"You'll be fine," Harry tried to assure Everyn.
He held out his hand to the girl, but she stayed in the shadows, shaking her head.
"It's only the two of them."
"I can already feel them, Harry."
Harry grabbed her by her shoulders and locked his eyes with hers. "You have to be able to fight it. Look at Snape. He's in a room with tons of people all day. I know you can do this Everyn."
He let go of her and held out his hand again. "You don't have to stay long. Just a couple of minutes. Just tell me when you need to leave."
Everyn finally took Harry's hand and let him lead her into the common room where Ron and Hermione were sitting.
THey looked up and smiled as Everyn and Harry came closer. Harry could feel Everyn shaking. He gave her hand a quick squeeze and she smiled at him.
"Everyn," Harry said, "this is Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. You guys, this is Everyn."
"Hello, Everyn," Ron said."It's nice to meet you, Everyn," HErmione said.
Everyn smiled, seeming to have lost the ability to speak. She dropped in a chair and entertwined her fingers together. Harry realized she looked ready to run.
"So, Everyn," Ron said, "how do you like Hogwarts so far?"
Everyn seemed less tense when the silence was broken. "I like it. It's . . . different."
Harry watched silently as his friends conversed. He was glad when Everyn sunk back in her chair, a sign that she was relaxed. That smile had had gotten so used to was on her face now and her laugh sounded clear of tension and pain.
As he listened, he realized how little he knew about this girl. But he still felt incredibly close to her and he listened intently as he learned things about her, like, her favorite color was blue and she enjoyed pumpkin pasties and her birthday was September 19. He learned that she didn't enjoy spiders or the dark. Small things that seemed incredible to him.
When the students began drifting in from dinner, Everyn went to her private room. Harry followed her with his eyes, somewhat wishing to follow her with his feet, just so he could go talk to her, find out more about her.
"Ow!" he said, looking up as Ron leaned back from hitting him in the head. "What was that for?"
"If you had been staring any harder, you would have been using x-ray vision," Hermione said, giggling.
"I think you fancy her," Ron said, grinning.
"I . . . don't," Harry said, his face getting hot. "I just -- i just think she's a very interesting girl."
"She does seem pretty sweet," Hermione said. "Awfully shy, but i suppose it makes sense, considering who she is."
"So, Harry . . ."Ron said. "Uh, what's going on with you and Ginny?"
Harry glanced over his shoulder to see Ginny walk in with that same seventh year from a couple of days ago. "Doesn't look like anything's going on with us, does it," Harry said.
"And you're okay with that?"
"I'm not, not okay with it, but . . . i wanted Ginny to be happy and from the looks of things, i'd say she was pretty happy, wouldn't you?"
"So you're okay then?" HErmione said.
"Yeah . . . yeah, i am."
"Only because Everyn's been keeping him distracted," Ron said.
"I told you, i don't fancy her."
"Harry, sorry to tell you this but anyone with eyes could see that you fancy her. It's the way you look at her when she's talking. You look as if you wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
Harry could feel his face get hot again. He got to his feet. "I'm going to go and finish my homework upstairs."
As he sped walk his way to the stairs, he could hear his friends chuckling behind him.
