Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

**Speaking through the mind: Bold Italics.

A/N: I am so sorry for taking ages to update. To be honest, I lost my muse and although I had the entire plotline planned for this story, I got stuck with the mechanics of this chapter. Which is whyyy I would like to give a huge shout out to PrincessSerenity96, who, without her, I wouldn't have found the inspiration to post up this chapter. So thank you, because of you, I finally gained my muse back and I will start updating the next chapters in regular intervals! XD

Chapter 13:

The impulse to abandon Thorin Oakenshield and Company and materialize back into her Realm was a tantalizing notion. To just close her expressive emeralds, concentrate on the first place she ever considered to be her true home, and vanish from Middle Earth, without anyone being none the wiser until it was simply too late… the mere idea beckoned her, like a compulsion or a siren call. Unfortunately, in an act said to be wholly rare for the Girl-Who-Lived, her common sense overrode her impulsive nature, for Gandalf made a decent point earlier in the day. Trust goes both ways, and if they were meant to be aiding one another in their objective quests, then Lux-Vita had to extend an olive branch, not only to fulfill her duty as Keeper of the Realms by establishing allies for the unforeseeable future, but as a devoted goddaughter; she would never allow her personal feelings and obstinacy to further risk any hopes of locating Sirius.

And so, after Bombur's scrumptious dinner had been effectively wiped clean, Lux-Vita grudgingly remained by the Company's side and patiently awaited the onslaught of questioning that she was promised to be on the receiving end of. When the silence became too awkward to bear, she huffed in irritation and met the icy orbs of the uncrowned King, "Well…? What would you like to know?"

Taken aback by her willingness to divulge, Thorin deftly concealed his shock at the girl's direct approach. Despite his hubris, and the fact that he was an irascible and difficult dwarf, Thorin was exceptionally astute and in tune with his surroundings, therefore, he easily detected the girl's reluctance in regards to sharing information with them and he had his suspicions over whether or not the girl would depart Middle Earth without their knowledge in an effort of escaping the imminent inquisition. For that reason, Thorin kept a watchful eye on the ruby-haired girl. However, he should have known by now that the human was a girl of her word, irrespective of her disinclination towards the entire matter.

All eyes were on the uncrowned King, in anticipation of his first inquiry. Thorin radiated an air of overconfidence and cleared his throat, "Why is that, that creature so devoted to you? Who are you to garner such unwavering loyalty and profound respect?"

Lux-Vita inwardly groaned, but just as she was about to retort smartly in an effort of deflecting the inquiry, her orbs connected with proverbial twinkling ones, and she sighed in acquiesce, "In my Realm, among the magical community, I am a… well, to put it bluntly while not sounding arrogant, I am famous among witches and wizards." Fíli, Kíli and Ori gaped at her in awe, prompting the witch to shift uncomfortably and fiddle with the hem of her shirt; she hated being put on a pedestal, and she hurriedly continued before any interruptions could be made, "I am hailed as the Girl-Who-Lived, and as of the end of last year, I am widely speculated as the 'Chosen One'," she huffed in annoyance, making sure to insert quotations at that blasted moniker that irked her.

Her ambiguousness was not appreciated by the cantankerous King, "And why are you hailed as such?"

"Two decades ago, conflict arose in the British magical community, fueled by prejudice, not unlike between the dwarfs and the Elves," and here, she shot the twelve dwarves a contemptuous glare that prompted Gandalf's lips to quirk into a diminutive smile in response, "And it all started with a dark wizard – a terrifyingly powerful and evil wizard who wished to subjugate those he deemed to be filth and unworthy of not only magic, but life itself."

There was a mystical, eerie and captivating quality detected in Lux-Vita's tone, and the Company couldn't help but lean forward in interest, most notably Ori; even Thorin was entranced by the girl's narration, though he smoothly concealed it.

"The aforementioned wizard was christened Tom Marvolo Riddle, but he hated having a common name and so he dubbed himself Lord Voldemort; an anagram of his name," recognition flickered in fifteen pairs of eyes, vividly recalling the scabrous monstrosity that emerged out of a man-sized cauldron upon viewing the horrifying memory not long ago. "Voldemort was feared by many to the extent that nobody dared utter his name, preferring to call him He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, or You-Know-Who," she sneered in disdain for a moment before pride colored her features, "except for my Headmaster, my parents, my godfather and a few of their friends who rallied against him. He wanted to rid the wizarding word of Muggleborns, that is, a magical person born to non-magical parents. Most Purebloods, who make up the majority of the elite in the wizarding world, supported him, sharing the same beliefs and some even willingly enslaved themselves to him, for despite him being pure evil and unmerciful, he could be very charming when needed to be; his initial weapon during his youth. He not only commanded the majority of Dark witches and wizards, but magical creatures as well. And with this power and growing supporters, he waged war against the Light."

The ruby-haired witch paused for a breather and collected her thoughts. Fíli, Kíli, Ori and Bilbo had expressions of utter horror in response to Lux-Vita's tale; the elders however, grimaced in comprehension, them too having suffered through wars and tyrants. Sauron may have been before their time – excluding Gandalf, but Smaug and Azog were not, and they sympathized with the human girl.

"Homes were destroyed, those who do not possess magic and Muggleborns were raped and slaughtered, and some were mutilated beyond recognition. Voldemort and his Death Eaters inspired terror and nobody knew who to trust anymore," Lux-Vita's face flushed in apoplectic rage at the reminder of Wormtail's betrayal. "Friends could be enemies, supporters of the Light could be spies for the Dark… it was complete and utter pandemonium." Emeralds solemnly took in each member of the Company as she recalled what Sirius once told her, "Imagine what my kind went through… you don't know who his supporters are, you don't know who's working with him and who isn't; Voldemort could control people so that they do terrible things without being able to stop themselves-"they vividly remembered the incantation cast on the human girl upon witnessing the memory, and how she remarkably fought his command, and a grimace etched their visages at the plethora of victims that succumbed to that fearsome word. "-You're scared for yourself, and your family, and your friends. Every week, news come of more deaths, more disappearances, more torturing…The Ministry of Magic's in disarray, they don't know what to do, they're trying to keep everything hidden from the non-magicals, who are also dying, in hopes of avoiding a full-scale war with them. There's terror everywhere… panic… confusion… that's how it used to be. That was what Voldemort generated."

Fifteen faces paled in horror at the detailed description. Immersed in the vivid portrayal, Fíli unconsciously whispered, "What changed?"

A bitter smile appeared on Lux-Vita's visage, and confusing the Company, she simply said, "I did."

Sucking in a deep breath, she collected her bearings whilst attempting to detach any emotion in order to reveal the next part of her tale, one that left a profound scar on her – physically, psychologically and emotionally. "Fifteen years ago, Voldemort targeted my parents," emeralds glistened with tears, and her voice sounded strangled, consuming the twelve dwarfs, the lone hobbit and the Grey Wizard with dread, "My parents, James and Lily Potter stood up to, and escaped from, Voldemort three times already and they continued to prevail and fight for the Light side, and- and Dumbledore advised them to go into hiding under a powerful charm called the Fidelius Charm, therefore, the only way our home could be found, was if the secret keeper divulged our location of his own volition. One night, I was only fifteen months old at the time, Voldemort appeared at our doorstep. My parents fought bravely, but, in the end… they were- they were no match for him and he swiftly killed them-"

Her voice broke and she suddenly felt two hands interlace with her own; she spared Fíli and Kíli a gratified smile as they succeeded in giving her the strength to carry on, "Voldemort trained his wand on me and he cast the Killing Curse, but… but it rebounded. The magical backlash destroyed him and I was left with naught but a scar on my forehead." Fifteen pairs of eyes automatically raked her forehead, their curiosity regarding the peculiarly shaped scar finally satiated. "I am the only person alive, in history, to ever survive that curse, and for that reason I was hailed the Girl-Who-Lived, and since I rid the wizarding world from his tyranny, despite it being temporary, I became famous and am basically worshiped by all."

"How did you survive, Lass?" Balin vividly recalled the sinister curse that swiftly killed her fiancé and he felt awed over the mere fact that she inexplicably survived. Lux-Vita smiled sadly, "According to Dumbledore, my mother's love saved me. She sacrificed herself for me and defied Voldemort when he bartered her life for mine, and that pure act of love, of-of selflessness, it evoked a brand of old magic that acted as some sort of protection."

Dwalin however, was curious over a particular anomaly and he gruffly asked, "Who betrayed you?"

The redhead's face darkened, a metaphorical thundercloud looming above her head as she clenched her bony hands into fists, crescent-shaped marks digging into her creamy palms. However, sadness lingered in her expressive, otherworldly emeralds. "My father and godfather had a strong, unbreakable bond of friendship, mischief-makers to boot, both enjoying wreaking havoc along their way, very much like Fíli and Kíli here," a half-smirk appeared on her plump lips as the two pranksters in question puffed up proudly, engulfing the Company with laughter. "Upon their arrival at Hogwarts they befriended Remus Lupin, my honorary uncle, and Peter Pettigrew. The four of them created mischief and mayhem, sparing nobody from their pranks; they became known as the Marauders, and their close bond only became stronger as they matured into adulthood, and it reached a point that they would gladly protect one another with their lives. No questions asked. No hesitation. …When Dumbledore suggested the Fidelius Charm, naturally, my godfather was the obvious choice," all levity dissipated, and even Thorin felt a shiver at Lux-Vita's hardened expression, cold tone and flinty orbs, "And therein lay the conundrum. Sirius would be an easy target. So, he came up with a brilliant idea; the ultimate prank. He proposed Pettigrew take up the mantle while Sirius act as a decoy. None but my parents, Pettigrew and himself knew of the change in Secret Keeper. Unfortunately, the filthy rat traitor was a spy for Voldemort and he unremorsefully shared our location."

A plethora of insults were bellowed in harsh and rapid Khuzdul. Traitors were not taken lightly by the loyal Race of Dwarfs and Dwalin's hand itched for his trusty dual axes, Grasper and Keeper.

"But sending us to our deaths wasn't enough for the traitor," Lux-Vita venomously spat out, her eyes finally connecting with the horrified expressions belonging to each member of the Company, "With his Lord vanquished, and my inexplicable survival, Pettigrew no longer had the protection of the Light or the Dark. A day later, Sirius confronted him, but the rat had another ace up his sleeve. Since Sirius was thought to be the Secret Keeper, he bellowed for everyone to hear of his betrayal, blew up the street, killing twelve Muggles, and cut off his finger, before transforming into his rat form and scampering off. My godfather was tossed into the wizarding prison without a trial, where he rotted there for twelve years until he managed to escape."

Silence descended upon them. Thorin could comprehend now why the human girl fought hard to keep her story guarded, for it was no happy tale… but one filled with darkness, betrayal and torment.

"So, your majesty," Lux-Vita announced in a biting tone, and the uncrowned King sensed those otherworldly emeralds were gazing deep into his soul, eliciting a half-shiver that, in the recess of his mind, he admitted to be not an entirely unpleasant sensation for some confounding reason. "Is your curiosity abated? Or would you like to continue dredging up hurtful memories for me to re-experience?"

Like whiplash, all feelings of guilt the human girl's tale evoked, faded away like mist. Thorin found himself preferring the weak, catatonic version of herself when compared to the impertinent, bullheaded and brazen girl seated a few feet away from him. Pools of pure sapphire hardened and disintegrated into chips of ice, regarding Lux-Vita with utter disdain, "You would do well to keep in mind to who you speak with such blatant effrontery!" Thorin elegantly got onto his feet, glaring down at the human with loathing, jutting his chin out aggressively. "You are naught but a stranger traveling alongside my Company, and I have every right as the Leader and as King to demand knowledge of your background. So in the future, keep that acid-tongue behind your teeth!"

Lux-Vita bridled in fury as a result of his tone and his caustic words, steadily meeting polar eyes with a flinty stare, her emerald gems hardening like steel at the nerve of that-that insufferable dwarf! The ambience was shrouded in intense tension that could be easily cut with a butter knife, only broken by the dissonant singing of cicadas in the background; absently, Lux-Vita wondered if cicadas actually existed in Middle Earth.

In a manner of forced calm, Lux-Vita flicked her wrist, her holly wand loyally appearing in her hand from its holster. The Company's reaction was immediate; Dwalin was the first to menacingly raise his war hammer in the air, which set off a fluid chain reaction. Only Fíli, Kíli, Ori, Bilbo and Gandalf remained nonchalant, the prospect of Lux-Vita moving to attack Thorin not once, not even for a second, crossing their minds.

"Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!" Thorin bellowed a mighty war cry, and Lux-Vita couldn't help but aggressively roll her eyes when the ten dwarfs raised their respective weapons in the air and forced the three younger dwarfs and Bilbo in the formed circle – all four of whom were attempting to halt their overreaction.

Lux-Vita scoffed loudly and with a simple flick of her wand, all her belongings that were scattered on the ground, levitated into the air and neatly packed themselves into her beaded bag. Another flick, and the beaded bag shrunk so it could snuggly fit in her sock. "How anticlimactic," she drawled out, ignoring the twinge of pain in her heart for being treated like a threat. Emerald eyes absorbed the dwarfs, their weapons raised in the air in an offensive stance, and betrayal shone through when they met Balin, Bofur, Bombur, and Bifur, the four elder dwarfs she foolishly believed to have trusted her.

"Even after everything I told you," she spoke in a deceptively soft tone, which made her appear terrifying – not that Thorin would ever admit. "I shared my past, my burdens, my titles. I extended an olive branch, believing that if you were given insight into my past, you'd be less wary around me," every word was carried away with the wind, and slowly, a few dwarfs lowered their weapons, guilt and shame marring their features. Lux-Vita shook her head, and her eyes glowed an Avada Kedavra green, "You witnessed a private memory! I grudgingly gave permission, hoping to alleviate the tension between us and garner your trust," she spat at Thorin, who glared back impassively, Orcrist stubbornly pointed at her, "You watched me get raped-"cue violent flinches, " -tortured! You watched the light leave my fiancé's eyes and the will to live leave mine!" at that moment, only Thorin, Dwalin and Glóin had their weapons poised to attack. "I should have known the stubbornness of the dwarfs would always win out. You will never accept me. You will never embrace other Races, and trust, and accept much needed help. And for that," here, she gave Thorin a sardonic smile, "For that, Thorin Oakenshield, King under the Mountain, I pity you. It appears you don't have the makings of being a great King."

Thorin's face turned an ugly shade of puce, but before he could retaliate, Gandalf interjected, his wizened face contorted in disappointment, "Quiet, Thorin. You have already done much damage. My Child," he barely spared Thorin a proper glance, desperate to deter the witch from leaving their midst, "You-"

"Save it, Gandalf," Lux-Vita sighed, dragging a bony hand through her glossy curls, "I'm tired. So. Bloody. Tired of trying to prove myself to this Company. This has been a waste of my time."

Gandalf was only too quick to remind her, "But your duties-"

"My duty is to my people! My duty is to my godfather," she firmly cut him off, a hint of steel in her voice. "My world is at the brink of war, Gandalf. My godfather, the one person that loves me unconditionally, who sacrificed himself for me, is most probably alone in this godforsaken world, most probably hurt and alone and lost. Instead of wasting my time trying to appease a bunch of dwarfs, especially a bullheaded King, who would never change his initial thoughts of me, I could-… forget it," she wearily sighed, "I'm done. So done."

Fíli, Kíli and Ori looked frantic once Gandalf's shoulders slumped in defeat.

Kíli desperately stepped up, "Lux-Vita, you can't go. Please."

Thorin found himself torn between disapproval that his nephew had grown attached to the human witch, and guilt for causing his nephews pain.

Lux-Vita gave him a sad smile, "I'm sorry, Kíli, apparently I don't belong here. I refuse to be treated like a pariah any longer, forced to continuously prove myself and be treated like the enemy."

"Lass," Balin hesitantly spoke up, and the human girl's posture stiffening at the sound of his voice didn't escape him, consuming him with shame, "Will we see you again?"

Lux-Vita gazed solemnly between every member of the Company, lingering a moment longer on Thorin who had finally lowered Orcrist, "I will return to continue searching for my godfather, if I so happen to cross paths with you along the way, then so be it. If not, then," she merely shrugged, not offering any more words.

Sparing them one last nod of acknowledgment, the gorgeous witch with captivating emerald eyes and unique ruby hair, craned her head up to the heavens, shuttered her eyes and relaxed her posture. A split-second later, she silently vanished from their midst, engulfing them in a strained silence.

"You could find more cheer in a graveyard," Glóin gruffly mumbled, violently tossing his axe onto the ground by his feet.

Gandalf stared intently at Thorin, and when his lips finally parted, he stated in a heavy voice, "I am very disappointed in you, Thorin." and without another word, the Grey Wizard turned his back on the stubborn dwarf. Reseating himself on a large boulder, Gandalf retrieved the moving portrait of Lux-Vita's godfather from his cloak, and hummed under his breath.

***Lux-Vita Laelynn Jamie Potter***

To say that Ron and Hermione were shocked over the fact that Lux-Vita returned after a day from Middle Earth would be a gross understatement.

Ever since Cedric's death and her defilement at Voldemort's hands, and now with Sirius gone, Ron had taken overprotectiveness to an entirely different level. After the incessant wheedling and cajoling from the other two, Lux-Vita finally spilled the beans, informing them of everything that took place at Middle Earth: rescuing the Company from the trolls, her failure in getting in touch with Sirius through the mirrors, and her regaling a part of her tale to the Company, ending with their cruel demeanor toward her, treating her as though she, out of all people, was the enemy.

It was safe to assume that Ron and Hermione held no love for the dwarfs, especially Thorin bloody Oakenshield, and they vowed that if they ever had the misfortune of running into the dwarf, despite the low probability of them ever appearing in Middle Earth, they would castrate him, ensuring he suffers deeply for treating their scarred friend in such a despicable way.

Lux-Vita was such a compassionate, giving and pure soul, who would sacrifice her life for anybody in need, even a complete stranger. For her to be treated by the dwarfs in the same manner they considered Voldemort, it was a huge insult, a forbidden one.

Days turned into weeks, weeks quickly turned into months, and when Lux-Vita wasn't fretting over her godfather's fate, and wondering if Gandalf managed to locate him, she distracted herself by putting all her efforts in discovering what Malfoy was trying to accomplish in the Room of Requirements – after Dobby and Kreacher finally came through and informed her of where he would disappear off to – and unraveling Voldemort's past with the Headmaster throughout their private lessons, culminating with Dumbledore's offer to accompany him in retrieving another one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.

With a heavy heart and her Invisibility Cloak in hand, Lux-Vita squarely met Hermione and Ron's identical worried gaze, both of them concerned over her well-being, despite the fact that she would be by Dumbledore's side the entire time. However, their worry and concern quickly morphed into confusion once she shoved the Marauder's Map into Hermione's hand.

"Lux-"

"No!" Lux-Vita hissed angrily, overriding her best friends' attempts at interrupting her with another round of skepticism, "I know what I heard! It was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement. I have a bad feeling about tonight; one thing I learned is to always trust my instincts. You've got to watch Malfoy and Snape, too. Use anyone else who you can rustle up from the DA. Hermione, those Galleons still work, right?"

Drawing herself to her full height, Hermione looked a tad affronted, "Of course they do. We both worked on them for ages. They won't wear off."

Lux-Vita nodded briskly, she had already wasted enough time conversing with her friends and she didn't want to keep Dumbledore waiting any longer, "Good. Dumbledore says he's put extra protection in the school, but if Snape's involved, he'll know what Dumbledore's protections is, and how to avoid it, but he won't be expecting you lot to be on the watch."

"Lux-"Hermione tried another stab at quelling the redhead's paranoia, her eyes huge with fear, but Lux-Vita curtly interrupted her again, "Mione, I don't have time to argue."

Digging through her pocket, Lux-Vita handed over the vial of Felix Felicis to a wide-eyed Ron, who at this point, comprehended the gravity of the situation. "Share it between you two, Ginny and Neville too. And if Luna comes, give her as well. I can't lose you guys like I lost Cedric and-"she shook her head wildly… No, Sirius wasn't dead… not until she had proof in the form of his dead body.

Ron and Hermione immediately engulfed the Girl-Who-Lost-Too-Much in a suffocating hug, wordlessly imparting her with a 'Good Luck', 'We love you' and 'Come back to us alive'. No words needed to be said, the three best friends stuck together through thick and thin and had a knack for reading each other.

Extricating herself from their affectionate grip, Lux-Vita bravely attempted to give them a comforting smile, which ended up a mix of a weak smile and a grimace, "I'd better go. Dumbledore's waiting."

And without another word, Lux-Vita was off, hurrying back through the portrait hole towards the Entrance Hall, where Dumbledore portentously stood, waiting for her beside the oaken front doors.

***Lux-Vita Laelynn Jamie Potter***

It has been three days since the human girl vanished from their midst in a flurry of robes and dangerously glowing eyes, and the Company were still submerged in a gloomy ambience. Gandalf had taken to giving all but Fíli, Kíli, Ori and Bilbo the silent treatment, and it was beginning to grate on Thorin's nerves.

Thorin wasn't as heartless as some – Lux-Vita – were led to believe; he was merely a stubborn mule with a deep dislike of accepting aid from strangers, and worse, an individual from a different Race. Thorin was too paranoid, constantly practiced caution, and his most prominent trait, was the fear of the unknown. The Istari personally sent by the Valar to aid Middle Earth and its inhabitants were notorious and revered, but a witch who had come forth from another world, t'was a complete anomaly, and unlike his nephews, Thorin wasn't prepared to embrace the human girl with open arms and easily dole out his trust.

What frustrated Gandalf most of all, was he knew Thorin to be noble and kind with a huge heart, albeit its many defenses and the famed trait of stubbornness the line of Durin held in spades. If Thorin wished to, he could have formed a strong alliance with the powerful witch, made her feel welcome with such effortless ease… and yet, he didn't. Frustrating Gandalf to no end.

However, Gandalf could not dwell on thoughts of Lux-Vita for long. He was diligently leading the Company to Rivendell without their knowledge, a truly time-consuming endeavor. If only the stubborn dwarf could admit they needed Lord Elrond's aid in translating the map. If Thorin recognized the path they currently took was a subtle detour to the Elven town, Gandalf would never hear the end of it, and an altercation would arise, wasting time and most importantly, Gandalf's patience.

"We stop here!" Thorin suddenly boomed out in an authoritative tone. He neatly dismounted his pony and began bellowing instructions to the other dwarfs.

Before long, the Company devoured their dinner, the conversation rather stilted and slightly awkward. The space they settled for a respite had been unoccupied, and excluding the thirteen dwarfs, the lone hobbit and the Grey Wizard, their only company was the silent air and an array of trees. For that reason, when a large hut appeared behind them, engulfed in violent, roaring flames, they all noticed, having come to their attention when Fíli let out a loud yelp of alarm, a trembling finger pointed at the hut that materialized out of thin air.

Weapons were immediately unsheathed, and Gandalf charged forward staff in hand, expression solemn, and bemused eyes taking in the inexplicable change in scenario. They were all vigilant, perusing their surroundings for an intruder, and even Bilbo had drawn Sting, ready to protect himself and the Company.

"Tharkûn, what in Mahal's name is going on?" Thorin growled, tightening his hand on Orcrist while keeping a close eye on his nephews. However, before Gandalf could offer any form of response, cacophonous shouts echoed around them, ripping through the cold night air, and jets of light flashed in the distance.

Nori, who had been sharply assessing their surroundings, abruptly yelled, "Look at that giant!"

The moment the huge man appeared, many black-cloaked figures materialized out of thin air, rheaded for their direction. Without hesitation, Dwalin swung Grasper in a jabbing motion, but instead of impacting the nearest cloaked figure, it passed right through. Recognition dawned on Gandalf, and the tight grip on his staff relaxed, "Do nothing! They are merely illusions."

Supporting Gandalf's theory, the familiar voice of the human girl resonated in the air.

"Impedimenta!" Lux-Vita yelled.

The Company observed in awe as the redhead rolled over on the ground, and bellowed a word in some language they could not comprehend. However, a jet of turquoise light was emitted from the tip of her wand, impressively impacting with the cloaked figure Dwalin tried dispatching. The man stumbled and fell, tripping up another of his comrades. But much to the Company's surprise, the human girl barely spared them a glance and had immediately leapt to her feet, sprinting after one figure in particular with an intense look of hatred on her breathtaking face.

"What is happening, Gandalf?" Kíli asked, concerned.

Gandalf scrutinized the ominous scene, shrewd grey eyes flickering between a burly, blonde man aiming a variety of spells at the giant, and Lux-Vita, her face set in determination as she aimed her wand and yelled "Stupefy!" at the figure she had chosen to chase. "I believe… from what I recall, that those cloaked men are the Death Eaters she spoke of." As though a match had been lit, the dwarfs and Bilbo recognized their dark attire from the previous memory Lady Galadriel had shown them, regarding the atrocity's resurgence.

Sprinting the short distance, the Company managed to get a clear vision of the man Lux-Vita was adamantly pursuing; he had sallow skin, greasy hair curtaining his face, a hooked nose and emotionless, black eyes. The man abruptly shouted at a shorter figure with white-blonde hair, "Run, Draco!"

"That's the boy Lux-Vita is suspicious of!" Fíli commented, sapphire eyes burning a hole through the blonde's back, "The one she had the tiny elves follow around."

The sallow-faced man whipped around to confront Lux-Vita, her eyes blazing as she cried out, "Cruc –" but the man parried the curse with ease, the force of it knocking the human girl off her feet.

"OI!" all but Thorin, Dwalin and Glóin yelled. They all observed with trepidation as the man slowly approached her fallen form, and watched as she bravely echoed the previous incantation, only for it be blocked once more by the looming man.

"No Unforgivable Curses from you, Potter!" he yelled, lips twisted in an ugly sneer, and the Company instantly disliked him. "You haven't got the nerve or the ability –"

"Incarc –"and again, the man deflected Lux-Vita's spell with an almost lazy flick of his arm, a telltale sign that this …wizard? was not one to be trifled with, and way out of Lux-Vita's league.

Fíli and Kíli huddled together, fearing for the life of the girl they formed a bond with, despite their uncle's countless objections. Thorin recognized the emotion of sheer hatred coloring the man's face, for it mirrored his own whenever he looked upon the human girl, and for some odd reason, his heart clenched at the proof of his unwarranted behavior toward her.

"FIGHT BACK!" Lux-Vita screamed, prompting the Company to jump in their spot, not having expected to hear the pain and malice in the human girl's voice. "Fight back, you cowardly –"

"Coward, did you call me, Potter?" the man shouted, eyes flashing dangerously. "Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?"

In harmony, gasps permeated the air; even Thorin, Dwalin, and Glóin, the three notable dwarfs who treated the human girl guardedly and with such disdain, were incensed with the man's audacity in bringing up the dead in a pejorative manner. The Company watched, with an air of hopelessness, as Lux-Vita's litany of spells were all deflected by the sallow-faced man while he cruelly taunted her, when all of a sudden, a jet of crimson light hit her from behind, and she keeled over, agonizing screams emanating from her plump lips.

"That's the-the torture curse!" Dori cried out, sternly.

They felt completely inadequate, unable to do anything but watch as the human girl screamed in anguish and writhed on the ground. However, to their collective surprise, the sallow-faced man looked furious and he roared for the perpetrator to desist, "Have you forgotten our orders? Potter belongs to the Dark Lord – we are to leave her! Go!"

"Somehow that doesn't make me feel any better," a frantic Kíli muttered, the image of that disgusting monstrosity in close proximity to Lux-Vita conjured in his head.

Barely allowing herself a breather – which deeply impressed Thorin – Lux-Vita collected herself and began a new onslaught of spells… the true makings of a warrior, the uncrowned King sadly thought, hating himself once again for his cruel treatment toward the human girl. It was when she yelled "Sectum –" did the man go ballistic; he no longer had an ugly sneer marring his face, nor did he jeer at her. Instead, the man showed a face full of rage, "You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them – I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you? I don't think so… no!"

"He looks like no Prince to me," Bofur huffed, his cheerful face uncharacteristically twisted into malicious rage. Simultaneously, half the dwarfs let out a string of expletives directed at the wizard in rapid Khuzdul for insulting the human girl's gallant father.

They watched as the man hurled her wand out of sight with a spell, prompting an expression of defeat to appear on her face; they could detect no fear, only rage and contempt as she looked up at him, "Kill me then. Kill me like you killed him, you coward –"

"Who died?"

"What?"

"Mahal"

But the Company's words could not be heard, veiled by the man's abrupt scream, his face suddenly demented, "DON'T CALL ME COWARD!" and he slashed at the air, the spell impacted with Lux-Vita, slamming her backward into the ground, eliciting concerned yells from the Company.

The man disappeared.

In fact, all the cloaked figures vanished into mist, leaving behind Lux-Vita and the giant she acknowledged as "Hagrid". Rendered speechless, they watched as the human girl extinguished the violent flames from the cabin, the same action she had administered to dowse the flames the troll produced after her sudden, yet welcoming appearance a few days back.

"Tharkûn, what is the meaning of this? How are we able to see the girl between worlds?" Thorin exclaimed, his tone firm, and in no mood for riddles. Gandalf however, stroked his beard in deep thought, eyes perusing the discombobulating display, "I have a theory…but I am unsure of it. Let me think more on the subject, and for now, I assume we are meant to follow Lux-Vita."

Disgruntled by the wizard's evasiveness, Thorin reluctantly nodded in acquiescence, and together, the Company trudged after the human girl and the giant.

"Oh Mahal!" Ori breathed out in awe, his hazel eyes greedily devouring the change in scenery. And he wasn't the only one. They blindly followed the illusions, their eyes fixated on the magnificent, opulent castle, until they finally halted by the foot of the tallest tower; strangled gasps emanated from each and every one of them, eyes widening on the figure lying dead on the ground, spread-eagled and graceful.

The giant – Hagrid let out a moan of pain and shock.

Murmurs and screams and violent sobs permeated the air.

And Lux-Vita moved, dreamlike, to the very front, where the crowd of dumbstruck humans had left a gap.

"That's- that's Dumbledore. Lux-Vita's mentor, the one she cherishes and looks up to," Kíli stated in a grave tone, recalling the many fond mentions of the wizard in passing, and the way he sprung over to comfort her after returning from the graveyard with the corpse of her fiancé.

Thorin watched, undeniably entranced by the human girl's movements. His eyes never left her form, not even for a split-second. He watched the witch, the girl who continuously lost those she cared for – he observed her body crumble by his side, thick, pearly tears cascade down her slightly grubby cheeks like rivulets. She kneeled down; reached out, straightened the odd half-moon item upon his crooked nose, and wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth with her own sleeve. Thorin watched as the enchanting ruby-haired girl stared at the fallen wizard with an air of melancholia, before rooting through his pocket and removing a gold locket.

Unseen to the Company, Gandalf too, was engrossed in Lux-Vita's actions. The moment she wiped a trickle of blood from the great wizard's mouth, Gandalf's eyes flickered a pure blue shade, devoid of its usual twinkle at the heartbreaking scene. And when Lux-Vita broke into body wracking sobs over the fallen corpse of the wizard she perceived as a grandfather, a locket clenched tightly in her hand, a thick tear ran down his face, just before Gandalf's irises morphed back into its regular shade of grey.

A/N: Da-da-dum!

What does that mean?! Anyone care to hazard a guess? ;)

My aim is to continue shocking you… but next chapter there will be an explanation and things will move along. We'll finally arrive at Rivendell and I've got quite a few surprises along the way! And new characters introduced! I cannot wait! XD

R&R.