Author's Note: I know – this update took a long, long time. Thank you so much
Lani Lathron and shineon915 for your encouraging reviews. And thank you Twilight's
Mysteries for your – not particularly encouraging – review, but you've inspired me for a new
plot once I'm done with this one. (Although that might take a while).
As for the question of setting that came up: As Twilight's Mysteries already guessed right –
yes, they're in Middle-earth. Otherwise there would be no reason to put in into the LotR
section, right?
But I'm afraid I have to disappoint all you movie-folks – it's not set at TTT. Nor FotR.
Really sorry to say this, but there will be no Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir, Faramir, Eomer or
anyone else from the movies beyond our two favourite Istari.
No, wait – Galadriel is bound to show up around chapter 9 or 10. Maybe we'll see Celeborn.
Or Haldir. But that's supposedly it.
But don't let that bring you down. Please read on. It's still fun even without all the cuties. ;-)
More about time and place in the A/N at the end of the chapter – I don't want to spoil
anything. So it's your own fault if you look it up now. ;-)
_.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~._ Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings_.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~._
Gandalfs' eyes widened in surprise when he shot a short glance into the direction out of which
he had heard one – no – two shrill screams.
Far at the other end of the Hall a door had opened and a man an four halflings stumbled into
the room.
The Istari didn't have much time to think about it, as a group of orcs was attacking him and
kept him busy. Glamdring was gleaming brightly - no surprise in a place like this - and the
orcs backed away again and again, yet there were almost too many of them. It was defiantly
time to do a bit magic!
Gandalf raised his staff high above his head with his left while holding his sword with his
right - then flashes of light shot around and drove the orcs back. Through the howling of the
orcs he heard other shouting.
To his great surprise he saw the five newcomers approaching and attacking the orcs. These
fell to the ground as if struck by thunder and minutes later the noise had subsided and a most
welcome quiet spread in the hall.
Now Gandalf took the time to take a close look at the human and halflings.
First thing he noticed was that the four smaller figures weren't halflings at all - but human
children. The man was tall and thin, had a hooked nose and shoulder length black hair.
Gandalf noticed an unhealthy skin colour - but that wasn't the most strange thing about them!
While looking at the newcomers Gandalf the Grey realized that this was one of the very rare
moments when he didn't know anything to say. Finally he decided for the most obvious:
"Thank you, my young friends. I had not expected help in a place like this - but there were
more orcs, than expected.
"Orcs?" Hermione's voice sounded shrilly.
Snape shot a look at her that could only mean that she'd better shut up. Then he turned to the
man in grey robes.
"To be honest - we're just as much surprised as you probably are, Mister - "
"Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey." Gandalf nodded to the man. Could it be that the black haired
man was from the east? He had a peculiar way of expressing himself.
"Mr. Gandalf the Grey." Snape sounded a bit irritated. "It looks as if we came here through a
magical passage, but unfortunately it cealed itself after we passed through and the entrance
can't be opened from this side.
Could you tell us where we are, please? And would it be possible to borrow an owl - we
should be sending an message to Hogwarts as soon as possible…"
"An owl?" Gandalf had listened quietly, but the idea to "borrow an owl" had more than just
surprised him. "Why would you borrow an owl? Oh - !" He paused, understanding. "You can
talk to birds, like my friend Radagast. That is a very special gift - I would have thought you a
bit too young for such abilities…
But I fear, it will be more than difficult to find an owl in Mirkwood, that agrees to listen to
you."
"Er - no." Snape had apparently lost his concept. "I didn't want to talk to it - I wanted it to
carry a message to Hogwarts…"
"Hogwarts? Never heard of it. Where is this Hogwarts? Is it one of the lands in the east?"
"No, it is not!"
Surprised Gandalf turned around to the direction where the voice had come from. Snape
followed his gaze. An old man in white robes, with a long white beard and white hair had
entered the hall and looked at him with a piercing stare.
"I have travelled through the lands of the east - there is no place called Hogwarts."
"Saruman - it is good, you are here. We seem to have gotten unexpected help - even if we do
not know where from."
He looked at the strange group of newcomers and noticed that they were all wearing black
robes. Could it be that they were servants of Sauron?
But somehow that didn't make any sense to Gandalf. Why would Sauron send a young wizard
and four children as his advance guard. Or was it a feint? Had Sauron taken the form of a
young man to trick Gandalf? Was it only delusion?
Meanwhile Saruman had moved closer. "You are not from the east and you can not be from
the south because there men are dark skinned. Speak now! Where are you from?"
Snape cleared his throat. Harry could imagine that he wasn't used to being talked to in that
tone of voice. He was a Hogwarts professor and a master of potions. He deserved some
respect. Still Harry secretly liked the way the white wizard treated his least favourite teacher.
Snapes voice still sounded a bit flat when he spoke: "We are from Great Britain. From
Scotland, to be exact."
"Great Britain? Scotland? Where is that supposed to be?"
"Actually it is quite far in the north, geographically speaking, but..."
"North? You do not look as if you have come all the way through the northern wastes along
with four children. And that is where you would be coming from - because there is no
Scotland south of the northern wastes!"
"They have come through a secret, magical passageway, Saruman!" Gandalf put in.
Harry had the impression, that the man in white robes - Saruman - was more important than
the other one. Maybe he was Minister of Magic in this country?
"Exactly!" Snapes voice was back to normal. Apparently he didn't like to be talked to like
that. "The passage leads from the Hogwarts dungeons to those of this place. Unfortunately it
cealed itself right behind us and couldn't be reopened."
"And why have you come here?" Sarumans voice still didn't sound any friendlier than before.
"Well, to be honest..." Snape sounded his usual self now, "none of us actually *wanted* to
come here. Three of my students were stupid enough to venture of on a little trip into the
unknown, while me and their comrade simply followed to get them back – apparently we
were not fast enough."
Harry swallowed when both Saruman and Gandalf eyed the four students to find out who
could be the three to do something so foolish. But before one of the old men could say
anything a small noise behind them showed that the orcs were getting over the effects of the
stupefy-spell.
Saruman and Gandalf raised their swords.
"What? They are not dead!" Gandalf moved quickly forward – apparently directly towards
Ron who leapt to the side with a little shriek. Just in time for Gandalf to kill an orc with his
sword who had obviously almost stabbed Ron from behind.
More orcs were waking from their stun.
"Of course they're not dead – we only stupefied them!" Hermione's voice sounded thin but
still like the bossy know-it-all. She seemed to think it absurd to believe she could have killed
someone – even something as strange as an – orc.
A short fight erupted. While Gandalf and Saruman fought the orcs with their swords the four
students were huddling together behind their teacher. Finally Snape overcame his surprise and
raised his wand.
"Avada Kedavara!"
Harry twitched. The last time he had heard that curse, Cedric had died. He twitched again
when Snape cast the curse a second time. Although Harry knew it was the only way to defend
themselves without swords against these orc-beings plus it could only be an advantage to have
the two old wizards on their side it was still shocking to see Snape casting the worst of the
three forbidden curses.
Then it was over. Harry looked at the other students. Hermione had pressed both hands
against her face. Her quiet sobs proved what he had presumed when he had seen her
shrugging shoulders – she was crying. Ron and Draco were staring open mouthed at the scene
in front of them. Finally Draco turned and moved quickly over towards a wall and threw up.
For the first time Harry felt a little sympathy for Draco – for he was sick himself.
"Well, well." Gandalf cleaned his sword an put it back into his belt. „So you have come here
by coincidence and can not return to where you came from. You have chosen both a bad time
and a bad place to appear out of nowhere. For Saruman the White and I do not have the time
to take you by the hand and show you around! You are at Dol Guldur, Sauron's fortress. He is
a terrible sorcerer and he is gaining power. It is time to throw him down – that is our business
in this place."
Harry sighed inwardly. Some things seemed to be the same everywhere.
Saruman had stepped closer to Snape and eyed him suspiciously. "I expect the orcs you
fought are dead once and for all this time?"
Snape nodded. "They are!" His voice sounded hoarse. Had this fight affected him somehow?
"Now!" Saruman seemed to have decided to trust Snape – at least for the moment. „Although
I do not know exactly how you did that – we do not have the time for explanations. I think
Gandalf and I could use some help. You seem to be a capable wizard – considering your
young age – you could be of use. But where your *students* are concerned…"
Harry didn't like the way Saruman pronounced the word. It made him feel like something
barely more than nothing.
"They should hide in a secure corner – if there is such a thing in this place!"
Gandalf stepped up to him. "There is a small room close to the main entrance. It looked as if it
is only used rarely. As soon as word spreads that there are intruders in the fortress – and that
will not be long – this place will be swarming with orcs. We should go down now, magically
seal the door and pick them up on our way out. That is – if we are successful."
Snape shot a glance at his students. He didn't like the idea of leaving them without guidance
in this place. But he couldn't take them along either when he was about to aide in a fight with
a powerful lord of the dark arts. So he nodded. "That will be the best to do."
_.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~._to be continued _.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~._
Author's Note #2: For everyone who's still wondering…
This little piece plays at the time of "the hobbit". When Gandalf leaves the dwarves right
before they enter Mirkwood, to meet up with Saruman and the White Council to drive Sauron
out of Dol Guldur.
Would you have guessed right? ;-)
I admit it is by no means certain that Saruman actually accompanied Gandalf. As far as I
know Gandalf only stated that he could only drive Sauron from Dol Guldur with Sarumans
help – which can mean quite a lot of things. Probably just some information.
In fact I'm almost sure Saruman wasn't present and I didn't plan him to show up anyway.
And then he stepped up to Gandalf quite unexpected. That's how it goes. Characters insist on
behaving like they see fit – and there's nothing a humble author can do about it. ;-)
I'll try and hurry up with the next update, but of course I can't make any promises beyond
saying that *I will try*. And I will. Honestly. I swear.
Lani Lathron and shineon915 for your encouraging reviews. And thank you Twilight's
Mysteries for your – not particularly encouraging – review, but you've inspired me for a new
plot once I'm done with this one. (Although that might take a while).
As for the question of setting that came up: As Twilight's Mysteries already guessed right –
yes, they're in Middle-earth. Otherwise there would be no reason to put in into the LotR
section, right?
But I'm afraid I have to disappoint all you movie-folks – it's not set at TTT. Nor FotR.
Really sorry to say this, but there will be no Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir, Faramir, Eomer or
anyone else from the movies beyond our two favourite Istari.
No, wait – Galadriel is bound to show up around chapter 9 or 10. Maybe we'll see Celeborn.
Or Haldir. But that's supposedly it.
But don't let that bring you down. Please read on. It's still fun even without all the cuties. ;-)
More about time and place in the A/N at the end of the chapter – I don't want to spoil
anything. So it's your own fault if you look it up now. ;-)
_.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~._ Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings_.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~._
Gandalfs' eyes widened in surprise when he shot a short glance into the direction out of which
he had heard one – no – two shrill screams.
Far at the other end of the Hall a door had opened and a man an four halflings stumbled into
the room.
The Istari didn't have much time to think about it, as a group of orcs was attacking him and
kept him busy. Glamdring was gleaming brightly - no surprise in a place like this - and the
orcs backed away again and again, yet there were almost too many of them. It was defiantly
time to do a bit magic!
Gandalf raised his staff high above his head with his left while holding his sword with his
right - then flashes of light shot around and drove the orcs back. Through the howling of the
orcs he heard other shouting.
To his great surprise he saw the five newcomers approaching and attacking the orcs. These
fell to the ground as if struck by thunder and minutes later the noise had subsided and a most
welcome quiet spread in the hall.
Now Gandalf took the time to take a close look at the human and halflings.
First thing he noticed was that the four smaller figures weren't halflings at all - but human
children. The man was tall and thin, had a hooked nose and shoulder length black hair.
Gandalf noticed an unhealthy skin colour - but that wasn't the most strange thing about them!
While looking at the newcomers Gandalf the Grey realized that this was one of the very rare
moments when he didn't know anything to say. Finally he decided for the most obvious:
"Thank you, my young friends. I had not expected help in a place like this - but there were
more orcs, than expected.
"Orcs?" Hermione's voice sounded shrilly.
Snape shot a look at her that could only mean that she'd better shut up. Then he turned to the
man in grey robes.
"To be honest - we're just as much surprised as you probably are, Mister - "
"Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey." Gandalf nodded to the man. Could it be that the black haired
man was from the east? He had a peculiar way of expressing himself.
"Mr. Gandalf the Grey." Snape sounded a bit irritated. "It looks as if we came here through a
magical passage, but unfortunately it cealed itself after we passed through and the entrance
can't be opened from this side.
Could you tell us where we are, please? And would it be possible to borrow an owl - we
should be sending an message to Hogwarts as soon as possible…"
"An owl?" Gandalf had listened quietly, but the idea to "borrow an owl" had more than just
surprised him. "Why would you borrow an owl? Oh - !" He paused, understanding. "You can
talk to birds, like my friend Radagast. That is a very special gift - I would have thought you a
bit too young for such abilities…
But I fear, it will be more than difficult to find an owl in Mirkwood, that agrees to listen to
you."
"Er - no." Snape had apparently lost his concept. "I didn't want to talk to it - I wanted it to
carry a message to Hogwarts…"
"Hogwarts? Never heard of it. Where is this Hogwarts? Is it one of the lands in the east?"
"No, it is not!"
Surprised Gandalf turned around to the direction where the voice had come from. Snape
followed his gaze. An old man in white robes, with a long white beard and white hair had
entered the hall and looked at him with a piercing stare.
"I have travelled through the lands of the east - there is no place called Hogwarts."
"Saruman - it is good, you are here. We seem to have gotten unexpected help - even if we do
not know where from."
He looked at the strange group of newcomers and noticed that they were all wearing black
robes. Could it be that they were servants of Sauron?
But somehow that didn't make any sense to Gandalf. Why would Sauron send a young wizard
and four children as his advance guard. Or was it a feint? Had Sauron taken the form of a
young man to trick Gandalf? Was it only delusion?
Meanwhile Saruman had moved closer. "You are not from the east and you can not be from
the south because there men are dark skinned. Speak now! Where are you from?"
Snape cleared his throat. Harry could imagine that he wasn't used to being talked to in that
tone of voice. He was a Hogwarts professor and a master of potions. He deserved some
respect. Still Harry secretly liked the way the white wizard treated his least favourite teacher.
Snapes voice still sounded a bit flat when he spoke: "We are from Great Britain. From
Scotland, to be exact."
"Great Britain? Scotland? Where is that supposed to be?"
"Actually it is quite far in the north, geographically speaking, but..."
"North? You do not look as if you have come all the way through the northern wastes along
with four children. And that is where you would be coming from - because there is no
Scotland south of the northern wastes!"
"They have come through a secret, magical passageway, Saruman!" Gandalf put in.
Harry had the impression, that the man in white robes - Saruman - was more important than
the other one. Maybe he was Minister of Magic in this country?
"Exactly!" Snapes voice was back to normal. Apparently he didn't like to be talked to like
that. "The passage leads from the Hogwarts dungeons to those of this place. Unfortunately it
cealed itself right behind us and couldn't be reopened."
"And why have you come here?" Sarumans voice still didn't sound any friendlier than before.
"Well, to be honest..." Snape sounded his usual self now, "none of us actually *wanted* to
come here. Three of my students were stupid enough to venture of on a little trip into the
unknown, while me and their comrade simply followed to get them back – apparently we
were not fast enough."
Harry swallowed when both Saruman and Gandalf eyed the four students to find out who
could be the three to do something so foolish. But before one of the old men could say
anything a small noise behind them showed that the orcs were getting over the effects of the
stupefy-spell.
Saruman and Gandalf raised their swords.
"What? They are not dead!" Gandalf moved quickly forward – apparently directly towards
Ron who leapt to the side with a little shriek. Just in time for Gandalf to kill an orc with his
sword who had obviously almost stabbed Ron from behind.
More orcs were waking from their stun.
"Of course they're not dead – we only stupefied them!" Hermione's voice sounded thin but
still like the bossy know-it-all. She seemed to think it absurd to believe she could have killed
someone – even something as strange as an – orc.
A short fight erupted. While Gandalf and Saruman fought the orcs with their swords the four
students were huddling together behind their teacher. Finally Snape overcame his surprise and
raised his wand.
"Avada Kedavara!"
Harry twitched. The last time he had heard that curse, Cedric had died. He twitched again
when Snape cast the curse a second time. Although Harry knew it was the only way to defend
themselves without swords against these orc-beings plus it could only be an advantage to have
the two old wizards on their side it was still shocking to see Snape casting the worst of the
three forbidden curses.
Then it was over. Harry looked at the other students. Hermione had pressed both hands
against her face. Her quiet sobs proved what he had presumed when he had seen her
shrugging shoulders – she was crying. Ron and Draco were staring open mouthed at the scene
in front of them. Finally Draco turned and moved quickly over towards a wall and threw up.
For the first time Harry felt a little sympathy for Draco – for he was sick himself.
"Well, well." Gandalf cleaned his sword an put it back into his belt. „So you have come here
by coincidence and can not return to where you came from. You have chosen both a bad time
and a bad place to appear out of nowhere. For Saruman the White and I do not have the time
to take you by the hand and show you around! You are at Dol Guldur, Sauron's fortress. He is
a terrible sorcerer and he is gaining power. It is time to throw him down – that is our business
in this place."
Harry sighed inwardly. Some things seemed to be the same everywhere.
Saruman had stepped closer to Snape and eyed him suspiciously. "I expect the orcs you
fought are dead once and for all this time?"
Snape nodded. "They are!" His voice sounded hoarse. Had this fight affected him somehow?
"Now!" Saruman seemed to have decided to trust Snape – at least for the moment. „Although
I do not know exactly how you did that – we do not have the time for explanations. I think
Gandalf and I could use some help. You seem to be a capable wizard – considering your
young age – you could be of use. But where your *students* are concerned…"
Harry didn't like the way Saruman pronounced the word. It made him feel like something
barely more than nothing.
"They should hide in a secure corner – if there is such a thing in this place!"
Gandalf stepped up to him. "There is a small room close to the main entrance. It looked as if it
is only used rarely. As soon as word spreads that there are intruders in the fortress – and that
will not be long – this place will be swarming with orcs. We should go down now, magically
seal the door and pick them up on our way out. That is – if we are successful."
Snape shot a glance at his students. He didn't like the idea of leaving them without guidance
in this place. But he couldn't take them along either when he was about to aide in a fight with
a powerful lord of the dark arts. So he nodded. "That will be the best to do."
_.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~._to be continued _.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~.__.~*~._
Author's Note #2: For everyone who's still wondering…
This little piece plays at the time of "the hobbit". When Gandalf leaves the dwarves right
before they enter Mirkwood, to meet up with Saruman and the White Council to drive Sauron
out of Dol Guldur.
Would you have guessed right? ;-)
I admit it is by no means certain that Saruman actually accompanied Gandalf. As far as I
know Gandalf only stated that he could only drive Sauron from Dol Guldur with Sarumans
help – which can mean quite a lot of things. Probably just some information.
In fact I'm almost sure Saruman wasn't present and I didn't plan him to show up anyway.
And then he stepped up to Gandalf quite unexpected. That's how it goes. Characters insist on
behaving like they see fit – and there's nothing a humble author can do about it. ;-)
I'll try and hurry up with the next update, but of course I can't make any promises beyond
saying that *I will try*. And I will. Honestly. I swear.