Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I don't own HP or LOTR
A/N: What happened to all my usual reviewers? I haven't heard peeps from you guys are you still there?
A/N: I am also going to do a bit of time of Aragorn mucking around before the plot really starts to form.
When Gandalf awakened it was seven o'clock. To his great surprise the young Ranger was still sound asleep. Aragorn was most likely trying to shy away from the things that had happened to him in the past week, it was nine o'clock when he finally woke up.
They had missed breakfast, but Gandalf didn't care for he had to speak to Aragorn.
"I am sure you have a good explanation for what happened last night," Gandalf said, turning to the half asleep Ranger.
"Gandalf, she saved my life. She has the right to know who I truly am. Please understand, I have never had a true friend," Aragorn bowed his head so his tears could not be seen.
Gandalf sighed, walked over and placed his arm across the Ranger's shoulder, "What about Legolas?"
"I mean, apart from Legolas and he is much older than me."
"Aragorn, I am happy that you have made a friend. I just want you to be careful"
"I will, but right now I am hungry."
Gandalf laughed at the young ranger "We can see what Dumbledore can do for you."
Gandalf gave Aragorn a change of clothing, but told him that he did not trust him with his weapons when there was much that could set off his natural instincts as a Ranger to attack. They then made their way to Dumbledore's office; Dumbledore once again scared Aragorn with magic when he made food appear for his breakfast. Dumbledore noticed that once matters moved onto his and Gandalf's problems that the young Ranger was bored.
"Estel, last night I spoke with that staff and they agreed that if you are quiet and do not disrupt their lessons that you may hang around and watch." Aragorn smiled in thanks before turning to leave, "Just try not to get lost," Dumbledore called after him.
Aragorn heard voices coming from different classrooms. Then he heard a familiar voice, 'Umbridge!' he thought, '
Time to have fun.' Aragorn casually knocked on the door.
"Enter," came a voice, Aragorn opened the door and stepped in side. "What do you want?" she demanded.
"Not the welcome I was expecting, but it'll do, Dumbledore told me he had spoken with the staff and they had agreed that if I did not disturb their classes I could stay and watch."
"If you are quiet from now on I will let you stay."
Aragorn nodded his gratitude.
For the first few minutes Aragorn merely and watched the proceedings. It was very boring; all they did was read.
'Time to disturb the class,' Dumbledore and Gandalf had forgotten about the ranger's most secret weapon….
Meanwhile in Rivendell, a statue of a man tall and proud was been placed in a small garden, Gilraen clutched at Elrond afterwards. She was now left alone.
Her nephew, Halbarad walked over to her, his eyes full of sorrow.
"May he find peace," Halbarad whispered.
Gilraen wept on his shoulder.
Aragorn slipped his hand into his boot slowly removing his knife and cutting his hand.
He then replaced the knife before making a whimpering noise in the back of his throat so as not to sound childish. Umbridge took no notice, but a few of the children at the back did and saw his hand. They were about to comment when Aragorn smiled wickedly and placed a finger over his lips. They nodded and turned back to their books. Looking around the class he could hardly believe it. He had just happened to come into Hermione, Ron and Harry's class.
Aragorn pulled a handkerchief out to dab the wound. 'It's a bit deep', he though, but it wouldn't kill him. He just hoped his knife was clean. Now he made a grunting noise as it went over the wound.
This time Umbridge took notice of him, "You are disturbing my class," she said politely with a fake smile.
"Sorry I just cut my hand," Aragorn started to wrap the handkerchief around it but the blood quickly soaked through.
"Come here so I can heal it," she insisted.
Aragorn shook his head insisting that he didn't need help. "Once I return to the wilds I will not have the privilege of magic. I will take care of myself" Aragorn bowed his head before continuing to wrap his hand up. For a minute there was silence. Aragorn didn't like silence, so he quickly made a hissing noise that could not be ignored.
Umbridge glared and snapped back to him "If you can not do that quietly, then you can leave the classroom now."
Aragorn's eyes flashed, "Come now, if it was up to me I would not still be in the school but that's how things go."
Aragorn decided to take a risk with his fun, "Umbridge I was….,"
"That's Professor Umbridge to you."
Aragorn Pretended to try to say the word quietly to himself before shaking his head, "What exactly are you teaching here?"
"Defence against the dark arts,"
Aragorn quickly thought up something smart to say, "Well they aren't doing much defending. How in the name of the Valar
do they learn like that? I still have scars from been taught to defend myself!"
Umbridge tried to glare the ranger down, but with the stubbornness that could rival an Elf's he stayed calm and composed. Suddenly Umbridge screamed. "Stop the bleeding it's dripping on my rug!"
Aragorn looked down, "It is too, but I'm sure magic can fix that, so tell me how are they defending anything?"
"Are you questioning my way of teaching?" Umbridge demanded.
"Yes,"
Umbridge glared at the man with hated, "You had better watch yourself. I do not think your teacher Gandalf would be pleased if he found out about how you are behaving."
The bell rang and the students left, Aragorn quickly left with them. Once outside many people thanked him for disturbing the end of the lesson and asked if he would be okay. Harry, Ron and Hermione came out and straight away went to Aragorn.
"Are you alright, Strider?" asked Ron looking at his hand.
"Nothing I can't take care of," smiled Aragorn, "do you guys have time to go somewhere private so we can speak about what I told Hermione last night?"
Hermione shifted slightly, "I haven't told them yet. I thought it would be best if you did."
Aragorn smiled, "That's alright, do you have time?"
"Sorry no, we have Charms but maybe afterwards." Harry looked at his timetable "We have break and we can talk then."
"Gandalf wanted to talk to me then, so maybe some other time,"
The Trio nodded before leaving.
Aragorn followed the path he had used to find his way to Umbridge's class. Half way back to Dumbledore's office, Aragorn saw something familiar following the almost invisible piece of string. He came upon a few stones that were stuck out. Pressing them, the wall swung around and Aragorn found himself in a small passage way. He gave his eyes a second to adjust before following. It he came to some stairs, which he slowly and quietly walked down. At the bottom there were some vents that looked out onto the ground he had just been standing on and looking out were red haired twins. They looked to be related to Ron.
"Very good, bit average but effective," Aragorn smiled, leaning against the wall.
The twins jumped and stared at him in amazement.
"How are you so quiet?" one asked.
"How did you know where the trap was?" asked the other.
Aragorn smirked, "I was trained by the Elves so I can move as quietly as any, and my brothers…I mean the twins sons of Elrond have played that
prank before several times."
"How did the Elves teach you?"
"Who are the twin sons of Elrond?"
Aragorn once again laughed, "I was raised by the Elves and Elladan and Elrohir are the sons of the half Elven Elrond of Rivendell."
Aragorn was bombarded with more questions.
"How is he Half Elven? Actually I don't want to know."
"Where is Rivendell?"
"Elrond was given the choice between mortality and immortality. He choose to be immortal. I do not understand how. Rivendell is a hidden valley in Middle- earth, but Middle- earth is your world thousands of years ago. And please don't ask any more questions. I deem you have somewhere to be."
The twins looked at each other, "No," they said in unison.
"Alright then…,"
They were disturbed by a screeching sound. All three of them ran forward to the vents and looked out to see Umbridge being swung around. Little did she know, the more she struggled the faster it went, she was using her hands to keep her underwear private and her body to struggle against the ropes.
McGonagall was quick to arrive on the scene. She helped Umbridge down.
"I imagine it was the Weasley twins, and I wouldn't be surprised if that Estel was involved," complained Umbridge.
"I highly doubt it, Dumbledore assured me that he would not get involved with them. He gave Gandalf his word."
One of the twins turned to Aragorn, "We better get you out of here and back to Dumbledore's office before she accuses you in front of Gandalf and you are found to be missing."
The twins quickly led Aragorn back to Dumbledore's office. After saying 'good luck', they parted. Aragorn composed himself before entering.
"You're early," commented Dumbledore, "by an hour in fact."
"I know I just cut my hand" Aragorn said taking his seat next to Gandalf, "how are you two going?"
"All is well, now let me see the cut," Gandalf grabbed Aragorn's hand that was wrapped in the blood soaked piece of cloth, "How did you manage this?" Gandalf noticed how deep the cut was.
"I cut my hand on my knife in my boot," Aragorn admitted having the weapon.
"Give me the knife, Aragorn I know you see no problem with having it, but we can't risk you being provoked." Aragorn took out the knife and passed it to Gandalf, "Now I am no healer, so don't expect anything like Elrond's results."
Gandalf had started to examine the wound when Umbridge burst in.
"Dumbledore, that boy helped the Weasley twins in a prank," she shouted, pointing at Aragorn. Aragorn made an offended face but said nothing, letting Gandalf speak for him.
"Estel gave me his word that he would not get involved with those two and I trust him."
"Explain to me how I got caught in the Weasly twins trap and he did not," Gandalf turned to Aragorn for an explanation.
"My bro…. Sorry, I mean the twin sons of Elrond often play that trick and I recognised it and avoided it."
Dumbledore nodded, "There is your explanation, I think you are been unfair on Estel for after all, he is wise for his age and responsible."
"He also disturbed my class."
"I did not mean to I cut my hand……,"
"AND he questioned my teaching," Gandalf turned his piercing eyes to Aragorn, demanding an explanation.
"I don't see how the children learn to defend anything, magic or not, by pure reading."
Gandalf sighed, "Estel, how they teach, is different from how you were taught back in Middle- earth."
"I know it's just so confusing." Aragorn was now acting; he was growing tired of Gandalf badgering him.
"Now look, Dolores, you are just disturbing him, he has done nothing wrong," Dumbledore looked over to where Aragorn sat, not looking very happy at all.
Umbridge stormed out of Dumbledore's office. After she had left, all three of them agreed that it was best that Aragorn should just wonder around outside and not go to any more classes that day.
At dinner, Umbridge stood up, but unlike when Dumbledore or McGonagall spoke, the room did not go quiet. She finally had to shout, since none of the other teachers showed any interest in helping her. Finally, after getting everyone's attention a large disgusting smile spread across her face, "We are having a visit from the minister of Magic tomorrow," she said.
The whole room groaned. Aragorn stiffened, he doubted this meeting would be pleasant, "As such, I expect this place to be in good condition and sparkling clean."
"Lets start with you, I think you need to leave, than the castle will pass the inspection," Aragorn said, rocking his chair onto its back legs.
The students started hooting, laughing and shouting in agreement and even, beneath his stern gaze, Gandalf was secretly laughing at the Ranger's words.
Umbridge turned to Gandalf, "If you were any kind of teacher, you would teach him to stay silent."
"I am but his mentor to advise him and look out for him, manners were taught by Erestor. If Estel learnt nothing, that is not my fault."
"He gave up so easily and we would spend most lessons writing poetry or reading poetry from times long past," Estel said casually, swinging on the chair.
"We are with you, Estel, throw that hag out!" Estel made eye contact with the Weasley twins. Umbridge suddenly turned and backhanded Aragorn. His chair fell back and he hit his head on the cold marble floor. People gasped and Gandalf crouched down at Aragorn's side lifting his head. Aragorn was bleeding.
Dumbledore turned to Umbridge, "Watch yourself! Estel and Gandalf may do nothing, but if Lord Elladan, Lord Elrohir and Prince Legolas hear of this they will hunt you down to protect their brother and friend."
"They are back in their own world and can do no such thing," Umbridge sneered.
Gandalf looked up, "That may be but I can still summon them here."
Aragorn moaned, "No don't I don't want any harm to come to any of them,"
Gandalf pushed Aragorn's hair away from his face, "Promise me you won't get them involved," Aragorn was near losing consciousness, "Please!"
Gandalf sighed, "You have my word." With that Aragorn passed out.
Back in Middle- earth, Prince Legolas arrived at Rivendell to mourn the death of a friend.
A/N: I would like to thank my reader Lindahoyland