NO MORE A PRETENDER~ {The Lestrange Daughter #3}

𝟐𝟐. Tournament

Maybe if I set the Quidditch Pitch on fire they'll cancel the whole thing. 

It was a nice but ultimately unlikely thought. Unfortunately, not all of her problems could be solved with fire. Even if she set the whole bloody school ablaze the Carrow's stupid entertainment would probably just be postponed. 

Valentine stood out in the courtyard right outside the Great Hall. She didn't want to go in although she'd told the others that she wouldn't be long. She was already going to be stared at by the entire school during the supposed 'tournament' as it was without having to start off her day like that as well. 

She wondering how horribly wrong the Carrow's lives must have gone to enjoy something like this. It was obvious enough that it was simply generations of narrow-minded judgement passed on from the beginning of wizardkind but even her friends weren't this twisted. Seriously misguided and lacking the critical thought process to questing their upbringing, sure, but even Draco Malfoy himself didn't find any of this fun anymore. 

The majority of the students were already in the Great Hall, having breakfast as they did every morning when the Carrow's made their announcement. It was far too gleeful- especially on Amycus's part- for not only this hour of the morning but also for the subject matter. It seemed many students had all but forgotten about the impending event. The Carrow's had never set a date after all. 

The hall was dead silent as Alecto reminded them that attendance was mandatory and anyone who was chosen to participate did not have the choice to back out. There would be no excuses or exceptions.

Valentine wiped a hand over her face with a groan, starting to pace. This was all so messed up and what was more messed up was that she was almost used to it. Even her friends and many of the other students were resigned to this by now. They'd had over three months of this, after all. Not even Valentine had the energy to be surprised every time something horribly twisted happened anymore. The horrors of Hogwarts had become the norm. Every day for the average student was simply breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a side of classes and a large helping of hoping that the Carrow's wouldn't take any notice of them. 

Valentine felt the eyes on her only seconds before the voice cleared itself and spoke in heavy but clear, accented English. 

"Lestrange?"

She stopped her pacing abruptly, head snapping over near the large double doors to see Meriton watching her timidly.

"What do you want?" She growled lightly. "Liam's inside."

"I know," Meriton spoke a bit too quickly before sucking in a deep breath. "I wanted to talk to you."

"I'm really not in the mood for conversation, Hasani."

"Sorry, but..." He ducked his head low, looking down at his hands. "I just feel like I should thank you."

"And what the hell would you be thanking me for?"

"Yesterday in Potions...I was going to try and move the cauldron before Liam could get hurt, but you got there first...I thought I had to just be remembering it wrong, but then I kept playing it over and over in my mind and I'm sure it happened." Meriton peered up at her, dark blue eyes meeting electric. "...You pushed my hands out of the way. I probably would have touched it at the same time if you hadn't. But...you pushed my hands aside and handled it all yourself."

Valentine groaned loudly like they had been talking about this for hours upon hours. 

"What exactly are you getting at?"

"Well, I..." Meriton blinked. "I probably would have been hurt as well if you didn't do what you did so...thank you for that."

"Oh, for fucks sake, Hasani. I shoved you aside because you were in my damn way. You've shown me no signs that you could have dealt with it on your own without just dumping the entire Potion on both Liam and yourself, so yes. I handled it. It's the only way things get fucking done around here. Don't try and make this out to be some valiant rescue. I knew you were nothing special but I didn't think you were delusional."