EVODIA
chapter one
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| EVODIA LESTRANGE,

SEPTEMBER |

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EVODIA WASN'T IN the mood for any funny talk with her brother and his equally funny friends. Now when she said funny, she didn't mean it like the Prewett siblings type of funny. She meant the 'did you hear Nott's father died?' type of funny. She didn't care about meaningless gossip and she sure as heck didn't care about Nott's dead father. Evodia had her own worries, like the fact that her mother made her promise to come home this Christmas break, which she never does, so it baffled the young white-haired witch. Was there something her loving parents wanted to do to her? Or was she finally permitted to attend the Christmas ball her parents throw every year? She doubted it, but a girl yearning for her parents' love can dream. Emmanuel laughed at something Malfoy said, Riddle shaking his head, a very annoyed look on his face. At least he agreed with Evodia that they were being incredibly annoying for no reason, not that they actually needed one to begin with. They merely were always this annoying, especially her twin idiot of a brother.

Evodia had been friends with Tom Riddle since the second year, and at first, she did it because she wanted to stand out more, to annoy her parents. The disgrace of a child, friends with a dirty half-blood. Only few knew about Riddle's true heritage, Evodia and her family being one of them and her parents were utterly disgusted by this. Just like Evodia wanted in the first place. And because her brother had been her only friend at the time, she dragged him along. There they met Avery, Malfoy, Mulciber, Nott and Greengrass and had been best mates since. She was the only girl, though it didn't bother her as much, she liked being the only girl, and she got away with most things because of this.

"Sorry I'm late." Mulciber appeared, hair tousled, shirt untucked and tie loose. Evodia looked up from her book.

"Good, you're here, my brother and Malfoy were just gossiping about you."

"Were not!" Malfoy gasped, placing a hand on his chest as if he were in utter disbelief that Evodia would even think that they would do such a thing. To be frank, they were not so far from it. ( For boys, they liked to keep tabs on everyone -- and Evodia means everyone. ) Riddle chuckled a little but he didn't lift his eyes from the book he was reading. "Besides mate, you're late, where are the cookies?"

Mulciber turned pale, looking at both Evodia and Riddle for help. "But Avery and Greengrass are not even here yet!"

"Detention." Nott replied, a grin on his face at the mention of cookies. Evodia swore that the boy could eat an entire buffet alone and still want some more.

"Wait, shouldn't you be with them?" Emmanuel asked, raising a brow at the dark-haired boy, who chuckled nervously. "I swear I heard Dumbledore give you detention. Yesterday and today."

Nott shook his head and Evodia raised a brow. "I heard him say it, or rather yell it Nott, you really angered him today in class. I've never seen Dumbledore that mad."

"Then you haven't seen Avery anger him." Riddle added. "And Mulciber, where are the cookies?"

"I'll go get some." The boy sighed in defeat when his friends grinned, even Riddle.

The cookie rule started when Emmanuel had been four hours late to their usual hangout spot and he brought cookies with him to apologize, and everyone liked the idea so much that it stayed. Evodia personally hadn't brought any cookies, as she was punctual and their spot was near the Ravenclaw tower anyway, so it wasn't much of a walk. It took her about five minutes to get there and she always left a minute or two early. Mulciber and Nott however were not so lucky. From being late due to being held back in class ( Evodia still thinks Nott is lying about that, ) to Mulciber snogging every Slytherin and Hufflepuff girl he could get his hands on, it was safe to say that they were the runner-ups for most cookies brought to the group.

"Thank you, and get me some milk while you're at it." Evodia smiled at the boy, who glared at her but nodded and trudged away down to the kitchens, gloom in his step. The girl went back to her book, a smile still plastered on her face as she thought of the cookies and milk.

They sat there for a while, Riddle and Evodia reading while Nott, Malfoy, and her brother bickered over something. She didn't pay much attention to them, as they were annoying her and all she wanted to do was read her book. She wanted to finish the chapter she was on, she didn't want Riddle to finish it first, as they were reading the same book. Something the two friends loved doing, which confused their other friends but they didn't say anything about it because they feared to speak out, especially in front of Riddle.

"Mulciber somehow managed to get himself killed, right?" Emmanuel spoke, a slight pout on his lips as he really wanted cookies. "I mean it was bound to happen, I just didn't think it'd be today when he's supposed to bring us cookies."

Evodia opened her mouth, most likely to retort but she never got the chance to, as yelling could be heard and it wasn't just anybody yelling, it was Mulciber. ( A regular occurrence, to be fair. )

"Run!" Mulciber yelled, brown eyes wide with fear and his arms flailing in the air, urging his friends to get up and run from what was behind him. "Nott, get up!" The boy didn't need to be told twice, as he happily obliged, grabbing Malfoy and Evodia up with him and they all sprinted into the direction Mulciber was running to. "It's getting close!"

"What's getting close?!" Evodia screamed, glancing back only to see Mulciber and she trudged forward. It wasn't uncommon for the youngest of the group ( by a few months ) to be chased by ghosts, or an angry professor but most of the time, he did it for fun. Mulciber lived for chaos and mischief.

"Just run, you'll thank me later when you're still alive!"

"What the fuck Mulciber?!" Emmanuel screeched, now freaked out. He knew his dimwitted friend liked to tease the groundkeeper's pet. He just hoped it didn't get loose and come looking for him in the castle. "Did you go tease Stella again?!"

"No?!" The boy looked back. "I'm sorry! She looked funny and I just couldn't resist!"

"You are an imbecile!" Riddle growled, holding his book close to his chest. "I wasn't built for running, if you didn't notice!" Emmanuel glanced at his mate, and he bit back a series of laughter, as Riddle looked absolutely ridiculous while running. He noted that he looked like a duck.

"Ravenclaw Tower is just around the corner! We'll be safe in there!" Evodia announced, pulling Malfoy up when he tripped and Mulciber just ran past him, yelling that it was every man for himself and it was then Evodia saw what Mulciber was running from and had them sprinting for their lives as well. She couldn't quite explain it, as she didn't quite know what she was looking at, all she knew was that they needed to get to Ravenclaw Tower and pray that thing doesn't tear the portrait up and get in.

"What's the password?!" Nott was first to reach the portrait, out of breath and he looked at the running Evodia for answers.

"It's a riddle, you have to answer a riddle!"

"You're the Ravenclaw, come answer it!" Mulciber panted, glancing back to see if the beast was still behind them and when he heard the familiar thudding of feet, he started to sweat, going on his knees as if he was about to pray. "Great Merlin, if I survive this, I promise I won't ever tease Stella, no matter how funny looking she looks, and I won't steal her babies anymore!"

"You did what?!" Riddle yelled, flabbergasted at his friend. "Is this why Stella is chasing you?!"

"No?--" Riddle raised a brow and Mulciber sighed, reaching into his pocket and out came a baby griffon, at least it looked like it was one. "She looked funny as well!"

"I am not about to be mauled to death by Stella because you're an idiot! Give it back!" Evodia growled, face pink and white hair plastered unto her face by sweat. She shoved Mulciber forward, as she still wanted to be far from Stella and safe in her common room.

"But I'm scared, what if she kills me?!"

"We weren't the idiots who stole Stella's baby, if you die, we'll mourn you." Riddle replied. "Not me of course and I highly doubt Evodia and Malfoy will miss you much."

"Finally, let's go in, leave the baby in front of the door, Stella will find it there." Malfoy slapped the baby out Mulciber's hands and the latter was quick enough to catch it before it fell. He quickly went through the portrait hole, leaving the baby outside and he faced his friends, who all looked equally mad and out of breath.

"Sorry?"

an. i knew i wanted to make mulciber an idiot cause he's so precious lolol, n e way, hope you enjoyed this chapter and to be frank, not even i know what stella is......for now at least!