Evelyn Riddle: The Forgotten Chronicles-Book 1

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

The rest of the week passed in a dreary, relentless blur for Evelyn. The bullying in Slytherin continued, as if her housemates were determined to make every moment in the common room, in class, or at meals unbearable. The taunts about her lack of family persisted, with Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy leading the charge. Even the quieter students, like Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis, either ignored her completely or watched with a faint, pitying smirk when the comments became particularly cutting.

Evelyn did her best to stay quiet, keep her head down, and avoid attention. But no matter how much she tried to fade into the background, her very presence seemed to provoke their ire. It was like they couldn't resist reminding her that she didn't belong.

By the time Friday rolled around, Evelyn felt utterly drained. Even potions, her favorite subject in theory, was quickly becoming one she dreaded in practice. Sharing a table with Draco Malfoy was an exercise in patience and frustration. Despite her natural talent for the subject, Evelyn found herself constantly at odds with him. Draco refused to follow instructions and actively sabotaged their potion when it suited him.

The evening in the common room was no better. Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode stood near the fire, their laughter loud and sharp as Evelyn entered. When she tried to approach, they stepped deliberately into her path, forcing her to walk around them.

"Careful, Riddle," Pansy said with a sneer. "You wouldn't want to trip and embarrass yourself. Or maybe you would. Seems like that's the only way anyone notices you."

Millicent chuckled, her broad shoulders blocking Evelyn's view of the fire. Evelyn didn't reply, instead retreating to a corner of the common room with her Potions textbook. She opened it, pretending to read while her vision blurred with unshed tears.

On Saturday, Evelyn skipped breakfast entirely. The idea of facing her housemates, of enduring their mocking whispers and pointed stares, made her stomach churn. Instead, she headed straight to the library, the one place in the castle where she felt she could breathe.

The library was quiet and still, the faint scent of old parchment and ink filling the air. Evelyn claimed a table near the back, away from the main aisles and the larger groups of students who had come to study together. She pulled out her books and parchment, ready to tackle her mounting pile of homework.

The hours passed in a steady rhythm. Evelyn worked methodically, finding solace in the structure of her assignments. Potions came first, her quill moving with confidence as she outlined the properties of key ingredients. Charms followed, and though the diagrams of wand movements were tedious, she felt a sense of accomplishment as she finished each one.

It wasn't until she reached her Transfiguration essay that she noticed something unusual. Hermione Granger was sitting a few tables away, her own stack of books towering around her. Evelyn hadn't seen her arrive, but now that she had, she couldn't ignore the occasional glances Hermione was casting in her direction.

At first, Evelyn tried to brush it off. She's probably just looking around, she told herself. But as the morning wore on, the glances became harder to ignore. Every time Evelyn looked up, it seemed Hermione was already turning back to her work, her quill moving furiously as though trying to mask her curiosity.

Evelyn shifted uncomfortably in her chair, her concentration faltering. Hermione's attention wasn't mocking, nor did it carry the usual edge of disdain she'd come to expect from her housemates. Instead, it felt curious, almost... analytical, like Hermione was trying to figure her out. Evelyn didn't know which was worse.

By the time evening rolled around, Evelyn had finished most of her assignments, but her nerves were frayed. She packed up her things quickly and slipped out of the library without meeting Hermione's gaze.