Evangelina immediately scanned her surroundings, searching for any active threat. Less than an hour ago, she was in battle, fighting for her life. Now, she discovered with horror, she was back in the heart of her childhood abuse, and, by the looks of it, in her eleven-year-old body.
Eva sat up (as much as she could, given the restricted room) and began to try and calm her thoughts. Whatever her parents - and death - had done, it had worked. She was back, presumably in 1991, with all her memories in tact. She began to feel a wave of hope rush over her as she processed all of the possibilities.
What would she do first? Her parents had instructed her to go to Gringotts, so that's what she would do. Now Eva just needed to figure out how to get there. She didn't have any money, magical or muggle, to her name. Not yet, anyway.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the loud screeches of Aunt Petunia, calling for Eva to get up. With a sigh, she opened the door to the cupboard and vacated the small space, closing the door quietly behind her. She couldn't help but become disoriented by how familiar it all was.
As she walked into the kitchen that morning, Eva was assaulted by a horrible smell, which seemed to radiate from a large bowl in the sink. As she walked over, she noticed the source to a pile of grey rags, soaking in some sort of dye. Of course, she thought, my Stonewall uniform. Or what would have been my Stonewall uniform, anyway.
"Your new school uniform." grunted Petunia, indicating to the putrid bowl. "I'm dyeing some of Dudder's old things grey for you. I'll have to buy a skirt, mind, but it'll look just like everyone else's when I've finished."
"Right. Thanks, Aunt Petunia." mumbled Eva, nodding.
"About time you started being grateful!" grumbled Vernon, reading his morning newspaper at the kitchen table.
Vernon gained the sort of purple-faced, vein-popping look he bore whenever he was about to launch into a rant about how lazy, or arrogant, or ungrateful Eva was, when he was interrupted by the click of the letterbox, and the soft thud of the post falling to the floor.
"Get the post, Dudley." instructed Vernon, not looking up from his newspaper.
"Make Eva get it!" demanded Dudley.
Despite knowing exactly what would happen, Eva couldn't help the childish desire building, and retorted, "Make Dudley get it!"
"Poke her with your Smeltings stick, Dudley!" ordered Vernon.
Eva, quicker than her unfortunately large cousin, easily dodged away from the incoming stick, attempting to hide her glee. Sometimes, it was the small wins that counted.
Bending down to pick up the pile of letters at the bottom of the hallway, Eva suddenly froze, her blood running cold for a second. Was this - was this the day? Would there be a specific letter in the pile?
Three things lay on the doormat: a postcard from Uncle Vernon's sister Marge, who was holidaying on the Isle of Wight, a brown envelope that looked like a bill and – a letter for Eva She picked it up, staring blankly at it, her heart pounding. Here it was, a letter, addressed to her, the one that was the turning point in her life.
Her new choices began now. She could continue down the path she already knew - allowing Vernon to see the letter, being chased by hundreds of envelopes across the country, to that godforsaken shack in the middle of the sea - or she could use what she already knew to start changing the future for the better.
Making a decision, Eva folded the letter and tucked it securely into the pocket of her jeans, draping her oversized hand-me-down shirt over the bulge to conceal it. She made quick work of handing the post to Vernon, who grumbled about the sky-rocketing prices of electricity and gas. She washed the dishes in silence, providing minimal fuss whilst completing her chores.
When she was finally dismissed back to her cupboard, Eva could barely restrain her glee, bouncing on the balls of her feet. She quickly closed the door to her cupboard, and once she was sure the Dursley's were occupied, pulled the letter out from it's hiding place in her jeans, smoothing out the wrinkles.
Miss E. Potter
The Cupboard Under The Stairs
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
She took the letter into her hands once more, turning it over. The green ink still swirled elegantly on the envelope, the thick creamy parchment promising a new future. Sliding her finger under the flap, she carefully pulled the letter out from the envelope.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress.
This was it. This was her chance. Her parents' warning about Dumbledore echoing in her mind, Eva began to make a plan. First, she needed to get to Diagon Alley. Whilst she wasn't proud, she was going to have to earn some money somewhere.
Then, a thought occured to her. Old Mrs. Figg was a Squib, was she not? Surely she would have the money for Eva to borrow? If she could just catch the Knight Bus! But wait - she didn't have a wand. A Muggle train to London, then. She'd figure out a way from there.
No more than a few minutes after that decision was made, was there a sharp knock on the cupboard door. Eva jumped, startled suddenly, and quickly stashed her letter under the thin blanket covering the bed.
"Listen here, girl!" came Uncle Vernon's harsh voice. "Your Aunt and I are taking Dudley to get school supplies for Smeltings. You can't be trusted here - lord knows what you'll steal - so you can go to Mrs Figg's for the day. No funny business, you hear? We have a reputation to uphold in this neighbourhood!"
"Yes, Uncle Vernon."
Finally! It seemed that luck was on her side. Hastily stashing her letter back in her jeans pocket, Eva positively vibrated with excitement. She was going to be able to get this sorted now! If she had even some textbooks to read, the summer would be far more bearable than it would have otherwise been.
Following Uncle Vernon out of the house, Eva pretended to shrink under the man's harsh stare, before beginning the short journey around the corner to Mrs Figg's house. Whilst the old lady was undeniably a bit batty, so many things had made sense to Eva once she had learned that Tabitha Figg belonged to their world.
Knocking politely on the front door several times, Eva waited patiently for the old lady to open the door. After what seemed an eternity, the door creaked open, revealing the short old woman, surrounded by several cats.
"Good morning, Mrs Figg!" beamed Eva.
"Good morning, Eva. Have I got the pleasure of your company again today?" asked the old lady, smiling up at Eva.
"I'm afraid not. You see, I've been invited to join a prestigious new boarding school in September. However I need to, uh, enrol by today, and Aunt Petunia has forgotten and they've gone out for the day."
"Well, that's not good at all!" cried Mrs Figg, a knowing gleam in her eye.
"I was wondering, if it was possible, would you be able to lend me the money for a train fare to London? I could have it back to you! Only the enrollment needs to be completed today." sighed Eva, adding a frown for good measure.
"I see. And what is this school called, dear?" asked Mrs Figg.
Seeing no harm in answering, Eva replied, "Hogwarts, ma'm."
"Hogwarts, you say? You'll be heading to Brick Lane, in London, to register, then?" she spoke, smiling. "As it happens, my dear, you won't need a train to get there. There's a special bus that can take you there."
What? thought Eva. She's a Squib! Surely she can't use a wand to summon the Knight Bus! Waiting patiently, Eva merely deployed her best innocent face and looked at Mrs Figg.
"Now, where is it - hold on a second, dear." Mrs Figg disappeared momentarily inside the house, returning with the telephone and her purse. She dialed 62442, the same as the Ministry, thought Eva, before fishing out what she recognised as sickles.
"Mrs Figg - what are those? They look like ten pence pieces!" asked Eva, deciding to maintain her unknowing image.
"These are called sickles, my dear. When the bus arrives, give them these and tell the Conductor that you wish to travel to The Leaky Cauldron. I've no doubt you'll find what you need there."
"Thank you so much, Mrs Figg!"
As Eva turned around, awaiting the arrival of the Knight Bus, she couldn't help but think how much she'd underestimated the old lady. She may put on a batty, dotty persona, but clearly, Tabitha Figg was sharper than she let on.
Eva couldn't help but grin as a gigantic pair of wheels screeched to a halt in front of her. They belonged, as Eva all too well knew, to the gigantic, violently purple triple-decker bus, affectionately named 'The Knight Bus'. The doors to the bus opened, and tall, young gentleman stepped out onto the pavement.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this morning."
"Good morning, Stan Shunpike." greeted Eva, allowing a genuine smile to spread across her features. "The Leaky Cauldron, please. With hot chocolate."
Eva handed the thirteen sickles that Mrs Figg had given her to Stan Shunpike, and then gracefully accepted his hand to climb aboard the massive bus. Merlin, she hated being this short. If she remembered rightly, she had a rather large growth spurt just before her third year.
"Take a seat." grunted Stan, gesturing to the empty bus in front of her.
Choosing a seat relatively close to the driver, Eva barely had time to properly sit down before the bus closed it's doors and shot off once more. Stan, seemingly bored with the lack of passengers, gravitated towards her after handing her the hot chocolate.
"This is our driver, Ernie Prang. Ern, this is - what'chu say your name was?"
"I, uh, didn't. My name's Lavender. Lavender Brown." she lied easily.
She knew how much attention she would gain re-entering the wizarding world, and wanted to hold off the media storm for just a little while longer.
They were thundering along Charing Cross Road. Eva sat up and watched buildings and benches squeezing themselves out of the Knight Bus's way. Whilst not the most comfortable mode of transport, The Knight Bus was cheap and cheerful, and it would meet her needs for now.
Ern slammed on the brakes and the Knight Bus skidded to a halt in front of a small and shabby looking pub, the Leaky Cauldron, behind which Eva knew lay the magical entrance to Diagon Alley.
"Thank you so much for your help, Ernie, Stan." grinned Eva.
"Our pleasure, Miss Brown. Take care now."
Eva stepped off the Knight Bus, and the second her feet touched the pavement, the bus doors closed and shot off again down the road with a loud bang. Eva grinned, feeling hope wash over her once more, and stepped into the Leaky Cauldron pub.