Evangeline Trenton checked her watch as she apparated into Hogsmeade. It was nearing midnight, and she knew she was going to be late. The skies were a deep navy and flecked with golden shards. A light summer breeze tufted at the loose strands of hair around her face. Her school robes were dusted with dirt and patches were stuck with dired on bits of mud. Her robes trailed behind, accompanied by a very nasty grass stain. She looked down at herself in discontent. She silently worded and incantation which cleaned off her robes and made her look presentable.
"I can't make a scene or everyone will look at me," she said to herself, clutched her robes with one hand and her trunk in the other. She pulled her trunk across the thick layers of grass that led up to the Hogwarts gates. Luckily one of them was slightly open, as if someone knew a student like herself was going to be late. She creaked past the gate, leaving it slightly ajar as before and snuck into the school. She casted a charm on her trunk which sent it to the girl dormitories. Her house couldn't reject her after all these years could it? The Sorting Hat surely wouldn't make her go through with it again, would it?
Evangeline traced the Gryffindor symbol on the left side of her robe before delving into the lower pocket for her wand. She wanted to keep it at the ready incase she got caught. Everyone was in the Great Hall nibbling on a luxurious feast and sipping on golden goblets of pumpkin juice. She pushed open the thick wooden door to peer inside. Everyone was so concentrated on talking to their neighbors about summer adventures that they didn't notice Evangeline sneak into the hall. She quickly scanned the red and gold clad table for her friends. A cluster of red, brown, and black gave way to her destination. She ran to the table and embraced the darkest haired boy and kissed him on both cheeks.
"Miss me, Harry?" she giggled, embracing him and tousseling his hair.
"Echo, bloody hell!" the redhead gasped.
"Ronald!" she squealed and kissed him on both cheeks.
"I didn't think you were coming back!" said the slightly frizzy haired brunette girl.
"Surprise, surprise!" Evangeline said giving Hermione a set of air kisses.
Evangeline sat down in the empty seat next to Harry and picked up one of the golden spoons that lay on the table. She pushed back a lock of her silver strewn black hair. Her silver eyes looked upon her group of friends. Hermione looked at her in a strange kind of way and twisted her mouth.
"So, how did you get here? You weren't on the train here, were you?" Hermione asked.
"Okay, okay, I had to sneak in. You know how overprotective my parents are. After the whole Chamber getting opened again, my parents were so freaked out that they swore I'd never step foot into this school again," Evangeline breathed. "Mum's been teaching me from home. Which I guess is kind of an advantage. You all know she used to teach Aurors. So then I left home a few nights ago. And I've been kind of sleeping in parks and whatnot, but it doesn't matter to me. As long as I'm here I'll be happy," she smiled.
Born 15 years ago, Evangeline Trenton always had a knack for dangerous adventure, which always got her into trouble. That's probably why she hung around kids like Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She was also born a metamorphmagus, making her able to change her appearance. She was quite fond of having relaxed silver eyes, and her hair was a layered black with silver running throughout. A bridge of sun kissed freckles lay on her nose and her cheeks below her eyes. Evangeline thought that her name was too old fashioned, even after the countless times her friends had told her it wasn't, she still never believe them. So she started going by Echo.
"Do you think they will come looking for you? You're parents, I mean," Ron said between bites of a buttered roll.
"No, I think they get that they won't win this fight. I've been struggling with them to let me back here for the past three years. I think they will have understood that it took a lot out of me to even get here in the first place," Echo said, starting for her dinner. She was so hungry. She delved into a scoop of mashed potatoes and sipped from her cup of pumpkin juice. She had missed the grand meals at Hogwarts for long enough. She finally felt as if she was back home.
"So what has been going on here while I was gone? We all know the Prophet never gives us all the right things," Echo said at once. Harry, Ron, and Hermione filled her in on everything that had happened since she left.
"So the silver one is back, is she?" said a familiar voice. Echo knew who it was before turning around to see them. She remembered exactly how his voice rang through her ears, and she could remember how nice he always smelled.
"Back of guys," Ron said to his brothers. Echo looked back to see Fred Weasley smiling back at her. George accompanied his brother, sticking his tongue out at Ron.
"Hi, Fred," Echo said trying to hide her blushing. She saw the tips of her hair tinge a burgundy.
"'Sup kiddo," he said and sat down next to her. When Echo was a 2nd year and the twins were in their 4th year, Echo developed a small crush on Fred Weasley but kept it quiet. Strange enough, she still got a tad bit flustered when he was around, even after 3 years away from her favorite place.
"You sure have changed a bit," Fred said, looking at her.
"Still got the same hair and eyes though," she said quietly out of. Shyness. "You've changed a little bit, too."
"Ahh just a little bit. All for the better though. Been working on the biceps, you know. Care to feel them?" he replied, pushing back the sleeve of his robe.
"Cut it out, Fred, no one cares about your muscles," Ron snapped, throwing a crumpled up napkin at his brother. Fred shot Ron a glare and pushed his sleeve back down.
"Later, lil bro is still just as annoying as ever," he smiled to Echo and went back to his seat.
"Hey Echo," George smiled. "Don't let ickle Ronniekins ruin your fun this year," he patted her on the shoulder and commenced to follow his brother.
"What's with you hair?" Ron pointed to the burgundy tips.
"Oh, nothing," she said nervously and changed them back to normal. Ron gave her a strange look and returned to his fork and knife. As he was about to put a piece of him London broil into his mouth, his meal disappeared along with the piece on his fork. He grunted and slammed his utensils down on his plate. Desert appeared within seconds, lining the tables with custard, rice pudding, and tea cakes.
"I love this," Ron said, stuffing a tea cake into his mouth.
"Honestly, Ron, get some manners," Hermione said with a disapproving look.
"Well I'm glad you guys haven't changed much," Echo giggled. They ate their deserts including with the usual small talk. Harry looked over behind Echo's shoulder.
"Just a heads up Echo, Malfoy's taking a journey down over here," he rolled his eyes. Echo cringed. She remembered Draco Malfoy's behavior from her previous years, and there was no doubt that he got worse.
Draco neared the table and sneered at the Gryffindor first years.
"Potter…Weasel….Mudblood," he said, looking down his nose at Echo's friends. "And why, what is this? Has Ms. Trenton returned back to Hogwarts?" He squinted his grey eyes down at her. Echo tried to make herself invisible, but it was impossible.
"No, I'm just a robot," Echo snapped back. She did not want to have to deal with him at that moment. She wanted to enjoy her first day back with people she actually cared about.
"Glad to see you've still got that attitude," Malfoy said with a sly smirk. "I'll have to be keeping a good eye on you then," he finished, turning about with too much force, and strutting his way back to the Slytherin table.
Echo was a pure blood. As we all know, Draco always take an immense liking to those without a single trace of Muggle blood in their veins, with the exception of the Weasleys, of course. But Draco's actions towards Echo was more stalker-like than anything, and frankly, it kind of creeped her out. She always brought along a buddy when she walked the corridors incase he caught her. She never wanted to be alone.
"Don't worry, he won't bother you this year. We've got your back. Even if I have to take matters into my own hands," Harry blurted out. Echo turned to him and smiled. Harry flushed, but Echo just laughed.
"Thanks, Harry, you're such a good friend," she hugged him. Ron and Hermione exchanged a funny look. Echo just shot them a glare and they just stared down at the bowl of custard in front of them.
Soon enough, the students were dismissed to their dormitories. Ron and Hermione got up before everyone else.
"Where are you guys going?" Echo asked.
"Oh, Ron and I are prefects. We must have forgotten to mention that," Hermione rubbed the back of her head with her hand.
"We'll meet up with you two in the common room," Ron said following Hermione to the front of the line. Echo and Harry were left alone together.
Harry grabbed his school bag and got up. He held out a friendly hand and helped Echo up.
"Thanks," she smiled, taking a tea cake with her. She munched on the corner as they both followed the sea of students heading up to their dorms.
She past a bunch of her old friends, oblivious to her presence, but soon enough they will be acknowledged of her return.
"Cinnamon stick" was the new password to the common room, and the painting of the Fat Lady swung open. The room still looked the same as it did three years previously. Some of the students went straight to bed, tired form the long journey and the great feast. The only people remaining in the common room was Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, the twins, and Echo. They all sat around the fire discussing funny summer stories.
"…and then George jumped out of the wardrobe and scared the mickey out of mum," Fred laughed, almost falling out of his chair. Everyone burst into laughter.
"I'm beat, I'm heading up to bed," George stretched and got up.
"Don't scare any of the first years," Echo laughed as George headed up the boys' staircase.
Hermione yawned. "I guess I better head up to bed, too. Night, guys," she said and trudged up to the girls' dormitories.
Echo yawned as well. "This must be becoming a habit," she put her hand over her mouth. "I'm going to head up to bed as well. See you all in the morning," she smiled, following Hermione up the stairs.
Echo found her trunk sitting next to a four poster bed. She popped open her trunk and took out a pair of purple pajamas. She went to the bathroom and changed into them. She came back, said goodnight to Hermione, and pulled back the covers on her bed. Her head hit the pillow and she was instantly asleep.