PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟕𝟔. Severus

Stepping into the common room, she paused. Valentine wasn't used to hearing Liam's voice mingled with the others anymore. As odd as it was, it was a welcome sound to her. This was where he belonged. Not trapped in Philips twisted grasp.

Leah was standing on the couch, imitating an animal that Valentine couldn't possibly discern. Benjamin was standing in front of her on the floor, surrounded by his friends on either side and holding up Tulip towards Leah.

I have no idea what I'm looking at here.

Blaze and Liam stood back from the scene, laughing and trading comments to one another. 

Anna and Chloe were standing near them, shaking their heads but laughing also. Anna shouted something to the boys and they agreed with more laughter.

Blaze clapped Liam hard on the back, both smiling wider than the two had had in months. 

Valentine bit down the inside of her mouth, keeping her own smile at bay. She knew if she went over there, the entire mood would change. Benjamin's friends were afraid of her and wouldn't stick around. It would be awkward as hell to watch Benjamin and the others try and convince them to stay when they were clearly so uncomfortable.

Leah's little- whatever it was- would be ruined. Benjamin would have to choose between staying with them or his friends. Anna and Chloe would probably wander off, saving themselves from the changed atmosphere.

Valentine didn't walk any further. Being on the outside looking in wasn't a foreign feeling to her. Even when she was in the middle of the chaos, she was the quiet one. Always armed with a displeased glare and sarcastic insults. She listened to them carry on with their antics. She didn't contribute. It didn't bother her as much as it might of others. That was how things had always been. It was dynamic she oddly enough treasured. Just to be there was enough. But today she thought, as she had on more than one occasion, that it might be better for them without her.

They hadn't seen her yet, if she turned around and walked away, they would never know. They could continue on as they were. She'd let them have their fun as she didn't know how long it would last. And she wasn't just talking about when the lunch break would be over.

I wonder what Snape is up to...

-----Pretending To Live-----

Valentine marched back through the halls and to Snape's class.

He was standing by the blackboard, writing up something for his next class after lunch.

"What do you want?" He snapped upon seeing her.

"World peace?"

"You're hilarious."

"Finally you're right about something." She walked right past him.

"Go away, Lestrange." He sighed. "I can't be bothered with you today."

"That's nice." She kept walking.

"I am completely serious!"

"And I am completely serious when I say that I don't care." She turned around to look at him and shrug, now walking backwards.

His grip tightened on the piece of chalk so hard that it snapped in half. He looked down at his hand in annoyance and she just laughed at him.

She headed up the stairs to the office, closing the door behind her as if to say he wasn't welcome inside. She laughed again, but this time to herself.

She sat down in Snape's chair, pulling out Olivia's diary and opening it to the last entry she'd read.

1992, April 11th,