Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.

Well, once again, three villains make their appearance in this chapter.

Months after the incident with Sauron and the Mayor of Michel Delving, Hobbiton found itself in another bereavement. This time of a different sort. Slowly but silently, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, with her cream-colored dress and black hair graying, made her way past the crowd and up to a shack that stood out in the middle of the field. She was lucky her husband and son weren't present, and yet she felt as though something was stirring in the air. In her haste, checking to make sure no one was indeed following her, she slipped through the door and into the shack.

It was quaint with its furniture and bookcases, littered with books. All the same, the rug's picture moved as she walked. And there, standing in the room, were three figures. A wizard dressed in white robes, a witch with pale green skin, her head sprouting a pair of horns and her robes as black as ebony, and a queen wearing purple robes and a gold crown stared at her. She gulped, knowing she was in trouble now.

"Sit down," the wizard said, his voice deep but resonate. Lobelia did as asked, even as the wizard continued to speak. "Now, I trust you wonder why we have brought you here. This matter is dire."

"Saruman was just talking about how sporting your son is, Lobelia," the green-skinned witch declared with such ease.

Lobelia looked at the trio. Two of them weren't even from Middle-earth and Saruman – well, she heard enough of him to get by. It was what they wanted that concerned her, especially with her son. "Lotho will not take orders from you."

"Please," the queen inquired, setting her back down, "there's no need for that, miss."

"You see," the witch continued to explain, "everything has a purpose. I'd like to consider the timelines a big change in our environment. Hobbits and authors come and go, and with them their memories. Those that stay – well, let us hope that Frodo Baggins doesn't stay at Hogwarts for another year. But your son will gladly remember this day, especially after Sauron gets through with him." She continued, in spite of Lobelia's protests. "I intend to return to my timeline intact. I've had enough of this nonsense."

"Well, what do you want with Frodo Baggins, Maleficent?" Lobelia asked, curious herself.

"Oh, it's no concern of mine." Maleficent declared. "Soon, Frodo will be in Sauron's hands. But it is your son who Sauron needs right now."

"I don't understand what you mean," Lobelia spoke up, frightened. "My son is but a lad. He cannot help you."

"Ah, but you see he will help us out, as he will assist Sauron," Maleficent told her, pleased already with their handiwork.

"Sauron wants to use the boy to get Draco Malfoy to Dumbledore," the queen told her, frank.

"That is true, Evil Queen, he does want that," Maleficent replied, smiling.

"And what does my family get from this," Lobelia asked, serious.

"Why the chance of recognition, of course," Saruman answered as best he could. "Of course, your family could betray you through your son and we wouldn't want that."

"Do this for us and we'll leave you alone," Maleficent told Lobelia, staring her down.

"Fail to do so will result in catastrophic measures," the Evil Queen added.

Lobelia was heartbroken. Should she simply give up her son for these goons? This was the last thing she wanted and her son was her most trusted ally. She couldn't give him up, not for a task that Sauron was placing upon them. Then again, what more could she do? She could just walk away. Yes, that seemed like the best plan – except that chains crushed her stomach. She couldn't believe this. She was trapped and under no choice but to agree to their wishes. This was the last thing she wanted; the last thing she needed. And yet, her son was important to her as was her family. She had to try something, anything to keep them away from her.

"Take care of Lotho," Lobelia spoke at last, so softly and defeated. "Make sure he doesn't get into harm's way."

"I will send word to Severus Snape then," Saruman said in turn, pleased with the handiwork done. Silently, he walked out of the shack, ready to take his horse out of the Shire.

The Evil Queen sneered, grumbling as she too left the shack.

Only Maleficent stayed behind, squeezing the chain a little hard before letting them go slack. She watched in pain as Lobelia gasped for air, freeing herself from the chair with little satisfaction, other than to head home, trembling. Maleficent glared in delight. Finally, she had done something right to test her fury. "Do return when you can," she told the hobbitess, "but know that Saruman and I will not be far behind. And should the Evil Queen call upon you – well – you had better hope she doesn't have a poisoned apple ready for the tasting. If she does—" she snickered "—well, you've been warned." She cackled, vanishing into a green ball of light and disappearing from the shack altogether.

Lobelia huffed. She didn't expect to be captured by villains. Witches and wizards no less. This was to be Lotho's sixth year at Hogwarts and she wasn't about to risk his safety. But then, he would have to risk it. But oh! how she hoped things would turn out for the better. She wondered the same for her son, her Little Lotho.

Thanks for reading. :)