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

𝟑𝟒. Resistance

In the two weeks since Voldemort had demoted Amycus, both he and his sister had been rather scarce. Alecto still taught her joke of a propaganda class, of course, but with Dark Arts now nothing but an extra study period and the siblings rarely even seen during meals, the school was almost like it had once been. Almost. 

All things considered, it had been a rather lax two weeks. That night when Valentine had returned to the Forbidden Forest to find the Snatcher's waiting for her as she had asked, she issued them with new orders. They were to shadow Harry and the others the best they could, hanging a day or two behind them travel wise and not engage them unless Harry is about to come to fatal harm. For a lesser situation, they were to simply send word back to Valentine. This way she would know where they had been at the very least, even if it was an old campsite from a day ago it was better than the absolute nothing she had known before. 

The only news she had received thus far was over a week and a half ago stating that the Gryffindor's had left Gloucestershire and were moving South. Which was in the general direction of Malfoy Manor. Which Valentine almost wished she wasn't so aware of. All she could do at this point was be ready to leave the very second she had to at any time. 

Sitting in Muggle Studies, she thought about how she could have left the room at a moments notice. Doing so without being seen would have been virtually impossible but if she was being sent a letter by owl during class that meant there was an emergency and so if, it was enough for her to throw her discretion out the window. Usually, any letters were left down at the large pine in the treeline around Hogsmeade where she had directed the Snatchers to do so. She sent a Patronus out to go check at least three times a day for any news and reminded herself to do it for the second time that day after class was over. 

Peering to her left, Valentine watched Leah and Blaze exchanging notes under the table that seemed to compromise of nothing more than crude drawings. At least on Blaze's part. Crude in the sense that she couldn't make out what they were for the life of her while Leah's were clear as day. She always did at the artistic streak the rest of them lacked. 

Alecto had been in the adjoining office to the room for the last five minutes. Valentine could hear her talking but not loudly enough to make out the words. With the last two weeks being as relaxed as they were, she knew it was time for the pen to drop.

She glanced at the other side of the room, two rows ahead where most of Dumbledore's Army were seated. She could see them whispering and looking at the door ever so often. Valentine wasn't the only one on alert today. 

She wondered if her revenge was coming or if the Carrow's were saving it for the Tournament. She really wished they would have hurried shit up a bit so she didn't have to waste mental energy on them anymore. 

When the office door opened and Alecto stepped out, a hush quickly swept over the students. There didn't seem to be anything different about her as she closed the door behind herself and headed up to the blackboard. She picked up a piece of chalk and scrawled the words 'The Signs of a Mud Blood' across the board. She then turned to the class.

"Alright, who can tell me a way that we can distinguish a Mud Blood from the rest of us wizard folk?" She asked. 

At first, no one answered. It was a ludicrous question, after all and one that the majority of the class didn't care to answer in the least. Then Pansy Parkinson just had to put up at her hand.

"Yes?" Alecto nodded to her. 

"Well, they'd have to be ugly." Said Pansy, not a single hint in her voice that she doubted her statement. "I've never seen an attractive Mud Blood in my life." 

"I can't disagree." Alecto chuckled. "But I'm looking for something more discerning. Miss Bulstrode."

Alecto turned her attention to the girl seated beside Pansy.