Clementine sighed with relief, rubbing at her unencumbered neck. "Feel better?" Violet asked with a grin.
"Better? It feels like a weight has been lifted, it feels like freedom!" Clementine yelled dramatically spinning around in the entry way not caring how silly she looked.
"Let's go eat." Violet took Clementine's hand, intertwining their fingers as they headed into the great hall together.
"Yes, I am starving!" Clementine cheered, practically skipping in to get food, holding tight to Violet's hand. The blonde beamed at the brunette. It had been over a week since Marli had been arrested. The Aurors took their time removing Clementine's inhibitor collar, but it was finally, officially gone and the Gryffindor's mood lifted substantially.
Clementine threw herself down at the Gryffindor table with Louis and the rest of the quidditch team. She grabbed a plate and loaded it up one handed to the chuckles of those around her.
"You can let go to eat Clem." Violet smirked, "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." Clementine looked from Violet to her fork from her fork to Violet. With a shy grin Clementine kissed the back of Violet's hand before releasing it to grab her fork. Violet scooted over so that their legs touched and kissed her firmly on the top of her baseball cap.
"So... whatever happened with Gabe?" Violet asked the group as she grabbed a plate of her own.
Sophie glared, "Minerva made him confess everything to McGonagall, which is why Clem got pardoned. You know his dad though. He's pretty high up in the Auror department. Gabe got off with a slap on the wrist. He got his Head Boy badge taken away and that's about it. He didn't even have to go to trial."
Clementine stood up from the table. "I'm going to have a word with him. Tell him never to come near you again. I've been to Azkaban twice, if I go back again I'm going to deserve it."
Violet grabbed Clementine around the waist, pulling her back into her seat, "Please no Clem! Marli's arrested, you're pardoned, Gabe's not worth it." Clementine stared angrily at the Hufflepuff table where Gabe was currently sitting slouched down looking anywhere but at the Gryffindor table.
"He could have killed you!" Clementine slammed her fist on the table. "He deserves more than what he got and if he's not going to get it legally-"
Violet looked at her warily, "Clem..." Violet cupped her cheeks in her hands. "Please leave that prat alone, for me?"
Clementine gave a grumpy nod and leaned in to peck Violet on the lips.
"Come on!" Louis yelled, "What did I say about kissing girls in the great hall!"
"I'm pretty sure we established that you were just jealous because you didn't have a girl to kiss." Clementine smiled smugly.
"Oh contraire, my girl kissing days are over." Louis turned and placed a kiss on the blushing red cheek of James. Clementine grinned and continued eat and laugh with her friends.
Violet quietly ate the whole time, staring across the great hall. "I'll be right back." She said curtly moving off the bench and down the aisle.
"Huh?" Clementine looked at her and followed her path with her eyes. Violet was walking toward the entrance at the same time a beanie headed Hufflepuff was. Clementine jumped nervously from her seat and walked quickly towards Violet who was already talking to Gabe, her hand clutching a fist full of Gabe's robes.
"Just because your Daddy kept you out of trouble doesn't mean you got away with it." Violet spoke in a menacing voice that Clementine had never heard from the usually timid girl.
"I-I'm sorry I h-hexed you Violet, I'm glad y-you're okay." Gabe stuttered looking frightened. Clementine came up behind Violet just as she raised her hand in the air and swung it down, making contact with Gabe's cheek with a resounding crack. The force turned Gabe's face away from the muffled laughter coming from the tables.
"Violet!" Clementine said more in astonishment than reprimand.
"I don't care that you hexed me but you have no idea what Clementine had to endure because of you. Don't you ever go near her again, do you understand?"
"I won't." Gabe's cheek was red from the strike and he hung his head as he exited the hall.
"Violet!" Clementine said again, hugging the blonde, "That was amazing! If I didn't fancy you before, I certainly would now."
Violet grinned sheepishly as she shook her stinging hand out. "I wish you would go to the infirmary. Get these scars removed." Violet moved back, tracing the mostly healed cut that went down her cheek.
"I thought it made me look tough." Clementine grinned smugly.
"You don't need a scar to look tough but as long as it doesn't bother you or... or make you have bad thoughts..." Violet looked into Clementine's eyes, smiling warmly at each other as they leaned in, only to be interrupted by Minerva slapping them both on the back.
"Nicely done Violet. I would have gone for the punch, but it sounded like a solid slap." Minerva patted them again, Clementine threw her arms around the taller girl, hugging her tight. Minerva stood awkwardly not returning the hug, warmth spreading up her neck and through her cheeks.
"Thank you Minnie! I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. Thanks for getting Gabe to confess and for helping me with Marli. I really owe you." Clementine said.
"It... it was nothin'..." Minerva said casually as Clementine backed up. "But I mean... if you really feel like you owe me... you could... No, never mind..."
"What is it?" Clementine smiled up at the red head, "If there's anything I can do for you, please tell me."
"Well... I was just thinking about that time we kissed-" Minerva started, pointing at her lips.
"No!" Violet broke in, getting behind Clementine and pushing her forcibly from the great hall, "Good try Minerva, but no."
Clementine broke into laughter, "She was just kidding Violet."
"No Clem, she wasn't." Violet shook her head, scowl on her face.
"It's a Hogsmeade weekend, I have something I need to do... want to come with?" Clementine asked shyly.
"Do you even need to ask?" Violet clasped Clementine's hand and the two walked out the door and down the path to Hogsmeade.
It started snowing again, white flakes flurrying through the air. Clementine beamed, she pulled her hat off and raised her hands in the air twirling. Violet grinned, admiring the contrast of the white snow flakes in her dark brown hair. Clementine smiled mischievously as she caught her staring, she wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist, lifted her slightly and spun around amidst the flurries. Violet sighed contentedly as Clementine sat her down, both of them staying in their embrace. Violet rested her head on Clementine's shoulder, thankful to have her back and getting back to her normal self. Violet knew the healing process wasn't over, that she still had a lot to recover from but she'd enjoy the peaceful moments as they came.
Violet reached around and grabbed Clementine's hat from her hand. She placed it on her own head, looking into the face of the brunette for approval, "What do you think? How does it look?"
Clementine looked her girlfriend over, "Hmmmm, it definitely looks better on..." She drug it out, Violet playfully slapped her on the shoulder, "...you! It definitely looks better on you." Violet smiled smugly, taking that as permission to keep wearing it.
"We don't have to eat ice cream if you don't want to, but I do need to run by the shop. I need to talk to Rebecca for a minute." Clementine reluctantly loosened her grip on Violet, taking her hand once more as they walked.
"Oh, I'm getting ice cream, it's a tradition now." Violet said, sounding serious. Clementine smiled at her as they reached the ice cream parlor, admiring her cheeks, rosy from the cold.
"What?" Violet asked, "You're staring."
Clementine shot Violet the cocky smile that she had missed so much, "You're so beautiful it's a wonder I don't stare all the time."
Violet's cheeks goes even brighter as Clementine opened the door for her and they entered.
"CLLLEEEEEEMM!" AJ screamed. He ran to Clementine, slamming into her and hugging her tight around the waist as soon as the bell jingled on the door announcing their arrival.
"hey aj..." Clementine managed to croak out, AJ having knocked the air out of her.
AJ released Clementine and hugged the blonde tight, "Violet!"
"How ya doin' AJ?" Violet hugged back before crouching down to look the boy in the eye.
"I'm good Violet. I missed you! I like you a lot better then that dark haired girl." AJ stood rocking on his feet as he spoke.
"Dark haired girl?" Violet questioned, looking up at Clementine. "You brought Marli here?" Jealousy burned inside her at the thought of Clementine bringing someone else to their special place.
"Not on purpose..." Clementine said softly, guilt apparent in her eyes, "I didn't want to, she dragged me in... it turned out to be good though, talking to Rebecca helped me come to my senses."
Violet's face softened, "Then I'm glad."
"Hey Vi, could you hang out with AJ for a minute? I need to talk to Rebecca." Clementine smiled as AJ was already pulling the girl over to the couch giggling.
Rebecca was standing at the counter, grinning from ear to ear. "You look much better than the last time I saw you." She reached out and pulled Clementine into a hug. "Hello Violet, it's very good to see you again." Rebecca spoke loudly so that Violet could hear her from across the room.
"It's good to see you too!" Violet called back smiling before AJ demanded her attention once more.
Clementine lowered her voice, "I'm embarrassed to ask you this, but...is there any way I can get an advance on my pay for Christmas? Violet invited me over for the break, I want to buy her a present."
"I'm happy to help, you don't want to touch your savings huh?" Rebecca smiled as she pulled out a scrap of parchment and a refillable quill. She scribbled down numbers, trying to figure out how much Clementine would earn for working during the school holiday.
"It's um... running low..." Clementine didn't want to lie but she didn't want to worry Rebecca either, "I've had some unfortunate luck with wands lately."
Rebecca frowned, dropping her quill and reaching in the cash register, she pulled out a galleon and stuck it in Clementine's hand. "Consider this your Christmas bonus. Buy something nice for yourself as well." Clementine's eyes widened and she opened her hand and held the gold coin back out to Rebecca, "This is too much... I-I can't accept this..." Rebecca closed Clementine's and pushed her fist back towards her.
"Keep it. You've more than earned it." Rebecca said, the two embraced. "And get yourself something to eat too, come on AJ, let's give them some space." Rebecca held the back door open, waiting as AJ grumpily said goodbye to Violet and the two disappeared behind the door.
Violet wrapped her arms around Clementine's waist, hugging her from behind. "What should we have today?" She asked, resting her head on Clementine's shoulder.
Clementine smiled brightly, turning her face toward Violet, snuggling her cheek against the Slytherin's. "I was thinking... milkshakes?"
"Perfect."
"What flavor?" Clementine asked, wanting to linger in their position for a little longer.
"Hmmm... Let me see..." Clementine frowned as Violet moved to the ice cream case to look at the flavors. "How about... cream puff, that sounds really good."
"It is." Clementine moved behind the counter scooping ice cream into cups, pouring the milk, using her new wand to magically blend them. All while Violet leaned on the counter, smiling at her as she worked. Clementine turned around to find Violet watching her. She blushed as she handed her cup over. Watching anxiously as Violet took a sip. "How is it... do you like it?"
"You tell me." Violet said, smashing her lips against Clementine's, taking her off guard. Her eyes widened in surprise before briefly returning the kiss.
"Um... it's good..." Clementine blushed, glancing at the back room, making sure no one was peaking through the window.
They finished their shakes side by side, sitting on the couch, holding each other's hand. "Thanks for not giving up on me Violet. When I was being a git." Clementine looked into the depths of her shake.
"Clem... you don't even need to mention it okay? You weren't in your right mind..." Violet sighed as she snuggled into Clementine's shoulder, Clementine smiled at her gratefully. "What flavor did you get?"
"Here..." Clementine leaned her head towards Violet, lips moving in. Violet closed her eyes in anticipation, only to have a straw pressed to her lips, "Here you go, have as much as you want." Violet opened her eyes with a glare, Clementine giggled before giving Violet a quick kiss.
"Mint? Really?" Violet made a disgusted face, drinking more of her shake to drown the taste. "How can you stand that? It's like drinking toothpaste.
Clementine stuck her tongue out at Violet in jest as they both finished off their shakes. Clementine said goodbye to everyone as they left the shop.
"Do you have anything you want to do in Hogsmeade?" Violet asked, as the held each other's hand, shivering slightly after having just drank milkshakes before walking in the snow. "Or do you want to just walk around?"
"I have to run to a store real fast... by myself..." Clementine said, Violet eying her suspiciously. "I'll be super fast, I know exactly what I'm getting. You can wait for me in Honeydukes?" Violet looked like she didn't want to leave Clementine's side but she frowned and raised her eyebrows, "Please, it's a good thing... I promise!"
Violet nodded, Clementine grinned, hugging the blonde quickly before running off down the street. Violet walked into the warmer candy store, browsing around for a little while before purchasing some sour candies just as Clementine walked in the door. "Did you finish what you needed?" Violet asked, hoping to get more information from the girl.
"I did. Ready to go?" Clementine said, revealing nothing. Violet nodded, with a slight frown, "The snow is really picking up out here, want to go back to your common room and snuggle by the fire?"
Violet shrugged off her curiosity for now. Adjusted Clementine's hat on her head and smiled, "Sounds great, want one?" Violet held the bag of sour candies out to Clementine who took one and popped it into her mouth.
"Not bad, I could get used to these..." The girls smiled at one another as they walked hand in hand back up to the school.