This is a re-write of the scene in the beginning of the first Lord of the Rings movie/book The Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf and Frodo talk about the Ring.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.

Harry Potter in Classic Movie Moments

Harry Potter vs. The Lord of the Rings

Harry Potter sat in his kitchen in his home in Hobbiton, Shire, Middle-Earth. With that said, you may already have guessed, that Harry was a Hobbit. The hole was one that he had inherited from his godfather a few years back when the man had mysteriously disappeared (literally; from the middle of his own birthday party), leaving his prominent fortune to Harry. And right now, Harry was in an anxious state of mind. He stood up, checked the time, paced to the sitting room and then back, made sure the kettle was filled, checked the time, and sat down again.

Just then, he got startled by loud thumping at the front door. Harry jumped to his feet and dashed to open. "Oh, it's you," he said, his excitement changing into disappointment as he let two fellow Hobbits in.

"Is he here yet?" his best friend Ron asked.

Harry shook his head. "I'm beginning to worry. Maybe something's happened to him."

"I'm sure he's fine," said Hermione, his second-best friend and Ron's girlfriend. Though they would die before they'd admit their relationship. So, what if they'd been caught snogging a few times? Doesn't mean a thing. Right?

"I hope you're right," Harry said with a deep sigh. "By the way, you're late, too. What took you so long?"

"We had to shake off mum and Ginny," Ron answered. "This time it was mum giving more trouble. Ginny just disappeared when mum began her rant about chores for the day."

"Yeah, I can imagine," Harry chuckled. "Tea?"

"Yes, please."

Harry put the kettle on fire, and they sat into the table to wait for the water to boil. Harry and Ron wondered about the latest Quidditch match where the Eastfarthing team had, surprisingly, demolished the favourite, Westfarthing. Then at the same time, the kettle whistled and there was a bang at the front door. The trio dashed to the door, and Harry opened.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry yelped.

"Good morning, Mr Potter. Mr Weasley. Miss Granger," said the old Wizard, giving a nod at each of them in turn.

"You're late," Harry said, crossing his arms and glaring at the newcomer. Behind his back, Ron and Hermione mimicked his stance. Hermione even had the nerve to tap her shoe to the floor.

"A Wizard is never late!" Dumbledore said with a booming voice, straightening up to his formidable height. "Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."

The threesome continued to glare at him, and he glared back. In a moment, his white beard began to tremble, and he was unable to hold back his hearty laughter any longer, soon to be joined by the three Hobbits.

"I've missed you, professor!" Harry said as he launched himself to hug the old man.

"As have I, Harry. As have I," Dumbledore said, returning the hug. "Ron, Hermione! It's good to see you, too."

A few minutes later, Dumbledore had successfully managed to avoid hitting his head to Harry's chandelier or to any other thing that was too low for him, and they were comfortably sitting behind their steaming cups of tea in the study, with a fire crackling soothingly in the hearth. "So, professor," Harry began, "will you let us know what was so important for you to come visit me?"

Dumbledore's smile waned, and he set his cup down. "Harry, that is a matter I must insist we discuss in private."

Harry looked at both of his friends in turn. "What's the point?" he then asked. "I'm going to tell them everything later, anyway."

Dumbledore regarded the trio and sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right. But I can't stress too much that the information I'm about to reveal must not, in any circumstance, be revealed to anyone not in this room."

Everybody swore to keep the secret, and Dumbledore continued. "Harry, do you remember the night Sirius left?" he asked.

"Of course," Harry answered.

"It was his one hundred and eleventh birthday," Hermione continued. "It nothing else, people will remember the fireworks!"

"Yeah," Ron said dreamily. "The Dragon was my favourite. You know, the one that Fred and George nicked from your trunk and set off. It was brilliant!"

Dumbledore's beard trembled again, and this time not from laughter. "Yes, well, that is beside the point." He turned his attention to Harry again. "And do you remember the envelope that Sirius left to you?"

Harry frowned. "The one containing his ring? I think so."

"Is it secret? Is it safe?" Dumbledore's expression was sick with worry because of Harry's hesitation.

"Yes, of course," Harry said.

Dumbledore let a breath out with relief. "Would you go and get it, please," he asked.

Harry went to a cupboard and rummaged through the contents. He closed it, and went to a cabinet next to it, searching every drawer. "I was sure I put it in here," he muttered. As he delved into his numerous trunks and closets around the house, Dumbledore's expression gradually turned sick with worry again.

"Wait!" Harry yelped at last. He went to his desk in the study, and finally raised a battered envelope, handing it over to Dumbledore who let out a breath with relief.

Dumbledore broke the seal and opened the envelope, carefully letting the contents slide onto the table. Complete silence fell to the room while the four people bent down to examine a plain, golden ring.

"It doesn't look like much," Ron said hoarsely, and swallowed.

"No, it doesn't," Hermione said, mesmerized. "Yet I think it's the most beautiful thing ever made."

Dumbledore reached his hand to take the ring, but just before he was about to touch it, he withdrew, like struck by a lightning. His expression was sick with worry. "Harry, please put it back into the envelope. Quick! Don't think, just do it!"

Harry did as was told, and without further ado, the Wizard cast the envelope into fire burning in the hearth, ignoring Harry's protests. The envelope quickly caught fire and burned away, revealing the golden ring once more. Then Dumbledore picked up the red-hot ring with a levitation charm, floating it over to Harry. "Don't worry, Harry. It's quite cool." And even as he spoke, the colour of the ring already turned back to healthy yellow, and when Harry touched it, it didn't burn him at all.

"Look closely," Dumbledore instructed. "Do you see any markings on it?"

Harry turned the ring in his fingers, then shook his head and gave it to Ron, and at last to Hermione to examine.

"No, I don't think so. It's perfectly smooth," Hermione said, leaning very close. Dumbledore let out a breath with relief. Then suddenly, the ring in her hand began to glow. "Wait…"

And once again, Dumbledore's expression turned sick with worry.

"I think there are letters, Elvish letters," Hermione said. "I should be able to read them, but I don't recognize this language."

"You are correct, Hermione," Dumbledore said, letting out a breath of not relief, but of resignation. "The language is Black Speech of Mordor, also known as Parseltongue. Not many can understand it."

"What exactly is it, then?" Harry asked.

"This is the One Ring, a Horcrux; an object that contains a piece of the Dark Lord's soul. This is his means to control all other Rings of Power, and this is also the reason why he cannot die. As you know, Isildur slayed him in a battle, but only his body was destroyed while his spirit endured. The Ring got lost until your godfather Sirius found it. And now, I'm afraid, Sauron has learned that the One Ring has been found, and he has already sent his servants to search for it. The Nine Dementors have left Azkaban, and the last time I heard, they were heading towards Shire. Should he get the Ring in his hands, he'd regain his body and his full power with it. And this time, there would be no power to stop him."

Silence fell among them. "What can we do, then?" Ron asked meekly.

"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione said, turning her eyes at Dumbledore. "The ring must be destroyed." The old wizard nodded.

"Right, right…" Ron said. "Let's do it then!" He sprang up from his chair and reached to take the ring, but Harry stopped him, grabbing his arm.

"Don't touch it!" Harry cried, his eyes wide. Then he quickly withdrew as if not quite understanding why he had acted like that. "I mean, isn't there a better way? Maybe… maybe we could use it in our advantage if it's so powerful. Or we could hide it so that nobody could ever find it again."

Dumbledore looked at Harry with weary eyes. "The One Ring has a mind of its own. It's cunning, and all it wants is to return to its master. It will possess those with weaker minds in mere days. You, Harry, have not used it, but have lived for years in the same house with it. But I can sense that it already has a subtle hold of you, as you are keen to protect it."

Harry stared back at his old teacher. "You are not… incorrect." The words were difficult to say, as if he had to force each of them out of his mouth. "Destroy it!"

Ron's hand neared the ring again, but this time it was Dumbledore who stopped him. "There's no power that any of us possess that can destroy it. Not even I could do it."

"But… surely it can be destroyed," Hermione said.

Dumbledore sighed sadly. "The options are few. A dragon could maybe consume it, but it would take decades until it was reduced beyond repair. Basilisk venom would do it, but the only known basilisk lives in the Chamber of Secrets in the heart of Mount Doom. Right under the nose of the Dark Lord."

"You don't expect me to…?" Harry gasped.

"No, no!" Dumbledore hastened to deny. "I'd never put you under such burden. I am sad to say that I don't have an answer to you. However, there are other people, wiser than me, whom we can consult. The Wizengamot has a meeting in Rivendell next month. I only ask that you'll deliver the Ring there. I'd do it myself but I'm afraid it wouldn't be safe with me."

"Rivendell!" Ron exclaimed. "Can I go too? I'd like to see the Elves."

"Would it be all right?" Harry asked Dumbledore. "I'd really like some company for the road."

"Of course it's all right," Hermione huffed. "Besides, you two would hardly find your way out of Prancing Pony in Bree without me, therefore I'm coming, too."

Dumbledore laughed. "I'm happy that you have such good friends, Harry. Yes, it's quite alright to have company. I would even insist it."

"Can you believe it, Hermione? We're going to see the Elves!" Ron exclaimed.

"However, don't expect your way to Rivendell be a walk in a park!" Dumbledore warned. "Many dangers await you on the road. I've heard rumours of foul creatures that have descended from the Misty Mountains. They may be eager to taste Hobbit flesh for the first time."

Ron gulped. "The more reason that Harry doesn't go by himself, then."

Suddenly, they heard a soft thump from outside through an open window of the study. It was followed by a muffled "Gerroff me!" and an even more silent "Shh!"

The foursome in the study froze. Dumbledore gestured the Hobbits to remain still while he stood up and sneaked to the window. He quickly reached out and pulled a surprised and screaming person inside.

"Ginny!" Ron yelped.

"Ginevra Molly Weasley! Were you eavesdropping?" Dumbledore fumed.

"I've been dropping no eaves, sir," Ginny said with an obvious panic in her voice. "It was an honest accident. I was just de-gnoming Harry's garden! There's a nest of garden gnomes right under that window. You can check it yourself if you don't believe me." Harry had to turn away to hide his grin when he caught her secretly tucking a pair of Extendable Ears into her pocket.

"Oh, really?" Dumbledore said. "And what did you hear?"

"Not much, sir," Ginny said. "Just a little bit about a ring and a horcrux and the end of the world. Please, Professor Dumbledore, don't transfigure me into anything hideous, like a toad or a troll."

"No? I should obliviate you at this instant," fumed the old wizard, but then his expression softened, and there was already a glint in his eye when he quickly glanced at Harry. "But I think I have something better for you, young lady. Something to shut your mouth and punish you properly for listening." He made a pause, and Ginny gulped. "You shall join them in their quest! The more the merrier. Isn't that right?"