One Week Later: October 3nd 2018

The cold platform is filled with sad goodbyes, cold wind, train smoke and tears from everyone including Violet. Everywhere she turns, she sees families struggling to let their kids go back to school after having them for an entire week. She can't stand to be here any longer but for some reason her legs are glued to the floor and all she can do is stare. Stare at the train and feel nauseous from all the alcohol she's been consuming. Her lips are dry, her eyes are red and her breath reeks of alcohol. There's no way she's getting on that train like this, she can't bare to step on it because that train is taking her directly back to Draco.

Violet continues staring at the train and blinking in shock when she notices she's becoming the only person left on the platform. Everyone is getting on that train with no trouble or second thoughts. How do they do that? Violet definitely wants to know. She's cold, seeing as she's wearing thing black leggings and a black turtle neck. It's not the best but it's all she can bring herself to wear.

She turns around and starts walking away from the train but Theo appears in front of her and he starts pushing her back. "Oh no you're not going anywhere but on that train." He growls and takes her trunk from her hand as he turns her around to face the train once again. "It leaves in two minutes, either get on the train or come with me to breakfast and I'll apparate you to school?"

"Is there an option where I don't go at all?" Violet coughs and it causes Theo to groan in disgust at her alcohol breath wafts into his face. "I may have been drinking, it's my way of coping now. Alcohol and chocolates."

"That's not what was supposed to happen when I introduced you to that coping mechanism Violet! Not at all." Theo puts his arm around Violet and leads her away from the train who has now began to trail away with loud thuds. "I am going to give you a sobering potion and then we're going to have a delicious breakfast. Then we'll talk and get you to school."

Theo doesn't give Violet a chance to talk but it's also mostly because she herself doesn't have anything else to say. She's out of words and couldn't care less to even speak up or say a snarky remark. It's been an entire week where all she does is grunt at Theo every time, he comes over to check on her. She can't do anything without him popping up in front of her and leading her in a different direction he think is better for her.

As they exit King's Cross, Theo leads Violet towards a black Bentley he recently bought himself. He opens the door of the passenger side for her and she gets in with struggle but with success as she slams herself on the red leather seat. Theo places Violet's trunk in the boot of the car and he runs into the drivers seat, smiling cheekily at Violet.

"Waffles?" He questions as he starts the engine and places his hand on the gear lever and puts the car in reverse. His ring full hand wraps around the lever and Violet stares at it before looking out the window and listening to him. "I know an amazing waffle place."

"Waffles sound fine." Violet shrugs as she pulls her phone out and starts scrolling through Instagram with a pouting face. She's trying to hold back a smile because she loves waffles and being drunk just makes her love them even more. She breathes in and repeats the same words. "Waffles sound fine."

Theo chuckles and steps on the gas, causing Violet to yelp and laugh loudly for the first time all week. As always, it's Theo picking her up and making her laugh with the stupid things he does. Even if it's just speeding in a car, it makes her laugh.

Violet rolls down the windows and let's her hair out of her ponytail so it can fly around and make her feel free. The fresh air instantly hits her face and she almost feels sober and normal for just a couple of seconds. She turns to look at Theo and she throws her head back, letting her body relax. Maybe after all, she just needed a car ride with the windows down and the wind blowing in her hair.

The car begins to slow down and Theo parallel parks on the sidewalk in front of a two-story, all black building. People in wizard cloaks and some in suits are walking in and out of the building as if they don't care of being discovered by the muggles on the sidewalk. Like a gentleman, Theo goes around and opens the door for Violet, taking her hand to help her out of the short car.

"Don't the muggles see anything?" She questions in shock as Theo locks the car and leads her towards the building. "I mean almost everyone is in cloaks."

"Muggles see nothing." Theo laughs and opens the door to the building for her, causing the smell of coffee and food to hit them. "Let's eat."

******

"This place is amazing." Violet moans with her mouth closed as she savors the waffles and the bananas and whip cream that are on top of them. She covers her mouth to finish chewing and waves her fork at Theo as she talks. "How did you find this?"

"My parents used to bring me here when I was little." He responds as he chews his food to one side and starts cutting another piece. He sets down the knife and fork and leans closer. "The sad thing is, they're closing this place because the owners are too old and they don't have children to take over for them. It's a shame really."

"So, what are they going to do with the place?" Violet looks around at the enormous place and still looks towards the stairs that lead to the top floor where more people are dinning. "People seem to enjoy it here; it'll suck when it closes."

Theo shrugs his shoulders and grabs his coffee to help the food go down before speaking again. He's enjoying the talking that's coming from Violet. "I suppose they're going to sell and hope someone is willing to buy and turn this place into something great."

Violet hums excitedly and looks around one more time before looking back at Theo. It wouldn't hurt for her to have something to call her own. She doesn't know what she wants to do when she graduates but having a project to set her mind to for the time being sounds like fun to her. Violet has the money and the time. Maybe she'll make something great out of this place.

"Thanks for breakfast Theo." Violet sighs and smiles at him as he shyly chews his food. "I know I've been hectic lately but you're always there to pull me together so really, thank you."

"Breakfast was just a birthday gift." Theo chuckles, causing Violet to turn red and move her hair, not knowing what to do with her hands. "And everything else is just what I do."

Violet nods repeatedly and laughs as she looks up at Theo while biting her lip. "You remembered my birthday?"

"How couldn't I?" He questions and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a box and sliding it across the table. "It's not everyday you turn nineteen. Open the box."

Violet picks up the box and starts to unwrap the white wrapping paper, crumbling it into a ball on the table. She holds a small, clear box in her hand and her eyes are widened at the diamond earrings resting on the red cushion inside. With a slow motion of her hands, she opens the box and runs her finger gently over the diamonds. It's not even bright in the restaurant and the diamonds are shining brightly.

"Thank you!" She gasps and gets up to give him a hug in which he gladly hugs her back. "They're beautiful Theo. You have amazing taste." Violet sits back down and stares at the earrings a little longer with this small smile on her face.

She thought today would be the day she heard back from her parents. That maybe today her father would call for her and tell her it's time for her to go back home. However, she hasn't even received a single congratulations or a single have a good birthday. Theo's gift is the first of the day and there's a chance it'll be the last. Not even Cressida has told her happy birthday.

Just when Theo is about to say something to her that could have possibly changed everything, Violet's phone starts ringing. She excuses herself and walks to an empty corer in the restaurant, picking up the phone and pressing it against her ear.

"Hey Thomas!" She gasps into the speaker, covering her mouth so he can only hear her. "How's the train ride?"

"Lonely without you." Thomas replies in a dull tone, causing Violet to sigh back. "Where are you? I wanted to talk to you but you didn't show and now I'm sitting here with an entire cake in my hand for a missing birthday girl."

"You remembered!" Violet cheers and looks back at the table where Theo is now sadly picking at the food on his plate. She looks away and continues talking. "I'll be at school soon. See you there?"

There's a long pause from Thomas' side until he speaks again. "Yeah, sure! I'll meet you in the Astronomy tower. Bye Violet."

Violet hangs up and sighs as she walks back to the table and doesn't sit down but walks next to Theo and stands there. There doesn't need to be any words said because Theo already knows she has to go and be with her friends. He stands up and opens his wallet, placing some money on the table and putting his hand on Violet's back to lead her out.

*************

As Violet arrives at Hogwarts, it's dark out and it's one hour before curfew. Theo leaves immediately because he's upset that he didn't have more time to talk with Violet and explain his feelings to her. She scoffs when she notices he's gone and continues walking down the gravel pathway towards the side entrance by the great hall.

Violet's goal is to make it to the Astronomy tower without bumping into Draco. If she does, it will end in awkward silence and crying on Violet's side. To her, it's like the first day of school before first period...she never knew he existed.

Successfully, Violet reaches the stairs of the Astronomy and a smile takes over her face when she sees the reflection of candles. She runs up the stairs and sees Thomas sitting on the ground with his legs crossed as he sits in front of a chocolate frosted cake. The cake is covered with candles around Violet's name and a drawing of a purple Violet on it.

"A Violet." She giggles as she takes a seat across from him and stares down at the cake. "This is so thoughtful. But, I'm allergic to red velvet. I can smell it from here and it's making my throat very itchy."

"Oh my gosh sorry!" Thomas laughs and blows out the candles quickly before setting the cake far away from Violet. "I didn't know or I would've made it a whole chocolate cake. You're not allergic to chocolate, right?"

Violet picks up a fork and starts picking at the cheeses on the charcuterie board as she talks. "No, I am not allergic to chocolate or this amazing cheese on this board." She savors the flavor in her mouth and picks a piece up, guiding it towards his mouth. "Taste this! Have you tasted how great this is?"

Thomas chuckles as he opens his mouth and takes the cheese off the fork. His laugh is the kind of contagious one that Violet would normally get annoyed of but instead she laughs with him and throws her head back as they laugh louder. Still laughing, Thomas stands up and grabs Violet's hand as he picks her up and pulls her against him. Quiet music starts playing on his phone and Violet continues laughing with Thomas as they rest their foreheads against each other's and sway to the music.

"Violet, I'm in love with you." Thomas blurts out as he has Violet mid spin, causing her to stop with her back facing him. She stays facing away from him, frozen and it's making him nervous. "Violet. Say something please."

"This isn't happening." Violet paces around the room, hyperventilating and fanning herself with her hand. "Oh my gosh! You can't love me! I'm damaged goods, you can't love me. You're joking right?"

Thomas follows Violet with his eyes as she paces around the tower with her teeth chewing at her nails and her chest rising and sinking at a fast pace. She has no idea how this can be happening on her birthday. Her friend, who's father she slept with just confessed he's in love with her. On her birthday!

"I just turned nineteen today. You're seventeen." Violet rubs her temples to relieve stress and she finally stops pacing to face Thomas. "I like you too. But I don't love you and this can not happen. Let me rephrase that. This will not happen. I have to go."

"Violet!"

Violet ignores his shouts and runs down the tower stairs with her trunk in hand. Her heart is racing, making her body fill up with a shiver of fright and nervousness. She continues running down the corridor, letting the quietness be filled by the echoes of her shoes hitting the tiles.

As soon as she reaches the Hufflepuff common room door, she sees Draco standing outside of it with his hands in his pockets and his head against the wall. Violet stops and starts crying almost immediately, not being able to hold it back in. She's just so stressed and she can't handle seeing him right now after everything that just happened. Violet wipes her tears and walks towards him with her jaw clenched and her head high.

"I can't deal with you right now so don't 'Violet' me." She sighs and pushes past him to talk to the small portrait hanging on the door. "From now on, you are only my professor. No late-night show ups like this and no talking either. I can't deal with this. I can't."

She doesn't let him say anything and slams the door in his face, making her body let loose and her eyes start crying again. There's no way any of this happening. Not today.