evanescent┆彡 remus lupin

3┊dreams and nightmares

Despite having received a letter later that day from her father (which included birthday wishes and an apology for not making it), Evangeline did not wish to return the time-turner. Instead, she packed it into a hidden compartment in her trunk, and took it with her on her return to Hogwarts.

"Yes, mother. I've got everything." She had grumbled while being squished by Claudette, whose eyes were glassy with tears.

"Okay, love." She pulled back, leaving Evangeline rather breathless and slightly disgruntled. "Stay safe and make sure to write letters."

Evangeline nodded in response, giving her mother a pat on her shoulder.

"Don't fret about me, mother. I'm old now, remember? I can take care of myself. And I'll write tons of letters."

"You'd better. Love you!"

"I love you too."

After having found out that Cedric and Sue both had prefect duties to attend to, Evangeline did not know where to go. She walked up and down the train, grumbling as each compartment held unfamiliar faces.

Finally, she found a compartment with three smiling faces. Well, two smiling faces, and one frown.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione! Mind if I sit here?" Evangeline asked, motioning to empty spot in the room. The three nodded.

Evangeline made her way to the empty spot; failing to notice a sleeping man until Harry had pointed him out.

On the seat next to her, a grown man, seemingly in his thirties sat with his head slumped against the compartment window. He had messy brown hair, somewhat resembling a birds nest, and at his feet stood a tattered brown suitcase with the initials, R.J Lupin on them.

Evangeline wondered how she didn't spot this earlier.

"How were your summers?" She asked, reducing her tone to a hushed whisper. Ron and Hermione shrugged in close unison.

"Sirius Black." Harry said simply, finishing off his answer with a shrug.

Evangeline felt the name pull on her heartstrings, finding herself wallowed in pity for the younger student. He was so young, yet he had gone through so much.

"Don't worry, Harry. I'll protect you." She said, whipping out her wand and giving it a few silly waves as if to emphasise her point. A smile slipped on to Harry's lips.

"Thank you, Angel."

The group lapsed into a thick silence. Evangeline and Hermione worked on practicing some simple charms with their wands, whereas Harry seemed insistent on staring out the window in a gloomy manner. Ron stared at Harry staring out of the window helplessly while working his way through a pile of Chocolate frogs.

"Do you guys feel that?" Harry asked suddenly, his words cutting through the tension like a knife.

Evangeline did feel "that". She felt like her stomach was being sucked into a black hole, with every ounce of her happiness following accordingly.

Her companions looked equally slumped and the compartment was visibly darkened, turning into a gloomy shade of despair.

Evangeline did not know where her thoughts came from, until she saw a bony hand slide the compartment door open, followed by a hooded creature, gliding across the floor.

And with that, she found the strength to push her hopelessness away.

"Quick!" She gasped, immediately standing up and shoving the three younger students behind her, using her arms to shield them from the sight of the creature. "Behind me; stay there!"