Chapter Three

Evelyn was still fuming when Severus found her in the library. And all of that anger almost completely melted when she saw that he had come looking for her.

"Evelyn, you okay? You seemed pretty mad out there."

He cares! He actually cares enough to come check on me, she thought happily to herself. "I'm fine, really. I just don't like the way my brother and his friends treat you. I'm pretty sure that bludger coming after us wasn't an accident."

"Why do you say that."

"Longbotton, your aim is off, as usual," she mimicked Sirius as best she could. Severus would have laughed if it didn't feed into his own anger.

"I want to get them back. For numerous things."

"Sev, he's my brother. I don't like or condone the way he treats you, but I-I don't want him to get in too much trouble."

Severus had to hold back an irritated groan. "Come on, Evie, he's a Billy and you know it."

Her heart leaped for joy. He had never used her nickname before, and it occurred to her for a moment that he was using it to appeal to her. But it made her so happy, and she wanted to return the favor.

"I honestly don't know a good way to get him back. I do know that tonight they'll all be sneaking out. They go to the womping willow. I don't know why or what they do, but I know that's what they're doing."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I do. I'm James' sister and I know a great deal about him. I'm not going to betray every little secret."

"Well thank you, Evie. I really appreciate this. I promise I won't take it too far."

She nodded as he started walking away. Suddenly she felt a hot, like something took over her, "Severus!"

He stopped and stared at her, waiting.

"Oh um, nothing, just, I'm really glad we're still friends, after everything last year."

Her face burned hot with embarrassment.

"Me too."

She smiled, hoping that it wasn't too enthusiastic, and went back to her studying, leering her feet swung back and forth happily.

She only had a few moments of studying before a book slammed down in front of her. She looked up to see Lily.

"Lily, we're in a library, be nice to the books."

"Evie, we have to talk."

"What about?"

Lily sighed and sat down across from her friend.

"Evie, I've been trying to find Remus all day. I finally got up the nerve to-what I'm about to say you can't repeat to anyone, pinky swear!"

Lily's pinky waited for a response and Evelyn quickly accepted the feature.

"I was going to ask Remus to join me at Madame Puddifoote's this weekend. I-I've had a thing for him for ages."

"What?"

"It's just, he's not like James and Sirius and we've spent a lot of time together because we're prefects. He's really kind and smart and quiet. I just, I finally got the courage and I can't find him."

"You won't find him today," Evelyn stated simply.

"What? Do you know something?"

"No. I don't know why you won't find him. I just know you won't. We've been in school with each other for ages. How did you never notice he always disappears for a little bit each month?"

Evelyn noticed. She noticed everything about those in her immediate world. Whether or not they noticed her, she noticed them.

"I-we'll I guess I never thought much of it. But are you sure about that today?"

"I'm positive. But, I'm really proud of you for having the courage to tell him. I can't admit it myself."

"Admit what, Evie."

Evelyn sighed and put her pinky out. "Please don't tell anyone what I'm about to say."

Lily locked her pinky with Evelyn's.

"The reason I'm still friends with Sev is because I'm in love with him. I have been since third year. I couldn't stay mad at him after last year. I don't have it in me. He has my heart and he doesn't even know it."

Part of her wanted to cry. Another part wanted to scream.

"Why don't you tell him, Evie?"

"Because, he's in love with someone else."

"Maybe you should try dating someone else then. Make yourself move on. I've noticed you talking to Sirius more-"

"You can't seriously think that I would consider that pick do you? If you won't consider James, why should I consider Sirius? Besides, Sirius and I aren't even friends. He's only trying to make things bearable when we return home."

Lily shook her head, disbelieving her best friend's naivety. But she realized that Evelyn was serious. She almost couldn't believe all the signs that she missed. She always noticed Evelyn watching Severus, and trying to interact with him frequently.

"We'll I'm still mad at Severus. I won't be his friend."

"It's okay. I understand. But if I had to choose between only being his friend and not having him at all, I'd take friend any day. I need him and I don't understand why."

Lily got up and walked around the take to hug her friend.

"It will be okay."

"Thanks, Lils. Don't give up on Remus, okay?"

Severus snuck out of the castle just after dark and made his way to the womping willow. The air was brisk, Autumn being around the corner. It was silent in a way he never realized and the moon glowed bright, lighting his path.

He reached the tree and felt relieved that it seemed to be sleeping. Severus walked silently around the tree, looking for anything that would indicate why James and his friends would meet over here. If anybody else had given him the information, he would have accused them of trying to get him killed. But Evelyn had always been honest and kind to him. She even refused to take Lily's side completely and stayed by his side.

He finally noticed a hole in the ground just under the tree and took a breath before glancing at the tree one last time. And then be made a dash for it and fell into the tunnel. Once he righted himself, he worked his way down the path in front of him, hearing an almost scratching like sound coming from the other end.

Something about the entire situation made his hair stand on edge. But still he continued down the tunnel.

Evelyn had waited for her brother and his friends to leave the castle before shifting into her animagi form, a black cat. She followed them silently, having decided to let her curiosity get the better of her after all those years. She enjoyed following them without their knowledge. James had no idea just how like him she could be.

She watched Petigrew take his rat form and crawl forward, suddenly the tree stopped it's usual movement. She wondered how they managed it.

Then there was a scream and James disappeared. Evelyn turned back into a human and ran forward.

"What's going on?" She screamed, terrified and prepared to take off after her brother.

Sirius managed Rio reach out and grab her, pulling her back.

"No, what's going on? Let me go Sirius!"

Instead he dragged her out of reach of the tree and held her close to him.

"What are you doing here, Evelyn?"

"I wanted to know why you always snuck out, and I wanted to keep an eye on Severus."

"What wait?" He turned Evelyn so she was facing him holding onto her arms with a fierce grip. "Why would Severus be out here?"

"He wanted to get back at you guys for what happened after the practice. I just told him that I knew you guys would be sneaking out here tonight."

"You shouldn't have meddled?"

"Why not? What's going on?"

James had run into the tunnel immediately after the scream. He'd recognize it anywhere, and normally he wasn't sure if he would have rushed in, but he wasn't saving Snivellus. He was saving Remus. He ran as fast as he could and reached Severus just in time, pulling him out of the way and shoving him back.

"Flipendo duo!" He managed to cast just in time to knock back the werewolf as he ran back down the tunnel. Severus had not left yet, so James shoved him out and pushed him away from the tree.

"Remus is a werewolf," Sirius explained as the two boys emerged from the tunnel.

Evelyn finally managed to break free of his grip and ran towards them.

"James! Severus!"

Her first instinct was to go to Severus, but he shoved her away.

"You sent me into there? How could you! I could have died? Now I owe your ruddy brother a life debt!"

"Forget about it, Snivellus. I didn't do it to save you."

"Sev, I didn't know I swear-"

"Save it, liar."

Before she could try to explain anything, Severus was running for the castle.

"Why didn't you tell me, James?"

"It's not my secret to tell and I didn't think my own sister would betray me."

"I wasn't trying to betray you," she said through her tears. "I never would have told him to follow you guys out here if I knew. I just wanted to help him get back at you for being such a prick. I followed to make sure it didn't get out of hand!"

"Well that's too bloody bad! Look what you've done now. You've lost one half of the only friends you have. And pissed off your brother. You know, I could have died to. You out everyone at risk because you had to stick your nose where it didn't belong."

She took off running towards the castle as well, tears streaming down her face. She hated herself in that moment. And she wondered if Severus would ever forgive her.