TRAINS
The chill of the crisp morning woke Evangeline, though the loud song of one of the beasts on the property helped a bit. The bark of the elder tree cut into her neck as she stirred and a lone rat burrowed its way into her pocket.
“Edmund,” Evangeline mumbled, brows furrowed. She pushed herself away from the tree and turned her attention toward the dark haired rat searching for crumbs in her clothes. With great trouble, Evangeline extracted him from her pocket and turned him to face her.
“What are you doing?” The rat took this time to try to burrow into her hand as well. It didn’t seem to work as well as Edmund thought it would and after a few tries he stopped and settled to look at his witch. Once he was done squirming, Evangeline glanced up at the sky - it looked to be high time she got moving. She put her hand to her shoulder and Edmund chased a spot on it with his tiny feet, then she stood and made her way through the orchard and up the steps to enter the Dox house.
She was greeted by a knowing smile at the back door as Theodore shoved some new clothes in her hands and turned her toward the farthest place from their parents she could be. It was an effective tactic - she was able to get dressed before yelled at. However, the moment she turned to go up the stairs to get the last things from her room, her mother was there tapping her foot and her watch.
Alden Dox had a sharp nose and a keen gaze, her eyes dark. Strict wasn’t exactly the word for her. She let the children do largely as they wished while at home - she didn’t care if Evangeline spent the night beside an elder tree, she didn’t mind if Theodore left hot chocolate mugs around the house in the middle of summer, or if Clark hid in his room for days on end. She did, however, care exactly how the Dox family appeared to others. Reckless in her private life, exact in her presentation. Her gaze bore deep, they were going to be late, and that did not look good.
Evangeline scampered up the steps and into her room - which was largely devoid of self-expression other than the large amount of books and papers. She grabbed a small black book off of her desk and slipped it into the pocket of her shirt, then a few herbs from the left drawer. She looked to the right of her desk and realized now why Edmund had been digging in her pockets for crumbs - his food bowl was empty. A biscuit from her top shelf satisfied him and he munched it cheerfully in her ear as she raced back down the steps, landing in front of her mother with a huff. That gaze met hers once again as Alden straightened every hair, glaring at the slight dent the black book made in Evangeline’s symmetry. Then she sighed, and kissed her daughter on the forehead.
“Kole!” Alden called, which prompted a gruff, tall, man to tumble out of the office beside the front door. Gruff in this case was just slightly unpolished, lacking a shave and some hair gel. He had slept in his office again - an odd pairing to Evangeline’s sleep in the orchard. Theodore leaned on the wall beside the now open office door, grinning with some measure of amusement at his father. Kole ruffled Theodore’s hair a bit, grinning smugly as Alden rushed in to fix it. He moved toward Evangeline, still forced to crouch down a bit to look her in the eye.
“Ready?” He breathed out, putting some of his weight on Evangeline’s shoulders. His eyes were bright and full of so much curiosity, yet also so much fear. Evangeline put on her best smile.
“You don’t have to be afraid for me pa,” she said, poking his forehead softly. His eyes hardened and Evangeline fought the urge to jerk away from his grip. She held his gaze as he let go.
“I’m not afraid for you, Evangeline Dox. You’ll do just fine,” her father poked her forehead softly in reply, some of that wild curiosity had returned to his eyes but it felt stale next to the former darkness.
He stood and made his way over to Theodore, kissing his forehead as Alden stopped him from ruining Theodore’s hair for a second time. Then the light really returned to his eyes as he raced back to his office for a moment, returning with a polished cane and a dozen explanations with whatever magic he had imbued into it. He grinned wildly as Theodore took it and thanked him. Kole looked like he wanted to say more, but Alden cut him off and gestured to the door, a futile gesture as Alden would apparate them onto the platform. Nevertheless, Kole nodded a little morosely and retreated back to his office with a wave.
Alden shook her head and held out her hands to her children - Theodore grabbed the right, his new cane tucked under his arm and his other hand on his trunk. His small owl, Daunt, flew quickly to land on his head. Evangeline carefully took her mother’s left hand, the other resting on her trunk as well.
For a moment, she thought about the fact that Clark clearly hadn’t come and wondered after his safety, or at least his whereabouts. Of course he hadn’t come, she knew he wasn’t going to come, and then her stomach spun and her vision went black. The next thing she knew she heard a train whistle and felt all around her the presence of so many witches and wizards moving around her. Soon her sight granted her a big red and black train and faces of passersby. The large clock on the wall read a few minutes before eleven.
As always, Alden walked with her back straight and her head high. She ushered her children to an open train door and showed the appropriate amount of concern at them leaving her. A peck on the cheek for both and a certain amount of fawning over Theodore’s first day back since his accident. In return she received the appropriate glances of sympathy, then they were allowed to go. Evangeline stepped onto the car first, lifting her trunk into the storage area, she came back for Theodore’s trunk as well. He hesitantly tried to step on the platform just as she came back to lend her hand - he took it and mumbled his thanks as she steadied him.
“Do you… usually sit anywhere in particular?” Evangeline asked once she and Theodore were in the small crowded hallway. Doors lined them on both sides that were full with various amounts of students. Theodore shifted uncomfortably and looked like he was about to say something when a tall blonde boy spotted them and grinned. He held his hand out happily to Theodore.
“Cap!” he exclaimed as he and Theodore shook hands, “I didn’t know if you would be coming this year!” Theodore smiled in return and while it appeared to be his usual good natured grin, it was strained at the edges. A little uncomfortable, at least a little bit faked.
“Cedric!” he said, “I’m doing well enough thank you!” then he glanced at Evangeline and let go of Cedric’s hand, gesturing to her, “Ah, and this is my sister, Evangeline.” Cedric’s eyes followed his gesture, noticing Evangeline for the first time, his grin grew wider as they shook hands as well.
“Hello,” Evangleine greeted with a polite smile.
“The name’s Cedric, I played seeker with Theo here. Best keeper we had mind you - and an amazing captain, shame what happened.” He spared a glance at Theodore who had gone a bit pale, absentmindedly rubbing his left leg. Cedric cleared his throat, realizing his mistake and quickly looking to change the subject.
“This one of the friends you claim to have then Theo?” Evangeline offered, to which Cedric returned a grateful look. Theodore looked up and smiled again, still strained but genuine.
“Yeah he is.”
Cedric clapped an arm on his shoulder at this and they both started walking toward a cabin full of what Evangeline vaguely recognized as quidditch players. She sighed but followed them, knowing she would probably be welcome among the Hufflepuffs regardless. And anyway, it's not like there was anyone else she would know here other than a few other obnoxious purebloods.