Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything pertaining to the series.
Chapter 7: A Better Life
The first year at Hogwarts flew by. Eva became really good friends with Marissa, Amy, Chris, and Mike. The two boys, although very bright, had a knack for getting in trouble. Even so, they were well liked in Hogwarts. Their jokes and pranks were done in good humor and soon even Eva was reeled into their pranking schemes.
As the year went by Eva and Toms started drifting farther and farther apart. They now had other friends and belonged to two different groups of friends. The only time they now saw each other was in class. Both Tom and Eva were at the top of their class. Because of this, they were usually partnered together in class.
Since the incident with the sorting hat, Tom was doing as much research as he could to find out about his past. He spent hours in the library looking up books on Salazar Slytherin and his relation to the founding of the school. Through his research, he hoped to find more about his family background and concrete proof that he was special. Also, he started to delve into the Dark Arts.
Eva and Tom were both extremely happy at Hogwarts. As the year wound down they were very reluctant to return to the orphanage. Tom even went to the Headmaster to ask if he could stay over the summer, but to no avail.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
On the last week of school before the final exams, Eva was sitting in the Great Hall staring down gloomily at her breakfast. Her friends were trying to cheer her up when Professor Dumbledore walked over to them.
"Ah, Miss Callagher. I was wondering if I could have a word with you?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," she replied and got up to follow him out of the hall.
"Well Miss Callagher," the Professor began, " I am well aware that you have unfortunately lost both parents during this horrible war seeing as I picked you up from that orphanage."
"Yes sir, I have," Eva told him wondering what the Professor wanted.
"That being said, I have been keeping in contact with the superior at the orphanage. You see, I like to keep in contact with the muggle world. The last time I spoke with your superior, I believe her name is Mrs. Cole, she told me that she had received a letter inquiring about your well being."
Eva stopped dead in her tracks and looked up at him wondering who would inquire about her.
"The letter apparently was from a distant relative. They go by the name Evans, I believe. Do you recall ever meeting them?"
Evans? Evans... where had she heard that name before, Eva thought, and then it clicked.
"I think I've met them before. Mr. Evans was my mother's cousin." she told the Professor.
"Ah, that explains the reasoning behind the letter. You see Miss Callagher, the family wishes to adopt you."
Eva looked at him with big wide eyes. The last thing she had expected was for someone to adopt her.
"They wish to ad-adopt me," she said in a whisper.
"Yes, they do. Of course, the choice is all up to you."
Thousands of thoughts were swirling through Eva's head. The last time she saw the Evans' was many years ago. She didn't know them and it would be awkward. Although, living with them might be better than going back to the orphanage.
"I don't know, Professor. I haven't seen them in many years," she told Dumbledore.
"Well, a visit can be arranged for you to meet them over the summer possibly. It would be better that way seeing as they are muggles."
"Okay," Eva agreed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Three weeks later, Eva was regretting her decision to meet the Evans'. She was waiting outside of Miss Cole's office staring blankly into space. Eva could hear the voices from inside the office and was trying to remember them from the last time she saw them. She could not remember much of them, but she thought they had a son. As she was dwelling on this fact, Professor Dumbledore came out.
"Miss Callagher, we are ready for you," he told her kindly.
Eva got up slowly and walked towards the door. Her knees were wobbling a bit and she entered the office.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Meanwhile, Tom was looking for her. They had hardly been there a week and already he was bored out of his mind and in a horrible mood. He was annoyed with the whole fact that he would have to remain in the orphanage for the summer.
He looked for her everywhere, except for Miss Cole's office. Tom did not think she would ever be in there. Figuring that he would just talk to her later, Tom went up to his room. He took out a copy of The Dark Arts and began to read.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The first thing Eva noticed upon entering the room was a man and his wife sitting across from Miss Cole. The man had brown hair and blue eyes in contrast with his wife who had red hair and brown eyes. In between them sat a boy with red hair and blue eyes. The boy was about nine years old.
They were turned towards her and greeted her with welcoming smiles.
"This is your mother's cousin Nathan Evans, his wife Diane Evans, and their son Mark Evans," Miss Cole told her.
"Hello," Eva replied.
She and Dumbledore sat down and discussed many things with the group. First, Eva reacquainted herself with the Evans' and then Dumbledore explained to them about Eva being a witch. It came as a shock to the Evans' and Miss Cole. The more they talked the more Eva felt at home.
After two hours, Miss Cole turned to Eva, "Well, dear do you want to be adopted by them?"
Eva didn't have to think about it, she already knew what she wanted. Without hesitation she said, "Yes."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was around 6:00 in the afternoon when Eva went to find Tom. She found him in his room reading.
"Hello, Tom," she greeted.
"Where have you been?" he asked not looking up from his book.
"With Dumbledore, and Miss Cole," she told him.
At the mention of Dumbledore, Tom's head had snapped up. He now looked at her with curious eyes. "What did he want?"
"Well…," Eva began, not quite sure how to tell him, "I'm going to be adopted."
Tom froze and his face became unreadable.
"I'm leaving tonight to go live with my mother's cousin. What do you think?" Eva stopped waiting for a reply. None came.
"Tom?" Still no answer came.
Eva sighed and turned around. She walked into the darkness of the hallway.
Tom had not been listening. All he could think about was how cruel the world was. Here he had been for many years and not once had someone wanted to adopt him. Eva was here for a far shorter time and right away she was adopted. Now he was left all alone in some grungy orphanage with a bunch of muggles while she left towards a better life.
He looked up to say goodbye, but she was gone.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A/n: Once again I'm sorry I took so long to update. I'm hoping to update more frequently now that summer is here. Please Review.
