Chapter Ten: This Impressive Mess I've Made
Your empty eyes are stocked with nocturnal visions, your cheek's cold and taciturn reflection.
- Charles Baudelaire
Lily's POV
Lily glanced at the Order members around her. Not the whole Order was here, didn't want that much people to know of the dimension travellers, just the few that were in court and some extra. Alice, Frank, Lucius, Remus, Sirius, Lily, Dumbledore and James. Severus was here too, though he wasn't there during the trial.
"Should someone get them?" Sirius drawled, leaning back in his chair. Lily rolled her eyes, but before she could retort, they heard a shout from outside, and the four teenagers walked in.
"Not like that, Evan," Hermione said to her companion, sending furtive glances at the adults in the room. Evan didn't seem to notice them as he rolled his eyes.
"Why not? They want a soldier, don't they?" He said it with such contempt, that Lily winced, guilt seeping through her. Evan froze suddenly, eyes widening as they saw them.
"Damn," He cursed, and Lily saw Sirius' mouth twitch. She rolled her eyes.
"Damn indeed, Mr. Jameson," Lucius drawled. Lily saw the teenager's expression darkened as his eyes landed on the Auror.
"You're here?" Evan drawled. "What? The Cruciatus curse didn't scare you off?"
Lucius bristled. "Why you little-"
"I'm sorry about that, M-Mr. Malfoy," Hermione said quietly, and shut Lucius up immediately. Lucius turned to face her, expression only a little shocked. "I-I didn't realize you were on the Light side here."
Lily was watching Lucius carefully. If he was disturbed by what she was implying, he didn't show it. He was tense, but otherwise didn't offer any condolences. He simply nodded, which seemed like a good idea, because Lily didn't know how Hermione would have handled being addressed directly by the man she nearly Crucio-d.
"Wow, didn't think you had it in you to forgive her, Luc," Sirius smirked. Lucius glared at the man, but Sirius didn't seem fazed. "You never forgive me that easily." Lucius sneered.
"That's because you're you," Severus drawled, and Sirius pouted mockingly.
"What's that supposed to mean, Sevvy?" He whined. Lily saw Evan shudder, but he schooled his expression quickly, and she wasn't quite sure whether she had imagined it or not. When Severus didn't answer, the Animagus turned to the others. Lily rolled her eyes when his puppy dog eyes landed on her, elbowing him in the side. Sirius winced. "Jeez, woman! I was only trying to relieve the tension." He pouted.
"Sirius, you're such a child." She smiled fondly at him. Sirius grinned wolfishly.
"But you love me for it, Lily flower," He cooed, ruffling her hair. She rolled her eyes.
"Of course, Mr. Black, but we're here to talk about the war. Specifically, the teenagers here, so kindly, be quiet, if you can," Dumbledore said. Sirius grinned, but didn't apologize. "I know it can be hard for you sometimes," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. Sirius pouted, but Dumbledore smiled teasingly at the man, and Sirius rolled his eyes. "Back to business," Dumbledore said firmly, and like the trained Auror Sirius was, he nodded, his expression darkening, maturing. Lily sat up straighter, her eyes landing on Evan, who was frowning, eyes dark. Her eyes raced back to his comment he made when he walked into the room, and she winced.
"I'm at your service," Evan said mockingly, and Lucius turned to him.
"This isn't a joke, boy," He said gruffly, and Evan raised an eyebrow.
"Trust me, Lucius," Evan said grimly. "I know. Dead family isn't really a joke." They were silent.
"So, you have experience in the war?" Remus asked quietly, and Evan snorted.
"Why else would I be here?" He asked rhetorically. Hermione cleared her throat.
"What Evan's trying to say-" Hermione glared at Evan, who only grinned sheepishly. "-is we've got a lot of experience in war, and we've lost a lot because of it." Evan's smile fell from his face immediately, his eyes darkening.
"And your willing to do it again?" Lily asked quietly. "For us?"
Evan smiled bitterly. "Well, that is why we're here." Lily couldn't argue that. Evan paused, tilting his head, his hand rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Neville was the Boy-Who-Lived, because of his grandmother's sacrifice, right?" Evan directed his question to Dumbledore, who was studying him carefully, his eyes unreadable. Lily leaned forward in her seat, eager for the answer.
"Yes," He confirmed, and Evan nodded, hand on his chin.
"So young," Evan whispered softly. "Our Boy-Who-Lived wasn't killed until after he defeated Voldemort, just a few months ago for us," Evan informed Dumbledore, expression flat. Lily shivered at the coldness in his eyes.
"He's dead? The Boy-Who-Lived?" Dumbledore asked, raising an eyebrow. Evan nodded.
"Yes," He whispered, but there was something about his eyes, something deep and dark that made Lily feel disturbed. "He was my friend."
Lily frowned. "But then why are you the one needed to defeat Voldemort?" Lily asked, confused. "How can you if you're not the Boy-Who-Lived?"
Evan was silent, watching her carefully, before he looked away, out the window, with his jaw clenched. "Because you don't need a Boy-Who-Lived to defeat Voldemort. You just have to get rid of Voldemort's fail safes," He said confidently, back tense and shoulders strong as he turned to face them. There was silence throughout the room, but it didn't last long until someone else cleared their throat.
"Fail safes?" Frank asked. Neville's eyes widened slightly, and he tilted his head. He opened his mouth, but snapped it closed before saying anything, steeling his expression, and glancing down at the ground.
Evan, noticing, squeezed his hand briefly. "You mean you don't know yet?" Evan asked solemnly, glancing over at Dumbledore, who had his hands clasped together with his chin resting on them. Evan paused. "Professor, was Horace Slughorn the potions professor when Tom Riddle was in school?" Lily raised an eyebrow at the mention of Voldemort's real name, and a murmur went through the crowd. Dumbledore looked surprised.
"Yes, he was," He confirmed. Evan nodded, glancing over at Hermione, who was frowning as well.
"Was there a girl that died in a washroom in the school year of 1943?" Evan asked, eyes darkening, and Dumbledore nodded. Evan glanced over at his friends, who all looked quite serious. "Is Ginny Weasley alive here?"
Dumbledore looked concerned. "Yes," He informed Evan. The teenagers looked surprised.
"Really?" Evan whispered, tilting his head. Lily watched as Hermione shot Evan a look, and Evan tensed. It was barely discernable, only detectable to someone really looking, like Lily was. She narrowed her eyes slightly, but then Evan was fine, and he smiled, but it seemed almost forced. And then he was back to his confident façade. "When did Voldemort get his body back?" He asked, voice hard.
Dumbledore frowned. "1995." He studied them carefully. "Same for you?" Evan nodded.
"So, you're not the Boy-Who-Lived in your world?" Sirius asked slowly, and Evan's eyes flashed, before he shook his head.
"No," He said. "No, I'm not." Lily shuddered.
"Then why are you here?" Alice Longbottom asked, her eyes fierce as she looked at the four teenagers. "Why're you here if you're not the person the prophecy is talking about? How does that help us?" Alice was nearly shouting by the end of it, and Frank grabbed her shoulders gently, whispering in her ear. She was sobbing, while Neville, Evan and Hermione were all looking on with shock.
Luna smiled pityingly at her. "Never look a gift horse in the mouth, Mrs. Longbottom," She whispered airily. Alice looked sharply at the girl who addressed her, her eyes narrowing. Luna simply flashed her another wistful smile, before turning back to her companions.
The look of confusion must have been universal, because Hermione sighed, smiling lightly at them all. "We may have come by accident, but we won't be able to leave until Voldemort is dead," Hermione said, her voice hard, fierce, cold. "We're giving you the chance to live through this, a chance that we, and our loved ones, didn't get in our world." She was watching them all, her chin up. "We can do it ourselves, and you don't have to risk everything to this war. We'll do it for you." Hermione crossed her arms, all stubbornness, confidence and a little pride. "What Luna's trying to say, is that we're giving you a chance, a gift, so don't question it. Just take it." They were silent.
James looked up at them, eyes fierce. "You can't expect us not to help you!" He protested, but the teenagers just looked at him with mild disinterest. Luna smiled at him now.
"Too many cooks spoil the broth, Mr. Potter," She said firmly, well, as firm as a person as waiflike as her could be. "We may be the soldiers, but you're not the general." James looked infuriated, and Lily felt her own anger spike as she watched the four teenagers in front of her harden, eyes taking on a military glint.
"This is our war!" She snapped. "The adults in your world may have been fine with children fighting their fight, but we're not okay with it here!" She turned her piercing eyes on Evan, who was the only one that wasn't uncomfortable with her tone. Even Hermione had the decency to look a tiny bit bashful.
"Maybe not, Mrs. Potter," Evan agreed confidently, flashing her a lopsided smirk. "But we haven't been children for a while now." His smirk turned slightly feral. "And we don't want your help. Really that's what it comes down to." He ignored her when she flinched, slightly hurt. "We have to do what we must to defeat him, and we don't want you in our way. Too many people trying to be the leader causes everything to fall apart." Evan paused, glaring at them all, though not in a mean way. It was more of a powerful, and slightly condescending way that made Lily feel a little guilty as she averted her gaze. "Let us lead. Protect your family. Be the defence. We'll be the offence now." Evan studied them all. "And you will listen to us, because defeating Voldemort is the reason we're here. So, let us do what we have to."
The confidence, strength and power that was coming off Evan was almost overwhelming and as he scanned the crowd, eyes hard, no one argued. Yet, no one seemed comfortable with how utterly in control Evan was of the situation, but no one seemed like they were willing or able to wrestle it away from him. So, the adults just watched on with resignation as an 18-year-old took control.
And maybe, no one tried to fight him over this because deep down, they were fine with it. They were fine with it, because they weren't willing to lose more of their children to this war, a war they had tried desperately to keep their children away from. But in the end, their efforts were fruitless, and war still banged on their door and demanded their children, taking their screaming babies out of their arms and swallowing their beloved children whole. Maybe that was why. Maybe that was why, when these young wizards came, promising to end this war and giving them the opportunity to survive the war, their children and all, they didn't protest. Because damn the fact that these teenagers were barely adults, damn the fact that they had suffered through their own war, lost probably as much or more than the adults in this room, damn those facts, because in the end, Lily would choose her children.
She would choose her children over these teenagers, because she loved her babies with all her heart, and if she lost more of her children, she didn't think her heart could take it. Not again. And looking at Frank, Alice, and James, even Sirius and Remus, she knew they thought the same thing.
Lily caught Evan's eye, and something, recognition, realization, flashed in his eyes, and he smiled slightly, his bitter, hollow smile. But then he full out smiled, and nodded, almost smugly.
But then it fell as quickly as it came, leaving in place the look that she recognized belonging to a seasoned soldier, a soldier that had seen too much. His eyes were dead, and she felt a flash of guilt, before her children's faces popped into her mind, and the guilt disappeared, buried underneath her fear and worry and pain.
James' POV
"So, how come Voldemort only managed to come back until 1995, if your Boy-Who-Lived was dead?" Evan asked, cold and detached, completely business with no emotional connection. James glanced around, her eyes falling on Frank and Alice, Frank's hand on Alice's shoulder as she bit her lip, tears in her eyes.
Neville glanced at Lily out of the corner of his eye, before turning to Evan. "Evan," He began, before leaning in and whispering into his ear. Evan frowned and nodded, a guilty look on his face.
"I'm sorry," He said, swallowing thickly. "I forgot that this must be a difficult topic to discuss." He smiled gently at Alice and Frank. Alice smiled sadly and Frank shook his head.
"No need to apologize, Evan," Frank said, voice remaining steady, which surprised James.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Another child, his name was Adam, was born on July 31st, 1980. He was a half-blood, and he was another target on Voldemort's list."
Evan frowned. "He didn't exist in our world," He pondered, and Hermione frowned, shaking her head.
"Our Boy-Who-Lived survived," Hermione pointed out. "Theirs didn't. Prophecies are meant to be fulfilled, and if he fit the prophecy, he would be forced to fill the spot." Evan frowned.
"So, since the two others were gone, he was next on the list?" Evan asked, almost in disgust. Dumbledore nodded. "But he wasn't the Boy-Who-Lived." Evan's eyes were a mix of emotion, and James frowned, wondering what thoughts were going through the head of his. Dumbledore nodded again.
"No, but he fit the prophecy, as Hermione mentioned." Dumbledore clasped his hands in front of him. "But I guess that makes sense, since you're here to defeat Voldemort, but you're not the Boy-Who-Lived." Evan hesitated, but still nodded his head, and Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. James watched as Evan tensed, expression turning suspicious, but it was gone as suddenly as it came.
"What happened when Adam started school?" Evan asked, and Dumbledore frowned.
"His first year, the defence professor had Voldemort possessing him," Dumbledore said. "Voldemort didn't know of another that could fit the prophecy." Dumbledore paused. "Quirrell was bold, he let in a troll, and it killed a student. When the troll was out, Adam and Ronald Weasley caught Quirrell trying to steal the Philosopher's stone." Evan looked shocked, as did the other three teenagers.
"Who was the student that was killed?" Hermione asked quietly, and Dumbledore sent her an inquisitive look.
"Hermione Granger," He informed her. James wondered if the woman standing in front of them was Hermione Granger as well.
She nodded. "Well, that gets rid of any confusion for me," She stated, not looking disturbed in the slightest. Evan snorted and Neville smiled lightly, while Luna giggled.
"Be a little more sensitive, 'Mione," Evan chastised mockingly, and she sent him a glare.
"Sod off," She hissed at him, swatting him gently on the shoulder. Evan rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything. Hermione cleared her throat. "That happened the same in our year." She paused. "Except for me dying, of course." Evan's mouth twitched, but he didn't smile, and Neville remained straight faced as well. Luna patted Hermione's hand, smiling wistfully at her.
"Not you, 'Mione," She corrected, and Hermione laughed.
"I know that, Luna," She promised, squeezing the blonde-haired girl's hand tenderly. "Anyways, what happened his second year?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Nothing." That seemed to shock the teenagers.
"Nothing?" Neville asked incredulously. "Who was the defence professor?"
"Me," James spoke up, and Neville's eyes widened even more, Evan choked and promptly started to cough, Hermione summoned some water to give to him, her own eyes wide, and Luna giggled again. Lily raised an eyebrow at the reaction, and Sirius beside him snickered, to which James elbowed him harder than necessary. The Animagus winced, and James sneered, turning back to the teenagers. He mockingly pouted as he saw the incredulity in their eyes, mildly offended. "Why is that so shocking?" James huffed. Evan snorted.
"We just never expected-" Evan waved his hand towards James. "Well, you." James raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?" He sniffed. Evan raised an eyebrow, still unbelieving.
"I mean, you must remember what you were like in school!" Evan protested. James smiled and Sirius guffawed in laughter, while Remus chuckled softly.
"You heard of us?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow. Evan rolled his eyes.
"Well, duh," He stated, as if it was obvious. "You couldn't be friends with Fred and George and not hear about you lot every minute." Evan chuckled, before his eyes darkened and his expression turned broody, before snapping back into his confident personality, leaving James' head spinning. From the look on the other's faces, so did theirs. "So, no mysterious petrification's? No Ministry involvement?"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "No," He said, eyes twinkling. "Was there in your year?" Evan nodded. "And I take it by your reaction, James wasn't the professor?" Evan tensed, before shaking his head again.
"No," He said somberly. "We had Gilderoy Lockhart." Evan nearly spat in disgust. The other teenagers didn't look any more respectful. "What a fraud." Evan paused, tilting his head. "Voldemort didn't try anything?"
Hermione's eyes widened. "That makes sense!" She turned to Evan, taking his hand passionately. "He wasn't a Death Eater here, so he didn't slip her or anyone the journal!" Evan's eyes widened. James wondered who the 'her' was, but he had a feeling the Death Eater they were referring to was Lucius. He felt his gut tighten.
"Well, lucky Adam," He mused, a tight smile on his lips. "But that means we have to find that damn, talking journal." Hermione snorted. Evan grinned at her, before turning back to Dumbledore. "Third year?"
James was confused. A talking journal? Petrification's? But after a few seconds, decided not to question it.
"Quite calm." Dumbledore smiled. Evan nodded.
"Makes sense, Sirius wasn't in Azkaban," He agreed. James' eyes widened, wondering why that would matter. "And I assume James was still the professor?" Evan glanced at James, who rolled his eyes, nodding.
"Who did you have?" Dumbledore asked, and Evan grinned.
"Remus," He said happily, before frowning. "But then…well, people found out that he was a werewolf, and ah-" Evan cast a quick look at Lucius Malfoy, but averted his gaze barely a second after. "-well, a Death Eater, who's son went to the school, told everyone, and the parents got angry." Evan cast his gaze to the ground, broody again, before he squared his shoulders, seeming to gather himself, and regain his strength. "Fourth year?" James darkened, feeling the hatred boiling in his gut, and Lily took his hand, squeezing it gently.
"During Christmas break, Peter Pettigrew-" James spat the name, but raised an eyebrow when Evan tensed. But again, the teenager regained composure barely a few seconds later. James sighed heavily, continuing. "He, and Bellatrix Lestrange, attacked Adam's house, killed his parents, and brought him to a graveyard where they used him to resurrect Voldemort," James said, clenching his jaw. But he continued. "When Voldemort dueled him, he won, and Adam was killed." James took in a shuddering breath. "I trained him, taught him, tried to give him the skills he would need to survive Voldemort." He choked. "But it didn't work." James was silent. "The war really started back up then, and I went back as an Auror."
James was tense, and the pain was making his muscles quiver. Lily must have known how he was feeling, because she reached out, taking his hand gently. The boy was his student, and his dad was a part of the Order. All he wanted was to give Adam the fighting chance that he wished Harry had when he was targeted, wished that Neville had when he was targeted. But, it didn't work. He still died, and Voldemort still won.
Evan nodded, before glancing over at his friends, who all had similar, contemplative looks on their faces. Dumbledore studied the teenagers carefully. "Did that happen in your world?" He asked softly.
"Similar," Evan whispered, but his voice still managed to be strong. "But our Boy-Who-Lived didn't die." Evan paused, his fists clenching. "A student did die, and Voldemort still came back to life though."
"How did Voldemort eventually die?" Dumbledore asked. Evan stood up straighter, as if preparing for something big, a performance. He glanced over at his friends, who had matching looks of ominousness.
"Voldemort created things called Horcruxes," Evan informed them, and there was a shock of surprise through the whole crowd, like a ripple that oscillated through the sea of people. "In our world, he created seven. We're going to need a list of all the Death Eaters here, even the suspected ones." He paused, biting his lip.
"Why?" Sirius asked bluntly, and Evan paused, looking away.
"In our world, a Death Eater, who isn't one in your world, had one of his horcruxes," Evan was looking down, but James, who was watching Lucius, knew that the blonde-haired man knew they were referring to him. "So, someone else has it here." Evan quieted for a few seconds, before nodding. "Was Regulus Black a Death Eater in this world?" Evan's eyes landed on Sirius, who stiffened at the comment.
"Yes," He whispered. Evan looked slightly relieved, before tilting his head, turning his gaze on Lucius. James was confused as he saw a strange expression on the teenager's face. But it went away quickly, and he was back to his emotionless mask yet again.
"Why're you not a Death Eater in this world?" He asked bluntly, and James winced, casting a furtive look at Lucius, willing the blonde-haired man to be patient. But he didn't have to do that. Lucius was stiff and uncomfortable, granted, but his eyes were flashing with something akin to guilt. Lucius cleared his throat.
"Severus. I met Lily through him," Lucius said, formal and detached, but kind. Lucius glanced over at Lily, who flashed him a light smile, before he turned back to the four teenagers. "We became friends. Not extremely close, but enough for Severus and me to see muggleborns as equals." Lucius glanced over at James and his friends. "And well, after a few misunderstandings, Severus and I became friends with James, Remus and Sirius." Evan's mouth fell open at that, and James was reminded of the fact that the boy was merely 18. He shuddered again. Despite Lucius' raised eyebrow and curious look, he simply continued. "When my family learned I defected, and my girlfriend at the time, Narcissa, did too, they helped us, and we joined the Order."
There was the sound of something breaking and Evan reacted instantly, spinning around, the two other teenagers stepping closer, in front of his exposed back, a perfectly synchronized fighting stance, protecting Evan and Hermione as they stood there vulnerable, before Neville and Luna realized what they were doing.
Neville blinked a few times, before straightening slightly, losing the hard, volatile look, and Luna's expression changed from her waiflike malevolence back to her peaceful nonchalance. She was no longer protective, but Neville was still ready, poised.
"'Mione," Evan whispered, grabbing her shoulders. Neville glanced behind him, casting one look back at the Order, before breaking position, paying more attention to his friends. Luna continued to stare at them, still relaxed, her hands clasped in front of her. James shuddered, before looking back at Hermione.
His heart broke at the look of pain on the Hermione's face, on all their faces, really. Evan shuddered, pulling Hermione into a hug, his own face pinched in pain.
Hermione whispered something to Evan, and James glanced over at his wife, who had moved closer to the girl, her first instinct to comfort Hermione obviously. James smiled lightly at Lily forever having a bleeding heart. Lily seemed to wince at what the girl said, and glanced over at him and the rest. But it was Luna who spoke.
"Hermione," She whispered soothingly, and gently pried Hermione away from Evan's arms. She looked up at Evan. "I'll help her clear the skeletons out of her closet." Luna sighed, glancing down at the silently shaking Hermione. "And maybe seeing a nicer skeleton will make her feel better." Luna smiled sadly, and Evan nodded, whispering something in Hermione's ear, who nodded, before following Luna out the door.
Just as they were leaving, Luna's hand snaked around Neville's wrist, and yanked him out the door. Neville shot one look at Evan, who's eyes had widened slightly, body tensing, before the three were gone. Evan was stiff, but after a few seconds, he relaxed, a confident look back on his face, even when it looked forced.
He frowned slightly. "You and Severus?" He asked Lucius incredulously, only slightly derisive. Lucius sneered. "Friends with the Marauders?" He turned to the Marauders. "But, weren't you…you liked Snape?"
"What?" James growled teasingly. "First you mock my profession, now you mock my choice of friends?"
Evan turned broody, the opposite of what James though his reaction would be. "I'm sorry," Evan murmured. "It's just-" He swallowed thickly. "It's just a surprise, that's all." Evan was silent.
Sirius sneered. "You gonna make it, or do we have to guess?" Sirius asked, placing a condescending hand on Evan's shoulder. James smacked Sirius upside the head when Evan turned to face the Animagus and glared, sending the dog a scathing look that could freeze Hell over. Sirius cast his gaze away sheepishly, and Evan shuddered, before closing his eyes, breathing heavily, yet remaining close to Sirius. Neither moved away, and James raised an eyebrow.
"So, Regulus was a Death Eater," Evan asked dryly, and Sirius gave him a tight-lipped frown, nodding as he studied the teenager. "Is he dead?" Evan had his eyes cast to the ground, and James glanced over at the others, who were all watching the boy carefully. Sirius froze, shaking slightly.
"Yes," He snarled lowly, tone dangerous. James watched as Evan flinched, jerking away from Sirius, his eyes snapping up to him, leaving James wondering why Sirius' simple answer caused such a violently scared reaction in Evan. The boy opened his mouth briefly, before closing it with an audible click, his eyes going hard, and his spine straightening, seeming to grow in strength. And then they softened.
"I'm sorry," Evan murmured, eyes darting to Sirius cautiously. Sirius, who no doubt saw how Evan reacted to his tone of voice, seemed to darken some more, his eyes hooded.
"That's the price of war, Evan," Sirius muttered darkly, and James saw as Evan paled, tensing briefly. But, like every time before, the teenager relaxed seconds after, and he returned to his confident façade.
"Of course," Evan agreed, his eyes darting to James, and swivelling over to Lily, his eyes flashing with something James couldn't identify. It made him shiver.
Remus' POV
"H-Evan," Hermione said as she walked back in with Neville and Luna, her eyes bright, but she was tense, strong, and it disturbed Remus, seeing how controlled her emotions were. "I'm sorry." Hermione frowned, nodding towards Lucius. "I-" She paused, glancing away. "I just needed a few minutes." Lucius nodded towards her. Evan squeezed her hand. "What are you telling them? Are you still on Horcruxes?" Evan watched her carefully and then his mood shifted, not back to his confident mood, no it went all the way to his unstable façade.
That worried Remus. No teenager should be able to switch like that. But, like he told them, he wasn't a child, he was a war veteran. And that saddened Remus even more. Evan's eyes took on a strange sort of gleam, and his hollow, bitter smile graced his lips. Remus hated that smile as he knew everyone else in this room did too.
"Apparently, R.A.B was a Death Eater here too, and he's dead." Hermione frowned, as if she wanted to say something, but only nodded, keeping quiet. Evan turned to them. "You all work in the Ministry, right?" He glanced at James, Lily, Sirius and Lucius in turn, remembering Alice and Frank as well, flashing them a grin.
"Yes," Lily said, seeming to be the only one who could respond, as she sent him a skeptical look. "Evan, we were the ones arresting you." Evan waved her off, rolling his eyes.
"Yes, yes, I was just making sure," He said in exasperation, sighing. He paused, putting his hand on his chin. "So, then, the government isn't under Voldemort's control?" Evan looked slightly disappointed. Remus glanced over at the Aurors, who were narrowing their eyes at the slightly insane boy they just gave control to.
"No, Fudge is still Minister," James corrected, and Evan blanched. Evan turned to Hermione.
"Guess we're not breaking in there anytime soon," He said sadly, and she glared at him, rolling her eyes. Evan's eyes widened again. "I wonder if that pink bitch is here too?" Hermione and Neville stiffened, a look of pure hatred coming on their faces, while Luna smirked happily. Remus felt sorry for whoever the 'pink bitch' was for being the person that made these teenagers have such extreme expressions of hate on their faces.
"I hope she is," Luna said merrily. "Then Hermione can sacrifice her to the centaurs again!"
Evan full out guffawed. "Yes!" Evan quieted, studying the Aurors carefully. "So, you all value your jobs, right?" Sirius and James exchanged looks, and Lucius raised an eyebrow. Remus studied the boy.
"Yes, they do, Mr. Jameson," Dumbledore promised. "So, don't plan on breaking the law."
Evan waved them off. "Pssh, how do you except to get anything done?" He asked incredulously.
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "You're talking to 6 Aurors here, kid," Sirius tried to chastise, but knowing Sirius, he was trying his hardest to stop himself from laughing.
"Yeah, yeah," Evan scowled. "We haven't broken the law yet, so you've got nothing."
"Yet," Severus repeated dryly. Evan grinned happily. Remus felt dread creep into his bones.
"Yet," He agreed, and Hermione sighed, whacking him up the back of the head. Evan barely flinched.
"Evan, we only broke into the Ministry in our world because Voldemort was controlling it," She snapped. "This world's government isn't corrupt." James raised an eyebrow, and Sirius snickered. Remus rolled his eyes. Evan pouted. "No, Evan, we're going to do it the legal way." She leaned towards him, and he frowned. "That means no breaking and entering, no Polyjuice potion, and no sacrificing people to centaurs." Evan's eyes widened.
"No sacrificing!?" He asked in disbelief and Hermione glared. Sirius did laugh this time.
"No sacrificing!" She shouted back, and Evan huffed, rolling his eyes.
"Where's the fun in that, 'Mione?" He asked rhetorically, throwing his hands up. "Besides, just you watch. We're going to fuck it up, and we'll sacrifice her to the centaurs again. Just you watch." Hermione glared, and Evan grinned. They continued to stare at each other, and Remus knew they weren't going to respond anytime soon.
Sirius glanced over at his friends, chuckling softly, but quieted when he saw Remus raise an eyebrow, and that James and Lily weren't laughing. Sirius shifted uncomfortably, but Remus knew he wasn't sorry he had laughed. Remus glanced over at James, and rolled his eyes, James looking like he wanted to laugh too, only controlling himself because he knew Lily would be angry if he did laugh. Sirius grinned at them, years of friendship allowed them all to know when the others were barely holding it together.
"Is there a story to this?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow. The two teenagers in a stare off didn't answer, and Neville sighed, turning to face the adults.
"Slytherin, that is, Salazar, had a locket," Neville informed them, taking on the leadership role, the one Evan was currently unable to fill, what with his manic mood. "Tom used it to create a horcrux." Hermione broke her gaze away from Evan, who was stiff and with a glance, Remus knew he was back in soldier mode. Remus' head spun.
"Originally, it was in a cave, where-" She paused, glancing over at Evan, who had his jaw clenched. "It was nearly impossible to get it, not without extreme suffering." She paused, frowning. "Regulus, in our world, and since your Regulus is dead, I assume in this world as well, retrieved the locket. He died, we don't know how, but he got it, and he had planned to destroy it." Hermione frowned. "Mundungus Fletcher took it, and then Dolores Umbridge-" Evan broke in then.
"Evil bitch," He snarled. Hermione ignored him, but didn't chastise either.
"-somehow got her meaty hands on it," Hermione informed them. "Did Grimmauld Place become Headquarters? And was Mundungus Fletcher a part of it? And does Dolores Umbridge even exist here?" She looked at Dumbledore, who nodded.
"Why do you all hate Dolores Umbridge?" Alice asked quietly and all four teenagers darkened.
Except for Evan. He grinned. "She was our defence professor in our fifth year," He informed them. Evan lifted his hand up, and Remus glanced at the teenager as his fingers rubbed the scars on his hand. "She liked using a blood quill as punishment, and when she caught me trying to contact someone, she tried to use the Cruciatus curse on me." Evan's eyes were gleaming. "Because of that, 'Mione tricked her to go into the Forbidden Forest and she insulted the centaurs, calling them half-breeds, which was why they attacked." Evan grinned, before frowning. "She ran the Muggle-Born Registration Commission, and sadistically persecuted many innocent muggleborns when Voldemort was in power. She's in Azkaban now." Evan's jaw was set, grim faced.
"She's pretty much the same here," Remus said softly. "Not the muggleborn thing yet, or Hogwarts, but she's firmly against 'half-breeds' as she calls people like me." Evan softened, frowning. He caught Remus' eye, and Remus was shocked to see the empathy in a boy he barely knew. He smiled slightly, and Evan smiled back.
"Can you see if she has a locket when you go to work?" Hermione asked, turning to James, and the others. There was a glint of mischievousness in her eyes, and Remus shifted nervously. "And steal it, if you can?"
"How do you propose we do that?" Lily asked, and Hermione grimaced, while Evan smiled.
"Well," He began, happily. Remus sighed internally. How much time must they waste on this boy's moods? Hours, so it seemed. Remus could feel his hair greying. "We used Polyjuice potion to disguise as Minister workers, and we snuck in, snatching the locket straight from her neck, before escaping." Evan nodded. "It was very fun."
Hermione glared. "No, it wasn't," She chastised. Evan pouted. "And, no matter how much you want to, we're not doing that again." Hermione crossed her arms. "Especially since we're surrounded by 6 Aurors."
Evan pouted. "Aw, next your going to say we can't free the poor dragon!" He whined and Luna giggled, while Hermione shoved him.
"We don't want to run into the dragon again!" Hermione corrected. "Why would you want to? Remember last time? It took near a month for the burns to heal!" Evan shook his head sadly.
"But it was so inspirational when we broke him out, when he finally got to fly and taste freedom!" Evan waved his hands around, a strange smile on his face. Neville grinned, patting Evan on the shoulder.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Evan," Neville cautioned teasingly. "You won't be able to break into the Ministry here, let alone Gringotts." Evan grinned. Remus' eyes bulged and he glanced at his friends.
"Is that a challenge?" Evan asked derisively, and Neville chuckled.
"You'd be the only one to thinks it is, Evan," Neville said fondly, and Evan smirked. Remus sighed.
"I take it there's a story here, too," Severus asked dryly, and Evan nodded enthusiastically.
"For some reason, Tom liked to fuck up the Founder's heirlooms by putting himself into them," Evan explained, as if that made any sense. "He used Helga Hufflepuff's cup, and gave it to Bellatrix Lestrange's vault." Evan shrugged. "We broke in to Gringotts, and stole the cup." Evan paused, rubbing his chin. "The goblins use a dragon as security, and it was very sad. It was thin and mistreated." Evan, oddly enough, looked empathetic for the dragon, broody almost. Something stirred in Remus, and he shifted nervously. "We rode it out of Gringotts, and destroyed half of it." Evan was grinning now, but there was still something in his eyes. "And that was how we freed it." Dumbledore had his head on his hands again, watching Evan closely.
"And you need access to the vault again," Dumbledore guessed, and Evan shrugged, studying his nail beds.
"Yeah," Evan agreed nonchalantly. "But don't worry yourselves. We can get into it like we did before, if you can't get in for us." Evan shrugged, and Sirius snorted, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, yeah, and they'd just arrest you after," Severus drawled, and Evan sneered, eyes flashing.
"If they could catch us, and the dragon," Evan smirked. "Like Hermione said, the burns from that dragon were horrible." Evan shrugged, grinning madly. "I figured y'all were done with getting burned trying to catch criminals." Evan watched with eager delight as cries of protest broke out through the room. Remus simply raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that the teenager was only trying to rile everyone up. He caught Evan's eye, smirking, and Evan grinned back, saluting him. Remus sighed.
"Merlin, guys, for being renowned Aurors, you lot have a hard time knowing when someone's pulling your leg," Remus chastised, and Sirius smirked, throwing an arm around Remus' shoulders.
"Thanks, Moony," Sirius cooed, nuzzling his neck. Remus rolled his eyes, shoving the Animagus away.
"So," Evan asked slowly. "Are you gonna get the locket and access to Bellatrix's vault, or should we break in?" James scowled at Evan.
"Yes," He muttered, and Evan grinned.
"Great!" Evan waved his hands. "Meeting dismissed!" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"Not just yet. You still need to tell us the other Horcruxes," He began, but Evan waved his hand at him.
"No, we don't," Evan said, unwavering and powerful. "We're doing it without you. We just didn't think it would be in either of our best interests if we were to break into the Ministry and Gringotts." Evan grinned at them. "That's all we need from you lot." Evan shrugged. "You don't even have to come with us to her vault. Just give us access and we'll go by ourselves." Remus was shocked, and so were the others.
"No, you won't!" Lily protested. Evan frowned.
"No offence, Mrs. Potter," He nearly sneered. "But we don't want you there. We will do it ourselves."
James butted in then. "We can't let you risk your lives!" He shouted. Evan raised an eyebrow.
"We've done it before, and we can do it again, with or without your help," Evan said coldly. "We did it before without you there, what makes you think we need you now?" Evan shrugged. "We don't even need you to get us access. We could just do what we did before." James was shaking.
"You won't, because we're Aurors, and we know what you'd do," He threatened. Evan raised an eyebrow.
"But you won't stop us," Evan promised, flashing his teeth. "You won't, because deep down, you're glad you don't have to fight anymore. You're glad that it's us." Evan turned his back on them. "And we're fine with that. Because we have to fight, and we will." He turned back one last time. "It's out of your control, Mr. Potter. We're just giving you control over whether we break in, or do it legally." Evan's eyes darkened. "But you're not the leader."
And with that, the four teenagers left, before any of them could do anything to stop them.