Till Forever Falls Apart

Exchanges

*Because of the generous number of comments and messages I received asking for this chapter to be released after the ANGUISH that the last cliffhanger brought, I've decided to release it early here. Think of it as my little new years present to you loves <3

Is it sad? Yes. But what isn't in the HP Universe?

I also wanted to tell all of you how SMART you are. I was going through the second year's Christmas chapter to help me write one of the Christmas chapters that will appear later, and as I was reading the comments, I was shocked at how many of you could pick up on the foreshadowing I thought I had so subtly placed in the context of that particular chapter. In fact, almost every time I include a scene or line that I suspect no one will think to link back to until later, many of you surprise me every time. Go you!

Anyhow, Here's what you asked for. Enjoy!

August 1, 1993

Val laughed.

    Any other sane person might have cried, gasped, run for the hills. Perhaps curl up under the desk right then and there, begging for any and all protection from a maniacal werewolf after learning they were the next intended victim.

    But Val was unlike any other as she doubled over, her laughter filling the space, rising and echoing off the concave of the church-like ceiling.

    "I'm going to need you to repeat that," she gestured to her ears.

    Sirius kneeled beside her. "Val-"

    "Fenrir Greyback," Dumbledore repeated slowly, "has intentions to harm you."

    She had registered it the first time, but it still hadn't sat right with her. "Are you sure he isn't coming after Harry?"

    "Val," her father said more sternly this time.

    "What?" She backed away, raising her hands in innocence. "I just thought it was a pattern at this point. I've gotten used to him being the target. I mean, really-"

    Sirius put a hand on hers. "This is serious."

    "No, you are," she grinned. He really set himself up for that one. Noticing his grim expression, Val's smile faltered as she attempted to explain her odd behavior.

    "I-" she struggled to comprehend it. "How does he even know I exist? And what would he gain from trying to kill me?"

    Dumbledore looked at her over his glasses. "Or turn you."

    She cursed in her head. Maybe she shouldn't have laughed.

    "It will be all over the papers tomorrow, so I thought it best tell you now," the headmaster examined each of them. "A man had been bitten by Greyback sometime ago, other than you, Mister Lupin, when he was six or so."

    Six, Val felt sick. She was already thirteen.

    "He had been turned and registered. He also found a partner when he was older."

    I hope this story has a happy ending, Val thought. Please?

    "They had a child years back, and his wife left shortly after his condition proved to be difficult. I believe the boy is twenty now. Greyback tried to turn him yesterday, but thankfully, he's in St. Mungo's for recovery. Fenrir failed."

    Not a happy ending, Val swore. Definitely not.

    "He knows who you are, Valentina."

    "But how?" Val leaned forward in her chair.

    "We tried keeping the news hidden that we were having a child," Sirius explained sullenly. "Word got out, and people-pureblood people-didn't exactly take kindly to the fallen Black heir having a child with a male, scarred half-blood."