Evelyn's p.o.v.
I narrow my eyes, clearly hearing breathing right in front of me but not seeing anyone. I stretch my hand until I feel touching something, grab to it and removing whatever is covering the person, revealing Harry's pale face.
Before I can say anything, Harry grabs my hand and drags me into the bathroom.
"Please be quiet.", he whispers, covering us with the cloak.
Soon enough I recognize the footsteps he was running from. Severus. If he catches us, we're both going to be in trouble, no doubt about that.
Suddenly, the bathroom door opens and Severus walks in, scanning the area. He's about to walk towards us but a voice behind him makes him stop.
"Can't sleep?", Moody asks, making him turn around.
"I think a student is roaming around.", Severus informs him.
"Doubt it. I've been walking around the castle and didn't see a single soul.", he tells him and continues, "You probably heard me."
Severus gives him a long stare before speaking, "Probably."
After one last look around the bathroom, Severus leaves, closing the door. We wait until the footsteps disappear before walking out.
Harry turns towards me, "I can explain, I swear."
"Are you the one steeling from professor's Snape storage?", I ask, crossing my arms.
"No! No.", he immediately says.
I raise my eyebrow, "Then?"
"Someone stole my Marauders map and I went looking for it.", he tell me and I frown, "What's that?"
"It's a magical map that shows the castle and grounds with all the secret passages but not only that ...it also shows the people who are walking around the castle. Two days ago the map went missing and after that Snap- professors Snape's storage got broken in so I suspect that the same person who broke in took my map, so I won't see them.", he explains.
I blink a few times, trying to decide if he's lying or not.
"I'm telling the truth, I swear. You can ask Ron and Hermione.", I sense desperation in his voice.
"Someone has infiltrated the castle with bad intentions.", he tells me and in that moment I remember the man I saw a while ago, looking for Dumbledore. I saw him once and never again ...that's when Severus told me not to trust anyone except him.
I look at Harry, "Go to sleep."
Harry nods and runs towards his common room and I walk towards my room, thinking what to do with this information.
X X X
I tighten my grip around the handle of the sword, going down the dungeon stairs. I've been thinking a lot about what Harry has told me and decided to talk to Severus. We crossed paths before breakfast but there's wasn't a chance for us to speak. I know that Severus has a free period and everyone is in their class so no one will see me. When I reach the Potion classroom I take a deep breath before knocking a few times.
"Yes.", his dull voice breaks trough and I slowly open the door.
He's sitting behind this big wooden desk, grading papers I suppose.
"Am I interrupting?"
The moment I speak his eyes land on mine and his face softens, "Never."
His answer immediately brings a smile on my face and I enter his space, closing the door behind me.
"I need to talk to you.", I say, placing the sword on one of the tables, slowly walking towards him.
"I'm listening.", he says, getting back to his work.
My steps are small and slow since I'm still debating over my decision. He seems to notice that and puts away the pen, looking at me again, "What did you do?"
I give him a nervous smile, "I didn't do anything but you have to promise me you won't get mad."
He leans into his chair and crosses him arms. My initial plan was to sweet talk him into the problem but I gave up on that quickly since, well, it's Severus.
"Yesterday, you didn't hear Moody.", I start.
At first his face was reflecting confusion, like he was trying to figure out what exactly am I talking about.
"You heard Harry.", I say and he immediately puts the pieces together.
Without a word he stands up and I know what he's about to.
"Listen to me first.", I say and he frowns, "The boy has been breaking the rules for too long.", he speaks trying to avoid me but I block his path.
"Can you just listen to me first? I came to you because I trust you, not that you can place him in detention or take his points. Don't disappoint me, please.", I say firmly, looking at him.
After our little staring contest he rubs his eyes and sighs, leaning back on his table, "This better be good."
"Someone took Harry's map, some sort of a magic map and he was looking for it. The map went missing and after that your storage got broken into. Harry told me that the map shows you everyone in Hogwarts and thinks that's why they took it, so he won't be able to see the intruder. When he told me that I remembered the guy a saw a while ago, I told you about that.", I say and Severus narrows his eyes, looking to the side.
"Do you remember?", I ask after a few moments and he nods, "I do."
"I think that the person I saw is the same one that took his map AND broke into your storage.", I finish my theory.
"So what you and our friend Harry...", I roll my eyes to that, ..."are saying is that someone is making Polyjuice potion to cover their identity?", I can hear mockery in his voice and sigh, "You know what, I made a mistake coming to you. Dumbledore was a better option."
I turn around and grab my sword.
Before walking out of the classroom I turn around, "Do whatever you want but I'm standing behind Harry on this one."
X X X
"Someone is in a bad mood.", Loki comments as I walk towards him.
"Yea.", I say.
"Good. Put that energy into our training today.", he comments and I snort, "If I put that energy into our training, I'm going to kill you."
He smiles, "You can't kill me, I'm a God."
I nod, "Yea, let's not test that theory."
I grab my sword and look at him, "Really?"
He nods and our training begins.
This time I was a bit more effective. My strikes where stronger and Loki really struggled to block me and that made him obviously frustrated.
Our training lasted for about three hours and then we decided to call it quits, both really exhausted.
"You're improvement is impressive.", he comments between his breaths.
I smile, "How hard is it for you to admit that?"
"Not at all since I'm the reason you are better.", he says with a grin.
"Well, give credit where credit is due.", I say, packing my stuff.
"Tomorrow we'll focus on the magic part a bit more.", Loki comments and I nod, picking the sword and walking back towards the castle.
The snow started to fall again and I quicken the pace. Students are scattered in groups around the grounds, the main conversation being Yule Ball. I see Harry, Ron and Hermione talking and laughing, remembering my argument with Severus. Harry seems to be in a good mood so I suppose he didn't act his way out ...at least not yet.
Entering the castle I realize it's lunch time so I hurry to my room, not wanting to carry the sword around. The less people see it, the better.
As I exit my room I see Thor walking towards me.
I smile, "Hey stranger. You skipped breakfast."
"I was grading papers all night and overslept.", he informs me.
"Sorry for not being present lately.", I say, feeling bad for him.
He smiles, "It's okay. How's the training going?"
"Great. We finally connected.", I say and he looks at me, "Really? That's great. Did you call Fury?"
"No. I will handle that after the Ball."
"You coming to lunch?", he asks and I nod.
"I saw Severus earlier. He seemed to be in a bad mood.", Thor comments as we walk towards the Great Hall.
"Yea, we had a disagreement.", I say and Thor frowns, "What happened."
I sigh, "He thinks Harry is the one who broke into his storage and I kinda defended him."
"Hmm ...he really doesn't like the boy."
We enter Great hall and I scan the teachers table, looking for Severus but he wasn't present.
We take our seat and I pile food onto my plate. Moody enters the Great Hall and takes a seat next to me.
"Professor Stark.", he greets.
"Professor Moody.", I say, pouring water into my glass.
"Exited for the upcoming ball?", he asks.
"I guess. Actually I completely forgot about that.", I say honestly.
"Not much of a dancer?", he asks with a smile and I smile back, "You could say so."
"Well now, you don't want to disappoint your date.", he comments and I look at him, "My date?"
"You do have a date for the ball?", he asks and I frown, "I thought only students had dates for the ball. We as professors just, well, show up."
From the corner of my eye I see a so well known black figure walking towards us and tense up a little. I hope he will sit on the other side of the table.
"Oh, Severus! Why don't you join us.", Moody speaks up and I curse him under my breath.
Severus walks behind me and takes a seat next to Moody.
"Do you have a date for the ball?", he asks him and I hear Thor chuckling a little so I stomp his foot with mine, causing him to jump a little.
Fortunately, no one noticed that.
"What kind of question is that?", Severus asks, taking some meat and placing in on his plate.
"A fair one.", Moody comments, looking at me.
"I'm not a student, Alastor.", Severus comments, obviously irritated by his teasing.
"Oh come on, lighten up a little. Jolly times are coming.", Moody speaks and Severus rolls his eyes.
"I can come with you.", Thor speaks and we all turn towards him.
"With Evelyn, I mean.", Thor clears that up since we all gave him a confused look.
"Sure.", I say with a smile.
After lunch I decide to go into Room of Requirement and do some additional sword training. Thor question regarding Fury reminded me that our mission is soon taking a dangerous turn. As far as I know, we haven't heard from doctor Strange and my knowledge of time traveling is non-existing. Only thing I know is that's dangerous.
I do a quick warmup before pulling out my sword and practicing some moves. One thing I've noticed is that the sword doesn't feel so heavy anymore. But there's one thing I still don't understand.
I look at the sword laying in my hands, "What do you do exactly? Because for now you still feel like a normal weapon ...in a sense."
"New friend?"
I jump a little and look at the person who asked the question.
"How did you know where I was?", I ask.
"The Room of Requirement shows up when you need it and gives you what you need.", he explains and continues, "Am I interrupting?"
"Never.", I repeat his words and a small smile appears on his face.
"It's hard not to see his father in him when he acts so much like him...", he speaks, taking a few steps towards me, "...but I didn't act upon my feelings. Peace with you is more important to me than who is wrong or who is right."
"I'm sorry for walking out the way that I did.", I say, now realizing how much this has been bugging me the whole day.
"It was necessary. Without that I would probably go to Minerva, demanding sanctions ...but I didn't want to disappoint you."
"You could never disappoint me.", I say as I walk towards him, wrapping my arms around his body and melting into this beautiful feeling of security this man gives me.
"How did your meeting with Tony go?", he asks as we separate.
"Good actually. I think he's still struggling with certain feelings but we are on a good path."
"What about your feelings?", he asks.
"Well, I am who I am and apparently I made amens with that since this thing is cooperating.", I say, pointing to the sword.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Can I sleep by your side tonight?", I ask looking at him and he smiles, "Always."