Chapter 23
ALDER EVANS
The Evanses were no royalty, but the family was comfortable enough. Their father worked in the banks, and Mrs. Evans was simply a homemaker, though she did have a bachelor's and a half-finished master's in Botany, which she had refused to take up despite his constant urging.
"So how was school?" asked their mother, as she poured in a mouthful of bubble and squeak into his plate, and the simple English dish was one of the few he tolerated, along with fish and chips, which was also on the table.
"It was good," added Lily, diving into her own food, as those eyes tracked to him as he simply shrugged confidently.
"What do you expect?" he mocked, as Lily rolled her eyes.
"An answer," their mother added, and he sighed.
"It was good," and both him and Lily had decided to omit the little tirade with the Slytherins, for they did not wish to worry their parents any more than they already were.
"Well, at least some of my children seem to know the importance of an education," added their father, and in an instant, the air around the table shifted, as the Hall was filled with the sound of a spoon hitting the table.
"What do you mean?" Alder asked, as his father motioned towards Petunia without looking up.
"Ask her," and the smile on their mother's face stiffened as he asked.
"What happened?"
"I am going to drop out of school," and Petunia was in the tenth standard, at this time, and should have her finals coming up.
"Why?" and it was Lily who spoke up, as Petunia's lips thinned.
"And why would this concern you?" she spoke angrily, and Lily would have retorted back, yet he nudged her under the table and shook her table.
"Don't talk to your sister like that," their father roared, as Petunia's face paled.
"She is just worried about you, just like me and your mother," he added, and it was rare for him to get angry at his children.
"I am not doing anything that mother didn't do. She dropped out of her school, didn't she?" and it was their mother who cut in.
"I dropped out of my Masters dear! You haven't even gotten admission in a bachelors. There is still time, Petunia, you can't waste your life on a boy like that," and Petunia had had enough as she put down her fork.
"A boy like that! What do you mean by that? Vernon is perfect for me," and their father was not backing down.
"Vernon is a leech, and you are a fool not to see it. I will never acc…."
"OK! OK!" Alder decided that things had gotten a bit too heated, as he rose up from his seat and tried to cool them down.
"Make her see some sense," their father asked him, and he turned towards Petunia.
"What is wrong with continuing your education, though? You could get a bachelor's at least," he added, and Petunia scoffed.
"And do what with it? I will complete my tenth standard, and that will be it. After that, I plan to move in with Vernon," and he had to continue.
"I know of Vernon, and he has issues," and the words were wrong.
"Issues! You have the gall to speak about issues," and their mother came in.
"Don't speak to your brother like that. He is just looking out for you," and he tried to stop her, but the matter was way out of hand already.
"Or what? Will he turn me into a pig? Normal. It's you two who are not normal, not Vernon. You two are the Freaks, and I have had enough of living here with you," and she was on her feet.
"Petunia!" their mother screamed, weakly as she saw her family tear itself apart.
"I am going to my room," and she was walking away, as the mood in the room soured.
"That girl will be the death of me," their father whispered.
"I never have to worry about you two, and yet she has always been…"
"Dear," their mother cut in, calming him down as Lily leaned closer and whispered in his ear.
"And you wanted me to behave," and their mother chose to move on.
"So, tell me about the wedding?" she asked, turning the topic.
"Well, it's going to be in the Summer, but Alice wants us all to help her prepare," Lily added, as their mother smiled.
"Will they have enough room for all of you?" and he was the one who answered.
"Alice and Frank's family are like old money. They have a big manor, and so they will have room," and the two of them could hardly understand the Magical world and its intricacies, yet they had always tried to understand it as best as they could.
And as the dinner wrapped up, Lily began helping their mother with the dishes as he sat alone with their father.
"Talk to her, and make her see some sense. That kid is not right for her," he added, a bit softly.
"I will, but you can't be too harsh on her like this," he added softly.
"It will simply push her away more," and he nodded.
"I will try, but I can't just let her waste her life like this. She should at least do a bachelor's," and he agreed.
"I will see what I can do," and he nodded as he took a sip of his wine.
"Speaking of that, did you hear about the attack on Stokeworth?" and his mood soured at once.
"Yes," and he shook his head.
"It was too eerie, you know.
"It was just a few blocks from the House of your friend, Severus," and he knew that as well.
"Your mother asked her to come stay with us for a few days, but she refused," and Eileen Prince was like that.
"Perhaps you should talk to her son, and talk to him a bit," and he would. He also had to go and see Severus, but that would come later.
"I will…"
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LUCIUS MALFOY
The Malfoy Manor was quiet as ever, as Lucius found himself back at his family estate for the Holidays. Even before his mother's death, the Halls of Malfoy manor had been quiet and somber, and yet her death had turned them hollow.
It was just him and his father at home, and neither had much to say to one another until, at dinner, his father brought up the topic of his betrothed.
"You made quite a mess this year, Lucius," he added, as Lucius's spoon stopped for a second, as he stopped himself from cutting into the foie gras.
"You are lucky that Slughorn came to me as soon as he did; otherwise, you wouldn't be sitting there right now," and Lucius's lips thinned as he answered without looking up.
"I was just doing the Lord's work," he added, and Abraxus Malfoy scoffed.
"Using that spell in the school was a fool's errand," he lashed out, and Lucius finally looked up at a face much similar to his own, yet one that was marred by lines and wrinkles, and greying hair.
"I didn't use that spell. Lestrange did," he retorted, and Abraxus Malfoy shook his head.
"Yet now the Ministry is looking into all of you. I have it on good authority that there was an attempt to have you all investigated using Veritaserum?" and that would be bad.
"It was shot down, but still, many in the Ministry can no longer turn a blind eye to your activities. They are even making a special task force just for that," and he scoffed.
"It won't matter," for as long as the Dark Lord was with them, no one could touch them.
"Maybe, but you are underestimating the Aurors. The Dark Lord may be ferocious, but do understand this, Lucius, that he is as ruthless as one can be," his father warned.
"He won't protect you. That you will have to do on your own," and Lucius nodded.
"I understand," and with that, the dinner continued in silence, and afterwards he came to his room and began to think on his father's words.
Loathed as he was to admit, he knew that he was right. Just because he bore the Dark Lord's mark did not mean that he had his support. The Dark Lord was ruthless in his ambition and would not hesitate to discard him if he were to disappoint him.
And already the Dark Lord's patience was beginning to run thin, especially regarding his betrothal with the Blacks. It was rumored that Arcturus had called a family gathering and planned to re-evaluate the political alignment of his family.
He had been ordered to mend his relationship with the Black girl in that regard, and yet Narcissa refused any and all of his advances. His letters went unanswered, and any attempt at trying to talk to her was met with a polite refusal, leaving him angry and frustrated.
"THAT BITCH!" he screamed, as he tore down the letter he was writing to her.
"Who does she think she is!" and she should be on her knees, thanking her for taking an interest in her, and yet she acted all high and mighty, as the Dark Lord grew more and more frustrated with him.
"It's all because of him," and all of his problems could be traced back to one person.
Alder Evans, and yet the Dark Lord had barred him from making a move against the boy. He wished to meet him for some reason, as he took an interest in that mud-blooded bastard.
"Well, the Dark Lord's interest may protect you, but I can't say the same for your helper," and with that, he walked into one of the corners of the room, where his newly bought pensive sat waiting for him.
"Well, let's see who you are," and with the wand, he reached for his memories of that day, and poured them into the glowing bluish liquid, and put his head inside, as the memories from that day began to play out.
"I have a plan…"
.
.
.
And it was hours later that Lucius pulled his face out of the pensive, with a clear surprise on his face.
"It can't be…."
0000
Just like the past years, Sirius did not return to the Black Manor, as he came to stay with the Potters, who were always happy to welcome him into their home. By now, he already had his own room, a closet, and everything that one would ever need in a home.
The Potter House was a complete contrast to the dreary and cold Black manor, and would often be filled with warmth and laughter, which helped him forget about the precarious situation he was in.
Yet, these holidays were different for he had made a promise, and as the day for the gathering came closer and closer, the dread grew stronger and stronger as he felt his resolve weaken.
Yet he had made a promise, and Sirius was not the kind to go back on his word.
Yet going back to that place all by himself did not sit right with him.
And so, he waited and waited until the day came, and early in the morning, as he lay in his bed, hoping and praying for a solution, he heard his name being called from downstairs.
"Sirius! Sirius," and it was Euphemia calling him out.
"Coming," he answered as he pushed himself off the bed, for it was not like her to call him out so early.
Still, he changed out of his PJs and wore some loose trousers and a shirt as he walked down the stairs.
"You called," he asked, still rubbing his eyes as Euphemia Potter smiled at him, as a mother should.
"Yes, someone's here to see you," and he felt his heart sink at those words, wondering if his family had finally sent someone to bring him home.
"Who?" he asked with baited breath, as Euphemia smiled.
"Why don't you see for yourself," she said, as she slowly led him to the kitchen, and he saw a woman sitting there with the Prophet in her hand, her hair was black as ash, and as she turned towards him, he saw a pair of familiar grey eyes looking at him.
He saw her brow rise up as she looked him up and down, and a sense of familiarity drew him to her.
"So, he is Orion's kid?" she asked, and James' mother nodded.
"Yes," she added, smiling as she offered her a cup of tea and biscuits.
"He does look like a young Arcturus," and to refer to his grandfather by name, he wondered just who she was.
"Who are you?" he asked, and the woman smiled.
"I am your great Aunt," she answered, and it clicked in an instant.
"You are her," he gasped.
"You are Dorea Black…."
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