In answer to some reviews:
Guest: Teddy will join them in Middle Earth, but not until the end. Aphrodite was focusing on escaping from Ron, and she trusted that Bill and Fleur would keep Teddy safe if she left.
DiLayla: She meets someone in this chapter, but the rest will all come in later chapters. Also I'm just gonna say Ron's either a really weak puncher or she doesn't bruise easy, because tbh I didn't mention a bruise. Also yes, Ron is Jame's father. He technically raped Aphrodite because you cannot give consent under the influence of a love potion.
rutokashi: Yes, she is very weak in many ways during this. That is what I was trying to fix while I was rewriting it. Because I never got to finish that (not enough time), I am trying to make it better with edits made to the original story.
Hope you guys enjoy chapter two!
This must be the place Ragnok was talking about, Aphrodite thought to herself as she stood up from the ground. She looked around her. Rock walls rose on either side of her, connecting reaching far above her head. Darkness reached around her except for a small prick of daylight streaming in from the entrance on the other side of the cavern. James made a small whimpering noise, tugging lightly on the collar of her T-shirt.
"Hush, darling," Aphrodite cooed, stroking a hand through his fine, black hair. "You must be quiet for now."
There was no telling what enemies lurked in the shadows of this new world. Aphrodite raised her wand, casting a silent lumos to illuminate the rocky floor in front of her. It would be best to get out of there before whatever lived in the cave decided she and her son looked like prey.
James whimpered again, and once more Aphrodite tried to hush him, but to no avail. His whining grew louder, until it developed into tears and crying.
"Best shut him up, dearie," a voice cackled from behind her.
Aphrodite jumped and flipped around. A wrinkled beast with yellow-green skin, orb-like eyes, and sharp teeth grinned at her in the white light of her wand. Leather armor and chainmail covered it's chest and hindquarters, and a wicked blade was grasped in its hand. A goblin? Ragnok had said they were primitive beasts in this old world, but perhaps he could be reasoned with.
Master Goblin," Aphrodite said, refusing to let her voice waver in front of the creature. "I have been sent here by your kin from another land for protection."
"Mmm," the goblin sneered. "Foreign delicacy."
It appeared they would not be reasoning then. Aphrodite slashed her wand forward, dimming the light and sending a nasty cutting curse towards the goblin. She turned heel and ran with James to the point of light at the other end, the goblins screeching and cursing echoing off the high walls. The curse apparently hadn't been fatal because after only a moment the sound of the goblin's heavy footsteps and clattering chainmail filling the space.
Aphrodite put on an extra burst of speed. She couldn't fight well while holding James. If she could just make it outside, she could lose the goblin in the forest.
The cavern was shorter than she thought, and it only took her a moment to burst through the entrance, straight into the heavily-armored chest of a rugged man. The man grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side while his companion stepped forward to meet the goblin in combat. After only two swings of the man's broadsword, the goblin fell to the ground without its head.
"Are you alright there, lass?" the man who had pulled her to the side asked. "We've been tracking that goblin for weeks. Keeps stealing our children, he does."
Aphrodite took a minute to catch her breath. "I'm okay, sir. Thank you for helping my son and me. I am Lady Aphrodite Potter."
The man who had slain the goblin looked Aphrodite up and down. "No offense lass, but you don't look like no royal."
Aphrodite looked down at her clothes, a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. The men in front of her were wearing armor and, underneath it, leather pants and loose cotton shirts. The people of this world had probably never seen the clothes she was wearing.
"I'm running away," she said. "My son and I were in danger, and I thought to go about in less assuming clothes."
"Where you running from?" the man who slayed the goblin asked. He looked to be the more suspicious of the two. "Ain't no royalty in these parts.
"It's more a who. There is a man who is after my family's power and money. He thought he could take it by forcing me to be his and by fathering my child."
The suspicious man looked affronted. "You wench! You need a good man in your life to take care o' you, and here you are running off with his child!"
Righteous fury built up inside Aphrodite at the notion that she was somehow inferior to Ronald Weasley of all people. Before she could fire back an angry retort, the second man stepped in. "Now, Edwin, give the poor girl a chance," he chided. "She has just been chased by a goblin."
The second man glared at Aphrodite. "You better have a good story, wench."
"I owe you nothing," Aphrodite snarled. She pulled her wand back out, ready to hex the man and be on her way.
"Milady," the second man said before she could think of a hex. "My name is Rowan. I come from the town of Bree, and I think you might be lost."
Aphrodite bit back her retort of not needing any help. "I am, yes. Is there a town close by? Perhaps with an inn I could stay at?"
"Bree's not far, milady," Rowan said, giving her a slight bow. "And the Prancing Pony's as good an inn as any you'll find in these parts. I should be honored to take you there."
"I would be indebted to you if you would take me there." Aphrodite ignored the furious look on Edwin's face as she conversed with Rowan.
"Think nothing of it, lass," Rowan chuckled. "I'm always willing to help a damsel in distress."
Edwin sheathed his sword, glare still heavy in his eyes. "Come along, then. As long as I can be rid of you."
Aphrodite was about to start walking out of the woods with them when James started to cry. "Oh, you haven't eaten in a while, have you?" Aphrodite asked softly. "Would you mind terribly if I went and fed him?"
"We'll turn around," Rowan said. "You can go into the entrance of the cave. Don't go in far, though. There could be other creatures in there." Edwin just continued to glare, mumbling under his breath about bastard children and wastes of time.
"Thank you again," Aphrodite said, choosing to ignore the spiteful man. She went a couple meters into the cave and turned around.
"Tell us when your done!" Rowan shouted.
"I will," Aphrodite called back. She pulled the collar of her tee-shirt down and let James latch onto her nipple. When he was done, Aphrodite fixed her bra and shirt and turned back around. "You two can look now." The two men turned back around to face her.
"Shall we get on, then?" Edwin asked, impatiently.
"Lead the way," Aphrodite replied.
Once in Bree, Edwin and Rowan left Aphrodite and James at the entrance of the Prancing Pony. Rowan offered her a cheery farewell, while Edwin continued to grumble maliciously. Aphrodite was about to enter when she realized what she was still wearing her T-shirt and sweats. Perhaps a dress would be better. These people seemed to be stuck in the muggle Middle Ages. With a quick flick of her wand, Aphrodite's T-shirt and sweatpants turned into a dark green dress. She turned her wand on James and turned his little onesie in a wool smock.
Aphrodite got her hand on the door before stopping again, realizing she hadn't brought any money. "How could I have forgotten to bring money?" she asked herself softly, slowly backing away from the door.
"Are you lost, milady?" a deep voice asked from behind her.
Aphrodite quickly turned around. "No, I'm fine," she said, glaring fiercely up at him. The man was tall compared to her 1.6 meters.
"You wouldn't happen to be Lady Aphrodite Potter, would you?" the man asked, gazing into Aphrodite's bright green eyes. Aphrodite nodded her head, suspicious of how the stranger had known her name in this unfamiliar place. "Wonderful," the man smiled. "Come inside with me, we have much to discus. Gandalf sent me to find you."
"Who?" Aphrodite asked. But the man had already grabbed her by the arm and dragged her inside.
"A room for two, please," the man said.
"This your wife then, Ranger?" the man sitting on the stool asked the man who had grabbed Aphrodite by the arm.
"My sister and her son, Butterbur," the man, who still had a tight grip on Aphrodite said. "A room, if you please."
"Right, right," Butterbur said. "Here you are." Butterbur handed Strider a key. "To the right of your usual room."
"Thank you, Butterbur," Strider said smoothly. He dropped a sack full of coins on the desk of the plump man. "Come, Aphrodite." Strider pulled Aphrodite up the stairs and to a room. He quickly unlocked the door and shoved her inside.
"Who are you?" Aphrodite asked cautiously as she backed up against the wall. She held James tightly to her as she fingered her wand, hidden in a fold of her dress.
"I go by many names, Aphrodite Potter. My real name is Aragorn. Though, you must only call me that in private. It would be dangerous if people knew that. When there are other near us call me either Strider or Estel."
"Who is this Gandalf person that you said sent you to look for me?"
Aragorn raised an eyebrow at her as he lowered his hood. "You know him well, though he said you might recognize him by the name Albus Dumbledore."
Aphrodite's eyes narrowed. "That's impossible. Albus Dumbledore was killed was murdered in front of me six years ago. Who really sent you? Did Ronald send you to bring me back to him?"
"Gandalf told me to give you this," Aragorn said simply, handing Aphrodite a scroll of parchment. Aphrodite took it in one hand. She moved over to the bed and sat down with James in her lap. She opened the thick parchment gingerly. The elegant scrawl was indeed familiar.
Aphrodite,
I'm terribly sorry for all you had to go through after my "death". I need you to know it was an urgent matter that I left on. Had I not been so desperately needed here, I would have stayed t give you all the help you could get. As it is, I am very proud of you. You have done well in the task I left you with. I have never been more proud of anyone.
On to business. I have sent Aragorn to you. I know trusting does not come easily to you, but you can most definitely trust Aragorn. I must warn you, Ronald, Arthur, and Molly will follow you here. There is another passageway to Middle Earth (the new world you have found yourself in) besides goblin rings. The veil your godfather fell through is another passage.
Sirius is still alive and well. I'm sure you care greatly about that. As is your friend Daphne Greengrass. Both reside in Rohan at the moment. Daphne wishes me to send you her best. She also says, "Don't die." Sirius can't wait to see you again. Do not worry, you will see them both within a year.
You and Aragorn must wait at the Prancing Pony for the hobbits. They are little people with large feet. One is carrying with him a great something. Frodo Baggins carries the Ring of Power. I'm sure you know of what I refer. You are needed here, Aphrodite. You must help protect Frodo and bring him to Imladris. You are the Mistress of Death, though you have not yet fully claimed your title. You can keep him safe better than anyone else.
Good luck, Aphrodite. Know that I have always thought of you as a granddaughter, from the moment I first held you in my arms when you were born. I shall see you soon my dear.
Your old professor,
Albus Dumbledore
Aphrodite looked up at Aragorn. "So Prof ― I mean Gandalf told you to come find me. Now, we're waiting for Frodo Baggins and company to show up. When they get here, we take them to Imladris, wherever that is, and I've completed my job. I'm done."
"That is your task," Aragorn agreed.
"Meanwhile," Aphrodite continued, "I must also pretend to be your sister."
Aragorn blushed slightly. "Ah, yes, sorry about that. I needed to tell him something and that is what popped into my head."
"Peachy," Aphrodite smiled sarcastically. She looked out the window. "What time is it?"
"Around seven," Aragorn replied, looking out at the darkening sky.
"Odd," Aphrodite frowned. "I have only been here three hours at the most. I definitely left later at night than four in the afternoon."
"When you passed through to this world, time must have flown differently."
"Right," Aphrodite frowned. Her stomach growled. "Could we go get some food, please?"