PART 34

                                                                             8th June , 1988

"Mother... do I have to ?", enquired the shaking voice of an eight year old Evanna , hand inching out to touch the injured bird that whimpered even as the summer breeze caressed it's dove grey feathers.

Summer had arrived soon , and Evanna was counting days to when she would finally escape the tyranny of her mother - to the confines of the school she had dreamt of ever since she was capable enough to read. Her eyes travelled up the blades of grass that tickled her bare ankles , amaranthine frock fluttering in the zephyr - her hair  , even longer , falling in waves past her delicate shoulders.

Evanna's gaze connected with that of her mother's. Crystalline blue voids of a frigid , untamed flame alight in her stern gaze. The wounded bird lay between them , a barrier between the older woman and her daughter.

Practise with her mother had always been difficult , the bruises marring her lacerated skin were enough to  bear proof to it. But she had not known that it would come to a point as inescapable as this one.

"Yes."

A gulp resounded in her throat , and she inhaled deeply. How she wished she were at the Malfoy Manor , adorning Draco with flower crowns. Her fingers clenched together , nails digging cerise crescents onto her palm.

She stared ahead at the bird , wishing to heal it instead of killing it without any reason.

"Do it !", Her mother shrieked , uttering a non-verbal charm that sent a jarring throb down Evanna's spine. She flinched at the despotic tone in her mother's voice , and with a soft , quick intonation she uttered the spell that would decide the fate of the bird that lay sprawled across the gentle soil.

A horrible sound of a neck snapping echoed between the duo , and the girl opened her eyes to find the bird - mangled , speckles of blood coating it's once pure plumage.

Unbeknownst to Evanna , it was just the beginning.

                                                                ___________________________

SEPTEMBER skies flawlessly reflected the chaos that brewed untamed within her soul , as she found herself standing once again in front of the scarlet train - smoke billowing into the air. Hordes of owls hooted from within their cages , the resounding noise of wheels scraping against the ground , the sound of shoes brushing through echoing in the air as the crowd passed by her. In the fleet of a moment , it had felt as though months had passed by. A month had gone by since she had last had a glimpse of Draco , she had succeeded in knowing more about Vanishing Cabinets , had visited the one in Borgin and Burke's , and most importantly -

Evanna Frey had failed to retrieve the diadem.

It enraged her , whenever the unpleasant memory of the pointless trip would cross her mind. Blaise and her had asked everywhere , threatened everyone who had even claimed to lay eyes upon the diadem in the past , and yet they had emerged unsuccessful in their endeavor.

Her fingers brushed against the black stone embedded upon the ring of gold that she wore along with the ring bearing her family emblem , as well as her signature sapphire ornament. It was the Gaunt ring , the only seeming change done upon it was the removal of the  original stone engraved on the gold band. Evanna had replaced it with a plain obsidian.

One good thing that had occurred was that she was now the owner of one of the three Deathly Hallows.

The story she had so ridiculed was proven true when she had been examining the Gaunt ring one evening. Drawn into the stone was a diagram of a triangle , a line dividing it into two halves and a circle at the base of the triangle.

It was the symbol of the Deathly Hallows , and the stone on the Gaunt Ring was in reality the Resurrection Stone given righteously to the second Peverell brother. The Slytherin family , which ultimately divulged into the Gaunt line - held the ring to itself as a celebrated heirloom.

She smiled , as she thought of the stone that granted eternal life- literally and figuratively within the fist of her hand , it's powers draining into her like thunder into the soft earth from rain clouds.

And yet , for some reason , she felt an even greater happiness as she saw Draco again , than she felt from having the stone within her grasp. Standing detached , as others gave him looks. The 'Malfoys' Fall From Grace' article in the Daily Prophet had spread like a wildfire much to her displeasure - and a horde of people walked past him like the passing currents of the untamed , violent sea that crashed against jagged rocks - judging him for being a Malfoy.

As though it were his fault for being born into the family.

 She shook her head firmly , removing the thoughts as she shot daggers at everyone - the crowd parting like the red sea , as she walked up to him. Evanna remained careful to suppress her inner urge to hold him in a tight embrace and never let go - because she knew that it would be dangerous.

Her cranberry lips curved upwards into a soft smile , as the boy turned to face her - heaving an audible sigh of relief as he staggered forward to hug her. She fully wished to reciprocate his touch , phosphenes fogging her mind as mint invaded her veins - but she only wrapped one arm around his torso , her head resting on his shoulder.

                                                                        ____________________________

Draco Malfoy had had the worst summer in his life of almost two decades. After Evanna's sudden leave for some urgent trip to Albania of which he hardly knew - he had returned to the same routine that had followed before her short visit.

And he came to know of things he wished would have remained a secret to him for the remainder of his life.

After knowing more about Lyra Frey , he suddenly didn't grieve her death , nor even slightly pity her anymore.

She deserved it , was what he thought. She couldn't have gone unpunished for what she had been doing to Evanna. How could he have been so blind to her pain ? The very obvious reason why she never spoke of her mother very much in public , nor be within ten feet of her if possible. Both avoiding each other , as though the only bond that existed between them was that they shared the same last name and the same roof.

As he walked through the passing crowds , aware of the stares that bore into his very bones , his moondust eyes searched for the Ravenclaw. His girlfriend.

Girlfriend. It felt so natural , yet so very surreal all at once - the lines between his wishful fantasies and reality had blurred together long ago.

A crisp , austere air of trepidation followed his footsteps as he waited in front of the train - listening to his Mother , as she asked him to enjoy his time at Hogwarts. As if he would. 

Narcissa Malfoy had been a nervous wreck after the official arrest of her husband , and there was nothing he could do except stand and watch as she held onto his remains as though he were never to return.

He held his mother's hands , whispering in the most comforting tone he could muster ,"Mother , I will be fine. Please don't worry yourself while I am gone , I will be just fine."

Draco heard distinct footsteps behind him , and he turned to find Evanna standing there - her ashen cat on the ground next to her feet - staring at him with navy eyes - Evanna's fingers tightly clenched around the handle of her trunk.

And in that moment , he felt the rest of the world slowly melt around him. Each person , only the reminiscent waxen of a burnt candle ; each person merely paint that melted into rivers onto the canvas - and he felt , and heard of none's presence but her.

He had been worried sick , but now he saw her - and the kerfuffle of the platform vanished into the air - and he leaned forward to wrap his arms around , remembering to be gentle. He buried his face in the crook of her neck , inhaling the whirling fragrance of lavender and honey. Maybe she was surprised , or tired , but she did not return the hug. Although he was confused , he simply brushed it off with no further doubts.

Evanna's cat let out a mewl , and they pulled apart , only smiling at each other - they did not need to ask how the other was doing , they both knew that in the ultimatum of time , they were together despite all troubles and they had the courage to face whatever was coming. The Ravenclaw scooped her cat up from the ground , letting the feline rest on her shoulder.

Evanna turned away from him to greet his mother , and in that fleet of a moment , Draco took the liberty of truly examining her. Her porcelain skin had an even paler sheen to it , the violet crescents visibly etched underneath her eyes. Her collar bones seemed more refined , her frame visibly thinner although she still stood straight with the same fierce glint and an assertion of confidence in her steps.

They walked away from Narcissa , her figure retreating into the dense crowd as Draco and Evanna boarded the train , before walking down the sparse corridors and settling into an empty compartment. As she settled herself down , and he sat next to her - Draco asked ,"Are you alright , love ?"

Evanna flashed him a pearly smile that took every ounce of energy from her drained body to muster , yet it did not convince the concern-stricken boy. Her cat jumped off her shoulder , curling itself on Evanna's lap before falling asleep immediately.

Evanna let out a laugh , petting the feline. "I was thinking of letting you both get comfortable around each other , but apparently Cal is not in the mood."

"Is that her name ?", Draco questioned. Evanna shook her head , retorting with a smile ,"No , its Calypso. A very elegant name , I know - but I like it. I call her Cal."

Draco smiled as he watched his girlfriend embraced her cat gently , and he said ,"Well , I am sure we will have many more opportunities to get used to each other."

With a low rumble , the Hogwarts Express moved further onto its tracks - and with a book opened on his lap as he took a seat next to Evanna  - he saw through his peripheral vision as she struggled to keep her eyes open.

"You can sleep , you know that right ?"

"Huh", She said absently , before nodding and closing her eyes - head falling with a soft thump onto his shoulder. Despite having felt her touch for almost a year , it still sent pleasant shivers down his spine. He kept his book away , one hands entwining with Evanna's - while the other stroked her copper hair.

Pressing a loving kiss on her temple , he whispered gently ,"I want to help you Evanna , please let me help you."

[ A/N : FINALLY I UPDATED ]