Misfits Managed {Discontinued}

1

Two teenagers were perched on the roof of the Leighton home, absentmindedly gazing up at the stars.

If it weren't so dark you would see that one, the girl, was pale-skinned, dark-haired, and rather neglected looking. She wore a Weird Sister's shirt two sizes too big, and her almost-curly hair was up in a bun on her head. A rat was curled up on her shoulder.

The other, the boy, was as curly-haired as ever, although he had grown taller and more lanky in the brief week since term had ended.

As late as it was, both fourteen year olds were wide awake.

"What do you think ol' You-Know-Who is up to?" asked Hugo Leighton.

"I dunno," said Viola Lestrange.

She had her knees pulled to her chest as she coward against the swarming mosquitos. Her best friend was sprawled on his back beside her.

Viola was at the Leighton household for the visit Hugo had so insisted upon at the end of the school year. Their two other friends, Annette and Clemi, would be coming in a few weeks.

"Doesn't your family talk about it?" asked Hugo.

Viola didn't have to ask was "it" was. At the end of last year, a student at Hogwarts, Cedric Diggory, had been killed. The source of his murder was non-other than the most evil of all wizards, Lord Voldemort. With his return, everyone was expected a change to enter the Wizarding World. But as a muggle-born, Hugo had no way to know of these things. Unless he subscribed to the Daily Prophet, but Hugo didn't have much interest in reading the news.

"No. They don't keep up with the wizarding world," said Viola, "My mother doesn't care (she's a muggle after all), and my father, well, I think he might be scared."

"Scared?" said Hugo. Eyebrows were raised.

"Yeah," said Viola, "I mean his whole family is on Voldemort's side, and my father is a supporter of all that as well, but they disowned my him when he married a muggle. Luckily my aunt and uncle are both in Azkaban. I think he's just scared of seeing that part of his life again. His family did some pretty brutal things to him, with some help of other death-eaters, although he hasn't said what . . . Anyway, even if he did keep up with the news I doubt he would voluntarily tell me anything."

"You said in one of your letters that things were better between you and your dad?" Hugo looked over at her from where he lay with a frown.

Viola sighed.

"I thought so . . . But that was the letter I sent straight after arriving home. That was after he hugged me at the station," said Viola, "We played chess once while my mother was out, but besides that he hasn't paid me any attention at all."

"I do not understand your parents. Why would they have a kid, then treat you the way they do?" Hugo looked deeply bothered. "This is going to sound really blunt, but why didn't they just put you up for adoption? You could've had better parents!"

"I always used to wonder that too," said Viola, "But I've figured it out by now. It's a reputation thing with my mum. She's rich and well known. Putting a child she could easily support up for adoption would look really bad on her part."

Hugo shook his head. "Again, I don't understand your parents."

"You don't want to," said Viola darkly.

The two teenagers were silent for a moment, then Hugo decided to change the subject.

"Are you excited for school next term?"

"Yes," said Viola, but very tentatively. "I've actually got a plan for this year of school."

"A plan?" said Hugo rather dubiously. He'd been witness to most of Viola's plans and schemes, and sometimes they were a little crazy.

"Yes," said Viola, "I don't have a name for it yet, but I'll think of one soon."

"What is the plan exactly?"

"Well, it's a little hard to explain, but I'll do my best," said Viola, "So over these past few years, I've been a little concerned with fitting in, yes?"

"Just a smidge," said Hugo,

"Well I've decided not to care anymore," said Viola, "With You-Know-Who back, we are living on the brink of war. There are so many things more important than fitting in. I'm just going to try and get control of my faults and learn to like myself, despite what a misfit I am."

"You shouldn't say misfit like it's a bad thing," said Hugo cheerfully. "I am a misfit and I thrive on it."

Viola had to laugh. "That you do, Hugo."

Hugo sat up and looked at Viola seriously. "And you shouldn't say you don't fit in, either, because you do fit in. You fit in with me, Ava and Clemi. Our group wouldn't be the same without you."

Viola smiled and tried to pretend her eyes weren't watering just a little.

"We're all misfits," continued Hugo, "And you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way."

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A/N: Viola and Ginny are back (well not Ginny yet, but she will be)! But just a quick warning, this chapter was kind of spontaneously written. I do not plan on updating regularly since the story still needs a lot of developing.

Also, I originally planned on this story going all the way to the seventh book, but I changed my mind. I will be writing a third book after this one that will take place in the Deathly Hallows. It will tie in as a sequel for my other story White Lies. But it's not necessary for you to read White Lies, I will explain everything.