Flower of Love

The next few weeks were uneventful, but there were several occasions where Evan and Pandora would watch from the stairs as masked guests filtered into their dining room. He wrote to Barty and Regulus daily and looked forward to their replies. 

 At last it was Christmas Eve and Evan was going to the first party he had ever been excited to attend. It would be held at the Black manor which meant he would get to see Regulus. 

Evan had to admit that the manor was not the most impressive building as seen from its exterior, but the inside had to be at least ten times the size of the facade. They were quickly greeted by the evening’s hosts. Orion and Walburga Black seemed nice enough but Evan’s mind thought back to the meticulously placed scars on Regulus’ arms and wondered which of them had caused it. 

They made their way to the ballroom but were quickly stopped by their aunt. Her face was flushed with anger that she tried hard to hide. She paid no attention to the children and shoved past them to her younger brother. 

“I don’t know what to do with her, Philippe. Her obsession with this…boy…grows by the day.” She hissed to Evan’s father. 

His face grew dark. “Come now, Druella. We can find a more private place to talk.” he paused seeing that Evan and Pandora started to follow after them. “Run along and find your cousins.” 

They didn’t bother to protest. Evan wasn’t too close with his cousins, they were all older and didn’t pay much mind to him at school, but he hoped that he would find Regulus among them. 

Just as he had hoped, Regulus was sitting with his cousins in the library with his head in a book, ignoring the scene unfolding around him. The two younger girls were berating their older sister who was close to tears. 

“Is he really worth abandoning your family, Andy?” Bellatrix’s tone was accusing. 

“At least he actually cares about me! Ted is more of a family to me than you’ve ever been!” Andromeda spat. 

“Take that back. You don’t mean it.” Narcissa spoke up.

“Don’t I? We have not been sisters since the day you told them about him.” Andromeda sobbed.

“Don’t you dare choose that mudblood over your own family.” Bellatrix's face was contorted with anger.

 “I can hardly call you family.” Andromeda took a shaky breath. “I can’t do this tonight.” She stormed out of the room brushing past Evan without looking back.

“Andy!” Narcissa ran after her leaving the middle sister to slump into a chair. 

Evan and Pandora shared a look, not knowing what to do. As if he had heard them, Regulus looked up. 

“I was wondering when you’d be here.” Regulus’ face was placid but Evan could have sworn he saw a smile in his eyes. 

Bellatrix perked up, just noticing her cousins. “My, my, have you two grown.” 

“We go to school together, Bella. You see us all the time.” Evan rolled his eyes. 

Bellatrix shrugged. “As much as I’d love to stay and chat, Andy is being a moron and needs to be brought back to her senses.” She sighed, grabbing her wand from a nearby table and using it to pull up her mass of dark curls before exiting after her sisters. 

“What’s that all about?” Evan took her seat across from Regulus. 

“Andy has been seeing a muggleborn which had already caused tension, but as of yesterday they’re engaged. Obviously, the family isn’t too thrilled.” 

Pandora gave a half hearted laugh as she took a seat. “I could use a break from being the biggest disappointment of the family.”

Regulus gave her a concerned look. “Was everything ok?”

She shrugged. “Ask Evan.”

Evan sighed, not in the mood to explain everything. “It was fine, nothing I regret.” He gave his sister a pointed look.

He and Pandora had made up, but it was still a sore subject.

Regulus nodded, understanding that was all Evan would say on the topic. They were silent for a few moments before Regulus spoke up. “Sirius apologised.” His tone was short and Evan couldn’t quite figure out how to respond.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. He said he forgave me for being in Slytherin and I told him l didn’t care.”

“But you do?” Pandora stated. “You’ve told me how much you want your brother back. Why would you push him away?” 

“Because I don’t want forgiveness. There is nothing wrong with being in Slytherin. I don’t want a brother who only cares for me if I deny myself to fit his ideals.”

“Well you don’t need him then. You’ve already got two brothers who care about you more than he ever has.” Evan spoke up.

Regulus gave a small smile. “Yeah, you’re right." He paused, almost laughing to himself. "As much as he annoys me, I wish Barty could’ve been here too.”

Although the Crouch family had quite a prestigious lineage, Barty Crouch Sr,’s work in the ministry had made them unfavorable in the eyes of many purebloods. 

“Me too.” Evan sighed. Without Barty's obnoxious laugh and lopsided smile everything seemed a little more dull. 

From the letters they had received, it didn’t sound as though Barty was having the merriest Christmas either. It had taken his father half a week to notice he was home which probably meant Barty was moments away from destroying a family heirloom of some kind.

But it was only one more week. One week until they were all back together again. Evan could only hope that Barty could hold on that long. 

The rest of the night seemed to drag on but having Regulus as company made it the best party they had been to. But, by the time dinner came around, their family was tense with Andromeda's early departure. The dining room was nearly silent. Only some snippets of polite small talk floated around. True opinions were saved for behind closed doors. 

 When they got home it was late and they were sent straight to bed. But as soon as Evan saw the last hall light flicker out he grabbed his things and crept to Pandora’s room. They had shared a room for years. Until they turned ten and Pandora was forced to move across the hall. Evan thought the room was too big without his sister.

Pandora was waiting for him when he opened the door. She had managed to produce a small potted fern that sat in the center of the room. They already had a tree that stood in the entryway, but it was strictly kept to perfection by their mother. Neither Evan or Pandora were permitted to help decorate it for fear that they would break an ornament. So, he and Pandora had decided to make their own tree. They had made a tradition out of it, the amount of decoration growing every year.

Evan placed his half of the decorations with the pile Pandora had already started and they got to work. In the end the tree looked mismatched but they loved it. A wool scarf snaked around it like tinsel and small knick knacks hung from the branches. 

“It’s perfect!” Pandora beamed as she placed a small doll on the top. “Now, close your eyes.” 

Evan did as he was told and heard her rummaging through her nightstand. 

“Now open them!” She was holding out a small wrapped box.

Before he took it, he pulled a gift of his own out of his pocket.

“You open first!” Pandora grinned as they traded boxes.

Evan tore through the paper and pulled out a wonkily shaped silver ring. 

“I made it from the pixie cage we put in the Gryffindor’s room.” 

“That’s brilliant, Pan!” he slipped it on. “I’ll never take it off.”

“I’m glad you love it! The metal didn’t like to cooperate.” She laughed.

“Go on, open yours now!” Evan couldn’t wait for her to see her gift.

Pandora opened her box and held up a polished stone ball. It was the size of a large marble.

“It’s beautiful! I have to add it to my collection.” 

Evan laughed. “It’s not just a rock. Watch this.” He pulled a matching stone out of his pocket and squeezed it in his palm. The rock Pandora held started to glow and the warmth from Evan’s hand emanated from it.

Pandora’s eyes grew wide. “And it works both ways?” 

“Yup.” Evan nodded. “Now we’ll really always be together.”

“It’s perfect.” 

They spent the night in Pandora’s room talking into the late hours of the night. Eventually Evan’s arm started to ache and he felt the heat return. He knew magical injuries took awhile to heal, but this one seemed to run like clockwork, sending a reminding flare of pain every few hours. 

“C’mon. It’ll feel better if we sit outside for a bit.” She opened her window. 

There was a small patch of the roof right outside that they would sometimes go out and sit on when the weather was nice. But tonight, a light fall of snow covered the ground and the wind was bitter. Still, nonetheless, Evan was grateful because it offered some relief from the burning pain. Together, they sat on the rooftop watching the snow flurry around them. They made plans for the morning, before their family came, they would run out to build a snowman or snow forts to hide in. 

“Maman won’t mind as long as we’re all dried up when the family gets here.” Pandora smiled, imagining the fun they would have. 

“As long as you promise to bundle up.” Evan laughed. “She’d have a fit if you caught a cold.”

As if on cue, Pandora sneezed. 

“Exactly like that, time for bed.” Evan laughed.

“I’m not sick!” She sneezed again.

“Pan! Get back in your room. I don’t want you to get sick for me. I’ll be in soon.” He tried to shove her back through the window. 

“I’m fine! I won’t go in until you come with me.” She protested but her nose had already stuffed up, distorting her voice.

“In!” He pointed back at the room. 

Pandora rolled her eyes but listened nonetheless and Evan followed her in. “Besides, Aunt Athénaïs won’t let you near Felix if you're sick.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Like I said, I’m not sick.” She Immediately sneezed again.

“Sure you aren’t.” Evan laughed, tucking his sister into bed. 

“How’d I end up with such a great baby brother?”

“It was three minutes!” 

“Worst three minutes ever.” 

“You’re delirious, Pan. Go to sleep.” Evan started to stand up but Pandora stopped him.

“Ev?”

“Yeah?” 

“Will Christmas always be this nice?”

“Of course it will, Pan. In fact, it will be even better when we can decorate an actual tree.”

She smiled, her eyes closed in a dream-like state. “Merry Christmas, Ev.”

“Merry Christmas, Pan.”

Before he even made it into bed, Evan felt his stone glow warm. 

The next morning Evan woke up to Bitsy tapping on his door. 

“Is the young master awake?” She called from the hallway. 

“Yeah, I’m up.” Evan replied groggily. He cleared the sleep from his eyes and went to find his sister. 

Pandora was already downstairs, getting her makeup fixed by their mother. When their mother saw Evan she smiled. 

“Joyeux noël, mon chou.” She was always in a good mood when she had the chance to see family. 

While Christmas eve had been a large social gathering, that night would be close family. Of course ‘close family’ still meant a rather sizable crowd. Evan preferred the larger parties because it was easier for him and Pandora to go unnoticed whereas otherwise they were forced to participate in conversation with relatives he only saw a few times a year. 

The first guests started to arrive quickly. Like always, his grandparents were first to arrive. Septimus and Allura Malfoy no longer lived in the country and had returned to France when Evan’s uncle Abraxas had been old enough to inherit the family manor. But they always were sure to make an appearance. Soon after them the rest of His mother’s side of the family filed in along with his father’s younger brother who couldn’t stop showing off his new son. 

Pandora’s eyes were immediately caught on their baby cousin. Felix was only a few months old and she melted at the sight of him. 

It wasn’t until well into the party when Evan’s Aunt Druella and Uncle Cygnus walked in with only two of their daughters. Bellatrix’s face was sharp with anger and Narcissa appeared to have been crying just moments ago. Andromeda was nowhere to be seen.

Whispers quickly filled the room. Family events were not a casual affair and it was very rude to be so late, let alone missing the event completely. 

Pandora and Evan shared a look, questioning what had happened. 

The family quickly made their rounds, greeting the other guests, before doing their best to fade into the scene. Narcissa found her way to Lucius who Evan believed she had been dating for some time and Bellatrix snuck off by herself. His curiosity outweighing his better judgement, Evan followed after her. 

He tailed her all the way outside and through the gardens to the family cemetery. Evan rarely went out this far, but it was too late to turn back. He stood a few paces from her, watching as she examined the names on each stone. Evan had always been told what an honor it would be to be laid to rest among his family. 

“Do you know why there are so many names?” Bellatix asked, giving no other indicator that she knew he was there. But after he didn’t respond she answered it herself. “It is not because of their deaths. It is because of how they lived. Each and everyone of these people knew their place. They knew what it meant to carry the family name even if that means making sacrifices. Everyone makes sacrifices to uphold the family name. Everyone. So how selfish do you have to be to leave it all behind.” Her voice was bitter with rage. “She was given everything. She could ever want. Raised with a silver spoon. And still…. It would have been better if she had died. Been buried in this very spot.” She spat.

“You can’t mean that, Bella.” Evan finally spoke up. “She’s your sister.”

“She is no sister of mine!” She screeched, turning to face her cousin. “Narcissa may cry for her, but I will not mourn a traitor. You learn this well, Evan, there is nothing worth abandoning your family.” Her eyes were serious and tore through him.

He froze, feeling her fingers pry through his mind. At last her gaze broke and she looked at his arm where the scar seemed to burn through his shirt.

“Go inside Evan.” 

He ran. He didn’t mean to. Running was for cowards. The thorns on his fathers cane reminded him of that. But he could not stay there another second. Bellatrix had seen what he had done. She had seen how he had taken the blame. She had seen that he thought the punishment was unjust. That was a betrayal in itself. His parents knew best. Of course they did. It was not only that, but the Christmas tree. The rooftop. Late nights in his dormitory. Regulus’ tears. Barty’s lopsided grin. It was all no longer his alone. She had cut her way through every memory he held close.

Not looking where he was going, he ran fast into Pandora and they fell to the floor.

“Where have you been? Maman was worried sick.” she quickly sat up, making sure he was all right.

“Out. I can’t breathe. She saw. She was…she was in my mind.” Evan could still feel her fingers peeling through his thoughts. He clawed at his head, trying to make the feeling go away. “Sh-she’s still there. I can feel her.”

“She’s gone, I promise. Who was it?” Pandora’s voice was comforting. She stroked a hand through his hair. 

“Bella. I don't know how. She saw…she saw everything.”

“Legilimency.” Pandora realized. “ Reg told me about it. But she’s gone I promise.”

“No.” He shook his head. “Every moment, every memory burns. She’s still there.”

“Let’s get you to your room. I’ll tell Maman you felt ill. It will be ok.” 

Evan could hardly remember the walk up to his room. His head felt as though it were splitting in two. Finally, he collapsed on his bed. His mind slipped in and out of consciousness. The last thing he recalled was Pandora humming a lullaby.