A/N: I haven't updated in ages! my apologies!

The rest of the day passed in a blur for Violet. Her lessons were enjoyable, yet every so slightly different from what she normally expected. The teachers were knowledgeable and her classmates were friendly. Despite all of this, Violet was still incredibly tired by the end of the day. She decided to skip dinner and make a head start on the homework that she was given. The Common Room was empty at this time of the evening, as most of its occupants were at dinner. Violet sat herself at a sturdy oak table with views through the arched window of the snow capped mountains in the distance, and began her essay on the Black Blood Werewolf Revolt of 1566.

She didn't hear the portrait swing open. She also didn't hear the sounds of someone creeping across the floor. In fact, she only noticed that she wasn't alone when someone plonked a plate of salad in front of her. She looked up, startled.

"You missed lunch. Lily made me bring it up to you. Apparently, I was annoying her. Although, how anyone could be annoyed at moi is beyond me" said Sirius, grinning. "Are you working on your homework already?"

"Yeah, I need to keep on top of it, either that or it just piles up" said Violet, putting down her quill, and stretching. "Thanks Sirius. I didn't realise that I was hungry".

Sirius watched her reach for a tomato, finding it incredulous that someone wouldn't notice when they were hungry.

"How was your first day?"

"It was great! Got to meet a lot of my teachers, the lessons are interesting, and the castle is breathtaking. Nothing like Cloch Gorm", said Violet, swallowing the last of her mouthful of food.

"Is Cloch Gorm a boarding school? Like Hogwarts?" Sirius couldn't resist anymore. He grabbed a piece of lettuce and popped it into his mouth.

"Yes, I've been there for the past 4 years. I've not been home since…" Violet's eyes widened and hurriedly grabbed for more food, to disguise the break in conversation. She cursed herself for being so open with a stranger. She was so angry with herself.

Sirius watched quietly as Violet's face tried to hide her turmoil of emotions. He thought it prudent to not push it, seeing how hard Violet was trying to regain her composure.

"ah, since last year, I suppose. It's the same here" said Sirius, smoothly, effortlessly covering the awkward hole in the conversation. "So, what Quidditch team do you support?"

Violet would always be grateful to Sirius for that one turn in the conversation. In the years to come, she would point to this moment as the moment where they began friends.

When Remus, James and Peter returned to the Common Room after dinner, they were treated to the almost unseen sign of Sirius Black, sitting quietly, working on a piece of homework. Violet was sitting next to him, equally absorbed in her own work, practising wand movements, absentmindedly, as she recited the recipe for some potion under her breath.

James nudged Remus, who grinned. James adopted a higher tone of voice than normal, and began speaking "… I just don't know Remus, its getting a bit beyond a joke now."

"Oh yes," Remus continued, in an equally loud voice, "I quite agree".

Both Sirius and Violet jumped. This caused Violet to drop her wand, which knocked Sirius' ink all over the table. Remus and James laughed as they watched them hurriedly take all the papers and books from the table, to avoid the inky lake that was slowly spreading across the table.

"You frightened the life out of me!" exclaimed Sirius, as he stuffed his Care of Magical Creature notes back into his bag.

"Well, well. I never thought I'd see the day, Sirius Black, Swot." said James, teasingly.

"Hey, I've most of the homework we got today done! So now, the evening is my oyster" said Sirius, smugly, as he folded his arms, and sat back in his chair. "Meanwhile, you and Remus and Wormtail have all ahead of you. Thanks to Vi here, I'm already miles ahead of you!".

"It's good that you are talking your homework seriously.", said Remus, "Finally", he added.

James looked equally disgusted and amused. "So I suppose I've got to do that awful essay on the magical properties of dragon hide on my own then?"

"Yep"

James swore softly.

"Meanwhile, I, Sirius Black, have the entire evening ahead of me. And I know exactly how I plan to spend it. Whilst you lot do the homework that I've just finished, I am going to give our esteemed guest a tour of Hogwarts" finished Sirius triumphantly.

Violet felt her face flush. "It's ok, Sirius, I don't want to be a bother…"

"Stuff and nonsense, Vi. With your swot-tacular ways, I've managed to not only get my homework done, but it's done on time, and most possibly, it's correct. So, I get to show you Hogwarts. Consider it a deal." Sirius flashed a smile at her.

Remus coughed lightly. "Sirius is one of the best people for this job, he knows Hogwarts like the back of his hand. It might not be a bad idea, especially after you ran into Peeves this morning. Sirius knows all the tricks of the trade, so to speak".

Violet thought this through. It might be nice to know where her other classes were, and Sirius did seem so eager...

"Sure, let's do it then!" Violet said, smiling at Sirius, who grinned back at her.