Chrysalis

Chapter 5: Chase me, I'll run away; run away, I'll chase you

 Almost a week had already passed since Evan had joined the Quidditch team. Everything was going well so far; he was a hard worker both in sports and in his studies. However, his encounter with Levi had left him puzzled and extremely disturbed. Though he showed nothing, tons of questions raced through his mind, and to make matters worse, it seemed like Levi was playing a game of cat and mouse. Indeed, it seemed that the blond guy took a perverse pleasure in playing with Evan. Whenever the latter tried to talk to him, Levi always had something more important to do, and when Evan seemed to give up, he resurfaced as if by magic, seeking his attention. It was a bit like the Muggle saying: "Chase me, I'll run away; run away, I'll chase you", and Levi loved it.

But Evan also had more important things to attend to. His quest for answers regarding the goblin affairs and ancient magic consumed much of his time, both for himself and Professor Fig. Fortunately, without disclosing the nature of his investigations, Sirona, the owner of the Three Broomsticks, had kindly spoken to him about her goblin friend Lodgok, and his mixed views regarding Ranrok's rebellion and his loyalists.

It was only the third time Evan had been to the Three Broomsticks and talked with Sirona, yet she already addressed him as a friend. It must be said, with her profession, she was used to getting along with customers, and seeing new faces probably intrigued her. She had a strong personality and was sharp-witted, something Evan appreciated about her, not to mention the fact that she was a woman who wasn't afraid to speak her mind bluntly. A strong woman who commanded respect.

As for Lodgok, it was difficult for Evan to say whether or not he was trustworthy at first glance. After all, he could very well retrieve the helmet and disappear without ever honouring his part of the deal, which involved sharing Ranrok's plans with Evan. It wasn't that he distrusted Lodgok because he was a goblin, but he knew that goblins were particularly wary of wizards. Evan wasn't one to harbour prejudices against the race of other individuals he interacted with. In fact, he had a deep respect for all living beings and was intrigued them. To him, respect wasn't a matter of race but of principles.

However, Evan had managed to retrieve the helm despite the challenges, and Lodgok seemed to hold up his end of the deal. The whole ordeal of ancient magic and the battles against the loyalists represented an enormous responsibility, and it weighed heavily on Evan's shoulders, to the point where he constantly forgot he was only 15 years old. Yet there he was, risking his life at every encounter with the loyalists as if it were something normal for a teenager his age. If his father only knew...

Aside from his numerous and dangerous escapades outside the castle walls, Evan also had to be diligent and consistent in his studies. Today marked the beginning of a new class: Magical Beasts, taught by Professor Howin. When he arrived, everyone was already seated in pairs at different tables. The professor then asked him to team up with a certain Miss Sweeting. Evan raised an eyebrow, looking around to see who this Miss Sweeting might be, when he saw a brunette girl from Hufflepuff waving at him. He approached and realized, as he got closer, just how tiny this girl was compared to him. The top of her head barely reached his chest. It must be said, at almost 1.80 meters tall at only 15 years old, Evan wasn't exactly a small boy for his age.

"Hello!" said the petite brunette with a warm smile. "I'm Poppy – Poppy Sweeting. Don't worry about Professor Howin's speech, she overexaggerates sometimes. All the beasts in class are perfectly safe." she then added, whispering.

Evan's lips slightly curved into an almost imperceptible smile. He had to admit, Poppy certainly was... adorable and charming, at first glance.

The whole class went smoothly. Poppy was patient and particularly enthusiastic about showing Evan how to take care of a Puffskein. He was diligent, and Poppy was pleasantly surprised by the gentleness Evan showed in caring for the creature. Many students found it rather boring and did it with little conviction. Evan, on the other hand, seemed to put his heart into it.