A/N: I realize that there are errors in pervious chapters that I have written concerning the cannon of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. A few things you must realize:
1. This is a crossover fiction. Meaning that it is more than slightly AU. Meaning that if it is a small error (i.e. the color of Remus's hair Which upon looking it up, I do see that I was in error, and I use the correct color from now on. However, I consider myself to be a dark blonde whereas other people say I have light brown hair so it's a toss up really) I would hope that you, the reader, would be kind enough to gloss over it, accept it, or just not read my story at all.
2. Yes, there are glaring errors (not intentional mind you, insomnia and typing in the middle of the night makes one slightly incoherent), but as they are pointed out to me, I correct them. Concerning the ages of several of the characters (mainly Lucius Malfoy) I have already been notified and it should have been updated by now. I posted that revision June 14th. I apologize for that, but I do have some difficulty in deciphering how old characters are in relation to one another, because Rowling isn't clear about it in her cannon. Students such as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco, etc are easy to figure out, because they are still in school. Other characters such as Remus, Lucius, Snape, Sirius, etc are harder to place because they are no longer in school and different sources vary on their age relation. I can only do my best to interpret the cannon as best as I can.
3. As for the errors pertaining to LOTR cannon. I read the books at least once a year, and I am hard pressed (after going through my chapters with a fine tooth comb) to see the glaring errors. Aragorn and Arwen had only one son, Eldarion, and several unnamed daughters. Trust me I have done extensive research on this end to make sure this story was even slightly plausible. My sources for this include the amazing website called The Council of Elrond. This web site is truly amazing and more anally accurate than I am. They have an encyclopedia of people, places, and things in the Middle Earth universe along with one of the best Elvin to English dictionaries that I have ever come across. If you are again referring to the whole issue of whether or not Galadriel and others would be present at the birth of Eldarion or Sairina, there are the dates straight from the appendix of The Return of the King:
Year 3019 of the Third Age; June Mid-year's Day: Wedding of Arwen and Aragorn
Year 3021 of the Third Age; September 29: Frodo and Bilbo depart over the sea with the three keepers.
I will be the first to admit that I'm cutting it close, but it is possible considering that I have placed Sairina's birthday in early June (possibly June third or fourth in my mind). This still allows Sairina and Eldarion to have roughly a two year age difference and Elrond, Celeborn, Galadriel, and Gandalf to be present for the birth.
You guys, I'm trying to write a decent bit if fan fiction, honestly. I know it's not always going to be perfect; I know Sairina is borderline Mary-Sue; I know that I'm not a perfect scholar when comes to either Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings because I don't remember every little detail. But I am doing everything within my power to make this story a believable escape from the traditional cannons. I encourage the readers to help me with my errors and flaws so that I can make this story even better. To be honest, I had no clue how Lucius was related age wise to the other characters, and I appreciate the fact that two of my reviewers pointed it out to me.
However, I find it insulting and upsetting to be told that this story is worthless and horribly written and that people question whether or not I have actually read any of the books this fiction is based on. It's called constructive criticism. Sure, you can tear somebody limb from limb in a review, but is it going to help them at all? It may do nothing more than discourage a writer, who is risking a great deal of their pride by publishing something that they dreamed up and composed based on their favorite story. When you give the once over on someone's work and point out flaws, say something else as well that might build them back up. "This and this was weak/wrong about the story, but I like the way it flowed and the structure."
I know better than to just curl up and die when I get a completely negative review, because all my life I have listened to my critics with a grain of salt, but there are some people out there who are looking for no more than an outlet for their creativity or are building up their writing capabilities until they can create their own original works of fiction. That's why I do this. I do it because I know people find this story entertaining, but I'm doing it to build up my chops as a writer because some day I want my stories to be categories on this website and people coming up with their own crazy, zany, and outlandish interpretations of what I have written. Sad goal as it may be, at least I have one.
Nobody's perfect, you guys. Me least of all. If any of you would care to beta-read and are competent in doing to, please e-mail me. You can help be keep this plot from tiring out (although I do have it outlined through the end and into the first chapter of the sequel), and you can help me from making any more "glaring errors" that I seem to be quite proficient at making.
By the way . . . what is the age difference between Bellatrix and Sirius? Is it a year or two or more? If anyone knows please leave it in a review . . .
Chapter 16: Amazing Sights
Sairina crept out of the Ravenclaw dormitories just as dawn was beginning to break. Her message for her father was dire, and it could not wait another day. She could have sent an owl to Dumbledore, but after the attack on Diagon Alley, she wasn't sure what was safe to do any more. However, she had to be sure she was back in the common room by seven because she had to show the first years back to the Great Hall for breakfast.
So on the morning of her first day back at Hogwarts, Sairina was sprinting to the eighth floor corridor, to the mirror that would allow her to go home to warn her father and brother. Saying the pass word and entering the portal, Sairina realized that in Gondor the sun was just beginning to break as well. Sighing she grabbed a sheet of parchment and jotted down her vision. Using her wand, she sealed it with enchanted wax that would only allow her father to break it. She addressed it, and (using her letter opener) she affixed the letter to her chamber door.
Sairina reopened the portal and crossed over. Glancing at her watch, she swore silently. It was five minutes until seven. Sairina was honestly beginning to think that twenty four hours weren't sufficient for one day. She ran the entire way back to the common room and entered just ask the first years were making their way down the stairwells.
"Good morning," Sairina greeted and she tried to steady her breathing and slow her heart rate. She received many groggy hellos and good mornings in return. "Oh come now! Aren't you all excited for your first day of classes?" There were a few mumbles and Merric appeared on the stairwell.
"Good morning one and all," he said brightly, "Who's ready for breakfast?" With that the group trooped down to the Great Hall, and the first years truly took not on how to get back to the common room. Arriving in the Great Hall, the first years dug into their breakfasts. It was at this time that Professor Sinstra, their head of house and the Astronomy teacher, handed out their schedules. Merric and Sairina quickly went over the locations of the classrooms with the first years and then finally got a moment to relax (the first all morning).
"What do you have first off Sai?" Merric asked as he casually sipped his orange juice. Sairina glanced over her card and let out a quiet groan.
"Divination," she replied. Merric grimaced for her.
"Terrible class to start off with," he said half-heartedly attempting to console his fellow prefect. Sairina shrugged.
"I don't mind the subject matter," she said as she took a bite of bacon, "In fact that's what I like most about the class. It's just the teacher drives me mad." Merric laughed.
"Understandable," he conceded looking at her card, "At least you have that class with Gryffindor. Doesn't Remus take Divination?" A rare smile passed across her face.
"Yes," she murmured, "but so do his friends and they spend most of their time undermining the teacher and poking fun at the subject."
"Remus actually does that?" Merric asked astounded at the passive Remus's supposed behavior.
"Actually that tends to be more the behavior of the other three," Sairina corrected herself, "Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest if you will." Both Sairina and Merric laughed out loud.
"What about you?" Sairina asked, "What's first up for you?" Merric glanced at his card and let out a groan.
"Muggle Studies," he replied. Merric was ¾ wizard (his mother was a pureblood, but his father was only half).
"Ha," Sairina said haughtily, "and I thought I had it bad." She glanced at her watch, "I ought to go. I have to trudge back to my dorm for my things and then go to the completely opposite side of the castle for class. Merric nodded and waved her off and Sairina left the hall to gather her things.
After climbing up the familiar silver ladder, laden with her things for class, Sairina was surprised to find that the air of the Divination classroom wasn't as oppressive as it normally was. She assumed that because it was early morning, Professor Trelawny hadn't had the scented logs burning for a long period of time and the coolness of the morning was still prominent in the air.
Glancing around the room Sairina opted for an empty table to sit at because (despite having this class for two years and being in the same house with some of the people) she really wasn't quite well associated with many people. Lily and Remus had been the only people she allowed to get close enough to her to be deemed "friends" (although Remus had become more than that). She was still extremely wary of people discovering what she was and blowing it out of proportion.
She could almost imagine the Slytherins' mocking bows and sneers when she would walk past them if they knew.
"A knut for your thoughts?" Sairina jumped slightly as Remus snuck up behind her. He then dumped his bag beside the table and sat down.
"Eh," Sairina said shrugging it off, "Abandoning your friends for me today?" Sairina smiled as she glanced at the other Marauders who were shooting the princess murderous glanced.
"I figured I would have better luck with you than I would with them," Remus admitted quietly, "Considering you have foresight . . ." Sairina snorted.
"That doesn't work for a damn when I want it to," she scoffed, "And likes to give me mind numbing headaches and more troubles than a fifteen year old should have to worry about." Remus smiled coyly.
"A gift and a curse," he smirked.
"You don't know the half of it," Sairina replied as Rumer started class by predicting the death of a student.
"Class," she continued attempting to sound mystical and all knowing, "we will begin by reviewing some of the techniques of divination we have gone over the past two years. As you all know, this year you will be having your O.W.L tests. I foresee that only a few of you will earn acceptable markings while the rest of you will do abysmally." There was a snort of laughter from the Marauder's table and Rumer shot them an acid glare.
"You will begin today by reviewing the technique of using a crystal ball," she motioned, causing her many bracelets to jingle together, to the softly glowing mist filled orbs on the tables, "Remember to open your inner eye and stare deep into the swirling mists. Try to read your partner's future. You!" she said snapping at the three Marauders, "One of you will have to work with me since there is an odd number in this class." Both Sirius and James pointed to Peter, who begrudgingly left the table to join Professor Rumer.
"Why don't you give it a go first, Remus," Sairina said and Remus gave out a groan, but pulled the orb toward him. He stared into the orb for about five minutes before shoving it toward Sairina.
"I wanted to take Ancient Runes," he muttered, "But no, those three idiots talked me into taking Divination." Sairina smiled.
"I take it you didn't see anything?" she asked, but Remus only glared at her, "Fine, fine, I'll try now." Instead of looking into the orb immediately, Sairina closed her eyes for a moment. She took a deep breath and let her body relax. Any time she had ever had a vision she was either really stressed out, or extremely relaxed. Figuring the same held true for using a crystal ball, she opted for the second option. Opening her eyes, she stared into the misty depths of the orb.
"I see a bunch of mist," she muttered, "apparently for the rest of your life is going to be filled with overcast days." Remus did his best to hold in the laughs that were going to erupt, but they came out in a loud undignified snort. This had caught the attention of Rumer. Apparently having no luck with Peter, she glided over to their table.
"Something funny about your future, Mr. Lupin?" She asked looking at him with her narrow, heavily accented eyes which caused her Slavic heritage toseem very prominent. Remus shook his head and Rumer set her sights on Sairina. "What do you see Miss Telcontar?" Sairina looked back to the orb while Rumer kept babbling on, "Look beyond the mist. Open your inner eye . . ." Sairina tensed. Shapes were beginning to form in the orb.
"A wolf," she said shakily, "a rat, a . . . dog, and a . . . stag . . ." Sairina said as the shapes appeared one right after the other in the orb. Rumer made the noise one makes when pondering something interesting, an "hmmmm" if you will.
"Very interesting," she murmured, "Mr. Lupin, do you have any pets?" Remus looked between Sairina and the professor.
"Um . . . no," he said eventually, "but I do live near a forest. Could it have something to do with that?" Rumer appeared to be deep in thought.
"Perhaps," she murmured before gliding off to another table. Once she had left, Remus leaned towards Sairina.
"Did you really see anything?" he asked. Sairina nodded looking torn between confused and amazed.
"They were just shadowy forms, but I could tell what they were," she said sounding amazed, "It's the first time I've seen anything in a crystal ball. What do you think they mean? Can you think of anything they might have to do with your life?" Remus pondered this in silence.
The wolf was obviously pertaining to him and his condition, but he was certain Sairina didn't pick up on that (this only reminded the teenager that he was going to have to tell her). But a rat, a dog, and a stag? They meant nothing to him at all. The range of animals was just so odd; he couldn't see the connection to anything in his life.
"Remus?" Sairina asked knocking him from his reverie.
"Sorry," he murmured, "Just thinking. No, I don't see what any of them have to do with me." He knew part of it was a lie, but he wasn't going to confess to being a werewolf in the middle of Divination. Sairina nodded.
"Perhaps you'll have some sort of an accident with a wolf, a rat, a dog, and a stag." Sairina said with a weak smiled as Rumer dismissed the class while asking them to write a foot long essay about the properties of crystal balls for review.
"What do you have next?" Remus asked as they gathered their things. Sairina glanced at her schedule.
"History of Magic, with Slytherin," she groaned, "At least I'll have time to work on my crystal ball essay."
"If you don't fall asleep first," Remus supplied and the two shared a laugh.
"What about you?" Sairina asked and James, Sirius, and Peter joined them.
"Herbology with Hufflepuff," Sirius supplied as he clapped Reums on the back, "Shall we be off then?" Remus said good-bye to Sairina with a kiss on the cheek before his friends dragged him off to their next class. Sairina chuckled as she too left the Divination classroom. Her thoughts, however, were clouded as she decended the silver ladder. Once again, the image of a wolf had made itself prominent, this time around Remus. Sairina pondered this as she walked to History of Magic. Her thoughts dwelled on this for a moment, until she remembered the other animals that had appeared.
None of it made sense to her at all.
"Do you have to patrol tonight, Remus?" James half asked, half whined as he sat down next to his studious friend. Remus cocked an eyebrow, but continued on his Divination essay.
"No, why?" he asked as he scratched a few more notes down. Sirius and Peter had joined in by this time and were sharing maniacal grins, "If it's a prank, count me out."
"Nothing of the sort," Sirius said before lowering his voice, "We were going to practice transfiguration." Remus looked up and stared dumbly at his friend.
"Can't you practice that here in the common room?" he asked before the other three smacked their heads in unison.
"I wonder how you got that badge," Peter murmured as he gaped at his friend. Remus continued to stare at them blankly, thoroughly confused.
"What in blue blazes are you carrying on about?" Remus asked looking at his friends. Sirius began coughing and a cough came out that sounded suspiciously like 'animagi'. It suddenly dawned upon Remus.
"Oh," he murmured feeling stupid, "That transfiguration. Right then, let's go." Remus gathered all his things up and carried them up to his dorm to dump them. James followed and retrieved his trusty invisibility cloak and an old piece of parchment. "James, why do we need those? It's still before curfew." James gave his friend a knowing look.
"But we're not coming back until after curfew," James responded tapping his head, "I'm always thinking Moony." Remus groaned at the use of his nickname.
"Have I told you that I hate that name?" he asked as the two went back down to the common room.
"Only every time we use it," Sirius said from the bottom of the steps. Hearing Remus's complaint, Sirius knew he was referring to his nickname.
"Remind me," Remus said lowering his voice, "when you guys master your animagus transformations, I get to come up with ridiculous nicknames for you." The other three laughed as they left the Gryffindor common room and made their way to the seventh floor.
Once they were secure in the Room of Requirement, the other three began to show Remus their notes, and the research that they had done over the past few years. Remus was impressed to say the least; it was thorough and well organized.
"Wow," Remus murmured amazed, "when you guys apply yourselves, you really mean business." The other three smiled.
"Can we practice transforming now?" Sirius asked almost lazily. Remus gave one last glance over the notes.
"I suppose," he conceded warily, "but only one at a time. Who's up first?" James stepped into the center of the room.
"I'll go," he said striping off his outer black robe. He stood unmoving in the center of the room, eyes closed and breathing steady. To Remus, he seemed to pull into himself, willing his outer form to change. The others watched on as magic seemed to radiate off James. Remus gaped in amazement as tan fur spread and sprouted on James's skin. It was one thing to be told that his friends could sprout fur, but it was another thing to witness it.
Remus and the others continued to watch on as James's face seemed to elongate and he fell forward onto all fours. His finger seemed to meld together and become dark. Without warning, he suddenly snapped back into a regular looking James. He was panting and still on all fours as he tried to steady his breathing.
"Wow," Peter said gaping, "You almost started to change physically." James nodded and attempted to stand. Sirius and Peter rushed forward to help him.
"James," Remus said voice filled with concern, "are you alright?" He nodded.
"Yes," he panted, "it just takes a lot . . . out of you." James sat back in a chair and relaxed a bit to regain his composure. Sirius turned to Peter.
"Why don't you go next?" Sirius said, "Try covering yourself with fur this time." Peter nodded as he moved to the center of the room. Like James before him, Peter seemed to pull into himself and willed his outer form to change. Remus couldn't help but stare in amazement as his normally bumbling friend began to sprout gray fur on his body. Granted, it didn't come on as fast as James had, but it continued on until he had just about covered his entire body. Remus thought the light of the room was playing tricks on him when he saw that Peter was getting smaller.
However, just like James, Peter snapped back to his regular looking self after a few more moments. He to was panting and seemed even more exhausted than James had been.
"Excellent job, Pete!" James exclaimed truly proud of his friend, "You covered yourself with fur!" Peter smiled weakly as Remus and Sirius helped him up. Once he was seated, Sirius then moved to the center of the room.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Remus could once again see that Sirius was pulling into himself, to will his outer presence to transform. Something was different about him though. Remus could actually feel that Sirius was enclosing his human nature and willing the animal to emerge. Remus watched on in amazement while shaggy black fur sprouted all over his handsome friend. Like James, he collapsed onto all fours and his face began to elongate. Remus heard James let out a yelp and the messy haired kid pointed to the transforming one.
"He has a tail," he said in astonishment. The others looked to see if it was true, and it was. Sirius has sprouted a tail out of his backside. However, that was all the further his transformation got before he too snapped back into his human self. Exhausted, like those who had gone before him, Sirius was content to simple collapse onto the floor. Remus looked at his friends with pride.
"Wow," Remus smiled, "you guys never cease to amaze me." The other three smiled weakly at their friend. Some where in the school, there was a chiming that signaled curfew.
"Sirius," James said looking to his nearly passed out friend, "do you think you can make it back now, or would you like to wait a few more minutes?" Sirius used his arms to prop himself up.
"I think I can make it now," he said slowly getting to his feet, "do you have the map and cloak?" James nodded. The cloak was obvious the invisibility cloak that has been mentioned earlier; the map, however is a very curious thing . . .
The Marauders liked to think that they knew the layout of the school better than anyone who had attended it before (save the four founders and possibly Dumbledore). This was undisputable, for they knew of every secret passage and its password and had timed and charted the directions of every stair for every day of the week (because they had a tendency to change direction depending on the day). The result of these findings was compiled onto a piece of parchment that James had brought with him. To the untrained eye, it was just a bit of old parchment. The boys knew different, however.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," James said tapping the parchment. Ink began to sprout up all across the parchment forming hallways, shaping class rooms, detailing every aspect of the castle. This little beauty was the Marauder's Map. Towards the beginning of fourth year, the boys knew the castle like the back of their hand, but even with the invisibility cloak, had far to many run-ins with Filch and Mrs. Norris.
It had been Remus's idea to make an enchanted map that could pinpoint the location of everybody within the castle.
It had taken them long hours of trying spells, drafting, drawing, redrafting, and redrawing the passages and classrooms before they got it to be what they wanted. It was about the fiftieth time of doing the map before it was to their overall liking. But each of the boys felt that it wasn't quite finished, that it needed a distinctive Marauder flare. They just didn't know what that was quite yet.
James surveyed the map with the utmost scrutiny, while his friends prepared to depart.
"Filch is on the second floor," he said eventually, "Mrs. Norris is outside. Dumbledore is in his office."
"Anybody else out at all?" Sirius asked James looked over the entire map and pulled out its many different sections.
"Um," he said going over it, "a Shelby Putt and Gregg McCain in the entrance hall . . ." The Marauders looked to Remus.
"Hufflepuff Prefects," he confirmed for his friends. James looked back to the map.
"Other than that we should be in the clear," he said folding up the map.
"Wait," said Peter suddenly, "what about Peeves?" James opened up the map once again, and flipped through it.
"It looks like he's in one of the dungeons doing whatever it is that he does best," James replied before tapping the map with his wand and saying, "Mischief managed." Sirius held up the cloak, and the four boys disappeared under it. After getting settled under it, the four boys slowly and carefully made their way back to the common room. Once outside their portrait, they pulled off the cloak and gave the Fat Lady the password. The door swung open and the boys entered.
Lucky for them the common room was nearly empty.
"And just where have the four of you been?" demanded a cold voice from one of the armchairs by the fire. It had caused all the boys to jump, but they relaxed as they saw Lily stand up.
"Lily flower . . ." James said benignly but she just sent him a glare.
"If the four of you were setting up a prank . . . so help me . . ." she glowered staring each one of them down, "Remus, I expected more from a fellow prefect . . ."
"Lily, relax," Remus said smoothly, "We only went down to the kitchens for a post homework snack." Despite his good record, Remus knew how to lie and how to lie well, "Time simply got away from us, and the house elves wouldn't let us leave. On my honor, we did not set up any pranks." His performance was convincing enough for Lily and she nodded.
"Fine," she gave in, "but don't let it happen again or I'll be forced to deduct points . . ."
"You wouldn't do that to your own house," Sirius interrupted. Lily sent him a nasty glare.
"Watch it, Black," she warned, "I can and I will, should the need arise." She turned sharply on her heel and stormed up the girl's staircase. James stared after her longingly.
"You know," he murmured dreamily, "she is so adorable when she's angry." The other three laughed at their smitten friend.
"But you know she would never go for you, mate," Sirius said clapping him of the shoulder, "you're too much of an arrogant bighead for her." James glowered at his friend.
"One of these days, Sirius," James said shaking his finger, "Mark my words, Lily Evans will go out with me." The boys laughed as they climbed up their staircase that led to their dormitory.