"This still makes little if no sense to me right now, Jack. Why are you doing this?" Daniel's voice was pleading and Jack could only look away as he struggled to find an answer that would help the younger man understand the position he was in.

"This all started off so simple. I wanted to protect my brother and sister. Everything got all twisted and screwed up so quickly…it's hard to really explain it. If I don't keep going things will end badly."

"I fear that may still happen, Corrigan." They all turned at the headmaster's words and Jack solemnly nodded his head.

"Unfortunately, I realize that. That's why I let Teal'c see my visions." He turned to his still stoic friend and sighed. "I'm sorry for whatever these dreams have done to you."

"I understand your purpose in doing this, O'Neill. There was no other way to safely warn us of the impending danger."

Ruefully, Jack shook his head. "I'm afraid I may have only done more harm than good."

"What do you mean?" Severus spoke up from his seat beside his brother.

"Projecting my visions to Teal'c took a lot outta me…more than I thought it would. I hadn't used my abilities like that in so long…It's getting harder and harder to keep up my shields when I'm around Voldemort. I can keep him out of my thoughts, but…I've had a few lapses."

"Jack you have to stop this. If he catches you…you know what he'll do to you!" Severus's voice echoed loudly through the room as he stretched out his right hand and placed it on Jack's forearm.

"It's too late to back out now. Things have been set in motion…we have to play it out."

Daniel got to his feet, his frustration obvious. "You're crazy, Jack. This guy could kill you if you slip up. You're in there with no back-up and you've already said you can't tell us exactly what Voldemort has planned. This is too dangerous."

"I can take care of myself just fine, Danny. Don't worry about me. All you, Carter and Teal'c need to do is help keep an eye on my nephew. He has to be ready for the final task of the tournament. He has to be."

Once again Jack looked away, a look of fear passing over him as he finished speaking.

"Jack, we will do what we can, perhaps there is some other assistance we can provide?" He shook his head at Dumbledore as he got to his feet.

"There's nothing else you can do but prepare for the worst if things don't work out. Any slip up on my part and this will all go to hell pretty quickly. Just be ready like I've told you on the day of the final task, and keep your fingers crossed."

Severus growled softly in seat. "You can't stop him by yourself. You couldn't before and now…"

"Now I know better, Severus. I know I can't stop him by myself, and this time I know I won't be alone. Please trust me on this. I know what I'm doing."

"At least let me go back so I can help..."

Jack raised a hand to stop his brother before he could finish his sentence. "No! Not again. I won't let you do that unless there is absolutely no other choice."

"And if he calls Us back to him?" Severus pointed to his cloth-covered arm and the spot where the Dark Mark had been placed on his flesh. "Am I to ignore it then?"

Sighing heavily Corrigan lowered his head. "If it comes to that you'll do what you have to."

"You're a damned fool, brother. This can only end badly."

"No, it can end worse than that." The others gazed at Jack curiously as he took a few steps away from the table. "Right now I'm trying to limit the fallout here. I know this can and probably will end badly, but there is a good chance that together we can keep the damage to a minimum and possibly give ourselves at least half a chance to win the war."

"What war, Jack? This makes no sense." Daniel was again on his feet as he began to approach his team leader.

"I'm sorry I got you all involved in all this. It's turned out to be a heck of a lot more than anyone could have expected. Unfortunately, this is a war. It's a war that's been brewing for over a decade, and one that should have ended long before that, but none of us knew how then."

Dumbledore curiously tapped his fingers on the table as he watched his former student pace the floor in front of him. "I'm afraid we are little more prepared now than we were then, Corrigan."

"That's where you're wrong, Dumbledore. With the Centaurs not allowing it back into the forest, you have what you need."

The headmaster vehemently shook his head. "Nonsense…I will not use that…it cannot be controlled and you of all people should know that."

"The Star is the only way. You'll understand that soon enough." Jack moved towards the door. "I can't stay here much longer. I've told you all that I can. Now I have to get back. There's a lot more that I have to do before…"

It didn't escape anyone how the wizard trailed off, as he choked back a tear, his hands shaking as he tried to take hold of the doorknob.

"O'Neill." Teal'c's booming voice made Corrigan turn back around. "What you have asked us to do requires much faith in something we know very little about, and have even less chance of defeating."

"You have to trust me, T. It's the only way. I know I'm asking a helluva lot, but I have no choice here."

Silently Teal'c nodded his facial expression still as impassive as ever as he approached Jack. The two men embraced warmly and as they separated, the wizard turned to his companions and made one final statement.

"I wouldn't blame you if you all decided not to do as I've asked…Hell, in your position I'd probably think I was nuts to even be considering all this. I know this is risky, but all I'm asking for is your trust."

The expression on their leader's face left the three members of SG-1 aghast. None of them had seen Jack so emotionally exposed and vulnerable before and it was disconcerting to say the least. As they watched him turn and quietly walk out the door with Dumbledore just behind him they glanced at one another, none of them sure what their next move would be.

Several Weeks Later…

The third and final task of the triwizard tournament was just a few days away. Jack had returned to Voldemort and was readying everything for the final task of the tournament. As promised he had returned to collect the requested items from Crouch Jr. and had since put them to their intended use. Plans had been made for the two men to meet on the eve of the final task so that they could follow through with their plans to change the Triwizard Cup into a portkey, and Jack was nervous in anticipation and hoping with each step he took that Voldemort did not break through his still weakening shields and find out the truth about him and his scheme to bring the Dark Lord down. He knew that he could not last much longer in Voldemort's presence because the wizard's overwhelming power was considerably draining to his strength and ability to hide his thoughts and keep his mind locked away. It was fast becoming clear to him that completing the task would be nearly impossible.

/\/\

As the weeks had passed the Hogwart's Headmaster had been increasingly distant from his staff and the students. Though present in body, his mind was focused on the events that were unfolding around him. For many years he had feared Voldemort's return, and not for the reasons many others did, but because he knew what it would take to finally destroy the vile creature that his former student had become. He knew without a doubt that putting and end to his former student's destructive reign would mean using a power he feared more than anything else. He also knew that he would not be the one that could wield this power, and that was the crux of the matter. The only one who could use the power was the one person he was certain was far from ready to use it.

Watching the birds flit about outside his office window Dumbledore anxiously ran his fingers through is long beard. In his reflection he could see the two halves of the Star of the Sorcerer resting on the desk behind him and his heart sank at the thought of what those two seemingly insignificant and tiny items were capable of if they were brought together. He could still hear Corrigan's words to him when he handed him the broken pieces in the forest all those weeks earlier.

"I know you fear it, Albus, but this could be the only thing that can stop Voldemort. Harry isn't ready for it now, but soon he will be and you have to help me keep it safe until then."

"The power of that thing cannot be contained." Dumbledore grit his teeth and clenched his fists as he looked away from Jack.

"It doesn't need to be contained…only used to our advantage long enough to stop Him." The Headmaster sighed heavily as he shook his head at Jack.

"I know you mean well, Corrigan, but this may very well not work."

"The risk is worth it. Voldemort is too powerful for anyone to stop him without the Star."

"You cannot know that for certain."

This time Jack sighed and shook his head at the older wizard. "I know what I've seen, Albus. That's all I need to know."

Coming back to the present, Dumbledore ran his thumb across the top of one half of the Star and closed his eyes.

"I pray we are doing the right thing, Corrigan. If we are not the price we will pay will undoubtedly too high for any of us."

/\/\

The morning before the third task arrived and there was an air of tension throughout the castle. Each of the Triwizard Champions had prepared themselves as best they could and were anxiously awaiting the start of the final task. The teachers and students were also anxious and ready for tournament to come to a close.

Harry had readied himself as best he could and waited patiently in his room, quietly watching Ron Weasley pace the floor in front of him as the clock slowly ticked on, getting ever closer to the time when the task was to begin. After several minutes of waiting Harry finally got to his feet and started for the stairs to go down to the Gryffindor common room.

Ron barreled down the stairway after him, nearly knocking him down as they reached the last step at the same moment.

"Sorry Harry."

"It's alright, Ron." Harry was about to say more when the familiar frame of Hermione Granger came into view as she walked through the portrait door on the opposite side of the room.

"It's about time you two made it down stairs. We were beginning to wonder." She smiled at them and curiously looked back as Ron's brothers Fred and George stepped through the door behind her.

"Let's go get something to eat. It won't do for you to go out there today on an empty stomach, Harry. We're expecting you to win for us, so you have to keep up your strength." Fred commented as his twin elbowed him the ribs seeing the pained expression on the younger wizard's face at the mention of food.

"They're right. You have to eat something." Hermione spoke up as she stepped closer and took Harry by the arm and began pulling towards the doorway.

"I'm not really all that hungry, guys. I think I'll just go for a walk." Before anyone could respond Harry pushed past them all, went out the door and darted down the hall and out of sight before they could catch up to him.

Once he was out in the courtyard he finally stopped to take a deep breath. His stomach was still churning at the thought of what awaited him at the third and final task of the tournament. He'd heard from Sirius twice over the last few weeks and his godfather had told him to be wary, that things were not as they seemed. To Harry everything seemed strange to him, even Dumbledore was unusually distant with him, which was causing him great concern, as the Headmaster was generally quite attentive and aware of what was going in Harry's life.

As he walked through the courtyard Harry found himself moving closer and closer to Hagrid's and the edge of the Forbidden Forest. With a heavy sigh Harry drew closer and took a seat on worn tree stump just beside Hagrid's hut and crossed his arms over his chest as he replayed the events of last few months over in his head. He still had yet to figure out what his Uncle Jack had been doing helping him during the second task or what his Godfather had meant when he told him things were not as they seemed. It was obvious to him that some other force was at work here, and his first thought was that Voldemort was out to get him once more.

The disturbing dreams he'd had since the beginning of the school year had done little to ease that thought from his mind, as they had only increased in frequency and intensity since then. His scar still burned and little helped to ease the now nearly constant ache that accompanied the burning sensation on his forehead. He watched the smoke billow out of Hagrid's chimney and sighed to himself. None of this made sense to him, and part of him wanted to simply give in and not take part in the rest of the tournament, but he knew that wouldn't change anything if it indeed was Voldemort that was after him.

Grinding his fist into the edge of the tree stump Harry pushed himself to his feet and stomped towards the forest. His anger was rising in him as he angrily reached down, taking hold of large stone and forcibly threw into the darkened forest. To his surprise the sound of a dog's yelp echoed back from the direction he had thrown the rock. Curiously he took a few steps closer, peering into the darkness, trying to see what was making that noise. As he approached, a large black dog came limping to the edge of the treeline and began licking its paw once it was in view of Harry.

Looking around to make certain no one was watching Harry moved closer and motioned for the dog to follow him as they went further into the forest. Once they were completely out of sight the dog transfigured into the form of Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black.

"What are you doing here, Sirius?" Harry was trying not to shout, but his surprise at seeing Sirius was clear.

"I could as the same of you, Harry. The final task begins in an hour. Shouldn't you be in the castle preparing yourself?" The older wizard shook his head as he gingerly stretched out his hand where a rather large bruise was beginning to form. "By the way…nice throw."

"Sorry, had I known you were there I'd have shot it in a different direction."

"No worries. I can heal this easily enough, but you still haven't answered my question." Harry gave him a puzzled look as he pondered what his Godfather was talking about.

When it finally dawned on him the young man shrugged his shoulders. "I can only prepare so much."

"Are you ready?"

"How should I know? I don't even know what's going to happen out there today." Sirius could see the fear in Harry's eyes as he spoke and his heart went out the boy.

"I'm sorry you're the one that has to go through this, Harry. I truly am."

Harry shook his head. "That doesn't change anything, Sirius."

"I know."

The two talked for several minutes, Sirius trying his best to comfort his Godson. Finally they parted ways and Sirius wished him luck on the final task before he transfigured and ran deep into the forest, leaving Harry alone again.

The clock struck on the hour and Harry had taken his place on the quidditch pitch with the other champions as Dumbledore and the others announced the start of the final task. Once they'd been given their instructions all four champions set off through the labyrinth in search of the Triwizard Cup. Several times Harry thought he would surely lose but each time he managed to muddle through to safety. Finally, the cup was in sight, and so was Cedric Diggory. The other competitor was as close to the cup as he was. Both wizards set off at a dead run for their prize. Before Cedric could reach it Victor Krum came out of nowhere attempting to use the Killing Curse on him, but Harry managed to use a curse of his own to knock the young wizard out and strip him of his wand. Still in shock at the whole situation Cedric watched as Harry sent up a signal allowing the officials to know where they could find Krum's unconscious body, then he gaped in confusion as the younger wizard reached out a hand to help him to his feet.

They walked the last few steps until they were standing in front of the cup. Cedric was a step closer to it, but turned to Harry.

"Take it, Harry. You saved my life. You deserve it."

Harry was stunned by the young man's generosity and knew in that one moment what a truly admirable wizard Diggory was. He also knew he couldn't in good conscience take what he felt he did not deserve.

"We both got here together. Let's share it. There's nothing in the rules that says we can't both be Champions."

Cedric considered the offer and then smiling he reached out to shake Harry hand as they both took hold of the cup with their free hands. A moment later they felt themselves being transported elsewhere by what they now knew was a portkey. They found themselves dropped into to the darkness as the cup flew from their hands and rolled away from them. Looking around Harry realized they were in a graveyard…the same graveyard he'd seen in his dreams, and shiver passed through him as a painful truth became clear to him.

Before he could react he saw a spark of green light shoot past him and a paralyzing fear gripped him as he slowly turned and shouted for Cedric, but it was too late. The young wizard had already fallen to the ground, his lifeless body lying helplessly beside the Triwizard Cup.

tbc...