Quiet in the Eve

A Silent Roar

It had been eight weeks since Laura's Quidditch tryouts and there was nothing to look forward to happening at Hogwarts. Evelyn and Helen had just been given their first test and they both passed.

Evelyn woke up that morning extra tired and confused why she was sitting at a desk in the common room. Then, she remembered that she had been doing an essay that Professor Binns had assigned. She had done it through the night, because she was so caught up in her other classes she'd forgotten about it and it was due that day.

Looking at the clock, she realized it was 4:30 am.

Evelyn: (whispering to herself) Huh. Why'd I wake up this early?

She stood up and gathered her things. Starting towards her dorm, she stopped in her tracks when she heard a very soft, far off roar from somewhere on the grounds.

Evelyn: That's weird. Professor Kettleburn said there wasn't any creatures with loud roars being studied this year for any years.

She then heard the roar again. It was getting closer. She threw her things onto her bed, grabbed her wand, and ran out into the corridor. Nothing was there. She ran up out of the dungeons. Still nothing. Evelyn ran to the library. Nothing. The Owlery. Nope. Astronomy Tower. Nothing at all.

Evelyn was about to go back to the Slytherin common room when she saw it. A Nundu had been released into the school. She back up around the corner where she ran into someone. It was Joseph.

Evelyn: (with an agitated whisper) Joey?! What are you doing?!

Joseph: I could ask you the same question, Evie!

Evelyn: Did you wake from the Nundu's roar?

Joseph: No, Poppy did. Did you?

Evelyn: (shaking her head) I woke up before I heard it. How d'you think it got in?

Joseph: (looking around the corner quickly) Someone had to have let it in. Remember what we learned about them? They are native to East Africa. You can't just find one in England.

Evelyn: But the only person in London who has one is dad. And he doesn't like letting Eloise out of his sight.

Joseph: My guess is someone else did have a Nundu and hid it.

Evelyn looked out at the Nundu and came to a decision. She put her wand in her sleeve and walked out slowly into the corridor.

Joseph: (calling in a whisper) Evie! What are you doing?!

Evelyn didn't listen. She walked slower as she approached the Nundu. Holding out her hand, she slowed to an almost stop.

Evelyn: (trying to calm the creature) Hey. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help you.

The Nundu seemed like it was calming down. Professor Dumbledore and Professor Kettleburn came around the corner at that moment and the Nundu started freaking out. He roared and thrashed about. His paw hit Evelyn across the chest and she was thrown against the wall. She felt extremely pain in her ribs and shoulder; and her head started to throb when she hit the wall.

Then......blackness.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Evelyn woke up in the Hospital Wing, sunlight shining in from the large windows lining it. She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light. She heard voices, but she couldn't focus on them for a while, until she recognized her parents voices.

Tina: ....but why was she out of bed at 4:45?

Evelyn: (barely audible) Mum? Dad?

Her parents turned their attention to her, helping her sit up. Her ribs didn't hurt as badly as they did that morning, but they were still sore.

Newt: Professor Dumbledore said that there was a Nundu in the school. Why'd you go after it?

Evelyn: (playing with the loose strands of the blanket) I guess thought I could calm it. I wasn't thinking straight, I just didn't want it to get to the rest of the school.

Tina: (wrapping her arms around Evelyn) You scared us to death.

Evelyn: To death? You? I didn't think that was possible.

Newt: (laughing) We're glad you're okay, Evie. 

Evelyn: But, there's one thing. If someone released a Nundu into the school, will they do it again with something else?

Tina: (holding tightly to Evelyn's shoulders) I don't know. But promise us, you won't go after one sound. Okay.

Evelyn nodded her head at this and her parents smiled and hugged her again. They left ten minutes later and Evelyn was released from the Hospital Wing. Helen stood outside, waiting for her.

Helen: (wrapping her arms around Evelyn) I missed you in class today. It wasn't the same without you.

Evelyn: (chuckling to herself) What? Was Maximilion bothering you?

Helen: Actually, yes. He kept asking me if you were alright, I kept saying I don't know. It was so annoying.

Evelyn: I bet. Can't he get a hint? I don't like him.

Evelyn and Helen headed to the library, where Helen helped fill Evelyn in on what they learned that day. A lot of students who were in the library stopped by their table and asked if Evelyn was okay, but she just nodded in response and went on with copying down Helen's History of Magic notes and repeating her wand movements into a small container for Incendio.

Evelyn looked out the open window behind ever once in a while, because she thought she felt a gust of powerful wind. It was quite a windy day, though, so she ignored it. And if it was something strange, she decided she wouldn't go after it. If she did, she would break her promise to her parents. But, something was up.

And Evelyn wouldn't know what it was until it was too late.