I'm posting this one just shortly after I've posted chapter 6 to make up for my lack of, well, posting. So Happy Birthday everyone! Or something...

Disclaimer... blah, I don't own the originals nor do I make profit from this story.


Saruman the White stared at the two figures before him. One, a wizard in the form of a tall, old man and the second, a small wisp of a girl; or rather a young woman just reaching adulthood.

One that Gandalf was convinced was a witch.

The explanation of what happened and how he found the girl was quite strange and Saruman had no doubt that this girl had caused the disturbance that everyone in Arda and Valinor had felt. She had the same energy and had a great deal of strangeness about her.

Saruman however was skeptical about the witch business, however. Of course there was a great deal of power emanating from her but could not that surely be residual from her arrival?

She was a bold female for that and she knew limited Sindarin, for which Gandalf had surely been teaching her. Saruman wanted proof that she was a witch and said as much to the grey wizard.

Hermione caught the gist of the conversation and pulled her wand from its holster. She pondered on how to give the old white wizard proof, and yes she had finally caught on to the fact that they were wizards too. She decided and filled her hand with the blue flame. The one introduced as Saruman the White frowned.

"Most assuredly she is merely a dabbler in sorcery and flaunting her small tricks."

When Saruman shook his head, Hermione arched a brow and apparated. The loud crack made both men flinch and she was gone from view. She appeared behind both men and tapped Saruman's shoulder. He turned and before he could say anything to Gandalf she looked him straight in the eye and entered his mind through a swift legilimens. She was no skilled Legilimens and so it was rather forceful and sloppy. He stiffened as he felt her painful invasion in his head and then she started putting other things in there. She was showing him things, her riding on a dragon, her blowing up buildings, her and two young men performing spells and making potions. Her life in her world.

She withdrew from him and Saruman slumped a bit, grasping Gandalf's arm to stay upright. That had been a painful experience he never wanted to feel again. He confirmed with Gandalf.

"A witch, indeed, and I'll not have her here! You are a traveler, take her a wandering with you, find someplace for her because I will not have her here, I say!"

"Will you allow us rest for a day and replenish supplies and perhaps provide another horse?"

"I will, but you are to keep her away from me. Keep teaching her to speak or find her a place where she can learn."

Gandalf nodded and gestured for Hermione to follow him, and she did so without question when she saw his solemn face. He led her to a middle-aged woman and explained that the young woman was in need of a bath and a few sets of clothing and travelling supplies. The woman nodded and grabbed Hermione's arm. She let out a squeak of surprise but followed along nonetheless.