'alone again'

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐂𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘.

It was insanely simple for Valerie. She dodged the questions by reinforcing her own and told the same story over and over again-- the ghost just suddenly chased them. Her eyes were wide, full of tears as she wove her tale of sorrow and Professor Mcgonagall wasn't sure what to think of her.

Harry had already gone in and had said the same story as Valerie. His delivery should be accurate enough because Professor McGonagall let both of them go.

She beamed at Harry the next day. "That was simple. Come on, let's go interrogate Alex."

Harry nodded uneasily. Valerie knew it was because Alex wasn't extremely welcome at their questions, wishing for them to leave the case alone. Even though she could understand his point of view, she had to prevail and annoy him.

Harry spotted Elara who was talking to Professor McGonagall. "I need to talk to Elara about something, you go ahead." Valerie nodded.

She went over to Alex who was sitting at the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall. 

"Hello," she said brightly.

"Go away," Alex grumbled.

"I want to know why you didn't tell me that Lilac's birthday was on the date Ada died." Valerie retorted, keeping her tone light.

Alex stared at her for a moment and then went back to spreading butter on his toast.

"There was a birthday party, right?"

"If I tell you the answer, will you leave me alone forever?"

"Sure." Valerie said, crossing her fingers.

"Yes. There was." Ethan suddenly appeared next to him.

"Hello, Valerie!"

"Hi, Ethan."

"You're friends with this girl who's obsessed over Ada's murder?" Alex gave Ethan a meaningful look.

Ethan frowned. "Leave that murder be, Valerie. Some things are best left buried." and he left.

She walked over to Elara, one question echoing her mind. Was Ethan related  someway to Ada?

❖

Professor McGonagall ambushed her during Charms class and brought her to her office where Harry was seated.

"Your lies didn't work on me, Ms. Alexandris." she said, her eyes boring into Valerie's.

Valerie was scared.

"Sorry?" she asked.

"Ada Parker. Because of your extremely foolish investigation, Ms. Teresa has gotten severely injured. I understand that it may be a connection to your past but you could have very easily told an older person."

Valerie gaped and looked at Harry who instead of looking shocked, looked everywhere but her.

Everything clicked.

"I--"

"And best of all, you try and lie. Three weeks of detention for you."

"And what about for Harry?"

"He is excused."

"No! I mean, I'll do the detentions--" Harry spluttered.

"You did the right thing, Potter. And you did not," Professor McGonagall fixed her with a beady eye.

But she wasn't done. Professor McGonagall whipped out the diary which Valerie went through all that trouble for.

"And this is mine for now."

"The Ministry Of Magic hardly tried! The clues and her witnesses were all around the place!"

"I understand that the Ministry Of Magic isn't doing it's best, but some things are best left to others."

She dismissed them and Valerie stalked out of the office, Harry following closely behind.

❖

Valerie glared at Harry. "How could you do this?" she spat, her anger rising. Harry backed away.

"Gina is in the hospital because of us! Don't you care about your friend at all?" she said, her voice trembling.

"You betrayed us! You told everyone about our secret mission! Now we can't stop Ada's killer!"

"You lied to me! You lied to me about what you saw in your vision!" Harry shouted back. People started to stare at them.

"So what if I lied? It's none of your business!"

"We are friends–"

"We are a team!" Valerie interrupted, her voice louder than his. "We are not friends. We are a team. And you don't respect that."

"People are in danger! People could die because of this stupid investigation–"

"And more people could die if we don't catch Ada's murderer!"

"Valerie–"

"Stop. I'm done with you. Go ahead and play the hero while I try to figure out who I am."

"Is that it? Did we ever mean anything to you? Even when we saved each other's lives?"

Valerie paused. Her heart was pounding. She did care about him. She would do anything for him. But Valerie was a liar. She always had been.

"No. We never did and we never will." she said, her voice cold and bitter.

"Fine! Good riddance!" Harry snapped, and stormed out of the Great Hall.

It reminded her of the time when she first met him and interrogated him for information. But this time, she didn't regret letting him go.

And with a feeling of emptiness, she faced the shocked expressions of Elara and Padma.

❖

madi speaks !

...short chap wheeee