Author's Note: Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to present to you the revised Chapter Two.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and some random characters and also some pocket lint, gum, paper clip, penny, and tissue.

Not What She Seems
By Green Sea Turtle

Chapter Two: The Elven Invitation in Which Confusion is Instilled

Hermione opened her eyes as soon as the annoying "bring, bring" sounded. She yawned and stretched her limbs like a cat. She thought of Crookshanks who was probably roaming the hallways already. Ever since 5th year, he had been doing that making sure there was no sign of Deatheaters.

Suddenly Hermione felt a heavy weight on her leg. It was Crookshanks with an anxious expression.

"Meow, meow," the cat whined.

'This is unusual,' thought Hermione. He never makes a sound, unless there was mischief, danger, or urgency nearby.

The cat turned its head upon a piece of rolled parchment lying innocently upon a corner of her bed.

The alarm clock noise stopped followed by the groans of Lavender and several other girls. Thankful that the heavy curtains around her bed were closed, Hermione quickly put on her owl-eye glasses.

'No time to go wash face and then put in contacts' thought Hermione.

Upon closer examination of the parchment, she found it was not parchment but some kind of light green paper made from leaves, something she had never seen before. It was sealed in grass green wax with an old fashioned looking seal with ancient runes upon it. From her Ancient Runes class she could easily decipher it and it read "Of The Last Homely Place". She was shocked for a moment.

The Last Homely Place meant Rivendell in the J.R.R. Tolkien books. But he was a wizard, though not well known in the magical world. And like Bilbo Baggins he had done a bit of traveling in his days. And Rivendell was a mythological place. According to the magical world, some said it did exist and others say it does not. They said that elves of when the earth was young dwell there as their last safe haven from the impurity of the wizard world and other worlds. There is little known about elves, and there is no recorded event of a witch or wizard ever having contact with any one of them, though there are stories of how spectacular the place is or was. There have also been rumors that the place was deserted and the elves at last passed away. But then again, one can never tell with elves or any other magical races.

Hermione, who is very skeptical about mythological things owing to her muggle upbringing to always question things, scrutinized the seal once more to verify its authenticity. Then she carefully peeled it back and opened the rolled parchment.

It read:

Dear Miss Hermione Granger,

On behalf of the Elders of Rivendell and Elhond, Son of Elrond, we would appreciate your presence at the Council of Elhond. Unfortunately, we cannot disclose very much information to you at this moment. But the fate of many will be in your hands, whether or not you chose to attend. There is much to be discussed therefore the urgency is great.

At midnight tomorrow, go to the edge of the Forbidden Forest closet to Lake. There a knight will greet you by the name of Holdrian upon a black horse. Show him this letter. He will take you to Rivendell.

Please take care to not bring any excessive materials.

Owing to complications that will be revealed to you soon, other knights will be watching you. Also, please do not inform teachers or classmates of this meeting, unless under extreme duress. Dumbledore has already been informed.

At Your Service,

The Elders of Rivendell and Elhond

This was the most unusual letter Hermione thought she ever received. She doubted that this was some sort of prank. But just what did it mean, "the fate of many will be in your hands"? Just what did any of this mean? And just why was she being watched? And how did this letter get to her? She very much doubted Crookshanks carried it.

Speaking of Crookshanks he had disappeared once more.

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