"This isn't going to hurt a bit," Healer Tonks smiled at Evan cheerfully as she waved her wand over the boy.
Evan nodded, shifting nervously on the sofa. Healer Tonks seemed nice, but Evan couldn't get over a sense of fear and revulsion. He had no clue where it came from, and he wished it would go away because the woman was kind to him. He didn't want to accidentally be rude to her.
James and Lily were across from him, watching with reassuring smiles as lines of text poured out of the healer's wand and placed themselves neatly on a piece of parchment. The entire reason the healer was there. It took a few moments to complete the spell. Even wasn't quite sure what it did, all he knew was it could tell if he really was related to James. He had an inkling that he was, and that the test wasn't really necessary. Even the healer, once she had seen him, was shocked at the resemblance between Evan and James. But he knew they had to be sure. To help him find his family.
"There," Healer Tonks said. "All done." She picked up the parchment and looked it over. "It looks like you are James' close relation within three generations," she declared.
"What does that mean?" Evan asked.
"It means you are definitely related to me. Most likely a cousin. Furthest reaching would be you being my great uncle's kid's kid or something," James explained. "I'll look through the Potter family tree. Maybe we'll find the most likely spot where you place," he smiled.
"If I remember correctly," Healer Tonks piped up, "Great uncle Marius got into trouble over his affairs with multiple women some years ago, one of them including your father's cousin. A child may have come from it."
"I remember mother and father talking about that," James nodded.
"Nasty business," the healer wrinkled her nose.
"Well," Lily spoke up abruptly, looking uncomfortable at the turn the conversation had taken, "How he's related doesn't matter. The fact that he is, though, does. And in celebration, I think we still have some brownies left. Would you like some, Andromeda?"
"Oh, yes please, Lily. Just one though, I'm not really one for cakes," Healer Tonks nodded.
Lily smiled, she and James standing and heading to the kitchen, leaving Evan alone with Andromeda.
"Mrs Tonks, are you and mr James related?" Evan asked curiously. He could feel his aversion to the woman easing as more time passed in her presence. He felt safer.
Andromeda smiled kindly, "Yes. My great aunt Dorea was his mother."
"So that means you're my family too?"
Andromeda chuckled, "Yes. It does. In fact, how about you call me Auntie Dromeda?"
"Really?" Evan asked nervously, and Andromeda nodded. "Thank you Mrs- Auntie Dromeda."
"You're welcome, Evan. Did you know I have a daughter?" She asked.
Evan shook his head.
"Well, her name is Nymphadora. She's six years old. Maybe you'd like to meet her one day?"
Evan nodded eagerly, "I'd love to, Auntie."
"Auntie?" Lily questioned, walking into the room with two small plates in her hands, James following after her with another two plates.
"Mrs Tonks says I can call her Auntie Dromeda," Evan explained as Lily set down her plates on the coffee table. Each one had a few brownies on them and Evan looked to Lily for permission to claim his.
Lily nodded kindly, and Evan picked up one of the plates and placed it on his lap.
"Auntie Dromeda, huh?" James chuckled, setting his own plates down. "How did you manage that? He still calls me Mr."
"He's just being polite, love," Lily giggled, watching Evan devour a brownie. "So what were you two talking about?" She asked conversationally.
"My daughter," Andromeda said, taking a dainty bite out of a brownie.
"Oh, how is the demon?" James asked, almost bitterly. "Still a handful?"
Andromeda scoffed lightly, "James, I don't know what went on that night I let you and your friends babysit her, but I assure you she is not as wild as you keep insisting."
"Coulda fooled me," James huffed.
"I think Nymohadora is a delight," Lily smiled. "You should bring her over some day soon. I'm sure she and Evan would get along."
"I just may," Andromeda nodded.
"Oh sweet Merlin," James greyed. "Warn me if you do. I wanna get as far away as possible."
"Really James," Lily rolled her eyes. "She can't nearly be as bad as you and the other Marauders."
"She is. She definitely is," James insisted, a look of terror in his youthful eyes that was wiped away in an instant upon the sound of knocking coming from the front door.
"Honey, I'm home!" A voice called out and James shot up, a huge grin, contrasting his prior horror, on his face as he ran out of the room to greet whoever it was who had entered.
Evan watched as Lily and Andromeda rolled their eyes.
"Boys," Lily scoffed. "You know, it feels like James should have married Sirius instead of me, sometimes," she chuckled.
Andromeda laughed, "Those two always have been inseparable."
"Lily!" James reentered the room giddily, "Siri's here!"
"Really?" Lily mocked surprise. "I couldn't tell," she smirked as James was joined by a shorter man with long, wavy hair. He was carrying a large bag in one hand, which he set down on one of the armchairs.
"Heya Lils," he greeted, hugging the redhead fondly. "And Andy too? How's my favourite cousin doing?" He asked, wrapping the other woman in a hug also.
"Hello Sirius," Andromeda smiled. "I'm doing quite well. And yourself?"
"Just great, Dromeda," Sirius grinned. He sat down on the sofa next to Lily, James following suit, and looked to the little boy beside Andromeda. "And this must be Evan," he smiled.
Evan shifted, feeling a sudden wave of delight mixed with melancholy, confusing him. He was getting quite sick of all of these vague feelings. He just wanted to pin down something. Anything. "Hello," he muttered.
"I've heard a lot about you, kid," Sirius said.
"You have?" Evan asked nervously, shifting in place.
"Oh, don't worry kiddo. Nothing bad. Jamie here tells me you're great," Sirius assured the boy, who grinned, flushing slightly.
"Not that I don't appreciate your visits," Lily began, "But why are you here, Sirius? I thought you and Remus were going out today?"
"He had to cancel," Sirius waved off lightly, though there was a hint of sadness in his voice. "So I figured I'd come over and see my favourite married couple." He shot up abruptly, startling Evan, who wasn't used to the man's energy, and waltzed over to the large bag he had been carrying earlier. "Besides, I brought gifts!" He declared giddily.
"You didn't have to," Lily smiled fondly as Sirius rummaged through his bag and handed her a small, neatly wrapped box. Sirius shrugged, "I wanted to. I still have Uncle Alphard's inheritance to burn through. That, on top of my job with the Aurors, means I can treat my friends every now and then." He tossed a cube wrapped in brown paper to James as Lily unwrapped her gift.
Lily gasped as she looked down at the jewellery set in her hands. There was a necklace of blue sapphires set into gold, with matching stud earrings.
"Oh Siri, these are gorgeous," Lily gushed, showing Andromeda the box, who looked over them approvingly.
"You have a good eye, cousin," Andromeda said. "Goblin made?" She asked, scrutinising over the jewellery.
"Yup," Sirius nodded. "Got a whole bunch of protective charms on them too. Yours too, Prongs," he added as James revealed his gift to be an expensive looking watch. "They won't come off unless you want them to, and you can take a couple stunners while wearing them and still be okay. Got fire resistance too, and I also set them up as an emergency portkeys. It'll send you to Gringotts if you tap it with your wand. What with the war going on," he paused, sadness creeping further into his eyes. "I wanted to make sure my best friends were safe," he admitted with a tone of sorrow and dread.
"Siri, these are great," James stood and wrapped his friend in a hug that he so clearly needed.
Sirius shrugged, pulling away from the embrace after a moment. "You guys mean a lot to me, you know?" He donned a lazy smirk and looked to his cousin. "I also have something for you, Andy. Ted and Nymie too," Sirius said, handing the healer a small bag of goodies. "Same protections," he said. "I was gonna swing by your place later, but I might as well give you these now. Ted's got a watch. Nymie has a-" he was caught off guard by Andromeda pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Thank you, Sirius," Andromeda said, looking down at her cousin with a gentle smile. "I hope you got yourself something too."
Sirius flushed slightly and gave a noncommittal sound in response as he turned back to the bag and pulled out one more box. This one he handed to Evan, who stared at it in confusion.
"Take it, kid," Sirius urged gently.
"It's mine?" Evan asked.
"Yeah. Who's else would it be?" Sirius laughed and Evan took the gift. He unwrapped it neatly, not wanting to tear the paper. Inside the box was a little golden ball, that sent shockwaves of memory through Evan. It was a snitch. Memories of high speed wind blowing into his face and through his hair rushed to him. He picked up the golden ball and held it in his hand, staring at it with wide eyes and a beaming grin. Wings flickered out from the sides of the ball and it hovered in the air.
Evan looked up, "Thank you, mr Sirius," he gushed.
Sirius sputtered, "Mr Sirius?"
"Get used to it," James laughed. "He calls me mr James."
Sirius shook his head, looking quite bewildered.
"Auntie Dromeda, miss Lily, look!" Evan pulled the snitch out if the air and held it out for the two women to see.
"That's wonderful, Evan," Andromeda smiled.
"Just make sure you don't lose it, dear," Lily commented, and Evan nodded his immediate agreement. He never wanted to lose it. He wanted a truly certain memory, and the snitch was just that. Something concrete and not vague. The memory of flying. Chasing after the tiny flying orb.
"Hey wait," Sirius pouted. "Why is she auntie?"
"I asked," Andromeda smirked.
Sirius blinked and looked to Evan purposefully, "Kiddo, if you've gotta call me something, call me uncle Siri, okay?"
Evan looked at him and cocked his head, a mischievous look in his eye before responding, "Okay mr uncle Siri."
There was silence for a moment before Lily, Andromeda, and James burst into laughter.
Sirius looked dejected, but saw a twinge of worry in Evan's eye. "Close enough," he declared, bringing a grin to his face and pointing into the box on Evan's lap. There was a black leather belt with a gold buckle still inside that Evan hadn't noticed for the more interesting golden snitch. "That will change to any size," Sirius said. "And there's all the same protections as everything else."
Evan smiled. It was a boring gift, admittedly, but he nonetheless placed the box next to him and stood, wrapping his skinny arms about Sirius' middle. The man was quite obviously surprised to be hugged by the boy, and it took a moment for him to retaliate. He ruffled the boy's hair playfully. "Jeez, what is it with you lot and hugging?" He laughed. "Glad you like the presents, kiddo. Hope being cooped up with James and Lily doesn't bore you too much. If it ever does, which I bet it will, just ask if you can visit uncle Sirius, okay? Me and Remus would happy to have you round."
Evan pulled away and nodded shyly.
Sirius stayed a little while longer, Andromeda too, but shortly both took their leave.