Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.

"Frodo, come on!" Sam's voice called out to him. Frodo didn't move. He couldn't. There was no point in going anywhere. Dumbledore was gone and that sinking feeling in his heart didn't abate. It grew steadily as time went on. "Come on, Mr. Frodo. We have to move…."

Frodo didn't move until Sam grabbed him. Aria was right behind them. And yet, Frodo took one glance to see a wailing crowd. They were mourning for Dumbledore. Was it possible to feel this sad in so many different ways?

"Where's the others?" Frodo asked, curious.

"You're lucky I know hand magic. Felix Felicis saved us tonight." Sam told him. "The Firebird and the Order are in the hospital wing. Everyone's there, including Merry and Pippin. Something about the timelines being more screwed up. We're living in an alternate reality for sure, Mr. Frodo."

"Great." Frodo said, softly. He added, "Malfoy said that someone was killed."

"Injured, yes. Killed no, unless you count a few orcs and a Death Eater." Sam pointed out. "Bill Weasley got himself scarred, not thanks to that Greyback. He's in the hospital wing, being healed by Madam Pomfrey. Come on! We don't have much farther to go."

"And Aria…" Frodo looked back to see her still following them.

"I'm right here, Frodo." Aria said, concerned. She admitted to Sam, "I could help!"

"You weren't fast enough." Sam said, shaking his head.

"I know. I hesitated. I'm not good at helping people." Aria said, saddened.

"Aria…" Frodo paused. He wanted to help her. The fact that she wanted to help others didn't come as a shock. She'd been helpful enough with words. How was she with action?

They made it into the hospital wing. There was a whole crowd of people, gathered around Bill Weasley. There was Hilibert Blodwen, coming up to hug him, the moment Sam released him.

"I'm glad you've come." Hilibert told him, releasing him. "You're not injured. Are you?"

"I'm fine." Frodo said, nodding.

"Thought you wouldn't see us again?" Pippin's voice rose above the others. He embraced Frodo without a second glance.

"Ease up, Pippin." Merry said, stunned. "It's not the first time we'll be seeing Frodo." He told Frodo, "Ever since that ban was lifted, the timelines have all but shifted. We have our hand magic back and our memories."

"That's a relief," Frodo said, doing his best to stay calm.

"Snape killed Dumbledore." Harry told the crowd.

"We didn't know…" McGonagall's voice faded.

"We let him escape." Flitwick pointed out.

"What do we do now?" Frodo asked, curious. "How's Bill?"

"He won't be the same." Madam Pomfrey said, approaching him.

"My poor Bill." Molly Weasley sobbed.

"There, there Molly." Arthur Weasley told her, holding onto her tight.

"That puts me in charge." McGonagall told the group. "Slughorn is now the Head of Slytherin House. I want all the Heads of Houses to come to my office. Hagrid, Frodo, Harry and Aria, you'd better come, too."

"Give me updates." Sam told Frodo.

Frodo nodded. "I will."

It was strange following McGonagall to her office. Her new office, which was behind the statue. It made sense that Dumbledore's office was hers now. She was deputy headmistress, now headmistress. The second Frodo entered her office with the other Heads of Houses, he turned to the Orb of Truth. It was dull colored, but also opened at his touch. A note came out, something that he took.

"That orb belongs to you, Frodo." McGonagall told him. "It was Dumbledore's final request to me, hours before he…" She sobbed.

"I'll take care of it." Frodo said, taking the orb and the note in his hands. While the Heads of Houses spoke to each other, as well as to Hagrid, Harry and Aria, Frodo opened the note and read the message inside.

To Sauron:

Did one ever guess this orb was your creation?

I stole the real horcrux and intend to use it for my own purposes.

Know the orb, the real Orb of Truth, is with me.

What happens next is my doing.

With luck, you will be mortal.

Q.G.

Two messages and both objects were fake? This was the last thing Frodo expected from this night. Twice the horcruxes could have been defeated. Twice he, Dumbledore and Harry failed to retrieve the horcruxes, only to find fakes. The real ones were with Maleficent, but who was Q.G.? More mysteries on this night…

"It's agreed." McGonagall declared, getting Frodo's attention. "The school will remain open. What will we do with Dumbledore's body?"

"Dumbledore was devoted to this school." Harry told the others.

"It's true." Aria said, inclining her opinion.

"Dumbledore would have preferred to be buried at the school." Flitwick told them.

McGonagall nodded. "Then it's settled. We'll bury Dumbledore here and send the students home."

"No." Harry declined. "The students should stay for the funeral, to say one last goodbye."

"I agree!" Hagrid said.

"Second!" Flitwick answered.

McGonagall peered down at the grounds. There were men coming towards the school, carrying briefcases. Frodo couldn't help chancing a look.

"The Minister of Magic… Rufus Scrimgeour… he's bringing a delegation." McGonagall answered.

"Can I leave, professor?" Harry asked.

"Me too." Aria said at once.

"So do I." Frodo spoke last.

"You may all go," McGonagall told them, "and quickly."

Frodo waited until after McGonagall opened the door, before speeding out with Harry and Aria down the empty corridor. No one was around to see him, Harry and Aria split up. Aria stayed with him. Frodo hoped to reach the Ravenclaw common room before anyone spotted him. He had to tell Aria about the orb and the bauble, as well as the two messages that came from the two objects.

They did meet up with Sam, who looked most perturbed.

"What happened? Did you get it?" Sam asked, curious.

"Get what?" Frodo asked. He sighed, telling Sam all about the horcruxes and what Dumbledore was after. He shook his head, a moment after the story was finished. "No, I didn't get it. The horcruxes were fake. Here." He passed the orb and the bauble to Sam and Aria.

"Q.G.?" Aria asked, confused.

"Maleficent?" Sam asked. "Whose Maleficent?"

"Whose Q.G.?" Aria asked, even more confused.

"I don't know." Frodo told them. "I didn't do anything. I just watched him die!"

"It's all right, Mr. Frodo…" Sam was shoved off by Frodo.

"No, it's not!" Frodo made his way to the Ravenclaw common room. He didn't bother stopping to see Aria chase after him. He just clambered towards the door and stepped inside. He stopped when Aria approached. She handed him the orb and the bauble.

"I think one of us should hold onto them, for safe keeping." Aria told him, calmly.

Frodo nodded, silently. "Thank you."

"Will you be all right?" Aria asked, curious.

"No." He shook his head. "I think I'm going to bed." He didn't stop to see if Aria was okay. He ran upstairs, stuffing the orb and the bauble in his trunk. He plopped on the bed, fully clothed and lost in thought. The world, the school, Dumbledore… all of it… had left him.

Thanks for reading. :)