Who: Evan and Ophelia When: 5 July Where: Ophelia’s home What: Evan goes to her again after visiting her father in Azkahban. Rating/Warnings: Dark themes Status: {Closed, Complete}
Evan felt hollow. He had known Azkaban was unpleasant; it was jail, it was supposed to be punishment. And he knew about the Dementors. But it was one thing to read about them, another thing entirely to experience them. And Evan had already had enough loss in his life that he didn’t need the Dementors to remind him of how painful life could be. He had had to sit a while after visiting Mr. Meliflua, unable to Apparate immediately. He had delayed too returning to Ophelia until he stopped feeling quite so cold. He had sat for a spell in a small shop drinking tea and eating a chocolate sweet pretending that it was just a lovely Saturday and he was there for a bit of peace, not that he didn’t think he could speak to Ophelia without worrying her until he was fortified. He was still feeling haunted when he finally went to Ophelia’s home to discuss his experience with her, but he hoped at least she would not be able to tell exactly how horrible the experience was for him.
Ophelia was concerned when it took so long for Evan to arrive at her home. She had expected him much earlier, and she looked over at the clock repeatedly to try and figure out what could be keeping him. It didn’t make much sense, and as the minutes passed she grew more anxious until he finally arrived, and she jumped up from her seat to greet him. “Evan, you’re here! You were over there for a long while? What happened?” Was everything okay? But she would not ask that, because she could not expect an honest answer to that question.
“My apologies for my delay.” Evan murmured trying to mask his weakness. The tea and chocolate had not completely erased the physical signs of his meeting. He was still pale, and Ophelia knew him well enough that it was likely obvious to her, as obvious as his desire to pretend to be unaffected. He embraced Ophelia briefly - in greeting he hoped, though the reality was he wanted the touch to reassure himself too. And she had stood so he could not sit until she did now either, manners dictated.
She guided him to the couch, seating herself again and motioning him to do so too. She had noted his pallor, as well as his unwillingness to acknowledge it, and accepted that, going in a round-about way to address it. “Would you care for something to drink? Or something to eat? I was just about to have some tea, and I can have some cakes or biscuits or something brought out for us as well…”
“Tea would be good. And I could probably use a little more chocolate if you have any.” It was the closest Evan could come to an admission about how affected he was by his visit. He was grateful though when Ophelia sat, allowed him to sit. He wanted, needed more fortification before discussing the details of his visit with her father.
Ophelia nodded, calling to her house elf to bring out the requested items. Her eyes moved to meet his and she offered a small smile, knowing that he was trying to not seem weak and overwrought with the effects of the dementors. She knew though that most Slytherins would get a worse effect from them due to their upbringing, and so she simply allowed him to take the chocolate and tea and come to things at his own pace.
It was more than just upbringing with Evan. The loss of his Father shaped his emotional development and left a hole that the Dementors could - did - use to feed off of. He sighed audibly as he chewed on the chocolate, knowing if he delayed further, Ophelia would know. “Were it not for the fact that I fear the possibility that he might be released, I would argue he is exactly where he deserves to be.” Evan admitted. “Killing him might be a kindness, and I would do him no kindness.”
Ophelia nodded and looked down at her hands. “They would not let him out. Given...the reason he is there and my age when he began? I believe the few people that know would go rather out of their way to keep him there for eternity. However, yes. It would be good in case somehow an escape happens one day…” And it would. Not during Evan’s lifetime, but during hers for certain. Not that her father would be getting out, he would be long dead. For that at least she was grateful.
“I would that you never have that fear.” Evan said, his intense need to protect her burning through the effects of the Dementors for a moment. “I think… it would have to be poison. I was not, will not, be permitted my wand on the island. And the killing curse would be too kind.” Evan focused on the planning, the things he could control, not the cold, the intense sorrow caused by the guards. He would have to face them again to complete the task he had set out for himself. He touched his left forearm absently. There was no one else he wished to kill more, including his Mother’s husband.
“If you would permit me, I could brew something easily. This way you are not associated with the death any more than you need to be?” And she could produce something that would cause a great deal of pain before death, which would honestly please her a good deal. She did want the man dead, yes, though the thought of Evan going there again bothered her. “I can experiment with a potion for you as well, to minimize at least the effects of the island. Perhaps a combination cheering and strengthening potion would counteract the dementors. I hear they’re horrid, though you seem well…” A lie to save his ego? Yes, sometimes that was needed.
Evan frowned. Yes, it would make sense for Ophelia to brew it, so that she could have a hand in her revenge. His frown though was at the mention of the Dementors, and her careful question about how he did with them. He did not want to tell her he only appeared to have handled it well because he had delayed his meeting with her to fortify himself. “I would visit again only for you, only to kill him,” he replied, revealing at once how shaken he truly was, and his dedication to Ophelia. “I will never to Azkaban again after I do this.”
“I would not want you to go there. I hardly want you to for this, though I know I cannot dissuade you from your current course.” Ophelia knew how stubborn Evan could be, and so she did not even try really, just pointed out her dislike of the situation. “Someone like you could not be confined, it would be simply death in a prolonged disguise.”
“It is not the confinement.” Evan admitted. He would say no more on the subject, but his eyes took a haunted look for just a moment as the memory of feeling utterly alone and abandoned overtook him for a moment. He had lived years with the hole of his Father’s death in his life. To have all positive thoughts stripped from him so that that was all he felt? He could not handle it, he knew. He feared Azkaban and the Dementors more than anything or anyone else in this world.
Ophelia nodded slightly and rested her hand on his knee, making it seem like a natural gesture. In a way it was, but she was offering comfort in a way that he would accept, that he would be able to shrug off as just something she always did. She could pretend not to notice the fact that he was obviously bothered by the whole thing, she did not mind allowing his ego to be guarded. It was one thing she could do for him easily.
Evan took a breath and tried again, to return to the task at hand - murder. “I will leave it to you then, to design the poison. They search you extensively before you are allowed access to the island too, so it will need to be disguisable somehow.” It was easier to plan the murder than to think about the Dementors in the prison. Infinitely easier. It was only for Ophelia that he would even consider going back there. The Dark Lord did not care who he killed, so long as he killed someone. There were so many easier targets he could select; it was Evan who wanted the victim to be Ophelia’s father. He’d promised to protect her when he offered for her hand. He would be true to his word.
Ophelia nodded and smiled. “That will be easy. I am perfectly capable of that. I know a number of potions that are so ancient and rarely used that they will be untraceable without intimate knowledge of the contents of the Black library.” Which really? She was the only outsider she could think that would have it. Unless you were part of the family, you did not get access, and so she had no doubt that she would have something around that she could use.
“I have some time. Not much, but some before it must be done. Before I would have it done.” Evan corrected himself. This was his choice. He was not doing this because the Dark Lord commanded it. He wanted to kill that man; he had hurt Ophelia and deserved to die for his crimes. “I would not there even be a risk that he would get out when you are now alone here.” Evan was resolute in that.
“I will begin this evening. Will you stay, or are you going to spend your night elsewhere?” She did not question where he stayed, knowing it was not always the home he would call his own, since he still spent time with Elizabeth as well as with her. “I will ensure that you have cheering potions and strengthening solutions to make sure you can remain as strong as you were this time around, okay?”
“I can stay if you would have me do so.” Evan murmured, embarrassed by the fact that he had been planning on going to Elizabeth’s flat despite the fact that he was supposed to be courting Ophelia. Ophelia deserved far better than him. But this, with her father, that he could do and not fail her.
“I would not wish to keep you if you have things that you planned.” Ophelia smiled, giving him the freedom to go if he wanted. “I will simply be brewing, after all, and so I will need to remain focused. Unfortunately many of the older texts I have are in Latin and so I have to remain intent on them if I am to properly translate. I am rather slow with the language and so I have to be careful in order to get everything right.” Giving him the freedom to go to Elizabeth, basically, so that she could give the comfort that he could not take from her.
“Nothing planned. I have… there is no plan.” Evan assured himself, and Ophelia. It was important she did not think he had planned to visit her and then leave to visit his lover. And he would not now; Ophelia would not have asked if he planned to stay if she did not want him to stay.
“I fear you will be bored honestly if you are here. Brewing tends to be a solitary endeavor for me and I would not want to leave you without entertainment.” Her eyes moved to meet his and she smiled softly. “I also will need to floo over to Grimmauld Place, I know just the book I need, so I should do that shortly….” She brushed her fingers over his cheek lightly, smiling. “I am sure your friend would be of more comfort than sitting in my front room while I try to solve the potion I intend?”
Evan knew she knew and knew she accepted it. She had her own ‘friend’ too that Evan tolerated. It was mostly because Evan knew eventually Ophelia would realize she could do better that being courted by Evan, and because Ophelia clearly felt safe enough with the Ravenclaw boy, which, despite his blood, mattered. But Evan was still not comfortable with Ophelia knowing when he was with Elizabeth. He latched onto the easy out - the idea he needed comforting. “Comforting, I am fine, Ophelia. The Dementors just require a little chocolate is all and you know I am generally partial to other kinds of sweets.”
Ophelia laughed and shrugged one shoulder. “If you wish to sit and be bored instead of having someone to keep you company, you are welcome to stay. I just fear that at this moment I will be a poor hostess, as I will be very much distracted.” The corners of her lips twitched as she spoke. She did not have a problem with him staying, but she did not think he would be all that interested in watching her brew, especially since it would be what she would likely be doing late into the night.
“Imply you that you do not really wish me to stay, Ophelia? If you do not wish me disturbing you, you need not invite me to stay out of politeness sake. I would that we are close enough we need not stand on such formality with each other.” Evan murmured.
“I do not wish you to feel obligated. This is as much your home as mine, as we will be betrothed in about a year and so you are welcome to stay. I simply do not wish to keep you and allow you to be bored.” Ophelia smiled and touched his knee again. “You know you are welcome in my home at any time, Evan. It just may be easier for the evening if I knew you were settled somewhere you enjoy being, instead of simply staring at the walls in my home.”
“I enjoy being with you.” Evan assured her. “It is no obligation. But if you intend to go to the Black library, I would not stay that you feel you must entertain me or be concerned I am somehow uncomfortable. If you are intending to begin making a poison tonight, I would not have you at all distracted from your work. I would not so endanger you.”
Ophelia nodded and smiled. “Enjoy your evening, Evan. I will contact you when I have finished. You are, of course, welcome to visit before then as well.” She did enjoy seeing him, after all, so having him over after the first day of brewing would not be a bad thing.