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march 1997
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"𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚋𝚞𝚕𝚎"
𝚊 𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎; 𝚊 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝
Seeing Professor Trelawney was a hit and a miss. She did say a few things but after she fell asleep, it was nearly impossible to get her awake. Also, Violetta didn't have the patience to wait so she and Fleur left the Divination Tower.
"Are you sure you don't want to wait until she wakes up?" Fleur asked when they had left the tower and were walking down the corridors.
"She won't wake up for hours and I don't have the time to hang out here and wait," Violetta said. "Besides, she probably had no idea what she's talking about."
Fleur didn't quite believe Violetta. She placed her hand on Violetta's shoulder to stop her from walking. When Violetta turned to look at her, Fleur could see the worry on Violetta's face.
"We can wait if you want," Fleur said softly.
Violetta shook her head. "No, it was a stupid idea to begin with. Let's just go and I'll find another way," she said and began to walk again.
Fleur knew it was pointless to argue over the matter ― she wasn't either too impressed with Sybill Trelawney.
The two young women kept on walking. They walked all the way to the first floor while Violetta kept her head down the whole way. She didn't want to be noticed by anyone for many reasons. She also wanted to avoid her little brother ― not because she didn't want to see him but because she didn't know what she should say to him. Draco was supposed to avoid her the way their mother and aunt Bellatrix's been avoiding Andromeda for decades.
It was weird to be back in Hogwarts. That place used to be like a second home to her ― not because she didn't like her own home ― but because she spent most of her time there. She had learned most of the spells she knew there, she had had her first kiss there.
She met Fleur there which was definitely the best thing that had ever happened to her. She just wished she could tell Fleur. She knew she could but she just didn't know how or when. And then there was the final question, when she'll finally tell all the bad things she has done, would Fleur still be there.
With the corner of her eyes, Violetta noticed a short balding man walk past her but she gave him no notice. She kept walking, Fleur by her side and their fingers slightly touching each other.
"Miss Black?"
Violetta halted like someone had just roped her. She saw Fleur looking at her with a frown before she turned around to see who had said those words.
It was the man who had walked past her just seconds ago.
"N-no, not Miss Black," Violetta said quickly.
The man narrowed his eyes and approached Violetta and Fleur, his gigantic belly ahead the rest of his body.
"Are you sure?" He asked as he looked at Violetta. "You definitely look like Miss Black."
Violetta scoffed. "I am quite positive, Mr...?"
"Horace Slughorn," the man said and extended his hand for Violetta to shake but she did not do so. "Aaah, well if you aren't Miss Black, who are you then?"
"Which Miss Black you thought I was?" Violetta asked, ignoring Slughorn's question.
"Narcissa Black."
Fleur saw how Violetta's upper lips twitched and she reached for her hand.
"Narcissa Malfoy is my mother," Violetta said as neutrally as she could.
It wasn't that she didn't like to talk about her mother but it hurt. It hurt to know that she might never see her again because of Abraxas. With Violetta's luck, she will die before the old bastard.
Slughorn's face lit up a little and a grin appeared on his face. He clapped his hands together loudly. "Well of course! You are Narcissa's daughter. You are a spitting image of your mother. Oh, and then you must be Draco Malfoy's sister, am I correct?"
Violetta grimaced at the weird enthusiasm the man suddenly had. "Yes you are, good job."
"Hah, but it seems that you have your father's sense of humour. Don't you have one more brother as well?" Slughorn asked.
"Yes, my twin," she said and quickly glanced at Fleur, her eyes asking Fleur to come up with an excuse to leave but before the blonde could have helped her, Slughorn spoke again.
"What was his name again?"
Violetta took in a deep breath and exhaled, she really didn't want to talk to this man. He was too interested in her and Violetta didn't like that.
"Regulus," Violetta answered, hoping that Slughorn would let her be. "Named after my godfather."
But that did not happen. Slughorn's eyes widened three times their size and his mouth gaped open. He stared at Violetta for a good minute in which Violetta wanted to take off and run but the way Slughorn looked at her prevented this. He looked almost sad, regretful.
"Y-your godfather is Regulus Black?" Slughorn repeated after he had managed to compose himself.
"Was. He's dead," Violetta said stiffly.
Slughorn swallowed. "Yes of course, I heard. I-I'm very sorry for your loss. He was a good boy. A very bright student."
Violetta's eyes flickered. "You knew him?"
"And who is this?" Slughorn asked and turned to Fleur.
It was stupid of him to ignore Violetta's question and he knew it. He knew that if Violetta was anything like her mother or aunts, he was going to have to answer her soon enough but he was buying himself some time.
"Fleur Delacour," Fleur said and shook Slughorn's hand.
"Yes yes, The Beauxbatons Champion, correct?" Asked Slughorn.
Fleur nodded. "Yes but I believe Violetta asked you a question."
"Yes of course. I did know Regulus Black, and I knew your mother and father. I was the Head of Slytherin when they were students," Slughorn explained vaguely.
Violetta arched her brow. "Did you know my grandfather?"
"Cygnus Black or Abraxas Malfoy?"
"Both."
Slughorn nodded. "Taught them both. I believe I taught your uncle as well. Orion Black was he not?"
"Yes he was. And what about Tom Riddle?" Violetta asked briskly.
There was no colour on Slughorn's face anymore. He looked white as a sheet, like a ghost. He also looked like he had seen a ghost. A ghost shaped like Tom Riddle.
Violetta didn't know why she had said that ― but it looked like it was a good idea after all. She was beginning to feel frustrated with all the misinformation and the lies that she wasn't going to back away now.
"Mr Slughorn?" Violetta said when the man stood still like a statue.
"I've heard of him," Slughorn finally said.
Violetta narrowed her eyes. "But you just said that you were the Head of Slytherin, and he was a Slytherin. So you must have known him."
"Yes but I didn't know Tom Riddle. He was one student among many others," Slughorn stated sternly.
"Are you sure?" Violetta pressed the matter further.
Slughorn forced on a smile and nodded. "Yes, I am sure. Now I'm afraid I must go, I have a class to teach."
"But you knew Regulus. You said it yourself," Violetta said.
"As a bright young student who was good at Quidditch and potions, and died before his time. Yes, I knew him as one but that is all. He was your family so I'm sure that you know more," Slughorn said.
Violetta huffed. "I think you know more."
"You are a lot like your mother, and your father. They were very commanding as well, never believing when I said no. But I am afraid I can't help you with whatever it is," said Slughorn and left faster than Violetta had on the day she was disowned.
Violetta stared at the empty spot the man had left until she was brought back to reality by Fleur who gave her hand a gentle squish. Violetta turned to look at Fleur and gave her a weak smile.
"Well this trip was a hit and miss," Violetta sighed, her other hand massaging her temples.
"Maybe not completely..." Fleur tried to make Violetta feel better.
Violetta shook her head. "Trelawney said one thing about my nosebleeds and that was it. It was dumb and we should probably get going, I don't like being here."
"Because of Draco?"
"I can't face him..." Violetta whispered and nervously glanced around her to make sure her brother wasn't there. "Not yet at least. I'm his older sister, I'm supposed to look after him but I can't."
"Let's go then," Fleur said.
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Being reminded of nearly half of her family members in one, Violetta was exhausted for the next few days. She laid on her bed, Regulus' diary next to her. She had assured Fleur that she was all right ― which she was but she was just a little upset and more unsure than ever.
Her mind was mostly wandering back to Horace Slughorn who seemed to know too much but yet too little ― or that's what he said anyways. Violetta couldn't help but think that he knows more but she couldn't just go and ask him.
"I think he knows something," Violetta said absentmindedly.
Fleur was laying next to her, her back against the headboard. She looked at Violetta and placed her book on her lap.
"Who?" She asked.
"Horace Slughorn. I think he knows something. Maybe not what happened to me but he was very ominous about Tom Riddle," Violetta explained.
"Tom Riddle? You know you have never mentioned that name before you met Slughorn."
Violetta chuckled wryly. "Tom Riddle is You-know-who. That was his name before he turned into the thing he is now."
"Which is?" Fleur said.
"A maniac who doesn't care about anything or anyone except beating a teenage boy," Violetta said and sat up. She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, her eyes finding Fleur's in the process.
"He ummm... he used to want a world with no muggles or other tainted blood. He still does, I think but he's more obsessed with Potter than Draco ever was. It's not only about the pureblood world anymore but about defeating Harry Potter and it's exhausting..."
Fleur straightened her back and moved a little closer to Violetta.
"How do you know all this?" She asked.
Violetta grimaced. "It's really sweet of you to pretend that you don't at least suspect."
The blonde woman sighed. She knew. She has known since the beginning but she wanted to give Violetta the chance to tell it to her herself. But she didn't. Violetta kept lying and lying until Fleur had no choice than to break things off.
Fleur waited for Violetta to start speaking but it looked like Violetta's words were stuck in her throat. The air around them changed into a chilly one ― like someone had left windows open and the spring air was now inside the apartment.
"I-I'm going to tell you everything and after I'm done, I really hope that you won't hate me. Because honestly, I think that if you will hate, that will hurt me more than getting left by my family. But I will understand if you choose to do so. If you choose to hate me and you want me to leave. I will understand."
Violetta's breathing was rapid and hollow. She was nearing a panic attack but she pushed that all away because she knew that she couldn't keep lying and hiding things from Fleur anymore. She took in the look Fleur was giving her and prayed that when she's finished ― that look hasn't changed.
"About a year ago, I got marked," Violetta started and slowly lifted her sleeve up so that Fleur could see the Dark Mark on her arm.
"I-I wanted it, and I'm not going to make any excuses. I wanted the mark because I wanted to make this world the way he intended to, the world everyone in my life kept telling me about. It was fine at first. Just meetings but then.... then daddy got imprisoned. He's a marked Death Eater too as you know so when he was gone, it was up to us to take his place."
"Us, you mean Regulus?" Fleur asked.
Violetta nodded. "But he's good. Reggie, he is good and honestly I think he took the mark just because of me. Anyhow, as soon as dad was gone, it was no longer just meetings. It was torture. Either my aunt torturing me because I didn't do as she told me to or then I...." Violetta let out a small sob and covered her face with her palms.
She felt Fleur's hand on her knee.
"You keep telling me that I am not a bad person but I really am. I have tortured people, I have watched them in pain and I have caused it," Violetta cried against her palms.
She lifted her head and faced Fleur again.
"I was so angry. I was so angry about my dad and about everything, and that anger was the source of the bad things that I have done. But it doesn't make it all right, Fleur. I have done some horrible things and I am so sorry. I am so so sorry b-because....
"Because I lied to you. I lied to you so many times and I understand that you might not want to be with me but the thing is, that the only thing that made me not lose my mind was that you were there. E-even when you weren't there."
Fleur has seen Violetta losing her cool over things but never like this. Violetta was crying, tears streamed down her cheek and landed on her lap. She was apologising ― and Violetta never apologises. She was regretful and she was never that either.
"What about now? What do you think? Are you still in it or...?" Fleur began but Violetta immediately shook her head.
"I don't know. I guess I'm not because I'm no longer a Malfoy and that means that I'm no longer obligated to be the person I was. I'm not entirely sure what...."
Fleur stopped Violetta by shaking her head. "I didn't mean that. Are you still part of it? Not Violetta Malfoy but you? Do you still want to make this world pure from muggles and half-breeds like me? Do you still want that?"
"No, no I don't. It's not like that anymore. Nothing is like it was. He doesn't care about blood purity anymore. He doesn't care about the people who work for him. He only cares about himself," Violetta explained, crying. "And I made a mistake by taking the mark. I really did. I made a huge mistake."
"But you wanted it. You wanted the mark," Fleur repeated what Violetta had just told her.
"Yes! Yes I did but you must understand that I was raised to believe in blood purity. It was all the older generation ever talked about. I don't want to use it as an excuse but that world is all I have ever known. From what I remember of my early childhood is seeing my father leaving in the middle of dinner because he flinched and glanced at his forearm."
"I wanted to prove myself. I wanted to prove that just because I am me, doesn't make me useless. I'm not just a spoiled brat who only has to give her parents that one look and they will give me anything I want. That I'm not just something to give away in marriage, or someone who has to have babies because that's what the society I lived in expects."
"But now... He doesn't care about anyone and he won't hesitate to kill us. Fuck, He did something to me when I was a baby. I-I can't be a part of it anymore. I don't want to lose myself like my aunt has."
Fleur kept her eyes locked in Violetta's. The thing was, none of this was a surprise to Fleur. She was aware of Violetta's former loyalties and she did understand that if you grow up in the world Violetta did ― it is unavoidable to become like them.
It was also as clear as a day that when things got real after Lucius Malfoy's imprisonment, Violetta got cold feet. She had to face the consequences of her choices and that broke her.
"It was all a huge mistake," Violetta whispered and closed her eyes.
She felt warm tears falling down her cheeks but she didn't even bother to wipe them away.
"But you must believe me that when you said half-breed, I never thought of you as one. Never," Violetta continued.
"I know," Fleur said.
The softness of her voice made Violetta open her eyes again. Fleur's dark blue eyes were looking at her the same way they have since they met. There was no hint of hate or disgust ― just Fleur.
"Do you hate me?" Violetta asked with her lip quivering.
Fleur shook her head. "I don't hate you. I'm not shocked to hear all this, I did have my suspicions. But I need to know that you are done there because I can't be a part of that world. And yet I want to be a part of your life. Call me crazy but I really like you and..."
"Thank you..." Violetta sighed so heavily that she felt how her lungs nearly collapsed.
She moved even closer to Fleur and rested her head on her lap.
Fleur ran her fingers through Violetta's hair and hummed softly. "Just promise me that you are done with all that."
"I promise," Violetta said without another thought. "I don't need it anymore. That world, I'm done with it. I don't need them anymore. But if I ever for some stupid reason even think about going back, I need you to lock me into a basement or something because I don't want to go back."
"I'm done proving myself," Violetta sighed.
She felt her eyelids getting heavy from all the crying and soon, she was sound asleep in Fleur's arms.
unedited, sry for typos
cat's out of the back and life's all good now :) + i nearly put one small but big thing into this chapter but i chose to postpone it a little, do forgive me but it is a nice thing so just wait ;)
let the character development begin !