downfall // marauders era

f o u r

Eve jumped as James walked in, the sudden noise scaring her for some unknown reason. James smiled at her sheepishly, she could tell he felt weird walking in on their conversation. He had a slightly disappointed look in his eyes. Eve felt like it might have to do with the other 3 Marauders. Maybe he tried to tell them about her and they didn't take it well?

By the way he glanced around, she could also tell that he was wondering where his, or rather their, parents were. Dumbledore sensed this, and he smiled gently at James' confusion, "I asked your parents to go home and set up for Eve while she stayed here with me so I could talk with her privately. I assured them you would make sure she got home safely," Dumbledore's smile grew a bit brighter as he said the last sentence.

James only nodded in return and turned to Eve, "So, uh, are you ready? Mum and dad are probably getting worried that we're taking so long..." James trailed off at the end, scratching the back of his neck. It was awkward talking to the sister he had only met an hour ago, and he was afraid that it might be awkward for a while. After all, just over an hour ago he had been an only child who was playing exploding snaps with the boys he considered to be the closest things to siblings that he'd ever get.

Eve smiled at him and nodded, relieving some of the awkward tension between the two. She stood up, and then realized she'd probably have to use floo powder to get to her new home like she witnessed her parents do earlier. She followed James to the fireplace and he turned to her, "You know how floo powder works, right?"

Eve nodded her head, "You throw the powder into the fireplace, say where you want to go, and then you step into the fire?" She said it as more of a question than a statement because she wasn't sure she was right. She was only going off of the Harry Potter books and what she had witnessed her parents do earlier.

James smiled and nodded. He grabbed a fistful of the fire and told Eve to jump in with him once he said Potter Manor. He then threw the powder in and said "Potter Manor" in a loud, clear voice. Then, James and Eve jumped into the green fire together, and stumbled out of the fireplace at their house, slightly covered in soot.

As they brushed themselves off they heard their parents come rushing down the stairs. Eve studied them as they walked over, just now noticing that they seemed to be a bit older and slower than most 15 year old's parent would be.

As Mrs. Potter walked closer she opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by a sudden loud noise. Everyone glanced over at the large grandfather clock leaning against the wall in the Potter household, watching as it gave off two short, yet loud, dings. Euphemia and Fleamont looked at each other before Euphemia nearly broke down and rushed forward to pull Eve in a sudden hug.

Eve gasped, but hugged her mother back hesitantly because she didn't want to be rude. As she was hugging her, she realized that those two dings meant it was 10:30 p.m. on September 27, 15 years to the exact time that Eve was taken. She then gave her mother a true hug in return and whispered, "It's okay, mum, I'm here now." This only made Mrs. Potter begin to sob, and Eve grew worried that she had upset her. She still wasn't sure how to act around parents since she never had any before.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I probably shouldn't have said that! D-do you not want me to call you mum yet or-" Her mother cut her off by pulling back and and smiling at her with tears still running down her face, "Oh, sweetie, those weren't sad tears. They were joyful, I finally have you back. You calling me mum just brought them on stronger."

Eve blushed and looked at her father, who was smiling with glistening eyes at the scene in front of him. She then looked to James, who smiled back at her awkwardly. She wondered if he was just a naturally awkward person like she was, because that's sure how it seemed since she met him.