══════ • ❀ • ══════
january 1995
══════ • ❀ • ══════
"𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚜𝚘𝚍𝚒𝚌"
𝚎𝚡𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚌𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚌
The holiday went by faster than Violetta had expected and for the first time, she was quite glad about it. At the beginning of the holiday, Violetta was more than happy to be home but that changed once she noticed how nervous and anxious her parents were at all times. Violetta wasn't aware why they were like this but she had a feeling it had to do something with the riot during the World Cup.
Her father was on the edge about other things as well, and did his very best to ignore Abraxas who tried to visit his son a few times but Lucius always managed to give him an excuse not to see the man. Lucius knew that ignoring things won't make them go away but he wasn't going to let the holidays be ruined because of Abraxas and his beliefs of the Dark Lord's return. But day by day, the beliefs of His return started to creep into Lucius' head when he noticed his Dark Mark getting more visible.
Violetta and her brothers knew better than to ask about this, they knew their parents weren't going to give them any answers. Lucius and Narcissa wanted to believe that their children not knowing about things would make them safe from the things.
But still even during a slightly more chaotic holiday, Violetta found time to think about Fleur. She didn't want to but whenever she was daydreaming, reading or just walking around, she noticed how she was thinking about Fleur's shiny hair or her beautiful blue eyes.
Violetta had thought about telling her parents about her weird contact with Fleur. She had really considered it but once she was with them, she couldn't bring herself to say anything. First of all, she herself had no idea what it was she was actually feeling ― according to Vivian, she has a crush but she didn't believe that. Second of all, she had no idea how her parents would react. If Fleur was a boy, Violetta knew her father would have a heart attack but she didn't have a clue what they would say about Fleur.
So she decided to bury any thoughts of talking to her parents about Fleur.
The first day of spring semester at Hogwarts wasn't special. The students went to their classes, spent their evenings doing their homework and the fifth and seventh year students started to stress about their upcoming O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts.
"Reggie," said Violetta when the two siblings were studying in the library and waited for Vivian and Gabriel to join them.
Regulus lifted his chin up and looked at his sister. "Yes?"
"Are you going to work with the Ministry once we graduate?" She asked.
"I suppose so, why?"
Violetta shrugged. "I don't know... I guess with mum and dad being so worried about everything, I was just wondering,"
"Wondering about what?" Regulus quizzed his sister.
"What am I going to do once I graduate," Violetta explained with a heavy sigh. "I'm not allowed to work like you are so I don't know what I am going to do. Marriage is not what I'm looking for right now but we both know that eventually that is going to happen. Besides, I highly doubt that Abraxas is going to wait for the opportunity to marry me off to someone."
Regulus wasn't quite sure what to say to his sister. He wanted to help her, give her options and advice but he couldn't. He was aware of what was expected of his sister but he didn't know everything ― Violetta's future was a thing no one liked to talk about.
It was a thing that at one point in her life was questionable. Was there even a future to worry about?
There was a look of worry and disappointment in Violetta's and while Regulus was not the one who got emotional ― he did feel bad.
"I don't hold too much power yet, especially while Abraxas is still here but I can try and see what there is to do. Maybe there's something I can do about it," said Regulus and the relief in his sister's eyes was visible.
Regulus frowned a little. "You have never shown that much worry regarding your future. Why now?"
"School's over soon and that makes this so real," Violetta said quietly and looked around to make sure no one was there. "And then the riot... doesn't it make you wonder what is going to happen?"
"Yes but it isn't our problem, definitely not yours," said Regulus. "So don't worry about it, okay? I will talk to father and Abraxas."
Violetta let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding. "Thank you," she smiled widely and without another word, she grabbed her bag and left the library.
"I'll let your friends know you left," muttered Regulus although Violetta was already long gone.
Talking with her brother gave Violetta some peace and quiet. She was glad to know that he was going to talk with Abraxas ― the man wasn't too fond of his grandchildren but he did favor Regulus and Draco so maybe a word from them might ease his hold on Violetta.
Then there was the matter of what had happened months ago after the World Cup. Violetta never thought too much about it but when she saw her parents growing anxious with each passing day, she couldn't help but wonder.
Was it just an awful joke? A tasteless one, or something real?
"Violetta!"
Violetta turned around to see Fleur walking towards her. She hasn't seen the blonde witch since the night of the Yule Ball. After telling her parents about Peregrine, Violetta had tried her best to forget about the whole incident with him. So far she's been quite successful but seeing Fleur reminded her of that evening.
"Oh hey," greeted Violetta.
Fleur noticed the lack of enthusiasm Violetta offered her. Fleur didn't know why but this hurt her a little but the longer she looked at Violetta, the more she realized that perhaps this reaction was not because of her but because of the last time they saw each other.
"How was your holiday?" Fleur asked carefully.
It took a moment for Violetta to register Fleur's question.
"I-it was good. Yes, good. I had my birthday celebration, well mine and Regulus'. A big old coming of age ball with fancy dresses and stupid things like that like, you know like the Yule Ba..." Violetta stopped rambling.
A dark cloud of bad memories came to shadow Violetta's mind with the speed of a lighting.
"W-what about yours?" She asked, hoping that Fleur would change the subject.
"I went to France with my sister, to see our family," said Fleur, smiling softly again. "We've missed the country. Things are a bit strange here, especially the weather."
Violetta chuckled ― she couldn't help it. Fleur had managed to change the subject of Violetta's most awful memory into one of bad weather.
"Yes the weather isn't exactly the best here," Violetta said.
"Have you ever been to France?" Fleur asked. "It is so beautiful there."
"My grandmother spends most of her time in France," said Violetta with a shrug.
Fleur nodded before turning to look at her back. "I have something for you," she said.
Violetta blinked twice ― she was a little confused at the moment.
She watched as Fleur took out a small round object and gave it to her. Violetta looked at Fleur with such confusion but turned to see what she was just given. It was a snowglobe which held a beautiful flower inside. A violet.
"I saw this, and I thought it would be perfect for you. You see it has a violet in it, and you're Violetta," explained Fleur.
Violetta was taken back by the gift ― she had not expected this at all. A small sensation of her heart fluttering appeared to Violetta. She visibly tensed up, making Fleur frown her light brows.
"It's not much but I thought...." Fleur started.
"I love it," Violetta interrupted. "It's really nice, thank you. Now I feel bad I didn't get anything for you."
Fleur shook her head. "No need," she said and glanced on her right where a group of her friends were.
"I think I have to go. Have a nice day," she smiled, waved and started to walk towards her friends.
Violetta's eyes followed Fleur and thought about what she could give her. Raised as a pureblood, Violetta understood the importance of good manners, even when it comes to gift giving. Then she remembered her promise to help Fleur with the Second Task.
Violetta ran after Fleur without another thought and turned her around by placing her hand on her shoulder.
Fleur turned around immediately.
"The Second Task," said Violetta. "I promised you to help."
"Oh but if you don't want to...." Fleur said ― she worried that being around Violetta might awoke the bad memories of the Yule Ball.
A moment of hesitation lingered in the air.
Violetta has spent time with Fleur and that time has always been nice but she has always been worried when it came to her thoughts and feelings. She still didn't exactly know what she felt but she knew she feels something.
And she shouldn't.
She can't
But Fleur had helped her. Fleur saved her from Peregrine's hands and she owned her. It was only fair and professional.
"No it's okay. I will help you," said Violetta finally and she saw Fleur's worried face relaxed.
"Oh thank you!" Sighed Fleur and was about to take a step towards Violetta and perhaps hug her but Violetta quickly stumbled back a few steps.
"I-I need to go, I have a class," said Violetta without another thought and nearly ran away.
Once she was far enough from Fleur, she stopped to walk.The corridors were filled with students who were telling each other about their holidays while the professors wandered around, making sure that no one, and by no one they meant the Weasley twins, were doing any mischief.
For a moment, and just for a moment, Violetta felt like she was going to miss this place. She has spent seven years there after all. She knew every secret passageway there was, she knew what to say to a professor so she would get a good grade, she knew how to annoy a life out of a Weasley.
But what she wasn't going to miss was the mixed feelings Fleur has managed to give her. Violetta knew that her helping Fleur was going to be a big mistake but there was nothing she could do about it anymore.
══════ • ❀ • ══════
Divination was as strange as ever. Trelawney kept predicting someone's death, telling everyone to watch out for any birds because they were possessed this time of the year. The bug-glass wearing professor was more than sure that something very bad was about to happen somewhere in February, to someone by something. Many enthusiastic students asked about this prophecy but Trelawney couldn't answer any details, which honestly didn't surprise anyone.
After divination, they had transfiguration and once Violetta and her friends reached the Transfiguration classroom, they shut their mouths quickly the minute they noticed McGonagall entering the room. Her long cloak was a little dirty from the hem since she has been patrolling the grounds and her pointed nose looked even more sharp this afternoon. She sharply asked some of the remaining Slytherin students to have a seat so she could start the class.
Violetta couldn't really focus on whatever Professor McGonagall was teaching. Violetta's mind was completely elsewhere ― more specifically she was looking at the boys in her class.
Some of them she has known her entire life ― the ones from the Sacred Twenty-Eight ― and some just when she started school. She has never thought about kissing a boy or what it would be like to be with one. Many young men and boys have tried to get close to you, have asked her to have a Butterbeer with them. Half of the boys in school had asked her to be their date for Yule Ball.
Her grandparents have on many occasions introduced her to some eligible options ever since she turned thirteen. Her parents didn't approve of this but unfortunately they couldn't do anything about it.
But they never had to worry ― there hasn't been a time when she's been interested in any of her possible suitors.
It has never worried her. She just figured that she didn't like them and that was it ― no other arguments or reasons.
Even after the class, Violetta was in her own world. She hadn't listened to what McGonagall had said during the class and now she was barely registering her friends' words.
"Earth to Violetta!"
Violetta snapped her head towards Gabriel.
"Good, she's still with us," smirked Gabriel, wrapping his arm around Violetta's shoulder as they walked down the corridors.
"Where's Vivian?" Violetta asked when noticing the absence of her other friend.
Gabriel frowned. "She left like five minutes ago. Where's your mind Malfoy?"
"Stressed," said Violetta.
"Marriage?" Asked Gabriel. "My father couldn't stop talking about it over the holidays. He wants to know if I have set my eyes on somebody before he arranges someone for me."
Violetta grimaced at the way Gabriel's father sees marriage. "That's very charming, but yes. Everyone keeps asking me about it and I just don't have an answer. I also don't have an answer if I don't get married right after school. I don't know what I'm going to do."
"You do know that if it's up to your parents..."
"I know but it isn't. It's not up to them," sighed Violetta. "Can we talk about something else?"
Gabriel didn't have to think this twice.
"Did you read Skeeter's article about Hagrid?" He asked with a mischievous grin which radiated schadenfreude.
"Oh yes I did. Let's just say that mum and dad were very happy about it. Now they want Moody to get a treatment such as the one Hagrid received," Violetta explained.
"Aaah, right. The Imperious Curse. What was it like?" Gabriel asked. "I know I asked it then but I figured that..."
Violetta shrugged. "Nothing special. Someone kept telling me what to do but I didn't want to."
"Do you think it means something?"
"What could it possibly mean? I think it's just proved that I am very stubborn," Violetta smirked ― she hadn't really thought about what it meant. There's been more pressing things on her mind.
Speaking of which, Peregrine Derrick was walking towards them.
Violetta tensed up and not the same way she does whenever she's around Fleur. With Fleur, she feels awkward and that's why she feels her body tensing up but there's still some warmth ― now when seeing Peregrine, she just felt cold.
Gabriel noticed how Violetta stopped walking. He turned to look away from her and noticed Peregrine as well. He immediately took several steps towards Peregrine, his fists ready to hit the boy who had assaulted his friend.
"Gabe..." muttered Violetta and reached for Gabriel's arm to stop him but he yanked himself from Violetta's reach.
"Hey Derrick!" Gabriel shouted-
Peregrine stopped on his heels but didn't run away like Violetta had half expected him to, instead he was smirking.
"Good day Gabriel," he said coolly.
Without another, Gabriel's fist was about to meet Peregrine's face but the motion was stopped by professor Sprout who was pointing her wand at Gabriel ― he couldn't move no matter how hard he tried.
"Mr Montague," said professor Sprout.
"I will face detention, I don't care. I need to kick Derrick's arse!" Gabriel brawled angrily.
Professor Sprout sighed out of frustration. "Mr Montague, I won't ask you twice. I will let you go once you promise not to do any harm."
"Can't do that," said Gabriel.
Peregrine was smiling smugly at Gabriel but that smug faded away when professor McGonagall entered the scene ― she knew what Peregrine had done to Violetta.
"What is the meaning of this?" McGonagall asked from Sprout.
"Mr Montague over here was about to do some damage to Mr Derrcik," explained Sprout.
McGonagall nodded before turning to look at Violetta who was just standing there with her arms crossed over her chest and visible worry in her eyes.
"Mr Derrcik, walk away," said McGonagall and turned to look at the boy. "Walk away and if I spot you anywhere near Miss Malfoy nor her friends ever again, you won't be graduating this year."
Peregrine just scoffed.
"Have I made myself clear?" McGonagall asked with an arched brow.
Violetta watched how Peregrine's face paled ― it brought her much needed pleasure. She had no idea if Peregrine ever received a punishment for his actions but seeing him like this ― beaten down like a dog by McGonagall made her feel a sense of joy.
"Yes professor," said Peregrine and with a nasty glare, he left.
Once Peregrine was gone, professor Sprout lowered her wand and Gabriel was finally able to move. He turned to Sprout and was about to get himself into some more trouble but he was stopped by Violetta.
"Let's just go," she said before grabbing Gabriel's arm.
She dragged him away from the professors and didn't stop until they had found the Slytherin Dungeons. The common room was somewhat empty ― Draco and his minions were sitting by the fireplace and couches ― but otherwise no one was there.
Violetta finally let go of Gabriel and while she was slightly upset because she didn't want to face Peregrine right after the holidays, she was still grateful to know that her best friend will defend her no matter what.
"You know I will kick his sorry arse once I see him again," said Gabriel, no questions asked.
"I think McGonagall will beat you at that but sure," grimaced Violetta. "Thanks for looking out for me."
Gabriel offered her a smile. "What are friends for if not for beating somebody."
"Yes but just to let you know, I am not a damsel in distress," Violetta reminded her friend who immediately nodded.
"I know that but this just gives me a good excuse to beat him. You know how I have always hated that smug old Derrick," said Gabriel.