She sat up in bed panting, sweat beading down her forehead. She jumped up and ran to the bathroom retching into the clear water of the toilet bowl. She fumbled with the switch and fell down on her knees breathing heavily.
The visions were growing more and more vivid now. She could now see each individual scale on the snake; the blood was bright on Snape's neck. She wobbled to her feet and made her way back to the bedroom flickering on the lamp light. Evangeline muttered something incoherent then turned over on her stomach and breathed into her pillow. Violet rubbed her eyes and shakily unlocked her desk drawer and piled her books onto her desk and ruffled through the pages. She wouldn't let this happen; it would be stopped.
***
Evangeline woke the next morning with a smile on her face. They were finally going back to Hogwarts! She spotted Violet passed out on her desk and crept towards her.
"Violet it's time to wake up!" she sang, but Violet didn't budge. She poked her in the cheek and she slightly stirred. Evangeline took a step back and sighed then kicked Violet's chair over. Violet toppled over onto the floor, but stayed asleep.
"VIOLET GET UP!" Evangeline yelled and shook her sister's body violently.
"Ev, get off of me," Violet muttered rolling over.
"But it's time to go to Hogwarts!" Evangeline whined. "You get to see Michael!"
Violet jumped up from the floor and Evangeline laughed. The girls packed their things and Violet tugged at a knot in her green hair then dabbed some makeup beneath the dark circles beneath her eyes. The twins clambered down the stairs where they saw Snape adjusting his long dark cloak.
"You should really get me one of those."
Violet winked, but Snape just rolled his eyes. He always hardened up when the school year started.
"Please try to stay out of fights this year," said Snape. "There's enough for me to worry about without thinking of who's the next victim."
Evangeline winked at Violet and the girls giggled.
"We'll try." She laughed.
The three joined hands and they Apparated to King's Cross Station. The three hurried along to platform nine and three quarters, then disappeared beyond the brick wall. Even though the year had a gloomy end, everything seemed cheerful. Kids were laughing and giggling, chasing each other around, first years shaking by their parents. They made their way through the crowd, trying to make their way through.
"Too many people," Violet grumbled angrily.
"Lighten up Vi," Evangeline smiled. "We're at Hogwarts now; we're supposed to be happy!"
Her bags were knocked out of her hands and she was pushed into a puny first year.
"Sorry!" she cried and the first year bolted away. She turned and saw Draco Malfoy with Pansy Parkinson and Crabbe and Goyle at his sides.
"Oops, accident," Pansy snickered. Draco shrugged and Evangeline picked back up her bags.
"Get away from us!" Violet snarled. Pansy rolled her eyes.
"We're just having some harmless fun," Pansy said in a mocking voice. "Oh, and you girls better watch out this year. Because I can assure you, we're going to put you through hell."
The four pushed past and Evangeline held Violet back.
"They're not worth it," she said. "We have other things to worry about." Violet shook her head and the girls ventured onto the train. They steered past the Slytherin compartments and looked for empty seats.
"Evangeline, Violet!" a familiar voice called out. The girls turned and were wrapped in a tight hug by Hermione.
"Oh, you girls never replied to my letters!" she said. "I was worried about you!"
"Sorry Hermione, we got ourselves into a bit of a situation." said Evangeline.
"Well I'm glad you girls are alright now," she smiled. The girls noticed her front teeth were still shrunken down. "Follow me!"
She led them to a compartment and slid open the door.
"Me and Ron won't be sitting with you two, we're prefects." Her face went slightly pink.
"Aw you guys are such little dorks." Violet laughed and ruffled Hermione's hair. She giggled and waved them goodbye before disappearing around the corner.
The girls made their way into the compartment and saw Ginny giggling next to Michael her head on his shoulder. Harry was sitting awkwardly in the corner across from Neville whose eyes were shifting to a girl sitting beside him. He had some weird plant sitting in his lap. She was reading a magazine upside down and looked up at the girls. She had scraggly, waist length, dirty blond hair, and very pale eyebrows. She had protuberant eyes that gave her a naturally surprised look. Her wand was resting behind her left ear and she had a string of bottle caps around her neck.
"Are you friends with Harry?" she asked dreamily. The girls nodded. "Harry has a lot of friends." She said thoughtfully and her eyes wandered back to the magazine. Evangeline plopped down across from Luna and Violet sat down next to her.
"Girls, this is Luna Lovegood." said Ginny shooting a glare towards the girls. Violet glared back and felt her eye twitch when she saw her hand intertwined with Michael's.
"Oh, are you guys dating?" Violet asked through fake sweetness. Ginny giggled.
"Yes! It was love at first sight."
Of course it was, Violet thought darkly. Evangeline raised an eyebrow.
"What have you got there Neville?" she asked changing the conversation.
"A Mimbulus mimbletonia," said Neville proudly. "It's a very rare plant."
The thing gave an awkward twitch.
"Does it -err- do anything?" Harry asked doubtfully.
"It can do loads of stuff!" said Neville proudly.
"It's just a stupid plant Neville." Ginny said with an eye roll. Neville's face went slightly pink.
"Oh shut up Ginny, nothing you say has any impact," said Violet. "We all know gingers have no souls."
Before Ginny could reply, Luna cut in.
"I don't believe gingers have no souls," she said carefully. "They just have a tendency for having a lot of nargles in their hair; the color attracts them."
"Oh don't be stupid," said Ginny running a nervous hand through her hair.
"The plant really can do some amazing things," said Neville awkwardly. "Just watch this!"
He dumped his toad in Harry's lap who made a disgusted face. Luna's eyes popped over her magazine as she saw Neville retrieve a quill from his backpack. He gave the plant a sharp prod with his quill and liquid erupted from it. The girls shrieked and raised their arms above their faces and felt their clothes drenched in it. When they lowered their arms, they saw Ginny shaking it off her sleeves angrily and Harry spitting the liquid onto the floor and trying to clean his glasses. The whole compartment smelt of rancid manure.
"Oh hello Harry," said a voice. The girls turned and saw the compartment door had been opened by Cho Chang. She smiled nervously tossing her shiny black hair behind her shoulder. "I can see this is a bad time."
"Oh...hi." said Harry.
"Umm….Well, I just thought I'd say hello…bye then." and the door slammed shut. Harry slumped in his seat and groaned.
"Crush alert!" Violet giggled as some of the liquid slimed down her face into her mouth. She coughed and spit it on the ground. Ginny's face tightened.
"Scourgify." she said after pulling out her wand and the compartment was rid of the oozing liquid.
Evangeline caught Neville looking at her, but he quickly turned his head his face flushing red.
***
When they reached Hogwarts, everyone stumbled outside with their bags and animals. A brisk female voice was calling for the first years, and Evangeline saw Professor Grubbly-Plank, who had substituted for Hagrid the year before. She stuck out her lower lip.
"Where's Hagrid?" she complained. "He's my favorite teacher!"
"I don't know," Violet called. "But I'm sure we'll find out!" they made their way through the crowd fumbling with their bags. They made their way to the carriages that carried the Hogwarts students above first year.
"Wow, horses actually carry them now." Violet laughed. Evangeline cocked her head and examined the creatures. The creatures were completely fleshless; the girls could see the entire skeleton of the creature. The heads were dragonish, and their white eyes were staring forward. Black, bat like wings spread from the creature's backs making the horses look eerie and sinister.
"What are they?" Violet asked climbing aboard a carriage. She knew her sister could probably give the name and brief description of every animal she saw.
"They're threstrals," Evangeline replied jumping aboard the carriage. "They are very rare and considered dangerous by the Ministry. They're supposed to be omens of bad luck and death, but I don't believe so. They only think that because only people who have witnessed a death and accepted it are able to see them." and one that note, the threstrals started to trot towards the castle.
***
The girls sat beneath the starless black ceiling with Ron, Hermione, and Harry, Neville, and Michael. They chattered and admired the candles floating above them in midair along the tables, outlining ghosts that passed by.
"It's that Umbridge woman!" Harry whispered inclining his head toward a squat woman whispering into Dumbledore's ear. "She was at my hearing, she works for Fudge!"
"Your hearing?" Violet asked in disbelief. "Good job Harry, you finally got yourself in trouble!" she punched him playfully in the arm. "Did you beat up that cousin of yours?"
"No I used magic out of school under aged," Harry explained. "But only because I got attacked by Dementors!"
Violet felt a shiver run down her spine as its face appeared. It had been so close to hers sucking out each breath she took.
The Sorting House sang a new song, and the first years were divided amongst the four houses. The feast began and the girls ate their food classy this time because there were boys they liked around.
"I hear the hat always gives warnings when it detects danger," Hermione said seriously. "That's why he changed his song this year. He always tells us to come together."
Harry stabbed his meat angrily.
"Don't take your anger out on the food," said Violet taking Harry's steak off his plate. "This is a nice cut of meat too!"
"Why are you so upset, Harry?" Evangeline asked.
"Because no one believes that Voldemort is actually back. They've seen Cedric dead, the hat is giving us warnings, and still everyone is oblivious? Everyone is talking behind my back, and it just really upsets me."
Evangeline elbowed him in the ribs.
"It's okay," she said. "You've got us! We'll never turn on you!" Harry allowed himself to give a soft smile.
Dumbledore came up to the stand to speak, his eyes twinkling behind his spectacles.
"We have two changes to the staff this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank who will be directing Care of Magical Creatures; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher." There was a weak applause. "Tryouts for the Quidditch team will begin on-"
Dumbledore broke off from his speech and glanced over at Professor Umbridge. She coughed out a "hem hem" then stood up on her feet.
"What is she doing?" Michael whispered. Dumbledore looked taken aback for only a second before his face straightened out. He nodded, smiled, and then took a sear. Professor Umbridge walked to the stand.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN INTERRUPT DUMBLEDORE'S SPEECH?" Violet cried jumping to her feet. She caught Snape's eye and he made a lowering motion with his hand. She rolled her eyes then plopped nosily into her seat.
"Thank you Headmaster," said Umbridge clearly unaffected by Violet's words. "For those kind words of welcome." her voice was high-pitched, breathy, and girlish. For the twins, it sounded like nails on a chalkboard. "Well it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, so many beautiful faces smiling back at me!"
Violet let out a low, "boo!" then glared at Draco Malfoy as if he had done it.
"I am very excited about getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll all be great friends!" Her voice turned serious. "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestry must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching. Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something special to this school."
Evangeline glanced at Violet and saw she wasn't even listening. She raised an eyebrow at her cardigan. She stood out amongst the dark cloaks and candles. She giggled when she saw Snape's head resting on his hand, his eyes closed.
"Some changes will be for the better, while others will be errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, while others must be abandoned. Let us move forward then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what must be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."
She sat down and Dumbledore clapped, jolting Snape awake. A few staff members clapped once or twice and some students clapped once they realized the speech was actually over.
"Thank you Professor Umbridge for that illuminating speech, it was quite enjoyable. Now Quidditch tryouts-"
"Well that certainly was illuminating." said Hermione tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"You're not telling us, you enjoyed that speech?" Evangeline asked in shock.
"It was illuminating, not enjoyable. It explained a lot."
"Did it?" Harry yawned. "It sounded like a load of waffle to me."
"There was some pretty important information hidden in that waffle." said Hermione grimly.
"Please do explain," Violet asked picking at her nails.
"I will explain," Hermione huffed. "The Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts!"
***
The girls shuffled behind the Slytherins being unusually quiet. Violet was lost in thought and she stumbled slightly on the stairs. Why was the Ministry interfering with Hogwarts? They hadn't ever come before. She thought about Harry fuming at dinner.
"Maybe they're watching over us," she muttered. "Maybe they believe Potter; they must believe that Voldemort's back."
They stumbled into the common room and went to find beds.
"Sorry, this one's taken." Pansy sniggered tossing her suitcase on Evangeline's already claimed bed. She rolled her eyes and retired her stuff.
Just be mature about it. She thought. The girls found beds in the back of the room and set up their things. Everyone argued on who got to take a shower first, but Violet snuck off to the bathroom and took one. Evangeline ended up going last and she discovered the other Slytherin girls had used up all the hot water.
When she got out of out of the shower, the other girls giggled at her as she walked past. Evangeline grit her teeth and slid under the green silky sheets. She saw Violet sitting up in bed, her nose dug in a book.
"Lessons haven't even begun," Evangeline chortled and closed her eyes and tried to get to sleep; two hours later, she awoke.
She saw that Violet was still awake, so they both crept down the stairs and sat in the plush chairs by the warm fire.
"The dreams have been getting worse, Evangeline." Violet shuddered.
"Is that why you were reading? You're still trying to come up with anti-venom?" Violet nodded.
"Trying, but I haven't had much success so far." The girls sat in silence.
"Experiments," Violet spat. "Who started the experiments? Whoever it was didn't care whether we lived or died."
"I wonder what our brother's name was," Evangeline whispered.
"Aiden," a hoarse voice whispered. The girls looked around the room and discovered a face in the flames.
"Is that you, Mr. J?" Violet questioned. The face nodded.
"The experiments were conducted by Voldemort," he said. "He needed to make sure he won the battle. He gathered an army of Death Eaters, but wasn't sure it was good enough. So he set out to create the ultimate secret weapons. When he found out your mother was pregnant, he knew it was the perfect time to start."
The girls were silent.
"Your brother's name was Aiden. He had bright blue eyes and blonde hair. He was so sweet, such a darling. But he was so sick; it was a tragedy he didn't live long." Evangeline bit down on her lip trying not to try.
"Why didn't our mother just refuse to have us tested on?" she said her voice choking. Violet wrapped an arm around her.
"Saying no to Voldemort isn't easy," Mr. J said gravely. "If you say no, you're killed and so are your friends and family; she did what she thought was right for you guys." The girls nodded.
"Do you know anything else?" Violet asked desperately. "What about the explosion?"
"We believe it was a bomb planted by the Ministry. I think they knew what he was up to. I don't know if they assume you dead or not, or if they even know who you were." Before the girls could ask any more questions, Mr. J's head spun around.
"I must leave now," he said. "But I can assure you, it won't be the last of Me." then, he disappeared from the flames.
***
Owls fluttered through the open windows and dropped letters and notes for the students.
"Again, we never get anything." Violet laughed. Evangeline smiled and Fred and George plopped down in front of them.
"Could we interest you in some cheap items to get you out of class?" Fred offered buttering a crumpet.
"Please, do go on." said Violet.
"Well we're working on a Skiving Snack box. It's going to be range of sweets to make anyone ill! We're selling some nosebleed nougats cheap; would you like try some?"
"Of course!" said Evangeline, but she was interrupted before she could reach for some change.
"Why are they so cheap?" Violet asked suspiciously.
"Because you'll keep bleeding until you're all shriveled up! We haven't exactly come up with an antidote yet."
"Brilliant!" Evangeline laughed. "And you were going to use us as testers?"
"I was going to use my own brother as a tester!" Fred laughed. We'll just find some first years to persuade."
They got up and left the table.
Snape walked over and handed the girls their schedules.
"Thanks Severus," said Violet. "Awesome, we've got double potions with you today!"
Snape's lips curled back and he walked away. He never said anything about the girls calling him Severus anymore, because he knew nothing he said even touched them.
"And double Divination?" Evangeline groaned. "Well this is going to be quite a Monday."
In potions class, Violet had no trouble brewing up a Draught of Living Peace. She read the directions carefully and watched the silver vapor rise. Evangeline muttered to herself as she frantically tossed in ingredients she had forgotten and lowering and rising the temperature. It bubbled violently and changed colors quickly before it settled for a dark blue and overflowed over the cauldron. She filled up her flagon and handed it in sheepishly.
In Divination, Violet ruffled through the pages of The Dream Oracle. It was a boring book that droned on about how dreams and visions could tell the future.
You don't think I know that already? she thought bitterly and closed the book shut. She paired up with Evangeline and set off to interpret one of her dreams.
"You go first," said Evangeline cheerfully. "I want to give this thing a try!"
"I already know what my dreams mean," said Violet with an eye roll. "Just tell me one of yours."
"In my last dream, I found a baby fox."
Violet ruffled through the pages then stopped on one.
"It means you're probably going to get shot." said Violet stiffly.
"Ugh, no way!" Evangeline cried then ripped the book from Violet's hands. When she read the description, she flung the book onto the table.
"Rubbish!" she said nervously and crossed her arms over her chest. Violet laughed and punched her lightly in the arm.
"Just stay away from guns, sis," she chuckled. "And you'll be fine."
Evangeline and Violet plopped down in the back of Professor Umbridge's classroom. A wide smile spread across her face.
"No, no dears," she said. "I've heard how much trouble you two get into. Come, sit up here in the front."
The girls grumbled and plopped down in the front row.
"Well good afternoon!" she said when everyone was in their seats. A few people mumbled a response. "Now that simply won't do!" she said cheerfully. "One more time please. Good morning class!"
"Good morning Professor Umbridge," yhe class chorused.
"That is much, much better! Now, wands away quills out please." She wrote on the chalkboard and everyone was forced to scribble it down.
"Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory? Good, good. Turn to page five titled Basics for Beginners. There will be no need to talk."
Evangeline felt her face grow hot. Every time she looked up from her book she met Professor Umbridge's gaze and was forced to stare back down at her book and try to figure it out. Violet didn't bother opening up her book. She sat there and tapped her fingers on her desk her chin cupped in her other hand. She stared at the Professor whose lips slightly twitched.
"May I help you with something, Violet?" she asked with fake sweetness.
"Nope," said Violet elongating the word. "Nothing at all."
Before the Professor could reply, Hermione's hand shut up in the air.
"Did you want to ask me about the chapter, dear?" asked Umbridge. Evangeline felt her eyebrow rise; she had never known Hermione to turn down a chance to read.
"Not about the chapter, no. I just have a query about your course aims."
The class gasped. Hermione had never spoken out against a teacher.
"Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you will only read them."
"Well I don't. There's nothing in here about reading defensive spells."
"Yeah!" Violet cheered even though she hadn't even read the book. "We need to defend ourselves!"
"Students raise their hands if they wish to speak in my class." Umbridge said sweetly.
"Oh yeah?" said Violet propping her feet up on her desk. "I think I'll speak if I want to."
"Detention Miss Willow. Five o'clock tomorrow evening, my office. And twenty points from Slytherin."
Violet cackled.
"Take all the points you want, I hate my house anyway; oh, and detention? Bring it, mister. I mean, Mrs. Umbridge."
The class sniggered.
"How are we going to protect ourselves in the real world?" Harry yelled throwing his fist into the air.
"There is nothing waiting for you in the real world," Professor Umbridge said bluntly. "Who do you imagine would want to attack children like yourselves?"
"Hmm let me think…" said Harry in a mock thoughtful voice. "Maybe Lord Voldemort?" The class cried out and Neville slipped sideways off his stool.
"Ten points from Gryffindor Mr. Potter. And class, what you have been told by this boy is a lie."
"It's not a lie!" Harry yelled. "Voldemort is back and he killed Cedric!" the whole class went silent.
"Detention Mr. Potter, with Miss Willow. Now, will you please come up to my desk?" Her voice was sweet again. She scribbled something on a piece of parchment then sealed it on an envelope and handed it to him.
"Please be a dear and give this to Professor McGonagall." Harry snatched the note from her hand and marched out of the classroom.
***
Violet walked down the hallways humming happily to herself. She was sure going to put Umbridge through a lot. She swung open the door and stuck her tongue out in disgust. There was plush carpet beneath her feet and the room smelt too sweet. The walls were decorated with tons of kittens.
"Gross," Violet said out loud. A wide grin spread across Umbridge's face; she was draped in pink.
"Please, do take a seat next to Harry, my dear." Violet plopped down next to him. "Now, you both will be doing some lines for me." She handed them two quills. "Potter, please write, "I will not tell lies. Miss Willow, please write, "I will not speak out of turn."
"But mine is longer than his!" Violet whined.
"How many times?" Harry asked.
"Oh, as long as it takes for the message to sink in," Umbridge giggled. "Off you go."
"I think we need ink to write," said Violet in a smart-ass tone.
"Oh you won't need ink," Umbridge said a wide smile across her face.
Violet rolled her eyes, and cupped her chin in her hand and wrote sloppily with the other. The ink wrote in a red and she felt pain on the back of her hand. She jerked it from her chin and stared at the words written on the skin. They slowly disappeared, but left the skin redder and irritated. She grit her teeth as she realized she was writing in her own blood.
She looked over at Harry and saw he had discovered the same thing. She wouldn't give Umbridge the satisfaction of hurting her – she had a high tolerance for pain, anyway. She'd be fine.
The sky grew dark and Potter left, but Violet was still there. The skin of the back of her hand was bright red and it burned, but she wouldn't let her guard down. She yawned and flinched only slightly at the pain inflicted upon her. Umbridge sighed.
"You should know I absolutely hate keeping you here!" A smile twitched on her lips. "But bad children have to be taught a lesson."
Violet glared up at her.
"You'll never break me," she whispered. "You can't change me, no matter how hard you try."
Umbridge's eyes narrowed into slits.
"Well I'm sorry you feel that way, Miss Willow." She glanced at Violet's hand and saw it start to ooze blood. "You may go, but come again tomorrow. Then I think the message should seep through and make some sense." She shook her head as Violet rose. "That's going to scar, dear."
Violet didn't respond. She just turned on her heels and left the room.
Her stomach rumbled and she made her way to the kitchen. The house elves were eager to serve her, and piled a plate full of food and handed her two cups of tea. Violet left and made her way to the Slytherin common room.
She saw Evangeline perched on a chair scribbling something down on parchment.
"Oh Vi, you're finally back!" she squealed and Violet plopped down in the chair next to her and offered her the cup of tea; Evangeline took it gratefully.
"What'd she have you do?" she asked rolling up the parchment. Violet took out her hand and closed her fist to show the white letters etched into her skin.
"Does it hurt?" Evangeline whispered.
"Yeah, hurts like hell," Violet muttered.
"I'm sure Hermione has some sort of cream, or potion to make it feel better," Evangeline said. "Aren't you going to report this to Dumbledore?"
Violet shook her head.
"No. If I do, then Umbridge will know she got through to me."
Evangeline leaned back in her chair.
"I think Umbridge likes me," she said thoughtfully. "Considering I'm the only one who didn't speak out today; you know why I did that?" Violet shook her head. "So we could play some quality pranks on her," Evangeline grinned. "And she'll never know it's me!"
The twins laughed and Evangeline took a sip of her tea.
Her eyes suddenly bugged and she spat the tea back out.
"I actually thought it was quite good." Violet laughed. Evangeline started to cough. She held onto the seats for support and her coughs became louder and her body shook uncontrollably.
"Ev?" Violet cried. Evangeline fell onto the ground and started to puke and cough up blood. Violet's heart raced. She swooped up her sister even though she was heavy, and raced down to the Hospital Wing.
"MADAM POMFREY!" Violet yelled. "PLEASE, HELP US!"