Chapter Four: The Travelers

When the traveling wizards landed at their final destination they landed hard and it took them several minutes to gather their senses and their breath. When they finally gathered their wits again all but Draco were on their toes on high alert, all looking to and fro to try and figure out where they were. It was not a landscape any of them had ever seen before.

"Told you interdimensional portals were a thing," George said softly, sparing a brief glance at his twin.

Fred was just silent.

"Where are we?" Ron asked, his tone sharp from his dis-ease.

"Not in England," Blaise said.

"We need to find shelter," Ron said as he turned a full circle.

"We need to find Harry," Hermione said.

"Draco's still fading."

The motley crew looked at eachother before Blaise snorted and discarded his jacket, walking over to the nearest tree and climbing it like a monkey.

Several long minutes passed before he jumped down from a branch, brushing off his clothes.

"We need to head that way," he said, pointing behind them.

"I saw smoke. Perhaps this is as close as Draco's magic could get us to Harry?"

"How do we know that smoke belongs to Harry?" Neville asked.

"We don't," Ron said.

"But we're sitting ducks regardless. And...our magic still works...right?" he asked, suddenly feeling worried.

Everyone looked at eachother before Luna cast a simple reducto spell on a stone, effectively shrinking it.

"Right," Ron said with relief.

"What about Draco?" he asked.

"I've got him," Blaise said, bending down and picking up his friend.

"Everyone circle round and we'll take the defense til we get closer," he instructed.

The three members of the Fellowship that were awake felt the shift in the atmosphere and in a second Legolas was on his feet in a defensive stance, his eyes looking around wildly.

"What is it?" Aragorn asked in hushed tones, pulling his weapon out as well.

"I hear voices," Legolas said, closing his eyes and concentrating.

"Orcs?" Aragorn hissed.

"No," Legolas said.

"They are young...and they are many, but I think they are human."

Harry was up at that, looking around as well.

"How many?" Harry asked, a small hope burning in his chest, as ridiculous as he knew it was.

"I'm not sure," Legolas said, tilting his head a bit.

"At least 3, but the footsteps say more."

"Shall we ride out?" Aragorn asked, looking at Legolas.

Legolas was quiet for a but before nodding.

"Should we wake the others?" Harry asked.

"I think not," said Aragorn.

"Will you be alright to stand guard on your own?" he asked Harry.

"We will send signal if we require assistance or if danger is present."

Harry looked around slowly before nodding.

"Be safe," he said, looking at the two he had grown fond of.

"Always," Aragorn said before mounting one of their steeds and riding off, Legolas behind him.

The troupe of wizards moved slowly, listening to their surroundings and trying to see the distance through the darkness, the only light being that of the stars.

"How is Draco?" Hermione asked softly after some time.

"Fading," Blaise said simply before stopping and throwing out a hand to stop the others.

"Something approaches," he said simply.

"How do you know?" Ron asked, to which Blaise simply tapped an ear.

"What do we do?" Neville asked, hand going to his wand.

"Circle the wagons," Fred said.

"Wands?" George asked.

"No," Ron said.

"Not until we know."

"Wandless magic?" Neville asked.

"Anyone mastered non-verbal?"

Slowly the group came in tighter, forming a protective circle around Draco who was now laying on the ground.

Blaise stared intensely in the direction of something only he could see, his posture going straighter.

"Two beings and a horse," he whispered, though no one else could see anything.

"Must be a scouting party," Ron said, looking at Blaise.

"Stay vigilant," Blaise said as the riders finally came in to site.

Aragorn was surprised to see so many individuals in the middle of nowhere, all strangely dressed, and all in a defensive position.

"I think a rescue party has come," he said softly to his partner.

"Are you so sure?" Legolas asked, sounding amused.

"If they are here to kill him they will not get far," Aragorn said.

Both parties kept their eyes on one another until the horse and riders were barely 2 feet away from Blaise who raised his hands slowly.

"We mean no harm," he said keeping eye contact with the man before him.

"We are simply...misplaced."

Legolas and Aragorn laughed at that.

"Misplaced are you?" Aragorn asked, his tone filled with humor.

"We..." Hermione began.

"We followed a portal here and...we don't really know where 'here' is."

The witches and wizards just nodded as Blaise drew in a sharp breath.

"You're an elf!" he exclaimed, hope almost filling him.

Legolas just stared at him in shock.

"We're looking for someone," Hermione said.

"A boy about our age. Might you have seen one? Tall? Thin? Messy black hair and glasses?"

"Who is he to you?" Aragorn asked, his tone sounding slightly protective.

"He is our friend," Hermione said, sounding desperate.

"Our brother," Ron interjected.

"We've searched months for him and...we've come a long way," Blaise said.

"This is our only hope of finding him. His mate..."

Blaise stepped slightly to the side to reveal Draco laying on the ground unconscious.

"Draco..." Legolas breathed.

"You know him!" Fred asked in surprise.

Legolas nodded as he dropped from the horse and came to kneel beside Draco.

"How do we know this isn't some trap?" Aragorn asked.

"He has the matching rune," Legolas said.

"And he is weak," he said softly as he assessed the boy before him.

"I cannot believe he has survived all this time. It is..."

'Impossible,' was the word that came to mind but then Legolas thought different.

"We must reunite him with haste," he said, turning to look at Aragorn.

"You are the faster rider," Aragorn said, sliding off of the horse as well.

"I will stay here with these while you take him in. If all is as they say, I will lead them to camp."

Legolas nodded as he hoisted Draco up, placing him on the horse before climbing on behind him.

"I will send signal," he said, giving one last look around before turning the steed around and breaking for their camp.