𝐒𝐎 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍; 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫.

𝐱𝐱𝐯𝐢𝐢. 𝐧𝐨, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐲

𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃, 𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐙𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐌. No doubt she was under the impression that he was planning another attempt on Onai this weekend and would be trying to thwart him at every turn. However, his plans for the Felix Felicis were much simpler; he was going home for the weekend and didn't want to die.

His parents had arranged it all with Dumbledore; urgent family business, a funeral to attend abroad. They would pick him up by Floo from the headmaster's office, and he was to report there by eight o'clock that evening. 

He shook his head. Avison would no doubt be searching the castle frantically, nose deep in his business and trying to prevent the inevitable. However, there was something the Mudblood wasn't aware of about the mission.

It wasn't his mission at all. It was Regulus's.

Now, Evan would be a horrible friend if he didn't help, after all, and he also would be a horrible friend if he went around telling the school (especially people like Avison) who really was in charge of the mission.

Did he care what Avison thought of his agenda and who he was?

Of course not. She seemed to be under the impression that it was either a group mission where he was the leader, or his alone. He didn't care. She knew exactly the kind of person he was, and she'd always known.

And Evan had to keep reminding himself that she hated him, because sometimes it seemed like she didn't. Like when she'd offered Dumbledore's services, claiming that he could be hidden. 

That he could be saved.

Of all the reasons to hate Amara Avison, this was his favorite. He didn't need saving. He didn't want saving. But she thought she could save everyone.

But here was Evan's breaking point, and this was the conclusion he'd come to after several deep talks with Regulus and watching Sirius and his treatment and pureblood gatherings;

Salvation alone would never compare to damnation alongside one's brothers.

Evan really had chosen his path. He really had. He knew what he signed up for.

He entered the Slytherin common room, muttering a quick "Amarettus asectus" to move the tapestry. He searched the dimly lit room, eyes finally lighting up at the sight of his best friend.

"Regulus," he greeted, sitting across from him on a green couch. "How was Herbology?"

"Boring." Regulus did not look up from his book. He was sprawled over his couch, head propped on the armrest and his book resting on his chest. "And Potions?"

Evan grinned, holding up the Felix Felicis. "Splendid."

This caught Regulus's attention, and he sat up straight, book sliding to thud softly on the floor. "How did you get that?"

"Our Amortentia potion was the best," Evan replied. "Slughorn gave it to me and Avison to split."

Regulus frowned. "I didn't realize you made such a good team."

You don't know the half of it, Evan thought, hiding a small smile. Then his thoughts soured as he remembered the torture she'd put him through. "Surprised me, too. I think she wanted it as bad as I did."

Regulus eyed the small bottle. "You have to share that with her?"

"One tablespoon is enough to last us for the dinner tomorrow," Evan said. "I suppose she'll want it come Monday, when I said she could, but it's ours for the weekend."