The Unlikely Visitor

Chapter 9.
In which Sauron gives love advice.

Sauron’s tests passed, and he even managed to surprise some of the professors. His raw magical power was rather astonishing, and the Charms and Transfiguration class posed little trouble; the professors decided that he would be tutored privately as he learned too fast to follow any year’s courses. DADA didn’t form a problem either, but to get duelling practice he would follow the classes anyway in combination with tutoring. Thanks to his excessive study of Ginny’s textbook he had staggering points for History of Magic, and even Arithmancy turned out to be not such a big problem, for he had a quick insight in patterns and a good memory for symbols. But then… Potions was a disaster, Herbology was given up before he even started because the professor said, “the plants disliked him”, the Astronomy test had to take place during a cloudless night, and Divination… well, he really didn’t want to spend more time with Hogwarts’ Doomsayer than strictly necessary. He didn’t quite understand the disdain these people felt for their prophetess, as he –and the Ńoldor with him- knew very well that ignoring the advice of those who saw the future usually brought great strife. In any case, she knew too much about him and that made him uncomfortable.
After the tests he got a new schedule, and with that as a lead he found new order in his life at Hogwarts. Learning spells was easier than killing Orcs; even though he didn’t understand why anyone would waste magic on things you had servants for. But then again, different world, different habits… And as he had heard an Easterling say once; “When in Gondor, do as the Gondorians do”. Not that he planned to ever set foot in Gondor in the near future, but he grasped the idea.
He got over the fact that Professor Flitwick made him think of a Hobbit and managed not to maim the man (too much), learned to transfigure a rock into a cupboard and earned McGonagall’s praise, blew up a cauldron in Potions and finally gained some understanding of the Weasley Twins, and still waited for a cloudless night to pass his Astronomy test. His social relations weren’t as mentionable, unfortunately. Ginny and Luna insisted to hang around him –and he found that he didn’t mind so much after all- but further not many people wanted to make friends with him. After the Divination incident there had been rumors about him, and a glimpse of his pointy ears or fiery eyes here and there was enough to fuel those. Sauron was perfectly content with the situation. Only Precious Nibelungen didn’t seem to get the message, coming back to him like a boomerang every time he dismissed her. Eventually he made it into some sort of game; he asked for her from one part of the castle, and then hastened himself to another part, making the whole into a rather complicated game of hide-and-seek. It was childish, but seeing the rather chubby Precious completely out of breath after doing all the staircases twice was an uncommonly pleasant thing. It was probably as close to torturing someone as he could get here.

The moment Sauron laid eyes on the DADA teacher, he got the distinct feeling that something was very wrong with him. Well versed in the art of deception, he recognized a disguise when he saw one… and this Mad-Eye Moody definitely wasn’t who he claimed to be. It interested him, but not enough to worry much about it. After all, the man’s classes were far more interesting than his disguise. The Unforgivables, dark spells for torture, murder and mind-control, were demonstrated and studied in detail… Sauron hadn’t thought he would get to see Dark Magic in action in Hogwarts, and the experience was instructive enough for him to want to keep the professor’s disguise a secret for now. They weren’t allowed to practice the Unforgivables, but Sauron did so anyway, just to get the hang of it. He found that they came more naturally to him than even a simple Accio, as their nature was very much in tune with his usual type of magic. Lacking spiders to test on after a while, he put the knowledge away for when he would need it. He was convinced he would need it at some point…

The delegates arrived for the tournament, there was a feast, and Sauron decided for once to pay attention to his housemates. It was then that he heard a young woman with features reminiscent of the people in Khand speak of someone he knew.
“Cedric is going to put his name in the Goblet, and I’m sure he’s going to be picked. He is everything that should represent our school; loyal, courageous, smart, strong...”
“You’re just saying that because you’re his girlfriend, Cho. I’m sure it will be one of the Slytherin boys, we’ll need some cunning if we are to win from Durmstrang.”
“Why not our own house? Intelligence is important too, and those girls from Beauxbatons won’t rely on muscle and brawl either, I think.”
“I still think Cedric would be our best option.”
“Yeah, you would.”
“Diggory’s a nice chap and a good seeker, but he’s a Hufflepuff. Hufflepuffs don’t go for glory, I mean, they’re the tamest house.”
“Cedric isn’t tame!”
By then, Sauron understood that the Khandian female was the chosen mate of that annoying Quidditch player Cedric Diggory… Amusing. She bragged about the boy as if he were a prize horse really, urging her friends to place a bet on him. Mortals were so shallow…
For a moment, Sauron remembered mating. He had his fair share of experience in the field, even though he had never quite understood what Men and even Elves thought was so grand about copulation. It was fun, but he could imagine a myriad of more interesting things to do. Mentally he went over his past partners. There had been Tar-Míriel, that one night Númenor’s fate was sealed. Thuringwethil, with whom he had a “sexual work relationship” while at Dol Guldur… A couple incidents featuring sons of Fëanor came to mind as well… And then there had been a couple nameless Elves and Men too, mostly sought out back in the days when he was still in fair disguise and looking for something to pass the time. He had had his share of sexual activities, and honestly he didn’t see why anyone would stay in a long-term arrangement with anyone for it. Even his “thing” with Thuringwethil had only worked because she was useful for more than sexual gratification. No, it was clear that to the mortal races couple forming had its use, but for the Ainur and Eldar it was a completely useless construction. Lost in thought for longer than he had anticipated, Sauron startled when he heard a familiar clear voice.
“Well, are you going to enter your name in the Goblet of Fire, Sauron?”
He looked up at Luna Lovegood and gave her his best “bitch please” look.
“No, I don’t think I will.”
“Are you not seeking glory and recognition?”
Not necessarily. Power and possession yes, and although those could overlap with glory and recognition, one didn’t necessarily mean the other.
“No, not really.”
Luna nodded pensively.
“The age line… do you think you could pass it?”
He raised his eyebrows.
“You think I’m underage?”
Luna smiled.
“Oh no, I just wonder if those age line spells have maximum limits as well.”
And with that she turned and left him, annoyed and disturbed with what she had told him. Although, it didn’t disturb him as much as it would have done earlier... Sauron had long given up trying to devise how much Luna actually knew about him; he guessed she was a seer, and that her counsel and knowledge came to her in the moment she spoke it. It was unpleasant, but the Doomsayer of Hogwarts was a whole other caliber of unpleasant for that matter, so he had taken peace with Luna and her naďve advices for now.

Sauron hadn’t thought he would think on the topic of mating again for some time, but strangely enough he found himself contemplating it again that evening. It started with a knock on his door and a timid voice asking,
“Sauron? Nargzab-izg gashnat lat-sha…”
He and Ginny had the unspoken agreement that she would announce herself in Black Speech, so that he wouldn’t accidentally open the door for Precious, who regularly knocked as well. He wondered what had prompted her to come now, though.
“Come in, it’s open.”
Ginny looked a little embarrassed, it seemed. He wondered what she wanted to ask him. For a moment they just stood there, then he gave her a look saying, “What is it now?” They communicated without words a lot…
“It’s… stupid.”
“If you think so, why are you here?”
“Well… Because…” She looked at her feet. “I have no one else to ask it.”
“Then ask. If it’s stupid I’ll tell you.”
Ginny blushed, and finally said.
“I think I’m in love.”
“What?”
For a moment Sauron feared he had completely missed out on some unfortunate evolution. Then she added, to his relief,
“With Harry Potter. You met him, at the platform.”
Sauron remembered the suspiciously staring black-haired male very well, apparently he was somewhat famous in the school for getting in trouble and, ironically enough, defeating dark lords. He didn’t really see what Ginny could see in him, though; he wasn’t exactly the most attractive male around.
“That one. I remember him. Why are you telling me this?”
“I… I thought… you might have some advice for me. See, it’s stupid, I shouldn’t have asked…”
Internally, Sauron wanted to laugh. He, Sauron the Abhorred and Cruel, giving love advice? It was ridiculous… Yet somehow, for some reason, the ashamed and disappointed look on Ginny’s face didn’t sit well with him.
“I don’t really see how my advices could be of much help… don’t you have some female friends to talk about with this?”
Ginny shook her head.
“It’s too embarrassing. I would trust Luna with it, but you know her, she’s not the most practical person. You’re the only person I trusted not to ridicule me in front of the whole school for it.”
That made Sauron frown.
“Your friends would do that?”
Ginny shrugged.
“I’m just a Weasley, we’re ridiculed for that alone already. Poor, lots of kids, you know the story. And I’m Luna’s friend, and everyone thinks Luna is crazy. And then… all the girls are jealous because I know “The Harry Potter” personally, if only through my brother. They don’t say it to my face, but they love to hate me.”
It surprised Sauron somewhat. Of course, he had observed the House politics well enough to know about the major groups and the animosity between them, but… with what Ginny told him he realized there was as much intrigue among the students as there had been in the Númenorean court. Perhaps… just perhaps he would be able to help her.
“This Harry Potter… Does he have a preference in females?”
“According to Ron he’s all over Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw Seeker. You’ve seen her perhaps, Asian, pretty, a bit of a drama-queen…”
That rang a bell.
“She is with Cedric Diggory, no?”
“Yeah… She’s with Cedric, Harry wants her, and well… no one notices me. Ever.”
Sauron rolled his eyes at that. They couldn’t expect him to comfort her, could they?
“You’re not really doing anything to get noticed either, so I’m not surprised.”
“What?”
“They’re all in the same crowd. Quidditch players, seekers… You’re not a part of that. And from what I know you’re not standing out in any other way either. There is no reason for Harry to notice you.”
“That’s… harsh.”
“But true, and you know it.”
“Then what am I supposed to do? I’m just who I am!”
“Remember what I told you in summer?”
“Deception, Distraction, Determination?”
“That. It goes for everything. It doesn’t really matter who or what you are, all what matters is what you seem to be. Find out what you must seem to get done what you want to get done, and you’ll succeed.”
Ginny looked at him with unhidden surprise.
“That’s… rather brilliant, actually.”
“Practice makes perfect. Now, I suggest you point your attention at Cedric Diggory.”
“Huh?”
“Men want what they can’t have, they’re greedy like that by nature. This Cho person is interesting to Harry because he can’t have her. You are currently just his friend’s little sister, nothing more. If you manage to steal Diggory from Cho, you’ll get Harry’s attention too, because you’ll be more covetable then than his current interest.”
“Steal Cedric from Cho? But… I can’t do that! I’m far from as pretty as Cho!”
“It’s not what you are, it’s what you seem. Do with it what you will.”
“Right…”
Ginny looked doubtful, but Sauron was sure she would heed his advice. She better, after he did the effort of giving her a strategy. They sat down on the bed and the awkwardness dissipated a bit…
“Have you ever been in love?”
And it was back again. Sauron felt frustration come up.
“No. And I’m not planning to. Maiar don’t fall in love.”
Ginny cocked her head to the side.
“So, are you saying that you have never…”
He was so not discussing this with a 14-year-old.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Oh my, you are a virgin, no?”
Sauron wanted to crush something now.
“If you really want to know, no. I am not a virgin. I have had gratification whenever I desired it, and that I don’t fall in love is only practical. I don’t see the use of it. Curiosity satisfied?”
Ginny looked a little surprised.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t tease you.”
“You shouldn’t indeed. It’s very unwise.”
There was a bit of silence, again… Then Ginny remarked.
“You’re right. Falling in love is terrible and I hate it.”
Maybe it was like the Sea-Longing the Elves experienced, Sauron suddenly thought. Simply an unavoidable condition of their race. He didn’t see why they would continue doing it if not for some biological compulsion.
“It’s a thing your species does. You can’t avoid it. All you can do is manage it as practically as possible.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course I am.”

The Goblet of Fire picked its candidates, and of course someone had cheated with it, getting Hogwarts two candidates. Sauron wasn’t surprised –he would have cheated too- but apparently everyone else was. Tsss. Either way, he didn’t really mingle in it. He had heard rumors that in previous tournaments students had been eaten alive by monsters, and he was perfectly content watching such entertainment from the sidelines. He did keep an eye on Ginny though, wondering how she would implement his plan… She didn’t waste time with it.
“Well, Cedric… you think you stand a chance?”
“The Goblet chose my name, so I must be worthy.”
Ginny grinned.
“It also picked Harry, remember? Maybe it couldn’t find anyone worthy enough in itself here at Hogwarts, so it needed two people.”
“I refuse to believe that.”
Ginny looked amiable but slightly mocking.
“Well, the other option is that Harry cheated the Goblet, and in that case I don’t think you stand a chance at all. If he has the power to confound such a strong magical object…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but the idea was clear. Cedric frowned angrily.
“Foul play won’t win this tournament, there is no glory in cheating!”
“Tell yourself that... Life isn’t fair though, I’d have thought you’d remember.”
Cedric really looked angry now.
“It’s not because you have no honor that Harry doesn’t have it!”
She shrugged.
“Ah well, we’ll see. Good luck either way, Cedric… you’ll need it.”
With that she walked away. Sauron, who had been observing the conversation, caught her conspiratorial grin. Yes, Ginny Weasley was a good student indeed. Drawing attention not by fawning over but by annoying her target? She would have done fine in the armies of Mordor…

TRANSLATIONS:
“Nargzab-izg gashnat lat-sha…”(I need to talk to you...)