Chapter Seven: Old Friends:

Severus marveled at how his life had changed. Instead of hated and loathed he was liked, not just tolerated he was liked and had friends. Instead of a dark shadow hiding in the corners he sat at a great table and listened to others as they planned war. He was considered a princeling, a man of worth and bearing. He was bowed to in the street and called sire and sir and highness, words he never thought would be said to one such as him. Then came one from his past and at first he did not recognize him. Radagast had come to fight with his friend Gandalf, he was clad in brown robes, his shaggy black hair and beard and grey eyes twinkling. He saw Severus and at once walked to him and bowed deeply, then to the surprise of Severus he took him in a manly hug.

"Oh my dear Severus it has been far, far too long, many a year I have wondered what ever happened to you." Radagast said.

"Sirius?" Severus said, "what, how?"

"I fell through the veil and have been here five hundred years, the original Radagast did not wish to remain so I took his part, Saruman vouched for me, he was a good friend." Radagast/ Sirius said, "it greatly pained me to see how far he fell."

"Yes, he was my friend too." Gandalf said.

"I wish to speak to Severus for a moment." Sirius said.

He led Severus to a high point and stood there looking out over the vast Pelennor Fields, to what remained of Osgiliah and beyond to the darkness that was Mordor. Severus felt that Sirius or Radagast the Brown as he was now known was different, kinder, less hate filled and he looked on Severus in a friendly manner. He had brought Beornings, a full thousand those that could change shape and to Severus he seemed happier and dare he say content. This was a different Sirius, a gentler man who had finally found a place he belonged. He took out a pipe and Severus shook his head, was pipe-weed here not bad for the health? He had smoked himself but that was cigarettes and he did not care for his health then.

"So, how do you find middle earth?" Sirius asked.

"I like it so far." Severus said, "well now I do, I was guest of Saruman."

"I take it he was unkind to you." Sirius said, "I don't understand, he was such a lovely fellow, very kind to me, trained me, taught me, but he let the ring blind him and bind him."

"The ring, that is an evil that needs to be destroyed." Severus said.

"When I first came I went through judgment with Galadriel and Celeborn, I thought I would not pass, I did." Sirius said, "I was able to take the cakes and drink and thus passed, then I was sent to Saruman."

"He sounds like he was good at one point." Severus said.
"Oh yes, arrogant but a great wizard." Gandalf was there and took a seat and lit a pipe, "I feel we mourn the death of what was and must face what is."

"So what happened to you?" Sirius said.

"I walked the paths of the death with Aragon." Severus said.

"Are you mad?" Sirius said, "that, there is a reason why wizards never dared trod those paths, but then you just don't follow the rules."

"Did he ever?" Gandalf said, "he seems one to follow his own path."

"I offered my service to Aragon." Severus said, "I had to go."

"Yes well, you are here now." Sirius said.

"I faced judgment as well." Severus said. "The lady Galadriel was there, as was Thranduil and Elrond."

"Severus what the hell did you do to earn that?" Sirius said, "you can't do things in halves can you?"

Severus told him everything about his life, he left nothing out. A great sadness came over him, he had betrayed everyone and got his best friend killed. He had desired power over all and had caused so much suffering. He had tortured and hurt others, he had killed in the name of a dark lord and he knew he deserved to suffer. He understood why he was judged as harshly as he had been and was glad the elves were as merciful as they were. If they had wanted they could torment and torture him in dark fiery pits and he would deserve it. Yet they had not and had made him pass the judgment. Severus finished and Sirius looked at him and saw someone who wanted so badly to do what was right. Lily forgave him and that was good enough for Sirius, she it was who lead them all before her death and in dying she saved her son.

"Well, that is quite the life, no wonder Elrond and Thranduil were there, they hate traitors." Sirius said.

"Why was Celeborn was not there though." Severus said.

"He was, but kept back, you would have been destroyed if Galadriel and Celeborn were together, you were not ready." Gandalf said.

"Elves terrify me." Severus said, "at least the oldest ones."

"Yes, you understand their power, the lesser elves well, they can be twisted and were, you met them, the orcs. But the great lords and ladies and kings, they cannot be turned and are terrible to behold." Gandalf said.

"As are we, but we hold back as we should." Sirius said, "still Elrond, Severus you are lucky he was in a good mood."

"I am seeing that, the elves are leaving." Severus said, "so what does that mean for us?"

"You are men, mortal, you will live long as will all of your seed but you are mortal." Gandalf said, "this world is for men as all others have not endured."

"I think the world should be for the hobbits." Severus said, "they are better than us all."

"True that, but Severus why did you not use your raven form to get away?" Sirius asked, "from Saruman."

"I was not aware that would work in middle earth."

"It should, Radagast's form does." Gandalf said, "but then you had much to adjust to and Saruman should have been the one to help you not harm you."

"Very well I will try." Severus said and turned to his raven form and back.

"I think we should call you Mr. Tweet." Sirius said.

Severus glared at him and was up and had punched him. Gandalf just sat smoking while these two fought it out. Or would have if Elrond himself had not rode up and saw the two men who were wizards having a fighting match. Severus saw him and at once backed up away from Sirius and was bowing before Elrond. Sirius grinned at Elrond but backed off as he looked over at Severus and strode past him. Sirius watched him go into the tower and he turned to Severus and hit him. The battle was on again and when Pippin and Merry saw this they were about to leave but Pippin stood straight and tall (for a hobbit).

"My lords lunch is served." Pippin said.

"Why are you fighting?" Merry asked.
"Because he is ugly." Sirius replied.

"He needs to be knocked down and learn how to speak to a princeling." Severus added. "We are on the same side though he is annoying."

"A princeling, a bit higher than me, I am a duke I think, but here we are wizards." Sirius said.

"Yes and I am head of the counsel for now." Gandalf said, "no more fighting even in jest."

The followed him and the hobbits into the building and to a small dining room. Here food was set out and all ate well. Severus was impressed with how much a hobbit could eat and was touched at how they shared freely and even tried to serve him. He would have none of it, Aragon considered them friends and did not require them to wait on him, so he would not. They ate and laughed and talked to them of the shire. Severus found he loved hearing about the shire and wished to visit if allowed. He enjoyed his time with these kindly little people and wished the world was full of them. No matter what they seemed stronger than any peoples here and he felt this world should be for hobbits not men.

"If the world was peopled by hobbits it would be a grander world." Severus said.

"Oh I don't know about that, we are people like everyone else." Pippin said.
"Yes, we are, most don't like adventure and wish to stay at home peaceful." Merry said.

"Still I feel you are the stronger people." Severus countered.

"Don't let the dwarves hear you say that." Sirius said.

"the elves might agree with you Severus." Gandalf said.

The rest of the day went well, Severus enjoyed his time with the hobbits, well Merry mostly as Pippin had work to do. Gandalf went off to war consul with Aragon and the other lords while Severus spent his time getting to know this better version of one Sirius Black or Radagast the Brown as he was known here. He went to bed that night not aware of the terrors that were to come on him that night nor how Sauron could touch him here.

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Yes, Sirius is here, it makes sense as he would make a good wizard in middle earth. He has had five hundred years here and so that has mellowed him and he does not hate Severus anymore. Even Severus can see that Sirius has changed for the better as Radagast.

Anyway, do review please!