Ginny gathered her broom and her uniform, placing her clothes neatly inside her bag. Once she was finished, she pulled the zipper up and she was ready to go. But if she wanted to be honest, she didn't feel ready. She looked around the Harpies' changing room for the last time, feeling an ache in her heart. It would be so strange not to enter this room every other day to get ready for training. It was such a vital part of her daily routine that she couldn't think of doing anything else. However, she needed to go. For now.

The door opened, startling Ginny. It was just Caroline. Her friend's eyes diverted from her to her bag. She seemed to be sharing the same sentiment about Ginny's departure. "I can't believe you're leaving. It feels so surreal," Caroline blurted out.

Ginny laughed. "You tell me."

"All these memories, all these victories we lived together… How am I supposed to do this without you, Gin?"

Ginny rolled her eyes at Caroline's theatrics. She was just so dramatic. "It's just for a season, Carol."

"Just a season? Just a season? Are you even listening to yourself?!" Caroline gasped. "An entire season without Ginny Weasley in the Holyhead Harpies! What a disaster!"

"Okay, now you're just being overdramatic. You guys can do just fine without me."

"For sure. But it's not going to be the same without you, Gin," Caroline said in a more serious tone.

"I appreciate the boost of confidence, but both you and I are well aware that there's no other way."

"I know, I know…" Caroline sighed. "Have you had any news from him at the very least?"

Ginny's heart ached. Him. No, she hadn't heard from Harry since New Year's. She couldn't believe it had been almost half a year since then. It felt like an eternity since the night that changed their lives forever. Almost every night she laid awake, wishing he was there. She missed him terribly, more than she had missed him the last six years.

"No. And I don't expect to," Ginny admitted. "I think… This is one of the things he was trying to protect me from. At least, I have Hermione to sympathize with me."

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot your brother is gone too." Caroline grimaced. "Bloody hell. And here I thought you were just being dramatic."

Ginny punched her playfully on the shoulder. "You are one to talk."

The door of the changing rooms screeched open and their captain emerged. "Weasley, a word please."

Ginny nodded. "Of course." She turned back to Caroline. "Well, I suppose this is goodbye for now."

Caroline rolled her eyes. "Don't pretend you're getting rid of me that easily."

"I wouldn't dream of that." Ginny laughed before embracing her best friend. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Bet!"

Ginny chuckled before grabbing her bag and following Gwenog to her office. Although she had been there many times, she couldn't help but notice all the banners, the medals, the trophies and the titles Gwenog had acquired with the Harpies. The captain walked around her desk and grabbed some papers before offering them to Ginny.

"Here," Gwenog said. "We're really going to miss you, Weasley. This team isn't the same without you."

"I'll miss this too," Ginny admitted bitterly. "I'm sorry, Gwenog. This year I feel like I've only caused you nothing but trouble."

"Ginny, in the name of what's holy, don't ever say that. It was definitely an unlucky season but… it wasn't your fault," Gwenog argued. "I just hope that once you return, we can give this another go."

"Of course," Ginny nodded. "Although, I must say, all the girls have excellent performance. I believe you can reach the top without me around."

"We will see about that." Gwenog smiled. "You have already helped us secure some very important victories, so it's still a possibility." She sighed. "Anyway, enough of that. I don't want you to think that the only reason why I'm sad that you are leaving is because of the championship."

"I would never think that, Gwen."

"All I'm trying to say is, I'll miss having you around. And I'm not saying this as your captain, but as a friend."

Ginny's heart swelled. "Gwenog, thank you so much. I'm very lucky to play under your leadership."

GInny could have sworn Gwenog blushed, although she couldn't be sure about that. Gwenog Jones never got embarrassed for as long as she knew her. "And I'm lucky enough to play with you as my teammate," the older woman said. "I still hope we'll see you around though, right?"

"Oh, for sure. The fact that I won't be able to play doesn't mean I won't cheer you guys on." Ginny smirked.

Gwenog laughed. "Great. We could use some applause."

After the discussion with Gwenog, Ginny headed straight home. Sometimes she would catch herself looking for Harry and Athena waiting for her outside of the pitch before she remembered they were gone. Of course, by now she knew not to expect anyone. However, the empty space never ceased to make her heart ache. Returning to the Burrow didn't make it easier. Normally, she would have moved out by now since there wasn't a reason to stay there anymore, but due to the current circumstances, she decided it was best to stay with her family for now, at least until Harry returned.

Was he safe? Was he thinking of her? All those questions were eating her alive. She'd spend countless nights unable to sleep, staring up at the ceiling and silently praying that he would be back soon. It was almost like that year at Hogwarts under Snape's reign. The difference was, this time she didn't have to worry about her personal safety every second of the day. On that aspect, Dark Owl's activities were minimized, now only rarely hearing his name on the news. He had been quiet for a long time, and Ginny was certain it had to do with the aurors chasing after him. She only hoped that they would get him soon and put an end to this.

But life went on and Ginny had other business to worry about. Her last session with the Harpies also coincided with a very important meeting on the very same day. For the first time in almost six months, Ginny would be meeting with Dean. Admittedly, she was very nervous about the whole ordeal, but she was well aware that this was the right thing to do. She owned Dean that much. Which was because she started getting ready as soon as she got home, trying really hard not to think about Harry, Ron and surprisingly, Athena. It was a weird feeling, but knowing she was there made her feel better. Once, she would be jealous - it was so embarrassing admitting that she had been jealous of Athena, even subconsciously - but now it was reassuring to know that she was with Harry. Ginny trusted that the older woman could keep an eye on him and not allow his hero complex to cloud his judgement.

Molly watched her daughter prepare with what Ginny assumed to be a concerned look. It was slightly annoying if she wanted to be honest. She knew exactly what she was doing and she didn't need her mother constantly looking after her, although it was expected, given the situation. Still, Ginny didn't like it, but she chose not to argue with Molly at the moment. "How do I look?" she asked, knowing very well that her mum had stopped on her threshold to check on her.

"Beautiful," Molly said, walking in. "But Ginny, are you sure about this? You know, you don't have to do this."

Ginny sighed. "Yes, mum. And yes, I do have to do this. It's the right thing to do. I owe Dean that much. He deserves closure so he can move on with his life, just like I have."

Molly stopped in front of her, cleaning some dust off Ginny's robes with her palm. "Just be careful, alright? And don't be late, you have an appointment tomorrow," she reminded.

"Yes, mum. I remember." Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's not like I have a choice whether to be late or not, right?"

Molly smiled knowingly. "Here's your portkey." She handed Ginny a sock. "Don't lose it."

"Mum, you do realize I'm not a child, right?"

"You're still my child and as a mother, it is my job to give you advice." Molly patted her cheek playfully and Ginny surrendered, smiling. "Now off you go!"

Ginny headed downstairs and grabbed some of the powder that was placed on a bowl on top of the fireplace. She stepped inside and glanced at her mother one last time. "I'll see you later." She cleared her throat before dropping the powder on her feet. "Diagon Alley!"

She soon found herself walking down the cobblestone street of Diagon Alley, heading towards the "Magical Lobster" where she was supposed to meet with Dean. The closer she got, the more nervous she became. The truth was, Ginny didn't know what to expect from this meeting. She didn't know what Dean's reaction would be. Heck, she didn't even know why he had agreed to see her in the first place. The "Magical Lobster" appeared in her vision, but Dean was nowhere to be found, so Ginny waited. A small part of her wished he wouldn't show up. Alas, he eventually appeared after a while.

"Hi. Sorry to make you wait," Dean apologized breathlessly. "Last minute business kept me in office later than I anticipated."

"It's okay. I haven't been waiting long," Ginny reassured him. Dean glanced at her and she felt scrutinized under his gaze. She wondered if he had noticed. Even if he had, he didn't say anything. His silence made her feel guilty, although this wasn't something she should be guilty for. Ginny cleared her throat in an attempt to ease the tension. "Shall we?"

"After you." Dean extended his arm towards the entrance to the restaurant. The "Magical Lobster" had grown so much in popularity the past couple of months that it was impossible to find a table without reserving a table in advance. The waiter at the entrance checked their names before leading them to the table that was reserved under Ginny's name. Ironically, it was the exact same table they had taken when they last came there in an attempt to mend what was left of their broken relationship. It was even more awkward when another waitress lit up some candles and asked them if they'd like anything to drink. Ginny of course couldn't drink and Dean didn't feel up to it. This wasn't some kind of celebration to begin with.

After another waiter took their order, Ginny finally dared to spark some kind of conversation. "So, uh… how have you been, Dean?"

"Alright. Busy with work and all that," he shrugged. "One of my sisters recently got married, so I had that going for myself."

"Congratulations!"

"Thanks."

Ginny fidgeted, knowing that her following question was rather risky. "Luna told me you've been seeing someone."

"For someone who is traveling all the time, she's awfully perceptive and up-to-date." Dean chuckled in amusement. "Yes, indeed, Seamus and I have been seeing each other for a while now."

Seamus? As in Seamus Finnegan? Ginny had always known they were awfully close during school. It honestly wasn't that much of a surprise. "Oh, that's amazing. I'm happy for you both."

"Thank you." Dean's cheeks were painted red under the dim light. "How about you? Are you…?" he trailed off.

"Pregnant? Yes, very much so," Ginny confirmed. "I just entered the fifth month," she added quickly, trying to clarify that it wasn't what Dean was probably thinking - or what she assumed he was thinking on that matter.

Dean on his part didn't look upset in the slightest. "That's amazing, Ginny. Congratulations to you too."

"Thank you…"

"How is Harry, by the way?"

Now that was a question she didn't expect him to ask. Ginny's face instantly fell at the mention of Harry's name. "Actually, I haven't seen him in a while. He's been away in auror business.:

"...Oh." That was probably not what Dean expected to hear. "Is this about that Dark Owl guy? I've heard all about it on the news."

Ginny nodded. "Yeah. Apparently, all of his schemes seemed to have one goal, and that was to get to Harry. He never cared about all those social reasons he presented on the Wizarding Wireless Network."

"Wow. That's really messed up, isn't it?" Dean ran a hand through his hair. "I hope he gets home safely soon."

"Me too…"

The heaviness in the atmosphere was alleviated by their food arriving. They ate quietly, enjoying their meal. Even after they were finished, there was something eerie between them. Ginny sighed. It was time she got right into the point. She wasn't one to avoid direct confrontation.

"Listen, Dean. There's a reason why I asked you to meet here."

"Yeah, you did mention that in your letter." Dean recalled. "What is it, then?"

Ginny inhaled sharply. "I owe you an apology. For everything I made you go through. I was selfish and you didn't deserve that."

Dean looked completely confused. "What are you talking about, Gin?"

"You know I was completely heartbroken when Harry left me. That combined with Fred's loss… It was all too much for me. And I needed a way to cope. Pretending that I hated Harry made it easier for me. It was a delusion that made me believe I could escape my feelings for him," Ginny explained. "Key word here is "pretending". Now, I don't want you to think that I pretended to care about you, because I genuinely did. I still do. It's just that, my heart always belonged to Harry, even when we were together. Which is what led us to fall apart in the end." Ginny paused. "I know this sounds really bad. I understand if you can't forgive me - if I were you, I'm not sure if I would be able to. I don't expect you to either, but at the very least you deserve an explanation."

Dean seemed to be digging in everything Ginny had just said. "Ginny, it's alright," he said softly.

"How can you say that?" Ginny exclaimed. "I literally used you as a distraction because I was too much of a coward to face my feelings. It's far from "alright"!"

"No, that was still a mistake on your part," Dean agreed. "But I understand. I really do. A small part of me secretly always knew that your heart belonged elsewhere. I think this was why I got jealous sometimes."

"That doesn't make it any better, Dean." Ginny grimaced.

"If you had talked to me five months ago, I would be very angry with you right now. And upset," Dean admitted. "But time has let me figure out some things myself." He paused. "Being with Seamus has helped me discover some things about myself that I've been avoiding for a long time. You weren't the only one running away from their feelings, trust me. I really do understand that it's easier to pretend something isn't there rather than admit their existence."

Needless to say, Ginny was surprised by his confession. "But… if this wasn't what you really wanted, why did you propose?"

"I don't know. For the same reason you said yes, I suppose."

He had a very valid point. "I guess we've both been foolish then," Ginny concluded.

"I couldn't phrase this better myself." Dean barked a laugh. "So, where does that bring us, exactly?" He asked, pointing first at Ginny and then at himself.

"I don't know. When I invited you here, I didn't expect any kind of reconciliation. I simply wanted to offer you the explanation you deserved," Ginny admitted. "I didn't imagine that there wouldn't be any bad blood between us."

"That's an understatement." Dean chuckled. "Well, on my part, I'd still like us to be friends if that's alright with you."

Ginny smiled. "I wouldn't mind that, actually."

It felt like an invisible wall had just been breached. This outcome didn't even reach Ginny's highest expectations about this meeting. She was very glad that both Dean and her were on the same page now and they could face each other without any resentment.

The rest of the evening continued smoothly. Ginny paid for dinner despite Dean's complaints and the two left the "Magical Lobster" laughing like old friends do. Six months ago Ginny would have never imagined things turning out the way they did. They wandered around Diagon Alley for a little while until it was Ginny's time to leave. She certainly didn't want to miss her portkey back home.

"Thank you for tonight," Dean said. "I really enjoyed myself."

"Me too," Ginny responded honestly. "It was really nice to see you again. And thank you for listening to me. It really means a lot."

"Don't mention it. We are adults, are we not?"

"Well, we haven't always been adults per se…" Ginny trailed off and Dean chuckled. "Anyway. My portkey will be activated in less than a minute. Hope I'll see you soon!"

"Take care, Ginny. And give Harry my regards." Dean took a step back as she revealed the portkey - the pair of the socks she had used to get to Diagon Alley in the first place. The last thing she remembered seeing was Dean waving at her as she departed…

It wasn't very dark when she got home. Daytime was significantly bigger than nighttime this time of the year. Still, the Burrow seemed to be illuminating under the faded stars that were slowly coming into view. Ginny made her way through the yard and left her boots outside the kitchen door. It was at this moment that she noticed some extra pairs of shoes. Weird. She wasn't aware that they were expecting guests tonight. With those thoughts in mind, she used the key her mother had provided and entered the kitchen.

As soon she entered, whatever talking was taking place before her arrival came to a halt. Ginny raised her gaze and her breath hitched in her throat. For a moment, it felt like she was trapped in a dream too good to be true. But as she blinked several times, she came to realize this was no dream and that it really was him. Harry looked at her with his emerald green eyes and it felt like nothing else mattered in that moment. Of course, the daydream was soon ruined by no one else than her brother, although admittedly Ginny was glad to see him.

"I feel like I've missed something here," Ron said, looking back and forth between his best friend and his sister. He didn't look too pleased, but then their mother intervened.

"Yes, Ron. You have. Come on now," Molly said, particularly dragging him out of the kitchen by the ear.

As Ron's complaints faded away, Ginny was able to focus on Harry's face. He had a small bruise under his left eye and a cut on his upper lip. His hair was now longer than ever before. Ginny walked slowly towards him and he watched her magnetized, as if she had casted some kind of spell upon him. She reached out and touched his face, running her thumb across his newly acquired scar. He closed his eyes at her touch.

"You seriously need a haircut," Ginny whispered.

Harry laughed and pressed his forehead against hers. It was Ginny's turn to close her eyes. "That's exactly what your mother said," he admitted.

"Hm," Ginny hummed. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Harry said, pulling her closer to his body. They stayed there for a while, just breathing in each other, trying to comprehend this new reality. At last, Harry opened his eyes. "Are you really…?"

Ginny wanted to roll her eyes, throw something sarcastic at him, but all she was able to say was, "Yes."

Harry laughed through his tears before capturing her lips in his. In that moment, nothing else mattered. They remained united in what felt like eons. But when the need to breathe became greater than the need to kiss each other, they took a step back to refill their lungs.

"I have an exam at St. Mungos tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?" Ginny offered.

"I'd love nothing more." Harry grinned before kissing her again.

In his life, Harry James Potter had fought many dark wizards and countless other threats. Still, nothing was more terrifying than watching Healer Goldfinch perform the examination, making complicated maneuvers with her wands and using spells he had never even heard of. He held Ginny's hand the entire time, who unsuccessfully tried to calm him down, since she had been through the procedure a couple of times. He visibly relaxed only when Healer Goldfinch was finished.

"Right," she spoke. "Everything seems to be perfectly fine, Ms Weasley. The baby is growing normally and he's the size he's supposed to be. Don't be surprised if you feel a kick here and there."

"That's a relief," Ginny retorted. "By the way, last time you said that you'd be able to pinpoint an approximate date?"

"Yes, thank you for reminding me." Healer Goldfinch went through her notes. "According to my calculations, your due date is between the 10th of September and the 20th, although I cannot guarantee these exact dates."

"Thank you." Harry nodded.

"Well, then. I will be seeing you again in a couple of weeks," the Healer said. "Please don't forget to check in with my assistant on your way out."

"Will do. Thank you, Healer Goldfinch."

Harry helped Ginny get on her feet and left the room to make the arrangements with the Healer's assistant. As he waited patiently for Ginny to arrange the next examination, Harry noticed from the corner of his eye a familiar figure passing by. He quickly looked over his shoulder to make sure his eyes hadn't fooled him.

"Shamus?"

"Oh, hey Harry. How's it going?" Shamus Nicholson greeted him with a tired smile. The dark circles under his eyes and the bruises on his face made him look worse for wear. Harry doubted he looked any better, but his exhaustion was masked by his immeasurable happiness. "Are you here for exams, too?"

"I'm here on a more personal matter," Harry admitted.

"Ah, I see. Well, I sure hope the Healers can fix my shoulder. It really hurts, you know?" Shamus said.

During their five month long expedition, Shamus had his shoulder dislocated quite a few times. No matter what they had tried, none of their healing spells seemed to have a permanent effect on his injury. Shamus had to fight with a dislocated shoulder many times throughout this mission. Harry suspected that this injury was connected with the time he had been held hostage by Dark Owl and he couldn't help but feel bad for his colleague.

"I sure hope they can do something about it. It has bothered you quite a bit," Harry responded earnestly.

"Me too. Anyhow, I don't want to keep you from your business. Say hi to Ron from me." Shamus waved him goodbye before he disappeared down the corridor.

"Are you ready?" Ginny's voice brought his attention back to her. He smiled.

"Whenever you are," he responded.

Ginny retrieved their portkey - a cup - from her bag and motioned at him to follow her to an empty space near the end of the hall where they could safely use it to get back home. Harry placed his hand on top of hers as she held onto the cup and gave it a light squeeze before he felt as if someone pulled him from his stomach. As soon as they landed on stable ground, Harry grabbed her arm gently to lead her back home. With a quick look around, he realized something was completely wrong.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked, who inevitably noticed that they were nowhere near the Burrow. How was that possible?

Harry reached his wand. "I don't know. Stay close."

They were surrounded by a thick fog, but that didn't prevent Harry from recognizing the town in the distance, because he had been there quite recently in fact. The realization made his blood run cold.

"We're in Canterbury," he gulped. "The last known place where Dark Owl and his remaining followers were last seen."

"But how did we end up here?" Ginny asked, also retrieving her wand upon realizing what Harry meant.

He shook his head. "I don't know. We were set up. Someone changed the real portkey with this one…" The realization came harder than he anticipated. "Shamus. Of course. Why on Earth would he be in the childbirth section of the hospital if he was there to treat his shoulder?"

"Shamus? Ron's partner?" Ginny frowned. "Why?"

"I don't know! We have to get out of here, quickly!"

"You aren't going anywhere."

The newly added voice came somewhere from the mist. Harry instinctively dragged Ginny behind him protectively, his wand ready. Four more figures appeared, surrounding them. A fifth one came to face him.

"Welcome to Canterbury." Dark Owl spread his arms. "I sure hope you like it here. I love visiting Kent."

Harry gritted his teeth. He couldn't stand having him mock him in the face, although he had every right to do so. After all, he had managed to outsmart him. Upon his lack of response, Dark Owl continued his monologue.

"Oh, don't be like that. Your friend really didn't mean to bring you two here. He was instructed to. In fact, he's been under my command for quite some time. And none of you even noticed. How sad."

Harry shivered. Shamus had been under the Imperius Curse this whole time, giving valuable information away to Dark Owl. But it didn't really make sense. If Dark Owl knew of their plans, why did he let his people get caught and limit his power? Oh, that was as clear as day; to make the aurors believe they had the upper hand and lower their guard. He had to give it to him, it was smart. That wasn't something they could have predicted, but the Imperius Curse? How come none of them-

No. Not none of them. Looking back, Harry clearly recalled Athena keeping an eye on Shamus, more than she normally would with any other colleague. At the time, Harry had thought she was worried for him and was making sure he was alright. But in reality, she made sure he wasn't going to involve them in any funny business because, as it turned out, Dark Owl could have used their ignorance to his advantage easily. And if she knew about Shamus, then…

"You're wrong," Harry blurted, but stopped himself before he could elaborate.

"Hm?" Dark Owl tilted his head. "Oh, right. It is indeed unfortunate that your partner figured Shamus out before he could execute my orders, so I had to change my plan slightly. I have to give it to her, Ms Wilson is smarter than she looks. Under that brute facade, she has quite the intellect. But it doesn't really matter. I have you exactly where I wanted you to be."

"You're a fool to believe you're gonna win," Harry said. "By now, she will have figured that you have kidnapped us and notified our superiors. You're not getting away with this."

"It's cute how well you know each other, Potter. You're right. She would definitely have done all those things but…" Dark Owl dropped something on the ground. "...little one can do."

Harry watched carefully as Dark Owl tossed the object to the humid grass. It took him a moment to realize it was a leather jacket, tarnished and covered in blood. He gasped.

"You motherfu-"

"Now, now, watch your profanity," Dark Owl reprimanded him. "That's no way to act in front of your lady."

"Rot in hell, murderer," Ginny spat at him, boiling in anger.

Dark Owl chuckled. "She's quite feisty, isn't she? I'm now understanding why you have held on for so long. You don't let go of these kinds of gems easily."

"How could you?!" Harry screeched. "When I get my hands on you, I-"

"Know your place, Potter. You're in no position to threaten me." Dark Owl growled.

He paused for a moment. "It wasn't anything personal, really. It's just, she was becoming a thorn in my sides. I couldn't afford having her ruin my plan now, could I?"

"You will pay for it!" Harry fumed, tears entering his vision. He refused to believe it. Athena couldn't be… What about her mother… He couldn't think about it. It hurt so much. Ginny squeezed his hand but it did little to comfort him at that moment.

Harry couldn't see his face behind the mask, but he was fairly certain he smirked. "Sure I will. Now, let's get this over with, shall we?"

A/N: Yes, indeed, the title of this chapter is a reference to Lord of the Rings