Violet strode into the Great Hall and seated herself up at the head of the Slytherin Table, as was proper for a seventh year. She was immensely pleased with herself and with the world. She looked and dressed more confidently, no longer permitting her family to pick out school-girlish clothes for her but finding her own style. The first installment of her story had come out in Witch Weekly over the summer, with two more to follow, and she had even received some Galleons for her effort! (when, truth be told, she would probably have paid them for printing it). She's ignored her grandfather and Uncle Heraclitus' wishes and published under her own name, causing one of their spirited Blackthorne family "discussions" over dinner one night. But even though her grandfather grumbled, Violet could tell he was secretly proud of her, not only for her story but for standing up to him. Violet now knew her family really did love her, so she could overlook an argument now and then.

Violet had greeted Bella and Aria (Could a girl who stood on a bench and whistled right in the middle of the Opening Feast really be one of the subtle Slytherins? It must be true, because she was). And now Violet watched with curiosity as one of the newly-sorted snakes (Caes) came over to join them--not a first year, though, must be some sort of exchange student or something. But...this was Aria's brother? Violet didn't even know the other girl had a brother! But he seemed far less pushy exuberant than his sibling. Interesting...