Beautiful Control
Chapter 22
Preparations
A/N: So, for those of you who were previously reading this story, I would like to offer a sincere apology for leaving this untouched for so long! I almost was not going to go back to it, when I heard a song that I used to play while writing it and I felt inspired again! For those who are only just reading this now, welcome! I hope you enjoy! 3
It was the first night in years that Evelyn did not get a single drop of sleep. After she had been dismissed and returned to her dorm she spent the rest of the night staring at the roof of her dorm, her heart pounding and her stomach feeling as though it were full of worms. When the sun finally leaked through the amber windows of her Ravenclaw Tower dorm room, the girl rose from her blankets and began getting ready for the day.
She changed into her jogging gear and made her way out of the castle. The sun rising lit the castle up in rays of gold and orange flames. It turned the usually dark stonewalls into a brilliant chamber of light. The air was slightly chilly in the autumn atmosphere and everything had a crisp, fresh feeling.
Somehow, Evelyn just couldn't appreciate the atmosphere of the morning; knowing her year was going to become so much more difficult to deal with. Knowing that she would have to participate in a game where there was a likelihood of death.
She stepped out into the grounds of Hogwarts and took a deep, cold breath and began to jog. It was easier to ignore the pain and burning now than when she had first started, she began to enjoy it, even.
Three students from Hogwarts competing.
It was hardly fair to the other schools at all! Not that she much cared about them; really, she just wanted an excuse to be pardoned from the games. Didn't she have enough to worry about already? Why were they even having this stupid tournament? Evelyn ran harder in her annoyance. It was a stupid idea! And with everything happening with dark mark, surely there were more important things they could be doing? And what of her? How could she even hope to complete this tournament alive? She was an intelligent student and good dueler, but she wasn't brave or strong.
Courage. That was the first test. How was she going to deal with that when they wouldn't even tell them what the test was?
Evelyn fell to her knees on the shore of the Black Lake as her breath gasped raggedly. She had overdone it. She was too far into her own mind to realize her body was faltering. Evelyn watched as the sun rose steadily and the Black Lake's water shimmered in the light as though it were coated with a blanket of diamonds. With a sigh, she rose and made her way back to the castle.
It was a strange kind of mood in the castle, she noticed, at breakfast. Whilst she was used to people not talking to her, there seemed to be some kind of animosity towards her from everyone other than her own house. It seemed, however, that the animosity was mostly directed at one Harry Potter, whom everyone seemed to be truly miffed with. A fourteen year old managed to make it into the tournament? It was beyond comprehension. Not only that, but the Hufflepuffs were angry that the two had 'taken away the glory' from their beloved Cedric Diggory.
Although, Evelyn was happy to let the boy win if it meant the nicest people in the school weren't being cold to her as well. And again, Evelyn's sense of protectiveness for Harry was pushing past her own fears for her safety and the thought that kept crossing her mind was 'as long as I make sure Harry lives, it doesn't matter if I die'.
Which, to a sane person, would seem incredibly self destructive.
On her way to the dungeons to meet with Professor Snape before the first year's class, she came across one Draco Malfoy, who said nothing, but just gave her a knowing smile. Given their last conversation, she bet he was feeling rather smug with himself.
When Evelyn made it into her Master's office she saw him sitting at his desk, marking. For whatever reason, she felt a strong flutter in her heart at seeing him. She supposed it made sense; he would be her only lifeline in the months to come. Yet, what he had whispered into her ear last night...nothing had made her feel so good.
"Good Morning, Professor," she greeted as she stepped lightly around to face him front on, looking very much like a soldier ready for duty.
"Good Morning. How are you feeling this morning?" he asked, looking up from the stack of parchments to look at her. Evelyn felt heat crawling up her back at his obsidian stare.
"Nervous. But I think the best I can do is be prepared," she told him, shuffling her feet.
"I think so. I will be decreasing the amount of work you must do for me to account for your other commitments." Evelyn felt...saddened by this. This meant that she wouldn't be able to spend as much time with the man. Then again, despite the rules, every champion seemed to have a mentor. Krum had Karkaroff, Fleur had Madam Maxime, Cedric had his dad, Harry had Moody and Evelyn had...well, Severus Snape.
"Thank you, sir." Evelyn looked down at her dragon skin boots, unsure how to continue.
"Are you afraid?" he asked. Evelyn shot a surprised look at him. Was she scared? For her life.
"Oh, yes."
"Good," he said standing, "if you weren't, you'd be a fool. As unpleasant as the situation is for you, you have to always be prepared. Do your research, use your knowledge to help you accomplish the tasks." Evelyn watched with wide eyes as he began pacing with his hands behind his back. Evelyn nodded as he spoke, making sure to remember everything he said.
"Sir...what- what if I die?" she asked in a meek voice. Snape whirled around and stared at her.
"To put this simply. Don't," he demanded in his deep, silky voice.
"That's easier said than done," she mumbled back.
Later that week, Evelyn had apprentice duties with the fourth years, and it was already off to a bad start where Harry Potter was concerned. Although, Evelyn had been inside preparing, she had heard the shouts from outside the classroom, and given Snape's apparent bad mood when he came back in and Harry looking as though he wanted to hex Snape gave her an indication that he had just gotten in trouble outside. Severus stalked to the front of the class, ignoring Harry's death stares and turned to them.
"Antidotes, you should all have prepared your recipes by now. I want you to brew them carefully, and then, we will be selecting someone on whom to test them..." his eyes landed directly on Harry's and Evelyn felt the strangest urge to hit Snape. Suddenly, a knock came from the door, breaking the tension. Inside came a young Gryffindor who smiled way too much. The boy walked straight up to Severus' desk and Evelyn looked from the boy to the man unsure what to expect.
"Yes?" Snape asked curtly, scowling at the boy.
"Please, sir, I'm supposed to take Harry Potter and Evelyn Greyarc upstairs." Snape stared down his hooked nose at Colin, whose smile faded from his eager face.
"Potter has another hour of Potions to complete," said Snape coldly. "He will come upstairs when this class is finished."
"Sir - sir, Mr. Bagman wants him," the boy said nervously. "All the champions have got to go, I think they want to take photographs…" Evelyn couldn't help but roll her eyes. This was the last thing she wanted right now!
"Very well, very well," Snape snapped. "Potter, leave your things here, I want you back down here later to test your antidote."
"Please, sir - he's got to take his things with him," squeaked Cohn. "All the champions…"
"Very well!" said Snape. "Potter - take your bag and get out of my sight! Greyarc, report in later." Evelyn gave a short nod then went over to Harry to help him pack his things quicker, then they left with the weird boy.
"It's amazing, isn't it, Harry?" said Colin, starting to speak the moment they had closed the dungeon door behind them.
"Isn't it, though? You being champion?"
"Yeah, really amazing," said Harry heavily as they set off toward the steps into the entrance hall.
"What do they want photos for, Colin?"
"The Daily Prophet, I think!"
"Great," said Harry dully. "Exactly what I need. More publicity."
"I hear you, Harry," Evelyn droned. Unhappy with the whole situation, she hadn't even been able to write to Remus yet, though, if Harry wrote to Sirius, then maybe Remus already knew...
"Good luck!" said Colin when they had reached the right room.
The two spare Hogwarts champions looked at each other silently dreading what will happen, and then entered the room. It was a small classroom where all the tables had been moved to the edges of the room and the middle had been set up with black velvet for a backdrop. The other champions were there as well, Krum looking solemn as usual and Cedric and Fleur were in conversation. Ludo and the Photographer were also in the room. Bagman suddenly spotted Harry, got up quickly, and bounded forward. "Ah, here he is! Champion number four! And of course the fifth, Evelyn Greyarc! In you come, Harry, in you come…nothing to worry about, it's just the wand weighing ceremony, the rest of the judges will be here in a moment -"
"Wand weighing?" Harry repeated nervously. Evelyn stepped to the side, it was clear Ludo was only interested in Harry. The biggest scandal. The most famous.
"We have to check that your wands are fully functional, no problems, you know, as they're your most important tools in the tasks ahead," said Bagman. "The expert's upstairs now with Dumbledore. And then there's going to be a little photo shoot. This is Rita Skeeter," he added, gesturing toward the witch in magenta robes that Evelyn had not noticed before. Which is saying something, considering how outlandish she was. "She's doing a small piece on the tournament for the Daily Prophet.…"
"Maybe not that small, Ludo," said Rita Skeeter, her eyes on Harry. Evelyn felt like standing front of Harry and clawing the bitches eyes out. "I wonder if I could have a little word with Harry before we start?" she said to Bagman, but still gazing fixedly at Harry. "The youngest champion, you know…to add a bit of color?"
"Certainly!" cried Bagman. "That is - if Harry has no objection?" Evelyn almost spoke up.
"Er -" said Harry.
"Lovely," said Rita Skeeter, and in a second, her scarlet-taloned fingers had Harry's upper arm in a surprisingly strong grip, and she was steering him out of the room again and opening a nearby door. Evelyn watched as Harry was pulled into a broom cupboard and felt lost. What a strange woman. Evelyn looked to Ludo, who, as he caught her gaze, flushed and looked away. A rather curious reaction.
It wasn't too long, however, before a rather annoyed looking Dumbledore came into the room and went straight to the cupboard after a very short conversation with Ludo Bagman. Evelyn crossed her arms, ready to glare at the blonde haired woman who stared to predatorily at Harry. The champions were sat in chairs and a panel of judges sat before them.
"May I introduce Mr. Ollivander?" Dumbledore said as he took his seat, gesturing towards an elderly man whom Evelyn recognised as the man who sold her a wand when she was in first year. Mr. Ollivander went through the other champions' wands until he came to her name.
"Miss Greyarc, may I see your wand?" he asked, giving her a smile. Evelyn stood and shuffled towards the wand maker. She handed her wand over gently into his wrinkling hands. He smiled softly. "Ah, yes. I remember this wand. As unique as it's user," he announced, giving Evelyn a curious look. "Made of Cherry wood, 10 inches, stiff. A duel core, interesting to make as it was to collect if I recall, a strand of unicorn hair and a strand of a Thestrals." He mumbled that last part so not everyone could hear. Ollivander made a loop motion in the air and made Sakura petals swirl through the air and disintegrate into silver glitter that fell to the floor. "Perfect condition!" Ollivander announced.
After the wand weighing ceremony they had to get photographs, which was as awkward as it could get. With Madam Maxime's height and Fleur's photogenic tendencies they were strange enough, even weirder was the fact that Rita Skeeter kept pulling Harry to the front.
After individual photos; where Rita finally looked at her face on (which resulted in her whispering something to her Quick-Quill). After that ordeal they were finally able to leave, something which she was most grateful for. The last thing she wanted was her face in the Daily Prophet.
Deciding now was the perfect time to write to Remus, before he found out by reading the Daily Prophet, Evelyn made a beeline for her dorm.
Dear Dad,
So, I don't know if you've heard, but this year they are bringing back the Triwizard Tournament and Hogwarts is hosting it.
The most curious, and frustrating, thing happened...There are not three champions...there are five! Harry and I's name came out of the goblet of fire at the same time and we were named the Fourth and Fifth Champions respectively. Someone put our names in...
I would never do this willingly, especially with my Apprenticeship. I'm worried about Harry. He's so young and someone did this to harm him, I'm sure of it. I don't know if I can handle this competition, but I have to participate. Magical contract and all that.
I don't know what I'm doing.
I don't know how to be okay right now.
I need help.
Love Evelyn.
After she finished writing her letter she sealed it in an envelope and made her way to the Owlery. The letter felt like lead in her hand. She was not one to blatantly ask for help. If this task was to do with courage, then this should be counted. Once she climbed the tower she gave the letter to a random tan coloured owl and told it where to go.
She looked out on the Hogwarts grounds. For a moment, she considered falling over the edge...the need was distant in a way. It was cold. She felt nothing as she thought it, as though she were thinking about the weather. Yet, there it was.
The need to take the dive.
Yet, something was stopping her. Many things were. There was Harry, that boy she felt such a need to protect, how could she leave him in this alone? There was Remus, who would be devastated. And then...there was Severus Snape, how disappointed would he be? Would he be sad? Would he mourn? These three people who kept her grounded, how could she ever consider herself alone?
Evelyn stepped away from the edge with a staggered breath. She shook herself and turned on her heel, making her way out of the Owlery as if she never had a suicidal thought, as if she were completely fine. It was time for her to toughen up. This competition would not be the end of her; she had people to live for.
It seemed time went by in the blink of an eye. The article had been published, and Evelyn had been mortified to see Harry on the front page with nothing but drivel being spouted about him. She knew that Rita Skeeter was nothing but a malicious bitch. Not only that but she had written saying;
"Evelyn Greyarc, 18, is the other additional Champion from Hogwarts; a striking girl, with a hostile presence, who seems to have a fascination with Harry Potter. Greyarc seems to be the black sheep of the competition, and of Hogwarts, some sources say, and may be fierce competition for Harry Potter. After interviewing some of her classmates, I found out that Evelyn is a Potions Apprentice for one Severus Snape, who refused to answer any questions about his apprentice. 'She spends a lot of time with him,' says Veronica Lestrange, a girl in Evelyn's year, 'It's like they're in love or something.' Could this be a scandal for the two black sheep of Hogwarts?"
When Evelyn had read the article, luckily her own bit was drowned in amongst her story about Harry, and she had been mortified. Students whispered to each other and glanced at her from the corner of their eyes. Some giggling, some sounding disgusted. Evelyn did not dare to bring up the article to Snape, for fear that his already unusually kind outlook to her would change and she would see his wrath. She found it best to pretend that she did not read the stupid article. Of course, the article was the least of her problems, what with the first task being just around the corner. She still had no idea what the first task would be. Although, she supposed, that was the point. She was sure that some of the other champions already knew, as frustrating as that was.
She felt a thwack on the back of her head and whirled around to see Professor Snape standing behind her looking unimpressed.
"You seem to be daydreaming a lot more lately," he sneered. Evelyn rubbed the back of her sore head, and spotted the object that hit her in her master's hand, a rather large book.
"Daydreaming isn't the word I would use, sir. More worry. The first task is on Tuesday and I have no idea what it is," she told him despairingly. A dark eyebrow rose on his face.
"You haven't thought to investigate?" he asked.
"Of course I've thought about it, but I still don't have time, nor do I know where to start looking!" Evelyn leant against the bench where she had been cutting herbs before she got lost in thought.
"And here I thought you were a Ravenclaw..." Evelyn frowned at him.
"Fine. I'll find out what it is, you wait and see!" Evelyn declared. Severus seemed to smile slightly at her remark.
"Good. I thought you were becoming as lame in the head as Potter for a moment," he said silkily.
"Why do you hate Harry so much?" she asked, crossing her arms and looking up at him expectantly. Snape's expression seemed to darken.
"That is none of your business," he sneered. It seemed it was Evelyn's turn to raise her eyebrow.
"Well, if you ever want to talk about it..." Evelyn mumbled with a shrug as she turned back to her cutting. She felt his dark eyes on her back for a long time and it felt a mix of sexual tension and fear. A somewhat addictive mix, she found, where Severus was concerned.
Evelyn Greyarc felt as though her master had set her a challenge, something she was very willing to step up to. He wanted to see her be a Ravenclaw, then that she would. Her first call of business was with the real Hogwarts Champion, Cedric Diggory, who she was sure would help her if she asked nicely.
She found the handsome boy sitting in the dining hall at lunch on Thursday, surrounded by fans and friends alike, all wearing the 'Support Cedric Diggory!' Badges that turned into spiteful 'Potter Stinks'. Evelyn put on her most welcoming face and strode up to the table, which quieted as she approached and looked at her expectantly.
"Hello, Cedric," she greeted warmly. He smiled up at her back, the both of them ignoring the cold stares and not-so-subtle whispers.
"Hey, Evelyn."
"I was wondering if I could speak to you?" she asked sweetly. Cedric looked around at his comrades before nodding and standing. The two walked over to a quiet space in the hall.
"Listen, I was just wondering if you knew anything about the first task?" she asked softly. Cedric stared at her a moment, unsure how to answer.
"I've heard a few rumours."
"Any you care to share?"
"Look, I won't outright help you, I'm sorry," he said earnestly, "but I can tell you that Hagrid is a good place to go." Evelyn nodded with a brilliant grin.
"Thank you, Cedric. Oh, and...I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I'm sure this was a big moment for you and Harry and I ruined that. I promise we'll find whoever put out names in that goblet." Cedric nodded in acceptance. "Good luck with the first task, whatever it may be," she told him and left the hall, heading straight for Hagrid's hut.
When she knocked on the door, the giant answered looking rather frazzled, in fact, some of his beard was still smoking. Evelyn's jaw hung open as she analyzed the man before her.
"Oh, 'ello, Evelyn. Din't expect to see you 'ere!" Evelyn nodded, trying to get back her sense.
"What happened to you Hagrid?" she asked.
"Oh, I just too close to the...uh- well..." Evelyn blinked her mismatched eyes a few times in feigned innocence.
"Too close to what, Professor?" she asked in concern and curiosity.
"Well, let's jus' say tha' it's to do with yer firs' task."
"Will the first task have fire, sir?" she asked, looking to his smoldering beard. Hagrid absently patted out the embers.
"Err, well, I can't really say..." he mumbled. Evelyn quickly connected the dots. The Care of Magical Creatures' professor got too close to something that could burn you... Something that is designed to test one's courage...
"Oh, no..." Evelyn said as it dawned on her. Hagrid looked nervous. "I'll have to speak with you later, sir," she told him quickly just before she took off towards the castle, heading straight for the dungeons. She skidded into the classroom, panting, and spotted her master straight away.
"Professor! The first task...its dragons!" Yes, as she ran she put together more clues...Charlie! He was tasked in Romania with DRAGONS, and he was interested in coming here 'maybe for work'. Severus looked up at her with a raised eyebrow, but the look in his eyes were proud.
"I see it didn't take you long when you put your mind to it. Next times don't leave it so long."
"What am I going to do with DRAGONS?" she asked in panic. Severus stood and glided over to her.
"For one, don't panic. That's not going to get you anywhere. Secondly, think...be prepared." Evelyn took a deep breath and sank against a bench.
Dragons...that was the first task. Well, at least now she wont be surprised.
"What do you know about dragons?" he asked, hands clasped behind his back like he was teaching a lesson to a class.
"Dragons don't just breath fire, some can do other things. Each race of dragons has their own specialty and features that allow them to overcome their environment or adversaries."
"Good. So?"
"So, find the dragon's weakness and exploit it, depending on what the objective is."
"You will have to study dragons and make sure you improve on your knowledge of them."
"Yes, sir."
"What else do you have to do in preparation?"
"Well, dragon skin won't go amiss, though if I wear copious amounts it might lead on that I know what the task is..."
"However, Dragons Skin boots and gloves are a part of your apprentice uniform..."
"Am I to wear my apprentice uniform?"
"Along with a Hogwarts and Ravenclaw cloak."
"I see. Well, that's my hands and feet protected, I guess I'll just have to do my best to not be in the way."
"Exactly. What else could help you?"
"My spells. It really depends on the situation," she told him.
"And what are you good at?"
"Potions, Transfigurations and Defense Against the Dark Arts," she listed.
"All good things to have at your disposal," he told her proudly.
"I guess I'm prepared as I'll ever be..."