One. Last. Time. {Oliver Wood}

Angelica

December 26, 1990

Valerie reread the letter three times because she couldn't believe her eyes. Angelica's owl was still waiting on Valerie's bedroom windowsill for a letter in response. The letter from Angelica Valerie had received read,

Dear Valerie,

You will not believe it!

The night we came back from school I asked mother if I could stay over at dinner and she refused. Like always. Then, for the night of the Christmas Death Eater party, my mom laid out a dark green Slytherin-looking dress for me to wear (as to show I wasn't a blood traitor to all her friends), but I had other ideas for this dress. I found a spell to change the dress into a shade of blue instead of green and It was perfect! I walked into the party with a navy-blue dress on and my mom looked like she was going to explode! It was priceless! Anyways, after the party she wanted me out of the house so bad that she said I could go there today, on the Knight Bus and stay for the rest of break! Write me back A.S.A.P! I'm so excited!

From,

Angelica M. Lestrange

She was in absolute disbelief as she finished reading Angelica's hastily written letter for the third time. Without thinking Valerie took out a piece of parchment and a quill and began scribbling a letter in response to Angelica's.

Dear Ang,

You are totally crazy, and I love it! Get your arse on that bus right now! I can't wait to see you!

Love, Val

Valerie attached the letter to Angelica's snowy white owl, and it hooted at Valerie and then flew out her bedroom window. Valerie was so overjoyed with Angelica's letter she had completely forgot to inform her father about Angelica coming to stay with them.

She panicked and went downstairs to find her father on the couch, reading a muggle book titled Pride and Prejudice with a concentrated look on his face.

"Hey dad." Valerie said as she sat down next to him and peered at the cover of the book he was reading. "What're you reading?"

"Oh, I found this muggle book in the attic, it seemed interesting at the time." Remus replied while gazing at the strange looking cover.

"So, dad... er... I kind of forgot to tell you something when I came back home." Valerie started nervously.

Remus eyed her curiously as she continued, "You know my friend Angelica, right?"

"Yes..."

"Well, I uh- forgot to mention... that er... I invited her over here for the break."

Remus furrowed his eyebrows and continued to look at here curiously.

The lack of Remus' response made Valerie uncomfortable, so she continued, fearfully, "I uh really didn't expect her to actually be able to come because of her family but er... she uh- is able to come over and stay, er... today in fact."

Again, Remus continued to gaze at her with no expression on his face. At this point Valerie didn't know what to say other than, "So, er... what do you think?"

At last Remus' expression changed and he said, "When did you make these particular plans with Angelica?"

"Uhm... on the train ride home, actually. I'm sorry I didn't ask beforehand. I forgot." Valerie replied anxiously.

"Well, that's quite alright sweetheart. We just never had guests over before. I haven't been in the guest room in over 10 years." Remus said while peering up at the ceiling, looking nostalgic.

"I know, I'm so sorry dad." Valerie said sympathetically. She felt that similar feeling of guilt that she felt when she left her dad alone rising in her. Even though she was sitting right next to him.

"What time do you believe she will be coming?" Remus asked while quickly getting up from the couch and walking upstairs.

Valerie jumped off the couch and ran after him, as he was already upstairs before she could process the fact he had recovered so quickly. "I'm not sure. She said she was taking the Knight Bus." Remus was walking around the second floor to their never-used guest room. "What are you doing?"

"Angelica's going to need somewhere to sleep. Won't she?" Remus said while opening the door to the room.

Valerie realized that was a stupid question as they walked into the room. Everything there was old-looking and quite dusty in Valerie's opinion. Remus did a quick cleaning spell on the furniture and everything looked brand new. "Wow." Valerie said while examining the dark brown bed frame.

"Indeed. This room is surprisingly well-furnished considering the fact it is never used." Remus said before calling Tally upstairs.

Shortly after Tally finished fixing up the guest room Angelica arrived. Valerie was a little nervous on how her father felt about Angelica's sudden visit, but as he opened the door to let her in, he gave Valerie a reassuring smile.

It appeared that Remus and Angelica were the best of friends, having just met each other. The three of them spent the evening laughing and enjoying themselves to the fullest. Angelica hadn't looked this happy since they beat Gryffindor in Quidditch, and that was almost two months ago. After dinner, Valerie had brought Angelica into the never-used guest room and once Valerie had shut the door behind her Angelica jumped up and hugged her, with her extremely strong grip.

Valerie felt her organs churning on her grip and pulled herself out of Angelica's embrace, "I love you Ang, but you have got to stop trying to kill me." She said while rubbing her stomach.

A huge grin flashed onto Angelica's face and she said happily, "I love it here! I absolutely love it! I'm never leaving!"

Valerie had an even bigger smile on her face and replied, "I love having you here! This is going to be so much fun!" She walked across the room and let Angelica's snowy white owl out of its cage. "What do you think of my dad? Too much werewolf or not enough?" Valerie said with a smile.

"Just the right amount of werewolf." Angelica said before sitting on her bed, "Have you told him about Wood yet?" Angelica asked.

Another thing Valerie had neglected to tell her father about was her encounters with Oliver. Her desire to spill all her secrets to her father had vanished. It wasn't like she couldn't confide in her father about her troubles, she just didn't want to hurt to him.

"No, actually I haven't." Valerie responded.

"Why not?" Angelica asked, now looking at her intently.

"I just... I just don't want to hurt him. You know?" Valerie was now cracking every one of her knuckles in worry, "I don't want him to be sad now that I really fancy someone and the person, he really fancies is well... six feet under. You know?" She said looking up from her fingers.

Angelica made dark jokes to cope with her trauma, so she was unfazed by the one Valerie had just cracked. "I get what you mean, but I don't think he'd take it that way Val." Angelica said while grabbing ahold of one of Valerie's hands and squeezing it.

Valerie smiled at her and replied, "I'll think about it. Enough about Oliver." Valerie paused for a moment before popping the question she had been dying to know the answer to. "So, how's Ace?"

"Uh, I dunno ask him yourself." Angelica said and let go of Valerie's hand.

"You know what I mean Ang." Valerie said.

"No, no I really don't." Angelica replied stubbornly.

"I know you fancy him Angelica Lestrange."

"I do not fancy Ace, Valerie Santos."

"Whatever you say." Valerie stood up and began walking towards the door.

"I don't fancy him!" Angelica said turning slightly pink.

"Goodnight Ang." Valerie said and left the room before Angelica got the chance to tell her off.