Chapter 2: On The Western Road
As Harry passed through the archway, everything went black. His last thought was: Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
When he awoke, the sun was blazing down on his face. Well, he thought, if I'm dead, at least I'm not in Hell. He opened his eyes and saw that it was indeed the sun that was shining down on him. As he sat up, he saw that there was someone lying on the ground next to him. He saw with a surprise that it was Luna. "Oh Luna. Why did you follow me?" he said with a sigh. "You aren't supposed to be here." He said to nobody, as Luna was still unconscious.
Harry slowly got up after checking to see that Luna was okay. He figured she'd wake up in a little while just like he did. He looked around and saw that they were both in a field. There was a stream cutting through the area about 100 feet away from them, and what looked like a dirt path road off in the distance. He breathed in a deep lungful of air. Merlin the air smells clean. There's no pollution at all in it. Where are we? He thought.
He heard a sound behind him, and turning saw that Luna was waking up. "Harry?" she asked, trying to get her bearings. "Where are we?"
"I have no idea Luna, and what are you doing here by the way. I thought we agreed that you'd stay to tell the others what happened?" Harry asked.
Luna sat up, and then matter of factly said "No, you agreed. I never said anything."
"But you nodded yes, that you'd stay.
"You mean like this?" she asked, nodding her head up and down.
"Yes. Exactly like that. You said yes."
"Oh, well I always get those two mixed up." Luna replied innocently. "Besides, it worked out in the end. We're both alive, and now you have someone to talk to."
Harry shook his head, smiling for what he thought felt like the first time in years. "Luna what am I going to do with you?"
"I don't know, but…" she started to say. But then said "Ow!" as she reached under her leg and pulled out a rock. She looked at it for a moment before tossing it away. Then continuing said, "but it looks like you're stuck with me."
Harry shook his again. Trying to argue with Luna would only result in him getting a headache. "Come on." He said, offering her his hand to help her up, "We better see if we can figure out where we are. There's what looks like a road over there," he said pointing to the road he had seen earlier. "If we follow it we should come to a town or something where we can get a message off the Hogwarts that we're both safe."
"Yes I suppose we should. We're obviously in the country somewhere, but I don't see any mountains or anything, so we may not be in Scotland anymore. Maybe we're…" but she went silent, her eyes going bigger than Harry had ever seen them.
"Luna, what's wrong?" he asked, instantly going on alert and pulling out his wand.
"Harry, we're…we're not in Scotland anymore. We're not even in Britain. We're…Harry, this isn't our world."
Harry stared at her, trying to understand what she was on about. "Luna, what do you mean it's not our world? Of course it's our world." He looked around again. "From the look of it, we're probably in the Southern part of England somewhere. Maybe around Manchester."
Luna had put her hands up to her temples as she shook her head. "No Harry, you don't understand. Every place on Earth has a magical echo. A resonance in other words. And it's always the same no matter where you go. This place is different. It's unlike anything I've ever sensed before. This is NOT our world."
What the hell is she talking about? Harry thought. This is strange even for Luna. "Luna, what are you talking about? How can this not be our world, and what do you mean by it different?"
Luna didn't reply, but looked at Harry like she was deciding something important. Finally she said. "Harry, you have to promise me you'll never tell anyone what I'm going to tell you. No one."
Harry looked at her, but it wasn't the look on her face that got his attention, but the look in her eyes. Luna was deadly serious.
"On my life." He said, stilling in her eyes.
"I'm a seer." She said softly.
Harry blinked. "What? A seer? You mean like Trelawney?"
Luna shook her head again. "No. Professor Trelawney was more a prophet than anything else. A seer only comes around every thousand years or so. We can foresee what's going to happen in nature. What's going to evolve. What new plants or animals are going to come into existence, and how the ones we have now will change over time." Harry looked at her blankly.
"But we can also see how the earth is evolving. How it's changing." Then after pausing for a moment, she added softly "and we can also influence those changes."
Slowly, Harry asked, "What do you mean you can influence them. Do you mean you can change evolution?"
"Yes. We can change it a little, or a lot if we want to. We can create animals that aren't supposed to be here yet, or kill off others that are, and we can change how the planets ecological system works."
Harry shook his head. "Luna, that's impossible. You're talking about creating life out of nothing. That's impossible. Nobody can do that."
"Harry, do you remember reading about Morgana le Fey?"
"Morgana le Fey? Isn't she the witch that was trying to kill Merlin? What's she got to do with this?"
Luna sighed. "Harry, Morgana le Fey was a seer. She was also the person responsible for bringing the Dementors into our world from the dark realm, and it's because of her, that it's an automatic death sentence to be found to be a seer today. We're considered far too powerful, and far too dangerous to be allowed to live."
"Just how powerful are you Luna?" Harry asked. Not sure he wanted to know.
"As far as regular magic is concerned, no more powerful than the average witch or wizard. But my other abilities give me the power to destroy the planet…if I wanted too."
Harry was stunned at the magnitude of what Luna had just told him. This sixteen year old girl had just told him that she in effect held the lives of every single living thing on the planet in her hand.
"Luna, does anyone else know this?"
Luna shook her head. "No. The only other person who knew was my mother, and she was training me so that I'd be able to control the power and never let anyone know what I was. But when she died, I was all alone. Even Daddy didn't know."
"But why are you telling me? I mean, you didn't have to. You could have made up something and I would have believed you. Why are you trusting me with this?"
Luna smiled. "Because out of everyone I know, you're the only one who would be able to understand what it's like to be this different."
"Luna, I…"
"Do you remember two yeas ago. You were talking to me in the Great Hall, and I was telling you about the trip Daddy and I were going on to Sweden that summer? I told you that we had gotten a lead on finding a Crumple Horned Snorkack there. Ronald was there with you."
"Yes, I remember. What about it?"
"Well after I left, you and Ronald left to go to class, and Ronald started on about me. Asking how you could put up with "Loony Lovegood" and that I was absolutely mental."
"I remember." Harry said. "But how do you know what he said? You'd left."
"Well I forgot one of my books, and I went back for it. I crossed your path in the hall and heard you both talking about me. Do you remember what you said to him?"
"Ah…" Harry said thinking back to that day. "Not word for word. I do remember not being happy about what Ron said about you though."
"You said "Everyone has to be something Ron. Luna is just being Luna, and that's good enough for me." She smiled again. "After Mama was killed, you were the first, and only person…well, except for Daddy and Neville, who truly accepted me for who I was, and you were someone I knew would never try and hurt me. As nice as Ginny was, even she didn't do that. Oh I knew you didn't believe most of the things I usually said, but you never tried to belittle me or what I was saying. You just accepted that they were part of who I was."
Harry stared at her, unsure what to make of this statement. Finally he asked, "The whole "Loony" thing was just an act wasn't it? Part of trying to hide who you really are?"
"Mostly, but not entirely. You see I can literally see the tides of change in the world. I can see all the living things that are in our world. Also the ones that were, and the ones that will be. That kind of thing can drive a person…loony, if they don't find a way to block them out. But the wall I had to put up to block them out and protect myself also makes me appear more than a bit spacey to normal people. Nobody wants to be around someone who's obviously crazy. Around Loony Lovegood. But you saw through that wall Harry. It didn't bother you that I was different. That's why I told you."
"So does this mean the Crumple Horned Snorkack doesn't really exist?"
Laughing, Luna replied, "No Harry it doesn't. Well, not yet anyway."
"Not yet?" then thinking about what she had told him asked, "How long then?"
"Oh not too much longer. Maybe another seven hundred years or so. Give or take a half century."
Harry chuckled. "Well then I'll be sure to set my clock. I wouldn't want to miss the little bugger would I? Come on, if this is a different world, then we better get off down the road and see what's in it."
"Okay, if you want." Luna said dreamily, and Harry knew she had put her wall back up. They were starting off towards the road when Harry stopped.
"Why'd you stop? Do you see something?"
"No," Harry said. "But I want to do something before we start out." And then pulling out his wand, he held it up and said "I Harry James Potter, head of the Ancient and Nobel House of Potter, swear on my magic and my life, never to reveal in writing or by spoken word, the secrets told to me this day by Luna Lovegood. So Mote it be!"
A blue light formed above Harry's head and traveled down the length of his body to the ground as the magical oath took hold.
Luna looked shocked. "Harry, You didn't have to do that. I would never have asked you to."
"I know you wouldn't have, and I also know I didn't have to. I did it because I wanted to." He replied as he stowed his wand back up his sleeve.
"Thank you." Luna whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"Merlin, what is it about me that always makes girls cry?" he asked as he wiped the tear away gently. "We better get going."
-=ooo000ooo=-
Harry and Luna had been walking along the road for almost three hours. They had found another small stream that had crossed near the road, and after Harry had transfigured some rocks into military style canteens, alone with a few charms to expand the internal size of them, and keep the water fresh, they now had enough water to do them for a few days. Harry figured they held about 50 liters each, but the canteens weighed almost nothing. Now all they had to do was find food. He saw that there was abundant small game all around them on the lands, but he didn't want to have to kill anything unless he had to. He'd killed enough in the last month.
As they walked, he gazed at the surrounding landscape. He was amazed how much it looked like their world, and yet not. It was just so green! The only place he could compare it to were pictures he had seen of New Zealand. But a New Zealand of eight or nine hundred years ago. And the air! It was just plain weird to breath in air that didn't have the slightest trace of petrol fumes in it. All he could smell were the surrounding trees and fields. I could live here. He thought to himself. I really could just chuck the whole wizarding world and stay here for the rest of my life. Build a small house, find myself a nice witch…Hell! Who am I kidding? She didn't have to be a witch…fine myself a nice girl, settle down, and have the family I've never allowed myself to even dream about. Who knows, maybe if we can't get back…maybe Luna and I…
But he was brought out of his thoughts suddenly by a sound. A "CLIP" "CLOP" sound coming from behind them. He turned to Luna. "Luna, do you hear that?" he asked.
"Yes I do. It sounds like a horse and cart coming up the road from behind us." Luna replied, and Harry saw that while the dreamy look was still on her face, she also looked more thoughtful than usual. "Do you want to get off the road, or wait and see who it is?" she asked.
"Let's wait and see who's coming." Harry answered, "but keep your wand ready…just in case."
"Yes, that would probably be for the best." Luna replied simply.
Harry didn't really have to keep his wand "ready" because it was in his wand holster. A spring loaded auror model he had gotten from Ollivanders last year which was capable of snapping his wand into his had almost instantly. He also had his invisibility cloak on him. He had gotten into the habit of carrying it with him at all times after Dumbledore had told him before term started two years ago to keep it on wherever he went. He was glad now that he had it. He and Luna could both use it to hide if necessary.
They didn't have to wait long before they saw the source of the noise. It was indeed, as Luna had said, a horse drawn cart. But it was the man driving the cart that made Harry's breath catch in his throat. He was a tall man, over six foot, and from the look of him, very old. He was wearing long, dusty grey colored robes, a silver scarf, and a tall blue pointed hat. He also had a long white beard. One that stretched down to his waist.
"Dumbledore…" Harry said, barely above a whisper.
"No, he's not." Luna said. Her dreamy look and sound completely gone now. Not that Harry, in his shock, had noticed. "But he could be his brother." She added.
-=ooo000ooo=-
The old man saw the two strangely dressed youths standing by the edge of the road. Well well. He said to himself. This is strange indeed. I wonder what two big people are doing this close to the Shire? They could be from Bree I suppose. But they're dress is so strange. I've never seen anything like it. He slowed up his cart when he got to where the two were, and stopped. "Hello." He said to the two. "One doesn't see many big people on the road this far West of Bree. Especially ones so strangely dressed as you two. May I ask your names?"
The young man stepped in front of the woman at his side, and at first the old man thought it was the young man putting himself forward as the more important of the two, but he saw immediately this was not the case. The young man was putting himself between the young woman and a possible threat. He also now felt the raw power radiating off the youth.
"Good afternoon Sir." The young man replied politely, although a bit stiffly. "My name is Harry, and this," indicating the young woman, "is Luna. May we ask your name?"
The old man noticed the youth, although he had been courteous in his response, had never taken his eyes off him. This boy reminded him of a serpent ready to strike at the slightest sign of a threat. He would have to be very careful. "I am called Gandalf," he replied. "I'm a Wizard."
"A Wizard? There are wizards in this world? The boy named Harry asked.
"Indeed there are young Harry. Not many, but a few. And unless I am very much mistaken, there is now at least one more, maybe even two?" he asked.
He saw the boy stiffen slightly at this statement, and he knew that what he had felt had been correct. This boy was indeed a wizard, and a very powerful one. He also felt power coming off the girl as well. Not as much as the boy, but she also seemed to be much more relaxed. He saw her put her hand on his shoulder and whisper something to him. Some of the tenseness seemed to go away as he asked her "Are you sure Luna?" To which she replied with a simple "Yes."
The boy relaxed further, and Gandalf felt the power surrounding the boy fall to a barely noticeable level.
"I'm sorry, " the boy named Harry said. "But you can never be too sure with people you don't know. Luna has told me you mean us no harm, and I trust her feelings completely." He said, looking at the girl for the first time. "Let's start again. My name is Harry Potter, and my companion is Luna Lovegood. We're a witch and wizard."
"Well I am known by many names, but here in the North I am known as Gandalf the Grey, and it's is a pleasure to meet you both. It's been a very, very long time since I've met a new wizard and witch. Are you brother and sister, or husband and wife?"
Harry blushed slightly at the husband and wife question, but replied "No, neither. Luna and I are both seniors at a school of magic where we come from. A school called Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts? That is a strange name for a school. I've never heard of it. And I know of nearly every place in Middle Earth." Gandalf said.
"Middle Earth? Is that where we are?" the girl named Luna asked.
"Indeed it is. But how is it you don't know that?" Gandalf asked the pair.
"We're not from this world." Harry answered. "We were both involved in a war in our world, a magical war, one we both helped win. But it was very hard on us both. We both lost many of our friends, and we needed a place to come to where we could get away from the memories of it for a while. A place away from the death and killing."
Gandalf saw the haunted look in the eyes of the pair as Harry said this. But before he could say anything, Luna asked, "You say we're in Middle Earth. Where exactly in Middle Earth are we? We've been walking along this road now for a while, and you're the first person we've met."
"You are between the village of Bree in the East," Gandalf told them pointing back in the direction he had come from, "and the village of Hobbiton in an are known as the Shire, which is another two hours or so ahead of you along this, the Western Road. It's the Shire that I'm heading to."
Harry thought about this for a moment, then asked Luna, "What do you think?"
"Well, I'd like to see it if you do. What do you think Mr. Gandalf. Do you think Hobbiton would welcome two strangers?"
"Well Hobbits tend to be wary of "big people" as they would call you both, but they are also a caring people who are good judges of character, and would see quickly that you mean them no harm, and as I am on my way there, I can give you a lift. It would also give us a chance to talk on the way. We may be able to help each other out."
Harry looked at Luna again as if asking "You want to go with him?" She simply nodded. "Thank you for the offer of the ride." He said to Gandalf. "We accept." And after climbing on board the cart, helped Luna up as well.
Gandalf snapped the reins and the horse started off again alone the road at a steady pace. "Ah, Gandalf, one thing. What did you mean by we can help each other out?"
"I am on my way to Hobbiton to have a meeting with a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. I made a promise to his uncle many years ago that I would see to it that he had some adventure in his life. That and I also promised to help a company of Dwarves regain their birthright. By putting the two promises together, I can do both at the same time, and make it safer for all concerned." Harry didn't say anything, he just nodded, figuring Gandalf would continue. He did. "You and your companion were unexpected. I never expected to find another wizard along the way, let along a wizard and a witch. Both of whom are very powerful. Would you both consider going along to keep an eye on the group and hopefully keep them safe?"
It was Luna that answered. "What would we be doing if we went, and what did you mean by helping the dwarves regain their birthright?" she asked.
Gandalf smiled. "What do you both know about dragons?