"When all hope is lost.... just smile."

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"May I ask Ms. Dumbledore if you could pay me rent?" Madam Strout scowls at me and I give her a sheepish smile.

"For what...?" I drawl, with a smile and she glares at me.

"If you're always going to be here. I'd suggest renting out a bed. It's just five galleons a month." She snaps and I gape at her.

"FIVE galleons!!! Not even five-star hotels charge that much!!" I groan and she shrugs.

"Does the expression on my face not convey the utter disregard I feel for you right now?" She snaps and I wince.

"No. No. It does." I cringe and she shoves all three of us inside the Infirmary, throwing us into adjacent beds, while she started to work on Fenrir's injuries.

"None of you got scratched or bitten correct?"

I watch in relief as Tom and Fenrir shake their heads. "Ms. Dumbledore?" She asks and I purse my lips, watching as Tom whips around to look at me eyes wide.

"If you become a werewolf every month, Dumple and you expect me to take care of your fleas, I swear to-"

"I was only scratched a couple times." I answer and the relief is evident on everyone's face except Tom's. I could see it in his eyes though.

"Where?!" Strout instantly decides my injuries were of a more potent emergency and I draw up my sleeve, revealing the deep claw marks on my forearm. The injuries I'd gotten saving Fenrir.

"You got those because of me." He winces, staring at me while tears brewed in his eyes.

"It's fine. You would've become a werewolf had I not intervened." I state truthfully

"You're aware this will scar?" Madame Strout declares, seriously and I nod.

"I'm aware." I smile, rolling my eyes. "Just a couple more to add to my collection." I shrug trying to make fun of my situation.

I was proud of those scars. With those three huge scars that covered the entirety of my forearm, I'd saved so many kids, adults and muggles from a lifestyle of horror and prejudice.

I'd given Fenrir another chance at life.

I'd also ensured Remus a happy childhood.

So I grinned when I stared at those scars. I feel Tom probing at my thoughts and I let him see exactly what I was thinking.

Thinking I'd stopped my horrid visions from occurring he gives me an impressed look, tilting his face to the side and gazing at me in another light. He didn't know that I'd just changed the whole future for a bunch of people.

"Good job Dumbledore." He offers and I chuckle.

"I know, Riddle... I know."

He smiles at me and I think my heart stopped. He scoffs, seeing my enraptured expression but his lips twitch upwards in amusement.

"You're so full of yourself Riddle." I grin at him and he shakes his head in disbelief, still wearing his classic small smile.

"Says the girl with a crush on me."

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"Greta!!! Seriously they're just scars!! Stop crying please!!" I beg my sobbing friend. She had my arm entrapped in her grip like a teddy bear and was wailing, in my behalf.

"YOU.... YOU COULD'VE- you could've- DIED!!!" She screeches, making Gideon who had been coming over to check on his sister back away slowly, his arms raised in surrender.

"Awwww my poor baby." I smile at her, bringing her in for a hug. "I promise I'm alright."

"No!!!! YOU ARE LIKE MYRTLE!!!! YOU GUYS ALWAYS SAY YOU'RE ALRIGHT WHEN REALLY YOU AREN'T" She was literally screaming now.

"Grets. I'm alive. Isn't that the most important thing?" I ask her softly. Her concern for me made my heart swell.

I loved Greta so much. She was like the little sister I always needed.

"Why- WHYYYY DO these things always happen TO YOU!!?" She sniffles, using my sleeve to wipe her tears. I giggle at her reaction and place a hand on her shoulder.

I tell her exactly what Abaddon had told me when I'd asked him that question I while back.

"Because the universe knows I can handle it."

"What happens when you can't?" She demands, glaring at me in worry.

"I've been able to handle everything thrown at me so far Grets..... so we'll just have to see." I give her a tired smile and the Ravenclaw pouts.

"Hey......?" Gideon grins sheepishly trying to enter the conversation in a time where his sister might not kill him.

"Hi." Greta glares at her brother, making me laugh.

"Hey Gideon." I wave him over and he sighs in relief, staring at the scars on my arm with wide eyes.

I'd had my sleeves drawn upwards unconsciously and the second Greta had seen them she'd started screaming, bursting into tears.

Fenrir had already told everyone about how Tom and I had saved his life from the army of werewolves. He followed us around everywhere now.

It was adorable.

Tom, already used to Ariana's extreme adoration of him, didn't mind Fenrir's behaviour as much.

He took it as a compliment, the vain arse.

They even had clubs made in our honour. The Worship Tom and Valentine clubs. I immediately took it down but Riddle, the egotistical bastard told them to make the club about worshiping him only.

Pfffft. Fine. I at least had the scars to prove my worth. He had a fan club.

"Those look like they were deep." Gideon winces slightly and I nod, staring at them.

"I didn't feel any pain while I was fighting, because of the adrenaline but afterwards I felt it would be better to just tear it off and be done with it." I admit, with a wince, remembering the burning agony I'd felt.

"Yikes." He cringes away, staring at the dark lines that now adorned my arm.

"And you aren't like self-conscious of them?" He asks me and I purse my lips.

No. Those weren't the scars I was ashamed of.

The ones on my back were the scars that I desperately tried to keep hidden from everyone and anyone.

The scars on my arm, were a symbol of my bravery.

The ones on my back.... a symbol of my cowardice.

"No." I tell him, smiling. "How could I ever be ashamed of myself?" I state and he smiles, ruffling my hair.

"Good. You're a beautiful, brave, and an independent woman. Never let anyone convince you otherwise."

I grin and chuckle. "Thanks Gideon."

We make our way to class and I see Fenrir following me with an enraptured expression on his face. I turn around, catching him red-handed. He looked like a deer caught in wandlight. I laugh, waving him over.

He bounces to my side.

"Hi Val!!" He chips and I ruffle his hair good naturally.

"Hey kid. How's all the fame going?" I ask and he grins.

"AWESOME!! I survived a freaking werewolf attack. I'm like a hero!" He chirps.

"Of course. You fought off all of them didn't you?" I grin, good naturally and he blushes, his grey eyes glimmering in happiness.

"Why is my little minion hanging with you? Why have you betrayed me?" Tom glares at Fenrir and I laugh. "You already have one minion. Let me have him. At least he doesn't call me dad." Tom shivers in disgust.

"You mean Ariana?" I was cackling internally.

"Correct." He glares at me.

"Technically.... I saved both of them." I grin, tilting my head at him in challenge.

"You are going to be selfish?!" He snaps.

"Let Fenrir choose." I smile and Tom narrows his eyes at me.

"Choose me. I'll give you everything you'll ever hope for." He says, turning on his charming persona and usual fake smile.

"I choose you both." The little first year shrugs and waves. "I have class. See you guys later!" He cheers and literally skips away.

"You stole my minion." Tom glares at me.

"He's not a minion, you sick psychopath."

"Yes he is. He follows me around like I'm a King."

"Wouldn't that make me your Queen?" I laugh and the look of disgust on his face was honestly insulting.

"You aren't worthy enough to be my Queen." He scoffs, and the words have me pausing slightly, hurt.

I erase all the hurt from my face before he could turn to look at me.

"What did I hurt your little feelings?" He sneers and I shake my head.

"No. No you didn't Tom." I lie, giving him a sad smile. It was real.

"I'm used to it now."

"Remember when it used to hurt? Yeah me neither."