Crap, I'm so sorry guys - I even already had this uploaded to my account, I just completely forgot :s Ah well...
Huge thanks again to xXMizz Alec VolturiXx and also to TheNerds for their reviews, I hope your not too disappointed with this chapter - probably my least favourite out of the one's I've already got written.
Disclaimer: As usual i really don't own a thing :(
By the time I got back to the common room – I had to hide from Filch for nearly 20 minutes – I was dead on my feet. I walked towards the girl's dorms not noticing that the room wasn't empty. A book slammed shut, making me jump and turn for the second time that evening.
"Oh hey," I found Draco sprawled across one of the green sofas by the fire.
"A bit late, aren't you?" he laughed before moving over to make space for me. I sat with my knees up and my head on his shoulder, staring into the crackling flames and feeling even more impossibly tired.
I heard Draco sigh, "Violet… don't interrupt me, alright? Or crack any of your impossible jokes… just let me talk." His hand came up to stoke my dark hair. I was feeling a little uncomfortable. As friends, we looked out for each other (or, rather, Draco got some of his minions to beat up anyone who upset me, whilst he calmed me down). But our more-than-friendly relationship has only ever been physical. No sappy feelings. "I … need you. You make me different. You are the only person I can be myself with. You don't expect me to be someone I'm not." I was tempted to ask if he was drunk, but I held my tongue and let him carry on. "Look, I can't promise to be faithful and I don't expect you to either, but I'm tired of seeing you upset over guys who don't deserve a second glance." He looked down at me, a serious expression on his face, before lowering his lips to mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck to bring us closer, before pushing him away and springing to my feet, laughing. I hadn't gone two steps, when he fell into me, also laughing, pushing me to the floor. I pouted, still giggling, as he trailed kisses up my neck and along my jaw, finally reaching my mouth.
"Excuse me!" we were both startled when a voice came out of the fire. Draco stood up and I rolled onto my stomach to see my brother's face in the flames.
"Hey Steph," I said, all traces of tiredness forgotten, "How's things?"
"I'm fine, you do know it's 2 in the morning, you've got lessons in a few hours." He answered.
"So have you! And why the fire? You'd be able to see me in the morning." Draco sat down next to me and I slid onto his lap. Stephen frowned.
"Knowing you, I thought you might still be up. Look… I know where you were earlier. And so does Snape." I glared, "You weren't exactly subtle, especially when you knocked over the plant." He laughed.
"Ugh! Oh, how I love detention with Snape. Can't you do anything?"
"I'll see what I can do, but I can't promise – you know what he's like about you."
"He needs to lighten up. Night Stephie," I stood up, stretching.
"Don't call me that. Tomorrow I'm Professor Carlisle."
"I'll call you Professor when: 1. You actually know something, and 2. You're not my brother." At that he got a funny look on his face, but I just ignored him and went to bed.
"Today class, we will be studying Bowtruckles." We were standing outside, near the forbidden forest. It was just before lunch and I was starving. "Bowtruckles are tree dwelling creatures, they…" My stomach kept rumbling, making Draco – who was standing next to me – smirk like crazy. It grumbled again and Draco laughed, so I shoved him sideways into Crabbe/Goyle (I can never tell the difference).
"Violet, I would appreciate it if you were to listen to me. I know you have a short attention span – especially when you are in such close proximity to Malfoy," lots of the class snickered, I sent Stephen my I-want-to-kill-you glare, "And you like to let your mind wonder, but I assure you that this is a lot more important." He smirked.
"And I would appreciate some food, but I know you'll be cruel and tell me to wait for lunch. For the record, I do not have a short attention span." A few people (Hermione Granger included) gasped at my disrespectful attitude towards a teacher, "Anyway, how is a Bowtruckle more important…?"
"Violet… Shut up." He cut me off laughing, before continuing with the lesson.
The rest of the class passed quickly and I was one of the many nursing bleeding fingers.
"Vi? Can is speak with you for a moment?" Steph called me back.
"Yep, what's up?" even a bloody finger couldn't put a dampener on my good mood – I was finally home, back where I belong, "But you do realise that if I don't get food I'm extremely irritating?"
"Oh, I know that all to well." His laughter broke off suddenly, glaring into the distance. I turned to see Draco waiting for me not far off.
"What is it with you and that Malfoy kid?"
"That, my dear brother, is none of your business." He returned his gaze to me, looking hesitant.
"Right…Vi? I have something you need to know. Mother and Father don't want you to know, but it's your life…" He paused, taking a deep breath. "I'm…not your brother."
"What are you on? Of course you're my brother." I scowled.
"No, I'm not, I'm your cousin." I gasped, "Mother and Father, they adopted… you." My head span and my stomach twisted.
"I'm sorry?"
"You're Mother's sister's daughter." I was speechless. Steph looked worried, but carried on. "I know this is a lot to take in, but I thought you needed to know."
"Who are they? My parents? Where are they?" I felt sickeningly dizzy.
"They're… they died, when you were 6 months old. I was 5. I never properly understood."
"But, who were they… who am I?" My breathing was fast and shallow. It can't be true, it just can't.
"Well, Mother's sister Amy she was… she married…" He hesitated, "Daniel Potter." I gaped at him and sank to the grassy ground. Stephen sat next to me, putting an arm round me and stroking my hair, like he used to when we were little, both living at home – his home, not mine. Now I understood, he had been the favourite; he had been their child. Not me, never me. I didn't belong.
"So, I'm not even a Carlisle? I'm a… Potter – Violet Charlotte Potter?" I laughed humourlessly.
"LaRoux-Potter." Stephen corrected me.
"Oh, because that's so much better!" I got to my feet and ran, up to the castle, leaving everything behind. Once in the entrance hall, I veered right, heading for the kitchens. I sat on one of the benches, my arms around my legs and head on my knees.
As I heard the bell for afternoon classes, the door to the kitchens opened to reveal Draco, holding my bag and robes.
"What the hell is wrong? You just left me, standing there like an idiot!" Oh, just great, he was in a mood; he never listens when he's like this.
"Before you run away with yourself," I said, my voice calmer and steadier than I felt, "You might want to know that I'm adopted." I grabbed my bad and robes from him and hurried out of the room, breaking into a run when the door closed behind me, to my next class: Potions.
Oh, Merlin! Here goes a night out the window. I didn't have my robes on (just my shirt, skirt and tie) and I was late. Snape never took points off his own house and, normally, favoured them, but (as per usual) I was different.
"Carlisle! You're late!" he barked as I entered the room.
"Point out the obvious, why don't you." He glared, and I tried to avoid eye contact (it might be stupid, but I have a funny feeling he would be able to tell what I was thinking – and 'stupid, favouring bastered' wouldn't go down all too well).
"Your robes?" I held them up, "right, detention, tomorrow night, 7.30" I sighed and scanned the room for seats. Only two left. One next to Parkinson and the other: Granger. I sat down next the latter, leaving the next seat along for Draco; he'd just love that.
Snape resumed his start-of-term/O.W.L lecture, only to pause, momentarily, when the door opened and in walked Draco. I noted, bitterly, how Snape said nothing.
"Carlisle." He nodded stiffly as he sat down.
"Malfoy." I replied in the same fashion, before putting my head down on the desk.
"Carlisle! Pay attention!" Around me everyone were busying themselves, making whatever potion we had been set.
"I have more important things to think about, than potions." I grumbled under my breath, but evidently not quite quiet enough.
"Trying to beat your detentions from last year Carlisle? You know, I used to expect more from a Carlisle, but with your insolence and refusal to work I'd say you were more of a …" he looked around the class, before smirking, "Potter." Oh how right he is. I allowed myself a small smirk, before sinking back into the zombie-like numbness that had surrounded me for the last hour.
Before he could comment further, there was a knock at the door and 'Professor' Carlisle strolled, casually, into view. He waved at the class, a casual grin on his face. I heard a few girlish giggles and rolled my eyes.
"Severus, I need to speak with Violet." He was as relaxed and casual as anything. I saw Snape narrow his eyes a little.
"I don't think…" He was cut off.
"It is rather important."
"What makes you think I want to talk to you?" I raised an eyebrow, "Haven't you got a class?"
"Nope. Free lesson." He was still relaxed, even with me throwing him death glares. "Come on." I didn't budge.
"I'd rather stay here." He sighed.
"It is tried and tested that I can throw you over my shoulder." A few people laughed, but I didn't move an inch.
"You're so stubborn, Vi." He walked over to me, slung my stuff onto his shoulder, and then picked me up. We were halfway across the classroom before I realised what had happened
"Merlin Stephen! Put me down!" he just ignored my protests until we reached the entrance hall – which is a bloody long way.
"What the hell was that for?" I fumed.
"Well, I thought you might want a reason to escape Potions, and there are a few people who want to speak to you."
"Who?"
"Dumbledore for one." Why? I mean, I know I've just found out that I'm not who I thought I was, but surely Dumbledore must've known.