Evelyn woke a little after midnight, feeling refreshed and wide awake. Everyone else was sleeping, so she dressed and got up quietly, going down to the dormitory. She sat by the fire for a while, then had an intense urge to be outside. It was only natural, after living outside her whole life and suddenly being kept inside all the time, so she slipped out of the dorm, not even bothering to find shoes.
Her feet pattered quietly on the stone floors as she ran through the halls, her hair billowing behind her. She managed to get outside without incident. She knew it was forbidden, but she ran across the moors, feeling breathless in the cool night air. She could see the tree-line of the Forbidden Forest ahead. She stopped a ways before she got there and just laid on her back on the cool grass of the moor, looking up at the sky. It was a half-moon, and the stars seemed to sing. Evelyn smiled, just glad to be outside again.
"What are you doing out here at this time? You know it's against the rules." Evelyn looked over to see Hagrid, the man she had seen with Harry that day in Diagon Alley. She sighed, hoping she wouldn't be in trouble. "I couldn't stay inside another minute. Please, Mr. Hagrid, don't make me go back just yet." Hagrid made an odd sound, something between a grunt and a laugh. "None of this Mr. nonsense, just Hagrid's fine. Make sure you don't get into trouble."
Evelyn smiled and sat up, looking up at the giant man. "Hagrid, what are you doing out here?" Hagrid pointed, "my hut's right over the hill. I came to get some twigs and wood for my fire." Evelyn nodded. "It must be nice to be out here, learning about these creatures." Hagrid nodded and mused, "that's right, you're the Hunter girl. Do you know much about the creatures?" Evelyn nodded, "but my brother Cole knows more. He's a trainer, he cares for creatures and knows all there is to know about them." Hagrid smiled behind his mustache and beard. "Why don't you tell me about him? I can make some tea."
Hagrid's hut was pleasant. It was still inside, but it was more like being inside one of the tents instead of in an actual room. Evelyn sipped her tea and told Hagrid of her brother and his talent with animals. She also told him of her manticore kill.
"Did it say anything to you?" Hagrid asked eagerly. Evelyn liked Hagrid and all his oddities. "Yes, it said to me 'you will die tonight.' I knew better than to answer." Hagrid seemed fascinated with her stories. She offered to come back and see him sometime, to which he gladly agreed. "it's rare to meet someone so young who knows so much." Evelyn smiled sadly, "but there is so much I don't know. I'm lost in this world, where respect is given at birth and people never move." Hagrid patted her head. "You'd best be getting back. The sun will be up soon." Evelyn thanked him and headed back, making it to her dorm without trouble.
Evelyn was worried. She stood in the courtyard with a broom on the ground beside her, waiting for instruction. That afternoon, they had their first flying lesson with Slytherin. Evelyn stood beside Hermione, who also seemed nervous.
It wasn't so much the flying part that concerned her, but the magic part. She had been having a bit of trouble with her magic, even with advice from Hermione. It didn't come easy to her. She wondered if there was something wrong with her. Sure, the magic was there, and it worked eventually, but she felt like it should come with a lot less effort. She was always exhausted after casting any sort of spell, like the energy had been drained completely out of her.
Madam Hooch stood in front of the two rows, one for each house, and instructed them on how to bring the broom to their hand. Evelyn watched all the others shout "up!" A few people got the hang of it immediately, including Harry and Hermione. Evelyn took a deep breath and called out "up!" The broom didn't move. Evelyn sighed a bit, trying to call on the magic within her. "Up!" Nothing. She was frustrated.
Suddenly, a rush of power stormed through Evelyn, and she called out "up!" again. The broom certainly went up, but it flew up rapidly and went about 50 feet into the air before falling again. Evelyn caught it, blushing in embarrassment. The rush of power was gone.
Evelyn mounted the broom like Madam Hooch explained. The worn wood of the training broom was oddly comforting. It reminded her of the staff that the Keeper carried; when she had been little, she had been allowed to hold it upright while the Keeper had healed a dragon fire burn. It was a pleasant memory, and brought a smile to Evelyn's face.
"Now take off!" Evelyn watched as everyone readied themselves, but suddenly, Neville shot up into the air with a startled cry. Evelyn watched in horror as he fell, landing with a sickening crack. He had broken his wrist. The Madam took him to the infirmary, and told the others not to fly while she was gone.
Of course, Malfoy was the one to start the argument between the houses. Evelyn stayed quiet, focusing on her broom. She was aware of Malfoy taunting Harry with Neville's remembrall, but she didn't really care at the moment. She would get it from him later. She wished she could call on the power that she had felt when she sent the broom flying into the air.
She looked up to see Harry chasing Malfoy through the air. She frowned, they weren't supposed to be flying. Then Malfoy threw the ball. Harry dove for it, catching it and pulling up just before he hit the ground. Evelyn was astonished. However, McGonagall showed up at that moment. She seemed furious. Evelyn lowered her gaze as she took Harry to the castle.
Malfoy laughed, "serves him right." Evelyn rolled her eyes, "you're jealous." He seemed surprised, "how could I be jealous of him?" Evelyn set her broom down and crossed her arms. "Because you couldn't have made that dive." Malfoy seemed angry, "you couldn't have either." Evelyn shrugged, "don't want to. Besides, I bet I could anyway. It can't be that different from pulling an Abraxan out of a dive." Immediately, people start questioning her on her experience with Abraxans. She explained calmly, "my brother is friends with a trainer in clan Thalos, who use them as warhorses. He was given one, and he let me ride it one time when he was sick and couldn't do it. I used it to bring down a small river troll, which required some diving."
After all the amazement died down, Malfoy scoffed. "I don't believe you." She smirked a bit. "Oh? Try me." She picked up her broom, feeling that same surge of power. She took off at a rapid rate, flying into the sky. She turned around and dove straight towards the ground. She had one hand free, even though they were supposed to keep both hands on the broom. She was used to holding a sword in one hand while flying, so she just held her hand out. She pulled up, her robes brushing the grass. She slowed to a stop and landed right in front of Malfoy. "Believe me now?" The surge of power faded, and she was left with a grin and wild hair.
That was when Madam Hooch returned, and the lesson resumed. Evelyn discovered that she was great with quick maneuvering, and that she enjoyed being on a broom, though it wasn't the same as being one with a living, breathing creature.
Suppertime rolled around. Evelyn discovered that Harry had been made Seeker, and voiced that she was happy for him. She didn't know much about Quidditch, but she understood that it was something similar to the Hunter games: a chance for each house to prove that they're the best. Fred and George were also on the team. When someone mentioned Evelyn's own skills, they said that next year, she should try out for chaser. Evelyn tilted her head, "but I know nothing about Quidditch." Fred ruffled her hair, "we'll teach you." She could tell them apart now, most of the time. George grinned, "it's easy!"
Just then, Draco dropped by, with Crabbe and Goyle in tow. The two lackeys nodded to Evelyn discreetly, to which she smiled a bit. Malfoy challenged Harry to a wizard' duel at midnight. Evelyn rolled her eyes, but that was something that she wanted to see, so she didn't say anything. Hermione said it was a bad idea, but Harry agreed anyway. Evelyn planned on following them to observe. She was a night person anyway.
That night, Evelyn followed Harry and Ron out of the dorm. Hermione tried to stop them, but she got locked out, so she had to go as well. Evelyn followed them, not sure if they knew she was there. She revealed herself when Neville showed up, also locked out.
That was when Filch showed up. It was a noisy chase, but it was exciting for Evelyn. They realized that it was a trap set by Malfoy. Hermione opened a magic door, and they all hid inside. Evelyn was breathless and trying not to laugh. That was when the three-headed dog showed up. They made it out of the room just before it attacked, and back to the tower. Evelyn laughed a bit as she sat in bed. Hermione didn't think it was funny. Evelyn shook her head a bit, "but when Peeves refused to answer! Filch was so mad!" She continued to giggle, then laid down. "Sleep well." Hermione 'humphed' and fell asleep.
Evelyn, however, was restless. She got up again, once she was sure Hermione was asleep, and headed down to the common room. She stretched and glanced at the fire. She smiled a bit, putting her hands out to its warmth. She let out a sigh of content. She went back to bed when dawn peered through the windows. She slept for a few hours until Hermione insisted that she get up for breakfast.
The look on Malfoy's face was priceless. Evelyn ate her breakfast as the mail came in. She was surprised when one of the envelopes was for her. Harry got a large package, but she was more interested in her own mail. She tucked it into her pocket and finished eating.
"Now's a good time as ever," George stated out of nowhere. Fred nodded in agreement. Evelyn was confused. "Come on then," they pulled her out of the hall and out to the moor. They had "borrowed" one of the training brooms. Evelyn understood then, they were going to teach her Quidditch.
They spent an hour or so going over the rules and positions. It seemed simple enough. It was also the first time that Evelyn had seen the twins being so serious. She paid attention, making sure their efforts weren't wasted.
Then they started flying. Or, tried to. Evelyn couldn't call on the power she needed to get her broom going. The twins looked at each other. Then Fred said, "if you can catch this Quaffle in five seconds, I'll give you a chocolate frog." He threw the Quaffle into the air. That was all the motivation Evelyn needed. She shot up into the sky, catching the Quaffle easily. The twins grinned, and Evelyn realized why her magic didn't work. She didn't have the motivation she needed. Now that she knew, she was sure she could do it.
She landed, grinning. As promised, Fred produced a chocolate frog from his pocket and gave it to her, "that was only two seconds. You're fast." Evelyn ate the chocolate quickly, smiling blissfully.
They practiced until Evelyn had to go to class. She thanked the twins and hurried to class. She had a grin on her face, and that day, she could do every spell asked of her.