A Test of Power

Robes on and pulled tight to stop them from flailing around him. Holster fastened and his wand tucked away. Pippa, ear clips and bracelet on. Eternus swaying gently on his shoulder. Y/N readied himself.

'You look like you're preparing an arsenal,' said Ron.

The quartet and Ginny were in an unused classroom. Y/N had told them his plan before scooping up what he'd need and taking it away so they could talk while he prepared.

'In a way, I am,' said Y/N. 'Need every tool in my kit to be sure I'm prepared for this.'

'Do you reckon you are?' asked Harry.

'Probably,' said Y/N. 'I mean, it's an old tomb, I have my sense. There's no Snow. What's the worst that could happen?'

'For the love of Merlin, do not say that,' said Ginny, 'because knowing you that could be anything.'

'Okay, fair point.'

'Just watch yourself, okay?' said Hermione. 'I know you can do it, but I still worry.'

'I'll be fine, love. I'll come back.'

'Well, best of luck,' said Harry. 'We'll wait up for you.'

'It's already late, you don't have to,' said Y/N. 'Tell you what, I'll send Eternus back if I won't be back within a reasonable time, just to send the message.'

They all nodded.

'Right, let's go then,' he said to the bird, which gave a cry in acknowledgement and took to the air.

Hermione sprung up and pulled him into a hug, clutching him tightly before kissing him.

'Come back to me.'

'Always.'

And with a clap, he was gone.

The wind and chill were even harsher than they had been the last time he was here. It was a stark contrast to the warm and comfortable castle. So much so that Y/N's eyes immediately began to water, even Eternus let out a small squeak of surprise as they swept down and landed on his shoulder.

Y/N scooped the bird up and tucked them away into his pocket before turning his attention to the cliff face behind him.

As blank and unassuming as ever, but Y/N knew better. He knew where the entrance was from last time. In fact, he could already feel the rock that would trigger the unlocking mechanism. Last time it had taken time, but this time, he'd practically been able to appear on top of it.

Keen to get out of this newly biting chill, he made his way forward and grabbed the piece of the cliff, pulling it downwards like a handle. There was a gentle click, the hum of magic taking life, and the wall next to him grew translucent, revealing the passageway.

He crossed the threshold and much as before, the wind and all sound for that matter, died, leaving only his steady breathing and the inquisitive chirp as Eternus' head poked out of his pocket.

'Give me some light, would you?'

Eternus obliged, clambering out of his pocket, and spreading their wings, the ends igniting, before soaring off down the narrow tunnel that had previously been lined with caterwauling charms.

One quick check to ensure they hadn't been replaced for some reason and Y/N rounded the corner, once more staring down that impossibly long corridor.

His idea from last time sprung back into mind, it couldn't hurt to try.

He held out his hand and willed fire to be there, focusing all of his efforts. And they bore fruit.

A small flickering orb of flame appeared, nestled in his palm. It let off a comfortable heat, not enough to harm him, but enough to purge the slight chill from him and allow him to see.

This, coupled with the light from Eternus off ahead of him, and Y/N pushed on.

It was eery being back here. At every turn he kept expecting something to leap out at him, but nothing ever did. And within almost no time, he stood at the bottom of the stairs, leading to the large doors at the top.

He ascended and pushed them open.

The room within was large and cylindrical. The walls carved out of black stone, same as the floor and the ceiling stretched out of sight.

Just one trip down on this... elevator? Whatever it was. One trip down, and he'd be back where he'd fought Snow.

He wandered towards the centre, now looking around curiously for the potential source of that strange blue light that shone around. And once more, as he reached the centre, the floor shuddered and began its descent.

Though it moved slower now, perhaps because he wasn't in as much of a rush. So, Y/N took the time to inspect some of the murals across the walls. Several wizards tackling dragons, sights of trolls going on rampages, something that looked suspiciously like a manticore, and even an assault from creatures that looked like uncloaked Dementors.

Finally, the descent passed the large statues that Y/N knew to be the end and came to a halt. This time, however, the room did not remain dark.

That same blue light from the room above seemed to fade into view, as though someone had turned it on, revealing four doors in the far distance, not three. As well as several other winding passageways.

Y/N approached.

'I was wondering if you would return.'

A feeling of ice washed through Y/N's body. He spun around so quickly that he almost lost his balance. But there was no sign of the speaker.

Maybe he'd been hearing things?

'You need not fear me, your time here last time did its job, quite effectively I might add.'

'If I did my job that well, then why are you still speaking to me?' said Y/N. 'I know I killed you.'

Something pale and blue, floated into the room from one of the nearby corridors, drifting towards him.

Dainton Snow looked healthier than he ever had in life. His pearly white hair travelled comfortably down to his shoulders. His face looked healthier, happier, and far less worn than Y/N had ever seen it, and his stance was simpler. He seemed almost refined.

'You did,' said the ghost, 'but I believe they always say that unfinished business forces the soul to remain.'

Y/N sighed.

'And here I was hoping I'd get some peace and quiet in here.'

'Oh, I do not seek to hinder you as I did before,' said Dainton. 'No no, please understand that what I did to you was born out of madness, desperation. I wanted to see a cure for my ailment. I believe I spelt it out to you that The Dark Lord was simply a means to an end.'

'You tried to kill me,' said Y/N, 'and my mother, several times. You'll have to forgive me, but I'm not keen to believe you.'

'Then, perhaps I can earn your confidence. I assume you are back here to learn of the secrets this place holds, yes? And why I was so interested in it?'

'Something like that,' said Y/N.

'Within this tomb is said to be a contraption that can perform feats of previously thought impossible magic. Within reason of course. It can hardly kill people on mass or bring back the deceased. But it can be used to empower or alter existing known forms of magic. It's believed contraptions like this are why Avada Kedavra cannot be blocked by normal means.'

'That seems remarkably convenient. Especially for someone who came here to fix a blood curse using a corpse,' said Y/N.

'Well, obviously that was my first goal,' said Dainton, 'but my goal soon changed upon reaching here. That is why I lured you here. You see, I wanted your blood and your power to help me pass the trails of this place.'

'What?'

'Allow me to further explain. This tomb held the body of the one who had placed the curse on my family. I hoped that by finding him, I could reverse it, but this did not work. However, upon finding this place, I discovered this sealed room-' he pointed to one of the four doors. '-is a room that I could not get into. It didn't take me long to figure out why. It can only open once the other three ways have been cleared.'

'And how exactly did you figure that out?'

'Try it for yourself.'

Y/N didn't trust Dainton, dead or not, but it didn't feel as though he had much else of a choice. Backing away slowly, he approached the door, placed his hand against it, and pushed. The door did not budge. However, runes began to glow under his feet, and Y/N glanced down.

'How are your runic translations?' asked Dainton.

'Patchy,' said Y/N. 'However-'

If through this door, you wish to pass

Then trials three you must surpass

Through each door both left and right

You must face a deadly plight.

For trial one, a test of power

For it, you have merely an hour

Prove that you are the best.

And you shall defeat the first contest.

As Y/N finished reading this section, the door on the far left, flashed blue.

That is what that room contains.

Outsmart that which lurks inside.

And access, I shall provide.

The door on the left of the locked one flashed.

And trial three is an unknown

And if you enter, it must be alone.

This will test all your talents

And your life may hang in the balance.

The door on the right flashed.

If you prove yourself within all three.

Then this door will open for thee.

And deep inside you shall find.

A power beyond anyone's mind.

For deep within is a device quite strange.

The nature of your spells will change.

Just give it your order, and it will provide.

The change which you had described.

Y/N read the runes over one last time just to ensure he hadn't translated incorrectly, then looked back up at the ghost of Dainton.

'Excuse me, what?'

'It's a lot, I know,' said Dainton, 'but you saw the doors responding to you, they know you read it correctly and seek to tackle the trials.'

'The trials? You still haven't explained anything.'

'These three doors, each lead to a trial, as described in what you just read. Clear all three and the door behind you opens, leading to something called an Auctor'.

'Okay, and what does the Auctor do?'

'Both I and the riddle told you,' said Dainton. 'It augments or changes your spell, adds a twist to it under the light of a new incantation. Presumably, there is a weaker version of the killing curse out there that can be blocked by a shield charm. Though it has been lost to time, no doubt because of its stronger sibling spell.'

'And what did that have to do with me?'

'By the time I got here and finished my quest for the body I was already too weak, death was months away for me at most, and much of my power had faded,' said Dainton. 'But you and your mother, the power lying dormant within each of you is palpable, but you moreso. I knew that with your power within me, I could easily clear the trials and seek out the contraption, change a spell to be a cure-all and cure me of my curse. But, well...' he glanced down at himself. 'My plan didn't really work.'

'Wait...' said Y/N. 'We can change spells to be cure-alls. Like removing magical ailments?'

'In theory,' said Dainton. 'Unless you didn't realise, I didn't exactly get the chance to try it.'

Y/N's mind was buzzing. Harry. He could save Harry with this. If he could alter a spell to break apart cursed enchantments, it would not only make a job like Bill's considerably easier, but it could possibly shatter Horcruxes! He could use it on Harry and separate the part of Voldemort's soul trapped in him, along with providing it to Maria and Dumbledore to help destroy the potential rest.

'You have a use for it?' enquired Dainton.

'Maybe,' said Y/N evasively, 'but this still doesn't mean I trust you, y'know. All you did was show me why you were here.'

'Well, unless you hadn't noticed, I got rather obsessed with getting in there. Hence unfinished business.' He glanced down at himself again. 'And even as a ghost, there is a barrier that stops me from passing through that door. If you can clear it, however, I can finally get the answer that I sought. Whether curses like this can be cured.'

'Can they only be used once?' asked Y/N.

'Technically not, but they take a long time to recharge, and let out a rather powerful magical pulse. Most people will feel it and come looking, they rarely stay hidden after their first use. And all previously used were fought over until they were destroyed, classified as too dangerous owing to human greed.'

'This all still seems mightily convenient...' said Y/N slowly.

'Look, all I'm telling you is what I know and found out,' said Dainton. 'You don't have to trust me, you don't have to go in there. You can just leave now. But if you want to access that Auctor, you're going to have to pass these trials.'

'Are the burial areas in there as well?'

'No, they are through there,' said Dainton, gesturing to the passageways without doors. 'They are nothing more than crypts for the dead. So, unless you wish to go stare at corpses, they won't be of much use to you. I have done a thorough job of inspecting those over the last few months.'

'Surprised you even know how much time has passed given there being no light in here,' said Y/N.

'As observant as ever,' said Dainton, 'but I am not fully confined to the inside of this mountain, I can float out if I wish.'

'Well then... which first?' said Y/N, looking between the doors in front of him. 'I kind of came ready to brawl so I think the test of power is probably the right call. Any advice?'

'I didn't attempt any of them myself,' said Dainton. 'I was already weakened and had no interest in speeding up my already close-at-hand death. But generally? Don't die. You have tremendous power, far more than this trial probably calls for, just fight your hardest.'

'You not coming in with me?'

'If I can, I will, but there's no guarantee it'll let me through.'

'Only one says that I must face it alone,' said Y/N. He moved forward and pressed his hand against the first door that had lit up. It opened, revealing a staircase leading up. Y/N crossed the threshold and waited.

Dainton drifted over and crossed just behind him. As he did, the door, swung closed.

'Well, onwards and upwards then I guess.'

Y/N led the way.

As he walked, he thought back on the conversation he'd had with Maria over the summer. It had been playing on his mind the entire time Dainton had been speaking.

Y/N had suggested at that time that perhaps Snow was still here, as a ghost. That had already been proven correct. Which only potentially lent credit to the rest of what they'd spoken about.

Could this really all still be part of Snow's plan? Perhaps the Auctor wasn't what he said it was. Perhaps it was some way to alter or otherwise affect the dead? Maybe Snow had died on purpose to get someone to come looking, and in turn unlock the device that could bring him back, potentially curing his curse.

It would be a long shot if it was, there was no guarantee that Y/N even would return here or attempt the trials, but it also seemed like just the sort of plan that Snow would come up with.

He'd have to do more research on it upon his return to the castle. It could well be that Dainton was telling the full truth, that this did no longer play a benefit for him and he was simply in it to see someone else use it.

For now, it was easier to play along, attempt the first trial and see what happened. The benefits of potentially finding this thing outweighed any of the negatives, and the runic riddle seemed to back up Snow's claim. If he did do the research and discovered that the device was not what Snow said, then he could just suspend his attempt at the trials indefinitely.

After around five minutes of walking, the two of them moved through into another large open circular room. This one too was lit by that strange blue glow, but it magnified as the two of them entered followed by a crunch of moving stone.

Y/N glanced behind him in time to see a stone wall appear over the entrance they'd previously used.

They were trapped.

A voice rang out across the room, powerful and oppressive, as though it was thundering into Y/N's very skull.

Your first trial shall consist of three parts.

Part one, combatting old weaknesses.

There was a soft glow in the centre of the room. Y/N felt his brain pulse dangerously and he tried to focus in on it. Whilst he couldn't tell exactly what the incantation was, he knew what it was doing. Something was about to appear inside of that circle.

He drew his wand and hurried away, watching the area cautiously.

'I think it goes without saying, but I won't be of much help here,' said Dainton.

'I don't need it,' said Y/N. 'I can do this.'

The circle on the floor flashed blue, it was so bright that Y/N had to shield his eyes, and once it had faded, he glanced over.

A fifteen-foot-tall troll stood in the centre of the room. Club held in one hand and a large boulder in the other. It turned its ugly face onto Y/N.

Your greatest defeat was suffered at the hands of this creature.

Prove that you can beat it now.

The troll let out an almighty roar and threw the boulder at Y/N.

'Confringo!'

The boulder exploded into stone shrapnel. With a yell, the rocks suspended in mid-air, and then, following Y/N's command, pelted back towards the troll.

The troll yelled in pain as the rocks tore and scratched its flesh, a couple even drew blood, but that did not slow it down and it now hurtled towards Y/N.

Massive or not, it didn't take long for anything of that size to cross a room.

'Impedimenta!'

The troll's approach slowed, just in time too, as the hulking figure began to slowly rear back as though to swing its club.

Y/N let the rage he'd felt at seeing Dainton come drifting toward him reach a peak.

'Depulso!'

The spell hit the troll full in the chest and sent it staggering backwards. It had nowhere near as much of an impact as it would on a wizard, but for something that was supposed to be magically resistant, he'd hit it hard.

The troll let out another angry roar and charged, the ground beneath Y/N's feet shaking as he approached.

'Iter.'

As though someone had wrapped a rope around the troll's leg, it was yanked out from beneath it and the troll fell face-first onto the ground with a loud crash.

Y/N waved his wand, calling all the loose pieces of rubble and debris both from the previous boulder and the destruction their skirmish had called. It all came soaring towards him, gathering above his head, steadily reforming.

The troll pushed itself to its feet, and unfortunately, seemed to have learned that getting close may not work in its favour.

It reared back and threw its club at Y/N.

He, too focused on reforming the boulder, almost missed it, and had to duck last second sending the rocks scattering around him.

Cursing his own failure, he sprinted off, wide berthing around the troll as it approached the wall and scooped up its club.

It turned its attention back onto Y/N and threw, and Y/N was struck with an idea.

'Impedimenta!'

The club froze in mid-air, then, much as he had done to Bellatrix, he reared back his arm and moved his wand as though casting a line, ending the swish at the club.

Then, with a dramatic twirling of his arm and a lash out as though throwing something towards the troll, the club followed his movements, spinning in the air before hurtling at the creature.

And this time, the troll's size stopped it from being able to move fast enough. The club hit it full in the stomach and the creature hunched over, roaring in pain.

Then, like a blacksmith bringing a hammer down to the anvil. Y/N flourished once more and with a sickening crack, the club smashed into the back of the troll's head. It fell to the ground and did not get back up.

There was a brief silence, in which all that seemed to travel through the room was Y/N's heavy breathing, and then... applause.

'I must admit, I find even myself impressed,' said Dainton, floating slowly over. 'You've become stronger even in the time since we fought.'

'Yeah, well,' said Y/N, 'I'm fighting quite the array of foes, I need to get better to stand a chance.'

The first part is complete

Catch your breath, you have two minutes until the next

'I had an hour for this entire room, right?' asked Y/N. 'How much have I lost?'

'That fight barely took you five,' said Dainton, 'so I guess seven lost when the timer runs out.'

'A good start. So, whilst we've got some minutes, why don't you tell me more about yourself? We kind of just headed straight in, and if you're going to be following me around everywhere.'

'What is there to tell that you don't already know?' said Dainton. 'My name was Dainton Snow. Previously Dainton Graves. I changed it to match with the appearance change I was undergoing as the blood curse claimed my life. I wanted to find your mother for The Dark Lord, mess up his ranking and hierarchy structure. I failed, I sought you to lure her out, it failed, but your power impressed me. I then set my sights on curing my curse and found this place as the burial ground of the one who'd made it. You know the rest.'

'So you captured my mother and took her blood to restore some of your strength?' asked Y/N. 'By that point, did you know about the riddle?'

'Yes. A blood curse is exactly that, a curse within the blood. So, if I add new blood to my body, it is untainted for a time before the curse can infect it, which gave me more power. Your mother's was acceptable, but I'd have had to kill her to see me through the first trial or two and it may not have lasted. You, however, were stronger and had more potential. So, I used her to lure you.'

'We were wondering about that. We assumed you must have known that just my blood wouldn't be enough,' said Y/N.

'Of course I knew that,' said Dainton. 'I am no fool, but if it gave me the power I needed-'

And so, begins the second part of your test.

A foe of equal strength, mind, and body to your own. Defeat your own weakness.

'I suppose we shall finish this later,' said Dainton, drifting away as the circle in the middle lit up once more. And out stepped... Y/N?

Although the face shape, body and physical descriptors matched, the face was very different.

Large cracks crept up the figure's skin, each pulsing a deep red. The skin itself looked grey and dead, and the smile that lined the face was wicked, sinister, and malevolent.

The figure raised a hand and a jet of red light soared straight at him.

Excellent, wandless, non-verbal magic.

Y/N dodged but as he did, he was blasted off his feet, no doubt anticipating the dodge. The copy had shot a banishment charm to the side, and Y/N had dodged straight into it.

'Great, so he knows where I'm dodging, what to use, and all my tricks. God, I hate me.'

The figure raised both hands and began firing a barrage of spells towards Y/N.

'Protego!'

The speed at which the copy was firing meant that the potency was weaker and most bounced harmlessly off the shield, but now that the real Y/N had made his move, the copy could react accordingly.

Ceasing its barrage, it flicked its wrist and Y/N watched as something thin shot into its hand.

Great, now it's using a wand.

It shot another stunning spell straight at the shield, but Y/N was ready.

As the red light impacted, he folded the shield charm down and around it, before propelling it forward with a yell. Then, raising both hands, he shot his own banishment charm left and right.

In normal circumstances, he would disarm here, but he knew that wouldn't stop... himself?

The clone did as he'd expected and dodged the shield charm, dancing to the left, its greyish eyes widening as it was its turn to take the banishment charm. It slid backwards a few feet and then glanced up.

A shadowy voice rasped from the mouth.

'Sunrete.'

Whatever the creature had uttered as an incantation fell away as something black, coated in purple flames shot from the end of the wand, letting out a blood-lusted cry as it rushed the real Y/N.

Y/N flicked both hands, activating almost miniature shield charms in each before crossing them over his chest just as the spell impacted.

Using the protection granted by the shields, Y/N began to fight that which was pushing against him, using his own physicality to fight back.

He glanced down and was met with a sight so shocking he almost lost his shield charms.

What was colliding with him wasn't a spell, but a jet-black phoenix. The usual orange flames burning deep purple, the beautiful mane of feathers now jet black.

Oh brilliant, it even has the reverse of Eternus.

Y/N wrapped his hands around the phoenix and using the protection from the shields grappled it, lifting it up before hurling it into the ground. He couldn't help but feel bad, especially as the creature let out a pained shriek. He watched the anger cross the face of the one opposite.

'Crucio.'

'Not again.'

Y/N dodged the unforgivable that had been shot at him but realised as he did so that he was fighting himself.

That part was obvious, but it was more the implication behind it. It knew all of his tricks, all of his moves. Y/N would need to do some serious soul-searching to even start figuring out how to beat this thing. It knew all he could do in everything he was best at.

And what was Y/N best at? Magic.

'This is a stupid plan,' said Y/N, running forward.

The clone shot spell after spell at him but, using the more concentrated shield charms still held in his hand, he was able to bat most away.

Almost there... almost there!

He let out a bellow of pain as talons sunk deep into his shoulder, his robes ripping and the cuts forming in his flesh, followed by another yell as the heat from the bird amplified, immediately scorching the skin and wounds. He also heard his hair hiss from the heat.

Before Sunrete could take off, Y/N span and punched the side of the bird, sending it smashing into the floor, knocked off course with another loud squawk.

No longer feeling much pity for the creature, he turned his attention back onto the clone, just in time to catch a disarming charm full to the chest.

But that was fine, he didn't need his wand.

He finished closing the gap, dodging another spell or two and punched the clone hard in the stomach.

The clone reeled over and began trying to back away, raising its wand, but Y/N pushed forward, punching, kicking, and scratching every last inch of the copy that he could.

His knuckles screamed in protest, as did his lungs. He wasn't used to this, but this thing knew how to stop spells, it didn't know how to stop muggle brawling.

Then, finally, with one solid punch to the jaw, the copy collapsed. Y/N threw his hand out behind him.

'Accio wand.'

And a second later, he felt the stick of wood land in his palm.

'Expelliarmus.'

It was the clone's turn to lose its wand. It slid away across the ground. Y/N straddled the body, standing above it, and stepped on both arms, using his weight to keep them pinned to the floor, as he pointed the wand at the figure's face.

'Conceed.'

The clone struggled slightly, trying to twist its arms to get a good angle before falling still. Then, with a soft poofing sound, it vanished along with Sunrete.

The second part is complete

You have two minutes until the next, prepare, for it is the toughest

Once more, Dainton approached, though not applauding this time, and looking significantly impressed.

'Who knew the great Y/N's weakness was just punching him.'

'Wizards are remarkably shoddy at close range,' said Y/N, pointing his wand at his shoulder and cleaning the wounds as best as he could, before bandaging them. 'How does my hair look?' he added, turning his head to let Dainton see.

'A bit curled, definitely scorched, but nothing your matron can't fix. That evil phoenix was certainly something. I'm impressed you could hold it.'

'Miniature shield charms,' said Y/N, causing them to appear once more. 'An idea I've played around with. Shield charms have a certain amount of power to them. The wider the area they cover, the weaker that power. If one that surrounds your whole body suffers in power because of how much it covers, then it makes sense that smaller more concentrated shields will gain power.'

'A simple yet ingenious theory, and one you were brave to test on the fly like that. It could have gone horribly wrong.'

'I know Eternus, I know they can break a shield charm.' He glanced up to where the phoenix was circling high overhead. 'Made sense that the clones could have as well so using a normal one would have been foolish, and you can't really dodge a living creature.'

'Why did you not use your bird?' asked Dainton.

'Because I know how to beat Eternus. Therefore, so did the other me. Same with the illusions. They only really work on opponents who don't know that I can do it or how to see through it. Both rely on the shock factor. I had to use something I didn't know how to beat. Like someone running up and punching me. Any idea on time?'

'That one took you a bit longer. You'll have twenty minutes used by the end of the two.'

'Still ahead of schedule though,' said Y/N 'Let's see-'

The third and final part of your test

You have defeated that which you craved to beat

You have defeated that which you are

Now defeat that which you cannot stand to fight

The circle shone once more and outstepped four figures. Each bearing that same grey, cracked skin, red pulsing beneath the flesh, and those eyes so full of hatred. A hatred that he was not used to seeing directed towards him.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all raised their wands.

'Wow... harsh,' said Dainton.

'You are not helping.'

The barrage of spells shot across the room towards him. Reducto, disarming, stunning, and banishment.

With a yell, the stone in front of Y/N sprang up from the ground. All four spells hit it, stunning and disarming hitting harmlessly. The reductor and banishment however both blasted pieces out of his little shield and Y/N was struck with an idea.

'Diffindo! Depulso!'

With his two yells, Y/N cut away a chunk of stone and then sent it hurtling across the room like a catapult towards the copy of Harry. However, they had the advantage of teamwork.

The copy of Hermione sidestepped in front of him, her shield charm proving strong enough to repel Y/N's incoming blast, and as it did, two more reductor curses fired from the redheads crashed into his barrier.

'Eternus!'

Hearing his cry, the phoenix let out a screech, vanishing in a puff of flame before reappearing a moment later and diving straight for Ron. Ginny turned her wand onto the descending bird just as Y/N leant out from his cover and hit her with a disarming charm.

Her wand soared from her hand and with a quick summoning charm, Y/N pulled it to himself. The fake Ginny moved backwards out of the way.

Eternus meanwhile was divebombing Ron, the redhead trying to aim as best as he could at the descending bird.

Then, suddenly, it let out a screech, vanishing in a wisp of smoke and as Y/N looked across he saw Harry lowering his wand from the bird and turning it back onto Y/N.

Luckily Eternus wouldn't be dead, unluckily that was probably them out of the fight for a while.

The trio sent spell after spell towards Y/N's wall and he ended up needing to rip more stone from the ground to even maintain the blockade.

Then, he was struck with an idea.

Disillusioning himself, he darted out from behind the wall, The trio, as expected, did not realise, and continued blasting apart the thing he had once been using as cover.

Once a safe distance away, he summoned an illusion and sent it sprinting the other way out of the cover.

The three turned their wands onto it, firing spell after spell towards it, just as the real Y/N raised his own.

His non-verbal stunning spell hit Harry in the back and he collapsed. The other two-wheeled around before Hermione shrieked.

'It's his fake! The real one must be hidden somewhere!' The malice and hatred with which she spoke sent shivers down Y/N's spine, but he had no time to think on that now. Ginny, whilst wandless, had evidently had little else to do, and was now closing on where she'd seen the spell come from, waving her arms wildly. She'd reach him if he wasn't careful.

'Sorry Gin,' he thought. 'Imperio.'

The fake Ginny's eyes glazed over.

'Tell them I'm behind you.'

'He's over here!' called Ginny, gesturing in the opposite direction to where he'd been. Hermione turned her wand on there at once, but Ron looked unsure.

'You okay, Gin?'

'Now's not the time! He's over there!'

Y/N moved off. Unfortunately, there was a lot of loose rubble and debris and he stumbled slightly on a piece of rock.

'Diffindo!'

Y/N let out a bellow of pain. Almost exactly where the Death Eater had cut him a month or so prior, another gash opened across his chest.

Ron yelled triumphantly and Hermione, now smirking, turned her attention towards where he'd cast. Y/N had unfortunately also lost the hold on Ginny, who now approached, pointing at where he was.

He shot a stunning spell at her and the red-head collapsed.

'Ginny!' bellowed Ron and a barrage of spells shot at where Y/N stood. Invisible or not, he was forced to throw up his hands and have his shield charm begin catching the bombardment.

'Now you choose to be a good brother?' he bellowed.

Hermione, meanwhile, turned to face where Harry lay, pointed her wand at him and said,

'Rennervate.'

The boy began to stir.

'Of course,' said Y/N.

Y/N had to move fast.

With a yell to bring down the ceiling, his shield charm exploded outwards, and trying very hard to forget that those were his closest friends and girlfriend standing there. He shot the shards towards them.

The three of them all called 'Protego!'

The joint effort of all three proved enough to block his shield charm, but not what came next.

Letting out an anguished and pained yell, Y/N raised his wand upwards, a ball of energy forming at the end before pointing it at the shield charm. As he did, the orb turned into a beam and shot towards the barrier.

It impacted hard, a resounding crash echoing throughout the room, and all of the trio were pushed a few feet backwards, each concentrating through gritted teeth to try and hold off his spell.

These weren't real, they couldn't be. The real ones were waiting for him, back at Hogwarts. These were cheap imitations, and by holding onto that feeling of hurting them, he'd end up losing. He had to let go, had to focus on fighting, not protecting. Not this time.

'DISAPPEAR!' he bellowed, his word echoing around the room as he threw all his anger, feelings, and emotions into that beam. It amplified, crashing hard against the shield as cracks began to form in its surface.

The trio's eyes grew wide, and each began to push back.

'Time and time again, you insulted me, treated me as though I was dirt, acted as if I didn't matter,' snarled Ron. 'No matter where we're at now, I won't let you get away with that.'

'You were supposed to be there for us, telling us what we needed to know. Defending us, and yet you kept us in the dark, forced us to fight alone, and still, you keep secrets from us!' yelled Harry. 'You can't win here.'

'We were supposed to be in this together, from the very start, but time and time again you went off without me, fought without me, and every time you came back injured and beaten. No more, I'm sick of it, I'm sick of you!' screeched Hermione.

The three of them began to stride forward, pushing his spell back as they did so and Y/N felt his feet digging into the stone. With his spare hand, he waved it, causing the stone hands to grip his feet like against Remus, holding him in place-

Wait, Remus!

With the same hand that had just moved the stone, he shot a stunning spell off to the side, past the shield and towards the far wall.

'What's wrong, Y/N?' jeered Harry. 'Forgotten how to aim?'

'Or maybe he's just too scared because he knows he can't win, he's panicking!' called Ron.

'Honestly, it's pathetic. How could we have ever looked up to him as our teacher?' cackled Hermione.

'Because I'm better than every single one of you,' said Y/N nastily. 'You aren't my friends. My friends wouldn't talk to me like this, they wouldn't fight me like this, they could actually beat me. My real friends are waiting for me. GET OUT OF MY WAY!'

With a flick of his hand the stunning spell span around and shot backwards. Having weaved around the shield charm, it hit Hermione in the back, who collapsed. The shield charm lost its main contributor and with one final yell, Y/N put everything he had into his blast.

The shield charm shattered, and Ron and Harry were blasted away, both falling limply to the floor and panting heavily, cut, battered, bruised, and tired. Y/N raised his hand in victory.

The third part is complete

And with it, you have proven yourself capable of strength beyond most

The ability to fight old fights

Know how to defeat yourself

And do, what sometimes, must be done

There was another crunching of stone and looking over, Y/N watched as the stone entryway they had entered through once more revealed itself. As it did, the four people in the room vanished, as did the fake Ginny's wand.

Dainton drifted over.

'Well... that was certainly something.'

'We'll talk once we're out,' said Y/N. 'Come on.'

Y/N moved his way over to where Eternus had landed. All that lay there was a pile of ash and as Y/N leant down and began dusting it away, he saw the small baby phoenix nestled amongst the pile.

'Well, that's unfortunate. Glad to see you're still alive, but you were also my ride back...'

Y/N scooped the bird up and dropped them into his pocket before leading the way across the room, back through the corridor they'd entered and out into the central chamber.

The moment they'd both crossed the threshold, the door swung closed behind them and then glowed blue. Runes seemed to form across its surface, spelling Y/N's name. Then they faded away, no longer visible.

'Well,' said Y/N, collapsing down onto the stone and tracing his wand over the large cut on his chest. 'I have some cleaning up to do and need to figure out a way out of here. So why don't you finish what you were telling me?'

'There wasn't much more to say,' said Dainton, drifting down and sitting opposite Y/N, though he still hovered an inch or two off the floor. 'I figured with the power Maria's blood restored to me, yours could do even more. And seeing what you just had to go through even at full power I can only cement that I was correct. I wouldn't have passed that trial in my weakened state.'

Y/N took a deep breath and leant backwards, eyeing up the figure in front of him.

'I suppose you are really dead then. I mean I know you're not an illusion, I'd have felt that by now. And I don't feel ghosts and things. So, you are actually just here with unfinished business?'

'This tomb plagued the last few weeks of my life, it was the closest I'd ever been to an answer, and then to have it ripped away from me. It's safe to say I was quite annoyed. You'll have to forgive me for wanting to see someone come by at some point and complete it. I will admit I was expecting to be here for much longer. But part of me hoped you would return.'

'You sounded confident when I first arrived, as though you were sure that I would.'

'Well, I figured I'd left a couple of things too open-ended for you, and I figured Dumbledore wouldn't want to see the potential resting place of Helga Hufflepuff unexplored. The Auctor was her final work. Her last gift to wizard-kind, she died not long after creating it. But there was always the chance that he would come himself, or Maria, I wasn't sure who would arrive.'

Y/N didn't know how to feel. He didn't trust Snow, but the words he spoke sounded sincere, and he was dead. What more could he do?

There was a crunching of stone and a distant rumbling sound, the two of them looked over.

The elevator that Y/N had used was no longer present. Instead, it seemed to have moved upwards before their return. That however, was the unmistakable sound of it descending back towards them. Someone was coming.

Y/N leapt to his feet, wand shooting back into his hand as Dainton too, rose, turning his eyes cautiously onto the elevator.

The two waited, breath held.

But they need not have worried, as the disk descended into view and finished its trip, a figure jumped off of it, hurrying across the room, before stopping at the sight of who was floating next to Y/N.

'Ah, Maria, a pleasure once more.'

'Snow,' spat Maria. 'What are you doing here?'

'Living my... well, after-life, in suspension,' said Dainton, gesturing at his body. 'Just enjoying the quiet ambience of a tomb for all eternity.'

'Are you okay?' she asked Y/N.

'Bit worse for wear, but none of that is his fault,' said Y/N, letting his duelling stance fall and wincing slightly as it did so, clutching his shoulder. 'He hasn't done anything. Well, he can't really do anything.'

'He is definitely a ghost then?'

'You know, you could just ask me,' said Dainton.

'He certainly floated into the room the first time he appeared, and nothing seems to have engaged with him or attempted to attack him,' said Y/N.

'Oh, yeah sure, just talk about me when I'm right here, that's cool too,' said Dainton moodily.

'So why are you here?' Maria shot at him. 'Unfinished business?'

'Oh please, I've already explained myself half a dozen times to your son, he can do it,' said Dainton dismissively. 'If you do not wish to speak to me then I shall not entertain you. I understand we have a rough past, but I tried to kill Y/N and he could at least warrant hearing me out.'

Maria shook her head.

'I can't say I'm particularly happy to see you again Snow, especially not after our last run in. You'll need to forgive me.'

'I won't need to do a damn thing,' said Dainton. 'Go, take your son and leave, I grow tired of being bothered anyway.' And Dainton drifted off up one of the side passageways.

Maria turned to Y/N.

'You're sure he didn't touch you?'

'Genuinely, he didn't, he is a ghost,' said Y/N. 'I got injured by these trials. Look.'

Y/N moved over and pressed against the locked door. Once more, the runic riddle appeared and Maria stooped down to read it.

'And you attempted one of these?' she asked.

'Yes, the first one. Snow said it was for something called an Auctor.'

'I figured that as well,' said Maria, rereading the riddle. 'The riddle certainly points to something similar.'

'You've heard of them before?' asked Y/N.

Maria nodded.

'Powerful contraptions that can alter or adjust the way a spell works or who it can affect. Usually used in malice and then never gets the chance to be used again. The devices take over twenty years to recharge and normally force some form of conflict, the magical pulse they let out can be felt by everyone who is magically inclined. But one hasn't been found for centuries, and using it is outlawed.'

'I wanted to take the trials, I was thinking I could alter a healing spell or something, get it so that it can destroy Horcruxes or sever connections. Maybe break the curse Harry has on him so we don't have to destroy him to get the Horcrux.'

'This isn't something we should discuss here,' said Maria, throwing a cautious eye over towards the passageway where Snow had vanished. 'Come on.'

The two made their way back over to the elevator and began the ascent back up.

'How did you know I was here anyway?' asked Y/N.

'A message from Eternus,' said Maria, withdrawing an orange feather, 'they can't leave a note obviously, so we assumed the worst. Dumbledore is off on a hunt for a memory relating to his work with Harry at the moment, so he sent a message to me and I came instead.'

Y/N's mind flashed back to Eternus vanishing shortly before diving for the fake Ron.

'Was that what you were doing during that last fight?' he asked the small bird, which gave a happy chirp in response.

'Always looking out for me,' laughed Y/N.

Once the elevator's ascent had finished, the two exited the room, made their way along the corridor, and back out onto the beachfront. Maria led them a little way away from the entrance and then, held out an arm.

'Here should be far enough. Dumbledore temporarily removed the protective enchantment around his office. We need to be quick though.'

Y/N grabbed her arm and with a familiar feeling of being pulled through a tube, the two landed hard on the floor of Dumbledore's office.

The two took seats just in front of the desk and Y/N explained everything the last few hours had brought. By the time he'd finished, Maria looked conflicted.

'Is this about Snow?'

'It's about everything,' said Maria. 'We both said over the summer that we don't trust him, that this may well be part of his ploy. But I thought it was an Auctor before even hearing his side, and what he's saying does seem to add up a bit more than it did before... perhaps he really is a man who went crazy, and you just happened to beat him before he could complete his plan...'

'I feel like there's a "but" there,' said Y/N

'There is, but can we be sure? Can we know for sure that he is done, that he's now actually on our, or rather your, side? Or is this potentially still another ploy?'

'I mean, at this point, we're fighting what-ifs and potentials,' said Y/N. 'He said himself that the device can't defy the already established laws of magic, and I assume that's correct?'

Maria nodded.

'Which means this thing can't be used to bring him back to life. And if he's a ghost, he clearly never got a Horcrux because the ghost indicates that he did actually die. So, he can't pull a Voldemort either and make a potion to get a body back.'

'Which then begs the question, what could a ghost do with power like that? Because from what I know, Auctor's pull on the magical energy of the person using the device, which would also make it unusable for him. His body contains no magical energy because he doesn't have a body.'

'Then looking at it from our point of view, can we really afford to let the chance to use this thing slip by?' asked Y/N.

'No, no we can't. The power that it could provide us with is too great. Being able to separate and destroy Horcruxes with a single spell would make a world of difference, our options right now are limited. It's mostly just Basilisk venom or Fiendfyre. And both of those are risky, especially with the only known basilisk in history being dead.'

'Oops,' said Y/N lamely.

'The sword of Gryffindor is goblin-made, it absorbs that which empowers it and rejects that which weakens it,' said Maria. 'When you stabbed the Basilisk, it absorbed the power of the venom. It is now a Horcrux killer. However, that is only one item, and not a spell that can be used easily.'

'Then I guess I'll just have to continue with the trials!' said Y/N. 'We need to get to that Auctor, we can't afford not to.'

Maria sat there for a long time, evidently lost in thought. Finally, she sighed.

'You're right. It's too good an opportunity to pass up. But for the love of everything, be careful. Ghost or not, Snow could be up to anything. Do not take your eyes off him, even for a second. And tell me when you go to face your trial of wits. I cannot join you for the third, but I shall help you for the second.'

Y/N nodded.

'Right, Madam Pomfrey will murder me if I do not send you down to her to at least get patched up. You go do that, Fawkes?' she enquired to the air and in a woosh of flame, the phoenix reappeared.

She quickly scooped up some parchment on Dumbledore's desk, wrote something on it, and passed it to the phoenix.

'Drop this off with Miss Granger, would you? Then return to Albus.'

The phoenix gave a soft cry and vanished.

'What was that?' asked Y/N as the two left the Headmaster's study.

'A note saying that you'd returned, are alive but injured and heading down to the Hospital Wing. Nothing serious but you'd appreciate the company.'

Y/N felt his body warm.

'Thanks, mum.'

'It's what I'm here for.'

(A/N: Hi there folks!

I'll keep my words on this one brief, but I just really hope you enjoyed! This is one of those chapters that I really wanted to get right. And reading back over it there are lots that I'm not fully sold on. Not in a bad way but just in a "is that really the best I can do" way. But to me now that just means there's more room to improve.

Comments and feedback are always welcome but for this one in particular. What you liked, what you weren't sure on. Incoming theories etc. A chapter like this is kind of new to me so anything you enjoyed even if it's just one or two lines, I'd love to hear about it.

Obviously, no obligation for this, but feedback really helps and this is all the result of the story I've been building so far, so I want to know how you're all finding it.

That's all, have a good day/afternoon/night/week/month or whatever else you'd like and I'll speak to you all again soon!)