three : EMBRACE FOR IMPACT

chapter iii : embrace for impact

"imperio!"

VALERIE POTTER practically sprinted out of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, a sudden, inexplicable urgency propelling her towards the Great Hall. Behind her, the Golden Trio, including her closest friend Eric, thundered in pursuit. "You were sitting at the back of the classroom but you were the very first one to leave! What did that bloody git do?" Ron snapped, his voice tight with concern and indignation.

          "Nothing." She half-lied, refusing to meet his gaze. She was still reeling from the unexpected twist in Potions, and the memory of Draco's sudden shift from 'nice' to outright offensive was a raw spot. "I was eager for lunch, that's all. I'm quite hungry."

"I can sense when you're lying, Val." Harry's voice was firm, his twin instincts clearly buzzing.

Stupid twin instincts, she thought, a frustrated sigh escaping her. "Fine... I'll share what happened when we're seated."

When they finally elbowed their way through the throng of students, Valerie practically collapsed onto the bench at the Gryffindor table, squeezing in between Neville and Eric. The Golden Trio slid in opposite them. "Hey Neville, how are you feeling now?" She asked, her voice genuinely softened with concern.

          "Oh, yes," Neville said, looking up from the large, open book that lay across his plate instead of lunch. "I'm fine, thanks... Just reading this book Professor Moody lent me..." He closed the book to show them the heading: Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean.

Valerie leaned closer, intrigued despite herself. "That's actually quite interesting... When you finish reading it, or come across some of your favourites, I'd genuinely love to hear about them."

          "Of course, thank you, Valerie." Neville smiled, a rare, shy but genuine curve of his lips. "Apparently, Professor Sprout told Professor Moody I'm really good at Herbology." There was a faint, almost imperceptible note of pride in his voice that Valerie had rarely heard before. "He thought I'd like this."

           "That's wonderful!" Valerie rejoiced, her earlier tension easing slightly. Telling Neville what Professor Sprout had said, Harry and Valerie both knew, had been a very tactful way of cheering Neville up. He was so rarely told he was good at something, and this small acknowledgment seemed to make him stand a little taller. It was precisely the kind of thoughtful gesture Professor Lupin would have made.

A third-year blonde Gryffindor at the next table, overhearing, glared pointedly at Eric. "—Aren't you two supposed to be sitting where the rest of the evil shits are at?" She sneered, clearly referring to the Slytherins.

Eric fixed the young girl with a chillingly stern expression, his eyes narrowing. "Do you think we even care?" The blonde rolled her eyes before pointedly looking away. Eric then turned to Valerie, a wide grin spreading across his face, clearly trying to hide it from Harry. "Anyways, so what happened between you and Malfoy?"

Valerie picked up a piece of roast chicken, placing it deliberately onto her plate before answering, her voice carefully calm. "He was extremely nice to me..."

Her four friends, a chorus of disbelief, spoke in unison. "Nice?!"

Valerie nodded. "Strange, am I right? He even complimented me about how brilliant and skilled I am with magic."

             "Let me guess..." Hermione interjected, cutting directly to the chase, a knowing look on her face. "He was acting extremely nice, then out of nowhere he insulted either you or one of us?"

Valerie's jaw dropped slightly. Hermione was uncannily accurate. "That's exactly what happened!" Across the Great Hall, at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy was looking directly at her. His usual sneer wasn't there. Instead, there was a fleeting, almost imperceptible flicker in his grey eyes—a hint of something that looked suspiciously like guilt or maybe even regret—before he quickly averted his gaze, busying himself with pushing food around his plate. Valerie felt a strange jolt, a conflicting mix of anger and something else she couldn't quite name.

She quickly looked away too, her cheeks warming.

Harry glanced across the Hall at Professor Dumbledore, who was seated along with the other teachers. "Wouldn't Moody and Dumbledore be in trouble with the Ministry if they knew we'd seen the curses?"

           "Yeah, probably," Ron answered, shrugging. "But Dumbledore's always done things his way, hasn't he? And Moody's been getting in trouble for years, I reckon. Attacks first and asks questions later..."

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THE FINAL CLASS of the day, Herbology, had thankfully ended without further incident. Valerie, Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to stretch their legs, opting for a leisurely stroll around the castle until it was time for dinner. Eric, meanwhile, had vanished somewhere outside, undoubtedly charming a group of Beauxbatons students in fluent French.

They were deep in conversation, walking through a deserted stretch of the first-floor hallway, when, out of nowhere, a snowy owl swooped down to their level. It landed with a soft thump on Harry's shoulder, a grubby piece of parchment tied to its leg.

          "Hedwig!" Harry shouted, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet corridor, a mix of surprise and relief on his face.

"She's got an answer!" Hermione excitedly pointed out, her eyes bright with anticipation. Harry hastily untied it. Before he could even unroll the letter, the four of them instinctively hurried into a nearby broom closet, a cramped, dusty space that smelled faintly of old parchment and cleaning solution. It was the quickest way to escape prying eyes. Hedwig, ever hopeful for treats, fluttered in after them, bumping against the doorframe before settling onto Valerie's shoulder.

"What does it say??" Valerie asked breathlessly.

The letter was very short, and seemed as though it had been scrawled in a great hurry. Harry read the letter out loud:

Harry & Valerie, I'm flying north immediately. This news about your scar, Harry, is the latest in a series of strange rumours that have reached me here. If it hurts again, go straight to Dumbledore - they're saying he's got Mad-Eye out of retirement, which means he's reading the signs, even if no one else is. I'll be in touch soon. My best to Ron, Hermione and Eric. Keep your eyes open, Harry and Val.

Sirius

"He's flying north??" Hermione uttered, "That means—"

"He's coming back...?" Valerie whispered.

"Dumbledore's reading what signs?" said Ron, looking perplexed. "Harry, what's up?"

"I shouldn't've told him!" Harry said furiously.

"What are you on about?" Ron was surprised.

       "It's made him think he's got to come back!" Harry complained, "Coming back, because he thinks I'm in trouble! And there's nothing wrong with me!" Hedwig flew away from Valerie and landed on Harry's shoulder instead. "—And I haven't got anything for you," Harry snapped at Hedwig, who was clicking her beak expectantly, "You'll have to go up to the Owlery if you want food."

Hedwig gave him an extremely offended look and Hermione opened the door to allow Hedwig to fly away. "Harry," Hermione began, in a pacifying sort of voice.

"We should go." Harry said shortly before immediately leaving the broom closet. He felt guilty because if his godfather came back and got caught, it would be his fault.

Several hours later, Valerie hopped out of the shower, the steam still clinging to her skin. She pulled on her light pink pajamas and walked into the dormitory. The raw, angsty chords of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' pulsed softly from the vinyl player in the corner, a comforting low thrum in the otherwise quiet room.

The dormitory was bathed in a dim glow, only Millicent's and Ivory's lampshades casting pools of warm light.

Valerie settled in front of her vanity, picking up her moisturiser. As she began to apply it, she noticed Miranda's bed was empty. "Where's Miranda?" She mumbled, more to herself than anyone.

           "In the common room," Ivory answered, barely looking up from her phone. She was sprawled comfortably on Daphne's bed, engrossed in a text conversation, while Daphne herself was deep in a Muggle book titled: Master The Art Of French Pastry.

"Why?" Valerie asked, plopping her moisturiser back into its black drawer. "It's quite cold in there." She shivered playfully before making a dramatic leap into her own bed, burrowing deep under the large, green covers.

          "Who knows," Millicent muttered, focused on meticulously peeling a purple face mask off her face at her own vanity. "Miranda is a strange woman."

Valerie just shrugged, settling into a cozy ball under the thick covers. Just as she found the perfect position, her phone binged, pulling her attention.

we're all most likely gonna die since we have harry & valerie potter in our class 🤡[ CLASS GROUP CHAT ] 10:16pm

ron weasley : hermione wont give me the homework answers for herbology so is anyone kind enough to give me them?

hermione granger :Seriously Ronald????

valerie potter : i would give u the answers but i haven't even done it yet lol

claudia selwyn :do it urself dumb shit

valerie potter :says the one who's placed in D stream

eric lewis :why is this bitch still in our group chat

[ ERIC LEWIS KICKED CLAUDIA SELWYN OUT OF THE CHAT ]

jasmine rivera :yeah sure @/ronweasley ! i'll give you the answers in the morning x

ron weasley : thank you jazzy 🙏

hermione granger :Noooo Jasmine !! Don't give him the answers. He needs to do his homework himself.

blaise zabini : yo @/jasminerivera if u give me the answers i can pay u money <3

jasmine rivera :it's a deal. @/blaisezabini

valerie potter : blaise I SWEAR, ur the one who's been anonymously texting me aren't you?

blaise zabini : it's not me, it's malfoy you dumb dumb 😐[ message not sent ! ]i literally don't know what ur talking about valerie.

harry potter : what do u mean val?

draco malfoy : oh look saint potter is here 🤢

gregory goyle : We can't wait to c u ambarrass urself at the next Quidditch match against Slytherin 🤣💯💪

ron weasley :

image liked with laughing emoji by 10+ others

valerie potter : BAHAHAHAHAHAH& shut up goyle, u cant even spell 💀would u like me to punch u in the nose like i did in first year?

millicent bulstrode : please do babes x

evelyn bautista : n i oop

padma patil : Goyle isn't even in our class anymore either, @/ericlewis kick him out of the chat ur admin

[ Gregory Goyle has left the group chat ]

blaise zabini : 💀💀💀

eric lewis : LMAOOO he left himself 😭

ivory davis : what a fucking pussy 🤠

draco malfoy : ngl that was actually funny

valerie potter : says the one who got punched by hermione last year 💀

agatha de la cruz : HAHAHAHHHA

hermione granger : ☺️✨

draco malfoy : that was one time :/

eric lewis :

i have the best photos 🥰✨✨

harry potter : why do you have to drag me into this eric :(

blaise zabini : surely send more 😭 @/ericlewis

[ photo saved by 11+ people ]

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ITS BEEN OVER ONE WEEK and the Potters did their best not to worry about Sirius Black. Harry could not stop himself from looking anxiously around every morning when the post owls arrived and even late at night before he went to sleep.

On the other hand, Valerie already had three classes of Potions and it's always been the same exact situation: sitting beside Draco in silence. Ever since she ignored his rude comments, he never spoke to her again. Truthfully, Valerie genuinely enjoyed talking to Draco as they never had a conversation for that long before. However, he crossed the line when he made fun of people she cared about.

Valerie sighed in relief that she didn't have Potions today. It was Tuesday afternoon and she had Defence Against The Dark Arts for period three. To everyone's surprise, Professor Moody had announced that he would be putting the Imperius Curse on some chosen students, to demonstrate its power and to see whether they could resist its effects.

          "B-But you said it's illegal, Professor," Hermione said uncertainly, as Moody cleared away the desks with a sweep of his wand, leaving a large clear space in the middle of the room. "You said to use it against another human was—"

          "Dumbledore wants you taught what it feels like," Professor Moody argued, "If you'd rather learn the hard way when someone's putting it on you so they can control you completely - fine by me. You're excused. Off you go." He pointed one gnarled finger toward the door. Hermione went very pink and muttered something about not meaning that she wanted to leave.

Professor Moody began to beckon students forward in turn and put the Imperius Curse upon them. Eric and Valerie began to feel a bit nervous as they were unsure of what Professor Moody would make them do under the curse in front of everyone in the class. They watched as their classmates did the most extraordinary things under its influence. Dean Thomas hopped three times around the room, singing the national anthem and Katrina Halstead imitated a squirrel, which she was incredibly embarrassed about. Eric Lewis was up next and Valerie Potter started filming with her phone. She watched him perform a series of quite astonishing gymnastics he would certainly not have been capable of in his normal state.

After five more students, not one of them seemed to be able to fight off the curse, and each of them recovered only when Moody had removed it. "Potter," He growled but the twins were unsure of who he was calling out for because they were both standing beside each other.

      "Which one?" The twins asked in unison.

"You, Valerie." He pointed at the girl with his finger.

      "Ladies first." Harry teased since he didn't want to embarrass himself first.

Valerie sighed disappointingly, the amusement from Eric's performance fading into a fresh wave of nerves. "This is outrageous..." She strolled to the cleared space in the centre of the room, feeling a knot of dread twist in her stomach. It wasn't just the idea of being controlled: it was the fact that Draco Malfoy was in the room, watching her every move.

She could feel his gaze, even without looking, a burning prickle on her skin.

What if Moody made her do something truly humiliating?

Her usual confidence felt like a fragile shield, about to shatter.

She risked a quick glance at him.

He was leaning against a desk, arms crossed, eyes narrowed, watching her with an intensity that sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine.

He almost looked... tense?

Concerned?

No, that couldn't be right.

He was probably just waiting for her to make a fool of herself.

Moody raised his wand and pointed it at the young student, "Imperio!"

      It was the most wonderful feeling. Valerie felt a floating sensation as every thought and worry in her head was wiped gently away, leaving nothing but a vague, untraceable happiness. She stood there feeling immensely relaxed, only dimly aware of everyone watching her. Even Draco's intense gaze felt like a distant, harmless hum.

Suddenly she heard Professor Moody's voice, echoing in some distant chamber of her empty brain: 'Jump onto the desk.... Jump onto the desk.....'

Wait—but why though?

Another voice had awoken in the back of her brain, small but clear.

What a stupid thing to do, said the voice. 'Jump onto the desk....'

No, I don't think I will, thanks.

The other voice said a little more firmly, a hint of her usual defiance creeping back. Valerie Potter stood perfectly still, a subtle smile playing on her lips, which immediately amused her classmates as the curse didn't affect her.

             Professor Moody's magical eye spun wildly, and he released the curse. "Look at that! Amazing! Miss Potter fought it and damn well beat it!" He roared, sounding genuinely impressed.

Eric was in shock, his phone still clutched in his hand. "How the hell did you do that???" He asked as she walked toward him, a look of bewildered pride on his face. She simply shrugged.

             "Mr Potter, you're up next!" Professor Moody commanded, his gaze now fixed on Harry, a challenge in his voice. "Let's see if you can resist it just like your sister did!" Harry moved forward to the centre  with unease.

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PROFESSOR MOODY, along with the rest of his students, were highly impressed by how simple it seemed for Harry and Valerie Potter to resist the Imperius Curse. Only ten people from the class had the chance to experience being influenced under the curse, as Professor Moody used the remainder of the lesson trying to see how long the Potters could last under the spell. Harry, with his grim determination, and Valerie, with her stubborn defiance, both proved surprisingly difficult to control, making Moody grunt with satisfaction.

The bell rang, a merciful signal for students to head to their next classes. Valerie set off for North Tower along with her brother and Ron, still buzzing slightly from the weird, floaty feeling of the Imperius Curse. Hermione, ever practical, veered off towards Arithmancy, while Eric, ever social, headed for Pastry and Culinary Arts with Seamus Finnigan.

As the trio navigated the bustling corridors, Valerie heard a voice call her name. "Potter!"

She turned to see Blaise Zabini approaching, a charming smile playing on his lips. He was tall, even for his age, with sharp, intelligent brown eyes. He moved with an easy grace like always.

"Zabini." Valerie replied with ease.

He slowed to a stop beside her, his smile widening slightly as he subtly glanced between her and Harry and Ron. "Listen, Millicent's putting together a bit of a get-together tonight. In the Slytherin common room, after dinner. Just a way to, you know, ease off the school work. Bit of fun. You should definitely come." He didn't elaborate, but his eyes held a definite twinkle, hinting at more than just 'fun.'

A Slytherin get-together? If Blaise is there, that means... A distinct knot of anticipation, hot and unwelcome but undeniably thrilling, twisted in her stomach. Draco. He would be there too.

"Oh, yeah? What's it about?" She asked, trying to sound casual, despite her internal panic.

Blaise just gave her a knowing grin. "Just come. It'll be a vibe, I promise." Blaise gave her a final, easy smile before trailing away, his movements fluid as he joined Draco up ahead. Valerie watched him go, then, with a deep breath, turned back to Harry and Ron.

The familiar sweet perfume spreading from the fire met their nostrils as the trio sat down at the same small circular table in the North Tower. As always, the circular room was bathed in a dim reddish light cast by the many lamps, which were all draped with scarves and shawls.

            "Good afternoon." Professor Trelawney greeted the trio in her usual misty voice, before peering down at Harry with the tragic expression she always wore whenever she saw him. "You are preoccupied, my dear... My inner eye sees past your brave face to the troubled soul within. And I regret to say that your worries are not baseless. I see difficult times ahead for you, alas... most difficult... I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass... and perhaps sooner than you think..." Her voice dropped almost to a whisper, making Ron roll his eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into his head. Harry, meanwhile, stared at his teacher stonily back, looking utterly done with it all.

           "As for you my dear..." The very thin woman with enormous glasses that made her eyes appear far too large glanced at the female twin. "I see difficult times ahead of you, much identical to your brother's ... However, your powers will awaken sooner than you think! Follow where your heart desires and your ability will awaken within you!" She declared triumphantly, sounding less like a mystic and more like a motivational speaker who'd just chugged five energy drinks, before strolling away.

Ron snickered, leaning towards Valerie. "Do you really believe that nonsense? 'Follow where your heart desires'? Sounds like something out of a cheesy Muggle rom-com." Valerie simply shrugged, trying to suppress her own grin.

Trelawney's dramatics were a constant source of amusement.

Half an hour later, each of them had been given a complicated circular chart, and was attempting to fill in the position of the planets at their moment of birth. It was dull work, requiring much consultation of timetables and calculation of angles, which oddly, Valerie found quite interesting as she was into astrology.

While she was completing her chart, she caught Draco glancing at her multiple times.

They had been doing that to each other for years, a silent, hostile battle of wills, but this time Draco had a new look of curiosity in his eyes, a strange, almost thoughtful quality she couldn't quite decipher.

           "I've got two Neptunes here," Harry frowned at his piece of parchment, holding it up like it was personally offending him. "That can't be right, can it?"

          "Aaaaah," Ron imitated Professor Trelawney's mystical whisper, waving his hands dramatically. "—When two Neptunes appear in the sky, it is a sure sign that a midget in glasses is being born, Harry..."

Valerie snorted, trying desperately to cover it with a cough, though not loud enough to mask the excited squeals coming from the blonde Ravenclaw, Cressida Cambridge, whose chart seemed to be performing a light show. "OH PROFESSOR, LOOK! I think I've got an unaspected planet! Ooooh, which one's that, Professor?"

Professor Trelawney, peering down at the chart with an expression of profound importance, responded, "It's Uranus, my dear."

Ron's eyes lit up like Christmas lights. He leaned across the table, a truly wicked grin spreading across his face. "Can I have a look at Uranus too, Cressida?" He blurted out, causing Harry to practically choke on his own laughter, while Valerie had to clap a hand over her mouth to keep from howling.

Unfortunately, Professor Trelawney heard him.

Her enormous glasses slipped down her nose as she snapped, sounding much more like Professor McGonagall than her usual airy-fairy self, "A detailed analysis of the way the planetary movements in the coming month will affect you, with reference to your personal chart, Mr. Weasley! I want it ready to hand in next Tuesday, and no excuses!" Ron groaned, his face falling faster than a dropped Bludger, while Harry and Valerie wiped tears of laughter from their eyes.

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VALERIE POTTER emerged from her dormitory and entered the Slytherin common room. The usual dungeon chill was softened by the dim, ambient green lights that cast long, shifting shadows across the stone walls. It was a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of the Great Hall, a quieter, more exclusive kind of fun.

She spotted the huddle immediately: a tight circle of familiar faces on the plush, emerald-green carpet in a secluded corner. This was clearly the get-together Blaise had mentioned. Valerie surveyed the scene, a small smile playing on her lips. She always felt a different kind of ease here, a comfortable, knowing tension that hummed beneath the surface of every interaction. She was, after all, a Slytherin through and through.

Her eyes immediately landed on Draco Malfoy.

He was sitting across the circle from where a gap obviously waited for her, looking impossibly fresh. He must have just come from a shower, his pale blonde hair still slightly damp, clinging to his forehead in soft waves.

He wore simple, dark trousers and a crisp white top that somehow made him look... softer, less sharp. It was so hard for Valerie not to glance at him, a traitorous warmth creeping up her neck, even as her mind supplied a dozen reasons why she shouldn't.

She slid effortlessly into the gap, settling between Eric Lewis on her left and Vincent Crabbe on her right. Eric, looking effortlessly cool in a K-pop t-shirt and ripped jeans, grinned at her, giving a subtle nod of greeting.

Crabbe, true to form, was already halfway through a giant chocolate cupcake, crumbs clinging to his chin. Valerie stifled a laugh: he truly reminded her of her cousin Dudley, only with more muscle and less whining.

Around the rest of the circle sat, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Daphne Greegrass, Gregory Goyle, Ivory Davis, Theodore Nott, Claudia Selwyn and Miranda Lim.

            "Alright, everyone! Thanks for coming," Millicent announced, a triumphant smirk on her face, like a general addressing her troops. "Tonight's game is a classic, but with a Slytherin twist. Spin the Bottle!"

A few murmurs of excited anticipation rippled through the group.

           "Rules are simple," She continued, placing the bottle down. "Whoever it lands on first, goes into the storage closet over there with the next person it lands on. You stay for ten minutes. And before you ask," She added, "No snogging required. Tonight, it's about... patience." Her eyes gleamed.

          "Refusal to participate, or if you come out early?" Millicent's voice dropped to a low, ominous purr. "You get a lovely little curse from yours truly. Three days of pimples across your forehead spelling out... 'LOSER'. Trust me," She said, giving Claudia a pointed look that made the blonde girl visibly flinch, "You don't want that."

         "And while they're... meditating," Daphne chimed in, her eyes gleaming with wicked amusement, "The rest of us play Truth or Dare. Keeps things moving."

The first spin was a blur. The bottle whizzed around, finally slowing to a stop, pointing at Miranda Lim.

Miranda, always up for anything, just shrugged. Millicent spun again, and it landed squarely on Theodore Nott.

Theo raised an eyebrow, a slight, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. "Alright, Lim. Lead the way."

Valerie watched them go. Miranda and Theo were good friends, both on the Slytherin Quidditch team. She figured they'd spend ten minutes in there discussing strategies, complaining about training, or maybe just sharing memes from their phones. No big deal. The closet door clicked shut behind them.

The remaining group immediately launched into a quick round of Truth or Dare. Pansy was dared to confess her biggest pet peeve, dirty fingernails, apparently, and Goyle was asked if he'd ever actually finished a Potions essay on time (he hadn't).

The laughter was easy, the tension of the day melting away in the shared, slightly illicit fun.

Ten minutes later, Millicent consulted her enchanted watch. "Alright, time's up, lovebirds!"

The closet door creaked open, and Miranda and Theo emerged, looking unfazed.

Daphne clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with renewed mischief. "Okay, now that we know the basic rules... let's make it more interesting."

A wave of anticipatory "oohs" and "ahhs" rippled through the circle.

Even Eric leaned forward, a wide, knowing grin on his face.

            Daphne's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, relishing the heightened attention. "The next two people who go into the closet? They don't just stay in there. They have to hug each other. For the entire ten minutes."

More excited whispers erupted, some teasing nudges. Valerie's heart, which had been beating normally, suddenly gave a frantic jolt. A hug? For ten minutes? That was a whole different level of awkward.

Millicent picked up the bottle again, a devilish grin mirroring Daphne's. "Alright. Who's next for a little 'cuddle therapy'?"

The bottle spun.

The ambient music seemed to fade into a distant hum, replaced by the frantic pounding of Valerie's own heart. It slowed... agonisingly.

It whizzed past Crabbe, past Pansy, past Blaise...

Then, with a sickening, inevitable lurch, it came to a complete stop, pointing directly at Valerie Potter.

Her breath hitched. A cold dread, mixed with a hot flush, flooded her face. No. No, no, no. She looked up, eyes wide, her mind screaming.

The bottle spun again, slowly, torturously. Every single eye in the circle was on it now. It passed Claudia, skipped over Theo, slid past Ivory... and then, with a final, devastating stop.

It pointed squarely at Draco. Fucking. Malfoy.

Valerie's heart dropped into her stomach, then leaped back into her throat, thundering against her ribs. She met Draco's eyes across the circle. His expression, which moments ago was casually observant, had now gone utterly blank, a mask falling over his face. But Valerie, so attuned to him, caught a flash of something unreadable, a flicker of surprise and maybe... alarm? The quiet hum of the music seemed to swell, every beat echoing the panicked rhythm of her own pulse.

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( entire chapter rewritten june 22nd 2025 )

the spin the bottle scene / slytherin get-together, wasn't originally here. i had this scene in my mind as i was re-reading this fanfic of mine. i desperately wanted to improve the writing and make it more exciting + more scenes of valerie and draco. i really hope adding that scene along with the changes i made makes the story better.

get ready with loads of spice with my new written version of this story 😼🌶️

word count : 4,786