PART 36

                                                         9th December , 1992 

Whispers of the monster were abysmal in the tepid wind , trepidation inching into youthful hearts before stealing away the drops of molten sunshine that had graced their ignorant days. Now it was hushed whispers , and an early escapade to the safety of their respective dormitories. No one knew what the beast was or how it looked for the matter , except it petrified people - more specifically , muggle-borns and half-bloods.

Hogwarts was being haunted by what had happened fifty years ago , the dangers inevitable as history repeated itself once forth. 

The purebloods , on the contrary , basked through the hallways as though everything was ordinary. Well , the foolish lot of them. The rest of the students who donned emerald remained cautious in their endeavours.

On the 9nth of December , Evanna had been seated on an armchair by the hearth inside the Ravenclaw Common Room - everyone a safe distance away from her , as she silently read a book ; when a third year clambered into the room , appearance dishevelled. The third year was named Mirella Smith , a muggle-born. Mirella's once carefully braided golden hair was out of place , and her put-together robes appeared to be wrinkled , face streaked with glistening tears.

Her semblance radiated anger and sadness , and she seemed to search the room as all fell silent - before Mirella's rage filled retinas finally landed upon a quiet Evanna. The latter looked up , brows wrinkling in faux confusion.

Mirella huffed ,  before stalking closer to the second-year - hands curling around Evanna's collar as she harshly pulled the girl up. Mirella's face was only inches away from Evanna's , the former's grip tightening around Evanna's collar , as she gritted out ,"Where is my sister ?"

Evanna's passive , unafraid expression morphed into one of horror , as she said ,"D-did something happen to her ?"

"Where is she ?", Mirella yelled.

"Maya had Herbology this morning , after which she said she wanted to visit the library - so I left her a-alone", Evanna stuttered , the traces of tears gracing the corners of her innocent eyes.

"No ! It is you , Frey. I told Maya to stay away from you", Mirella continued. "You caused this !"

"I don't- I don't understand. What happened to her ?", Evanna pressed , her tone betraying some urgency in it.

Before Mirella could raise her temper any further - the doors to the Ravenclaw Common Room burst open to reveal Professor Flitwick , rushing in to calm Mirella.

"Miss Smith ! Put down Miss Frey at once !", Professor Flitwick squeaked , pulling his wand out to break them apart.

"No Professor , it is her. This freak is the reason my sister is missing", Mirella gritted out - before dropping Evanna's collar. Mirella's knees collapsed , as she fell to the floor , kneeling as she buried her face into her hands , weeping her heart out.

Professor Flitwick placed a comforting hand on her shoulder , before offering Evanna a kind smile.

"Miss Frey , it would be adviced if you could go to your dormitory. And Miss Smith , we have found your sister", the Professor said- immediately grasping Mirella's attention , as she stood up to follow Flitwick out of the common room , but not before sneering at Evanna.

Evanna , on the other hand , maintained a passive face - catching the words "under the lake" and "petrified" , as she passed the Head of her House and Mirella on her way to the dormitory. As she closed the door behind her , a sigh escaped Evanna's lips.

She immediately discarded her robe - patting her hand over it as though she were dusting the filth off the obsidian robe. Dropping it on her bed , she waltzed towards the window made of stained glass - which looked out onto the lush green grounds , the flower courts in the distance , as well as a part of the Black Lake.

She watched through impassive eyes , as the Headmaster levitated a body out of the waters , Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick standing by as he did so. Evanna observed as Mirelle's knees crumbled to the soil , and she wrapped the body in an embrace.

But Maya would survive. Obviously. She was merely petrified.

Evanna turned away from the scene , deciding to sleep early. It was tough work afterall , hiding a body.

                                                         ___________________________

"IT'S just the beginning of term , too early to call me here , don't you think ?", Evanna asked , twirling her signature sapphire ring between her fingers - her gaze moving up towards the silhouette of the aged wizard shifting in front of the moonlit threshold. Dumbledore did not meet her gaze , neither answer her question , but simply smiled before giving his head a gentle shake.

He walked towards the mahogany table at the center of the dimly lit room , taking a seat there - before simply saying ,"I just wished to see how you were doing. Seeing as you have recently changed sides." With that , he glanced to the slightly exposed part of her left wrist. Evanna followed his gaze , sneering before pulling her arm away.

"I have not changed sides. A temporary alliance", Evanna spoke softly.

"So , the pact we made before the summer , stands cancelled ?"

"Yes , since I have found my footing in the game."

"You do know anyone can hear us , right ?"

"I placed a silencing charm around this table."

He nodded at her efficiency , and she waited in silence - waiting for him to say something.

"Professor , if you have nothing to say , may I depart to my dormitory ? I feel weary", Evanna concluded , pressing him to quicken the matter up. She did not know for what exact reason she had been summoned - but she had a hunch that it was because she had recently acquired possession of a certain something.

"Miss Frey , what you have is not ambition. It is , in fact , nothing more than plain greed", Dumbledore spoke in a low voice , as his twinkling eyes rested on the obsidian ring adorning Evanna's index finger.

"That greed is what keeps me alive , Professor. It drives me further , and in a case as mine - I think greed is good."

"But love is an even stronger force."

"And where has love every gotten you , Professor ?", Evanna challenged.

 "Why don't you tell your golden boy Potter about the horcruxes ? He is too much of a cretin as it is - why not tell him ? Using him as a scapegoat won't ease your crimes."

"Harry , is not ready to know. He needs time , Miss Frey - and I have my full faith in Miss Granger , that she will solve the riddles", Dumbledore said with a smile , cerulean irises glinting behind half-moon spectacles.

A moment of silence followed , unnatural and impregnable , and Evanna directed her line of vision towards a piece of silver that shone in the light of the moon , hidden behind the lined glass of the cupboard that stood aloof in one corner of the room - scintillating as the mercury light of the heavenly bodies touched upon the material.

"What is that ?",Evanna questioned - as she dragged herself up , gracefully inching towards the object which appeared to be a picture frame gilded in silver.

As she found herself walking closer , she could make out the numerous faces on the black and white picture , the smiling faces and the waving hands as they chattered and laughed. It was a moving picture of course , with a calligraphic inscription reading ,"Class of 1944."

Dumbledore remained quiet , observing as she slid open the doors of the cupboard , fingers curling around the picture. Professor Dumbledore , and Professor Slughorn stood between the horde of students - and she could visibly make out the picture of a charming , handsome young boy right next to the latter. His tie was striped - ensemble flawless , his eyes and smile too similar to Evanna's.

He was the valedictorian , of course , but Evanna found something new and peculiar.

Standing next to him , holding his hand so subtly that it was difficult to make out , was a girl Evanna had never aid eyes upon. She was alluring of course , and Evanna could feel the stare of the unknown girl's beautiful whiskey eyes upon her own frame.

The valedictorian , Tom Riddle , smiled ever-so-slightly whenever he titlted his head towards her direction , and she returned the subtle yet warm gesture. And it was not Lyra Frey.

"Who is that ?", Evanna asked , caution and confusion lacing into her tone. Dumbledore let out a chuckle , gaze fixed at the twinkling balls of firedust that gleamed in the distant night sky - simply replying ,"Iris Lestrange."

Evanna whirled around on her heels , arching a perfect brow before questioning ,"Sister of Caligula Lestrange ?"

"Precisely , Miss Frey."

"And why are they smiling at each other ........ like that ?" , Evanna asked once more. Her innards were twisting , questions racing through her mind and her soul demanded a proper answer.

"I think you know that answer yourself", Dumbledore spoke , turning around to face her with his kindly smile. And then , it clicked in her mind.

Lestrange and Riddle. Her mother had never mentioned any girl named Iris who had ever been a part of Tom Riddle's life , however.

"Tom admired your mother , yes. But it was simply because of her material values , her manipulative abilities , her ambition and her skills as an extremely accomplished witch , of course", The Headmaster began. He strolled closer to her , reaching out for the frame in her hands , gently pulling it away - before smiling down at the picture.

"But with Miss Lestrange , it had always been different. I was beginning to think that maybe ....... he was finally beginning to accept and ease into her love , loving her back with all his might."

Drawing in a scattered breath , Evanna composed herself - turning away to walk down through the spiral staircase and into the comfort of the night. But before she could take a step further.

"Her death in the first wizarding war , made him what he is today. I fear that the same may happen to you , Miss Frey."

She halted in her steps , wind whipping in her ears - fists clenching till carmine crescents were engraved on the delicate skin of her palm.

"He failed , but I will not."

"Every story has many perspectives , but it is written on the same paper", Dumbledore smiled knowingly , and although Evanna couldn't see his face - the aged wizard's presence now infuriated her more than ever.

"Miss Frey , history never fails to repeat itself -"

"Nothing , and I say nothing - will happen to Draco !", Evanna bellowed in thundering anger , her wand digging into the Headmaster's throat in the split of a second. He remained calm , his unnerving stare drifting towards the intricate pattern of Evanna's wand.

"So stop insinuating", She breathed out , retracting her wand into her holster.

As she stormed out of the circular room , she breathed out a sigh of relief - strings of cold sweat beaded onto her forehead as her fingers fumbled into her pockets - pulling out a familiar silver box , lighting a cigarette. 

Leaning against a wall in melanoid darkness , silver smoke clouding her vision as relief coursed through her veins.

Nothing would happen to Draco. He would stay by her side , until the end of time.

Death would obey its master.

[ A/N : sorry , loves. no more chapter updates till exams end :'( 

Hope you enjoyed. I have a math exam first thing tomorrow ]