"Olivia!" Leah shook the other girl's arm fiercely. "Olivia, look!"

Leah had nine pieces of buttered toast balanced precariously on the top of her head.

"Behold my greatest skill!"

"Uh..." Olivia blinked, mouth hanging limp. "That's nice?"

"My record is fifteen!"

"Well, that's a waste of food." Said Blaze as he, Draco and Liam joined the girls at the table.

"You're just jealous!" Leah sneered.

"Of the fact that you can balance a stack of crunchy bread on your head? Not really." Blaze said with a deadpanned expression.

"Arg." Liam groaned. "Can you not refer to toast as crunchy bread? It's too early to process that right now."

"Speaking of early," Blaze glanced over at Valentine, sitting silently on the other side of Olivia. "how can read first thing in the morning? My eyes aren't even awake yet."

"That's probably from lack of regular stimulus."

"Huh?"

"I think she's trying to tell you to use your eyes more," Olivia answered helpfully.

"But I use them every day?"

"Perhaps you use your eyes but do not see." Said Leah, closing her eyes slowly and pressing her palms together over her chest as though she was praying.

"Oh, shut up, toast head," Blaze grunted.

"Clearly your insults are still asleep as well," Valentine muttered, mostly to herself but loud enough that everyone could hear.

Leah giggled dementedly at that.

Valentine's eyes flickered up at Draco who was sitting across from her, pouring cereal into his bowl. He looked tired, she noticed. Paler than usual.

She caught him glance up at her and he quickly looked away.

"Good morning." He said quietly.

"Morning." She replied gruffly.

Draco had never been good at hiding when he was upset and from what Valentine could tell, he didn't seem awfully so. Perhaps a bit put off. Even if he had been utterly furious with her, she wouldn't have faulted him for it.

Before she could look back down at her book and continue reading, something over Draco's shoulder caught her eye.

It was Snape, talking to Harry who sat with his friends. It was further down the Gryffindor table and she couldn't hear what was being said.

She didn't see Harry's mouth move at all and Snape turned away.

Immediately she noticed the uneven pacing of his steps. She remembered the blood she had found last night and the way he had limped.

Why didn't he just get that taken care of? Why limp around like a crippled when it could be fixed? Well. Whatever.

She couldn't bring herself to spare further thoughts on the matter. Snape was Snape and Snape was an ass. Maybe, she thought, a little bloodletting would decrease the size of his head.

"By the way," Olivia cleared her voice. "did you two sleep in the common room last night?"

"Uh, yeah," Liam admitted sheepishly.

"Why?" Leah frowned.

"Um..." Blaze quickly glanced at Liam.

"I kicked them out." Draco jumped in nonchalantly. "They wouldn't shut up and I was trying to sleep."

"Oh, so that's why you look like a vampire today." Leah snorted.

"Shut up." Draco scowled. "You know I'm just pale like that."

"Heck yeah, I know." Leah leaned over towards Liam and Blaze. "You two have seen him without a shirt on by now, right? He's whiter snow. It's practically blinding in the moonlight. Like he literally glows."

"Can we not talk about this?" Draco's brow twitched, clearly embarrassed.

"Val's no better really." Leah continued. "It must run in the family. They never tan either. They just burn and turn into human tomatoes. Then they go right back to being white again."

"Yeah, I totally get that." Blaze said seriously.

They all laughed at that and even Valentine smiled lightly.

Then the screech of an owl caught their attention.

Valentine looked back over Draco's shoulder as a white owl with dark markings dropped a suspiciously broom shaped parcel in front of Harry Potter.

Oh, bloody hell, I forgot. Freaking Quidditch.

Instead of receiving punishment for his unsupervised flying stunt during class, Harry had been given the place of seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. The first match was today.

Freaking Quidditch.

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

"Hello, and welcome to Hogwarts' first Quidditch game of the season!" Came the voice of the excited commentator. "Today's game: Slytherin versus Gryffindor!"

Today was the day of Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin just as the commentator had said. Everyone was bouncing with excitement and anticipation, first-years especially. Quidditch was the most popular sport within the Wizarding community. Valentine didn't quite get it.

She stood with her friends among the other Slytherins, shouting filled her ears and she was almost blinded by flashing green and reds. The concept of flying around a Quidditch pitch, chasing other flying objects and attempting to get them into large metal rings all the whilst not falling to your death didn't appeal to her in the least. It sounded like an accident waiting to happen and it often was given how dangerous the sport was. People broke bones, lost the occasional limb, even risked getting their eyes gouged out by another players broom. Despite its many cons, the game had never been anything but incredibly well-loved worldwide.

Next year Draco was sure to try out for the Slytherin Quidditch team and whether, through his own talent or his father's influence, he was going to be on it. Valentine didn't like to think about it. She was confident in his flying skills but Quidditch was an exceedingly unpredictable activity at times and the fall to the ground was a long one.

Valentine supposed her dislike for it could have been due to her lack of particular skill with a broom. That was Draco's area of expertise. She was exceptional at so many things, there was bound to be something that wasn't for her. She was fairly certain this was it.

It wasn't long before both teams, Gryffindor and Slytherin, were both floating above the Quidditch field.

She'd never actually been to a Quidditch game before and her stomach tightens uncomfortably. Of course, the person she had sworn to protect had been recently announced as the youngest Seeker in a century.

Of, bloody, course.

When Harry Potter had caught Neville Longbottom's stolen Remembrall, courtesy of Draco, he'd won more than just the esteem of many of his classmates. McGonagall herself had witnessed the unlikely catch and swiftly pointed Harry in the direction of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. First years almost never managed to snag a spot on a Quidditch team, let alone win Seeker.

As impressed as Valentine was, and honestly glad for the boy, it would do nothing to make her less nervous.

"SLYTHERIN! SLYTHERIN! SLYTHERIN!"

Valentine rolled her eyes at the sight of Leah and boys cheering wildly.

At least they're enjoying themselves.

It appeared that Liam and Blaze took Quidditch as seriously has Draco did. Leah, who didn't take anything seriously, was, however, easily swept up in the excitement.

"The players take their positions as Madam Hooch steps out onto the field to begin the game." Said the commentator.

"Now, I want a nice clean game...from all of you." Madam Hooch said pointedly to the smirking Slytherin team.

They were known for unfair tactics and having a penchant for purposely injuring other students. I made Valentine nervous. How far would they go?

"The bludgers are up followed by the Golden Snitch. Remember, the snitch is worth 150 points." The commentator continued. "The seeker who catches the Snitch ends the game."

Valentine's keen gaze caught sight of the faintest glimpse of golden flitting around Harry's head, then around Slytherin the seeker, before it disappeared into the air.

"The Quaffle is released..." The crowd seemed to collectively hold its breath for a moment. "...and the game begins!"

Madam Hooch tossed the Quaffle straight up into the air and players quickly begun their dash towards it.

The game progressed, each player going on with his or her role. The players flew through the air, dodging, trying to block balls and hopefully not get knocked to their death in the process.

The crowd cheered and hollered chants from the stands, screaming names and laughing triumphantly when the opposite team missed a close shot.

A loud ding and the voice rings throughout the stadium.

"Angelina Johnson scores! Ten points for Gryffindor!"

Valentine wasn't any more interested in the other players then she is the game itself. Valentine kept her gaze on Harry.

He sat upon his broom clapping for his teammate. In his distraction, he almost missed the Bludger coming straight for him, only dodging it narrowly.

Gryffindors in the stands only grew louder and Valentine hid her relief well.

"Slytherin takes possession of the Quaffle." The commentator stated excitedly. "Bletchley passes to Captain Marcus Flint."

There's another distinctive ding that sends Gryffindor cheering and the people around Valentine sighing and groaning.

"Dammit!" Cursed Leah.

How much do you want to bet she's barley even following the game?

"GO, GO GRYFFINDOR! GO, GO GRYFFINDOR! GO, GO GRYFFINDOR!" The section of the students clad in red and golden chanted.

"I didn't know Leah was that into Quidditch." Olivia turned to Valentine, shouting over the crowd.

"She isn't really," Valentine answered, nodding her head towards Leah. "She's just easily influenced."

"GO, GO GRYFFIN- I mean....SLYTHERIN! YEAH! LET'S GO SLYTHERIN!" Leah quickly covered up her fumble however noticeable it was to the people around her.

Olivia laughed but over the crowd, Valentine couldn't hear the slightest giggle.

"It's not that difficult to get the damn chant right!" Blaze scolded her.

"SORRY! I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER ALL THE CHANTING!" Leah wilfully ignored him.

It didn't take long for the Slytherin team to adhere to their reputation and decide to play dirty, attempting to knock players from the rival team off their brooms.

They could literally kill someone with that kind of behaviour!

There's another ding, and this time its Slytherins teams turn to wave their flags in triumph.

"Yeah!" Blaze and Leah shared an excited high five.

Marcus Flint snatched away a bat from another of his team member, taking it to a Bludger that then came barrelling through the air, smashing into the stomach of the Gryffindor Captain.

He takes that long fall to the arena floor and Valentine hides her clenched fists in her pocket.

"Do you think he's okay?" Olivia's brow creased in worry.

"Okay?" Liam somehow heard her over the roar of the crowd. "I'm surprised he's alive!"

"That's seriously Gryffindors captain?" Draco scoffed. "Talk about weak."

Valentine observed it all with disinterest, smoothing her worry and trying to forget that it could have been Harry Potter taking a Bludger to the stomach and she would be able to do nothing but watch.

What was Dumbledore thinking? Letting Potter participate in this stupid game?

The game continued, Gryffindor now down a player and the Slytherins not playing fairly, to say the least.

They box in Angelina Johnson from all sides and attack.

Valentine could hardly believe that this kind of thing was allowed.

"Get her!" She heard Draco exclaim.

She fought the urge to slap him.

Angelina Johnson was sent crashing into the side of the stadium wall.

Olivia let out a startled squeal and hid her face in her hands.

The others cheered louder. Valentine remained in her silence.

Something caught Valentine's eye. The same thing as before. There was that tiny glint of golden light that zipped right past Harry.

He quickly made chase after it. Valentine watched in rapt attention so when his broom began to shake and buckle hazardously, she noticed.

What's happening? Is there something wrong with his broom? Maybe a Slytherin playing another trick?

The broom continued to shake as if it was trying to throw Harry off. Everyone was beginning to notice now, murmurs filling the stands.

Crap! What do I do? I knew something like this going to happen!

"What's up with that?" Blaze asked loudly.

"It looks like somethings wrong with his broom." Liam turned and snatched the binoculars from Crabbe in the stands behind him.

"This is perfect!" Added Draco. "Now we get to see Potter get taken down a peg!"

"I'd say this is more than a peg!" Said Liam, peering through the binoculars. "Someone has definitely tampered with that broom."

"Well, should find them and buy them a gift." Draco laughed cruelly.

Then with another harsh shake, Harry is tossed from his broom and left dangling by one hand. His grip the only thing keeping him from ending up at the bottom of the stadium with Oliver Wood and Angelina Johnson.

Although Valentine remained visibly calm, her insides were frozen, she felt as though she could throw up at any given moment. Her mind screamed at her to move, to do something.

What can I do? With all these people here I would blow my cover if I try to help, but isn't keeping Harry safe more important? What if Liam's right? Who would tamper with Harry's bro-

The crowd whispers anxiously, many crossing their fingers, all praying for the boy who lived. To have this happen during his debut match? That seemed like something of a bad omen.

"Liam, binoculars!" Valentine demands.

The boy stared blankly at her for a moment before Draco snatched it from his hands and passed them to her.

Valentine took a second to peer through them at Harry, stilling literally hanging with his life in the balance. She twisted her head to the where all the professors sat. She did have one idea of who could have been causing this to happen. Someone who'd caused plenty of havoc during the Halloween Feast. She couldn't think of anyone else that had made themselves known to her as someone to be watched.

She caught sight of Quirrell, sitting right behind Snape in the teachers stand. She thought she saw the barest hint of a smirk on Quirrell's thin lips and steely concertation in his eyes. It couldn't be a coincidence. She wanted to the march over there and dangle him over the edge just like what was happening to Harry.

Then she noticed Snape's intense and unwavering gaze upon Harry as well, his lips working at a silent spell. The sight that almost put her at ease.

He must be thinking the same as me. A counter cruse perhaps?

Her eyes dashed back and forth from Harry, Quirrell, Snape and Harry again. Her heart pounding almost painfully in her chest. Was watching really all she could do? She took a moment, shifted her gaze to Dumbledore. He was half-standing as if preparing to step in if needed.

What the hell is he waiting for?

She glanced back over at Harry, checking that he was still there.

By the time Valentine looked back to Snape, she saw him jump up from his seat in a manner very unlike him.

Valentine looked closer and found that somehow her Potions Professor had caught fire.

Okay, now that is both hilarious and incredibly inconvenient.

In the rush to stamp out the fire, Snape knocked several other teachers from his path and in a fortunate chain effect, Quirrell.

Her eyes raced back to Harry to find the boy pulling himself back onto his now steady broom.

Yes!

"Well, that was anticlimactic." Said Liam.

"Talk about disappointing," Draco grumbled.

Once Harry had his barring's he was zooming off after the Slytherin seeker, the cheers from the stands rising with him.

And watch him die anyway. Great.

Harry rams into the side of the Slytherin Seeker, only to be pushed away, but he wasn't done, crashing into the Seeker again.

Valentine thought they must have gotten sight of the Snitch because they both dived down, taking the same path. The two were heading straight for the ground and Valentine could hardly breathe.

Upon seeing the ground rushing towards him, the Slytherin Seeker pulled back, while Harry quickly waited until he had his chance to shift his broom parallel with the ground.

Then Harry was standing.

"No way!" Leah exclaimed.

Valentine could see flashes of the Snitch just beyond his reach. He began to inch his way forward, stretching out his hand as far as he possibly could. With the brooms balance thrown off with his weight, he was sent toppling off the broom.

Valentine clutched the binoculars so tight she thought they might break.

Harry tumbling along the ground, the drop was mercifully short, and landing him back on his shaking feet.

He stood, holding his belly.

"Oh, God." Blaze winched. "He looks like he's going to hurl."

Harry lurched forwards several times, heaving up nothing before the Snitch popped out of his mouth.

"Are you kidding me?" Draco exclaimed in exasperation.

Harry caught the Snitch deftly in his hands, staring down at it in disbelief.

"He's got the Snitch! Harry Potter receives 150 points for catching the Snitch!" The commentator rejoiced.

"Gryffindor wins!" Madam Hooch calls and blows her whistle.

"No!" Draco slammed his hand on the railing before them.

"How does that even count?" Liam frowned.

Valentine shoved the binoculars back at him, already pushing her way through the crowd to exit the stands. It gave the pretence that she was as upset about Slytherin losing as Draco was. In reality, she felt as if her knees would come out from beneath her. Harry had only just narrowly escaped what could of very well been his death.

Well. It's official. I hate Quidditch.

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

"I hate Quidditch!" Valentine announced as she stormed into the Head Masters office.

Snape scoffed and rolled his eyes at her.

"Don't even start or I'll set you on fire," She sneered. "and I'm fairly certain you've had enough of that today, correct?"

"If we could keep the fire to a minimum, please," Dumbledore spoke up from behind his desk. "I would be most grateful."

"Well, only because you asked so nicely, Professor." Valentine pouted.

"You are insufferable." Snape rubbed at his eyes exasperatedly.

"If I'm insufferable, then you are completely and utterly unendurable."

"You should watch how you speak to me, you contemptuous brat."

"Oh, are we getting to the big words now?" Valentine arched a brow at him. "I'd say you were supercilious but I think pretentious suits you much better."

"Battle of vocabularies aside," Dumbledore stood. "I do believe we have a matter to discuss."

"Yes." Valentine turned to him. "I was right."

"Right?" Dumbledore frowned.

"About Quirrell. He could have killed Potter today."

"You believe Quirrell was the cause of today?" Dumbledore's brow furrow.

"Of course." Valentine frowned. "I saw Snape countering whatever happened to Potter's broom and Quirrell was sitting right behind him looking like he was concentrating hard enough to pop a blood vessel. Then after Snape caught fire, which was the highlight of my week by the way- Thank you, Professor, for being so flammable- Quirrell's