On the morning of September 1st, The Dursley family got up and set off for London, more specifically, King's Cross Station, Platform 9 and 3/4, thanks to Professor Sprout and asking any questions they had, they knew exactly where it was, and their mother pulled them both into a tight hug, made them promise to write and their father patted them both on the shoulder and told them to do well.
Grasping each other's hands they straightened their shoulders and walked through the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10, and came out on Platforms 9 and . They had gotten there early, a bit too early, but their father had to work so, early it was. Violet and Dudley found themselves a compartment and started settling in.
Violet let Deamon out to coil around her shoulders, while her brother began trying to coerce his new owl, - Atlas, a black horned-owl, more ill-tempered than their mother on her worst days, but he seemed to like Dudley well enough- with treats to varying degrees of success. While her brother attempted to train his owl, Violet pulled her first-year potions book from her bag and began to read, looking up occasionally at Deamon's hisses of amusement, something she'd come to understand as him laughing. The source of his laughter was Dudley, sporting nipped fingers at a withheld treat to his owl.
The noise from outside had started to increase as families waved off their newly starting, and or returning children. Several students paused at their compartment but none came in. Violet had changed into her robes before even leaving the house and had coerced Dudley into doing the same, and the threateningly looking snake coiled around her scared off most unsuspecting first years. Not that he would hurt anyone, Banana Boas males were docile-tempered. Eventually, though the train hadn't even started moving yet, an imperious-looking blond-haired boy stopped and looked into the apartment. "I've heard Hydrangea Potter is on the train. Would that be you?" Violet, or Hydrangea, -and wasn't that a mouthful, she hated her first name- looked up at the boy and cocked a slim eyebrow. "I'm afraid not. I'm Violet Dursley, over there is my brother, Dudley, and you might be?"
The boy hesitated as if pondering something before finally extending his hand. "Malfoy, Draco Malfoy"
She took his hand in her own and shook it. "Pleasure Heir Malfoy, would you care to join us?" She let go of his hand and neatly placed a bookmark into her textbook before closing it on her lap. He startled a bit, his mask falling out of place for a moment and Violet started a mental score count. Violet 1, Wizarding World 0.
"How did you?-"
"Our aunt was a witch, and our mother told us stories, our father is a businessman so I made it my personal goal to find out about traditions before walking in half-blind."
The Malfoy Heir composed himself and nodded. "I would like that". He sat down across from Violet in Dudley's vacated spot as he had moved to put himself closer to his sister.
The train began to move and Dudley engaged Draco in a talk about Quidditch, a sport he had been increasingly excited about since hearing about it, Violet returned to her book, smiling slightly, glad her slightly introverted brother had someone to talk about the sport with, as Violet found it a bit uninteresting. Another boy opened their compartment door later. "Can I sit here? Everywhere else is full."
Violet glanced up from her book again, "Sorry, I'm afraid we're waiting for someone"
"Oh uhm. Bugger, uh. Okay," He shut the door and wandered off.
Malfoy piped up after the red-headed boy had left. "You lied to him. Why?"
She glanced up at him, "I assumed you would want your other friends to sit with us, should I not have?"
He nodded and dropped the subject, a few minutes later they were joined by Heir Malfoy's friends Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. The train began to move and Violet settled in for the long ride, knocking her shoulders against her brother as he talked Quidditch with the three boys. An hour later, the door opened again, and a very brash girl with curly brown hair interrupted their conversation "Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one."
Dudley piped up from where was sitting. "No, we have-" He was interrupted by the girl pointing an accusing finger at Violet. "You're not allowed to have that! The letter said we were only allowed to bring an owl, cat, rat, or toad. Not a snake!"
Violet looked up from her book and glanced around her, looking confused. "What snake? I don't see a snake." Dudley caught her eye and grinned. "Yeah, what are you talking about? It's just us five in here. No snake."
"That snake! Right there! Around your neck!" She was yelling now, but Violet continued to act confused and was patting around her neck.
"My neck? There's nothing around my neck, certainly not a snake, my mother would kill me if I even dared to bring home one."
The other future Slytherins soon also piped up, denying the existence of the yawning boa constrictor around Violet's neck.
"Maybe you should have your head checked, I hear the nurse is very good."
"UGH! I'm telling a teacher as soon as we get to Hogwarts and you'll get detention, or worse, expelled!" The girl slammed the door shut and their group began to laugh. Violet 2, Wizarding World 0. The boys began to talk amongst themselves, Dudley nudging Violet in the ribs with his elbow, a grin etched into his face
"That was amazing! The look on her face!"
"What snake? You mean that one right there?"
'You all are too loud, I am going back into the box' Daemon slithered off her neck and into her trunk to curl up into his enclosure. Violet laughed at his moodiness and settled back into her seat, excited for the future.