Pretending To Live--
"I heard something happened to-" Valentine paused as she stepped into the Head Master's office.
Dumbledore was hunched over the Pensieve, his face submerged in the swirling waters.
"How long has he been in there?" She asked Snape.
"Since before I arrived."
"Looking for something in particular?"
"Answers, I believe."
"Obviously." Valentine rolled her eyes at him and then ventured further into the room.
Dumbledore had been delving into his own memories every chance he had ever since Harry had spoken of his dream. And then with the Dark Mark's sudden pigmency, everything was pointing towards Voldemort's revival. He was searching for a link, a clear connection. So far, he hadn't found anything.
"There are rumours going around about Crouch." She said, wondering over to where Fawkes sat on his perch so she could pet him.
"That he's dead?"
"Is he?"
"Yes."
Valentine paused for a moment, Fawkes looking at her pointedly. She sighed and continued to pet his bright feathers gently.
"Was it murder?"
"It's very likely." Said, Snape. "Potter found him in the woods near the lake not long after the task."
"Harry found him?" Valentine stared at Snape.
"Is that not what I said?"
"And I suppose we have no clue as to who might have killed him?"
"Precisely."
"I'm really getting sick of this whole 'not knowing' business." Valentine stepped away from Fawkes.
"Hmm." Snape hummed in agreement.
"I heard the Minister has already been here.
"Yes. The Headmaster attempted again to persuade him to stop the tournament but he's as dense as a brick wall." Snape scowled. "He refused to see this as a viable reason.
"Bloody fool. Someone dies and he's too busy worrying about his public image. Damn politicians." Valentine growled fists curled tightly into balls at his side. She couldn't imagine putting election scores above literal human lives. "Dumbledore can look back as many times as he wants for answers. If there was one in there, he would have already found it."
"You tell him that." Snape crossed his arms over his chest. "He is as stubborn as he is old."
"I believe this is what many would call a pot and kettle scenario."
"Cease your insolence, Lestrange!" He barked.
"Whatever." Valentine huffed and raked her fingers through her hair. "There's nothing we can do for a dead man except find his killer and make sure it doesn't happen again. I'll be the first to say it; Voldemort is probably involved somehow."
"You have no proof of that."
"Maybe not proof, but that mark on your arm is pretty damning, Professor. Crouch is a Ministry official that was heavily involved in the prosecution of captured Death Eaters in the war. Is it really that strange for Voldemort to want him dead?"
"I find it hard to believe that the Dark Lord would waste his time on such a thing. It's the boy he wants, Crouch would certainly be secondary to that."
"Damn..." Valentine put a finger to her chin. "That actually makes sense."
"Why thank you." Snape replied snidely.
"But I don't think that's enough to cross Voldemort off the list of suspicion."
A gasp for air caught their attention as Dumbledore lifted his head from the glowing water of the Pensieve. Despite the water itself, not a drop had transferred from the basin to the wizard and he was as dry as if he had never used the Pensieve at all.
Valentine and Snape watched as Dumbledore straightened slowly, leaning heavily on the basin.
"There must be something." He hissed to himself.
"Sir." Valentine spoke up.
Dumbledore turned to them, clearly surprised to see them standing there.
"Miss Lestrange. Severus."
"I find it hard to believe there would be a single memory you haven't soaked in long enough to recite them by word." Valentine watched him move slowly over to his desk, hands behind his back.
"The mind is a strange thing, my dear."
"That it is."
"What are we going to do about Crouch?" Asked Snape. "At this rate, another will have to die before Fudge will anything about it."
"He's afraid." Dumbledore spoke distantly as he sat at his desk. "He believes everyone is out to get him."
"They will be if he can't get this crap together." Valentine scowled. "He's the Minister of Magic, for crying out loud!"
"I understand your frustration." Dumbledore nodded. "I feel the weight of it myself. I just ask you to be particularly vigilant going forward, my dear. This death may be a warning of worse things yet to come. Death has always bred more death."