OMAKE

How a Heather was named Feather

She tried to hunch lower in her seat when the door slid open with a bang!

A girl's bushy head popped through. "Have you seen a toad anywhere?"

Heather gave a miniscule shake of her head. "No," she whispered. "I'm sorry."

This was all said in a very small voice. The girl with the bushy hair entered the compartment and looked down at Heather. She hunched even lower in her seat. It was instinct.

"My name's Hermione, what's yours?" the girl asked in a friendly way.

A friend! It made Heather look up hesitantly. Maybe she would be nice. "H-heather," she stuttered.

Annoyance crossed Hermione's face. "Excuse me, your name is Feather? What parent would name their child that? Have they no pity? Well, I can't exactly talk, can I since my parents named me after a play."

Then she sat across Heather and went on talking. Heather couldn't exactly correct her when she couldn't get a word in.

Meeting Luna Lovegood

The girl was strange. That was okay. Heather was strange too. She bit back a sob at Ron Weasley's cruel taunt about her being as strange as anything.

"Hello," the girl with the kind eyes said. "My name is Luna Lovegood."

Even her name was pretty.

"Heather," she muttered softly. Because here was someone whose name was a celestial body and hers was a kind of grass.

"Oh, that's nice," Luna said. "Heather's are very inoffensive plants."

A happy warmth spread through her. This girl was a good friend. Hermione was okay, but she was sometimes cruel in her turn of phrase. She had a feeling this girl would not be cruel but merely honest.

"And Luna's are very nice friends," she said. And that was the beginning of a long and lasting friendship.

What Elrond thought when he saw his visitors

What a strange pair, he thought.

Eilys was composed and very blunt. Her accent in Westron was not something he had heard yet and he thought he had heard everything. Gryffon did not speak at all but instead watched him with alarming intensity.

Eventually, Eilys concluded her request with, "you have a very serious face. I think you should smile more often to rid yourself of your age."

He nearly choked. No one commented on that anymore, not even Erestor.

"I beg your pardon?" he said softly.

She nodded. "My siblings and I have lost people very dear to us, but Gryffon keeps us laughing because she says that if we stop, we will join them faster. You too have lost someone, but I don't think she would like it if you age faster."

It felt like a hand was clutching his heart. "She is not dead, Lady Eilys. She sailed to the Undying Lands after she lost her mind, tortured to insanity by orcs."

A shadow passed her face. That surprised him. It was as though she could really feel his grief. "No, I don't suppose you can laugh, but you must find something to live for."

He would have answered but he saw her companion, the Lady Gryffon, sway in her chair. Lady Eilys saw it as well and had an extremely alarmed look on her face.

Compassion swelled in him and he directed a look towards Lady Eilys that said he would take care of Gryffon before she collapsed. "There is a sentry outside my door to lead you to your room. I would like to have a moment with your companion."

What Hermione did

Hermione had known that Heather was hiding something but Heather was different from all of them when she was hiding something. She would bite it and hide it. The confrontation by a wrong person would make her more stubborn. Confrontation done in the wrong way would make her defensive. Dealing with Heather was always difficult.

When Luna brought Heather away with her, Hermione jumped at the chance and borrowed Hafny. It spoke volumes that Heather did not complain since she loved the bloody owl.

"Take this to Aragorn," she told Hafny, fastening a letter around her leg. Hafny gave her an irritated hoot and flew off. She then sagged with relief.

"She won't like it if she finds out, you know," Draco told her as they both watched Hafny become a speck in the sky.

"Then she won't find out," Hermione said flippantly. Then hesitation crossed her. They didn't like asking each other to use their gifts. It felt like cheating on homework. "Draco, how did her soul look like?"

Draco was startled, and then he clenched his fists. "It looked like a flickering candle. She's close to collapsing, Granger. If she wasn't Potter, we wouldn't have to do this." Then he directed a grin at her and it still surprises Hermione that Draco Malfoy would direct that look to her. "I heard her chew you out. Both of you are hypocrites, you know that?"

What Hermione wrote to Aragorn

Dear Sir,

I know we aren't properly introduced, but I am Gryffon's cousin. She doesn't mention me much because we have not seen each other in recent years, but last week, I saw her with her siblings and she looked on the verge of collapsing.

Gryffon is not saying anything, and it is worrying the twins. Eilys is headed towards Rivendell because she wishes to learn healing from the best healer in all of Arda. Hodur mentioned that you might manage to ask a favor of the Lord of Rivendell to intercede for us. Since he is a healer, he might know what to do with her stubbornness.

Cordially,

Enid

What Aragorn wrote to Elrond

Ada,

I know this is new, but I will tell you all about it when my next patrol allows it.

A friend is passing there soon. Her name is Gryffon. Her cousin wrote to me and expressed concerns towards her health. They do not know what is wrong. I do not think she told what remains of her family, so it is not my place to tell you either.

What I can say is that she has received a family gift. She does not say it but she is frightened by it. Her gift is powerful and when she comes your way, can you advise her on it?

All my affection,

Estel

Long awaited Omake. I'm taking a break for a moment, so don't expect a chapter tomorrow. Wow, back to back writing does take a toll on you.

Does this answer some questions? Hopefully, the answer is yes.

~Hallen