Mary and I stand in the hall together, smiling from ear to ear as we read the announcement plastered to the wall. An announcement that we knew was coming, but seeing it for ourselves is still indescribably exciting. Sure enough, the oversized parchment affixed to the wall just outside the Great Hall reads as follows:
ATTENTION:
SEVENTH YEAR STUDENTS
IN GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING
WHO ARE IN POSSESSION OF THEIR APPARITION LICENCE
MAY OPT TO APPARATE HOME
FROM HOGSMEADE VILLAGE
IN LIEU OF THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS
WHEN DEPARTING FOR THE SPRING HOLIDAY
Turning to face me, Mary's grin widens, "Well then?"
"Oh, no question. And you?"
"Absolutely!"
A small thing perhaps, but one that makes us feel positively adult.
Which, of course, we are now ...
Though sometimes, such a thing still feels hard to believe ...
Sometimes I still feel like the little girl I once was -
Turning and heading into the Great Hall together for our final breakfast, we link arms. As we walk along, Mary sighs, "... Our last spring holiday. I suppose that means we're really and truly reaching the end of our time here, huh?"
Squeezing her arm, I fight back a wave of sadness at the notion. I shake my head and murmur back, "... Doesn't quite seem real."
"Tell me about it."
Slipping down side by side into seats at the far end of the table, we begin assembling our breakfast plates. As I reach for a fresh glass of pumpkin juice, Mary scans the Hall, already more empty than it'd been last night, now that the Spring Holiday has officially begun, "Not everyone's looking so happy this morning, it would seem."
Quirking an eyebrow at her, she nods across the way towards the Slytherin table, "... Rosier looking as if someone's just skinned his cat."
My heart clenching at this, I whip my head around. And when my eyes find Evan, my throat tightens as I take in the sight of him. Evan, staring down at the table, the expression on his face one of unmistakable pain.
... Pain bordering upon complete agony
On either side of him, the Carrow twins.
More like flanking him -
Holding him hostage
Those around him laughing and chatting, Evan continues to stare blankly at the untouched plate in front of him. Reggie, I can't help but notice, is nowhere to be seen.
Still avoiding being in the same place as Evan, whenever he can help it.
As Evan sits in silence, Alecto giggles and chats with Emma. Alecto's hand, I note, grips Evan's tightly, as though pinning it down onto the tabletop.
As I continue to stare, I barely register Mary's voice in my ear, "... So get this: I heard that not only are Evan and Alecto back together - yet again - here's the real kicker ... rumour has it that the two of them are actually engaged!"
"... I still can't believe it," I murmur back, my words issued from my lips before I can screen myself. I speak them dully, defeatedly, as if in a daze.
The engagement ...
My waking nightmare.
"Wait, so you knew about it?"
YOU ARE READING
Coiled (Book 1 of 2)
Fanfic"This is our story: Reggie, Evan, and I." A Marauders Era story that follows the reader (FMC), Regulus Black & Evan Rosier through their last year at Hogwarts into the First Wizarding War. This is book 1 of 2, and contains the first two parts of th...
