Violet Potter was dressed in one of her favorite party dresses, an emerald green. She sat prim and proper at the tea table the Malfoy House Elf had set up for her. She was waiting for a large party of friends. Last year, she had a quiet affair with just Ginny and herself. This year she had a great crowd of her friends from Slytherin.
Violet and Narcissa Malfoy had planned an early afternoon tea party with Violet and her Slytherin girlfriends: Daphne Greengrass, Pansy Parkinson, Tracey Davis, and Millicent Bullstrode. Violet was also expecting an extra treat with one more friend.
The Malfoy Floo exploded in green color and out popped Violet's first friend, Pansy Parkinson. Smoothly, Violet stood up and walked to her friend and the two shared a hug.
"Pansy –" Violet said with a smile. "I am so glad you could make it." Pansy offered a small package to Violet who took it graciously. "Follow me." Violet led her to the group of tables on the other side of the room. She placed the present from Pansy on a table where the birthday party would be taking place later.
"This is our first chance to celebrate your birthday, Violet," Pansy said with a smile. "I am curious to hear what you have on your godfather that allows you to get away from a true Weasley birthday party."
Violet gave a conspiratorial smile. "I can't reveal all my secrets," she said.
Just then the Floo came to life and Violet stood up again. "Excuse me, please Pansy." She said.
Violet walked over the to Floo and out came Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bullstrode.
Violet gave a hug first to Milli and then to Daphne.
"Welcome to the two of you," she said with big grins. Each girl also offered her a small present which Violet took with a smile. Then, she took it to the back table where the rest of the presents were.
Violet had just walked Milli and Daphne back to the tea tables where Pansy was when the Floo came to life again. Out came Tracey Davis and Ginevra Weasley. Violet nearly ran to Ginny as she made her way back to the Floo. She swallowed Ginny into a hug.
Pansy snickered quietly to Millicent as the two girls hugged tightly. When Violet had led the two girls back, Pansy asked genuinely confused, "How were you able to escape the Weasley Tower of Doom?"
Ginny shrugged. "I am shocked myself. One minute I was fighting off my brothers from another hexing and the next, my mum was cleaning me up and sending me for Davis Manor."
"It is mother, Ginevra, dear," Daphne said with a drawl. "We have to get the Weasleese out of you."
"I was meaning to ask you, Violet," Ginevra said, "Do you have anything to do with my being here?"
"Well, that is part of our business ladies," she said again with that conspiratorial smirk. "And now that all of you are present, let's enjoy some tea and refreshment."
Violet sat with Pansy and Ginevra at one table while Tracey, Daphne and Millicent sat at the other table. Violet with Narcissa Malfoy's help had seated them keeping in mind the dislike that Daphne and Pansy had for each other. Pansy was most comfortable with Violet and Ginny would have fit anywhere, but Violet wanted her close after her long summer at the Burrow.
"Dobby –" Violet called.
Suddenly, the Malfoy House Elf appeared with a pop. Violet turned to the House Elf and said with a smile. "All of my friends are here, you can begin to serve us."
Violet had a little adjustment dealing with the Malfoys House Elves. They were firmer with their elves than Violet was with Kreacher. They did not use please or thank you. So, one by one, Dobby served the guests, starting with Violet's table and continuing with Daphne's table. Violet took her tea with a little cream and no sugar.
Violet visited quietly with Pansy and Ginny just catching up with what was going on. The three Slytherin girls were a vast variety for summer experiences. Pansy had quite the summer already, having returned from a vacation in Europe. Violet had remained sequestered at Black Manor, not allowed anywhere until her trip to Hogwarts to meet with the Headmaster. But she stayed hush about that piece of information. Ginny had lived in what had been Violet's purgatory last year. She had been chased, pranked, attacked, and left by her older brothers.
After all six girls were done with their tea, Violet directed Dobby to clean their tables up while Violet led the girls to chairs set up near the table with presents. Once the girls were sitting together, Violet spoke.
"I wanted to take some time to make sure we spoke about a few things before the rest arrive," she said smartly. "We have some plans to make and if we are truly going to rule Slytherin by the end of this year we need to get going on that now. Let's start with Milli's notes."
Milli pulled out her notebook and opened it up carefully finding the marked spot before she began.
"Officially, the Prefects have not been chosen yet, but if Professor Snape follows the true and tride formula, then Patricia Stimpson and Cassius Warrington will be the 5th year prefects in our year."
"And we have them firmly in our grasp –" Pansy added.
Violet nodded quietly.
"We have the other prefects already with strong confidence in Violet and they will listen to Daphne," Tracey added.
Violet nodded again.
"So, our plan to bring Slytherin under our sway is right on schedule," Daphne said quietly.
"Unless there are any surprises, Francine Dorn and Adrian Pucey are shoe-ins for Prefect next year," Milli added.
"Any idea on who will be Head Boy or Girl?" Daphne asked.
"Most likely, not Slytherins," Milli said. "I think the Head Boy will be Percy Weasley and the Head Girl will be Penelope Clearwater."
Milli then noted in her book, "I believe that our year is becoming near shoe-in already. The amount of points that Violet here has won for our House surpassed even the Seventh years last year. Any point loss was always in areas that I believe Professor Snape will consider to be an unfair use of Professor Power. So, Violet, you are running away with it." She said to Violet.
Then, she nodded, "And Draco is nearly a shoe in as well. Only Zabini could give him a run for his money."
"What's wrong with Nott?" Daphne asked. It was clear to everyone that Daphne was not as big a fan of Malfoy as others in Slytherin were.
"Well, Draco is Professor Snape's Godson. His father is a well-respected pureblood, and Nott's family still has some stigma from his association with You-Know-Who," Milli added.
The mention of You-Know-Who brought a hush to the group. Things were quiet for a minute until Violet cleared her throat.
"Any thought on second year Slytherins for Prefect?" Violet said.
"Well, I think Ginevra here has a showing so far, but we will need a second year of data before I feel too comfortable making any further predictions." Milli said.
Violet shook her head, feeling that was acceptable enough.
"I think what I hope to accomplish with this party is to make some contacts to expand our circle slightly. Who do we have?" Violet asked.
"We have Pucey and Dorn already in our circles," Pansy said with confidence.
Ginevra added, "But we probably want to grab Malfoy as well."
"Draco will be tricky," Violet said before Pansy could speak out that she could handle him. "He would want to be in this circle, but he will want to be in charge."
"If one of us were dating him –" Daphne said with a smirk.
Pansy's whole face lit up at the prospect of this, but everyone could see and hear what she was thinking.
"No, Pansy," Tracey said. "I am confident you could make a couple with him, but he would have you doing his bidding and not the other way around."
"But Violet –"Ginevra said.
Violet smirked. "He needs to be led so that he thinks he is in charge, and even given authority, but where he does what we want him to do."
Pansy sighed. "As much as I would like to be that girl," she said, "I know that I don't have that subtlety. Daphne does."
Daphne groaned, "There is no way," she began, but Violet cut it off.
"No, the Greengrasses are too neutral for Malfoy's taste."
"But the Potters are light –" Tracey said.
"Except this Potter might have some Dark Magic due to her history –" Violet said. Everyone nodded fully accepting that. "I will try to make my move."
She looked back and forth among the girls. "Now, what about the plan to rule Hogwarts in two more years?"
"We will need to have all the Prefects and the Head Boy and Girl," Pansy said.
"And the prankster twins need to be put down," Ginevra said harshly.
After several more minutes the girls adjourned their meeting. It was still thirty minutes before guests were to arrive. Most of the girls had gone off to freshen up. But before Violet wanted to leave she pulled Milli aside. Milli pulled out another notebook and handed it to Violet.
"I wouldn't read this in here – wait until you get back to Black Manor. In there are the findings from my project I have for you. I have a second copy of that notebook hidden in a trunk at home. I am planning more research on the subject yet. But I broke down all that we know about –" she stopped for a minute allowing the silence to say the Dark Lord's name for them. "I listed all his disciples who remain free. That list should give you an idea of his reach. I did provide a few possible scenarios that you could follow to prevent yourself from too much difficulty."
Violet took the black book and then called, "Kreacher –"
Immediately, the Black's family House Elf popped into Malfoy Manor.
"Yes, nice Mistress –" he said quietly.
"Could you please put this book in a secure place that I can read when I return home?" she asked the elf, handing him the black notebook.
"It would be my pleasure, nice Mistress," he said. He took the book and headed out with a pop. Then, Violet and Milli embraced quickly.
"Happy Birthday," Milli said quietly to her friend. Violet smiled back. "Thank you, Milli." Then she added, "Let's go get ready."
Violet sat quietly around a full load of presents as everyone had finally left her party. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy had just left with the House Elves and Violet was sitting among the presents that all her friends had given her. Draco had come over and Violet immediately moved close enough that her shoulder brushed against his side.
Draco and Violet sat quietly together for a few minutes without saying a word. Violet just allowed herself to relax after the busy day while Draco considered whatever was going on inside of his head. Violet wanted to nudge Draco ever so gently though.
"Draco –" she asked quietly.
Draco turned to look at her a look of concern on his face, and Violet forced herself to look into his eyes without flinching away. Draco's face softened as he looked on the face of his cousin, playmate just a few years ago, but uncertain of what he felt about her now.
Violet allowed a blush to go across her cheek as she looked at Draco, allowing herself to focus on the things she liked best for her first real friend period. After a moment of not speaking, Draco finally broke the silence.
"Would you be willing to go to Hogsmeade with me during the school year?" he asked.
Violet tried hard not to put on a triumphant smirk. Instead, she blushed again and looked down at her hands. Draco moved in a little closer wrapping his arm around her shoulder. Violet allowed him to do that and felt his warmth against her.
"I'd love to," she said as clearly as she could.
As soon as she had answered, Draco moved his hand into a sleeve of his coat and pulled out a small bracelet.
"I'd like you to wear something for me," he said.
Violet looked at the bracelet and from what she had seen it was a gift that was supposed to announce that in a sense, she belonged to Draco. She offered her arm and let him put the beautiful silver bracelet with a few emerald colored jewels on it.
"Does this mean that we are officially a couple?" she asked, her eyes looking doe-like up at him.
He nodded in answer. To which, Violet turned and hugged Draco tightly. "That's good," she told him.
Violet and Draco had their first official date the next day after her birthday – August 1st. Draco accompanied Violet into Diagon Alley. First, he took her to a small café where the two of them ate lunch. During the lunch, Violet began to ask about Slytherin and Draco's plans.
Draco was overjoyed to get the chance to tell Violet what he wanted to do for control of Slytherin. He laid out the connections he had made and who would be his lieutenants. Violet questioned how far up the years he went in influence. And Violet got the sense that he was hoping to gain some of that by dating Violet. He seemed to note how well connected and respected Violet was by the upper years of Slytherin.
Here and there Violet made suggestions for an inner circle of Slytherins, and Draco could have little argument. Draco replaced Crabbe and Goyle outside of the inner circle – what sense did it have to give those two authority, when they were glorified body guards? They were replaced by a few in other years, Patricia Stimpson and Adrian Pucey, then Blaise and Theo along with Daphne and Pansy. Draco was impressed by Violet's suggestions and connections.
After lunch, Draco took Violet through the Alley, making stops at the Quidditch supply store and Flourish and Blotts and they finished at Florean's Ice cream. Even though the two had gravitated toward each other for political reasons they enjoyed each other's company and sat well together. It was 5pm and Draco led Violet to the Floo in the Leaky Cauldron where they returned back to Malfoy Manor.