Evan wasn't specifically waiting for Harry, although he suspected that Harry's scar might be causing him pain. The scar contained a fragment of Voldemort's soul, and whenever Voldemort's emotions surged dramatically, it strengthened his connection with Harry. This connection allowed Harry to enter Voldemort's body and experience the world from his perspective. Soul magic was undeniably fascinating and peculiar, binding their destinies together in a way that was not advantageous for Harry but seemingly inevitable.
Evan had woken up early, intending to discuss Crouch's situation with Dumbledore, their plans, and the possibility of borrowing the Elder wand to repair Ravenclaw's crown. Some matters couldn't afford to be delayed, yet it wasn't wise to approach the headmaster during the bustling daytime hours. Dumbledore should have returned to the castle after searching the Forbidden Forest, even though he knew the search would likely yield no results. However, Mr. Crouch's identity needed to be addressed, and Fudge's visit to Hogwarts was imminent.
As they walked through deserted corridors, Harry shared the real-life dream he had experienced the previous night with Evan. Learning that Voldemort was attempting to harness the power of evil gods left Evan deeply surprised. Things seemed to be spiraling in the worst possible direction. Voldemort's urgency to regain his strength was evident, even though he had ultimately failed. The tension and mistrust between Voldemort and Keresis were becoming increasingly apparent, barely held in check by a fragile balance. Evan wondered what the vampire allies would do once Voldemort regained his strength. Finding the key to the secret treasure and deciphering the Book of Abraham needed to be expedited, as it was currently the only way Evan could combat the evil gods. He was prepared to travel to Egypt during the summer vacation. He also remembered Nicole Lemay mentioning the invaluable Emerald Record that could accelerate his mastery of alchemy.
Lost in their thoughts, the two men arrived at the entrance to Dumbledore's office, a stone monstrosity.
"Evan, do you know the password?" Harry asked, suddenly realizing he didn't know it.
"I am not sure, but we can try. It's supposed to be related to candies!" Evan suggested. "Iced lemonade?"
The stone monster remained immobile, unresponsive.
"Alright," Harry said, staring at it. "Pear Hard Candy, Licorice Wands, Zippy Bees Candy, Blowbob Super Bubble Gum, Bibbidi Flavored Beans... Oh no, Evan, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't like that!"
Evan also listed several candies, but none of them were correct.
"For Merlin's sake, open up!" Harry exclaimed irritably. "We really need to see him; it's important!"
The monster still didn't budge; Harry even kicked it, resulting in a sharp pain in his big toe.
"Wait a moment, Harry!" Evan suddenly remembered. "I think it's Cockroach Pile; Dumbledore is fond of that candy."
"Cockroach Pile? You must be joking!" Harry said in astonishment. "Does anyone actually eat that stuff?"
The monster came to life before he could finish his sentence and shifted aside.
"It appears that our headmaster has rather unique tastes!" Evan remarked as he led a dumbfounded Harry inside.
They passed through a gap in the wall and ascended a spiral stone staircase, with the door closing behind them. The stairs elevated slowly and automatically, bringing them to a gleaming oak door adorned with a brass knocker.
Voices could be heard from inside the office. As Evan and Harry descended the automated stairs, they caught snippets of the ongoing conversation.
"Dumbledore, this is dire. The Ministry of Magic is in turmoil, with everyone waiting to see how we handle this!" It was the voice of Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. "We've just resolved Bertha's troublesome incident deep within the Albanian forest, haven't found any trace of those cursed vampires, and Barty Crouch is causing issues I can't even fathom."
"There might be a connection between these events," Dumbledore replied calmly.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Fudge quickly retorted. "How could Barty Crouch possibly be linked to vampires? It's preposterous."
"Minister, what are your thoughts on Barty Crouch's disappearance?" Moody's gruff voice inquired.
"Oh, I see two possibilities, Alastor!" Fudge replied. "Either Crouch has gone completely insane, which, given his personal history, is quite plausible, as I'm sure you'll agree. He might have lost his mind, become delusional, thinking that someone was after him, and left his home for Hogwarts, spouting nonsense."
"If that's the case, he departed rather abruptly, Cornelius," Dumbledore pointed out calmly. "We conducted a thorough search throughout the night and found no sign of him. Furthermore, as you just heard from me, someone is indeed pursuing him—a powerful dark wizard who clashed with Avon in the woods."
"Evan Mason, that troublemaker, always seems to find himself in the oddest situations!" Fudge's voice carried a tinge of embarrassment. "I've never known a wizard who could attract more trouble than him. He's strong, but I feel he might be fabricating this latest incident. After all, apart from him, no one has witnessed this supposed dark wizard pursuing old Buddy."
Upon hearing this, Evan likely grasped the situation. Fudge wanted Barty Crouch to vanish from the scene to eliminate competition for power. However, he didn't want Crouch to disappear in a manner that would implicate him in a murder, as that would spell major trouble with the Ministry of Magic. The sudden, mysterious murder of a highly respected Ministry official at Hogwarts would be the year's headline, with conspiracy theories and unsettling truths abounding. It was not something Fudge could afford.
He was attempting to downplay the facts and keep public opinion from spiraling out of control, which was his specialty.
"Cornelius, the battle marks at the scene cannot be faked," Dumbledore reminded.
"Oh, maybe, maybe. It's best if I see the actual spot where he was found," Fudge hastily responded. "But you mentioned he was discovered near Beauxbatons carriage, Dumbledore. You're familiar with her background, aren't you?"
"I believe she is a capable Head Girl and an exceptional dancer," Dumbledore replied calmly.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Come now, Dumbledore!" Fudge exclaimed with frustration. "Don't you think you're taking her side just because of Hagrid? They're not all harmless, and if you think Hagrid is harmless, then that fascination of his with giant creatures—"
"I trust Mrs. Maxim as much as I do Hagrid," Dumbledore replied, still composed. "I believe it may be your own bias, Cornelius."
"Bias?!" Fudge dismissed the notion. "History has taught us countless times—"
"Can we put an end to this?" Moody growled suddenly.
"Fine, fine, let's head out to the field," Fudge impatiently waved his hand.
"No, that's not what I meant," Moody clarified. "Dumbledore, Mason, and Potter have something to report; they're right outside the door."
The office door swung open the next moment, and Evan and Harry entered to find Cornelius Fudge standing by Dumbledore's desk. He wore his typical pinstriped cloak and held his dark green bowler hat. The portraits of past Hogwarts Headmasters on the wall appeared to be dozing, their chests gently rising and falling, but they were, in reality, eavesdropping on the conversation. The one closest to Evan opened his eyes briefly and then closed them. It was Phineas, Sirius' great-great-grandfather and one of Hogwarts' most unpopular Headmasters.
"Evan, Harry, long time no see!" Fudge greeted cheerfully. "How have you been?"
He appeared quite amiable now, not perturbed by his earlier comments that Evan might have overheard.
"Come closer, boys. We were just discussing Mr. Crouch's appearance on the grounds last night," Fudge continued. "Evan, you found him, didn't you? I heard there was a scuffle. Any idea who might have been responsible?"
Evan glanced around the room and noticed Dumbledore smiling at him. Half a step behind Fudge, Moody was also watching him closely, his expression unusually serious. One of his hands remained hidden under his robes, and Evan suspected he was clutching his wand tightly. If Evan accused him, young Barty Crouch would retaliate and likely flee. Confronting Dumbledore was clearly unwise, but hijacking the Minister of Magic was still possible.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Minister, but the woods were quite dark, and I didn't get a clear look at the man," Evan replied. "He wasn't from the school and probably left after Mr. Crouch. I'm fairly certain it wasn't Mrs. Maxim, and it would be quite challenging for her to hide effectively, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes, you're right," Fudge admitted, appearing somewhat embarrassed and troubled.
So, it was indeed the case that Crouch was being pursued, which was a significant cause for concern.
"We'll go for a stroll around the grounds, and then we'll make our judgment," Fudge declared.
"No problem," Dumbledore agreed calmly. "Evan, Harry, you can wait for me here. Our investigation of the grounds won't take long. Additionally, Sirius will be arriving later, and you can assist me in receiving him."
After Dumbledore finished speaking, the three exited the room, leaving Evan and Harry alone. They heard Moody's wooden prosthetic leg receding down the hallway below a minute later.
"I hope they make some progress," Harry said, glancing around. "What's Sirius doing here?"
"To investigate this matter, I assume, to locate the missing Crouch and possibly to protect Fudge in the process," Evan replied. "But if you ask me, Harry, he's more concerned about you. This is beyond the scope of the school, and he's likely very worried."
Especially since Sirius was privy to the truth of the situation from Evan, which would only have intensified his concern. If Dumbledore hadn't intervened, Evan suspected Sirius might have rushed to Hogwarts, and this was a chance to do so.
While the two sat silently, Evan studied the alchemical instruments on Dumbledore's desk, intrigued by their intricate designs. He hadn't understood their purpose before, but now he could sense their beauty and operating principles. As an accomplished alchemist, Dumbledore wasn't just friends with Nicole Flamel but also her partner. The "12 uses of dragon's blood" was a remarkable discovery, with one purported benefit being the potential for immortality if one bathed in dragon's blood over an extended period. Evan wondered if Keresis and Elaine were already immortal.
Subsequently, given his expertise, Evan couldn't help but contemplate Dumbledore's potential attainment of immortality. With Dumbledore's power, achieving immortality should have been within reach. While Evan examined the alchemical instruments, Harry also rose and explored the room.
"Hello, Fawkes," he greeted the phoenix perched on a golden stand by the door.
Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's phoenix, was roughly the size of a swan, with vibrant red and gold feathers that shimmered. The phoenix wagged its long tail feathers and winked kindly at Harry.
Harry wandered around Dumbledore's office, pondering the information he had just heard. He ran his hand over his scar, which no longer pained him. With Sirius arriving soon, Evan at his side, and the knowledge that he would soon share his dream with Dumbledore, Harry felt a growing sense of calm, his nerves gradually easing.
He turned his attention to the wall behind Dumbledore's desk, where the old Sorting Hat, patched and worn, rested on a shelf. Nearby, in a glass case, lay a gleaming silver sword with a large ruby on the hilt. This was the sword Harry had pulled from the Hat during his second year and used to defeat the Basilisk. It had once belonged to Godric Gryffindor, the founder of Gryffindor House. In the previous semester, Harry had attempted to face the Gryffindor's challenge left behind by the Four Horsemen tribe but had failed, with Evan ultimately succeeding.
As Harry gazed at the sword, he noticed a patch of silver light emanating from the glass case. He turned to investigate and found that the door of a dark cabinet behind him had been left ajar, with a bright silver light emanating from within. Harry hesitated for a moment before opening the door fully. Inside, he found a shallow, oversized stone basin.
"What is this?" Harry wondered aloud.
"This is a Pensieve, a high-quality alchemical artifact," Evan's voice suddenly said. "Harry, you've stumbled upon something truly extraordinary."