Scars of the Future
Disclaimer: The characters, both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, were created by J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien.
A/N: This fic was not created by myself alone. It was done in script format over Instant Messenger by myself and Animagus-Spirit. This fic and most of the events in it are her brilliant ideas, I have just taken the task to write it. Therefore, this fic is dedicated to her. You're the greatest!
To my reviewers...
UK All The Way- I think I know exactly what happened. Before I posted the actual Chapter 8, I had an Authors Note posted as that chapter. (turns out that's illegal on this site…oops). When I posted the actual chapter of the story, I deleted the A/N, thus making chapter 8 remain but have a different text. Does that make sense? Anyway, thanks for the review you wanted to leave but weren't able to! I love hobbit angst…it's so much fun, especially Frodo. Hope you don't mind about that, because there's more to come…anyway, more to come!
LATMC- I really look forward to your reviews, thank you so much for all of your kind words! Yes, Harry has made a wrong decision, and even though it's really stupid of him, some of us would do the same thing if we were him. Animagus and myself love…loved, Sirius, he is…was one of our favorite characters, and we were totally mad when he died! (I honestly don't think he's really dead though, hopefully HBP will give us more insight to that…) But I would never EVER turn him into a HP version of Anakin Skywalker…Maybe that supplies you with clues of what's to come…maybe not. The place Harry is located was made up completely by myself and Animagus, so don't worry if you have no idea where it is! Anyway, this chapter should answer some of your questions…but not all of them. Mwahaha! Thanks again for the review, keep them coming!
Brownie/Melody- So awesome that you're enjoying it! Here's more!
Chapter 10: The Search
A knocking on his door awoke Ron. He stretched and yawned, then trudged over to his bedroom door and opened it. Hermione and Ginny pushed inside and shut the door behind them. They were still dressed in their clothes from the day before, eyes red with dark circles under them. Obviously, they hadn't slept.
Hermione studied him and glared. "You slept?" she said in disbelief.
Ron's ears turned pink. "Er, no…well, not purposefully at least," he said sheepishly.
Hermione sighed, then looked to Ginny, who shook her head.
"What, you think I could've gone to sleep if I'd tried?" Ron said defensively.
"No," Ginny said. "None of us could have. It'll be the same tonight, too."
"Of course it will," Hermione said. "Because tonight we're going after him."
"We're wha-" Ron began, but then nodded. "You're right, Hermione."
"We wanted to go last night," said Ginny. "But almost everyone else was up."
"Tonight then," said Ron, and Hermione and Ginny nodded.
!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!
Not much was spoken at breakfast. Everyone was either too tired or too lost in their own thoughts to speak. Except for the clinking of forks and the occasional mutter of, "Pass the pepper," there wasn't much sound.
There had been no owl from Dumbledore yet. Arthur Weasly wrote to say he would be returning home very shortly.
For Hermione, Ron, and Ginny, the seconds ticked by slowly. They sat in Ron's room along with Fred and George, attempting to play exploding snap but not enjoying it. Once, Ron opened his mouth to say something of their plans to the twins, but Hermione sensed what he was about to do and shook her head. It would be best to leave them out, she decided. The less people, the less chance of being caught…by friend or foe.
Outside, the sun struggled to shine through the clouds. It was quiet on the streets. A dog barked. A bird chirped. The day was dark, and the spirits of those inside Number Twelve were at an all-time low.
Arthur arrived just after lunch to halfhearted hellos. He tried to lift their spirits, although his attempts were without much enthusiasm on his own part.
Frodo woke again not long after that. Pippin, Sam, and Merry were seated near to him, talking quietly about home. They were, of course, delighted about his consciousness, and persuaded him to eat a little. Still too feeble to speak much, he merely contented himself with listening to the lull of their voices. It was not long until he was again sleeping soundly.
Every now and then Aragorn, Gimli, or Legolas would step in, though they would leave a moment later. Where they went and what they were doing exactly, the hobbits did not know. However, they knew it had to do with the disappearance of Harry.
Dinnertime. Again, the household ate in silence, speaking only when needed and in subdued voices. Frodo's dreams began to grow dark.
Nine o'clock. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny one at a time began to excuse themselves to retire early. They pretended to sleep when Mrs. Weasly came to check on them, then she, too, went to bed.
Ten o'clock. The clunk of Moody's leg could be heard moving up the stairs. Afterwards, the house was completely silent. Eleven. Ron tapped quietly on the bedroom door and let himself in, looking slightly pale. Frodo began to mutter and stir in his sleep. Sam placed a damp cloth on his sweaty brow and attempted to wake him, but Frodo would not be pulled from his dreams.
Midnight. Hermione began to pace, thinking of anything she'd forgotten that could possibly assist or hinder them in their cause. Frodo's eyes flew open.
"Sam."
The sandy-haired hobbit took his master's hand. "Mr. Frodo? Are you alright, sir?"
"Sam…where is Gandalf?"
His eyes were wide and fearful. They darted around the room as if searching for something.
"He- he's not here, Mr. Frodo," Sam said in concern and confusion. "He left yesterday mornin' to talk to-"
"Albus…Dumbledore…I know, Sam…of course…" Frodo panted. Clearly, the effort to speak and the distress of his mind were further tiring him in his already weakened state.
"Is there anythin' I can get you, sir?"
"Sam…please, I saw…"
"Saw what, Mr. Frodo?"
"Saw…Harry, please Sam…I know…where he is…"
Sam's eyes widened, but he had other priorities first. He slid an arm behind Frodo and helped him to sit up, then pressed a glass of water to his lips. "There now, Mr. Frodo, drink this first," he said.
Frodo drank thirstily, and his eyelids soon began to droop. He forced them open. "Sam, please…fetch Aragorn then…he'll know what…to do."
"Alright, sir, right away." After propping Frodo up on some pillows, he quickly left the room and moved softly down the corridor. It was dark, and he couldn't see well at all, but he judged he was heading in the right direction.
Thud.
"Ouch, Ron!" a voice hissed.
"That wasn't me!"
"Lumos!" A small beam of light illuminated the hobbit, now seated on the floor and looking rather confused.
"Sam?"
"Sorry, miss, couldn't see where I was goin'," he said, standing up.
"What are you doing up?" asked Hermione.
"I was about to fetch Mr. Strider. Beggin' your pardon, but I might ask you the same thing."
"We were just…" started Ginny.
"Taking a midnight stroll," finished Ron. Hermione and Ginny stared at him. He shrugged.
Sam squinted at them. "I think I know, beggin' your pardon again, but I can relate."
"What?" asked Ron.
"If you're lookin' for Harry, I think Mr. Frodo knows something that might be of help," Sam said.
Ginny, Hermione, and Ron glanced at each other. Hermione checked her watch. "Alright," she said. "Anything's better than nothing I suppose."
They followed Sam back to the room he shared with Frodo, and found the frail hobbit remarkably, still awake. "Sam," he whispered. "Where is…Aragorn?"
"I'm sorry, sir, I ran into these three first and, well-"
"You know something about Harry?" Ron blurted.
Frodo studied him for a moment, as if judging his character, then nodded. "You mean to…find him?" he questioned. Ron nodded.
"I know…where he is, but I…cannot tell you…only…show you," the hobbit explained.
"Then how can we expect to find him!" Ron exclaimed.
"Ron! Shh!" hissed Hermione, pointing to the closed door. For a moment they all stood still, listening for sounds that would indicate whether others were awake.
"I'll…show you, somehow," rasped Frodo. "Carry me, if you must."
"Mr. Frodo-"
"Wait!" Hermione gasped. "Snape! He has potions stored in his room, he's bound to have a strengthening potion!"
"Then why didn't he give Frodo one before?" Ginny wondered aloud.
"Because he's Snape," Ron said simply.
"I'll get it," said Ginny. "Snape's gone on Order business anyway." Hermione shook her head.
"No, I will, I'll find it faster, no offense, Ginny," she said, and stole from the room before anyone could argue.
She returned a few minutes later carrying a small glass bottle. "Here it is!"
Frodo stared at in with doubt. "Are you sure?"
"Don't worry mate, she knows what she's doing," said Ron as Hermione nodded.
"Just one swallow will do," she said.
Frodo took the bottle and lifted it painstakingly to his lips. Though small, it felt heavy to him. He took a small drink and nearly spit it out, for the taste was repulsive, and swallowed reluctantly.
"It may take a moment…" Hermione said, again checking her watch.
A moment was all it took until Frodo began to feel strength returning to his body. Almost immediately he found he could breathe more easily, and he was able to sit up without the support of several pillows. He stood up slowly, and was able to keep his feet.
"That's better," he said. "Thank you."
"Glad we could help you, but we really have to leave now," said Hermione.
Frodo nodded. "If you would give me but a few moments…"
"You do know this is dangerous, right?" stated Ron.
Frodo, taking a clean shirt from Sam and putting it on over the coat of Mithril he had just donned, laughed quietly. "I know danger when I see it, Ron. I have to go with you though, you don't know where you're going…Sam, would you fetch me Sting, please?"
"It might be a problem getting out of the house," said Ginny. "I know there's some spell on the door."
"A window, then?" suggested Frodo.
Ginny considered. "That might work."
Ron walked to Frodo's window, undid the latch and slowly pushed it open. Nothing happened.
"I guess they didn't expect us to sneak out through here," he said.
"They probably assumed we wouldn't allow you to," Frodo pointed out.
Sam returned with Sting, which had been placed on the window seat since Frodo's return from Privet Drive.
"Mr. Frodo, please, sir, I don't think you should…you've been through enough already!"
Frodo turned to him and took the sword. "I have to do this, Sam. This is, more or less, what Gandalf brought me here for, is it not?"
Sam opened his mouth to argue, then decided against it. "I'm coming with you, then."
Frodo nodded. Sam quickly hurried to his own bed, from under which he pulled his own sword--the same one he had carried throughout the Quest. He paused a moment, wondering what else he should bring and made towards his pack.
"Sam," Frodo said, smiling. "We aren't going far, my friend."
Sam flushed slightly, then followed his master and the others to the open window. Frodo swayed, and Sam caught his arm to steady him. "I'm afraid I'm still a bit tired, Sam, but I'll be all right," he said to reassure his friend. The hobbits grabbed their cloaks that had been thrown carelessly over the backs of chairs.
Ron leaned out of the window and looked down. "Not a bad drop," he said. "Five or six feet, I'd say. Think if we were upstairs…" He climbed through the window and dropped down easily, followed shortly by Ginny and Hermione. It was a bit more difficult for Frodo and Sam, but they made it without too much trouble. The five of them proceeded in the darkness to the street, not daring to light their wands and relying merely on the light of distantly spaced street lamps.
"Where now, Frodo?" whispered Ginny.
The hobbit began walking in the direction that Harry and Sirius had gone the previous day. The others followed closely behind him. He reached the corner, paused a moment, and led them still straight. They continued in that direction for awhile, then, skirting around street lamps and attempting to hurry from shadow to shadow, they changed directions. They walked for another half hour, and then reached their destination.
A large cast-iron gate loomed above them. Beyond it, headstones marked hundreds of tombs.
Ron gulped. "This is it then?" he said somewhat apprehensively.
Frodo placed his hand on the gate and nodded. "Yes, within and below."
"It is underground then," whispered Hermione. "I thought it would be."
"Alohomora!" said Ginny, and the lock on the gate sprang open. She pushed it open and stepped into the cemetery. "Come on," she said. "We're wasting time."
Ron nodded and followed his sister. Behind him came Frodo, Sam, and Hermione. They crept quietly around the headstones, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny holding their wands at the ready. Beside his master, Sam gripped his sword. Ron suddenly stopped.
"If this place is underground," he said, "how are we supposed to get down there?"
"Follow me," said Frodo, and stepped once more to the front of the group. He led them deep into the graveyard, knowing exactly where he was going, yet at the same time unsure of his destination. They followed him trustfully, knowing he was their only chance of finding Harry.
The cemetery seemed endless, and they walked for what felt like-but surely couldn't be-hours. The further they walked, the older the headstones seemed to become. Many were cracked and broken, the engravings on them weathered away. Many looked as if they hadn't been visited in years; weeds grew up around them and lichens had begun to form within their cracks. It was here that Frodo at last stopped.
The gravestone rose up above them, an angel with only one wing. Any lettering that it had borne had disappeared. Vines had crawled over the stone, causing the gray angel to look like a prisoner of some cruel enemy. One side of it's face was smashed, leaving a hollow empty of all except a lone spider on its web.
"We have arrived," said Frodo, his voice sounding entirely different than he thought it should. It was a sound from the back of his throat, low and dry. He turned to the others, and when he looked at them a shadow seemed to pass over him, and his eyes darkened and he seemed to be taken by an unknown force of some greater evil. He turned back around, laid his hand on the stone, and said, "Open."
The earth shuddered, and a great hole opened at the angel's feet. He turned again to the others, shuddered greatly and swayed on his feet. Sam came forward and Frodo clutched at his arm, sweating profusely, his face the color of parchment. He sank to the ground and laid his head on the gardener's shoulder, trembling as if it were the heart of winter, not summer. After a moment, though, the spell passed, and he was himself again. He looked up at Hermione, Ginny, and Ron, and nodded. With Sam's aid he stood, and the five of them gathered around the opening, staring down into its depths.
TBC Very soon!
