The Second Chapter

Harry felt distracted the rest of the day. His mind continuously wheeling around Tom, who he is, how he knew Harry's last name when he was hiding the scar under his hair and, more importantly, how the boy managed to slip the piece of parchment into his pocket. Even as it was time for them to move to the golden stadium with carpeted stairs that led to the Top Box where they would be sitting, Harry's mind was a whirlwind about this one boy. The Top Box had about twenty or so purple-and-gilt- chairs that stood in two rows. Evan noticed Harry's troubled face as they sat down and touched his arm softly, "Are you okay?" he asked.

"No actually," Harry sighed.

"Is it because of that boy? The one who disappeared?" Evan asked.

Harry nodded, his hand reaching for his pocket, "Yeah," he whispered. "It's not just that he disappeared, however, it's also because he left me this when I didn't notice." He pulled out the parchment and gave it to Evan. "I never felt anything going into my pocket," he said.

Even unfolded and read it quickly. "Man… he certainly is forward, isn't he?" Evan asked.

"I guess… but I don't know how to feel about it," Harry said. "I mean, I know he would learn that I'm a Potter eventually… or maybe he already known since he said he'll see me in Hogwarts but… I've never heard or seen of him once!"

"How old did he look?" Evan asked. "Do you remember?"

Harry frowned in thought. "Our age… maybe a year or so older," Harry said after a while. "So… maybe fifteen, sixteen?"

"Maybe Fred and George might know him," Evan said. "What's his last name?"

"I don't know," Harry said. "He only introduced him as Tom."

"Well… that's a very common name, isn't it?" Evan frowned. "And very rude of him, I mean when you meet a boy as cute as you are Harry, you're supposed to give your full name. It's only proper."

Harry gave a soft chuckle, "That another lesson Dean and Seamus taught you?" he asked.

"Of course," Evan smiled, "and it just common manners. Like, if he cannot even give you his last name, is he even worth it?"

Harry frowned and thought for a bit, "Maybe…" he said slowly, "maybe Tom is in the closet? And is afraid that I'll somehow out him?"

"That can be it, but really Harry, do you really want your first boyfriend to be a closet case?" Evan asked.

"Well I don't know if you've noticed Evan, but Hogwarts isn't exactly filled to the brim with gays," Harry said. "I mean, off the top of your head, can you name five gay students at Hogwarts?"

"Of course," Evan said, "You, me, Seamus… Tom, whoever he is, …and… Malfoy?"

"You think Malfoy's gay?" Harry snickered.

"With how he obsesses with his hair, how can't he be?" Evan laughed. Harry joined in, but he felt a small heat on his cheeks as a blush formed. Evan did not know this however, during their third year Harry formed a bit of a crush on Malfoy. Though he will never act on it, Malfoy is too much of a prat to act on it.

"But still, that just shows how little gayness there is in Hogwarts," Harry continued once their laughter died down. "Look, we can't exactly date ourselves, that would be gross, Seamus is out cause he's our friend, that leaves Tom and Malfoy and, well, I would rather take my chance with Tom than deal with Malfoy."

"I guess so," Evan sighed. "Oh well, Tom for you and Cedric for me."

"Evan, we don't even know if Cedric likes guys," Harry said.

"Are you kidding? Of course, he does, he's too handsome to be just straight," Evan said. Harry shook his head and muttered something about his brother being delusional.

The box filled gradually around them over the next half hour. Mr. Weasley kept shaking hands with people who were obviously very important wizards. Percy jumped to his feet so often that he looked as though he was sitting on a hedgehog. When the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, arrived, he greeted Harry and Evan like an old friend.

"The Potter twins, you know, Harry and Evan," he told the Bulgarian minister loudly, who was wearing splendid ropes of black velvet trimmed with gold and didn't seem to understand a word of English. Harry and Evan shared a look as the Minister tried to get the Bulgarian minister to understand who they were. He finally understood when he saw their scars.

"Knew we'd get there in the end," Fudge said wearily to Harry and Evan. "I'm not great shakes at languages; I need Barty Crouch for this sort of thing. …Ah! Here's Lucius!"

Harry, Evan, Ron, and Hermione turned quickly. Edging along the second row to three still-empty seats right behind Mr. Weasley were none other than Lucius Malfoy; his son, Draco; and a woman Harry supposed was Draco's mother.

A pale boy with a pointed face and white-blond hair, Draco greatly resembled his father. His mother was blonde too; tall and slim, she would have been nice-looking if she hadn't been wearing a look that suggested there was a nasty smell under her nose.

Evan and Harry both glared at Malfoy, Harry's glare a little weaker, as Evan said, "My… I had no idea they've allowed rats in here."

"Funny Potter, I was going to say the same thing about you and your lot," Malfoy sneered.

"What's the matter Draco? Can't go to a simple Quidditch game without Mummy?" Evan asked.

"At least I have a mother, Potter," Malfoy said coldly. Harry quickly stepped forward, his hand going for his wand, when he felt hands on both side of him.

"Don't," Ron said to his left. "He's not worth it."

"Harry…"

Harry turned to see Evan. He looked equally angry with Hermione and George holding his shoulders tightly. Harry just sneered at Draco just as a man dressed in an outrageous set of robes came running in, "Everyone ready?" he said, his round face gleaming like a great, excited Edam. "Minister—ready to go?"

"Ready when you are, Ludo," Fudge said comfortably, apparently oblivious to Evan and Malfoy's little fight.

Ludo whipped out his wand, directed it at his own throat and said, "Sonorus!" and then spoke over the roar of sound that was now filling the packed stadium; his voice echoed over them, booming into every corner of the stands.

While he talked, Evan sulked as he leaned towards Harry to whisper. "That pompous disgusting git—who does he think he is? The ass," Evan muttered.

"How are you feeling? Are you okay?" Harry asked.

"No, I am not okay," Evan sneered slightly. "I want to grab Malfoy and tear every single hair off his head and body!"

"I know, he's a prick, but Evan there's a time and place for these things," Harry said. "We can't assault him here in front of the Ministry."

"Funny how you reached for your wand too," Evan sneered. Harry frowned, "I know, I acted stupidly, and if it wasn't for Ron I probably would have given Malfoy a bloody nose by now, but what would have happened afterwards?"

"Malfoy would have a bloody nose and we would be satisfied," Evan said.

"Along with being in deep trouble," Harry said. "I'm not saying we shouldn't do something to him… just that we should wait, you know."

"Wait… I don't think I can," Evan sighed. "Forget it, it's stupid anyway."

"It's not stupid, he hurt me just as much as he did you right now," Harry said. He glanced around for a moment. "Ron?" he said questionably. For some reason Ron and the other Weasley males, expect Mr. Weasley, were acting rather strangely. Ron looked as though he was seriously contemplating jumping into the air, along with Fred and George and Bill Weasley. "What's going on?" he frowned.

He and Evan looked out towards the stadium to see a hundred women… no, not women, they were more akin to creatures, with moonlight-skin and white-gold hair that fanned out behind them as music played. "Harry… I'm feeling lightheaded," Evan said.

Harry frowned, he didn't feel anything. He looked at Mr. Weasley and said, "Mr. Weasley, what are those?"

"Veela," Mr. Weasley said excitedly.

"This just shows how simple-minded your friends are, Potter," Harry heard Malfoy sneer from behind him. He turned around to give a glare. The music stopped. Angry yells were filling the stadium. The crowd didn't want the veela to go. Harry looked back at Malfoy with a glare and leaned into his brother, "Feeling alright?"

"Yeah just… very needy," Evan nodded. "What I wouldn't do for Cedric or a cute girl to be here." Harry rolled his eyes and relaxed into his seat, satisfied that his brother was back to his usual self. The Irish's mascots came out next, real life leprechauns zooming around like a great green-and-gold comet into the stadium. They comet exploded into a rainbow arch that caused the crowd to go "ooooh" and "ahhhh" as though it was a fireworks display. A great green shamrock appeared in the sky, out of which gold rained down into the crowds.

"Excellent!" Ron yelled as the shamrock soared over them, and heavy gold coins rained from it, bouncing off their heads and seats. Harry saw Ron scoop full a fistful of gold into his pocket as Mr. Weasley applauded with the crowd.

And soon the game began. Harry wanted to enjoy the game, his eyes were glued on the Bulgarian seeker Viktor Krum and his moves, but every now and again Harry found that he was scanning the crowd through his Omnioculars that he brought before the game, looking for a familiarly handsome face. It was as if trying to pick a needle from a city. Every now and again he thought he got Tom, only for it to be another person entirely, either too old or too young. Before he knew it, the game was over. Ireland won, but Krum got the snitch.

The two teams came into the Top Box for a final wave of applause, and then it was over. Harry saw Fred and George run up to Ludo Bagman with their hands outstretched, victorious smirks on their faces, but didn't think to question it.

"That was amazing," Evan breathed as they made their way slowly down the purple-carpeted stairs. "Wasn't it Harry?"

"Huh? Oh yeah," Harry nodded.

Evan frowned. "Did you even watch the game?"

"Of course I did!" Harry said. "I kept watching Krum… it's only just that during other times, I kept looking for Tom as well."

"Harry," Evan groaned. "I'm sorry but it sounds like you're starting to get obsessive."

"I am not—"

"Starting to, not saying you are," Evan interrupted. "Look, he wrote that he'll see you in Hogwarts right? Well then we'll forget about the closet case till then and if he mans up to approach you then maybe, just maybe, it might be a good idea for you two to date."

"I guess you're right," Harry sighed. He did his best to stifle a yawn but failed. "Anyway, I guess I shouldn't worry too much 'bout him. And I really should get some sleep."

"That's the spirit!" Evan smiled.

They soon caught up in the crowds now flooding out of the stadium and back to their campsites. Raucous singing was borne toward them on the night air as they retraced their steps along the lantern-lit path, and leprechauns kept shooting over their heads, cackling and waving their lanterns. When they finally reached the tents, Harry immediately went to his bed while everyone else stayed up.

.

"Get up! Harry—Ron—get up! Now! This is Urgent!" Mr. Weasley was shouting.

Harry sat up quickly and the top of his head hit the canvas. "S'matter?" he asked.

Dimly, he could tell that something was wrong. The noises in the campsite has changed. The singing has stopped. He could hear screams, and the sound of people running. He slipped down from the bunk and reached for his clothes, but Mr. Weasley, who had pulled on his jeans over his own pajamas, said, "No time, Harry—just grab a jacket and get outside—quickly!"

"Harry!"

It was Evan. His voice was coming from outside. Harry grabbed his jacket and thrust it on as he ran. Evan was standing just outside, looking petrified. By the light of the few fires still burning, he could see people running away into the woods, fleeing something that was moving across the field toward them, something that was emitting odd flashes of light and noises like gunfire. Loud jeering, roars of laughter, and drunken yells were drifting towards them; then came a burst of strong green light, which illuminated the scene.

A crowd of wizards, tightly packed and moving together with wands pointing straight upward, was marching slowly across the field. Their heads were hooded and faces masked. High above them, floating along in midair, four struggling figures were being contorted into grotesque shapes. It was as though the masked wizards on the ground were puppeteers, and the people above them were marionettes operated by invisible strings.

"Evan," Harry breathed as he reached his brother, "what is going on?"

"I don't know," Evan said, panicked. Tents crumbled as the marching crowd swelled. Several caught fire. The screams continued to get louder.

Mr. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, and Percy came out of the tent fully dressed and their sleeves rolled up, wands in their hands. "We're going to help the Ministry!" Mr. Weasley shouted over all the noise, you lot—get into the woods and stick together! I'll come and fetch you when we've sorted this out!"

Bill, Charlie, and Percy were already sprinting away toward the oncoming marchers. Mr. Weasley tore after them. "Come on," Harry yelled and he grabbed Evan's hand as they all turned and ran towards the woods.

"What—what are they?" Evan asked.

"Don't know, keep running," Harry said. They headed toward the wood and looked back only when they reached the trees. The crowd was larger than ever, they could see the Ministry wizards trying to get through it to the hooded wizards in the center, but they were having great difficulty. It looked as though they were scared to perform any spell that might make the floating figures fall.

They turned and continued to run. Children were crying around them, screams falling into the woods as they continued deeper and deeper. Harry couldn't see where he was going. He couldn't feel a pressure on his hand and turned around. "Evan?" Harry asked. Nobody answered. "Evan!"

He was lost and alone. He didn't know where he was in the woods. "Evan!" he yelled again.

"Lost, Harry?"

Harry spun around on his feet to only see the glow of a wand. The wand lifted slightly, and the handsome face of Tom greeted him. "You really should be careful where you run…"

"Tom," Harry panted. "What are you doing here?"

"Watching," Tom said vaguely. He pointed his wand towards a tree. Harry frowned and walked towards the trees. Through them, Harry could see the marching group. "The Death Eaters are very active tonight…"

"Death Eaters?" Harry frowned.

"The name of the group… though we should be safe from them, they're after muggles," Tom said. He saw that Harry had a trouble face and gave a soft smirk, "You have much to learn, Harry."

Harry frowned. "I tried looking for you—why did you disappear?" Harry asked. "I didn't even get your last name."

Tom frowned, "You wouldn't want my last name…" he said. "I do not know why, but Dumbledore acted… strangely when he heard it. Not that it matters."

"Tell me that at least, then we can go look for my brother!" Harry said with a frantic note in his voice.

Tom nodded, "Riddle," he said, "my last name is Riddle, not that it matters."

Harry thought for a moment before gasping, recognizing the name. "Tom Riddle," he said.

"Yes, that is me, however Professor Dumbledore told me that it is dangerous for me were others learn it for some reason," Tom Riddle said with a confused frown. "So please, keep this between you and me."

"Y-Yeah," Harry nodded. There is no way Tom is he, he thought. That is just impossible…

"Anyway Harry, I am serious in my note, you better be a good boy," Tom said.

"How—can I ask you something?" Harry asked. There was what sounded like a gunshot near them and Harry's head wiped towards the trees that led to the clearing where the Death Eaters were. He turned around, only to see Tom was again gone. "Tom?"

He frowned worried for Tom's safety, but that immediately went away as the screams quite suddenly surged up again and a crowd of fleeing wizards ran towards Harry. He braced himself as the crowd ran through him. His arms bruises as they ran passed, Harry felt as though he was being knocked away in a storm. Gritting his teeth and eyes, he tried to look for a familiar face but found none.

Silence returned as soon as the crowd ran passed, along with a never-ending darkness. Harry started to run, screaming for his brother. He did not know how far or how long he ran, but for one second there was the darkness of the woods, and the next he was in a clearing, burnt tents still smoldering around him. "Evan!" he screamed as he noticed his brother, Ron, and Hermione surrounded by Ministry officials, their wands all pointed at the three of them and Mr. Weasley shielding them.

"Harry stay back!" Mr. Weasley warned.

Harry stopped immediately. He then noticed that a soft green glow was falling down on them. He looked to the sky and saw an emerald skull as if made from emerald stars and smoke hanging in the sky, from the skull's mouth a snake protruded, and coiled looking ready to strike. "Wh-what is that?" Harry panicked.

"The Dark Mark Harry—stay back, your brother heard somebody conjure it," Mr. Weasley said. Harry stayed in his place, too scared to move. A moment later a female's voice called out, "There is no one there… whoever it was ran off."

"Then search the area!" a strict, curt voice said. A man moved from the crowd and pointed his wand towards Harry. "You! Where were you when this happened?"

"I—I—"

"Honestly Mr. Crouch, Harry is a child too," Mr. Weasley said, "There is no way he could have conjure it!"

"He has been caught returning to the scene of the crime!" Mr. Crouch said.

"I was looking for my brother," Harry said quickly. "We got separated in the forest when we were running away."

"Yes, yes a very likely story," Mr. Crouch muttered. "Conveniently losing your brother to summon this…"

"I don't even know what that is!" Harry said, pointing to the sky where the emerald skull still hung.

"It's the Dark Mark Harry," Mr. Weasley said, trying to stay calm, "It's… You-Know-Who's mark."

"That's…Voldemort's mark?" Harry asked. The Ministry wizards, including Mr. Weasley and Ron, all jumped at Voldemort's name.

"Barty," a different man said, "why would Harry Potter summon the Dark Mark?" It took Harry a moment to realize it was Cedric's father, Amos Diggory.

Barty Crouch sputtered to himself for a moment. He turned to Mr. Weasley and said, "Arthur, children have not place being here now that the Mark is here… take them away."

"Yes… quickly now, quickly," Mr. Weasley said, ushering Evan, Ron, and Hermione away from the crowd towards Harry. The five of them quickly made their way back to the woods and met up with the other Weasleys.

Mr. Weasley led them back to the campsite towards their tents. All was quiet now; there was no sign of the masked wizards, though several ruined tents were still smoking. Harry made sure that he never let go of Evan's hand and insisted that his younger brother slept in the same bunk with him. "I was scared," Harry whispered later that night when everyone else was asleep. "One second I was with you guys and the next… nothing, nobody. Not even the screams. I turned around and you weren't there."

"Harry…"

"Don't scare me like that again Evan, please?" Harry asked. "You're all I have left."

Evan moved closer to Harry. He took Harry's hand and whispered, "You're all I have left too. When I realized that you weren't with us… I was frightened. I wanted to run back and look for you when a crowd ran into me and I blacked out. That was when I heard him. That man, who summoned the Dark Mark."

"I ran into Tom," Harry whispered. "And he was acting… odd. He was just in the woods alone, watching the Death Eaters. He didn't look scared at all. He also told me his last name…"

"That's a start… but I still don't think you should date that closet case," Evan yawned. "Too much drama, you know?"

"Not as much as looking after you," Harry chuckled softly.

"Shutup…" Evan slurred, his words turning into soft snores. Harry waited, watching his brother sleep to make sure he was there, that he was safely in his arms. Content that Evan was truly safe for the night, Harry finally closed his eyes and rested, his mind swirling from the events of the day. Tom's words stuck out the most. His last name, repeating like an endless spiral drifting downwards towards Harry's soul, along with Tom's smirking expression as he said that Harry had much to learn. Harry had no idea what Tom could possibly be referring to. And, deep inside, as the last name took root in his very being, he was too afraid to ask.