Okay! I managed to get this chapter done plus the two other stories I'm working on! On the few days I was at the other store, I'll say one thing about it...I never want to pull a third shift there...again... That place drove me nuts.

Well! The answer I chose for last weeks Question of the Chapter!

Nemi Jade: There are many creatures that I would love to have as pets, but I have a cat and I couldn't imagine my life without her. So I am going to say a cat. They're proud and playful.

Most people here said Cat, and I can bet that nobody would want to lose their pet, I know it really sucked when I lost Dixie, my brother/mom's dog.

I had a tough time with this chapter! I went through two different versions.

I don't own Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. Nor do I own the song listed in this chapter.


One lazy afternoon in the Prancing Pony's kitchen, Harry was taking out a large loaf of Honey bread from the oven when a voice came from the doorway behind him.

"Seems you made quite a stir in this town, Harry."

Harry turned around and saw Strider, leaning against the door frame and smiling.

"Hey, Strider, what brings you here?" said Harry beaming back at him. It was nice seeing a familiar face, several people came in to compliment his cooking, but this was the first familiar face he knew before coming to Bree. Though a better face would be either Remus, Dumbledore or someone like that.

He couldn't remember the last time he felt this good and relaxed, no one was out to kill him, he didn't have to keep looking over his shoulder for anyone, his mood was elevating by the minute.

"I am meeting a friend here, what about you?" said Strider sitting down at the table. "I did not expect you to find a trade so soon."

"Well the first night I came here, I was told about a wizard named Gandalf. I thought he could help me out." said Harry with a smile.

Strider blinked but he smiled. "I have heard tales of him too, maybe he could help you. But like I said ealier, you've made quite the name for yourself in this area. Even travelers heading out of Bree and passing through the Shire say that if you want the best food, you need to head to the Prancing Pony."

Harry smiled softly. "I'm not all that great at cooking."

"Try telling that to the people of Bree, I believe they've put on ten pounds since I've last seen them. But you haven't..." he looked at Harry's still lithe frame.

"I burn it off easily." said Harry quickly.

"By training, I shouldn't wonder, I can tell in your arms that you've been practicing." said Strider with a smirk. "Good boy, some of the young men in Bree are ample opponents for a boy your size." said Strider with a smile. (Harry looked away at that.) "Best not let your skills get dull."

"I try not to. Want some lunch?" said Harry. "I managed to get quite a few fish yesterday, and I wanted to try a new recipe. Want to try it? I finally got the sauce right."

Strider looked at the fish that was placed before him with a wary eye. It didn't look to be the normal fish dish he was used to, there was now something thick and white over the carved up pieces of fish.

"Don't tell me you're afraid to try something new." said Harry with a smirk, digging into his own fish. He took a bite and closed his eyes. "Yeah, I think it's about as good as I can get it. If I had the spices and roots back home...Still, it's not bad."

Strider looked at Harry and then down at his fish, slowly he picked up the fork and skewered a piece of fish on it. He picked the fork up and placed it in his mouth. Suddenly a multitude of flavors erupted in his mouth, he had to cover his mouth, to stop himself from gasping and from the food to leap out of his mouth.

He gulped the fish down his throat and gasped loudly. "Any chance on second helping?"

Harry laughed, "You saved my life, you can have as many seconds as you want."

After Strider had eaten his fill, Harry reached into his pocket.

"I found something a little strange the other day, mind giving me some advice on it?" asked Harry.

"I will do what I can." said Strider with a twitch of a smile.

"Can you tell me what you know about this?" he held out the tiny opal.

Strider looked at his hand, and picked up the opal. "What's so special about this jewel?" asked Strider. "Other than it is very beautiful."

"Thank goodness you can see it. I thought for a moment I was the only one." said Harry.

"No one else can see it?" said Strider quickly, looking at the stone and then Harry.

"No, not Mr. Butterbur, Breman or Anya. For some reason, they can't see it, I thought Breman did, but he only saw me put my hand in the box it came in. I am really glad you can, though." said Harry. "Any idea why no one else can see it?"

"No, when Gandalf comes, you'll have to ask him." said Strider handing the jewel back to Harry. "Have you noticed anything strange about it?"

"As a matter of fact, yeah. When I have it on me or even nearby...like a few feet, and I'm fighting goblins or whatever they're called..."

"One moment, you were battling goblins?" said Strider his eyes slightly wider.

"Uh...yeah..." said Harry uncertainly.

"And you're still alive?" said Strider looking at the youth in shock. The boy didn't look strong enough to take on someone twenty pounds heavier, how could he take on vicious, barbarically trained goblins?

"It's all because of this stone, they seem to slow down, and whatever they send my way, I can dodge it easily." said Harry. "Even back home I've never seen anything like it."

Strider rubbed his grizzled chin. "Neither have I. Interesting little bauble though. Best keep it safe. How did you happen to come across this stone?"

"It was the first night I came here, stupid gatekeeper wanted a small box a trio of goblins were holding onto. I told him that it was dark and that I wouldn't have been able to find anything. Well," Harry thought about telling Strider about the music he had heard, but he thought better of it. It would only be a repeat of his second year, and he could live without that, thank you very much.

"It was a giant stroke of luck that I found those goblins, not just for me, but for Breman. He was captured by those things and they were..." Harry looked at Strider, who was absent mindedly picking the small pieces of fish off the plate and eating them slowly. "That part can wait till later, but I knocked out the goblins and Breman had the box on him. He gave me the box and I found the jewel inside, along with some other ones, but that one sort of...attracted my attention."

Strider continued to look at the jewel in Harry's hand curiously. He looked utterly baffled at what that jewel could be and what powers it could possess and why it possessed the power to slow time. It seemed Harry was not going to get his answer today.

Over the course of next few weeks, Strider took Harry out into the woods outside of Bree and trained up his fighting skills. There was no swords smith in Bree, but Harry, with the money he had earned as the Prancing Pony's cook, he managed to buy some steel and paid a blacksmith to take the rock off and place the steel bit on the tip of the staff, making it a very deadly weapon indeed.

After a very grueling workout, they leaned against a tree and drank from their small canteens deeply.

"You're getting better, Harry. You're really getting better." said Strider with a slightly proud smile over at the young boy panting heavily beside him.

"Do you know how annoying it is, to see you not even breaking a sweat, and I'm over here dying of asphyxiation?" panted Harry.

"You're talking in your world's speak again." said Strider witha smile.

"I...can't...breathe..." panted Harry.

"Ah...well...I've been trained, and I've been fighting orcs, goblins, invaders of our borders, and trolls for many years. You only just started." said Strider kindly. "Come on, lets go again, this time, don't let me trip you."

It was almost sunset when they both came back into the walls of Bree, they would have continued but Harry had to go back to the Prancing Pony to make dinner.

"What's for dinner tonight, Harry?" said Strider.

"Let me think, I have quite a bit of chicken from the butchers, I haven't made anything from chicken lately." said Harry rubbing his shoulder. "I don't think I have the strength in my arms to try anything really adventurous."


Later on that night, Harry, after making a very ample dinner, came out into the public area of the Prancing Pony and looked around. He saw Strider, now doning a dark traveling cloak and hood with his pipe sitting out of the dark hood, smoke spiraling languidly out of the hole. He looked quite menancing, more so than normal, Strider seemed to have a touch of dramatics in him when he wanted to be frightening to any newcomers to the Inn. He was about to go over and tell him how scary he seemed to look, but saw the look in his eyes, they were cold and fixed towards someone over to the other side of the room.

Harrry followed his eyes and saw a table of four children...drinking ale?

Harry was in shock, and it wasn't till he saw two of the four children pick up a pipe and put it to his lips, that he hurriedly made his way over to their table. Before he could reach them, he ran into Mr. Butterbur.

"Well, Harry, we don't rightly see you come out here, what seems to be the matter." said Mr. Butterbur with a smile.

"Them, those kids." said Harry pointing to the four at the table.

"Kids? There are no goats in here, are there? Oh, you said once that that means children too...what children?" asked Mr. Butterbur, he turned and looked at the table Harry pointed to. "Oh, those aren't kids, those are hobbits."

"Hobbits?" said Harry stunned. "What the heck is a hobbit?"

"Well, they're just a smaller version of us, just with curly hair on their feet." said Mr. Butterbur plainly. "They're decent folk. Real laughs. C'mon, I'll introduce you." he took Harry by the elbow and pulled him towards the table.

Two of the four...hobbits...looked up startled, but the other two were smiling up at the pair standing beside the table.

"Good evening little masters, I'd like you to meet our cook, Harry. He's new to these parts."

The two that were smiling pointed at their plates. "You made dinner?"

"Yes I did." said Harry. "Did you enjoy it?"

"It was delicious!" said the two of them together.

Harry noticed the other two hobbits stared at him in wonder and what looked like apprehension. The brown haired one, he seemed a little...worn...While the other one looked at him suspiciously.

Suddenly Harry was grabbed by his elbow and dragged to the center of the floor. He looked behind himself and saw the butcher, drunk off his ass.

"C'mon Harry, sing a song from your homeland!" he said drinking from his tankard deeply. Cheers came rising from all around the pub.

"You wouldn't like the songs from my country." said Harry raising his hands.

"Come on Harry! I'll ask Mr. Underhill to sing if you will. Hobbit songs aren't a thing to miss." said Mr. Butterbur clapping his hands.

Harry groaned and rubbed his eyes. He looked helplessly over to Strider, but to his dismay, he saw him with small smile on his face. Great, he wasn't going to get any help from him, or Anya. He noticed that she stopped dead in her tracks, with a load of glasses on her tray. What was he going to do, he'd have to sing now.

But what was he going to sing? Rock and Roll? His voice couldn't handle all that yelling and shouting. Pop? They'd never understand it, and from what he saw on their beliefs, they'd lynch him for how most of the songs go. Country? They would never have the faintest idea what a tractor or pickup truck would be. Show tunes? That's the safest route to take. Now which one?

"C'mon, boy! Let's hear you sing!" said Mr. Butterbur. "What are you going to sing?"

"Well, it's an old song, a really old song." said Harry, thinking of a song quickly. "Well, from where I come from it is."

"What's it called." said Mr. Butterbur.

"It's called 'Whistle Down the Wind'." said Harry and wishing to get it over with as soon as possible. "Sorry if I sound...horrible."

"You won't!" said a small voice somewhere in the pub. Harry noticed Anya turned bright red.

He sighed deeply and then, he sang.

The entire pub went silent, Strider himself was staring at the young man in disbelief. This was music where he came from? It sounded so...soft, like a bird's song, then it switched to the melody of a wolf's howl, then back to a bird's serene chorus. And Harry thought he would sound terrible? Who lied to this lad?

The minstrel in the back of the pub looked at Harry in awe, he didn't have the faintest idea how the song was to be played, but Harry didn't need the help really.

When he was done, the pub erupted into a staggaring applause. Harry smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. "Can I sit down now?" said Harry with a smile.

"Sure you won't sing again?" said Mr. Butterbur.

"Absolutely not." said Harry and he went to go sit at the bar. "I'll have my usual."

"What do you drink?" asked one of the hobbits coming up to the bar, asking for a pint of ale. "I've got some money, I'll buy."

"Apple cider." said Harry.

"Apple cider?" said the hobbit.

"Yep, it's that extra Vitamin C that gives it the kick!" said Harry with a smile.

"What's Vitamin C?" asked the hobbit.

"Never mind." said Harry. "I'm not old enough for ale or beer for that matter." said Harry as he drank from his own tankard.

"How old are you?" asked the hobbit.

"Well, adding up the time I've been here, I'm still fifteen going on sixteen." said Harry.

"Wow, and they let you work here?" said the hobbit.

"Never asked, never told." said Harry taking a drink again.

"Good idea. By the way, Peregrin Took is my name, but everyone calls me Pippin." said the hobbit holding out his hand.

"Harold Potter, but you can call me Harry." said Harry with a smile and shaking hands with Pippin.

"Harold?" said Anya with a bright smile. "It sounds so...exotic."

"Not where I come from, it's pretty common." said Harry. "Anya, and Pippin are much more exotic and rare than mine is."

Anya smiled shyly. Pippin laughed.

"You should meet my cousin, right over there, Frodo Baggins. He's my second cousin, once removed on his mother's side." said Pippin turning and pointing to the hobbit with the worn look, which then turned into panic.

"Baggins? I thought Mr. Butterbur said his name was Underhill." said Harry quietly. Suddenly, Mr. Underhill, or as it turned out to be, Mr. Baggins hurried over and took Pippin by the shoulder. Pippin turned quickly and that knocked Frodo off balance and toppled backwards. Harry noticed a small band of gold fly into the air and then fall onto one of Frodo's outstretched fingers.

Suddenly, Frodo vanished.

Harry stared at the floor in shock, then the noise of frightened and shocked patrons grew larger and larger. Harry reached down and felt the small hobbit's leg, he moved his hand up and felt the small ring on the hobbit's hand and tried to take it off. But he was sent flying backwards into the wall!

His head slammed into the wall and he slumped onto the floor as stars blinked in front of his eyes. Anya came over to see if Harry was alright, and helped him to his feet.

Harry scrambled back over to the hobbit and he met Strider rushing over to the spot that held an invisible Frodo Baggins. Without warning, Frodo came back into view and was promptly dragged out of the room by Strider. They turned into the corridor, making sure no one was following , Strider made to go up the stairs, but Harry stopped him.

"Kitchens are closer Strider, only Butterbur and I have the keys when that doors are locked, and the walls are thicker, no one can hear us." said Harry.

"Good idea, your instincts are getting better." whispered Strider. They half dragged half carried Frodo down to the kitchens and closed the door behind him.

"Aren't you going to lock it?" said Strider quietly.

"Not if his friends want in I won't, after they come in, then I'll lock it." said Harry.

"Want do the both of you want?" said Frodo sounding worried as he watched the two taller people watching the door and locking the door to outdoors.

"You'd best be more careful, Mr. Baggins that's no mere trinket you carry." hissed Strider.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" said Frodo. "And my name is Mr. Underhill."

"It won't matter what you call yourself, they already know who you are and what you carry!" said Strider shortly.

"You mean those riders?" said Harry quickly, then a cascade of footprints came towards the kitchen door. The door crashed open and there were the other three hobbits, two had a chair lifted above their heads and the other one looked like he was ready to go ten rounds in a boxing ring.

"LET HIM GO, OR I'LL HAVE YOU LONG SHANKS." said the sandy haired one.

"What about me?" said Harry pretending to be hurt.

"I trust you." said Pippin, not taking his eyes off Strider and not lowering his makeshift weapon. "You didn't drag Frodo in here."

Strider rolled his eyes, then looked at the sandy haired hobbit. "You have a stout heart, but that won't save you."

Harry locked the door as he ushered the hobbits into the kitchen. "Those Black Riders are coming, aren't they?" said Harry, as he removed the chairs from the two smaller hobbits.

"They are. One person in there," said Strider pointing towards where the pub was. "will have told the enemy where to find you. We need somewhere to hide until it is safe to leave Bree."

Harry thought quickly. "There's false wall, back here." said Harry moving swiftly amongst the people in the kitchen. He felt around the western wall and stopped, he felt the small grooves in the wall he was looking for and pulled it out. Inside was a small stove, a few blankets, pillows a dark stone patterned plank covering the lone window. There was a removable knothole in hte wood to see out into the street.

"Found it on accident, I was just putzing around." said Harry.

"What?" asked Strider.

"Uh..messing around..."

Strider still looked confused.

"Goofing off?" said Harry trying to explain what he meant.

Strider's face did not change.

"Exploring the kitchen to the fullest extent without any real reason behind it?" said Harry.

"Ah." said Strider smiling. Then he looked at the door that was sliding open. "I know of this room, this pub used to be a safe haven for us Rangers, but only during the time that Barleymen's father was the owner of the Prancing Pony" said Strider.

Then a knocking came from behind the locked door. They all tensed up and stared at it, Strider even unsheathed his sword a part of the way. Harry and Strider hurried over to the door and through a small peep-hole Harry saw that it was both Mr. Butterbur and Anya. He opened the door carefully.

"Harry! What's going on?" said Mr. Butterbur, "What happened to that Mr. Underhill?" then he saw Frodo half in half out of the secret room. He pointed his mouth opening and closing it.

"They're in danger, I thought I'd hide them in there." said Harry.

"Hide them from what? And how did he disappear like that?" said Mr. Butterbur.

"The second question I won't answer, but the first I can." said Strider, "Their persuers come from Mordor."

"Save us." said Mr. Butterbur faintly. Anya fainted, Harry managed to catch her and placed her gently in a chair beside the fire.

"They won't stay here once I'm gone." said Frodo.

"Well you know your own business maybe, but I wouldn't take up with a Ranger just out of the Wild." said Mr. Butterbur.

"They have no choice!" said Strider shortly. "Unless they want a fat inkeeper that only can remember his name because people shout at him all day!"

Harry looked between the two feuding men. Finally, after they resumed bickering, he had had enough.

"Alright! Stop this arguing! Mr. Butterbur, please trust him, we all don't have much of a choice, and anyway, you sort of owe him." said Harry.

"What do you mean that I owe him?" said Mr. Butterbur shortly.

"If it weren't for Strider, I would never have lived long enough to see Bree." said Harry with a frown.

Mr. Butterbur stuttered but fell silent.

"And Strider, insulting him is only going to waste time, and he's providing the hiding space."

"Come on, let's get these guys in the secret room. Mr. Butterbur, get Anya back home, it's not safe for her here. I'll go upstairs with a tray of food, I'll make it look like they're upstairs. I'll set up some decoys up there, just in case." said Harry grabbing a tray and loading it with bread, ale, fruit and cheese. Then he hurried out of the door.

Mr. Butterbur and Strider stared at the young man as he left the kitchen.

Hours later, Harry, Strider, Pippin, Frodo and other two hobbits, (Harry and Strider learned their names were Sam and Merry) quietly hid in the secret room in the kitchen. While the hobbits slept, Harry and Strider sat and listened intently to the sounds eminating around the Inn.

Then a shriek pierced the night's death like silence. The hobbits woke up quickly.

"What are they?" asked Frodo quietly.

"They are called the Nazgul." said Strider. "Neither living nor dead. They serve the dark lord Sauron. They hunt for one ring. The Ring, Frodo, you now have."

"Why does he want the ring Frodo has?" asked Harry.

For the rest of the night, Strider told Harry, (the hobbits had gone back to sleep, for Frodo and Sam had already heard the story, and Merry and Pippin had heard it from Frodo) all about the legend of the One Ring and it's dark master.

"Crap." said Harry shaking his head, ignoring Strider's confused look. "Your dark lord sounds thirty times more worse than ours.

"There's another one?" said Strider in surprise.

"Back where I come from, but he's pretty tame compared to yours. The war we're fighting is on a much smaller scale." said Harry. "So, your Dark Lord, how are you going to go about to get rid of him."

"We need that ring, and we must cast it into the fires of Mount Doom." said Strider. "Problem is that Mount Doom is in the heart of Mordor. It will be no easy task."

"It never is." said Harry.


The next morning, Harry, Strider, Merry, Pippin, Sam and Frodo gathered supplies to leave Bree. Harry told Mr. Butterbur that he was leaving with the small band.

"I've got to find a way back home somehow, Sir. And Strider told me last night that he could take me to see Gandalf." said Harry.

"I understand." said Mr. Butterbur looking shocked, and slightly saddened. "Let me tell you one thing, lad. You were one of the best cooks I've ever had, I don't know what we're going to do without you." Harry could tell the man was trying not to cry in front of him as he handed Harry a pack of extra food and even some newer clothes, it seemed he had been preparing for this day.

"Thank you sir, and you don't need to worry about anything." He took out a small leather bound book. "I wrote down all the recipes that I used here, and a few I came up with." said Harry with a smile. "The new cook will be able to make your favorite muffins.'

Mr. Butterbur took the book gently, a few tears fell down his chubby cheeks. "Thanks lad. Now you be careful, and try and come back someday."

"I'll try, but I really can't promise anything." said Harry with a smile.

They loaded up the pony that they had bought from the cantankerous Bill Ferny and headed out towards the gate leading into the east.

"HARRY!" came a yell from behind them. Harry turned around and suddenly he found Anya throwing her arms around his neck. "Where are you going? What happened last night?"

"I'm leaving." said Harry not meeting her eyes.

"What? Now? But..." said Anya, tears in her eyes.

"It's the only way I can get home, and I want to help Strider, and them." said Harry nodding towards the hobbits, he didn't notice them adverting their gaze elsewhere to give them both privacy. Strider was making doubly sure that all their supplies were all there, not looking at either of them.

Without warning, Anya kissed him fiercely.

Harry's eyes widened in shock, but then, against his will, his eyes closed and he kissed her back. Thinking about it again, it wasn't against his will, he ran his fingers through her blonde hair and held her around her small waist with his free arm.

When they pulled apart, Anya saw a sad look in his eyes.

"You just made it really hard to go back home." said Harry in a whisper.

"Then don't go." said Anya.

"I have to, I have to...at least try..." said Harry.

"Come on Harry, we have to go." said Strider.

Anya released her hold on Harry and watched him slowly walk out of the gate. She looked down at her dress and saw a small envelope in the pocket of her apron.

She opened the envelope and found inside a letter.

Dear Anya:

If you get this letter, that means that I'm leaving now. I want you to know, whatever happens, I'll never forget the time I've spent here. I will miss you, maybe some day I'll come back this way again. But I ask, for your sake, don't wait for me, I want you to be happy.

In my room, under the floor board that I've marked with a lighting bolt, I've left a present for you. It took me a while to make it but I hope you'll enjoy it.

Your's truly,

Harry.

Anya watched as the gatekeepers closed the gates, then after Mr. Butterbur escorted her back to the Prancing Pony. She walked slowly up to where Harry had slept, and sat on his bed. She sniffed and began to cry. He was here, and now, he was gone, probably never to come back. What was she going to do?

Suddenly, she looked down and saw a lightning bolt scratched onto the wood of the floor. She thought back to the note and slowly moved the plank. Underneath was a small satchel and a box. Inside the bag, was a small amount of gold coins. It was half of his pay that he had earned here and most of the jewels from the goblin lootbox, and then she looked at the box.

It had carvings on the top and on the side, it was not expertly made like some of the dwarven things she had seen, but it was pretty, this must have been what Harry and that one dwarven guest were working on when she saw them huddled over a table. When she opened it, it played a soft tune and after a while she recognized it as a bit of the song he sang in the pub the night prior. She held the box close to her chest and wept.


Okay! Another chapter down! Please review!

Two things: One, if you want to hear the song that is in the story go to youtube and type in Whistle Down the wind by John Barrowman. He's the singing inspiration for Harry's voice and just...he's such an amazing singer.

Question of the chapter. Speaking of music, what is your favorite singer or band? And what is your favorite song they sing?

See you next week.