PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟓𝟗. Ignorance

In the past, Valentine had occasionally made a game of showing up no more than two minutes late for Potions class. She'd timed her Professors actions and knew that by two minutes in, he would have been just about to explain the day's agenda. Then she would walk in, hold the class up another two minutes with her and Snape's bickering and then the class could really begin.

She'd open the door loudly and shut it with just as much disregard for anyone's hearing. At first, they'd be at each other's throats before she could even make it to her seat. Then sometime during her second year, Snape formed the habit of waiting until she was properly seated before igniting the insult battle.

It was quite the daily ritual and everyone grew used to it after several months of the same. They knew that if Lestrange wasn't present when class began, then they were in for another battle of venom. They all figured it was better the two monsters kill each other than turn their attention elsewhere. As a result, Seamus and Dean had begun a bet pool midway through the third year.

Once it reached the fifth year, Snape started simply locking her in his office until the end of class when she was particularly rowdy. Although she would usually just fall asleep and then be met with a rude awakening.

On days when the two were actually rather quiet and subdued, not giving the other a second glance, those were the day's the students would get nervous. Luckily for them, this was not one of those days.

Valentine strolled into Defense Against the Dark Arts several minutes early, Blaze on her heels. Draco, Liam, Jane, Anna and Chloe had also made the class but didn't find the amusement in watching Valentine and Snape argue anymore and had decided to take their time. For Blaze, the novelty was still clinging tight.

"Morning, you great big bastard." Valentine greeted Snape with an uncharacteristically sunny smile.

"Good morning, you tiresome brat." He replied stiffly.

He was facing anyway from her, writing on the large chalkboard.

Blaze hurried over to the desk, quickly grabbing a seat and settling in for the show to come.

"I heard you've been slandering my name again." Valentine planted a hand on each hip.

"Oh, I assure you I would never dare." Said Snape, his sarcasm obvious.

Valentine had been right about Snape changing the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. The curtains were drawn making space seem smaller, much of th room lit by candles alone. The desks and chairs had been moved to one side of the room, likely to make space for practical application.

"Oh, really?" Valentine approached Snape casually. "I suppose Professor Slughorn has been telling me lies then."

"Pardon?"

"Open your damn ears, old man." Said Valentine. "Apparently my intelligence is of substantial size and so is my mouth."

"My, my." Snape blinked. "Who would ever say such a thing?"

Valentine's bright blue gaze narrowed into a dangerous glare.

"I swear no one will ever find your body, Professor."

"Oh, so I'll finally be free of you and your big mouth?"

"I never said I'd kill you. Maybe just lock you up somewhere and slowly torture you until you beg me for mercy."

"The day I beg you for anything, Lestrange is the day you stop being an insolent, irritating, little wretch." He spat back at her.

"Don't hold your breath on that, sir."