Orion and Theodorus share questioning looks as soon as they get into the Slytherin Common Room after returning from Winter Break - something's changed, again, but they don't know what.
Again.
Evelynn's working on something that looks like a collar, with a small kitten sitting curled up in her lap contentedly - and when did she get a Kneazle kitten?! - and Tom…if they didn't know any better, they'd say he was distracted. Except he's Tom, and Tom doesn't get distracted.
Except whenever Evelynn walks by, apparently. He's apparently incapable of focusing on a conversation, as demonstrated by his eyes wandering repeatedly towards a particular area of the common room - Evelynn's corner, they know it by heart now.
"What do you think, Hed? Think its enough?" It escapes literally nobody's notice that Tom's gone stone-still, glittering dark gaze fixed on Evelynn as she picks her Kneazle kitten - which she definitely didn't have when they left! - up and puts her on the table.
Theodorus grins at Orion, then 'casually' walks over and asks "What are you working on, Peverell? Classes haven't even started yet." There's a silver band on the table, along with Rune-carving tools and a book on Runes so advanced he's legitimately confused on where she found it. Because most of those Runes haven't been covered yet, but she's turned a simple silver band of metal into a work of magic so complex it should be actual art.
The Runes he does recognize? Protection, Concealment, etc.
Some are the Runes they've been learning, some are Egyptian, some look Norse, and some are little squiggles that he can't make heads or tails of. And some he thinks she made up on her own - its possible, but its usually something MASTERS do. He sees one Rune that corresponds to Hela, the Norse Goddess of Death, and decides he really doesn't want to trip whatever spells she's put on that band - its no secret Evelynn can be at least as ruthless as Tom, perhaps even more so, but she's far more vindictive than Tom when pushed. And perfectly willing, it seems, to give someone more than a taste of that vindictiveness if they dare to harm what's hers.
For one terrifying moment, the two of them wonder what she'd do if she and Tom got together and then something happened to him - it really doesn't bear thinking about. Especially given the Wards on her trunk when she was supposed to be a second year that had never heard of magic before.
The Nott heir is broken from his thoughts by Orion asking "Erm, why's your Kneazle kitten staring at us like that?" Now that he sees the amber-eyed stare, its a little unnerving actually. Because it looks far more intelligent than most kittens do, even Kneazle kittens. Ok, he decides as the stare shifts to him like the kitten is trying to read his very soul, its extremely unnerving.
Evelynn glances at the amber-eyed magical cat, then chuckles and says "She's judging you two, I'd guess. Hed's always been an excellent judge of character."
Orion carefully says "You say that like you've known her a while." Is that a slip? Or did she let it sound that way on purpose?
Instead of freezing, or trying to backtrack, Evelynn just grins and says "My little secret." Hedwig meows, looking at Evelynn and giving a nod. "Oh, alright. Go ahead, Hed. We both know you want to show off to them."
The kitten fluffs out - like its puffing its chest out, almost - and then…starts shimmering. After a moment, the Kneazle kitten is replaced by a small Ice Phoenix - same intelligent Amber eyes, same look on Evelynn's face. The baby Ice Phoenix coos a bit as Evelynn runs her fingers through the feathers, and then holds her leg up while Evelynn shrinks the band and fastens it around her tiny leg. And then a powerful Glamour covers the young bird, making her look like a Snowy Owl.
Theodorus and Orion trade shocked looks, and then Theo asks "Your telling us this…why? Don't get me wrong, I'm honored, but…"
Evelynn smirks at the dumbfounded Slytherins, and asks "But you thought I'd keep it a secret?" Both Orion and Theodorus nod at her silently, and Evelynn says "Something like this, its bound to get out eventually. Hedwig's my Familiar, but she died before we knew and was brought back. Don't ask me how, I'm not entirely sure. What I am sure about, though, is that Dumbledore cannot find out about her." She considered it, but Tom pointed out that all it would take was one kid in Slytherin getting too curious about her. Better to nip it in the bud than let it fester, they decided. The Seventh Years know some very good detection spells, and they'd undoubtedly pick up the magic protecting Hedwig if nothing else. And that's really just the start of a gigantic mess that Dumbledore would undoubtedly poke his nose into.
Tom frowns, asking "Why not? Him, specifically?"
"There's this old legend about Dumbledores and Phoenixes, something about a Phoenix coming to any Dumbledore in their time of need. I don't know whether to believe it or not, but he more than likely does. 'Cause, you know," Evelynn snorts derisively, and Hedwig trills angrily "he's a Light Wizard and all."
The other three Slytherins share equally derisive chuckles, even as Hedwig hops up onto Evelynn's shoulder.
Orion blinks, then asks "So, what about you?" They were all under the impression that she's Dark, or at least Gray, but she's suddenly got an Ice Phoenix as a familiar so...
Evelynn smirks, then says "I'm gray. True gray, at that - not Light, not Dark. Perfectly balanced - I can use Light and Dark spells equally well. A Patronus is about as easy for me as a Bone-Breaker. Why?" She suspects she was always Gray and was never told, but it doesn't really matter. Whether she became Gray after becoming immortal or she was always Gray, it truthfully makes little difference in the long run.
At all their dumbfounded and horrified expressions, Evelynn groans and says "Please don't tell me you actually bought that ridiculousness about only Light Witches and Wizards being able to cast a Patronus." When she glances at their expressions, she says "You do. Well, it's a line of crap. Some idiotic person decided that, because its rather difficult to cast a Patronus when a Dementor is sucking out all your happiness, they'd use that detail to slander an entire group of people and make them look bad. No, casting a Patronus won't make anyone get consumed by Maggots - you just have to have the power and concentration to cast the spell."
Theodorus swallows, then asks "And…Hedwig?"
Evelynn waves a hand dismissively, and says "More of the same. It isn't Light Witches and Wizards that Phoenixes are attracted to, its ones with respect for magic and a lot of power. Godric Gryffindor was technically a Dark Wizard, despite the detail that Magic wasn't divided into such classifications at that time, yet he Bonded with Fawkes after all."
Now everyone is listening in on the conversation, some more discretely than others - and some are almost visibly perking their ears up, all but leaning over to hear the conversation better. Even Tom is looking absolutely amazed at the new information, and he's got a general idea of where and how she got that information. She's got access to the Chamber of Secrets, after all.
Abraxas Malfoy drops any pretense of not eavesdropping, and chokes out "How could you possibly know that?!"
Evelynn smirks at him, and says "Found a journal written in that time, and I put two and two together. So-called 'Dark' Witches and Wizards rely more on their emotions rather than logic when they do spellwork. Their emotions connect to their magic more easily, and can fuel their spells easier. Light Cores tend to rely on concentration and focus to power their spells. Me…I'm about equal, honestly. And Godric Gryffindor, he was a warrior - he and Slytherin planned out how to defend the school if it were ever found by the NonMagical people of the time. Before you get all outraged, do remember that the Statute of Secrecy has only been in effect for about seven-hundred years…and the Founders lived around a thousand years ago. Times were different, and Magical people had to hide or fight for their survival. Godric planned out the defenses, while Slytherin focused on how to get the younger students out of the school if it was compromised." She was amazed upon reading it, but after the shock wore off it did make a lot of sense. Godric's
Another Slytherin asks "What was Slytherin like? Was there anything written about him?"
Evelynn chuckles, and says "It was written by him, but most everyone else in here won't be able to read it. He wrote it in Parselscript. From what I gathered, he was paranoid as all hell and puts the Statute of Secrecy to utter shame. He hated Muggles, but recognized that they weren't going anywhere for a number of reasons. A, there were too many of them, even back then. B, more and more Magicals were cropping up from their population. He hated what we call muggles because he knew what they'd do to Magicals, particularly the kids."
There's a horrified silence at that, and a tiny little First Year asks "What did they do?"
Evelynn grimaces, and says "The lead-up to the Salem Witch Trials. People were a lot more…devout, lets say, back then. And when little kids made something float, or a ceramic jar explode in a temper tantrum…" They were more than likely deemed possessed, or devil's children.
Again, there's a horrified silence, the Purebloods trying to imagine living a thousand years ago - its not a pretty picture. Its really not a pretty picture. Hedwig fluffs up and nips at Evelynn's ear lightly, then lets out a series of chirps and trills, making her chuckle and say "You and your bacon, Hed. Alright, alright, lets go…"
Tom hisses in parseltongue, only for Evelynn to grin at him and answer him back in the same way. And she only looks more and more amused when he looks horrified for a minute, and whatever it is she says next has him shocked speechless.
Everyone stares in utter shock - Evelynn Peverell has just shocked Tom Riddle speechless, its an unheard-of miracle.
Theodorus grins in amusement, and asks "What did you just tell him?" He'd dearly love to know what she said to give him a look of utter shock on his normally-impassive face.
Evelynn grins, and says "I've been busy. Happy birthday, Tom. Now, I've gotta go get someone some bacon."
Evelynn's gone before Tom unfreezes, and Theodorus asks "You told her your birthday?"
Orion asks "What do you think she got you?"
Tom swallows, and says "Off the top of my head? She found a book written by Salazar Slytherin himself…" Tom heads to his room, much to Theo and Orion's confusion - right up until they see something on his pillow.
Its…a shrunken trunk. With a note that says 'Enjoy.'
Orion watches as Tom returns the trunk to its original size, looking a combination of utterly amazed and awed - oh, he's a goner. They've never seen anyone make Tom look like this, ever - he's never surprised, or confused, and if he wants an answer he goes and gets it. E
velynn Peverell seems to absolutely delight in being the exception to all of that.
Orion slowly says "She…got you another trunk." Why, exactly, does he feel like there's much more to this than…oh, wait, it might be the combination lock Tom's working. When it opens, there's a ladder that Tom actually slides down, forgoing the steps in his excitement.
Theodorus murmurs to Orion "She got him a house." How long did that take?!
The two share a look, and mutter "Bloody hell."
When they get inside the trunk, using the steps of the ladder instead of just sliding down it like Tom, they find its somewhat a combination of a flat and a manor - the room they get into is smaller than any room in either of their Manors, but its got doors and such that obviously lead to other rooms. And Tom is standing in front of a counter, not moving as he looks at something...next to a cake.
"Tom?" He wordlessly hands Thoedorus the note in his hands, which both of the other boys notice is in Evelynn's handwriting as well. "'Tom, hope you like the trunk. I'd like you to know, up front, it took several nights to set up all the spells I used. Expanding the Trunk was easy enough, around two hours. Setting up all the protections took a lot longer. There's some boxes in the fridge, but I'm making more soon. A bit of advice: go to the library last, and put cushioning Charms around you before you go in.'"
Theodorus and Orion share a glance, even as Tom glances at the doors eagerly - Merlin, he's like a kid on Christmas. There's even notes on the doors - Evelynn had fun with this, they can just tell. There's a Training Room equipped with a dozen dummies, with a note on the door that says 'Run wild, it'll fix itself with the magic you release.'
The Ritual Room's note simply says 'Be careful, but you'll have fun in here.'
The Potions Lab says 'Fully-stocked, with Preservation Charms on the shelves. And ventilation Wards.'
And then they get to the library, where the note says 'I will drag you out for meals if I have to. You've been warned.'
When Tom opens the door, leaving Theodorus and Orion to choke on their own saliva at the note, he sees…Slytherin's Library. From down in the Chamber - she moved it into his trunk! And, from what he can sense, set up about a hundred preservation spells on the shelves. No wonder it took her so long.
There's a moment of silence, and then Orion says "Alright, I give up."
Theodorus nods, and says "Same."
Unbeknownst to Tom, they're talking about their bet that Tom would be betrothed to Evelynn by the time school lets out - no, from the look of this library they'll be married before they take their O.W.L.s! N.E.W.T.s at the latest!
One glance at Tom's expression all but confirms that theory. He's an absolute goner. And, to be honest, its equal parts hysterical and relieving.
AN: Hey, everyone! Hope you like the chapter! Before anyone goes off on me about just letting the entire Common Room know about Hedwig right off the bat, info like that doesn't stay buried forever. Especially in a place like Hogwarts, where truth serums and detection spells are very much a thing. I figured it'd be better to let them find out with a subtle warning rather than someone see something, come up with a rumor, and spread it like wildfire through the school.
Anyway, enjoy! More updates coming soon!
