══════ • ❀ • ══════
june 1995
══════ • ❀ • ══════
"𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚋𝚒𝚊"
𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚋𝚒𝚊 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎
What has been one of the most stressful years of her life was only getting worse once June fell upon like the many insults of Abraxas Malfoy. And while it felt soon for everyone, it felt like a flash of time for Violetta since she had missed a month of her life. It felt strange to think about it like that; missing a month of your own life, while everyone else lived their daily lives during that time.
June meant many things and the biggest one being the alarmingly fast approaching N.E.W.Ts for the seventh year students. The school's library has never been so packed and students Violetta has never seen with a book, were silently crying as they read. The atmosphere was tight and almost suffocating with the upcoming exams and the last task that was to take place in June.
Violetta however didn't stress about the exams since she's been studying plenty enough. What she stressed about was Fleur.
She and Fleur have been talking, greeting each other and even spending some time together but Violetta had insisted that Vivian was with them every time; she didn't want to risk losing her self-control and kissing Fleur again (or for the third time).
Kiss itself was not what Violetta was afraid of but what it might lead to, and since she still didn't know how to address her feelings and what to do about them, or what to do about her family, she needed to be careful.
Fleur respected this.
Often just before heading to bed and all of her roommates were already asleep, Violetta would stare at the ceiling and think about different scenarios and opportunities.
She thought about what might happen if she's with Fleur but won't let anyone know.
Then she thought about telling her family but the picture of Abraxas Malfoy would always make her stop even thinking about it. Telling them was not an option.
"What do you need to brew Wolfsbane Potion?" Quizzed Violetta.
Gabriel groaned. "I don't know, wolfsbane?"
"Maybe we can ask Lupin about that," smirked Regulus and flipped a page of his book.
Vivian snickered but shook her head. "That isn't very nice. He was the best Defence Against the Dark arts professor we have had in a long time," she said.
This was the truth; Quirrell was just a very pathetic excuse of a teacher, Lockhart was a fraud who probably didn't know how to wear any other colour than lilac. Their current professor Mad-Eye Moody is just what his name is; mad. So in conclusion, the werewolf was the best professor ever since Potter's arrival.
"Mmm isn't it funny, though? That ever since Mr Golden Boy stepped his foot here, our teachers have been more and more mental and unqualified," said Violetta before closing her book.
"Well then it is a good thing that we are leaving this place in a month," said Regulus.
It was a relief in its own way but also an enormous burden for the graduating students. Graduating always implied a future and it seemed that even when no one wasn't really speaking about their futures, they were always mentioned at some portion.
"Hey! No future talk," said Violetta sternly although she was grinning at her friends.
They all mumbled their apologies and with a few mischievous looks from Violetta, they all returned their focus back to their books. Their study session was interrupted shortly when Draco walked to the group and tapped on Violetta's shoulder.
"What is it?" She asked, lifting her chin up to see her little brother who was standing just next to the chair she was on.
"Umm can I talk to you?" Asked Draco carefully, his eyes gazing around the room.
Violetta frowned; Draco wasn't normally someone who came to his sister for things, he usually went straight to Regulus.
Why did Draco always go to Regulus? Violetta wasn't quite sure but she suspects it has something to do with men and their gigantic egos.
Regulus lowered his book so he could see Draco but the younger boy ignored him.
"Sure," said Violetta and placed her book down on her chair and left the dungeons with Draco.
Once she and Draco were out of sight from the prying eyes and overhearing ears, she crossed her arms over her chest and held a worried expression. Her older sister's instincts wondered if there was something wrong ― perhaps Moody had decided to use another student as an experiment.
But what Draco had to say was not what Violetta had expected this conversation to be about.
"That Delacour girl is looking for you," said Draco with his brows furrowed. "Why is she looking for you?"
Violetta stared at her brother for a second, thinking of how she can talk herself out of this.
"She probably wants to apologize for the task, as she should," said Violetta.
"Maybe she can explain to you why you were her treasure? I think we all would appreciate that," shrugged Draco.
Violetta grimaced. "Yes and I will let her know that."
She took off immediately after Draco had told her that Fleur was by the Greenhouses. Violetta wasn't entirely sure what she was supposed to feel but she did feel her heart fluttering out of something between excitement and worry.
Even with her best efforts, she couldn't shake off the feeling of excitement and joy by the thought of seeing Fleur again. No matter how hard she tried, Violetta could no longer deny her feelings and she knew it. She just didn't know what to do with her current situation.
The whole thing was confusing.
Violetta didn't know or was sure if she likes girls overall or just Fleur.
She has never liked a boy in her entire life ― not romantically that is ― but she has never really cared for girls either.
Just Fleur.
With her mind so full of thoughts, Violetta hadn't realised that she was already by the Greenhouses. It was still bright although the time was closing at eight in the evening. The smell of freshly watered plants brought Violetta a sense of calmness to her nervous and unsure being.
It didn't take her too long to spot a familiar blonde girl.
"Violetta," smiled Fleur when she saw the Malfoy girl.
"Hi," said Violetta, her chest filled with warmth.
Fleur was sitting on the grass, her robe as a blanket. Her silver blonde hair was braided, making her beautiful facial features more visible to people. Violetta wondered if the reason behind her attraction to Fleur was behind Fleur's Veela heritage but it was not. While Fleur was the most gorgeous creature alive, it was her personality Violetta was taken by.
It was strange because Fleur was nothing like Violetta.
Fleur possessed a sweet, a little dangerous but beautiful personality which was so different from Violetta's cold hearted and evil spirit.
But there has been a change within Violetta ― she was no longer so awful and she had Fleur to blame for that.
"Do you want to sit?" Fleur asked and glanced at the place next to her.
"Sure," said Violetta and sat down, still far enough not to touch Fleur.
Fleur smiled and tried to reach for Violetta's hand but the brunette girl didn't let her.
"I'm sorry," said Fleur carefully.
Violetta shook her head. "No it's not... you could and I would like that but I just don't know yet."
She was lying through her teeth.
She knew. She knew she liked Fleur but she just couldn't let herself.
But man she was tired of pretending.
"There's a lot that I need to figure out. How all of this is going to affect my life and how I am supposed to keep this as a secret because no matter what, no one can know. In old families like mine, love won't matter when it comes to traditions and duty. I will be disowned immediately," explained Violetta.
"I understand that but are you going to hide yourself for the rest of your life? Marry someone you don't want to because of so-called traditions?" Fleur asked.
Violetta shrugged. "Mama and daddy got away with it."
Fleur frowned, surprised to hear this.
"What do you mean?"
"They were set to marry other people but they broke off their engagements to marry each other. Apparently they were obnoxiously in love. Still are," said Violetta, a small smile appearing on her lips.
"So maybe you could get away with this," said Fleur hopefully.
Violetta grimaced at the thought. "I highly doubt that. I like you, a girl and on top of that, my parents do not like you."
"The task, huh?" Fleur asked.
"They think you tried to have me killed."
Fleur gasped and automatically reached for Violetta's hand but this time she didn't do anything to prevent that.
"I would never," said Fleur.
Violetta chuckled, taking in the warmth and little sparks of joy Fleur's touch gave her.
"I know that."
"Good because I would never do anything to hurt you," said Fleur with a serious tone but was smiling from her eyes like the most pure creature in the world.
Violetta nodded, wondering why Fleur even liked her. Why did Fleur have these feelings towards her? Fleur didn't even know her that well.
"Why? Why did you kiss me?" Violetta asked suddenly, taken back by her own question while Fleur didn't even flinch.
"You don't even really know me," added Violetta quickly.
Fleur chuckled lightly ― her laughter sounded like little bells.
"There's something about you that just makes my heart go faster whenever I see you. Your smile is so pure, even though you don't think so. Even if you like to pretend that you don't, you do care about people."
"You are mysterious Violetta Malfoy and I want to know even more," Fleur said.
Violetta felt her cheeks blushing. "Maybe you will."
She was completely and utterly smitten with Fleur Delacour.
══════ • ❀ • ══════
While the two out of three Malfoy children were taking their first exams, their father was staring at his forearm. The Mark which had made his life stressful and his family's life unpredictable, was once again getting darker than it has been in years. The Mark has been there ever since it was planted but when the Dark Lord fell fourteen years ago, it had faded but so that Lucius could still catch it with his bare eyes.
But now it was once again almost as visible as in 1981 and as much as Lucius hated to admit that he was frightened by something, this was the case.
His father has been right this whole time and that didn't make the situation any better, nor the fact that Regulus and Violetta were now of age and most likely being forced to join by Abraxas. Of course Lucius and Narcissa will do their very best to make sure that this won't happen but, they might have no other choice than to bend to Dark Lord's, and Abraxas' will, just to keep their children alive.
With the light of Dark Lord's return, Lucius pondered on what happened in 1977.
He was a new father of two little babies and to be fair, the fact that he had two children at once was a bit of a shock to him. It was also a great shock to Narcissa who never thought that she would have twins.
When Lucius and Narcissa had gone to check on their four-month- old babies in 1977, the terror of one empty crib had nearly split their hearts and the feeling didn't get any better when Abraxas informed them that he had brought Violetta to the Dark Lord.
And yet to this day, no one knew what had happened.
"Lucius," said Narcissa from the doorway.
The Malfoy patriarch had withdrawn himself to his study for the past two hours and it seemed that the lady of the house didn't appreciate the absence of her husband. Narcissa walked to Lucius, her hands crossed over her chest as she sat down on his desk.
"You've been here for hours. Care to tell me why?" She asked and the frown Lucius held deepened even more. "It's serious, isn't it?"
Lucius took a deep breath in and exhaled. "Well if you consider the Mark getting darker once again a serious thing, then yes, it's serious."
Narcissa's eyes widened and without another word, she reached for Lucius' left arm and pulled up his sleeve. There shone his mark, more visible than in years and Narcissa's stomach dropped.
"Why? Why is it there?" She asked, her eyes fixated on the Mark.
"I don't know Cissa," said Lucius, who looked at his mark as well. "My father says this means that the Dark Lord is coming back."
"Back?" Repeated Narcissa, her eyes now finding her husband's. "You mean that the man who made our lives so difficult to live, is coming back? As in back from the dead or something?"
Lucius nodded slowly. "I'm afraid that my father's been right all this time after all," he sighed.
"But, but he can't. That circus during the Quidditch World Cup was just your stupid friends' idea of a joke. It didn't mean anything. You said it didn't mean anything," said Narcissa.
The panic within her started to burst out just by the thought of the Dark Lord returning. She felt Lucius' free hand gripping hers gently and she took a shaky breath in and out.
"We can run," she said quickly. "We can go somewhere where we won't be found. We have the money to do that. Let's just take the children and leave while we still can."
"Love, you not that's not wise. Fleeing will only make things worse. Imagine the fury the Dark Lord will release," Lucius tried to reason his panicking wife.
Narcissa closed her eyes for a second before opening them. "I know. I know."
"It won't be easy but we will be all right. I'll join the ranks once again and the Dark Lord has no reasons to make Regulus or Violetta join. Besides, maybe this time things will be different and we will get rid of mudbloods and ----"
"You cannot be serious," sighed Narcissa, shaking her head.
Lucius frowned at his wife's words. "Since when have you cared about mudbloods and blood-traitors?"
"Since never but I happen to care about my family's survival," she said sternly. "It would be wonderful to have a world without those dirty mudbloods but if it comes with the price of losing our children or you, I don't want it. Because I can live in a world filled with mudbloods, just like we already have, just as long as I have you, Regulus, Lettie and Draco."
Narcissa had stood up and was now watching over the gardens of the Malfoy estate from one of the huge windows of Lucius' study. She leaned her forehead against the chilly window and sighed heavily.
"Things have been good, except for a few things," she continued and Lucius understood that she meant the few incidents Violetta has had. "And I don't want anything to change. Regulus and Violetta will graduate soon and that is a big change already, so no Lucius, I don't need the Dark Lord to return. Especially because we did nothing once he fell. We didn't search for him like Bella and the Lestrange boys."
"He's going to make us pay for that and he is going to use the kids for that. I remember when Andréa Avery told me that I shouldn't have kids. She said that the Dark Lord will use them. Mother said that too although I think she was just appalled by the fact that I wanted babies with a Malfoy."
Lucius walked to his wife and gently turned her to face him. "Are you having second thoughts? I think it's a bit too late for that now. They've been around for quite some time already."
"Don't even joke like that," said Narcissa.
"I would never," assured Lucius before continuing. "I don't want things to change either, my flower. I am merely trying to convince myself that everything will be all right. I'm trying to make something out of this very bad situation," he explained his reasons.
"Trust me, if I would have it my way, He would never return."
"It must be awful," said Narcissa with a small smile. "Not to have your way for once."
"Absolutely dreadful," he said, placing a kiss on Narcissa's forehead. "Cissa?"
Narcissa lifted her chin so she could meet Lucius' eyes. "Yes?"
"You do know that I will do everything in my power to make sure that you and the kids will be all right?" He asked, his grey eyes looking lost in a way they haven't in many, many years.
"I know that," said Narcissa and glanced at the small frame by the desk where a picture of all three children stood. "I am afraid that things won't me up to us or even the Dark Lord."
Lucius frowned before he realised what Narcissa meant.
"They won't do it," he said.
"Draco won't, but the twins... they are different. Violetta wants to prove herself and Regulus will do anything to protect her, even take the mark on her behalf," said Narcissa quietly, avoiding her husband's gaze. "She likes to pretend she doesn't care about other people's opinions but I know she will take the mark in a heartbeat if it means people like Abraxas will approve her."
Lucius wanted to believe that Narcissa was wrong but she has never been wrong and wasn't this time either. Running away sounded good in theory, maybe they will find a nice place to live far away from England but in reality, they would get killed for even thinking of that.
It was hard but they had to believe that their children had no interest in joining the Dark Lord's forces.
"Maybe Lettie should stay in France a little longer than just the summer..." suggested Narcissa suddenly.
Lucius looked uncomfortable with the suggestion ― he hated how Druella treated Violetta.
Narcissa noticed her husband's silent objection.
"I don't like it any more than you do but it might be the safest option here. Regulus and Draco can keep his head cool if their sister isn't making choices for the both of them," said Narcissa. "She's quite influential."
"Hmm well she takes after you there," said Lucius, gathering Narcissa back into his arms. "We'll figure this out."