Black Eyes
Chapter Three: Blind Faith
by Capella
A/N: Here 'tis, my lovelies. *grins* And I thought that you guys should get a bit of reassurance -- as much as I love D/H, there will be slim to none of it in here. Lots of jealousy from Draco's end, at first, but after that it's friendship. I promise. I just love L/H too much. I also love making Draco a evil little snot. But he's MY evil little snot.
Anyway, on a small side note, am I an idiot for not noticing that Erised (as in the Mirror or Erised) spelled backwards is desire? ....I can hear your resounding "yes's" from here, you know. *feels rather stupid*
IMPORTANT! Just to clear things up. One year in Middle-earth is equal to roughly 3-4 months in Hogwarts. Katherine was transported a little over 18 years ago to M-E, which means it's been 5 years since she disappeared from Hogwarts. Keep that in mind :)
Oh yeah, the Densaugeo curse makes one's teeth enlarge grotesquely. Draco used it on Hermione in fourth year.
Well, that's it. Sorry for this not being out sooner, but I was at camp. And no, I wasn't a counselor -- which means I'm not THAT old -- make from that what you will. *grins* Anyway, here it is, chapter three: Blind Faith. (Get the relation? Harry's blind, blind faith?....yes?)
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"Your eyes keep things well hidden
Just a hint of what you're holding inside
And the first day that I met you
I consider that the first day of my life."
-- Warrant, "Blind Faith"
_________________
"So, is that it?
Legolas sighed and glanced over at the blonde. "What?"
"That." Draco nodded towards the fist-sized crystal ball in Legolas's hands. "That's how you get from here to that other place? Doesn't look like it can take one person to an alternate dimension, let alone three." Legolas glanced sharply over at him, but he couldn't tell whether Draco was being sarcastic or if he was truly wondering. Then Draco gave him a tiny little smirk, and Legolas knew that he was being provoked.
For not the first time since he'd come back, Legolas wished for his bow and arrows. Or maybe just a knife. Of course, killing Draco with his bare hands would be satisfying enough. "Yes," he said, keeping his voice carefully neutral. It had been Harry who insisted that Draco come back with them. Legolas's first instinct had been to be jealous, but strangely enough, as far as he could tell there had been no reason to be. "This is it. And it is enough."
He looked over to see Harry, staring straight ahead and obviously trying to suppress a smile. The wind, chilly from coming off of the lake, was blowing his hair back away from his face and it gave Legolas an unobstructed view of his strangely beautiful milky-green eyes. Harry had opted not to wear his glasses, since he had no need to, but Legolas kept them back in Middle-earth just in case.
"Patience," Harry leaned over to whisper. "I had to put up with him like this for seven years. You can do it for a few months." When Draco obviously overheard, and shot Harry an angry glance, Harry laughed as if he'd seen the heated look himself. "I can feel you glaring at me, Draco, so don't give me that look." He grinned. " 'Five because I don't like you, Potter'?" he said, mimicking Draco, and then laughed again. Legolas blinked, confused, as Draco rolled his eyes. Legolas saw the edges of his mouth quirk up for a moment, though.
At least Harry had laughed again. If he had to drag Draco all over Middle-earth to make Harry smile, it was well worth it. Then he felt Draco's attention shift back to him, and the temperature around them seemed to drop. Legolas kept his eyes on Harry, who was staring blankly out over the lake, and pretended not to feel Draco's icy gaze on his face.
"Well," Draco said. "If we're done with the pleasantries, then would it be alright to leave?"
"I'm not waiting here for my health, Malfoy," Harry said pleasantly. "Hermione said she'd come to say goodbye to me."
"We're waiting here for Granger?" Draco's lip curled back in a bit of a snarl. "I'd rather hex myself than wait here for that insipid --"
"Excuse me?"
Harry grinned. "Hermione!"
Hermione stood behind them on the lawn, unnoticed until she spoke up. She would have looked relatively calm but for her heavy breathing and her fists clenched at her side. Draco turned smoothly, raising an eyebrow. "Was there something you wanted, Granger?"
"No," she said, a little too calmly. "Continue. I insist."
Draco shrugged, and turned back to Harry. "As I was saying, I would rather hex myself than wait here for that insipid little know-it-all Mudblood."
Hermione seemed to be breathing even heavier now, and Legolas noted that in one of her fists she clenched her wand. Sparks fairly flew from her eyes. "You cowardly -- you sniveling --" In her fury she couldn't seem to think of an insult, so she just raised her wand and pointed it at Draco's face. In retaliation, Draco coolly drew his own. For a moment, Legolas considered tripping Draco, or perhaps grabbing his wand. Then he saw that Hermione was opening her mouth to say a curse and he figured that getting in her way at this point would not be a wise decision.
"God -- will you two stop already?"
Harry's exasperated voice broke the tension, and with a last withering glance at Draco, Hermione dropped her wand to her side. Draco seemed a bit more hesitant, but dropped his with a scowl, but he obviously could not resist throwing in a last barb.
"I would use the Densaugeo curse on her again, but it seems as if someone has already beaten me to the punch. By about one million times."
A strange sort of growl came out of Hermione's throat, and Draco smirked in satisfaction.
"Oh, please," Harry mumbled under his breath, but it appeared that only Legolas heard him. However, Draco turned away from Hermione with a shrug, and Hermione only gave him a glare. The conflict avoided, Harry adopted his smile again, though Legolas noted it seemed a bit more pasted on this time.
"Have you brought someone with you, Hermione?"
Legolas whirled around to see a young girl standing a few feet away, with curly black hair and a gap between her teeth, looking a mixture of scared and excited. When she saw everyone looking at her, she flashed them all a tentative smile. Legolas glanced back at Harry, staring at him in no small amount of surprise. "How did you --"
Harry shrugged. "I heard her come up while Hermione was arguing with Draco," he said casually. "She wasn't there at first. I just didn't mention it til now." Still staring blankly out across the lake, and seeing none of it, Harry continued. "Why did you bring her, Hermione?"
Hermione, who was obviously still in a bit of shock from Harry's pronouncement, took a moment to reply. "She said -- she had something important to tell you. She wouldn't tell me, she insisted that it be told to you only. And she says that she has to go with you to Middle-earth." Hermione gave the girl a suspicious look.
"What?" Draco asked angrily, but Harry held up a hand to silence him.
"Let her talk, Draco." Harry didn't take his eyes from the lake, but it was obvious that his attention was shifted. "What did you want?"
The small girl fidgeted nervously. She took a deep breath, and when the words came out, they were colored with a very strong Irish accent and jumbled in her haste.
"When I was seven, my mother Katherine disappeared. Everyone said she died, but no one said how. I was younger, so I believed it. Then I came here, the Headmaster asked if he could talk to me, and he told me about this place that he thinks my mother went. He called it Middle-earth, or something like that. I asked how he knew that she went there, and he said that he was from there too, and that he'd got word that he was to go there. But then the -- I'm sorry, I can't remember the word he used for it, but I remember it was a little sphere thing -- never showed up. And then he heard about my mum disappearing. And I want to go with you so I can find her. Please."
This declaration was met with a stunned silence. Legolas was speechless. He remembered Katherine Thatcher -- a tall, slender woman about thirty years old, dark curly hair, serious hazel eyes. She'd never mentioned a daughter, but Legolas had remembered seeing a ring on her finger.
"You're her...daughter?" Harry choked out, barely. For the first time, he turned around and faced the girl. For a moment Legolas wondered how he'd known where she was, then he realized that Harry had recognized the direction of her voice. He suppressed a smile. Harry was learning.
The girl's eyes widened.
"You're -- are you --"
"Blind?" Harry asked, and offered a tiny smile. "It's a long story. I'd rather hear yours. What's your name?" There was a little bit of strain evident in his voice.
"Fiona Thatcher," the girl offered nervously, obviously avoiding looking at Harry's eyes. "So...can I go?"
Before Harry could answer, Draco took a step forward and trained his piercing gray stare on Fiona, who shrank back just a bit before looking at him. "How old are you, again?"
"Twelve," she answered, but with a bit more confidence.
"And why in the world do you think we should take a twelve-year-old girl, who should be studying here, to a very dangerous place? Do you think we'd have time to baby-sit you?"
"Draco," Harry warned. "Remember that you are being allowed to come, as well. And not for nearly as good of a reason as Fiona will be."
"Will be --?" Draco said in a strained, angry tone, before pressing his lips together. "Fine. I don't care." It was obvious from his clipped tone that he did not agree.
"Well," Hermione said lightly. "I suppose this is goodbye again." She gave Harry a soft smile, realized he couldn't see it, and sighed. She stepped up to him and gave him a gentle hug, which he returned hesitantly. "I'm sorry that Ron didn't come to see you off. I'll expect a visit soon." She stepped back. When Legolas gave her a surprised look, she smiled. "I don't like long farewells, anyway. Goodbye, you guys. And good luck."
She walked away.
Fiona turned to arrange her bags, Draco seemed to be absorbed in staring at the grass under his feet. Legolas took advantage of their distraction and gently grasped Harry's shoulders, turning Harry to face him. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly, lifting a hand and stroking Harry's cheek with his fingers. Harry smiled up at him, closing his eyes and turning his face into Legolas's hand. A strange lump rose in Legolas's throat.
"I'm feeling fine," he said just as softly. "A little nervous, maybe."
"You know that's not what I meant." His hand paused in its rhythmic caress.
Harry sighed. "I know. But believe it or not, Legolas, I'm almost getting used to being blind. I won't say it's not horrible, because it is, but it's getting easier to hear things, feel things instead of see them."
"That's not what Hermione told me yesterday," he said, and regretted it immediately. Harry stiffened.
"You two talked about me?" he said indignantly. Legolas ran a soothing thumb over Harry's soft lower lip, which parted just a bit.
"She told me that she had you walk all the way to the Slytherin dorm, and that you did not do so well. That's all, Harry, I promise." Harry relaxed a bit in his arms.
"It's just strange that sometimes I can't even tell whether my eyes are open or shut. And I hate not knowing where I am, or who is around me. But I'm learning how to deal with it, Legolas." He opened his eyes and lifted one hand to gently trance the contours of Legolas's face. "Although it's hard not to be able to see you," he said softly.
Legolas was about to reply when he was interrupted.
"Oh, for God's sake, Potter, can you two please stop before I get physically ill?"
Legolas glared over the top of Harry's head at the arrogant blonde who was smirking over at him, apparently pleased with his unerring ability to get under Legolas's skin. Legolas could think of no other person he'd ever met who had was as good at making an irritant of themselves as Draco.
Harry laughed quietly. "Don't let him annoy you," he said. "You're going to have to get used to him. I suppose he can be -- abrasive -- when you first get to know him, but once you two start to get to know each other, it'll get better. I swear."
"I do not want to get to know him," Legolas said calmly, then thought of something and smiled. "I cannot wait until Haldir meets him. He is not as patient as I am. I can imagine that he might want to skewer Draco as much as I."
"You're such a pacifist," Harry said teasingly, and leaned up to place a kiss on Legolas's lips. The gentle kiss sent a wave of warmth all the way down to Legolas's feet. "I knew there was a reason I loved you."
There was a not so subtle sigh from Draco's direction, and Harry pulled back reluctantly.
"I suppose we should get a move on, at that." Suddenly all business, Harry reached into his pocket and drew out a shining green orb. "Everyone get around it and touch part of it."
It was a strange feeling -- as the four of them clustered around the orb and touched it with a finger or two, the orb pulsed with a strange gentle coolness.
"Alright, everyone, close your eyes and try to just think of the words Middle-earth. Close your eyes!"
Legolas heard a startled cry that sounded faintly like Draco's, and with the sickly feeling that someone had put a hook in his stomach and dragged him backwards, the entire world blacked out.
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The first thing Harry heard when he came back to consciousness was a groan, and then a voice that sounded mildly in pain. "You know, next time I wanted my head to explode I would have gone and gotten myself nice and drunk."
He lay on his back, eyes closed, and tried to keep perfectly still. His head throbbed with every pulse of his heart, and it seemed as if a hammer was pounding against the back of his eyes. His memory seemed strangely fuzzy.
"I don't remember it happening quite that way last time, Draco, my apologies."
"Is Harry ever going to wake up?"
There was a hand shaking his shoulder rudely. "Go 'way," Harry mumbled, lifting a hand and swatting at the air in front of him.
A gentle hand caught his own and grasped it tightly. "Come on, Harry," Legolas said softly in his ear. "We have to get moving."
With a moan, rubbing his temples, Harry sat up and opened his eyes, was greeted with a sullen blackness, and promptly fell into a panic. "Why can't I see?" he cried, grabbing onto the hand that was on his shoulder in fear.
"Because you're blind, idiot," Draco said dryly.
The memories all came back in a sudden rush, leaving Harry feeling slightly foolish. He offered a sheepish grin in the direction he'd heard Draco's voice from, and was rewarded with a slight chuckle.
The wind was cool on his face, and there was soft grass underneath his fingers. He listened and, in the distance, heard the neighing of horses. "Are we near a city?"
"Yes," Legolas said. Harry detected the slightest bit of surprise in the normally calm voice. "We have appeared in front of Minas Tirith, and it appears we have been noticed. I believe our escort is arriving even now."
Harry heard the pounding of hooves even as Legolas spoke. A coil of nervousness writhed in his stomach. Whoever it was, and it was likely he'd met them, they would know that he hadn't been able to cure his blindness. He hoped it wasn't Gandalf --
As soon as the thought of Gandalf entered his mind, invisible light exploded into being before his eyes, and the entire landscape of Gondor flashed before him, but it was different -- he saw as if he had a pair of green-tinted glasses on. Then the sight was gone and red-hot pain lanced through his entire body, sending him to his knees and leaving him trembling. A voice cut through the haze surrounding him.
"Harry?" Fiona sounded scared and nervous.
"Are you hurt? Are you all right?"
Harry could barely get his mind in order enough to answer, but finally he was able to think enough to stutter out a tentative answer. "No -- I saw -- I could see..." He rubbed his eyes with shaking hands, trying to regain the brief vision that he had been graced with. It didn't return.
"What do you mean?" Legolas asked, and Harry was glad for the calmness in his tone. It helped clear his head.
"Nothing," Harry said, trying to convince himself as much as Legolas and the others. "I just haven't had enough sleep lately, is all. I swear."
"If you say so," Legolas said, sounding doubtful. A warm hand enfolded Harry's own.
"Well," Fiona asked, "who are those people, exactly?"
"The two blonde elves are Haldir and his brother, Rumil. The dark-haired elf is Arwen, and Aragorn rides beside her."
"Legolas, did any of them --" Fiona stopped, cleared her throat, and tried again. For the first time, her voice was not tentative, but instead was sharp and loud. "Did any of them know my mother?"
"That is not for me to say," Legolas said, and would not answer any more of her questions. There was an awkward silence, punctuated only by the pounding of hooves growing gradually louder. Finally, Harry heard them slow and then stop. From somewhere to his left, Draco sighed.
"Lovely. More elves. Exactly what I need," Draco muttered under his breath. But his voice sounded...odd.
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Legolas gave Draco a sharp glance at those words, which were said very strangely -- Draco's voice was sounding a bit strangled. Then he followed Draco's gaze to the horses -- one horse and rider, in particular. He had to suppress a smile. Perhaps an elf really was what the blonde needed.
Then a thought nagged in the back of his mind, that something wasn't quite right -- but before he could say a word, Aragorn was dismounting and walking up to Legolas and the others with a warm smile, Arwen on his arm. Haldir and Rumil were not far behind.
"Legolas," Aragorn said, ignoring Legolas's outstretched hand in favor of a gentle hug. Arwen's eyes sparkled at him in amusement from over Aragorn's shoulder. As Aragorn pulled back, Legolas noticed Haldir giving Harry a warm greeting as well, although there was a worried look in his eyes.
Legolas grasped Aragorn's shoulder and returned his smile. "It is truly good to see you again, my friend," he said softly, and gave a nod to Arwen as well, which she returned graciously. He saw Aragorn glance over at Harry.
"Did you find a way to cure him?" Aragorn said quietly.
"No," Legolas said. "Even the greatest wizard of his world could not cure his blindness. He grows -- stranger every day. I cannot explain it, but something about him changes. And I do not like it."
"Who are the other two?"
Legolas cast a glance over at Draco, only to see him staring at Haldir a bit like a poleaxed cow. "The both of them are wizards as well --" Aragorn cut him off suddenly.
"Wizards!" he said, glaring at Legolas. "Have you lost your sense? Do you remember the last time a wizard came here?"
Legolas smiled. "Peace, Aragorn. I have spoken with Gandalf. He says that his brothers and sisters in Valinor have resolved this problem, and that the stomach pains and indwellings will not happen again. They will be fine." He gave Harry another look. He seemed well enough, talking easily to Rumil. Draco was still staring at Haldir, though perhaps not as obviously, but Haldir was talking to him as if nothing was the matter. Legolas smiled. Haldir was one of the most deadly warriors he'd ever met, but he could be painfully oblivious at times.
Aragorn noticed where he was looking. "Who are they?" he asked again. "Why have they come? They are, of course, welcome."
"The boy is a friend of Harry's. I cannot figure out why he insisted on coming, but I suspect that he has heard about -- about what happened in Mordor." It was still not easy to speak about that. Even trying to say what had happened made his throat close up with guilt. Aragorn seemed to understand and nodded for him to go on. "He doesn't seem to want me to be alone with Harry. The girl...she is Katherine's daughter."
Aragorn had the control not to gasp, but his eyes widened. "Katherine's daughter?" he repeated slowly, voice incredulous. "But why is she here? Surely you could not have heard already --" He broke off, shaking his head.
"Heard what?" Legolas asked curiously. "Does it have something to do with why Gandalf is not here?"
Aragorn smiled wryly. "I should have known that you would see straight through that, my friend," he said. "But let us not get into these matters right away. Come with me to Minas Tirith. There I have something that all of you should see."
It was perhaps no surprise that Draco rode to Minas Tirith on Haldir's horse, his arms wrapped around the elf's waist tightly.
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A/N: Woohoo! I can't express how fun it is to write Draco's character. And okay, okay, from the amount of feedback I got, I can tell you guys safely that the story will NOT be Draco/Hermione. Definately. I thought some of you guys were ready to virtually skewer me. But anyways, I really hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I'm enjoying writing it. And the next chapter -- expect ENORMOUS plot twists! Hooray!
Chapter Three: Blind Faith
by Capella
A/N: Here 'tis, my lovelies. *grins* And I thought that you guys should get a bit of reassurance -- as much as I love D/H, there will be slim to none of it in here. Lots of jealousy from Draco's end, at first, but after that it's friendship. I promise. I just love L/H too much. I also love making Draco a evil little snot. But he's MY evil little snot.
Anyway, on a small side note, am I an idiot for not noticing that Erised (as in the Mirror or Erised) spelled backwards is desire? ....I can hear your resounding "yes's" from here, you know. *feels rather stupid*
IMPORTANT! Just to clear things up. One year in Middle-earth is equal to roughly 3-4 months in Hogwarts. Katherine was transported a little over 18 years ago to M-E, which means it's been 5 years since she disappeared from Hogwarts. Keep that in mind :)
Oh yeah, the Densaugeo curse makes one's teeth enlarge grotesquely. Draco used it on Hermione in fourth year.
Well, that's it. Sorry for this not being out sooner, but I was at camp. And no, I wasn't a counselor -- which means I'm not THAT old -- make from that what you will. *grins* Anyway, here it is, chapter three: Blind Faith. (Get the relation? Harry's blind, blind faith?....yes?)
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"Your eyes keep things well hidden
Just a hint of what you're holding inside
And the first day that I met you
I consider that the first day of my life."
-- Warrant, "Blind Faith"
_________________
"So, is that it?
Legolas sighed and glanced over at the blonde. "What?"
"That." Draco nodded towards the fist-sized crystal ball in Legolas's hands. "That's how you get from here to that other place? Doesn't look like it can take one person to an alternate dimension, let alone three." Legolas glanced sharply over at him, but he couldn't tell whether Draco was being sarcastic or if he was truly wondering. Then Draco gave him a tiny little smirk, and Legolas knew that he was being provoked.
For not the first time since he'd come back, Legolas wished for his bow and arrows. Or maybe just a knife. Of course, killing Draco with his bare hands would be satisfying enough. "Yes," he said, keeping his voice carefully neutral. It had been Harry who insisted that Draco come back with them. Legolas's first instinct had been to be jealous, but strangely enough, as far as he could tell there had been no reason to be. "This is it. And it is enough."
He looked over to see Harry, staring straight ahead and obviously trying to suppress a smile. The wind, chilly from coming off of the lake, was blowing his hair back away from his face and it gave Legolas an unobstructed view of his strangely beautiful milky-green eyes. Harry had opted not to wear his glasses, since he had no need to, but Legolas kept them back in Middle-earth just in case.
"Patience," Harry leaned over to whisper. "I had to put up with him like this for seven years. You can do it for a few months." When Draco obviously overheard, and shot Harry an angry glance, Harry laughed as if he'd seen the heated look himself. "I can feel you glaring at me, Draco, so don't give me that look." He grinned. " 'Five because I don't like you, Potter'?" he said, mimicking Draco, and then laughed again. Legolas blinked, confused, as Draco rolled his eyes. Legolas saw the edges of his mouth quirk up for a moment, though.
At least Harry had laughed again. If he had to drag Draco all over Middle-earth to make Harry smile, it was well worth it. Then he felt Draco's attention shift back to him, and the temperature around them seemed to drop. Legolas kept his eyes on Harry, who was staring blankly out over the lake, and pretended not to feel Draco's icy gaze on his face.
"Well," Draco said. "If we're done with the pleasantries, then would it be alright to leave?"
"I'm not waiting here for my health, Malfoy," Harry said pleasantly. "Hermione said she'd come to say goodbye to me."
"We're waiting here for Granger?" Draco's lip curled back in a bit of a snarl. "I'd rather hex myself than wait here for that insipid --"
"Excuse me?"
Harry grinned. "Hermione!"
Hermione stood behind them on the lawn, unnoticed until she spoke up. She would have looked relatively calm but for her heavy breathing and her fists clenched at her side. Draco turned smoothly, raising an eyebrow. "Was there something you wanted, Granger?"
"No," she said, a little too calmly. "Continue. I insist."
Draco shrugged, and turned back to Harry. "As I was saying, I would rather hex myself than wait here for that insipid little know-it-all Mudblood."
Hermione seemed to be breathing even heavier now, and Legolas noted that in one of her fists she clenched her wand. Sparks fairly flew from her eyes. "You cowardly -- you sniveling --" In her fury she couldn't seem to think of an insult, so she just raised her wand and pointed it at Draco's face. In retaliation, Draco coolly drew his own. For a moment, Legolas considered tripping Draco, or perhaps grabbing his wand. Then he saw that Hermione was opening her mouth to say a curse and he figured that getting in her way at this point would not be a wise decision.
"God -- will you two stop already?"
Harry's exasperated voice broke the tension, and with a last withering glance at Draco, Hermione dropped her wand to her side. Draco seemed a bit more hesitant, but dropped his with a scowl, but he obviously could not resist throwing in a last barb.
"I would use the Densaugeo curse on her again, but it seems as if someone has already beaten me to the punch. By about one million times."
A strange sort of growl came out of Hermione's throat, and Draco smirked in satisfaction.
"Oh, please," Harry mumbled under his breath, but it appeared that only Legolas heard him. However, Draco turned away from Hermione with a shrug, and Hermione only gave him a glare. The conflict avoided, Harry adopted his smile again, though Legolas noted it seemed a bit more pasted on this time.
"Have you brought someone with you, Hermione?"
Legolas whirled around to see a young girl standing a few feet away, with curly black hair and a gap between her teeth, looking a mixture of scared and excited. When she saw everyone looking at her, she flashed them all a tentative smile. Legolas glanced back at Harry, staring at him in no small amount of surprise. "How did you --"
Harry shrugged. "I heard her come up while Hermione was arguing with Draco," he said casually. "She wasn't there at first. I just didn't mention it til now." Still staring blankly out across the lake, and seeing none of it, Harry continued. "Why did you bring her, Hermione?"
Hermione, who was obviously still in a bit of shock from Harry's pronouncement, took a moment to reply. "She said -- she had something important to tell you. She wouldn't tell me, she insisted that it be told to you only. And she says that she has to go with you to Middle-earth." Hermione gave the girl a suspicious look.
"What?" Draco asked angrily, but Harry held up a hand to silence him.
"Let her talk, Draco." Harry didn't take his eyes from the lake, but it was obvious that his attention was shifted. "What did you want?"
The small girl fidgeted nervously. She took a deep breath, and when the words came out, they were colored with a very strong Irish accent and jumbled in her haste.
"When I was seven, my mother Katherine disappeared. Everyone said she died, but no one said how. I was younger, so I believed it. Then I came here, the Headmaster asked if he could talk to me, and he told me about this place that he thinks my mother went. He called it Middle-earth, or something like that. I asked how he knew that she went there, and he said that he was from there too, and that he'd got word that he was to go there. But then the -- I'm sorry, I can't remember the word he used for it, but I remember it was a little sphere thing -- never showed up. And then he heard about my mum disappearing. And I want to go with you so I can find her. Please."
This declaration was met with a stunned silence. Legolas was speechless. He remembered Katherine Thatcher -- a tall, slender woman about thirty years old, dark curly hair, serious hazel eyes. She'd never mentioned a daughter, but Legolas had remembered seeing a ring on her finger.
"You're her...daughter?" Harry choked out, barely. For the first time, he turned around and faced the girl. For a moment Legolas wondered how he'd known where she was, then he realized that Harry had recognized the direction of her voice. He suppressed a smile. Harry was learning.
The girl's eyes widened.
"You're -- are you --"
"Blind?" Harry asked, and offered a tiny smile. "It's a long story. I'd rather hear yours. What's your name?" There was a little bit of strain evident in his voice.
"Fiona Thatcher," the girl offered nervously, obviously avoiding looking at Harry's eyes. "So...can I go?"
Before Harry could answer, Draco took a step forward and trained his piercing gray stare on Fiona, who shrank back just a bit before looking at him. "How old are you, again?"
"Twelve," she answered, but with a bit more confidence.
"And why in the world do you think we should take a twelve-year-old girl, who should be studying here, to a very dangerous place? Do you think we'd have time to baby-sit you?"
"Draco," Harry warned. "Remember that you are being allowed to come, as well. And not for nearly as good of a reason as Fiona will be."
"Will be --?" Draco said in a strained, angry tone, before pressing his lips together. "Fine. I don't care." It was obvious from his clipped tone that he did not agree.
"Well," Hermione said lightly. "I suppose this is goodbye again." She gave Harry a soft smile, realized he couldn't see it, and sighed. She stepped up to him and gave him a gentle hug, which he returned hesitantly. "I'm sorry that Ron didn't come to see you off. I'll expect a visit soon." She stepped back. When Legolas gave her a surprised look, she smiled. "I don't like long farewells, anyway. Goodbye, you guys. And good luck."
She walked away.
Fiona turned to arrange her bags, Draco seemed to be absorbed in staring at the grass under his feet. Legolas took advantage of their distraction and gently grasped Harry's shoulders, turning Harry to face him. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly, lifting a hand and stroking Harry's cheek with his fingers. Harry smiled up at him, closing his eyes and turning his face into Legolas's hand. A strange lump rose in Legolas's throat.
"I'm feeling fine," he said just as softly. "A little nervous, maybe."
"You know that's not what I meant." His hand paused in its rhythmic caress.
Harry sighed. "I know. But believe it or not, Legolas, I'm almost getting used to being blind. I won't say it's not horrible, because it is, but it's getting easier to hear things, feel things instead of see them."
"That's not what Hermione told me yesterday," he said, and regretted it immediately. Harry stiffened.
"You two talked about me?" he said indignantly. Legolas ran a soothing thumb over Harry's soft lower lip, which parted just a bit.
"She told me that she had you walk all the way to the Slytherin dorm, and that you did not do so well. That's all, Harry, I promise." Harry relaxed a bit in his arms.
"It's just strange that sometimes I can't even tell whether my eyes are open or shut. And I hate not knowing where I am, or who is around me. But I'm learning how to deal with it, Legolas." He opened his eyes and lifted one hand to gently trance the contours of Legolas's face. "Although it's hard not to be able to see you," he said softly.
Legolas was about to reply when he was interrupted.
"Oh, for God's sake, Potter, can you two please stop before I get physically ill?"
Legolas glared over the top of Harry's head at the arrogant blonde who was smirking over at him, apparently pleased with his unerring ability to get under Legolas's skin. Legolas could think of no other person he'd ever met who had was as good at making an irritant of themselves as Draco.
Harry laughed quietly. "Don't let him annoy you," he said. "You're going to have to get used to him. I suppose he can be -- abrasive -- when you first get to know him, but once you two start to get to know each other, it'll get better. I swear."
"I do not want to get to know him," Legolas said calmly, then thought of something and smiled. "I cannot wait until Haldir meets him. He is not as patient as I am. I can imagine that he might want to skewer Draco as much as I."
"You're such a pacifist," Harry said teasingly, and leaned up to place a kiss on Legolas's lips. The gentle kiss sent a wave of warmth all the way down to Legolas's feet. "I knew there was a reason I loved you."
There was a not so subtle sigh from Draco's direction, and Harry pulled back reluctantly.
"I suppose we should get a move on, at that." Suddenly all business, Harry reached into his pocket and drew out a shining green orb. "Everyone get around it and touch part of it."
It was a strange feeling -- as the four of them clustered around the orb and touched it with a finger or two, the orb pulsed with a strange gentle coolness.
"Alright, everyone, close your eyes and try to just think of the words Middle-earth. Close your eyes!"
Legolas heard a startled cry that sounded faintly like Draco's, and with the sickly feeling that someone had put a hook in his stomach and dragged him backwards, the entire world blacked out.
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The first thing Harry heard when he came back to consciousness was a groan, and then a voice that sounded mildly in pain. "You know, next time I wanted my head to explode I would have gone and gotten myself nice and drunk."
He lay on his back, eyes closed, and tried to keep perfectly still. His head throbbed with every pulse of his heart, and it seemed as if a hammer was pounding against the back of his eyes. His memory seemed strangely fuzzy.
"I don't remember it happening quite that way last time, Draco, my apologies."
"Is Harry ever going to wake up?"
There was a hand shaking his shoulder rudely. "Go 'way," Harry mumbled, lifting a hand and swatting at the air in front of him.
A gentle hand caught his own and grasped it tightly. "Come on, Harry," Legolas said softly in his ear. "We have to get moving."
With a moan, rubbing his temples, Harry sat up and opened his eyes, was greeted with a sullen blackness, and promptly fell into a panic. "Why can't I see?" he cried, grabbing onto the hand that was on his shoulder in fear.
"Because you're blind, idiot," Draco said dryly.
The memories all came back in a sudden rush, leaving Harry feeling slightly foolish. He offered a sheepish grin in the direction he'd heard Draco's voice from, and was rewarded with a slight chuckle.
The wind was cool on his face, and there was soft grass underneath his fingers. He listened and, in the distance, heard the neighing of horses. "Are we near a city?"
"Yes," Legolas said. Harry detected the slightest bit of surprise in the normally calm voice. "We have appeared in front of Minas Tirith, and it appears we have been noticed. I believe our escort is arriving even now."
Harry heard the pounding of hooves even as Legolas spoke. A coil of nervousness writhed in his stomach. Whoever it was, and it was likely he'd met them, they would know that he hadn't been able to cure his blindness. He hoped it wasn't Gandalf --
As soon as the thought of Gandalf entered his mind, invisible light exploded into being before his eyes, and the entire landscape of Gondor flashed before him, but it was different -- he saw as if he had a pair of green-tinted glasses on. Then the sight was gone and red-hot pain lanced through his entire body, sending him to his knees and leaving him trembling. A voice cut through the haze surrounding him.
"Harry?" Fiona sounded scared and nervous.
"Are you hurt? Are you all right?"
Harry could barely get his mind in order enough to answer, but finally he was able to think enough to stutter out a tentative answer. "No -- I saw -- I could see..." He rubbed his eyes with shaking hands, trying to regain the brief vision that he had been graced with. It didn't return.
"What do you mean?" Legolas asked, and Harry was glad for the calmness in his tone. It helped clear his head.
"Nothing," Harry said, trying to convince himself as much as Legolas and the others. "I just haven't had enough sleep lately, is all. I swear."
"If you say so," Legolas said, sounding doubtful. A warm hand enfolded Harry's own.
"Well," Fiona asked, "who are those people, exactly?"
"The two blonde elves are Haldir and his brother, Rumil. The dark-haired elf is Arwen, and Aragorn rides beside her."
"Legolas, did any of them --" Fiona stopped, cleared her throat, and tried again. For the first time, her voice was not tentative, but instead was sharp and loud. "Did any of them know my mother?"
"That is not for me to say," Legolas said, and would not answer any more of her questions. There was an awkward silence, punctuated only by the pounding of hooves growing gradually louder. Finally, Harry heard them slow and then stop. From somewhere to his left, Draco sighed.
"Lovely. More elves. Exactly what I need," Draco muttered under his breath. But his voice sounded...odd.
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Legolas gave Draco a sharp glance at those words, which were said very strangely -- Draco's voice was sounding a bit strangled. Then he followed Draco's gaze to the horses -- one horse and rider, in particular. He had to suppress a smile. Perhaps an elf really was what the blonde needed.
Then a thought nagged in the back of his mind, that something wasn't quite right -- but before he could say a word, Aragorn was dismounting and walking up to Legolas and the others with a warm smile, Arwen on his arm. Haldir and Rumil were not far behind.
"Legolas," Aragorn said, ignoring Legolas's outstretched hand in favor of a gentle hug. Arwen's eyes sparkled at him in amusement from over Aragorn's shoulder. As Aragorn pulled back, Legolas noticed Haldir giving Harry a warm greeting as well, although there was a worried look in his eyes.
Legolas grasped Aragorn's shoulder and returned his smile. "It is truly good to see you again, my friend," he said softly, and gave a nod to Arwen as well, which she returned graciously. He saw Aragorn glance over at Harry.
"Did you find a way to cure him?" Aragorn said quietly.
"No," Legolas said. "Even the greatest wizard of his world could not cure his blindness. He grows -- stranger every day. I cannot explain it, but something about him changes. And I do not like it."
"Who are the other two?"
Legolas cast a glance over at Draco, only to see him staring at Haldir a bit like a poleaxed cow. "The both of them are wizards as well --" Aragorn cut him off suddenly.
"Wizards!" he said, glaring at Legolas. "Have you lost your sense? Do you remember the last time a wizard came here?"
Legolas smiled. "Peace, Aragorn. I have spoken with Gandalf. He says that his brothers and sisters in Valinor have resolved this problem, and that the stomach pains and indwellings will not happen again. They will be fine." He gave Harry another look. He seemed well enough, talking easily to Rumil. Draco was still staring at Haldir, though perhaps not as obviously, but Haldir was talking to him as if nothing was the matter. Legolas smiled. Haldir was one of the most deadly warriors he'd ever met, but he could be painfully oblivious at times.
Aragorn noticed where he was looking. "Who are they?" he asked again. "Why have they come? They are, of course, welcome."
"The boy is a friend of Harry's. I cannot figure out why he insisted on coming, but I suspect that he has heard about -- about what happened in Mordor." It was still not easy to speak about that. Even trying to say what had happened made his throat close up with guilt. Aragorn seemed to understand and nodded for him to go on. "He doesn't seem to want me to be alone with Harry. The girl...she is Katherine's daughter."
Aragorn had the control not to gasp, but his eyes widened. "Katherine's daughter?" he repeated slowly, voice incredulous. "But why is she here? Surely you could not have heard already --" He broke off, shaking his head.
"Heard what?" Legolas asked curiously. "Does it have something to do with why Gandalf is not here?"
Aragorn smiled wryly. "I should have known that you would see straight through that, my friend," he said. "But let us not get into these matters right away. Come with me to Minas Tirith. There I have something that all of you should see."
It was perhaps no surprise that Draco rode to Minas Tirith on Haldir's horse, his arms wrapped around the elf's waist tightly.
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A/N: Woohoo! I can't express how fun it is to write Draco's character. And okay, okay, from the amount of feedback I got, I can tell you guys safely that the story will NOT be Draco/Hermione. Definately. I thought some of you guys were ready to virtually skewer me. But anyways, I really hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I'm enjoying writing it. And the next chapter -- expect ENORMOUS plot twists! Hooray!