Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings characters or their base plots.
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Dark Times, Bright Hope
Chapter One: Rift
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The cloaked figure sighed.
Again he was at the mercy of another one of the snake mans plots. He'd been fighting Voldemort in the Ministry, when a vortex had opened after two of their spells collided with what seemed to be a time turner.
The vortex had pulled both he and Voldemort into its self, and now here he was walking aimlessly through a forest. Voldemort must have landed in another area because he was no where to be found. The snake like man was probably forming an alliance with the evil that rested here.
The cloaked figure was pulled from his musings when he reached a dirt road, a few yards in front of him was a black hooded figure sitting upon a black horse. The creature/man seemed to be sniffing around the area of a fallen tree truck before sniffing above it. The cloaked figure could sense people hiding underneath the tree truck.
Turning his attention back to the creature, the cloaked figure began to examine it. The creature distinctly reminded him of a Dementor. Though it was lacking the ability to suck the happiness out of its victims, it did lower the temperature around and maybe it had the ability to use the Dementor's kiss.
Quickly whipping out his wand, the cloaked figure silently cast Expecto Patronum. A snake about 30 feet long slithered out of his wand, circled him once before flicking its tongue out and licking the cloaked figure on the cheek. The figure patted the silver snake before commanding it to move forward after the Dementor like creature.
The black hooded and cloaked figure screeched/hissed at the snake. Before jumping back on its horse and riding passed the teen and misty silver snake. Slowly four heads popped up to see who or what had saved them. They were surprised to see a boy/man who seemed to be only sixteen summers old.
He was 6'5" his dark brown hair shown in the mid-day sun, crimson red streaks running through it lit up by the light. He was toned and well muscled. He wore black pants and a white shirt underneath a blacked hooded cloak. Large black boots adorned his feet. The most interesting thing about the man however was his emerald eyes that had flicks of gold in them. His eyes simply radiated power. They also seemed to be calculating the threat the four might pose.
With a small gulp one of the big footed boys stepped forward and began to walk toward the figure, the other three following close behind. Each body tense with caution as they were brought closer to the clocked man by their own feet.
The cloaked figure studied the small boys as well. The four all had unconditionally big feet and were about 4'2" in height at the most. They dressed in light earth colors, the darkest article of clothing being their brown and red vests, along with their grey and brown cloaks. They moved uncertainly toward him.
The cloaked man could also sense a strange power coming from one of the boys. But it was not coming from the boy himself. Something in his possession was the cause of the power. However he could tell that the boy hadn't used the power yet. The boys' "aura" was not tainted with the evil that came from the power source in the boys' possession.
"Hello sir." The "leader" of the big foot kids, said. "Thank you for saving us from the creature. If I may ask, who are you and why did you save us?" the four men/boys waited quietly for and answer, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot for the first few seconds of silence.
"My name is Harry Potter. I saved you because you look like you needed help. It is something evil, and I sense more will soon be joining the first one. I will escort you for the time being until you reach your destination. You four are no match for what hunts you. Come we shall talk as we walk." Harry then turned on his heal and began to trudge away, the four small men trailing slighting behind.
"Well….I am Frodo Baggins, the hobbit. This is Sam, Merry, and Pippin." Said the brown haired boy. "Thank you for coming with us. We could surely use the assistance."
Silence met the boy's thank you; however the young cloaked man nodded his head in recognition to the thank you.
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Later that day, a few minutes before sunset, found the five young men making their way toward a large lake that spread extremely far in all directions.
"Now all we have to do is cross the lake and we'll be there." Sam said from the middle of the ground to the left of Frodo. Merry and Pippin walked behind them, debating what the best meal was from where and with what side dish. Harry walked ahead of them all. His posture perfect, his mid-back length hair, tied back with a simple red strip of cloth, swayed as he walked. He was like a predator. His entire being radiated danger and power.
"Um….Harry?" Frodo spoke uncertainly.
"Yes, Frodo?" he responded without even turning to face the big footed young man.
"What are you? A normal human would have had to fight that creature but you didn't. Are you an elf? Or maybe a mage?"
There was a small silence before Harry finally responded. "I am many things. I am what I am." Before anyone could ask him to elaborate, a scream/shriek broke the night are as a hooded rider came into view.
"Move it! We must make it to the boat!" Harry voiced seemed to thunder as he ordered the small hobbits. He waited for the four to run ahead of him before jogging slightly behind them.
Sam, Pippin and Merry managed to make it in the boat and had already untied the boat and were beginning to drift away. Frodo had fallen just as he was about to jump into the boat. He attempted to stand again but slid to the floor and lay still once again because of his feet slipping on the pier.
Instead of feeling the cold and sharp bite of a sword running through him, Frodo felt an arm wrapping around his waist before he felt like he was flying. Within seconds he was deposited into the safety of the boat. Quickly Frodo flipped over to stare up at his savors' back. Harry was glaring furiously at the hooded figure that sat upon its black horse on the dock.
Harry flared his magic to the creature but not in sight. He let loose some of the control he had on his magic and just let the creatures around feel him. Every animal, human, dwarf, elf, hobbit, dark or light creature within 2 miles shuddered or ran for the hills, under the awesome might of the boys' power. The reaction brought a smirk to the young mans face. This was only a small dose of his power.
The creatures on the dock and shore however simply reared their horses before screeching and galloping in the opposite direction. They could do no more for now. They would wait and bid their time until they could strike again.
Harry turned in the boat and sat against the back of the boat and simply looked at the four hobbits that stared in awe of the youth. Harry heaved a mental sigh. He really shouldn't do this in public.
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Now the five members of the group were sitting in the Prancing Pony's bar. Merry and Pippin when drinking Ales in glasses larger than their heads, Sam was singing songs while drinking Ale's while Frodo sat quietly at a table sipping his drink. Harry, however, was no where in sight. He had told the four to find a place in the Inn to eat and relax. When the four hobbits had asked what he was going to do he simply replied that he'd be watching from the shadows.
Even now Frodo couldn't help but wonder if the emerald eyed man had fled. But even while he thought about he didn't think Harry was someone that would leave like that. He didn't dwell to much on that when suddenly he was tugged to stand upon the table that he had just been drinking upon.
"Come on laddy! Sing! Your friend says you know some good songs!" said a scruff man with a long brown beard. Frodo turned to give a death glared to Merry, who had the decency to look guilty and simply waved in return. Heaving a sigh Frodo began his dance and song. He had no choice really now that the whole bar was watching him. 'Might as well enjoy the night. I might die tomorrow.'
The marry time did not last long unfortunately. Frodo had fallen off the table at the end of hone of his songs. Over come with embarrassment Frodo felt the pull of the ring. It told him to place itself upon his finger. The small voice overpowered his mind. The pull and voice that could only be the ring attempting to use him was too strong for him to fight. He slipped it on and with in a millisecond he disappeared.
Many gasped and jumped back from the spot that hobbit had fallen and vanished from. Merry, Pippin and Sam had immediately begun searching for the lost hobbit. Frodo reappeared a few minutes later near the back of the bar. He relaxed slightly. No one had noticed him.
The calm disappeared in a jolt when a hand gripped his shoulder. He was turned to face a man with straight but slightly shaggy brown hair. The mans face was slim and had a golden tan. He was well muscled, he screamed swordsman.
A baritone voice sounded in Frodo's ears when the stranger began to speak, pulling the hobbit from his observations. "You're good. I can not be seen when I do not wish to be but to disappear completely, that is quiet a feat indeed. Come we have much to discuss." The strange turned to walk up the stairs but was stopped by a mini wall of hobbits.
"Where are you taking Mr. Frodo?" demanded Sam with soft "Yeah"s from Merry and Pippin. But the man simply chuckled before continuing up the stars steering Frodo up as well, the other tree had no choice but to follow.
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After introducing himself the man began to warn them of the creatures that hunted them Strider, the man, also known as Aragon had said they were once men, kings, who had succumbed to the power of the ring. They were now servants of the only one who could control the power of the ring.
"Ah I had forgotten. What are your names? I already know Frodo and Sam from Gandalf but you three are a mystery." Aragon said as he stared out the window
"Three? Only Merry and Pippin are here. We had another companion but he ran off I assume." Frodo said perplexed.
"No. He's standing outside the door. He's been here for awhile, now. I didn't notice him until he leaned against the door a few minutes ago." The four hobbits whirled around to face Harry who simply stood in the door way smirking.
"I was warding the room while also looking for any signs of those creatures. They will be here before dawn. I have already set up a trap for them. We shall sleep here tonight." The young wizard ordered, before sweeping into the room and seating himself down on the window ledge corner. One leg pulled up to his chest, the other dangling down over the edge; a few inches above the floor.
The others began to get read for bed, except for Aragon, who was leaning quietly next to the door, ready in cased someone attempted to enter while they slept. Slowly, one by one, the hobbits drifted off to sleep.
Lulled to sleep by the sounds of the night.
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SF: Ok this is the revised version of chapter 1. If I can find the file that has chapter 2 in it then I'll post that in a few minutes. If not I will have to re-write it and then it should be up around Saturday.