𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴.

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𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟱𝘁𝗵, 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟲
𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻

"𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒?" Mrs Potter fretted over her son, using her hand to try and smooth down his hair that was sticking out at all angles. "Do you even brush it?" She reached into her bag for a comb, ready to embarrass her son just hours before his first day as a sixth-year, in plain sight of everyone arriving on Platform 9¾.

"Mum," James whined, trying to pull away. "It's fine." He ran his fingers through his stubborn locks to mess them even more before tugging at the hem of his t-shirt to further create a nonchalant appearance.

Valerie folded her arms over her chest. "It's how all the cool kids are wearing it, Mum," she joked, cocking her head to Sirius to try and get him to join in.

"Yeah, we're starting a trend, Mrs P.," Sirius beamed. "It's called the Lazy Git."

Euphemia's eyes narrowed. "Watch your language, Sirius."

Valerie and James struggled to hold in their laughter at Sirius being scolded while he blushed. Val playfully elbowed him in the ribs before muttering "Sucker."

"Valerie," her father warned.

"Sorry, dad."

She glanced around the crowded Platform, noticing both the new and the old students appearing from the brick archway surrounding the invisible portal wall and, like the Potters, were being coddled by their loving parents. She recognised quite a few of them. There was Sidonie DuPont, a seventh-year Slytherin that was always polite to Val whenever they met in passing; Nick Jenkin, a fifth-year Hufflepuff, who was helping his younger sister with her trunk; and Katie Reed, a fourth-year Ravenclaw that Val tutored in Potions just last February.

Further down the platform, standing on his own, Valerie noticed a dark-haired boy in the year below her, already dressed in black robes, adorned with his green tie. He too was surveying the platform, but luckily hadn't noticed her, nor had he noticed his older brother standing next to her.

But Sirius noticed him.

Valerie looked up at him. "Are you okay?" she whispered, absentmindedly picking at her chipping nail polish.

"I'm fine, Val," he lied, frowning. "I don't need you prying into my life every second."

She opened her mouth to give him a snarky reply but thought better of it, turning her attention back to her parents. She nervously chewed at the skin on her left thumb and her father glanced over to her. "Val," he warned again, and she quickly pulled her hand away, balling her fingers into a fist.

"Sorry, dad," she repeated.

"Now, you have all your books?" Euphemia asked the children, who all nodded in response. "And you all have your robes handy? Are you changing into them on the train?"

"Yes, mum," James and Valerie said in unison, while Sirius simply nodded again.

"Mum, we've done this before," Val reminded her. "We'll be fine."

"You're all just growing up so fast," Effie admitted, tearing up. "My sweet babies." She threw her arms around the three of them, and while James tried his hardest to be freed, both Valerie and Sirius stayed as long as possible in Mrs Potter's warm embrace. "Don't get into trouble," she reminded them as she stepped back, "especially you two." She nodded towards James and Sirius, and Valerie gave a smug grin.

"What's the point of going to school if we're not having fun?" James joked.

"I mean it, James," she reiterated. "No funny business."

"Yes, mum."

"Yes, Mrs P."

While Euphemia continued to fuss over her boys, Monty pulled Valerie into a hug. "You knock 'em dead, kiddo," he muttered, kissing the top of his daughter's head.

She smiled, relaxing. "Thanks dad."

"If you do get into trouble, make sure it's nothing they can write to us about," he joked, and his daughter smiled wider. "Effie, come on, darling, they're about to board."

"Just one..." she quickly swiped her comb through James's hair, who hadn't the reflexes to pull away in time, "there. Now you can go."

The three teenagers took turns in bidding the Potters goodbye before heading towards the bustling and churning Hogwarts Express. Valerie heard the familiar giggle of Tulliah Green behind them as she and her troupe passed. "Hi James," she smiled, blatantly batting her curled eyelashes at him, then Sirius. "Hi Sirius."

"Hey Tulles," James replied, while Sirius simply tilted his chin up in acknowledgement.

She led her star-blinded followers towards the train before looking back. "Are you coming, Val?"

Valerie inhaled a deep breath before faking a smile. "Be right there."

As Team Tulliah disappeared from sight, Val finally exhaled, rolling her eyes, and her brother noticed her change in character for the first time. "Why do you hang out with them?" he questioned.

Val shrugged. She had continually asked herself the same question but still felt compelled to stick close to Tulliah against all better judgements. "There's nobody else to ride with."

"You can ride with us," he replied candidly.

She stopped in her tracks, frowning. "The last time we rode together was first-year, then you ditched me for this beanpole." She pointed at Sirius next to her, who smiled proudly.

James shook his head. "I didn't ditch you, Val. You made your own friends, so I laid off."

The three continued, stepping single file onto the train. "All this time, I thought you hated me," Val admitted.

"Hated you?" James looked back to her as they pushed through the hall to James's regular train car. "How could I hate you? You're my sister, my twin sister. You're a part of me."

"Guess you misjudged that one, hey smartypants?" Sirius smirked behind her, causing Valerie to stop purposefully so he would bump into her, and she stepped back onto his foot. "Ow."

"Misjudged that one," she mimicked, sliding into the compartment through the open door and dropping onto the plush seat. The two other boys that made up her brother's close circle of friends were already seated, and both looked up as the new addition entered.

"Hey Val," Remus Lupin greeted, his eyes still managing a sparkle even while surrounded by evident tiredness.

"Are you riding with us today?" Peter Pettigrew asked, moving over so that Sirius could sit along the seat with him and Remus.

Valerie nodded. "Yeah, Tulliah's getting on my nerves."

"As with everyone," Remus remarked, turning his attention back to the leatherbound book in his hand.

Sirius leaned over as Remus turned a page. "Dear diary," he read aloud, "I love... move your finger, Remus... stinky cheese. Wow, Moony, how poetic."

"It doesn't say that," Remus muttered, leaning closer towards the window to avoid prying eyes.

"What does it say then?" James teased.

Remus cleared his throat and straightened his back, ready to recite. "It says: none of your bloody business, Potter."

Valerie smiled, settling back into her seat. Maybe she should've asked to stay in James's compartment earlier. At the thought of being faced with Tulliah's passive aggressive wrath, Val's thumbnail nervously fit between her teeth.

"Isn't there some potion to stop nail-biting?" Sirius asked, a brow raised.

"Isn't there a potion for your face?" Valerie retorted, quickly pulling her thumb away. "Butt out, Black."

"Slugger," Sirius snarked, sticking out his tongue.

She copied him before readjusted in her seat as the train jolted forward and joined James in waving a final goodbye to their parents. She sat back again, tucking her legs into her chest and resting her sneaker-clad feet against the edge of the red cushion under her.

"Alright, lads," Sirius beamed as the train left the station. "Place your bets. First to earn points this year?"

"Remus," James and Peter answered, and Sirius quickly scribbled it down on a torn piece of paper from Remus's book.

Remus looked up from the opposite corner to Valerie and surprised her by saying her name. The three other boys all looked at her and she blushed. "I'm not part of this, am I?"

"Course you are, Val," Sirius replied, writing her name down.

"You're our favourite," Peter added with a smile.

Valerie blushed again. "Thanks Pete."

"Okay," Sirius continued, "first to lose points?"

"Sirius," they all said, and he smiled.

"Guilty. First to snog someone?"

Valerie frowned. "What kind of bets are these?" she laughed.

"The interesting kind," Sirius grinned. "Go on then."

Val didn't even have to think about it. "You, you slag."

Sirius gasped, playing offense. "How dare you? I'm betting you, Miss Potter. You wouldn't believe the number of boys who have their eye on you. I think you'll get kissed before even moi."

"That's bollocks, Black," Val snorted.

"Oh yeah?" His dark brows cocked upwards as he grinned. "Care to make it interesting? Last to snog wins, loser pays fifty galleons."

Grinning, Valerie extended her hand and they shook on it. "Challenge accepted, Black."

⊹

𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 the extensive pew of the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall, her chin rested in her hand with her elbow on the table, barely listening to Professor Dumbledore's usually droning Start of Year speech. It had been an otherwise uneventful train ride earlier that day, and all she was looking forward to now was a belly full of food and a good night's rest before classes began in the morning.

Hurried footsteps were heard through the hall and took the entire school's attention away from Dumbledore for a brief moment. Lyra Fell, a Ravenclaw in the same year as Val, had entered late and was quickly taking her seat towards the end of the table, her head bowed in embarrassment. Her fingers immediately untucked her bright blonde hair from behind her ears to hide the blood rushing to her cheeks.

Val's eyes narrowed as she tilted her head. Was that dirt on her face? And under her nails as well? She remembered seeing her on the train that afternoon, so why was she late now? Val heard Tulliah giggle to her gaggle containing the two other sixth-year girls. "What a freak," Tulles muttered to them, laughing.

Val turned her head, frowning. "Sh," she whispered, cocking her head towards the podium where Dumbledore stood, continuing his speech.

"I would wish to remind students that the Whomping Willow is not a tree to be toyed with," he spoke. "Students are to remain away from the area at all times, and are not permitted to enter the Forbidden Forest under any and all circumstances."

Val recalled the incident that took place in late April. Two third-years were dared to climb the Whomping Willow and were now considered incredibly lucky to be alive. The mobilised branches were faster and stronger than the students had anticipated, and each spent weeks in the hospital wing as a result.

"Additionally," Dumbledore continued, "Professor Fulstern's position will be filled by Professor Higgins while she takes a leave of absence. I'm sure you'll all make Professor Higgins feel welcome as your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Professor Higgins, a stout man with a mess of short, dark ginger coils atop his head, stood, smiling, and bowed politely to the light applause of the students and faculty.

"With no further announcements," Dumbledore concluded, clapping his hands once, the sound seeming to the reverberate off the looming stone walls, "let the feast," he extended his hands towards the four long tables surrounded by students, "begin."

The empty plates that lined the tables all simultaneously filled with roast meats, sauteed vegetables, and potatoes cooked in a variety of ways. Dotted between the silver trays were flaky golden pies, Yorkshire puddings, and white jugs filled to the brim with glossy gravy. The delicious smells wafted through the hall as the students all eagerly began eating.

"How do they do that?" Jessica Pike, one of the other Ravenclaw sixth-years marvelled, as she did every year.

Valerie smiled; Muggleborns were always the most fascinated by the Hogwarts feasts. "Magic, Jessie," Val whispered, serving herself a few slices of roast beef and a large spoonful of roasted potatoes.

Jess tossed her long, blonde ponytail over her shoulder and leaned forward to receive the bowl of peas handed to her by the final girl in their year, Lucie. "Yeah, but how, Val?"

Pouring gravy over her potatoes, Valerie gave a one-shouldered shrug. "Maybe they were always there, just invisible."

"I doubt it," Lucie added. "Nothing ever gets cold, no matter how long Dumbledore talks for."

"That could be part of the spell," Val countered.

"It's a transference spell," Tulliah finally interjected. "The elves prepare it all in the kitchen and it's transported here instantaneously. Everybody knows that, Jess."

The three other girls were instantly quiet. Valerie bit her lip to avoid blurting out the choice words that she was now thinking. After five years of being around Tulliah Green, she knew to let her have the last word, or she'd never hear the end of it. 

⊹

𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 leaving the Great Hall and making their ways to their respective dormitories, Valerie caught a glance of Regulus Black. Questions raced through her mind and she couldn't avoid them as she began pushing her way through the crowd towards him. She skilfully weaved through the sea of dark robes before locking her sight onto her goal. Valerie reached out and yanked at the back of the boy's robes, pulling him back and pushing him into an alcove. "Hey!" he protested before noticing his assailant and sighing. "What do you want, Valerie?"

"What the hell did your parents do to Sirius?" she cornered, her voice low.

Regulus sneered. "None of your business." He ducked to try and escape under her arm, but she grabbed him by the collar again.

"It is too my business when he's now living with me and my family," she retorted. "What happened?"

"I said it's none of your fucking business," he repeated. "Stay the fuck away from me." He finally removed himself from her grasp and straightened out the wrinkles on his collar with his hand.

Valerie lowered her head to try and catch his gaze again. "Regulus."

"What?"

She hesitated and bit her bottom lip before swallowing her apprehension. "Do they hurt you too?"

"You really don't know when to quit, do you?" He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're not some saint put here to save me, Potter. Fuck. Off." He pushed past, knocking her back slightly as his shoulder collided with hers.

She frowned, rubbing at the spot of collision as her gaze followed him down the hall and toward the Slytherin dorm. Sirius silently appeared next to her, a mixture of disdain and concern awash his brow.

"What did he say to you?" he asked.

Val looked up at him before shaking her head. "Nothing worth repeating."