Violet had been looking for a quiet place to read her precious letter ever since her magpie, Mack, brought it to her out by the Great Lake. She avoided the dungeons, because she did not want to attract the attention of any of her fellow Slytherins. Everywhere she went today, there were students milling about, even outside, even in the Laundry Room. Finally she remembered the Trophy Room and felt that surely she could find a bit of peace and privacy there.

But upon walking in, she stopped dead in her tracks, so suddenly that Mack nearly lost his foothold on her shoulder--the place looked like it had been trashed! Kind of like that Muggle pub her father had taken her too, after the fighting had broken out. And there were two older students there, too, just her luck--Violet wondered if they had caused the wreckage and thought maybe she should make a quiet exit before anyone spotted her.