Evelyn Riddle: The Forgotten Chronicles-Book 1

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Christmas break ended far too quickly for Harry, Ron, and Evelyn, but they made the most of the time they had together. Snowball fights, lazy afternoons by the fire, and whispered conversations about the mirror filled their days, weaving memories they would carry with them long after the season had passed.

As the new term began, Hogwarts transformed once again. The quiet, echoing halls of the holiday break were replaced by bustling corridors teeming with returning students. Voices echoed through the castle as friends reunited, their laughter and chatter filling the air. The energy was palpable, a mix of excitement and reluctance to dive back into the rigors of schoolwork.

Among the returning students was Hermione, who wasted no time in finding Evelyn. Spotting her in the corridor just outside the Great Hall, Hermione called her name and hurried over. Before Evelyn could say anything, Hermione wrapped her in a warm, enthusiastic hug.

"Thank you so much for the potions you sent me!" Hermione exclaimed, pulling back just enough to beam at Evelyn. "It was incredible—exactly what I needed."

Evelyn froze for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden embrace. She wasn't used to physical affection, and for a beat, she didn't know how to respond. But then, awkwardly, she raised her arms and hugged Hermione back, patting her lightly on the shoulder. "Oh, um, you're welcome," she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "I'm glad you liked it."

When Hermione finally released her, Evelyn added, "And, uh, thank you for the book. It's... perfect." She felt a bit clumsy with her words, but the truth was, she genuinely appreciated the thoughtful gift. The potions book had already become a treasured addition to her small collection, its neatly annotated pages brimming with new techniques and ideas she couldn't wait to try.

Hermione's smile grew even wider. "I'm so glad! I thought you might like it. It's a rare edition, you know. I had to owl Flourish and Blotts twice to make sure they had it in stock."

Evelyn chuckled softly, the initial awkwardness of the moment fading. "Well, it's brilliant. Thank you."

The two walked together into the Great Hall, where the tables were already filling with students eager to share stories of their holidays. Evelyn couldn't help but feel a small spark of warmth. The hug, though unexpected, had reminded her once again of the connections she was building here, the sense of belonging that was slowly starting to feel real. Hermione, with her unbridled enthusiasm and thoughtfulness, was part of that.

As they joined Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table, the buzz of excitement around them was infectious. It wasn't just the start of a new term—it was a continuation of the friendships and memories they were creating.

The teachers, seemingly eager to make up for lost time, wasted no opportunity in piling on homework from the first day of the new term. Essays, practice spells, and extensive readings left students scrambling to keep up. Evelyn felt the weight of the workload almost immediately, her evenings consumed with studying to maintain her grades. Between the relentless assignments and the general chaos of Hogwarts life, there was little time for anything else—least of all, returning to the library for their research on Nicolas Flamel.

Herbology continued to be one of Evelyn's most frustrating subjects. Shared with the Hufflepuffs, the class often left her feeling out of her depth. Plants, with their unpredictable nature, didn't yield easily to memorization or careful practice. This week's lesson on Puffapods was no different. The brightly colored plants sat in front of them, their seed pods trembling precariously with every movement. The task was to carefully repot them without causing the pods to burst and release a cloud of glittering spores.