THE ESSENCE OF TIME
~DEFYING GRAVITY AND EXPECTATIONS~

•••

EVANGELINE'S FIRST WEEK AT HOGWARTS had finally come to an end. The first two days had been a triumph; she had made quite the impression, even catching Tom Riddle's attention, earning the adoration of her teachers, and gaining some friends. However, the rest of the week—Wednesday through Friday—had been relatively uneventful, with nothing particularly exciting happening.

On Wednesday, the Great Hall buzzed with whispers as students noticed a certain blond Slytherin who had abandoned his usual slicked-back hairstyle. Abraxas Malfoy's hair was tousled and unkempt, but in a charming way. Many of the girls were captivated by his new look, which was a far cry from his previous style. His wavy locks framed his face, with a few strands playfully falling over his forehead, adding an air of mystery and seriousness. He no longer resembled the stereotypical pureblood that parents often molded their children to be.

As Evangeline observed this transformation, her mind drifted back to a memory from her third year on her way to Hogwarts.

No... no... no... ew, what the hell?

Evangeline was navigating the compartments of the Hogwarts Express, having arrived a few minutes late and nearly missing the train. Now, every compartment was full, leaving her without a seat. When she stumbled upon a compartment where two students were snogging, she quickly shut the door and moved on, wiping her eyes in disbelief.

Earlier, Harry had offered her a seat in his compartment, where Hermione and Ron were already seated—Hermione petting her cat, Crookshanks, while Ron shielded his pet rat. Harry, however, was beside a sleeping figure wrapped in a blanket.

Curious, Evangeline asked about the sleeping man, and Hermione revealed that he was their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Evangeline hesitated, considering whether to join them, ultimately deciding against it.

She regretted her decision when she found herself in the Slytherin section of the train. She could sit with Draco, but she wasn't keen on Pansy's company. Summoning her courage, she continued her search for an empty compartment.

After three unsuccessful doors, she finally spotted her familiar blond friend sitting alone. Draco was engrossed in a book, dressed in a black turtleneck and gray sweatpants, looking peaceful.

Raising her hand, Evangeline knocked on the door, and Draco looked up, his eyes brightening at the sight of her. A smile crept onto his lips as he stood up, setting his book down to open the door.

"Evangeline! What are you doing here?" he asked, pulling her into a hug.

"Draco!" she exclaimed, returning the embrace. "Everywhere else is full. I had no choice but to enter the Slytherin den." She laughed.

Draco took her wrist and pulled her down beside him. "Then sit with me."

Evangeline crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "You already sat me down. It's not like I had a choice."

Draco smirked and returned to his book. "Exactly."

Evangeline studied him. It had been a while since she had seen him—since their last feast in her second year. He had grown over the summer, now taller than her, and she noted how his hair was no longer slicked back. It was messy and uncombed, with strands brushed across his forehead, making him look extremely handsome.

Draco caught her gaze and chuckled. "What?"

Evangeline blinked, caught off guard. "Nothing. It's just... your hair. It's different."

He glanced at the strands falling in front of him. "Oh, this? I was running late and didn't have time to fix it. I'll sort it out before we get to Hogwarts."

Evangeline's eyes widened. "No!"

Draco furrowed his brows, confused. "No?"

"No," she confirmed. "You look much better like this! Don't get me wrong—your old hairstyle was fine, but it made you look like my grandfather. It doesn't suit you. Please, for the love of Merlin, don't gel your hair."

Draco paused, processing her words, before breaking into a smile. "You think I look good?"

Evangeline feigned disgust and playfully hit him. "Don't let it go to your head, Malfoy. You're not that bad to look at." She rolled her eyes and pulled out a book from her satchel.

Rubbing his arm, Draco laughed. "Alright, alright. I won't fix it if it makes you happy."

Evangeline smiled softly, still focused on her book. "Good."

When Evangeline finally crossed paths with Abraxas, she decided to compliment him. "Glad to see you take criticism well, Malfoy."

He halted in his tracks, turning to face her. "I don't need criticism from someone who can't even differentiate between her grandfather and a classmate. I did this so I wouldn't be mistaken for the grandfather of someone so pathetic." He sneered before walking away.

Evangeline stared, flabbergasted, as he retreated. Shaking her head, she stifled a grin and continued to her next class.

Thursday and Friday passed like any ordinary school day at Hogwarts. She woke early, attended classes, ate, and rested. Aside from chatting with Emily and Lysander, her interactions were limited to Tom in class and the usual arguments with Abraxas.

On Saturday, she was up early, surprising Emily, who was shocked to find Evangeline awake before her.

"What in the bloody hell are you doing up at—" Emily squinted at the clock. "7:30 in the morning on a Saturday, Evangeline?" She groaned, burying her head in her pillow.

"Getting ready," Evangeline replied, pulling a hair tie from her wrist.

"Getting ready?" Emily yawned. "For what? You never get ready this early for class! Why on earth are you up on a Saturday?"

Evangeline laughed, grabbing a handful of hair to braid it. "Quidditch tryouts are today."

Emily's eyes shot wide open as she jumped out of bed, shaking Evangeline's shoulders.

"Emily, my hair—"

"IT'S QUIDDITCH TRYOUTS! WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP EARLIER?!" Emily yelled, still shaking her.

"SHUT UP!!!" Clarissa Hawthorn, their bushy-haired roommate, yelled from her bed.

Evangeline shot Emily a glare, and she cowered in embarrassment, remembering they had two other roommates. Luckily, Ysabelle, their other roommate, could sleep through anything.

"Sorry," Emily apologized, turning back to Evangeline and shaking her again.

"Why didn't you wake me earlier?!" she whispered-yelled.

Evangeline grabbed Emily's hands to stop her shaking. "I thought you wanted to sleep in."

"No!" Emily exclaimed, dropping her hands. She grabbed a brush from the desk, turning Evangeline around to face the mirror. "Lysander and I wanted to watch your tryouts. We wouldn't miss it for the world. We want to be there when you show them who's boss." She began brushing Evangeline's hair.

Evangeline smiled at Emily's reflection in the mirror, reminded of Luna, who always supported her during Quidditch games alongside Hermione.

"Thank you, Emily. It means a lot."

"Of course! You're our best friend. Now hold still; I'm going to finish braiding your hair, then we'll get breakfast—no arguments! You can't fly on an empty stomach; you need energy." Emily said, her tone firm.

Evangeline laughed. "Yes, mother."

•••

Once Evangeline finished changing into her Quidditch uniform, she noticed her last name had been changed to "Lunaris," with the number 24 beneath it.

Just as she was about to leave the changing room, she overheard two voices bickering.

"No! Absolutely not! That's ridiculous!"

"No, no, hear me out—"

"Absolutely not!"

"Ly, I swear, he could totally get it."

Silence followed.

"Emily, I will hit you, and I don't care that you're a girl."

"But have you seen him, Ly—"

"YES! HE'S MY BLOODY FATHER!"

Evangeline stepped out of the changing room, interrupting their argument. The pair halted, staring at her.

"What in Rowena's left tit are you two bickering about?" Evangeline narrowed her eyes, concerned.

"Emily wants to sha—"

"Lysander's father is fit."

Evangeline sighed, shaking her head. "Emily, please don't say you want to shag anyone's father."

Emily protested, "I don't want to shag him! I just said he was fit!"

Lysander shot her a glare. "You told me he could get it!"

"Yeah! Doesn't mean I want to shag him!"

"Oh, you absolu—" Lysander began, but Evangeline interrupted.

"Hey! Stop! I'm late!" she exclaimed, and they both paused.

They took a moment to look at Evangeline's uniform.

"Wow! Where did you get your uniform? It already has your name on it!" Emily gaped, glancing at Evangeline's back.

Lysander nodded. "You look amazing!"

Evangeline chuckled, silently thanking Dumbledore for charming her Quidditch uniform to Lunaris.

"Dumbledore," she replied.

"That's nice to know. At least if they don't let you in just because you're a girl, a professor has your back," Lysander remarked.

"Now, let's go! We don't want to be late!" Evangeline urged, dragging her friends toward the Quidditch pitch.

•••

The three friends arrived at the Quidditch pitch, where they were met by a sea of students clad in their Quidditch uniforms. Lysander and Emily exchanged reassuring smiles with Evangeline, wishing her good luck before settling into their seats in the stands.

With determination, Evangeline tightened her grip on her broomstick. Although it was not her preferred model, she had fond memories of flying on her Firebolt—the same broom that Harry had once let her try, a gift from Sirius. She had been captivated by its speed and soon purchased one for herself. Since then, her skills had improved significantly, making her a formidable chaser for the Eagles. Now, however, she found herself on an old Starsweeper, as Firebolts had yet to be invented, and she resolved to make the best of it.

As she made her way toward the crowd of students, a flash of striking blond hair caught her eye. Abraxas Malfoy lounged in the stands, a smug grin plastered on his face, while Theodore Nott sat beside him, appearing utterly uninterested.

Noticing her gaze, Thedore turned toward Evangeline, a look of surprise crossing his features for a fleeting moment before he replaced it with a smile and a casual wave. Evangeline returned the gesture, raising her hand to wave back, when Abraxas saw her and his expression shifted to a sneer.

Her hand remained raised, but now only her middle finger stood tall.

Theodore stifled a laugh, clearly enjoying Abraxas's bewilderment.

"GATHER UP EVERYONE!" called a voice, the same one Evangeline had heard three days earlier regarding the tryouts.

A large group of students began to assemble, including Evangeline, who stood awkwardly to the side.

"For those who are new here, I'm Felix Whitlock, the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain and team Keeper. If you've been on the team before, don't assume you'll make it this time. Seekers on this side, beaters to the ri—"

"What's she doing here?" a voice sneered, and suddenly every eye was on Evangeline.

Feeling exposed, she was acutely aware of being the only girl among twenty boys, as if their stares were stripping her bare. Summoning her courage, she spoke up.

"To try out."

Laughter erupted, though a few remained silent, simply staring. Heat rose to Evangeline's cheeks as Felix intervened.

"Quiet!" he ordered, silencing the laughter. "I regret to inform you that girls aren't allowed on the team."

"Who says?" Evangeline shot back.

A brief silence followed, until the same voice chimed in again.

"It doesn't matter who said what. The point is, girls aren't allowed, so you should just leave."

"And why is that?" she pressed.

"Because girls are weaker than guys. You'd probably get hurt before you even managed to lift off."

Evangeline felt her temper flare. How dare he insult girls, the very ones who brought them into the world and nurtured them?

Before she could respond, Felix interrupted. "I'm sorry, uh—"

"Lunaris."

"Lunaris, but I really can't allow it. It goes against the rules."

Evangeline furrowed her brows. "That's absurd! What would your founder think if she knew you weren't allowing women to play sports? Rowena Ravenclaw was a champion of equality—I'm sure she'd be appalled by how Hogwarts has changed." She crossed her arms defiantly.

"Just leave, girl. You're wasting everyone's time," the same boy said dismissively.

Ignoring him, Evangeline stepped closer to Felix, speaking only to him. "Just let me try out. If I don't measure up, I'll accept defeat and leave."

Felix studied her, glancing over his shoulder at the other players. He turned back to her, sorrow in his eyes.

"Lunaris, I can't—"

"You won't regret it, Whitlock. Call me narcissistic, but I'll be the greatest chaser this castle has ever seen." She pleaded earnestly.

With a resigned sigh, Felix nodded. Evangeline beamed and thanked him enthusiastically.

"Don't waste this chance, Lunaris. You better prove yourself as the best chaser here." He pointed a finger at her.

•••

"Alright! Everyone grab your brooms and fly around the pitch. I want ten laps around the field. This is a race; the three players who fall behind are out," Felix announced, blowing his whistle to signal the start.

Evangeline quickly mounted her broom and took off. Flying felt as natural as walking, and she relished the cool air against her skin. During her time, she often flew laps around the pitch to clear her mind, when she wasn't reading in the library or playing the piano in the Room of Requirement.

She was comfortably trailing behind four players, taking her time and not wanting to show off just yet. She could easily outpace all of them if she wanted. Suddenly, a voice called from her left.

"Oi! Girl! You should just quit now before you embarrass yourself," the same boy from earlier sneered.

Evangeline smirked. "Race you to the finish." With that, she shot forward, leaving the brown-eyed boy in her dust. He turned to see her already ahead of the pack, groaning in frustration as he sped up.

After thirty seconds, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Evangeline closing in on him. He slowed down, allowing her to catch up. "You should just give up," he taunted.

Evangeline laughed. "Why would I? I'm already on my second lap, and you're still on your first." She sped past him again, her laughter echoing in the air.

Frustrated, the boy gripped his broom tightly and accelerated, but in his rage, he failed to notice the player ahead and collided with him, sending both tumbling down.

"BRAMWELL, YOU IDIOT!" Felix shouted, casting a spell to soften their fall.

•••

After just five minutes, Evangeline soared past the finish line, leaving her competitors trailing behind. Felix, the Quidditch captain, couldn't help but smile as he congratulated her.

"That was impressive, Lunaris. You've beaten my record of seven minutes!" Felix exclaimed, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

Evangeline shrugged nonchalantly. Her record was actually 3 minutes with her Firebolt–but he didn't need to know that.

Soon after, the second-place finisher—a seventh-year who bore a striking resemblance to Michael Corner—landed beside her.

"Ellis Corner, amazing as always," Felix nodded approvingly.

Evangeline realized with a jolt that this was Michael's grandfather. "Thanks, captain," Ellis said, grinning.

As more players finished, Bramwell landed as the seventh. The mood shifted slightly as two second-years and a fourth-year finished last, getting eliminated from the tryouts.

Felix clapped his hands to gather attention. "Now, I want everyone trying out for Beaters to grab a bat. Those who aren't, stay clear of the bludgers. The Beaters' goal is to hit as many players as possible with the bludgers, while the others aim to avoid them. The most hits lead to elimination, and the Beaters who manage to hit the most will be recruited." He glanced at his stopwatch. "Mount your brooms; I'll set a ten-minute timer."

With a rush of adrenaline, all the players took to the sky, clubs in hand.

"Ready?" Felix called, his eyes focused on the timer. "Go!" He pressed start.

As the word left his lips, chaos erupted. A third-year next to Evangeline was struck, plummeting from his broom, quickly followed by another.

Bludgers flew in every direction, but Evangeline was no novice; she deftly dodged each one, her confidence growing as Felix's respect for her soared. He decided to fly up and speak with Sebastian Vale, last year's Beater, instructing him to target Evangeline specifically to test her skills. Unsurprisingly, she evaded every attempt.

Ten minutes passed, and exhaustion hung in the air. Bruised shoulders and pale faces littered the field, with a few students still recovering on the ground.

"Drink up, and well played to those who passed. And to those who didn't—there's always next year," Felix said, casting a sympathetic glance at the two students still retching.

"Vale and Davies, you're this year's Beaters. Congratulations!" Felix smiled, extending his hand for a firm handshake.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily, buddy," Sebastian Vale chuckled, his spirits high.

Julian Davies, the second Beater, bore a striking resemblance to Roger Davies, the future Ravenclaw Captain.

"In our next segment, we'll have a game. Three chasers on each side. Davies, you'll be on the left; Vale, you're on the right. Choose your chasers," Felix instructed, crossing his arms.

"Meadows, Clafflin... and Lunaris," Julian called out, gesturing for his teammates.

"Willowby, Bramwell, and Pugh," Sebastian replied confidently.

They quickly selected one Beater from the remaining tryouts, a seeker, and a keeper to substitute for Felix.

With the teams set, Felix blew his whistle and tossed the Quaffle into the air. Evangeline felt her heart race and adrenaline surge as she seized the Quaffle, exhilarated by the familiar thrill of the game.

Despite her doubts about her performance—having not played in three years since her time as captain—Evangeline's instincts kicked in. She zipped past the other chasers and scored effortlessly, sending the Quaffle through the goalposts just as the keeper lunged.

Felix's voice boomed across the field. "Ten points for Lunaris!"

Evangeline smirked, adrenaline still coursing through her. "Lunaris! A bludger coming your way!" A teammate's warning jolted her back to reality. She ducked just in time, glancing over to see Meadows grinning at her. "Thanks, Meadows!"

"Be careful!" he shouted, grabbing the Quaffle and charging toward the opposing side. But as he aimed for a goal, Bramwell collided with him, snatching the Quaffle.

"Oi!"

"Apologies, mate," Bramwell laughed, zooming past to score.

"Ten for Bramwell!" Felix declared.

Evangeline concentrated fiercely, snatching the Quaffle again and weaving through the other chasers. She scored a second time, bringing her total to twenty points.

The game continued, ending when Sebastian's chosen seeker caught the snitch. Despite the opposing team's snitch capture, Julian's team triumphed, thanks to Evangeline's impressive performance, scoring 180 points and securing a total of 320, while the other team finished with 300.

"Well done, everyone! Nice game. I've tallied the points and will announce our chasers, starting from the lowest," Felix said, scanning his clipboard.

"Tied with 40 points, Pugh and Clafflin. You both played well, but remember to work on your positioning. And Pugh? Try not to pick your nose mid-game—it's distracting and unhygienic," Felix sighed, causing Pugh to glance sheepishly at the ground.

"50 points go to Bramwell." A proud chuckle echoed from him.

"60 to Willowby, 80 to Meadows, and a whopping 180 to Lunaris," Felix concluded, beaming.

"Congratulations to our new chasers: Willowby, Meadows, and Lunaris!" Felix clapped, and the others joined in.

"Alright! Nicely done, mate! We're back on the team!" Meadows cheered, shaking hands with Willowby before turning to Evangeline. "You were amazing out there, Lunaris. Glad to have you with us."

"Thank you, Meadows. You were pretty good too," she replied sincerely.

"Please, call me Everett. Everyone calls my father Meadows, and it feels like you're talking to him instead," he laughed.

"Then call me Evangeline."

"Absolutely ludicrous!" a voice shouted, clearly directed at Felix.

"Mate, calm down—"

"I'm not your mate. You've lost that title since you decided to put a girl on the team instead of me! I've been playing with you since third year!" Bramwell yelled, his face flushed with anger.

Felix's expression darkened. "If you could've controlled your temper throughout the game, maybe you would've performed better. The problem, Dominic, is that you think you're above everyone else, but you're nothing but chewed-up gum under your father's shoe. We've had enough of your attitude; we've lost every Quidditch cup just because you can't keep your pride in check!" Felix's voice boomed, towering over Bramwell who Evangeline now knows as Dominic.

"You'll regret this," Dominic spat, glaring at Evangeline as he stormed off. "I'll get you back, girl. Mark my words."

Felix cleared his throat, casting a spell on his shoe. "Scourgify."

"Now, everyone take a breather. I still need to finalize the substitutes. Our team seeker is Ellis Corner."

•••

Tryouts ended, and Evangeline couldn't stop smiling. Before she left, Felix approached her, promising to speak with Flitwick about the rules and do everything in his power to ensure she played. He had refused to let Dominic back on the team after their confrontation, leaving him fuming.

"Merlin, Ange! You didn't tell us you could fly like that!" Emily squealed, rushing toward her and wrapping her in a tight hug.

Evangeline cringed, gently pushing her friend away. "Thanks, Ems, but let's keep the hugs to a minimum. I stink," she laughed, wiping sweat from her forehead.

"I don't care! You were amazing!" Emily insisted, hugging her again.

"She's right. Even Malfoy looked shocked," Lysander chimed in.

Curious, Evangeline asked, "Speaking of, what were they doing here?"

"Malfoy usually watches tryouts to scout the competition. He's team captain this year. He usually brings Lestrange or Black, but I guess Nott is with him this time," Lysander shrugged.

Speaking of, the two Slytherins appeared behind them.

Theodore was the first to speak. "You were incredible out there, Evangeline. Looks like the other houses will have a tough time this season."

Abraxas shot him a glare before turning to Evangeline. "Please, Theodore. Us Slytherins are obviously superior to these birds."

"The air is our domain, Malfoy. Your argument is weak," Lysander retorted.

Abraxas's eyes narrowed, his anger palpable. "I wasn't talking to you, dingbat."

Evangeline, feeling the tension rise, interjected to diffuse the situation. "Thank you for the compliment, Theo. I appreciate it. Let's go," she said, grabbing her friends' arms and steering them away.

"Hey! I wasn't done insulting you!" Abraxas called after them.

Evangeline glanced back, a smirk playing on her lips. "I really like your hair like this! It suits you much better!" she laughed, leaving Malfoy momentarily flabbergasted.

As they walked away, Abraxas felt his cheeks flush, irritation brewing within him. Just then, Theodore nudged him playfully. "You're blushing."

"I'm not! Shut up!" Abraxas snapped, stomping off toward the Slytherin common room.