Unravelled? → Tom Riddle ?

In 1970, Evelyn was finally released from St Mungos. All those years passed without her stepping outside, without her using magic, without her truly existing. Of course, Madame Fluke had welcomed her back with open arms, but nevertheless she was not happy to be there. Once she was in, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't leave. It took years of persuasion that she was sane enough to be released, to be allowed home. And although Evelyn couldn't wait to leave, she had nowhere to go: she hadn't had a home since her grandparents died, the cottage wasn't home without them.

Evelyn knew that there was only one place she could always turn to, Hogwarts. The castle had been her home for seven years, it was where she made some of her best friends, where she truly found herself as a person, where Dumbledore was waiting for her. When she returned to St Mungos, Dumbledore had given her the promise of a teaching position at Hogwarts once she was released, and although it was many years later, she was praying that the offer still stood. All throughout her years at St Mungos, she had dreamed of returning to Hogwarts, even just to visit and now that she was free, it was finally a possibility again.

Madame Fluke had arranged for Dumbledore to collect her from the hospital, fearing what would happen if Evelyn was allowed to roam freely without any guardian to watch over her; she knew sending her back to Hogwarts was exactly what she needed. When he arrived, Evelyn could feel herself glowing. Seeing a familiar face, albeit aged, after all those years made her feel as though she had been given a safety blanket. When she looked at him, she remembered the good, she remembered the magic of Hogwarts. Everything felt safer once he arrived.

"Evelyn, are we ready to go?" He said, waiting by the end of her bed.

Her eyes scanned her bed, the place which she had spent the majority of her life, the place in which she had had her heart broken and built back up again. Every memory she had created in the past decade centred around St Mungos, it felt as though it was her identity. As much as she didn't want it to be, St Mungos was everything she knew, it was all she could truly remember or at least all she wanted to. "This was my home." She whispered to herself.

"Evelyn," Dumbledore placed his hand on her shoulder. "It was, but it no longer is. It was once the place you needed but it no longer will be. Hogwarts will be that place, Hogwarts will be your home."

Before St Mungos, Hogwarts had been her home. It had been her place of comfort, of safety, but she wasn't sure it would feel the same when she returned. "Hogwarts has changed, it won't be the same."

"Change is not always a bad thing. Many aspects of Hogwarts remain the same as when you were a student there, those that have changed have done so to improve the school." Dumbledore said. "Are you ready?"

She looked on at the place she had spent the majority of her life, blinking hard. With one last smile at the place that had contained her all those years, she turned and walked away. "Let's go."

Silence overcame the pair as they made their way towards the exit and down into the alleyways below. It wasn't until they came to a screeching halt that Dumbledore spoke. "We'll be apparating to Hogwarts today. I'm not one to enjoy the train." He held his hand out for Evelyn to grasp onto.

"But, you can't apparate into Hogwarts." Evelyn raised her eyebrows at him.

"No Evelyn, you can't." He smiled at her, lifting his arm higher as if to hurry her.

Before she had a chance to reply, Evelyn felt herself being pulled in every direction as though she was a present on Christmas morning.  She could feel her eyes sinking to the back of her head, her eardrums being pressed until they almost ruptured, all she could feel was immense pressure. It felt like she was drowning.

As soon as she felt her feet hit the ground, a wave of relief overcame her. She was glad it was over, but more importantly, she was happy to be home. "Welcome back Evelyn," Dumbledore said as he led her into the castle. "I think the other Professors will be happy to have you joining them, you shall be working alongside a young Professor Flitwick."

Evelyn felt herself beaming as he spoke. Everything she had been dreaming of during her time at St Mungos was becoming a reality. "Thank you so much." Words could not express how grateful she was, she owed Dumbledore her life.

"No need to thank me. I simply gave you the role you deserve." He shot her smile. "With grades like yours at N.E.W.T level, there isn't anybody else who would even begin to compete with you for the position."

Evelyn could barely remember sitting her NEWT exams but she remembered the feeling of awe when she opened up her results to reveal all 'Oustandings', something that was almost unheard of at Hogwarts. "Where are we heading?"

"I thought I would show you to your living quarters. Since you'll be teaching Charms, you luckily have the largest living area."

Evelyn smiled, grateful to have finally been told what position she would be teaching. She had always found Charms an interesting subject and with current affairs, she knew it would be useful for students to learn how to properly use their wands. "I can't wait." All of her dreams had surrounded Hogwarts since she was just a young girl.

"You will be an asset to the school."

The two walked in silence throughout the castle, keeping a brisk pace as they made their way towards the third floor. Despite everything looking different, Evelyn's body still knew the way; Dumbledore barely had to make a sound or gesture and she still knew where she was going. Although she wasn't sure she would be able to remember her way around Hogwarts, it seemed to be stored deep in her subconscious, ready to re-emerge when she finally came back.

Despite knowing she hadn't arrived at the classroom yet, Evelyn found herself stopping beside a large cabinet. Her eyes scanned it until the settled on something she remembered all too well. Front and centre in pristine condition was Tom Riddle's Special Award for Service to the School: the award he had received for turning in an innocent boy, punishing him for a crime he did not commit.

"I often find myself pausing here when I trail the castle." She heard Dumbledores voice from behind her. "We really ought to do something about this."

Evelyn turned to look at him but she couldn't tell if she was talking about the award or the boy. Either way, something had to be done.