On the morning of New Year's Day, Evanna opened her window to let in Bridget's owl, which carried a thick envelope which Evanna knew to hold letters from not just the Hufflepuff, but Ginny and Luna as well. It had been a system the four girls had come up with in their first year, knowing Lucius Malfoy would not allow his supposed daughter to receive mail from blood traitors like the Weasleys. Double checking that her door was locked, Evanna flopped onto her large bed to read the letters from her friends.

Dear Evanna,

The castle is rather lonely this time of year, I do admit, but also fascinating. Your mother has been venturing out from the dungeons to eat dinner at the staff table-she and Professor McGonagall seem to take pleasure in ganging up on Professor Snape during dinner.

Daddy has written that he has tracked a Umbugubular Slashkilter to a cave, though it had such a violent reaction to the flash of his camera that he has had to resort to drawing pictures. Unfortunately, Daddy has never been the best of artists, so it looks more like a muggle yeti. He's promised to take me on the next expedition over the summer so that I can draw it for him.

I've noticed your brother around the castle a few times, which I found odd. He looks so very sad. I do hope everything is alright.

With love,

Luna

Many expressions flitted across Evanna's face as she read the letter from Luna-smirks, smiles, and finally concern. She still did not know what the public had been told about Lucius' death; she was afraid to ask. She placed the letter aside, picking up the next. This one was from Bridget.

Dear Evanna,

Christmas has been entirely uneventful, though Papa says that should be considered a good thing. My uncle, he says, was summoned to Malfoy Manor early on in the break, but has been sworn to secrecy. Any idea what that was about?

I am sure Ginny has already accused me of eating your portion of fudge but let me just say that there was a hole in the bags and it would be a shame to let Mrs. Weasley's hard work go to waste when her husband has only just come out of the hospital. I'm sure you understand.

My offer for you to visit still stands. I would love to see you, should you wish. My parents would even be willing to bring you back to the Platform should you come.

Ever your friend,

Bridget

Evanna shook her head at her friend's usual weakness for chocolate even as her insides stilled at the continued offer to leave the Manor. Where had that offer been three years before, when she thought her mother dead and Lucius unleashed all his vitriol on her? Could truly no one understand that-though her father had his faults, though war was nothing to laugh at-he had also taught her to fly?

Ev,

Dad's finally come home after trying nearly every remedy-magical and muggle-under the sun. I'm honestly not sure how much longer he would have survived, Mum nearly killed him after trying muggle 'stitches'.

I sent along some of Mum's fudge, but we all know that Bridget has found some excuse or another every year for it not to get to you. Don't worry, I will bring you some on the train ride.

On a completely unrelated note-you are an idiot. I give you the perfect opportunity to kiss that idiot boy and you do not take it! I'm half a mind to just snog him myself if I didn't realise how much Harry likes you. I know there is something going on between you two-I've heard Harry arguing with the adults about you. They don't seem to want you in the DA anymore-did something happen that I missed-but Harry will not have it. Keeps saying you're one of the best friends he's ever had.

I hope you realise that I am on your side, Evanna. You're the best friend I've ever had too. And if something is wrong-well, just write me a letter about pickles, yeah? Between Harry and I, I'm sure we could get you here.

Your best friend,

Ginny Weasley

Evanna swallowed. Her friend was a brash, brave, loyal idiot, that much was true. Without pausing, Evanna got up and threw the letter into the fireplace, watching until it crumpled completely into ash. Her father had taught her to fly, yes. But she was no Icarus to fly too close to the sun.

"Mistress," a house-elf popped into her room. Evanna slid the other two letters into her sleeve as she turned to face the creature.

"What is it?" she snapped.

"Your-your father wishes you to eat breakfast with you, Mistress," it said. "Dizzy was sent to tell you."

"Oh, thank you," she said a little blandly.

Her father had continued his flying lessons with her until she gained more control and was soon able to fly all over York unseen, her colorful smoke hiding her from view. She had even successfully flown during a storm, a feat that had her father equal parts proud of her accomplishment and irritated with her lack of self-preservation. Yet, for all their lessons, he had not spent any other time with her as he had during the summer.

But, now, he called her to breakfast.

When Evanna entered the dining room, her father was spooning heaps of sugar into his tea. She smiled a little at the sight.

"Good morning, Father," she said, dipping her head to him before joining him at the table. He replied in kind, picking up a fruit platter and passing it to her.

"The dragonfruit is particularly good this morning," he said as she helped herself to it before scooping some sausages onto her plate.

"Thank you," she said.

"New Year's was always a happy day when I was a child. A day for putting aside grievances, at least," he said, his red eyes boring into hers. "To focus on what was to come." She gave him a tremulous smile, understanding his meaning. So long as she put aside what had happened at Hogwarts, so would he.

"I don't think I've spent enough time with you."

Harry's words reverberated in her skull as she gave her father a hollow smile. Her head was screaming at her, warning her that this in front of her was a dangerous man who would and could protect her, would give her power and teach her skills beyond her wildest imaginings. She would be an idiot three times over to go against him.

But her heart whispered of a redhaired girl who followed her so loyally, of a girl with her head in the clouds and no shoes on her feet, of another who offered her refuge of mind and place, of the boy with green eyes and his heart on his sleeve.

Was everything her father offered worth it? her heart whispered traitorously.

"Do you not understand my meaning, daughter?" he said, his voice low. Dangerous.

Evanna's mouth felt dry as she lifted her teacup to her lips. "Of course I do, Father," she said, tipping her cup towards him. "To a New Year."

He smiled a smile that had nothing of that handsome teenage boy in the Chamber. "To a New Year."

The two were silent for several moments. Her father picked up the copy of the Daily Prophet that the house elves had brought and began to read it.

Evanna shuffled the sausages on her plate. "I received a letter this morning."

"Mmm?" he responded, not looking up.

"From Bridget Travers. I believe her uncle was at the ball over the summer?" Evanna said cautiously.

Her father's eyes flicked over the top of the newspaper to regard Evanna. "I am aware of my followers and their families, yes."

Evanna gulped and nodded. "She has invited me to visit over break-that is if you would be alright with that?"

"Do you not see this girl at school?"

"I thought it might be good to foster stronger ties with the Travers," she said. "They are members of the Sacred-Twenty-Eight-"

"You are rather more important than the Travers," her father said scathingly. "Besides, you have more to learn. We have much to plan."

"Sir?" she said. "I thought I was doing well with flying-"

"Your mother tells me there are certain powers that flow in your family line. She would see to nurturing this Legilimency-"

"I am not a Legilimens," Evanna said without thinking. Her father gave her a look. She ducked her head. "Sorry-just-I did not wish you to believe I have powers that I do not. I cannot rip into a person's mind to find their memories. I can listen, that's all."

Her father gave her a look that said he very much did not believe that, and Evanna did her best to squash her memories of the previous year, when she had worked her will over her brother. Besides, with the torturous weeks that followed the incident and the guilt she still carried for endangering Draco like that, no matter that it had to be done, she never wanted to do such a thing again. It was best, she decided, that the Dark Lord not know the exact depth of her powers.

"That is all you can currently do," he said. "Bellatrix says she had some texts from her grandmother to help develop these gifts."

"Oh," Evanna said, equally disappointed in not going to Bridget's house and in being trained by her birth mother. She did not know why, but though she had taken to her father quickly that summer, she had not connected to her mother. There was something in those dark eyes that made her hold back. Both of her parents were dangerous, but she got the sense that her mother did not hold the same loyalty to Evanna that her father did.

"You sound disappointed," her father said.

"I suppose if I cannot visit my friend, I would prefer to continue training with you, Father," Evanna said.

"Pandering does not become you, Evanna," her father told her, frowning. She flushed red.

"I-I-"

"As it stands, I do not intend to train you much further. You have learned what I desired to teach you for this break," he said. "Children should be allowed some free time, after all."

"But, Father, I enjoy your lessons," she said. "I never knew wizards could fly without a broom until you showed me."

"What did I just say about you pandering?" This time, her father was less harsh and more teasing. Evanna smiled a little. "We have important things to plan. I will leave your mother to training you in how to properly use your powers while we strategize on how best to use them, as well as your other strengths. Pass the marmalade, if you would."

Evanna felt an odd sense of foreboding at her father's words. She handed over the jar without a word.

"I've been told you have friends across all four Houses at Hogwarts," he said, his tone too casual, too indifferent. Evanna tensed.

"I never thought it wise to stay so insular, especially as mercurial as Slytherins can be," she said. "It is not very politic to remain inside one's own House, is it?"

"One can only do what they must," the Dark Lord said. "Indeed, I do believe your friendships outside of Slytherin House will be most advantageous to me."

"Bridget is of course, already on your side, Father, and I believe Luna to be largely neutral. Ravenclaws are more prone to research and experiments than wars and politics-" Evanna said in a rush, her palms almost too sweaty to keep hold of her fork. "And Ginny-"

"It is not those relationships I seek to use."

Evanna swallowed. "They are truly the only ones outside of Slytherin with whom I have any influence."

"By all reports I hear Harry Potter is… infatuated with you."

The bottom slipped out from under Evanna. "Wha-what?"

The Dark Lord smirked. "You don't believe that Professor Snape is my only spy at Hogwarts?"

If Evanna survived this conversation, that was certainly something she would have to investigate. But for now…

"Of-of course not," she said, doing her best to sound as though she was disgusted by the very thought. "But I would not call Potter infatuated-he respects me, is all. Or, at least, he did at one time. I have done my best to drive him away from me-he is your greatest enemy."

Hurt green eyes as she ran from the Room of Requirement flashed in Evanna's eyes.

"Potter is but a symbol, a pawn-Dumbledore is my greatest enemy," her father all but growled. "Nevertheless, this respect as you call it is something we must capitalize upon. There is something I need from Potter, something which I believe you can assist with. If you could put aside your understandable revulsion, that is."

He was testing her, Evanna realized. She had not fooled the Dark Lord in regards to her feelings for Harry. Why he did not seek to punish her, she was unsure. Whatever her father was, he was no Lucius Malfoy. Where the latter would have tortured her, the latter had only avoided her for a period and then taught her to fly.

But Harry….

"You have been kind to me, Father," she said evenly, heart racing in her chest.

The Dark Lord gave a smile. "Do you know what lies in the Department of Mysteries?"