PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟔𝟗. Strength

Valentine flicked through the pages of parchment in the pile before her. One, in particular, had more spelling mistakes in one paragraph than she'd ever seen in her entire life. 

I wonder how much of a teachers career is spent trying to figure out what students with poor spelling are trying to say?

The one beneath it was much better in terms of spelling but had awful handwriting.

Hmm. I can't decide which is worse. 

The door opened and Snape stepped inside, not surprised be irritated all the same to find her sitting behind his desk. 

"If you're going to invite yourself in whenever you want, you could at least make yourself useful."

"You mean, do your job for you? No, thanks. I took a peek. Who in the hell spells draught as 'd-r-a-w-t'?"

"That would be Benjamin Heady." 

Valentine took a closer look at the name on the parchment.

"Well. That's thoroughly unsurprising."

"Indeed." He tapped her shoulder firmly. "Now, move."

"I sent word to Samson Pike." She said, rolling her eyes as she stood. "It's been a few days and I'm still waiting to hear back."

"What will you do if he can't help you?" Snape sat and immediately started reorganising his desk and all the items she'd moved.

Valentine hadn't given the prospect a great deal of thought. She hoped it wouldn't come to that. Not that hoping ever helped.

"I could always torture a confession out of Philips?"

"As long as you're fine with being expelled." Snape snorted.

Now, Valentine was seriously thinking about it. She didn't know enough about Samson to know for certain how much help he could be and right now he was her only lead. A second plan was seeming most advisable.

"Then maybe I could make the situation public? When I put Andonov in the hospital all those other girls came forward and said he'd assaulted them as well. Perhaps if everyone knew that Philips is just a filthy abuser and that someone was willing to speak out, then they'd all turn on her. The same thing happened to Andonov."

"Hmm. Yes. But if you remember correctly, Andonov's actions were seen by others than yourself. Parties unrelated to you are most valuable as they are less likely to lie for you. If neither Philips nor Highcourt will admit to the abuse then it's just your say-so against theirs. And correct me if I'm wrong, but the students don't like you. If they had a choice between you and Philips, someone you cannot prove yet as an abuser, who do you think they'd support?"

The problem was, that may have been one of Valentine's only options. 

"This is so stupid." Valentine spat, falling into her chair. "I should have done more than just busted her lip when I had the chance." 

"I thought you were finally getting a grip on yourself." Snape eyed her darkly.

"Oh, don't worry, Professor. I'm in full control of my actions." 

"She could have gotten you suspended." He snapped, annoyed by her nonchalant-ness. "Who knows why she didn't but if she had you'd have a one-way ticket back to Malfoy Manor."

That made Valentine remember back to breakfast that morning.

"Ah, about that." Valentine pulled an envelope from her robes and dropped it onto the desk. "This came this morning from Narcissa."

Snape picked it up and slid out the letter. His brow furrowed slightly as he began to read. 

"Apparently, Voldemort wants me back at his side for whatever reason." Valentine grimaced. "So, he requests that I return for the Easter Holidays."