Violet led her third year friends from the Slytherin Common room to the Dining Hall the next morning. Violet sat down to Draco's left and each of them partnered off. Pansy ended up sitting with Nott, Goyle sat with Milli, Daphne sat with Blaise and Tracey sat with Crabbe.
Violet observed everything coming in to the Great Hall to the best of her ability. She did so until she got her schedule.
"Arithmancy, first – " She said quietly.
Draco peeked over. I can't believe you signed up for that," he said, having cleared out his mouth of food. "I have Divination. Didn't you sign up for that one?"
"I have no desire to look at Trelawney anymore than we are stuck watching her already," Violet replied with a snark. Violet remembered Dumbledore attempt to convince her to take Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. Violet interpreted that as manipulation. Besides, she wanted to be the best student she could be.
When breakfast was over, Draco joined Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle as they headed up to Divination. Violet walked with Daphne back to the Common room where they had an hour until Arithmancy.
Violet saw him again as they were waiting outside of the door to Arithmancy.
"I suppose I should have listened to you, Violet," he moaned out loud in the hallway. Violet arched her eyebrow.
"In regard to –" Violet added, waiting for him to finish the sentence.
"Divination –" he said with a sigh. "It was smelly up there. All that happened was Trelawney walked around predicting death and mayhem. The worst thing is that Weasley is there too."
"Did Weasley's death get predicted?" Daphne asked.
"Actually," Draco began, "She correctly predicted that Longbottom was going to break a teacup –"
"I could have predicted that –" Violet muttered. "I'm not very impressed."
Just then Professor Charity Burbage opened the door for the 3rd year Arithmancy. "Alright, everyone inside."
Just then, Violet followed Daphne inside while Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy went off to their break before Care of Magical Creatures.
As Violet walked inside she turned to see Professor Vector organizing what appeared to be piles of paper – not parchment. The Professor with long, thin black hair turned to display the fair skin color. Violet took in her plain red robes and matching pointed hat.
"Everyone," She began in a pointed way, "it is important that you find a seat, because this first lesson will take some time."
When everyone was seated, she continued. "You can put everything, excluding quills. I will be handing out Muggle paper. Please understand that this is necessary. As the Muggleborn and other students raised in the Muggle world know, the Muggles have a school subject called, Math or Arithmetic. This is the basis of much of the work we will do in Arithmancy. This also gives the Muggleborn or the Muggle-raised an advantage in this class."
At this break, sheets of Muggle paper suddenly appeared and Violet looked down to see what she noticed right away to be an Algebra placement test from her time at Muggle school. She had always had to repress what she knew so that she didn't get too far ahead of her cousin Dudley Dursley. But now, that the Dursleys were far away from her she could put her entire focus on this.
"You will use the quill or I can provide Muggle pencils if you prefer for the test. This test will judge what you know and allow me to partner you with someone who will be able to tutor you."
Violet considered the Muggle pencil for a moment, but instead decided on the quill and ink. She had not used a Muggle pencil now in over two years and had become accustomed to the feel of the quill.
"You have the entire period to finish the test. Do the best you can. This will not affect your grade, but only help me to place you."
So, Violet took the remaining hour to sit and fill out the test. By the end, everyone – Muggleborn, Half-bloods and Pure-bloods had sore hands and fingers and were all a little testy. Very few were actually able to finish the test itself. They walked out of the classroom without any further homework assigned for them for the day.
Following the class, Violet and Daphne still rubbing their hands walked their way to Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall.
"Today, we will learn about Animagi," the Professor began with her lecture. "Does anyone know what an Animagi is?"
It was Millicent Bulstrode, Slytherin's resident bookworm who raised her hand.
"Yes, Miss Bulstrode?" Professor McGonagall said as she called on her.
"An Animagi," Millicent began, "is a wizard who could transform at will into an animal."
"Correct Miss Bulstrode!" Professor McGonagall called out. "Five points to Slytherin."
It was times like this – rare times, Violet wondered when Professor McGonagall was fair to Slytherin. But Violet knew not to raise her hand, because she didn't think McGonagall would be fair if she did.
While Violet was nearly lost in her thoughts, she saw a tabby cat where Professor McGonagall had been standing. The only thing that gave Violet any clue that this was in fact the Professor was the fact that this tabby cat had spectacle markings around her eyes. Then, the Professor turned herself back into her female self.
"You will note, class, that I am an Animagus."
With her stern and near scolding voice, she turned to Violet.
"Miss Potter," she clipped out, emphasizing the P. "Would you happen to know what we would call a wizard or witch who has the hereditary skill to change themselves into an animal at will?"
Violet sat there in thought. None of the Slytherins raised their hands – not even Millicent who surely knew the answer would attempt to make her classmates look stupid.
"That would be a Metamorphmagus, Professor –" she said, trying to be meek and humble so that the Professor had little excuse to take points away from Slytherin.
Professor McGonagall looked thoughtfully at Violet for a minute, studying her.
"That would be the correct answer, Miss Potter, but try to pay more close attention to the entire lesson. The subject is important. I will not have any of you doing something foolish because you were not paying attention."
Violet's mouth started to twist into a frown at the clear bias against her, but using the Occlumency training she had been using – her book had reminded her that it could be used also to protect one's emotions from being tweaked – not just the mind. Violet turned her grim look into a merely thoughtful pose and simply nodded her head as Professor McGonagall continued her lecture.
From that point, Professor McGonagall continued the lecture about what it took to acquire the skill, but strongly warning the class against attempting it so early in their education. She ordered the students to write a three feet essay on the Animagi, the process to become one and the dangers that could be found during the process then sent them on their way.
On the way out and to lunch, Violet grumbled to Draco who had appeared next to her.
"Why even bother teaching something that we aren't even supposed to attempt?" She said. "What a waste of time!"
Draco continued with his usual refrain. "My father has always maintained that the educational standards of Hogwarts continues to deteriorate since Dumbledore has taken over."
Violet had to use her Occlumency not to roll her eyes, though she could feel Daphne who wasn't seated too far from her sigh something nearby.
Lunch continued the complaints from many of the Slytherins. The complaints didn't help when Draco started in on Professor Hagrid, whom he would have next for Care of Magical Creatures.
"I can't believe that – " he shuddered "thing was given a job here."
Violet shook her head. "Dumbledore again –" she groaned herself. "I am not going anywhere near the kidnapper."
No one in Slytherin said a word at that – they all knew Violet's history with the Keeper of the Grounds of Hogwarts.
At this point, Pansy joined Draco, Crabbe and Goyle for said class while Daphne, Tracey, Violet, and Millicent got ready for Ancient Runes.
Professor Bathsheda Babbling, a middle-aged witch with curly dark hair had symbols arrayed all throughout the classroom. The lesson began with a discussion on the different languages that were covered in Ancient Runes. Violet and her friends sat quietly while they took notes.
The end of the period had everyone in the classroom assigned reading from the first textbook, Ancient Runes Made Easy.
When the Slytherins returned to their Common room, Violet found Crabbe with his arms folded. When he saw Violet he seemed to relax himself.
"Oh Violet!" He said very excitedly. "I'm glad you made it back. There was a situation during Care of Magical Creatures."
"What was that?" Violet asked.
"Draco is in the infirmary, injured after a Hippogriff attack," he said.
"A Hippogriff?" Violet said incredulously. "Why would they be introducing Hippogriffs during the first lesson?"
Crabbe just shrugged his shoulders and started to lead Violet to the Infirmary. When they arrived, she looked inside to see that Madam Pomfrey had just bandaged Draco up. Madam Pomfrey's face was tight as Draco continued to mutter with Pansy and Goyle standing close by. When Pansy saw Violet walk into the room and made eye contact with her, she looked at her and then Draco, seeming to struggle with something, but gave up her position at Draco's side and allowed Violet to move in smoothly.
"What happened?" Violet asked.
"That oaf –" Draco muttered. "I really should have listened to you, Violet – " he continued and again trailed off.
Violet brushed his forehead and said nothing. She didn't see any clear injuries other than a scratch. She guessed it was more bruised ego than anything, but kept it to herself.
"I am going to get that oaf fired after my dad gets my owl!" Draco continued to rant. Draco allowed Violet's hand to slip into his while they slowly sat up.
Madam Pomfrey returned and said with a cross look. "There is really nothing wrong with you. You are free to go."
Draco glared at the Mediwitch sullenly for a moment, but just shook his head and stood up and led the Slytherins outside of the room.
As they made their way back toward the Slytherin Common Room, several Gryffindors stepped into the corridor, led by Ronald Weasley, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.
Violet smoothly stepped in front, while Pany slipped next to Draco. Crabbe and Goyle stepped behind Violet as the Slytherin group eyed the three Gryffindors warily. The Slytherins well practiced in protecting their own.
Violet did not take out her wand, even though the three Gryffindors had their wands in their hands, tips pointing down. She waited for the first words or move from the three of them, and obviously it was Weasley.
"We came to make it very clear to the Snakes," Ron said with his voice raised loud enough for half the castle to hear, "That we expect an apology from Malfoy given in writing to our Professor. He did not follow the class instructions."
Violet arched her eyebrow at the Weasley and his two stooges.
"I don't see why Draco would have to do such a thing, Weasley," she replied. She kept her voice down, but allowed it to carry into the corridor by annunciating her words and her intent. "We are thirteen year old students, not adults with experience or the build to handle magical creatures larger than ourselves. Even if instructions to handle the creature were clear. Why such a large creature for a first lesson? Where is the syllabus that explains the goals for the class? Are there not other creatures – less dangerous perhaps that could have been introduced first?"
Weasley narrowed his eyes at Violet. "I knew that you would twist words into making this all Hagrid's fault. You've had it in for him since your introduction into the Wizarding World!" Each word was spat in her direction.
Violet pulled out a handkerchief and merely wiped the spittle off of her face. She looked at Weasley and his two goons with extreme distaste. Then, she turned to see the entourage around her.
"As much fun as it is to argue with three sycophants," she said with the haughty voice learned from Narcissa Malfoy and Grandmother Walburga Black, "I need to return to my rooms and clean myself up."
She started to move forward, intent on doing as she said, but Weasley, Thomas, and Finnigan gripped their wands tighter, their faces also tightened clearly preparing for action, and their feet locked as if they had no intention of giving up the corridor and allowing the Slytherins an escape.
Violet knew something those three did not. Professor Snape had just come up from his dungeons into the Hall and had seen and heard the tale end of that argument.
"Weasley, Thomas, Finnigan –" he hissed.
At the low drawl of the feared Potions Professor and Head of Slytherin, the three turned, raising their wands – a tactical mistake. Professor Snape sneered at them – no wand in his hand.
"What do you dunderheads think you are doing?" he asked, his silky smooth voice carrying through the hallway.
Ronald stuttered, trying to find words to speak to his least favorite teacher in the school, but finding nothing. Thomas and Finnigan stood behind him, now putting wands away and backing away from Weasley.
"Ten points each from Gryffindor for accosting students in the hallways with wands out –" Snape hissed. The three boys narrowed their eyes at the hated Professor and then darted at Violet and then Draco, looking for them to say something. Finally, they lowered their wands.
"Now go – " the Professor growled.
The three boys turned and literally ran from the hallway. Professor Snape met the eyes of each student, who nodded their heads in thanks and then turned toward the Great Hall. Violet turned to her friends and allowed Crabbe and Goyle to lead the way down to the Common Room. She took Pansy's place at Draco's side and allowed Pansy to take up the rear.
When they returned to the Common Room, Draco called for parchment and quill and started to dictate to Violet a missive for his parents. With Violet's coaching talking about the introduction of Hippogriffs to their age and the attack, then they sealed it up. Violet and Draco would take it up to the owlery after the dinner meal in the Great Hall.
Then Pansy and Violet walked back to the dormitories so they could clean up. Pansy smelled like a strange animal – probably the Hippogriff and Violet needed to wash up after the altercation with Weasley.
Pansy complained the whole while. "That Professor is yet another example of the leadership of Albus Worship-the-Ground-I-Walk-On Dumbledore."
Violet said little, but simply replied. "Hogwarts needs a shake-up – that is for sure."
Then, they headed back to the Common room and prepared to follow their year mates to the dinner meal.
Madam Pomfrey did not write a note that Draco was exempt from classes, but Lucius Malfoy, his father wrote a note back after Violet and Draco's owl reached him that night. Draco was exempt from classes until late on Thursday morning, when Slytherin had double potions with, guess who? Yes, Professor Dumbledore insisted again to put Gryffindor and Slytherin together.
Pansy continued to simper near Draco, even though he was Violet's steady boyfriend. It was just hard for Pansy to give up her life-long dream.
"How is it, Draco?" she asked in a sickly sweet voice. "Does it hurt much?"
Draco would always nurse his arm in response, "Yeah."
Of course the Gryffindors in the classroom with them just glared at her. Weasley – in particular shouted,
"Stop faking it, Malfoy –"
But his timing was always impeccable. Just then, Professor Snape entered in. "Settle down," he said in his silky smooth voice. "Let's get ready to brew the Shrinking Solution."
To add insult to injury, Professor Snape teamed Ronald Weasley up with Draco Malfoy in order to help brew the potion, and Draco was unable to cut or prepare many of the ingredients. Each time Draco asked,
"I need help cutting these daily roots –"
Professor Snape would command Weasley to do it. And each time, Weasley would insist in his most contradictory manner.
"Lousy Malfoy doesn't need any help – he just refuses to follow directions in Care for Magical Creatures." Was Weasley's reply.
That was the wrong thing to say in Professor Snape's class.
"Apparently, you are the one who refuses to follow directions, Weasley – " Professor Snape snarled. "Follow the directions and help him."
Weasley would take the knife and cut Draco's roots and chop them, but of course he didn't seem to care how he chopped them. He would just cut and go ruthlessly. Draco would snootily stop him.
"You have to cut them gently and fine, Weasley. The juices need to remain in the roots." And Professor Snape would hover close by and insist that Weasley would do it right. It became clear – as much as Professor Snape was probably doing this to torment Weasley that having Weasley and Draco working together was a bad mix. He switched Violet who was working with Daphne Greengrass to work with Draco.
Weasley would be able to work decently enough with Daphne. Violet was able to skin Draco's shrivel fig currently and slice the caterpillar correctly.
Of course, during this time, Violet and Draco whispered incessantly – something the Gryffindors would have complained that they were not allowed to do.
"I think Hagrid will be ousted for sure," Draco gleefully told his girlfriend. "Father is very unhappy about my injury. He is going to complain to the school governors and to the Ministry of Magic."
Then, with a look he said the next portion a little louder.
"My father has influence you know. And an injury, which lasts like this – who knows if my arm'll ever be the same again?"
Violet played it up as well. "Draco, you poor thing," she said as she took his caterpillar and sliced it for Draco and then for her potion. "I hope Hagrid finally gets what he deserves. It is time Dumbledore stops protecting him."
Other Slytherin conversations happened over cauldrons. Milli and Tracey talked about Peter Pettigrew sightings.
When the class was over, Violet and Draco put away their ingredients and then bottled up their potions. Each of them earned five points a piece for Slytherin because of a good potion. Violet was granted an extra five for averting what was surely a disaster after Weasley had started on that potion.
The next class was Lupin's Defense against the Dark Arts. It was a class that Violet was dreading. She wasn't sure what Dumbledore was up to hiring Sirius' good friend Remus or allowing a werewolf as a teacher. And she really didn't want to keep Lupin's secret, but she had agreed to it.
As Violet came into the Defense classroom with the other Slytherins she noticed Remus Lupin was as shaggy as ever.
"Good afternoon," he said in a quiet and tired voice. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's lesson will be practical – just wands needed."
Several curious looks floated back and forth through the room, but everyone did as they were told. Violet was confused because she could not remember a practical Defense lesson.
"If everyone would follow me," Professor Lupin said.
Violet along with Pansy who was sitting next to her got to her feet and followed the Professor out of the classroom. They traveled through the corridors of Hogwarts, and then he led them into the Teacher's lounge. Everyone crowded into the room where nothing but an old wardrobe appeared. Professor Lupin stood next to it, and suddenly the wardrobe started banging against the wall.
Immediately Tracey whispered over to Daphne who was standing next to her, "It's a boggart."
Tracey Davis was not a loud student, but obviously Professor Lupin had the hearing of a werewolf. He said, "That is correct Miss Davis. Five points to Slytherin."
Right away there was a collective sigh in the room. She even heard Theo Nott whisper, "We just might have a fair Defense teacher."
"Now," Professor Lupin began to lecture. "What can you tell me about Boggarts. Miss Potter?" He added Violet's name immediately.
Violet smoothed her robes and skirt before answering clearly. "Boggarts are dark creatures that live in dark, enclosed spaces. Wardrobes like that over there or beds or cupboards are places they will frequently lodge inside of."
"Another five points to Slytherin, Miss Potter," Professor Lupin said with a warm smile shining at her. Violet smiled shyly back, trying not to seem too familiar with the shaggy looking Professor.
"Now, here is the next question, Mister Nott," Lupin continued. "What does a boggart do?"
Theodore who often was quiet seemed to have some experience.
"Boggarts change shapes often into the thing it believes will frighten us more than anything else."
"That is correct, Mister Nott – take five points to Slytherin." He continued. "The boggart in this wardrobe has not chosen a form yet, and that gives us an advantage. Mister Zabini, do you know what that advantage is?"
"Er – because there are so many of us, it doesn't know what shape to be?"
"Yes again," Professor Lupin said, but the points to Slytherin stopped. "If you have to deal with a boggart, it is often good to deal with it in company, so that it gets confused. Now, here is another question, class. What is the charm that repels the boggart?"
"Riddikulus –" Millicent Bulstrode said.
"Correct again, Miss Bulstrode. But the word is not enough. You need to picture the thing in the form that amuses you the most." Then he added, "I want each of you to think about your fear and then imagine that fear in a humorous way. So, line up and each of you will get a turn. I will be here if there are any problems."
Professor Lupin lined them up, starting with Crabbe and Goyle and leaving Violet and Draco near the back of the line. So, when the door to the wardrobe opened, things started to happen.
Crabbe went first and as the door opened the boggart exploded into a black haze and started to wrap itself around him. Crabbe let out a whimper and struggled against it, utterly terrified. Professor Lupin shouted, "Remember humor, Mister Crabbe!"
A light seemed to turn on for Vincent and he stabbed his wand down and the puff of black smoke became a shining, technicolor disco ball. Soon, all the other came forward.
Violet paid little attention to the humorous changes and more on the fears. Pansy – It turns out – was afraid of giant dogs. Daphne was afraid of spiders. Draco was afraid of a woman with very golden yellow hair in wide, bulky curls. Violet heard Pansy whisper: "Rita Skeeter!"
When Violet was about to go, Professor Lupin held her back, but Violet asserted herself. "I will be fine."
When the door opened, it revealed not Voldemort as Violet had believed would happen, but the half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid.
"Aw Violet –" he said with a loud voice. "I want to take you home and raise you along with all my pets."
Violet started to back away, but suddenly had an idea. With a wave of her wand she said, "RIDDIKULUS!" Hagrid started to wear a baby bonnet and had a pacifier in his mouth and sat on the floor like a baby.
At just that moment, the bell chimed for the end of class. The Slytherins filed their way out, and headed to the Dining Hall for lunch. Several of her year mates were impressed with Remus Lupin's lesson. Violet wasn't sold – she was cautious about anything Dumbledore wanted to introduce to her. She did have to admit that Lupin appeared to be a decent teacher.