The next morning, Alex went straight to Professor Snape's office. Now that Voldemort was back, it was quite likely that Snape would have to resume his duties as a spy, that is if he could convince the Dark Lord that he hadn't strayed in his allegiance. Alex was fairly sure that his teacher could explain away the events of first year by claiming that he had no idea that Voldemort was on the back of Quirrell's head, or he wouldn't have tried to thwart Quirrell's attempts to get the Philosopher's Stone. However, it would be much better for Professor Snape if he had something to prove his loyalty.

A minute after the knock on the door to his office, Professor Snape opened it and stared at Alex in surprise. "Mr. Romanov, I wasn't expecting you." He quickly looked down the corridor to make sure that nobody else was present (thought Alex had made sure of that when he had come down in the first place), then let Alex in.

Before Professor Snape could ask why he was there, Alex said, "I bet you're going to have to become a spy again, Professor. I'm sure once Tom Riddle gets his bearings after what happened yesterday, he'll be summoning all the Death Eaters that escaped being sent to Azkaban."

"I believe you are correct, and so does Professor Dumbledore," replied Professor Snape in a neutral tone.

"Therefore, I've thought of something you can do that will convince Riddle that you've never strayed in his allegiance to him, and perhaps soften any punishments he has in mind for what went on with Quirrell and the Stone. I would like it if you told Riddle about my true identity."

Professor Snape stared at Alex in shock. "You really want me to reveal your identity to the Dark Lord? But - I promised to keep it a secret!"

"I'm releasing you from that promise," Alex said flatly. "The news that I'm really Harry Potter will please Riddle. You can tell him the truth, that my adoptive parents and I revealed the truth to Professor Dumbledore and the Heads of Houses back in first year, so that they wouldn't have to be worried about the whereabouts of Harry Potter, and that's how you know. All I ask is that you make sure that only Riddle hears this, and tell him that it's in his own best interests not to tell the other Death Eaters. Perhaps say that the other Death Eaters would have difficulty keeping quiet about it, and that the impact would be more if Riddle killed me first and then revealed to everyone my true identity, or something like that."

"Are you sure about this, Mr. Romanov?" asked Professor Snape, looking concerned. "After everything your family has done for me, I don't want to bring harm to you. And there's the fact that I promised to do everything I could to protect you for the sake of your biological mother."

"I'm sure, Professor Snape," said Alex firmly. "After what happened yesterday, Riddle no doubt still wants to target me, so knowing my real identity isn't going to change things. And it will convince him that you are still loyal to him, and might even raise your position among his followers."

Just then, Professor Snape clutched his arm and made a grimace. "I think the Dark Lord has decided to summon the Death Eaters that escaped arrest now. It's a good thing that it's Sunday and I can get away for a few hours. If you'll excuse me, I'll have to Floo to the Three Broomsticks so I can Apparate to wherever we're meeting. And yes, Mr. Romanov, I will do what you say and request a private audience with the Dark Lord so I can impart to him your real identity. If you haven't already done so, inform the rest of your family about your decision."

"I will," said Alex, and he left the office. Once back in his dorm room, he grabbed the family mirror and went to the Room of Requirement. Aunt Sarah was the one to answer and listened as he explained what he had done.

"That was clever of you to think of that," she said soberly. "I really wish Severus didn't have to resume being a spy, but I know he feels that it's his duty. At least he can get in Riddle's good graces now that you've given him permission to reveal your true identity to Riddle. Anyway, the Order of the Phoenix has started back up to fight him. Tobias and Maria have rejoined, plus the old members that are still alive and in good health, and the rest of the family have joined, along with the Weasleys and Tonks. We're seeing if we can recruit anyone else. I expect Vera will want to join once she graduates."

"What about Beth and me?" Alex asked. "And our other cousins? I'm sure we want to join too."

"You're not of age yet, and neither are your cousins, except for Vera," said Aunt Sarah. "However, that doesn't mean you're going to be left out of the loop. I can't speak for what Arthur and Molly plan on doing with their children that aren't of age currently, but you at least will be told some of the Order's activities, since unfortunately you are fated to fight Riddle and will need as much knowledge as possible. Oh, and I suggest you employ Occulemency more often, so that nobody that's not supposed to can read your mind and find out things."

"I'll do that then, Aunt Sarah. But what about the Ministry? Now that Riddle's back, aren't they doing to fight him?"

Aunt Sarah sighed. "Minister Fudge is very reluctant to admit that he's back, especially since it will ruin the many years of peace. He certainly can't deny Crouch Jr's testimony, and the investigation going on with Mr. Crouch. Also, there were many witnesses to Pettigrew appearing and whisking you away, so Fudge can't deny that either. And since you did offer to show your memory, and considering that you have no idea how to tamper with it to show what you want, and in any case, it's usually obvious when a memory's been tampered with, he can't really accuse you of making this all up. Right now, all Fudge is willing to admit is that some madman or Dark wizard who claims to be Voldemort has appeared, and have the general public be on their guard against this Dark wizard and the escaped Death Eaters."

"Well, it's better than nothing," said Alex, though he wasn't happy to hear that the Minister of Magic didn't want to admit Voldemort was really back. "Is that why the Daily Prophet has reported that I was kidnapped by Wormtail but I managed to escape thanks to the Portkey I had, but not anything about Riddle's rebirth? Because Fudge refuses to admit that he's returned?"

"I would assume so. In any case, even if the Ministry refuses to acknowledge Voldemort's return, they still have to admit that there's a Dark wizard on the loose who has gathered the escaped Death Eaters to him and combat him. Now, I suggest you focus on getting through the Triwizard Tournament, Alex. Let the Order handle what's going with Voldemort and his Death Eaters for the moment. Wait until it's time for you to battle him."

Alex reluctantly agreed to it and then ended the connection. On his way back to his dorm room, he ran into Cedric. "The other champions and I want to talk to you, Alex. Come with me, please."

Cedric led the way to an empty classroom, and set up the spell to prevent eavesdropping. "All right, your cousins told us some of what happened to you yesterday, after they'd spoken to your sister. But if you don't mind, could you explain everything?"

Alex thought for a moment, then sighed and proceeded to go over the events of yesterday afternoon. "You actually interfered with ze ritual to return ze Dark Lord to power?" Fleur asked incredulously. "How did you zink of doing zat? If it were me, I would 'ave been too scared to zink properly."

Alex shrugged. "I had faced him once before, and I knew that there were no plans to kill me until after the ritual was over. I was more focused on escape, and since I hadn't managed that when it was time for my blood to be used, I decided to do what I could to keep the ritual from working, or at least lessen how well it worked."

"That vas very brave and smart of you," said Viktor. "Now the Dark Lord has a veakened body. He vill not last very long in a duel, since he vill start coughing or be out of breath quickly, and if he took potions to make him stronger, they vill only last for a set amount of time."

The three older champions exchanged looks, then Fleur said, "We 'ave been zinking. After everyzing zat has 'appened to you, we zink it is best if you win ze Tournament. You are ze one zat suggested we work togezer so zat we can survive it, and from what we 'ave seen so far, you are a skilled wizard."

"No!" Alex protested, looking shocked. "I don't want you guys to let me win the Tournament. That's not very fair to me or you guys."

"But you already have a very good chance of winning the Tournament already," said Viktor. "We just think that since you vere entered in the Tournament so that the Dark Lord could use it as way to return to power, it is best for you to win."

"I absolutely refuse to let that happen," said Alex. "I want to win on my own merits, not have you guys let me win." He thought it over for a minute, then said, "How about this? Since we're already working together, why don't we work together during the next to tasks? We'll free our hostages together, and then since the person that was impersonating Professor Moody let slip that the third task was getting through a maze during questioning, we can work together for that as well. Once we reach the Triwizard Cup, we can have duel, or play a game of cards to determine who gets the Cup and therefore win the Tournament."

"But now that we're all friends, I really don't want to duel the rest of you," Cedric protested. "And playing a game of cards sounds rather silly."

Fleur and Viktor nodded in agreement, so Alex, in exasperation, asked, "What do you want us to do then, grab the Cup together so that it's a four-way tie?"

"Actually, zat is not a bad idea," said Fleur thoughtfully. "Ze point of the Tournament is not just about of showing which school is ze the best. It is also about promoting international wizarding cooperation. Since we are working togezer, we should win togezer."

"I agree," said Viktor. "Headmaster Karkaroff vill not like that, but I do not care what he thinks. We will take the Cup together so that it is a tie, and split the prize money between us."

"It's not like we really need one thousand Galleons," Cedric pointed out. "I've still got one more year of Hogwarts to go, after which I plan on working in the Ministry or signing on with a professional team, whichever one hires me first. Viktor already has plenty of money from being a professional Quidditch player, and Fleur's family is fairly well-off, not to mention that she plans on taking a job in Britain to further improve her English. As for you, Alex, you clearly have some money of you own, especially after the share you would have gotten from the sale of the basilisk you helped Professor Dumbledore destroy. So two hundred fifty Galleons will be enough for the each of us."

"Fine, we'll make it a tie," said Alex, seeing that the other champions were all for the idea, and in any case, after further reflection, he found it to be a good idea.

"About You-Know-Who returning," Cedric said. "I know he's going to want to target you. Would you mind if I helped you fight him, Alex? Even if I weren't friends with you, I'd still fight against him, since he's evil and all, and I planned to once I graduate. While my parents didn't actively fight against him in the war, they were still against him and did what they could."

Alex sighed. "I'd rather you didn't, Cedric, but since you're already against him, you can."

"I would like to fight against him also," said Fleur. "Mon père works in ze French Ministry, and he 'as told me about 'ow some Muggleborn witches and wizards fled to France during ze time ze Dark Lord was in power in Britain."

"Fleur, this isn't your fight," Alex protested. "You can return to France once the Tournament is over and stay safe there."

"'Ow safe do you zink France will be if ze Dark Lord succeeds in taking over wizarding Britain and decides to see if he can take over ze rest of Europe?" Fleur demanded. "And I 'ave already decided zat I wanted to work in Britain so I can improve my English. Speaking wiz you and Cedric 'as improved it somewhat, but I want to speak even better. Also, I do not like evil wizards, and would like to stop them."

"Fine, you can do want you want," said Alex, though he really didn't want Fleur risking herself in the impending second war against Voldemort. Actually, he really didn't want anyone involved in the war, since the prophecies (the one his mother made and the one Professor Trelawney had apparently made) were about him and Voldemort, but he knew he couldn't stop the Order or the Ministry from fighting. "Well, at least you'll be out of it, Viktor."

Viktor gave him a surprised look. "Alex, do you really think I vould not fight with you? You are my friend. Also, this Dark Lord is just as bad as Grindelvald vas, if not vorse. Many of us at Durmstrang, including my family, had lost relatives ven Grindelvald vas in power. You are not keeping me out of this. I may not be able to do as much as others can, since I am still a professional Quidditch player and vill have matches to play in, but I vill do vat I can."

"Fine," Alex said, throwing up his hands in defeat. "I clearly can't talk you guys out of helping in the fight against Voldemort." He thought for a moment, then came to a decision. "I have a question for you, Fleur and Viktor. Do you have any Occlumency skills? I know I don't have to ask you, Cedric, since you were friends with Ivan before Hogwarts and learned Occlumency the same time he did."

"You mean ze skill zat prevents ozers from looking into my mind?" Fleur asked. "As I am part-Veela, I have ze natural ability."

"I have learned it," said Viktor. "Since I am attending a school like Durmstrang, which has some focus on the Dark Arts, my parents thought it was best if I learned."

"Good," said Alex. "Since you three are close friends with me, I am going to tell you something that does not leave this room. You must swear to keep it a secret."

Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur exchanged looks, then took out their wands and made a magical vow to keep whatever Alex was going to tell them a secret. Other than an Unbreakable Vow, this was probably the strongest vow that they could make. Once they were done, Alex said, "I am really Harry Potter. The Romanovs adopted me when my biological uncle and aunt tried to abandon me on the steps of a church, changed my name to Alexander Jacob Romanov, and raised me as the twin brother to Beth. They told me the truth when I received my Hogwarts letter, and I decided that I wanted to stay as Alex Romanov, since I didn't want a big deal made of my fame if my real identity were known. I told Professor Dumbledore so that he wouldn't have to worry about where Harry Potter was, but outside of my family and friends, nobody else knows."

Well, that wasn't quite true, since Professors Flitwick and Sprout couldn't be counted as family friends, but Alex didn't really feel like explaining about the Heads of Houses knowing the truth. He then conjured up some water in a empty cup that was on one of the desks so he could wash off the cream that was hiding his scar. The other three champions gaped upon seeing the lightning-bolt scar, proof that Alex wasn't making this up. Once they were done looking, he reapplied the cream (since he always carried a jar of it in his pocket, just in case it wore off and he had to reapply it again).

"Well, that probably explains a few things, though I can't think of any at the moment," Cedric said, once he'd gotten over his shock.

"I can think of one," said Viktor. "This is why you are so understanding of my not liking my fame very much, and why you treat me as an ordinary person who simply has a talent in Quidditch. You know that if your real identity were known, people would be focusing on your fame, and not who you really are as a person."

"I can see why you wish to keep your real identity secret from ze wizarding world as a whole," said Fleur. "Do not worry, even if I had not made the vow to keep it secret, I would not tell anyone else, Alex. Zank you for trusting us wiz your secret, even if it is because we know Occlumency in addition to being zought trustworzy."

"Well, you guys trust me, so I thought it was time I showed that I trusted you," Alex said. "And with everything that's happened, you are close friends. Not quite as close as the others in my quintet, since they're all like brothers and sisters to me, but still very close. Let's say, about as close as the Weasley twins or my cousin David's group of friends are to me. Okay, is it all right if we don't talk more about it? You guys can still go over the information in your heads, I just don't really want to discuss it further, since I've explained everything I felt like revealing."

"If zat is your wish," said Fleur. "Alex, we don't have anyzing more to talk wiz you about, so you can go. Ze rest of us will probably talk about what you 'ave just told us, but we will do it in zis room, and make sure we are not overheard. Is zat fine wiz you?"

Alex nodded. "All right then. I have to go talk with my friends and sister anyway, so I'll see you guys later."

He gathered up the Gryffindor quintet and they went to the Room of Requirement. Once there, he told them about what he had Professor Snape do, that talk Alex had with Aunt Sarah, the champions had made about purposely drawing during the third task, and how he had revealed his true identity to the other champions.

"Are you sure that was a wise thing to have done, Alex?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"They've become close friends with me, and I trust them," Alex said. "Besides, they all took a magical vow to keep it secret, and they all know Occlumency. Fleur is a natural Occlumens, Cedric learned it the same time Ivan did, since they were friends, and Viktor learned it because his parents thought he ought to, since he's attending Durmstrang. Viktor understands why I would want to keep my real identity secret, and even if Fleur and Cedric don't understand in the same way, they still see why I want to, and will keep their mouths shut. And all three of them said they'd fight with me against Tom Riddle."

"Well, if you're sure about their trustworthiness," said Neville doubtfully.

"Look, if the Daily Prophet comes out with an article tomorrow about my real identity, then I know that one of them told," Alex pointed out. "I know Riddle certainly isn't going to say anything, since he's going to want to make an impact with killing me. Anyway, if one of the champions told, that means I will no longer trust them, the friendship we built will be ruined, and I wouldn't want them fighting by my side. They're not idiots, you know."

"That's true," Ron said. "In fact, wouldn't Fleur actually have some understanding of why you want to keep it secret? She's part-Veela, so she has had guys fawn over her because of that, and girls who are jealous of the attention she gets. So there are going to be plenty of people that never got to know the real her."

"I forgot about that," Alex admitted. "You're right, Ron, she would have some idea. Huh, I just remembered that Cedric is quite modest about his talents, so I guess he wouldn't find it odd that I'd want to keep my real identity secret either. I already know he's trustworthy."

"All right, we trust your judgement," Beth said. "You're the one that's become friends with the other champions."

"Good," said Alex. "So how did the rest of the school take the news of what happened to me?"

"Professor Dumbledore made an announcement at dinner, so we actually didn't have to answer many questions," Hermione said. "Well, other than from our dormmates, of course, since they're closer to us than the rest of the school. Theodore Nott and some of the other Slytherins seemed to be disappointed that you escaped, and I suppose they're happy that Riddle returned, though they obviously can't show it. Everyone else seems to be worried about Riddle's return and relieved or happy that you managed to escape."

Alex was relieved to hear that, and he had expected the reaction that Nott and some of the other Slytherins had. The quintet then moved on to working on their homework, and when it was lunchtime, Ron and Neville went to the kitchens to get some food. They knew that Alex wasn't ready to face the rest of the school just yet, and would much rather put it off until Monday, when he would have to do it, since he couldn't exactly skip classes. They returned with a basket of sandwiches and treacle tarts (Alex's favorite dessert) and several bottles of butterbeer (Alex's favorite drink). He thanked his friends for thinking of him and the five settled down to enjoy the lunch.

Author's Note: Happy Easter or Passover to all my readers.