No Shrinking Violet

What's An Oompa Loompa?

Christmas passed peacefully with no letters exchanged between me and Sirius as was the plan before the party, I did find myself exchanging letters with Matt Renick though and I also found myself liking him more and more as the days went by. I visited the farm to see all my animals and was surprised to see how Jarvis had thrived, gone were his yellow baby feathers, replaced instead by snow white ones which were of course speckled with dirt from his adventures with Evelyn.

When Christmas day came I opened each of my presents excitedly apart from one, a small box sat at the back of the tree glaring at me with a label that read, "To Violet, From Sirius."

'You should open it.' Lily urged.

'No, I don't want to.' I responded curtly.

She shook her head lightly at me before returning to a heart shaped necklace James had given her, when it was opened it showed the pictures of all the people she loved, and a small smile lifted the corners of my mouth when I saw my own miserable mug show up between James and mum.

^.^

Lily and I found a compartment on the train and sat down, we were both delighted to be returning to Hogwarts and we wasted no time discussing it, only falling silent when the compartment opened to admit James and the boys who each took a seat with a smile. Well, apart from Sirius, he sat down with a quietness that unnerved me. It was weird to be so close to him and not be talking, the two of us could normally talk the ears off each other until being begged to shut up by our friends.

'How was your Christmas Violet?' Peter asked.

'It was good Pete, yours? How's your mum?' I responded with a forced smile.

Peter told me about how his mum had almost burned the turkey and I nodded and laughed when appropriate but found my gaze kept wandering to Sirius who was staring at me with guarded eyes. He had opened his mouth to say something when the compartment door opened.

'Violet, there you are.' Matt greeted.

'Hey there, what's up?' I asked with a smile.

'I was wondering if you wanted to come sit with me?' he asked.

'I'm actually just catching up with my friends, but I can sit with you at the feast if you want?' I compromised.

'I'd like that.'

Matt and I smiled at each other before he cleared his throat and said goodbye to everyone, once he had left Sirius shot me an indecipherable look before leaving the compartment in a huff and slamming the door so hard I'm surprised the glass survived.

'What the hell is his problem?' Lily asked James who shrugged with a look of worry on his face.

'I dunno, I've never seen Sirius act like that before.'

I stood up and gave another false smile to my friends.

'I'm going to find Cassie; I'll see you at the feast.'

And with that I left the compartment, closing the door gently behind me and went for a stroll through the train to organise my thoughts.

^.^

After the feast I spent more and more time with Matt, and one Saturday we found ourselves in Hogsmeade together. We were sitting in the back of the Three Broomsticks sipping butterbeer and laughing at a silly story about Lily and I turning Tuney's hair green by accident as children.

'She got so mad! She looked like an Oompa Loompa.'

'What's an Oompa Loompa?' he asked with a baffled expression.

'It's from a Muggle children's book, they're small creatures with orange skin and green hair.'

'How odd.' he laughed.

'I suppose it is when you think about it.'

Matt surveyed my face as I smiled before surprising me by leaning forward and pressing his lips to mine, through the shock I somehow managed to return his kiss. It was quick, as kisses go, but it was nice to be kissed for the first time in a long time. Matt pulled away with a smile and I shyly smiled back.

'That was...wow.' he breathed.

I ducked my head with a blush and Matt laughed.

'You're so cute when you do that. I really like you Violet and...I'd really like to call you my girlfriend.'

My eyes widened as I looked up at the blonde-haired boy, he flashed his dimple and I all but melted.

'I'd like that Matt.' I said shyly.

He smiled and kissed me again, for longer this time, we only broke apart when we heard someone wolf whistle at us, a glance up showed my friends watching me with knowing smirks and I hid my face in my hands to disguise my flaming red cheeks.

'So, Violet, guess I'd better write home about this.' Lily teased as she sat down.

'Don't you dare Lily Victoria! I will shame you if you even try.' I threatened.

'You're no fun anymore.' my sister grumbled.

She pouted at James who glared at me for making her sad, I stuck my tongue out at him. Remus smacked him over the head when he continued to glare.

'Bloody hell Moony!' James yelped.

'Relax James, you know they're only teasing each other.'

Lily rubbed James' shoulder to soothe him but I could see her trying to conceal a smile. Peter joined us with James, Lily and Remus' drinks as well as his own and I gave him a friendly smile.

'Where's Padfoot run off to?' James asked.

'Dunno.' Peter answered with a shrug. 'I went to order the drinks and when I turned around he was gone.'

'He really needs to snap out of his mood.' James muttered.

'He's probably got his eye on another girl who's giving him trouble.' Remus said as he sipped his butterbeer.

'Sirius doesn't get into a funk this bad over a girl Moony.' Peter pointed out.

'Wormtail's right, there must be something else going on.' James agreed with our smallest friend.

The boys fell into silence as they considered why their friend was so miserable and Matt suddenly spoke up.

'How on earth did you come up with such odd nicknames for each other?' he asked my friends.

The boys laughed, and Lily gave a secretive smile at me.

'Inside joke mate.' James told him.

Matt frowned a little at that, so I quickly finished my drink and rose to my feet, taking Matt's hand as I did so.

'We'd better get going.'

The boys said goodbye and I dropped a kiss on Lily's cheek before buttoning my jacket against the cold I knew I would need to endure outside and leaving with my new boyfriend.