After dinner everyone gathered in the living room. Clementine grinned as she wandered around the room, looking at pictures from Violet's childhood. There was one of little Violet petting a horse, giggling as it ate a sugar cube from her hand. Another one was of eleven year old Violet holding a brand new wand outside of Ollivander's, looking grumpy as she stood under the sign like someone had forced her to pose for the picture.
"You're so cute Vi, even when you're grumpy." Clementine smiled as she looked over them all. Violet steered a pouting Clementine away from the pictures and onto the couch. Time ticked on and Clementine found herself unable to stop the yawn from escaping her, head drooping onto Violet's shoulder. They had gotten up early to pack up for their trip and it was starting to catch up with her.
"Alright everyone! Time to clear out, we've gotta get off Clementine's bed so she can get some rest." Marissa said, getting up to collect a blanket and pillow for the brunette to use. Everyone cleared out of the room except for Violet. Marissa handed the pillow and blanket to Clementine, "Goodnight dear, get some good rest." She said before turning to Violet, "I expect you to sleep in your room tonight."
"Yes ma'am" Violet said, giving her mum a full body eye roll as Marissa left the room. Violet and Clementine walked to the bathroom to dress in their pajamas and get ready for bed. Violet suggested that they switch pj's back just for the break to avoid any comments or stares from her family, but Clementine refused, running into the bathroom with her Slytherin pajamas to change before Violet could trade. When both girls were dressed Violet stood in the living room with Clementine as she prepared her sleeping space. "Are you going to be alright, sleeping in here alone?"
"I'm not a baby Vi, I'll be fine." Clementine sighed, straightening out her blanket.
"I'm not saying you are, but Clem... you've been having a lot of nightmares lately. Screaming in your sleep, I can get you to calm down pretty fast but... you haven't slept alone since Marli used the imperius curse on you." Violet's eyes were filled with concern.
"I'll be fine," Clementine insisted, meeting her gaze, hugging her close and pecking her lips, "but thanks for caring."
"I'm just a staircase away if you need me, alright?" Violet looked at her seriously.
Clementine nodded, throwing herself onto the couch and adjusting the pillow behind her head.
"Goodnight." Violet said, leaning down and kissing Clementine one last time before going upstairs to her bedroom.
"Goodnight." Clementine called back, pulling up her blanket and closing her eyes.
Clementine and Violet stood in Hogsmeade, it was eerily quiet. Clementine looked around reaching blindly for Violet's hand. "It's Christmas break, shouldn't their be more people out, shopping?"
"Maybe they wanted to give us some privacy?" A voice chuckled beside her. Clementine looked at the voice, it belonged to Minerva, who was now holding her hand in place of Violet. The brunette looked down at her hand. She jerked her hand out of Minerva's finding single chocolate resided within it. "Eat it." Minerva instructed.
"No... I don't trust you..." Clementine looked at it warily. She tried to throw it down but it remained.
"You can't get rid of it. You can only give it away." Another voice came from behind, a shiver immediately ran down her spine at the sound of it.
"What does it do?" Clementine asked, spinning around to face Marlowe.
"Here, give it to Duck." Minerva said, pushing the healthy, very much alive, looking boy out in front of her.
"Don't worry Clem, I'll take it." Duck said, removing the chocolate from her hand and popping it in his mouth before she could protest. He gagged and choked as he swallowed, his face became pale and sickly looking as a groan escaped his throat.
"You always get people hurt Clementine." Marli smirked as she stood towering over the shorter girl. "Your parents, Lee, Duck, even Violet. Who are you going to hurt next? Marli stepped back into an approaching mist. A mist that now encircled her. Clementine spun around, trying to gain her baring but all she could see was fog and all she could hear was Duck's guttural moans. He limped slowly out of the mist. Another groan came from behind. Clementine spun, from out of the mist came Rebecca, Alvin and AJ, all changed, all different, eyes milky as they stared blankly towards her. Clementine's chest tightened as she saw them.
To her right came Louis, blood dripping from his mouth as he laboriously drug his feet towards her, the rest of her Gryffindor friends following closely behind.
Clementine tried to step backwards, shaking her head in disbelief, but Duck was there. She was surrounded on all sides except for one, she made for the gap, willing to get caught up in the darkness of the fog if it meant getting away from her current torment. Just as she reached the edge of the circle, panic stricken and heart pounding, a figure emerged. Clementine slapped her hands over her mouth, backing up to the center of the circle once more. A whimper escaped her throat, staring in disbelief as Violet stumbled towards her. Clementine shook her head vehemently, everyone she cared about had been torn from her. Now Violet too. It was too much for one person to handle.
Eyes glassy and unseeing Violet lurched forward and Clementine received her with open arms, crying into her shoulder as teeth bore down on her throat, silencing her tormented wail before it could escape her mouth.
Violet was being shook awake. "What is it?" She asked groggily to the dark figure that was shaking her.
"Your girlfriend's screaming downstairs like she's being murdered." It was Jaime. "Thought you might want to check on her before she wakes up the whole house."
Violet leapt from her bed, fully alert now, she ran to her door with a quick "thanks" to her sister. She sped down the stairs and fell to her knees at Clementine's side. The brunette was thrashing wildly, tears leaking through closed eyelids, beads of sweat on her forehead. Violet managed to catch one of Clementine's hands and held it tight with one of her own, her other hand reached out and stroked Clementine's hair out of her sweaty face.
"It's okay Clem, it's okay." Violet whispered as she had done countless nights before. Clementine continued to thrash but her screams subsided. Violet placed a warm hand on Clementine's cheek and sang quietly to her, watching as her thrashing halted, slowly replaced by a content look. Violet smiled softly as Clementine calmed, resuming her steady breathing, continuing her song a little while longer just to make sure she was truly through the worst of it. Still kneeling on the floor, Violet rested her head on the couch, eyelids heavy as her heart steadied and the adrenaline wore off. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, hand still holding onto Clementine's.
"But Mum!" Violet fumed quietly, folding her arms in the kitchen as Clementine continued to sleep on the couch.
"But nothing young lady, she's not sleeping in your room." Marissa said with finality.
"She needs someone with her when she has her nightmares, you got my letters, you know everything she's been through." Violet stood her ground.
"I'm sure she can manage on her own, who does she rely on when she's at school?" Marissa stared hard at her daughter, Violet fidgeted beneath her look.
"Dorm mates, she um, has dorm mates!" Violet floundered, Jane choked on her orange juice at the kitchen table.
"Violet Adlon... are you-" Marissa started, looking back worriedly at Jane as she continued to cough. Clementine walked in the room stretching, wearing her Slytherin pajamas as Marissa looked her up and down, lips puckered in disapproval. Jane tried to cover her amused laugh with her hand as Marissa 'hmph'd' out of the room.
"What happened? Did I do something?" Clementine frowned, watching Marissa as she left.
"Just Violet." Jane snickered. Violet and Clementine's faces burned red.
"I'm going to get ready for work, can I change in your room Vi?" Clementine asked, backing out of the room.
"Of course." Violet smiled at Clementine as she left and turned a glare at Jane. "Why would you say something like that? We haven't done anything."
"Except sleep in the same bed, it's obvious you're used to comforting her when she has nightmares. Anything else you've done is your own business. Trust me, I went to Hogwarts. You don't think I snuck into Luke's dorm?" Jane casually shrugged as she took a bite of toast.
"Anyway... nice talk as usual Jane..." Violet rolled her eyes as she left the room, heading up the stairs to waiting outside her door for Clementine to finish getting ready. When Clementine opened the door, Violet's face broke into a wide smile. "Clem... you look adorable."
Clementine looked embarrassed as she straightened her orange bow tie, "Um... thanks." Violet eyed her orange skirt and white button up shirt, with a teal apron tied over it all. "Can I use your fireplace? I have to go in early today to be trained on how to prepare the new menu items. They're adding some hot things to the menu for Christmas holiday."
"Yeah..." Violet nodded, not moving from her spot, glancing up at Clementine's pig tails and 'D' embroidered hat, before scanning over the entirety of her outfit once again. She really loved how Clementine looked in uniform.
Clementine chuckled lightly, cupping Violet's face in her hands, she placed a quick kiss on her lips. "Fireplace?"
"Yeah, um, yes, this way." Violet reddened as she led the way to a room filled with bookshelves and a desk. A large fireplace was against one wall with a bucket of what looked like ash right next to it. "Floo powder is there. Help yourself. Have a good day at work." Violet glanced toward the door, making sure no one was there before kissing Clementine hard on the lips. "Sorry, you're too cute in your uniform."
Clementine's cheeks burned red as she smiled, grabbed a handful of powder and stepped into the fireplace, "I'll see you tonight." Clementine threw the powder down by her feet and said, "Hogsmeade," with a swirl of green flames she was gone.
It was about half an hour before Clementine was scheduled to get off work. Violet took the fireplace and flooed to Hogsmeade. She had forgotten her book at Hogwarts and wanted to pick it up or at least that was the excuse she told her mum. She really wanted to catch a glimpse of Clementine in action, wearing her adorable uniform.
Violet opened the ice cream parlor door, hearing the familiar jingling of the bell as she entered, smiling as soon as her eyes landed on Clementine.
"Welcome!" Clementine called out with a smile before she saw who entered. Her smile only brightening as she noticed it was Violet walking toward the counter. As Violet waited for Clementine to finish helping a customer, she looked around the shop, it was busy, just like the streets of Hogsmeade. Witches and Wizards were out in troves shopping for the holiday season, enjoying treats as they went.
"What's good today Ma'am?" Violet asked after the customer Clementine was helping paid and walked away. She looked casually through the ice cream case.
"Well Miss," Clementine played along, "I would recommend one of the holiday flavors, candy cane's my favorite but I would go for hot cocoa ice cream if you're not a fan of mint. I know my girlfriend isn't."
"Your girlfriend sounds like a real prat, you should come home with me instead." Violet smirked.
"Oh, so would you like one or two scoops of the candy cane ice cream?" Clementine asked, laughing at the face of disgust Violet couldn't hold back.
"Just give me a scoop of the hot cocoa in a cup, please." Violet requested, still shaking her head in revulsion at the candy cane flavor.
"Coming right up Ma'am." Clementine chuckled, scooping the ice cream and sliding it across the counter to Violet. Violet set a sickel on the counter but Clementine pushed it back. "It's on me cutie."
"If you're done flirting." Alvin said from behind Clementine, startling the brunette and causing her cheeks to glow bright red. "You can clean up the tables and then you're free to go." Violet laughed as she took her ice cream to an open seat, Clementine playfully nudged her as she passed by, clearing off tables and wiping them down with a rag.
When Clementine finished she sat down at Violet's table, taking the spoon from the blonde's hand she scooped up a bite and stuck it in her mouth. "Rude." Violet said with a grin, "Is it customary for employees to taste their customers orders?"
"Only when they're going home together." Clementine glowed, taking Violet's hand in her own, excited to be spending Christmas break with her girlfriend. "What are you doing here? I thought I was just going to floo back after work."
"I wanted to see you working, you were just so cute in your uniform this morning and I couldn't wait any longer for you to get home. I told my mum I left my novel at Hogwarts though, so we'll have to walk up there and get it. Are you ready?" Violet asked, sticking the last spoonful of ice cream in Clementine's mouth. Clementine nodded, bringing the dishes back to the sink before holding her elbow out for Violet to take as the two headed up to the castle.
"I think I left it in your dorm." Violet said as they reached the entryway, so they went up the staircase, through the portrait hole and up to the empty 7th year Gryffindor girl's dorm room.
"I bet I can find it first." Clementine said, turning the simple task into a competition.
"You're on." Violet agreed, searching through the room for her missing novel.
They searched under the bed and on the night stand. They rummaged through drawers and even checked the bathroom. The brunette threw her duvet aside and there, lying on the red sheets was Violet's novel. "Found it!" Clementine called out, holding the book in the air victoriously. She collapsed onto the bed, laughing.
"Defeated." Violet laid down beside her. Clementine rolled onto her side so that they were facing one another. The Gryffindor stared into Violet's face, her gleeful smile slowly fading into a serious line. Her eyes traced Violet's features, making the blonde blush under her gaze. Clementine's grip loosened on the book and it thumped as it hit the ground. She reached out and traced Violet's features with her finger tips now. Lightly brushing them against her skin. Slowly Clementine closed the short distance, connecting their lips.
Violet kissed back, gripping her by the waist, hand sliding up her side as they deepened the kiss. Tongues tangled as Clementine shifted on top of Violet, straddling her waist, a burning desire growing inside of her as their lips broke apart for a second. A desire that burned so strong that it scared her a little. Clementine stared into Violet's eyes, seeing the same thing reflected back in those pools of green and Clementine's breath caught in her throat. She moved off of Violet and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her hands together anxiously.
"Clem..." Violet sat up next to her girlfriend, confused at her sudden switch, "What's wrong?"
"There's no one here." Clementine stated, staring down at the floor.
"No... there's not." Violet agreed, trying to decipher her words.
"No dorm mates or family or... or Louis to walk in and interrupt us." Clementine chuckled softly but her tone sounded serious.
Violet frowned as she finally understood what Clementine was getting at. "We don't have to do anything... I won't do anything you don't want to do."
"No, I... I want to... I uh, want to with you... I'm just..." She laughed nervously again, "I'm scared... I've never... ya know... before..."
"Clementine the fearless Gryffindor is nervous?" Violet smiled gently, taking Clementine's hand, stopping her nervous fidgeting. When Clementine continued to stare at the ground, Violet softly turned her head to face her but Clementine continued to avoid eye contact.
"Why would you want to be intimate with me?" Violet asked, gently caressing Clementine's hand.
"Because I love you!" Clementine said eagerly, finally meeting Violet's eyes, "I feel safe with you. I know you would never do anything to hurt me and... and being with you makes me happy. I want to make you feel as happy as you always make me."
"And why would you not want to be intimate?" Violet looked deep into those amber eyes that she loved so much.
"Because I... I don't want to disappoint you... Maybe I'm not good enough? You're so important to me Violet. The most important thing and... I'm just afraid I'll do something wrong..." Clementine answered honestly, allowing herself to be vulnerable.
"I'm not worried," Violet smiled reassuringly, stroking her hand, "I'm ready for this if you are, but if not... I'll gladly wait, I'll wait forever for you Clem."
Clementine took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, "I want to."
"Don't be nervous, we can just... kiss... whatever happens, happens... and if you want to stop for any reason, at any time, all you have to say is 'stop' and we will. I won't be mad or frustrated, I would never want to do something that made you feel uncomfortable. Okay?" Violet's words were so gentle and kind that Clementine's heart fluttered inside her chest as she listened to them.
Clementine answered by pressing her lips against Violet's. They embraced into the kiss, pulling each other close. Clementine felt the heat rise up as Violet pressed herself flush against her body. She could feel Violet's curves pressed against her own and she wanted nothing more than to eliminate every millimeter of space between them. Her desire overriding her unease as Clementine gently lowered Violet onto the bed, a hand playing teasingly at the hem of Violet's shirt as she began kissing Violet's neck hungrily, wanting nothing more than to taste every part of the Slytherin girl, fearing she would never be satiated.
Violet reached up, attempting to remove Clementine's bow tie. The lips against her neck distracting her from the task but she finally managed to pull it loose and toss it to the floor. Violet's heart raced with arousal as she began work on the buttons of Clementine's blouse. The more soft skin she exposed the more she fumbled. Violet frowned as Clementine's lips left her neck as the brunette impatiently finished undoing the last buttons herself, shrugging her shirt off before tugging at the hem of Violet's. The blonde responded quickly, leaning up to aid in it's removal so that Clementine could pull it up and over her head. They lay frozen for a moment, breathing heavily, eyes wandering in awe of the other's body before eyes met, boring into one another. Seeing the same yearning in the other's eyes. Violet whispered softly as she held eye contact, hands caressing the soft skin of Clementine's back, moving up to the clasps of her bra."Is this okay?"
Clementine managed a breathless, "Don't stop," as she leaned in to recapture Violet's lips.
"How do you feel?" Violet asked, pulling the sheet up around the two of them. Snuggling into Clementine's side, as her hand roamed over the toned abs of Clementine's stomach.
"Tingly." Clementine answered honestly as she wrapped her arms around Violet's bare back, enjoying the closeness she felt lying exposed beside the girl that she loved.
"You know what I mean..." Violet sighed, unable to keep the smile from her face for more than a second.
"I feel the same... but different at the same time..." Clementine struggled to explain, "I also feel like your Mum is going to look at me and know..."
"She's not going to know..." Violet chuckled, placing a kiss on Clementine's shoulder.
"She's going to know, because I'm going to find it very hard to stay out of your bedroom now." Clementine wrapped her arms around Violet, earning a squeak as she pulled her on top, relishing in the skin to skin contact as she nuzzled her head into Violet's neck. "How do you feel?" Clementine returned the question.
"Content." Violet sighed, melting into the Gryffindor, not wanting this moment to end.