Disclaimer: Of course, I don't own any of the characters/places etc. All that belongs to the wonderful JK Rowling.
Chapter 2
Violet stood up, and watched as the rest of the Great Hall slowly began to empty. She attached herself to what she assumed was the first year group of Gryffindors. They all had the same look of wonder and panic written across their faces. Violet saw that there were two... prefects? Isn't that what Professor Dumbledore had called them? A girl with long red hair, and pretty green eyes was calling to the first years and waving, as a tall boy, with a far away look, stood beside here.
"New girl? Oi.. New GIRL!" came a shout. Violet snapped back to attention. It was the red haired girl. "Stay with the group, and I'l show you where you are sleeping. I'm Lily Evans, Prefect, and this is Remus Lupin, also a Prefect. Alright, let's go guys!" Violet began to introduce herself but was sure Lily could not hear her over the questions the first years were asking. She found that she was walking beside the other prefect, Remus. "Sorry about that, Lily takes being a prefect very seriiously. Sometimes to the detriment of her manners. I'm Remus Lupin" he said, holding out his hand. "Violet Ryan", said Violet, shaking it. "This castle is... huge". Remus followed Violet's gaze as she looked up towards the staircases. Remus grinned. "Yeah, it is, and it often changes, but you will get used to it eventually. You must be really cold, you didn't even get a chance to change out of your cloak". Violet looked down at her sodden clothes. "yeah, I would love a bath, and some food. I'm starving. I haven't eaten since I left home. Professor Dumbledore said that he would arrange something for me though". Her stomach grumbled. "Then I'm sure you will be looked after. Anyway, you're sharing your dorm room with Lily and Pria, they will look after you." said Remus kindly, "and if not, I'm sure we can sort something out." Violet stopped suddenly. Remus turned to look at her, and noticed that she had gone slightly pale. "Violet, are you alright?" "um.. yeah, I guess. I wasn't expecting to share a bedroom with other people. Do I share with the year or just the girls?" Remus felt his cheeks redden. "No, its just Lily and Pria, the rest of the 6th years, the boys I mean, we have our own dormitory." Violet felt another question on the tip of her tongue when -
"Remus! New girl! There you are, I was wondering if you had gotten lost. I've shown the first years to their rooms. I'm Lily, as I said" said Lily, very quickly. "Violet, Violet Ryan" said Violet as she shook Lily's hand. "I'm sorry for delaying you, I was speaking to Remus about Hogwarts. It's different". Lily grinned, and held open the portrait for the others. "Yeah, it is, but it's a very good different, I'd imagine." Violet straightened up, and found herself looking at the Gryffindor commonn room. The room, all decked out in gold and scarlet wall hangings, accents and several very comfy looking nooks and crannies, was all very much to Violet's taste. She immediately walked to the roaring fire, took her cloak off, and stood in front of it, feeling the warmth enter her body. She sighed, slowing feeling the hear permeate through several layers of wet clothes. "Violet, come on, I'l show you the dorms, and you can change into something else" said Lily, gently tugging on Violet's sleeve. Violet looked up at her with tired eyes. "Thanks, I can't decide if I should eat, get dry or have a bath first". Lily laughed. It was a musical laugh, Violet noted, very pleasant to one's ears. "Shower, then food, then pyjamas. Don't worry about it. We'll sort it. I think Pria is upstairs anyway". The voices faded away as the girls went up to spiral stairs to the girls' dorms.
Remus moved across the almost empty common room, and moved several heavy curtains apart. There, nestled behind them, were the Marauders. "Well, Moony, what's she like?" came the question, in unison from James and Sirius. Remus settled himself on a cushion. "She seems nice. I think she is very tired though. She didn't say much" he replied. "Lily was afraid you had gotten lost" said Peter, as he looked out the window behind him, at the Black Lake, not meeting Remus' eyes. Remus snorted. "Hardly. I'm not going to forgot my way to the Tower now am I? I would imagine that she wanted to interrogate the new girl is all." James looked horrified. "Moony! Lily would never do that! She's just..." he looked for the right word "... curious is all!" Sirius and Remus grinned at each other. "Oh please, James! Lily Evans! She wants to know everything about every magical thing in the universe, and an exchange student from another magical school? I'm surprised Lily didn't launch herself at Violet when she came into the Great Hall!" said Sirius, teasingly. James whacked him on the head with a cushion. Sirius stuck his tongue out at him. "Exploding Snap, anyone?" said Peter, who had finally turned his attention to his friends. As the Marauder's began their first noisy game of the new term, Sirius felt the little weight in his chest expand. He was back, he was home, with his brothers. He smiled.
Up in the 6th year girls' dorm, Violet had been shown where her bed was, and where the showers were. She began removing clothes before she had even entered the bathroom. Pria and Lily grinned at each other. "I'l get you something warm to wear" called Lily's voice as Violet stood under the hot shower. It was bliss. Violet let out a noise of pure pleasure as the warm water washed away the coldness that had entered Violet's skin. After a few minutes, Violet noticed several bottles of different coloured liquids on a shelf in the wide shower stall. She opened the purple one, and smiled to herself as the smell invaded her nostrils. Violets. She always liked the smell of her namesake. As she lathered the beautful smelling foam over her body, she thought to herself "this Hogwarts might be a good thing after all".
After about 20 minutes, Violet emerged, wearing a spare set of Lily's pyjamas, as her trunk had yet not arrived. Lily thrust a sandwich at Violet. Violet sat on her bed, and began to devour the sandwich, choking a little. "Easy Violet!" laughed Pria, as she handed Violet a glass of water. Violet blushed, "Thanks, I'm just starving". The girls sat, in companionable silence whilst Violet finished off the remnants of her sandwich.
Their silence was interrupted by shouts and bangs coming from the common room. Violet looked at Lily and Pria, who didn't seem too surprised. "Um.. Is that supposed to happen?" asked Violet tentatively. Lily rolled her eyes. "No, but the boys are downstairs. Im surprised there hasn't been a bigger crash yet. Remember last year, Pria, when they set the common room on fire?" Pria nodded, yawning, as she settled herself in bed, "You better go, before Minnie gets here" she said, as she pulled her curtains closed. "Night Violet" came her muffled voice. Lily sighed. "I better go see what's going on.." She stood up and left. Violet waited about 10 seconds and followed. She was interested now.
Before she even entered the common room, she could hear Lily shouting. Something along the lines of "HOW STUPID... COULD HAVE DIED...REMUS IM SURPRISED AT YOU..." "Lily... is everything ok?" came Violet's voice, sounding small, and awfully quiet to those in the common room. Five pairs of eyes suddenly fixed on Violet. Lily's shouts died in her throat. "Um, its ok Violet. These... idiots... thought it would be good idea to.. I'm not even sure what they did! It involves fire is all I know. What is it with you guys and fire?" Lily glowered at the four boys, who were not meeting her eye. Violet thought she saw two of them exchange a small thumbs up. Remus met Violet's eyes. "Since you're here Violet, I'd best introduce you to the rest of your Gryffindor classmates." He pointed to Peter. "This here is Peter Pettigrew". A small, squat boy with sandy hair waved shyly at her. She smiled at him in return. Remus cleared his throat. "And this is James Potter." James bowed in Violet's direction. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance" he said, pompously. The other boy elbowed him in the ribs. "Oompf" came the pained response, as James fell onto an armchair. "And I'm Sirius Black" said the dark haired boy. He strode across the common room, and took Violet's hand in his. "Pleased to meet you." he murmered as he brought her hand to his lips. Violet felt her face flush slightly. "Thank you." Violet congratulated herself that her voice came out steady. She wasn't used to anywhere near this much attention. "I'm Violet Ryan. I would love to stay and chat with you guys, but I'm afraid.." she stifiled a yawn. "If I don't get some sleep now, I think I will miss my first morning of classes." She turned and waved at the boys. "Lily, can I ask you to show me where I need to be tomorrow?" Lily nodded, "I'l wake you up earlier than normal, and we can go over your schedule." "Thanks, Lily. Goodnight boys, see you tomorrow." Lily turned back to the group of boys, and glowered at them. "You better be nice to her. I mean it. I will hex you ten ways from Sunday if you're not". The boy's met each other's eyes. "Of course, Lily." they chorused. Lily rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, boys."