A/N: So you wanted a Glorfindel/FemHarry pairing and you've gotten one, this one is going to be a long one because it starts in Gondolin and ends in the Fourth Age, so we're in for a rollercoaster ride.
Also for this story I'm looking for a beta. Just so it can be the best it possibly can. If you're interested, please let me know.
So the first couple of chapters serve as a prologue of sorts, you learn snippets of information that become relevant later on in the story and it, hopefully, sets up a reasonable reason for why Astraea (my femharry) gets transported to Middle Earth. It might take me a while to update between chapters, purely because not much is known about Gondolin in comparison to what we know of the War of the Ring and the journey of Frodo Baggins, so it's going to take a lot of hardwork to create a believable city life. I'm treating this story as I would the novel I'm writing, so instead of relying on things you know e.g. the life of Hobbits and giving a brief, but adequate, description, I'm going to have to go into detail and that requires more time and effort. So please, I ask that you be patient with me and I hope it will be worth the effort.
Enjoy~
Sometimes there is that moment in life, that one moment that makes you pause and wonder what if? What if I had gone to university? What if I had taken that job offer half way around the world? What if I had married my first love? What if I hadn't accepted what I was simply because I thought I wasn't worth more? And then you realise that it is either too late to do anything about these what ifs or that it was about time you stood up and realised what is really worth fighting for. But sometimes, even if you want to, you cannot change what happens. No one can control fate, she is one of those untouchable gods, much like death. Or perhaps they are the same because aren't we all fated to die? Astraea Potter contemplated many what ifs as she sat the damp cell in Merlin only knows where, until the moment when she realised that no matter what scenario played out in her head, no matter what she changed in her mind the outcome had already happen. She could not change it.
Hell even if she had known back then and had not gone to Isla Mística, or Mystic Isle in its English name, a small purely magical island off the coast of Spain, it might not have changed anything. Fate always claims her children in the end.
As it was, she was not foretold of what was to happen, so when King Justus sent her an invitation to visit him and his beautiful isle she accepted. Naturally the invitation extended to her friends as well, though Ron and Hermione where using it as a pseudo honeymoon for they had only gotten married a week before. Neville and Luna, who had gotten engaged in the year after Voldemort's demise, opted out in favour of travelling the world. Ginny agreed with the hopes of a summer romance to take her mind of her current split with Dean, she couldn't blame the red head for wanting to get over that disaster.
Still the newly certified healer could say she was very giddy at the thoughts of the holiday. She'd never been abroad, every holiday the Dursley's took were strictly Potter free and she had been left with Mrs Figg, and now she felt like an over eager child. She was packed a whole month before the portkey would take them to Mystic isle. She was a little disappointed she wouldn't get the whole airport experience, but she and Hermione had decided that it would be safer to forgo the airplane. Having two pureblood magicals in a pressured flying metal bird was dangerous, never mind explaining what Duty Free was. Hermione instead used a toy airplane as their portkey.
They were greeted by a butler the moment they arrived in the long entrance hall, he was an older man with a kind smile and light brown eyes, he introduced himself as Kristoff. The newlyweds would have their own suite, Ginny the one opposite them, in the guest wing but because Astraea was the king's personal guest she was to stay in the family wing. A fact she'd argued over, until Kristoff revealed it was Queen Alysanne who had requested she be housed close to the royal family, and who was she to deny the wishes of a queen. She would grin and bear it, she decided with an unhappy pout.
There was an over-lavishness to her room. As though whoever had done it up thought her to be a pig headed heiress, for a girl who had grown up in a cupboard under the stairs it was very overwhelming. The bedroom alone was bigger than that of the dorm in Gryffindor tower, and that had six other girls inside, hell even the bathroom was bigger. The bathtub was a large Jacuzzi and the shower could fit five Vernon's comfortably. Her bed could fit the entire girl's dorm. The only comfort about the room was the balcony that looked out onto the garden, and in the far distance a forest. She squinted her eyes a little to see in the distance, to make sure what she saw was really there.
Sure enough two figured rose before the entrance of the forest, a man and a woman, she could not see their features clearly but the man held, what she assumed, was a sword out defensively. The stone seemed to shimmer with an aura, in fact the whole forest gave off an aura, as though there was something otherworldly about it. The wind blew, wrapping around her and seemed to pull her towards the trees almost as if the forest was calling for her.
"Tis the Warrior and the Star-Maid."
The woman who stepped up beside her could only be the queen, she wore no crown or tiara, it was her presence that gave her away. She wasn't the most beautiful woman, but then Astraea had seen veela, but there was a beauty in her. The way she smiled so serenely and held herself with a grace not many could pull off. Her beauty shone brightly in her kindness.
"It is said the Warrior came from another world, through those very trees he now guards, and for many years he wandered this island alone. The gods took pity on him and gifted him a woman crafted from the very stars themselves," Queen Alysanne smiled at the awkward look Astraea gave her, knowing full well the girl didn't know what to do with herself, "they showed this land magic. But it was a strange magic, for the Warrior and his Star-Maid were not born of this world, and so the island became known as Mystic Isle. Their children were beautiful and gifted in that strange magic, as were their grandchildren and every child born after. It is said that their souls remain on this Earth to forever watch over the Enchanted Forest, keeping those who enter its trees away from the portal. It is also said that the portal shall not close until the one the Warrior deems worthy enters it."
"Worthy of what?" she found herself asking, frowning at the trees.
"Only one of goodness, purity and a heart that cannot be corrupted is worthy in the Warrior's eyes. A hard task no? For the race of Men are easily corrupted."
"It's a pretty story," she smiled, turning to face the queen, though it came out forced for she could still feel the tugging sensation.
"A story," the queen echoed giving her a piercing look, "aren't we all just a story in the end?"
"That's a very…" she trailed off, unsure how to reply, "philosophical answer."
"Then shall we leave it for the philosophers to ponder on then?" the queen laughed, taking Astraea by the arm, "come, let me show you to the dining area, heaven only knows this place is a maze. Though I think after living in Hogwarts this place will seem more like a doddle to you."
"You've been to Hogwarts?" She asked with a hint of amazement.
"Where do you think I learnt magic?" her laugh was full, that of true enjoyment. "King Justus came to England to discuss politics with the minister, he came to Hogwarts on a tour of magical Britain. He found me there."
"Oh was it a textbook love?" Astraea found herself laughing and the image of a love-struck king.
"Oh no," she shook her head, "Justus looked at my best friend first, not that I blame him, Lily was a beauty. But he arrived too late for her, she had already fallen in love with James."
"You…" she swallowed thickly, her eyes wide, "you knew my parents?"
"Yes, though I knew your mother more than I knew your father," Alysanne stopped in the middle of the hallway, a look of pure grief crossing her face. "I wish I had been there for you, to have raised you in her place, I was very angry when I had found you had gone to Petunia. Wretched woman. I can't imagine you had a pleasant upbringing. But Justus would not allow me to participate, he was right in the end, a queen's duty is to her kingdom and a mother's duty is to her husband and children. To think, in another life, we would have been so close… no matter… I wish to make up for it now. If you'll allow me too of course."
The king's invitation didn't seem so random anymore and she knew without a doubt it was Alysanne who orchestrated the thing. It wasn't a political move at all. It was to get closer to the daughter of her deceased best friend. Astraea's placement in the family wing wasn't because she was an important guest, it was because the queen wanted her to become family, like Lily had been. Astraea didn't know what to say, the queen seemed to blame herself for not helping, but honestly she couldn't understand why. It's not like a tiny island in the middle of nowhere could do much against the wrath of a Dark Lord.
"How did you end up marrying the king?" she settled on asking, anything to steer the conversation away from the awkwardness it was heading towards, "if he was interested in my mother first."
"The answer depends on who you ask I'm afraid," there was a gratefulness to her light blue eyes, "the truth is James out did Justus. Or rather, Justus saw their love for what it was in the end and knew he could not hope to match it. How he saw me? Well Lily introduced us on the day I made my special macarons. You know what they say, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Though if you asked Justus, he'd tell you he realised my beauty far outshone Lily's, but that is a lie, none could ever hope to outshine Lily. Except of course her daughter, you seem to have inherited only the best traits from your parents."
"That is a rather… unique story… falling in love because of macarons," she said, not even bothering to acknowledge the compliment, though the ruby tint to her cheeks gave away her embarrassment.
They entered the dining room to see her friends had already arrived, Hermione and Ron sat together, the former giving the latter worried glances. Astraea knew why, Ron's eating habits were very poor and they were entertaining royalty. Ginny was flirting with a handsome dark haired boy with ice blue eyes, he was giving as good as he got though and the green eyed girl could only wonder how soon it would be until Ginny found herself in the family wing of the palace.
"It seems my youngest has found his newest conquest," the queen whispered conspiratorially into her ear, Astraea snorted before trying to contain her laughter.
"I was beginning to think you weren't showing up my love," the king, for he could be no other, called out from the head of the table. "I see now why you were late," he said after noticing Astraea, he stood and approached them, "my what a stunning young woman you are. If I was twenty years younger." He gave her a playful wink. "She looks just like Lily do you not think?"
"I thought so too, but there is James' mischief in her too," the queen responded with a sad smile. "I was telling her of the Warrior and I'm afraid I was also reminiscing of my younger days."
"You are far too young to be reminiscing mother."
"You are too kind Klaus," she responded, allowing her husband to guide her to her seat.
Astraea was left awkwardly standing there, until Klaus stood and pulled out a chair for her with a playful smirk on his face, she sat allowing him to push her chair in.
"I am King Justus," the king told her once he was settled in his chair once more, "but you may call me Justus. No need for all that formality."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," she said regardless of his disregard for formality, "my name is Astraea Potter."
"The Star-Maiden," Klaus mused, a wry smile coming to his face, "how ironic. I am Klaus, crown prince of Mystic Isle, it is an honour to make your acquaintance." He took her hand and placed a gentle kiss upon it, she blushed and stuttered words even she couldn't understand, he grinned, his ice blue eyes glittering in amusement. Unlike his brother he had the same blonde hair his mother had, it was long, falling to his shoulders. But it didn't feminise him in anyway, if anything it made him look more regal and princely.
She was introduced to the younger brother as the starters were brought out, Richard was rambunctious and seemed to have boundless energy – a fact Ginny would later compliment profusely. Klaus was more reserved and though certainly charming, he was able to withhold a serious discussion on creature rights with Hermione. Though Astraea thought he had to be both charming and intelligent to succeed his father as king when the time came. The royal family were surprisingly easy to get along with, they weren't full of themselves and though they were dignified they didn't flaunt their status around.
Perhaps that was why she felt less awkward in her room as she went to sleep that night, the family oriented royalty made her feel as welcome as an old friend, and that allowed her to overlook the extravagance. It took her a while to fall asleep, as it often does when in an unfamiliar bed, she felt small beneath the covers as though the bed would eat her whole if she allowed it. She finally slipped off into dreams of fire, evil and strange black creatures who liked to feast on the flesh of men.
A/N: As stated above, the first few chapters are to establish a believable entry point into Middle Earth and are very OC based because of this. I should probably mention that Glorfindel won't appear for a while, even when she reaches Gondolin, because (as mentioned above) I will need to establish the place before I begin the whole relationship between them. That's not to say they won't have any interaction, because they will, they just won't be falling in love straight away.
I'm kinda nervous about this, but very excited nonetheless.
Please review.