Opening the Door

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Chapter 5 – Cloud Nine

James sighed and knocked on the door quietly.

There were a few seconds of silence, and then, just as James was about to knock again, the door opened a crack.

"What?" asked Evangeline, glaring at him, her voice cold and emotionless.

James sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Look, I just…urg…what's wrong, Eve?" he asked.

Evangeline's eyes narrowed further, the hand on the doorframe tightening furiously.

She threw the door open fully, glaring at him, both hands in fists.

"Like you don't know what's wrong!" she yelled, taking her wand and shooting spells at him. James yelled out as he dodged them, making Evangeline all the more angry, it seemed.

"But, Eve, what's wrong? What did I do?" asked James, over the sounds of spells slamming into the floor around him, and Evangeline's yells as she cast them.

Evangeline worsened her glare on James, surprising him when he thought that wasn't possible.

"It knew it!" she yelled, as James retreated down the hallway, for fear of getting hit by a hex from his angry sister again. "I knew they were just putting it on! Like you don't know what's wrong, James!" she yelled, tears staining her pale cheeks.

"She said what?"

James sighed and ran a hand through his hair yet again.

If you want to live, let live.
If you want to go, let go.
I'm not afraid to dream, to sleep, sleep forever.

"That's just it!" he exclaimed angrily. "I have no idea what she was on about!"

Sirius shook his head. "She's mad. Why would me and Remus fake liking her?" he wondered.

Remus sighed. "Because we've picked on her for the past six ye-"

"We get it, Moony!" yelled James, shooting a glare at him. "We were mean to her, I get that, but why won't she understand that we want to be friends with her now?" he wondered, running a hand through his hair once more.

Sirius shrugged. "Like I said, she's mad." He muttered, grinning slightly.

Evangeline smiled to herself slightly, her brow still buried in a small frown, as she continued to gaze down at the papers she held, skimming over what she had written.

Nodding to herself decisively, she snapped her gaze up from the lyrics, glancing round her room – her eyes darting to the door and back again every few seconds – before she moved. She pushed herself up from her place on her bed, and moved to shove her wardrobe in front of the already locked door.

I don't need to touch the sky.
I just want to feel that high,
And you refuse to lift me.
Smiling at her handiwork, Evangeline went back to pick up her things, putting them into a small backpack, before going to a painting, pulling it back and charming the wall panel aside, revealing the passageway she desired.

Her latest song was called 'Cloud Nine' – she had written the lyrics not long after James had tried to play innocent: Evangeline knew he was in on Remus and Sirius's plan.

But that was a few days ago, and even though the Marauders had been pestering her to join in with them still, Evangeline was able to stay away from them.

She wasn't going to let them use her again.

After James had tried to ask what was wrong, play the innocent, act like he wasn't in one Remus and Sirius's plan, like they weren't trying to use her and hurt her again, Evangeline had been careful to stay away from them, though they tried to hang round her more.

Evangeline didn't know why, but she only felt safe in her room or the music room, and had taken to using the secret passage between the two, that only she knew about, apparently.

She smiled to herself as she pulled the tapestry back a little, glancing about the room for any sign of abnormality – apart from her, that is. When she saw none, she jumped down into the music room, and ran to lock the doors firmly, barricading them magically, for fear of Remus getting in again.

Evangeline sighed and took her usual seat on the windowsill of the compartment in the Hogwarts Express, whilst waiting for the three remaining Marauders, as per usual. Her eighth train ride on the Express, and she was still in the same spot, with a notebook, ready to wish the ride away.

Guess it wasn't real after all.
Guess it wasn't real all along.

Except this time it would probably be more annoying, due to the fact that she had successfully booted them out of her life for the past week - now the only place she could hide was the girls' toilets, and she wasn't that desperate.

Yet. These were the Marauders, so there was still time.

Evangeline sighed once more and rummaged in the black backpack she had with her, pulling out the same tatty notebook as always, a quill following after. She smiled absently to herself as she began to scribble away.

Time soon passed, and the train began to move, the Marauders having been settled by then.

If I fall and all is lost,
It's where I belong.

About half-way through the journey, the Marauders began to ask Evangeline to join their conversations – which were either about pranks, girls, or getting back at the Slytherins for something they hadn't done (yet) – or to tell them what she was writing.

"No, thank you."

"No, I'm fine."

"I'd rather not say, thank you."

"I'm fine, honestly."

"Honestly, thank you, but I'm fine, really."

Evangeline sighed and turned her head to gaze wistfully out the window, as she declined another invitation to join in with the three merry boys as politely as she could.

If you want to live, let live.
If you want to go, let go.
I'm never gonna be your sweet, sweet surrender.

-----

Sirius watched, annoyed at his helplessness in the matter, as Evangeline declined yet another invitation into their conversation, and went back to scribbling in her notebook and humming quietly to herself.

He honestly had no idea what she was doing.

As soon as Evangeline left the compartment to change into her robes in the girls' bathroom, he began to talk with Remus and James about her behaviour.

------

Evangeline sighed as she walked out of the cubicle, her muggle clothes draped over one arm. She put them back in her backpack and walked towards the mirror, wiping off some dirt to clear the reflection.

Guess it wasn't real after all.
Guess it wasn't real all along.

Reaching into her bag once more, Evangeline cracked a small smile as she pulled out her trusty eyeliner, rimming her eyes with her black kohl.

Sighing once more, she pocketed the eye pencil, and started back to the Marauders' compartment.

If I fall and all is lost,
No light to lead the way,
Remember that all alone is where I belong.

"Welcome, students! I am pleased to announce that this year Hogwarts will be hosting an extra event for all fifth years and up that are interested! A Talent Competition!"

In a dream,
Will you give your love to me?
Beg my broken heart to beat,
Save my life, change my mind.

Evangeline's eyes widened at Dumbledore's words.

No way…!

-----

Further along the Gryffindor table, James, Remus and Sirius began to mutter to each other as well, each one grinning.

If I fall and all is lost.
No light to lead the way.

No way…! James thought excitedly, as a seventh year girl cooed things in his ear.

Remember that all alone is where I belong.