When Evanna finally returned to the Slytherin Common Room, she slid onto the couch cushion beside her boyfriend, sitting a little closer to him than she normally considered appropriate for public. But, she knew she had no small amount of groveling to do after that afternoon. Her brother, who had scowled at her appearance, would simply have to deal with it.
"Good evening, Theo," she said, placing a soft kiss on his lips. He remained still.
"C'mon, Crabbe, Goyle," he said. "Best get to bed. Montague will skin us if we're not our best at practice in the morning. Coming, Blaise?"
"Why, I'm no on the tea-"
"You're coming, Blaise," Draco said in a tone that brokered no argument. Zabini got up, grumbling all the way.
"That wasn't conspicuous at all," Evanna grumbled.
"You didn't come back to Puddifoot's," Theo said. Evanna winced.
"Luna needed me," she replied easily. "She's brilliant, but can't hardly protect herself."
"Of course," Theo said tightly, bringing a forkful of scrambled eggs to his mouth.
Evanna was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry, Theo," she said. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Do you want this relationship Evanna?" he said finally. "Because you know I can't break up with you."
Evanna was taken aback by the statement. She knew, of course, that his father served her own. The Dark Lord had made sure that Evanna understood that she was not to bow to Theo, that she was not to be a submissive Pureblood girl. She was higher than that. To her, it had meant comfort, safety. No man would be able to treat her the way Lucius had treated Narcissa. It had never occurred to her what it meant for the people surrounding her, what it meant for Theo in particular.
"I never meant for you to be in that position, Theo," she said softly. "You are free to leave me, if you wish. I-I wouldn't let him punish you or your family."
Theo shook his head. "Merlin, Evanna, do you really think it's that simple?"
"Theo-"
"That my father wouldn't have something to say about it?" he said. "That I don't want to remain with you?"
The way he said it made Evanna think that it had less to do with emotions and more to do with politics.
"I wouldn't want you staying with me out of duty. I've not been a very good girlfriend," she said.
Theo pursed his lips and then stood. "I-I just. Never mind. Good night, milady."
And with that one word, she knew their relationship was over before it had truly begun.
Evanna watched him, feeling guilty that she did not feel as heartbroken as she perhaps should.
The next morning, Evanna waited patiently for Theo in the Great Hall at breakfast, but he very deliberately passed her by. Eva and Elin were not far behind him, the former obviously itching for gossip as they took seats by her.
"That did not look like a happy couple interaction," Eva said, while helping herself to a plateful of sausages. Evanna didn't look as Elin plopped down across from them, barely opening her eyes as she poured herself a cup of tea.
"Sugar," she grunted.
"Only if you say please!" Eva singsonged, holding the bowl just out of reach of Elin. The other girl scowled and snatched the bowl away. "Why does your boyfriend look like he was on the receiving end of one of the Weasley twins' new concoctions?"
"I think he may not be my boyfriend," Evanna murmured.
Because you left him in the middle of a date yesterday.
The two girls exchanged glances, before Eva nodded.
"Okay, it's time for us to cheer you up. You've been entirely too mopey since last term," Elin said. "Besides, that one bought way too much makeup yesterday."
"Oi! You told me to buy it!"
"I don't know that I-"
"We're not taking no for an answer, Evanna," Eva warned.
"I haven't even said anything," Evanna replied.
"No, your face said it all," Elin quipped. "You're always hanging out with those three from the other houses-why not spend the day with some of your own?"
Evanna looked at the two girls consideringly. It was true, she spent far more time outside of Slytherin than she did inside the House. She knew now that she would do anything to keep Ginny, Bridget, and Luna safe through this war, but how would she be able to do that if she alienated all of her allies? Besides she could do with the distraction.
"Fine. Nothing too crazy," she said.
"Mohawk and stick and poke tattoos it is!" Eva exclaimed, then cackled madly at Evanna's look of horror.
They did not, in fact, start poking each other with needles like muggles. Instead, Elin pulled out some temporary tattoos. Evanna acquiesced to wearing a small raven that took flight up and down her forearm every so often. Eva had gotten a wicked grin on her face, resulting in green streaks being put into each of the girls' hair.
"The Slytherin-Gryffindor game is next Saturday," she pushed. "And the spell will wear off a few days after that."
"We've got to show House pride, Evanna," Elin put in.
"Fine," Evanna grumbled. Eva squealed and started dividing out chunks of Evanna's hair.
"So what is going on with you and Theo?" Elin asked. "I saw you leaving Madam Puddifoot's in a hurry yesterday."
Evanna winced. "How did you know about that?"
"You and Weasley nearly knocked us over on the way out," Eva replied pointedly.
"Oh. Right."
"Are you seeing someone else?" Elin pressed.
"Who in the name of Merlin would I be seeing?" Evanna demanded, rolling her eyes at the girl's propensity for gossip.
In the mirror, Eva and Elin exchanged looks. Eva cleared her throat.
I'm the half-blood. You ask it.
A pit of dread opened in Evanna's stomach at the thought that floated from her roommate.
"Well….erm…. Harry Potter," Elin said in a low voice.
Evanna blinked. "Are you really asking me-the so-called Dark Princess-I've heard the gossip-if I'm secretly dating the bloody Boy-Who-Lived?"
She couldn't help herself. She started laughing madly. After a few moments, the girls joined in with her.
"C'mon," Evanna said. "I want to cause my brother to have a heart attack with this hair."
Sure enough, Draco went completely ballistic when they went downstairs, flaunting both their tattoos and dyed hair.
"What the hell have you done to yourself?" he demanded. "And is that a tattoo?"
"Tattoos are hardly taboo in our circles, Draco," Evanna said airily. A seventh year gaped at her.
"Evanna!" Draco hissed.
Evanna just laughed as she led her roommates over to where the fourth year boys had set up a game playing Exploding Snap. As they went the door to the Common Room opened and Theo stepped through, followed almost too closely by a smirking Pansy Parkinson. The Common Room quieted as Evanna and Nott looked at each other.
Evanna swallowed as she regarded the pair coolly. You will not cry. You will not break. No one will know that he deliberately hurt you.
Evanna didn't say anything, but Draco did, stepping in front of her.
"What the hell Theo?" he snarled.
"I've done nothing wrong," Nott insisted.
"Bullshit," Draco said. "You're supposed to be dating my sister and here you are with Parkinson."
"We haven't done anything-"
Nott gestured to Parkinson, as if telling her to be quiet.
"I don't answer to you, Malfoy," he hissed.
"But you do answer to my sister," Draco said, stepping closer to Nott, his wand slipping from his arm holster to his hand. The atmosphere of the Common Room was almost stifling as everyone stared them down. "Unless you've shifted loyalties?"
"I'm not the one you should be questioning about shifted loyalties, Malfoy," Nott snarled, eyes flicking to Evanna noticeably. Draco turned and looked at her too; his grey eyes flashed with anger and for once, it did not scare Evanna. Her brother, useless though he was when placed in front of Lucius, would defend her honor. Something in her face must have cemented something in him because before Evanna even knew what was going on, Draco had fired a spell at Nott.
The Slytherins all backed up to the walls, unwilling to get in between the two boys' duel. Evanna was torn. She knew that she should step up, do something. If anyone could stop two Slytherins ready to pummel each other, it was her. But, she was hurt and embarrassed and for all she cared, Draco could sent Nott to the Hospital Wing in a matchbox as well as Parkinson for good measure.
The one other person who could stop the fight chose that moment to come in.
"What is the meaning of this?" Snape roared, blasting the two boys apart. "You-Nott-you know better than this and you-Draco-you are a Prefect! I ought to strip your title, boy-"
"You won't," Evanna said stepping up. Professor Snape took in her colored hair and tattooed forearm with a frown.
"I would not be so quick to order Professors around when you are clearly in violation of school rules if I were you, Miss Malfoy-"
"You are not me and you are not stripping my brother of his title!" Evanna hissed. There were several gasps around her.
"Evanna, maybe you should step back," Eva whispered.
But, no, Evanna could not, not now. Not now that she had been humiliated in front of the pit of vipers that she was supposed to lead.
"You can, however, give Greengrass Parkinson's title," she sneered, crossing the room to the door.
"That's not fair! I've done noth-"
"Congrats, Daphne!" Evanna sneered nastily as she passed the girl.
"Wait, Evanna!"
Evanna completely ignored Theo as he chased after, Professor Snape yelling after them.
"Evanna, let me explain!"
It was not until Evanna had led them both deep into the bowels of the castle that Evanna whirled on him, slapping him across the face soundly.
"How dare you?" she hissed.
"Nothing happened-"
"Parading her through the bloody common room not even a day-"
"It's not like that, Pansy is a frie-"
"She is a manipulative, conniving bitch-"
"I saw you with Potter!"
Evanna froze at that. "Excuse me?"
"Last night," Nott said, "I went after you when you didn't return to the tea parlor. And I saw you disappear into that girl's bathroom on the second floor. Not five minutes later, Potter went in after you. I didn't wait to see you come out."
Evanna looked down at her feet. "Theo, it's not-"
She stopped herself. What could she tell him? That she had been agreeing to help Potter with a secret organization called Dumbledore's Army? She knew her father trusted her, and would allow her to do as she pleased far more than Lucius ever did, but somehow she did not think that would extend to helping students learn how to fight against him.
"It's not what?" Nott hissed. "It's not what I think? Everyone saw those pictures at the Yule Ball last year. I saw you go after him in that maze last term. I was just stupid enough to think I actually had a chance."
Evanna swallowed. "Theo… you-"
"I wouldn't ever hurt you, Evanna," he said softly. "I don't want to be the reason for your death. Just-don't pretend that I humiliated you more with Pansy than you have me with Potter."
Evanna did not call after him as he left her alone in the corridor.
A/N: It may have been my birthday yesterday, but you all get the gift-TWO chapters!