Chapter Eight: For Those We Have Lost
Disclaimer: The plot and any fictitious characters are mine, but the Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings universes belong to their respective owners. I'm just messing around with their worlds.
A/N: I found a Sindarin translator online which I am using for the Elvish translations, but I have no idea how accurate it is, so I'll apologise in advance if something doesn't add up. I just wanted to make my story as authentic feeling as possible instead of just using italics.
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As expected, the Ministry of Magic was swarming with Death Eaters. The atrium was occupied with them all standing about awaiting orders, most likely. Draco had Apparated them to a small niche, and just beyond it was a low wall which they crouched behind, barely hiding them from view. They watched as more Death Eaters emerged from the fireplaces and Apparated into the atrium to join the others who were already there.
Hermione looked at them all, comprehending that hundreds had allied themselves to Voldemort. The Order, although they all fought valiantly, would have ultimately succumbed under these numbers. They did not have half as many people on their side to overcome this many enemies.
'We never stood a chance,' Ron said dejectedly, shaking his head and drawing the same conclusion Hermione had.
Draco nodded solemnly. 'No doubt most of the people here were assured of something if they allied with the Dark Lord. Their families would be safe, power, gold…' Draco trailed off, closing his eyes.
'We would have lost, regardless,' Hermione whispered, tears burning her eyes, but she pushed them back. She knew she needed to be strong and keep a level head if they were to make it through this next trial.
The scene before them did make Hermione wonder how on earth she and Harry, just two ordinary magical people, could help in the coming war. How could two mere pieces of jewellery, heirlooms, hold the power to defeat the most powerful Dark Lord ever to have existed? For Sauron, Hermione believed, had to be more powerful than any others as he seems to have manipulated all of them to do his bidding.
Hermione shook that thought away. No, they had to stay optimistic. One step at a time, one trial at a time, one obstacle at a time. No use thinking about what happened in the past or what was happening in the present. There was no use questioning any of it. Hermione just had to trust Dumbledore, even if Draco's words from earlier had shaken that trust again.
Draco sighed noisily, distracting Hermione from her thoughts, and she turned to look at him. 'What's wrong?' she asked in a hurried whisper.
Draco shook his head, turning to the two friends with wide eyes. 'There are a lot more Death Eaters here than there were when I was here last. I'm just trying to work out the best way to get past them undetected. Even with a disguise, it's risky,' Draco explained, rubbing his chin contemplatively.
Ron nodded anxiously. 'We need to get to the book. Are there any back passages that go to the Magical Law and Enforcement offices?' he asked bemusedly, his eyes widening as more Death Eaters appeared.
'Nope,' Draco answered, shaking his head.
'Well, we can't give up now. Dumbledore is relying on us,' Hermione whispered, crossing her arms.
Draco glanced at her, sighing in defeat. All he wanted was to turn around, leave, and try to hide until all this blew over. Draco knew that wouldn't be the case though. If the Dark Lord prevailed in whatever new plan he had brewing, Draco knew he would be six feet under before the end of the week.
Draco glanced back out at the Death Eaters. 'Alright, we need some sort of strategy. Disillusionment Charms will not work this time,' he told them and pointed to some dark hunched figures standing amongst the Death Eaters. 'Dark creatures. Nasty bastards. The Dark Lord has ways of seeing through that type of trick, by using them,' Draco clarified, wondering if they would be able to smell if they were not Death Eaters.
'So, disguises then?' Ron asked, looking back at the Death Eaters. He didn't like the idea of dressing as a Death Eater, but he wasn't sure what other choices they had at this point. Ron would take anything if it meant getting through this and completing their mission.
Draco nodded slowly. 'Yes, I would say that is our only option,' he answered, looking around the area for where they needed to go to find disguises.
Hermione didn't like this idea, but she agreed anyway, somewhat reluctantly. Draco raised the hood on his cloak, followed by the two friends, and beckoned them to shadow him, carefully sticking to the wall as they made their way to a corridor to the left of the masses of Death Eaters mulling around.
Draco led them into the hallway, which was narrow and more secluded from the atrium. They turned a corner, after checking for any Death Eaters, and were out of view from anyone. Draco blew out his breath in relief and opened a door on the right. He pulled them both in before closing the door. 'Lumos,' Draco muttered, and the tip of his wand lit up the darkness revealing them to be in a storeroom.
'This is where they keep the Death Eater uniforms for the new recruits,' Draco whispered, pulling them down and handing Ron and Hermione a set each. Draco grabbed a set for himself, grimacing as he looked at it. He never thought he'd ever have to wear the uniform again. The three companions changed into the gear in silence, discarding their old robes.
They stood for a moment while Draco checked Ron and Hermione had put them on properly. Draco then handed them each a mask, before covering his own face with one of them. Ron and Hermione shared a sickened glance before putting theirs on as well.
Draco moved to the door, tapping his wand on his hand. Three green spots appeared on his hand indicating them, and at the tip of his fingers, there were two red dots. 'There are no Death Eaters in the immediate area, but they're close,' Draco told them, signalling for them to follow him.
Draco opened the door, looking up and down the corridor, before leading them out. Ron and Hermione hurried down the hall after Draco as he led them towards the atrium. Hermione held in her gasp at the hundreds of Death Eaters and dark creatures standing in the lobby, and she felt her confidence slipping a bit.
Ron cursed under his breath, thinking along the same lines as Hermione. 'Won't the dark creatures sense we're not Death Eaters?' Ron asked Draco softly while trying to calm his nerves.
Draco tilted his head, having thought the same thing earlier. After a few moments, he shrugged. 'Just stay calm and follow my lead,' Draco whispered to them, and they nodded.
Taking Draco's advice, Ron and Hermione casually tailed the ex-Death Eater into the crowd while trying to remain composed. Hermione and Ron discerned they didn't seem to be paying them any mind. Both Gryffindor's shoulders sagged in relief at this.
When they reached the other side of the room, Draco headed towards the lifts in silence, followed closely by the other two. Two Death Eaters were guarding the lifts, standing behind the table the Ministry used to inspect wands.
Draco groaned. 'Let me handle this,' he whispered to them, straightening himself up to his full height. Draco was glad he was almost the same height as Lucius and could imitate his voice and demeanour as well. Years of observing his father and admiring him were good for something at least.
The Death Eater guards scrutinised them suspiciously and blocked them when they advanced. 'What is your business here?' one of them asked.
Draco stood still, eyeing them indifferently. 'My business is my own and that of my two companions,' he said, narrowing his eyes at the Death Eater. 'Our Lord wishes for me to search the archives for any information on his device, if you must know. Surely you would not hinder me in such an imperative task,' Draco added calmly, raising his eyebrows.
Hermione and Ron stared at Draco, trying to hide their astonishment at how much he sounded like Lucius. It was frightening, and they felt chills creep down their spine.
The two Death Eaters looked at each other in alarm, before stepping aside immediately. They bowed their heads at Draco. 'Our apologies, Mr Malfoy, we didn't recognise you. Go about your business, of course,' the other said, opening the golden gate permitting them passage to the hallway which held the lifts standing behind wrought golden grilles.
Draco nodded to the two Death Eaters, before leading Hermione and Ron into the closest lift. The Death Eaters closed the gate, and Draco pressed a button on the wall. The three companions clutched onto the gold ropes hanging from the ceiling to avoid getting thrown about the lift when it moved. Predictably, the lift moved back violently, before shooting up. Draco took a deep breath, lowering his head and closing his eyes.
'Are you okay?' Hermione asked Draco, watching him slump resignedly against the wall of the lift.
Draco nodded absently. 'It's difficult to impersonate my father,' he answered, standing up straight and gripping the gold rope firmly as the lift lurched to the left unexpectedly.
When the lift reached the correct floor, the gates opened and a woman's voice spoke from the speakers. 'Welcome to the Department of Magical Law and Enforcement. Please present your wand before entering the department.'
Draco rolled his eyes, leading Ron and Hermione to the next door. Draco took out his wand, placing it on the engraved slot. It glowed green after a moment, and another voice pierced the silent department. 'Thank you for your patience. Work smart, work safe, your future depends on it,' and the door swung open to allow them entrance. 'Have a safe and productive day,' the voice said.
Draco, Ron, and Hermione entered the large room which looked more like a hall than an office complex. Draco led them past dozens of offices and open desk areas, before finally reaching a door with a silver plaque. The golden words "Illegal" were engraved on the plaque.
'Here we are,' Draco muttered, smiling at the other two before reaching for the door handle to open it.
The door was locked.
'Bugger,' Draco whispered, his eyes widening as an alarm sounded, followed shortly by footsteps and shouts emitting from the lift at the other end of the room. Draco sighed, almost in boredom. 'Well, shit,' he added, turning to face the Death Eaters running towards them.
The Death Eaters stopped in front of them, their wands pointed at various parts of their bodies. Draco looked at them all, noting there were only four of them and he wondered if reinforcements were on the way. The three companions didn't dare move or speak.
'Well, what do we have here?' came a baby-like voice they recognised as belonging to Bellatrix Lestrange.
Hermione felt panic rise in her at that voice. It was a voice she had become all too familiar with, and she had never wanted to hear it again. Hermione felt the open wound on her arm prickling, reacting to the close proximity of the one who caused it. Hermione cringed at the pain while forcing herself to remain calm. After they were safe, she would have to remember to use the spell Snape taught them on it to see if it would help.
Hermione touched her wand which was up her sleeve, discreetly casting three Sticking Charms on the masks concealing their identities. Hermione wasn't sure if it would work though if her spells were countered, but it may buy them some time.
Bellatrix took off her own mask, looking at the three of them with a demented smile and a wild gleam in her eyes. 'Let's see, shall we?' she said in excitement, before reaching out and clutching the front of Draco's mask.
Bellatrix attempted to pull it off but failed due to the Sticking Charm Hermione used. Bellatrix tried again, before taking out her wand and pointing it at the mask, but nothing happened. Hermione's mouth twitched, but she fought the smirk trying to appear. It would not be in her best interest to smile at a time like this, but Hermione was grateful and surprised that her Charm seemed to be more potent than Bellatrix's counter-spell.
Bellatrix screeched in frustration. 'Tie them up! I'll get someone who can cut these masks off,' she ordered the other three Death Eaters. 'Don't let them out of your sight or else,' she added before stalking away back down the corridor.
The three Death Eaters nodded. Two of them grabbed Hermione and Draco first, while the third Death Eater cast 'Incarcerous,' at Ron, making ropes wrap securely around his hands. Ron growled when the Death Eater pulled at the ropes, tightening them further before turning on the other two.
Once Hermione was bound, she whimpered at the pain the ropes caused with being pressed snugly against the wound on her arm.
Draco, on the other hand, rolled his eyes as they tautened his ropes as well. 'Now, now, no need to be quite so rough-'
'Shut the hell up!' the Death Eater, who was tightening Draco's ropes, barked cutting the Slytherin off mid-sentence by pushing him into the wall.
Hermione let out an annoyed growl, making Draco, Ron, and the Death Eaters present whip around in surprise. Hermione kicked the Death Eater, who was gripping her ropes, in the tender area. The other two Death Eaters ran towards her, and Hermione kicked the first one on the shin, before drop-kicking the second one, causing him to smack his head off the wall.
Draco raised his eyebrows, smirking as he watched Hermione kick the one on his knees in the face, successfully knocking him out. Draco looked at Ron who was watching with wide eyes, and his mouth hanging open in shock. 'Somehow I knew Granger would save us from this,' Draco said with a chuckle as Ron nodded dazedly.
Hermione turned to them, after her outburst and blew out a breath. She dropped the rope which had been bound around her hands only moments before. 'Come on, we need to get moving,' Hermione said, disregarding their impressed expressions, and untied their hands.
'Bloody hell,' Ron muttered when he found his voice. 'Where did you learn to fight like that?' he asked, letting Hermione unravel the rope around his wrists.
Hermione smirked, and it was one a Slytherin would be proud of. 'I don't like being tied up and my arm…' she trailed off, and Ron nodded in understanding.
Hermione freed Draco from his binds and then removed the Sticking Charms from the masks so they could take them off. 'I think we need to get into this room now. We need to get the book,' Hermione added, walking down the corridor to the door, her wand still clutched in her hand. She pointed her wand at the door. 'Edr- or-' Hermione whispered, in a strange language, and the door clicked open. (A/N: Sindarin Translation: 'Open up,'). Hermione pushed the door open, before perceiving their looks of curiosity. 'Uh… that was a spell Dumbledore taught me,' Hermione muttered with a shrug.
Draco closed the door behind them, turning to look at Hermione interestedly. 'Most spells are in Latin. What language did you use? I've never heard it before,' Draco probed, crossing his arms with a frown.
Hermione shrugged, avoiding looking in Draco's eyes. 'Some form of Elvish, I think,' she replied, pointing her wand at the door and speaking in the same language. The door locked. Hermione turned away from Draco and moved towards the room where all the forbidden books were kept.
Draco and Ron glanced at each other, before eyeing Hermione somewhat suspiciously. 'When did Dumbledore teach you spells?' Ron asked, trying to recall when Hermione wouldn't have been with them long enough to learn them. 'And why was Harry or I never taught them?' he added as an afterthought.
Hermione let out an explosive sigh. 'I was taught them throughout Hogwarts, and Professor Dumbledore could only show me the pronunciations and the mechanics behind it. He couldn't actually use the spells himself,' Hermione answered, shaking her head. 'Not everyone is adept at learning them, apparently. I was one of the rare few who this type of magic answers to,' Hermione clarified with a shrug, turning back to the large section of books.
Ron, sensing Hermione wasn't going to enlighten them any further to this mystery about her, moved to stand next to her. 'Whatever you did, let's hope the door holds,' Ron said, glancing back at it nervously. 'We don't have much time,' he told them, receiving nods from Draco and Hermione. 'Bellatrix left to get others. I'll watch the door while you both look for the book,' Ron suggested, moving over to the door with his wand drawn.
Hermione nodded, turning to Draco. 'Any bright ideas?' she asked, looking at the masses of books crammed onto dozens of floor-to-ceiling shelves.
'It won't be with anything related to Time Travel, obviously. What's the opposite of that?' Draco asked her, looking at the archives which were engraved into a board on the wall.
'I'm not sure, but we both know that only the theory of Time Travel is not illegal. To actually go back in time is a huge felony. It would be straight to Azkaban if the Ministry of Magic were still in control,' Hermione said, going through all the information in her mind which could lead them to where the book was.
Draco nodded distractedly. 'It would be no use to check if a book is missing from the Time Travel section. It would take too much time, and I don't doubt this will be a book Dumbledore placed here himself,' Draco explained, shrugging his shoulders to try and rid himself of the tension building there.
'There are too many books here to search manually,' Hermione agreed, pulling the letter out of her bag and perusing the riddle again, and her eyes widened in understanding. 'There's a hidden message here,' Hermione muttered, taking out her wand and pointing it at the library. 'Revelio Time Travel,' she whispered, and all the books relating to Time Travel glowed green on the shelves.
'There!' Draco exclaimed, pointing to a book nestled amongst the books relating to Law.
Hermione moved over to the book, waving her wand over it. 'Revelio,' she muttered, and the book glowed several different colours. 'Of course,' Hermione said, rolling her eyes. Draco watched as she began chanting in the other language again, the tip of her wand glowing bright blue. Sweat beaded on her forehead as her chant turned into a song, and after a few moments, the book levitated from the shelf towards them. Hermione breathed heavily, wiping the sweat away and shakily reached out for the book.
The two turned towards the door as shouting could be heard from outside. Ron looked back at them apprehensively as the Death Eaters banged on the door. 'You guys really need to hurry it up!' Ron shouted, his wand at the ready.
Hermione and Draco shared a quick glance, before looking down at the tiny book in her hand. 'Time travelling for Dummies!?' Hermione shrieked while Draco couldn't help the chuckle that escaped. 'Dumbledore, this is not the time for your stupid jokes!' Hermione seethed, opening the book and retrieving the letter from inside.
'Hermione!' Ron shouted worriedly, as the banging on the door amplified. 'Colloportus!' he shouted at the door, doubting if it would strengthen the spell that Hermione cast at it earlier.
'Shit,' Hermione muttered, putting the book in her beaded bag, and ripped the letter open. 'Malfoy, go stand with Ron while I figure this out,' Hermione said, and Draco nodded, running to stand with Ron, and pointing his own wand at the door.
Hermione looked down at the letter, skimming it hurriedly.
Dear Hermione, Draco, and Ron,
If you are reading my letter, I trust congratulations are in order.
I enclosed a necklace in my former letter, which you will need, along with this book, to bring you to this time. The necklace functions much the same as a Time Turner, only it has been classified as forbidden due to the distances through time it can allow one to travel.
Once you arrive in this time, I will need the book and this necklace returned to me so I can store it securely. You may have need of it to return back to your time once your mission here is resolved.
Hermione pulled out the other envelope from her beaded bag, and tipped it, letting the necklace fall into her waiting palm. She put the envelope back in her bag and took out the book, before looking back at Dumbledore's instructions.
The necklace is called the "Anann K'ɔvn" which means "Time Void" in Sindarin, which is the Elvish language used by the Grey Elves or the Sindar Elves. As this necklace is more potent than a mere Time Turner, you only need to place it on top of the book and move the top and middle sections until it begins to spin. Once that is done, Miss Granger will need to speak the Sindarin spell at the bottom of this letter. I trust you will be able to enunciate each word.
I have attuned the Anann K'ɔvn, so it is locked onto my location in this time. It will take you to where I am when you arrive. The spell you will need to speak is as follows:
Tul- ammen na a anand i na- lelya-. I ín, 3018, i third anrand, na- where mín baur na n-
As an added note, please be conscious of referring to me as Gandalf in this time to avoid unnecessary confusion. Good luck and Godspeed.
Yours faithfully,
Gandalf the Grey
Hermione read the Sindarin spell to herself, paying close attention to her pronunciation of each word. She looked up as another bang splintered the door, and she knew she had to move fast. Hermione placed the book on the floor, before untangling the necklace hastily, moving the top section and the middle section until it began to spin. Hermione set it on the book, and a bright green aura glowed around them. The necklace floated above the book, still spinning.
'I'm ready!' Hermione shouted at them, and they nodded.
Draco levitated a few desks in front of the door as more banging fractured it even more. 'They really want in here!' he shouted, running over to Hermione, followed by Ron.
Hermione handed them the letter, and the two boys quickly read it before giving it back to her. 'You know a lot of Elvish. I assumed it was just a few spells,' Ron mused, looking back at the door as it was blown to pieces. 'Here they come,' he muttered, already casting spells towards the Death Eaters entering the room in swarms.
'Shit!' Draco exclaimed, firing off his own spells. 'We'll keep them occupied, you just concentrate on the spell!' he told her, and Hermione nodded.
Hermione found it challenging to focus with all the spells flying around, and she knew she was really not safe with her back to the fight going on but she had little choice. They were running out of time.
Hermione closed her eyes, pointing her wand at the book and the spinning necklace. She started chanting the spell which soon turned into a song. 'Tul- ammen na a anand i na- lelya-. I ín, 3018, i third anrand, na- where mín baur na n-' she sang, her wand glowing the same green as the book and the necklace.
Nothing happened.
Hermione stared at the book and the necklace in shock, knowing she said the chant and spell correctly. Suddenly, a wave of magic erupted from the book and the necklace, sending the Death Eaters flying across the room, hitting the wall and sliding down.
Draco and Ron, who were unscathed, ran back to her side as the green glow became a portal hovering just behind the book and the necklace. Hermione watched the necklace clatter to the floor, and the glowing stilled. She grabbed the necklace and the book, putting them into her bag quickly.
The three peered into the portal but were pulled out of their wonder as more Death Eaters entered the room. 'There's no end to them!' Ron shouted, firing spells at them as they advanced on them.
'Ron, come on! We don't have time!' Hermione yelled, moving to grab his arm just as a spell hit him. 'Ron!' Hermione screamed, running towards him, but Draco stopped her.
'Are you mad!?' Draco barked, looking over at Ron.
Ron struggled to his feet, before looking at Hermione and Draco determinedly. 'Go!' he shouted to them.
'No, Ron! You have to come with us!' Hermione cried, trying to fight against Draco. She managed to get free of Draco's hold on her and ran towards her friend, firing spells at the oncoming Death Eaters.
Ron was firing spells at them as well as Hermione reached his side. 'Go, Hermione,' he said, shooting "Incendio" at a Death Eater and setting their robes on fire.
'No, not without you!' Hermione said steadfastly, clutching his arm.
Ron ducked the Killing Curse, and the green bolt flew over his head, singeing his hair. 'You have to get out of here!' he barked, pulling his arm away from her. 'Don't you get it?' he asked, dodging another spell and throwing a "Stupefy" back at the Death Eater. 'I was never included in this mission! Dumbledore only mentioned that I keep you safe, and I have!' Ron shouted, tears threatening to escape, but he ignored them and kept firing spells, taking out another two. He cast Fiendfyre as more arrived, taking them all out.
'No, Dumbledore didn't mean for you to sacrifice yourself, Ron!' Hermione argued, trying to grab his arm again, but Ron pushed her away.
Ron shook his head at Hermione's shocked expression, knowing it would be forever etched into his memory if he somehow survived this. 'Malfoy! Get Hermione out of here!' Ron bellowed, more tears burning his eyes.
Draco sent a few spells at the Death Eaters, before clasping a hand on Ron's shoulder and nodding to him. Draco grabbed Hermione, who was still in shock, towards the Portal. Draco watched Ron fight valiantly against the Death Eaters, while tears fell from Hermione's eyes.
Ron fell to his knees, utterly exhausted at keeping the Death Eaters at bay. He turned to them, tears falling from his eyes. 'I love you, Hermione,' he whispered, smiling at her dejectedly as a Death Eater shot another Killing Curse at him.
'RON!' Hermione screamed as Draco pulled her into the Portal, and everything went black.
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A/N: So, I decided to give Ron a heroic end. After finding out Book Ron had way more depth than Movie Ron, I found I respect him so much more. I read something on Reddit called Book Ron vs Movie Ron and I was shocked at how different he is in the books (I haven't read them in so long!). He is such a cool character, and the movies did him no justice by turning him into an idiot! Unfortunately, Ron didn't fit into the plot of this story, so I had to KO him.
So, RIP Ronald Weasley.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, please leave me a review to let me know how I'm doing. Your thoughts are invaluable to me!
By the way, the Sindarin Elvish spell stands for: 'Bring us to a time that is gone. The year, 3018, the Third Age, is where we need to be.'