CLOTH
Out walked Clark, as smug and as tall as always. His hair was darker than Evangeline remembered and slicked back in such a way that it looked exactly like their father’s. He wore a crisp black vest, his pants ironed perfectly and shoes shined until they gleamed. A package of some sort was carefully cradled in his right arm and for the most part hidden by his body. It was rectangularly shaped but wrapped tightly with a soft cream colored fabric.
Evangeline put the throw pillow down to stare in disbelief. Clark’s gaze went straight passed her to Theodore, they locked eyes for a moment in some sort of clouded meaning. Then Clark nodded, Theodore did not, and Clark made way for the rest of the study’s inhabitants to flow into the entryway. Lucius Malfoy was next, proud and noble with long platinum blonde hair reaching his shoulder blades. He had a bit of joy to his step, but it seemed layden with something else Evangeline couldn’t quite get. Maybe even fear.
Upon his exit, Draco came into Evangeline’s view. He smiled broadly at his father, but waited until he got closer before hugging him. Mr. Malfoy responded stiffly, unusual for the normally affectionate family. Evangeline’s own parents still stood in the doorway, locked in some sort of conversation still hidden by the secrecy wards surrounding the study. Kole’s face was set in a straight line, his jaw set and eyes hard. In contrast, Alden was animated, certain, excited even. It seemed she was the only person who had been in that room that was. They stopped talking when Kole spotted his two youngest children and grinned, leaving his wife alone in the doorway.
“It is good to see you two,” he said, hand on Theodore’s shoulder and bright eyes looking toward Evangeline. He looked onward to Clark, “Good to see all of you.” Alden stepped out of the study, a tight smile on her face and she nodded in agreement to his words. She rested on the back of the sitting room sofa, leaning over to smooth the sleeve of Evangeline’s dress then cover it with her sweater. The action didn’t strike Evangeline as rude, simply her mother’s way of approving of the dress and showing how pleased she was that Evangeline was home. Kole tapped Theodore’s shoulder, “Come on then.”
Theodore laughed and stood, Evangeline with him, and they made their way to the dining room. The Malfoys had already made their way ahead, now joined by Mrs. Black-Malfoy as well, though they had not yet sat at the table since decorum required they wait for the hosts. The table was newly set with porcelain and the house-elves must have been busy in the basement kitchens preparing dinner. Three centerpieces of cinnamon-scented pinecones and bright red holly were placed evenly apart on an emerald green table runner. Suddenly, Evangeline was glad she had put on a dress. She noticed now that Theodore and Draco had changed as well, both of them in crisp white shirts and black slacks. Her brother had a dark purple tie that did not match his complexion, but matched her dress perfectly (how had he managed that?). Draco wore a vest darker green than the table runner and seemed to have managed to add more gel to his hair. Evangeline blushed and began to smooth her own curls, surprised her mother had not chastised her.
Kole sat at the head of the table, with Alden to his right. She was always there, no matter how important the visitor, which had always struck Evangeline as particular evidence that her father had always been soft on his wife. Mr. Malfoy took his place on the left, Draco on his right followed by Mrs. Black-Malfoy. Clark and Theodore sat to the left of Alden. Looking at the seating arrangements, Evangeline was bolstered, realizing she would probably get to sit next to Theodore (who normally wouldn’t involve her in any conversation at the dinner table) with no one across from her. She couldn’t believe her luck! A peaceful dinner was in sight. She took her seat and tried to hide her grin.
With a snap of Kole’s hand, the drinks poured themselves. The adults (Clark included now) received something dubiously red colored while the three youngest received something clear. Smelling hers, Evangeline caught the scent of grapefruit. Apparently, her father was happy enough to see her that he hadn’t given her the usual fate of flat water. She took a sip and was rewarded with a nice sparkling cider, Theodore seemed similarly pleased.
Soon after, the food floated in from the basement kitchen, through the door that connected them. It wasn’t as grand as a Hogwarts feast, which was all well and good. One could get overfed very quickly there, with all the meat and potatoes that always seemed overly plentiful. Here there was a nice soup, not the stew kind with too much broth and more meat and potatoes, but a proper soup – all creamy and warm. It tasted like pumpkin, with a tad bit of sweetness that could have been nutmeg.
“Had… fun… at school?” Clark was asking Theodore awkwardly, it felt like he hadn’t been home since last Christmas, a sore spot in Evangeline’s mind.
Theodore took a sip of his drink before answering, like he needed something sweet in his mouth to speak to his own brother, “Er- yea? Got some new electives this year and all that, so it’s been a bit busier.” He was clearly surprised he was even being talked to, which Clark seemed to notice with a bit of frustration he tried to push down. His eyes turned to Evangeline for a brief moment, before back to his food.
“And you? Eva?” he said almost into his soup. Evangeline blinked. They were all in a line on one side of the table, it was awkward enough talking to him directly without Theodore in the middle. And yet, she found herself almost happy to have received his attention. Theodore had always been there for her, always helped her, Clark hadn’t. Perhaps that unattainability is what had always made her crave his approval and loath his absence. At the same time, that anger from the beginning of the term settled inside of her, when he hadn’t seen her off. When he had been who-knows-where getting who-knows-what now hidden behind a cloth.
“Funny, didn’t think you knew I was in school,” she replied. The Malfoys were making easy conversation with her parents about the growth of the trees in the orchard. She continued despite herself, “Have you brought something back for all of us or just Mr. Malfoy?” Clark, in the middle of stirring his soup, stopped for a moment before resuming again.
“I didn’t bring a present for Mr. Malfoy, but I may allow him to help me make use of it,” he said in a clipped voice, then, easing his tone, “why wouldn’t you be in school? You turned 11 back in March.” Theodore glanced uncertainly between them, busying himself by finding there were rolls in the basket in front of him and buttering one with his knife. Evangeline couldn’t wrap her head around what exactly Clark had brought home, but the discussions in the study, the addition of Mr. Malfoy, and his change of subject were enough to make Evangeline assume the worst. Her mind flashed to Theodore’s symbol very briefly.
“Figured you’d have said goodbye to me if you knew,” her voice losing its calm as she spoke, “Maybe even sent a letter if you were so busy. How was I even supposed to know you knew my birthday happened? You weren’t there for that either.”
“There’s no way you like the big ol’ party,” Clark said, raising an eyebrow. Evangeline’s birthday was in March, Clark had been born in June, and Theodore in August. Long ago these birthdays had all been combined into one large party over the Summer – usually around July – where too many fancily dressed purebloods came as a chance to speak to their parents. It was not how anyone wanted to spend theirs, to be fair it wasn’t really anyone’s birthday anyway.
“Well if you had been there for the party, I would have considered that close enough to sending me off,” she said softly. Did he really not understand that he hadn’t so much as sent her a letter in a whole year? Clark rolled his eyes, an expression that wasn’t typical of him – not that any expression was really. He didn’t respond, instead asking a relieved Theodore if he had taken ancient runes (he had) and enveloping him in a deep discussion that clearly went well over Theodore’s head.
Evangeline snatched half of a buttered roll from where it sat on Theodore’s napkin. She tried to calm herself by taking a bite. Looking up, she found Draco Malfoy staring at her, a subtle smirk quirked on his thin lips, a single eyebrow raised. Despite herself, Evangeline felt a blush of pure embarrassment crawl up to her cheeks, she glared to conceal it.
So much for a peaceful dinner.