Aníron Chapter 2
Title: Aníron
Author: heysakuya supersonicchica
Beta: minako timelessviolet and MaraudersWolf marauderswolf
Rating: M/NC-17
Characters: Tom Riddle Jr., OC
Chapter 2: Heartbreak and the Transfigured World.
Chapter length: 7,094 words...
Summary: “Love wishes to perpetuate itself. Love wishes for immortality.” -Mortimer Adler... Why was Lord Voldemort so set on attaining immortality? Maybe the Dark Lord had once known love, after all. DH compliant, LOTR references, M for future M/F lemons.
Disclaimer: I do not in any way own or make any profit from either the Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings franchises/characters ... All rights to Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and all respective rights to Lord of the Rings belong to J.R.R. Tolkien.
X-Posted at ff.net, AFF.NET, and the OWL
AN: Thanks goes out to the beautiful and talented, Minako timelessviolet and Marauderswolf, my betas. “You are a ray of sunshine… on a cloudy day!” -House M.D. Translations will be listed below. Credit to Dragon Flame Sindarin program and Arwen-Undomiel(dot)com. The link to the featured song/s will be below…
*=translations and explanations below
(T/WPOV) = Tathar/Willow's Point of View
(SSPOV) = Severus Snape's Point of View
Disclaimer: I do not in any way own or make any profit from either the Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings franchises/characters… All respective rights to Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and all respective rights to The Lord of the Rings belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. I’m just the lowly wannabe writer mooching off their greatness… Commence…
Chapter 2- Heartbreak and the Transfigured World
"Arwen's Song"
With a sigh you turn away
With a deepening heart no more words to say
You will find that the world has changed forever
And the trees are now turning from green to gold
And the sun is now fading
I wish I could hold you closer
-Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(The Houses of Healing)
Lyrics by: Fran Walsh
Preformed by: Liv Tyler
(T/WPOV)
My eyes grew wide, fearing that this man would bring me harm. What more would I have to endure? Wasn’t one traumatic experience enough for one day? I edged away from the man until my back hit the trunk of a tree. It appeared that I was cornered again with no chance of escape. If the man should choose to use his weapon against me, I would have no way to fight him off or stop him. I clutched at the tree’s rough bark. Tears began to fall from my eyes completely uncontrolled.
“It’s ok. I won’t hurt you, and I’m here to help you.” He drawled in an almost bored voice, as if finding me in this state was a burden. I would have felt insulted if I could think of anything else besides how this man could hurt me.
“Your name is Willow, correct?” he asked.
My tears slowly stopped falling. What? I thought. I stared blankly at him, my panic slowly fading. He knew my name? Admittedly in the language of Westron,* but it was my name nonetheless.
“Is it Willow or not?” he snapped at me.
“Mae. Iston le?”* I asked, my voice still shaking slightly.
(SSPOV)
I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. Here I was in the middle of a Muggle-infested park in the middle of the night, trying to console a young girl who didn’t even speak English. It was bad enough I had to deal with the brats I taught back at school. Now I had to figure out a way to lure this girl back to the Manor with me and without causing a scene. Alerting the surrounding Muggles would not be a good idea at the moment.
Looking at her, I could see just how broken down she was. Her face was full of scratches and smudged with dirt and blood. Her hair was sticking out here and there, the silver tiara tangled in her tresses. Her dress was torn and muddied, one strap hanging off of her shoulder. She looked a right mess, but when she peered out at me, almost pleading and I saw those grey, stormy eyes, I understood why my master would be so interested in her. Well, that was pushing it. The Dark Lord was never interested in others, especially women.
I offered my hand to her, trying to be as gentle as I could. If she would just take my hand, I could Apparate back to Spinner’s End. Eventually, I would need to take her to Malfoy Manor to deliver her as per the Dark Lord’s instructions, but certainly not in her current state.
“Come,” I stated, trying to keep the impatience out of my voice. “It’s ok. I swear I won’t harm you. We do have to hurry.”
When she remained silent and unmoving, I grew nervous. It would do no good to bring her to my master if I couldn’t gain her trust.
“You won’t hurt me?” she asked hesitantly.
“So you do speak English,” I remarked.
“Yes. Is that what you call it here? Where am I? I was attacked. I was in Lothlórien with a friend, and then there was a man with a stick like yours and he…he…he…I think he killed my friend. Oh God!” she screeched, the words tumbling freely.
Her sobs started again, making her visibly shake. I caught her before she fell to the ground and used the opportunity to Apparate back to my home.
(T/WPOV)
The dizziness came at me when we landed in a small, dark, gloomy room. How did we go from being in a forest to a small dingy room? I shook slightly as I tried to take my surroundings in. The room we appeared in was warm despite the dreariness of the place.
“What just happened? How did you do that?” I panted as I tried to control the nausea that had hit me.
“Magic!” he snapped. “Now sit while I tend to your wounds.”
I sat willingly on an old couch that was fraying around the corners and eyed my surroundings with suspicion. The walls were a dark green color and lined with bookcases containing worn books and odd knick knacks. The small tables placed in the corners of the room were cluttered with parchment. In fact, the whole room was cluttered. I felt confined in this small, messy room.
God, this place gives me the creeps. At least I’m out of the cold and he doesn’t seem to want to hurt me, I thought to myself.
Weariness settled in my body as the strange man returned to the room carrying a bowl of hot water. I stared blankly into the fireplace as if in a trance, the warmth of the fire keeping me calm. Breaking my trance, the man sat on the couch next to me. He raised his wand to my face. I shrank back instinctively not knowing what to anticipate.
“I’m going to heal you now. Stay still,” he commanded. “Tergeo.”* I could feel a stinging sensation spread across my face. It felt as though he was trying clear the blood from my face. I sat quietly while he tended to my wounds. The silence was starting to become awkward - to me, at least. I had so many questions I wanted - no, needed answered.
“Who are you and how did you find me?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.
“Hold on, I’m not finished healing you.” He raised his wand once again, and uttered another spell. “Episkey.”*
My skin tingled as the spell he used healed my deep cuts. My face felt tender as he dabbed at it with a cloth that he had dipped in the bowl of warm water sitting next to him. I looked imploringly at his direction, waiting for him to finish so he could answer my question.
“My name is Severus. I am a wizard,” he answered simply, almost as if I was too dumb to understand him. “Surely you know what a wizard is, correct?”
“Yes,” I answered, too tired for indignity. “Are you like that other wizard? The man who sent me here? I was in Lórien* with my brothers and my friend when he…I think he killed my friend, Rian. ” My voice dropped off quietly, unable to accept my friend’s death.
“No,” he replied. “Is that how you ended up in the park? A wizard Apparated you there?”
“What’s Apparate?” I asked. “He said something in a language I didn’t know and a light came out of that stick he was holding. I felt like I was in a cyclone and when I opened my eyes, I was alone. Then you found me. That is all I know,” I sullenly stated.
“Amazing,” Severus pondered, “that he knew just when and where to find you.” There was a brief pause before he spoke again. “Wait. Did you just say Lórien,* as in Lothlórien?” he asked.
“Yes, we were there visiting,” I answered plainly.
“Impossible,” he scoffed. “That place doesn’t exist. It’s just a myth, an old myth at that. Perhaps, though, he was right?” Severus wondered aloud.
“Who was right?” I asked perplexed.
Severus stood up and began pacing the room, his eyebrows knitted together and his arms crossed over his chest. “The Dark Lord, of course,” he answered calmly. “He sent me to fetch you. It seems he knew just when and where you would be, and that you would be in need of some … assistance.” The wizard said this with some disdain in his voice. An urge to confront him slowly rose in me, but not enough to actually do so. I wanted to know more, and being difficult would not get me the answers that I wanted.
I felt my heartbeat speed up when what the wizard said began to sink in.
A Dark Lord? Oh, this cannot be good. I could hear the blood rushing through my ears as my heart pounded in fear.
I shook my head in confusion. “But, Sauron* is gone. Banished,” I stammered. “My ancestors defeated him.”
“Sauron? What on earth are you talking about? That was just a legend.” He took a moment to appraise me. “Or perhaps not?” he asked with the faintest trait of awe. “Could it be that you are really from back then? From the beginning?” Severus looked back towards me, and noticed the supplies he used as first aid sitting forgotten next to me. He swept away the cloth and bowl of water with a flick of his wand. He sighed quietly before speaking again. “I think there is much that I need to explain to you before I take you to the manor. It would be best if you are not so difficult to deal with before I present you to the Dark Lord.”
Severus sat down next to me on the dingy couch. All I could do was wait for his clarifications, not knowing what was to come of me. This made me wary of how my future would unfold.
(SSPOV)
We spent the early hours of the morning, the time before the sun rose, talking about her situation. I attempted to explain quite a bit about the world she had been thrust into, such as how she arrived in this time by Apparition as well as about the Wizarding world and its history. I tried to clarify the differences between her time and the present. The girl was perplexed by it all, for it meant that she had skipped forward thousands of years. To say she missed a lot was an understatement. It dawned on me that Willow hadn’t just Apparated from one place to another, but that she had shifted through time itself. The Dark Lord had told me this already, of course, but I had been quick to dismiss the notion. Whoever that wizard was back in the time of Middle Earth must have been extremely knowledgeable about magic, although I believed that the time travel was just a mishap, probably not intentional.
I couldn’t fathom why any wizard in his right mind would try to harm this girl. She looked harmless enough. It was plainly obvious that she was no mere Muggle, let alone fully human. Her movements were far too smooth and graceful, and her skin had a radiance that I had never seen before. The Dark Lord had described the girl’s appearance meticulously, including the tempestuous grey color of her eyes that shone with an almost ethereal glow to them and her long chestnut hair with side-swept bangs. The Dark Lord had wanted no confusion on who she was when he had sent me to locate her. How he had even known when and where to find the girl still confounded me. Was he a seer now, too? That would be disastrous. I made a mental note to inform Albus about this new development of his magical powers.
“How do I get back?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts.
“I don’t think that’s possible,” I murmured. “You’re too far into the future. Although we can transport ourselves back in time, it is not possible to go back for more than just a few days at a time. Time travel is unstable, even like that. It would be too dangerous for you to try. Who knows when and where you would end up? You’re much safer here with people who can assist you,” I finished solemnly.
“You mean I’ll be stuck here….forever.” Willow spoke with an edge of concern in her voice. “I don’t know anyone here. What will I do? I don’t have anyone or anything. My home, my people . . . they’re all just gone? Extinct? My family, friends . . . they’re dead now. I’m lost and alone here,” she panicked.
“It’s going to be alright,” I quietly said. “Arrangements have already been made for you. You’ll be well taken care of. You will be provided for and educated in magic. You’re about four or five years behind in your schooling, but it can be done.” I tried to calm her with assurances.
“Magic? But I don’t know the first thing about what you wizards do,” she seethed.
“Are you not a descendant of the Elves themselves?” I questioned.
“Yes, but…” she stammered.
“Then you have magic flowing through you. You just don’t know how to unleash it or control it, for that matter. Haven’t you been able to do things that you realized no one else could?” I asked.
“Hmm…Yes, I can speak to animals and the trees. My mother used to tell me that I inherited that quirk from one of my grandmothers, Galadriel.* Sometimes I close my eyes and can see things before they pass. The visions can be quite startling at times.” She paused before asking, “Wait. I thought wizards were different from the Elves?”
“We are. History states that we modern day wizards were humans that the Elves felt special enough to gift them with the magic of the Valor. So it would seem that you have that gift as well, but ten-fold.” I drew my lips to a thin line and looked at her, my usually sharp mind working slower than usual. “Did you just say that you’re a seer? You have the second sight, but you didn’t see this coming?” I questioned cynically.
“Well,” she began, “the visions are subjective. I don’t choose what I see or when. They just come to me. Usually at the worst times too, I might add. It’s a little embarrassing when I’m trying to have a conversation and I just kind of zone out. Many people kind of freak out a bit. They say it’s unnatural, or they just think I’m a little strange and joke at how eccentric I am. Again, embarrassing,” she said, chagrined.
I stared at her, not knowing what to make of the slight girl in front of me. She was obviously magical. To have so much of it exhibited without proper training, not to mention the amount of control she already possessed, was impressive, to say the least.
“Yes, that’s the look I get from people when I tell them what I can do,” she said sheepishly.
I shook his head to clear my thoughts. I wasn’t sure how to respond. What an empty existence, I thought. To have the ability to perform magic, but without a mentor to guide and teach you on how to liberate those gifts? I could only imagine the amount of frustration this girl must experience.
“Come,” I said, standing up and abruptly changing the subject. “I think it’s time to head to the Manor. The Dark Lord is waiting and it isn’t in our best interests to keep him waiting.”
(T/WPOV)
With that announcement, my head dropped down in defeat. I did not wish to meet this Dark Lord and to be appraised by him. What if I displeased him? What would he do to me? Would he kill me? Although I was much older than I looked, I still wasn’t ready to die. I felt my life was just beginning. It was looking uncertain, of course, but I felt I hadn’t had the chance to really live. Now, I was trapped in a different time. I had no inkling of what to do with myself.
I followed Severus outside of his home and looked briefly around. The houses looked large and cold. The cobblestoned streets were littered with debris, and the air smelt foul. What a depressing place this was. I eyed the area with disgust. Was the whole world in such disarray? Severus had informed me on how much the earth had been affected over the years. I shook my head in sadness.
Although the place was logically the same, it had been altered so much by the passage of time, that I couldn’t recognize it. The landscapes themselves had shifted, continents moved across the seas. Where were the rolling plains of Rohan? The sweet, earthy scents of the Shire and its little inhabitants that had once amused me so, were those lost as well? What of the majesty of my home, the Kingdom of Gondor and its capitol Minas Tirith? Where were they now? Tears rolled down my face as I thought of these things. If this is where Lothlórien once stood, then this era is a sad and dreary one indeed, I thought. I wondered what had happened back in time. Had another Dark Force corrupted the world? Or was it my fellow race of men who had done this to the Earth? My thoughts were becoming more melancholy as the seconds passed.
“They’ve violated it,” I whispered to myself in a daze.
“Excuse me? Who’s violated what?” the wizard asked.
“Arda, the Earth, it’s been ravaged! What have men done to this world?” I cried out. The daze over me was broken by Severus’ question.
“I know that everything must still be such a shock to you, but we must hurry or we will both regret not going sooner.” He looked at me as if I was slightly deranged.
“What does this Dûr Hir* want with me? How did he even know I was coming? Did he send that crazy man after me?” I demanded, suddenly livid at the idea of a Dark Lord sending me to this forsaken and dreary time period.
“I’m not entirely sure to be honest, but whatever the reason is, he is the one who is offering assistance to you. It would be foolish to not accept it!” He snapped at me, now clearly impatient.
“Fine!” I snapped back.
(SSPOV)
I offered my outstretched arm to side-along apparate her to the Manor, where the Dark Lord was sure to be waiting. The Dark Lord hated delays and was quick to deliver any number of curses to the poor lackeys who might fail him. I had seen my fair share of Crucios and Avada Kedavras over the years since my recruitment as a Death Eater. Severus Snape does not disappoint. I would hand her over as my master asked, without a second thought.
The girl grabbed my arm and scrunched her eyes closed, anticipating the sensation of Apparition. The journey did not take long and soon we landed on solid ground. She released my arm and dusted off her tattered dress.
“It gets easier every time, doesn’t it?” she joked lightly.
I looked down at those grey, almond-shaped eyes and smirked slightly. “Yes it does,” I remarked. “Now let’s hurry. We’ll have to walk the rest of the way. There are protection wards all over the place.”
(T/WPOV)
Severus turned and led the way on a dark, deserted lane bordered by high, neat hedges. The lane led up to a huge set of intricately patterned iron gates. The iron roses and vines twisting into a large letter “M.” When we reached the gates, he lifted his left arm in a form of a salute. The gates dissolved into smoke. He grabbed my arm and guided me through the magical entryway.
Once we were past the smoke and a few steps up the lane, the gates crashed closed with a deafening bang. I shot into the air, startled.
“Jumpy, are we?” Severus teased.
“Wouldn’t you be if you had the worst day of your whole existence?” I retorted with a huff, crossing my arms like a petulant child as we continued to walk.
“And the night isn’t even over, I’m afraid,” he drawled. “The worst is coming. If you want a word of advice, I would do my best to stay calm and speak only when addressed. Do not beg or cry, for he doesn’t like weakness. Do whatever he says and do not dawdle. Try to hold your own, but try not to come across as defiant. I think you’ll be just fine, though,” he tried to reassure me. “Why would he send me all the way to Hampstead Heath Park in London to locate you if he was just going to murder you?”
(SSPOV)
I knew that wasn’t what the Dark Lord had planned for her. I didn’t know what exactly his plans were, of course, being the secretive Wizard that the Dark Lord was. I was fairly certain it wasn’t to harm her, though. Why would he go through all the trouble to attain and confine her like a precious jewel just to toss her aside later?
I caught sight of her in his peripheral vision. She looked ashen - worried, no doubt. Her eyes were open wide, whether in fear or apprehension, I didn’t know. The strangest compulsion to comfort her overcame me, but that wasn’t my place. I had been given strict orders: to pick up the “package” that she was and deliver it to my Lord safely. The feeling was fleeting anyhow. She looked, for the most part, unharmed. The cuts on her face were fading rapidly, even without further magical aid. It must be the Elvish in her. How remarkable, I thought briefly to myself. I turned my thoughts to what I could remember about the Elves. Admittedly, my mind was filled with more questions than answers. I wondered if it would be worth the time and effort of research in regards to this girl. My strengths lie in potions and the dark arts, not magical history and other magical beings. Still, this mere slip of a girl had raised my curiosity.
(T/WPOV)
We followed a sidewalk for what seemed like an eternity, until reaching another set of gates. Severus held the gate open and waited for me to pass. Once I passed and looked upwards, I was met with amazing sight. A large manor, the architecture strange to my eyes, was spotted across a field of grass. In the front, lush gardens were blooming, the colors as diverse as a rainbow. I stared in wonder. Is this where the Dark Lord lives? It looks too beautiful a place for an evil entity to reside in, I thought.
“Is this the where the Dark Lord lives?” I asked Severus.
“Yes, for now,” he answered, “but the house and land belong to the Malfoys. They are a very old and powerful pureblood family who has been loyal to the Dark Lord for many years. It is their hospitality that will be of assistance to you most.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Lucius is the master of the manor, his wife, Narcissa, its mistress. They have a teenage son, Draco, who happens to be my godson. He is at a boarding school in Scotland now, which is also where I teach. I took a day away from my duties to find you. Now, do try to be polite. They don’t like to be disrespected,” he drawled.
“What do you take me for, a peasant girl?” I snapped. “I am royalty and you should be wise to remember it. I certainly know how to be a gracious guest!” The night was beginning to weigh down on me. My exhaustion was seriously screwing with my moods.
Severus’s eyebrows arched up. “Forgive me, Princess, if I seem to have forgotten the place and time we’re in at the moment. No one will regard you as royalty here, so you would be wise to fasten it!” he snapped back with just as much sarcasm.
I stopped and faced him, remorse clearly written on my face. Here I was barking at the man who had rescued me from being totally lost and alone. I regretted my words immediately. He had been nothing, if not kind to me. I was always a strong-willed child growing up and my mouth had a tendency to run away with itself.
Looking up at him, my expression surely chagrined, I started to stammer, “I’m sorry. I’ve had a very strenuous day, and my nerves are shot. I’m weary and hungry. Please accept my apologies.”
(SSPOV)
I looked down at the girl and saw the blush crawling across her cheeks. I chuckled, finding myself amused with the girl. She had a temper, a witty one at that.
“It’s fine,” I stated plainly. “I probably should have offered you something to eat back at my home. For that, I apologize. You are forgiven, though. I would be a little snappy, too, if I was under the duress of your situation,” I replied.
“Le Hannon,”* she said in her native tongue. I assumed she said this in gratitude by her tone.
We finally reached the gigantic doors of the manor, stained glass covering the windows, but before we had a chance to knock on the door to announce our presence, there was a loud crack as a small house-elf appeared before us.
(T/WPOV)
“Ack!” I peeped, my heart jumping into my throat. I jumped to Severus’s side and gripped his arm even harder, if that was at all possible. I felt jittery; it seemed to me that this night would never cease to end. I was starting to grow weary of all the strain being put on me.
“Greetings Master Snape, Mistress.” The small creature bowed deeply, its large nose almost touching the ground.
“The Master and Mistress Malfoy are expecting you in the foyer. Would you like me to escort you?” The little thing squeaked out.
“No, I think we can find our way.” Severus said dismissively. I pulled myself tightly to Severus’ side. The little creature had looked so frightening. It resembled a malnourished and shrunken-looking orc that may have taken a great deal of abuse.
As we walked into the hallway, I shuffled my feet along the way. Leaning close to Severus with my hand gripped tightly to his forearm I whispered, “What in the world that is all holy was that creepy-looking creature?”
“A house-elf. Servants to wizards,” he replied stonily.
“Oh. Why were you so rude to it? It was only trying to be hospitable to us,” I asked confused. Surely wizards didn’t treat their servants in that manner. I was always taught to treat the servants in my home at Minas Tirith* with respect and kindness.
(SSPOV)
I rolled my eyes and could only think of one other person in the whole world who would bother to worry over such foul little creatures. I shook my head and my lips curled into a small crooked smirk.
Great we have another SPEW supporter. I’ll have to let that sufferable know-it-all Granger know she’s actually not alone in this world after all, I cheekily thought to myself. I guided Willow through the great winding halls of Malfoy Manor to finally deliver her. I was ready to go back to my post at Hogwarts and report this new development to Albus.
(T/WPOV)
The silence pressed on as we were walking. Realizing that he had no desire to answer, I looked around myself in wonder. This place was huge and garishly decorated. The rich hues of the carpet and tapestries enthralled me. When we walked into the hall before the foyer, I spotted several portraits, ancestors to the owners of the property probably. When I examined them closer, I jumped back, startled.
“What the… Those paintings are moving!” I shouted astonished.
“Of course they are, but shhhhh. They’re sleeping and I don’t think they would appreciate you waking them,” Severus whispered.
Paintings sleep? Now I know I’m going mad, this has got to be a dream, or a very demented nightmare. Please, wake up! Tathar please wake up!
I clenched my eyes shut, trying to will myself awake. I wanted to escape from this strange and surrealistic dream that I was convinced I was having. I prayed that when I opened my eyes again that I would be back in Lothlórien surrounded by golden leaves, that I would be safe.
It’s just a bad dream, I tried to convince myself.
“Now, before we go into the foyer, remember what I told you. Keep a cool and leveled head, do whatever is asked of you, and don’t whine,” he prompted.
I slowly opened my eyes, hearing Severus speaking to me.
Well, I had to try. Next time, I should just pinch myself.
“I promise.” I spat out scathingly. What does he take me for an ignorant orc? I thought with ire.
“Good. Now, let’s greet our hosts,” he said, pulling me along by my sleeve. We reached the door to the foyer, the doorway obscenely ornate. I thought it was rather tacky to flaunt one’s wealth in this way. I knew of better uses for one’s wealth and it certainly didn’t consist of gilded doorways.
The foyer was a spacious room, warm and inviting, the rich neutral colors of the walls were calming and the fireplace radiated warmth. I didn’t realize just how cold I felt until stepping into the room. I assumed that this was a living area of some type to relax in, a family room maybe? Couches lined the wall providing comfortable seating. The rugs underneath had intricate patterns of green and silver. Now that I considered it, the whole house seemed to have a green and silver color scheme. Maybe those are their family colors?
A couple was seated at on one of the plush couches. From afar, they looked very much alike. The man stood from his seat and swept across the room, his velvet grey robes trailing behind him. I could tell that this was a man of prominence; he was immaculately groomed, his long locks falling down his back and he held himself confidently. His disposition silently commanded respect. I deduced that this must be the master of the manor. He must be Malfoy. I stepped back and let the man address Severus first. They shook hands and moved towards the fireplace.
“Severus, so good to see you again, my dear friend. I see you had no problem in locating her. Did everything go smoothly?” The tall man with long golden locks so pale they looked like a silver halo in the firelight asked.
“Yes, she was for the most part cooperative. A little traumatized by the lengthy apparition, but physically sound,” Severus drawled.
The man turned to face me, and extended his hand out to me. Grasping it tightly, he finally addressed me. While we shook hands, I bowed my head slightly as a show of respect and greeting. It was the way I was properly taught to greet a man of importance.
“Princess, my wife and I are honored to have you in our humble abode,” he said in a sugary-sweet voice. His pale cornflower-blue eyes gripped mine as he continued. “Whatever we may assist you with, you must only ask. I am Lucius Malfoy, and this is my wife, Narcissa.” He gestured toward one of the couches.
A woman stood up from the couch she was seated on and approached us. She had the same straight blonde locks as her husband and was undoubtedly beautiful. She looked far too young to have any teenage son, that was certain. Then again, I could barely pass for a teenager myself, although I was far older. This woman emanated grace and quiet nobility. Her robes were pristine and cut in all the right places to display her slender figure perfectly. She greeted me first, seeing as how the men had started a conversation about my short visit to Spinner’s End. I tipped my head slightly in greeting.
“Hello,” she began, her voice the same sweet tone as her husband. “As my husband said, our home is yours. If there is anything you need, do let myself know.” She smiled at me, a warm and pleasant smile that was devoid of any malice. The woman reminded me of my own mother, a warm and sweet woman, who was always there with a calming embrace and wise words when they were least expected.
Not expecting such acceptance and hospitality from these apparent Dark Lord supporters, I floundered, not knowing how I should respond.
“Le Hannon… oh, I mean, thank you. Sorry.” I squeaked, smiling bashfully at the kind witch’s face.
A sharp ticking noise started coming from behind me, like the sound of someone clicking their tongue in annoyance. The noise interrupted the blonde witch from responding. Instead, Narcissa and I turned our attention towards the noise.
“How precious,” a scathing voice began as I turned around. “The Dark Lord’s new pet has arrived. I wonder if she’s house trained. Can the little twit even speak English correctly? Her accent is atrocious.” Every word from her mouth was dripping with venom. Narcissa scowled, obviously displeased by the insult directed at me, her new guest.
A defiant glare quickly became plastered on my face. A woman was leaning against the doorframe, a devious grin starting to spread across her face. Her hair was wild with black curls, with dark robes that were far too revealing and long filthy fingernails tapping against the wood. She looked absolutely feral. The way this untamed woman appraised my body was sending a chill up my spine. She was what I had expected from a Dark Lord minion. Turning towards Narcissa, my expression was surely livid. “It seems I may not be welcomed after all,” I spat out.
Narcissa’s eyes tightened in annoyance as she stared at the woman in the doorway. We turned our backs toward the feral woman, facing the men once again. It seems that they did not notice our little exchange. Narcissa wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “Nonsense,” she firmly said. “My sister, Bellatrix, has a difficult time with change. She will adapt in time. Now let’s get you to your room and cleaned up.” She paused to eye my sapphire blue dress and silver tiara before continuing. “It does appear that your dress could use a little mending as well.”
Blushing at the disarray of my clothing and with my modesty finally kicking in, I said my farewells to the men who were still deeply engaged in their conversation. When I peeked back towards the doorway, I noticed that the cruel woman named Bellatrix had slipped out. I walked out of the room and followed Narcissa up a flight of stairs on what I presumed was the east wing of the manor. We stopped when we reached a large bedroom, the colors a calming cerulean, my favorite color. The wood of the furniture in the room was a deep maple. So maybe the whole house wasn’t filled up with green after all? The blue comforter on the large bed looked so inviting. All of the adrenaline was draining out of my system and I felt thoroughly exhausted.
“This will be your room,” Narcissa said, closing the door behind them. She nodded towards the door that was partially open. “There is an adjoining bathroom through that door. My son, Draco, has the room at the end of the corridor. He’s at school right now so he won’t be of any bother to you. I believe that a shower would be beneficial for you, since you look chilled.” She clearly her throat lightly before continuing. “I should also check to ensure that Severus has, indeed, healed all of your injuries. It would not please the Dark Lord to see you injured.”
I nodded in agreement, letting a small shiver run through me. Narcissa turned towards the fireplace and muttered something while I turned away from her. With a quiet sigh, I started to peel away the tatters of my dress. Part of me wondered if it was even repairable. One shoulder strap was torn off and the other was just as badly damaged. The bodice was ripped down to the corset underneath. I winced at the movement of shrugging my shoulders, since one was still tender from my earlier fall in the woods.
I heard a small gasp from Narcissa, making me turn back around while still half-dressed. “My goodness,” she exclaimed, pointing to the fading bruises on my shoulders. “What did those brutes do to you my dear?”
“I was attacked before I was sent here,” I admitted shyly, wrapping my arms around myself. “I think I fell somewhere along the way. They should be gone in the morning. I heal pretty fast.”
I started to recount the events of my night, every last minuscule detail until I started sobbing earnestly. The reality of everything that had taken place in less than a day’s time finally hit me. Well, technically, it was thousands of years ago. The magnitude of my grief consumed me.
Narcissa rocked me soothingly while I cried. “Shh, dear,” she whispered into my hair as I sobbed. “It will be ok, you’ll see. Maybe not at first, but someday, you’ll move on from this. Until you do, we’ll be here for you.”
“You’re so nice,” I sniffled. “I wasn’t expecting such kindness.”
“Nonsense,” Narcissa said, continuing to rub small soothing circles on my back, avoiding the bruises and scratches that were there.“You’re in good hands now. We’ve sworn to protect you, so no more tears for now. Let’s get you into that shower, get some food in you and then, some sleep. You need to look respectable in the Dark Lord’s presence when you meet with him tomorrow evening.”
At this reminder of why I was here, I instantly sobered, my tears falling silently as the hiccupping sobs halted. “Is he as dreadful as he sounds?” I implored, my eyes wide with trepidation.
“He can be at times. Just do as he asks and you’ll be fine,” Narcissa reassured me, moving to sit on the far side of the bed.
“Does he have a name?” I timidly asked, not knowing whether the question was appropriate or not. I seated myself on the bench at the foot of the bed to finish removing the dress.
“Yes, but we do not speak it out loud, in reverence to him,” she said blankly. I eyed the witch sitting on the bed, waiting. Knowing that the subject would not be dropped, Narcissa leaned into my ear and whispered solemnly. “The Dark Lord’s name is Lord Voldemort,” she said.
“And what does that mean?” I asked bewildered.
“Let’s hope that you never need to find out, child.”
AN: So what do you think? Next up, the POV of the Heir of Slytherin himself. If you have any questions, feel free to ask away. I know not everyone has read LOTR, but I figured if you have watched Peter Jackson’s movies, you would be pretty safe. Just to remind you, yes, this is a Tom Riddle Jr. fic, not a LOTR fanfiction. It will just take a few chapters to get there. I would much rather have a long story than a too short story. Have patience and all will be revealed.
Here are the links to “Houses of Healing” from The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Complete Recordings. It includes the beautifully sung “Arwen’s song” performed by Miss Arwen ( Liv Tyler) herself. I have also included a link to just “Arwen’s Song” as well, but the quality isn’t as good. Credit goes out to Arwen-Undomiel.com for the excerpt of “Arwen’s Song.” Enjoy.
“The Houses of Healing “
Composed by: Howard Shore
Performed by: Liv Tyler
http://www.mediafire.com/?ky0mymunz3z
“Arwen’s Song (excerpt)”
http://www.mediafire.com/?xnmjnyqannl
"The Houses of Healing" by: Howard Shore/Liv Tyler
Disclaimer:
The RIAA dictates that all music downloaded should be removed after previewing for twenty-four hours. What you do with the music you collect here is your own responsibility.
Translations:
Westron = the language of (human) men or better known as the “common speech” in LOTR.
Mae. Iston le? = Yes. Do I know you?
Tergeo = A spell used to clear off blood, dust, and other things off of a surface.
Episkey = A spell used to heal minor injuries.
Lórien = Elven realm west of the river Anduin, also known as Lothlórien. The Elves that resided there were called the Elves of Lórien or Galadrim. It was a land of golden woods and was the domain of Galadriel, Willow’s great-great-great grandmother).
Sauron = Dark Lord during the time of the War of the Ring. He was the master of Mordor (dark realm) and maker of the “One Ring.”
Galadriel
Galadriel = Noldorin princess (wisest and deepest elf); queen of Lothlórien and the ruler of the Galadrim (Lórien elves) She was Tathar’s/Willow’s great-great-great-grandmother and grandmother to the original Arwen Evenstar. She owned one of the three Elven rings and was said to have the gift of divination.
Dûr Hir = Dark Lord
Le Hannon = thank you
Minas Tirith = Chief city and capitol of Gondor. It was the city where the King of Gondor resided as well as Tathar’s/Willow’s home, where she ruled with her twin brothers.
Author: heysakuya supersonicchica
Beta: minako timelessviolet and MaraudersWolf marauderswolf
Rating: M/NC-17
Characters: Tom Riddle Jr., OC
Chapter 2: Heartbreak and the Transfigured World.
Chapter length: 7,094 words...
Summary: “Love wishes to perpetuate itself. Love wishes for immortality.” -Mortimer Adler... Why was Lord Voldemort so set on attaining immortality? Maybe the Dark Lord had once known love, after all. DH compliant, LOTR references, M for future M/F lemons.
Disclaimer: I do not in any way own or make any profit from either the Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings franchises/characters ... All rights to Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and all respective rights to Lord of the Rings belong to J.R.R. Tolkien.
X-Posted at ff.net, AFF.NET, and the OWL
AN: Thanks goes out to the beautiful and talented, Minako timelessviolet and Marauderswolf, my betas. “You are a ray of sunshine… on a cloudy day!” -House M.D. Translations will be listed below. Credit to Dragon Flame Sindarin program and Arwen-Undomiel(dot)com. The link to the featured song/s will be below…
*=translations and explanations below
(T/WPOV) = Tathar/Willow's Point of View
(SSPOV) = Severus Snape's Point of View
Disclaimer: I do not in any way own or make any profit from either the Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings franchises/characters… All respective rights to Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and all respective rights to The Lord of the Rings belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. I’m just the lowly wannabe writer mooching off their greatness… Commence…
Chapter 2- Heartbreak and the Transfigured World
"Arwen's Song"
With a sigh you turn away
With a deepening heart no more words to say
You will find that the world has changed forever
And the trees are now turning from green to gold
And the sun is now fading
I wish I could hold you closer
-Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(The Houses of Healing)
Lyrics by: Fran Walsh
Preformed by: Liv Tyler
(T/WPOV)
My eyes grew wide, fearing that this man would bring me harm. What more would I have to endure? Wasn’t one traumatic experience enough for one day? I edged away from the man until my back hit the trunk of a tree. It appeared that I was cornered again with no chance of escape. If the man should choose to use his weapon against me, I would have no way to fight him off or stop him. I clutched at the tree’s rough bark. Tears began to fall from my eyes completely uncontrolled.
“It’s ok. I won’t hurt you, and I’m here to help you.” He drawled in an almost bored voice, as if finding me in this state was a burden. I would have felt insulted if I could think of anything else besides how this man could hurt me.
“Your name is Willow, correct?” he asked.
My tears slowly stopped falling. What? I thought. I stared blankly at him, my panic slowly fading. He knew my name? Admittedly in the language of Westron,* but it was my name nonetheless.
“Is it Willow or not?” he snapped at me.
“Mae. Iston le?”* I asked, my voice still shaking slightly.
(SSPOV)
I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. Here I was in the middle of a Muggle-infested park in the middle of the night, trying to console a young girl who didn’t even speak English. It was bad enough I had to deal with the brats I taught back at school. Now I had to figure out a way to lure this girl back to the Manor with me and without causing a scene. Alerting the surrounding Muggles would not be a good idea at the moment.
Looking at her, I could see just how broken down she was. Her face was full of scratches and smudged with dirt and blood. Her hair was sticking out here and there, the silver tiara tangled in her tresses. Her dress was torn and muddied, one strap hanging off of her shoulder. She looked a right mess, but when she peered out at me, almost pleading and I saw those grey, stormy eyes, I understood why my master would be so interested in her. Well, that was pushing it. The Dark Lord was never interested in others, especially women.
I offered my hand to her, trying to be as gentle as I could. If she would just take my hand, I could Apparate back to Spinner’s End. Eventually, I would need to take her to Malfoy Manor to deliver her as per the Dark Lord’s instructions, but certainly not in her current state.
“Come,” I stated, trying to keep the impatience out of my voice. “It’s ok. I swear I won’t harm you. We do have to hurry.”
When she remained silent and unmoving, I grew nervous. It would do no good to bring her to my master if I couldn’t gain her trust.
“You won’t hurt me?” she asked hesitantly.
“So you do speak English,” I remarked.
“Yes. Is that what you call it here? Where am I? I was attacked. I was in Lothlórien with a friend, and then there was a man with a stick like yours and he…he…he…I think he killed my friend. Oh God!” she screeched, the words tumbling freely.
Her sobs started again, making her visibly shake. I caught her before she fell to the ground and used the opportunity to Apparate back to my home.
(T/WPOV)
The dizziness came at me when we landed in a small, dark, gloomy room. How did we go from being in a forest to a small dingy room? I shook slightly as I tried to take my surroundings in. The room we appeared in was warm despite the dreariness of the place.
“What just happened? How did you do that?” I panted as I tried to control the nausea that had hit me.
“Magic!” he snapped. “Now sit while I tend to your wounds.”
I sat willingly on an old couch that was fraying around the corners and eyed my surroundings with suspicion. The walls were a dark green color and lined with bookcases containing worn books and odd knick knacks. The small tables placed in the corners of the room were cluttered with parchment. In fact, the whole room was cluttered. I felt confined in this small, messy room.
God, this place gives me the creeps. At least I’m out of the cold and he doesn’t seem to want to hurt me, I thought to myself.
Weariness settled in my body as the strange man returned to the room carrying a bowl of hot water. I stared blankly into the fireplace as if in a trance, the warmth of the fire keeping me calm. Breaking my trance, the man sat on the couch next to me. He raised his wand to my face. I shrank back instinctively not knowing what to anticipate.
“I’m going to heal you now. Stay still,” he commanded. “Tergeo.”* I could feel a stinging sensation spread across my face. It felt as though he was trying clear the blood from my face. I sat quietly while he tended to my wounds. The silence was starting to become awkward - to me, at least. I had so many questions I wanted - no, needed answered.
“Who are you and how did you find me?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.
“Hold on, I’m not finished healing you.” He raised his wand once again, and uttered another spell. “Episkey.”*
My skin tingled as the spell he used healed my deep cuts. My face felt tender as he dabbed at it with a cloth that he had dipped in the bowl of warm water sitting next to him. I looked imploringly at his direction, waiting for him to finish so he could answer my question.
“My name is Severus. I am a wizard,” he answered simply, almost as if I was too dumb to understand him. “Surely you know what a wizard is, correct?”
“Yes,” I answered, too tired for indignity. “Are you like that other wizard? The man who sent me here? I was in Lórien* with my brothers and my friend when he…I think he killed my friend, Rian. ” My voice dropped off quietly, unable to accept my friend’s death.
“No,” he replied. “Is that how you ended up in the park? A wizard Apparated you there?”
“What’s Apparate?” I asked. “He said something in a language I didn’t know and a light came out of that stick he was holding. I felt like I was in a cyclone and when I opened my eyes, I was alone. Then you found me. That is all I know,” I sullenly stated.
“Amazing,” Severus pondered, “that he knew just when and where to find you.” There was a brief pause before he spoke again. “Wait. Did you just say Lórien,* as in Lothlórien?” he asked.
“Yes, we were there visiting,” I answered plainly.
“Impossible,” he scoffed. “That place doesn’t exist. It’s just a myth, an old myth at that. Perhaps, though, he was right?” Severus wondered aloud.
“Who was right?” I asked perplexed.
Severus stood up and began pacing the room, his eyebrows knitted together and his arms crossed over his chest. “The Dark Lord, of course,” he answered calmly. “He sent me to fetch you. It seems he knew just when and where you would be, and that you would be in need of some … assistance.” The wizard said this with some disdain in his voice. An urge to confront him slowly rose in me, but not enough to actually do so. I wanted to know more, and being difficult would not get me the answers that I wanted.
I felt my heartbeat speed up when what the wizard said began to sink in.
A Dark Lord? Oh, this cannot be good. I could hear the blood rushing through my ears as my heart pounded in fear.
I shook my head in confusion. “But, Sauron* is gone. Banished,” I stammered. “My ancestors defeated him.”
“Sauron? What on earth are you talking about? That was just a legend.” He took a moment to appraise me. “Or perhaps not?” he asked with the faintest trait of awe. “Could it be that you are really from back then? From the beginning?” Severus looked back towards me, and noticed the supplies he used as first aid sitting forgotten next to me. He swept away the cloth and bowl of water with a flick of his wand. He sighed quietly before speaking again. “I think there is much that I need to explain to you before I take you to the manor. It would be best if you are not so difficult to deal with before I present you to the Dark Lord.”
Severus sat down next to me on the dingy couch. All I could do was wait for his clarifications, not knowing what was to come of me. This made me wary of how my future would unfold.
(SSPOV)
We spent the early hours of the morning, the time before the sun rose, talking about her situation. I attempted to explain quite a bit about the world she had been thrust into, such as how she arrived in this time by Apparition as well as about the Wizarding world and its history. I tried to clarify the differences between her time and the present. The girl was perplexed by it all, for it meant that she had skipped forward thousands of years. To say she missed a lot was an understatement. It dawned on me that Willow hadn’t just Apparated from one place to another, but that she had shifted through time itself. The Dark Lord had told me this already, of course, but I had been quick to dismiss the notion. Whoever that wizard was back in the time of Middle Earth must have been extremely knowledgeable about magic, although I believed that the time travel was just a mishap, probably not intentional.
I couldn’t fathom why any wizard in his right mind would try to harm this girl. She looked harmless enough. It was plainly obvious that she was no mere Muggle, let alone fully human. Her movements were far too smooth and graceful, and her skin had a radiance that I had never seen before. The Dark Lord had described the girl’s appearance meticulously, including the tempestuous grey color of her eyes that shone with an almost ethereal glow to them and her long chestnut hair with side-swept bangs. The Dark Lord had wanted no confusion on who she was when he had sent me to locate her. How he had even known when and where to find the girl still confounded me. Was he a seer now, too? That would be disastrous. I made a mental note to inform Albus about this new development of his magical powers.
“How do I get back?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts.
“I don’t think that’s possible,” I murmured. “You’re too far into the future. Although we can transport ourselves back in time, it is not possible to go back for more than just a few days at a time. Time travel is unstable, even like that. It would be too dangerous for you to try. Who knows when and where you would end up? You’re much safer here with people who can assist you,” I finished solemnly.
“You mean I’ll be stuck here….forever.” Willow spoke with an edge of concern in her voice. “I don’t know anyone here. What will I do? I don’t have anyone or anything. My home, my people . . . they’re all just gone? Extinct? My family, friends . . . they’re dead now. I’m lost and alone here,” she panicked.
“It’s going to be alright,” I quietly said. “Arrangements have already been made for you. You’ll be well taken care of. You will be provided for and educated in magic. You’re about four or five years behind in your schooling, but it can be done.” I tried to calm her with assurances.
“Magic? But I don’t know the first thing about what you wizards do,” she seethed.
“Are you not a descendant of the Elves themselves?” I questioned.
“Yes, but…” she stammered.
“Then you have magic flowing through you. You just don’t know how to unleash it or control it, for that matter. Haven’t you been able to do things that you realized no one else could?” I asked.
“Hmm…Yes, I can speak to animals and the trees. My mother used to tell me that I inherited that quirk from one of my grandmothers, Galadriel.* Sometimes I close my eyes and can see things before they pass. The visions can be quite startling at times.” She paused before asking, “Wait. I thought wizards were different from the Elves?”
“We are. History states that we modern day wizards were humans that the Elves felt special enough to gift them with the magic of the Valor. So it would seem that you have that gift as well, but ten-fold.” I drew my lips to a thin line and looked at her, my usually sharp mind working slower than usual. “Did you just say that you’re a seer? You have the second sight, but you didn’t see this coming?” I questioned cynically.
“Well,” she began, “the visions are subjective. I don’t choose what I see or when. They just come to me. Usually at the worst times too, I might add. It’s a little embarrassing when I’m trying to have a conversation and I just kind of zone out. Many people kind of freak out a bit. They say it’s unnatural, or they just think I’m a little strange and joke at how eccentric I am. Again, embarrassing,” she said, chagrined.
I stared at her, not knowing what to make of the slight girl in front of me. She was obviously magical. To have so much of it exhibited without proper training, not to mention the amount of control she already possessed, was impressive, to say the least.
“Yes, that’s the look I get from people when I tell them what I can do,” she said sheepishly.
I shook his head to clear my thoughts. I wasn’t sure how to respond. What an empty existence, I thought. To have the ability to perform magic, but without a mentor to guide and teach you on how to liberate those gifts? I could only imagine the amount of frustration this girl must experience.
“Come,” I said, standing up and abruptly changing the subject. “I think it’s time to head to the Manor. The Dark Lord is waiting and it isn’t in our best interests to keep him waiting.”
(T/WPOV)
With that announcement, my head dropped down in defeat. I did not wish to meet this Dark Lord and to be appraised by him. What if I displeased him? What would he do to me? Would he kill me? Although I was much older than I looked, I still wasn’t ready to die. I felt my life was just beginning. It was looking uncertain, of course, but I felt I hadn’t had the chance to really live. Now, I was trapped in a different time. I had no inkling of what to do with myself.
I followed Severus outside of his home and looked briefly around. The houses looked large and cold. The cobblestoned streets were littered with debris, and the air smelt foul. What a depressing place this was. I eyed the area with disgust. Was the whole world in such disarray? Severus had informed me on how much the earth had been affected over the years. I shook my head in sadness.
Although the place was logically the same, it had been altered so much by the passage of time, that I couldn’t recognize it. The landscapes themselves had shifted, continents moved across the seas. Where were the rolling plains of Rohan? The sweet, earthy scents of the Shire and its little inhabitants that had once amused me so, were those lost as well? What of the majesty of my home, the Kingdom of Gondor and its capitol Minas Tirith? Where were they now? Tears rolled down my face as I thought of these things. If this is where Lothlórien once stood, then this era is a sad and dreary one indeed, I thought. I wondered what had happened back in time. Had another Dark Force corrupted the world? Or was it my fellow race of men who had done this to the Earth? My thoughts were becoming more melancholy as the seconds passed.
“They’ve violated it,” I whispered to myself in a daze.
“Excuse me? Who’s violated what?” the wizard asked.
“Arda, the Earth, it’s been ravaged! What have men done to this world?” I cried out. The daze over me was broken by Severus’ question.
“I know that everything must still be such a shock to you, but we must hurry or we will both regret not going sooner.” He looked at me as if I was slightly deranged.
“What does this Dûr Hir* want with me? How did he even know I was coming? Did he send that crazy man after me?” I demanded, suddenly livid at the idea of a Dark Lord sending me to this forsaken and dreary time period.
“I’m not entirely sure to be honest, but whatever the reason is, he is the one who is offering assistance to you. It would be foolish to not accept it!” He snapped at me, now clearly impatient.
“Fine!” I snapped back.
(SSPOV)
I offered my outstretched arm to side-along apparate her to the Manor, where the Dark Lord was sure to be waiting. The Dark Lord hated delays and was quick to deliver any number of curses to the poor lackeys who might fail him. I had seen my fair share of Crucios and Avada Kedavras over the years since my recruitment as a Death Eater. Severus Snape does not disappoint. I would hand her over as my master asked, without a second thought.
The girl grabbed my arm and scrunched her eyes closed, anticipating the sensation of Apparition. The journey did not take long and soon we landed on solid ground. She released my arm and dusted off her tattered dress.
“It gets easier every time, doesn’t it?” she joked lightly.
I looked down at those grey, almond-shaped eyes and smirked slightly. “Yes it does,” I remarked. “Now let’s hurry. We’ll have to walk the rest of the way. There are protection wards all over the place.”
(T/WPOV)
Severus turned and led the way on a dark, deserted lane bordered by high, neat hedges. The lane led up to a huge set of intricately patterned iron gates. The iron roses and vines twisting into a large letter “M.” When we reached the gates, he lifted his left arm in a form of a salute. The gates dissolved into smoke. He grabbed my arm and guided me through the magical entryway.
Once we were past the smoke and a few steps up the lane, the gates crashed closed with a deafening bang. I shot into the air, startled.
“Jumpy, are we?” Severus teased.
“Wouldn’t you be if you had the worst day of your whole existence?” I retorted with a huff, crossing my arms like a petulant child as we continued to walk.
“And the night isn’t even over, I’m afraid,” he drawled. “The worst is coming. If you want a word of advice, I would do my best to stay calm and speak only when addressed. Do not beg or cry, for he doesn’t like weakness. Do whatever he says and do not dawdle. Try to hold your own, but try not to come across as defiant. I think you’ll be just fine, though,” he tried to reassure me. “Why would he send me all the way to Hampstead Heath Park in London to locate you if he was just going to murder you?”
(SSPOV)
I knew that wasn’t what the Dark Lord had planned for her. I didn’t know what exactly his plans were, of course, being the secretive Wizard that the Dark Lord was. I was fairly certain it wasn’t to harm her, though. Why would he go through all the trouble to attain and confine her like a precious jewel just to toss her aside later?
I caught sight of her in his peripheral vision. She looked ashen - worried, no doubt. Her eyes were open wide, whether in fear or apprehension, I didn’t know. The strangest compulsion to comfort her overcame me, but that wasn’t my place. I had been given strict orders: to pick up the “package” that she was and deliver it to my Lord safely. The feeling was fleeting anyhow. She looked, for the most part, unharmed. The cuts on her face were fading rapidly, even without further magical aid. It must be the Elvish in her. How remarkable, I thought briefly to myself. I turned my thoughts to what I could remember about the Elves. Admittedly, my mind was filled with more questions than answers. I wondered if it would be worth the time and effort of research in regards to this girl. My strengths lie in potions and the dark arts, not magical history and other magical beings. Still, this mere slip of a girl had raised my curiosity.
(T/WPOV)
We followed a sidewalk for what seemed like an eternity, until reaching another set of gates. Severus held the gate open and waited for me to pass. Once I passed and looked upwards, I was met with amazing sight. A large manor, the architecture strange to my eyes, was spotted across a field of grass. In the front, lush gardens were blooming, the colors as diverse as a rainbow. I stared in wonder. Is this where the Dark Lord lives? It looks too beautiful a place for an evil entity to reside in, I thought.
“Is this the where the Dark Lord lives?” I asked Severus.
“Yes, for now,” he answered, “but the house and land belong to the Malfoys. They are a very old and powerful pureblood family who has been loyal to the Dark Lord for many years. It is their hospitality that will be of assistance to you most.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Lucius is the master of the manor, his wife, Narcissa, its mistress. They have a teenage son, Draco, who happens to be my godson. He is at a boarding school in Scotland now, which is also where I teach. I took a day away from my duties to find you. Now, do try to be polite. They don’t like to be disrespected,” he drawled.
“What do you take me for, a peasant girl?” I snapped. “I am royalty and you should be wise to remember it. I certainly know how to be a gracious guest!” The night was beginning to weigh down on me. My exhaustion was seriously screwing with my moods.
Severus’s eyebrows arched up. “Forgive me, Princess, if I seem to have forgotten the place and time we’re in at the moment. No one will regard you as royalty here, so you would be wise to fasten it!” he snapped back with just as much sarcasm.
I stopped and faced him, remorse clearly written on my face. Here I was barking at the man who had rescued me from being totally lost and alone. I regretted my words immediately. He had been nothing, if not kind to me. I was always a strong-willed child growing up and my mouth had a tendency to run away with itself.
Looking up at him, my expression surely chagrined, I started to stammer, “I’m sorry. I’ve had a very strenuous day, and my nerves are shot. I’m weary and hungry. Please accept my apologies.”
(SSPOV)
I looked down at the girl and saw the blush crawling across her cheeks. I chuckled, finding myself amused with the girl. She had a temper, a witty one at that.
“It’s fine,” I stated plainly. “I probably should have offered you something to eat back at my home. For that, I apologize. You are forgiven, though. I would be a little snappy, too, if I was under the duress of your situation,” I replied.
“Le Hannon,”* she said in her native tongue. I assumed she said this in gratitude by her tone.
We finally reached the gigantic doors of the manor, stained glass covering the windows, but before we had a chance to knock on the door to announce our presence, there was a loud crack as a small house-elf appeared before us.
(T/WPOV)
“Ack!” I peeped, my heart jumping into my throat. I jumped to Severus’s side and gripped his arm even harder, if that was at all possible. I felt jittery; it seemed to me that this night would never cease to end. I was starting to grow weary of all the strain being put on me.
“Greetings Master Snape, Mistress.” The small creature bowed deeply, its large nose almost touching the ground.
“The Master and Mistress Malfoy are expecting you in the foyer. Would you like me to escort you?” The little thing squeaked out.
“No, I think we can find our way.” Severus said dismissively. I pulled myself tightly to Severus’ side. The little creature had looked so frightening. It resembled a malnourished and shrunken-looking orc that may have taken a great deal of abuse.
As we walked into the hallway, I shuffled my feet along the way. Leaning close to Severus with my hand gripped tightly to his forearm I whispered, “What in the world that is all holy was that creepy-looking creature?”
“A house-elf. Servants to wizards,” he replied stonily.
“Oh. Why were you so rude to it? It was only trying to be hospitable to us,” I asked confused. Surely wizards didn’t treat their servants in that manner. I was always taught to treat the servants in my home at Minas Tirith* with respect and kindness.
(SSPOV)
I rolled my eyes and could only think of one other person in the whole world who would bother to worry over such foul little creatures. I shook my head and my lips curled into a small crooked smirk.
Great we have another SPEW supporter. I’ll have to let that sufferable know-it-all Granger know she’s actually not alone in this world after all, I cheekily thought to myself. I guided Willow through the great winding halls of Malfoy Manor to finally deliver her. I was ready to go back to my post at Hogwarts and report this new development to Albus.
(T/WPOV)
The silence pressed on as we were walking. Realizing that he had no desire to answer, I looked around myself in wonder. This place was huge and garishly decorated. The rich hues of the carpet and tapestries enthralled me. When we walked into the hall before the foyer, I spotted several portraits, ancestors to the owners of the property probably. When I examined them closer, I jumped back, startled.
“What the… Those paintings are moving!” I shouted astonished.
“Of course they are, but shhhhh. They’re sleeping and I don’t think they would appreciate you waking them,” Severus whispered.
Paintings sleep? Now I know I’m going mad, this has got to be a dream, or a very demented nightmare. Please, wake up! Tathar please wake up!
I clenched my eyes shut, trying to will myself awake. I wanted to escape from this strange and surrealistic dream that I was convinced I was having. I prayed that when I opened my eyes again that I would be back in Lothlórien surrounded by golden leaves, that I would be safe.
It’s just a bad dream, I tried to convince myself.
“Now, before we go into the foyer, remember what I told you. Keep a cool and leveled head, do whatever is asked of you, and don’t whine,” he prompted.
I slowly opened my eyes, hearing Severus speaking to me.
Well, I had to try. Next time, I should just pinch myself.
“I promise.” I spat out scathingly. What does he take me for an ignorant orc? I thought with ire.
“Good. Now, let’s greet our hosts,” he said, pulling me along by my sleeve. We reached the door to the foyer, the doorway obscenely ornate. I thought it was rather tacky to flaunt one’s wealth in this way. I knew of better uses for one’s wealth and it certainly didn’t consist of gilded doorways.
The foyer was a spacious room, warm and inviting, the rich neutral colors of the walls were calming and the fireplace radiated warmth. I didn’t realize just how cold I felt until stepping into the room. I assumed that this was a living area of some type to relax in, a family room maybe? Couches lined the wall providing comfortable seating. The rugs underneath had intricate patterns of green and silver. Now that I considered it, the whole house seemed to have a green and silver color scheme. Maybe those are their family colors?
A couple was seated at on one of the plush couches. From afar, they looked very much alike. The man stood from his seat and swept across the room, his velvet grey robes trailing behind him. I could tell that this was a man of prominence; he was immaculately groomed, his long locks falling down his back and he held himself confidently. His disposition silently commanded respect. I deduced that this must be the master of the manor. He must be Malfoy. I stepped back and let the man address Severus first. They shook hands and moved towards the fireplace.
“Severus, so good to see you again, my dear friend. I see you had no problem in locating her. Did everything go smoothly?” The tall man with long golden locks so pale they looked like a silver halo in the firelight asked.
“Yes, she was for the most part cooperative. A little traumatized by the lengthy apparition, but physically sound,” Severus drawled.
The man turned to face me, and extended his hand out to me. Grasping it tightly, he finally addressed me. While we shook hands, I bowed my head slightly as a show of respect and greeting. It was the way I was properly taught to greet a man of importance.
“Princess, my wife and I are honored to have you in our humble abode,” he said in a sugary-sweet voice. His pale cornflower-blue eyes gripped mine as he continued. “Whatever we may assist you with, you must only ask. I am Lucius Malfoy, and this is my wife, Narcissa.” He gestured toward one of the couches.
A woman stood up from the couch she was seated on and approached us. She had the same straight blonde locks as her husband and was undoubtedly beautiful. She looked far too young to have any teenage son, that was certain. Then again, I could barely pass for a teenager myself, although I was far older. This woman emanated grace and quiet nobility. Her robes were pristine and cut in all the right places to display her slender figure perfectly. She greeted me first, seeing as how the men had started a conversation about my short visit to Spinner’s End. I tipped my head slightly in greeting.
“Hello,” she began, her voice the same sweet tone as her husband. “As my husband said, our home is yours. If there is anything you need, do let myself know.” She smiled at me, a warm and pleasant smile that was devoid of any malice. The woman reminded me of my own mother, a warm and sweet woman, who was always there with a calming embrace and wise words when they were least expected.
Not expecting such acceptance and hospitality from these apparent Dark Lord supporters, I floundered, not knowing how I should respond.
“Le Hannon… oh, I mean, thank you. Sorry.” I squeaked, smiling bashfully at the kind witch’s face.
A sharp ticking noise started coming from behind me, like the sound of someone clicking their tongue in annoyance. The noise interrupted the blonde witch from responding. Instead, Narcissa and I turned our attention towards the noise.
“How precious,” a scathing voice began as I turned around. “The Dark Lord’s new pet has arrived. I wonder if she’s house trained. Can the little twit even speak English correctly? Her accent is atrocious.” Every word from her mouth was dripping with venom. Narcissa scowled, obviously displeased by the insult directed at me, her new guest.
A defiant glare quickly became plastered on my face. A woman was leaning against the doorframe, a devious grin starting to spread across her face. Her hair was wild with black curls, with dark robes that were far too revealing and long filthy fingernails tapping against the wood. She looked absolutely feral. The way this untamed woman appraised my body was sending a chill up my spine. She was what I had expected from a Dark Lord minion. Turning towards Narcissa, my expression was surely livid. “It seems I may not be welcomed after all,” I spat out.
Narcissa’s eyes tightened in annoyance as she stared at the woman in the doorway. We turned our backs toward the feral woman, facing the men once again. It seems that they did not notice our little exchange. Narcissa wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “Nonsense,” she firmly said. “My sister, Bellatrix, has a difficult time with change. She will adapt in time. Now let’s get you to your room and cleaned up.” She paused to eye my sapphire blue dress and silver tiara before continuing. “It does appear that your dress could use a little mending as well.”
Blushing at the disarray of my clothing and with my modesty finally kicking in, I said my farewells to the men who were still deeply engaged in their conversation. When I peeked back towards the doorway, I noticed that the cruel woman named Bellatrix had slipped out. I walked out of the room and followed Narcissa up a flight of stairs on what I presumed was the east wing of the manor. We stopped when we reached a large bedroom, the colors a calming cerulean, my favorite color. The wood of the furniture in the room was a deep maple. So maybe the whole house wasn’t filled up with green after all? The blue comforter on the large bed looked so inviting. All of the adrenaline was draining out of my system and I felt thoroughly exhausted.
“This will be your room,” Narcissa said, closing the door behind them. She nodded towards the door that was partially open. “There is an adjoining bathroom through that door. My son, Draco, has the room at the end of the corridor. He’s at school right now so he won’t be of any bother to you. I believe that a shower would be beneficial for you, since you look chilled.” She clearly her throat lightly before continuing. “I should also check to ensure that Severus has, indeed, healed all of your injuries. It would not please the Dark Lord to see you injured.”
I nodded in agreement, letting a small shiver run through me. Narcissa turned towards the fireplace and muttered something while I turned away from her. With a quiet sigh, I started to peel away the tatters of my dress. Part of me wondered if it was even repairable. One shoulder strap was torn off and the other was just as badly damaged. The bodice was ripped down to the corset underneath. I winced at the movement of shrugging my shoulders, since one was still tender from my earlier fall in the woods.
I heard a small gasp from Narcissa, making me turn back around while still half-dressed. “My goodness,” she exclaimed, pointing to the fading bruises on my shoulders. “What did those brutes do to you my dear?”
“I was attacked before I was sent here,” I admitted shyly, wrapping my arms around myself. “I think I fell somewhere along the way. They should be gone in the morning. I heal pretty fast.”
I started to recount the events of my night, every last minuscule detail until I started sobbing earnestly. The reality of everything that had taken place in less than a day’s time finally hit me. Well, technically, it was thousands of years ago. The magnitude of my grief consumed me.
Narcissa rocked me soothingly while I cried. “Shh, dear,” she whispered into my hair as I sobbed. “It will be ok, you’ll see. Maybe not at first, but someday, you’ll move on from this. Until you do, we’ll be here for you.”
“You’re so nice,” I sniffled. “I wasn’t expecting such kindness.”
“Nonsense,” Narcissa said, continuing to rub small soothing circles on my back, avoiding the bruises and scratches that were there.“You’re in good hands now. We’ve sworn to protect you, so no more tears for now. Let’s get you into that shower, get some food in you and then, some sleep. You need to look respectable in the Dark Lord’s presence when you meet with him tomorrow evening.”
At this reminder of why I was here, I instantly sobered, my tears falling silently as the hiccupping sobs halted. “Is he as dreadful as he sounds?” I implored, my eyes wide with trepidation.
“He can be at times. Just do as he asks and you’ll be fine,” Narcissa reassured me, moving to sit on the far side of the bed.
“Does he have a name?” I timidly asked, not knowing whether the question was appropriate or not. I seated myself on the bench at the foot of the bed to finish removing the dress.
“Yes, but we do not speak it out loud, in reverence to him,” she said blankly. I eyed the witch sitting on the bed, waiting. Knowing that the subject would not be dropped, Narcissa leaned into my ear and whispered solemnly. “The Dark Lord’s name is Lord Voldemort,” she said.
“And what does that mean?” I asked bewildered.
“Let’s hope that you never need to find out, child.”
AN: So what do you think? Next up, the POV of the Heir of Slytherin himself. If you have any questions, feel free to ask away. I know not everyone has read LOTR, but I figured if you have watched Peter Jackson’s movies, you would be pretty safe. Just to remind you, yes, this is a Tom Riddle Jr. fic, not a LOTR fanfiction. It will just take a few chapters to get there. I would much rather have a long story than a too short story. Have patience and all will be revealed.
Here are the links to “Houses of Healing” from The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Complete Recordings. It includes the beautifully sung “Arwen’s song” performed by Miss Arwen ( Liv Tyler) herself. I have also included a link to just “Arwen’s Song” as well, but the quality isn’t as good. Credit goes out to Arwen-Undomiel.com for the excerpt of “Arwen’s Song.” Enjoy.
“The Houses of Healing “
Composed by: Howard Shore
Performed by: Liv Tyler
http://www.mediafire.com/?ky0mymunz3z
“Arwen’s Song (excerpt)”
http://www.mediafire.com/?xnmjnyqannl
"The Houses of Healing" by: Howard Shore/Liv Tyler
Disclaimer:
The RIAA dictates that all music downloaded should be removed after previewing for twenty-four hours. What you do with the music you collect here is your own responsibility.
Translations:
Westron = the language of (human) men or better known as the “common speech” in LOTR.
Mae. Iston le? = Yes. Do I know you?
Tergeo = A spell used to clear off blood, dust, and other things off of a surface.
Episkey = A spell used to heal minor injuries.
Lórien = Elven realm west of the river Anduin, also known as Lothlórien. The Elves that resided there were called the Elves of Lórien or Galadrim. It was a land of golden woods and was the domain of Galadriel, Willow’s great-great-great grandmother).
Sauron = Dark Lord during the time of the War of the Ring. He was the master of Mordor (dark realm) and maker of the “One Ring.”
Galadriel
Galadriel = Noldorin princess (wisest and deepest elf); queen of Lothlórien and the ruler of the Galadrim (Lórien elves) She was Tathar’s/Willow’s great-great-great-grandmother and grandmother to the original Arwen Evenstar. She owned one of the three Elven rings and was said to have the gift of divination.
Dûr Hir = Dark Lord
Le Hannon = thank you
Minas Tirith = Chief city and capitol of Gondor. It was the city where the King of Gondor resided as well as Tathar’s/Willow’s home, where she ruled with her twin brothers.