Chapter 11
Violet and Draco waited in the Potions classroom for Nightshade to learn what they would have to do for detention. Violet felt extra uncomfortable waiting for Nightshade since every time she glanced over to Draco, he seemed to be looking at her. Finally, after what seemed like an excruciatingly long wait, Nightshade came into the classroom. She motioned for them to follow her, and she took them to a third floor corridor.
"You both are to swab this corridor, without magic. The mops and brooms are in the closet at the end of the corridor. I will be back in an hour. When I get back, it must be spotless." Said Nightshade.
After Nightshade left, Violet said, "This is so horrible! I don't believe that I have to do this! And what's worse, I have to do this with you!!"
Draco said nothing. They finally got to the supply closet. Violet pushed Draco aside and attempted to open the door, but it was so heavy, it required the both of them to pull it open. They saw it was much darker in there than expected. Draco stood by the door to hold it open.
"Lumos!" Violet said, lighting the end of her wand.
Now Draco could see a dim outline of her and some shelves in the back. He thought he saw some mops at the bottom of the shelf.
"Hey, Black! I think the mops are at the bottom of the shelf back there." Draco said.
"Thank you, Malfoy, but I had already seen them." Violet replied with mock politeness.
After a moment of silence Draco said, "You could stand to be a little more civil, you know."
Violet gave a mirthless chuckle and said, "Me be civil to you?!?! I don't think you've really given me a good reason up to this point to be civil..."
Violet then began to reach for a mop with the same hand her wand was in. The light reflected off the top of the room and Draco saw the mop Violet was reaching for was supporting a rather heavy looking cauldron.
"...If anything I should –" Violet said, reaching for the mop without looking.
"Violet! Watch out!!" Draco yelled, running forward and pulling Violet towards him as the cauldron fell.
Violet dropped her wand, and they were plunged in darkness as the cauldron fell. Finally when the clatter died down, Violet opened her eyes. But that in itself was pointless. She might as well had kept them closed. In the moment it took her eyes to somewhat adjust to the darkness, she realized that she had landed on top of Draco when he pulled her out of the way of the cauldron. Her face had turned scarlet, but luckily in the darkness Draco could not see it.
She slowly pulled herself off of him and said, "Well, this is great...I lost my wand and we're going to be stuck in here until someone comes looking for us! I don't even deserve to be here! Someone set it up! It was you, wasn't it?!?!"
Before Draco could stop himself from answering, he said, "Yes. It was me who got you in trouble. I poured some powdered essence of mandrake into your cauldron when you weren't looking so that something bad would happen when Weasley tried the potion."
Violet looked at him in disbelief and anger, while Draco resisted the urge to slap himself.
"I knew it!" she snapped.
"Violet...I'm really sorry..." Draco said.
"Enough fake sympathy. I don't know what you thought you would gain from getting me in detention with you, but there is no one around to save you from me this time." Violet said.
Draco lit his own wand and found where Violet's had rolled. He picked it up and handed it back to her to prove he did not want to harm her.
Well...we are in a closet where no one can disturb us...I think I'll just kiss her and see what happens. If she slaps me, then I know she still hates me. Draco thought, feeling a nervousness that had been alien to him before this moment.
Getting closer to her, he softly said, "Maybe I don't want to be saved..."
Soon his face was just centimeters away from hers. Violet did not know what to do. She knew the lack of space should have made her queasy, but strangely, she did not want him to back off. He glanced at her lips, leaned in, and kissed her. When Violet did not resist, he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. What shocked Violet even more was the fact that she found herself kissing him back. This sent her mind reeling.
What am I doing?!? This is Draco Malfoy!! He insulted your parents!! He...her thoughts abruptly stopped, her mind becoming occupied with the pleasantly intoxicating kiss.
But the heavy door of the broom closet began to move, interrupting them. They jumped apart as door was laboriously opened. Behind it was Professor Nightshade, and she did not look pleased.
"What happened here? When I came to see if you both were finished, the hall was empty and still dirty!" she said.
"The door fell closed locking us in here." Said Violet, offering no extra explanations.
Nightshade looked at them both and realized there were things Draco and Violet were not telling her, but she did not push.
"Very well. You both will make up this detention at a later date. You may go back to your dormitories now." Nightshade said, leaving to her room.
Violet and Draco just stood and stared at each other, neither knowing what to say or do. Finally Draco broke the silence.
"Good night, Violet..." Draco said.
Violet looked back at him a second and said, "Good night...Draco..."
They both went back to their dormitories.
* * *
It was now very late, but Hermione still had one more stack of books to get through. But her eyes were now tired, and she had just about enough. Since Harry, Ron and Violet had left for Quidditch practice, she had no one to help her, so the going was quite slow. When she finally decided to look up from the book she was skimming through, she saw Madam Pince going around and extinguishing all the candles lighting the room. She saw it was time to leave. She quickly grabbed her bag and the remaining stack of books on the table and went back to the dormitory as fast as she could with the large books in her arms. When she finally made it up the stairs to her dorm room, she threw the books unceremoniously on the floor and jumped on her bed. She stared at the canopy of her four poster knowing that she probably should be cracking open the books that she brought back with her.
I'll get to it in a minute...she thought.
"You know...I've been meaning to tell you something Harry...I have for a while, but I just never really got up the courage...Hermione paused and got a hold of her bearings, I have feelings for you, Harry...I've had them long time, and I really couldn't deny them anymore after the third task in the Triwizard Tournament. Just to think that I might have lost you forever and never told you how I felt...It just made me feel horrible...but now that I have finally been able to get the words out...Harry...I love you..."
Harry looked at her with mild surprised at first, but then smiled and suddenly pulled her close. But when he pulled away, he had on a serious face.
"I'm sorry Hermione, but I have to go..." Harry said mysteriously, walking backwards a few steps.
Then he turned around and started to run.
* * *
Violet finally made it back to the dormitories more confused from the latest chain of events than tired.
I can't believe that Draco just kissed me! And I kissed him back!! And I actually liked it! Violet thought, still unable to fathom what had just happened.
She decided to put this out of her mind. As she entered the dorm, she decided to ask Hermione how successful her search for information on the Scepter was.
"No, Harry...Don't go...Wait!" Hermione mumbled.
"Hermione, what are you –? " Violet abruptly stopped when she saw Hermione was asleep.
Well, I guess I'll just ask her about the Scepter later...Wow...I wonder what she's dreaming about? Oh well, I think I'll just go to bed before I drive myself nuts with this whole thing with Draco...Violet thought, getting into her own bed and falling asleep.
* * *
Harry ran with Hermione in close pursuit. He ran through a thick forest, so dense, Hermione could only track him by the sound of his feet. Finally they reached a clearing. Hermione looked to the edge of the clearing and noticed a dark, ominous looking cave there. Now Harry stopped and turned around. His face looked very afraid, but resolute.
"Don't follow me here, Hermione. This is probably the last time I'm going to see you, and I want you to be safe. Please...don't forget me..." Harry said, his voice very even, contrary to his facial expression.
With that he ran off into the cave before Hermione could stop him. She thought about it a second and finally realized where Harry was going. He was going to fight Voldemort!
When Hermione's voice finally returned, she screamed, "No, Harry, don't!!!"
* * *
Hermione jolted awake. In a moment she realized she had woken herself along with all the other girls in the room with her scream. Violet, Lavender, and Parvati rushed up to her to see what was wrong.
"Are you okay!?" asked Violet, with concern.
"Yeah...I'm sorry for waking you all...I just had a nightmare." Hermione replied.
"About what, failing a test?" said Lavender, a bit bitter for her sleep getting ruined.
"Well, actually...I'm pretty certain I heard her screaming Harry's name." said Parvati.
"Really?!?" inquired Lavender, always cheered up by a little gossip.
Lavender and Parvati looked at Hermione expectantly while Violet looked on curiously. She was just as curious as the two of them were, although she personally would have asked Hermione with more tact.
"Oh. Well, I um..." Hermione said, staring to blush, struggling to think of something to say that would get conversation off of this topic.
Fortunately, she didn't have to. Violet, seeing Hermione's discomfort, took control.
"Look, can we continue the interrogation at some later time? It's late and we all have classes tomorrow." Said Violet.
Lavender and Parvati sulked a bit, but they both went back to bed. Hermione gave Violet a look of thanks and the both of them went to sleep as well.
* * *
Ron paced in his dorm getting ready for the Quidditch game with Ravenclaw. Everyone had already left the room except for Harry.
Harry noticed this weird behavior and said, "Don't be so nervous, Ron! We know we're better than Ravenclaw. They don't stand a chance."
"Well, it's not the game I'm worried about so much, it's after the game I'm worried about..." said Ron.
"After the game?" Harry asked, quizzically.
"Yeah, well...because I kinda...umm...have a date with Violet..." Ron said, almost shyly.
"What?!? Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?!?" Harry said, pleasantly surprised.
"I don't know...I didn't tell anyone about it..." said Ron with a grin.
"Well...Hermione and I will stay out of both your way then." Harry replied, smiling, "We'd better get to the Pitch now before we're late."
* * *
It was now a few minutes before the Quidditch game and Violet was scared out of her wits. She knew that the team trained long and hard for this game, but she wished she had written Lydia and Arian for some encouragement.
I'll write them tonight, she thought.
She wasn't the only person who was scared. Ginny was too. It was one thing to be practicing only with your teammates, and another to be playing in front of the whole school. At least with her teammates she'd only make a fool of herself in front of 7 people. Now any mess up would make her a fool in front of hundreds. This almost made her feel sick to the stomach.
I think I should stop thinking about this... Ginny thought as the team prepared to take the field.
Finally the doors were opened and the Gryffindor team stepped out onto the field. Cheers greeted them primarily from the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff sections of the Pitch. Violet let her eyes wander to the Slytherin section of the stadium where they happened to fall on Draco Malfoy. She saw him regarding the rest of her team coldly, but as soon as he saw her, he smiled. Before she could even think about it, she found herself smiling back. Soon both teams were lined up in the middle of the field. Madam Hooch brought out the box with the Quidditch balls and then began to speak.
"Now I want a nice, fair game. Captains, shake on it."
Katie and the Ravenclaw captain stood forward and shook hands.
"Mount your brooms." Said Madam Hooch.
Everyone got on their brooms and rose into the air. Then Madam Hooch released the Snitch. It flew around both the teams, then disappeared somewhere on the field. Cho and Harry watched it with their eyes. Then the Bludgers were released, the Quaffle thrown up, and the game began. Quickly Harry rose above the other players to get his usual bird's eye view of the field. He could faintly hear Lee's commentary and when he squinted, he saw Ginny scoring a goal. The sight made him feel elated, but then he concentrated on his own goal. Finding the Snitch. The Snitch seemed to be no where on the field. The game went on as he looked. Soon he heard Lee proclaim that the score was now two0-10, Gryffindor.
I'd better find that Snitch while Gryffindor is still in the lead! Harry thought, frantically.
The game was not only hard on Harry, who still had to find the Snitch, but hard on Fred and George as well. Sophia as well as the other beater on the Ravenclaw team were very good, keeping Fred and George's hands full the whole time. While the war between the beaters went along, Violet scored another goal making the score three0-10, Gryffindor. Suddenly there was a large clap of thunder and both the teams were under a heavy downpour of rain.
This is just great...Just when I didn't want a storm...Harry thought, wistfully.
This caused Harry to double his efforts in looking for the Snitch. After flying around for a long while being soaked to the bone, he thought he saw that familiar little glint of gold at the opposite side of the field.
Yes!! Harry thought as he rushed towards it.
Cho saw him starting to rush and knew that he must have seen the Snitch. She followed as fast as she could behind him, but she knew there was no way she could catch up with Harry on a Firebolt. Soon the Snitch was within Harry's reach when Cho finally swooped up behind him. As he reached out to grab the Snitch, Cho suddenly changed direction and flew over him, reaching downward for it. Harry anticipated this and blocked her hand. The Snitch, never staying in one place for very long, began to fly away again. Before it could, Harry chased after it and closed his hand tightly around it. Gryffindor had won the game! The whole team screamed in excitement, as did the people in the stands from their house. The Ravenclaw team was a bit dejected, but they knew it was a fair game, so they accepted defeat. Ginny and Violet were especially pleased as they were the only people on the team that were not somewhat experienced with Quidditch prior to this year. Violet did a loop-de-loop on her broom in her elation. But then she heard someone yelling her name. In this weather and with the entire stadium cheering it was hard to see who.
"Violet!!! Look out!!!" they yelled.
Ron? Violet had no time to think anything else.
She looked up and saw a bolt of lightning racing toward her broom. She tried to dodge it, but it was too late. It struck her broom. In trying to get out of the way quickly, she lost balance and began to fall. Everyone helplessly watched her fall since they were too far away to save her. Everyone, except Sophia. She saw Violet, and knew if she didn't catch her, it would be too late. Without a second thought, she rushed toward Violet and caught her inches from the ground.
"Are you okay!?" Sophia frantically asked her.
Violet shook her head and realized that she was safe and that she had not died after all.
"Yes. Thank you." Violet said.
When they had their feet firmly on the ground, Sophia held out her hand to shake and said, "Well my name is Sophia. I'm assuming that your name is Violet since that weird guy who sang 'You are my Sunshine' to me was screaming it."
Violet smiled, remembering the incident
Then she took Sophia's offered hand and said, "Yes, it is. I'm very glad to meet -" Violet suddenly cut off and grabbed Sophia's hand unusually tight. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she began to speak in a deep, throaty voice.
Sophia:
Just when the world seems full of light,
There remains but one more battle to win the fight,
Look forward now, your path is clear,
You must face the one that is most feared.
Soon, undeterred, he will reach his goal,
He will finally procure what will make him whole,
In the Scepter this power he seeks lies,
With it, he will be bound by no Earthly ties.
The world's fate lies with you,
You must carefully choose what you will do,
Resigned to this fate you must be,
Because it is with you that lies the key.
Violet let go of Sophia's hand as she began to come out of the trance. Sophia backed away from her, not knowing what to think about what she just heard. But she did not have much time to dwell on it then because everyone began rushing up to them to see if Violet was alright. Ron was the first to break through.
"Violet! You're alright!! I was afraid something bad would happen to you." Ron said, happily.
Then without even thinking about it, he enveloped her in a huge hug. Draco walked around the crowd, trying to see over all the heads also trying to make sure Violet was okay. Then he saw Ron hugging her. He felt himself burning from jealousy.
That idiot! How dare he touch her! Draco thought angrily, ready to take this up with Ron.
But he stopped himself. He could not let anyone see that he liked her. He would become the laughing stock of his house and everyone would be highly suspicious of him in the Gryffindor house. He sulkily edged away to his dorm, trying not to think anymore about it. Sophia received congratulations from everyone on the Gryffindor team. She said her thank yous quickly, just wanting to get away from Violet. She started walking backwards and she bumped into someone. She turned around quickly and saw she bumped into one of the Weasley twins.
"Hi Sophia! That was a really great save there." said George a bit nervously.
Sophia smiled, glad she ran into someone she actually wanted to talk to. At least she thought so.
"Thanks Fred. It was nothing." Sophia replied.
"Well, I'm –" George started, but he stopped himself.
Well, if she seems to like Fred better, there's no harm in a little pretending...George thought.
"Yes...I'm sure it wasn't..." George hurriedly covered.
Sophia gave him a bit of a strange look, but decided not to ask. She asked him something else instead.
"Well, you know...the school is going to Hogsmede next weekend...would you like to hang out there?" Sophia asked him amiably.
George smiled and said, "Yeah, that'd be great."
"Alright...well, I guess I'll see you then!" Sophia said as she walked off.
"Bye!" George yelled after her.
George walked back to the dorms considerably more smug than he was before.
* * *
Ron and Violet walked together into the large front doors of the school together.
"Are you sure you're okay, Violet? I'd understand if you would want to hang out with me on another day..." Ron said with much concern.
"No, really...I'm fine..." Violet replied.
Ron smiled and said, "Well, okay. Then I want you to close your eyes."
"Close my eyes?" Violet said, now curious.
Ron just nodded and waited for Violet to do so. After walking for quite a ways, he finally told her to stop.
"Okay, open your eyes!" Ron said happily.
Violet opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She realized that she was in an empty classroom and Ron had set up a picnic for them both!
"Wow, Ron, this is great!" Violet said, very surprised.
When Violet looked back at Ron, he smiled, but she could tell he was pretty nervous.
"Well, let's sit down and eat! I don't know about you, but I'm starving! Ravenclaw was really giving us a run for our money there...I don't know how long I could have kept up those amazing blocks and saves!" Ron smiled and said quickly in his nervousness.
The both of them sat down on the blanket he set out. Ron tried to keep talking because he really did not want one of those awkward silences to fall in the room. Violet tried her best to help him for the same reason.
"Yeah...that was a really good game...I need to write to my friends back in the States about it...one of them, Arian, is a Quidditch player too..." Violet said.
"Oh really? What position does he play?" Ron asked, forgetting his nervousness for a moment.
"He's a Seeker." Violet replied, smiling at Ron's sudden interest.
"So did all of your friends there like Quidditch?" Ron asked, pursuing the subject.
"Arian and I did, but Lydia didn't. The two of us actually also followed professional Quidditch. Our favorite team is actually one from London." Said Violet.
"Oh, really?!? Which!?" Ron asked, really curious now.
"The Chuddley Cannons." Replied Violet.
"No bloody way!! They're my favorite too!!" Ron said, very excited.
"Wow! We have much more in common than I had thought!" said Violet, very amused by Ron's reaction.
"Did you see their last game? The way they..." Ron asked her, launching into a long description of the game.
Once Ron finally stopped talking, Violet got to voice her thoughts on it. Soon they were in a heated discussion about it that lasted for several minutes.
"...And the last goal of the game was amazing!! Their strategy was so great! I was hoping to learn some of their plays from watching their games..." said Violet, finally finishing their long discussion.
After all that talking, neither knew what to say now. The inevitable silence that they both were so desperately avoiding had finally settled. They looked at each other for many seconds.
Okay! I'd better do something now, before I lose my nerve! Ron thought, fearing this moment since they stepped into the room, Man, I'd better not mess up!
Ron slowly picked up his hand and put it over hers. As he did that, Violet felt her heart rate increase a bit. He scooted a little closer to her, careful to keep his hand on hers. He nervously looked at her, as if to ask her permission for something. Then, very slowly, he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. It felt good to Violet, but it paled in comparison to her kiss with Draco.
I can't believe that I'm actually comparing Ron to Draco! thought Violet in exasperation as she pulled away from Ron.
Then they looked at each other, blushed and smiled.
"Well I guess we should take all this stuff back to the Common Room...we have been here a while...I think we should head back..." said Ron, still blushing.
"Yeah...this was a great idea Ron...I'm glad you surprised me like this..." replied Violet, trying to push all thoughts of Draco from her mind.
"Oh it was no trouble, really..." Ron said.
"Did you think of this yourself?" Violet asked, as this question was lingering in her mind since she got there.
"Well, actually...Harry came up with the idea..." Ron replied.
Wow, I didn't know that Harry was so romantic! Violet thought, surprised.
"Well, we should get back then...people are probably wondering what happened to us." Violet smiled and said.
"Yeah...Let's go." Ron replied, pleased that the date had gone so well.
* * *
Violet and Draco waited in the Potions classroom for Nightshade to learn what they would have to do for detention. Violet felt extra uncomfortable waiting for Nightshade since every time she glanced over to Draco, he seemed to be looking at her. Finally, after what seemed like an excruciatingly long wait, Nightshade came into the classroom. She motioned for them to follow her, and she took them to a third floor corridor.
"You both are to swab this corridor, without magic. The mops and brooms are in the closet at the end of the corridor. I will be back in an hour. When I get back, it must be spotless." Said Nightshade.
After Nightshade left, Violet said, "This is so horrible! I don't believe that I have to do this! And what's worse, I have to do this with you!!"
Draco said nothing. They finally got to the supply closet. Violet pushed Draco aside and attempted to open the door, but it was so heavy, it required the both of them to pull it open. They saw it was much darker in there than expected. Draco stood by the door to hold it open.
"Lumos!" Violet said, lighting the end of her wand.
Now Draco could see a dim outline of her and some shelves in the back. He thought he saw some mops at the bottom of the shelf.
"Hey, Black! I think the mops are at the bottom of the shelf back there." Draco said.
"Thank you, Malfoy, but I had already seen them." Violet replied with mock politeness.
After a moment of silence Draco said, "You could stand to be a little more civil, you know."
Violet gave a mirthless chuckle and said, "Me be civil to you?!?! I don't think you've really given me a good reason up to this point to be civil..."
Violet then began to reach for a mop with the same hand her wand was in. The light reflected off the top of the room and Draco saw the mop Violet was reaching for was supporting a rather heavy looking cauldron.
"...If anything I should –" Violet said, reaching for the mop without looking.
"Violet! Watch out!!" Draco yelled, running forward and pulling Violet towards him as the cauldron fell.
Violet dropped her wand, and they were plunged in darkness as the cauldron fell. Finally when the clatter died down, Violet opened her eyes. But that in itself was pointless. She might as well had kept them closed. In the moment it took her eyes to somewhat adjust to the darkness, she realized that she had landed on top of Draco when he pulled her out of the way of the cauldron. Her face had turned scarlet, but luckily in the darkness Draco could not see it.
She slowly pulled herself off of him and said, "Well, this is great...I lost my wand and we're going to be stuck in here until someone comes looking for us! I don't even deserve to be here! Someone set it up! It was you, wasn't it?!?!"
Before Draco could stop himself from answering, he said, "Yes. It was me who got you in trouble. I poured some powdered essence of mandrake into your cauldron when you weren't looking so that something bad would happen when Weasley tried the potion."
Violet looked at him in disbelief and anger, while Draco resisted the urge to slap himself.
"I knew it!" she snapped.
"Violet...I'm really sorry..." Draco said.
"Enough fake sympathy. I don't know what you thought you would gain from getting me in detention with you, but there is no one around to save you from me this time." Violet said.
Draco lit his own wand and found where Violet's had rolled. He picked it up and handed it back to her to prove he did not want to harm her.
Well...we are in a closet where no one can disturb us...I think I'll just kiss her and see what happens. If she slaps me, then I know she still hates me. Draco thought, feeling a nervousness that had been alien to him before this moment.
Getting closer to her, he softly said, "Maybe I don't want to be saved..."
Soon his face was just centimeters away from hers. Violet did not know what to do. She knew the lack of space should have made her queasy, but strangely, she did not want him to back off. He glanced at her lips, leaned in, and kissed her. When Violet did not resist, he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. What shocked Violet even more was the fact that she found herself kissing him back. This sent her mind reeling.
What am I doing?!? This is Draco Malfoy!! He insulted your parents!! He...her thoughts abruptly stopped, her mind becoming occupied with the pleasantly intoxicating kiss.
But the heavy door of the broom closet began to move, interrupting them. They jumped apart as door was laboriously opened. Behind it was Professor Nightshade, and she did not look pleased.
"What happened here? When I came to see if you both were finished, the hall was empty and still dirty!" she said.
"The door fell closed locking us in here." Said Violet, offering no extra explanations.
Nightshade looked at them both and realized there were things Draco and Violet were not telling her, but she did not push.
"Very well. You both will make up this detention at a later date. You may go back to your dormitories now." Nightshade said, leaving to her room.
Violet and Draco just stood and stared at each other, neither knowing what to say or do. Finally Draco broke the silence.
"Good night, Violet..." Draco said.
Violet looked back at him a second and said, "Good night...Draco..."
They both went back to their dormitories.
* * *
It was now very late, but Hermione still had one more stack of books to get through. But her eyes were now tired, and she had just about enough. Since Harry, Ron and Violet had left for Quidditch practice, she had no one to help her, so the going was quite slow. When she finally decided to look up from the book she was skimming through, she saw Madam Pince going around and extinguishing all the candles lighting the room. She saw it was time to leave. She quickly grabbed her bag and the remaining stack of books on the table and went back to the dormitory as fast as she could with the large books in her arms. When she finally made it up the stairs to her dorm room, she threw the books unceremoniously on the floor and jumped on her bed. She stared at the canopy of her four poster knowing that she probably should be cracking open the books that she brought back with her.
I'll get to it in a minute...she thought.
"You know...I've been meaning to tell you something Harry...I have for a while, but I just never really got up the courage...Hermione paused and got a hold of her bearings, I have feelings for you, Harry...I've had them long time, and I really couldn't deny them anymore after the third task in the Triwizard Tournament. Just to think that I might have lost you forever and never told you how I felt...It just made me feel horrible...but now that I have finally been able to get the words out...Harry...I love you..."
Harry looked at her with mild surprised at first, but then smiled and suddenly pulled her close. But when he pulled away, he had on a serious face.
"I'm sorry Hermione, but I have to go..." Harry said mysteriously, walking backwards a few steps.
Then he turned around and started to run.
* * *
Violet finally made it back to the dormitories more confused from the latest chain of events than tired.
I can't believe that Draco just kissed me! And I kissed him back!! And I actually liked it! Violet thought, still unable to fathom what had just happened.
She decided to put this out of her mind. As she entered the dorm, she decided to ask Hermione how successful her search for information on the Scepter was.
"No, Harry...Don't go...Wait!" Hermione mumbled.
"Hermione, what are you –? " Violet abruptly stopped when she saw Hermione was asleep.
Well, I guess I'll just ask her about the Scepter later...Wow...I wonder what she's dreaming about? Oh well, I think I'll just go to bed before I drive myself nuts with this whole thing with Draco...Violet thought, getting into her own bed and falling asleep.
* * *
Harry ran with Hermione in close pursuit. He ran through a thick forest, so dense, Hermione could only track him by the sound of his feet. Finally they reached a clearing. Hermione looked to the edge of the clearing and noticed a dark, ominous looking cave there. Now Harry stopped and turned around. His face looked very afraid, but resolute.
"Don't follow me here, Hermione. This is probably the last time I'm going to see you, and I want you to be safe. Please...don't forget me..." Harry said, his voice very even, contrary to his facial expression.
With that he ran off into the cave before Hermione could stop him. She thought about it a second and finally realized where Harry was going. He was going to fight Voldemort!
When Hermione's voice finally returned, she screamed, "No, Harry, don't!!!"
* * *
Hermione jolted awake. In a moment she realized she had woken herself along with all the other girls in the room with her scream. Violet, Lavender, and Parvati rushed up to her to see what was wrong.
"Are you okay!?" asked Violet, with concern.
"Yeah...I'm sorry for waking you all...I just had a nightmare." Hermione replied.
"About what, failing a test?" said Lavender, a bit bitter for her sleep getting ruined.
"Well, actually...I'm pretty certain I heard her screaming Harry's name." said Parvati.
"Really?!?" inquired Lavender, always cheered up by a little gossip.
Lavender and Parvati looked at Hermione expectantly while Violet looked on curiously. She was just as curious as the two of them were, although she personally would have asked Hermione with more tact.
"Oh. Well, I um..." Hermione said, staring to blush, struggling to think of something to say that would get conversation off of this topic.
Fortunately, she didn't have to. Violet, seeing Hermione's discomfort, took control.
"Look, can we continue the interrogation at some later time? It's late and we all have classes tomorrow." Said Violet.
Lavender and Parvati sulked a bit, but they both went back to bed. Hermione gave Violet a look of thanks and the both of them went to sleep as well.
* * *
Ron paced in his dorm getting ready for the Quidditch game with Ravenclaw. Everyone had already left the room except for Harry.
Harry noticed this weird behavior and said, "Don't be so nervous, Ron! We know we're better than Ravenclaw. They don't stand a chance."
"Well, it's not the game I'm worried about so much, it's after the game I'm worried about..." said Ron.
"After the game?" Harry asked, quizzically.
"Yeah, well...because I kinda...umm...have a date with Violet..." Ron said, almost shyly.
"What?!? Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?!?" Harry said, pleasantly surprised.
"I don't know...I didn't tell anyone about it..." said Ron with a grin.
"Well...Hermione and I will stay out of both your way then." Harry replied, smiling, "We'd better get to the Pitch now before we're late."
* * *
It was now a few minutes before the Quidditch game and Violet was scared out of her wits. She knew that the team trained long and hard for this game, but she wished she had written Lydia and Arian for some encouragement.
I'll write them tonight, she thought.
She wasn't the only person who was scared. Ginny was too. It was one thing to be practicing only with your teammates, and another to be playing in front of the whole school. At least with her teammates she'd only make a fool of herself in front of 7 people. Now any mess up would make her a fool in front of hundreds. This almost made her feel sick to the stomach.
I think I should stop thinking about this... Ginny thought as the team prepared to take the field.
Finally the doors were opened and the Gryffindor team stepped out onto the field. Cheers greeted them primarily from the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff sections of the Pitch. Violet let her eyes wander to the Slytherin section of the stadium where they happened to fall on Draco Malfoy. She saw him regarding the rest of her team coldly, but as soon as he saw her, he smiled. Before she could even think about it, she found herself smiling back. Soon both teams were lined up in the middle of the field. Madam Hooch brought out the box with the Quidditch balls and then began to speak.
"Now I want a nice, fair game. Captains, shake on it."
Katie and the Ravenclaw captain stood forward and shook hands.
"Mount your brooms." Said Madam Hooch.
Everyone got on their brooms and rose into the air. Then Madam Hooch released the Snitch. It flew around both the teams, then disappeared somewhere on the field. Cho and Harry watched it with their eyes. Then the Bludgers were released, the Quaffle thrown up, and the game began. Quickly Harry rose above the other players to get his usual bird's eye view of the field. He could faintly hear Lee's commentary and when he squinted, he saw Ginny scoring a goal. The sight made him feel elated, but then he concentrated on his own goal. Finding the Snitch. The Snitch seemed to be no where on the field. The game went on as he looked. Soon he heard Lee proclaim that the score was now two0-10, Gryffindor.
I'd better find that Snitch while Gryffindor is still in the lead! Harry thought, frantically.
The game was not only hard on Harry, who still had to find the Snitch, but hard on Fred and George as well. Sophia as well as the other beater on the Ravenclaw team were very good, keeping Fred and George's hands full the whole time. While the war between the beaters went along, Violet scored another goal making the score three0-10, Gryffindor. Suddenly there was a large clap of thunder and both the teams were under a heavy downpour of rain.
This is just great...Just when I didn't want a storm...Harry thought, wistfully.
This caused Harry to double his efforts in looking for the Snitch. After flying around for a long while being soaked to the bone, he thought he saw that familiar little glint of gold at the opposite side of the field.
Yes!! Harry thought as he rushed towards it.
Cho saw him starting to rush and knew that he must have seen the Snitch. She followed as fast as she could behind him, but she knew there was no way she could catch up with Harry on a Firebolt. Soon the Snitch was within Harry's reach when Cho finally swooped up behind him. As he reached out to grab the Snitch, Cho suddenly changed direction and flew over him, reaching downward for it. Harry anticipated this and blocked her hand. The Snitch, never staying in one place for very long, began to fly away again. Before it could, Harry chased after it and closed his hand tightly around it. Gryffindor had won the game! The whole team screamed in excitement, as did the people in the stands from their house. The Ravenclaw team was a bit dejected, but they knew it was a fair game, so they accepted defeat. Ginny and Violet were especially pleased as they were the only people on the team that were not somewhat experienced with Quidditch prior to this year. Violet did a loop-de-loop on her broom in her elation. But then she heard someone yelling her name. In this weather and with the entire stadium cheering it was hard to see who.
"Violet!!! Look out!!!" they yelled.
Ron? Violet had no time to think anything else.
She looked up and saw a bolt of lightning racing toward her broom. She tried to dodge it, but it was too late. It struck her broom. In trying to get out of the way quickly, she lost balance and began to fall. Everyone helplessly watched her fall since they were too far away to save her. Everyone, except Sophia. She saw Violet, and knew if she didn't catch her, it would be too late. Without a second thought, she rushed toward Violet and caught her inches from the ground.
"Are you okay!?" Sophia frantically asked her.
Violet shook her head and realized that she was safe and that she had not died after all.
"Yes. Thank you." Violet said.
When they had their feet firmly on the ground, Sophia held out her hand to shake and said, "Well my name is Sophia. I'm assuming that your name is Violet since that weird guy who sang 'You are my Sunshine' to me was screaming it."
Violet smiled, remembering the incident
Then she took Sophia's offered hand and said, "Yes, it is. I'm very glad to meet -" Violet suddenly cut off and grabbed Sophia's hand unusually tight. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she began to speak in a deep, throaty voice.
Sophia:
Just when the world seems full of light,
There remains but one more battle to win the fight,
Look forward now, your path is clear,
You must face the one that is most feared.
Soon, undeterred, he will reach his goal,
He will finally procure what will make him whole,
In the Scepter this power he seeks lies,
With it, he will be bound by no Earthly ties.
The world's fate lies with you,
You must carefully choose what you will do,
Resigned to this fate you must be,
Because it is with you that lies the key.
Violet let go of Sophia's hand as she began to come out of the trance. Sophia backed away from her, not knowing what to think about what she just heard. But she did not have much time to dwell on it then because everyone began rushing up to them to see if Violet was alright. Ron was the first to break through.
"Violet! You're alright!! I was afraid something bad would happen to you." Ron said, happily.
Then without even thinking about it, he enveloped her in a huge hug. Draco walked around the crowd, trying to see over all the heads also trying to make sure Violet was okay. Then he saw Ron hugging her. He felt himself burning from jealousy.
That idiot! How dare he touch her! Draco thought angrily, ready to take this up with Ron.
But he stopped himself. He could not let anyone see that he liked her. He would become the laughing stock of his house and everyone would be highly suspicious of him in the Gryffindor house. He sulkily edged away to his dorm, trying not to think anymore about it. Sophia received congratulations from everyone on the Gryffindor team. She said her thank yous quickly, just wanting to get away from Violet. She started walking backwards and she bumped into someone. She turned around quickly and saw she bumped into one of the Weasley twins.
"Hi Sophia! That was a really great save there." said George a bit nervously.
Sophia smiled, glad she ran into someone she actually wanted to talk to. At least she thought so.
"Thanks Fred. It was nothing." Sophia replied.
"Well, I'm –" George started, but he stopped himself.
Well, if she seems to like Fred better, there's no harm in a little pretending...George thought.
"Yes...I'm sure it wasn't..." George hurriedly covered.
Sophia gave him a bit of a strange look, but decided not to ask. She asked him something else instead.
"Well, you know...the school is going to Hogsmede next weekend...would you like to hang out there?" Sophia asked him amiably.
George smiled and said, "Yeah, that'd be great."
"Alright...well, I guess I'll see you then!" Sophia said as she walked off.
"Bye!" George yelled after her.
George walked back to the dorms considerably more smug than he was before.
* * *
Ron and Violet walked together into the large front doors of the school together.
"Are you sure you're okay, Violet? I'd understand if you would want to hang out with me on another day..." Ron said with much concern.
"No, really...I'm fine..." Violet replied.
Ron smiled and said, "Well, okay. Then I want you to close your eyes."
"Close my eyes?" Violet said, now curious.
Ron just nodded and waited for Violet to do so. After walking for quite a ways, he finally told her to stop.
"Okay, open your eyes!" Ron said happily.
Violet opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She realized that she was in an empty classroom and Ron had set up a picnic for them both!
"Wow, Ron, this is great!" Violet said, very surprised.
When Violet looked back at Ron, he smiled, but she could tell he was pretty nervous.
"Well, let's sit down and eat! I don't know about you, but I'm starving! Ravenclaw was really giving us a run for our money there...I don't know how long I could have kept up those amazing blocks and saves!" Ron smiled and said quickly in his nervousness.
The both of them sat down on the blanket he set out. Ron tried to keep talking because he really did not want one of those awkward silences to fall in the room. Violet tried her best to help him for the same reason.
"Yeah...that was a really good game...I need to write to my friends back in the States about it...one of them, Arian, is a Quidditch player too..." Violet said.
"Oh really? What position does he play?" Ron asked, forgetting his nervousness for a moment.
"He's a Seeker." Violet replied, smiling at Ron's sudden interest.
"So did all of your friends there like Quidditch?" Ron asked, pursuing the subject.
"Arian and I did, but Lydia didn't. The two of us actually also followed professional Quidditch. Our favorite team is actually one from London." Said Violet.
"Oh, really?!? Which!?" Ron asked, really curious now.
"The Chuddley Cannons." Replied Violet.
"No bloody way!! They're my favorite too!!" Ron said, very excited.
"Wow! We have much more in common than I had thought!" said Violet, very amused by Ron's reaction.
"Did you see their last game? The way they..." Ron asked her, launching into a long description of the game.
Once Ron finally stopped talking, Violet got to voice her thoughts on it. Soon they were in a heated discussion about it that lasted for several minutes.
"...And the last goal of the game was amazing!! Their strategy was so great! I was hoping to learn some of their plays from watching their games..." said Violet, finally finishing their long discussion.
After all that talking, neither knew what to say now. The inevitable silence that they both were so desperately avoiding had finally settled. They looked at each other for many seconds.
Okay! I'd better do something now, before I lose my nerve! Ron thought, fearing this moment since they stepped into the room, Man, I'd better not mess up!
Ron slowly picked up his hand and put it over hers. As he did that, Violet felt her heart rate increase a bit. He scooted a little closer to her, careful to keep his hand on hers. He nervously looked at her, as if to ask her permission for something. Then, very slowly, he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. It felt good to Violet, but it paled in comparison to her kiss with Draco.
I can't believe that I'm actually comparing Ron to Draco! thought Violet in exasperation as she pulled away from Ron.
Then they looked at each other, blushed and smiled.
"Well I guess we should take all this stuff back to the Common Room...we have been here a while...I think we should head back..." said Ron, still blushing.
"Yeah...this was a great idea Ron...I'm glad you surprised me like this..." replied Violet, trying to push all thoughts of Draco from her mind.
"Oh it was no trouble, really..." Ron said.
"Did you think of this yourself?" Violet asked, as this question was lingering in her mind since she got there.
"Well, actually...Harry came up with the idea..." Ron replied.
Wow, I didn't know that Harry was so romantic! Violet thought, surprised.
"Well, we should get back then...people are probably wondering what happened to us." Violet smiled and said.
"Yeah...Let's go." Ron replied, pleased that the date had gone so well.
* * *