The next few weeks, following James asking Violet out, saw Sirius gritting his teeth when they were together. Everywhere they went, James would have an arm around her and kiss her forehead in a second-thought kind of way that made Sirius cringe. As they kept their relationship quiet, Violet would find the group of boys in her free time and, while he was thankful she didn't talk much, she had some strange power that made James act oddly grown up and not like his usual, carefree self. Sirius didn't look into it too much but he was clear and had told James before that he didn't like or trust the girl. He didn't mind her hanging around with them so much but it meant that he was seeing a lot less of his friend. As Sirius stabbed his fork into his pork sausage that morning at breakfast, he felt unchanged in his boredom upon hearing the whispers going around; Violet and James were officially a couple.

"I don't know, Moony, you were always better at potions than me." Sirius overheard Wormtail say through a mouthful of toast. He looked up at his two friends who were sat opposite him; neither aware of the tragedy that had befallen their good friend Prongs.

"Trust me; you just need to take over for…" Remus' eyes squinted as he tried to figure it out, "not even half an hour before I'm back to take over." Sirius lost track of the conversation as he saw James emerge from the crowd at the entrance of the Great Hall and make his way over.

"What's going on?" James asked loudly, for the whispers turned to chatter, as he approached, looking at Remus and Peter.

"Moony wants me to tutor his third year student for a bit-"

"What's wrong with that?" James asked, pouring himself some orange juice. Wormtail shook his head nervously and stuffed his mouth full of toast. Remus leant in to whisper to James.

"You know the secret's out, right? Everyone keeps pestering me for information; tell them yourself!" He remarked and the small smirk from James did not go unnoticed. Breakfast then proceeded in silence; Wormtail hopelessly going over a potions book and the other three got stuck into their food.

"Fancy a fly about later, Padfoot?" James asked and Sirius looked at him with bored eyes.

"Are you sure you don't want to go with Demetrius?" He asked and his friend frowned.

"What's your problem, Sirius?" As James said this, Remus and Peter looked up from their activities; James only used Sirius' name in dire situations. Sirius merely shrugged. Seemingly unbothered by this, James continued: "Come on, it's our last weekend before we all go home for Christmas!" With a smile, Sirius felt like perhaps Violet wasn't such a problem and nodded at his friend.

~ Christmas Party, Black family house~

Stood by himself next to a blazing fire in the Black family's mansion, Sirius swirled his wine in his glass absent-mindedly as festive chatter and greetings were shouted around him. He had been forced to come home a week ago and one of the reasons he hated coming back was the annual Black Christmas party. It was just a pathetic excuse for his parents o introduce him to all of their friends in the hope that he would finally integrate into this false society.

"What's your poison?" Sirius looked up and saw Violet suddenly stood in front of him. He was a little taken aback by her sudden appearance but for some strange, unfathomable reason, he was almost pleased to see her.

"Elderflower," he answered curtly before realizing how much the fire sparkled in her eyes and looked away. "You?"

"Honey." Violet said, not taking her eyes off him. These family parties were a strange affair; Violet and Sirius had not talked at one for years but now that they had been around each other at school, they seemed to feel more comfortable in each other's company. "Everyone's still disgusted with your sorting, I see." Sirius looked to her as she pointed over to his mother who was apparently explaining Sirius' sorting into the Gryffindor house, with a look that someone had died on her face.

"Doesn't your family mind?" With a gulp of wine Sirius caught himself looking at the way her dress, dark blue like the night sky, clung to her figure like it was fearful of falling off. He shook his head to rid himself of the thought. Violet glanced over to her mother and bit her lip.

"Not while my mother's alive; they wouldn't say anything." She looked at him slyly from the corner of her eyes, inside smirking at the way he stood so recluse, so rebellious, so ready to find better things. "Do you have a problem with me dating James?" Violet asked suddenly, turning her full attention to the Black heir. He was not surprised, or bothered, with the question.

"I really couldn't give a fuck." He said as though even commenting on it wasn't worth his time. As he said this, something shivered inside Violet, as though waking up; no one ever talked to her like that...but a part of her liked it.

"Good," she answered and downed the rest of her honey wine in one, unladylike, manner. "Didn't you ever write Meredith back?" Sirius followed Violet's gaze and came upon a beautiful girl on the other side of the room. It was common knowledge among the younger generation at this party that Sirius and Meredith had escaped to deserted rooms at parties before.

"Obviously," Sirius almost laughed; why would he write to someone who clearly didn't understand the meaning of 'a bit of fun'?

"That'll cause you trouble."

"Don't I know it." The boy murmured, finishing his drink. "Has she said anything about stalking me-"

"I wouldn't worry about her." Violet interrupted him and he raised an eyebrow at her. "Worry that all the others will stalk you now you're alone."

"They won't bother." Sirius said after a moment.

"Oh I don't know about that," Violet turned to him, tilted her head, bit her lip softly and moved a little closer. Sirius could smell her perfume, could almost feel the fabric of her dress brush against him. "She's been going around saying you're the best she's ever had." Violet said in a whisper, holding her steady gaze with his, letting it drop down only for a few moment before working her way back up to his face. She leant in to whisper and Sirius closed his eyes in the hope that this heat, this pain of want rising through him would go away, "and with a reputation like that, you'll find it hard to escape." She moved back and Sirius looked at her for any sign that this strange feeling running through his veins was running through her. Violet simply smiled, fluttered her eyelashes and said "merry Christmas, Sirius." Before turning away from him and slinking over to someone else. He stood, a little dishevelled for a moment before ridding himself of any sense of attachment to the girl; she was a woman…a pure blood woman, this is what they do. They're trained from a young age to be manipulative and seductive-

"I will not discuss this here!" Sirius turned as he heard an urgent whisper, to see, stood by a bookshelf in the shadows, his father talking with Violet's uncle.

"You know what needs to be done," Sirius'father, Orion Black, a man of great power, spoke in a deathly tone. Violet's uncle looked distressed and Sirius hid himself behind a wall to hear better, idly pretending to be finishing his drink.

"Amelia will not allow-"

"Then she must also be dealt with." Orion commanded. When Sirius saw Violet's uncle wilt a little, his father continued; "how can you live knowing mudblood filth lives in your house?!" As he raised his voice, the other, shorter man looked alarmed.

"She is only a child!" He protested.

"Amelia knew what she was doing when she asked Grace to give up Violet to her- she is jeopardizing the pure-blood race!" Sirius' heart began to race; were they really saying…? "Violet is Grace's child- she is a mudblood and must be stripped away from our society- dammit, Mandrake, Amelia too!" Everything stopped. Sirius knew what was going to happen. Violet was born of a muggle, Amelia was not her mother, she was threatening everything her family stood for; they were going to murder her.

"Tonight." Mandrake, her uncle, finally agreed and Sirius thought fast. "Once they are home and sleeping-"

"Good," Orion nodded at the man, "see that everything goes accordingly." As his father walked away, Sirius too, moved quickly to flee the scene. Thoughts were running through his mind, his heart was pounding into his chest. What should he do? What should he do?

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