Chapter 14.

In which there is a bitch fight, and the Ravenclaw doorknob pokes fun of Sauron.

"Amal kuluz lat?"

Ginny was waiting for him outside the Ravenclaw Commonroom, and she was smirking. The question was one he had expected. Sauron glared at her and grumbled.

"Kramp-izg nar nargzab gashnat ob ta."

Ginny frowned when she tried to translate the construction, then grinned when she realized it was Sauron's favorite way of ending a conversation. He didn't want to talk about it. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the golden fabric he was holding.

"Is that Professor Sinistra's cape?"

"I told you, I don't want to talk about it! Adh ta!"

His eyes glowed dangerously, and Ginny nodded in acceptance.

"Sure. I'll be in the library, if you need me."

With that she walked away. Sauron watched her leave, and with a sigh he entered his room and dropped the cape on his bed. He had to order his thoughts before they made him crazy… His eye fell on the sketchpad Luna had given him, and his lips quirked in a bitter smirk. Luna Lovegood, Sinistra, Irmo, Námo, Trelawney… he was always surrounded by people who all somehow knew what was going to happen, while he was doomed to just blindly stumble from one thing into the next. It was unnerving and annoying him to no end. Yet despite his annoyance, his hand reached for the sketchpad, and he started drawing from his memory. He could try to fight and resist the weird ways of this world, but experience taught him that it was better to -how did they say that here again- roll with it. That was it. He just had to roll with it. And the drawing helped, no matter how much he hated to admit it.

(Pagebreak)

Lessons continued, and after having dangled from the chandelier in the Ravenclaw Commons a couple times, Ginny learned not to pester Sauron about Professor Sinistra... that is to say, not too much.

Despite Ginny annoying him, Sauron came to realize that they were friends. That was far more shocking a realization than it might seem; Sauron didn't think he had had another real friend after Eönwë, and that had been in the First Age. He had been on somewhat friendly terms with the Witch-King of Angmar, but since the man/wraith had technically been his slave Sauron didn't think it counted as friendship. Which meant he had been at least a couple thousand years without friends, quite possibly longer. Even for a Maia that was a long time. Realizing they were friends didn't mean that he stopped being his usual bad-tempered self around Ginny though…

His "thing" with Professor Sinistra continued as well, and Sauron still didn't know what to think about it, or even what to call it. Some nights they just studied Astronomy, but other nights they would talk, about anything really, and she would sing, and bewitch him with her touches. He had honestly tried to stay away, even asked that wretched Dumbledore if he couldn't just drop Astronomy like he had done with Divination, but it had been no use. There was no escaping the lessons, and after a while he gave up trying to escape, even found himself… dared he say it… looking forward to her classes. He instinctively trusted Sinistra and felt completely at ease in her presence; for a paranoid person as himself, such a feeling was a relief beyond description.

As for paranoia, Sauron took up a new hobby: people-watching. His period as a big eye had clearly left its traces; he didn't only like spying on people, he also turned out to be rather good at it. He especially found Harry Potter amusing to study, as he still hadn't figured out what exactly made Ginny be so interested in the boy. While doing that, he also noticed more and more that there was something really strange going on with Professor Moody. He was still convinced that the man was disguised somehow, and close observation also taught him that the man wasn't just strange but truly unhinged, in the dangerous way. He had known insane people, he had made people insane, and so he was familiar with all the signs. Sauron had to admit; the disguise the man had chosen was rather brilliant. No one would think it strange that a scarred, old, one-eyed and one-legged man behaved a little out of the ordinary… which served as perfect cover for his erratic behavior. And erratic it was; Sauron didn't think that torturing rats and spiders while mumbling "tell me, tell me where he is" counted as just a little eccentric. He had spied on Moody while the professor was in his office –not a sinecure, the man was even more paranoid than he- and what he had seen definitely didn't classify as how a responsible teacher should behave… All in all, Sauron thought it pretty hilarious that a possibly dangerous insane man could so easily masquerade as a professor. It did say something about Dumbledore's people skills…

Life at Hogwarts was still utterly strange to Sauron, but he was quick to adapt –dying and reincarnating a lot tended to do that- and he even started to like his studies. They weren't exactly challenging, but their amusement value made up for that. Having a lot of magical power could give the most innocent spell a twist it seemed… The time he had scourgified a muddy rat of all dirt -this including its skin- still brought a smirk to his lips. If only he had known this type of magic back in Middle-Earth…

(Pagebreak)

He stared at his drawings. Minas Morgul and the Nazgûl on their black steeds, Orodruin as seen from Barad-dûr, the Black Gate, the plains of Dagorlad right before the battle, Barad-dûr again, Cirith Ungol, and many other sights his Eye had seen once… the sketchpad was filling up quite nicely. The last drawings unsettled him though. One was a sight of Númenor –so far the only brightly colored drawing- and one was a portrait of Sinistra. He pulled the drawing of the sunken island out of the sketchpad and set fire to it, watching it burn with a strange sense of accomplishment. He couldn't do the same to the other drawing though, he just couldn't. He pulled it out of the sketchpad anyway, but didn't burn it; he neatly folded it and put it in his notebook. The image kept haunting him even now it was out of sight…

He had tried to tell himself that he made use of Sinistra, that he just went to her to calm his mind so he could concentrate on more ambitious plans later on… But the drawing was blatant proof that there was more to it. Sauron didn't like it, so he tried not to think about it. That was his usual strategy; he didn't see why he should change that. He decided to go out and see if there was something interesting happening that he could spy on. However, he had only just left the Commonroom, or…

"Oh Sauron!"

The happy voice of Precious Nibelungen resounded through the corridor. Sauron gritted his teeth. He had successfully avoided Precious after the Yule Ball, but now he was out of luck it seemed.

"Precious."

The girl smiled brightly and played with her brown tresses while exuding a giggle. She could be considered attractive, Sauron knew, but that damned cheerful demeanor was more than anyone could bear. Anyone sane, that is.

"I was wondering about something… You know, we never got to dance at the Yule Ball…"

"No new occasions for dancing are planned, for as far as I know."

Hopefully, he added in mind.

Precious giggled.

"About that… There's going to be a secret party in Hogsmeade. Geoffrey Habersham the Third from Hufflepuff has a sister who lives there, and they've planned this bash for Cedric at her house."

"I see… And what do you…"

"I'm invited, because Cho and I are totally best friends, and I thought you could go with me, maybe? You could make up for not dancing with me…"

Of course. Sauron internally moaned.

"Who else is coming, except for the delegates?"

"Oh, they don't really have a guest list. Whoever knows about it can consider himself invited."

She winked and placed a finger suggestively at her lip.

"So, what do you say?"

He couldn't believe himself, but he was actually considering it. Not for Precious, but for Ginny. She would probably love a party, and Sauron already saw a lot of possibilities to cause trouble between Cho and Cedric with her being there.

"Sounds… interesting. Where, and what time?"

"Tomorrow night, past curfew. To get there, use the secret passage behind the mirror on the fourth floor. It leads to someone's basement, but you can easily get out of it through the hatch. The party is in the apartment above The Magic Neep. You'll find it!"

"I'm sure I will."

Precious sent him a blinding smile and winked again.

"We'll have so much fun!"

"I can't wait."

Sauron's voice was dripping with sarcasm, but as usual it was completely wasted on the obliviously bubbly girl. He watched her bounce away, and tried to fight an upcoming headache…

(Pagebreak)

He had told Ginny about the party, and of course she was enthusiastic. He knew her well enough, after all. As they walked back to the Ravenclaw tower, she was almost as bouncy as Precious.

"Sauron, what do you think I should w…"

He sent her an annoyed glare.

"Don't even finish that question."

"Tsss."

"Kul shum buthaghuga."

Sauron told Ginny often enough how very annoying she was, but it was the tone on which he did this that made her smile. It mostly sounded resigned, and not even remotely angry. She had decided to take it as a compliment. When they reached the commonroom, they saw a whole crowd of people had already gathered there. Apparently the doorknob riddle had changed, and it must be a particularly difficult one this time… When they heard it, Sauron wished he could sink in the floor.

"What has a ring, but no finger?"

The doorknob almost sounded triumphant for having found a riddle that so far no one had solved… other students growled when hearing it again.

"I bet it's one of those stupid muggle devices. Ever since the Muggle Studies professor talked to the doorknob it's nothing but this drivel."

"A ring and no finger, that could be anyone, right?"

"How many people with no hands do you know?"

The discussions went on for a little longer, and Sauron caught Ginny eyeing his missing ring finger. Great. He really wanted to get inside before Precious Nibelungen would show up again, so he decided to brace himself and give it a go. He addressed the doorknob.

"The Ring was always mine, no matter who possessed it. Therefor, there must have been a point in time where I had a ring and no finger."

If doorknobs could grin, Sauron was certain this one would have done so.

"Original, Mr. Gorthaur… and correct. Come in!"

The whole crowd looked at Sauron with big, disbelieving eyes, but he ignored them and just got to his room, followed by Ginny. Inside, the redhead gave him a questioning look.

"What was that about?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

She cocked her head to the side and smirked.

"Of course."

"Ginny…"

Sauron felt that he was dangerously close to getting angry with her. It was clear that the girl hadn't expected that response, especially not after he had reacted rather docile to her usual taunts. Her eyes widened a bit.

"I'm sorry, just curious…"

"Sate your curiosity elsewhere."

Ginny threw a look at the sketchpad on the bed –lying open on a detailed drawing of a field full of ugly dead creatures spiked and stabbed on spears and arrows- and decided that a strategic retreat might be in order.

"I'll be off. See you at the party?"

Without waiting for answer, she left. Now alone, Sauron sulked and cursed the Valar, thinking about his Ring, the wars, his many defeats… and Sinistra. The Astronomy professor came into his mind just as easily as the Great Drowning these days…

(Pagebreak)

"What is that are you wearing?"

"I borrowed it from a girl in my dorm. Do you like it?"

Sauron rolled his eyes. Ginny was wearing a red dress that was (according to Sauron) both inappropriately short and inappropriately tight. It barely contained enough fabric to make one sleeve of a decent dress out…

"I refrain from comment."

"Oh. You don't like it."

"As I said, I refrain from comment. Don't push it."

At least she hadn't smothered her face in cosmetics; that was something at least. The prefect patrolling the corridor was in on the plan and didn't give them any trouble when they snuck through the secret passage behind the mirror. Ginny was giggling all the time, until Sauron clamped his hand over her mouth and sent her a glowing glare.

"Be. Quiet."

"Fine, fine…"

They reached the basement, and as Precious had said the hatch was open, leading to one of the streets. The Magic Neep, Hogsmeade's grocery store, was easy enough to find, mostly because it was the only place in the quiet village that was lit up and from which noise came. Sauron frowned.

"What are they doing there?"

"It's a party. They're probably drinking and dancing, or just drinking, it's early still, after all…"

Ginny said, with the air of a woman-of-the-world. Sauron raised his eyebrows skeptically.

"Aren't you a little young to frequent things like this often?"

She grinned apologetically.

"Some things are just common knowledge. Plus, I have six older brothers."

"I see."

When an older Slytherin student let them in, the sound became louder exponentially. The apartment was dark and crowded, and on the ceiling hung lights that flashed in different colors, bathing the room in neon green or eerie red for a second. Sauron was somewhat stunned.

"THIS is a party?"

The Yule Ball had held a semblance to what he knew as a feast, but this? The noise was an erratic mess of what sounded like the clanking, crashing and wringing of metal, accompanied by a steady background beat and a whispering voice, and the air was filled with the scent of people, liquor and something else Sauron couldn't place. All in all it was rather overwhelming. Ginny pulled him further into what he suspected was the living room, and got him a cup with undefined liquid.

"Awesome, no?!"

She had to yell to get over the background sound, but no one seemed to care. Sauron's head hurt just from being there a few moments.

"What is that sound?!"

"Just music! Don't you like it?!"

He threw back the undefined liquor and decided he needed a seat.

"Go! I'll watch!"

"What?!"

Sauron just shook his head, gestured to a couch against the wall, and pointed Ginny to where people were dancing. She shrugged and nodded, leaving him on his own. Or as "on his own" as he could be in the room that seemingly got more crowded every moment. He got himself another cup of whatever-it-was, and sat down on the couch, trying to order his thoughts. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness easily, but those flashing lights kept distracting him, not to mention that pounding sound of industry they apparently considered music here… In a moment of irony, Sauron thought that Melkor would probably have appreciated the music… although he would most likely have added screaming instead of whispering on the background. Sipping from his cup, his eye caught a flash of gold and glitter in the crowd. He followed it, and indeed… Precious Nibelungen. Her voluptuous backside was barely covered with a short gold-colored skirt, and her bosom almost burst out of her glittery pink top while she moved to the background beat, laughing and shaking her brown tresses. Sauron was glad that his black clothes blended so well with the shadowy corner he had chosen…

Some time passed, and as his ears and eyes got used to the deafening beat and unusual lighting he relaxed… a bit. Then he caught sight of Ginny, and his eyes widened slightly. The girl had obviously been drinking, and she danced rather provocatively in the middle of the crowd. Sauron shook his head. Silly, silly girl. The alcohol had no effect on him, but its effects on these creatures were clearly not to be underestimated… The young redhead was drawing attention, especially when she climbed a small salon table, and Sauron internally wondered if he should intervene. No, he decided. Learning goes with falling and crawling back up; falling from that table would make a good first lesson in "things not to do when intoxicated". Slightly amused, he watched the girl's antics, until he heard an indignant yell close to him. He turned his head, and caught sight of Cho Chang.

"What is SHE doing here?!"

The boy she was talking to, probably Cedric, gave a response that Sauron didn't hear properly. It was obviously not to the liking of the Asian girl.

"What?! Then who dared invite her?!"

"Cho…"

"Did you REALLY think I WOULDN'T SEE HER HERE?! In that whorish dress of hers?"

Sauron smirked. Yeah, that was going right.

"I had nothing to do with it! Someone else must have invited her; it wasn't me! I would never!"

"RIGHT! And she's shaking that non-existent ass of hers for no good reason too, huh?!"

"Cho, please!"

"She is LEAVING! NOW!"

"You can't just do this, it's…"

Sauron didn't hear the rest of the conversation, for an excited voice exclaimed almost next to his ear,

"Oh there you are!"

Precious had found him, again. He had little defense when she pulled him to the dance floor and practically pushed her boobs against his chest. Biting his teeth he followed her moves, for a bit, hoping and praying that soon something would happen to distract the obnoxious female from her clumsy attempts at seduction… If not, he wasn't certain how long he would be able to control his temper…

It turned out that he wasn't the only one who had trouble controlling his temper, and in that laid his rescue.

"YOU BITCH!"

The scream was loud enough for everyone to hear over the music, and people turned to see Cho Chang, red cheeked and angry, pointing at Ginny. Ginny made an obscene gesture at her, and that set it all free. The Asian girl charged at Ginny and tackled her from the table, and immediately a circle formed around the scene.

"BITCH FIGHT! BITCH FIGHT!"

The crowd started cheering on the two girls, who for as far as Sauron could see were rolling over the floor kicking and scratching, screaming like angry cats at each other. These wizards were so, so backwards… Seeing that Ginny –who was smaller in posture and not as physically strong- was losing the fight, Sauron decided to intervene after all. He easily pushed some people aside, grabbed Cho by the shoulder and pulled her off Ginny. The apparently drunk and anger-struck Asian immediately tried to attack again, but Sauron was faster, pulling Ginny out of reach and pushing the raging girl away. Not helping was that Ginny seemed as eager to continue fighting as Cho… Eventually though, some Hufflepuff boys restrained the Ravenclaw seeker, and Sauron managed to drag Ginny with him, out of the apartment and back on the streets.

"That crazy bitch! She just attacked me! Oh Merlin I want to KILL HER! ARGH! Let me go back I'll finish her!"

Sauron rolled his eyes.

"The odds aren't in your favor. She will most likely finish you; I have spared you a painful defeat. Be grateful."

Ginny's anger seemed to cool down in the cold night air, and eventually she just sobbed.

"This was horrible. That bitch…"

Sauron smirked un-empathically.

"I found it rather amusing, really."

"You would."

He noticed that Ginny –who looked completely disheveled and had quite a few scratches on her arms and back- was also limping. Of course, that silly mortal had to get injured. He sighed,

"Did you break anything?"

"I… I think I sprained my ankle… When I f-fell from the t-table…"

"Right. So, what have we learned today?"

"Don't flip the bird at angry Asians?"

"And?"

"Don't dance on tables when angry Asians attack?"

"Good enough."

The more they walked, the more miserable Ginny seemed and the more pronounced her limping was, and eventually Sauron had enough of it. It was just annoyance he thought, not concern at all or anything…

"Stop the sniveling, will you?"

He gave her his coat, and then effortlessly picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, causing Ginny to squeak.

"What are you doing?!"

"Carrying you. At your pace it will take us ages to get back to Hogwarts, and I would prefer to be there before sunrise.."

And so Sauron's first introduction into earthly parties ended with an introduction in earthly bitch fights, and him carrying a drunk and wounded Ginny back to Hogwarts. From over his shoulder, Ginny mumbled,

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't apologize."

"Right."

TRANSLATIONS:

Amal kuluz lat? = Where were you?

kramp-izg nar nargzab gashnat ob ta. = I do not want to talk about it.

Kul shum buthaghuga. = You are so annoying.

(Small note #1: grammatically speaking it should be "ta-ob" and not "ob ta", but this is a minor fault, as it is done for the sake of convenient pronunciation, and a "preposition-before-noun" also occurs in the Ring Verse.)

(Small note #2: I suppose, based on other examples, that "Narkramp-izg" instead of "Kramp-izg nar" would be allowed as well. I am not sure, but I believe both constructions are correct. In case you think I'm wrong, let me know.)

(Author's Apologies)

On the topic of the doorknob's riddle: The "correct" answer would be a telephone, but the doorknob is known to take "original" answers as well... Poor Sauron, the Divine Irony must really hate him... xD

On the topic of the sneaking out: The secret Hogsmeade passage behind the mirror on the fourth flour is actually a canon thing. Convenient, no?

On the topic of the bitchfight: Cho is drunk, paranoid, and Asian. It's a cliché, but it's based on truth: many Asian people suffer from a certain type of alcohol intolerance that makes them get drunk really fast. No lie. That also explains why she's attacking Ginny physically instead of just pulling her wand: she was very pissed, and very drunk.

On the topic of Sauron carrying Ginny: He's just annoyed at the slow pace... right? Or not? xD Did anyone spot the detail that gives away that he might just actually care a tiny little bit for Ginny?

PLEASE REVIEW!

I'm getting my awfully bad results tomorrow. There's not much I can do about it anymore; to use an expression: "Ukhuz za dursh-tala kû" (We went over that bridge a long time ago). But reviews help, if not with my results, then with my mood. And I can use that help, really. Trust me. So please? I love all my reviewers, and I thank you all for reading this!