Evan Rosier (Harry Potter Fanfic/ Prequel)

7 | 79 | Avoiding Conflict

Damn, I've made another mistake. So, uh, it's Arabelle's and Evan's seventh year, right? I forgot last year they should have learned how to Apparate.

Let's just say they know now from last year.
~ * ~ *
December

Until I am of age, the house belongs to my dad's sister and her husband, Blair's parents.

They say that since I am almost seventeen, I should be fine on my own unless I truly wanted to stay with anyone. To be honest, I don't want to be alone right now, so I'll be staying with Evan and his parents. As always, their guest bedroom is calling my name.

They pick me up alongside Evan before Christmas, their gazes solemn. Heather greets me with an appropriate, sad tone while Pierre nods and gives me his condolences.

Then, we're off. All of us Apparate on our own- Evan and I learned last year- to the Rosier Manor.

The door swings open as soon as we get to the porch, and it reveals one of the Rosier's house-elves, dressed in rags. Evan's parents enter the house first, sweeping past the house-elf in indifference. I tilt my chin up and follow them alongside Evan.

"Evan, take Bella's things to the guest room," Pierre says with no need. Evan already has both of our trunks with him and he beats me to the stairs.

"Let me help you," I offer when his parents are off in the kitchen.

"I've got it." With one last tug, he drops our trunks on the floor upstairs and mumbled something about not being able to do magic. Neither of us is seventeen yet, unfortunately.

I grab the handle of my own trunk and take it the guest room, where a bed lies with a black comforter and sheets. The former bare dresser now contains an empty jewelry box.

I don't use it in case I'm not supposed to. Instead, I store my jewelry in a pouch in my bag. The rest of my belongings go in either the closet or the drawers of the dresser.

Evan knocks at my door even though it's wide open when I'm just finishing putting away my now folded socks. "Mhm?"

"Tomorrow's Christmas," he reminds me.

A faint smile appears on my lips. "So I've heard."

"I think you're going to like my gift," he says softly.

"Don't I always?" I tease back.

His hands snake up my back and he messages my shoulders, oddly relaxing me. I lean into him with a sigh. We don't get these moments enough. "It's different this year," he promises.

I smile. "We'll see."

~ * ~ *
Evan's gift is truly an immaculate masterpiece.

It's a headpiece, almost like a tiara. There are real diamond jewels adorning the silver, with one blue in the center. It reminds me too much of Ravenclaw's diadem.

"It's gorgeous," I breathe when Evan puts it on me. "I love it. I love you."

He takes my face in his and kisses me slowly yet perfectly. "Merry Christmas," he murmurs when we pull away.

"Merry Christmas."

I gaze at the neat, organized pile of gifts from my companions. My friends have given me candies, books, cauldrons and potions set exactly how I asked. Heather and Pierre gave me an embellished bronze and blue silk scarf, to sadly replace what my parents couldn't get me. I told them not to worry, but they didn't listen.

A sudden realization hits me with a pang. "This is our Hogswarts year. We won't be coming back after this next semester..."

"It had to end someday," he reminds me. "Besides, come July we'll be out of here using actual magic. Finally!"