Gollum slipped the ring on and vanished, but Saruman was no fool.

He raised his staff and a wave of detection magic spread out, shimmering faintly through the air. Every stone, every shadow, every breath in the cave was revealed. Gollum's invisibility shattered and his outline flickered into view.

Saruman's eyes locked on him, cold and precise. "If you do not want to be reduced to ash," he said, his voice like steel, "show yourself."

A sphere of fire flared at the tip of his staff, radiating blistering heat. Gollum froze, feeling the breath of death against his skin. Trembling, he slipped off the ring and appeared, pale and terrified.

Saruman's gaze immediately fell upon the golden ring in Gollum's hand. Greed overtook his face. "Give me the One Ring," he ordered.

Gollum hesitated, but when he saw the murderous intent in Saruman's eyes, he whimpered and thrust the ring forward.

Saruman snatched it without another word. The moment his fingers closed around it, his expression shifted from triumph to awe. "At last, the One Ring, in my hands," he murmured, trembling with excitement. Visions of power and conquest flashed in his mind.

Within moments, his excitement faltered. Something was wrong. The ring felt lifeless, an empty imitation. His smile vanished.

"Fake," he hissed, his face darkening. "This is a fake."

He seized Gollum by the throat and lifted him effortlessly. "Where is the real One Ring? Speak."

Gollum thrashed helplessly, gasping for breath. "I, I do not know. I do not have it."

Saruman's grip tightened. "Lies. You will tell me, or you will wish for death."

"I swear. The Black Robed Wizard gave it to me," Gollum squealed. "He caught me, tortured me, then gave me this ring. Said to use it to lure others."

Saruman froze. "Sylas?" he muttered, lowering Gollum with disgust. His eyes turned south toward Weathertop. "He can forge a ring like the One Ring. He must have seen it. Perhaps he has it."

Gollum collapsed, gasping weakly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the ring glimmer faintly on the ground. Strange letters appeared on its inner surface. Curious, he picked it up and squinted.

Saruman noticed the motion instantly. "What are you looking at?"

Gollum whimpered. "Words, Gollum cannot read appeared on the ring."

Saruman snatched it from his hand. His brows furrowed as he examined the inscription, Elvish Tengwar faintly glowing blue.

He read aloud slowly, "He who wears this ring, call my name, and you shall see me."

Before he finished the sentence, Gollum, driven by fear and impulse, blurted, "Black Robed Wizard Sylas."

Saruman's head snapped toward him. "What did you..."

The ring in his palm began to tremble violently, its golden surface shining with a cold blue light.

Saruman's expression changed instantly. "No," he barked, trying to fling it away.

The one ring clung tightly to Saruman's hand, glowing fiercely before he could react. A blinding flash of blue light erupted, and in an instant, he vanished from sight.

Watching this, Gollum let out a twisted, gleeful laugh. His wide eyes shimmered with both fear and triumph. "Serves you right," he muttered hoarsely, then slunk into the shadows and fled the cave.

At that very moment, far away atop the Amon Sûl Tower in Hogwarts Castle, space rippled with blue light, and Saruman appeared, disoriented.

"Expelliarmus!"

Before he could even gather his bearings, a spell struck him squarely in the chest. His staff flew from his grasp and spun through the air, landing neatly in Sylas' hand.

"Long time no see, Saruman," Sylas said with a faint smile. "I didn't expect you to visit me today. Truly, an honor."

"Sylas…" Saruman's face darkened with fury and humiliation.

He realized at once that he'd been played. Gollum had been bait, the ring a trap, and he had walked right into it, led here by his own greed.

Sylas, on the other hand, looked genuinely pleased. He had set this trap casually, hoping to flush out whoever was manipulating Gollum. He hadn't expected the prize to be Saruman himself.

Saruman sneered despite losing his staff. "Do you think I'm helpless without it?"

He raised his right hand, revealing a ring gleaming with seven sharp facets like cut crystal.

"A Dwarven Ring," Sylas remarked, his tone both amused and sharp. "So Sauron really gave you one of the last three? How generous of him."

Saruman's lip curled. "You talk too much. Bringing me here was your greatest mistake, Sylas. Now, hand over the One Ring. Don't bother denying it. I know it's in your possession."

Sylas shrugged lightly. "You guessed wrong. I don't have it, and even if I did, I wouldn't keep that cursed trinket. I truly can't understand your obsession."

Saruman's eyes narrowed, disbelief and arrogance blending together. "You lie. If it's not in your hands, then you know where it is. Tell me, or I'll show you why I'm called the White Wizard."

"Oh?" Sylas said casually, resting the captured staff against his shoulder. "Then by all means, show me."

Enraged, Saruman activated the Dwarven Ring. Fiery runes flared along its edges as he chanted, summoning a blazing orb of flame in his palm.

But before he could release it, the spell fizzled out, shrinking to a pathetic spark that winked out in the air.

"What?" Saruman's voice cracked. He tried again, invoking greater power, but nothing happened. The ring on his hand dimmed, its glow fading completely.

Sylas chuckled softly. "Saruman… look around."

Saruman's gaze darted about. The entire room was inscribed with glowing silver runes, on the floor, the walls, even the ceiling. Mithril lines pulsed faintly with restrained power.

An Anti-Magic Field.

"This room," Sylas said, tapping the stone floor with his staff, "was built for situations like this. Gandalf helped me design it. Here, only I can use magic."

Saruman's expression turned from fury to fear. He tried to move, but Sylas had already raised his wand.

"Avada Kedavra."