Chapter Seven
I know you wanna be my Salvation,
The one that I can always depend,
I tried to be strong, believe me,
I'm trying to move on,
It's complicated, but understand me.
Poppy Pomfrey busied herself in her office, for another day of caring for students. Every day, many pupils came through the doors of the Hospital Wing; having got a bludger to the head, covered in a potion that had exploded, or maybe even celery sticking out of their ears after being jinxed by another pupil. Her main priority over the last week, was none other than the pranksteress, Evangeline Potter, who had been injected by the sleeping poison from the Thorn 'O Lethargy Bush. It was a regular occurrence for Miss Potter to visit the Hospital Wing, as she was very fond of experimenting in potions, pulling pranks on people with her equally annoying friends or having been in a duel with her obvious enemy Bellatrix Black.
Evangeline Potter was a very popular girl, although it seemed as though she did not know this. Many pupils had come to visit her over the past week, bringing her confectionery, get well cards and flowers. In fact, even a few teachers had come to pay their respect. Her friends, had come to see her every day, telling her of the days events and recent pranks they had pulled on unsuspecting Slytherins. But it was noticeable that her twin brother had not yet walked through the Hospital Wing doors to check on his little sister.
Madame Pomfrey collected up the many pieces of scattered parchment on her desk and set them in a neat pile, 'I think I'll go and check on Evangeline, maybe she'll be awake this morning,' she muttered to herself. She walked out the door of her office, and walked across the large airy room, her heels clicking as her feet met the floor. She opened the door to Evangeline's private room, walked in quietly and gently closed the door behind her. It appeared that she had not yet woken from her lengthy sleep. Madame Pomfrey sighed.
'Good morning Miss Potter, I hope you are feeling well this – MR POTTER! WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING HERE?' she shrieked, as she discovered James Potter sleeping on the large armchair beside Evangeline's bed.
James' head twitched and his eyes slowly opened, 'Hmm? Where am I?' he said as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Madame Pomfrey watched him, her eyes narrow, her lips thin almost non-existent, 'You, Mr Potter, are lying in a chair in the Hospital Wing.' she paused, '… And visiting hours are between six and nine in the evening only.'
'Oh, I came to visit Evie last night, I must have fell asleep.'
'So I see.' said Madame Pomfrey, whose hands where resting on her hips, 'Did she respond to anything while you were talking to her?'
James remained silent, as though it was demanding to try and remember. He scratched his head, causing his hair so become even more untidy than what it already was. 'Em … ' And suddenly he remembered and jumped out of his chair, much to Madame Pomfrey's surprise, 'YES! She ...she woke up!'
'Mr Potter, there is no need to shout.' said Madame Pomfrey, who seemed slightly taken aback, 'All the same, that is wonderful news. Although I am quite surprised she is still asleep after you yelling at the top of your voice.'
James chuckled, 'She's a very heavy sleeper, Madame Pomfrey.'
'I thought as much. You may stay with her until classes begin if you wish, although you may want to go and change into your robes.'
'Thank you Madame Pomfrey. I think I'll go and change now. I might be back if I have time,' James smiled, as he stood up and wandered over to the door. 'Bye, Evie.' and he winked in her direction. A small smile appeared on her face, but her eyes remained closed.
Madame Pomfrey sighed, 'Miss Potter, if you think that you can weasel your way out of not getting any healing potions, by pretending to be asleep, you may think again.'
Evangeline unwillingly opened her eyes slightly, only to see Madame Pomfrey standing at the end of her bed, hand on hips, watching her attentively. She felt like a small animal, who had been cornered by a very large predator. She smiled hopefully at Madame Pomfrey, as if to say; please don't make me drink anything horrible.
'Oh, don't you worry Miss Potter, you will be drinking everything I give you.' said Madame Pomfrey sternly as she strutted out out of Evangeline's room. Evangeline stuck her tongue at her as she turned the corner.
After a while, she returned with a large glass bottle filled with murky green potion and a small plastic cup. 'Now you must take this twice every day, once in the morning and once in the evening. And if you do not take it, I will find out.'
Evangeline stared at her with disgust, 'I'm not drinking that! It looks like you've just went and gathered some water out of the lake!'
Madame Pomfrey ignored her, and began pouring the cloudy liquid into the small plastic cup. It fizzed slightly as it hit the bottom. Evangeline stared at the cup, as if she was frightened of it. Madame Pomfrey looked up and laughed at the sight of Evangeline's face, 'Who would have thought that a girl who duels everyday would be scared of drinking a little bit potion?'
Evangeline stuttered,' What -I -I'm not scared of it ...I -It's just -I have bad gag reflexes. If it smells disgusting, I'll puke.'
'I assure you, it does not smell, here.' said Madame Pomfrey who handed her the cup, Evangeline looked at her sadly through her startling green eyes, 'Don't look at me like that Miss Potter, it will not work, now drink it.'
'Pleas Madame Pomfrey,' whined Evangeline.
'Drink it. Now I have to go and tend to my other patients, if you haven't drank it before I come back, I shall force it down your throat.' warned Madame Pomfrey, who walked out of the room.
Evangeline gaped at her and whispered to herself, 'She wouldn't.'
'Tut tut, little sis, not drinking your potion?' said a voice Standing in the doorway, leaning on the door frame, was her older brother who was grinning at the sight of his sister sitting in bed, looking sullenly at a cup of green liquid.
Evangeline glared at him, 'Well I bet you wouldn't want to drink it either! Look at it, it looks disgusting!'
'You do realise that you will have to drink it, one way or another. Either that or you won't be out of the Hospital Wing for the rest of the year.' reasoned James who sat beside her on the bed. 'Just drink it.'
'Fine,' Evangeline huffed. She lifted the cup closer to her mouth, watching the bubbling potion carefully, and with a deep breath she downed the whole cup with a grimace on her face. When it was finished, she scrunched up her face, 'Bleugh, that was gross!'
James laughed, 'The look on your face was hilarious!'
'Your face looks hilarious constantly.' retorted Evangeline who set the cup down on the bedside table, beside the photo frame. 'Where did this come from?' she asked, and she picked up the photo of her and the guys at the beach one time over the summer.
'I brought it up with me last night, do you like it?'
'Oh I love it,' she said,' Sirius is such an idiot,' she gagged as she studied the photo, she had just been lifted by Sirius and he was now balancing her bikini clad body above his head. She couldn't help but notice how happy she looked in the picture, smiling and laughing along with the guys, free from any trouble.
'Tell me about it.' snorted James.
'Don't tell me you two are arguing again, are you?' asked Evangeline, who placed the photo on the table again. James and Sirius argued regularly, but always ended up being the best of friends again, they were like an old married couple.
'Well, yes.'
Evangeline rolled her eyes, 'What in hell's name about?'
'You.'
Evangeline looked at him confused, 'Me? I've been asleep for the past week, how-'
'He thinks I don't care about you enough, and that I'm a horrible brother.'
'But you do care about me, I annoy you sometimes, but surely you don't not care about me. And you're not a horrible brother … well most of the time anyway.' said Evangeline, who was telling the truth. She got annoyed at her brother when he was being obnoxious and didn't care about anybody else's feelings. She hated the way he always got the attention from their parents and most of the pupils in the school. But she didn't know that people liked her just as much, maybe even more.
'Well, at least I know what you really think of me now.' smiled James, 'Well, I better get going, I have classes, unlike some people.' he said as he looked up and down at his sister lying in bed.
'It's not as if I like lying here! The sooner I can get out, the better.' Evangeline complained.
'Remus has been taking notes for you, so you don't get behind. Not that you normally write notes anyway.'
'That's nice of him. Don't tell the guys that I'm awake please, I want it to be a surprise,' grinned Evangeline.
'Okay then,' said James as he retreated out of the room, 'See you later Sis,' and he waved goodbye.
Evangeline smiled in response.
Madame Pomfrey came walking into her room with some clothes in her hands, 'I hope you drank that potion. Knowing you, you could have thrown it down the sink.'
'No! I drank the stuff! Even ask James. And for your information, it was disgusting! I cannot believe you made me drink it,' Evangeline said, and she folded her arms and glared in Madame Pomfrey's direction.
'You can't blame me for how it tastes,' the nurse reasoned,' Here are some clean clothes, Lily Evans brought them up for you a couple of days ago.'
Evangeline smiled, that meant Lily and Isabella had come to visit her when she was asleep, what great friends she had, 'Thanks Madame Pomfrey.'
'Here you are,' Madame Pomfrey said as she handed Evangeline the pile of clothes,' I shall leave you in peace to get changed.'
Evangeline, sat up in her bed. She felt stronger somehow, maybe it was the food she had last night, or possibly even that ghastly potion that she had taken about twenty minutes ago. She swivelled herself round, until her legs were dangling over the side of the bed. She stretched them out and wiggled her toes. Then she realised, she hadn't walked for over a week! She steadily set one foot on the ground, then the other. With the help of the bedpost she stood up, she was a little wobbly at first, but she suspected that. She felt like she was learning how to walk again! After gaining more confidence, she walked over to the end of the bed where Madame Pomfrey had laid her clothes.
Evangeline picked up the blue t-shirt, her favourite one, which had the Superman logo on the front. She pulled the gown over her head, unfolded the t-shirt and pulled it over her head. Underneath the t-shirt, were Evangeline's black skinny jeans and a pair of mismatched socks. With much difficulty she pulled up her jeans, and buttoned them. She sat back down on the bed and pulled on her socks. Evangeline sighed, what was she supposed to do for the rest of the day?
She stood up again and wandered out of her room, three beds in the Hospital Wing were filled, it was pretty quiet. She suspected they were all sleeping. Maybe I could sneak out for a while? She suggested to herself. So she walked over to the door, quietly opened it and was about to walk out when ..
'Miss Potter, where do you think you are going?'
Evangeline turned round, frowning, 'What exactly am I supposed to do? I can't lie in bed all day, that's boring!'
'Boring, or not you will not be leaving the Hospital Wing until I think you are well enough to leave.' said the nurse threateningly.
Evangeline sulked and closed the door and walked over to her room, she sighed dramatically and closed the door behind her. Madam Pomfrey, could have sworn she heard her growl and kick the wall. Such a violent child, she said to herself.
About an hour later, there was a knock on Evangeline's door. 'What do you want?' was the reply.
'Madame Pomfrey send Penny, to give Miss Potter something to read.' came a squeaky voice from the other side of the door.
'C'mon in then Penny.' sighed Evangeline, who was sitting on the window ledge, watching the Ravenclaw quidditch practise.
The door opened and in walked, well, skipped a small house elf with a silver compass round her neck. 'Where should Penny set them Miss?' asked the elf.
'Oh, just set them on the bed, thanks Penny. Help yourself to the sweets in the cupboard over there,' said Evangeline as she pointed towards the cupboard opposite her bed.
'No, thank you Miss Potter. It was very kind of you to offer.' smiled the elf, 'What is Miss Potter doing, if you don't mind me asking?'
'Watching Ravenclaw practise quidditch.' sighed Evangeline, who never took her gaze away from the window.
'So Miss Potter likes quidditch then?'
'Yes, I do Penny. In fact I love it,' smiled Evangeline.
'Miss Potter must not like being stuck indoors then.'
'Yes, that's true too Penny. I hate staying inside too long, in here it feels like I'm trapped. I'd rather be free.'
'Well, Penny must leave now. Penny hopes you get well soon Miss Potter,' bowed the elf, and she ran off.
'Thanks P-' said Evangeline but she was too late, the elf was already gone, she jumped off the windowsill, reached over and grabbed the books. They were muggle books; 'How a Blokes Brain Really Works' and a classic 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' Evangeline laughed, she decided to read the one about guys' brains first, maybe it would brighten her day up a bit and make her laugh. So she sat down on the bed and opened the book at the first page.
_-_-_
'I do hope Evie is awake, I mean its been longer than a week and I couldn't bare reading that book to her again.' said Remus as the boys walked down to the corridor towards the Hospital Wing.
'What's wrong Sirius?' asked Peter, who was watching the black haired boy race ahead of the rest of them.
'I -I just have this feeling that she's awake; like I can hear her laughing or something.' he said with a determined look on his face.
James smiled to himself; he was the only one that knew that Evangeline was in fact awake. Sirius opened the doors to the Hospital Wing, and held them open for everyone else, even James who he had forgiven.
Once everyone had walked through the door, Sirius raced the the front again. They turned the corner to where the private rooms where, and walked down the corridor.
There was aloud burst of laughter, followed by, 'Oh my gosh, this is hilarious!' Then the laughter continued. Sirius turned round, gaping at the three other boys. They all started to run towards Evangeline's room, they skidded to a halt outside her door, and inside lying on the bed in a fit of laughter, was the definitely awake Evangeline.
'EVIE!''ANGEL!''EVANGELINE!' Remus, Sirius and Peter all shouted at once.
The boys all bounded into the room, Sirius ran over to her so overjoyed that she was finally awake, he looked at her straight in the eye and kissed her. His soft lips connected with hers and he placed his hands on her face, but he suddenly realised what he was doing and pulled away. He looked at her shocked face and murmured, 'Sorry, I shouldn't have done that.'
Evangeline was confused, why shouldn't he have done that? It wasn't as if it was forbidden. She liked Sirius, but wasn't sure if she liked him in that way or not.
Everyone was silent, it was an awkward silence, but Remus started the conversation again,' It's great to have you back again Evie,' he smiled and he walked over and gave her a hug, 'I read you your book, but we weren't sure whether or not you heard me.'
'You read me Jane Eyre!' gasped Evangeline, 'I knew I heard some of the quotes. Thank you Remy.' she smiled.
'No problem, it's a very good book, it's just it gets a bit boring after you read it three times,' he laughed, and sat on the end of the bed.
'Hello dear brother,' Evangeline smiled, as she realised James was standing in the doorway.
'Why hello, Evie,' laughed James who came over and sat beside her on the bed.
'Aren't you glad that Evangeline is awake James?' asked Peter, who was leaning against the wall.
Evangeline and James looked at each other and laughed.
'Was this just a big massive prank?' gasped Peter, who nearly fell over.
'No Peter, I really was asleep. James came to visit me last night, and that was when I woke up,' Evangeline said simply.
'You didn't tell us!' Sirius shouted at James, and he jumped up from the armchair.
'Sirius, please calm down.' Evangeline said smiling at him, he sat back down again, 'I asked James not to tell any of you, because I wanted it to be a surprise.'
'Yes, and we sat and talked for a while -'
'And ate chocolate and sweets that I have in my cupboard.'
'So, Evangeline? What spell did you use on Bellatrix?' Peter butted in. Sirius glared at him.
'Actually Peter, I was trying to forget about all that and move on, but you making it even more complicated by reminding me.' said Evangeline, who was quite angry that Peter had to be so nosy.
A smile spread across Sirius' face, Peter avoided eye contact with Evangeline and muttered, 'Sorry.'
The five Maurauders sat in Evangeline's room, and talked about quidditch, their next few pranks and had fun. They laughed, cracked jokes and laughed some more. It reminded Evangeline of that day at the beach, where everybody was enjoying themselves and having a good time. The only thing that Evangeline noticed was wrong was that Sirius was very quiet and drawn back, he would normally be in the middle of everything, telling the funniest jokes, teasing everybody well mostly herself and laughing the hardest. The Sirius sitting in the armchair was nothing like that, he was listening to every word said, and only laughing when something was so funny you couldn't help but laugh.
'Evangeline? Is this your book?' questioned Remus, who had 'How a Blokes Brain Really Works' in his hands.
'Madame Pomfrey gave it to me to read, its pretty good. That's what I was laughing about when you guys arrived.'
'It's quite accurate, if I so say so and I've only just read the first chapter.' Remus smirked.
'Really? Well, I must ask Madame Pomfrey if I can keep it a bit longer, maybe it'll come in useful.' she grinned. Remus laughed and handed her the book, which she set on her bedside table.
Just then, Madame Pomfrey appeared at the door, 'Sorry boys, you're all going to have to leave now. Visiting hours are over, please say your goodbyes.'
Evangeline frowned, they were having such a good time, now she would be left on her own.
'Goodbye Evie,' said Remus who bent down, gave her a hug and kissed her cheek.
'Ohh, that tickles, you better shave Remy. I don't know whether Izzy likes stubble or not.' teased Evangeline, who giggled.
Remus stuck his tongue out at her, 'You're gonna have to ask her for me then aren't you.'
'Okay, okay, I will. As soon as I get out, I promise. Goodbye Peter.' said Evangeline.
'Bye Evangeline, see you soon,' came his reply.
'Bye Eva,' said James, who kissed her cheek, Evangeline wrinkled her nose.
'Keep your kisses for Lily Evans please, Potter.' she said and she pushed him out the door.
She hadn't noticed that Sirius was still standing in the room, he was about to walk out but she called after him, 'Sirius? Wait.'
He turned round, without speaking a word. Evangeline stared at him, thinking of something to say, but he spoke first, 'Angel, I'm sorry for kissing you, I shouldn't have-'
'Sirius, I-'
'Please, let me speak Angel. I shouldn't have led you on like that, I feel awful for doing it now. And I promise it won't happen again. I love you like a sister, and I hope that you can depend on me like a brother because I will always be there for you, no matter what.'
'Sirius, I didn't say-'
'Can we just go back to being the way we were before all this happened? Best friends?'
'Of course Sirius, you never weren't my best friend. You will always be the person I feel most comfortable around.'
'I'm glad you feel that way Angel, now hurry up and get well so we can pull some pranks!'
Evangeline laughed, 'You're right, hopefully Madame Pomfrey will let me out tomorrow.'
'Well, see you soon,' Sirius said as he pulled her into a hug, he kissed her on the forehead, 'Goodnight Angel,' and he walked out of the door.
Maybe that book really will come in handy, Evangeline thought to herself.
Hope you all liked the chapter!! Reviews please, I really appreciate them and get really excited when I get new ones (: Hope everybody had a good day! Tori xo
