"But professors-!" Jacob's protest was cut off when the window of the room they were in smashed inward, shattered by an arrow. When they all crowded around the broken window, they could see a shimmering group standing in a line at the edge of the forest. At their head stood a figure in green. Legolas. Jacob could see what had happened. He had seen them get marched back to a large castle and had assumed that they were now being held prisoners. Looking around, he noticed that many of the window in towers had been shattered. The elves in their golden and maroon armor marched forward, readying themselves for more close range combat. They were not prepared for what they were about to face. Either the elven hunting party was about to be decimated by the wizards that they were attacking, or those same wizards would underestimate the prowess of the elves. Either way, someone was going to be hurt. Drinian charged behind them, his weapons returned to him. Jacob rushed to the door, threw it open and ran down the hall. He could hear Mcgonagall calling out to him.

"Mr. Sessions, where do you think you are going?" she shouted into a now empty corridor. Jacob dashed as quickly as he could, shedding his robe as he ran down the hall. He loosened his tie as he ran down the hall, and drew his wand. He was as ready for a battle if he needed to be ready for one. He turned a corner and found himself face to face with Severus Snape.

"Going somewhere, Sessions?" He asked, his usual expression of dry clay on his face.

"Yes, I am trying to prevent anyone from being hurt, Professor. Whether it is students or the elves, and especially Drinian. I can't have him being injured again," Jacob told him, attempting to move around him. Snape blocked his path still, and Jacob was forced to take drastic measures. He took a step back to the nearest window, which had shattered like many of the others, he held up his wand to his throat cast Sonorus, the voice projecting spell, and called to the elves. "Legolas, elf prince, do not attack! Drinian, captain of Gondor, do not engage those within this castle! Turn-" his call for peace was cut short when Snape snatched him back from the window.

"I would suggest that you cease these activities, Mr. Sessions," he said. Finally, Jacob could hear the others catching up to him. He turned to see them, and Snape caught sight of them as well. He caught sight of Mal and Richard approaching as quickly as Jacob just had.

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Cat had slipped into her cat form, which none of the professors had known she could do, as soon as they were out sight. She slipped down a side passage as saw Severus approaching the others. They were all stuck, but her. She slunk through the halls and down the tower, passing many students running, panicked, back to their common rooms. She arrived in the courtyard only minutes after she had left detention. Elves had somehow managed to take it, and were holding it, preventing even the professors from entering. She crept past them, they didn't suspect that the feline slinking through the hall was actually her. It was then that she spotted Drinian, Legolas, and another elf standing around the fountain in the courtyard. They quietly discussed strategy, plans, and their attack. Drinian had been in many a battle during the third age of Middle Earth, she knew, but there was nothing that could prepare them for what they were up against. She crept across the courtyard, when suddenly Legolas turned and drew an arrow. He held his fire, but called to her.

"You are no natural creature, feline. I can see the soul in your eyes," he said to her. upon this, Cat transformed back and Drinian and Legolas relaxed. Drinian approached har and gave her a short embrace. His armor was cold to her skin, but she could feel warmth coming from the man who had been like a second father to her for several months during her last journey. He was alive, she was sure of that now. They seperated and Drinian explained to the other elf, apparently the leader of the soldiers, who she was. He introduced himself as Haldir. Cat felt some memory stir about him. He had died at the battle for Helm's Deep. Legolas had been there he didn't seem at all concerned by that fact though.

A shout went up from the other side of the courtyard, and Cat turned to see several elves retreating into the courtyard as a figure in yellow lined robes burst through their lines. Cedric had finally decided to show up. He deflected arrows as they zipped towards him, and returned fire when he could. He made steady progress into the courtyard, until one arrow pierced his calf and he fell to one knee. He gritted his teeth, and pulled the arrow out, cast a healing spell at his earliest chance and pressed on.

Suddenly he met eyes with Cat, and anger seemed to fill his eyes. Darkness of someone who believes that his friends had betrayed him. Soon, many elves were lying incapacitated or petrified, even a few with injuries. Cedric stopped when he finally reached the fountain where the four of them stood. Legolas drew a dagger and prepared to close on Cedric, knowing that arrows seemed to not harm him. Cedric pointed his wand at Cat and finally spoke his mind.

"You brought them here, didn't you?" he started, "They injured several people, and now they are forcing us to stop classes." He stared her in eyes and waited for an answer. Cat wasn't sure. She wasn't certain if they had been the ones to bring the the stories together. They might have been the cause of all of this, but she came down here to stop this, and that was what she was going to do. It was, but then Mal just had to go and steal her thunder.

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She leapt from the open window, broom still in hand, and mounted up. She pulled out of her steep dive and shot across the ground, barely missing rooftops with her feet. She landed in the courtyard before many of them seemed to realize that she had even jumped out the window. She landed in front of Cedric, holding her hand before her, palm toward him, in a signal to stop. Moments later, she was petrified, laying stiff on the ground. Cat gasped and shot a glare at Cedric. He had changed, he was different. He seemed like he hadn't eaten for days, his skin was pale and his eyes dark. A seemingly permanent scowl was on his face. Mal could still see, though she couldn't move and she remembered something about Cedric that made her realize what was happening. Time in these worlds was confusing, and the arrival of another had messed with the time of this one. He had been a death eater if he survived the trials but failed. He was now that darker, hateful version of himself. He had petrified her, and hurt all of these people, but he hadn't killed anyone, so clearly he hadn't changed completely.

She lay there, stiff and unmoving, and watched the scene unfold. Cat noticed the darkness as well. She stepped in front of Drinian to protect him, and Legolas attacked. he leapt at his foe, but was thrown across the courtyard and landed on his feet. He slid backwards when he landed. Haldir fired several arrows, but Cedric deflected them effortlessly. He blasted one of the supports to the large fountain and it began to crumble. Haldir jumped away as stones crumbled around him.

Cat stood her ground as cedric attacked. They launched spells back and forth, deflecting and firing. Cat was tiring, and it looked as though Cedric would soon win. She noticed a small critter scamper across the courtyard and sink its teeth into his ankle. He held his hand to his ankle as it scampered away. Mal tried to turn herself to see where the critter had come from, but she still had no control. An elven arrow appeared just above the bite wound, jutting from his leg. He fell to his knees once more. He reached his leg when another arrow flew by, drawing blood from both his wrists at once. A final arrow landed in his other ankle. and he fell to his side. He curled up from the pain and quietly screamed to himself. Mal saw Cat approach and cast Ferula, the bandaging charm oh each of his limbs, still he didn't stand. Jacob and Richard entered her vision, and she knew who had fired the arrows. Jacob pulled out his wand and cast a counter curse, and Mal could move freely once again. Then she realized what they had just done. They had stopped the attack by showing the elves there were no enemies here, but they also had attacked a fellow student. Their punishment would no doubt become instant. and Mcgonagall's voice behind her only served to confirm her suspicion. They were in even bigger trouble now.

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Their punishment was now to be immediate. The Hogwarts Express pulled up to the small station across the lake as the four of them now stood with all of their things surrounding them. Their wands had been broken, and the fragments thrown away. Richard had enjoyed their adventures. He had apparently missed out on many of the biggest action moments, and they had separate adventures each. They stepped onto the train and into the first cabin, the four of them sitting down. They found themselves in silence. No one said anything. Richard found himself closing his eyes and nodding off. He felt the swaying of the train in his sleep slowly drift away. He dreamed of what was happening back at Hogwarts. He saw more creatures coming out of the forest. He saw great warships of corsairs attacking Hogwarts from the lake. He could see Uruk-hai marching across the bridge towards the castle. Trolls tramped about in the courtyard. Men, Elves, and Wizards all fought side by side to defeat the hordes, but they stood little chance. Dumbledore himself stood on the bridge, fending of the goblins and orcs that approached. The old man looked like a royal king fighting his way into an enemy army. Then, something attacked him from behind. He blade flashed, and the goblin was dead. Anduril had cut down the creature before it could harm the old man. Aragorn fought side by side with Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. A wise old wizard and a king fought valiantly side by side. Aragorn expertly cut down the orcs that approached, while Dumbledore blew back masses of the creatures when he could, but even the two of them had limits. They slowly retreated back into the courtyard. Richard's dream flicked to the castle doors. He saw now everyone inside the great hall, as the doors shook from pounding outside. Suddenly, a troll burst through the door and was brought down by a barrage of spells and arrows. The dream ended suddenly, and Richard found himself standing in a room with a ping-pong table. He stepped into the room, and behind him, Jacob entered from the stairs. Behind him came Mal, and then finally Cat. He looked around at the strange room, and asked his only question.

"Where-" he started. Then it dawned on him why they all entered from stairs. They were in the basement. They were back.