The Serpent's Snare

Chapter Eight

"Not to be negative…or anything but do you honestly think a place like that…is going to let the likes of us in?" I couldn't help but ask as we found our destination upon the horizon. Lothlorien looked like a shack in the woods compared to this impressive kingdom hugging a blade like mountain protruding from the earth. Both the mountain, and the multi leveled city were a brilliant white hue, it was almost blinding to the eyes had it not been for the sun finally pulling back the reach of its rays.

"Do not let the cold exterior of this land deceive you; the king here is a friend to all who enter. All are welcome; even you." Estelon replied with a smile. Well at least my thoughts of being beheaded at the front gate were beginning to subside. These lands were something else that's for sure. I could not have imagined such a city in my wildest imagination.

"Remember, it is best you do not utter a word to anyone. Ready your hoods and my lord Harry, please remove your…"

"They're glasses Estelon, we've gone over this." I sighed.

"Yes, you're glasses, please remove them. If we can pass you off as elves within our company then we have managed a great deal." I shook my head, as if we could pass as an elf but this was his call; it would surely backfire but hey, no one wants to listen to what I have to say…even in an alternate world.

I followed Granger and Potter's action by pulling our cloak hood over our heads; this was ridiculous. Whoever this king was, unless he was a fool, he would surely see through this half assed disguise.

"You truly think the king will know anything that could help us find Lothuialil?" Granger asked.

"Well, this kingdom is upon the outskirts of a land where all darkness originates…if there is a dark hand involved in her disappearance, King Elessar would surely have heard. He is close to our kind though he is of mortal descent. His wife is of elf kind; he is well versed in our customs and is a friend to all manner of creatures." Interesting. Sounds like another do-gooder like Potter though, the whole friend to all nonsense.

"He is a lot like you Draco."

"Excuse me?" Wasn't exactly prepared for that.

"There was a time he stood alone. It was only after he started upon a new path that he found his life had truly begun and he was far from alone after that." So…we're at this point in our friendship already Estelon? Where you feel the need to offer a motivational speech, god he sounded more like Granger the longer I was around him. How tragic.

"Let me stop you right there pointy ears; where I'm from we keep those sorts of thoughts to themselves."

"Maybe when you were a death eater, but now you're free game. Tell me Malfoy has your life truly begun yet?" Potter scoffed but out mother hen Granger quickly slapped him on the back, causing him to tug the reigns tighter than expected. The horse quickly objected with a shake of the head before continuing its march.

"Laugh all you want but I guarantee my new life will be a hell of a lot better than what's awaiting you Potter." I spoke with confidence but I had no idea what awaited Potter I just hoped that it wouldn't be that cliché happily ever after ending, that was mine for the taking.

"We'll just see about-"

"Honestly you two! Can we please act like civilized adults here? This is not Hogwarts! You cannot continue this…this school hall bickering!" And there our mother hen was at her best, I knew it wouldn't be long before she had to interject something.

"Quiet! All of you! We are approaching the front gates." Estelon said just as I felt the shadow from the towering kingdom engulfing us. The chill of the wind sweeping through the land caught me just right and there it was…that feeling that something wasn't quite right. I couldn't explain it, it was far from fear, but it was enough to capture a sense of vigilance within me.

Without thinking, I had dismounted my horse and began taking steps in the tall, golden grass stretching around the structure until my steps had taken me a great distance from where I had started.

"DRACO! Draco…get back here!" I heard Estelon calling to me until I heard another voice. It was faint, barely a whisper and yet it was ringing within my ears; pulling my steps further away from the others. There was nothing but grass before me, scattered remnants of boulders and crumbled ruins but then, in the distance I saw something I did not expect. It was her. Lothuialil. Her voice was pulling me as I watched her hand come out from her deep green cloak and extended towards me.

I was at a loss. Did she in fact find us? I had so many questions swirling around my mind but I felt myself smiling at the thought she was very much real and a few hundred feet away from me in this very moment. I felt like it was a dream, the way I couldn't find the words to call out to her, I simply stood in awe of her sight. She stood under an archway of stone in the midst of the ruins, her locks flowing in the wind. She appeared like a cold statue…reaching for me.

Time seemed to stretch ever so thin; there was nothing else in my mind. I was vexed or something, unable to move or speak…until I felt my own hand reaching out towards her. It'll be alright. I'm here now…that's what I mouthed to her…hoping that our distance would not hinder my words I could not quite fathom.

"DRACO!" Estelon shouted from behind me before turning me around with a strong pull.

"Are you mad? Get back to your horse, I asked you to refrain from doing anything that could draw attention to yourself and your friends!"

"I saw her! Lothuialil! She's just over-" I could not contain my excitement as I quickly turned back around to point her out to his gaze only to find she was no longer there. Typical Draco luck. See something, or rather someone of use only to have it vanish.

"My friend…are you feeling ill?" Great, if I go into detail I'm certain I would appear to be a mental case but I couldn't just walk away leaving her behind could I?

"Draco?"

"Interesting ruins over there…mind showing us around before we enter the city? Should only take a moment." I lied.

"This is no time for a leisurely stroll Draco, you spoke of Lothuialil?"

"She…well I saw her." That's all the details I was prepared to give as I felt myself questioning myself and what had happened. Did I imagine that? No, she was there…clear as day. But why would she disappear like that, I looked away for a second. Perhaps I was a mental case after all.

"It's alright my friend; you are weary from travel and the weight of this quest seemingly upon your shoulders alone. You must stay strong, we will see you through this and we will see your quest complete. She is out there, somewhere but she is not within the ruins of Osgiliath." I felt his gaze searching for my own, hoping to ensure I had not completely lost it but in my own embarrassment, all I could do was smirk and give a slight nod as we began walking back to our horses.

"They have opened the gates to welcome us, it is a grand city. We are sure to find answers here, fret not."

"You know your optimism is sickening."

"Then we shall find you a healer within the city then?" He quickly replied. I couldn't help but laugh; he certainly was learning quickly how to hold his own against my words. I liked that. A far cry different than those I used to call friends back in the magical world. The two oversized ogres I called friends were as dumb as a rock, but back then I needed their size, the numbers, the unintelligent yet loyal minds ready to do my bidding. Hey, I was man enough to admit it; at least I've changed in my choice of friends and my reasons for having them.

I wasn't ready to abandon what had happened and claim it to be the work of an overburdened mind. Perhaps I could find my way back to the ruins at nightfall, hell I hated to even think it, but I knew I could probably convince Potter and Granger to join me in a little snooping without our chaperones. They were overly cautious in this new world yes, but I knew those two, they wouldn't be able to pass up a chance to do some detective work after dark. That was their thing back in the day, scurrying off to Hagrid's hut after all within Hogwarts had fallen to sleep. Or sneaking into the restricted section of the library or anywhere else they felt the need to investigate if it meant helping them in their heroic deeds. It was very Slytherin of them, but I knew I should keep that comment to myself if I was to win their help in this. I had to make sure…she wasn't waiting for help in those ruins. I owed her that much.

Author's Note: Super short update and I apologize; I hope it was still worth the read. What do you think, was she there, did he imagine it or is there something else at play here? Oh my the story is about to get interesting! Haha! Thanks for all the new follows and favorites to the story, please take a moment to review, keep me motivated! Don't make me beg, that's how desperate I am getting to receive some reviews! They'd be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!