"Leave it there. You're lucky enough as it is that it didn't take over you fully while you had it." Snape said as he paced back in forth in front of an exhausted Toby. Toby had gone straight to Snape telling him of the Horecrux. Toby had removed his armor and set them aside as he explained what almost happened to him.

"Inform me from now on of each of the toys you employ, we don't need any more mishaps."

"Yes, sir."

"Congratulations of your victory." Toby looked up and smiled for the first time since he had left Snape presence earlier that night. He had forgotten that he had in fact won the second challenge.

"Thank you, will you retrieve the Diadem? We can destroy it now."

"No, Albus's plan still stands."

"You have seen as well as I that even he can make mistakes. We need to act against the Dark Lord for when the Potter boy fails."

"The animosity you have for the Potter boy is unfounded Toby. He has excelled in the past against odds that even a goblin would have said were impossible."

"He is talentless, little wret…" Toby started to shout then just stopped. He looked around the room as if seeing it for the first time. "Um… though I still think we need to be more proactive with our help, I actually don't dislike him anymore." Toby said sounding stunned.

"The Dark Lord is no longer influencing you. I might have suspected that myself if you hadn't been voicing some of my own opinions."

"Yeah, well Albus knew best before he died… I still think we need to retrieve the Diadem."

"Ablus's plan still stands, and there is no way we can inform Harry of what happened, and you did just attack some of his friends, including his girl friend. I don't think he will trust us long enough for an explanation."

"They assaulted me!" Toby replied in a more bantering tone.

"And before the night is over I'm sure they will be telling the tale of how they burst in on you as you were summoning the Dark Lord here, and were barely able to stop you and the dozens of Death Eaters at your side. Now let me escort you back to your common room. You're going to need your sleep before you see Jareth tomorrow." Toby nodded in reply and put all his armor into his bag and pulled the cloak about him before descending the stairs.

Toby fell asleep that night turning over the galleon he had from Dumbledore's Army, and contemplating hundreds of ways to sneak back in and get his Diadem. Each more foolish then the last as he knew it would kill him to posses it again.

_...-~-…_

The next day ran hectic. Using the house elves and a few contacts he had, Toby was able to construct Ginny, and Neville schedules and stay out of there way. They had been missing a lot of classes lately, and this thankful made traveling the castle easier. Running into them again this soon was bound to start a fight, even though he felt like he needed to thank them.

The trip into the labyrinth went over better then he planned. After the explanation that left Jareth pacing his thrown room with all the normal entertainment absent again.

"The wizards are putting to much stock in this Harry Potter. If we know of one of Tom's weak points we need to remove it immediately. Soon we will have three full hosts to add to the Orders wizards." Jareth twirled several spheres through his hands as he spoke mostly to himself.

"For now he seems to be there best bet. Potter has already eluded death for years from the Dark Lord, and now with him nearly back to full power Potter has still eluded capture."

"For now. I'll keep an ear out, you on the other hand need to get to work. You don't have a double mind to help you keep up with school work, and smithing, and I'm sure this wars final battle is fast approaching."

"You don't seriously mean for Toby to actually participate in that conflict do you!" Jareth smiled as he sent several of his sphere to float about the room changing the rooms lighting to something similar to candle light, Toby cringed as his sister walked into the room from the direction of the city.

"Come, come my-"

"I am ready for this Sarah." Toby said quietly, Jareth had stopped and looked to his Prince. Sarah looked at her little brother as he had grown a second head.

"Absolutely not! I'll get Dad and Gram if I need to but you are way too young to be even thinking about…" her rant fell away as she watched her brother blow a dragon made of fire off the tip of his wand. The dragon moved away from the wand turn into an icy blue color and eventually into a more solid shape made entirely of ice. The little ice dragon in a huff let off a blast of steam at the ground forcing its foggy ice body to fade out as if its body was the fuel for the steam.

"I faced off against Voldemort just yesterday, and lived." He said not looking up at his sister. He desperately didn't want his sister to see the partial truth there.

It felt like a short eternity before she finally spoke up. "He was at the school?"

"No, I've been traveling away from the school on missions. I came across him and escaped." Jareth was carefully keeping his face blank as he tried to figure if Toby was digging himself a deeper grave or actually getting through to Sarah.

"I'm taking you home now." She moved towards him. Toby had left his armor in his bag, and stood up as she approached with his wand at his side.

"Sis, I can't do that right now. I still have classes, and work to be done." He finally looked up at her. She reached out to take his arm and he stepped back out of reach.

"I am needed here." He said trying to keep the pleading out of his voice.

"Toby… you're my little brother and I love you, but we are going home now."

"I'm sorry, but no."

"Please." She said and raised her wand at him, tears started down her cheeks as he shook his head.

"Petrificus Totalis." she said whispered. Toby brought his wand up with a shield charm and jump back to make sure the shield itself didn't flatten his sister. She seemed startled that he actually blocked, she pointed her wand again and a red flash of light flew from it as she tried to whisper Expelliamus as quietly as possible.

Toby flicked his wand and sent it to the side. Tear flowed as she leveled as many binding or disarming charms that she could think of at him. Toby parried a few off with his wand before he started to walk back towards her. After the first two he stopped using his wand and was still pulling shield charms around himself without verbalizing.

As Toby was nearly arm reach she tried another spell and couldn't even pull the magic into the words before she felt them unravel. She fell to her knees dropping her wand putting her just under his height as she leaned forward and punched him on the shoulder before falling into a hug, crying into the same shoulder.

"I'm just trying… to protect my baby brother." She said through the sniffles.

"I know Sis, but right now I'm trying to protect everyone else." Toby whispered to her, as he hugged her back trying to comfort her.

"Promises me you'll be safe?"

"I promise you we will win this war." He said as she started to pull away. He pulled her wand from the ground to his hand and handed it to her. She looked down at it before taking it.

"When did you learn to do all that?" she said as she started wiping away her tears, careful to keep her back to Jareth.

He gave a weak chuckle, "Like I said, I survived a run in with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I got mad wand skills now." He said with a smile as she shoved him a bit and got back to her feet.

_...-~-…_

Toby paced back and forth on the astronomy tower. He was over stressed and anxious. The lack of diadem had not harmed his school work, but his personal free time had been cut to ribbons. He cursed himself for not having an actual friend in Slitherin in the first place. He didn't have anyone to go blow off steam with, and his armor was already complete and kept discreetly under his robes everywhere he went now.

The Room of Requirement was completely sealed off constantly now, and the third time he had tried Snape had even caught him trying to get in. Even if it wasn't for the diadem, he missed the familiar surroundings of the chamber.

"Tonight. I know its going to start tonight." He kept up his pace, letting the circular train of thought keep dragging him in the same circles.

Harry had been captured a month or so ago, and escaped the Malfoy Manor. Toby had almost left immediately to aid the boy that would be king, but Snape was kind enough to remind him that he had already escaped. Tonight Headmaster Snape had come again and explained that Potter had broken into Gringotts bank.

This was going to be it. Potter was searching for the Horecrux's and with this bold of a move would have to come looking for the others. He had spent months planning his attack on all of them, and would know there locations. Careful to make sure he could get to them all before the Dark Lord could act to move them.

Now where the hell was he? The break in was some time ago, and Potter had to be on his way already. He would come and destroy the cursed/beloved Daidem. Severus was down in his office preparing all the castle enchantments and wards. He explained that soon as it starts he would be ran out, as the rest of the castle still thought him loyal to the Dark Lord so I would have to meet up with him as soon as he could leave the Dark Lords side without question.

The main battle would probably happen tonight.

The final challenge still hadn't been made.

The Gringotts was going to be furious that his beloved bank was robed, he would want his vengeance and should be coming for them now. The challenge should have been made. We would win it, and with three goblin hosts to bolster the castle the Dark Lord would be pushed back.

Where was Gringotts!

The door to the tower opened, Toby already anxious had his wand out and pointed at his possible attacker before he had even noticed the intrusion.

There was no one there, and the door slowly closed. He felt a thin blade laid against his neck. A quick shield charm blasted at the blade as he turned to bring his wand against the attack for a stronger spell.

The blade absorbed the Shield charm, and before he turned halfway around he felt the familiar body binding spell wrap him up tight. He muttered the counter curse as he fell and was able to catch himself before hitting the ground. He ripped the cloak he wore from himself and posted them as a wall transmuting them to steel so he would have a few moments to get his bearings.

The thin blade cut through his quick wall and wand held in the off hand tossed a glowing red spell his way. His pulled the shield charm around himself as he tried to delve into his targets mind to find the next spell.

The mind was blanked out, and the spell shattered the shield charm but losing much of its power before completely falling apart against Toby's armor.

"A Rapier?" Toby asked as he kept his wand and dagger at the ready. His armor already beginning to mold themselves to act as clothes, a leather armor set with cloth bindings to act as a second skin.

"The smithy's told me that it would never be a choice weapon but I found it suits me rather well." Jareth said as he put the handle next to his wand and the vanished into a black sphere that Jareth started to expertly twirl around his hands. Toby returned both his weapon to his sleeves as he was still tense waiting.

"Did he summon? Is it finally time?"

"No, and I believe Gringotts see the potential here. He will wait for the end of the Wizards battle to challenge. If you want your army we are going to have to challenge him for the third task." Jareth explained as he stood there in a flowing red jacket with black inlays. He took on the appearance of a dark gawdy villain but look good at it. He was dressed to impress during the final task, cause he had already known that Toby would agree.

"We will have to make it quick, Potter will be entering the castle any time now and we need to be ready to lend him aid." He waved his wand across the remnants of his cloak as it patched itself into a shabby looking carpet. He bewitched it to levitate as Jareth took wing out of the tower. They flew across the grounds, before dive-bombing into the reflection of the lake.

The moved towards the coliseum once again and were not surprised to find Gringotts waiting there. He looked irritated as he was squabbling with his champion.

"…for yourself. The boy is in league with You-Know-Who, this battle there pushing so they can add to his forces." Gringotts nearly growled out of his smiling mouth as they landed. Lupin looked in much better health then Toby remembered seeing him.

"Gringotts, I call for the third Challenge." Jareth said as his voice echoed across the entire arena.

Gringotts smiled something sinister as he stepped up to Jareth. Though his words were meant to more conversational, they carried across the entire coliseum. "Lord Jareth, as you be well to remember if you make the challenge then it falls upon me to pick the task."

"It has been months since your last challenge and my patience is wearing thin Banker. We will have the final task in less then an hour now, or you will forfeit and your host and lands fall to me."

"My task will be simple then. It will be a simple searching game." Gringotts turned to the audience as the entire floor vanished and became an overhead view of both champions.

"Explain."

"The ground will show us the path they follow and keep us informed on events. For this search will take up more space then your little building will allow for. They will both return to the wizards world and search out the one who stole an object from my bank. The first to find and return him to the goblin underground, any part of it, will be declared the winner." He bowed his head with his arms raised high as the audience erupted into a roar of applause. Whether Gringotts goblins or not, the bank had been the pinnacle establishment for goblin kind in the wizards world and the thief would be brought before them.

"Your champion has one hour to prepare." Jareth said before turning to Toby. Toby nodded before exiting the box and returning to the arena floor. He careful searched his bags to make sure everything he needed was in there, before taking a nap to wait for the time to pass. The third challenge had finally come.

_...-~-…_

Remus was watching his son Teddy sleep in his crib. 'Grintoll' had warned him that tonight Jareth and Toby would come and make the challenge instead. There had been a break in at Gringotts a few hours ago and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was drawing all his forces to him in preparation.

There was a knock at the door; Remus knew everyone who lived here wouldn't have bothered. He turned as the door opening and the tallest goblin he had ever met stepped inside.

"Such a precious child you have Mr Lupin, seems to have taken all the best quality's of its mother and father. If anything were to befall you, would you like me to see that the child is taken care of?" he asked as he looked into the crib.

"I have already made arrangements Grintoll." He waved the goblin back to the door. Grintoll needed a few moments of coaxing before walking to the door. He closed the door and reopened it to reveal the outer ground of the coliseum. Toby's explanation earlier on had helped him understand the difference in Grintoll compared to the other goblins he met, and how he was able to do such elaborate forms of magic. The door trick had stunned him when he first seen it.

"Has Jareth come then?"

"He's on his way now. I have the task in place, something that given the current events should be no problem for you."

"You've been lying to me Gringotts, the boy isn't part of his army is he?"

"You need to be less trusting my friend. He is Slitherin, and star pupil of Severus Snape. The boy has played Jareth for a fool and even started learning how to craft Goblin silver, which I might add is a capital offense."

"I have met the boys family."

"Do you not recall what happened at the last task? He was controlled by the Dark Lord himself and tried to attack you!"

"He also broke the control to protect me."

"We broke the control to protect you because we don't allow outside interference with our tasks!" Gringotts was standing next to his throne leering at him as they heard foots steps coming up the other side.

"If you're playing me false you wont win this competition."

"What more do you need to believe me! You saw for yourself. The boy is in league with You-Know-Who, this battle there pushing so they can add to his forces." He growled out before turning to play the politician to Jareth.

Remus listened to the challenge and realized what he had walked into. As much as he wanted to believe the boy, he realized that this was all about goblin politics. They didn't care if Harry was the best hope for the Wizarding world to win out, they wanted there justice against those that wronged them.

The final task would be to capture Harry Potter and bring him to the goblins.

Or was it?

With the hour preparation he tried to think about his options. The task was to return with a thief that took something from the Bank. Years ago Quirell had broken into Gringotts, but there was nothing in the safe so that couldn't work. His best bet was that maybe Hermione or Ron had actually taken it. He just had to bring one of them through into this world and let them back out, the trial had said just to this world.

The portcullis opened, he had spent too much time planning and hadn't paid attention to the time. He walked out on to the floor and into the picture that showed what he would be doing.

Reappearing just outside the door to Teddy's room he took a moment to check inside and make sure he was till there. He didn't trust Gringotts not to do something. Closing the door quietly again he felt the heavy weight of a piece of chalk in his pocket. The entrance magic didn't always work, but this kind of chalk was supposed to help solidify the transportation magic.

Personally he would have rather taken a port key.

The living room was a buzz as Fred was quickly conversing with Tonk. Remus moved over quickly to him, if anyone may know where Harry and company might be it had to be one of Dumbledor's Army members.

"…through Hog's Head. Be careful though, they still have that cadawallow charm outside. I have to get going, other people to warn." He disappear on the spot as Tonks turned to him.

"Potter's at Ogwarts right now. There goin' to fight!" She said with a big smile on her face, she seemed overjoyed but Remus could see the reserve in her eyes. She wanted to go, but Teddy was just in the other room. They couldn't leave him here.

"Take him to your mother and wait-" the look she gave him there stopped him in his tracks. "long enough for him to get settled down and follow. They said there was a path from Hogs Head into Hogwarts?" She nodded her head before giving him a hug and a kiss that they held for longer then Remus wanted to spare, but who knew what would happen later this night.

"I'll see you there, save me a few will ya?" She said as she raced back to Teddy's room.

"Love you!" he called back before he felt the familiar twisting in his gut as he disapparated to Hogs Head.

_...-~-…_

The tavern was crowded as several of Harry's friends were appearing around him, and Order members were already moving down the hallway. He greeted those he could but quickly moved to the tunnel. He need to get Harry alone and ask about who actually took the cup.

The long tunnel sloped steadily upwards until it came out in a very cramped room that had what felt like half the school held up. After quickly looking around he didn't spot any signs of Harry, Ron or Hermione.

He did locate Neville Longbottom.

"Neville, where is Harry?" he asked cutting into his conversation with Lee. Neville turned looking worse they Remus himself looked after the night of the full moon. He was positively beaming though as he looked to be directing many of the other students.

"He took off with Luna a few minutes ago to Ravenclaw homeroom. He's looking for something really important and there might be clues there."

"Have you seen Ron or Hermione around then?"

"Yeah they were here just a moment ago, I think I heard Ron say something about a washroom." Remus nodded and moved off. Soon enough they would be back hopefully and he would get things covered. If anything he really just needed to keep Toby from getting to Harry until this battle was over.

Listening for the door while he tried to keep up plans with the others he didn't miss the sound from the stairs. Breaking off the conversation with Kingsley he moved to the stairwell just in time for Harry to reach the bottom. If only he had time to explain…

"Harry what's happening?" was all he could get out, the ongoing battle was more important then the goblins squabble. He just had to keep Toby from reaching Harry, kept playing over and over in his brain.

"Voldemort's on his way, they're barricading the school, Snap's run for it. What are you doing here? How did you know?" Harry made out as he looked around the room at all the people that came to fight for him.

"We sent messages to the rest of Dumbledore's Army," Fred explained before anyone else could try to cover everything. "You couldn't expect everyone to miss the fun Harry, and the D.A. let the Order of the Phoenix know, and it all kind of snownballed." Harry sent the other after a quick explanation to the great hall where everyone else was preparing, Remus moved aside so the other could pass. With less people here maybe he could explain what was going on with the goblin host.

Ginny was putting up a ruckus about going back until Percy of all people fell out of the portrait. How to get Harry away from all this mess?

"So, 'ow eez leetle Teddy?" Fluer turned and asked him, trying to break the tension. Remus was startled as he tried to pull his thought back to the battle at hand.

"I, oh yes, he's fine! Yes, Tonks is with him… at her mother's." he reached into his pocket. "Here, I've got a picture." He spoke loudly trying to pull attention away from the Weasleys. They finally started the make up argument or what you will as he drowned them out showing his son to Fluer and Harry who was nearby. His attention pulled back to the Weasley's when they caught Ginny trying to sneak out.

Remus finally stepped in as he already had a similar conversation with Tonks just a short time ago. "Molly, how about this, Why doesn't Ginny stay here, then at least she'll be on the scene and know what's going on, but she wont be in the middle of the fighting?" he offered. Hopefully when Tonks showed up Ginny would guilt her into staying in the room with her.

A quick agreement passed between them before the Weasley parents went for the stairs to go to the Great Hall, Remus fallowed. If all went well Ron and Hermione would take care of Harry until he could get the defenses in place.

_...-~-…_

Toby looked about himself as finished stepping though the scry window. He had been dropped off on the grounds, not to far from the Greenhouse. Pulling an invisibility cloak about himself he moved towards the castle. There was no telling how long he had to find Harry Potter and take him into the other world before the battle began.

As he approached the castle a window above him shattered and a black figure fell before assuming a large bat-like shape. Toby quietly cursed as Snape took flight. There was no allies left inside the castle.