breathe me | h. potter

ten

"I didn't know you could get buried in your own silence."
—Jandy Nelson

ten

It wasn't much, but Hermione had noticed a change in Evelyn. Although Hermione didn't eat with Evelyn and didn't really spend much time with her in the library, she saw her quite a bit and knew her usual habits. When eating, Evelyn would either be writing, reading the Daily Prophet, or reading a book. Not lately, though.

Lately, Evelyn had been day dreaming quite a bit, which would be normal, if she hadn't been looking over to Hermione's own seating area and blushing a deep red. And when they were in the library, Hermione would catch Evelyn looking at Harry over her book instead of reading. Sometimes she would see Harry and Evelyn walk to a class together, which was odd because it was always with classes they didn't share, they were both going out of their way to be with the other. Catching Evelyn staring at Harry and becoming attached, made her extremely happy, but also worried. Would Harry feel the same way? Would Evelyn change because of her crush like girls so often did? Would it to Harry's head? But perhaps the most frightening question was: If Evelyn and Harry do end up together and if ended badly, would Hermione have to not talk to Evelyn again, her closest confidant other than Harry and Ron?

Hermione pushed these thoughts away though, she would come to that bridge when, and if, it was built. For now, Hermione would endlessly tease Evelyn for her crush.

And, of course, since she was thinking of Evelyn, she would appear. Hermione left Ron and Harry's side at a bench by the Black Lake, to approach Evelyn at a tree. She looked to be reading something about quidditch. Hermione smirked as she was sitting down,"Reading something to talk with Harry about?"

Evelyn jumped, not realizing Hermione was there. Evelyn hesitated making a questioning sound before responding,"No?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and rested her head against the tree,"Of course you aren't. And of course you don't happen to have a crush on him either."

Evelyn gave no response, but the redness in her cheeks gave her away.

Hermione smiled brightly,"I knew it! You've been looking at him way too much with this look on your face."

Evelyn gave her a questioning look,"What face?" Evelyn pushed back her hair from her glasses, readjusted her body to be facing towards Hermione, and closed her book.

Hermione quieted a second before responding,"You look at him like if you don't you won't be able to breath. Like if you don't look at him at least for a moment that you'll suffocate."

Evelyn heard her face from behind her hands and simply said,"Oh."

Hermione realized that this conversation made Evelyn uncomfortable and tried to reassure her,"Don't worry about it, tons of girls like him."

Evelyn looked towards the Black Lake, she looked more upset than Hermione had seen her in a long time. And when Hermione least expected, Evelyn opened her mouth.

"Hermione, don't you think I know that? Don't you think I know that tons of other girls fancy him? That girls way smarter, funnier, and not to mention prettier like him? Like Ginny for instance? She's so headstrong and intelligent, she could have him any day. Why would he like me? Why would he like me if he could have anyone else?"

"If who could have anyone else?"

Two people had walked up without either Evelyn or Hermione noticing. Harry and Ron quickly sat down next to Evelyn and Hermione, without noticing how serious of a conversation they had walked into.

Evelyn's face was expressionless as she continued to stare off into the lake, Hermione simply told the boys that they were talking about a book character.

Minutes went by before anyone said anything, Evelyn reading her book, Hermione looking down at her hands, Ron bullshitting and essay at the last minute, and Harry just looking to the Black Lake.

Suddenly, the clock tower's bell rang out and the four jumped, before Hermione, Ron and. Harry all got up.

Ron looked down at Evelyn,"Aren't you going to class Ev?" Ron had taken to calling her that, feeling it was too much of a hassle to say all three syllables of her name.

Evelyn looked up from her book and grinned for the first time since she had her outburst,"No, Ron, I don't have class for another thirty minutes, but thanks for asking."

Ron nodded his head and turned away, waving with Hermione before walking off. Harry stayed behind and looked down at Evelyn,"I know you weren't talking about a book character earlier, Evelyn."

Evelyn didn't speak, finding it hard to collect the words she wanted to say. But she didn't need to say anything because Harry could say enough for the both of them.

"I don't know who you were talking about, but you're wrong. No one is better than you. No boy deserves you, you're the most sincere person I've ever met other than probably Molly Weasley. Why would someone want anyone else?"

Evelyn had looked up at him as soon as he said that, her heart was bursting with happiness, and looked like she was going to cry, and before she did Harry simply said,"Oh, Evelyn, please don't cry."

Evelyn let out a watery laugh and nodded her head. She stood up and wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath.

She found it hard to say anything after what he had said. He was too good. And she didn't mean for her, she meant for the whole world. After everything he'd been through, everything he'd seen, he was still kind. And that was seldom found, even in people who had rarely struggled.

She couldn't find the words, so she stuck with something simple,"Harry, thank you."

Harry just smiled and said,"Do you want me to walk with you to your next class, I know it doesn't start for a while, but hopefully I'll help pass the time?"

Evelyn nodded before realizing he had a class of his own,"Don't you have a class to go to now?"

Harry responded,"Yes, but I'm not missing Snape too much, so he can wait. Also, have you ever noticed that when we look at each other in the eyes, we're looking through two tiny windows?"

Evelyn shook her head and laughed.

a/n:

guys it been so long, my apologies. but i do love evelyn and needed to come back to her. please leave a comment and like this chapter, I love to hear your thoughts. also i'm sorry if their are any mistakes, this is unedited because i wanted to get this to you as fast as possible. and btw i posted a new remus fic and I'm super excited so you guys should check that out if you're interested, it's called "Grow"