Violet woke long before dawn and rolled around in her bed for a while letting different questions arise and simmer within her head. The plan was that she would go to McGonagall's office at 6am and McGonagall would accompany her to the Ministry via her Floo network. She reread the letter with all the details of the meeting. She was to dress 'respectably and proper'.

What did they think I was going to wear? A bra and booty shorts?

She tiptoed over to her wardrobe with only the light of her wand to guide her. She flicked through clothes for a while, occasionally glancing at Hermione's side of the wardrobe for 'inspiration'. Eventually she managed to drag something suitable and long forgotten out of the depths of her wardrobe. It was a sturdy, black, figure hugging cotton dress with short sleeves and it stopped just above the knee. The cotton was thick and it had a seam which cinched it just above the waist, hiding any unwanted bumps. She paired it with a fitted grey blazer and black flats. She tied her hair into a low ponytail and applied minimal makeup; just some mascara and lipgloss.

Violet spritzed herself with some cheap perfume that she knew would have worn off by the time she reached the Ministry. She grabbed a small, dark brown leather satchel and placed all the important documents and a question filled notebook inside.

Grabbing a spare piece of parchment she scribbled a note for Hermione explaining that she had family business to attend to and would be gone for the day, although she promised she would explain all when she returned. Violet placed the piece of parchment on Hermione's nightstand and hoped she would spot it when she woke up.

Violet fully intended on telling her friends everything when she returned to the castle later today. She decided she didn't want to have to lie to her friends anymore and she wanted to share her excitement with them. Well at least she hoped they would be excited for her.

The far corner of the dorm started to glow a blazing orange from the morning sun which peeked through the crack in the curtains. Violet walked towards the curtain and pulled it closed, so as to not wake Hermione and left the dorm to head for McGonagall's office.

Although the corridors were empty Violet felt as though she could feel the castle waking up around her. The sunrise was illuminating the halls and flaring in the glass of windows, whilst the birds were singing their morning song outside. When she reached McGonagall's office she was in high spirits and buzzing with anticipation. She knocked three times on the door and it was opened to her within seconds.

She found McGonagall seated at her desk with her classic black robes and matching pointed hat. Unsure of what she was expected to do, Violet hesitantly approached the desk and waited for McGonagall to acknowledge her. She raised her head and smiled through her spectacles.

"Please sit Miss Gardner, we have ten minutes before we are expected to arrive at the Ministry" her hand gestured towards the chair and Violet sat down, placing her bag on her lap. "Do you have any questions about the procedures today?"

"Yes. Well I've read through the letter and I understand I'll be meeting with my brother alone?"

"Not completely. Two Ministry appointed guards will be in the room with you at all times." Violet nodded and went quiet for a moment as she thought about mentioning the odd magic she seems to have used recently. "Miss Gardner you are aware you don't have to do this"

"Do what, Professor?" her head tilted and eyebrow quirked as she tried to understand her teacher.

"Your brother doesn't have to be put up for retrial, he could be kept in Azkaban."

Violet felt her mood drop and her lips pursed slightly at McGonagall's absurd comment, "Why would I want that?"

"No dear that's not what I meant. I just don't want you to think this is your only option." her eyes were soft and comforting and Violet relaxed from her once defensive stance.

"Of course Professor. I'm aware of that, but this is the option I chose. I want this."

"Very well. Do you have any more questions?"

"Well I've been thinking, my brother has been in Azkaban for fifteen years. Do you know how he is, you know, mentally?"

McGonagall wrung her hands in her lap as she formed her answer, "From what I've been told he's doing as well as could be expected. He was taken from Azkaban a few weeks ago and placed in a Ministry holding cell, to try and help him adjust before he meets you. The last thing we'd ever do is put you at risk, and if I personally thought it wasn't safe I wouldn't let you go."

"Okay, thank you. Do you think it's time to go?"

She nodded in response and the pair got up from their seats and walked towards the open fireplace. McGonagall stepped in first and Violet second. When they arrived they took a moment to brush any excess Floo powder off of their robes. The building looked the same as last time she was here, with the impractical high ceilings and black bricks with a sheen coating. Although it was much more alive than last time, everyone seemed in such a rush, like if the world would end if they didn't get where they needed to go. With the looming return of You-Know-Who, Violet wondered if that might really be the case.

Violet and McGonagall joined the bustling crowd of people walking towards the elevators. As they passed the fountain she noticed a few newsstands with this morning's Daily Prophet. The muggle attacks were increasing everyday, it made her stomach drop to the floor to think about.

McGonagall took Violet's arm and tugged her away from the newsstands and towards the elevators. The lift they entered was congested and Violet was squashed between two curious looking wizards; one wearing periwinkle robes with yellow stars dotted all over and the other wearing all black with a parrot perched on his shoulder. Growing up in the wizarding world she learned not to think twice about different peoples attire, everyone had their own sense of individuality.

After jolting about in the lift for a few minutes they finally reached the lower levels of the Ministry. It had the same black bricks with a sheen coating but the darkness was striking, as there was no light to reflect. The corridor somehow felt dead with a biting chill and numbing silence which was quickly broken by the light click of McGonagall's heels. Violet followed closely behind and they made their way down the stretch of corridor to the large iron door at the end. There were light, hazy strings floating around the door keeping it locked shut, so McGonagall pulled out her wand and held both hands out in front of the door whilst she murmured unintelligible incantations. The lights slithered away and we stepped through the door.

It opened to another hallway, but this one was built up of mossy bricks that had no capacity for reflection. Every few feet there was a dim ball of light hanging just below the ceiling, but only enough to make your way down the corridor. There were iron doors lining the hallway, each with their own lacy lock - similar to the entrance door.

About five doors down stood a guard and a man in a black suit which on further inspection Violet identified as Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister for Magic. Violet took a few steps forward but turned when she noticed McGonagall still standing on the other side of the entrance door.

McGonagall gave an unsure smile, "I'm not authorised to go any further, dear"

"You're not coming with me?" Violet's eyebrows furrowed and a frown tugged at her lips, she felt protected with McGonagall.

"I'm sorry, I can't. Go and speak to the Minister, he'll take you to Mr Everette"

Violet gave a swift nod and started to make her way down the corridor. She started to fiddle with the hem of her blazer the more nervous she got, picking at loose threads and smoothing it out again. Once she reached them she stood awkwardly, they were having a conversation and speaking in hushed voices which Violet couldn't make out.

The Minister turned and beamed at Violet "Ah Miss Everette-"

"-Gardner. I'm Miss Gardner, Minister"

"Of course. I just assumed because of your brother-"

"No, um, Gardner. Please" Violet's head hung low. She wasn't normally one for back talk, especially to her superior's. But this felt necessary.

"Well, I just need to give you a briefing and then you can head in..." he placed his hand on the back of Violet's shoulder as he ushered her down the corridor "This is Mr Cabot, he will be with you the whole time. You'll have an hour slot inside in which you two can speak. You will be separated by a charmed glass wall that will shock you, should either of you touch it."

"There'll be a wall in between us?"

"Yes, you will still be able to see him. It's for your own safety"

Violet slowed down a little and the minister stopped ahead of her, "If you don't believe he is safe why are putting him up for a retrial?"

"It's only a precaution for the first meeting, Miss Gardner. If all goes well the glass will be taken down by the third and final meeting"

"Okay. Is that all?"

"I think I've covered everything" he looked at Mr Cabot and nodded, the guard started to wave his wand in front of the last door of the corridor and there was a click when it unlocked. "Feel free to enter whenever you're ready"

The Minister gestured towards the unlocked door and Violet approached it cautiously. She placed her hand on the door knob and gently pressed down and pushed the door open. The room was similar to the corridor: dark, dingy and one source of light. Except this room had a glass partition down the middle and a wooden stool for Violet to sit on, it was too dark on the other side of the glass for her to make anything out. There was a guard already standing in the far corner on Violet's side of the glass.

"Miss, if you would like to take a seat" Mr Cabot's deep voice made her jump as they both moved into the room and Violet sat herself down on the stool.

Once the iron door closed behind them a light turned on at the other side of the glass. It was a small cell with chalk covering the bricks and what seemed like hay covering the floor. There was a man curled up in the corner, his head was hung low and his greasy, overgrown, brown hair covered his face. His clothes and skin was covered in dirt and his fingers were drawing shapes on the wall beside him.

"Lance?" Violet wasn't sure what she expected, but somehow this wasn't it.

Lance slowly lifted his head revealing an unshaven face and striking blue eyes. He has his father's eyes, he must do. Violet and her mother both have deep brown eyes.

Violet approached him as though he were a caged tiger. Her movements slow and cautious. She didn't know whether she expected him to bite or purr.

He stood from the floor and approached the glass, his appearance almost scaring Violet. Just before he reached the glass he stopped, stared for a moment, then grinned.

He has his mother's smile. All Violet's tension melted and she found herself reciprocating the smile. It was so warm and welcoming and she felt like she could tell him her deepest secrets and darkest fears.

His smile grew and his eyes glossed over, "Vi? Look how big you are now. You've grown up beautifully, you look so much like mum"

She knew it. She knew he was a good man. Violet felt it in her heart and now she was sure. Although she wasn't sure how he would have adjusted since coming out of Azkaban, she was glad to see he seemed to be doing well.

Violet's heart swelled inside her chest and she tried to hold back her widening smile by biting down on her lip. She'd never been called 'Vi' by anyone but enjoyed the way it sounded as it rolled off of his tongue. "Um, yeah-"

"Vi, I'm so sorry for all of this. I should've been there. I should've got to watch you grow up and join Hogwarts. You didn't deserve all of this, neither did mum. I just want you to know this was all a terrible mistake and I- I couldn't help it, dad was in so deep that I had to and- and-"

Words were falling rapidly from his mouth as he tripped and fumbled trying to explain himself.

"Lance, it's fine. I don't blame you. Mum explained everything to me"

"She explained what exactly?"

His smile faltered and his eyebrow quirked, only for a brief moment before neutralising once again.

"She explained how our dad was the one involved, not you, and that he forced you to join. That you and are whole families lives was threatened if you didn't"

"Right, of course. Yes" he seemed to calm down a little after that. Like he realised he wouldn't have to be defending himself the whole hour. Violet was glad that she had seemed to soothe his mind.

It didn't take long for the two to strike up a conversation. Lance asked questions all about Violet's childhood and upbringing, her life at Hogwarts; her house, hobbies, friends. He was particularly interested when she revealed she was friends with Harry, but then again who wouldn't be - he was the chosen one after all. She explained how she'd gone by Gardner all her life, instead of Everette, and if he would be willing to do the same once released. He agreed, deciding it's best if both of them leave the association with the name Everette in the past.

Violet tried to ask Lance questions from her notebook in return. He was understandably reluctant to talk about his adolescence so Violet just tried to focus on his childhood. She was intrigued to know what her father was like, although from Lance's account she didn't miss much. From his description he was abusive and manipulative to both his wife and son and put the Dark Lord's wishes over their needs every time.

However Lance's description of his mother was exactly how she was with Violet; nurturing and loving towards her children, and extremely protective. Violet's heart ached when she heard what both her mother and brother had to endure from her father. He sounded like the exact awful, wicked man he was rumoured to be.

Although their father, Maurice Everette's reputation would be a key argument in Lance's defence. Everyone knew he was a villainous man and it would almost be expected that he was abusive too. Lance was a victim and Violet would prove it in front of a court. She took extra care to note down any wrong doing on their fathers part.

After an hour, one of the guards left the room and Mr Cabot informed Violet that her time was up.

"I'll see you next week, yeah?" Violet beamed.

"Miss you already" Lance stepped back from the glass and the light on his side dimmed, leaving Violet staring at darkness.

She felt fulfilled. She knew she would have to delve deeper into his time as a Death Eater but for now she'd got what she wanted; she got to know her brother on a personal level and had a partial understanding of his motives.

Mr Cabot escorted her from the room and charmed the door locked behind them. The Minister was already in the corridor and swept Violet into a conversation the minute she stepped from the room.

"I hope all was well Miss Gardner?"

"It was perfect. I don't know if it would be possible but could we remove the glass for the next meeting?" Violet queeried. She felt like she was at a zoo with her brother locked behind boundaries.

"That won't be possible until the final meeting, Miss Gardner. Like I said we cannot truly tell there is no threat until-"

"He's not a threat Minister. I promise."

"Either way I'm sorry but it won't be possible"

"Could he at least get some fresh clothes? He is no longer in Azkaban and should be treated as such." She knew she was pushing it but he wasn't living in humane conditions. He'd been locked away for far too long and deserved to start being treated as a member of society.

"Yes of course"

They reached the end of the corridor to find McGonagall waiting by the door. The Minister handed Violet over to McGonagall and the two of them made their way back to the elevators.

The lower levels of The Ministry didn't seem as scary this time. On the way in the darkness seemed to personify Violet's worry which had now fizzled away.

"How did it all go?" McGonagall asked as they stepped onto an empty lift.

"Oh it was brilliant! We really got to know each other and I can't believe I've gone my whole life not knowing him" Violet beamed.

"Really?"

"Really"

McGonagall guided Violet out of the lift and to a large, circular, open room. It was built from the same dark brick but instead had candles floating just below the ceiling, illuminating the room. There were doors all the way around and a desk on top of a platform in the middle; seated at the desk was a witch which reminded Violet of Rita Skita. She had brown tight pin curls with oval glasses and a purple suit. McGonagall walked towards the desk and the two engaged in a brief conversation before she returned with a large brass key and handed it to Violet.

"What's this for?" she flipped the key in her hand and brushed her finger along the metal.

"You are to go into room 067 for a thirty minute counselling session"

"Counselling! What- I don't understand. I don't need counselling" Violet's eyes widened and she almost dropped the key in shock.

"Miss Gardner, it's not personal. It's required by you and your brother. We need to make sure you are both mentally fit"

"But I don't-"

McGonagall placed her hand on top of Violet's and gave her a reassuring look. She wouldn't be able to talk her way out of it, so she let out a deep sigh and looked towards the door.

"Right."

She turned and walked to the wooden door across the other end of the room. She stepped inside and noticed a slender witch sat in an armchair by a large window. The room was cream coloured, with a forest green sofa opposite the window and a coffee table filled with biscuits in the middle. There was a teacup and saucer filled to the brim with what seemed to be herbal tea on the coffee table with a self stirring teaspoon inside. The walls were decorated with odd paintings that didn't seem to be of anything in particular.

"Please take a seat Violet"

Violet eyed the women cautiously. Her voice was a little too calming and it was unsettling. She was dressed head to toe in beige and Violet couldn't wait for the next thirty minutes to be over. She sat down on the sofa and shifted uncomfortably on the spot for a few moments.

"Please help yourself to refreshments" the witch smiled. Violet gave an awkward smile back and looked down at her hands. "I'm Aria and we're just going to have a chat today. I'm hoping to get to know you over the next few weeks"

"Look I appreciate it but I don't need a therapist-"

"No, no Violet you need to go into this with an open mind" her tone of voice reminded her of Luna, except a thousand times more irritating.

Oh for fucks sake. This is going to be utter bollocks.

"Now I understand you attend Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

Violet nodded.

"What house are you in, I was Hufflepuff"

Of course you were.

"Gryffindor"

"Lovely, and you are 16?"

Violet nodded.

"So you must know Harry Potter. How exciting" she said as she scribbled something in her notebook. Violet's head shot up and Aria noticed she'd caught her attention. "So you do know Mr Potter?"

"Yeah Harry's one of my best friends" Violet crossed her knee over the other and started to feel quite defensive. She didn't like this woman poking about in her business.

"What's it like being friends with the Harry Potter?" her eyebrow quirked and she leant forward onto her forearms.

"Fine. What does this have to do with my counselling?"

"Oh everything. Being friends with Harry Potter surely must be hard on you, I mean he is one of the most famous wizards of all time-"

"Well I wouldn't go that far"

"Do you hold any resentment towards Harry, for possibly taking attention away from you?"

"No. What- why would you think that?" she was getting flustered as it started to feel more like an interrogation.

"It's just an evaluation Violet. I want to get a sense of who you are. You're sure you carry no hard feelings towards Harry, even subconsciously. I'm not trying to push you but I know if I were you I would be annoyed by my friend constantly being the media, everyone knowing his name, always being overlooked..."

Violet had always felt less than compared to Harry. That wasn't from media attention or fame though, she felt less than all of the Golden Trio. They always seemed so headstrong and assertive. Violet felt lucky to even be considered their friend.

"... do you ever find yourself rebelling against him in a way. Doing something you know he wouldn't want you to do. Try and get his attention maybe?"

Her mind instantly fell to Malfoy. It's no secret the Trio would never agree with what she was doing with him, but that wasn't why she did it. She wasn't trying to prove a point or gain attention. Now that she thought of it, why was she doing it?

"Violet"

She'd clearly zoned out and snapped her attention back to Aria "Um... no. I don't hold any resentment towards my friends. If we could move on from this, that would be great"

Her gaze flicked over to a moving abstract painting on the wall. It was a splatter of different colours that were interwoven with each other and crossed creating new colours and patterns.

"Would you like to take a sip of tea Violet?"

She eyed Aria warily before reaching for the teacup. She held it to her nose and sniffed the herbal scent, she recognised it although she couldn't quite place it. Taking a small sip she let the hot liquid flow down her mouth and soothe her throat on the way down. She felt herself relax slightly into the sofa and no longer felt wary of her environment.

"I'm going to show you a series of pictures and I want you to tell me what you see, is that alright"

Violet nodded. She held up the first 'picture'. In reality it was a black and white splatter painting but she decided to play along, trying to find shapes within the blobs.

"A flower"

Next picture.

"A wand"

Next picture.

"Hogwarts" she smiled.

The final picture looked similar to that of a skull with an odd squiggle beneath it and Violet couldn't stop what fell from her mouth.

"Draco"

"Draco? Like the constellation" Aria questioned, her eyebrows furrowing at the odd answer.

Violet looked at Aria for a moment as her eyes widened. She was planning on just agreeing but-

"No. Draco Malfoy"

"Lucius Malfoy's son?" she picked up her notepad and opened it onto her lap as she began to write.

"Yes."

"Tell me about Draco Malfoy"

"I don't want to"

"Violet, most of my patients associate this image with pain, suffering or fear. Are you afraid of Draco Malfoy?"

Her mouth was agape and her eyes were flicking around the room desperately trying to stop her loose tongue from slipping. She didn't even know what her answer was.

No. Of course not, I'm not scared of Malfoy. I have no reason to be.

A small buzzing sound spread across the office and Aria flicked her wand to silence it. She clasped her hands together on her knees and sighed at Violet.

"That seems to be all the time we have for today. Although I would like to resume this next week"

Violet quickly stood up and rushed to the door without a goodbye. When she stepped out of the room she felt a shift within her, as though she were no longer seconds away from spilling her deepest secrets. She ran to McGonagall who was still standing by the desk in the middle of the room.

"Are you ready to go Miss Gardner?"

"Yes, please. Let's go now"

The pair hastily made their way back to the lifts. They endured the lift ride in silence and didn't say a word to each other until they used floo powder to arrive back at Hogwarts. McGonagall brushed the powder off her robes and removed her hat, she sat down at her desk and a kettle started to pour a cup of tea off to her side.

"Professor?"

"Yes"

"At the counselling are they allowed to give you Veritaserum without your consent?" Violet queeried as she toyed with her blazer and stared at the ground.

"Why yes actually. I personally don't agree with it but they do often slip you some Veritaserum, just to get honest answers out of you. Why? Did you say something you didn't want to?"

"No. I was just wondering" Violet smiled as she headed towards the door.

"Miss Gardner?"

"Yes Professor"

"Did you get everything you wanted out of today?"

"Yes Professor, I believe I did" with that Violet slipped out of the door and back into the corridor.

*****

Discussion :)

What do you think of Lance?