Thanks to everyone for all the feedback that was sent for the last two chapters. My apologies for the delay, but it took a little longer than anticpated to get this one finished and posted. Hope ya'll enjoy.

He knew where he needed to go, but getting there was turning out to be quite difficult. As he rounded the corner into Knockturn alley, he lowered his head and ducked into the shadows. The shopkeeper just across the street had the item he required, but getting it from him wasn't going to be an easy task. Several minutes passed, and when he was certain that all of the other customers have left, he quickly made his way across the street and into the shop.

"Can I help ya?" The shopkeeper's gravelly voice made his cringe slightly, but he gruffly shook his head and walked to the back of the store.

There were skulls, spikes, evil looking masks and other strange dark magic items in various places around the shop. His eyes caught sight of a necklace in a glass case in a far corner of the shop, and he hesitantly let his fingertips touch the glass.

"Aye, that there is a family heirloom.."

"How much?"

The shopkeeper smirked and shook his head. "Not for sale. It's only up there for display. I'll not be sellin' it to the likes of you."

A look of pure anger flashed across his face and the shopkeeper backed up a few steps. "You sure I can't convince you to sell it to me?"

"Fraid not. Maybe I can interest you in something else?"

Silently he shook his head and turned to walk out. He got to the door and reached into his pocket and let his fingers slid over the end of his wand. "Imperio."

"What ya say, sir?" The shopkeeper asked as his customer turned around to face him.

"Imperio."

There was pained look on the shopkeeper's face and a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek. "You…can't do…this."

"Forgive me, but I have no choice." The wizard pulled his wand from his pocket and pointed it at the shopkeeper. "Imperio!" The shopkeeper was stronger than he had anticipated and he continued to resist the curse he was trying to use on him. Seeing his control began to slip the wizard took a deep breath and shouted the curse once more. "IMPERIO!".

As the words left his lips the shopkeeper stilled in his tracks. "Fetch me the necklace, shopkeeper."

"Yes, sir."

In a flash the shopkeeper turned and walked back to the glass case and took out the necklace. He started to bring to his customer and stopped just short of him.

"Bring it to me, NOW." The wizard's voice echoed across the shop, and shopkeeper hurried forward placing the necklace in the wizard's outstretched palm. "Thank you. Now go back to tending your shop, old man. You've never seen me before and this necklace disappeared from your shop years ago."

"Of course." The glazed over look in the shopkeeper's eyes made the wizard shudder and he turned to leave.

The closed behind him and he walked passed the front window of the shop. He could see the shopkeeper inside staring blankly at the wall as he sped passed and he kept moving until the reached end of the street, his fingers never letting go of the necklace in his pocket beside his wand.

xxx

"Where would he go? He didn't say anything when he woke up that would give us clue as to where he might be going?" Daniel was pacing the floor in Dumbledore's office as Snape watched in silence.

The Headmaster having left them several minutes before to deal with problem that Mr. Filch had deemed could not wait another moment. Both Daniel and Severus were still trying to figure out what had happened to Jack and neither was getting any closer to an answer.

Severus sighed heavily and shook his head before responding. "None of what he said made any sense. I don't think he was fully aware of himself. He said he had to finish something before it was too late."

"Finish what?"

"I haven't a clue. That was just before he pushed me down and ran off. I didn't even notice my wand was gone til I got to my feet."

Daniel lowered his head in frustration. "How is it that Dumbledore thinks my friends and I can find Jack, when no one has a clue where he is, or even where he might be?"

"I haven't a clue about that either. I suppose he figured you would know. He has a tendency to do things like that."

"Like what, make people a hundred times more confused than they were to start with?"

Severus smirked and shook his head. "Exactly."

With a groan Daniel grabbed his head in his hands and leaned back against the wall. "I swear if Jack were here, I'd kill him myself."

Realizing what he'd just said, Daniel's head shot up and he looked over at Severus and began mumbling an apology. Snape's hand in the air made him stop and he stared blankly as the wizard started to laugh, first softly and then heartily.

"There isn't need to apologize. I must say I would agree with you, Daniel. It's a right foolish thing Jack's gone and done."

Daniel shook his head and chuckled softly to himself. "I suppose you have a point. I just wish we had a clue as to where he might be."

xxx

A loud crack echoed through the trees as Jack opened his eyes. He had apparated back to the Forbidden Forest, and much to his surprise a familiar face was standing just behind the tree to his right. With an irritated groan he turned and waved the figure out of the shadows.

"How did you know I'd be here?" Jack asked as he stepped closer to Firenze.

The Centaur smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Purely by accident, my friend. Though the stars have been speaking of a lost one returning."

Shaking his head Jack reached a hand out and the two shook hands, then Jack's expression turned serious as he rested his hand on the Centaur's "You can't tell anyone you've seen me. Sev and the others won't understand what I have to do."

"And what is it you must do?" Jack took a step back and reached in his pocket. He pulled out the necklace he'd stolen from the shopkeeper and held it up so Firenze could see. "Are you mad! You know what that thing is capable of…many have lost their lives trying to harness its power. Even You Know Who hasn't tried to search for it."

"That's because he had no idea where to look." Jack smirked. "I already know where the other two pieces are. I just have to get to them."

"How could you possibly know that! They were lost to the wizarding world ages ago, long before you were born in fact."

Jack rolled his eyes and nodded. "Yes Firenze. I know the story. When the Sorceror Carden was defeated he gave the three pieces of the amulet to his most trusted servants. The witch and wizards he gave the pieces to started a war that rivaled anything the wizarding world has ever seen. Morgana and Merlin were forced to work together to stop the war, despite their hatred for one another, in order to save the world. In the end, because their magic couldn't destroy the amulet, Merlin and Morgana each hid a piece of the amulet where the other would never find it and they took the last piece and threw it into the sea, so that no one would ever be able to put the Star of the Sorcerer together again. The story is common knowledge. Any first year, Hogwart's student could tell you about it."

The Centaur sighed heavily. "For centuries wizards have searched for the pieces of the Star of the Sorcerer, and most have died in their quest. How did you even come by this piece?"

Firenze watched as Jack rolled the necklace around in his palm and then looked up at him. "It doesn't really matter. What does matter is that I can get to the other two pieces."

"What do you plan to do with them?"

"I can't tell you that, but I promise no one will be harmed."

Shaking his head the Centaur turned away. "You don't know that for certain. That…thing…has great power."

"I know. I've already felt the power in just this piece of it."

"The power of the Star is greater than almost any other magical force-" Jack put his hand up to stop Firenze mid-sentence and the Centaur lowered his head.

"I know all of this. It doesn't change what I have to do."

"Then tell me what it is you must do."

"I wish I could…But I can't." Jack sighed once more and again let his hand come to rest on the Centaur's shoulder. "Promise me you won't tell anyone you've seen me."

For a moment Firenze stared back at Jack in silence and then reluctantly he began to slowly nod in agreement. "I will do as you wish, but you must promise me something as well."

"What?"

"When you have completed this task of yours, rid yourself and the rest of the world of that." He pointed to the necklace still clasped in Jack's hand and the wizard nodded.

"I'll do what I can, my friend."

The two lingered together for a moment longer and then Jack took his leave, walking deep into the dark forest. He walked for what seemed like ages, passing the fairy-filled trees and Aragog's lair, then he went around the troll's bog and stopped when he reached an old willow tree. It looked much like the Whomping Willow on the school grounds, except that it didn't try to kill him when he drew near to it. As he approached the wide trunk, he saw a notch a few feet from the ground and he moved closer. He pressed his palm into the notch and he felt a strong breeze brush past him as the ground beside him opened up to reveal a stairway going under the tree. Taking a deep breath he started down the steps and when he was down far enough he saw the door close above him and he stood alone in total darkness.

Using his lit wand to guide him, Jack made his way down the steps and through the darkened tunnel that followed. The path of the tunnel seemed to go on for miles, twisting and turning, winding its way beneath the forest. Finally, it stopped and Jack could make out the faint lines of a doorway. He used his wand to try and open it, but the door wouldn't budge. Curiously he began to feel around the edges of the door, and his fingers stumbled upon a small indentation near the center of the left edge of the door. The shape seemed familiar and he pulled the necklace from his pocket and looked at the stone inside it. Seeing that the two shapes were identical, he carefully moved the stone over the indentation. The star seemed to light up as he did so, and he pushed the stone into the door and stepped back as the door swung open. Quickly he stepped inside and as the lights in the room came on, he gasped at the sight before him.

tbc...