One week. That was all the time it took before they received an owl saying that Valentine would be allowed to attend school again on a probationary period.

Valentine wondered how Dumbledore had convinced McGonagall and the other Professor's to allow her back so soon. Snape certainly wouldn't have vouched for her. But that brewed an entirely new problem. What if her suspension had been shortened because she was needed? Harry Potter and his friends had been poking their noses in where it wasn't wanted when she left. What if something happened?

It made her nervous and she hated that with a passion. She wasn't used to being nervous. That was how she made other people feel. Not the other way around.

Narcissa tied the string of her cloak into a neat bow and Valentine immediately pulled it loose and yanked the cloak off altogether.

"Please, don't be difficult." Narcissa sighed.

Valentine folded the cloak in her arms and stepped away.

"You can leave now." She said pointedly.

"Well, I was hoping to see Draco." Narcissa looked around the empty courtyard.

"I'll let him know you said hi." Valentine pulled her lips into a weak, bitter smile.

"I would like a proper goodbye, Val." Narcissa took a step towards her and Valentine took seven back.

"No more hugging, woman." Valentine snarled.

"I'LL HUG YOU!"

Leah then came bounding out into the courtyard, arms waving enthusiastically.

Draco and the others followed, looking utterly run through.

"Hello, Leah." Narcissa smiled as she hugged the girl.

"Don't you mind, Val!" Leah grinned, "I'll always hug you!"

"Oh, thank God you're back," Blaze slumped halfway to the ground. "This last week has been a living nightmare."

"I'm pretty sure I lost both my sanity and innocence." Liam nodded, eyes haunted and hollow.

"You are not allowed to do that again." Draco grabbed Valentine by both shoulders and stared into her soul.

"Draco!" Narcissa's eyes lit up and she wrapped her arms around him before he could escape.

"Val!" Leah was then throwing herself at her.

"Leah, be careful." Olivia rushed forwards as both Valentine and Leah almost went down.

"I missed you!" Leah cooed rubbed her cheek against Valentine's. "That felt like a- ouch!"

Leah leapt back, hand over stomach protectively.

"You pinched me!"

"You're lucky that's all I did!" Valentine snapped.

"I told you she wouldn't like that." Olivia scolded her lightly.

"You planned that?" Valentine growled.

"Huh? What? No, never!" Leah's eyes bugged out of her skull and she hurried to stand behind Liam and Blaze. "That's not like me at all."

"She totally did." She Blaze.

"Shut up, you!" Leah then pinched him.

"Ouch! Damn it, Leah!"

"Do you see what I have to put up with?" Draco said haughtily to his mother.

"Oh, you know what Leah's like." Narcissa chuckled.

"That's the problem!" Draco exclaimed.

"Leah's been taking advantage of you not being here," Olivia explained to Valentine. "Well, after she stopped sulking, of course."

"You must Olivia Benson." Narcissa smiled.

"Ah." Olivia turned bright red and bowed her head respectfully. "Yes, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Such lovely manners." Narcissa shot Valentine and Draco meaningful looks. "Perhaps you can teach these two a thing or two."

"Weren't you leaving?" Valentine said sourly.

"My point exactly." Narcissa sighed. "But yes, I suppose I should let you get to it."

"Brilliant." Valentine was already walking away.

"Val!" Narcissa called after her.

Valentine just spun on her friends with a glare.

"Are you coming or not?"

"Nice to see you again, Mr's Malfoy." Liam gave her a charming smile before towing Blaze off to follow.

"Bye, bye!" Leah grinned, quickly giving the woman one last squeeze.

"Bye." Narcissa stumbled slightly to her keep her balance. "Now, Draco-"

But Draco was already at Valentine's said, telling her all the annoying things Leah had done, whether included in their letters or not.

"Don't worry, about them," Leah shouted over her shoulder as she hurried after the others. "I'll make sure to hug them when they least expect it!"

"But I do be careful!" Narcissa called after her. "Don't rile them up too much!"

"No promises!"

-----Pretending To Hate-----

That night Valentine lay awake in her dorm alone. It wasn't quite lights out and she had been waiting for some sort of sign since she had returned that morning. Harry Potter had been at dinner with his friends, eating and talking like any other night. Snape and Dumbledore sat at the staff table, showing no hint that something was going on.

Maybe there's no particular reason I'm back so early? Maybe they were just worried that I was missing out on an education and whatnot, though that seems unlikely given what I did to get suspended in the first place.

She supposed that if there was something else to this, then Dumbledore would have made sure she knew. Either way, she couldn't simply go and asked. Her friends had been stuck to her like glue all day, especially Draco and Leah.

Leah was just excited to see her again, like a puppy someone left alone for an hour. Draco, on the other hand, waited for an opportunity to pull Valentine aside and ask how hard his father had been on her. She didn't tell him the whole truth, but she also didn't want him to be forever blind to how cruel his father really was. Even using vague words, Draco was able to discern her meaning. Lucius had gotten more than a little rough but Narcissa had stepped in. Draco just frowned in thought and nodded.

Later on, Valentine had been able to abandon the boys in the common room and remind Leah and Olivia that they needed to shower before bed. That's what led her to a few precious minutes of quiet.

Suddenly the door slammed opened and Leah and Olivia entered laughing.

On instinct, Valentine shut her eyes and slowed her breathing, fainting sleep.

"Oh, my, God. Shush!" Olivia quickly hushed Leah, when she saw Valentines 'sleeping' figure. "Leah, be quiet. Val is asleep."

"Oh!" Leah gasped and then lowered her voice. "Oh."

For several minutes, Valentine listened as her two friends prepared themselves for bed, whispering to one another as they went.

At least they're being considerate. I'm sure I could appreciate it if I was actually asleep.

Valentine heard Leah slam her fingers accidentally in her trunk and Olivia blowing on them to help and keep her quiet. Then she heard Leah almost falling over while trying to get off her socks.

What a disaster. She really can't be left unattended, can she?

Olivia and Leah then got settled in their beds and gave each other their goodnights. They even whispered one each Valentine's away even though they believed she was asleep and wouldn't hear or be able to answer.

"There is no way I'm going to fall asleep." Leah sighed just a few minutes later as Valentine herself was starting to drift off

"Yeah. I know the feeling." Olivia agreed.

Well, that doesn't include me, so can we go back to complete quiet, please?

Valentine heard the creaking of bedsprings and the rustling of sheets. She didn't peek but heard what she thought sounding like the two sitting on the floor between their beds.

"I'm happy Val is back," Olivia whispered.

"Me too. It was so weird not having her around." Leah whispered, not nearly as softly as Olivia.

"It must have been especially weird for Draco. He told me that this was the longest he'd ever gone without seeing her."

"Yeah, it is now that I think of it. Longest for me too." Said Leah. "Val and Draco live together so they saw each other every day and I was overall the time but mama got me a tutor and blah, blah, blah. Basically, I wasn't with Val and Draco having fun nearly as much as I could I have been."

"That must be so cool." Said Olivia. Valentine could hear the faint smile in her voice. "To have people that have just always been there. And you're all the same age. It's like you were just meant to be friends."

"That's what my mama says," Leah was grinning then as well, "and I think we're all meant to be friends. Me, Val and Draco are just where it started. And then we met you and Liam and Blaze. Think about it. We're even in the same dorms."

"Maybe." Olivia's voice was so soft Valentine could hardly hear it, "but, well, I think we can all agree that I'm a little different from you guys."

"Oh, come on." Leah pouted. "Don't say that. We don't care if your family isn't rich. You're our Olivia. You're special."

"Thanks, Leah but I'm really not."

"No. Hush," Leah said firmly. "I won't hear it. My word is law."

"Okay then." Olivia laughed quietly.

"No, I'm serious." Leah's voice rose a little and Olivia shushed her again. "No more talking like that or I will just have to tell Val and we both know that she'll beat it out of you with a glare alone."

"How are you always so happy, Leah? How do you do it?" Olivia had to smother her giggles.

"Why am I so happy?" Leah asked, sounded genuinely confused. "...I've never thought about that before."

"I mean, sure you get a little moody sometimes but you bounce back so quickly. You're always smiling and laughing about something. It's really amazing actually."

Leah gave a loud strangled gasp.

"Aweeeee! You are too cute!"

"Shhhh!" Olivia hushed her again.

There were several moments of quiet hushing and giggles before Leah spoke up once more.

"You know...I'm really happy Val made so many friends this year." The sincerity in her voice caught Valentine's attention. It was rare to hear her speak so seriously. "I was really worried that she wouldn't make any. I knew Draco would. I was sure he'd find another jerk to be jerky with but Val's different. She's really special and only gets along with certain people."

"I know."

"Me and Draco will always stick by her no matter what. She doesn't even need to ask. But I'm still happy she's found more people."

"Oh, Leah." Olivia sighed. "Val is so strong, I'm sure she could manage whether or not she has friends."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean her friends can manage her. Me and Draco are used to it but you guys haven't even seen her really go at it yet."

"Leah, what are you talking about?" Olivia swallowed.

"Well, you know about her parents, right?"

"Yes, everybody does. Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange."

"Well, everyone says that they were insane and...Val kind of is." Leah lowered her voice cautiously as if Valentine herself could wake up at any second. "Sometimes she completely fine, and then sometimes she just sort of just snaps."

"I've think I know what you mean but...insane? Val always seems to know exactly what she's doing. I don't know if you could call someone with that much clarity insane."

"But she wasn't always like this."

"What?"

There was a break in the whispering and more shuffling before Leah continued.

"It happened a few years ago."

"What happened, Leah?" Olivia pressed lightly.

"Val...she...she changed."

"Changed?"

"Yeah. She had never been so mean to anyone before that. Sure, she could be a jerk sometimes like Draco, but that was it. That was just Val. It was so sudden. One day she was how she had always been and then...she changed. It was like she became a different person overnight."

"You don't know why? She didn't say anything around then? Or maybe something happened to her?"

"No. Nothing. Everything was normal and then it wasn't." Leah sighed. "But sometimes I can still see her in they, you know? Like she's still the old Val. You wouldn't be able to tell unless you knew her as well as I do, but it's there."

Leah...

"You really don't know what happened? What about Draco? He would have had to notice something."

"Draco doesn't know either." Said Leah. "But he doesn't like to talk about it, anyway. I asked him back then and he said that we should just get used to it. This is why Val needs more people like Draco around her. She doesn't know how to handle anyone else without breaking them. She needs people that will stand by her no matter what happens. No matter how scary things get or what she does."

Leah, you're such an idiot. You don't need to stand by me. You should be running.

"I'll stand by her too." Said Olivia.

What?

"You will?" Leah sounded as surprised as Valentine felt.

"Yes. And I know Liam and Blaze will as well." Olivia said firmly.

"Are you sure? You have to be totally sure because Val wouldn't just let you go if she doesn't want to. I'm not joking. I don't Val to hurt you but I don't think I can stop her if she tries."

"I am," Olivia answered immediately. "I care about her. I care about all of you. You all accepted me without a second thought. And I was so worried about not being able to make friends when I go here. I could never just throw any of you away like that."

"Olivia...Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me for anything, Leah."

"But I do." Leah insisted. "I know how scary Val is. This isn't a little thing."

"Hey, I am a Slytherin, you know." Olivia smiled. "Loyalty is important to me."

"That's good." Leah gave a loud yawn. "Cause I don't think Val would handle betrayal well."

"Yeah." Olivia laughed. "Probably not. Tired yet?"

"No." Leah yawned again. "Not at all. I'm wide awake."

"Come on, its bedtime." Olivia just laughed light again and Valentine could hear them climbing back into bed.

Valentine laid there, honestly surprised and decently confounded.

I didn't realize they'd gotten so close throughout the year. I mean, I knew they'd become good friends and all, but Leah doesn't show that side of her to just anybody. The things she said...Leah may be an idiot back we're raised being taught to keep our cards close to our chest. To be selective of our friends and especially our confidence. She really does trust Olivia. And Olivia! She said that she'll stand by me and Leah was right. This isn't a little thing. Leah even told her that I was insane! You'd have to be pretty insane yourself to go along with that! What am I going to do with these people?

-----Pretending to Hate-----

A day passed and nothing happened. Harry was fine. Classes resumed. The only thing that was different from before was that now the students were even more terrified of her than ever. That was a good thing. She hoped it meant that she would need to hurt anyone else like that again. That the horror of the rumours and stories would build her up enough to do the job for her. Not that she was going to hold her breath.

Valentine had waited and watched McGonagall leaving the Head Masters office. Going to see Dumbledore during the day was a risk but so far it was the only time the others hadn't been trailing along behind her.

Snape had held her back to give her the marked assignment that had been returned to everyone else while she was away. He'd all but thrown it at her and told her that Dumbledore wished to speak to her as soon as he could. Then he had so eloquently told her to get the hell out of his classroom and to her next lesson.

She had been tempted to start up another of their usual screaming matches but the next class was already starting to file in, so she just made sure to seem extra beastly as she shoved her way past them. It would be an understatement to say that they parted like the red sea.

The Head Masters door open as she approached. She always assumed that meant she was welcome and the close was clear.

Dumbledore was sitting behind his large desk, as usual, quite focused on as forms in front of him.

"I hope that's Snape's will because I am this close to killing him."

"No, no." Dumbledore smiled. "And I'm afraid he is still needed."

"That's what you say." Valentine huffed. "But have you been in his class lately. I could teach it myself."

"I'm sure you could."

"Well?" Valentine prompted as she slid into her chair. "You wanted to see me? From where I sit Potter seems to be just fine."

Dumbledore put down his quill and folded his hands on the desk, giving her his full attention.

"In three days from now, I will be departing to the Ministry of Magic to take part in a meeting."

"Alright?"

Is that all? Why couldn't he just get Snape to tell me that?

"How long will you be gone?"

"I can't be certain of the exact time frame." Said Dumbledore.

Valentine frowned.

"But you think it might be long enough for something bad to happen? Wait." Valentine blinked. "That's why you lifted my suspension after only a week. So that I could be here encase something really does go wrong."

"You're as sharp as ever, my dear." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

"Well, I assume Snape is still keeping an eye on Quirrell, correct?"

"Yes."

"And I've been watching Potter since I got back." Valentine shrugged. "It seems he's minding his own business. At least for now."

"That is a comfort." Dumbledore nodded. "It would be ideal for this year to close without incident."

"Oh, come now, sir. I think you might be asking for just a bit too much." Valentine rolled her eyes.

-----Pretending To Hate-----

Valentine stepped around the corner and the girl standing against the wall dropped her books. Another group of students further down the hall spotted her and quickly moved on without a word spoken between them.

Everyone with the exception of her friends avoided her like the plague. Valentine silently congratulated her on a violent job well done.

People parted in the corridors, even teachers save for Snape and McGonagall tried not to press her. And Valentine herself was quite civil. After all, she was still on probation. She couldn't afford to be ruffling feathers. The end of the school year was near enough. She only had to mind herself for that long. That was easier said than done seeing how her glaring and insults had become second nature.

"Hey." Olivia arrived at her side.

"Hello." Valentine arched a brow. "This is a true rarity. Where is she then? Don't be meek now. You can tell me if you killed her."

Olivia laughed.

"She's with the others in the Great Hall." She held up a book. "I wanted to return this to the library before lunch was over."

"And Leah didn't cry when you left her?" Valentine snorted.

"Blaze bet that she couldn't eat fifty pieces of toast in ten minutes," Olivia explained. "I didn't really have ten minutes spare."

"They're idiots. All of them. No exceptions today." Valentine sighed and rubbed at her eyes. "But aren't you worried she might choke? That seems like the kind of thing you would care about."

"I really needed to return this." Said Olivia. "And Madam Pomfrey was in the hall as well, so I think it might be fine..."

Olivia bit her lip and looked back the way she'd come.

"Oi, stop that." Valentine stopped abruptly and slapped the girl's shoulder, making her jump. "I was joking. If toast could kill that idiot, Draco and I would have her six-foot under by now."

"You're right." Olivia sighed and gave her a small smile.

"Of course, I am." Valentine started on again.