A/N: Hey everyone! I know it's been much longer than it ever should have been since I've updated. I literally hit a brick wall with this story and would write a page or two and then go back and delete it because it didn't feel right. Good news! I have pushed through it and am really satisfied with this chapter. Everything is falling into place now for us to see some interaction between our main characters and I will be updating regularly again. Let me know what you think! Enjoy! -Ashley

Chapter 7

Eva moved through the castle. Nothing about this would seem out of the ordinary, save for the other student following her. Tucked under the invisibility cloak, Sirius obsessively tailed Eva. He had been on her heels ever since Bellatrix had reappeared in the castle.

Naturally Lily and James had been shocked when Bellatrix strolled into the Great Hall. They had fired questions at Eva, oblivious that it had been her that had caused Bellatrix to be allowed to return. Lily had tried to talk to the headmaster, insisting that she, along with other students didn't feel safe with that kind of presence in Hogwarts, but it had gotten her nowhere.

Eva sensed that someone was behind her and spun quickly. The corridor was abandoned. She couldn't shake the feeling of being followed since Bellatrix had returned to the castle. She knew that her parents were likely pleased when she'd gone to the headmaster. Dumbledore had been less than accommodating but she was desperate and eventually he relented, likely understanding there was a need behind her desperation. Dumbledore always seemed to know what everyone was thinking. Before she left his office, he reminded her that he was always available for his students should they need anything.

Eva remembered that moment fondly, however, she knew that there was nothing that he could do to help her. She merely hoped to live out the rest of her education soundlessly and without incident. She almost smiled despite herself at how ridiculous that simple request would be. A war was brewing and Eva knew that she would be required to choose sides.

"Fizzing whizbee," Eva mumbled the Gryffindor password and entered the common room silently. She noticed Lily, James and Remus huddled by the fire. Peter and Sirius were both missing. She made her way over to the group, sitting timidly down next to Lily. No one had said anything to Eva about Bellatrix being reinstated. She assumed it was because no one wanted to upset her, but she was still concerned that something would be said.

A few moments later, Sirius joined the group. Eva thought that she saw James look at Sirius accusingly, but the look was fleeting and she couldn't be sure. She had noticed that Sirius was typically absent from meals and other activities, but he usually showed up shortly after she did, so she thought nothing of it. After all, there had certainly been no shortage of essays and homework so far this year to keep them all busy. Eva had also noticed a new-found distance between Sirius and James and truly hoped that it wasn't because of her. Sirius had been careful to be polite if he was forced to speak to her, but she could always here the distaste seeping out through her words. James had been so good to her and Sirius and James had always been close, Eva didn't want to be the cause of the derailment of their friendship.

It was getting late and the group disbanded shortly after Eva had joined, each heading to their respective dorms for a good nights sleep.

Once Eva and Lily had safely entered their dorms, James rounded to look straight at Sirius.

"And where have you been this evening?" James asked accusingly.

"Oh, you know, around..." Sirius answered vaguely, his tone bordering on cocky.

"No, Sirius, I don't know. I don't know where you've been for days. What I do know, is that you seem to appear right after Eva does. And on top of that, I also know that my invisibility cloak and the map typically appear to be missing at the same time. Explain." James's voice had risen slightly alarming a couple of second years doing homework on the other side of the room. They quickly gathered their things and hurried to their dorms.

"You know that she's the reason that Bellatrix is back, James. I don't know why you refuse to listen-"

"Because it's utterly ridiculous! That's why. You were there, you saw what Bellatrix did to her! She almost died, Pad. How can you follow her around the castle like she's the enemy?" James demanded.

Sirius was slightly taken aback. A part of him understood what James was saying. If she was in leagues with Bellatrix, why would they have put her under the cruciatus curse? But Sirius knew what he'd heard that night in the hospital wing.

"James, I just think that maybe Eva is getting pressure from someone to make sure that Bellatrix stays in the castle. Tell me, why would Dumbledore let someone who used an unforgivable back into the castle?" Sirius argued.

James pondered this for a minute. The question had been one that he'd been asking himself for a while. He looked pensive for a moment before responding. "Well, if she's being pressured, shouldn't that be all the more reason to watch out for her?"

"I guess. I haven't seen anything while I've been following her that is any kind of indicator either way…" Sirius admitted.

James looked irritated. "You know that I think you're being a child about this, don't you? I see so many things in Eva's past that are similar to yours. I think that she has fell victim to a persuasive, vindictive family much in the same way as you have, Pad. I don't understand why you are constantly so suspicious of her."

Sirius nodded gently, not meeting James's gaze. James was correct in some ways, he knew that. He didn't know anything about Eva that would suggest that she was involved in anything negatively, in fact, now that James explained things, he could even understand how she was pressured to do what her parent's wanted. After all, hadn't he done the same thing until he'd had James, Peter and Remus to stand beside him?

Perhaps he had been going about everything wrong. Not ready to admit that to James, Sirius settled for a, "I'll try and lay off, okay?"

James nodded and the two young men headed to their dorms with the other students.

The next morning, Eva woke with a start. She was up early, as she often had been since the "incident" in Hogsmeade. She got ready quietly and headed down to the common room to read and wait for Lily to wake.

She hadn't been downstairs for more than a half hour when the boys dorm opened and a disheveled Sirius emerged. While he was wearing his school robes, he still looked half asleep. He made it to the bottom of the stairs before noticing Eva and then eying her warily.

"Long night?" she jested, before averting her eyes, cursing herself for engaging him in conversation. Eva and Sirius were hardly acquaintances and she had addressed him as though he were James. She was even more startled when he replied cordially.

"Couldn't sleep well, what about you?"

"Same," Eva answered gingerly. "I haven't slept well in a couple of weeks." Sirius's eyes widened in recognition but he did nothing to address his thoughts but nodding shrewdly.

They sat in silence for a few tense minutes before Sirius's stomach rumbling interrupted.

"Well I suppose I'll be heading down to breakfast, are you coming?" Sirius asked standing and stretching.

Eva was surprised, but tucked a bookmark in her book and stood to join him. "Sure."

James and Remus were standing in the common room when Lily emerged from her dorms.

"Good morning," she smiled briefly at James before joining them at the bottom of the stairs.

"Morning Lils," he replied. "Have you seen Sirius this morning?"

Lily shook her head gingerly. "Nope, but I noticed Eva is up already, too." Lily shrugged and began moving towards the portrait hole with Remus, addressing an essay for Defense they'd been assigned the previous day.

James lagged behind slightly, fuming. Hadn't they just discussed this yesterday? Didn't Sirius just promise to lay off a bit? James had been pleased with the course of their conversation. Perhaps Sirius would understand better later if James had to use his fists to do the talking?

By the time they reached the great hall for breakfast, James was positively fuming. How dare Sirius. If anything Eva needed them now, more than ever! He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he nearly ran into Lily and Remus who had stopped short of the Gryffindor table.

"This is new," Remus remarked with an eyebrow raised. Lily nodded in agreement. James followed their line of sight to see Eva and Sirius sitting at the table eating breakfast and…laughing?

Eva couldn't believe that she was having such a pleasant conversation with Sirius. Not only did it feel like she'd entered some sort of alternate universe where he wasn't brashly rude, he was actually kind of funny!

Their conversation had run the gambit of topics, remaining light. They had even briefly talked about how secretly stubborn Lily was falling for 'Potter'. They were laughing about that when, speak of the devil Lily, followed by Remus and James approached the table.

"Good morning!" Eva chorused, eliciting surprised glances from everyone around the table.

"Morning," a clearly confused James responded. Eva turned to great Lily and missed Sirius look at James with raised eyebrows and a smirk as if to say "how am I doing?"

A short time later, both Sirius and Eva were finished eating. Neither had really spoken to the other since they'd been joined by the rest of the group. Eva stood slowly and excused herself, heading back to get her books, which she'd left in the common room. James eyed Sirius as she left, wondering if Sirius would feel the need to follow her. He didn't and James smiled in relief.

Outside the great hall, Eva smiled to herself. It was nice to be friendly with Sirius. She didn't consider them FRIENDS, per se, but to not have to worry when they were in a group setting that it would be akward was a relief.

Eva was startled as a passing student roughly struck her shoulder. She turned menacingly and came face to face with the last person she wanted to see.

"Be..Bellatrix," she stammered the greeting. Bellatrix sneered in response.

"I heard that you were getting awfully close with my cousin this morning. What will your parents think?" Bellatrix said in a singsong voice before laughing callously and continuing to the great hall.

Just when everything seemed to be going well for a moment, Eva knew that she would have to answer to her parents once again.

Well, what do you think? Again, sorry for the delay. I have now pushed through the writers block and will be back to updating like twice a week. I have a few different ways that I think this should/could go. The first is that Eva pulls away from everyone because of what her parents say, the second is that Sirius caught what Bellatrix said to her and so she doesn't have to hide everything anymore and the final thought is that Eva confides in everyone and tells them all what's going on. I think I know which one works for me, and I have the rest of the story pretty planned out, so we'll see. Feel free to tell me what you think. Also: the story will start to move much faster now that a lot of the background stuff is out of the way. Please review and let me know what you think! Thx-Ashley