The third year at Hogwarts was looming near, and Toni's summer vacation had been anything but relaxing. It was a whirlwind of non-stop activities, hardly resembling a true vacation. However, amidst the chaos, one positive outcome emerged—the introduction to her aunt Kathy. Since their dinner in the summer, Toni had developed a strong bond with Kathy, especially in the absence of her uncle Wolfe. Despite her demanding training sessions that stretched from dawn to dusk every day except Saturdays, Toni always made sure to find time to write to her dear friends.
Out of all her correspondences, Toni maintained the closest contact with Hermione Granger. Although Hermione had expressed a desire to meet in person during the summer, their hectic schedules prevented any face-to-face visits. Fortunately, Hermione understood the circumstances quite well. Toni also regularly exchanged letters with Ron Weasley and Theodore Nott. However, her longing to speak with Harry Potter surpassed all others.
Despite numerous attempts to reach the Dursley's home by phone, Toni was often met with a monotonous beeping sound or an abrupt hang-up. She even tried writing to Harry a few times, but her family's owl frequently returned with the letter undelivered. Concern for Harry consumed her thoughts, and on his birthday, she made another unsuccessful attempt. Toni had asked her father if they could visit the Dursleys to check on him, but he remained hesitant and instead sent Gus and Roan. Upon their return, they assured Toni that Harry was safe and in good health, yet they unveiled the hardships he endured.
Although Toni yearned to take action, to help Harry and liberate him from the Dursley household, her father insisted she maintain her focus at home and on her training.
Naturally, Toni obeyed her father's instructions, and the rigorous training sessions continued. While Ron's tales of his trip to Egypt certainly sparked a tinge of envy, she used it as motivation to remain focused on her spells and lessons at home. However, there was an added element of secrecy in the household. Her father and the others would often whisper in hushed tones, frequently mentioning a name that had become all too familiar—Sirius Black. They spoke of him frequently but kept any details about the man hidden. They became extra cautious about discussing the Azkaban prisoner whenever Toni was present, shutting down her attempts to inquire and even hiding the Daily Prophet from her whenever possible.
On the fourth day before her departure for Hogwarts, Kathy burst into Toni's room with great urgency, hastily packing all her school belongings, including the supplies needed for her third year.
"Wake up, come on now," Kathy urged, folding Toni's school robes roughly and cramming them into the trunk.
It was early morning, and Toni was still struggling to rouse herself from slumber. The dreams had not plagued her at all this summer, much to the relief but also slight disappointment of the others. Toni rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"What are you doing?" Toni mumbled.
"We need to catch a train. Paul has gathered all your school supplies so you won't have to make any stops to collect them," Kathy replied.
"But I was supposed to meet Ron and Hermione today to gather our supplies together," Toni remarked. Kathy sighed, raising an eyebrow.
"Ron and Hermione will understand. Besides, Harry is with them now. He was found by the knight bus," Kathy informed. Toni blinked, trying to process the information.
"The knight bus?"
"Yes. It appears your friend ran away from home," Kathy said, continuing to pack Toni's things. "But there's no need to worry. The Weasleys are taking good care of him. You can talk to him at Hogwarts."
"You mean on the train, right?" Toni questioned. Kathy sighed and looked at her.
"You won't be joining them," she replied. Toni glared at her, feeling perplexed. "We have somewhere to stop before you return to Hogwarts. Don't worry, you should still make it in time for the first meal."
YOU ARE READING
Violet Summer: Prisoner of Azkaban
Fanfiction-- Book Three -- Antonia Rothley's return to Hogwarts for her Third Year introduces her to a world of fresh challenges and unfamiliar faces. As new dangers emerge from the darkest corners of the wizarding world, Antonia finds herself confronting a p...