Eva Dolohov

I did say religion, didn’t I?

Good point.

Sounds good. I’ll make tea and then we can gossip. Sex, politics, or religion?

Yes to everything, and can you throw in fashion as well?

It’s not babysitting, it’s keeping you company.

It’s up to you. I really don’t mind at all.

Can you--can you stay for a while, then? Fill me in on everything that's been going on in the world that I've missed?

There are a lot of ways to hurt someone without the pain being physical.

Do you want some company for a bit? I can stick around for an hour or two.

Don't you have better things to do than to babysit someone?

You brought me chocolate, I can hardly kick you out now.

I remember when I took my first shower after I got out, I just—ended up on the floor, shaking, until the water was too cold. Just stay inside for a bit. Go out when it’s dark, watch a few sunrises—it helps, it does.

You weren’t—hurt, in Azkaban, were you?

Not physically, if that's what you're asking. 

Besides, being alone was always what bothered me the most.

Take it slow. It’s the only thing you can do—take it slow. I had a hard time with beds and showers, mostly. Spent all my time in the dark until I got used to it.

It does pass. It just takes time.

Showers are fine, actually, and thank Merlin for that. It's the light that's been an issue mostly. Daylight has proven... surprisingly complicated.

[Eva shoots Astoria a thankful smile.] Chocolate helps, though.

That makes sense. Do you think you’ll get a chance to talk to her? Parents aren’t always… sympathetic to escaped convicts.

Which brings me to my next question: are you okay? Azkaban’s not a friendly place, and the longest I was there was four months. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you.

I have no idea. I'm not even sure I want to see her again, but I still feel like I should.

I'm--I'll be okay. It's not so bad anymore, now that the Dementors left. Everything's just a bit too much--too loud, too bright, too colorful--but that's bound to go away soon.

He is, for the record.

Can I ask how, exactly, she’s complicated? Or is that better left untouched?

That makes it slightly easier to understand.

It's a long story. And I'd rather withhold my judgement until I've had a chance to speak to her again.

Publicly engaged, privately married. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine it for a long time. Sort of just happened, after a lot of mishaps.

My father died this past Christmas. My grandfather all but raised me—he died around Easter. What’s your mother like?

If you got married to someone this young, he better be fantastic in bed, at least.

She's... complicated. Different. From me and my dad. We don't really have a lot in common. 

Yeah. We ended up having a bit of a shotgun wedding and not telling our families, so we’re doing things publicly for them.

You said your name was Dolohov? I met your father once or twice. He spoke highly of you, if I remember correctly, and I usually do. [Astoria clears her throat, looking up with a sympathetic smile] I’m sorry. Losing a parent is hard.

So you're publicly dating and privately married? Merlin, I couldn't have imagined marrying someone when I was 18. Truth be told, I still can't imagine marrying someone now.

[Eva brightens up visibly at the mention of her father.] That's good to hear. My mother's still alive but our relationship is complicated, to say the least. Who did you lose?

My boyfriend. Husband. Sort of. It’s a long story.

So, I told you my story. What’s yours?

Sort of?

There's no much to tell, truthfully. Dark Arts have always sort of been the family business. I didn't get as lucky as you, though. My--my father died, during the war, and after that I was arrested and sentenced to life in Azkaban.

[Astoria looks up, then laughs, much to her own surprise] Yeah. Complicated about covers it.

If it wasn’t for Alecto, I doubt I’d have survived the war. She taught me everything, made me who I am. And she’s my blood. I don’t think I could love her more—and so long as she doesn’t hurt my sister, or Draco, that won’t change.

If it wasn't for Alecto, I'd still be in Azkaban. She's not my blood, but she's more than family.

Draco?

Because Alecto’s family, too. 

And despite everything, I do love her.

I'm willing to guess that makes things rather... complicated for you.

Kill someone for Daphne? Absolutely.

There’s really not much I wouldn’t do for her.

Why are you working for Alecto, then?

The person who threatned to kill her?

She threatened my sister so I poisoned her.

I never did really respond well to that sort of thing.

Family is family, I suppose.

Would you do it again?

Can’t say that surprises me.

No. The rumors weren’t wrong.

Ah.

What happened there?

Eighteen last April. [Astoria hesitates, like she’s not sure what to say] I pretended I was reformed. But the second Alecto was back, I knew I wasn’t. The older Death Eaters used to tell me that once you do the Cruciatus, it gets to you in a way nothing else will. So I ended up right back where I started.

I went back to school, dated a few people, got arrested again, got released again. My father died, I ended up hospitalized more than once, and now I’m here. Graduated, in one piece.

[Eva pops a chocolate square into her mouth, closing her eyes with a blissful expression on her face. She lets out a low moan before she can stop herself.] Did you know there's still no chocolate in Azkaban?

[She opens her eyes again and stares at Astoria with an unreadable expression on her face.] That's one way to put it. The Cruciatus does have its charms, no doubt about that. I'm curious, though... last I'd heard you were the one who killed her in the first place. Were those rumours wrong?