By his own hand
Chapter twelve
Evan and Sirius had a great time buying clothes. Evan did pick out clothes for himself, ones completely different to what Sirius would normally pick. After they finished with the clothes, they went to the magical shopping district so Evan could get a wand. Evan might not realise it but it took him just as long to get his new wand as it did when he got his holly wand. This wand was willow, with a griffin’s feather from it’s wing. He was told that the core in his wand was very rare, and it was a powerful wand that only a powerful person could control.
Sirius was always told Harry would be powerful, it seems that even though he used the dark potion to make him Evan Black, Evan was still powerful. Soon Sirius would see just how powerful Evan was.
Sirius called Toby to take their purchases back to the house so Evan could have a look at some of the different things that might take his interest. Sirius on the other hand was fascinated with Evan’s wand, then he thought about his wand. He never really thought much about wands before, only that they were needed and necessary for a witch or wizard. Now though, he found that he wanted to learn more about how wands are made, and why the wand maker will put one type of wood with a certain magical animal for the core. So while they were out, Sirius decided to get some books on wand making, and wand lore.
It took the rest of the day, but Evan decided to try learning two different instruments, piano since Sirius had just bought one which Toby took to the house. The other instrument was a guitar. Evan thought if he liked learning to play the guitar and he was good at it, then he could sit outside, under the shade of a beautiful palm tree while he practiced. He also figured his dad would help him learn to play the piano since his dad knew how to play.
Evan also liked watching the people learning dance. Sirius said he should at least try it if he found it interesting. If he didn’t like it, or wasn’t any good, then he could stop. So that’s what Evan decided to do. He would take guitar lessons two days a week and Sirius would teach Evan how to play the piano a couple of times a week. He would have an hour lesson on piano but that would be at the house. He would come to the mainland to have his lessons on the guitar. Two days a week he would learn how to dance. Evan figured that music and dance go together so he would see if he could learn and see if he would enjoy all three. He still had the option of dropping one or all three. But at least for now he could try and he might end up friendly with others that were around the same age as he was.
Even though Sirius was still angry at Albus and everyone else who caused Harry to shoot himself in the head, he included himself in that list. He ended up promising to fill Albus in on how Evan was doing. He knew the old man felt guilty, just as Sirius felt guilty. Every person in Harry’s life since his parent’s died were partially to blame for the way Harry felt and for what he did. Sirius did agree and liked one thing that Albus did. Albus, Severus and Poppy took an unbreakable vow to never reveal the truth about who Evan Black really was. Remus and Sirius had already given a magical oath to never reveal the truth, except to Evan if he begins to remember who he really was and what he did. So far Evan had no idea he was born Harry Potter. If he did begin to remember, they would tell him everything.
Back at Hogwarts, Hermione and Neville spent a lot of time together. It began as both wanted to help any other children that might be suffering from any type of depression, bullying or they might have been abused. Hermione had her parent’s send her books on child psychology, which she copied so Madam Pomfrey could read them. Hermione and Neville would sit together and read, they hoped it would help them know what to look for.
Over the course of the next few months, they did discover two students at Hogwarts who needed help. They went to Poppy Pomfrey and the headmaster. Between those two they could get the children help.
Because Hermione and Neville were spending a lot of time together, they had begun to develop feelings for each other. By the end of the school year, they were dating, and you never saw one without the other.
The other changes at Hogwarts was Severus Snape became a better teacher. He still might not really like teaching, but he did treat all students the same. Some of the students, like Malfoy, they had also changed. There was hardly any trouble between Slytherin and the other houses. Many were saying that it took the death of the-boy-who-lived to finally unite the four houses of Hogwarts. Something that hasn’t been seen since the time of the founders.
From the time Sirius and Remus had begun to teach Evan magic, they had been amazed at his power. Remus told Sirius that Evan seemed to enjoy studying, where before Harry barely put in the effort. Whatever cause the change meant that now Evan was finishing lessons that fifth year learns when he would normally just be finishing his fourth year.
Evan also loved learning how to dance, he also enjoyed his lessons on the piano and guitar. But Evan also began to make friends with other teenagers his age that were in his dance or music lessons. At first Sirius was worried when he allowed Evan to go out with his new friends. But he realised that Evan was like any other normal teenager, something Harry always wanted to be. So Sirius could not say no. What Evan didn’t know was that the first few times Evan went out with his new friends, Sirius would be there, hiding under the invisibility cloak. After almost losing his godson, Sirius just had to make sure Evan was safe.
It had been a year since Harry Potter shot himself in the head. People still mourned his death, some like Hermione and Neville used Harry’s suffering and death to continue to help other children at Hogwarts. They spent a lot of time with Poppy, learning with her on how to help with abused or depressed children. The two teenagers decided to set aside a time and a place at Hogwarts so if any student wanted to talk, but didn’t want to talk to an adult, they could go and speak with Neville and Hermione. If those two felt the student needed more professional help, then they would try to get them to see Poppy.
One thing surprised many in the months after Harry’s death, was Ron Weasley. He never got over his guilt, and still blamed himself for pushing Harry to kill himself. Ron ended up becoming a model student. He may not ever be in the top five, but he was now on his way to getting o’s in at least a few subjects and e in the rest.
Bullying had pretty much disappeared at Hogwarts. After hearing what Harry Potter had said the day he killed himself, many realised that they could cause another person to take their own life or begin killing the ones who was doing the bullying. So even though there were arguments and fights, which is normal behaviour with school students, there was no outright bullying anymore.
By the start of what would have been Harry’s six year, Sirius and Remus believed Evan was ready to take his N.E.W.T,s. Evan agreed, so Sirius booked him in to sit his test over the never couple of weeks. Sirius and Remus also believed that when Evan had finished his test, that he would be ready to learn how to become and animagus. Sirius had been nervous about showing Evan Padfoot. He thought maybe it might trigger Harry’s memory. Even though Sirius would like Harry to know who he truly was, it also scared him as he wasn’t sure if it could cause Harry more emotional problems or not. If Evan remembered he was Harry Potter then he would remember all that Harry had been through. But so far nothing has triggered his memories, it seems Harry Potter is truly dead and Evan Black was becoming a well-balanced, happy and powerful young man.
It was a grueling two weeks, where Evan would get home, have a small quick meal then go straight to bed after his tests. But he was finally finished. He would get his results in a month’s time. After a few days’ rest, Sirius and Remus took Evan out to celebrate.
‘Dad, would I be able to have a small party here with some of my friends?’
‘Um, sure, if you want to. How small are we talking?’
‘There’s six that I’m really close to, but some have girlfriends or boyfriends, so it could be twelve, give or take.’
‘That’s sound fine. So how about we work on that together. When, what you want to eat and drink, music, and I can get Remus to organise a port key for all of them. But I will also get him to organise individual portkey’s for when they want to leave.’
‘Okay, but I was hoping that if we got a few small or a large magical tent, they could stay the night. I mean we’re sixteen, some are seventeen and eighteen, we would like a drink, if you get my meaning. It would be best if they could just crash here.’
Sirius smiled, ‘Fine, and yes it makes sense. Since they are all witches and wizards then it’s not like we have to hide our magic. I will allow all this but if I believe any of you might get hurt by using magic, then I will take their wands, even yours if I believe I have too.’
‘That’s fine, I don’t want anyone injured. If they get drunk and fall down, it’s their own fault.’
‘Fair enough. We’ll start working on what you want to eat. The house elves can work that.’
‘Thanks dad. But dad, are you ever going to date?’
Sirius looked at his son, as that’s was how he felt about Evan now, like he was his son.
‘I went on a few dates when you went out with your friends. So far I haven’t really met anyone that interests me enough to have a second date. Why are you interested in my romantic life?’
‘I just want you happy. And I’m sure you miss sex.’
Sirius laughed, now he was getting to what Evan really meant. His son was thinking about sex. It made Sirius wonder if there was a girl Evan was interested in. So far he had gone out with a group, some in the group were couples, some weren’t. But maybe there was a girl that his son was taking an interest in. Maybe it’s time Sirius had a talk with Evan. Even though it would be embarrassing, Sirius might need to find out just how much Evan knew about sex, and about girls.