PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟏𝟐. Preparations

Valentine often seemed like she was paying little to no attention. Sometimes this was in class or while her friends were being their usual neurotic and or prejudice selves. She was very good at glaring off at nothing, appearing to be a million miles away from whatever was going on around her, and yet, unless she chose to selectively ignore a lesson or conversation, she heard everything. She remembered everything.

She remembered the first thing McGonagall ever said directly to her; 'Miss Lestrange, you seem quite intelligent but such a thing alone will not make you a complete person. I suggest you focus on your behaviour if you find yourself with so much free time during class'. She remembered when Draco barely ate the night before they first left for Hogwarts because he was too nervous about leaving home for so long and he said; 'I'm not bloody nervous, I'm annoyed that I'll have to be mixed in with all the filth! Father said they'll let anyone in, you know'. She even remembered being four years old, sitting at the dinner table with the Malfoy's, Narcissa and Lucius discussing old stories about the Lestrange's. Somehow the topic had fallen on Bellatrix's ability as a mother and Lucius had said; 'She wouldn't have made it past a month if Bella had been left to handle things alone'. At that point, Narcissa shot him a sharp look and quickly tried to cover it up with a tale from her school days. Valentine had been seemingly focused on her porridge, spreading out the honey evenly. But she heard. She remembered.

She remembered all that, she'd heard even when others didn't realise she could. That's why, when Darcy and her friend's owls dropped off packages that morning at breakfast, Leah didn't need to shake her so damn hard. She could see that their Yule Ball dresses were here, the screaming in her ear really wasn't necessary. Darcy was kind of hard to miss, as we're several boxes falling from above them and almost knocking a toast rack off the table.

"Shut the hell up." Valentine elbowed the excited girl away. "I have eyes. I can see what's happening."

"Then you should be more excited!" Leah clapped her hands, near-hysterical with anticipation.

The boys each had a package as well and were sorting through them to see who's was who. When Draco found his, he reached for the string holding it together and Leah slapped his hand away.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"You can't open now, in front of everyone!" Leah hissed. "That'll ruin the surprise!"

"What surprise? They're black and white dress robes from Madam Mal-"

"No, don't tell me!" Leah clapped her hands over her ears. "I want it to be a surprise!"

"Leah, we're going to be wearing nearly the exact same thing." Said Liam. "I know you've seen me and Draco in dress robes before. It won't be much of a surprise."

"Nooooo!" She shook her head firmly. "Don't throw your logic at me! I hate logic!"

"Well, that's good." Said Blaze. "I doubt it likes you very much either."

Draco pushed a large package with Valentine's name on it towards her.

"I figure if you're going to destroy it, you may as well get started."

"No lecture, cousin?"

"Right." He snorted, as if that ever stopped her. "Because that's ever stopped you before."

Valentine picked up the rather hefty package and turned it over in her hands. On the other side, there was an envelope addressed to her attached. She removed it and ripped a strip down one side. Unfolding the letter she and seeing what was written, she rolled her eyes;

Valentine Lestrange Destruction revention Measures include: Anti-Fire Protection charm, Anti-Water Protection charm, Anti-Freeze Protection charm and Anti-Transfiguration Charm.