Chapter 2- Fight or Flight?
“What do I do? Oh what do I do? If I go then how can I trust him? It could be a trap; there are still those small groups that admit they are Deatheaters. Maybe he still hasn’t given up his loyalty for the Dark Lord. Maybe he’s going to kill and pick us off one by one; starting with me. No! Don’t think like that Violet. He could be truthful and generally want to have a chat with me. He did say it would help his rehabilitation. But how can I go by his words alone. His eyes are still cold. Cold like a murderer’s! Or cold from years lock in a cell, waiting for forgiveness” Violet stopped pacing her living room and kicked a nearby wall. She recoiled in pain; fell onto her sofa and massaged her aching foot. Violet had been like this for most of yesterday night and this morning. Time however wasn’t on her side; she had only an hour to come up with a decision.
Sometimes Violet found answers while talking to herself but with this matter. No answers came.
“Come on Violet! Nothing to be scared of. Barty was right; if the Ministry of Magic thought he was ready to be put back into society, then truly he was. If he wanted to kill you could have done it there and then in the book shop.” Violet sighed, then followed by a short giggle. “The first guy I ever worried about has to be an ex-Deatheater. This is Hogwarts all over again” She smiled and looked down to her wristwatch. 45 minutes left. “Right...Barty wants to have a chat then. Oh I will give him a chat!” Violet ran up stairs to go get ready. Dressing in a fairly tight light blue t-shirt (which showed off her curves even more), some skinny jeans and again her red converse. Once ready she skipped down stairs; gathered her keys, purse and wand and apparated to Diagon Alley with 10 minutes to spare.
“Well...Good luck to me” Violet muttered to herself as she passed through the crowds at Diagon Alley. It was usually very busy down this end; as everyone was occasionally visiting Gringotts for more money. Once again it was time for newly found wizards and witches to purchase their pets, robes and books all ready for their new life in Hogwarts. Violet smiled as happy memories came back as she remembered the care free life she once had then. The excitement of going to Hogwarts and learning magic; it was like a dream come true for Violet. She would never in a million years believe she would then become friends with the famous Harry Potter. Although that rose did come with some thorns. It meant constant bullying from the Slytherin house; followed by the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw houses when Harry was picked for the tri-wizard’s tournament. Being in constant danger when on the run with Harry and his gang. It was Violets choice; she could have sat back and enjoyed the show but she chose to fight with them. Anyway, what are friends for?
Pushing through the crowds it wasn’t long till Violet found a break in the mass of people and carried on walking down the street. The other side of Diagon Alley is filled with cafes and smaller shops. Only a few people had escaped the crowded parts of the Alley to have a break; resting in the cosy comfort of coffee smelling chairs. Violet stopped when she saw Barty (With his back facing her) waiting outside the newest cafe, seated in a white plastic chair. As Violet neared Barty she could see along with another chair, a table with two menus placed upon it. Violet couldn’t help but wonder how long he had been there. As Violet got about 2 metres away from the table, Barty turned round and caught eyes with Violets. She froze as Barty got up to greet her.
“For a minute then I thought you were not going to show up” Barty leaned forward and hugged Violet. Her breath caught in her throat and she continued to be frozen. An ex-Deatheater is hugging me! She thought. Barty soon released her and showed her to the other free chair. He pulled it out for Violet to sit on it. Why is he being such a gentlemen to me? Barty then resumed sitting on his chair, he leaned forward so that he was resting his head on his hands; almost staring at Violet.
“How...How long have you been here waiting?” Violet struggled to talk but to her relief it didn’t seem forced.
“About 15 minutes. I was wondering if you would actually turn up. You seemed quiet reluctant yesterday, and I do agree it was a little odd of me to demand a meeting with you. But you see I haven’t had a real, full conversation with someone for the past 4 years. It’s nice just to have someone there to chat to even though that person doesn’t particularly have very fond memories of me.” Barty smiled and Violet couldn’t help it; she grinned with him.
“You can say that again...So how long have you been a free man?”
“A couple of months, it’s given me enough time to get a house, sort out all payment stuff, bills, that sort of thing; before I could even start to socialise and get back to being who I was before the Dark Lord” Barty seemed to wince at the name, but soon covered up with a massive grin. “Anyway, that’s why I’m here with you. To socialise, and make new friends according to the Ministry.”
“Let me get this straight. You’re expecting me to become your friend after what happened the last time we met 4 years ago?”
“I know it’s hard to forgive what I have done and who I was...But...I’ve changed. That time in Azkaban taught me a valuable lesson. It made me realise how wrong and stupid I was to go back to Voldermort after the first time...” Barty paused and sighed.
“First time?”
“I don’t want to talk about that...It’s too personal...Anyhow back to what I was saying. After I had a part of Voldermort’s soul taken from my body, I lost all that anger; that madness that drove me to torture and kill. I realised my wrongs and...I wished for a miracle.”
“Every cloud has a silver lining” Violet muttered. Barty was telling her so much, it made her feel like they were friends for a long time catching up for the time they have been apart. It was scary how much trust he was giving her.
“Precisely ... So are you willing to give big, old me a second chance?” Barty smiled and leant back into his chair; occasionally glancing at the menu.
“I...I don’t know...Why me? First of all. I was just one of your students for a year, when you were impersonating Professor Moody.” Barty reached forward, and grabbed hold of Violet’s hand.
“Your special, I can see it” Barty’s grip tightened. “Trust me”
