PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟐𝟔. Occlumency

"This is ridiculous." Valentine paced the floor of Snape's front room.

"When has The Daily Prophet been anything but?" Snape muttered, reading the very same newspaper.

Valentine threw up her hands and slapped them down to her sides in anger. She glared at the front page of The Daily Prophet. It displayed in large lettering; Dumbledore: Daft or Dangerous?

"He's doing everything he can to stop the greatest magical threat the wizarding world has ever seen and Fudge is too busy with his hat up his ass!"

Snape glowered at her over the edge of the paper.

"Don't give me that look, Severus Snape." She pointed at him accusingly. "I know you think the same."

"Perhaps. But not as vocally and not with such language."

"And Harry!" Valentine continued to pace. "A liar? He's seen Voldemort with his own eyes! That tends to happen when he keeps trying to kill him. And don't even get me started on Cedric Diggory's death. Tragic accident? Tragic accident!"

Valentine was completely livid. Being on the inside and knowing the truth it only made it harder to hear the lies that she wasn't even allowed to deny.

One day everyone is going to feel so bloody stupid for believing this rubbish.

"You're working yourself up for nothing, Lestrange." said Snape.

"Nothing!" She twisted violently to face him.

"That's what I said, yes."

"How can you call this nothing?" Valentine exclaimed. "You know everything that I know! Voldemort tried to kill Harry Potter and he's the reason why Cedric Diggory is dead!"

"I am aware." Snape ground out through his teeth.

Valentine resisted the urge to stamp her foot. She knew for sure that she'd be ridiculed for that. She walked into the kitchen and then immediately spun around, marched back into the front room and fell into her typical spot by the window. The book she had been reading was still sitting there open on the table, her boots beneath the chair.

She glared over at her potions professor. He completely ignored her. As the summer holidays had rolled on, he'd quickly gotten used to her being around, mostly due to the fact he quite literally couldn't get rid of her. She groaned loudly enough to be sure that it would annoy him and then picked up the book to continue reading.

They sat in silence for close to an hour before Valentine pulled a hand back through her hair and sighed. The textbook she was reading wasn't even for a schooling level and she was having more trouble then she anticipated. She was used to working ahead by at least a year, the texts for her current year levels were often too easy and she memorised it quickly. This wasn't something she'd ever learn while at Hogwarts, but the fact that she couldn't understand it was maddening. She was used to a smooth ride when it came to academics.

Valentine glanced over at Snape in his armchair and briefly considered throwing the book at his face but instead, she stood and thrust the book an inch from his nose.

"This section." She ordered. "Explain it to me."

She squared her shoulders and did her best to appear menacing. On anyone else, it would have done just the trick. But this was Severus Snape and he knew that behind her threatening act that she was just a fifteen year old with venomous use of sarcasm and a generally unstable amount of guilt. Naturally, if she'd ever heard him say that she'd have kicked him. Sometimes Valentine wished that she was in this Potter-Protection-Boat with anyone else.

"This isn't even on the curriculum." Snape arched a brow at her.

"Just explain it to me." She insisted in an irritated tone.