Chapter 1

It was on a hot summer morning, one with little wind and barely a fluffy cloud in the sky. In a small village with small houses and straw roofs, there was a small market in the small plaza. Because it was Friday, people were bustling around the market, either hollering their goods or inspecting said goods with critical eyes and jealously guarded purses.

The cacophony could be heard even from just outside the village, though here the sound of iron pounding on iron took precedence. If a passer by somehow failed to be deafened by the various noises, he would be able to hear the hissing of heated metal in water and the sizzling of a fire that was never extinguished coming from the forge.

On this sweltering morning where the sweat literally rolled down his brow and pooled at his feet, a visitor appeared in his humble abode. The newcomer was an old man with a long grey beard and thick grey eyebrows that hid most of his wise blue eyes. Indeed, said visitor was no one else but Gandalf the Grey himself.

The blacksmith, well versed in the ways of magic (though they differ greatly from the Istar's own), felt his old friend's presence but didn't look up from the sword he was currently crafting.

"Good morning, friend of mine." The Grey Wizard spoke, and though he couldn't see it, the smith could hear the small smile in the immortal's voice.

"Morning, Grey, give me a moment to finish."

"Of course. If you don't mind, I shall set the tea."

The blacksmith mumbled something vague, focus completely back on the task at hand. Gandalf retreated to the house by the forge, leaving the smith to his work. He set the tea and waited patiently for ten minutes, half an hour, one hour, two, two and a half.

The blacksmith, in dirty clothes with dirt-smeared hands and face, stepped inside the house and went upstairs to wash up Stomach rumbling, he came down again and entered his kitchen. "Morning Grey."

"Good morning again, Elnias."

"HOLY -!" The man exclaimed. "Blimey, Grey, I totally forgot you were here!"

"I have gathered so." Grey's eyes wrinkled in amusement.

"Really sorry 'bout that. I'll reheat the tea." Elnias waved his hand and steam rose from the cups. "So what brings you here, Grey? It's never good news, so spill it."

Blue eyes twinkled in amusement. "You know me too well, my dear friend."

His face turned solemn and Gandalf heaved a deep sigh. "I fear Middle-Earth has fallen into a grave danger, a danger so great that I'm afraid I cannot solve it myself."

Elnias snorted. "That hurts, huh, not being almighty. Always admired how modest you were, Grey."

Gandalf gave him the look. "Elnias, my friend, I hate to ask and I know I promised but –"

This time the smith sighed. "You want my help."

At the wizard's grave nod, he rubbed his face and raked a hand through his black hair, revealing a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. "You know I'd never refuse you, Grey. Never refuse this people or this world, but… I'm tired. I just – "

"Please, Elnias. It is of great importance."

"Damnit Grey. That doesn't tell me anything, does it? 'Of great importance'?" Elnias repeated mockingly.

The grey wizard sighed wearily. "I know you seek rest my friend, but please…"

"Don't say it'll be the last time you ask for help, it never is."

Gandalf nodded, guilt clouding his eyes. "I won't, but I would really feel more assured if I know you are there to protect Middle-Earth from what's coming. If not for my sake then for Middle-Earth and its people."

Elnias groaned in frustration and rested his head in his hand. " It's just – I just, bloody hell, Grey…" He sighed deeply. "I'll do it, fine, fine." The smith rubbed his face again. "I always do in the end, no matter how often I try to refuse."

"Forgive me, my friend."

The smith waved his words away. "But first; details, details! And no keeping things secret again, or should I remind you what happened on our previous "adventure", huh? Speak up."

Gandalf offered him an apologetic smile. "The most important thing that you should know is that the elvesareholdingacounciltobriefeveryoneofimportanceinthisproblem."

"Did you say elves? You said elves, didn't you? Elves. Elves, Grey?"

"I understand you don't like them, Elnias bu—"

"Don't like? Don't like! Those bloody bastards tried to kill me! Multiple times!"

"It was a misunderstanding, as you very well know, my friend. It's all in the past now." The wizard tried.

"Yeah, try telling that to the scars on my body." Elnias muttered, annoyed that Gandalf still defended them.

Gandalf winced slightly. "Can you not let it rest, my friend? The elves greatly regret their actions towards you."

The man rolled his eyes. "Do they now? Hard to believe, seeing as I never got an apology. Rude fellows, those elves of yours are." Gandalf raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Fine, we'll see about that. Just don't expect me to go – I don't know – go skipping through a field of daisies together and sing ballads to them." Gandalf raised the other eyebrow, a small smile softening his features. "And could we at least leave the detail of me being a wizard out of the introduction? Or the part where I'm the guy they mistook for a dark wizard a couple of centuries ago and tried to kill but failed miserably?"

"You wish to keep your identity a secret? Why?"

"I just… I'm just me, okay? I'm not a mighty, old, wise wizard like you, even though I'm older than you. Perhaps more powerful too"—Gandalf coughed—"I'll just pretend I'm one of Men." Elnias sighed. "If they know what – who – I am, everyone is going expect great things and force me into castles and dinners and parties and speeches. No, I've been there, so no thanks."

"Very well, it's the least I could do for all your help." The grey wizard's eyes softened. "I'm truly grateful for all you've done, my good friend, and the Valar so agree. It pains me to ask for your help once again while I know you desire nothing but rest. However, I fear that this may be one of the greatest dangers Middle-earth has ever faced."

And so Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, Saviour-Of-Light, the Chosen One, made his way on the back of his good old companion, Douglas, to the small (but not as small as his small village) town of Bree where the two wizards had promised to meet.

He was in for one hell of an adventure, one perhaps even greater than any before.

This is a revised version. Swallow-Tailed Kite offered to be my beta ( Round of applause for the hard work please ~)

To be honest, I've got nothing planned for this story, so I don't know whether there'll be any romance (probably not) and updates can take a while.

If anyone has ideas for this fic, feel free to PM me :)

Let me know your thoughts please, thanks