It was very late when Harry got back to the Gryffindor common room. After the meeting finished and older and from a different plane of existence Harry, Evan now, finally finished eating, they had gone to the guest room that Evan would be using. It was just down the hall from the entrance into Gryffindor common room. McGonagall had then escorted Harry back to the dormitory proper and he walked through the portrait door, mind still reeling from what had happened that night.
The common room was empty save for two people, Ron and Hermione. The fire still crackled in the hearth and Ron was dozing in a chair and Hermione was reading a book on a couch but looked up when he walked in. She smiled seeing him and then gently shook Ron who woke up. "Welcome back," she said, closing the book and putting it to one side.
"Thanks," Harry said, sitting down beside her. "You two waited up for me?"
"Yeah, unless I'm still dreaming," Ron said sleepily before shaking his head, waking up more. "Anyways, what's going on?"
"Is he really you somehow?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded. "He's older and apparently from a different plane of existence, is what the Director of the Department of Mystery said."
"The Director was here?!" Ron gasped.
"And the Minister, and the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Harry said.
"Blimey, they're taking this really seriously," Ron said, eyes wide.
"They are," Harry said.
"Wow, time travel and dimension travel, that's incredible," Hermione said. "Is he still here?"
"He's staying in a room down the hall," Harry said. "And he's competing in the tournament."
"How did your name get into the Goblet in the first place?" Hermione asked. "I know you didn't put it in there."
"It was Crouch Junior," Harry said grimly. "It was part of a plot to get me captured for Voldemort."
"No way," Ron gasped and Hermione gasped too, hands to her mouth.
Harry nodded. "Evan told me. He said that's what they did when he went through it himself and they confirmed that it was him."
"Evan?" Hermione asked. "Oh, your older…you?"
"We decided we're going to be brothers," Harry said, smiling. "But yeah, he was 23 when he was sent back but his body now is 17, and a lot of his memories are jumbled up. But he remembers some important things and we shared some stuff only we would know so I trust him. He's going by Evan now so that there won't be confusion for him and me."
Ron gave Harry a look before he shook his head. "That's crazy," he said. "Crouch Junior worked for You-Know-Who? And didn't die in Azkaban? Some people were talking about it here when we got back from the choosing and feast."
"Neville looked really withdrawn and upset but wouldn't talk to anyone," Hermione said worriedly.
"Oh, maybe Evan will know why, but we can talk to him tomorrow," Harry said, looking up the stairs to the boys' dormitories. "But yeah, it was this plot to give Voldemort an advantage but with Evan here, he put a stop to it. In fact, one of his goals is to stop Voldemort for good."
"So he knows everything that's going to happen from now until he came back?" Ron asked.
"He remembers a lot, but not everything," Harry said. His expression stilled. "Apparently there was a really bad war coming and a lot of people died."
"That's awful," Hermione said, looking stricken. "And he's back to prevent it from happening? That's a relief," she sighed when Harry nodded.
"He's already started a lot of change," Harry said eagerly. "He got the Ministry to call off the hunt on Sirius and to get him his trial. And I won't be going back to the Dursleys! Dumbledore promised!"
"Awesome!" Ron said and they high-fived while Hermione clapped her hands with glee. "That's really good. Wow, that is a lot and he's been here for what, a few hours?"
"He's also looking forward to competing in the tournament," Harry said. "Said it wasn't fair for him the first time around being way younger and outmatched. This time he's going to go in on equal footing to the others."
"So you would have had to compete?" Hermione asked, looking at him sympathetically.
Harry nodded. "And he said it was really bad."
"Future's a bit grim if he says stuff like that," Ron remarked.
"I think it was, his anyways," Harry said softly. "He keeps looking at certain people and saying he's happy to see them again." He nodded when the other two shared dark looks. "And he shared a really sick story about what happened to the Minister in his plane."
Ron coughed awkwardly. "Well, good thing he's here then. Think he'll answer questions for us?"
Harry shrugged. "He might. If it's something that we'll want to hear, I guess."
"Fair enough. What's he like?" Ron asked.
"He's…kinda cool," Harry said, smiling a little. "He really doesn't back down from the others, stood up to the Durmstrang Headmaster and even the Minister. He can cast magic without a wand and without incanting."
"That's really hard," Hermione said admiringly.
"Has a big appetite," Harry grinned. "More than you and Charlie and Bill."
"I'll believe that when I see it," Ron snorted with good humor. "Charlie eats like a mule."
"I get the feeling he doesn't really like the Headmaster much though," Harry said after a moment's thought.
"I wonder why," Hermione wondered.
"It's probably for a sad reason," Harry said. "Sounds like he had a really rough life."
"Well I'm sure it will be different now, and better hopefully," Hermione said.
"I hope so too," Harry said sincerely.
-0-
Despite the time of night, Dumbledore sat in his chair and looked into the fire that crackled in the hearth. He stared at the flickering flames for a moment before turning to face the four Heads of House and the Matron that were there too. "An eventful night," he said at last, smiling gently at some eye rolls and deep snorts.
"To put it lightly," Sprout snorted.
"He is very much like Harry." Flitwick snorted too. "Which he is, Harry, of course. But he's also different in some ways."
"A product of his…experiences," Pomfrey said softly. "I did some rudimentary diagnostic charms. He has endured much. Many healed injuries."
"It's hard to believe him, despite all the evidence," Sprout said softly. "Or perhaps, I don't want to believe him."
"I am inclined to believe him," McGonagall said. "Only those close to Alastor would know that story. And he gains nothing by telling us such things. If he were lying, he could have come up with so many different and less implausible stories, less horrifying ones as well."
"He also swore on the Goblet and the castle," Dumbledore said softly. "One cannot make such oaths lightly and he would have been harshly punished if he was lying." He looked back into the fire for a moment. "And now, full confirmation that Voldemort is still alive and is manipulating things."
"I had no idea that Tom Riddle was You-Know-Who," Flitwick said.
"Not many did," Dumbledore said, "which is another reason I am willing to believe him."
"Do you think he is telling the complete truth?" Pomfrey asked.
"He is telling us the truth, but perhaps not all of it," Dumbledore mused.
"Why would he hide it from us?" McGonagall asked, frowning. "Surely he knows he can trust us."
"He is someone from a different time and place," Dumbledore said slowly. "You saw how he was treated when he arrived, and how he was questioned by Cornelius and Amelia. Rightfully so from our eyes, but still not a gesture to encourage full cooperation and full trust."
He looked up at the clock. "It is very late. We should adjourn and we will see how Evan treats us in the coming days." He smiled and bid them goodnight, and after the others left, it was just him and Snape besides a snoozing Fawkes.
"I had had my suspicions about the Dark Mark tattoo," Snape said slowly, "but I did not know if he was being serious when he said it, the Dark Lord. Now, it appears that he was."
Dumbledore nodded. "Peter's reappearance in the memories and Barty Junior's involvement also shows how deeper things are and how much more in danger we were."
Snape looked at the older man. "I would assume you would be more happy than you are right now, with the light being shone on such evidence."
"I thought I would be too," Dumbledore said slowly. "But I cannot help but notice how different Evan treats me compared to the others."
Snape coughed. "Perhaps the reason will be revealed in time."
"I hope so," Dumbledore said softly.
-0-
Evan's eyes popped open and he sat up. He had laid down onto the very nice bed and had fallen asleep swiftly, but now he was awake. After checking the clock in the room, barely an hour had passed since falling asleep, and it was still in the middle of the night.
"Thought I'd be more tired but I'm not," Evan mused softly, climbing to his feet. "Guess I got some extra energy to burn after all that food." He looked out over the grounds for a few minutes, taking in the sights. His vision shifted and for a second, he saw burnt forest, fields of ash and cinder. He saw broken and shattered stones around him, the air thick with smoke.
He shook his head violently, breathing hard and when he saw the lush forest and grounds in the peaceful moonlight, he calmed slightly. "No," he said, breathing ragged. "That won't happen. Not this time." He looked at the clock again and after a thought, smiled. "Might as well get started."
He went to the wardrobe and opened it. It had appeared when he walked in and had nice clean clothes that were not brand new, but in perfectly good shape and comfortable. He had taken off his more damaged clothing that he arrived in and could not find them anymore. His wand of course was still there, as well as a small beaded bag and a wand holster, his only other belongings. He selected some dark clothes and put them on and tucked the bag into a pocket and wrapped his holster around a wrist and secured it.
He touched the wall and closed his eyes, feeling the magic of the castle and school around him. He silently asked a question and smiled when he received a silent answer. He turned on the spot and with a tiny crack, apparated away.
-0-
Dumbledore woke with a start and jumped out of his bed. He ran out of the room, not showing a hint of his many years, and ran down the steps and skidded to a stop in front of the guest room that Evan was in. He opened it and walked in without knocking, pressing his lips together as he looked about the empty room.
"Albus!" McGonagall appeared behind him, drawing a dressing gown around her and she too looked around the room. "Where did he go?"
"He apparated," Dumbledore said, sounding half-annoyed and half-impressed.
"I thought only the head of the school could do that in Hogwarts," McGonagall said with disbelief.
"Traditionally. Though the school can allow others that luxury it seems," Dumbledore said. He sighed. "Perhaps I should try to follow him."
"Do you know where he would go?"
"No, I do not," Dumbledore sighed.
"Then there would be little good you would do by following him blindly," she said softly.
"No, I suppose not. We can only hope he will return and has not done something rash."
McGonagall chuckled softly. "He's Harry James Potter. Of course he will do something rash."
"That is what I am somewhat afraid of," Dumbledore said, also chuckling wryly but looking very worried at the same time.
-0-
The man stepped out onto the darkened street from an equally darkened building. He had his hood drawn, obscuring his face, and he stepped cautiously out on the street. Seeing no one about, he walked with confidence down the cobblestone way. As he passed a seemingly blank wall, he turned, hand going for his wand but he was too slow. He was thrown back into the opposite wall, hitting it hard. He opened his mouth and yelled but no sound came out and he cried soundlessly as he was thrown against another stone wall. He was then dragged by an unseen assailant down an alley and thrown into a dead-end. He laid there, groaning, and blinked slowly as he looked up and saw a young man standing above him. His eyes widened as he realized the man had his wand and was twirling it idly.
"Walden Macnair," the man said, looking down at him. "I forgot how ugly you looked, and you being years younger is not helping."
Macnair glared hatefully and coughed when he felt the charm release his tongue and mouth. "Who the fuck are you?!" he gasped, lunging from his prone position before he was kicked back into the corner. His head slammed against the stone and he lolled back, groaning in pain.
"Evan Potter," Evan said. He looked thoughtful. "You know, I'm really liking the sound of it the more I say it actually."
"Who the fuck is Evan Potter?" Macnair groaned, looking up at Evan.
"Me," Evan said. "But that's not really important right now. What's important is this. I'm going to ask questions. You're going to answer them. You do it to my liking, I let you go."
"And what if I don't answer any?" Macnair snarled. His bravado was shaken as he saw the cold smile that crossed Evan's lips, at the way his eyes glinted in the moonlight.
"I haven't decided how I'm going to kill you yet," Evan said with sincere honesty. "There's so many ways to do it and you deserve each and every single excruciating one."
"I haven't done anything!" Macnair protested.
"Oh so that's not a Knockturn Alley dirty secret?" Evan asked mildly, pointing a thumb at the door Macnair left moments ago. "It's not a seedy den where bastards like you make animals fight and maul and cripple and kill each other for your entertainment?"
Macnair swallowed thickly. "You don't have any proof."
"You know what, you're right," Evan said conversationally.
"What are you doing?!" Macnair shouted when Evan pulled him upright.
"Getting some proof," Evan said cheerily, dragging Macnair to the door.
-0-
Minutes later, Macnair was truly terrified. Evan had gained ingress by throwing Macnair through the door and gone in right behind him with his wand ready. The few people left in the fighting den had tried to fight back but were put down swiftly by the mysterious young man who fought without hesitation. By the time Macnair had regained his senses, he was magically stuck to a chair in the middle of the fighting pit and the others were bound and unconscious, save for a trembling young woman.
Evan looked at her. "What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?"
"I try to take care of the animals," the girl said, crying softly.
Evan nodded. "Swear you didn't make any bets and didn't encourage any of this."
"I swear! I only stayed to try and heal them and give them what comfort I could!" The girl wept fully now. "I wanted to leave and take them with me but the owner threatened me and my family. I couldn't!"
Evan nodded. "Take the money, go. Take whatever poor animals are here. Then in the morning, you go to the Ministry and confess and make a report. I'm taking these animals," he pointed at the others and Macnair, "in."
"Th-thank you!" The woman ran to the back and soon left the building completely, carrying two cages and having a third animal tucked into her robes. She ran and did not look back.
"So, I've got my proof," Evan said, turning back to Macnair. "Now, you can either tell me what I want and you'll be let go. Or you don't tell me what I want, and maybe I'll take you out to the moors, find the biggest and hungriest kelpie colony I can find, and throw you in the middle of them after dousing you in barbecue sauce."
Bile rose in Macnair's throat at the thought of that. "You wouldn't," he gasped.
"No I wouldn't," Evan agreed. "I don't think barbecue sauce is good for them. Maybe some lemon. Lemon goes well with seafood and I'll be throwing you into the water, so there's that." He looked down at Macnair. "Your choice."
"Why are you doing this?!"
"Why? Because I can, because I want to." Evan stared down at Macnair with eyes that were empty of positive emotion. "Because you deserve it. You're a monster, Walden Macnair. You're an executioner for the Department of Magical Creatures not because it's a necessary job, but because you like to inflict pain. You like to see animals and people suffer. You love it. And given the chance, you'd do far worse to people and enjoy every blood soaked second of it."
Evan leaned closed and Macnair tried to lean back. "I have lost nights of sleep seeing what you've done, what you will do. Watching you get devoured to the bone while screaming would send me into a perfectly restful sleep of sweet dreams."
Macnair stifled a sob. "You promise to let me go?"
"I do."
"What do you want to know?"
"Where's Voldemort?"
Macnair stared at him. "The Dark Lord? He's dead!"
"No he isn't, and you know he isn't too or else your tattoo would be gone," Evan said. "So where is he?"
"I don't know! I thought he was dead! I swear!"
Evan stood up and sucked his teeth in annoyance. "Damn. Thought you might have an idea. Guess you weren't in the know as you thought you were."
"What do you mean? I didn't know anything!"
"What you said before, or will say. Gosh that's a little confusing," Evan murmured. "Fine, were you ever under the Imperius?"
"No," Macnair said softly, looking away.
"I want a list of names of other Death Eaters that claimed they were but weren't, as far as you know," Evan said. "Come on. No lying." He wrote down the names. "Figured," he muttered and made a copy of the list, putting the original in a pocket. "Well, guess that's what I wanted to know."
"So you'll let me go now?" Macnair asked, eyes lighting up with hope.
"Sure will. I'm letting you go at the Ministry with the Aurors."
"You promised to let me go! You promised!"
"And I'm doing what I said," Evan smiled. "I'm letting you go. I didn't say where I was letting you go." Evan looked at him, the smile turning into something a predator would wear when bearing down on prey. "How does it feel, Macnair, to have your favorite game played against you? To show the prey a chance at freedom, only to take it away at the last second?"
Macnair's scream was cut away as he slid into unconsciousness with a wave of Evan's wand.
-0-
Kingsley Shacklebolt did not mind the night shift every once in a while.
The Auror Corps were responsible for the safety of Wizarding Britain and could be called in at a moment's notice to help with any sort of emergency. The more routine safety was handled by the civic officers, where the Aurors were responsible for emergencies, going after Dark Magicals, and all sorts of investigations. The Hit-Magicals were responsible for more outright fighting and combat and were also a rapid response force. In times of war and conflict, both groups acted as troops until a more standing force could be brought up and deployed.
Therefore, there were always some Aurors at the office in the Ministry no matter what time of day. There were less at night and some people hated taking that shift, but Kingsley did not mind it once in a while. It was a time to get caught up on paperwork and the like as well as enjoy a more peaceful time.
Usually.
He looked up when someone knocked on his door. "Hey Eric," he greeted. "What's up?"
The Ministry Security Guard looked at Kingsley with an awed expression. "Uh, you're going to want to see this, Sir."
Kingsley got to his feet and followed Eric out, intrigued by Eric's demeanor. They left the Auror offices and walked into the foyer of the Ministry itself. Kingsley's eyes widened as he saw several bodies tied up and laid out on the ground with Walden Macnair lying on top of them. He looked at a young man who was standing beside the pile of bodies and was munching on a sausage roll. "What in the world?" he asked, taking in the scene.
"He just came in with them," Eric said, pointing at Evan and the bodies. "Dragging them in without a care in the world. Said he was doing his civic duty and brought in some people who broke the law. Then said he'd wait around to make a report as long as we got him something to eat from the cafeteria. So Lisa went and got him a few sausage rolls and I went to get you with Baker standing watch."
"They were running an animal fighting ring off Knockturn," Evan said, licking his fingers and biting into another sausage roll. "Broke it up, broke them a little, and brought them in. A girl is coming in tomorrow to make a formal account of what she's seen. Here's the address." He handed Eric a piece of paper who handed it to Kingsley. He looked at Macnair meaningfully. "You're really going to want to ask him a few extra questions too."
Kingsley looked at it before looking back at the bodies and then back at Evan. "Uh, thank you. I'll take your account and send some people to investigate the place. Eric, could you go get Dawlish and Yang please? Lisa, Baker, let's take these people to the cells. And sorry, you are…"
"Evan," Evan smiled, wiping a hand clean and offering it. "Evan Potter."
-0-
Unless he was ill or recovering from a very late night, Dumbledore typically rose with the dawn. It was one of his favorite times of the day. He liked to take some time to enjoy the sunrise if it was not raining or snowing, sip a cup of tea or coffee, converse with the portraits or with Fawkes, and then get ready for his day.
After Evan's departure, he had gone to a fitful sleep and despite getting little of it, still woke with the sunrise. He dressed and was pouring himself a cup of coffee when the fire in his hearth sprang into being and turned bright green. "Good morning, Amelia," he said, recognizing the head in the fireplace.
Amelia looked at him. "Good morning, Albus," she replied. "You look as tired as I feel."
"I had little sleep," Dumbledore confessed. He frowned at Amelia. "So did you, it appears."
"Yeah, because I was called into the Ministry after someone brought in an illegal animal fighting ring which included a Ministry official," she said wryly. "Who also has a rather interesting history, Macnair. I always thought he was creepy."
"My word," Dumbledore said, fully awake after Amelia gave him a synopsis of their findings. "That is incredible and fortuitous." He frowned. "Very fortuitous. Who brought them in?"
"Who do you think?" Amelia asked dryly. "He was gone by the time I got in, having left a report and a memory of him breaking into the fighting ring building."
Dumbledore looked out over the grounds. "And it appears he just returned," he said slowly.
"Is this what we're in for?" Amelia asked baldly.
"I have no idea," Dumbledore said honestly. "But I intend to find out and if possible, perhaps restrain it somewhat."
"Good luck," Amelia snorted.
"Thank you," Dumbledore replied sincerely.
-0-
Evan walked onto the grounds of the school, whistling spritely. Despite the hour and his activities overnight, he felt reasonably energetic. He patted the gates of the school fondly as they opened for him and he continued to walk slowly but with purpose, whistling.
"Mister Potter."
Evan stopped and bowed slightly to Dumbledore who had suddenly appeared on the grounds too, walking alongside. "Good morning, Sir," Evan said brightly. "Bit early for you to be out and about."
"I could say the same about you," Dumbledore replied with equal pleasantness. "Or is it more accurate to say that it is late for you, because you have been active for some time."
"Well I felt fairly rested and thought I could get some things done," Evan said comfortably.
"I see."
Evan turned and quirked an eyebrow. "You do?"
"Director Bones has informed me of what you did and what and who you brought to the Aurors."
"Oh wow, they must have woken her up. Didn't mean for that to happen."
"How did you know to go there and to confront Macnair?" Dumbledore asked bluntly.
"I vaguely remembered the place in Knockturn," Evan replied honestly. "I wandered a little and sat outside for a bit and when I saw Macnair, well I remembered all the stuff he did and knew he'd deserve it."
"But he has not done any of that here," Dumbledore said. "Has he, as of this moment in time?"
"Not all of it, but he has done a lot of nasty stuff," Evan said without shame. "And he did a lot before and got away with it, now he won't."
"You cannot punish people for crimes they have not committed," Dumbledore said sternly.
"Pretty sure I can," Evan said, giving Dumbledore a look.
Dumbledore blinked at him before sighing. "You should not punish people for crimes they have not committed," he amended. "That would not be right."
"I'm not going to wait for them to hurt people and do the bad shit before I stop them," Evan retorted. "What's the point of me knowing then?"
"I suppose that is a line of ethical debate we should lay out," Dumbledore conceded. "But you cannot assume a person will do the same crimes. Your appearance here has changed things. You already have put considerable change into motion."
"I know that. Please don't tell me it 'wouldn't be fair' to the bad people for preventing them from doing terrible evil things," Evan said with disgust. "I'm not going to stand to the side, wait for them to murder someone, then take them down. The murdered person stays murdered, or does that not matter?"
"Please do not put words into my mouth," Dumbledore said heatedly. "Of course I do not want the innocent to suffer needlessly."
"I'll hold you to that," Evan said.
Dumbledore stopped and stared at Evan. "I assume by your words and your tone that the me in your original plane did something you do not agree with," he said slowly.
"You can assume that," Evan replied genially. "And you've already done some of that. Seriously. If you had even looked at Harry's life, my life, up until now, for just a moment you'd have seen how some of your decisions didn't work."
Dumbledore flinched at the sheer emotion in Evan's tone, at the look of anger and pain on the younger man's face. "Was I so terrible?" he asked, reluctant to hear the answer.
Evan paused and gave Dumbledore a long and complicated look. "You did what you thought was right," Evan said at last. "And at the time it might have been, but hindsight has a way of changing how you see the past."
"Yes, it does," Dumbledore agreed. The two men looked at each for a long moment. "Evan, Harry, I want to help you. Truly, I do. Help you and help Harry. For me to do that, I would like for us to work together in combating the threat of Voldemort."
"I'd like that too," Evan said evenly.
"You can trust me," Dumbledore said.
"I did, before," Evan said honestly. "I might again."
Dumbledore sighed a little. "I will work on trying to regain that trust then, but it must be returned in kind. I need you to promise me that you will not preemptively attack or harm anyone for crimes they have not committed. It would not be fair to all involved and the consequences will be dire. It would work against you and imperil your objectives here. You know it would."
"If I get a chance to take out Riddle early, I'm doing it," Evan said coldly.
"Aside from him," Dumbledore sighed.
Evan hummed for a moment. "I'll try," he said. "That's all you're going to get out of me right now. I can't promise anything else."
"I will accept that, for now," Dumbledore said.
"Glad we could reach an agreement," Evan said cheerily. "Now if you'll excuse me, Sir, I think I'll freshen up a bit and take a shower before breakfast." He waved jauntily and walked into the castle proper, whistling once more.
Dumbledore watched him leave and sighed once more to himself, a very long and deep sound that lasted for some time. For the first time in a very long time, he felt completely out of his depth.
He was not sure he liked the feeling.