The time had come for the next stage of their journey. James Sirius Potter and his companions gathered their resolve, preparing to depart the sacred grounds to seek out the Ravenclaw Gemstone. However, as they moved to leave, the three Guardians stepped forward, their presence commanding and ancient, signaling for the group to wait.
"Mr. James, please stop," one of the Guardians voiced, his tone resonating with a deep, rhythmic weight. "We cannot prevent any of you from leaving this sanctuary, but we wish to provide you with one last message."
James stepped forward, bowing his head in a gesture of profound respect. His voice was steady and obedient as he looked at the figures who had sheltered them.
"What is that, sir?" James asked. "We cannot refuse the words of those who wish for our success. We take your words as both vital advice and a blessing upon our path."
The primary Guardian looked at James with eyes that seemed to have seen centuries of magical history.
"James, we know that a guardian shall arise and a legend will be born to destroy the real evil," the Guardian proclaimed. "But the path you are choosing is fraught with extreme danger. You and your friends may succeed in stopping a certain evil, but you must understand that this is not the end; it is merely the beginning of another story altogether."
The Guardian leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a warning whisper.
"Do not be unaware of the upcoming danger. Please, be careful of your surroundings at all times. Sometimes, what the eye perceives is not the true reality."
Dagger, standing nearby, felt a chill of recognition at the Guardian's words, sensing a hidden layer of meaning that applied to their current situation. Before he could speak, another Guardian stepped toward him, acknowledging his lineage.
"Dagger, we know you come from a noble line. We know your principles and the greatness of your father's sacrifice," the Guardian said. "You have spent your entire life in the shadows, hiding the secret known as Varkon. You have protected the mystery of the ancient gemstones, and we believe you will choose the correct path alongside the legend, James. We believe you will guard him with your very life."
With a slow, deliberate movement, the Guardian produced a piece of ancient, weathered parchment—a map of immense power. He held it out to Dagger.
"Many have attempted to steal this map from us," the Guardian explained. "It reveals the path to the gemstones more clearly than any other guide, yet none have been able to wrest it from our grasp through force or trickery. We have guarded this with our lives, knowing that one day it would serve those who seek to protect the world from the encroaching dark."
The Guardian looked toward the horizon with a touch of regret.
"We cannot join you in the coming battle, for we have our own responsibilities in preserving the sanctity of this place. Mr. Dagger, we entrust this to you, believing you will show the true way to your friends and to James. Please, remain vigilant of everything happening around you."
Dagger took the map with trembling hands, bowing deeply. "Thank you so much," he said, his voice thick with sincerity.
Nearby, the real Rose—trapped in Elthira's form—stood silently apart from the group she loved. James had treated her wounds, but she remained a pariah. Kael reached out to hold the hand of the girl he believed was Rose, but Voldemort, hidden within that skin, felt nothing but sharp frustration.
Voldemort stared at the map in Dagger's hands, his mind burning with bitter memories. He had tried countless times in the past to steal that very map from the Guardians, but their ancient magic had always turned his own spells back upon him. Now, as he watched it being handed over freely, he made a dark pledge within the depths of his soul.
"Once I possess all the powerful Gemstones," Voldemort thought, his internal voice dripping with malice, "I will arise as a Dark Lord more powerful than ever before. I will steal James's body and ensure that the Dark King, Varkon Black Shade, returns to this world. Poor Hogwarts... they believe Miss Amelia is their savior, but she is as evil as we are, craving the school's destruction. Once everything falls into place, I will first kill Harry Potter, the man who once struck me down. I will spare no one who aided him in the past. How pitiful it is that Harry Potter's own son is the one helping me achieve the Gemstones."
Concealed behind Rose's face, Voldemort allowed a wicked, invisible smile to curl.
However, the real Rose, watching from the shell of Elthira, made her own silent vow.
"You may smile now," she thought, her heart burning with a fierce determination. "But believe me, I will foil every one of your wretched plans. I will save my friends, my school, and the entire magical world."
Scorpius broke the silence, looking at the darkening sky. "We have to go as soon as possible, before night falls completely."
Miss Mirael nodded in agreement. "Yes. We must move now."
James turned his gaze toward Elthira. His expression was a mixture of pity and lingering distrust.
"You saved my life, and in return, I have saved yours," James said to her. "If I wished, I could end your life right here, but I am choosing to let you live. Please, go away from us. Leave this place."
Voldemort, in Rose's form, smirked at the thought of the "vampire" being exiled. But Rose, as Elthira, knew she could not leave James's side while a monster wore her face.
"Thank you, James Potter," Rose said, her voice sounding raspy in Elthira's throat. "But I think I should come with you."
James's face hardened into a mask of anger. "Why do you want to come with us? We have no time to fight you anymore. Please, leave us alone."
Rose knew she had to play a part to stay near them. She began a desperate drama to win James's protection.
"I must come with you, not to help you, but to save myself," she pleaded.
"What?" Frank shouted, his hand dropping to his wand.
"Yes," Rose continued as Elthira. "Voldemort will want to kill me now. James saved my life, and I saved his. If Voldemort learns of this, he will not spare me. He would kill me alive for my betrayal. I do not think a man like James Potter would leave me behind knowing my life is at such risk. Will you truly let me die, James?"
James went silent, his brow furrowed as he weighed the moral cost. Frank stepped forward, his voice loud with protest.
"No! James, we shouldn't take her! She tried to kill Rose! She tried to steal the Hufflepuff Gemstone! She is not trustworthy!"
As James struggled with the decision, the Guardian stepped forward once more. He looked directly into James's eyes, his gaze piercing and knowing.
"You can take Elthira with you," the Guardian said firmly. "Take her."
James exhaled, looking at the ground before meeting the Guardian's gaze. He made his final decision.
"Okay, Miss Elthira. You can come with us."
Bobby smiled, sensing a strange necessity in the choice, and Nyx felt a wave of relief she couldn't quite explain. Kael, however, looked frustrated, while others in the group remained shocked and deeply confused by James's leniency.
The real Rose, still in her monstrous disguise, smiled inwardly, more determined than ever to protect her friends. Meanwhile, Voldemort—masked as Rose—was filled with a simmering, silent rage, completely dissatisfied with James's answer.