Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does. And I don't own Charmed either. I do however own the plot and Tristan.

Ok, I know I haven't updated in forever but give me a break! For some stupid reason unknown to everyone including me I signed up for advanced classes and the teachers are all slave drivers! Not my fault! Plus I kept going on trips all throughout my vacations and btw, my laptop died. (My grandmother threw it off the balcony…I would have been more pissed had they not promised me a new laptop and had not she been sick with Alzheimer's). Plus my stupid boyfriend cheated on me by sleeping with another girl and I found this out by a girl that used to be my friend. That's my sad (albeit true) story. Enough rambling however!

BTW: I changed my pen name; It was Twilight Soldier now it's Twilight Solstice

Thank you so much to all the wonderful people who reviewed! I love you so much! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It was cos of the reviews that I tried to update as soon as possible! Thanks to those who Story Alerted/Favorited my story. But please leave a review too!

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I Will Follow You Into the Dark

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"I'm hungry."

Harry bit down his groan. He had heard this complaint for the better part of the morning. And it was always from the same person. Pippin. The young hobbit would randomly make his remark (which was mostly directed at Strider or himself) and wait a second. Harry had yet to react to the annoying plea but Strider would sometimes indulge the hobbit.

For example, if Strider was feeling not so annoyed, he'd only throw maybe one apple at the hobbit's head.

That irritated Harry at first but soon he felt the need to start throwing things at the hobbit too. Plus, Pippin kept asking uncomfortable questions. Questions he'd rather not answer in Strider's presence. More than enough times however, Frodo seemed to sense his distress and told the younger hobbit to stop. Which he did…for a while at least.

"It's time for breakfast!" announced Pippin quite loudly. Harry didn't even slow his pace. He'd quickly grown accustomed to Strider's ability to whisk some apple from the air and chuck it the hobbit's head with an astonishing accuracy. This time proved to be no different as Strider quickly held an apple at hand at threw it in Pippin's direction.

The hobbit finally, after three days and about five hundred apples, seemed to catch on. Pippin quickly and clumsily caught the flying fruit before it had a chance to rearrange his face. As Harry turned back to give Pippin a derisive retort, his keen Elvish eyes managed to catch Strider's movement and he sighed, turned back and continued his brisk walk.

"Ow!" he heard Pippin's yelp and Harry found that his sympathy had all but run out. He did however glance at Strider and found the man clutching something from within his cloak.

An apple.

And Strider was smiling…slightly.

"So that's how you did it…" Harry mused out loud and he seemed to catch the man's attention as gray eyes suddenly bore into him.

What unnerved Harry more than the man's enigmatic personality was the color of his eyes. The very much reminded him of Sirius… which in turn reminded Harry of Tristan which in turn gave him a migraine. Therefore, Strider's eyes were very much a problem…plus they looked like they could see him for all he was worth. Which in turn was a pain in the ass.

Therefore mathematically, in Harry's mind, Strider equaled a pain in the ass.

Heh.

"Stop staring." The man's voice was demanding and snapped him out of his daze. "I do not care if you like what you seem to see." On that note Strider broke his own gaze and walked further up front.

Huh?

Harry was left a little bit stunned…and greatly embarrassed and annoyed.

"You just remind me of someone!" Harry finally snapped as he caught up to the ranger. Strider however only increased his own pace and Harry had a strong inkling that Harry's dislike of the ranger was quite mutual…

Pft.

…which was absurd! Harry had done nothing wrong…yet. But maybe Strider was just prejudice against elves. Harry frowned at this thought. But he mentally smirked as Strider's breathing seemed to be a little labored. Harry however felt like he could possibly sprint and still talk. Ha! Take that you smug, arrogant, prejudiced—

"A lover perhaps?" came Strider's taunt. "For your gaze speaks miles of love and adoration. Or maybe…you've fallen for my good looks and charm." If there was a hint of a teasing tone in his voice Harry missed it. He halted for a second which in turn made him almost trip but he quickly recovered and continued his, now, angry pace.

"A lover!? You!? What kind of person do you think I am—"

"I take you as the type of person to fall in love with a mirror—"

"I could possibly fall for your good looks and charm…but YOU DON'T HAVE ANY!"

"That only labels you as one very desperate elf."

"Bite me!"

"Well then. I was wrong. You're one very desperate sexually frustrated elf."

"Ugh!" Harry felt the words leave his mouth before he could stop them. "I've never even had sex!" Oh…damnit.

"Thank you for proving my point, but seeing as how I've grown quite uncomfortable with this subject of conversation I suggest we end it and not speak to each other unless it's an issue of dire significance." Strider drawled and Harry felt the vein in his forehead throb. "In addition, I'm sure the hobbit's don't want to hear about your—"

And then they both halted at the same time and shared a look of horrified trepidation.

They both slowly turned around and found the surrounding area quite empty except for themselves only. Strider growled and threw Harry a sharp glance, clearly blaming him for forgetting about the hobbits…and the ring.

Harry couldn't help but laugh nervously as he tried to use his sharper eyesight to see if he could find their missing companions. He didn't take long. They weren't far off and it would only take Strider and himself less than five minutes to reach them. So he let the disgruntled ranger know.

"Hn." Was all he replied and quickly walked away leaving Harry alone and just slightly exasperated.

The sad part of this whole thing was that this had been their first lengthy conversation since they'd met.

What a crappy first impression and even worse first conversation.

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They'd walked for another day and a half and not once had Harry had the courage (or enough irritation) to start a conversation with Strider. The man however seemed quite content with the silence and that only served to make Harry feel even more annoyed and just a tiny little itty bit…hurt. Not that he'd actually confess this out loud.

"This is the Great Watchtower of Angmar.(1) We shall rest here tonight." Strider declared. Harry looked up to see some sort of stone structured building on top of what looked like a hill. It was now getting darker and they still had to reach the "Watchtower". Harry glimpsed at the hobbits and noted that they all looked quite tired, Frodo especially.

"You alright?" Harry asked the dark haired hobbit as he maneuvered his way towards him. Frodo merely looked up at the elf and gave a slight smile.

"All is well Calanon. All I need is a little rest. Maybe some food…" Frodo said quietly. Harry only nodded and he looked to Strider who was eyeing Frodo somewhat with concern.

"Then let's quicken our pace shall we? Come along hobbits." And Strider walked a bit faster. Harry also gave them encouragement and just before night fell they reached their makeshift shelter. Strider quickly set to take out a few knives and small swords. He handed them to the hobbits. "This is for you. Keep them close. I'm going to have a look around." Strider turned to leave and then he paused and gave a quick look back at them. "Calanon? Join me if you please." And he walked off.

Pippin, of course, was the first to comment. "What a lovely man…" the sarcasm was very clear and Harry laughed.

"I better follow. Be careful. I'll be right back." He shot an extra look to Frodo before bounding off to find Strider.

It didn't take him long as the man was patiently waiting for him just a few yards away from where the hobbits were. Harry slowed his pace so that when he stopped he was facing the ranger and was at a comfortable distance apart. Strider took a minute before he spoke.

"Calanon." He acknowledged.

"Strider." Harry said back in the man's own tone.

"Gandalf did not mention an elf would be accompanying the ring bearer. I imagine someone like you wouldn't so easily slip through Gandalf's thoughts…" Strider turned and began to walk, obviously expecting Harry to follow like some loyal dog.

He did, but not because he was a loyal dog; he followed because he wanted answers too.

"And Gandalf didn't mention some shady stranger on an agenda to lead us through the woods to me either. Is Strider even your real name!?" Harry all but snapped. 'And if it is, your parents must have hated you.' Harry added mentally if only to insult the man, even if it was all just in his head.

"No. It's not. Nor is it my intention to divulge this information…not to you at least. Not until I get my answers." Strider's voice was carefully monotone and Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Let me make my intentions clear. I do not trust you. Not completely at least. My mind might ease when we meet up with Gandalf and he can explain…but until then I don't want you out of my sight."

"I don't trust you either—"

"It's a reasonable exchange." Strider interrupted and Harry fell silent…that and he was fuming. They walked for quite awhile and Harry had the vague sense of walking in circles.

"Elrond." Strider suddenly spoke. Harry looked up and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Is it my turn to say something totally random? How about pie?" Strider ignored his jibe and looked at him.

"Does the name Elrond hold any significance to you?" he asked. "Anything at all?"

"Not particularly, no. Why?" Harry's eyes narrowed. Strider surprised him by sighing and running a hand through his hair.

"Your appearance somewhat marks you as a member of his House. You could pass as his son…" the thought seemed to be amusing to the ranger as he gave a little wistful smirk. Harry meanwhile just settled for giving the ranger an odd look.

"…thank you…I think."

"I do not mean to be so…strict with you but these are hard and suspicious times. Relying your trust so easily in someone could result in an unpleasant end." Strider's eyes held some slight guilt which quite frankly surprised Harry. "Maybe in time and when this is all cleared up I can grow to like you. Your friendship at most seems to be very entertaining."

Oh. Wow.

Harry scratched the back of head and titled it at the same time. "And here I thought you were some type of muggle robot. I guess I could grow to like you too." Harry felt the goofy grin on his face quickly fade as he noticed Strider's sudden confusion and forming frown.

Opps…?

"Muggle…? Robot…? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with those terms. Would you care to explain—"

Harry was saved from explaining anything when a shrill and soul piercing screech filled the air. Strider quickly took out his sword, which informed Harry he had to take his own sword out too. Strider than began to run towards the hobbits shelter and Harry quickly followed. As they ran Strider began yelling at him.

"Those were the Nazgul! You can run faster than I! Run up ahead! Help them!"

Harry quickly sprinted up ahead before Strider could finish his sentence.

He ran through a bunch of trees and mentally cursed Strider for taking them so far away from the damn shelter. He also cursed the ranger for making Harry run through this entire flora! He could feel the trees and branches and other random vegetation scratching his face and tearing his clothes. He quickly reached the Watchtower and began to ascend the rocks at a rapid and hasty pace.

What he found though made his blood run cold.

The hobbits were all surrounded by the Nazgul and just the look of them sent a familiar feel of terror through Harry's body. They looked so much like dementors that Harry immediately stopped and then admonished himself for acting so childish.

"Back you devils!" Sam yelled and although Harry somewhat admired his bravado he couldn't help but think it was a stupid thing to do. The little hobbit obviously wouldn't be able to take them on, and for that matter, would Harry be able to?

"Here goes nothing…" he whispered.

And then he ran into the fray, his sword drawn and he attacked the Nazgul nearest to him. He managed to knock it backwards but that gave him a leeway to be able to put himself between the devils and the hobbits. He brandished his sword and mentally came up with a plan to how to best take some of the bastards down before he himself was killed or before Strider came in with a better plan.

"Move aside elf!" the Nazgul's voice was heavy and thick. It sounded like it was wheezing but it sent a very slight shiver of unease through him.

"Make me!" Harry snarled back and then he charged. He sent his sword through one of them before ducking and having one of them spear another one of his companions. From the corner of his eye he kept a watch on the hobbits whom seemed to be fairing quite well considering their size and lack of battle capability.

And where the hell was Strider!?

"Aah!" Harry made the horrid mistake of turning when he heard one of the hobbits yelp in pain. Because when he turned he didn't see the sword come right at him in time. He did manage, by some stroke of luck, to move just an inch before he felt the blade cut into his side. He gave a pained cry as he staggered back. He held the sword up and ran a hand down his injured side then brought it back up to his eyes, only to see that it was covered in blood.

"Damnit!" he cursed and with his hand still on his wounded side he continued to fight. He glanced from side to side and saw that Pippin and Merry had been knocked down and Sam was holding off one of them with a frying pan of all things and Frodo—

Where the hell was Frodo!?

Harry quickly ran his sword through the two he was fighting, not caring or checking to see if they had died or not and ran to where six of the Nazgul were crowded. Unfortunately, he was blocked again by the same too. Although now he saw that Frodo was indeed the center of attention of that particular group. He saw when one of them came up to the poor hobbit and he couldn't help but scream at said hobbit when he stumbled back and dropped his sword of all things. Harry hacked at the Nazgul blocking him and he felt absolute hate at these things because Frodo was alone, dealing with those things and Harry couldn't help because he was stuck with these two fucking dementor wannabes in his way. And—

The Nazgul was about to stab Frodo.

"Fucking damnit!" Harry snarled and he hacked and pushed his way closer even though he couldn't stop it and—

It was by instinct and pure desperation that Harry suddenly threw his hand out. He felt it happen and watched as the Nazgul threatening Frodo seemed to be blown away by an explosive force. (2)

Harry paused for half a second before he turned to the rest of the Nazgul and began to just blow them away. He was so busy taking his anger out on the stupid cloaked bastards that he didn't notice Strider join the fight until a Nazgul next to him caught fire. He turned and saw the man carrying a torch and quickly taking out the remaining Nazgul. As the last one caught fire Harry turned back and ran to Frodo who was being supported by Sam.

"Frodo!?" Harry kneeled down and looked the hobbit over. He seemed shaken and terrified but otherwise quite fine. At a second glance Harry noticed that he had the ring clutched in his hand and in the back of his mind Harry theorized he must have slipped it on some time during the skirmish, making it so that Harry couldn't see him.

"I'm alright." The hobbit gasped. Harry sighed in relief and let out a yelp as he was suddenly pulled up from his position and forced to face Strider.

He'd used magic, didn't he?

"I can explain!" Harry tried but Strider seemed to hear none of it as he looked towards Harry side.

"Carelessness in battle is not so hard to explain." Strider murmured and Harry grew confused until he felt a sharp and painful throb in his side. He looked down and noticed that his shirt, on the side, was heavily covered in blood.

How strange…

"The wound is deep and is beyond my skill to heal. Added to the fact that it was most likely a Morgul Blade that pierced you, we must get you some Elvish medicine. From the looks of it, it seems it merely just cut and didn't embed itself into your skin but we must hurry all the same. You're losing too much blood!"

Harry slightly resisted when Strider laid him down on the ground and lifted the side of his shirt up.

"Is he going to die!?" Pippin asked, his voice very high pitched.

What a funny thing to say…

Strider said nothing as he ripped part of his own cloak into shreds and wrapped it around Harry's torso. Out of boredom and the fact that his eyesight was doing funny things, Harry turned to stare at Frodo who looked oddly terrified and guilty for some reason.

Must be the ring…

"You know…jewelry is really girly." Harry told the hobbit in all seriousness. He turned to stare at Strider as the man grunted. Harry looked to his side again and noticed that the blood was seeping through anyways. "Bad nurse." Harry murmured.

"This will not stop the flow of blood for long." Strider lifted him up and Harry hissed as his side was brushed. "We must hurry to the House of Elrond. Calanon, hold on."

Sam quickly stood up. "But we're six days from Rivendell! We'll never make it!" he exclaimed and Harry turned his head so he could see the hobbit. Sam looked like he was about to cry.

"Not dying…" Harry found it funny he couldn't find the right words to say. His mouth just said things… "Been worse…"

"Calanon! Please forgive me!" Frodo told me even as Strider began to walk and the hobbits hurriedly followed. "If I hadn't—"

"Sshh…Not…your fault…mine…." Harry's eyesight was getting steadily worse and he wondered what the hell was happening. He had a vague sense of being detached from his body… and what was his fault? Why was Frodo apologizing for anyways…?

There was someone he was supposed to call in case he was dying right…? Harry's vision began to experience black spots everywhere. The black spots reminded him of shimmering lights and pretty blue ones. Was he dying? Was this what it felt like to die…? Maybe he could see Sirius again…

Harry let go of the thoughts he was thinking, as he suddenly felt very tired. He closed his eyes and fell asleep to Strider's voice telling Sam to do something. The darkness was very calm and relaxing.

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(1) My friend told me that's what that Watchtower was called. So blame her if it's wrong! :p Sorry but I haven't seen the movie or read the book in a long time! At least, not entirely. I've skimmed through them both…kinda. Let me know if its wrong so I can go back and change it!

(2) Okay, if you've ever seen Charmed then you know Piper Halliwell has this power to blow things up by waving her hands and using her mind(?). I've decided to give Harry this same power too. He'll gain other ones eventually but I wanted this one to come first. :)

Sorry I haven't updated in forever! I love you all who reviewed and gave positive feedback! Please keep doing so!

Please Review!

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Twilight Solstice (Formerly Twilight Soldier)