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CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. SISTERLY INTUITION

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Evangeline had spotted Vivian before Vivian had seen her. The younger girl threw herself onto her sister's back. Vivian didn't even flinch, already having sensed the girl sneaking up behind her. "Hi, Evangeline," Vivian said. Evangeline slid off of Vivian's back and the older girl turned to her.

"How'd you know it was me?" Evangeline asked. Vivian shrugged, "Sisterly intuition." Evangeline rolled her eyes before pulling her sister into a hug. The embrace was brief and the girls began walking down the platform to the train. "Where's lover boy?" Vivian questioned her sister. Evangeline rolled her eyes again, "Ronald is finding a cabin for us on the train."

"You still call him Ronald?" Vivian asked and Evangeline nodded. "Why?" Vivian asked next. "I like calling him Ronald," Evangeline defended. Vivian nodded her head as the two entered the train. "How was Italy?" Evangeline asked. Vivian sighed contently, "Amazing. I didn't ever want to leave." Evangeline nodded, containing an eye roll. It couldn't have been that great. Vivian looked around the train. "So, I'm gonna sit with my friends today. You cool with that?" She said.

Evangeline furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Vivian shrugged, "I don't know. I mean, we always sit together on the train. I thought you'd be upset that I was breaking tradition." Evangeline shrugged her shoulders, "It's not a tradition. And if you wanna sit with your friends then that's fine. You no longer need to sit with me out of pity."

"Hey, I sat with you because I wanted to. I happen to enjoy your company. I just figured that now you'd rather spend time with your boyfriend," Vivian said. "I spent a lot of time with him these last few weeks," Evangeline said. Vivian wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and Evangeline hit her arm. "We didn't do that," she said. "Good. Because Remus would kill you if he found out and I have a feeling that he would find a way to find out," Vivian said.

Evangeline rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time. "Keep doing that and they'll get stuck," Vivian commented. Evangeline pushed her forward, "Go to your friends and stop bugging me." Vivian held up her hands to her chest, forming a heart before walking to the back of the train and to the Slytherin compartments. Evangeline began walking down the train, her eyes looking into every cabin until she found the one where Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Cleo were in.

She opened the cabin door and slipped inside, closing the door behind her and taking a seat beside Cleo. "You sure took your time," the girl said. Evangeline shrugged, "I was talking to Vivian." Harry looked up and around. "Where is Vivian?" He asked. "With her Slytherin friends. She wanted to sit with them today. Probably to gush about how amazing Italy was," Evangeline answered, almost rolling her eyes again.

"She really had a good time, huh?" Ron said. "Apparently," Evangeline replied. She sat back in her seat and turned to Cleo. "How are you doing on this fine morning?" She asked. "Great. I tripped and almost fell into the train tracks and then got bit by something," Cleo responded. Evangeline's eyebrows raised, "Yikes." Cleo only nodded, releasing a small sigh.

Cleo then turned to Harry. "So, what were you saying about Draco and Knockturn Alley again?" She asked. Harry then began explaining to her what the four of them had seen the other day in Borgin and Burkes. Cleo nodded her head as she took in the information whilst Hermione read her book. She looked up at him when he finished and began asking questions.

"So what was Draco doing with that weird-looking cabinet? And who were all those people? Don't you see? It was a ceremony. An initiation," Harry said. "Stop it, Harry. I know where you're going with this," Hermione said. "It happened. He's one of them," Harry protested. Evangeline couldn't help but agree. It was bound to happen eventually. She was now wondering whether or not Barry and Gemma had been initiated or whatever.

"One of what?" Ron asked in confusion. "Harry is under the impression Draco Malfoy is now a Death Eater," Hermione answered. Cleo's lips pursed in thought and Ron sat up straighter in his seat. "You're barking. What would You-Know-Who want with a sod like Malfoy?" He asked. Evangeline rolled her eyes, "He's building an army. I'm sure he'll take every pure blood that he can get to follow him."

Ron shook his head, "I don't buy it. I mean come on, it's Malfoy." Harry looked at him, "Oh, then what's he doing in Borgin and Burkes? Browsing for furniture?" Cleo snickered and Evangeline nudged her side. "It's a creepy shop. He's a creepy bloke," Ron answered. The youngest Caspian wanted to face palm. She shook her head at him.

"Look, his father is a Death Eater. It only makes sense. Besides, Hermione saw it with her own eyes," Harry said. "I told you, I don't know what I saw," Hermione said. Harry stared at her for a moment before standing. "I need some air." He grabbed something from overhead and Evangeline eyed him suspiciously. Harry left the cabin, closing the door behind him.

Ron turned to look at Evangeline. "You really think Malfoy is a Death Eater?" He asked and she shrugged. "It makes sense. With some of the Death Eaters currently out of the picture, his dad and my uncle included, why wouldn't he move up the ranks or whatever?" She answered. "Does that mean that Barry and Gemma are Death Eaters too?" Cleo asked her.

She shrugged again, "I wouldn't be surprised if they were." Cleo then sighed, "Let's change the topic of conversation, shall we?" Nobody objected and she nodded, beginning to ask them all about their summer and telling them about hers. The conversation stayed light even when the train had slowed to a stop in front of the school.

Harry still hadn't returned when the four began making their way off of the train. "Where's Harry?" Hermione asked. "He's probably already on the platform. Come on," Ron said. Evangeline looked behind her to see if he was coming. When she saw nothing but an empty train, she followed after her friends.

Harry was not on the platform when they had stepped off of the train. Evangeline tried not to let worry creep into her bones but she couldn't help it, she had no idea where the boy was. "He's not here, Ron. And he wouldn't just go on without us," Evangeline pointed out. Ron turned to look at her. "Don't worry. I'm sure he's fine, yeah? If he doesn't show up soon, we'll go look for him," he said.

Evangeline hesitated before nodding her head. She sent one finally glance over her shoulder and into the night before beginning to walk to the carriages.

••••

Harry still hadn't turned up.

The four friends were now sat in the Great Hall along with Ginny at the Gryffindor table. The girls were worried whilst Ron was eating his food as though Harry being missing wasn't a big deal. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe he was okay and just doing something important. But if that were the case, he would've told them. Right?

Evangeline was picking at her food. She didn't find what she had chosen to eat very appetizing. Ron, however, seemed to be enjoying it. She looked across the table at him in disgust as he shoveled more of the red stuff into his mouth. He chewed on the food and looked at his friends. "Don't worry, he'll be here in a minute," he said before putting another spoonful into his mouth, humming in content.

Hermione looked at him, her face holding a mixture of anger and annoyance as she clutched onto a book. She lifted the book and began hitting him with it. "Will you stop eating?" She asked, hitting his shoulder with each word before dropping the book onto the table. "Your best friend is missing." Evangeline bit her lip to contain a snicker. He looked behind the girl before speaking. "Oi, turn around you lunatic," he said. They turned to the entrance of the Great Hall to see Harry entering with Luna.

"He's covered in blood again. Why is it he's always covered in blood?" Ginny said. "Looks like it's his own this time," Ron noted. Harry walked over to them and sat down next to Evangeline. "Where have you been?" She and Hermione hissed simultaneously. Harry was breathing hard. "What happened to your face?" Hermione added after. The boy was holding a rag covered in blood to his nose.

"Later," Harry replied, picking up a cup and taking a sip of the liquid inside. "What did I miss?" He then asked. "The Sorting Hat says we ought to be brave and strong in these troubled times. Easy for it to say, though. It's a hat, isn't it?" Ron answered. Evangeline rolled her eyes at him, picking up her own cup and taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.

Professor Dumbledore walked to the podium at the front of the hall. "Very best of evenings to you all," he began. The room instantly quieted. "First off, let me introduce the newest member of our staff. Horace Slughorn," he continued. He held out his arm and Professor Slughorn stood. The room erupted into clapping and the man waved.

"Professor Slughorn, I'm happy to say, has agreed to resume his old post, as Potions Master. Meanwhile, the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts, will be taken by Professor Snape." Scattered clapping was heard, most likely coming from the Slytherin table. Evangeline sighed, the man was probably thrilled with the news. Well, as thrilled as someone like Severus Snape could get. The noise died down again.

"As you know, each and every one of you
were searched upon your arrival here tonight. And you have the right to know why. Once,
there was a young man. Like you, sat in this very hall. Walked this castle's corridors. Slept under it's roof. You see, to all the world, a student like any other. His name: Tom Riddle." Gasps and whispers filled the hall and Evangeline looked to her friends.

"Today of course, is known all over the world by another name. Which is why as I stand,
looking out upon you all tonight, I'm reminded
of a sobering fact. Every day, every hour, this very minute, perhaps, dark forces attempt
to penetrate this castle's walls. But in the end, that greatest weapon, is you. Just something
to think about. Now off to bed, pip pip," Dumbledore concluded. Evangeline stood from the bench.

"That was cheerful," Ron muttered sarcastically. "Thanks for your insight, Ronald. Your sarcasm really does lighten the mood," Evangeline said. She rolled her eyes before turning to walk out of the Great Hall. Hermione and Cleo quickly followed after her so that they could all walked to their dorm room together.

Ron looked at Harry and Ginny. "What did I do?"

••••

Sorry it's taken so long for me to update. As always, I've been busy. However, I'm happy af right now and I'm updating some of my books. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. DO NOT COMMENT FOR ME TO UPDATE!