AN: Daughter #2, Elipsa, and I had such a great time writing Three Turns, that we decided to give it another try with a Crossover story with Harry Potter & Lord of the Rings.

I had two ideas:

1. Eradan - Elipsa posted the one shot story that we collaborated on. (For the record - I wanted it to end at the council meeting, the other part was all Elipsa! And it was not my idea to do a sequel… which I am not a part of… except to proofread.)

2. The Vanquisher - Started out to be a joint effort. In the end Elipsa only wrote one chapter. I leave it up to you to figure out which one. (Which should be easy for anyone who's read Three Turns.)

Seeing how this is so totally AU, a few things didn't happen.

1. Snape didn't die. Sorry all you Snape haters, the man was too smart not to have some sort of anti-venom after that incident with Arthur Weasley. Daughter #1 said he was tired and wanted to die, but no… he's still around cuz I said so. (stomps foot, crosses arms and gives Daughter #1 the stink eye)

2. Fred didn't die because Daughter #2 demanded it to be so - though he doesn't play a part in the story… at all.

3. Harry didn't drop the stone, that's just silly. After all they went through to find all the parts of the Deathly Hallows, he's not gonna just drop it where some random person could pick it up.

4. Harry didn't destroy the Elder Wand.

5. Hedwig didn't die. Because… well just because… you'll see.

So It's Over.

"Stupid Hufflepuffs!" Harry groused.

Leaving the library, Harry huffed and stormed down the hall only to come to a complete stop when faced with a small first year with large blue eyes and long golden hair. The young Ravenclaw smiled serenely at him and spoke with a soft, lilting voice, "Don't listen to them, Harry. They're frightened by what they hear and don't understand what they see. Your instincts will guide you and she'll be fine. Believe in yourself."

And, just as quickly as she appeared, the young girl was gone. Harry blinked in confusion and turned to see where the blonde witch could have disappeared to, but she was nowhere in sight. Shaking his head, Harry had no idea what to think about that brief encounter or what the girl was even talking about. He didn't even know her name.

Yet a small smile tugged at the second year Gryffindor's features as he walked back to his common room and his heart wasn't nearly as heavy with sadness. Perhaps not all of the students at Hogwarts believed Harry to be the heir of Slytherin after all.

Her words came back to Harry as Buckbeak flew them to safety, 'Trust him, Harry. He will save you and your dog. He will not fail you.'

Hermione clung to him and buried her face against his back, "Have I mentioned I hate flying?"

Sirius laughed merrily as Harry had the hippogriff bank right before coming to a smooth landing in the courtyard below. The escaped convict hopped off Buckbeak and grinned widely, "Well that was fun!"

Harry chuckled as Sirius helped Hermione down from Buckbeak's back. The young third year wizard didn't need help; he simply slid off the hippogriff and stroked the beast's feathers, "Thank you, Buckbeak. You're going to go with Sirius for a while. You will be safe from the Ministry."

Buckbeak let out a squawk and nudged the boy as if he were telling the young wizard that he understood what Harry had told him. The teen grinned at the brilliant animal. Harry turned to his best friend and shook his head in confusion, "Luna told me to trust Buckbeak. She said this after breakfast on our first day of school this year - before we even met him. How could she have known?"

"Harry?"

"Hi, Luna." Harry glanced past her shoulder at the tall hedges behind her, "Can't talk long, yeah?"

Luna gripped the fourth year's hand and stepped forward in a way to demand his full attention. She waited until Harry looked her in the eyes before speaking, "Sometimes - no matter how we wish otherwise - events must happen. Just try to remember that it isn't your fault."

Harry frowned at her words, sudden fear and doubt gripping his heart.

He could hear someone calling him so they could begin the Third Task, but he was lost in the depths of Luna's blue eyes. A calmness spread through him.

Harry blinked, breaking the odd trance he had fallen into and gave Luna a lopsided grin, "Okay."

"That doesn't matter; I still have no way to get there." Harry hadn't relented the point that the others weren't going with him to the Ministry. The fifth year Gryffindor was adamant that he would not put his friends in further danger.

"I thought that was already settled," Luna gave Harry one of her serene smiles. "We're flying."

"Look," Ron snapped. Neville and Ginny exchanged confused looks at Luna's announcement while Hermione started at Ron's outburst. "We can't fly without brooms. It isn't as if we have wings that will suddenly sprout out of our backs like you-"

"Don't be silly." Luna's smile slipped away and she turned her steely gaze upon the redhead, "I don't have wings, but they do."

Every head whipped around when Harry gasped, "Yes!" Moving forward towards the trees, Harry gazed up at the two thestrals, "Brilliant as always, Luna."

Three of the six friends that had gathered within the Forbidden Forest glanced at each other in confusion. Ron gaped at the triumphant smile that graced the blonde witch's face as she moved to stand beside his best friend and cooed at… nothing.

"I wish I could take your pain from you."

Harry flinched at the sound of her voice and swiped at his tears, "Hey, Luna."

"Hello, Harry." The blonde sat gingerly beside Harry under the beech tree and curled her arms around her raised legs. Luna rested her chin on her knee and gazed across the Black Lake. "Your time runs short. There is so much still to be done."

The sixth year teen closed his eyes and leaned against the tree, "I don't know what to do; where to turn; who to trust… there's just too much pain."

"Do you remember what I told you?"

Harry snorted at his friend, "You've told me a lot of things."

Luna gave him a small smile, "What did I tell you before you went into the hedges two years ago?"

He opened his eyes and stared at the clouds as he thought back to their conversation before the Third Task. He remembered that night: the third task, the portkey, the death of Cedric, the return of Voldemort, the fear, the sadness, the guilt, the eventual acceptance. "Some things have to happen."

There was a moment's pause before Luna prompted, "And…"

Harry hesitated. It was difficult for him to say the words, but deep down the teen knew Luna was right. "And that it's not my fault."

"The Headmaster's death was not your fault."

"No, it was Snape." Harry spat the name as if it was vile to taste.

"Not really. It was a mercy." Harry's head snapped towards her and his glare was intense, but the gentle look that he received in return didn't waver. Luna spoke just as melodious as she always had, ignoring the irate looks from her friend, "The Headmaster was already dying. Didn't you see his hand? The curse was strong and was slowly claiming his life. Professor Snape released him from his pain."

Luna turned her steady gaze back to the still waters of the lake, "You will need to trust him in the year to come. It won't be easy. Everyone will believe what they saw and not what they've been told. We each have a part to play and yours-"

For the first time since they had met during Harry's second year at Hogwarts, Luna's voice hitched and died away. Her quirky words of wisdom died unsaid. Tears filled her big blue eyes and sadness surrounded her.

Harry reached out to his friend and pulled her close. It was an awkward hug. Harry was unaccustomed to showing any sort of affection. Luna's sob caused the young wizard to overlook his own discomfort and hold her tighter as she turned her face into his chest . "Luna?"

"He's fighting the call. The perian is fighting the lure of the darkness."

Who he was, Harry hadn't a clue. The information was something he would file in the back of his mind to bring forth when Luna's cryptic words would be needed. Much like her telling him to trust a beast he had yet to meet.

Harry felt lost and at loose ends. The war was over. He survived. Voldemort was dead. Something he honestly hadn't expected, nor had he planned for what to do next now that the prophecy wasn't dictating his fate. His whole life had been geared towards the destruction of Voldemort.

He stooped down and plucked up the Elder Wand that Voldemort was so certain would kill Harry. The moment the young wizard had the wand in his grasp he felt the wave of magic wash over him and the Hallow warmed to the touch, thrumming with power.

Someone was calling his name. He heard the pounding of footsteps behind him. He instinctively tucked the wand into his mokeskin pouch he kept around his neck and turned to greet his best friends. "Oof!"

Hermione plowed into the unsuspecting teen causing him to take a few steps backwards to regain his footing, but Harry didn't complain. He wrapped his arms around her and gave a small grin when she blurted, "Oh, Harry! I was so frightened. I thought we lost you."

"I'm not so easy to kill, Hermione." Harry tugged on her arms, "But if you don't let up, you may choke me to death, yeah?"

"Oh!" Hermione blushed and released her hold on him. "Sorry."

Ron gave Harry a lopsided grin, "So it's over."

"Yeah."

"What do we do now?" Ron looked over his shoulder at the school they grew up in. "Everything is so… different."

"We're different, too." Hermione pointed out and moved closer to the red head. He simply gave her that lopsided grin of his before wrapping an arm over her shoulder. Harry raised an amused eyebrow and she blushed, "Yes, he finally got over his idiocy and-"

"Oi!" Ron balked, but the other two simply laughed.

Harry shook his head and started walking back to the castle, trying to ignore the dead bodies splayed all over the courtyard, "I'm happy for you two. Really, it is about time." Harry turned a deaf ear to Ron's growled 'git' comment and continued, "I'm just not sure where I'm heading next. I mean… honestly, I hadn't thought I'd survive this."

"I'm glad you did." Hermione wrapped an arm through Harry's and the three walked together.

"Me too, mate." Ron added.

Harry gave them a tired smile and added his own thought, "I'm glad we did, too. Where's Neville?"

"Last I saw, he was with Luna." Hermione released Harry's arm and picked up the charred Sorting Hat as they strolled. "He was so brave. Neville was the one who killed Nagini."

"I'll have to remember to thank him for that. His head didn't burn too badly then?" Harry eyed the hat that laid limp in Hermione's hand. The Boy-Who-Lived gently took the floppy Sorting Hat from her fingers and stroked the worn leather.

"Not that I saw."

The friends entered the castle and stopped within the Great Hall, taking in the sight of the occupants. Tears of relief and mourning, cries of anguish and pain all filled the room and Harry struggled not to walk away.

Hermione untangled her arm from Harry's and the wizard watched as she and Ron made their way towards the Weasley family.

In his spot by the doorway, Harry spotted a family that always stood out, but never more so than now. He made his way across the room and stopped before the three. Lucius Malfoy looked warily at the boy, but didn't speak. Draco frowned at Harry and Narcissa gave the young man a small nod which encouraged him to speak, "Thank you, Lady Malfoy." He gave a tired bow to the woman to show his gratitude and respect before turning his attention to the woman's son. "And thank you, Malfoy," Harry rolled the wand between his fingertips, "I wanted to return this to you. I wouldn't have survived without it."

Draco stood at that point and stared at his wand in his nemesis' hand, "You used my wand to…"

"Mhmm…"

Narcissa had covered her mouth and stared in fascination at the wand being exchanged from the teen to her son. In a rather un-Slytherin fashion the woman blurted, "What do you expect in exchange?"

Harry grinned tiredly at the woman, "Nothing. It's a good wand, but it's Draco's. I know how it feels to lose your wand and I couldn't keep this."

Lucius had stiffened when the teen spoke and his eyes were drawn to the wand that vanquished his master. Draco closed his eyes and gave a small smile when his hand wrapped around the ten inches of hawthorn.

The weary wizard gave the three Malfoys another awkward nod and made his way towards the solitary form of the injured potions professor.

Harry crouched beside the prone still man, "Glad you made it, sir."

Snape looked blearily at the boy and gave a small, tired glare, "Is that so?"

The former student grinned at the look, oddly taking comfort in the familiar sight, "Yes." Harry sat on the ground beside the cot and leaned against the stone wall. "Sadly - as much as you may hate me - you're probably the only one in this whole castle that can understand me and what I've just done."

The professor groaned, "Lucky me."

Harry chuckled softly and gripped the Sorting Hat as an anchor to what was left of his sanity. He laid his head back and closed his eyes, feeling safe for the first time in over a year. "Indeed."

Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, The Chosen One, The Vanquisher of Dark Lord Voldemort, The Master of Death… was once again a student at Hogwarts at age eighteen. Somehow Hermione had managed to talk him and Ron into retaking their seventh year. Harry had attempted to argue that he couldn't possibly retake something he had skipped and not taken yet, but the girl was a menace and naturally got her way.

Harry hitched his school bag on his shoulder and made his way down to the common room. Hermione, Ginny and Neville were waiting for them. Ron was hot on his trail, "Come on, Harry. We're going to be late for breakfast."

"We aren't late, Ron." Harry countered.

"We are actually," Hermione pointed out, "the headmistress wanted us to be early this morning."

"Yeah well, come on then." Harry gave his friends a strained smile and gripped his school bag tighter. After having lived on the run for a full year, he understood the need to be prepared - much as Hermione had with her beaded bag. Harry had convinced Hermione to cast an Undetectable Extension Charm on his bag, ensuring he could carry all of his worldly possessions with him at all times.

The Gryffindors made their way to the Great Hall. Chatter was heard throughout the hall along with laughter and the usual boisterous noises. Harry frowned and slowed his pace, but his friends hadn't noticed. He pulled at his collar and watched the shadows. The words of the late Mad-Eye Moody resounding in his mind, 'Constant Vigilance.'

But the war was over. Voldemort was dead. The Death Eaters were either dead, in Azkaban or in hiding.

Harry sighed and quickened his paced to catch up to his friends. He was being paranoid. Hogwarts was repaired: the walls, wards, everything was back to - or at least as close to - normal as possible. There was nothing for the young man to worry about. That was what they kept telling him, but the words were empty and did nothing to ease his concerns.

Harry took his seat at the Gryffindor table with his friends and set his bag on his lap.

Hermione saw the ever present bag and frowned at him, "Harry…"

"Don't." Harry didn't meet her gaze while he continued scooping eggs onto his plate and grabbed the platter of bacon. Much to his relief, Hermione heeded his warning and didn't continue speaking about his paranoia. She understood, or she thought she did. Maybe she was right in her assumption, perhaps she did understand. She had been there. Hermione was out in the woods as much as he, but she didn't kill. Harry had. Hermione hadn't been killed. Harry had been.

With a long suffering sigh, Harry closed his eyes only to open them when the owls arrived. He watched dozens of birds flying throughout the Great Hall with a thought of his long time friend Hedwig, but he hadn't been expecting any mail that day… or any day really. Harry lowered his head and dug into his breakfast with gusto ignoring the conversation around him.

"Harry, it's time." Luna's voice broke the morning repast as the Great Hall around them grew silent.

He looked up at his long time friend and frowned in confusion. She wore a long white gown, her long golden hair framed her face with soft curls and her large blue eyes danced with excitement. "Hello Luna." Harry greeted, "Time for what?"

"Time to go." Luna took his hand in hers and gently led him out of the Great Hall. Her leather boots made no sound against the stones, but the gown whispered around her ankles.

Harry looked back at the tables in confusion. No one seemed to notice as they exited the building as they all ate, drank and spoke silently. The only sounds were of his dragon hide boots and the swish of Luna's gown. Harry allowed Luna to guide him away from their friends and the safety of the school, but spoke his concern. "We won't be late for class will we? You know how Hermione is about being late."

Luna simply smiled at Harry and walked him to the Forbidden Forest. Harry was starting to wonder what was going on. He slowed his pace as his heart began racing. They had made it to the clearing where he had met Voldemort and died. He hadn't begun to panic until the blonde witch released his hand. Harry stepped closer to the girl, "Luna, what's this all about?"

From seemingly nowhere, Luna pulled a grey cloak and wrapped it around his shoulders, fastening it with a pin that resembled a green leaf. Harry watched as she threw a white cloak with gold trimming around her own shoulders and fastened a similar leaf on hers.

Throughout this whole ordeal, Luna hadn't spoken. She faced Harry with her serene smile and large blue eyes. Hedwig swooped low and landed on her human's shoulder. Harry grinned at his familiar, "Hello, girl."

Luna held a rolled parchment out to him and Harry hesitated. Laughing softly, Luna stepped closer, took his hand and wrapped it around the message. Rising on her toes, she pressed her lips softly against Harry's cheek. "Don't fear what lies ahead, Harry. It is destiny."

The moment the words were spoken there was a flash of light. Harry felt no pain but the talons digging into his shoulder. There was no hex or curse. The portkey's pull at his stomach had him tumbling through to his destination before his world went dark.

AN 2: I've actually finished writing this story (it still needs to be edited)... well, it's mostly written because I still have to wrap up the epilogue, but otherwise it is complete.