Unravelled² → Tom Riddle [Rewritten] ✓

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

When Evelyn awoke the next morning, it was bliss. She let herself sink into the bedsheets with a newfound happiness. It felt as though nothing could truly be wrong, somehow without knowing what she even wanted, she had gotten it all.

Rolling over, she felt the phial of her memories in her pocket, remembering what she had to do today. She knew her memories wouldn't change her mind, she wanted to be his partner, she wanted to stay alongside him, but she knew that remembering all their time together would give her a peace of mind. Even if not for her memories of him, she wanted to remember how he saw her, she wanted to remember her time at Hogwarts, she would never get a chance at that.

Evelyn remembered that the Pensieve was on the second floor, and so she made her way to the study. Somehow, despite spending weeks in the study reading, she had barely noticed it sat right there, almost begging her to use it, but now, stood with her phial poised, it was all she could think about.

Despite having never used a Pensieve, she remembered learning about it all those years ago at Hogwarts, she knew that somewhere deep within the castle walls, there was one just like the one in front of her. She reached out her hands, pulling out the basin from the ornate carved stone. From deep within the basin, a silvery glow beamed, swirling as though it were water, turning into some kind of cloud as it reached the top of the basin.

Evelyn reached into her pocket and pulled out the phial. It had been months since she placed it in her pocket but she still remembered Toms words. She knew that the answers she would find may not bring her comfort, but she still longed to know. It was as though a part of her was missing, and once she remembered everything, the puzzle would finally be complete. 

She took the stopper off the phial, tilting her head as she saw the silvery wisps dance inside the phial, as though they knew it was there time, it was something that reminded her how much she loved magic. She adored how beautiful it all was, all of the colours, the sparkle, the glow. No matter how peculiar the spell, the way it sounded, the motion of the wand, it was all artwork to her.

Evelyn took a deep breath, steadying herself as she began to lift the phial. But in that moment of calm, in her moment of steadiness, she heard something that instilled fear, she heard a scream downstairs.

With a sigh, she put the stopper back on her phial and dropped it into her pocket carelessly. And as she made her way out of the study, she heard the commotion growing, screams and shouts echoed across the Manor, the whip-like cracking sound of Apparation quickly following. She reached into her pocket, hoping for her wand, but it wasn't there. Ever since her duel with Astrea, she had been allowed her wand again, but being unable to leave the Manor, she had little need for it and therefore it remained where she slept, rather than in her pocket where she wished it was in that moment.

She gulped, tiptoeing to the edge of the staircase, peering down before she crept down to the  landing. Wherever the commotion was, it was well contained, but alas, it was all she could hear. As she made her way through the maze of the Malfoy Manor, she felt it grow stronger, every step she took closer to the hall, the chaos growing in concentration.

Her dainty hands pressed against the wooden door, holding her breath as she attempted to listen in, but all she could hear was the whip of Apparation, and then silence. As soon as she heard the silence, she pressed gently on the door, peeking into the room, and what she saw made her heart freeze.

Bodies. Bodies everywhere. At least thirty bodies lay sprawled across the floor of the hall, each one clutching their wand tightly in one final plea but Evelyn saw the futility. She made her way around the hall, feeling tears brim in her eyes. Most of them were people she did not know, voices she had perhaps overheard, or faces she had crossed paths with, but now they lay dead. No future waiting for them, no home to go to, no life to live. Nothing.

She crept forward towards a female body and she dropped to the floor, clutching her heart. Moving a strand of midnight hair out of the way of the snowy face confirmed her fear; there in the heart of the Malfoy Manor lay the body of her old best friend. 

"Oh Sara," she took her weak hand in hers, taking Sara's discarded wand with her other. It  didn't matter to her that Sara seemed to resent her, what mattered is that once, perhaps a long time ago, they were the best of friends, and now they were no more than strangers. She let her cold lips place a soft kiss on Sara's forehead before she rose to her feet again, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.

She moved deeper into the hall, making her way to the door on the other side with a deep breath, if anyone had failed to apparate out, it was the only place they could be. Wand raised, she stormed out of the door, jumping immediately once she saw the short haired girl stood with her wand raised at her.

"Drop it."

"Drop the wand!"

They both called at the same time. 

Evelyn couldn't do what she wanted, Sara's wand felt as though it was glued to her palm, she felt as though she had to do this, she had to defend herself.

"Stup-"

But Evelyn was faster, "Expelliarmus!" She watched as the wand flew out of her hand. "Who are you? Who else is here? What do you want?" She felt the questions flow from her mouth without her knowing what she was saying.

"Frank!" The woman called out loudly, as though she had no fear.

"Who is Frank?" Evelyn was becoming more frantic, "who are you? Answer me!"

"Frank, I think its her. Get him, get Albus!"

"Albus?" She stopped for a moment, her hand shaking as her wand felt as though it might drop, "Dumbledore?"

"Evelyn, how glad I am we found you."