Stranger

Chapter 28 - Free

"Well...I mean, if they're happy, I guess age isn't... an obstacle."

That morning, Violet woke with an unusually steady sense of calm. She slowly slid open her drawer and pulled out her grandmother's letter, her fingers tracing the delicate, worn parchment. She read the words again, almost as if by habit. "There is greatness in you... greatness you will learn about." She whispered, tasting the words, letting them sink in. Could her grandmother have been talking about Legilimency? Somehow, she sensed these words meant more than just that. 

With fresh determination, Violet set the letter back, dressed swiftly, and headed up the stairs toward the Great Hall for breakfast. Just as she reached the last step, her cloak snagged on her boot, sending her stumbling face-first to the ground. She managed to catch herself at the last second, but her wand slipped from her grip and rolled across the stone floor.

"Watch your step," came a familiar, grating voice. Pansy Parkinson stood a few feet away, her sneer gleeful as she picked up Violet's wand. She held it up like a trophy, examining it with mock curiosity as if she might snap it in half. "Wouldn't want to hurt that face of yours in another fall," Pansy mocked, arching her brow. "Not that there's much to damage."

Violet rose gracefully, ignoring the snickers from Draco and Goyle, who stood at Pansy's side. She dusted herself off, her face blank and unbothered, though her eyes held an edge. "If I were you, Parkinson," she said coolly, "I'd watch how I treat other people's things. You might not like it when they do the same."

"Oh, really?" Pansy's voice dripped with mock concern as she bent the wand, watching Violet's face for any sign of panic. "Who's going to stop me, Whitmore? You?"

As Violet took a step toward her, a serpent appeared, gliding out from the shadows. Its eyes were sharp, its scales gleaming, and its movements menacing as it slithered toward Pansy. The group jumped back in a mixture of shock and fear. Violet's mouth twitched into a faint smile, her gaze trailing the snake, completely unfazed. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of crimson fabric disappearing around the corner. She smirked, making a mental note to thank her ally, but before she could enjoy the chaos, Professor Snape appeared, his face a mask of barely concealed annoyance as he took in the scene.

"Attacking your classmates now, Miss Whitmore?" Snape's voice was icy as he banished the snake with a flick of his wand.

Violet crossed her arms. "Excuse me? My wand, Professor," she said pointedly, her tone calm and unwavering. "Parkinson has it. She was trying to break it."

Snape's gaze shifted sharply to Pansy, who dropped the wand as if it had burned her. "Parkinson," he drawled, "return Miss Whitmore's wand. Now."

Pansy flushed and shot Violet a dark look as she held out the wand. Violet took it, slipping it back into her cloak with a small nod of acknowledgment.

"And you, Malfoy..." Snape's gaze flicked to Draco, his eyes narrowing. "Was this your doing?" he asked, as though such behavior might have been routine.

Draco's eyes widened in mild indignation. "No, Professor," he replied smoothly, recovering. "It just appeared out of nowhere. None of us cast it."

Snape's eyes scanned the group before letting out a displeased sigh. "Very well. Off to breakfast—all of you. And let this be the last incident I see in the corridors." Snape turned away, heading toward the hallway where Violet had seen her Gryffindor ally slip out of sight. She felt a flicker of alarm but kept her face smooth. Just as Snape was about to pass her, she raised her voice.