knee socks

chapter seventeen

Not surprisingly, Alex wasn't at his literature class, as McGonagall explained that he hadn't been able to make it (make it from were? has he left school grounds?). That said, Eve felt like she had a small hole in her heart, and was lost in thought all day, so much that her friends didn't know what to do with her.

"Are you sure you're not mad at me?" Fred asked for the tenth time as he watched the brunette girl exhale some smoke, her eyes lost in the sky above. "Of course Fred, I'd have told you. Don't worry, I'm just not feeling very well today" Fred and George exchanged glances at this, and gathered some courage. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a guy, right? Because you just have to name him, and we'll take care of it, make it look like an accident-" That's just what she needed to hear, and she burst laughing so hard, that a couple of minutes after she felt like crying. And she did, and ended up being hugged by Fred and George in a bit of an awkward way, both of them puzzled, but nonetheless wanting to be there for their friend.

Was she really crying over a man? A man she didn't even have a relationship with? God, that's pathetic. But to be honest, it wasn't just that. Eve felt like since she came to Hogwarts, everything was disorganised, a mess to be clear, and the lack of stability was getting to her.

She ended up giving a lame excuse to the twins, who obviously didn't believe it, but made no attempts to push the truth out of her until she was ready. Eve spent that afternoon quietly, dining early and reading a bit before bed. 

Thursday was a blur of a day, because between the classes (which weren't really difficult, but Eve had to concentrate to behave properly, otherwise Snape or Ms Corn would give her more detentions) and her different friend groups (mainly the two Slytherins and the twins and Hermione) that demanded her attention, she had no time to be by herself.

On Friday morning, she shared Potions again with the Slytherins, and some exchange students joined the class, Jacob ending up paired with her and Nott and Blaise. He seemed very interested in her, and Eve played the part, flirting back with the guy, but inside feeling a voice telling her to drop the act. She proceded to have lunch with the boys, and then was reminded by Ms Cornly that she had detention at 6.00 pm sharp. So much for enjoying an afternoon in Hogsmeade with her friends. 

As she walked towards Moody's office, she couldn't help but think about her trajectory in Hogwarts. She had started classes the 7th of September,  almost two months ago, and yet it felt like she had been in this school her whole life, just like Ilvermorny, probably thanks to the friends she had made. She shuddered as she came to the door, feeling a dark aura surrounding the area, and knocked on the door twice.

"Come on in" a husky voice said, and as she did, she saw it highly reminded her of Snape's own office. It was dark, lighted with some candles, but unlike Snape's, it was full of books and cauldrons and cages and boxes (one was even rattling and moaning)  "Ah Miss Teach, I see you've made it on time" the creepy voice of Moody said, making Eve's skin crawl when she saw how his fake eye oggled her "Yes, Ms Cornly told me I had to come here?" Moody grinned, a very ugly sight to see, because it looked like his face was falling apart. "Of course, she had a very special task for you, she should be here any minute". Again, Eve shivered, not liking his tone whatsoever and the idea of Nina choosing a type of torture for her... 

That's when the terror kicked in, and she realised that a Friday afternoon, there were almost no students on the school grounds, except for first and second years, and most teachers where probably resting (and Alex was still missing), which made her and the two teachers the only people, at least in that wing. She tried to calm herself down, but silently began to plan an escape plan, and remind herself of all the wandless magic she knew. That was actually her biggest weapon: she hadn't told anyone, including the teachers, so no one had to actually know about it, and she wasn't showing off her abilities to anyone.