Stranger

Chapter 7 - Diggory

"In blood and bond, Rowle."

Violet moved through the crowded streets, her hood pulled tightly over her head, concealing her bright, white hair. She kept her steps measured, avoiding eye contact, her desire to remain unseen as strong as ever. The buzz of Diagon Alley surrounded her, but she remained detached, her focus on the buildings around her. Each one passed by in a blur, her mind locked on a single destination.

And then, her eyes landed on it.

Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

Her pulse quickened, and without realizing it, her pace picked up. She weaved through the crowd, her eyes fixed on the towering marble structure ahead. In her rush, she didn't notice the boy stepping into her path until it was too late.

She collided with him, the impact sending her bags flying. Books and supplies scattered across the cobblestone street, and before she could stop it, her hood slipped back, revealing her face and unmistakable white hair.

For a moment, time seemed to slow as she froze, her heart thudding in her chest. The crowd moved around them, but her eyes were locked on the boy, whose gaze had now fallen on her.

"I am sorry." Said the girl to the brown-haired boy.
"No, forgive me." He reached his hand towards Violet, helping her get up. Her eyes trailed at the sight of the tall boy. For a second she got lost in his grey eyes but soon snapped back, realizing everyone was staring at them.

Without missing a beat, she quickly reached up, pulling the hood back over her head, her fingers trembling slightly as she tugged it securely into place. She turned away to grab her bags off the floor.
"Were you looking for someone?" He asked her, leaning sideways so that he could see her face clearly.
"No." She said a bit dismayed.
"Are you alright?" He tried to help the girl with her bags but she pulled away.
"I am completely fine." She said in a lowered voice taking one last glance at him before rushing off to Gringotts.

He stood there for a little while, watching her go. Feeling something so familiar about this girl.

.

.

Violet hurried through the grand entrance of Gringotts, her heart still racing from the encounter outside. The cool air inside the bank hit her immediately, but she barely had time to take it in. She had just under two hours before the Hogwarts Express left, and every minute felt like it was slipping away too quickly.

The grandeur of Gringotts loomed before her—its gleaming golden marble floors and towering ceilings as imposing as the stories she had heard. A long passage stretched out in front of her, lined with goblins, each engrossed in their work, their sharp eyes flicking over her only momentarily. Despite the building's magnificence, the atmosphere was tense, businesslike, and slightly unnerving. Violet's eyes quickly darted to the back of the hall, where an old goblin sat behind a cluttered desk, surrounded by piles of documents. She had always heard that goblins were notoriously difficult to deal with, and the indifferent stares of those around her did little to ease her nerves. But there was no time to linger or absorb the intimidating beauty of the place. She forced herself to focus, pushing down her curiosity and sense of awe. She had a task to complete, and every second mattered. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her hood and walked forward, determined to finish quickly and make it to the train on time.

She played about a hundred different scenarios of how this could go in her head. She imagined the goblin's sharp gaze narrowing on her, asking for her name. If she gave him the truth, the reaction would likely be... nothing. No recognition, no acknowledgment of who she truly was. It might even cause a scene, and that was the last thing she was looking for at the moment. Her identity was shrouded in too much secrecy for it to matter here.