Sanguine - (adj.) eagerly optimistic, especially under terrible circumstances.
Evangeline was a pureblood witch, her parents' perfect porcelain doll. Evangeline lived a sheltered, predictable life, and she didn't mind it. She didn't know there was a...
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On Wednesday evening, Evangeline reported to Slughorn's office for detention. She was still bitter about the circumstances. She had permission, he was the one out of bounds after hours, he had only thrown her under the Knight Bus to get himself out of hot water. It wasn't like she was going to say anything in the first place. She felt mildly offended by the thought.
The door to Slughorn's office flew open just as Evangeline reached to open it. She stumbled back to avoid being taken out by it. Regulus Black stormed out of the office and into the potions classroom. He was positively radiating ire. Evangeline decided not to engage, instead choosing to speak to the professor first.
"Miss de Santis, I was sorry to miss you for our photo," said Slughorn as soon as he spotted her.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I was feeling under the weather," Evangeline had completely forgotten about that, to be honest. She had spent the better part of the week ignoring everyone in the Slug Club—which was typical behavior for her—and focusing on getting the required signatures for the Alchemy course. She placed the parchment on his crowded desk, beaming proudly. She took a step back and collided with a bookshelf stuffed into the corner of the tiny room.
The office was cramped to say the least. A desk that was far too large for the space had been crammed into the center of the room, leaving hardly enough room for the chair behind it. The door swung open into the front edge of the desk, meaning you had to either talk through it, or shut the door behind you, confining yourself to the claustrophobic space. Evangeline didn't take up much room comparatively, but even she was forced to cling to the wall so as not to touch the front of the desk.
"There are only five names here," Professor Slughorn noted.
"For now," said Evangeline, "But Evans is working on Potter and Snape, and she's certain they'll sign up."
"Even if that were the case, you would only have seven signatures. I am as eager to get this course off the ground as you are, but I'm afraid I can't approve it without eight prospective students."
"We only need one more," Evangeline protested, "I can get one more, I'm sure of it."
"I can give you until end of day Friday," he relented, "But not a minute later."
"Thank you!" Evangeline seized the parchment from the table, crumpling it slightly in her excitement.
He cleared his throat as she turned to leave, stopping her in her tracks. "I spoke with Madam Pomfrey. She told me you're considering a career as a healer?"
"Yeah, she thought I'd be good at it."
"I'm sure you would, but I have to admit it's not what I expected from you," Professor Slughorn said.
"Oh," Evangeline's face sank, "Well, what do you think I should do?"
"That's just it, dear," his kind eyes seemed to convey a sense of disappointment. "It's a noble career, but I have to wonder whether it's something you want or whether it's what you feel you should be pursuing."
