For you, my brightest star

27/06/1979

POV – HARRY POTTER

Corvus:So, when and where are we going to meet?

Truth be told, Harry thought that his three companions are going to take their sweet time. Or even worse, withdraw back after the horror they felt in the Room of requirement. He is honestly grateful to Black for taking time out of his graduation day celebration and ask this through their notebooks.

Snuffles: I have arranged for a safe place. You people decide the date and time. I will send the apparition coordinates and Floo address.

Aurora: How about tomorrow?

Scarlet: No! Not tomorrow. I have to meet Xeno someone.

Corvus: Yeah, tomorrow isn’t good for me too. How about 29?

Aurora: Can’t do on 29. I have an interview that day.

Snuffles: 30 then?

Harry huffs in frustration when everyone agrees for 30^th June to meet and do the ritual. Only then they can begin formulate plan for horcrux hunt.

But he is going crazy over here with nothing to do!

As soon as Harry sits in with no work to do and no one around, the images of his life in future comes back flashing in his mind. And he is trying with all his might to avoid those.

He misses so many people. Ron and Hermione the most. But Hagrid. Hedwig. Ginny! Luna. Nevile. Dobby.

What is even more strange is that he misses people he shouldn’t. He misses his banter with Malfoy. He misses the time he spent with Dumbledore and all the words of wisdom the man shared. He misses aunt Petunia’s passive aggressive way of caring, as if she couldn’t help. He misses uncle Vernon’s comical, almost violent coloured face just before he is about to burst in anger. He misses scaring Dudley with magical lore.

He misses Weasley family. He misses Mrs Weasley’s delicious food. George and Fred’s quick banter and sudden pranks. Mr Weasley’s silent but comforting presence. He misses Percy’s pompous self too but that is somehow mitigated because here he has another Pompous guy of same age and attitude. Regulus Black.

God! He misses so much.

It feels suffocating. The grief of losing it all. It comes in random bouts. At the most unexpected moment.

It’s not as if he ever had a time where he was totally safe and happy but however dark and scary it was, it was the only life he knew. He misses everything, good or bad, big or small, that he is never going to get to live again.

Not only people but even the knowledge that the valuable objects he possessed are gone is another slice to his bleeding heart. From the firebolt that his godfather gifted to him in his third year to his father’s invisibility cloak. His old wand!

He misses his godfather, Sirius Black. The only man who cared in the way Harry needed someone to care.

He misses Grimmauld place. The place where Sirius suffered, not once but twice. Number 12 will always have a special place in Harry’s heart.

Most of all he misses Hogwarts as if it is an ache that won’t go away. Because Hogwarts has no mark or evidence that Harry ever lived there.

He sleeps fitfully, his sleep muddled with a life that he forewent.

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30/06/1979

Harry has been pumped up to finally get out of the manor and do something worthwhile. Instead of living life of an undeserving prince.

He feels bubbly excitement in his stomach. Mixed with anxiety of allowing more people in on his biggest secret. But also, a relief to share his past life. So, that he never forgets about it.

The mix feeling makes him jittery. Having breakfast alone because Charlus and Dorea have gone to visit Euphemia and Fleamont. Meanwhile Kayden is out doing with his girlfriend whatever the too much in love people do.

The last few days, Harry has begun learning advanced occlumency with the books and guidance provided to him by his new family. Turns out, not only Blacks but Potters too love hording very knowledgeable books with them.

Harry with nothing to occupy his mind with reads them. Spending most of his time on a couch in the study attached to the library. Charlus often sitting behind his desk, doing whatever the head of a pureblood house does. Both men silently doing their own work.

Though with how scattered his mind is, Harry often finds himself lost in his own mind, a book opens in his lap. Chewing the feather of whatever quill he could get in his hands. Charlus loudly clearing his throat, taking Harry out of his lost state. Though Harry is unsure as to whether Charlus really has a throat problem or if he does it for Harry’s sake.

He is grateful all the same. He can see the small efforts all three of them put whenever they can. Harry’s gloomy state not hidden from them. However, they never point it out. Just begin talking to him or offer him food or share some anecdotes from their life.

It is good to finally have this. Something he prayed, begged for, all his life. A simple, ordinary life.  

But his anticipated exhilaration is crashed when just an hour before the meet up, Regulus’s message come through the notebook-

Corvus: Hey! So, some urgent family matter came up. Reschedule.

 Gritting his teeth in obvious frustration, Harry is reminded how Sirius, his godfather, has told him that the Black thought of themselves as some sort of royalty.

Just Reschedule.

No- ‘can we reschedule’ or ‘please reschedule’

No. Blacks are entitled assholes who think the world should bow to them.

Harry immediately feels bad. Not for being irritated at Regulus’s behaviour but at bundling every Black in the same group. He knows two Blacks who are better than this. Dorea and Sirius.

Shaking his head, he writes-

Snuffles: Tomorrow sounds alright?

Corvus: Yes.

Harry thought that was that but then later on Pandora wrote that she has some family obligations tomorrow and day after tomorrow. And proposed 3^rd of the July. This time it was Black once again who said that he would not be able to make on 3.

After a lot of back and forth. With Harry also having a verbal spar with Black for not taking this seriously. And Amelia tearing Harry a new one for being harsh and callous.

Scarlet:Listen guys! Please meet on 4^th. From 5^th July my new job starts.

Harry snaps his notebook shut when everyone gives their assent for the 4^th of July.

Throwing himself on the bed and shoving his head under the pillow, he groans in frustration.

**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

04/07/1979

POV – Evan Rosier

Drenched in his own sweat after a two on one duel with Mulciber and Avery, Evan is done for the day. It was a double-edged sword. On one side he has to maintain the façade that he is a mediocre dueller so as to not get allotted heavy tasks. But on the other hand, one can never be too sure whenever in the vicinity of Mulciber. That man is a certified lunatic.

Suffice to say, Evan isn’t happy when he sees the Lestrange brothers approaching him. Pulling an equally uninterested looking Regulus Black along with them too.

Putting back his robes which he removed to prevent them from getting ruined. His bracelet too. A simple platinum chain studded with Amethyst crystals. An invaluable gift from his late mother given to him when he performed magic for the first time ever. An heirloom from her side of family.

They motion for Evan to follow them in another room of the manor. Evan does but not before sharing a high suffering look with Black.

Trudging behind the party of three, he charms his clothes clean and performs a fragrance charm on himself for good measure too.

As soon as Evan closes the door shut, Rabastan erects a couple of wards. This means that the matter has to be severe if the brothers are so hell bent on maintaining privacy and secrecy.

When he is done, Rabastan nods his head to his big brother who says, “The dark lord was asking for the update on the spy.”

Evan supresses a wince. Not that again. He hates mission other than raids. Because in raids he can just act as if he is playing an important role. And not look super uninterested in the agenda of the day.

Rabastan has a cruel looking smile on his face when he replies to his brother, “Pettigrew is laying low, it seems.”

Rudolphus appears satisfied at this reaction as if he anticipated this.

But Evan is more interested in Regulus’s reaction.

None of the death eaters knew who was the target for spy mission. And Evan thinks it is right to keep the identity of the spy hidden, even among their own ranks. The dark lord had ordered them all to suggest suitable candidates but only Rudolphus, Rabastan and Evan knew that Pettigrew is the lucky one, so to speak.

Regulus Black’s eyebrows rise at hearing the familiar name, other than that he doesn’t seem all that much concerned.

Evan is unsure of what the Lestrange brothers have in mind for Regulus.

“Then it is time to move on to the next phase of the plan.” Rudolphus says and then looks at Regulus expectantly. The poor boy looks as confused as Evan feels. Next phase is to actually harm one of the closest people of Pettigrew’s so as to drive the point home. But Regulus won’t know that. He was never the part of this mission up until now.

Rabastan hit on his brother’s shoulder for trying to appear mysterious, when he really achirving is a dumb look. “What Rudi means is that this can be your first ever real mission, Regulus.”

Evan’s eyes would have widened just like Regulus’s if he were a novice like young Black.

But, what the fuck?

“Does the dark lord know that you have involved Black in this mission too?” Evan can’t stop himself from asking rudely. Evan is in no mood to be crucio-ed for allowing Black to know that the chosen spy is Pettigrew.

The young Black has never been involved in Death Eater-ing business yet. It will be Evan’s neck in question if things go wrong way. Lestrange brothers are some of the very few people their tyrant leader tolerates.

Rudolphus simply waves his hand, “Of course he knows.”

Sighing in relief, he asks Rabastan, “Whom to target then? The girlfriend?”

Considering death eaters have to earn a dark mark by killing someone, Regulus, just like Evan got lucky and got the mark without ever dirtying his hand - him acting like an over eager puppy who wants to be pet when he first met the dark lord being the reason that the Dark Lord gave the boy a dark mark forgoing the protocol for Black just asked him to prove his loyalty by offering a house elf to the boss man. 

“No.” Rabastan replies, pulling a cigar from his robe pocket and lighting it up without concerns about discomfort of other occupants, “Meadows will be a difficult target. She is always surrounded. And we don’t want to drag Dumbledore’s attention towards our potential spy by aiming for a member from his Order.”

“The mother it is then.” Evan says, concealing the dread he feels.

Rudolphus looks at Regulus who is lost in his own world, when the boy finds the eldest in the room giving him an expectant expression, Regulus looks confused, Rudolphus clarifies, “Ready for your first kill, little Reggie?!”

With a baffled expression, Regulus asks incredulously, “What?! Righ now?”

Rudolphus shrugs, “Our lord wants someone from the Black family to be completely involved. Between you and my expecting wife, I’d rather it be you.”

This is news to him. Bella is pregnant?  Evan looks at Rudolphus in surprise, the other man gives an excited nod, affirming. The last Evan heard, Bella was having trouble conceiving a child. He will have to pay a visit to his cousin to congratulate her. Evan has no idea in what way he could congraulate the expecting father. He never liked Rudolphus all that much and that led to him keeping the man at arms length. Rabastan is obviously the easy going one between the brothers, if Evan was to be asked. But because of the awkwardness he feels with Rudolphus, a congratulatory slap on the back is too far for their minimal aquaintence and just plainly stating congratulations is too bland for Evan's taste. In the end the talk moves ahead and he misses his chance.

Rabastan chimes in, “Just learned last week.” Playfully bumping his shoulder with Regulus’s, “Finally there will be someone younger than little Reggie.”

Regulus gives a dead pan look, return the shoulder bump and says in his dry sarcastic tone, “Finally there will be someone younger than little Rabi.” And completes it with an innocent smile, making Rudolphus and Evan laugh at Rabastan’s expense.

The three of them look genuinely happy, Evan can tell. None of the cruel smirk or overconfident grin, their faces beaming with sincere happiness.

“Rudolphus…” Regulus says once the laughter dies down, he looks at Evan’s way, no doubt unwilling to talk in his presence, but he is so worked up that his irritation is clear, “I told you I am not ready for that.”

With a confused smile the elder Lestrange brother asks, “You do want to be a proper Death Eater, right? Regs.” Though it has the same rhetorical tone to it that Evan’ dad uses when he wants the opposite party to reply in affirmation.

It makes Regulus bristle a bit, Evan is unsure, whether it is because of the nickname or the doubt at Black’s intentions.

“I do!” Regulus replies without thinking through. Like a knee jerk reaction. “I just…. Can't we do it some other day? I have to be some place else right now.” He requests a bit hesitantly.

And suddenly Evan sees the young man Infront of him, not the Black heir but a child playing adult. Naïve and unprepared. Unsure and improvident. An 18-year-old boy.

“Ohh little Reggie has got a girlfriend.” Rabastan ever the idiot, pokes fun at Black, speaking in baby voice.

Regulus’s cheeks turn red. He looks away, proving that the statement is not far from truth.  

Evan can’t help but smirk. This is funny in some bizarre way. Imagining Regulus’s girlfriend behaving like a dissatisfied wife, complaining that Regulus never has time for her anymore. The dark Lord featuring as the other woman in Regulus Black’s love story.

He masks the laugh at his own funny thoughts with a cough. Merlin!

Thank Merlin Rudolphus didn’t see, because all of a sudden, he gets serious, looking every bit a frightening death eater, “Our lord wants you to be formally in our ranks now that your school is over. And what better day than today?!”

Out of all of them Rudolphus is the most excited. Almost like he wants to get it done with as soon as possible. But why?

What is even more strange is the Dark Lord’s weird obsession with the Black family. His incessant wish to collect the Black family members in his rank is akin to a Niffler amassing shiny objects.

His dad told Evan that none of the previous generation of Blacks showed direct support to the Dark Lord. Walburga, Orion, Cygnus. No one gave him much importance. His father Arnold believes that something was going on between the dark lord and Alphard Black. But it is all a hearsay.

Evan remembers how disappointed the man was when Lucious Malfoy informed him that Sirius Black has run away from his family home. Like everyone, he too, must have guessed a lost case in Sirius Black.

Regulus’s face turns sour. This is a shortcoming of being the baby of the family. You are so accustomed to everyone dancing to your tune that outside world seems a bit harsher because in real life no one is going to bend over backword for mumma’s little boy.

Evan, a single child, knows this because this is what Fabian told him, when they were friends. Being the youngest of the Prewett siblings.

The young Black’s lack of interest in the appointed mission is clear as day.  

***************************************************************************************************************************************************

Supressing a frustrated sigh when Black takes out his pocket watch for the 7^th time in the last ten minutes. Does his girlfriend not know that he is a death eater or what?

Gritting his teeth and internally cursing Black for making him irritated, Evan lets out a pleasant smile when Regulus looks at him in the hopes of sympathy. As if they were sharing comradery in whatever internal crises Black must be having.  

Oh, sweet child of merlin, Black! If only the kid knew that Evan is this close to wishing for a very soon and very messy break up for Black, if he keeps on annoying Evan.

Evan has been staking out of this house for the last two weeks since they accosted Pettigrew. Rabastan was tasked outside Zonko’s where the man works. They have no idea about the actual residence of Pettigrew but these are the two places the man could be found more often than not.

Unlike other Death eaters for whom their victims are like easy women who they sleep with and forget about next day, Evan likes to know at least one thing about the person whose life he is about to witness ending.

It’s not due to any goodness of his heart. Yuks! Those are the emotions of those losers in Gryffindor.

No, Evan does it because he likes to know the full story. A complete picture of what life this person has lived. Gives him a sense of purpose.

Being a death eater is boring beyond measure. You bow to the lord. You kill when he asks you to. You open your coffers when he asks you to. You lay down and take a crucio if he is feeling like it. You compete with fellow death eaters, in some sort of weird dick length competition, where the winner gets to lick the boot of their lord. You act as if you are doing something for the betterment of society when all you really do is useless and merciless killing.

Do all the above, eat food, sleep, rinse and repeat.

Plain simple life of an average Death eater.

Though he became a full-fledged death eater just last year, he has been witnessing their activities for far too long.

All kids’ parents take their children to their place of work, at least once in their childhood. Letting their kids see how hard they are working so that you can have food of your choice each day, so you can buy your favourite toys that many underprivileged kids could only dream of, so that they can send you off to fancy schools instead of an economical one.

His dad was no different. Before Evan boarded the Hogwarts express for the first time ever, his dad took him to one of the raids, right in the middle of pandemonium. In the middle of shrieks of terror, Evan stood, wide eyed and shaky limbed. Magic coursing through his veins the only thing protecting him from the fate all those people suffered. His dad left him in a corner with an order to use his newly acquired wand if those filth tries to hurt him. 

For the entirety of first year of his schooling Evan heard those horrified cries of help and fear. His father even tried to won the best father of year award by attempting to inspire Evan by wording every little detail of his little endeavours in the letters he sent.

‘Attempted’ because he was never successful at it. Evan didn’t want a father obsessed with a cause to an extent that in pages filled with gruesome encounters his dad never saw it fit to add one line about his ailing mother. His mother who was living the last days of her life. Bedridden and decaying each second.

After she passed away, Evan’s dad became even more absent. Only remembering that he has a son when the Dark Lord was visiting for a meal. Only to keep up appearance so that their lord can be satisfied that the next generation of Rosier clan is also going to be loyal to the cause.

The second phase was numbness. People running for their life almost like headless chicken. Nothing mattered to him in the aftermath of his mum’s death. If she has to die despite her magic and pure blood then why do those magicless and pathetic muggles get to live?

And if it was a mudblood who was played with before leaving said mudblood to die from blood loss and pain? All the better! Those were the nasty creatures who stole magic from deserving people like his mum, if they hadn’t, maybe she would have lived more. Seen Evan grow into a person she could be proud of.

That was how things went. Until he met HIM. The only person, other than his mother, who ever showed that Evan matters to them. Who urged him to open his eyes.

Not that it mattered in the end. He was just like Evan’s mother. Always claiming that they love Evan and then leaving him all alone. His mother because of her illness and him because, as fucked up he is, Evan could never take a decision that will condemn his father to suffering worse than death.

If he was so in love with Evan, he should have never asked Evan to choose.

Still, after a new voice in his brain, his voice,  telling him something different from his father’s version of things, Evan wouldn’t deny that his internal conflict did begin to take baby steps. Nothing big as to make Evan abandon everything he knew to jump the ship and join that foolish Order just like he did. No. But a seedling which just was starting to spread its little roots in Evan’s mind.

Its was easy though, to follow in his father’s footstep. A path was already paved for him after all, he simply had to follow in his father’s footsteps and live this life. Where one day meshes into the next. Why should Evan care for the plight of those nameless people who are nothing but strangers, when every person he has ever seen die or suffer, all their faces merged and formed the face of his mother?

It saddened to realise that no one remembers the good person she was. Her good was not for greater good, no it was all directed towards her only child. But she was forgotten long before she died.

And Evan hates it. That the person who, to this day, has been the most important person in his life, has a story no one finds interesting enough. History remembers only two kinds of people after all- either the monsters or the heroes. No one cares about the innumerable people who fall somewhere in the middle.

He is sure his own end will be just like that of his mother’s.

Audrey Isla Rosier- an obedient daughter, faithful wife and doting mother.

Evan Rosier- A decent son, average death eater.

Not even a footnote in history. Like mother like son.

So, Evan made a point to learn most basic and pointless details of as many people he has seen die or know are about to die.

What was their favourite past time. The name of their pet. How do they treat their kids. Who they left in their will. Their favourite colour.

The same was his aim to do with Olivia Pettigrew. The woman breathing the last few moments of her life.

Rabastan won’t know that the woman he has planned to kill today is someone who they are taught to hate even more than muggles. A squib.

Evan went above and beyond this time. Never has he had so much time to be focused over a single target. Two weeks served like a literal jackpot of stories worth years.

He transformed his appearance into that of an old man, made the woman believe that he has been her neighbour for years and that he has been a father figure to her for the last 4 years or so. Olivia having no option but to believe him after he planted the false memories in her mind, after that his work became easy.

For the first time ever, he learned a would-be victim’s memoir in her own words.

Born to a rich and well-respected pureblood family. The Selwyns. Harper Selwyn. The baby who grew up to be the disgrace of her family for being magicless. Shipped off to the muggle world. A mercy and a punishment all in one. Not killing but dropping an eleven-year-old girl to the depravity of humans.

Later, changing her name, the self-styled Olivia Butler, who worked years helping a kind hearted barber called Peter Morris, whose equally compassionate wife, Sophia Morris took pity on the little girl. Earning measly money from her job.

Later falling in love with the carpenter from the nearby shop who protected her from getting sexually assaulted by the son of the very couple who offered her helping hand. She recalled him as a spoiled brat, drug addict, Owen Morris.

Married to her saviour, Timothy Pettigrew, age 29 at the time, an average looking man, with the most ordinary personality. The pretty girl earned as a trophy for his heroic work.

Pregnant soon with a baby by the age of 17. Her life was decided for her without her knowing that each day she was getting entangled in choices she had no say in making.

An entire life paved for her by circumstances that she faced bravely, head on.

Often hit by her husband who quickly grew bored of her. The duality of the man who chained her with a ring on her finger, who hated her for being nothing but a mother and wife but also his small thinking never letting her step one foot outside of the house.

Confessing with a coldness in her eyes, to Mark Brown, Evan’s name for his old man persona, that the day Timothy died was by far the happiest day of her life.

A mysterious death, which she didn’t want to share, so, Evan respected her wish and let it at that. 

Selling Timothy’s shop and using the money to send her son to Hogwarts, finding work in a nearby biscuit factory, she finally lived for herself. By herself.

A woman of character and strength. Despite the tough hand life dealt her with. She fought and she won.

Up until now. No one can win from death after all.

The morals and principals she instilled in her son, becoming the very reason for her death.

But Evan will bet a quarter of the Rosier fortune that the woman will die an honourable death.

He is going to miss her. Her infamous sticky toffee pudding. He has taken the recipe from her. But unfortunately, no one can make it as good as her.

He blinks when his eyes begin getting blurry for some reason. Catching Black, in the rear-view mirror of a car, who yet again checks his watch. A complex mix of emotions passing on his face when he thinks no one is looking his way. Resentment colouring his features as he lowers his chin, shoulders slumping down in clear displeasure.

Evan takes his own clock out. One P: M.

Without even thinking Evan asks, “Are you hungry?” thinking that must be the reason for checking the time incessantly. The girlfriend thing can’t be making him this twitchy and eager to get done with, can it?

Evan gets the answer when Black shakes his head, lips pinched, looks away after only a second of eye contact, expression turning forcefully neutral immediately.

Attributing the weirdness to the first-time jitters, Evan focuses on Meadows, who stays in the corner, ever vigilant, guarding the house, but not having zeroed in on their party of three.

They have been doing this, Meadows and Pettigrew, for past 3 days. Standing on a lookout alternatively. Meadows for 3-4 hours combined and Pettigrew for the remaining 20 hours.

Evan’s suspicion that Rabastan is losing his patience are turned true when the man, walks over to Evan and states, “We should deal with both of them. It is taking too long.”

Evan catches Regulus looking like a deer caught in head-light. Understandable. One murder is nerve wrecking enough, two has to be above Black’s paygrade.

Evan himself, is feeling agitated. He doesn’t want to make his own debut murder right along Black. He is proud of his own record of not having a single direct kill. He would like to keep it that way. Rabastan would most likely think of himself so virtuous for providing Evan a person to kill. Like a poor parent who feels super proud of himself at somehow collecting money so that both his kids can have their own ice-creams, instead of having to share.

With a tutting sound, expressing a false disappointment, Evan responds, “I wish, Rab.” Groaning internally at how Regulus throws a look full of bewildered suspicion at his over acting, seriously Evan? ‘Rab?’ since when do you call him Rab. Thankfully Rabastan doesn’t notices with how his half attention is on Meadows who is looking at her watch, restless.

Evan adds, “I mean, we want to make a point. Not scare off Pettigrew altogether.”

Regulus too chimes in, for some reason, siding with Evan, and driving the point home, “Yes! Two kills will make him off himself.” This catches Rabastan’s attention, who looks at Regulus with eyebrows raised in distrust.

Evan steps in, laughs loudly, “Good one, black”, only to be shushed to silence by Rabastan who throws a wary look at Meadows who is frantically looking around, not having heard his laugh.

After 5 more minutes of visible distress, Meadows apparates away. The three of them immediately get to work. Time is of essence now. They know that Pettigrew can come any minute now.

They have to just wing it; this part is not at all planned. The vigilance that Pettigrew is maintaining outside his mother’s house. It is either - do it within this short window or to capture Pettigrew, tie him down by overpowering him and make him witness his mother’s death to make a point.

With Rabastan and Regulus on the lookout, Evan immediately casts muggle repelling charm, it is unnecessary if you were to ask Rabastan but Evan would counter that extra deaths are unnecessary.

Taking the, honestly, pathetically weak wards down takes Evan less than a minute. With that they are good to go.

Evan notices Regulus begin shaking with obvious nerves as he bypasses the teenager to cast an Alohmora on the door.

Their heavy footsteps echoing in the room. Waving his wand to turn the lights on, Evan is shocked to note that the drawing room is empty. For a moment, an exhilarated string passes over his body before his heart drops, when Olivia calls from her bedroom, “Petey! Is that you?” her voice nearing as if she is coming out, “I am almost done with packing…………” her voice trails over when she sees three men dressed in black.

Her warm brown eyes widening, mouth opened in shock, a shaky hand coming to rest on her chest in obvious terror as she backs away.

She begins screaming. Running into her bedroom, clicking it shut behind her.

Wrong choice, Olivia. He sighs, suddenly realising that he is sad that she couldn’t run away. Nothing good could have been achieved from befriending a woman he knew was about to be killed.

Fisting his hands, Evan turns to Black, for the first time he reminds the boy that Evan is his senior, “Do you need an invitation, Black?”  he asks meanly.

Looking at him wide eyes, Black gets moving. Spelling the door open. Evan looks at Rabastan who is in his senior death eater mode himself.

For some reason the man is not offering the same level of ease to Regulus as he always offers to Evan. In fact, he looks almost judgemental, as if waiting Black to fail.

Hmm. Interesting.

Evan turns his face back to the scene just in time as Regulus points his wand at the woman quivering by the bed. Evan has to give it to her that she has not hidden herself under the bed. That would have turned even more humiliating for her, pulling her out.

Due to a sudden surge of compassion, Evan wants a familiar face to be last thing she sees.

It is a huge risk, Rabastan who is standing by the door could find it extremely suspicious.

But Evan finds that he doesn’t care. Thoughts going to his own mother, who only had house elves at her bed side when she took her last breaths, with her son at school and her husband out doing something useless as usual.

But she doesn’t look away from Regulus. Evan too looks at the youngest person in the room, who has just like Evan taken his hood down, allowing the petrified woman to take a good look at her assassinator. Beads of sweat forming on his forehead, as he shakily lifts his wand, pointing it at her chest. Doesn’t utter the spell though, instead stands till as a statue.

In a desperate last attempt to make her look his way, Evan takes a calculated risk by asking her in a neutral tone, “Any last wishes, Ms. Butler?” calling her by the maiden name she has chosen for herself.

Rabastan at his back laughs, must be thinking that Evan is poking fun of the woman’s pitiful state. Regulus’s back muscles tense, as if not expecting any noise, but he doesn’t turn his eyes away from his intended target.

She looks though, her sea blue eyes, same as the eyes Evan himself has inherited from his mother, widening in surprise.

Evan doesn’t know what she sees in there. Does she, like Evan, sees a life that she could have lived if only she had magic? So, different and perhaps better than this one.

With an elder sister, who deserved to have someone by her side. When everyone left her as a lost cause, maybe, just maybe, the compassionate and righteous, Harper Selwyn could have sat by Audrey Isla Rosier nee Selwyn’s bedside. Sharing some of her strength in the last difficult moments of his mother’s life.

If only she had magic.  

A tear drops from her eyes as she sobs. Looking petrified like the eleven-year-old girl she was, calling for her 5-year older sister, Audrey, wanting someone to convince their parents to not send her away.

But Audrey couldn’t have helped her. Because Audrey was away at school when Harper was sent away just like Evan was away at school when Audrey died a slow painful death.

Instead, Evan is here now. A flimsy replacement to his mother, who would have done much better for her sister. But Harper or Olivia has always been disappointed by life itself. Why today be any different?

He doesn’t look away from her. Hoping that Regulus would get cold feet and not open his mouth to utter the wretched curse. As if it were that simple.

Gideon would have thought it simple though. Ever the Gryffindor, He, would have died trying save Olivia if he were here in Evan’ place.

But Evan is not Gideon. And Olivia never got to be Harper. So, they both keep looking in each other’s Selwyn blue eyes when they hear Black say, his words clear and harsh, “Avada kedavra.”

Her shaking hand clutching tightly on her Amethyst necklace the last thing Evan sees before green fills his vision.