"Well, it seems that our provocation plan is working," Amelia said.
It was about a week after their last meeting and Rita had produced a few articles that were printed by the Daily Prophet and other publications. While some had refused due to the 'sensitive and inflammatory' nature of the topic, others had gone ahead because they saw the impact it would have on their sales.
The impact did not disappoint.
Reprints were needed to keep up with the demand and they continued to print more of her articles. Gossip and conversation went up and down the country about the origins of Tom Riddle, how he was connected to the darkest of Wizarding Britain, and how Voldemort paled in comparison, both physically and achievement wise, to Gellert Grindelwald.
A few days after the first article, the Daily Prophet had been attacked by masked and cowled individuals but there was no loss of life on either side, just property damage. The Chief Editor and owner of the newspaper, now personally angry, had doubled-down on the attack on Voldemort and the Death Eaters with most of the employees joining his attitude whole-heartedly.
There had been a few other attacks at certain places around Britain but the last had seen a few of the attackers caught and since then, things were quiet once more.
Amelia had come to Hogwarts with Sirius, Narcissa, and Lucius to meet with Dumbledore and Evan. They had gleaned some more information from the newly captured Death Eaters and while it was not much, it was something.
"Only one had the Mark, but that doesn't mean much these days," Amelia continued. "And they confirmed that while they have some numbers, I personally think they're inflated somewhat. Also they are trying to reach out to some of the mercenary groups and so far, the biggest problem seems to be money and funds. With his numbers diminished, Riddle can't afford much it seems."
Lucius wisely did not say anything, pointedly ignoring Sirius' look who winced when Narcissa jabbed him in the side.
"Good," Evan said with satisfaction. "And I knew he wouldn't be able to not try to fight back somehow. He can't submit a challenge to the articles and without Lord Malfoy, he doesn't have the people to fight back politically and throw out contending articles or opinion pieces."
"He is trying," Sirius said with a grin. "But the Selwyns are in the middle of an inter-House war. A large chunk of them have broken off from the main family and they threw the former under the Knight Bus, trying to be very separate from the 'misguided' lot who threw in with Riddle the first time."
"And the Crabbes and Goyles possess no political ability at all," Lucius said with amusement. "The Selwyns and the Yaxleys would have been the next best but as you say, the Selwyns are tearing each other apart and the Yaxleys have all but been disavowed. The Greengrasses and the Parkinsons are staying out of it completely so the Dark Lord…Riddle's side is much diminished."
"We must tread carefully," Dumbledore said. "He is being driven to more desperation and while vulnerable, he will be even more dangerous."
"That's the balance," Evan nodded. "Wouldn't want to stumble at the finish line. Any ideas on where he's hiding?"
"Sadly not, the recently captured are what you'd call 'expendable'," Amelia said to collective snorts. "They were given instructions elsewhere."
"Care to share the joke?" Lucius asked with a smile.
Narcissa had chuckled softly to herself, drawing the attention of the others. "Oh, simply an inane thought," Narcissa said. "With how much Riddle claims to care about ties and loyalty, too bad we cannot have him abide by a contract of sorts and call him out that way."
"That would make things more convenient," Dumbledore nodded. He turned to look at Evan and frowned. "Evan?"
Evan was staring off into space with a calculating expression.
Sirius waved his hand in front of Evan's face to no response. "Does he do this a lot?" he asked.
"Not quite like this, but I assume he is having an idea," Dumbledore said.
"You assume correctly." Evan's smile was from ear to ear and made everyone there blink from the intensity of it. "I could kiss you, Lady Malfoy. But I think that would upset Lord Malfoy and really upset Draco." He tilted his head while Sirius laughed and Lucius raised an immaculate eyebrow. "And Fleur come to think of it but that's beside the point."
He turned to Dumbledore. "Need to talk to you, Uncle Ted, and Saltina at the minimum."
"I will assemble them here as soon as possible," Dumbledore said, deeply intrigued. Less than an hour later, Saltina, and Ted arrived and the others had left, despite being very curious.
Evan cast the usual privacy charms and he turned to Ted first. "Okay, question, can you describe how magical contracts work usually?"
Ted blinked but nodded. "As a solicitor, I should hope so," he said. "A magical contract is more or less like any other contract, save with magic." He grinned at Evan's laugh. "But basically, both parties agree to something and agree to sign said contract. The contract is designed to hold them accountable to the parameters laid out by the contract."
"And then breaking a contract has consequences that are also laid out by the parameters of the contract," Evan said.
Ted nodded. "Exactly. Now for mundane or regular contracts, that usually entails money or some other concessions. Which is typically also the same for magical ones."
"And the major difference between the two is what is going to make you adhere to the consequences," Evan said.
"Pretty much. Breaking a mundane or non-magical contract usually results in the consequences being applied by either a lawyer or neutral third-party or the one who did follow the constraints. Of course it depends on how much the breaker fears the one maintaining the consequences if they feel like they can avoid the repercussions." Ted shrugged. "So if a person feels that the other party or the third-party won't hold them accountable, then they might not care about breaking the contract. Or if they can afford breaking it without trouble, then they just do it."
Ted leaned back in his chair. "When it comes to magical contracts, then magic also helps maintain the parameters and therefore, the consequences of the contract as well. It is a lot harder to break magic in that way and a lot harder to trick it. That's why magical contracts are typically more binding and taken more seriously."
"But that also depends on the strength of the magic," Evan said.
"That too," Ted agreed. "Minor magical contracts will be much weaker than ones made with a lot of magic and intent, with more power put into the contract."
"What are some consequences of breaking magical contracts? You die if you break an Unbreakable Vow, right? I remember Ron saying one of the twins almost got him to do one when they were kids."
Ted grinned while Dumbledore groaned at that. "Yes, that is the consequence of breaking the Unbreakable Vow, but remember what I said about strength? I doubt kids would have been able to make that stick. But yes, death is one of the ultimate consequences. One can also lose magical strength from it as well. Those are the extremes of course and not usually taken, or made, lightly."
"Can compulsions be woven into the contract? As in you can't actually attempt to break the contract?" Evan asked.
"Yes and no," Ted said. "As we know, there's the Imperius Curse that subjugates a person's free will but that depends on the strength and will of the caster. So theoretically, one could write a contract with the magic in said contract doing that, but it'd be really hard and well, the person doesn't have to sign it either. Even when bound by it, if a person has sufficient strength and will to try and break it, they still can. The question then would be if they will or not."
Evan nodded, taking that all in. "Okay, thanks!" He turned to Saltina. "Now, your turn."
"Oh good! I do appreciate you appearing in our plane, Evan," Saltina said, looking giddy. "You have provided a font of interesting scenarios and magic and you've made life so much more interesting!"
"I bet a lot of people don't like me for just that reason," Evan said, grinning at Dumbledore who snorted and waved a hand at him. "So, can you tell me how the Goblet of Fire works completely?"
"I actually can't," Saltina said brightly. She smiled at three looks of confusion. "I mean, we honestly don't know how it works completely. Just in general."
"Can you explain how it generally works?" Evan asked, unperturbed.
"Happy to! The Goblet was made in the Middle Ages as far as we can determine, and was designed to be an impartial vessel for Cleromancy, which is divination derived from drawing lots. Historically, that meant divining things from tokens, books, leaves, any sort of random selection of natural items. Cleromancy has gone back for many many years before that though, and the ancient Gauls and Norse and Greeks would also use it as a form of volunteering. Individuals would throw their lots in, a personalized token, and then the tokens would be drawn at random to determine their candidacy and inclusion."
"Which it did for the TriWizard," Evan said. "But it can be manipulated or tricked?"
"Obviously, since it was tricked to include Harry and you," Saltina nodded. "Like Mr. Ted said, it depends on the strength and intent of the perpetrator and this wasn't the only time it was manipulated either. There was a rather scandalous event where the Minister at the time tried to influence the Goblet into making a decision that benefited them most. After said tampering, it led to a period of time where the Goblet wasn't utilized as much for various reasons."
"Oh I remember reading about that," Ted said. "How did the Minister get caught again?"
"The Goblet immolated them," Dumbledore said with a small wince. "Violently."
"Is there a form of nonviolent immolation?" Evan asked. "Genuine question." He smiled at Dumbledore's laugh that the others joined in.
"Since the tampering incident, the Goblet has been used sparingly and it only truly awakens for matters of importance or tradition," Saltina continued. "There have been those that try to awaken it and try to gain its use for other decisions and things, but plenty of times it simply ignores the assembled people and remains inert. The TriWizard is one of the most regular of events and decisions it takes part in so it awakening for that even though it had been a very long time since it was last held was a bit of a welcome surprise and relief honestly."
"And each time it is used, the contracts that it determines have always been fulfilled, right?" Evan asked.
"Every time," Saltina nodded. "Even the immolation incident. Ironically enough, it judged the Minister wanting and found them unqualified to lead. And to continue living as it was."
"Now that I am thinking of it, you said you were able to trick your Voldemort into using the Goblet?" Dumbledore asked.
"Sort of. Leading up to our last battle, I let a few of his people go every fight and would mention how much I wanted the Goblet," Evan said. "It kept getting back to him and he got paranoid and started keeping it close. During our last fight, I tricked him to swear by it and during the fight, I broke it. The resulting backlash in magic killed him for good and I was caught in the blast." He shrugged a little at the looks that the other three were giving him.
"Swearing by it would have a lot of weight to it," Saltina said, pushing on. "Much like swearing on any major magical artifact. Magic listens and when you make statements involving it, it will influence the situation."
"Which is why I swore on it and Hogwarts that night. Did you bring it with you?" Evan asked.
Saltina nodded and lifted the large chest she had beside her seat. "I had an idea you'd be curious about it, hence asking me to bring it, so I was prepared for your questions." She opened the chest and gently put the large Goblet on Dumbledore's desk. "Now, do not be discouraged if it doesn't-" She stopped talking when Evan touched the Goblet and bright blue flames burst into life, filling the interior of the Goblet and sending light and shadow all around the office.
"Never mind," she said, staring intently at both him and the Goblet. She and Ted and Dumbledore gasped when the flames within the Goblet twisted, turning and roiling but not leaving the confines of the Goblet. They gasped again when the flames turned into the shape of a woman with long burning hair and eyes that smoldered. She nodded companionably at the three adults before looking at Evan with a warm smile that turned into a frosty frown.
"I'm sorry I said I didn't regret breaking you in the other plane," Evan said, grinning at the fiery woman. "In my defense, I was just launched out through time and space and was a little short on temper. Not to mention healing grievous wounds and being a little pissy at everything and everyone."
She rolled her eyes at him before relaxing somewhat, looking at him intelligently. She tilted her head at him, asking an unspoken question.
"What is going on?" Ted whispered.
"She must be the physical manifestation of the Goblet's magic," Saltina whispered back, her eyes glowing with magical light. "It's extraordinary!"
"How would you like to have a bit of revenge?" Evan asked. His smile mirrored hers as the woman made of flames smiled very broadly, her eyes smoldering like cinders in ash. "I'm sure you don't like the fact that one of No-nose's minions tricked you into choosing a fourth Champion."
She shook her head, looking very displeased.
"And maybe you'd like a bit of revenge for your counterpart in my plane," Evan said. He reached into the beaded bag at his side and after digging into it, pulled out a handful of wooden shards and splinters. He offered them to the Goblet who took them reverently, hands of fire coming out and taking the offerings. Though the fires touched his skin, he felt no pain, only warmth.
The woman looked down at the pieces and her eyes glinted. The pieces sank deep into the Goblet and she looked at him, nodding firmly.
"The next time Tom Riddle and Evan Harry James Potter meet in battle, the first one to break without dying will be subjected to your judgement," Evan said and the others shuddered at his tone. It was hotter than the flames in the Goblet and colder than the Black Lake in winter. It was a voice full of hate and regret and everything in between, spoken with grim finality and utter conviction.
The woman of flames nodded and held out a hand.
Evan took a quill off Dumbledore's desk and wrote out his name and signed it on a piece of parchment, rolling it and handing it to the woman. She took the parchment and it sank deep into the Goblet. The flames glowed a white-hot blue before turning down in intensity and she looked at him expectantly.
"Professor, still have the Diary?" Evan asked with a sharp smile.
Dumbledore blinked a few times before laughing. "I do, and an amazing idea!" He opened the safe and took out the bitten diary. Even though it had been thoroughly bitten and injected with basilisk venom years ago, and doused with Soul Scouring Fire courtesy of Evan, the paper was still crinkly and the ink was still wet. Evan took the item from Dumbledore and smirked at the signature and initials that Tom left on the inside cover, proclaiming who the Diary belonged to.
The woman took the Diary from him and no one missed the look of pure malice etched into her fiery features. The Diary burned in her flames and she laughed without a voice, the roaring of the fire filling the office. Finally the fire subsided somewhat and she gave Evan a satisfied expression, nodding once more.
"I don't suppose you have a suggestion for where it could happen, for luck?" Evan asked.
The woman turned thoughtful before she held her hands out. She took Evan's offered hand and once more, he only felt warmth and magic instead of searing pain. She kissed the palm of his hand, leaving a pattern of smoke and ash on his skin. Releasing him, she nodded once more and gave him a proud look.
Fire bless you, my Champion.
The fires disappeared and so did the woman, leaving her eyes to the last that disappeared with a wink.
"Andi is going to be sad she missed this," Ted said with a big smile. "She loves magic."
"So do I," Saltina whispered reverently. "I have never imagined the Goblet having a persona like that!"
"The Japanese have a belief called tsukumogami," Dumbledore said with the same awe. "Items and objects take on life and gain a spirit after a 100 years of use and existence. We always thought magic to be alive in some ways and I truly believed Hogwarts always was in her way, why not anything else? Especially the Goblet."
"I felt her, during our fight over there," Evan said softly, looking at the mark of ash on his hand. "She was angry, angry at him for everything. I don't know if I would have won honestly without her at the end. So this time, I wanted to give her a chance from the start."
"You did call yourself the Champion of Fire that night you arrived," Dumbledore said.
"Guess divination is real," Evan said, making Ted laugh and Saltina and Dumbledore give him slightly reproachful, albeit amused, looks. Evan held his hand up. "Anyone recognize this by chance?"
The others leaned in to look at the outline on his hand. It looked solid and defined despite being made from ash. He took care not to move his hand overmuch, in case too much movement disrupted it.
"It looks like a coastline," Saltina said after some contemplation. "Or the edge of a landmass if that part there is empty space representing the ocean."
"I think that's southern England," Ted said.
Dumbledore waved his wand and summoned a globe to his desk. With another wand movement, he outlined England in glowing light and flicked his wand up, sending the magical light floating in the air. Another flick enlarged the image. Evan held his hand up and aligned the outline on his hand with the borders of the country.
"The White Cliffs of Dover," Dumbledore said, seeing the southern corner of the country line up perfectly with Evan's hand. They watched as the ash slowly burned away on Evan's hand, leaving clean unmarked skin.
"As good a place as any," Evan said, feeling eager and heartened. "Now to draw him out." His smile burned bright as he clenched his hand, forming a fist. "And end it, once and for all."
-0-
Harry whistled as he watched Evan be pushed back several feet from the force of Fleur's spell. "I think I've learned more about dueling from Evan and watching him duel Fleur than in years of classes."
"To be fair, the focus of the classes were not on dueling exactly," Hermione said, "aside from the disastrous club our second year." She flushed at the smiles Ron and Harry gave each other, correctly guessing what they were thinking and she smacked them both with irritated affection. "But you are right, Evan is a great teacher and watching them duel is incredible."
"I've been holding my own against the twins and Ginny more," Ron said proudly. "Less so than Ginny because she fights dirty."
"I have six older brothers, of course I fight dirty," Ginny snorted.
"Fair," Ron grinned.
Fleur and Evan had met up regularly to practice dueling and other spells with each other and their friends, and each time their duels would typically turn into something truly competitive and they would not hold back as much. Evan had taken the lead in wins and while he did not rub the fact into Fleur's face, he did not refrain from pointing it out either. Fleur let her competitive streak take the better of her and was currently pushing him about the circle with more than normal force.
"Fleur has gotten better too," Sophie said, stretching her shoulder. "She was always good but these sessions with Evan inspire her."
"And frustrate her," Colette said and she and Aimee and Sophie giggled together, cackling when Fleur threw them an angry look when she heard them.
The watchers cried out when Evan was flung high into the air with a spell from Fleur. Fleur crowed in triumph but the crow became a screech as she was suddenly flipped upside down and suspended into the air by one leg. Evan had turned while falling and hit her with a body-suspension spell and the disarming charm in sequence, following up with a third spell before he slowed his fall, landing lightly on his feet and smiling while breathing heavily. Disarmed, Fleur hung in the air and flailed some, at first trying to keep her skirt up before realizing they had been charmed to stay up and defying gravity. She hung upside down and gave Evan a flat look while panting from the exertion from the duel, glowering at her friends who continued to howl with laughter.
"Well done," Luna praised, hugging him around the middle.
"Thanks!" Evan got his breathing under control, smiling at the sight of Wisteria and Hedwig dancing and waggling their rears at Fleur while her friends pushed her, making her swing back and forth like an irritable French pendulum, as she shouted at them. Evan waved his wand and righted her, even sending her wand back to her, leading to her friends fleeing from her as she gave chase.
Eventually she stopped and their friends had practice duels of their own, eager to try out some of the things they witnessed and learned. Fleur stood beside Evan and stretched, feeling her muscles relax slightly. "You are holding back still," she said, giving him a look.
"Only a little," Evan said, not denying the statement. "In the sense that I'm more used to dueling not to win."
"Ah, well in that case, that is acceptable," she said, understanding his meaning. She leaned against him and smiled when he reciprocated. "I am happy for these training sessions. I used to think I was accomplished before."
"You were, and are," he said plainly without any hint of flattery. "But you're better now too."
She preened at his praise. "You are going to do something serious soon."
"Think you know me so well?" he asked lightly.
"I think so, despite the shortness of our acquaintance," she said honestly. "I can feel it in you."
"You're not wrong."
She nodded before looking up at him. Her startling blue eyes were as proud as ever, but there was a hint of something else there. Something more vulnerable. "Do be careful," she said softly.
"I'll do my best," Evan said sincerely. "Besides, there are reasons to come back."
"Coming second place in the Tournament," Fleur said, smiling when Evan laughed.
"Winning it yes," Evan chuckled. "For Harry and the others." He gently touched the silver torc around his neck. "And for you."
She felt very warm. "Do not forget that."
-0-
Amelia looked at the people assembled in Dumbledore's office. She had sent him and Evan a message and the others came when summoned. "There's a breakthrough," she said when everyone was there. "One of the mercenary groups that Riddle reached out to make a deal with him, a deal that not everyone in the group is happy about. Roughly a third of the group have formed up and they reached out to us, detailing the agreement. We've reached a deal with them. The whole group is coming over to meet with Riddle and the Eaters. The splinter group is going to turn on them with us and when things are done, they get to leave with the money that Riddle is paying them as well as what we are for their role in this."
Sirius whistled. "Damn, that's huge."
Amelia nodded. "They're coming over to England via sea for the initial meeting. Already told us where too."
"The Cliffs of Dover?" Evan asked, heart beginning to beat fast.
"Yeah, they're coming over from France and since official and normal means of travel are being monitored, they're bringing their own transportation and that'll be the easiest for them," Amelia said, giving him a look of surprise.
"How is the Ministry responding to this?" Dumbledore asked.
"Official response is for us to hit them at the point of the meeting and bring them down," Amelia said. "Auror Corps and Hit Wizards all. It's a sanctioned action and with the projected numbers of mercs joining us, we'll have the slightest advantage in numbers."
"We'll join in and bring things to a close," Sirius said eagerly and there was a murmur of agreement from some of the others."
"Officially, you shouldn't be there," Amelia said slowly. "As in, the Ministry can't be held accountable for what happens to you."
"The Ministry never held accountability for me in any way before," Remus said dryly, making Sirius laugh and others snort with Amelia wincing and shrugging sheepishly. "So this is nothing new," he added with a smile.
"The obvious exception is you, Evan," Amelia said. "As per the deal that was made between you and the Minister back in October."
"More than a few Unspeakables will be joining the Task Force," Saltina said, surprising some of the others. "The more militant ones of course, and those of us who are still very angry about Rookwood and Henshaw and other minor affiliates that abused our trust."
"When is the meeting?" Andromeda asked.
"Three days," Amelia said.
"Then in three days, we will be ready and for good or for ill, things will hopefully be concluded," Dumbledore said seriously.
"They will be," Evan said. He looked out the window and towards the setting sun. "I got you where I want you now, Riddle. No more hiding, no more running." He clenched his hand and felt the palm of his hand throb ever so slightly, feeling warm.
-0-
"I'm coming with you-"
"Abso-fucking-lutely not," Evan said, looking down at a very rebellious and angry looking Harry. "And I know it's really ironic for me say that to you given how we acted whenever someone else told us that-dammit Hermione is right-but since it is me telling you, then it's really you telling yourself so you have to listen to yourself, which is me in this case."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "First of all, we don't listen to ourselves a lot."
"True," Evan nodded.
"Second of all, I'm pretty sure we've established that while we're both Harry, we're not the same Harry so you really can't use that argument."
"I actually just did use that argument," Evan argued.
"Well then, in true Harry form, I'm choosing to ignore myself, which is you, in this case since you established that," Harry replied, grinning.
"Can't even really get mad at you for that," Evan conceded. "That's what I'd do, and have done. Without the extra Harry of course."
The brothers were in Evan's room at Hogwarts and tomorrow was the coming conflict between the mercenaries, Voldemort and the Death Eaters, and the Ministry with Dumbledore and Evan. Evan had spent time with his friends but had drawn Harry away for one last conversation. As he promised, Evan had told Harry the plans and what was going to hopefully happen, and Evan had been prepared for Harry to argue with him.
"Look, Harry, you can't," Evan said calmly. "It's going to be a fight, a fucking war in a battle. People are going to die and I can't divide my attention in trying to keep you alive while trying to kill Riddle properly. I know you can handle yourself in some ways, but not like this."
Harry sighed deeply. "I know," he admitted. "But…I don't want you to die for me either, not like this. Not for this."
"Well I don't plan on dying at all," Evan said. "And trust me, if I die, Riddle isn't walking away either. This ends tomorrow, for good."
Harry looked up at his older counterpart. Emerald green eyes met emerald green eyes and while they both looked the same, lifetimes separated them instead of a few short years.
"Make sure you come back," Harry said.
"He won't win-"
"No, win or lose, come back," Harry said, interrupting Evan. "Don't force me to lose more of my family. I can't lose anymore. I just can't."
Evan looked soberly down at Harry before smiling gently. "Way to guilt trip me," he said, ruffling Harry's hair.
"Is it working?" Harry asked, grinning back.
"A little," Evan conceded. "But like I said, I plan on winning this, and will tell you all about it when I get back. Do me a favor though, keep an eye on Hermione, Fleur, Hedwig, and Wisteria until I do."
"Of course," Harry said. He coughed a few times. "I dreamt about them, last night."
Evan's smile turned sad and wistful. "Yeah?"
Harry's smile was the same in feeling and expression. "First time I dreamed of them. And I remembered it completely. They were amazing, Mum and Dad."
"Yeah they are," Evan whispered.
"Said I should trust you," Harry said.
"Guess you have to, since they said so."
"Guess so," Harry agreed. He hugged Evan hard. "Kick his arse."
"Don't worry little bro," Evan said, hugging Harry and smiling broadly. "I'm going to make it fucking hurt."
"Good."
The brothers broke their embrace and looked at each other, nodding once.