Lord Of Night

by Writing Shop 12

The death eaters weren't alone in the Department of Mysteries. This time Harry ends up transported to another world with the powers of a Master vampire and the voice of his first love in his head. How will the quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug differ with the aid of a snarky wizard with a thirst for blood. (Harry x Luna x Tauriel)(Vampire Harry)(Thranduil bashing)

5. Chapter 5 Troll Hoard And Meeting Elves

Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Harry Potter or the Hobbit. All properties therein are those of their creators. I am only a writer working on my skills with worlds and characters that I love.

Note: Gonna be speeding through some travel time throughout this chapter. I think most people expected that but I still feel like letting y'all know.

Note: Gonna be a pretty interesting sword showing up here soon and I'm curious how many of you will recognize it.

Chapter Five: Troll Hoard And A Meeting Of Elves

"So let me get this straight here, Gandalf." Harry was riding his horse abreast the other wizard's own, and the two were having a conversation on the road as the company of dwarves rode ahead of them. "You pushed Thorin to start off on this quest as soon as possible. Even insinuated that if he didn't then others would try to get to the mountain ahead of him. But for all of that you have no plan for how to kill the dragon if it still lives, you have a key to a door you cannot find, and finally you have provided a map to said door hidden behind a means that you yourself can not unravel. Do I have that right?"

The other man grumbled in annoyance at the uppity tone of his fellow magic user and said, "If I engage in this conversation with you, will you… revert what you have done to my hair?"

Harry grinned widely, purposely showing the teeth that made the other man more than a little uncomfortable. "Hell no. You blasted me through a door, Gandalf. That kind of insult has to be pranked in kind."

The grey wizard grumbled anew and worked to straighten his newly colored beard once more. The wind was having a field day with it. In hindsight he probably should have realized something like this was bound to happen ever since Balin had revealed to him how fond of pranks the vampire was the day they left the Shire behind. It had been a week however, a full week, of traveling before they'd stopped at a river to bath, resupply their water skins, and water the horses; and it was there that the Maiar finally got a look at his reflection, and he'd nearly jumped right out of his boots.

His beard, his pride and joy, once so regally grey, had now become a blinding emerald green. His hair a tabby cat orange, and his eyebrows… pink. And judging from the howls of laughter coming from his companions, this look had been in effect for a while by then and each had been enjoying his ignorance too much to let him know.

He'd tried to dismiss the trick of course. Even going so far as to invoke his true power… but it hadn't worked. Sure, if he'd challenged the magical assault when it had first happened it would have been child's play to stop it in its tracks, but this had been in effect for days without his knowledge, and was now firmly rooted to the point that only the original caster could revert his appearance back to its original state. Two weeks more had since passed with no progress made.

Sighing with dejection Gandalf decided to humor his young companion, hoping to earn back at least a little good will. "I'll admit, my plan has a few flaws. But I truly believe had we not left when we did great misfortune could have fallen, and still yet may. As to the issue of the key, door, and map, I'm sure they shall be settled once we reach the elves."

"We're not going to the elves!" Thorin's determined voice carried on the breeze back to them.

Harry smirked. "Fine hearing that one has. What's your plan B?"

"Plan B?"

"Your secondary course of action."

"Oh. Well, there really isn't one. I believe only an elf familiar with ancient dwarfish can read the particular runic clue on this map, so there is no other option than to ask for their aid. If only Thorin wasn't so damned stubborn-"

He stopped as Harry's face suddenly appeared in front of him, all humor gone, his body crouched before his own with his heels resting on the pommel of his saddle like a bird. When had he even moved?

"You call Thorin stubborn because he has no wish to treat with the elves? Do you think he has no reason to be unfond of them?"

"I did not say that." Gandalf answered calmly. The younger man looked too much like an angered predator to risk an undue movement or tone. "I merely meant-"

Harry interrupted him, "And why would the elves just help our company in this task? Do they make a habit of helping random strangers, their ancestral enemies in particular, for no cost at all?"

"They are only enemies because they insist on continuing arguments from ages long past. It is time they moved on."

"Was it long past when Thranduil, king of the Mistwood elves, denied aid to Thorin's people when Smaug the Calamity came to their home? Was it long past when he denied them passage through his woods to safety, causing them to go hundreds of miles out of their way with no food, water, or medicine? I have been to that track of earth, Gandalf, and I have met the survivors of that forced march. Look me in the eyes and tell me that dwarves have no reason to hate the elves in this time."

"I cannot." Gandalf looked away for a moment to collect himself before returning to the unnerving crimson glare once more. "I merely dream of a time of cooperation, and it pains me that no one ever seems willing to take the first step."

"The problem might be you asking the wrong people to make those steps."

"Perhaps. As for a cost, however, I believe Elrond would do this to me as a favor should I ask it. I am owed at least three by him at present. All the same, if he asks for something then it will be a cost I pay. Not you or the company."

"Hm…." Harry kept up his stare for a moment before hopping lithely back to his own mount. "Thorin says we will not go to the elves and he leads this quest, not you. Find another way."

So saying he rode off, leaving an annoyed wizard with green, orange, and pink hair alike muttering curses under his breath about stubborn dwarves and immovable vampiric pranksters. Looking behind himself, the wizard regained his smile. Bilbo rode a short distance away, his pony hopping lightly over small rocks, and dancing along the path with a happily humming bilbo smoking a pipe from his saddle. Yes, he had complained quite a bit at first. About leaving his handkerchief behind. About how he had never ridden a pony in his life. Even about how the company didn't stop for second breakfast. (Though that last one had actually been accepted after a fashion and now the company often munched on jerky or apples in the midpoint of the morning as they rode.)

Now though, the hobbit was taking to adventuring with a passion. He rode his pony with confidence, he took to camp chores without complaint, and he even swapped happy stories with Fili and Kili (they were quickly becoming fast friends) when the three of them ended up together on the path. Yes, Gandalf was feeling mighty good about his choice in burglars.

That night they camped beneath the hollow of a rocky overhang and as Harry and Thorin drank with Fili, Kili, and Dwalin, Gandalf and Bilbo found themselves enthralled by Balin as he told the tale of what truly happened at the battle of Moria.

"So in the end, Harry turned the tide for us." The old dwarf finished. "He has been a true friend to the Dwarven race ever since. Many a time between his and Thorin's search for Thrain did he return to the Iron Hills to see what could be done to aid the refugees there. He is beloved by all who meet him."

"That's amazing." Bilbo breathed. "He really brought forth a legion of bats to turn the tide?"

"Yes. His power is astounding."

"Truly, it is." Gandalf puffed lightly on his pipe as he considered all that he had heard. Once more he was finding his initial suppositions about the strange being subverted. He seemed to truly have a kind heart, and his deeds on behalf of the dwarves spoke of a fine character. Now if only he'd turn his blasted hair back to normal he might actually like the lad.

Then he recalled their previous conversation where the young man had perched on his saddle pommel like a raven. "He seems to dislike the elves almost as much as Thorin."

Balin blinked and replied, "Why-ever would you think that? Oh he holds no hatred for elves personally, he merely hates Thranduil, and he understands Thorin's general dislike of the others very well. If he hates anything else it's semi-powerful people with large opinions of themselves."

"Really?"

"Oh yes. You should have seen what he did to the elders of a nearby human settlement when they tried to cheat our blacksmiths out of their agreed upon sum for work rendered."

"I'm almost scared to ask."

"He ate them!" Balin burst into laughter while his two listeners blanched more than a little at that revelation.

"And you're just okay with that?" Gandalf inquired.

"Why should I not be? Those humans were trying to cheat a people in need because they figured people different then them were unfitting for their due. It's not like he's going around drinking dwarves… though some do willingly offer him their blood for services rendered."

The wizard leaned forward at that. "Why would they do that?"

Balin shrugged. "Harry says the differences between the blood for species is a bit like trying different liquors. He equates goblins and orcs to beer, humans to wine, and dwarves to whiskey. Also, apparently blood freely given tastes sweeter. Every now and then he has a particular preference and he's normally quite polite in asking permission to feed. I myself have satisfied his thirst twice now."

"Well at least he's polite about it." Gandalf grumbled before he leaned back against his travel pack and continued his rumination of the strange travel companion he'd been foisted with.

The next day, they found themselves in the midst of a heavy downpour. It slowed them down a bit, but nowhere near the point that the dwarves would start complaining. No, that task fell to the only hobbit in the group.

"Hey, Gandalf?" The little one trotted his pony up beside the much taller being. "You're a wizard. Can't you do anything about this rain?"

He huffed, "It is the weather, Mr. Baggins. It will do as it wills weather I try to alter it or not."

"But you're a wizard. Shouldn't you be able to do something with it?"

"The weather is beyond the abilities of anyone, especially a wizard."

Ahead of them Thorin laughed out loud. "You hear that, Harry?"

"That I do, Thorin. Hey, old man! Watch this!" So calling, Harry raised one hand to the sky, scrunched up his face, and a moment later the rain disappeared from the sky and only dark clouds remained where it had once been, small streaks of lightning further illuminating their path.

Gandalf was astounded. "How did you do that this easily?"

Still calling back from the front, the vampire said, "I'm a vampire, Gandalf, and a powerful one at that. It's only natural that the weather bends to my whims."

Full of curiosity Gandalf asked, "If it was so simple and natural then why did you not cancel this rain before?"

"A few reasons. First, the only ones bothered by it were you and Bilbo, and I could live with that. Second, I'm not cancelling the weather entirely. I am merely forcing an area above me to do as I will. All around us the rain still falls. Third, it takes a bit of focus to make happen and I need to have drunk some blood in a recent timeframe. So unless it's sunny I typically don't bother."

Thorin spoke up, "Harry, what have I said about just giving out your secrets like that?"

"Sorry, Thorin. I just really like the sound of my own voice."

"I'm aware. Now focus back on the road. Who knows what's hiding in the wilds waiting to strike."

None of them could have known about the trio of wargs staring down at them from a cliff across the glenn.

By sundown the company settled on making camp once more. This time in the cleared glade of what appeared to be an abandoned farmstead. As Fili, Kili, and Bilbo began setting out the sleeping mats and gathering wood for a fire, Throin scouted the brush and Dwalin and Balin began setting out a very interesting set of stones around the space they'd be sleeping. Stones that immediately caught the grey wizard's eyes.

"Excuse me, master dwarf, but might I see one of those stones?" Gandalf asked politely as he held out his hand expectantly. When Balin hesitated he added, "I'm just going to look at one of those already placed if you say no. This way spares me bending these old knees."

The dwarf grumbled a bit about meddlesome wizards respecting the privacy of others but nevertheless handed one stone from his stack over before continuing his way around the space, laying the rest out.

Meanwhile, Gandalf was admiring the intricate rune-work displayed on the chiseled piece in his hand. It was black as night, and to his limited knowledge of minerals seemed very alike to obsidian. He didn't even need to ask where such a thing had come from. The indent of the scratched runes were clearly done by Harry's nails. Though he was curious about the effect of such an item.

"Balin," He called the older dwarf back. "what exactly do these do?"

"They be a runic sequence." He answered readily enough, rightly believing the wizard would not drop the issue. "Harry's own design. He carves his runes on granite and obsidian for all manner of effects. These particular ones hide our scent and sound from any predators that could approach while we sleep."

"He has knowledge of rune craft?"

"He has knowledge of many things. If you are lucky, perhaps someday he will tell you of the dark lord Voldemort and you'll gain a smidgen of an idea how much."

Gandalf certainly didn't like the sound of this 'dark lord Voldemort' but he just might have to ask himself at some point rather than waiting. Regardless, Thorin was coming back from his scouting and the old wizard decided he needed to try one last time to make the prince see sense.

"Thorin," he made his way over to his target before beginning his entreaty.

"What is it, Gandalf?"

"I wanted to again bring up the idea of traveling to Rivendell. It is not yet that far from here, and I know that Lord Elrond is fluent in ancient dwarfish. He's the only one I know still living that is. We must go to see him."

Thorin's visage grew thunderous. "I made it clear that I want nothing to do with the elves, Gandalf. I will not go sulking to Elrond's door begging aid. I will not give him a chance to steal our secrets with his gaze."

"He would do no such thing."

"So you say, but I believe it not. Find us another way."

"There is not one!" Gandalf exclaimed before turning on his heel and marching toward his horse, fully fed up for the time with the leader of this expedition.

"Where ya going, Gandalf?" Harry mused good-naturedly from his position leaning on a nearby fence."

The older man put his foot in his stirrup and hauled himself back into his saddle. "To seek the company of the only truly intelligent person I know."

"And who might that be?"

"Myself!" So saying, Gandalf hauled his reigns and took off back down the road.

Harry smirked at the sight. "Yup, I feel that."

Bilbo, who had been following the exchange with wide eyes asked, "He's coming back right?"

Harry shrugged, "Probably. Near as I can tell he's put a lot of effort into this quest so I can't see him leaving for good. I imagine he just needs to cool down for a bit. Thorin does have a habit of getting on people's nerves.

"I heard that!" The prince's annoyed voice carried over the camp to them.

"You were meant to!" Harry called back, earning light hearted laughter from all others present.

Later that night Harry and Thorin were smoking together before the fire in companionable silence. Fili and Kili were watching the horses, and Bilbo was wandering as he was want to do. Balin and Dwalin had called it a night early and could now be found curled up in their sleeping bags.

"I'm conflicted, Harry." Thorin spoke up, breaking their silent streak in a cloud of released smoke.

Releasing his own smoke in a ring that passed through the earlier expulsion, the wizard remarked, "Whatever could you be conflicted about, oh brother of mine?"

"Gandalf."

"Ah."

"Yes. He insists that the elves are the only possible course to reading the clue on the map, yet he does not even seem to contemplate other options. I cannot believe he does not know of the great dwarven elders that advise the seven families. Each of them could no doubt read the clue just fine."

"But they are far away, and Elrond is close." Harry mused.

"Exactly!" Thorin jerked his pipe to emphasize his next point. "He's clearly been planning to send me on this quest for a long time. He even admitted to having possession of that map and key for years before approaching me. In addition he mentioned that Elrond, his friend of many years, and who owes him favors, could read it most assuredly. Yet he did not try to have it translated himself before approaching me, nor did he give it to me in advance of calling this company together so that I might have it translated by the elders before departing."

Harry thought over that statement for a moment before saying, "You believe he neglected the translation on purpose. Why? To force you to work with the elves?"

"Yes." the dwarf gave his pipe an angry puff. "The old fool is willing to risk this entire enterprise just to force cooperation between our two races."

"Hm." Another puff. "I'd say you're thinking too much into this, but I've seen firsthand how far 'wise old men' will go to bring about eventualities they see as 'right and just'. Who is to say if that is or is not Gandalf's true goal. However, let me ask you this, do we truly have any other options at this moment? I've supported your position with that old wizard out of the love and friendship I bear you, but if we spurn the aid of the elves will we be able to get to the mountain before anyone else does? Are there any dwarven elders even remotely close enough to offer aid?"

"No, it is a fact that the elf is our best chance." Thorin sighed in defeat. "Yet I do not trust the elves, Harry. I cannot believe they will aid us for free. More likely they will figure out our goal and try to stop us from leaving at all for fear of Smaug taking retribution. What does it matter to them that our people long for their home so long as their peace remains undisturbed?"

"Well," the bowl of Harry's pipe burned red hot, seeping the lines of his face in crimson light, "then I'll just have to eat them all after they've given us what we want. Do you truly believe I'd allow them or anyone else for that matter to stop you?"

Thorin smirked around the stem of his pipe. He appreciated well the lengths his friend was willing to go for him and his kind. Though before he could say anything of the like they heard a crashing of branches and twin battle cries off in the woods. The two warriors jumped to their feet, Balin and Dwalin doing likewise. (Dwalin took a little longer as he became temporarily stuck in his bag.)

"That sounded like Fili and Kili." Thorin exclaimed.

"Aye." Harry nodded, taking off at once into the trees. "Sounds like they got themselves into a hearty bit of trouble when we weren't looking."

It only took a few minutes, but what they found upon arrival was the strange sight of three massive beings twisting and turning in circles as they tried to catch two considerably smaller ones between their legs.

"Are those…"

"Trolls." Dwalin nodded, removing his massive hammer from his back holster. "Skin thick as stone and hides resistant to magic."

"Oh really?" Harry smirked and flexed his claws in his hands. "Then maybe they'll actually offer me a challenge! Rah!" The vampire burst from the tree cover in a cavalcade of bats before reforming just over the lead troll's head and flying down at him with arms poised to strike as his friends moved to the others.

His attack was true, and his nails scraped heartily over the beast's face… but they didn't do what they were supposed to. In all his time in Middle Earth there had been not a thing that his claws could not eviscerate, yet for this foe he'd barely managed a scratch.

That didn't stop him though. As he landed in a crouch at the troll's feet he decided to test the monster's magic resistance and cast a high powered cutting curse. He got the same result with the addition of the monster's attention.

"We don't want no stinkin dinner guests!" It roared before swinging one of its massive limbs down on what he believed to be the intruder's head. So he was very surprised when all of his momentum ceased. Looking down, he saw the impossible sight of his hand caught in that of the puny human.

Said human chuckled darkly and replied, "I didn't know trolls could talk. But then, you are different from that other one I met years ago." He smiled wide displaying all four of his fangs. "And since you appear sentient, I can't wait to see what your blood will do for me. Rah!" With a snarl he clamped his free hand on the other side of the attacking limb and twisted his torso.

With a startled screech, the troll, whose name was Tom as it turned out, found itself lifted off its feet and slammed into the ground on the other side of his target with bone crushing force. A moment later he was forced up and slammed into the other side of the earth. Over and over the beating commenced until his body was broken and he was near begging for death.

Harry however did not feel like granting it. He rather disliked the taste of dead blood after all. Instead he turned his attention to the others still fighting. Fili and Kili were still distracting one beast while the rest held off the second. Off to side further movement abounded and the wizard took note of Bilbo sawing away at a rope enclosure that held three ponies. These assholes were trying to eat their animal friends! That couldn't go unpunished.

With a fresh roar Harry dematerialized his form and reappeared just behind the neck of the younger dwarves troll. He promptly gripped its head and chin and twisted until he heard a mighty crack. Then he repeated the trick with the third, only to stop from twisting when Thorin waved him off. Curiously he tilted his head, and the prince pointed at his nephews who were rushing over to join their uncle in the fight. Ah, he wanted to give his kin more actual fighting experience. He could respect that.

With a flurry of wing and claw he reappeared next to a startled Bilbo, and as the dwarves continued to fight on he helped the little one to release the captured mounts and then made his way back to his still living crushed foe.

As it continued to whimper and shiver about, trying to twist away from the tiny predator that had brutalized it, Harry slowly leaned down toward its neck, his fangs extending even further from his jaw as it unhinged to make room for the larger surface area. However, just before his teeth could clamp down an aged voice, full of power, proclaimed, "The dawn shall take you all!" And then the sound of a concussive blast consumed the air and the harsh rays of sunlight suddenly flooded the clearing they fought in. Harry shrieked as his face burned and rapidly dematerialized to a shaded area thirty paces back where he immediately conjured his usual wide brimmed hat to shield his skin as it healed. Then he looked back upon the scene.

There were two things that greatly annoyed him. First, his blood sack was now solid fricking stone. Second, the cause of the sudden sunlight was a massive seam cracked open from the stone of a nearby rise and who should be standing over it but their missing grey wizard.

"Goddamnit Gandalf I was about to eat that!" Harry exclaimed as he made his way back to the clearing."

"Oh, I am sorry young man." Gandalf hopped lithely from the stone obstruction, not truly looking sorry at all, and made his way over to the group. "I heard the sounds of fighting on my way back, arrived to find our companions here battling a rather large troll, and acted in a manner fit to see them safe. I assure you that depriving you of your meal was in no way my plan."

Seeing the amused glint in his eye however, Harry responded, "Maybe not, but you definitely planned to hit me in the face with the light. This was payback for the color change isn't it?"

"Hm? Why-ever would you think that? Perhaps because you've kept my beard this garish color long after you'd received suitable payback for my actions in Bilbo's home?" The sarcasm was so thick a knife wouldn't have been able to cut through it.

Harry waved his hand with annoyance and the older man found his hair and beard returned to their former shade of grey. "There. Happy now?"

"Ecstatic. Now come, I do not believe these trolls could have traveled far in the daylight which means they must have a cave nearby."

"And we care why?"

"Because trolls have been known to squirrel away all manner of useful things. They could have gold, weapons, or ales hidden in the depths."

"Gold." Thorin mused dreamily.

"Weapons." Balin smirked.

"Ales." Dwalin nearly drooled.

As one unit the three dwarves ran off in search of the hidden treasure trove and within a manner of seconds tracked it down. Not far indeed, the trolls had made their home on the other side of the clearing they'd meant to eat the horses in. A deep cave cut into the ground led into the darkness of the earth and it was there that they found a veritable hoard of wealth.

As advertised, there was a near mountain of gold held in boxes and chests off to the side of a nearby wall. Dwalin initially meant to bury it to keep it out of the hands of other travelers, but a quick shoulder bump from his brother and the surly dwarf passed the wealth over to Harry… who promptly dumped the massive items into one of his coat pockets, seemingly circumventing the laws of physics themselves.

Gandalf took in the sight for all of a moment before shaking his head at the latest absurd usage of magic the vampire demonstrated and made his way deeper into the depths. It was there that he found yet another interesting discovery.

"Thorin. Harry." He called, "Come and see this."

The two companions did as asked, and when they arrived the old wizard passed each of them a strange weapon as he examined one of his own. The blades he and Thorin drew were rich, clear, the length of longswords, and covered in beautiful rune-like etchings. "These are of elvish make." Gandalf breathed with awe.

For a moment Thorin looked like he was about to drop the new weapon like trash at those words, but a quick look at Harry's disapproving face stopped him. He knew his brother's take on using good tools when they were available.

For his own part, Harry's new blade was more than a little different from the others. The metal was jet-black, there were no aquiline curves, and the length was almost a foot longer than the average longsword, the weight too much for the average elf to appreciate. "This one is different."

"Yes." Gandalf eyed it shrewdly, "It is most assuredly of elvish make, but I have never seen one quite like it."

Harry perused it with his eyes once more before shrugging and conjuring a belt to hold the weapon on. "Well, it's mine now regardless. Finders keepers and all that. Only one problem really."

"And what's that?" Gandalf was legitimately curious and was thus surprised to find Thorin openly laughing.

When he calmed down, the dwarf explained, "Harry doesn't know how to use a sword. He's never needed one."

Looking utterly embarrassed, the vampire responded, "Well you'll just need to teach me then. My claws failed with those trolls so maybe there will be things only steel can hurt in the future. It will benefit me to learn."

Thorin smirked, "And what does Luna say?"

The blush grew deeper. "She says I'll look sexy swinging a sword around. Can't disappoint her now can I? Anyway, where were we?"

For the couple hours the group perused the cave for anymore useful items. They turned up silver in addition to the gold, some fine cooking instruments, and even an elvish short sword for Bilbo. By the time they left the darkness of the earth it was near time for second breakfast, and everyone was feeling pretty good about the hauls of their discovery. At the very least they were feeling a lot richer.

Not willing to waste the momentum the group immediately got back on the road, and after a few hours boredom necessitated conversation once again.

"Oy, old man?" Harry heeled his horse back until he was riding level with the other wizard in the group.

Said wizard raised a more than annoyed eyebrow at the remark. "How many times have I asked you to stop calling me that?"

"At least a dozen, but I think it's clear I don't really care. I wanted to ask about wizards in this world. Thorin tells me there are quite a few, but are they great and powerful wizards or are they more… like you?"

"Hmph. You wound me, young man. There are several wizards like me in this land. Each unique in their own way. Saruman, the head of my Order is wise, powerful, and is a master of engineering. Another is Radagast, the brown. He's a more gentle sort. More at home in the wilds with his animals than people-"

Before he could say anymore the brush nearby parted in a rush to admit a screeching man on a sled pulled by…. white rabbits.

{Oh! Adorable!} Luna squealed.

"Murder!" The stranger screamed as he approached. "Poison! Murder!"

"Radagast!" Gandalf called with surprise, earning the strange man's attention and bringing him to them.

"What are the fucking odds?" Harry groaned before hopping off his horse to join the now rapidly whispering wizards in their huddle as inside his head Luna continued to coo about the oversized rabbits tied to the sled.

"So this is Radagast?" He asked when he arrived. The man was definitely not what he imagined when he thought of wizards. To be honest, he looked more like how he imagined druids from the past might have. He was as old as the grey wizard, had wild hair in all manner of conjunctions held under a floppy hat (was that a bird nest in his beard?), and he carried an uneven staff of gnarled wood. "Funny we were just talking about you."

The new wizard took one look at the hat wearing pale man with red eyes and immediately acted on instinct. "Monster!" His staff erupted in fire and once more Harry found himself slammed with telekinetic force and launched into the distance.

"Asshole!" His voice trailed off over the tree-line as he disappeared into the gloom.

Sighing with annoyance the younger wizard braced himself for impact with the ground and thus was utterly surprised when he found himself landing on top of something soft, giving, and angry. As a chorus of peeved growls lit the air he rose up and saw that he'd landed in the middle of a group of mounted warg riders, and more specifically he'd landed on top of the lead animal, breaking its spine on impact.

"Lovely." Harry smirked as his eyes fell on the suddenly nervous goblins atop the beasts. "I was definitely in need of a snack."

Several seconds of screaming later saw Harry licking his lips clean of dark fluid and going through the possessions of the corpses.

{There!} Luna directed him to a particular pocket where he found a very familiar scrolled piece of leather with a series of etchings. {They are hunting Thorin too.}

"So it seems." Unsheathing his sword he lopped off the heads of a pair of wargs (elven steel really was something. That had taken no effort at all) sheathed the weapon before picking them up, and started strutting his way back to the camp. He arrived to find Gandalf and Radagast being laid into by an irate Balin and decided to leave the old dwarf to his task. Instead he headed over to Thorin who was starting a fire to cook a meal and dropped the heads beside him.

"The hell, Harry. I've got fresh meat here. You want it tainted by warg blood? Where did you even find those?"

"I landed on them. And some goblins. Thorin, they had the same document those brigands and assassins did." He passed the object over. "These are scouts if I've ever seen them. We're being hunted." As he said those words fresh howls could be heard clearing the air in the distance.

Thorin jumped to his feet. "The scouts are missed. I never expected an assault like this, but we need to leave before the pack finds us."

"I could just kill them if they do."

"And are you going to kill them all before arrows can start flying. Come on! Mount up!" He called. Earning the attention of all present. Radagast ran over at once, bowing before Harry repeatedly.

"I am so sorry, master vampire. Gandalf and master Balin have explained your situation to me and I couldn't apologize more. I thought you a creature of evil."

Harry smiled and clapped his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. You aren't the first." Behind them, Gandalf groaned as he watched his fellow wise wizard's hair and beard turn pink and gold respectively. How were they to maintain their 'wise' image with hair like that.

The brown wizard was not finished however. "Was that a warg call I heard? Are they hunting you?"

"As a matter of fact they are." Harry nodded. "I'd take them all out myself but if they're smart then they'll be spread out and one group will try to take my attention as the rest converge on our company."

"What if I drew them all together?" Radagast asked, standing up straight and actually looking powerful for once. "I can lure them out and offer a target they'll be keen to follow. Then, when they are grouped together, you can eliminate the threat."

"You sure they won't just catch you first?"

Radagast gave a sly smirk and gestured to his sled over his shoulder. "These are Rhosgobel Rabbits. I'd like to see them try." So saying, the wizard ran back to his sled to re-hitch his animals, and Harry returned to Thorin, who was arguing heatedly with Gandalf. Well there was no time for that.

"Thorin, I'll handle this group but you need to get the others somewhere safe."

Gandalf nodded, "He is right, Thorin. You can argue no longer. Rivendell is near and it is one of the few places that a goblin raiding party cannot enter."

"Fine." The dwarf bit out, "but hurry back. I will not advance further without you by my side."

Harry clapped the dwarf on the shoulder. "I hear you, brother."

Eight minutes later and Harry was floating amongst the clouds (that flight spell of Voldemort's was fun as hell) and he was laughing his ass off as he watched Radagast hold true to his word as he led the orcs and wargs on a merry chase. Round and round he went, drawing ever more foes into the same basin of green and stone until Harry finally decided that all who were going to arrive had done so.

Focusing his will the sky erupted into fresh storm-clouds, bathing the earth below in darkness, and then he struck. Releasing his magic he fell faster and faster to the earth before disassembling into his hoard of bats at the last second, consuming twenty wargs at once in his maelstrom of claw and death before reforming to face the rest with sword drawn. No time to learn like the present.

With what he was sure was terrible form he gripped the long hilt with both hands and waded into his panicking foes, cutting and slicing everything in sight with a smile on his face. Sure there were some that tried to run away from their fate, but he hit them in the back as they fled with avada kedavra's and high powered cutting hexes. In less than sixty seconds it was done, and everything around him was dead.

Radagast stared on with wonder, and no small amount of wariness, and said, "Maybe I wasn't so far off in calling you a monster?"

"Maybe." Harry agreed before a sound in the distance caught his attention, causing his head to tilt to hear it better. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"A battle." In a flash Harry apparated back to his former position amongst the clouds and activated his flight spell to follow the sound to its source. It seemed that this had not been the only grouping of goblins in the area as a hundred of the blighters were surrounding a troop of thirty men in gold themed armor trimmed with green.

"Luna, do those look like elves to you?"

{I'd say so.}

"Do you think they taste good?"

{Stop thinking with your stomach, love. But yes, probably. Anyway if you want to get in good with that Elrond guy shouldn't you help them out?}

"Yeah, probably." Harry drew his sword for the last time and dove once more to erupt the field in a flurry of angry bats. Only this time he concentrated his assault in a direct line to the clear leader of the elven company, and resolidified in front of him in time to stop an orc commander from stabbing him in the back with a black blade to the monster's throat.

The elf turned wild eyes upon him and demanded, "Who are you!"

"Ask me when these fell beasts are dead!" Harry roared before charging back into the fray with sword and spell lashing in equal measure. The elf commander took a look at the devastation he wrought and rightly realized that the best chance of his people making it out of this situation alive laid in filling in the gap behind him.

"Right men!" He called, "Follow me!" His men roared their approval and followed their leader into the tumult once more.

As they did, Elrond, Lord of Rivendell, couldn't help but wonder what strange man this was that had come to them in their time of need. They'd been out on patrol when news of a goblin incursion into their lands had reached him, and the threat had been too dire to return for reinforcements before dealing with it. There weren't supposed to be this many. Numbers such as these were not supposed to exist this far into his lands. They'd been overwhelmed, their horses shot out from under them, and living on borrowed time. Until the stranger had literally fallen out of the sky, giving them a chance.

As Elrond came shoulder to shoulder with the clearly untrained swordsman and added his blows to his own, he vowed that when they both made it out of this alive he would repay the favor given ten-fold.