On the surface, things looked very peaceful.
The White Cliffs of Dover stood resolute, watching continental Europe with their chalk-white cliffs facing the sea, the symbol of being a final bastion defending England. The waters of the Strait of Dover and the English Channel flowed beneath the cliffs, gently beating at the rocks below as they flowed out to the North Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.
The sun was setting, sinking deep into the western horizon. The sunlight was fleeing with it, the last rays of the sun fading as the shadows grew in number and intensity. On the surface, the green tops of the cliffs looked serene and calm.
But only on the surface.
The assembled Aurors, Hit Wizards, and other personnel had met and gone over their plans. After meeting with the leaders of the splinter group of the mercenary cadre, they came up with a divide-and-conquer strategy. The mercenaries were coming to England from boats launched off the shores of France. They would congregate at one of the beaches down the coast and there they would meet with Voldemort to cement their alliance.
However, the splinter group had managed to trick both parties. They made Voldemort think they would be meeting at the cliff tops to sign the contract and finalize their agreement while telling the other leadership of the mercenaries that they would be meeting farther down in the opposite direction. At the signal, the splinter group and a force of Aurors and Hit Wizards would fall upon the mercenaries and subdue them.
The more experienced members of the task force would be meeting with the Death Eaters under disguise at the top of the cliffs. There they would spring the trap and attack the Death Eaters and Voldemort with orders to subjugate if possible but permission to kill otherwise. They knew this would be the best chance for them to put an end to Voldemort and the Death Eaters once and for all.
The Ministry of Magic had informed their counterparts in the Muggle Ministry what they were doing and while not entirely happy with it, the other Ministry had seen the need for it and would not interfere and do their best to not reveal the events, nor record them. The Department of Ministry members spent the waiting days laying careful charms and wards to keep their secret and to prepare the ground for the upcoming battle. They could not do too much, not wanting to tip their hand and alert Voldemort that he was walking into a trap.
"Look." Dora pointed out over the waters. Lights glowed in the dark, revealing ships coming their way. They were small but well designed, sailing through the waters with little effort. They tacked and moved away from where the observers were, heading towards the rendezvous point.
"Three, two, three, one," Amelia counted, watching the blinking lights on the lead vessel. A line of lanterns hung over the side and lit in sequence, slowly but surely. "Plan is still on." She turned when Kingsley ran up to her.
"They're coming," Kingsley said. "Visual confirmation on Riddle and his closest, as well as about thirty others."
"That's still a lot of them," an Auror murmured.
"We almost match them in numbers and outmatch them in strength," Sirius said confidently. "This is going to work."
"Medi-magicals are ready and standing by for emergency healing," Andromeda said, walking up to them and tying her hair up in a bun.
"Ooh, you brought Matilda?" Sirius asked.
Andromeda smiled and she hefted the war-axe in her hand, swinging it with comfortable ease. "Of course I did, she would be so upset if I did not," she said.
"Beware the Blacks indeed," Remus said with a tight smile.
"Damn straight," Sirius said, high-fiving his cousin. He turned to another that stood with them. "Have to say, Lucy, surprised you're here and on our side."
Lucius smiled thinly. "A few years ago, I would share your surprise." He pulled gloves on tautly and held his wand. "But I want my revenge as well and therefore, here I am."
"Remember why we are here," Dumbledore said and his voice caught their attention. "We do this to be a united front, to stand up against evil and darkness and show that together, we can achieve anything and protect what and who we love."
"Don't lose sight of the objective," Amelia said. "And watch each other's backs." Everyone nodded at her words.
"Remember, Riddle is mine." Heads turned and looked at Evan. He had been standing to one side, looking out to sea. Now he rejoined them and his appearance gave many of them pause. His magic seemed to seethe and roil just below the surface, making the air around him pulsate. His eyes were harder than steel and colder than ice, burning hotly. His face was completely devoid of obvious anger and hate, drawn in sharp lines.
"The Prophecy still might be in play so I have to be the one that ends it," he continued. "And I am going to end it. I can handle anything Riddle throws out. Professor Dumbledore will pick things up if I go down. But for your safety, let me go at him first."
"Ready positions," Amelia said when she touched her badge that buzzed. "Death Eaters are entering the zone." She looked at everyone. "Good luck, God and Merlin and Magic be with us all."
Andromeda reached out and grabbed Evan's hands tightly. "Do not be rash," she said, her voice thick. Her deep brown eyes staring at him. "Remember what you promised us."
"To fight to come back to all of you," Evan said, his voice also thick. He hugged her gratefully, coughing when she hugged him all the harder. "Don't worry, I'm fighting for the future and I'm going to be a part of it."
"Yeah you are," Sirius said hoarsely, hugging him too.
Evan pulled on a cloak and looked at Dumbledore doing the same, shooting that familiar slightly cocky grin at the older man. "Ready? Sir?"
"Ready," Dumbledore said, nodding and unable to help but smile back. "I am with you."
"I know," Evan said, pulling the cowl up. "I'm with you too. Let's do this, together."
Dumbledore nodded again. "Together."
-0-
Tom Riddle, the Dark Lord Voldemort, walked into the area confidently. He was followed by his Death Eaters and although there were less of them than he would have liked, there were enough of them to provide enough of a presence that any would be wary of them. Thin lips curled, revealing sharp white teeth, and he smiled, thinking of what was about to happen. With the mercenaries under his command, he would not have any problems with numbers anymore and he would firmly be in charge.
He already had plans, just waiting to start. With the mercenaries, he would strike at various sites at the same time, overwhelming the Ministry. He would destroy the Daily Prophet and put an end to their lies and libel, he would put himself in charge of the Ministry. He would then lay siege to Hogwarts and ensure its compliance. He would become the law. The power. The authority.
He absentmindedly stroked the head of the large snake that coiled around his shoulders. The serpent shifted slightly, tongue flicking in and out of a long narrow snout. His followers walked behind him, fanning out slightly to form a broad line of strength.
Finally, he stopped and the others did as well. He saw a small group of people standing there waiting for him. A large table had been conjured and pieces of parchment held at the ready. They all wore long dark brown cloaks with the hoods up, the uniform of the mercenary group. Voldemort smiled broadly. "At last, you have come to join us," he said, his voice deep. It was the voice of someone who was supremely self-assured, someone utterly confident and arrogant.
"Where are the rest of you?" Bellatrix Lestrange looked at the small group suspiciously. "I thought there were more of you."
"Still disembarking and getting our things ready," one of the cowled leaders said, voice cool and professional. "We came here as agreed to sign the contract and formalize our alliance."
"Alliance? You will be serving the Dark Lord," Bellatrix growled.
"Not yet," the cowled leader said, completely disregarding the growl and the looks of displeasure on the others. "Not until he signs and pays us."
Voldemort held his hand up, cutting Bellatrix off before she could retort. "Wait." His red eyes narrowed and he glared at the speaker. "You speak, but that is not your voice. Who are you?"
The cowled figure looked at Voldemort for a moment before looking to one of the others by his side. At the other's nod, the figure pulled the cowl back, revealing patrician features and long platinum blonde hair.
"You?!" Bellatrix shrieked and the other Death Eaters cried out when they recognized Lucius.
"Me," Lucius said, smiling sharply. "And no, I am no mere mercenary." He looked down his nose at a flummoxed Voldemort. "You seem diminished in more ways than one, my lord." The title was delivered in the sharp sarcasm that only a Malfoy could. Mockingly.
A flurry of motion drew everyone's attention. Aurors, Hit Wizards, and the others sprang up and revealed themselves, dispelling concealing charms and throwing away cloaks. Wands were aimed at the Death Eaters who held their wands up too, crying out once more at the ambush. More than a few looked like they were going to run, stopping only when they realized that the way they came was blocked off.
"This is your only warning!" Amelia shouted. "Surrender and you will be spared!"
"My Lord, what do we do?!" Corban Yaxley gasped, looking around.
Voldemort however was focused on another who removed the hood of his cloak. His eyes widened and he gasped out loud. His snake, Nagini, also hissed when they both looked at the older wizard that stood there. "Albus Dumbledore?" Voldemort whispered, as if he could not believe his eyes.
"Tom," Dumbledore said politely, smiling a little at Voldemort's bristle. "It has been a very long time."
"You…you are the one that orchestrated this," Voldemort said, voice shaking from fury. His eyes narrowed. "You, always the thorn in my side! Always the one that wishes to ruin me! From the moment we met!"
"No, Tom," Dumbledore said sadly. "I only ever wanted the best for you, when we met. I approached it incorrectly, and have tried to make amends during your years at school, but I failed. And thus, I have to make amends now. But also, I am not the one that planned this, though I am a willing participant."
Voldemort's long fingers caressed Nagini's head and he felt her tense, uncoiling slightly. "I do not believe you," he said coldly. "But out of respect, I will allow you to make…amends." He threw his arm forward and Nagini launched herself into the air and at Dumbledore, thrown by Voldemort's magic as well. She hissed loudly, mouth opened wide, fangs gleaming.
The only one who had not removed his hood acted. As soon as Nagini was in the air between Voldemort and Dumbledore, the man slashed down and a blast of immense pressure hit the flying snake, sending her crashing into the earth.
The moment the snake hit the earth, the earth churned and roiled. The ground split wide and the snake fell down into the dirt and stone with a loud confused hiss and Voldemort cried out in horror when the stone slammed shut hard. The sound of crunching bone filled the air and the hiss was suddenly and violently cut off, leaving silence.
"You dare?!" Voldemort screamed, pointing his wand at Dumbledore.
"No, I dare."
Voldemort turned to stare at the cowled man and he felt a shiver run up his spine. In the dark depths of the figure's hood, two gleaming points of green light glinted, like emeralds in obsidian. "Who are you?" Voldemort spat, aiming his wand at the figure.
"I am your bane." Evan drew the hood back and he stared at Voldemort with eyes unflinching, with an expression of pure murder on his face. Everyone, friend and foe alike, took a step back at the naked aggression on Evan's face. The air pulsated around him. The smell of iron and blood filled the air and it had nothing to do with Nagini's sudden end. "I am your end."
Evan took a step forward and he smiled, sending another shiver down everyone's backs. "I am the one that has reduced your power. I am the one that has interfered with your plans. I am the one that has killed and captured your followers."
Evan's laugh rolled over the cliffs like thunder. "I am the one that destroyed the bones of your father, of his father and his mother. I am the one that has killed you before, time and again, and enjoyed every single time!"
Evan stared at Voldemort. "And I am the one that is going to kill you one last time, and make sure you stay dead this time." He flicked his wand and objects appeared on the table: a cup, a diadem, a ring, and a locket.
Voldemort's pale features paled even more when he saw the objects and recognized them. "Who are you?!" he screamed, staring at Evan with naked horror.
"I am Evan Harry James Potter," Evan said. "And for my father, and my mother, and my brother, and all of your victims, I am going to kill you." Evan's left arm flashed and Yaxley fell back, a knife embedded in his chest. With a roar, Evan ran forward, casting as he ran and Voldemort instantly fell back, his own arm moving wildly and spells filled the air as the two men clashed.
That was the catalyst. Death Eaters cast spells and some rushed to join Voldemort while others tried to flee. The task force joined the fray and the clifftop was filled with magic and violence.
The Battle of the Cliffs of Dover had begun.
-0-
Amelia blasted a wizard back and to pieces, saving one of her Aurors who had been downed. She cast a shield charm to block a volley of spells, gritting her teeth as the shield charm began to break under the deluge of violent magic. She relaxed when Sirius froze a man in place and Remus cut the arm off another, reducing the incoming spells. Her eyes widened as a man aimed his wand at Sirius and then fell back when a large axe bisected his throat, cutting his incantation off literally and making him gurgle as he slumped.
Andromeda tore the axe out and flourished her wand, sending another witch back. She ducked, dodging a spell by inches and her own eyes widened as the man screamed in agony before falling over with blood dripping from his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. "Thank you," she gasped.
Lucius nodded. "Of course," he said before he dispassionately killed another person. "Never liked them anyways and you are family after all."
"There's Bella!" Sirius shouted, pointing at a knot of Death Eaters that fought wildly and effectively, keeping the others at bay.
"We better go stop her," Andromeda said, her expression sad but determined.
"Boss!" Dora riddled a man with spikes and ran up to Amelia, panting. "Dawlish messaged! Huge fight down the coast and a chunk of mercs are running this way!"
"Fuck!" Amelia spat. "You, Shack, grab some others and form a line between here and there. If they reinforce this lot, we're in trouble."
"On it!" Dora ran off and others joined her.
A loud crash filled the air and some of the fights stalled as people stared at the source with wide open eyes and mouths.
Voldemort and Evan dueled in the center of the space. Magic cracked and the air shattered as the men fought one another. Spells flew back and forth and Evan was always on the move, never standing still while Voldemort twisted and turned, forced to dodge as well.
Evan threw his left hand into the air and long silver knives flew from his grasp. They suddenly flew right at Voldemort, buzzing and hissing, slicing through the air and the man howled when more than one cut through his defenses, through his robes, through his skin. He blasted them away and sent tendrils of dark screaming magic at Evan who managed to avoid most of them, though one cut through his own shield and gouged a line out of his robes and through the outside of his arm. Evan gritted his teeth and cut through the tendrils with a spell before shooting an avalanche of rocks at Voldemort.
Voldemort grunted, struck solidly by several rocks before he rolled his wrist and made the wave of rocks form a line around him. He threw them back at Evan, the rocks turning spiky and metallic as they flew. Evan summoned a large stone wall that absorbed the flying metal shards and then dissipated completely. He ducked, dodging the stream of fire that Voldemort shot at him and shouted, making a complex wand movement.
The stream of fire turned and attached to the end of his wand and Evan snapped the flame whip and lashed at Voldemort, swinging his arm and making the whip crack and snap. The dark wizard managed to deflect a few blows before screaming in agony as the lash cut across his back, burning through his robes. He put the flames out with a wave of water and sent the wave at Evan, the waters turning sickly green. He gasped as the water turned to ice and hastily dispelled it when the sheet of ice cracked ominously. Another wand movement sent a stream of lightning out and his eyes widened as Evan countered and sent a similar stream of lightning out too. The spells collided and connected and Voldemort was pushed back several feet before he managed to brace himself.
His thoughts had been in chaos since the start of the duel. Finding himself caught in a trap was already enough to surprise anyone. Then seeing the architect of all of his problems before him and unlike the vast majority of people, utterly unafraid of him also threw him off. Then seeing his horcruxes laid out on the table like that and the sudden demise of Nagini had made his stomach fall.
For the first time in a very long time, Tom Riddle truly felt fear.
Evan's expression and actions through the duel also unnerved him. Voldemort had fought and dueled against many people. Most had barely kept their fear at bay. A few had fought savagely and courageously, earning his annoyance and grudging admiration. But Evan fought with a focus that Voldemort did not respect as much as he was truly wary of. It was the kind of concentration that Dumbledore had and Voldemort was very wary of that man and wizard. Seeing the same kind of strength and intensity on someone younger and who openly stated how much he was going to kill him truly panicked him.
Not only that, Evan was strong. He was fast. He was determined. And Voldemort was not sure of victory.
Finally, Evan Harry James Potter? The boy from the Prophecy? Surely impossible. He should be younger and much less able than this. In fact, he had to be. Voldemort remembered the confrontation when he was still a wraith possessing Quirrell three years prior. So who was this one that was older and stronger claiming to be Harry Potter? He should not be the same boy so that meant Voldemort was safe.
Right?
Also, Evan? Voldemort never heard that name associated with him before.
Voldemort knew he had to either win soon or flee because the longer they fought, the less likely that victory would be his. He had noticed that his followers were being picked off by the ambush and the Ministry force. Dumbledore had been able to keep his followers from interfering with the duel, fighting alongside Moody and giving Evan the freedom and focus he needed to deal with Voldemort. Voldemort had noticed a fight coming closer and seeing the robes of the mercenaries, knew that if he was able to hold out, that might turn the tide.
That said, if this imposter was Harry Potter, he had to act and think like him too. Before Barty had been captured, he had passed along observations of Harry at Hogwarts. Voldemort knew that the boy was sentimental and weak due to his care for others. Voldemort saw that Evan had looked to the sides to check on people occasionally and decided to act. He threw more of his strength into the spell connecting them and the magic exploded in the middle, sending both men stumbling and throwing people close to them off-balance.
That included a witch with bright pink hair.
Voldemort snarled and shot a spell at her, a wave of dark energy and fire and malevolent force.
"No!"
Evan saw the spell and turned on the spot, breaking through the anti-apparition charms the Ministry people had thrown down to keep the Death Eaters from escaping. Evan appeared right in front of Dora and threw her to the side while casting a shield charm at the same time. The spell hit him directly before the shield could form completely and the blast sent him into the air, flying out and over the cliff and falling off.
"No!" Dora shrieked, trying to grab him with hand and spell and she watched with horror as Evan disappeared from sight.
Voldemort began to laugh crazily as the fighting stopped and people looked over the empty space with horror. The pale man threw his head back and laughed and laughed until something made the laugh die swiftly and suddenly.
Evan floated in the air, rising from below the cliffs, his face a rictus of pain and fury. The front of his chest was smoking ruin, burned and bleeding flesh peeked through torn cloth. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and he wiped it with the back of one hand, not looking at it. He breathed heavily and it was clear that he was hurt.
But he was alive.
"You're not the only one that knows how to fly!" Evan shouted and he leaned forward slightly, bending his knees and to everyone's shock, came flying right at Voldemort. He threw a bag into the air and hit it with a spell. The bag exploded and a shower of golden objects flew at Voldemort and he blocked them all, looking at them with confusion as they flew around him. He looked at the gold coins before his eyes widened and the coins exploded all around him.
From the smoke and golden shrapnel, Voldemort flew into the air, his cloak billowing around him. He groaned in pain as he felt his skin blacken and burn, his bones bruised and some broken by the force of the explosions. He felt the air shift and he turned and hastily cast a flurry of spells at Evan who flew at him, dodging and turning wildly to avoid Evan.
"Look at you!" Evan shouted, flying circles around Voldemort and shooting spells back at the man while dodging return blows. "You think you know how to fly? You think the air is yours to command?! You can't take it from me! Not like everything else you've taken from me!"
Voldemort screamed as an empowered piercing curse tore through his defenses, blowing a hole clean through his left thigh. He tried to reply through word and spell but it was hard for him to maintain his flight and to do anything else. He felt his skin prickle and he realized howling was filling his ears. He looked up in horror as dark storm clouds gathered around him and Evan.
"Prepare for judgement Tom!" Evan shouted. He held his wand high. "Let's see who the wind and the storm judges worthy! TEMPESTAS IUDICIUM!" Bright light flew from Evan's wand and melded into the dark storm clouds and he threw his arms wide and looked up, standing in midair.
Voldemort's scream could be heard over the thunder as he was struck by lightning. He was struck again and again, the fury of the storm lancing deep into him again and again. Lightning flew within mere inches of Evan but never touched him, instead reserving their fury for Voldemort. The storm's appearance and Evan's shout had stopped all fighting in the area and the watchers on all sides of the conflict looked up in awe and horror at the unfolding scene. Voldemort fell to the earth and struck the ground hard. He groaned in pain, skin blackened and smoldering, and he clambered to his feet. He conjured thick black choking smoke with his wand and began to run.
Evan smiled savagely and he clicked his feet together before he kicked out with his right foot, aiming at the leading edge of the dark smoke. He shouted a series of incantations, stomping with his left foot at the same time. An object flew from the bottom of his right foot and grew in size, turning into a full racing broom as it hurtled towards the spot he aimed for. The smoke dissipated and revealed the running Voldemort who screamed out again when the flying broom struck him in the lower back, punching through his body and sending him crashing to the ground.
Evan flew down, surfing on the broom that grew from under his left foot. He flicked his wand and destroyed the wand in Voldemort's hand and looked down at his foe. "Coward," Evan said, his voice raw and savage. "Judged by Air, and found unworthy. Judged by Earth," he flicked his wand and the earth moved and the bloody broken remains of Nagini appeared, "and found despicable."
Evan tore the broom out of Voldemort, making the man scream once more and he writhed on the ground, looking up at Evan with fear-laced eyes. "And you broke the contract at the last."
"Wh-what contract?!" Tom moaned.
"When next Tom Riddle and Evan Potter fought, the one who broke first and tried to flee would be found wanting," Evan said with grim pleasure.
"I made no such agreement!"
"No, but you were Chosen to partake in such agreement," Evan said, his smile from ear to ear. "Poetic, isn't it? Since you tried to get Harry, and you got me, in the same way through Barty." He hopped off the broom and grabbed Riddle's leg and dragged him to the table with Riddle screaming from pain, his struggling ineffectual and impotent. "And now, be Judged by Fire." Evan flicked his wand and the covering that hid the Goblet of Fire disappeared, revealing the Goblet.
Riddle stared as the Goblet was filled with azure flame. He gasped when the woman made of fire appeared, crawling from the Goblet but remaining connected to it with a stream of cobalt fire. He screamed in pain and fear as she grabbed him, her eyes filled with potent rage and righteous anger. Her fiery hands sank deep into his flesh and the onlookers cried out when they saw a ghostly form be torn from Riddle's body. The form was small and looked faded and broken but it was undeniably in the same shape as Riddle. The ghostly form fought and screamed soundlessly as it was dragged back into the Goblet by the vengeful woman of flames and it was devoured by the fires of the Goblet, leaving a cold dead Tom Riddle behind.
His face frozen in the echoes of his last scream.
Evan summoned the broom to him without a word, standing on it without fear. He reached down and picked up Riddle's lifeless body and flew into the air, hovering above the heads of everyone. He held Riddle's body above his own head and shouted. "Tom Riddle is dead! The Dark Lord Voldemort has fallen! AND I CAST HIM DOWN!" He carelessly dropped Riddle's body and it fell to the earth limply, a tangle of rent black cloth and pale limbs before it landed without a sound, making a small pathetic bundle.
Evan held his wand up and pointed it at the mercenaries and remaining Death Eaters. "Who's next?" he asked in a light, almost conversational tone.
A clatter of falling wands filled the air. Every Death Eater and mercenary dropped their wands and fell to the ground on their knees, their hands up. Few dared to look at Evan directly and most stared at the broken body that was once Tom Riddle, also known as the Dark Lord Voldemort. Amelia snapped her fingers and Aurors and Hit Wizards and Unspeakables hurriedly began to secure the prisoners, wrapping them in chains and manacles and confiscating their wands.
"I think he's more like Lily," Sirius said, dabbing at a cut in his jaw.
"I agree," Remus said, drinking a potion and grimacing.
"He does have a lineage with the Blacks," Andromeda said proudly, wiping her axe clean with a cloth. "His great grandmother, yes?"
Evan flew down and joined his friends and family, finally allowing the pain in his face to show as he winced getting off the broom. He grunted when Dora tackled him, hugging him hard. "Are you okay?" he asked, gasping.
"Am I?! Are you?!" Dora looked at him, her hair long and black, her eyes green. "Why'd you do that?!"
"I didn't want to lose you again," Evan said softly, gasping again when she hugged him tight. "Dora…I'm getting…you…bloody."
"Don't bloody care," she sniffled.
"Love, let him go," Andromeda said gently but firmly pulling Dora away. "We need to heal him." She hugged Evan firmly however and kissed him on the cheek. "Well done, Love," she praised.
Dumbledore looked at the fallen Riddle with a faint expression of sadness before he turned to Evan. "Well done indeed," he said firmly and fondly.
"Do I still worry you?" Evan asked, his smile warm and no longer iron-hard or bloodthirsty.
Dumbledore laughed heartily and the others joined in. "Yes," he said frankly. "But I hope that changes in time."
"Me too, honestly," Evan said, sighing with relief as Andromeda cast more healing spells over him. He looked at Riddle's form with grim satisfaction. "It's done. It's finally done."
"And you've accomplished two of your goals," Sirius said proudly, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Only one left now."
"What's that?" Evan asked with obvious confusion.
"The Tournament?" Remus reminded him with a smile.
"Oh right that," Evan said, making the others snort and chuckle. "I keep forgetting about that. No you're right. All I got to do is win that now."
"And enjoy the rest of your life," Andromeda chided.
"Yeah, that too," Evan said, smiling. "Definitely that."
-0-
The door to the room opened and everyone inside jumped up, looking at the door with fear and worry. Evan stopped in the entryway and blinked seeing Harry, Fleur, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Sophie, Aimee, and Colette there with Wisteria, Hedwig, and Crookshanks beside them.
"Uh, a bit of privacy please?" he sniffed before he grunted when they rushed him.
"What happened?!" Fleur cried. She had reached him first and hugged him hard, belatedly realizing his chest was swathed in bandages and how Evan flinched from pain. He was pale and in obvious discomfort, obviously weak and weary.
But he was there. And he was smiling.
"It's done," Evan said, looking at Harry. "Bastard's dead. Super dead. Made sure of it."
Harry's eyes prickled but his smile was from ear to ear and he hugged Evan hard, also letting go suddenly when Evan coughed and feeling the bandages.
"Take it easy," Evan said, though without heat or displeasure. "Or else you lot will seriously send me to the Infirmary."
"Shouldn't you be there?" Ron asked, concerned.
"Auntie Andi already patched me up and I might have insinuated that I'd go to the Infirmary here if I felt the need to. And as long as I'm not bleeding anymore, I don't feel the need to so don't open up my wounds," Evan said. He laughed as the owls barked loudly and with sweeping blows of their wings and ample pecking and kicking, forced Evan to the couch and glared at the others with Crookshanks sitting on his lap, also looking at the others with stern disapproval.
"And you're okay?" Hermione asked as they settled down around him. "Aside from the…obvious bandages and all."
"I'm better than okay," Evan grinned and they smiled at how obviously happy and relaxed he was. Gone was the tension, that undercurrent of distraction that seemed to always be around him. That faint feeling of something hiding and lurking and brooding was gone, leaving no traces behind. Before them sat a genuinely happy Evan, one free from the shackles that once bound him. "He's dead, I'm not, and most of the task force made it through okay. Lots of minor injuries and a few major ones, but no deaths. Which is super lucky and I'm not complaining at all."
He settled back as Wisteria and Hedwig fluffed up on his shoulders and he patted a purring Crookshanks. "The Death Eaters are gone. The survivors recaptured and are going to be tried and punished again. The mercs are being sent out to the ICW for crimes they've done aside from the ones that turned on them to help us. This is even better than my best-case scenario and I'm just…happy."
He let out a long breath. "I'm free," he whispered. He smiled at Harry. "We're free. It's done. We can live on without the bloody sword of Damocles over our heads. We answer to no one now. Well, maybe to two ones." He coughed when he heard identical hoots of indignation. "Okay, definitely two ones, maybe three ones." He grinned at Hermione and Fleur who replied with flat looks.
"Brilliant," Harry said, also looking incredibly happy and relieved. "Thanks, for everything."
"Genuinely my pleasure," Evan said. "I managed to get years of trauma and repressed emotion out in that fight and it was incredibly cathartic." He looked up at the dark ceiling. That was for all of you, he thought.
He felt the stones beneath his feet shudder and warm and he smiled again.
"And now you have the rest of your life to live happily and freely," Luna said happily.
"Yup, no more worries at all," Evan sighed gustily.
"Uh, isn't the Third Task like in two days?" Ron asked.
"I know, I'm not worried about it," Evan said, winking at Fleur.
Fleur blushed prettily, ignoring her giggling cousin and friends. "You should be," she said with the barest hint of frost in her words.
"We'll see," Evan said, smiling more at her look. "This is perfect though," he sighed. He suddenly straightened. "Wait, I just thought what could make this more perfect. Saint Dobby! Saint Inky!"
"Master Evan!" Dobby and Inky appeared and they smiled at the young man. "You are okay!"
"I am! And a part of it is because I knew I couldn't lose with your cooking and I'd be damned if I didn't get to eat it one more time. I know it's late, but would you be able to make something?" Evan asked.
Dobby and Inky snapped their fingers and trays of sandwiches and a plethora of baked treats appeared on every surface in the room. "Dobby knew Master Evan would win!" Dobby declared with Inky nodding enthusiastically.
"We made this before and kept waiting for you," Inky said.
Another crack heralded the arrival of Kreacher who brought barrels with him. "More for you, Master Evan," he croaked, looking at Evan with fond admiration.
"Bless the three of you," Evan said happily. "Join us too."
"Is that alcohol?" Hermione asked, frowning when Kreacher gave Evan a goblet.
"It might be," Evan said, sipping from it. "'Course, since I'm recovering, my sense of taste might be mildly impacted so I can't say for sure." He winked broadly at the elves who nodded understandingly back. "I'm fibbing, your food tastes amazing," he mouthed and the elves snickered and snorted, nodding back harder and their large ears flapped.
"You shouldn't be drinking any alcohol if you're recovering," Hermione said crossly, fighting a smile.
"I do a lot of things I shouldn't," Evan said dismissively. "You should be used to that."
"I am," she said flatly, giving a snickering Harry and Ron a look.
Evan settled back into the couch with a happy sigh, reveling in the happy sounds around him. He watched as the others chatted and laughed, filling plates with food and pouring drinks for each other. "Now this is perfect," he said.
"What is that?" Fleur asked, leaning closer. She squeaked when he drew her to him, smiling as she leaned against him, pressing herself to him.
"Just saying, it's perfect now," Evan smiled.