Scars of the Future
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Theywere created by the amazing minds of J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien.
A/N: This fic was not created by myself alone. It was done inscript 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. I would also like to thank my beta, Inwe Telemnar. You guys are the greatest!
Chapter 18: The Return
Despite all encouragement from Sam the next morning, Frodo found he could not eat. His stomach had twisted itself into a knot of anxiety, and fear's cold fingers had wrapped themselves around his throat, making it difficult to swallow. He excused himself from the table and returned to his room, where he sat awhile until his nerves forced him up again. Thus, he spent the day wandering aimlessly throughout the house. Some of the others tried to speak to him, offer words of comfort or encouragement, but he could not comprehend them. Still others offered looks of sadness or hope, some just nodded. Frodo couldn't decide whether he wanted company or not.
By nightfall he had somehow come to see the situation, and had managed to pull himself together well enough. He stood with Gandalf and Sam in the entrance hallway, bidding his farewells the others gathered around them. But when he spoke to those closest to him, his words felt empty. Promises of hope and words of assurance seemed meaningless. He felt like a liar.
Sirius handed him one of the mirrors and with a thankful nodFrodo slipped it into his pocket, comforted slightly by its insignificant weight alongside Sting and the Lady's glass. "Thank you, Sirius," he said. "Thank you for everything."
"Don't talk like it's goodbye forever, Frodo. I'll be joining you soon," he said, in an attempt to sound cheerful.
"And Merry and I will too, Frodo, you know that."
"I know, Pippin, but I wish you wouldn't. I would hate to see you and Merry, as well as Sam, come to harm because of me."
"We won't, Mr. Frodo. I reckon we've been through worse," Sam said hopefully and firmly.
"Besides, Cousin, we're bringing ourselves into this. Remember, had you gone to Tol Eressea the three of us still would have come," Merry pointed out.
Frodo sighed. It was no use arguing.
Remus led them from the house and down a narrow alleyway. He pointed to a shiny object on top of a pile of garbage. "That can is your portkey. You'll need to touch it within the next two minutes." His eyes were full of anxiety. "Good luck, I'll be seeing you soon."
"Farewell, Remus," said Gandalf. "It has been an honor knowing you."
Remus nodded, clapped a hand on Frodo's shoulder, and turned and walked away, unable to say anything more.
"Well, my dear friends," the wizard said, "let us go."
Frodo and Sam, alongside Gandalf, placed quivering hands on the assigned portkey, and within moments it felt to Frodo as if they were being whisked through the air at an imperceptible speed a hundred times worse than flying on Harry's Firebolt.
!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!
Frodo's feet hit the ground hard and he toppled over ungracefully. Once he had regained his footing he looked around. He, Sam, and Gandalf had arrived in another dark alley, although more garbage cluttered this one.
"Come this way Frodo, Samwise, but move quietly! We must not be discovered," Gandalf whispered, striding towards the end of the alley. The hobbits followed him once he made sure the way was clear, and he led them down the street. Under the blanket of night they crept to the outskirts of the town and there they looked out.
"There, Frodo, is your destination," Gandalf said, pointing. Frodo followed his gaze and saw a town smaller than the one they stood just outside of, and on the outskirts of that town was a house that appeared ancient, surrounded by an acre or so of unkempt land. Dread crept back into his heart.
"This is where Sam and I must leave you. From here, you go alone." Although Gandalf's words sounded unkind, his voice was soft and edged with concern. He knelt and embraced the hobbit. "You have much strength within you, Frodo, and you will need all of it before the end. Remember what we spoke of last night—do not fret over what may come to pass. You must focus only on the task at hand."
Frodo nodded and turned to Sam, whose face was white and whose eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Do not fear for me, Sam," he said, pulling him into an embrace. "This is yet another job I must see through to the end, and there is naught that can be done to prevent it. Voldemort will have mercy, and whatever punishment he has for me will be short-lived. I will live to see my way back home to the Shire."
"I know," mumbled Sam, wiping a hand across his eyes. "I just worry about you in there, all alone. I'd much rather be at your side, as it should be, so I can look after you."
"Yes, Sam, and I would want no one at my side but you, but I wouldn't want to endanger you for my sake, and it isn't Albus Dumbledore's will. Do you trust him?"
The younger hobbit nodded. "Aye, I do. He's a kind soul, Mr. Frodo."
"Then what is there to fear? I know I have your trust, so listen to what I say, Sam, don't let yourself regret sending me off alone, for it is not your fault. All right?"
Sam nodded.
"Promise me, Sam."
"I promise, Mr. Frodo, you have my word."
Frodo smiled and embraced him once more. "How are you returning?"
"Albus has prepared another portkey in the alley we have just arrived in that is good within the hour. As soon as Sam and I have set you on your way we will use it to go back to Headquarters," Gandalf said.
"Good. Take care Gandalf, Sam," he said, preparing to leave.
"No, Frodo, it is you who should take care," the Maia stated.
"Farewell, then," said Frodo as he turned and began walking down the path, soon disappearing into the gloom.
Sam let out a shuddering breath. Gandalf looked down at him. "Be at ease, Samwise, Frodo will not be lost. That Baggins stubbornness always seems to pull through for him."
This caused Sam to smile slightly and he nodded and followed Gandalf back to the alleyway where they used an old paper bag to return to Grimmauld Place.
!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!I!
Frodo found the way unobstructed by any sort of hindrances. He met no one on his way, and for that he was grateful. He had enough to worry about without the inquisitive nature of passers-by.
It didn't take long to reach the Riddle House. Frodo crept around in the front yard; trying to look suspicious in the hope that any possibly sentries would spot him. Dumbledore had told him the location of the entrance, for the doors and windows were boarded and locked, but had advised Frodo to stay away. He had also told Frodo to act as if the Order had sent him to spy. It would be dangerous, therefore, if Voldemort knew that the Order knew of the secret and presumably well-hidden entrance.
Frodo stealthily moved into the backyard, stepping over an old, once-white fence. After a minute or so of snooping around he realized that he stood on an overgrown patch of land that had once been a garden. He smiled slightly, thinking how dismayed Sam would be if he beheld the scene.
An unknown force suddenly threw Frodo backwards as invisible cords snapped his arms and legs to his sides. Unable to look anywhere but up, he didn't see his attackers until there stood directly above him. Two faces sneered down at him. He shivered.
"Look here, Nott, looks like we've got us a little sneak, eh?"
The second man, the one called Nott, snickered and looked directly into Frodo's eyes. "Yes, and he's in store for quite a lot of fun."
Using his wand, the first lifted Frodo into the air and propelled the hobbit ahead of him as they entered an old gardening shed. Nott kicked an old watering can aside with his foot and it clattered nosily against the wall.
"Damn it, Nott! Try not to make so much noise, would you?"
"Shut up, Goyle, if you know what's good for you."
Nott pointed his wand at the floor and muttered a spell under his breath. A hole about five feet wide opened up, revealing a steep flight of stairs. Following Nott, Goyle navigated Frodo in front of him as he descended; threatening the hobbit about what he would do to him if he tried anything. Frodo noted his lack of intelligence, for he couldn't do anything in his current state anyway.
Once the trio reached the bottom they walked along a damp tunnel that ran straight for several yards until it branched off in three different directions. They continued going straight, and Frodo assumed that the other two tunnels either led to various other bases, dungeons, or storage areas or they were merely there to lose any possible intruders.
It wasn't long until they were once more going upwards, though on wooden stairs this time instead of stone. At the top Nott unlocked a door, and once they had passed through he closed and re-locked it.
It soon became evident to Frodo that they had entered a house, and he assumed the room they had just left was a cellar. Wooden floorboards were dusty along the walls but clean where feet had walked. Cobwebs hung between the walls and ceiling. Frodo looked down and saw a mouse scurry by. Paint was peeling from the walls and here and there holes had opened in the walls and pink insulation could be seen poking out. Undaunted, yet still afraid, he looked forward and saw that the house consisted of a complex series of hallways and staircases. It wouldn't be difficult to become lost within the maze. The hobbit figured that the house hadn't always been so winding, but had instead been altered my magic for the very purpose of losing unwanted houseguests.
After turning down what seemed like hundreds of hallways and climbing even more staircases, Nott and Goyle began climbing a tight, winding staircase that went around and around in endless circles, ever upward. Frodo looked down and saw only a dark chasm spiraling down into nothingness beyond the feeble railing. He shivered. More and more this place reminded him of Cirith Ungol, but there were more serious issues to fear.
Finally, Nott reached the top and, followed by Goyle, walked into a spacious and empty room. They crossed the room to the other end, opened a door, and walked into another long and empty hallway. Windows lined both sides and when Frodo looked out he realized that they were hundreds of feet above the ground. The tower had, undoubtedly, been concealed with magic to protect it from unwanted eyes. At the end of the hallway was another door. Nott rapped on it three times and a moment later a mouse-like figure, one Frodo recognized as Wormtail from descriptions given by the Order, opened the door and beckonedforthem to enter.
Moonlight streamed in through a large window that covered the entire far wall. Frodo realized with a jolt that tomorrow would mark the full moon, and wondered how Remus would assist the Order when they most needed him. He did not have time to dwell on it, however.
"We have brought the trespasser, My Lord," said Nott importantly.
"Leave us."
The invisible bonds holding Frodo were released and he collapsed onto the floor. He heard Nott, Goyle, and Wormtail's footprints departing from the room and the soft click of the door closing. He looked up and saw for the first time that an overstuffed armchair sat facing the window. A robed figure rose from it and strode to stand before the hobbit.
"So," Lord Voldemort said. "My servant has returned to me. And I sincerely hope that he has a logical explanation for his long delay."
TBC...
