A Very Fine Balancing Act
There was a loud rocketing blast, that occurred with the aid of many rainbow coloured fireworks and bright lights as Violetta was transported down, hard onto the stone of Platform 9 and 3/4, which annoyingly nobody else seemed to hear or see. But that was probably because there was a line of waving parents, as the Hogwarts Express, with all the children in it was just ready to leave.
This was very strange, because Violetta was sure it was the 3rd of May, as it had said on Mrs Weasley's Know it All Board in the kitchen, which is where she was last because she was having lunch with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. She wasn't sure how she got transported to here, all she had been doing was talking, and fiddling with her necklace. Her necklace! She gasped audibly, as she noticed it was time turner! No wonder she was here, she probably transported herself in time, but that still didn't fix the issue of being at the platform rather than the Burrow. A woman next to her, had heard her gasp, surprisingly (which meant the blast must have been inaudible) and was now urging her to go on the train, "Get on dear, or you'll miss it!"
In all the hurry and rush, she jumped onto the train, to avoid awkward questions, with the doors closing and steam puffing away as the journey to Hogwarts started.
Firstly, Violetta needed to figure out the time, because she supposed she had been transported by her necklace, or some mysterious force, then she had to find an empty carriage, or hijack the Trolley Lady and sit with her, which seemed all too plausible. Panting quickly, she about to open the door, when a little first year scurried along, she all but barked at him, "What's the date today?"
He looked intimidated, good, and quickly replied as if she was a teacher, "the first of September, 1943!"
Oh dear, she had been transported a long way back, and into dangerous territory, since Harry had told her that this was when Voldemort was in school. It would probably be best if she disguised herself as a teacher, or an assistant, because she was in fifth year, but looked quite grown up. Plus, it would help her get to someone who could send her back, Dumbledore, and she'd avoid the annoying chiddlyboppers, which is what Ginny called the younger years.
She walked through the carriages, and tried not to peep at people, just finding one that was empty. She opened the door of one, as it looked empty, and found a sour faced boy inside. "Hello," She acknowledged him, politely, sitting down, and feeling awkward because she hadn't a piece of luggage.
"Are you new here?" The boy asked, looking up at her curiously.
"Yes I am, I'm Violetta Burdens," She was really Violetta Black but didn't want to use the recognisable moniker, so had now come up with the worst last name ever.
"Burdens?" The boy started laughing, "I'm Antares Lestrange, but you can call me Ant,"
"Hi Ant! Don't you have any friends?" Violetta articulated, she was wondering why a Lestrange wouldn't be sitting beside a Riddle.
Ant was pretty handsome, with deep blue eyes, and a neat little nose, an at ease air, and, currently, a weird look on his face.
"My friends are just away to the bathroom, they'll be back soon, but it's alright you can stay, the train's busy and you don't know anyone. Where are you from, by the way?"
Violetta expected this, what with darker skin, and right now she couldn't help herself, "I come from a land from a faraway place, where the caravan camels roam, where its flat and immense, and the heat is intense,"
"From a desert?" Ant offered, giving her the weird look.
"I'm from Arabia, but I went to an international school, and I was born in Britain but moved there when I was three, and moved back again recently," I could be a bloody actor at this stage, what with all the improv.
Ant looked impressed.
At this point in the awkwardness, two new people entered the carriage, one blonde kind who looked like a Malfoy, probably his grandfather, and Riddle. She knew it was Riddle, because he looked exactly like Harry had described, although Harry's description had been borderline perverted as if he thought Riddle was hot. Which he was; but he was also the Dark Lord.
"Hey Ant, I didn't know we had guests," the Malfoy spoke in politeness and confusion.
Ant smiled at Violetta introducing her, "This is Violetta Burdens, who has just moved back here from Arabia. I thought she could stay here with us,"
The last sentence was more of a question than a statement and he looked at Riddle, who looked slightly pissed off but also a little pitying. The boys sat down, Abraxus Malfoy, as she learned, sat beside her and carried out a planned attack on her improv skills, by questioning her. Tom Riddle spoke to Ant, sitting beside him and the four made a cosy gathering.
"You could literally put a campfire, there, and we'd have a cosy sitting room," Violetta was making up shit with Abraxus who seemed like a really friendly, funny sort of person. She pointed to the middle of the compartment.
"Don't forget the marshmallows! Although that's for the house elves to worry about," Abraxus laughed.
Tom commented on the scene to Ant, saying, "Looks like Abraxus's found his soulmate," Ant burst out laughing, and teased Abraxus.
Violetta was happy she wasn't being a burden, and giggling said, "Oh I do hope I get sorted into Slytherin!"
The boys all looked her, oddly, "How do you know we're in Slytherin?" Riddle asked, raising a brow.
Violetta stopped, shit. It had just slipped out, which was the trouble of knowing too much. "Wait so you all are? That was just a guess! I must be good judge of character then,"
"Yeah," Riddle said, looking at her weirdly, "You must be,"
She felt a ripple in her brain, which meant he was trying to read her, but she immediately put up defences, and saw the surprise in his eyes.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?" The trolley lady broke the tension in the carriage and Ant ordered some food.
For the rest of the journey Violetta kept herself to herself, and ended up falling asleep, only to be awoken by ice cubes on her face. "Wake up and get changed, we're nearly at Hogwarts!" Abraxus shook her.
Violetta got up quickly and explained that she couldn't because she'd forgotten all of her stuff.
"All of it?" Exclaimed Ant.
She nodded, "I'm a very forgetful person, I was too excited about Hogwarts,"
"So excited that you forgot everything," Riddle snorted, which didn't really suit him.
The train rattled to a stop, and it was dark outside.
The next moments were a bit of a blur, because Violetta couldn't imagine being back at Hogwarts, afresh, but she travelled up with the group, rather than the boats, because she was older, then had to go see the headmaster to discuss the school before dinner.
"Well, well, well, what's your name?" Dippet asked, as Violetta sat down. She was in the headmaster's office, which was much different to Dumbledore's design. No Fawkes, no spinning instruments, just a bundle of papers and files. Dippet seemed like a very boring person.
"I'm Violetta Burdens, are you sure you haven't had a letter about me from my mum and dad?" She asked before producing a quick confundus and passing him a blank page from his own desk.
"Ah yes, all in order. Looks like the forms been filled correctly, and all that's left is the test, and the Sorting."
He picked up the Sorting Hat, and put it on her head, saying "Best get it done before the first years!"
The Sorting Hat knew her, and she knew it. It spoke to her slyly and quietly.
Were you not happy in Ravenclaw?
I loved it, but can you put me in Slytherin, please?
Strange child, very strange, how did you get here, but I do see the ambition in you, you have some qualities of Slytherin, so I may do that
You need to do that, it's essential. My friends are there, plus I might be able to kill Riddle while I have the chance, or at least make him less evil
As I said, ambition is there; better be SLYTHERIN!
Dippet lifted the hat, "Wonderful dear! Now we'll do the test tonight at 9pm, and pick your classes, so hurry along to dinner now!" He directed her and she flew down the stairs to go to the Slytherin table. The sorting hat was a beauty! Now all she had to do was survive, and try to find a way to get back, the fun part, without getting killed.