The throngs of people that crowded the Platform of 9 ¾ in the Wizarding Portion of Kings Cross Station was overwhelming. For those parents and children who had business here, bringing their children to the Hogwarts Express and having a tearful goodbye with their children – it was nearly impossible to do so. But there was an anticipation in the air. Every eye that was on that Platform – even if they were there as they should be wanted to know the answer to this question:
Will we see Lord and Lady Malfoy, their son, Draco and their charge, the orphan Violet Potter?
There were men and women and children who had no business on that Platform. There were reporters from the Daily Prophet. There were old wizards and witches and recently graduated wizards and witches. They all were there for the Wizarding world's greatest celebrity, Violet Potter. She was a celebrity one hundred times over. She was most well-known for what happened to her as a child. She had taken the killing curse to the forehead and survived it. That event had ended the reign of terror associated with You-Know-Who also known as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
A hush came over the crowds of people as suddenly Aurors from the Ministry plowed a line through the platform. A harsh voice went out:
"If you have children to get on the Express, you are to do so immediately. Then, you need to leave the Platform. Failure to do so may result in a fine or excessive force or a one day's stay in Azkaban."
The crowds reluctantly parted for a large dark-skinned Auror, a man known as Kingsley Shacklebolt. He pushed the crowd ahead as other Aurors from the Ministry began to create a path straight to the train. Boys and girls were hurrying to avoid being trampled. The cries of young eleven-year olds and others went up as they were forced from their parents and sent onto the train. But there was a further hush as two tall heads made their way along the column created by the Aurors. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were here. The whispers followed them.
"I see her!"
"She seems to be okay now!"
"Violet Potter!"
The whispers could not be stopped as shouts of "Move it along!" continued to carry throughout the Platform. The crowds on either side of the column of Aurors followed the tall heads of Lord and Lady Malfoy until at last the two heads stood before the train. A nod from the couple was the only affection granted as first Kingsley Shacklebolt, next Draco Malfoy and at last Violet Potter made their way onto the train.
Shouts came from the throngs along the crowd.
"What made you decide to send her to Hogwarts?"
"Is she going to be okay in the close proximity of Dumbledore?"
The Malfoys said nothing as they watched Draco and Violet find a compartment on the train. Neither did they say anything when Violet and Draco were seated, they just turned stiffly and walk back along the corridor to their secret place of entry and exit.
Every eye watched as the Auror Shacklebolt accompanied Draco and Violet to a compartment that already had Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson.
Shacklebolt pointed his wand at the windows of the chosen compartment, then there was no line of sight for the crowds that had dared defy the Ministry's Aurors. The crowds watched as the Hogwarts Express a Steam Engine started to puff smoke and its wheels slowly came to life and move. No one moved as they watched the train drift slowly to the north.
Inside of that compartment, Kingsley Shacklebolt stood quietly next to the door while Violet slid into the cushion of her compartment with an exhausted sigh and then Pansy sat to her left while Draco sat between Crabbe and Goyle.
Violet turned her head and let it fall on Pansy's shoulder.
"It is such a relief to have that over with –" she sighed.
Pansy patted Violet's shoulder and then put her arms around the girl. She had been Violet's friend since the day after the expose had come out in the Daily Prophet. The Malfoys had sent Violet over to the Parkinsons so that Violet would have a friend that was a girl before she made it to Hogwarts. Pansy after a few tea dates and a sleepover had discovered that she was growing fond of the girl.
Violet was nothing like the early wizarding books pictured her father and mother. She was not someone looking to make mischief or to stand up to Pureblood society and declare that her muddy blood was better. She was just a girl who was hungry to play dress up, talk about tea parties and clothes, and the shopping she got to do for one week in France.
Pansy looked down at the face of the girl who was fast becoming her best friend. She loved Draco – perhaps a little too excessively, but here was a friend among girls. She wasn't the pureblood snob that Daphne Greengrass was. She wasn't quite so eager to prove that she was as good as the others like Tracey Davis. She wasn't interested in only eating chocolate and ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, like Millicent Bullstrode.
Pansy shook her head. She shouldn't idealize Violet Potter. The girl clearly had issues. She knew nothing about pureblood society. She had no concept about what made her mother, Lily Potter such an anathema to people like Pansy. That was proving to be a difficult subject for Pansy and Violet. She didn't really carry herself like the heir to a noble family like the Potter family. That certainly couldn't be blamed on her. And she was naïve. She seemed to believe that people were inherently good.
Though Draco had whispered when she had come to visit three days ago,
"Father believes that the reason she didn't press charges against Dumbledore is the fact that Dumbledore laid thick loyalty charms on her as a girl."
That thought greatly disturbed Pansy. Pansy's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the compartment door.
Shacklebolt looked terrifying as he opened the door to the compartment, but it was just the Trolley and the offer of treats went around the room. Draco ordered for everyone: Every flavor beans, Chocolate frogs, Pumpkin pasties – you name it.
Soon, Violet was cheering up and scarfing down chocolate frogs and other candy.
She was amazed as she ate her chocolate frog at the Wizard's card in her package.
Nicolas Flamel a French wizard and well-known alchemist is one of the only known makes of the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with incredible powers. He is a close friend of Hogwarts School Heamdaster Albus Dumbledore. It is believed that he is over 500 years old.
Violet whistled as she read the information, but it came out funny because her mouth was still filled with chocolate.
There was plenty of food and when the girls were finished and then Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were eager to eat the leftovers.
They were just cleaning up their faces and their wrappers when the compartment door knocked again and started to crack open.
"Has anyone seen –" began a snobby young voice, but was interrupted by the Ministry's Auror.
"You can't come in – you need to leave now."
A head of bushy hair peeked around the corner looked up at the dark face of the Auror, looked to the right and saw Draco, Crabbe and Goyle, peeked left and yelped at the recognizable face of Violet Potter. It looked like she was going to do anything but leave when Shacklebolt pressed his body forward.
"Now!" he grunted and when the girl's head was pushed through, the door slammed shut.
A laugh came from Pansy's mouth – a laugh that sounded more like a cackle. Violet peeked over at the strange sound. Draco's mouth twisted into a smirk. Crabbe and Goyle did not appear to have noticed anything.
"Looks like another fan girl, dearest cousin –" Draco drawled to Violet.
Cousin was the term of endearment Draco had chosen to use to refer to Violet. Violet's green eyes peered over at her cousin and her own lips soon twisted in a mirror image of Draco's smirk.
"Well, if she had paid, I would have offered her an autograph –"
Pansy continued to chuckle. "I think that was a Mudblood. No money to pay for such an expensive poster."
The banter continued to the clear discomfort of Shacklebolt. It quickly became apparent that he did not like the way the conversation was going, but he chose not to say anything. After that one interruption the train ride continued quietly until they reached Hogsmeade Station hours later.
Waiting for all of them at the station were several teachers and a few more Aurors from the Ministry. Violet who had seen pictures of each teacher – and had been given a brief description on each one saw several there right now – Fillius Flitwick, Sybill Trelawney, Rolanda Hooch, Pomona Sprout, Bethseda Babling, Septima Vector, and the one professor Violet had met, Severus Snape.
The Professors and the Aurors were there to prevent crowds who had heard Violet Potter was on this train from causing any problems. There seemed to be a clear plan to deal with everyone. The Professors present pushed the second years and up to the carriages waiting to take them to Hogwarts. It was left to Filius Flitwick to lead the First years through the gauntlet of Aurors.
"Yes –" he said looking and seeming to count the number quickly. "All ready? Let's go!"
Violet felt Crabbe and Draco go ahead of her while Pansy remained by her side and Goyle fell in behind. Then, the group of five fell into the midst of the First years walking up the path to Black Lake. The crowds tried to touch or get a last glimpse of Violet but the Aurors kept them away. Shacklebolt went with the 2nd years and older in the carriages up to the school.
As Violet made it around the bend she got her first peek at the famous Castle Hogwarts. The lights in the towers and windows gave off a glow against the horizon where the sun was going down. Then, they were before little row boats to cross the lake. Violet got into a boat with Draco and Pansy. There wasn't enough room for both Crabbe and Goyle. Those two went off to find their own boat. Violet's group was joined by a tall dark-skinned boy that Draco seemed to know.
"Name is Blaise Zabini," he told Pansy and Violet.
"My name is Violet Potter," Violet replied.
"Parkinson, Pansy –" Pansy drawled.
The group of four was quiet as the boats went across the quiet form of the lake. Then, they passed underneath a cliff as they approached the castle and finally docked at some piers. Then, out of nowhere Crabbe and Goyle were there with Violet and Pansy as they followed Professor Flitwick to the castle door, and it was open.
Standing in the entry of the castle was a tall stern-looking woman in rich emerald-green robes.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said crisply. "My name is Professor Minerva McGonagall. I am the Deputy Headmaster and Head of Gryffindor. While the rest of the students gather in the Great Hall, it is my duty to give you some last-minute instructions. You are about to be sorted into houses. Hogwarts has four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Once sorted, you will live in your dormitory with those of your house. You will have the opportunity to bring glory by earning points for your house or to bring shame by losing points for your house. Now look alive – the sorting will begin shortly."
Violet followed her group into a smaller room just off of the Great Hall. Voices spoke in hushed tones, all conjecture about how the Sorting would take place. One boy said,
"We have to do Magic Duels."
A girl – the one with the bushy hair said, "I bet it is a test of what we studied ahead of time."
A tall red-haired boy with freckles on his face said, "My brothers told me that we have to wrestle a troll."
The group around Violet stayed quiet and alert.
Then, the door opened up yet again and Professor McGonagall reappeared. "We are ready for the Sorting. Make a line and follow me."
Violet stayed with her group as they shuffled their way inside and stared out into the golden light of candles and lamps and hundreds of children assembled around 4 long tables. Violet remained still as one-by-one Professor McGonagall called out names.
"Crabbe, Vincent" was the first name that Violet recognized. As Draco had predicted, Crabbe went to Slytherin. Soon after, "Goyle, Gregory" went Slytherin. The blonde beauty "Greengrass, Daphne" that Pansy complained about on the train ride also went Slytherin. Violet was truly impressed by her bearing and beauty.
The bushy-haired girl from the train went to the burgundy-clad Gryffindors. Then, "Malfoy, Draco" went to Slytherin.
Violet took deep breaths and concentrated on the image of a candle in her mind. It was the method of calm that Mrs. Malfoy had tried to teach her the last month. It helped her to not hyperventilate while her name got closer and closer. She watched "Parkinson, Pansy" go to Slytherin, and then Professor McGonagall shouted, "Potter, Violet."
Whispers erupted throughout the hall at the calling of her name. She slowly made her way out of the dwindling crowd of first years and approached the stool with its hat.
"She's like a porcelain doll –" one girl whispered.
"She is just as short as the paper was saying," a boy said out loud.
"What a poor thing –" another one said.
The last sentence she heard was: "Where is the famous scar?"
There were similar comments as she took slow steps the candle in her mind as she sat and watched the hat fall over her head.
"Well, hello there –" said a voice in her head.
She reached her eyes back.
"Um –" she started, "Hello. How does this work?"
"Haha!" the hat said, "I will do the work. Just sit and wait."
There was a moment of silence as the hat hummed in her head. "I could give you some options. I sense some intelligence in you. Do you thirst for knowledge?"
Violet concentrated on the question unsure if that was right.
"I sense that you have faced down danger before. None could doubt your bravery. Do you seek adventure and to prove how strong you are?"
Violet shook her head.
"You have a mind. Already you have used your wit to survive many trials and make people work for you. There is a House that could sharpen your mind and cunning and wit."
Violet asked quietly. "My only friends are in Slytherin? Is that an option?"
The hat chuckled inside her head again. "Oh, I think it had better be –"
"SLYTHERIN" he shouted out loud for everyone to hear.
Violet took off the hat and handed it to Professor McGonagall. Draco and Pansy stood up and began to clap. Crabbe and Goyle followed their leader as Violet began to make her walk to the table of snakes and green. Her robes changed color and she took a silent thankful breath. She had done it.
But the Great Hall which had shouted and cheered for everyone else now was silent. No one else cheered other than those four. Several in Slytherin glared at her as she made her way over. Several from other houses seemed to bore holes into the back of her head. It felt like the longest walk of her life.
As Violet finally made it over to Slytherin's table, Pansy slid over letting Violet take the spot between her and Daphne Greengrass.
A few minutes later the Sorting was over and a tall grandfatherly figure stood up in the midst of the hall. His eyes twinkled as he looked out over the school. He opened his arms and said,
"Welcome back old students and new students. Let's jump right into eating. We will make all other announcements later."
Suddenly food started to appear around them on empty platters. Violet and Daphne took the time while the boys started to grab at the food.
"Hello, the name is Potter, Violet," she said.
Daphne nodded her head and said very shortly, "Charmed –"
She shook Violet's offered hand and with a smile said, "Greengrass, Daphne."
For the most part, Violet followed Daphne's lead. She quietly observed everything going on around her. Pansy did most of the talking for the girls in her area. Draco began talking about everything he had predicted would happen. He had predicted that he, Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Violet were going to be in Slytherin.
Violet just sat and ate quietly. She turned to listen to Tracey Davis and Millicent Bulstrode the other two girls in their age introduce themselves. After a literal feast of almost anything Violet might have dreamed of eating, trays of desert appeared. Violet passed on the desert. Her lack of eating for most of her life had made it impossible for her to eat too much. Daphne also followed her example while Pansy and Mllicent seemed to eat enough for both of them.
When it seemed that everyone had finished eating and were starting to tire, Professor Dumbledore stood once more.
"Just a few instructions before you are sent off to your dormitories. A reminder that magic is forbidden in the halls. No entry into the Forbidden Forest. It is Forbidden for a reason. Finally, I must insist that all students remain away from the corridor on the 3rd Floor. Sure and certain death awaits you there. Now, let's finish with the school song."
Violet just yawned as the school exploded in noise. There was no one tune that went with the chaos that was the school song. Two annoying red-haired twins sang a funeral dirge. There was a dark-skinned boy also in Gryffindor who didn't sing at all but made a rapping sound. Lots of variety that made a cascade of noise. Thankfully it ended. Then, cries for "First years – first years to me –" went up all around them as each Houses' prefects gathered the new students. The old students filed past them until it was just the 1st years and the Prefects. Violet followed the two 5th year Slytherin Prefects, one boy and one girl down steps and deep into the Hogwarts dungeons. Then, just outside the common room, the boy shouted the password and the girl shouted. "Don't forget it." Then, they were inside.
The girl prefect led the girls to the left hallway where the girls bunked and the boy prefect led the boys to the right hallway. Once inside a large room with gorgeous green carpet and five large four poster beds. Their things were placed by the beds. On the far left, Millicent found her things, next to her was Tracey, then Daphne had her spot, Pansy and Violet. But somehow rather subtly Daphne smoothly moved Violet's things between her and Pansy.
Violet was starting to wonder what had happened between those two girls that they didn't want to sit or sleep next to each other.
But that thought was for another day. Like everyone around her, Violet changed into her nightgown. Violet pulled out an emerald green one to match what Mrs. Malfoy had been sure would be her house. She laid her bed on the soft cushions and pillows and quickly fell asleep.