Violet sailed into the Great Hall, running a tad late this year, but feeling more confidence than she ever had before. For the first time in a long time--perhaps the first time forever--she'd had a good summer. No, a wonderful summer! With everything running somewhat smoothly at home (for a change), her grandfather had allowed her old governess to take her to Europe over the summer, to the woman's old potions institute in Göttingen.

It had been wonderful being with Miss Howard--no, Jane now--as a fellow adult (okay, a young adult, but at nearly 18, definitely an adult). They'd seen and talked about so many things. Jane had even given some very positive feedback to the short story Violet had showed her; she was only the second person, after Ashley Fox that Violet had showed it to. And Violet had met a boy! Finally, after beginning to wonder if she was destined to be alone forever, she'd finally found someone who didn't mind that she was smart and quirky and not all made up and put together all the time. No, Einar had even said those were things he liked about her! He'd taken her around to the local events, showed her the sights, talked with her about music and books and art (well, she'd mostly listened to the art part while he talked). And he was gorgeous--tall, blonde, blue-eyed, and Norwegian. Violet had met him at a party at the Institute, where he was studying, and he actually came over to talk to her. And she was looking particularly good, wearing the deep purple, fashionable dress that had been given to her by her Uncle Horatio, of all people (who knew he had such good fashion sense!), along with a tasteful gold chain. And she'd actually managed to carry on a decent conversation and not say anything too awkward.

Of course, it was probably not anything serious. With Einar in Germany, and later probably back to Norway, and Violet not planning to leave England any time soon, Violet knew it was just a holiday romance. But still--it had been a romance, definitely; she'd even had her first kiss (and not just one!) And they would continue writing each other. For now. Until it probably all blew over, but it had been a wonderful first romance, and Violet felt renewed and happy and comfortable in her own skin because of it.

So here she was back at Hogwarts, looking more put together than previously, her O.W.L.S. safely behind her and the N.E.W.T.S. far away in the next year. She was one of the 'big kids' now, and she supposed she had better start acting like it. Taking a place at the end of the table where the older students were gathered, she smiled graciously at everyone around her and said cheerfully, "Hello, everybody. Hope your summer went well." And then she just sat there, smiling to herself, unable to help it because she just felt so good.