Guile

Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were waiting for the train from Germany to France. Sirius had to turn into his Animagi form of a great black dog, and it took Remus awhile to convince the ticket master the dog was very well trained.

As they sat on the bench at the train station waiting for the clock to strike eight A.M., they were shocked to see their old school rival and enemy, Severus Snape.

Snape had a trunk with him, and was sitting alone on a bench. He was reading a book on Alchemy and Compounding, and Sirius and Remus weren't surprised to see that his greasy hair had still not been washed.

"Snape," Remus said lightly. "Interesting seeing you here."

"Oh, you two," growled Snape, just barely glancing up from his book to look at the two. "What're you doing in Germany?"

"Traveling, avoiding people, that sort of thing," replied Remus. He heard Sirius growling behind him at Snape. "What're you doing here?"

"I was spying on Professor Faustus," replied Snape. "It was Dumbledore's job for me."

Remus hadn't the faintest idea who Professor Faustus was, but assumed he had something to do with Voldemort. And speaking of Voldemort, Remus hadn't heard of any activity anywhere that could be traced back to Voldemort. It was like he revived last year then decided to disappear. Or maybe someone had killed him. Or even better, maybe Voldemort decided to kill Peter Pettigrew then take a leave and vacation in Hawaii. That would've made Remus actually want to become a Death Eater.

Snape looked down and Sirius. "I thought dog's his size weren't allowed on trains."

"Oh, well, I proved to the ticket master he was very well behaved," said Remus cheerfully.

Snape nodded, and picked up his trunk. "Ten minutes to eight," he said.

Remus got his small suitcase full of things, and grabbed Sirius's leash, which was actually just a binding spell. Sirius strutted along with Remus and the two boarded the train. After arriving in France, Snape would getting on the Tube and heading to London, and back to Hogwarts, while Remus and Sirius would be staying in France for a while.

~ ~ ~
It didn't take a genius to figure out that Hermione Granger and Tom Marvolo Riddle had suddenly become very physical and flirtatious with one another. By end the of November, anyone who saw the two together could easily tell they were a couple. However, Harry and Ron seemed totally oblivious to their relationship.

Even with Tom suddenly hanging out with them around campus much more often, and Ginny becoming incredibly red whenever she saw Tom and Hermione, and Draco snickering at the trio much more often than usual, Harry and Ron still didn't understand.

Finally, Tom confronted Harry and Ron about his relationship with Hermione at the request of the girl herself.

"Hey," said Tom uneasily.

"Hey yourself," replied Ron.

"Are you guys... ok with this?" asked Tom. "The arrangement? Because if it's bothering you I'll stop-"

"Oh, no!" said Harry, who thought Tom meant they were discomforted by his presence. "We're fine. We can deal and put up with a lot of things."

"So... you really don't mind?" said Tom. He seemed pretty surprised.

"No! Not at all!" said Ron.

"Well, in that case..."

Tom waved to the boys, and went off to find Hermione. Hermione was delighted to hear Harry and Ron were dealing with it, and she and Tom continued to see each other. Harry noticed Ginny was hardly around when Tom and Hermione were so much as within ten feet of each other. He thought she was still frightened by Tom, and took that as normal behavior.

Ron was milking Tom for all he was worth. Ron was struggling dearly with History of Magic and Divination, so he tricked Tom into helping him with his papers. Even with their new teacher, Harry was still having problems in Potions, and Tom, who was practically a walking encyclopedia of everything, could recite ingredients for potions in his sleep.

Hermione owled Viktor Krum telling him she wouldn't be coming to see him in the winter. Viktor was heavily disappointed, and Ron was just as disappointed because it meant he got an autographed nothing. Viktor sent many gifts and letters begging Hermione to come see him, but Hermione sent them all back.

Still oblivious to Tom and Hermione's relationship, it seemed very odd to Harry and Ron for Hermione to tell him she wasn't coming and sending all his things back, when they had planned their winter together in October.

As if that wasn't weird enough, the even weirder thing came when Severus Snape showed up.

It was December 2nd, and Professor Snape waltzed right into Hogwarts during lunch time. He was dragging a trunk behind him, and went to Dumbledore's office immediately. Harry and Ron were trying to find Tom and Hermione when they saw Snape dragging his trunk around campus.

"Professor Snape?" Harry asked uncertainly.

Snape turned around. "Oh, it's you, Potter." He then continued to Dumbledore's office.

"Should we go and spy on them?" asked Harry.

"Why the hell would we do that?" asked Ron.

"Well, I'd like to know where Snape's been these past few months..." began Harry.

"OK, fine!" said Ron. "Lets go!"

They followed Snape until he reached the Gargoyle. Snape sat around until Professor Vector came along. He asked her the password, and he went it. Harry and Ron waited until the Gargoyle had leaped back on it's post, then went up to it and gave it the password. They squatted down on the stairs, eavesdropping on Dumbledore and Snape.

"Why, Severus, how nice to see you," said Dumbledore as Snape entered the office. "How was Faustus's?"

"For all of July, August, September and October, I did as you told me to and keep a low profile until I thought he trusted me," began Snape. "Finally, I snuck out of my room one night and began looking for any signs of his relation to Voldemort. He came out of his bedroom, and... and I thought he was going to kill me."

"But he didn't," finished Dumbledore. "Did he hurt you at all?"

"No... when he caught me lurking around, he said, 'It's just like that persistent Dumbledore to have someone come and study under the great Faustus.' Then he lifted up his arm... and he had the Dark Mark on him.

"But then... he moved his sleeve down and told me, 'I'm merely an old friend of Voldemort's. I myself am a Muggle-born, and he's perfectly aware of that. He's never bothered to try and kill me since he respects me a great deal. I don't agree with him at all, but I allowed myself to be bound to the fate of the Death Eaters when trying to understand him.' Then he told me to leave, and tell you he has what Voldemort seeks."

"Did he tell you anything else?" asked Dumbledore after a long awkward silence.

"Yes."

"What?"

"That if you want 'it,' send Harry Potter to get it."

~ ~ ~
During winter break, Harry found out he, Ron and Hermione would be going to Germany to visit Professor Johann Faustus, who lived in a large mansion in Klone. Harry and Ron pretended to act surprised. when they were asked to go, but Hermione seemed the most shocked. She had heard of Faustus, and felt honored to be able to walk inside his house. Tom said nothing, and refused to go when Hermione begged him to come.

It took a while, but it was decided they'd have to sail to France on a Wizard Cruise, and they had arrangements to stay at Beauxbatons for a night or two. Then from Beauxbatons, they'd be provided with train tickets.

"This is pretty complicated just to get something," said Ron. "Can't he just come here?"

Hermione flipped out on him. "Professor Faustus is a very busy and well-respected man! If he wants us to come get it! We're going to get it!"

Ron rolled his eyes at her, and began to pack a small bag full of things for the week they'd be gone. Harry didn't have any time to worry about Faustus or what he'd be getting, at least not for now. Homework amounts were piling up, and Quidditch practice was getting intense. The next game of the season, shortly after the winter break, was against Slytherin.

Draco was the Seeker on the Slytherin team, and his father, Lucius Malfoy, had recently bought the entire team a set of Firebolts. Each cost a ludicrous amount of money, but if they had the money, Lucius would've bought Hogwarts as a birthday present for his son.

Harry and Katie Bell were the only ones on the Gryffindor team with Firebolts. Fred and George Weasley had Cleansweep Fives, Angelina Johnson had a Nimbus 2000, Alicia Spinnet had a Comet Four Ninety, and Seamus's parents were planning on buying him a Nimbus for Christmas.

Ron had no problem showing his jealously towards Seamus. Tom took interesting note of it.

"Why so angry?" asked Tom one day at lunch.

"Seamus is getting a Nimbus for Christmas!" roared Ron. "I never thought he was a very good Keeper in the first place!"

"Ah," replied Tom. "So you're jealous?"

"Jealous?" Ron blurted out. "Ofcourse not!"

"Oh sure," snickered Tom. "Why do you care so much anyway? Who cares what other people have."

"I've just...I don't know..." stuttered Ron. He hit his head against the table. "I'm the second youngest in my family. My brothers have all done great things and I guess..."

"It's just mutual feelings?" asked Tom.

"Yea."

"Jealous of everyone because they're getting and doing better?"

"Yea."

"Look, you're fine how you are," said Tom. "When I was your age, I thought I could change the world to and be a somebody-"

"Tom," Ron said immediately. "You did change the world, and you ARE someone."

Tom paused. "Let's pretend Voldemort doesn't exist then!" Ron twitched. "I thought I could be a great person to. Make a name for myself. Be the best."

"Tom, you hold all the records at Hogwarts to the current-"

Tom yelled, "RON! DON'T MAKE THIS HARDER THAN IT ALREADY IS!" and the entire Gryffindor table looked eerily at him.

"OK, sheesh," said Ron.

"There's more to life than being famous," Tom said finally. "You don't have to have a lightning bolt scar or be top in your class to be famous."

"That's my point!" said Ron angrily. "My two best friends are famous! Hermione's the top of every class! Harry Potter is HARRY POTTER! You don't know what that's like having your two best friends be two of the most well known people in this entire school! And you being the loyal looking sidekick!"

"Ron," Tom said darkly. "Your not just their sidekick-"

"Yes I am!" roared Ron. "ÔOh hey! Harry Potter! The boy who lived! Hermione Granger! The smart girl! Oh Ron Weasley! Uh...he's friends with Harry and Hermione, right?'"

Tom clucked. "If that's the way you want to look at it, then you might as well not be their friend anymore."

Ron said he'd take that into consideration.

~ ~ ~
When winter break came, the trio left Tom and Ginny to deal with Draco for the holidays and they left for Germany. Hermione was disappointed Tom wasn't coming, but Tom had profoundly refused wanting to see Faustus.

Before they left, Tom had dragged Harry into the broom closet in the Entrance Hall, and told him to keep a close eye on Ron. When Harry asked why, Tom said he was being a bit melodramatic about not being popular or famous. Harry looked relieved and told Tom Ron went through that soap opera daily.

Tom begged to differ, but Harry had to get to the train station and make it to the port in time, so Tom said his good-byes, and told Harry, "tell Faustus the infamous diary worked."

Everyone on the cruise wanted Harry's autograph, and he stayed up late one night along with Ron and Hermione retelling the defeat of Quirrell, the experiences in the Chamber, the skipped their third year for obvious reasons, and Harry was about to tell about Voldemort's revival when Hermione reminded him everyone here cringed whenever he said Voldemort's name.

Harry quickly shut himself up, and the three retired in their room. After many nights of retelling adventures and getting spoiled rotten by older wizards, they found themselves in France. A carriage from Beauxbatons picked them up, and they found that Fleur Delacour was still there, lurking around as a student teacher.

Her little sister Gabrielle, who Harry and Ron saved in the previous year, had started her magical education at Beauxbatons. Gabrielle greeted Ron and gave him a great, big, bear hug. She would've done that same for Harry if Fleur hadn't been semi-flirting with him. Hermione knew a little bit of French, and easily communicated with some of the boys there.

Some of the students asked Harry to shake their hand. After such, many of them vowed never to wash the hand the hand they shook Harry's with again in fear Harry's handshake would wear off. Harry was amazed by how well liked he was at Beauxbatons, and a few cute girls all offered to help him out however possible.

Ron and Hermione laughed as they waved him with large paper fans, and shine his glasses every day.

Fleur laughed as well. "Hah! Zis is too funny!"

"Tell me about it," chortled Hermione.

"Hey Fleur?" asked Ron. "Think I could get another kiss?"

To this, Ms. Delacour smacked him across the face until he landed in a fountain.

Harry's "fanclub" were disappointed when Harry left, but he insisted he had to go save the world again, otherwise he'd've stayed. Later, Ron asked him if he was serious. Harry blushed replied he was just being polite.

~ ~ ~
Klone, Germany was more of a Muggle industrial revolution than the place for a scientist. Hermione was able to get them around for the most part. She didn't speak any German, but the Germans knew plenty of English and were happy to test out their English speaking skills with the trio.

They managed to get drinks, pizza (which Ron never had before), a cab, and found Faustus's mansion just a little ways outside Klone in a nice rural area. The Muggles in the area had told the children to stay away from the house, but they opened up the gate and went through.

Ron knocked the golden door knocker a few times before it creaked open, and a young woman about twenty-years-old answered the door.

"Harry Potter here to see Professor Faustus," she said in a weak voice. "I'll inform him of your arrival."

The woman apparated out, and Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped inside. The room was dark when they first entered, but it lit up as they walked in. They found themselves in the main hall of Faustus's mansion. There were stairs in front of them leading down into what looked like a dance floor. To the right and the left were stairs going upstairs.

Ron stepped forward, and began moving down the marble staircase.

"He's rich," he said.

"Uh-huh," said Hermione. She stepped down onto the marble floor.

Harry also stepped down to admire the house. "Looks like you could have a pretty decent party in this entry way."

"I haven't had one in years," said a man with a light German accent.

The trio turned around and saw the owner of the voice was a young man on the right hand side of the upstairs. He was young, and had auburn colored hair. His glasses were square-shaped, and resting on his nose as he leaned over the railing to look down at the three teenagers standing on his marble floor.

He apparated down in front of them, and bowed slightly. "I'm Professor Faustus, and this is my lovely home."

"I'm Harry Potter," began Harry. "That's Ron Weasley, and that's Hermione Granger."

"And you've come here to bring back to Dumbledore the thing that You-Know-Who seeks the most," finished Faustus. "You do realize how likely it is that Death Eater or You-Know-Who himself could be watching you, right?"

"You say You-Know-Who?" asked Harry in astonishment.

Faustus laughed. "You'd rather I said Voldemort?"

"NO!" Ron said at once. "It's bad enough with Harry saying it all the time!"

"Ahh, brave one, aren't we?" asked Faustus. He circled Harry and glanced at him through his brown eyes. "Or is because you were raised in the Muggle world with no knowledge of the man whom you defeated when you were one?"

"Raised by Muggles who never told me anything," Harry replied.

Faustus smiled in a slightly sinister kind of way. "Come on then, you've better get what you need and leave. Faster I get rid of it the better."

"What is it?" asked Hermione.

Faustus didn't respond. He led them to the other side of the marble floor, up a set of stairs, then through a set of double doors opposite of the front door. They found a larger set of stairs going down, and followed him silence.

The further they went, the darker and mustier it got. Faustus casted Lumos when it was need ("Without a wand!" said a shocked Hermione), and he held a small flare of light on the tips of his fingers.

"We're almost there," he told them.

At the bottom of the stairs was a laboratory of some sort. Faustus informed him it was his personal laboratory. He led them across his lab, and to a vault.

"Stand back," he warned the trio.

The trio took a few steps back, and Faustus put his hand through the vault door. As he began pulling something out from the other side of the vault, the object radiated with power and blew up glass beakers on shelves. Hermione fell onto a table in fear, and Ron and Harry simply took a few more steps back.

By the time Faustus had gotten it out, the trio was practically standing at the door to his lab, and almost everything was broken and spilled. The parcel he was removing turned out to be a small package. When it was done fussing, Faustus placed it in Harry's hands.

"Don't open it up," Faustus said sternly.

"No problem," replied Ron weakly.

Harry pocketed it, and the three left Faustus's house. He offered to let them stay for the night, but Harry mentioned the boat they were taking from France to England was leaving in a few days.

Before they left, Hermione withdrew a book from her bag, and begged Faustus and asked him to sign it. The book was her copy of "Alchemy: Gold and Immortality." He laughed for a while, and signed it with a fancy color changing quill.

~ ~ ~
Around nine P.M., an expected visitor showed up to Faustus's manor. He was a tall man with piercing red eyes, and pure white skin.

Lord Voldemort was greeted by Faustus's young servant girl. She timidly let him into the study, where Faustus would join them in a moment. She left feeling very disturbed to get the guest a glass of brandy.

"Rhyste," said a voice from behind her. It was Faustus.

"Oh, sir, Vo-Vol-Voldemo-Voldemort... he's in a the study..." she said shaking. Rhyste dropped her serving tray down her front and she jumped a bit, startled. "Sorry..."

"It's alright," Faustus replied kindly. "I'll get the brandy and clean this up. You don't have to come in to the study if his appearance disturbs you... get cleaned up and I'll see you after he leaves, alright?"

"Danke-shon..." muttered Rhyste in German. She Apparated out of the kitchen, and left Fautsus to clean up the mess.

Faustus moved his sleeve up and looked down at the Dark Mark. "Bound to Voldemort's will forever," muttered Faustus. "It's the price I deserve for letting him become Voldemort in the first place."

The broken glass was dumped into the trash can, Faustus got a new bottle of brandy. He carried it and two glasses into the study. Faustus himself was a bit shaken back by his guests appearance.

"Hello, Tom," he greeted Voldemort.

"Voldemort," snapped Voldemort. "Not Tom, Voldemort."

"Yes, well..." muttered Faustus. He sat down next to Voldemort. "Harry Potter was here today."

"Ah, so everything's going as planned?"

"Yes," Faustus replied shortly.

"And I suppose this means the diary has worked as well?" asked Voldemort.

"I believe so..." replied Faustus. Faustus took a sip of brandy, and set his glass on the coffee table. "Have you gained the trust of the Dementors and the Giants yet?"

"Oh, just the Dementors," Voldemort said slyly.

~ ~ ~
Paperwork flew in the Ministry of Magic was flying everywhere. People were lying mute all over the office building, their souls removed their bodies violated. The persons responsible had only one target left. The murderers moved with haste, and entered the large office on the top floor of the Ministry building. Cornelius Fudge didn't recognize the murderers as they approached him.

"Can I help you?" he asked. As the Minister of Magic, he appreciated explanations. "Sirs?"

Suddenly, one of the murderers swooped up to Fudge. He felt his body tingle, and a cold chill spreading inside of him. It was a Dementor.

~ ~ ~
Voldemort and Faustus enjoyed their evening together. As they went through bottles of drinks and made a mess of Fautsus's tidy residence, the Ministry of Magic was being raided and kissed by Dementors.

Faustus awoke the next morning, and found himself in his bed. He had barely any recollection of what happened last night, but slammed his head back down onto his pillow, and fell right back to sleep.

~ ~ ~
When they were boarding the Beauxbaton's carriages, Harry tripped, and the small package slipped out of his hands into a grass patch. He and Ron bent over to look for it. As Ron picked it up, the wrapping came undone, and Ron couldn't help it; he opened it up.

"Uhm, guys," gasped Ron.

Ron boarded the carriage almost tripping into it, and showed Harry and Hermione what was in it. The small package was a box, and inside that box was a small ruby red crystal. The edges were clean cut, and there were a few brown dust spots here and there.

"Guys," Ron repeated, "it's the Sorcerer's Stone."

~ ~ ~
"So Voldemort gained the trust of the Dementors and had them kill off the entire Ministry," snickered Tom. "I'm not a failure after all."

A green-haired woman put their hand on Tom's shoulder. "Soon enough those three idiots will deliver the true Sorcerer's Stone back to us, and we'll have immortality."

"And I'll finally regain all of my power," said Tom carelessly.

Tom sloped over in his chair, and curled up to sleep. The woman with Tom watched him fall to sleep. She kissed him lightly on the forehead, and then left the young man to his dreams.

~ ~ ~
"THE WHAT?" yelled Harry and Hermione.

"Yea," said Ron in a low voice. "The Sorcerer's Stone."

"You have to be kidding me!" said Hermione. "Ron! You've never seen the stone before!"

"Harry told us in detail what it looked like!" snapped Ron. "And this fits the description!"

Harry shook his head in disbelief. "It does look like the Sorcerer's Stone, but Dumbledore said that the Stone was destroyed... remember?"

"Maybe this one's a second one," said Ron stupidly.

"Ron," began Hermione. "I highly doubt Flamel would've created a second one."

"So then what the hell's this thing?" asked Ron.

"Something else!" she hissed.

"Hermione," Harry finally said, "I think Ron is right..."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry! There's no way this could be the Sorcerer's Stone!"

"Well, why not?" the boys asked in unison.

"Well," began Hermione. She tripped over her words until she finally said, "because it just isn't!"

The boys rolled their eyes, and laid back in the carriage. Hermione began fussing and bringing up things and possibilities that it could be some kind of other magical stone, and Harry himself was beginning to think it really was the stone. Ron commented on Hermione's ignorance, and this was met with Ron being kicked in the shin.

~ ~ ~
On the cruise back to England, the people on the ship were in absolute horror for some reason. When Hermione asked why, she was promptly thrown various copies of the Daily Prophet. Her eyes widened, and she ran to find Harry and Ron quickly as possible.

Harry was playing a game of Exploding Snap with Ron when Hermione suddenly burst into their state room laden with a weeks worth of Daily Prophets. She panted, then shakily showed Harry and Ron the headlines.

"Dementors Joined With You-Know-Who?" Ron read. "Ministry of Magic Found Dead?!"

Ron dropped the paper on his lap, and looked at Harry and Hermione. Harry said nothing, Hermione said something, and neither did anything when Ron went to take a walk on the deck.

"Percy and Mr. Weasley," Hermione gasped. She folded her hands on her lap, and sat in silence.

"I'm sure they weren't there...." Harry said trying to reassure himself that Percy and Mr. Weasley were alright. He doubted they were, but he didn't want to think like that.

Instead, Harry picked up the rest of the newspapers. The other headlines included, "Dark Mark Spotted Over Europe" and "You-Know-Who: Returned At Last?" Harry gripped the newspaper tightly in his fists, and sat down on the bed by Hermione. Ron returned about fifteen minutes later. He too sat down. They stared at the wall before going to have dinner in silence.

~ ~ ~
"Hey," Hermione said while they were walking up to the Hogwarts. "Do you guys feel... weaker? Tired?"

"Sort of," replied Ron. "Maybe it's because of all the running around we've been doing... or maybe this weird stone is draining our energy."

"I like your theory about it being the Sorcerer's Stone better," said Hermione.

"Speaking of that," said Harry. "The first thing we're doing is going to see Dumbledore."

And that's exactly what they did... after nearly breaking down the doors of the castle, and storming through it.

"STRAWBERRY JAM!" yelled the trio. The gargoyle leapt off it's place, and they herded into Dumbledore's office.

"We've got the item from Faustus," Harry said flatly. "It's in Ron's pocket..."

"Oh, you have it?"

"YES," all three replied shortly.

"But before we give it to you," said Ron. He slouched his posture and leaned onto one side in an attempt to look slick.

"We'd like to know what it is," finished Hermione. She crossed her arms and looked rather cross.

Dumbledore sat back in his chair. He faced the three students through his old gray eyes. He sighed longingly, then finally looked ready to talk. "It is the Sorcerer's Stone."

"TOLD YOU!" Ron told Hermione with a grin. Then he looked back to Dumbledore with a questioning look on his face. "Wait, how's that possible?"

"You said the stone got destroyed," said Harry darkly.

Dumbledore smiled. "The one you saved from Voldemort is not the same as this one. The one you have in your pocket, Mr. Weasley, is a different version of the Sorcerer's Stone... an improved one. Created originally by Nicholas Flamel, revised recently by Johann Faustus.

"Faustus realized the problem with Flamel's stone is that it wouldn't make immortal right after one drink. You'd have to force the stone to keep reproducing Elixirs of Life so you could live longer. Faustus improved it so that it would make you immortal the moment your lips touched the substance.

Ron began to take it out of his pocket, but Harry stopped him.

"Something very odd's been going on at the this school," Harry stated firmly. "And your not helping the situation. You let Tom stay here! You had us go get the Sorcerer's Stone! And this whole year there's been something odd about you I could never lay my finger on!"

Dumbledore sighed. "Would you like to hear the truth?"

"YES!" roared Harry.

Hermione and Ron looked at him with shocked and puzzled expressions. He had never looked so infuriated by anything, especially to Dumbledore. But the Headmaster looked somewhat amused by Harry's antics, and answered his question.

"Well Harry," he began. "When I was younger, about twenty or so, I went on a quest for whatever I had been missing all these years."

"What does this have to do with my question?" Harry asked impatiently.

"Sit down," Dumbledore suggested. "I'll get to it eventually."

Harry sat in a blue plush chair, as did Ron and Hermione. He waited impatiently for Dumbledore to continue, tapping his finger annoyingly on the seat.

"I realized that though I had much knowledge," continued Dumbledore, "I had little use for it. I began to study the Dark Arts, and know how to use them just as effectively as Voldemort does." Harry cringed, and felt himself latching onto his chair. He noticed Ron and Hermione looked quite thunderstruck as well. "Eventually, I used my knowledge of the world and of the Dark Arts to my every applicable use. I became a Dark Wizard... I became Grindelwald."

And that was that. Dumbledore was Grindelwald.