By My Side

Eve rode up to Hogwarts in a carriage with her three new friends. Inside, she was shaking and scared, and it was only thoughts of how silly her Grandma would have said she was that kept a smile on her face.

When the coach stopped, the four joined the throng outside the great doors to Hogwarts, and when they stepped inside the castle that Harry thought of as home, they realised why there had been such a slow-moving queue to get in. Peeves, the school poltergeist, was causing more trouble, throwing bits of food from the canteen at the returning students. Professor McGonagall was trying to keep him under control, but as Harry leaned forward to explain to Eve who the poltergeist was, Peeves spotted his new friend and rushed over, an unusual smile plastered on his usually wicked face.

"Miss Eve!" Peeves said in a sickly drawl. Eve, who was pushing a book back into her bag, looked up innocently.

"Oh, hi Peeves!"

"How are you Miss Eve?"

"Fine thanks." Eve smiled, "You're not causing trouble are you Peeves?" The girl asked, casting an eye around the scene of disgruntled, food-covered students.

"No, no, Miss Eve." Peeves smiled more widely, "Just having a little fun with the kiddies." At this, he began to brush the unwanted food out of one boy's hair.

Ron, Hermione and Harry (along with everyone else who could see what was going on) stood with their mouth's open in surprise. Peeves was always ghastly with everyone, and never gave anyone except the Bloody Baron or Professor Dumbledore any kind of respect. To see such a show of kindness from the poltergeist was very strange.

"Glad to hear it Peeves." Eve laughed, and Harry watched as her eyes lit up during her laugh. "See you later."

"Yes Miss Eve." Peeves bowed dramatically, then sped off up the corridor without a word. For a second, everyone was quiet in shock, but Eve went on re-arranging her book-bag. Slowly, people moved on, back to what they were doing.

"Bloody hell!" Ron said in a shocked voice, "What was that?"

"What do you mean?" Eve asked with a cheeky smile. Harry could tell there was another story coming, and settled himself to have a few laughs in just a moment.

"That!" Hermione looked aghast. "Peeves was actually nice to you!"

"Yeah, well," Eve grinned, "I had a bit of a run-in with him during the summer."

"You were at Hogwarts over the summer?" Harry asked, now his turn to be shocked.

"Yeah, me and dad stayed here for a while, so I could get used to the place, and get to know my way around a bit." When she was satisfied no one else was listening in to their conversation and that the three pairs of eyes she wanted were upon her, she went on. "I stayed in the teachers quarters with dad, as I haven't been sorted yet, and one day, I slept in late, so by the time dad was down at breakfast, I was just getting out of the shower." The girl paused for dramatic effect. "That was when Peeves walked in."

"Oh no!" Hermione's hands flew to her mouth, lightly covering a smile.

"Of course," Eve explained with a laugh, "When I realised he was there, I threw a towel around myself, but it was too late, he saw everything, and I'm not even sure how long he was there. He looked pretty shocked." Eve didn't seem angry, or disgusted. Instead, as she took most other things, she looked upon the situation with a laugh. "If he had been alive, I think the shock would have killed him!"

Now the other three laughed, even Hermione, who seemed slightly angry at Peeves for walking in on her new friend.

"What did he say?" Ron managed to ask through a laugh.

"Just apologised profusely, tried to make out he hadn't seen anything, then kept bowing and calling me 'Miss'. I think he was scared I'd tell my dad or Dumbledore, or worse, the Bloody Baron. So, ever since, he's been nice with me."

"Well, I guess that's one way to befriend a poltergeist." Harry smiled. He realised with shock, that he was actually envious of the school ghost.

"Worked for me!" Eve shrugged with a laugh, suddenly all her nerves about the sorting gone. That was, until Professor McGonagall approached and broke up the group.

"Hello again Miss Lupin."

"Hi Professor." Eve smiled brightly, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"You'll need to join the first years for the sorting now."

"Okay." Harry noticed that Eve's eyes lost their sparkle slightly and her shoulders dropped.

"You'll be fine." He said, his hand instinctively touching her arm. He was rewarded with one of her most beautiful smiles.

"Thanks Harry." With a little wave, the girl followed Professor McGonagall away to a side door off the great Hall.

"Come on," Ron said, "We best get in, otherwise we won't get good seats, and I'm not missing Eve's sorting for anything."

****

As 'Ziron, Claire.' was made a Hufflepuff, the Great Hall fell silent. They all expected Dumbledore to now stand and announce the food, but they could see these was one older girl left in the middle of the hall, in front of the sorting hat with the most horrified look on her face. If any of the students had looked more closely, they would have seen their DADA teacher with a smile, willing the young girl on mentally. They also would have seen Harry Potter with his fingers crossed under the table, hoping that the girl would be sorted into Gryffindor.

"Lupin, Evelyn!" Professor McGonagall called. There was a communal gasp from the students in the Great Hall, as most of them put two and two together, realising that the young girl standing before them was the daughter of there werewolf sitting at the high table. Shocked glances were exchanged, but Eve seemed not to notice them as she stepped forward with more courage than she felt. Professor McGonagall showed no emotion as she lifted the sorting hat and placed it on Eve's head. The brim slipped down slightly over Eve's eyes, and she went to push it back up when the hat began talking in her ear.

"Eve Lupin eh? Didn't think I'd ever see you here!" The hat said in a kindly voice. Eve wasn't sure what to make of that comment, so said nothing, for fear of saying something dreadful. "Hmm, thoughtful, happy, intuitive and intelligent, but what to do with you?" The hat spent a few moments deliberating, then went on, "You'd make a wonderful Ravenclaw, put those brain powers to good use, but I see something else, something that makes me wonder......."

Eve sat rigid. That's it, she thought, it's seen I'm evil and it's going to send me to Slytherin. Eve almost called out in protest, she had grown extremely attached to Hermione Granger, in some way Hermione reminded Eve of her Grandmother, always sorting things out and taking the lead. She would want to stay friends with Hermione, but she knew of the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and she feared that if placed in Slytherin, Hermione would never speak to her again. Ron and Harry certainly wouldn't, she thought. Eve sat miserably excepting her fate when the hat went on, "Hmm, bravery, and loyalty to your new friends. That takes courage in these times, many take the easy option. Yes, I'm sure now....." Then, without warning, Eve heard the hat scream to the awaiting crowd,

"Gryffindor!"

Eve grinned and happily stood up as applause filled the Great Hall. She took off the sorting hat and handed it carefully back to Professor McGonagall. Eve then patted the top of the hat and said, "Thank you!" in a singsong voice.

She had a few seconds to gaze into the crowd and find the Gryffindors cheering loudly. Her eyes fell on Ron, Hermione and Harry, halfway down the table, with a seat save next to Ron. Eve waved and grinned. Without listening to Professor McGonagall (who was telling her to join her house table) Eve ran to her father and flung her arms around the frail man's neck. He laughed tenderly.

"Told you, didn't I?" He whispered in her ear.

"I know." Eve gulped back tears as she clung onto her father even more tightly. This was the man she loved more than life, whom she would go to the ends of the earth to protect, "You're always right." Eve pulled away and straightened her father's shabby robes. They had forked out for new, pristine ones for Eve, so she could look her best, and she appreciated her father going without so that she could have the best.

By now, the hall was silent once more, and Dumbledore was waiting patiently for Eve to join her house before the festivities could begin. The old Headmaster watched with a bright smile on his face. He was over-joyed to see the affection passed from daughter to father and back again. We need more of this kind of joy, he thought, especially in these times.

Everyone was watching the exchange, as Eve tucked her father's tie back in and Professor Lupin laughed, showing the lines on his face,

"Eve, everyone is waiting, sweetheart."

"I know daddy." She smiled, "But you must look right." Eve laughed loudly, which brought smiles to the faces of many in the Great Hall. "You never know who's looking." Eve kissed her father's forehead, then bounded off to the Gryffindor table.

"Opps! Sorry Professor Dumbledore!" She laughed, when she realised the old man had been waiting.

"That's alright Eve my dear." Dumbledore said with a smile in that old, raspy, wise voice he has. "I guess all I can say now is, let the feast begin!"

At that, all the plates on all the tables filled with wonderful foods. All that you could think of, potatos, carrots, chicken, ham, beef, gravys of all kinds and goblets and goblets of Pumpkin juice.

"The sorting hat took a while with you Eve." Hermione smiled from across the old oak table. Eve nodded, tucking in to a leg of chicken.

"It mentioned something about Ravenclaw."

"Oh! you must be really clever then!" Hermione smiled, with a look of admiration in her eyes for her friend.

"Nah," Eve laughed. "The old thing must be on the blink if it thinks that!"

As Harry listened, he was glad the sorting hat had placed Eve in Gryffindor. For some reason, he had been so taken up in her arrival at the school he had forgotten what happened here just two months ago. At his remeberence of Cedric, he glanced over at the Ravenclaw table and saw Cho eating and talking with her friends. Cho looked thinner than last year, and Harry wondered if it was because of her grief, but Eve pulled him back from his morbid thoughts.

"Harry! Hello?"

"Huh?" He smiled, "What?"

"Away with the pixies again?" She laughed, and he nodded, gazing into her beautiful blue eyes. 'Stop staring!' he reprimanded himself. "Could you pass the gravy?" Eve asked, and he obliged. She flashed him a sexy smile as thanks. 'I really must calm down,' Harry thought to himself, 'She's only a girl, and she's my friend, I shouldn't be thinking of her in this way!'

"Seamus Finnigan!" A hand extended in front of Eve's eyes and she smiled, taking the hand.

"Pleased to meet you Seamus."

"And this is Dean Thomas," Seamus motioned behind him, never taking his eyes from Eve.

"Hi!" Eve called over his shoulder, but Dean's view was obscured by Seamus, who seemed to want Eve all to himself. A muffled reply came from Dean, behind Seamus.

"So, you're Professor Lupin's daughter?" Seamus asked.

"Yep." Eve nodded, continuing with her food, but keeping her eyes on Seamus politely.

"He's a great DADA teacher." Seamus crawled.

"Umm, isn't he?" Eve laughed. "My Grandma was a teacher to, and her father before her. It's kind of a generation thing."

"Is that what you want to do?" Harry asked, feeling jealous that Seamus had monopolised his friend for so long.

"Yeah. Well, I'm not sure if I'll be good enough, but I'd love to teach DADA at Hogwarts one day, sounds sad but it's my dream job." Eve smiled wistfully.

"No, I think it's wonderful that you've decided what you want to do." Hermione chimed in. Ron was about to put in his two penny's worth, when Fred and George leaned over.

"Hello there!" They chorused at the same time. Eve, taken aback, looked shocked for a moment, then let out one of her now famous laughs. Everyone smiled,

"I think I need a lie down, had too much pumpkin juice, but I'm seeing double!"

"That's my brothers." Ron put in.

"Hello, Ron's brothers." Eve smiled, extending her hand for them to shake, but in true George and Fred style, the boys kissed her hand in turn. Eve blushed and looked at Hermione.

"Are they always this charming?" She asked. Hermione smiled.

"I'm watch them if I were you, they usually pull some prank or other."

"Well, if you're as half as nice as Ron, I'm pleased to meet you." Eve said, returning her smile to Fred and George. At this, Ron blushed scarlet and bowed his head over his food. Harry laughed at his friend's embarrassment, kicking him playfully under the table. Ron looked up at Harry and the two of them began to laugh. They both knew how taken everyone was with Eve, not only her beauty, but her personality too, which bubbled and shone like the sunlight.

"Aw!" Fred called, "Has our little Ronniekins gone red?"

"Shut up!" Ron called through a laugh. Eve's happiness seemed to be infectious.

The meeting and greeting of all the Gryffindors continued throughout the meal, then when the final puddings had disappeared, a hush fell over the Great Hall, and all eyes turned to Professor Dumbledore, as he stood up to address everyone.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts." He smiled, then his face fell a little and his voice became more serious. "As you all know, last year, we suffered tragedy here, but the summer has been a quiet, peaceful one, and it is my wish that the school year remains that way. I urge you all to be on your guard, and remind you that while the path to goodness is narrow, and the lesser taken road, it is the most fruitful, and the most rewarding."

At this, Eve looked across the table at Harry, and they exchanged a smile. For the first time since the two had met, Eve's eyes travelled up to Harry's scar, and when she returned her eyes to his gaze the emotion he saw in them was not the usual reaction he got. Many would realise who he was and look on with pity. Other would eye him with amazement, and begin to shake his hand in gratitude and wonder. Some even looked on with malice and disdain, as Malfoy always did. In Eve's eyes however, Harry saw something that he couldn't quite explain at first, then as they looked back at Dumbledore, Harry realised that Eve had looked at him with no sign of amazement or awe, instead it had been appreciation for what she had sensed was behind the scar, not the scar itself. It was a new feeling to Harry, and he began to wonder how many more times Eve would amaze him in the coming year.

"There are a few start of term notices to give to you all, the first is that while the regular Hogsmeade visits will continue, they may be called off at any time, and I apologise for this in advance." Dumbledore stopped and looked around, his eyes seeming to land on every single student in the place. "I'm sure the reason for this is obvious to all of you."

"Also, Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to remind you that wandering around the castle after lights out is strictly forbidden." Eve took one look at Filch and leaned into Ron, whispering into his ear.

"He looks nasty." Ron nodded savagely, then smiled.

"My final notice regards the use of school owls." At this, everyone perked up to listen. "We must be extremely careful about keeping the school security tight." Dumbledore explained. "This is why there may be random checks on letters leaving the school grounds. Again, for this, I apologise to you in advance, while it cannot be helped, it is there for your safety, no one elses." There was some whispering and muttering, mainly from the Slytherin table, and Professor McGonagall leaned over to say something to Dumbledore in hushed tones.

"Ah yes!" The headmaster now smiled, and everyone listened once more. "I would like to introduce to some of you, and re-introduce to others, our current Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin." Dumbledore held out his hand towards Remus Lupin and everyone looked his way. Many looked upon him with fear, knowing he was a werewolf. "This is a teaching appointment I know some of your parents do not agree with. However, we are all fully aware of Professor Lupin's illness, and precautionary measures have been taken. I assure you," He carried on when there were a few hushed glances, at both Remus and Eve, "That no harm will come to any of you. Remus Lupin is not a threat, and never has been." Eve could have sworn she saw Dumbledore cast a sideways look at Severus Snape when he said this, and she smiled at her father. He smiled and nodded at her, as though telling her it was all going to be alright.

They had talked about it many times, and Eve knew that there would be quite a lot of comments about her father. She had prepared herself for the 'your dad's just a werewolf' comments, and even expected many to think she was also one, but as she had calmly pointed out to her Uncle Sirus when he had voiced his concerns about the taunts, all the children would soon find out she was just like the rest of them, after all, she would be around all month, every month. She had even laughed and said she would make extra special appearances out of her common room on full moon days, minus fir and fangs.

"You must all be very tired now, so Prefects, if you would like to lead your classmates to their respective houses please!" Dumbledore sat down as everyone else in the hall rose. Harry and Hermione waved goodbye to Ron and Eve, as they tackled the first years, and showed them the way through the milling crowds.

"It'll take ages to get out of here." Ron said, in the surge of people waiting to get out of the Great Hall.

"Let's hang back." Eve said. "We're in no hurry, you can give me a guided tour of the place, I'm sure."

"Course I can." Ron laughed, "Although I don't think I'll ever know Hogwarts off by heart, it has some places that only appear on Thursdays."

"Let's tackle the small stuff first." Eve frowned, "Like how to get to Gryffindor Tower. My dad never took me there in the summer, as we didn't officially know which house I would be in, and I thought it would be a bit presumptuous."

"Okay, let's go." Ron said as the crowd thinned out.

"Hang on." Eve grabbed his hand. Ron at first thought about pulling it back, then decided it felt comfortable and warm, so he let her cling on. After all, they were friends. Ron fancied Eve rotten, he would have been the first to admit that, but his mind was on Hermione all the time these days. This gesture of hand holding only didn't freak him out because it wasn't Hermione. Had it been her, he would have got nervous and shy. Besides, he had worked out by now that Eve was just that kind of person, she showed affection easily, anyone could see that from the way she had held her father so dearly in front of the whole school. She had probably grown up surrounded by a lot of love, which is why she felt comfortable passing it on and showing it clearly. Thus Ron stood holding the hand of the most beautiful girl in the room, and received many a glare from the passing boys. Eve however, did not notice this, her eyes were on her father, who was making his way down the room towards them, a smile on his face the likes of which Ron had never seen.

Professor Lupin was a teacher Ron respected greatly, he had made DADA enjoyable in his third year, and treated all his pupils well. Actually, looking at Eve and Remus Lupin, Ron could see not only the physical likenesses, but also the characteristic likenesses. Both people were friendly and open. They were both trustworthy also, and the brightness Ron saw in Eve, he suspected had only been taken away from Remus Lupin through his exhausting werewolf transfigurations.

"Hello you two!" Remus finally said as he joined them.

"Nice to see you again Professor." Ron said, offering his free hand to Remus.

"And you Ron. Hope the studies are going well?"

"Oh yeah, brilliant." Ron smiled. "Hope you've got some interesting things lined up for this year for us to study."

"Of course Mr Weasley, all part of the service." The grin on Remus's face, now fell on his daughter. "Just wanted to say goodnight."

"I hope I don't get thrown into some room on my own." Eve pulled a face. "I want to be with Hermione."

"I'm sure you will." Remus kissed his daughter on the cheek. "Although you'd best get going, otherwise you won't be able to wake up in the morning, you know how you are."

"Are you trying to suggest I'm not at my best in the morning father?" Eve asked in mock anger, although there was a smile twitching at the corners of her mouth, and a laugh rumbling in her tummy, threatening to spill out at any moment.

"Would I?" Remus played his daughter off brilliantly, and while Ron was enjoying the exchange, he was also growing tired. He squeezed Eve's hand.

"We'd best get going, or all the best beds will be taken." He teased.

"Right. See you in the morning dad!" The two turned and left the great hall, Ron leading the way up the staircases and behind hidden tapestries.

"I'll never remember all this." Eve muttered, a worried look on her pretty face.

"Don't worry." Ron consoled, "Either me or Herm or Harry will be with you, and if not, there will be plenty of people to ask around."

"I hate not knowing my way around." Eve commented as they reached the Fat Lady.

"Parchment!" Ron shouted at her, and she smiled, opening accordingly. When they walked into the common room Ron noticed their hand link had broken somewhere along the way, but he was secretly glad, as Hermione sat in front of the fire with Harry, and he wouldn't want her getting the wrong impression.

"Hiya!" Hermione called when she saw them. There were a few Gryffindors sitting around, but the majority had gone to bed. Ron sat down next to Hermione of the sofa while Eve goggled at the hangings and splendour that the other three were now used to.

"Wow!" She exclaimed, "This place is gorgeous!" Her eyes, full of wonder like a child, then rested upon Hermione and her other two new friends. "I'm so glad I got in Gryffindor!" She laughed, running to Hermione and hugging her. Both boys smiled, then Harry looked into the flames next to him, secretly wondering if he would get a hug, then silently laughing to himself.

Eve however, refrained from hugging Harry and Ron. Instead she placed herself in a big soft comfy chair opposite the fire and sighed.

"Am I sharing a room with you?" She asked Hermione, and Hermione nodded,

"Yes. There has always been a free bed in our room, so you'll fit nicely in their. All your stuff has been brought up, your trunk and things."

"Oh!" Eve jumped, "That reminds me, I have to show my CDs and my other junk. Wait there." She got up then realised she wouldn't know where to go.

"The door on the right." Hermione chuckled. "Here, I'll take you."

"No!" Eve stopped her, "That flaming hat thing said I was brave, so I want to test it out a bit, I'm sure I'll find my way. If not, I'll just ask someone." With a laugh from her friends, Eve ran up the stairs to the girls dorm and disappeared.

There was silence for a second, as the three friends eyed each other and smiled.

"A handful, isn't she?" Ron asked.

"I think she's great." Hermione nodded satisfiedly to herself. "She's always laughing or making a joke. She seems to have all the carefreeness of everyone I know put together."

"Where does she get all that energy from?" Harry groaned and he considered his own tired brain, accompanied by drooping eyes.

"Is she always like this?" Ron smiled.

"Yeah, always." Hermione laughed. "Mum and dad loved her too. I think everyone does, its just like....a natural reaction to her."

"Let's see if that goes for Snape as well." Harry sat back in his seat.

"How have you been?" Hermione asked, looking concerndly at Harry, "Over the holidays I mean."

"Alright. Fine actually. Strangely fine." He frowned.

"Hmm," Hermione contemplated, "Worryingly fine."

"But ever since I met Eve, my mind hasn't seemed to be able to focus on worry." Harry commented, then realised what he said when he received a grin from Hermione and an 'Oh yeah?' from Ron. They both wore knowing looks and exchanged them with each other. "Not like that!" Harry grinned, although he knew well that it was like that.

"She is very pretty." Hermione chimed, still grinning at her best friend.

"Okay, yeah, she is." Harry nodded, then when he saw them exchange more looks he laughed. "Honestly, just because your hormones are working overtime, doesn't mean mine are!"

"So you don't fancy her then?" Ron asked. Harry was silent for a moment while he contemplated his answer.

"Maybe." Harry shrugged.

"Well I think you would make a nice couple!" Hermione nodded to herself."

"Bloody hell Herm, you've got him married off with children!" Ron laughed.

"Don't mock Ronald Weasley." Hermione poked Ron in the ribs and he flinched under her touch, but not for the obvious reason.

"Sorry miss." He retorted, half seriously. He realised how much he had missed her, and felt like throwing his arms around her there and then, but of course he didn't, because he was Ron, and ultimately, he was scared.

Hermione pulled tongues at Ron then turned her attention back to Harry.

"She said you were very nice."

"Did she?" Harry asked, a little too eagerly, as he got wolf-whistles from Ron. "Oh shut up." He threw a Weasley Canary Cream that had been left by George and Fred at Ron. His friend ducked and missed his careful aim, but smiled and willingly stopped.

"Yes. We were talking about you on the train."

"Saying what?" Ron asked, now interested.

"Nothing, just girl talk."

"Girl talk?!" Ron mocked, "Herm! you have to tell us! we'd tell you our boy-talk, wouldn't we Harry?" Harry nodded because he felt that was what Ron wanted of him.

"No, no chance, sorry." Hermione held up her hands in defence.

"That's wicked." Ron tutted and shook his head. "You can't keep secrets from us 'Mione, we're your best friends." Ron gestured to him and Harry, which made Harry laugh.

"Ron, it's girl talk, which means its for girls ears only. They were probably taking us apart, saying how awful we were. Right Herm?"

"No actually." Hermione blushed. "Eve was so eager to meet you both because of the things I told her over the summer. She wanted to see if some of them were true."

"Like what?" Ron asked, unconsciously inching closer to Hermione.

He didn't, however, get an answer, as Eve returned, running towards them with a pile of things in her arms. The remaining students had now filtered to bed, so it was just the four in the common room. She dropped a few things as she neared their table, which Harry got up and brought for her.

"Thanks Harry." She smiled, taking them from him. Their hands brushed together as they passed the things, and Harry felt an electric shock run all the way up his arm and spread through his body. He sat down quickly and tried to focus on what Eve was now saying.

"These are my CDs I was telling you about Herm." She passed them over to Hermione, who riffled through them.

"Wow!" Ron said, taking one from her and inspecting it.

"How are you going to play them here?" Harry asked, "There's no electricity."

"Easy." Eve explained. She then proceeded to upturn the CD she was holding and she produced her wand from her robes pocket. She pointed her wand at the centre of the CD as she held it flat on her palm.

" Fenamio!" She commanded, and suddenly, the CD spun on her palm. It spun so quickly, yet no noise came out and the three watched expectedly as Eve held her wand now to the tip of the spinning CD and said gently, " Sonorus."

The soft sounds of Eva Cassidy filled the air from seemingly nowhere. 'Fields Of Gold' played at a lowish volume while even Hermione grinned, impressed.

"I can't do without my music." Eve explained after a few minutes of silent listening. "Grandma taught me this trick when the electricity went down one night."

"That's beautiful." Ron said. He, of course, had never listening to Muggle music before.

"That's very impressive." Harry noted. He hadn't listening to music much in Privet Drive, as he never had a radio or CD player. Dudley had, of course, and sometimes the radio had been on in the kitchen in the mornings. He had always loved music, it reminded his of his mother for some reason, and he assumed she must have sang him to sleep when he was small, the way his Aunt often did for Dudley when he was young.

"What else have you got?" Hermione asked eagerly, grabbing a pile of CDs on the table.

"Just my most favourites. Gran would buy me them for special occasions. Of course, most witches and wizards don't agree with Muggle values and Muggle amenities, but Gran was never like that, she always said we should enjoy all we could, not make distinctions." Eve set the spinning CD down on the table and the music continued on. After a moments silence Ron said quietly,

"What happened to your mum?"

Eve looked up. She had a kind of sorrow in her eyes now, Harry noticed, and he felt strangely angry at his friend for placing it there.

"She left when I was small." Eve said after a few moments. "Her and dad met in Hogwarts, but didn't get together until a few months after graduation. Dad said that they were happy for a while, and decided to get married quite quickly. They moved in with dad's mum because they didn't have much money. He said things were peaceful, they used to go out on double dates with James and Lily," At this, Eve nodded at Harry, "And then Lily and my mum, Amelia, fell pregnant at the same time." There was a silence while Harry looked at Eve with wide eyes. She must know so much, he thought, about my mum and dad. "Dad said he thought mum was unhappy for a while before I was born, then when everything happened with Voldemort," Ron winced, "And uncle Sirius went to Azkaban for murdering all those Muggles, things really fell apart. I was only little of course, and dad says he thinks she stayed for me. She held on until I was about four, then screamed at my dad how bad a husband he was, said she couldn't handle him changing every month any longer, the she packed her bags and left."

There was a kind of stunned silence. Ron went a little red and said,

"Sorry, I -......"

"It's okay." Eve smiled warmly. "I don't think her about her much, I never really knew her. Not sure if you can miss someone you didn't know. Can you Harry?" She turned her eyes softly to Harry and he nodded.

"I think so."

"Maybe I just try to forget her then." Eve sighed. Even while embracing sobriety, Eve seemed to radiate a kind of comforting balance of happiness. "She left my dad because of something he couldn't help, something he didn't ask for. I love him more for it, because I know he copes so well with it." At this, Eve's voice became stronger, and a smile re-appeared on her face, "That's where she and I are different, although dad says I have her eyes." Eve fluttered her eye-lashes dramatically for effect and Hermione laughed. Ron smiled at Harry, who had a kind of far-away look on his face.

"I guess that's why your Gran was so important to you." Hermione said quietly, as not to break the peaceful atmosphere that had descended on her friends.

"Yeah, I suppose. It always felt like my dad was both and dad and a mum to me though, you know? He made sure I never wanted for anything. He gave me all the love I needed, and when he couldn't be there, he knew Gran would be." Once again there was silence and Harry smiled in the firelight.

"Sounds like you were really lucky."

"Oh, I was!" Eve laughed, "My Gran always used to say to me, 'Evelyn-Jane, aren't you just the luckiest little girl alive to have such a carin' daddy who loves you with all of his heart?'"

The three people sitting with Eve laughed at her impression.

"And she was right." Eve smiled, "As always. We didn't ever have very much money, but that didn't matter. Like the Beatles said, Money Can't Buy You Love."

"The Beatles?" Ron frowned.

"Oh God." Eve said gravely, her face darkening, "You really don't know anything, do you?" Harry and Hermione laughed.

"They were a really popular Muggle band Ron."

"Only the greatest band ever lived, Hermione!" Eve sat forward. "Gran would sing their ballads to get me to sleep when I was sickly."

"Sounds like you'll have to teach me a thing or two about Muggle music." Ron shrugged.

"Definitely." Eve said with determination in her voice.

"What else have you got?" Hermione asked, looking at Eve's pile of things on the table.

"Oh!" Eve leaned forward and picked up a small teddy bear. "This is Joey. Lily bought him for me, when I was born. My first teddy."

"My mum bought that?" Harry asked, eyes wide in amazement. He leaned forward and Eve handed Joey over to him. Harry gently touched the toy and smiled at Eve.

"Yeah. Because we were born so close together, my mum bought you your first teddy and your mum bought me mine." Harry looked back at the teddy and whispered,

"Mum." He touched the eyes of the teddy then looked back at Eve, fighting back tears. "He's cute." He handed the teddy back and tried to look like he wasn't bothered.

"I cuddle up to him sometimes at night." Eve smiled at Harry. "He makes me feel safe if I'm alone."

Hermione and Ron felt like they were imposing, but they needn't, as neither Harry or Eve realised there was anyone in the room apart from them at that moment.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." Eve said in almost a whisper.

"It's okay." Harry shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He smiled up at the beautiful Eve, knowing that there were probably lots more things like this coming in the following year.

"What's this?" Ron asked, breaking the eye contact between Eve and Harry.

"Oh that!" Eve laughed, "It's a magic photo frame."

"How does it work?" Ron asked, inspecting it.

"It holds five photos instead of one." When Ron still looked confused, Eve turned it the right way up for his and said, "Touch your wand to the edge and say 'See.'"

Ron did just this then laughed. "Cool."

Hermione leaned over Ron to look at the picture. "Is that your Gran?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah." Eve nodded, giving Joey back to Harry and smiling. Harry clutched on to the teddy tightly and returned her warm smile.

"She's pretty." Ron said kindly.

"She was about twenty-one there."

"Can I see?" Harry asked, and Ron passed the photo holder to his friend. Harry eyed the photo then smiled. "She looks like you."

"Ohhh, you think?" Eve asked, as though someone had just told her she looked like a wonderfully gorgeous film star.

"Yes." Harry nodded, still gazing at the photo then back up at Eve.

"Touch it again and say 'See.'" Harry did just that then smiled.

"Is that.......?" Harry asked with laughter.

"Yeah." Eve nodded. "Cute baby, huh?"

" Now I'm embarrassed." Harry laughed, handing the photo over to Hermione.

"Oh wow! look Ron! it's Eve and her mum, and Harry on his mum's knee!"

"See?" Eve smiled, "We didn't just meet for the first time today!"

"Aww!" Ron laughed at Harry.

"Yeah, yeah." Harry blushed bright red and shook his head, smiling. "Move it on!" Harry indicated to the photo frame.

"See!" Hermione pointed at the frame. This time a more recent photo of Eve, her father and Sirius appeared. "Look Harry!" Hermione grinned, handing it over. Harry grinned.

"I've got to get myself one of these."

"How come some photos are normal and others are still?" Ron asked.

"I picked the best photos, whether they were Muggle or not. I think they're all as good as each other." When everyone had seen the photo of Remus and Sirius, Ron moved the photo on. The next picture was of a younger Eve, her dad and her Gran outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour in Diagon Alley. This was a wizard photo, and all three people waved. Eve was about eleven in the photo, and wore a wide grin, as usual. Ron grinned at the photo, then passed it round.

It was Harry holding the photo frame when he changed it to the final photo. He was shocked, and tried to hide a sharp gasp at the picture in front of him. It was a Muggle photo, but although it was not moving, the image still stirred something in Harry he felt embarrassed at. He thought of passing the photo on quickly, but couldn't help but stare. He wondered if he had his mouth open, was scared he was dribbling even.

"What's the photo of?" Ron asked.

"It's Eve and Herm." Harry said, dragging his eyes away and handing it to a frowning Hermione. The photo was taken during the summer, Hermione and Eve were sunbathing in Hermione's back garden, and both had bikini's on. Eve's, Harry noticed, didn't leave much to the imagination.

"Oh wow!" Hermione laughed.

"Your mum gave it to me before I left." Eve smiled, "Hope you don't mind."

"Of course not!" Hermione smiled warmly. "I'm proud to be in your favourite photos!"

"Bloody hell!" Ron said, wide eyed. Harry laughed, realising just how Ron felt. "Not much material on those things, is there?" He eyed Hermione warily.

"We got great tans, didn't we?" Hermione smiled.

"Yeah, but mine is fading now." Eve frowned, pulling up her sleeve and looking at her arm.

"We should have spent more time in the sun." Hermione noted.

"I know a spell for fake tan." Eve told her.

"Where did you -?"

"My Gran." Eve laughed. "But you have to be real careful, because it can make you very orange." Lots of laughter followed this comment.

"I think Snape needs a bit of that, he's as white as a sheet." Ron said through bursts of laughter.

"Hmmm," Eve frowned, I've yet to meet this Snape guy. My dad's told me lots about him though."

"He hates me." Harry shook his head.

"Oh!" Eve opened her eyes wide, "Because of what James did?"

"I think so." Harry said quietly, "But I don't think I've got to the bottom of it yet."

"Well, feel free to drill my dad for info. He usually has a good story to tell."

"I guess you must know a lot about......my dad." Harry said, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice, but not achieving his goal.

"Yeah." Eve laughed, "All the things he and dad got up to at school. Oh, and Sirius of course, he was the worst by the sounds of it."

"You'll have to tell us them all some time." Hermione put in, as she suspected Harry wanted to hear them but was too bashful to say.

"Of course I will." Eve nodded, "Even if I told you one every night though, I fear we'd be hear until we were ancient!" Ron yawned, then stifled it, as he wanted to know what else Eve had brought down, and was eager for her to go on.

"So what's this?" He asked, picking up a small round ball from the table and rolling it in his hands. The ball seemed to be made of marble, and although it was small, it was deathly heavy. Ron stared at it for a moment, fascinated by the intricate markings and colours.

"That's a Gwendoline ball." Eve told him. Everyone looked to her, slightly puzzled. "Before it was mine, it was my Grans, and before it was hers it was her Grandmothers. It originates from Egypt, at the time of the Mummys. It was said at that time to have ancient powers, but of course, no one knew whether there were true witches and wizards at the time. Of course, it is magic, but not really very useful. It's supposed to rattle and shake when death is about, but when it senses love, it glows hot and burns whoever touches it."

"Why Gwendoline?" Harry asked.

"After an ancient wife of one of the most powerful men in Egypt. She was said to have cursed every one she saw. There were only around ten crafted, and she managed to curse every one of them before she died, although she actually died as a result of cursing the last one." Eve saw the still slightly puzzled look her friends gave her and she ploughed on. "Gwendoline was deeply in love with a man called Atacius, but her family had betrothed her to Badaria. She married Badaria in great sorrow, although continued to see Atacius behind closed doors. Soon, she fell pregnant and the kingdom rejoiced because while Badaria was a frightening and harsh ruler, he was strong and fought for good. It soon became apparent that it was Atacius that was the father of Gwendoline's child though, and to keep his name and country from shame, Badaria had Atacius killed. Gwendoline was livid, as you can imagine. She became angry and swore that if she could not have her true love, then no one should, so she began to tear apart the marriages in her court as best she could. She became really bitter. However, when her son was born, she seemed to calm down, and people say it was because she had a part of Atacius close to her again. For his first birthday, her son received one of these balls from a trinket maker, and Gwendoline was fascinated with it, so she ordered nine others to be made and scattered them about the kingdom, keeping one for herself. However, on his second birthday, her son was struck down with a dreadful disease. He was crying and in great pain. To ease his distress, Gwendoline brought him his favourite toy, the ball, and the second it came near him, it began to shake violently. Gwendoline them brought her own ball then, and the same happened. Her son died in her arms and she became twice as bitter towards love as she once was. She then went about Egypt cursing the balls, but she only managed to find nine. She swore she would die cursing the last ball if she had to, and lived to seek it out. When she did she cast such a powerful burning curse on the ball that it bounced back on her and burnt her to death. Of course, after that, the things became precious. That," Eve indicated to Ron, "Is the only one I know of."

There was a kind of stunned silence.

"Wow!" Ron whispered.

"Isn't it a bit dangerous?" Harry frowned, " I mean, if you ever fall in love, you'll have to avoid it like the plague."

"Hmm, I'm not sure if I believe it though." Eve said, yawning herself now. "I mean, it's been in my family for generations, and no one has had any gruesome stories to tell, so I think I'll be alright."

"Yeah," Ron raised his eyebrows, "And if it bloody starts shaking, run as fast as you can." Everyone laughed.

"Oh, I'm falling asleep here!" Eve tucked her hair behind her ears.

"Only one thing left," Hermione observed the table, "Might as well finish it off."

"Okay." Eve sat up straight, retrieving a shabby brown book from the table. She opened it to the first page, which said it big gold, old-style letters

The Complete Works Of Mr Oscar Wilde.

"My favourite book in the whole world." Eve smiled.

"Oscar Wilde?" Hermione frowned, "I didn't know you liked him."

"Oh yeah," Eve nodded, "He was a wonderful man you know. When I was about nine I stumbled upon 'The Ballad Of Reading Gaol' in a bookstore and never looked back."

"Who is he?" Ron asked,

"A Muggle poet/playwrite." Eve explained, "You'll have to read it some day Ron, he was so witty and clever. I guess I figured if I read all of his stuff, I might be witty and clever too."

"Do you read much Muggle fiction?" Harry asked, intreguied. He was beginning to see how full of knowledge Eve was. Take that story on the Egyptians for example, she had told it like one would hear old women telling their neighbours of something that had happened the day before in the local shop. Harry had a sneaking suspicion that no matter how much Oscar Wilde Eve read, she would always be clever and witty.

"Not so much anymore." Eve admitted with a sigh. "I loved a lot of Dickens's stuff, had read David Copperfield by the time I was ten, then moved on to Thomas Hardy, you know, Return of The Native and Tess Of The Durbervilles." Harry nodded. He had vague knowledge of this books, some had been spoke about in his primary school, and some he knew through Aunt Petunia. "I always fancied myself as Eustacia Vye." Eve laughed to herself, tossing her hair. "What do you think, 'Mione?"

"Oh defiantly." Hermione giggled. Ron was frowning, as was Harry, but they sat in silence, not wanting to show how clueless they were feeling.

"So, is Oscar Wilde dead?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, he died at the turn of the century." Eve nodded, "My favourite play by far is 'The Importance Of Being Ernest.'"

"Oh." Ron nodded dumbly, taking the book from Eve and flicking through it. "So what happened to him?"

"He was thrown in gaol for being gay." Eve explained, sitting forward and rubbing her eyes with tiredness.

"For being gay?" Ron frowned, "Since when was that against the law?"

"It was in those days Ron." Hermione told him, helping Eve pack away her things. At that, the two girls stood up.

"I think I'll sleep for a week." Eve steadied herself against a chair.

"And me." Harry yawned.

"See you two in the morning!" Hermione called, directing a weary Eve in the direction of the girls dorms.

"Night!" Harry and Ron called together.

"Night!" Eve shouted as the door shut. Harry and Ron looked at each other for a second, then their faces broke into wide grins. Ron noticed the clock.

"She's one of the few people who can keep me up until four in the morning and not bore me." He laughed.

"Hmm, me too." Harry nodded in assent as he and Ron climbed the stairs to their own rooms. It was so late that they took seconds to undress before falling into their respective beds.

"G'night Harry."

"G'night Ron." Harry called. He turned over and fell to asleep almost immediately. The last thing on his mind before he drifted off into one of the most peaceful sleeps he had had in a long time was the picture of him and his mum with Eve and Amelia.