Thanks goes to Raider-K and quarterhorseranch for helping me proofread this chapter, and the chapter before the previous one. Also, ValueMyHeart, DoctorWhovian18 and LOTCR, with their permission, make their appearance in this chapter.

Dumbledore's office was certainly the place for chit-chat. Frodo wasn't the only one who enjoyed the welcoming air. Already, he found the Author's Chamber and Campus not very friendly places to be right at this moment. Given the look on Aria's face, and her trembling hands holding the honey tea, he guessed she agreed with him… or maybe it was better that he ask her first.

"You're not going back there, are you?" Frodo asked her, concerned, "Not after what we just went through."

"Should I?" Aria asked, trembling. She regained much of her voice, thanks to the tea. "They put me in isolation. There was hardly anyone to talk to." She shook her head. "I think I'd rather avoid the chambers and stick with around Hogwarts, if that's all right."

"It is," Frodo said, gently rubbing her arm. "It works with me."

"Baggins," McGonagall said, handing to him a wrapped gift. "This came for you today. More like a birthday gift for your special day."

"What day is it, professor?" Frodo asked, confused.

"September twenty-second," McGonagall said, cheerful.

"September twenty-second…" Frodo's voice drifted off. He'd been in that unusual coma for two weeks. What had happened while he was asleep? Or was asleep? He didn't know. He just knew one thing was certain… "I'm turning – I mean, I am sixteen today."

"What do you plan to do today?" Aria asked him, curious.

Frodo gazed into her eyes. He knew what he wanted today as a gift. He couldn't stop staring at her, but he retracted his gaze for a moment to the floor. What should he do today?

"It's okay," she said, softly.

Frodo faced her again. He only needed this moment and… he leaned in and gently kissed Aria's lips. He felt it in his heart. There was a spark there, a spark he felt growing inside his chest like a firework. He released, nearly apologetic, but grinning at her.

"Was that your first kiss?" Frodo asked her, grinning.

Aria nodded. "It is, actually. Although, I thought this might happen when I'm sixteen. And my birthday's coming up soon and…"

Frodo shook his head. His face glowed with a warm smile. "I don't care." He leaned in and kissed her again. This felt better than any gift he could have had. He released her again, asking the one question that was on his mind. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Aria thought for a moment. "A hobbit and an authoress as boyfriend and girlfriend? Is that even possible?"

"It would be a good idea. I mean, we are best friends," Frodo said, smiling at her, even as Aria rested her head against his shoulder. "Why not? Would it anger the Head Authors and Authoresses if we do this?"

"I'd be breaking the ban, and…" Aria sat up, nervous. "I mean, what if they come after us again. How would we be in a relationship if… well, I suppose there isn't anything they can do now, can they?"

"That ban will be lifted, even as we speak," Dumbledore said, approaching the couple. "I've just informed Bilbo to come here. His authoress will be here today as well. We can get this mess straightened out." He walked away, leaving Frodo and Aria stunned.

"Let's do it," Aria said, grinning.

"You will…" Frodo pretended to think on it, "…be my girlfriend, after announcing the ban was lifted. Will be lifted." He grinned even more when Aria gently kissed his neck and cheek. He kissed her on lips again once more, before wrapping an arm around his new girlfriend. The couch was a comfortable spot to sit down.

He would remember this day as the best sixteenth birthday he ever had. Just as well when he opened his birthday present, which turned out to be an elegant clock wrapped in a gold frame. He smiled at the thought. Indeed, time meant everything these days. He wondered how much time he had, ever since he read his own trilogy… that, in of itself, was a good question.

…

The office was more silent now, and yet a little more crowded. Merry and Pippin just arrived with Amy and Abigail, as did Sam with Anne. It was urgent they come. But they weren't alone. Out from a portal, and to Frodo's great surprise, Bilbo had arrived at last. He brushed himself off, before presenting himself to Dumbledore.

"Dumbledore, what is this about?" Bilbo asked, approaching the Headmaster.

"Yes. On that matter," Dumbledore said, starting up the explanation. "The ban which prevented hobbits and authors from heavy interactions, falling in love, and being friends even after they graduate, I am currently working on lifting the ban, with a help from a few authors and authoresses. In the meantime, there's someone I would like you to meet, to reintroduce you to."

"Who?" Bilbo asked, quite curious.

Frodo blinked twice. Out from a portal was a hobbitess with graying hair and wearing a blue-grey dress. He sort of knew who she was. As if on instinct. No. It couldn't be. "Marietta?"

"Hullo Frodo," Marietta said, with a fair laugh. "I see you've done the exact same thing Bilbo did all those years ago with me."

"What did he do?" Bilbo asked, confused.

Marietta faced him. "Fallen in love with his authoress. Don't you remember me, Bilbo?"

"The authors told us we weren't allowed to be together." Bilbo said, curtly. "It was against their rules. We were the ones who caused that ban in the first place, and—" He was cut off. Marietta planted a kiss on his lips. There was that spark he'd forgotten. But how… she released him, leaving him caught in a stupor.

"Now you remember me," Marietta said, softly. "We could have been great together. We could have done so much."

"But the ban…"

"Will be lifted this week, Bilbo," Dumbledore said, nodding his approval. "The authors were meddlesome in the time of Dippet that they got away with it and set the ban. I will not do the same. Not this time or ever."

"Marietta," Bilbo gazed into her eyes now, "aren't you afraid your husband will… is he?"

Marietta looked down at their feet. She admitted, her voice saddened, "I've been living as a hermit. I nearly married a fairy until he was locked away. I was told I possessed the gift of becoming a sprite. I took my chance and fled. No husband. No children. I've just been waiting for the day when someone would stand up to these authors and authoresses, set things right. It seems we had to wait until another hobbit and authoress became a couple, before we could reunite."

"Awww!" Abigail and Amy said with wide, puppy-dog eyes.

"Kiss her, Bilbo!" Anne announced, eager to see what happened next.

"Well…" Bilbo leaned in and kissed Marietta on the lips. Their lips were soft, but firm with the years that had passed between them. Yet there was a spark, deep inside Bilbo's heart that wouldn't abate. An old flame rekindled, brewing inside his chest that he couldn't very well ignore. He felt this moment, even after they released. It was a moment neither could forget, even as they held each other in a sweet, tight embrace…

Frodo watched the scene from where he stood. His uncle was happy, as was Marietta. He hadn't just been seeing her. He knew she was protecting his family and Bilbo. Now it made sense, even as his arm was still wrapped around Aria's shoulders in an affectionate manner.

"Do you think Folco will forgive you?" Aria asked him.

"I hope so." Frodo looked into her worried green eyes. "Oh, don't give me that look. Folco will apologize in his own time."

"How do you know?" Aria asked in turn, concerned and curious.

"I think we both know the answer to that question," Frodo said, sighing softly.

"Your foresight," she said, admitting the truth.

Frodo nodded, agreeing with her on the spot. "My foresight is not that strong. Not yet anyway. Maybe in time it will…" He watched. Dumbledore walked out of his office, as did everyone else. He couldn't believe it. He and Aria were alone. "Everybody just left us."

"Were you expecting that?" she asked, confused and curious.

He grinned. "Well, it's not like we're going anywhere."

"Frodo!" Bilbo cried, startling Frodo within the second of his arrival. Bilbo's head poked out from the ajar door. "What are you doing? Dumbledore is expecting you. He'll give you further instructions downstairs. You weren't doing anything, either of you?"

"No," Aria choked out, setting her cup on the desk. Frodo snorted, doing his best to maintain his laughter, but to no avail, for Aria caught him. "Come on."

"I don't know if I'll get used to my authoress as my girlfriend," Frodo said, wrapping an arm around her once more and kissing the top of her head. His grin wiped away the moment he met Bilbo's gaze.

"She's your girlfriend now?" Bilbo asked him, grinning.

"Well, you have your girlfriend back. Don't you?" Frodo added in turn.

"Yes, I do," Bilbo answered, leading the way. Frodo followed his uncle down the spiral staircase, but not before waiting for Aria to catch up to him. He lingered for a moment, moving a lock of brown hair off of Aria's eyes, before continuing forward. Their journey ended when they came out into the open hallway with open arched windows. He hadn't forgotten how almost airy this hallway was, and how it still was this airy.

There was Folco. Frodo rushed up to him, hoping to get his attention… only to have Folco jerk away from him. Given his friend's hotly expression, Frodo guessed this wasn't about to turn into a good meeting.

"Get off me!" Folco cried, angrily. "Listen Frodo, if this is about Sauron, find some substantial proof first!" He calmed down a moment later. "I'm sorry, Frodo. Truly, I am on your side and I wish I was on your side. But this is… this… just don't follow me! Okay?!" Frodo moved his hand away from Folco's sleeve. "Thank you. Good day, Frodo." Folco stormed off, leaving Frodo alone with his thoughts. He jumped a little when two thin arms clasped his stomach. The effort caused him to spin around, meeting Aria's gaze. He didn't say anything, other than react by massaging her wrist and arms a little.

He couldn't believe it. There wasn't anything he could do to help Folco, and it hurt. All he could do was hope that his friend would come to his senses, or else – Frodo realized – he would have to find another way to convince Folco and everyone else at Hogwarts that Sauron was back. How was he to do that? He was already formulating a plan in his mind, but was it the best plan he ever concocted? He just didn't know. He only hoped that more people would believe him, even if it was just the Firebird's Call and his friends. That was enough for now, right?