Revised on the 09/11/2019


Chapter 3: Meet the man

Lyra's orphanage, Surrey, 1996

"They took the mark?! All of them? Are you sure? Where did you get this information?" asked Trixy, after the initial shock.

It was astounding; the Dark Lord had never marked children who hadn't finished their education. It was true that he recruited them young, but the process took time – it was like a ritual. The older students who knew about the Dark Lord, or had connections to his followers, watched vigilantly their younger peers.

When they see someone interesting – a bullied Slytherin, a dark-inclined Ravenclaw, an excluded Gryffindor or a powerful dark Hufflepuff – they approached them at the end of that student's sixth year. They give the teen a letter or a piece of paper, sometimes, when they trusted the student, the information was passed mouth to ear.

Those who were chosen – and who were interested – were given a portkey and at the date of the meeting, they were whisked away to an unplottable location. Of course, they didn't see the Dark Lord, but he was there, hidden somewhere, while one member of his inner-circle gave everyone a small speech.

Those who didn't want to accept the view of the Dark Lord, forgot everything about the meeting and only remembered dreaming of a looming forest – the rumor said that it was parselmagic. Those who were interested were given their seventh year to work hard and be useful to their future Lord, they also had to pass an initiation.

To keep everything secret, they also had to swear on their magic at the meeting to not speak of the meeting to anyone. If they were clever enough, they could try to use their own method to approach those who had the mark or were going to have the mark.

When every one of them did the initiation, those who failed forgot everything – like their peers who weren't interested. Those who succeeded gain the right to meet their Lord and his followers.

Of course, the dark faction was well organized, the Dark Lord had his inner circle, they were the elite. This Elite had all a small group of assigned followers (seven to ten) – called the circle and were assigned with some less than hard mission.

After them came the rest of the death eaters, they didn't see the Dark Lord often – less than the circle – they were what the circle was to the inner circle. The recruits were tested by the members of the circle, if their family already had prestige, or if they managed to win a fight against a member of the circle, they could ask to fight against a member of the inner-circle. After the mock duel, they were given the mark, and their 'uniform'.

"Of course, I'm sure. My cousin told me, you know, Draconis."

Harry snorted at that.

He always found it funny when Trixy and Lucian called Draco 'Draconis', as if Draco was a nickname, which wasn't true, Draco's name was really Draco. But when did his friends listen to him?

"Ah."

Yes. Ah. Everyone who knew Draco, knew that he couldn't keep a secret. And he would never ever lie to his 'cousin Lucian'. Yes. His cousin.

The Malfoy family came from the division of the Foi family, because of some revolution in the country near 1800, they separated in two branches, those who decided to go to England became the Malfoy, those who decided to stay in France were called the Bonnefoi. Something about 'not abandoning their nation', whatever.

Now, the two families were close and their relation grew closer thanks to Abraxas' sister Charlotte who married Lucian's grandad. Yep, meaning that Draco and Lucian were actually second-cousin. They wouldn't have been this close, if it wasn't for boring parties thrown by some pureblood family.

"When did you came across this piece of information?" asked Harry sharply.

The blond boy smiled in a 'sorry I forgot, but I'm too cute so you'll excuse me' way, before taking a step back and answering.

"Two days ago?"

"Lucian Vega Bonnefoi! Evans, everyone and me were worried and it's only now, that you decide to kindly share this piece of information." said Trixy in a dark voice.

Harry decided to discreetly go out of there, he didn't want to see Bellatrix's daughter angry. He could have helped the idiot, but he deserved it, ah, revenge, you gotta love it.

Walking along the silent corridor, his thoughts got back to Voldemort. What was going to be his reaction? And if he accepted Harry, how were they going to speak to each other? As Harry went down the stairs, a sudden image came to his mind that got him to chuckle, it was Voldemort in a Santa Claus outfit saying 'Merry Christmas' while giving a gift to a sour Snape.

"What do you find so funny?" said a calm slightly bored voice behind him.

"Only my mind playing tricks Vlad." answered Harry.

Vladimir Xerxès Dolohov, age 34, dark long hair tied in a lazy way, his brown eyes were always tired with dark pronounced circles beneath them – the poor man was a hard worker. The day the aurors arrested his brother Antonin, he was at work in Russia. He kind of settled down there, the Russian government didn't care about England's politics. If the English aurors came to arrest an 'innocent' pureblood, Russia would have started a war.

Vladimir could have had a nice peaceful life, if it wasn't for Thomas's mother, she asked him to keep them all safe before dying from dragonpox. 'Them' designing Thomas and his little followers. Vladimir who always had been a loyal man, took care of the group and obeyed his Lord's heir Thomas.

"Do not fret over what will happen. You, humans, always worry about the future."

"You are a human too, Vlad."

"Are you sure Evans?" with a secretive smile Vladimir opened the door to his room and disappeared to get dressed.

Harry rolled his eyes, before going to the kitchen, he could do with a nice butterbeer. Opening the door, he wasn't surprised to find Rosier eating a sandwich in the kitchen. He coughed, and Rosier's cheeks went to pink.

"It's not what it looks like! I'm not breaking my promise to lose weight this year. It's only a good luck treat!"

"I didn't say anything Rosy dear." Smirked slyly Harry.

"Evans! Don't call me that." The chubby teen pouted.

"Just joking Rosy, and I'm here for a 'good luck' butter beer myself."

"Why are you guys always mean to me?" whined Rosier.

"Well, the dark side didn't have enough cookies, we decide to give nicknames instead."

"Evans?"

"Yes?"

"That wasn't funny."

"I'll forget the sandwich and you forget the not funny joke?"

"What joke?"

"What sandwich?"

They shared a smile, before Harry went to drink his butterbeer.


Little Whinging, Surrey, 1985

A boy was running in the street, his black unruly hair knotting themselves with the speed, his vivid green eyes were lit with joy as he reached toward his destination: The park.

He came earlier than his friends, and waited for his friends, normally he would be calm and more collected, but today he was bouncing with joy. He had finally found a first name to call himself. After waiting five long minutes, he didn't see his new friends, but only Thomas coming toward him. Weird. He met the guys from the orphanage two weeks ago, and they all become fast friends, so where were the others.

"Hello Black."

"Hi Thomas, where are the othersss?", asked Black tilting his head shyly to the side.

Why the hell was this boy so cute?, though the other brunet.

"It hurts me that you don't want to see me Black." Said a sad Thomas.

Harry squeaked and stammered an apology.

"Does it mean that you're happy to see me Black?" said Thomas with a small smile.

Black blushed and nodded quickly.

"Really? How much are you happy to see me Black?"

Black's face got redder, and he looked distressed, worried to have vexed Thomas.

"A lot! I'm really happy to sssee you!"

"Does it mean that you like me?"

"I-I...er..."

He looked ready to faint, poor boy.

"Just joking Black. So, what got you so happy?"

"Huh? How do you know I wasss happy?" Asked the small confused boy.

"I actually came in advance and decided to test your capacity to sense your enemies." Before the distressed boy took this sentence wrong, Thomas continued. "Of course, we are friends, but if I was an enemy, you would have been badly hurt or worse dead."

This was of course a lie, not that Black would know – Thomas always managed to lie easily, the truth was that he wanted to watch Black and his cuteness. However, staring at someone without a reason wasn't considered normal in this world. So, he had to stalk his Black.

"Wow! I'll do my bessst nexsst time! Promissse. Where are the otherss?"

"Well. We decided to invite you in our orphanage. My mother told me there's going to be a storm in the afternoon."

Both gazed up at the sky which was blue with big fluffy clouds.

"As we didn't want to be sick, the only logical solution is for you to come with me. The others must be waiting."

Now, Black understood why aunt Petunia let him go out today?

"I didn't know! Thank you, it'll be a pleasssure to go with you."

"-You didn't answer my question. What got you so happy?"

"-Oh sssorry! I finally found a first name. I'll tell you when we'll sssee the otherss."

"- Or you can tell me now." Thomas said quickly.

If Black had to tell someone first it was to him! No one else. There was no way he going to let this boy go. Even if he was a muggle, he was special.

"- But it wouldn't be fair if I told you now and not at the ssame time asss everyone."

"-Why wouldn't it be fair?" Maybe Black in his subconscious knew that Thomas had feelings for him. Black looked like he was thinking hard, his nose was scrunched cutely. Suddenly, he looked straight at Thomas's eyes.

Yes, only watch me and no one else. Thought the brunet, his light blue eyes lost themselves in vivid green. Thomas felt himself mesmerized by the intensity, nothing in the world could be as beautiful as Black's eyes, and those long dark lashes, oh Merlin, were they long and thick.

"...mas? Thomas? Are you lissstening?"

" Yes?"

He was so hypnotized by the boy.

"I said you were right! Finally!"

"Excuse-me, so what did you choose?"

"Evanss!" Exclaimed Black.

"E...vans" tested Thomas, "Yes. It does suit you. You shall be Evans Black. But why this name and not another?"

"Aunt Petunia'ss college'ss friend came in the Durssley's home today. She called her Evanss, before correcting herssself and sssaying Dursley. That mean that Evansss iss my mother's maiden name too. So, I choose this name to be closer to her."

"What a brilliant idea Evans. So, shall we go to the orphanage?" Evans nodded and Thomas took his small hand and guiding him to their friends.


- To be continued