Disclaimer: I own the plot, though I apologize if it's been done before. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, Lord of the Rings belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien.
There and Back Again
Chapter 8: Muina
By Jess S
"I am inevitable, though not all know me
I can be gained, but cannot be lost
I'm invaluable, yet often cursed
What am I?"
Both Elves looked at her.
"That's it?" Camthalion asked.
His brother nodded in agreement, "Aren't riddles usually longer?"
The sphinx just looked at them, her mysterious eyes baring a faint hint of amusement, and after several moments had passed she deigned them with a reply, "Is that your answer?"
"No!" Both twins replied, hurriedly shaking their head.
"So we can't ask questions?" Camthalion sighed, watching her.
"That is--"
"No, that's not our answer," Camthalion cut in bowing slightly, "With your leave, milady, we will return after we've deciphered the answer." After receiving a gracious, if aloof, nod from the lady-guardian, he waived his brother to follow, and they left, wandering a short distance down the river until they came to a large set of boulders that served as reasonably comfortable seats. "Man noa le?" {What do you think?}
"Nin? Man o le? Ú-voite le noa o anat? Na le ier tana il-mere a beth!" {Me? What about you? Haven't you thought of anything? You're the one that didn't want to ask!} His brother objected.
Camthalion rolled his eyes, "Erya noa le ilna sanda oser lirit, titta tornnin, uume le anta iteera an hauta onoa le iire etermara le." {Just because you're not overly fond of riddles, little brother, does not give you the right to take leave of your senses whenever you encounter them.}
"Im il-voite haunta onao nin!" {I have not taken leave of my senses!} Rúmil objected once again, shaking his head, thereby making his long, fair hair swish back and forth furiously. "Ar Im liale! tornle 'titta'!" {And I'm your twin! Not your 'little' brother!"
"Estanesse na nin." {I was Firstborn.}
"Nean pinilya luume!" {By little time!}
The 'older' twin sighed, rolling his sapphire eyes, "Tereva, tereva!" {All right, all right!} He shook his head, "Eä men erya noota ana ilirit!" {Let's just work on the riddle!}
"Man naná ata?" {What was it again?}
~ * ~
Middle Earth - Osgiliath - Third Age
Boromir smiled for the cheering soldiers down below, who were cheering his name as he reached the top of the tower, where he planted the flag of Gondor in its hard earned place. "This city," he called, turning to face the crowd, "was once the jewel of our kingdom! A place of light and beauty and music... And so it shall be once more!" He raised his sword aloft in triumphant gesture, still holding onto the flag, smiling as the army below him cheered in agreement. "Let the armies of Mordor know this: Never again will the land of my people fall into enemy hands!"
Once again the crowd, which was made up of almost entirely tired, battle-hardened soldiers, hundreds of them, cheered.
"The city of Osgiliath has been reclaimed for Gondor!"
"For Gondor!" the soldiers echoed.
"For Gondor!" Boromir repeated.
And cheering ensued as another echo resounded around the now retaken city. "For Gondor!"
"For Gondor!" the eldest son of Gondor's Steward was smiling widely as he looked around, before releasing the flag and climbing down off the roof of the tower onto the actual balcony, before making his way inside and down the stairs.
He was met at the bottom by his younger brother, Faramir, "Good speech," he approved, smiling as they embraced. "Nice and short."
Boromir smiled, "Leaves more time for drinking!"
Both brothers laughed, then the eldest turned towards the supply wagons that had just been pulled into the city and walked over to the servants that stood around them.
"Break out the ale! These men are thirsty!"
The servants smiled as they moved to follow his orders, quickly pouring the first two cups and offering them to him.
Boromir, in turn, nodded his thanks before making his way back over to his brother, offering him a glass. "Remember today, little brother," he told him, nodding as they brought their cups together in a toast. "Today, life is good."
Faramir nodded in agreement, but his good mood did not last long, as he happened to glance back towards the cities main gate.
"What?" Boromir asked, noticing his brother's frown, before taking another sip of ale.
His younger brother turned back to him, meeting his eyes with a slightly saddened gaze, "He's here."
Boromir then frowned, a frown that only deepened as he turned towards the gate also, and saw his father slowly making his way through the celebrating soldiers. He shook his head, "Oh, one moment's peace, can he not give us that?"
"Where is he?"
They heard their father coming closer.
"Where is Gondor's finest? Where is my first-born?"
Boromir sighed softly, handing his glass of ale to a servant before forcing a smile and turning back to meet his fathers embrace. "Father!"
Faramir watched as his father embraced his older brother affectionately, just barely stopping himself from wincing.
"Ha ha!" Denethor smiled as he met his first-born son, clapping him on the back. "They say you vanquished the enemy almost single-handedly."
"They exaggerate," Boromir objected, stepping back and out of his father's embrace to nod towards his younger brother. "The victory belongs to Faramir also."
Denethor's expressions cooled considerably as his younger son stepped forward. "But for Faramir, this city would still be standing."
Faramir stopped, wincing slightly, while his brother looked down.
"Were you not entrusted to protect it?" The Steward of Gondor demanded.
"I would have done," Faramir offered, "but our numbers were too few..."
"Oh, too few," Denethor nodded, a note of sarcasm in his tone. "You let the enemy walk in and take it one a whim."
The Captain of Gondor winced as his father and commander moved closer to him.
"Always you cast a poor reflection on me," Denethor shook his head, his gaze only a shade softer than a glare.
"That is not my intent," Faramir shook his head.
"You give him no credit, and yet he tries to do your will." Boromir objected harshly, before turning away from them both and making his way inside.
Denethor, Steward of Gondor, frowned, turning to follow his eldest-son, "Boromir!" he called after him once they were both inside.
"He loves you, Father."
"Do not trouble yourself with Faramir..." Denethor shook his head. "I know his uses, and they are few."
Boromir only barely managed to hide his horror at the statement as he looked down, refusing to meet his father's gaze.
"We have more urgent things to speak of," the Steward continued, drawing his eldest's saddened gaze. "Elrond of Rivendell has called a meeting. He will not say why, but I have guessed its purpose.... It is rumored that the weapon of the enemy has been found."
Boromir's shock was evident as he shook his head, murmuring the cursed names, "The One Ring," he looked down, "Isildur's Bane..."
"It has fallen into the hands of the Elves. Everyone will try to claim it: Men, Dwarves, Wizards." The Steward once again shook his head. "We cannot let that happen. This thing must come to Gondor."
Boromir shook his head, "Gondor..."
"It's dangerous, I know." Denethor grabbed the younger Man's shoulders. "Ever the Ring will seek to corrupt the hearts of lesser Men. But you," here he shook his son's shoulders, "you are strong. And our need is great... It is our blood that is being spilled, our people are dying.... Sauron is biding his time. He's massing fresh armies... He will return. And when he does, we will be powerless to stop him. You must go."
Again, Boromir shook his head.
"Bring me back this mighty gift." The Steward implored.
"No," Boromir shook his head once again, pushing past his father and making his way outside, replying over his shoulder as he did so. "My place is here with my people. Not in Rivendell!"
"Would you deny your own father?" Denethor called after him from the archway.
"If there is need to go to Rivendell..." Faramir stepped forward, from the same place he'd been when they'd left him several minutes before. "Send me in his stead."
"You?" the Steward laughed harshly, "Oh, I see... A chance for Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to show his quality..."
Faramir looked down, not able to meet his father's icy, gray gaze any longer.
"I think not. I trust this mission only to your brother. The one who will not fail me...." Denethor finished, turning towards his eldest once again.
And so it was later that evening that Boromir sat atop a horse by the main gate, looking up at the flag he'd planted just that morning. After several moments he looked down to meet his brother's sad, blue gaze, identical to his own, for both of them had inherited their mother's eyes. "Remember today, little brother."
Faramir offered a sad, understanding smile as he nodded.
Boromir shook his head and sighed before turning his steed toward the gate, turning away from his brother's gaze after several long moments. And it was on that note that his long and arduous journey to the City of the Half-Elven Lord, began.
~ * ~
Shock was evident on every teenage face in the room as they stared at the stunning beauty who had appeared beside the Boy-Who-Lived, and accepted his gracious assistance to the chair that had appeared beside him with a gentle smile. Even in this world where nobility had for quite some time been considered a thing of the past, no one in the room could doubt that this was a lady of high birth. Their first thoughts were, of course, that she had to be a Veela, for how could any other creature be so fair? But she was not fair-haired, as all Veela and part-Veela were certain to always be, as that was one of their genes.
"Who...What...?" It was Hermione who broke the silence, albeit confusedly, her curiosity overcoming any hesitation she might've had to speak.
"This is Ránëwén Galathil," Harry began, nodding to her, "or Violet, if you prefer, of the Elves."
"Elves?" Ernie Macmillion blinked, blushing slightly as everyone, including Violet turned to him, "Begging your pardon, lady, but you don't look like a House Elf."
Violet's short laugh echoed musical throughout the room, as she shook her head. "I am no House Elf, Master Macmillion, I am a True Elf, one of the First Born."
"The Eldar Race?" Draco Malfoy inquired, his silver eyes brighter than usual with interest and curiosity. When she nodded, meeting his gaze with her own Violet orbs, he shook his head, "But they died out, centuries ago... There hasn't been any news of them since..." he shook his head again, frowning, "Well, before Merlin's day!"
"They were not 'wiped out'," Harry told him, drawing all eyes to him, as he shook his head. "They simply decided to separate themselves from our world, so that both worlds, Human and Elven alike, could live in peace."
"They didn't want to live in with humans?" Hermione asked, her sharp brain quickly gasping where this was leading.
Harry nodded, "Yes... The Elven Nobles did not believe that the Atan, or Humans, could live in peace with a race so different from itself, one that was it's equal in many things, and superior in others." He shrugged, "It was undoubtedly a wise choice, if you look to our histories for proof."
"Humans have never withstood rivals, well." Hermione murmured, her eyes wide, much like everyone else's.
"But then..." Ron shook his head, clearly confused. "Why are you here now?"
"To aid you." Violet replied simply.
"She is here as a representative of her people, who wish to help us with the second purpose for our meeting here." Harry cut in, before anyone could ask anymore questions. Now was where they were truly straying from pure truth.
Everything in that single sentence depended on two things, how long it took the twins to find the Elven Havens of this world, and whether or not the Elves of Earth would be willing to aid. Lady Galadriel had felt fairly certain that they would be willing to. After all, they were a part of this world, and Voldemort conquered the Human World, it wouldn't be long before he turned toward the Havens, if only for the treasures he would come to believe they possessed.
"And what purpose is that, Potter?" Malfoy demanded, his silvery eyes going icy.
"Voldemort." Harry replied coolly. He looked around at everyone present as several gasps were heard around the table. "You are by no means required to help in this cause, but it would be rather foolish not to."
"It would be foolish to choose survival over certain death?" Malfoy mocked, sneering, meeting the Boy-Who-Lived's emerald gaze unflinchingly with his own icy, silver eyes.
"No." Harry shook his head, "It would be foolish to hope that not becoming involved would guarantee your survival..." He looked around, meeting all of their eyes, waiting until he'd held each gaze for several moments before continuing. "A war is brewing. There will be casualties, as there are in all wars. There's no avoiding that. But, depending upon the victor, the outcome is two very different worlds.... Should everyone continue to believe for as long as is absolutely possible that their is no way that Voldemort could have returned, should the vast majority of our world choose that path, Voldemort will win, and our world will fall... He will probably annihilate all Muggles, and Muggle-borns. He might then either kill off, or enslave, everyone else... And he wouldn't stop, until he has it all. And by that time, it would be too late for anyone to stop him..."
"Even if that's true," Marietta Snitch cut in, her eyes wide and fearful. "How could we ever stop that? We're just kids!"
"And as I said before, Miss Snitch," Harry shook his head again, "as long as you believe that, you will be a child, and you will be looked down upon..." He held her gaze for several moments before looking around again. "Voldemort has no reason to spare anyone in this room." He met the heir of the Malfoy line's gaze unflinchingly as he said this. "He says he stands for Pureblood... and yet the only reason he hasn't killed the same number of Purebloods as he has of everyone else is because they are a minority. He doesn't really care about his followers. When they fail him, he punishes them, sometimes he even takes their lives. He tortures them on a regular basis, probably to ensure that none ever think of trying to overthrow him. All his words of glory to those of Pureblood and whatnot are just that; words. He still needs his followers. He can't take the world by himself, so he manipulates a semi-powerful minority into following him. He doesn't really care about them, anymore then he believes in what he says. Everything he says, he says for only one reason; it's what his Death Eaters want to hear. It's what keeps them believing that they are right in following him.... Do you really want to become a minion, Malfoy? An expendable soldier for a lie?" As he finished, he looked around, "Do any of you who might turn to him, really want to be that? To fight for him simply because he says he supports something that you benefit from?" Now, he turned back to Malfoy, who's sneer had been replaced by a confused frown, while his eyes bore that same confusion. "Do you?"
"No..."
Harry let the Slytherin's quiet reply echo around the room for several moments before nodding his head, "I think this is a good time for us to depart. It's getting late. You'll receive word of the next meeting through the House Elves again."
"I was wondering about that," Angelina Johnson spoke up. "Isn't it awful risky? Trusty the House Elves with something we don't want anyone else to know about? I mean, I know that there supposed to be unconditionally loyal and all, but that loyalty is probably to the school and the headmaster, more than the students. Isn't there a chance that they might report us?"
"No," Harry shook his head, "Not with Violet here." When everyone glanced at her again, although many of the boys didn't need to, as they'd been staring at her for awhile anyhow, "All House Elves hold an innately deep respect for the Eldar Race. They're the only People that a House Elf would ever in their right mind consider disobeying or betraying their master for...Which will undoubtedly be very useful to us.... Good night, my friends."
~ * ~
Dolores Umbridge didn't hesitate in walking past the desk that had, a few weeks prior been her own, up to and through the double doors. The Minister was, after all, expecting her.
"Ah! Professor Umbridge! So glad to see you, my dear!" Cornelius Fudge greeted her from his white marble desk, rising to his feet and coming around it to greet her properly, a welcoming smile lighting his face.
The Minister was slightly out of shape, but he was nonetheless an admirable man. He had, after all, withstood the badgering the media and all of Dumbledore's supporters for quite some time.
"Good morning, Minister," she returned the smile, clasping hands with him before making her way over to the seats before his desk, watching as he made his way back to the lovely, black-leather clad chair behind it.
The office they now sat in could leave no doubt in her mind that this was a man of power and prestige, someone who deserved the world's respect. The plush white rug that covered the floor, the intricate wallpaper, large and comfortable furniture, and the flashy knickknack's that adorned almost every part of the room assured that. The people obviously loved him, for none could ever dream to objecting to his living in style such as this.
"So," the Minister began after a moment's silence, "Anything of interest up at Hogwarts?"
"Some," Umbridge nodded, "but I really haven't been able to find anything beyond rumors! It is immensely irritating."
"Indeed... and Potter hasn't done anything?"
"No, he appears to be focusing on his studies. He hasn't given me any trouble in class...though he hasn't shown any interest in it, either."
"Then why the Decree you sent me a few days ago?" Fudge asked, obviously confused.
Umbridge sighed, "I'd heard rumors that a number of students didn't like my class, and thinking of starting a club to teach themselves Defense in."
"Ah," Fudge nodded, "we can't have that...They would probably be the ones Dumbledore's making his army with... And no doubt Potter's among them..."
"That's what I thought! But I can't find any proof!" Umbridge complained. "If I can just catch them in the act, we could have the whole lot of them expelled, and their wands broken!"
"An excellent goal, to be sure." The Minister approved, "Let us hope it comes to pass... Would you care for some tea?"
~ * ~
Alright... Now Hermione was certain. Even without the sudden growth spurt, newfound maturity and academic excellence, she would have been sure that something had happened to Harry Potter over the summer, something that had affected him... changed him...
After all, this was the second time she'd caught him paying rapt attention in History of Magic, a class that even she found dull at times.
So this was the second time she'd sent a whispered inquiry towards him in the middle of class, "Harry?" She continued when he raised an eyebrow at her, asking the same question as last time. "Are you all right?"
Harry nodded, offering a soft, reassuring smile. He held up a finger, taking out a spare piece of parchment, and began writing on it. After a moment, he handed it to her.
I'm fine, Mione, really
But if I'm going to start teaching other people things, I should probably pay more attention in my own classes, right?
Once she'd finished reading it, the other Gryffindor Prefect offered a nod and an encouraging smile. Then both of them turned back to their notes. But Hermione Granger wasn't born yesterday, and while she hated the feeling, she couldn't help but suspect that Harry was lying to her...
~ * ~
"I am inevitable, though not all know me
I can be gained, but cannot be lost
I'm invaluable, yet often cursed
What am I?"
"Ista?" {Knowledge?} Rumil offered another possibility, one of many. Shaking his head in exasperation. "Le uume yello ilya-voitre ta, dan emaure sanga ta." {You can't say everyone has it, but they can gain it.}
"Ar wanwa ta," {And lose it,} Camthalion sighed as they managed to shoot another one down, "Ar elle taie..." {And it's hardly inevitable...}
"Anwa..." {True...} Rumil sighed in agreement, shaking his head once again. His deep blue eyes darker then usual, in concentration. After a moment he glance down towards the sphinx, who was still sitting beside the river a little ways down, watching them. "Hene naser ta, umme hene? Nwalyale man?" {She enjoys this, doesn't she? Tormenting us?}
"A, sandale." {Oh, certainly} his twin nodded, sighing as he finished the braid he'd been working on, and released it. He didn't bother to tie it, as he didn't really care for it. It was just something that he'd hoped would help him relax. "Tana mankoi nosse ohene anta lirit ilo authle." {That's why her kind give riddles instead of fighting.}
Then again, it was somewhat foolish to think that braiding once hair could relieve the tension building up inside... Harry, their prince, leader, and friend was counting on them. As was their cousin... They, a pair of hunters, had been given the relatively simple task of finding their own kind, while the other two members of their party from Ennorath {Middle Earth} took care of everything else, and they couldn't even manage that! All they'd managed to do was fight a comfortable place alongside a river, with a guard who knew what they were looking for, but wouldn't tell them!
"Man o luume?" {What about time?} His 'younger' brother hazard another guess. "Taie, ar erya noa le man levoitre kena. Randa lna, dan uume nessa. Ar luume ta orta, dan iire ana titta ta tevie, sanda?" {It's inevitable, and you only know what you've experienced. You can grow older, but not younger. And time is valuable, but when it's short it's cursed, right?}
"Uma," Camthalion agreed. "Dan...ta uume noa sanda... Ar ta erya orta an mombre nosse. Kena nosse man enga. Ta luume ilya orta?" {But it doesn't feel right...And it's only valuable to some cultures. Take ours for example. Is time always valuable?}
"La... Erya iire ta titta, ar tevin ta man... Sii..." {No...Only when it's short, and we curse it... Like now...}
~ * ~
The imperious house that stood atop the hill overlooking the village known as Little Hangleton had been made quite a bit more presentable in the last year. It wasn't the damp and derelict manor that had stood there less than a year prior. Now it was the attractive mansion that had stood there nearly half a century earlier, easily the largest and the grandest building for miles around. But that didn't make it appealing to any of the inhabitants of the nearby village. None of them were willing to go anywhere near it... There was something strange about it... something that made them frightfully uncomfortable... They didn't know what, all they knew was that something evil dwelt within those walls...
And, in this case, although they all were Muggles, their instincts were entirely too right. For this was the "the Riddle House", and was, at present Lord Voldemort, the Heir of Slytherin's Dark Fortress.
The Dark Lord himself was currently inside those walls, as he had been for many months now. His demonic red eyes were currently watching the door, awaiting the answering to his summons. And it came, quickly. One of his followers, a nameless, low rank that had been given the honor of attending to their lord's will on command, entered the room, bowing.
It took him only a short moment to reach his lord, and then he was kneeling beside the Dark Lord's chair, his head slightly bowed, "You called, my Lord?"
"Hold out your arm..." Voldemort commanded.
The order was quickly obeyed, as the Death Eater, knowing what his master wanted, held out his left arm, pulling the sleeve up to bare the upper half as he did so. This displayed the vivid red tattoo that displayed his loyalties to the Dark Lord; the Dark Mark. Usually, it was dark black, but it was always the deep, burning crimson it currently was, in the presence of the Dark Lord himself.
The Heir of Slytherin said nothing as he reached out and pressed his long white forefinger onto the brand, ignoring the young man's hiss of pain.
~ * ~
"So when are we going to have the next meeting?" Ron asked, as they sat down at the Gryffindor table.
"Ron!" Hermione hissed, whacking him upside the head.
"Owe! What?!" The youngest of the Weasley brothers demanded, turning slightly to bare a rather pitiful glare at his bushy-haired best friend. "I'm just curious!"
"You shouldn't talk about it in public!" She told him softly, "Anyone could hear you!"
"She's right, Ron," Harry shook his head, also keeping his voice low as both his young friends turned to him. "Especially with that band on clubs Umbridge has up. We don---" He stopped abruptly, wincing slightly.
"Harry?" Hermione inquired worriedly when he didn't continue.
"What's wrong, mate?" Ron asked, when the other wizard didn't immediately reply.
Harry didn't answer, instead choosing to focus on his breathing for several moments; 'In...Out...In...Out...' When he finally felt he had that under control, he glanced over towards the front of the hall, to the Staff Table. His friends also turned, to see Professor Snape making a hurried exit.
"Was he...?"
"Yes," Harry nodded, not letting Hermione finish the question, watching Snape leave with eyes so dark that they almost looked black.
~ * ~
Middle Earth - Isengard - July 10, 3434 3A
"Smoke rises from the Mountain of Doom. The hour grows late. And Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard, seeking my counsel..." The White Wizard shook his head as he reached the base of his tower, nodding to the other Istari as he dismounted. "For that is why you have come, is it not? My old friend."
"Saruman," Gandalf bowed, acknowledging the Head of his Order.
Saruman nodded once again, gesturing for him to follow him inside, listening to his tale as the walked up the steps. When the Grey Wizard had finished, he looked at him, "You are sure of this?"
"Beyond any doubt."
"So the Ring of Power has been found...."
"All these long years, it was hidden in the Shire." Gandalf shook his head, "Right under my very nose..."
"And yet you did not have the wit to see it..." The White Wizard looked at him, shaking his head as they finally reached the top of the long staircase, and stepped inside. "Your love of the halfling's leaf, has clearly slowed your mind."
"But we must still have time." Gandalf said, nodding as he focused on hope. "Time enough to counter Sauron, if we act quickly."
"Time?" Saruman raised an eyebrow, halting as they reached the entrance to the study he'd chosen to lead the other wizard to, not far from his 'throne room', as Gandalf had jokingly dubbed it many centuries before. "What time, do you think we have?"
The Grey Wizard frowned as the other turned and walked into the room, but nonetheless followed him inside, and across the room, watching him take the only seat in the room.
"Sauron has regained much of his former strength." Saruman began, shaking his head slightly as he watched the other wizard. "He cannot yet take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh."
Realizing what the other spoke of, the Grey Wizard looked away, troubled.
"You know of what I speak, Gandalf. A Great Eye, lidless, wreathed in flame."
Gandalf nodded, his reply quiet, "The Eye of Sauron..."
"He is gathering all evil to him." Saruman continued, "Very soon he will have summoned an army great enough to launch an assault upon Middle Earth."
"You know this?" The Grey wizard inquired, his eyes narrowing slightly. "How?"
Saruman smiled slightly, as he rose and led the way out of the room, nodding towards his throne room. "I have seen it..."
Gandalf's eyes widened as he turned towards the room, making his towards its center and the covered pedestal that resided there. "A palantír is a dangerous tool, Saruman."
"Why?" When the other wizard turned to gape at him, the White Wizard shook his head. "Why should we fear to use it?" he asked, reaching forward and removing the blanket that hid the black orb underneath.
"They are not all accounted for, the Lost Seeing Stones. We do not know who else may be watching." The Grey Wizard replied, shaking his head at the 'Wise Wizard's' sudden lack of wisdom, while taking the cloth from his unresisting grasp and throwing it back over the stone. He froze, however, startled, when he felt a great gathering of Dark power...evil, suddenly disperse from the dark orb.
"The hour is later than you think." Saruman told him, once again taking the only seat in the room. "The Nine have left Minas Morgul.
Gandalf's widened as he turned back towards the other wizard, his eyes wider than usual. "The Nine?"
"They crossed the river Isen on Midsummer's Eve, disguised as riders in black."
"They've reached the Shire?!"
"They will find the Ring," Saruman nodded, not the least bit perturbed. "And kill the one who carries it..."
"Frodo!" Gandalf spun around to leave, but quickly found his way barred, as the double doors swung shut. He stopped, turning back to look at Isengard's Lord for a moment, before making his way toward one of the side doors. That set also swung shut, as did the ones on the opposite side, when he turned towards them.
"You did not seriously think that a Hobbit could contend with the will of Sauron? There are none who can..."
And it was then that the Grey Wizard finally realized what had happened, as he turned back to his former friend, taking a step towards him while looking into his eyes searchingly.
"Against the power of Mordor, there can be no victory.... We must join with him, Gandalf. We must join with Sauron..."
Gandalf frowned, shaking his head as he continued to watch the other.
"It would be wise, my friend." Saruman warned.
"Tell me...friend... When did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?" Gandalf finished harshly, quickly gripping his staff defensively as the Head of His Order rose to his feat.
He knew he even before the fight began, that he truly stood no chance. Saruman was the head of the Order of Wizards, the White Wizard. And Gandalf himself, the Grey Wizard could not hope to outmatch him. But that did not mean he could give up willingly. He himself would rather die than serve the Dark Lord.
Their magical brawl was brief, the closest Grey Pilgrim came to triumph being when he threw the other wizard from the Tower of Orthanc's main chambers. But that victory was a short one, as the other wizard rose quickly, only to summon the Grey wizard's staff from his own hands.
The fight was over, this was as clear as it had been in the beginning, that he had no chance of victory. And it was only proven when the White Wizard demonstrated his true power by utilizing both staffs, sending the Grey Wizard to the floor in pain.
"I gave you the chance of aiding me...willingly..." Saruman told him, glaring at him as he made his way back into the central chamber, both staffs focused on the other wizard. "But you...have elected...the way of...pain!" He finished, raising both staffs to send the other wizard flying toward the ceiling.
All Gandalf could hope for, as he flew towards the top of the Orthanc, where he knew Saruman intended to either imprison him for the time being, or slay him, was that Frodo and Sam would find their way into Aragorn's care... For he would lead them to Rivendell, where they would be under Elrond's protection...and only the Elves stood a chance of protecting the young one, and sending the Ring to its end, now...
~ * ~
"Severus, we will hear your report first, considering your schedule." The Dark Lord Voldemort summoned the Head Slytherin from the gathered Death Eaters.
The Potions Master quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply before reporting as he'd been bid. "My lord, Dumbledore has called only one meeting since you last summoned me, and it was primarily a review session. The Order grows anxious by your lack of activity, and is becoming more bothered by the Minister's actions every day..."
"Ahh, good, good," the Dark Lord nodded, apparently quite pleased with the news. "And the Muggle-lover knows nothing of our activities? Of our followers?"
"The Order hasn't been able to pick up any activity, aside from a decrease in Dark activity as of late, which came to them through Ministry contacts, I believe. And they suspect a number of people's loyalties, but have little prove, certainly not enough to risk more attention from the Ministry and the media..."
"Excellent..." Voldemort nodded, his demonic gaze alight. After a moment, he nodded, once again focussing on the professor. "That is all?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Then you had best be on your way, Severus. As your lunch break will be over momentarily. Dismissed."
"Thank you, my lord." Snape replied, bowing deeply before falling back into the Death Eater ranks and making his way to the nearest exit.
~ * ~
It was an unusual thing, to hear students talking at the beginning of Potions, usually Snape started the class either at exactly the right time, or a little earlier, if he saw of the members of his house were present. But he couldn't do that today, because he wasn't there...
Now, teenagers being teenagers (and human), this was something to talk about. Some people had noticed the professor's hurried departure during lunch, and those that hadn't were hearing about it now. Obviously he wasn't back yet, so then where was he?
"You think he's...?" Ron kept his inquiry quiet, although that may have been because he was afraid Hermione would smack him again if he asked too loudly, which was quite possible.
Both of the other Prefects nodded as they continued to set up their lab equipment. They were among the few who had noticed that although their Potion's Professor was not present, he had left instructions for them on the board. And it was those instructions they were following. They'd already gathered the proper materials: devil's ashes, dittany roots, dried asphodel, dry mallowsweet, essence of belladonna, ground holly, nettles and powdered moonstone. Apparently it was the devil's ashes that were giving the class the most trouble, as all of the other students had noticed the few who had bothered getting their materials ready and decided that it was probably a good idea, so as not to face the Potions Master's wrath. But now none of them could find anything labeled 'devil's ashes'. Usually the Professor brought all of the ingredients out, the general exception being when he was in a particularly bad mood. And it looked like he did leave everything out before he left. But there wasn't any 'devil's ashes'! Although they thought perhaps he'd left the wrong thing out, as there was a jar of 'dried devil's snare roots'.
"Oh for Merlin's sake you imbeciles, where have you been the last four years?" Malfoy was the first to lose his patience with all of the students that were still wandering around the supply cabinet. "'Devil's ashes' is 'devil's snare' turned to ash."
"Turn to ask?" One of his housemates asked, apparently quite confused by the concept.
"Yes, Mr. Greengrass, turned to ash." Professor Snape had finally appeared, sweeping in from the hallway and waving his hand to make the door swing shut behind him as he made his way to the front of the class. "Five points to Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy." He nodded to Draco as he got up to the front, seeing the bluebell flames the blonde was using to burn the devil's snare. He ignored the identical flames that Harry, Ron and Hermione had in front of them, instead choosing to scowl at the rest of the class. "Well? Why aren't the rest of you following Malfoy's example?"
It was times like these that Harry was sure this was more than just an act for the Potions Master. Regardless of the fact that it wouldn't look good (to Voldemort and his followers) if Snape showed any favors to anyone the Dark Lord didn't like... The Gryffindor was quite sure the Professor liked to bully the younger witches and wizards, if only a little bit....
~ * ~
Afterwards, Harry decided that Tuesday was a good day, even with Potions right after lunch. He had to extra periods today, which were undoubtedly meant for assignments and studying. But he'd finished all of his homework already, with the exception of Potions, but Snape had been rather distracted today, probably due to his midday (ordeal), and actually hadn't assigned any homework. He hadn't even taken any points away from Gryffindor!
...Well, except for when Hermione stopped Neville from adding the powdered moonstone before the dried asphodel. But she really had had no choice, Harry had already readied a small shielding around Neville's cauldron, seeing as the Professor (who'd he had seen do the very same thing several times before) hadn't noticed the explosion in the making.
Harry shook his head as he finally reached the Room of Requirement, smiling slightly as he reached out to grasp the handle.
"Potter!"
He froze momentarily, before quickly turning to watch as Malfoy hurried towards him. "What is it, Malfoy?" he asked, not overly happy to see him, but aware that he had to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"You really shouldn't come here the way you did today."
Harry blinked, "I beg your pardon?"
"Severus noticed," the Slytherin told him. "He probably would have followed you to see where you were going if he wasn't so tired..."
"Oh..." Harry frowned, before nodding. "Thank you... Anything else?"
The blonde was silent for several moments. Then he finally sighed, "I wanted to talk to you..."
Seeing as this probably wasn't going to be a short conversation, Harry sighed, pushing the door to the Room open and stepping aside once he'd entered to wave the much younger wizard in. "Would you care to join Violet and I for tea, then?"
The Slytherin looked at him for several moments, before nodding.
~ * ~
Middle Earth - August
"She let us go! She let us go! Yes, yes, Precious! She let us go!" the creature cursed as 'Gollum' now had reason to rejoice as he made his way down the long stairway that led back to the ground. Moments before he had been the prisoner of the second pathway to Mordor, and had been fearing for his life. Fortunately for himself, the great spider wanted nothing to do with him. He smelled more awful than Orcs did. Therefore, he must taste awful, like them, maybe worse.... And that was pretty bad.
So now he was free, having promised to return with good victims for Shelob... Of course, he didn't have to return. No, no. He didn't want to come back here! Too close to the terrible, terrible wraiths and Orcses.
No, no. He was heading to the Shire. To take his precious back from the Baggins Thief!
He would have his Precious back, yes, yes, he would!
~ * ~
"Harry, look! Both Snape and Dumbledore are gone!" Ron whispered to him, apparently excited by this fact.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"
"Where do you think they've gone?"
Hermione answered for him, "It's not that hard to figure out, Ron! Think!"
The redhead was frowning for several moments, in thought. "Oh! Do you think he's rep--"
"Yes," Harry cut him off, shaking his head before lowering his voice. "And regardless of how much you may hate Snape, it'd be much better for the Wizarding world as a whole if you did not blow his cover."
"What?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "He's right, Ron. There are something's you just don't talk about in public, if at all." Here, she lowered her voice, "The order's activities and the...study group are among those topics."
"But I wasn't talking about the Order!" Ron protested quietly, shaking his head. "Or the group... I was just pointing out that Snape--"
"If both Snape and Dumbledore aren't present," Harry told him, "it has to have something to do with the Order. And the Light can't afford to have his cover blown." He shook his head when Ron opened his mouth to protest. "No, not now..." Then he lowered his voice even more. "And speaking of the group, if you must know, I told Violet to send another note around after supper. Alright?"
~ * ~
"So..." Dumbledore sighed, "He is aware of our troubles, yet seems to be planning nothing?"
"No," Snape shook his head, "He's planning something, he's just not telling anyone what it is."
It was times like these that Hogwarts' legendary headmaster began to look his age. He was tired, just like every other member of the Order, but he was much older then the other members, too. And it showed...
"He still doesn't trust you?"
"He doesn't trust any of us." The Potions Master told him. "Remember, he said that anyone that didn't rot in Azkaban for him, or at least try to find him after he fell, wasn't worthy of his trust."
Here, the Headmaster looked up sharply, "And those that did?"
"I have no doubt that he intends to get them back..." Snape shook his head, "And he won't have a hard time of it, either."
"No," Dumbledore sighed, "he can offer more to the Dementors than the Ministry ever could... In that respect, Azkaban had already fallen..."
~ * ~
"Is there anything that Dobby can do for Lady Violet?"
Violet smiled slightly at the young elf's enthusiasm. What Harry had told her of the House Elves of his world hadn't made her overly keen on meeting them, but she'd come to find that their love of work was quite endearing. It was saddening that an entire world sought to take advantage of their simple nature. Very saddening indeed....
"Yes, Celahir," she replied, shaking her head slightly at the excitement that evoked. She reached into one of the side pockets of her robes and pulled out the note that Harry had given her earlier that day. "Harry would like these to be delivered after supper. And the meeting should start at eight. Would you see to it that there are refreshments are here for that time, please?"
"Dobby will deliver them! And Dobby will tell others to prepare!" the House Elf smiled, jumping up and down excitedly as she handed the brief jottings to him, which read:
Friends,
Meet again in the same location, tonight at eight.
Thank you.
It was safe, if someone who wasn't supposed to find it, found it, they wouldn't have a clue what it meant. Still, a little more precaution wouldn't hurt...
"Would you charm these, so that once they've been read by their recipient, they will no longer be legible?"
"Of course, milady, Dobby will," the House Elf replied, still incredibly pleased by the concept of delivering the package of notes. "The receivers are the same as before?"
"Yes, but there's one more this time. Draco Malfoy of Slytherin, you know him, correct?"
"O-oh, yes, Dobby knows young Master Malfoy." The House Elf replied, albeit nervously. "Dobby served his family for many years... He is joining Milord Harry Potter?"
Violet nodded, "Yes, apparently he doesn't wish to follow in his father's footsteps. At least not entirely.... The Malfoys are generally considered a Dark family, yes?"
"Y-Yes, milady. Dobby is glad to hear of Master Draco's choice... Dobby will deliver the letters--"
"Wait, Dobby," the Elven Lady stopped him with a kind smile. "There're some things I'd like to ask you. Do you mind?"
"Oh, no! Dobby always likes to be of service, lady!" The house elf replied, bowing.
"You know of my kindred?"
"Oh, yes. All House Elf's know of the Great Ones!"
"What do you know of them?"
"Very little, milady. Just what Dobby had heard in legends..."
Violet nodded, "Tell me..."
~ * ~
When the Queen of the Vala, known to the Elves as Elentári, rekindled the light of the stars, Eru's Children woke by the Mere of Cuviénen. They were the Elves, and the fist thing they (perceived) upon coming into being was the starlight. Which is why they worship Elentári above all other Valar.
They were the fairest of the races born on Arda. Their hair could only be compared to the finest spun gold and silver. They seem to walk in a light of their own, akin to that of the moon. Starlight glimmers in their hair, silken clothes and jeweled hands, just as it shines from their eyes. For when they woke to the starlight, some of it remained in their gaze, and would shine from it forever there after... There is always light on the Elven face, and their voices rival even those of the Ainur, as beautiful and subtle as water.
The Creator, whom they know as Ilúvatar, declared that Elves would both possess and creatre more beauty than any other earthly creatures. Just as they would enjoy the greatest happiness and suffer the deepest sorrow. They would be immortal, so that they might live as long as the Earth lived. Sickness and pestilence would never haunt them naturally, but their bodies would be like the Earth in substance and could be destroyed. Those that fought could be slain with fire, steel or poison in war. They could be murdered. And even die of grief. Men would be their equals in stature, but the Elves would usually be stronger in spirit and limb. And would not grow weak with age, only wiser and more fair.
Of all their arts they would excel best in speech, song and poetry. They taught all of the of speech and word to all of the races on Earth, and so earned the right to call themselves the "Quendi", which means "speakers".
~ * ~
"I am inevitable, though not all know me
I can be gained, but cannot be lost
I'm invaluable, yet often cursed
What am I?"
"Anwa?" {Truth?}
Rúmil shook his head, sighing once again. "Iltaika, kaila ilta naraka... Man o ilfirin?" {Not inevitable, lying isn't that difficult... What about immortality?}
"Laa..." Camthalion shook his head, "Ta uume iltaika ana firima. Ta ilna sanha, dan ta na wanwa..." {It's hardly inevitable to mortals. It can't be gained, though it can be lost...}
"Tanka! Nin anto!" {Fine! I give up!} Rúmil snapped after several minutes more of thinking. "Im wanyale ana fuume. Koiva nin ae noale o ilyanat. Ilae, kena le entore-- daro, man ta na entore?" {I'm going to rest. Wake me up if you think of something. Otherwise, I'll see you tomorrow--Wait, could it be tomorrow?}
"Mankoi na moka le entore?" {Why would you curse tomorrow?}
"A... se le na wanya le veru ana minya ilmelme le?" {Umm...if you were getting married to someone you didn't like?}
Camthalion blinked, "Mankoi na carle nat?" {Why would you do that?}
"A ilnoa nin... Im ana loralya sii!" {...I don't know... I'm going to sleep now!}
"Carle nat..." {You do that...} Camthalion nodded, watching as his twin leaned back against the rock they were sitting next to. A moment later the light in his sapphire eyes had dimmed slightly, signifying that he walked in Elven dreams. Then the older twin sighed, also lying back against the rock, closing his eyes slightly, to think.
~ * ~
"Just look at these books!" Hermione was babbling excitedly as she scanned the titles of the Defense books the Room had provided at their request. "A Compendium of Common Curses and their Counter-Actions, The Dark Arts Outsmarted, Self-Defensive Spellwork ... wow..."
Harry shook his head as she continued to skim through the bookshelves until she apparently found one she liked; Jinxes for the Jinxed, took it out and made her way back over to the table.
"Do you think the Room will let us take any of these back to our dorms?"
The wizard shrugged, "It's worth a try, I suppose.... Why don't we get started now?"
"Malfoy's not here yet," Ron pointed out, though he didn't really appear to care.
"Maybe he ran into Snape on the way here, who knows," Harry shrugged. "In any case, we can't wait forever. So we mine as well start now."
"Hey, Harry, what's this stuff?" Dean asked pointing to some of the instruments in the shelves along the wall.
"Dark Detectors," Harry replied offhandedly. "They're basically supposed to tell you when enemies are nearby. But you don't want to rely on them too much, they can be fooled..."
"What's the mirror for?" Colin Creevy asked, looking at the cracked Foe-Glass.
"That's a Foe-Glass, it'll tell you whenever an enemy is nearby, the more recognizable the image is, the closer they are."
Everyone in the room looked at the glass, and although shadowy figures were moving around inside of it, none of them were recognizable.
"Well, anyway," Harry shook his head, "I suppose, for a start, we ought to pick a name. Not having one is a bit of an inconvenience...So...any ideas?"
"Can we be the Anti-Umbridge League?" Angelina asked hopefully.
"Or the Ministry of Magic are Morons Group?" Fred suggested.
"No," Hermione shook her head, "We should pick a name that doesn't tell everyone what we're up to, so we can refer to it outside of meetings, safely."
"How about the Defense Association?" Cho suggested after a moment's thought. "And D.A. for short, so nobody knows what we're talking about?"
"The D.A.'s good," Ginny nodded her approval, "Only, let's make it stand for Dumbledore's Army, because that's the Ministry's greatest fear, isn't it?"
Everyone had to laugh at that.
After a moment, Hermione looked around, "All in favor of the D.A.?" she asked, somewhat bossily, looking around and counting the raised hands. "That's a majority -- motion passed!"
Harry shook his head slightly, amused at how active Hermione was becoming in this. After a moment, he spoke up, "So that'll be our name for it," he looked at Violet, "As Elves usually give things like this at least one Elvish name, do you have any?"
Everyone turned to watch Violet as she thought about it. If the Elven Lady were a teenager, she probably would've found the stares a bit disconcerting. As it was, she had little difficulty ignoring them as she sorted through her mind to find something. After several moments of thought, she nodded, "I'Kala Vantánosse and Kala O'laisi."
"That's pretty..." Ginny murmured, breaking the momentary silence that followed her decision. "What's it mean?"
"The Light Walkers and Light of Youth." Violet replied, smiling slightly. "It suits you all, should you remain on this path."
Harry smiled before continuing, "Very well then, let the first meeting of the D.A. commence."
"D.A.?" Malfoy inquired as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him, "What does that mean?"
Ron answered sharply, before anyone else could say anything. "If you had been here on time, you'd know that already, Malfoy! What kept you? Reporting us to Umbridge, already?"
The Slytherin rolled his eyes, "Cool it, Weasel, for Merlin's sake. I thought we already discussed that."
"We did," Harry nodded, frowning at Ron, "And until he proves otherwise, Malfoy is one of us."
The redhead winced slightly at that, but otherwise made no response.
"Have a seat, then," Harry waved to the only empty chair left at the table. Once the blonde had complied, he continued. "Alright, I think we'll just start this off with a short test, to see what we don't need to cover. Don't worry, it shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Each paper has a list of twenty 'Dark' things you might run into at one point or anther," he told them while placing the pile of tests on the table. "Write down what it is, and how you would solve it or defend yourself against it. Now, there's more then one solution to most of them, but don't write more then two down, or we'll be here forever." With that, he tapped the pile with his wand, muttering something under his breath that sent a test parchment to each person around the table.
Violet was the first one done, she handed her parchment to him a few minutes later, watching as he looked it over:
1.
Boggarts - A shapeshifter that feeds on the emotion of fear
Solution - Riddikulus jinx à laughter
2.
Basilisk - The King of Serpents is a snake that can live for thousands of year's, and reach gigantic proportions in that timeframe. It has many ways of killing its prey, its venomous fangs and its magically murderous stare among them.
Solution - A rooster's crow
3.
Petrification - A magical state that closely resembles death. But the victim is actually alive, only in suspended animation.
Solution - The brew made from mandrake roots
4.
Dementors - Dark creatures that drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them. If a living being comes gets too close, every good feeling and happy memory they possess will be sucked out of them. If they're near them long enough, they'll be left with only the worse experiences of their life.
The Kiss - The Dementor's last and worst weapon is the removal of its victim's soul.
Solution - The Patronus Charm
5.
Animagus - A witch/wizard who can transform into an animal
Solution - Know that animals weakness
6.
Vampires - Dark creatures that are neither living, nor dead. They are the Undead, who survive on the blood of the living.
Solution - fire, stake through heart
7.
Pogrebins - Small creatures that resemble rocks, that love to follow people around, infusing them with a sense of hopelessness. When the victim collapses, the creature will pounce.
Solution - Apparation/cheering charm
8.
Locomotor Mortis - Leg Locker Curse
Solution - Finite Incantatum
9.
House Elf - Small humanoid creatures that inhabit Wizarding homes, performing all sorts of menial labor. Regardless of popular belief, however, House Elves have very powerful magic in their own right, and require no tools to focus that power. If threatened, they are capable of being very formidable opponents. In most cases, however, they would use that magic to benefit the house they serve.
Solution - I'm a True Elf, one wouldn't even consider attacking me anyhow
Harry glanced up from the paper to raise an eyebrow at her. She stuck her tongue out at him. He shook his head before turning his attention back to the paper.
10.
Disillusionment Charm - A charm that hides the true (magical) nature of something
Solution - Finite Incantatum
11.
Fanged Geranium - A plant that bites
Solution - Avoid it
12.
Whomping Willow - A tree (type of willow) that attacks anyone who gets to close
Solution - Don't get to close
13.
Veela - Humanoid creatures (when not angry, avian when they are) whose natural magic creates a powerful attraction in wizards/witches (of the opposite sex)
Solution - Disillusionment charm/shielding charm(s)
14.
Devil's Snare - A magical plant that uses its creepers and tendrils to ensnare anyone who touches it, binding their arms and legs and eventually choking them. The harder a victim struggles, the more tightly it binds them.
Solution - Sunlight/bluebell flames
15.
Life debt - When someone saves a witch/wizards life, the witch/wizard's magic creates this debt, which must be repaid.
Solution - Repay the debt?
16.
Dragon - Large flying reptiles which breathe fire
Solution - Weak spots: Eyes, weakness in armor
17.
Legilimency - The ability to extract thoughts/emotions from another's mind
Solution - Occlumency
Unforgivable Curses
18.
The Imperius Curse - A spell that gives the caster complete control of the victim
Solution - Strong will
19.
The Cruciatus Curse - A spell that makes the victim suffer almost intolerable pain
Solution - Mind over matter (Strong will)
20.
Avada Kedavra - The killing curse
Solution - Heart Magic/The Grace of the Valar
If you're bored, what are the following?
1. Impedimenta - The Impediment Jinx, a spell that stops an object or slows it down
2. Expelliarmus - Disarming spell
3. Wingardium - Levitation spell
4. Stupefy - Renders target unconscious
5. Silencio - Silencing charm
6. Accio - Summoning charm
Harry nodded his approval with a smile, putting her anxiety to rest. A moment later, Hermione put her quill down, looking up, and he held up his hand, to tell her to wait a few minutes. It wasn't long after that that saw everyone had finished. So he called out, "Pass them in, please, and don't forget names. I'm obviously not grading you, but it helps to know who needs help with what, and who doesn't."
A few minutes later, all of the papers were in a neat stack on the shelf that had appeared under the table, in front of him, and he looked around.
"So, any questions?"
When no one said anything he raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't any part of that give you trouble?"
Silence...
"Okay... Neville, Devil's Snare and its weakness?"
"Umm..." the other Gryffindor reddened slightly as everyone turned to look at him. But after several moments of thought, he managed a reply. "A magical plant that will strangle anyone who touches it... one of its weaknesses is sunlight."
Harry nodded in approval before turning his attention to another, "Ginny, Boggarts and their weakness?"
"Shapeshifters, their weakness is laughter."
"Why?"
The redhead blinked, "What...?"
"Why is their weakness laughter? Why do they attack people?"
"Umm...they attack people...because they live off of fear...?" When Harry nodded, she continued, "And laughter's the exact opposite of that..."
"Good," the Gryffindor Prefect nodded, "Ron, Basilisks?"
"There giant snakes with poisonous bites and deadly eyes...and their weakness..." Ron frowned, thinking a moment, "I think its roosters..."
Harry nodded, "A rooster's crow is deadly to a basilisk...Susan, isn't it?" When the redhead nodded, he continued, "Dementors."
"Dark creatures that live off of the happiness of other life forms...Their strongest weapon is the removal of a victim's soul, in the from of The Kiss, and one of the ways to ward them off is the Patronus Charm..."
"Good... Malfoy, House Elves."
The blonde sneered, but replied nonetheless. "Creatures that enjoy menial labor, and have therefore bound themselves to the Wizarding world in the form of servants... They must obey any command their masters give them."
Harry didn't reply for several moments, letting the silence hang before he shook his head. "Not bad, but there's a little more to it then that... Hermione?"
"House elves have strong magic of their own, and they don't need a wand or anything to focus it. In most cases, they use that magic under their master's," her voice was heavy with distaste on that word, "command, although some have been known to use it to defend their home..."
Harry nodded, "You might not expect it, but House Elves are actually very strong when it comes to magic, both offensively and defensively. Because most witches and wizards choose to remain ignorant of that, their powers generally aren't much of a threat, but should a house elf feel that what they hold dear is threatened, they could be a powerful opponent magically... Lucky for us, though, they have another weakness that the Wizarding world is, for the most part, completely ignorant of," he turned his head slightly to nod at the Elf beside him, "Violet?"
"Long ago, the Ar-Feiniel, what my people call them, bound themselves to the Wizarding world, as they saw it as the only way they could have an important role in the world. They respected wizards then, as they do now, but, they respect my people more... Should a Calmcacil be forced to choose between siding with one of the Eldar, or a wizard, they will, indefinitely, side with the Eldar...." {See: for names}
~ * ~
The meeting had gone well. Everyone had demonstrated a clear understanding of most of the topic's they ended up discussing, and there wasn't anyone present who wasn't interested. Although it had taken some time to get the notion that house elves might actually disobey their masters intentionally, clear to everyone, once it was clear, everyone had seen the advantage. It was the first time Harry had to actually glare at Hermione (that he could remember, anyhow) to get her to shut up, as she'd been trying to convince Violet (and everyone else in D.A.) to join S.P.E.W. for the latter half of the meeting...
Now, however, it was time to get some rest. Which wasn't so easily done when his mind was as active as it was now....
That would continue to be a problem with the late D.A. meetings, he supposed. The activity got his brain going, and could therefore keep him up most of the night.
None of his roommates seemed to suffer the same disposition, though. Ron had been snoring for the last half hour, Seamus had been out even longer, and Neville hadn't even staid awake to talk about the meetings like the others had wanted, he had been out the minute his head hit the pillow.
Of course, that was one thing Harry had noticed even before his sojourn to Middle Earth. He wasn't like other people, he was different...always different...
Which he shouldn't be thinking now, really. The point of meditation was to clear the mind, to rest it. He wasn't exactly letting it rest though, was he?
With a sigh, he went back to focusing on his breathing once again, while turning his thoughts inward...
In...
Out...
In...
Out...
In...
Out...
In...
Then, he felt it coming... Whether it was a vision of the future or of the present, he didn't know. There wasn't any real way to tell, beforehand, even with all of the Lady's lessons.... And then he was there...
His body felt smooth, powerful, and flexible. He was gliding between shining metal bars, across dark, cold stone... He was flat against the stone, sliding along his belly... It was dark, yet he could see objects around him shimmering in strange, vibrant colors... He was turning his head... At first glance, the corridor was empty...but no...a man was sitting on the floor ahead, his chin drooping onto his chest, his outline gleaming in the dark...
He put out his tongue, tasting the man's scent on the air...
'A snake, then,' he realized, absent mindedly, easily repressing the slight panic he felt as he recognized Ron's father, Arthur Weasley... But where was he?
Mr. Weasley was alive, but drowsing...sitting in front of a door at the end of corridor...
The snake longed to bite the wizard...but he had to master the impulse...He had more important things to do...
'Not a snake, then,' Harry shook his head absent mindedly, watching. When Galadriel had first began teaching him to read visions (and she was a much better teacher then Trelawney, to be sure) they'd all be much more real... He'd always been caught up in them. It took centuries of her careful tutelage to distance himself from them, as he was now... And even then, he knew that some could still overtake him, just as his coming had overtaken her...
The man was stirring... a silvery cloak fell from his legs as he jumped to his feet, drawing his wand...
The snake (Animagus) realized that he had no choice... He reared high from the floor, to strike--
'NO!' Harry shouted, telepathically bringing his will down on the other. This had been another part of the Lady's tutelage... He wasn't anywhere near as powerful as she, for she had one of the three Elven Rings of Power; Nenya, the Ring of Adamant, to enhance her power. But he was strong, nonetheless...
The Animagus stopped in shock, as Harry's command echoed through his head. He remained frozen long enough for Mr. Weasley to begin throwing hexes at him, which he dodged with ease, while turning his mind to attack the one who'd invaded his own...
'Who are YOU?' he demanded, and Harry suddenly realized who it was...
'Wouldn't you like to know? Sorry if I've ruined your little outing, Tom. I'll probably be seeing you later, though. Night!' And then, with a supreme amount of effort, Harry withdrew from the fleeing Dark Lord's mind, back into his own, throwing his mental shields up as he did so.
He breath came out in a rush as he opened his eyes, to find himself back in his room again... Where nothing had changed...
Obviously, his concentration was broken by the disruption, as his breath now came in and out in heavy gasps, while sweat streamed down his forehead.
'So,' the wizard realized as he lied back for a moment, resting. 'Voldemort, is an Animagus, a Legilimens, and an Occlumens...' He paused as he felt a worried tug from deep within him...at his soul... He sighed, 'Ránëwén...'
~ * ~
Caras Galadhon, The Grove (where the Mirror is)
Galadriel sighed as she pulled away from her mirror once more... Two thousand years ago she'd been looking for something interesting, because nothing had been happening on Middle Earth. Her world had been dormant, in the time after her daughter's departure.
Now, Middle Earth certainly wasn't inactive, but that wasn't what she wanted to see...
She knew that she should be keeping a closer eye on things, but really... Why should she?
The Fellowship would form, they would come here... She did not know who they would be, though she suspected the young Hobbit would come forward for the task. For indeed, who else could? Mithrandir would be with them, no doubt, as well.
She knew that they would come. She knew what their intent would be. She didn't need to know more than that... And she didn't want to, not really...
What she wanted was a glimpse of her son. Nothing more, nothing less...
Even the smallest glimpse of him would make her happy. Just to see if it had been worth it. If Harry, Ránëwén, Camthalion, and Rúmil, were happy....
Was that really too much for a mother to ask?
Apparently, yes, it was. For her Mirror would not show her anything... It wouldn't even let her know if she really stood a chance of every seeing him again...
She'd known, when they'd sent them away, that there was a chance that they could be brought back. After all, that was part of the spell, wasn't it?
So they'd ensured that the places they were most likely to come out were ready for them. Even the Dwarves hadn't attested to doing that. Although, they had always been rather fond of Elerossë, so she wasn't really surprised.
"Sii ú-veela o hon, melda nin?" {Still no sight of him, beloved?} Her husband inquired, his voice soothing, as it was intended to be. He knew how she felt, for really, he had loved, and still did love Elerossë almost as she did. He simply quelled his curiosity, and never got his hopes up, so he wasn't disappointed all the time...
"Lau..." {No...} the Lady of Light shook her head, her long waves of flowing, golden hair following the motion as a current of spun gold. After a moment she turned bright eyes towards her husband and lord, "Ya men voro cen-hon ata, melme nin?" {Will we ever see him again, my love?}
Celeborn met her beautiful eyes, holding them as he completed his descent down into the Grove. Once there, he sighed while making his way over to her. Upon reaching her, he pulled her into his arms, resting his chin atop her golden head as she leaned into his embrace. "Man naer merne..." {We can only hope...}
~ * ~
"I am inevitable, though not all know me
I can be gained, but cannot be lost
I'm invaluable, yet often cursed
What am I?"
Camthalion sighed as he went over the answers they'd thought of and rejected thus far: Knowledge, Time, Truth, Tomorrow... so little...
It made his heart ache, to think of how Elerossë and Ránëwén were depending on them, and all they had to do was solve a little riddle, but they couldn't manage that! It was probably something ridiculously easy too, riddles were always like that...
'Wait!' he realized, 'that's it! It has to be something we, as Elves wouldn't think of... Other then that, it should be simple...All right, think...'
Of course, there was one think that one would certainly never consider, as his people tended to look down on it, but.... wait...
'That's it!' he leapt to his feet at the realization, a bright smile alighting his fair features. After a moment's silence, he turned to his still sleeping twin, nudging him with his foot to wake him up. "Koiva, nat ta il-luume ana na loralya! Koiva!" {Wake up, this is no time to be napping! Wake up!}
"Ma--?" {Wha--?} Rúmil blinked as his eyes came back into focus, showing that he had rejoined the conscious world once more. After a moment he looked up, raising an eyebrow at him smiling twin. "Man ta?" {What is it?}
"Noa nin iya." {I know the answer.}
"Le...Noa le iya...ana ilirit?" {You...You know the answer... To the riddle?}
"Uma!" Camthalion nodded, still smiling.
"Mae, man tane?" {Well, what is it?}
"Mortality."
~ * ~
It was amazing, really, how much justice the Room did to Elven architecture. With the combined silvery glow of the moon, the stars, and the Elven lights Violet had already lit within, her chambers were a comforting sight to one who considered the Elven culture an essential part of the word 'home'. For indeed, how could he not? He'd been the Prince of the Galadhrim for nearly two thousand years!
"Na nwalya le..." {You were troubled...} Violet began, watching him carefully as he entered, her namesake eyes filled with love and concern.
"Uma," Harry nodded, while making his way over to the balcony, to seat himself beside her on the bench, turning slightly to view the lake, which she'd been watching when he'd entered. It was no secret that Elves loved the stars, and it wasn't really surprising, if you saw there beauteous reflection on the water now. "Na nin ana maur..." {I had a vision...}
"Wanwie, Sii o Kena?" {Past, present or future?} she asked, politely curiosity in her tone, not tinged by the worry she was feeling.
"Sii..." {Present...} He replied, still watching the waters. He found the combination of the water and the starlight comforting. Mainly because it reminded him of the Lady, his foster-mother. As one of the Elves, starlight was an inherent part of her being. And her Ring, Nenya, was the Ring of Adamant, but it was also the Ring of Water...
"Tolo dan na nin, melda nin..." {Come back to me, beloved...} Violet called to him softly.
He turned towards her slightly in response, and she smiled, bringing a gentle hand up to his cheek, holding it in the most gentle, loving embrace imaginable.
"Man na?" {What happened?}
They stayed like that, their eyes locked, for several moments, before Harry finally broke the silence with a sigh. "Uume loralya nin," {I couldn't sleep,} he began shaking his head. "Ai esse nin nowo..." {So I started meditating...}
"Ar imaur tulie..." {And the vision came...}
"Uma," the wizard nodded, "Na nin an (ango/angwi/leuke)...an iringa talam-ondo an iloona, memmen... Kenale onat..." {I was a snake...slithering on the cold stone floor in the dark, somewhere... Looking for something...}
"'Na' le?" {You were?} she demanded quietly, frowning. "Uume le haiyasse lena?" {Didn't you distance yourself?}
"Uma," he nodded, "dan taa nin ana titta luume..." {but it took me a little while...} After a moment's pause he continued. "Hon na kenale onat... Hon un-wanne ianda, loona marde, ar kena en atar o Ron ya ityel..." {He was looking for something... He went down a long, dark corridor, and ran into Ron's father at the end...}
"Tur Weasley?" {Mr. Weasley?} the Elven lady frowned, "Man na carhon en?" {what was he doing there?}
Harry shook his head, "Ilnoa nin..." {I don't know...} he shrugged, "Tirale nat, noa nin..." {Guarding something, I think...}
Violet nodded, "Tirale ya hon -- Voldemort, noa nin?" {Guarding whatever he -- Voldemort, I presume?" At her betrothed's nod, she continued, "Tirale ya Voldemort iire ana kena..." {Guarding whatever Voldemort wanted to see...}
"Uma," Harry nodded again. "Hon wanya ana nahta hon, dan nin _ hon..." {He tried to attack him, but I stopped him...}
Violet frowned, thinking that bit of information over for several moments before releasing a sigh. "Ai sii, hon noa nat ta yana enta mine en ana tyalya... Mine hon maure ana noa o..." {So now, he will know that there's someone new coming in to play... Someone he has to worry about...}
"Uma, dan uume noa hon ta nin... Renich? Ana hon, im er an laito." {Yes, but he won't think it's me... Remember? To him, I'm only a teenager."
"Man naer merne..." {We can only hope...} Violet nodded, still watching him. After several moments of silence she rose to her feet, offering him a hand.
The wizard blinked, before raising his emerald gaze to meet her violet one. "Ma--?" {Wha--?}
"Lilta o nin, melme." {Dance with me, love.} She commanded, reaching down to take one of his hands, and pulling playfully at it.
After several more moments of silence, Harry smiled, and finally rose.
Dancing was one of the activities that it seemed all Elves excelled in, so he had, of course, learned the art while living among the Galadhrim. It was one of the ways in which they could express themselves with ease and beauty.
Harry knew what she was doing. He had come here with the intent of reassuring her, proving to her that he was all right, regardless of the stress she'd felt through their bond. But, instead, she'd seen that he wasn't all right, and as the Elven atmosphere and her presence seemed to calm him, she was seeking to enhance that effect...
He slowly drew her to him, close enough to feel the heat of her body and nothing else. With one hand holding hers, the other placed at the center of her waist, he began to lead her through one of the most simple Elven dances he knew. It closely resembled the waltz, but many of the intricate steps bore the semblance of grace most mortals could not begin to envision. Like most, if not all of the Elven dances, it was a dance developed over many centuries, perfected to the art that it was meant to be.
Violet smiled as she followed his lead. She was the one who had taught him most of the Elven dances he knew. At that time, she had been the one leading, for in Elven culture it wasn't frowned upon at all, though it was a bit unusual. Some of the techniques to lead were different depending on who was leading, but it was much easier to teach someone if you could lead them.
So now, this art was usually a game for them, a battle of wills as each led their partner through the intricate steps, while they trade roles in turn. It was beautiful, to be sure, the more complex dances even more so. But this dance was not meant for show, it was meant for comfort...
As he stared into her eyes, and she stared into his, the rest of the world faded away. His worries slowly faded with it, as they always did, upon her adoring foray. The dance may have gone on for hours, or perhaps only minutes, for all they knew. They were alone in their own little world, lit by the starlight and the glow of the Elven lights.
After awhile though, they began to come back.
It was Violet who sighed first.
"Man taen?" {What is it?} Harry asked, frowning slightly at the slight pain he'd seen in her eyes.
She shook her head, "Ta ilnat" {It is nothing...}
"If it were nothing, it would not cause you pain, melda nin."
"No," the Elf agreed, "I suppose not."
"You have listened to my worries this night," he raised a curious eyebrow to her. "What troubles you?"
Violet remained silent for several moments before replying. "Just a realization..."
"Of?"
She looked up at him, her starlit gaze brighter than usual. "We won't be able to tell your friends in this world about us for a long time, will we?"
Harry frowned, "I don't know...Perhaps... It all depends on how well our plans go..." he shook his head, "I know Professor Dumbledore could probably accept it, but the others would need a lot more time..."
"So our wedding in your world will have to wait even longer..."
The wizard closed his eyes painfully, silently reprimanding himself for not seeing it sooner. After a moment, he sighed, and opened his eyes to meet hers again. "We are married."
"En ipaulerin o nosta nin, uma, men na. Dan sinome..." {In the world of my birth, yes, we are. But here...} The Elven lady shook her head, "Im ana muina... Men melme ta ana muina, anna halda o ipaulern..." {I am a secret... Our love is a secret, to be hidden from the world...}
Harry sighed again shaking his head, "Men uuya kotya yellole e, ilsii... Mere nin ana, dan... Men uuya..." {We can't risk telling them, not yet... I want to, but... We can't...}
"I know..." She came to a stop, and so did he.
For a moment, all he could do was look into her eyes, then he looked down to her soft, pink lips. After a moment, he cupped her jaw, threaded his fingers through her dark, silken hair, and tilted her face to receive him as he leaned down slightly, his lips meeting hers in a gentle, comforting kiss.
It didn't solve anything, but for now, it was enough....
End of Chapter 8.
Translations:
Muina - Secret
Response to Reviews: In the update before this chapter! (Just like the responses to the reviews for this chapter will come directly after this chapter.)
AN:
Bye! ^_^
~ Jess S
