Be gentle be kind, this is new for me. Well not fanfic per-say, but this Harry Potter, LoTR, thing. I have recently fallen in love with the thought of Hermione and Legolas. So here's what happens. Now while this story was fluttering around my head, my smart son told me to even start the story while LoTR was happening would be suicide, because most of my knowledge is limited to the hot blonde elf. Which is not totally true, but I can see his point. Then I thought, what about after the war? I could do that, and keep the history close to the original. So this is where you all need to be kind, if I make a mistake, and I will, just point it out nicely and I can try to fix. The world of Harry Potter I am pretty darn good with.

Perched on a rock near the banks of the lake, Hermione stared out at the water in resignation. For once her over active brain stopped processing and gave her a moment of peace to take in what could possibly be her last night on earth. Instead of analyzing the plan to death, or trying to calculate other possibilities with more favorable outcomes, she took a moment to memorize the sun setting over the lake. Storing away the sound the water made when it gently lapped at the shore. Appreciating the way the breeze kissed her cheeks, and the slight chill in the air.

It had been startling to hear Harry's plan to apparate into Hogsmeade. Her first instinct was to shoot down his words, to tell him he'd gone bonkers. To invade the tiny village so close to Hogwarts was suicide. Instead she only stood frozen in place, her mouth firmly clenched shut, as a tiny voice inside her head whispered to her that there was no other way. War was upon them, they had all the pieces they could gather outside the ancient castle. So instead of arguing, she gave a slight nod of her head and headed toward the lake, letting the boys break down camp and talk about their plan to get inside Hogwarts.

"Hermione?" Harry's voice broke her out of her thoughts and back to reality. "We're almost ready." Sitting down next to her and handing her bag over, Harry kept his eyes on the setting sun.

"I can't believe we're about to do this." Hermione sighed as she slung her bag over her shoulder.

"If you've got any better idea . . ." Harry's body went tense next to hers, and Hermione knew he misunderstood her.

With a gentle shake of her head, Hermione reached out and took hold of one of his hands. "It's not that Harry. There aren't many other options. I just can't believe it's almost over. We've been living in that tent for months now, if everything works out our journey is over."

"Hopefully in our advantage." Harry's words were soft, but they both felt the heavy truth in them.

Falling silent as the sun dipped beyond the horizon, Hermione stored away the image before speaking. "Harry, I need you to promise me something."

"Depends on what you want me to promise." His reply sounded hallow, so different then his boyish loyalty from years ago.

Sucking in a deep breath of air, feeling the chill burn her lungs, Hermione forged on. "No matter what happens when we reach Hogsmeade, our only goal is to get you into the castle."

"Hermione-."

"Don't Hermione me." She snapped, desperate to enforce the seriousness of her words. "We've made so many foolish mistakes, and this isn't the time for any heroics. Nothing we've done will matter if anything happens to you."

"I don't want to hear this." Dropping her hand, Harry stood his body tense with anger.

"I don't care what you wish to hear." Swiftly rising, Hermione grabbed onto his shoulder and forced him to stay and listen to what she had to say. "Let's be honest. From the beginning Ron and I have been expendable. The only important goal was to deliver you safely to the final battle so you could battle You-Know-Who."

"You act like I'm some sacrificial lamb being led to a slaughter."

"Get mad if you want, but deep down you know it's the truth." Hermione shrugged. "I just need you to promise me if things go south, you'll keep on with the plan. Get inside Hogwarts and destroy the Horcrux."

"At the expense of you and Ron?" Jerking his shoulder out of her grasp, Harry turned on her, his face hard with anguish.

"If that's the case, yes." Lowering her voice, Hermione nodded. "We have to be realistic, people are going to die, people who we know and care for. Maybe even one of us."

Harry's body relaxed some. "I know this, I just . . . I don't want to talk about it."

"I know, neither do I." Hermione said. "But I need you to promise me you will keep on if either Ron or I don't make it."

"I can't-."

"You can. You must Harry. So many lives are at stake." They stared at one another in silence, until Harry turned away and headed to where Ron was waiting. She watched as the two boys spoke quietly and prayed Harry would take her words to heart. He was stubborn like that. Angrily refusing to hear words he knew to be true, while at the same time silently listening.

L~H~L

"What plagues you Legolas?" Joining his friend on the balcony beneath the night sky, Aragorn rested his hands on the railing and looked down on the courtyard below. "You've been sullen over these last few weeks."

Legolas's brows drew together as he sighed while folding his arms over his chest. "You make me sound as if I were a child sulking because he was denied dessert."

"Not a child." Aragorn smirked into the night. "More of a maiden who is out of sorts."

"You jest with me, while my soul is in turmoil." Legolas groused, though the twitch of the corner of his mouth showed he wasn't completely affronted.

"I jest, because it's the only way to pull you from your dark thoughts." Aragorn stated. "You've been unusually quiet as of late, and I am growing concerned."

Seeing the sincere expression on his friend's face, Legolas felt uncomfortable with the thoughts which had been plaguing his mind. But Aragorn was right, he had been out of sorts, and remaining silent would solve nothing.

"Are you not tired of this?" He asked, as his hand waived toward the rounded archway behind him, which led into a large hall where currently guests dined and celebrated. Truth be told, there had been so many celebrations as of late, that Legolas had lost track of what exactly they were rejoicing. "Emptying your coffers to the Lords and Ladies while the people of Middle-Earth are going to bed hungry?"

A knowing look crossed Aragorn's features. With a long sigh, Aragon shifted to rest his hip against the railing. "What I would give to be seated around a simple fire, with only the company of my friends and the wilds."

"But you cannot." Legolas sighed. "For you are a slave to your crown."

Nodding, Aragorn let his gaze shift to where his guests dined. "Many nights I have dreamed of taking Arwen and returning to Rivendell. I know she is also having a hard time adjusting to the world of man, and of their ways. But reality sets in, and I know to abandon my post would only have the people of Middle-Earth suffer more than they already are."

"Then why do you not do something now? Instead of fattening the rulers who have forsaken the people because their keeps have been restored?" Frustration seeped from the elf, who turned back to the night.

Running a tired hand over his face, Aragorn sighed. "Do you think I do not try? It seems that as the time passes, the memories of the war fade. The alliances forged are again frail. To force their hands now will only create more deaths as egos are bruised. If I could there would no famine, or suffering."

"This was not what I fought for." Legolas murmured, his defeated tone only a sigh.

"Nor I." Aragorn agreed. "In my position what would you do?"

"Are you seeking my council your Highness?" Legolas mocked, though his words weren't cruel, they still spoke of the bitterness the elf felt.

With a resigned breathe, Aragorn gave a slow nod.

"You've been snared into the past, thinking it is you who needs the help of others, instead of understanding it is they who need you." Folding his arms over his chest, Legolas continued to gaze into the star filled sky, as though the tiny beacons of light held the answers. "Without you their boarders would be plagued by exiled orcs, their strong fortresses would still be in ruins, their own coffers empty."

"I have felt trapped my friend." Aragorn nodded. "Desperate to keep the peace so the people can heal."

"But they can't heal when they live in destitution." Legolas frowned. "The war ripped through their lands, their homes, taking away their loved ones. They were given hope, when you took your rightful place as King, only to have it ripped from their grasp when no aide came to ease their suffering."

"Rebuilding a nation doesn't happen overnight." Aragorn tried to reason.

"No it does not." Legolas agreed softly. "But it can never happen when the provisions meant for them are intercepted and rerouted to their rulers."

"What?" Aragorn's body went tense as he moved from the railing. "Why is this the first time I have heard of this?"

With a delicate shrug, Legolas shook his head. "I have tried to speak with you on this matter, but something always seems to interrupt us."

"This doesn't make sense." Aragorn's eyes flashed hot as he started to pace.

"There is no reason to dwell on the whys, or to waste time on unraveling the past, there needs to be action taken." His words gave his friend little peace. "If I could make a suggestion?"

Aragorn paused and sent his friend a sorrowful glance. "You should never have to ask me permission for anything."

Knowing it was fruitless to discuss the chasm that had slowly separated them over the past few months, Legolas smiled softly at his friend. "Allow Gimli and I to set off and patrol the villages and land, we can take into account what needs to be done to restore your people and the people of neighboring lands."

"But you already scout the lands."

"Flanked by your men." Legolas reasoned. "There is mistrust in their eyes, and I can find no answers under a King's banner."

"Alone?" Taken aback by Legolas's request, Aragorn stared at his friend with unease. "There are still bands of orcs roaming the land."

"It is not I who has grown soft over the years." Legolas teased. "Allow us to do this."

"You have done so much already for Middle-Earth. Why do you seek to risk your life?"

Legolas paused, finding the right words to express his inner turmoil. "The people of Middle-Earth did not ask for this war, they did not possess the powers which created the bloodbath they were forced to endure. The war was created by rulers and powerful magic, and their plight was never considered. Though we did what had to be done to end the evil, we have not done enough to pay back the people."

"You've put much thought into this." Aragorn sighed, knowing his approval meant little at this point. It was only due to their friendship that Legolas was offering him the opportunity to approve.

"Gimli and I have been packed for days." Legolas admitted. "I just hadn't found the right time to speak with you."

"Of course you have my blessing." Lowering his head in acknowledgment, Aragorn held out his hand. "I only wish I was in the position to join you."

"You have an important job here." Grasping his friend's offered hand, Legolas felt the veil of sadness lift from him. "We will be in touch, and together we will right the wrong of Middle-Earth."

H~L~H

She didn't want to die. For months she had prepared herself for the inevitable, but as her feet flew over the uneven ground toward the safety of the forest, Hermione couldn't help but ignore the many things she still wished to accomplish. Tears filled her eyes as the cold wind whipped against her face, and the sound of racing footsteps followed from too near.

How stupid could they be? Hermione sobbed as she veered to the right. They hadn't no sooner apparated into Hogsmeade when a terrible wailing sound of the alarms rang out. The seemingly deserted streets came to life as Death Eaters appeared right before their eyes. Hermione had no sooner shoved the boys into action before spells whizzed past their heads.

She's fended off the nearest masked figures, while yelling to Harry and Ron to disapparate out. Her eyes had briefly met Harry's, silently begging him to remember what she'd said and let out a sob when he gave a shaky nod and grabbed onto Ron before disappearing.

How she managed to make it this far out of the village was beyond her, but something inside of her sprang to life, forcing her feet to start moving in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. The dark, creepy woods had saved her once, and she only prayed they would again.

Her hand reached for the Time-Turner beneath her jumper and pulled it free. All she needed was a safe place, and a few precious seconds before she could put this nightmare behind her. If she could only turn back time to before they apparated into Hogsmeade, she could warn the boys of their miscalculation.

The bush to her left suddenly exploded, forcing her to shift more to her right and over the rough terrain. Her trainer hit a rock sending her down on her knees, with only a second to spare she pointed her wand over her shoulder and shouted a spell, while scrambling to her feet again.

"Nice try Mudblood, but there's nowhere left for you to run." The sound of Lucius Malfoy's voice made her blood turn to ice. "Draco cut her off."

Even before the last word was spoken, Draco suddenly appeared before her some ten feet away. Forcing her to halt in her tracks and regard him wearily. She imagined this should've been his golden moment, to finally give it to her. Instead he stared back at her with a haunted expression, of regret and humiliation.

"Where's Potter?" Lucius snapped from behind as his hand crushed her upper arm.

"Like I would tell you." Her words came out stronger than she imagined, while she kept her eyes trained on Draco and his wand.

"You know you are going to die, tell me what I want and I will make it swift." Giving her arm a forceful shake, Hermione felt her teeth rattle inside her head. Frustrated with her silence, Lucius shoved her from behind onto the rocky ground. "Crucio." He spat, and Hermione felt her muscles turn to fire.

When the spell faded, he crouched down over her, his hair making shadows across his face. "Where is Potter?"

Fighting through the unbearable pain, Hermione stared back at the man in contempt. "It doesn't matter who wins this war, you will still have to pay the price of the pain you inflicted upon your family." She had no idea why she spoke these words to him, it wasn't to beg him for mercy, or to make him see what he was doing was wrong, but a fact she'd always strongly believed.

"When the Dark Lord wins, my family will be heavily rewarded." Lucius rose to his full height, and kicked out at her side.

Screaming out in pain, Hermione rolled to her side and pulled her knees up to her chest. "Your wife hates you, and your son is broken." She wheezed. "Even now you are alone."

Hatred burned from his eyes, as his wand pointed at her again. "Crucio!" Instantly the fire returned, twisting and pulling at her nerves, making her muscles spasm until her body bucked off the ground. "You insolent piece of filth. Crucio!"

Barely able to regain her breath, Hermione's scream tore through the night. This time the curse gnawed at her bones until she thought she'd go insane. After an eternity, she felt herself come back into her body, knowing if she were hit again with the spell it would be the last.

"Where. Is. Potter?" Lucius boot connected again with her ribcage, forcing Hermione to roll back into the fetal position. With the last amount of reserved strength, she reached for the Time-Turner with one hand. There was no way to calculate how many times the spindle was turned, but seeing Lucius was finished waiting for her answer she spun the devise just as he shouted his curse.

As the spell left his wand another shout went off nearby. "Protego!" Both spells hit at once, as her fingers spun the turner. The world went black and Hermione knew she was dead.