Disclaimer: I do not own!
Note: I have really bad hiccups at the moment. Just thought I'd share with the world. lol
"Evie!" he cried as he knelt down next to her and pulled her into his arms.
"I'm scared, Fred." She cried into his shoulder.
"Shhhh…." He soothed
"It's Him; I know it is. He wants Harry dead. He's behind this. And everyone thinks it is just Harry seeking attention!" She said into his chest.
He could feel her tears soak his robes, feel the pain racking her shoulders and feel the fear in her voice as it moved through his chest.
"He'll make it through, you'll see. We'll all help him through it." George said, still standing in the doorway to the bathroom.
"Not Ron, and Harry needs him the most." She said as she pulled away to look the twins in the eyes.
"Yeah, well, Ron's a great bloody git, isn't he? He'll come around, just wait." Fred told her before kissing her forehead.
They stayed in the bathroom for awhile just as they were, Evie wrapped up in Fred's long arms and George standing next to them offering his silent support. They left just as dinner was starting and were the last three to enter the Great hall. Harry was still upset with Evie when they sat down.
"Alright Harry?" she asked when she sat down across from him.
"You won't send me to Azkaban if I say no, will you?" he said with venom.
Harry stayed mad until the school started sporting badges supporting Cedric and bashing him. She knew he needed Ron, but she and Hermione did their best, talking about Quidditch and making jokes. He seemed to relax a little, but he was still stressed and it was starting to show when he started having problems with the Summoning charm, Accio. Things didn't get out of hand until a week later outside of potions. The Slytherins were their usual selves, but Malfoy was going a step further.
"Would you like one, Granger?" he asked after he heard her snicker about the badges. "Here, take one. Just watch the hand now, can't have a Mudblood like you sliming it up."
Harry's wand shot out of his robes at the word Mudblood. Evie shook her head and pulled her wand on Draco as well. Malfoy just raised his eye brows in that cocky way of his as people backed away.
"Go on then, Moody's not here to protect you, do you have the guts?" he asked.
They all acted at once, their spells colliding in mid-air. Harry and Evie's spells combined and hit Goyle, and Malfoy's hit Hermione. Evie had just reached Hermione when a sickeningly soft voice echoed through the corridor.
"What is going on here?"
Draco immediately started blaming her and Harry, but she didn't care because her friend's front teeth were now well past her chin.
"Malfoy got Hermione!" Evie heard Ron shout.
She forced Hermione to show him her teeth. They were still growing and had now reached just below her ribcage.
"I see no difference." Snape said in passing as he turned to enter the classroom.
Hermione shot back down the corridor that led out of the dungeons, tears running down her face. Many of the Gryffindor's started crying out, but Harry, Ron and Evie were the loudest. Due to all the voices echoing together Snape couldn't make out the specifics, but he got the idea.
"Fifty points for the insults and twenty for Ms. Granger skipping class. Oh, and detentions for you three." He said pointing to Evie and the two boys.
Before they could enter the classroom, Colin came running down the corridor saying Harry was needed for something with the Tournament and Snape sent him off with a scowl.
"Antidotes!" he said once the class was settled in. "You should have prepared recipes by now. Brew them carefully, as we will be testing them on someone…"
Evie brewed hers perfectly, and she was silently hoping he decided to test hers. Neville broke down into hysterics as per usual when his cauldron boiled over and Snape took that opportunity to take more points away from Gryffindor. In the end he poisoned Evie and tested Seamus's antidote on her. Thankfully it worked and she didn't have to be sent to the hospital wing. Evie tried to catch Ron after class, but he sped off down the corridor.
Evie hurried to Gryffindor tower to get rid of her books and meet Fred in the astronomy tower. He'd sent her a message on their parchment that he had a surprise for her there, she was excited and couldn't wait to see what it was. When she walked out into the open area of the tower her breath caught for a moment as she took in the sight around her. She felt like she was back at the Burrow. Fred had re-created his own back porch in the tower for them. The steps with the rusted old cauldron, the old worn boots, even the grass and garden edge.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
"I feel like we're back at the Burrow, I feel like I'm home." She said fighting back tears. "Thank you."
"I just wanted you to forget everything that's happened since school started." He said.
She ran to him and hugged him tightly. She let the tears flow as he held her. After awhile she began to notice the sound of crickets and frogs, and even the sound of a gnome running around.
"Fred, are there gnomes up here with us?" she asked looking around for one.
"Just one, I transfigured one of Ron's shoes…" he said thoughtfully.
"I can't believe you went through all this trouble. I didn't need all this, really." She said sitting on the steps.
"Yes you did. I know there is something you're not telling me. It's been bothering you for weeks." He said taking a seat next to her.
"It's just these dreams I've been having. Each one is a little different, but they're all the same, really." She said cuddling up next to him.
"Well, what are they about?" he asked pulling her small frame onto his lap.
She froze for a moment, if she told him she knew what he'd say, that she should tell Dumbledore, and she knew she should but something inside told her 'not yet'. But she couldn't lie to him either.
"It's the night he killed my parents. But each time it is clearer and it feels more real. I've never remembered this much before." She said so quietly he barely heard it.
"Well, what are you remembering?" he asked.
"My mother runs into the room, reaches for me in my crib, but the door bangs open. She turns and pleads with him to take her instead. He kills her and looks straight at me, and smiles this disgusting and frightening smile." She said closing her eyes. "Then, he spoke to me before trying to kill Harry. That's all I can remember, but his voice… it chills me to the bone."
"You should really-"
"Tell Dumbledore, I know." She said nuzzling his neck.
"Promise me something." He said pulling her so close she was almost a part of him.
"What?"
"You'll tell Dumbledore before we leave at the end of term."
"Okay, I promise."
They headed down to dinner after Fred cleared away the scene with a few waves of his wand.
"Hey, Evie?" Fred asked before they entered the Great hall.
"Yeah?"
"Will you accompany me to Hogsmeade this weekend?" he asked, with a flirtatious wink.
"Well, I was going to go with my boyfriend, but since you asked so nicely…." She laughed.
"Who is this boyfriend? I'll duel him for you." He said a look of mock sincerity on his face.
"You'd do that for me?" she asked throwing her arms around his neck. "How brave!"
She gave him a quick kiss and skipped into the Great Hall for dinner. Fred just stood and watched her go, and he knew in that instant that he'd duel anyone to be with her, even Voldemort himself.
After dinner, Evie went straight to the dormitory to get some much needed sleep. But when she walked in she saw the barn owl perched on her pillow. She gave it a few treats, took the letter off its leg and read.
Evie-
This news is disturbing, but I can't say all I'd like to in a letter. We need to talk face-to-face. Do not worry; I won't come storming into the castle. Can you and Harry be alone in the common room by the fire at one o'clock in the morning on November the 22nd? I know better than anyone that the two of you can protect yourselves and each other, and around Dumbledore and Moody you're safe. But someone seems to be having a good try at harming Harry. Be on the watch, Evie. I want to hear about anything, no matter how small.
Sirius
Over the next two weeks, as the first task grew closer, Evie struggled with keeping Sirius's impending visit a secret from Harry. But Hermione agreed that it was something he didn't need to worry about. He was even more on edge, especially after that article Rita Skeeter wrote came out. Evie wanted to hex the pants off of her, but Hermione kindly reminded her it would only add to the image Rita portrayed for them both. Skeeter had written about how unstable she and Harry were, which is what led Harry to enter such a dangerous competition to begin with.
Finally the 22nd had arrived and it was the Hogsmeade trip. Hermione convinced Harry to go with her, while Evie decided to try and bring Ron around. Evie, Fred, George and Ron entered Honeydukes first.
"I suppose he's here somewhere with the cloak?" Ron grumbled.
"And what if he is?" Evie asked. "Doesn't he deserve some privacy?"
"Not if he put his name in the cup!" cried Ron gaining attention from the other customers in the shop.
"He didn't put his name in Ron! Even with Evie's perfect aging potion we didn't make it past the line!" George said.
"Then why did his name come out of the cup?" protested Ron.
"I think you know the answer to that one, little brother." Fred said.
"Yeah. But it is easier to be mad and jealous than admit someone is trying to do your best friend in." he admitted, picking up a package of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans.
They all agreed and began to gather sweets. Evie gathered all her favorites: Chocolate Frogs, Cauldron cakes, Fizzing Whizzbees, Sugar Quills and Tooth flossing String Mints. She got the string mints to keep Hermione off her back for all the sweets she always gets. Fred and George got some Pumpkin Fizz, Choco-loco and Chock-o-Choc. After they left they went to the three broomsticks for a butterbeer.
On the way they almost ran right into Rita Skeeter, Evie tried to duck down a side street but Rita caught sight of her.
"Evangeline Potter, as I live and breathe!" she shouted.
Evie cursed the fact that she didn't hide fast enough, but Ron and the twins jumped to her aid when Rita asked for an interview.
"Evie can't talk right now." George said.
"Oh? And who are you, her bodyguards?" she laughed.
"No, we're her friends." Ron said.
"And why can't you talk dear? Too worried about your brother? Too grief stricken perhaps? He is on a dangerous path, you know. How could you let him enter? Do you blame yourself?" she started asking question after question.
Evie was about to scream at her but felt a slight tingle in her throat and found she couldn't make a peep. She looked around wildly and saw Fred's wand pointed at her from behind his back.
"She can't talk because she is sick with a Muggle illness, can't even make a sound. Careful, it's contagious." Fred said with a smirk.
Rita Skeeter went pale and backed away muttering about losing her voice before running in the opposite direction. Once she was out of sight Fred lifted the silencing charm from Evie. She immediately thanked all three of them with a hug, sneaking a tiny kiss on Fred's cheek. They continued on to the Three Broomsticks and when they got there Evie rushed to buy them all butterbeers.
"No, it's a thank you for saving me from saying anything to that horrible woman!" she said as they started to protest.
She brought them back to the table they were able to get in the crowded pub. They drank in silence for a minute before Evie saw Hermione enter. Knowing her brother was with her she smiled and waved. But to keep the other's from noticing she decided to start up a conversation.
"So, I think Angelina fancies someone." She said taking a sip of butterbeer.
George choked on his, giving Evie all the information she needed to know. She smirked before laughing.
"I knew it! You do fancy her then!"
"Now, Evie, you can't tell her! We have a plan worked out; she'll be George's by the Yule Ball." Fred told her.
"He could have her now if he wanted." She blurted out.
"Seriously?" George asked.
"Yeah. But wait until the Yule Ball to make your final move." She told him.
"Why? If I know she likes me, then why not go for it now?" George whined.
"Angelina should be wooed, courted. And I'll help you!" she smiled.
"That sounds stupid." Ron said.
"Actually, that sounds brilliant." Fred and George said.
By the end of their drinks, they had decided Ron would apologize to Harry that night and George should buy a few gifts for Angelina that Evie would place on her bed for him. They headed back to the castle and up to Gryffindor tower to store their purchases. They had no sooner entered through the portrait hole than an owl flew in the window and dropped a letter at their feet.
"That's Charlie's owl!" Ron gasped as he picked up the letter and read it out loud.
Guys-
Told you I'd be seeing you soon!
Come down and see me! I'll be waiting outside Hagrid's hut. Don't bring Harry!
Charlie
"You know what this means don't you?" said Evie.
"Charlie knows what the first task is and he's going to tell us!" Ron said.
"I can tell you what the first task is!" yelled Evie.
"How?" all three boys asked.
"What does Charlie do for a living!?" she asked them though she already knew the answer.
"Dragons?" Fred asked. "They are making them face dragons?"
"Only way to find out if I'm wrong is to go to Hagrid's and find out." She said.
Before they reached Hagrid's they saw Charlie's form next to the hut, his bright red mane blowing in the breeze. With each step Evie's anxiety grew because she knew whatever the task was she couldn't tell Harry. That would be the hardest part of knowing, not being able to tell him. They reached the hut moments later and Evie could see the panic on Charlie's face at the sight of her. The last time he saw her she was still getting over the shock of seeing the Dark Mark and here she was dealing with the shock of her brother being a Champion in the Triwizard Tournament.
"I know what you are thinking, but I won't tell him Charlie." Evie said as she came to a stop.
"Evie… I can't let you know what the task is." He said.
"I bet I already know." She said.
"How could you know?"
"You're here, you work with dragons, and I highly doubt you took off work just to see the first task. The tournament is supposed to test the champions in the cruelest ways possible, so the first task must have something to do with dragons." She said.
"You are rather clever aren't you?" he laughed. "Let's go see them then, but you…"
"Can't tell Harry, I know." She said, finishing his sentence with ease.
They walked past Hagrid's hut and around the edge of the forest. Each step brought them further from the school and closer to the dragons. Evie dreaded each step closer and kept looking back towards the castle, watching it fade into the distance. Finally, when she could no longer see the castle, they stopped outside an enclosure with four sleeping dragons. Nearly thirty wizards were lounging around, waiting for the sleeping draft to wear off.
"Charlie! We can't have students here!" a rather large American wizard shouted.
"They're family. These are my brothers Ron, Fred and George and this is…." Charlie flat lined.
"Our sister Ginny!" said Fred quickly.
"But aren't they friends of Potter's? How do we know they won't tell him?" the American said.
"Because we have a sense of fair play and know the rules. Plus, Harry wouldn't listen to us anyway, he's so nervous for the task all he does is study." Evie said.
"Tried to tell him it was time to eat breakfast this morning and he said 'good night'" said George.
"Fine. But if any of the Champions find out…" he threatened.
Charlie led them closer and showed them the four large dragons. Charlie listed them off as a Common Welsh Green which was just as green as its name, a Swedish Short Snout which was a beautiful silver blue, a Chinese Fireball that reminded Evie of a New Years dragon, and a Hungarian Horntail that looked like it could be the most deadly. Evie looked around and saw eggs and her eyes widened in terror. She turned on Charlie and let out all her pent up anger on him.
"Nesting mothers? You brought four nesting mothers?!" she shrieked. "Are they trying to kill the Champions?"
"Evie, we brought what they told us to bring." Charlie replied calmly. "They just have to get past them."
"That's no easy feat, Charlie." Said Fred.
"This whole competition isn't supposed to be easy. Like she said, it is supposed to test the champions in the cruelest ways possible." he said.
They stayed awhile and caught up with Charlie and learned about the dragons. But with the sun sinking in the sky and their stomachs rumbling, the four students said their goodbyes and headed back to the school for dinner.
After dinner they headed to the common room to find Harry. Instead, they found Hermione pouring over diagrams and muttering to herself. She was sitting on the floor in front of the couch, papers littering the floor around her.
"Where's Harry?" asked Evie.
"He went upstairs." came her simple response.
"But what about…" Evie started to ask, but realized there were still so many people still in the common room.
Hermione sighed and pushed her stuff to the side and stood up. "Come with me." Hermione led her to the stairway to the girl's dormitory.
"Hagrid wants to see him at midnight. I told him not to go, but he won't listen." she whispered.
"I know what Hagrid wants him for… I'll tell him not to stay long, which he won't want to anyway." she said.
"What are you talking about?!"
"Dragons, Hermione. Dragons are the first task, and I think Hagrid is going to tell Harry tonight." explained Evie.
"But that is cheating!" gasped Hermione.
"Think of it less as cheating and more as insuring he lives! He doesn't have to win, just stay alive!" she sighed. "I'll have Ron talk to him..."
"Ron? Evie, they are still fighting!" exclaimed her friend.
"Ron is going to apologize." she stated simply before walking back to the group of redheads in the far corner of the room. "Ron, now would be a good time to go talk to Harry."
"Maybe it could wait a bit..." he said, shuffling nervously.
"Ronald, honestly, apologize now, before Harry rushes off to Hagrid's and find out about the you-know-whats!" hissed Evie.
Ron grumbled but did as he was told, heading up to the boy's dormitory. Evie decided to fill the twins in on Sirius' planned visit that night. After some questions as to how he would accomplish said visit, they came up with a plan to get Harry back in time, and how to get the common room empty. Just as their scheming came to an end, Ron was back down in the common room.
"How'd it go little brother?" asked the twins.
"Not so good to start out, he threw a shoe at my head…" he said, rubbing his forehead. "But he finally let me tell him I was sorry and I knew that he didn't do it."
"Well, go with him to Hagrid's. Make sure he gets back here before one, okay?" said Evie.
"Yeah, alright."
As midnight rolled around, Hermione left the common room to open the portrait for the two boys underneath the invisibility cloak. As soon as they left, the four of them that were left made sure everyone was out of the common room. They had to scare off a couple of first years with threats of hexing them, but at 12:50 when Harry and Ron came tumbling through the portrait hole, Evie was the only person left in the room.
Harry took off the cloak and he looked just as pale as Evie had expected him too. She stood up and ran to him, giving him a huge hug that she hoped conveyed her love and worry in equal measure.
"I'll just… Yeah…" Ron said before disappearing up the stairs.
Before either one could say a word to the other, they heard a faint pop followed by a psst. They thought it was just the fire making noise as it died out, until they looked into the fireplace; in the heart of the flames was the handsome smiling face of their godfather.
"Sirius!" they whispered as they dropped to the floor.
Evie took in his change in appearance as well as one could when the face is presented in flickering flames. The last time she had seen him his face had looked emaciated, his eyes sunken in and a tangled mass of long, black hair. But as she studied his features, she noticed he looked younger, his face returned to its former fullness but his eyes still had a haunted and dull look to them.
"How are you two?" he asked.
Harry spoke first, all about everything that had been weighing so heavily on his mind. He had talked himself to near silence when he turned to Evie.
"You sent him an owl, even after I told you not too!" he accused.
"I sent her the owl after I read the Daily Prophet article. But there are more important things to discuss. You two need to stick together, and be wary of Karkaroff."
"He really was a Death Eater, wasn't he?" asked Evie.
"Yes, I'm still surprised by how much like your mother you are. He was caught and placed in Azkaban with me, but he was released. Seems he sold out a few Death Eaters still on the outside. I'd bet that is why Dumbledore roped Moody into teaching this year. He was the Auror who caught Igor in the first place."
"That's terrible." said Evie.
"Now, I'm not saying Karkaroff was the one who put your name in the Goblet, just that it is possible." warned Sirius. "I've been hearing strange things in my travels. The Death Eaters at the World Cup, that Ministry witch who's gone missing…"
"Bertha Jorkins?" asked Harry.
"Yes, she disappeared in Albania, the place Voldemort was rumored to be last and she'd have known about the Tournament."
"But it is not very likely that she'd have walked right into Voldemort is it?" said Evie.
"If you knew her you wouldn't be so skeptical. She was quite nosy, but had no brains. She was always easy to lure into a trap." he shook his head, remembering the few times he and James had taken advantage of her trusting and gullible nature when they were in school.
"So Voldemort could have found out about the Tournament!?" asked Harry.
"Yes. Whoever put your name in the Goblet did it for a reason, and I can't help but think that it was to mask an attempt on your life as a simple accident."
"Great, now all they have to do is let those dragons do their work, and I'll be history." he moaned.
"About the dragons, Harry, there is a simple spell…"
Winky, the house-elf, climbed through the portrait hole before Sirius could say another word.
"Someone's coming! Go!" hissed Evie.
There was another small pop and their godfather's face disappeared. They hopped up and stared at the house-elf who had entered to clean the tower.
"Mr. and Miss Potter! I is begging your pardon!" squeaked the elf.
"Winky! It's so good to see you!" said Evie.
"Good, Miss?" she cried as tears started to stain her cheeks. "I is here and my Master is needing me! That is no good at all, Miss, no good!" she dissolved into further tears, especially after they tried to comfort her. After deciding they could do nothing for her, they climbed the stairs to their dormitories.