Quiet in the Eve

Helen's Excuse

The next morning, the sun rose over Hogwarts early. No one was awake besides the caretaker and Evelyn. She woke early, because she needed to find the Owlery before breakfast. Walking around, she ran into Joseph; who was walking down a corridor, rubbing sleep bogeys out of his eyes.

Evelyn: (attempting not to laugh at Joseph's hair) Joey? Could you help me find the Owlery?

Joseph: (through a rather big yawn) Yeah, sure. This way.

Evelyn followed Joseph down the corridors and up a flight of stairs into a tower lined with owls. Joseph held out his arm.

Joseph: (tutting his tongue against his teeth) Kip! Come here, girl!

Evelyn smiled as Joseph's owl, Kip, flew down to him; perching on his arm. Kip was a very pretty owl, with reddish-brown feathers speckled with white on her back. Evelyn stroked Kip's head gently before tying her letter to Kip's leg. Kip nuzzled Joseph's tired face before taking off; making her wing feathers touch the tip of Joseph's tongue.

He spluttered after she was in the air.

Joseph: (looking after Kip) Every time! I gave you the wrong treats once! ONCE!

Evelyn: (laughing as she remembered the previous summer) D'you think she'll ever get over that?

Joseph: (looking back from the window) Hopefully. Her feather's don't exactly taste like a mince pie.

Evelyn chuckled as she and her brother proceeded back down the stairs. They departed each others company at the library. Joseph headed off to read before breakfast and Evelyn made her way back down to the Slytherin common room.

When she walked into the common room, Helen sat on the couch in front of the fire. Evelyn sat down next to her.

Helen: Where've you been?

Evelyn: (coolly)Joey showed me to the Owlery.

Helen: (catching a small gasp) Joseph's awake?

Evelyn: (confused) Yeah. He's in the library.

Helen: (standing up) Okay.

Evelyn: Helen, why d'you want to go to the library?

Helen: (turning around) You want to come with me?

Evelyn: Not exactly, but sure.

The two girls walked through the corridors to the library. When they walked into the library, Helen turned into a row of shelves; occasionally looking through the books. Evelyn her gaze once and saw who she was looking at.

Joseph, with his untamed hair, was sitting at a table; half asleep on a book.

Evelyn: (tapping Helen's shoulder) Do you have a crush on Joey, Helen?

Helen: (looking back at Evelyn) What? No. Why would you think that?

Evelyn: (folding her arms, unconvinced) Because either you're crazy, or you have a crush on him. Why else would you be hiding behind a bookshelf in the library, watching him force himself awake?

Helen: I... I just... I just have a feeling. I have a feeling that somethings about to happen.

Evelyn: (finding this bogus; giving in) Fine. But, don't creep on him like this. If you want to be friends with him, just ask.

Evelyn walked back out of the library, shaking her head and laughing to herself. She didn't want to tell Helen that she knew she was lying, but it was clearly obvious. She managed her way to the Great Hall.

She was a little early, so she walked to the side of the hall and admired the pillars. She was interrupted by a voice. She turned around to stare into the face of Samuel.

Evelyn: Morning, Sam.

Samuel: Good morning, Evie. When did you rise this morning?

Evelyn: (looking back at the pillar her hand was resting against) I think the time was 6:40. I didn't turn on the lamp, in case it woke my dorm mates.

Samuel: (nodding) You've always been an early riser.

Evelyn: Well, this morning, I wanted to find the Owlery. I ran into Joey in the halls. He showed me the way.

The two cousins were interrupted by soft footsteps walking up to them.

Laura: (to Samuel) Morning, Scamander. (to Evelyn) Good Morning, Evelyn.

Samuel: (to Laura) Morning, Gage. (to Evelyn) Bye, Evie.

Laura: (watching Samuel go before turning back to Evelyn) He's a bit of a prick, isn't he?

Evelyn: (laughing at this comment) I guess he's a little like my uncle.

Laura: (slugging Evelyn's shoulder, lightly) I like you. Hey, I know your a first year, and a Slytherin, but do you want to come watch the Quidditch tryouts for Gryffindor.

Evelyn: (smiling a little) Sure. I can tell you're trying out. If you want moral support, you can just say so.

Laura: (sighing in relief) Oh, thank you. I made the team last year, but the second years trying out this year brutal. They're definitely going to do anything to get on the team.

Evelyn and Laura talked by the wall for another thirty minutes, before Laura left to go eat her breakfast. Evelyn sat down next to Helen, who had a dreamy expression glazed over her face.

Evelyn: (snapping her fingers in front of Helen's face) Are you awake?!

Helen: (blinking out of her thoughts) Yes. I'm awake. What do you want?

Evelyn: (laughing) I wanted to know if you were alive or not. I was wondering if you'd come down to the Quidditch Pitch with me? A Gryffindor asked me to come and cheer her at her tryouts. Moral support, you know.

Helen: (smiling at Evelyn) Sure. I'll join you at the Quidditch Pitch. When are her tryouts?

Evelyn: I think I saw a Quidditch tryouts sign up sheet at the front of the hall. Gryffindor tryouts are Friday after all classes are dismissed.

Helen: That definitely works for our schedules, then.

Professor Slughorn walked up to them.

Slughorn: (handing them their timetables) Why, good morning, girls.

The two took their timetables from him and looked over them to see what classes they had.

Evelyn's read:

History of Magic- 8:30; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

Transfiguration- 9:25; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

Charms-10:20; Tuesday, Friday

Potions- 10:20; Monday, Wednesday, Thursday

Lunch/Freetime- 11:35; every day

Defense Against the Dark Arts- 12:20; Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Care of Magical Creatures- 1:10; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Flying Class- 2:15; Monday, Thursday, Friday

Evelyn: (looking over Helen's shoulder) Drats! Why do we have Potions today?

Evelyn found putting things in cauldrons and stirring them until they become something else to be a snooze fest. She was always that person wanting to be outdoors doing something, not stuck inside, letting her hair frizz up from the boredom.

Helen: (sighing) Maybe it won't be that bad.

Evelyn wrinkled her nose as she looked back at her timetable. She was not excited for Potions, but maybe she was judging it too soon. Maybe it wasn't that bad. There was only one way to find out and that's to go to the first class.

Evelyn smiled and stuffed her timetable into her pocket. Then, she continued to eat breakfast.