A/N: I was actually really excited to write this chapter, and a few small things made their way in unexpectedly. I truly hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it. Just a head's up, there will also be another, smaller, author's note at the bottom of this.

I look foward to reading your review!

After checking to make sure the newest addition to the circle was settled, Mr. Grey joined his friend downstairs. Their other guests had left soon after Mr. Green took the shackles off Mr. Grey, claiming they'd be in touch. The only reason they weren't arresting him, was due to the fact that he had been trying to help, and they had in fact known the risks.

"So, who do you think would be the best placement for Green, Roman?" Oswald asks, closely watching his friends facial expressions.

"Most likely, he is after all the only one of us that uses a staff," Grey replies rubbing his temples. "We have to get in touch with him anyway, he's going to want to know everything I found out."

Agreeing, Oswald conjures up a piece of parchment and a quill. "Here, you write it, I'll break out the firewhisky," he says, a small laugh in his voice. They both hated having to write these notes.

Grumbling, Grey picks up the quill, before writing the simplest note he could think of, "We think you'd be the best placement. I've also gathered some rather interesting information. Orders? -Grey" Folding it up he gives it to Oswald's owl, giving it explicit instructions, and watches as it takes its leave. He had never before added someone to the circle, but apparently it caused headaches.

"It'll pass," Oswald tells him, setting a small glass before him. "When I added Black, I was worse off than you, be thankful you're a healer," he laughed. "So what was his initial reaction?"

"He was pretty shocked, of course. I almost thought he'd refuse, to be honest," Grey replied, taking a long sip of his drink. "I had to swear a house-elf to secrecy, little guy was ecstatic the kid wasn't really dead."

"You? You swore a house-elf to secrecy? How the hell did it catch you?" Oswald asked, completely shocked by the revelation. No one had ever been caught before.

"He was guarding the boy's body, the only way I could transport him here through the wards was with my wand, the house-elf saw it all," Grey explained, taking another sip of his drink. "So what was his essence like without the extra bit of soul?"

"I daresay he'll be as powerful as Roman," Oswald said, shaking his head. "It was shocking. I truly am excited to see what his progress will be like."

Grey shook his head, laughing, "You would be. What do you reckon his craft will be?"

"Honestly? A Master," Oswald whispered, not even looking at his friend. The craft of a Master was one only the originator of the circle had. The others admitted to having thought of taking up the mantle, but they all found quickly they didn't possess a certain quirk.

"Oh, Roman definitely," Grey remarked, not even wanting to think of what his prodigy could accomplish. "I'm knackered. Transfigure me a bed, I'll lie in it."

Oswald smiled at his friend, showed him the sofa, and left him to sleep. The next day they would be sure to get a reply, and hopefully have Jacob on his way.

The reply came as they sat down for lunch. Oswald's owl came soaring into the room before landing gracefully on the mans shoulder, offering the envelope gently tied to it's foot.

Seeing the sight made Jacob frown. What of his own owl?

As if Mr. Grey read his thoughts, he got his answer, "In a week, call for her, she'll come."

Jacob nodded, happy that he wouldn't have to get a new one, he didn't think he could bare it at this moment. Before even a minute passed he remembered that the letter was from Roman, who he had yet to meet, and it would be telling him what his future would look like.

Oswald looked up, a small smile on his face, "First stop, Diagon Alley, then you'll come back here and meet Gold, your trainer for the next year."

"Speaking of Diagon, what about Gringott's? I have a vault there," Jacob says, a small frown on his face. There were so many things he hadn't thought about before agreeing. To relieve him of such thoughts Grey told him it'd be fine, the Goblin's were actually in on the secret.

"You might even find out things you hadn't access to before," Grey said. "You ready?"

Jacob nodded and followed Mr. Grey into the floo.

They both stepped out of the fireplace from The Leakey Cauldron, and made their way quickly towards the bank. They talked mentally about who Grey represented, and to just let him do most of the talking.

As it turned out, there was another vault he had access to, but Grey told him it'd be best not to see it, but to discreetly take some of the gold from his trust fund vault, and he'd do the shopping with that.

When they were finally done with the bank, Grey tells him that it was nice to meet him, but this was where they'd have to part ways.

"Will I see you again?" Jacob asks, almost afraid to be alone.

"Don't worry Mr. Green, you'll be fine," Mr. Grey assures, reading the underlying feelings. "And yes, we'll see each other again. Tell Gold I said hello." And with that, he was gone.

Before Jacob started shopping he decided to get lunch from, and made his way back to The Leakey Cauldron. It was there he realized Harry Potter made front page of The Prophet.

As he ate his lunch, he read the newspaper, shocked to learn that his funeral would be on Saturday. He wondered if Gold would let him go, and then he started wondering just who Gold was, what he was like, what he would teach him. He wondered where Gold lived, and what the lodgings would be like.

Soon, he finished his lunch, and set off back to the Alley. He was actually really excited to do some shopping, and to get new clothes, among the other things on the list he had memorized.

He was told to get books, many books, as well as a trunk, the new clothes, a potion kit, with ingredients, and whatever else he may want. Never before had he been told to go shopping like this, so he set off in the direction of the shop that made the trunks.

As he stepped inside the rather large store he looked around at all the trunks, taking in the different colors and sizes. Not noticing he had gained the attention of the shop keeper, Jacob continued to browse, finding himself in front of a marvelously crafted trunk, a deep crimson color with gold overlays adorning it.

"Fine trunk, one of the finest I've made," the shop keeper announced, making Jacob jump in shock. "Sorry there lad, didn't mean to scare ya."

Smiling Jacob just shook his head, "It's fine, how many compartments does this have?" he asked, pointing behind him at the trunk he'd just been admiring.

"Five. First part's rather small, meant for different odds and ends, second part a bit bigger, for clothes and what not, third, well that one's quiet large, but the fourth and fifth are the same size, they're all just meant for whatever you feel like tossing in," the shop keeper said, a grin on his face. "Anything special you looking for?"

"Oh," Jacob paused not wanting to sound like an idiot, or his past-self, in front of this man. "Well, do you offer any others, perhaps, bigger?"

"Of course, of course, the next biggest has six compartments, everything is pretty much identical to the one you were just looking at, aside from the color. The sixth compartment is meant for traveling booksellers, lined with bookshelves it is."

A small smile appeared on Jacob's face as he thought of Hermione, and how she'd probably love the trunk. Shaking the thought from his head, he continued to inquire about the other trunks he had.

"Well the biggest trunk I have has ten compartments, smallest one is meant for a wardrobe, biggest could fit a baby dragon, although that's not really what it's meant for," the shop keeper said, a small laugh escaping him.

Taking a minute to decide what to get Jacob settled on a seven compartment trunk, complete with a compartment full of bookshelves. "Books won't fall off the shelves when traveling, right?"

"Of course not! That would just be a disaster," the shop keeper said, shocked to be even asked such a thing. "Now that trunk comes in a few different shades, and comes with the option to have your family crest put on it. If you come with me you can pick out which one you want."

Nodding Jacob followed the shop keeper into the back, where the extras were stored. The shop keeper showed him the trunks he could pick from, but his gaze fell on an emerald colored trunk that looked almost as if it had been left in a forest for a good few years.

Catching his line of a sight the shop keeper grinned. "That trunk has eight compartments, same features as the others, but it is quite special. It was actually given to me a few years back, has a charm in place that I can't quite figure out, nor could my friend who makes a living out of doing charm work. From what I can tell it's not harmful, just in place for one reason or another."

For the first time since entering the store, Jacob brought his staff into view, having had it hidden beneath his cloak before now. Waving it over the trunk, absentmindedly, he turned his head to the side. He truly had no idea what possessed him to do such a thing, or why he thought he could figure out the charm, but like most of the mysteries he had been faced with in the last twelve hours, he just accepted it.

Turning to the shop keeper, he gestured to the trunk, ignoring the look of shock on the mans face, and asked how much it was.

"It's free if you can tell me what you just found out," he said in awe, of the staff or what, Jacob had no clue.

A wide smile spread across Jacob's face, as he waved his staff once more over the trunk, shrinking it to fit in his pocket. "It was charmed by a long lost friend," was all he said before turning and leaving the store.

The shopkeeper was just stood there, very unsure of what he just saw, before he bolted out towards the front of his shop, hoping to catch the mysterious man. As luck would have it, he did catch him, and the man was leaving a small stack of galleons on his front table.

The shop keeper squeaked, and watched helplessly as the man left. Just who he was, what he had done, and what he had meant, would weight down on the shop keepers mind as heavily as the fifty galleons so generously given to him.

Jacob wasn't sure where these new mannerisms came from, but he wasn't about to knock them aside. When he had waved his staff over the trunk, he had found that the charm in place, wasn't really a difficult one, just one placed on it by the small creature that was living inside the ninth compartment, the one that no one but him knew existed.

He was excited to get back to Oswald's, to find out more, but before he could do that, he had to finish his shopping.

The next store he went to was Flourish and Blotts, where he picked up a large number of books. From Defense books, to charms, to something called Oclumency, to history. He got as many different books, in all different levels, as he could.

With his new found mannerisms apparently came a new found thirst for knowledge. And Jacob wasn't going to question it, he just laid it done to the transformation from Harry Potter to a circle member.

After he got his books he stopped in the apothecary and got all the potion ingredients they would sell him, and then he went and got a couple of cauldron's and scales. He even picked up a silver chopping knife.

With all the essential learning supplies collected, he made his way towards the nearest clothing store. It was there he picked up several different robes, a few different sets of formal clothes, and even something he would hope to wear to the funeral on Saturday.

Once that was done he realized he completed most of his shopping, and since it wasn't even close to closing time for any of the shops, he made his way around, browsing through different things.

It was when he found himself in Knockturn Alley, he sighed. He wasn't scared of the place like he was when he had accidentally landed here his second year, he was just curious.

So he made his way through the shops in this Alley, and picked up a few more books, ones he was shocked to find himself getting. Books on the Dark Arts! He never would have in a million years pictured himself getting such things, but he did!

It was when he found himself in Borgin and Burke's, he once again was tilting his head to the side. He saw the cursed hand that had took hold of him, and laughed quietly to himself, but that wasn't what had caught his eye. No, a small ring in the glass display case had caught his eye.

It was gold, ruby encrusted, and seemed to call out to him. Wanting to get a closer look, he called out for the shop keeper, wondering just where he was.

Soon he got his answer, as a small man popped up from behind the case, tilting his own head to the side. "Yes?" he questioned, wondering what such a clean cut looking man was doing in his store. "Can I help you?"

Ignoring the way the man was looking at him, Jacob nodded and gestured with his head towards the ring. "Could I get a closer look?"

A faint smile appeared on the shop keepers face, and he nodded. "Haven't had anyone ask about this before," he stated, taking it out of the display case and handing it gently to the customer.

"Do you know the history behind it?" Jacob asked, turning it over in his fingers and looking closely at each ruby. There were seven in total, six small ones circling the center stone which was much larger than its' counterparts.

"Just that a man sold it to me many years ago," the shop keeper said, keeping a close eye on the man and the ring. "Do you wan' it?"

Looking up at the shop keeper, and then back to the ring, Jacob nodded. Ever since he had taken it in his hand, he had felt a deep warmth overcome him, one he wanted to find out more about.

"That'll be two hundred sixty two galleons, my fine sir," the shop keeper said smugly, not knowing he was about to get that money.

Jacob fished his hand around in his pocket, somehow knowing that he had just enough money in his palm, took it out and emptied the gold on the glass display case.

"Would you mind if I looked around as you count that out? Or are you just going to gawk at me?" Jacob asked, turning his back on the man.

Glaring at the apparent wealthy customer, the shop keeper waved his wand over the money, and upon realizing it was all there, changed his glare to one of respect. He watched as the stranger slipped the ring on his finger and continued about the store before stopping in front of an old worn map.

Jacob once again tilted his head to the side. Something about the map intrigued him. Taking it from the wall he walked back over to the shop keeper and raised and eyebrow.

"Thirty four galleons," he said curious as to why he was buying such a thing when he had just bought the ring. Refraining from asking such a question he tossed the galleons into the register, not bothering to wave his wand. "Is that all?"

"I think so," Jacob said, turning away once again. He walked the few feet to the door before stopping, and turning back around.

The shop keeper wondered if he were going to say anything before he watched the man take out a staff. His eyes widened as he stared at it, wondering just what he was going to do.

Jacob waved his staff, a small smile on his face, before nodding once to the shop keeper. He knew the shop keeper had no idea what he had done, but the thought of leaving the hand there to just grab hold of someone else was unsettling, so he slyly took away the curse on it.

After Jacob left the small shop he returned to Diagon Alley so he could floo back to Oswald's. Before he left though he made a quick decision and decided to treat himself one last time for an ice cream at Fortescue's.

"Terrible news isn't it," Florean, the ice cream shops owner, said.

"The worst," Jacob agreed, knowing full well he'd be talking about Harry Potter's death. "Did you know him?"

Florean nodded, "He came by during the summer to do homework, I used to give him free ice creams. He was a good boy."

Jacob nodded, unsure of what else to say. As he was leaving he gave the man his condolences. On his walk towards the Leakey Cauldron's fireplace he realized just how strange that was, giving condolences for your own death. Pushing the thoughts from his mind he gladly stepped into the fireplace and went back to Oswald's.

"So, how was it?" Oswald asked once Jacob finally sat down. When he had gotten back he immediately went about putting his things in his trunk, having only shrunk down the purchases when he first got them.

"It was fine," Jacob stated, gladly taking the glass of butterbeer placed in front of him. "When do I get to meet Gold?"

"Right now," a man's voice answered, coming away from the fireplace. "You must be the new recruit, what's your name?"

Eyeing the strange man, he wondered just why he had chosen Gold for his new name, and he wondered what his first name even was. Jacob quickly realized he hadn't answered, and that Oswald had seemingly vanished. "Jacob Green," he said, holding out his hand to shake the other man's.

Gold eyed the hand and shook his head. "I'll shake your hand when I trust you, until then, let's get going," he stated, turning back to the fireplace.

Jacob sighed, and instead of getting up and following the man, speaks up, "I was actually wondering if I could go to my funeral."

Turning back around Gold once more eyed the boy who would be under his thumb for the next year. He wondered just how old the chap was, and upon seeing a strange look in his eyes, conceded. "When is it?"

"Saturday," Jacob says, his voice thick with emotion.

"You'll have to control your emotions, but we'll go," he says, and takes a seat across from him at the table. "What'd you pick up in Diagon Alley?"

"Can I ask a question first?" Jacob asked, looking straight at his new teacher. When Gold nodded, he continued. "It's just, before I never cared much for learning, I liked it, but never to the extent of my friend Hermione, but today when I was buying books, I realized that I wanted to learn a lot of things…" He trailed off and with a deep breath continued what he wanted to say. "I picked up books on the Dark Arts too…" He trailed off again.

Gold sat there and looked deep into the young boy's eyes, understanding his conflict. "It's part of becoming part of the circle. I'm sure Grey told you that eventually you'll pick a craft. Before you can do that though, you'll have to find out what you want and to do that you have to learn a little of everything. I understand your distaste for even wanting to learn something about the Dark Arts, but I assure you, this doesn't make you a dark wizard. Truthfully, the colors don't have a side. Now why don't you show me the books you bought, and that can be your assignment until Saturday."

Jacob looked up at Gold, and a smile appeared on his face. That little speech truly made him feel much better about things. Picking up his staff from where it was leaning next to him, he tilted it, and his trunk came floating from across the room.

Gold gave the boy a questioning look, who shrugged, and opened up the fourth compartment of his trunk, the part that held his small library. There was well over fifty books all fit on one of the bookshelves. It was a small collection, but it was a start.

Gold carefully looked over each of them, before handing him two books. "You can either read up on your charms, or your transfiguration, and if you really want to, both. I'll see you in two days Green, in the mean time, keep your head up."

Jacob nodded and before Gold could leave, he relayed Grey's message.

Gold just nodded, told him once again to read, and left.

A/N: Like I said, there's another author's note! This one is mainly to ask you simple questions I couldn't ask you before you read the chapter. Having said that, any idea what might be so important about the ring, or the map, and who the hell is Gold? Tell me what you thought in a review!