PART 19

"EVANNA", Hermione whispered , tapping the girl's shoulder , as the Ravenclaw in question had her head bent over a book. Looking rather irate , she looked up to meet Hermione's warm , caramel eyes.

The air in the library was still , the spectral silence accentuated by the echo of the chair as the bushy haired Gryffindor pulled it , and the rustle of the pages that Evanna turned. Evanna's claret hued jumper , tucked into light trousers gleamed in the autumn sunlight that invaded the spacious room through the stained glass windows. Linen curtains swayed with the oncoming zephyr that blended into the vellichor emanating from the shelves of books , and Evanna sat watching as the sunlight illuminated Hermione's tense brows.

Twiddling with her thumbs , the Gryffindor cleared her throat.

Evanna had known she was being watched the moment she had entered the safe haven housing books. She had been aware of the three pairs of watchful eyes set upon her being as she had weaved her way through the mahogany shelves.

Through her peripheral gaze , she could see a mop of jet black hair , and a ginger-haired Gryffindor watching their interaction from a few tables away , occasionally fumbling with books to appear oblivious.

Evanna was aware that whatever Hermione was about to reveal was vital information. Which was a sign that the Golden Trio trusted her just enough. Hermione produced her chestnut wand from the pocket of her scarlet-hemmed robes , giving it a slight flick - enveloping the duo seated at the table with sparks of vermillion , signifying the casting of the silencing charm.

"Evanna you are aware that Umbridge is hardly teaching any proper defensive magic , yes ?", Hermione began finally. Evanna dropped the quill from her fingers , leaning forward onto the table , her chin resting nonchalantly on her palm as she eyed the girl in front of her.

"I do. And so what ?"

"Well , we were thinking of forming a - a sort of a defense magic group. Harry is well versed in Defense Against the Dark Arts , and we have decided to form an affiliation of students who believe that You-Know-Who is back and wish to refine their magical capabilities. We heard that you believe that You-Know-Who is back as well , so we wanted for you to join the group", Hermione finished with a slight pant , catching her breath as her irises patiently scanned Evanna's cerulean ones.

For quite some time , Hermione had had suspicions regarding the enigmatic girl. Her doubts had first surfaced when Harry had returned one night , quite late , to the Gryffindor Common Room in a seeming daze. For days after he had repeated the words like a religious chant ,"Extremely similar to Tom Riddle."

Who was similar to Tom Riddle ? She had scoured the library , where she found answers to most questions - but none this time around. Yet , a vague inscription she had found embedded on an old , fraying yellow page of a genealogy book had provided a riveting piece of information.

The Frey and Gaunt families were tied.

So , could it possibly be that Evanna was related to Tom Riddle ? The Tom Riddle who had morphed into a monster , who had transformed into something so feral that the devil itself failed to compete ; and Evanna seemed so saint like in comparison , that even the witch had an arduous time believing what was seemingly the truth.

She did not know much of Tom Riddle , but from whatever she had heard from the Boy-Who-Lived , she was aware that he was an extremely confidential person , had been blessed with enticing features in his youth and was intelligent beyond the wits of mankind.

Attributes which matched that of the girl seated opposite her.

A subtle sting perforated through the walls of her mind , and Hermione immediately pushed all her thoughts away , concentrating on keeping the intruder out. She was jolted out of her reverie when Evanna spoke softly ,"Call the other two over."

Hermione's eyes widened ever so slightly , and she beckoned Harry and Ron to come over to the table.

As they seated themselves beside Hermione , Evanna said ,"I can't join your group."

This baffled the bushy haired witch.

"But I am willing to be a spy."

"A spy ? We don't need a spy", Harry hissed.

Evanna smirked , before speaking ," Well , Potter , it isn't only you who is forming a group."

"What are you insinuating ?", Ron asked , fingers brushing across the edge of the wooden table.

"Umbridge is forming a sort of student association as well. If not now , it will be ready a week later. She has got news of lots students sneaking out to Hogsmeade on the same day , which , I am assuming - was probably your lot as you all tried to attend a meeting. If she forms the association , I will be asked to join since Umbridge favours me.

After which , she will probably ask all of us to locate your group's location , and you know the consequences if we do. Having a spy on the other side will help you operate smoothly for quite sometime."

"What are your conditions ?" Hermione spouted quickly. It had dawned upon the bright Gryffindor that whatever Evanna was only the unavoidable truth , and having a spy would help them escape Umbridge's force. But it had also been evident that Evanna would possibly ask for something in return.

"Conditions ? Why can't you be a spy for free ?", Ron scoffed with an air of incredulity.

Evanna let out a low chuckle , sending a shiver down the spines of all three. Leaning back casually on her chair , she crossed her arms over her chest before speaking ,"Because it is foolish not to ask for something in return."

"My conditions are quite simple. I get to participate as a member of your group whenever I feel like it , and I will conceal it to the best of my abilities when questioned about it. However , in return , I want to be updated on Potter's activities", Evanna said , pointing at Harry.

"Harry's activities ?", Hermione asked , raising a brow.

"For instance , how he is going to be taking Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape", She inferred with a lazy curve of her lips.

The three gasped , discreetly glancing at each other. Giving her updates on Harry's dreams , what he did inside and outside of school and the fact that he had a seeming connection with Voldemort , was spilling too much information - especially when their could be prying ears around the castle.

As though reading their minds , Evanna clarified ,"The word won't get out."

Hermione let out a sigh , agreeing to the terms.

"Excellent", Evanna's mused , strawberry lips curving into a grin that was ever present on her lovely face as she rose from her chair , swinging her bag over her shoulder as she proceeded to leave. Walking a few steps ahead , she halted in her steps , before turning around and tracing her steps back to the bushy-haired witch.

Bending down , so that her lips were lined directly with Hermione's ear - Evanna whispered," And yes , your suspicions regarding my lineage are correct."

                                                             _________________________

Hordes of students thronged the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade , the din of their chatter and laughter rising from deep within their throats. The heavens were streaked with pensive shades of mercury , washed across by faint hues of amber - a billow of dove grey cirrus floating past like the sable wings of a bird at flight.

Through their midst , thirteen students paved their way through the crowd with considerable expertise , hardly drawing any attention towards themselves as they all headed for a common destination.

The bronze bell chimed with a distinct sound above their heads , as they entered in pairs or groups of three. Evanna occupied a cold leather seat at the center of the dingy pub. The air around her hung low , and still with the slight stench of alcohol lingering within the fragments.  Her fingers fumbled with the fraying ends of the leather , patiently awaiting the others to show up.

Murmuring an enchantment under her breath , she watched as cochineal flickers illuminated the space around her  before dying down. At the chime of the bell , her eyes flitted towards the door , watching the entering pairs one by one. She softly greeted each one of them , before engaging in small talk with Daphne and Blaise. Evanna , however  , concentrated her eyes towards the door , waiting for the arrival of a pale haired boy.

A bit of familiar , nacreous hair which she saw through her peripheral vision distracted her once again , her eyes training on the familiar figure of Draco Malfoy as she rested her chin on her hand with an air of nonchalance.

Draco had been avoiding Evanna ever since their last encounter at the Ravenclaw Tower , for a reason unknown to himself , and by the looks of it she , she hadn't tried to reach out to him. The only thing he was slightly aware of was that her presence now irked him.

He seated himself on the chair directly opposed to her , aware of Evanna's blue irises on himself , both aware of the brimming tension between them. He noticed that she held herself straighter than before , an ambience of confidence surrounding her - pale skin and limp long healed. Yet , Draco observed , how her index finger absent mindedly twisted the brilliant sapphire of the ring on her left hand - that shone as though it had been sculpted from a piece of an azure Italian sky - a quirk of hers he knew she did whenever she was nervous.

Draco didn't even realise when he had picked up on such little habits of hers - like how she bit the insides of her cheeks whenever she was perplexed , or how she furrowed her brows or closed her eyes when immersed in the depths of her mind. Perhaps it had all just happened over the due course of their recently incised friendship , or perhaps it was Draco's mere curiousity regarding the conundrum veiled beneath mesmerising ocean eyes.

Tranquility fell upon the thirteen students gathered at the table , all engaged in hushed conversations with their friends , and the platinum haired boy's star-like gaze travelled up to the lone Hufflepuff in their midst - bronze hair cascading his honey eyes and gold scarf neatly around his neck.

Raising a brow at the presence of Cedric Diggory , before finally gathering up the courage to ask Evanna a casual question. Connecting his stare with hers , he enquired in a muffled tone ,"What is Diggory doing here ?"

"I convinced him to come for our meeting. He is quite efficient in defense magic considering he is a seventh year", Evanna whispered back , glee in her eyes.

She leaned forward onto the table , effectively silencing whatever slight murmurs had prevailed. Her semblance was one of superiority , and yet accentuated within itself a segment of granite sureness.

As she began speaking , her words flowing through the air in sombre tones - filling their ears like some euphonious strains of a violin , Draco observed how the students surrounding him clung onto her words like Mahomet's coffin - between the beguiling realm of heaven , and the winsome roots of earth - drowning themselves into a sea of rasasvada. They held onto her words as though it paved an only way for them to escape the perils that jeopardized the world outside their oblivious life safe within the walls of the castle on the moors.

Her way with words mirrored the way an artist moved their brush across the canvas to paint whatever they pleased , almost as though they believed in their creation - however despotic , however other-worldly it would be. She pulled the strings in the correct places , invisible threads of ivory spinning from her fingertips and compelling them to obey her macabre words like puppets without a will.

And it scared Draco out of his wits.

He was slowly , but surely , witnessing an absolutely new meaning of the phrase Evanna had uttered years ago in the clearing behind the Malfoy Manor.

"I want to do something great. I wish to be the best."

"A war is looming over our heads , ready to reduce us to ashes like a merciless thunder. There are two sides in this war , one dark - the other light. Both hold their own beliefs , both preceded by our parents and ancestors who wish us to concede to their beliefs in a game where we are nothing but mere pawns. The Dark Side firmly believes that muggle-borns are nothing more than the scum of the earth , people who must we must be purged of. But that is not so , especially when the wizarding race will come to a tragic end if muggle-borns do not enter our world. As purebloods , we may not like them - but it does not mean we take an active stand against them and disrupt peace.

As for the Light Side , it wants equality for muggle-borns , but equality means no discrimination against purebloods , half-bloods , or muggle-borns. It means viewing all under the same light. But if the Light Side seizes control it will not stop to obliterate the existence of ancient pureblood lines who have their names associated with You-Know-Who. It will not try to accept us , only judging us by our last names. The Light Side , till today believes that the world is split into Death Eaters and good people. It does not try to understand the two perspectives , only seeing the things through one angle. If they take control of the Ministry after the war  Slytherin purebloods would still be labelled as the wrongdoers , so many fingers would be pointed at such families - no matter what level of redemption they will have achieved.

We don't want war , things can be won with diplomacy. There is no need to create disorder , and cause turmoil among all. This chaos , organising this chaos is what we call magic.  And here we arise -

The Third Alliance."

                                                            _________________________

Draco Malfoy , if asked , would always have firmly denied that Evanna Frey could even have an ounce of malignancy. But as he watched her speak with such passion , regarding topics even politicians older than her were terrified to touch in fear of ruining their name - he realised that , perhaps , a portion of her grotesque , ungodly side hid underneath her enchanting charm , and winsome appearance.

Her malignancy was unmatched , sky blue eyes brimming over with devilish intentions. All along , she had just concealed her macabre inclinations behind a façade of wealth , polished brilliance and natural allure.

Even Cedric Diggory , a person of strong morals and loyalty carved in the hardest of stones - coincided to some of Evanna's views. Evanna did not hesitate to answer questions from any of the students , clarifying any hint of doubt that had clouded their minds , often going further enough to pinpoint things none had noticed before - such as the Dark Lord himself being a student like them , a half-blood born from the union of Merope Gaunt and a muggle - conceived under the effects of amortentia - manipulating one and all.

The sky darkened , the onset of twilight settling over the wooden shingles of the shops that lined the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade. Tufts of gauze-like clouds obscured the fading sun of sanguine that drowned behind the trees of peridot that ringed the moors.

Almost everyone had left , only Draco and Evanna somehow lingering behind. As the said boy rose up to leave , a soft voice compelled him to halt in his steps.

"You've been avoiding me", Evanna said , her voice laced with slight disappointment, Her pensive gaze was connected with that of the boy's , who seemingly gulped.

She sighed , eyes dawning with the realisation of something that to Draco seemed far away - and she continued in the same soft undertones.

"You're scared of me."

This sentence was uttered not in joyous tones , but in a rather ruminative stature. It appeared that Evanna was not disappointed at Draco , but at herself.

"I'm not", Draco tried to reassure - but both knew that a part of Draco would always be somewhat wary of the girl , despite how close he had grown towards her and the fact that he would always try to look out for her.

"You shouldn't be", Evanna said , twisting the stone of her ring , before her gaze flitted back towards his regal features. 

"You were the one who asked , and I only said the truth darling", Evanna replied with a small smile.

She was beginning to wonder that if she could keep the boy with mere sentences , what dreadful thing would happen had she even allowed him a glimpse of her real self - the Evanna Frey who could put the devil to shame.

[ THE FORMATION OF THE THIRD SIDE , FINALLY. QUITE A LONG CHAPTER , TO BE HONEST. THANK YOU FOR FOUR HUNDRED VIEWS.

WITH ALL MY HEART ,

ORPHIC_MOON ]