Chapter One: Visions; Shadows; Rumors

When Ginny Weasley woke up the world was bright and beautiful and flowers grew all around her giant bed, in which she was laying on in a long, silk, elegant nightgown. She couldn't recall being in a room so big or owning something that felt as comfortable as what she wearing. The silk flowed out around her on the satin covers of the bed, and a nice yellow color filled the whole room. The curtains picked up a breeze the open window allowed entrance. The flowers beside the window slightly stirred. Ginny sat up and yawned, stretching for a moment until she saw it directly in front of her.

Harry and Draco were there, hanging from the chandelier, dangling with blood dripping down from multiple cuts on their bodies and large ones that accompanied the ropes on their necks, which were so tight Ginny couldn't bear looking at them. As she turned away her eyes from the two dead boys she heard a sound that seemed to come from below the dead bodies and looked back to see it was a drip, drip, dripping of blood making its journey from its former owner's body to the puddle below him. Ginny saw spiders and snakes weaving their way in and out of their cuts and their mouths and she finally understood what she was seeing. She was over the initial shock, got through the disgusting sight and actually realized that Harry and Draco were dead.

She didn't even hear herself scream, the sound of the snakes hissing and launching themselves upon her was all that filled her ears.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ginny woke up from her nightmare completely terrified. She was drenched in a cold sweat and her breathing was heavy and shallow. Her friends stood over her. They had been trying to get her to wake up for quite a while. Sarajin, with her dark hair and dark eyes peered beyond the candlelight and whispered, "Are you alright, Ginny?" All the redhead could do was nod, but it was not true. She was so scared. What if that would actually happen and she lost Harry? She wasn't exactly happy Draco existed or that he was the way he was but she didn't really want him dead, either. Where had that dream stemmed from? She hadn't been thinking about either of them earlier in the day, had barely seen either one and hadn't eaten anything before going to bed that would usually put strange thoughts into her head… so what happened?

Parker, a blonde-haired girl with a personality to match asked Ginny if she was awake. She was immediately sent back to bed by Sarajin who attempted in finding out what had happened in the dream. Her friend just shook her head and turned Sarajin away, flopping face-first into her comfortable pillow that no longer smelled of home, but of Hogwarts. She quietly cried into it, thankful for its fullness so her friends couldn't tell she was tearing up because of a dream.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

At breakfast, Dumbledore made a surprising announcement. All classes were canceled that day for "teacher meetings" and such and they allowed to pretty much do whatever they wanted all day. The kids cheered and thanked Dumbledore as they passed him. Ginny noticed all the teachers looked a bit grim, but why shouldn't they when they were about to go into a daylong meeting?

"Hey, Ginny!" Hermione sat down beside her, making her jump a little. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I startle you?"

"No! No, I'm just a little… jumpy… today." She pressed her fingertips to her forehead, feeling the beginnings of an ache.

"Are you alright, Ginny?" Hermione held concern in her voice and leaned forward a little to try to see all of Ginny's expression.

"Fine. I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine… I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey in a moment. Stay right here," Hermione jumped up and left, heading towards Dumbledore.

Ginny's headache began to grow until it felt like the world was spinning and her head was going to split in two. She breathed slowly and in no more than four breaths the world stopped and she saw something in the far corners of her mind, growing. It was a dream. No, it was a vision. It came so easily. She didn't know where it came from, but it was in her field of vision now, stretching as far as the eye could see. A graveyard. It was cold, vast, and dark. The clouds above blocked out the rays of the sun and the world looked gray. The grass was dead, clinging to the earth and the trees were limp and frail, void of leaves. Snow flurries were absent, but a small shower of them had been here before. The graves had a thin layer on the tops. There were hills. It seemed the yard was on the side of a small mountain and she was at the bottom where it began. She could see it stretching up and up until it ended. At the very top was a monument; a stone angel with tombstones in a circle around it. She could barely see it from where she was standing, but she could distinguish enough to know what it was.

She saw a man come from behind her and continue past her, walking up the hill and towards a grave. She recognized the old man. Albus Dumbledore. He looked as though he'd been crying and he did let out a few sniffles now and then. Following him were the other teachers, heading towards the same graves: The ones at the top. Ginny followed them and they didn't even notice she was there. Nevertheless, they continued upward and onward.

As they finally reached the angel at the top, the teachers spread themselves out so they could all look at the graves surrounding the winged statue. Ginny wasn't paying attention to the names yet, rather, listening to what Dumbledore was saying.

"Oh, if only… If only I'd made it in time… if only I could have…."

"Don't blame yourself," McGonagal said, placing her hand on his back and patting it as his head hung low. "They saved us all." And in a whisper, "Be proud of your students. The ones you taught so well."

Students? These were children here? Ginny now looked to the tombstones. Horror struck her as she moved around the circle.

Arthur Greenleaf
Hermione Granger
Draco Malfoy
Harry Potter
Ronald Weasley
Ginny Weasley

Ginny stepped back and suddenly found she was in her seat in the great hall once again, as though she'd never moved. Hermione grabbed her arm rather fiercely and began to lead her to Dumbledore's office.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Draco had always done well in Potions class. His teacher practically adored him and often trusted him with ingredients he wouldn't allow other students to barely touch. His good marks helped develop this trust, but being a Slytherin helped as well; and everyone knew Professor Snape was the head of the Slytherin house and quite partial to it. In the Gryffindor/Slytherin Potions class, the professor often played favorites and enjoyed doing so. Yet another reason Potions was one of Draco Malfoy's best classes.

He was in this class, fiddling around with some random potions since Snape was away on "duty" of some sort and the day was announced free (though they still had to present at their classes to keep the common rooms and halls in good conditions. A no-party rule had also been placed). Most of the class was in an uproar. Gryffindor vs. Slytherin as the common game goes. It seemed that the "house wars" would extend, however. Ravenclaw seemed to be edging towards cheering for the green team on the Quidditch field and Hufflepuff proved partial to red. Today, Malfoy really didn't feel like fighting. As much as he enjoyed a good argument, his thoughts were elsewhere.

Rumors had been spreading along the quiet villages and small towns of the Dark Lord's return. Lucius often wrote to his son of such things, but in this matter, he was silenced. Though Draco had other ways of finding out. You see, Crabbe and Goyle's fathers weren't as smart. The letters were burned and the owls killed as a precaution. Should there be any prefects who found out about any of this "news", surely they'd be killed before allowed to rat anyone out to a professor… or Dumbledore. The rumors, though rumors, also said the creatures of ancient times who'd been hiding in the forests, darting along the shadow lines and never letting light touch them where a mortal could see, would return to fight for Wizards and Muggles alike; those who couldn't protect themselves, especially. Even the strongest, smartest wizard can be vulnerable if he is somehow paralyzed with fear by the sight of a cloaked, dark man, whose first gaze could kill him. Yes, news was traveling quickly and Draco Malfoy had to get out of Hogwarts.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In the Forbidden Forest he'd come to seek out one to help him; one to help them all. The man he was looking for was aging fast, whilst the creature himself did not age at all. He stayed silent and still throughout the years, never the sounds or sights of change growing in him. He was quiet most of the time and never stayed in one place twice. His friends and most of his family lived in the West; in the land that would never die as they would never die. A moment of sorrow hit him as he realized that he had once shared the fate of the ages with someone else; someone who couldn't see her family, either. But she was mortal. She had perished and she had done so slowly and painfully. The world was cruel, but to those who chose to pass in and out of it, it may seem beautiful.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Night had fallen. Dumbledore made his way up to his office, guarded by the gargoyle, protected by secret, and seen by troublemaker and teacher's pet alike. As he headed up the stone steps he absentmindedly wondered how many stone steps like this were in Hogwarts and how many he'd counted and how many he'd stepped on in one day. That thought was quickly pushed into the back of his mind as he looked to his desk and saw an old, old, (and I mean old!!) friend sitting there.

"Legolas! I haven't seen you in ages!!" The elf smiled at this and stood from the headmaster's chair.

"It would seem like ages to you. You look…so old." He commented. Legolas himself was probably thousands of years old. He'd really lost count, thinking it didn't matter since he'd be able to live an infinite amount of years, but he looked about twenty or so. He'd seen Dumbledore when he was young and lighthearted and able to jump around anywhere he pleased.

"I'm an old man now, yes. I'm afraid I won't be able to join you on your conquest," Dumbledore sighed and took the chair, acting years and years older than he usually did. This quick age took place when great matters of trouble were pressed upon him.

"But your magic!" Legolas protested, obviously disappointed. "Your magic is still strong!"

"What good is that if I can't travel the great distances you need to go? I can't use my 'strong magic' if I'm not there, and apparating and brooms won't do me any good."

"Quite a problem you've stuck me in. What am I supposed to do on my own? I plan to stop this creature and as much as I hate to admit it; I can't do it alone!!"

Dumbledore smiled and a small twinkle returned to his eyes. He leaned back in his grand chair; now more relaxed and at ease with the decision he was making in the far reaches of his mind. He put a finger to his lips, under his mustache and over his beard and smiled; the flesh on his first finger feeling the smile stretch.

"I think… I think I have an idea."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Arthur Greenleaf was a quiet boy. He was in Ravenclaw and disliked all academic subjects, preferring the sports like most boys his age. It was not Quidditch he had an interest in, though that may be the most popular sport of the wizarding world. Arthur preferred archery. Anyone could admit easily he was good at it. He was the best shot on his team and always won the competitions. When he'd first picked up interest, they'd said it was merely "beginner's luck," but all that sort of thinking changed when he continued his "luck". The winning streak has never stopped.

He had blonde hair, but not the personality that was normally associated with it. His green eyes matched his name nearly perfectly and he often found himself being talked about amongst the girls of different houses and his own. He was pretty good-looking kid, if he did say so himself, but none of that really mattered to him. Something strange had been happening in his mind, growing, changing, and multiplying to a great amount he couldn't begin to measure. It was almost like a black night creeping in the top of the sunset and making its way down to cover the whole world, or a shadow floating up from the cracks in the stones to the window and blanketing it. Yes, a shadow was growing in his mind, and he felt he had to stop it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was about midday when Hermione and Ginny were finally allowed in Dumbledore's office. Since breakfast, Ginny had no more "visions" and had been praying for them to never come again. Hermione was trying to act wise and brave, wondering what could be wrong with her friend, because she knew something was wrong. The gargoyle stepped out of the way, and they began up the stone steps. When they reached the room, there was Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, Arthur Greenleaf, and Malfoy.

"Ah! Misses Granger and Weasley! You're right on time," Dumbledore spoke quietly, in nothing more than a whisper for Fawks was sleeping; and he smiled under his beard as he watched all attention turn to the Elf that walked into the room shortly afterward, a quiver full of arrows on his back and a bow in his hand.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Wow! That fic is probably my best yet. I've written quite a few that have yet to be posted (I don't really have a lot of time) but wow! The ones I have were all humor or stupidity and now this is a very "dramatic" change... This is better than I thought it would be. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed thinking it up and writing. It's a three-way crossover, which might get confusing later, but I have it all planned out. Except for the end. I never like to plan out the end. My fingers type so fast, sometimes they surprise me with what they come up with on the screen and that is normally my ending. You don't have to know anything about anything but Harry Potter, because all the things about Elves and Youkai (demons) will be explained! Don't worry about where the ideas come from (Harry Potter, Inu-Yasha, and Lord of the Rings) because it all adds flavor to the fic, right? I just had to put in that comment about Arthur being goodlookin'. If you haven't noticed, his last name is GREENLEAF!! And Legolas's name is something similar. (GREENLEAF!!!) and Legolas is hott! ^_^ *Drool! Sigh!* ^_^ and there may even be stuff in here about gladiators… hmm… keep checking, the chapter ideas are coming to me fast and don't forget to review. I luv responses as much as the next author; maybe even more! btw, I don't own Lord of the Rings, Inu-Yasha, or Harry Potter and I think that if you don't know who they belong to you should find out.... later.

Mashaka, signing over and out!