Violet Summer: Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 11: The Boy Who Saved Her

 Toni's legs felt like lead as she stood before the Fat Lady's portrait. Her eyes were swollen, and even the Fat Lady couldn't help but frown at her, concerned about her well-being. Toni, however, wasn't in the mood to confide in a painting. She quickly offered a flimsy excuse for her tears and hurriedly spoke the password.

The Fat Lady swung open, granting Toni passage into the tunnel that led to the Gryffindor common room. She moved slowly, her steps weak and unsteady, gradually making her way toward the comforting glow of the firelight. She had never felt so utterly drained, so small and fragile. It was a feeling she had expected would eventually come, but the magnitude of the hurt, the crushing weight on her heart and stomach, seemed unimaginable. The words Draco had spoken had pierced her like a long, sharp dagger, causing her world to crumble in an instant.

Toni entered the common room, hastily wiping away the remnants of her tears. The sound of her sniffling and the faint echoes of her pounding heart seemed to reverberate within the room. She felt exposed and vulnerable.

Then, she heard her name.

"Toni?"

Startled, Toni lowered her hands from her tear-stained cheeks and turned her gaze toward the source of the voice. Harry stood by the fireplace, his expression filled with sorrow as he observed her. Never before had he seen her so devastated, so utterly defeated. Without a moment's hesitation, they rushed toward each other and embraced tightly. Toni couldn't help but cry in his arms, finding solace in his presence. He held her silently, unsure of what to say or do, but his grip on her only tightened as his hands soothingly rubbed her back, offering comfort in their shared embrace.

Finally, they gently pulled apart, but Harry kept his hands on her arms as he gazed into her tear-stained face. Toni tried to wipe away the tears, but they continued to stream down her cheeks.

"What happened?" Harry asked, his voice filled with concern and uncertainty. Toni looked up at him, her eyes searching his.

"I'm sorry, Harry," she whispered, her voice broken and filled with regret. "I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that. It's not your fault. Please forgive me."

Harry's brow furrowed as he looked down at her. "It's alright, Toni. Really. Of course, I forgive you."

Overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, Toni buried her face in Harry's neck once more, wrapping her arms tightly around him. After a moment, she pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes.

"Tell me what happened," Harry gently urged, his thumbs offering comforting motions on her arms.

Toni proceeded to pour out her heart to Harry, sharing every detail of what had transpired that night. From her departure from the common room to her return, she held nothing back. To her surprise, Harry managed to conceal his anger towards Draco, sensing the fragility of the moment. She told him about Theodore and Senna, how her intention had been to gather information but instead ended up in tears. However, she chose not to reveal the brief moment of doubt she had experienced when Veronica asked about her feelings for Harry. It was a fleeting thought, one she realized didn't truly reflect her true emotions. Yet, one realization had surfaced from this ordeal, one she kept to herself—she had feelings for Draco, perhaps even harbored them all along.

***

In the days that followed, Toni found solace in Harry's presence, clinging to their friendship like never before. His kindness and unwavering support after the incident at the Slytherin party had only deepened their bond.

Harry made it his mission to lift Toni's spirits, constantly trying to make her laugh, smile, and divert her attention away from Draco and the others. Theodore, in his observant nature, had checked on Toni and noticed her façade, but he chose to let it slide, finding amusement in Draco's obvious unease whenever Toni and Harry crossed paths in class or the Great Hall. Eventually, Toni confided in Ron and Hermione about the party, sharing the details she had already discussed with Harry. The outpouring of support and love from her friends exceeded her expectations. It was the first time she began to realize that perhaps she didn't need Draco as much as she thought, leaving the ring he had given her tucked away in her trunk rather than wearing it close to her heart.