A/N: Heyyy everyone! Sorry about the delayed update, I had finals at my University and that paired with moving right after was no picnic. But here is the next installment, I plan to update a bit more regularly now that summer is here.
A side note that makes me a bit ashamed to admit, but I know a bunch of you is not reviewing! This makes me sad, the reviews make me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, without them I am sad and cold. So review to make this poor writer happy? Please ?
I know it seems the story is moving a bit slow, but I promise it will pick up soon! 'Evan' will hopefully meet some very familiar friends in the next chapter :)
Also much thanks goes out to my new beta, Loren, for putting up with my errors! Also, to Ginji, for helping with stylistic issues.
Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own these characters.
A Chance to Live
Chapter Three
"Explain to me again, why some ingredients are to be air dried, with no use of magic in the growing or picking process?" Evan Michaels was asked by his Uncle who bore the same name.
"Because…" Evan was cut off from his train of thought as he received a sharp look from his Uncle. "Sorry, I forgot." Evan said berating himself for the use of the word.
"What rule was it?" His uncle questioned as he leaned back in his chair.
Evan gave a sigh. He looked about before answering. He and Michael were currently sitting at an old white iron circular table in the back garden of Valerian cottage. He heard the sound of someone tapping a nail against the glass covering of the table. He continued to answer the question that was asked of him.
"Wizards do try not to start sentences with a word like 'because', due to the fact that they feel it makes one's speech sound less educated and sloppy. It is however, alright to use when explaining reasoning in a sentence." This was one of the first rules they had gone over in mannerisms classes. Today was May 19, he was just starting his third week in 1975 at Valerian and it had proved to be an extremely arduous two weeks since his arrival. He was just beginning to be able to handle to the rigid training schedule his uncle had set up for him.
The morning jog had proved to show that, while he was not in as good of shape as his older counterpart, it seemed being on the run from Death Eaters all year had given him an okay stamina but there was still room for improvement. While Evan had felt awfully silly doing morning meditations, he had to admit that it was helping with nightmares and keeping a calm persona in general. While they had not practiced Occlumency with wands yet, the meditation was a key factor in learning how to create a wall around his thoughts that Michael assured him would be useful.
The three books that the fates had entrusted him with proved to be interesting but difficult to read. The first one was about all different species of snakes, the second an introduction to medicinal magic and the last was a book of essays about the relationship of poisons to antidotes. Now Evan was not the brightest crayon in the box, but even he could tell that these would prove helpful if he wanted to save Snape from the brutal death from Nagini's poisonous fangs. He still didn't understand half of what some of them said; albeit the potion essays were getting easier to read the more he studied the properties with Michael.
"Back to the original question, some ingredients such as: belladonna, valerian, or dried petals of certain flowers, must be air dried with no magic because they tend to soak up residual magic and the residual magic on the ingredients could affect your potion. While the properties of some more common herbs, such as sage or thyme, can be enhanced by certain spells in the growing and drying process."
"Well done," Michael said with a nod of affirmation. "Why is it important for ingredients to be sliced with precision?"
"If some ingredients are even just a centimeter off in thickness it can imbalance the potion. The imbalance can hinder the efficacy of the potion."
Evan squirmed slightly in his chair. Michael turned his face towards him and had a small smirk.
"Michael…" Evan said as he shifted in his seat again, agitated by something.
"Yes, Evan."
"Not that I haven't enjoyed all of this theory work but…" Evan tried to hold in his patience but it got the better of him and he shot out of his chair and began pacing on the white wooden deck.
"But…" Michael said with a knowing smirk.
"But we haven't done any practical work at all!" Evan said throwing his hands in the air. "And I actually want to do something. Can't we at least make a potion or can't you try to use occlumency on me and I think I've gotten all the theoretical I can at this point! Heck you even don't want me using my wand!"
"Evan, we talked about it—you know you really shouldn't use it—we don't know if Voldemort can tell if his wand has a brother yet. He might seek us out then."
"But how will I be able to attend classes or anything!"
"Get a new wand of course." Michael said patiently.
"Oh." Evan said and felt silly for not seeing the obvious earlier. It had been an interesting two weeks without a wand. He had assumed that not using a wand was mostly a way to ensure that he was taking to wandless magic. Which was proving to be extremely difficult; the only thing he had managed to do wandlessly was summoning objects and some very minor household charms.
Michael looked around the peaceful garden as if in deep thought, and that's when Evan felt it. There was a slight prodding at his thoughts, as if something was trying to sneak its way in slowly and discreetly without drawing attention to itself. Taking a mental breath Evan slowly began constructing a wall protecting his actual thoughts from the intrusion. He then started to try and make it seem to the intruder that he was completely oblivious to the attack on his mind. In his mind he focused on letting the only thought that could be accessed was that he was confused by his Uncle's silence and growing impatient from it.
Then the presence slipped its way back out again and Michael turned to him and gave him a proud smile.
"Well done. It only took you 10 seconds before you realized what had happened."
"What does that mean?" Evan asked.
"It means you are ready for Diagon Alley."
It turned out they were not able to make it to Diagon Alley until a week and a half later. Michael had wanted to make sure that he could keep Occlumency shields up for at least two hours without it tiring him out and that had taken a week. Once he had completed that, he needed to learn how to shield how magically strong he was which when paired with Occlumency shields was not as large of a task. With all the meditation they had been doing, he had learned a way to slip his magical strength behind the shields as well.
Now here they were, walking towards Ollivander's. Diagon certainly wasn't as dark as it had been during the height of Voldemort's second reign but there was an overwhelming amount of suspicion in the air. Evan figured that complete disloyalty and fear had not broken out yet at this point in time. After all from what he could understand from their morning discussion of the paper was that Voldemort was keeping to recruiting at the moment with only slightly odd occurrences here and there. Nothing that would freak the general public out too much but enough that those who were smart were not letting their guard down.
"I don't understand though…" Evan mused out loud, though quietly enough for no one around him to hear exactly what he was saying, "if we are the same person, won't the wand you're using now, be the wand I'm about to get?"
"I don't use a wand too often anymore, and not the one you may receive," Michael said as he opened the door to Ollivander's.
Seeing how cryptic the answer was and knowing he wouldn't get any more information out of the older man, Evan dropped the conversation and followed his Uncle into the shop.
The little bell tinkled above the door as Evan closed it behind him. Ollivander came from the back of the shop and smiled at the two of them from behind the counter.
"Good day, sirs," Ollivander said with what Evan would have written off as a random sweeping hand gesture before, but now he knew that the way Ollivander's right hand started hovering in the air above his shoulder area, sweeping to precisely at his eyes and then out to his right, before coming to rest at his side again, was actually a traditional way to greet a new individual or was a friendly greeting to someone you had not seen in a long time.
"Good afternoon," Evan replied at the same time as his uncle and repeated the gesture with him. To show equality and good faith for the transaction.
"How may I help you today?" Ollivander asked as he made his way around the counter, subtly sizing the two of them up.
"My nephew has recently come into my charge and his old wand was broken in the circumstances that lead him to my care," Michael said smoothly.
"Are you comfortable with the standard measuring process?" Ollivander asked whimsically as he walked over to Evan.
"That is fine," Evan replied, having been through the measurement before, he strengthened his Occlumency shields just in case Ollivander did try to poke in his mind for information regarding to his wand, what kind he had used before and what kind of magic he was strong in. Evan did his best to project a general understanding of most things and a wish for privacy. The strength of the Occlumency shields was done more so Ollivander would not stumble on any information accidentally. After all, it would not be good for him to know that he had been the master of the elder wand recently.
It was odd feeling Ollivander gently pushing for information on his magic and Evan got the distinct feeling that Ollivander had no idea whatsoever that he had Occlumency shields up.
Ollivander stepped back from him and began muttering to himself as he walked behind the counter and came back with a couple of boxes.
Fifteen minutes later he and Michael were paying for his new wand, a thirteen inch wand with a dragon core and silver lime wood, after which they walked out the door of the shop.
"What now?" Evan asked Michael.
"We go buy the current fourth year texts," Michael said as he led them to Flourish and Botts. Evan raised his eyebrow in question as they walked over to the store.
"You will need to know what information is currently being taught in Hogwarts as curriculum changes throughout the years. In order to be placed in the fifth year, we will make sure that you are proficient in the books that are currently being used to teach the fourth years."
The two walked into Flourish and Botts and Michael instructed him to get his herbology and potions books while he would go find some others. As Evan perused the shelves he somehow stumbled upon the cooking section.
It had been a strange thing to learn about himself, but cooking with his Uncle had turned into something he was enjoying quite a bit. While he did appreciate the lessons he was being taught, his favorite time of day was quickly becoming their dinner prep. It obviously was something he would only continue to grow to enjoy in the future, based on the size of the kitchen at Valerian and the amount of cookware placed in the cottage.
Evan saw a book of desserts poking out of the shelf and grabbed it. While they had made a lot of delectable dinners, they had not really made any kinds of desserts yet. He took his time flipping through the pages leisurely, not looking for anything in particular when a voice startled him from behind.
"If all you're looking for is a good tart recipe, that book will suit you just fine, but nearly everything else in that book is quite rubbish."
Evan turned his head toward the sound of the voice and looked into a pair of dark blue eyes of a middle-aged woman. She was only a bit taller than Evan and her wavy dark-brown hair was piled elegantly upon her head. She had a kind face, with wrinkles so fine, that she probably looked 20 years younger if you saw her from a distance. Her azure robes appeared to be made of the finest fabric and fit her with such precision that it left Evan no doubt that they had been made for her by a personal tailor. She radiated wealth, but did not hold an aura of snobbery. As Evan met her eyes he could have sworn he saw a wave of confusion pass through her eyes, but maybe he was just imagining things.
"Oh, I was just looking through. I've been cooking recently and was thinking of maybe trying my hand at baking." Evan said indicating the book in his hands. He looked at the woman more closely, he could swear he had seen her somewhere before.
"Oh, if you're just starting I suggest…this one," the woman said as she pulled a medium sized plain book off the shelves and passed it over to Evan.
"Basics for Beginning Bakers" Evan read the book title aloud as she passed it over to him.
"Oh, the name may imply some silliness, but it is filled with great basic information. I still consult my copy from time to time and I have been familiar with a kitchen for an embarrassing amount of time," she said with a smile.
"Thank you for the suggestion," Evan said grinning back at her. Then remembering that he was supposed to be portraying pureblood manners, he added on "kind lady" with a small bow.
"Not a trouble at all! You shall make any young witch incredibly happy one day with your willingness to share cooking and with such manners!"
"Oh your words are far too gracious. Here you have given me council on which book to purchase and I have yet to introduce myself. My name is Evan Michaels," Evan said as he went to make a bow and held his right hand palm up, but was interrupted by a male voice.
"Oh there you are Cecily." A tall older-looking man with silver hair that had wisps of black struggled to make their presence known. His hair looked wind-tousled and he wore a pair of thin silver glasses. Walking over to the woman he placed a hand on her shoulder and a light kiss on her head. "Are you getting another book on confectionaries? I swear if you continue to delight me with your delicious treats, I will become a very fat old man quite soon." The tone was teasing and the woman smiled back up at him.
"Oh, shush you! You are the picture of health!" the woman said, chastising him with a light laugh. "I was just showing this young man which books would best serve him in his culinary endeavors," she said, gesturing to Evan. There was a split second where they turned and were smiling at him in the same moment and Evan knew exactly where he had seen them before—in a mirror.
"He was about to introduce himself when you barged on in. This is my husband Nathaniel Potter and I am Cecily, we are pleased to make your acquaintance," Cecily continued as her husband shook his hand and Evan felt numb.
"Evan Michaels is the name that my nephew and I share and we are esteemed to make the acquaintances of such benevolent wizards such as yourselves," a voice said from behind him and as a hand gripped his shoulder. He watched silently as his Uncle introduced himself in the correct pure blood manner.
Evan listened with half an ear as his Uncle told a story about taking in his nephew and they just recently moved back to the UK. Evan was not sure how it happened but by the time they left the bookshop the Potters had strongly urged his Uncle to write to Dumbledore about having him attend school the next fall.
"Would you like to go back home now, or was there anything else you wished to do here?" his Uncle's quiet voice asked.
Evan replied with a minute shake of his head. "Let's go back."
Michael nodded and the two headed to an alleyway and Michael apparated them back to Valerian's back garden.
"Here, why don't you take some time to peruse through your texts and I'll start on dinner," Michael said as he handed Evan the books they purchased at the store that day.
Evan nodded and cradling the books in his arms, he made his way up the stairs to his room where he dumped all but one book on his desk. He went over to his bed and cradled his copy of Basics for Beginning Bakers for a short time before he opened the book and devoured the information from the item that would likely be the closest thing to a gift from his grandmother that he expected he was to ever receive.
"Legilimens!" Michael cried at him.
Evan felt the prodding on his mind and put up his walls around his normal thoughts, only displaying confused and frightened emotions to his attacker. Michael pushed further, trying to get past the emotions and get to the wall where Evan's true emotions and thoughts were being protected. Evan could feel Michael starting to get too close to his thoughts and gave a rough push and invaded the older man's mind.
Michael must have been startled by this turn of events for Evan could feel the walls that were building to try and block out his attack. Taking a decision to prove how well he had become at Occlumency, Evan pushed through the barriers that were erecting and searched for something hidden deep within the other man's mind and flashes of memories played before him.
Harry bent over a cauldron brewing with utmost precision and attention… the contents were incredibly important to him and even though he had made this hundreds of times, he must make sure that it came out perfectly.
…
Evan and a redheaded girl were locked in a classroom. She was laughing hysterically and Evan felt embarrassed, hurt, and confused.
Evan pushed harder at the memories now, trying to see how far he could get into the other man's mind.
Evan alone in a large bed, but it was okay. His lover was merely in the bathroom getting ready for a shower. Emotions of love, belonging and happiness radiated through the memory as Evan smirked and headed to the bathroom door to surprise his lover. The door opened and—
"NO!"
Evan felt himself mentally pushed out of Michael's mind as his physical self was shoved with an equal force to the other side of the room. Evan looked over at Michael and was surprised to see that the man who was usually always in such control was bending over slightly, his hands resting on the tops of his thighs and he was breathing harshly as if he had run an extremely long distance.
The room was silent except for the heaves of Michael's breaths that were slowly beginning to regulate to a normal pattern.
"Michael—" Evan began desperate for some kind of explanation behind the memories.
"We are not doing that again," Michael said shortly as he stood up and made his way out of the study, heading to the kitchen.
Evan hurried after him, arriving in the kitchen mere moments after his Uncle, who was already making tea.
"If we are not practicing anymore, how am I supposed to improve?" Evan asked indignantly.
Michael didn't answer; instead he went looking about in a cupboard and pulled out a vial that looked to be filled with a calming draught. Harry gave a silent cheer for being able to recognize the potion his Uncle was currently downing.
"Evan…" Michael sighed and sat at the island in the kitchen. "This came at the correct time, you are aware we meet with Dumbledore in two weeks, correct?"
Evan nodded. It had been a month to the day since their adventure in Diagon Alley, upon returning Michael had made arrangements for Evan to meet with Dumbledore about attending Hogwarts. The two had corresponded and agreed on a meeting that was to take place on July 3rd so Evan could take a placement test to assure he was ready to join the 5th years at Hogwarts.
Since the trip to Diagon Alley, Evan had poured over the fourth year textbooks and he had started taking practice placement tests last week. On top of that they had been diligently practicing Occlumency as well.
"Well we are no longer going to be practicing Occlumency in the same way we have, because no one has ever broken through my shields. Ever," Michael said with a serious expression.
"Now we will begin to practice a new type of memory spell," Michael said getting up and pouring two cups of tea.
"But Michael, I broke through those shields and—"
"This discussion is over Evan," Michael said with sharp stare and brought the two cups of tea back to the island.
"Over. Now we will begin working on the memory spell," Michael said with finality and moved into the new subject without further chances of discussion.
"What kind of memory spell?" Evan inquired, realizing he would only know the truth behind the memories of his Uncle by actually experiencing the moments when they would occur in his own life in the future.
"It plays off the obliviate spell. What the goal is is to not exactly remove the memory, but remove the knowledge of the memory but leave the feelings of the memory."
"What?" Evan asked with confusion.
"For instance when we meet with Albus… things will arise that he cannot know but he must feel that he can trust you."
"So basically it removes thoughts, but not intuitive feelings?" Evan said slowly, working through the effects out loud to understand them.
"That is a bit more like it." Michael said with a slow nod and summoned a book on the memory spell from the library.
"You nervous?" Michaels asked his young charge as they sat on the Night bus traveling towards Hogsmeade.
"A bit," Evan said as a giant farmhouse in the middle of nowhere jumped out of the bus' path.
"Try not to be you will do fine," Michael said with a reassuring smile.
Evan let out a breath and tried to smile. This is what they had planned for the past two months. He squirmed in his seat and tried not to think that he was on his way back to Hogwarts. The place where not too recently in the future so many would fight and lives would be lost. Remus… Snape…
"Hey, focus on the change and the present we are in now," Michael said as if he knew where Evan's thoughts were going.
Evan gave a nod and sat back to watch the countryside roll by as they made their way to Hogwarts.
Tbc...
So that is Chapter 3! I hope it was enjoyable, if you agree or disagree with this statement hit the shiny button below. It makes me happy.
-BongoMonkeys
