Opening the Door

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Chapter 4 – All That I'm Living For

"We need to do something! Eve's getting worse and worse, and she won't even let us help her!" James yelled, throwing hands in the air angrily.

Remus sighed and watched his friend pacing up and down his room in frustration.

It was true: Evangeline was clearly getting worse and worse, but with the pressure the three remaining Marauders and Mr and Mrs Potter were putting on her, it was hardly a surprise, he thought.

But she wouldn't let them help her at all, and stayed locked in her room or the music room constantly.

All that I'm living for,
All that I'm dying for,
All that I can't ignore alone at night

Remus briefly wondered how she got food without being caught, before shrugging it off as an idle matter compared to Evangeline's mental health.

Remus' brow set into a firm and determined frown.

Drastic times call for drastic measures!

Sirius sighed, frowning in concern and confusion over Evangeline's wellbeing.

Maybe he and James were being too hard on her, but now…? Now, Sirius was going to set things right.

His brow set into a determined frown, a secretive smirk in place on his face.

Drastic times call for drastic measures!

"Eve?"

Evangeline whipped round, startled, as the soft tone called her from behind.

"R-Remus? Wha-What are you doing here?" she asked shakily, trying to regain her cool.

Remus gazed at her sadly. He slowly walked towards her, before sitting down, much to her relief.

"Eve, if you want to talk, you know I'm right here, don't you?" he asked. Evangeline blinked at him, and then sighed.

She tried to walk past him, but Remus caught her arm. She pulled free after a small pause, but didn't continue walking.

"Look, Remus, I'm fine. Nothing has changed. Now leave me alone so I can convince Mom and Dad to do the same." She told him coolly, covering her shock at his caring expression.

Remus watched her for a few seconds, before letting her go.

James and Sirius came out from under the invisibility cloak, frowning.

"Something is definitely wrong." James stated. Sirius and Remus both nodded.

"So why won't she let us help?" Sirius wondered. Remus ran a hand through his hair.

"We've ignored her and teased her for the past, what? Six years?" Remus paused to frown on the years "and suddenly we're trying to get her to open up and be friends with us? I'd be suspicious." He replied, shrugging.

"Hey, Eve! Wait up!"

Evangeline froze and walked faster, as his voice bounced off the walls of the hallway they were in.

"Hey! I said wait up!" Sirius added, spotting her burst for freedom. He slowed to a walk beside her, and Evangeline knew she'd never get away.

"Hey, c'mon Eve – we've known each other since when? Four? Five?" he asked, turning to face her, smiling. Evangeline shook her head.

"I've known you since you were four: you don't even know me now, and we're sixteen." She replied sadly.

Sirius blinked at her. "Hey! C'mon, give me a chance!" he said, not knowing what else to say. "Look, just come out of your room some more – join in with us a bit! We can handle your Mom and Dad, just come play quiditch with us every so often. Let us in, Eve." He said, taking her hands in his.

I can feel the night beginning.
Separate me from the living.
Understanding me,
After all I've seen.

Evangeline's cheeks flushed pink, as she looked at her hands in his, before looking back up at Sirius, who was a good couple of inches taller than her.

Sirius smiled down at her kindly. "Please…?" he whispered.

Evangeline watched, unable to move as Sirius inched closer and closer.

At last, just as their noses were touching, and their lips around a centimetre apart, she moved.

Sirius blinked and straightened up as Evangeline ran down the hallway, her cheeks flushed and her eyes wide at what had almost happened.

My first kiss…why did I pull away? What am I, crazy?!

Sirius swore under his breath, and ran after her. "Eve!" he called, putting on a burst of speed that came from being a dog once a month.

Catching her round the waist, Sirius pulled her into his chest, forcing her to stop, though she continued to struggle.

"Eve, I'm so sorry!" Sirius told her, holding her at arms' length.

"Leave me alone! Why did you have to interfere?" yelled Evangeline, pulled away from him, tears running own her cheeks.

Sirius hung his head, trying desperately not to yell back at her.

"Look, Eve, I'm sorry, we'll pretend it never happened, okay?" he told her, pulling her into a hug.

Evangeline stiffened against the feel of his warm body pressed onto her's so innocently. She blushed pink again.

Realising she was uncomfortable, Sirius quickly let go of her, smiling softly at her pink cheeks.

His smile faded sadly as Evangeline, not knowing what else to do, broke from his gentle grasp, and ran down the hall again.

Glancing around him, Sirius sighed in relief as he found that Remus and James were nowhere in sight or smell.

Being a dog had its advantages, you know.

------

Evangeline's hand shot out to grab the doorframe, using it to swing herself round and into the music room. Using her other hand she closed the doors behind her, locking them after her.

Piecing every thought together,
Find the words to make me better.
If I only knew how to pull myself apart.

She pulled out the music from her pocket, enlarged it again, and walked over to the piano, running a hand through her hair to calm herself.

She shook her head to throw Sirius from her mind, and sat down, shuffling the papers into their correct order, before glancing at the first one: her new song, written only that morning: 'All That I'm Living For'.

She began to play randomly, enjoying the sounds that reached her ears, soothing and numbing her mind.

"…Eve?"

Evangeline gasped, her eyes snapping open in shock, as she whipped round to see Remus in the doorway, alone, for once.

She staggered to her feet, grabbing the music quickly. She shook her head slightly. "Wha-What are you doing here? How did you get in?!" she yelled, her eyes still wide and her hands clutching desperately at the sheets.

Remus held up his wand soundlessly, and Evangeline looked at the floor, feeling confused and stupid.

"You play well." He told her calmly, walking towards her. Evangeline noted he closed the door behind him, the lock not clicking into place, but blocking out everyone else.

"Thanks." Evangeline muttered, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear nervously, unable to look his way at all.

"Eve…are you okay? I heard you singing the other day – I'm sorry." Remus told her.

Evangeline stared at him. Her brain screamed the words she couldn't even whisper.

Why are you apologising to me?! I'm…I'm…I'm just nobody! James knows it! Sirius knows it! Mom, Dad and everyone else in the world does! Wha-What…?!

Remus smiled sadly at her and walked towards her, until he was able to pull her into a hug. Evangeline stiffened, before pulling away, reacting faster than she had with Sirius.

That makes sense…I've already had to do this to Sirius today…and…and…Remus isn't as mean to me…and…it was just a hug…yeah, just a hug…

Remus put on a hurt look though Evangeline wasn't to know it was fake. She looked away in shame at the thought of hurting someone who only wanted to help her…apparently.

"…I'm sorry." Remus said quietly, looking at the floor, laying it on thick. "I'll go, now. Sorry to have interrupted." He muttered, walking out.

Evangeline bit her lip. "Remus!" she called out, just before he turned the corner and walked out of her view. Remus looked back, his eyes wide and innocent as he had seen Evangeline's go many-a-time, though she never knew he noticed.

"…Yeah?" he asked, part-hopeful, part-innocent, still.

Evangeline bit her lip and again and took a deep breath. "I-I…"

Remus smiled softly at her and walked back towards her, still waiting. He stopped just in front of her, a little closer to her than Evangeline found comfortable, considering what she was trying to say, and all.

"…I-I didn't mean – I-I mean, I just -!"

"-Shhhh…" Remus soothed, putting one finger to her lips. Evangeline went silent in shock. Her cheeks went pink, making Remus chuckle softly.

"Its okay, Eve. Hey, you want to go grab some ice cream with me?" he asked kindly. Evangeline, still in shock, nodded mutely, able to decide for herself, still, but unable to talk.

Remus grinned at her. He motioned to the papers she still held. "You want to go put them away, first? I need to go grab a couple of things too," He added, "so I'll meet you by the front door in ten minutes?" He asked.

All that I'm living for,
All that I'm dying for,
All that I can't ignore alone at night.
All that I'm wanted for,
Although I wanted more.
Lock the last open door, my ghosts are gaining on me.

Evangeline smiled - hardly believing her luck – and nodded.

"Sure thing!" she replied quietly. She let Remus walk her to her room, where she closed the door after him, and leant against it.

Did this count as a first date?

No, of course it didn't. Remus was just taking her out for ice cream because…because…why was he taking her out for ice cream?

Sighing, Evangeline quickly changed into a pair of jeans and a black shirt that fitted her nicely, showing a little figure – not that Evangeline really noticed this: she just liked the colour and the way it went with almost everything she had. She pulled on a pair of black trainers and ran out to meet Remus.

She quickly back-tracked to her room to grab a light black bag, grabbing her money and the key to her room as well. She locked her door behind her, and went down again.

The next morning, Evangeline smiled to herself as she remembered what a wonderful dream she had had. Her eyes widened when she saw her song 'All That I'm Living For' on her bedside table, realising it wasn't just a dream.

Sirius tried to kiss me…Remus took me out for ice cream…and he...he…

Evangeline's eyes widened further, and she placed two fingers to her lips subconsciously.

He held my hand...and then he…kissed me…?

Evangeline shook her head, determined it was all just some weird dream.

She looked up sharply at the sound of knocking on her door.

"Eve? Eve, c'mon, you wanna play quiditch with me and Remus? Eve? Eve c'mon! I'm sorry about yesterday, if that's what's got you down…"

Evangeline's eyes widened as Sirius trailed off, most-likely hanging his head.

I believe that dreams are sacred.
Take my darkest fears and play them
Like a lullaby,
Like a reason why,
Like a play of my obsessions,
Make me understand the lesson,
So I'll find myself,
So I won't be lost again.

Sirius looked up as she opened the door.

His jaw dropped, though she didn't notice, as he took in her look.

She wore a thin, plain nightgown that reached just above her knees – barely – but was, to Sirius's mock dismay, unrevealingly tight around her neck.

Evangeline was strictly straight-faced, but possibly slightly hysterical.

"You mean I didn't just dream that or something?" she asked, her voice definitely bordering on hysteria.

Sirius got a grip on himself and shook his head slowly, unable to stop staring at her still.

Evangeline groaned and shut the door again.

Sirius snapped back to reality, and began to pounding on her door again. "Hey! What about quiditch?!" he yelled, grinning.

Evangeline groaned again, louder. Sirius smiled wider: she sounded more like James, now, except he always wanted to play quiditch.

"…Give me five minutes, alright?" sighed Evangeline at last. "…But I warn you: I don't know how to play!" she added. Sirius laughed and smiled at the shut door.

"Let me in and I'll explain." He bargained.

The door opened slightly, just so that Evangeline could shoot a glare at him. The door opened fully, and Sirius shot inside.

Evangeline walked into her en-suit, smirking.

"Pervert." She called over her shoulder. Sirius nodded calmly.

"But of course." He replied, taking it as a compliment. Evangeline laughed through the closed door, and Sirius fought back an uncomfortable blush as he heard the sounds of running water from a shower.

"Okay, you play quiditch like this…" Sirius called over the water.

Evangeline groaned again.

By the following evening, James had figured things out, and had, quite frankly, had enough.

All that I'm living for,
All that I'm dying for,
All that I can't ignore alone at night.
All that I'm wanted for,
Although I wanted more.
Lock the last open door, my ghosts are gaining on me.

"Padfoot, Moony, have you both been trying to warm up to my sister?" he demanded, shooting accusing glares at them both. James was stood in the middle of what was known as the Marauders' Lounge, Remus on one side, Sirius on the other. James kept switching targets, glaring at them in turn.

Remus and Sirius gaped at one another.

"…I was, but why would you do that?!" they each yelled, pointing to the other.

James groaned loudly. "You morons!" he yelled, "you each had the same plan! Eve won't know whether to be scared, annoyed, suspicious or just…confused about this!" he yelled.

Guess I thought I'd have to change the world to make you see me,
To be the one.
I could have run forever,
But how for would I have come
Without mourning your love?

Remus and Sirius both winced, each as glad as the other that the Marauders' Lounge was soundproof and silent to the outside world.

The two boys hung their heads, as James sighed in defeat.

"…But I think I really like her, Prongs." Sirius muttered, in perfect unison with Remus.

James, Remus and Sirius' heads all snapped up at this, all three in shock, though James probably the most.

"…WHAT?!" roared James, shooting to his feet again. "YOU'RE SAYING YOU BOTH FANCY MY SISTER?!"

Remus and Sirius both gulped and tried to move back into the sofa – naturally, to no avail.

Should it hurt to love you?

"Kinda…" they muttered.

Meanwhile, Evangeline was as worried and confused as the Marauders – more so, most-likely. She had written several poems, though hadn't written any more songs for a while.

She had managed to stop cutting, but was on the verge of an emotional breakdown, due to the attention from both Remus and Sirius – her brothers best friends, school hotties, Marauders – though that alone was reason in itself, really – and the two people who had a crush on her at the moment.

Or at least, that was how they acted.

Evangeline wasted no time in deciding that people like them couldn't ever feel that way towards someone like her. It just went against everything Evangeline thought she had come to know about James and the Marauders, yet here two of them were, flirting with her and crushing on her.

It was disturbing, confusing, exciting, scary and a whole bunch of other things all at once.

Should I feel like I do?
Should I lock the last open door,
This had been on for about a week, now, and each night Evangeline had told herself firmly that it was all just some cruel prank or joke or something, wanting her to believe they were good, just so that they could humiliate and use her.

But she really just wanted to believe them when they said they wanted to help.

My ghosts are gaining on me.