Chapter 3: Disappearance
A/N: Here's the next chapter, made it as long as I could. Read and review.
The next day was better. And worse. It was better because I remembered to lock my door. My room wasn't freezing when I woke up and I landed upright - kind of - after sliding down the banister. It was better because I knew what to expect in school. Mike sat next to me in English, with Chess club Eric glaring at him. I sat with Jessica's friends at lunch, and remembered their names. And then came the worse part. It was worse because I hadn't progressed with finding Travers, and because it rained while I was walking to school. It was worse because Jasper Hale wasn't in Biology.
Forget Biology, he wasn't there at all. Not at lunch, or History which it turned out was the one class I had with all the Cullens (A/N: All Cullens are the same age here, 17-18). And somehow, for some reason, I felt like it was my fault.
I thought I knew what to expect but I was wrong. I expected to see all five Cullens at the lunch table in the corner. Talking, laughing, frowning. I had even prepared myself for it, telling myself that I didn't care. I had planned to confront Jasper Hale and demand what his problem was, because he clearly had one.
I walked to Biology with more confidence than I should have had. Mike was trotting alongside me, and was beginning to remind me of a golden retriever. Jessica was with us too and she was trying desperately to get Mike's attention. I felt bad for her but there was nothing I could do. Besides, I was too preoccupied with Travers, Jasper Hale and muggle school to do couple's therapy. No, I thought. I'm not adding him to my list of preoccupations.
By the end of the school day, I was feeling much better. It was no longer raining and I ran home as fast as I could. I fumbled with my keys to unlock the front door then dropped my coat onto one of the hooks.
"Evvy? Is that you?" Charlie called from the kitchen. Who else would it be? I thought to myself.
"Yes." I called back. Then I remembered something. "Mr Swan?" I began as I walked into the kitchen. He was fiddling with the boiler.
"Evvy, you know you don't have to be so formal." I ignored that and continued.
"Can I go out with my friends for a little?" I wasn't actually going out with my friends but Charlie didn't have to know that. If I told him where I was actually going he wouldn't let me.
"`kay." I turned to go upstairs. "But make sure you're back at six!" He called. I heard a thump, and then Charlie muttering a string of profanities. I smirked as I reached the landing.
"Alohomora." I muttered. The door clicked and I opened it. I left my bag next to the desk and grabbed my invisibility cloak, stuffing it into my pocket. I re-locked my door ("colloportus!") and walked downstairs, pulled on my coat and said goodbye to Charlie before leaving.
It was quiet outside, the kind of quiet that reminded me of Privet Drive. I walked quickly along the streets. After around half an hour I reached a long, smooth road, slightly wider than other riad is Forks. On either side of the road all you could see were tall, thick green trees. The forest. I stepped into the trees and continued walking as quickly as I could. I knew what I was looking for; a clearing. I needed to learn the tracking charm if I wanted a chance at finding Travers. I could look without it but I didn't know if he was still in Forks. For all I knew he could be back in London.
I had been walking in the same direction for about twenty minutes. I was avoiding taking turns because I didn't want to get lost, and the walk hadn't been too bad at first. I thought It'd be cool if I saw a deer or something. Cool was far from what I was thinking when my twenty minutes turned into half an hour. I was running out of time, so I decided to just wing it. I turned left and kept walking, slowing down a little now. I continued in that direction and after five minutes I found myself in a clearing.
"Yes!" I said to myself. I looked around quickly. Muggle walking and hiking trails ran through certain areas of the forest and I didn't know where they were. "Homenum revelio." Nothing happened. I sighed in relief and then swore. Loudly. I had forgotten to bring my charms book. I glanced at the watch that had once belonged to Fabian Prewett. It was four forty-five. I could go back and get it, but then there would be no point; I was out of time.
I spent the walk back to Charlie's wondering how I could have been so stupid. Without the distraction of charms my mind was left to dwell on why Jasper was being so...mean. That was all I could come up with and it made the whole situation sound petty.
That night after dinner when I went up to my room, Lyra was perched on the window sill outside. I locked my door and ran over to open the window. She had two letters tied to her leg and in her mouth she clutched a dead shrew in her mouth. I brought her back inside and she kept still while I detached the letters. I opened the first one and read:
Dear Evvy,
How are you? I'm very well. We met Luna the other day, she was at the ministry press, trying to get a feature in the Daily Prophet about 'Heliopaths'. A heliopath, in case you didn't know, is a creature which Luna Lovegood claims to exist, but which is not documented anywhere else. Have you had any progress with Travers? Was your first day of school good? I think I might be able to bewitch a quill for you that corrects everything you write, for tests. Lyra gave me a dead rat. Good luck!
Love, Finnick
P.S. Kate can't reply, I'll explain if it gets any better.
I smiled at the letter, then frowned as I read the P.S. If Kate didn't reply, who was the second letter from? I picked up the second envelope and slit it open.
Dear Evvy,
I'm passing through London, did Finnick tell you? Kate has a little problem. She started working at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and George used her to test some new products. I was telling the man at the ministry press office all about Heliopaths. Did you know, they're fire creatures that destroy everything in their path. The ministry has an army of them. I think I told you when we were 15. Finnick is being a little narrow minded about them, but I'm sure he'll come around. Have you found Travers yet? Did you know, Travers was the name of a crumple-horned snorkack in 1892?
Bye, Luna Lovegood
I laughed as I put Luna's letter down and remembered suddenly the conversation about Heliopaths from four years ago.
The rest of the week passed uneventfully. I began learning the routine of my classes, and by Friday I could recognise, if not name, all the students in the school. Friday afternoon was better, because I finally made some small progress with the tracking charm. Now when I did it, a few puffs of golden smoke choked out the tip of my wand. Forks wasn't too bad.
Jasper Hale never came back to school.
Every day at lunch I looked over at their table to see if he was there but there were always four of them. Every time I had biology I sat on my own and dealt with the small part of me that felt as if it was my fault, the small part of me that was guilty. By Friday though, even biology was better. I no longer felt guilty about Jasper Hale doing a disappearing act.
My first weekend in Forks was good. I spent the larger part of Saturday in the forest practicing the tracking charm. On Sunday I spent less time outside because it was raining heavily, and instead took a stab at sorting my Hogwarts trunk, which was unsuccessful. My first week in Forks hadn't been bad and I had even decided that if Jasper Hale ever did return to school, I wouldn't press him for why he was gone.
On Monday people greeted me in the car park. I got to every one of my classes without help and Mike wasn't in school, so now the only person following me was Eric. In history we had a quiz, which I managed to get decent marks in. When I - accompanied by Eric - stepped out of history to go to biology, the air was swirling with large, white snowflakes. I smiled slightly. A thin layer had already coated the ground and everything else. People were laughing and shouting excitedly to each other.
"Wow." said Eric. He reached out and caught a flake in his palm. "It's snowing." Just as the word 'snowing' left his mouth, a big, squishy ball of the stuff hit the back of his head. We both turned to see where it came from. I had my suspicions about Mike, who had just arrived from his dentist appointment, and yet was walking casually towards the gates. Eric leaned down and began scraping together some snow, as water dripped out of his hair. He stood up, drawing back his arm as he did and threw as hard as he could. It was a good throw, but his aim was off and the ball only clipped Mike on the ear. Mike spun around and grabbed a pile of snow from someone's car. He threw it but Eric ducked neatly. Unfortunately, that left me to get hit in the face. I coughed, furiously wiping the snow out of my eyes and then proceeded to make my own snowball.
By the time the fight finished, I had two minutes to spare before Biology started. I ran to class, Eric still by my side. Mike had left before, so he was already in his seat. "Hey, Evvy," Eric began as we hung up our wet coats. I rubbed my hands together in an attempt to warm them.
"Yeah?" I picked my bag up off the floor.
"I was wondering, I know today's only the 8th, and we still have a month, but, do you want to…" I had just turned around, expecting to see the seat next to mine empty. It wasn't. Jasper Hale was sitting in his seat, looking straight at me.
"Well?" Eric was saying. I realised I had no idea what he had just said.
"Sorry, um...what were you saying?" I said. His face fell.
"Do you wanna go to the Christmas dance? With me?"
"Oh! Um…" I was surprised and, being honest, unsure what to say without hurting his feelings. "I'm...not going to the dance, actually. I'm going to Massachusetts that weekend." I thought about my newly made plans to go to New York. I needed to go anyway, to check the all wizarding village near Ilvermorny. I could make it in one day; it took the train only six hours there and back.
"Oh." He looked upset, but I couldn't do anything.
"Hey Eric, I'll see you after class, okay?" He nodded and left.
I took a deep breath and walked forward. He didn't look angry, or confused or anything. His face was relatively blank. I sat down. He leaned away from me as far as he could, even moving his chair. I sighed inwardly. Brilliant. I pulled out my notebook, pen and textbook. I turned to a fresh page in my notebook, and began drawing mindlessly, not even looking at the paper. He's not being fair. I thought childishly. What have I ever done to him? It's like my existence annoys him! If Jasper wasn't going to talk to me, then I'd talk to him.
"Hello," I began. He turned to look at me, and I jumped inside. Progress. "I'm Evvy Potter." He hesitated then spoke.
"My name is Jasper Hale." His voice was quiet, and he looked like he was being tortured. I forgot the promise I made with myself not to question him, and just as I opened my mouth, Mr Molina walked up to the front of the class. "Today, you will be writing an essay on examining mitosis on the tip of plants." The class groaned and so did I. How was I supposed to make 'polite conversation' with Jasper Hale now?
I couldn't. Half the lesson passed. I was bored. I had finished my half - decent essay and I needed something else to do. "What am I meant to do now, I'm finished." I muttered too quietly for anyone to hear. I looked up. Mr Molina was reading a book; Mansfield park. I laughed under my breath. It was a romance and the description on the back of the dvd was disturbing (A/N: it is, I'll put it at the end of the chapter.) I tore off the corner of my page and wrote quickly:
You were gone. I folded it several times, and flicked it towards Jasper. He caught it just before it landed on the desk. He looked up slowly, his black eyes meeting my blue-grey ones, one eyebrow raised ever so slightly. A few seconds later a piece of paper landed on my book.
Yes. I was out of town for personal reasons. Oh, personal. He didn't want me to ask what. Another piece of paper landed on my desk.
Is Hale annoying you? Mike.
No, I'm annoying him. Mike's eyes widened. "You're annoying him?" He mouthed. I nodded. Another piece of paper.
Stop passing notes. You may be finished, but some people are not. It was only when I read his message twice that I realised there was something wrong with it.
I don't think I mentioned anything about being finished. He never replied, and the second the bella rang, he left.
I couldn't concentrate on Mike's chatter as he followed me around for the rest of the day. Nothing made sense. How had he known I was finished? I definitely hadn't mentioned it, and he hadn't looked at my paper. As for his 'personal' reasons, I didn't know. Maybe he was telling the truth, but I couldn't help but feel I was missing something.
A/N: That's all for that chapter. Review. Please. I had to look through my brother's school work for the mitosis thing. His essay was too boring. Also, here's a line from the back of the Mansfield park dvd: 'A timeless satire on manners, money and passion...Pukes. Call me immature, but that's gross. And people describe it as a 'sexy comedy'. *shudder*.