Violet woke to the sound of a loud thump somewhere in her bedroom that was followed with a pained groan. The incident made her shoot up from her bed in a state of panic; her messy hair frizzed out as she sat up to look around, a bit of drool on the edge of her mouth. As Violet looked around as she used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth clean and just as she did, she caught a glimpse of where the noise came from.

In the corner of her bedroom, sitting down on her vanity chair, Thomas was holding his knee to his chest. Violet noticed his eyes pinched shut with pain and his fist against his lips like he was holding in a scream.

"Alright?" Violet asked in a tired voice, rubbing her eyes before reaching for her glasses which she never used in front of anyone.

She had felt comfortable enough in front of Thomas that she forgot how embarrassed she felt about them as she slid them on the bridge of her nose. The clear framed glasses took over her face and she tucked her loose hair behind her ears as the rest stood in a ponytail.

"I tripped over your bloody ottoman." he looked up from his knee and his eyes widened as he did. "You wear glasses? I-I never knew."

"Oh.' Violet laughed in discomfort, rubbing her forehead with embarrassment. "I never mention it since I look absolutely ridiculous in them. Been meaning to work on a charm to get rid of the horrible eyesight I was given."

Thomas was quick to shake his head in neglect, not agreeing with the statement that Violet just said about herself.

"I think you look beautiful in them." he replied quietly, afraid of setting off a bomb in her attitude.

Violet looked up in his direction once again, feeling her cheeks flush at the compliment. She smiled softly and managed to let out a soft 'thank you' in response that made him realize her emotions were softening towards him. She wasn't yelling at him to leave or stop the charades; she was simply allowing it all to happen.

He felt a warmth inside him after spending a night in her bedroom, which was not the intention but they had just nodded off into a deep sleep; next thing he knew, he had woken up beside her and now he was here, getting her to smile.

"Do you want an ice pack?" Violet broke the silence, bringing the topic of Thomas' knee back. "I can call for Karla if you'd like?"

"No, no, no." Thomas brushed it off, standing off the chair and walking towards the door. "I'll be fine, this is nothing. I'll just go to my chambers and get ready for work."

Violet gave a saddened nod back as Thomas began to pick his coat and shoes off the floor where he had left them last night. He held them in one hand and used the other to open her bedroom door, taking one step out before she stopped him.

"You don't want to stay for breakfast?" she trailed off in a quieter tone. "With...me?"

"Yes!" he was quick to shout back, realizing it too late as he tried to relax. "I mean, yes, that sounds fine. I have some time before work."

"Great!" Violet smiled widely as she stood up from her bed. "Let me have a quick shower and I'll be down to join you. You can request whatever breakfast you'd like."

Thomas gave a nod of approval before dismissing himself, shutting the bedroom door behind him. He made his way down the long corridor that was covered in Violet's favorite art from her favorite artists instead of family portraits that everyone expected.

Neither of them were big fans of the whole portrait hanging – finding it creepy – so they decided to just cover their corresponding corridors with the art they cherished.

He really liked Violet's corridor and the life he could feel radiating off the walls. The paintings she chose seem to dim down in happiness the further you get away from her bedroom and he always meant to ask why but never wanted to intrude.

As he turned a corner, he entered his own corridor and walked past dozens of bright paintings until he reached his chambers doors. He opened the doors and stared at the black furniture that surrounded his bed that had black covers on it. It was all so depressing to him now that he had spent the night in a bright room like Violet's.

Light beige bed sheets, white furniture, curtains always open for the sun to shine through. She was so different from him in every way.

"What have you done to me Violet?" Thomas breathed in exhaustion as he walked past all the depressing furniture and into his bathroom for a shower.

****

Thomas walked out of his bedroom after his shower, dressed in his usual Auror uniform and curly hair parted down the middle. He fixed his cuff links as he ran down the stairs, his eyes catching the person he didn't expect to see in his home this morning.

"Draco good morning!" he shouted out as he reached the bottom of the stairs, slapping his hand into a handshake as Draco remained shocked with his eyes roaming around. "Care for some breakfast? I was just heading into the kitchen."

"You eat in the kitchen?" Draco questioned as he stared at the remodeling. "I always ate in the dining room."

"Violet insists on eating in the kitchen." he laughed as Draco followed closely behind him, the second Thomas started moving. "She said it's better than eating at a long table that feels lonely with fifteen extra seats in front of her."

"Mmm." Draco hummed in response. "Why my house? Not to seem rude but weren't there other homes in the market for a young couple like you two?"

Thomas grabbed an apple from the fruit tray that Karla had set out on the island for them and he bit into it as he walked to his seat. He gestured to Draco to sit down and hesitantly, Draco did, but he felt uncomfortable being in his home and having it look so strange and different to him.

"What brings you buy?" Thomas spoke with a mouth full, ignoring Draco's question because it annoyed him. "It's quite early hours innit?"

"I wanted to pick up some things I had left in my office." he replied as he declined the offer of an apple from Thomas with a head shake. "Maybe they're still there if the person who sold the place didn't throw them out."

"Well, I'm sure Violet will unlock it for you." Thomas nodded back, not knowing about the tension between Draco and Violet. "Yeah, that's her office now but that's the only room in the house that she never renovated so I'm sure whatever you're looking for is still there."

Draco simply nodded in response and looked around the kitchen they were sitting in, not recognizing it not one bit. He couldn't lie to himself; it was much better than the design Astoria chose but it was just so different.

Beautiful green colored cabinets, white countertops, silver appliances, plants all around. The vibe of the kitchen alone was so calming, he couldn't begin to imagine the rest of the home.

Violet even added an island for them to sit and enjoy meals while they sat on copper-colored high chairs. It was much more convenient than walking all the way to the dining room when you can receive your food only feet away.

"I love the kitchen." Draco finally spoke, making Thomas nod back. "It's very earthy."

"Thank you." Violet spoke from the entrance, her tone sounding angry. "I didn't know you were back in town, Professor."

She played it off well as she pushed herself off the door frame and walked towards one of the counters, grabbing the coffee pot and a mug. Her long hair was curled today, a satin bow tied around a small strand behind her head to make her look more proper.

It distracted Draco because she looked just as innocent today as she did the day they met. Long sleeve, kitted, black cardigan with a light brown plaid skirt that rested just below her bum.

But she had tights on.

Sheer black tights that covered the skin of her thighs and legs all the way down to her feet that were in black loafers.

"No need for formalities, Violet." Draco played along, feeling his pants grow tighter. "I'm no longer your Professor and well you're the boss now, right?"

"Right." she replied sarcastically with a nose scrunch and a smile before she turned to Thomas. "Coffee, Thomas?"

"Please darling." Thomas smiled, almost like if he was playing along as well but he was the only serious one in this situation. "A cup for Draco too if you will."

"Of course." she nodded in return, faking the perfect housewife as she poured two more cups of warm coffee. "Goodness, Draco, this coffee is to die for. Karla sure knows how to make a mean cup of coffee."

She walked with two mugs in her hand and smiled widely as she placed one in front of her husband and the other in front of her ex-lover. Keeping heavy eye contact with Draco the entire time, she sucked off the coffee from her thumb that had dripped from her fast walk.

The action made him take a deep breath, clenching his jaw and turning his eyes away from her before he couldn't contain himself.

"Would you like some French toast as well?" Violet offered as she went back for her own cup of coffee, taking it to her chair beside Thomas'. "Seems that is the only thing on the menu this morning. It always tastes amazing, Karla is an excellent cook."

"Karla is?" Draco turned to Thomas, asking him directly because he couldn't look at Violet.

"Our house keeper." Thomas replied as he stirred his coffee, keeping eyes on Violet. "She's amazing at everything she does."

Violet nodded in agreement to Thomas' statement as she brought plates of French toast to the island for all three of them. She didn't even bother to wait and know if Draco actually wanted a plate or not, she simply brought one to keep him there longer.

The longer he was there, the more time she had to torment him.

"This looks amazing." Draco sounded surprised as he looked down at his French toast with sliced banana and strawberries. "Thank you, Violet."

"It's my pleasure entirely." she sounded forced as she smiled at him before turning to Thomas. "Did you want syrup?"

"Don't worry, I'll get it." he replied as he stood up, placing a kiss on her cheek that caught her off guard and made her widen her eyes. "You just eat and relax."

Draco furrowed his eyebrows when he saw what happened and he looked at Thomas with shock. He was confused because not long ago did Thomas go ask for advice on his supposedly horrible marriage; yet he just witnessed a normal interaction.

When he looked back at Violet, her eyes were already on his but hers held a look of mischief and his, a look of confusion.

"How is Astoria doing? Is she alright?" Violet smiled at him, cocking her head to the side. "I feel like it's been forever since I've seen her. Gosh she was such a motherly figure to me, I miss her."

"She's resting." Draco's face turned serious. "We both suffered a terrible loss yesterday and she needs to recuperate before she's out in the public eye again. Other than that, she's doing fine, thank you for asking Violet."

Thomas made his way back to his seat after successfully finding the syrup and turned to Draco in curiosity of what he heard.

"I'm so sorry, who did you lose?" he felt comfortable enough to ask the man that practically raised him as well as Astoria who was a second motherly figure to him.

"My child." he answered so casually, not elaborating on the situation.

Violet nearly choked on her food but she composed herself before looking up in shock as Thomas did the same. They both kept wide eyes and opened mouths as they stared at Draco but neither of them dared to ask for clarification.

"I'm sorry?" Violet finally questioned, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. "Scorpius was just h-here last night. He's alright, isn't he?"

Draco nodded back, still eating like what he just revealed was perfectly normal. Meanwhile the couple across from him were too shocked to even lift their forks or mug.

"Scorpius is fine; I didn't mean to confuse you." Draco swallowed a lump in his throat. "We hadn't told anyone but Astoria was expecting. Unfortunately her age just didn't allow her to pass a three-week term."

Violet felt her stomach twist and turn into knots, feeling sick almost because those words made her remember that awful incident last year. She too was expecting but all that anger and stress from finding out about Draco leaving, her engagement to Thomas, and the betrayal of Theo, made her lose the child.

Of course, she didn't know she was with child but the loss still hurt her and as much she dislikes Astoria, she feels for her. That pain and that experience is something she won't wish even on her worst enemy.

"I'm really sorry Draco." Violet changed her tone, reaching under the island to hold Thomas' hand because she needed comfort. "I could only imagine the pain she's going through and no one should go through that. If there's anything Thomas and I could do, we're more than happy to, just let us know."

Thomas wanted to smile when Violet grabbed his hand under the table but this wasn't the moment, so he simply let his thumb brush over the back of her hand. He listened to her words and quickly nodded in agreement with her last statement.

"Yes, of course Draco, you could count on us." he looks at Violet before turning to Draco. "Are you in a safe place? Where are you staying?"

Violet turned to Draco, hoping he didn't rat her out about knowing he was in town since last night and giving him her flat keys. Her heart beat out of her chest but she tried to remain calm as Draco finished chewing his food.

"I'm staying at an old flat Astoria owned." he lied, making Violet feel relieved. "It's a bit smaller than our usual homes but it is temporary. As soon as I find a Manor, I should be fine."

"Well, we have Blishen Manor!" Thomas nearly shouted out with excitement, turning to Violet who didn't look as excited.

She pressed her lips into a thin line, taking her hand out of his and bringing her coffee mug to her mouth. Before Thomas said anything else or before Violet even set down her mug, a loud ruckus came from the foyer.

"I'm home!!" Cressida's voice boomed through the tall ceilings as she followed the smell of coffee and food to the kitchen.

Violet turned her head to the door and smiled awkwardly when she saw Cressida who immediately slapped her hand over her mouth. She darted her eyes between Draco and Thomas before finally turning her attention to Violet, laughing as she stared at her in this awkward situation.

"Uhm Violet." she laughed through her nervousness. "Can I borrow you for a second? Outside?"

"Does your fiancé not cook for you, Cressida?" Thomas threw in a sarcastic comment as Violet was getting up from her chair. "I should start charging you for dining here."

"Oh yeah let me get some money for you Tommy." she searched the pocket of her black trench coat before pulling out her empty hand with her middle finger up towards Thomas. "How's that?"

Violet couldn't help but laugh at the twins immaturity as she playfully pushed Cressida out of the kitchen, sliding the door shut behind her. The second the door created a barrier between them and the men in the kitchen, Cressida jumped with a muffled shout into her palm.

She slipped away from Violet's hold and ran around the foyer, laughing as Violet curiously watched her run around like a child.

"Oh my god!" Cressida stopped at the end of the staircase, giggling as she lowered her voice to avoid being overheard. "How in the world does that even happen!? Your husband and your old boyfriend are in the same room, in your old boyfriend's old house!"

"How is this amusing to you?" Violet ran towards the bottom of the staircase, fanning her flushed cheeks as she looked up at Cressida. "Draco just confessed to Astoria losing a child! She was pregnant and I couldn't even react the way I wanted to!"

"Astoria was what!?" Cressida whispered loudly as her eyes went wide. "What were they thinking? She's like- well she is really old!"

"Not...that old." Violet shrugged in reason.

"Well pretty old if we're discussing the bat cave." Cressida made a disgusted expression, wiggling her eyebrows to show what she meant. "I've never met anyone who has gone through that so I wouldn't know what to do in comfort but it's practically asked for when you're at that age."

"Yeah, no, me either." Violet lied.

She looked down at the ground, remembering how horrible it felt to see the crimson red spreading down her thighs. The horrible feeling of her blood bubbling in her stomach that felt like her insides were boiling but it was just the life inside of her dying.

However, that wasn't the worst part of what happened. The worst part was finding out she was going to be a mother by finding out her child was dead and the father was lying to her the entire time they were together. The worst part of it was the loneliness and emptiness she felt when she woke up in Nott Manor with pain between her legs and a broken heart.

As much as she dislikes Astoria, or wishes she never existed, Violet felt terribly for her because she understood what she was going through now. The only worse part about it for Violet, no one knew about her going through it so she went through the grief alone while preparing for a wedding she hated.

Astoria at least had Draco, Scorpius, and Thomas who seemed to care for her dearly.

"Besides Astoria and her unfortunate events." Cressida rubbed her temple in frustration. "How do you feel about Draco being back? I mean you were just going fine with Thomas were you not?"

"I-I guess I was, I don't know." Violet felt an uncomfortable wave through her nerves. "Draco being back doesn't affect my feelings, I think it just affects my life you know? I don't feel for him like I used to but I want him to see me and my success. Does that make any sense?"

"No, it doesn't make any sense."

"Ugh, how do I explain myself so you can understand?" Violet rubbed her forehead as she spoke her words with annoyance. "I don't like Draco and I'm sorry but I don't like Thomas either. I feel for Thomas but I don't feel for Draco because liking and feeling for someone are way different emotions. However, I want Draco to see who I am now and how far I've gotten without him because I just want his attention."

"I still don't understand." Cressida shook her head. "Do you like my brother or not? And do you still have feelings for Draco and are those feelings going to affect the bond you've been building with Thomas?"

Violet felt overwhelmed with all the questions being thrown at her and the feelings swimming in her heart. She shook her head repeatedly, trying to find the right words to say but it was all too much to fit into a simple answer.

"I- I don't – This is too much- I just- " she looked back and forth between the closed kitchen door and Cressida, hearing her heartbeat in her ear. "– I don't know."