Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.

Guest Reviews

LOTCR: Moving on. Yes, exactly about Frodo and Sam. All I can tell you is that you had better enjoy Frodo while he is the mischief maker. Next story, due to what we know will happen, Frodo may not be the same again and will most likely become what we know him as later on. Hehehe, it's all right. I don't mind researching, not one bit. So, don't you be so hard on yourself. Okay? Yeah, I'm not much of a hugger, like many fangirls and girls/women are. I'm sorry, but it's true. Now, as for Frodo's Hobbit/Halfling house mates, it makes sense that they are from different worlds because I wanted to also prove that hobbits don't just reside in Middle-earth, but of course we need to call them Halflings then for their race. No, I haven't read the Legend of Drizzt, but I have heard of it. Hey, don't assume Frodo's going to have a bad day. At least let Frodo enjoy the good days once in a while. Jeez. Yes, I've noticed everyone's on vacation. I'm not unfortunately. It's okay. Chapters take time to write, and you need to learn patience, especially with this story.

As for what DoctorWhovian18 pointed out in her review to the last chapter, which I will inform you the readers, it's not an error. I found it on Harry Potter Wiki and its official: the corridors connecting the Clock Tower with the Hospital Wing are called the hospital tower corridors. I thought I should clarify this before everyone started freaking out.

Fair warning: there's a scene of bullying in this chapter, much of it caused by Lotho. And I'll be clear; I don't like bullying as I was bullied in the past. So I do hope someone teaches Lotho a lesson and fast.


Frodo did not misbehave, as he had done on his first day of Charms class. Professor Flitwick noticed the change, as Frodo hardly said a word in class that Thursday morning. Frodo was so shy that Flitwick and many in the class wondered what had overcome the hobbit boy. Sam slugged Frodo's arm softly, hoping to get Frodo's attention, but all Frodo did was grin a happy grin and continued his wand movement practice without saying two words to him. Lotho's thoughts reeled with ways of catching Frodo off-guard, now that he wasn't the most mischievous hobbit in class anymore, or so he expected at the time. As Professor Flitwick told the first years on their first day, he wouldn't allow them to practice spells until sometime later in the term.

After Charms class, Frodo noticed Lotho sneering at him. Frodo knew Lotho was up to something, but the way he eyed him made Frodo nervous. Was Lotho plotting something that clearly involved him? Frodo hoped this wasn't the case.

Next was Transfiguration in the Middle Courtyard. Frodo did not want to be late for this class. He heard Professor McGonagall was strict and would deduct house points from any of the four houses for misbehavior and other troublesome manners. Following the other first years, Frodo made it to the Transfiguration Courtyard and entered Classroom 1B. It was his first day of Transfiguration class and Professor McGonagall was already in the classroom when Frodo and the other first years arrived. Even though Professor McGonagall had turned her desk into a pig and back again, it turned out they had a long way to go before being able to attempt that. Instead, they were given a match and asked to transfigure their matches into needles.

The first thing after Frodo had the match was Frodo examined it, wondering how he would be able to transform the match into a needle. He knew what needles looked like: he had seen his mother with a needle when she sewn lace and other cloth. Now, he needed to transfigure his match into a needle. How hard could it be?

The transfiguration on the match proved harder than Frodo thought. He wasn't getting the spell and he knew it, especially since his match didn't make a single transfiguration. Frodo rested his forehead on top of his arm in defeat. He was in near tears, feeling like he was a failure. Then his mind somehow figured out the correct way to say the spell. He glanced up at his desk. Whipping the tears that were falling down his face, Frodo tried the spell again, this time aloud and with determination in his eyes. Just like that, the match turned into a needle, which looked similar to the needles his mother had at home.

Professor McGonagall approached him and held up Frodo's needle. He was surprised that he was the first to transfigure his match into a needle, since everyone else was busy working on the spell. McGonagall told the class, "You see? This is how it should be done." She passed the transfigured needle back to Frodo. "Well done, Baggins. Five points to Ravenclaw."

Frodo could hear gasps and grunts of shock and disproval around the class. Even Hermione was now more determined than ever to turn her match into a needle. Sam said nothing, shuffling his feet in an effort to calm down. He thought it strange that Frodo, who was perhaps the most mischievous hobbit in the school, could successfully transfigure his match into a needle halfway through the class. Sam shook his head, continuing to work on the spell, taking his time, as much as needed, to get the spell right.

Frodo looked at his wand in curiosity, wondering himself what he had been doing wrong and what he did right to get spells to work out the way he wanted. Unsure about whether he should transfigure the needle back into a match, and then reminding himself that McGonagall didn't tell him that he needed to, other than what she had instructed, Frodo waited until the class had finished their transfigurations, which appeared doubtful. To pass the time, until Professor McGonagall gave the next instruction, Frodo read through his Transfiguration textbook.

As it happened, at the end of class, Sam and Hermione were the only other two who had successfully transfigured their matches into needles. Professor McGonagall showed them to the class, delighted also to have them as her students. When everyone was packing up their books and walking out of class, Lotho approached Frodo in the hallway. Lotho had been waiting for Frodo behind the door.

"Meet me in the Boys' Lavatory on the fifth floor. And be sure you're alone, Baggins," said Lotho, jabbing his finger at Frodo's chest. He then darted off.

Although lunch was soon, Frodo ignored his stomach and chased after Lotho back to the Grand Staircase. He found Lotho darting up the stairs at a grand pace, making it difficult for Frodo to figure out where he went. By the time Frodo had reached the fifth-floor corridor, which was empty, Lotho had disappeared. As Frodo searched and searched, he was grabbed by his shirt into the Boys' Lavatory and pressed against the nearest wall. Frodo couldn't move and Lotho was staring him in the face. He was so much taller than Frodo that Frodo felt powerless.

"How is it that you've been getting points, hmm Frodo Baggins? You, being the most clever and mischievous hobbit there is, and now you've gone soft. I'll teach you a lesson you won't ever forget. Don't – mess – with – the – Sackville-Bagginses!" Lotho dragged Frodo inside one of the stalls. There, he set Frodo on his knees, flushed the toilet, and dunked Frodo's head in the toilet water.

The second Frodo's face hit the swirling, smelly water he did his best not to breathe it in. This proved difficult. Everything moved in slow motion. Was it minutes since his face had been in the toilet water? He was unsure until everything moved quicker again and Lotho pulled him out of the swirling whirlpool, his face soaking wet. Frodo gasped for air, a moment into resting his hands on the sides of the toilet bowl. Lotho said something last, but Frodo didn't catch it. Frodo heard Lotho's footsteps step out of the tall green stall, before leaving the boys' bathroom past the front door.

The stall door closed behind Frodo, leaving him feeling alone and shaken over what had happened to him. Not bothering to put the toilet seat back down, Frodo moved away from the toilet bowl, finding a spot to sit on the cold stone floor and rest. As he leaned his back against the nearest wall, tears streamed down his face. While his face was soaking wet from the toilet water, the water ran down his jacket, vest and shirt, making small drip stains on his breeches. What had he ever done to Lotho to make him suddenly want to pick on him? Hoping no one heard him, Frodo sobbed; he was amazed at how quiet his sobs were, but then they became uncontrollable. He couldn't stop them from falling. What had he done wrong?

Sam's voice rang clear on the other side of the Boys' Lavatory door: "LOTHO, YOU EGO-CENTRIC COWARD! YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU'D DONE TO MISTER FRODO!"

Mister Frodo? Was Sam so formal that he had to call him this? However, Frodo was too occupied sobbing and going over his experience to care less of what anyone was saying. The Boys' Lavatory door opened. Frodo could hear Sam's voice again, talking to someone. He sounded so confident Frodo couldn't believe it. Sam was normally the shy one.

"I think he's in here," said Sam. Frodo could see hobbit feet. That must be Sam's. "I knew it. He's in here, this one."

Frodo cocked his head as the stall door swung open, away from him. Standing before him was Sam, and with him were Professors Snape and Quirrell. Frodo did his best to hide his tears in front of the Head of Slytherin House and upcoming Potions teacher, but Snape grabbed him by his jacket collar and dragged him out of the stall.

Snape told Frodo, "Ten points from Ravenclaw."

Frodo was flabbergasted. He spoke while shedding tears, "What? Why? I didn't do anything wrong. It was Lotho…"

"For your cheek and your mischievous behavior," said Snape. "Mr. Sackville-Baggins did you a favor. I say you owe him something in return. And don't give me that look, Baggins. I expect you in class on time tomorrow morning. Wash your face and head to the Great Hall immediately."

Frodo's hands still shook, but now he was overwhelmed, upset and furious. This wasn't his fault. Why then was Lotho getting all the credit? As he reached one of the sinks, Frodo couldn't stop his hands from trembling. Turning on the faucet, Frodo lathered his hands with soap and used the soap to also help cleanse his face and neck. After that, he washed the soap off his face and neck with fresh, cool water. Frodo opened his eyes and looked at Sam, who handed to him a clean towel.

"Hurry up, Baggins. Or I shall deduct further house points," said Snape, waiting impatiently.

Frodo's hands shook so furiously, yet he grabbed the towel from Sam's hands. He stopped when Sam tried to help him hold onto the towel, giving him a look that said he didn't want to be touched. Sam silently understood and stepped back a few inches. Frodo whipped his face, which now felt better and cleaner. He was in no mood to talk about what happened, and after what Snape did, he felt more determined to keep what happened to him quiet. However, he couldn't contain the tears, which kept shedding even as he whipped his face with the towel. Once he was done, Sam took the towel from him.

Seeing the cautious look on Sam's face, Frodo felt pity and said, calmly between sobs, "Do you want to walk me out?" Even his voice was shaky.

Sam nodded and gently grabbed his arm. His grasp was firm, in a way to keep Frodo from falling. Quietly, Sam led Frodo out of the Boys' Lavatory. Snape and Quirrell followed after them.

o-o-o

Frodo hardly knew where Sam was taking him until they reached the Grand Staircase. By then, Frodo had to pay attention and watch his step. When they reached the Ground Floor, with Professor Snape keeping a close watch on him and Frodo, Sam led Frodo directly into the Great Hall. More tears shed, streaking down Frodo's face so quickly.

Inside the Great Hall Sam saw, as he had during breakfast and lunch that first week, students from other houses mingling and sitting at each other's tables, while others decided it best to sit at their own house table. Thinking it was time for Frodo to interact with another house – Sam himself wasn't sure how this would work out in the end – Sam led Frodo over to the Hufflepuff table. Sam caught a glimpse of Snape and Quirrell heading directly to the staff table, Snape not paying any mind to him or Frodo. Frodo looked up in alarm, but said nothing as Sam sat down beside him.

Before the two hobbit boys were an assortment of lunch food, including some sandwiches with lunch meat stuffed inside. As Sam picked up a half of slice of his own sandwich, he saw Frodo not eating, rather staring at his meal as if contemplating on whether or not to eat. Sam was confused.

"You should eat somethin'. It's best for you to keep your strength up," said Sam.

"I'm not very hungry," admitted Frodo. His stomach growled, but he ignored it.

"You can't go on not eating anythin'. At least have a bite," said Sam, doing his best to encourage Frodo into eating something, even if it was a small bite.

Frodo gave Sam an inquisitive, curious look. He was making sense, but at the same time Frodo felt a bit offended. Hadn't Sam realized what he just went through? Why was eating so important after what he experienced? Hoping to ease the hobbit boy's mind, so Sam wouldn't nag him anymore, Frodo grabbed a slice of the sandwich and took a large bite, before setting it down. He ate slowly, feeling his stomach's queasiness after filling up a bit from the toilet water. A moment into eating his sandwich, Frodo rested his arms on the table, not paying much attention to Sam and more to his own thoughts. He couldn't help reliving the traumatic experience in his mind. It was still fresh in his mind, as clear as day. Was there no other way to end this reliving the worst experience of his youth? Sure, some tears were shedding, but he felt an empty pit in his chest, while his stomach did not feel so good in that first moment.

And yet eating made him feel better. Frodo felt some cheeriness return inside himself. Okay, maybe Sam was right about eating lunch, but he didn't quite understand what had just happened. Frodo, on the other hand, did not want to run the whole scene by Sam, not until he got his bearings. Though the hobbit boy did seem friendly and kind; at least he knew what to do in that situation.

o-o-o

After dinner that evening, and because Frodo took a bath before lunch ended to wash the toilet water out of his hair, Frodo went straight into the hobbit boys' side of the Ravenclaw Boys' Dormitory and got ready for bed straightaway. He didn't speak to Stewart, Terry, or any of the Ravenclaw boys that evening. He wasn't in the mood and it showed. Even though the Ravenclaw hobbit boy Stewart wanted to talk to him, see what was the matter, all Frodo could say was "I'll be fine by morning" and "I need to get some sleep".

However, it seemed everyone was on his case about the incident, as if they knew what Lotho had done. Terry, Michael and Anthony did their best to tell him that Fred and George might get Lotho back for what he'd done to him, or Frodo could pull a prank on him this time. Their encouragement made Frodo force a small happy grin, but that was about it. All Frodo could do was cry into the night until he fell asleep. His parents, he wondered, must have heard what happened… or else he would have to write a letter to them himself about the incident. Either way did not sound like the right option, at least not at that time.

Thinking over what he had thought that morning, he came to the conclusion that his good day had gone sour fast. All he wanted was for things to turn out right for him. Would that ever happen? He wondered…