A/n: Special thanks to sunsethill, WickedGreene13 and Beauty Eclipsed for taking the time to review! You guys are awesome!
August 1992
It was shaping up to be, possibly the best summer in Violet's short life.
While uncomfortable and shy at first, not to mention overwhelmed by the amount of redhead's she was suddenly surrounded by, The Weasley's seemed to actually be good people- something Violet found to be a rarity.
Though they were perhaps at times a bit eccentric or overbearing- Violet really was used to being surrounded by so many people, even at school.
Mrs. Weasley was really quite the picture perfect mother. She was stern while for the most part being very kind. Overbearing in the way mother's seemed to be made to be- in particular always forcing big portions on the twins and even forcing seconds on them, which Violet really couldn't ever be angry at, eve if her small stomach really couldn't take eating quite so much. It was certainly very nice feeling to go to bed every night, with a belly warmed by food, instead of the at times terrible pangs of hunger that would keep her up at Privet Drive growing up. Violet really couldn't complain about Mrs. Weasley pushiness about meals.
Mr. Weasley on the other hand she found an odd mixture of flighty, easy-going, happy and odd. His particular fascination with muggles was a bit amusing, though his seeming ignorance about them was at times a tad ridiculous, and perhaps even alarming, considering what it may mean of the majority of the Wizard World. For the most part, as much as it amused Violet- his astonishing interest in all things muggle-related- she didn't quite have the patience to field all his questions about them and left that up to Harry, who didn't find it all grating or insulting.
The Twins, and Percy, Violet had more or less met at school, though she'd rarely been close enough to them to really get to know them. In Percy's case, she really wished she'd rather not have gotten to know him better because she found him even more annoying than Granger with his Know-it-all-ness... perhaps because he was so pompous to boot.
As for the Twins, Violet very much enjoyed them, even if they were pranksters in the extreme. They seemed rather restrained, on that front, where it came to both Harry and Violet, and perhaps with Violet even more so. And she'd had a great deal of fun on most days, playing pick-up Quidditch games with the Twins, Ron, Harry and even Ginny.
Out of all the Weasley children that she'd met, Violet was sure Fred and George were the two that she genuinely enjoyed spending time with.
For Ron and Ginny's part, she only found them slightly more tolerable than Percy.
Ginny, in truth was all right, but only once you could get her to forget the fact that she and Harry were the Twins-who-lived.
Violet thought that after sharing a dorm with four Slytherin girls, sharing a room with anyone else would be much easier, but she was wrong. At least while Pansy was stupid, and Daphne vain- they both at least didn't hero-worship Harry, or go on and on about him as if the sun rose and set with him simply because he survived something when he was a baby and had an interesting scar because of it.
In point of fact, Pansy and Daphne quickly learned not to talk about Harry at all in Violet's presence and in truth, didn't seem to really care about the twins, except to want to litter their life with annoyances. And Millicent Bulstrode was actually far more tolerable because she rarely spoke and mostly kept to herself.
Ginny didn't really cease to badger Violet about things Violet couldn't possibly remember, or cease to ask her questions about Harry and the sorts of girl's he might like. In truth, Violet didn't even know how to answer that question because she was sure to Harry that girls were still like boys to him. He probably only evaluated them on whether or not they'd make good friends. She really doubted Harry thought about liking, or dating, much less marrying anyone.
What if Harry didn't even like girls? Violet had wanted to ask in one of her peaks of annoyance. Though, she really tried to never show her irritation, mostly because she thought it was extremely rude considering the Weasley's had so kindly and graciously taking them in for the remainder of the summer.
In that sense, Ron had his sister beat. But Ron was also extremely tactless and often put his foot in his mouth. And she couldn't stand to listen to the broad and sweeping generalizations he often made about Slytherins, not even bothering to be sheepish for what he said as he didn't seem to realize, or care, that Violet was a Slytherin herself.
But for all that, Violet was having an extremely pleasant summer and she didn't mind helping Mrs. Weasley's with some of the household or garden chores, because they were never anywhere near as backbreaking as the one's she'd had to do at the Durlseys. And most hours of everyday, Violet got to spend them exploring with her brother and the rest of the Weasley's, or playing Quidditch games and just having fun without any fear of punishment, ridicule or even fear of being bullied and beaten.
For the first time in her life, Violet found herself to be astonishingly and genuinely happy. A sentiment so foreign, she hadn't known what to name it until their Hogwarts letters arrived and she realized that the happiness might soon be coming to an end because no matter how much she enjoyed Hogwarts... Hogwarts hadn't turned out to be completely safe for them.
But surely, the previous year had to be just some sort of fluke... didn't it?
XxX
Violet did not like traveling by Floo. In point of fact, she thought she detested it far more than apparition or whatever that was called that Snape had done. And at least that hadn't involved stepping into fire!
If it weren't for the Weasley's insistence that the flames were neutralized by the Floo powder, Violet wouldn't have allowed Harry to step anywhere near the hearth. As it was, Violet still felt a knot of worry working it's way tighter and tighter in the pit of her stomach as she looked on, and watched Harry disappear in a cloud of green flames and ashen soot.
"Do you think he spoke clearly enough?" Ginny questioned worriedly, even as Violet's eyes widened in concern, snapping to look at the Weasley matriarch for an answer.
"Oh I'm sure he's fine," Mrs. Weasley spoke, though Violet could detect a hint of worry in her own face, even as she turned Violet and tried to smile reassuringly while placing a hand on Violet's shoulder. "It's your turn dear, and remember to speak clearly!"
But it was hard to speak clearly with all the soot that was involved with Floo travel. Even without the sound of rushing fire, and the spinning hearth and the coming panic that Harry might be lost, Violet was uncertain how it was supposed to be done.
Violet knew the moment that she fell out of the hearth, falling down hard on her hands and knees as she stumbled out, that this place with it's grimy and sticky floor, was the wrong place.
Getting quickly to her feet as her heart leapt in fear as she took in the extremely dim surroundings, she knew that this- pub of ill-repute from the looks of it- was probably nowhere in Diagon Alley.
Trying to steady her breathing as her eyes darted around the dingy room, Violet found herself quickly becoming the center of attention for the few patrons of the pub. Most of whom seemed to be in different stages of inebriation and either heavily hooded by dark cloaks, or hiding their faces beyond what looked like curtains of dark, greasy, messy, long hair.
Violet nearly jumped out of her skin as she felt a thin hand fall on her shoulder. Turning around quickly and shrugging out of the hand which felt more like a claw, she found herself trying to stare through the smoke at the woman whose hand had just rested on her shoulder.
Standing before her was a tall slender woman, it what looked like a dress straight out of the victorian era, with corset and all, which left quite a bit of cleavage on display.
Eyes heavily lined with black kohl and heavy lids, stared down at her. A frown decorated the lips that were painted heavily in red. Long masses of dark, curly hair was tied up in a high, half-ponytail with many strands falling on a face that might have been pretty and young once, but was lined with a jaded, cold weariness that made Violet shiver.
"You shouldn't be here, lovely," she spoke in low, sultry tones, the hand that presumably touched Violet now on cocked hip while the other held a tray full of drinks. "You're too young. This place is dangerous. Run along, sweetheart."
Violet nodded her head numbly as she quickly turned in the direction that the woman had motioned to with her head, and ran out of the pub as quickly as she could, stepping into a narrow, cobblestone alley that was hardly any brighter than the dingy bar and seemed filled with as many undesirable and suspicious characters.
Violet thought that she might be at the beginning of a panic attack as she tried to slither through the alley unseen while rushing as quickly as she could towards the brightest light she could see. Her chest felt tight, like she wasn't getting enough air and her mind was racing as her eyes filled with tears that she might be lost and never find her way back. That something awful might befall her in this dark place, and no one would ever know.
She was so caught up in her ever growing panic, her sight blinking in and out blackness, when her body crashed hard into something solid, forcing her to bounce off and fall on her behind very hard. The resulting pain as she hit the cobbles, forcing the panic to momentarily recede.
"Watch where you're going-" an extremely polished and out place voice was exclaiming, as Violet blinked up in surprise just as the man she'd hit turned to look at her and fell silent.
For a moment, Violet could do nothing but stare at the finely dressed, and extremely handsome man standing before her. As she stared at his regal, pointed face and the long blonde hair... Violet thought that there was something vaguely familiar about the man, especially his cold grey eyes.
A movement to the man's left and just behind him caught Violet's attention, and she blinked in further surprise, at the hateful but reassuring face she saw there.
"Potter!" Malfoy spoke, a sneer slowly blossoming on his weaselly face as he looked at her with critical eyes.
It was only at that moment that Violet noticed that her clothes, which weren't really her clothes and actually a dress she'd been leant of Ginny's and somewhat bothered Violet as she did not like knowing she was the same sized as a girl a year younger than her, were covered in soot along with her hair and probably her face as well.
"Miss Potter?" the man, who was clearly Draco's father questioned as he stared her over with calculating eyes before looking at his son for confirmation. At his son's nod, Mr. Malfoy turned towards Violet and extended a hand, offering her a cool smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Potter," he spoke in charming tones.
Violet narrowed her eyes on the man in suspicion, though she took his proffered hand, not wishing to insult the man who was, for the time being, her only possibility of getting directions out of this place.
Mr. Malfoy hoisted Violet to her feet easily and looked her over once more, his grey eyes suddenly gleaming then as if he was highly amused and presented with an intriguing possibility while he continued to hold her small hand in his own larger one.
"Are you, by any chance, lost?" he asked, arching a brow at her and sounding concerned, though she could see how fake that was given the slightest of upturns at the corner of his lips.
Violet didn't respond right away as she slipped her hand from Mr. Malfoy's and looked at Draco, noticing his scowl.
"I just got out at the wrong grate. Would you know the directions to Diagon Alley?" Violet spoke in cool, civil tones, trying to stand tall and straight, knowing that showing weakness to this man was not advisable.
"Oh... I'm sure I can do you one better, Miss Potter. I'll escort you there myself... it's the least I could do for a fellow Slytherin. After all, Knockturn Alley is a very dangerous place to be lost," he spoke, before extending his arm, to rest it across her shoulders, placing his hand on the opposite one as he proceeded to escort her in the direction she'd previously been heading in anyway.
Violet said nothing to this, nor shrugged his hand off, though her body tensed as she walked beside the man and his son who she detested.
"Are you looking forward to your second year, Miss Potter?" Mr. Malfoy asked conversationally and she could feel his eyes watching her, though she only looked straight ahead.
"I suppose," Violet responded vaguely, trying not to be rude but not really wishing to speak to the man beside her. She could only imagine the kind of person that would raise someone as spoiled and entitled as Draco Malfoy and it didn't speak highly of their own character. Besides, someone as handsome and seemingly charming as Mr. Malfoy had to be hiding something very ugly underneath.
"And how do you find Slytherin house?" Mr. Malfoy questioned genially, undeterred by how little he was getting back from the conversation, pretending not to notice Violet's discomfort.
"It suits me," Violet responded with an indifference shrug of her shoulders as they continued to make their way, ignoring the discomfort she felt as people turned to look at them, before scattering out of Mr. Malfoy's way so that he did not even have to look where he was walking.
Like a gross parody of moses parting the red sea, Violet thought even as she felt grudgingly grateful that she was no longer alone with this crowd. Being with one of her classmates and his father, even if she did not get along with said classmate, had to be better than being alone here.
"I was quite surprised when Draco wrote me of your being sorted into Slytherin. Given your family's history," Mr. Malfoy commented as they neared the end of the alley, where it seemed to twist towards the brightness of day, and the sound of bustling, cheerful crowds started to trickle through, setting Violet slightly more at ease.
Violet wasn't really sure what Mr. Malfoy meant by that and found herself turning to look at the man who was still staring at her with a gleam in his grey eyes that felt too much like taunting. Like he was trying to get some kind of rise out of her.
"Perhaps you should expand your mind, Mr. Malfoy, and forget your preconceived notions so you won't be further surprised," Violet responded with a small smile when they emerged into Diagon Alley and she could slip away from Mr. Malfoy's hand. "Thank you, for your help. I think I can make my own way from here."
Mr. Malfoy merely quirked his lips and inclined his head. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Potter. I do hope that you and Draco can bridge the differences you've experienced and become friends."
"Lord knows he needs much cleverer friends, that's for sure," Violet couldn't help sniping as she gave Draco a mildly disdainful look before saying goodbye to Mr. Malfoy and moving quickly away, not waiting for a response.
TBC...
A/n: I may come back and expand on this chapter, doubtful though. I'll probably add the rest of what probably should have been in this chapter in the next one. Also, sorry if I missed any typos, I just wanted to get this posted and pressed for time, especially as I spent more time writing the next chapter of Across the Universe than I spent on this one.
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