Disclaimer: Harry Potter and related characters and settings belong to J. K. Rowling. The Lord of the Rings and related mythology belong to the heirs of J. R. R. Tolkien.
A/N Anybody who knows anything about J. R. R. Tolkien's writings should know what 'Tinuviel' means. It's Sindarin for 'nightingale'. But for people who know the story of Beren and Luthien and the story of Aragorn and Arwen, it becomes so much more. And now it applies to this fic.
Chapter 6: Tinuviel
Hermione was about to say something more when the door to the Headmaster's office suddenly burst open and none other than Severus Snape strode into the office looking absolutely livid. "Dumbledore! One third of my House has left!" he bellowed, completely ignoring Hermione.
"Now, now Severus, calm down and explain from the beginning," said Dumbledore.
Snape took a calming breath and explained, "Earlier this afternoon Draco Malfoy received an owl from whom I believe to have been his mother. This in itself is nothing new until Professor Sprout contacted me about 40 minutes ago saying that at least half of the 5th year Slytherins in her class were missing. I went down to the Slytherin Common Room to give my students a reprimand, only to find it just about void of all upper classmen. I finally gleaned from those obnoxious portraits that the majority of the Slytherins in 5th through 7th year had taken portkeys out of Hogwarts. It appears these portkeys were delivered in the letter sent to Draco Malfoy as well as a few other letters sent to the students of my house."
Dumbledore started stroking his beard pensively. "This news could be somewhat alarming," he said. "I certainly find it far too coincidental that these Slytherin students left the school so close after what Vodemort had done." He looked up at Snape and said, "Severus will you please gather a list of all the students who are missing?"
Snape nodded. However, he hesitated leaving and started fidgeting a little, clutching his arm. "There is actually one more thing," he said. Slowly, Snape stuck out his arm and pulled back his sleeve revealing the Dark Mark, the sign of Voldemort. It was a malicious looking skull with a serpent slithering out of its mouth like a tongue. However, there appeared to be a new addition on Snape's mark: a single red eye was forming just behind the skull.
Hermione couldn't help but shudder a little bit as the glint in Dumbledore's eye took on a sinister quality. "Contact #12 Grimmauld Place," he said. "Call all available members of the Order of the Phoenix to Hogwarts. It is beginning."
* * *
A few days later things had gotten quite high alert. Order members were constantly frequenting between #12 Grimmauld Place and Hogwarts, aside from their usual patrol zones: it seemed as if they were making security at Hogwarts an even higher priority. Hermione even occasionally heard rumors that Dumbledore was attempting to convince the Ministry of Magic of foreign nations to post higher security at Beauxbatons and Durmstrang though there didn't appear to be much progress with his efforts. It was clear to everybody that security at the three top European Schools of magic was a new priority though for the life of her Hermione had no idea why.
Still, there were many small concessions along the way. Namely spring had arrived and the snow had melted to reveal a green Hogwarts grounds with bright sunshine, birds chirping, and flowers blossoming.
Hermione loved spring. Of course winter had its occasional good times such as Christmas or having fun in the snow but overall it was far too cold and miserable. Spring was a time of growth and rebirth where everything was made new. Hermione delighted in the season because in her mind, she wished to erase the winter from Harry's life and bring him into spring: a world without Voldemort where Harry could finally live his life.
Hermione woke up rather early that Sunday well before anybody else did. Most of the Hogwarts students preferred sleeping in that day and even Hermione herself occasionally aloud herself a few extra minutes of rest. However, it was such a beautiful day that she couldn't help but want to enjoy the sunshine for herself.
Making her way out of Gryffindor tower and later out of the castle, Hermione stepped out into the morning sunshine and happily sighed. She slowly made her way over to the Forbidden Forest, not within the deeper, dangerous parts but rather around the slightly wooded areas of the outskirts of the forest where there was no danger of her being ripped to pieces by some hungry manticore or chimaera.
The sun was so warm that she took off her cloak and book-bag, leaving it on the ground. Dressed in her blue, sleeveless dress, Hermione considered taking off her shoes. 'Well why not?' she thought. She took off her shoes and her socks and started walking on the soft grass barefoot as she observed the birds flying about. Before she knew it, Hermione had started twirling around and within a few seconds, she was lost in a delicate dance between the trees, under the spring sun.
Meanwhile, not too far deeper into the Forbidden Forest, a mighty griffin touched down onto the ground. "You can make your back to the castle from here," said Rauthoron as a young wizard slid off his back. "I plan on staying in the forest for a while but I will be ready to come over whenever I am needed."
Harry groaned as he tried to massage his shoulder. Holstered on his back was Anduril. "Ugh, I'm sore all over," he groaned.
"All I said was I would carry you back to Hogwarts," said Rauthoron. "I never said it would be a comfortable ride."
"It's not just that," said Harry. "I've just had to go through a crash course in wielding Anduril as well as basic Ranger school 101. Even Angnathron's drills weren't as brutal as the last few days."
"What cannot kill you can only make you stronger," said Rauthoron. Harry rolled his eyes before saying good bye to the griffin and making his way over to the castle. 'I could use a nice, long shower and a nap,' he thought. However, he hadn't gone very far when something caught his eye.
It was a maiden dancing amongst the trees. She was most graceful, twirling barefoot along the grass and the flowers. She wore a blue, sleeveless dress that seemed to shimmer in the morning sunlight and she was also was singing softly, a song that sounded like the chorus of angels to Harry's ears. Her soft brown hair fluttered softly with each twirl and the smile she wore shone with a radiant beauty. The birds chirping and flying around her further added to the wonder of this Heavenly being, who had come to entice Harry with feelings he had never felt before. It was as if Harry had walked into a dream.
'Luthien?' thought Harry. For in Harry's mind this maiden could be nothing more than the elf maiden who's image Harry had seen at Minas Tirith: the maiden whom was said to have been the most beautiful woman ever to have walked the world. For in Harry's mind, this heavenly sight could be none other than the most beautiful of maidens ever: Luthien's image returned to life upon Middle-Earth.
For what seemed like hours but was probably only about a few minutes, Harry continued starring entranced at this 'image of Luthien'. It was only when her dancing had started to take her farther away did he react. 'No don't go! Please continue to dance!' he thought. He took off after the maiden but he didn't appear to have much strength in his legs as he couldn't keep up with her. 'She's slipping away!' he thought. Desperate to hang onto the dream for a little longer he cried out the first words that filtered into his mind:
"Tinuviel! Tinuviel!"
Hermione immediately snapped out of her the little daze of dance she was in and stopped abruptly. She looked up into the green eyes that enticed her for so long. "H-Harry?" she asked.
Harry instantly snapped out of his dream. "Wha... Hermione?"
'Oh my God!' she thought blushing red, 'He just saw me dancing! How could I be so silly? What would he think of me now, to be dancing like that? And barefoot no less? And was I singing? Or dear God what was I thinking? I've never let anyone hear me sing before. What if he thinks I sound horrible? And for that matter what am I wearing? Just my blue dress? It may not be too revealing but it isn't all that much to be wearing and...'
"What are you doing here?" asked Harry.
Hermione started getting flustered. "I... I... I was..." she suddenly registered what it was Harry had said. "Harry, what did you call me?" she whispered.
Harry thought for a moment before he said, "T-Tinuviel. I-I don't know why I called you that or what it means for that matter..."
"It means 'nightingale'," said Hermione, her eyes alight with something.
"How did you know that?" asked Harry looking confused.
"I... read about it."
"Oh," said Harry, still somewhat dazed. It was then that Hermione noticed the sword holstered on Harry's back.
"Harry, that sword..."
"Oh this?" said Harry gesturing to the sword. "It's apparently called 'Anduril': 'Flame of the West' or something like that."
"Oh my," gasped Hermione. "Then, you really are the Heir of Elessar."
"Er... yeah," said Harry wondering how she was able to easily come to that conclusion. He hadn't even explained to her that only the Heir of Elessar could take forth Anduril and all that other stuff.
An uncomfortable silence stretched out for a few moments before Hermione suddenly exclaimed, "I know! Harry I need to show you something!" She grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him over to where her book bag was. Hermione hurriedly sat him on the ground and pulled out The Lord of the Rings and other books by Tolkien and began to explain them to Harry.
"Oh my God it's all in here," said Harry as he skimmed over the books, "even Minas Tirith."
"What about Minas Tirith?" asked Hermione.
"That's where I was on the first day I was gone," said Harry. "That's where I found Anduril."
"Minas Tirith still exists?" said Hermione, her eyes shining with wonder.
"Practically a ghost city though," said Harry. "After that, I spent several days in different parts of the world training." He glanced through the appendixes of The Lord of the Rings when one of them caught his eye: the story of Aragorn and Arwen. He started skimming over it when he suddenly noticed the word "Tinuviel".
"What?" exclaimed Harry. Reading over the passage quickly, he realized with a jolt that as a young man, Aragorn had called Arwen that name when they had first met because he had thought he had encountered Luthien. Harry had called Hermione by that name because he too had thought she was Luthien. Grabbing Hermione's copy of The Silmirillion, he turned to the tale of Beren and Luthien. Sure enough, he immediately realized that "Tinuviel" was what Beren had called Luthien that first day they ever met and fell in love.
"Oh my God!" exclaimed Harry, leaping up to his feet and backing away, blushing bright red: it was easy enough to figure out the implications of his calling Hermione "Tinuviel". Hermione also seemed to have understood what Harry had just realized and was blushing as well.
"Oh my God! Hermione I'm so sorry!" exclaimed Harry. "Not to mean that you're not Luthien. I mean, of course you're not. But you resemble her quite a bit and... well you were absolutely so beautiful dancing like that... I mean of course you're always beautiful. You're just a beautiful girl... woman! And of course here I am trying to remedy our friendship and most likely I've destroyed all hope of restoring it now. I mean, you're so beautiful... like Luthien... but you're not Luthien, you're Hermione and I'd still think you're beautiful even if you didn't resemble Luthien... which you do... and I'm your best friend who really shouldn't be saying stuff like this... for that matter even thinking stuff like..."
"Harry," said Hermione, coming up to him with a slight smile and dreamy eyes. "Shut up." Then before Harry could say anything more, Hermione pulled his lips down to hers for a sweet kiss.
It was only a few moments before Hermione pulled away a deep blush on her face while Harry looked completely dazed. Hermione giggled and said, "I've been wanting to do that for quite some time now." She gathered up her books and cloak before turning back to Harry and saying, "We'd better get back to the castle: everybody else is going to be waking up soon." She then took off toward the castle leaving a dazed Harry behind. As soon as Hermione had entered the castle, Harry fainted.
Angnathron was just waking out of the castle when he spotted Hermione running toward him. "Ah, Miss Granger! A good morning to..." Hermione dashed passed the dwarf without even acknowledging him. Angnathron stroked his beard and wondered aloud, "Now when did Hermione Granger ever blush that red?"
* * *
In Barad-dur, the Death Eaters had gathered, all with their families present: hundreds upon hundreds of Dark Wizards and Witches all crowded into the throne room of the Dark Tower. And seated on the throne, in front of a blood red tapestry depicting the Dark Mark and behind that the Eye of Sauron, sat the Dark Lord Voldemort-Sauron.
"All of our Death Eaters have done remarkably well," said the Dark Lord. "We must admit it mustn't have been easy to smuggle the younger ones out of Hogwarts right under Albus Dumbledore's nose but you've managed." He stood up and walked toward his followers. "In the end only one of you could be chosen and it was a most harrowing choice to make. But ultimately, we concluded that the only choices could've been Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy." The two Death Eaters looked prideful while a general feeling of jealousy grew amongst the others.
Voldemort-Sauron turned to Bellatrix and spoke solely in Voldemort's voice, "I have decided to exempt Bella from this honor in place of another. Would that suit you my dear?" He caressed the raven haired woman's cheek.
"I have greatly awaited for this honor my Lord," said Bellatrix. She then whispered seductively, "I shall wait for you in your chambers later tonight."
The Dark Lord laughed and turned to the rest of the Death Eaters. "Lucius, come forth," said Voldemort's voice.
Lucius Malfoy stepped forth and bowed down in front of the Dark Lord, followed by his wife Narcissa and son Draco. "I have been greatly honored in your eyes master," Lucius said.
"Indeed," said the Dark Lord, still in Voldemort's voice. "Lucius Malfoy, you have been exemplary in your efforts to further our causes. You adhered to our ways even in the midst of Dumbledore's muggle loving blasphemies. And you have served well as my Lieutenant. It is therefore logical that the gift of being the greatest of my servants should fall to you." Lucius smirked and was about to stand up when Voldemort said, "But, as I am still angered by your abandonment of me while I was exiled for 13 years, I have decided to give the gift to your son Draco instead."
Lucius completely spluttered. "I... uh... of course! Draco! Step up there!" Though he appeared cool, Draco's eyes shown with malice of delight as he stepped up toward Voldemort-Sauron.
Voldemort-Sauron stretched his left hand toward Draco to reveal a single ring in his palm. He now said in Sauron's voice, "This ring is the most powerful of nine others: a Ring of Power. It will grant you immortality, invisibility, and other such wonderful gifts. Take it. Receive it from Annatar: Lord of Gifts."
Gleefully, Draco took the ring from the Dark Lord without question. "I accept gladly my Lord," he said.
The Dark Lord nodded. "Behold!" he proclaimed in both voices, "Draco Malfoy, the Witch-King of Slytherin!"
To be continued...
A/N Ah! Another chapter down, who knows how many more to go. Well there you have it, I've lain down the first seeds of H/H in this fic as well as 'introduced' you all to the new Nazgul hopeful. How many of you all figured out it was him? Anyway, in the next chapter, there's going to be a sequence borrowed from the manga The Flame of Recca. I wonder how many will recognize it.