Hello everyone! The next chapter will be up on Sunday. :)

Review Responses:

harmoni, you get to find out how well Neville does in this chapter. :)

sapphyre2484, thanks for the anniversary. I can't believe it is taking me this long to write this fic, especially since it only took me eight months on the last one. I'm hoping I get this finished before the year ends.

John, the thing with the orb gets explained a little better in the next chapter. And there's a lot of Hogwarts action in this chapter.

Kyra2, snickers I know, Minas Tirith - the safest place in Middle Earth. snickers Of course, they don't know that just yet. And I'm afraid I'm not done torturing Ginny just yet.

Buffy Fan, thanks for the review! This chapter should also help to remind you that it's not just a LOTR fic.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Hogsmeade

"Remember, we promised each other to not feel guilty about being out and relaxing," Hermione said as they got out of the carriage that took them to Hogsmeade.

Ron took a deep breath and nodded. "It is kind of nice to be away from the castle," he admitted.

"And who knows, maybe spending a day away from everything will give us a new perspective."

"It might," he agreed with a smile, her enthusiasm contagious. "Where to first?"

"For once, I don't need any supplies, so wherever you want to go is fine," Hermione answered, pulling her cloak a little tighter around her shoulders to ward off the chilled air.

"My candy stash is low, so how about Honeydukes?" At her nod, they began making their way down the street.

The two followed the advice they had given themselves and pushed all thoughts of their absent friends and family out of their heads. They forced themselves to relax and before long they had natural instead of forced smiles on their faces. Other friends that they hadn't seen for a while struck up conversations and before they knew it, lunchtime arrived.

"Isn't that Professor Lupin with Faith over there?" Ron asked as they found a table at Three Broomsticks.

Hermione looked in the directed he indicated and smiled. "Yeah, aren't they cute together?"

"You don't mean they're...?"

"No, not yet," she said with a small smile. "But there's definitely something there. Look at how relaxed she is with him, she's not like that around anyone else."

"She's even smiling."

"Now stop staring, it's rude," she said turning back to face him.

"Yes, pumpkin."

Her eyes narrowed slightly before a giggle escaped her lips.

scenebreak

"Thanks for showing me around today," Faith said as she took a sip of her butterbeer.

"I still can't believe that you've never been to a wizard town before. Why didn't you visit Hogsmeade when you were here last year?" Remus asked.

"We weren't here long, plus there was this nasty apocalypse about to happen."

"Ah, yes. Good fun," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "Should do that again sometime."

Faith laughed. "I think I'm a bad influence on you. Next thing you'll know, you'll be lookin' for trouble."

"Actually, I'm afraid that's James and Sirius' influence. They were always getting me into trouble when we were in school."

"James?"

"Harry's father," Remus said a bit wistfully. "You couldn't separate us."

"The Marauders," she said with a grin. At his surprised look, she said, "I've heard stories."

"From who?"

"Not telling."

Remus' brow furrowed. "It couldn't have been Harry. Was it Ron?"

"Nope."

"Giles?"

"Nope."

"It couldn't have been Snape."

"Nope again."

"Then who?" He asked, his curiosity fully flamed now.

A sly look appeared in her eyes. "I promised Padfoot I wouldn't tell."

"What?... How?" He sputtered.

"Apparently my name kept popping up in your letters, so he sent me one of his own."

"He was checking you out wasn't he? That over-protective, nosy..."

"Friend," she finished for him. She placed one of her hands on top of his. "It was kind of sweet. Her must really care about you."

Remus' indignant anger fled at her touch. "He's my best friend. Did you know that he, James, and Peter became animagi so I wouldn't feel alienated about my own transformations?"

"No, I didn't." She sat back and listened to the story.

scenebreak

"Do you know what Neville is up to?" Seamus asked as he and Dean sat at a table in Three Broomsticks.

"Just said he had some errands to run before meeting us for lunch," Dean said as a waitress approached their table.

The waitress took their order and left. Only to return a minute later with their butterbeers and departing again.

"Is it me, or has he been acting odd this week?" Seamus asked after a few minutes.

"Who?"

"Neville."

"Define odd."

"Well, skittish."

Dean looked at him in confusion. "You mean more skittish than usual?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe. I don't know. You see him more than I do," Dean said with a shrug.

"You'd see him more if you joined those extra sessions," Seamus pointed out.

"I've told you several times - I'm not a fighter. I'd rather participate in the coming fight by being a healer. I can't bring myself to hurt anyone."

The door to the pub opened and they turned to see who it was. The first person didn't surprise them for it was Neville to meet them there as planned. But the second person shocked them. Blaise Zabini entered on Neville's arm.

scenebreak

As the sound of thudding hooves of three horses faded into the night, the entire camp began to break to return to Helm's Deep. The remaining members of the fellowship and other worlders gathered in a small huddle.

"I believe the king will go to the muster that he commanded at Edoras, four nights from now. And there, I think he will hear tidings of war, and the Riders of Rohan will go down to Minas Tirith," Aragorn explained quickly. "But for myself, and any that will go with me..."

"I for one," cried Legolas.

"And me," said Gimli.

"We've gone this far with ya, mate. No sense in stopping now," Spike said.

"Well, for myself," said Aragorn, "it is dark before me. I must also go down to Minas Tirith, but I do not yet see the road."

"Let's not worry about it, yet," Spike said. "We have a little bit of time left." Then they began packing.

When everything was prepared, the entire company rode into the night. They rode for several hours without incident.

"My lord," said one man riding up to the king. "There are horsemen behind us. As we crossed the Fords of Isen I thought that I heard them. Now we are sure. They are overtaking us, riding hard."

Théoden called for a halt. The Riders turned and prepared their spears while Aragorn and the others pulled their swords.

They heard the sounds of hooves and a moment later they saw dark shapes coming up the path. Moonlight glinted off their spears and they stopped a short distance away.

"Who rides in Rohan?" Éomer called out.

One man dismounted and walked slowly forward, keeping his hands well away from him weapons. "Rohan did you say? That is a glad word. We seek that land in haste from long afar."

"You have found it," Éomer said. "Who are you? And what is your haste?"

"Halbarad Dúnadan, Ranger of the North I am," cried the man. "We seek one Aragorn of Arathorn."

"And you have found him!" Cried Aragorn gleefully. He sheathed his sword and handed his reins to Merry, who was riding behind him. He ran forward to embrace the newcomer. "Halbarad, of all joys this is the least expected."

Aragorn turned back to the king. "All is well. Here are some of my kin from the far land where I dwelt. But why they come, Halbarad shall tell us."

"We rode as swiftly as we might when your summons came," Halbarad said in confusion.

"But I did not summon you save only in wish," Aragorn said. "I sent no word. But come! All such matters must wait. You find us riding in haste and danger. Ride with us now, if the king will give his leave."

"It is well," Théoden said gladly. "If these kinsmen be in any way like to yourself, my lord Aragorn, thirty such knights will be a strength that cannot be counted by heads."

scenebreak

"There they are," Neville said, gesturing in Seamus and Dean's direction. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Blaise turned her hazel eyes to him. "You're the one who invited me. Are you backing out now?"

"No, no, no," he assured her. "It's just... well... Just making sure you're ok with it. Seamus is a little hard to take at times."

"Neville, I wouldn't have accepted if I didn't want to come. I'll be fine. I am a Slytherin after all," she said with a smile.

Bolstered with a confidence he never knew he had, he led her over to the table where his two friends sat. He held out her chair for her and waited until she was seated before sitting himself.

"Hi fellas," he said a little nervously.

"Neville," Seamus said, eyeing Blaise. "Out on a date?"

"No," Neville said, his cheeks flushing slightly. "We're just friends."

"Really? Seemed like it was a little more than that," Seamus said. "Especially with her walking in on your arm."

"It's because he's a gentleman," Blaise said coolly. "He was properly taught how to treat a lady. Unlike others at this table who have not even extended me the courtesy of a hello."

"How dare you?" Seamus sputtered.

"She's right," Dean said, keeping his friend from jumping to his feet. "I'm sorry, Blaise. Those Irishmen and their tempers. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Dean. Thank you for asking," she said with a gently smile.

"Seamus, be polite. She's Neville's friend," Dean said, elbowing the boy next to him.

"Hi," Seamus grounded out.

"See that wasn't too hard," Dean said as he sympathetically patted his friend's shoulder.

A waitress walked over to their table at that point. "What can I get you two?"

Neville looked at Blaise and she nodded her head. He turned back to the waitress. "Two butterbeers please."

After the waitress left, Neville turned to see his friends smirking at him. "Sod off," he said, the flush coming back to his cheeks.

scenebreak

"What are you smiling at now?" Remus asked.

Faith indicated a table behind him. "Just glad to see my plan is working."

Remus turned to see a table full of laughing students. Normally that was a common occurrence. What was remarkable was that there was at least one student from each house present in the group.

"You realize you're breaking centuries of unspoken traditions by this," he said with a smile of his own.

"Good, rules were made to be broken," she said. "Houses don't exist in the real world." Her gaze grew distant. "They'll find that some of their best friends will come from the strangest places."

"Like wizards?"

"Vampires, nerds, prom queens, and even werewolves. Just wanted to make sure they take advantage of their opportunities, unlike me," she said softly.

"Ah, but you're taking advantage of them now," he pointed out.

She dropped her gaze back down to the leftover food on her plate. "I guess so."

"Hey," he said. He reached across the table and gently lifted her chin with his outstretched hand. "You have those kids looking up to you and respecting your opinion. They're becoming a cohesive group and you're taking pride in it. You're happy because they're happy."

Faith smiled. "They are a pretty good group of kids."

Remus let go of her chin and set his hand back on the table in front of him. "You value the opinion of Willow and Giles. You've become close to Wesley. You are rectifying the mistakes of your past.

"You told me yourself that you used to not care what others thought and just plowed your way through life. I see you taking in all sides before acting."

"Stop, you're gonna make me blush," she said.

"I'm serious, Faith. You should be proud of yourself in your growth and your effect on others." He paused before saying. "Including me."

She looked at him in surprise. "You?"

A half smile appeared on his lips. "Yes, me. Everyday I become more amazed at your ability to rise above your past. You inspire me to do better."

Faith's jaw dropped and she could only stare. She didn't feel worthy of such praise from a decent, good man. To feel and hear these things from the students was overwhelming on their own. But coming from a man she respected and was even a little attracted to, was too much. Her body and brain went into sensory overload until she was only able to gape at him.

"And now I've gone and embarrassed myself," Remus said with a little laugh. He began fiddling with the napkin in his lap. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."

"No," she said. "I mean... thank you. I had no idea."

"You have a right to know," he said softly.