Clementine held tightly to Violet's hand as they headed out of the castle. Violet was so lost in thought that she almost forgot her book in Clementine's dorm room, her whole excuse for even coming to Hogsmeade to being with. If she went back home without it she would have absolutely no excuse for being gone as long as she was- they were.
"I'll run back and get it." Clementine offered, running up the stairs and out of sight before Violet could protest.
Violet sat on the bottom stair, not waiting long before Clementine was once again at her side, breathing heavily and holding the book out to Violet.
Violet took it gratefully. "Thanks Clem, you didn't have to run all the way up just for me... but thanks." Violet pecked the brunette on the cheek as they continued to exit the school and walk down the path towards Hogsmeade.
"I didn't want to be away from you any longer than necessary." Clementine grinned, taking Violet's hand back in her own. "Because I love you."
"I love you too." Violet rolled her eyes slightly at how awkward her girlfriend was being now. "Just relax, it's okay." Violet whispered, feeling Clementine tense as they reached the crowded town, full of people shopping for Christmas presents.
"I just feel like it's obvious. Like everyone can tell what we did." Clementine stopped in her tracks, pulling Violet to a stop with her. "Do I look obvious?" Clementine held her arms out so that Violet could look her over.
"You mean besides the mildly panicked look on your face?" Violet chuckled, poking the Gryffindor on the nose as she continued walking down the street.
"I'm being serious!" Clementine yelled, catching up to Violet as she headed in the direction of the Three Broomsticks restaurant where they had a fireplace that allowed for floo travel. Clementine lowered her voice, "Am I walking funny?"
"What?!" It was Violet's turn to stop in her tracks, she grabbed a handful of Clementine's uniform and dragged her into a nearby alleyway. She pushed the shorter girl against the wall, "I was very gentle thank you very much."
Clementine held her hands up defensively. "You were! I didn't mean anything like that! I just feel like everyone's staring at me and I'm trying to act normal but I can't even remember how I usually walk, I think I was swinging my arms all weird..." She swallowed hard as she stared into Violet's intense green eyes, attempting to give her the most charming smile she could muster.
"Do we need to go somewhere for you to calm down? I can't take you back home while you're acting like this." Violet said with a shake of the head. "But the longer we take, the more suspicious it's going to look."
"It's fine! I'm fine, I can do this." Clementine said, trying to sound confident. Violet looked doubtful. She rolled get eyes one more time, moved in and kissed Clementine on the lips. It took the brunette off guard, but it didn't take her long to melt into it, moving her lips in sync with Violet's as her back was pressed into the brick wall behind her. All too soon Violet pulled back, leaving Clementine in a daze.
"Just... be calm, okay?" Violet reached up and stroked Clementine's cheek. The Gryffindor nodded, speechless. Violet smirked as she led Clementine out of the alley, into the Three Broomsticks and home via the floo network.
When they stepped out of the fireplace Marissa was waiting for them, arms folded, serious expression on her face.
"Heeey Mum." Violet smiled, holding her book in the air, "Found my book, took me forever." Clementine stayed halfway behind Violet, keeping her mouth shut to avoid saying something stupid and giving them away.
"I'm so happy you found it." Marissa said with a smile that didn't reach her leery eyes. "Wherever was it?"
"We looked everywhere. I thought it was in my dorm, and spent forever searching in there. Turns out, it was in Clem's dorm the whole time... funny huh?" Violet laughed nervously under her mother's intense gaze.
"What was your book doing in Clementine's room?" Marissa asked, raising a curious eyebrow.
Clementine held onto Violet's hand, stepping out from behind her, finding her confidence, "Violet let me borrow it. She told me how much she loved it and wanted me to read it too so that we could talk about it together."
"What a fun thing to do as a couple. You two are so cute!" Marissa reached out and pinched Clementine's cheek. Both girls taken back by the sudden switch in tone. "How was work dear?" Marissa asked as she turned to leave the room, beckoning the two to follow. Clementine and Violet looked at each other in shock and let out a simultaneous sigh of relief.
"Really busy, which is nice. We don't always get a lot of business when it's so cold out." Clementine answered as they followed Marissa into the kitchen.
"That's wonderful, so responsible of you to have a job at your age." Marissa set some sliced fruit and other various snacks on the table. "Dinner won't be ready for a couple of hours but I bet you're starving, help yourself."
"Thank you Marissa." Clementine said, feeling somewhat awkward calling her by her first name. Clementine and Violet sat down at the table, eating a little as they talked.
"Nice uniform..." Jane smirked as she walked into the room, sitting down across from the girls as she grabbed some cheese slices and crackers to eat.
"You don't always have to be so rude Jane." Violet rolled her eyes, "I think Clem looks adorable."
"I bet you do." Jane laughed, "What took you so long? Marissa was having a fit."
"Just had to get my book from school. It didn't really take that long, why's everyone freaking out?" Violet said, getting flustered.
Jane eyed the girls, noticing the red tinge in both their cheeks, how close they were sitting together, the way their hands were clasped on top of the table. "Hm." was all Jane had time to get out before Marissa walked back in the room.
"I've been thinking about it all day, I wasn't really fair this morning." Marissa said, leaning on Violet's chair. "Clementine can't sleep in your room, but you can sleep in the living room with Clementine. Just so that you can be there, you know, in case she has another nightmare." Marissa said the last part in a whisper even though everyone in the room could hear her. Clementine looked embarrassed at the mention of her nightmares, not realizing she had one last night until Marissa mentioned it, flashes of it coming back to her as they sat at the table.
"Thanks Mum," Violet tried to sound cheerful but the sad expression that crossed Clementine's face had her frowning.
Clementine stood from the table suddenly, "I'm going to shower if that's alright, and change out of my work uniform."
"Of course, Violet will show you where everything is." Marissa said, Violet nodded as she stood, Clementine following her upstairs to the bathroom.
Violet handed Clementine a rag and a big fluffy towel. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked in a sincere voice.
Clementine leaned against the bathroom counter, hugging the towel to her chest, "I don't even remember most of it... but you were there and you turned into one... one of those things that Duck turned into... I couldn't stop you Violet, I didn't want to... I let you turn me into one of those monsters too."
Violet was quiet, trying not to look surprised, Clementine hardly ever shared her nightmares with her, she didn't want to ruin her trust. "That sounds terrifying Clem, but all that's over. You don't have to worry about it anymore."
"Yeah, you're right. I know... it's just... I love you so much Vi, I can't imagine going on without you." Clementine said, keeping her gaze fixed on the ground. "If something happened to you, I don't know what I'd do..."
"Don't talk like that Clem, you would keep going, keep fighting like you always do," Violet stepped closer, moving her hands up and down Clementine's upper arms. "but you don't have to worry about any of that because I'm not going anywhere, got it?"
"When I was in Azkaban, a man told me that you wanted to become an Auror... is that true?" Clementine looked into Violet's eyes now, only for Violet to look away.
"I was thinking about it... I'm not sure, I still have some time to decide..."
"That's a dangerous job Vi..."
"I know." Violet sighed, looking back up to Clementine, "I still have the rest of the school year to decide... let's just enjoy the holiday for now... okay?"
"Yeah, of course." Clementine gave a half smile, they stood for a minute, looking at one another until Clementine cleared her throat, "While I wouldn't mind if you joined me in the shower, I don't think your Mum would like it..." Clementine laughed as Violet's cheeks reddened.
Violet nudged her playfully and exited the room, closing the door behind her.
It was Christmas Eve. Clementine sat on the floor, smiling contentedly at all the faces around her. Luke had Jane laughing at some joke, it was nice to see her not serious for once. Jaime was playing a game with Pete while Marissa watched, arm around Pete's shoulders, whispering in his ear. Clementine had a warm butter beer in her hand and cookies were on an enchanted tray, making it's way around the room for everyone to grab at their leisure. She was fascinated by the warm feeling that seemed to penetrate her to the very core.
Violet, who was sitting beside her, nudged her out of her thoughts, "You look happy."
"I am." Clementine smiled, "Thank you for letting me spend Christmas with your family, it's been amazing. Best Christmas I've had since before I came to Hogwarts."
"I'm glad." Violet smiled back, wrapping her arm around Clementine's waist in a side hug.
"Marissa seems distracted," Clementine whispered, "do you think we can sneak off for a minute without drawing attention?" Clementine felt the small package in her pocket.
Violet looked around the room and nodded, standing without another word she walked through the kitchen, grabbing a big blanket on her way. Clementine got up and followed, trying not to look to obvious as she went. Marissa watched them from the corner of her eye, allowing them to 'sneak' out into the back garden. Maybe she had had one too many firewhiskeys that night or maybe she just remembered being that age once, either way she allowed them to have their privacy.
"It's beautiful..." Clementine looked up at the clear sky as Violet spread the huge blanket out on the grass.
Together they sat on the blanket side by side, wrapping it up over their shoulders from behind. Snuggling close together for warmth. They sat for a while, their warm breath steamed out in front of them in the cold air, they pulled the blanket a little tighter around their shoulders as the stars twinkled above.
When they managed to drag their eyes away from the stars, they looked into each other's eyes. Smiling shyly before lips met in a short, sweet kiss. "Your Mum's been watching us like a hawk. I feel like I haven't been able to kiss you in ages." Clementine whispered as if the the cold, calm night demanded reverence.
"It's only been days." Violet rolled her eyes.
"That's what I said, ages." Clementine felt successful when Violet chuckled, leaning in to kiss her again, longer this time. Shifting their bodies so that they were facing one another beneath the blanket. Violet moving forward in small increments as they kissed, coaxing Clementine onto her back. Violet's lips then explored Clementine's neck as the brunette stared up at the stars, gasping as Violet's mouth lingered on a spot.
When Violet inhaled sharply, Clementine realized her hand had been steadily wandering up Violet's inner thigh. "I'm sorry," Clementine mumbled, retracting her hand and pushing herself back into a sitting position.
"Don't be." Violet leaned forward, attempting to continue what they had started.
"Someone could come out here any minute Vi." Clementine managed to get out, fighting the urge to keep going, arms wrapped around Violet, holding her close as the blonde placed kisses along her neck. "Wh-what if Jane came out here?" Violet pulled away immediately, face scrunched at the thought. "Exactly." Clementine said, laughing at Violet's facial expression.
"Besides..." Clementine said, reaching into her pocket. "As much as I enjoy snogging with you, that's not why I wanted to sneak out." Violet raised a curious eyebrow as Clementine handed her the small package. "I didn't want to give this to you in front of your family tomorrow. I wanted it to just be me and you."
Violet smiled as she took the box, turning it over in her hands curiously, trying to imagine what it could be.
"Open it, you're killing me!" Clementine urged.
"You Gryffindors have no patience." Violet laughed, slowly unwrapping the box, taking her time, watching the pained expression on Clementine's face as she did. Finally she unwrapped the box, only to lift the lid as excruciatingly slow as possible.
"For real?!" Clementine slapped her own forehead in frustration. Violet pecked her on the cheek with a giggle and pulled the lid completely away, revealing a small square locket on a chain. "It's a book," Clementine explained, "because I love when you read to me and- and it's like the story of us... I know that sounds cheesy..." Clementine's cheeks reddened even more than the cold had already reddened them.
"No, it's sweet." Violet smiled at her girlfriend's thoughtful gift.
"Open it!" Clementine said excitedly. Violet carefully popped the locket open.
"I put a picture of you on one side and me on the other, but they keep going into each other's pictures." Clementine said, voice full of amusement.
Violet looked at the inside of the locket, just as Clementine had said, one picture was empty while the Clementine and Violet stood together in the other picture, straightening their clothes and patting down their hair as if Violet had interrupted something by opening it up.
"So I'm going to be wearing a necklace, with pictures of us snogging in it, all of the time?" Violet laughed as she looked at the small Violet and Clementine, now holding hands as they stood together.
Clementine frowned, "I didn't think about that when I bought it... I can get some muggle pictures to put in there instead."
"No, it's okay, it's kind of sweet. I mean, look at me." Violet held the locket up to Clementine so she could see how smitten the picture Violet looked, just hugging onto picture Clementine's arm. "Look how in love with you I am."
"I see," Clementine said, staring into the real Violet's eyes. "and I'm in love with you too."
Violet blushed as Clementine took the necklace and latched it around Violet's neck.
"Happy Christmas Clementine."
"Happy Christmas Violet."