Hermione closed the book she was looking through. "Any luck?" she asked.
Ron shook his head and closed another book. "Not really." He picked up another and started paging through it. "I never thought about how many magical creatures there were and how weird they are. Did you know that there's a species of leech that's bigger than a dog?"
"Eww that's horrific," Hermione shuddered.
"See how I'm not making a joke about Malfoy too?" Ron said, looking proud of himself. "I think that's what you call character growth."
"Yes, very good Ronald," Hermione said, shaking her head but smiling.
Harry chuckled softly, listening to his friends. The trio were in the library and after doing their homework to varying degrees of enthusiasm, were now researching for Evan. Hermione had eagerly agreed to help, equal parts wanting to help Evan and from the joy of learning and reading, with Ron wanting to help Evan too. They had pulled down as many books about magical creatures as they could find and were going through them.
"Hello." Luna appeared, smiling dreamily at them. She had become less shy around them in the days since being drawn into the fold. "May I join you?"
"Of course," Harry said, making room for her at the table.
Luna sat down, looking even happier. "What are we doing?" she asked.
"Helping Evan," Ron said very softly, looking about.
"I want to help," Luna said, taking a book from the stack in the middle. "Something to do with magical creatures?"
"He thinks there will be something he has to hunt down underwater," Harry said quietly. "They know they're going to be in the Lake, and there will be some kind of 'precious material'."
"Problem is, what constitutes as precious material?" Hermione mused. "For example, some cultures took apart and used every bit of an animal because other resources were scarce. For example, the Native Americans used even the organs of the buffalo for containers. I think a lot of the cultures that hunted whales in the past used to do the same."
"Ron uses his stomach to hold food all the time," Harry grinned.
"Best place for it," Ron snorted. "Not sure how I'd feel about a stomach lunch box or something. Sort of skipping a step in a way."
Hermione giggled at that. "And if we are talking about say dragons, well all the parts of a dragon are used for all sorts of things. Scales, bones, horn, teeth, heart-strings for wands, claws, their blood even. And those are very precious too."
"So something aquatic, that needs to be hunted, and is considered precious," Luna summarized. "Have you tried asking Professor Hagrid?"
"We did. He gave us a few ideas but nothing we thought was quite right," Harry said. "Plus, well, Hagrid has different definitions of what he thinks is precious."
"Bloody skrewts," Ron muttered and Harry and Hermione did not disagree with him.
"How big of a thing will the Champions be hunting?" Luna asked after they read for some time.
"We don't know," Hermione said, looking at her curiously.
"Hold on." Harry pulled out a piece of paper and looked at it carefully. "Evan wrote what he remembered of the clue down for me. Looks like not only have to hunt down, but to capture and keep a hold of too. Also they're not what they sound like and will be difficult to handle."
"Probably means smaller and faster," Luna hummed. "Potentially argumentative."
"Did you find something?" Ron asked, looking over.
"I think so." Luna moved the book for the other three to look at.
"Gemfish," Harry read. "Small magical fish that are made of precious metals and gems!"
"Very fast, slightly magic resistant due to their material scales, and some are known to be violent towards any that pursue them while others flee all the more." Hermione smiled. "That sounds like them!"
"Found in colder places, well the Black Lake will be freezing this time of year," Ron said.
"Good job Luna," Harry praised. He blinked a few times when she gave him a doleful look and guessing, he gave her a hug that she accepted happily, hugging him back. He gave Hermione a look and relaxed when she smiled at him and nodded encouragement.
"We should probably research a little more, but I think this will be a contender," Luna said.
"I'll look up ways people have caught them while you lot do that," Ron offered.
They lowered their heads and got back to work, encouraged by the find.
-0-
"There are some very strange magical creatures," Evan said, reading the notes the others had put together for him. "I think I agree with you all. Makes a lot of sense given the context of the clue, sounds tricky and annoying, and will be a challenge. Thanks you lot!" He grinned as Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Luna cheered and high-fived each other.
"We can look up more for you," Luna said enthusiastically.
"I got it," Evan said. "Not that I don't trust you all, obviously, but I don't want you all to work too much for my sake. Plus I have to do some preparing and things on my own end. I have a general idea of how I want to navigate the lake anyways and will do some research on how to hunt and catch these things."
"What did you do before?" Harry asked.
"Gillyweed. Dobby brought it to me. Gave me gills and flippers for a time."
"Wicked," Ron said.
"It really isn't that much more for us," Hermione said. "At the least we can give you ideas."
Evan hesitated but smiled. "Well, alright. Thanks, just don't overdo it please. And to show my appreciation, here we are." He opened his trunk and took out a small barrel and a few nice cups, giving one to each of them and filling them with bubbling butterbeer.
"Mmm, fizzy!" Luna said, drinking and smiling.
"Looks like you were already doing some practice too," Harry observed looking at the desk. Various books sat on it with other things including a metal tube, fishing string, and other things.
"Just seeing what would work in my head and in practice," Evan nodded. "I had a large tub filled with water to see how things reacted underwater."
"That's a lot of effort," Ron said.
"Take everything seriously in case things go tits up," Evan said. "You'll make it out better after if things do go wrong." He and the others chatted and eventually Luna and Ron left to do other things, leaving Harry and Hermione with him.
"And how're other things?" Harry asked.
"Good, more or less. I think I have a handle on the solution for the last problem," Evan said. "Just need to get the final piece of it." A flash of fire startled Harry and Hermione but Evan simply caught a folded piece of parchment and a small red and orange feather that fell into his hands with the feather dissolving soon after, leaving no trace behind. He opened it and nodded. "Speaking of, this might be it."
"What was that?" Hermione asked.
"Message sent by Fawkes. Headmaster wants to see me in his office." Evan got up and made sure the bag was secure on his waist, pulling a cloak around him.
"Be careful," Harry said. He turned and raised an eyebrow at an amused Hermione. "What?"
"Usually I'm the one saying that about you when you're about to do something," she said. "Oh and do be careful."
Evan snorted and tousled Harry's hair and gave Hermione a hug. "Well if you both say so."
-0-
"Ah, welcome Evan." Dumbledore nodded genially as Evan walked into his office.
"Headmaster," Evan said, nodding back. "Found the place?"
"I did. Apparently it was somewhere Tom visited as a child, before he started attending Hogwarts. As you know, I have done my own investigations of Tom's past and spoke with the person who was the one in charge of the orphanage. They took the children out on trips here and there when possible, and with some prompting, shared that Tom had an incident with a few other children here."
"Some prompting?" Evan asked.
"A generous application of gin."
Evan snorted. "That'll do it."
"Quite," Dumbledore smiled. "And as you know, magic, particularly strong magic, leaves traces and marks and when I went to poke around some, I found a very magic rich place that is also not natural magic. The magic there is very dark in feeling and source."
"Sounds like a place to hide a Horcrux," Evan nodded. "We waiting for Al and Remus?"
"I thought you and I could handle this together," Dumbledore said. "Remus has classes still and Alastor is following up on something with the Aurors. We could wait for them, but I do believe it is better to go sooner than later."
"No complaints here," Evan said easily. "Let's do this."
"Before we go, there is something I would like to address," Dumbledore said slowly.
"Alright then," Evan said, giving the older man a curious look. After a slightly awkward pause, he sighed. "Is this about Slughorn? I got him a new couch and it's bigger and posher and plusher than the one I broke."
"It is tangentially related, and I knew you would replace the couch," Dumbledore said wryly. "In fact, Horace seemed rather composed when he woke and left. He also seems to have taken the incident to heart and is now becoming more…positive with his connections."
"Good for him," Evan said. "Wasn't my intention but I'll take it." He looked at Dumbledore. "Did you look into his memories to see what I showed him?"
"No," Dumbledore said. "I do, however, have something here that helps collects stray thoughts and saw some of the images that way instead."
"That actually doesn't surprise me," Evan said, looking around the office. "You do have a lot of neat things that I have no idea what they do."
"Some I have inherited and do not know what they do completely either," Dumbledore confessed.
Evan nodded. "I didn't make any of those up."
"No, I know you did not." Dumbledore looked at Evan with intense sadness and mourning. "I see why you are so desperate to head things off, to prevent your future from reoccurring. A part of me wondered if there was not some exaggeration. I never doubted that the situation would be bad, but I gravely underestimated how bad it would be, how it was for you."
He sighed deeply and looked at the young man with remorse. "I am sorry for doubting you and for making light of your convictions," he said quietly. "I am sorry for everything my counterpart did, or did not do, to engineer what transpired. Evan, Harry, I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to support you."
Evan looked at Dumbledore soberly. "Thank you," he said. "I appreciate that."
"That said, I cannot say that I will completely agree with you on all of your plans," Dumbledore said slowly. "I fully intend to help you and to bring the peace you deserve. But there are some lines that should not be crossed. Please do not see my counsel as hinderance. I care for you, for Harry. I want to ensure things turn out for the better, but in a way to preserve, so not everything is consumed along the way."
"I can live with that," Evan said after a moment's thought. "I know I'm less…careful about certain things." He grinned slyly. "Might be good to have a naysayer around."
"Not the first time I have been called that," Dumbledore chuckled. "I promise to provide well-meaning objections while also furthering our mutual goals." He gratefully took Evan's hand and shook it firmly.
"Right then, let's go grab us a Horcrux and keep working on putting Riddle down," Evan said.
"Let us do just that," Dumbledore nodded.
-0-
The two men appeared on the edge of a cliff, looking over the sea crashing against the rocks and the land. Sea spray filled the air and the wind howled as it blew over the landscape, making the surroundings feel somewhat bleak and foreboding.
"They brought orphans here?" Evan asked, eyebrow raised.
"In their defense, they were farther up the coast where it is much more pleasant," Dumbledore said, amused. "Tom came here along with two others he cajoled to follow."
"Oh, well that makes more sense," Evan said. He looked around and his eyes focused on a distant cave where the water seemed to avoid somehow. No matter how violently the water crashed and swirled, it seemed to be repelled. Or it consciously avoided the site for some reason. "There."
"Agreed," Dumbledore said, nodding when Evan pointed at it. He and Evan began to walk towards the cave. No one else was there, not even birds or other animals. "I also wanted to thank you." He looked at Evan. "For bringing Ariana from your plane."
"You saw her?" Evan asked.
"I did. I visited Aberforth during the holiday. I was quite surprised to see the second portrait and the other Ariana." He smiled, ignoring the spray and cold wind. "It was wonderful to see them so happy. Aberforth told me what you did."
"I was worried they wouldn't get along, glad they do." They walked in silence for a moment. "So you and Old Man Abe are back to cordial now?"
Dumbledore smiled again. "Something close to cordial. I think it made us both realize just how fragile things could be and how tenuous things have gotten. We…made up for some past problems and are working together on the others."
"Yeah? How drunk did you two get and how much fighting was there?" Evan asked, deeply amused.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Let us say that Poppy was summoned to the Hog's Head the next day after Minerva came looking for me and found Aberforth and I, still drunk and rather bruised."
"Damn, sad I missed that," Evan chuckled.
"I am sure."
When they reached the cave mouth, the two men picked their ways down the cliffside carefully. When they almost made it to sea level, Dumbledore conjured a raft for them and they stepped onto it, safe from the wild sea. They floated into the cave mouth and Dumbledore and Evan conjured floating lights to show the way. The rocks along the tunnel were broken and sharp, looking like teeth that glistened from the sea water. Floating deeper into the cave gave them the feeling of slowly being swallowed by a maw of an immense beast. The air was thick and heavy, cold and threatening.
"What a creepy place," Evan said, curling his lip. "Fuck me, Riddle is such a little drama queen." He smirked at Dumbledore's appreciative chuckle. They finally reached a landing and both men climbed onto the rock, finding a way deeper into the cave. With wands up and at the ready, they made their way deeper until they came to a wall, blocking their path.
"The wall can move," Evan said, looking at the ground and the sides of the cave. "See? Scratches and tracks gouged into the rock."
"It is a barrier," Dumbledore hummed. "Designed to prevent passage without something specific." He waved his wand and murmured softly. "Of course. Blood."
"Drama queen," Evan sighed.
"Designed to weaken whoever is here that is not him," Dumbledore said.
"Of course it does. Don't worry, I got it."
"You are the younger of us, but I have no problems donating to the cause," Dumbledore said. "Especially given the trials to come and you will need your strength."
"I mean, you are the older one, Sir," Evan said in faux conciliatory tones, making Dumbledore snort loudly, "and need to preserve your strength too. Besides, I wasn't going to use my blood." He reached into the beaded bag and pulled out a leather pouch. Opening the pouch, he selected a vial filled with blood and uncorked it, scattering the contents on the rocks before them. The rocks drank the blood greedily and started to move, letting them deeper into the cave.
Dumbledore watched as Evan vanished the vial and put the pouch back into the bag. "I must admit that I never thought I would ever utter this sentence, but I feel compelled to do so. Whose blood is…was that?"
"I don't know," Evan said honestly. He blinked at Dumbledore's look. "What? You know full well that if I had a name on that vial, you'd be asking me a completely different question and be giving me an even sterner look right now. I'm not a psychopath. Look, I can promise that when I gathered that blood, whoever the originator was, wasn't using it anymore."
"You worry me, sometimes," Dumbledore sighed as they walked through the opening. "Also other times, truth be told. Do I want to know why you have vials of blood with you?"
"For situations like this and see how it came in use?"
"You are not wrong," Dumbledore said, sighing even more deeply at Evan's grin.
"So just so I'm clear about our future dynamic, is that one of the situations where you would be counseling me?"
"Quite astute of you, Mister Potter," Dumbledore said wryly.
"Don't worry, Sir, I still have a few so I won't need to get more anytime soon, hopefully."
"You have successfully caused me to worry more."
"Oops."
They cleared the tunnel and came to the shore of an immense lake within the cave. There was a lurid green light that barely lit the gloom, adding just enough illumination to make the shadows more deep and condemning. It was deathly silent within the cave, the water still and unmoving. The air was cold but somehow not stale nor fetid, the opposite of what was expected. The entire area felt off, at odds to itself.
In the center of the lake was a small island, barren and cold. A plinth could just barely be made out through the gloom, the top of it being a bowl. On closer inspection, there was something that dipped into the water from the edge of the island, sinking into the ink-black depths of the water.
"I agree with you," Dumbledore said in their contemplative silence. "Tom is very dramatic here."
The men moved along the shore before they found a stone pillar driven deep into the stone. A long chain hung from the pillar, sinking into the water and it was the opposite of the island. Evan flicked his wand and the chain rose into the air, dripping water. Eventually a boat appeared from the water as well, water sloughing off. Connected to the chain, it sat there waiting.
"I'm assuming if we try crossing the water by any other way, it'll end badly," Evan remarked.
"It does seem that way," Dumbledore said. He cast a few charms. "There is something hidden in the water. Something quite Dark."
"We might as well play the game," Evan said. "I want to get out of this creepy ass place as soon as we can."
"Agreed," Dumbledore said. They entered the boat and it started sailing to the island, guided by the chain. The water barely moved as they sailed over it. Evan chanced a look into the water and grimaced when he saw nothing, just an expanse of still dark water, completely devoid of life and light. When the boat reached the island, they dismounted, wands at the ready.
The island was a tiny thing, a patch of dry rock in the middle of the water. At the center sat the before seen plinth, carved from crystal. The top of it was indeed a bowl, large and deep, holding a clear liquid. A locket sat at the bottom of the bowl, glittering in the greenish light that illuminated the cavern.
"Now I remember, that's the last one," Evan said, eyes staring at the locket.
"Where was it the first time you encountered it?" Dumbledore asked.
"Pulled it off Umbridge's neck. It looked really out of place and I'm glad I grabbed it when I did since it was a Horcrux there too."
"She did not stop you?" Dumbledore blinked and nodded at Evan's look. "Ah, I understand." The men cast several spells around the plinth and the locket. They tried several ways to summon or remove the locket and were denied every time.
"Well, guess the only way to get it out is to drink it out," Evan said, noticing the goblet that hung off the plinth.
"The only thing we can divine from the liquid is that it is a potion and it is not poisonous," Dumbledore mused. "It is safe to say that it will not exactly be pleasant however."
"Yeah, no kidding," Evan said. He popped something into his mouth.
"What is that?" Dumbledore asked, seeing him do that.
"Pre-emptive bezoar in case we're wrong about it being poisonous."
Dumbledore frowned. "Surely you are not thinking of drinking it."
"I am doing exactly that," Evan said, swallowing the bezoar and filling the goblet.
"Evan-" Dumbledore protested.
"No, I'm doing this," Evan said sharply, interrupting him. "I'm tired of people doing things to spare me. That they have to do it for me. I never wanted that, any of that. This is my fight and this is my decision. If it makes you feel any better, I'm absolving you of any repercussions or consequences."
"I do not feel any better about the situation at all," Dumbledore retorted. "You are more important in this than I."
"Because of the bloody prophecy? I don't care. If the prophecy is completely literal, this won't kill me," Evan said dismissively. "If it does, well, it wouldn't be the first time and I've taken precautions if it happens."
"Evan, please."
"What's the matter? You don't think you can handle things if I drink this? You can't watch and take care of whatever comes?" Evan asked, looking at Dumbledore.
"I believe I can," Dumbledore replied, nettled.
"Good, then you watch my back while I do this," Evan said. He held the goblet up in toast. "To your health, because it sure as shit isn't for mine." He drained the cup in one long swallow, not spilling a drop. He looked down into the bowl, his eyes blank, expression still. He moved slowly, filling the goblet again and drinking more but with less alacrity.
Dumbledore could only watch, waiting.
"I'm sorry," Evan whispered.
Dumbledore, mind racing through all the possibilities of what the potion could have been, the potential effects, was unprepared for that. "Evan?" he asked, looking at the younger man.
"I'm sorry," Evan repeated.
"For what?" Dumbledore asked, heart in his throat.
"I couldn't keep my promise," Evan whispered.
"What promise?" Dumbledore asked.
"I'm sorry Molly," Evan said. His eyes were unfocused, looking past the water and the stone, past the potion, past Dumbledore. They were lost, gazing unwillingly into the past. "I couldn't save everyone. I'm sorry Arthur, Ron."
Dumbledore could only gaze in horror as he watched Evan stand there. He seemed smaller somehow, shrinking before Dumbledore's eyes. The horrors of his past were there and were clawing at him, devouring him, gnawing away at him.
"I'm sorry Auntie Andi," he gasped, unaware of Dumbledore or anything else. "I can't stop. I have to keep going. I have to fight. But I don't want people to die for me, because of me."
"Evan-" Dumbledore said, reaching out.
"Leave them alone!" Evan's voice shattered the still air, ringing off the rock and water around them. It was a visceral scream, and the air kept it going for longer than it should have. "This is between you and me! Why are others hurting because of me?! Why are others dying because of me?!"
"Evan, this is enough, we can share the burden," Dumbledore said, reaching for the goblet.
Evan snatched it back. His eyes were burning, half-mad and half-focused. "No!" he shouted savagely. "This is my task! This is my duty! This is my atonement!" He filled the goblet and drank it dry. His hands shook as he filled it again and forced himself to drink.
Dumbledore tried to stop him at first. It was like trying to wrestle with the earth itself. Despite under assault from the potion's effects, Evan managed to drink, resisting Dumbledore's efforts. When the bowl in the plinth was devoid of potion, Evan finally stopped, slumping to the ground and breathing heavily, gasping and crying.
"Why am I always the survivor," he asked no-one and everything, lips moving slowly. "Why am I always the last to die?"
Something inside Dumbledore broke, seeing Evan like that. He had only seen Evan confident since his arrival, almost cocksure. If Harry had acted the way Evan did, brash and uncaring of the opinions of others, pushing on no matter what, he would almost agree that he was much like James. Evan had reminded Dumbledore very much like James in many ways.
But there was always something under the bravado, under the attitude. It was not just his strong display of loyalty to Harry. There was a kindness much like Lily had for her loved ones, but again, something else. Something lurking. Something painful.
While none of the ones closest to Evan had told Dumbledore of Evan's fight with Amelia during the holidays, and his subsequent outburst after fighting Greyback, Amelia herself had come to Dumbledore. Dumbledore had been mildly surprised at Amelia's seemingly strange change in opinion of Evan. She had been increasingly irritated at the young man and his lack of care for authority and protocol and he knew it would come to a head, and it had. But the confrontation after had seemed to change Amelia's mind. While she had not disclosed everything, she had changed and Dumbledore had noticed.
Now, seeing Evan like this, after hearing him, Dumbledore knew what was also driving Evan on. Aside from the desire to see Harry and his friends and who he called family safe, aside from the desire for revenge against Voldemort and the Death Eaters, aside from the genuine desire to compete honestly for the TriWizard, there was something else there and Dumbledore saw it now.
Guilt.
It was something he was intimately familiar with.
Seeing Evan, a young man that was far older than he should have been, who had endured much more than he should have, seeing him consumed by his past and his pain, hurt Dumbledore deeply. He knew he, a version of him, was responsible for some part of it. And it infuriated him.
A splash drew his attention and Dumbledore turned and saw shapes moving in the ink-black water. Long pallid limbs, wasted pale flesh, skeletal features, all and more horrors climbed and clambered for the chilly depths of the waters around the island. Inferi, corpses reanimated by Dark magic, crawled onto the island, ready to kill and drag Evan and Dumbledore back into the water.
Some of the moving corpses looked familiar to Dumbledore and his already simmering anger and frustration boiled over.
The first inferi fell back, bursting into flames from Dumbledore's gaze and attention alone directing his magic. The fire burned away the dark magic controlling it and it fell limply into the water, but even the water could not douse the flames of Dumbledore's magical fury. He swiped with his wand, shouting not an incantation but in wordless emotion. The fire spread from corpse to corpse, sending them into pieces and back into the water, as lifeless as they should be.
He vented his anger, his displeasure for the entire situation, for everything that had happened before and could happen in times to come. He gave his emotions a voice and it was a voice of pure rage, of righteous anger. He threw his magic out again and again and the surface of the water burned, warming the cave and driving the cold green light away and replacing it with flickering oranges and reds. When at last the only things moving were Dumbledore and Evan, he finally stopped and looked down at Evan, chest heaving.
Evan coughed, looking up at Dumbledore with appreciation and respect. "No wonder Riddle was scared of you," he said weakly though his voice was regaining strength. "Well done, Sir."
"Are you okay?" Dumbledore asked, kneeling beside the younger man.
"Been better," Evan grimaced. "As you might have guessed, I have some problems I need to work out, it seems."
Dumbledore snorted. "I imagine you might be tired of hearing this, but you are very much like your parents, Evan. Strong in the face of adversity, and with a robust sense of humor."
"I'm not tired of that at all," Evan said softly.
"Do you have something in your bag that will help you?" Dumbledore asked kindly
Evan pulled it off his waist and reached in shakily, rooting about and taking out his potion pouch. He pulled out a vial and drank from it, sighing with relief. Dumbledore's eyebrows rose when Evan offered it to him. "I did not drink any of the potion."
"It's not a potion, it's whiskey," Evan said.
Dumbledore snorted but took it and drained the vial. "Oh, that is nice," Dumbledore said, looking at the empty vial.
"Was the last of a really good bottle I found. Put it in vials to save it," Evan said, sighing when he took the vial back and packed it carefully.
"We will find you a suitable replacement," Dumbledore said. "Come, let us leave this place and let Poppy give you a thorough examination."
"Wait." Evan pointed at the plinth. "Did you get the locket? I'm not drinking more of that shit."
"Oh of course." Dumbledore grabbed the locket and secured it in an inner pocket. "Now let us leave this place and never return unless it is to bury it completely."
"Sounds like something I'd say," Evan grinned. He struggled to climb to his feet.
"I have you," Dumbledore said, helping him stand.
"Thank you…Professor," Evan said quietly.
Dumbledore said nothing back but for the first time in a long time, felt something relax within him.
-0-
The pair apparated into Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts and Evan swayed a little. "Oh I think that potion does not respond well to apparition."
"Probably not. I already summoned Poppy before we left the shore and after her exam, will summon Dobby to feed you if you can stomach it."
"Say, I feel better already," Evan grinned.
"I am sure," Dumbledore smiled. He stopped when Evan suddenly looked alarmed. "What is wrong?"
"Harry!" Evan jumped to his feet and put his hand on the stone wall. He instantly apparated away, leaving a gobsmacked Dumbledore behind.
He took off running and almost ran into Pomfrey who was walking into the office.
"Albus?!" she cried, nearly being knocked over.
"Follow me!" Dumbledore said hurriedly as he steadied her and rushed past.
"Where did Evan go?" Pomfrey said, running after him.
"I think he is still in the castle and with the mood that he is in, there might be blood," Dumbledore said grimly.