I have been informed that this might be edging into AU territory later on with how much Farlan changes with the books. I won't put it down as AU but just so readers are aware... It's amazing what a competent, concerned adult can do.

Albus Dumbledore was always a patient man. He had to be, given his position running Hogwarts as headmaster and his many side-dealings with the Minister of Magic and other influential people. His job required him to not only be patient with people but also to know as much about the world as possible. Hogwarts was a big part of that and as such, he had many ways of gathering information around him. So, when Farlan began acting strangely after a trip into town, Dumbledore knew immediately something had happened and he'd left it alone.

He had hoped the young man would come to him or one of the professors he was more comfortable with to discuss things. Dumbledore didn't know exactly what had happened but the young man's paranoia and concern for his own safety had always been very evident. The moment Dumbledore took the man in, it was obvious that he understood the severity of his situation and position. He knew exactly what sort of people were after him and his knowledge, and knew that he needed to be careful and always concerned.

Then, two years passed without issue. His biggest concern had changed from the potential attack or kidnapping by Dark Wizards to the occasional incident with a creature or student. The worst harm to come to him was from his own negligence while working on his studies; one that Dumbledore hadn't expected and highly disapproved of but it was dealt with accordingly. He still wished to have a discussion with the man about that incident but hadn't wanted to push him. From all appearances, it had been completely accidental. But what would the mentality of someone be like if something that severe was simply a mere accident? Still, he'd let it be until the man either came to him or they found time to discuss it privately.

Dumbledore had known the young man's passion for runes and legilimency was high but never to the extent he was proving it to be as well. The amount of progress he was making was astronomical, even to his standards and—while the man didn't believe so himself—Dumbledore couldn't help but be impressed. It was a shame he didn't show such passion while attending Hogwarts, he mused, sitting in his office and idly going through papers of information about students and those outside of Hogwarts. Things hadn't been so simple back then though, and it was nearly impossible for one student to get the help they needed when there was a war going on and hundreds of other students to deal with.

Still, Dumbledore felt a hint of guilt for never ensuring he'd been spoken to about his mother's passing. It had such a large impact on the young man that it had ruined any chances he had of proving himself until now. He had gotten lucky to have met Magnus and Dumbledore silently wondered how many others he'd failed in the same way who hadn't been so lucky.

"Headmaster."

Dumbledore glanced up from his desk to eye a nearby portrait.

"Daggrow is on his way up."

Dumbledore's brows furrowed but he nodded, waving toward the door so that the young man would be allowed entrance. His only guess was that something had happened while monitoring the detention of Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Neville. Dumbledore was fully aware of what they'd done and about the secret Hagrid had been hiding in his hut. Having a walk through the forest was meant to spook the overly confident children into not causing such trouble again. Cleaning a bathroom or scrubbing trophies wouldn't mean much to a Malfoy or the hardheaded Harry. Dumbledore had confidence that Hagrid and Farlan could keep them safe from the usual creatures that roamed the forest, who also knew better than to mess with students of Hogwarts.

That being said, he hadn't thought Farlan would come up to his office so soon after. He could only assume something unexpected had happened but when the man finally appeared, Dumbledore feared it was something far worse. He was pale, trembling, and struggling to face him properly. The headmaster hadn't seen him this uneasy since he'd first been picked up and brought into Hogwarts. While he'd previously held a bit of paranoia before, it had all but vanished under the safety of Hogwarts. So, what had brought it back, and did it have some connection with his trip into town?

Dumbledore set his paperwork aside and brought out a bottle of alcohol, pouring a bit into a glass and whisking it over to the uneasy man.

"Drink," he said, calmly. "You seem unsettled."

Farlan hesitated, eyeing the glass before taking it and downing the bit of Firewhiskey with a grimace. His trembling stopped though and Dumbledore waved him to a chair for him to sit in, steepling his hands in front of his face to wait for Farlan to speak. It wouldn't help if Dumbledore pushed him. It was just the kind of person Farlan was. It took a moment before the young man clenched his eyes shut and finally spoke.

"I-I've made a mistake."

Dumbledore still waited for him to continue though his curiosity was piqued. He wasn't sure what mistake could have brought Farlan to his office, though there was a hint of concern as well. What could he have done to make him this fearful?

"I…" Farlan was struggling to explain so Dumbledore decided to give him a nudge in the right direction.

"What happened in the forest?" He asked, knowing something had happened there to have encouraged Farlan to confess. "Hagrid mentioned an injured unicorn."

Farlan nodded. "We found it as… as a being was drinking its blood."

Dumbledore frowned deeply, knowing the consequences of such a thing. "A being. Not a creature?"

Farlan shook his head. "I thought it might have been a Lethidold or Dementor but it came after myself and the students with me. I used a patronus and it passed right by it."

This was surprising by itself. Dumbledore wasn't aware of what skills Farlan possessed other than his caring for creatures, runes, and legilimency. Given his scores on his Hogwarts exams were rather poor due to the trauma of his mother's passing, the man was an unknown.

"You can cast a patronus? Corporeal?"

Farlan nodded slowly. "It's… a fox. It didn't help against the being though. I shielded us from it before a centaur intervened."

That was also interesting. Centaurs didn't usually step into matters. Still, Dumbledore had an idea of which centaur might and set that thought aside for later.

"You escaped, I'm assuming."

"I couldn't fight a creature I didn't know and I had Mr. Potter and Mrs. Granger with me."

That pleased the man, knowing that at the very least he could trust Farlan with keeping students safe. This occurred with the troll as well, which only added to his trust in him. Yet, he said he made a mistake…

"Does your mistake have to do with this?" He pressed lightly and Farlan winced, wringing his hands in his lap.

"I… I have reason to believe the being was… was You-Know-Who."

Dumbledore frowned, turning his gaze down to his desk. "Yes. That would make sense. Drinking unicorn blood would prolong his life until he gets to the stone. We've already been made apparent that the stone is what he's after, though I didn't expect him to already be on the grounds. You made the right choice in fleeing, especially with Harry with you."

Farlan didn't look happy with the praise though, and Dumbledore wondered what more there was to this incident.

"I have yet to hear where this mistake of yours is."

Farlan shrank under his gaze and Dumbledore was tempted to try legilimency to help draw the answer out of him, only for him to finally explain.

"When I went into town," he began, fighting to keep up his courage and speak. "I sold my items and went for a drink. I was… dragged into a card game where I was doing well but… someone… I-I think someone drugged my drink."

Dumbledore frowned, knowing this wasn't good for anyone, much less Farlan who held quite a few secrets.

"It wasn't Hagrid who got the dragon egg. This person gave it to me. It took me a while to remember but… they asked me questions. About what I do, working with creatures, and… a-and about Fluffy."

Dumbledore's heart sank, seeing now what mistake had been made and how the plan to protect the stone had been compromised. "What did you tell them?" He asked calmly though Farlan reacted more like he'd been slapped.

"I-I didn't mean to—I-I should have paid more attention a-and come back instead of doing something so stupid. I-I should have told you sooner!"

Dumbledore sighed heavily as the young man trembled and pulled at his hair, eyes darting around the room and looking anywhere but at him. The young man was a mess and had undoubtedly been tearing himself up about this since it happened. He was far more of a detriment to the plan than Dumbledore realized and the headmaster knew that he was partially to blame as well for this. He had allowed the man to get used to peace without giving him the capabilities to defend himself should something like this occur. He should have been preparing the young man, not simply giving him errands.

"What did you tell them?" He repeated tiredly, rubbing at his own eyes from under his spectacles.

"I… mentioned music would calm him. I-I said I worked with runes and… a-and that I spoke with them in my head."

"You told them everything," Dumbledore muttered, understanding that this was far bigger than just the stone. "Could you resist at all?"

Farlan shook his head, keeping it bowed toward the floor. "I-I don't know what they used. If it was Veritaserum o-or something else or a mixture. I wouldn't have even remembered if it weren't for the dragon egg."

"Side effects?"

"As though I was severely hung over even though I only had two drinks," Farlan murmured. "Nausea, headache, memory issues, fatigue. The usual hangover potion did nothing. I had to use a bezoar mixture to have any effect."

Dumbledore leaned back in his seat with a sigh, making Farlan sink further in shame. "So, it is safe to assume that our enemy knows not only how to get past the first guard of the stone we're protecting but also about your skills in using legilimency against creatures."

Farlan nodded silently and Dumbledore closed his eyes, trying to think through this conundrum.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He asked, wondering if there could have been more they could have done if he'd known right after the incident.

Farlan struggled to answer before he spoke under his breath, where Dumbledore could barely hear him. "I-I was… scared."

"Of what?" The headmaster said a bit sharply, not out of anger but slight annoyance. "We may have had far more time to deal with this should you have spoken about the incident sooner. What was more important than securing the stone? Your position at Hogwarts? Your pride?"

Dumbledore doubted it was either of those but Farlan had made a grave mistake that wouldn't be easy to fix, especially after waiting so long to inform him.

"I-I… I thought I might… that y-you would…"

Dumbledore's frustration faded quickly, leaving him rather stunned and a bit hurt as he understood why Farlan had waited. "You… believed I would have harmed you?"

Farlan flinched, not wanting to admit as much but the man's fear was palpable. It made Dumbledore feel terribly old and beside himself. Had he really made that sort of impression? Had he really been so blind as to miss the fear this young man held for him? He was no better than Voldemort to this man, this boy. A powerful wizard holding control over his life through fear. It made Dumbledore feel sick and it only added to the guilt he held regarding Farlan and his life until now.

"Farlan," he murmured softly. "I would never put you in that position. I have not used the killing curse for even the most terrible of people," he explained, thinking back to his fight with Grindelwald. "Much less even consider cursing the young man my old friend sent to me. You were drugged. A mistake that could have happened to anyone and I am glad you were not poisoned or further harmed."

Farlan didn't look entirely convinced but had calmed somewhat as he continued.

"That being said, a mistake has been made and we need to take the steps to rectify it. The end of term is coming up so I will look into having something for you to do over the summer to prevent further instances."

Farlan didn't look thrilled but nodded.

"As for the stone's protections, I do believe you could assist in improving them." Dumbledore offered him a small smile, though the young man didn't return it as he stood. "Come. The night is still young and I'm curious to see how your runic skills have improved."

Farlan stood and followed him as they made their way to the third floor; Dumbledore hoping that he could improve the man's view of him as well as improve his skills before the start of the next war. One that was approaching far faster than he liked.

Dumbledore was a slave driver. Had I made a mistake by not telling him about what I'd told a stranger? Yes. Did that mean a week straight of adding new runes to the various trials guarding the stone? Apparently so. If that wasn't enough, it was two weeks before final exams and once I'd finally finished, I was quickly hounded by students requesting my help to study. Enough students had been told about my assisting upperclassmen that I had quite the group and soon needed to request McGonagall's help.

She laughed but she did allow me to use a spare room for the students I'd amassed. It was exhausting. Students from every house had flooded in due to the exams. Older students were seated at tables to work on their runes—my main area of expertise—and the rest were either seated around them or at the front of the room where I allowed them to freely practice their spellwork. A scattering of runic stones between them and the others made for a shield should any spells miss their intended targets and a silencing spell kept them quiet for those trying to study.

I would wander the room tiredly, stopping when someone had a question or wanted me to double-check what they were doing. I freely handed out permission for library books that would assist in their work and explained as best I could for those practicing runes. Students came and left as they wished and surprisingly, the exams trumped any animosity between the houses. Even Slytherins were dropping by for their chance to work and there had only been one instance where a student was barred from returning. It had been the Malfoy boy who had taken an interest in the Gryffindors and after two warnings, I easily removed him and attached a paper rune to the door that would prevent his entry. Though it's a one-time use rune that does nothing more than screech should he try but if it works, it works.

By the time exams came around though, I had been thoroughly run ragged. The week before the surge of students had been hard enough. The addition of runes to the passageways had been quickly exhausting and because of the various restrictions I was under, it had dragged out longer than I wished. Madam Pomfrey would have killed me if I used too much blood. I'd managed to do what Dumbledore wanted though, which was mildly surprising. I still wasn't as skilled as I would like to be with runes and some of what he had asked me to do seemed a little out of my skill range. He urged me to attempt it anyway though, and it had worked out alright.

It was still a lot of work. Carving the runes was difficult enough and I couldn't use my wand to do so or I risked weakening the final result. So, I had to hack away at the stone with a chisel and though the runes weren't as neat as I wanted them, they ended up working. The trapdoor leading down was now alarmed—something that took far too long to figure out—so anytime the door was opened an alarm would go off in my shed from a runic stone. I had suggested Dumbledore take it but he insisted I kept a hold on it because I would be needed for the rest of the traps.

For one thing, all the doors leading to the following trials now had runic locks that could be opened without completing the trial if one had the correct key. Said key resided solely in my hands and it wasn't a physical key either. Dumbledore and I had learned from my mistake and we weren't going to take any chances that the key would be discovered and stolen. The only way to bypass the trials was to use my magic. Hence, it would make no sense for Dumbledore to have the runic alarm when he would have to come to get me anyway. Not to say I didn't try to convince him to use his own magic as a key, but the other runes put in place were something he felt only I could do.

Along with the alarmed door and the bypassing of trials, there was one final setup I had to do. This was the trap, because if I was the only one able to get the alarm and bypass the trials, then I would be the first on the scene of the Dark Lord trying to steal the stone. I was no fool. I knew I stood no chance fighting against the Dark Lord, much less by myself. However, he didn't know what I was capable of and Dumbledore insisted that there was still something I could do. I could seal off the final chamber making it impossible for him to escape. Or, well, not impossible but hard enough that Dumbledore could get down to where he was before he could escape.

I hadn't been convinced I could do it though. I'd yet to work on containing something as powerful as a wizard, much less a Dark Lord. My runes might have been able to reinforce the chains that held back Fluffy but that was a far different type of runic spell than what I would have to do to secure a room. Having thus far been unable to really layer runes was another problem but I attempted to do what I could using multiple rings of runic symbols and interweaving them. It was difficult and took some trial and error on my part. Sometimes the runes weren't overlapping on the right word. Other times I used the wrong terms or didn't account for a more vague spell that might be cast. Dumbledore helped in this aspect, willing to be the one to test the barriers I came up with, and after a week it finally worked.

That coupled with assisting students with their exams had me desperately needing a break; one that even I knew would require proper resting. So, I stumbled off to my shed to grab the runic stone for the alarm and retreated to my bedroom in the castle. It took only a moment to shower and collapse in bed, falling asleep almost instantly. I had lucked out as well. I was in a deep enough sleep that the nightmares were kept at bay until something dragged my consciousness out of the murky depths.

I wearily cracked open my eyes, seeing nothing but the spectral Grim who always stayed silently by my side. For a moment my sleep-addled brain assumed he had woken me and I lazily lifted a hand to pat his head—my hand falling right through the Grim and dropping back onto my mattress before sound finally penetrated my mind. It was a wonder I didn't hear it initially but the runic alarm must have been going off for some time and I pushed myself up with a grunt of complaint, running a hand tiredly through my hair. Then, my mind clicked as to what the sound meant and a cold dread rolled through me as I scrambled to my feet and grabbed the stone.

I stared at it for a moment, hoping I was imagining the whine coming from it before I returned to my bedside and grabbed my wand, silencing it. No… No, no, no. Merlin, please. Dumbledore had gotten an owl this morning to visit the Ministry. All the professors knew that. But if the alarm is going off… it was a trick. They wanted him out of the castle a-and now… I jumped as the alarm went off again, dropping the stone and rushing to pick it up again. I silenced it once more, eyeing it and wondering if I'd done something wrong to cause it to go off twice but it remained silent. That doesn't make sense. There's no way they got in and out that quickly, but the alarm means the door was opened. So what—My eyes widened at the only possible answer.

"Someone else went after them."

I stuffed the stone into my pocket and rushed to put on something more than just my pajama bottoms. I needed to be armed just in case and pulled on my robe, as well as grabbing my pouch of runic stones, papers, and chains. I hoped I wouldn't need them and that my work down in the tunnel would be enough but someone else being in there was unexpected. The moment I got to the door though, I had another thought that made me pause. Who would go after him? Who knew the Dark Lord was going in there other than the professors? Because while it could have easily been a professor who went in after them, no one should have. Only Dumbledore, Snape, and I had been back in there and from what I'd been told, Snape was unable to face the Dark Lord. I hadn't been told why, of course. I'd given up enough secrets that I didn't press the issue either. But if it wasn't any of us then—

"Oh no," I breathed, one other possibility coming to mind and one that was very much not good. "O-Oh, no, no, no. They wouldn't… They couldn't be that stupid, could they?"

I bit my lip, hesitating for only a moment before cursing under my breath and drawing my wand.

"Expecto patronum," I muttered, summoning the ghostly fox. "Go to Minerva. Let her know the alarm has gone off and it's possible students are involved. Dumbledore needs to be summoned but…" I grit my teeth for a moment, hating what I was about to say. "I'll go after them. Hurry."

The fox turned and vanished around a corner as I quickly ran for the third-floor corridor. I got to the door and opened it, immediately finding a growling Fluffy baring his teeth before I lifted a hand to calm him; stretching out my mind. Relax. It's just me. Fluffy calmed and began wagging his tail before eagerly stretching one of his heads toward me for praise. Someone had obviously been here and a harp was sitting off to the side. I pet Fluffy's head as I moved toward it, feeling the guilt for giving up this secret rear its ugly head for a moment before I took a breath to compose myself.

I looked toward the trapdoor under Fluffy's paw, lightly waving him aside so I could enter it. I paused, staring down into the darkness below, knowing what was waiting for me. Fear rolled in my gut and I swallowed thickly. I had never been a brave person. I was an intellectual, a Ravenclaw, not a Gryffindor. I didn't want to walk into danger but Dumbledore had placed his trust in me even after I made a detrimental mistake. He trusted me to do what I could to stop the Dark Lord from escaping. But if the runes fail… if there really are students in there… I clenched my eyes shut, taking a deep breath before opening them, determined. I can't leave them, even if I'm scared.

I dropped down into the Devil's Snare and lit a fire with my wand to free myself as I rushed for the door out. With a murmur under my breath and a tap of my wand, the door opened to let me into the next area. Things continued in this manner as I passed through a high chamber full of winged keys until I got to the next room where a chessboard waited, surrounded by shattered stone pieces. McGonagall's trial, I noted before spotting a fallen figure on the board. I spat a curse rushing toward the young Weasley boy who confirmed my fears. The three Gryffindors were in here.

I dug through my robes and withdrew a vial of Murtlap Essence, spreading it on Ron's injuries that I could see before hesitantly glancing toward the next door. I can't leave him. If my runes fail and the Dark Lord escapes, he would have to come back through here. I looked at the Grim with me but knew it wouldn't work. The Grim wasn't a physical being and it didn't leave my side. Truly an omen of death just waiting for me to perish, isn't it? I shook my head of the thought and got up, lifting my wand and waving it toward some of the rubble of chess pieces. The broken fragments shifted and combined forming a stone centaur using the pieces of what was once a knight's horse and a queen.

"Watch over him until McGonagall or Dumbledore is here. Defend against threats only."

It gave a jittery nod, making me wince. I'm not the best at charms but it will have to do. The next room held an unconscious troll that I easily passed by and was startled when I got to the next room where Hermione very nearly walked into me. I bit my tongue to prevent myself from cursing her and lowered my wand as she stared in shock.

"Mr. Daggrow!"

A hint of irritation welled up in me and I frowned.

"I don't even want to know what you lot were thinking and I don't have the time to deal with you," I said sharply, making her wince and shrink as I swung my wand back toward the door still visible past the troll. "Get to where Ron is and stay put. I have a golem standing guard over him until McGonagall or Dumbledore gets here. I suggest saving any excuses you have for if and when we're out of this mess. Is that understood, Miss Granger?"

She bowed her head with a small nod and as soon as she was through the other door I closed them behind her and faced the next one. A column of black fire was before it but with another whisper and swipe of my wand the flames vanished and the door shifted. I moved near silently into the next room where I could hear voices; wand drawn cautiously as I shifted behind a stone pillar and peered out. I should have expected to see Harry wrapped in ropes to hold him in place but seeing Professor Quirrell was mildly surprising.

"P-Poor s-stuttering Professor Quirrell going off to fight vampires?" The twins' words came back to me along with the thought that the knocked-out troll from Quirrell's trial looked identical to the one that attacked on Halloween. Quirrell had a connection to the Dark Lord and with Harry trapped, there wasn't anything I could do. If I activate the runes, Harry will be trapped in there with him. I have to get him out of there first but how?

"I don't understand. . . is the Stone inside the mirror? Should I break it?" Quirrell muttered, seeing the stone within the mirror that Dumbledore had sealed it into.

I wasn't about to question his methods but even I had been confused when I saw the mirror. The headmaster had simply smiled and waved me on to continue working so I had withheld my questions for a time when knowing how the mirror worked wouldn't be a problem. Now though, I silently wondered how long the mirror could withstand Quirrell. I flinched when Harry tripped, eyes snapping to him and back to Quirrell and I lifted my wand, hoping to drag the boy out of the circles of runes etched in the floor while Quirrell ignored him.

"What does this mirror do? How does it work? Help me, Master!" Quirrell begged and right when I went to cast the spell that would jerk Harry toward me, another voice spoke in a raspy hiss.

"Use the boy…"

I bit back a curse as Quirrell whipped around, forcing me to duck back behind the pillar and hope there was another chance. Harry was released from his bindings now and walked toward the mirror when Quirrell asked, something I was grateful for. It was a risk but one less likely to get him killed than defying his commands or trying to run.

"Well? What do you see?" Quirrell questioned once Harry stood before the mirror.

"I see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore. I-I've won the house cup for Gryffindor."

Quirrell shoved him away with a curse and Harry slowly started to back away. He's a bit far. If he can just move a bit closer I can either step out and pull him over or he'll be past the runes. I watched uneasily, on edge as Harry took a few paces back only for that raspy voice to speak up again.

"He lies…"

Quirrell turned again, shouting. "Potter, come back here! Tell me the truth. What did you see?"

Harry had stopped moving back and I hoped he would continue when Quirrell kept speaking to this invisible third person. It wanted to speak with Harry and the professor was uncertain about it.

"Master, you are not strong enough."

"I have strength enough for this."

Harry froze in his place as Quirrell unwrapped his turban and turned. Even I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. A man's face was on the back of his head; skin pale, red eyes gleaming in the torch light, and snake-like slits for a nose.

"Harry Potter," it breathed. "See what I have become? Mere shadow and vapor. I have form only when I can share another body, but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and mind."

It was the Dark Lord, I realized. The face etched into the back of Quirrell's head was the essence of the Dark Lord that had once been thought to have been vanquished by the young boy standing before us. He had been turned into a spirit that only drew power from his followers if they hosted him in their bodies. It was Quirrell who had drank the unicorn's blood to preserve him and now the two of them were here for the stone. The stone Harry had somehow managed to get a hold of according to the Dark Lord.

"Don't be a fool," the Dark Lord snapped when Harry stumbled back—Just a bit closer! "Better save your own life and join me or you'll meet the same end as your parents. They died begging me for mercy."

"Liar!" Harry bellowed as Quirrell walked back toward him.

Harry soon turned and tried to rush toward the door as the Dark Lord shouted for Quirrell to grab him. I cursed when he caught hold of Harry's wrist right before he could pass the runes, nearly springing from my hiding place too early. The boy screamed in pain and I was briefly surprised when Quirrell did as well; his hand blistered when he let Harry go. He lunged for him again at his master's command but couldn't keep hold of Harry which worked in my favor.

Harry had finally crossed the runes and when Quirrell drew his wand to put an end to Harry's life I rushed forward. A curse flew from my wand toward Quirrell who blocked it with a half-step back as I grabbed Harry's robes and jerked him backward. Quirrell sent a curse as well as I ducked and smeared my bloody palm across the runes, speaking what was needed to activate them.

The runes glowed red and the spell cast my way hit an invisible barrier as the Dark Lord shouted in anger. Quirrell threw more spells as I moved back, holding out a hand to keep Harry safely behind me. It was only when the killing curse was shouted that I used my wand to throw up a piece of rubble and block it. The stone was shattered but we were still safe which only infuriated the two more.

"Farlan!" Quirrell bellowed. "You insignificant fool! What have you done!"

"Kill him! Kill him, Quirrell!"

I didn't take my eyes off them, afraid of more killing curses getting through the barrier or the barrier itself failing as I lightly pushed Harry back. The boy didn't struggle other than being confused as I spoke.

"Go back the way you came and meet up with your friends," I told him, heart racing in my chest as I searched for any weakness in my work. "Dumbledore or McGonagall should be here soon. Quickly. Go."

"But you—"

"Will be fine, but I have to wait for Dumbledore. I can't risk leaving only for the barrier to fail and I can't protect you and myself should it happen now."

Harry hesitated but nodded and turned, running off as another flash of green flew his way. I again blocked it with a chunk of a pillar and fearfully faced Quirrell and the Dark Lord alone.

"You damn fool," Quirrell snapped. "A mere apprentice thinking he could stand up against the Dark Lord. Dumbledore is an idiot for trusting you after what you did. You're the reason we're here."

"And now I'm the reason you're trapped," I countered, though I didn't feel very confident with how my hand trembled around my wand. "Dumbledore might be a fool for trusting me before but I'm making this right by keeping you here. Whether Harry has the stone or not, you can't escape and that's because of me."

"You," the Dark Lord hissed. "The Ancient Runes apprentice. You think your old magic can stop us?"

"It has so far," I muttered, though remaining cautious. "Perhaps the old Dark Lord could have escaped but you're just a face on the back of Quirrell's head and he certainly doesn't have the skills to get out of here."

It was a lie, really. I had no idea what Quirrell's skills were or if he really couldn't figure out how to break free. He taught Defense Against the Dark Arts so he must have the skills necessary for the position but Ancient Runes were hardly in the same category. Runes were closer to Divination and Arithmancy than the Dark Arts.

Some might consider them close because of blood magic and rituals, but runes were different. They used blood as a catalyst for holding magic and nothing more. Blood magic used blood to ensnare people because of their magic. While setting runes might appear ritualistic, they were just an old form of magic that required patience and very specific circumstances. Did that mean Quirrell couldn't use Dark Arts to escape? No, but it also didn't mean he had the capabilities to do so. The Dark Lord might have known how to alter the runes or disrupt their magic but he didn't have time to teach Quirrell how with Dumbledore on his way. Knowing this, the professor swung his wand wildly, trying any spell that came to mind in the hopes he could brute force his way through.

I winced with every blasting or exploding spell, seeing the barrier quiver with each hit but it still held. The only spell that would go through was the killing curse and with the debris scattered around they knew they had no chance of hitting me so long as I was remaining cautious. My paranoia paid off too when the barrier flickered suddenly and a cutting curse slipped past. My eyes widened and I dodged just barely, feeling a slice of heat across my right thigh. Something had weakened the barrier and Quirrell noticed, returning to his bombardment of spells.

My gaze shifted between his spells and the runes, searching for what had happened and continued to happen. It was brief but the more time he spent throwing spells the more frequently there were breaks in the barrier. It should hold up for longer than this. The runes don't have a time limit and the magic in my blood should have been enough to hold it for an hour at the least. Another spell broke through and I threw up a shield, cringing as the exploding spell destroyed it and threw fragments of debris at me. I could feel bruises forming from a few larger pieces and a small scrape on my cheek but ignored it as I tried to work out what was wrong. I clenched my hands into fists and winced, glancing at my sliced palm that was crusted over as it clicked.

"The blood," I muttered, eyes snapping back to the streak of red that I had slapped over the runes.

The bright red color faded into something dark and no longer shined in the candlelight. The blood was drying up and with it, the magic I had provided to uphold the barrier. It was a mistake on my part. With the exhaustion I'd been dealing with the last few weeks and the sleepless nights, I hadn't thought when I'd sliced open my palm and activated the runes. All blood runes drew magic from fresh blood. For any carvings I made that used blood, I had to mix in ingredients to keep the blood fresh. It became paint that would coat the carvings but would dry in a way that still allowed the magic to be used. One couldn't just splash blood about and expect the same results but that was what I'd done in my haste to get Harry safe and secure the Dark Lord. As such, the magic was fading as the blood dried, causing the barrier to flicker and struggle against the onslaught of spells.

I don't have any of what I need on me. The runic papers and stones won't work against him when the barrier falls. It was only a matter of time before it fell and my only hope was to be able to defend myself until Dumbledore came into the chamber. The chains might work for a bit but I'm no dueller. I wouldn't have any other option though, and barely got a shield up in time for a stunner but I didn't see the second spell that hit hard.

I was thrown back, hitting the wall and losing my breath for a moment, being eerily reminded of the troll. Fear churned in my gut as I looked over and saw Quirrell smirking, eyeing the barrier between us as it flickered and finally fell. I slipped my hand into my runic pouch and rose my wand but Quirrell knocked it out of my hand easily. I didn't need the wand for the chains though, which were already imbued with magic.

I threw one that he tried to block, failing, and the chain came to life; encircling him. He spat a curse, trying to use a spell but with a word hissed under my breath, the bindings tightened and forced him to drop his wand. I held back a sigh of relief, glad that at least this would work properly for a while. I had been lucky too. If he had tried to knock it away with a spell it wouldn't have gotten hold but Quirrell had tried to just slap it away.

Quirrell spat out a curse as I got to my feet, gingerly holding my side as it ached. I would be safe until Dumbledore showed up and felt almost proud that I had managed to do something like catching the Dark Lord. It was then though, that I was proven to be mistaken once more. I had forgotten what he'd said and it was much to my shock that the Dark Lord suddenly decided to free himself from Quirrell.

"N-No! No, please, master!" Quirrell begged before screaming and falling to the ground.

I jerked away, feeling sick as the face on the back of his head seemed to stretch and screech before flying free and rushing at me. I stumbled backward away from the spectral Dark Lord, not knowing how to defend myself from him before the Grim abruptly moved before me. It growled, fur standing on end and letting out a sharp warning bark that somehow made the spirit roar in anger and rush off out of the room. I had no idea where it went but the fear the Dark Lord instilled remained.

I stared at the Grim in stunned silence as it shook out its fur with a huff and sat, giving me an almost bored look. This was the first time it had actively defended me. Even with the troll it had only growled when we approached, warning me of the danger but doing nothing while I actively fought it. I didn't know what made this instance different other than the Dark Lord being nothing but a spirit, but that reasoning felt too simple.

I didn't have time to dwell on it though before I jumped, twisting my aching body after grabbing my wand and aiming it at the person who entered. My hand shook as my breaths came out quickly but Dumbledore merely offered a small solemn smile. I'm sure it was obvious to him what had happened, given my injuries, the lowered barrier, and the tied-up and unmoving Quirrell. It took a moment for me to lower my wand, trying to rein in my anxiety that was building up now that everything was said and done.

Dumbledore drew his own wand to check over Quirrell before slowly drawing closer to me. "Come. My office and then you can rest."

I hesitated for half a second, worried. "The students—"

"Are with Minerva right now on their way to Madam Pomfrey," he informed me, gesturing for me to move ahead of him. "I'm sure she will demand your appearance as soon as I'm finished speaking with you. Madam Pomfrey is not one to dawdle when someone injured is about. So, we must be quick."

I nodded and led us through the trials once more; Dumbledore behind me levitating Quirrell's body. He stopped me only once to send him into the infirmary before coming back out and taking over. He led me to the stone statue that bowed out of the way, and up the stairs to his office. The sight of it did little to calm my nerves, though the drink sent my way helped. He waited patiently as he always did, moving behind his desk and staying silent until I lowered the cup.

"Better?" He asked softly, earning a small nod from me as I allowed the heat of the alcohol to soothe my nerves. "Now, would you mind explaining the events as best you can from the start? I can see things didn't quite go to plan but every last detail helps."

I took a second to gather my thoughts before speaking, explaining everything from the alarm, to the students, to what happened with the barrier, and my short bout with Quirrell. Dumbledore gave little reaction to my tale until I finished, where he heaved a heavy sigh and summoned his own glass.

"I see. Yes, I do see how that all makes sense. It was not your fault, of course. In the heat of the moment, I'm sure mistakes are always made even when we try to avoid them. The barrier falling and Voldemort escaping are only a few possibilities."

I winced slightly at the use of the Dark Lord's name but didn't comment. As one of the few wizards who stood a chance against him, Dumbledore had the right to say it as he pleased.

"W-What about the stone a-and Quirrell?" I asked and he hummed.

"Mr. Potter easily handed it over to me and I will contact the Flamel's to see how they wish to proceed. I do believe they might be willing to part with it now. Even they have grown tired. As for Quirrell, I do not believe that he will recover. It is unfortunate given he may have been of some use to us. However, between Voldemort's detachment and the unicorn blood, the man has quite a burden being placed on his body. I doubt there is anything even the best healers can do to restore him."

I felt a hint of guilt at that but Dumbledore must have noticed.

"It was no fault of your own, Farlan. I am confident that Voldemort would have abandoned him the moment he felt threatened or when he finally did have his body back. He cares not for his followers and views them as nothing more than pawns to do his work for him. Quirrell was simply another sacrifice."

"The mirror," I muttered, glancing up at him curiously. "How does it work? Quirrell couldn't get a hold of the stone but Harry did."

Dumbledore cracked a smile. "An interesting object, isn't it? The Mirror of Erised. It allows anyone who looks into its depths to see the thing they wish for most. Whether that be a person long dead or a future not lived or even an object like the stone. With the stone, however, there was a trick to it. The only way someone could retrieve it was if they wanted the stone but didn't wish to use it. If Harry had not gotten it, any number of others who knew about it could have, including you."

"So, it was a coincidence," I realized and he nodded.

"Yes. At that moment, Harry desperately wanted the stone to keep it out of Voldemort's hands. Otherwise, he might have viewed something very different. Now, before I dismiss you to get looked at by Madam Pomfrey, I wish to explain my thoughts regarding you and your stay at Hogwarts."

A feeling of dread filled me before reluctant acceptance. I had made a mistake that would have cost the entire wizarding world and it only made sense that Dumbledore wished to be rid of me.

"I want to send you somewhere over the summer," he said, confusing me. "I do believe there might be some things you could retrieve from Abraham's place. I have sent someone I trust out to check and it has been abandoned by those who wish to harm you. I request that you go there and bring back anything of value that they may have missed."

I hesitantly nodded, uneasy about going back knowing the memories the place held for me but also knowing I didn't have much choice.

"When you return, I wish to see about finding you someone to teach you dueling."

My eyes widened and I went to argue but he held up a hand to silence me.

"I am unaware of what skills you currently possess but from what you have dealt with this far, it is apparent that you need to brush up on your skills to defend yourself. Even within the Hogwarts walls, not everyone is safe. That has been made obvious with the troll and Voldemort's appearance. Given your incident in the town and what you have proven while trapping him, I feel you need to be able to protect yourself should the opportunity arise. Your skills with runes are fine, however, they are impractical when in the midst of battle. Until you can improve that aspect, I want you to expand your repertoire of spells and gain experience in a proper duel."

"I-I'm not exactly the best at dueling," I admitted, knowing I had gotten lucky with Voldemort.

"Yes, and once you return, I will have someone to help with that after we get an idea of your abilities… I understand that your Owls and Newts weren't exactly the best given your personal circumstances, but now that you have moved past a lot of that, I feel it's time for you to show what you can do."

I fidgeted uneasily in front of his smile, worried now about what this summer would bring.