When Gandalf awoke, Professor McGonagall was standing over him with an expression of utmost concern.
"Albus? Where is your wand?"
"My... wand?"
"Yes! We couldn't find it! All we could find was this!" McGonagall lifted Gandalf's staff into the air so he could see from his bed in the hospital wing.
"Be careful with that!" Gandalf reached out and took his staff from her hands.
"Albus- what is this contraption? Some sort of trident? A staff, perhaps?" Gandalf looked into McGonagall's eyes. They were wary, alert.
"It's... a relic... of my... great, great... great great great grandfather's." Gandalf tore his gaze away from hers. He didn't want her to look at him for too long. Wow, did she have a sharp gaze. He felt like he was being cross-examined. But he had to go on. He didn't want a pink beard.
"Oh. Well, in that case, Madam Pomfrey says you're free to go." McGonagall stood aside, letting him pass. He strode hurriedly out of the hospital wing before he realised he didn't have a clue where he was. He needed a student's help... ah! An eligible candidate was strolling past.
"Sir! Sorry to bother you, but, um, I appear to have knocked my head a little, and, um, I can't remember where I am right now. Could you help me back to my office?"
The boy grinned. His flaming red hair was giving Gandalf a headache.
"So... you don't remember my name?" The boy asked.
"No, no I don't."
"Perfect!" He took Gandalf's arm, and led him down the corridor. Hmm. Maybe Gandalf should have chosen a different tour guide.
"Hello?" Dumbledore strode into the room. He was sure the two dwarves had just walked in here. Before he could rethink this, however, he felt two small people drop onto his back, knocking him onto the floor. It was if they had fallen from the ceiling!
"What have you done with the real Gandalf?" One asked, rather aggressively.
"Real Gandalf... but, I- I am Gandalf!" Dumbledore could feel them stand up, and get off.
"Liar! You're an impostor." One of them said, as they turned him over so he was facing the ceiling. He tried to stand up, but he felt them press down on him so he couldn't move.
"We won't let go until you tell us what you've done with Gandalf!" The blonde one said, rather straightforwardly.
"Well- you two are very observational!" Dumbledore muttered. They two dwarves beamed. Huh. The two dwarves who had just jumped on him and basically interrogated him were now smiling like children who had just been complemented. One of them was blushing, too.
"That doesn't excuse you, though!" The brunette pointed out as they snapped back into their angry state.
"What have you done with our wizard?"
"Look. It was a bet." The blonde one (had he called himself Fili?) rolled his eyes and nudged the other with an I-told-you-so look about him.
"And who are you? Where is our Gandalf?"
So Dumbledore, very reluctantly, told them of the bet.
Before the dwarves could say anything, he hastily added at the end "But don't tell anyone- I don't want to lose."
"So Gandalf is now at Warthog with a bunch of other wizards?" Kili asked.
"Don't forget the witches!" Fili piped in.
"Well... yes."
"Don't worry, mister Dumbledore, sir- your secret's safe with us!"