twenty six : DROWN HER GENTLY

chapter xxvi : drown her gently

"the warmth of the sun was replaced by the crushing cold of water."

THE MORNING LIGHT FILTERED THROUGH THE UNDERWATER GLOOM OF THE DUNGEONS, casting a soft, greenish glow on the light pink bedroom of Valerie Raven Potter. The room, with its fluffy comforter and the faint scent of vanilla, felt like a silent protest against the cold, defiant woman she was becoming.

Valerie sat at her white vanity, wrapped in a plush white robe, her hair wet and clinging to her neck. Her movements were slow, precise, and completely at odds with the furious storm brewing inside her. She curled her lashes, added a sweep of mascara, drew a perfect wing of eyeliner and finished with a coat of lipgloss. Each step was a ritual, a piece of armour for the day ahead.

With her makeup complete, she picked up her wand. She muttered a spell under her breath, a quiet, furious word that dried her hair instantly. The spell was a small act of control, but she felt none. Her anger at Draco Malfoy from the night before was a physical presence, a knot in her stomach that her glamour could not hide. She picked up her brush and ran it through her straight, wine-red hair, her inner monologue a constant stream of curses aimed at the boy who had dared to ask about the folded note.

Once her hair was dry, she discarded the robe. She put on her undergarments and then pulled on the uniform, but with a rebellious twist. She rolled up her skirt a bit higher and left the top button of her blouse defiantly undone, revealing a flash of skin.

Her movements were deliberate, each act an arrow aimed at her ex boyfriend.

She fastened her gold earrings and clasped her gold necklace with a small heart pendant around her neck.

Her hand, however, instinctively went to her wrist, a habit she had yet to break.

The special gold bracelet was gone, a cold, empty space on her skin that made her anger burn a little hotter.

A knock sounded on the door, followed immediately by the latch clicking open.

Pansy Parkinson strode in, a confident smirk on her face.

She stopped for a moment, her green eyes taking in the room. "Wow," She said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "I love your room, very girly." She then plopped herself down on the pink comforter, her black robes a sharp contrast to the pastel decor.

Valerie, now putting on her socks and shoes, let out a frustrated groan. "I could kill him, Pansy. I swear to Merlin, I could kill him."

           "What??" Pansy, her smirk gone, leaned forward. "What happened?"

Valerie finished lacing her shoes and stood up. "He came to my door last night. To deliver a message from Snape," Her voice dripped with venom. "And he saw a note in my hand that had a heart — mind you it was a goodbye letter from Eric — He saw it and he had the audacity to ask who it was from!" She recounted the entire encounter, her anger mounting with every word.

By the time she was done, Pansy was listening with wide, disbelieving eyes.

             "He said that?" Pansy gasped, jumping up from the bed. Her own fury mirroring Valerie's. "Who does he think he is? That absolute IDIOT!"

The two girls stormed out of the dormitory. Their hushed conversation was a stark contrast to the fire in their eyes.

             "He's such an arrogant fool." Valerie seethed, her hands balled into fists at her sides.

            "It's disgusting," Pansy agreed, her own voice low and venomous. "He's probably assuming it's from Jason or Mitchell. He's clearly jealous."

They continued their rapid walk until they left the common room. "I have to meet with Snape," Valerie mentioned, her jaw tight. "See you at breakfast."

Pansy gave her a sympathetic nod. "You've got this. I'll save you a seat."

Valerie arrived at Snape's office.

             "—Very well," Snape's cold voice drawled from inside. "Come in, Miss Potter."

The office was just as grim as she expected, lined with jars of grotesque specimens and potion ingredients. Snape sat behind his large desk, his greasy black hair falling into his face. He didn't offer her a seat.

            "Dumbledore has voiced some concerns about your... current state," Snape began, his dark eyes fixed on her. "He mentioned the unfortunate loss of loved ones and suggested that, perhaps, the role of Prefect might be too heavy a burden for you to bear at this time."

Valerie felt a fresh wave of defiant anger. "I appreciate the concern, Professor, but I'm perfectly capable of handling my duties. I have no intention of stepping down."

Snape's expression didn't change. "A heavy workload and emotional distress can lead to... carelessness. Mistakes."

              "I won't make any mistakes," Valerie replied, her voice steely. "The role is important, and I need it."

He simply stared at her for a long, silent moment. "Very well, Miss Potter," He replied at last, the finality in his tone sharp and cold. "Off you go."

She stormed out of the office, her anger a hot fire in her veins. She was halfway to the Great Hall when a familiar voice called out to her.

"Val, wait up!"

It was Harry, flanked by Hermione and Ron. They caught up to her, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.

"How are you doing?" Harry asked softly.

              "I'm fine, thanks for checking," Valerie replied, not breaking her stride. "But honestly, I'm fine."

Hermione and Ron shared a worried glance, but before anyone else could speak, a soothing voice of a girl broke in.

"—Good morning, Valerie."

Jason Montgomery and Iris Young had appeared out of nowhere. Iris offered a small, polite grin, but Jason was all charisma, his blue eyes sparkling.

          "Audrey, Mitchell, and Pansy are already inside," Jason gestured towards the Great Hall. "Come walk with us."

Valerie didn't hesitate. She turned to the Golden Trio, giving them a curt nod. "See you all in class." She stated, before joining with Jason and Iris.

Ron watched her walk away, "She hangs out with 7th years now?" He muttered to Harry and Hermione.

Valerie walked into the Great Hall, a confident mask in place. Her eyes scanned the Slytherin table, landing on her new group. She slid onto the bench, finding her place between Audrey and Pansy. Across from her, Iris, Mitchell, and Jason were already deep in conversation.

Pansy was smiling hard, her phone held under the table as she texted her long-distance boyfriend from Durmstrang.

Audrey was laughing, a melodic sound that caught Mitchell's attention, and he was grinning back at her.

            "Last year's swim in the Black Lake was absolutely freezing!" Audrey recounted, her blonde hair catching the light. "But the after-party was sooo worth it."

Valerie, a small, genuine smile on her lips, began putting scrambled eggs onto her plate.

Then, Draco Malfoy entered, Theodore Nott by his side.

Her eyes met his for a fleeting, charged moment before Draco's gaze hardened, and he sat down with Blaise and Millicent, not too far and not too close from Valerie's new clique.

             "The weather's perfect for a swim this afternoon," Iris said, her voice a low suggestion with her typical black cat aura. "It would be an ideal way to start the year."

           "That'd be perfect," Jason declared, his blue eyes flashing at Valerie. "I'd love to see you in a bikini, Val." He grinned, along with a playful wink and fist-bumped Mitchell, who let out a low chuckle.

Valerie couldn't help but grin, the attention a welcome distraction from her still-present hurt.

As the conversation continued, Valerie's eyes briefly met the gazes of a few other Slytherins.

Daphne Greengrass, Miranda Lim, and Millicent Bulstrode all gave her a soft smile and a gentle wave. She politely returned the gesture, it was a small, genuine moment.

Mitchell then made a joke and the entire group erupted in laughter, a genuine, joyful sound.

Even Valerie, who was still wearing a fragile shield, found herself genuinely laughing along with them.

The laughter from their group was a loud, grating noise to Draco Malfoy.

He poked at his breakfast with a fork, his appetite gone.

"They're so fucking loud," He muttered, his jaw tight.

               "I wasn't expecting Valerie to thrive so early." Daphne chimed happily, smoothing the fur of a cute white bunny with brown spots that was sitting on top of her school skirt.

Miranda was chewing her buttered toast, "Same!"

Millicent, ever the sharp one, cast a pointed look at Draco. "She's not mourning you, Malfoy. It seems she's too busy enjoying herself. Can't say I blame her."

Blaise shot a warning look at his girlfriend, but she simply met his gaze and took a slow sip of her coffee, her expression unbothered.

Draco didn't say anything.

He was so infuriated he couldn't trust himself to speak.

When breakfast was over, Valerie and Pansy were walking away from the Great Hall, joined by their new group. They all had a free first period, but they happily offered to walk the two girls to their first class: Potions with Professor Slughorn.

The walk was filled with easy laughter and lighthearted chatter.

They arrived at the dungeon entrance, the heavy stone door of the classroom looming ahead.

Audrey, with a bright, cheerful energy, was the first to speak. "See you all at lunch!" She chirped.

Iris offered a soft, captivating smile, her dark eyes hinting at her quiet, observant nature.

Mitchell simply grinned before walking away with the girls in the middle, his arms resting on their shoulders in a casual, friendly gesture.

As Jason turned to follow, he caught Valerie's eye. He gave her a playful wink. "Make sure you wear a bikini!" He called out, his voice loud enough to carry.

Just then, Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott walked past, and Jason's remark landed with a sickening thud.

Draco's steps faltered for a fraction of a second, his head snapping up to glare at Jason.

Valerie, who had seen the whole thing, couldn't help but grin to herself.

A satisfied warmth spread through her.

She turned and entered the classroom with Pansy at her side.

The moment she crossed the threshold, a familiar voice spoke from behind her.

"A bikini...?" Harry retorted, his tone thick with disgust.

             "We're going for a swim this afternoon, Potter." Pansy explained playfully to her friend's twin, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Professor Slughorn, a large, jolly man, was already at the front of the class, beaming at the students. "Alright, everyone, gather round!" He boomed happily. The students quickly formed a crowd in front of his desk, the first lecture of the year about to begin.

𓈒𓏸‪‪ 𓇼 𓏸‪‪𓈒

THE SMELL BURNING CINNAMON AND SIMMERING HERBS filled the Potions classroom. Professor Slughorn, his eyes twinkling, had concluded his lecture by offering a tiny bottle of Liquid Luck to anyone who could brew a perfect Draught of Living Death. The class had erupted in a flurry of activity, but Valerie's attention was fixed on Draco. He was working with a desperate, almost manic intensity, his brow furrowed in a way that screamed he needed to win. This wasn't about a good grade for him: it was about something far more serious.

Valerie knew she was better at potions than her twin, but for some reason, Harry seemed to have a sudden, inexplicable talent for the subject.

His potions simmered perfectly, a rich, black currant shade that was exactly what the book demanded.

Valerie, however, noticed something odd: the scribbled notes and corrections he followed in his textbook. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was cheating, but a small part of her felt pride for his success.

He won the Liquid Luck, but she couldn't help but feel a strange, cold dread.

She had a feeling that his newfound talent would come at a greater cost.

Later that afternoon, the sun was warm on the castle grounds, a rare reprieve from the usual chill of the dungeons. Valerie and Pansy, both still wearing their Slytherin robes over a shirt and sweatpants, made their way down to the shimmering Black Lake. They could already hear the others laughing and splashing in the cold water.

                "—IT'S ABSOLUTELY FREEZING!" Audrey squealed, standing at the water's edge in a bright yellow bikini. She shivered dramatically as Jason and Mitchell's boisterous laughter echoed across the water. Iris was simply smiling up at her.

Valerie and Pansy stood beside her, all three of them hesitating.

Valerie, in a sleek black bikini, and Pansy, in a playful purple bikini, looked at each other with a mixture of excitement and dread.

          "I don't want to get in!!" Pansy declared, her arms crossed over her chest.

Just then, Jason sprang out of the water, his hair dripping, a mischievous glint in his intense blue eyes. He walked over to the three of them, a smug grin on his face. "Oh no, you don't," He said, before grabbing all three of them and giving them a powerful shove toward the water.

They shrieked and tumbled into the chilly depths, the initial shock of the cold water taking their breath away.

Pansy's scream was the loudest, a high-pitched cry that was quickly followed by a fit of uncontrollable giggles.

The three of them broke the surface, laughing and shivering, completely consumed by the sheer joy of the moment.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit hallway on the seventh floor, Draco Malfoy was anything but joyful.

He stood in front of a tapestry, his mind a storm of furious, jealous thoughts.

The image of Valerie laughing with Jason and the others, looking carefree and happy without him, fueled the rage he was now trying to focus. He had to succeed in his mission. Muttering a spell, he began his desperate search for the mysterious Vanishing Cabinet, determined to channel his anger into the dangerous mission that Voldemort had given him.

A triumphant smirk spread across his lips. He found the cabinet: This was the first step.

However, he needed a moment as he couldn't get the image of Valerie laughing with those fools out of his head. He needed to see her. He turned and spotted Blaise Zabini walking by through the corridors.

           "Blaise," He called out, his voice a low command. "Fancy a walk?"

Blaise, ever the charmer, simply raised a questioning eyebrow but fell into step beside him.

Back at the Black Lake, the fun had continued.

Valerie, Audrey, and Pansy, now used to the cold, were splashing water at Iris, Mitchell, and Jason. Their laughter was loud and carefree, echoing across the still water.

        "—Song request!" Audrey called out, her voice cheerful and loud. "Can someone change the music, pleaseeee?"

Valerie kindly offered to get it. She waded out of the lake, her sleek black bikini glistening with water. Her wet hair clung to her skin, and her confident stride had returned as she walked toward the speaker.

She was beautiful, and she knew it.

She was so consumed with finding a song on Audrey's phone that she almost didn't notice the two familiar figures walking in the distance.

It was Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini, walking along the shoreline, pretending to be deep in conversation.

Draco's eyes snapped to Valerie, a cold fury rising in his chest. His gaze raked over her, from the high-cut bottom that hugged her curves to the top that left so little to the imagination.

He was so pissed off.

Her body, the body he had once considered his, was on display for everyone. The sight of her looking so carefree and confident, her wet hair shining in the sun, felt like a direct insult. He clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw tight.

           "Hey, Malfoy and Zabini!" Audrey's voice rang out playfully. "Care for a swim?"

Blaise gave a polite wave and a small, charming smile. "No thanks, we're on a walk."

As Valerie waded back into the water, a triumphant grin on her face, Jason's gaze fixed on her. "It's so cold, but I could stay here all day," He said, loud enough for Draco to hear. "Especially when the view's this good, right?!" He gave a mischievous wink, clearly trying to taunt Draco.

Draco's scowl deepened, his grey eyes fixed on Jason.

He gave a cold, dismissive glare as he and Blaise continued their walk, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides.

As soon as they were far away, Blaise turned to Draco. "HEY! You didn't invite me on a walk!! You invited me to spy along with you!" He groaned dramatically.

Valerie Potter went to sleep that night with a genuine smile on her face.

The day had been perfect—the sun on her skin, the carefree laughter with her friends, and the satisfying rage she had felt at Draco's glare.

For the first time in months, she felt truly happy and, more importantly, in control.

But her happiness was not meant to last.

In her dreams, the warmth of the sun was replaced by the crushing cold of water.

It was everywhere, filling her lungs and stealing her breath.

She wasn't just drowning: she was experiencing the death of another, a horrific, panicked suffocation that was not her own.

The vision was more intense than ever before.

She thrashed and struggled, her body's natural fight-or-flight response kicking in even as her mind screamed that this wasn't real.

She saw the familiar flash of black hair and pale skin, but it was all hazy, distorted by the murky water.

Valerie sat bolt upright in bed, gasping and coughing.

Her lungs burned, and she felt a sickening sensation of water rushing out of her mouth.

She was crying, her breath coming in ragged, terrified sobs.

The room was dark and silent, but the terror from the vision clung to her like a second skin.

She fumbled for her phone on the nightstand, her hands shaking so badly she could barely hold it. With a few frantic taps, she was calling her friend.

Seconds later, a sleepy Pansy in green satin pyjamas stumbled into the room.

She took one look at Valerie's tear-streaked, terrified face and her expression softened immediately.

She didn't say a word as she climbed into bed beside her, pulling the warm light pink duvet over them both.

             "I'm sorry," Valerie sobbed, her voice a fragile whisper. "I just... I don't want to be alone."

Pansy wrapped an arm around her, holding her tightly. "Hey," She whispered softly, her voice filled with a gentle reassurance Valerie hadn't known she needed. "It's alright. I'm here. You're not alone."

Pansy held her as Valerie's sobs slowly quieted.

Eventually, the comforting warmth of Pansy's presence and the calm stillness of the room soothed her enough to fall back into a fitful, dreamless sleep.

𓈒𓏸‪‪ 𓇼 𓏸‪‪𓈒

this chapter felt like a much-needed breath of fresh air after the previous ones, but beneath the surface, a new kind of darkness is brewing.

i loved writing valerie's 'revenge glow-up' and her journey of finding a new sense of defiance.

the rolled up skirt, the perfect eyeliner, the wine-red hair—it's all a form of armour, a powerful shield she's building to protect herself.

her new clique, a delightful mix of chaotic energy and quiet observation, is the perfect distraction for her, and their carefree laughter at the black lake was a moment of genuine happiness and freedom.

but for every step valerie takes forward, we see draco taking a step back.

his possessive anger and furious jealousy at the sight of her thriving is a central part of his emotional arc this year.

he's furious with himself for what he has lost and what he is being forced to become.

the final scene with pansy parkinson is one of my favourite moments.

it shows how true friendship isn't always about shared laughter, but about being a silent, comforting anchor in the middle of a nightmare.

however, the honeymoon phase is over, and the real darkness is about to begin . . .

( authors personal notes ) published — 10:40pm september 6th 2025current amount of reads — 63.8kword count — 3,388