Surviving Love

Chapter Two

Helpful Hand

Violet giggled as the Savior of the Wizarding World almost destroyed his cauldron. She noticed a blush creep up his cheeks as he turned back to his potion. Violet turned her attention back to the rest of the class. Everything seemed to be proceeding well. That was until she spotted Neville staring at the ingredients in a confused manner before he started to reach for the wrong one. Violet was at his side in a flash and grabbed his hand before he could add it to the cauldron.

"Mr. Longbottom, may I suggest that you read the board a little more carefully? I think that you skipped a step," she said with a small smile. "The board says that you should add the crushed lavender petals before the eucalyptus oil," she said gently before handing him the petals. Neville looked at her with wide eyes before taking the petals from her and adding them to the cauldron. He caught his breath when she gave him a blinding smile before patting him on the back and heading back toward the front of the class. She sat down and went back to observing the class. Everyone stared at her with shocked, and in Neville's case stunned, expressions. After a second Professor Snape cleared his throat and ordered them all to get back to work. For the rest of the class, Violet took a few notes. At the end of class, Violet slowly stood and watched as they filed out. Once they were all gone, she turned to Snape.

"Which class would you suggest I go to next?"

"I would suggest you go to Care of Magical Creatures next. Hagrid has been looking forward to seeing you."

"Wonderful suggestion, Professor. Well I'm off. See you later, sir!"

"Goodbye Violet."

Harry was very disappointed when Miss Violet Velocity wasn't in his next class. He had hoped she would be there since it was Defense Against the Dark Arts and his best class. There's nothing wrong with wanting to show off a little, right? Sighing, he took his customary seat next to the window. Just as he was turning back to the front, he caught a flash of movement. He turned to see Violet making her way towards Hagrid's cottage and figured that she was heading to Care of Magical Creatures.

Lucky class, he thought before he was forced to pay attention to the teacher. Class seemed to drag on forever as Harry anticipated his last class for the day, Transfiguration. Once class was over, he impatiently waited for Ron and Hermione to join him. They both noticed his rush and smirked at each other.

"What's the rush, Harry? It's just Transfiguration. It's not like we haven't had this class before," Ron asked with a grin.

"No reason. Just...you never know what could happen in class today. I have a sense something special is going to happen."

"Uh huh. Sure. Something special. So it has nothing to do with the beautiful lady from the Ministry?" Harry stopped and grinned sheepishly. He felt a blush start to heat his cheeks.

"She is rather beautiful isn't she?"

"I'm glad to see you so excited about something, but you should remember to pay attention in class even if she is there," Hermione reminded him, ever the scholar. Harry nodded as they quickly made their way to class. As soon as they entered, Harry scanned the room for Miss Velocity's familiar form. He felt a wave of disappointment when she was nowhere to be seen. He joined Ron at their usual desk, while Hermione moved away to sit with Neville. Professor McGonagall set them to changing a cup into a mouse. After a few failed attempts from both Ron and Harry, Harry finally managed to give the cup a set of whiskers. It was at that point in time when the door swung open. Everyone in the room turned as Violet swept into the room. Harry felt his heart leap in excitement.

"Sorry, I'm late, Professor, but Hagrid was showing me his latest creature and it sort of spat fire,, and then my robes caught fire, and it took a while to get everything calm again," she said breathlessly as she made her way to the front of the classroom. She sent Neville a quick smile as she passed him and waved at Hermione before coming to a stop in front of McGonagall. Professor McGonagall smiled at her and gestured for her to take a seat next to her desk.

"That's quite alright dear. I know you haven't been back for a while, and everyone is rather glad to have you back. You were nothing but punctual when you were in school so I'll forgive you this time. Today they are trying to make a cup into a mouse."

"Can I wander around and see how their progress is going?" Violet questioned.

"Of course you can, dear. Do whatever makes your job easier."

With that Professor McGonagall sat down and proceeded to grade papers. After a quick scan of the room, Violet stood up and seemed to be choosing where she would go first.

Over here, come over here first, Harry thought and grinned when she turned and made her way towards their table. He watched her approach with appreciation. She moved rather gracefully for such a little person. Harry was sure she wouldn't come past his shoulder if he were to hold her in his arms.

Whoa. Where did that thought come from. I barely even know the girl...woman...whatever. I can't already be thinking of wanting to hold her. Can I? Harry thought as he studied her. By that time, she was standing in front of their table. She smiled at them and studied the latest attempt, which was rather pathetic.

"Need some help, boys?" she asked with a slight smirk on her face. Harry blushed again for the third time that day. Why did she always seem to catch him when he was embarrassing himself in class?

"That would be sorely appreciated, Ms. Velocity," Ron replied.

"Call me Violet. Ms. Velocity makes me feel old. Now let me show you boys how this is done." And for the next ten minutes, she showed them exactly how to move their wands and made sure that they enunciated each word in the spell. In the end, both Harry and Ron could turn their cup into a mouse. Harry had just accomplished said feat and looked up at Violet with a large grin spreading across his face.

"Well done you two! Now keep practicing and I'm sure it will be perfect. Now it would seem that Neville needs my help. Keep practicing." And with that, she calmly walked away and seated herself next to Neville who instantly blushed and started stammering in his nervousness. Harry felt a slight twinge of jealously before he shoved it away and returned to practicing with Ron.

Two Weeks Later

Two weeks, he thought. Two weeks since the most beautiful girl he had ever seen appeared. He was determined to win her through any means necessary. But he had noticed the way that the idiot Potter had looked at her. He knew Potter was sure to go after her and win. That would just make it all the sweeter when he took her from the so called "Savior." A feral grin spread across his face as he thought of the pain it would cause Potter to lose another person. He could almost taste his victory. All that was left to do was to wait. And he had all the time in the world.