Chapter Two; Evelyn

Joyous disbelief. Those were the only words she could find to describe her reaction to her Grandfather's news. She could not wipe the smile off her face. Evelyn couldn't even focus on what her Grandpa was saying. All she knew was he had finally said yes! She was going to Hogwarts! No more would she watch the students mill around Hogsmeade from her bedroom window, no more would her Grandfather, as lovely as he was, be "Professor" during the day time. She was going to go to a real school! Finally, a proper education was in her grasp.

"Evelyn Leah Winters! You had better be listening to me young lady." Aberforth's sharp voice jerked her back into reality. She met his ice blue eyes with her own and gave him a curt nod. He nodded with satisfaction, "As I was saying...I will allow you to enroll in Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry, IF..." The stress grandfather but on the "if" caused Evelyn's anxiety to spark. She was so close to victory and yet...

"Condition number one, you will stay away from Albus Dumbledore." Evelyn began to protest,

"But grandpa! He's the headmaster and your brother - "

"As far as I am concerned we have no relation, and there are plenty of professors who can help you just as he could. Albus is not a man to be trusted, your aunt would still be with us today if not for him." The room grew silent. Aberforth bowed his head, "No matter...condition number two, you will remain focused on your studies, I don't want you galavanting off and ruining any future opportunities. Condition number three, I expect to hear from you regularly and for you to keep good company. Condition number four, Albus has agreed to the boarding of Arggie, but you must control her, it's as I told you when you first got her, 'you will train her yourself, you will feed her yourself, and if she die, you will bury her yourself' you must control her, little one. And finally, swear to me, no matter who is asking, you must swear that you will confess to being a squib. This is of paramount importance my child, swear to me." Aberforth's eyes bore into her own. Shock ran through her, how could he ask her such a thing? She was no squib! She was powerful, more powerful than anyone could imagine. Her blood ran cold in her veins as she met his cold eyes with her own.

"I swear by the blood that runs through my veins, I will confess myself a squib." She wanted to spit the words into the mud as soon as she said them. Aberforth had to have known this, but her merely nodded, his mind already elsewhere.

"Go, pack your things, the train will be here soon."

Evelyn sprang to her feet, processing the news. Keeping to her studies would be no trouble, she had always kept to herself. Keeping good company, well, she had never really been one for friends so that should be no trouble. But being a squib! She tried to shake the thought from her mind, she would deal with that later. Arggie was a dream, so no trouble there. Evelyn whistled for the silver beauty, all 20 pounds of her. Although Arggie was very friendly and loving, she tended to distrust strangers, much like Evelyn herself. After fifteen years of living in the heart of Hogsmeade, Arggie still remained Evelyn's only companion.

"Ah...Arggie...what am I going to do with you?" She cupped the fox's arrow shaped head, "You must promise to behave!" Arggie nibble her fingers before taking off for Evelyn's room, her silver tail swishing out of sight. Evelyn sighed and took off after her. She really did have a lot of packing to do.

The sight of the scarlet and gold train jump started her heart. She had been waiting for this for as long as she could remember, to follow in her parents footsteps, maybe even find out their names. The only information grandfather had ever given her was they too had gone to Hogwarts. Evelyn's heart had always felt drained, as though it were reverently searching for something all the time. That something had to be Hogwarts, it was a part of her. It had to be.

She tightened her hold on Arggie's neck, the fox refused to cooperate with a leash, and hissed for the millionth time how she was to stay by her side no matter what. Arggie gently lowered herself into a sitting position, ears perked. Evelyn sighed and swung her bag onto her back. The train slowed to a halt. The doors slid open and she stared up into the Hogwarts Express. After all these years of begging, she was finally here.