An Eve Interrupted Solo Closed

Date: 24 Dec
Location: Wicklow, Ireland

Avis wiggled her toes happily against the woven rug beneath her, relishing the familiar Christmas feeling of warm wool socks against her feet. She leaned back against her mam who was sitting above her on the family's small sofa and patted her hand with a satisfied smile.

"They're brilliant, Mam. I love them!" she gushed, looking back at her gift. Her older brother Will rolled his eyes on the other end of the sofa.

"Ahh come off it, Avis. They're socks," he said pointedly. Avis stuck her tongue out at him.
"Don't be such a downer, Wilson. You're just jealous!" she retorted and returned to admiring the lovely blue and gold patterns her mam had woven together with a pair of enchanted knitting needles. Will scoffed in response, but said nothing more after a pointed look from his mother. He'd gotten socks as well, but they'd been plain white. Mam had been complaining about his aversion to buying "nice, proper white" school socks for months and it looked like she'd finally just given up and knitted the damn things herself. Her brother may have been 5 years her senior, but she knew a jealous look when she saw one, no matter how immature jealousy over socks might be. She smiled to herself. If it was one thing she loved, it was Will admiring his younger sister for a change. She practically worshipped him and although they were exceptionally close, Avis had a sneaking suspicion that her brother sometimes took advantage of that complete admiration.

Her train of thought was interrupted at the sound of tearing wrapping paper and she looked up to see her sister Prim finally opening her own socks. With a happy gasp, Prim held up a pair of light blue woven stockings, each adorned with a fluffy gray owl.

"Oh, Mam, how did you knit Quincey so perfectly?" she said, her eyes lit up with that rare Christmas joy one only witnessed during the holiday season. Avis always loved seeing her sister come alive about something. Quiet, reserved Prim didn't often get excited, which was another reason the youngest Greymond sibling loved Christmas so much. She wished she knew how to make Prim this happy all the time, but for the time being, the holidays would do.

The small family of four sat huddled in their small cottage by the sea, shielded from the storming ocean below the cliffs just outside. Rain pattered against the glass panes of the windows and a gust of strong wind rattle the shutters outside every so often, but the happy family inside paid no mind. They were too busy enjoying a festive night of reunion as all three of the Greymond siblings had finally made it home for the holiday break at Hogwarts. Avis, being the youngest and a first year, felt this year was rather special. It felt a bit different to finally be the one coming home, in comparison to staying up as late as possible on a chilly December night so she could quickly welcome her two older siblings home before being sent off to bed with a mug of hot cocoa. She remembered spending all Christmas Day begging Will and Prim for more school stories, but now, she had several of her own to tell.

As the fire dimmed in the hearth and Will was already snoring softly at his place on the sofa, Avis snuggled deeper into Mam's side as Prim filled them in on the book she had been writing over the past semester.

"...can't decide who I want her to end up with though. Arian seems like the obvious choice, but I do hate predictable plots. I was thinking about even killing him off," she admitted and giggled at the immediate protests from her avid audience.

"Heartless! You can't kill another love interest off. At least not after the last book," Mam huffed. She was a devoted Arian fan. Avis nodded in agreement.

"Besides, they haven't even kissed yet! I say kill him, but at least let Esmerelda get closer than a 'bashful' gaze into his 'deep brown eyes'," Avis said in a sarcastic tone. Prim sighed.

"But that's half of the tragedy. If I hint at a little bit of romance instead of blowing it into a whole thing, the tension of 'what if' is what really makes your heart break," she said earnestly, a far away look gathering in her stormy blue eyes. Avis rolled her eyes.

"Here she goes again," she mumbled and Mam stifled a laugh at Prim's indignant look. A sleepy snort from Will soon after had them all desperately trying to hold in their mirth and Avis felt tears forming in her eyes as the three of them held their stomachs against the giggles.

Suddenly, a sharp knock at the door made everyone jump and Prim let out a little shriek before slapping her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise. Mam stood up and Will glanced around in tired confusion.

"What's going on? What time is it..." he mumbled in a deep croaky voice and Mam shushed him. Avis turned to look at the front door, her eyes and nose peaking over the edge of the sofa. Will had a point. It was rather late to be knocking at the door on Christmas Eve during a storm.

"Stay here," Mam instructed and brushing her apron to free any wrinkles, she straightened and made her way to the door, pausing a moment as her hand gripped the chipped bronze handle. Glancing at her three children in the other room, she turned the knob and creaked the door open. Avis watched her mam cock her head in confusion at whoever was in the doorway.

"Can I help you?" she said, her warm Irish accent floating into the living room from the hallway.
"No, but I believe I can help you," a gruff voice answered from outside the door. Avis sank lower down on the sofa until just her eyes were poking over the sofa's edge. She felt Prim clutch her hand and she squeezed back. Will stood and skirted around the sofa to stand in front of his sisters.
"...Conan?" Mam asked slowly. Avis' brows furrowed in confusion. Did Mam know this man?

. . .

Not even half an hour later, the family found themselves gathered around their kitchen table, the stranger still slightly wet from the storm outside sitting at the head, his hands solemnly clasped together in front of him. Steaming hot cups of cocoa and tea sat untouched in front of each person, as Mam's famous cocoa was the last thing on anyone's mind at the moment.

"My name is Conan Dogwood. I'm a good friend of your father's," the man said to the three children in a quiet but commanding voice. His thick dark eyebrows shrouded piercing blue eyes lined with deep set wrinkles. In contrast to his brows, Avis curiously noted his once neatly combed silver hair, mussed up from the hat he'd been wearing when he'd arrived. She couldn't tell if the silver was from early aging or happened to be his natural hair color, but either way, he'd mentioned Da and she hadn't heard anything about him since the Ministry's false sighting of him back in September. Avis leaned in despite herself. "We went to school together back at Hogwarts and worked as Aurors together until he disappeared, as you all know," he continued, clearing his throat awkwardly after mentioning Da's disappearance. "I've been searching for him ever since and recently... well, I think I've stumbled upon something significant this time."

Mam scoffed and shook her head.

"Conan, before you go on, just know that we've heard it all. It'll take a lot to convince me... us... that Douglas is even alive," she said, emotion clouding her voice. The false sighting had hit her hard after the Ministry sent a follow up letter to the house explaining their mistake. Avis glanced at her siblings. Will was clenching his fist, his jaw ticking in anger. Prim was burning a hole through the table with her eyes. It seemed they'd all taken it pretty hard. Conan seemed to have noticed as well.
"Understood. But the Ministry lied. The 'false' sighting in New Zealand? It was true. I sent you that later under the false pretense that it had been the Ministry. I've been searching for years and a few tips led me to other side of the world," he said and reaching into the depths of his pocket, Conan pulled out a blurry, gray photograph. Everyone scrambled to lean in and peer at the picture closer before Mam snatched it up and studied it before clapping a hand over her mouth. The photograph dropped from her shaking fingers as her eyes began to well with tears.

"It's him," she gasped, a tear streaming down her cheek. Will grabbed for the photograph but to Avis' surprise, Prim got it first, studying it for a moment before passing it to her brother. Avis watched as their reactions mirrored Mam's and finally, Will passed the photo to her.

Looking down with shaking hands, Avis made out the form of a man in a long, dark trench coat. She couldn't make out the background, but she knew that face anywhere. It was Da. He'd grown a rough beard and his hair was everywhere, but it was him. She knew it in her heart and felt it in her bones. Avis set the photo down gently on the table and looked up at her family as they all stared at her expectantly. She nodded and Mam let out a sob. Will shot up from his chair, the wooden legs squeaking roughly on the floor. He began to pace back and forth. Prim sat across from Avis, her cheeks streaked with tears, but her face was calm, almost in an eery way.

Avis felt nothing. Her chest was empty. She didn't know what to do, what to say. All she could do was sit in silence and watch the others.

Conan had sat back in his chair, sipping silently on the tea that had been placed in front of him earlier. His eyes had a far away look in them and Avis sat up.

"So..." she squeaked, her throat dry. "What do we do now?" Conan gave her a small smile.
"Young lady, what you need to do is not worry. Go back to school. Get good grades. Make memories with your friends. I will take care of this," he said gruffly and Mam clutched his wrist, piercing him with swollen red eyes.

"Where is he?" she whispered fiercely. Conan placed his other hand on top of hers.

"Right now? I don't know," he replied. Everyone jumped as Will kicked the table leg angrily on his next pass across the room. "But..." the man continued," I know where to start." He reached into his pocket again, pulling out a crumpled envelope. "I've got contacts all over the world, people we've helped in the past as Aurors. They've all got an eye out for Douglas. I received this two days ago. Someone saw him in Albania. I'll head there after I leave and keep you all updated. Expect a letter on the same day of every month."

Mam shook her head.

"What about your duties at the Ministry? Surely you have to report to them soon. Do they know you sent us that letter about Douglas in their name?" she questioned, clutching her hands in front of her to try to stop the shaking. Conan took a deep breath in through his nose.

"I was let go at the Ministry after they found out I informed the lot of you of his location. They sent the apology letter of the 'false' sighting to you, Tabitha, right after I was terminated, trying to correct my 'mistake'. Someone doesn't want me poking around and doesn't want you to know anything. I heard a few things about the circumstances of his disappearance circling the Auror Office, so I know enough to start out on my own. Just know..." he started, turning to the rest of the family,"...he's not out there voluntarily. Something is keeping him from returning home. I'll find him, Tabitha. I promise," he said to Mam, his brows furrowed with determination. Avis watched him like a hawk. She wanted to believe him desperately, but 7 years of nothing but empty despair had taught her not to wish for things like that. She'd shut out any idea of Da's return for so long that she didn't want to let herself believe anything, but maybe...

The man left soon after, sharing a few hushed words with Mam at the front door before whisking away into the night, supposedly to Albania. Will had argued with Mam and Mr. Dogwood for a good bit about coming with him, but after a long screaming match, he'd been shut down and had angrily stormed off to the work shed in the garden. Prim sat huddled on the sofa in front of the hearth. She hadn't said a word since the man had left. Mam was cleaning in the kitchen, but Avis knew it was only because she needed to keep herself busy in order to process everything.

Speaking of processing, Avis herself had know idea how she was going to go back to school and continue on with her life normally after such news. She supposed she knew how to shut things out and shove her emotions down after 7 years of ignoring Da's disappearance but something deep down told her that this was the beginning of something real. Mr. Dogwood had left as mysteriously as he'd arrived but Avis felt a strange trust beginning to form towards him. The girl sat at the bottom of the stairs, chewing her lip and staring through the small window at the top of the door. The storm outside had refused to let up and with Christmas arriving tomorrow morning, Avis supposed she should feel some sort of excitement, but she felt nothing.

Nothing, but a small flicker of hope that had lit in her chest.