Chapter Text
Evan always pictured how the train would look, shining red and billowing smoke. The platform was too crowded and noisy. Families hugging goodbye, older students reuniting with friends, the sound of a little child complaining that she had to stay behind. He took it all in one piece at a time until someone ran hard into his back.
He tumbled forward into his trolley. The calico that had previously been napping on top of his trunk gave an unhappy hiss as it leaped off.
“You really shouldn’t be standing around the entrance, Ev.” His sister remarked, bending down to comfort the frightened cat. “Maman is right behind me and she’ll be less than thrilled to find you all disheveled in public.”
He knew she was right, he had just been too caught up in the scene to remember to move. So he let her guide him away from the disguised entrance. She had just started to fix his hair when he heard the familiar click of his mothers heels.
His mother was a rather thin woman with a strict face and platinum hair that she pulled tightly atop her head. She wore rich robes in the Rosier family color of deep crimson.
“Pandora.” He felt his sister flinch as their mother called to her.
As she moved away from him his eyes trailed past their mother to the looming figure that approached.
His father was a tall man with dark oily hair and a thin beard. His cane thudded against the platform as he joined his family.
The train let out a loud whistle and Evan turned toward it ready to leave but something sharp caught him in the leg.
“Patience Evan,” His father said in a low voice. “Is that anyway to say goodbye to your family?” He removed his cane and Evan stood back.
He winced as the sun glinted off of the silver studs that were scattered across the cane like thorns. He had felt them enough times to remember the sting just by looking at them.
“Rosier!” A familiar voice called from the crowd.
His father turned his attention to the newcomer and smiled.
“Bonne journée Orion, it's been too long.”
With his father distracted Evan returned to Pandora and their mother. Their mother was fussing over Pandora's hair which she had attempted to pull into a style that resembled her own. Despite his mothers efforts she couldn’t manage to get her daughter's hair to cooperate. For as long as Evan could remember she had tried to turn Pandora into the striking image of herself. Always dressing and styling her like a doll. They both shared fair hair but that's where the resemblance ended. Pandora had a much sweeter face and light eyes in contrast to their mothers sharp features.
“Maman,” Evan called. “May we get on the train yet?”
She paused to consider for a moment before she spoke.
“When your father is ready” She nodded to his father who was now deep in a hushed conversation with the man from earlier.
Behind the man there were two young boys. One who seemed about Evan’s age and looked rather nervous. The other was slightly older and appeared bored of waiting. They both had dark curls and light watercolor eyes.
Evan recognized them from the banquets his mother would throw or he would be forced to attend. Neither him or Pandora were too fond of socializing more than necessary at these events and would often find a corner, ideally near the pudding, to spend the majority of the night. He still had a small pink burn mark behind his left ear from when he and Pandora were found sleeping under one of the tables.
Maybe they were family? Evan thought the odds of that were quite high seeing as he couldn’t walk down Diagon Alley without bumping into a cousin or an uncle of some kind.
The older boy gave an obvious cough which caught his father’s attention.
“You may go, Sirius,” Orion sighed.
The older boy, Sirius, grinned and pulled the scared looking boy along with him.
“C’mon Reg, I can’t wait for you to meet them!” He exclaimed as he ran off with his brother.
Evan gave a small smile as the boys rushed past onto the train. The younger one caught his eye and it happened fast but Evan could swear he saw him give a timid smile in return as he was dragged away.
“Such a shame about Sirius,” His father commented. “Years of tradition ended.”
“There is still hope for Regulus," Orion retorted. "He has always been the more reasonable child. He won’t spoil his talent in a lesser house.”
Evan’s father hummed in agreement. And they returned to their hushed conversation.
Just more politics Evan assumed. That’s all anyone seemed to care about anymore. There were so many meetings, guests pouring in and out of their house, clamoring behind locked doors. There was word of a new candidate for minister. Evan didn’t mind much of the current minister but he also wasn’t sure what a minister did besides pose for photos in The Prophet.
“I expect I’ll be seeing you soon then, Orion.” His father wrapped up his conversation.
Orion nodded, “Very, If I recall he plans to call a meeting once the school term begins."
As if on cue the train whistled again and Orion walked off.
Evan’s father turned back to him and smiled. “I suppose I have kept you long enough. It is better for you not to be late.”
He adjusted the neck of Evans' robe.
“Make me proud, aut vincere aut mori. ”
Evan nodded looking down at the phrase embroidered on his sleeve. He always thought of it as less of an encouragement and more of a threat.
He turned away from his father to grab Pandora.
“Goodbye Maman I promise we’ll write.”
She smiled softly, “ Aut vincere aut mori. ”
“Aut vincere aut mori. ” He and Pandora repeated in sync as they had been taught.
He grabbed his sister's hand and she smiled at him as they ran onto the train together.
The train was even more crowded than the station had been. Students pushed past each other in the hall, searching for empty compartments. Evan was worried he would lose Pandora in the fray so he held tight to her hand.
Not wanting to get run over, he pulled her into the nearest compartment he could find. The door had barely slid open when they heard fighting.
“I just don’t see why you feel the need to be such a git about it.”
Evan paused, realizing the compartment was already occupied by five others including the brothers from the platform. The older boy was clearly having a go at his brother for something. The younger boy’s face was almost completely devoid of emotion, except for his eyes which were filled with rage towards his brother. Compared to how close they had seemed when he had seen them running together earlier, it was surprising to see them looking at such odds.
A boy with circular glasses elbowed Sirius, alerting him to Evan and Pandora’s presence and signaling him to stop yelling. The blonde boy across from them jumped in surprise of the newcomers and accidentally let go of the chocolate frog he had been holding. It fell, hopping over the mountain of sweets that littered the space between the two benches. Next to him, the fifth boy didn’t even bother looking up. He was seemingly too engrossed in his book, presumably blocking out the fight that had just taken place.
Evan wasn’t sure how to proceed and found himself at a loss for words.
“Oh, sorry we didn’t realize this one had already been taken.” Pandora apologized quickly and pulled him back into the hallway.
“Seemed a bit too personal to just barge in, don't you think?” She laughed. “C’mon let’s find one with a bit less yelling.”
“Good idea” Evan said, still a bit too focused on what had just happened.
He thanked God everyday for Pandora. She was the sweetest girl anyone had ever met and always knew just the right thing to say. Evan didn’t know how she handled everything with such ease. Whereas Evan felt he always came off as too harsh, too much like his father.
They checked several more compartments until finally finding one that was mostly empty besides a girl with short blonde hair and large eyes. She was dazed, watching out the window and almost seemed to jump when the door slid open, letting the siblings in.
“Can we sit here?” Pandora asked. “All the others we checked were full.”
“Have a go, I don’t need all this room to myself.” The girl swung her legs off of the seat next to her.
“Thanks!” Pandora slid into the seat across from her and motioned for Evan to sit next to her. He complied and sat next to his sister.
“I’m Pandora and this is Evan.” Pandora stuck out her hand.
“Rosier” Evan added eyeing his sister
“McKinnon, Marlene McKinnon.” She accepted Pandora’s hand.
Evan mentally went over the list he had drilled into him since he could read.
“You’re not one of the twenty-eight.”
“Evan!” Pandora reprimanded.
“Yeah, what’s it to you?” Marlene snapped, not minding Pandora.
Before he could respond, Pandora gave him a look and whispered, “It’s fine you know, he’s not here.” She squeezed his hand reassuringly.
Evan took a deep breath and nodded apologetically, “sorry, i-it doesn’t.”
Marlene studied him judgingly.
“He really is sorry,” Pandora added. “It’s just- he’s just a bit nervous, I mean we both are. The sorting isn’t exactly relaxing for us, too much to live up to and all that-”
“Pan,” Evan cut her off. “You’re ranting again.”
“Oh, sorry” Pandora mumbled, pulling back. She looked like she might start again but Marlene cut her off with a gentle laugh.
“It’s alright, if you two were anything like the rest of that lot you wouldn’t be so nervous.” She reassured Pandora. “You sound just like Black did last year. The poor bloke was sweating waiting for his turn, but whatever the hat said to him really changed his mind because he’s the proudest Gryffindor I know, next to Godric himself.”
Finally the pieces clicked. The boy at the station was the Black heir. He had heard rumors of how the heir had disgraced the Black family name and broken centuries of tradition by being placed in Gryffindor. There was also plenty of talk about what type of company he kept, half bloods and blood traitors. Evan's father had wasted no time in assuring him that he would not have a disappointment for an heir and that Evan would have no place in the Rosier family if was not in Slytherin.
“I’m nothing like him! I wouldn’t hurt my family that way.” Evan snapped.
Marlene didn’t take offense this time, instead she just smiled. “Oh yeah? Then why are you still talking to me?”
Evan paused, considering for a moment. He liked Marlene. She was annoying and seemed pushy, but she was confident and knew what she believed in. That was more than Evan could say for himself.
“You’re alright McKinnon.” He said at last.
“Took you long enough, I could see the gears turning. But you’re not bad yourself Rosier.” She offered her hand and he took it laughing.
Pandora grinned at the pair. “See, I told you he wasn’t a total prat.”
Evan shoved her playfully. “She never said I was!”
“I didn’t directly, but the pure blood mania wasn’t helping your case,” Marlene chuckled.
“Hey, I wouldn’t call it mania, more just uh family values?” Evan retorted.
“Family values?” She raised her eyebrows. “Family values are love and caring for each other and crap like that. Whatever this is,” she waved her finger at Evan, “is blood loyalty at best.”
“Oh really? So tell me oh high and mighty McKinnon, how is that different from your house pride?” He gestured to her red and gold scarf.
“Touché”
“Pot, meet kettle.”
The pair settled into comfortable laughter.
“How does it work?” Pandora broke her silence.
Evan was embarrassed to admit that while busy talking to Marlene he had almost forgotten that his sister was sitting next to him.
“What?” Marlene asked.
“How does what work, Pan?”
“How does the sorting work?” Pandora restated. “I know about the hat, but how does it really know which house you belong in? W-what if it gets it wrong?”
“Oh, I’m not really sure how it knows, it just kinda does I guess. I mean it talks to you a bit.” Marlene answered.
“It talks?” Pandora questioned.
“Yeah, just like a little whisper in your ear. And don’t worry about it being wrong, even if it is the houses really aren’t as different as people make it seem. Everyone has a bit of everything I think.”
“Oh,” Pandora sighed, not convinced, “o-ok.”
Evan and Pandora shared a look both knowing that however true Marlene’s words might be, it could never be that way, not for them at least.
Marlene seemed to sense the tension. “If it really matters to you, why not just try asking it?”
“Ask the hat?” Evan said skeptically.
“Yeah, why not? Worst it could say is no, but then at least you tried. That has to count for something.”
Evan nodded although he wasn’t too worried. Every Rosier he could remember had been sorted into Slytherin and he didn’t really believe he was as different from them as Marlene said. He couldn’t be.
Just then, the compartment door slid open and two girls walked in.
“There you are Mars, we’d been looking for you for ages!” One of the girls collapsed into the seat next to Marlene.
She had dark bouncy curls and a bright smile.
“We leave you alone for a few minutes and you’ve already replaced us!” She looked up at him and Pandora. “What a tragedy, right Lils?”
“Lils” laughed and found a seat on the other side of the dark haired girl.
“Oh yes, such a tragedy.” She turned to Evan offering her hand, “Lily Evans, thanks for taking care of Marlene for us, she can be a handful sometimes.”
Marlene tried to reach across the girl in the middle to shove Lily, but she managed to dodge her swatting hand.
“Evan Rosier,” He took Lily’s hand smiling, “this is my sister, Pandora.”
He looked over at his sister but she wasn’t paying attention, Instead, she was looking mournfully out the window.
“Pan?” He whispered, nudging her out of her stupor.
“Oh hi, s-sorry hello,” Pandora jumped a little, apparently just realizing that more people had joined them.
“You alright there?” The girl in the middle laughed. “I’m Mary Macdonald,” she turned back to Evan.
Evan smiled and took her hand before checking again on Pandora. Although she now seemed to be paying attention, Evan could tell something was off.
“Do you want to go talk in the passage for a minute?” He whispered, leaning into her.
She nodded, her large eyes still trained somewhere far in the distance.
Evan excused them and led her out into the hall.
“What’s wrong?” He asked after sliding the compartment door closed behind him.
“I-i saw something again.”
Evan froze. Occasionally, Pandora had been able to see glimpses of the future. After it had happened a few times they figured out the connection of Pandora's visions and following events. They kept it as a secret between themselves, not sure of what their parents would think.
“They’re going to be mad, I-i’m not sure why but I have never seen them that furious before.” She was shaking
“Hey, hey, listen Pan, that doesn’t mean they’re mad at us. We aren’t even home, we’re safe. Maybe it's that new politician they’re backing, maybe he loses? They would be upset about that.” Evan tried to comfort her.
“No Ev, th-there were flames. I’m not sure who but-”
Evan didn’t hear the rest of what she said. His hand slid subconsciously up the back of his neck to the raised, pink skin that ran far below the collar of his shirt.
“It will be alright Pan. No matter what, it won’t be you. I promise.”
“You can’t always take the fall for me Evan, Its not fair to you.” She had tears in her eyes.
Evan gave her a sad smile, “Who said any of this was fair? Besides,” he tried to change his tone, “what are the odds it's you anyway? You’re too perfect.”
Pandora laughed half-heartedly. “Only you think that.”
“I can’t be.” He gestured to the door, “Marlene has known us for an hour and she already likes you better.”
“That’s just because you were too busy being a prat.”
“Pandora Rosier!” he gasped and put his hand on his heart. “You wound me.”
She laughed for real this time and Evan couldn’t help smiling.
“It's just the truth.” she smirked.
“Alright, get back in there I can’t even look at you.”
She stuck her tongue at him as she grabbed the door.
“Are you coming?” She asked halfway in the compartment.
“I will in a minute.”
She nodded and closed the door behind her.
With her gone Evan sunk to the floor, leaning against the door. He had been mad thinking that going to school meant leaving his family behind.
A loud bang dragged him out of his thoughts. Dark smoke billowed out from one of the compartments nearby and Evan gagged on the smell. Dung bombs. The door slid open letting even more of the stench out.
A thin boy came hurtling out of the smoke and tripped over Evan who was still on the ground.
“Get up!” the boy pulled at Evan. “If they see you sitting out here they’ll think you were with me.”
Evan could hear yelling coming from where the bomb had gone off and he didn’t want to be blamed for the prank so he ran after the boy.
They dashed down the corridor hearing heavy footsteps after them. At the back of the train they frantically searched around for a place to hide.They tested the doors around them until Evan found one that was unlocked and he pulled the boy in with him.
The closet was small and they fell into the back wall. Neither of them said a word as they heard voices outside searching for them.
“They must have gone into a compartment, these are all locked.” A snotty sounding girl said and they heard the footsteps retreat back towards the front of the train.
The boy started shaking against Evan and he was almost sure he was crying until he threw his head back and laughter escaped his lips. The sound was so addictive Evan couldn’t help joining in. Once they settled down the boy looked at him.
He had piercing eyes and messy hair. He gave Evan a crooked smile and winked.
“Thanks for the help.”
Before Evan could respond, he slipped out and vanished down the hall. Evan leaned his head against the wall, trying to catch his breath and take in all that had just happened.
Eventually, he made his way back to Pandora and the other girls, but he couldn’t get that laugh out of his head.