PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟓. Unforgivable

Valentine glared at Snape across the classroom. He returned it with a scowl. It was the first day of classes and the very first class at that and things were business as usual. She sat towards the back with the others in a perfect vantage point to watch Harry sitting closer to the front. 

They were doing theory work for a Calming Draught they'd be brewing next lesson. While the others copied down notes from the blackboard, Valentine scratched her dry quill back and forth over her parchment. Writing down something she knew seemed like a waste of ink to her. 

She glanced at the boys sitting to her left. Blaze was on the end, writing as quickly as possible. Snape had a tendency to give them less than adequate time to get everything down. Beside him, Liam was working at a steady pace, handwriting neat and tidy. Between Liam and Valentine was Draco who was thoroughly distracted with glowering at the back of Harry's head. 

At least I have the time to glare at people during class. He should actually be getting this down. 

And that was made all the more evident when Snape waved his wand at the board and the duster rose, wiping away the words. Several students groaned. 

"Well, then perhaps you should write faster!" The Professor just snapped at them and waved his wand again, writing a new line on words on the board. 

Valentine sighed and dropped her quill. It was times like this when she thought about Lupin's offer the year before. Academically speaking, she likely would have been much better off if she was moved up a grade. She might have actually had to study or pay full attention in class. But that wouldn't do. This way she was close to Harry throughout a decent portion of the day. Not to mention she'd be graduating a year before him if she had moved up a grade. No, it was much better for her to stay where she was. 

She glanced to her right this time. At Leah. She was paying even less attention than Valentine and although that wasn't uncommon for her, it was only due to distraction. She was usually drawing all over her textbook or trying to balance something on her head. But this was different. She was just staring off at nothing, something she was doing a lot of lately, even at breakfast which usually had her rapt attention 

"Hideous, don't you think?" Valentine leaned into the other girl and whispered.

Leah blinked like she'd heard her wrong and looked at her, brow crinkled in confusion.

"Old bat breath." Valentine tipped her towards Snape. 

He was lurking over Neville's shoulder like a prison warden. 

"I swear he gets uglier every time I see him. At first, I thought my eyesight was going, but no. It was just his hideous mug. I wouldn't be surprised if I started going blind at this rate. I'd be my body’s way of protecting itself."

Leah laughed aloud and then quickly slapped a hand over her mouth. 

They watched the owner of said hideous mug shoot them a warning glare and then approach the board to wipe it down again. 

"Ugh." Valentine grimaced. "I think I'm seeing black spots in my vision. That cannot be normal."

Leah smothered another giggle.

"Stop, you'll get us in trouble." She whispered. 

"Who's getting in trouble?" Draco leaned in towards them.

"Val said that Snape was so ugly that it was making her go blind."

Draco immediately looked as though he was going to laugh himself, but quickly schooled his features into a frown.

"Val, really? We just got back and you're already starting?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."