Quiet in the Eve

A Solemn Christmas

Evelyn and Helen were riding the Hogwarts Express back home for the holidays in silence. Evelyn had come to the conclusion to not talk about about her grandfather until one of her parents did. Then, she won't have to be the one to make everyone break down in tears. Joseph was sitting with the girls, doing his wood carvings.

Helen: (trying to break the silence) Joey, what are you making?

Joseph: (looked up at Helen as he was in the middle of a big hack) I'm just carving to pass the time.

Evelyn: (looking up from her book) He does that so much you'd think he used every piece of wood in his vicinity.

The three of them laughed at this, but went right back to silence when they were done.

When the train pulled into the station, they got off the train. Helen waved to someone on the platform before turning to Evelyn and giving her a hug.

Helen: (whispering, excitedly) My brother, Jason, is here to get me. See you after the holidays!

Evelyn: Happy Christmas, Helen!

Helen turned around and took her brother's hand, before turning around and waving to Evelyn. Evelyn smiled and waved back before making her way down the platform to her mother.

Evelyn: (as she reached her mother and Joseph) Where's dad, mum?

Tina: He hasn't taken your grandfather's passing very well. But, I think seeing you two might cheer him up. (she held open her arms; which Evelyn went into quickly) We've missed you.

Evelyn, Joseph, and Tina walked down the platform together. When they reached a safe place, they apparated. As they entered the house, Evelyn took in a deep, calming breath. She missed this smell. The smell of home.

They heard a roar and a laugh from the basement. Joseph and Evelyn looked at each other before darted into the basement. Evelyn was the first down the stairs and she stood for a second, looking around the basement. She saw her father a little ways away, so she ran up to him.

Evelyn: (wrapping her arms around his waist) Dad!

Newt looked down and smiled. He knelt down and hugged her back.

Evelyn: I missed you.

Newt: (looking into her eyes) I missed you, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Evelyn and Joseph were silent for most of the first four days they were home. On Christmas Eve, Evelyn sat in the middle of her room with her back to the door; watching the lights from the street moving across her ceiling.

She turned was she heard the door open. Her mother stood in the door.

Tina: (sitting down next to Evelyn) Are you alright, Evie?

Evelyn: (trying to not know what she was talking about) Yeah, I'm okay. Why?

Tina stared at her until she couldn't handle it anymore.

Evelyn: (sighing) Not really.

Tina: (wrapping her arms around Evelyn's shoulders) We all miss him, Evie. You're dad wasn't even that close to him and he's taking it pretty hard.

Evelyn: (leaning into her mother's embrace) I guess I would be upset if I lost dad. Anyone would be if they lost their father. Even Helen.

Tina: (smiling) Now, tell me  more about Helen. She sounds like a nice girl.

Evelyn smiled and sat up. She was glad to talk about Helen. She was Evelyn's best friend and Evelyn could hardly use enough words to describe how lovely she was. After a while, Tina stood up.

Tina: Well, your father went to Theseus' a while ago and he should be back.

Evelyn: (walking over to the window; staring up at the sky) Alright. (she opened the window and a gust of wind exploded in her face) Tomorrow will be snowy. The wind gives me that feeling.

She heard her mother close the door and she looked back out the window. Stars were starting to be faintly seen in the late evening haze. Evelyn sighed and thought about how maybe her grandfather was looking down upon her.

She went to sleep that night with a smile on her face. She was sad that her grandfather was gone, but she happy she still had her father. That was all that mattered to her and she was grateful.

~~~~~~~~~~~

When Evelyn woke up on Christmas morning, she heard her father walking across the hall to the stairs. The floorboards in their house creaked loudly in the winter. She slipped out of bed into her slipper and pulled on her bed robe.

Rubbing her eyes, she opened her door and turned towards the stairs. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her. Her father pulled her close to him and tickled her.

Evelyn: (through giggles) Dad!

Newt: (stopping; kissed the top of her head) Happy Christmas, Evie.

Evelyn: (turning around and hugging him) Happy Christmas, Dad!

Evelyn and Newt walked down the stairs together. She followed her dad down to the basement. Evelyn liked helping with the creatures. Both she and Joseph did. But the creatures trusted her more, because when they were younger, Joseph cut some of the creatures fur off by accident when he was trying to help get rid of their ticks.

In the basement, it was normal. Evelyn breathed in the amazing smell from the breeze her father enchanted to stay in the basement and felt alive. She did this every morning. It woke her up. It's why, when she's at Hogwarts, she walks out into the courtyard very quickly and just breaths.

She turned toward the left when she heard shaky breaths from her father's shed. She looked in at her father hunched over a bucket, crying as he plucked away the roots from a creatures feed.

Evelyn: Dad?

Newt: Evie. Why don't you go play with the mooncalves?

Evelyn: (running over and hugging her father) I don't want to.

Newt: (sinking down to the floor) Neither do I.