Valentine's eyelids snapped open as she woke with a start, her head coming up off the pillow slightly. She hadn't dreamt at all since Dumbledore had removed the parasite and for a second the horrifying thought filled her mind that it was somehow back.
She sighed, letting her head relax back into the pillow, pressing a hand over her eyes.
Calm down. You saw it yourself and you sure as hell felt it.
The dream she'd just woken from was nothing but a jumbled blur. She couldn't place any faces or names or locations though she was certain she'd had some kind of dream.
She let her fingertips wander over her temple, where the small scar was partly hidden in her hairline, the proof that it had happened at all.
Dreaming is an everyday occurrence that everyone experiences. I've just had that other bizarre dream for so long that I forgot what it was like to have them as a normal person would.
Unlike the dreams brought on by the parasite, which were always clear and simple reminders of things she'd already lived through, this dream was nothing but a faint imprint of a time and a place, somewhere with someone. Simple and inconsequential.
As long as it's not trying to kill me I have no quarrels with it.
Valentine turned her head to see Leah, lying dead asleep in her bed, buried under her mountain of stuffed animals. She figured it must have still been early as Leah was a morning person and she had no problem rising with the sun every day. Valentine knew Blaze to be the opposite and could only imagine the friction that must have caused while the two had spent time together over the summer.
She sat up slowly, rubbing at her eyes. She stretched her arms over her head, feeling something pop satisfyingly along her spine. After several nights of sleeping on Snape's hardwood floor, it was inevitable that her body would eventually have had enough.
She threw back the blanket and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
Today was officially the beginning of the school year as classes would start right after breakfast. Valentine had Defence Against the Dark Arts during the second period. She wasn't sure whether she was eager to get it over with or wanted it to never arrive.
--Pretending to Hate--
Valentine and her friends took seats at the back of the class as they typically would. Draco and Valentine sat together in the very last seats, Leah and Blaze right in front of them, while Liam sat just to the left of Leah beside Meriton Hasani.
The class was still reasonably rowdy. It was still early enough for the morning people to be bright and full of energy, yet late enough that everyone else was fully awake and present. This naturally meant that Leah- a morning person- was already deep into prodding at her boyfriend's patience and Draco- not a morning person- already wanted very much for the day to be over.
"My mother said that she works for the Ministry."
These words caught Valentine's attention and she leaned slightly into the aisle to see Anna Henley and Chloe Connelly sitting close to the front together, talking just loud enough to be heard over the chatter by her keen ears.
"She's the Minister's Undersecretary." said Chloe.
"Seriously?" Valentine could hear the frown in Anna's voices. "Why would someone so important want to teach at Hogwarts?"
"I don't- woah!" Chloe ducked suddenly and laughed as a paper bird flew and dipped down close to her.
The bird had been charmed to float about the room with a flap of its wings. The students watched it giddily.
Seamus Finnigan reached up to hit it, only serving to make it fly higher and his friends laugh.
Leah quickly scrambled onto her desktop in a failed attempt to catch it, but it simply veered straight past her.
"Careful you nut." Blaze scolded her, grabbing her ankles so she wouldn't fall.
Valentine leaned back in her chair with a sigh as it moved on past her. She glanced at Draco beside her, with his head down on the desk. For a moment she thought about what kind of life he could be living if it wasn't for how he was raised. She looked around at the smiling faces of the other students.
I can't help but feel he's been robbed.
A student stood up from his seat, pulling out a slingshot and flung a small paper ball at it, only knocking it slightly off course.
It continued to flap along, gliding back up to the front of the class.
Valentine saw Umbridge appear at the back of the class before anyone else and so saw her raise her wand.
Without a word, the bird rippled with flames, the paper turning to cinder and ashes in the air. It swirled down towards the ground and landed right in front of the startled Patil sisters. But Valentine's gaze was elsewhere.
The smile frozen on Umbridge's face was no different than the one from the feast the night before and it made Valentine uncomfortable to see it so closely.
"Good morning, children." She said with that same smile. The room immediately fell silent as they turned to see her there. Students still standing quickly found their places, even Draco lifted his head.
Umbridge kept her wand raised as she walked up through the aisle to the front of the room, writing the words upon the blackboard as she spoke them.
"Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations. O-W-Ls. More commonly known as OWLs." She turned to face them at her desk. "Study hard and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so, and the consequences may be severe."
Valentine sat straighter now, watching the new Professor's every move.
Something about her is off...well, everything.
Though her voice was sickly sweet, every word she spoke was heavily laden with condescension and a patronising lilt.
Umbridge flicked her wand and the pile of textbooks on her desk levitated down the rows, leaving a book for each student.
"Your previous instruction in this subject has been disturbingly uneven. But you'll be pleased to know, from now on you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic." Umbridge informed them gleefully. A hand shot up into the air. "Yes?"
"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells." said Hermione, who was already flicking through her book.
"Using spells?" Umbridge chortled as if she'd never heard such a foolish question. "Well, I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom."
Two books landed on the desk before Valentine and she pushed one toward Draco. The cover read; Dark Arts Defence: Basics for Beginners.
What the hell is this? Beginners? We're fifth years! Our textbooks haven't had 'beginner' in the title since we were twelve! There can't be a thing in here I don't already know and half of the class along with me.
"We're not gonna use magic?" Ron spoke up, confusion evident.
Dumbledore was right. Fudge is paranoid. He doesn't want us to learn actual magic? He can't be serious! Does he really think Dumbledore will use students, of all things to steal his position?
"You'll be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way." said Umbridge, as though this was something the students would jump with joy to be a part of.
"What use is that? If we're attacked, it won't be risk-free." Harry pointed out.
"Students will raise their hands when they speak in my class." Umbridge's voice suddenly changed, growing colder and sharper. "It is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through your examinations which, after all, is what school is all about."
"And how's theory supposed to prepare us for what's out there?" Harry pressed on.
Valentine didn't like it. She didn't like the way Umbridge was speaking to him. She didn't like Umbridge speaking to him full stop. The way the woman stood there with her hands clasped like she'd been welcomed warmly when no such thing had happened unnerved Valentine to no end. Was this woman that obtuse or simply delusional?
"There is nothing out there, dear. Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourself?" Umbridge asked, patronizing tone raising to the surface.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe Lord Voldemort." At Harry's words, the room fell silent.
The students shared knowing glances and Valentine's insides wound tighter.
This is ridiculous! How can many people believe that trash? So many people Harry would probably consider friends as well! What are they thinking? What reason could he have to lie?
Umbridge's smile was still there, but her eyes glittered with malice. When she spoke her voice was soft as though she was talking to a wild animal who could attack at any moment.
"Now, let me make this quite plain." Umbridge looked around at them all as she ventured down through the desks, stopping beside Harry. Every nerve in Valentine's body was buzzing. She needed to get between them. To stop Umbridge from hurting him somehow despite the fact that all she was doing was standing there. "You have been told that a certain dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."
"It's not a lie." Harry bristled. "I saw him! I fought him!"
"Detention, Mr Potter." Umbridge's voice turned cold again and she marched back up to the front of the room as if that ended the conversation.
"So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord?" Harry added, as to him, the conversation was far from over.
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident."
Tragic accident? TRAGIC ACCIDENT?
Valentine knew this is what people had been saying but hearing someone say it right before her with such finality filled her with rage.
"It was murder!" Harry exclaimed. "Voldemort killed him! You must know that!"
"Enough!" Umbridge shrieked like rusty door hinges.
Leah visibly jumped in her seat. The room fell into dead silence again. Valentine could feel the rage swarming beneath her skin like bees. She wanted- she needed- to keep Harry away from that woman.
She's dangerous. If I couldn't tell before, I know it now.
"Enough." Umbridge repeated more calmly this time. "See me later, Mr. Potter. My office."
Umbridge gave that girlish giggle of hers as if in triumph and Valentine felt something inside her snap. She opened the textbook before her and viscously ripped out a handful of pages. Immediately all eyes moved from Harry to her.
"This is insulting." She held up the torn pages as if they disgusted her. "Beginner? I am not a beginner."
Valentine threw the pages on to the floor with a sneer.
"What are you doing?" Draco whispered furiously, touching her knee under the table.
"Excuse me?" Umbridge's glittering eyes were now turned on her, wide with shock.
"You heard me." Valentine pushed Draco's hand away with a shift of her knee. "I'm not an idiot. It's an insult to me that I should be forced to attend this class and learn nothing at all. It's as revolting as your cardigan."
"Miss Lestrange!" Umbridge was taken aback by the open show of disrespect and she marched down the aisle towards her.
Valentine stood as she did, keeping her chin level and eyes narrowed. Even with Umbridge in heels, Valentine's height still surpassed her and this agreed with Valentine greatly.
"Don't." Draco hissed at her but she ignored him again.
I've made my bed cousin. Now it's time for me to break it.
"That is Ministry property you just destroyed." said Umbridge. "You will be punished for your behaviour."
Up close, Valentine could see the madness and anger bubbling under the surface, just waiting for her to jab at it. She pulled her wand from her robe.
Umbridge watched her raptly as if daring her to attack.
Valentine touched the tip of her wand to the book and leaned towards Umbridge, eyes glowing dangerously as she whispered;
"Incendio."
The book immediately caught flame, fire engulfing the entire thing.
Draco backed away from it in fear.
"Detention!" Umbridge screamed, voice pitching up into that screech again. "Detention, Miss Lestrange!"
"How nice of you to want to spend time with me!" Valentine gave a cruel laugh.
She grabbed the book off the desk, it burned her fingers but she ignored it and shoved it onto Umbridge's toes.
The woman immediately leapt back from it and so Valentine lifted one foot and proceeded to stamp on the book violently over and over, eventually putting out the flames she'd created. When she was done she brushed the hair from her face and smiled at Umbridge sweetly.
"Welcome to Hogwarts."
"This kind of disrespectful behaviour will NOT be tolerated!" Umbridge seemed to lose control of herself for a moment before rapidly calming down again once. It was a blizzard thing to witness. She looked out at the rest of the class. "I sincerely hope this is not commonplace at Hogwarts."
No one dared to speak. This wasn't their fight and they knew it. Five years of experience told them not to intervene where Valentine Lestrange was involved.
"The only thing that is uncommon here, is you, Professor." Valentine spat.
"I will not stand for this! You will leave my classroom immediately." Umbridge reached for Valentine's arm abruptly and several students gave an audible gasp. Only one person had ever manhandled Valentine Lestrange and he was as terrifying as she.
Valentine ripped her arm out of range, stepping back.
"Do not touch me." She growled, eyes glowing viscously.
Umbridge looked particularly offended by Valentine's avoidance and reached for her again.
Valentine snarled and snapped her teeth at her like a hungry dog ready to latch on and bite down for the kill.
Fear flashed through the woman's eyes momentarily.
"You really shouldn't do that!" Draco was suddenly half out of his seat.
"She doesn't like to be touched!" Leah added, clearly distressed by what was happening.
"I will have silence!" Umbridge ordered.
Valentine tore her sights away from Umbridge long enough to see the fear in the eyes of the other students and the concern in the eyes of her friends.
"You will leave my classroom this moment, Miss Lestrange." Umbridge's eye twitched as she forced her voice to stay low and controlled.
"Please." Draco spoke up again, near begging her.
Valentine's gaze flickered over to him and then back to Umbridge.
"Do not touch me." She repeated and then turned and headed for the door.
"You will all stay in your seats until I have returned." Umbridge smoothed out her clothing and moved to follow her. "Anymore disobedience will be punishable by detention."
Valentine's skin was prickling. Umbridge had nearly touched her bare skin and the mere thought repulsed her.
At least she's away from Harry.
Umbridge shut the door and pinned her with a glare.
"Not only will your uncle be hearing about your unseemly behaviour, but we will see what your Head of House has to say about this."
Crap. Oh, he is not going to like this.
"Now walk." Umbridge ordered her, pointing down the hall with a single stubby finger.
Every fibre in Valentine's being was screaming at her to fight back, throw an insult and dig in her heels, but she knew she also could end up suspended or worse. Umbridge was new territory. She had no way of knowing how far she could push her, unlike the teachers she'd had for the last five years. So, she glared at the woman and started in the desired direction.
As they walked, Valentine listened to the clicking of her heels on the stone. Every sound they made irked her.
I should take them off her feet and beat her with them.
She could feel the eyes anchored to her spine. Umbridge wasn't going to let her get away with this, or anything like this. Naturally, this would cause some friction as Valentine wasn't prepared to back down.
When they reached the dungeons, Umbridge pounded her small pudgy fist on the door and it creaked open. The students turned in their seats to see who it was.
Snape looked up from a students cauldron and saw them both. His face was instantly that of a man who wished he was anywhere else.
"Professor." Umbridge stepped into the room, speaking in an authoritarian tone as if that would make up for her lack of stature.
"Professor." Snape replied stiffly, approaching them
Well, it was nice breathing while it lasted, I suppose.
"This," Umbridge pointed to Valentine accusingly. "deviant of a child, has disrupted the class, shown several blatant displays of disrespect towards me and destroyed Ministry property."
Snape slowly shifted his head to look down at Valentine, expression tired and uninterested.
"Is this true Lestrange?"
"No. She's seeing things." Valentine answered stoically. "Really, Professor. Does all that sound like me?"
Snape sighed.
"Well?" Umbridge pressed on.
"Well?" Snape repeated.
"I was under the impression that it would be thoughtful of me to let you handle this situation yourself, Professor. But if you'd rather I take her straight to the Headmaster-"
"Thank you, Professor. I will take it from here."
Snape cut her off abruptly, grabbing Valentine's shoulder and dragging her inside the classroom. She tried to shake him off but he just moved his hand to grip the collar of her shirt at her neck instead. His expression never changed.
"You may leave." He told Umbridge, taking a measured step forward.
"Very well." Umbridge was forced to step back and out into the hall. "Make sure she is soundly punished."
"Noted." said Snape, shutting the door on her before she could speak again.
A moment of silence filled the room as the sound of her clacking heels disappeared up the hall.
"So." Valentine wrenched her arm from Snape's grip as it loosened. "How much trouble am I in?"
He shoved her towards the front of the class, the students watching cautiously as she sauntered past. They were third years at the most.
"You will wait in my office until class is over." He growled dismissively. "I will deal with you then."
"Goody." Valentine muttered to herself as she headed down the spiral stairs to the office.
She opened the door and strode over to the desk, collapsing in the chair behind it.
He was calmer than usual. There's no way that bodes well for me. But how mad can he really be? He doesn't even like Umbridge. I mean, he slammed the door in her face.
Heh.
Who am I trying to fool? In general, he's just mad at me for existing. I'm sure to get an earful.
She sighed and slumped in the chair. When she closed her eyes she pictured the looks on her friend's faces. The panic and strife. She almost wished she didn't have any friends to hurt. Leah had looked like she was about to cry, Draco and Liam had looked ready to intervene and Blaze seemed as though he didn't know if he should have been comforting Leah or holding back Draco and Liam.
And they were stuck in that class with Umbridge. Harry as well. They're so damn loyal it's scary. I treat them so awfully and yet they're always ready to jump to my defence. At least the rest of the class knew better than to stick their nose into things, unlike Umbridge. Oh, she and I are going to have some problems.
Valentine occupied herself with studying the rows of bottles and containers on the walls and going through the papers on the desk. She'd been standing by a shelf, reading the label on a dark blue bottle when the door creaked open.
"Why do you insist on making life hard for me?" He growled at her, slamming the door behind himself.
"Yes, nice to see you too Professor." She drawled sarcastically. "Dull class? I didn't hear any crying so it must have gone well for them at least."
"It hasn't even been an entire day and you're already being dragged into my classroom." Snape snatched the bottle from her fingers.
"She did not drag me. I wouldn't let her touch me if my life depended on it." Valentine objected. "She just...escorted me."
"Destroying Ministry property?" Snape arched a brow at her.
"She expected us to learn from 'Dark Arts Defence: Basics for Beginners'! Not to mention she's refusing to teach us how to use magic. She says we don't need it to pass our O.W.Ls so we don't need to know it!" Valentine started pacing as she recounted what had happened. "And you should have heard the things she said to Potter! She insists that Diggory's death was an accident and there's no one out there who wants to hurt children like ourselves!"
"That does not explain the destruction."
"Let's just say we're down one copy of 'Defence Against the Dark Arts for Dummies'."
Snape scoffed, reorganising the papers on his desk.
"Nothing that you said justifies the trouble you've caused me. I have said it before, you have no self-control."
"You weren't there! The woman is insane!"
"This discussion can wait until tonight, Lestrange." Snape glared. "It's lunchtime. Go find your friends and leave me be."
"Your concern for Potter is truly touching." She spat.
They glowered silently at one another for a moment before Valentine just shook her head and marched over to the door, slamming it as she left.
--Pretending to Live--
"Val, you could have been expelled." Draco stressed.
"Well, was I?"
"No, but-"
"Then shut up and stop nagging me."
Draco hadn't calmed down since second period, even now, later in the day after classes were over, he was still on edge. Even Liam suggested they go outside for a bit if some fresh air would do him some good but Draco was his mother's son and there was very little that could console him.
"She couldn't really do that, could she?" Lean leaned back against the tree.
"She works directly for the Minister himself." said Liam. "She could definitely try if she had enough reason."
"Yeah, Dumbledore even suspended her once before, remember?" said Blaze. "Umbridge has way more weight in the Ministry than he does."
"Even more than the Malfoy's?"
"What?" Draco looked at her sharply.
"She didn't mean it like that." Blaze said quickly.
"You're being completely ridiculous." Valentine scoffed. "I'm not getting expelled."
"But that's not the only problem." Draco groaned. "What about mother and father?"
"What about them?"
"They won't like this."
"They don't like anything I do."
"Val, I'm just-"
"Well, fucking don't. Worry about yourself for a change. I can look after myself."
--Pretending To Live--
Despite all the things Valentine had to say on the topic of Umbridge, when she arrived at the Headmaster's office that evening, the first thing she thought to mention was the Thestrals.
"Ah." said Dumbledore. "So, you can see them."
"Obviously."
"They're from another region." Dumbledore explained. "The forest they'd lived in for centuries was destroyed quite recently by muggle deforestation. I had Hagrid bring them here for their own safety. Despite the way many witches and wizards treat them, they rather enjoy human company. Very interesting creatures they are."
"I'd say." Valentine hummed in agreement.
She almost wanted to be mad at the Muggles who'd done such a thing, but how could she condemn them when they'd never even know they existed? If they'd known, they'd have had the chance to relocate them, but if they could not see the Thestrals, what could possibly be done?
"Speaking of Hagrid..." Snape arched a brow.
"Yes, Hagrid." Dumbledore nodded. "I personally asked him to travel to the community of giants in Belarus in an attempt to form an alliance. It could be most beneficial should the Dark Lord try the same."
"An alliance?" Snape frowned. "With giants?
"Why do I feel like that's not a good idea?" said Valentine.
"Because it's not a good idea." Snape confirmed.
"Ah." Valentine nodded.
"You must remember the destruction brought about by the sheer strength of giants in the hands of the Dark Lord when he first rose to power." Dumbledore continued. "I do not wish to see that happening again."
"No one wishes for it to happen, Headmaster." Snape sighed. "You cannot ignore the fact that giants are often inherently violent and above all else enjoy killing things. The likelihood that they will side with us is slim to none."
"But," Valentine added. "it's better than just leaving them to Voldemort. That's hardly a good idea either."
"Are there any good ideas when giants are involved?"
"Despite how you may feel, Severus." said Dumbledore. "When Hagrid returns we will learn whether or not he was successful."
"Ten gallons on unsuccessful." Valentine coughed under her breath. Snape gave her an unimpressed look. "Oh, don't act like you think any different. You're the most negative man in all of Europe."
"There are more important things that should have our attention. " He growled. "Your behaviour today for instance."
Valentine had nearly forgotten about that and sat straighter at the reminder. She looked to Dumbledore and smiled.
"Oh, do I have a story for you."
She relayed the information with no lack of her usual sarcasm and bitter humour. Neither Dumbledore nor Snape seemed to find it particularly amusing but that had never stopped her in the past.
"...and you should have seen her face." Valentine leaned back in her chair, beaming with a smug expression. "She was practically shaking with rage. I thought she was liable to explode."
Valentine had been given the chance to cool down over the course of the day after the incident in Defense Against the Dark Arts. While she was still suspicious and irritated, she now found what happened more laughable then she ever would have during second period.
Snape just rolled his eyes at her.
"You must tread carefully, child." Dumbledore warned her.
But it was late and Valentine had been waiting all day to tell them about how she'd destroyed Umbridge's precious textbook in further detail. The new Professor had never witnessed the behaviour that Valentine was known for, the kind of behaviour that made even her closest friends weary. And the new Professor has been furious.
"I couldn't just allow her to say those things." Valentine insisted. "She can't be trusted...and she freaks me out."
"Potter can handle a detention or two without your interference." said Snape. "What if people started getting suspicious? What if your friend started asking questions?"
"Oh, stop it." Valentine scoffed. "Everyone thinks I was just mad that she handed out textbooks for beginners. Which is a valid issue by the way! She's not going to teach us anything useful. Even Barty Crouch Jr taught us something and he was a raving, Death Eater, lunatic."
"Yes." Dumbledore sighed. "I'm hardly surprised by this action of hers. I suspected she might do something of the sort."
"Fudge wants to keep us dumb and docile." said Valentine. "Well, that just isn't going to happen. I don't believe in being docile."
"I doubt your friends agreed with your actions." Snape added.
Valentine frowned. He wasn't wrong but her friend's opinions on the subject were far from relevant.
"I do things they don't like all the time." She turned her face away from him in clear rejection.
"This isn't a game." Snape hissed.
"Oh, really?" She head snapped back in his direction. "And this whole time I thought we'd been playing Old Maid."
"Severus has a point." Dumbledore spoke gently. "We can't afford to provoke this situation."
"I will not just sit there and watch her lord over Harry like that. She's dangerous. I can feel it. And you can suspect what she may or may not do all day and night, Headmaster, but that won't stop her from doing it in the first place. All we can be sure of is that if she knows it, so does the Minister. I'm just trying to protect Harry. I'm just doing the job you asked me to do and I'm telling you, the woman is dangerous."
"If she's so dangerous then perhaps you shouldn't beg for her attention." said Snape.
"I do not beg!" Valentine hissed at him. "It's not as though anyone will reasonably suspect that I'd be against the Ministry for the sake of Potter or anyone. They'll all just think I'm being the 'Crazy and Violent Lestrange', which, as you may have imagined, is a reputation I worked quite hard to cultivate, thank you very much!"
"I do not take that tone with me, you brat!"
"Now is not the time to talk about my tone! I'm warning you both now, I fully intend on personally making Dolores Umbridge's time here at Hogwarts an absolute living hell to the best of my ability."
Dumbledore, who was usually all in agreement with her didn't seem to be such. He shared a look with Snape that said it all.
"I saw that," said Valentine.
Dumbledore looked back to her, unabashed at being caught.
"We do not mean to fight against you, my dear, but this is a very fragile situation."
"You speak for yourself," said Snape. "I will always speak against her when she acts so nonsensically."
But Valentine wasn't paying Snape any mind. Her eyes were trained on Dumbledore.
"You can't be serious. Something has to be done about Umbridge. Anything."
"The simple fact of the matter is, that until she takes action, my hands are tied." Admitted Dumbledore, leaning forward and folding his hands on his desk.
"But that could be putting Harry and even the other students in harm's way, Professor. I had my doubts about Mad-eye, didn't I? And I was right. Even Lockhart was a danger when we let him be despite knowing he was an utter fraud!"
Dumbledore peered at her over his glasses.
"You have my every reassurance, my dear, that Umbridge will be watched from all possible angles. Should she make a move, we will expend all that we can to intervene before she can."
Valentine stood from her seat.
"With all due respect, Headmaster, don't talk to me like I'm overreacting. We both know I have every reason to be concerned about the situation. Every year you make assurances and every year Harry almost ends up dead."
"I meant no offence-"
"There was no offence taken. I'm not offended, sir. I just expected more."
And with that she left the room.