Chapter 33
The OWLS were perhaps the most important educational milestone for a wizard of the British Isles. One's grades here would go on to define the trajectory of their career and life, and the woman beside her had seen them all.
Griselda Marchbanks was as old as witches came. She had famously tested their Headmaster during his OWLS and was one of the most well-respected examiners in the Ministry, and Minerva had not been surprised when she had personally come to steer the practical exams for the OWLS.
The students had performed rather well up until now, and Minerva was rather satisfied with her pupils until now. Despite the troubling year, most of the students had prepared well for the exams, especially those who were part of Alder's special club.
For a few years now, participants from the group had been showing great improvement in their exams, and this year, the boy genius was about to take the stage himself. Just as she was thinking of him, Alder Evans walked into the room with a small smile on her face.
"Ah, so you are finally here," Madam Marchbanks began as she raised a brow and adjusted her glasses.
"Alder Evans, I have heard quite a bit about you," and Minerva had guessed that he was the reason for her taking such interest in the Exams this year.
"All good things I hope," Alder answered, always quick with his quips.
"Yes, and that is what intrigues me so much," and by now the old witch was looking him up and down, as Alder took out his wand.
"What do you want me to demonstrate?" and the old witch leaned forward, as her eyes narrowed.
"Surprise me," she said, and that was a rather vague request, and Alder seemed to think for a moment before he nodded.
"Sure," and with that, his wand moved, and to this day, it never failed to surprise her how a boy of sixteen was able to do what most witches and wizards could never accomplish.
Chant-less and Point casting was a skill that was thought to be for only the most powerful and most skilled witches and wizards, and yet here was a boy of but sixteen doing magic without even uttering a single word.
He twisted his wand slightly, and a storm of fire shot out of it and began to coil around his body, as it began to take the shape of a dragon that divided again and again, until it had split into eight heads, and rushed forward at his prompt and attacked the training dummy at once, turning it into ash without a whisper.
He turned towards the old witch who refused to say anything, and that spell alone should have netted him an 'O' in both Transfiguration and Charms, but it was obvious that she wanted more.
And Alder complied, as he closed his eyes, and this time his wand moved as he uttered the words.
"Expecto Patronum," and Minerva had heard rumors that he had mastered the spell, but the sight still surprised her as a bird shot out of his wand, and immediately she felt the air shift, as tension left her body and the weariness began to fade.
It was a raven that circled them all, glistening ever brightly, before it landed on his shoulder and began to observe them all, and finally, the woman moved as she picked up her quill and began to scribble on her page.
Minerva was not supposed to take a glance, but she did see her scribble an 'O' or two, as she opened.
"You remind me much of your Headmaster," she began as she put aside the board.
"It has been some time since I examined one of 'you'," and the way she said that was nostalgic, as Alder smiled.
"There is one last thing that I would like to show you," he boasted, and Minerva herself found herself intrigued, much like the old examiner.
"Oh, is that so?" she asked, and Alder nodded, yet he put away his wand.
"Before I do so, I must mention that I have already submitted all the necessary paperwork," he began, making Minerva frown, for she could not think of a spell that would require paperwork.
And then the realization came a few seconds later.
"Paperwork?" and Madam Marchbanks was as stupefied as her.
"Yes, though I don't take you for a stickler. So," and then he closed his eyes, and Minerva felt her heart throb as she saw his body twist and turn until Alder Evans vanished from his place, and in his stead, a dark raven flew away and circled the room, before it came back and turned back into the boy.
"No..." Minerva gasped, half wanting to curse the boy for his stupidity, and half wanting to praise him for his genius, and she feared that the woman beside her was no different.
"Hahaha," and she wondered if she had ever seen her laugh, as the ancient witch chuckled.
"One last thing, he said. This is going to be quite a tale...."
0000
LILY EVANS
Lily was not fond of the Summer break, and this time it was no different. It felt good to come back home and relax, and she did love her parents and did not mind spending time with them.
Yet for the past several years, the situation at home had continued to deteriorate as Petunia grew angrier and more frustrated. Not a day would go by without her passing snide remarks or trying to insult Alder and her over their schooling, and she knew this year would be no different.
Alder would try to intervene and blunt her words, but even he had his limits. And the situation this year was supposed to be even more dire, especially as Petunia planned on introducing her precious little boyfriend to the family.
Still, this year Lily was not alone in her protests, and much to her surprise, Alder had been trying to convince their family to come and spend the summer at the McKinnon's family home.
Even back at Hogwarts, rumors about their family coming to stay at the McKinnons had become rather rampant, as if their trip was already a forgone conclusion. Even though they had received no such confirmation from their parents.
"It is a really good opportunity," Lily chimed in, supporting Alder's suggestion, as they gathered at the family table, and the only reason she could talk so openly was because Petunia was still in her room, refusing to join them for dinner.
"I understand, dear, but I am afraid it won't be possible," their father answered as Alder joined in.
"Why not? I know you have enough vacation days set aside," Alder was not one to accept half assed excuses, and their mother glanced at their father.
"What would we even do? It doesn't seem polite," she argued, and Alder sighed.
"The McKinnons invited us themselves. Frank and his family sent you the invites to his wedding as well. It will be a great opportunity for you to familiarise yourself with the Wizarding World and see it for yourself. See the world that Lily and I are set to join," and even if her mother was half convinced, their father was stubborn, a man could be.
"I am afraid it just won't be possible. Not this time," their father denied his favoured child once more, and Lily could hardly believe her eyes.
"But you two should go," their mother quickly cut in.
"There is no need for you to put down your plans because of us. I know that you and Lily are friends with the Longbottoms, so you should go and enjoy the wedding," and that was good enough for her, yet Alder's expression showed little enthusiasm for their words.
"Yes," their father cut in as he bit into his fish and chewed it up.
"Your mother and I will be just fine on our own," and they were set to leave in a day, according to their original schedule, and much to her surprise, she heard Alder's fork hit the plate rather strongly.
"I am just asking you to do one thing," and his voice had risen, and it caught everyone by surprise, including herself, as she raked her mind to remember the last time her brother had ever lost his temper.
And he had not.
"One time. This is the only time ever that I have asked something of you..." and she saw him bite his lips, before he put down his napkin and walked away from the table, not giving any of them enough time to react.
"Alder..." their mother tried to call out to him, but the thud of the door came first as Alder walked out of the House in his rage, leaving them all rather stunned.
"I have never seen him like this," their mother was quick to comment as she turned towards her.
"Did something happen at school?" she asked rather worriedly, and Lily could think of quite a few things that had gone wrong, but nothing was so significant that it would make him react like this.
"Not really," and Alder had been really stressed ever since Winter Break had ended, and Lucius and his friends had been arrested, and she was not the only one who had noticed.
She had some idea what this was about, yet had not confronted him about it.
"You had those exams this year, didn't you?" and though they did not know much about their school, their parents did try to keep an eye on them and their grades.
"What were...."
"OWLS," she added quickly, and their mother nodded.
"Yes, did he have any trouble with them?" and she scoffed, for that would never happen.
"No. Alder will probably break a few records with his results," and yet he was troubled. Very troubled.
"Then...."
"Leave it," their father finally cut in as he put down his fork, and it was rare for him to be so serious, yet he had no smile on his face as he rose from his chair.
"I will talk to him," he said, as he gave their mother a nod and followed Alder out of the house, leaving her alone with her mother.
"It's so unlike him," she lamented weakly, and it was indeed.
"I have never seen your brother lose his temper like that. Even as a child, he was always so calm and bubbly," and she would know.
"Is everything really fine?" she asked again.
"Yes," Lily assured her.
"Maybe he just really wants you to see our world," she suggested, and her mother's expression softened.
"I know, dear, and we would love to experience your world, but I am afraid it just won't be possible this Summer," and by now they had both gotten up to pick up the plates and the dishes.
"But why? It's not like we haven't gone on a vacation before," she asked once more, and saw their mother's face shift until she sighed.
"I did not want to mention this, but I am afraid I have no choice now," and so her instincts were right; they were keeping something from them.
"What?" she asked.
"I know that it is no fault of yours, but your sister has been really troubled ever since you and Alder left for Hogwarts. It has taken a toll on her," and the mention of Petunia made her lips thin, for though she did not hate her, Lily was beginning to grow tired of her constant jibes and tirades.
"What is it?" she asked, refusing to give Petunia any thought.
"We had thought that you and Alder would be gone by then, so we wouldn't need to bring this up, but your sister wants to bring Vernon home for a few days," and that stilled her, for she had seen him.
"She is still seeing him!" Lily could hardly believe her ears, and her mother's frustrations were evident on her face.
"Yes," she answered after some seconds of silence.
"She wants us to meet him, but..." and she seemed to stop as Lily figured out the rest on her own.
"She doesn't want us to be home when he visits," and her mother could only nod.
"Yes," and so that must be why they were so adamant in their refusal. Already, Petunia blamed their parents for favoring her and Alder over her, but if they were to abandon this plan and leave for the McKinnons with them out of the blue, it would be like proving her right.
"I am sorry," their mother apologised.
"I know that this means a lot to you and Alder, but I promise that we will plan something later. We had to agree with your sister to make her continue with her bachelors," and that was so like Petunia to blackmail their parents into doing her bidding.
"You don't need to apologise to me," she consoled her.
"But you should tell this to Alder as well," and she nodded.
"I think your father will...."
.
.
.
Outside the Evans home, Mr. Evans quietly walked up to his son and, without saying anything, plopped down beside him, and the two sat there in silence as they stared at the little pond in front of them without uttering a single word.
"In all these years, not once have you ever given us any trouble," the older man began, as he slowly turned towards his son.
"You have always been independent, and I respect that. But I am still your father," and he wrapped his arm around his son's shoulder and gave him a trusting squeeze.
"You can come to me with your troubles, even if they are from a world I hardly understand, because that is what fathers are for," and there was a smile on his face as Alder turned to look at his father, who gave him an encouraging nod.
"Tell me what is wrong...." and in that moment, Alder gave a deep sigh as he rubbed his head.
"I am afraid I have made a mistake...."
.
.
.
Miles and miles away, in a home not so nice or warm, a plump little boy cowered in fear, as a black haired woman cornered him in his home.
"Spare me! Spare me, and I will tell you whatever you want," he pleaded, and the girl's grey orbs narrowed.
"Who was it? Tell me!" and a spell whizzed past the boy's ear, as he gave a quick nod.
"Ok. Ok. I can think of only one student who would do something like this..."
"Who?" she asked.
"Alder. Alder Evans...." and she nodded.
"Evans, that mudblood!" the girl snarled angrily as the boy nodded.
"Yes. Yes. Him....."
"Where does he live?"
"I don't..." but another spell whizzed past his ear, this time scratching it as the boy screamed in agony.
"AGHHH! Wait! Wait!" he screamed.
"I don't know where he lives, but I do know where he will be. He plans on spending the Summer...."
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