Lyra continued to focus on the flames soon after sharing her tears on the stone steps. Those sweet words from the gifted hand book kept reminding her that despair was a useless choice in this hellish predicament. Deep down, there stayed that flutter of faith, thankfully, however she grew evermore upset for a reason — that much she knew — If this was happening now then it meant that he was safe… That hope she held on for dear life as she once again looked around when she thought she heard something shift. It goosed her enough to rise up with that same hope shining in her eyes.

The flames afar gracefully began to change from deep red and orange to pure emerald green within a blink.

When her eye caught onto that streak of black and formal deep night twilight frock, Lyra's heart skipped a beat when he stepped right on through into full view. Gasping out in joy, Lyra sprung to her Guardian as he weakly staggered into the chamber.

"Father!" her voice squeaked high as he felt her run directly into him, allowing Prince to take her fully into his arms in a great sweep of relief. How free she felt to be covered in that cloak and to hear his deep voice lax in her ear~ hushing the words I am so sorry…

His chest pounded against her cheek as she rested against it which proved that her own emotions shared with his like many times before. Besides the great tear in his cloak, everything else about his person was sound, and alive. Her greatest fear wilted away into concern when his heavy breathing slowly calmed as his hold grew more firm around her.

"I felt horrible after the wall closed~ that I would never find you again…" she expressed.

"And yet, you waited for me. I heard you." he finally spoke, strong again. "Have I not told you to never walk about at night?" Prince prodded in a jokingly dry manner that joined in with his brief smile of relief. "It is one of our key rules…"

"H-how could I not, knowing that man was around…?" she said, her voice growing smaller. "… it could have gotten so much worse~"

"How far could it have gotten so much worse, my little fawn?" he reassured her. "Be still… there is not a trace of harm on you…"

As he was making sure there were no marks on her person, no injuries of any sort, she noticed the massive tear in his cloak when he rose up. It was the chilling reminder that there was truly a fight earlier. However she chose to stay quiet when he took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Without even needing to ask of it, he held a vial to her… and Lyra, she took it with ease.

"You could have been— I-I mean he —" she struggled to say before she felt him hold her reassuringly by her shoulders.

As soon it was certain that she was looking him right in the eyes, he told her, "Yet, he did not."

Right in them, Lyra could see a spark of an emotion reminding her that her doubts have always been naught but lies thus far and held no merit at all, because the truth was directly before her eyes. There was evidence of anger, disappointment besides the fear was slowly dying off the more they talked.

"As for those nosy little cubs of yours… They are awaiting for your most opportune arrival," he continued off being sure she kept alongside him as they were depart away from this place.

"Are they all right?" Lyra quickly asked, frantic. "I did not mean to lose them —"

"Certainly you did not intend to leave the safety of the dormitories before twilight. Certainly you did not intend to journey too deeply into the chamber…" he prodded at her, gracefully swaying his wand across the air, and an arch formed dustily out of the stone as a means to make their way back. Lyra held a deep look of embarrasment. "Indeed, the girl who lived thrives on the thrill of disobedience at the worst of times…" Prince drawled further.

"… father, I only meant…"

"I know…" he hushed her, seeing how drained she was. "This matter will be dealt with later. For now, let us return to proper quarters. Weasley and Granger are right as rain… As the Headmaster ensured a safe departure, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick both went to recover them." Prince calmly explained.

For the first time on this formerly tense night, the Guardian was reunited with his ward as it seemed that the horrors that haunted this castle were all in the past. Although she was in quite some trouble, she felt the best she ever did after a long time.

There was no wasted time on getting the three nosy ones to the Hospital Wing the very next morning, as the previous events indeed had left them quite shaken for a start. Tiny, finicky, little Felix was in the whirl of emotions as he tried to locate his masters, refusing to land and rest until they were found. A few of the trio's friends were on edge with him since he was the one who woke them up that morning, having found out who was missing. Madame Pomfrey worked through her morning with pursed lips with a silent but deadly demeanor as she deemed each of the three unharmed and quite healthy, save for the rattled emotions from all those unpleasant surprises… unlike what the Potion's Master had to endure personally who only left those chambers with only a tear in his cloak, praise the Heavens…

Once more, likened to her time there after her personal slip up with the broom, Lyra found herself spending one night in the Hospital Wing, as requested by Prince, respectfully. Personally, he kept the medical stores entirely stocked, so there was hardly ever room for error when it came to well-being of this school. The one case Lyra was aware of was for poor Rebecca… The three were met with fine care despite neither having any physical injuries. All of that excitement and worry for her father, Lyra had slept a good portion of the night, listening to the hum of the hall alongside the flicker of torch flames. As they rested through those moonlit hours, there happened to be a moonlit meeting.

Minerva McGonagall softly came by Orpheus's side as he stoically looked on towards the woods… He stood miraculously still for a man, even as the draft of wind came through and blew his cloak aside. She could plainly see that he was in a brood so deep that it would seem foolish to break him away from it. She approached her friend, her former student, truthfully, with a soft passive glance as she took his side with her icy eyes filled with deep concern for what had gone down in the chambers that was cause for him being so silent. She had seen him at his worst to his very best… and the horrors he had to go through prior to sheltering the Girl Who Lived were fresh in her memory. If there was the possibility of using a single time turner in order to make a better change for the present ~ she would have taken it. Even with that kind of dumb luck, Minerva would never trade Prince's journey in that way, for who he was and who he became to be… The Prince's were family to her.

"Some would assume that I had a debt to pay, although I was never willing in the first place…" Prince began, with his gaze unwavering from the windows of the Wing where Lyra currently was.

"Well, I personally do not assume that of you. Severus." the Emerald witch replied, with confidence.

The use of his former name, as a young wizard learning his trade, coming out from her lips, helped stir more trust in him to listen to what she had to say.

"Whatever lied within that chamber tonight, do not allow him to make that same mark on you again." she warned.

"Ever since Lyra had gotten her letter, I knew it would only grow from that moment on. That he would always keep following me… to get to her, in order to finish what he started. All of it could have been blown if that blade was an inch closer. I worried for this day, ever since that night."

"As did we all, Professor Prince." she replied. "As that old druid had once told you, the only path to take is the clearest one set before your eye."

Something appeared to gleam in his eyes before they wavered gently toward the distant trees for a passing moment before pressing forward down the hall without any added words, seeing who was slowly approaching them.

"I can only guess what you both may be thinking." the elder tiredly began, rather humbly. Although Prince was wearing a completely different expression that did not boast in any trust for the elder wizard. It seemed that it looked as though a promise had been broken on this night. "We have seen a little too much for either of our comforts. Particularly you have, Orpheus…"

"I did not wish to believe you." Prince stated as they all closed in on the Hospital Wing doors. "Besides dealing with a servant, the fact that he leeched off of the coward~ enforcing him to drink the blood of unicorns. He dared come to the one place of my — " he stopped himself before he would grow too impassioned for the moment. " — Now this explains everything. In its entirity, had my ward been at the wrong place at the wrong time, led on by her emotions in league with mine —"

Prince was growing more enraged by each word he whispered, and the tensity in his jaw began to become more apparent… That was until the moment he chose to calm himself further, having landed his gaze on Dumbledore, lastly. "…nonetheless… "

"The timing was perfect." Dumbledore nodded to them. "We have captured the beast before any harm would be done. However, it has come to our full attention that Riddle has made himself known to you, Orpheus… and I regret to say that there is a possibility of his full return. This cast that we initiated over you and Lyra can very well lead to his true end… Orpheus. It now lies within your very skin, even more so than before. It not only led you through the chambers, into the heart of them, without stirring his suspicions of her true location. This is something Riddle was always blind to. What he shall remain blind to."

Prince drew in a breath in order to strengthen his patience, calculating deeply, having this matter so close to claiming Rosylan's life if there was a single detail out of place. There indeed lingered the possibility that Lyra was somehow easily lured, mindfully… as she seemed a little too aloof over the fact that she entered the chamber despite her friend's protests. It did seem rather odd, among all matters. There were so many pawns at play here, and they were so fortunate as to make the final move. There was only one thing that Prince was greatly inclined to do… In order to help Lyra further, she would have to know the ways of Occlumency in order to defend herself against such gruesome attacks by Riddle, who was crafty enough with the ability, and had attempted to unravel Prince's own mind. Gladly, it was to no avail. Even as he so wished with all of his heart for her current happiness, it would soon have to be short-lived, for Dumbledore's neutral saying about the 'Greater Good'.

An array of subtle little moments began to flash by him. Moments that would be trivial and meaningless to some, such as doing tiny favors such as working to brush all of the knots out of her hair. The first gaze on that night… The first moment he held her as an infant. Singing to her during those thundering nights… This had grown to be so much more than the mere 'Greater Good', as they were a broken family, and yet an enchanted one, no less. As a young man, he only had very few friends and with that came great focus on the giftedness he had always possessed… and the healing that began with a single gaze of which continued this near domino effect. How confused he was when he had near forgotten the tragedy laid out in front of him, when he saw her and her cries just faded into nothingness. Right then Prince realized that Lily, her mother, had done something incredible… also there was the fact that his dear friend had regarded him not with hatred. There was a fondness she kept, Prince was sure of it even when he abandoned all hope of ever seeing her face again… However, he somehow got to.

"Henceforth, as the Potter's had done their part, I shall continue to do mine." Prince spoke once more. "… She has not yet realized the full extent of this completely. In order to keep him entirely blind, she would need to have a strong mind…"

"What happened down below, Orpheus…?" Minerva worriedly asked.

"Had my guard been lowered, I would have been cursed, again. I felt the pull, I felt the lure of it… it was almost excruciating to battle against."

"It was the Imperius Curse…" Dumbledore managed to purr out. "Among the most dreaded…"

"As clear as day, it was…" Prince's voice was becoming quieter. "As soon as the smoke cleared, I had a moment when I was in denial of it. However, Lyra calling to me was when I fully came to. After so many years of our healing, I never thought I would experience such frightful sensations again — Merely acknowledging the fact that the wounds haven't closed up is a somber reality, one I cannot describe fully. My physicality may be freed, but my mind is not… remembering imprisonment, I continue to ask if I am truly free…"

Minerva's often icy eyes moistened as she would listen to Prince's recollection, as she held the same. His emotional state when he arrived to Hogwarts for the first time after his apparent disappearence before he was even able to become an alumni of Hogwarts. Alas, there was never a chance, yet there was a better path of the utmost importance to the young wizard's heart. A goodness in their school that surpassed all worry and strife.

"We have been asleep for far too long." Prince continued to brood on. "… and this discovery had proved itself so plainly to me, this sin of yours will have to be amended soon enough," he challenged the weary Headmaster, before he pressed on his own accord towards the Hospital Wing.

Lyra gave a moan, realizing that all that stress had all bubbled directly into her head and turned away from the dawning sunlight from the windows. While coming to, she felt her hand be taken in a gentle, gruff hold, and so she opened her eyes. When she saw who was right beside her, she leaned up to embrace them~ Prince took her into his arms.

"Lou Lou said the dagger almost hit you~ and that was why the tear in your cloak was so big…"

"Do not dwell on what was, child…" he comforted her. "All of it is in the past."

"Forgive me…" she sniveled into the crook of his neck.

"None of the latter is to be placed on your shoulders, Lyra… You were only lured. Lured by this bond that has been weaved. This matter only captured you and I, it is beyond our control, no matter the magic we know. How I feared for this day…"

Lyra blinked with confusion and soon pressed back to look at him. By the way he sounded, it seemed that there was something worse.

"Father… The reason why we stayed so quiet back home, why my Mark would hurt randomly… that it meant that dangerous people were close. This is more than just Professor Quirrell, is it…?"

Prince looked brooding, but there was reflection in his eyes before he took her hand and had it placed over his left forearm, where a faded mark remained to this day. "When you awoke the night before our outing at Diagon, and I showed you that our marks were closely related… I had mentioned a dangerous man."

Lyra's emerald eyes widened even further as her listening sharpened.

"He who had murdered your parents? I only saw him last night." he revealed, his sultry tone whispered deeply.

Lyra's face paled hearing this, having been overly hopeful before, but foolishly so in order to cope with all of her negative feelings and fears. "H-he was here? I-in Hogwarts?"

"I am afraid so, by using Quirrell as a host. It was intended to have me murdered, just so he could quickly snatch you."

"But, wasn't he dead…?"

"By body only. Spirit can linger if there a will strong enough. However, he is weak. He was unable to subdue me with what little resources he had… The factor remains that you and your friends were uniquely tucked away from his reach."

"… being separated wasn't a trap, but it was all done by you…" Lyra whispered within a tight breath.

Prince tiredly hummed in confirmation as she tried to choose her words carefully. This time it was proven now that he was alive and searching for any way to come back, and do worse than just haunt them both. As if he hadn't already… Lyra could see the haunted look in her Guardian's eyes and torment he had to go through even before she was even born. It all came to fruition after all the subtle clues she had been seeing for herself. The horse insignias, mainly… and she wondered if it was important to ask about them. Or not. However, she chose to be quiet about them… as their emotions were on the brink of complete drainage. However, knowing him, there would simply be no escape from her thoughts, nor was it no easier task for him either.

Lyra lovingly held his arm with both hands before a slew of sweets on the table in front of her bed caught her eye, which had lost its excitement all the more. In their silence, she began to see the glistening of tears in the corner of her Guardian's eyes, prompting her to want to keep him close. What mattered now was that they were here now, and the menace had gone away. There was still a fright for the future, although.

"As you well may remember, dear girl, on our private conversation of the importance of Occlumency?" he softly asked her, whilst keeping the embrace.

"I do," she whispered in return. "…but do you believe that I can really do it?"

"You have certainly endured strongly this far," he told her, calmly facing her once again. "This experience was telling, that this path we are taking is fraught with challenges waiting for us, at every corner. Your heart and mind are precious, child… It is due time for you to protect them as best of your ability."

"When I can tell you are using it, it frightens me." she admitted. "Your eyes never look right, and your voice is so cold."

At that, she searched his dark eyes for those distant stars, and to her delight, they were there now. To comfort her, he swept aside some of her hair before he would speak again. "As I faced him down in the chambers," he began. "… there was a moment when I felt an intrusive thought enter my mind. I felt a stabbing pang, as though someone was trying to break through. The thought did not belong to me, it was alien. What came after was an emotion of solace and a stillness that did not feel right in the moment… Lyra, he was close to trying to curse me but I managed to push him out. This is a major skill that I deeply wish to share with you. If he is going to attack— "

"Father, please…"

" — listen to me. If he is going to attack us physically and mentally, we must be prepared. Look at me." he urged her to become over her frazzled emotions to focus on the matter. "We cannot wait another day, Lyra. The time of waiting is over." he stated, as a final word. She finally mustered her strength to look at him again as she bit down on her lip to keep herself sound.