Violet loved the rain. If she thought back as far as she could, one of the earliest memories she could draw to her mind consisted of her sitting in between her mother and father as the grey sky gave forth its water.
For Violet, the rain was synonymous with love and safety and warmth despite the coolness of the drops as they peppered her skin. If she ever got cold or shivered a pair of arms would envelop her and hold her tightly, warming her to her very core.
At six, as they sat in the rain together, Violet looked up to her father and asked in a quiet voice. "Daddy, why do we stay in the rain?"
Her father looked down at her and smiled, his green eyes—the same eyes she saw in the mirror every morning—glistened at her with so much love and affection she could sense it, even at her young age. "Daddy and mummy have loved the rain since we were children. It was somewhere we could go where we could feel safe, but if you don't enjoy it, we can head inside."
Violet had shaken her head violently. "I love the rain too; it makes me feel safe like it does for you and mummy."
Daddy smiled and pulled her close. "That makes me so happy sweetheart."
As she grew older, she came to appreciate the rain more. She couldn't help but recognize the life it gave to the plants and the way the flowers bloomed in the spring after the rain. Or the way it washed away all that was unclean, leaving behind the purest version of whatever it touched.
At eleven she found herself sitting outside in the darkness. The light of the night sky was obscured by heavy clouds, but the rain was not falling yet. She could smell it with every calming breath she drew in through her nostrils; she was pleading for it to pour down on her. 'It's what I need to make me feel safe,' she thought.
She heard the door to the garden open and saw her mother walk out. In her hand she held her wand which was lit at its tip and cast her blonde hair—so much like Violets own—into an ethereal silver glow.
"Vi?" she called, and Violet sighed.
"Here mum," she shouted back and watched as her mother hurried over to her.
When she arrived at her side, she cast a quiet "Nox," and the world once more descended into darkness. She sat next to her and took hold of her hand. Part of Violet knew she should be embarrassed by what was happening, but the other part of her clung to her mother desperately.
"What's wrong sweetheart?"
Violet felt tears springing to her eyes and so many words came to mind, but when she tried to speak them, they stuck in her throat, refusing to be said aloud. After a minute she finally got out in a panic. "It isn't raining."
Mum squeezed her hand. "We can't control the rain," she told her softly. "As much as I wish we could. Why do you think you need it now?"
Violet closed her eyes tightly. "I'm scared," she whispered. Her mother only hummed but waited for her to continue. Eventually she did. "I'm scared of going to Hogwarts. I'm scared I won't be able to sit out in the rain if I feel sad, and…"
"And?" mum prodded gently.
"I'm scared I'll miss you and dad. And that the rain won't feel the same because you won't be there with me." The words burst out of her like water from a dam and then her tears followed not long after.
Mum shushed her gently and pulled her in close for a hug. She ran soothing hands down her back and through her hair. "Hogwarts will be some of the greatest years of your life," she promised her. "It's where I met your father for the first time. On the grounds in the rain. I saw him, his dark hair heavy with water and plastered to his forehead, his green eyes bright, and I knew then that I loved him."
Violet sniffled and pulled away from her mother to look at her, despite her features being obscured by the blackness of night. "Really?"
"Really. And I know that you'll make the best of friends while you're there, too." She kissed the top of her head. "Now for your other two worries, Scotland is much wetter than here. It will rain more often than not, I promise. And as for your father and I not being there…"
She took a deep breath. "For him and I, the rain was an escape; somewhere we went to hide. But for you I don't want it to be that. If you ever miss us, or miss home, go sit in the rain and remember. Remember that right here in this garden, whenever it rains, mummy and daddy will be sitting here missing you right back."
Just then the first drops began to pour down on them and Violet sighed. "I love you," she whispered as mum pulled her close once more.
"I love you more, Vi."
Her mother had been telling the truth. She had made friends; people she couldn't begin to imagine life without, and the grounds seemed to be constantly covered in a sheen of heavy grey rain clouds, so she had ample opportunity to sit in the rain.
And on the days when she missed home. When she thought back to her mum and dad and wanted nothing more than to be held in her father's strong arms or have her mother's soothing hands run through her hair, she would make her way outside.
She would sit in the rain, sometimes with friends, most times alone, and let the drops wash over her. She would remember that first memory, and then all the others that came after. She would remember the words her mum had said before she had left for Hogwarts, and she would feel them as if they were sitting there next to her.
For her parents the rain had been escape. For Violet, the rain was home. And she knew that her parents were sitting outside as the rain washed over them, and thought of her too.