Kailor: Sorry, not sorry for the cliffhanger! I was preparing for this little twist here! I hope you all enjoy it! Also, I have changed the picture of this story to one of HARRY AND VEN, AHHHH! It's so perfect! Only thing missing is Ven's scar. But I'm crap at photoshop, so I'll live with this pic.

The man before them had shoulder-length black hair that curled at the ends. His eyes were the darkest black Harry had ever seen. He was average height, but held himself like royalty, his shoulders thrown back and one eyebrow raised haughtily. Behind him rose a large mirror.

The Potions master almost dropped his wand. "Evan?" Snape whispered, his voice husky with disbelief.

The man smiled. "As you knew me, yes."

"Who?" Lyall growled, wand pointed at the man's chest.

"Evan Rosier," Snape replied quietly. "But you were killed at the end of the war. Mad-Eye killed you!"

Suddenly, the light clicked on for Lyall. "You were the death eater that took a part of Moody's nose!"

The man bounced on the balls of his feet, obviously delighted to be recognized. "I hate the name Rosier. I'm not partial to Evan either, actually. You may call me Nero. I did take a part of old Alastor's nose. I did not, however, die. In fact, you'll find I am extremely hard to get rid of, unlike my old 'master'." He spat the last word like the punchline of a joke. He even laughed.

A moan sounded from the corner. Only then did Harry realize Quirrel actually was there. The defense professor was on his knees, clutching his turban-wrapped head and rocking back and forth violently. Whispers seemed to come from him, but not in his voice. "Traitor," they hissed. He moaned again, his knuckles white as he tore at the cloth around his skull.

"Take your turban off, Quirrel." Nero/Evan Rosier said, crossing his hands behind his back. "I want him to see this."

Quirrel didn't need to be told twice. He ripped the bundle from his head, throwing it aside. Then he turned away from them.

Where there should have been a back to Quirrell's head, there was a face, the most terrible face Harry had ever seen. It was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake. And those eyes were fixed on the dark-haired man before the mirror. "It was you that had defeated the challenges before Quirrel arrived! You have betrayed me-trying to get the stone for yourself! You will die for this, Rosier!"

Harry backed away a step, his heart racing. That face, those words...if this man had been a death eater and this thing claimed he was betraying it...then this must be-

"Voldemort," Nero said jauntily. "You really were still hanging around somewhere. It seems death has been much kinder to me than to you. And it's Nero, if you don't mind."

Lyall and Snape were still, watching the scene unfolding before them. Harry wasn't sure Nero or Quirrel remembered they were there.

"I will kill you! How dare you defy me!" Voldemort hissed, his nostrils flaring. "I have been trying to get this stone all year! Step aside, fool!"

Nero smiled. "Ah, yes. Trying to rob Gringotts, then letting the troll in for Halloween? Poor Snape got bit trying to make sure you weren't attempting to steal the stone! The best part, is you had to get Hagrid drunk to find out how to get past the dog! You know how I figured it out? I sold the beast to him!" His laugh echoed around the room. "And when Hagrid's wonderfully loose tongue began to wag, he mentioned Dumbledore was trusting him with protecting something very special this year. That could be only one thing. What I have been searching for. And now, I have found it," he continued, turning to the mirror.

"That stone is mine!" Voldemort's voice cracked with rage. "Get him, Quirrel!"

The defense professor sprang from the floor, turning to tackle Nero.

"Avada Kedavra," Nero said, almost lazily. A brilliantly green light shot from his wand and slammed into Quirrel's chest. Instantly, the man crumpled to the floor and an eerie screaming filled the chamber.

Harry covered his ears, gritting his teeth against the piercing sound. A smoky substance leaked from Quirrel's inert body. It rose into the air, coalesced into a thick cloud, then faded until there was no trace left.

In the silence following, Nero faced the mirror once again. "Now. I see the stone. I see myself with it. But I can't see where it's hidden..."

Finally, Lyall spoke. "Rosier! Stand down! You are under arrest for using an Unforgivable Curse!"

Harry was still staring at Quirrel's body. From the dull sheen of his eyes, Harry knew. The man was dead. Even though he had hurt Ven, had attacked Lyall, and knocked out Professor McGonagall, Harry hadn't expected this to be the result of their journey to the stone. A chill raced through him at how easily this Nero/Evan Rosier had acted, murdering the man before he could so much as touch him. He felt his knees shaking and his lunch was threatening to make another appearance.

Nero calmly turned to Lyall, smiling. "I really do hate that name, Rosier. It was my father's name. I believe I've already said it's Nero now."

Harry saw his father's eyes narrow. "Whatever your name is, you're coming with me." Ropes leapt from the tip of Lyall's wand-

And soared right into the shield Nero threw up. "Am I? We'll see about that, shall we?" His wand flashed. A blob of blue light shot at Lyall.

Harry dodged aside, just as his father did. The blue light hit the wall, leaving a smoking mark.

Snape attacked, moving to one side of the chamber. Lyall rolled away towards the opposite side, pincering Nero between them. Spells flew so rapidly Harry wasn't sure what was being cast. He ducked as another spell flew over his head. Keeping his back bent and his arm over his face, Harry hurried to one of the stone pillars surrounding the room. He dove behind it as bits of stone showered around him and Lyall shouted, "Stay there!"

The spells were flying so fast and furiously, that it took Harry a moment to see Nero was completely distracted. He suddenly realized now was his chance to find the stone. If he could find the stone and get out... This man could not be allowed to get the stone. But where could it be?

Harry stuck his head out a bit, gazing around the room. There was nothing but the pillars rounding the room and the mirror...

The mirror!

He threw himself onto his belly, crawling to the next pillar over. He could almost see his reflection now. Would he have to break it? Were the words engraved around the glass a spell to make the stone appear?

Nero had moved to the back side of the mirror. Harry could only see his hand or wand as he threw spells at Lyall and Snape. Blurred spells hit shields and walls, sending sparks everywhere. Neither his da or professor seemed to notice he was still there. This was his chance. But his feet wouldn't move. His body refused to shift. He just sat there, staring at the mirror and the fight.

Then a spell clipped Lyall's shoulder, making him hiss in pain. The sound snapped Harry out of his stupor. He took a deep breath, then raced to the mirror.

When he was in front of it, he knelt, aware that Nero was only feet away and could look around the mirror at any moment. His heart was bashing against his ribs, near ready to jump out of his chest. He stared at his reflection, a little surprised at how pale he looked. For the first time, he got a look at the wound Quirrel had given him. It was shaped like a lightning bolt, cutting down his forehead and ending just above his eyebrow. The blood had crusted on his eyelid and cheek. He reached up to touch it with a shaky hand, thinking how stupid it was that he was worried about a small cut when he needed to get the stone and get it out of there.

The hands of his reflection did not follow his movement. He nearly gasped out loud as the reflection smiled at him and reached into its pocket. It pulled out a blood red stone and winked. As it returned the stone to its pocket, Harry felt something heavy appear in his real pocket. Touching the bulge in his pocket quickly confirmed what he thought. He couldn't believe it. He'd gotten the stone!

A spell clipped the edge of the mirror near his head, shocking him out of his surprise. With another quick touch to make sure the stone was still there, he leapt up, sprinting for the door.

Something slammed into his lower back and his legs slammed together, locking in place. He crashed to the floor painfully, feeling his glasses break.

"Harry!" Lyall screamed, doubling his attack.

Harry rolled over to find Nero trading spells with Lyall only. Snape was on the floor, breathing, but out cold. There was a clatter beside Harry's leg and he saw the stone rolling out of his pocket. Twisting as best he could with his legs locked together, he threw his body over the stone. It stabbed hard into his lower back, but he stayed in place. Nero reached for him, his handsome face suddenly twisted with greed.

"DON'T TOUCH MY SON!" Lyall launched himself at Nero, throwing him bodily to the ground. Harry hurriedly cast the countercurse on his legs. They sprang apart and he scrambled to his feet, grabbing the stone. His father was on top of Nero, wand forgotten as he threw punch after punch into the dark-haired man's face.

But Nero still held his wand. He managed to twist it to point at Lyall and opened his mouth. "Avad-"

"Expelliarmus!" Harry cried.

The wand flew out of Nero's hand, sliding across the floor to Harry's feet. Nero screamed, forcing Lyall off of his chest. He threw one punch, leaving Lyall dazed on the floor and leapt at his wand. Harry wasn't quick enough to stop him. "Crucio!" Nero growled.

Pain flooded Harry's mind. It felt like every nerve in his body was on fire. He wasn't sure when he ended up back on the floor, but cold stone pressed against his cheek as his body arched, the pain twisting his limbs and torso in ways he didn't know he could.

And it was gone suddenly. Harry was left gasping on the floor, his body still twitching and aching. Lyall had Nero by the throat, slamming him back into the mirror.

Harry was surprised to find the stone still clutched in his hand. It was slick with blood now. He had squeezed it so hard it had cut into his palm. He tried to stand, his legs shaking heavily. The room seemed darker than before and it swayed, throwing him back to his knees. Red seemed to rim his vision, pulsing softly. He vaguely realized his father was yelling. Another voice joined Lyall's, throwing spells. Then there was a scream Harry couldn't place, a woman's scream. A flash of green light. And then nothing.

XXXXXXX

"Ach, no! I'm not eating this! I didn't fight my way up the food chain to eat vegetables! Hello?"

Harry groaned as his sister's voice pounded in his head. "Can't you shut up and let a man sleep?"

"When there's a man sleeping in here, sure!"

Harry opened his eyes, blinking at how white his surroundings were. He was lying in a bed with white linen sheets. He reached out for his glasses, finding them on the bedside table. "Where am I?"

"The hospital wing." Now he could see Ven. She was in the bed next to his, her face wrapped in bandages and her leg elevated on a pile of pillows. The table between them was laden with wrapped presents. "Welcome back to the world of the living. You missed a lot." She glanced around.

Ron was in another bed, snoring lightly. Professor McGonagall was sitting up in her own bed, reading a book.

"Like what?" Harry said, sitting up carefully. His body still throbbed in a few places.

"Well, the last few days for starters." Ven pointed to the pile of gifts. "'Get well' wishes, for both of us. Ron's got some as well."

"Who are they from?"

"All sorts of people. The rumor mill has been running nonstop. Everyone seems to know what happened. Look," Ven picked up a few cards. "This one's just hoping you get well soon. This one's a sweet little thank you thing for saving the school from another one of Quirrel's horrid lessons. This one's asking for a photo of you shirtless-"

"What!"

"Whoops, no. That one's for me. Sorry."

"Ven," Harry cut her off. "What happened?"

She folded her hands in her lap, the brightly colored cards still in them. "You and the girls headed on to the stone and I stayed behind with Ron, as you know. Well, not long after, Hermione and Padma came back, said they were going to get Dumbledore and you were going on with Da. They had barely been gone ten minutes when Dumbledore showed up. Turns out Penny had already gotten to him and told him what was going on. He stopped to ask if I was alright, I told him I was, he continued on. Flitwick turned up and got me and Ron out of there and brought us here. Neville and McGonagall were already here. Then Dumbledore came in with you, Da, and Snape. Da healed up pretty quick. Snape was released yesterday. Pomfrey mended me up pretty quick, but she said it'll be sore for a few days yet. You've been sleeping since." Ven shrugged. "That's all I really know right now. Hermione's been here pretty much constantly. She's going to be upset you woke while she was out."

"Where is she?" Harry said.

As if to answer his question, a door opened out of his sight and Madam Pomfrey hurried into the room, leading Hermione, Harry's parents, Mrs. Weasley, and a tall, slightly balding redheaded wizard that must have been Mr. Weasley.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped, hurrying to his side. She threw her arms around him, soaking his shoulder with her tears of relief. She was quickly joined by Faolan.

"Harry Conall Lachlan, I will kill you myself if you ever scare me like that again!" His mother's chest was pressed into his face. Breathing quickly became problematic. Thankfully before he could smother between the two of them, Lyall pulled Faolan away and Hermione released him.

Mrs. Weasley was hugging the life out of a now-very awake Ron, judging by the pained expression on his face. "You are in so much trouble, Ronald Weasley! So much!"

"Mum!" he gasped. "I couldn't let my friends go and not help them!"

Mr. Weasley pried his wife off of his son with difficulty. "Ron, you know we're proud of you for sticking with your friends. But you're still in trouble. We'll talk about it later."

Faolan was administering the same threat and hugs to Ven now. Harry could hear a muffled, "Mum, I'm dying. Can't breathe. No, seriously."

"Excuse me."

The group stilled, looking around. Professor Dumbledore had entered. "I need to speak with those that were involved in the chase to the stone." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled behind his glasses. "May I assume that the rest of you will refuse to leave?"

Lyall's hand landed on Harry's shoulder. Ven sat up straighter. Mrs. Weasley glanced at her husband, but didn't move from Ron's side.

"Very well. I have also invited along the others that took part."

The door opened and Neville and Padma came in, looking nervous. Dumbledore waved his wand and chairs appeared for everyone. "Lyall, Minerva, if you would?"

Lyall told them how he had made sure Madam Pomfrey was looking after his children, then chased after Quirrel, Snape, and McGonagall. He caught up to them just as they were going through the trapdoor. Fluffy was already asleep and McGonagall cut in to say that the dog had been asleep before Quirrel had gotten there as well.

"We entered the room not a moment after Quirrel. The harp was already playing," she said.

Lyall continued about how Quirrel turned to fight them in the chamber with the winged keys. The door had been blasted open and Quirrel managed to take out McGonagall before fleeing. In the chess chamber, they found the board decimated. The troll was knocked out when they passed through. Then they reached the potions room. Since the potions were already broken on the floor and the spell keeping people from continuing on was gone, Quirrel had no problem leaving them behind. He then cast a barrier and Lyall and Snape were working on bringing it down when Harry, Hermione, and Padma showed up.

At this point, Dumbledore raised his hand. "Before you finish, I'd like to hear from the children."

Harry looked to Ven, his talkative sister. Ven turned to Harry, smiling like they were talking about the weather. She blinked expectantly. So Harry told their story.

"-Then the girls went to get you and Da and Snape took down the barrier. When we got in the other room, Quirrel was there, but so was someone else."

"Evan Rosier," Lyall said. "That death eater that Mad-Eye killed at the end of the war? Turns out he wasn't as dead as we thought. Neither was Voldemort."

Mrs. Weasley gasped. Ron went pale.

They sat there in silence as Lyall described Voldemort and Quirrel's odd joining. He told them how Rosier killed Quirrel, then turned to fight them. He stopped suddenly. "But Harry...Harry got the stone somehow. He was trying to escape when Rosier turned on him. I managed to get him off, then he hit me and I blacked out for a moment. When I came back..." He trailed off, his eyes on the floor. "He had cast the Cruciatus on Harry. I attacked him again, ending the curse. It was right about then that you showed up, Headmaster."

"How did you get the stone, Harry?" Faolan asked, clutching her husband's hand tightly. Harry was sure his da would be getting a very stern talking to later, but he was also sure his mother had already secretly forgiven him. That was just how they worked.

Harry shrugged, remembering the question had been addressed to him. "I don't know. I looked in the mirror and my reflection started moving on its own. It pulled the stone out of its pocket, then put it back in. And suddenly it was in my real pocket."

"That would be my doing," Dumbledore spoke up. "The mirror was a very special mirror, called the Mirror of Erised. It shows nothing more and nothing less than the deepest desires of our hearts. I made it so that only someone who wanted to find the stone, but NOT use it, could get it out of the mirror. At that moment in time, that was exactly what you desired most, Harry."

Harry felt his face heat up as everyone looked at him. "I just wanted to get it away from that man-"

"Look at him," Ven cooed. "Being all modest. I tried being modest once. As expected, I was incredible at it."

Harry laughed, feeling the weight on his shoulders lessen a bit as the attention turned to his sister. However, he found himself speaking again. "But Da, it wasn't Evan Rosier, remember? He was calling himself Nero."

"Oh, yeah." Lyall blinked. "I plum forgot."

"Nero?" Ven said. "As in the Emporer who 'fiddled while Rome burned'?"

"Actually," Hermione corrected her, unable to resist. "The fiddle wasn't created for another 1500 years after that. If he played any instrument while Rome burned, it would be the-"

"Lyre," Harry finished for her.

Padma suddenly spoke. "The thing in the room with Fluffy. You said it wasn't a harp. It was a lyre."

Lyall frowned. "So Evan Rosier is a wanna-be Emporer. Of what?"

Dumbledore suddenly stood. "That is enough for today. We will talk again in future. Thank you all for your services to the school. And Harry," he bent to look Harry directly in the eye. "Madam Pomfrey has found a way to fade scars. It does not remove them, but they do become much less visible. Your sister refused the treatment. Apparently, she is quite fond of her scar."

"Damn right I am," Ven said.

"However, I would caution you not to do the same. The scar Voldemort gave you...it is the same as the one he gave Harry Potter all those years ago. Wearing that scar might provoke attention you do not want." And he swept away before anyone could ask what he meant.

Harry touched the lightning bolt on his forehead. Madam Pomfrey had healed it, but he could feel the raised skin where it had closed up. His head was suddenly hurting from all the questions running through it. So the whispers he'd heard growing up, that Voldemort wasn't really gone, were true. Now he, and another nutter that fancied himself an Emporer, were looking for immortality. And had almost gotten it too. But worst of all, he could still see Quirrel's lightless eyes and the horrible face that had been protruding from the back of his head.

He looked at his father. "I'd like to get some sleep now, if you don't mind."

Madam Pomfrey immediately leapt up from the seat she'd taken and began ushering all the visitors out. He heard her muttering about her hospital wing turning into a common room. She gave Ron and Professor McGonagall a quick check-over and told them they could go, as well. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley led them out, saying a quiet good-bye to Harry and Ven.

When it was just the Lachlans left, Madam Pomfrey returned, accompanied by Penny. "Mrs. Lachlan, if you would stay with Harry until I return? I need to get Miss Lachlan down to the Willow. It's nearly nightfall."

"Is it the full moon already?" Harry said, glancing at the window.

Lyall stood. "I'd better go, as well. I'll hurry to the edge of the wards and apparate home. I'll see you there, love." He kissed Faolan.

"I'll be along as soon as Madam Pomfrey gets back." Faolan sat on the edge of Harry's bed, pushing his hair back out of his eyes.

Lyall gave Harry a quick hug. "I'm so proud of you, son. You did great. We'll talk again soon. Try to forget it for now, yeah?"

"Yeah, Da." Harry had the strangest urge to cry now. He swallowed the impulse hard.

Lyall left. Madam Pomfrey and Penny helped Ven stand and he watched his sister limp out between them.

Once he and his mother were alone, she pulled him into a tight hug. "My boy. My special boy," she whispered, softly petting his hair. "I'm so mad at you, but so proud of you. And your father feels so guilty that he let you go. And you got hurt. Oh, my boy. My Anrai."

"It wasn't Da's fault," Harry said into her sleeve. "He saved me."

"I know. He'll take some convincing, though. You're so much like him." Faolan laughed, her accent growing thicker as tears leaked from her eyes. "The both of you are so damn noble and you want to help everyone. And you blame yourselves if you can't. Oh, I'm just so glad you're okay."

It had been many years since his mother had held him this way. Harry closed his eyes, feeling warm and safe. But in the back of his mind, dead eyes and green lights still haunted him.

XXXXXXX

Penny stopped before the Willow as Madam Pomfrey moved to find the long branch used to still it. Beside her, Ven was bent, rubbing her leg. Albion was already in Hogsmeade, waiting for his sister. Penny looked down at her hands. There was no longer blood on them, but she absently rubbed them on her robes anyways.

"You okay?" Ven suddenly whispered, making her jump.

"Yes, I'm fine. How are you?"

But the Gryffindor stood, shaking her head. "No, ma'am. No dodging the question like that. What's wrong?" Her honey-colored eyes locked on Penny's, assuring her nothing but the truth would be accepted.

Penny sighed. "It scared me. You and Harry getting attacked like that. And there was so much blood...And I couldn't help you." Unconciously, she wiped her hands on her robes again.

Ven's eyes followed the movement. She was silent for a moment, turning to watch Madam Pomfrey manuever the branch toward the base of the Willow. "I'm sorry you had to see that. Seems like everyone's got that 'blood on their hands' problem today."

"What do you mean?"

"You can't stop wiping your hands on your clothes. My da feels horrible for letting Harry go with him. And Harry...he watched a man die down there. Everyone seems to have skimmed over that fact in the retelling."

Penny stared at the Gryffindor. It was strange to see her so serious.

Madam Pomfrey called for Ven to hurry through to the Willow. Ven took the bag of clothes Penny had prepared and limped to the gap in the roots. Before entering, she glanced back. "Don't worry. I've got an idea to help you and Harry, at least. See you in the morning!" And with a grin, she was gone.

Kailor: Thought. In the first book, Harry passed out before Quirrel actually died. In the first movie, he watched him crumble away. Doesn't that mean he should have been able to see the thestrals the next time he rode the carriages? Hmmm...