'We met in the park opposite here,' Eva answered. 'I was there one day during summer break. It was the summer when I moved to London and did not know anybody so I went to the park by myself with a book. I'd sit on one of the swings and read...'
14-year-old Evangeline Rose was, as usual, sitting on one of the swings nearby hers and her mum's new apartment, 18 Grimmauld Place. She was sitting quietly while in the background children's voices could be heard as they were playing in the playground.
'Is this swing taken?' a boy's voice made her take her eyes off of her book.
She looked at the boy in front of the swing next to her. He had green eyes and dark curly hair. He seemed like one of those posh kids that Evangeline avoided while she was living in New York, but she did not know any posh kid to come to a playground like that one.
'No,' she replied shyly.
The boy smiled at her and sat down on the swing. 'I'm Regulus,' he introduced himself.
'I'm Evangeline, but everyone calls me Eva,' the shy girl introduced herself. 'I like your name.'
'Thanks. My family has this weird tradition of naming children after constellations, or stars, or astrological things. Everyone except my cousin, Narcissa, is named after things like that,' Regulus explained. 'I like your accent. You're not from around here, are you?'
'Thanks,' Eva thanked with a smile. 'And, no, I'm not from anywhere in the UK. I'm actually from New York. I'm from Brooklyn, born and raised,' Eva explained.
'How cool! I've always wanted to go there!' the boy told Evangeline. 'What are you reading?' he asked as he saw a book that, unknown to Eva, he did not recognise.
'Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. That woman is a pure genius,' Eva explained.
'What is it about?' Regulus' question shocked Eva.
'You've never read it?!' the blonde girl asked, shocked. 'Here, you can have it!' she said, handing Regulus her book. Her sudden boldness shocked both her and Regulus.
'A-are you sure?' Regulus rambled. 'I mean, it's yours, I can't have it.'
'Yes, I'm sure,' Eva told him confidently, with a smile. 'I've already read it a couple of times and I'm always happy to share with people the genius that Louisa May Alcott is,' she added. 'Plus, I have a good feeling about you and giving you this book means that I'm going to be seeing you again for you to return it to me.'
Her words made Regulus smile and he took the book from her, making Evangeline herself smile.
'Want to go on a stroll around the park? I know a lot of cool places,' Regulus offered, standing up and extending his free hand.
Inside Evangeline's head was a war about whether or not she should go on the stroll with Regulus or stay there, on the swing, looking at the kids playing. After a moment or two, she took Regulus' hand and the two walked to a small area under a tree covered with grass. On the way there, the two talked about books as Regulus himself was interested in reading and books.
'So, how is New York?' Regulus asked.
'Crowdy, loud, crowdy and loud,' Evangeline admitted. 'You either like the busyness or don't belong there.'
'And you did not like the busyness of ol' New York?'
'It's not that I didn't like it, but I do prefer my peace and quiet,' Eva admitted.
'So do I!' Regulus exclaimed, then laughed. 'But, why did you move here then?' he asked.
'My father's a complete scumbag. He left my mother and me for a younger girl. As soon as their divorce was finalised, my mother got a letter from the police department here, in London, telling her that they had an opening for the job of a CSI, those people who analyse evidence for a case. She accepted the job and we moved here,' she explained.
Even though Regulus did not understand most of her muggle terms, he listened to her carefully, taking in every and any bit of information about the blonde girl.
'What school do you go to?' Evangeline asked suddenly.
'Umm, I go to a boarding school in Scotland. It's a family tradition to go there,' Regulus answered.
'Oh,' Eva said, saddened.
'Why do you ask?' Regulus asked her.
'Well, since from what I can tell, you live nearby, I assumed that you might be going to the school down the street. It would have been nice if you went to that school because then I would have known someone and would have felt less alone and weird,' she admitted with a sad smile.
'Well, I could still be your friend, of course, if you want me to,' Regulus suggested, his words crawling Eva's frown up into a smile.
'I'd like nothing more,' she said happily. 'Could I hug you?' Eva asked shyly.
Regulus nodded, and Eva wrapped her arms around his neck, and he shyly wrapped his arms around her waist. 'I don't get hugged often,' Regulus admitted, which made Evangeline pull away, shocked.
'Regulus I-don't-know-your-last-name! That's a crime against happiness itself!' Eva exclaimed.
'Black, Regulus Arcturus Black. And well, my family is not that affectionate. I don't even think that my mother's ever told me that she loved me,' Regulus told Evangeline.
'Evangeline Moira Rose, and Mr Black, I'll make it my quest to be your hugger and put a smile on your face every time you feel sad.'