Price of Pride [Evy]

[nessa abigael byrne]

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September 2nd, 2026

Nessa already hated Beauxbatons. She hated France too, but that was because she was forced to go here instead of having the option of a different school like her classmates. France was closer in case something happened, according to the orphanage’s reasoning. Her eighteenth birthday was in three days, and the fact that they were still making decisions like this for her was infuriating. But technically they were her legal guardians until Saturday, and it drove her absolutely up the wall. It didn’t help that she clearly stuck out like a sore thumb at this school. The orphanage had ponied up the money for the Beauxbatons uniform, but Nessa disliked it just like everything else here. If there was ever a place in the world that directly opposed who she was as a human being, it was this school. The shiny, sparling halls and the crystalline dining hall made her feel so out of place that the school’s uniform didn’t help at all.

So she was protesting. In her defense, the Hogwarts uniforms were more comfortable and she liked wearing her Slytherin tie. The colors actually popped too. If she was going to stick out in any way, it was better that it was this way instead of it being from a pool of blood on the ground because she got fed up and popped a French kid in the nose. Nate would be proud of her if he got wind of that. Wearing her regular robes was a better form of civil disobedience though. Her reputation would eventually make its way to the Beauxbatons students, and then they’d learn not to get in her way. Her final year was going to be a force to be reckoned with if they really wanted to make it that way. She had no problem getting the boot either, because once that happened it would be back to London to either beg Blishwick for a job at his pizza restaurant or some other low-paying gig. She could hack it for a bit. It would beat being stuck here.

As she sat on a bench in a courtyard that was situated near the front entrance to the school, Nessa shot a scowl at a group of younger girls that seemed to be ogling at her choice in clothing. The comfort beat looking like she had a stick up her backside, which with the way some of these pricks walked it wouldn’t surprise her. Sticking out when she was already going to be a stand out only put it in her control, and that was something she liked having. And there was no Professor Zabini to yell at her. Talk about a huge bonus. Thumbing through her bag, she pulled the book that was supposedly needed for her afternoon Charms class. That was her only class for the day, and she was hoping to make it until then without anyone telling her to change clothes. With the way the French students scattered when she opposed them, that was going to be a lot easier than she thought. Now if only she could get more of the Hogwarts students on board…

evelyn rhea oliveira ● 525 ● Bye My Tears by Band-Maid

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[evelyn rhea oliveira]

every map I follow

leads to the unknown

September 2, 2026
nessa abigael byrne

There never seemed to be a lack of excitement in Evelyn’s life, considering the past few years. But she would have gladly traded all of that not be standing in an unfamiliar place that she was supposed to call home for the next nine months. And then there were these ridiculous uniforms though the particular shade of blue made Evy’s eyes a similar color. With a scoff, she stared at the outfit that she’d laid out on her bed. She didn’t want to wear it. There was no willpower. Honestly, the worse she expected was some lecture from a Professor with a name she couldn’t pronounce properly or hardly understand and perhaps a stern warning. She was brand new to the school, after all.

Instead, Evy walked to her trunk, where she had robotically packed her Slytherin uniforms and dressed in everything but the tie. It was familiar and the last connection to Hogwarts and what she’d had there. Walking out, she didn’t mind the stares or the whispers, her face remaining stoic as she strolled down the hallway, wondering if this would garner the attention of a Professor at some point. Not many had transferred to France. A few had gone to the blistering cold of Durmstrang, while many had gone back to the States. But out of the corner of her eye, she spotted green and not because of the plans in the courtyard, but the green of clothing. The facial expression and blonde hair were instantly familiar to Evy.

She changed the direction of her stroll as she approached. ”Light blue not your color?” Nessa had a book out but seemed relatively unbothered. Evy wasn’t surprised Nessa had chosen the path of rebellion, plenty of Slytherins would have. Luna would have happily worn her Slytherin, maybe Lulu would have as well, and Nate certainly would have. But that one was spending his nights covered in pizza grease rather than dealing with France—Evy recalled the Blishwick Pizza shirt he’d worn when she last saw him just a couple weeks before heading off to school. ”Do you have Charms with Professor erm—what's her name? Started with a ‘B’, I think.” Evy knew her schedule was in her bag somewhere, but she didn’t care enough to go digging for it.

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It was easy to tell that the person approaching her was a Hogwarts student, because the shoes were different from what Beauxbatons required. Those things were narrow and tight, whereas the ones Hogwarts provided her could be worn like real shoes. It didn’t feel like she was teetering on her feet everywhere she walked either. Looking up from her book, which hadn’t really taken her attention yet, she noticed that it was Evy walking towards her with her own Hogwarts uniform on as well. This was perfect. Part of her plan was already in effect without having to even lift a finger. “If you ever catch me in that, you have permission to kill me then and there,” Nessa rolled her eyes at her fellow Slytherin. There was no way she was ever going to trade her comfort for something that ridiculous looking.

“Yeah. It’s all I’ve got today.” She closed her Charms book and flashed the cover at Evy, before setting it down next to her on the bench. Nothing in it was that much different than what they had been learning at the end of last year. The only difference was that the French apparently liked more delicate wand waving. Delicacy absolutely had no place in her life, so she already knew this was going to be a pain. “I hate it here,” Nessa grumbled. “Been one day and I wish they would’ve given me the chance to dropout. Three more days and I could have. I probably would have stuck it out at Hogwarts though…” At least she could see Nate on Hogsmeade weekends, with his new job at Blishwick’s pizza keeping him close by. Now she was stuck in a completely different country with very little understanding of what it was that she was expected to be doing here. “This blows.”

evelyn rhea oliveira ● 305 ● Back on Northern Shores by Amon Amarth

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[evelyn rhea oliveira]

every map I follow

leads to the unknown

September 2, 2026
nessa abigael byrne

Evy smirked. She didn’t entirely hate the Beauxbatons uniforms but wasn’t it enough that she had to be in such an unfamiliar place? There was that yearning in her gut—a homesick type of feeling that had been sitting there all summer but only gotten worse when the term had started. At least there was a familiar face or two here, though she wished Luna hadn’t dropped out and left her behind. With such a case, new alliances had to be formed if she was going to manage to graduate. New friends and new boys to bother in the common room when she was bored with her homework.

”Noted.” Evy promised. The other students had been looking at the Hogwarts transfers as if they’d suddenly grown horns and their faces had turned green. It was easy to feel when one didn’t belong, and Evy did not belong here. ”There’s something about being treated like you have the plague that is a little less than welcoming.” Evy sat down on the remaining open area of the bench, dropping her bag on the ground next to her. ”Sometimes I wish I’d gone to Ilvermorny instead.” Evy mused out loud, but then she would be farther from her family and friends in Europe. Though dealing with her family fighting each other wasn’t a pleasant thought either, which is why she’d begged not to be homeschooled—even if she wished she had just gone with that option. ”But I think I think I know even less people in America.”

Three days was hardly any time at all. Evy had to wait for eighteen days if she wanted that choice. Though dropping out hadn’t really been a serious consideration for her until now. ”What do you think they do for detention here?” It was no doubt coming for their lack of regard for the school and its rules.

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Treated like the plague...not a bad way to describe how the Beauxbatons students acted around the Hogwarts transfers. Not for nothing, they probably still blamed Hogwarts for the explosion following the Triwizard Tournament. That had sort of come with a warning though, as there was a girl that transferred into Hogwarts a few years back that was always blabbering on about how much better the French school was and whatnot. Nessa had easily ignored her until they were suddenly in classes together last year. She'd always wanted to tell the girl to shut up and go back if it was that great, but she never got the chance. And now they were all stuck here against their will. "If they turn their noses up at us any higher they'll walk right into a wall," she rolled her eyes at the thought of it. This was why she didn't care about wearing the Hogwarts robes. The Beauxbatons students were going to be pretentious regardless of how she looked. It was better to be comfortable while they were busy being assholes.

"I was going here whether I liked it or not," Nessa rubbed at her nose. "Orphanage wanted to keep its strays close I guess. Not that we can go anywhere here." At least she didn't think she could. She couldn't recall seeing anything in the student handbook about a Hogsmeade equivalent here. Instead they were all bound to the walls of Beauxbatons. Could be worse. Could be Durmstrang. She'd rather be in France than cold all day, every day.

Evy asked about detention here, and Nessa shrugged. That was an excellent question, and an answer she was sure to find sooner rather than later. "Force feed us snails? Don't the French like eating those?" If they both got tapped for a detention because of their uniforms, they'd figure it out fairly quickly. She doubted a clothing violation would result in that immediately but it was certainly possible if she actively refused to wear the Beauxbatons uniform. "Give me a week and I'll report back. I doubt it'll take me long."

evelyn rhea oliveira ● 349 ● Feed Them Hate by Tomb Mold

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[evelyn rhea oliveira]

every map I follow

leads to the unknown

September 2, 2026
nessa abigael byrne

Evy half grinned at the thought. Imagine walking so tall and proud and yet being unable to avoid a simple brick wall. There were some things that magic couldn’t fix or prevent, and arrogance was one f those things. But it was unfortunate that the relationship between the magical schools was so strained, maybe not with the American school. But from the small things Sarah would say about work, Evy assumed the world was still unstable. It had felt like that before. However, the attempt on all their lives via cursed fire made it very real.

”At least it's only a year…” Evy mused out loud. She didn’t care to think about what this might have been like if she’d been back in fourth year now rather than her last year. But then Nessa spoke and brought up something Evy hadn’t thought about. How many other kids were here at the will of the Orphanage or other institutions such as that? Well, if this had been the previous year, then Nate would be sitting alongside the two with his own Slytherin uniform. ”Do you think you’ll stay?” Nessa had mentioned her birthday fast approaching, Evy didn’t see the point in forcing anyone to stay in school if they did not want to be there, but at the same time, Nessa was the only person Evy really knew here.

Her brow and mouth curved into a look of momentary disgust. Snails. Why? Evy was hardly worldly enough to understand or accept such things. She just wanted to go back home to London or any familiar place for that matter. ”Somehow that’s worse than anything Hogwarts ever did.” Or worse than dealing with their former head of house, for that matter. Though after reading about his actions that day in the Prophet, he was a far more intimidating figure now to Evy. ”They’re going to give us detention regardless.” Evy began. They were outsiders and new targets. ”Might as well make the most of it. I think I’ve found a way into the kitchens.” Evy’s insomnia had kicked in the moment they’d arrived here, and the halls felt cold and unfamiliar even during the day. Walking around at night without eyes boring into the back of her head was far less pressure.

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Evy asked the question that Nessa had been mulling about in her head for the entire week: was she going to stay at school? Everything about Beauxbatons was sort of annoying so far, though when wasn’t school like that at the start of every year? Packing her things up and simply fucking off back to London on Saturday wouldn’t be difficult to do at all and there was no way that the school could prevent that from happening. She shifted on the bench uncomfortably as this all went through her head again for what had to be at least the hundredth time this week. The only place she could go if she left was Nate’s hovel above Blishwick’s pizza. Not really the most pleasant living conditions or preferable. And being only two terms away from graduating, what was the point in throwing it all away like that? There had been the option to hold off on her schooling for a year, but that would have been a waste of her time as well. “May as well,” she shrugged. “Supposedly all of this looks good for employers. Rather not have the short end of the stick while trying to get a job too.” She’d had enough poor outcomes in her life already. Mitigating that now that she had control of her own future was the least she could do.

Nessa had used snails an example because she knew the average person wouldn’t want to eat those. She probably would if she was offered money for it or something. Hell, she’d do a lot of stuff for money as long as it didn’t tarnish her image. Like punching Ollivander in the face again. Scratch that, she’d slug him for free. “Already?” she questioned the discovery of the kitchens. Now that was impressive. Less than two days in and Nessa barely knew where she was supposed to sleep still. “Could you show me? Like, right now?”

evelyn rhea oliveira ● 323 ● Song by Artist

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[evelyn rhea oliveira]

every map I follow

leads to the unknown

September 2, 2026
nessa abigael byrne

Nessa didn’t answer right away. Evy would have been lying if she didn’t admit that she hadn’t thought about just leaving and avoiding being at this school, but then that would quickly derail any plans she had of a career in the future. Then again, Sarah had a career now, and she’d even gone to prison. Mina seemed happy enough with anything fancy. But, just like she had mentioned—it was only a year. But Nessa confirmed she would stay—though begrudgingly. At least Evy wasn’t stuck here alone. She didn’t want to put forth the effort of putting on some façade to fit in and make new friends. She was fine with the friends she had, although some had moved on without her.

Evy gave Nessa a sideways glance, mischief in her usually cold expression. ”Sort of. The hallways look different during the day. Do you remember where that statue of Flamel is?” It was hard to memorize a new place, but she knew it was near that statue. And after exploring the previous night, it had taken her even longer to find her way back to her bed. ”It's near there, but I keep getting turned around. ” Every corridor looked identical without many distinguishing features. At least at Hogwarts, the paintings helped distinguish locations and things like scorch marks on the wall in the Charms corridor and where ghosts were located. But Mina had shown Evy where the kitchens were at Hogwarts, and the entrance looked similar—house-elves included.

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Flamel? Nessa shook her head side to side, because she had no idea who that was or where one would find something that sounded like it came from the back of the throat. Leave it to the French to have someone named similar to a loogie. Some of the noises that came out of their language were so nasally that it almost made sense to her, in a weird sort of way. “Haven’t the foggiest. Can’t say I was really paying attention during any of the tours.” Normally she would have approached the plaque to read it, but she sort of assumed it was in French. The fact that spoken languages were translated efficiently through charms here probably meant anything on any of the works of art would be too. As for knowing where things were, it was only the second day, and the first full day at that. The last two days had been long and stressful, going from shopping with her new benefactor straight to a new school the following morning. Not that her bed at the orphanage was comfortable, she did sort of like sleeping in it before being whisked off the next morning bright and early.

“At least the corridors at Hogwarts had character.” She had personally figured out the most efficient ways around the school without having to take the moving staircases, her issue with heights coming into play since her first year there. Talking shit to some of the paintings was one of her favorite pastimes. Unfortunately most of them had probably been reduced to nothing more than bits of ash. Just like all of her belongings. “I think the only place I know is the front entrance. From there I can sort of figure out other locations, but that’s it.” It didn’t help that the uniforms of the Beauxbatons students sort of shined in the hallways as well, making everything brighter and that much more the same. Even though she had complained for years about the damp, cold castle, Hogwarts beat this every day of the week.

evelyn rhea oliveira ● 344 ● Stand by Him by Ghost

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[evelyn rhea oliveira]

every map I follow

leads to the unknown

September 2, 2026
nessa abigael byrne

Nessa’s face answered her question before she was able to produce words. But Evy wasn’t surprised, even Hogwarts had taken time to learn, and they would only be here at Beauxbatons for the year. There almost didn’t seem like there was a good reason to memorize its layout. ”Well they can’t expect us to learn everything in that half-hour, can they?” They weren’t exactly given a map or a pamphlet of any kind. Like any school, there was that dependency on their classmates and camaraderie to get them by, but there wasn’t much of that going around.

Plus Evy’s knowledge of French was little to none at the moment. As much as she tried to listen and hear the patterns, it was difficult. Reading it was better than listening, but if she was only here for the year, what was the point of learning an entirely new language. Callisto would tell her it was good for her future career prospects, Sarah might shrug, and Mina would tell her to figure out the swear words first. ”Right. There were better landmarks.” A statue or painting in a particular place or where a ghost was known to linger quietly. You could also simply ask a merciful painting for directions.

Evy looked around again and noted a group of girls pointing in their direction. They stood out in their Hogwarts grey and green among the other students' fine blue silk, and then she saw a much taller woman. ”I think they’ve finally spotted us.” Evy looked at Nessa, she wasn’t particularly nervous, but Evy hadn’t always been this rebellious at Hogwarts either. This year, she didn’t care. If people didn’t care enough to stick around, why should she care about anything, let alone some silly school rules? ”Want to go find the statue?” She was going to get detention anyway.

[ end evy ]

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While Nessa knew it was sarcasm coming from Evy, it did sort of feel like Beauxbatons expected all of the Hogwarts students have every little detail of the school figured out already. She could only think that this was on purpose for how the seventh years had been treated during the year of the tournament. Personally, she had gone out of her way to be a piece of shit to them. They were stuck up and annoying. Now that she was in their territory it definitely felt like the playing field had been evenly leveled. And they had a lot more ways to be horrid to her than she had ever imagined. Only a day and a half in and she knew they were all going to be ostracized one way or another. Like herself and the other orphans, this was the closest school to home. The other lower income families had to have been thinking the same thing as the orphanage, right? It didn’t take much to see the difference. And that was exactly why she was still wearing her Slytherin robes. Because fuck Beauxbatons.

Getting caught up in her own anger over the entire situation, she hadn’t realized that the French students had finally noticed what the two of them were doing. Evy promptly pointed it out as what looked to be a professor also spotted them too. This was excellent. She could barely wait for the inevitable threats of writing owls back to the orphanage. Like they would actually care. “I’m casting a sticky charm on my robes if they try to make me change,” Nessa growled under her breath as she hopped to her feet. “After you. We’re in it together now.”

[THE END]

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