Wow, this is a short chapter… sorry… It might have something to do with the lack of chocolate… hint hint. Here comes the action! I hope what happens is unexpected- I want to make this story as original as possible, and not just some other boring Mary-Sue. On to Weathertop!

DISCLAIMER: Don't own, can't sue.

CHAPTER 4

I was woken early next morning by Sam shaking me.

'Ugh…' I grunted, 'What time is it?'

'Nearly 6 o'clock Vanessa. Strider says we must be getting on if we're to get to Weathertop by nightfall,' Sam replied.

'6 O'CLOCK!' I shouted. 'What are we doing up at 6 o'clock? No one gets up that early!'

'Of course they do. Now get ready quickly, we need to be going,' said Aragorn.

I jumped. 'Where did you come from?'

'I can walk very quietly should the occasion arise.'

'Fine. Is there any clean water around here?' I asked. I hadn't washed my hair for at least three days, and it was getting really greasy. Luckily, I had a wash bag with me- the only way to stop pesky 4th years stealing your shampoo was to take it round with you. A bit annoying, but if you shrunk it down it hardly took up any room so it was ok.

'There's a stream over there my lady,' replied Aragorn, pointing over to my left.

'Thanks. And it's Vanessa, ok?' I said huffily. I still wasn't awake yet.

The stream was freezing cold. Even the Hogwarts Lake wasn't this cold usually. I quickly washed my face and hands, but decided against hair. We would be in Rivendell tomorrow anyway, where they would be able to get me some warm water.

Half an hour later (I managed to get ready faster than I ever had before) we were walking again. We walked for hours, not pausing for lunch- just eating while walking (we had some sausages left over from last night).

As Aragorn had predicted, we reached Weathertop by nightfall. We set up camp in a cave half way up the hill. Aragorn brought a large bundle out of his pack.

'These are for you,' he said as he gave the bundles to the hobbits. 'Keep them close. I'm going to have a look around. Stay here.' He turned to me. 'I have no sword for you. Should we be attacked, get out of the way as quickly as possible without being seen. Secrecy is your best defence.'

'No really, I'm fine with my wand. I can take care of myself,' I assured him.

'I hope you will not have to,' he replied, before leaving the cave and setting off down the cliff.

Sam was setting up a fire to cook dinner. Frodo, who was completely exhausted, had fallen to sleep almost immediately getting his sword.

'Please can you light the fire for us?' Pippin asked me.

'Sure. Incendo,' I said and the logs burst up in flames. Sam began to cook the sausages, tomatoes and bacon.

The sound of our voices must have woken Frodo, for all of a sudden he leapt up. 'What are you doing?' he shouted.

'Tomatoes, sausages, nice crispy bacon,' said Merry.

'We saved some for you Mr. Frodo,' added Sam.

Frodo wasn't tempted. 'Put it out you fools! Put it out!' he cried desperately.

'Oh that's nice! Ash on my tomatoes!' complained Pippin indignantly.

We were all silenced as a terrifying screech reached our ears. The Nazgúl were coming.

'GO!' Frodo shouted, motioning us to get up the hill. I was scared stiff at the prospect of meeting the Nazgúl again, but I followed the hobbits to the top of Amon Sûl, hoping that my wand would be enough to protect me. I knew some pretty harmful curses, but I didn't know whether they would work against the evil creatures. I would soon find out…

We got to the top and clustered together so we could see in all directions. The hobbits drew their little swords and I drew my wand. 'What curses can I use on them?' I thought, 'I can't quite imagine something like jelly legs working. I wonder… oooh that's an idea…' I had thought of something brilliant. Or it would be brilliant if it worked…

We didn't have to wait long for the Nazgúl to arrive. Five of them rose out of the mist on the edge of the hill, and came towards us with their swords drawn. They looked seriously lethal. There was no way I would be able to block one of them apart from dodging… ' At least with me it's a fairer match than in the movie,' I thought.

A ringwraith was coming towards me. Without thinking, I tried the last I thought would work. I concentrated as hard as I could on saying the words properly, and wished as hard as I could that it would work, as I said 'AVADA KEDAVRA!' A bolt of bright green light shot from the end of my wand. I felt a wave of power rush through me, so strong that I almost fell over. But somehow I knew I had to stay standing, or it wouldn't work. The curse hit the ringwraith full on. To my complete amazement, it worked. The ringwraith collapsed where he was standing, his sword clattering on the hard stone floor. Three of the four remaining Nazgúl wheeled round and screeched loudly. They were coming towards me… but that one curse had taken so much energy out of me I knew I would not be able to protect myself against them. The three of them were coming closer and closer- I could feel there coldness, they were like Dementors. 'Dementors! The Patronus!' I felt a wave of relief as I realised I did have a chance. I tried to think of the happiest thing I could. 'My first day at Hogwarts… Meeting Jasmine and Lauren for the first time… Winning the Quidditch Cup… When Phoenix was born…' 'EXPECTO PATRONUM!' I cried. It seemed to be enough. The Nazgúl obviously didn't have a knack of draining all thought of happiness out of you, like Dementors did. My Patronus leapt up out of thin air- a grey wolf. It growled at the Nazgúl and ran towards them. The Nazgúl backed away from it towards the edge of the hill. It was at this moment that Aragorn arrived to save us. I managed to stay conscious for long enough to see him fend off the Nazgúl further, but when my Patronus faded, so did I.

A/N: Deepest apologies- I know that chapter was about three pages less than normal, but it seemed like a good place to stop. Please review! I need ideas…

- Phoenix is Vanessa's little sister and Harry and Hermione's second daughter.

REVIEW RESPONSES:

IwishChan: Chocolate and banana is one of the best food pairings… yummy…

marauderluver: 'Into the West' is one of the best songs written for a movie ever. That and the other LotR songs, and 'Land of Bear and Land of Eagle' (King Arthur) and 'Now We Are Free' (Gladiator). It'll be another two chapters at least before she meets Legolas though…

Primevera Took: Have you managed to hear Good Riddance yet? Hope the Weathertop scene here lived up to expectations.

Wacko the Sane: Grrrr… >( keep that tone up and I'll never make you any more lembas. Negative: Of course you're allowed to use real names! And fyi, loads of other people copy text. Do you want me to completely ruin Tolkien's work by changing everything? Positive: It's nice to know that you're finally bothering to read something of mine.