Buying Time Book 1

by highbrass

HPXLoTR. Post HBP. Harry prepares for the battles to come, Voldemort is not idle. A new spell sends our hero to a new world to learn what true power really is. First in four book series. Irregular updates.

5. Chapter 5

Previously on Buying Time:

Over the next few months the wizarding world breathed a sigh of relief as the progressively frequent attacks stopped suddenly Halloween night and Tom the barkeep spread word to anyone who would listen that Harry Potter was not dead but had come back to save them all.

Chapter 5

Harry reappeared inside his little house after his journey was over. The grounds were covered in snow and a layer of dust covered the tops of anything it could attach itself to. He figured that he was gone for a few months Middle Earth time due to the drastic weather difference. Looking out the window he noticed that the cabbage and few other vegetables he had not yet harvested when he left were now ruined. He quickly conjured a load of wood and started a fire. The warm light filled the room and Harry quickly got to work cleaning the dust off everything in the room. Thanks to magic it didn't take that long but it put a noticeable strain on his reserves. It seemed that though the trip didn't totally drain him like it had before it still took quite a bit of his power. That either meant that it wasn't that difficult to travel an established route to another world or Voldemort had gotten significantly more powerful in his year of convalescence. He prayed it was the former.

He quickly shook his head. It wouldn't do to get worked up over it. He couldn't change anything now. He only hoped that his friends continued to train and get better. Maybe they might find the horcruxes before he even made it back. That would make his job so much easier. But when had anything in his life ever been easy.

Exhausted from the cross dimensional trip and feeling like most of his magic had been drained by Riddle's miscast spell, Harry moved over to his comfortable bed and fell asleep. He didn't wake up for nearly a week.

After getting his magic and energy back up Harry set about to clean the rest of the house he had commandeered. He knew it would be a mess. In his haste to get as many things as possible incase the trip had been his final one he just summoned everything with no thought to what it destroyed in the process of getting to him. Because of that it took a while to get everything cleaned up. The potions room was a wreck. The summoning charm had obviously only partially succeeded since the magic shields had been in place around the brewing potions. Almost everything was spread out over the floor, including the half made potions he was making prior to his journey. Because of that, getting the potions room cleaned up was much more difficult that the mere dust that covered the rest of the house. The pain potion and skele-grow potion he was making were ruined and still behind the protective shield, which had kept them from being summoned. The rest of the room was a wreck where cauldrons and ingredients forced their way out of the room when he left. A few hours and clean, orderly, and newly restocked shelves later, the lab was complete once again. The food and potions ingredients, really anything that was in the dimensional pocket backpack, traveled with him but the cauldrons and other things that were in his pockets hadn't made the journey with him. It was puzzling. The explanation was that only the things in the dimensional pockets could travel with him. Maybe because they really hadn't. They stayed in one place only the apparatus allowing access to that pocked went with him. But why did the backpack stay with him while the other things didn't?

As his head started hurting from the convoluted theories running through it, he gave up and moved on to his next task, cleaning the ritual chamber. Tired from his long day Harry moved to his comfortable bed and decided to start again the next morning.

The winter kept Harry indoors for the most part. He had practiced what magic he could and studied rituals. His magic was returning much quicker than his original travel since it had a base from which to draw from. He was loathed to do power enhancing rituals when he didn't know when he would be facing his next foe. They were notorious for leaving the user out of commission for a few days then it took months to get use to the new power level. Still with nothing else to do he decided that he would complete the one power ritual he had been studying for the next week. He had to wait to do it until his occlumency shields were strong enough to allow him to push his pain away and continue on with the task. And now since they were he decided to do it.

The night of the chosen date Harry was preparing the chamber like normal. He had practiced all week drawing the correct rune on himself. It was probably the most complex rune set he had worked with to date and it made it all the more difficult that he had to write in on himself, with his wand no less. It had taken a while but he felt he had it perfect now and had done it more than a hundred times just as perfect as the book showed. The potion needed was fairly easy to make after the mind art potion but still took time and concentration.

The day before he had come and carved a rune on a replaceable stone on the floor in the dead center of the room and now he poured some of the potion into the rune until the liquid was level with the rest of the floor. The dark liquid glittered and danced in the light of the torches. He then moved over to the first torch and put it out. Once it was banked he poured some of the potion on the brazier. He then moved to the next and the next and the next. Soon the room was pitch black, still Harry could see with his enhanced vision. The gray of the stone showed clearly against the black of the fluid filled rune.

Harry knelt carefully over the rune on the floor making sure he was on his toes and knees to keep from touching and disturbing it. He dipped his wand into the cauldron and then proceeded to trace a rune over his heart. Wiping his wand off on a rag and tossing it in a corner Harry started chanting a language he had to practice weeks to say correctly. As he finished the first verse he flicked his wand and the first torch he banked sprang to life, the fire raging and spreading across the roof of the chamber. After the second verse he did the same to the second torch. The fire again leapt into the air and now covered half the ceiling above him. The third verse complete and again the torch blazed to life with a flick of his wand. The fourth and the same thing. The room was boiling hot now and fire covered the entire ceiling. He chanted the fifth and final verse and the fire swirled and weaved into a pillar of flame descending upon Harry. Looking up into the raging inferno he spoke the last word and lit the rune under him. Fire sprang to life engulfing him in the searing heat. The two pillars connected and each fought for superiority before the rune on Harry's chest burst into flames. The fire licking over his body drew into one massive pillar and shot into his chest and was absorbed into his body.

The torches burned down to their normal sizes. The rune on the floor no longer had any liquid in it. Harry sat still in the middle of the room, skin red and inflamed and face screwed up in pain. Inside him the energy of the ritual forced itself into Harry's magic, feeding it and lending to it, making it stronger, more potent. Its work done, the energy absorbed cleanly into the new body and its owner relaxed as he fell to the floor.

Harry spent the next week recuperating from the last ritual. He could feel the additional power in him now and other things were starting to happen. As he physically healed, his magic was augmenting itself to adjust to his body. The mind of magic knew that the body wouldn't need all of it and looked for other ways to assist its host. As the week wore on, Harry thought he could catch glimpses of what he could only describe as beautiful light flowing around the house and out the window.

As soon as he was able to concentrate, he remembered reading about this while he was studying for his staff. Once Magic had deemed someone worthy enough and understood enough about it, it would allow one to see magic itself if they had enough power to do so. It was ability that he could use much like his heat sensing and turn on and off if he practiced with it. The rest of the winter Harry spent looking for anything he could find on seeing and sensing magic as well as practicing all he could with his new ability.

The best thing about his new ability was that every mage that had it was able to wield a staff with great efficiency. The Mage Sight was not a requirement to staff usage; instead it was just a way to use it better. Knowing he now had the ability, Harry concentrated almost all his efforts on making his staff. He no longer used incantation or wand movements to direct a spell; instead he directed the magic to do his bidding. He was learned enough in magic to be able to wield it properly and now he could see magic and watch how the magic responded to his calling. He could have made his staff earlier but now it would definitely respond and work for him. He only hoped that he had what he needed for the staffs so the staff would suit him.

After the winter snows came the spring rains. Harry again planted his garden and set to watching it grow. He kept practicing with his magic. Constantly trying to improve his handling and control over it. He traveled around and put to practice his legilimency skills.

On one of his trips he went to Gondor to meet his friends, Boromir and Faramir again. As he left he deftly cut a long straght branch from the living White Tree of Gondor and stashed it away in his coat.

As he was returning home he noticed that something was being done around Orthanc and changed his course to see what it was. He blanched as he saw the once beautiful green lawn that surrounded it now being pitted and pocked with crevasses and fissures in the earth. The ground was scorched and every nearly all the ageless Oaks had been torn down. Thoughts of his staff at the front of his head Harry quickly cut off a few large branches from different trees. It saddened and angered him that Saruman would do such a thing to the central pillar of magical unity in Middle Earth. Even though he was not a wizard of the Valar he was still a wizard and this had the makings of darkness.

Not wanting to be seen Harry flew to the edge of the forest and spied on the White Wizard. He could see nothing other than the devastated landscape and after hours of watching he quietly flew low over the forest to keep from being seen.

As he was flying he thought he saw movement in the darkness below him. Curious he dipped his broom below the canopy hoping to see Aragorn or Gandalf. Maybe even Saruman so he could explain what the hell he was doing. As he landed though he looked up the path to see a tree. A walking tree.

"What the fuck?" Harry breathed out as he watched the most unbelievable thing he had ever seen pass before him.

"Huuummmmm, whhaaaat do we have heeerrrreeeee." Rumbled a deep and slow voice from what would be called the mouth of the tree if there could be one.

Harry didn't seem surprised as the tree bent down to eye him. "You can talk?" He did ask incredulously.

"Ho hum, but yes I can little manling. I see you can as well." Said the tree.

"Oh this has got to be the weirdest thing I have ever encountered." Harry said to himself but the tree heard. "What are you exactly. Are you really a tree?"

"Oh yes, yes we are. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaages agoooooo we were ttttttaught by the elves to talk. They fffffffffilled our forest and gave us maaaaagiccccc to live and movvvvvvvvve when we needed to. Since thennnnnnnnn the trees have tuuuuuuuuuurned dark. Men cut our branches; cut up our young. Angry the trees are and iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit is old Treeeeeeeeebard's duty to calm them."

'So that's why the forest seems so menacing.' Harry thought. "Is it all of Fangorn Forest that is sentient or just portions?"

"Long ago…"

"Yea yea I know. What about my question though."

"You humans. You take no time to do anything. Just ruuuuuuush and rushhhhhhhhh. We Ents don't do annnnyyyything unless it's worth doing a looooong time."

"Hmmm, yea. How old are you anyway?"

"I was one of the first tuuuuuurrrrrrned by the elves. Most of us sleep now as the ages passssssss us by. But the forest shakes branch and bough in anger waking most of us from our sluuuuummmmmmber. War the wind whissssppppers."

"Is that what Saruman is doing? I noticed he destroyed nearly everything in Orthanc's borders. My guess is that he will start with the trees of Fangorn next."

"WHHHAAAAAATTTTTT! The wizard destroying and killing the forest he spent so long in himself. We use to all speak to the White Wizard when he walked among us and treated him as our friend. Now he kills the trees." The ent's voice boomed in the forest and the trees shook with anger as they seemed to move in toward Harry.

"Come little manling. I think it tiiiiiiimmmme to call a gathering. It will be the fiiiirrrrssst done in an aaagggge." With that Treebeard picked Harry up and placed him in his branches.

After hours of walking the living tree entered what looked like a hall of thickly planted trees. A small stream flowed through it and water dripped from the branches around the area.

"This is my home. I do not usually stay here but I don't think you impatient humans would like to sit through a gathering. Whenever you are hungry just drink the water and you should be refreshed. I will be back when it is over."

"Wait! Treebeard, hold on. I'm not like other wizards. I can fly out of the forest whenever I need to. I would like to start heading home if it is possible."

"Fly you say? Like a bird? Yes wizards always had mysterious ways here one minute gone the next. Very good, as soon as you are rested feel free to head back to your home. Goodbye good wizard."

"Treebeard, I need to ask you something else. I'm putting together my staff and am searching out the most powerful pieces. Would it be possible for you to give me one of your long strait branches to use?"

"You ask much young wizard. But yes, I see you as one for the side of good and right. If my branch can help save my friends and my forest then please have it and use it well." The large living tree shook its branches and after a groan of pain a long eight foot strait branch fell to the ground.

"Thank you. I promise I will do anything I can for the forest and to keep it safe."

"Huummmmm, yes you will, yes you will. Goodbye young manling wizard. May your roots stay grounded." And he left.

Harry shrunk the branch quickly as it still seemed to be alive. Small branches grew out of the branch even though it was off Treebeard. He quickly placed it in his trunk happy that the ancient tree had agreed. While he had the trunk open he removed one of the dinners the house elves made him and a decanter of pumpkin juice. A flick of his wand and four of the leaves turned into a silver goblet and a knife, spoon and fork. The transfiguration of silver had just recently become easy to him to accomplish as it took so much power to do it. Conjuring something silver was still a little difficult. Gold however was still nearly impossible for him to work with. He would need a lot more time and power to accomplish it. Leaning against a fallen log he cherished the cool evening air. He had been on the move for a while now and was ready to get home.

Still with the news of the war brewing he wanted to check on his dwarf friends in Lonely Mountain. It wouldn't hurt to seek aid from Lake Town and see if they could spread word to the surrounding villages to send any willing warrior toward Gondor to give them aid. Harry knew that fool Denethor would refuse any on his own. He was too arrogant though his soldiers were the best in Middle Earth. They were exceptional but even they couldn't go up against ten to one odds and survive. Just the amount of orcs he had seen when he left recently would overrun the White City even if it took months of a siege. And there were still the nine wraiths he had heard speak of from elves, Aragorn, Gandalf and even from Hermione before he left from what she remembered of the story. The descriptions of them chilled his blood and reminded him of the dementors back home. He needed some sleep before he started moving again though.

The next morning Harry pulled out a plate with loads of bangers, eggs, fried tomatoes, hashers and toast on it. A quick warming charm later and it was steaming. Hungry and tired still Harry ate the food. He really didn't feel like any pumpkin juice so he took the silver goblet he made the night before to the small stream running through the hall. The water looked cold and refreshing. As he brought the now full cup to his lips he was surprised when it tasted of sweet honey even more so than the little creek he had stayed by all those years ago on the edge of Fangorn. His wariness was whisked away and he could feel his magic humming. Amazed Harry glanced at the water in the goblet then at the stream. He remembered how that big stream where he lived always made him feel better when he swam in it or drank from it.

'This must be the source of what ever made the water so inviting.' He looked around and found the gold and silver dew drops from the trees gathering in the stream and then fading in with all the other water. Taking another drink of the cool water and he felt even better. Ten goblets of water later and Harry felt better that he ever felt in his life. He could feel everything in his body growing from his magic to his hair. Even himself just slightly. Hurrying back to his trunk he took out the bottomless jug of water and started pouring it out in the stream, letting the clear liquid mix with the living water and wash away. After a hour of constant pouring the liquid in the jug finally ran out and Harry placed it in the stream allowing it to fill to capacity two hours later before he resealed the lid. Getting one last cup full before he left, Harry packed up and headed to Lonely Mountain.

Everything seemed brighter and more colorful as he traveled from Fangorn. The magic was clearer and wind fresher. He marveled at the magic that was in Treebeard's stream and wondered if the other Ents each had a stream of their own to drink from. It didn't really matter as Harry could always apparate back if he needed to fill the jug again.

It didn't take long to get to Lake Town and he made quick work talking to the town elders and seeking aid for Gondor. They agreed they would spend any volunteers and would spread the word. They would gather troops and wait for the time they were call upon. Hopefully war wasn't coming too soon. He didn't think Saruman was ready to make his move yet but even more worrying was Sauron and his massive armies. Moving quickly he only spent an evening in Lake Town before he headed to Lonely Mountain.

When he arrived it was at the end of a vicious battle. Dwarf and orc bodies littered the halls as Harry flew to where he could still hear the fighting. As he passed pillars he could see huge gashes that could only have been the work of Trolls.

He landed behind the rear of the attackers and quickly unsheathed his weapons. Sword in one hand and wand in the other Harry set to work. He realized he really hated fighting underground. It took away some of his most powerful attacks. Still between his quicksilver whip and his sword he was making quick work of the unskilled, but overwhelming number of, orcs. He finally worked his way to the front where he could see three huge cave trolls decimating the dwarfs.

He first transfigured a broken pillar into a spear of solid stone then with all his might he banished it into the back of the Trolls neck. The beast lunged forward as the magically hardened stone sliced through its tough hide, though it's spine, then back out of the neck. The fighting stopped for a moment as the beast tottered then fell back with a crunch as it landed on some of the orcs. Harry wasted no time flicking his wand at the next troll. The air blade cut into the hide but only black blood fell to the ground and bubbled as it ate through the rock. Raising an eyebrow he quickly banished a boulder into the side of its head causing it to fall to the ground unconscious. The third troll bellowed in rage seeing its two fellows brought down. It charged with a large black blade as Harry whipped his wand around. A flaming whip cracked on the Troll's shoulder causing it to howl in pain as he brought his black sword towards its next victim. Bringing his sword to bare, Harry parried the blow with his super human strength. A jarring clang of metal on metal filled the air as both blades were knocked aside. Harry's entire arm stung at the blow but he was able to fend it off and it looked like the troll's arm wasn't much better. It looked at Harry in confusion as if trying to figure out why he was still alive. The next second a yellow disk of magic flew into its mouth and back out the back of its head. The troll fell dead.

Heartened, the dwarf warriors attacked the orc army with fierce determination. After another hour of battle, the last of the orcs were being hunted throughout the forests that surrounded the base of the mountain.

A pitiful few dwarves survived the battle. As Harry searched out the King he was approached by one of the guards that never left the King's side.

"Follow me friend. The King wishes to speak with you and we have little time." The warrior had sad down cast eyes and a long face. Harry could guess that the King had been injured badly in the battle.

Harry hurried after the soldier and they soon arrived in a grand room filled with works of silver, gold and mithril. The king was lying on his bed surrounded by other dwarfs that seemed to be trying to stop the blood loss.

"Move now!" Harry commanded as he moved between two of the nurses. They moved wondering what the young man would do.

Harry first took out his trunk and resized it. As he was he quickly cast a diagnostic charm to find out what the problems were. As the different areas lit up he dove into his potions supply pulling out vial after vial.

"Listen," Harry said slapping the face of the King to get him to concentrate on him. "These will taste god awful but they will heal you. Trust me that I wouldn't do anything to harm you. Do you understand?"

The King nodded weakly and tried to talk.

"Don't talk. Save your energy." Harry waved his wand over the deep gashes that covered the King's chest and the muscle and skin mended itself back together. Sweat beaded on his brow as he concentrated with all his might on the healing spells. Power flowed from him into his wand healing the huge cuts quickly. When he finished he quickly poured a red potion into his mouth. The dwarf's gage reflex kicked in at the vile taste.

"Help me hold him down. This is a blood replenishing potion that will keep him from bleeding to death."

The same dwarf who came to find him as well as another held the King down forcibly and made him drink the potion. Harry brought another and another of the red potion to the dwarf King's mouth. Each one would add a liter of blood and it seemed the King had lost most of his. After six Harry stopped and the King looked noticeably better as the color returned to his skin. The other dwarfs sighed and smiled noticing the change.

"Don't get to comfortable just yet." Harry said as he brought a sickly yellow potion to the King's lips. Again he had to be force to drink it.

"That one will kill all infection." The next was a green one. "This will get rid of any internal bleeding and repair any damaged organs." The healers nodded seemingly entranced at the magic the boy they though was just that, a boy, wielded.

The final potion was clear. "This is skele-grow. It will knit the bones that were broken and cut back together. It hurts horribly and tastes worse than anything you can imagine but it works. I've had to use it before so I know it is safe."

Harry quickly turned to what seemed like the head healer. "His left arm is broken in three places. The bone in his right thigh is shattered and left bone fragments all though out his upper leg and the right part of his hip was messed up pretty bad. His ribs have also been cut nearly in two from one of the blows."

All those who heard paled at the normally life threatening injuries. Normally the best thing that could happen in this situation was for the individual to come out a cripple. Harry, though, thought back to the time Lockhart had removed all the bones from his arm. It had only taken the bone. If he could do the same for the King then he would be able to take the Skele-grow and be alright in a few days.

"Alright," Harry again took command of the healing as he turned to the other medics and told them his plan. "I want to remove all the damaged bones. I can vanish them while they are still in the King's body. Then I have a potion that will grow them all back. It will be extremely painful; both parts. But it will allow the King to heal fully."

"Do it." Whispered the King who was still in a godly amount of pain from the broken bones. "I refuse to live as a cripple."

The other dwarfs nodded knowing that others would try to overthrow the King if they thought they could spot a weakness.

Harry nodded as well knowing he now had permission to continue. "First we need to give him the potion. That way we won't have to struggle with him after the bones are removed and chance causing even more damage."

This time it took four dwarfs to hold down the King as he spasmed and tried to spit out the concoction. Once he finally swallowed, Harry quickly cast a body bind and support spells to take the place of the soon to be missing skeleton. He didn't know the spell Lockhart used and was pretty sure it was something that couldn't be reproduced by anyone who wasn't an idiot. Harry did however know a curse that removed the bone. It was exceptionally painful though. Still with no other recourse…

Even though the king of the dwarf nation couldn't talk, all knew of the pain the spell must have caused as massive amounts of pain filled the King's eyes. They never even had the chance to calm as the potion took effect and started growing the bones back.

Casting another series of diagnostic spells Harry was relieved to see that he had indeed removed all the bone shards that had littered the Kings body along with the main bones. Already the signs of re-grown bones showed on his scans.

"That is all I can do. Keep him in bed for a time. A day at least. He has a massive amount of bones to re-grow and might need to take the potion again." Harry said as he placed another large vial of Skele-grow and another few blood replenishers on the bed side table. "Give these to the King in twelve hours." He said to the head medic before he swished his wand and removed the body bind he had placed on the King to keep him from moving during the medical procedure. He was greeted by a soft groan from the King as the medicinal potions coursed though his body.

Finally Harry pulled out a bright blue vial from his trunk. "This is a dreamless sleep potion. It will put the King in an enchanted sleep. This should be enough to keep him asleep for twelve hours while the other potions do their work. That is all I can do." He handed the potion to one of the nurses and she placed it on the table by the bed.

Harry back away from the bed as the King quickly drifted off after the Dreamless Sleep had been forcefully shoved down his throat by the medics still stationed around the bed. He found a comfortable chair near by and flopped into it, exhausted. Not so much physically as mentally. He never really knew how much concentration it took to cast medical spells. One wrong move and instead of healing an injury you could make it ten times worse. It was a lot of responsibility.

The following day found Harry back in the King's chambers. The potions had already run their course and the King was already on his second round. As he entered he notices a visibly relieved medical staff and even the warriors had visible relief and happiness showing on their face at the improving health of their king.

Noticing Harry at his side the King grimaced in pain as the new batch of skele-grow started working. "By the Valor that is some disgusting concoctions you have there my boy. Always full of surprises." He chuckled weakly but his voice was gaining strength and his complexion was getting better as time wore on. "Listen carefully Master Wizard. The foul orcs were after the Arkenstone that lay with my friend Thorin Oakenshield, my predecessor as King Under the Mountain. He was buried with the gem as it was very dear to him. We no longer have the warriors to defend the stone or the Grave of our friend and hero. We are going to have to fall back deeper under the mountain until we are strong enough to re-emerge with a fighting force. Please my friend, you have proven yourself worthy and a true friend to the race of dwarves, take the stone and put it to good use fighting those that we can not. I have sent my son, Gimli, and five others to the council of Elrond to speak of the growing darkness and I am loathed not to be able to help. Perhaps soon we will be able to re-emerge and fight by your side once again." The King lay back on the bed having used his energy speaking to Harry. The other dwarfs were shocked at the King's request but dared not speak against it. "The stone is yours now Master Harry. Take care of it and it will take care of you. It is a powerful object." He had just taken some more Dreamless Sleep and was drifting off quickly.

"If this is what you wish my friend." Harry smiled down on the now smiling dwarf. "When you wake you will be better. Stay in bed and gather your strength quickly. We will need the strength of the dwarfs before this is over. I will see you again my friend." Harry smiled down on the aged dwarf that he rapidly coming to viewed as his friend.

The dwarfs quickly shook off their shock and moved to adhere to their King's demands. The dwarf that escorted Harry earlier that day moved to his side.

"Master Wizard if you will please follow me I will take you to the resting place of our beloved Hero."

Harry followed dutifully beside the solemn dwarf trying to remember anything he could about this from his reading of the Hobbit or Hermione's quick explanation of the Fellowship. He could remember something about Thorin being stark raving mad about the gem then after being mortally wounded after the Battle of Five Armies he realized how foolish he was. He remembered him being buried with the stone as well as a sword he had found earlier in their travels. It would be a shame to allow such a powerful weapon lay buried when it could be used again.

Harry turned to the dwarf leading him through the passages. "What is your name Master Dwarf. I saw you fighting bravely in the battle defending the King?"

"Cloin Sir. But I feel as though I failed him. The dishonor of allowing him injury and then having to hide ourselves from the war coming when we should be on the lines hewing our enemy's necks. I shudder to think how our ancestors think of us."

"There is no shame in some defeats Cloin. Your enemy out numbered you more than ten to one and you were still winning until they brought in the cave trolls. Without magic they are near impossible to kill. I have read lore from Gondor how it took armies of men to fight one. Only the ancient weapons from before the fall of Sauron have the power to cut their hide. Do not be ashamed." The two walked in silence for a little while as Harry hoped the dwarf would take his word to heart. Even the most skilled warriors he knew in Middle Earth would have a hard time killing a troll.

"Can you tell me anything about the Arkenstone?" Harry asked as to change the subject.

"Not very much I'm afraid. Even to Thorin and his father not much was known about it. Legend states it was uncovered already shaped in the very heart of the mountain where the Throne room now stands. It has an inner light and power to it but we dwarfs have never understood it. It was mainly used as just an ornate jewel. I laid eyes on it once. Just after the battle where Thorin died. That was a good day and a good way to die, with the bodies of enemies strewn around us and victory in the air. I watched as we marched into battle the fierceness the King fought with and was envious."

"He was buried with his armor and his elf make sword as well." Harry pondered and didn't really think about what he was saying.

"You are very strange young Wizard. You know things that are secret and fight with a magic none have seen in this land before. I am tempted to ask question after question but I know the fickleness and tempers of most other wizards and do not wish you to cast your ire towards me."

Harry laughed lightheartedly knowing that if the dwarf had ever met Gandalf how he would come to such a theory. "Yes Gandalf is a stiff backed old man. He will sit and ask you questions for an age if he doesn't understand something but if you are to ask him, you are quite right. Still Cloin you are correct that I cannot give away much regarding the matters of my knowledge. I can tell you some of it has come from speaking to those who actually participated in the events. The fight for the mountain from Smaug and the Battle of Five Armies greatly holds my interest and I have sought out the knowledge from where ever I could. Gandalf was there as well as the Forest elves who I have visited. There are old stories written about the events still in Lake Town as well."

"Yes I could see how you come upon your knowledge now. The study of history has never been a strong point with the dwarfs. We remember the legends of our brave and the battles they fought in but we rarely record the day to day life of our kind. Ah here we are."

The dwarf led Harry into a beautifully carved room which had three small windows that would let light fall onto the standing crypt during most times of the day. The walls were carved in grand fashion telling the events and adventures of a small company of dwarfs, a hobbit and sometimes a wizard setting out to reclaim their mountain. The detail that the stone carvings showed were amazing and the wizard could only marvel at the sight.

"It is one of our greatest works and took many score of days but was a labor of love." And Harry wished he had a camera to take pictures of the magnificent room.

The two moved to the side of the crypt and the dwarf spoke to the deceased inside. He explained about the battle and Harry's help, the history of Harry helping in the past, the coming darkness and seemingly inevitable war. Then he asked permission to retrieve the Arkenstone to give to Harry as was ordered by the King.

The air thickened and the wizard tensed as he felt the magic intensify in the room. Switching his vision over to be able to see what was happening he could see the magic in the air thickening and closing in on the lid of the crypt. It condensed and started taking shape. Soon standing before Harry and Cloin was an image of an ancient dwarf that seemed to be looking the two over.

"Good Lord." Harry breathed as he focused on the figure. Cloin looked confused.

"What is it Master Wizard?"

"There is another dwarf that just appeared from the magic in the air. He's now standing in front of the crypt looking at us intently." Harry said in a whisper.

The living dwarf's eyes opened wide as he bowed so low his long nose touched the ground. "My former King Thorin it is with great honor that I stand before you." Catching on Harry too bowed slightly in respect. "I can not see you my King though the wizard Harry says he can." The ghostly figure turned his eyes toward Harry. Cloin continued and gave again a lengthy history of Harry's dealings with the dwarfs and again asked if they might retrieve the Stone. The ghostly dwarf thought for a while then slowly nodded. The lid to the tomb slid to the side giving them access to the treasure below.

With many thanks Harry bent to retrieve the stone. He saw the sword and turned to the dwarf.

"King Thorin?" Harry questioned and the ghost's eyes moved back to his. The eyes now held sadness and the wizard knew it was because he was sad to let the stone he loved so go. Harry continued thought. "King Thorin, your sword has been used in ages past to assist in victory in battle. You yourself used it to great effect before your passing. I ask that you let me take it to a great warrior who will use it again in battle as it was made for. Will you permit me to take the sword?"

The ghostly eyes looked at him accusingly and Harry could feel the unasked question. He slid his sword from its black leather sheath to show the ghost. "I Sir have my own sword already. It is my family sword and I would not wield another. Beside yours is not suited for my type of fighting. Please I know I ask much of you but we will need every weapon we can to defeat our foes in Mordor. I believe we have already lost Saruman if the word in Fangorn is true and he was a great ally and even greater foe."

The ghost seemed shocked for a moment at the news of two great foes loose on the land and nodded his head to take the sword as well. Harry untied the jeweled scabbard and pulled it away from the dead body. As he lifted it he removed the sword from the sheath. It was beautiful to behold and the ghost smiled knowingly. The sword itself felt powerful in your hands and seemed to give the wielder strength and courage. Harry closed his eyes and sighed sadly as he slid the sword back into its resting place.

"Now I wish I could use it. It is a magnificent weapon." Harry said as he looked at it. He quickly put it in his trunk along with the Arkenstone which was probably the most amazingly magical thing he had ever laid eyes on. He couldn't wait until he had the chance to study it. The two living beings again bowed in the direction of the ghost as the lid to the grave moved back to cover the dead. The ghost then bowed as well before the magic dispersed and again moved out into the world.

Harry switched his vision back to his normal enhanced sight. The amount of magic in the air all around Middle Earth made it nearly impossible use the sight all the time. "Well that was interesting."

"Yes Master Wizard. That it was. You could see our beloved hero?" Asked Cloin with longing in his eyes and voice.

"Yes I could. I have the ability to actually see magic. It was gifted to me by Magic as a reward. Could you feel the air thicken before I said anything?" The dwarf nodded as they walked. "That was the feeling of strong magic. It came together to form a ghost of Thorin."

"What a truly honoring experience." Cloin said reverently as they left the room.

"Hold on a second. I'm going to place some wards that will help keep any intruders from the tomb if that is alright with you." He received a nod. "The problem is that it won't let dwarfs in either until it is either broken through or I dispel it."

"We do not go into that room often and with our people moving deeper into the mountain I think the King would agree to it. Please make it safe. It would be horrible to return and have a broken and raided tomb."

Harry nodded and set to work. He added barrier after barrier then shut the door and warded it. A suction squelch sounded as the doors melted into a solid wall but where the doors use to be was still the intricately carvings of the door.

"Hopefully having no door there will fool most intruders. If not I have a few wards that will make it extremely difficult to break down that entire wall. If they do manage to get past the door then the really nasty wards activate. They will harm or even kill if someone tries to force entry so I would recommend that you spread word not to try to the rest of the dwarfs." Harry said after he finished thirty minutes later and much weaker from the power he placed in the invisible walls.

Cloin nodded still awed at the use of magic and the two walked back to the King's chambers after Harry retrieved a few treats from his trunk to regain some of his energy. Cloin seemed to enjoy the patsy he had chosen.

The next day Harry and Cloin were summoned to the King when he awoke. There Harry again checked the elder dwarf and gave him a fit bill of health. Then he and Cloin briefed him on what had happened to in the chamber and about the wards Harry placed on them as they left. The King was happy with the wards as he insisted he was shown them. Not much later the dwarfs started retreating deeper into the caves and Harry set out once again.

As Harry flew away he couldn't have known that the saving of the Arkenstone would cause so much disruption for Sauron and his forces. For the stone was an source of power that had been forgotten by all but the most ancient of beings that were alive when the gods still walked the lands beside the long lived elf and mortal man. It was a Simaril. A jewel made by and harnessed the power of the gods. Wars had been fought for the jewels and they were all thought to be lost or destroyed during the First Age. Now though one of the powerful jewels hid once more in the possession of the most powerful man on Middle Earth.

Without knowing how powerful some of the artifacts he had in his possession, Harry flew on his broom at top speeds back toward his home. With the dwarfs being attacked he was sure evil had spread else where.

He made a quick stop by Gondor to find that Boromir had left the day before on a quest to answer a dream that both he and Faramir kept having. 'Yes, war is near.' Harry thought to himself as he hurried home.

A/N:

Well things are starting to come together. I have had a few emails stating that Harry is too powerful even after my notes last chapter. Again most of that is because he is fighting the equivalent of muggles. Orks only strengths are that they are strong as a group or just plain strong in general. Harry can litereally sit back and cast some of the powerful spells he has been studying for the past years. That is another thing. Harry is by no means super wizard in all magics. He has a huge library of spells he can use. After all, he has spent over ten years studying spells. He has a passable knowledge in rituals. He by no means can create his own. He's just following instructions already set in place for him. He has a passable knowledge of wards but nothing that could compete with wards around a wizarding house, not to mention has no idea about ward breaking. So obviously there are many areas of magic that Harry is just 'normal' in. That's not to say that it won't change. He does after all have to be on par with Voldemort by the time all his travels are over. He has much to learn and spells, power and strength are just the tip of the iceburg.