Chapter 17
Christmas rolled around the corner. With one last Hogsmeade trip one the last day of the term, which was also Ewan's 16th birthday. Ewan was trying to get Christmas shopping done but was constantly interrupted by his friends wishing him a Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas.
Ewan met up with Hermione, Ron, and Harry at Three Broomsticks.
"What are you doing here Harry?" he asked. "You're not supposed to be here."
"Don't worry I have the invisibility cloak." said Harry.
"That doesn't matter. But fine, one drink then get to the castle, understood?"
"Yes, okay."
They drank their drinks and laughed until they heard Harry's last name.
"…quite the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter!" said Madam Rosemerta.
"Precisely," Said Professor McGonagall. "Black and Potter. Ringleaders of their little gang. Both very bright, of course- exceptionally bright, in fact- but I don't think we've ever had such a pair of troublemakers –"
"I dunno," laughed Hagrid. "Fred and George Weasley could give'em a run fer their money."
"You'd have thought Black and Potter were brothers!" said Professor Flitwick, "Inseparable!"
"Of course they were," said Minister Fudge. "Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was best man when James married Lily. Then Ewan was born followed by Harry, he was named their godfather. Harry has no idea of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment him."
"Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who?" whispered Madam Rosemerta.
"Worse than that m'dear…" said Fudge. "Not many people are aware that the Potters knew You-Know-Who was after them. Dumbledore, who was of course working tirelessly against You-Know-Who, had a number of useful spies. One of them tipped him off, and he alerted James and Lily at once. He advised them to go into hiding. Well, of course, You-Know-Who wasn't an easy person to hide from. Dumbledore told them that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm."
"How does that work?" said Rosemerta.
"An immensely complex spell," answered Flitwick, "involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find – unless, of course, the Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret-Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where James and Lily were staying for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their sitting-room window!"
"So Black was the Potters Secret-Keeper?"
"Naturally," said Professor McGonagall, "James Potter told Dumbledore that Black would die rather than tell where they were, that Black was planning to go into hiding himself… and yet, Dumbledore remained worried. I remember him offering to be the Potters Secret-Keeper himself."
"He suspected Black?"
"He was sure that somebody close to the Potters had been keeping You-Know-Who informed of their movements, indeed he had suspected for some time that someone on our side had turned traitor and was passing a lot of information to You-Know-Who."
"But James Potter insisted on using Black?"
"He did indeed. Black was tired of his double-agent role, he was ready to declare his support openly for You-Know-Who, and he seems to have planned this for the moment of the Potters' death. But, as we all know, You-Know-Who met his downfall with little Harry Potter. . And this left Black in a very nasty position indeed. His master had fallen at the very moment he, Black, had shown his true colors as a traitor. He had no choice but to run for it – "
"Filthy, stinking turncoat!" Hagrid yelled.
"Shh!" said McGonagall
"I met him! I musta bin the last ter see him before he killed all them people! It was me what rescued Harry from James an' Lily's house after they and Little Ewan were killed! Jus' got him outta the ruins, poor little thing, with a great slash across his forehead, an' his parents and brother dead… an' Sirius Black turns up, on that flyin' motorbike he used ter ride. Never occurred ter me what he was doin' there. I didn' know he'd bin Lily an' James's Secret-Keeper. Thought he'd jus' heard the news o' You-Know-Who's attack an' come to see what he could do. White an' shakin', he was. An' yeh know what I did? I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN' TRAITOR!" Hagrid yelled.
"Hagrid, Please! Keep your voice down!'
"How was I ter know he wasn' upset abou' Lily, James, and Little Ewan? It was You-Know-Who he cared abou'! An' then he says, 'Give Harry ter me, Hagrid, I'm his godfather, I'll look after him-' Ha! But I'd had me orders from Dumbledore, an' I'd told Black no, Dumbledore told me Harry was ter go ter aunt an' uncle's. Black argued, but in the end he gave in. Told me ter take his motorbike ter get Harry there. 'I won't need it anymore,' he says. I shoulda known there was somethin' fishy goin' on then. He loved that motorbike, what was he givin' it ter me for? Why wouldn' he need it anymore? Fact was it was too easy to trace. Dumbledore knew he'd bin the Potters' Secret- Keeper. Black knew he was goin' ter have ter run fer it that night, knew it was a matter o' hours before the Ministry was after him. But what if I'd given Harry to him, eh? I bet he'd've pitched him off the bike halfway out ter sea. His bes' friends' younges' son! But when a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to 'em anymore…"
There was a long pause. Ewan was staring at his drink, not daring to look at Harry. Finally Madam Rosemerta spoke.
"But he didn't manage to disappear, did he? The Ministry of Magic caught up with him the next day!"
"Alas, if only we had. It was not we who found him. It was little Peter Pettigrew – another of the Potter's friends. Maddened by grief, no doubt, and knowing Black had been the Potter's Secret-Keeper, he went after Black himself."
"Pettigrew… that fat little boy who always tagging around after them at Hogwarts?" asked Rosemerta.
"Hero-worshipped Black and Potter, never quite in their league, talent-wise. I was often rather sharp with him. You can imagine how I- how I regret that now…"
"There, now, Minerva. Pettigrew died a hero's death. Eye-witnesses – Muggles, of course, we wiped their memories later – told us how Pettigrew cornered Black. They say he was sobbing. 'Lily, James, and little Ewan, Sirius! How could you?' And then he went for his wand. Well, of course, Black was quicker. Blew Pettigrew to smithereens.…"
"Stupid Boy… foolish boy…he was always hopeless at dueling… should have left it to the Ministry…." Professor McGonagall said blowing her nose.
"I tell yeh, if I'd got ter Black before little Pettigrew did, I wouldn't've messed around with wands – I'd've ripped him limb – from – limb,"
"You don't know what you're talking about, Hagrid, nobody but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad would have stood a chance against Black once he was cornered. I was a Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Catastrophes at the time, and I was one of the first on the scene after Black murdered all those people. I – I will never forget it. I still dream about it sometimes. A crater in the middle of the street, so deep it had cracked the sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And Black standing there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front of him… a heap of bloodstained robes and a few – a few fragments-"
The people at the table seemed to be crying or close to it.
"Well there you have it, Rosemerta," continued Fudge, "Black was taken away by twenty members of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad and Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First Class, which I think was some comfort to his poor mother. Black's been in Azkaban ever since."
There was a sigh. "Is it true he's mad, Minister?"
"I wish I could say that he was, I certainly believe his master's defeat unhinged him for a while. The murder of Pettigrew and all those Muggles was the action of a cornered and desperate man – cruel… pointless. Yet I met Black on my way last inspection of Azkaban. You know, most of the prisoners in their sit muttering to themselves in the dark; there's no sense in them… but I was shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quite rationally to me. It was unnerving. You'd have thought he was merely bored - Asked if I'd finished with my newspaper, cool as you please, said he missed doing the crossword. Yes, I was astounded at how little effect the dementors seemed to be having on him – and he was one of the most heavily guarded in the place, you know. Dementors outside his door day and night."
"What do you think he's broken out to do you? Good gracious, Minister, he isn't trying to rejoin You-Know-Who, is he?" asked Rosemerta
"I daresay that is his- er- eventual plan, but we hope to catch Black long before that…."
"You know, Cornelius, if you're dining with the headmaster, we'd better head back up to the castle," said Professor McGonagall
There a few moments of silence. Ewan didn't know what to do. A second later he got up and left Three Broomsticks quickly, going straight to the castle, ignoring Katie, ignoring everyone. When he was alone in his dark dorm, he could think… and his thoughts were on Sirius Black and his family.
FLASHBACK
"James, are you sure about Peter?" asked Lily from the kitchen.
"Yes, everyone will think Sirius is the Secret-Keeper, even Dumbledore, its perfect!" said James playing with Ewan.
"But we don't know who is betraying us: Remus, Sirius, or Peter, anyone of them!"
"Seriously, Peter is harmless. Look it's safer. Peter is the Secret-Keeper."
END OF FLASHBACK
Ewan woke up and a cold sweat, he was shaking, and his heart felt like was pounding a mile a minute. He took a look at his watch; he had five minutes till he was due for prefect duties. After taking a quick shower, he made is way to the Great Hall to meet up with Cedric Diggory, his prefect partner.
For the whole night, he was distracted. Even Cedric noticed, and he was worried. An hour before it was time to head off back to bed, Cedric ushered Ewan to Professor Lupin's office. Who graciously allowed the boys in.
"Professor, can you talk to Ewan, he's freaking me out…" asked Cedric
"Mr. Tyler are you alright?"
"…we don't know who is betraying us: Remus, Sirius, or Peter, anyone of them!" The voice inside Ewan's head reminded him. "Remus, Remus Lupin? Professor Lupin!"
"Ced, can you give the Professor and I a minute alone?" asked Ewan, his voice rough.
"Yeah, I'll be back soon" Cedric replied, and then left the office.
"Your first name is Remus?" he asked the Professor, he didn't care anymore if he was being rude.
"Yes, but as you know you have to call me Profes…" Professor Lupin started, but Ewan interrupted him.
"You were friends with Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and my… James Potter?" he asked again.
"Yes… What is this about?"
"I… I'm not… I'm not Ewan Tyler." said Ewan.
"Then who… oh my goodness, Ewan Potter?" The Professor said.
Ewan nodded.
"But - but your dead?"
"I ran away that night, on Halloween 12 years ago. I was adopted by Muggles."
"Oh my goodness."
"Sirius Black, Padfoot, was not our Secret-Keeper, Uncle Peter was..."
"No, no. Sirius was. I saw the spell being cast myself!"
"My father changed it last minute… Uncle Sirius was an obvious choice."
"Oh my, we need to tell the Headmaster."
"What are we waiting for, then." said Ewan, going to the door.
* * *
Professor Lupin and Ewan told Headmaster Dumbledore everything, even using Dumbledore's Pensieve. An hour later, Minister Fudge was called, and they showed him everything. Fudge, at first, didn't believe the sixteen year-olds words, especially one who was considered dead. Then Ewan suggested using Veritaserum.
After all that, Ewan fell asleep in one of Dumbledore's chairs while everyone was talking. Suddenly, he was being poked awake by Professor Flitwick, who escorted him to the Ravenclaw dorm. Ewan didn't even bother with the riddle, thankfully the Professor answered it, and he was ushered to his dorm to sleep for the rest of the night.
Morning arrived bright and early. Students were packing the last of their things, and rushing to eat in the great hall before boarding the train home for Christmas.
Ewan was just staring out the window for the entire train ride. Harry, who was invited to come over to Ewan's for Christmas, Ron, Hermione, and Katie were all concerned. Finally when the train pulled into Kings Cross, Ewan grabbed his stuff and left, without a word to anyone.
Lara and Jon noticed their son's melancholy behavior. When they got home Ewan went straight to his room and closed the door. He didn't even come down for dinner.
"So Harry how was your term?" asked Jon, trying to little the mood.
"Okay." Harry said eating a piece of pizza.
"What caused…" Jon looked to the ceiling, "…his behavior?"
"Oh, um, we over heard someone talking… he didn't like it."
"Kid stuff?"
"No, just stuff."
* * *
Ewan starting acting somewhat normal after the first night. He didn't talk much though and when he did it was to answer a question. Most of the time he stayed in his room, no one knew what he was doing though. He always had his stereo blasting, much to Jon's annoyance.
When he finally came down to dinner one night, he picked at his food.
"So Ewan, your stereo, can you lower the volume on it?"
"Sure."
"What have you been doing in your room?"
"Nothing."
"That's interesting." Jon said, trying to lighten the mood. "Read any new books?"
"Nope."
Jon stole a glance at Lara with pleading eye's that read 'Help Me, here!'
Before to long, the door bell rang.
"I'll get it." said Lara "Ewan, it's your girlfriend."
Ewan sighed then got up and left the dining room.
"Hello." He said.
"Hey" she replied.
"You feel better?"
"I'm sorry, it's just…you know I'm adopted, right?
"Yeah."
"I keep having… flashbacks, of my old family. It keeps bothering me."
"Is that why you were so quiet on the train?" she asked.
"Yeah. I mean… on one hand I know I can't change anything, that I should be thankful for even remembering things, on the other some things I remember are bad."
"Oh, Ewan. You know you can talk to me, right?"
"Yeah but… have you ever had a secret that you can't tell anyone or bad things will happen?"
"No, well except that one time I lied to my mom about putting a worm on my sisters head because I didn't want to get in trouble but that's about it."
"Okay my secret is a little worse than that." He laughed.
She smiled. "You trust me… right?" she asked.
"Yeah but… If too many people know…"
"You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want too."
He took a deep breath. "I'm Harry Potter's real biological brother. I'm Ewan Potter."
Silence.
Silence.
"Really?" she asked.
"Would I make something like that up?"
"No. Oh my god… wow! That's so cool!"
"But you can't tell anyone."
"I won't, I promise." She said. "Everyone thinks you're dead." She hugged him. "You're always be Ewan Tyler to me."
"Thanks… I love you."
"Shut up, you're going to make me cry." She said, it was their first 'I love you'.
"I don't want any water works." joked Ewan.
"I love you too." she said.
