Chapter 3 A Touch of Magic in the Shire

Author's Note: Hey guys! How is everybody doing? I'm doing all right. I can't believe May is almost over and soon it will be June. Damn! Summer will soon be upon us.

Thank you to Magpie 1992, animikiikaa, Perminatly Lost, Sammie Lupin, Kitaluv, amariabt, sweets1111, RebelliousWriter, aby14a, Lunaconspiracy365, newmanlillian4, MerciaLachesis, Kyra Beckett, Mistress Kyouku, shirley. caillere, DolphinDelight for favorite/following story.

As always, happy reading!

One week later

Once again Hermione, Ginny and Luna stood in Professor McGonagall's office. McGonagall stood in front of her former students. They were no longer children, but strong young women.

"Are you ready," she asked the trio.

They all shared a look.

For the past week they have been preparing and gather supplies for the journey. Hermione put an Undetectable Extension Charm on three beaded bags so they each had one. Each one had spare clothes, food, water, magical items, books and other stuff them might need. From what they learned about Middle Earth it was pretty much like the Middle Ages so they were dressed in leggings, tunics and cloaks.

But the hardest thing for all of them was telling their families. Each family took the news of their daughters leaving in different ways.

When Luna told her father, Xenophilius, that she was going on a journey to Middle Earth with her friends he burst into tears. She wasn't surprised by his reaction. After her mother died when she was little and she was all Xenophilius had left in the world. Luna knew her father was a wreck when she was kidnaped by the Death Eaters. When she finally returned home her father was so relived that she was alive. She remembered Xenophilius was on his knees, begging his only daughter not to go. It broke her heart to see her father like this but she explained to him that her friends needed her. It took some convincing but Xenophilius finally gave his blessing. She promised him that she would be safe.

For Ginny it was a mixed bag. Arthur was furious that she would put herself in danger for people she didn't even know. Molly was about ready to cry. She already lost two sons, she didn't want to lose a daughter as well. Bill didn't like the idea of his baby sister going off to some far off land, but he knew she wasn't a child anymore. She was 17 now, which made her an adult. When Charlie heard that she was going to face a dragon he gave a lot of helpful tips and gave her dragon-hide gloves to protect her hands from burns. He also gave two more pair of gloves to give to Hermione and Luna. Percy lectured her about how dangerous it is to travel to another realm. George just gave her a bone crushing hug and whispered, "I have four brothers left. But I only have one sister." Basically it was his way of seeing 'I love you. Please, take care of yourself.'

Out of all of them, Fleur was the most understanding. It was more than just helping a group of dwarves reclaim their kingdom. She needed to get away from everything that reminded her of the war. Ginny wasn't the same when Harry died. She was like a shell of her former self.

The battle changed her. It changed all of them.

But Hermione's parents took it surprisingly well. Before she left with Harry and Ron to hunt the Horcruxes she erased their memories so the Death Eaters wouldn't kill them just for being Muggles. And after the battle, she found her parents and returned their memories. She told them everything that happened from breaking into the Ministry of Magic, Godric's Hollow, the Deathly Hallows, Malfoy Manor, Gringotts, to the Battle of Hogwarts. She left nothing out, not even the ones who died during the battle. Hermione's mother held her as she cried for her fallen friends. When she told them she was leaving on a journey she expected to be angry but they weren't. They were proud of how brave and selfless their daughter was.

"Are you ready," Professor McGonagall asked them again.

"Yes," they answered.

McGonagall noticed Hermione looking at the pictures on her desk. Particularly, the one with her and the farm boy.

"His name was Dougal McGregor. In case you were wondering Ms. Granger" she told her former student.

"Oh no! I wasn't..." Hermione started to say feeling embarrassed.

"It's all right. And before you ask, he was a Muggle. He was the first boy I ever loved," McGonagall explained.

"Then why didn't you marry him," Ginny asked curious.

Hermione glared at her to shut her up but McGonagall didn't seem to mind.

"We were engaged but I never told him I was a witch and I was afraid he wouldn't accept me so I ended things. Dougal wrote me letters, trying to win me back but it didn't work. Eventually Dougal moved on and married a Muggle woman, the daughter of another local farmer." She paused for moment, as if to collect herself before she continued. "Dougal was murdered in a random anti-Muggle attack by Death Eaters during the First Wizard War. Along with his wife and children."

"Oh Professor. I'm so sorry," Hermione offered her condolences.

She gave her old student a sad smile.

"It was a long time ago. I've made peace with it. I was already married to Elphinstone. He was a good man and fine husband. Although, I must admit there are times when I can't help wondering if I did marry Dougal that things might have turned out differently."

Hermione always had great respect for her old transfiguration teacher. She was tough but fair. Strict but kind. To learn that she had a life outside the castle walls of Hogwarts just shows how human we all underneath it all. That we've all lost someone to the war.

Before she knew what was happening McGonagall announced it was time to go.

McGonagall waved her wand and the portrait of Dumbledore came floating down and she set it against one of the pillars in the room. Soon the picture Dumbledore bows to them and disappears in a flash of light, just like the time he escaped arrest from Cornelius Fudge and Umbridge during Hermione's 5th year and Ginny and Luna's 4th.

Suddenly the portrait is filled with this swirling bright light.

"Mr. Gandalf will be waiting for you on the other side. Good luck girls," McGonagall declared.

Luna turns to her old teacher and hugs her. The old witch was surprised by the show of affection but eventually returned the hug.

"Thank you for everything Professor," Luna said sweetly.

Without another word Luna jumps through the portrait first.

Ginny takes a deep breath and jumps in next.

Finally it was Hermione's turn. At first she hesitant but she takes a couple of steps back and jumps in.

Soon the portal closes and McGonagall looks on with a sad look on her face.

"Be safe," she whispers.

~8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8~

"Hermione! Hermione! Wake up!" a voice said.

Hermione slowly opens her eyes and found herself lying in a field of flowers. She looked up to see Ginny looking down at her with concern.

"Are you okay," Ginny asked her.

"Yeah. I'm all right. How about you," she asked getting up.

"Not too bad. We must have passed when we went through the portrait," Ginny explained.

"Where's Luna," Hermione asked.

"I'm here!" a voice called out.

Luna came up to them with a bouquet of pink flowers in her hands.

"Aren't these flowers lovely? I thought I pick some for good luck and perhaps give them to someone," Luna said.

"I know someone who would greatly appreciate them, Ms. Lovegood."

They turned to see an old man with a long beard walking toward them. He wore grey robes and carried a staff with him.

"Hermione Granger. Ginny Weasley. And Luna Lovegood. It is truly an honor."

"Gandalf," Ginny asked cautiously.

"You are correct, my dear. It is wonderful to finally meet you all. I've heard so much about you," Gandalf greeted.

"Very nice to meet you as well, Mr. Gandalf," Hermione said politely.

"Well, let's not waste time. We are to meet the Company at the Shire, which is just over that hill," Gandalf said.

The girls followed the wizard as he lead the way. They went up the hill and through a village, where small creatures with big hairy feet kept staring at them.

"Gandalf, I don't mean to sound rude but what kind of creatures are these," Hermione whispered.

"These are called Hobbits. Ever few people in Middle Earth know about them for them keep themselves. They are very gentle folk," Gandalf explained.

"So, where exactly are we going," Ginny asked curious.

"We're meeting everyone in the home of one Bilbo Baggins, which is called Bag End. Just up this hill," he explained.

Once again the girls followed the wizard until they reached Bag End.

Standing in front of the green round door were a group of dwarves. It seemed they were arguing and who should go in first, but before any of them could do anything the door opened and the dwarves fell over in a heap. The girls giggled at the sight of the dwarves trying to get off each other. Standing over them was a very frustrated hobbit with curly hair. He looked up and saw the old wizard.

"Gandalf," he sighed.

Author's Note: Things are about to get crazy at Bilbo's. In the next chapter the girls get to know Bilbo and the dwarves better. I'm off to write some more.