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* * *
"ARE YOU REALLY Valerie Grindelwald?"
The young witch couldn't believe the questions she was receiving. Ever since she had taken a seat at the Slytherin table, her housemates treated her like some defendant to be interrogated.
"Yes, yes I am." Valerie turned to the third-year girl with a smile. "I am the evil spawn of a notorious villain who will go on to start yet another Wizarding War."
The girl left her alone after that.
"Oi, Grindelwald!"
Valerie lazily turned to the boy who had called her.
"I'm Draco Malfoy." he introduced himself from across the table. She already knew who he was, he did make that clear in front of the whole year earlier.
"I take it you already know my name." she answered.
"My father says your grandfather was one of the greatest wizards in history." Draco changed the subject.
Valerie had never heard that before, then again this boy was a narcissist bully. "Good to know."
"Well, second to you-know-who, of course. Father says he'll be back, it's not like he was imprisoned." Draco's words earned scattered laughs from the rest of the table.
"But I heard you've got abilities, at least that's what father said. You know, I'm rather advanced myself."
"You know," Valerie mocked, having had just about enough of him, "—you should talk to me when your father says to have your head sized down a bit."
This time, the laughs were on him. Valerie turned away, and instead she found Theodore giving her an enthusiastic thumbs up. Rolling her eyes, she jabbed her fork at the chicken on her plate, wanting to continue her meal in silence.
Valerie then looked to the Gryffindor table, where Harry Potter sat smiling, surrounded by his housemates. Eventually, he locked eyes with her, and the two stared awkwardly at each other.
She couldn't forget the repulsive look on his face after the hat sorted her into Slytherin. It was like he had no idea who she was.
* * *
Harry Potter couldn't help but feel guilty as Valerie Grindelwald was the first to tear her gaze away, her eyes falling back to her plate.
"Ron, are you sure all Slytherins are the same?" he asked, his stare still on the girl.
"No," the Weasley replied, eagerly taking a bite out of his drumstick. "Some are worse than others. Why?"
Ron followed Harry's line of sight to Valerie, his eyes now the size of saucers.
