* * *

"WE'RE SO COOL."

One week had passed since Christmas Break ended, and things at Hogwarts were gradually starting to fall back into its old rhythm. For example, a sandy-haired boy was reunited with his notorious, slightly barbaric friend. But this time, they underwent major development.

They've got matching hats.

"You keep telling yourself that," Valerie scoffed as Theodore strutted about the corridors, as if he was the most important person alive.

The two Slytherins were followed by skeptic stares as they walked to Potions class, wearing their black and white striped woolly hats. In Valerie's opinion, it was ridiculous, but Theodore had convinced her otherwise.

"Mister Nott and Miss Grindelwald have finally decided to grace us with their presence," Snape spoke as they entered his room, taking their seats at the far back. "What a revelation."

Their classmates all turned to them, some rolling their eyes while others chose to smile. Harry Potter gave Valerie a small wave, which she kindly reciprocated. Theodore cooed at the short exchange, earning himself a glare from the girl.

"Five points from Slytherin," Snape declared, motioning to them as if to confirm their faults.

* * *

First-year students spilled out of the Potions classroom at the sound of the bell, but Valerie and Theodore could hardly get past the never-ending utterances of the one and only Draco Malfoy.

"They're a disgrace to Slytherin itself!" he exclaimed, as several around him murmured in agreement. "I bet the only reason she's not expelled is her weird magic. Without it, she'd probably wound up in Azkaban by now."

Valerie tried to keep walking, with no intention of giving the Malfoy boy the satisfaction of any effect on her.

"It's Nott who needs to be cautious," Draco continued. "He's forgetting how much his father owes our family. We could drive them bankrupt and they'd be left looking pathetic, scavenging for scraps on the ground."

That's when Valerie snapped.

"Give me that," she grabbed Theodore's thick Potions textbook, before charging towards Draco. Without any hesitation, she slammed the book directly on his head. The boy stumbled to the ground, his jaw slack and eyes wide. By then, a crowd had gathered around them, stunned at the scene.

"How's that for looking pathetic?" she eyed him up and down.

"Bloody hell," Theodore looked completely jolted, but a smile slowly found its way to his face.

"Grindelwald," The incident was short lived when Snape appeared, looking at Valerie straight in the eye, "My office. Now."

Valerie nodded, walking behind the professor obediently.

Draco stood to his feet, looking pricelessly enraged, "My father will hear about this!"

Valerie only grinned as she looked over her shoulder, "Can't wait."

*  *  *

"Fifteen points will be taken, on your behalf."

Valerie furrowed her eyebrows. She didn't want more punishment, but she had to admit, the consequences of her actions didn't seem to add up properly. If it was always going to be like this, maybe she'd do it again sometime.

"Is that it?" she asked.

Snape curtly nodded, before recalling, "Flint is offering you a spot on the Quidditch team. He saw what you inflicted on Mister Malfoy, and says you'd make a fair beater."

Valerie stood up to her feet, "I hit someone in the head... And I get a spot on the Quidditch team?"

"Essentially," Snape deadpanned.

"This is mad," she shook her head. "This house has gone bonkers."

Snape looked done with the girl, but his expression remained impassive, "Will you accept the offer?"

"Professor, with the utmost respect, are you in your right mind?"

"That's detention, Grindelwald," Snape barked, raising his monotonous voice.

"Fine," Valerie answered back.

"Tonight, with Mister Filch. Good luck making it out of the Dark Forest," Snape told her, venom dripping off his words.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Valerie replied satirically, knowing she had gotten on the professor's nerves.

*  *  *

Valerie Grindelwald tossed her cloak around her shoulders as she stood up from the table, noticing it was nearly dark out. Theodore hadn't stopped rambling about the events of that afternoon.

"That was unreservedly spectacular," he held his arms out wide for dramatic purposes, "Spectacular, I say."

"Shut up, they're staring." Valerie snickered, catching some of their housemates giving them glances.

"Let them stare, they all think the same way. The git finally got what he deserved," Theodore shrugged.

Valerie rolled her eyes, "Alright, now you're pushing it."

"You love me," Theodore smiled, continuing before she could protest, "You gave someone a concussion for me. Can't deny it now."

"Seriously, if you don't stop talking, you're the one who's gonna end up with a concussion." Valerie warned as the boy raised his hands up in surrender.

"Where is Malfoy, anyway?" she asked, noticing his absence.

"Probably in the hospital wing, getting his head mummified," Theodore laughed, causing Valerie to shove him on the shoulder before she grabbed her lantern.

"Going somewhere?" he queried.

Valerie sighed, "Detention with Filch in the Dark Forest."

"Really?" Theodore's eyes went wide, "That's got to be a joke. We aren't allowed in the forest."

"I'll be fine," she assured him, before stifling a laugh, "Try not to be too concerned."

"Oh haha, very funny." Theodore mocked, watching as the girl gave him a quick salute before disappearing out through the portrait door.

Valerie made her way out into the hallway before the courtyard as she was instructed, finding that Filch was already awaiting her arrival.

"There's the pest," he spat, before motioning her to follow him. His cat stuck closely behind, hissing at her, "She doesn't like you."

"The feeling is mutual," Valerie murmured, swearing Mrs. Norris was glaring at her.

"Argus!" Both of them turned around as the caretaker's name was called, seeing Professor Mcgonagall rushing towards them.

Valerie rose her eyebrows in surprise at the students the Transfiguration professor had in tow.

"These four will be joining you for detention." Mcgonagall informed, adverting to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco, the last of which whose head was wrapped up with a bandage.

"What'd you lot do?" Valerie asked in mild amusement.

"I'm not doing detention with my assailant!" Draco cried, earning confused glances from the three Gryffindors.

Valerie rolled her eyes, "It was one hit, Malfoy. I'd think someone with as thick a head as yours would have a higher tolerance for pain."

"It was not painful," Draco argued. "It's the motive that counts. You've got issues."

"Figure that one out all by yourself?" Valerie taunted.

"A pity they let the old punishments die," Filch interrupted, "There was a time detention would find you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons."

Horrified looks crossed the first-year's faces at the frightening remark. They neared the amicable hut, belonging to the usually jolly gamekeeper.

"You'll be serving detention with Hagrid tonight. He's got a little job to do inside the dark forest," Filch told them, before turning to the melancholic half-giant.

"Good God man, you're not still on about that bloody dragon, are you?"

"Dragon?" Valerie whispered, causing Harry to give her a look that said I'll-explain-later.

"Norbert's gone," Hagrid's voice cracked as he spoke, "Dumbledore sen' him off ter Romania, ter live in'a colony."

"Well that's good isn't it? He'll get to live with his own kind," Valerie had almost forgotten that Hermione Granger was there as well. She never actually spoke to the girl, but judging from their quick exchange before the Sorting Ceremony, her perception of her was already quite obvious.

"Well, what if he don' like Romania?" Hagrid sniffled, "What if the other dragons are mean te him?"

"Oh, pull yourself together man," Filch shot him down, "You're going into the forest after all, got to have your wits about you."

"The forest? I thought that was a joke!"

Valerie sighed at Malfoy's whining, "Must have been the same thing your parents thought when you were born, but hey, you're still here."

Harry stifled a laugh, Hermione pursed her lips, and even Ron snorted at that. Hagrid gave Valerie a disapproving look, but there was a hint of mirth in his eyes that gave it away.

Filch took it as a cue to leave, giving the students one more agonising stare, "Nighty-night."

Hagrid then lead the five first-years into the Forbidden Forest, but Valerie stopped by the edge before she could take another step. A chill went down her spine as she realised the familiarity of it all, her thoughts wandering back to a memory of a dream.

"You alright, Valerie? You've gone a bit pale." Harry asked the girl, who nodded falsely, walking inside the forest beside him.

A strange mist hovered above the soil, and the tall trees seemed to grow higher and higher the deeper they went. They had been on foot for a while now, before Hagrid halted, crouching down before what looked like a puddle of silvery liquid.

"That's Unicorn blood, that is," Hagrid told them. "I found one dead a few weeks ago. Now, this one's been 'urt badly by somethin'."

Valerie winced at the thought of someone hurting the animal, knowing the consequences of drinking Unicorn blood. Even her grandfather wasn't as soulless as that.

"It's our job, ter go and fine' the poor beast. Ron, Hermione, ye'll come with me. Harry, Valerie, ye'll go with Malfoy."

The last three who were called were certainly not happy with the groupings.

* * *

"Wait 'till my father hears about this."

"Here we go," Valerie slapped a palm to her forehead as she walked alongside the two boys.

"This is servant stuff!" Draco exclaimed.

Harry narrowed his eyes, "If I didn't know better, Draco. I'd say you were scared."

"Scared, Potter?" Draco spat.

"Ignore him," Valerie urged Harry, "How'd you wind up in detention?"

Harry explained everything, from their library search for Nicholas Flamel, to Hagrid's Dragon, Norbert, and how Draco ultimately caught them.

"You could have just asked me," Valerie shrugged. "About Nicholas Flamel."

Shock crossed Harry's face, "You know him?"

"You don't?" Valerie laughed lightly, "He's the famous alchemist, he made the Sorcerer's stone."

"You know about the Sorcerer's stone?" Harry asked, wide-eyed.

Valerie nodded, "Grandfather says he even met the man."

"Alright, that's it. From now on, you're a part of all this. You're helping us find the stone," Harry announced.

Fang began growling before Valerie could respond, and Draco held up his lantern to reveal the inevitable horror.

The Unicorn lay dead in front of a creature, the hooded figure from Valerie's sleepless nights.

Harry's hand reached up to touch his burning scar, and Draco let out an ear shattering scream before running off.

"Get behind me," Valerie pushed herself in front of him as the creature edged closer to them.

"Valerie, no—"

"Shut up," she murmured, her eyes locked on the hooded figure as she stood guard. The creature looked like he was about to attack Harry, but stopped at the sight of Valerie.

The young Grindelwald stretched her hand out, trying to think of an offence spell she could use, but her thoughts slowly started to vanish. She felt herself grow weak, watching as wisps of magic emitted through her fingers, but not in the way she'd expected. It was as if it was being taken from her, instead of forcing toward her enemy.

Her vision had gone blurry, but she did catch what she made out to be the hooves of a centaur, and the hooded figure scramming away. Her knees buckled over, but someone caught her before she could hit the ground.

The last thing she heard were Harry's shouts of panic, before everything went black.