Harry Potter and the White Conference

Disclaimer: anything from Lord of the Rings belongs to J. R. R. Tolkien, and not me (obviously).

As usual, J. K. Rowling owns the magical world of Harry Potter.

Only Sophia is my own creation. She is not supposed to resemble or mimic anyone. Any resemblance to actual people is strictly unintentional.

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Chapter 7: the First Journey

Sophia entered the staircase up to Dumbledore’s office and this time remembered to knock when she came upon the top of the stairs. She moved into the room when she heard Dumbledore’s voice backoning her. Snape was already there, along with McGonagall, and Hagrid.

“So, my dear, how did you like your first travelling by potion experience?” Dumbledore asked.

“Fine, thankyou.”

“We have a nice easy task for you, if you are willing to get your feet wet.”

“Sure, I guess it is okay.” Sophia answered calmly.

“You will be asked to travel in late-December, one week before the Yule Ball. So, you have lots of time to prepare yourself. This trip will be very simple, you will be going to a very lovely place, or so I’ve heard. There is no evil there, only creatures completely in harmony with nature. However, there is one wizard there that I would like you to try and recruit for our meeting. You will find Gandalf the White in the Grey Havens. Are you following me, Miss Aristides?”

“I think so, Professor. Of course I have heard about this wizard, Gandalf from Tolkien's Middle Earth. But isn't it all fiction?? Do the Grey Havens actually exist then?”

“In a sense,” Dumbledore began, “everything comes out of something, Sophia. All legends have some basis in fact. Is magic not impossible according to ‘modern science’? Yet, here we are. Tolkien was a genius who was way ahead of his time, and quite enjoyable dinner company, I might add! I used to love chatting with him, Lewis and Dorothy Sayers... Anyway, enough reminiscing, how is your magical education proceeding?”

“Professor Flitwick tells me that I am learning charms quite quickly. He said that I am almost at the fourth year level,” Sophia answered.

“And, I can concur that her curse and curse-breaking advancements have been well on scedule,” McGonagall added.

“Sophie knows more about the Care of Magical Creatures than most of my fifth-years, although I’d wager most of them are only taking it for an easy credit, come to think of it” said Hagrid, somewhat distracted.

“And how is her potion-brewing coming along, Severus?” Dumbledore asked.

Snape shifted uncomfortably. How could he say to Dumbledore that he was the only member of the Order not helping to prepare Sophia.

“Actually,” Sophia interjected, “I’ve been working on potions on my own. I find that self-guided research is usually the way that I learn best. Although there were some complicated potions I have been stuck on, but with the help of Hermione Granger I’ve been able to go through the textbooks for the first three years.” Snape was surprised, Sophia had needed help but went to Granger instead of him?

“Excellent, my dear, excellent. Now I hope you continue your studies for the rest of Autumn, but do not forget to enjoy yourself a little bit. In the meantime, Severus will prepare the potions for you to use to get to the Grey Havens. And I will work on a gift for you to present the wizard Gandalf with.”
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The rest of the Fall passed quickly, and Sophia had little time for anything except lectures and working frantically on various spells, enchantments, potions and charms that she needed to learn. Slowly, but steadily, she was catching up with her good friends Harry, Ron and Hermione. The trio were becoming increasingly more dear to her than any of the friends she had made among her colleagues. WIth the Fall, tThe weather turned windy and damp, and the castle corridors took on a heavy chill. But soon all the classrooms boasted huge fires and some of the more friendly professors gave their students butter beer or mulled-wine (non-alcoholic, of course) during the last class of the day. With the exception, of course, of Snape's lectures. His were so cold that students often had to go to Mme. Pomphrey after class for a Warming Draught.

The students were excited about the Yule Ball (it was re-instated again, having been such a hit the year before), and also the upcoming holidays that it signalled. Everyone was buzzing over who had asked whom to go to the ball. Sophia noticed many notes being passed in her lecutres, but she let it slide. Even Dumbledore kept asking Sophia if she had a date yet. The second time he asked, Sophia wondered for a second if he was somehow hinting that he wanted to take her to the ball. But then she shook her head and regained her senses. Of course that was just silly. Knowing Dumbledore, he had something else up his sleeve. In fact, he kept hinting about something, and blithering on about some special guest.

But Sophia had to stop thinking about the ball that the students were so obsessed over, and worry about her upcoming journey. It was already the day before the day that Dumbledore stipulated was the best for travelling, and Snape still had not presented her with the potions. She decided to go and seek him out herself.

She went to Potions with Hermione, Harry and Ron. She grinned when she saw Ron and Hermione together. Finally, he had gathered up the courage to invite her to the ball. And Hermione was quite pleased. Her smile faded when she caught sight of Harry. He'd already been rejected by three girls. And, he looked a little sad watching the newfound happiness of his two best friends. If Snape was surprised to see her there, he didn’t let it show through his entire lecture about the White Draught, which was brewed to cure the Black Death in the 14th century. Unfortunately the war between muggles and magical kind made the wizard’s refuse to share it with the humans. This resulted in many muggle deaths, and the muggles used the wizard’s as a scapegoat throughout the following centuries every time there was an outbreak. Sophia found the subject quite fascinating, and almost forgot to stay behind afterwards and discuss the potion with Snape. The White Draught, he continued, was now consumed by people in the wizarding world to ward off curses. He set for homework two rolls of parchment for the students to explain why the White Draught does not work against curses, with an emphasis on how the potion is now pointless. The students thought they had gotten off easy.

Sophia forgot all about the Grey Havens. Fortunately, Snape called her to join him in his office.

Harry looked at her warily, and Hermione said, with her voice full of pity, “be careful!”

Sophia waved, unable to tell them about her journey tomorrow, and followed Snape into his office. It was just as dank and dark as the rest of the castle dungeons. But it was not as scary as she had anticipated. The room was lit by enchanted candles, dangling near the vaulted ceiling, and a with a flick of his hand Snape lit a fire in the great hearth. The fire illuminated the walls decorated with silver and green tapestries, and many incredible paintings, the styles of which Sophia had recognized by comparing them with great works all over the world (works now prized in the Uffizi, the Louvre, the Hermitage and of course, the British Museum). His oak desk was smaller than Dumbledore’s, but Sophia suspected that was because he did most of his work in a laboratory, of which she could see no evidence of. It must be hidden. In the far left-hand corner there was a narrow door, through which she could see shelves and shelves of potion supplies, even more than she had seen in the store she had visited in Diagon Alley! In the far right-hand corner was another narrow door, this one securely locked, but it seemed to lead to a turret. But, where could a turret lead from the castle dungeon?

Before she could think anymore about the odd turret, Snape waved her to sit down in one of the three great armchairs surrounding his desk. His back was turned to her and seemed to be preparing something (or so she hoped). She sat down quietly and waited for him to be ready to speak.

“No doubt, you are here to enquire about the travelling potion.” Snape seemed to like to speak in statements, probably because he enjoyed showing off his mind-reading skills.

“The potion had to be altered significantly for you to use it...er, to get where you are going,” he continued. “In fact, it is no longer the same potion, but a new one. I will be registering it with the Ministry of Magic upon your successful return.”

‘What? Am I going to be drinking an untested potion?’ Sophia thought, starting to worry.

“Stop fretting,” he said sharply, “there is nothing wrong with it. I have tested a similar version myself. Fortunately, as long as I use it within the grounds of Hogwarts, I can avoid detection by the Dark Lord. Now, as I was saying, you will now be drinking the newly created Loci Volendis." Snape looked proud of himself. "It is specified to take you directly to the Grey Havens. I have another of a similar brew which will take you home when you are ready. And another phial to give to the wizard in question.” His gaze softened somewhat as he looked at her, “there is still time for you to decline," he said, his voice causing a stir in the pit of her stomach as it sounded like spun silk.

Sophia was slightly taken aback. Did Snape actually care about her safety? “But Dumbledore said this journey should be quite simple. There will be no enemies in the Grey Havens.”

Snape shook his head, “you are not a trained witch. It is like sending a child on this mission, you put the entire plan in jeopardy.”

Sophia became slightly angry. “What are you talking about? If I have heard correctly, it has been the work of three children, not the professors, who have saved this school time and again over the last few years! Besides, I have been learning extremely quickly. Obviously, I can never hope to be as skilled as you or Dumbledore, but... Would you like to see for your own eyes, since you are so adverse to working with me? Watch this!” Sophia put down her books and looked at a heavy black paperweight on Snape’s desk and whispered “ferraverto,” it immediately turned into a beautiful golden goblet. She whispered again, “vinifer venate,” and the goblet filled with red wine.

“I decided to learn wandless magic after hearing your lecture on the Loci potion. That last one was my own spell, by the way.”

Snape refused to let her see that he was impressed by how quickly she had progressed. But to master wandless magic after only studying spells for a few months was quite fantastic! Even he took three years at Hogwarts before he could do wandless magic. He picked up the goblet and took a sip of the wine. “Not bad, although I’m partial to the grapes that make up a Bordeaux myself. I am not too fond of the Syrah grape, it is too versatile. Any wine can blend with it.”

‘Ah, so Snape knows a little bit about wine. Interesting.’ thought Sophia. “What are you talking about?” she exclaimed out loud, “it is so hard to find a good Bordeaux nowadays, and even if you do, you need to cellar it for thirty years for it to reach it’s peak!”

“Precisely,” Snape said with a little smile on the corner of his lips, “it requires effort, which makes it all the more worthwhile. A fine Bordeaux is a complex art, such as one of these.” He gestured to a masterpiece, which Sophia thought may have been painted by Titian, hanging on one of the dungeon walls. Sophia thought about this, so Snape valued things that were worth waiting for. He must be very patient. Figures.

“Oh, I almost forgot, there is one other spell you must be aware of before your journey. It is imperative that you master Omnia Ora, it enables you-” he started.

“Yes, I know,” Sophia interrupted, “I will be able to speak and understand any language that I come across. I mastered that one a long time ago. I wish I had known that spell when I was trying to learn all those dead languages in my undergrad,” she grumbled. “Well, I guess it is time to go see Dumbledore and get this gift he spoke of.”

“Aren’t you forgetting something, Miss Aristides?” Snape asked, with a small smile.

Sophia looked up, her eyes betraying her confusion over what she could actually be forgetting.

Snape picked up a brown leather chest stamped with strange celtic knots. It was small enough to fit in a pocket. He strode over to Sophia and held out the box to her, “the potions, perhaps?”

“Oops, silly me,” she reached out for the box, her hands rested on Snape’s long fingers when he didn’t pull them away. She was surprised, she thought Snape might melt if he had any human contact! She looked up at him, surprised at how close they still were, but Snape still held the box, and Sophia, directly in front of him.

“You must be very careful,” he whispered fiercely, “do not lose this box! Or you will never be able to get home.”

Sophia was struck by the look in his eyes. She took her hands off the leather box and instead put them around his hands, “Severus, I do not feel like I am the best person for this task either, but I trust Dumbledore implicitly, and if he has faith in me, then well, so do I. He must have some reason for choosing me. You need not worry so much.”

Snape took a deep breath and nodded, “of course, Dumbledore is always correct.” He pushed the box closer towards her. “There are two extra phials of the return potion, in case something happens. I suggest you keep them separated.” Sophia took the chest and Snape turned back to the hearth. “Good luck,” he said quickly, his back still turned. Sophia could not see that he was breathing heavily and his dark eyes were clouded over with emotion.

She shrugged at his odd behaviour took that as her cue to depart, and quietly closed the door behind her.

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Dumbledore presented Sophia with another small leather chest. Inside this chest, he explained, was a message that will only play when opened by the wizard Gandalf. There was also a gift of a rare white crystal of wisdom for him, which contained the knowledge and history of the wizards in Western Europe.

Sophia looked impressed. She had never heard of such a crystal.

"I wish that I could go with you, my dear. I am quite eager to meet this Gandalf," he said quietly.

"I am sure that you two will hit it off, when he gets here," Sophia answered, putting her hand on Dumbledore's.

“You should return here tomorrow to take the potion,” Dumbledore said, “for my office is the most secure place in Hogwarts.” Sophia nodded and took the box carefully.

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The next morning Sophia put on a dress that she thought most resembled those of the Elf-Maidens, and grabbed her Hogwarts cloak in case of cold. She hoped she wouldn't look too strange with her red hair. She'd never heard of an Elf with red hair in the Lord of the Rings. She removed the silver ring on her finger that may be mistaked for Nenya, and gently placed the two precious leather boxes in a handbag. Finally ready, she made her way to Dumbledore’s office. She was stopped in the hall by Harry Potter, who looked as if he was debating whether or not to go speak to the Headmaster.

“What’s up Harry, are you alright?” she asked him.

“Uh, I don’t know... I guess. Just a weird dream I thought I’d run by Dumbledore, but nevermind,” he answered shiftily.

“A dream? Was it like a vision or something?”

“It doesn’t matter, Dumbledore doesn’t really talk to me much this year anyway.”

“I’m sure he has a really good reason, Harry. Didn’t you say he wasn’t teaching you Occulmency because he was afraid that Voldemort could be looking through your eyes?”

Harry sighed, but smiled slightly, “you are probably right. Where are you headed? And what's with the strange dress? You aren't wearing that to the Yule Ball are you?”

“No..." she laughed, "I’m not exactly sure where I am headed, Harry. How about I tell you when I get back,” Sophia answered. Harry nodded and headed back to the Gryffindor common room. “Good luck!” he waved.

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Sophia stood in Dumbledore’s office, her bag clutched tightly to her stomach. Dumbledore nodded to her and she pulled the stopper out of the phial. She raised her glass to her colleagues “Bottom’s Up,” she whispered and swallowed the potion. She felt a familiar sensation as the shockwave took her from Hogwarts to another world. She closed her eyes, unsure of what to expect.

When she opened them she found herself standing on a bed of soft moss, enveloped in a white mist. She immediately reached for her bag, and sighed with relief when she found it still there. She looked around, trying to discern any sort of shape in the mist, but to no avail.

“Hello?” she called, “is anyone there?" she paused, "I mean you no harm, I only seek an audience with Gandalf the White.” Sophia turned abruptly as she heard footsteps behind her. Facing her now was a most curious creature. He was clearly not a child, and yet he was about half her height with piercing blue eyes and dark curly hair. ‘This must be a Hobbit!’ Sophia said to herself silently. 'So Tolkien was right after all!'

“Why do you seek Gandalf?” the Hobbit asked.

“My name is Sophia Aristides, I have a message for Gandalf from the great wizard Albus Dumbledore.”

“From a wizard? Well, perhaps I better take you to him then, Sophia.” The Hobbit gave a little half-smile, “my name is Frodo, by the way.”

“I’m very pleased to meet you Frodo.”

“Follow me,” he said.

Sophia followed Frodo up a stone staircase that she had not noticed before. They had gone not seven steps when she mist began to dissipate. She looked around her in amazement. Before her was a beautiful gate, carved in solid stone. Behind her, the staircase led down to a rocky beach and a sea as far as the eye could see. She was lucky she had not appeared in the middle of the sea! They passed through a forest of bleached white trees and silver stones, which all glistened in the sunlight. Soon they came to a green forest where the trees were such a width that Sophia had never seen before. Some of the larger ones could fit a great arch from Hogwarts! In this forest they were met by a beautiful man with white hair and wearing silver diadem and a long grey cloak.

“And who might this be,” he said to Frodo, his eyes narrowed. He spoke slowly and pronounced each word perfectly. Sophia bowed her head slightly and let Frodo do the talking.

“Her name is Sophia, she says that she has a message for Gandalf. Know where he is, Celeborn?”

Celeborn turned to another handsome man who had silently emerged from the trees, “go and find Lord Elrond, please.” He turned to Frodo, “he will know where to find Gandalf.” He looked warily out of the corner of his eyes at Sophia.

Elrond came down a staircase spiralling around a tree only moments later, and looked at Sophia and Frodo. His face broke into recognition. “You made it! Finally, I’ve been waiting for weeks for your arrival, Sophia Aristides.” Sophia was shocked, this Lord Elrond knew she was coming? And he knew her name?

“Do not be alarmed,” Frodo said softly, “Elrond has the gift of sight."

"Please, do follow me.” Elrond gestured her forward with a sweep of his arm.

“Lord Elrond, do you mind if I join you? I haven’t spoken with Gandalf in some time and I would like to see him,” Frodo asked. Elrond nodded. He knew that Frodo just wanted to learn more about the new stranger.

They moved deeper into the wood. The thickening forest prevented most of the sunlight from entering, but the paths were lit by light from large crystals which seemed to grow on the trees themselves. They came to another staircase spiralling up a large tree. Sophia looked up and gasped when she saw what seemed to be a glowing city in the trees, the most beautiful city she had ever seen.

She noticed a figure watching them from a platform on another tree and started to call ‘hello’ to Dumbledore and ask him what he was doing here, when she stopped. It could not be Dumbledore. She tried to look more closely but Elrond led them around another tree and the figure was obscured from her view. After a maze of twists and turns that Sophia knew she could never find her way back out through alone, they arrived at another gate, but this one was much more fantastic than the other. The gate was made of a beautiful silvery material that Sophia had never seen. It was engraved with vines which interwove between each other in an intricate design and reached towards the sky at the top. She tried to look beyond the gate to see what wonders it hid, when a figure cloaked in a brilliant white robe stepped up to the gate. He raised his hand and the doors disappeared. He stepped through.

“We’ve been expecting you, Sophia Arisitides,” he said, “please do come in and sit down.” He gestured to a courtyard through the gates which now offered stools carved from a white stone, similar to Luna marble. The man’s robes shone so brilliantly that Sophia had trouble looking at him. She bowed and took a seat at the nearest stool. It was cool and surprisingly soft. ‘What a beautiful, peaceful place,’ she said to herself silently, ‘I do not think that I wish to leave!’ She stifled a chuckle as an image of Snape’s cold stare entered her mind. ‘Would he ever be out of place here,’ she thought.

“I see you’ve met Elrond and Frodo, good good. And I, Sophia, am Gandalf. I am sure you know where you are.” The wizard sat down across from her, his eyes twinkling in a familiar way as he smiled warmly.

“I cannot tell you how pleased I am to meet you, sir. It is truly an honour.” Sophia clambered up and bowed near the base of his stool. “May I present a gift for the great White Wizard of Middle Earth, from the British wizard Albus Dumbledore,” Sophia held out the leather chest and bowed her head, making sure that it was the box with the gift instead of the phials.

Gandalf took the box. Without looking at it he put a hand on Sophia’s shoulder. The warmth of his touch was comforting, and she finally began to relax in this peaceful but strange place. “You must be weary,” he said, “perhaps you would like to rest while I learn about your world from the crystal of wisdom.” Gandalf smiled again at Sophia’s shock that he knew so much about her visit. “And then,” he said, “once you have refreshed yourself, I’d love to hear more about you, Sophia. Frodo, perhaps you would be so kind as to get Sophia something to eat, not lembas bread though, mind you, I’m sure she could use something more delectable after her long journey.” Frodo nodded.

“Of course, sir, thank you for your concern for my well-being,” Sophia stammered. She was struck by how much he reminded her of Dumbledore.

“Please, we are all friends here, call me Gandalf.” Sophia smiled and nodded. She turned and followed Frodo.

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Okay, that was bloody long. My apologies. I really could not think of a good place to divide it up. Anyway, more to come on the Grey Havens, so stay tuned!

Sorry, I just had to add something about wine in there... probably because Bacchus is my main muse (not Kalliope *sniff* or even Erato... Dionysus is so cruel, look what he did to Pentheus!), or perhaps it is because I really should've been a Maenad...