Okay, now, we are entering the showdown, the last part of the story, so you can expect shorter, more quickly paced chapters, until we reach the Epilogue. So, hoping you will enjoy the action and the resolution, let's dive in.

The Man Without a Face

The alarm was raised within minutes. Waldo and Ash reacted at Ian's sudden anguish and appeared in the Nest as soon as Ian reached the Top of the Tower, and found no trace of Kieran at all. He told them what was going on and the two creatures had flown out of the Tower, reaching their masters and setting the whole school upside down.

Normally, a student missing from their common room wouldn't have caused such a fuss, but Julie's rush to Dumbledore's office, telling she felt something wrong had happened, coupled with Entwistle's warning to Ian, no one was about to assume Kieran had just gotten lost in the library again. Madam Pince was actually quick to check, as she knew Kieran could spend awful lot of time in her beloved shelves, but she was not over there.

Teachers started to run in every direction, organizing the search of the school. All students had been called back to their common rooms except for those over sixth year, who had been asked to help searching the school. Patrols were organized by Hagrid and Alexander.

Most people were eager to help, even Donahue of all people. Small groups were sent through the corridors, and onto the grounds, under surveillance from teachers.

Kenneth, Thierry, Kalindra and Mandy were out, patrolling the edge of the forest. Julie had gone on with Jennifer and Will and many Gryffindors to check on the Quidditch pitch surroundings.

Professor Dumbledore was using old magic to scan the whole Castle, while ground teams, for lack of better term, were searching it more thoroughly. Soon, the whole Castle echoed of calls and reports. Kieran was nowhere to be seen. She had disappeared completely!

Ian was starting to feel nauseous at the thought of Kieran gone. It was the worse feeling of his life. He was sitting in the Entrance Hall, on the main stars, trying to sort out his feelings. He had scanned the Castle on his own, without any success.

Suddenly, a hand rested on his shoulder. He turned to find himself looking in Professor Weasley's eyes. She smiled to him.

"Come on, Ian," she said. "You have to move, so you don't start to panic. Professor Sprout and I need help to search the second floor again."

She was standing with the Herbology teacher, and her own husband, Ron. Ian got up and followed them. Mr Weasley turned to him and had a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, kid," he said. "We have faced those kinds of things before. We'll find her. She'll be fine."

Somehow, his words were reassuring to Ian. Ron Weasley was a hero of the Second War. He was the one that had stood at Harry Potter's side during his whole fight with Voldemort. He was a man to be trusted. And he was a famous agent of the Order of the Phoenix. If he said that they would find her, then it had to be true.

But something inside of him was still tense. Images of Kieran endangered were troubling his concentration, sending waves of anguish inside of him.

Of all people in that school, there were two people you could kidnap, to hurt Ian beyond words: Ewan and Kieran. Ewan was Ian's own flesh and blood. He was his brother, and to deprive Ian of him would be terrible and now, Ian realized how much he had to lose if Kieran disappeared. That was terrifying.

They had to find her! Or else he would go mad!

All the youngest students were getting back inside the Ravenclaw Tower. Harry and Flitwick were supervising this. Master Brünwald was with him, showing his deep worry and care for the children in the school. Harry liked Wilhelm, as he had proved himself to be a man of honour and a trustworthy teacher, unlike Anselme. Harry saw the tiny Head of Ravenclaw make a quick roll call, to make sure that everyone was accounted for.

Wilhelm suddenly walked to him, looking very pale. Behind him, there was Raphaella Di Angelo, one of his Novices.

"Orlando is missing, too," he said.

Harry felt a shiver go down his back. Orlando…

"Maybe the spy was even closer than we think," he said, under his breath.

"Orlando?" said Raphaella. "No! That's impossible. He wouldn't betray us! The order is his family."

"Look…" said Harry.

"No, Professor," said Wilhelm. "You don't know Orlando as we do. He's a good boy, with high moral values. He wouldn't betray his own family like that. The mere fact that you may suggest that…"

"I'm not accusing Orlando!" exclaimed Harry. "This spy isn't one of us, but he has taken the form of someone. Orlando wouldn't be guilty of any crime. He's a victim! If he's the spy, the real Orlando has probably been tied up since the beginning of the year and I'm sure the real Orlando would never betray his family, or his friends. I know how much he's a friend to Thierry, with Ian, and even Kieran."

"But that means that we wouldn't have been able to notice a change of behaviour," said Wilhelm. "Do you think we're that blind?"

"I didn't say anything," said Harry. "I just notice that two students are missing. One of them must be the spy, and I'm quite sure that no one could fake to be Kieran."

"Oh, are you?"

"Yes, I am," said Harry. "Kieran is a genius. Nobody could fool all the teachers of that school, by faking intelligence like hers. Not since Halloween."

Wilhelm seemed to ponder that opinion, and then he nodded.

"I still can't believe it can be Orlando," he said sadly.

"Maybe we're wrong," said Harry. "Maybe Orlando has been snatched as well by the spy or whoever has taken Kieran, but still I can't see anything in common between the two except their age and their House. They're friends, right, but why those two?"

"If the spy is indeed the one that had taken them, he may want Orlando as a Novice, and Kieran, because she's precious to all the school," said Wilhelm.

Harry nodded.

"Quite true," he said.

"I'll see if Ian has any idea," said Wilhelm.

"I'll accompany Master Amanio and Alexander," said Harry.

He made sure that the Common Room was secured. And then he headed for the Entrance Hall. Walking across one corridor, that was crossing the path from the dungeons, Harry suddenly walked into Snape and Anselme. He raised his eyebrows. Snape shot him a warning look. Before Harry could say anything, he raised his hand.

"We need everyone to find these students," he said. "Adult wizards are rare enough in this school and he's a valuable Wizard, however misguided he is."

In spite of himself, Harry had to admit he had a point. He nodded to Anselme, who was avoiding his gaze.

"Come on," said Harry. "Walter and Alex are leading the search on the grounds. Dumbledore is taking care of the Castle."

They walked toward the Entrance Hall, exchanging heavy looks. Harry couldn't depart with his antipathy for Anselme. He had recently found someone he really hated. He didn't like Snape. That was old history, but the fact that he really felt hatred for Anselme was a little disturbing.

The last person he had hated, truly hated, was Voldemort. But Anselme wasn't Voldemort. He wasn't that evil. He was only misguided, fanaticism, and in a way stupid. But what he had done was almost as terrible as the deeds of a Death Eater.

This is not the time for this, Harry, he told himself.

He stopped looking at Anselme and quickened his pace

Professor Weasley was trying to reassure him, as they were searching the second floor, with Professor Sprout. Ian couldn't depart from this feeling. He was miserable.

"Ian, it's not your fault," said Professor Weasley. "You couldn't have seen this coming."

"Of course I could," said Ian. "I did."

"What are you talking about?" asked Mr Weasley.

"I was working with Professor Potter in searching for the spy," explained Ian. "and Kieran offered to help because she had that theory that the spy had to be a first year under polyjuice."

"So?" asked Weasley, seriously.

"So, she tried to observe a group of students, from first year, to try and detect suspicious behaviours," said Ian. "She reasoned that the Gryffindor first year was most likely to..."

Then it hit him. That had to be exactly it. She had done exactly what he had feared. She had drawn the attention of the spy, and he couldn't afford to let Kieran investigate too closely. So, she had been right, the sneaky bastard was in Gryffindor!

"Is everyone in Gryffindor accounted for?" he asked suddenly.

"Excuse me?" said Professor Weasley.

"She got closer to them, to try and spot someone who would be acting oddly," said Ian, quickly. "That's the only thing that could explain why she is missing. She found the spy, or he found her!"

"We'll check the Gryffindor Tower," said Mr Weasley, decidedly, apparently convinced by Ian's guesses.

They all rushed toward the Gryffindor Tower, Ian's mind being rushed by ominous thoughts. As he passed near a window, he noticed how dark the night outside appeared to be. He tried to pierce the darkness with his eyes, and he sent that silent call, desperate call into the night.

Kieran, where are you?

Kieran's consciousness got back, slowly, painfully. She was lost in darkness. Nothing around her could show her where she was. She couldn't hear one sound. Soon, her eyes got used to the darkness. She started to distinguish some shapes from others.

Okay, Kieran, try to think, she told herself. You can't just be in the dark for no reason. Try to focus.

Her memories slowly reformed in her head. She had gone to find Orlando, and discuss his impressions on the session the two of them had held with Ewan and his classmates. She knew Ian wanted to talk to her about that, but she did feel she was onto something and she didn't want him to begin trying to talk her out of it. She knew he worried and she knew he cared, but she was very close, she could tell.

She had led Orlando to a classroom, near the Nest, to expose her theory to him. Yes, one of the students had felt off, the more she thought about it. It also fitted all the criteria she had drawn up to make sure a suspect could be the spy. The curious behaviour, even if it was well hidden, the curious looks…

….and then, things were more confused. She remembered talking with Orlando, when a silhouette suddenly had appeared in the classroom. And next thing she had known had been pain... a Cruciatus Curse, maybe? She must have fainted after that.

The spy... Who else? Kieran started to gather the possibilities. Either Orlando was his accomplice, which was unlikely, and he had set this up with the spy, when Kieran had gotten too close... No, that didn't add up. He was more likely a victim just like her. So where was he?

"Orlando?" she whispered.

Some move near her.

"Orlando!" she said louder.

"K…Kieran?" said a weak voice on her left. "Is that you?"

"Orlando, are you okay?" she asked.

"It hurts..." said the voice of the Novice, "when I move."

"Don't," she said. "We've been hit by a curse. Can you see anything around you?"

"No," said Orlando.

She finally managed to spot him. He was lying near her, but he was a little lower. Kieran then realised that she was lying on a dusty, worn out couch. She was tied up, and so was Orlando, apparently.

Now what? Would the spy just tie them up and leave them behind him as he fled? Highly unlikely. He had to be near. She started to get scared. And what if no one had noticed their disappearance? What if they would be left alone to face whatever that bastard had in mind? He had come after her for a reason. Kieran could suspect what it was. Again the reason took over, and her fear decreased.

Kieran took a deep breath to calm herself, still trying to see something around her, but the only thing she could detail was Orlando, lying near her.

"So where do you think we are?" she asked.

"I… I don't know," said Orlando, on a shaky tone.

"Hey, it will be okay, Orlando, trust me," said Kieran.

"I'm scared," said Orlando.

"I know," said Kieran, decidedly. "Me too, but we mustn't break down, okay? They will find us."

"How? We don't even know where we are, so how would they?" said Orlando.

"Ian will find us," said Kieran, with a strong confidence in her voice.

Maybe that was only to help her hold on. But she was sure that Ian would come to her help. She knew him. She had seen how he had reacted to Julie's kidnapping, last year. Ian would be the first to rush at her aid and there was Professor Potter, Professor Lockenburn, Kenneth, Dumbledore. They wouldn't let them die here and Ian would find a way.

"I'd like to have your trust," said Orlando. "I know Ian is powerful and smart, but…"

"You don't know him like I do," insisted Kieran. "He will find us, I know it. He won't let us be hurt."

"Such a trust and confidence," said a voice in the shadows. "How cute."

Kieran suddenly tensed. The enemy was here!

It was only a shadow, lurking in the darkness of the room. It was a strange altered voice.

"Impressive," said the voice. "I did expect the Brother to be less terrified, but I didn't think you would have this control over yourself."

"Who are you?"

"Curious that you may ask that question," said the shadow. "Because it is a complex issue, indeed."

Kieran was unsure of what he meant but he sounded very satisfied by his sort of joke and began to chuckle. Kieran suppressed a shiver at the horrifying sound of the laugh in the dark.

Julie was walking along with Will and Jennifer, searching the surroundings of the Quidditch Pitch for a trace, under the surveillance of Hagrid. But so far, there was nothing to be seen.

If only she could see something.

Suddenly, Julie tensed. There was something passing before her eyes. But she couldn't tell what it was.

The surrounding world vanished. Julie was now in a darker place than the night of the Forest. It was a small shack. And she could see Kieran lying on a dusty couch, with Orlando tied up on the ground next to her.

There was something moving near them. Moving and talking. She didn't hear anything. But she could see as Kieran moved that she was answering someone in the dark. She tried to get closer to the figure in the shadows. She reached it and then, things went a little more confusing.

The being in front of her was strange. He had two faces, yet none at all. She couldn't see a detail of the face he wore; she only knew it wasn't his. He had stolen it from someone. Julie felt the presence of this very person next to him. She followed the trail. She saw another figure deep in the dark, below the wooden floor, under a trap door. He was tied up, too, and his mind seemed really far away, as if cut from the real world.

One of the faces was human, and the shadow had stolen it. But the other one... When Julie tried to look at it more closely, she felt a gigantic void ahead of her. Something awfully devoid of anything human. But… it was human! Julie didn't understand what she was seeing.

Then the face came suddenly out in the dim light of the shack. Julie found herself facing some mask made of wax, without any trait. Smooth. Completely smooth. No eyes, no nose, nothing… no humanity!

She let out a scream of horror and the world suddenly came back into focus. Will and Jennifer were next to her.

She then realised that she was lying on the ground. She shook her head.

"What's wrong, Julie?" asked Will, sounding very concerned.

"Are yeh, Alrigh', girl?" asked Hagrid, from above her.

Julie, still shaking, nodded nervously. Then she gasped when all the details of her vision came back to her at once. She suddenly got on her feet.

"I must find Ian immediately," she said.

And, without giving any time to her friends, she strode away to the Castle.

Wilhelm had joined them, on their way to Gryffindor Tower. He told Ian and the others that Orlando was missing too.

"Harry and I agreed on the fact that Orlando could be a target of the spy, and Kieran a valuable hostage," said Wilhelm. "but maybe the spy has substituted for Orlando."

"No," said Ian. "Orlando was helping Kieran to find the spy. He must have been taken too."

Ian's suddenly felt a wave of terrible distress inside of him. She had been right. The spy was definitely in the Gryffindor first year or close enough to hear from them.

"But by whom?" asked Wilhelm.

"Someone in the Gryffindor first year," said Ian, darkly.

"They were looking into them, Orlando and Kieran. They were onto the spy, so he struck back."

"First years?" said Professor Sprout. "but that's preposterous..."

"No, it's not," said Ian. "Professor Potter and I found traces of Polyjuice in the bathroom near the spot where Basil was attacked. The spy is using the appearance of the one of the first years."

"We're on our way to find out," said Professor Weasley.

She led them further toward Gryffindor Tower.

When they reached the painting at the entrance, Professor Weasley walked straight at the Fat Lady's painting.

"Omnia Portae," she said.

The Fat Lady seemed to freeze and the painting swung open. Ian raised his eyebrows.

"Don't you go repeat that one, Mr Malcolm," said Professor Sprout.

"It wouldn't work anyway," said Professor Weasley. "It only works with teachers."

Ian understood how every teacher of the school could get into a Common Room, whether he would be from one House or another.

The Common room was packed with people. All the students below the sixth year had been ordered to get back in their Towers, dungeons or wings. Ian was the only fourth year out, by now. He caught a look from Terry. His friend was looking worried, right now. Ian couldn't blame him. He himself was beyond worry. He was almost frantic.

Professor Weasley scanned the crowd. Ian was too and he spotted Ewan, who met his eyes. His brother shot up.

"What is going on?" he asked.

"Kieran is missing," said Ian. "So is Orlando."

"What?!" exclaimed Ewan. "Oh, bloody hell, you think they were right, then?"

Ian nodded. Ewan's eyes turned fierce.

"Who else is missing?" he asked around. "Everyone! Who in our House isn't here? In the first year!"

Rachel and Susan looked puzzled.

"What is going on?" asked Susan. "Ian?"

"Kieran suspected that the spy in the school, the one who attacked Basil and Ichabod is in fact impersonating a first year with Polyjuice," Ian explained. "A first year wouldn't draw attention if no one knew him before coming to school."

"Quick!" said Ewan. "Who isn't in the room, in our year?"

Ewan's friends all looked around quickly, trying to see who was missing and then Eric Masterson gasped.

"Chris isn't here," he said.

Sven rushed upstairs to check the dormitories, while Professor Weasley cast a long look around.

"Does anyone know where Chris Wagner is, right now?" she asked.

The Gryffindors all exchanged looks, and shook their heads. A little later, Sven came back, looking very pale.

"He's not up there," he said.

Ian felt his heart constrict even more. Wagner. All this time, it had been Wagner. He... He had this son of a lich at home for Christmas! He was right under his nose!

"Funny you should ask me who I am," said the shadowy figure. "I thought you actually had found out about me."

He walked out of the darkness, revealing the small figure of Chris Wagner. Orlando let out a gasp.

"You had guessed!" he exclaimed.

Kieran only threw the "boy" a withering look.

"Still that doesn't answer my question," she said. "I know who you pretend to be. Not who you are."

"Amusing," said the Spy, as Kieran decided to call him.

"You really have strong nerves. Shouldn't you be shaking in fear, right now?"

"Let's say I'm foolhardy," said Kieran.

"Foolhardy?"

The Spy burst into laughing.

"It had been a while since I heard that expression," he said. "You British are sometimes really funny, you know."

"So?" said Kieran.

"Why would I give you my name?" asked the Spy.

"Why spare our lives, so far?" said Kieran. "You kept us for a reason. So why wouldn't you talk to me?"

"Clever little witch," said the Spy. "and brave, too. Strange that you're not in Gryffindor."

"By the way, how did you get there? A treacherous sneak like you should have ended in Slytherin."

"Easy," said the Spy. "I wasn't at school before the students. I joined you later. Just after we had confirmed that the Novices were in Hogwarts. I caught Wagner, because no one knew him very well, except for Malcolm."

"The first attack," said Kieran. "Ichabod Lightbrown surprised you when you were capturing Chris."

"Exactly," said the Spy, taking a seat, casually, on the arm of the couch. "Just like that idiot Gryffindor surprised me taking my potion and my profession demands to be able to cover my trails, but a murder would have drawn too much attention. So I only washed their memories, while I was taking care of little Chris."

"Where is he?" asked Kieran.

"Well, he's down there," said the Spy, tapping his foot on what looked like a trap. "I kept him here to get the components of my potion, from time to time. He's alive, so far…"

"So, exactly, what do you intend to do?" asked Kieran dryly.

"Kill you," said the Spy, simply. "The fact is that I must keep the school busy searching for you long enough. Of course, you're not that precious after all. You're just a diversion and of course, it was important to cover my trail once more. I saw you suspected me, or at least someone in my year and my House. When you and the little brother here showed up, I knew something was up. I always have to make sure I'm beyond suspicion. From the moment you were getting close, I knew I had to act. Luckily, my employers were quick to adapt. So all I had to do was to get my clutches on you and a Novice, to make sure the commotion in the school will be enough."

"Enough for what?" asked Kieran. "Who are you working for? The Warlocks?"

"Not surprised you would know that," said the Spy. "Malcolm's brother really does know whatever is going on in this school."

"What are they after?" asked Kieran.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," said the Spy, with a grin. "You have to think of yourself, here."

"So what are you waiting for?" asked Kieran. "If you intend to kill us, why wait?"

She was aware that she was provoking him, and that he may decide to kill her immediately, but something urged her to make him talk. The Spy had a twisted smile that contorted the otherwise nice face of Chris Wagner.

"Let's just say that I have my personal pleasures," he said. "and one of my most precious ones is to enjoy my kills. Contracts are what I'm doing. But I do enjoy it, when I'm free to choose the method. And I have… let's say, particular tastes in this area."

Kieran realised what he meant when he pulled out a knife. The blade reflected light in the darkness. It was a strange blade, looking scary and deadly.

Kieran started to feel fear insinuating inside of her again. She started to consider that maybe she wouldn't get out of it alive. The Spy started to walk toward her and a thought suddenly raced into her mind.

Please, Ian, find me!

"Something's wrong," said Kenneth, suddenly stopping.

Thierry was on his side, looking puzzled. They have been searching the school grounds, along the edge of the Forest. He was in charge of his group, since there wasn't enough teachers to lead the search. Dumbledore thought he was able to protect his friends, should trouble arise. Now, something felt fishy, in his mind. He couldn't explain that certainty, but somehow, he knew that something just wasn't right.

"We had noticed that already," said Mandy. "Kieran is missing. This is what is wrong."

"No," said Kenneth. "There's something else. It doesn't fit. If the spy was just willing to cover his trails, why would he snatch Kieran? He could have washed her memories, just like he did for Ichabod and Basil. No, he's after something else."

"So he wanted Orlando?" asked Thierry.

"No," said Kenneth. "That's too easy. Why taking Kieran with him? He could have killed her, simply."

"Maybe he couldn't," said Mandy.

"Someone who can wash the memory of someone and create a Polyjuice Potion must be able to kill," said Kenneth. "No, he wants us to look for them. He wants us…"

He stopped, the terrible idea coming into his mind in one second.

"He wants us to be out of the Castle, searching the Grounds," he said suddenly. "He wants us outside… He wants Him outside!"

He then tucked Thierry and the others back to the Castle's Gates.

"What are you doing?" asked the Novice.

"We must find Master Amanio," said Kenneth. "Move it!"

"Ian!"

The voice came from behind him. Ian turned and saw Julie running toward him. She got inside the entrance Hall, from where Ian was scanning the grounds with magic again.

"Julie? Have you found something?" he asked eagerly.

"I …"

Julie was trying to catch her breath.

"She had a vision," said Hagrid, who came after her.

"What kind of vision?" asked Professor Weasley, who was still with Ian after the search in the Gryffindor Tower.

"The Spy," said Julie, getting a grip on herself. "I saw him. He has two faces."

"Yes," said Ian. "I know, he's using Polyjuice potion. He used Chris Wagner's form."

"Yes," said Julie. "But the second face is near him, with Kieran and Orlando."

"The second face? What are you... Hold on! You saw them? They're alive?" exclaimed Ian, grabbing her shoulder.

"You've seen them?"

"Kieran is alive," replied Julie. "I'm sure of that. I don't know for Orlando and Chris must be there, too. The real Chris, I mean…"

"But we can't find him on the Map," said Ron Weasley. "The name Chris Wagner has vanished. He must be out of the grounds, by now."

"He can't," said his wife. "The wards haven't been touched."

The wards! Ian's mind came to a full stop. The wards, of course! When they had tested the wards, he had felt something curious in the wood's magic... something faint... like a hiding spot! Something that could hide the presence of someone, or alter the professor's tools of detection!

He let go of Julie and rushed outside the entrance gate. He closed his eyes and extended his hands. He focused on the same pulse, trying to remember the direction where he had felt the curious echo.

Gathering his will, he let out the pulse in his magic, but focusing it on the part of the woods where he remembered the slight disturbance to be. The wave of energy swept through the grounds, phasing through the trees like a wind, until it hit a pocket of magic.

"There!"

"I've got it! He has to be there!"

The exultation in him almost brought him on his knees. He started to follow the trail that his power was creating for him. He could tell that Professor Weasley, her husband and Master Brünwald were following him.

Hold on, Kieran, he thought. I'm on my way!

And we're done! Next bit should be up very shortly.