Quiet in the Eve

A Friend

Evelyn pushed a trolley with her things on top through King's Cross. When they reached the wall between platforms nine and ten, her father looked around, then gestured to Joseph to go through the wall. Her father followed him through. Her mother stood behind her.

Tina: (placing her hand on Evelyn's shoulder) You ready, Evie?

Evelyn: (nodding with confidence) Yeah.

Tina looked around, then nodded her head. Evelyn ran at the wall and came through it. As she stood on Platform 9 3/4. She smiled with great satisfaction at the magnificent scarlet steam engine. She watched out of the corner of her eye, her mother walk through the onto the platform.

They joined her father and Joseph, who were standing a little ways down the platform, in front of a pile of luggage. Evelyn dropped her things on the pile and turned to her family.

Newt: Evie? Will you be alright?

Evelyn: (nodding) Yes.

Newt: (wrapping his arms around his daughter) Take care, Evie.

Evelyn: (hugging him back) I will, dad.

Evelyn turned to her mother, who also hugged her; but this time tighter than her father's.

Tina: I love you. (letting go of Evelyn) Stay out of trouble.

Evelyn: I only get in trouble when I get incredibly angry. (she sighed exasperatedly at the look on her mother's face) So, I'll keep my temper low.

Evelyn followed her brother on the train and stood at the window, waving a the train started moving. A smile spread across her face. She waved until she couldn't see them at all. Then, she walked down the corridor of the train.

~~~~~~~~

Newt and Tina walked out of King's Cross.

Tina: (a worried tone) You think she'll be alright, Newt?

Newt: (sighing back a laugh, unsuccessfully) She's a lot like you. She can't keep promises for anything. She'll get at least one detention for smacking Sam's mouth shut, I just know it.

Tina: (elbowing his side) You're the worst, you know that?

Newt: (turning his head at her, smiling) Why d'you think you married me?

Tina: (forcing back a laugh) I hate you.

Newt: (kissing her cheek) I love you, too.

~~~~~~~~~

Evelyn opened a compartment door, where a solemn-looking girl sat in all black; her hands clasped in her lap.

Evelyn: Excuse me? May I sit here?

Helen: (gesturing to the seat across from her) If you wish.

Evelyn sat across from her.

Evelyn: (holding out her hand) I'm Evelyn Scamander.

Helen: (taking her hand politely) Helen Morsbury.

Evelyn: (shaking her hand) It's nice to meet you, Helen.

Helen: (pointing to Evelyn's arm) What are those?

Evelyn: (looking down at her scars) Oh. When I was eight, I decided to climb into a cage my father told me not to. Henry was not happy.

Helen: Who?

Evelyn: Henry. He was a Hippogriff my father found a few years ago. He's been released now, but he was gorgeous. He had golden brown feathers on his front side and white horse fur on his back side.

Helen: Oh, you're Newt Scamander's daughter.

Evelyn: Yes. Who'd you think was my father? Theseus?

Helen: Well, maybe. But, you acted a lot like him when you sat down, so I assumed.

Evelyn: (shrugging her shoulders) I guess I get the misconception. But you should see me when I'm incredibly full of energy. I can bounce off the walls. Literally.

Helen: (looking scared) Please don't.

Evelyn: It's okay. I just said that because I literally run and kick up into the air off the wall.

Helen: (appearing terrified) Don't.

Evelyn: (almost confused) I was making an exaggeration. Doesn't your family ever say things to make something sound bigger than they actually are?

Helen: (shaking her head) My mother died when I was four and my father doesn't tolerate joking around.

Evelyn: I'm sorry. I didn't realize. (realizing something) Morsbury? Oh, is your father Benedict Morsbury? Head of the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures?

Helen: (nodding her head) Yes.

Evelyn: My mum doesn't think much of him. Says he's stuck up and rude.

Helen: Before mother died, he was lively and gentle. But when she died, he turned cold. As if he died with her.

Evelyn: (screwing up her face) Sounds like The Secret Garden.

Helen: (laughing in a kind of odd way) I guess it does, doesn't it?

Evelyn: You haven't laughed in a while have you?

Helen shook her head. Evelyn and Helen had a pleasant conversation during the course of the train ride. All the way to the Hogwarts station, they talked. Helen opened up more about her family life and got more comfortable smiling and laughing.

Evelyn: (upon hearing the whistle of the train) We should change into our robes. Do you feel comfortable with changing with me, or should I leave?

Helen: (shaking her head) We're both girls. It doesn't matter. Just put something over the window.

Evelyn hung a blanket in front of the door and she and Helen changed into their robes.

Evelyn: Are you nervous, too?

Helen: Maybe a little.

Evelyn: (smiling as she took Helen's hand) We'll be fine. If we're both nervous, we both have each other.