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THE GOLDEN AMBIENCE of Hogwarts' Hospital Wing was not what Valerie had expected to wake up to. Rubbing her tired eyes, she slowly sat upright, scanning the near empty room.
On the cot several feet away from her own, lay an unconscious Harry Potter. Cuts littered his face, and his arm appeared to be broken, alarm surging through her as she made to stand.
"You should be getting some rest, dear one."
Dumbledore emerged from the doors, his hands clasped together in front of him as he walked towards the girl.
"Professor, is he alright?" she asked, motioning to Harry, "Did the creature in the forest attack him as well?"
"Valerie," the headmaster spoke hoarsely, "That was a week ago."
The Grindelwald girl was stunned. "No, that can't be. That would mean I-I've been out for a week?"
"I'm afraid so," Dumbledore nodded, taking a seat at the foot of the cot.
Valerie shook her head in disbelief, before reluctantly looking up, "Professor, could you fill me on—"
"Miss Grindelwald, are you aware of the notion that power grows at the same pace with its price?" Dumbledore cut her off, looking out into the distance.
"I've never heard that before," Valerie answered honestly.
"Do you remember what happened that night?" he asked again.
"Yes," Valerie told him with the slightest uncertainty, "I tried to fight... him, but I couldn't. He was too strong. I blacked out."
"Valerie, you did not collapse because you are weak. It is quite the opposite, actually. You are an incomparably gifted witch." Dumbledore mused, puzzling the girl, "But, you see we are only as strong as we are weak. We can only hold as much power as what can be taken away. He tried to harness your magic, and he would have succeeded."
"What stopped him?" Valerie queried, growing more confused by the second.
Dumbledore answered her question with one of his own, "Do you know what you wear around your neck?"
Valerie shook her head in mild embarrassment, "I got it for Christmas. I don't know what it is."
"That, my dear, is a blood pact, a strong one at that." he told her, "It protects a sacred agreement between two people, therefore, it also protects its wearer."
"It was you, wasn't it, Professor?" a look of realisation crossed her face, as she held the pendant in her hand, "You gave me this. Who did it belong to?"
Dumbledore smiled, "Two very old friends."
There were a few moments of silence before Valerie decided to speak up, knowing she could trust him with her life.
