I'm so sorry everyone! I know I said it would only be a couple of days but University was absolutely bonkers this week!
OK Important Stuff!
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
I mean it. Year 6, Chapter 18
There are massive Hogwarts Mystery story spoilers for the game and if you don't want to know turn back now.
This chapter is actually what inspired me to write Talbott fanfic. I just couldn't stop thinking about him during this event and I'm so happy this chapter is finally out. Don't worry though I have plenty more planned out. Enjoy & please know I love hearing from you all, I love reading your comments xxx
Grace
Everly-Grace paced back and forward on the training grounds. She couldn't focus. Merula and Ben were trying to go over the plan but all Everly could think about was how devastated Talbott's expression was when he looked at her.
"I'm sorry, I need ten minutes."
"Harper, are you dense?" Merula couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Everly there isn't time." Ben protested.
Evie had already started moving towards the Owlery.
"I'm sorry, it's important. If I'm not back, leave without me, I'll catch up."
Merula swore and then told Ben that 'Harper' must have finally lost it.
Everly ran up the steps, breathless by the time she made it to the top she realized he wasn't here. Unless...she threw her head up and scanned the rows and rows of owls searching for an eagle.
"Talbott are you up here?" She gave him a moment. "Tal, it's important!" She was greeted with a chorus of soft cooing in response.
"Talbott if you're here please come down." Everly's voice cracked and she started to cry. "Alright then." She hoped he was up there and just being stubborn. She called out to her avian audience.
"I'm sorry! I never wanted to fight with you. I never meant to hurt you. I thought it was clear how much I love you; especially after the summer. But I have to do this. I have to go, right now...and if anything happens to me tonight, if I don't come back...I just needed you to know, that I'm so, so sorry and that I love you. I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. I was too scared to tell you before, I wanted to tell you over the summer, but if you didn't say it back I would have been heartbroken. I swear, if you're up there Talbott!" She couldn't see him up there. "I have to go..." Her voice was quiet now, defeated. "...and I've just poured my heart out to a tower full of birds." She had nothing left. Everly was sobbing again but there was no more time. She ran down the tower steps and across the hills back towards the training grounds, oblivious to the brown eagle perched right at the top of the roof, two solitary tears falling from it's cheeks.
She almost ran headfirst into Penny who was carrying her cauldron back into the castle. Everly looked a fright, her hair was everywhere and her face was smeared in black makeup running down her cheeks.
"Everly-Grace are you alright? What's happened?"
"I can't find Talbott!" Her breath was coming in short sharp gasps. She was almost hyperventilating. "And I have to go, there's no more time, but I can't find him Penny!"
"Take a deep breath." Penny dropped her things and began rubbing her friend's back in slow soothing circles. "He wasn't in the Owlery?"
"No...and I've ruined everything...Merula and Ben are sneaking out with me...to find Jacob. But...there are Dementors...and Rakepick...and Talbott said it's too dangerous. He broke up with me Penny...it's over."
"Everly..." Penny wished Everly would stop before she erupted into a full blown panic attack.
"I need you to tell him something for me."
"You can tell him when you get back." Penny didn't like the finality in her voice.
"Penny, please!" Everly's voice was desperate. "If I don't make it back. I need you to tell him that I love him and I'm sorry."
"Everly-Grace..."
"Will you tell him for me? Please?"
"Yes, of course."
"You're my very best friend Penny."
"You're mine too Evie."
"I have to go, the others have probably already set off. Goodbye Pen!" Everly sprinted off to the training grounds as fast as she could.
Penny was frazzled as she sat in the artefact room brewing in her cauldron. She was trying to distract her mind but it wasn't helping. She was so worried about Everly and Merula and Ben. A soft spoken voice brought her out of her brooding thoughts.
"Mind some company?" Talbott Winger stood in the doorway looking worse for wear.
"Talbott! Come in, close the door. Why aren't you in your common room?" The whole school was supposed to be on lockdown.
"Why aren't you?" He quipped back.
Penny stood up. "I ran into Everly. She was looking for you, I've never seen her so upset before."
"She's made her choice!" He snapped back at his friend.
"Talbott, she looked dreadful. I know the two of you are having issues but you need to talk to her!"
"I just wanted her to listen. To stop just for a moment and think about the danger she's throwing herself into. We're supposed to be in a relationship and she goes barrelling headfirst towards Dementors and dark wizards."
"So now you're teaching her some kind of lesson? Talbott if anything happens to her tonight, are you fine with the very last thing you said to her? Because she was absolutely hysterical."
Realization dawned on Talbott's face. How could he have let them leave it like this? "I have to go." He turned on his heel and straight out of the door before Penny even had a chance to halt him.
"Talbott!" She called after him. Cursing Penny extinguished her cauldron and scrambled up from the floor. She ran out to the castle exterior but he was already gone. How did he find a broom so quickly?
As the Dementors closed in around Everly, Ben and Merula, Everly-Grace tried not to panic. She concentrated on producing a strong patronus. Closing her eyes she found her happy memory almost instantly. It was Talbott. It was Talbott wrapped around her in his bed at his Grandmother's house. It was Talbott kissing her while they made love, kissing the inside of her arm, kissing her shoulder, always trying to connect with her in the simplest way. But when he would just let go, and kiss her mouth, it was fire, it was life. She couldn't imagine her life without him in it. She was so stupid! Why was she even here? No. She shook the negative from her thoughts and aimed her wand at the first Dementor. "Expecto Patronum!" A large jungle cat sprung at the shadowy threat, but when another floated in to instantly replace it, Everly wondered if they had all made a huge mistake. She whispered his name, hoping that when the Dementor kissed her soul, it would be quick. Talbott...
Talbott had taken flight and soared high into the sky. He was circling the dark forest, the sky looking far less dark now, perhaps it was a sign the Dementor's had retreated. Sparks of red suddenly shot up from deep in the trees. It was the Vermillious spell. He waited a moment and then more. And more again. They were in trouble. Talbott flew as fast as he could towards the sparks; the trees were dense and he circled as best he could.
His hearing was heightened and he could hear panicked voices, a girl and a boy; Ben...and that was definitely Merula.
He strained to listen...someone was hurt...hurt...no...someone was dead, killed?" Surely he had misheard, his imagination running away with him. He tried to swoop down but panic had set in. He could see the shape of a third person lying on the forest floor. It was so dark. He thought he could make out the blue of Ravenclaw robes.
No. It couldn't be her, he had to get closer, he had to know.
Talbott willed her to say something, anything. His ears would pick it up and he would know she was alive.
He made out two new voices now, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. The Deputy Headmistress told the group they must all return to the castle in the utmost haste.
He swooped around again, he needed to get closer. Dumbledore stood over the body, the others were all crowding, if he got any closer he would give himself away.
"We have to move her, Headmaster, we can't stay here, it's not safe." Snape said quietly, but not quiet enough for Talbott's ears.
They had to move her...her...Merula was alive, which meant...no. No!
This wasn't happening. Not tonight...not to them. He loved her. He loved her so much his heart wanted to burst, and he hadn't told her. This had to be a mistake, it couldn't be real.
He landed on the forest floor, changed back into himself, then Talbott bent over and the bile in his stomach came up so fast and retched, he hacked it up, coughing and spluttering.
Talbott flew back to the Hogwarts exterior as fast as his wings would carry him. He could see Penny who was scanning the skies waiting for him. He landed down out of sight and transformed back, running the rest of the way up the grounds.
"Penny, something's happened in the forest! I couldn't get close enough but someone's hurt. I'm going back to see if I can get closer."
Before he could go Professor Sprout and Flitwick came bustling out of the castle.
"Mr Winger, Miss Haywood!" Flitwick was trying to remain calm. "You must return to your common rooms this instant."
"Professor's we need help! Something's happened!" Talbott tried to explain.
"The Headmaster, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape have the situation in hand." Filius explained.
Professor Sprout appeared very unsettled. "The best thing you can do is calmly return to your common rooms."
Talbott wished they would let him get a word in. "You don't understand, Professor Flitwick..."
"Now. Mr Winger. I will not ask again." The pair had never ever heard Flitwick so stern before and the expression on Sprout's face told them not to push further.
Talbott and Penny made their way inside. "We need to get to the infirmary."
"Talbott, what's going on, what did you see?"
"Someone's hurt. Badly."
"How badly?"
Talbott shook his head. He wouldn't even speak the idea out loud. He had to know. The anxiety had built up in his chest so high he thought he might vomit if there had been anything left in his stomach. Everly-Grace was...no. He wouldn't think it, not until he had seen her body. They ran through the halls as fast as they could and reached the infirmary just in time to run into Professor's McGonagall and Snape closing the door behind them.
"I'm not going to ask why I have two students outside of their common rooms when Professor Dumbledore explicitly stated you were to stay there this evening." McGonagall looked crestfallen.
"Miss Haywood I am disappointed in you. Mr Winger, both of you, go now and I will withhold punishment." Snape was being uncharacteristically tolerant.
Talbott wasn't having it. "Professor McGonagall please. I need to..."
"Mr Winger. Ravenclaw Tower. Now." The Deputy Headmistress had run out of patience.
Penny pulled on his arm trying to get him to leave this for the night. "Talbott we had better..."
"Someone was hurt." Talbott wasn't concerned with punishment.
The professor's wore an unmoving expression across their faces.
"Someone was killed?" Talbott tried again. "A student?" He pressed.
Penny gasped.
McGonagall's face dropped. "We need to inform the family before the news breaks out."
"Is it Everly? Professor's please, I need to see her!" Talbott was begging them to open the door. Snape held it shut and much to his shock and surprise the young Ravenclaw tried to wrestle his way past the Potions Master.
"Let him in Severus." Minerva waved a hand towards the infirmary door.
Snape pushed the door open and let him through before closing it again. He addressed Penny.
"Miss Haywood, I know this will be difficult but you must not mention this to anyone tonight. We can not incite a panic."
All of the colour had drained from Penny's face. "Is Everly-Grace..."
"Miss Harper lives. That is all we can tell you this evening." Snape was trying his best to be empathetic. "I will escort Miss Haywood back to the Hufflepuff common room."
With the absence of Madam Pomfrey, Professor Dumbledore was watching over the wing. "Mr Winger? You should be in Ravenclaw Tower."
"Professor...please..." He was so deflated. "I need to see Everly-Grace...even if she...if she's..." He took a deep calming breath. "Even if she's dead."
"Ah." Understanding dawned on the Headmaster's face. "Quietly now, the other's need their rest." Dumbledore stepped aside to let him through to the wing.
The first thing Talbott saw was Ben sitting up in one bed and Merula in another. He choked out a sob as he saw Everly sitting up in bed. She was pale and in shock but very much alive. His chest filled with emotions, his lungs bursting with air.
She hadn't noticed him come in.
"Can we help you, Winger?" Merula's voice was quiet even though it still held a fraction of her usual snark.
"Everly-Grace?" He asked before rushing to her bedside. He took her hand in his and held it tightly. She turned her face and looked at him vacantly.
Talbott exhaled. He was so relieved. "I thought you were...what happened?"
"Rowan." The name was all she could manage.
"Rowan?" Talbott asked. He looked around the room to see Ben looking just as somber.
"It was supposed to be me." He said quietly. "The killing curse."
"Killing curse?"
"Khanna pushed Copper out of the way." Merula was the only one capable of coherent speech. "Rakepick cast the killing curse, said one of us needed to die, collecting on the promise they made."
"I didn't think Rowan was going with you?"
"She wasn't. We didn't know she was even there until..." Merula trailed off.
Rowan's body had been laid out in a closed room with a white sheet covering her. Talbott looked back at Everly. She was crying again. "This was all my fault."
Talbott climbed up onto the bed. He wrapped Everly up in his arms, not caring two figs that they weren't alone. "No. Shhh...don't you think that even for a moment. This was the fault of one person and one person only." He held her tightly while she cried.
She cried until there were no tears left.
McGonagall tried to insist that Talbott leave them all alone to sleep knowing full well that nothing was going to drag him away from Everly's side tonight.
"Albus?"
"Let them be tonight Minerva. Miss Harper is going to need every ounce of support in the coming days. What better place to find it than in the embrace of someone we care for?"
Once Merula and Ben were both asleep, Everly rolled into his chest and whispered a question to Talbott. "Why did you come? I thought..."
"I love you. I saw the Vermillious sparks Everly-Grace. I flew over the forest, I tried to find you. I had to know you were safe; I couldn't wait until morning...I thought...I might never see you again." Talbott kissed the top of her head.
"You love me?" Her voice was so small and quiet.
"I do. I've wanted to tell you for a long time."
"Why didn't you?"
"I never wanted to pressure you into saying it back." Talbott sighed. "This all seems so stupid now."
Everly didn't say anything, she just snuggled in tighter. He wasn't sure what this meant for their relationship but for tonight she was all that mattered.
Early the next morning the news was broken to the students by their head of house in their common rooms. Classes were suspended so they could mourn. A memorial would be held later that morning. Everly didn't want to go back into her dormitory room that she had shared with Rowan. She set up on the large Ravenclaw couch with a blanket and had no intention of shifting anytime soon. Talbott sat behind her. They had come in after Professor Flitwick had broken the news and everybody gave them a wide berth. Nobody knew what to say.
Talbott shook her gently when it was time to go down to the Great Hall. "Everly. It's time for the memorial."
"I'm not sure I want to go, Talbott."
"I know."
"The sad looks all of the Ravenclaws are giving me is going to be multiplied once the whole school is together."
"I won't pressure you, but I wouldn't want you to regret not saying a proper goodbye."
Everly waited as long as possible before going down to the Great Hall. She hoped to slip into the back of the crowd unnoticed. She had no such luck. The entire room turned to look at her. Dumbledore continued his speech up on the podium in a bid to recapture the room's attention. Talbott offered her his hand which she grasped tightly.
Afterwards Penny pulled Everly aside to confess that she had been the one to tell Rowan about 'R' and why Everly was always so busy. That it was her fault that Rowan had followed Merula, Ben and Evie into the forest. Everly re-assured her that the only person to blame for Rowan's death was Rakepick...even if Everly-Grace still blamed herself.
Tonks came and sat with them trying to gauge if Everly wanted to talk about the loss of her best friend. Everly tried to remind the two girls that Rowan was their friend too and Penny said softly that everybody knew it had always been Evie and Rowan from their very first day.
Everly bit her lip as she realized Rowan would have been there as she hysterically pleaded with Penny to talk to Talbott, and that Rowan would have heard her tell Penny that she was her very best friend. Her heart sank. That must have been devastating for Rowan to hear and yet she had still followed them into the forest. Everly was never going to forgive herself.
Upon returning to Ravenclaw Tower, Professor Flitwick announced that the Dementors had left the school grounds and therefore the ban on leaving the safety of the castle was lifted. He reminded everybody to be kind, encouraged them to mourn and offered guidance should anyone need a sympathetic ear. Talbott and Everly snuggled back up on the sofa and the rest of their house respected her need for space.
Classes resumed a couple of days later but when Everly and Talbott both neglected to show up the Professor's all agreed to give the pair a few more days grace. Everly hadn't spoken very much at all, but Talbott continued to be there to comfort her. He fetched her food since she wouldn't go down for meals and just held her as she sobbed uncontrollably every night. Everly was being consumed by guilt. Talbott wrote to his Grandmother asking what he should do and how best to help her. Her letter back told him that he would be all she needed right now and that the grieving would take time.
One night in the early hours of the morning Talbott shifted uncomfortably against the back of the sofa. His neck was aching. He glanced down at his chest where Everly normally lay her head and saw that she was wide awake. Feeling him move, Evie looked up at him, her eyes wide.
"Did I wake you?" His voice was soft and full of concern; she needed sleep more than he did; and Talbott was running on empty.
Everly-Grace shook her head.
"Nightmare?" He guessed correctly as she gave him a small nod. "Sweetheart...you need to try and sleep."
"Everytime I close my eyes, I see her Tal. I see the flash of green and I can't stop thinking about her face. It wasn't even Rowan anymore. Just an empty shell."
"What do you need?" He was exhausted but pushed past it.
"Talk to me."
"What about?" He soothed her, stroked her hair back comfortingly.
"Absolutely anything else."
He was quiet and thought for a moment. "In ten years from now, when we're all grown up, where are you?"
Everly was silent as she thought about the question. She closed her eyes and she could see. "In a little house far away from London. There would be a small village a short walk away but otherwise just grass and trees. Oh and the ocean too. Lots of room for you to stretch your wings."
"Oh I'm there am I?" He smirked at her certainty.
"Where else would you be?" Her tone wasn't joking like his, nor was it worried, just matter of factly.
"With all of that space I suppose we would need something to take care of. A Crup? A Kneazle? An Abraxan?" Every girl loved ponies.
"No, just a Porlock."
"A Porlock?"
"Out of all of the creatures Hagrid asks me to help him with, the Porlock is my favourite. Those big eyes and the stumpy little hooves. He butts his head into my hand and looks at me as though I'm the only thing that matters in his world."
"You, me and a Porlock huh?" He was struggling to keep his eyes open. "I promise we can get a Porlock. Tell me what else."
Everly talked about their cottage for a little while, enough to make her sleepy. She looked up and saw Talbott with his eyes closed. His breathing was deep and she knew he had gone back to sleep already. He was too busy taking care of her that he was burning himself out. She snuggled back into him until exhaustion made her finally close her eyes.
Five days since Rowan's death and Talbott was beginning to worry. This wasn't healthy and he needed to do something. Once classes had finished for the day he brought Professors Flitwick and McGonagall up to have a chat.
"Everly...the Professor's and I were wondering how you would feel about going home for a couple of weeks. Getting away from everything?" Talbott spoke as gently as he could. "I could take you down to Hogsmeade and we could catch the Knight Bus."
"You're sending me away?"
"Everly-Grace, you're barely eating and anytime you sleep it's from pure exhaustion. You haven't left Ravenclaw Tower in almost a week. We're worried about you."
"Mr Winger speaks out of nothing but empathy for you Miss Harper. We all want to help you through this most troubling time." Professor Flitwick added.
"You mustn't worry about your studies." McGonagall explained. "We all know studious Ravenclaw's such as yourselves will more than make up the time once you are back and well rested. We have all agreed to give you both ample extensions."
"Even for Potions?"
"Even Professor Snape." She smiled.
"You could take an extra week now and then come back on the Hogwarts Express with the other students after Easter, all ready for the beginning of Summer term." Flitwick suggested.
"Please don't send me home." Everly did her best not to cry. "I'm afraid my parents will never let me back. I'll do better, I promise. I'll stop wallowing and I'll come back to classes..."
"Hush, Miss Harper, say no more. It was only a suggestion." Minerva smiled gently. Filius took Talbott aside and reminded him that he was doing a great job.
The next day Everly dressed properly and ate a whole meal that Talbott had brought up for her. They did some reading, she read one of her favourite books and it was the first time he had seen her smile in a long time. Talbott was using the time to read their textbooks, trying to minimize how far behind he was. It wasn't long until everything came crashing down and he was thankful they were alone in the common room during the day.
Evie was snuggled into his side. She was absentmindedly running a hand along the hemline of his shirt. He noticed, but paid her no mind as he re-read the same lines of text inside 'Unfogging The Future' multiple times. Eventually she slipped her hand beneath the white cotton to press her hand against his hip. She craved the feeling of her skin against his, even if it was just this.
"Ev?" He asked, not moving his eyes from the pages. She responded by inching his shirt up further and pressing a kiss to his hip. A long lingering kiss. He indulged her as she shifted around and kissed him again, this time in the dip where his chest met his hip. He had to admit that felt really good. Once he realized her fingers had undone his belt buckle and slipped beneath his pants Talbott put his book to one side and gently pulled her up. Her hair was dishevelled and he tucked it gently behind her ear.
"Hey, hey, we..." Talbott didn't get a chance to finish as Everly climbed into his lap, kissed him desperately on the lips and threaded her fingers into his hair. He moaned into her, half in protest, half coming undone. She pushed them back down into the couch so that she was on top of him. Everly was driven by an intense need to feel something, anything. Any feeling that wasn't numb. Euphoria was much preferable. She pressed her body into his, wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. She didn't kiss him, just hugged him, clung onto him for dear life, like a raft in a storm. She was broken. Talbott wrapped one arm around her back and lifted her, gently laying her down as he pulled away. He stood up and turned away from her, his arms resting behind his head. He exhaled deeply.
"Did I do something wrong?" Her voice was quiet, small.
He turned back around to face her. "Everly-Grace, you're still grieving."
"I know, I just..."
"You thought it's a good idea to take my pants off in the middle of Ravenclaw Tower?" He wasn't annoyed, just surprised at her total lack of discretion.
"I never said it was a good idea...I just wanted to be close to you."
"It's not just that. There hasn't been a right time to talk about this...about us."
"What do you mean, 'about us'?"
Talbott had been avoiding this as long as he could. "We broke up, Everly." The words hurt him too.
Those four words were enough to turn her numb. She felt empty. "You told me you loved me. You haven't left my side since you came to find me in the infirmary. I thought you and I were going to be ok."
"I thought you had been killed! I saw Rowan's body lying in the forest and I thought it was yours! For almost one full hour I believed you were dead! Do you have any idea what that was like? I do love you, more than anything...but Rowan's death doesn't change what happened between us. We need to stop and talk about how we move forward. I still don't think you're in the proper headspace for this conversation."
"Why do you and everybody else believe you all know what's best for me?"
"Because I've been taking care of you, I've been exactly where you are."
"Well I never asked you to." Everly snapped. It was cold. She was deflecting.
"Don't. Don't push me away. I just don't want to rush back in and complicate things. We can talk about us when the time is right."
She was angry now, and lashed out. "You're the one who just flew out of the Owlery that day without us even talking about things properly. You gave up on us Talbott."
"No. We were arguing around in circles, and this isn't about me. I have done nothing but support you and you lied to me without giving it a second thought."
"How many more times do I need to say I'm sorry for that."
"Enough times until I believe that you mean it."
"Why are you being like this?"
"Because I don't trust you Everly! I told you chasing Rakepick into the forest was too dangerous, that someone could get killed!"
"So you do blame me for Rowan's death? This is where you tell me 'I told you so'."
"I'd rather talk about what you plan to do now. Any hope I had of you leaving Rakepick well enough alone is gone. Tell me I'm mistaken."
Everly-Grace tried a different tact. "Talbott, if you come across the death eaters that murdered your parents. You wouldn't want the chance to go after them?"
"That's an impossible question to answer." He wasn't falling into this trap. "If I was a fully trained Auror with years of experience behind me, of course I would. But right now? I have no information on who, or where they are. I don't have the training to fight them. Instead I'd be recklessly endangering myself, consequences be damned." He paused and exhaled deeply. "If I were married with children...no. I wouldn't pursue it."
Everly scoffed. "Ever?" She didn't believe him.
"Never." Talbott was somber, serious. "If I was killed for a personal vendetta, what would that do to my Gran? What would that do to you? The people I love are what's important to me not throwing my life away when it wouldn't change anything in my past."
Her heart skipped a beat. Talbott had thought about marriage, and starting a family. "I can't just let her get away with this."
"And I'm not asking you to. But I don't like who this is turning me into. Sleeping together over the summer...It's made me feel...I want to protect you, but...I need to take a step back."
"I don't understand, you've been my rock for the last week. If you felt this way, why didn't you call it off sooner."
"Because you needed me and I'm not a wanker."
"Oh, right now I'd disagree!" She threw her hands up in the air. "...But we love each other...don't we?..."
"It's because I love you." Talbott was so frustrated. "Perhaps once you've found the last vault, perhaps after Rakepick has been apprehended...maybe we can..." He was struggling to articulate his feelings.
"...No...No it doesn't have to be this way, I..."
"I need space." He put it as plainly as he could. Talbott wasn't ok with being last on her list of priorities. He wasn't ok with her not understanding what her death would do to him, and still she just kept chasing after it. "The one thing I asked you for, was not to lie to me."
Her eyes were wet and her voice was quivering. "...Please Tal..." Evie pleaded with him to reconsider. "I made a mistake. Don't you think I've been punished enough?"
"You've been punished? A student is dead. Think about Rowan's family. She was supposed to be safe here at Hogwarts." This was getting to Talbott more than he would like to admit. It was bringing up too many emotions for him. "I'm sorry Everly-Grace. I'll speak to you later." He turned and walked away from her.
"Talbott!" She called after him, but he kept walking.
Talbott was lost. They had already missed their morning classes but if there was one thing he knew how to do it was go and learn. He pulled out his schedule and ran his eyes down the parchment hoping for something he could relax into, Herbology, Transfiguration, anything to distract him. He rolled his eyes when he saw Divination inked into his afternoon. This class was absolutely miserable. He ate lunch by himself and settled into the cushions and placed his copy of 'Unfogging The Future' onto the garish tablecloth of the low, round table.
Professor Trelawney was jovial upon seeing him. "Mr Winger, I am so pleased to see you back with us. Will Miss Harper be joining us this afternoon?"
The other students had already begun filing in.
"I don't think so, Professor. She still has a lot going on."
"Wotcher, Winger." Nymphadora settled in on the table next to him with Liz. "How's Everly? I asked Tulip if she'd spoken to her lately, and she said that the two of you have been sealed up in your own little love bubble."
Talbott flushed from the back of his neck all the way up to the roots of his hair. He groaned with a hand on the back of his neck. "Tonks! It's not like that, I've just been trying to get her through each day. She's taking this whole thing really hard."
"Well she must be feeling better if you've come back to class."
"Something like that..." He mumbled in response.
Professor Trelawney hushed everyone and asked for their attention as she asked them to collect their teacups. They would be reviewing Tessomancy. Talbott wanted to melt down into the floor. As if Divination wasn't already bad enough now he would be drinking disgusting brown water and trying to see shapes in the dregs that didn't exist.
About halfway through the lesson the classroom door opened. The entire classroom turned to look. They saw Everly-Grace come in, her normally golden brown or strawberry blonde hair was jet black, she wore it loose down her back. Several layers of makeup hid puffy red eyes and streaky cheeks.
"Miss Harper!" Trelawney was ecstatic. "How wonderful to see you!"
All eyes were on her. "I'm sorry that I'm late Professor, but if it's alright with you, I wanted to come back to class?"
"Of course, of course. Come and sit down, take a teacup! There is an empty seat here next to Mr Winger." Sybill had already ushered her over and sat her down at Talbott's table and he looked very uncomfortable. They would be expected to read each other's cups.
"I won't put you through this, I'll switch seats." He looked over at the table with Tonks and Liz. "Tonks, can we swap? Would you mind, Liz?"
The Hufflepuff and Slytherin looked very confused. Tonks was about to stand up but Everly protested. "No, no; I don't want to disrupt anybody. It's fine."
He stood up anyway and began to move but she wasn't having it. "Sit down! Talbott."
Every person in the room turned and looked at them in shock. Everly hadn't meant to raise her voice. Talbott sat back down and tried to ignore everybody.
Evie sat and drank her tea in silence. Talbott scribbled down notes from his book while he waited. The silence was palpable. She was drinking painfully slowly. Eventually he glanced up at her and commented. "That's a new look for you." Black hair was far too dark for her.
"I thought it would be suitable. I've lost more than Rowan this week, after all." She took another long sip of tea while Talbott swallowed down the urge to say something he would regret.
Once she was done she gingerly picked up Talbott's teacup and he took hers. He couldn't see anything in her tea leaves which was no surprise to him. He would fabricate something in his notes. Everly's hands started shaking. All of the tea leaves in Talbott's cup were concentrated at the handle. There were three splotches of tea sitting on the porcelain. The reading was crystal clear. She was to experience heartbreak from the person she loved and the fault was hers. This must mean they can't fix it. She gasped and dropped the cup to the floor, shattering it loudly. She went to gather up the shards but Professor Trelawney had already magically whisked it all up with her wand.
"Did you see something troubling in the leaves, my dear?"
"No! Nothing...I just..." the Divination Professor handed her another cup, a blue one this time. Everly's hands were shaking so badly she dropped it straight to the floor. "I'm sorry! I think I...might have come back too soon. May I be excused please?" Everly-Grace was crying now, in front of everybody. She refused to make eye contact with Talbott or even look over at him. Her head was down, she didn't want to look at anybody but knew the whole room was staring at her.
Talbott had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had to fight the urge to go to her and wrap his arms around her.
Trelawney was sympathetic. "Of course, of course, I'll have one of your classmates walk you to your common room."
"No! Thank you, I'll be fine." Everly stood up and whisked herself out of the room and down the steps of the Divination tower as swiftly as her feet would take her. She made her way to the library and sat in the darkest corner she could find and waited for the classes to conclude for the afternoon.
Waiting long enough for the Transfiguration classroom to empty next door she entered gingerly and made her way to the front.
Minerva McGonagall looked surprised to see her.
"Everly-Grace Harper, I almost didn't recognize you. Is there something I can help you with?"
"Do you have a few moments?"
"Of course, please sit down." She motioned at the empty desk at the front of the classroom.
"I didn't want to bother the Headmaster with this."
"Go on."
"Perhaps it would be best if I packed my things and caught the Knight Bus back to London after all."
McGonagall folded her hands together on her desk. "Best for whom, Miss Harper?"
"Best for everybody." She replied quietly. "I'm not sure I can do this."
"Miss Harper?"
"Everything is just too much. I feel as though I'm suffocating. I can't breathe."
Minerva smiled sympathetically. "I will make arrangements with Professor Flitwick, we will need to put together a study plan for you that you can keep up with at home. I'm sure Mr Winger will keep you both on track." She had of course assumed Talbott would be going with her.
"No!" Evie blurted out. Minerva's brow furrowed.
"Excuse me, Professor. Just me. I'll be going on my own." Everly started crying again. She didn't want to cry in front of the witch she admired so much but she just couldn't hold it back anymore. Minerva stood up from her desk and whirled around to stand in front of the younger student.
"Now, now, now, what's all of this?" She placed a hand on her shoulder. "Harper are you quite alright? Why all of this distress?"
"Everything is my fault. I don't want to stay here and ruin anything else."
"What are you talking about?"
"I killed Rowan. I'm the one who insisted on going into the forest that night, she wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for me."
"Now, that's quite enough of that." McGonagall's lip was drawn into a stern thin line. "Patricia Rakepick killed Miss Khanna. Sitting around and feeling sorry for yourself is not going to change what happened, nor is it going to bring Rakepick any closer to being apprehended." Minerva returned to her desk. "On reflection I do not deem it wise to have a student travelling alone across such a distance. Even with a wizard as talented as Mr Winger accompanying you I am not certain it is wise with current circumstances as they are. Rakepick is still out there, and you are a target. Hogwarts still offers protection to those who need it."
"But Professor..."
"That is my final word on the subject." McGonagall folded her hands together on her desk. "Now you have a lot of study to catch up on so I suggest you take yourself off to the library this afternoon. I trust I will be seeing you in my Transfiguration class first thing in the morning?"
Deflated, Everly-Grace was just about to push open the library door when she heard someone calling her. "Evie! Wow, your hair is..."
"What's new Penny?" She changed the subject, abruptly cutting her off. To talk about her hair meant talking about Talbott.
"Tonks and I were talking. Everyone has been at a bit of a loss this week, and if you were feeling better we thought it might be nice to all gather at the Three Broomsticks, to share stories and grieve together, for Rowan."
"It's been a week. I would have thought everyone would be trying to go back to normal by now."
"We know you've been struggling Everly-Grace. Andre said you've been taking things really hard, which is completely understandable. Please come. We didn't want you to feel like we had all just forgotten Rowan so soon."
"You're right, thank you. I'll be there."
Everly put on her first authentic smile arriving at the Three Broomsticks to see all of her friends there. They were all looking sad, but pleased to see her out and about. Locking herself inside Ravenclaw Tower for a week may not have been the best course of action, but it was what she needed. Talbott sat in a corner with Andre. He glanced at her, but before she could go over to them Jae and Barnaby started talking to her. Rowan had always taken time to help Barnaby with anything and everything, he was especially sad. Everly noticed Ben wasn't in the tavern but before she could ask after him Merula came storming up angry that everyone was smothering her.
"I can't take this anymore!" She was exasperated, an odd emotion for Merula Snyde. "Yes we all know you watched Rowan die that night but how are you?"
"I know, Merula. I've been asked a lot too."
"But they don't really want to know. They ask, but the look on their face tells you they're afraid you'll give them the honest answer, and not the one to spare their feelings."
"Grief affects everyone differently I suppose, but is there anything wrong with people wanting to check that you are alright?"
"Actually Harper, I was surprised to see you walk in here. Ismelda said you ran out of Divination earlier crying like a blithering idiot." Merula was back to her old self.
"There's the Merula that we know and love, have you seen Ben? He isn't here."
"Ben's been keeping to himself a bit since the lockdown was lifted." Jae told them.
Merula couldn't take one more minute of communal grieving. "Wait, so Copper isn't here but I have to be?!"
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Merula."
"Then I'm out of here. Ismelda and I will go back to the castle. Might try and find Copper, talk about what to do next. Come and find us when you're done braiding each other's hair."
Everly sighed and went to make her way around the tables. She stopped at the corner with Andre and Talbott. Talbott looked awkward and Andre ran a hand up the back of his neck.
"I'll give you two a minute." He looked back at Talbott. "You alright mate?"
Talbott nodded and Andre slid out of the booth.
"Penny insisted I be here, and I thought...well that it might look odd to everyone else that I wasn't here to support you. I didn't know if...you...I can just go..." Talbott hated large gatherings as it was, but a large gathering with your now ex-girlfriend was worse.
"It's ok, Talbott, really. This afternoon isn't about us." Everly forced the most genuine smile that she could under the circumstances. "But for what it's worth...thank you, for being here." Looking at him right now was tearing her heart into two.
Everly re-joined the others and suggested they all share stories about Rowan. Everly hadn't realised how much Rowan had affected the lives of everyone around her. Even Talbott told the group that he wished he had gotten to know her the way everyone else had. Once Everly had gotten her fill of reminiscing, overhearing people comment on her hair and the gossiping about why Talbott and her weren't speaking she snuck out and made her way back to Hogwarts alone. She wanted to find Ben and Merula, and maybe it was finally time to take some of Talbott's advice. Rowan died because Everly-Grace and Bill thought it was better to keep secrets from their friends. It was time to come clean to everybody.