Quiet in the Eve

Deer and Snow

Evelyn woke up with her feet hanging slightly off her bed. She shivered as she quickly brought her feet back under the covers. It had five weeks since the Nundu incident and she was slowly forgetting about it.

Sitting up, she kept the covers wrapped tightly around her. She slipped out onto the cold floorboards and did her best to not shake as she pulled out her winter uniform. When she had her robes on, she made her way to the main room. She stood before the fire and rubbed her hands together.

It was Saturday and Evelyn stood in her winter uniform, shivering in front of the fire. The Slytherin common room was luxurious and looked incredibly expensive, but it was extremely cold in the winter. Helen joined her by the fire a good ten minutes later and sighed as she rubbed her hands together.

Helen: You about to head to the Great Hall, Evie?

Evelyn: It's warmer up there then it is down here.

The girls walked to the door and pushed it open. As they walked into the Great Hall, they saw Professor Dumbledore off to the side, putting up Christmas decorations.

Dumbledore: Hello, girls. How's your morning so far?

Evelyn: (slightly bitter) Cold.

Helen: Extremely.

Dumbledore: (laughing) Well, your common room is in the dungeons.

Helen: Not to mention, right by the lake.

Dumbledore walked away, chuckling. Evelyn and Helen sat down at a table and started to eat some breakfast. Evelyn looked around the half decorated hall and sighed. She missed her parents as the holidays started to push closer.

Helen: Are you alright, Evie?

Evelyn: Yeah, I'm just excited for the winter holidays.

Helen: (smiling) My father said that we're going to have fun this year. I don't understand what that means, because we don't usually celebrate Christmas in big festives.

Evelyn: Maybe this year.... (getting distracted mid-sentence) ....oh, hey! The morning post's here!

Evelyn watched the owls swoop overhead, scanning the crowded Great Hall for their receiver's. Evelyn spotted her mother's owl scanning the crowd before diving down towards Evelyn and Helen's table, a letter tied to his foot

He nuzzled Evelyn's cheek.

Evelyn: (laughing) Okay! Okay! I missed you, too, Artie! Let me see what you've got for us, shall I?

She untied the letter from his foot and stroked his soft feathers, gently.

'Evie,

It's nice to know that you have kept yourself out of trouble. I couldn't possibly describe in words my worrying for your safety. I guess now I know what it was like when I was  younger before your grandparents died, but please keep yourself like this currently and STAY safe.

I wish I could say more, but there's nothing really happening around here. I guess the creatures miss you.

We'll see you two at Christmas.

Love, Mom'

Evelyn: (kissing Artie lightly on his head) Thank you, Artie. Give Mum my love for me.

Helen: (after Artie flew off) How does an owl give someone someone else's love?

Evelyn: Like this. (rubbed the top of her head against Helen's cheek) He'll do it anyway, even if I didn't tell him to.