Evan Rosier (Harry Potter Fanfic/ Prequel)

2 | 15 | Not So Lousy

Sunday, December 24

On Christmas Eve, most of us students are sent home on the Hogwarts Express.

I ride with my friends as usual, except for Severus. I think he might be with his other friends in a separate compartment, but I'm not sure.

Blair comments on my ring while I'm not paying attention. "Thanks," I mumble to whatever she said. The other girls, Cassia, Cynthia, Jamie, and some red-headed Slytherin girl older than all of us, giggle. "What?" I ask.

"She just asked you how you manage to wear that all the time," Cassia says, rolling her eyes as if I should have been paying attention. "We were expecting answers, your humble Highness."

"Oh." My face heats up and I turn away. "I don't know."

I tune them out after that, like usual. That's how my Hogwarts train rides usually go anyway. I stare out the window, thinking, while the rest of them chat away and buy snacks. Of course I steal a few snacks from them, too.

After the Hogwarts Express is at the Platform, I get off with Blair, who follows me to my parents. I'm not surprised they're here, even though I'm heading home with Evan.

"Good afternoon, Mister and Missus!" My mother calls to the Rosier's. They turn to her and my father with pleasant smiles.

"Hello. Is Arabelle ready to go?"

They turn to my and my mother brushes my hair out of my face. "Be good for me." She straightens my scarf and jacket and sends me off with a kiss to the forehead.

Evan holds out his arm for me and I reluctantly take it, giving a withering look to my parents. They give a nervous smile and allow us to leave.

Evan's mother holds her arm to me and Evan's father to Evan. When we touch their arms, the Platform disappears and is replaced with an array of messy colors and places. It feels as if we are on a rollar coaster, one that goes so fast you can't even feel your face.

When my feet land on the entrance to a house, I stumble and cover my mouth with a hand to avoid throwing up. "Bloody hell," I mumble under my breath. Sometimes my parents Apparate, but they rarely bring me along. I'm not used to it.

Evan pats me on the back and I hate how easily he takes this. The sudden cold from the snow around us hits me and I shiver deep into my jacket.

"Welcome to the Rosier Manor," Evan's mother announces, a proud smile replacing her lips, unaffected by the cold.

I take in my surroundings. The Manor is twice the size of our house, respectably. The walls are dark and the windows are arched and fancy. Around the house is a thin sheet of magical residue.

It's a protective shield around the Manor. I've read about them. Invisible to Muggles and almost invincible to tons of other creatures like us wizards and even giants, it's rumored to be very rare to be able to produce this kind of magic.

Did I expect dark arts magic? Yes, yes I did.

Grabbing my bags, Evan's father leads us inside. He hands my things over to one of their house elves and orders it to take it to the guest room.

"Arabelle, this is our home," Evan's mother says. "Please treat it as your own."

She doesn't want me to do that if she thinks she's already gotten enough house elves.

"I'll let you unpack after dinner," she says, smiling. "Evie!"

"Yes, Mistress?" A female house elf appears in front of us. I sport my usual poker face, like Evan.

"Is dinner ready yet? We and our guest are hungry."

"Yes, Mistress. Evie has to set the table."

"Do have a sit, Arabelle," Evan's father tells me, nudging his son. Evan immediately goes to a chair on one side of the table and pulls it over for me to sit.

"Thank you," I say, my voice as cold as the snow outside.

For dinner, they prepared bowls of French onion soup and rolls. I am surprised.

"Your mother told us you have a soft spot for French cuisine," Evan's mother explains, draping a fur coat on the hangers next to the door.

I allow myself to smile at her. "That's generous."

"We wanted to make you feel at home."

Just as expected, dinner tastes phenomenal. The soup goes terrifically with the rolls and I have to restrain myself from eating too much. Though the smell and Evan's parent's gentle encouragements are very tempting.

Still, no matter what kind of food is presented to me, manners are more important.

"May I be excused?" I ask, carefully wrapping up my napkin and placing it on my empty plate. If I was at home, I'd grab another bowl of soup but I'm not at home. I'm at a fancy manor with fancy people who have high expectations.

"Of course." Evan's father grins at me and I see where Evan's smile comes from. "Have one of our house elves send you to the guest room."

"I can do it," Evan offers, as I step away from the table. In surprise, I turn to him but don't let my feelings show.

He holds out my arm and I take it. When we are out of his parents' sights, we both pull away and then catch ourselves chuckling at the mutual gesture.

"How is it so far?" Evan asks me, generously.

I tilt my head. "It's different. I thought I wouldn't like your parents or home, but it seems pretty okay."

"That's good."

"What about you? Are you okay now with me staying over?" I inquire out of pure curiosity.

He shrugs. "Yes."

With a small smile, we get to the room I'll be staying in and I step inside. "Say goodnight to your parents for me," I tell him, hand on the door.

"I will."

He turns away but I call out, "Goodnight, Evan."

He looks back to me and grins, just like his father. "Goodnight, Arabelle."

I close the door and press my back to it, my heart racing. I must be nervous from all this interaction.

To calm myself down, I begin to unpack my belongings into a small chest. My toothbrush and hairbrush go on the silver desk beside me, along with my books. Late night reading will always be available for me.

I change into a pair of silky, pale blue pajamas and climb into the bed. As expected, it's outrageously comfortable.

I find myself having a good sleep that night. Superb. Outstanding. Marvelous. First-class.

In other words, I slept well despite my excitement for tomorrow.

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Published 5-25-20