Lord of the Rings

Description: HP/LOTR X-over. 18 year old Hermione Granger goes to Middle Earth. Sent to see something done, told to protect someone and falling in love, what will she do?

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to either J.K. Rowling or J.R.R. Tolkien, anything you don’t belongs to me. Any similarities to other fan fiction is completely coincidental and no infringement is intended. Some passages are blatant reproductions of scenes from the movies, I don’t own those either.

Author’s Note: This goes off the first through fifth Harry Potter books and the three Lord of the Rings movies. It will go at least as far as the end of The Return of the King, maybe further. For the purposes of this fic Middle Earth is a continent of its own, ancient magic protecting and concealing it from other places and leaving it unchanged by time. (Thanks to StarwolfRealms for the idea!) I have tried hard not to make Hermione a Mary Sue but if she was too girly there would be no point in her being there.

Hermione Granger sat in a tree on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest under the influence of an invisibility charm and holding a bow a qui quiver of arrows. Several yards away in another tree sat Severus Snape, also wearing an invisibility charm, bow and arrows in hand. Below them, a well prepared (if Hermione did say so herself) Harry Potter dueled a not quite as well prepared Tom Riddle, a.k.a. Voldemort. It was Hermione and Severus’ job to take out any death eaters that made it past the defensive line of people set up to protect the dueling Harry. The ‘lucky’ death eaters that slipped through were taken out by carefully concealed arrows.

Albus Dumbledore had somehow found out that Hermione’s father Patrick Granger had been quite skilled with a bow and sword, and that he had passed that skill (among others) on to his only child. As it turned out, Severus Snape was also uncommonly skilled with these weapons. Taking into consideration the catastrophic oclumancy lessons in Harry’s fifth year, it was decided that Hermione would train Harry to properly use Godric Gryffindor’s sword (“Less bloodshed.” Albus had reasoned). And so it was that Harry was unexpectedly (in Tom’s case anyway) ready for the final battle.

It had been decided (against Severus’ better judgment) that if the defensive line grew too thin, then Hermione would join it instead of Severus. If he was revealed as a spy now, he would be murdered as soon as the opportunity arose by any death eater who happened to find an opening. It was hard enough giving Harry his chance at Tom without having to watch Severus’ back as well. Before too long the time came for Hermione to reveal herself.

She climbed out of the tree, ended the invisibility charm and joined comrades surrounding her best friend. As she passed a fallen death eater she grabbed his sword. With sword in one hand and her wand in the other (positioned to slip easily back up her sleeve) she stopped next to Ron Weasley and Remus Lupin. Remus had already happily taken out Peter Pettigrew to avenge James and Lily and was now dueling Bellatrix Lestrange to avenge Sirius. A well placed killing curse dropped Remus and Ron quickly took his place. Hermione was deftly taking care of other approaching death eaters with her sword. Neville Longbottom came to her aid when a sword wielding Martin Rookwood tried to run Hermione through. Luckily for her he had bad aim and instead of going right through her stomach he hit her left side, missing her vital organs. As Neville took out Martin, Bellatrix killed Ron. She then turned to Neville and after muttering something about his parents she cast the cruciatus curse at him. Hermione gathered her strength and rose to her feet. As she ran her sword through Bellatrix a howl of pained rage came from the direction of Harry and Tom.

Everyone within range turned toward the sound. Tom had managed to drive his sword into Harry. The enraged scream came when Harry used the last of his quickly draining strength to thrust his own sword into the Dark Lord’s chest. Time seemed to stand still as everyone watched in slow motion the fall of Lord Voldemort and his arch nemesis The Boy Who Lived.

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Hermione was laying on the ground next to her fallen lover when Minerva McGonagall found her. She and Albus had been positioned at the front doors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, keeping the enemy from entering. She called over a medi-wizard who conjured a stretcher, placed Hermione gently on it and floated it into the Great Hall.

Thanks to the wonders of magic Hermione was up and about the next day although she was still sore. She slowly made her way around the room, helping where she could. She came upon Severus , who had suffered a few scratches and a broken ankle when he fell from the tree dodging a stray spell. Seamus Finnegan had lost an arm and Terry Boot, a leg. As she looked around her, she contemplated what she had left and came to the conclusion that she now had no one she was really close to left.

Harry’s godfather Sirius Black had become a friend to all the kids before he fell through the veil at the end of their fifth year. The next year her parents were killed in a death eater attack. Percy Weasley (though she had never really been close to him, he was almost her brother-in-law) had died in an attack on Hogsmead earlier this school year. This final battle had taken her best friend Harry Potter, her other best friend and fiancé` Ron Weasley, her favorite teacher Remus Lupin (as well as several others) and most of the rest of the Weasleys. The only ones left virtually unscathed were the two oldest, Bill and Charlie. Ginny was in a coma and Fred had gone into a catatonic state upon seeing the death of his twin brother George. Molly and Arthur were dead, as well as Nymphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt. There were countless others as well.

Hermione had never had any friends until she, Harry and Ron had fought that mountain troll in their first year. Since then she hadn’t really had many others and instead nurtured her friendship with the two boys, and later Ginny, to the completely unbreakable point. Nothing short of death (or a coma it would seem) could separate the four, and she loved their families just as much as they did. That night Hermione went up to the Astronomy Tower and grieved for everyone she had lost in the last three years. That’s where Severus found her the next morning after she had cried herself to sleep.

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Gandalf the Grey rode swiftly across the plains to Isengard. When he arrived Saruman the White met him.

“Smoke rises from the mountain of doom. The hour grows late and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard seeking my council, for that is why you have come, is it not?” he said coming down the stairs.

Gandalf bowed his head and replied, “My old friend, Saruman.” Soon they were walking around the grounds of Isengard Tower, talking about the One Ring of Sauron.

“You are sure of this?” Saruman asked gravely.

“Beyond any doubt.”

“So the ring of power has been found.”

“All these long years it has been in the Shire, under my very nose.”

“Yet you did not have the wits to see it. Your love of the Halfling leaf has clearly slowed your mind.” Saruman said disdainfully.

“But we still have time. Time enough to counter Sauron if we act quickly.” Gandalf said quickly.

“Time?” Saruman stopped walking and turned to Gandalf. “What time do you think we have?” he asked pedlyedly. Gandalf pondered this as they made their way to Saruman’s chambers. “Sauron has regained much of his former strength.” Saruman informed him. “He can not yet take physical form but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress the Lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh. You know of what I speak Gandalf. A great eye, lidless, wreathed in flame.” Saruman spoke vehemently.

“The eye of Sauron.” Gandalf said softly.

“He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon he will have summoned an army great enough to launch an assault on all of Middle Earth.”

“You know this? How?” Gandalf asked incredulously. Saruman looked toward another room.

“I have seen it.”

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“The pilanthiar is a dangerous tool Saruman.” Gandalf said as they enteredtherther chamber.

“Why?” Saruman asked. Gandalf looked at him sharply. “Why should we fear to use it?” he asked as he pulled the cloth from a black crystal ball.

“They are not all accounted for, the lost seals tomes. We do not know who else may be watching.” Gandalf spoke quietly but vehemently. He tossed the cloth back over the ball. When he touched it, he caught a glimpse of the Eye and gave Saruman a sideways look that plainly said ‘What the hell are you up to old man?!’

“The hour is later than you think. Sauron’s forces are already moving. The Nine have left Minas Mordor.” Saruman told him.

“The Nine.” Gandalf breathed.

“They crossed the River Isen on Midsummer’s eve disguised as riders in black.”

“They’ve reached the Shire!” Gandalf started to feel a bit panicky.

“They will find the ring and kill the one who carries it.” Saruman spoke almost tonelessly.

Gandalf’s eyes widened. “Frodo.” and he headed for the door. It slammed shut of its own accord and he turned back to Saruman. At the other wizard’s small smile he resolutely headed for another door. It too closed before he could reach it, as did a third door and the fourth.

“You do not seriously think that a hobbit could contend with the will of Sauron? There are none who can against the power of Mordor.” Saruman said almost consolingly, a haunted look in his eyes. Gandalf turned to him, grim comprehension darkening his face. “There can be no victory. We must join with him Gandalf. We must join with Sauron.” This was said defeatedly. “It would be wise my friend.”

“Tell me, friend,” Gandalf said with a look of disgusted disappointment, “When did Saruman the wise abandon reason for madness.” Saruman stood in rage, brandishing his staff. With magic, he threw Gandalf across the room and pinned him to the wall. He advanced on Gandalf, his staff in front of him. A fight ensued, both men sending the other flying. Gandalf got in several good hits, but Saruman was just too powerful and he finally got Gandalf’s staff.

“I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly but you have elected the way of pain!” All this was said while he swung the other wizard around with magic from both staffs. Then he sent Gandalf up into the air where he landed on top of a tall platform.

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There was no way down, especially without his staff. So, he sat dejectedly in the rain pondering his fate while Saruman was below, ordering the orcs to tear down the trees. Some time during the night a large moth like insect flew in front on Gandalf where he caught it gently in his hand. There he held it while he muttered words in a strange tongue, then he let it fly away. Not long after, Saruman came to Gandalf.

“The friendship of Saruman is not lightly thrown aside.” he said as he threw the already beaten man across the platform. “One ill turn deserves another.” he said as he held Gandalf precariously on the edge of the platform. “It is over. Embrace the power of the ring.” The moth flew over Gandalf as Saruman continued. “Or embrace your own destruction.” He brought Gandalf back up on to the platform.

“There is only one Lord of the Ring, only one that can bend it to his will.” Gandalf said, looking past Saruman at his moth friend. Upon seeing a giant eagle arrive he said, “And he does not share power.” With that, he jumped off the platform and landed on the back of eagleagle.

As it winged away Saruman said “So, you have chosen death.”

The eagle took Gandalf to the edge of Fangorn Forest where he proceeded to enter the forbidden territory. Before too long he reached a bluish wavering portal. He stepped through and found himself in another forest, this one darker and even mforbforbidding than Fangorn. He looked around him, then set out on the nearly invisible path before him.

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(Spoken in Elfish) “Aragorn has not yet arrived. I sense something dark pursuing them.” Lord Elrond Half-elven told his daughter, Lady Arwen. She turned from the window.

“Let me go look for them. I know this forest and I am a fast rider.”

“It could be dangerous.” Elrond argued half-heartedly, knowing it would not matter to the elf maiden in front of him.

“I do not fear danger. The sooner we get the ring here, the sooner we can figure out what we are to do. Let me go father.” she pleaded.

He sighed. “Very well. But please be careful Arwen.”

“I will.” She hugged him, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and ran out the door. Elrond watched her leave the room, then turned to the window. Several minutes later he saw Arwen leave the stable.

“Be careful my daughter.” he whispered as he watched her ride out the gate.