The Thanksgiving holiday, a time of warmth, family, and abundant food, was fast approaching. For weeks, Echo had been trying to secure a coveted permission slip to join Lily Evans and Severus Snape at the Evans' household. After numerous appeals to Professor McGonagall, several hastily scribbled and subsequently rejected letters to the Ministry of Magic (which mostly involved him trying to charm the owls into forging signatures), and one particularly memorable attempt to convince a house-elf to apparate him there simply, he finally had it. A crisp, official-looking parchment, emblazoned with Dumbledore's flourishing signature, granted Echo permission to spend the holiday with the Evans family. His blue hair shimmered with triumph as he clutched the document.
His first stop was Hagrid's hut. He found the half-giant happily tending to a patch of overgrown pumpkins, a mischievous grin on his face. Sniffles, a furry green blur, was attempting to wrestle a particularly large, grumpy-looking toad into submission, while Shimmer, translucent and almost invisible, was delicately stealing sugar cubes from a bowl on Hagrid's table. Pip, meanwhile, was meticulously polishing Hagrid's rather enormous boots, humming a cheerful, off-key tune.
"Hagrid!" Echo called, his voice bright. "Good news! I've got my permission slip!"
Hagrid straightened up, his kind eyes twinkling. "Ah, that's grand, Echo! Knew yeh'd get it eventually. Dumbledore ain't one to deny a lad a good family holiday." He gestured to the various creatures. "So, what's yeh plan for these little rascals?"
Echo knelt, gently stroking Sniffles, who immediately stopped tormenting the toad and nuzzled into his hand. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind looking after them, Hagrid. They'd be in good hands with you." He gave the Niffler a reassuring pat. "Be a good boy, Sniffles. No more trying to steal Professor Flitwick's spectacles, alright? And Shimmer, try not to eat all of Hagrid's treacle tart." He looked at Pip. "Pip, you too. No, causing trouble. Hagrid will take good care of you all."
Pip, looking rather put out by the implied mischief, saluted smartly. "Pip will be the best house-elf for Hagrid, Mr. Echo, sir!"
Hagrid chuckled, ruffling Echo's hair. "Don't yeh worry, Echo. They'll be right as rain with me. Got plenty o' space, and plenty o' company." He winked. "Besides, I reckon Sniffles'll be a grand help with my garden gnomes."
With a final round of goodbyes and promises to return with stories, Echo made his way to the Hogwarts Express, his heart light. He found Lily and Severus already seated in a compartment, Lily gazing out the window with an excited smile, and Severus, as usual, engrossed in a worn copy of Advanced Potion-Making.
"Echo!" Lily exclaimed, her face lighting up as he slid onto the seat opposite her. "You got it! I knew you would!" She leaned forward, her green eyes sparkling. "Oh, I'm so, so excited to have you finally coming this year! It's going to be so much fun. You'll finally get to know what it's like to be part of a real family for Thanksgiving."
Echo smiled, a genuine warmth spreading through him, his blue hair softening to a contented green. He reached out, gently touching Lily's arm, then Severus's, who merely grunted in acknowledgment but didn't pull away. "I'm glad for that, Lily, really," he said softly. "But I already know what a family feels like." His gaze held hers, then flickered to Severus. "Because you two," he continued, his voice low and sincere, "you're my family."
Lily's eyes softened, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. Severus, to his credit, merely cleared his throat and pretended to be intensely interested in a particularly complex potion ingredient. Still, a subtle shift in his posture betrayed his quiet pleasure.
"Well," Lily said, clearing her throat, her voice a little brighter than before. "Now that we're all settled, I think a celebratory snack is in order! I'm going to go see what the trolley has." She stood, giving Echo a quick, affectionate squeeze on the shoulder before heading out into the corridor.
As soon as she was gone, Echo turned to Severus, a curious glint in his eye. "Alright, Sev," he whispered conspiratorially. "Spill. What's Lily's family like? Her parents, her sister… give me the lowdown."
Severus finally lowered his book, fixing Echo with a disdainful look. "They're… Muggles," he stated, as if that explained everything. He paused, then added with a sigh, "Her father is… enthusiastic. Her mother is… domestic. And Petunia is… Petunia." He then raised his book again, as if the conversation was concluded.
Echo stared at him, his blue hair flickering with exasperated amusement. "Wow. Riveting. Truly. Thank you for that incredibly detailed and utterly captivating explanation, Severus. My anticipation is practically vibrating with excitement." He finished with an eye roll.
Severus peered over the top of his book, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk playing on his lips. "You'll just have to meet them and find out for yourself, won't you?"
Echo slumped back in his seat, an aggravated groan escaping him. Just then, Lily reappeared, a triumphant smile on her face, laden with various treats from the trolley. She held out a packet of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum to Echo.
"Here you go, Echo! I got you your favorite," she said cheerfully.
Echo snatched the gum, tearing it open with almost desperate haste and shoving several pieces into his mouth. He chewed with a fervor that suggested he hadn't eaten in days, his green hair flickering with a restless hunger. He then grabbed a handful of Fizzing Whizbees and began to gobble them down, barely tasting them as they fizzed and popped in his mouth.
Severus, who had been watching this display with a mixture of disdain and mild alarm, finally lowered his book again. "Echo," he said, his voice laced with his usual dry sarcasm, "you had best not eat like a starving dog at Lily's house. Not everyone, as you well know, swallows their food whole like a particularly ill-mannered snake."
Echo paused, a half-chewed Fizzing Whizbee sticking out of his mouth. He swallowed with an audible gulp, his blue hair softening to a resigned shade. "Alright, alright, Sev. I'll try. I promise to try to behave when eating." He looked at Lily, a hopeful glint in his eye. "So, Lily, since Severus was so incredibly unhelpful, what is your family like? Really?"
Lily giggled, a hand covering her mouth. "You haven't asked Sev, have you?"
Echo scoffed, then launched into a vexing mimicry of Severus's earlier explanation, his voice adopting a nasal, condescending tone. "'They're… Muggles.' He stated that it was as if that explained everything. 'Her father is… enthusiastic. Her mother is… domestic. And Petunia is… Petunia.'" He finished with a flourish, rolling his eyes dramatically.
Lily burst out laughing, a bright, joyous sound. "Oh, Echo, you're awful!" she gasped, wiping a tear from her eye.
Severus, however, merely sniffed, though a faint flush rose on his pale cheeks. "I do not sound like that," he stated, trying to regain his composure.
Lily, still chuckling, looked at Severus with an amused expression. "You know, Sev, you kinda do."
Echo, unperturbed by Severus's protestations, turned his full attention back to Lily. "Seriously, Lily. What are they really like? Give me the real scoop."
Lily took a deep breath, her smile softening. "Okay, okay. Well, my dad, Michael, is a bit of a dreamer. He works in a bank, but he loves tinkering in the garage and reading adventure novels. He's got a big heart, and he's incredibly kind, even if he sometimes gets lost in his own head." She paused, a fond look on her face. "My mum, Rose, she's the practical one. She's a fantastic cook, and she keeps us all organized. She can be a bit strict sometimes, but it's only because she cares so much. And she worries, especially about Petunia." Lily's expression clouded slightly at the mention of her sister. "Petunia... well, she's older than me, and she's always been a bit jealous of my magic. She tries to ignore it, and sometimes she can be quite… difficult. But she's still my sister, and I love her, even if we don't always see eye to eye." She finished with a sigh, then brightened. "But you'll just have to meet them, Echo! It'll be an experience, I promise."
Echo chuckled, a much more satisfied look on his face. "Now that was an explanation! See, Sev, that's how you do it."
Severus merely rolled his eyes, returning to his book.
A short while later, the Hogwarts Express pulled into King's Cross Station, bustling with students eager to go home for the holiday. As they disembarked, Lily turned to Echo and Severus. "Alright, you two," she said, her voice a little hushed. "We need to change into Muggle clothes. Our robes will make us stick out like sore thumbs."
Echo, however, just grinned, his blue hair flickering with a mischievous glint. "Why? We could just act naturally. If anyone asks, we're going to a dress-up party."
Severus lowered his book again, a look of utter disbelief on his face. "A dress-up party, Echo? Halloween was weeks ago. Do Muggles simply parade around in costumes for no reason?"
Echo scoffed. "Of course they do, Sev! You don't need Halloween to have fun in costumes. Plus, it adds an air of mystery. 'Oh, look at those three eccentric teens going to a very exclusive, very secret costume party.' It's brilliant!"
Lily, however, shook her head, a hint of exasperation in her eyes. "Echo, we really should change. We don't want the Ministry breathing down our necks for breaking the Statute of Secrecy. Especially after... well, everything else."
Severus nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Lily. Though that might be difficult, considering Echo's recent propensity for causing widespread chaos."
Echo crossed his arms, his blue hair darkening to a stubborn black. "I'm still not apologizing for any of it, Sev. And besides, where's the fun in always being conventional?"
"We're going to have to cover your hair, Echo," Lily said, her voice firm. "Someone with color-changing hair walking around is a dead giveaway."
"We could use a simple concealing spell," Sev suggested.
Lily shook her head. "A hat would be simpler."
Echo, however, just smiled. "I can do this." He closed his eyes, concentrating. Slowly, his vibrant green hair began to darken, the shifting hues settling into a deep, pure black, save for a single, defiant strand of emerald green that remained.
Lily stared, her jaw dropping. "That was incredible, Echo! I didn't know you could control it!"
Sev, too, looked surprised. "Indeed, I didn't either. But you said you don't control it. You have an on and off switch?"
Echo nodded, opening his eyes, which now seemed even more intense against his dark hair. "I do. And it comes from... well, do you remember last year, when the Dementor kissed me and took everything but my soul?"
Lily and Sev exchanged a grim look. "Yes," Lily said softly, a shiver running through her. That was a scary time to watch you suffer."
"I figured out that the void, which is my magical core and my metaphysical self, was essentially inside of it," Echo continued, his voice low. "And when I pulled myself out, I could feel and regain and re-learn my emotions, slowly. Now I can call upon the void and dip into it. Dipping down enough to stay calm under pressure, or simply turn off my hair."
"How far can you dip down?" Sev asked, a strange fascination in his eyes.
Echo's smile faded, and his skin paled and grew gaunt. His hair lost its luster, the single green strand fading to a dull grey, and his eyes lost all their light. His cheerful expression shifted into one of profound, almost terrifying depression.
"Echo! Stop!" Lily cried, her voice sharp with fear, seeing the sudden, drastic change in him.
Echo instantly pulled back, his skin regaining its color, his eyes sparkling once more. Only his hair remained black, with the single green strand. He gave them a reassuring, if slightly strained, smile. "I let my metaphysical self stay in the void just long enough to get to Lily's house."
Lily let out a shaky sigh, reaching out to touch his arm. "Don't you ever do that again, Echo. Never."
Lily and Severus shared a knowing look. "Right," Lily said, a small smile playing on her lips. "Well, let's get changed then."
They headed into separate changing rooms, Lily emerging a few minutes later in a simple denim skirt and a warm, knitted jumper. Severus, looking uncomfortable but resigned, followed in a dark, slightly oversized jacket and plain trousers. Echo, however, took a little longer. When he finally stepped out, he was wearing a brightly colored, almost offensively orange t-shirt with a cartoon dragon breathing fire, and a pair of ripped jeans. His hair, still pure black with the single emerald strand, stood out starkly.
Lily, however, still found herself doing a double-take. "Echo," she began, a familiar confusion in her voice, "I keep forgetting your hair is pure black now. It used to be..." She trailed off, searching for the right words.
Echo ran a hand through his dark locks, a wistful expression on his face. "Honeycomb brown, before the Dementor," he finished for her, his voice quiet. "That's the one thing I can't bring back. That and my eyes, which used to be blue before turning violet. I guess some scars simply remain, no matter what."
Severus, standing nearby, reached out and gently rubbed Echo's shoulder, a rare gesture of comfort.
Sensing the shift in mood, Lily quickly tried to change the subject. "Well, your hair sure has gotten long since your first year," she observed, a brighter tone returning to her voice.
Echo pushed his now-long hair back from his face. "Do you think I should cut it?" he asked, looking at them both.
Severus scoffed, a faint smirk returning to his lips. "Are you really asking that of us, Echo?" He gestured to Lily's flowing red hair and then to his own dark, shoulder-length locks.
Echo grinned, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "Yeah, that would be silly," he agreed. "Besides, Skate would get mad and sad that she couldn't braid my hair anymore." He looked at Lily. "So, how long does it take for us to get to your place from here?"
Lily glanced at the bustling station, then back at Echo and Severus. "Well, we need to catch a regular non-magical train, and then a bus, and then it's a bit of a walk. Probably an hour, maybe an hour and a half, if we don't get lost."
Echo groaned. "An hour and a half? Can't we just Apparate or something?"
Lily shook her head, a hint of a smile on her face. "No, Echo. This is the Muggle world, remember? No Apparition, no magic. We have to do things the normal way."
Severus, ever the pragmatist, raised an eyebrow. "And you trust us not to reveal magic in your home accidentally, Lily?"
Lily bit her lip, then sighed. "I'm counting on it, Sev. Just... try to be yourselves, but a little less magical. And Echo, please try not to charm any of my mum's teacups into dancing."
Echo grinned, a mischievous sparkle in his black hair. "No promises, Lily. But I'll do my best."
With that, the trio set off, blending (or at least attempting to blend) into the throng of Muggle commuters. Echo, despite his earlier complaints, seemed to enjoy the novelty of it all, his eyes wide with curiosity as he observed the strange Muggle contraptions and customs that, although nostalgic, felt so foreign to him. Severus, predictably, remained stoic, though Lily noticed a faint, almost imperceptible tremor in his hand as he clutched his book, a sign of his unease in this unfamiliar world.
They caught a noisy, rumbling train, then transferred to a bright red double-decker bus, its upper deck offering a panoramic view of the suburban streets. Finally, they disembarked in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood, the houses neat and uniform, each with its own carefully manicured garden.
"We're almost there," Lily announced, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and a touch of nervousness. She led them up a short path to a modest, semi-detached house with a vibrant red door. A wreath of autumn leaves adorned the door, and the scent of roasting turkey and spices drifted faintly from within.
"Here we go," Lily whispered, taking a deep breath. She reached out and knocked.
Almost immediately, the door swung open, revealing a plump, kind-faced woman with warm brown eyes and a welcoming smile. She had the same reddish-brown hair as Lily, though hers was styled in a neat, practical bob.
"Lily, darling, you're home!" she exclaimed, pulling Lily into a tight hug. "Oh, it's so good to see you, sweetie!"
Lily returned the hug, beaming. "Hi, Mum! These are my friends, Echo, and you remember Severus."
Mrs. Evans's gaze shifted to the two boys, her smile softening. "It's so lovely to finally meet you both, or see you again in your case, Severus! Lily has told us so much about you." Her eyes lingered on Echo's black hair and green streak, a flicker of polite confusion crossing her face, but she quickly recovered. "Come in, come in! Don't just stand out there in the cold."
She ushered them inside, into a cozy, brightly lit hallway that smelled wonderfully of home cooking. A tall, slightly balding man with a friendly, open face emerged from the living room, a newspaper tucked under his arm. He had a hearty laugh and a warm handshake for both Echo and Severus.
"Michael Evans, at your service!" he boomed, his eyes twinkling. "Any friend of Lily's is a friend of ours! Welcome, boys, welcome!"
Echo, to Lily's relief, managed a polite smile and a firm handshake, his black hair remaining blessedly still. Severus, though stiff, also managed a passable greeting.
"And over in the kitchen is my sister, Petunia," Lily said, her voice a little strained, as a thin, horse-faced girl with a long neck emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a floral apron. Petunia's eyes, a pale blue, narrowed almost imperceptibly as they landed on Echo and Severus, then lingered with unconcealed disdain on Echo's hair and ripped jeans.
"Mother, honestly," Petunia began, her voice a sharp, nasal whine. "Did you really have to invite them? It's Thanksgiving, not a freak show."
The warmth instantly drained from the room. Mrs. Evans's smile faltered, and Mr. Evans cleared his throat uncomfortably. Lily's eyes flashed with anger. Echo, however, remained outwardly calm, his face a picture of serene indifference, his black hair completely unmoving. He dipped into the void, just enough to keep his emotions in check. He met Petunia's gaze with an unblinking stare, a faint, almost imperceptible flicker of something ancient and powerful in his dark eyes.
For all her bluster, Petunia suddenly felt inexplicably uneasy. A shiver ran down her spine, and she involuntarily took a step back, her gaze dropping from Echo's intense stare. She had expected a reaction, a defiant glare, perhaps even an argument. But this calm, almost otherworldly stillness, combined with the unnerving depth in his eyes, was far more unsettling.
"Petunia!" Mrs. Evans admonished, her voice sharper than usual. "That is quite enough! These are our guests, and you will be polite!"
"Honestly, Mum," Petunia muttered under her breath, though her voice was noticeably less confident now. She retreated back into the kitchen, casting a venomous glance at Echo over her shoulder.
Lily let out a shaky breath, then forced a smile. "Don't mind her, Echo. She's just... in a mood."
Echo gave a small, reassuring nod, his expression unchanging. Severus, however, merely grunted, his gaze fixed on the spot where Petunia had stood, a faint, almost imperceptible sneer on his lips.
"Well, come on in, boys," Mr. Evans said, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "Make yourselves at home. Dinner will be ready soon. Lily, why don't you show them where they can put their things?"
Lily nodded, grateful for the distraction. "This way, you two." She led them up a narrow staircase, their footsteps creaking on the wooden steps. "I'm so sorry about Petunia," she whispered once they were out of earshot. "She's just... she's never really been able to accept my magic, or anyone associated with it."
Echo merely shrugged, his black hair still. "It's fine, Lily. I've dealt with worse."
Severus, however, offered a rare moment of empathy. "Some people are simply incapable of accepting what they do not understand. Her ignorance is her own failing, not yours."
Lily smiled, a grateful look on her face. "Thanks, Sev." She led them to a small, brightly decorated guest room. "You two can share this room. It's a bit small, but it's only for a few days."
Echo glanced around the cozy room, a faint, unreadable expression on his face. He gently placed his satchel on the bed. "It's perfect, Lily. Thank you."
Severus looked around the room, his eyes scanning the modest furnishings. His gaze landed on the single bed, a double, perhaps, but certainly not large enough to comfortably accommodate two growing teenagers. His brow furrowed. He cleared his throat.
Echo, however, had already discovered the bed's bouncy potential. With a whoop of delight, he launched himself onto it, springing up and down like a hyperactive spring. His black hair, with its single green streak, bounced wildly with each jump. "Whee!" he exclaimed, a wide grin on his face. "This is a good bed, Sev! Nice and springy!"
"Echo, stop jumping on the bed like some silly house-elf!" Severus admonished, his voice sharp with irritation, though a faint, almost imperceptible tremor of amusement ran beneath it. "You'll break it."
Echo immediately stopped, blowing a loud, defiant raspberry in Severus's direction. He jumped off the bed, landing gracefully on the floor, and saw the expression on Severus's face. His own mischievous grin faded, replaced by a questioning look. "What's the matter, Sev? You look like you just swallowed a lemon."
Severus, without a word, pointed a long, slender finger at the bed.
Echo followed his gaze, then looked back at Severus, a slow, knowing smile spreading across his lips. "Oh, Sev," he said, his voice dripping with feigned innocence. "You can't be embarrassed about sleeping in the same bed as me, can you?"
Severus remained stubbornly silent, his gaze fixed on the wall.
"I mean," Echo continued, pressing his advantage, "I distinctly remember when you bathed with me that one time. Said you needed to make sure I knew how to scrub behind my ears properly."
Severus's pale cheeks flushed a faint red. "That," he hissed, his voice low and intense, "was solely to instruct you on proper hygiene and the meticulous art of bathing! Nothing more!"
Echo waved a dismissive hand. "Details, details." He then leaned in conspiratorially, his voice dropping to a theatrical whisper. "Just so you know, Sev, I'm a cuddler."
Severus sighed, running a hand over his face. "I should have expected that, given your... propensity for physical contact."
Echo's eyes sparkled. "So? Big spoon or little spoon?"
Severus stood for a moment, torn between a desire for dignified silence and the pragmatic need to make a decision. He let out a long, suffering sigh. "Big spoon," he muttered, almost inaudibly.
Echo's mischievous grin widened. "Good man, Sev. I knew you had it in you." He then began to pull things out of his satchel, humming a jaunty tune. Severus, with a grunt of mild disapproval, unzipped his own, rather plain, suitcase. He meticulously began folding and arranging his robes, potions, ingredients, and various books onto the small chest of drawers.
"Is that all you brought, Echo?" Severus asked, glancing at the small, leather satchel from which Echo was currently extracting a brightly colored, absurdly patterned shirt. "That… that tiny thing?"
Echo beamed, holding up the shirt with pride. "This, my dear Sev, is a marvel of magical engineering! It's enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm. Looks small, but it holds a ton of stuff!"
He began to pull out items, one by one, tossing them onto the single bed with a cheerful disregard for order. "Let's see… two sets of Muggle clothes, perfectly acceptable for general wear," he said, producing a pair of slightly mismatched socks and a t-shirt emblazoned with a picture of a particularly fierce-looking badger. "My toothbrush, obviously. My advanced potions manual, because you never know when you might need to whip up a quick antidote… my wand, of course, my… flying snake?!"
Severus, who had been passively observing the chaotic unpacking, suddenly froze, his eyes widening. "Flying snake?!" he hissed, his voice dangerously low. "Flying what now?!"
Echo let out a nervous, almost theatrical laugh. His black hair, with its single green streak, flickered with a sudden, anxious red. "Oops! Must have shoved him in here by mistake!" He reached into the satchel again and pulled out a small, green, perfectly spherical ball.
Severus stared at it, utterly bewildered. "Echo, what is that? It looks like a small, green ball."
"Oh, he's just resting!" Echo explained, gently patting the ball. As if on cue, the green ball began to unravel, its segments slowly unfurling until it transformed into a nearly three-foot-long serpent. Its scales were vibrant emerald, and from its back, two leathery, bat-like wings extended, slowly flapping as the creature stretched.
Severus stared, transfixed, then slowly turned his gaze back to Echo. "Did you… Did you find this in the Forbidden Forest, Echo?"
Echo nodded eagerly. "Yep! Found him a few months ago. I thought he was a Swooping Evil at first because of how he folds himself up to rest. But then I realized he was a snake! And then I found two other subspecies of them! One has wings like a dragon, another has wings like a bird, and the last is the smallest of them all, and has six bug-like wings! Luckily, it seems I only grabbed this one, which is good, because I don't know where I'd put the other two."
Severus let out a long, suffering sigh, running a hand over his face. "Of course you did, Echo. Of course you did."
"You cannot possibly keep a magical beast in a Muggle home, Echo!" Severus hissed, his voice tight with barely contained exasperation. "It's a flagrant breach of the Statute of Secrecy!"
Echo, however, just shrugged, his black hair still with its single green streak. "Relax, Sev. He's perfectly fine. Besides, I already woke him up, and I can control him easily." He leaned closer to the now-unfurled flying snake, and in a soft, sibilant Parseltongue, murmured, "Sinuare, serpens mea. Circum collum meum."
Instantly, the emerald serpent, with a graceful, fluid motion, slithered up Echo's arm and wrapped itself comfortably around his neck, its small head resting just beside his ear. Its bat-like wings folded neatly against its body.
Severus stared at the sight, his eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and utter defeat. "You still should not bring a magical beast into a Muggle home, Echo," he stated, though his conviction seemed to waver slightly.
"It's better than most of my other pets," Echo countered, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Severus merely rolled his eyes, a familiar exasperated sigh escaping him.
After they finished unpacking, the two boys headed downstairs. Lily's father, Michael, and her mother, Rose, were already in the living room, a cozy space filled with the scent of spices and a crackling fire.
"So, Echo, Severus," Mr. Evans began, his eyes twinkling with curiosity, "Lily tells us you two are from a rather… unique boarding school. Tell us, what's it like? Do you learn about… well, about magic there?"
Mrs. Evans, her kind face alight with interest, nodded eagerly. "Oh, yes, do tell us! Lily's always so tight-lipped about it. What sorts of things do you do? Do you have… lessons with wands and everything?"
Lily, seeing their eager expressions, interjected, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. "Mum, Dad, please! Don't bombard them." She then turned to Echo, her eyes landing on the emerald serpent coiled around his neck. "Echo, what is that green thing around your neck?"
The flying snake, as if understanding it was the subject of conversation, slowly reared its head, its golden eyes blinking innocently.
Mrs. Evans let out a terrified shriek, clapping a hand to her mouth. "A snake! On his neck! Oh, my goodness!"
Though startled, Lily quickly recovered, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and demand. "Echo! Explanation! Now!"
Echo, ever calm, looked at them all, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk playing on his lips. "Do you want the short version, or the very, very long version?"
"Short!" Lily practically yelled.
Severus, however, stepped in, a weary resignation in his voice. "Echo, Forbidden Forest, mistake in packing, new species of magical beasts apparently."
Lily blinked, then considered Severus's succinct summary. "Alright," she said, a hint of a smile touching her lips. "I'm satisfied with that answer."
Mrs. Evans, however, was not. "I'm not!" she exclaimed, still looking horrified. "A snake in my house!"
Echo, his voice soft and reassuring, gently stroked the flying snake's head. "He's perfectly safe, Mrs. Evans, I promise. He's very well-behaved. In fact, he could even do some work for you."
Mr. Evans, always pragmatic, looked curious. "Work? What kind of work?"
Echo grinned, his green streak flickering with a playful glint. "Well, Lily mentioned you've been having a bit of a rat problem, didn't you?"
At the prospect of food, the emerald flying snake instantly unfurled itself from Echo's neck. With a soft whoosh of its leathery wings, it zipped towards the kitchen. It spotted a small mouse hole near the baseboard and, with a swift, fluid motion, slithered inside, disappearing.
The family watched, stunned, as the small, winged serpent vanished. Echo merely shrugged. "He'll be back when he's full."
After a moment of stunned silence, Mr. Evans let out a booming laugh. "Rose, get me the phone! I need to cancel the exterminator appointment!"
Mrs. Evans, a relieved smile spreading across her face, nodded vigorously. "Oh, Michael, thank goodness! That'll save us a hundred and fifty pounds!"
Mr. Evans turned to Echo, a curious glint in his eye. "So, Echo," he began, a knowing smile playing on his lips, "Lily tells me you have a… a special friend. A girlfriend, is that right?"
Echo, caught off guard, felt a blush creep up his neck, and a nervous chuckle escaped him. His black hair, with its single green streak, flickered with a faint, embarrassed red. "Uh, yeah, Mr. Evans, that's… that's right."
"Oh, really?" Mr. Evans pressed, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Do tell us all about her, then! Details, my boy, details!"
Lily, seeing Echo's momentary discomfort, quickly interjected, her cheeks also a little pink. "Dad, honestly! Don't pry into Echo's personal life!"
But Echo, once he got past his initial shyness, was already launching into a passionate, albeit rambling, discourse. "Oh, Skate, she's… she's magnificent! Her hair is like moonlight, and her eyes are the color of the deepest ocean. And her magic, oh, you wouldn't believe it! She's incredibly strong, too, a real force of nature, and she's got this… this amazing…"
"And she smells like wet fish," Severus cut in, his voice dry and laced with a familiar disdain. "And probably tastes even worse."
Echo snapped his head towards Severus, his face a mask of indignation, his black hair flaring to a furious crimson. "Sev! Just because she's a mermaid doesn't mean you have to be so rude about it! And no, she does not smell like fish!"
Mrs. Evans, who had just finished handing the phone back to her husband, looked at Echo, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and fascination. "So, she really is a mermaid, then, just like Lily said! Oh, how wonderful! She must have a truly beautiful singing voice, Echo, like the legends say!"
Echo, his anger at Severus momentarily forgotten, nodded, his hair softening back to black. "She does sing beautifully, Mrs. Evans. But what you're thinking of are sirens; they're saltwater. Skate is a selkie; she's freshwater."
Mrs. Evans's eyes brightened even further. "A selkie! How fascinating! So, tell us, Echo, how did you ever manage to win the heart of such a unique creature?"
Echo smiled, a soft, fond look in his eyes. "Well, actually, she kind of stole my heart first. But then, I got some advice, gave her some gifts, and just… talked to her. I was honest about everything, and I guess that's what made the difference."
"Oh, that's wonderful, Echo!" Mrs. Evans beamed, her eyes sparkling. "You must have been so nervous! It reminds me of when Michael first asked me out, all those years ago. Flowers, a handwritten note… it was so romantic!" She nudged her husband playfully, who chuckled, a fond look on his face.
Echo gave a small, sheepish smile, his black hair flickering with a faint, embarrassed red. "I was mostly nervous because I didn't know if Skate could understand me," he admitted. "Merfolk and human lingo aren't the same, you know? A simple 'hello' can have a whole different meaning underwater."
"And yet, you and it worked!" Mrs. Evans exclaimed, her voice soft and warm. "How touching!"
Suddenly, Petunia barged back into the living room, her thin face flushed with indignation. "Honestly, Mother! Can we please stop talking about fish and weird magic? This is Thanksgiving! Can we please talk about something normal? Like… like me and my Vernon!"
Lily stared at her sister, genuinely surprised. "Petunia," she began, her voice incredulous, "do you actually have a boyfriend?"
Petunia's face softened, her eyes taking on a dreamy, faraway look. "Oh, Lily," she sighed, a lovestruck expression transforming her features. "Vernon is just… wonderful! So thoughtful, so kind, so utterly devoted. I just love my Verny so, so much!"
Echo and Severus exchanged a look. "Verny?" they chorused, a hint of something unreadable in their voices.
Petunia bristled slightly. "His name is Vernon, of course! But 'Verny' is my pet name for him. Do you even have a pet name for your… your fish, Echo?"
Echo's calm demeanor vanished. His black hair flared to a furious crimson, and his eyes, though still dipped in the void, burned with a dangerous intensity. "First, Petunia," he said, his voice low and firm, "you never, ever call a mermaid a fish. Not unless you want to be dragged down into the deepest part of the Black Lake or ripped in half, piece by piece. They consider it a grave insult." He paused, taking a deep breath, and his hair settled back to black. "And second," he continued, a faint, wry smile touching his lips, "I don't have a pet name for her, but she has one for me."
Intrigued, the Evans family looked at him expectantly. "Well? What is it?" Mr. Evans prompted.
Echo let out a strange, melodic trill, followed by a series of soft clicks and whistles, sounds that seemed to come from deep within his throat. The family stared at him, utterly bewildered. "You see," Echo explained, a faint twinkle in his eyes, "Mermerish and human isn't always a one-to-one translation. Some things just… sound different."
Lily, still trying to process the concept of her sister having a boyfriend, turned to Petunia. "So, Petunia, what does Vernon look like?"
Petunia, momentarily distracted from her irritation, beamed. With a flourish, she pulled a half-folded photograph from the pocket of her floral apron and held it out proudly. "He's absolutely dashing, Lily!"
The picture made its way around the room. Mrs. Evans looked at it with a polite smile, Mr. Evans with a hearty nod. When it reached Lily, her eyes widened slightly. Finally, it came to Echo and Severus. They saw a very short, very plump man with a thick neck that seemed to blend directly into his shoulders. His face was red and beefy, and he sported a rather aggressive mustache.
Echo felt a tremor run through him, and his black hair flickered with a desperate struggle. He dipped even deeper into the void, forcing his features into a mask of complete neutrality, battling a strong urge to burst into uncontrollable laughter. Beside him, Severus was vibrating silently, his pale lips pressed into a thin line, his shoulders shaking almost imperceptibly.
With Herculean effort, Echo managed to regain his composure. He handed the picture back to Petunia, a faint, almost imperceptible tremor in his hand. "Well, then," he said, his voice a little strained. "If you'll excuse Severus and me for a moment. I just remembered I forgot something, and I need to check my satchel… just in case it accidentally fell into Severus's." He grabbed Severus by the arm and, with a nod to the bewildered Evans family, hastily steered him out of the room and up the stairs, leaving behind a baffled Petunia and a faint scent of suppressed mirth.
As soon as the door to their shared room clicked shut behind them, Severus pulled out his wand and, with a subtle flick of his wrist, cast a quick, silent charm. Echo, his black hair still with its green streak, watched him intently.
"Is the Silencing Charm up, Sev?" Echo whispered, a tremor of barely contained amusement in his voice.
Severus nodded, a muscle twitching in his jaw as he fought a losing battle against a burgeoning smile.
With the confirmation, Echo instantly pulled himself out of the void, and the floodgates burst. A loud, booming laugh erupted from him, so sudden and forceful that he had to clutch the nearby dresser to stay upright, his body shaking with the force of his mirth. Severus, too, buckled, sinking to his hands and knees, tears streaming down his face, his own silent, heaving laughter shaking the small room.
"Was that... was that a man," Severus choked out between gasps for air, "or a particularly well-dressed walrus?"
Echo, wiping a tear from his eye, managed to gasp, "They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Sev!"
Severus threw his head back, letting out another silent, convulsive laugh. "Then beauty," he wheezed, "must be blind!"
The two boys dissolved into another fit of uncontrollable laughter, their bodies shaking, their faces red.
"And they say love is blind!" Echo managed to articulate, clinging to the dresser for support.
"Blind and drunk!" Severus added, his voice barely a squeak.
Their laughter escalated, reaching a crescendo until Severus lost his breath entirely, coughing violently, and Echo began to wheeze, clutching his chest.
Eventually, they calmed down, their laughter subsiding into soft chuckles and ragged breaths. Echo, still grinning, managed to say, "At least Petunia has a type."
Severus, rubbing his aching sides, snorted. "What type? Two tons of blubber breaching the Pacific Ocean?"
Another wave of laughter, though softer this time, rolled over them.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Lily stood there, her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed. "Are you two up here laughing at my sister's new boyfriend?"
Echo and Severus instantly froze, their laughter dying in their throats. They shook their heads vigorously, but the lingering grins on their faces betrayed them.
"We were just... discussing the merits of his mustache, Lily," Echo said, his voice laced with feigned innocence, his black hair flickering with a mischievous blue.
Severus merely nodded, trying to look serious, but a slight tremor in his lips gave him away.
Lily, however, was not fooled. She sighed, shaking her head. "You two are impossible. Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I bother with you." But a faint smile played on her lips, and the anger had left her eyes. "Well, dinner's ready. And Petunia's probably already taken the best seat, so you two had better hurry down."
With that, she turned and headed back downstairs, leaving the two boys to their subdued chuckles. They followed, a sense of warmth and belonging settling over them, a feeling that, despite Petunia, felt very much like family.
They followed, a sense of warmth and belonging settling over them, a feeling that, despite Petunia, felt very much like family.
As they descended the stairs, Severus leaned closer to Echo, his voice a low murmur. "You know, Echo," he said, a rare, almost gentle note in his tone, "you can fully pull yourself out of the 'void' now. And… and let your hair down." He glanced at Echo's still-black hair with its single green streak. "The Evans are already aware of magic; your hair shouldn't be too much of a shock."
Echo's eyes widened slightly, a mischievous glint flickering in their depths. "Oh, Sev, you're brilliant!" he whispered back, a grin spreading across his face. "That should make for some excellent dinner conversation, don't you think?"
Without waiting for a reply, Echo closed his eyes, and a wave of vibrant color washed over him. His black hair erupted into a kaleidoscope of shifting hues—bright blues, fiery reds, electric greens, and playful yellows —all swirling with his unbridled emotions. The single emerald streak, no longer alone, blended seamlessly into the chaotic dance of color. He stretched, a deep, contented sigh escaping him as the full force of his emotions, so long suppressed, surged through him. He felt light, free, and utterly himself again.
He opened his eyes, a brilliant, almost blinding violet, and looked at Severus with a wide, unrepentant smile. "Much better," he declared, his voice infused with a newfound lightness. Let's go get some Thanksgiving dinner!"
He strode down the remaining steps, Severus trailing behind him with a groan of long-suffering resignation. As they entered the dining room, the first thing they noticed was the delicious aroma of roasted turkey, stuffing, and various other Thanksgiving delights. The second thing they noticed was the utter silence that descended as all eyes landed on Echo's spectacularly vibrant, color-changing hair.
Mrs. Evans dropped the serving spoon, and it clattered loudly against a ceramic bowl. Mr. Evans, mid-chew, froze, a piece of turkey hanging precariously from his fork. Even Petunia, who had been in the middle of an animated description of Vernon, stopped dead, her mouth agape.
"Echo!" Lily exclaimed, a mixture of exasperation and amusement in her voice. "I thought you said you were going to wait!"
Echo merely beamed, completely unperturbed by the stunned silence. "But Lily, Sev said I should let my hair down! And I thought, what better way to do that than fully unleash my magnificent, chaotic self at a family dinner?" He then turned to Mrs. Evans, his hair swirling with bright, innocent blues and greens. "Happy Thanksgiving, Mrs. Evans! Your house smells absolutely wonderful!"
Mrs. Evans, after a moment of stunned silence, let out a nervous, delighted giggle. "Oh, my word! It's… It's quite striking, Echo! Quite striking!"
Mr. Evans, recovering from his surprise, let out a hearty laugh. "Well, I'll be! That's certainly a sight for sore eyes, son! Never seen anything quite like it!"
Petunia, however, was not amused. Her face, already flushed with indignation, turned a mottled red. "Honestly, Mother, Father! This is just… It's unnatural! And at the dinner table! Can't he just be normal for one minute?"
Echo's hair flared to a mischievous yellow. "Normal? Petunia, where's the fun in normal? Besides," he added, a playful glint in his violet eyes, "I thought you wanted to talk about something interesting." He then winked at her, his hair momentarily settling on a vivid, teasing pink.
Petunia sputtered, unable to formulate a coherent response. Severus, who had finally taken his seat, covered his mouth with one hand, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Lily, however, was trying desperately to suppress her own giggles, her eyes dancing with amusement.
"Alright, alright, everyone," Mrs. Evans said, trying to restore some semblance of order, though a smile still played on her lips. "Let's all sit down and enjoy this wonderful meal. Echo, you can sit right here, next to Lily."
Echo, with a cheerful grin, took his place beside Lily, his hair continuing its vibrant display. The dinner began, and despite Petunia's continued grumbling and disdainful glances, the atmosphere slowly warmed. Echo, to everyone's surprise, managed to eat with a semblance of decorum, though his enthusiasm for the food was undeniable. He listened intently as Mr. Evans recounted old family stories, and even managed to engage Mrs. Evans in a lively discussion about gardening, his hair softening to a gentle green as he talked about the various magical plants he encountered at Hogwarts.
Petunia, seeing that her attempts to disrupt the meal were failing, eventually retreated into a sullen silence, picking at her food with a disgruntled expression. Lily, however, beamed, clearly enjoying the lively, if unconventional, Thanksgiving dinner. She kept glancing at Echo, a fond, almost proud look in her eyes as he brought a unique, vibrant energy to her family's table.
As the evening wore on and the last of the pumpkin pie was devoured, Echo leaned back in his chair, a contented sigh escaping him. His hair, now a calming, soft blue, reflected the warmth and happiness he felt. He looked around the table, at Lily's beaming face, at Mr. and Mrs. Evans, who were still chuckling at one of his outlandish Hogwarts anecdotes, and even at Petunia, who, despite herself, seemed a little less stiff.
"This was… this was really wonderful," Echo said, his voice quiet but sincere. "Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Evans. Thank you for inviting me. It truly felt like… like family."
Mrs. Evans reached across the table, gently patting his hand. "Oh, Echo, darling, you're always welcome here. You're part of the family now."
Mr. Evans nodded in agreement, a warm smile on his face. "That's right, son. You and Severus both. Any time you want a proper meal, a bit of laughter, and some good company, our door is always open."
Lily, her eyes shining, reached out and squeezed Echo's arm. "They mean it, Echo," she whispered, her voice full of affection. "You're stuck with us."
Echo smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that reached his vibrant violet eyes. His blue hair flickered with a contented, radiant green, reflecting the warmth that blossomed in his chest.