𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐘 . 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐎𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐓

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐄𝐓 𝐃É𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒.

1994;

Viola had long since anticipated this night to be a most diverting one. Yet, much to her dismay, nothing had transpired as it had been expected and planned. And if Viola had so desired, she would have undoubtedly categorized her experience as being most wretchedly cursed by a misfortune most foul.

She had been conversing with her friends throughout the night, while simultaneously making the concerted effort to avoid Adrian's comments regarding her. However, when she felt her breath quickening, she quietly withdrew from their company and made her way to the head table of drinks, hoping to take a moment to collect herself.

Grabbing a cup of what seemed to be an overly sweet punch, she took a tentative sip as she leaned against the table. Her thoughts were cruelly tearing her up on the inside, spoiling the otherwise enjoyable evening. Her mind's constant barrage of negative thoughts never failed to leave her distraught.

"Would you care for a dance?" A boy inquired, extending his hand towards her, his smile imbued with charming confidence.

Viola only raised an unimpressed eyebrow in response, sending the message immediately and causing the young man to gulp before hastily retreating.

"Scare them all away, do you?" Draco remarked as he neared, securing a cup of his own. "Truly classic you."

"Classic me?" Asked Viola rhetorically before closing her eyes to calm herself. "Scaring them away is... unintentional. I like to keep them on their toes."

Draco observed her facial expressions, raising a dubious eyebrow in response. "What's wrong?" He inquired.

"Nothing." Viola replied, her voice even and her expression nonchalant. "Why do you care?"

"You appear," Draco paused to take a deeper look at her, "Rather agitated?" His voice was filled with composure as he posed the question with genuine curiosity.

"I'm completely fine." With her voice still level and stoic, she maintained the illusion of being insouciant. "Stop troubling yourself with probing," She added teasingly.

The sudden shift in her mood was nothing that was new or unknown to her. Viola had frequently encountered this experience, in which everything would appear to be proceeding perfectly, and then, quite abruptly, a wave of woe would descend upon her, akin to lightning suddenly striking her being. Soon, the feeling of queasiness would grip her, making everything in her sight seem magnified to her, from the lights and sounds to the fabric of her clothes and the strands of her hair that touched her back. Every sensation she felt was amplified, and the pressure grew until it felt as if the entire world was collapsing around her.

"Well, you look it," Draco said, his tone implying skepticism as he took a sip of his drink.

"And you look like you could be suffering with a case of chlamydia." Viola tossed out a sarcastic jab, rolling her eyes in dismissal before walking away, not paying any mind to his apparent offense.

In her serene composure lies a profound mystery, for there were moments when even her own mind struggled to fathom the eloquence that escaped her lips.

As she strolled out of the ballroom, her eyes caught sight of a distraught Hermione Granger, tears streaming down her face, sitting alone on the stairs. Unlike the other girls who were being comforted by their friends, Hermione seemed to be in solitude with her sorrow.