A/N: Hello lovely readers. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I also hope you enjoy the new Cover photo. I think it's pretty clever if you look at all the nuances of it. Anyway, have fun reading. And let me know what you think.

Chapter Eleven

Evelyn brushed her hands on the hem of her skirt. She felt more nervous about meeting Severus than she had earlier. Her stomach fluttered with it. The hours that had ticked by made her consider all too many possibilities. Especially the part where there was a very real possibility that he could want to either call everything off, or officially be her boyfriend.

Every time she thought about the second option, it made her heart wrap around the idea of a future for them. She could see everything, if she let herself. But she tried not to. She tried with everything that was in her so not let herself think about that future. Because if things didn't go that way, she wouldn't let her hopes be crushed.

Once she felt ready to face everything, she grabbed the rose, looked at it for a moment, and placed it back on her night stand before sneaking out. The hallways after hours were dark and quiet and every little sound made her heart jump. She wasn't the type to sneak out just to sneak out, the time she almost lost Severus being a very rare exception. Her nerves only made it worse.

Climbing the stairs to the astronomy tower was difficult on a good day. On today, it seemed to take forever. Each step taking her closer to the top. Each step taking her to closer to an answer. She stopped a few steps before the top level was visible. She wondered how many romances had started at the top of the stairs.

After a deep breath, Evelyn made her way up to the top, climbing the last few steps. Severus was waiting for her, another rose in his hand, white this time.

"I almost thought you weren't going to come," he said with a small tug at the corner of his mouth.

"Honestly, I'd go anywhere you asked me to," Evelyn said. She wasn't sure if it was too much, if it might scare him away, but it was the truth.

He smiled, kind of, and handed her the rose.

"Thank you."

Her heart fluttered, and she swore she felt another spark when their fingers brushed for a second.

"I've thought a bit about us, Evie, and I thought that it was time to talk."

"Alright."

He took her hand and led her over to one of the window seats where they sat when they were waiting or looking at stars. Her heart beat fast and hard as they sat next to each other, turned just enough to be face to face.

"Severus- "

"Let me start, Evie."

"Okay."

"I realize that so far, I haven't really put forth the effort to try. I know that you have certain hopes and feelings. And I know that I promised to try, and I haven't really done that. But I know where I stand and I don't want to hurt you by being so in the middle and distant."

Evelyn's heart sank.

"So, I want to put myself fully into this, into us. I want us to be in a relationship and really see what happens."

She looked at him, eyes bright. Of course, she had no idea that it was all practiced nor that he was using her for the benefits that she provided. She had no idea that none of the words he said held any true emotion.

"Are you-is this-I-,"

"Evelyn, would you be my girlfriend?"

Her heart stopped dead and she felt tears of pure joy in her eyes. She couldn't speak, so she nodded and threw her arms around him. His arms wrapping around her made her feel safe and warm. And when the hug was over, he looked into her eyes and cupped her cheek in his hand before leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips.

A jolt of electricity shot through Evelyn the moment she felt his lips against hers. And she kissed him back.

Sirius finished climbing the stairs, alone, having convinced James that it was better he not try to intervene. His heart broke a little at the site of Severus kissing her, of him being the one to initiate it. Normally he'd have rush over and shouted and reacted, but a little piece of him was broken and he felt more like a wounded dog as he backed away and slowly made his descent down the stairs.

James,

Your father and I have discussed things regarding yours and Evelyn's last letters home. Evelyn has always been open with us about her friends, including Severus. We feel that you cannot allow your hatred to intervene with Your sister.

If she does end up hurt, that is something we will deal with later. She will learn and heal and life will move on. We will invite him over dinner after you come home from break so we can make our own opinion.

James, in all honesty, we'd like to see you and Evelyn be closer. I would love for you two to reconcile whatever it was that made you two stop being close. It's been like this since your first year. Maybe it was being sorted into different houses, and maybe it's something else. But it still stands that I expect you to try to be closer, both of you.

James, for now, just try to be supportive. I'm sure that Severus is not as bad as you make him out to be.

Love,

Mother

Evelyn,

I am not going to intervene in whatever issues you and your bother have. Your mother and I have talked.

All we would like is that you invite Severus over for dinner when you return from school, so that we can meet him and get our own impression of him.

The only thing we are asking of you for now is that you and James reconcile whatever issue there is between you. I realize that you and he are drastically different, but I'd like to see my children getting along again. So please, do whatever you can to try and be friends like you were when you were younger.

Love

Daddy.

James and Evelyn ran into each other on their way to transfiguration later that week.

"I assumed father wrote you and asked about us reconciling?" James said by way of greeting.

"Yes. Mum write you the same?"

"Yeah. But I don't understand why we need to reconcile in the first place."

"That's because you're an arrogant prick. You wanted so much to push me away, and you succeeded. You only regret it because of who my friends are."

"What did I ever do to you? How did I push you away?"

Evelyn stopped in her tracks, a fury in her eyes, startling James. "What did you do to push me away? How about the day we stepped foot on the train and you ignored me? You introduced everyone, spoke to everyone, except me. Did you ever wonder why I liked Severus from the beginning, even as just a friend? Because he noticed me. He actually noticed me and spoke to me. And you were content to pretend I didn't exist," the words coming out were short and cold, full of fury. She lowered her voice before continuing, "You know why I blackmailed you into teaching me to be an animagus with you? Because I wanted to spend that time with you. I was hoping it might fix that bond. But it didn't. Because I saw how you treat Severus, and in the end, I decided that I wasn't going to be close to a bully."

"I'm- "

"We're going to be late for class."

James watched her storm into the classroom and followed, receiving a glare as he walked past her table to his seat.

"Alright, who can tell me the difference between an Animagus and werewolf?" Professor McGonagall started the class with.

Sirius's hand shot up, and Evelyn was only partially surprised. Until she heard what he said. "Animagi are much more charming!"

She groaned inwardly.

Remus raised his hand, "Well in general, werewolves are taller."

"Animagi have better hair."

James interjected, "I second both the better charm and bodies!"

"Well werewolves don't necessarily have the time nor energy to spend 20 minutes on their hair."

Peter, the usually silent one of the group, actually sided with Remus. "And werewolves don't sing obnoxiously in the shower."

"Well animagi are sexier."

At this point the class was silent, and McGonagall had the usual exasperated look on her face.

Evelyn raised her hand. "Animagi choose to transform into an animal, though they do not have a choice in the form, and werewolves have no choice. You must register as both, however. And unregistered animagi are usually outed by being stupid pricks who are full of themselves."

"Thank you for the compliments, boys. However, those were not the answers I was looking for. Evelyn, very well done. Ten points to Ravenclaw."

Evelyn beamed and shot a look at James who looked away immediately. She had won this battle for now. And while she knew he wouldn't give up for long, she could at least expect some peace and quiet from him for now.