I wanted to scream. Scream at Valentine for having control over my body and mind while in front of my friends and scream at Draco to look at me, to talk to me again. I wanted to reach out to him but I couldn't.
I wanted to talk to Ginny and tell her everything. She was there for me all through my time at Hogwarts and I just got her back, but I couldn't tell her anything. I had to keep to the same script each day:
"I'm marrying Valentine."
"He's an old friend that I reconnected with since I've been back."
"He makes me happy."
"Valentine took me in for a week after the last attack. I'm sorry I didn't tell any of you."
"Please support my decisions."
I rolled my eyes as I sat at the dining table in the Great Hall. Everyone liked Valentine when he was under a transfiguration spell to look like Cirrus, so it was no wonder that it didn't take long for everyone to like Valentine. Everyone was warming up to him, laughing about school moments like they were long lost best friends.
"Dear, what's wrong," Valentine asked, wonder and concern filling his voice and I wanted to move away from him and tell him that this was all wrong. That he can't do this, but I just smiled weakly in response.
"Dear?" He asked again and I looked up, seeing everyone look at me. Everyone except Draco. He was gone, he avoided my gaze every time I tried to catch it and made sure to spend as little time around me as possible. I understood why. I wouldn't want to be around me either if I was in his shoes, but it still hurt.
"I'm fine, just a headache," I answered weakly, waving off everyone's concerned looks.
I caught Ginny's eyes and I knew she didn't believe me. Her face said she did, but there was a glimmer of suspicion in her eyes that only I could see.
I put my hand by my face, covering my face from Valentine's view and mouthed, "talk later."
Valentine poked my hand and I looked over at him, but still kept an eye on Ginny.
Ginny gave a small nod before continuing her conversation with Harry and Hermione about the last attack. They still had no leads or suspects, even though he sat right in front of them.
I wanted to tell them that Valentine was behind it all, but he had gained all their respect and trust. He was throwing hints of the attacks being done by someone who held grudges about the defeat of Lord Voldemort. He was literally spelling it out that a Death Eater was responsible and if they knew his secret, they wouldn't be as friendly and giving up so much about what they knew to a stranger.
Unfortunately, there was already a suspicious glance to a couple of Slytherins. Everyone had their suspicions about a couple Death Eaters and sadly, Draco was one of them.
Everyone turned a suspicious eye to Draco and Pansy.
Valentine shrugged and joined the conversation Ginny, Harry, and Hermione were having. Ron was off talking to some students who were having a difficult time with their classes and coping with the recent events.
I leaned my head on my hand, listening to the conversation and waiting for the day to be over. To have some control over my body and mind, even if it was only for a little bit.
"Do you think all the attacks are connected," Valentine asked, looking between the three.
"We're not sure. There have been rumors about the first attack being caused by students, so for now we are just saying the last two were connected," Harry answered and Hermione nodded in approval.
"The thing I don't understand is why is this person or group only attacking Hogwarts and nowhere else," Ginny added, biting her lip in confusion.
"There hasn't been any attacks anywhere else?" Valentine questioned, his eyebrows scrunching in confusion as he tried to figure out why.
I had to give him credit, he was a good actor. If I didn't know any better, I would believe him. There was no reason not to, he gave off a friendly vibe and was kind to the people around him.
"Yeah, there's been the occasional problem but nothing like what is happening here," Ginny added again, moving her hair out of her face.
Valentine nodded, looking passed them in thought. I bit my lip, wondering the same thing. Valentine never said why he was attacking Hogwarts and I decided to ask him about it later when we were alone. I couldn't ask now, not under the spell and control, but at night I was free.
I made a mental note to remember and looked around. The sun had set and the moon was taking its rightful spot in the sky. It was a cloudless night and I smiled, seeing all the stars sparkle.
"It's getting late," I chirped, grabbing the attention of Valentine who was in deep thought, leaning back in his chair.
He looked over at me before looking outside, nodding, "it is. My! Does time fly when you spend it with good company," he laughed, stretching a bit.
Harry laughed and nodded, getting up with Ginny to go back to their room. Ginny stared at me for a second longer and I mouthed, "we'll talk tomorrow then."
Ginny smiled and leaned in, giving me a quick hug, "maybe we can hang out just the two of us?"
I nodded and wished them all a goodnight as Hermione got up to leave as well as find Ron. I watched their retreating figures disappear passed the Great Hall door and I felt an awkward silence fill the void between Valentine and I.
"Let's go," Valentine whispered, grabbing my arm and pulling me up beside him. He squeezed my arm tightly, knowing the spell was going to start wearing off. It wore off around the same time each night, but if he wasn't paying attention, the spell would make sure I was.
I sighed and cursed the spell for the millionth time this day. I winced under the pressure of his grasp and tried to pull away, but he kept a strong grasp on my arm.
I could feel the spell beginning to lose its power on me. The numbness of my body was slowly dissipating and I sighed in relief. Being numb all day was tiring, but as the spell began to leave I could feel everything. The pain in my arm grew and I bit my lip from crying out in pain.
"You are hurting me," I gritted through clenched teeth, placing my hand over his to try and relieve some of the pressure.
He sighed and loosened his grip on my arm, but kept quiet. I breathed, the pain in my arm now throbbing instead. We walked in silence to our room.
As we walked into the common room, Draco and Pansy were sitting on the couch laughing. My heart dropped and I dropped my gaze as Pansy looked over her shoulder to see who was there. The laughter stopped and I could hear Pansy whisper something to Draco. I gritted my teeth, wanting to go to Draco, but the spell still had most of the control over my mind.
"Goodnight," Valentine purred, pushing me softly into the bedroom and waving to Draco and Pansy. He loved adding salt to the wound and I crossed my arms.
Valentine quickly closed the door before turning to me.
"Lay down," he instructed and I rolled my eyes, making myself comfortable on my side of the bed.
"Your friends are all too trusting," he laughed, placing barriers around my side of the bed to make sure I didn't leave the room during the night.
I rolled my eyes and wrapped my arms around my pillow, watching the barrier enclose me in my own little world.
"Come on," Valentine laughed, laying beside me.
"Why aren't you attacking all over the place? Why only here?" I asked, ignoring his comments.
He placed his hands behind his head, laying beside me, "well, Cirrus Seble is part of the Ministry of Magic so they are under the impression that everything is fine here. The professors come to me with the scrolls to send to the Ministry and I send them."
I nodded, "so you send them fake scrolls that say everything is fine?"
He nodded, looking over at me.
"How does that even work? What happens when the Ministry comes to check up?"
"I'll already have this place under my entire control," Valentine smirked, winking at me before looking up at the ceiling.
I sighed, curling into a ball, trying to get comfortable.
"You won't need me after that," I finally whispered and he opened an eye to look at me quickly.
"I guess so but maybe you'll be in love with me by then so it won't matter," he chuckled.
"No chance."
"Worth a shot," he chuckled again, closing his eyes.
I closed my eyes, focusing on the darkness to try and fall asleep.
"I'll be planning my next attack tomorrow morning and afternoon so I was thinking, we can plan a fun date into town with everyone tomorrow evening?"
I opened my eyes, looking at him. His eyes were still closed and I bit my lip, "so I'm going to be alone for most of the day and you want to make it up to controlled me by going out on a date with everyone?"
He nodded and I shook my head, "why don't you go out with the friends and I'll stay here."
"Not happening."
I sighed and turned my back to him, "fine but I won't like it."
"You never like any of my plans."
"Yeah and that's not changing."
"We'll see," he chuckled.