Chapter 9

Harry dropped his head into his hands.
"That's it? That's why I'm here? To help fight Voldemort?"
The man nodded.
Suddenly Harry looked up again, anger coursing through his veins.
"Did you ever think to ask me about this?" he shouted, unable to stop himself. "You think you can just drag me here like I won't mind?"
"Harry, I am truly sorry," replied the form of Gandalf the White and Professor Dumbledore. "But actually, I brought you here to ask you. Will you fight with us against Voldemort? Will you save all the worlds?"
"How can you ask me something like that?" Harry said furiously. "And why didn't you tell me before? Is it always going to be like this? Are you never going to tell me anything before it's too late?"

Harry looked away. He didn't want to shout like he had done Professor Dumbledore's office, when anger and grief had threatened to take him whole.
They sat there, silent for several moments. The silence was calming, and Harry tried to take deep breaths. Then he turned back to the man, who was sitting quietly.
"Tell me who you are," Harry said, calmly but firmly. "Are you Professor Dumbledore, or are you Gandalf the White?"
The man smiled sadly.
"Harry," he said softly. "I am both."
Harry looked at him incredulously.
"Both? How can you be both? It's not possible."
"Not for anything you have encountered," he replied steadily. "Few know the truth."
"What is the truth?" Harry asked. "I need to know."

The man looked at him.
"Very well, Harry," he said, and Harry could almost make out two voices, speaking as one. "The truth."
Harry waited, looking at him as he prepared to speak. At last, he did.
"I, Albus Dumbledore, died long ago, far before you were born. Yet I too, managed to hold onto this world, Harry. But the reasons for this were different to yours and Voldemort's. I was brought back with a focus, a purpose, and resolve. I was brought the knowledge of the other worlds. I travelled to this one, and befriended Gandalf."
"Gandalf the White?" Harry could not resist asking.
"No, Harry, at that time, I was Gandalf the Grey." It was somehow a slightly different voice speaking now. "I could not travel worlds as I was an immortal, and could never die. However, there was a recent incident. I was defeated during a battle with a Balrog. Yet I too, was sent back, with a focus, a purpose and resolve just like Albus. Then, when the two evils of our worlds joined, we saw we had to do the same."
"Joined?" asked Harry.
"Yes," replied the man. "We are one in the same. Two individuals, from separate worlds, in one form, one body."

Harry stared at the man before him, the two men, and he did not know what to think. It was beyond anything he could have ever imagined before, yet...somehow he could believe it, take it in. He managed to meet the man's eye.
"I am glad you can accept it, Harry," said the man.
"I - I am too," said Harry, managing a nod and a smile. "But..."
"What is it, Harry?" asked the man.
"Well...this may sound daft...sir, but...what shall I call you?" asked Harry uncertainly.
The man smiled.
"Albus Dumbledore and Gandalf the Grey have joined to form a very powerful wizard," he replied. "My name, as I told you when you first arrived, is Gandalf the White."

Harry smiled as he heard it.
"Gandalf the White," he murmured. It was the perfect name for the ageless, powerful wizard that sat before him. "Do they know the truth?" he asked Gandalf, gesturing to the door.
"I am sure Aragorn will have finished telling them by now," smiled Gandalf the White. "But there is more I have to tell you, Harry."
Harry turned back to him.
"More?"
"Yes, Harry. Do you not want to know who Voldemort has joined with?"
Harry stared.
"Y-yes, of course I do," he stammered, wondering how he could have forgotten this. "I want to know everything."
"Everything," repeated Gandalf the White. "Be careful, Harry, for full knowledge can be dangerous."
Harry did not know what to say to this. He simply stared back as steadily as he could at Gandalf, who considered him.

Gandalf the White suddenly spoke.
"The force Voldemort has joined with is the Dark Lord of this world, Harry. His name is Sauron."
Gandalf proceeded to tell Harry about the great battle that had taken place over 3500 years ago, when Sauron had possession of the one ring of power.
"But what is this ring?" Harry asked. "What makes it so powerful?"
"Because, Harry, it rules all the other rings of power. Three of these rings were given to the elves-"
"What?!" exclaimed Harry, starting at Gandalf's words. "What do you mean, elves?"
"We are in a different world, Harry, the land of Middle Earth," replied Gandalf the White. "Here, elves are very powerful, very wise beings. We have one particular elf in our midst whom you have already met."
"Who?" said Harry sceptically, certain he had not met an elf.
"Legolas, the Mirkwood Elf."
"What?!" repeated Harry loudly. "That man-"
"He is not a man, Harry," smiled Gandalf the White. "He is an elf."
Harry was speechless. He sat there for a moment is utter awe at being able to say he had met an elf. Suddenly he looked up, remembering Gandalf's words.
"So...so three rings were given to elves?" he asked uncertainly.
"Correct, Harry," replied Gandalf the White. "The elves are the wisest and fairest of all beings."
"Were...were any other rings...given out...?" asked Harry, unsure of whether he was wording his questions very well.

"Yes, Harry," Gandalf the White replied. "More rings were indeed made. Seven were given to the dwarves."
"Dwarves?" repeated Harry. "Dwarves?"
Gandalf the White smiled and nodded.
"And nine rings were gifted to the race of men."
"So there are still normal people running around?" muttered Harry.
"Harry, please accept that we are in the world of Middle Earth, and what you consider normal may have no meaning or relevance here," Gandalf the White replied wisely. "You have met a wizard, myself, an elf, many humans, and a dwarf, but-"
"A dwarf?" Harry repeated once more. "I haven't-"
But as he broke off, he remembered that short, stout "man" with his long ginger hair and beard, his deep rumbling voice and his enormous silver axe. He fell silent and nodded.

Gandalf the White smiled at Harry's acceptance. He continued.
"In each of these rings, there was the power and will to govern each race. But all of them were deceived."
"How?" asked Harry.
"Another ring was made, Harry. The Dark Lord Sauron forged this ring in the fires of Mount Doom and into it he poured his very essence, his true being. They are one, the ring and the Dark Lord..."
Both of them paused as Harry imagined the power that this one ring seemed to have. It was the heart of the battles.
"Where is this ring?" he said. "Please tell me it is in our possession."
"Yes, and no, Harry," replied Gandalf the White. "It is certainly on our side, as you may put it, but the bearer of the ring is a hobbit, Frodo Baggins."
"A what?" said Harry. "More new races?"
Gandalf nodded and smiled.
"A hobbit. Hobbits are very small, Harry - about three foot six in height. They are wonderful, fun loving beings whom I have spent many years with. It injures me deeply to see dear Frodo, carrying this ring..."
He broke off. Harry seized his moment to ask yet another question.
"Where is he taking the ring? What are you going to do with it?"

Gandalf the White paused. He took a deep breath, gathering himself, and when he next spoke it was for a long while, without pause. Harry did not interrupt. Gandalf told him everything of Middle Earth, the history of the ring, how Isildur had his one chance to destroy it but did not, and how Aragorn was his heir. He told him of the many lands in Middle Earth, showing him a map of the borders and boundaries. He told him of their journey from Rivendell with eight others, tracing their path with his finger. Harry listened and watched in awe as Gandalf told his everything; everything he had been desperate to know. Harry did not speak. He simply sat and took in everything Gandalf told him, took in the knowledge; treasured it. From there, Harry found an understanding in the surrounding world and the people in it. He knew he would remember these details forever.

At last Gandalf the White finished telling Harry of what throwing the ring into the fires of Mount Doom would mean. For a moment neither of them dared to speak, but treasured the silence and understanding between them. At last, Gandalf leaned forward and smiled at Harry.
"So, Harry," he said. "Is there anything else you would like to ask?"
Harry nodded.
"Yes," he said. "I would like to know more about the ring bearer...Frodo. Why did he split from the rest at Amon Hen?"
"Ah, Harry," began Gandalf the White. "Aragorn has told me all of it. Boromir attempted to take the ring from Frodo-"
"Why, Gandalf?" interrupted Harry.
"It has a power, Harry. It took hold of Boromir...I do not think you can fully understand the corruptive power it possesses. But Frodo saw it. He knew that it was not safe to remain in the company of others when the powers of the ring were so strong. Aragorn understood this. Then, when the Urak-hi attacked, he allowed Frodo to leave Amon Hen, while he, Aragorn fought them back and kept them at bay."
"But he ended up leaving with Sam - Samwise?"
"It is my belief that Samwise ran after Frodo and told him he could not leave without him. I told Samwise not to leave Frodo. I believe he was fulfilling his promise to me not to."

Harry nodded.
"That was good of him."
"Indeed, Harry," replied Gandalf, nodding. "Indeed. Samwise cares a great deal for Frodo. I fear for them both."
Harry nodded again. He wondered what it would be like to be either one of them, wandering alone in the wilderness, wearing such a dangerous possession on a chain, completely cut off from everyone.
Harry suddenly looked at Gandalf the White as another thought occurred to him.
"Gandalf...?" he said slowly. "Has there been any contact at all between the two hobbits and us? You, or...or Aragorn, maybe?"
"No, Harry," replied Gandalf the White.
"But then...Frodo doesn't know that Boromir was killed?"
"Unless he was told by another, and I can't imagine who...no, he does not know."
"But then he doesn't know that you are...still alive? He only knew Gandalf the Grey, falling into eternity in Moria."
Gandalf the White paused, looking down at his hands. He could not meet Harry's eye, and Harry saw a single tear running down Gandalf's cheek.
"No, Harry. He does not know."