Evan Rosier (Harry Potter Fanfic/ Prequel)

88 | A Dusty Building with a Dusty Corpse

March

You smile and giggle with me while we wait for Evan's return. It's late at night and I'm trying to tuck you into bed but you're just too adorable to wait to play in the morning.

"Okay, shhh." I quiet you down by lying your blanket over your shoulders and petting your hair. It works soon enough- it always does- and I sigh and watch you sleep, as creepy as it sounds. I'm waiting for Evan but I should go to sleep. He usually comes back in the morning and this is no exception.

I change into silk, green pajamas and let my hair down, brushing it until it's sleek and smooth. When I decide my hair looks good enough, I snuggle into my covers and doze off.

~ * ~ *

"Stop..." I growl at the sound of someone knocking on the door late at night, but I ultimately get up when you begin to wail. Someone has disturbed our slumber- I don't blame you for crying. I'd kick and scream, too.

I slither into my house shoes and pick you up, cradling you in my arms. When the knocks don't cease, I make my way to the door with you still in my embrace. "Evan?" I ask, even though this person couldn't be. Evan would have the key to our house, the metaphorical key, of course. When the house can tell that Evan or I are on the doorstep, it lets us in. This can't be Evan.

I open the door anyway to reveal Severus. Looking absolutely miserable, yet more adultish than ever, he opens his mouth to say 'hi.' Before he can, I throw my arms around him, careful not to squash you. "Severus!" I squeal. "I've missed you so much!"

He, reluctantly and awkwardly, hugs me back. "Belle," he greets. "May I come in?"

"Oh, yes." I shut the door behind him and offer him to sit on the couch in the living room. He swiftly takes a seat, a black cape sweeping the floor beneath him. I smile and hold you out for him, who tries to decline. "Come on, Sev, she's reaching for you." Indeed, your hands had shot out and your toes are curled intensely. You must really like Severus already.

A sigh comes out of his mouth before he can stop it, but he takes you stiffly. "Relax," I encourage. After a few moments of awkwardly holding you, he gives you back. "Alright, now that you two have met, I have to put her back to bed. Come with?" I offer.

Severus shrugs, but follows me to your nursery where I can lay you down. I will definitely pay for it in the morning for her sleep schedule being disturbed, but my guess is it will take several days to fix it. Severus stands by the door and watches me put you to sleep by softly humming. When your eyelids close, I smile and tiptoe out, dragging Sev behind me.

"So, what brings you here?"

He sits down and coughs into his hand. "I have news about Evan." My giddy attitude turns more serious and I lean forward.

"Where is he? How is he?"

"There were some Auror's at the..." He seems reluctant to tell me anything, but forces himself to. "There were Auror's at the place where Evan, Wilkes, and Malfoy were. Evan fought hard, tried to keep Wilkes and Malfoy safe." He pauses. "He's dead."

I stare at him, thoughts wild. Evan's 'dead' already? That means... He'll be here soon to leave. "I need to pack up."

I walk into my own room first to drag out my suitcase. I don't know where we're going to go but it has to be somewhere far away. Severus follows me, gaping. "No, Arabelle, it's not like that."

"Severus, can you hand me that?" I ask, pointing at my wand. He obeys, still protesting. "Severus, please." I stuff the wand in my pocket and throw on a coat.

"Arabelle, he told me of the plan, but he wasn't intending to go through with it just yet."

"We'll get married in secret, then," I murmur, not really listening.

He grabs me by the shoulders, finally capturing my attention again. "He was killed by Alastor Moody!"

I stare at him. He can't be telling the truth, it's not possible. Evan's too skilled of a duelist to die by some crazy Auror. "No," I tell him simply.

I hear Severus mumble something like "Muffliato" underneath his breath, but he cast it on the door and raises his voice. "He's dead. He took a chunk of Moody's nose, almost made him bleed to death, but he didn't want to be imprisoned- I was there!" He says sharply when I shake my head violently. "Malfoy and Wilkes called for backup, and I was there! I tried to save him, Belle, please believe me."

"Where is his... Where is he?"

"I don't know if I should..."

"Please." Unwillingly, my voice cracks. It still does the trick for Severus, and he grabs my hand.

~ * ~ *

Severus Apparates me to an abandoned building, where dust is starting to collect. The roof seems to be caved in. "This is extremely risky," Severus whispers as he looks around for any people working in the Ministry, or any Auror's.

"We have to find him," I whisper. Severus takes me to the back of the building where the roof has collapsed. We step over it and look around. I can tell Severus is regretting his decision to take me here with every passing moment.

We continue to look, making sure to stay wary of any passing wizards or witches, but we are almost completely covered by the dark. No one can see us even if we tried.

He grabs my arm and starts to say something, but I catch sight of something and cut him off.

"Severus, is that..." Without warning, I race to a body where I already saw a pair of once gleaming shoes. His eyes are open and his head is jerked to the side, where an expressionless Evan lies. His lip has blood collected where it has busted, dripping to his chin but it has stopped bleeding. His hair looks ragged and dusty, and he has a collection of bruises on his skin. I drop to a crouch, lip quivering and feel at his neck when I already know he's dead.

I scream.

~ * ~ *

Published 9-22-20