Chapter I: The Sweetest Thing

        Violette Montague was as beautiful as she was clever. She always thought 'challenge' was a foreign word to her. Arithmancy was a challenge that she conquered— though reluctantly— easily. Making friends with Elijah Oakwood was a challenge she welcomed with open arms. He was more interested in broomsticks than friendship, and rarely spoke to anyone that wasn't on the Ravenclaw quidditch team, but within the first few months of their first year at Hogwarts, he became Violette's closest and most trusted friend. And now another challenge stood before her— totally reinventing the shy, quiet ebony-haired Jane Campbell.

        Violette knew what people said about Jane. She was smart, probably the smartest in their year aside from the glorious James Potter. She was pretty too, her deep brown eyes were kind and she often wore a soft smile that she greeted everyone with. She had no interests other than studying— according to Elijah, master of gossip— Jane Campbell spent most of her time in the library, scribbling away at essays and burying her nose in storybooks. She didn't have friends, she hardly even spoke, though Violette heard her voice a couple of times before and it was very meek, much like the girl herself. But she had potential, and that was all that mattered!

It was September Fifteenth, only the second week of Violette's seventh year at Hogwarts and she was already been absolutely flooded with letters. At the entrance of Ravenclaw Tower, a pile of loose bits of parchment were lain messily off to the right side of the door. She picked them up as she eyed the eagle-shaped knocker on the door. It looked back at her, opening its bronze mouth and spouting out a riddle, "What am I?"

"Very charming?" Violette smiled.

The eagle was unimpressed, asking her again, "What am I?"

She wished the eagle would play along every once in a while, since its riddles were so very predictable. Violette huffed and answered, "A question."

The eagle went silent and froze, the door opened. Violette gave it another smile as she walked inside. She'd never get tired of the Ravenclaw common room, the view of the grounds and lake from the windows, the blue and bronze decorations made of silk and other lavish-looking fabric. Bookcases covered nearly all the walls and large couches and bronze tables were placed strategically throughout the room. Even when it was full of students, the Ravenclaw common room still felt so relaxing and spacious.

Violette sat in a vacant seat facing an empty table and threw all her letters down. She took her ink and sparkly pink quill out of her bag carefully, setting them down as she opened the first letter. The handwriting was sloppy and hardly legible— a first year's writing, no doubt. She found the letters from the younger students much more entertaining than the rest, their writing was always so dramatic. Their presence at the Lonely Hearts Club tea parties were very welcome, as well— often times, their love lives seemed to be more eventful than that of the older students.

Violette, the letter read, I got sorted into Hufflepuff this year and I'm so happy! I heard you're an expert on this 'love' thing, so I thought I should come to you for advice. I made a friend when I first came here and we sat next to each other on the train and talked during the whole ride. I told her I was nervous, so she held my hand. Then, she held it again at the Sorting Ceremony! I try and talk to her as much as I can, but it's harder since she was sorted into Gryffindor. But since we have some classes together, she sits with me and sometimes helps me with my coursework. The other day, we were practically alone in the library and she called me pretty. I know it's only been two weeks but I really like her, and I don't know if she likes me back. How can I tell? Please help me!

        Violette smiled. After all, how could she not? Young love was a wonderful thing, awfully exhilarating and a bit nerve-wracking at times, but that's what youth was. Youth was also signing off letters with the most hysterical aliases. Violette encouraged everyone not to leave their real names— for anonymity and privacy, of course— and so the Hufflepuff had signed the letter with Flobberworm.

        She wrote back, Hello, love! Congratulations on being sorted into Hufflepuff! I'm glad you're finding your first year very wonderful so far. And as for the Gryffindor, I promise you that she has strong feelings for you. Whether they're platonic or romantic is up to her to confess, but in my opinion, they seem pretty romantic! She likes spending time with you, she holds your hand, she helps you with your work— sounds like a girlfriend to me! Especially when she compliments you like that! My advice for you is to tell her how you feel. Wear your heart on your sleeve, risk it all and confess! If she doesn't feel the same, it's her own loss, though I do truly think she fancies you. Let me know how it goes, my love, and do come to the tea party this weekend! I'd love to see you! Thank you for writing!

       Violette signed the letter off as she usually did, with her name and hearts over the 'I' instead of dots. She folded the parchment twice and sealed it with an incredible custom wax seal Elijah gifted her— sparkly, pink wax in the shape of a heart, a perfect representation.

        She carried on reading the rest, trying to answer as many as she could before her head started to hurt. It was invigorating— it might seem nosy to others, but Violette loved knowing everything about everybody. Especially when it came to matters of the heart.

        The other Ravenclaw students were lounging about the common room as well, reading books on the couches or eating sweets with their friends. No one bothered Violette, especially not when she was answering letters. It seemed that one person didn't get the hint. Poppy Lovett, a short, blonde-haired girl, aproached her, holding a crumpled paper in her fists. Her eyes welled with tears.

        "Excuse me?" Poppy said politely, her voice wavering. "I know you're busy but—"

        Violette shook her head, "Not at all, love! Sit down." Poppy obeyed, taking the seat beside her, still clutching the paper tightly. "What happened?"

        "Well, I—" Poppy said, struggling to hold back her tears, "I wrote to you just the other day. I took your advice I—"

        "Chocolate?" Violette asked her. Poppy nodded, and Violette pulled a bar of chocolate out of her bag— she always had it on hand, just in case these situations occurred. As the girl ate, Violette put a hand on hers and encouraged her to speak.

         "I thought he loved me," Poppy mumbled through tears and a full mouth. "He said he did. He told me he loved me and he kissed me! I thought he wanted to be with me—" she began to sob, "—and then I saw him sucking another girl's face off in the corridor!"

        Violette's brows furrowed, "What a tosser!" Poppy nodded, crying even more. The others began to look at her with wide eyes. "Don't cry, Poppy. I promise you, love, he's not worth your tears."

        She looked up at her, cheeks red and wet, "You know my name?"

        "Of course, darling!" Violette responded. "We're in the same house, aren't we? We've had Transfiguration together almost every year!"

        "Right, sorry," Poppy sniffed. "I just thought— I thought someone like you would ever notice me. It was a wonder that he ever did. . . I guess it was too good to be true, huh?"

        "Don't say that," Violette said warmly, holding Poppy's hand tighter. "You're beautiful and you've got such a kind heart! Anyone would be lucky to have you, y'know." Poppy nodded hesitantly. "Listen, come to the tea party on Saturday and I'll find you someone to take your mind off that wanker."

Just when Violette thought she'd calmed her down, Poppy cried again, "How can I ever get over him? He was so perfect! There's no one like him!"

"What's his name?" Violette asked.

"Wylan," Poppy said through tears, though softer so no one else would hear. "Wylan Rosier."

Of course. A boy in Severus Snape's crowd was bound to be awful. Violette tucked a strand of Poppy's blonde hair behind her ear and wiped her tears, "Don't worry, alright? I'll take care of it."

        Violette was a master at match-making, sure, but she was also quite the expert at breaking couples up. A talent she rarely used, but it was necessary in this case— what kind of person would she be if she let a tosser like Wylan Rosier hurt another girl?

       As Poppy hobbled off to her two friends on the other side of the room, Violette grabbed her bag and her completed letters. She set the papers down on the left side of the door, notifying the recipients that she had responded. She walked down the spiral staircase of the tower, so light-footed and gentle that her steps were silent.

       The corridors were loud with laughter and shouts, meaning that classes had finished for the day. Violette, being the dedicated student she was, managed to worm her way out of Potions early, claiming that she had a horrendous stomachache. She entered a flood of students, surrounded by blue, green, red and yellow robes all swarming every inch of the halls. At least everyone else was having a nice day, although Violette hated seeing Poppy in the state she was in. She was usually so cheerful and bright, and then, it was as if she had been standing under a rain cloud.

        Violette walked the halls with her brows slightly furrowed, scoping the students until she saw the sharp nose and auburn hair of Wylan Rosier. As she walked, she felt an arm wrap around her shoulders, the weight of another person slowed her down.

       "Where are you marching off to?" Asked Elijah, his long arms perched over her like a blanket.

        "I'm on a quest for revenge," replied Violette ever so dramatically.

        "Alright, Julius Caesar," Elijah mocked. "Does this involve Campbell?"

        "Nope," Violette responded. "Poppy Lovett. Poor thing got her heart broken by Wylan Rosier."

        "She should've expected that," Elijah snorted. Violette slapped his hand. "Ow! What I mean is that Rosier is a prick with a bad reputation when it comes to girls. He's always leading them on for no reason, and when he gets bored, he finds someone to replace them."

         "How can he do something like that?" Violette asked, feeling her heart break for Poppy. "He's the biggest twat I've ever met, how could he get away with being so awful?"

         "Because he's fit," Elijah replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Violette shot him a glare. "What? Have you seen him? He's beautiful!"

         "He's horrible," Violette said. She could appreciate the beauty in just about anything, but when it came to terrible people, they were all ugly. "Help me find him, would you?"

         Elijah nodded and led Violette through the halls and down the moving staircase until they'd reached the Slytherin dungeon. An awful place, honestly, it was cold and dark and gloomy— no wonder the Slytherins were so cranky! Violette held back her remarks, saving her bitterness for Rosier. They rounded a corner and saw him— and sure enough, he was kissing a girl, smiling as his hands slid down her waist.

         "Oi!" Violette called out, grabbing their attention. "Rosier, you slimy pig— how dare you hurt Poppy Lovett's feelings like that?"

        He gave Violette a confused but mischievous grin, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

        "You're disgusting," she said, inching closer towards them. "You told Poppy you loved her when you didn't." Violette turned to the girl, another short blonde— guess he had a type— "I'm sure he's doing the same to you, love. He's a filthy liar."

"Don't you have anything better to do, Montague?" Wylan asked, his face furious, though he was trying to keep himself together for the girl he was with. The girl kept her eyes on Violette the whole time.

"No, actually, calling out dickheads like you is my favorite pastime," quipped Violette. She looked at the girl, her gaze softening. "You're better off without him, believe me. A girl once snogged him in fifth year and caught a disease!"

         The girl looked at Violette with wide eyes, then back at Wylan with disgust. To Violette and Elijah's delight, she slapped him, "Arsehole!"

         She stormed off, leaving Wylan Rosier shocked with a small, red handprint imbedded in his cheek. Violette smiled, "If I hear any more complaints about you, Rosier, you'll regret it."

          Then it was Violette's turn to storm off. With Elijah's hand back around her shoulders, they walked out of the eerie dungeons, both wearing wide grins on their faces. Violette was thrilled— she loved seeing the humiliation on Rosier's face, she loved knowing that she was the one that put him in his place.

Most of all, though, she loved that she was able to help a friend.

Nothing strikes hunger in Violette Montague quite like ruining a man's reputation! She and Elijah made their way towards the Great Hall with haste, mouths watering at the idea of the food they were about to eat. Elijah got far too eager, complaining that he was too hungry since he missed breakfast, so he grabbed Violette's hand and ran. The two of them sat across from each other on the left end of the Ravenclaw table, far from all the adoring eyes of other students.

The food appeared on the table— nothing as grand as the meal on the first day of school, but delicious nonetheless. They ate mashed potatoes and roast chicken, topped with a sweet condiment that tasted like raspberries and basil. More food appeared gradually, but Violette found herself full after the first round. She washed her food down with pumpkin juice— spiked, of course, courtesy of Elijah and his wonderful flask.

While Elijah droned on and on about the latest quidditch game, Violette found herself looking across the room at the Hufflepuff table. Poor Jane Campbell, she thought— she was sat alone with a fork in one hand and a book in the other. Elijah realized Violette wasn't listening, and he encouraged her to go talk to the girl.

Violette approached Jane carefully, so as to not startle her. She sat across from her, waiting for Jane to put the book down, but she was completely oblivious. Violette cleared her throat once, then twice, then thrice— she ended up tapping the back of Jane's book, greeting the girl with a smile, "Jane Campbell, it's your lucky day."

She looked surprised, "Violette Montague?"

"The one and only," Violette grinned. "I noticed you're not sitting with anyone, come join my friend and I!" Violette moved her head and pointed across the room at Elijah, who was deep in conversation with two Ravenclaw quidditch team members. "He's handsome, isn't he?"

Jane blushed, "I guess. . . but— I'm sorry, I'm confused."

"Don't be!" Violette said. "Truth is, I really want to be your friend. You're smart and lovely and I admire you."

"You?" She asked with curious eyes. "Admire me?"

"Obviously!" Violette exclaimed. "Have you looked in the mirror? You're marvelous!" Jane blushed again.

"Thanks," Jane said with a shy grin. "It means a lot— you know, coming from you, and all."

"Oh, I know, my compliments are hard to obtain and so many people are desperate for them," teased Violette with a wink. "But you're worth it, believe me."

And she did. Jane Campbell was still a bit shy, though she spoke more to Violette in those couple minutes than she ever had in her whole school career. Violette was glad she approached her— Jane was smart and funny and kind, and she relied on Violette's opinions for most things. And that was when Violette thought to strike. "So, Jane, have you ever had a boyfriend before?"

Then, the dulcet tones of Sirius Black's voice filled the air, "Oi, Montague!" Violette rolled her eyes as he approached, his shirt unbuttoned and his hair a shaggy mess. "Why'd you skive off class today, huh? You couldn't have picked a better day to get a stomachache?"

"Sorry, would you rather me vomit all over you next time?" Violette asked, batting her eyelashes at him.

Sirius' friends, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and— how unfortunate— Remus Lupin stood behind him, snickering.

"You're terrible, you know that?" Sirius said, inviting himself to sit beside Jane. His friends followed.

"You're interrupting, Black," Violette glared.

He turned to Jane with the most polite smile ever seen, "Pleasure to meet you." He turned back to Violette and scowled. "Thanks to you, I'm stuck working with Snivellus."

"And that's my problem because. . ."

"You know you were supposed to be my partner!" Sirius pointed an accusatory finger at her.

He was right, Violette did know she was meant to be working with him— Professor Slughorn often made them work together, though she never liked it because Sirius always insisted on taking the lead, over-explaining things she already knew. Don't mistake her though, she liked Sirius— he was the annoying brother she never had.

"Silly me!" Violette exclaimed. "Now, will you and your goons leave us alone?"

"Who are you calling a goon?" James huffed.

"You know who, Potter," Violette waved dismissively. Now James Potter, she didn't like— he was all arrogance and nothing to show for it. "Don't you have coursework to do?"

"Don't forget yours, y'know, since I won't be here to do all the work this time," Sirius said with an annoyed face.

"As if I need you to do my work for me," Violette scoffed. "Besides, I'm sure my new partner is lovely! Whoever it is." Then, Sirius, James and Peter began to giggle like schoolgirls. "Oh, Slug's paired me up with someone already, hasn't he?" She complained.

Remus was the only one who wasn't laughing. In fact, his arms were crossed over each other and he looked annoyed. Oh no.

"Oh, yes, he has," Sirius responded, his demeanor changing in an instant. "He's the loveliest there is— tall, charming, and never awake in class!"

So it was Remus. Violette wondered how she could possibly bribe Professor Slughorn into letting her work on her assignment alone— perhaps Remus could be in on it too. He sat silently, ruffling his messy mop of brown hair every once in a while, only stopping when his friends turned to leave. Sirius, James and Peter bid them dramatic goodbyes and danced out of the hall.

       "Montague," said Remus, "we'll work on the assignment tomorrow morning at the library."

       "Morning? Are you sure you'll be awake?" Violette teased as he rolled his eyes.

        "Funny," he smiled sarcastically. "Tomorrow afternoon, then."

        "Oh, but Remus, tomorrow afternoon Jane and I are going to Honeydukes," she frowned. Remus looked between the two of them, his gaze lingered on Jane.

"You won't mind if I steal her from you, yeah?" He asked Jane, who blushed as she shook her head quickly. "Fantastic! Tomorrow afternoon, Montague. Don't be late."

Violette groaned, burying her head in her hands as he walked away. Jane leaned over the table, tapping Violette on the hand, "He's gone."

"Finally," Violette sighed. She frowned at her friend. "I thought we were going to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow!"

"This assignment's important," Jane said. "My partner and I have been working on it all week!"

"It's only the second week of school!" Violette groaned. She felt like crying, but Jane giggled. "You don't understand, Jane, working with Remus Lupin is a nightmare."

It was true— to her at least. Violette and Remus were stuck together in Divination for the entirety of their fifth year. She loved the subject, in fact, she excelled at it. She enjoyed reading tea leaves and scrying and shuffling tarot cards— Remus, however, rarely ever put effort into their assignment. Sometimes, she'd catch him dozing off and would have to pinch him awake. Then, he'd wake up all cranky, reach for her empty teacup and say something ominious like 'You've got two weeks to live' or 'Your hair will catch on fire one day and never grow back'.

"I think he's nice," Jane said, still giggling.

"Yeah, to you," Violette retorted.

Remus Lupin was the least of her worries, though, since Violette still had a stack of unanswered letters in her bag and needed to find both Poppy Lovett and Jane Campbell the wonderful, loving partners they deserved. It was a challenge, considering they were the sweetest girls Violette had ever met and no one was good enough for either of them.

Luckily for Violette Montague, she loved a challenge!

A/N: the more i think abt this story the more i get so EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have so many side characters planned that literally do not advance the story in any way but i just <3 <3 love them <3 <3 <3 anyways every1 get ready violette & remus being forced to work together and the TEA PARTY!!!!!!! im very excited hehe i hope u all liked this<3 (omg also plz ignore if the indentation is wack i was writing on my laptop & my phone so it's kinda messed up HDKHDJS)