It's only a short chapter, but better than nothing right x
It was a quiet night and Herminia could see the dim lights of the burrow in contrast to the dark night surrounding the tall building. Getting closer and casting a look through one of the windows, she can make out several of her friends and extended family, sitting around the dining table in the kitchen.
Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves she steps closer to the door, hesitating before knocking sharply three times. She can hear that all the conversation stopped, followed by the shuffling of chairs and feet. They probably didn't expect any company tonight. Before Herminia could think further, the door burst open, revealing Molly Weasley, her hand clutching her wand protectively in front of her. When she laid eyes upon the girl standing in front of her, she lets out a loud gasp, dropping her wand and rushing forward to embrace Herminia in a tight hug. The dropping of Molly's wand brought a new commotion on inside the burrow and she heard the scraping of chairs, quickly followed by a lot of footsteps and soon enough she saw the disbelieving faces of her friends. The silence behind her, made her look closely.
"Molly, we can't be sure it's really her", Arthur says from somewhere behind Molly and Molly lets go of her reluctantly.
"When we were on the hunt Harry and I danced to this awful song playing on the wireless. It was his attempt at cheering me up and he really can't dance to save his life", she says looking directly at Harry with a small smile. He was the only one who knew of the memory as it was just after Ron had left them.
"Hermione", he breathes out, lowering his wand and rushing forward, pushing Molly slightly out of the way and embraced her in a tight hug.
"You're okay. Thank merlin, you're okay", he mumbled into her neck. She could only assume, but Herminia knew that Harry took her disappearance as hard as Herminia took it leaving the wizarding world behind her. There was an unspoken promise between them, that they would always be brother and sister.
"Where have you been?", he asks once he pulled away from her embrace. Herminia had tears glistening in her eyes.
"Come in, dear. Dinner is on the table, you look like you haven't been fed at all", Molly ushers her inside, making Herminia smile, thinking of how much she missed Molly fussing over her.
Herminia was relieved to see that only the immediate family and closest friends were surrounding the kitchen table as she was pushed in a chair next to Luna, who smiled at her with that dreamy look, she always used to wear. Herminia understood better now.
"I know you have a lot of questions and I don't quite know where to start", she says, with a small smile.
"After I gave you the letter from Dumbledore a month ago you just vanished, no one knew where you went or if someone took you, we- I was so worried for you, Hermione", Harry smiles sadly.
"Yes, the letter. Dumbledore left the letter for me to explain certain things regarding my heritage. It brought on more questions than answers, but that was a letter from Dumbledore after all", she says with a humorless chuckle.
"The letter that Dumbledore told me that my name is not Hermione Granger and I was not even born in this world. I'm not even human"
"That doesn't make any sense?", Ron asks, what everyone was thinking.
"He told me, that the world I come from exists at the same time as this world though time moves differently here than it does there. It's a whole different world, almost like the ancient times with kingdoms of human sized elves, kingdoms of dwarfs and humans. Apparently, my parents are elves and had to give me away when I was just a small child, because my father spoke a prophecy and they feared for my safety. Through the magic of this ancient world they brought me to Dumbledore, and he promised them to take care of me. My mother gave Dumbledore a necklace that would bring me back to my world once I was needed there. He gave me the necklace with his letter and as soon as I touched it, I was sucked into the unknown and woke up in Rivendell", Herminia speaks not sure if they would believe her.
"So, you're an elf from a different world and were sent here for protection?", Ginny asks when no one spoke.
"Yes, Ginny. The letter contained not much detail, but the information that I would be returned to my home, when my deed here was done and I was needed in my own world. That is why I couldn't say goodbye. That's why I couldn't come and tell you. There was a war raging on in my world and they could not wait another day for me."
She looked at her friends and could see that they had a hard time believing her, so she told them of her time in the other world. Told them everything that had happened to her and what she had to do. Herminia told George of Merry and Pippin and what they got up to and to see the gleam in George's eyes was well worth leaving her friends behind. It was a long night, but they all listened to her and over the course of the night Herminia could see that her friends believed her – which was mad because she wouldn't. She left out the details of her powers, not wanting them to know.
"What is your real name, dear?", Molly asks. They had all moved to the living room shortly after dinner.
"My name is Herminia of Valinor", she says with a small smile.
"My dear child, I cannot believe you had to go through another war, shortly after this one. You are so strong!"
"I did not expect it either, but it was necessary for me to help them. They depended on me, like we all depended on Harry. I couldn't let them fail."
"There is something else and you won't like it", she starts, glancing at Harry.
"I came back here to say goodbye. I shall not stay in this world and I shall not be able to return to this world again. It was a favour from the Lord of Valinor, for me to come back and say goodbye properly one last time."
"No", Harry breathes out.
"Harry, I know you will be okay. You have amazing friends and a family here and as much as I love all of you, this is not my home. My home is with my parents in Valinor, they have missed me many years."
"I'll just – there won't be a single day where I won't miss you", he mumbles and Herminia's heart aches.
"You mentioned earlier that time runs differently between the two worlds and as it seems time there runs faster. How old are you?", Bill asks, not having spoken much all night.
"It does. While I was here for merely 18 years, I am over 7000 years old in my own world. Elves age differently than humans and live longer than most." She knew this was a shock to every one of her friends.
"Well, you look quite fit for someone so old", George chimes in, giving her a grin and they all chuckle at that.
"I cannot believe you are leaving us", Ginny mumbles.
"I know and it is hard for me, too. I wish none of this would have happened and I was just plain old Hermione, but that is not the case. But you have a full life ahead of you I am sure. I am just not going to be part of it", she says, tearing up as she looks at her friends.
"We are going to miss you, Hermione", Molly says with a small voice.
"I am going to miss all of you too, I am just glad I got the chance to explain it all to you."
"You are like a sister to me, Hermione, so please make sure to take care of yourself", Harry says while tears were spilling from her eyes.
They talked long into the night, exchanging stories and laughs.
Herminia had come to peace with herself and her situation. All her friends she wanted to say goodbye to were here with her. She knew, she was going back tonight. There was nothing holding her in this world anymore and staying longer would only make things worse. At almost 3 a.m. she looked around at her friends and stood up.
"It's time", Herminia says looking at Luna who gives her a knowing smile. .
"I will go with Hermione", Luna says suddenly, making all eyes turn to her.
"I was sent here to watch over her and make sure she was safe. Now that she is, it is my duty to return home with her. It has been a pleasure knowing you all. You all have been great friends to me, and I am going to miss you dearly", she says to the surprise of everyone.
"You're an elf too?", Ron asks, not believing her words.
"Yes, I am. I thought it was obvious", she laughs, and her friends agreed with her. It made sense. Luna had always been different than the rest of them.
"How do you look as elves?", Ginny asks all of a sudden, not haven given it much thought.
"We could show you?", Herminia turns to Luna. "We need to change back before we head back to Valinor."
Luna chuckles, closes her eyes and transforms slowly into a slim, but tall looking elf, her almost silver hair staying the same, but her ears are pointing out and her eyes turn to a slight silver shimmer. Gasps ring through the living room of the burrow and Herminia smiles at Luna, before closing her own eyes and thinking of her appearance in the other world. She knew her transformation would be more drastic than Lunas. Her hair turned golden flowing down her back in soft waves, only the tip of her ears poking out. She grew in height and he features softened even more. When she opened her eyes, she can see her friends gaping at her, not sure they are seeing things right.
"You're eyes", Harry stammers out.
"You only notice her eyes, mate? She practically a glowing golden ball and you focus on her eyes?", George says to him and Herminia laughs at that.
"Your majesty", Luna says, before bowing down low before Herminia. In the two months she stayed in Valinor she had not gotten used to people bowing before her and she might have forgotten to mention, that she has certain abilities to her elvish life.
"Majesty?", George asks with a mischievous smile on his face.
"I might have forgotten to tell you about that", she says innocently.
"You're crown kind of gave it away?", Ginny questions with an amused look.
"Lady Herminia is the daughter to Ingwe, the highking of all elves. She is the sole heir of the throne", Luna explains to their friends.
"No way!", George says, with his mouth hanging open.
"Yes, my father is the highking and mother is his queen", Herminia says with a small smile on her face.
"This is amazing. I wish I could come with you", Ginny says, getting a sharp look from Molly.
"Don't worry mum, I won't", she adds quickly.
"This is it then? This is goodbye?", Harry asks while standing up.
"It is, I'm afraid", Herminia says, pulling him in a tight embrace.
"Who knows, maybe we will see each other again, after all", he mumbles and the two of them are soon joined by Ron and the Golden Trio said a tearful goodbye. Herminia telling Ron to look after his mum and after Harry, to not let Harry do anything stupid again. She tells Harry to take care of Ginny, which causes a blush to spread across his features.
After hugging everyone and letting Luna say goodbye as well, the two elves stand next to each other, taking each other's hand and looking at their friends and family for one last time.
"It was an honour knowing all of you and fighting beside you", Herminia says, before turning to Luna.
"Ready?"
"Whenever you are, your majesty", she says smiling. Herminia touches the stone on the necklace around her neck and thinks of Valinor. The familiar pulling starts, and the sad faces of her friends twist before their eyes. Before either of them could take a breath, a voice speaks up.
"You're back early", Manwe speaks, getting up from his throne and walking towards the two elves.
"My lord", both of them say, bowing low before him.
"No need, no need", he says, waving his hand absently.
"It is good to see you back, Luthien", he smiles at Luna. What a fitting name, Herminia thought.
"I am glad to be back home, as well, my lord", she says smiling.
"Lady Herminia, I take it everything went well?"
"Yes, my lord. It was a joy to see them again and be able to say goodbye, though it was hard leaving them for good", she says with a small smile.
"I can only imagine. Now, off you go, your parents are probably wanting to see both of you down in the halls", he says. With that Herminia and Luthien take their leave, descending down the stairs leading them to her parents, who are currently talking out in the yard.
"Herminia", her mother exclaims rushing over and hugging her daughter strongly. Her father joins them soon enough.
"How long was I gone for?"
"Only a couple of days, child", her father says with a smile before turning to Luthien.
"Your majesties", she says bowing low.
"Please, call us Ingwe and Idris", Idris says, taking her hand.
"I could not, my Lady", Luthien gasps. Never was a servant granted to call the king and queen by their first name.
"No, we insist. You have earned your right to be part of this family, while looking over our daughter. We are forever in your debt", Ingwe speaks with a look of fondness in his voice. He has not met Luthien before, but what she did for his daughter was more than enough for him to know that she was not a mere servant.
"If you wish to, we would be happy for you to stay with us in these halls. I am sure Herminia would be pleased to have you around, unless, of course, you have a family to return to", her mother speaks.
"I would not want to impose. But I do not have a family of my own, I am a few thousand years younger than Herminia and my parents are sadly not among us anymore", Luthien says, looking at Herminia in the process. Herminia realizes that Luthien must have been sent to her, a couple thousand years after she was brought to the other world. Probably just about when school started.
"Then it is settled. You will get the quarters right next to our daughters. If you need anything, you can just ask Nessa, Herminia's maid or come to us directly. Now go rest, I am sure you have had quite a journey", the king speaks and dismissed the girls.
"I'm glad it's you", Herminia says as the elves walk up to their respective rooms.
"Thank you, my lady", Luthien says.
"Please, just call me Herminia. We have been through too much together for formalities", Herminia smiles.
"If it's any consolation, I'm glad it's you too. I could have not asked for a better friend", Luthien smiles at her.
"We have the rest of our lives ahead of us and I want you there with me. Every step of the way."
"I'm not going anywhere."