A/N: LOOK DOWN BELOW

DISCLAIMER: NOT MY CHARACTERS - ALL EXCEPT MAERWEN BELONG TO TOLKIEN. ANY HARRY POTTER NAMES, PLACES, OR GENERAL REFERENCES BELONG TO THE AMAZING WOMAN THAT IS ROWLING, WHOM I AM EVER GRATEFUL TO.

I'm so so so sorry for not writing. I have written nearly the whole story now but FF wasn't allowing me to do anything with this, so I couldn't upload. I've cracked it now though, so we're good to go!

Chapter 2 – Meeting People

Elrond watched with a tear in his eye as his four children departed from Imladris. They looked so grown up, trotting elegantly upon their beautiful horses. Elrohir and Elladan, upon Fauntatál and Pirindë – beautiful grey mares who just happened to be twins, looked the least ethereal, however the most modest. They had donned simple white tunics and light blue leggings, boots, and undershirts. The only signs of their magnificence were the two elegant circlets placed above their heads. A glittering emerald hung off Elladan's, and a sparkling sapphire off Elrohir's. Arwen, atop Tingilya, was dressed in a deep lilac gown, with her hair loosely falling around a silver circlet, with a small ruby hanging off. Maerwen, sitting gracefully upon Gilroch, looking much like Arwen, but dressed in powder blue, with a shimmering diamond on her circlet.

It was only now that Elrond realized they had left without their guards.

"Glorfindel! Where are their guards?! They may be ambushed by rogue orcs, or killed in their tracks by Crebain! Can you not see the danger! Where are the guards?!"

"Valar, Elrond, they've left now! And nothing shall happen; it's the safest road in Middle Earth! They are all armed, even if with only a dagger, but they will be perfectly safe. You need to let go of them, Elrond. They're gone." Glorfindel placed his hand upon Elrond's shoulder. He knew perfectly well what it was like, giving someone up.

"My lord? If you don't mind me asking, why are you do upset? They have not left forever, have they? They'll be back for midwinter, won't they?" One of Glorfindel's soldiers stepped in cautiously. He was met with a stern glare from Glorfindel, but was met with a weak smile from Elrond.

"You do not have children, brave warrior of Imladris. I do not expect you to understand. Yes, they shall be back for midwinter, but they are my children, an if I do not miss them, then nobody will." Elrond bowed his head and made to walk inside. With an inaudible snort, Elrond grinned foolishly at Glorfindel. The peace Imladris had would be treasured. But, as usual, it would not last long.

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To Maerwen, the journey seemed long and tiresome, but in fact took only 3 days. For Arwen, Elladan, and Elrohir – who had all travelled further than Lothlorien, this journey seemed a mere blink of an eye. They had stopped only twice a day, and had had no unexpected run-ins. For that, Elladan seemed relieved. He had had the most training out of the four of them, although not much more. Imladris was one of the few places where fighting was not essential. It was safe enough to go without.

Looking now between platforms 9 and 10 at Kings Cross Station, Maerwen was frozen. Growing up surrounded by magic and wizards, she had been a complete believer. But now, now when it mattered most, she began having doubts.

"Arwen?"

"Yes?"

"What if we don't make it? What if we just smash face first into bricks? What if 'muggles' see us? What if the train leaves? What if I get put into Slytherin? What if Dumbledore hates me? What if-"

"MAERWEN! BREATHE! Nothing is going to happen! We'll make it through; we'll get onto the train. So what if Slytherin claims you? They'd be lucky to have you. Dumbledore can't hate anyone. Except maybe Gollum…" Elrohir trailed off at the end, unwilling to say anymore. Before Maerwen could reply, she was picked up off the ground by Elladan, and placed on his back.

"Ready?" He asked Elrohir as Maerwen protested through giggles.

"Always." Elrohir replied.

With a squeal and a laugh from his hostage, Elladan ran into the wall, disappearing completely. And before Maerwen could say 'Quidditch', before her eyes there stood the most beautiful, glittering, crimson red train.

THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS read the sign on the front, written in pearly white. An odd looking crest painted below the sign, with what Maerwen guessed to be the 4 house symbols on. 4 coaches linked to the main locomotive stood long and high, with at least 4 compartments in each coach. The train looked as majestic as an eagle, sitting in the station with a million people boarding the train, standing on the platform, or trying to leave Kings Cross. Maerwen leaped off Elladan's back and took a few steps forward. Awe struck, she found herself unable to move any closer.

"Don't stop there! People are tryin' ta move, ya know!" A hostile voice came from behind the 4, and they all turned sharply. "Well? Ya gonna move? No?" A ginger dwarf with a stubborn face pushed roughly against Arwen and the twins, only to be stopped by Maerwen. Before she spoke, she looked quickly at the clock on the wall. 10:50. Better make this quick, she thought, train leaves in 10 minutes.

"Excuse me? Master dwarf? It's not polite to push past people, or use that tone of voice. They have done nothing wrong, you have no right to speak to them like that." Maerwen said in a cool tone.

"And who d'ya think you are then?! Ordering me about?! I outta show you a lesson, ya filthy she-elf!" And with that, Gimli pushed her so hard that she fell straight over her trunk and into a crowd of people.

"GIMLI SON OF GLOIN. NEVER. EVER. PUSH A DAUGHTER OF ELROND. ACTUALLY, NEVER PUSH ANYBODY. YOU HAD NO RIGHT, YOU TOOK IT TOO FAR." A cold, harsh vice boomed from the crowd, recognizable as the King of Mirkwood himself. The crowd quickly scattered, leaving Gimli standing a few feet away from a most magnificent sight. Maerwen was half conscious on the floor, after hitting her head, with two elves around her. They looked almost identical, but the taller showed signs of experience and knowledge, proving everybody right. The elegant elf standing at Maerwen's feet, glaring at Gimli, was Thranduil, son of Orophin. And kneeling by Maerwen's head was none other than the prince himself, Legolas Thranduilion.

"Now leave, son of Gloin. And do not trouble any of the Peredhil family whilst at Hogwarts." Gimli scuttled off sheepishly, boarded the train, and grumbled the whole time. "Are you alright, penneth?" The voice had changed from the cold kingly tone to the soft tone of a father.

"Of course she isn't, ada! What do you think?" Legolas stared incredulously at Thranduil.

"MAERWEN! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!" Elrohir rushed over, and began fussing.

"I… I'm alright Ro. Just a bit… shocked I guess. I'll be fine… in a bit." Maerwen gasped, winded. She turned to Thranduil and Legolas. "Thank you your majesty, your highness, for interrupting. My brothers would have lost their tempers, and the consequences may have been fairly disastrous.

"My pleasure penneth. Elrond always speaks so highly of his children, I had hoped dearly to meet you. Though, mayhap not in this particular situation." Thranduil chuckled at the slightly disheveled look on her face as Legolas helped her to her feet. "You five had best be getting on the train, or all the compartments will be taken. Good luck to you four. I hope to be seeing you more often. Give my best to your father." He turned to Legolas. "Have you got everything, ion nin?"

"Yes Ada."

"And you shall write as often as possible, shall you not?"

"I shall."

"And–"

"Stop fussing Ada! I'll be fine." Legolas gave Thranduil one last hug, and followed the children of Elrond into the train. Before he disappeared from sight, Thranduil called out to him.

"Legolas?"

"Ada?"

"I… I love you my son. I always have. I always will."

"I love you too Ada." And with that, he disappeared.

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"Easy. My hair is always braided in fish tail, his is always French. My build is more brawn, but his is more delicate." Maerwen laughed as Elladan tried explaining to Legolas how to tell the difference between the twins.

"So… how often am I likely to get it wrong?"

"Pretty much everyday for the first few weeks. After that, it'll be easy." Arwen giggled. After they had found a compartment and sat down, they had all introduced themselves. They had found out that Legolas, like Maerwen, was in his first year at Hogwarts. The two of them had instantly bonded, forming a friendship unlike any other. Legolas had laughed at the tales of pranking, willing to take part in any pranks henceforth. The twins had then explained to Maerwen and Legolas how the sorting ceremony worked.

"You will be called up, person by person. When you are called, you have to step up to Professor McGonagall, and sit on the stool. The rest is self-explanatory." Elrohir ended with a cheeky smile. Legolas looked at Maerwen, who looked as nervous and apprehensive as he did. Arwen smiled and simply said:

"You'll be fine." A knock on the compartment door took them out of their thoughts. A young boy, probably first year, stood, ready to ask a question.

"Excuse me? Um… do you mind? Nobody will open their doors… do you have room for another?" After getting a smile and a nod from one of the twins, he sat down and introduced himself. "My name is Aragorn, son of Arathorn."

"Nice to meet you, Aragorn! I'm Legolas; this is Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen and Maerwen. Tell me, why did you get thrown out by everyone else?"

"They told me my bloodline was all but lost. That there is no hope." Legolas flashed his brilliant smile and said with joy,

"Actually, my friend, you bring much hope, to all men and women. You are the reason they continue. In fact…" he trailed off and looked straight at Elrohir. Elrohir grinned and nodded, leaving Aragorn extremely confused. "Welcome to the group, Estel."

"Estel?"

"Hope."

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Maerwen lay in bed, silently wondering whether or not the day had been good. She may have had the time of her life, but she had made some enemies along the way…

"Gryffindor!" Maerwen squealed in delight. Not her first choice, but her second definitely! Legolas was already seated there, along with her siblings. Estel had also been placed into Gryffindor, whereas Gimli had been placed in Slytherin. Cunning and crafty. Sounded about right.

After the feast, whilst making their way to the common room for the first time, Gimli stopped them.

"So. Here we have the famous 3. The 3 who are supposed to do justice. That's how the stories go, right? 3 warriors who fix the world? Not you three. A daddy's boy, a hopeless case and a feeble child. What a brilliant mix. Elf, human, she-elf. Well good luck with that. You're gonna need it."

Maerwen couldn't help but wonder. Who was Gimli? Why was he so horrid towards her in particular? Was there something she didn't know about?

She fell asleep with the thoughts circling in her head, tucked away in her warm bed. One thing she did know – it was certain to be a busy year.

A/N: Translations: Penneth – young one / Ion nin – my son.

So that just happened… Hogwarts day 1, how's that for a beginning! Was I the only one imagining Gimli as Draco Malfoy? It just seemed so fitting! Don't worry, I love Gimli really. He'll be making a come back, I'm sure.

Thank you ever so much to L xxx, Rose61393 and AutumnLeaves03 for hitting Favourite and Follow, you're all appreciated! Thanks to the other 13 of you who read the story, just knowing you've read it makes me very very happy!

L xxx: Thanks so much S! I can't be bothered with the numbers ;) so I'll just respond in long text. Hello! Don't worry, I'll write plenty more, always. Way hay to reviewing! Awesomeness is overrated… Clever. Mayhap you remember what the 7th was? No? Ok then. Oh, yes you have! I have written loads more. I shall always keep writing that one, and for the curiosity of those reading THIS, I shall be posting it. I love you too, S. Hi E! Love you too. K, bye.

So this was a ridiculously long A/N, so I'm going to stop this here. Please please please please please Read, Review, Favourite and Follow!

I love you all, stay Tolkeinites!