Peeking around the corner but staying in the shadow, Staros saw the Mirror of Erised, Professor Quirrel and Harry. Well, it was sort of Quirrell anyway. On the back of his head was a monstrous, deformed face. It was this face that was speaking to Harry.

"…but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds… unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks… you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me in the forest… and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own… Now… why don't you give me the Stone in your pocket?"

Harry stumbled back and fell to the floor.

"Don't be a fool," snarled the face that could only be Voldemort. "Better save your own life and join me… or you'll meet the same end as your parents… they died begging for mercy…"

"LIAR!" shouted Harry, throwing a stone from the floor at the face. It was batted aside without any effort. Quirrell's body moved towards Harry, walking backwards a little clumsily so that Voldemort could still look at and talk to Harry. He was smiling. Well, sort of.

"How touching… I always value bravery… Yes, boy, your parents were brave… I killed your father first, and he put up a courageous fight… but your mother needn't have died… she was trying to protect you… Now give me the Stone, unless you want her to have died in vain!"

"NEVER!"

Harry jumped up and tried to run for the door. Voldemort screamed "SIEZE HIM!" and Quirrell spun around to grab Harry by the wrist. Strangely, both screamed in pain, Harry collapsing to the floor clutching at his scar. Quirrell on the other hand, yanked his hand back. It was smoking, blackened and blistered. Harry struggled up and tried to put some distance between himself and Quirrell.

"Seize him! SEIZE HIM!" Voldemort was screaming. Quirrell reached out with both hands and grabbed Harry again, knocking him down and straddling him. Quirrell wrapped his hands around Harry's throat. No one noticed the quiet Accio of Quirrell's wand by Staros.

Staros watched as Harry struggled with Quirrell. Both were screaming in pain. Quirrell's hands were smoking, turning black even as he strangled Harry. Harry tried to grab Quirrell's face, but couldn't reach. So he grabbed the man's wrists instead, trying to get him to let go. Quirrell's hands started to smoke even more. Suddenly, Quirrell let go and fell back from Harry who turned to his side and retched, trying to regain his breath.

"Master, I cannot hold him… my hands… my hands…"

Quirrell was looking at his burned hands, holding them close to his body.

"Then kill him with your wand, fool! Be done with it!"

"Stupefy!" said Staros, the stunning spell hitting Harry in his side as he struggled to stand. "I think not."

Staros stepped out from behind the pillar, keeping his wand trained on Quirrell.

"Who… who are you?" asked Quirrell.

"Silence, Quirrell! And quit moving around… yes, turn so I can see our guest… ah, a young Slytherin… well done, boy… well done…"

"Voldemort I assume? You're not looking so good, old chap."

"Who are you, boy?" hissed Voldemort. Quirrell started to whimper from his burns.

"A moment would you? Quirrell, be silent. I am talking to your master here. So hard to find good minions these days, isn't it? Anyway, my name is Staros Marcus. I must say, I'm rather disappointed. I expected so much more with all the hype about you, Voldemort."

"You presume too much, boy… You will address me as Lord Voldemort… but first, give Quirrell back his wand so he can do away with Potter…"

"No, I need him alive. Sorry to disappoint, but I have plans that require him to be around. Unfortunately, you are a bit of a wrench in the works."

Voldemort frowned.

"I can make your plans reality… bring me the Stone from Potter's pocket… join me…"

Staros stepped a little closer to Quirrell and Voldemort, keeping his wand pointed at them the whole time.

"Oh? The Sorcerer's Stone? I seriously doubt it's the real one. But we can take a look."

Staros moved around Quirrell towards Harry.

"What is your interest in the Potter boy, Marcus?"

"Shut up, Quirrell! Gods, can't you do anything about him? Anyway, as I said, I have plans, you're in the way. Harry here is a key to them. He will be as stone, I the sea, together we will sweep across Britain and change the magical world."

Staros stooped down to Harry, Voldemort seemed to be confused by his words. Quirrell continued to whimper, his hands looking worse with each passing moment. A light caress of Harry's hair, and Staros smiled slightly.

"Ah, Harry, you sure know how to start a party."

"I tire of this! Bring me the Stone, boy!"

Staros stood up, between Harry and Voldemort.

"Um… no, sorry. There can only be one Dark Lord, and it's going to be me. Bye bye now."

With a swift motion, Staros drew his sword and cut across Quirrell's neck. His annoying whimpers were cut short in a gurgle as he drowned in his own blood. Whatever Voldemort expected, it was obviously not this from the look on his face. As Quirrell died, Voldemort screamed.

A black, ghostly mist ran out of Quirrell's body, swirling into a manlike form before diving towards Staros. Staros assumed a guard position with his sword, the whispers from the blade becoming louder, eager even. Voldemort halted, screeched and rose into the air, flying through the breaks in the ceiling.

Staros looked up at where Voldemort had disappeared. Sheathing his sword, he looked down at Harry, then Quirrell. Whatever Harry had done to Quirrell was accelerating, burning his body to ash.

"Carcerous."

""Aye, Master Staros? You be needin' help wit cleanin dis mess, mebbe?"

"No, I think I'll let Dumbledore do it. Are the other two all right?" Staros asked kneeled back down to Harry. Checking his pockets, Harry did indeed have a large red stone in one. Taking it out, Staros frowned a moment before dropping it and crushing it under his heel.

"Aye, dey be wit de Pomfrey lady."

"Then let's get out of here before we're discovered. This is already a disaster."

"Aye, Master Staros." Carcerous reached out and grasped Staros' hand. With a silent pop, they disappeared form the room and faded back into being in Staros' dorm room. Putting his things away, Staros went to bed, certain that the next day would be just as confusing, at least to everyone else.