PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟑𝟓. Sugar

TRIGGER WARNING; Contains graphic depictions/descriptions of extreme violence and torture. Do NOT take this warning lightly. This symbol ~•~ will be used to signify the beginning and end of the torture scene. If you are sensitive to such scenes please skip it, I promise it will not take away from the story itself.

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A few days later another proclamation was created, stating that all students were unconditionally subject to questioning about illicit activities. Valentine was immediately on alert.

And now we're getting interrogated? You have to be fucking kidding me.

Valentine wasn't surprised when her name came up early on the list, despite it being in supposed alphabetical order. Umbridge didn't even attempt to hide that Valentine had been mixed in with the students who's surname started with 'B'.

What does she think she's going to get out of me? A formal confession and apology?

She didn't have time to find a way out of it. She had no chance to tell Snape or Dumbledore, ask if they knew anything about it. She was called in on the first day of interrogations, what Umbridge called 'interviews' and Valentine called 'bullshit'.

She stood behind Lavender Brown, who avoided all and any eye contact with her. If she had been placed in proper alphabetical order, she would have been with Leah or Neville instead. The line was long, stretching the whole length of the classroom and up the stairs to Umbridge's office. It was not discriminatory of year or gender. Every student in Hogwarts whose last name started with 'B'- and Valentine- were told to queue. That was it. It was easily one of the most stupid systems Valentine had ever seen.

She thought about making a run for it, maybe causing a scene but Flich was standing in front of the door, Mrs Norris at his side. He'd caught her once before and if she tried to run he'd be able to see her coming and sound the alarm before she even got the door.

Half an hour passed before she was nearing the front of the line. Eventually, Lavender was called up into the office and Valentine was next. The students behind her stood about nervously, she could hear quiet chatter but didn't put in the effort to figure out the words. She just stood there with a deathly bored and utterly approachable expression on her face.

When the door at the top of the stairs finally opened again, Lavender came out, pale-faced and not looking anyone in the eyes as she quickly left the room. But Valentine's focus wasn't on her.

Umbridge was standing at the top of the steps, hands folded neatly, giving her that sugar-coated smile and that unassuming tilt of the head.

"Your turn now, dear." She said.

Valentine felt all eyes on her as she climbed the stairs.

She stepped into the office and Umbridge shut the door behind her. The cats in their wall mounted dishes cried for attention as they always did, whiskers twitching in curiosity.

"Now. Miss Lestrange, please sit." Umbridge pointed to the chair sitting in front of her desk. "I just have a few questions for you. Tea?"

"No."

"Oh, I insist." Umbridge chortled, pouring her a cup from the teapot on her desk. She put three teaspoons and sugar in it and then slid it across the desk to Valentine. "Don't be shy now. You're usually so bold, after all."

"Am I?" Valentine's expression hadn't budged.

Umbridge stared back at her expectantly.

Ugh. What the hell does she want?