The days leading up to the second task went all too quickly for Evanna's taste. If she thought she could have gotten away with it, she would have been skipping her classes to continue the meditations that the book offered her. As it was, she was instead skipping meals and staying late into the night, putting aside any homework she had. In detentions scrubbing cauldrons, she felt woozy, almost ready to fall asleep where she stood.
"Eat," Professor Snape said suddenly one night, the last night before the Second Task, an hour into her detention. She looked up at him, blinking away black spots at the edge of her vision.
"Excuse me?"
"You haven't been to the Great Hall in three days. I checked with the kitchens and you've not ordered anything either. Now eat before you faint," he said in sneering tone as he set a tray with a cup of mulligatawny soup and some crusty bread beside her. Her stomach roiled.
"I'm not hungry," she said petulantly. Snape lifted his eyes to the heavens, seemingly asking for divine intervention.
"You aren't leaving this detention until you've eaten at least half of that tray," he said.
"I'm not sure that is in the Hogwarts handbook as a proper way to serve one's detention-"
"Impossible girl," he growled. "Do I need to get your mother involved?"
Evanna smirked. "Alright," she said, pushing a spoonful of soup into her mouth. "Are you happy now?"
"That the Malfoy heiress has evidently forgotten all the table manners I know her mother painstakingly instilled in her?" Professor Snape said wryly. "Ecstatic."
Evanna snickered a little as she took another bite of soup. She was truly hungry. Before she knew it, she was mopping the sides of the bowl with the bread.
"Do you want more?" her professor asked. Her stomach roiled as she remembered what the next day would bring.
"No, I'm fine," she said, looking down. "I've not given up, you know."
Professor Snape took a long moment before responding. "Ms. Malfoy, it would not do for you to get your hopes up, or for you to be further on your father's bad side."
"If it's up to me, I won't even see him tomorrow," Evanna replied. "And neither will Mother."
The professor sighed. "Evanna-"
"Mother talked to me-I know I can't take it out on you, Professor. I know that you've already done a lot," she said. "But, there are things I can do-or, at least, it's within the realm of possibility. And I won't just sit by and do nothing."
Professor Snape frowned deeply. "I didn't think you would."
"Don't worry, Professor. No one will know that you've been keeping Mother hidden," she said emphatically.
"That wasn't what I was worried about," he said.
Foolish child will get herself killed if she's not careful.
Evanna smiled. "Don't worry so much Professor-Mother says it causes premature aging. I'm a Slytherin-I have a plan." She did not mention that she very much doubted her ability to make that plan work.
The professor shook his head. "You had best get on to your dorm, Ms. Malfoy. I assume you realize that there will be no detention tomorrow night on account of the Second Task."
The Potions Master looked as though he was sucking a lemon when he said those words.
"Right, Professor. Tell Mother not to pack her bags," she said, faking the confidence she wished she had.
The morning of the Second Task was a cold one and if Evanna was not already so worried about how she was going to stop her brother, she would have been worried about the possibility of Harry winding up with hypothermia. As it stood, she very carefully dressed herself in the warmest sweater she had and a pair of corduroy trousers, along with her thick wool winter cloak and Slytherin scarf.
"Quit primping for your Champion and c'mon, Evanna!" Elin exclaimed, banging on the bathroom door as Evanna finished applying her lipgloss.
"I've no idea what you're talking about, Blishwick," Evanna said, primly stepping out of the bathroom.
"C'mon, 'Anna, we all read Skeeter's articles, and more than that, we've seen the two of you together," Eva said. "Anything to say for yourself?"
"Have you been breathing in too many fumes in the Divination Tower?" Evanna scoffed. "I've barely spoken to Ha-Potter since the Yule Ball. And before that, it had been since the end of first year!"
Her roommates exchanged looks.
"Oh so that wasn't Harry Potter I saw with you in that secret clubhouse you keep with Weasley, Travers, and Loony," Eva tossed back.
"Her name is Luna," Evanna said between gritted teeth.
"See? I told you I knew what I saw!"
Elin seemed to be studying Evanna closely. "You know you're gonna have to choose," she said. Evanna gave her a blank look.
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"You were there at the Quidditch World Cup this year, Evanna," Elin said. "You know that things are changing-running around with Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws more than your own House is not wise."
"How about you mind your own business, Gamp," Evanna snapped.
"How about you show some loyalty to your own House for once?" Eva demanded. "For all that you're a bloody pure-blooded Malfoy, you sure prefer the company of lions and badgers and eagles oh my."
"Watch it, Blishwick, your muggle is showing," Evanna sneered. "Now, if you two would excuse me, I've somewhere more important to be."
"That's right, go on to your boyfriend! He'll probably be dead by the end of the year and you'll be left all alone," Eva said. "I bet Lucius Malfoy would be very grateful to the witch who informed him what his daughter has been up to."
Evanna was not sure when she made the decision to draw her wand, but it was suddenly in her hand and pointed at her roommate. Elin immediately backed against the wall, well away from the arguing girls. Eva did her best to look nonchalant, though the act had no effect on Evanna, who could feel the other girl's nerves coming in droves.
"Am I supposed to be afraid of a girl who can barely cast a lumos?" she said.
"You should be afraid of one who knows how to use Fiendfyre," Evanna replied. "Father was quite pleased with my progress last summer. Though he did say my flames could get… out of control."
"You're bluffing," Elin said from her position pressed against the wall. "She's bluffing, Eva."
"Do you really want to test that theory?" Evanna said lightly fingering her wand, even as she had no intentions of casting the spell. Perhaps something a little less dark, but if she wanted them to keep their traps shut, she had to scare them. "You need to learn your place, half-blood."
Eva clenched her jaw but said nothing. Evanna turned and started back out the door. Before she closed it, however, she turned and sent two hexes over her shoulder.
"Anteoculatia! Densaugeo!"
Before Evanna shut the door completely, she saw Eva sprouting antlers and Elin's teeth growing uncontrollably. She darted down the stairs to the Common Room. A quick scan told her that Draco was not in there, though his roommate and her Yule Ball date was. She made her way to the dark-skinned boy.
"Blaise!" she said. The boy turned away from his conversation with Marcus Flint.
"G'morning, Evanna, you look lovely as always. How can I help you this beautiful morning?" he said in his usual flirty manner.
"You've not even been outside yet this morning," Evanna said dryly. "Have you seen my brother?"
"He already went on up-Mr. Malfoy was arriving early. I'm surprised you're not already up there—"
Fear seized Evanna's heart. She could already be too late.
"Thank you," she muttered before racing out the door and up through the dungeons. She ran every twist and turn through the castle, making her way to the Governor's Chamber, where Lucius always met with his children for elevated fare while he visited the school. She ignored anyone who was in her way, not stopping for anyone. Several people shouted angrily after her as she caused many near collisions, but she didn't care.
"Malfoy!" a familiar voice cried as she neared her intended destination. Evanna collided with him as she tried to keep going, but Harry managed to catch her. "Malfoy! I'm glad to you-have you seen Hermione or Ron this morning?"
"Have I-why, Potter?" she said, looking towards the entrance to the Governor's Chamber.
"I haven't seen them since Colin's little brother fetched them from the library last night and today—"
"Is the task, I know, Potter. But why would I have seen them?"
"I thought it was worth a shot," he mumbled. "I just wanted to let them know that I— well, Dobby— figured it out! How to breathe underwater for an hour— it's rather disgusting really, but have you heard of Gi—"
Evanna froze. Down the corridor, dressed in impeccably fine wool robes with a green silk cravat was Lucius Malfoy. Even worse, Draco was standing beside him, saying something in a low voice that Evanna could not possibly understand from her position down the hall. Without saying anything to Harry, she began walking toward the two. Her father did not notice, but Draco's eyes widened and determination flooded from him.
"...need to talk about Mother, Father," she heard her brother saying.
You cannot reveal her. YOU CANNOT REVEAL HER.
"And I have expressed to you many times, Draco, that is not a conversation I will have with my children."
"Yes, but Father, I have something I need to say—"
It was like a well opened within Evanna, pure desperation roiling angrily in the pit of her stomach. She would not be weak in this. She could not be helpless in this. Magic crackled around her fingertips and one thought filled her entire being: mind, soul, and body.
You will forget her.
It felt like a mighty river rushing through her as the power rushed out and she watched Draco's grey eyes go a little fuzzy with confusion and he frowned, then opened his mouth again.
"Father, Mother is—"
Evanna shouted at him this time, feeling sick, magic still crackling on her fingertips. Had it not worked? "Don't, Draco!"
Her father snapped his gaze towards her, flitting to just behind her where Harry was standing, watching the scene go down. Draco gave her a look of utmost pity.
"I'm sorry, Evanna," he said, "but it's time someone in this family faced the facts. Father, Mother is dead. We all know it. It is time we publicly acknowledged that and gave her the funeral she deserves."
Evanna gaped at her brother. It had… worked?
Look at the Malfoys— they're only just now admitting it?
He's not even upset. I would put money on him having killed his wife.
Merlin, I hope she's okay. I wish I could hold her, let her know it'll be okay.
I cannot believe that the heir has turned out to be such a weakling.
She looks so pale. Surely she realized. We just talked about it yesterday.
Look how skinny that kid is! How is he Hogwarts' Champion?
Making sure this boy stays a contender in this tournament has best be worth it. When milord returns, I will be above even the Malfoys.
Evanna squeezed her eyes shut and clutched at the sides of her head, magic still flying off her hands. Her vision was going black and the floor seemed to swim underneath her as the unfamiliar thoughts and emotions threatened to swallow her whole. She couldn't match a thought to a person, no matter how hard she tried, she no more knew which thoughts belonged to whom than she knew whose hands it was that kept her from splitting her head against the floor.
"Hurry up— I think she's having some sort of seizure! She needs the Hospital Wing!"
"I would thank you, Mr. Potter, to remove your hands from my daughter."
"Evanna— Evie— I'm sorry— please—"
Anxiety, fear, anger, anticipation barraged her from every side. A spell lifted her into the air and away from the hands that had been supporting her. She groaned at the loss and then succumbed fully to unconsciousness.
A/N: Thank you to all my guests reviewers! All of your all's support keeps me wanting to write more than my responsibilities say I should, lol.