I don't own.

Chapter Seven: The Approach

The rest of Christmas break passed, and soon we found ourselves at King's Cross Station once more. The prospect of seeing Will again stirred an odd combination of dread and elation in the pit of my stomach—we hadn't spoken since that night with the mirror. I was silent as we ducked through the passage to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, scanning the crowd. Each blond head set my blood ablaze, but all were false alarms. Then, I spotted him.

Despite the fire in my veins and the sudden, fierce urge to run, my eyes greedily drank in the sight of Will as he loading his trunk onto the train. Strangely, there was no sign of Lysander anywhere. He hopped off the train, nodded curtly to his father, and hugged his mother with one arm. As his mother straightened his collar, his eyes flitted from face to face, searching for someone. I realized who that someone was, just as he spotted me. His face resembled that of one who had just been struck by lightning...then...he grinned at me.

"Evey! What on earth are you staring at? Grab your trunk, come on!" Uncle Ron called. He helped me heave my trunk onto the train. With Roxie draped lazily over my shoulders, I hugged them all goodbye. Dragging my trunk to the compartment where my cousins were located, I discovered the cart full, Anderson Jordan having filled my place.

"Oh, Evey!" Fred exclaimed. "Andy here's just telling us about a Quidditch match he saw...do you mind if he sits here?" Rose jumped up.

"It's fine, Evey and I will go find Lydia and Alyssa..." she said, a twinge of regret in her voice. I suppressed a smile as she glanced shyly at Andy.

"Oh, no, Rose, I hate to drag you away from a good story. I wouldn't be very good company, anyway...I'll just sketch the whole way. You stay, I'll go find Lydia and Alyssa." Rose's eyes widened.

"Oh, thank-you, Evey! I mean...I hate to miss out on a good story..." Rose said quickly. Anderson seemed to notice her for the first time. I ducked out of the compartment and made my way up the narrow corridor, dragging my trunk behind me. The train gave a whistle as it lurched to a start, and I was pitched forward. Roxie yowled in dismay and hopped off of my shoulders, trotting snootily away.

"No, Rox! Come back!" But the cat was already several compartments ahead of me. I tried to keep up with her, weighed down by my trunk.

"Looking for something?" A familiar voice asked. Will stood before me, Roxie curled quite comfortably in his arms.

"Oh...um...I'm sorry, she's a little short-tempered and she...uh..." The corners of his mouth twitched upward.

"Were...you looking for a compartment?"

"Uh, yeah...I mean, my cousins' compartment was full, so-"

"You could...always sit in mine."

"I...really? Would your friends, you know..."

"I'm, uh, sitting alone. That is...their compartment was full, as well, so...what do you say?"

"I say...'yes.'" He led me to a compartment near the very end of the train. His green and silver trunk was already secured in an overhead rack. He helped me with mine. We sat facing one another, and Roxie abandoned Will for the comfort of my lap.

"So," I said nervously.

"So," he replied.

"Evey, I'm really, really sorry about what I said to you, I mean...you have every right to be upset with me, but you have tounderstand that I can't tell you anything right now...as much as I want to. But I promise you, I will tell you...I'll tell you everything. Anything and everything...as soon as I can. Do...do you...forgive me?" I studied his pleading face. Why did I trust him so much? What had he ever done to make me trust him? Saved your life. The voice in the back of my head answered.

"Of course." The pure relief on his face said it all. Pushing Roxie aside with a startled meow, I threw my arms around his neck. He stiffened for a moment, then returned the embrace, leaning his cheek against my hair. He pulled back and gave me that look, and I knew what was coming, and I more than half expected it when the snack trolley lady burst into our compartment.

"Anything off of the Trolley, dears?" I let out a laugh.

"We may be cursed." Will commented after she left.

"We probably are." I said.

"Evey..."

"Hmm?"

"Can I...ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Do you think we could...go to the Winter Ball...together?" I looked up in surprise. "I know it's last minute and all, but if you didn't have a date, then we could go..."

"Will...like, as a...?"

"A couple, yes! Evey, I don't give a damn what they think anymore...so, will you?"

"Yes!" I felt a little dizzy. It was Thursday, the dance was in two weeks. I had been planning on flying solo with Rose, but the way she and Anderson had been gazing at one another, I doubted that that was going to happen. And, anyway, hadn't I wanted this all along?

"We...we're really going to do this? I mean, you're sure that your cousins and brother..."

"They'll get over it. What about you...your friends? What will they think?"

"If they don't like you, then they hardly have any business being my friend. And," his voice lowered, "they're just jealous, anyway." I blushed furiously. Will chuckled. "I haven't seen one of those in a while."

"Well, I haven't seen you in a while." The conversation slowly turned to school, then Christmas gifts, then we lost track of time, and, far too quickly, Hogwarts loomed in the distance, the sky sapphire-blue surrounding it.

"Will?" I said, finally remembering something. "Where's Lysander?"

"Who?" He frowned.

"Your...cat?"

"Oh! Him! I, uh, left him at the school. The...house elves usually take care of him. He, um...doesn't travel well."

"Oh." I said, confused at his broken explanation. Before I could ask him anything else, the Hogwarts Express shuddered to a stop.

"You'd, uh...better go." Will said, regretfully. I nodded, scooping up Roxie, I reached for the door of the compartment.

"Uh, Evey?" I turned. "See you tomorrow." I smiled at him before exiting the compartment, leaving my trunk to be transported magically up to my dormitory. I saw my cousins, ginger-haired in a sea of neutral colors, and they waved me over. Rose attacked me as I approached them.

"Guess what? Guess WHAT?" She exclaimed, jumping up and down.

"Um...what?"

"Andy, he asked me to the Ball!" She squealed.

"Oh, Rosie! Awesome! Not that I didn't see it coming..." she raised one eyebrow, a talent I had never perfected.

"But...what about you?" I winked.

"Don't worry, I'll figure something out." She regarded me suspiciously, but said nothing. We gathered together, waiting for the next thestral-drawn carriage to arrive, when I heard someone call my name.

"Evey! Evey!" Fred sneered at something behind me.

"What do you want-" But Fred's insult was cut off when I turned to find myself kissing Will. It was rather forceful...but all the same, I had the strange sensation that there were spiders coursing through my veins, their legs sending shivers all over my body. He pulled back, letting his hands—which had been positioned on either side of my face—fall to his sides. His expression was one of wonder and shock. Both of us were breathing slightly heavier than normal.

"WHAT DID YOU JUST DO TO MY SISTER?" Fred's roar seemed to come from a few Quidditch-fields away. I payed no mind to him, instead placing my hands on either of Will's shoulders and kissing him back. One of his hands found the small of my back, the other rested on the side of my neck. We parted a few hours later...though I was later informed by Rose that those hours had only actually been seconds. When we parted, I recalled that the better half of my family had been witnesses to this. I turned rather cautiously to face them. All six were staring at us, slack-jawed. I came to the startling realization that almost everyone around us were staring slack-jawed, as well.

"Um...guys?" I began. No answer. "This is Scorpius Malfoy. Call him 'Will.'"

News travels quickly around Hogwarts...especially when said news was witnessed by nearly half of the school. Despite the high number of eye-witnesses, I heard several varying accounts, varying from Will attacking me, to me attacking Will, with at least one rumor that Will had proposed marriage. I was unsure why anyone cared who anyone else snogged, but I was suddenly on several Slytherin girls' hit-lists, and whispers never failed to follow me, wherever I went. I even witnessed several teachers stealing curious glances at me. Surprisingly, I found the whole thing rather amusing. If a Ravenclaw and a Griffindor could snog openly in the hallways, why couldn't a Slytherin and a Griffindor?

The worst part of the whole thing was Fred's reaction. He informed me that he had written Mum and Dad, and that he would be expecting a reply immediately. Other than that, he barely spoke to me. In fact, none of my cousins, except Rose, said much to me all through the next day. I quickly got fed up, and that night at dinner, I took my seat at the Gryffindor table, bound and determined to make amends with my brother.

"Hey." I said. My cousins responded, but Fred only nodded. "So, Fred, how do you, um, think the match is going to go next week?" He shrugged. "Do you...think we have a...a shot at the championship this year?" Another shrug. I grew quiet.

"Um...look at this," Rose said, pointing to the days' Prophet, "It says there have been several dementor sightings in Scotland..." Fred mumbled something unintelligible. I decided to get straight to the point.

"Listen, Fred...about...what happened yesterday, if you would just hear me out...Will is the nicest, most sincere person I've ever met. If you would just get to know him, I'm sure you'd come to-"

"I will not get to know a Malfoy, Evey. How could you? Do you recall what his father did to our parents? I don't know how you could be such a...a traitor!" I gaped at him.

"Fred! Have you learned nothing from the war? We can't choose who we like and dislike based on...on who their parents were, or whether or not they have muggle in their blood, or what house they're in! If we are ever going to make any progress, we have to learn from the mistakes made in generations before us!" Fred said nothing, gazing at me expressionlessly.

"You know what? Never mind. How could I have possibly expected you to understand?"

"Evey, wait!" Rose called, but I was already halfway to the door. I nearly ran onto the grounds, finally finding myself at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

"Arty?" I called, stepping into the trees. "Artemis?" There was a rustling, and I turned to greet my Hippogriff friend. To my surprise, Firenze, a centaur with fine wrinkles on his face and silver streaks through his hair and tail, stepped out of the brush.

"You should not be here," he said.

"I...I was looking for Artemis...the young Hippogriff?" The centaur nodded.

"Yes, your bond. I'm afraid she is deeper into the forest. You see, Hippogriffs can sense when danger is coming. Your friend tried to convince the rest of the herd to stay, but she was outnumbered."

"Artemis is in danger?" My heart skipped a beat.

"No. At least, not directly. You, however, are. You should not be here."

"You said that already. What sort of danger?" The centaur regarded me with wise eyes.

"You sense it, too. You don't know it, but you do."

"Sense what? Stop speaking in riddles!" I was shocked at the forcefulness in my tone.

"Your emotions, they have been more difficult to control lately. You have been acting rashly, very out of character for you. You burn with rage, shiver from happiness. Am I correct?" I frowned.

"How could you have possibly...? You aren't answering my questions!"

"Perhaps you are not asking the right questions." I studied his face. He seemed genuine. What was the right question?

"Why...shouldn't I be here?"

"Because there is an evil at work, and you are caught in the midst of it."

"What sort of evil?"

"One that you could not imagine." I frowned.

"What do I have to do with it?"

"Little, but then you are a threat."

"...to the evil?" He nodded. "But...how can I be a threat? I'm not near the top of my class, it's not as if I'm anything special strength-wise...I'm not really a threat to anyone."

"You possess two types of power. Both are not clearly visible on the exterior, but both, when used correctly, are extremely powerful."

"What...types of power?"

"You are getting better at asking questions. The first is a sort of sense. You can feel the intentions and true natures behind other people. You can sense lies and true feelings. This power is unfocused, however. As it grows within you, you will begin to sense more and more. These emotions are powerful, and sometimes easy to confuse as your own. But, with a little focusing, you will never be deceived by another. You must be careful, though, not to deceive yourself."

"I can...read people's emotions?"

"Not exactly. You can sense them. It is a deep and powerful gift, a subtle one, but powerful."

"What...what's the second power?" The centaur smiled sagely.

"Ah. That I cannot tell you. It is something that you must discover yourself to use. But it is one of the deepest forces of all. And now, the time for questions has ended. You must get back to the school. You are safe there, for the time being. Fare-well, Evelyn."

"Wait! How did you know my name?" Firenze murmured the answer over his shoulder.

"You learn a great many things from living in the forest. Good-night." He disappeared through the brush once more.

"Evey?" I jumped. Turning, I saw Rose making her way across the lawn. I stepped out of the trees. "Evey! There you are! I was beginning to panic a little—what are you doing out here?" I shrugged.

"Thinking."

"Oh. Listen, about supper, I just wanted to say that...I agree. Completely. Why should the things our parents did and felt affect us?" I threw my arms around her.

"Thank-you, Rose."

"James, Albus, Lily and Hugo agree, too. We never really gave Mal—sorry again—Will a chance. We just assumed he was exactly like his father."

"I'm glad you guys understand...what about Fred?" She looked down.

"He...he definitely heard what you said. He left right after you did, and went to the dormitories. The others were going to go and see if they could talk some sense into him, but I told them to leave him be. He'll come around. He has to." I nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted and cold, realizing for the first time that I had stormed out of the castle without a cloak.

"Come on, let's go inside," Rose said, leading me back across the grounds. When we entered the common room, I suddenly remembered something.

"Hey, Rose, did that reply from my mum and dad ever come?" She took an envelope from her inside coat pocket and handed it to me. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that it was a normal letter, rather than a howler. I opened it apprehensively. My mother's perfect script filled the page.

Evelyn,

We received your brother's letter in the mail this morning, and, let me start off by saying that I think it's wonderful that you have moved on after your disappointment earlier this year.

I will admit to quite a surprise after reading your brother's rather, shall we say, concerned letter, to realize that the new object of your affections is none other than the young Malfoy boy. Indeed, your father uttered some words that I hope he will never again use in the same sentence, or at all, for that matter.

However, after our initial shock, I recalled the conversation we had that day in your room, and I realize now that I should have figured this out right away. Please remember what I said, and know that it is still true. You must be the one to make the decisions in your own life. You can't let anyone else's opinions get in the way of that.

Your father and I trust you immensely. You have proven to us time and time again that you have a level head secured upon your shoulders, and we will support you with whatever decision you make. I know it must be difficult for you, with Fred acting like such a child. We will try to help him understand, but in the mean time, know that we love you, and so does Fred, although he may have strange ways of showing it. Send everyone there our love!

Love,

Mum and Dad

I smiled as I reread the letter, then passed it to Rose. At least I knew that my parents weren't angry with me. Now all that was left to worry about was Fred.