A Split Second

I don't own 'Harry Potter'

Warning: genderbent characters (Golden Trio).

***Triple update today :D

Violet thought that after everything that had happened her friend wouldn't be able to hurt her more than she had in the past.

She was wrong.

"It's alright for you, your parents are out of the way. I actually have a family."

Those words stung in a way that not even Malfoy tormenting her about being an orphan had. Despite having no parents she'd always been included in the Weasley gatherings, having presents sent to her and having Molly fuss over her.

Not now.

Her best friend had completely shattered that hope. It wasn't necessarily what she'd said, it was what she hadn't. She'd made sure to stress that she had a family. Clearly Violet was no part of Raine's family, no matter what delusions she'd been feeding herself for years.

Speaking of delusions …

She looked up to see her other best friend Hugh. Violet had probably fallen in love with him back when they were eleven, high off adrenaline after facing a troll and living to tell the tale. The studious and brash boy with a mess of frizzy curls had boldly stood and lied to the teachers despite it being Igraine's fault he was there to begin with.

It'd only got worse since then. Worse because Violet Potter was a walking disaster who attracted trouble like a magnet, worse because Igraine Weasley was always the more upbeat and captivating one with clear blue eyes and vibrant red hair, an worse because Hubert Granger had clearly become enamoured with their redhead friend by the age of thirteen.

Violet had entertained random daydreams of she and Hugh together but she knew nothing would ever come of them. Delusions, fantasies … Name them what you want, but it was clear they'd remain in fiction if Hugh was walking around with red-rimmed eyes at their other friend ditching them.

When she and Hugh had argued in third and sixth year he'd never look so put out at them not talking, but whenever he and Raine argued he was miserable beyond belief. Clearly he cared more about the other girl.

"I'm sorry."

She looked up to see chocolate brown eyes boring into hers. "What for?"

"For what she said. About you not having a family. You do."

"Do I?" she questioned with her eyes down. "My parents are dead, Sirius is dead, Remus is who knows where, and it's not like I have anyone close."

"What do you mean by 'close'?"

Violet ignored the footsteps moving closer and focused on her teacup. "You know, like you and Raine."

"Vi –"

"It's okay, you know. I wish you'd just come out and told me, but I get it. I'm not a part of it so it's none of my business." She looked up and tried to smile at her stunned friend. "I just want you happy, you know? If you want to hang around here for a bit to see if she comes back, we can. You two should be together."

"Will you just stop!"

The black-haired girl jumped at his voice and thunderous expression. What was wrong? Stop what?

Hugh frowned. "I'm sick and tired of you trying to make sure others are happy instead of yourself. What do you want?"

Fuck off. "How dare you?! You want to know what I want? How about not to be fighting a war at seventeen? Or how about to actually have someone to care for me as a parent without having to be a friend of their own child? I want to be able to be with the person I love without them loving my best friend, you twat!"

She stopped and breathed heavily, vaguely aware of the fact that she was standing up and her tea was on the floor, seeping into the tent carpet. Those brown eyes in front of her had never looked so shocked and she felt some sort of vindictive pleasure. Why should everyone else get to moan while she has to stand and take it?

"You're in love with someone?"

She snorted. "That's what you took from that? Yeah, so what? It's not like anything'll happen. Not like you and Raine. Eventually you'll get married, have a few kids, work at the Ministry –"

The feeling of lips on hers cut her off and she squeaked, pushing back from her friend. "What the fuck are you doing?!"

"I don't know where you got this stupid idea that I'm in love with Igraine from, but I can assure you I'm not."

"Oh really? So you went to the Christmas party with Ginny for no reason? You started –"

"For the love of God," Hugh muttered. "I only started looking at Raine after you started watching Cedric everywhere he went."

… What.

"You clearly had feelings for him ever since third year, and with the Tournament, then … everything, I knew you wouldn't look at me, so –"

Violet groaned and jabbed him in the ribs, ignoring his shout. "I've been looking at you since we were eleven, you prat. I only liked Cedric because I figured there was no point pining for someone who wouldn't like me back."

The tent was suddenly filled with silence as they both processed the stupidity of this situation.

"This is ridiculous. I didn't spend all that time arguing with the Sorting Hat not to act like a Gryffindor when the time comes."

The girl looked up to question her friend when she saw him lean in once more, giving her time to pull away if she wanted. Violet held still and closed her eyes when Hugh was mere centimetres away.

For what felt like hours, she forgot everything. She forgot about their friend deserting them, she forgot about the war, she forgot she was supposed to be unselfish.

Violet forgot and she pulled Hugh closer.

A/N: Hello people :D

This was actually a request from ObeliskX (hope you like it :D). I'm thinking of doing more genderbend stories for this fic in the future, so let me know what you think.

About the names. I never really liked the fanon names of Harriet, Ronnie and Herman for genderbent versions of the Golden Trio. I always thought Harry would have a flower or at least a plant, or be named after a relative like his grandmother, the Weasleys generally went for Arthurian names, and 'Hermione' comes from Shakespeare. Hence why I stuck to the trend. Sorry if you don't like them.

Until next time! :)