Christmas In A Dark House

[Mary Evans]

((Anyone is of course free to read this but please nobody reply to it unless explicitly requested to by me))

“Jeremy!” Mary squealed, running up to capture her cousin in an enthusiastic embrace.

“Hey there, Brat.” Came the reply as the tall boy picked Mary up and swung her around once. “I’ve been waiting around for you, reading your diary, you know? Who’s this Tom you keep bringing up?” he asked with a smirk while messing up her long red hair.

Mary quirked her eyebrow at him before pushing her sandy haired cousin away, “Oh shove off you prat. We both know I don’t keep a diary. What are you doing here though? Shouldn’t you be spending Christmas with your own family? Not fair you get to abandon them summer break and winter.” Mary replied with a false pout.

“Actually, m’dear. I am here to sweep you away. I know you were so looking forward to a sand filled Christmas but… our parents were thinking maybe you would like to come to Germany with your dear cousin this year? Since I got to “abandon my family” summer break, mayhap you would like to do the same?”

“Vierna!” Mary shrieked not moments after Jeremy finished speaking. Suddenly a small creature showed up in the entrance hall with the pair and bowed so low her long nose was pressed up against the marble floor. “Put all my stuff away – pack for a new climate. I am going to Germany this year. And be finished soon, we don’t have all break.” Her orders having been issued Vierna stood up and nodded at Mary before disappearing with a soft crack. “So, when do we leave?” Mary then asked her cousin with a sweet smile – perfected by years of practice.

Jeremy laughed at his cousin before draping an arm over her shoulders, “As soon as you’re packed. So knowing you, next week.” He replied with a wink. Mary scoffed at him but said nothing as she left him there – entering the heart of Evans’ Manor.

[Mary Evans]

Mary brushed off her long black robe and clucked her tongue as she stepped out of the fireplace. “I cannot believe you convinced me to floo all that way. I swear I will never get clean. Some people haven’t cleaned their fireplaces in years, apparently.” Mary chastised her cousin before looking up for the first time at the dark study they had arrived in. For some reason the heavy crimson curtains were drawn tight so the only light in the room came from the blazing fireplace Mary had just stepped out of and a few candle sconces on the wall. There were books everywhere on the walls in huge bookshelves – but instead of intriguing Mary as books usually did they simply seemed ominous in such a dark room. In the centre of the room was a crimson settee, which matched the curtains and some wingback chairs – all converged around a dark wood coffee table. The wood of the table matched the large desk at the far side of the room, which was covered with books and papers as well as littered with old quills. Mary suddenly noticed had somebody sitting behind it and stood stalk straight. “Oh, hello. I wasn’t aware there was anybody else in here.” She said inclining her head politely only to see the figure, an older male, return the gesture.

“Oh”, said Jeremy gravely realising his folly in not starting with introductions immediately, “that’s my father. This is his study the floo leads into. And he knows who you are, of course, so we will just leave him be.” Jeremy said inclining his head at his father before grabbing Mary’s arm and dragging her out into the hall. He was holding so tight Mary had to bite her lip to keep it from quivering.

Jeremy finally let her go when they were out of the room and turned away from her. Mary watched as Jeremy carefully – but quickly – closed the door to the study before turning on her. His face was red and though Mary had argued with him many times before she had never seen Jeremy look so upset before. “Don’t you ever ever speak directly to him again. Not unless he asks you a direct question – and chances are – he won’t ever so you have no need to worry about that situation arising. If you are to survive in this house for two weeks you will leave him be, you hear me? Be absolutely respectful to the end but do not do not impose yourself on him!” Jeremy all but yelled in her face.

Mary was honestly frightened, what on earth was going on with her uncle to make Jeremy behave this way? She was not used to being spoken to like that. Mary had never had anyone react like that to anything she had ever done and for a moment she just looked up at him not quite sure how to react. But then, on an impulse, she bit back the tears that she could feel forming beneath her eyes and turned her back on him. Mary started walking down the hall though she had no idea where she was going, she was in a strange house in a foreign country with the apparently only floo connection in a room she was certainly not going back to any time soon.

Regardless she walked down the hall leaving her cousin to stand there shaking with fury. Once he saw her turn the corner though Jeremy decided perhaps that was not the way to warn Mary about his father – though what else could he do? She had made a fool of both of them in there. First she had been so… common. And then she dared address him as though he were an equal. Completely disregarding all evidence to the contrary – including her mother’s misgivings about her friends. Yes they shared the same family name but…

Jeremy ran the short way to intercept Mary in the next hallway – looking as stoic as she had when she abandoned him. “Come, I’ll show you to your sweet. We can do a tour of the house later.” He growled out and began walking away. Mary kept on but following him this time, a defiant five steps behind.