Evan Rosier (Harry Potter Fanfic/ Prequel)

4 | 42 | Check The Grin, You're In Love

Christmas Break
Before I know it, the Yule holidays are upon us.

I'm staying home for Christmas Day, but the Rosier's have invited me over to their house, and frankly, I cannot wait. Evan Rosier is one of my greatest friends, and I can't wait to see him outside of school. I hope we can go ice skating again.

Blair and I are eating breakfast together in the Great Hall before we leave. Not many people are here, but we happened to wake up early.

Blair takes a sip of her coffee, and makes a face. "Still very hot."

"It's a hot beverage," I reply without a glance, taking a spoonful of cheesy potatoes.

Blair looks up from her coffee at me and makes a face. I catch her eyes look behind me, and she pales considerably.

I almost turn to see what she was looking at, but Blair startles me by grabbing my hand. I slowly chew on my potatoes, trying to telepathically get her to talk to me.

"Are you just friends with Evan?"

It's such a blunt question that makes me let out a nervous giggle through my mouth full of food. I nod my head, swallow my food, and say, "Just friends. Like always?"

"Yeah, but you like him?"

"I do not!" I protest, sticking my tongue out at her. Her face regains color and she releases my hand with a teasing smile.

"Right, no, of course you don't." She winks at me and I roll my eyes. Still wanting to know what was going on, I turn around, but I'm met with the greeting figure of Anastasiya and one of her friends.

"Hey, Ana," I say, cheerfully. She just has that effect on everyone.

Blair smiles politely, and then leaves, sending me a warning glance as she goes. I wave her off.

Ana takes a seat next to me and her friend sits across from us. "Hey, Bella, have you met Mandy?"

"No, I don't believe so."

"Well, Arabelle, this is Mandy." She shows off a goofy grin. "Mandy, this is Arabelle."

"Nice to meet you," I say and she nods.

"Pleasure." Few people can respond with that and make it not sound sarcastic, so I give her bonus points for that.

While the two are chatting excitedly about the holidays, I let my gaze wander in search for Evan. I still have no clue what Blair was talking about.

~ * ~ *
At home, my parents are encouraging me to open my presents.

I tear open one package, a rather long one, and gaze at it in wonder.

"A broom?"

"Yes!" My mother exclaims. "No, we know you haven't really had much interest in Quidditch, but we just thought you might like to try once in a while, you know?"

It's not like my mother to be so... Excited about this.

It makes me smile. "Thanks, Mom. I'll try it out but I can't guarantee I'll like it."

"Oh, go on," my father pushes, waving a hand at both of us.

Mom and I share a smile and I continue opening my presents. "Are you two going to stand there and watch me or are you going to look at your gifts, too?"

"How about after you, like every year," my mother suggests.

I shrug. "One day it'll be so unbearably awkward sitting here having you two watch me open my gifts."

They chuckle at this and tell me that we'll cross that bridge when it gets here.

From my parents, I got the broom, of course, and a knitted scarf from my father. I always knew he could sew, but I didn't know he was this good. I love it.

From my friends, Blair gifted me a simple charm bracelet. Well, it's actually a charmed bracelet. When it's worn, it changes color, size, and texture to match the outfit I'm wearing.

I put it on while wearing my pajamas and it takes shape into a simple threaded, friendship bracelet. I tell myself that I'll try it on later when I'm actually wearing something.

I take it off and it changes back to its original form, the silver bracelet with three charms, one with half a girl's face and a finger over her mouth which indicates a shushing motion, a cat, because that is a popular choice for most Animagi, and a key.

I put it back in its box and set it aside, though still in deep wonder about how it works. My mother hands me a blank box; I take off the top and peer inside.

This gift is from Cynthia. She gave me a bag of sweets from a nearby country she just visited, and a book that she's kept from Romania.

From Severus, I got a potion brewing kit. It's a bit old-looking, but I appreciate it, especially since we haven't even really talked much this past year (besides the encounter with Potter and Evans).

Evan gifted me a silky bathrobe. I smile when I see how cute it is. Rose gold with a sprinkle of glitter at the bottom. I love it, and so does my mother, but Dad doesn't.

"How obvious can he be?" My mother calls his name in a surprised tone, but he continues. "I mean, a bathrobe? How scandalous!"

"I think it's adorable," my mother coos, feeling the fabric. "It shows how much he cares about Arabelle."

"Mom!" I protest, face reddening in embarrassment.

"Well, you two can't hide your true feelings forever." She smiles and my dad rolls his eyes.

"Okay, yeah, we get it, they're dating," he says, and I try to interrupt but he holds out a hand to stop me. "But this is too scandalous. They're just kids."

"Bloody hell," my mother says, blowing a puff of frustrated air out. "It's a bathrobe, not a marriage proposal. Calm yourself."

He finally drops it, still looking at the robe like it's the devil reincarnated.

~ * ~ *
I'm packing my bag when Clobbey, our house elf, appears at the doorway, nearly scaring the life out of me.

"Clobbey," I breathe when I regain my breath. "What are you here for?"

The poor elf looks scared to death just to be standing near my doorway. I continue to glare. "Missus wants to know if you're done packing."

I throw in my hairbrush and my new bathrobe, and zip up my bag. "Finished."

Downstairs, my mother smiles and sits me down. We are eating breakfast (Dad's in the shower), when she asks a blunt question that instantly makes me think of Blair.

"Do you like Evan?"

I stare at her, confusion spreading across my face. Do I like Evan? Well, he's my best friend besides Cynthia and Blair, he's sweet, and he has taken me out on a date; and not to mention, he basically saved my life that one time I was drowning. And I can't lie, I love being around him. So do I like him?

Even my father knows it's obvious, and he isn't the brightest when it comes to feelings.

"Yes, I think so," I respond. My stomach relaxes when I finally say it.

It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

~ * ~ *
Published 6-27-20

I love this chapter-

Anyway, the chapter name is a lyric from "I Won't Say I'm In Love" from Hercules lmao. I just thought it fit.

That song slaps.

Btw, brace yourselves •3•