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FIFTEEN
FAMILY SECRETS
VALENTINA SAT IN THE hospital wing, awaiting for Dumbledore to retrieve her. She refused to take a potion for shock. She didn't need one. She didn't feel upset anymore or the need to rage and seek revenge. She didn't feel anything. She was numb.
Instead, she had immersed herself in her thoughts. She needed to plan her next move and pick her side. She was certain she did not want to side with Voldemort. He had just murdered her boyfriend. She knew she needed Dumbledore's help. She knew she would have to tell him everything as she had done with Cedric. What she didn't know is if that would mean he would trust her but she needed him on her side. It was the only way to guarantee if she would make it out alive.
After what seemed like hours, Albus Dumbledore finally brought Harry Potter into the hospital wing, followed by a dog. Dumbledore spoke to the Weasley family with Harry for a few minutes. Finally, he approached Valentina.
"Follow me, Valentina," he said, "I would like to have a discussion with you."
She nodded her head, stood up, and followed him back to his office. She sat in the chair in front of his desk, opposite his own.
"It has been an eventful evening," he said, still as calm as before when she snapped at him.
She scoffed.
"That's an understatement."
"I understand you were quite close to Cedric," said Dumbledore. "I can only imagine your pain right now."
"He's really back isn't he?" Valentina stared into Dumbledore, "Lord Voldemort?"
"Yes he is," replied Dumbledore grimly. "But I'm sure you saw it for yourself when you looked into Harry's mind."
Valentina remained expressionless. It wasn't a shock that Dumbledore had noticed her performing Legilimency. Nothing was ever really went unnoticed by him.
"I had to see it for myself," she held her gaze.
"How long have you been looking into his thoughts?" he asked curiously.
She decided to be truthful. "Since the beginning of the school year. After the Quidditch World Cup, my Uncle had suspicions that the Dark Lord would return. Our agreement was that I could attend Hogwarts only if I kept watch of Harry Potter and learn everything about him. I wasn't going to be Potter's friend or follow him around so I chose Legilimency to keep updated."
If Dumbledore was shocked he didn't show it. He remained calm and listened to her.
"Why not give your cousin the task?" he continued to ask.
"He already had the task," she said. "He was given the opportunity years ago when he first came to Hogwarts. He attempted to be Harry's friend but Potter was smart enough to know that he couldn't trust Draco. They simply hate each other too much for Draco to continue doing it."
