Another slow update, but here's the next chapter. Enjoy. :)
Frodo awoke in a dazed state. He took one look at the ceiling. It was so tall, and he… well, it was nearing dawn, wasn't it? The morning light was starting to pour in from the windows. He moved to a sitting position on the bed, expecting… his head snapped towards Folco. He was already out of the dormitory, all dressed and with his bag. Frodo shook his head. It seems he couldn't convince anyone, anyone except his friends, that he was telling the truth.
He made his bed, feeling the fabric of his blue covers for a moment. He was so tired, but… that's right! It was the first day of term. He walked over to his polished dark oak wardrobe, and opened it. Immediately, the fresh scent of pine filled his nostrils. The scent was coming off his new blue uniform, and already he felt more awake upon changing into them. Yes, he was ready to start the day now. Finding his bag and filling it with his books and school supplies, Frodo hurried downstairs. There was Aria, who was examining a mirror.
"Aria," Frodo said, approaching her.
"Frodo," Aria said, glancing up at him.
"Look, I'm sorry for the mess that happened last night, with Folco. My temper was uncalled for," Frodo said, apologizing calmly.
"Thank you," she said, looking up at him fondly. "Folco hasn't forgiven you yet. But then, he's probably just jealous or something. Or maybe he doesn't have the full story yet."
"Maybe," he said. His gaze transfixed on the mirror. "What is that? In your hand?"
"One of my parting gifts from the authors," she said, saddened. "This'll be my last year at Hogwarts. After its over, I don't know what I'm going to do, where I'm going to be. The Head Authors said when this is over, the authors will be sent back to the year they left. I might forget everything. I might…"
"You don't know that," Frodo said, serious. He asked in turn, "What happens if you stay on another year or two?"
"Frodo, that would break the rules," Aria said, also serious. "I can't just abandon my post. To become a student at Hogwarts, away from the Author's Chamber or Campus… it's unthinkable. I'd be the only sixth year authoress in the castle. I wouldn't be let back in as an author. I'd be like… like everyone else."
"What's wrong with that?" Frodo asked her. "Come on. We can discuss this at breakfast."
"That's just it," Aria said. "We're going to be separated from here on out. It's the Head Authors' orders."
"They can't…" Frodo was cut off. There was Mildred Hubble with her brown hair and serious tempered personality, gesturing to Aria. He wanted to do something, anything, but he couldn't. Aria was gone past the door.
"I'm sorry, Frodo," Mildred told him. "It's the Author's rules: fifth year authors and authoresses begin the separation phase from the hobbits they are writing about. I didn't make these rules."
"But they came when Bilbo started school here, didn't they?" Frodo asked, testy.
"Yes, they did," Mildred said, saddened. "I have yet to see one hobbit attempt to change that rule. Maybe you will." Frodo watched her leave through the door. No. The door vanished. He couldn't get through, no matter how hard he tried banging at the door, for a good five minutes. He needed to think up a plan. But what could he do now? How could he change things?
"I am not losing my authoress," Frodo vowed, as he left the Ravenclaw Tower alone.
…
Breakfast turned out to be a lonely time. The Great Hall was of course spectacular, including the ceiling that showed the sky outside, but Frodo didn't feel like it. Aria was, by now, eating breakfast with the other authors and authoresses. Folco wasn't talking to him. As for his friends, well they were at the other tables. Then there was Luna Lovegood who, like him, was sitting by herself. Maybe he would start talking to her again, especially after the messes made between his friends and everything else happening in this world, the Wizardry World, and in the other worlds.
Well, he would at some point, given that Professor Flitwick, who could have been much taller than he or roughly the same in height, handed to him his schedule. He couldn't believe it. His first class was in the Author's Chamber with Professor Courter. How bad could it be, the class? He would find out. In a hurry, he finished eating his meal and headed straight for one of the doors in the entrance hall. Good, he was now in the Author's Chamber on the ground floor. He turned a corner and found one door opened.
The classroom was plain, except for the various purple silks garnishing the windows and lanterns. It wasn't Professor Trelawney's classroom. And yet, he found a seat in the front of the classroom, right next to Sam, and with Merry and Pippin behind him. Already he felt good and ready to use his hand magic.
Oh no, there was the toad-faced hobbitess Courter, entering the classroom. She certainly had a way of annoying people with her walk, didn't she?
"No magic today, class," Courter said in high spirits. "Pull out Hobbits and Authors. This will be the book you'll need for the rest of term."
Merry raised his hand.
"Yes. I am sure you've been told by now about your authors. This is the year in which a separation between hobbits and their authors takes place. We must ensure that, in order to keep our stories told, no author may visit their hobbit at any given time. Makes it easier for us to forget we have them," Courter explained. Pippin raised his hand. Courter answered, "Yes Mr. Took, this is your important year to study. It is O.W.L. year and when you graduate from Hogwarts, you will know all that you can. Yes, Mr. Brandybuck, I…"
"You didn't give us a chance to speak," Merry admitted.
"I'm sorry. Do go on," Courter said, smiling and giddy.
"What do you mean we're not using magic?" Merry asked, confused.
"That's why we're at Hogwarts, isn't it?" Pippin asked, raising his hand. He whispered to Merry, "My authoress warned me about this year, we would need to raise our hands in class."
"Yes, you do, Mr. Took," Courter said, explaining further, "The Ministry of Magic and the Author's Campus feel it is time for you to do things practically, in a risk-free environment. After all, it is our duty to keep our kids safe and out of danger, for there isn't any danger out there. There is nothing for any of you to worry. No authors, normal lives, just as it's always been. Isn't that what matters at school?"
"Normal?" Merry and Pippin asked, confused.
"Since when are we ever normal?" Pippin asked, adding on.
"Raise your hand, Mr. Took. Please!" Courter said, annoyed. "There is nothing for anyone to worry about. Isn't the whole point of being in school to protect you all, keep you from harm, keep you safe and sound."
"Safe?" Frodo asked, stunned and annoyed. "The last time I checked, the authors were helping us learn and grow. They may not have told us everything, but at least they have a good heart."
Courter laughed. "Do you really think that's how authors are? Who do you think puts you in danger in all those stories, tortures your lives, treats you unfairly so you can see how dangerous the world is? Authors show their brightest selves when they admit they can make their characters as realistic as possible. But authors do not interact with their characters that much. They learn from them, they grow with them, but as far as becoming attached goes, it's out of the question. It is unnatural and unhealthy for an authoress to fall in love with a hobbit. It was necessary to end Bilbo's relationship with his authoress before it got out of hand."
"What do you mean? You mean someone interfered in Bilbo's relationship with his authoress?" Frodo blurted out, unable to control his temper.
"Another outburst from you, Mr. Baggins, and you'll be in detention with me," Courter warned him.
"So you're saying Sauron's return doesn't mean anything," Frodo said, serious.
"That is an untrue statement. Sauron has not returned. There is nothing for you to worry about," Courter said, trying to keep her voice even.
"And separation between my authoress and me was unnecessary, too, right?" Frodo asked, using reverse psychology and hoping it would work. It failed at once.
"Come here, Mr. Baggins," Courter said, scribbling out a note. "Take this to Professor Flitwick." She handed the note to Frodo, and then turned to the class, "Turn to page five in your Hobbits and Authors book."
Frodo stormed out of the classroom, taking his bag with him. He didn't want to do this, but so far Professor Courter was behaving in such a way that was no excusable. He darted down the familiar corridor and up the stairs, right to Professor Flitwick's office. Was he in there? He hoped he wasn't disturbing him. He knocked on the door.
"Come in," Flitwick's voice spoke through the wood. Frodo opened the door, finding stacks of papers on Flitwick's desk. He still couldn't get over his Charms' teacher's office being slightly tight around the walls. And yet, he handed him the note. "Well, why am I not surprised? Courter says you spoke up in class about Sauron, when she was teaching class."
"Professor," Frodo spoke up, "she practically said the authors are responsible for separating Bilbo from his authoress. What happened then?"
"Well, I must admit I don't know all the details. The authors had it in their heads that authors and authoresses should wed someone from their world, instead of us, who they called characters. They got so upset, from what I heard, that they took Bilbo away from his authoress and banned authors and authoresses from speaking to the hobbits for fifth year and onwards. But it wasn't just Bilbo and his authoress. Looking back, there were many hobbits who fell in love with their authors and authoresses. The ban occurred during Bilbo and his authoress' separation," Flitwick explained.
"Can't it be changed?" Frodo asked him. "Isn't there a way to…"
"You fancy Aria," Flitwick said, concerned. "Frodo, I know your heart's in the right place, but Courter is here to straighten things out, to get the hobbits to stop using magic and start to be sensible again. The authors do this with every generation. It seems they're starting out when things get worse again, Frodo."
"You mean me falling for my authoress," Frodo said, serious.
"Yes, exactly," Flitwick said, sighing, "I'm sorry, Frodo, but this matter is out of my hands. But I wish you well in sorting this mess out. Who knows? We may just break the ban for good this time."
"Thank you, Professor," Frodo said, heading outside the office. Only, as he walked down the lonely stone corridor, he found Folco glaring at him, before taking off. Great. This was just what he needed right now. He just hoped things wouldn't get worse down the road.
