The summer continued on in much the same way. Evanna trained with the Dark Lord, learning more and more about the man behind the legend and about anything she so desired. He seemed to dote on her, giving her whatever she wished and eating nearly every meal with her. When she questioned how the Dark Lord had the time to spend on her, he merely said that he could trust his other duties to his lieutenants for a time; he could not trust her training to them if she was to go back to Dumbledore's school come September.
While he was pleased by her breadth of knowledge and talent in the Dark Arts, he was troubled by her inability to do some of the Lighter Magics. When he questioned her, she had shrugged uncomfortably.
"I will do my best, Father," she said. "I won't disappoint you."
"That is not what I asked you," he said. "Why is it that you can perfectly execute a Bone-Breaking Curse-nonverbally-but can barely manage a lumos?"
Evanna did her best not to meet his eyes, feeling embarrassed. "I've been doing the Bone-Breaking Curse longer, I suppose."
The Dark Lord had frowned at that, but had surprisingly not pushed her further. He had allowed her to sit in on some meetings with his Death Eaters, insisting that they learn to view her as an authority and she learn how to manage them through him. He kept a firm hand on his Death Eaters as he sent representatives to the Werewolf Packs and to the Giant Tribes for aid. He also stationed several within the Ministry, so as to plan the perfect time to plan a rescue mission to release his followers there.
"I want your mother home well before the end of your fourth year," he had told her.
Though Evanna would not say the Dark Lord had encouraged her new relationship with Theodore, he had not been displeased by it. He had even gone so far as to allow the boy over on several occasions, as well as allowing her to go to on outings with him to Diagon Alley and the like. Theo was smart and quiet, though not without ambition. He was always considerate of her-allowing her to pick the destination of their dates, giving her his leftover ice cream, and the like. As the summer had progressed, they had become closer and closer, laughing and talking and kisses that had become more and more intense. Once, Narcissa had even caught them and Evanna had the sneaking suspiscioun she had reported it to the Dark Lord-that day her father had been careful to remind her that she ranked higher than Theodore. Evanna had felt like sinking through the floor, being given that sort of lecture by the Dark Lord Voldemort.
When September 1st finally arrived, Evanna was not at all ready to leave, especially as it was Lucius who would be seeing her off.
"I cannot very well go to Platform 9 ¾, Evanna," her father told her dryly as she pouted over their morning breakfast. "It would cause mass hysteria."
"I know that, Father, and I wouldn't ask you to," Evanna said. "I just don't understand why I must go with Lucius."
"Should the Wizarding World at large know that you are my daughter, you would be tossed into Azkaban the moment you stepped into Hogwarts Castle," the Dark Lord said, setting down his copy of the Daily Prophet. "We must carry on the way things have been until it is time to take power."
Evanna scowled into her tea and the Dark Lord raised an eyebrow.
"What is it that makes you despise Lucius so?"
Evanna's eyes snapped up to meet the Dark Lord's. His red gaze bored into her skull and she quickly looked away again.
"He-he's not a good man," Evanna said. The Dark Lord snorted.
"Most would say that I am not a 'good' man, either," he said dryly. "Perhaps you are afraid that Lucius will reveal to me your unconventional…. Alliances."
Evanna's breath hitched. "Father, I-"
The Dark Lord held up a hand. "I warned you that there would be some in my ranks who would not be willing to accept you as their superior. No doubt the sycophants who informed me of this wished to gain favor. They were quickly disavowed of that notion."
Evanna was laser focused on her breakfast plate, doing her best not to throw up.
"Evanna look at me."
Evanna looked up. The Dark Lord's red eyes were stormy, unreadable. Evanna reached forward with her mind, trying to gauge exactly how much trouble she was in, but found herself coming up against the wall.
"These girls you surround yourself with…. They are purebloods, yes?" the Dark Lord said. "Even if some of their families' politics leave a lot to be desired. They could be useful allies in the coming war, even the Weasley girl. It is our goal to be the reasonable side to the public. That will be helped with some Light family alliances. Besides that, it is best that you do not call attention to yourself. Carry on as you have been with those girls.."
Evanna swallowed. "I-"
"However, do not think me pleased with your every friendship. No one can hide from the Dark Lord, even his heir." He leveled a glare at his heir and Evanna suddenly wondered if humans could have the same power as basilisks. "I trust you know of whom I am speaking?"
Harry Potter.
"Yes, Father," Evanna replied, her mouth dry.
"Very good," he said, raising his copy of the Daily Prophet again. "Now, I do believe you need to be on your way, unless you have any further objection to Lucius?"
There was a cold sweat across her forehead. How could she admit to him all that Lucius had done to her after that? At that moment, Evanna felt lucky just to be alive and she did not want to ruin that with talk about Lucius. Besides, if she was supposed to be the Dark Lord's heir and a powerful witch in her own right, then she couldn't expose that weakness.
"No, Father," she said in a low tone of voice. "May I be excused?"
"If there is nothing else you need to tell me, daughter," he said, not looking up from his paper.
"No, Father," Evanna replied.
"Very well. You may go," he said. Evanna nodded and left, though she felt his red eyes on her back the entire way.
Evanna closed her eyes after finally escaping Lucius and Draco on the Platform. Lucius had kept making snide comments, cutting at her, making vague threats, while Draco had steadfastly ignored her. As soon as she had handed her school trunk off to one of the Malfoy house elves to load onto the train, she had scampered onto the train, barely paying attention to where her feet took her.
"Evanna?"
Evanna opened her eyes to see Bridget standing in front of her and only then realized that she had gone straight to the same compartment that she had sat in since her first train ride to Hogwarts.
"I thought you couldn't be seen with a bunch of blood-traitors anymore?" the other girl said, a scowl on her face. Evanna focused on her, knowing Bridget's family's leanings, could the other girl possibly know…?
She had no clue. Her uncle was the one who had followed the Dark Lord, not her father. Her family had yet to be brought back into the circle.
"I-"
"Evanna!" a new voice came into the compartment and leapt onto her, hugging her close. Evanna's vision was full of red hair and she fought back a grin.
"Hey Ginny," she said mildly. "How was your summer?"
"How was my summer?" Ginny repeated, pulling back. "You nearly die at the end of term and then ignore us and now you're back in our compartment like everything's normal and you just ask how my summer was?"
Evanna blinked and Bridget snickered.
"Ah, hello, Bridget, Ginny, Evanna," another voice said. "Would any of you like a copy of the Quibbler? There is an interesting story about Stubby Boardman-he is actually the notorious mass-murderer Sirius Black!"
Evanna looked at the other two girls and suddenly the compartment was filled with giggles as it normally was. Soon, the four girls had fallen into their usual camaraderie, discussing everything from Stubby Boardman to who would be the new Defense professor that year. Evanna carefully avoided the topic of her summer, which she noticed Ginny did as well. Yet, she did not push her friend for answers. It would not be fair of her.
The four friends had settled in to play some Exploding Snap when the door of the compartment opened again, Theodore Nott standing there. He seemed to take in the scene with some amount of confusion before smiling at Evanna.
"Ev," he said. "I had thought we'd be meeting up on the train."
"Oh, sorry, Theo," she said, jumping up and placing a small kiss on his cheek. "I hadn't realized."
"Supposw we could-"
"Excuse us one moment, Nott."
Ginny had stood and darted to the door of the compartment, slamming it in Theodore's face without so much as a by-your-leave from Evanna.
"Ginny-that was incredibly rude! Wha-"
"When did that happen?" Ginny cut her off, pointing at the door. Evanna felt her face go red.
"Well-I'm sure I don't-"
"I believe Ginny is talking about the young man standing in the corridor," Luna said brightly from her seat. Bridget smirked.
"I'd say she's talking about how you just kissed his cheek and used his pet name as though you two are some sort of poster couple for Slytherin aristocracy," the Hufflepuff said, reminding Evanna that the girl knew all too well what she was talking about.
"Was that really necessary, Bridget?"
"I thought it was funny-"
"I cannot believe you did not owl me immediatey-"
"Have you taken 'Is the Warlock meant for you?' survey-"
"Those surveys are about as reliable as Professor Trelawney-"
"So have you kissed him yet? When did you start dating?"
"There was a little party and that is really none of your business-"
"We never did finish our bet from the Yule Ball-"
"You two are seriously clinging to that bet-"
"Ahem," Theodore had reopened the door. "You know I can hear everything you're saying."
Evanna was even redder than before, but Ginny just cackled madly and Bridget rolled her eyes.
"Yes, of course we did," Bridget said. "At least half of this compartment is certifiably insane, but none of us are stupid."
Theodore's eyebrows seemed to be crawling up his forehead. Evanna huffed and grabbed his hand, pulling him out of the compartment, slamming the door on Ginny's continued teasing. She could still hear the other girl laughing madly.
"They're-uhm-interesting," Theodore said, his expression blank.
"Yes, they are," Evanna replied.
"Erm-I thought-well I thought things had changed. Because of-"
Theodore cut himself off, looking down the corridor. Evanna followed his gaze. As usual, Harry looked skinnier after a summer with his awful relatives. That muggles should be able to do that to a Wizard child…. There were circles under his eyes and she wondered if he had been sleeping at all this summer, or if the memory of the graveyard had kept him awake. Evanna felt a jolt in her stomach. Her father had tried to kill him. And just that morning, he had warned her away from Harry. Yet at the haunted and hurt expression in his eyes, Evanna wanted nothing more than to hug her old friend.
Evanna drew herself up to her full height-she had gained an inch over the summer-and did her best to take on the look of a princess, what she was now.
"Potter," she said coolly, with only the slightest tremor in her voice. "If you could move to the side, please?"
Harry looked at her hand, still locked with Theodore's. She nearly released it, but Theodore's hand tightened almost painfully around her own.
"Yeah, sure, Malfoy," Harry said tonelessly, but there was a certain fierceness as he looked at her.
Is this the way things are now, Evanna?
"Good summer?" he said, still giving her that look and she knew that he was wanting her to hear his thoughts at that moment. Though her chin wobbled, Evanna kept her face expressionless.
It's for the best, Harry. I think you know that.
"Yes," she said in a small voice. "Thank you for asking Potter. Theo, shall we?"
"Of course," he said, giving Harry a strange look.
Without quite looking at her old friend, she pulled Theodore down the corridor of the train until they came to the Slytherin compartments. She recognized several faces as having attended her ball, and they all inclined their heads to her in a show of deference.
"They shouldn't be doing that," she muttered.
"They know who you are, Ev," Theo said. "Of course they should be doing that."
"No, Father said that for now, everything must stay the same," Evanna said, eyes flitting around to make sure no one was paying attention to them. Theo stepped in front of her, his blue eyes sparking.
"Everything has to stay the same?" he asked, pulling on her hand. She thought of Harry, further down the train, so forlorn and sad, and then Ginny and friends, so happy and carefree. She wondered how many of them knew just how much had changed over the summer. And then she looked up at her boyfriend and smiled.
"I suppose it is only reasonable that there is some amount of change," she said teasingly. "I mean, everyone changes all the time… It's only natural."
"So then you and Potter-"
"He was a good friend when I was younger," she said firmly. "And I'd prefer not to see him hurt-"
Theo snorted. "Your father is-"
"Yes, I know," she snapped, giving him a harsh look. "So, obviously, you've no need to be jealous. And do not lie to me."
"You're kinda scary when you act like that," he said wryly.
"Well, I've been having lessons."
"And rather attractive."
"That is inborn," she said with a cheeky smile. Theo chuckled and pressed a kiss to her lips. Just as Evanna was pressing herself closer, a compartment door slid open behind them and Evanna sprung away from Theo.
"You know, as a Prefect, I could take points for this," her once-brother drawled behind them. Evanna rose an eyebrow.
"Is that how you want to play this, Draco?" she said.
He scowled, but there seemed to be less venom to it than before. "You're not any bloody fun any more," he growled under his breath.
Evanna and Theodore traded glances before both of them started laughing. Draco looked at them incredulously.
"Really?" he said in his whiniest voice.
"You sound like you did when Dobby forced us to our bedtime when we were little!" Evanna exclaimed, smiling at him. Draco frowned.
Some things can stay the same, Evanna was practically begging him.
Draco narrowed his eyes at her. "That was you, I do believe," he said imperiously. "You two need to get into your robes. We're nearly there."
He moved past the couple, but as he did so, he ruffled Evanna's hair in the way he used to when he wanted to aggravate her. Evanna turned to Theodore.
"Would you give me a moment, Theodore?" she asked calmly. Behind them, she heard Draco pick up his pace. Without a moment's more hesitation, Evanna took off down the corridor just as her once-brother broke into a run. Things would be better this year. She was sure of it.
A/N: Hey, lookie there, a somewhat fluffy chapter, even if things aren't exactly good for Harry. In case you can't tell by the scene with the girls, I'm missing my undergrad friends-shoutout to the Historian if she's reading yet! ;)