Hello all! I'm sorry that this is a little late, but I had a crazy weekend. Anyfish, I realized that I made a mistake and put Crabbe instead of Goyle. So, I fixed it in this chapter, but if it get's a little confusing, than just know that Goyle is Evan's father, not Crabbe. Thanks for the views and feedback! If you read this, even if you are a guest, please review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for OCs and plot. That was depressing.
Now onto the chapter!
Violet froze. She knew Evan was cruel...but not that cruel. She knew she shouldn't be taking it personally, but she couldn't help it. Blinking back tears, she felt Professor Longbottom's hand rest comfortably on her shoulder.
"Ancrum, or should I call you Crabbe? Twenty points from Slytherin and report to me five o'clock on Friday for your detention," Professor barked. Evan just glared from his father's side, but Crabbe wasn't so satisfied.
"What?" he thundered. "The boy was just calling the filthy mudblood her name! You take that back Longbottom, or-or else-"
"Or else what?" Professor Longbottom interjected. "Report me? For what? Anyways, who do you think they'll believe? Me, a professor at Hogwarts and leader of Dumbledore's Army, or you, a former Death Eater? I'm afraid that you're going to have to cut your visit short, Crabbe. So unless you want me to call the authorities, I suggest you leave. At once."
Crabbe glowered, but said nothing. Slowly, he turned to exit the castle, pulling up his coat collar. Suddenly, he spun around and pointed his wand at Professor Longbottom. "One thing, my name is not Crabbe. It's Goyle. Second thing, you'll regret this, Longbottom," he snarled before turning once more to leave.
Professor Longbottom sighed and ran his fingers through his brown hair, leaving it sticking up in odd places. "Ancrum, go to bed. Violet, come with me."
Somberly, Violet followed Professor Longbottom's soft footsteps up the stairs to his office. "Uh oh." she heard, and she looked up at him. His foot was stuck in one of the trick stairs. "It's been more than twenty years, and I still haven't remembered it," he muttered, yanking out his foot. Violet faintly smiled and then continued walking, lost in thought.
"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, frantically checking him over for bruises. Suddenly, Evan jerked his arm out of her grasp and stared coldly at her.
"Stay away from me, you filthy little mudblood."
"Violet, VIOLET!" she jumped and looked to see Professor Longbottom staring at her. "Um, we're here," he mumbled nervously. Violet looked up and saw that they were standing in front of his office. Numbly, she walked inside and sat down, hardly seeing all the plants that covered the room. Professor Longbottom sat down and sighed. "So, you befriended Crabbe's son?" he asked wearily.
Violet glanced up. "Well, not really befriended him. We just had rivalries going on. But what's so bad about Evan's father anyways? Also, isn't he Goyle? He said that was his name," She asked with a confused look on her face.
"Well," Professor Longbottom started, " first off, to me, Crabbe will be Goyle and Goyle will be Crabbe. They were two twin apes to me. Anyways, you know about the war your uncle fought in, yes?" He paused. "Well, Evan's father was a supporter of Lord Voldemort. He was a Death Eater, a pretty loyal one at that. So, in our seventh year, he would use the Cruciatus Curse on first years. I would stop him. And him and his friends would beat me up for that." His tone was bitter, but it seemed to her that his voice trembling just a little bit.
"When Voldemort fell, he crossed over to our side, saying that he'd been under the Imperius Curse, that he didn't know what he was doing. Um, the Ministry didn't want to just send him to Azkaban as he was only seventeen or eighteen, so they basically had him go on parole. He didn't deserve that easy of a punishment. If you'd seen what he did, Violet, then you would've wanted to have killed him right then and there. I saw what he did. He tortured innocent kids. And then he denied it. He put the blame on others. I hate him for his cowardice."He spat out the last words with such venom that even Violet was surprised. Professor Longbottom turned away and stared darkly at the blazing fire. "I lost my friends to his friends. Fred, Colin, Tonks, Remus, and so many more." There, Professor stopped, staring brokenly at his clenched hands. "As you can see, Violet, he still supports the Dark Lord. He believes that muggles are an inferior species. I have no doubt that he will come after me. But this time, I'm going to fight back."
Violet stared at him with a mixture of awe and terror. "B-But Professor, why did Evan call me, um, that word? I know that he isn't evil! I know it!"
Professor Longbottom looked at her, biting his lip. "You know, your Evan Ancrum reminds me of an old classmate of mine: Draco Malfoy."
"He's not my Evan," she said immediately, causing Professor Longbottom to raise an eyebrow. She plowed on, "You mean, Scorpius's father? Uncle Harry's enemy? Evan isn't evil!" Violet burst out.
Professor Longbottom let out a weary sigh. "Harry is a great man. I admire him and would easily die for him, but he didn't tell you all about Malfoy. Yes, he was a school bully. He was mean, spiteful, but he was also taught by his family. He was told by his father how muggles were dirty folk who should all be killed off. His mother was a weak woman who taught him to follow the Dark Lord but to stick close to her. To be a coward. His aunt told him that purebloods were the only people worth living.
Draco was a bad person sometimes, yes, but he was also just a scared, lost boy, who was being forced by his family and master to do things that he hated. He never killed Dumbledore even though he had the chance. He never revealed Harry's identity when he knew that it was him. In some aspects, he was a truly good person. It was just hidden by darker qualities."
Violet stared at him, furrowing her eyebrows. "So, you're saying that Evan's parents are crazy and his aunt is a murderer, and he's a good person who's acting bad because he's a coward?" she asked.
Neville sighed. "Just-Just don't resent him for things that he says. He doesn't know any better. He's just a lost eleven year old boy. Now off to bed with you. It's past curfew."
"Violet, Violet!" Lily snapped her fingers impatiently in front of the dazed girl's face.
"Huh? What?" Violet mumbled, going out of her reverie. Lily glared at her.
"What in Merlin's name is wrong with you?" she yelled. "You aren't talking back, you aren't being annoying, you're just being a lump of - a lump of blah! You aren't acting like yourself at all!"
Violet just stared, not even getting angry at that true, but harsh description of herself. "Nothin'" she murmured. Lily glared and sighed angrily.
"Fine than. Be that way! You know, you could just tell me that Evan called you a you-know-what instead of keeping it bottled up," she eventually said, her voice getting softer and more gentle.
Violet glanced up at her with wide eyes. "How in Merlin's saggy sweatpants did you know!" she yelled in astonishment.
Lily smirked. "Oh come on. I'm Lily Potter! I have all around this school!" she finished impressively with an air of self confidence. Violet just rolled her eyes.
"Was it Professor Longbottom who told your parents or a student who over heard and told you," she asked.
"What? What are you talking ab-fine. It was Professor Longbottom." Lily mumbled dejectedly. "But, are you sure that you're okay? That's a pretty harsh word. Especially since you liked him."
Violet gaped at her cousin. "Wait, what?! Why does everyone keep saying that?!" she screamed, causing many worried looks over at the two girls.
Lily giggled. "Oh, it's so obvious! Everyone knew since that first Charms class! The more you guys "hated" each other, the more obvious it became!"
Violet stared at her. "I don't like him!" she protested.
Lily just smiled. "Sure you don't." Violet closed her eyes with annoyance and suddenly sprang up from her seat on the dirt.
"Oh it's on, Potter," she muttered, smiling evilly. Lily's eyes widened.
"Wait, what? Ahh! Dumbledore's beard!" she screamed as Violet began to tickle her. "No! Stop! Violet Dursley!" Panting, she broke free and began to sprint away from her cousin's outstretched arms.
"Oh come here Lily! You deserve this punishment and you know it!" Violet laughed, chasing her squealing cousin around and around a tree, before she smashed into a minescule, messily robed body. Hastily, she looked up at the flushed face of… Evan Ancrum. Of course.
"What are you doing here, Crabbe?" she spat, scrambling to her feet while brushing off her robes and trying to not blush.
"Well, actually, you were the one who barreled into me," Evan muttered, snobbishly brushing off wood chips and dried grass from his trainers and clothes. "It's Ancrum, by the way, not Crabbe or Goyle. Longbottom was wrong about my father. His name is Gregory Goyle. Not Crabbe. Crabbe died when he was eighteen," he added. (Was it just her, or was there a bit of wistfulness in his tone that was mixed in with the nonchalance?)
Violet just glared. "Still, even if you aren't lying, why is your surname Ancrum? Are you scared to live up to your name?" She shot out at firing speed. Evan swallowed.
"No, it-it's my mother's name," he whispered.
"Where's your mother now? Did she run away because you and your dad chased her away? Was she disgusted by your presence? By how your dad hurt and killed innocent kids?" Violet continued, even though part of her conscience felt for the boy whose eyes were widening with shock and...hurt.
"No," he whispered. "no, she-she didn't leave me. She loved me. She - " He took a deep breath, then suddenly turned to her with narrowed eyes, as if just remembering that she was the enemy. His eyes, once brimming with unshed tears, were now as hard as diamond. "Whatever, Dursley. I-I just came to tell you, um, my father is going to get revenge on Professor Longbottom and you, and it-it's not going to be pretty." With that, he spun around and stalked away.
Violet stared at him in confusion.
His hands were trembling.
"I just don't get it!" Violet exclaimed to Professor Longbottom. "Why would he get all worked up over his mom? I bet that she's just as evil as him," she added venomously. She thought of a witch covered in boils and moles and a nasty smile, and felt a bit better.
Professor Longbottom sighed. "You know, Violet, I didn't know that Crabbe died. I guess that I did mix them up." He scratched his head sheepishly. "It's a bit shocking, I guess," he admitted. "I did hate him, but then, when Harry told me about what happened in the Room of Requirement…" He trailed off, seeing Violet's confused look. "Never mind. I guess that I wanted to believe that Crabbe was alive. Even though he was pretty bad, he was my classmate. Me believing that he was alive and a father was my way of forgiving him." He sighed. "War sucks. Your enemies become your friends, and your friends your enemies. It's...really complicated, to say the least." For once, he looked like a frustrated young man ranting about his troubles, and not the (slightly odd one, well, according to some kids) professor he was. He stared moodily at his now-cold black tea.
There was awkward silence. Violet coughed. "Wait, so Crabbe died?" she said lamely, mainly to make conversation. Suddenly, the door flew open and Evan Ancrum stumbled into Professor's office, his hair sticking up and his face flushed.
"I need Violet," he muttered, his eyes glazed and delirious, not seeing Violet, but before she could tell him that she was here, he turned to Professor Longbottom. "Professor… I need to talk to you."
And… Cut! Huzzah! I've finished! What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Let me know with your reviews! Anyfish, thank you to Marie E. Brooke for some suggestions. Now she's forcing me to say, *glances at script* Thank you to my wonderful beta, Marie E. Brooke. Have a happy Monday!