Chapter Text
“You, my dear, will be our strongest weapon yet,” he hissed and I wrenched my face from his grip. “Are you prepared to join your parents' cause and return the world to its rightful state?”
“Fuck you!” I spit as soon as the cloth was pulled from my mouth.
“Your spirit matches that of your mother,” he waved his hand. My ropes were released and I stumbled forward. Summoning my wand to my hand, I was hit with a cruciatous curse before being released to begin the duel. Confringo and Bombarda were my preferred spells to use as I wove between the tombstones for cover.
“Come now, you shouldn’t hide during a duel,” Voldemort had a nasally laugh that made my spine crawl. I peek over the stone I was hiding behind only to be jerked from my place by my hair. The hand was wrapped in my hair, guiding me back to the center of the field.
“Let us duel properly this time,” his face was contorted into a cold sneer and I saw red. I wasn’t conscious of what spells were being fired from my wand. Then the duel was over. His wand clattered to the ground as I heaved for breath.
“Excellent, child! You are ready to join our ranks,” his grin had me ready to blast him to pieces.
“I would rather die than join you,” I spat. Suddenly, I was immobile from a spell shot from behind.
“Then they shall die,” Voldemort’s face dropped into a menacing glare. “You have no allegiance to the light without them.”
He fired a bolt of sickly green magic off to the side. I follow the trajectory and release a strangled scream as the magic collides with my soulmates, the light leaving their eyes.
My eyes fly open. It was dark and quiet. The scent of jasmine filled my airway instead of damp dirt. The next thing to register was the soft bed under me and the warm arm wrapped around my middle. I relaxed under the weight and let out the breath I was holding in a soft sigh. A nightmare. I was lucky this one didn’t wake Fleur up. Her inner veela was good about letting her know when I was in distress, waking her up to comfort me.
My nightmares are less frequent when we share a bed, her presence grounding my mind. I slowly lift her arm and slide out from under the blankets, my pillow replacing me in her hold. The bathroom light blinds me for a second after it flickers to life.
I was still surprised every time I saw my reflection. Long, wavy platinum blonde hair and dark brown eyes. My tan had faded, my freckles gone, my face more angular. It was like looking at someone else.
I pull my hair back, splash cold water on my face, and turn off the light before making my way downstairs. The kitchen light was on when I got there. Winky stood on a stool by the counter as she prepared breakfast. I silently join the house elf and start cracking the eggs for the scramble.
“How is Misses doing?” Winky finally asked as a cup of hot chocolate landed on the counter before me after she snapped her fingers.
“I’m doing okay,” I put a pan on the stove to begin heating.
“Misses Eva knows not to lie to us,” Pokey popped into the kitchen. I lean back on the counter with a sigh. Winky hands the cut vegetable to Pokey to start cooking. The smell of food cooking prompted the occupants upstairs to stir.
“I had a nightmare, nothing I can’t shake off,” I reassure the elves as I watch them cook. Footsteps on the stairs drew my attention to the doorway. My lips twitch up at the sight of a sleep-mused Fleur with Yukina wrapped around her shoulders.
“Bonjour mon amour,” Fleur murmured around a yawn. I take the sleepy veela into my arms and rub a hand over her back as she nuzzles into my embrace.
“Good morning, Magairleag,” I kiss the top of her head. “Did you sleep well?”
“ I always sleep better next to you, ” the veela hummed, relying on me to keep her up.
“The Misses should set the table,” Pokey interrupted our cuddle. I turned to complete the task as Fleur molded herself to my back. Yukina hissed a laugh at my predicament. I give up and wave my hand, willing my magic to set the table for me.
The new training Dora has put me through has been a great help in establishing control over my increased power. Mamaidh was the next to join us in the kitchen with Mum not far behind. Grotel and Dobby take a break from the morning chores to join us as well and we eat the breakfast scramble while updating each other about our schedules for the day.
“There’s an Order meeting this evening. Fleur, are you going to Headquarters from the bank or did you want to come back here first?” Mamaidh asked. Fleur sipped her orange juice as she thought.
“I’ll have to go from Gringotts . . . Bill and I have to file reports from our trip to Egypt,” Fleur commented.
“I’ll be going back to the Scamander farm and Agate’s shop today. I think two weeks is enough recovery,” I stand to collect the dirty dishes.
“Be careful, little star,” Mum joined me at the sink with a dishcloth. “We’re still not sure how your magic could react to the beasts.”
“I will, Mum.”
“I’m going to get ready, I’ll see you after the meeting,” Fleur kissed my cheek and transferred Yukina to my shoulders. Mamaidh and Mum both hug her before she leaves. I know I had a goofy smile on my face, but I couldn’t help it after seeing how well my soulmate got along with my parents. Mamaidh sent me to get ready as well. I bound up the stairs to hear the shower going. I change into my clothes for the farm and decide to try out a spell I’ve been itching to use.
I separate a pen on my desk and draw my wand. I concentrate on the farm and cast the spell.
“Portus,” I whisper. The pen glowed blue for a few seconds before returning to its original colors.
“Haha!” I cheer.
“ Please don’t - ” Yukina started to say before I grabbed the pen. I feel a hook behind my sternum and spiral until I stumble when I hit the ground. I was at the front door of the Scamander house.
“It worked!” I laugh, jogging around the house to get to the barn with the food for the creatures. I have to coax some creatures into believing I am who I am since I look different. But once they recognized me, I was surrounded by concerned creatures. I giggle at the tickling tentacles of the Graphorns, Rodney knocking me to the ground in his excitement.
“No! Rodney, you’re too big for this!” I laugh as I fend off getting stepped on. Gladys pushes her son away from me and I kiss her forehead in thanks.
“Are my eyes getting old, or is that Evangeline McGonagall?”
“Good morning, Gramps,” I chuckle, seeing Newt approaching with Buckbeak by his side.
“A month late, I do believe,” Newt teased. I hop over the fence of the Graphorn enclosure and pull the man into a hug.
“Sorry ‘bout that. I heard Harry was helping while I was gone?” I reach over to scratch Buckbeak’s neck.
“He did,” Newt confirmed.
“I’m almost done with feeding everyone,” I inform him as he follows me to the next pen. I waved a hand to open the gate so I didn’t have to set the wheelbarrow down. I smile at Newt’s surprised sound. The gate closes behind us as the jobberknolls flock around us for their food. The chores went a bit faster with Newt helping and it wasn’t long before Newt was leading the way into the kitchen for lunch.
“Look who I found in the back,” Newt greeted his wife with a kiss on her cheek.
“Was it the Potter boy? He usually comes through the fireplace . . .” Tina trailed off when she saw me standing in the doorway. “Sweet Morgana, is that you Eva?”
“Wotcher Tina,” I follow her prompting and step closer to let her examine my face.
“You look different,” she comments.
“I found my birth mum. She had to put a glamor on me to protect me . . . apparently, it broke once I reached magical maturity.” I sit at the table to give her better access to my face.
“Is your Mum Narcissa Black? You have her hair,” Tina observed and I looked at her with wide eyes.
“No, she isn’t,” I whisper in shock. “How do you-”
“I was an Auror, sweetie. I’ve had enough dealings with the black family that I can recognize them on sight,” Tina chuckled. “If Narcissa isn’t your mother, and you’ve said before that Andromeda isn’t your mother . . . that means Bellatrix Lestrange is your mother.”
“She’s not what you think,” I plead for them to understand.
“We know, Eva,” Newt broke in. “Dumbledore wanted my help with recruiting beings for his army during the war with Voldemort. We grew close to Minerva and learned about Bellatrix.”
I slump in relief and give Tina a big grin when she lightly patted my cheek. I was served lunch and then shooed out of the house to Diagon Ally. It was a busier time with lunch breaks happening and I wandered down the street in the direction of the Magical Menagerie. I felt my necklace warm and figured it was Fleur in Gringotts. The bell above the door for the menagerie rang and I stepped inside to a hissy fight coming from the reptilian section.
“ Dear Merlin, do those two ever grow up? ” Yukina asked in resignation.
“ Probably not, ” I chuckle. I entered the aisle with a wave when Agate looked up from the counter.
“ I’m the better choice as a familiar! Who wants a plain snake like you? ” Shaka bit out.
“ Plain! At least I’m not vain! Your owner would strip you of your gem before anyone would skin me! ” Mataline retaliated.
“ Oh, shut up! Both of you are likely to be bought for potion ingredients! It’s a wonder you’ve made it as far as you have, ” Yukina hissed, already annoyed with the argument.
“ Yukina! ” twin hisses of surprise as we become the focus of the two snakes.
“ You got rid of Eva! How could you? ” Shaka wailed as Mataline reared back.
“ She didn’t get rid of me, I’ve just shed my skin to reveal my true looks, ” I felt touched by their defense of me.
“ How do we know you’re telling the truth? ” Mataline eyed me with distrust. Yukina growled at the fenny snake. I stroke her scales to calm her down. I didn’t know she could growl like that in snake form.
“ Crookshanks once tried to break into Shaka’s tank to get his gem. Yukina couldn’t have told me this because she wasn’t with me that day, ” I raise my brow as I wait for their verdict.
“ It’s you! Where have you been? ” Mataline cheered.
“ I had a trial I needed to do, ” I reach in and grab the horned serpent. He overlapped with Yukina and brushed his head against hers in greeting. Mataline decided to stay wrapped around my arm, though she did extend her head to press noses with Yukina.
“ I’ve missed you, ” Shaka pressed into my cheek. His scales were rough in texture, as opposed to Mataline and Yukina who had smooth scales.
“ I’ve missed you as well, ” I kiss his head. Moving through the store, I find Agate sweeping up a mess that one of the owls had made.
“Hey, can I get some help with the snakes?” I asked.
“Sure! Let me just -” Agate turned her head to look at me only to freeze when she saw the three snakes on my person. She looked like she didn’t know what to say until she noticed the white reptile.
“Oh my Merlin, Eva?!” Agate dropped her broom and pulled me into a crushing hug, much to Shaka’s disgruntlement. “How are you? You look different! Harry said something came up with your family.”
“I’m fine. My birth mother had placed a glamour on me that broke when I reached magical maturity. I met my birth mum, Agate.” I answered her questions and picked the broom back up to finish sweeping the mess.
“You look so much like Narcissa,” the shop owner commented, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear.
“I know, it was kind of jarring to see,” I shrug.
“ Hmm, she is fond of you, ” Mataline slithered further up my arm.
“As good as it is to see you, get to work,” Agate gently pushed me to a box of items needing to be shelved.
“ How can you tell? I thought you didn’t understand English, ” I moved the fenny snake to sit around my neck so my movements wouldn’t irritate her.
“ Vibrations from voices. They change with the tone, ” Shaka informed me. I ruminate on that as I stock shelves. Throughout my shift, I was greeted by regulars who wanted to talk. As I put the two snakes into their tanks for the night, I had an idea.
“Agate,” I pull her over to the counter before we leave. “How much are you selling Mataline for?”
“Which one’s Mataline?” Agate pulled her books from under the counter.
“The fenny snake. I think she would make a great pet for Harry,” I reach into my pocket to pull out my pouch of coins.
“I think so as well,” Agate hummed. “The Fenny snake is two galleons and two sickles.”
I nod before writing a quick note on a scrap of paper and use a sticking charm to place it on Mataline’s tank. Agate rolled her eyes and shooed me out of the shop for the night.
I have an idea for Prancer’s birthday! Do you want to go in on a present with me? I write as I walk to the Floo Point.
Will I regret saying yes?
You will never regret saying yes to gift ideas from Eva, she is very good at giving.
Nope! I am about 75% confident that he will like it.
Fine, but if he hates it I’m blaming you.
Oh, allez! Cub wouldn’t do that to us.
I’m going to get the present on Friday after work. I’ll let you know when I have acquired it.
No hint as to what it is?
We’re going in blind? We should know so that we are not also surprised when Prancer opens his gift.
Cub?
Pour l'amour de Dieu, why would you leave it there?
With that done, I hop into the Floo and step into the sitting room. Mum was reading on the couch, Akira lying across her outstretched legs. I kissed the top of her head as I passed by and headed upstairs to shower. I dry off and get dressed in patched grey jeans and a yellow tank top. When I pass the mirror on my way out of the bathroom, flashes of hands dragging me around by my hair flash past.
I stare at my reflection before I finish getting ready and pause as an idea pops into my mind. Yukina enters my room and I pick her up.
“Is Mamaidh here or has she left for the meeting already?” I asked.
“ She’s not here, ” Yukina informed me. I jog down the stairs to find Mum in the same place as before. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and lean my chin on her head as I read the book in her lap.
“That’s a good book,” I scan the page on detection charms.
“It is,” Mum agreed. “I’ve read it a few times already.”
“Can you help me with something?”
“Of course,” Mum closed her book and gently moved Akira off her legs before standing. “Now, what can I help you with?”
“I need to get to the Order meeting,” I can’t be sitting around when there’s a war brewing. I will be pulled into the center of this fight no matter what I want. Voldemort will see to that.
“Min thought that might happen,” Mum beckoned for me to follow her. “She also informed me that the Weasleys and Hermione are currently staying at Headquarters. . . . No doubt due to the Dark Lord’s return.”
“Hermione would be safe here,” I protest, entering the study as Mum rummaged around the desk.
“Dumbledore wants them there for some undisclosed reason. He’s been trying to get Sirius and Harry to stay there as well, but Sirius refuses to live in that dreadful place,” Mum made a pleased sound before walking over with a slip of paper.
“What’s this?” I asked as I unfolded the note.
The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.
“The Order of the Phoenix?” I give Mum a skeptical look. “That’s rich, drawing attention to his family's connection with a phoenix.”
“Dumbles does like his authority,” Mum huffed a laugh. “Headquarters is under the Fidelius charm . . . Albus wrote that note so now you can enter.”
“I don’t want to enter through the Floo . . . something more dramatic would be best,” I smirk. Mum laughs and holds out her arm. I grab it and she apparates us to an alley.
“Think about what you memorized,” Mum instructed, pointing to the place between houses eleven and thirteen. I think about twelve Grimmauld Place and watch a battered door emerge, followed quickly by dirty walls and grimmy windows. The buildings had slid to the side to accommodate the newly revealed structure.
“Can you let Mamaidh know I’m here and to let me in?” I turn and hug Mum in thanks for the ride.
“Of course, little star. Go have fun and be quiet in the halls . . . some paintings will shout if disturbed,” Mum kissed my forehead before apparating away. I wait a few minutes before crossing the street and lightly knocking on the door. Remus opens the door and motions for me to be quiet.
“Welcome to Grimmauld Place,” Remus whispered. “Are you here to see your friends?”
“I’m here for the meeting. I have a right to know what’s happening, Uncle Moony.” I fixed my leather jacket when Yukina hissed displeasure at how it was sitting.
“Right, I’m sure you have a plan. Your mothers are dramatic, no matter what they claim.” Remus smiled before entering the door at the far end of the hall. I stroke Yukina’s scales to gather myself and lightly tread to the door. There was a staircase leading to the basement, and the door at the bottom was slightly cracked.
“The minister is storming around, dismissing anyone he thinks might be talking to you, Albus,” Arthur was saying.
“You know what he thinks of your claim of You-Know-Who being back,” an unknown deep voice spoke up.
“I’ve been feeding him the information you wanted me to, Sir,” Percy was here.
“No one in Egypt seemed interested in our message,” Fleur was the next one to speak. This was preposterous.
“I’ll testify in front of the Wizengamot under veritaserum if that’s what’s needed,” I push the door open and stalk into the room. Silence fell at my entrance, shocked faces staring at me as if they’d seen a ghost. “Why you haven’t already had Harry do so is beyond me.”
“Narcissa,” Molly breathed.
“Try again, Mrs. Weasley,” I correct, keeping my eyes on Dumbledore, who, for once, looked shocked.
“Evangeline,” Dumbledore adopted his grandfatherly look. “I see you’ve grown faster than I thought you would.”
“You knew!” Mamaidh hissed, rounding on the old man.
“I knew as soon as you brought her into the castle, Minerva,” his reply pissed me off. For years, I’ve been wondering about my birth parents, and he knew this entire time.
“This is Bellatrix’s daughter?” the deep voice questioned.
“ Four o’clock. Dark skin, ” Yukina informed me.
“Lestrange had a daughter?” another one of the unknown people gasped.
“You know of me . . . can’t say the same for all of you,” I finally scan the room. There are six people I’ve never met before around the dining room table.
“You shouldn’t even be here . . . this is a meeting for Order members,” Molly scolded. I steel myself against her tone and nod as if considering her words.
“Okay, that’s fair.” I conceded. Turning sharp eyes on Dumbledore, I straighten my shoulders. “What do I have to do to join your Order?”
“Turn seventeen, for one thing,” Molly scoffed.
“I do not believe Eva was talking to you, Molly,” Mamaidh hissed. To my and Yukina’s amusement, Molly shrunk away from my mother’s ire.
“Molly is correct, Minerva. Evangeline needs to be seventeen to join,” Dumbledore nodded to the redhead as I huffed.
“I no longer have the trace, if that’s what you’re worried about,” I raise one hand as Yukina starts to weave around the appendage. I watch as faces pale and wands are gripped at the reveal of my familiar.
“How old are you, girl?”
I pin the bold man with a stare.
<<They question us?>> Circe awakens from where she had been resting and I allow her to roam the room. The power of my magic made those of lesser standing uncomfortable. Only my family and Dumbledore remained unaffected.
“I turned fourteen this year while participating in and winning the Triwizard Tournament, graduating from Hogwarts, and fighting a resurrected Voldemort.” I list my accomplishments from the year. The man gulped and backed down, scooting his seat a bit further from where I stood.
“ They are foolish if they believe they can keep us from doing anything even without their order, ” Yukina coiled around my shoulders.
“Albus,” the dark-skinned man tried to say but was cut off by the oldest wizard.
“I will not hear anymore on this, Kingsley. My decision has been made.”
“You are throwing away a valuable source of information,” I cautioned. “I can give you inside information about the students at Hogwarts. I will be returning for a mastery and the students trust me.”
“I’m afraid we already have an insider at Hogwarts. Miss Delacour will be returning for a mastery in charms under Professor Flitwick,” Dumbledore waved a hand at Fleur, and I raised a brow. I wasn’t aware of this.
“Eva makes a point. No matter how much we try, the children are going to be participating in this war. They should be here,” Remus pointed out.
“I’ve made my feelings on this clear, Remus. This meeting is dismissed,” Dumbledore waved a hand and the attendants filed out into the hall.
“Eva, glad to see you awake,” Snape nodded as he passed.
“Professor,” I dip my head in greeting but say nothing else. I stand in the room as I watch the group talk in the hallway. A flesh-colored string lowered and I discreetly pointed it out to Fleur as she joined me.
“What is that?” she asked. It disappeared when Fleur said that and I smirked.
“ Extendable Ear. Fred and George made it, ” I leaned to whisper to her as footsteps thud down the stairs as everyone filed out the front door. I was content to stay here and let my friends find me, but a crash sounded from the hallway with an exasperated ‘Tonks!’ from Molly. I hurry to see what happened and move to help Dora up from where she was lying on the ground.
“I’m sorry!” the metamorphmagi wailed. “It’s that stupid umbrella stand, that’s the second time I’ve tripped over -” I flinch at a bloodcurdling screech overpowering Dora’s voice. I help the woman up and turn to see a pair of curtains parted to show a portrait of an old woman with a black cap. Her screeching woke the other portraits along the hall who began to yell as well. I cover my ears, stumbling back from the onslaught of sound.
Molly and Remus tried to get the curtains closed again while Dora covered my hands with her own, worry covering her face. I saw her lips moving but was unable to hear what she was saying.
“Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, begone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers -” The portrait’s words were pounding around in my head.
“Shut up!” I shout, Circe slamming the curtains closed. Dora moved her hands from my head to rub over my back.
“That’s the fastest Old Walburga has been silenced,” Dora said in a quiet voice.
“See you’ve met my mother,” Sirius matched Dora’s volume as he joined us. “Don’t worry, Tonks, I’ll get a smaller umbrella stand.”
“Why the heck haven’t you removed that thing?” I hiss, slowly uncovering my ears to stand up straight. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing at the bottom of the stairs with expressions of surprise.
“We’ve been trying for a month, but we think she put a permanent sticking charm on the back of the canvas,” Sirius informed me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders as we moved.
“Eva,” Hermione breathed, crashing into me. I wrap my arms around her and bury my face in her hair. We haven’t been able to see each other since I woke up from the coma.
“What are you doing here?” Ron frowned.
“I believe you had something to say to her, mate,” Harry elbowed the redhead. Ron scowled before clenching his jaw and folding his arms.
“Sorry,” I raise a brow at his lackluster apology, not saying anything.
“Ron,” Hermione pleaded.
“What? I apologized!” he defended himself.
“Maybe if you keep telling yourself that it will come true,” I scoffed. With one last squeeze to Hermione, I take a step back and summon my patronus. I whisper a quick message to it and send the dragon to find Ginny and the twins. I follow behind Dora as she heads down the stairs to the basement kitchen.
“ I was going to tell you tonight, ” Fleur whispered, fingers grazing my hand as Dora and I joined her conversation with Mamaidh. “ Professor Flitwick got back to me today about the mastery. Gingotts is paying for it. ”
“ I’m not mad, promise, ” I reassure her. “So you didn’t get enough of Scotland last year, huh?”
Dora cackles, throwing an arm over the French woman’s shoulders.
“Lover girl here didn’t want to be separated from her girlfriend,” Dora smirked as Fleur rolled her eyes. It was almost too easy to fall into the role of friend instead of soulmate. The thought made my stomach queasy. I was glad for the distraction of feet pounding down the stairs.
“Eva!” Fred and George apparate into the kitchen. In surprise, I lash out with my fist, landing a solid hit to George’s chin.
“Don’t do that!” I gasp, helping the twin back to his feet as I examine his jaw.
A bruise was already forming where my fist had struck.
“Blimey, Pip. I felt that from over here,” Fred winced as he took an exaggerated step away from me.
“It's what you get,” Dora snorted. “Molly’s been telling you lot to stop popping around the house.”
“You two are such arses!” Ginny panted as she entered the room, the Golden Trio following her in. “You made me run down the stairs!”
“You’ll be glad you waited,” Mamaidh laughed, “Mister Weasley was attacked.” I roll my eyes and finally let my hand drop from George’s chin to hug the boy. Fred and Ginny join the hug, surrounding me in Weasley.
“Luna and I missed you,” Ginny murmured into my shoulder.
“If you all want dinner before midnight, I’ll need a hand,” Molly said to the room at large as she bustled around the kitchen. Mamaidh quietly told me she was going back home to Mum for dinner and to send her a patronus if I wasn’t going to stay the night.
“What can I do, Molly?” Dora asked, bounding forward enthusiastically. The Weasley matriarch hesitates, and I smirk. Dora was notoriously bad at cooking. Something I found out when staying with her and Bill.
“Er - no, it’s all right, Tonks, you’ve done enough today -”
“No, no, I want to help!” Dora exclaimed brightly, knocking over a chair in her rush. I catch the chair before it hits the ground. The witch was surprisingly clumsy for how gracefully she moved during training.
“Why don’t you help Ginny with setting the table?” I suggest with a nod over to where the youngest redhead was gathering plates. I took over chopping the meat as Arthur supervised multiple knives cutting vegetables. Molly was stirring a cauldron dangling over the fire as the table was set and more food was brought out of the pantry.
“Is this where you’ve been staying since your release, Uncle Sirius?” I looked up from passing my cutting board to Molly to where the man was sitting at the table.
“Heavens no!” Sirius cackled as Remus shuddered. “We’ve been staying in our home in the West Midlands . . . much nicer than this old place.”
“It lacks a certain witch’s portrait,” Harry grumbled.
“You also don’t have to clean a decade's worth of filth from that home,” Remus sympathetically patted Harry’s shoulder.
“What cleaning?” I rested my hip against the counter.
“Trying to make this place fit for human habitation,” Sirius said, waving his hand around the dismal kitchen. “No one’s lived here for ten years, not since my dear mother died unless you count her house elf, and he’s gone round the twist, hasn’t cleaned anything in ages -”
“Sirius?” the lump of rags I had passed in my inspection of the space spoke up. My gaze zeroed in on the man who was examining his goblet. “This solid silver, mate?”
“Yes,” Sirius surveyed the goblet with distaste. “Finest fifteenth-century goblin-wrought silver, embossed with the Black family crest.”
“That’d come off, though,” the man muttered.
“Mundungus, right piece of work that one is,” Hermione informed me as she finally separated herself from Ron.
“Are you friends with Ron again?” I whispered, watching the mentioned boy stuff his face with meat pies in the center of the table.
“He apologized,” Hermione sighed, “and I don’t want to make our stay here any more awkward than it already is.”
“Fred - George - NO, JUST CARRY THEM!” Molly shrieked.
The cauldron of stew, an iron flagon of butterbeer, and a heavy wooden breadboard, complete with a knife, hurtled through the air onto the table. The four seated had to dive out of the way as the cauldron almost skidded off the end of the table and Sirius just avoided his hand being impaled.
“FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!” Molly screamed. “THERE WAS NO NEED - I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS - JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE ALLOWED TO USE MAGIC NOW YOU DON’T HAVE TO WHIP YOUR WANDS OUT FOR EVERY TINY LITTLE THING!”
“We were just trying to save a bit of time!” Fred cringed as he scurried forward to wrench the knife out of the table. “Sorry, Sirius - didn’t mean to -”
But his apologies were in vain as Sirius was laughing his head off as Harry giggled across from him. I was unable to stifle my cackles and Bill had to hold Dora up, she was laughing so hard. Crookshanks was hiding under the dresser that contained the cutlery, his large yellow eyes glowing in the darkness.
“Boys,” Arthur started, lifting the cauldron back into the middle of the table, “next time, don’t use as much magic and the cauldron-”
“-none of your brothers caused this sort of trouble!” Molly raged, slamming a fresh flagon of butterbeer onto the table and spilling most of it. I flinch at the loud sound, my laughter dying very quickly. Circe prowled toward the Weasley matriarch with a threatening trill. Molly paled and threw a frightened and disgusted look at me.
“Of course we did, Mum,” Bill cut in before anything else could be said. “Let’s eat, yeah?”
Remus plated up the stew, much to Molly’s protests. I let Yukina eat the majority of the meat from my plate as the sound of the clinking of plates and cutlery filled the air. Molly then started listing everything that needed to be done tomorrow and I tuned out the conversation to focus on Dora making faces at me from across the table. Hermione and Ginny giggled at each of her transformations, her nose swelling into a beak-like protuberance like Snape’s, shrank into something resembling a button mushroom, and then sprouting a great deal of hair from each nostril. Fleur was smiling fondly as she watched Hermione’s face light up in delight.
“ You’ve been volunteered to help with doxies tomorrow, ” Yukina took my attention away from watching my soulmates.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Weasley,” I politely interject into her tirade of cleaning assignments. “I’m working at the Scamander farm and the Magical Menagerie tomorrow.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, dear. You’re too young to be working,” Molly condescendingly shot my protests down.
“But - I’ve been working there for years now?” I blink in confusion. I would go to the Burrow after work.
“It’s true, Mrs. Weasley,” Harry backed me up. “I worked with Eva last summer while I stayed with her and Minnie.”
“There’s no need to lie for her, Harry dear,” Molly smiled at the boy. My stomach churned. Why was it always like this?
“Enough, Molly! Who are you to question Eva?” Sirius raised his voice, stopping all other conversations.
“Sirius -”
“No! This is my home, and you will respect my niece in it!” Sirius wasn’t yelling, or hitting anything, which in and of itself was impressive. “Hermione, would you mind showing Eva to her room?”
Hermione quickly stood from her chair and rounded the table to take my hand and guide me from the room. I walk silently through the halls after the Gryffindor, her magic trying to shield me from harm. I was pushed onto a bed when we entered the room before being pulled into a hug, my forehead resting on the older girl's shoulder. Her fingers ran through my hair, lightly scratching at my nape.
“I might have tentatively reconciled with Ron, but I will never forgive that woman for the way she treats you,” Hermione whispered against my hair before placing a kiss there.
“Don’t let her treatment of me ruin your relationship with her,” I circle my arms around her waist to play with the hem of her shirt.
“Anyone willing to treat you like that for no reason isn’t worth my time,” Hermione tightened her arm around my shoulders. “Besides, I’ve got four incredible mother figures in my life already . . . The most I need Molly for is an example of what not to do.”
We sit there for a few minutes before migrating to us both sitting on the bed. Hermione sat against the headboard as I hugged her legs to my chest with my head in her lap. I was lulled into a relaxed state with the repetitive motion through my hair and patterns traced against my back. Yukina was acting as a warmed weighted blanket draped across my torso, Hermione’s fingers briefly leaving my back every so often to get pleased sounds from the dragon.
“Eves? Mione?” Ginny gently opened the door.
“It’s safe for you to come in, Cleasan-teine, Magairleag,” I flick my fingers to have the door swing further open.
“Madame Weasley sent us to bed,” Fleur clicked the door shut behind her then dropped unceremoniously onto the bed next to Hermione.
“Tonks wants us to meet in the library around midnight. She wants to be filled in on what happened last year,” Ginny informed us.
“Your hair has lost the last of its color, mon amour,” my eyes slipped closed as Fleur’s hand joined Hermione’s in my hair.
“Are you going to dye it?” Ginny was getting changed if the sound of clothes rustling was to be believed.
“Hmm,” I hum. I had an idea of how I wanted to do it but wasn’t too sure about it. “I should go to Ginny’s bed for when Molly checks on us before going to bed.”
“But Eva cuddles!” Hermione whined, tightening her hold on me. I reluctantly get up and change into night clothes. Yukina curls around my torso under the baggy shirt I borrowed from Hermione as I lean down and kiss the two goodnight.
“Don’t kick me,” Ginny warned as I slipped under the covers.
“You’re the kicker,” I fire back. Twin snorts from across the room have me smiling as the lights are turned off and the room is plunged into darkness. After we all settled in, the sound of our breathing and slight creaks from the ancient house soothe us to sleep.