Yo! Just something I have to clarify yet again. Some of you are probably tired as shit having to go through this over and over, but some people just haven't figured it out yet, I guess. Marvolo and Violet WILL be a couple. They WILL have romance between them. They WILL have sex. Just because it didn't happen instantly like in other versions of this trope, doesn't mean it never will. But in that same vein, they will NOT be having children.

So many people have equated intimacy to pregnancy and children. Are you telling me you seriously think two people can't be in love and be intimate without having kids? Not everyone has the same life goals and values and health. Intimacy does not equal children by any means. I'm still getting questions and flames by people thinking that them having sex will equal them having kids, despite my having said no to that multiple times and the characters themselves discussing their lack of desire for children. At the same time though, there have been people thinking no kids equals no romantic relationship and no intimacy between them, despite my having said yes to that multiple times.

If you're skipping AN's, fine, but that's no excuse because this shit is being discussed by the characters in the fic itself! Are you even paying attention to the story!? ...Sorry, had to get that off my chest. I've been stewing on it for weeks. Most of you are totally fine, there's just some that can't seem to read between the lines. Or read the lines. Or read. Thank you to all actual readers so far!

Things were still a little awkward when Violet woke in the morning, at least in her opinion. Though when she emerged from the bathroom, she found a little container with a short note written in Marvolo's handwriting. 'Have Granger aid you in applying the salve.' Violet didn't have to ask what the salve was for. She picked up the container and slipped it into her bag. She would ask Hermione on Sunday night, when she was allowed to return to Gryffindor Tower.

But Marvolo didn't mention either the scars or the salve, so Violet followed his lead and kept silent about it as well. It was much less awkward than talking about it, after all. Still, part of her wondered why he cared, while another part of her simply felt grateful for the concern few ever really showed her, especially for things like this...

Christmas break passed quietly, and far too quickly for Violet's liking, but she was glad that things seemed to be settling down. There were even less mentions of her and Marvolo in the papers, which was also nice, though she figured that was mostly because Lucius Malfoy becoming the Minister of Magic was currently bigger news for most. Violet didn't mind. The less focus there was on her, the better.

When classes resumed in January, things mostly returned to normal with everyone basically simply taking about themselves and their friends. Little of their attention was on Violet and Marvolo as a couple, or on the war, or even on the new Minister. Violet thought it to be kind of strange how quickly they seemed to have moved on, but maybe she should have expected that. After all, how many times had the populace decided they liked, hated, then liked her again? People really were so fickle, weren't they?

About a week later, when Violet was once again spending her weekend in Marvolo's rooms, Dumbledore's asinine rule still in place, Marvolo brought up something Violet had been thinking and worrying about for a while-a method to prevent her from ending up pregnant, either willingly or not.

"There is a potion," he said, "that was quietly invented some twelve years ago. It is, essentially, a birth control potion. It is a temporary thing, like its Muggle counterparts, and will possibly cause select side effects you may have to take other potions for, but it's more effective than the Muggle versions, and something you will only have to drink once a month-though it will have to be on the same day and time every month."

Violet nodded slowly. She and Hermione had done some looking into various means of birth control in both their worlds, though they hadn't actually been able to find anything in the wizarding world at all, only the Muggle world. "I haven't heard anything about this potion," she said with a frown. "Neither has Hermione, and I can tell you, when Hermione can't find something in her research, that's typically not a good sign."

"The potion is illegal," Marvolo explained patiently, not at all surprised that neither of the girls knew this. "Wizards, Purebloods in particular, have low fertility rates. This is why most Pureblood families tend to only have one or two children-that isn't by choice, that seems to be the extent of how many children they can have, no matter how much they try or what they do. Some rarely manage to have three children, but it is almost unheard of to have more than that. The Weasleys, of course, are an exception."

Violet's frown deepened as she tried to understand. "So...because Purebloods can't have more kids than they want, they've made birth control illegal?"

Marvolo inclined his head. "Essentially, yes. Being able to have children, yet purposely preventing yourself from doing so? It's an...affront to them, in their minds. That someone would dare to not conceive an offspring when they have the choice to do so is all but unheard of, to Purebloods especially. So to ensure wizards continue to...procreate, and cannot purposely prevent themselves from doing so, they have made methods of birth control illegal. This includes both magical and Muggle means of birth control."

Violet's jaw dropped. "Muggle too? So if a Muggleborn was on birth control, even if it wasn't to prevent pregnancy specifically-since there are other uses, then she'd-"

"Be punished, yes, either by a fine of prison time, depending on her age, the method of birth control, and how long she'd been on it for."

"But that's-that's-!"

"I know," said Marvolo calmly. "It is a foolish and arcane law, one I am having Lucius abolish as soon as possible. But up until now, any woman on birth control has simply never spoken of it out loud."

"What about abortions?"

"Illegal. Though that is something else I plan on having Lucius change."

"What about vasectomies for men? Or women getting their tubes tied or their uterus removed?"

"Also illegal, with no exceptions."

"These laws are disgusting."

"They are," Marvolo agreed. "This is why I wish to have then abolished. Most men and women, as I said, simply keep it quiet and never speak of any of this out loud for fear of the wrong people finding out. But, going back to the matter at hand... I would rather you not get any of the permanent Muggle solutions just yet. You are still young, and though I'm not claiming to know your mind, I would rather you wait until you are at least a few years older before doing something like that."

"Honestly, I'm alright with that. So long as I have some way of not getting pregnant right now, I don't mind having to wait a handful of years-like, until I'm twenty or something, to do something more permanent." Violet shrugged. "I'm still only sixteen anyway."

Marvolo nodded, then continued. "There are various means of Muggle birth control, but it can take time to find out which one will suit you best. They tend to have a number of side effects which can impact you in negative ways, which would leave you having to find another kind that worked better. It's very time consuming, and our concern is that you will be forcibly impregnated, meaning it would be better to get you on something as soon as possible."

"Okay...so, the potion's the better option, then? I thought you said it has side effects too?"

"It does, but there are a number of other potions or salves you could take along with the potion to negate them, and the potion itself can be altered to suit you if need be. And if it's taken consistently, the potion will be very effective, because it also works as a countermeasure against sexually transmitted diseases."

"Alright," said Violet, actually a little impressed. "I don't really see any problem with that. You've obviously looked into this more than Hermione and I were able to." She frowned again. "Um, where would I be getting this potion from anyway?"

"As it is illegal, I have decided the best and safest option would be for Severus to brew it for you every month."

"Snape?"

"Yes. He will brew it, then give it to me so that I may examine it first, just to ensure it has not been tampered with in any way. I may not have studied to become a Potions Master, but I am still exceptionally knowledgeable when it comes to them. I don't believe Severus will do anything to it, but I would rather be safe. After making sure it's alright, I will then give it to you. If something happens and Severus is unable to brew it, then I will do so myself. You will only be getting this potion from me. No one else, not even Severus."

And that seemed to be that. Violet accepted what Marvolo was saying, mostly because it really did seem like he knew best in this situation. If the potion (and all other methods of birth control) were illegal, then it really wasn't surprising she and Hermione hadn't been able to find any information about it in their wizarding world resources.

All of this was sort of making her wonder what all the other girls her age thought about this. Was this a law they agreed with? Was it one they went along with because they had no choice? Had any of them, Muggleborn or not, secretly gotten on birth control or even had abortions but just never mentioned it for fear of ending up in Azkaban? If that was the case, she couldn't really blame them.

While there were a number of laws that needed to be changed or abolished, Violet sincerely hoped this nonsense was something Marvolo had fixed sooner rather than later, because they truly were disgusting.

Why her? Why Potter? She sat there, picking at her eggs, eyes locked on Potter who was seated with those idiot friends of hers at Gryffindor Table. When her father had told her that the Dark Lord was looking to marry, she'd been so pleased. He was such an attractive, powerful, influential man-who wouldn't want to marry him? She'd done everything possible to prove to him why she was the best option for him. But he had ignored her-he'd barely even glanced at her. And then he had married Potter of all people instead.

She was a Half-Blood too, and was prettier than Potter, and smarter than Potter, and didn't sympathize with Mudbloods like Potter, and was a Slytherin. Surely she was a better choice than Potter? How was Potter the one chosen instead of her?

She glared when she saw Potter leave Gryffindor's Table and head up to the Staff Table, aware that she was going to speak to the Dark Lord. The man who she should have been married to. She would have given him far more than Potter had or ever would. She would give him everything. She would do anything for him.

Her glare hardened when she saw Potter laugh and pet the large snake that was curled around the Dark Lord's shoulders. Potter didn't appreciate the Dark Lord the way she did. No one appreciated the Dark Lord the way she did. But it was clear she had no chance. Potter was too lucky. She had what she didn't deserve. Potter had what she deserved to have. And with Potter around, the Dark Lord didn't seem like he was ever going to look at another woman.

...But what if Potter wasn't around? Would he look at her then?

Violet yawned. Today had been a long day of classes, Quidditch practice, and studying, and she was finally, mercifully, done for the day. Now all she had to do was get something to stuff her face with at dinner, and then pass out in bed in her dorm. She couldn't wait to sleep.

"Hey, Violet."

She turned, and smiled when she saw who was approaching her. "Hey, Nev, what's up?"

"Just finished up my Defence essay," said Neville, falling into step beside her. "I'm glad I ran into you though. I had a question about something Professor Slytherin said."

"Oh yeah? Shoot." They walked, Violet listening and then explaining. The corridors were mostly empty, everyone else already down in the Great Hall for dinner.

No one really paid them any attention as they walked-no one but a single, solitary figure standing hidden in the shadows of a nearby alcove. They watched the two make their way down the corridor, frowning, though they didn't do anything.

Violet felt a shiver run up her spine, and knew she was being stared at. There were eyes on her back, watching her with an intent that wasn't so pleasant. It was a feeling she recognized all too well from the time she'd spent with the Dursleys and Dudley's stupid friends. This wasn't the gaze of someone kind or curious, or even someone who liked or tolerated her. This was the gaze of someone who loathed her and meant to do her serious harm.

"Violet?"

"Keep walking," she said quietly. "Look behind you as casually as possible. Do you see anyone?"

Curious (and slightly alarmed), Neville faked tripping over his own shoe, and as he stumbled, he turned. The corridor was deserted. When Violet laughed and asked him if he was alright, he continued to play along and let her help him up to her feet, smiling sheepishly as they turned to continue on their way.

"I didn't see anyone or anything," he said in a quick whisper before raising his voice again to continue talking about their most recent Defence class.

Violet hid a frown as she went on with the conversation as well, though both she and Neville knew that her mind was elsewhere. Was she wrong about what she was feeling? Was there really no one there? Or maybe the way Neville had looked back had seemed too suspicious? It certainly would have been for anyone else, but while Neville had grown and changed greatly, not all of his clumsiness had vanished, and he still did trip occasionally, so it couldn't have been that odd. Maybe whoever it was had just left right before Neville had been able to look?

But if her feeling was right, and there had been someone there, who meant her enough harm that she could feel it without even looking at them? A lot of people hated her for 'betraying' the Light, even though the entire point of the marriage with Marvolo had been meant to bring peace, but was that really it? Was it just one of those idiots?

Shorter chapter, but it's an update. Things've been rough, so whatever, just deal with it. Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!