No Shrinking Violet

The Aftermath

With Charlie returned to bed it became impossible to ignore the dark events that had taken place earlier in the night, the child had provided warmth and happiness in his short time with us and now that he was safely tucked in by his father the room seemed colder in his absence.

'I trust you all recognise the severity of what happened tonight.' Dumbledore spoke.

We all nodded our heads grimly and the wise old headmaster sighed as he surveyed us all over his half-moon glasses.

'Did you recognise anyone that was there tonight?' he asked quietly, as if he already knew the answer.

'Pierre Dupont was there sir.' Lily answered.

'I see, I assume Monsieur Dupont left with Voldemort then.'

'No, he didn't. He - he's dead, excuse me please.'

My voice broke and I rose to my feet before going back into the sitting room and lowering myself to the couch, tears filled my eyes as I remembered the sight of Pierre falling next to me with lifeless eyes.

'Violet? Are you alright?'

Lily sat next to me and pulled me into her arms without waiting for an answer to her question.

'He wasn't always cruel, we were friends before what he did, he used to be kind and funny and despite all he's done it hurts Lil. He's dead and it hurts so much.'

I sobbed into my sister's arms as she comforted me, she knew what Pierre had done to me and she knew that we had been friends for years before that, it wasn't until just before we started dating that he had changed. It was much like her relationship with Severus in a way. Both boys had once been good, despite all the bad influences surrounding them, but as they grew they caved and fell in with bad people turning into someone unrecognisable.

'It's alright Violet, let it out. I understand and it's okay to be upset.' Lily soothed.

My sobs soon quietened down and I found myself able to breathe again, I squeezed Lily's hand and gave her a pathetic attempt at a smile.

'I love you, you know that right?' I said softly.

'Of course I do, and I love you.'

She pulled me into another embrace before asking if I was ready to go back to the kitchen, I nodded my head quietly and wiped the last few tears from my face before rising to my feet and following my sister back to the kitchen where Dumbledore was talking to Molly and Arthur.

'You alright Vi?' James asked softly.

With a shaky smile and a nod of my head I returned to my seat and began to trace patterns on the table top.

'While I am glad you are all okay, you will need to be punished for sneaking out of the school, nothing too harsh given the circumstances. You will return to the castle with me and Madam Pomfrey will look over you all, especially you Mr Black. If we don't get that lung in order before next week's match Professor McGonagall may have your head.'

I looked away from the headmaster and gave Sirius a questioning gaze, to which he shook his head ever so slightly, we rose to our feet and I hugged Molly and Arthur goodbye before linking arms with Remus to Apparate back to Hogsmeade.

^.^

Sirius' ribs had broken, and one had pierced his lung, Molly had been able to fix it but Madam Pomfrey advised him to take great care with exercising and almost begged him not to play in the upcoming Quidditch match. Sirius being Sirius declined and stated he had never missed a match and he wasn't going to start now.

Once we had all been given the okay from the hospital wing we were sent off to bed by Dumbledore, despite our exhaustion we only made it as far as the common room, nobody was quite ready to leave each other's line of sight just yet so we all sat in silence in front of the dwindling fire paying no attention to the draft that swirled around us. Every now and then once of us would shake ourselves from our stupor and attempt to speak only to fall short of finding the words we needed.

It was Marlene who surprised us all by bursting into tears, Cassie immediately wrapped her arms around her distraught girlfriend and pulled her close, Remus was sitting closest to the two and gripped one of Marlene's hands in his own as his face became stone.

'I'm sorry,' Marlene sniffled as she sat up. 'I'm sorry, it's just, the way he was looking at Lily, James and Sirius...I don't think he's going to give up just because you turned him down and I really thought Violet was dead when we couldn't find her - I'm just scared...'

I scooted closer to the curly haired girl and hugged her tightly as shook with fear and sobs.

'It's okay Marlene, we're all scared.' I assured her.

We lapsed into silence again until the sun began to permeate the room and exhaustion began to seep into our bones.

'We should go to bed soon.' Lily suggested in a hoarse voice.

James nodded and rose to his feet, he extended a hand to Lily and pulled her to her feet.

'I'm not letting you out of my sight again tonight.' He told her as he led her toward his dorm room.

Remus and Peter followed close behind them and Cassie pulled me aside.

'I'll be sleeping with Marlene tonight, she shouldn't be alone. Will you be alright?'

I nodded my head with a sad smile and Cassie hugged me before disappearing with Marlene, I was left alone with Sirius who was deep in thought.

'Sirius, you should go to bed. Madam Pomfrey said you need to rest your ribs.'

'Violet...I know you're angry and hurt and it's my fault - again, but please stay with me tonight? I won't rest unless I know you're okay.'

I was going to refuse but the earnest expression on his face and the thought of being alone stopped me, with a nod of my head I followed him to his room. The curtains were closed on all the beds except for his and he went to his trunk and dug out some clothes for me, I quickly changed and climbed into the bed shivering at how cold the sheets were. Sirius slipped in next to me and I pushed myself closer to the warmth of his body, he willingly wrapped his arms around me and I nestled my head in the crook of his neck, being careful of his ribs I rested my hand on his chest.

'Violet?' he called softly.

'Not now Sirius, we'll talk tomorrow. Right now, let's just pretend everything's alright.'

Silently we lay there, me tracing patterns on his chest and him stroking my hair until we both drifted off to sleep.