Opening the Door

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Chapter 6 – Sweet Sacrifice

"C'mon Jamsie! You just have to enter the Talent Competition!"

"Yeah! The Marauders will win easily!"

"Aww, c'mon! Don't make us beg…"

It's true, we're all a little insane.
But it's so clear,
Now that I'm unchained.

James and Sirius grinned round at the cluster of fan girls cheering them on, begging for them to enter the Talent Competition.

"What should we do? We can't do pranking – we'd either get expelled or disqualified." Remus joked.

Fear is only in our minds,
Taking over all the time.
Fear is only in our minds but it's taking over all the time.

James grinned. "We cold ask Eve." He suggested. Sirius nodded.

"Yeah, she could write us a song or something, right? I mean, we're pretty sure she's the one writing those songs she sings."

Remus nodded.

"Let's go before we get attacked again." he suggested dryly.

-----

"You poor sweet innocent thing.
Dry your eyes and testify.
You know you live to break me. Don't deny.
Sweet sacrifice."

James, Sirius and Remus frowned at the song, sung by Evangeline, as always, as they entered Clock Tower.

Evangeline was sat on a fallen beam beside the back of the clock; the room dark, empty and cold, as per usual.

She held a crumpled piece of paper in a hand, and was singing the words, while backing music erupted from the wand in one hand.

James cleared his throat for attention. Evangeline turned bright pink as she realised their presence.

One day I'm gonna forget your name,
And one sweet day, you're gonna drown in my lost pain.

Fear is only in our minds,
Taking over all the time.
Fear is only in our minds but it's taking over all the time.

"…Yeah?" she asked shyly, as she hurriedly stopped the backing music, stuffing the paper into her pocket.

"We need you to write us a song for the Talent Competition, Eve." Sirius said calmly, forgetting all about his love for the girl; his fan girls having reignited his love for glory.

You poor sweet innocent thing.
Dry your eyes and testify.
And oh you love to hate me don't you, honey?
I'm your sacrifice.

Evangeline's expression dropped into seriousness, which was clearly trying to hide her sadness at the request.

"We can't write songs, but we know you do, so can you write one for us?" James added, smirking, also thinking only of the glory.

Evangeline hung her head and was silent for a few moments.

(I dream in darkness
I sleep to die,
Raise the silence,
Erase my life,
Our burning ashes
Blacken the day,
A world of nothingness,
Blow me away.)

She lifted her head slightly, hiding the tears pooling in the corners of her eyes.

"Sure…" she croaked quietly.

The Marauders exchanged grins happily and walked out without as much as a thank you.

So you wonder why you hate?
Are you still too weak to survive your mistakes?

Evangeline's shoulder began to shake as the tears fell, her quiet sobs echoing round Clock Tower with a ghostly feel to all who heard it.

You poor sweet innocent thing.
Dry your eyes and testify.
You know you live to break me.
Don't deny.
Sweet sacrifice.

Evangeline Potter was breaking…

…And only she knew it.