Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter franchise. Any recognizable characters/locations/magic-thingies from the series belong to JK Rowling. Author's Note: A warm thanks to everyone who has read/reviewed/followed this story. Also, I'd like to send one out to my wonderful beta Nooka. We're about halfway finished the story! I'm almost done writing the last few chapters, so hopefully I can post them as quickly as possible. There is a scene with Sirius & Evie here that was inspired by a scene from the stage production of Wicked (which I also don't own). On to the chapter!

Evelyn was about to head to breakfast one Sunday morning, but was distracted when she caught sight of Maureen. Her little sister was wearing a skirt that was far too short and there were too many buttons of her blouse undone. Without hesitation Evelyn marched over to her and started to fix her appearance.

"Will you please stop?" Maureen whined.

"Indeed I will not!" Evelyn answered, whilst buttoning up the blouse.

Maureen batted her hands away, in irritation. "Evelyn, I will dress in any way that I please."

Evelyn dropped to her knees and started tugging on her sister's skirt. "I do believe our father might frown upon the lack of modesty you are demonstrating. Where is the rest of this skirt?"

Maureen stepped away and put her hands on her hips. She had gained a little weight over April, but she was quickly losing it again. "Will you just leave it be?"

"Have you been eating?" Evelyn asked, inspecting her closely.

"Yes." Maureen moaned and rolled her eyes.

More students started to fill the common room, all on their way to breakfast. Maureen pulled away quickly, embarrassed to be caught speaking with her sister. Thankfully Regulus walked right by them without sparing them a glance. Maureen's gaze however, followed him out of the room.

"Maureen, are you coming?" One of her sister's friends asked, giving Evelyn a look of disgust.

"Yes," she answered, not even sparing Evelyn a faretheewell.

Evelyn stood again and also made her way out of the common room. Maureen and her friends weren't far ahead of her, and though she hadn't meant to, Evelyn found herself listening to their conversation.

"What did she want now?" Maureen's friend asked.

"The usual; to stick her nose in where it's not wanted. I know she means well, but I really don't need or want her attention."

Evelyn's pace faltered slightly then. She tried not to let it bother her—Maureen was probably just saying it for her friends' benefit. Yet there was an underlying bitterness to her sister's words. All she wanted was to look after Maureen. Why was she constantly being criticized for that? She was either too involved or not paying enough attention. She just couldn't win.

Entering the Great Hall, she watched Maureen go to the Slytherin table with their housemates to eat. Evelyn headed towards the Gryffindor table where she usually dined. Waiting for her was Lily with a bright smile. At least someone was pleased to have her around.

"Good morning," Evelyn said, taking her seat. She reached for a pot of tea and poured herself a cup. She couldn't make it through the day without a cuppa.

"Morning, Evie," Lily and Alice both answered. Alice didn't look up from the letter she was reading.

"It's from Frank," Lily explained, offering Evelyn the milk.

"I see."

"He says that the Auror training is going well, and that he can't wait to see me after exams. Aww, he says he'll be waiting at the train station," Alice gushed.

"Frankie, do you want my body?" Lily sang teasingly.

"Shut up!" Alice said, folding up the letter and putting back into the envelope. "Your turn."

Lily began to open her own letter. Evelyn must have missed the post delivery. She hoped Mr. Gray had not sent her anything. She buttered her toast and waited for Lily to divulge the contents of the letter she was currently reading.

"Our Petunia's getting married," she said. Her tone was dull and disappointed.

Alice raised her goblet of pumpkin juice and toasted them, sarcastically.

"I'm afraid I don't understand. Why is this not celebratory news?" Evelyn asked.

"Oh, I'm sure she's thrilled! It's just that according to my mum, she's marrying the most uninteresting, pompous arsehole to ever set eyes upon. But if he really makes her happy then I guess I should congratulate her."

"What kind of name is 'Vernon'?" Alice asked, scrunching up her face.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes at Lily in disapproval. "You don't seem very excited by your sister's happy news."

"Petunia and I don't get on, remember? She doesn't even talk to me anymore. The only reason I'll even be invited is because people will expect me there. That and my mum probably talked Petunia into it."

Evelyn said nothing in response to that. It annoyed her that Lily wasn't more enthusiastic about her sister finding happiness. While Evelyn knew that right now Maureen did not want her help, she hoped there would be a time when her sister would look to her to share her happiness with. Of course, that would only happen if a man were to come along who both she and Mr. Gray could approve of.

"Evie, what's wrong?" Lily asked.

"Nothing's wrong."

"Then why are you ripping your toast into bits?"

Evelyn looked down and saw the mess she'd made. She brushed the toast crumbs from her fingers and straightened herself. "I wasn't particularly hungry."

"Evie, what is it?" Lily's almond shaped eyes looked at her expectantly.

"I just don't find it admirable how you brush your sister's impending nuptials under the rug as if it was something unimportant. You are sisters and she deserves your congratulations."

"She has it! She just won't take it. Petunia hates me no matter what I do. It's been that way for ages."

Evelyn exhaled loudly and wrung her hands, frustrated. "How can you just sit there so blasé? You should adhere to sisterly duty and offer your sincere and total support. "

"Why are you getting so upset?" Alice asked.

"Because..."

But Evelyn didn't have a real reason to be upset. Lily and Petunia's relationship was none of her business. Just because Evelyn craved to be a part of Maureen's happiness did not mean that Lily had to want the same from her sister. Just like Lily had told her, Petunia probably wouldn't welcome warm wishes or help in making wedding plans. At least, Lily knew when to take a hint. Evelyn couldn't claim the same. She looked away from them, careful to not let her shame show.

"I'm not hungry. If you'll please excuse me, I think I will go to the library and start studying."

"Alright then," Lily said. "We'll join you later on."

"Very well."

As Evelyn walked away, Lily and Alice shared a confused look.

"What was all that about?" Lily asked.

Alice shrugged.

Sirius' hands slid further up the back of Claire McDowell's blouse. They'd been going together for a little over a week now, but they hadn't done much else but snog. That was nice enough—he'd be an idiot to complain about it—but she didn't have much of a personality. She didn't really laugh at his jokes nor did she have much of an opinion about anything. It was strange. He knew that eventually he got bored with the girls he dated, but he had never known specifically why. Truthfully, he'd never been all that serious about any of the girls he dated to begin with. He was only really ever after what every one of these girls' mothers had said he was.

"Sirius?"

He stopped kissing Claire's neck and looked at her. "What?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to cut this short. I've got quidditch practice."

He kissed her once more before pulling away. Claire was a Chaser for the Ravenclaw team. The Gryffindor and Ravenclaw teams were playing the final quidditch match of the season next week and Gryffindor needed to win the match in order to win the cup. They were rivals! It was a forbidden romance! It had excited him in the beginning. It was one of the reasons he had found her so attractive. But now...

Claire fixed her appearance and left. Sirius did the same and walked out from between the stacks. He intended to go back to the Gryffindor common room and see if the other Marauders were there, but something caught his eye.

Sitting in her usual seat was Evelyn, her head resting on the table. Her hair was let down today but pinned back from her face. She looked defeated and Sirius felt himself move to sit across from her. She glanced up, then immediately sat up straight.

"Alright?"

"I am well, thank you," she said. "Yourself?"

"Fine, thanks. You sure you're alright? You don't look it."

She rolled her eyes and nodded. "I'm well enough."

"If that's the case, then why do you look like you've been living in a Celestina Warbeck song?" he asked.

She snorted, her face donning an amused look. "My appearance must truly be disastrous if you dare to suggest such a thing!"

He shook his head. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I think not."

"Why?" he asked. "Sometimes talking to a friend can make you feel better."

"But we're not friends. We are friendly acquaintances who—"

"Can sometimes call the other friend," he interrupted. "So then, right now you can call me your friend."

She sighed. "I'm alright, really. I've just been letting my thoughts wander to places they should not. Over thinking things, you know?"

"Luckily, no, I don't. This pretty head isn't burdened with useless things like thoughts." He smiled at her, but it did not reach his eyes.

"It must be at times."

"No. What you see is what you get."

Evelyn shook her head and rested her palms on the pages of her open book. "I know you find it easier to pretend to be self-absorbed and shallow, but you're not."

He looked taken aback. "Oh, I'm not, am I?"

"No. Otherwise you wouldn't be as unhappy as you are."

He frowned at her then, eyes darkening. She realized that she might have overstepped her bounds. She did not want to start another argument after they'd been doing so well.

"Right then, I'll be on my way." He stood up to leave, but she to stood and reached across the table to grab hold off the hem of his shirt.

"Wait," she said. She let go of his shirt and sat back down after a moment. "I'm sorry. I should not have said that, as the observation has clearly made you uncomfortable."

After a long moment he sighed and sat back down. "I'm not unhappy," he grumbled.

"Then why can I see it written all over your face?"

"I didn't realize you were watching me so closely, luv."

Neither had she. She stayed silent and let him continue speaking. She didn't want to say anything else inappropriate.

"I'm really not all that unhappy. Or I shouldn't be."

"Unfortunately, as Lily has told me repeatedly, emotions can exist without justification."

"Evans is a smart one, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is." Evelyn smiled warmly thinking of her.

"I have my friends, I'm in the place I consider to be my home, and I'm free of my family." He looked down in his lap. His voice had lowered so that only she might hear, thought he needn't have bothered as the library was practically empty.

"That must be a relief for you," Evelyn said, taking into consideration of whom his family consisted of.

"Yes, but I also keep thinking that it shouldn't be. I shouldn't have to want to be free of them."

Evelyn nodded in understanding, but again decided this was a moment for her to be silent. He was being so open with her and it was probably for the best that she listen if she didn't want him to leave just yet.

"Do you ever wish that your family was different?" he asked.

She had and felt ashamed for doing so. Maureen couldn't help her condition nor could she fault Mr. Gray for doting on her the way he did. All the same, she wished they didn't make her feel like an outsider in their home, wished she wasn't treated like the hired help.

She didn't say anything, but her guard was down and the answer was written all over her guilty face. He shrugged and looked away from her. They were sharing a vulnerable moment together, but the awkwardness that came over them indicated that they should change the topic.

"How is Remus?" It was the first thing that came to Evelyn's mind.

"Fine," he answered, giving her a curious look.

"Good... good."

They grew silent once more due to their discomfort. Evelyn looked back to her books, hoping that he'd take the opportunity to leave before either of them said anything else unnecessary. He didn't, though. Instead, he just studied her appearance, making her feel somewhat self-conscious.

Sirius had just been about to ask her what she was studying when he noticed her blouse. It was a long sleeved, white blouse that she had tucked into her skirt. She'd rolled up the sleeves to her elbows but had left the collar with light blue embroidered ribbons on it, buttoned up. She looked all together very conservative and clean. However, it seemed that one of the buttons of her shirt had come undone.

He hadn't meant to notice but now that he had he couldn't seem to look away. Where the button had come undone her blouse gaped slightly open, showing him glimpses of the curve of her lace encased breast. He tried to look away—he'd already decided this was not a path to venture down—and be a gentleman. Unfortunately, Sirius had never been a gentleman before and it was a little late to try now. He really did want to be respectful, be a friend and point out that her blouse was gaping open. His mouth opened and closed for a minute, but no words came out.

A sudden stinging pain made its presence known along his right shin. He hissed and pushed his chair away from the table, finally distracted from the glimpse of Evelyn's bra. He looked down and saw that his trouser leg had been shredded. Near his foot was a black cat with bright yellow eyes hissing and spitting at him. He growled at the animal and reached down to put pressure on his bleeding leg.

Evelyn too looked under the table and saw Luther, who was obviously the cause for the bloody scratches on Sirius' leg. Luther turned away from Sirius ready to sprint away, but she reached down and picked him up by the scruff of his neck.

Holding him in her arms she rushed off, to berate him privately. "I'm sorry, Sirius!" she said over her shoulder as she broke off into a run.

She nearly ran into Alice and Lily who had just arrived to study with her. They ducked out of her way, calling out her name as she passed.

Lily, reaching the table Evelyn had just been at, saw Sirius standing there. She dropped her bag onto a chair and put her hands on her hips, fixing him with an accusatory look.

"What did you do to her?"

"I don't know what's gotten into you lately, but I've had enough of it!"

She carried a wriggling Luther out of the library and out into the corridor and stopped in front of the landscape painting hanging on the wall. She refused to put him down until he was calm.

"Why on earth would you attack Sirius?" Evelyn asked, aloud. "He wasn't bothering me. Not this time, anyway."

When he finally settled down, she placed him onto the floor and looked at him sternly. "I will not tolerate this behaviour any longer, Luther. I do not know what possessed you but you will control yourself in the future," she scolded.

He would not meet her eye, deciding to sulkily look at the painting instead.

Evelyn knelt down in front of him. "What are you doing? Why have you been chasing vermin and distancing yourself from me? I don't think it's wise for you to roam the castle alone at night anymore. I would much prefer you by my side, as you always were before."

He looked at her then. His fur had lengthened at his chin giving him a slight beard and was starting to turn grey in certain places. He looked old and tired, much like she felt. She waited for him to indicate his understanding of what she had just said. He gave a small nod and then nuzzled his face down into her lap.

"Everything okay?" Sirius asked from behind her.

She craned her neck to see him. He smiled at her and she returned it, apologetically. "I really am sorry about your leg. I don't know what could have possibly prompted Luther to attack you."

"Well, just be glad he's gone because if he does it again I'm afraid I might kick him," he said crossing his arms over his chest.

Looking back down to her lap, Luther was no longer there. He'd snuck away while her attention was diverted. Was Luther afraid of Sirius? Was he trying to warn her? She couldn't be sure, but perhaps it would be wise to keep in mind Luther's dislike of him. There must be a good reason.

There had to be.

Finally found someone who looks exactly the way I've always imagined Evelyn. I came across a picture of an Italian actress named Sabrina Impacciatore as her character in "The Passions of Christ". Check it out! Oh, and as my birthday is this week, I'll be accepting reviews as presents!