The Bonds That Shape Us
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AUNT ANDROMEDA
Evelyn rolled over, slowly opening her eyes, blinking at the sunlight that was shining through the gap in her curtains. Glancing at the clock that hung over her desk, she saw that it was just after five in the morning.
As she stood, her toes brushing against the wooden flooring, she stretched her arms.
Making her way towards her bay window, she brushed her fingers against the dark blue curtains, moving them to the side, exposing the thin layer of snow that covered the garden.
Evelyn didn't feel cold, for the fire that she had lit the previous night was still burning a bright orange colour inside of her fireplace, behind the screen door. She only ever unlocked the door when she was relighting the fire or adding more firewood. Garrison had almost burnt his tail in the fire when he was a kitten and thus the fireplace had been covered with a screen ever since.
Running a brush through her long black hair, Evelyn spotted Lily looking at her through the grid-like window that had been put in the right-hand side door of Lily's cabinet bed.
Evelyn made her way over to Lily, who immediately hopped out of the open cabinet, rubbing her tiny head against Evelyn's ankle before hopping around the room, pushing a ball made of willow with her nose as she went.
After she showered and changed into warm clothes, Evelyn grabbed a large, leather bound book from the bookshelf attached to her desk. Unclasping the lock, she flicked through the papers until she came to a blank page. Then for the next few hours, Evelyn drew in her book.
She drew Lily playing with her willow ball. Garrison sprawled across the bay window seat, looking upon the cold weather. Saoirse staring down at Lily from the top of the bookshelves on Evelyn's desk where she was perched. She drew Comet splashing in the water of her aquarium, Remington sitting on his tree branch and she drew her two Siamese fighting fish, Lupi and Atria, swimming around in their respective bowls.
A sharp knock on the door made Evelyn looked up from her drawing of the meadow surrounding her aunt's house and stables. Dressed in a black dressing gown and stood in her doorway, her father rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"Your aunt is here, Evelyn. She's going to take you to Diagon Alley."
Locking her notebook up once again and placing it back onto its shelf, Evelyn placed a quick kiss on her father's cheek as she walked past him and made her way towards the front door.
Andromeda Tonks had light, slightly curled brown hair that rested upon her shoulders and dark brown eyes. She was dressed in a thick, black cloak that was clasped together with a broach and thick furred gloves covered her hands.
She smiled warmly as Evelyn made her way down the stairs.
"Hello, sweetheart. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, auntie. I made a new friend whilst as Hogwarts so I need to buy a present for her, also."
Andromeda blinked in surprise before a much larger smile made its way across her lips.
"Oh, Evelyn, that is great news!"
Evelyn knew that her family had been worried that she won't make friends whilst at Hogwarts and the proud and happy looks that they gave her once she told them about Hermione made her smile along with them.
"I figured we would start at Flourish and Blotts," Andromeda said, "then we can decide where we are to go next from there."
Evelyn nodded her head, figuring that her aunt had a good plan. She then clasped her hand onto her aunt's arm and with a smile and nod, she felt said arm twist away from her. Everything around her went black and she was pressed tightly from all directions. She could hardly breathe, it felt as though iron bands were tightening around her chest.
Her eyeballs were being forced back into her head, her eardrums were being pushed deeper into her skull and then suddenly, it all stopped and everything returned to normal.
They were in an alleyway near the Leaky Cauldron, which was one of the more commonly used entrances to Diagon Alley, although muggleborns used it more than anybody else.
For such a famous place, the Leaky Cauldron was very dark and shabby. There was a dark wood bar and a number of tables and chairs in the darkest shadow of the corners. In the next part of the room was a long, wooden table and a staircase that led upstairs, where there were rooms where passing wizards and witches could stay for the night. There was another staircase just underneath the other that led into the basement that had always been locked off.
The walls were plastered with pictures in frames and posters and news clippings from the Ministry of Magic and a large chalkboard with the pub's food menu scrawled across.
"So, tell me all about Hogwarts, sweetheart," Andromeda said as she ushered Evelyn out the back door into a small courtyard. The dustbin was ignored as Andromeda pulled out her wand and tapped the correct brick three times. The pair waited patiently as the archway slowly appeared, revealing Diagon Alley.
"It has been good, auntie." Evelyn answered. "I've made a new friend, a muggleborn witch called Hermione Granger and I believe I am doing quite well in my classes."
Andromeda smiled, pressing her hand against her mouth as she laughed softly.
"I would not be surprised if you are at the top of your year, Evelyn. I'm glad you made a new friend. Hermione, you said her name was?"
Evelyn nodded, briefly glancing at the Quidditch shop as they walked past the window.
As they entered the bookstore, Evelyn felt slightly warmer. She trailed her fingers along the shelves as she looked along the bookshelves for books to buy. They didn't have any interesting ones for her, but there were a few books on Herbology that she bought for Neville.
They stopped by a sweet shop and Andromeda bought a box of pumpkin pasties for Evelyn's father, who loved pumpkin pasties just as much as Harry loved treacle tarts.
"How about we find some nice jewellery for your friend?" Andromeda asked as they stopped by Miss Elena's, which was the largest and probably fanciest jewellery store in Diagon Alley.
Evelyn nodded with a smile, following her aunt into the jewellery store. She had been disappointed when she hadn't found any books that Hermione would have wanted. She didn't even know if Hermione wore jewellery, but it was the thought that counted most.
They spent far longer than they really should have in the shop. Andromeda kept getting distracted by necklaces and rings she liked for herself, as her daughter Nymphadora, wasn't a jewellery type of person. Evelyn ended up buying a long, silver necklace with a large blue stone in the centre for her aunt when she wasn't looking.
She still hadn't found anything for Hermione.
The next shop they went into was a trinket shop, for Aunt Andromeda loved old trinkets. Evelyn walked around, carefully brushing her fingers across the edges of items on display. It was then that Evelyn noticed the display case that was on the corner by the shop's owner.
There were bookmarks that featured layers of lucite flowers, a large filigree flower and a floral hummingbird that Evelyn thought looked quite beautiful.
There was purple, blue and pink layered flowers and Evelyn decided there and then that she was buying one of each colour. She would give Hermione the purple one as lilac was her favourite colour and she would keep the other two for herself.
Who knows, she might just end up using the pink one for a birthday or Christmas present the following year as one could not have enough bookmarks – especially Hermione and herself.
They stopped by a little café for lunch, Evelyn happily enjoying a plate of hot spaghetti and a lovely, hot cup of tea. Andromeda had ordered a bowl of soup and a cup of coffee.
They stopped at the Quidditch shop Evelyn had glanced at previously and bought Harry a pair of Seeker Gloves and Quidditch Goggles.
After they had finished shopping and the day got colder as the sun started to set, Andromeda took Evelyn home, kissed her on the cheek and apparated back to her own house.
Evelyn took her shopping up to her room, switched on the muggle radio that sat on her desk - which had been charmed to connect to magical stations - and began to wrap the presents as the Weird Sisters began to play throughout her room, quietly but clearly.
Lily had ended up tangling herself in bright blue ribbon and Evelyn found it so cute that she snapped a photo with her camera, which had been a gift from Nymphadora the previous year.
The days then disappeared in a flash. Evelyn spent most days in the snow, trying to hide from her father and Harry who wanted to throw snowballs at her, they made a large snowman and Evelyn put an old, battered hat that she was sure used to belong to her grandmother on its head.
Having no carrots as Lily had eaten them all the previous day, Harry stuck a long branch into its face, declaring that it was most definitely grandmother Walburga now.
Their evenings were spent by the fireplace in the living room, warming up and toasting marshmallows in the fireplace or drinking mugs of hot chocolate and tea. Then they would decorate the house for Christmas, covering it with garland, putting ornaments on the tree and moving figures of reindeer on top of the fireplace.
Like when Evelyn was wrapping up presents, Lily would try and get into, run off with and or chase everything. Evelyn had to lock her in her bedroom, in the end, letting the rabbit play with her ball of willow and attempt to play with Garrison, who was as grumpy as always.