Violet sat bundled up in the Hogsmeade carriage along with her Auror on duty, Kingsley Shacklebolt. She shivered as the cold November winds came down out of the mountains of Scotland to blow up leaves from the Forbidden Forest. But the shiver contained other feelings. She was going to be meeting Sirius Black, her godfather.
She had heard and read much about her Godfather. She had letters from him telling her about his close friendship with his father. They were the so-called Marauders, he, her father, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. They were pranksters extraordinaire. They were secret animagi – though that secret was no more since that detail came out during Peter Pettigrew's trial.
Her confidant, Lady Narcissa Malfoy wrote to her about a handsome rogue who wasn't afraid to fight for what was right against what he thought was wrong. He was a true Gryffindor – the bad that came with it, but also the good. Narcissa had warned her strongly not to ask Professor Snape about Sirius Black. But it wasn't that she didn't trust Lady Malfoy. She had just felt so powerless about this whole affair about who would have custody of her.
Last night, she had knocked on said Professor's office door. When Professor Snape had opened the door, he saw the tears in her eyes. His first response was: "Did those Weasley boys do something again?"
"No, Professor –" she said with her head shaking.
"What's wrong, Violet?" He asked.
He had told himself that he wouldn't get familiar with the girl, but he had seen her out cold after a Weasley attack. He had woken up in that Hospital wing like that. He had seen her head on a swivel searching every corner of ever room and hallway – just like he had.
"I am supposed to meet Sirius Black tomorrow, Sir –" she said very softly.
Professor Snape took a sharp breath in and lifted his eyes into the sky. He wasn't sure if he should have this conversation at all. But he walked her into his office and locked the door and cast privacy charms. He sat behind his desk and looked forward at her intently.
"What would you like to know, Violet?"
"Did you know my parents?"
He nodded – happy for the safe start.
"I knew your mother, Violet since we were little. She was a Muggleborn and I was a half-blood in the same neighborhood. I was the one who recognized the things she was doing was accidental magic. My mother – the magical one in our family explained it to her parents and sister. And for a time, your mother and I were very good friends –"
"For a time, Sir?" She asked.
"Until Hogwarts – "
He sat back in his office chair thinking back to those early days and even the later ones. "Your mother was sorted into Gryffindor while I was sorted into Slytherin. And you understand exactly what I went through. Your mother and I tried to remain friends for a time, but four people kept getting in the way –"
"My dad?"
He nodded.
"And Sirius Black?"
He nodded again. "Those two specifically. Slimy snake – greasy git – wannabe Dark Lord – all those were names they had for me. And worst of all, your father had decided early on that your mother was going to be his wife. She resisted him at first, but eventually they started to date. It was then that I made my biggest mistake –"
"What was that?"
He shook his head. "Perhaps we can talk about that some more in the future. I can't talk about it now."
"So, Sirius Black?" She asked.
"In the attempt for me to speak fairly about your father and possible guardian –" he spoke the last as if the very thought that it could happen would be anathema to him. "I only knew them in school. It can be hoped that they have matured. It can be hoped that for your sake that Black has matured under the gruesome care of the Dementors."
Violet saw the little village coming closer in the distance and she focused on the task at hand. There were five more Aurors and five Hogwarts Professors present – to protect the students on a Hogsmeade day they said. But all the attention was for her, and the only Professor she trusted was not present – Severus Snape.
Waiting at the entrance into Hogsmeade village was a tall well-built dark man. He had light fair skin and medium brown hair and grey eyes that stared ahead at the carriage she sat in. Violet sat prim and proper in the carriage until the carriage stopped next to him. He bounded around and opened the gate of the carriage and with a gracious hand took her gentle hand in his and helped her down. Then, he swallowed her into a hug.
"Prongslet – " he whispered as he held her tight and started to shiver in tears.
Violet remained stiff and awkward in the embrace as the strange foreign feeling of being held was given to her.
He slowly bent on his knees in front of her, holding her gently, his grey eyes peering into her green eyes.
"Violet –" he said as if asking her to answer a question, but she didn't know the question she was supposed to answer.
"There is only one thing I can ask of you," he said with that same intensity, "I want you to know how sorry I am for putting my petty anger and revenge before doing what was right and making sure you had a home. If I had not allowed that rat to be the secret keeper – if I had not ran after that rat, I would have been there for you.
Violet shook before the intensity. Her only experience this close to men had been Vernon Dursley who was about to beat her and Rubeus Hagrid who had terrified her. She looked left and right to see if there was anywhere to escape. But there was absolutely no one. Sirius Black let go just a little so that he could bend down in front of her, but in the process, he moved slightly closer to the frightened girl. With that move, Violet cried out in absolute fright. She pulled out of Sirius' grip and turned from Sirius. The large Shacklebolt had never seemed very friendly and his sudden movement toward her scared her even more.
Violet turned quickly out of the village and ran back toward the mountainous path. She ran surprisingly well with the slight women shoes' she now wore thanks to the Malfoys. It was difficult to navigate past bushes in bulky dresses. But Violet had strong thighs able to run. She had the ability to run in zig zag patterns and before Shacklebolt or Black could think to follow she was on the hills surrounding Hogsmeade and running.
Of course, when the two men realized what was happening, they ran after her.
"Wait, Violet –" Sirius cried out.
"Miss Potter, come back!" Shacklebolt thundered. Their voices low and male only intensified her fright. So certain that they were coming to punish her, she ran like she never had before. She let the Mary Janes fall off of her feet and found herself able to run faster up the hills. Sirius Black was capable of such pursuit, but was not dressed for it. Shacklebolt was able, but found the terrain harder for himself. Violet being so low to the ground was able to put her hands into the dirt.
Suddenly, a flash of light flashed past her and in fright she changed her direction and ran.
"What was that, Black, you fool?" Shacklebolt growled.
While the man was turned and Black was defending his actions, Violet found the Forbidden Forest. She had the unknown furious men behind her and the forest forbidden to her in front of her. She chose the forest. She ran deep into the forest. Her fears increased as she heard the curses of the men behind her. But thanks to small feet and her quiet breathing and her skill in hiding from Dudley Dursley, she lost her pursuers, but more importantly she found herself lost. Violet wandered around for hours until she fell into a clearing exhausted.
Violet awoke to a dim sky around her and a gentle hand shaking her.
"Violet –" it said softly. She jumped to bolt again only to find the arms of Professor Severus Snape and see Pansy Parkinson standing next to him. She slowly started breathing and let him hold her close. As she let him hold her, Pansy approached with a vial, which Professor Snape took gently from her hand.
"Drink this, Violet," he said with dark caring eyes. "It will relax you."
Violet took the drink very carefully, still fearful of what might happen to her, but Pansy encouraging smile and presence seemed to tell her it was okay. She opened the topper and tipped the drink back. As the warm drink went down her throat and felt warmth and calm go into her almost immediately. As soon as she had, Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe stepped out. They each took a side of Violet and held her up as they started to follow Professor Snape outside of the forest.
About an hour later and in complete darkness, the group of five came out of the woods. A small crowd awaited near a few carriages, Sirius Black and Kingsley Shacklebolt and Professor Dumbledore. Professor Snape rather protectively led the small group to the very first carriage and Violet was laid in with her three friends sitting beside her.
When Sirius Black moved to jump into the carriage with her, Professor Snape pulled out his wand.
Professor Dumbledore put up his arms,
"Now, Severus, I hardly think such a move is necessary."
Violet who could only hear the response of Professor Snape was, "If that fool approaches her and sends her in fright again into the forest, I swear I will save her the trouble and give him the Killing Curse myself."
The other one had his wand out,
"You wouldn't dare, Snivellus."
But the other two, Shacklebolt and Dumbledore stood between them. Pansy smartly asked the carriage to start moving back to the castle, and slowly they disappeared from the altercation. When Violet made it back to the Castle, Lord and Lady Malfoy were waiting inside with Draco. With a cry of joy, Lady Malfoy ran to Violet.
"Violet, you are okay –" she shouted as she took the girl into her arms. Violet felt the awkward embrace of Draco and Lord Malfoy as well. Soon after the Castle Door banged open and Dumbledore, Sirius Black, and Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived with Professor Snape hovering behind them.
Lady Malfoy let go of the girl and allowed Pansy and Daphne who was nearby to hold her up, and then she rounded on the four men.
"Whose insane idea was it to leave a girl who has had issues with giant men all alone with some man she has never met?"
There was a moment of silence until Dumbledore walked up. He had his hand out as a twinkle appeared in his eye.
"It was a rather unfortunate thing that happened with Miss Potter, but I didn't see any harm allowing the girl to meet her future guardian."
Lady Malfoy's eyes narrowed very hard as she looked at the Headmaster.
"You mean to tell me that you knowingly sent a girl to visit a man she has never met before – a girl who feels that her world is upside down and lost?" Lady Malfoy spat.
Professor Dumbledore was speechless. But Sirius Black jumped up.
"Now cousin, Professor Dumbledore told me about the whole situation and I promise that I will take good care of her –"
"Dumbledore-" Lucius Malfoy drawled, speaking at last, "You can be assured that your lack of common sense and the endangerment you continue to throw at one particular student will be heard by everyone on the Board of Directors and before the Minister."
Then, with a look of distaste he said, "And Black, I am sure that this little adventure today will serve me well in my own cause to adopt the poor girl."
Sirius Black's face turned into a snarl, so much so that Violet whimpered and backed up. Goyle and Crabbe stood between her and everyone else. Professor Snape whispered to the other students,
"Take Miss Potter to my office. If there is any trouble run for the Prefects."
Pansy and Daphne took Violet between each of them while Crabbe and Goyle split up. Crabbe in front and Goyle behind. Draco led the way with Crabbe and in fifteen minutes they were sitting in Professor Snape's receiving room in the office and sat waiting for Professor Snape. Violet was quickly asleep after another terribly long day.