"Do you think she's going to move anytime soon?" Sirius inquired and James shot him a look.

"She just lost her parents," he reminded him.

"I know that," he replied, "But it's not like she liked them." James whacked him on the arm, "Okay, sorry." He huffed before he looked into the room through the door that was ajar, "I'm gonna try and get her out."

"Try not to piss her off," he requested as Sirius opened the door.

"You have little faith in me, Prongs," he informed the boy. "Tell mum we're leaving for Diagon Alley in approximately an hour."

James snorted, "Yeah, alright." And then Sirius shut the door in his face.

Sirius approached the bed and Val's head perked up slightly, "What? You're not a dog this time?"

He rolled his eyes as he laid down next to her. He had been sneaking into the guest room shortly after James did after her first night here. The bed wasn't big enough for all three of them so he slept at the door of the bed as a dog.

"Makes conversing rather difficult," he pointed out.

"I don't want to talk."

"I don't recall asking what you wanted," he countered and she turned over so she was facing away from him. "We leave for Diagon Alley in half an hour."

"I'll pass."

"It wasn't a choice," he replied. "We are leaving even if it means I have to drag you out smelling like you just went dumpster diving."

"I don't smell that bad."

"You haven't showered since Christmas."

"And?"

"You smell," he pointed out as he sat up. "Now up and shower. The day is slowly slipping away."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes," he answered, "I'll be back to retrieve you in thirty minutes. Don't make me drag you out of here."

She huffed in response and Sirius left her in the room alone.

"So?" James inquired as Sirius descended the stairs.

"She'll be down in..." he trailed off, looking at the pocket watch that the Potter's had given him for his birthday back in December, "Twenty minutes."

"You sure?" he questioned when the shower upstairs turned on. James grinned, "I suppose I did underestimate you."

"Don't make that mistake again," he suggested as he took a seat at the table.

"Now, you three must be careful," Euphemia reminded them as they waited for Val to emerge. "It's getting worrisome out there and with everything that's happened recently, I'm not sure I like the idea of you leaving alone."

"We'll be fine, Mum," James replied, "Promise."

As soon as Val descended the stairs, they left the house with a quick goodbye, promising to return in a few hours. They entered Diagon Alley and Val looked around. Just like the boys, she hadn't been there since the start of term.

"I'm going to run to Quidditch Supplies," James informed them. "Do you want to come with me or?"

"I'll stay with Sirius," she answered. "We'll wait for you here."

James looked to Sirius who nodded before he walked off. Val leaned against the wall as she waited for the boy to return. Sirius watched her for a moment before finally speaking up, "Hey, Val?"

"Hmm," she replied, her mind elsewhere.

"Your parents..." he trailed off. "What exactly happened?"

Her jaw clenched as she thought back to that night, "My guess is my father pissed the Dark Lord off."

"And you had no idea?"

She turned to look at him, "Is this an interrogation?"

"No," he answered quickly. "I was just...Nevermind."

She said nothing in response as she leaned back against the wall. It didn't surprise her. Between the looks she got from Sirius, James and his parents and the Auror's who had been cycling in and out of the Potter household with questions, no one knew what exactly had happened. Except for Val who wasn't even sure if she knew what had happened and she had been there.

Val opened her mouth to say something when there was a loud bang from up ahead. Both Sirius and her looked in the direction of where the explosion had come from. They exchanged a brief look before taking off. Because that was where James had disappeared to.

Suddenly people began to appear, surrounded by puffs of black smoke. Val pulled her wand out quickly as one of the Death Eaters shot a spell her way. She quickly conjured a shield, sending the spell back at him.

"Val!" she could hear Sirius shout through the chaos. Alongside the Death Eaters, Auror's had begun to appear left and right.

"I'm here!" she shouted in return as she shot a stunning jinx at an on coming assaulted. "Where-" she was cut off when someone bumped into her back. She turned around quickly and let out a breath of relief when she saw that it was just Sirius. "Oh thank Merlin," she breathed out and he grabbed her hand before pulling her away.

"You don't think he's-" Sirius began.

"No," she cut him off. "James is smart. He knows how to take care of himself." At least she hoped he did. "Protego!" she shouted quickly as someone shot a spell at the two.

The pair came to a stop outside the Quidditch Supplies store which was up in flames. "He got out," Val nodded her head but she was mostly trying to convince herself, "He had to have gotten out."

Sirius nodded in agreement and there was popping sounds from all around them as the Death Eaters disapparated. They both looked around quickly, searching for anything that would tell them that James was okay.

"I'm going in," Val announced and she started toward the building but Sirius grabbed her hand.

"That's incredibly stupid."

"If he's still in there, he needs help," she pointed out. "And I'm going to help him."

He shook his head, "If you go in there, you'll-" His breath hitched in his throat because they both knew what he was saying. If she went in, she most likely wouldn't come back out. And if James was already in there, then-

"Would you get your hands off of me?" a familiar voice shouted and the two turned around. "Let me go! I'm fine!" They looked for where his voice was coming from, knowing he had to be nearby. The flood of people trying to get out made it difficult but Val spotted the mess that was James's hair first.

She took off at a sprint, maneuvering her way through the crowd and not bothering to apologize when she ran into people. "James!" she shouted and the boy looked in her direction. "James!"

His eyes caught hers and he yanked his arm away from the person who had been looking him over. He ran toward her and soon as they were an inch or so away from each other, Val threw herself at him and James picked her up, holding her close to him.

"Thank Merlin, you're okay," she muttered as she moved to look at him. He didn't put her down as she rested her hands on either side of his face. His face was covered in soot and aside from a few cuts and the bruises that were appearing, he seemed mostly fine. "I thought I had lost you."

"I told you," he reminded her, "I'm not going anywhere." He placed her down and looked around, "Sirius, is he-"

"He's fine," Sirius announced with a huff. "Just not as fast and agile as your girlfriend."

He grinned before he pulled the boy in for a hug. Sirius happily accepted and squeezed the boy for a moment. They separated and James looked between the two, "My parents are going to be so pissed."

"Damn straight," Fleamont agreed and the younger Potter's eyes widened. "Are you three okay?" Sirius and Val nodded quickly although James appeared to be buffering. He followed in suit a moment later and Fleamont patted his son on the arm, "Let's get you guys home."

"Not just yet," someone spoke up and they turned to see one of the Auror's who had stopped by the Potter house to talk to Val on multiple occasions. He looked at Val and Sirius, "I'm going to need to talk to you two."

"Seems a right waste of time to talk to two innocent kids when you could be out looking for the real culprit, McLaggen," Fleamont said pointedly, gesturing for the two to come with him. "We'll be leaving now."

"Minchum won't be happy about this."

"Then tell Harold he can come and talk to me," he replied simply. "We're going home."