Valentine stood on the courtyard balcony overlooking the Black Lake and forest. She watched Harry and Lupin out walking about beyond the castle, near the bridge that would bring them back onto the school grounds.

She'd followed Harry out here as he seemed to be leaving the grounds alone which most definitely set off sirens in her head. Then he'd met up with Lupin on the bridge and Valentine had backed off. He'd be fine with Lupin.

Since she'd revealed her knowledge of Lupin's condition to the man in question, he'd been keeping to his side if the proverbial fence. No more detentions. No more questions. In class when she sat there staring at nothing, he left her to it. Provided she completed all her assignments on time which she naturally did. He didn't single her out or favour her. And he certainly didn't send any letters to her uncle.

In turn, she kept her promise. She didn't tell anyone what she knew, not that she thought she ever would. If she'd ever been pushed that far she would have discussed it with Dumbledore and fixed it so she still had reasonable cause to keep his secret. She wouldn't of let him suffer like that without trying to do something.

Lupin wasn't the only teacher behaving differently around her. That last altercation with Snape had easily been their most explosive in three years worth of near-daily altercations. She didn't see him the entire weekend except for meals and then in class that Monday he had barely even glanced at her. No jabs at her intelligence or attitude. No scolding or for not following instructions. Even the other students had noticed, especially her friends. When Blaze asked what she had done to finally break Snape, she'd spun some crap about how he must have realised that he could never defeat her and that continuing their ever ongoing screaming match was pointless. She acted like she was indifferent to the whole thing like she would never waste and extra second on the man. In reality, she was annoyed. And weirded out. He couldn't just ignore her like that forever. Between classes and meetings, they had to put up with each other too often to be doing something like that. She was going to force him back into their usual routine even if she had to take notes from Blaze's brother and let her Care For Magical Creatures book lose in the classroom.

That'll get him riled up for sure. He can just try and ignore him when he a book I personally sicced on him is trying to maul off his stupid face.

Valentine was sniggering to herself at the thought when a voice called out to her.

"Oi, Lestrange!"

Valentine paused and then turned, walking to the inner side of the balcony overlooking the courtyard. Her face, an indifferent slate, stared down at five Ravenclaw students, all at least fifteen years old each. Three boys, two girls.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"We heard that performed the Patronus Charm." One of the two girls, a blonde, sneered lightly up at her.

You've got to be kidding me. How if the fact that Parkinson can't keep her mouth shut still haunting me?

"Well, that's the rumour anyway." The same girl rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, clearly unbelieving.

Valentine sighed, it left her throat with more of a growl. She headed to the end of the walk and moved down the stairs, taking her time. When she reached the courtyard she stood firm and faced them, not a happy camper.

"What do you annoying little birds want?"

I don't want this to get messy. I hope I have a choice in the matter.

"We want the truth." The tall boy who had originally called out to her spoke. "There's no way a third-year managed to cast a Patronus Charm. It's way too advanced."

"I don't have time for your tantrums, little birds." Valentine waved them off. "Leave me be or you'll regret it."

"No. Not without the truth."

"Were not like the other idiots at this school." One of the other guys jumped in with a scoff. "We don't believe everything we hear. And for the record, you're not scary in the slightest."

Valentine chuckled darkly, a dangerous smirk winding its way on to her pale features. She watched them all tense, the boy fighting to keep his arrogant sneer on his face. He reminded her a little of a dark-haired Draco. She took an abrupt step forward and every Ravenclaw stepped back on reflex.

Laughing to herself again like a proud cat with a canary, she stepped up to the boy who had last spoken. He wasn't awfully tall and so she didn't have to look up far. He glared at her stubbornly, refusing to show the fear she could seeing swimming in his eyes. She wondered briefly what he saw and in hers and hoped it was nothing that made him feel safe.

She lifted one hand up with the kind of ease and grace Narcissa would applaud. She placed it on the side of the boys face, his eyes colouring with confusion and affrontement. She could feel the slight tremble beneath his skin and knew she had already won this game he'd thought he'd had a chance in.

He says he isn't afraid and then and yet he shakes with a frightened kitten.

"You're a Ravenclaw, so you should be smart enough to know how easily the neck of a bird can be snapped in the hands of someone with the ambition to do it." Her voice dropped into that of a bladed whisper. "Beware, little bird. Slytherin's are known for their ambition."

The boys stared down at her, eyes widened as he struggled to contain all that fear. She could see that he regretted challenging her. It seemed his bravery had all been born of his own arrogance. He really did remind her of Draco.

"W-we just want you to stop the rumours about the Patronus Charm!" The girl who hadn't spoken yet cried out.

Valentine dropped her hand and turned to the others, emotionless.

Please, I don't want to fight anyone. Just go away. Save yourself the hassle. Save me the hassle.

"Really, that's all we want." The tall boy spoke again. "Just admit that you lied."

"Make me."

​"You asked for this, Lestrange!" The tall boy gave a sudden shout, contrasting with his previous calm demeanour.

He ​​​​yanked his wand from his robes and pointed,

"Stupefy!"

Damn it!

No time to counter it, she dropped to her knees, the spell flying over her.

"Stupefy!" One of the girls shouted as well but Valentine's hand was already wrapped around her wand.

"Ennervate!" Valentine cast the counter curse with ease, upon her knees

"Furnuc-!" The other girl jumped forwards, but again Valentine's lips were already moving.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

The blonde girl immediately went stiff and crashed to the ground.

I'm sorry.

"You'll pay for that!" The who had never spoken until that moment rushed at her. "Carpe Retractum!"

Valentine bolted behind the nearest stone pillar, narrowly missing the spell by a hair.

"Locomotor Mortis!" Valentine leapt back out before he could reach her and watched him fall to the ground as his legs locked together, wand flying from his hand on impact.

I'm sorry.

She heard someone behind her and twisted just in time, moving on pure instinct.

"Stupefy!"

"Protego!" A shield shimmered before her and the arrogant boys spell crumbled against it.

He gritted his teeth and lifted his wand again.

"Bombarda!"

This one broke through the shield but didn't make it any further. Then Valentine saw the tall boy coming at her from behind and ducked down as both boys cast at the same time.

"Stupefy!"

"Stupefy!"

Both went flying backwards but Valentine didn't have a second to rest because the last girl was standing only a few feet away.

"Expelliarmus!"

Valentine rolled, popping back up on her knees and beating the girl to the next opening.

"Incendio!" Fire leapt from her wand, purposely controlled so Valentine wouldn't roast the girl alive at this distance.

Her robes caught fire. She panicked and fumbled with the Water Casting spell and Valentine stole the next opening.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

I'm sorry.

The girl stiffened like ice and fell.

Hurrying to her feet, Valentine's head jerked around at her surrounds both the tall and arrogant boy were nowhere to be seen.

Where'd they go?

Knees bent to move at a seconds notice, wand grasped firm, bright eyes rapt with attention. She heard the next cast before she saw it.

"Glacius!"

"Incendio!" Another bloom of fire, this time larger.

The arrogant boy leapt back as the spells neutralised one another and filled the air with smoke. Valentine held her breath but he breathed it in and had to stop and cough, trying to clear his lungs. She never gave him the chance.

"Stupefy!" The boy flew backwards again and this time didn't seem like he would be getting back up anytime soon.

I'm sorry.

As the smoke evaporated around her, she was on high alert again.

That was number four. There was five of them.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" The tall boy flew out from his own hiding place, the spell his battle cry.

"Protego!" Valentine's hands and mouth moving on instinct, at an alarming pace.

The spell reflected off her shield and went spiralling back to the caster. The boy's wand flew from his hand, clattered onto the ground.

He glared at Valentine and she grinned. His face darkened with anger and he started moving forward towards her.

What the hell is he doing?

​​​"Stupefy!" Valentine cast but he moved at the last minute. "Stupefy!"

Again he moved with not a second to spare and now he was closing in on her.

Valentine aimed again but he ducked and dashed forward before she could stop him or move. He grabbed the front of her robes roughly, pulling her several inches from the ground.

Despite herself, Valentine smiled again. This boy was strong. Her smile just angered him further and his hand curled in her robe.

He has talent. Who would suspect a physical attack from someone versed in magic? It's a brilliant effort, but it won't be ending on his terms.

In a flash movement she bought her wand up between them and jabbed it unto the under sided of his neck. He's eyes widened in horror at his mistake.

"Well played, little bird. But I win."

"What in the is blazes is going on here!"

The boy's grip went limp and she slipped. Her feet met the ground and she didn't even stumble.

"Professor Lupin!" The boy suddenly looked so much younger.

Could be worse. Could be Snape.

Lupin rushed over to the frozen girl, who's robes were still alight with flame. He had the fire out immediately.

"Harry, go get Madam Pomfrey."

Harry nodded and hurried off before Valentine could meet his eye.

Lupin quickly moved on to another student, throwing Valentine and the boy a stern expression as he did.

"You two. What happened here? And I want the truth. I hope you realize how much trouble you're in." He broke the leg binding curse on one of the boys, before rushing over to another who had flown back into a wall. Valentine recognised him as the arrogant boy. "What were you thinking? Fighting like this? Someone could have died, so out with it. The truth."

Valentine had never seen him so mad before. Not even with her.

"We didn't have a choice!" The boy who Valentine had hit with the leg lock was on his feet again, rushing over to the still petrified girl.

"It was her!" The arrogant boy was conscious again, blinking blearily. "It was Lestrange! She attacked us!"

Valentine might have been annoyed by that if she wasn't more impressed that he still had it in him to be mad and accuse her.

God, is he Draco's long lost brother or something?

"Shut up, Grant." The tall boy hissed at him. Something about the way his shoulders slumped screamed shame and disappointment.

"What really happens? This is serious, boys. I want an answer." Lupin demanded, his gaze straying to Valentine when his question continued to lack an answer. "Valentine?"

"They started it."

​​​​​​"Did not!" The arrogant boy, now Grant shot back.

"Shut up!" The tall boy snapped, shoulders dipping lower still. "...It was us, Professor. We heard the rumours that Lestrange could cast a Patronus and didn't want to believe them. We wanted to find out for ourselves and things...got out of hand. We didn't want this."

Lupins eyes flickered over to Valentine for confirmation.

"What? I was minding my own damn business. They started it. Was I not supposed to fight back?"

Lupin sighed heavily and helped Grant to his feet.

"You'll all be lucky to if you don't end up in detention for the rest of your lives. I hope you realize that."

"You better not be talking to me, sir." Valentine narrowed her eyes.

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

"What on heaven or earth possessed you to do something so inexcusable!" Professor Flitwick stood before them, a three ft, five-inch being of pure rage. He pointed a finger up at the five Ravenclaw's with scathing disappointment. "Attacking a student? And one two years your junior no less! What we're you thinking? We are very lucky Professor Lupin stepped in when he did!"

"If only I had stepped in sooner." Lupin nodded seriously.

They all sat in the hospital wing, curses lifted and wounds treated by Madam Pomfrey's formidable skills. The worst injuries of the group were suffered by the arrogant boy, Grant Reynolds, who had been flung back into the wall had a sprained wrist and had a pounding headache which Madam Pomfrey was now attending to. And the girl, Carrie Phension, who had been unlucky enough to be set on literal fire. Even her injuries weren't as serious as you'd imagine. Valentine was hardly trying to kill anyone.

​​​"I know it won't change anything but I'm really sorry." The tall boy, Samson Pike, turned to Valentine. She sat a few beds away from the others wearing an irritated look as if the duel had slightly derailed her daily plans and now she was behind schedule.

​​​"Yeah, me too." Said Carrie with an air of solemnity, burned leg quickly healing. "We shouldn't have done that."

For a moment everyone was silent, waiting for a reply. Valentine blinked as if finally noticing all eyes in the room were on her.

"Oh, were you talking to me?"

"Typical." Grant scoffed, his headache removing none of his haughtiness.

"Quiet." Flitwick scolded him. "Your already in enough trouble as it is, young man. Anyone of you could have been seriously injured! I expected better of all of you!"

Arg. For once I'm innocent, so can I go now?

"Lestrange." Madam Pomfrey stepped towards her.

"I'm not injured."

"Well, just let me-"

"I said I'm not injured." She growled. "Are you deaf?"

Madam Pomfrey had been shooting her questions since the moment she stepped inside between seeing to the Ravenclaw's and their obvious wounds. Valentine kept insisting that she fine. After all, she hadn't taken a single hit, but the woman was utterly unconvinced. Something about how people missing things in the heat of battle and adrenalin could often mask great deals of pain. Valentine was pretty certain she would remember being stunned or leg locked.

"Valentine." Lupin sighed heavily. "She's just trying to help."

"No one asked you!" She spat at him. He seemed more tired and frustrated than angry.

Then she heard the hospital wing doors swung open and hurried footsteps that she knew all too well.

Crap. Crap, crap, crap!

"Headmaster, Severus." Madam Pomfrey greeted them.

"Why is it always you?" She heard Snape's scowl before he appeared beside her. He grabbed her by the elbow and yanked her off the bed and on to her feet.

"Let go of me!" She snarled.

"Do you enjoy being such a constant burden!"

Lupin's raised brows seemed to go unnoticed as he watched the scene. No one else was surprised.

"Only for you, Professor." Valentine glare daggers up at him and tried to tug back her arm.

"Quiet." Snape hissed.

Well, she had wanted him to stop ignoring her.

"Careful, Severus." Madam Pomfrey warned quickly. "She might be injured."

"Might be?" Snape arched a brow.

"She wouldn't let me so much as touch her let alone examine her." The woman explained.

"That's because I'm fine." Said Valentine.

"And I said be quiet." Snape growled, tightening his grip.

"Keep going like that and I will be injured!" She shoved at him with her free hand.

Snape paused for a second, like every muscle in his body contracted and stiffened.

"Now, now, Severus." Dumbledore shot him a look. "I think we can deliver some small amount of compassion. Miss Lestrange was just in a rather dangerous battle by the looks of things."

Snape's grip loosened immediately and Valentine took three large steps away from him, glare never falling. He returned it with vigour.

"What shall be done with them?" Lupin asked, at his mere inclement Snape's glare changed targets.

"I suggest that each Head of House deal with their own respective students, and so the decisions will be made by Professors Flitwick and Snape." Dumbledore nodded. "Now, that's the formalities done with, on to the interesting part. What precisely started this battle?"

Snape resisted the urged to roll his eyes, Valentine did not.

Wow. Try and be a little less angry, could you?

The Ravenclaw's all shared the same uneasy glance.

"Well?" Flitwick prompted his students when they seemed reluctant to answer.

"Oh, bloody hell." Valentine hissed at them. "These Ravenclaw's approached me and insinuated that I falsely spread the word of my ability to perform the Patronus Charm. Rumours that were neither circulated by me nor are they untrue."

"And how did this turn into a mindless duel?" Snape glowered down at her suspiciously.

"Don't give me that look, Professor." Valentine sneered and pointed over to Samson. "It started when he pulled out his wand. I just protecting myself."

"Is this true Samson?" Asked Flitwick.

"He only did it because that little psycho threatened Grant!" The blonde girl who had been the first to go down, Hilary Doff, objected before Samson could even open his mouth.

"Miss Lestrange?" Dumbledore arched a quizzical brow, tone lightly scolding like he already knew the answer. "Did you threaten Mr Reynolds?"

She just shrugged indifferently.

"I may have threatened to snap his neck."

Snape sighed again, huffing like she caused him no end of grief. Which she absolutely did.

​​​​​​"Well, it seems to me that the situation is clear. All parties involved could have done something to prevent this. Although I would have hoped that you older students would realize the fault in our actions before you decided to execute them." Dumbledore spoke like a disappointed father. The Ravenclaw's had the decency to appear ashamed. Valentine picking at dirty under the nails. "I most certainly do not want to see any of you in here again for such acts. Well, as I said before, all decisions concerning punishment are left to the students Head of House to design. I trust they have all