The Bonds That Shape Us

CHAPTER EIGHT
CONFIDENCE

Evelyn had just finished buttering her toast and pouring a glass of orange juice when there was a swell of noise in the Great Hall. The familiar noise of flapping wings was the source of the excitement for it was time for the post. What wasn't usual, however, was a long, thin package that was wheeled into the Hall on the wings of six owls and once they headed towards the Gryffindor table, Evelyn realised what it was.

When a seventh owl dropped an envelope into Harry's lap, Evelyn nodded before turning back to her breakfast. Harry was allowed the Nimbus Two Thousand broom that he had wanted.

Before Evelyn could bite into her toast, however, the familiar hoot of her own owl made her look up once again as Saoirse landed onto the table in front of her with a letter tied to her leg.

As Evelyn untied the letter from Saoirse's letter, she broke off a piece of bacon and feed it to her. Once Saoirse had finished the toast she gave Evelyn another short hoot before flying back towards the owlery. After noticing the house crest of the Black family on the back of the letter, Evelyn ripped open the letter with a clean butter knife.

Dear Evelyn,

I'm happy that you are becoming better friends with Hermione. I've already got most of the books that you wanted, although a few are proving difficult to find. Do try and stay away from any children of Death Eaters for me, won't you? Show everyone that not all Blacks are evil while you're at it too!

I love you pup,
Dad

Evelyn smiled, noting the way 'Death Eaters' seemed to have been written with a lot more ink than that of the rest of the letter. As she folded the letter up and placed it inside of her pouch, she noticed Draco, Vincent and Gregory had almost jumped up out of their seats and headed towards her brother, who was currently admiring his new broom.

Biting off another piece of her toast, Evelyn went after them. She had arrived at the Gryffindor table just as Draco snatched the broomstick off of the table.

"That's a broomstick," Draco observed, dropping the broomstick back onto the table quite contemptuously. "You'll be in for it, this time, Potter. First years aren't allowed broomsticks."

Evelyn watched as Ronald Weasley smirked at Draco with an unsightly grin. "It's not just any old broomstick." He said. "It's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?" his voice was full of spite now and Evelyn frowned at her brother who shook his head at her questioning expression.

"Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus."

Draco's pale face flushed a light pink. "What would you know about it, Weasley? You couldn't afford half of the handle! I suppose you and your brothers have to save up. Twig by twig." He retorted, crossing his arms across his chest, puffing his chest out slightly.

Ronald opened his mouth to respond just as Professor Flitwick was suddenly among them. Evelyn was quite surprised to see his sudden appearance but it must have been because he was so short that she hadn't seen him moving towards them at all.

"Not arguing I hope, boys?" Professor Flitwick smiled, in his characteristic high-pitched voice.

"Potter's been sent a broomstick, Professor," Draco said at once but Professor Flitwick just smiled and examined the broom from where he stood.

"Yes, yes, that's right. Professor McGonagall told me all about this special circumstance. What model is it, Mister Potter-Black?"

"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir," Harry told him, staring directly at Draco. The suppressed laughter in his voice was very evident, as was the scowl on Draco's face.

Scowling and looking thoroughly put out, Draco and his two followers – friends – turned and trudged back towards the Slytherin table as Evelyn sat down in the empty seat next to Hermione, who gave her a small smile from over the top of her book.

Hermione seemed to always route between sitting at the Ravenclaw and the Gryffindor tables.

It was then that Evelyn noticed that there was a letter tied around the wrapping of her brother's new broom, which he had left unopened in his haste to rip open his new gift.

DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE TABLE.
It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand, but I don't want everybody knowing you're got a broomstick or they'll all want one. Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch field at seven o'clock for your first training session.

Evelyn rolled her eyes with a faint smile, for it was far too late for that now. If only Gryffindors were known for their patience.

"Hermione?" said Neville, turning away from Harry's conversation with Ronald about his new broomstick and about Quidditch in general.

"Yes, Neville?" Hermione said, placing her finger down where she was currently at in her book.

"It's your birthday soon, isn't it?"

Hermione blinked in surprise before nodding her head. Evelyn had already got Hermione's birthday presents the previous week, which was currently safely tucked away inside of her trunk.

She had got her a copy of Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charms as Hermione kept checking it out of the library for some reason, a jar of bluebell flames as it was probably one of Hermione's favourite spells and a phoenix feather quill.

"I think I'm going to fail Potions. I mean, I know I could do the potions, I just forget most of the instructions." Neville muttered, pushing his eggs and bacon around his plate with his fork.

"Why don't you make notebooks, like Evelyn?" Hermione smiled.

Neville shrugged his shoulders, shoving some egg onto his fork. "I'll probably forget the notebook in my trunk, or on bed, or on my desk, or even-"

"Neville." Evelyn said at once, cutting Neville off from continuing his examples. "You're a good wizard, it's just your nerves that cause you to mess up. Be more confident in yourself."

Neville blushed, ducking his head slightly at Evelyn's words.