Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I don't own HP or LOTR

When Aragorn awoke he was in his and Gandalf's chambers. He sat up but regretted it when his head started throbbing painfully and he lay quickly back down. It was obvious he was alone. Aragorn tried to fall asleep again, but whenever he closed his eyes, he only saw the eye of Sauron telling him that he would be found.

Finally Aragorn was fed up with it and stood up and got changed. When he walked out into the hall his head started pounding and he got a headache. His vision turned blurry and he started to stumble. He was falling but he felt two sets of hands grab him and saw Elladan and Elrohir.
"We have you your alright, mate," one twin whispered, Aragorn didn't have the energy to speak or react, he just passed back into the welcoming dark.

Aragorn awoke and he was in Dumbledore's office with Gandalf was next to him with a look of extreme worry on his face. Tears started to well in Aragorn's eyes, "You promised," he choked, "then you lied."
Gandalf's brow creased with confusion, "Estel what are you talking about?"
"The twins are here. They found me, you promised you wouldn't summon them."
Gandalf sighed knowing what had happened, "Estel, the Weasley twins found you, you must have hallucinated that they were your brothers."
"Gandalf what's wrong with me?"
"Nothing is wrong with you, the blow has just made you not think straight for a while."

A while surprisingly, was only a few hours then Aragorn's mind began to clear and he started to think rationally.Aragorn actually felt well enough to go and wonder around the castle.
"Aragorn, before you leave I think it is best you avoid Umbridge," warned Dumbledore, "Also if you see Fudge, don't do anything without thinking. Remember you are not in the wilds."
Aragorn nodded. He wouldn't do anything without thinking. Actually, since his return to sanity he had been thinking deeply, oh so very deeply, not of what had happened to him or what Umbridge had done to him, only about his revenge on her, but he would need assistance.

Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the classroom and noticed that the Slytherins were looking a bit worried. They sat down; Snape entered as usual and was about to start the lesson when there is a knock on the door.
"Enter," Snape was obviously annoyed.
The door opened and Aragorn stepped into the room, "Do…do you mind if I stay and watch?" he asked for some reason unknown to any but Aragorn whose hands were shaking.
"Very well, maybe you could learn something while in here."
Aragorn nodded. "I do hope so,"

Aragorn was given a seat at the side of the class, and then once he was settled Snape started the class.
"Would someone from Slytherin give me the answer to the question about Athelas?" No one spoke or raised their hand. "Very well someone from Gryffindor then?"
All the Gryffindors raised their hands. Snape almost jumped, "Very well Mr. Weasley why don't you give your answer?"
Ron cleared his throat, "Athelas, or more commonly known as kingsfoil, grows in the north of Middle- earth, has very strong healing powers, not to mention a beautiful smell, Athelas is often used by the rangers of the north for injuries in battle. A mixture of athelas and Grim-polion can make a potentially fatal mix if not used correctly other wise there is no risk in using athelas,"
"May I ask where the Gryffindors got such a well described answer?" Snape asked, barely able to hide his surprise.
"Hermione," most of the Gryffindors said in unison.
"And where did Miss Granger get the information?"
"I got it from Estel," Hermione answered.
Snape turned to Aragorn, "And how do you know about Athelas?"
"I am from Middle -earth, I live in the north so I often come across it," Aragorn shrugged to make it appear as no big deal.
"Well then maybe you could help me," Snape said truly interested in this young man.
"I'll do what I can,"

Snape then started the actual lesson, "Today we will be learning about potions made with Athelas," He turned to the board and waved his wand words appeared on the board: 'Healing potions', it read.
"Now, firstly I would like to say we are in short supply of Athelas, so use it sparingly," Snape then turned to Aragorn, "Do tell how you treat a deep cut in your hand that needs herbs, because it is a deep cut?"
Aragorn sighed then recalled the information, "Athelas mashed with the Lavender will help slow the bleeding so you can wrap it up and it will then heal."
Snape nodded, "He is correct and during this lesson we will be making a strong version of that," Snape waved his wand and ingredients appeared on the board.The students got to work and started to make the potion they were told to. Aragorn meanwhile read over the ingredients and noticed something, "Professor Snape?"
Snape turned to him "Yes?"
"That is incorrect, if you mix in lavender before the grinded seeds it will not even out."
Snape looked at the board then back at Aragorn, "I can assure you that the ingredients and order are exactly correct."
Aragorn became more desperate, he didn't want anyone getting hurt and his hands now shook uncontrollably, "I must insist that they are incorrect. I was raised by the greatest healer in all of Middle- earth, and have learnt all this stuff."
Snape saw Estel's hands shaking, " What is wrong with your hands?"
Estel looked down at his hands, "I am not sure, Gandalf just told me they would be like this until I was out of shock from what happened last night."
"Very well, but would you be so kind as to listen to what I say and not contradict me?"
Estel shook his head, "I tried to warn you, but you will not listen I will leave the antidote ingredients for what is about to happen on your desk and leave."
Aragorn left the dungeons and came up into the entrance hall and came face to face with Fudge.

000

Legolas embraced the twins; he let the tears freely flow down his face. Estel, one of his closest friends were dead and he had barelystarted his life, "Why must one so young suffer so much?" he whispered to the twins, his voice broken with tears.
Elladan looked at the prince sadly it was a question he could not answer, Estel was gone and there was nothing any one could do about it.
"Come Legolas let us go inside," Elrohir said prying himself from Legolas' grasp. Legolas nodded, the moment he walked into the house of Elrond it was different from the last time; the house was quiet and full of tension. It was not the same without the grubby human running around.

The rest of the day in Rivendell was grim. Legolas spent most of the time with the twins near Estel's memorial that had been placed in the child's favorite Garden. Elrohir suddenly laughed, drawing the attention of the other two elves, "I remember the time that Estel was playing with fire and almost burnt down the garden and ever since it had been his favorite."
Elladan nodded, that day was burned into his mind. Legolas sat in silence not even smiling at his friends' memory; he had not moved since he had sat in the Garden. He missed Estel. The Twins fell suddenly silent. Legolas looked up for the first time to see Lady Arwen in a black dress entering with a single red rose in her hands.
She placed it on the memorial before turning to the three other elves, "Lunch is being served when you are ready." She suddenly began to cry and ran back into Elrond's house.
Elladan turned to Legolas, "She hasn't been the same since Estel's death."
"I don't think any of us will ever be the same especially not Halbarad, who has had a sudden interest in being a black smith," sighed Elrohir, standing up.

After lunch the twins and Legolas spent the afternoon talking about things that had happened when Estel had been alive. Legolas didn't attend dinner, but before he turned in he looked up at the stars the stars he and Estel had watched not but a year prior and suddenly felt Hope But hope of what? He asked himself.

000

Aragorn jumped back in surprise, "Good day," he said politely.
Fudge looked at him as if he was some kind of disease "Should you not be with your teacher?"
'I have leave to go around the castle as I please."
"I will see about thatsoak up that freedom, because after today you will not have that right." Fudge started to walk away.
Aragorn called after him, "Do you think you are some kind of God?"
Fudge spun around, "Do you think that these children benefit from you constantly strutting around this place like you are the king? If you were any kind of leader you would ask these children about what they think and what should be changed, instead you make them hate you!" The bell rang and students flooded out to see one of the strangest things ever.
Fudge raised his hand and just missed Aragorn, as he ducked with amazing speed and spun his leg out kicking Fudge to the ground.

"Estel! Stop Now!" Every one turned to see Gandalf coming down the stairs with Dumbledore and his eyes were full of fury.
Estel immediately shrunk down in stature; he would never try to be higher then Gandalf. Gandalf grabbed Aragorn by the back of the neck and Aragorn didn't dare struggle.
"What do you say Estel?" There was a lot Aragorn would do for Gandalf when he told him to, this was not one of those things.
"Make me !" he challenged. This was very dangerous ground he was now on.
Gandalf slightly increased the pressure on the back of Aragorn's neck.
"I am not going to apologies for saying what must be said,"
"Estel you are walking on a very thin rope," warned Gandalf.

But the Ranger would not budge he was been firm with his decision, "I am not going to apologise."
"Last chance, Ranger."
When Gandalf called him 'Ranger' he knew he had dug himself a grave, but he still refused to budge. Gandalf threw Aragorn down and he fell to his knees. Before anyone could say anything, water bombs started to fall from the roof and Aragorn knew the Weasley twins were helping him. He would make sure their help was not in vain, he quickly stood up and ran for dear life.

He ran straight into the twins when he arrived in the stair well. "Our plan obviously worked," smiled one.
"Yes even my brothers would praise you."
Aragorn was about to correct himself when one of the twins raised his hand. "We know what you mean, but I think you better hang low we have a place you can hide." The twins ran off with Aragorn right behind them.

Back in the hall, Fudge was shouting at Gandalf, "Can you not control that boy?"
Gandalf lost his temper, "Actually I can't. He has a will of his own and was raised with creatures who embraced the need to be out doors and be free, Estel's best friend is about as wild as they get."
"Why would you let a child be raised by such creatures?" shouted Umbridge.
"It was not my choice but his mother's and she choose that Lord Elrond the Half Elven should raise him. And for the past eighteen years Estel has been living with Elrond and his sons, until recently when he decided to return to his own people."

Before the fight could get worse Dumbledore stepped in, "Gandalf, our first priority is to find Estel, as you have told me he likes high open places and we don't want to find him somewhere he shouldn't be," Gandalf nodded and they went to look for Aragorn unaware that he was having the time of his life In one of the secret passages with the Weasley twins.

A/N: due to other commitments Lindahoyland can no longer be my reader, so I am going back to how it was before and no longer using a reader to check my work I may take offers from people if they truly wish to correct me. I would also ask all my loyal fans to take a look at Lindahoyland's Amazing works.