Violet remained quiet whilst they got into their robes, and then eventually off the train at Hogsmeade. She took the book back from Harry, putting it back into her bag and refraining from slipping her hand immediately into his. She knew he caught her fingers twitching towards him; this year was going to be difficult if they couldn't simply hold hands without making their friends suspicious.

No matter, they would work with it. Somehow.

"Actually… can - can I have the hairband?" She properly reached out her hand. He handed it back to her, having decided to keep it on his wrist after they got changed.

Whilst Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna walked down the platform towards the carriages that would take them up to the school, Harry lingered behind with Violet, who twisted her hair up into a bun and tied it into place.

"How does it look?" she asked.

Harry tilted his head to the side in consideration. "Doesn't look quite like you… but it's still nice."

"Thanks…" Violet mumbled. "Come on…"

They hurried to catch up with the others, who were currently waiting for another carriage to pull up. Cho waved at Harry from the one that just set off, and he awkwardly waved back. They only had to wait a few more moments for the next carriage, and when it arrived, Harry did a double take.

"What - what is that?" He was pointing at the front of it, but there wasn't anything there. "What's pulling the carriage?"

"I…" Violet couldn't see anything where it should have been. "There's nothing there, Harry. Sorry - I can't see anything."

"It's pulling itself like always," Hermione said, climbing in.

"You're not going mad," Luna chimed in. "I can see them too."

Harry looked at Violet hopelessly, and she could only shrug with sympathy, before getting in. The roof was down this time - for once they weren't heading up to school in torrential rain.

The seven of them were a little squished in, but no matter; the journey wasn't going to be that long anyway.

"What did it - does it - look like?" Violet hissed to Harry on the way to the castle.

"Um - kind of bony - wait… you - you believe me?" he whispered back.

Her hazel eyes somehow grew more round as she looked him directly in the eye and nodded. "Yes. Of course I do. So tell me what it looks like and I can… find out what it is?"

"Later… it's not that important."

"Okay," she squeaked out, and shuffled a bit closer to him.

By the time they reached Hogwarts, Violet felt a little better. Perhaps it was the fact she was starving for once, and she was eagerly awaiting the start of term feast. It was certainly a different feeling to last year, when she'd had that run in with Malfoy on the train and she felt unable to eat. Strange. She thought it would be the same - clearly not. She was actually hungry.

While Luna disappeared off to the Ravenclaw table, the remaining six friends all sat down as a group at the Gryffindor table; where unfortunately it seemed Seamus was giving Harry a bit of a wide berth. The gap between them at the table was noticeable, but Violet quietly muttered to Harry from across the table that it wasn't worth the trouble for now.

The Sorting Hat sang a different kind of song this year - one about sticking together and uniting, which Harry and his friends deemed… interesting, in the very least. It unsettled them to a degree, but at least the Sorting Ceremony was a small pick-me-up. It was always good to welcome new students, even if it did mean that they were all ravenous by the time the food actually appeared on the table.

"Hagrid's not up at the staff table," Violet remarked as she helped herself to some roast potatoes. During the Sorting Ceremony she'd been scanning the table in question to see if she could try and figure out who would be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, only to catch sight of a particular toad faced woman that she regrettably recognised. "And… a woman from… you know… is here."

"What? Who?" Hermione hissed across the table at her.

Violet made a face. "The one in all the pink."

Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Neville all glanced up at the staff table to find the woman, and while most of them were confused, Hermione wasn't.

"This isn't good," she said.

"You're right," Violet agreed.

"I'm lost," Ron said.

"Put two and two together, Ronald - why is a Ministry official here at Hogwarts?"

"'Ronald?'" he repeated, a little offended. "Someone's been spending too much time with Hermione…"

Violet raised an eyebrow. "And it's still not enough…"

Harry hid a laugh behind a cough, leading Violet to lightly kick him in the shin. "Oi!"

"I was being serious about not spending enough time with Hermione."

"Oh… right…" He reached down and rubbed his leg where she'd kicked it. As Violet took a sip of pumpkin juice, she shot Harry a sly wink. He understood what she meant. They really had to start keeping up the pretence now.

Regardless - that small moment was a segway for more lighthearted conversations between the friends during the feast, and it finally felt like the incident on the train was forgotten, as well as the fact that there was someone from the Ministry going to be present at Hogwarts that year.

As per usual, Violet only participated in half of the conversation, eventually sinking back out of it to merely listen to her friends. Except this time she listened with more fondness than curiosity. Sometimes it was nice to sit back and observe. She caught Harry's eye at one stage, and she smiled at him for a brief moment, although she couldn't help but notice him glancing over at Seamus every now and then.

Just as they were all finishing up dessert, Dumbledore took to his podium to address the school

"Good evening, children," he began. "Now, we have two changes in staffing this year. We're pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank... who'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures... while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave."

The group of friends at the Gryffindor table all glanced at each other, worried.

"We also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher... Professor Dolores Umbridge," Dumbledore continued, gesturing to the toad faced woman dressed in pink. "And I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the professor good luck."

The applause for their new professor was very scattered, with Violet electing not to participate. Her face was set like stone as she thought back to the appeal and how Umbridge had wanted to vote against her.

"Now, as usual, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you-"

Dumbledore was unfortunately cut off by Umbridge clearing her throat loudly. He turned to face her, and everyone could only watch as she slowly left her seat to also make her way around the staff table to say something to the school too.

"Thank you, headmaster, for those kind words of welcome," her voice was somehow even more sickly sweet. "And how lovely to see all your bright... happy faces smiling up at me. I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends."

None of the students were amused.

"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance," she said firmly. "Although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school…" She inclined her head towards Dumbeldore. "Progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved... perfect what can be perfected... and prune practices that ought to be prohibited."

She let out a girly giggle before going to sit back down. Dumbledore started up yet another round of scattered applause after that woman's speech, clearly somewhat befuddled by what she had to say.

"Thank you, Professor Umbridge. That really was most illuminating…"

"Illuminating? What a load of waffle!" Ron said.

"What's it mean?" Harry asked.

"It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts," Hermione explained, finally.

"I have a funny feeling she won't appreciate us in Defence Against the Dark Arts, Harry…" Violet said. "She doesn't seem like the type to encourage anyone. So this really isn't good."

They were all soon sent back to their Common Rooms, with their spirits agitated. Hermione and Ron had to go round up the first years, leaving Harry and Violet to walk with Neville and Ginny.

"Nobody hold me responsible for how I might speak to that woman in class," Violet said.

"Why? What did she do at your hearing?" Ginny asked.

"Voted against me. And she's very anti-werewolf."

"Any takers on a bet?" Harry then suggested, something popping into his mind. Violet rolled her eyes and folded her arms.

"Go on. How do you plan on profiting off of my misery?"

"It'll be interesting to see how long it takes for you and Umbridge to argue about werewolf rights, or something along those lines…"

Ginny scoffed. "I'm not brave enough to take that bet. Keep this one between yourselves, I reckon."

"Ginny's right," Neville agreed.

"Five Sickles. And you're not allowed to laugh," Violet said after a few moments.

"Fine," Harry said.

By the time they reached Gryffindor Tower, the password for the portrait had started floating around and plenty of people who had gotten there first were already settled in, enjoying their time in the Common Room before bed. Harry lingered in the doorway of the portrait hole once inside, tentative about going to find a seat somewhere.

"What's wrong?" Violet asked him.

"Just… nothing, really. Not sure who would have…"

"Right. Come on," she said. "There's a nice spot by the fire."

As she started to lead him there, Harry ended up approaching Seamus and Dean. Violet frantically tried to get him to come over to her, but she knew that he was still thinking about how Seamus had specifically avoided him at the dinner table.

A small argument broke out - namely due to the fact that Harry referred to Seamus' mother as "stupid" for believing everything the Daily Prophet had said about him, Dumbledore, and Voldemort. Violet hadn't seen him so irate, and went back over to try and diffuse the situation, along with Ron who had just finished up his Prefect duties.

"Harry - Harry, come on-"

"What's going on?" Ron asked.

"He's mad is what's going on!" Seamus cried out. The whole Common Room was staring at them now. "Do you believe the rubbish he's come out with about You-Know-Who?"

"Yeah, I do," Ron replied, defiantly. "Has anyone else got a problem with Harry?"

The rest of Gryffindor was silent, and Harry stormed off upstairs to the boy's dormitory. Violet looked helplessly at Ron before he ran off upstairs after his best friend.

Sighing, and now playing with the ends of her hair, Violet went back to the spot by the fire she'd initially pointed out to Harry, being joined by Hermione shortly after.

"I'd imagine we've got to expect this a lot over the next few months," Hermione said.

"Hopefully not for the whole year, though," Violet replied.

Hermione surveyed her oddly. "Are you alright?"

"Hmm? Yes, I'm fine. The last time I saw him this angry it was just before Malfoy got turned into a ferret." She pursed her lips. "I suppose he'll be angry a lot this year…" That thought in particular was not a welcome one. Deep down, Violet knew Harry wouldn't take a tone like that with her, but it was going to be a lot to deal with in secret when they were alone together…

"He'll have his head on straight. It'll be fine. Come on - early night, I think…"

As the pair of them headed on up to the girl's dorm, they crossed paths with Ron and stopped to chat.

"Early night for you as well?" he asked. "Harry's doing the same."

"Right," Violet said. "Is he…?"

"He wants to be left alone with his thoughts." Ron seemed off.

"And are you okay?" she then asked.

Ron nodded, but didn't say anything else as he moved past them on the stairs to go join his twin brothers in the Common Room.

"Lovely…" Violet murmured as they carried on up to their dormitory.

She'd been hoping for some peace once in there, but unfortunately not. Lavender Brown was rambling on to Parvati Patil about The Daily Prophet just like everyone else seemed to be doing. Hermione and Violet remained very quiet, until-

"You don't believe him do you?" Lavender asked the pair of them, who had been actively trying not to listen to what the girl was saying. "It's all a load of rubbish, if you ask me."

"Actually, we both do…" Violet said, trying to keep her voice as even as possible.

"You're really going to take his word for it?" Lavender wasn't impressed. "The Prophet says-"

"Really Lavender, you're going to believe a load of old rubbish being reported by people who don't have any idea what they're talking about?!" Hermione snapped at her.

The girl sat down on her bed, her arms crossed defiantly. "And I thought you were more logical than blindly believing what anyone says!"

"Harry's telling the truth," Violet said.

"Oh we all know you would believe him. I mean, no offence, Violet, but you're a bit quick to jump to Harry's side, aren't you? I'd say you're more blind than Hermione-"

"Shut it!" Violet screeched at Lavender, her face growing red. "Stop talking about things you have no bloody idea about! He has done nothing wrong to you! To anyone! Why would he lie about how Cedric died, hmm?"

Violet balled her fists so tightly that her knuckles grew white, as she awaited a response from Lavender, who somehow remained unphased by the outburst.

"What's got your wand in a knot? Crushing on Potter again, are we? Is that why you believe him?"

She inhaled sharply, and quietly said, "that has nothing to do with it."

Lavender's jaw dropped when she realised what Violet was on about.

Violet turned away from the girl and towards Hermione, who was as equally shocked that she'd even admitted that. "Don't say a word. Don't you say a single word - you already knew this. I'm just confirming to them what they guessed. It doesn't matter." It didn't matter because if only they knew how much deeper it really went… she thought to herself.

She then got into her pyjamas and hopped onto her bed, drawing the curtains shut around her. She didn't bother to say good night to anyone. Not tonight. Not any night after that not - not now she had to share a dormitory with someone who thought her boyfriend was crazy.

Violet fell into an uneasy, restless sleep that night.


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