Evan Rosier (Harry Potter Fanfic/ Prequel)

87 | How Mischievous

March

"We should have Severus over sometime," I suggest a few months later. You're doing so well, and growing so strong. You're already four months old. I giggle while you reach for my hair and laugh back.

Evan forces a smile. "Severus is a good friend. I'd be glad to have him over."

"What's he doing now?" I pick you up set you on the ground, allowing you to try and bear your own weight while holding up your arms. Seeing you struggle, I sigh and lest you rest on your bum. Your hair, which is dark now but may change as you age, is growing so fast already. You play with your toes while I give Evan an expectant look.

He shakes his head. "He's just helping around, you know? Gives us some information. I think he has a wife."

"No, Cassia said he is still stuck over that Lily Evans."

"Is that so?" He scratches the back of his head. "He needs to get a move on before all the good women get married."

"Anyway, where do you see him? Does he still live at Spinnet's End?"

Evan bites his lip. "Spinner's End, baby. And I see him around sometimes. We don't typically stop to chat but we have been on one or two missions's together-" He stops abruptly but I already heard him. So, Severus is a Death Eater. How have I not known? Evan must have seen me wince, because he immediately apologizes.

"It was going to happen anyway," I say in a hard tone, then soften for your sake. "It's okay. He's still Sev just like you're still Rose." We share an unbothered smile.

You look up at Evan and try your latest move- reaching up with both hands while curling your toes. You know just how to show that you want to be picked up by someone. You've done the same with all of us- even Cassia one time but she's not the best around children. It's a wonder she can handle being around her brother's daughter, Daphne. Daphne Greengrass, Galloran and Rhiannon Greengrass's daughter, is in your year but you haven't yet met her.

I had asked Cassia what her parents said about Galloran marrying Rhiannon and she just said, "They've warmed up to her." I had then teased her about finding some nice guy herself but she said she didn't want any guy. I didn't understand.

Evan picks you up tickles you lightly. I laugh along with you and Evan sighs. "We better get her to bed."

"But it's only six," I complain.

"Okay, I'll wait until 6:30, but I've got to talk to you alone."

~ * ~ *

"Evan?" I ask. "What is it?"

"A war is happening, Arabelle." He looks away. "I know you're trying to pretend that it's fine but you've read the papers and you haven't even taken (Y/N) out that much, for anything. You're afraid, and I understand." I let him continue. "I know the papers say we've been killing everyone, including Muggles, but... Please don't think of me any differently." I can see the pleading in his eyes, but it's my turn to look away.

Just this morning, the papers mentioned Evan's name. He knew that I saw what he'd done and he knew I couldn't think straight for the rest of the day.

"Everything's gone wrong, hasn't it?" I murmur. "The more people resist you lot, the angrier He gets, and the more strain there is on you to please him. Why don't you just... Why don't you quit with him?"

"That will put a target on yours and (Y/N)'s backs," he growls. "I can't quit... Right now."

"But-"

"I have a plan."

My eyes widen and I peer into your room, but you are fast asleep. You can't hear anything we're saying. Just in case, I wave my hand and the door slowly closes, leaving just a crack.

Evan clears his throat. "I have one more mission to do. It'll be with Wilkes, Avery, and Severus. I won't get into detail about what we're doing, but..." He pauses. "There will be dangerous people, and- and flashing lights. I'll pretend to die."

I gape at him, open-mouthed, but he continues quickly. "Snape, I've talked about it with him and he... He promised to keep my secret. Our secret."

"But if you're 'dead'-" I think about you and me, how we will have to pretend that your father and my soon to be husband is dead.

"You and (Y/N) will have to keep it low for now, until He is defeated." I gape even more, never realizing Evan's true feelings for Voldemort. "Trust me, He will be defeated."

"But... I..."

"It's obviously not a flawless plan, but it will keep us safe. If I'm not alive anymore then I can't anger the Dark Lord. And if I did ever anger him, he would... Please trust me on this. There isn't a better way."

"What if you just stayed as His puppet until he is defeated?"

"I can't do it anymore!" He abruptly yells, causing me to jump in my seat and instantly lay a relaxing hand on his thigh.

"It's okay, Evan." He throws his face into his hands and begins to sob. I bring him closer so I can hold him while whispering soothing words into his ear.

"We'll do it."

~ * ~ *

While you and me are in the living room, Evan walks in with a stone-cold face and his shoes and coat on. "Where are you-"

"He wanted us to go somewhere for Him," he explains, using vague phrases so you aren't suspicious, even though you're still four months old. "We just have to get this charm, apparently it has a bit of dark-" he coughs- "magic." But you're still rocking on the floor, sucking one of your thumbs while I hold your back so you don't fall backwards. I squint up at Evan.

"Should we pack-"

"No, we're doing it on the mission after this. Wilkes will be too suspicious if somehow I die in an isolated location when we're taking so much caution with the charm." He blows a piece of hair out of his face. "And Abraxas Malfoy. He's old, but young enough to catch me faking my own death. He's not stupid."

"Oh." I scoop you up into my arms and walk up to Evan, who softens at the sight of us. I smile to soothe him a bit and our lips meet, his a little more urgent.

"We'll get married," he whispers. "Right when I walk through this door, we'll make plans to get married before the next mission. I just want to see your name with mine so bad." He grins and plants a soft kiss on my cheek.

"Promise?" I ask.

"Promise. I love you, Arabelle."

~ * ~ *

Published 9-22-20