Violet grasped James’ outreached hand as she pushed herself off the forest floor. His hand was warm, and she mentally shook herself to press down her attraction towards him. He was her friend, and she wanted nothing to change. That was her mantra. She pulled her jacket closer to herself and shivered slightly. She forgot how chilly the October weather could be, and didn’t dress properly when heading out of the castle.
“Yeah,” she smiled, with a spirited grin. James looked tired, and she didn’t want him to worry about her. He already did enough worrying, and Violet was done crying. He and his family had lost so much in difficult times to come. Mourning was important, but the memorial opening up the pain from last month was difficult, even if it was a good gesture to the students that loyalty was to be laid to the good. Despite her optimistic thinking, Violet had a feeling that the worst was yet to come. The murder of the three most revered and honorable people in the wizarding community was only the beginning of the war, and there were battles to come.
However, Violet huffed at his gentle reminder to not go chasing danger. “Well, what else was I supposed to do? If I went to find someone, the trail would be lost. Plus, I can totally hold my ground even if you were a Death Eater milling about!”
The cool October air was almost a solace to James’ skin. It reminded him that winter was coming and along with it, his favorite season full of warmth provided by a blazing fire, everything pumpkin flavored, and snow. Yet this year, the upcoming frost that was falling upon them reminded him more of the death that was rampant at the castles, of the decaying and corruption, the smells of war.
He lifted Violet up to her feet, her presence a reminder of simpler times. Her, Annette, Roxanne, Rose, the whole lot of them, whenever they were around, he was reminded of only a few months prior, when they were all gathered in the same Common Room, able to play board games and laugh without much of a fuss. There were times James had to be dragged by one of them into participating instead of curling up in a corner with a book on his own, but he remembered those times fondly. They were something that he held onto in the darkness, a chance to have such times again. Because not all was lost. Not yet. Not by a long shot.
“You can, can you?” James’ tone was still gentle, but also curious and unconvinced. “And what would you have done if said Death Eater was meeting with a herd of other Death Eaters? It’s just best to always have someone with you if you are going to go after such pursuits. I’m not doubting your capabilities, but we’ve seen what they’re capable of as well.”
