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CHAPTER FIFTEEN. TUTORING SESSIONS

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It was the third tutoring session that Evangeline and Ron had had in the library. The boy was completely hopeless. Evangeline found herself reteaching the same thing with each session. He was unable to grasp the concept and keep it in his mind at the same time. It was quite frustrating for her, to say the least.

She was currently glaring at the boy as he asked her to go over the movement of planets. She wouldn't have had a problem with it if she hadn't already explained it to him seven times in the span of twenty minutes. "It isn't that difficult, Ronald. It's probably one of the most simple concepts," she said with her head resting in the palm of her hand.

"I know, I know. It's just, why do the planets revolve around the sun?" He said. "Because the Sun's gravity pulls them toward it and keeps them in orbit," Evangeline answered again. Ron nodded, "Okay. So, what's gravity?" Evangeline's mouth fell open in shock. Was he serious? "You are the most aggravating person that I have ever met in my entire life!" She said for the umpteenth time that day.

"Bloody hell! How many times are you gonna say that?" He muttered. "As many times as it takes for you to stop being aggravating," she replied, her eyes narrowed. "Well forgive me for trying to pass Astronomy," he said, his own eyes narrowing. "If you don't know what gravity is, I'm sorry but you won't be passing Astronomy anytime soon," Evangeline responded with a shrug.

"Well, it's your job to make me understand all of this," he said. "My job? I don't have to help you. I'm doing it out of the kindness of my heart," she replied. Ron laughed, "Kindness? Heart? Since when do you have either of those things?" He meant it as a joke, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how insulting they were. He opened his mouth again, ready to apologize when she threw a crumpled up piece of parchment at his face.

His mouth snapped shut and he looked at her to see that she was smiling, no, laughing. It wasn't long, but it was enough to make him completely mesmerized. She rolled her eyes at him and looked down at the open book in front of her. Ron Weasley stared at her in complete awe. The sound that came out of her mouth was not only pleasant, but also contagious. A smile of his own came to his face.

Evangeline looked back up at him and noticed his stare, rolling her eyes again. "You're doing it again," she noted. He shook his head, snapping himself out of the daze. "Doing what?" He asked. "Staring," she stated. "Sorry," he muttered, "It's just, I've never seen you smile before, let alone laugh."

"Oh," she said. "It's nice. Your smile. And your laugh too," he rushed. "Thanks, Ronald," Evangeline said, her cheeks beginning to tint a rosy pink. "You can call me Ron. If you want," he replied. She nodded her head before picking up her textbook and placing it in front of it. "Here. The definition of gravity," she said, pointing to it on the page. He was still looking at her though, something she noticed. She snapped her fingers in his face to get his attention, pointing at the book again when she got it.

Evangeline leaned back in her chair as Ron read the words, writing something down on the parchment in front of him. When he was done he handed her the book back, muttering a thanks. The two became immersed in silence. The air around them had grown awkward. "So, uh, Christmas is coming up. Any plans for the holiday?" Ron said, breaking the silence. Evangeline shrugged, "I don't know. We usually don't do much with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. The occasional party. Expensively stupid gifts, if they decide to buy us gifts that year. Vivian and I usually go ice skating in London."

"Ice skating?" Ron asked in confusion. "I know, I know. It's a very Muggle thing to do. But a few years back, Vivian learned about figuring skating in Muggle Studies. She thought it sounded fun and wanted me to try it with her so I did. It's fun," Evangeline explained. "Hermione used to talk about ice skating with her parents. Maybe I should try it out sometime," he said and she nodded.

"You should. And if you decide to do it, let me know. Maybe I could teach you. I'm sort of a pro now," she said the last sentence as a joke. Ron's heart pounded in his chest as he nodded. "Y-yeah. That would be, cool," he said. "Great," she replied. Silence again. "What about you? What're your plans for the holidays?" She asked him.

"Oh, um, nothing much. Just spending time with my family. Mum always makes a nice dinner. And desserts, her desserts are incredible. Every year, she makes my siblings and I jumpers with our first initial on it. It's kinda lame but it makes her happy. We usually exchange presents before dinner. It's never much but I don't mind. I'm with my family so it's always a good time," he said.

She lowered her eyes slightly, sadness taking over her body. She then sent him a small, forced smile and nodded. "That sounds, really nice," she told him honestly. He didn't seem to notice the shift in her mood, nodding his own head in agreement. "It really is," he said. Evangeline looked down at the watch on her wrist before looking back up at him.

"I should go. I have an Ancient Runes exam coming up and I still have to study," she began packing up her things. Ron nodded his head in understanding. "I'll see you later," she concluded, standing up from the chair and walking away from the table before he could reply.

She sped out of the library and down the corridor, wanting nothing more than to get to her room. She stopped abruptly when a figure stepped in front of her. Evangeline glowered at the boy, her mood turning sour. "What do you want, Bartholomew?" She questioned in annoyance.  He smirked, "Well for one, you to stop calling me Bartholomew."

"Why? That's your name," she said. He rolled his eyes. "Unfortunately. But seriously, just call me Barry like everyone else," he said. It was her turn to roll her eyes. "Whatever. Get out of my way," she replied. She attempted to move around him but he blocked her path. "I've noticed a few things. Things that are very concerning," he said. She blinked, completely fed up the boy already. He continued, "You seem to be spending time with Harry Potter and his friends."

Evangeline sighed, her patience running thin. "Your point?" She asked. "I do remember a time when you didn't like them," he noted. She shrugged. "Why the change the of heart?" She shrugged again. He rolled his eyes, "Come on, Evangeline. Just tell me what this is. Or do I have to tell my parents about this budding friendship with Potter." Evangeline shrugged for a third time, "Tell them whatever you want. I don't care."

"They won't be pleased," Barry replied. "It's not their business nor is it yours. I can talk to whoever I damn well please," she snapped. He tsked at her, shaking his head. "But it is our business. You can't be associating yourself with them. You represent this family," he said. Evangeline scoffed, a humorless laugh following. "Family? Since when are we a family? Since when have we ever been a family? I don't care if this makes you look bad. I don't care how it makes you look," she snarked.

Evangeline pushed past him, continuing on her way back to her dorm. "The Dark Lord will not be pleased." The words made her stop in her tracks. She turned around to face him, her eyes wide in anger. "Are you trying to threaten me?" She asked. He sighed, "No, of course not. I'm just trying to look out for you." She scoffed again, "Oh that's rich." He rolled his eyes, "Believe it or not, I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"I choose not. You and your sister have never been on our side. You've both been nothing but horrible to Vivian and I. And you may be nice to us sometimes and might not be as big of a bitch as Gemma, but you're still pretty high up there. So, forgive me for not believing that you care," she said. She turned around and began walking away again. Barry snatched her wrist, yanking her body backwards and turning her to face him.

"It would be wise for you to heed my warning. And show me some respect," he snarled. His grip on her wrist tightened and her mouth fell open in pain. "Let go of me," she said, trying to get her wrist out of his grasp. He didn't listen, his eyes turning darker than she had ever seen them. She didn't know what was happening but he was not himself. "Let me go." She pulled her wrist again, hoping his grip would loosen but it didn't.

"Let her go," a voice said from behind them. The two turned to the source of the voice, spotting Ron Weasley. His eyes were narrowed, his jaw locked. Barry laughed, "Stay the bloody hell out of this, Weasley." Ron took another step forward, "I said, let her go. I'm not going to repeat myself a third time." Barry looked the boy up and down before releasing her wrist. She pulled her arm to her chest, rubbing her wrist gingerly. A bruise was already beginning to form.

Barry looked down at her, shaking his head slightly. His eyes widening when he caught sight of her wrist. "I— Evangeline I'm—" Ron cut him off. "I think you should go." Barry looked down at her again but she didn't look at him. He nodded his head and walked away. Evangeline looked at her wrist as Ron came to stand next to her. He gently took her hand and began examining her wrist, his jaw locking when he saw the forming bruise.

Evangeline stared blankly ahead. "Are you all right?" He asked. She pulled her hand away from him. "Fine," she replied, beginning to walk again. "Hey wait." He turned her around. "We should get you to Madam Pomfrey. She might have something to help," he said. "No. It's fine. I'm fine," she shook her head. Ron looked doubtful and she rolled her eyes. "Don't worry about it," she said.

She turned on her heel and began walking away again, leaving him staring after her retreating form.