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Lord of the Rings	By : Wolfwalker Category: -Multi-Age > General Views: 1579 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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* Chapter One *

~October 19 ~

An unfamiliar old man came stumbling out of the forest looking quite the worse for wear, his grey robes and hat rather shabby looking now and his white hair and beard hopelessly tangled. An overly large, heavily bearded man saw this and hurried over to him and helped him steady himself. They spoke quickly, then the large man led him to the great castle before them. As they entered the huge oak doors several children looked their way and began talking amongst themselves, wondering who the old man was and why he was at Hogwarts. The two men walked up several flights of stairs and stopped beside a large statue of a gargoyle. The larger man spoke a single word then gestured the old man forward as the gargoyle moved to reveal a revolving staircase. The old man nodded his thanks and ascended the steps, leaving the other man to finish his duties. His knock on the door at the top of the stairs was answered with a curious sounding �Come in!�
The room beyond revealed a similar looking man, though his robes were pristine and his hair and beard shiny. The second man looked up and his eyes widened in shocked disbelief. �Gandalf?!� he asked incredulously.
�Hello cousin. I�m afraid I need your help.� the first man said gravely in answer. His cousin stood from the large desk he had been sitting at, strode across the room in four quick steps and gave Gandalf a hug. He then cast a few quick charms on him, making Gandalf look and feel much better. Gandalf sighed and sat in the offered chair. Before his cousin sat, he asked �Shall I get Severus?�
�Yes Albus, it might be a good idea.� he replied, helping himself to a lemon drop from a dish on the desk.
At this Albus took some powder from a tin on the mantle piece, threw it into the fire, stuck his head into the green flames and said �Severus Snape!�
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Severus, black robes billowing dramatically behind him, strode purposefully through the hallways, scattering curious students with a single glare. He mumbled angrily to himself about being interrupted and hoped that it really was important this time as Albus had a bad habit of saying something was important just to get Severus out of the dungeons once in a while. While figuring out exactly what height to put the hovering bats during the Halloween Feast may be important to Albus, it certainly wasn�t to Severus. He could do without the feast all together, especially the bats. He spoke the password rather harshly and hurried up the stairs. Since he was expected he didn�t bother to knock and burst into the room. �What is so� Gandalf?!� he stopped short at the sight of his old friend. �What are you doing here?�
�I need some help.� Gandalf said simply. Severus sat down and listened. �The One Ring has been found.� Severus� eyes widened. �Right now it is in the hands of two Hobbits. I was supposed to meet them in Bree, but was delayed by Saruman the White. He is in league with Sauron. I hope that Strider was able to convince them to follow him to Rivendell.�
�If I know my cousin they�ll follow. But what does this have to do with us? Aragorn�s not in danger is he?� Severus asked.
�Not anything he can�t handle. I need someone to help Frodo, he is the one in the most danger.� Gandalf reassured him.
�You think he�ll offer to take the ring all the way to Mordor?� Albus asked.
�I do, and I will go with him, but I�m afraid I may not be there to the end. I need someone intelligent and powerful to see that Frodo comes to no harm and that the ring is destroyed. There will be a council in Rivendell and I am sure others will be going as well, but they may want the ring for themselves. In which case Frodo may need protection from his fellow journeymen. I need someone like Severus.�
�And I would love to send him, but unfortunately I cannot spare him. Let me think about this.� Albus said as he stood again and went to the fireplace. �For now, let�s eat.� Within minutes a house elf appeared with a large tray of food, enough for at least six people. Severus sat back to wait. He already knew who should go, he just didn�t know how long it would take Albus to get there.
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�You want me to take a girl with me?!� Gandalf all but shouted.
�She�s eighteen, which makes her of age here. As for her intelligence, she got the highest test scores in a century and she can think fast on her feet. She is one of the few survivors of the recent war to come out with nothing but a few scars, Severus being another. That should attest to her power. Plus she can apparate and her animagus form is a lioness.� Albus consoled.
�Hmm. I don�t know. She�s still a girl.�
Severus rolled his eyes. �What Albus is not telling you is that she isn�t just any girl. It�s Hermione Granger. Believe me, she is more than capable of taking care of herself.�
�The Potter boy�s best friend?� Gandalf asked, remembering the stories his cousin told him of the �Dream Team� of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
�Yes. I�ll write a letter to Aragorn explaining her capabilities. He�ll make sure that she goes with Frodo. Elrond will listen to him.� Severus answered.
�Yes. But will she do it? Will she be willing to leave her life here to protect someone she doesn�t even know? And what about other combative skills? A wand is great, but what if something happens to it? Does she have any skill with a sword and a bow?� Gandalf pressed.
�Her father was quite interested in the ancient fighting arts and took up both the sword and archery as a child. He did not have any sons so he passed his skill on to Hermione. I understand that she is also quite a horsewoman, been riding since she could walk.� Albus informed him.
�She has also taken a muggle equivalent of basic hand-to-hand combat.� Severus put in.
�Well then, how soon can Miss Granger get here?� Gandalf asked, taking another lemon drop, this time putting it in his tea.
�I�ll floo her right now.� Albus said, already at the fireplace.
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Hermione Granger sighed and petted the sleeping pile of fur next to her. After the war she had decided to become an independent researcher and the project she was currently working on had come to a stand still. She took a sip of coffee then picked her book back up. She became so absorbed in reading that when her old headmaster suddenly appeared in her fireplace and called her name she was so startled that her book ended up on the floor behind the couch she was sitting on. Albus chuckled. �I didn�t mean to frighten you dear.�
�I was just surprised sir. I wasn�t expecting anyone, that�s all.� She said smiling. Crookshanks gave a glare worthy of Snape towards the fireplace, then stalked off to the kitchen in full kitty style, nose and tail in the air.
�If you have time, there�s a matter of utmost importance I need your assistance with. Could you come to my office right now?� Albus asked seriously.
Hermione looked up sharply. Seeing the look on his face she said �Give me ten minutes to freshen up?�
�Of course.� Albus pulled his head out of the fire. Hermione changed her shirt, brushed her hair back into a ponytail, made sure Crookshanks had some food then flooed to Albus Dumbledore�s office at Hogwarts.
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�Ah, Hermione. You remember Severus of course.� Albus said as she stepped through the fireplace. Severus nodded in acknowledgement of her greeting. �This is my dear cousin Gandalf the Grey. Gandalf, Miss Hermione Granger.�
�How do you do sir?� Hermione said, shaking Gandalf�s hand.
�Please, call me Gandalf. Thank you very much for coming Miss Granger.� Gandalf said politely.
�Call me Hermione.�
�Very well Hermione, Let me tell you a story.� Gandalf proceeded to give a very quick history of Sauron and the Ring, Bilbo Baggins� part right up to when he left, his run in with Saruman and the hope that Strider was able to lead Frodo and Sam safely to Rivendell.
�You tell a very interesting tale Gandalf, but what does this have to do with me?� At the looks the men exchanged the proverbial light bulb clicked on in her brain. �You want me to go to Middle Earth don�t you?�
�Well, yes. To protect Frodo and make sure that the ring is destroyed.� Gandalf said, a bit unsure at first. Hermione looked at Albus, who smiled slightly, then to Severus. He looked deep into her eyes for several seconds, then gave a curt nod.
�Forgive me, but you seem rather hesitant. Perhaps Albus could set something up in the Room of Requirement so I could show you what I can do.� she suggested.
�A splendid idea! I�ll go do that right now. Hermione, go get your sword and bow and meet us there in thirty minutes.� Albus said as he led Gandalf out of his office. Hermione and Severus looked after them for a few seconds, then he turned to her.
�They need you Miss Granger. Since I cannot go myself, there is no one else I would trust with this.� and he left the office also. She stared after him, then flooed home, changed her clothes, grabbed her gear, flooed back to Hogwarts and headed for the statue of Boris the Bewildered.
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�I�m impressed. She�s quite skilled.� Gandalf admitted as he watched Hermione and Severus with their swords.
�So, she is acceptable then?� Albus asked with a bit of an �I told you so� smile.
�Yes. I just hope she�ll do it.�
�She will. She would not have gone to the trouble of showing you her abilities if she did not intend to go if you�ll take her.�
�She�s just what I was looking for. Frodo will be in very good hands with her.� Gandalf finished as Hermione and Severus came up to them, both out of breath.
�Well, am I good enough?� Hermione asked Gandalf.
�Better then I had hoped. Will you come back with me?�
�When do we leave?�
�Tomorrow morning.� Albus said, giving Gandalf a stern look that plainly said �you�re not going anywhere but to bed tonight�.
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That evening Hermione nodded hello to the now familiar receptionist and St. Mungo�s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries as she swept past her down the even more familiar corridor to room 1720. She still found it ironic that Ginny and Fred were in this room, seventeen being Ginny�s age and twenty being Fred�s. The doctors put the two Weasley�s together, hoping that having the other constantly near would help each other to recover. She saw Charlie Weasley in the hallway, two cups of coffee in his hands.
�Hello, Hermione. What brings you here tonight?� he asked politely.
` �I�m sorry. I know tonight is yours and Bill�s night with them, but I�m leaving tomorrow morning and I�m not sure when I�ll be back. I wanted to say goodbye.� she explained as they entered the room where Bill was reading a joke book to Fred. She gave Bill a sad smile that he returned then she sat in the chair next to Ginny�s bed.
�Hey Gin, it�s me. I� I just came to say goodbye. I have a job to do, and I don�t know when I�ll be back.� She proceeded to explain about Gandalf and what she was being asked to do. When she was done, Bill gave a low whistle.
�You hear that Fred? Hermione�s got herself involved in another adventure.� he said, hoping to get some kind of response.
�Well, good luck. I�m sure they�ll miss your visits.� Charlie said, putting an arm around her shoulders as she wiped a tear off her cheek.
�Thanks. I�ll miss them too. While I�m gone, if anything� happens� could you please contact Professor Snape? He�ll know how to get a hold of me.�
`�Sure Hermione. We know you care about them as much as we do.� Bill said gently. She gave them all hugs, kissed Fred on the cheek, promised to be careful and slowly made her way home.
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~ October 20 ~
Crookshanks gave his mistress a reproachful glare as he twitched his tail in Minerva�s arms. �Don�t look at me like that boy. I�m sorry, but I can�t take you with me. Minerva will take good care of you.� Hermione spoke almost pleadingly to her dear old pet. �Remember I love you good kitty.� At Gandalf�s raised eyebrow she gave a sheepish smile. �Sorry, he�s my familiar and I�ve had him for five years, since I was thirteen. He was old when I got him, and I�ve this dreadful feeling he won�t last until I come back.�
�I see. Well I suppose I can understand that.� Gandalf said, nodding his head thoughtfully. Before she left with the cat, Minerva gave Hermione an empty journal saying that she knew Hermione had written down everything in a journal during the war and thought she would want to do the same for this journey. She gave the older woman a hug of thanks and put the black book in her pack. Minerva left quickly, wiping at an eye as she went out the door.
Severus stepped forward with an envelope. �Please see that my cousin Strider gets this.�
�I will.� she said as she put it in the back pocket of her jeans. Severus nodded and stepped back to inspect her pack and put a reduced box of potions and salves in. Hermione rolled her eyes and waited for Albus to come back.
�You�re taking this with you?� Severus asked, holding a blood red journal up. He knew that it was her war diary and was curious as to why she would take it with her.
�From what Gandalf said a war is almost certain. I wrote down everything, strategies, both what worked and what didn�t, things the enemy did, everything. I thought it might come in handy. Take a look, if you don�t think it will help I�ll leave it.� she answered. Severus did so, skimming through it quickly, raising an eyebrow or widening his eyes at certain points. She was right, she wrote down everything, right down to names of both enemy and comrade.
�Yes, I think Strider will appreciate it.� Severus said, putting it back in her pack. He didn�t mention the shrunken bottles of fire whiskey and peppermint schnapps and the can of hot chocolate, just smiled to himself and continued making sure she had everything needed. At that point Albus returned. He insisted that she take Godric Gryffindor�s sword with a charm to make it unbreakable, as well as Rowena Ravenclaw�s bow and a never empty quiver of arrows. And lastly he gave both her and Gandalf a woven bracelet with three white stones.
�Two of these stones are connected to each of you. They are charmed to indicate weather you are safe, hurt, gravely injured, or dead. It is white when you are safe, blue if you are hurt, purple for gravely injured. It turns black and eventually disappears when the person connected to it dies. You can replicate the bracelet for Frodo and anyone else who goes on this quest. Here is the spell to connect the stone to a person and the one to add more stones to the bracelet.�
Hermione put the spells in her black journal and put the bracelet on her wrist. It magically adjusted itself to fit. Then Albus pulled out an old piece of parchment and asked �Are you ready to go?� Gandalf looked at Hermione as she put her pack on. She nodded and they stepped up to Albus as he turned the parchment into a portkey. Hermione took a last look around, then she and Gandalf touched the portkey and they disappeared.
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