Pros & Cons

2. The Journey

When Violet finally reached her friend's compartment she slid the door open and Hermione instantly shot from her feet and wrapped her arms around Violet's neck pulling her into a tight embrace and taking her off guard.

"'Mione I can't breathe" she stammered as she wrapped her arms around Hermione's torso.

"Sorry, I've just missed you so much. You've been M.I.A all summer!" Hermione joked, finally releasing Violet from her clutch.

"I know, I'm so sorry. I desperately wanted to come over but my mum put me in full on lockdown" Violet sat down next to Hermione and opposite Harry and Ron.

"Why didn't she let you out?"

"Ronald! Aren't you going to at least say 'hello' to Violet first?"

"Hello Violet, we missed you over summer. " He said in a monotone voice which made her laugh. " Why were you on lockdown? Surely your parents don't know about you-know-who"

Yeah, maybe some of her best friend's don't know she's a pureblood, is there really anything wrong with that?

"Oh uh they don't. Mum's just really been missing me" Violet shrugged. Ron seemed satisfied with her answer so slumped back into his seat.

"Hey Harry, how are you?'

"A lot better now, thanks" Harry leaned forward and leant on his forearms "Look Violet we've got something we need to tell you"

Shit, they know.

"Oh Harry! Not this again" Violet turned to look at Hermione, confusion written all over her face. Hermione took a deep breath in, "Harry is under the impression that Draco Malfoy is death eater"

"What? No way. Malfoy is a complete wet arse"

"That's what we've been trying to tell Harry-"

"Look it makes sense his fathers a death eater and..." Harry turned to face Violet and leant in close "When we went to Diagon Alley we saw Draco and his mum go into Borgin and Burkes with a bunch of other death eaters. It must've been his initiation ceremony or something."

"Borgin and Burkes is a creepy shop, Malfoy's a creepy bloke. I don't see the problem" Ron mumbled as he opened a chocolate frog and shoved into his mouth.

"Charming Ronald"

"Look, I know what I saw" Harry huffed out signalling the conversation was over and they all relaxed back into their seats. "I'm going to go and get some fresh air" then Harry grabbed something off of the luggage rack and strode out of the carriage.

"Guys, do you think it's the whole... you know... Sirius thing which is making him act like this" Violet asked cautiously.

"You know for a few weeks after it happened he was rough, like proper bad, but he seemed to cheer up over the summer"

"Ginny certainly helped that" Hermione whispered just loud enough that only Violet heard.

"What! I thought she was with Dean?"

"Well she is now but-"

"What are you two on about?" Ron butted in.

"Nothing" they both said together in a sing-song voice and then broke out into a fit of laughter.

"Girls, honestly, I'll never understand them" Ron whined.

They spent the rest of their trip talking about their summer and what they got up to, they also spoke about what they were excited for when they got back to school. Hermione was obviously buzzing for the first lessons, she mentioned something about a love potion and wanting to know what it smelled like? Violet had zoned out by that point. Ron said how he couldn't wait for the first day feast, which the girls replied to in sync with 'obviously'. Ron also spoke about how he wanted to be the Gryffindor keeper this year, as he's wanted to ever since he looked in the Mirror of Erised in first year. Violet couldn't think of anything she was specifically looking forward to, but she loved Hogwarts and she had a feeling this was going to be a really great year.