Then I Met You [D.M.]

Year Two: Apology Twice Over

It took until the end of the week, during D.A.D.A on Friday for Violet to finally corner Draco. He'd been mysteriously absent the rest of the week, and when he wasn't, he was surrounded by Slytherins.

Professor Lockhart was late to start class, so Violet took the opportunity to approach Draco. For the first time that week, he was sitting alone, so she simply sat down next to him at the table.

"You're avoiding me." Violet stated, trying her best to leave the emotion out of her voice, "Why?"

"I'm not." Draco replied, though he wouldn't look at her, "I've been busy."

"Yes, busy avoiding me." Violet turned to face him, silently begging for him to look at her.

He sighed in response. She couldn't hold back anymore, her voice strained as she asked, "What did I do? How can I fix it?"

He looked at her then, his eyes alight with surprise, "What are you talking about?"

She had to speak around the lump in her throat, "You haven't spoken to me, or even looked at me all week. I want to know what I did to upset you and how I can fix it."

The surprise turned to anger, and Violet nearly leaped back at his harsh tone, "You didn't do anything. What makes you think everything is about you?"

She didn't get the chance to respond as Professor Lockhart swept into the room. She rushed back to her own table, blinking away the tears as the lesson began.

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"I'll kill him." Aimee said simply.

The three girls were on their way to Charms. Violet had told them about her short conversation with Draco after they kept asking if she was okay. She wasn't, and she didn't want to talk about it, but she appreciated her friends all the same.

"I'll join you." Hannah responded.

"Who are we killing?" Caroline asked, stopping in front of the trio.

Violet was starting to worry about how nonchalant Aimee was, "Draco. He was rude to Violet."

Caroline's eyebrows shot up, "And your response is to kill him?"

Aimee and Hannah shrugged.

"Right..." Caroline nodded, "Violet, can I talk to you?"

Aimee and Hannah exchanged a loaded looking before walking away, moving to the front of the group as Caroline started walking next to Violet.

Violet wasn't sure what to say. It had been so long since she and Caroline had a calm, kind conversation. It was in such stark contrast to how close they had been the year before, but Violet respected Caroline's decision to pull away.

They were almost to the Charms classroom when Caroline finally spoke, "I owe you an apology. I've been so rude this year, and it's not fair to you. You haven't been the cause of all this Heir and Chamber of Secrets nonsense."

She trailed off as they stopped outside the Charms classroom, her face flushed, "I'm really sorry. I don't have any excuse. I've just been so stressed with everything, and I took it out on you."

"Caroline..." Violet sighed, too emotionally exhausted to give much of a response, "It's okay. Just, I don't know, try talking to me next time?"

"Yes, I will." Caroline looked sheepish as she responded, "Friends?"

"Friends." Violet accepted Caroline's tight hug, only pulling away when Professor Flitwick cleared his throat from inside the classroom, staring at the two girls. They hadn't realised the starting bell had rung. Both girls murmured apologies as they rushed into the room and took their seats, giggling quietly when they looked at each other.