PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟒𝟗. Dittany

This chapter is dedicated to jennyfreeconway! This is for all your kind words :)

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"And watch me go!" Leah laughed as she plopped on her side and proceeded to roll down the hill.

"Be careful!" Chloe shouted after her.

"Idiot." Blaze scoffed.

"Ouch!" Leah cried out. "I landed on a rock!'

"Your idiot." Anna elbowed him with a knowingly look.

"Yeah." Blaze sighed resignedly. "That's my idiot."

He just shook his head and started down the hill after her.

"Anything bleeding!"

"No!"

"Then get up!"

"They're so cute together." Said Chloe.

"The novelty will wear off." Said Liam. "Trust me."

Valentine glanced at Draco from the corner of her eye. The two of them were sitting under the large tree just outside the castle walls, watching the others fool about. They hadn't all been together like this in so long. 

Draco's mouth was set into a permanent frown, his eyes were distant and unfocused. It had been like this for the last three days, when he'd received the news that his father had been sentenced to life in Azkaban.

Valentine was sure his mind must have been running rampant. He was, by succession, the head of the house. Even with his mother still alive and able, it was a matter of pride.

It had been almost an entire day before Dumbledore had gone into the forest and retrieved Umbridge. And a lot had happened in only that day.

Not only had Valentine learnt that Hermione and Harry had lured Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest and she ended angering and subsequently being abducted by centaurs, she had also heard all of what had happened in Department of Mysteries. The Order had fought against the Death Eater's, a battle that could only have happened by Snape's hand. Sirius Black was murdered and by his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange no less. Voldemort had made an appearance and was only held off by Dumbledore's own abilities. And finally, only after seeing him with his own eyes had Fudge believed Voldemort had returned and that Harry Potter and Dumbledore weren't the judicious liars he'd made them out to be. 

Valentine had asked herself what she thought would have been different if she'd managed to follow Harry. The problem was, she was uncertain if she could have made any kind of difference. Voldemort still be back, Sirius Black would likely still be dead and her secret would likely be out. 

She wouldn't be able to return to Malfoy Manor with Draco. She wouldn't have been able to be there for him when he discovered the news about his father. She would have been disowned and even if Narcissa and Draco didn't go so far, Bellatrix would have and once Voldemort found out, it would bode well of her or anyone that stood with her. 

She found herself almost glad she'd been left behind. Almost. One of the few things so could be glad of without reserve was that Umbridge would never teach in Hogwarts again so long as she had anything to do with it.

Leah and Blaze were bickering back and forth loudly as Blaze rolled her back up the hill. 

Draco shot the others a scowl and crossed his arms over his chest

"Morons. They're acting like children." 

"Oh, shut it." Valentine rolled her eyes at him. "It just so happens that Leah just knows that pouting and throwing a fit isn't going to release her father."