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Evan and Pandora sat among the branches of the Rosier Family Tree, staring down at the rest of the garden. It was something they'd done since they were kids, climbing up, seeing how high they could get, seeing if they could make it far enough to find their own names carved into the wood. But now, it felt... Different.
Absently running his fingers over the grooves that formed their names, Evan thought about what had been happening, what was still happening, what was going to happen. And they felt more connected to his family than ever. They were finally growing into the role that he was meant for.
He looked over to his sister, who was still staring off into the distance.
She hadn't been so close with him, though. He was worried about how they would take the news. He shouldn't be, shouldn't have to be at the very least. But she'd been drifting away from all of them, ever since Regulus had taken the Mark last year. They didn't seem to agree with the rest of them. And if that was what had been driving them apart... Well.
"Dora?"
"Hm?" She didn't look at them, but Evan knew he had her attention.
"I'm..." They hesitated. This shouldn't be hard. "I'm going to take the Mark soon," they forced out.
Now they were looking at him. And she didn't look happy.
"Listen, Dora-" he started, shrinking back against the trunk of the tree.
"You've been planning this for a while, haven't you?"
That... Wasn't really the question they'd been expecting. "I- yes. Dad and I were writing each other back and forth most of the school year."
"Then why is this the first I'm hearing about it?"
"... I knew you wouldn't take it well," he admitted.
Pandora's expression softened, just a bit. "So why are you doing it, Ev?"
"Because you're wrong, Dora, and I hate having to tell you that, but it's the truth."
"So I suppose murdering a bunch of innocent people is right then?" she snapped.
"Who's been saying that? It's not like that, and whoever told you it is lied. They're trying to turn you against us, Dora."
"What is it like then?"
"It's about not having to hide, it's about wixen taking their rightful place instead of cowering in the shadows, it's about not being afraid of a bunch of muggles who can't do shit to us."
"And you think that's worth killing over? There's other ways to do this, the Ministry could-"
"The Ministry won't bloody listen. They're cowards who are all stuck in the same bullshit they've been doing since the damn Ministry was founded. Besides it's the International Statute of Secrecy. It's not just our Ministry, and getting it changed that way could take decades."
"And so the solution is murder?"
Evan looked back out into the garden.
"You really think this is so important it's worth killing over!? Because that's what they're doing!"
"You just don't understand-" he started.
"You're right. I don't understand. And I've tried to, Evan, I really have. But I can't do this anymore." And without another word, she started climbing down.
"Dora! Dora!" They yelled after her, though they made no move to follow. Pandora was soon back inside, although Evan wasn't sure how long they'd stay there. He ran his fingers over her name again.
Evan didn't want her to leave.
Everything Evan was doing, everything they had done, was for his family. To make their father proud, to be who his mother would've wanted him to be, to create a better world to someday raise children in.
But then there was Pandora. Their twin, who they'd shared nearly every part of his life with. Until now. A part of them wanted to choose her instead. But he couldn't. He was doing the right thing, they knew it. And if Pandora had chosen otherwise, it was her that had betrayed their family. And Evan's heart ached like they were losing part himself, but he had to do this. He had to leave them behind.