Violet awoke with hazed vision and a confused mind. She lifted her head and blinked the sleep from her eyes as she scanned the room. A blur of blue and green swum before her and she strained her mind trying to piece together last night.

As her eyes focused and she realised she was staring into the Black Lake reality came crashing down on her. The fight with her friends. Coming to Malfoy. Sleeping with Malfoy.

When it dawned on her she grabbed the sheets and pulled them up to her neck as she glanced beside her. Malfoy's side of the bed was empty. She inspected the spare bed and he wasn't there either.

He'd left.

Violet brushed her fingertips against the ruffled sheets on Malfoy's side. He must've left hours ago, the sheets were stone cold.

She picked at the threads of the duvet as the events of last night replayed in her mind. They were both undoubtedly intoxicated when it happened but she didn't regret it––not until now at least.

He left. He must've known how much that would hurt. How much it does hurt.

She tried to assure herself that there would be a valid reason. Of course there was. There had to be. Violet knew there was a lot Malfoy couldn't tell her, just as she couldn't tell him. She supposed that's why she came to him in the first place––he wouldn't push for answers if she didn't.

Still the undeniable sting of loss lingered, but she tried to push it to the back of her mind. She would speak to him soon.

More importantly was to work out how the hell she was going to get out, Malfoy had snuck her in last night––there was no way she could get out alone. Violet scanned the room for any useful tools to use in her escape.

Click.

The door handle twisted a few times as whoever it was realised it was locked. Violet let out a sigh of relief that they couldn't get in until she heard it. Alohomora.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

She looked for somewhere to go but as the door opened she realised she didn't have enough time. The first thing she thought of was to dive under the duvet. She buried her face into the pillows and brought the blanket far over her head.

The muffled sound of footsteps entered the room but with her head embedded underneath so many layers she found it hard to make out who it was. They were talking to themself and definitely male. No, wait. Now there's two voices?

Violet stayed as still as possible and hoped neither of them cared to look towards the beds because her hiding place wasn't foolproof in the slightest.

The footsteps started moving again, then the door closed. She let out a sigh of relief and was about to reveal herself before she heard the second set of footsteps moving. Towards the bed.

She cringed at the thought of being revealed but there was truly nothing for her to do but lay back and watch it happen. Is it Theo? Blaise?

Merlin, is it Pansy?

A hand curled around the edge of the blanket and ripped it down. Violet scrunched her eyes closed as a sort of denial as to what was happening.

"What are you doing?"

It was Malfoy.

She opened her eyes and found him standing over her. Her brows furrowed as she playfully punched him in the shoulder.

"You scared me! Where the hell were you" she huffed, half serious half not.

"I had some errands" his eyes looked away before quickly flicking back to hers "You're lucky you weren't caught, Nott was just in here"

Her eyes widened "Shit. That was close"

"Anyway, how are you feeling. Headache? You drank quite a lot" there was an unusual amount of concern in his voice.

"No. No headache. You do remember last night?" Violet spoke slowly and carefully as she tried to read Malfoy's expression.

"Yes, Gardner. I remember"

"That's... good," she smiled. She felt suddenly awkward and shy, as if she were twelve and Malfoy was her new crush for the week.

He leant forward and ran his finger along her jaw. He slowly went in for a kiss and Violet stroked his cheek as she kissed back. Malfoy shifted his weight so that he was on top of her and slanted his lips over hers, hungry for more.

Violet placed her hands against his chest and hesitantly pulled away.

"I can't stay. There's stuff I need to do"

"Stuff?"

"Stuff" she swung her legs over the edge of the mattress. When she went to stand up her legs wobbled slightly and she started to lose her balance. Malfoy's hand slid around her waist and held her steady as she stood in between his legs and looked down at him.

"See what would you do without me?"

Violet laced her fingers through his hair "You did this to me in the first place" she chuckled, "Arsehole" her voice trailed off.

"Yeah and I'll do it again if you keep up with the attitude" his features dropped. Dead serious.

His flat stare sent a shiver down her spine and she felt herself stiffen. Violet brought both hands to either side of his face and cupped his cheeks. His cold facade cracked under her touch and she felt a warmth in her chest as she observed her effect on him.

Violet leant down and smiled against his lips. Malfoy tried to pull her forward and deepen the kiss but she pulled away.

"Help me get out of here?" she tilted her head and batted her eyelashes "Please"

He rolled his eyes in frustration, "Fine. Put on the robe"

Violet was still in Malfoy's top and searched the floor for her uniform. She checked both sides of the bed and even crouched to check underneath. No where.

"Malfoy where's my uniform?"

"You have spares back at your dorm," he smirked.

"What would you want with my clothes?"

"What would you want with mine. You still have my jumper, remember?" he quirked his eyebrow.

She bit her lip as she thought about his jumper which she still stored in her bottom draw. "I'm not going to walk through the halls half naked"

Malfoy showed visible distaste to the suggestion, "It's in the top drawer of the dresser"

"Thank you" she mocked as she gave a fake curtsey and walked towards the dresser.

Once she was changed she slid on the Slytherin robe and pulled the hood over her head. Malfoy approached her and slung his arm over her shoulder.

"You know I think I prefer you in green"

"Shut up" she chuckled.

Malfoy's finger clutched her chin and roughly turned her face to look at him, "What did I say about the attitude?"

Violet tried to swallow the lump in her throat as he never took his eyes from hers. The pressure of his gaze upon hers bore into her.

"That's what I thought" he released her chin and his expression lightened, "If you want to leave you're really going to need to stop looking at me like that"

She turned her head back to the door and tried to suppress the blush that had spread to the apples of her cheeks and tip of her nose. Malfoy opened the door and ushered her down the corridor. From what she could tell it was much emptier than when he'd snuck her in yesterday. They managed to get out without a single person stopping them.

Violet removed the robe and handed it back to him once they were out in the dungeon corridors. She stood before Malfoy, who was blatantly staring at her lips.

"Stop it" she shoved his shoulder but he caught her wrist and pulled her body forward.

Their lips locked and Malfoy's other hand fell to the small of her back as their bodies melted together. Violet's eyes closed and an indescribable relaxation blanketed over her body. It was only for a moment before she realised they were standing in the middle of a corridor and anybody could walk down.

She stepped back and removed her wrist from his hold.

"I'm going now," she said in a sing-song voice.

Violet turned on her heel and bit her lip in an attempt to suppress her smile. When she looked back Malfoy was still standing in front of the common room door watching her leave.

Once she had ascended the stairs which led out of the dungeons she pondered where to go. She needed to go to the library but she also needed her bag from her dorm. Violet wasn't sure if she should face her friends again so soon. There was no telling how they'd react and she truly didn't want to make it any worse.

But she had nothing with her and being in the library would be useless if she couldn't make notes. So she decided she would quickly go to her dorm and grab what she needed. Maybe if she could get in and out fast enough she could avoid them.

Her chest became heavy as she neared the Gryffindor tower. It was an unsettling feeling. To dread going somewhere that had felt like home for nearly six years.

When she opened the door and realised the common room was empty she felt the air around her lighten. Violet made her way up to her dorm and to her surprise it was empty too.

She grabbed her bag and stuffed in some extra parchment. Whilst she was there she changed into a fresh uniform and pulled her hair back into a low bun. She was about to leave when her luck finally ran out.

Hermione stepped through the door and the smile that was on her face faltered.

"Oh. Hey Violet" she cautiously stepped towards her bed. She looked almost afraid. Like she expected her to bite or something, "You probably wondered where I was last night. I thought it would be best for me to stay in Ginny's dorm"

Violet simply nodded her head. She didn't think it would do the healing process any good if she revealed she also hadn't spent the night in her own bed.

"Harry and Ron are just outside. I think I should go first to avoid any-"

"I wasn't going to say anything," Violet interjected. Did Hermione think she was just here for round two?

"No I didn't mean––they're upset. We all are. You need to give us some time"

Violet looked at her for a moment in shock before turning towards her nightstand and pretending to search for something, "Okay"

She didn't turn back around until Hermione had left the room. Grabbing her bags she left her dorm as any hope she had for making up with her friends was washed away.

Violet made her way to the library and set her bags down in the far corner on a desk that was beside the window. It was a particularly dreary day; with grey skies and rain spitting down. Something bitter inside convinced her it was some kind of pathetic fallacy used to mock her––that was until she remembered the world doesn't revolve around her. It was just weather, nothing deeper.

As she set out some parchment on the desk to mark her spot she wandered off to the aisles of bookshelves to gather what she needed.

Modern Magical History, Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy, The Dark Arts: A Legal Companion, Extraordinary Trials in History, Magical Moral Perspective and Unforgivable Curses and their Legal Implications

Violet accumulated quite an array of books. She first delved into Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century and noted down any appearances of an Everette, be it her father or brother. The sheer amount of attacks her father was involved in was gut-wrenching. You would have thought he'd killed more than You-Know-Who.

Although it looked favourably upon her brother. He was only mentioned to be involved in three major attacks, all of which had at least five attackers and all much more senior Death Eaters than he had been. There were a few other minor attacks in which his name cropped up, but they were mostly small skirmishes which didn't seem worth noting.

The next book she flipped through was Unforgivable Curses and their Legal Implications. From what she knew previously and what she'd read Lance had never used an Unforgivable. She noted how Lance had received the exact same sentence as Bellatrix Lestrange, who must've used hundreds of Unforgivables in her time.

The next six hours were spent revising names of influential wizards, reading and rereading The Dark Arts: A Legal Companion - just to make sure all her points were legally valid. She also skimmed through A Wizarding Genealogy, although not in too much detail - she intended to look more thoroughly into the history of wizarding families another day.

Violet felt satisfied with the information she'd collected and moved all her notes into her bag. She returned the books to their shelves and exited the library.

Just as the thought crossed her mind that she hadn't actually eaten all day her stomach made a god awful rumbling sound. Violet thought it best to head to the Great Hall before she passes out from malnutrition.

When she stood in the grand entrance way of the hall she looked out on all the students and realised she had no clue where to sit. There was no way she would sit with the trio and Ginny was with them; Luna didn't seem to be at the Ravenclaw table and it wasn't like she could just walk over to the Slytherin's and sit with Malfoy.

Violet awkwardly perched near the end of the Gryffindor table and grabbed herself a plate of food. She kept her head down as she ate to avoid any glances from nosy onlookers.

After about ten minutes she lifted her head to see Ginny walking past. Violet gave her a faint smile but she looked away and walked faster. The trio were a few steps behind and didn't even glance her way.

Violet felt so isolated she didn't know what she could do or who she could talk to. If she went to Malfoy again she would feel too dependent on him. She couldn't just show up at his dorm anytime she felt sad, he would get sick of her.

As she pushed some cold peas around her plate a shadow was cast over her. Someone broad had stood in front and her insides twisted when she raised her head to see who it was.

McLaggen.

He sat down in the seat opposite with that awful, sly smile plastered across his face, which made Violet feel sick.

"Bit lonely are we?" he mocked.

"Leave it, McLaggen"

"Oh come on Gardner, don't be like that" he stretched his hand out to hold hers but she wrenched it away, "I'm only here to give you some company"

"I don't want your company," she spat.

"Well beggars can't be choosers" She raised her head and scowled at him as he rolled his tongue on the inside of his cheek, "Don't think we haven't all noticed the separation between your lot over the past twenty-four hours"

Violet didn't respond but continued to stare him down.

"It's sad Gardner. You don't have––well you don't have anyone. At all. I'm trying to be here for you"

Is he trying to be heroic? Or is he just that much of a dick?

"McLaggen, when are you going to get it through your thick skull that I want nothing to do with you. Ever. I don't want your company, I don't want your comfort––I don't care how lonely I am. I. Don't. Want. You."

"Gardner you and I both know that's not true. Fate keeps bringing us together"

"Fate?" she choked, "You sick, sick bastard. It's not fate! It's your dirty little hands that you can't keep to yourself. I don't want you near me. Go away!" she felt the palms of her hand warm up and a tingling sensation shot down to her fingertips.

"Gardner you're not listening-"

"What the fuck do you think you're doing near her?" They both turned to find Malfoy looming over McLaggen.

His teeth were clenched and his fists balled at his sides. He looked mere moments away from exploding. The atmosphere around him seemed weighed down by anger, as though the heat from his body was radiating flares of red into the air.

McLaggen paled, clearly reliving the night of Slughorn's party.

"Fuck off" he seethed.

McLaggen shot one final glance at Violet before he got up and left the hall.

"Thank you. I wish I could deal with him myself. The angrier I get the more determined he seems––or I just freeze up. Merlin, I'm so pathetic" she dropped her head into her hand and scrunched her hair between her fingers.

Malfoy didn't come any closer despite how much Violet wanted him to. It was too public. "You shouldn't have to deal with him alone. You shouldn't have to deal with him at all. Men like McLaggen make me sick, they're the worst of us. Just because he can't get laid he goes around forcing himself on girls"

Violet lifted her head and gave Malfoy a tired smile, "Thank you"

He seemed almost on the brink of a smile in return. Instead he gave a firm nod and walked back towards the Slytherin table. Violet watched him go and sit himself back down a few seats from Blaise. He interacted with them more since the beginning of the year but nowhere near as much as he used to.

Malfoy didn't look like their leader anymore. More like a close acquaintance.

Deciding she'd had enough moping around Violet considered the best thing to do would be to return to her dorm for the night. When she stepped inside she noted how the common room was fairly busy with all different years sprawled across the sofas and armchairs, engaging in games of wizard's chess or catching up on homework. Violet longed for the blissful naivety of youth.

Wait no. I'm only 16. What am I on about?

She felt so much older than she was. So much had happened in the past few months, September felt like a lifetime ago.

Leaving behind the thoughts of wasted youth Violet entered her dorm and felt relieved it was empty. She changed into a baggy t-shirt and shorts and stored her notes inside her nightstand. Before she went to bed she wandered over to Hermione's bookcase. There was a book she'd read a few weeks ago that she'd enjoyed and she scanned the covers hoping to find it.

Le Morte d'Arthur - King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

Violet took the book to bed with her and closed the maroon curtains which hung around the bed frame, blocking out the world.

Trying to forget all her worries she lost herself in the stories of knights and princesses––daydreaming about being anywhere other than where she was. Whilst Violet enjoyed the stories of Arthur and Guinevere's romance she found herself particularly drawn to Morgan Le Fay and her story of treason in the name of love.

She'd always been a fan of tragic love stories.

******

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