Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.
Acknowledgements: To TooLazyToLogin for giving me the original idea for this series. To DoctorWhovian18, for her ideas on pranking, ideas on other things about the story, her advice and helpfulness, and the list go on. To LOTCR, for her ideas for this story. I'd also like to thank ValueMyHeart for reviewing, following, and favoriting this story. To all my readers who are favoriting, following, and reviewing this story. And I'd also like to thank Frodo and the hobbits for their help with this story as well. Yes, that sounds crazy to the normal readers, but I'm still thanking Frodo and his friends anyway.
And so my revamping continues for this chunk of chapters. I also have a poll available for the chapter involving the Underground Chambers. So, in case anyone is interested in voting, it's available. It'll just take a little longer to get to that point in the story. And what Frodo finds in the Hogwarts: A History book, that idea came from Frodo and yes I'm crediting him. :)
Early the next morning, Frodo awoke feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Thoughts of Aria and his friends crossed his mind. Hermione suggested he apologized to the others, and now he had a chance to see that plan through. Then there was Aria, perhaps the shiest girl he met that he couldn't wait to introduce to his friends. With new energy boiling inside himself, Frodo dressed in a fresh set of one of his blue Hobbit uniforms, before he darted out of the Boys' Dormitory.
It took Frodo no time at all to reach the Ravenclaw Common Room. There, standing before the notice board, was Aria. It was time to give her a good morning scare.
Sneaking up behind her, Frodo placed a hand on her shoulder. As expected, Aria jumped, spinning around fast and facing him. Frodo startled her by saying, "Aria!"
"WHAA!" screamed Aria, a little too loudly. Recovering, and placing a hand over her heart, Aria told him, alarmed and annoyed, "Frodo, it's you."
Frodo beamed a cheeky grin at her. He asked her, fast, "Taking a look at the notice board."
"It says that I've got double Grammar with Professor Cherryhill in the Authors and Authoresses' Chamber first thing this morning," said Aria, grimacing. "Grammar is not my best subject, Frodo."
"Yeah, and I've got Potions with the Hufflepuffs today; I'm glad the new schedule worked out for us hobbits and everyone else," said Frodo, looking at the notice for him. "You should be grateful. Potions class is a nightmare, but I'm lucky I'm a hobbit. It reminds me of cooking."
"Good thing I don't have to take it. I hear Snape's awful," said Aria.
"He doesn't treat me fairly, I will say that," admitted Frodo. "Come on. We should head to the Great Hall. Are you hungry?"
"Famished," said Aria, following Frodo's lead to the door leading to the Ravenclaw Tower's spiral staircase.
o-o-o
In a manner of minutes, Frodo and Aria arrived in the Great Hall. There was already a gathering of students eating breakfast, chatting, and walking in and out of the hall. Before Aria had the chance to sit down, Frodo pulled her over to the Gryffindor table, where his group of friends was located. Sam Gamgee, of course, usually sat at the Hufflepuff table, but on this day he was found chatting with Fredegar at the Gryffindor table.
Hermione got Ron's attention, alerting Harry at the same time, "See Ron, I told you Frodo came here to say something." Those who were Frodo's friends turned to face him and Aria now.
Aria felt out of place.
Frodo started with the apology. "I need to apologize to you all. I'll admit I've been acting like a loner. I have friends in the Shire, before I came here, and I still do, but I also know that I have friends here, too. What I'm asking is for forgiveness. My behavior was uncalled for, wrong, and unfair to everyone here. I'm usually a perky chap with an eye for pranking. Can you forgive me?"
"Can we forgive you?" asked Ron.
"Of course we can, Frodo. You're our friend," said Harry, grinning at him.
Fred turned to George with a mischievous glint in his eye. "What do you think, George?"
"I think Frodo's had a fair share of time away from Hogwarts. I think it's time he owes us a prank on the Slytherins, particularly Lotho," said George, turning to Frodo.
Beaming, Frodo said, "And for that, I would be obliged to come up with a prank on that sorry sod." He introduced Aria then and there, "And this is Aria Breuer. She's the author of that book with my name on the front cover. She's also my new friend. She's in Ravenclaw."
"Well, at least you have someone in your own house now, Frodo," said Hermione.
"Yes. How's Frodo treated you during the holidays, Aria? He hasn't given you a hard time, has he?" teased Merry.
"Or have you given him a hard time?" asked Pippin, also teasing.
Aria didn't get the jokes. "No." She whispered to Frodo, "Is that supposed to be a joke?"
Frodo paused. Was she really this slow, or did she not understand when someone was teasing? Breaking the silence, Frodo told Merry and Pippin, "Ease up, guys. Aria's a bit slow."
Merry asked, still teasing, "How slow?"
"As slow as a turtle?" asked Pippin, also still teasing Aria.
Aria did not take these jokes well. She looked near in tears. Merry and Pippin only ended up laughing, picking on her more. Frodo was no help, until he spoke to her, cheerfully, "Come on, Aria. They're only messing with you."
"Well Frodo, we've hardly seen you around a girl, except for Hermione," said Merry, teasing him now.
"Is my sister Pearl too good for you? She is in Ravenclaw, isn't she?" asked Pippin, teasing Frodo as well.
Frodo instructed Aria, politely, "You can go and find us a spot at the Ravenclaw table. I'll meet you there."
"Okay," said Aria, relieved to be away from the crowd. Luckily, there was a spot open. As usual, hardly anyone chose to sit by her.
Returning his gaze to his friends, Frodo informed them in low mutters, "Aria doesn't understand the difference between a joke and when someone's serious."
"You learned this much from her?" asked Pippin, speaking between chewing his cereal.
"Just keep your place when you're near her, okay? She's a very serious person," said Frodo.
"I think she needs to break out of her shell, wouldn't you agree Frodo?" asked Merry, intrigued with an idea.
"Come on, guys. Let her come out on her own time," said Frodo.
"Be reasonable. Mr. Frodo, I'm sure knows what he's doin' with 'er," said Sam, telling their friends.
"Would you like to do the honors, Fred?" asked George.
"I'd be delighted, George," said Fred.
"To do what?" asked Frodo.
However, most of the group fell silent. Hermione was rightly annoyed by the mischief makers. Sam glared at Merry and Pippin, but also hoped someone would answer. Fredegar kept his gaze on his food, unsure what had happened. Seeing as none of his friends were going to respect Aria's wishes, Frodo departed from the Gryffindor table. Pippin waved to him, not understanding what Frodo's issue was. He gallantly returned to his conversation with Merry, while the others returned to their own conversations.
The second Frodo joined Aria at the Ravenclaw table Aria asked him, calmly, "What's going on?"
"Oh… Merry, Pippin, and the others have it in their heads that they should tease you," Frodo said, "and not in a pleasant manner, like I've been doing."
"You pleasant?" asked Aria, surprised. "Frodo, when have any of your teasing been pleasant?"
Frodo raised an index finger at her. Thinking better of the situation, Frodo's grin became a cheeky one. He told her, chuckling and getting a few ideas of his own up his sleeve, "Nothing, but you have given me a very good couple of ideas."
Aria stopped eating and stared at him. Was he being serious? When was this cheeky behavior ever going to stop?
Feeling her gaze on his neck, Frodo told her, serious, "Aria, if you give me that look, we'll begin an argument that won't end well. Now do you want that, or would you consider us still friends?"
The glare passed from her face, forcing Aria to realize what she was about to pull. She apologized at once, "I'm sorry. I just don't know when to stop being so angry."
"I won't hurt you," said Frodo. "I promise."
"You mean that?" asked Aria. A worried look crossed her face. To her, it felt like a double-edged sword. She didn't want to hurt him, but could she trust him not to do the same to her? She hoped this would never happen to her.
Frodo nudged her arm. "I do mean that. Why else have my friendships lasted this long?"
Aria had to agree there. She guessed she could trust him. Nodding, Aria said, "Okay, I'll take your word for it, Frodo."
"You'll get used to me, Aria," said Frodo, giddy, "soon enough."
Hoping not to disappoint him, Aria gave a small, cheerful grin. It was the best she could do at this hour. As it happened, Frodo and Aria finished their breakfast around the same time. Aria said a small "see you later" to Frodo, before she darted out of the Great Hall. Frodo watched her until Aria disappeared into the Entrance Hall. He was alone.
o-o-o
And so it happened that during their breaks, Frodo joined Harry, Ron and Hermione in the library, looking up information on Nicholas Flamel. They only had ten minutes. It was on this particular Monday morning, the first week back at Hogwarts, Frodo decided to do research on the textbook Hogwarts: A History. With help from Madam Pince, Frodo was able to find the book and look up the Portrait of Gunther the Violent. Finding the right page, Frodo read the inked text to himself:
Günther der Gewalttätige ist der Gewinner (German for Gunther the Violent Is the Winner)* is a famous portrait that hangs at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Although many will find this a terrible portrait, behind this portrait stands the Authors and Authoresses' Chamber. Very cut off from the rest of the school, and invisible on any map, the Authors and Authoresses' Chamber usually changes its level, space, etc. every time the Portrait of Gunther the Violent is moved to a different spot, somewhere in the castle. Authors and Authoresses tend to wear robes according to the house they are associated with, also depending on which hobbit they are selected to write about. His most famous password, that returns every fifty years, is 'Gunther is Great'.
Below this inscription, once Frodo read the information, was information about another portrait. This description read also in ink:
The Blacksmith Room is one of the few rooms in Hogwarts that does not have magic. This secret room was kept hidden from Salazar Slytherin, and even though there is the Hogwarts crest emboldened on the room's main stone forge, Slytherin house itself is not aware of its presence. The room was well-guarded by portraits that only knew their passwords to the room and could only give the password to those that are worthy. Its current whereabouts remain unknown, but it is somewhere in the castle. One only needs good eyes and ears to hear this room's fire.
"Interesting," said Frodo, intrigued by this secret room and relieved to find the information he needed. He whispered a little too loudly, "Now I know where you two are!"
"Know where what is?" asked Hermione, coming up from behind him.
"Ahhh!" murmured Frodo a little louder than he planned. Relaxing, Frodo said, "Oh Hermione."
"Did you find what you were looking for?" asked Hermione.
"I've got to go," said Frodo, closing the book.
"But aren't you going to help Harry, Ron and I look for-"
Frodo told her, whispering, "I still am. I'll be back here sometime during our next break, okay?"
"All right. I'll let Harry and Ron know you're heading out," said Hermione.
"Yeah. I'll see you," said Frodo, heading towards Madam Pince with the book. Once he dropped the book off, Frodo left the library.
Returning to the second-floor corridor, Frodo searched for one of the portraits. In no time, he found the Portrait of Daryle. She looked to be an elderly witch with a strange purple hat with cone-shaped ends on either side, covering her ears. Her robes were royal blue, her features were fair, and resting on her arm with a small tufted owl staring right at the hobbit boy.
Frodo asked the portrait, "Excuse me, but do you have a secret room behind your portrait? I can hear flames."
"My, my, you are a polite boy. But you must prove yourself worthy, before I let you pass," said Daryle. "You're in Ravenclaw, aren't you?"
"Yes. Yes I am," said Frodo.
"Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff have been competing for years in Quidditch. If you could be so kind and find out the standings for Hufflepuff this year, I would absolutely adore you," said Daryle.
Frodo shuffled his feet at that. Shyly, he told her, taking the order seriously, "Okay. I'll find out for you." He was in luck, when a first year Hufflepuff, one of his classmates, wandered down the corridor. Stopping the Hufflepuff first year, Frodo asked him, curious, "Hey, mind my asking, what is the current standing for Hufflepuff, with Quidditch?"
"You mean after Ravenclaw lost the match against Hufflepuff? We're ahead of you in the standings," said the Hufflepuff boy.
"Thanks," said Frodo. Moving away from the Hufflepuff first year, so he could continue on his way, Frodo approached the Portrait of Daryle.
Only Daryle looked pleased. "Well, it appears Hufflepuff may have a chance of winning the Quidditch Cup this year, but I am rooting for both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Well done, indeed. Next time, just say 'Glockenspiel'."
"Thanks," said Frodo. Approaching the Portrait of Daryle, Frodo told her, "Glockenspiel!"
"A fine instrument indeed," said the Portrait of Daryle. "Now please, stand back."
Frodo did as he was told. The moment the Portrait of Daryle pushed off to one side, a dark hole was revealed. There was a fiery light on the other side, blazoned in torch light, but that was about all Frodo could see of the other end of the tunnel. Climbing onto the floor above, Frodo made his way through the tunnel.
Leaving the tunnel, Frodo came to a grand blacksmith room, complete with everything a blacksmith needed to make his job a lot faster. There was a massive stone forge with a large Hogwarts crest emboldened into the stone above the hearth. Lined up in front of the forge were three or four massive iron anvils. Hanging on metal hooks and in racks, strewn along the walls, were blacksmithing tools. Frodo was amazed at the sight of the room. He wondered why this room was cut off from magic, and yet at the same time he understood the room's purpose. Thoughts of actually forging a sword drew his interests, making him curious to try his hand at a blacksmithing tool.
Remembering his next class, Frodo climbed back up inside the tunnel and walked back in the direction he came. As soon as he jumped down from the hole, Frodo was back on the second-floor corridor. Good, that was one secret found. Now for the Authors and Authoresses' Chamber. But when Frodo walked a few feet away from the Portrait of Daryle, the portrait closed up, returning to its first position. He was impressed at this portrait, becoming curious about the others.
"Ah. Now I know how these portraits work," said Frodo, his curiosity growing. Reminding himself of his next class and having wasted too much time in the secret blacksmith's room, Frodo sprinted down the corridors and up and down the Grand Staircase.
I realize we haven't yet explored the Authors and Authoresses' Chamber, but we will. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Okay, bye! :)
Footnotes:
*The name of the portrait in German and its translation came from the Harry Potter Wiki.