Title: Princess of Mirkwood
Author: Zannna
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I *sniffle* do not own LOTR, the characters, or the plot. Middle Earth was the brilliant brain child of non other than the king of fantasy JRR Tolkien. I also do not own Harry Potter, the characters, or the plot. All that is Harry Potter belongs to the amazing JK Rowling. I do however, own Lithariel, Methelena, and Vialnen. Please do not use them without permission. ^_^
AN: Okay, so, at the end of the last chapter Lithariel is all "Though I do not know the way." That was a joke, a pun of sorts taken from the LOTR:TFotR movie when Frodo says "I will take the ring.......Though I do not know the way" at The Council of Elrond. (By the by, I don't own the movie, or any rights therein either :P ) Just thought I'd mention it, since I forgot to in the AN's for the last chap. The rest of the AN's are at the end of the chapter. ^o^
Chapter 4
Lithariel sat looking out the window of her compartment on The Hogwarts Express, she was the first one aboard, and thought back on the last couple of days.
~*~
Lithariel arrived at Hogwarts early in the morning on the designated day. It was the day before she would need to catch the 'train' to the wizarding school. She was still unsure about this whole 'train' business.
Snape met her at the front stairs, and led her to the place where they could use the port-key that he had with him. He took out his pocket watch, and looked at it. Forty-five seconds left. He replaced his watch, and promptly took out the port-key, which happened to be a wire whisk. Lithariel looked at him questioningly.
"This is the port-key I told you about, remember?" Snape asked.
Lithariel nodded, and put her hand on the whisk.
Several seconds later they were behind The Leakey Caldron. Snape opened the wall, and they got down to business.
* * *
Four long, excruciating, hours later (long, and excruciating for Snape that is) they had everything except her wand.
Snape had spent over two and a half hours slumped in a chair outside a dressing room listening to endless questions, and comments like: 'What do you think of this?' 'One moment let me try a different shirt with this' 'I wonder if that skirt would look better with these robes' 'Are you even looking at me before you answer?' 'Are you pretending to be asleep, or are you actually sleeping?'
As they walked towards Ollivanders Lithariel distinctly felt power emanating from the small shop. Snape held open the door for her, and she stepped inside. The moment Lithariel was over the threshold, the boxes on the shelves started to tremble, and quake. It was starting to get rather chaotic when an old man came out from behind a shelf.
Mr. Ollivander walked towards Lithariel, and said "How may I help you miss? Or should I call you My Lady?" he added with a bow.
Lithariel smiled at the man, and replied, with a small curtsey "You are very observant kind sir."
Mr. Ollivander looked behind Lithariel, and saw Snape. "Willow and Unicorn hair. Thirteen and a half inches, very bendy. Well Professor Snape how are you doing?"
"Fine thank you. Mr. Ollivander may I introduce Lithariel MacLeod? Lithariel MacLeod Mr. Ollivander." Snape said with a flourish of his hand indicating each in turn.
"Greenleaf" said Lithariel.
"Pardon?" said Snape.
"He already knows Professor, we might as well tell him my real name. Lady Lithariel Greenleaf. MacLeod is just the name I chose to go by to help with the persona I am taking on so that I may go to Hogwarts. I had to chose a Scottish name, I had it narrowed down to Stewart, Connerey, and McGregger. But I chose MacLeod because it sounds like it has an element of nature in it. It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Ollivander."
"It is an honor to meet you Lady Greenleaf. Now since I doubt that this is a social call, why don't we get down to business hmm? I suspect the reason you came to my wand shop is to get a wand?" said Mr. Ollivander.
"Yes, Mr. Ollivander, it is."
Mr. Ollivander scurried around Lithariel, and asked while he took her 'measurements'.
"Right or left handed?"
"Right"
When he was through he started handing her wands, and subsequently snatching them back. The wands on the shelves started quaking again, only much more violently. It was starting to get rather turbulent when there was a loud crash in the back room, along with the sounds of glass breaking. Everything fell silent again, and Mr. Ollivander excused himself to go see what had happened . He came back looking victorious, holding a long, narrow, silver box. The box looked very old, and was ornately gilded.
He set the box down on the counter, and said "I should have known." He opened the box, and took out a white wand.
"Mallorn and the hair of a she-elf. Twelve and three quarter inches, very strong." Mr. Ollivander said as he held it up, and admired it. "This wand has been in my family since before Ollivanders was established in 382 B.C. It has chosen no one, and has so much power that we stopped even trying to match it with an owner generations ago. But, seeing as how it broke out of it's display case on it's own, I think this just might be the one."
He handed it reverently to Lithariel who took it gracefully. The second it touched her hand, she felt a warm tingling sensation spread through her body. She closed her eyes as the feeling intensified. Wind started to blow around her, and she started to glow. She heard a very familiar voice whisper softly on the wind in Elvish "For you my daughter." As the wind stopped, and the light dimmed Lithariel fell to her knees, and let the tears fall. "Mother," she whispered in Elvish "Oh, Mother."
Snape knelt down, on one knee, beside Lithariel, and put a comforting hand on her back "Are you all right Lithariel?" he asked the elf. She did not answer. He looked up at Mr. Ollivander, who was standing looking down at them with a bewildered look on his face. "What just happened? What was that voice, and what did it say?" asked Snape. Mr. Ollivander just shook his head.
Snape heard Lithariel whisper something, but he couldn't make out what she said. "What was that, Lithariel?"
"It was my Mother." she whispered, this time a little louder.
* * *
About ten minutes later, after Lithariel had composed herself, she and Snape left Ollivanders. Snape took Lithariel back to The Leaky Cauldron, where they ate dinner. After which Snape set Lithariel up with a room. He escorted her there, made sure she had everything she would need for the next day, said good-night, and went back to Hogwarts.
After Snape was gone, Lithariel put all of her things in the trunk she had bought. Of coarse the trunk had a false bottom, she made sure of that. She got up the next morning, hailed a cab, just like Snape had shown her, and was off to Kings Cross . She had little trouble finding platform nine and three quarters; she could see through the magical barrier. She turned her luggage over to the porter, and boarded taking her pick of the empty compartments. She chose one on the back end of the last car. Hopefully, no one would come back here.
~*~
Lithariel blinked, and looked away from the window. She decided to read. Lithariel took out one of the books she bought at Flourish and Blotts entitled 'Hogwarts: A History' and began to read.
Lithariel heard footsteps rushing down the corridor. She looked up just as the door to her compartment swiftly swung open. In rushed a very attractive teenage boy, who immediately shut the door, and rested his forehead against it. While he caught his breath Lithariel looked him over. Dark brown hair, slightly shaggy, and greatly mussed; Fairly broad shoulders; Good and tall. 'Hmm' Lithariel thought to herself 'Not bad....well for a human anyway'. The boy opened the door, just enough so he could peek through. He closed it carefully, then let out a big sigh, and slouched down on the seat across from Lithariel, near the door.
He looked up and saw Lithariel looking at him dubiously. "Oh, pardon me. I didn't know anyone was in here." he said.
"It is alright."
They sat there looking at each other for a minute. Finally, Lithariel put away her book, and said "I am Lithariel MacLeod. May I be so bold as to ask your name?"
"I must have left my manners with my bags three cars away." he said. "I'm Oliver Wood, it's nice to meet you Lithariel."
"If you do not mind me asking, Oliver, why did you rush in here so swiftly?"
"Oh, that." replied Oliver. "Well there are some sixth and seventh year girls on the train that remember me from when I went to Hogwarts. When I was a seventh year, they were only second and third years, so they weren't a problem. But now, unfortunately for me, they have I guess you could say 'discovered' the opposite sex. And now they're running after me like they're wolves, and I'm a juicy pork-chop."
Lithariel couldn't help but smile at the thought of teenage girls chasing poor Oliver all the way to the back of the train, and leaving him in such a state. All of the sudden, something occurred to Lithariel.
"Wait. If you are not a student, then why are you here?" she asked.
"I'm Madam Hooch's new assistant. I was staying in London for the summer, and thought I would take the train back. Dumbledore said that it was all right so here I am." replied Oliver.
Lithariel remembered hearing about Madam Hooch. She was the 'Coach' at Hogwarts. Lithariel also remembered how long it took her to finally understand exactly what a 'Coach' was.
"Lithariel?"
"Yes?"
"Tell me if this is out of line, but are you part Veela?" asked Oliver.
"No." Lithariel said slightly offended. As far as she could tell 'Veelas' were descended from Sirens. "Why do you ask?"
"Well it's just that you are quite lovely is all."
"Oh. Well then, I thank you."
"I don't remember you at all, and if I ever met you before I'm sure I would remember you. What year are you going into?"
"Sixth, but you would not know me in any case. I am transferring from Beuxbatons."
"Really? Your accent doesn't sound French."
"It would not. You see, I was born in Scotland, and lived mostly between there and England, before I went to Beuxbatons."
There was noise, and footsteps in the hall, and then the door burst open. There stood two very identical, very redheaded, twin boys.
"Oh right then. Sorry about that Oliver." said one.
"What are you doing here anyway? You graduated!" asked the other.
"I'm Madam Hooch's new assistant." replied Oliver.
"Well this should be interesting." said the second one, the one who had asked the question.
"Look, man, sorry for interrupting." said the first.
"We'll be next door if you get in any trouble, and need assistance." continued the other.
Then the twins left, snickering, and shut the door behind them.
"Well, what was that?" asked Lithariel staring at the compartment door after the twins.
"That," replied Oliver, "was the Weasley twins, Fred and George. Don't worry you'll get used to them. They are in your same year after all."
"Oh" said Lithariel very quietly. She wasn't very thrilled about that, for some reason.
They sat in silence for a minute or two, when they heard even more racket coming down the hall. And then the door swung open. Again. 'For the sake of all that was Elvish in Middle-Earth' thought Lithariel. She was starting to think better of having chosen this compartment.
This time the invasion was of the Dream Team kind. In the lead was a redhead that looked suspiciously like the Weasley twins; followed by a boy with wild black hair, green eyes and glasses; and bringing up the rear was a girl with brown, sort of frizzy hair and hazel eyes.
"Oops. Sorry Oliver, didn't mean to interrupt anything. We're looking for Fred and George." said the redhead.
The frizzy haired girl pushed her way to the front, and said "Correction. They are looking for Fred and George. I am trying to stop them, and what are you doing here anyway? You graduated!" she said in tones of 'You already learned all you could here, why are you back?'
"I'm Madam Hooch's new assistant." replied Oliver, again. "Fred and George are next door Ron."
"Right then." said Ron, and turned to leave. The boy with the glasses followed. When he turned, his hair moved away from his forehead, and Lithariel saw a purple lightning bolt. The second she saw it, she felt the dark power that put it there come over her in a wave. She saw what happened to the boy, Harry. His name was Harry. Lithariel closed her eyes, and turned towards the window.
Ron and Harry left, but the girl stayed. "Do you mind if I sit here with you?" she asked.
Lithariel looked up, she was addressing Oliver. He replied "Why don't you ask Lithariel, Hermione. She was here before me."
Hermione looked over to Lithariel. "Oh, sorry. Do you mind if I sit with you two?" she asked.
"No, not at all. Please do." said Lithariel. "I am Lithariel MacLeod, it is a pleasure to meet you." she said extending her hand. She had learned this from Snape, it was called a 'Handshake'.
Hermione smiled and shook her hand, then sat opposite her. "I'm Hermione Granger, it's a pleasure to meet you too." said Hermione.
"What is it? I can tell that you are amused by something." said Lithariel.
"Well, I didn't want to be impolite. It's just that on this Muggle television show there is this man, and his name is Duncan MacLeod. And whenever he introduces himself he says 'I am Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod'. Your name just reminded me of that is all."
"Oh" said Lithariel, not sure how to respond.
"Lithariel is a sixth year transferring from Beuxbatons." said Oliver, trying, as always, to be helpful.
They made small talk, and talked about themselves the rest of the way to Hogwarts. When they got there, they were all quite well acquainted. They got off the train together, and got into one of the waiting carriages. Moments later they were joined by Fred and George, Ron, Harry, and a female Weasley, later identified as Ginny. Oliver introduced them all to Lithariel, and let her explain everything herself.
As they got out of the carriage, and started walking up the front stairs they spotted Snape.
There was a chorus of groans, accompanied by "We're not even *in* the school yet, and he's already after us" said by none other than Ron Weasley. Lithariel didn't know how they could dislike Professor Snape so. He had always been very nice to her.
She barely had time to notice this however, because at that moment she got a got look at Professor Snape., 'How come I never noticed before?'thought Lithariel. Well it could have been the fact that his hair was pulled away from his face in a low ponytail. With his hair away from his face Lithariel was able to notice the malevolent sneer that crept over it when he heard Ron's comment.
As they reached Professor Snape, he said to Ron, in his low, and now that Lithariel thought about it, awfully sinister voice,"I heard that Missster Weasly."
Snape turned to Lithariel, and his expression softened, slightly. "You wouldn't happen to be Lithariel MacLeod would you?" he asked.
"Yes, that is I." replied Lithariel.
"Come with me please." said Snape.
Oliver, the twins, Ginny, and The Dream Team, watched in abject horror as the unsuspecting, well to them, Lithariel followed Snape, down a corridor, and out of sight.
* * *
AN: Nako: Thank you sooo much for reviewing!
Guest:I have taken your suggestion into consideration for future chapters. Thank you for your comments.
Okay, so, it's been awhile since I've posted I know. I am terribly sorry, but RL got in the way. I really LOVE reviews, and they totally help be write faster so, please review! To anyone who reads this, but does not review: Thank you for reading my fic! I hope you enjoy!
I know that Fred and George aren't supposed to be in their sixth year when Harry, Ron, and Hermione are in their fifth. They've graduated, I know. But I LOVE Fred and George therefore, I am taking Literary Licence and saying that they are, like, two years younger than they really are. ;) I also do not own Duncan Macleod, or Highlander. By the by I AM MOVING THIS FIC TO HARRY POTTER. LOOK FOR IT THERE UNDER CHARACTER: SNAPE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! I am going to move it when I post the next chapter. ^-^ Zannna