Harry POV
Between captaining the quidditch team, training sessions with Padfoot, and sneaking off to the Chamber of Secrets, Harry found himself once again begging Hermione to see her Transfiguration essay before he wound up with detention from McGonagall. Hermione had rolled her eyes as she handed him the parchment and Ron also crowded around the Common Room table to see it.
"Maybe if you would actually schedule a bit of time in your schedule for school, Harry," she mused.
"Why aren't you fussing at Ron?"
"Because I have always copied every essay," he said with a grin. "It also helps when I have familial ties with Fr-"
Ron was cut off by Hermione elbowing him sharply in the side. Harry glanced between the two and frowned, deciding that completing his essay would likely be an infinitely better use of his limited time than trying to figure out what they were talking about. But as soon as he tried to grab Hermione's essay, she slapped a hand down on it.
"C'mon, Hermio-"
"What is it that you've been sneaking off to do, Harry?" she demanded.
The memory of soft lips and hands lightly tugging his hair suddenly came to Harry's mind and it was all he could do not to blush as he remembered how it felt to snog his girlfriend.
"I've been training," he said, in a voice that was a little too high-pitched to be believable. At Hermione's raised eyebrow and Ron's snort, he cleared his throat. "Really. Between Dumbledore, Sirius, and quidditch, I just haven't much time."
"And you've been sharing with Sirius whenever Dumbledore requests training?" Ron asked, a strange look on his face.
"Yeah, that was part of the deal when Sirius let me come to Hogwarts this year."
"And quidditch? Do you ever practice without your Keeper?" Hermione pressed, gesturing to Ron.
"Of course not-"
"Then where were you last night?" she demanded. "You said that you had training with Sirius but when we went to make sure you had gotten dinner, Sirius said he hadn't seen you at all yesterday."
Harry opened his mouth, but Hermione held up a hand.
"We're your friends, Harry," she said, her voice equally full of admonishment and hurt. A pit of guilt opened in Harry's stomach. "You shouldn't feel like you have to lie to us. We're worried about you."
"Merlin, Mione, you sound like my mum with the guilt trip," Ron said. "She thinks that you've been hanging round Malfoy-ette, but not even you are that reckless, right, mate?"
"Of course not," Harry said, lie rolling easily off his tongue. "I'm just trying to figure some things out for myself. I'm tired of being the last to know anything in this bloody war, y'know? But, Hermione, please. Snape will make sure I can't play Saturday's game if I don't do well on this essay."
Ron clapped him bracingly on the back, but Hermione continued to look suspicious as she passed him the essay.
"Just be careful, whatever you're doing, Harry," she said.
"Aren't I always?" Harry said with a grin.
"You don't want me to answer that question, Harry."
Evanna POV
…Godric may not believe me, but I have seen the ways muggles can destroy each other and us. Helga's charm over the castle will not be enough to turn away the hordes should they truly wish to destroy us. Gadel Glas can do much, but I fear until she grows to size that our most vulnerable students will not survive. 'Tis only a matter of time before one of the mongrels reveals our secrets again….
"I have received a message from your father."
There was an immediate hush over the Slytherin Common Room as Professor Snape said the words to Evanna. She had been going through Salazar Slytherin's diary again, hoping there might be some secret in the books to quickly escape the castle when the time came, perhaps even to allow some of her father's followers in to help her.
Evanna carefully closed the ancient diary and looked up at the professor, waiting for him to give her the letter. He did not, instead gesturing for her to stand.
"You're presence is required tonight," he said lowly.
Evanna stood slowly. "What am I required for? Fighting or-"
"An event of a diplomatic nature, I am told. I do not know more details than that."
"Give me a few moments."
Evanna closed up her book before making her way to her dorm, ignoring the whispers of her Housemates. In her dorm room, she took a few deep breaths to center herself. She had yet to make true progress on the assignment from her father. What if he asked her about it? She began to flip through the clothing in her wardrobe, finally selecting a pair of dark, tight trousers and a white blouse with dark green hooded robes over top.
She didn't say a word as she flounced through the Common Room, headed to Professor Snape's office. Her mentor closed the door softly behind them.
Evanna didn't look back at him. "Did he seem… angry?"
"Have you done something to anger him?"
"I've made very little progress on the task he assigned me," she admitted.
"Do you want to run?"
"No," Evanna said. "I was scared of Lucius for such a long time. My father gave me a way out of that. I can handle it."
Professor Snape placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. Evanna paused for a moment before grabbing a handful of floo powder and stepping into the fireplace.
"Malfoy Manor!" she said clearly. With a whoosh of green, Professor Snape's dour face and dark office spun away. She stepped out into the grand entrance of her childhood home, brushing the smallest bit of ash off her shoulders. Her birth mother was there waiting for her.
"The Dark Lord is going to Fenrir Greyback's camp tonight," Bellatrix said without preamble. "He expects you to take a leading role in the diplomatic relationships with the Dark Creatures. Are you ready?"
"Yes," Evanna said, pushing away any nerves. Fenrir Greyback was notorious, his pack vicious. All werewolves were.
"Good. And your task?"
Her birth mother's eyes bored into her. Evanna kept her face blank.
"I have been mapping out secret ways in and out of the castle," she said evenly.
"Hmm." Bellatrix studied her, then turned sharply on a heeled boot and lead Evanna to the courtyard where her father waited.
"Your mother has briefed you?"
"She told me you wish me to speak to the werewolves," Evanna said.
"I need you to convince them of your Camelot, just as you did my Death Eaters," her father said. "We will need the magical creatures on our side if we hope to win this war."
"Yes, Father," she said. Without waiting for further directions, colorful smoke gathered around her, lifting her into the sky. Her father smirked from the ground.
"Do you have any idea where you are going?" he said.
"Camelot, of course," she quipped. The Dark Lord shook his head in bemusement before his own black smoke lifted him into the air, higher than Evanna.
Lupin POV
He should have realized why Greyback insisted everyone be there that night. Of course it could not have simply been the werewolf wanting to lord his power over them all, crow about how large his 'pack' had grown. No, it was to hear Voldemort pitch his plans for world domination.
Voldemort had flown there, with no thestral or broom to aid him, as had a small, hooded figure who did not follow, but stood at his side. It was a distinct change from the old days, when Voldemort would arrive to the werewolf den with an entire retinue of Death Eaters trailing behind him, never at his side.
"Looks like the tabloids got it right-the Dark Lord does have an heir," a woman said to Remus' side.
The thought alone was terrifying. The proof of it, standing right in front of him… Remus repressed a shudder.
"Lycanthropes, it is time again to take arms against the forces that seek to oppress you and the Wizarding World at large!" Voldemort said. "My heir will serve as a symbol of power for our new world order!"
There were howls and shouts as Voldemort gestured for the figure at his side to step forward. As his heir did so, he lowered his hood. Only, it was a boy, as Remus had been expecting. No, the lowered hood revealed long curls of dark hair, a pale, narrow face, and… violet eyes.
"Merlin save us," Remus muttered under his breath.
For that was Evanna Malfoy standing up there beside Voldemort. Evanna Malfoy, who had helped Harry out of the Chamber of Secrets, who had done her best to hide in his Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. Evanna Malfoy, who had been mired in rumors of romance with the Boy-Who-Lived, who had helped Harry out of that maze, who had become invisible and then saved Sirius at the Ministry of Magic just a few months ago. She was the heir to Lord Voldemort.
"For too long, we have hid our power," Evanna was saying. "For too long, muggles have run rampant over our world, meaning that your kind has been relegated to the dark shadows of the night in the name of maintaining secrecy," the girl hissed the world. "But, should you join my father and I, I swear, we will return to the days of old. We will restore the legends of Camelot and you, friends, will be free to do as you wish without fear of the Ministry attacking and locking you away simply for being who you are!"
The wolves cheered again and Remus knew that there was nothing he or Dumbledore would be able to offer to convince them to the side of the Light. Not with this young witch who seemed so bright and full of promise.
Dumbledore… Did the Headmaster know? Nothing happened in Hogwarts without the old man's knowledge. But that was not altogether true-after all, there were years that three unregisted animagi run around the grounds of Hogwarts with a werewolf without the old man's knowledge. But, Snape. Snape surely knew who Voldemort's heir was. And if Snape knew, then Dumbledore knew.
And yet, Sirius had allowed Harry back to Hogwarts, despite his growing mistrust of Dumbledore's ability and desire to keep Harry safe. For all that Remus owed to his old Headmaster, he could not help but agree that his best friend's son had not been cared for in the way the boy ought to have been. Had Sirius known that Voldemort's child-a child with a strange influence over Harry-he would have taken his godson abroad and never glanced back at England.
Remus found himself ready to do the very same.
Evanna POV
It was easy, Evanna realized, to be carried away with the adoration of cheering crowds who knew nothing of your darkest secrets and most shameful weaknesses. As the werewolves cheered for her, she stood taller than she ever had, not the abused daughter of Lucius Malfoy nor even the nervous child of the Dark Lord. No, she was the one chosen to take on the gifts of the léitheoir aigne, she was the scion of the great Salazar Slytherin, she was Morgana le Fay reborn.
Her father allowed her a few moments in the glow, before he held a hand out for her, gesturing for her to follow him.
"You are a great orator," he said. "You have kept up your studies of muggle and magical governments from our first summer, yes?"
"Of course, Father," she replied. "You instructed me to."
"That is good. Understandably, my presence does little to put people at ease," he said, gesturing to his serpentine face. "I instill fear and reverence in my followers-you, daughter, instill hope and loyalty. We will need that as we seek to gain allies."
"Of course, Father," she replied.
"I hope this will not distract you from the mission I have assigned you this year-it is vital that Dumbledore dies and you be the one to do it for our next steps," he continued. "I would hate to have to punish my heir."
Evanna could see her mother-Narcissa-and her friends, Ginny, Luna, and Bridget, right at the forefront of his mind. He did not have to finish his statement for her to know that Lord Voldemort would not hesitate to bring her to heel using those she loved.
"I understand, Father," she said. "I will not fail you."
A/N: I know, I have been gone for quite awhile. *hides* Not only is real life extremely busy and tiring, but I have been trying to figure out how I want to do Ev's fifth year, as well as the war following. There is a particular plot/trope/whatever that I have been kinda wanting to do, but I know it tends to be a controversial trope and many people have strong feelings against it (though I personally find it super interesting). Then I remembered that this is fanfiction and I am doing it because I enjoy writing and not necessarily to please anyone, so Imma just write what I want to write, as I am able to write it.