Evelyn & Caelum: Preparing for the War They Feel Coming
In the next memory, Evelyn and Caelum sparred in an empty classroom.
She moved with fluid grace, wand slicing through the air.
"stupef—"
"Protego Totalum!"
His shield flared bright.
Evelyn grinned.
"You're getting slower."
"You're getting cocky."
They circled each other.
The room buzzed with magic.
Then Evelyn lowered her wand, breath softening.
"Caelum… things outside Hogwarts are getting worse."
He nodded, expression dark.
"My father receives whispers. Death Eater activity is increasing."
Evelyn looked down at her wand hand.
"We need to be ready."
Caelum stepped closer, touching his forehead to hers.
"We will be."
The bond between them had deepened — from friendship to partnership to something unbreakable.
Scene 3 — Regulus Confides in Caelum (This memory was shown by Caelum to Evelyn)
The next scene showed Regulus sitting stiffly on a bench by the Black Lake, fingers knotted around a letter.
Caelum sat beside him.
Regulus didn't speak for nearly a minute.
Then:
"My mother wants me to… meet certain people."
Caelum's jaw tightened.
"Death Eaters group."
Regulus flinched but didn't deny it.
"They're watching me. Expecting things from me. I don't… I don't want to disappoint my family but—"
He swallowed.
"I don't want to be them."
Caelum placed a steady hand on the young boy's shoulder.
"You are not bound to walk a dark path, Regulus."
Regulus's eyes stung.
"But how do I stop them?"
Caelum turned him to face him.
"You grow stronger."
"You learn."
"You survive long enough to choose your own future."
Regulus whispered, "Like you and Evelyn?"
Caelum hesitated.
Then nodded.
Regulus clutched the letter tighter.
"…Then teach me. Please."
Scene 4 — Evelyn & Marianne: Heart-to-Heart
Elsewhere, Evelyn sat with Marianne in the library, whispering so Madam Pince wouldn't hear.
Marianne twisted her quill nervously.
"Do you think I belong here? Really?"
Evelyn smiled, brushing the girl's hair back.
"Yes. Magic chose you, Marianne. Blood doesn't matter."
Marianne's eyes softened.
"And… Regulus? Why is he distancing himself from me?"
Evelyn sighed.
"He's not. He's trying to protect you. That's different."
Marianne nodded.
"But he likes you," Evelyn added. "And he listens to Caelum. That's rare for him."
Marianne leaned on Evelyn's shoulder.
"Do you think… we could stay friends? Even though he's a pureblood Black and I'm—"
"A wonderful witch."
Marianne blushed.
Evelyn hugged her gently.
"Friendships aren't made by bloodlines. They're made by choices."
Scene 5 — Graduation Approaches
The memory shifted —
Robes billowing.
Hallways filled with last-minute packing.
Students hugging and crying.
Evelyn and Caelum stood hand in hand overlooking the courtyard.
"Seven years," Caelum murmured.
She smiled.
"Are you ready?"
Evelyn looked toward the gates.
"Ready to fight for the world we want."
Regulus and Marianne ran up to them — out of breath, carrying small gifts.
Regulus bowed formally.
"I—thank you. For everything."
Marianne hugged them both tightly.
"Please stay safe!"
Evelyn touched their cheeks gently.
"You two look after each other."
Caelum smirked.
"And keep practicing. Both of you."
Regulus straightened.
Marianne nodded determinedly.
A final image shimmered:
Regulus and Marianne watching Evelyn and Caelum walk down the path away from Hogwarts —
tiny figures framed by sunlight.
Two mentors leaving for war.
Two younger hearts left behind, hoping, praying they'd return.
The memory pulsed…
…then faded.
July 1976
A Small, Quiet Wedding
Sunlight spilled through the enchanted windows of the small countryside chapel. Warm, golden, gentle—exactly the kind of light Evelyn always loved.
Rows of chairs were filled sparsely. Only those who mattered were here.
Her father stood beside her, looking both proud and heartbreakingly lonely. Her mother should have been here. Evelyn wore one of her mother's brooches pinned to her dress—silver, shaped like a falling star.
A tribute.
A promise.
The memory shifted and swirled—
And Evelyn was standing at the aisle, hand clasped tightly in Caelum's.He looked calmer than she did—but she saw the tremble in his thumb.His eyes, however, held only certainty.
A few heartbeats of stillness…
Then the scattered guests came into view.
The Guests
Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black seated near the back, elegant and aloof.Narcissa offered Evelyn a soft nod; Lucius gave Caelum a polite, almost wary appraisal.Even then, they knew Caelum's name carried power, even if unspoken.
James Potter arrived in bright dress robes, hair permanently untamable, beaming with genuine joy despite not being particularly close with either of them. Evelyn had helped him in Potions once; he never forgot.
The Prewett Twins, Gideon and Fabian, loud and cheerful as always, waved enthusiastically the moment the couple looked their way.
Near them sat Madam Griselda Marchbanks, who had insisted on attending because, in her own words:
"Any promising young witch or wizard of this generation deserves at least one witness who isn't a complete nincompoop."
That got a soft laugh from the bride even through memory.
Arthur & Molly Weasley
They weren't there for the ceremony itself—Molly was far too pregnant to travel comfortably—but they arrived an hour earlier to give their blessings.
Evelyn laughed softly as she thought of the memory:
Arthur Weasley stood there, red hair glowing like a beacon, holding a bright-eyed four-year-old Bill in one arm.
Molly stood beside him, holding two-year-old Charlie, while her belly was unmistakably rounded with her third son.
Molly brushed Evelyn's cheek with warm fingers.Arthur squeezed Caelum's hand firmly.
"You two will make it," Molly had whispered."You take care of each other."
Regulus & Marianne
Off to the side—both seated as far apart as humanly possible—sat Regulus Black and Marianne Fletcher.
They were older now.
Fifteen.
But still hopelessly shy when it came to each other.
Regulus stole a glance at Marianne.
Marianne immediately looked at the floor.
Marianne peeked at Regulus.
Regulus nearly choked on air.
Caelum and Evelyn, watching from the memory, shared a laugh—soft, knowing, bittersweet.
Mentors watching their little ones grow.
The Vows
Caelum lifted Evelyn's hands, his voice rough with emotion:
"Wherever you go, I will walk beside you."
Evelyn's voice was steady despite the tears trembling at the edge of her lashes:
"And wherever you fall, I will stand you back up."
A pulse of warm, golden light flared between their joined hands—the magic of old bloodlines, recognizing a bond deeper than tradition.
The officiant smiled gently.
"By magic witnessed and vows spoken… you are bound."
Cheers erupted—soft, warm, genuine.
Regulus clapped too loudly, immediately flushing red as Marianne giggled behind her hand.
Lucius actually smiled.
Madam Marchbanks wiped a tear.
James Potter whistled loudly enough to echo.
And Evelyn's father held his daughter's shoulders and whispered:
"Your mother would be smiling today."
The Memory Ends
The scene blurred into silver mist.
Laughter fading.
Golden light dimming.
But two things remained absolutely clear:
Evelyn looked happier than she had ever been.
And Caelum looked at her as if the world finally made sense.
______________________________________
The silver surface broke around me as I rose—not floating this time, but dragged upward as though the memory itself was reluctant to release me.
My feet hit solid stone.
The vault returned.
Cold. Quiet. Dark.
The torches flickered weakly, as if even the flames sensed the weight of what I'd just witnessed.
I staggered.
My knees almost buckled.
The world felt heavier—too real, too sharp—after the dreamlike warmth of Evelyn's life. Her laughter. Her childhood. Her friends. Her wedding. All of it still clung to me like the ghost of a hug.
The Pensieve's metallic frame vibrated faintly, humming with residual magic.
I placed a shaking hand on the stone wall.
Breathing hurt.
Every inhale scraped against a throat filled with emotion I'd been holding back since the very first memory.
I closed my eyes.
And the images returned instantly—
Evelyn, age five, dancing barefoot on the grass.
Evelyn, age eleven, stepping into Hogwarts with wonder in her eyes.
Caelum standing beside her during a duel, steady and proud.
Marianne laughing softly, hiding behind her hair.
Regulus—shy, earnest, uncertain—trying so hard not to stare at Marianne.
My mother's smile on her wedding day—brighter than any magic I'd ever seen.
A life.
A whole life.
My mother had lived a full, brilliant, warm life before she ever held me.
She loved.
She fought.
She protected.
She laughed.
She chose her friends fiercely, loved Caelum fiercely, and built a future fiercely.
And yet—
My throat tightened.
Her story ended the moment mine began.
The tears hit before I could stop them.
Hot. Silent. Violent.
I pressed the base of my palm against my eyes, but that only made the pressure worse.
I wasn't crying because of grief.
Not grief alone.
It was… everything.
Everything I never had.
Everything she never got to see.
Everything she left behind for me to discover on my own.
The ache hollowed me out from the inside.
She was real now.
Not a mystery.
Not a whispered name.
Not a shadow on the orphanage steps.
She was a person.
And I knew her.
Her kindness.
Her fierce protectiveness.
Her stubbornness.
Her warmth.
Her brilliance.
Her laughter.
My mother.
My real mother.
Not a symbol.
Not a tragic rumor.
Not a forgotten casualty of a war.
She was real.
And losing her…Losing her felt newly unbearable.
My fingers tightened around the locket.
It throbbed faintly with warmth—as if answering my touch, acknowledging my pain.
I let out a breath that broke in the middle.
"…Mom," I whispered, voice cracking.
__________________________
This marks the final chapter of today's 11-chapter Christmas release.
Thank you for reading through all of it and for the constant support—you honestly make moments like this worth it.
As always, if you want you can me on P@treon search blaze98. Your support there directly helps me keep writing consistently and pushing out big releases like today's.
Thank you again, and I'll see you in the next chapter ❤️