Chapter 13: What Happened in Isengard
"Get down," Gandalf said, and Frodo dropped to the floor while Gandalf grabbed his staff. Once at the window, Gandalf jabbed his staff onto a body hiding beneath the window. There was a short cry and Gandalf tossed his staff to Frodo and he grabbed the collar of Samwise Gamgee's shirt, pulling him into the room. Frodo had never seen Gandalf so angry…but Frodo heard a brief snicker that seemed to come from the pocket…could the ring speak?
"SAMWISE GAMGEE, HAVE YOU BEEN EAVESDROPPING?!!"
"Please sir, I was just trimming the hedges," Sam said, looking rather worried.
"Tad late to be pruning daisies don't you think?"
"I…I heard voices—"
"What did you hear? SPEAK!!!"
"Not much: just talk about a ring and a dark lord and the end of the world, that's all, Mr. Gandalf, sir. Please, sir, don't turn me into a tea cozy," Sam said.
Gandalf tried not to snicker as badly as the ring was now (the ring was actually laughing, but it was barely heard by anyone but Gandalf). "No? Well, I have a better use for you, Samwise."
The next day at dawn, Frodo and Sam were led by Gandalf to the edge of Hobbiton, there, they bade goodbye for now and Gandalf headed off, leaving Frodo and Gandalf to fend for themselves in the vast wilderness, telling them that he would meet them again in Bree.
"But first, I will speak to the head of my Order; he is both…wise and powerful…"
"Malfoy? Wise and Powerful? My, my, my, Harry, are you in denial?"
Shut up, Hermione!! Gandalf thought and the ring's connection with him died for just a few moments. "I'm off, remember, head to the Inn of the Prancing Pony, located in Bree. I bid you well, my friends." With that, Gandalf left at full speed on his horse. Though he desperately wished to just apparate to the borders of Isengard, but then he would need a horse to get him the rest of the way to Orthanc. It would be easier just to go by horse, though quicker by apparation.
Within a week, Gandalf arrived at Orthanc and saw Saruman. Trying to rid himself of his hatred of him, he headed towards him.
"So, trouble brews in the East as the return of the Sauron approaches, armies are gathering in the West and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard, seeking my council," Saruman spoke, smirking. Gandalf buried his annoyance with Saruman. "For that is why you have come," it was not a question.
Gandalf nodded.
The walked around Orthanc, discussing the happenings in Middle Earth; finally Gandalf brought up his discovery. "Saruman, the Ring; it has been in the Shire all this time."
"What?" Saruman hissed, growing pale. "Honestly, Potter. Your love for the Halfling's leaf is dulling your senses. Not that your love for the Dark Lord didn't as well."
"I am aware; all this time, it was right under my very nose. How I didn't recognize it until now is…"
"Positively irksome, Potter."
"Malfoy, Hermione didn't just find the Ring."
"Of course, someone had to give it to her. Pray tell, Gandalf: how did you sneak a ring that would soon be the symbol of our doom to the Dark Lord?"
"She was unaware of how I did it herself. It was in fourth year. She was studying and I convinced Pavarti Patil to put it in Hermione's book bag."
"I thought that she would have gotten it from the Witch King if that was the case," Saruman said, shocked.
"I had liked her for a long while then, just unable to say anything about it, especially with Ron around."
"Ah, yes. Weasley ended up with an elf, am I correct?"
"His son is Elrond Half-Elven."
"I never would have thought Elrond to be Weasley's son!"
"Can we get back to the real problem, Malfoy? Hermione's Ring; what can we do while we still have time?"
"Time?" Saruman asked. "What time do we have left? Come," Saruman led Gandalf into the tower. "Sauron's forces are growing even as we speak. She is breeding an army larger than any we've ever seen before. From the South, evil men gather before her. In the East, the Eye has set itself upon Rohan, seeing everything," Saruman smirked again at Gandalf's expression. "You know of what I speak of. A great Eye: lidless, wreathed in flame. The pupil being where her body is regenerating; once she gets the ring, she will be able to use her new body."
"How do you know this?" Gandalf asked in a hurried whisper.
"I have seen it. Palintir's still come in handy, don't they, Potter?" Saruman led him to a room where a pedestal stood in the center, covered by a black cloth.
"Malfoy, Palintirs are dangerous. It is folly to use one so carelessly."
"Why?" Saruman asked. "Why should we fear them?" He pulled the cloth off and Gandalf wrenched the cloth away from him.
"They are not all accounted for; we do not know who else might be watching," Gandalf explained, placing the cloth back on. The Eye saw him.
Gandalf wrenched himself away from the Palintir.
"The hour is later than you think, Gandalf," Saruman said. "Sauron has sent out the nine."
"What! She already sent them!?" Gandalf shouted. He felt his hands shake with rage, worry, shock, and fear.
"They will find the One Ring, and kill the one who carries it," Malfoy said calmly.
"Frodo," Gandalf whispered, he hastened toward the door and it slammed shut. He went to the other door and it did the same. The other doors followed suit. He looked at Saruman.
"You think you can defy the will of Sauron, Potter? There are none who can. Embrace the darkness and Sauron will make you higher above even the Witch King. She will share her power," Saruman said.
Gandalf looked into his eyes and saw the same man that Sauron used to be. This was not a changed man. This was Draco Malfoy. Gandalf smiled. "Tell me, Saruman, how long has Hermione been toying with your mind?"
Saruman glared and stood. (AN: remember the Wizard's duel in the LotR movie... good…this is HP twist) Jabbing his staff in Gandalf, he shouted,"Expelliarmus!" Seconds later, Gandalf fell down, shocked at the new twist the spell had.
Gandalf had had no need for the spell since the death of Voldemort. He knew that staffs, which had replaced wands years ago, could modify spells and make the simplest spell an attack.
Gandalf forced the spell back and it hit Saruman. It almost seemed like Second Year again during the Dueling Club. But this time, when Saruman finally had enough, he stretched out his arm.
"Accio," Gandalf's staff flew out of his hand and Saruman added Gandalf's own staff to the duel, with Gandalf weaponless. "Crucio," Saruman hissed. Gandalf screamed as the returning sensation of the Cruciatus Curse tingled painfully around his body. "You have but one choice, Potter; join the Dark Lord, or join Weasley in hell. Wingardium Leviosa!" Gandalf floated in the air and seemed to be flying upward. Screaming, he hit the ceiling and passed out.
