Till Forever Falls Apart

Third Year: Page 394

*so much angst in one sitting

November 2, 1993

Val avoided her Potions professors at every cost.

Through the luck of any almighty power there was, Merlin was surely looking down at her from somewhere up above sending good fortune her way. She was fortunate enough not to see him at breakfast, and had not appeared at lunch that day either. When she told Padma and Anthony the story of what had happened at their mid-day meal, she hadn't expected their reactions to make her feel worse, much less sick.

"Have you lost it?" Padma clamped both hands over her mouth, horrified. "Have you utterly lost it?"

"Not yet," Val said defensively, stabbing her carrots harshly with her fork. "I might if he ever shows his face again. Who knows where he's plotting his revenge to end me and everyone close to me?"

"I can't believe you went through Professor Snape's personal property," Anthony said in awe, hiding somewhat of an impressed tone in his voice. "You were asking for it, honestly."

"Death," Padma remorsefully shook her head. "You were asking for death."

Val continued eating in bitter silence, wishing the shouts of her professor would leave her mind alone. All she could see as she munched quietly was him pointing a finger towards the door as he towered over her. Her year of being fourteen was not off to a good start.

Noticing the bladed edge in the silence that overtook their conversation, Anthony stepped in. "You have your father's class after this, right? I'm sure he'll have something up his sleeve to cheer you up."

Val considered this for a moment. "Maybe. Or he'll do one of these," Val made a beckoning gesture with her index finger, imitating a teacher calling a student to their desk. "Then I'll know I'm in trouble."

Students began to rise, pulling their afternoon bookbags with them. Anthony gently touched her shoulder. "I'm praying for you."

Val merely rolled her eyes and thanked him sullenly, filing out the door of the Great Hall and heading towards the D.A.D.A classroom.

Few of the students had arrived as she placed her things beside her and settled into her seat, tapping her polished leather shoe against the stone floor as she anxiously waited for her father to arrive.

As more time passed, classmates came trickling in, chatting amiably as they pulled out their seats, turning them to face their desk partners. No one seemed to notice Professor Lupin's absence, or perhaps they had grown used to him making fashionably late entrances in the hopes that he would have another practical and entertaining lesson up his sleeve.

"Val," Ron said crossly, yanking the chair in front of him and plopping himself in it.

Val's heart sank. Had the story already made its way around the school? "Hi, Ron."

"Why do you sound so glum?" He eyed her suspiciously. "Your birthday couldn't have been awful."

She sat straighter in her seat, peering at him. "You don't know?"

"Know what?" Ron turned to face her completely.

Hermione burst through the door, diving into her chair. Both children gave her odd looks.

She huffed for several moments before finally having enough breath to speak.

"I thought I was going to be late."

"Late?" Ron put a hand over his heart, gasping. Val hid behind her book to snicker at his dramatics. "You're never late. You invented arriving fifteen minutes early, and with so many other classes!"