Author's Note: Thanks for taking the time to read my newest fic! It is a Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings Crossover story and I am super excited to be working on such a challenging idea I had while staying up late sick haha! This story will eventually take place in Middle Earth and follow the adventures/obstacles faced by none other than my favorite, misunderstood and devilishly handsome slytherin prince Draco Malfoy, written in his own POV. It is set directly AFTER the war of Voldemort and about fifty years AFTER the war of the ring and the start of Aragorn's reign in Gondor.
I HAVE CHANGED some aspects of both storylines; as with all my stories however I do so with great care and effort to make these changes flow seamlessly into the original works. This story is founded on the idea that Sauron, in a least ditch effort to save some aspect of himself, his power and malice, flung the remnants of the one ring out of all time and space hoping that it will find its way back to Middle Earth. The ring does indeed travel a great distance and finds itself in the magical world.
One other change to make note of ahead of time is that Lady Galadriel did not sail into the undying lands under the impression that perhaps, her work within Middle Earth has not yet reached its end. She and Lord Celeborn are still ruling in Lothlorien. WHEW, alright enough talk, on with the story! Happy Reading!
The Serpent's Snare
Chapter One
Out of all the places in the world…I had to be here knocking on the wooden door of the Burrow. Under the pressure of my fist upon its surface, the door made creaking sounds that caused me to cringe slightly. My god, you'd think they'd put a bit more refined structure into the place upon rebuilding. Well such shabby standards were that of the Weasleys', that much was obvious.
I felt the warmth of the sun upon my back as I awaited someone to answer the door. It was not long before the pale, freckle ridden expression of Ron Weasley was standing before me. His hands clenched the door tightly; no doubt he felt the urge to slam the door in my face. How amusing.
"What the hell do you want Malfoy?" Such hostility, the war is over and yet I'm still deemed an enemy. Give it up would you?
"Not to stand here and look at your ugly mug Weasley I can assure you. I came to speak to Granger. Is she here?" I forced my interactions to be somewhat polite; I was here under some…unusual circumstances.
"No she's not. Now sod off!" He snapped until a familiar voice called out to him in the midst of the wooden and crochet filled home.
"Ronald, who is it?" I couldn't help but smirk at the aggravation now upon his features as I took a step closer towards him.
"I suppose I'll let myself in then eh?" I brushed the towering red head out of my way and made my way into the Burrow. I kept my hands in my suit pockets while waltzing into the living space. My eyes danced about the room, pictures in quirky frames decorated nearly every square inch of the wall. God awful upholstered furniture and second hand knick knacks surrounded me, who could possibly find this acceptable interior design?
There was one aspect to the home that could make up for the lack of decent taste, and that was the sheer warmth of family here. You could seen in the worn places upon the cushions where the members of this family have sat together, shared a meal…a conversation…a memory. Such a thing was not something I was accustomed to. The warmth in my house was replaced with a chill of loneliness, isolation and bitter disregard for the importance of being together. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining though. Spending night after night trying to indulge my father in conversation would have been torture. And my mother, well, the love of my mother simply wasn't enough to make an entire lavish, seemingly empty estate feel like a home.
"And when did you plan on telling me we were having company Ronald Weasley? Here, let me get you a slice of pie my boy. I baked it fresh this morning." Molly Weasley said cheerfully before she scurried towards the kitchen. I was no friend to the Weasley's but that woman always had a smile upon her face towards me the few times we've crossed paths since the end of the war. She must harbor hatred for my family and all that had happened in the years past, but she never once showed it. At least not to my face. She was the face of kindness and forgiveness, the sort of face that was leading the way in rebuilding the hearts of all affected in the war.
"Don't bother mom, he only ingests the hearts of the weak." Ron sneered while folding his arms tightly about his chest.
"If I did, yours would be the first on the menu." I grinned. How I loved the fact I still got under his skin, it was a form of entertainment I couldn't resist. Brought back memories in fact, the good ole days of our early years in Hogwarts; those were the days.
"Malfoy?" I turned to see the very person I came here to see. Hermione Granger. Her brown curls were tied into a lose knot upon her head and her slight features had rectangular spectacles adorning them. Even wearing a tatty dress no doubt chosen by Molly Weasley, her beauty was becoming. I had always thought that for a muggle born, she was quite the attractive one. Far beneath my standards but still, the bookworm wasn't half bad on the eyes.
"Ah, Granger. May I speak with you in private?" I asked the young woman.
"Absolutely not!" Ron objected. I turned to the now red faced man and I laughed. He acted more like an ape than a human, always so quick to display his emotions in such an unintelligent manner. What's next, beating on your chest to display your dominance?
"What's wrong Weasley, afraid she may come to enjoy my company?" With that Ron was being held back by his fiancé, her small hands keeping him in place as best she could.
"That's quite enough Malfoy! Outside!" She demanded. Unlike those early years at Hogwarts, the shy brain had finally found her confidence and her voice. A voice that never seemed to silence since then.
Within moments Granger and I were standing outside in the midst of the tall, golden blades of grass gently swaying in the breeze.
"Must you always look for a fight with him? You know how easily offended he is."
"My apologies, I forgot you have a toddler for a boyfriend." I laughed but her expression remained fixated and stern. Her eyes glaring at me with an intensity that caused my smile to fade; Weasley was lucky to have this one on his side. I still don't understand what it is they even talk about. I doubt Ron could count to the number her IQ level was, but who am I to judge? They did always appear happy, and that was something no amount of money could buy.
"Fine, fine. I'll be sure to play nicer if I find myself around him again. I promise."
"We'll see. Now, what is it that you want?" She snapped. Without knowing it I felt my eyes fall upon her forearm where the letters "mudblood" were staring right back at me. The horrid term I so thoughtlessly thrown to her during school was now forever etched into her flesh. It was not I that carved it into her skin but I wasn't free from guilt over the incident either.
"Are you going to answer me or are you going to continue to gawk?" She quickly forced her arms to fold, hiding her scar from my gaze.
"Sorry…I did not mean-" I stumbled for words until I felt the chill of steel upon my fingertips still buried within my pockets; the feeling brought my mind back to the very reason I had come to her.
"You're the only one I could think to come to. Given the circumstances and my…not so flawless reputation, I had to go to someone I could trust." Trust was a strong word but I was desperate; if playing to her emotions for helping a wayward soul could help me here, so be it.
"Not so flawless reputation? Despite this new era in the magical world…a past like yours will never be forgotten." Ouch.
"Look do you want to help me or not?" I finally asked.
"I don't want to help you. But I will. I guess even Malfoys' need a friend every once in awhile."
"Who said anything about being friends?" I instinctively snapped back.
"I'm not blind Malfoy; I know things haven't been easy on you since the war ended. Your family has lost everything...don't you think you could use a friend. Unless you prefer sitting alone in the three broomsticks that is."
"Aw, I didn't know you cared." I forced a chuckle. I had to change this subject; I was in no mood for a heart to heart with one of the mighty heroes of the magical world about making friends. She wasn't wrong, but this wasn't the time nor the place.
"I don't. But unlike you, growing up I didn't have many friends until Harry and Ron came along. I know…it gets lonely."
"I appreciate the gesture Granger, really I do, but right now…making friends isn't on my mind…this is." I pulled into sight the smallest of objects into sight. There in the palm of my hand before her meticulous gaze was a golden ring. Nothing distinct or elaborate about its appearance but there was something about it I couldn't explain. There was a draw to it, an unexplainable desire to keep it within reach ever since I first laid eyes upon it.
"It's just a ring." Oh come on Granger, look closer. Listen. There is a steady hum to it. It had to a curse of some sort, or an enchanted object.
"Wait a second." She then muttered under her breath as her tiny fingers began to trace its surface.
"Something is rather…odd here. It's almost whispering. The voice is faint but it is certainly there." So I wasn't crazy.
"Where did you come across this ring?"
"That's the most unusual part of it all; it was almost as if it…found me." I admitted. Granger's expression was filled with questions but I myself could not explain it better. This ring did find me, I never would think to wander so far from my usual path home from Diagon Alley, but for some reason I was drawn to this alternate path and there lying casually upon a moss covered stone alongside the winding path it was.
"How curious." She said in place of the many questions still racing through her inquisitive mind.
"What's curious to me is the fact that ever since I have been in possession of it, I find that I cannot part with it. Which is why I fear this is the work of dark magic; you see why I could not go announcing this openly to just anyone. A Malfoy in possession of dark magic would not rest well upon the minds of the ministry. My family has endured enough scrutiny…"
"Well…you have done right to come to me about this. I must admit I have not read of an enchanted ring that does not currently reside under the protection of the ministry. All have been accounted for; however, there is a possibility that there are no such records about this exact ring. Perhaps it did not originate here in the first place." Her words were doing little to bring a sense of understanding to my mind about this ring. I thought surely she would have at least an idea where it came from.
"So you're saying someone may have brought here?"
"It's possible. However if it has magical qualities about it like I'm assuming, one would not be so careless to simply leave it lying out in the open. Maybe it was purposefully placed there." Her careful eyes continued to study the circular object still upon the palm of my hand.
"Well, that does not bode well for me then does it? What if it in fact it's cursed? What can I expect?" I felt myself starting to panic. I remember well what could come from dealings with cursed objects; having seen what such objects can do…the thought that I could be holding a similar fate in my very hands was making me nervous to say the least.
"Have you worn the ring?"
"No…although I would be lying if I said that I had not thought about it." That was an understatement. I was not prepared to reveal all of my experiences since my encounter with the ring. Hushed tones and whispers were heard yes, but there was something else. Not only had I become drawn to it without proper reason, but I wanted so badly to wear it. It was pleading with me, this ring…wanted to be worn.
"Good. I would imagine the effects of the curse would be set in motion upon wearing it. But, with no records to learn of its origin and purpose, the only logical way to learn what it does is to wear it. May I see it?" I quickly recoiled my hand, clutching the ring tightly in my grasp as I took a few steps back. I couldn't explain my reaction had she asked; instead I watched her steps bring her closer to me once more.
"Oh don't be daft; I don't plan to keep it. I just think it would be prudent to allow a more intellectual and skilled individual be the one to conduct this experiment."
"No offense Granger but your oversized git of a boyfriend would not take kindly to me allowing you to test out a cursed object. Besides, who said you were a more intellectual and skilled individual? Just because I don't advertise my genius does not mean it's not there." I was trying to make light of the situation but there was no mistaking the escalating tension at hand. The air was becoming thick with it as she continued her advance towards me.
"Let me see it!" She hissed. Her movements were becoming primal, her gaze never wavered in her glare of my fist still protecting the ring from her reach.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Have you gone completely mental?" The only response I was given was being thrown to the ground by the weight of the young woman leaping upon me. It took a few moments to realize what had happened until I opened my eyes to see Granger wildly clawing at my hand in a desperate attempt to take the ring.
I quickly forced my body towards the side to gently free me from her weight; the moment I was able, I began to scramble through the tall grass to put some distance between us. I had no idea what had come over the brilliant mind such as hers but it was enough to bring about a change in her I could not begin to fathom.
I could hear her releasing shrieks and growls of aggravation as she too scrambled towards me. I managed to bring myself to my feet once more before I took off running towards the house. I hated to admit it, but the sheer size of the overgrown Weasley would surely come in handy maintaining this wild animal that had possessed Granger.
Before I could reach the tilting wooden stairs to the Burrow, I was tackled to the ground once more. This time my face pummeled into the rocky earth below; I felt my lips splitting instantly upon my collapse. I felt her small hands trying to pull my arm from underneath my weight.
"Granger! This is getting…ridiculous! Get a hold of yourself!" I was panting now. I felt as if I was in a brawl, except the only difference now was the fact that I could in no way fight back. Despite popular belief I did have some morals about me. My only way to rid myself of her crazed presence was to get Ron out here.
"RON!" I shouted as I continued to maneuver my hand free from her reach.
"That's right call for help you weak, pathetic little boy!" Now I knew this was not Granger speaking. It was the ring; there was no explanation to be found. Just as it conjured words for me to speak, it was now doing the same to her and more frightening than that, the draw I had to the ring was now taking hold of her. She was acting as if she had no other goal in her mind than to be in possession of the ring herself.
I had managed to roll onto my back; our movements were stirring up clouds of dust around us making it hard for my eyes remain open as I felt Granger crouched over me. Suddenly I felt her nails drive deep across my cheek in a single motion. I released a yelp while forcing my body to continue pushing back towards the steps.
It did not take long until I felt my head against the harden surface of the lower step only to have Granger's hands grab fistfuls of my platinum locks and begin forcing my head back and forth against the step.
I was started to actually fear for my safety here. The intensity within her face had nothing resembling humanity left. She had lost herself to the ring. Whatever power it had over her was clearly enough to cause her to want to use whatever means necessary to obtain the ring.
I forced my free hand to pull one of her hands from my hair but that was the very moment she had drove my head hard enough against the wooden surface to bring stars to my sight. Tiny lights danced about my gaze as all began to grow blurry in sight. I wavered slightly, my head flopped downward and my body grew slightly limp.
She was going to get the ring. That was the only thought that came to mind until I realized something. Put the ring on! I could not tell if the thought was my own or placed within my mind by the power of the ring itself, I cared not, I quickly obeyed. My hands fumbled about for a moment until I managed to slide the chilled surface of the ring upon my finger.
Author's Note: Well, what did you think? Hate to leave it on a cliffhanger but I hope it's enough to leave you ready to read more! Please follow along! Oh and if you haven't read any of my fics yet, let me inform you that I absolutely LOVE reviews and I do take the time to respond to each and every one personally in the author's notes at the bottom of every chapter! So feel free to review, chat, ask questions, even provide constructive criticism if you so desire…I'd love to hear from you! Flames and other such bullying will be deleted or ignored. Well, thanks for reading!