Im so so sorry for the late update, school has been hectic and I probably won't post till february. But I hope this extremely long chapter makes up for it sort of. please please review and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: would I really be here if I owned HP or LOTR?
Chapter 7: Meetings
Over the next two days, delegations of dwarves, elves, and men from all over Middle-Earth arrived in Rivendell. The witches and wizards were fascinated by the different races that Middle-Earth had to offer, especially Hermione. But, not wanting to expose themselves to these strangers, whom they didn't know whether or not to trust, they kept to themselves. Aragorn, Merry, Pippin and Sam all arrived on the day before Frodo woke up. They were very happy to see that Neville, Hermione, Harry, Ginny and Ron were alright and were pleased to meet Luna and Draco.
"Never before have I seen so many wizards in one place" Aragorn said smiling after greeting them one morning at breakfast.
"Well the only wizard I met is Gandalf," Pippin said from his seat in between Neville and Ginny "Don't tell Gandalf, but I think your magic is much more impressive" he whispered to Neville "Can you show Merry and I some more?"
"I heard that Master Took" Gandalf said as he also entered the room and took his place at the long table.
Pippin smiled sheepishly. "Sorry Gandalf" he said as Merry, Aragorn, Legolas and the witches and wizards laughed openly.
"After breakfast" Neville whispered back to his friend.
"Where's Sam?" Merry asked Gandalf
"He is with Frodo. Master Baggins has just woken up"
"That's great news!" Merry said excitedly.
Neville nodded "We'll go see him after we eat"
"And you can show him some magic too" Pippin said happily.
Almost everyone finished eating but before they all left Gandalf stopped them "Before you all go, I have to inform you of something. As you all know the council meeting to which you are all invited is scheduled for five days from now. The day before the meeting there is five days from now. All the ambassadors from the different races have arrived. As intriguing as they all might seem, lord Elrond and I wish that all those from the Wizarding World keep their identities secret until the meeting"
Everyone nodded in understanding, they didn't need to be told all this, seeing as they weren't planning on telling all of Middle-Earth their identity anyways. They all made in their separate directions. Gandalf, and the hobbits went to go visit Frodo and were accompanied by Ginny who was also keen on making sure he was okay. Hermione and Ron made their way back to the library and Legolas, Luna and Draco made their way out to go explore Rivendell some more. Lately, Legolas had been teaching the siblings elven culture and had been also trying to teach them a bit of Sindrain.
Only Harry and Aragorn were left at the table. Aragorn who hadn't finished with the others because he was too buys speaking to Gandalf noticed that Harry was playing with the only quarter eaten food on his plate. "What troubles you, Master Potter?" He asked
"Hmm?" Harry asked. He looked around in shock noticing for the first time that almost everyone was gone. "Oh, sorry. I must have zoned out" he said awkwardly. Harry liked Aragorn, he had been extremely helpful back in Bree and seemed like an amazing friend to have, but he had never spoken to the man alone before. Because of his past, Harry wasn't very prone into trusting people.
Noticing Harry's discomfort Aragorn said "Do not worry, you have hardly touched your food, I was merely making sure you were alright"
"I was just thinking" Harry said. He looked at the man and noticed that he genuinely seemed concerned, almost like a parent would if their child was depressed by something. He couldn't share his doubts with any of the others from his worlds so he thought maybe by sharing with Aragorn he would be able to have an unbiased point of view from someone else about his troubles. Anyways, Aragorn had been nothing but kind to him and Harry could see they there was a lot of wisdom in those eyes. Yes, Aragorn could give good advice. He took a deep breath and began to speak.
"I was just thinking about what Draco said a few days ago."
Aragon nodded, indicating he was listening.
"We were talking about going back to earth and he said 'what would we go back to?' and I realized that maybe he was right. What would we go back to? The death eaters would still be after us, what kind of life is that? But if we stay here we can start fresh new lives"
Aragorn nodded in understanding. The wizards and witches may not have explained much about their lives but they had explained that there were minions of a dead dark lord after them. How such young people could get into such a predicament he didn't know, but he didn't want to pry either.
Almost forgetting that Aragorn was in the room, Harry continued to speak. It felt really good getting this off his chest. "But they all look to me to make the final decision, but I don't know. I mean I don't know everything that would be right for everyone, I never asked to be the leader on this 'trip' but just because I'm the bloody Boy Who Lived-" Harry stopped suddenly. He hadn't meant to say that. He avoided talking about his life as the 'Chosen One' with people he didn't know. One, because he didn't always trust everyone with the information and two, he was afraid of being judged because of his choices.
"The Boy Who Lived?" Aragorn asked.
"It's nothing" Harry said quickly. Aragon could tell that it wasn't 'nothing'. From what he could tell through Harry's expression and what he had just said, was that Harry was a very important figure on Earth and Harry was very uncomfortable being that figure. Suddenly he knew he could connect with this young man. Because he too felt overwhelmed by his title as the heir to Gondors throne and people often turned to him because of his title. He decided that Harry needed to know that there was someone who shared his doubts and fears. For this reason he decide to reveal his most biggest secret.
"Harry I'm not going to pressure you into telling me about your past on Earth. I wouldn't expect you to, seeing as we haven't known each other very long, and you may not be completely sure whether or not you can trust me fully"
Harry smiled sheepishly, a bit embarrassed that Aragorn had read him so well.
"But I can tell you my story. You know of Gondor, yes?"
Harry nodded. Hermione had told them yesterday about what she had read in one of the history books in the elven library. Isildur, one of the founders of Gondor, had fought and won against Sauron. When Sauron was defeated Isildur took the Ring from Sauron and kept it for himself. The ring possessed him, and betrayed him, leading to his death. Gondor was once considered the greatest kingdom of men before the fall of the king. It was said that the line of Isildur had ended and that the stewards were in charge of Gondor for so long, hoping for the return of the king, who would restore Gondor to it's former glory. But as the years passed that hope had diminished.
"Hermione told me that Gondor is a great kingdom of men who don't currently have a king. It's ruled by the stewards until the rightful heir to the throne comes back. But they haven't because it's said that Isildurs line has ended"
"It hasn't. I am Isildurs last descendent" Aragorn said bitterly
Harry gasped "you're Isildurs heir?!"
"I am. But I don't like it. I'm sure Hermione has told you about Isildur and the ring"
Harry nodded again.
"Everyone who knows, Gandalf and Elrond especially, are very persistent that I take the role as king of Gondor. But what they don't understand is that I'm fearful that I will prove to be weak line Isildur. I feel like the men of Gondor and I are not worthy. That men in general are weak. For this reason, I don't want to assume this role." Aragorn took a deep breath "Harry, I know what you're feeling. From what I understand about this Boy Who Lived thing you're also an iconic figure in your world. I know you feel pressure because people turn to you for decisions for what you are, not who you are. But Harry, you mean a lot to your friends, that is very obvious. Follow your heart Harry, and I'm sure whatever decision you make, your friends will appreciate and understand it"
Harry stared long and hard at Aragorn and internally was swelling with with happiness. Someone finally understood what he went and was going through.
"Thank you Aragorn. You have no idea how relieving to meet someone who feels the same way. We're more alike than you think. We're both forced into titles that we don't want and never asked for" Harry looked at the wall behind Aragorn with a distant look on his face "Don't get me wrong, my friends are amazing and give a lot of comfort. But no matter how much they try they can never truly know how much the pressure of being a leader can really be"
Aragorn nodded and held Harry's shoulder in understanding, he too felt a kindred spirit in Harry.
"I think we will become good friends Master Potter" he said standing up. "Take heed of my advice, and always know that there are people who have and will support any decision that you make"
"Thanks, Aragorn" Harry said with a genuine smile on his face. The other man bowed slightly and just as he was about leave Harry said "hey Aragorn,"
"Yes?"
Harry smiled again "pay attention to your own advice. Do what your heart tells you is right, sometimes we have to also look at a bigger picture than ourselves"
"Those are wise words Harry, I'll take them into consideration" and with that Aragorn left, pondering over the conversation he had just had with the young wizard.
Similarly, Harry was also thinking about what they had spoken about, and he felt better about the decision be was leaning towards...
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it was the day of the meeting and it was needless to say that all 7 witches and wizards were extremely nervous at how the people of Middle-Earth would react to them. They were all assembled in the garden with Legolas who had told them that he needed to tell them some things before the meeting began.
"What did you want to say to us, Legolas?" Harry asked curiously
"Well the first thing is for Luna, Ginny and Hermione" he said looking at each woman in turn "while it may be different in your world. In Middle-Earth is a very male dominant society and women do not have a say in meetings such as these, they don't have the privilege to attend either. I must warn you, that for this reason you may receive a negative reaction from some of the men present" At hearing this, Ginny looked absolutely furious, Hermione scoffed as if she expected nothing more and Luna simply nodded, all emotion void of her face.
Legolas bowed his head a bit in shame "I am sorry" he said
"It's not your fault, Legolas" Luna said sternly "we know you don't believe in this nonsense. You were just warning us for which we are very thankful"
"It's true that I don't believe that this discrimination is right. There are many female elven warriors back home in Mirkwood. And they all give very good advice to my father and I. Like them, I am sure you three are also as worthy as any man"
"It's good to hear that" Ginny said. She was till quite angry about this though. Women were just as capable at making a difference as men.
"Is there anything else we should be warned about?" Ron asked looking at Ginny. Knowing her, he was very worried about how his sister was taking this.
"Yes. I doubt any of them will believe that you are actual wizards" at this the seven of them looked highly offended after all it's not like these were like the muggles bak home, they had their own, very popular wizards. Getting a bit nervous of the fact that so many powerful wizards were seething Legolas decided to quickly continue "Gandalf, Aragorn, Frodo, Elrond and I will try to convince them but we don't think it will be enough. You will probably have to each show them some magic to prove it. Nothing big, just something like you showed the hobbits the other day, just so that they believe you"
"Alright, we'll do that" Harry assured the elf.
"If I might ask, why won't the believe we have magic?" Neville asked curiously
"Because it is not normal for such young people as yourselves, elves and a hobbit to be an Istari"
"We understand" Ron said. He really wanted I get this over with so he quickly added, before anyone else could "so we go in now?"
"Well I go in now, but according to lord Elrond, you are all to go into the courtyard when the guard lets you. Lord Elrond wants to give a brief introduction before you enter"
"You mean warning" Draco said. Legolas chuckled
"Yes I suppose" he answered "I will see you all soon". Legolas turned on his heel and went through the doorway that led to the courtyard where the meeting was being held.
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Inside the meeting lord Elrond was addressing the members from Middle-Earth. "Welcome, to all" he said looking at the representatives from each race. Of men, dwarves, elves and even hobbits. "Before we begin to discuss the reasons behind this meeting, I would like to introduce seven individuals who have journeyed from a far land called earth. They are all Istari, like Gandalf here and they have been asked to come to this meeting to give their personal advice as they have recently through a great war. Please give them your utmost attention and respect." He explained. Everyone present except for those who knew were giving each other curious glances. None of them had ever heard of a place called earth before. "Guard, let them in" Elrond told the elf guarding the entrance.
The guard nodded and opened the door. The council members saw two elves, male and female, a hobbit, two men and two women enter.
"Where are the Istari, lord Elrond?" A broad man with sandy hair asked.
"Yes, these are them, lord Boromir" the elf lord answered.
"But they are elves, and hobbits and they hardly look over a day over 20" Boromir insisted
"And there are 3 females amongst them" a dwarf with a long red beard said in a gruff voice
"You expect us to take advice from children? What do children know of war, especially females?" Boromir
The seven witches and wizards looked at each other uncomfortably. This wasn't going well.
Before Elrond could say anything Legolas shot out of his seat. "These are no normal children. They are the most brave and powerful witches and wizards you could ever meet" he said angrily, defending his new friends.
"Well you insolent elves were all deceived by troublemaking children, elf" another dwarf added.
Ginny had enough "SHUT IT!" She yelled, and everyone did. Harry was instantly reminded of his sixth year during quidditch tryouts.
"We are witches and wizards from earth and we are no children. You say we have never seen war, well I doubt what you have seen could ever amount to what we have ever since we could remember. We have suffered more than any of you could see bear, so don't say for one second that we know nothing, just because we are young and some of us are women" she added heatedly. Ginny turned to her companions and whispered harshly "Petty little magic tricks will not convince them, we have to show them something that will shake them to the core. Something that will permanently remove the stereotypical judgements that have ruled the hearts of all these men"
The six of them nodded in agreement. "What do we do?" Draco asked.
Harry took a deep breath. It wasn't in his nature to share his life with people but from what he had seen, the peoples of Middle-Earth needed a serious reality check. "We need to show them what fear and sadness really is. We each individually show them bad moments in our lives. It doesn't have to be the worst moment in your life - that's too personal. Just enough to shake them " after a brief pause of thought, he added "if you don't want to it's fine, I just think we really need to show these people not to judge people based on appearances. This is much bigger than just us" all six of them looked in deep thought. Ron shared a look with each of them and finally spoke for all of them when he whispered "we'll do it"
First, Draco stood before the company and pulled out his wand and pointe above them. He spoke in a loud and clear voice when he said "My name is Draco Malfoy. And you say I'm too young. But look at what happened to this 17 year old boy who failed to kill a man for a psychopath who threatened to kill the boy and his parents if he didn't
A silver mist shot out of his wand and formed an image.
What the audience saw was a truly terrifying man with pale white skin, red beady eyes and two slits for a nose. He was more snake than man a few of them thought. The man was standing over Draco who was lying on the floor panting, with sweat pouring down his face.
"Please, my lord!" The image Draco yelled
"You failed me Draco" the snake man said maliciously. "I told you to kill Dumbledore, but being the weakling you are, you didn't. I'm beginning to feel that you never wanted to do my bidding in the first place. You were never loyal to me Draco, and for that you and your parents will pay" the man pointed his wand at Draco and smiled in an evil, twisted way.
"Not my family, my lord" Draco whimpered "Please!"
"It's too late for that - Crucio!" The man yelled and a jet of red light came out of his wand and hit Draco. At this the audience saw the image Draco start screaming in torture as if a hundred blazing swords were stabbing him repeatedly. This torture lasted for a few minutes until Draco made the image disappear because most of the men of Middle-Earth had turned their faces away.
Dracos voice hardly shook as he said "This is only a portion of what my life was" he joined his fellow magic practicers and Luna took his place in front of the slightly shaken viewers. "My name is Luna Lovegood. And you say that I am only a woman. But look at this 16 year old girl, kidnapped and held hostage so her father could do the bidding of a psychopath. She had to sit in that cell. bound by chains, and listen as an old man, also held captive was tortured". Out of Luna's wand came a mist that showed her being held up by chains. She looked starved and dirty. The room was dark and an old man could be heard screaming.
"Where is the wand Ollivander?" A clod voice asked in the dark. The people watching recognized the voice to belong to the man they saw in Dracos image.
"I don't know!" The old man yelled
"You so know" the cold voice said "and for lying to lord Voldemort, you will pay!-Crucio"
A bright red light revealed Luna's terrified face, the old man screaming from the torture and Voldemort smiling in a twisted sort of way. Luna waved her wand, the image disappeared "this is only a potion of what my life was" she whispered and returned back to her spot. Draco held her hand when she came beside him.
Next, Hermione went to go stand at the front, but before she did Ron stopped her and whispered "you don't have to do this". He knew what his girlfriend was about to show, and he didn't like it. "Neither do you" Hermione answered. She knew what he was going to show as well "but we're still going to do it". And with that he addressed the audience.
"My name is Hermione Granger and you say I'm only a woman. But look at this 17 year old girl tortured for information just because of her blood and just because she wanted to do the right thing" she took a deep breath and formed an image in the air. It showed her lying down on the floor crying as a mad woman with dark hair was screaming "what else did you take from my vault you stupid little mudblood?!" The woman then took out a small dagger and started cutting into Hermiones skin. Hermione screamed.
"Please?! We didn't take anything!" And she kept on screaming as the woman kept piercing her skin. Then the woman got up and Hermione was totally still on the floor with tears running down her face as the people in the room saw what the woman had done to her arm. The word 'Mudblood' was pierced onto her arm. The present Hermione lifted up her sleeve and showed the scar that still was in the shape of the word. "This is only a portion of what my life was" she whispered and she returned back to her spot. Ron hugged her briefly, his skin extremely pale as he went up before audience. Now the audience looked terrified at what else they were about to see these children do. Ron looked at each of them coldly before saying "My name is Ron Weasley and you say I'm just a kid. Well look at this 17 year old boy held in a prison while he heard the woman he loved being tortured and he could do nothing about it" he lifted his wand and showed an image with himself banging on on a door. "HERMIONE! HERMIONE!" The image Ron was yelling on the top of his lungs as a Hermione was screaming as she was being tortured. The image Ron fell down an broke into tears as he kept saying "Hermione, Hermione".
"This is only a portion of my life" the real Ron said quietly with tears in his eyes as he made the image disappear and went back to Hermione who held his hand in a soothing way.
Next Neville went up. "My name is Neville Longbottom and you say I'm too young. But watch as this baby of 1 year watches his parents get tortured into insanity by madmen because the enemy wanted information they his parents didn't have" the image Neville showed was one of himself when he was a baby holding the bars on his crib, watching as a man and woman screamed before him as they were tortured by 4 people. The torture went on constantly for ten minutes before Harry came up to Neville and whispered in a shaky voice "that's enough Neville" Neville nodded and made the image disappear. He looked coldly at the people before him and said "this is only a portion of my life" and with that he went next to Hermione who enveloped him into a hug. Everyone wondered how he still remembered that night.
Next Ginny went up after kissing Harry on the cheek. "My name is Ginny Weasley, and you say I am only a woman. But watch as this eleven year old girl was possessed and controlled by a madman into unleashing a monster on innocent children. She waves her wand and created an image that showed her when she was elven with a pale distant look in her eyes as she wrote a message in blood on a wall. It said "her skeleton will lie on the chamber forever". Then the image Ginny was shown walking down a room with statues of snakes with the same distant look in her eyes. In her hands was a diary. When she reached the statue of an old man at the end of the room she put the diary on the floor. Out of the diary a teenage boy came out and looked at her in a menacing sort of way.
"Tom?" The image Ginny asked quietly before the image went dark.
"I was possessed by an evil man when I was a child and almost died. And this is only a portion of my life" the present Ginny said her eyes blazing in hatred as she stared at where Tom Riddle Jr. was standing just now. She went back next to her friends, and held Harry's hand for a second
"Harry you don't have to do this" she whispered.
"I need to Ginny" he whispered back "look at them" he gestured to the people of Middle-Earth, who all looked very frightened indeed. "They almost understand the point that we're trying to show them. We need to end this backwards thinking once and for all"
He took a deep breath and went before the council. "My name is Harry Potter, and you say I'm just a child. But look at this 14 year old child who had to watch as his friend died because of the madman who killed his parents when he was a baby. This friend didn't have to die, he shouldn't even have been there in the first place, but he was and he died" the audience was very still as for the final time today, a wizard raised his wand and formed an image in the air.
The image showed Harry falling on to the floor of a graveyard, and clutching on to his forehead in pain. "Cedric, run!" he managed to get out to the boy who was with him. But the boy Cedric didn't leave, instead he stayed and confronted the new people who had arrived at the graveyard.
"Kill the spare" a cold voice said and a man holding a bundle aimed his wand and said "Avada Kedavra!" A jet of green light hit Cedric who fell, motionless, on the ground.
"NOOOO!" The image Harry yelled and that's when the image cleared. The people of middle-earth looked stunned at where the mist disappeared. To think that a single light could kill someone like that was terrifying.
Harry cleared his throat "I hope this shows you all that women and children are not as weak as you take them for and we believe you should remove these prejudices because you have no idea what we are capable of. You are all the representatives of the free-peoples of middle earth but you don't realized the effect 'children' can have. You have no idea the what my friends and I have been through, not would you ever be able to understand. But understand this, we are not to be underestimated" he said forcefully. He resumed his place next to his friends and looked on at what was playing before him.
All those who knew the seven looked at them in awe. They had believed that these people had been though a lot but after seeing all of this, they truly felt awful that such young people had been through hell and back. Everyone else in the entire room felt shaken by what they had just seen. They could never imagine being exposed to such horrors from since they were children and most of them realized that they were all truly wrong to doubt these young magic practicers.
"If you are all satisfied masters Boromir and Gimli, shall we continue?" Lord Elrond said coldly. He was truly disappointed how everyone had reacted to the witches and wizards.
"I apologize lord wizards and lady witches" Boromir said quietly, his head hung in shame "I was wrong to doubt you - forgive me"
"Aye" Gimli the dwarf added. Both of them felt really badly for discouraging the seven in the first place.
"It's alright" Harry said with a small smile of his face as everyone else nodded. They were all happy their point had come across.
Now that the meeting would officially begin Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione went to go sit next to Aragorn. Luna and Draco sat on either side of Legolas and Neville sat next to a very withdrawn Frodo who gave him a small smile.
"Now shall we begin?" Lord Elrond asked.
The meeting was one like Harry had never seen before. Elrond revealed that the one ring had been found, Boromir went into some sort of creepy trance saying that the ring should go to Gondor. At this Luna got pretty angry and said the ring should be destroyed to which Aragorn agreed. Boromir got angry at Aragorn, saying that a ranger would know nothing of the matter and at this Legolas jumped from his seat and told Boromir that Aragorn was the heir to the throne and Boromir owed him his allegiance. Boromir got offended and said that Gondor needed no king. Hearing Legolas say his identity made Aragorn feel uncomfortable, Harry could tell. So to get the attention away from his friend Harry said loudly, "So we move to destroy it?"
"Yes master Potter" Elrond agreed
"Well what are we waiting for" Gimli said gruffly. The dwarf got up from his chair and swung his double-sided axe at the ring that was sitting at the table. This proved to be pointless because the ring just sent a powerful blow back at Gimli who fell on his back.
Following this demonstration lord Elrond told the group that no weapon could destroy the ring and the only way to get rid of it was to cast it into the fires of Mount Doom, in Mordor, where it was created. He said the one of them would have to do this task. Boromir showed his scepticism at this plan to which and argument broke out about who would take the ring. No one but Ron heard Frodo trying to say something. Getting fed up with these peoples arguing Ron took out his wand and said "Sonorus" he raised his wand to his mouth and his voiced was amplified by a hundred when he said "SHUT THE BLOODY HELL UP!" Everyone present grabbed their ears at hearing such a loud noise and looked at the Weasley. Ron took the spell off, rolled his eyes and said "Thank you," very sarcastically. "Now Frodo has something to say" he looked at the dark haired hobbit who looked at him thankfully and gave him a thumbs up.
Frodo had no idea what putting ones thumb up meant but it probably meant a good thing so he felt encouraged to speak. "I will take the ring" he said in a strong voice "but I do not know the way"
Gandalf looked pained at the decision of the young hobbit but nevertheless offered him his services to which Frodo was extremely grateful. Next, Aragorn offered him his sword, Legolas his bow, Gimli his axe and Boromir Gondor's services.
Harry took a general consensus of the eyes as he looked around at his fellow wizards and witches. He saw the same thing in all their eyes so he took a deep breath and stood up. The six remaining witches and wizards follows suit. "And for what they're worth, Frodo, you have our wands." And after that the seven Hogwarts alumni took their place next to those supporting Frodo on his journey. Out of nowhere, to the amusement of everyone present, Pippin, Merry and Sam joined them claiming that they too wanted to go and no one could stop them.
Elrond took a long look at all of them and said "16 companions. So be it. You will be known as the Fellowship of the Ring." He looked at the Hogwartians and said "Because you seven do not know how to use weapons other than wands you will have 2 weeks, before you must leave, to train. Wands, though useful will not be enough to take you through this journey." The seven of them nodded in understanding.
"Great" Pipping said smiling "So where're we going?"
Merry rolled his eyes as Neville playfully swatted the Tooks head.
Elrond looked exasperatedly at the hobbits before saying "This concludes the meeting"