"And deep down I know this never works but you can lay with me so it doesn't hurt. Oh, won't you stay with me? 'Cause you're all I need."
— Sam Smith
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"I've NEVER EATEN SO MUCH!!" Myrtle cheers, looking down at her food belly, finally full. I gaze at her, amused.
"Well, finally. You ate a whole cow." I chuckle, lifting my feet up against the library window-still, with my Potions book.
"It's seriously the first day of classes, and you're already studying." She groans, pointing at me.
"I know. I'm a perfect role model." I tease her. Only for us to quiet down when Slughorn enters the library. He walks up to us, and we instantly stand to greet him.
"Hello, professor." I smile up at him. "How was your summer?" I greet.
"Splendid! It was so enjoyable to finally relax for a bit." He grins at me. "And yourself, Valentine?" He asks, beaming.
I nod, smiling, looking at an uncomfortable Myrtle from the corner of my eye. "It was definitely exciting," I say, causing Myrtle to snort.
"That's one way of viewing it." She states. Slughorn turns to her, confused.
"Ah! Lovely to see you as well, Myrel." He gets her name wrong, causing her to flush a deep red. "Valentine! As you know, I have a special club where only the best of the best are invited. The Slug Club, as many call it. You are officially invited, my dear!! This Friday! Please be sure to come!!" He shoves a letter in my hands and leaves before I could argue that I really didn't feel like dressing up and going anywhere.
Myrtle grabs the letter from my frozen fingers and begins to read. "Apparently, it's a big deal." She scoffs. "Pan also has a club, you know. She'd going to be so mad when you go to Slughorn's club and not hers." She snickers.
"Are you in Pan's club?" I ask her, making her flush.
"I was sorted in Ravenclaw for a reason Val." She hisses at me, and I raise my brow at her disbelievingly.
"FINE! Pan and Greta thought it'd be a good idea to get my grades up. It worked!" She grins, and I smile, happy for her.
"That's amazing, Myrtle." I beam, shoving the letter into my duffle bag and placing my Potions book inside as well.
"What class do you have now?" I ask, stealing a baby carrot from her large bag.
"I have Potions." She sticks out her tongue, and I giggle, munching on the carrot.
"Ha. I have Herbology." I tease her, and she glares at me. "How's Olive been?" I ask her quietly.
She goes silent.
"Myrtle?" I ask.
She gives me a small smile. "Fine. Everything is fine, Val. Don't worry." She taps my shoulder, and the vision hits me full on.
Myrtle stood in her dorm, looking for Greta and Pan. She was humming happily to herself. She seemed much happier here than in my last vision.
"Ugh. Could you be any more pathetic." I recognize Olive's voice, and I see her when my perspective changes and I'm staring straight into her narrowed aqua eyes. "Just because you have a couple of friends doesn't mean you're invincible now. Ollivander and Lovegood can't protect you forever. Dumbledore must already be getting tired with you." Olive scoffs, causing my heart to clench at Myrtle's expression.
"What did I ever do to you to deserve your anger?" Myrtle demands, fists clenched to her side.
"You decided to exist." She snarls.
"That makes no sense, though." Myrtle snaps, the ounce of confidence having us as friends gave her. "You called me fat. You called me ugly. You made me feel like I was worthless!"
"You are worthless! You think those so-called friends you have actually like you!?? They have god-complexes! They can barely stand to look at you!! Everyone knows it! Everyone can see it!" She scoffs, sneering at her.
"Stop! STOP!! " Myrtle screams, eyes glistening and teeth clenching. Her next words come so fast and so angry.
"Stop saying THAT! People shouldn't make fun of other people! What did I ever do to you!?"
"You're annoying. You annoy me. You aren't some perfect princess...You're an ugly troll! Your face has so many pimples on it, it looks like a pizza. You're a beast, just looking at you makes me want to vomit." She hisses, eyes showing her malice.
"I know you like Ollivander more than you should." She smirks. "You think she'll ever like you?!" Olive smirks.
I didn't want to watch it anymore. This was painful to watch. "Her? One of the golden girls? One of the populars? She is everything you wish you could be!!!!" She snaps.
Myrtle shakes her head. "Shut up." She whispers.
"You're a disappointment!"
"SHUT UP!!" Myrtle screams.
Her scream is what pulled me out. "Val?" Myrtle asks, kind as always. "Are you alright?" She asks. My hands were shaking, and my lips quivering.
"Y-Yeah." I nod frantically and whirl around, hair swishing with my movement. "I forgot one of my books in my common room. I'll see you at lunch." I wave to her quickly, but the smile remains on her face regardless of the confused expression on her face.
I run, my robes flying behind me. I almost slam into Hagrid on my way to the Hufflepuff dorms.
"Whoa. Yer alright, Valentine?" He asks me. The Slytherin robes he was wearing makes me let out a hysteric laugh.
"I-I'm fine." I nod and sidestep him only to come face to face with a concerned Nott.
"Val?" He asks, grabbing my arm to keep me from fleeing.
"Hey, Nott." I smile at him. "Just forgot my book," I say quickly. He gives me a look before nodding slightly, letting my hand go. I flash them a forced grin and dash away, hurling myself into my room. I pace slightly, the visions I'd just seen running through my mind.
"SHITE!" I screech, throwing my bag to the floor. The lamp above me explodes in response to my out of control magic.
Glancing at the clock, I groan, realizing I'd have to run to class to get there on time. I move to pick up my bag again and glimpse something on my bed from the corner of my eye. Brows furrowed, I move closer and see that it was a pale blue piece of paper.
I open it up, and my expression contorts into one of even more dire confusion.
I was blinking so fast, I was sure I was having a damn seizure. A death threat!? Seriously? As if my life couldn't get any more complicated, I was receiving death threats now.
Perfect.
I hated this timeline. Utterly despised it.
I stick the note in my pocket and start to run outside towards my Herbology class. Who the hell did S.M. think he was? I make it to class with barely enough time to pull out my book before Professor Herbert Berry bursts inside with a grin on his face. He was a jolly middle-aged man with dimples and bright brown eyes that sparkled whenever he smiled.
As Head of the Hufflepuff house, he was always around to help us and guide younger students. He clearly adored his students.
"Alright! Alright! Settle down!" He booms, waiting for us to quiet down. I move to stand between Chris and Abby. Herbology was being shared with the Gryffindors this year.
"Perfect! As you all know, we will be preparing you for your O.W.Ls this year, which you will be taking at the end of next year! You must study much harder. Your future depends on how you study." He claps and then picks up our required textbook.
"Turn to page three hundred and ninety-four, please. We will be observing Gillyweed for the remainder of this class. I'd like a three thousand word report on the properties and powers Gillyweed can provide to its consumer by next class." He announces, causing a bunch of groans to be heard.
"Seriously! It's the first day!!" Abby grumbles.
"Ah. Ah. AH!! Do you want it to be six thousand?!" He asks, being petty. The silence that followed was like that in a graveyard. Professor Berry just laughs. "Come on now, page three hundred and ninety-four. Let's go now."
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I trudge towards lunch, highly considering just curling up into a ball on my bed and falling asleep for the next fifty years. Then I'd be a retired elderly woman who could just enjoy cruises and travelling the world.
I move to walk towards the Ravenclaw table where Abby, Claude, Chris, Greta, Gideon and Myrtle were calling me over, but something stops me. I whirl around seeing the object in my peripheral vision.
Under Tom's plate was a piece of paper, folded neatly and hidden closely below it.It was pale blue.
I stride over to the Slytherin table, heart in my throat. I race over and slide in the spot beside Lestrange, who almost chokes in his surprise. I snatch the paper before Tom had a chance to know what was going on.
Unfolding it, I read it, the concern growing on my face.
"Damn it!" I curse, making the enraged look on Tom's face contort into one of confusion.
"What is it, Dumbledore?" He snarls. The sneer on his face is wiped away the second I pull out my own death threat, which was on an identical piece of paper to his, and hand it to him.
His brows furrow slightly, and he opens it, skimming over it to read. Avery leans over to read it from over his shoulder, his face instantly growing concerned.
"S.M." Tom scoffs, reading it and looking up to meet my eyes. "Why are you so concerned? It's not as if we can't take them. Well, I can. Not sure about you, however." His nose crinkles up in disgust. I whip my head over to glare at him, my eyes going black threateningly.
Tom's lips curve upwards in amusement at my action.
"That is so freaky, Val. I swear. You look bewitched." Rosier hisses, making Tom snort.
"She looks insane." Riddle muses, eyes going down to the note again.
"Turn them off!!" Avery hisses, slapping my hands on the table.
"HEY! My eyes aren't lightbulbs!" I snap, and Lestrange scoffs.
"Debatable."
And guess who decided to stroll past just then? While I was riled up, angry and just plain done with life.
Olive freaking Hornby.
"If I kill someone... would you guys help me bury the body?" I ask suddenly, and they all give me looks.
Tom looked bored, and Avery, Lestrange and Rosier seemed stunned.
"What am I saying? Of course, you'll help me. Pfft." I chuckle, handing Tom his note back, and then stride after the girl only to grab her and slam her into the closest table. That just happened to be exactly beside Walburga, who screams in surprise.
My face was emotionless as I stare at her in rage. "YOU FREAK! Let me go!" Olive screeches.
"You EVER even look at Myrtle again...let alone talk to her." I hiss, shoving her again, and she winces. "That will be the last thing you ever do." I tilt my head, staring at her with a snarl.
She grabs my arm, trying to push me away. That's when the vision comes.
"Mum?" I hear a little Olive whisper. "Mum?"
"You little brat!! I TOLD you to stay in your ROOM!!!" A woman screams and shoves the little girl to the floor. "We have people coming over! I do NOT want them to see you." She hisses. "You utter embarrassment of a girl." She snaps, eyeing her in disappointment.
"I-I'm hungry," She whimpers.
"STARVE!" She screams, making tears whelm in Olive's eyes. The woman looks behind her, and a huge smile gleams on her face.
"Davis! Melody!!" She beams, opening her arms to engulf a girl and boy, younger than Olive by as tad, into her arms.
"Move Scarecrow!" The girl shoves her aside
"My favourite kids!! Do you want some Macaroni and Cheese? I made some for you!" The mum squeals, carrying them into the kitchen and leaving a heartbroken Olive all alone, tears running down her cheeks.
My eyes flicker into reality, and I stare at Olive, eyes wide.
"LET go of me!!" She hisses, making me back away from her slightly, eyeing her in a different light.
So the bully was being bullied.
The realization made my heart clench for the broken girl in front of me, who, with just one touch, told me her deepest darkest secret.
"You stay away." I point at her threateningly and walk back to sit beside a gaping Lestrange.
"I thought you were going to commit murder?" Tom drawls mocking me.
He was analyzing the two notes, staring at them back and forth, probably checking what type of ink the person was using or their handwriting.
"I saw something that changed my mind," I say, stealing one of his spring rolls and popping it in my mouth.
The way his lips twitch slightly told me he knew exactly what had happened.
-People shouldn't make fun of other people! What did I ever do to you!?