Chapter 13
Wormtail nervously approached his master sitting in the arm chair in front of the fire in the little house hidden deep in the wilderness. He had left the cottage for a period to get more information on the wizarding world.
"What news do you bring me, Wormtail?" Voldemort asked in his inhuman whisper.
Wormtail involuntarily shivered when he heard the voice.
"M-master.Lucius Malfoy insists on seeing you.he says he has some very important information for you regarding the Scepter." Wormtail said, his voice quivering.
Voldemort laughed coldly, making Wormtail shake with fear.
"Lucius Malfoy.my dear turn coat.I will see how valuable the information he has for me is before informing him of my true plans. He cannot be trusted, given the way he turned on me last time, but for the time being, I will use the fact that he is on my side." Said Voldemort, "Wormtail! Arrange a meeting for us immediately!"
Wormtail took a second to snap out of his fear induced trance and then transformed back into his rat form. He left the house before Voldemort could change his mind and feed him to the snake, Nagini. As soon as Wormtail left, Voldemort took his seat in front of the fire again. Nagini approached him and hissed. Voldemort replied in parseltongue.
"Do not worry, Nagini.you will have him one day."
* * *
Sophia sat in a nearly comatose state in History of Magic class.
I never thought such interesting history could be made so boring! Sophia thought as Professor Binns drawled on about merpeople/human relations over the centuries.
It took her a while to realize someone was tapping on her shoulder from behind. She turned around and saw it was Cho. Cho handed her a note. She opened it.
Hey, don't forget Quidditch practice today!
-Cho
She turned back to Cho and smiled. But the thought of Quidditch practice brought her mind back to their first Quidditch game and the weird prediction she heard from Violet. She was sure that Violet was not playing a joke on her because she had gone into a classic Divination trance.
But what could all of that mean?! Sophia thought, struggling to remember the whole prediction, '.it is with you that lies the key'? What kind of key does she mean? Does she mean an actual, physical key? Or is she talking about some kind of knowledge that would help bring down the Dark Lord? All I know is my mother's connections with Lucius Malfoy.I really don't think I know anything else that would help in the fight at all.
"Hello?!? Earth to Sophia!! Come in, Sophia!!" Cho said, waving a hand in front of Sophia's face.
Sophia snapped out of her thoughts.
"Class is over! We'd better get going or else we're going to be late to Quidditch practice!" Cho said.
"Yeah.let's go." Sophia replied.
They both left the now empty classroom.
"So what were you thinking about anyway?" asked Cho.
"Umm.nothing important." Sophia said a little mysteriously.
"Hmmm.or could it be a who?" Cho replied playfully, "How did your date with Fred Weasely go?"
Sophia quickly forgot about the prediction for the time being.
"I told you it wasn't a date!" Sophia said.
"Riiight.what is it when you spend time with a guy you like then?" asked Cho.
"I never told you I liked him!" said Sophia, defensively.
"You didn't have to.It's written all over your face!" said Cho.
Sophia didn't reply because she knew it was probably true.
"So how did it go?" asked Cho again.
"Well, it was fun, but I think he wants more commitment than I'm ready to give." said Sophia.
Cho raised an eyebrow.
"Fred Weasley?!"
Sophia told her everything that happened.
".and then he told me that he had something he wanted to tell me. I just bailed out before he could tell me anything."
Cho thought for a minute and said, "Well, I don't know him that well, but from the impression that I've gotten of him, he's a fun loving guy. I don't think he'd be out for a major commitment or something.I think you just jumped to conclusions.you should give him another chance."
"Hmmm.maybe you're right." Sophia replied.
* * *
"Hey, everyone! Gather round! We have some news to share with you all." said Fred, motioning to George and himself with a letter in his hand.
"What's that?" asked Ginny, pointing to the letter.
"This," George said, holding the letter up dramatically, "is a letter from mum."
"What is it about?" asked Ron.
George looked solemnly at Ron and said, "Charlie got charred by a Norweigen Ridgeback."
"What?!" Ginny said with surprise and concern.
"Naw, just kidding. Mum wants us all home for Christmas." Said George.
"George!" Ginny exclaimed, punching him in the arm.
"She also insisted that Harry and Hermione come too." Said Fred.
"Well, we just wanted to tell you guys that. We're no off to make our next culinary masterpiece with Lee. If you thought the canary crèmes were great, wait till you get a taste of this one!" said George.
"Oh, no. What have you guys cooked up this time?!" asked Ron, suspiciously.
"Now we don't want to ruin the surprise! You'll see! Maybe we'll give you one for Christmas." Said Fred.
Ron made a note not to eat any food item given to him by Fred or George.
"You guys might want to mind your dinner plates as well." George said with a devious smile as he and Fred walked off.
"Mom's never asked us home before for Christmas.I wonder why she'd do it now?" Ron wondered.
"I bet she just wanted to keep an extra good eye on us all because of everything that happened last year." said Hermione.
"So, Violet.what do you usually do for Christmas?" asked Harry.
"Well, usually I go home and my parents throw a really huge party for all my relatives on Christmas Eve. Then, usually, my mom's sister and her family sleep over and all of us spend Christmas together. But I'll really miss them all since I can't go home this year." Violet said a little sadly.
"Don't even think about it Violet! You can come over to my house for Christmas! It's so crowded already, that I'm sure my mum won't mind another person!" said Ron, without thinking.
Well, at least I hope mum won't mind too much.thought Ron when what he said occurred to him.
Violet smiled.
"I'd love to." Violet replied.
* * *
Violet sat with the 5th year Gryffindors and Slytherins in their last class before break: Transfiguration. Of course, being as strict as she was, McGonagall gave notes up to the last minute.
When will this be over!?! Violet thought, giving up on note taking since she was so excited by the coming holiday.
She stole a glance at her friends. Ron looked dazed by the complexity of the notes, Harry took notes, stopping every once in a while to rest his hand, and Hermione wrote every word McGonagall said quickly and neatly. Then her eyes wandered across the room and fell on Draco. He was looking at her. She gave him a little smile.
Meet me after class! Draco mouthed.
Soon after, the bell finally rang. Everyone rushed to get out of the classroom. Harry, Hermione, and Ron began to walk back to the Gryffindor Common Room. They saw Violet was just standing in front of the classroom.
"You coming, Violet?" asked Ron.
"Well, I was going to the bathroom first. I'll catch up with you guys in the Common Room." Violet said.
"Okay, see you soon!" said Hermione.
Violet began to walk towards the girls restrooms when a hand reached out from an empty classroom and pulled her in.
"I know the Do-Gooders are waiting for you, but I just had to talk to you." said Draco when they were in the classroom, safely out of earshot.
Before Violet could think about her actions, she said, "I've missed you." and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He gratefully retuned her hug and said nothing for several minutes.
When he finally broke the silence he said, "What are your plans for break?"
Violet pulled away from him and looked embarrassed.
"Well.umm.I'm going to.uhh.Ron's." she mumbled while looking at the ground, since she didn't want to see the hurt in Draco's eyes.
Draco wanted to yell and tell her that he could treat her so much better than Ron ever could in the poor excuse for a house that he probably lived in and that she should come home with him for Christmas, if anywhere. But he had enough of his senses about him to hold his tongue. He knew that if his parents ever found out she was not full blood that he would probably be literally disowned from the family for even considering a relationship with a girl like her. Not only that, all of Violet's and his friends would be extremely suspicious of them both and probably would stop talking to them. He figured that all those consequences outweighed how much he wanted her to come with him, and so he kept his outburst from coming out.
Instead he asked, "You're not going home?"
Violet was thrown off by the question. She knew she had to make up something fast so her secrets of Sirius and the Scepter would not come out.
"Uhh.no.My parents are going on a cruise for Christmas, so I was just going to stay here.but then Ron invited me to his house, so I just took the offer." Violet said, not entirely convincingly.
Why can't I lie any better?!? Violet thought, frustrated with herself.
Draco did not really believe her, but since he could not invite her to his house, he said nothing about it.
Instead he said, "I'll keep in touch with you over break.I will owl you at Weasley's house.I don't want you to forget while you are there that I'm the one that can treat you infinitely better than Weasley ever could."
Violet didn't know how to reply to this, so she stayed silent.
The quiet settled in the room before she said, "Look, Draco.this is really hard.I just don't know what to do."
"Forget Weasley." Draco replied, simply.
"You know I can't." Violet said, quietly.
Draco narrowed his eyes with hurt and frustration.
"I think I'll go then." Draco said, and began to leave the room angrily.
Violet grabbed his hand before he could pass her and stopped him. Draco looked at her in surprise. Then she walked up close to him and kissed him. Soon they slowly pulled away from each other. Violet smiled at him, trying to show him that she hadn't quite chosen Ron yet.
Draco cupped Violet's cheek and said, "I'll see you when break is over."
Then he left Violet standing in the classroom. She watched him go, and felt sorry that she was caught in such a dilemma.
Oh no! Harry, Ron, and Hermione are waiting for me! Violet remembered with a jolt.
She rushed out of the classroom to the Gryffindor Common Room.
* * *
"Come on Sophia! The train is going to leave without us at this rate!" Cho said, waiting for Sophia to finish packing at the dormitory door.
Everyone was getting ready to leave for the winter holidays.
"I'm trying, I'm trying!" Sophia said, frantically cramming things into her trunk.
Finally when they left the Ravenclaw Common Room, they found they were amongst the last to leave. Sophia and Cho saw that everyone who was leaving for the holidays were piling into the horseless carriages that would take them to the Hogsmede station of the Hogwarts Express. Not wanting to be left out, they quickly followed in suit, throwing their trunks in the back of one carriage and jumping in. The ride to the station was too short in Sophia's opinion; it would be three weeks before she saw any of her friends again. She and Cho said good bye to the people they rode with in the carriage and then moved toward the train to get a cabin for themselves as they usually did. The Weaselys, Harry, Hermione, and Violet had the same idea. All of them had gotten on the train, but Fred and George were getting their last pieces of luggage inside. As George began to drag his own trunk into the train, he happened to catch a glimpse of Sophia entering the train a few cabins down. He figured now was as good a time as any to find out what exactly had happened in Hogsmede a few weeks ago.
"Sophia! Hey, Sophia!!" George called out.
She turned to find who was calling her name and saw him. He rushed over as fast as his trunk allowed him to. She beckoned to Cho to continue on without her.
"Hi Fred!" Sophia said as he approached her.
George smiled, slightly embarrassed.
Man, I've got make my identity clear the next chance we have to talk.he thought.
"It's good to see you again.especially after how abruptly you left the Three Broomsticks during our last Hogsmede visit." George said.
Now it was Sophia's turn to be embarrassed.
"Look, I'm really sorry.I shouldn't have done that." she said.
"Don't worry about it. It's already forgotten." Said George with a smile.
The train whistle sounded signaling to everyone that it was time to finish boarding.
"It seems like we'd better get on or the train will leave without us." Sophia said, happy George (who she thought was Fred) wasn't mad at her.
"Yeah.you want to get together the next Hogsmede visit?" asked George, anxious for a chance to tell her who he really was.
"Sure. And this time I promise I won't run off on you." Sophia said, smiling.
"Okay. See you then!" George said, taking his trunk back to where he was getting on the train.
Sophia rolled her trunk through the train and looked for Cho.
I'm glad I didn't completely blow it with him just yet! I thought he wouldn't want to talk to me anymore after that.Sophia thought.
"Hey, Sophia, I'm in here!" a voice called out of a cabin she had already passed.
Sophia backed up and found Cho waiting for her there.
"So, how did everything go? Did you two make up?" Cho teased.
"Yeah, we did actually. We decided to meet again our next Hogsmede visit." Replied Sophia.
"Glad to hear it." Said Cho, "And don't you run away from him this time!"
"Don't worry.I already promised him I wouldn't." Sophia said with a smile.
* * *
After several hours, the Hogwarts express finally pulled into King's Cross. Everyone slowly began to get up, say their goodbyes, leave the train and go their separate ways for the holidays. Harry, Hermione, Violet, and the Weaselys struggled to stay together and locate Mr. and Mrs. Weasely in the crowd.
"Ron! Harry! Hey, everyone! Over here!" called Mr. Weasely, waving over the crowd.
Mr. Weasely took them over to a corner of the station where Mrs. Weasely was waiting for them all. As soon as her family approached her, she began to fuss over them all.
"Oh, it's been so long since I've seen you all! The house is just so empty without everyone!" Mrs. Weasely said, happily greeting them all.
She gave all her children a quick examination so as to determine if they were all okay.
"I hope all of you were looking after your little sister!" Mrs. Weasely said specifically to her sons.
"Mum!" said Ginny in frustration, unnoticed by her mother.
Then she took to examining those who weren't in her family.
"Harry, Hermione! I'm so happy you both are coming to stay with us for Christmas!" she said.
She glanced over to Violet, suddenly noticing her standing there too. She looked at Violet a bit puzzled as to why she was there, since she didn't have a clue who Violet was. Violet fidgeted uncomfortably and looked to Ron for assistance.
"Hello, dear. You are - ?" fumbled Mrs. Weasely.
Ron finally spoke up and said, "Oh, she's.umm.my friend Violet.umm, actually all our friend.she couldn't go home for Christmas, so I invited her with us."
Ron felt like slapping himself for being so awkward.
I wish I could have said something funny like Fred or George would have done.he thought.
"Oh, hello Violet! It's so nice to meet you!" said Mrs. Weasely, enthusiastically.
"I just hope that I'm not barging in on you." said Violet a little nervously.
Mrs. Weasely smiled at Violet and said, "Of course you're not, dear. Any good friend of Ron's is welcome."
Then Mr. Weasely said, "Well, let's get going then! The ministry cars are waiting for us!"
* * *
Draco left the station with his chauffer, who led him to one of the family's large cars to take him home. Once he got inside, he was not surprised that there was no one there to welcome him home, there never once was. Hoping just to catch a last glimpse of Violet before the holidays, he kept an eye out for her in the station. As he was about to leave, he saw how warmly the Weaselys had greeted her. Even if the Weaselys were poor and couldn't afford half the things he could, they seemed happy, although it was beyond him how they could be with such little money.
No one could be happy being that poor.they are so pathetic.I just don't know what Violet could see in them.What could Weasely give her that I couldn't top? Draco thought bitterly, a strange loneliness welling inside of him.
Soon enough, he was home at the manor. The chauffer waited until Draco got out of the car and then wisked the car away, leaving Draco to walk up to the house alone. Draco made his way slowly across his large front yard to the front door of the manor. As he expected, it wasn't his mother or father that answered the door, but one of the house's maids. As he walked in, he resentfully chuckled at himself, shocked that the thought had even briefly crossed his mind.
Not in this house.he thought.
He decided to just go to his room to be alone with his thoughts. Even if the chance that he would run into either of his parents or anyone else in such a large house was very low, he decided not to risk it at all. But almost immediately after he plopped down on his bed, there was a knock on his door.
"Come in." he called, lazily, not getting up from the bed.
Behind the door he found one of the family's house elfs. When the elf realized that Draco had seen him, he bowed low to the ground.
"Yes?" Draco asked curtly.
"Young master, your mother requests to see you in the lounge right away." The elf replied, his long nose still touching the ground.
"Fine." Draco replied, not getting up.
After he heard the house elf leave, he got up and went to the lounge. He found his mother all dressed up and waiting for him. Various house elfs were bustling around the kitchen, apparently preparing a large dinner.
"Draco. Your father is having a lot of important guests over for dinner tonight. I want you to dress quickly and come to the dining room." Narcissa said shortly.
Then she hurried out to the dining room to prepare for the guests. Draco, in turn, hurried to his room to change because he knew how his parents hated waiting for him. He knew exactly who these important guests were. They were fellow Death Eaters with his father.
* * *
Wormtail nervously approached his master sitting in the arm chair in front of the fire in the little house hidden deep in the wilderness. He had left the cottage for a period to get more information on the wizarding world.
"What news do you bring me, Wormtail?" Voldemort asked in his inhuman whisper.
Wormtail involuntarily shivered when he heard the voice.
"M-master.Lucius Malfoy insists on seeing you.he says he has some very important information for you regarding the Scepter." Wormtail said, his voice quivering.
Voldemort laughed coldly, making Wormtail shake with fear.
"Lucius Malfoy.my dear turn coat.I will see how valuable the information he has for me is before informing him of my true plans. He cannot be trusted, given the way he turned on me last time, but for the time being, I will use the fact that he is on my side." Said Voldemort, "Wormtail! Arrange a meeting for us immediately!"
Wormtail took a second to snap out of his fear induced trance and then transformed back into his rat form. He left the house before Voldemort could change his mind and feed him to the snake, Nagini. As soon as Wormtail left, Voldemort took his seat in front of the fire again. Nagini approached him and hissed. Voldemort replied in parseltongue.
"Do not worry, Nagini.you will have him one day."
* * *
Sophia sat in a nearly comatose state in History of Magic class.
I never thought such interesting history could be made so boring! Sophia thought as Professor Binns drawled on about merpeople/human relations over the centuries.
It took her a while to realize someone was tapping on her shoulder from behind. She turned around and saw it was Cho. Cho handed her a note. She opened it.
Hey, don't forget Quidditch practice today!
-Cho
She turned back to Cho and smiled. But the thought of Quidditch practice brought her mind back to their first Quidditch game and the weird prediction she heard from Violet. She was sure that Violet was not playing a joke on her because she had gone into a classic Divination trance.
But what could all of that mean?! Sophia thought, struggling to remember the whole prediction, '.it is with you that lies the key'? What kind of key does she mean? Does she mean an actual, physical key? Or is she talking about some kind of knowledge that would help bring down the Dark Lord? All I know is my mother's connections with Lucius Malfoy.I really don't think I know anything else that would help in the fight at all.
"Hello?!? Earth to Sophia!! Come in, Sophia!!" Cho said, waving a hand in front of Sophia's face.
Sophia snapped out of her thoughts.
"Class is over! We'd better get going or else we're going to be late to Quidditch practice!" Cho said.
"Yeah.let's go." Sophia replied.
They both left the now empty classroom.
"So what were you thinking about anyway?" asked Cho.
"Umm.nothing important." Sophia said a little mysteriously.
"Hmmm.or could it be a who?" Cho replied playfully, "How did your date with Fred Weasely go?"
Sophia quickly forgot about the prediction for the time being.
"I told you it wasn't a date!" Sophia said.
"Riiight.what is it when you spend time with a guy you like then?" asked Cho.
"I never told you I liked him!" said Sophia, defensively.
"You didn't have to.It's written all over your face!" said Cho.
Sophia didn't reply because she knew it was probably true.
"So how did it go?" asked Cho again.
"Well, it was fun, but I think he wants more commitment than I'm ready to give." said Sophia.
Cho raised an eyebrow.
"Fred Weasley?!"
Sophia told her everything that happened.
".and then he told me that he had something he wanted to tell me. I just bailed out before he could tell me anything."
Cho thought for a minute and said, "Well, I don't know him that well, but from the impression that I've gotten of him, he's a fun loving guy. I don't think he'd be out for a major commitment or something.I think you just jumped to conclusions.you should give him another chance."
"Hmmm.maybe you're right." Sophia replied.
* * *
"Hey, everyone! Gather round! We have some news to share with you all." said Fred, motioning to George and himself with a letter in his hand.
"What's that?" asked Ginny, pointing to the letter.
"This," George said, holding the letter up dramatically, "is a letter from mum."
"What is it about?" asked Ron.
George looked solemnly at Ron and said, "Charlie got charred by a Norweigen Ridgeback."
"What?!" Ginny said with surprise and concern.
"Naw, just kidding. Mum wants us all home for Christmas." Said George.
"George!" Ginny exclaimed, punching him in the arm.
"She also insisted that Harry and Hermione come too." Said Fred.
"Well, we just wanted to tell you guys that. We're no off to make our next culinary masterpiece with Lee. If you thought the canary crèmes were great, wait till you get a taste of this one!" said George.
"Oh, no. What have you guys cooked up this time?!" asked Ron, suspiciously.
"Now we don't want to ruin the surprise! You'll see! Maybe we'll give you one for Christmas." Said Fred.
Ron made a note not to eat any food item given to him by Fred or George.
"You guys might want to mind your dinner plates as well." George said with a devious smile as he and Fred walked off.
"Mom's never asked us home before for Christmas.I wonder why she'd do it now?" Ron wondered.
"I bet she just wanted to keep an extra good eye on us all because of everything that happened last year." said Hermione.
"So, Violet.what do you usually do for Christmas?" asked Harry.
"Well, usually I go home and my parents throw a really huge party for all my relatives on Christmas Eve. Then, usually, my mom's sister and her family sleep over and all of us spend Christmas together. But I'll really miss them all since I can't go home this year." Violet said a little sadly.
"Don't even think about it Violet! You can come over to my house for Christmas! It's so crowded already, that I'm sure my mum won't mind another person!" said Ron, without thinking.
Well, at least I hope mum won't mind too much.thought Ron when what he said occurred to him.
Violet smiled.
"I'd love to." Violet replied.
* * *
Violet sat with the 5th year Gryffindors and Slytherins in their last class before break: Transfiguration. Of course, being as strict as she was, McGonagall gave notes up to the last minute.
When will this be over!?! Violet thought, giving up on note taking since she was so excited by the coming holiday.
She stole a glance at her friends. Ron looked dazed by the complexity of the notes, Harry took notes, stopping every once in a while to rest his hand, and Hermione wrote every word McGonagall said quickly and neatly. Then her eyes wandered across the room and fell on Draco. He was looking at her. She gave him a little smile.
Meet me after class! Draco mouthed.
Soon after, the bell finally rang. Everyone rushed to get out of the classroom. Harry, Hermione, and Ron began to walk back to the Gryffindor Common Room. They saw Violet was just standing in front of the classroom.
"You coming, Violet?" asked Ron.
"Well, I was going to the bathroom first. I'll catch up with you guys in the Common Room." Violet said.
"Okay, see you soon!" said Hermione.
Violet began to walk towards the girls restrooms when a hand reached out from an empty classroom and pulled her in.
"I know the Do-Gooders are waiting for you, but I just had to talk to you." said Draco when they were in the classroom, safely out of earshot.
Before Violet could think about her actions, she said, "I've missed you." and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He gratefully retuned her hug and said nothing for several minutes.
When he finally broke the silence he said, "What are your plans for break?"
Violet pulled away from him and looked embarrassed.
"Well.umm.I'm going to.uhh.Ron's." she mumbled while looking at the ground, since she didn't want to see the hurt in Draco's eyes.
Draco wanted to yell and tell her that he could treat her so much better than Ron ever could in the poor excuse for a house that he probably lived in and that she should come home with him for Christmas, if anywhere. But he had enough of his senses about him to hold his tongue. He knew that if his parents ever found out she was not full blood that he would probably be literally disowned from the family for even considering a relationship with a girl like her. Not only that, all of Violet's and his friends would be extremely suspicious of them both and probably would stop talking to them. He figured that all those consequences outweighed how much he wanted her to come with him, and so he kept his outburst from coming out.
Instead he asked, "You're not going home?"
Violet was thrown off by the question. She knew she had to make up something fast so her secrets of Sirius and the Scepter would not come out.
"Uhh.no.My parents are going on a cruise for Christmas, so I was just going to stay here.but then Ron invited me to his house, so I just took the offer." Violet said, not entirely convincingly.
Why can't I lie any better?!? Violet thought, frustrated with herself.
Draco did not really believe her, but since he could not invite her to his house, he said nothing about it.
Instead he said, "I'll keep in touch with you over break.I will owl you at Weasley's house.I don't want you to forget while you are there that I'm the one that can treat you infinitely better than Weasley ever could."
Violet didn't know how to reply to this, so she stayed silent.
The quiet settled in the room before she said, "Look, Draco.this is really hard.I just don't know what to do."
"Forget Weasley." Draco replied, simply.
"You know I can't." Violet said, quietly.
Draco narrowed his eyes with hurt and frustration.
"I think I'll go then." Draco said, and began to leave the room angrily.
Violet grabbed his hand before he could pass her and stopped him. Draco looked at her in surprise. Then she walked up close to him and kissed him. Soon they slowly pulled away from each other. Violet smiled at him, trying to show him that she hadn't quite chosen Ron yet.
Draco cupped Violet's cheek and said, "I'll see you when break is over."
Then he left Violet standing in the classroom. She watched him go, and felt sorry that she was caught in such a dilemma.
Oh no! Harry, Ron, and Hermione are waiting for me! Violet remembered with a jolt.
She rushed out of the classroom to the Gryffindor Common Room.
* * *
"Come on Sophia! The train is going to leave without us at this rate!" Cho said, waiting for Sophia to finish packing at the dormitory door.
Everyone was getting ready to leave for the winter holidays.
"I'm trying, I'm trying!" Sophia said, frantically cramming things into her trunk.
Finally when they left the Ravenclaw Common Room, they found they were amongst the last to leave. Sophia and Cho saw that everyone who was leaving for the holidays were piling into the horseless carriages that would take them to the Hogsmede station of the Hogwarts Express. Not wanting to be left out, they quickly followed in suit, throwing their trunks in the back of one carriage and jumping in. The ride to the station was too short in Sophia's opinion; it would be three weeks before she saw any of her friends again. She and Cho said good bye to the people they rode with in the carriage and then moved toward the train to get a cabin for themselves as they usually did. The Weaselys, Harry, Hermione, and Violet had the same idea. All of them had gotten on the train, but Fred and George were getting their last pieces of luggage inside. As George began to drag his own trunk into the train, he happened to catch a glimpse of Sophia entering the train a few cabins down. He figured now was as good a time as any to find out what exactly had happened in Hogsmede a few weeks ago.
"Sophia! Hey, Sophia!!" George called out.
She turned to find who was calling her name and saw him. He rushed over as fast as his trunk allowed him to. She beckoned to Cho to continue on without her.
"Hi Fred!" Sophia said as he approached her.
George smiled, slightly embarrassed.
Man, I've got make my identity clear the next chance we have to talk.he thought.
"It's good to see you again.especially after how abruptly you left the Three Broomsticks during our last Hogsmede visit." George said.
Now it was Sophia's turn to be embarrassed.
"Look, I'm really sorry.I shouldn't have done that." she said.
"Don't worry about it. It's already forgotten." Said George with a smile.
The train whistle sounded signaling to everyone that it was time to finish boarding.
"It seems like we'd better get on or the train will leave without us." Sophia said, happy George (who she thought was Fred) wasn't mad at her.
"Yeah.you want to get together the next Hogsmede visit?" asked George, anxious for a chance to tell her who he really was.
"Sure. And this time I promise I won't run off on you." Sophia said, smiling.
"Okay. See you then!" George said, taking his trunk back to where he was getting on the train.
Sophia rolled her trunk through the train and looked for Cho.
I'm glad I didn't completely blow it with him just yet! I thought he wouldn't want to talk to me anymore after that.Sophia thought.
"Hey, Sophia, I'm in here!" a voice called out of a cabin she had already passed.
Sophia backed up and found Cho waiting for her there.
"So, how did everything go? Did you two make up?" Cho teased.
"Yeah, we did actually. We decided to meet again our next Hogsmede visit." Replied Sophia.
"Glad to hear it." Said Cho, "And don't you run away from him this time!"
"Don't worry.I already promised him I wouldn't." Sophia said with a smile.
* * *
After several hours, the Hogwarts express finally pulled into King's Cross. Everyone slowly began to get up, say their goodbyes, leave the train and go their separate ways for the holidays. Harry, Hermione, Violet, and the Weaselys struggled to stay together and locate Mr. and Mrs. Weasely in the crowd.
"Ron! Harry! Hey, everyone! Over here!" called Mr. Weasely, waving over the crowd.
Mr. Weasely took them over to a corner of the station where Mrs. Weasely was waiting for them all. As soon as her family approached her, she began to fuss over them all.
"Oh, it's been so long since I've seen you all! The house is just so empty without everyone!" Mrs. Weasely said, happily greeting them all.
She gave all her children a quick examination so as to determine if they were all okay.
"I hope all of you were looking after your little sister!" Mrs. Weasely said specifically to her sons.
"Mum!" said Ginny in frustration, unnoticed by her mother.
Then she took to examining those who weren't in her family.
"Harry, Hermione! I'm so happy you both are coming to stay with us for Christmas!" she said.
She glanced over to Violet, suddenly noticing her standing there too. She looked at Violet a bit puzzled as to why she was there, since she didn't have a clue who Violet was. Violet fidgeted uncomfortably and looked to Ron for assistance.
"Hello, dear. You are - ?" fumbled Mrs. Weasely.
Ron finally spoke up and said, "Oh, she's.umm.my friend Violet.umm, actually all our friend.she couldn't go home for Christmas, so I invited her with us."
Ron felt like slapping himself for being so awkward.
I wish I could have said something funny like Fred or George would have done.he thought.
"Oh, hello Violet! It's so nice to meet you!" said Mrs. Weasely, enthusiastically.
"I just hope that I'm not barging in on you." said Violet a little nervously.
Mrs. Weasely smiled at Violet and said, "Of course you're not, dear. Any good friend of Ron's is welcome."
Then Mr. Weasely said, "Well, let's get going then! The ministry cars are waiting for us!"
* * *
Draco left the station with his chauffer, who led him to one of the family's large cars to take him home. Once he got inside, he was not surprised that there was no one there to welcome him home, there never once was. Hoping just to catch a last glimpse of Violet before the holidays, he kept an eye out for her in the station. As he was about to leave, he saw how warmly the Weaselys had greeted her. Even if the Weaselys were poor and couldn't afford half the things he could, they seemed happy, although it was beyond him how they could be with such little money.
No one could be happy being that poor.they are so pathetic.I just don't know what Violet could see in them.What could Weasely give her that I couldn't top? Draco thought bitterly, a strange loneliness welling inside of him.
Soon enough, he was home at the manor. The chauffer waited until Draco got out of the car and then wisked the car away, leaving Draco to walk up to the house alone. Draco made his way slowly across his large front yard to the front door of the manor. As he expected, it wasn't his mother or father that answered the door, but one of the house's maids. As he walked in, he resentfully chuckled at himself, shocked that the thought had even briefly crossed his mind.
Not in this house.he thought.
He decided to just go to his room to be alone with his thoughts. Even if the chance that he would run into either of his parents or anyone else in such a large house was very low, he decided not to risk it at all. But almost immediately after he plopped down on his bed, there was a knock on his door.
"Come in." he called, lazily, not getting up from the bed.
Behind the door he found one of the family's house elfs. When the elf realized that Draco had seen him, he bowed low to the ground.
"Yes?" Draco asked curtly.
"Young master, your mother requests to see you in the lounge right away." The elf replied, his long nose still touching the ground.
"Fine." Draco replied, not getting up.
After he heard the house elf leave, he got up and went to the lounge. He found his mother all dressed up and waiting for him. Various house elfs were bustling around the kitchen, apparently preparing a large dinner.
"Draco. Your father is having a lot of important guests over for dinner tonight. I want you to dress quickly and come to the dining room." Narcissa said shortly.
Then she hurried out to the dining room to prepare for the guests. Draco, in turn, hurried to his room to change because he knew how his parents hated waiting for him. He knew exactly who these important guests were. They were fellow Death Eaters with his father.
* * *