✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

CHAPTER TWO. SCHOOL PREPARATIONS

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

With one arm tightly looped through her sister's, Evangeline made her way down the busy streets of Diagon Alley. The two walked past the many shops, their cousins in tow whilst their aunt and uncle attended to some "business" in one of the shops that the four had already past. Evangeline didn't know what the two adults were doing. She would never admit that she was worried but, those two were never up to any good.

Vivian yanked on her sister's arm and began pulling her into a store. Evangeline caught a quick glimpse of the store's sign, Amanuenis Quills, before she was dragged into it. "We already have quills. Why are we here?" Gemma complained. Vivian rolled her eyes in annoyance. "If you don't want to be here then leave. Besides, you can never have too many quills," she said.

"I beg to differ," Barry responded. Vivian mouthed his words in a mimicking way. Evangeline just ignored her cousins, already too fed up with them and the day had only just begun. The four were two days away from returning to Hogwarts and they were doing all of their shopping last minute, something that was uncommon for them all. However, ever since the return of the Dark Lord, the Luther parents had been too busy to take the four to Diagon Alley so that they could get their supplies. And they refused to let them go on their own.

Evangeline unlinked her arm from her sister's and began walking about the store. Her gaze flickered between different quills. She didn't really need any new quills but she might as well get a few. Besides, it wasn't her money that she was spending. Her aunt and uncle never should've told her to buy whatever she wanted. And although she didn't plan on buying anything too crazy, she did plan on spending money on things she didn't really need. Because it wasn't her money and she didn't care if it was wasted.

Had it been anyone else who had given her money to buy her supplies, she would've used it with moderation. But it was her aunt and uncle, they didn't deserve her kindness.

A scarlet colored quill caught her attention. She walked towards it and stared in awe. It was encased in a glass box, a little card was in front of it with the type of feather that it was. "Ah, that is a magnificent quill. And really hard to get. It's tricky to get a feather from a Phoenix," a voice said from behind her.

Evangeline turned to see an older woman with small glasses on her face. "Do you want this one?" She asked Evangeline who nodded. "All right, but just know, it's not cheap," the woman said, moving past her to open up the box. "I have money," Evangeline said. The woman nodded before carefully pulling out the quill. "Would you like a pot of ink as well?" The woman asked. "Yes, please," Evangeline said. The woman motioned for Evangeline to follow her.

After getting a pot of ink, the woman led her to a counter. She wrapped up the quill and placed it in a bag with the ink. She gave Evangeline the price of both of the items and Evangeline pulled out the exact amount, handing it to her. "Enjoy," the woman said, handing her the bag. Evangeline accepted the bag and walked toward the door, standing next to it and waiting for her sister.

When her sister and cousins were finally done, the four continued on their way. The next shop that they went into was Flourish and Blotts in order to get their school books. Vivian helped her sister find the right books that she would need for her fifth year. Gemma and Barry followed them closely in order to make sure that they too got the correct books for their fifth year. "Slow down, will you? We need the right school books too," Barry said. "My goal isn't to help you two," Vivian said as she continued on making her way through the store.

"Why are you treating us as if we're scum?" Gemma snapped. "Maybe because that's how you treat us you ignorant buffoon," Evangeline answered. "Who do you think you're talking to?" Gemma asked incredulously. Evangeline whipped around so quickly to face her and Gemma took a step back. "I'm talking to you, Gemma. Don't go acting all innocent. You and your brother are horrible people, just like your parents," she said lowly.

Barry let out a whistle. "Someone's bold," he commented. "Shove it Bartholomew," Evangeline snapped. Barry held his hands up in surrender. Out of the two Luther twins, Barry was the most tolerable. He wasn't as vicious as Gemma and seemed like the only Luther who actually liked the two Caspian sisters. He was still rude and sometimes cruel but, not as bad as his sister. Vivian began moving again and the three followed after her.

Once they had their needed books, Vivian began searching for the books that she would need for her sixth year. After paying for their books, the four exited the shop and began their journey to the next one. After buying a few new robes from Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions they were off to the next shop. By now, Gemma was complaining about how tired she was. Evangeline felt like slapping her but decided against it, not in the mood to get into trouble. Besides, she too was growing tired.

"Shut up, Gemma!" Barry exclaimed, his patience with her growing thin, as were the other two girls'. "When are we gonna be done? I want to go home!" Gemma said, ignoring her brother's rude remark. "We're almost done. Now quit complaining. You're giving me a headache," Vivian replied. Gemma let out an audible huff and continued trudging behind them.

"So, are we going to eat after this? I'm getting hungry and mother and father will at least take another two hours to be done," Barry said. "Food sounds great right now to be honest," Evangeline said. "Why are you asking me? If you want food then go get some. I'm not your damn keeper," Vivian said distractedly as she looked up at the different shop signs.

"You know Viv, you can be mean when you want to be," Barry pointed out. Vivian didn't reply. Instead, she took a sharp turn and walked into another shop. Rosa Lee Teabag read the sign. Evangeline sighed before following her sister into the tea shop. The two Luthers opted to wait outside, Gemma complaining and Barry wanting slam his head against the wall.

Evangeline watched from the door as her sister walked about the shop, picking up various types of tea and asking what each one was used for. After deciding that she didn't want anything, Vivian left the shop with Evangeline in tow. "Okay, where do you want to eat?" The older girl asked. Barry was quick to respond, "Maybe the Leaky Cauldron or we could go to Florean's to get some ice cream."

"Ice cream is not food, Bartholomew," Evangeline said. Barry narrowed his eyes at her use of his full name. "Fine, we can go to the Leaky Cauldron and then to Florean's for dessert," he deadpanned. "Fine by me," Gemma shrugged. The three's eyes move to Evangeline who shrugged. "Sure. I'm in the mood for some exploding lemonade," she said. "You do know that those things are damaging to your health, right?" Vivian said and Evangeline nodded.

"I'm hoping that it puts me out of my misery," she replied monotonously. Barry shoved her shoulder. "Not funny," he said. Evangeline glared at him, rubbing the spot that he pushed. "Not joking," she replied, beginning to walk in the direction of the pub. She turned back to look at them, "You coming?" The three followed after the girl.

"You are not drinking that damn lemonade," Vivian said once she caught up to her sister.

••••

The sitting room of the Caspian manor was one of the coldest places in the entire mansion. When she was younger, Evangeline didn't mind the cold. Her father would always wrap her up in a warm blanket and hold her close to himself whenever they were there. Usually, the Caspians would talk or play some kind of game. It used to be her favorite part of the house.

Now, the cold bothered her. It felt empty. She felt alone. She rarely went there now. In fact, the sitting room has been long forgotten by the residents of the manor. Nobody ever went there anymore because nobody had a reason to. Even Vivian stopped going there to hang out.

As Evangeline sat on the hard couch, a blanket wrapped tightly around her body, she glanced around the almost unrecognizable room. The couch she was sitting on was not the one that they used to own. After her parents' deaths and her aunt and uncle took over, they got rid of it and replaced it with a new one. As a matter of fact, they replaced almost every piece of furniture in the sitting room, save for an armchair.

A soft sigh escaped Evangeline's lips as she stared at the armchair across the room. It was her mother's favorite chair. She sat in it every time she was in the sitting room. Evangeline faintly remembered a time that she sat in her mother's lap while the woman read to her. She couldn't recall what it was that she was reading. The only thing she remembered was the feeling of comfort and safety that she felt in that moment.

"What are you doing in here?" The voice made her jump and whip her head around to face the person who had spoken. Archibald Luther was stood behind her. His eyes were narrowed in a mixture of confusion and annoyance. Evangeline sighed before pushing herself off of the couch. "Nothing. I was just thinking," she answered. "Thinking? Can't you think in your room?" He asked.

"It's my house! I can think wherever I please," she said, trying to keep the anger out of her voice. "Mind your tone with me, girl," he said, his voice dangerous. The two had a brief stare down before Evangeline stormed past the man, exiting the sitting room. He surprisingly didn't stop her. Didn't chastise her for talking back to him. Didn't slap her for disrespecting him.

Evangeline stomped up the stairs and to her bedroom. She looked around the room for something to do before deciding to clean up a bit. A deep sigh left her lips and she took a seat on the floor. Once she was seated, she laid down on her back, spreading her arms and legs out and staring up at the ceiling. In two days time, she would be on her way back to school. Far away from the hell of a life that she was currently living.

That feeling of dread began to settle into the pit of her stomach again. She was starting to hate the feeling. The thought of going back to school felt strange. Especially since she knew what was to come. It didn't feel right to go back. It just felt, strange.

Her stomach churned uneasily. She hated knowing what she did. Knowing that her world and the world of others around her would soon turn to shit. Evangeline thought she would be much better off not knowing. She would be better off being completely oblivious to the truth.

Another sigh left her lips and she pulled her arms to her head, tucking them underneath it to get more comfortable. Her thoughts continued on the topic of the Dark Lord. Of Voldemort. An involuntary shudder made its way throughout her body at the mere thought of his name. And all of a sudden, she felt angry. Because she knew what her aunt and uncle would make her and her sister do.

She didn't want to become a follower of the Dark Lord. She didn't want to do his bidding. She didn't want to be evil. All she wanted to do was go to school and be a normal fifteen year old girl. Her already awful life would soon become her worst nightmare. And there was nothing she could do about it. And she hated that. She hated the fact that she had no control over her own life and she never would.

Evangeline pushed herself into a sitting position before standing up. She went to her dresser and pulled out her pajamas, quickly changing into them. She walked to her door and turned off the light before climbing into bed and falling into a restless sleep.

••••

Here's chapter two! I hope you all enjoyed it. Have a nice day!

-N