Chapter 2: Meet the Evermores

Dear Amy,

Well, this is it! Today, mom and dad are dropping me off at King's Cross station and I'll be on my way to Hogwarts. Only, get this: I haven't actually been accepted yet! Can you believe it? The headmaster (that's what they call the principal of a school here in merry old England) explained it to mom but she's not 100% on the whole situation. I'm sure he'll explain it when I get there tonight. Why else would he ask that I make the trip to Hogwarts a week before the start of classes? This headmaster guy sounds weird.

I wish I could say that I hope I don't get accepted just to spite my parents, but the only thing worse than going would be not going. Besides, what would I do with myself if I don't have school to occupy my time? I guess I could keep my mother company, but she has dad and she can't homeschool me like she used to; things work differently in U.K. I can't legally practice my magic at home so it's Hogwarts or nothing and I have to practice my magic! I know, I know: I'm a nerd. So sue me. But having a place to safely (and legally) practice magic can't be all bad, right?

Anyway, I really should be getting ready to head out. Keep me posted on all the happenings at the academy! Miss you lots!

Love,
Evey

Evey read over her letter and checked for any typos or misspellings. She had deliberately forgot to mention any possibility of her return to Hypatia Academy, despite her conversation with her mother. Evey didn't want to get anyone's hopes up, especially her own. Satisfied, she carefully the letter and slipped it into its envelope. The stationary she was using was a special one that her Magickal Crafts and Potions professor had given her as a parting gift at the end of last year. Each slip of paper was of a thick papyrus stock and had an ornate gold heading featuring her embossed initials. The envelopes changed color and pattern every few seconds, no doubt a nod to Evey's Changeling abilities and curtsey of her professor's own enchantment; she promised the stationary was singularly unique. What's more, the set was charmed to infinitely replenish itself so that she would never need to purchase a new stationary set ever again. "Now you'll have no excuse to not write home," her professor had teased. It was the only time Evey allowed herself to cry in front of someone over the move. Evey made a mental note to write to her professor once she was settled at Hogwarts.

Envelope in hand, Evey ran to the kitchen where she knew she would find her mother in the middle of breakfast preparations. "Morning, mom," she said. "Can I borrow Archie? I have a delivery for him." Archie was the family owl that spent most of his time doing as he pleased. He was only ever used by Fumiko to deliver the occasional care package while Evey was away at school or sometimes for work-related business. Evey never had much need of Archie except to write to her friends during the summer months and, as a no-Maj, Dr. Evermore preferred snail mail ("The postal workers don't snap at you... usually.")

Before Fumiko could reply, Evey felt a gust of wind tickle her ears as Archie flew in, as though summoned by saying his name. The brown and white Barred owl landed gracefully on the kitchen counter besides Evey and fidgeted excitedly. Evey smiled at him affectionately and rummaged the cupboards for his food bin. Finding it, Evey tossed him a few dead lizards and topped it off with a sizable hunk of dead mice, all of which Archie gobbled up happily. Archie usually hunts for his own food, but he would be leaving on a long multi-day trip today.

Without looking up from her cooking, Fumiko waved her hand levitated a box of owl kibble from a shopping tote on the floor beside her and into Evey's hands. "Make sure you pack him something to nibble on, Etsuko-chan," she said. "Iceland is a long ways away and Archimedes is not used to making such long trips. We don't want him exerting any energy hunting for food."

"I know that," Every muttered, setting the box and her letter down. She returned to her room and rummaged through her mess until she found a velvet drawstring pouch that she had picked up for Archie but never used. Back in the kitchen, she filled the pouch with owl kibble and dated the drawstring to Archie's leg. Then she held out an arm and Archie obediently hopped on, his kibble pouch bouncing back and forth. Letter in hand, Evey approached the nearest open window.

"Now, remember," she said to Archie. "You take this letter to the Owlery in Iceland and let them take it the rest of the way. You rest up there and then come right back to mom, okay?" Archie chirped happily, took Evey's letter in his beak, and flew off with a silent flutter of his wings. "Be safe," Evey whispered, watching Archie until he was nothing but a speck in the sky.

Back in the kitchen, Fumiko had breakfast served and Dr. Evermore was waiting for hid wife and daughter to join him at the table, archeological journal already in hand. When Evey entered the room, the journal came down and Dr. Evermore smiled that adorable smile Evey loved so much. "There's my All Hallow's Eve!"

Evey rolled her eyes at her dad's age old joke; such corny dad-jokes are the consequences of being born on Halloween and walking around with a nickname like "Evey." Despite her fathers ancient and awful sense of humor, she planted herself happily on his lap. They embraced and Dr. Evermore kissed his daughter fondly on her forehead.

"Your hair is different today," Dr. Evermore said. Evey's hair hasn't changed since her first night in London but she had not seen her father in some time. Despite the fact that Dr. Evermore dabbled in the art of uncovering extreme details, his mind was too full to notice anything that wasn't waiting on piece of pottery or ancient weapon for him to document and examine.

"I'm experimenting," Evey said mechanically. She figured if she said it enough times, she would come to believe it herself.

Dr. Evermore may not look it, but he was quite the heartthrob, especially as a younger man. He just never knew it. His once sandy-blond hair had given away to salt-and-pepper gray, making him look older than his 43 years. His baby-blue eyes were accentuated by the crow's feet that were just starting to surface under his round, wire-frame glasses. Dr. Evermore, Erick to his friends, was a classically handsome man and Fumiko always said he would fit in perfectly in a silent film. In response, Dr. Evermore would put on his best Trans-Atlantic accent. To Evey, Dr. Evermore was a less handsome Harrison Ford, to which Fumiko and Dr. Evermore would always laugh in agreement.

Fumiko entered just then with a tray carrying a ceramic tea kettle and three matching cups. Evey took her place at the table on her father's lap and Fumiko sat on her husband's right. She performed their routine tea ceremony and Evey watched her just as in awe of her mother's grace as the first time she witnessed her perform the tea ceremony. Her mother's straight black hair was always tied up neatly in a bun, with not a single hair out of place, and today was no different. Her small dark eyes were narrowed in concentration and her simple but elegant beauty was alive and in well in her youthful face, despite being months short of 40. Once everyone had their tea in front of them, the Evermores chanted "Itadakimasu*" in unison before digging in. Fumiko had lovingly prepared natto* and fried egg over white rice and miso soup that day. Evey got two eggs, as usual. The family ate in silence for a few minutes. Realizing this would be the last time they would sit down for a meal as a family, she was the first to break the silence.

"When do you start work, mom?" she asked. She hadn't asked her mother about her transition from the Magical Congress of the United States to the British Ministry of Magic since Fumiko announced it at the start of summer. Fumiko worked as an ambassador and magical liaison between the MACUSA and the no-Maj United States Congress as well as a translator (Fumiko was a talented linguist and was fluent in Japanese, Mandarin, French, and Russian).

"Well," she said casually. "It turns out that the Ministry of Magic has no need for a liaison with the no-Maj government. The Minister for Magic himself contacts the Prime Minister only in cases of extreme urgency."

"What?!" Evey cried.

"Yes, it is very unusual," Fumiko said. "But England is a much smaller country. I suppose it's wasteful to have liaisons with their own government. However, they do want a diplomatic party to represent the Ministry with other countries. They're sending me to Romania in a few weeks."

"Romania?" Dr. Evermore chimed in. "Fascinating. What ever for?"

"I haven't been filled on the details just yet, but I should be soon."

"Romania is a hub of archeological marvels right now! Evidence of a Celtic presence just keeps piling up and some of my colleagues suspect there's more Roman history to be–"

Evey cleared her throat. "What about you, dad? How's it going at Oxford?"

"Oh, fantastic!" he said, without hesitating. "I'm taking my first group of PhD students on an archeological dig in Egypt next week. We're going to revist King Tut's tomb! It doesn't seem like a promising site, considering all the tourism it's gotten since its discovery. Honestly, what more can be uncovered at this point, but–"

"You're going away, too?" Evey said, trying her best to sound like a whiny child. "Will you guys be back for Christmas?"

"Of course, darling!" Dr. Evermore cried, Fumiko nodding in agreement. "December is months away and we've never had a Christmas without each other!" He reached out and took Evey's hand. "Not too worry, duck."

Evey nodded and went back to toying with her bowl of miso absentmindedly. Dr. and Mrs. Evermore have always had to travel for work. She knew this, but she wasn't used to her mother leaving the country; she rarely ever traveled further than Washington D. C. She knew it sounded selfish, but she liked knowing there was someone home to receive her hell or high water.

The Evermores finished the rest of their breakfast in silence.

* "itadakimasu" = "I humbly receive thee," similar to "Let's eat!" or "Thanks for the food!"

* natto = fermented soy beans