Maybe one or two more chapters after this, then an epilogue. A sequel is planned.
Harry woke up. This time, he was fully dressed and not in King's Cross. Instead he was lying on a bed in a small and well-appointed but not ostentatious room. He looked down. He was still wearing his armour and surcoat, though they seemed to have been cleaned. He stood up, and felt no pain. Suspicious, he opened the door and found it opened onto a great hall. A large glowing figure had been sitting on a throne at the end of the hall, but turned down the glow and walked over to Harry, enveloping him in a comforting hug.
"Welcome, Harry Potter, to the Halls of Mandos. I am Lord Namo, and you are now in my care." The figure said, smiling kindly.
Harry said nothing for a few moments, then spoke. "Well. This definitely wasn't what I was expecting. Last time I died, I ended up at some sort of railway station. And aren't I a little out of your jurisdiction?"
"All peoples from your world and Arda pass through my halls eventually. Last time you died, you did not pass all the way across, so you arrived at a halfway house of your own design. Here, I make the rules, though how you perceive it is down to you." Namo replied.
"Is Voldemort, finally, actually dead and not coming back? If I go back or am reborn, I don't want to wake up and find him standing over my bed or something."
"He is, and out of even Morgoth's reach, trapped in the punishment pits of the timeless halls. You need fear him no longer."
"I don't fear him, not like that. He was too daft and weak to be any real danger, except to himself." Harry said, then added grumpily as Namo's lips curved into a smile, "All right, he managed to kill me, but I could have finished him very easily."
"Will I be here for long?"
Namo just smiled mysteriously and said nothing.
Harry scowled, muttered about 'bloody cryptic Valar', then asked, "Is there anyone else here?"
In answer, Lord Namo merely looked beyond Harry, who turned and gasped at the crowd behind him. His parents. Remus. Tonks. Fred. Someone who could only be Godric Gryffindor. Albus Dumbledore. Severus Snape of all people! Most puzzlingly, there was a tall, red haired elf at the back, with a sadly proud smile on his face and deep green eyes that were the exact same shade as his. All of them were wearing a proud smile of one sort or another. Even Snape was wearing a strange half smile which to Harry's mind looked thoroughly unnatural. He ran to them and was greeted with hugs, a particularly rib cracking one from his father and Godric Gryffindor, and gentler ones from his mother and Lupin.
"Mum. Dad." Harry said quietly, and his voice was filled with all the love and the pain of a child who had grown up without parents.
"Harry. It's good to see you at last." Lily said, hugging him closely.
"You've grown into a fine young man. Not quite as magnificent as me, but then, how can you beat perfection?" James said with a grin.
"Nonsense Potter, your son is an improvement, at long last. He has acquired some of his mother's wisdom, which is more than can be said for you." Snape drawled, no rancour in his voice, standing awkwardly off to one side.
Harry turned, and said, "Professor… I saw the memories you gave me… thank you. I know what it must have cost you to give them." Then Harry did what he had never thought possible. He. Hugged. Severus. Snape.
"Why can't you be more like Harry?" Lily said playfully as James's jaw dropped. Snape himself was no less surprised, and patted Harry awkwardly on the back.
Harry then released Snape, the latter looking a bit stunned, and turned to Lupin and Tonks, and felt a wave of guilt wash over him.
"Professor… Tonks. I abandoned my Godson, even if it was to the care of his grandmother. I shouldn't have done that… I'm sorry."
"No. You shouldn't. But you know it, and it was hardly your fault you stayed so long," Remus said firmly, directing a glare at Lord Namo, as did Dumbledore. Namo had the decency to look vaguely guilty under the icy glares.
"Indeed, Remus, there are certain people who will need to do a lot of explaining later. You are fine young man, Harry. Like your parents: brave, clever, kind and wise… if a little prone to pranks." Dumbledore said dryly, as James and Fred gave Harry thumbs up and grins behind his back.
"We forgive you, Harry. I'm not sure if my mother ever will though. She always swore I would be the last child she would ever look after." Tonks said wryly.
Harry followed Remus' glare and decided this was something to pursue later. "Sirius will give him the full Marauder's treatment. He'll be a proper menace to society, just like his father should have been and his Godfather was." Harry said proudly, with the slightest tinge of sadness in his voice.
Remus blanched, and James laughed loudly as Lily rolled her eyes. "That's my boy!" James chuckled, then added with a grin, "Speaking of the living, your girlfriend, Ginny. Excellent taste, she's gorgeous. Fiery and hot as hell. Just like your mother," he finished, planting a kiss on Lily's cheek.
Harry blushed and Lily swatted James on the arm and said, "Your father is right, if a little crude. She's a lovely girl."
Harry expression sobered, and he looked at the crowd before him. "I have to go back, haven't I." It was less a question, more a statement.
"Yes. Don't worry, we'll wait for you, and don't take it personally if we hope not to see for another few decades." James said, smiling sadly.
A door of light formed behind him, and Lord Namo said gravely, "It is time for you to go back, Harry Potter, your time is not up. I shall see you again, child, but not for some time."
Lily walked up to Harry and hugged him, kissing him on the forehead, and said, tears in her eyes, "Live long, my son. Be happy and love Ginny. And remember, I am so proud of you."
"Look after my sister, Harry." Fred said, with sad smile and Harry nodded. As he did so, Godric stepped forward.
"Hello sir. I suspect you'll be wanting your sword back where it belongs, in Hogwarts." Harry said ruefully.
"I could think of no place better for it than by your side. One day, it shall be returned to its home, but you, my heir, are more than worthy of wielding it for the moment. We are all so proud of you, and love you so much." Godric said kindly.
"Oh, Harry, before you go, I was asked to pass something on. Two friends I have made here, Finduilas and Gilraen, and their husbands, Denethor, who I think you knew, and Arathorn request that you pass on their love to their sons, Boromir and Faramir, and Aragorn." Lily added, remembering suddenly.
"What your mother didn't mention was that Denethor also said: 'You may be incredibly annoying, but you've done well by my sons. Also, tell Faramir that I am so proud of what he has become, even if I was too foolish to show it when I was alive and that the Lady Eowyn won't stay single forever, so he had better get off his arse and do something about it." James added with a grin.
Then Godric hugged Harry, like all the others, and when it ended Harry turned to go. As he stepped through the door of light, he heard his father yell, "And tell the mutt to wash more often! So he can settle down and have some pups! The Dunlending girl certainly looks interested!" and his mother cry despairingly, "James!"
Harry awoke once more, inside a coffin, which was a rather disconcerting experience. As he fumbled for his wand, he heard a distant tapping above, probably from some sort of particularly stupid crow. He blasted it, coffin, most of the tomb lid and the crow off with a powerful blasting curse. He stood and felt his chest as feathers and crow giblets fell around him. His mortal wound was healed, leaving a pale scar behind, and his clothes repaired. His stomach growled, he realised that he felt very hungry. And that his mouth tasted musty, he thought as he stretched stiff muscles.
"Just like a long sleep really." He muttered, slightly delirious, grabbed a large piece of shattered marble and carved carefully on it: "Out for Lunch, back in 10 minutes."
He then checked his pockets and grinned. They'd buried him with his invisibility cloak, for some unfathomable reason. This, he thought, could be a lot of fun.
He slipped through the darkened passages of the palace like a ghost, invisible, feet and armour silenced, occasionally stopping to avoid servants, towards the light that indicated some sort of celebration in the main hall.
He walked into hall and was greeted by the sight of a lot of people wearing black, grey, brown and other sombre colours, the decorations following the same theme. He grabbed a chicken leg as he snuck past the buffet table and made for a familiar thatch of red hair.
"…and once he had to get past a dragon to get to a golden egg, so he provoked it into chasing him, then outflew it. And only got a scratch!" Ron was saying to an attentive audience comprising Sirius, Eomer, Theodred, all 4 hobbits, Boromir, Faramir, Aragorn, Hermione and Ginny, the latter of whom had red eyes unique to someone who had spent a long time crying. Clearly they were swapping stories about him, Harry thought with some amusement.
"To Harry." Ron said solemnly, lifting his mug in a toast. Really, Harry couldn't miss a straight line like that.
He stole up silently behind them, then casually plucked Ron's tankard from his hand as he raised it with his right hand, whipped his cloak off with the left and took a large gulp of the purloined beer. "You exaggerate Ron, it was quite a nasty gash." He said breezily, then added sagely, smacking his lips, "Ah, an excellent ale. Definitely worth coming back from the dead for."
Ron was staring pale faced and wide eyed at him, gibbering slightly. Since his supposedly dead and buried best friend had just appeared from nowhere right next to him, corrected him and stolen his drink all in one fell swoop, this was understandable. Theodred simply took a pull from his ale and said conversationally, "This is still far from the weirdest thing you've ever done."
"I'll second that." Aragorn said dryly, and Boromir merely rolled his eyes.
"Eh, whatever. Why is the party so quiet?"
"It's a wake for the dead. To celebrate their lives, not to cause the total chaos that you are bound to initiate if given the chance."
"And you call this celebration? Well, let's see about that. Sonorus." Harry asked rhetorically.
"Oh no. Here we go again." Theodred complained.
"Hello, victorious soldiers of the army of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth. To forestall your questions, Yes, I am back from the dead, and No, I am not some wraith like monstrosity. Still 100% Wizard. I'm a little behind the times, having been dead and all that, but this is supposed to be a celebration! Do you think that those who have passed on wouldn't want you to have a good party to honour their memory? We're all still alive, thanks to their sacrifice, so why not act like it? I did not come back from beyond the grave - nice statue by the way, it really catches my good side - to sit around dressed in dour clothing being depressed. You can bet your last piece of clothing that they aren't doing much mourning on the other side. They miss you, but I can tell you that they are enjoying the afterlife and waiting for you. Never let it be said that Gondor cannot throw a fantastic party. So, bring on the music, change the decorations, and for ERU'S SAKE, have some fun! "
There was long moment of stunned silence, then Harry demanded, "Well? What are you waiting for?"
Servants started bustling in and out, bringing in new decorations and some musicians were hastily assembled, a dance floor cleared. "Quietus", Harry said, disabling the spell. "Well, that seems to have got things g-" He was suddenly interrupted when almost everyone jumped on him in a massive group hug, and more tears were shed, this time of happiness. Harry wheezed slightly, and when he extricated himself, Ginny rushed up to him in something that was half hug, half tackle and mostly snog. It went on for a long time, and the universe could have ended and begun anew without them noticing, wolf whistles and cheers spreading around the hall.
Finally they broke the kiss and Ginny whispered, happy tears rolling down her face, "Never scare me like that ever again. I thought you were dead."
Harry tilted her chin gently upward and said, "I was dead. But even death cannot stop true love. Only delay for a while. And for your sake, I'll try not to scare you like that," before kissing her again, slowly and gently as Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered about excessive quoting, "Now, I think it's time we started dancing. Miss Weasley, may I have the honour of this dance?"
She arched an eyebrow and replied, "Very well Mr Potter, but you have to promise to behave."
Ron and Hermione had already got up and begun to dance, Eomer had been quickly entranced by the beautiful and fiery Princess Lothiriel of Dol Amroth, Sirius had a small crowd of partners waiting for him, and Boromir had found a young Gondorian lady to dance with, albeit slightly reluctantly. Only Theodred and Faramir were without partners, and the former was casting longing gazes at an amused looking Lady Morwen, who was standing 10 feet away. An evil grin spread across his face.
"If you give me a moment, Miss Weasley, I promise to do as you wish all evening."
"You had better not keep me waiting Mr Potter." Ginny said archly.
"I would rather die. Again."
And with that, Harry slipped over to where Theodred was standing and said casually, "She's a great dancer. Beautiful, kind, smart and talented at dancing, what more could you want? If you don't dance with her, someone else sure as hell will."
Theodred looked startled. "Who are you talking about?"
"Lady Morwen. The one you keep shooting longing gazes at. And, old friend, you can thank me for this later." Harry said, patting him convivially on the back, then suddenly shoving him hard. Theodred stumbled, caught by surprise, and managed to right himself just before he ran into her.
"Do you want to dance, Lord Prince?" she said with a smile, giving Harry a wry look, which the wizard responded to with a cheeky wink.
"Um…"
"That means yes. Come on then, and follow my lead." She said briskly leading him onto the dance floor.
Harry then moved to Faramir who was half staring at Eowyn and half looking warily at Harry out of the corner of his eye.
"When I was dead, my parents asked me to pass on a message from your parents. Your mother said she was proud of you both and your father said, 'Also, tell Faramir that I am so proud of what he has become, even if I was too foolish to show it when I was alive and that the Lady Eowyn won't stay single forever, so he had better get off his arse and do something about it.' I may not have liked him much, but the man has a point. Had. Whatever." Harry said.
Faramir stared at him wide eyed, then reached for a drink to fortify himself, which Harry swiped from his grasp, chiding, "No, a combination of alcohol and asking a beautiful lady to dance is doomed to failure. You fought hordes of Orcs! How can this be harder?"
"She could turn me down! She always seems so remote!" Faramir said flustered, as far from the cool and collected Captain of Gondor as it was possible to be.
"And you think she will automatically fall in love with you if you stare at her whilst being lonely?" Harry replied flatly.
"Um…"
"Come on." Harry said, swinging an arm round Faramir and apparating him over to Eowyn, then, panicked, he cast a quick anti-nausea charm on Faramir before he threw up all over Eowyn's feet.
Eowyn looked up, surprised as Harry sharply elbowed a semi recovered Faramir in the ribs.
"M-my lady, may I… have…" Faramir lapsed into embarrassed silence.
"Must I do everything myself?" Harry lamented, and sighed, then said briskly, "Eowyn, you know Faramir. What you do not know that he is deeply in love with you and is far too embarrassed to ask you to dance despite mowing down hordes of Orcs without hesitation." He then added disparagingly, "Typical Gondorian."
Eowyn blinked and said, "I would love to dance, Lord Faramir."
"Really? Oh, yes, thank you!" Faramir said, thoroughly relieved.
"You may want to lead," Harry hissed at Eowyn who rolled her eyes at him, then he grinned, and moved back to Ginny, who was wearing a dry smile. "Match making, Harry?"
"The only match I want is right here. Let's set the dance floor alight." Harry said, anticipation in his voice, then paused, "but not literally of course. That wouldn't be a –mmph!" Ginny interrupted him with another kiss.
"Come on you idiot. Let's dance." Ginny said fondly, dragging him onto the dance floor as Pippin joined the dance with a relatively short noblewoman, and as Aragorn was giving Harry a look that said they would talk later while he sat and spoke to Théoden. Frodo had been sitting quietly up with the Merry and Sam, all three of whom were cheering Harry, who saluted them as he passed by.
And so they danced all night, clothes whirling, eyes flashing with love and in many cases, lust. Alcohol was drunk, competitions set up in a separate room so as to avoid dirtying the dance floor, and Harry laughed himself sick as Legolas sought to escape a large group of young ladies attempting to make him their dance partner and various members of the dowager nobility seeking to set him with their daughters. Ron made the mistake of trying to out drink Gimli and eventually collapsed as the dwarf showed no signs of slowing down his concerted charge towards a complete lack of sobriety.
Hermione sobered him up with a long suffering sigh, and Sirius seemed to have collected what approximated to a small mob of adoring young ladies, all of them listening attentively to vaguely exaggerated tales of his various escapades. Eirian was standing off to one side, watching Sirius from a short distance away. Emrys, still with dark golden hair, presumably a side effect of his rampage at the Morannon, was happily arguing with a Gondorian girl his own age, which made Harry wonder if he was seeing Hermione and Ron: The Middle Earth edition, in the making. Theodred and Morwen had stopped dancing, and now held hands in a way that made Harry wish desperately for a camera to embarrass them with later, and by them he meant Theodred. Sirius then started singing again:
Well a Scotsman clad in kilt left a bar on evening fair
And one could tell by how we walked that he drunk more than his share
He fumbled round until he could no longer keep his feet
Then he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
About that time two young and lovely girls just happend by
And one says to the other with a twinkle in her eye
See young sleeping Scotsman so strong and handsome built
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt
They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman quiet as could be
Lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see
And there behold, for them to view, beneath his Scottish skirt
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
They marveled for a moment, then one said we must be gone
Let's leave a present for our friend, before we move along
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon, tied into a bow
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show
Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled towards a tree
Behind a bush, he lifts his kilt and gawks at what he sees
And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes.
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first prize
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first prize
As Sirius sang, he sauntered with canine grace through the crowd of young women and took Eirian by the hand, tugging her into a lively dance, he singing and her blushing and laughing all the while. Emrys looked up briefly, eyed Sirius, and then turned back to his partner with a shake of his head and a snort of laughter.
Gandalf stood beside Harry as the latter was taking a brief rest from the dancing and smirking at the vaguely scandalised response Sirius' singing had garnered. "Somehow this makes it all worth it. The chance to enjoy yourself and bathe in the glow of others happiness…" Harry said abruptly, trailing off as he looked at Ginny, who was chatting and giggling with Morwen.
"So speaks a man deeply in love." Gandalf said with a certain satisfaction.
Harry opened his mouth to reply, then shook his head and laughed. "I suppose so, Gandalf, I suppose so."
"When will you go back?" Gandalf asked quietly.
Harry replied with a question, "Will I be allowed to return?"
Gandalf thought for some time, then nodded. "I think so. There will always be a darkness to fight, and I feel that you and your line will be important in the 4th Age of the world."
"I and my…" Harry trailed off, looking wide eyed at Gandalf, then at Ginny and back again.
"Don't look at me like that, young wizard, it was a prediction, not a prophecy." Gandalf replied with a fond irritation.
Harry exhaled. "Good. I've had enough of prophecies. I think I'll stay to help strengthen Aragorn's control over the country and clear out the last dark creatures. Then… home. At least for a while." He looked up. Gandalf wasn't listening and appeared to be staring into the middle distance. Then the old wizard blinked a couple of times and his eyes snapped to first Ginny, then Ron, and he made a hmming sound.
"What's up Gandalf?"
"Oh, nothing. I was in communion with the Herald of the Valar, Eonwe, the one you saw at Edoras taking down your oath. It just seems as if the gates between your world and this opened a long time ago for someone they shouldn't, almost as a respite, then returned him to his punishment 90 years later. The punishment was to walk the coasts of this world forever. Now it seems that his torment is to be ended." Gandalf said thoughtfully, gazing at the Weasley's.
Something about that rang a vague bell with Harry, who wracked his brains. "Are you saying the Weasley's aren't entirely human?" He asked incredulously.
"Indeed I am, though so long ago that only their blood remembers now, and there is little elf left in them, only so much as there is in Aragorn, and I suspect it took their time in this world to awaken it. The blood will have few effects on them, aside from making them slightly physically enhanced, slightly more perceptive and grant them a slightly longer life." Gandalf said slowly, getting out his pipe and beginning to smoke.
Harry waved away the smoke and asked, "Which elf, Gandalf?"
The White Wizard did not answer for a long time, then said, "He is very old, a contemporary of Galadriel's. He raised the Lords Elrond and Elros, and was the kindest of his accursed family. I suspect he would have grown to be a great elf if his father had not overwhelmed him like his brothers."
"Give me a name Gandalf." Harry said firmly.
"The last living of the seven sons of Feanor. The last of the kinslayers. His father made the Silmaril's, his nephew all the Rings of Power, save the One. The Wanderer. The Singer. The Repenter. The Traitor Slayer. Maglor." Gandalf said, a dramatic intensity in his voice, a depth and complexity of feeling Harry could only begin to guess at.
Harry looked puzzled, then snapped his fingers, remembering Elrond's tales of the First Age. "The dark haired one, the one who didn't really want to take the oath."
Gandalf nodded. "His brother, Maedhros, is your ancestor. Maedhros was the peacemaker who, but for treachery, would have shaken the foundations of Thangorodrim itself with the greatest alliance the world has seen, save only the army of Valinor. He who was wise and fierce in combat, even after losing a hand. He also would also have been great, after his own fashion. It seems that for his remorse for his terrible deeds caused him to be briefly diverted to your world upon his death, where, like his brother, he fell in love and married."
"I… I'm part elf?" Harry stammered incredulously.
"Only a very small part. The best way to describe you would be as one of the Dunedain or one of the high nobility of Gondor." Gandalf replied calmly. "And have you not noticed that you have become somewhat faster, stronger, more agile, faster to heal and sensitive to danger since you came here? I have seen many fight, Harry, I recognise enhanced abilities when I see them. Have you not noticed that your endurance matches that of Aragorn and Legolas? Or it would if you ran more often." Gandalf said with a slight smile. "And I think it is a very good thing that you are only a fraction elf. I dread to think the trouble you would cause if you were immortal with all the strengths of the elves."
"Hey! My endurance is just fine. And I would not cause trouble. Well, not much." Harry said, pouting slightly. Then he added, "I think I saw Maedhros in the Halls of Mandos, standing with my family and friends."
"Really? That is interesting." Gandalf said, clearly thinking about something, then moving on. "Anyway, if you wish to find Maglor, the best place to look would be the Grey Havens, where I am informed he is recovering in Cirdan's care. Not yet, and not for some time, as I suspect he is still somewhat… traumatised by his experiences and unused to living contact. There is no onus on any of you to make it known that he is related to you, or even to see hi-"
"He's family Gandalf. However distantly. In my estimation, he has suffered more than enough for the Kinslayings, and from what I have heard of his father, he had little chance to be his own person, even from the start. Of course I, at least, will visit him. I suspect Ron and Ginny will say the same." Harry, cutting across Gandalf strongly.
The White Wizard, stood and nodded, with a smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me Harry, I need to speak to Aragorn. And get a drink."
Harry nodded in return, and said, "Family's important."
As Gandalf walked off, Harry could have sworn he heard him mutter, "That's my boy."
Harry then tapped the sword of Gryffindor, and noticed something, or more an absence of something. He looked up to see that Gandalf was now talking to Frodo, Aragorn having moved on to make nice with the nobility. He apparated over, and to Frodo's credit, he didn't even flinch at the sudden crack.
"Gandalf, the sword. I don't have the same feeling of… power from it. As if it's been drained, or almost drained." Harry said, puzzled.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would notice that. I suspect it was granted a massive volume of raw power in order to help you, and whoever else was worthy of wielding it, the power to face Sauron. Now you are left only with what power comes naturally to you, though I do not doubt that your own power will be truly great one day. Not yet though. You may need to study further, as I think the power acted through you on at least one occasion." Gandalf said with a small smile.
Harry was no longer listening, one hand tight on the sword hilt, the other on his wand, which he drew as if in a trance. He then tapped Frodo's finger denuded hand, and said in Godric's voice, "Every hero has a reward, Frodo son of Drogo, even if they do not look for it. I cannot heal your other wounds, for it is not within my power, but this much I can do for you."
A golden red finger grew there, glowing brightly at first, then subsiding. Frodo just looked from his new finger to Harry and back again, flexing it briefly and said nervously, "Does that happen often?"
"I hope not." Harry grumbled, cracking his neck, "My body is mine, not a convenient avatar for the spirits of the dead to make their feelings known. Besides, all the power is gone now, and that is one thing I won't miss about it. It's just a slightly magical sword. Repels dust, dirt, finds its way to a worthy wielder and channels magic. Well, maybe it gives a boost to fire spells, but that's it." He looked at Gandalf and Frodo. "Don't tell anyone I got a power boost from the sword will you? I'll tell Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Théoden, Theodred, Eomer, Eowyn, Faramir, Sirius and the Fellowship, but having everyone else think I'm a vengeful god or avenging angel is kind of fun."
"That is rather a lot of people." Gandalf observed dryly, and then added, "Nevertheless, your secret dies with us."
Harry wagged a finger sternly. "No dying."
"Everyone does so eventually Harry. Death is but the next great adventure, a wise man once said." Gandalf said placidly.
"Yes, Dumbledore really liked that one. But this is a party, and I'm just back from the dead, so I intend to have fun, which may or may not involve getting absolutely drunk out of my skull."
"How do you get drunk out of your skull?" Frodo asked, puzzled.
"I don't know, but I intend to find out." Harry said firmly, moving purposefully towards the ale barrels.
"Before you go Harry, I would add Emrys to that list. His newly discovered power comes from a similar place to yours." Gandalf called, earning a negligent wave in response.
Boromir sidled over, and said, "5 gold crowns that he sets something on fire while he's drunk."
"That's a suckers bet. 10 says that he does something to that nobleman whose slobbering over Ginny." Eomer said, following him.
"Done." Boromir said, shaking his hand.
Said nobleman, young, tall, well-formed, foolish and incredibly drunk was being a little too matey with Ginny, but before Harry could draw his wand and do something horrible to him, Ginny lost her temper.
"…I've never seen someone's snot grow wings before." Eomer said with a blink, as the bat bogey hex took effect.
"Or attack its owner. You own me 10 crowns." Boromir finished, holding out a smug hand. Eomer grumpily counted it out, and glared at Boromir, who clapped him on the shoulder.
"Since you're my friend Eomer, I'll give you a chance to win it back. You out drink Gimli, and I'll pay you 30. If you lose, you owe me nothing. Come on, he's already half way there! Or are you all lightweights in Rohan?" Boromir said, grinning.
Eomer bristled, "All right, I'll give it a go. I'll just go and talk to Theodred first."
"Wonderful, I'll get it set up." Boromir said, making for Gimli as Eomer went to find Theodred, presumably to tell him that he was going to get absolutely blasted and not to let Eowyn near him for most of the next day. When he turned away, Boromir beckoned to Sirius, and the two conspired in whispers. Gandalf watched with a small smile as they then made for Gimli, Sirius doing something with his wand and Boromir whispering to the now sober dwarf, who soon started grinning. When Eomer came over, Gimli was acting as he previously had, semi-drunk, and the drinking game begun.
"Harry is having a bad influence on them." Gandalf said, shaking his head.
Frodo smiled weakly, flexing his new glowing finger. "He has that effect on everyone."
Gandalf looked at him sharply. "Is that why I saw Pippin passed out drunk in a corner with pink hair?"
Frodo looked innocent. "Would I ever do something like that?"
"If you thought you could get away with it." Gandalf replied. "Harry or Sirius?" He asked.
"Ronald, actually. He was most helpful when I told him what I wanted." Frodo said amusedly.
"Hobbits." Gandalf muttered. "You do realise Aragorn's coronation is in less than 3 weeks?"
"It should wear off by then." Frodo said placidly, apparently unaware of Gandalf's suspicious gaze upon him.
The next morning Eomer woke to an absolutely monstrous hang over. He vaguely remembered getting into a drinking contest with Gimli, and losing badly.
"Ow." He groaned, and tried to get out of bed. It was at that point when he found out that he was trapped, tied up inside a dress. One of Eowyn's by the looks of things, he thought as he rolled off the bed with a thump. Glaring mutely at the wall, he vowed revenge on Theodred and Harry, who could not fail to be involved, and Boromir, who was almost certainly the mastermind of this particular indignity. When he looked into the mirror and saw his bright pink hair, he bellowed, "HARRY POTTER!"