Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.

"Get out of here!" Snape hissed at the Death Eaters and the orc. "Move quickly!" He grabbed Draco and Lotho, forcing them out through the doorway.

Frodo found he could move again, and yet he couldn't. Dumbledore was dead. His thoughts reeled with the sensation of guilt and longing. No! He witnessed another death, right before his very eyes. He didn't do anything. But he could do something now.

He turned visible again, right as Harry pulled off the invisibility cloak. He trailed after Harry down the stairs, stunning as many death eaters and orcs as he could find. He had to find Snape, make him pay for what he'd done.

Greyback fell down the stairs, petrified. Frodo paid no heed to him. There were a couple of orcs standing watch. He flicked his hands in the air, while snapping his fingers. The orcs froze and were chained to the walls. Two at a time, as Flitwick instructed. That was key to resolving this issue he had with the orcs.

He had to find Snape. Where did he go? Where was he heading?

To Hagrid's hut. NO! Hagrid had to be there. He had to find him and fast. He had to catch him in the act and stop him. Harry moved much quicker than he did. And there was Sam, moving with Aria to stop the orcs.

"Frodo… Snape just went past… down to the grounds…" Sam panted.

"I know. I'm heading that way!" Frodo said, rushing past.

"Be careful, Frodo!" Aria cried. Frodo barely heard her as he fled towards the grounds.

He moved at top speed. There was Snape, approaching Hagrid's hut. He was right. He backed off as the flames engulfed the hut. Harry didn't stop. Frodo gave way, heading towards Snape. He used his hand magic, hoping to stop the DADA teacher once and for all.

"FIGHT BACK," Harry cried as loudly and as painfully, "YOU COWARD—"

"Do not call me a coward, Potter!" Snape called back, jetting spells at Harry and Frodo. "Still haven't learned to close your minds. The both of you. Always alike."

"Stupe—" Frodo was cut off by a powerful blast. He was forced to the ground, unable to move. Something was holding him down. He looked up in time to see a dark shape moving towards him. All sound was drawn out. A ringing sensation pounded in his ears.

The dark mist transformed into the face of a youthful man. A mane of black hair swept down his face and neck. The man stared at him with fiery red eyes.

"Sauron." Frodo choked out.

"Yes." Sauron told him, calmly. "You've been wondering who cast those spells in that potion book. Haven't you? Who created those poisons and those potions? Who cast the right spells? Am I correct, Baggins?"

"You!" Frodo whispered. "What are you—"

Sauron cackled. "Didn't you know who changed up the timeline? I did. I am the Sorcerer and I know more about you in just this minute. Goodbye, Frodo Baggins, until we meet again." He vanished into the dark mist, moving like a shroud into the sky until he had vanished entirely.

Frodo could barely move, could barely think. Sauron was the Sorcerer all along? How was that possible? He'd been using Sauron's potion book and didn't know it. Surely Hermione would know about him. But how? This was uncanny of Sauron to show up, announcing he was the Sorcerer. It could have been anyone. Instead it was Sauron, the Dark Lord from Mordor, who attended Hogwarts, who wrote in the potions book.

It made sense now. As for the Half-Blood Prince, Frodo learned from Harry who it was, after Snape vanished with the rest of the Death Eaters and Sauron's followers.

"It was Snape who was the Half-Blood Prince." Harry said, gathering his wits.

Hagrid approached them. "'Arry, Frodo, what happened? Where's Dumbledore?"

"Hagrid." Harry started, "Dumbledore's dead."

"Dead? What do you mean 'dead'?" Hagrid cried, alarmed. "What's goin' on?"

"We should head back." Frodo suggested, as Fang ran towards them, barking profoundly.

"Come on." Harry said, gesturing towards the castle.

Frodo followed Harry and Hagrid, wondering where everyone was. It didn't take them long to find a crowd of people in the courtyard. The lump in his throat returned. His eyes watered at the sight of Dumbledore's body. He moved in, picking up the bauble from the headmaster's hand. Harry did the same with the locket. They opened it, discovering it wasn't a horcrux, but a fake.

Inside were scribbled notes. Frodo read the bauble's note to himself.

To Sauron:

I know what you are thinking,

"How could the I, the Mistress of All Evil, take her bauble back?"

Well, I did it. I stole the real horcrux and I intend to make fine work of it.

Ensure that our plans are not thwarted.

Your secret is safe with me.

Maleficent

Frodo crumpled the note in his hand. He would wait until later before discovering who this Maleficent figure was. For now, he didn't feel anything but pain. Dumbledore weakened himself for a fake locket and a fake bauble. It was a waste. This whole time. He sat there, staring at Dumbledore's limp body. Fang howled at the moonlit sky, as if knowing the headmaster was gone, passed on from this world into the next.

Thanks for reading. :)