Violet had arrived back at Hogwarts around three in the afternoon and was now sitting in the common room with Hermione, Ron and Harry.

"What did you lot get up to while I was away" Violet was fiddling with the hem of her jumper while sitting cross legged in front of the fire. She felt bad but she didn't really care what they had to say, she was thinking about her mum while staring into the glowing embers of the fire.

"... yeah that was mental" Ron finished off his sentence, him and Harry were laughing about something that Violet had obviously missed.

"How was it at home Violet" Hermione queried.

"Yeah bloody brilliant 'Mione, thanks for that" she blurted sarcastically.

Hermione's face pursed into a frown. She came and sat on the floor beside Violet, she held her hand and lowered her voice so only Violet could hear her.

"Why what happened?"

"What- what do you mean what happened?" Violet was a little baffled. "'Mione I told you everything that's happening"

"What, when?"

"In the letter..."

"What letter?"

"The letter I sent you over half term"

"Violet, I never received a letter from you"

"Yes of course you di-"

"I promise you, I never received a letter"

"'Mione stop fucking playing this isn't funny" Violet started to smile because she was sure Hermione was playing a trick on her.

"Violet I never got a letter, but I don't see what the problem is"

Shit. Shit. Shit. You've got to be absolutely shitting me.

"You're sure you didn't...?"

Hermione slowly shook her head trying to understand Violet's panicked expression.

"I've got to- I'm um..."

Violet scrambled out of Hermione's grasp and stood up.

"Violet what's wrong?"

"I need to speak to McGonagall" Violet's breathing was picking up rapidly. "I'll explain when I get back 'Mione, promise."

She stumbled out of the common room and could hear the faint voices of Harry and Ron asking where she was going from inside Gryffindor tower but she was already hurtling down the stairs. Her heart was beating almost as fast as her mind was racing.

What if the letter was intercepted?

I'm so fucking stupid. The only bit of information that the letter didn't have was mum's exact location.

How could I have been so fucking stupid.

Violet was tearing down the corridors, her hair was whipping around behind her and her slippers kept getting caught on the stone floor.

She eventually halted in front of McGonagall's office and pounded on the door. It was already eight and past office hours but this couldn't wait.

McGonagall arrived at the door - luckily she hadn't prepared for bed yet - she opened it to Violet panting and spluttering, clutching her stomach. McGonagall quickly ushered her into the room and sat her in a seat in front of her desk.

"Professor. You... need... check.... Mum..." Violet was still trying to catch her breath whilst passing the urgent message to McGonagall.

"Miss Gardner please calm-"

"No. Professor you need to check on my mother. You need to. Now. Please-"

"Miss Gardner, your mother has been moved to the safe house she's perfectly fine"

"Yes but-"

"I was there for her arrival this morning"

"But Professor I wrote a letter to Hermione and Hermione never got it" Violet's eyes started to swell with tears but she pushed them down, now was not the time to become emotional "I'm worried it's been intercepted - it didn't have her location, I don't know it, but it had about her plan to go to a safe house and turning down the death eaters"

McGonagall walked around from behind her desk and placed a firm hand on Violet's shoulder.

"Miss Gardner even if that letter was intercepted, which it wasn't, the death eaters would never be able to locate the safe house, I promise. Your mother is completely secure and well, she is under Dumbledore and the Order's protection, nothing could be more safe."

"The Order's involved?" Violet's eyes widened.

"Yes, your mother worked as a double agent for the order when your father was still alive. We owe her a great deal."

Violet was glad the Order was involved, it relieved a lot of her tension; it meant her mum was the most protected she could possibly be.

"Would you like some tea before you go to bed to calm your nerves?"

"No thank you, Professor. But- you're one hundred percent sure she's safe"

"I'm sure"

Violet tried to swallow all her doubts and stood from her seat.

"Miss Gardner, if you would like, you could write a letter to your mother. I'm going to give her her first food supply tomorrow - I could take the letter with me?"

"Oh, Please. I would be so grateful" Violet's eyes displayed more gratitude than she could've possibly conveyed through words.

McGonagall gave her a firm nod and a small smile as she left her office.

When Violet returned to Gryffindor tower the common room was empty so she grabbed some spare parchment from one of the tables and wrote the letter to her mum. She asked how she was doing and what the safe house was like, Violet placed the letter in an envelope and sealed it with the most possible care.

Hermione was waiting on her bed for Violet to return and when she got back Violet explained almost everything that her mother had told her over half term and how they've had to move from their home and that her mum is living in a safe house under the protection of Dumbledore and the Order; She told Hermione about how her mum was a double agent for the Order; Then she told her about the missing letter and why she'd left the common room so abruptly to talk to McGonagall.

Violet tried to shed as few tears as possible, the idea of breaking down in front of her friend made her feel uncomfortable, she despised pity. A few inevitable tears fell but she wiped them away instantly.

After she had explained everything to Hermione she returned to her bed and Hermione fell asleep instantly.

Violet tossed and turned in her bed for a few hours and ended up being rather frustrated at her insomnia. She sat up from her bed and without thought walked to her dresser, she reached for the grey jumper and brought it back to bed with her. Violet curled up under the covers and tightly cuddled the jumper, letting his scent relax her entire body until she eventually drifted off to sleep.

Violet wasn't very sociable the next morning at breakfast, she would give her friends a polite smile when they spoke to her - but nothing more.

Her first lesson was potions and she'd almost forgotten who her partner was until he entered the classroom and sat beside her. She hadn't really thought about Malfoy since the half term when she considered writing to him. Violet had no idea what she should say, she felt she owed him an apology after walking away from him on Halloween.

The lesson started and Malfoy had hardly even turned to look at her, she just assumed he was annoyed at her.

"... today you'll be brewing your own amortentia" had barely escaped Slughorn's lips before Malfoy shot up to get the ingredients.

They started making the potion and Malfoy acted as if Violet was barely even there. She finally plucked up the courage to say something.

"Malfoy are you angry about Hallowe-"

"No." His eyeline remained fixed on the potion inside the cauldron that he was stirring.

"Well then what's wrong?"

"None of your business, mudblood"

Those words pricked at Violet's heart, especially after Malfoy had seemed so ashamed by the word on Halloween.

The rest of the lesson dragged by until they finally had a completed draught of Amortentia sitting in front of them.

"Malfoy can you..." she gestured to the cauldron "We need to write down our results"

"I don't smell anything"

"You haven't even sniffed it yet" Violet crossed her arms, starting to grow agitated.

He quickly bent over the potion and took a sharp inhale.

"It smells like... I don't know- vanilla?" he said completely indifferent.

"You just made that up"

"Yeah, so what?"

"Fine"

Violet bent over the potion and inhaled it's aroma.

It smells like... expensive cologne and maybe... sort of like... a mint tea.

She was sure she recognised this combination of smells, she racked her brain.

Merlin's beard. It smells exactly like Malfoy's jumper.

"So what does yours smell like?" He demanded, raising his eyebrows.

"Why do you care?"

"I need to fill in the chart. Fucking hell" he mumbled the last part under his breath which provoked an odd fluttering sensation in Violet's stomach.

"Oh right... um like mint"

"That's it?"

"Yeah"

They didn't speak for the rest of the lesson and when class was over Malfoy left in a hurry. Violet quickly grabbed her bag and left the classroom, she spotted Malfoy going down a deserted corridor and decided to follow him. She needed to speak to him.

She followed for at least ten minutes, to the point she felt quite stalkery and started to worry that this might not have been the best idea.

Violet realised after a few more minutes that they had gone down this corridor three times already and then Malfoy abruptly stopped.

"The fuck do you want, Gardner?" he didn't turn around - he just stood there.

"I need to talk to you"

"About?"

"For fucks sake Malfoy, if I'm going to talk to you you could at least look at me."

He seemed to tense for a moment before turning to face her and she took a few steps towards him until they were about six feet apart.

"We need to talk about Halloween"

A group of fourth year Ravenclaws turned the corridor and Malfoy hurriedly seized Violet's arm and pulled her into an empty classroom. He shut the door behind him then stood blocking the exit and she walked to the closest table and leant her back against it.

"What about Halloween"

"You know what, we had a - I don't know - a moment" she shrugged her shoulders.

He turned and slowly stalked towards her with a devilish smirk on his face.

"You think we had a moment?" There was an evil glint in his eye as he towered over her.

The vision of him in his black suit along with his nearing scent - her amortentia - and the way he looked down on her made her knees weak, she was actually worried for a moment that they might buckle.

"We did." she straightened her shoulders and held a firm stance.

They were extremely close now; Their knees were pressed together and his face was a few inches above hers.

He bent down and ran a few fingers through her hair which eventually settled holding the side of her head. He brought his face so close that their noses were brushed against each other, Violet's eyes closed and lips parted almost by themselves. It was like her body was preparing to be kissed.

Malfoy's tongue involuntarily brushed against Violet's bottom lip as a result of him licking his own lips.

"Is this a moment to you?" Malfoy asked.

Violet simply nodded her head; the butterflies in her stomach had moved lower and she couldn't think clearly.

"What happened on Halloween was pity." He pulled his head away but kept his hand holding her head. "You were weak and crying; so I pitied you. I thought I could have some fun and give the miserable Gryffindor her first kiss - make her fall for me, then break her heart. Your lucky I decided not to" He sneered as his smirk grew.

Pity. the one thing she never wanted - hated in fact. It was like Malfoy knew just what to say to get to her.

Despite the fact it felt like Malfoy had just punched her in the gut, she kept herself composed. She tried to keep unwavering eye contact as an attempt to intimidate him.

"You see Malfoy, the thing is. I don't believe you"

"Why's that - you think you've actually had any kind of an effect on me?"

His hand was still entwined in her hair and she leaned into it - almost snuggling it like a dog and she inhaled deeply closing her eyes. When she reopened her eyes she held firm eye contact with his pearly greys and replicated his infamous smirk, she brushed her fingertips over the hand holding her head.

"Yes, I do." she whispered.

He immediately dropped his hand and left the classroom where Violet stood grinning to herself.

The rest of the week passed fairly smoothly, all Violet's classes seemed slightly easier this term - she spent most evenings in the library with Hermione, which helped. She had very few interactions with Malfoy outside of potions and even then they only said what was necessary to complete the work.

Violet was sure she'd rattled him and it made her feel powerful, like she had the upper hand. She'd never felt that before in any aspect of her life and she revelled in it.

Violet convinced herself that she still strongly disliked Malfoy and that she just enjoyed the feeling of being dominant over him. Although his jumper nestled deep in her drawer told another story.

She'd also received a letter from her mum who sounded as though she was settled at the safe house and Violet was relieved that she hadn't put her mum at risk with her rogue letter.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Violet had decided to go to Hogsmeade over the weekend. Hermione and Violet were getting ready in their dorm, it was early November now and Hogwarts had been dusted with a coat snow. Violet wrapped up warm with multiple layers of thermals, jumpers and a coat - she put on her snow boots and left the dorm.

"Don't you think you're a bit overdressed" chuckled Ron.

"You won't be laughing when your toes fall off from frostbite"

The group left the castle and walked to Hogsmeade. Violet enjoyed the walk to Hogsmeade during winter; the Hogwarts grounds were transformed into a winter wonderland and snow swirled around in the air like they were in their own personal snow globe.

Once they reached Hogsmeade they decided to go into The Three Broomsticks and sat on a table by the fire. Violet shed her snow covered layers and started to thaw out in front of the flames.

"Blimey, I want to leave" Ron remarked, grimacing at the corner seat. Hermione and Violet turned to examine what he was talking about. Ginny was in the corner booth with Dean, they looked very cosy together. It warmed Violet's heart to see Ginny so happy - even if Ron looked like he was about to combust.

"Oh come on Ronald, they're only snogging. Would you expect her to get up and leave if she looked over here and saw you snogging me?" Violet giggled at the comment whereas the rest of the group fell silent and sat around the table.

"What would you all like?" The barmaid asked.

"Four butterbeers please" Harry responded. "Look who it is" he lowered his eyes towards the stairs.

Violet turned towards where Harry was looking and saw Malfoy. He looked rather distressed, like he really didn't want to be seen. He made eye contact with Violet for a moment, she gave him a shy smile but he ignored it and left the pub.

"What's up with him" Ron pondered as he took a large gulp of butterbeer.

Harry then stood from his seat and raised his hand in the air "Professor!"

Slughorn walked towards their table "Harry!"

"Merlin, here we go" Violet whispered to Hermione who chuckled in response.

Harry and Slughorn got into a conversation about Slughorn's old drinking habits at the Three Broomsticks, and how far he went back with the pub.

"... yes and I used to have small gatherings of select students, I was thinking of reinstating it this term. You'd be invited of course Harry - you too Granger, Gardner..." The girls smiled back at him. "Good to see you Weatherby" then Slughorn returned back to his seat by the bar.

"Harry what was that about" Hermione leaned across the table.

"Dumbledore asked me to get to know him. Will you two join the Slug Club with me?" Harry pleaded and turned to the sour looking ginger on his right "Sorry Ron..."

"No it's fine I didn't want to be part of the bloody Slug club anyway" he scoffed, taking another large swig from his drink.

The group spent the next hour chatting about school, friends, and Quidditch - they covered every typical teenage topic of conversation while drinking their butterbeers. These were Violet's favourite moments, when they truly felt like a group of four - not the golden trio and Violet. Once they had all finished their drinks they collected their things and started to walk back to Hogwarts.

It was freezing outside and Ron was pulling the sleeves of his jumper over his hands, while Violet was wrapped up warm in all of her layers.

"See I told you you'd get frostbite" Violet laughed.

"Oh shove off..." Ron was about to ram his shoulder into Violet's when an ear splitting scream cut through the air.

The group stopped in their tracks and looked ahead where they saw Katie Bell suspended in mid-air, her face frozen in a tortuous scream. She then seemed to be dragged around by some invisible force until finally dropping several feet to land in a heap on the floor.

Her friend was knelt beside her yelling for help. The group rushed towards her and noticed by Katie's feet was a necklace held in brown paper, Harry went down to pick it up.

"Don' touch tha' necklace, jus' the wrappin'" Hagrid appeared behind them wrapped head to toe in a fur coat, trousers, hat, gloves and leather boots.

He picked up Katie and started to carry her back to the castle, Harry picked up the necklace with the paper and the group followed back. They were too shocked to talk until they reached the castle and didn't even speak when they were in McGonagall's office. Snape was examining the necklace while McGonagall spoke.

"... yes Miss Bell is lucky to be alive, did you see anyone give this to her"

"Malfoy did it." Harry blurted. Violet snapped to look at Harry with a horror stricken look.

"Well that is a very serious accusation Mr Potter"

"Professor, I just know"

"You. Just. Know..." Snape drawled.

Violet was gobsmacked by what Harry had just said, none of them had ever liked Malfoy but this was extreme. He could go to Azkaban for this and Violet shuddered at the thought of that.

"You three may go, Potter stay." McGonagall waved her hand, dismissing them from the room.

They left McGonagall's office and turned the corner to walk back to Gryffindor tower but as they were talking Violet heard footsteps down an adjacent corridor. She looked down the corridor and saw Malfoy, she felt like she should warn him about Harry's accusations.

"Hey guys I just need to go to the library, I'll meet you back at the common room" they just smiled at her as they walked away and Violet sped into a brisk walk to follow him once again. She eventually broke into a jog as he disappeared from sight.

She ran down the corridor and the familiar blonde head of hair re-emerged.

He wasn't wearing his black suit today, just a simple white school shirt and he was loosening his tie as he walked. She followed him until they reached the seventh floor corridor and he stopped in front of a large stretch of wall.

He stood there for a while with his eyes closed and Violet couldn't work out what he was doing, until a large ostentatious door revealed itself and he quickly stepped inside. Violet watched him walk through the door until she realised the door was fading away and she broke into a sprint and slipped into the room just before the door disappeared.

The room was a mess. There were ceiling high piles of clutter as far as the eye could see. She wandered further into the room and traced her fingers along the pile of furniture, she accidentally knocked a chair which she failed to catch before it crashed to the floor. Violet cringed for a moment before she felt a spell warm the side of her face as it barely missed her.

******

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