"Mister Potter." McGonagall smiled when both Harry and Evan turned when she said that.
"It wasn't me," Evan and Harry said at the same time and they pointed at each other. Then they smiled identically when McGonagall sighed.
"Do you two practice that?" she asked, giving them a stern look that was all appearance and no heat.
"Maybe we should," Harry said.
"For all our sakes, do not," McGonagall said, smiling once more when they both looked identically wounded. "As amusing as this is, the older Mister Potter, the Headmaster would like to see you."
"Right, see you later." He waved to his brother and the professor and made his way through the castle. It was the day after they returned to Hogwarts and he was still mulling over what happened over the holiday break. Overall, it had been a good holiday. He reached a new level of stability that he was aware that had been slipping, and with the presence of Sirius, the Tonkses, Remus, and the Grangers, he was finding his balance once more.
Which then led him to his main source of impatience and mild tension. Voldemort and his followers had remained quiet for a little bit now, not counting Greyback acting out and subsequently being dealt with by Evan. And while they had recovered the majority of the Horcruxes, Evan was still trying to remember one of the other items. Not for the first time, he was quite irritated at the gaps in his memories.
Luckily, with plenty of time spent in the Black libraries, he had a decent idea of how to get the most troublesome of the Horcrux soul pieces out. He did not forget about that one and had been working hard on a solution for it. He was close, however, and was somewhat confident it would work and would spare the host. Of course, he had not consulted with anyone yet until they had more answers about the amount of Horcruxes and the like.
Now that it was the new year, Evan was even more determined to finish things on his terms. Seeing the happy family Harry had now, the peace he had, Evan was even more committed to preserving it.
"Headmaster," Evan greeted, walking into Dumbledore's office. "Hey Al."
"Potter," Moody nodded. "Here."
"Oh what's this?" Evan said, taking the wrapped bottle from the grizzled old man.
"For putting down Greyback," Moody said with a big grim smile. "Good work."
"Thanks," Evan said, admiring the bottle. "We can share this later." He looked at Dumbledore.
The Headmaster raised an eyebrow. "I never liked the wanton loss of life and the glorification of battle, but I know when a person is irredeemable and is deserving of justice. Fenrir Greyback is not one I will regret not hearing of again."
"Glad we can agree on that," Evan said honestly, tucking the bottle away into his bag. "You asked for me?"
"I did. I think I know where Slughorn is," Moody said.
"Alastor came to tell me and while I thought I might go to try and convince him to come here, I think he is being wary of me," Dumbledore said. "He has ignored my recent messages. And if I recall, you said you think you know how to convince him to divulge what we want to know."
"I think so," Evan nodded. "And if it makes you feel better, I'll even do it here so you can watch."
"That would make me feel better, thank you," Dumbledore said, nodding.
"Righto. Let's go get him," Evan said, looking at Moody.
"Please be…civil," Dumbledore said as the two men began to leave. "Horace can be quite prickly and stubborn."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure Al doesn't go too far," Evan grinned, smiling wider at Moody's amused snort. "And he can do the same for me."
"That is precisely what worries me," Dumbledore sighed as they left.
-0-
Moody and Evan reapparated with small cracks, landing on the outskirts of a village. "Small place, not too far from London," Moody said softly, one eye looking one way while the magical blue one looked all the other ways. "Small magical population too. Good for blending in."
"Makes sense. Always had the sense that he was a cagey bloke," Evan said, both of his eyes looking in the same direction. He waited for Moody to walk and followed at his side, matching his gait in speed. He tucked his left hand into his pocket and his right rested on his hip, the handle of his wand just barely resting in his palm. "Had a good holiday?"
"Good enough," Moody said, giving Evan a surprised look before returning to his constant vigilance. "Yours? Aside from the eventful thing."
"It was good," Evan said quietly.
"That's good," Moody said, recognizing the tone for what it was and what went unsaid. "Did you really punch Greyback in the mouth with silver knuckles?"
"Sure did, here, take a look."
Moody took the silver knuckles and admired them. "These are nice," he said.
"I'm making some for Old Dog, Dora, Auntie Andi, and you," Evan said. "And Shack and whoever else wants some, I'll sell to them."
"I'll take you up on that," Moody said gratefully. "I've always been a fan of getting my hands dirty when need be. Most magicals can't take a punch."
"No they can't," Evan said, tucking the knuckles away. He followed Moody into a small home. He looked around, feeling magic wash over him. "Nice place," he observed. It looked small on the outside but the interior was expansive and very comfortable. The furniture was a blend of expensive and plush with more than a few expensive looking objects laid out for admiration.
"I went looking for him and it turns out he has a few places he frequents," Moody said. "Almost as suspicious as me, and that's saying something." He snorted at Evan's look of innocent silence. "I trailed him here and went to tell you and Albus."
Evan took out his wand and waved it around. "There's something that's disrupting seeking and finding charms," he said. "It's in the stonework."
"We'll have to look for him the old-fashioned way," Moody grunted. "Even my eye is having some trouble." He looked around sourly. "Going to take a bit to tear everything out."
"You're sure he's here?"
"Sure," Moody nodded. "Saw him enter and left a few warnings if he left and nothing got tripped."
Evan nodded. "Right. Well, might as well get started." He turned and aimed at a couch. It shattered into thousands of pieces and when the pieces crumbled, they instantly started to burn. The fire that consumed them looked like it had been burning for hours, crackling and roaring.
"Wait! Wait!" When Evan turned to an armchair, it suddenly transfigured, revealing an older and portly man there instead. He looked at Evan with horror and personal affront, staring at the burning couch. "What are you doing?!"
"Flushing you out," Evan said, grinning cheerily.
"Did you know he was here?" Moody asked, interested.
"Well I figured he'd be watching and since everything here is posh and nice, he'd react to me breaking something," Evan said. "I'll buy you a new one," he said to a fuming Horace Slughorn.
"Who are you?" he demanded, glaring at Evan and shooting Moody nervous looks. "What do you want?"
"Evan Potter," Evan said, smiling at Slughorn's double take at the last name and momentary confusion. "And we want to ask you some questions with Professor Dumbledore."
"I have no questions to answer," Slughorn blustered. "None at all."
"I'm sure we can find some. It's really important that you do," Evan said.
"Well we can arrange a meeting at my convenience," Slughorn said loudly. "And tell Albus to take a hint. As if me ignoring all of his messages was not clear enough. I have little patience and inclination to answer any questions with how you have had me followed and are now harassing me."
"I'm sorry, it wasn't a request," Evan said genially but Slughorn blinked at the steel in his tone. "Come on, faster we get this done, the faster you can leave and enjoy the rest of your life."
"You can't just take me away!" Slughorn said, glaring.
"Oh but I can." Evan winked at Moody. "See you at the castle." Before Slughorn could move, Evan grabbed him on the shoulder and apparated away, taking the older man with him. Moody chuckled and waved his wand, extinguishing the fire and vanishing the remnants, even going so far to do a minor clean up eliminating traces of smoke and ash.
"I really like him," Moody said to himself as he left the small home, thoughtfully closing and locking the door behind him.
-0-
Dumbledore looked up when a loud crack filled the air, heralding Evan's return with Slughorn with him. He shook his head and flicked his wand, conjuring a large chair to catch Slughorn as the man groaned and his legs gave out beneath him. "I have been meaning to ask," he said, looking at Evan, "how are you able to apparate in and out of Hogwarts?"
"I asked her and she lets me," Evan said seriously.
Dumbledore blinked a few times before nodding. "Fair enough," he said. He smiled weakly at Slughorn. "Horace, welcome back to Hogwarts."
"Albus!" Slughorn rubbed his chest and glared at the older man. "How dare you send this hooligan to abduct me!"
"I technically kidnapped you," Evan said unashamedly. "Abduct is more like preventing you from getting to a specific location, as in your home. You were already home and I took you away so I can gain something from you, which is technically kidnapping."
He looked steadily at the two men giving him incredulous looks. "Also, I told you what I was doing and I gave you the option to come along of your own volition. And another also, the Headmaster didn't send me to do anything."
"I lack the ability to do so," Dumbledore said dryly.
"Exactly," Evan said with satisfaction.
"I have no time to play these games," Slughorn said angrily. He began to rise from his chair. "You will let me go right now and make recompense for this egregious-" He squawked when Evan pushed him gently but firmly back into the chair. "How dare you!"
"I dare because I must," Evan said seriously. "You see, you have information we need. You give it up, I take you back and buy you a new couch and some other things to make up for this."
"And what will you do if I refuse?" Slughorn blustered.
"I'm getting that information one way or another, Sir," Evan said quietly. "Please don't make this any more difficult than it is."
Slughorn blinked at his tone and shot Dumbledore a concerned look.
"Perhaps it would be best to comply," Dumbledore said quietly. "Trust me when I say this, it is for everyone's benefit and to stop something serious."
"I can't possibly help then, I know of no such things," Slughorn insisted.
"But you might," Dumbledore said, steepling his fingers. "It involves Tom Riddle, when he was a student here and when you taught him."
Slughorn froze. "You exaggerate the extent of our relationship," he said in a tone that did not deceive anyone in how nervous he was.
"You were his head of House and a mentor," Dumbledore said quietly.
"I was that to many," Slughorn said. "No, nothing I know will aid you in any questions you might have."
"So sure of that?" Evan asked, looking down at Slughorn.
"I am and actually, who are you?" Slughorn said, glaring back up at Evan. His eyes narrowed when he saw the scar on Evan's forehead. "Wait. Surely you're not-"
"Evan Harry James Potter," Evan said, not extending his hand.
"Evan Harry James Potter," Slughorn repeated, sounding very confused.
"Horace, please, your cooperation would save many lives," Dumbledore said.
Slughorn snorted. "Spare me the melodrama! I will not reveal anything that would be used against me!"
Evan frowned. "So you do know something." He sneered when Slughorn gulped. "So you rather keep your secrets instead of telling us what we know? Out of what, your pride? You'd sacrifice the lives of hundreds and thousands to spare your pride?!"
"I will not fall for your dramatics any more would I for his!" Slughorn pointed at Dumbledore who looked faintly insulted. "Nothing you would say or do would force my hand. I have rights!"
"Nothing?" Evan repeated.
"Horace," Dumbledore said, giving Evan a sharp look.
"What are you going to do to me?" Slughorn said, shrinking back.
"I won't lay a hand on you," Evan said quietly. He leaned forward, putting his hands on the arms of the chair and he opened his eyes wide, staring deep into Slughorn's. "I'm going to show you something. Look at me. Look at me!" he snapped when Slughorn tried to look away.
Slughorn could not avoid eye contact and his watery eyes met Evan's stone-carved ones. After a moment, he began to pale, his breathing becoming shallow and thready. "Dear Merlin!" he gasped, trying to escape but could not break eye contact. "You are a sick man! Why are you showing me such imagery?!"
"They're memories, Sir," Evan said coldly. His face twisted from pain and his own breathing quickened but his gaze was as cold and hard as iron. "You know they are. Images imagined have a tint to them, an appearance. You see my memories and know they are exactly as I remember them to be."
"No…no! Stop it!" Slughorn began to hyperventilate. "I'm an old man! Stop this! Stop!"
Dumbledore jumped up when Slughorn began to scream. They were screams of pure terror, of undiluted horror. "Evan!" he shouted.
"You tell us what we want to know and I'll stop," Evan said, ignoring Dumbledore. "In fact, I'll help you forget all of these images, something I can't."
"OKAY!" Slughorn shrieked, tears streaming down his face. "I'LL TELL YOU! STOP! PLEASE!" He slumped back sobbing when Evan broke the connection. It was as if every bone in his body had disappeared and he was a pile of despondent flesh, weeping. "I'll tell you," he repeated again and again.
Evan clutched his head and his chest heaved. "Riddle talked to you about Horcruxes, didn't he?"
Slughorn nodded. "He did," he wept. "I thought it was academic in nature but he asked more questions than I thought reasonable."
"What exactly did he ask?" Dumbledore asked, giving the two men worried looks.
"He asked about the nuances of them, the principle," Slughorn gasped. "He then asked if it was possible to create seven of them. I told him that it was mad to even contemplate one much less seven." So lost in his grief, he missed the look Evan and Dumbledore gave each other. "I never spoke of it with him again. I even withdrew from him after that. I didn't like his questions and the way he acted after. Please, you must believe me! Please don't force me to see those again!"
"No, I believe you," Evan said, still resting a hand to his scar. He looked at Dumbledore who nodded. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a pouch of vials and took one out. "Here. This will help you forget all you saw as long as you take it-" He blinked when Slughorn snatched the vial out of his hands and drank it in one rushed gulp, hands shaking.
Dumbledore watched as the potion hit Slughorn hard, making the man look and act suddenly incredibly drunk and tired. "Dobby," he called. He nodded at the house elf when he appeared. "Please take Horace to the Infirmary. Inform Poppy that he will need to rest for some time." He watched as the helpful house elf disapparate with the snoring old man. "What was that?" he asked.
"Combination of very strong whiskey, a sleeping draught, and a forgetting concoction," Evan said, rubbing his scar. "It'll disrupt the memory before they become long term ones and he shouldn't remember them." He looked at Dumbledore. "I was telling the truth about that."
"I believe you," Dumbledore said sincerely. "So, seven Horcruxes." He shook his head sadly and with disgust.
"Mad bastard," Evan spat. "The diary is destroyed and we have the cup, the diadem, and the ring. I know where the one I'm working on is."
"I believe I am about to find a location where one might be. I have been looking through old records of Tom's past and there is a place where one could be sequestered," Dumbledore said.
"That's six then," Evan said with satisfaction. "That leaves the snake he'll make, if he hasn't already, and then it's just him."
"And you are close to figuring out what you need?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yeah, I'll consult with you once we get the last one from the place you're talking about. I think we'll need it for my idea to work."
"Very good," Dumbledore said. He looked at Evan with concern. "Are you okay?"
"No," Evan said flatly. "But I'll survive. I'm good at that."
Dumbledore nodded sadly. "Then go get some rest. Thank you for…obtaining Horace's cooperation. I can tell it was not easy for you."
"Worth it," Evan said shortly.
"Please see Poppy if you need something," Dumbledore said. "Oh, you and the Champions will receive the clue to the next modified Task tomorrow."
"Can't wait," Evan grinned. "You'll let me know when you figure out the place?"
"You will be the first," Dumbledore nodded. He watched Evan leave and after a few moments, he rose from his desk. He walked to his shelves and picked up something that sat there, a circular ring with a web of strings woven within it. Beads and feathers hung from leather straps off the side of it and he carried it to his desk. With a wand flick, it hung in the air and with a soft incantation, the webbing glowed slightly. Images formed within the weave and he sat and started to watch.
His eyes opened with horror as he looked at the images within the floating ring. He felt tears build and fall and clenched his jaw tight. The images were hazy and hurried, but clear enough in places. When the last image played out, he motioned with his wand and the ring settled on the table, still.
He sat there, staring into empty space. He did not move until a knock on the door drew his attention. "Come in," he said hollowly.
Moody limped into the room and sat down in a chair across from Dumbledore. "Did I miss the show?" he asked gruffly. He noticed Dumbledore's state. "What's wrong?"
Dumbledore licked his lips that had turned dry. "I…uh, yes. Evan was successful in making Horace confess. Tom, as a student, asked about Horcruxes and insinuated that he wished to create seven of them."
"Dumb mad bastard," Moody said sourly. "Good that we know though. What'd the Lad do?"
Dumbledore looked at Moody. "He forced Horace to look at his memories. Horace can use legilimency and he was always a curious man. He was drawn in and forced to watch Evan's memories. He started screaming from terror. I have never heard him scream like that before."
Moody blinked. "Huh. Legitimate memories?"
Dumbledore nodded woodenly. "This is modeled after a Dreamcatcher from Native American culture and magic. They can be used to capture and filter all sorts of thoughts and feelings. This one catches surface thoughts for me. I typically use it to catch my own straying thoughts to be seen at my convenience. I had surmised that it would be able to obtain some of Evan's memories since he was projecting them so strongly."
"I take it that all weren't very pleasant," Moody said quietly.
Dumbledore shook his head. "They were awful, things I wish I could unsee. And they did not have any tint to them, no modification. They were not artificially imagined to be worse." He closed his eyes. "He came to die."
"What?"
Dumbledore reopened his eyes, shimmering with tears. "His last battle. Evan. He and Voldemort fought here in the ruins of the castle. He won in the end, with Voldemort truly being vanquished, but he came here knowing he would not walk away. He was dying, Alastor. He was broken in body, missing an eye, bleeding profusely. He would have died had the Goblet not summoned him to our plain. The trip and the spent magic healed him to be sound in body but small wonder he does not remember everything. The energy needed, the way his body was taxed."
He shook his head. "No wonder he is so suspicious and angry, why he takes everything on himself."
Moody had seen Dumbledore in a lot of different states, physically and emotionally. They had been friends for a very long time and Moody had thought he had seen the other man at his highest and close to his lowest. He had never seen Dumbledore like this however. This despondent. This defeated.
This broken.
"You know he's going to be pissed when he finds out you saw those," Moody said conversationally.
"I will make amends when I confess it to him," Dumbledore said. "I now know fully know the driving force behind him, the stakes of it."
"And?" Moody had been the one to tell Dumbledore about the destruction of the Riddle family plot in the graveyard and Dumbledore had been very displeased to hear it. He had remembered Evan throwing a coin into the grave and had realized the extent of Evan's actions. Moody, of course, had been amused by it. He had also heard of the fight near Godric's Hollow and Greyback's death and had brought the news to Dumbledore too. Dumbledore, concerned over Evan's health, heard how he was fine afterwards from Sirius and had said nothing more, seeing the act for what it was and not just revenge.
Now, knowing what Evan had endured and what drove him, Dumbledore was a lot more sympathetic and could understand why Evan acted the way he did.
"I understand him more," Dumbledore said quietly. "I will do my best to aid him and help him recover, while trying to temper his more extreme methods. That said, I do not blame him for acting so."
Moody nodded. "Well, plenty of time for that after we deal with Voldemort."
"Yes, and I will ensure that we can do that," Dumbledore said, making a silent vow.
-0-
Evan walked without a destination in mind. His mind was too full of the memories he had suppressed to a degree, and in bringing them to the fore of his mind, he dredged up even more than he thought he had. Unfortunately they were not helpful memories. They were memories of pain and torment, death and torture. Their resurgence brought him actual physical pain and he almost stumbled as he walked.
He was grateful that it was close to curfew time and there were no others in the halls, not even the ghosts. He did not want anyone seeing him like this. He continued to wander until he finally could go no further, slumping down into an alcove. He pressed his head against the wall, feeling the ice-cold stone and willing it to calm the burning in his head and skin. He did not know how long he sat there for, when a voice cut through the storm inside his mind.
"Evan? Are you okay?"
He winced and looked up, opening his eyes, and saw a slightly blurry Fleur standing over him. Even in his state, he saw how concerned she looked. "Oh, hey Fleur," he said. "Yeah, I'm alright."
"You are not," she said sharply. She knelt down beside him. "What happened to you?!"
"Just a headache, bad memories," Evan said, trying to wave her away. He frowned when she grabbed his waving hand. "What are you doing?" he asked, unable to pull away.
"Picking you up and taking you to your Infirmary," she said, pulling his arm over her shoulders and standing, pulling him with her. "Come. You will catch your death of chill out here and there is no honor in defeating a corpse in competition."
He smiled at her words. "I'll be fine, just put me on this bench here."
She sighed and helped him sit on the bench but then sat beside him. "If you think I will leave you alone after finding you in this state, you better think again."
"Alright," he said, leaning back against the wall and massaging his temples. He relaxed a little, feeling magic wash over him. "Thanks," he said, recognizing the feeling, not to mention feeling Fleur's hand on his shoulder.
"You are welcome," she said, still looking at him worriedly. "Are you sure you are well?"
"I will be," he said, "hopefully," he added in an undertone. He shook his head as the headache finally started to dissolve slightly. "Just had an intense meeting."
"If you say so," she replied, unconvinced.
"How did you find me?"
"I put a tracking charm on your torc," she said without shame.
He opened an eye and looked at her. "No you didn't. I checked it for those." His hand went to his neck.
She smiled brilliantly. "So you are wearing it," she said, looking smug and pleased in equal measure.
He grinned a little. "It is very nice and I like owls,"
"I knew you liked hooters," she said. She blinked at his coughing fit. "I told you, you are getting sick!"
"No, you caught me off guard," he said, still coughing. He looked at her closely and she looked blandly concerned back but he caught the smallest curl of her lips at the corners of her mouth. "I see that you're wearing yours still."
She ran her fingers over the fine chain. "It helps me stay warm."
"It does," he nodded.
"To answer your question, I simply wandered about, hoping to find you," she said after a moment. "Then I thought I felt you near, and followed the feeling. I could feel your distress as I got closer." She looked at him closely, eyes full of concern. "Do you wish to share your memories? Would they be easier to bear?"
"Absolutely not," he said firmly. "You don't want to know." His expression turned wry. "They don't involve the other you, don't worry."
"For some reason, I feel slightly miffed if that is the case," she said with a haughty sniff, smiling at his chuckle. "Then again, if they are as bad as they sound, then that is a good thing."
"It's a very good thing, trust me," he said.
She nodded. "I do, for some things anyways."
"Did you have a nice holiday?" Evan asked.
"I did, thank you. It was nice to go home and spend it with family." She smiled warmly. "Gabi was very jealous of my necklace and socks. She very much appreciated the candy you sent. She is a fiend for candy still."
"That's good," Evan grinned.
Fleur hesitated. "Maman and Papa wish to meet with you."
Evan frowned. "Why?"
"They are interested in you, and wish to thank you for sparing Gabi her involvement with the Tournament." She scowled. "They were very unhappy to hear of the potential and had many words with Madame Maxime."
"She's a big woman, she can handle them," Evan snorted.
Fleur giggled. "That is what Maman said."
"She's a smart woman," Evan chuckled. "I guess I can meet with them eventually. I'm sure they'll come visit you at some point during the Tournament."
"That would be good. They are very insistent."
He noticed when she folded one leg over the other. "Oh, you're wearing the socks."
"They are very cute and comfortable," she said, extending her legs and admiring them. "Also very warm. Gabi tried to steal them. Maman did too."
"I'll tell you where you can get some for them," Evan chuckled.
"I would appreciate that," she said.
"Oh, we're going to get the instructions for the next Task tomorrow, Dumbledore mentioned it."
"Oh? Very good. That will give us a little less than two months to prepare," she said. They sat in companionable silence for some time.
"I feel better, thank you."
"Good," she said, relieved. "Come, let us leave this drafty hallway." She helped him stand and then stood there with hands clasped before her. When Evan raised an eyebrow at her, she raised one in return. "Surely you will return the favor I have bestowed upon you for helping you to your seat here."
Evan hesitated for a moment before offering an arm, smiling a little when she primly tucked hers through it. "Shall I go look for Buckbeak?"
"That will not be necessary," she said. "You will suffice just fine."
"At your service," he said dryly as she giggled. "Back to the carriage?"
"Non. I am, how you say, peckish."
"A lot like Buckbeak then."
"I beg your pardon?!"
"To the kitchens then," Evan smiled.
-0-
"Hello everyone," Ludo said, smiling at the other three Champions while giving Evan a cursory look. He scowled when Evan waved merrily back and the other Champions seemed to enjoy the moment with him. "Are you ready for the new clue for your next task?" he asked.
He looked at them expectantly but was doomed for disappointment when none of them rose to the energy or temperament he wanted. He scowled sourly at Evan again who continued to look perfectly happy. He cleared his throat.
"The Second Task will challenge your abilities to adapt to a very different environment," he said. "It will involve the Black Lake. Your Task will be to figure out a means to navigate it on your own, and to obtain precious materials that will be released into the Lake for you to capture and keep a hold of. Be warned, however, these precious materials are more than just what they sound like, and will prove to be difficult to find and catch."
He looked at them. "Any questions?" He sighed again at their shaking heads. "Very well then. As you know, it will be held on February 24. Best of luck to you in preparing, Champions." He grumbled under his breath when Evan waved cheerily again before he left.
The Champions left Dumbledore's office together, making the heads of the school look after them with some surprise save for Dumbledore himself. After leaving the office and descending a floor, Krum looked at Evan. "I take it that this is very different then?"
Evan nodded. "I have no idea what it means, save for that we'll still be in the Lake."
"It's going to be really cold," Cedric sighed.
Krum chuckled. "Well, shall we continue to work together somewhat then? As far as information goes?"
"I've no problem with that," Evan said.
"Sounds good to me," Cedric nodded.
"I have no problem with that either," Fleur said.
"Good! Well then, I better go off and start planning on what I want to do. That said, perhaps another game later?" he asked Cedric and Evan.
"I'll be out there. Flying clears my head," Cedric nodded.
"I'm sure Harry and the other Gryffindors will be out there," Evan said. "I might be, depending on what I get done."
"Were you not just complaining about the cold? And you wish to fly in it?" Fleur asked, giving Cedric a look.
"Yeah, but it's Quidditch and flying," Cedric protested, grinning sheepishly at Fleur's snort. "There's a difference."
"I heard you enjoyed your latest bout of flying," Krum said mildly, smiling a little at Fleur's flat look.
"It was tolerable," she said, cheeks pink and looking away slightly.
"Eh, I've been called worst," Evan shrugged, smiling when Fleur poked him.