𝕀𝕟𝕟𝕠𝕔𝕖𝕟𝕥 ⇾ Harry Potter

Chapter Sixteen ✔️

Rewritten and posted on 28th May 2021

C h a p t e r S i x t e e n
F u l l M o o n

Evelyn's second experience through the tunnel that connected The Whomping Willow and The Shrieking Shack was far less eventful than her first. This time she had the privilege of being able to walk, instead of being dragged by her animagus father. She wasn't mad at him for his actions, she could see now that he was crazed, but he had just wanted her close and away from the deadly tree on the Hogwarts grounds. 

She took the lead of the group, using her wand to light the way for the others. Harry and her father trailed behind her as they aided Ron, who struggled due to his injured foot, and was Hermione  behind them. Lupin and Pettigrew were further behind out of sight, Evelyn didn't feel comfortable leaving them in the shack alone but Sirius had assured the children that he trusted his friend to take care of himself against the rat-man. 

"Sorry about the bite," she heard Sirius apologised to Ron. "I reckon that twinges a bit."

"A bit?" Ron repeated in disbelief before his voice raised to exclaim, "A bit? You almost tore my leg off!"

Evelyn chuckled at her brother's exaggeration, she quietly cleared her throat to muffle the noise otherwise she would receive an earful from him later. If she looked behind her, she would no doubt meet Ron's glare and Harry's amused smirk. 

"Well I was going for the rat," Sirius explained. "Normally, I have a very sweet disposition as a dog. In fact more than once, James suggested that I make the change permanent. The tail I could live with. But the fleas, they're murder."

As they came to the incline which lead to the opening of The Whomping Willow, they could see that night had fallen and there was a chill in the air which made Evelyn wish she had grabbed some sort of jacket that morning like her friends had smartly done so. They had been in the tunnels and The Shrieking Shack longer than she had thought, she climbed the slope carefully and checked that the others were safe too as she returned to the grass under the famous tree. 

"Nox" she whispered before tucking her wand into the waistband of her jeans. The rest of the group followed out behind her, with Ron being settled on a nearby flat rock. 

Evelyn stepped over to sit beside her brother, while noticing in her peripheral that Sirius was walking away from them. "Are you okay?" she asked, resting a hand on his shoulder. 

"I suppose," Ron responded with a wince as he stared down at the small punctures from teeth around his ankle. He let out a yelp suddenly as she thumped him on the back of the head. "Ow! What was that for?"

She glared back at him, half-heartedly. "That was for never believing me and telling mum that I aggravated that stupid rat every time it bit me!"

"Alright, I'm sorry!" he snapped, holding the sore spot. He turned sombre after a moment, ignoring Harry and Hermione who had kneeled down to fuss over him. " I really am sorry though, if I'd known that Scabbers... If I knew that he was the one who-"

"I know," she stopped him, not wanting anymore reminders. 

She managed a small smile to assure Ron that she wasn't mad at him, before her attention turned to Sirius. She found him stood further down the hill, standing a few feet away from the treeline as he stared at the view of Hogwarts. She had never seen Hogwarts like this at night, it truly was an amazing sight. She debated with herself whether to approach and speak to him or not, but she didn't know where to begin. He was innocent, he had never done any of the terrible things he was believed to have committed. Now, knowing the truth, Evelyn could see that he was just a man looking for freedom and his family.