Running through the massive halls of the school, fear gripped Evie's heart. Who sent the letter? Why did they send it? Stopping before the statue that Harry had told her about on the train ride she sucked in a deep breath and froze. What was the password again? Stomping her foot down she all but groaned out loud. Luck seemed to be on her side however when a meek cough caught her attention.
"Hi Evie…need some help?" Whipping her head around she noticed the awkward form of Neville Longbottom standing there. "Oh hi Neville! Um, I don't know the password to see Professor Dumbledore. He wasn't at breakfast so I assumed he would be here." Smiling sheepishly at him, she almost forgot about the letter. He just smiled and walked up next to her while softly muttering the words "Lemon Drops." The statue swung around revealing the stairs causing Evie to grin and latch herself on the now blushing boy in a tight hug. "Thank you so much Neville!" Rushing up the stairs she heard his chuckle as she reached the top. Knocking on the door lightly the serious situation fell onto her shoulders once again. The door opened before her and she was momentarily stunned. Looking around the room in awe, Evie took notice of the vast array of things strewn around the room from the magnificent phoenix to the smallest crystal ball. Someone cleared their throat and she turned to meet the twinkling gaze of Professor Dumbledore.
"Young miss Jordan, I assume you left breakfast in such a rush to talk to me about something of the utmost importance? Breakfast is the key meal you do remember." Laughter filled his eyes as he looked down at the small girl and motioned towards the chair before his desk. Brushing the hair that had fallen into her eyes out of the way, she moved to sit quickly. "Professor, I received a strange letter this morning that truly upset me. I don't understand what it means. I mean, I understand what it physically says, but not why it says what it says. I don't know if it's a cruel joke, a real threat, or just a wrong letter. You know owls can get confused, it happens all the time. Why, on the train Ron Weasley was telling me about how one year his owl got so confused it wound up-"
"Miss Jordan, why don't you show me the letter?" "Oh of course!" Reaching to grab her bag she finally realized everything was still back in the Great Hall sitting under the Slytherin table. Looking up at him, he just nodded in understanding. "Well why don't you start with what the letter said then." Sighing she sat back in the chair and prepared for the worst. "I know it sounds silly, but all it said was 'I found you, and you can't escape now.' There was no signature, no hint of who sent it. The only significant thing is that it was delivered by a black hawk, but I don't know anyone who owns a bird like that! Actually, the only people I know who would own a bird to send letters go to this school and it obviously isn't theirs!" Stopping short at the expression of shock on Dumbledore's face, Evie waited for an explanation. "Miss Jordan, since there are no classes until tomorrow I think it would be best for you to return to the common room and remain there for the day. Perhaps you can begin reading the books for your classes since they are in your room still. If you must go anywhere please have someone accompany you to and from the common room. If you will excuse me, I need to go inquire of this letter. Your things will be brought to you, so hurry on to the dungeons now. I believe Mister Longbottom will escort you since he is still downstairs." Standing he gracefully ushered Evie downstairs and asked Neville to walk her back to Slytherin. After Neville nodded he turned on his heel and began walking quickly down the hallway towards the Great Hall.
"What happened in there Evie?" His questioning face reminded Evie of something she just couldn't put her finger on; like a bad case of déjà vu. "Dumbledore seems worried about that letter I got at breakfast…What do you think it could mean?" Confusion replaced the questioning look. "You received a letter? Who was it from, your evil mum or something?" Slight sadness filled her eyes as she shook her head. "My family died when I was young I think. I'm actually not too sure. But, the people who raised me were muggles. I have no idea who sent it." He just nodded and awkwardly patted her shoulders as they began the walk to the dungeons. Pursing her lips she began to play with the little ring in her nose, moving it back and forth. It was a habit she had developed whenever she was deep in thought or just bored. Neville noticed the silence and began talking to her about the school and his frog Trevor. "He sounds adorable! Can I see him Neville, pretty please?" "Sure!" He pulled the fat looking toad out of his pocket and proudly showed it to his excited companion. "Aw! I can see how he could get lost a lot though, he is kind of small." "Yeah, but it's fine really. Hermione helps me find him most of the time." "Well if you need more help, just find me and I'll be happy to look for him next time!" Smiling he just nodded slipping his pet back into the safety of his pocket.
"Ugh. It's so cold down here, how can you stand it Evie?" She just shrugged her shoulders and skipped forward a few feet. "I don't know really, I guess I'm just hot natured and the cold doesn't bother me. But I should go inside, Dumbledore asked me to stay in the common room today. Thank you for walking me down here Neville, you're a good friend." Hugging him tightly the two promised to hang out sometime before he said goodbye. Saying the password she walked into the cool dungeon and took in the emptiness of the room. Grinning she ran upstairs, changed into some comfy clothes, grabbed her books and ran downstairs. Plopping down on the couch nearest the fire she dumped her books on the coffee table and proceeded to curl up and read. Being so caught up in the book, Evie failed to notice the students slowly trickling back into the common room. Most just ignored her, some sneered, and others looked on with various looks on their faces. Blaise walked back in about an hour after her meeting with Dumbledore and rushed to the couch. "Eves!"
"AH!" Dropping her book she sat up startled until she noticed her friend laughing next to her. Picking up her book she whapped him upside the head with it. "Blaise! What were you thinking!?" "Ow! What was that for?!" She smiled at the fact he was rubbing the side of his head. "Because you scared me that's why! What's so wrong with a happy 'Hello' or 'Hi Evie, how're you? Oh! You're reading, well let me be polite and not scare the crap out of you!' Hmmm?" Blaise dropped the bag in his hands and fell onto the open seat next to her smiling widely. "Oh yeah! I grabbed your bag from the Great Hall. Snape told me to bring it to you and to 'keep you occupied' or something like that, so here I am!" Shaking her head she just smiled and readjusted herself so she could put her head in his lap. He just looked down at her with his eyebrow raised to which she stuck her tongue out. "Play with my hair, please? I'm bored." Looking at her like she had just sprouted five heads he finally agreed when her lip poked out in a pout. Malfoy walked into the common room about thirty minutes later, just after she had fallen asleep. Blaise looked pretty sleepy too and he just looked at them in annoyance and stalked up to his room. Why was she sleeping on his lap? His best friend was a flirt, but was Jordan falling for it? Whatever, why did he care? Grabbing his broom he threw on a sweatshirt and walked back through the common room seeing that his friend was now asleep and began his walk to the Quidditch Pitch.
