CWC: 1,809

Chapter two-Hobbits.

Harry apparated to the shire, knowing where it was because of all the stories from Albus. There he walked into the shire and after asking for directions a few times, he found bag end. He was just about to knock on the door when it opened. There before him were two incredibly short hobbits. "Hello," Harry said, holding his hand out to the dark haired one. "You must be Frodo Baggins. Al—Gandalf sent me to make sure nothing happens to you." Frodo looked up at Harry before realization seemed to dawn on him.

"Oh yes, he said he'd be sending someone. I'm Frodo and this is Samwise Gamgee. Or just Sam. You must be that friend of his who isn't an elf but doesn't age." Harry smiled lightly.

"That would be correct. I'm Harry. I hope that old man hasn't been saying anything too bad about me then." Harry said. "Why don't we head out. Do you know which way to go? I'm afraid it's been a while since I've been out and about." Harry said. He took a look at the young hobbit and saw a bit of himself in him. Frodo nodded and soon they were on their way to Rivendell.

"Gandalf told me we'd be meeting him at the Prancing Pony in Bree." Frodo told his strange companion. Harry just nodded in understanding and the three continued in silence.

Soon the three were were about to walk into a meadow when Sam stopped. Frodo turned to look at him. "What is it Sam?"

Sam looked at the other two. "If I take one more step it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been." Harry smiled lightly while Frodo patted Sam on the shoulder. Remember what Bilbo used to say...it's a dangerous business going out your door...you step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's not knowing where you might be swept off to." Frodo said.

Harry chuckled. "Now there's the truth if I ever heard it." A little while later the trio were walking through a field of crop. Harry and Frodo walked a little ahead of Sam. Harry noticed that Sam wasn't with them and was just about to ask Frodo if he noticed where his friend went when said hobbit started to call out.

"Mr. Frodo. Mr. Frodo" Frodo and Harry turn towards thee voice, surprised. Sam appeared through the crops seeming out of breath. "I thought I lost you." He continued." Frodo looked at Sam strangely.

"What are you talking about?" Frodo asked with a slightly teasing voice.

Sam mumbled, "It's just something Gandalf said..."

"What did he say?" Frodo asked. Harry couldn't hear any accusatory tone, so he suspected Frodo was genuinely curious.

"He said..."Don't you leave him, Samwise Gamgee." Sam answered. Then looking intently at Frodo he said, "And I don't mean to."

Harry smiled. Sam reminded him so much of Ron. Loyal to the end.

Frodo laughed light-heartedly. "Sam...we're still in the Shire...what

could possibly happen?" Harry knew instantly something would happen. And he was proven right.

All of a sudden something collided into Frodo, sending the hobbit and whatever crashed into him to the ground. Frodo started to pick himself up, only to be knocked down again by another figure.

"Frodo! Merry, it's Frodo Baggins." The first figure said. Harry belatedly realized they were other hobbits.

"Hello Frodo" Said the second figure, presumably Merry. The three picked themselves up and Harry could see a bunch of vegetables on the ground that he assumed Merry and the other figure were carrying.

"What's the meaning of this!" Sam asked indignantly.

"Sam, hold this..." Merry told him, handing over a large cabbage.

"You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!" Sam accused. The two figures who crashed into Frodo were starting to remind Harry of the twins back in the day. They surprisingly grew to a ripe old age playing pranks to their dying day. Harry would've thought that one of the victims of their pranks would've killed them before then.

"Who's that in my field! Get out of it! Get out of my field, you young varmits! I'll show you...get out of my corn." A voice called out. Harry looked over and could see a pitchfork making its way towards them. Merry and the other figure hurriedly picked up "their" vegetables and raced away. The other three ran after them, Sam still holding the cabbage.

"I don't know why he's so upset, it's only a couple of carrots." Merry said from the front.

"And some cabbages" The second figure added in. "...and those three bags of potatoes that we lifted last week. And then the mushrooms the week before."

"Yes, Pippin, my point is, he's clearly over reacting." Merry said. Harry couldn't help but chuckle at them. It was like seeing Fred and George reincarnated. The quintet heard dogs barking loudly from behind them.

"Run!" The one called Pippin yelled.

They ran for a while until the hobbits started getting tired and they were sure they'd lost Farmer Maggot. Merry and Pippin seemed to just realize someone else was with them.

"Oi! Who're you?" Merry asked, curiously. Harry looked at the two for half a moment before answering.

"My name's Harry. Gandalf asked me to make sure nothing happens to Frodo." He answered them.

"You're a friend of Gandalf's?" Pippin asked him.

Harry smiled. "Yes, we've been friends for a very long time." Pippin smiled and held out his hand.

"Name's Peregrin Took. You can call me Pippin." He said jovially.

"And I'm Meridoc Brandybuck, but you can call me Merry." Merry said, holding his hand out as well.

"Pleasure to meet your acquaintance." Harry said while shaking their hands.

After the introductions they kept walking together, not paying attention to where they were going When the four hobbits started falling down a hill. Harry would've stayed at the top but both Sam and Merry grabbed onto him to try and stop themselves. Not expecting the sudden weight, they fell down too. When they landed Harry heard a 'that was close.' and looked over to see Pippin's face right beside a pile of horse dung.

"Ow...I think I've broken something." Merry said. Harry saw him pull out a broken carrot from underneath him. "oh." Harry almost laughed at how upset Merry seemed to be about the broken carrot.

"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took." Sam said.

"What? That was just a detour...a shortcut." Merry defended.

"A shortcut to what?" Sam asked irritably.

"Mushrooms!" Pippin shouted, and Harry looked over and saw Pippin running to a patch of brown mushrooms. Harry was beginning to think that all those two hobbits thought of was their stomachs. The twins' personalities with Ron's appetite, Harry mused. He wasn't too sure this was a good thing.

"I think we should get off the road." Harry heard Frodo say. Harry let loose his magic a bit and could feel something evil heading towards them quickly.

"Get off the road!" Harry shouted when no one moved the first time. The five of them rushed to hide under a mossy log. Harry had to curl up tightly to fit in with the hobbits. The hobbits and Harry heard someone land. Probably was on a horse Harry thought as he quietly grabbed something from his bag and put it on the forest floor. The footsteps came closer but before they reached the log there was a small blast some twenty feet away. The creature, for Harry could tell it wasn't fully human, quickly got back on the horse and with inhuman speed, headed in the direction of the noise.

"What was that?" Merry whispered. Harry looked over to his charge and saw him sitting looking at a small gold ring in his hand.

"Come on, let's go before it comes back." Harry said quietly.

Harry noticed Pippin staring at him. He probably was the only one paying attention to something other than that creature Harry realized. Before Pippin could ask Harry said, "later." Pippin nodded and then they were off, quick as possible while staying quiet. Harry wanted to put silencing charms on them but knew that if any branches were snapped they would still make a sound and he didn't know if the other creatures could sense magic being done otherwise and he didn't want to risk it.

They had been walking for a while, everyone making sure the creature wasn't around. After confirming that they couldn't find anything, Pippin asked, "What is going on?"

Merry walked past Pippin and Harry and looked intently. When he didn't say anything at first Sam started to look nervous. Finally he said, "That Black Rider was looking for something… or someone… Frodo?"

Frodo seemed to be having a small internal struggle as if not sure what he could tell his friend. Finally he settled on, "I have to leave the shire… Sam and I need to get to Bree."

Merry looked at Frodo before nodding as if deciding on something and said, "Right… Buckleberry ferry… follow me!"

They left the area and suddenly a Black Rider burst out of the trees and headed towards them. "Come on, this way!" Merry yelled. Harry made sure Frodo was ahead of him as he started to run from the Rider.

They ran to a river with a ferry at the dock with four creatures -that seemed to come from nowhere- behind them. Harry heard Merry yell, "Get the ropes, Sam!" The hobbits and Harry ran across the dock, Sam, Merry and Pippin jumped as the boat started to move away. Harry realized Frodo wouldn't make it, so he picked him up and threw him onto the boat. He could hear the creatures right behind him, he flicked his wrist and his wand fell into his hand, thinking a happy thought he cast a patronus and hoped it was enough to keep the creatures busy long enough for him to be able to jump with none of them trying to grab him.

Apparently it worked as well as if he was casting against a dementor and he was able to jump, adding a bit of magic to give him an extra boost and landed on the edge of the ferry. He almost lost his balance but the hobbits grabbed him before he could fall into the water.

Harry looked at the hobbits when he was stable and saw them looking at him with awe, and a touch of suspicion on Sam's part. Harry sighed. He wouldn't be able to get out of this one. Well they would've found out sooner or later, He thought. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, it's good to have an advantage over one's enemy." He waited until everyone nodded before continuing. "Well, long story short… I'm a wizard."