Evan Rosier (Harry Potter Fanfic/ Prequel)

1 | 5 | Unexpected Gift

Saturday, December 25

On the holidays, my friends give me spectacular gifts.

Even Severus, although he comes from a poor family and can't afford much. His gift was more about the thought than the looks.

Cassia gifts me a book containing all I need to know about Herbology, my worst subject. Blair gives me a pretty navy cloak, Severus gives me a hand-made scarf with blue and green stripes (both of our House's colors together), and surprisingly, Evan gets me something, too.

We haven't even spoken for months and he's going to get me something for Christmas? It's a ring, just a simple one with a silver band and a black onyx centerstone. What the-? Is he even allowed to give me jewelry?

I can't wear this. Not when we aren't on speaking terms. Instead, I keep the ring in my antique jewelry box so to not raise questions from my parents.

"Happy Christmas!" My dad says from the entrance of the room. I jumped from the jewelry box, having just put the ring away.

"Uh, happy Christmas!" I come back  to my pile of presents. "Thank you for the gift, father."

He has given me a small package of imported treats from Bulgaria. My mother has given me a Ravenclaw blanket to show her support.

"Mom's made breakfast," he says. "Come join us."

"Yes, sir."

For breakfast, she made us a full English one. We have sausages, fried eggs, flapjacks, and syrup. Taking a couple of sausages with my flapjacks, I pour as much syrup as possible and dig in.

"Arabelle!" My mother says, feigning shock. "Mind your manners."

"Sorry, mother." I put my fork down and spread a napkin on my lap. Taking much smaller and slower bites, my mother nods approvingly.

After breakfast, they let me go out to play in the snow. Using the scarf Severus gave me, I bundle up against the cold. I may not be so social, but I do know how to make a perfect snowman.

I giggle while Dad comes out with a carrot stick and places it in between the snowman's eyes and mouth. He then scoops a ball of snow and hits my back.

With a yelp, I take cover behind the snowman. Using the shelter, I make a few snowballs myself and try to hit Dad with them.

I did not win that fight, but that's just Dad. He never lets me win anything.

Mom tells us to come inside an hour later before we get hypothermia. Casting a drying spell on both of us and muttering to herself, she makes us sit in the living room while she gets some hot cocoa.

I smile into the warmth of the cocoa and the fire she lights in the fireplace. It's like this every single Christmas and I wouldn't want it differently.

The night ends with my parents tucking me into my bed and lighting my Christmas candle. They shut the door quietly, allowing me to relax into my bed and think about my day.

The beginning was a little weird with Evan's gift, but overall, it was great. I can't wait for next year.

Unfortunately, all holidays must come with an end. Our end came with New Years Day, where my parents and I celebrated with a cup of pumpkin juice.

School starts not long after.

Cassia finds me on the train and brings me into a compartment with Blair, Galloran, and some of her other friends. There was one other Ravenclaw, Cynthia, who is with her boyfriend.

Severus isn't in here, so he must be with his friends.

Cassia instantly engages in a conversation with Galloran and his friend. Blair is talking to Cynthia and her boyfriend, so I don't talk to anyone.

After that excruciating train ride is over, it seems as if Blair finally noticed me. "You're wearing my cloak!"

I regard it with a smile. "It's nice and warm. Do you like my scarf?"

I hold my scarf out for her to touch and she does with a smirk. "Severus made that. He told me. It's real soft, you oughta go thank him."

I look over to where Severus is staring at some Gryffindor girl with disdain, his friends in a cluster, not really with him but beside him. "Not right now," I say, scrunching up my nose at the thought of being near his friends.

"Oh." Blair looks at his friends with an interested gaze. "They're not too bad. Evan's great, and Avery's not evil all the time."

"They're Death Eaters, Blair," I snarl.

"Their parents are Death Eaters," she protests. "They don't have the mark themselves."

"But they will." I shake my head in disgust. "When they're old enough, they'll officially be followers of You-Know-Who, and I don't want to be associated from that."

Blair doesn't try to change my mind after that.

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Published 5-21-20