Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.
Acknowledgements: To TooLazyToLogin for giving me the original idea for this series. To DoctorWhovian18, for being my beta-writer/reader for this series, 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.
With what happened in the timeline for Quidditch, I was looking up Harry Potter Lexicon's calendar for the Quidditch matches held. Really, it should have been in reverse, but now there won't be Quidditch matches until May, according to this story. So yeah, the only part that is my fault is which timeline for Quidditch matches I should have followed. The second section for this chapter is one that was given to me by DoctorWhovian18 and Pippin Took. Yes, I know that sounds weird to put Pippin as one of the idea-givers, but there you go.
Ron could admit he had an all right birthday. Although his brothers picked on him, Harry gave him a few gifts. Hermione knew just the gift to give Ron: an organized planner. Frodo had a few things to give to Ron as well: a carved rabbit, a carved cat, and using his hand magic a detailed handheld portrait of the hills of Hobbiton, which Ron appreciated. In all, that Sunday, the first of March, proved to be a good birthday.
As for why the Quidditch matches between Ravenclaw and Slytherin, as well as Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were so close together that year, Frodo learned from Professor Flitwick that for that year, unlike normal scheduling, the matches had to be moved close together. The same thing would occur, but a little more spread out, come May. Flitwick did wish the Ravenclaw team luck for their practice sessions, and that Frodo had better hand-eye coordination.
Frodo still had a hard time coming to grips that Ravenclaw lost the match again. His only relief was that Hufflepuff also suffered two loses. Maybe if he were lucky, Ravenclaw could finally win a match, but it was against Gryffindor. Frodo wondered if he would have any luck beating Harry.
Harry gave Frodo a little pep talk one morning in March, "Frodo, Quidditch is important to both of us. When we do play in a real match together, we'll see who'll win."
Frodo asked, "You're not going to throw the match then."
Harry was stunned. "No." He recovered, admitting even to himself, "Well, I hope you don't throw the match, Frodo. You've been doing poorly."
"Yeah, but you're the famous one among us. Doesn't the weight bother you?" asked Frodo.
"I might ask you the same question," said Harry.
"You're not famous, Frodo," said Ron, chiming in.
"No, but…" Frodo tried again. "Look Harry, we both want to win the Quidditch match. But you know it's just a game."
"Maybe you should improve," said Ron.
"Ron," said Hermione, surprised at Ron's behavior.
Frodo said in his defense, "Look, I know Ravenclaw has done poorly so far. We'll bounce back."
"Not with Harry beating match after match," said Ron.
"Besides, we've both got Nimbus 2000s. Maybe luck will turn on your side, but then Gryffindor has to win," said Harry. "We need to beat Slytherin."
Frodo had to admit Harry had a point. After all, Slytherin house was responsible, particularly Terrence Higgs, for knocking Frodo unconscious. Losing to Slytherin really wasn't Frodo's fault, it was theirs. He knew better than to get worked up over something, didn't he? After all, his friends wouldn't abandon him. Ron was just being Ron.
Harry asked him, "Frodo, you okay?"
"Yeah," said Frodo, doing his best to collect himself.
Harry admitted, "But you do have a point. Quidditch is a game, but it is important to all of us."
Frodo nodded. "Yeah, it is." He asked Harry, extending a hand, "Shall we call it evens?"
Harry shook it. "Evens."
"Good. Now on with our studying," said Hermione.
Harry and Ron right away complained. Frodo chuckled, enjoying this argument. True, he would like to study… well, now that he thought on it, maybe it was time to find Aria and begin their study group. Leaving the trio alone, giving them a farewell for the day or the hour, Frodo left the corridor in search of Aria.
o-o-o
The following Tuesday Flitwick returned Frodo's broomstick, jinx-free. Frodo was delighted to have it back. Now he could play Quidditch. And once more, Professor Flitwick wished Frodo good luck. Frodo took it with such excitement. He would now be back practicing for the match against Gryffindor, which now felt in the near future.
On Thursday morning, as Frodo and Aria discussed at the Ravenclaw table what they would be studying next, Pippin scooted next to Amy/DoctorWhovian18, while she was eating her breakfast. It was time for the two have a decent conversation; after all, they spent so much time with Merry and Abigail/LOTCR, but Pippin felt the need to just talk with only him and his authoress.
Amy was stunned to see him. "Pippin, that's quite an entrance you've made. What can I do for you?" Amy was always willing to help those in need, even friends.
Pippin said, truthfully, "Well, Merry and me have been spending a lot of time together. Yes, I do like the fact that we four are hanging out, but we haven't had the chance to talk."
Amy had to agree with him. "You have a point there." Cheering herself up, she asked the hobbit boy, "What do you want to talk about?"
Pippin explained, "Well, author stuff. I can give you a list of ingredients useful for pranking."
"Pippin, I'm working on making descriptive writing, not a list of ingredients," said Amy, correcting him.
Pippin shrugged. "It was a suggestion."
Amy chuckled. "Oh Pippin, if you really want to discuss pranks, I'm game."
"You are? Great, because I have a few pranks to go over with you…" Pippin went into an in-depth explanation on how many pranks he would like to pull off for his second year.
Merry shook his head. He couldn't believe how much trouble Pippin could get himself into. He informed Abigail, "Pippin's losing it."
"Maybe he should invite us for a prank war," said Abigail.
"Maybe we should prank Amy and Pippin. What say you?" asked Merry, whispering in Abigail's ear.
Abigail raised an eyebrow. She would love a good prank war. She nodded in agreement, as Merry went over his ideas for pranking. Some ideas Abigail wrote down. She could not disappoint Merry, not for anything. This next prank war was going to be fun. Abigail had a feeling it would be quite exhilarating.
Over at the Hufflepuff table, Sam moved to sit next to Anne/ValueMyHeart, if only for a little while. Anne was surprised to see him, but at the same time welcomed his presence. It was nice to see Sam getting out of his shell, as she was doing the same.
Anne said, "Sam, hello."
"Hello Miss Anne. I came to ask if you have any more questions for me," said Sam, shuffling his feet a little too rapidly. It wasn't just girls he was timid over, but everyone. He wasn't used to getting out of his shell. Just walking up to someone and talking to them was a first for him, but then he helped Mr. Frodo at the beginning of the year against Lotho.
Anne nodded. She knew this moment would come. "Sure. How's your progress with making friends? How are you doing, Sam?"
"Oh…" Sam shuffled his feet more. He eventually admitted, "It's going w-well. Yes. Mr. Frodo and I are getting along. Mr. Frodo and Miss Aria are a lot braver than me."
"I've noticed that," said Anne. "But how is your friendship with Frodo? That's what I'm asking."
"We're doing good, Miss Anne. Yes," said Sam.
"Is that all?" asked Anne, hoping to hear more news.
"Well, I don't like it that Mr. Frodo's gotten himself into pranking. Miss Aria can vouch for me," said Sam.
"But what are your thoughts," said Anne.
Sam felt as though he was forced into a corner. "I…" Feeling this was the wrong time for this, Sam darted away from Anne, back to his family. But even with his family, Sam felt like the very shy, timid sort of hobbit. He gazed back at Anne, as Anne waved, gesturing him to come back. Knowing he didn't want to insult anyone, Sam returned to Anne and sat down beside her. Sam was better than this, wasn't he? Oh!
o-o-o
Fredegar Bolger walked down the seldom crowded corridor. He was eager to find out what became of Folco. Under given circumstances, even though they hadn't really chatted, Fredegar knew Folco was Frodo's friend. Therefore, Folco was Fatty's friend too. Fredegar at last tracked Folco down the Transfiguration courtyard, but Folco was eager to see where Frodo had gone.
Fredegar asked Folco, the moment he caught up to him, "Folco, I'm glad to have caught you."
"Freddy, you're looking thin, or fat," said Folco, cheekily.
"Don't call me Freddy! It's Fatty or Fredegar, but not Freddy!" complained Fredegar, clearly peeved out of annoyance for the use of a nickname not his.
Folco chuckled. "All right, settle down Fredegar, Fatty, Fatty Lumpkin*."
Fredegar was really peeved now. "Folco, mind your manners!"
Folco said, shaking his head, "Oh Fatty, you need to calm down. I was joking."
Fredegar huffed, but sighed in relief. "So, how about we have a study session? Our exams are important, you know."
Folco chuckled. "Yes, I know, Fatty. But with all this preparation for exams; honestly, some of us need time to unwind. You could do so yourself."
"Won't you study with me? As friends," said Fredegar, being polite.
"Well…" Folco stopped upon hearing cheery laughter. He gazed at Frodo, who was with Aria. The two looked so happy. Of course, Frodo spent half his time ignoring Folco. These days, Folco felt as if they were becoming distant. Maybe it was natural. In the end, Folco returned his gaze to Fatty and said, chipper, "Sure Fatty. Let's study… away from this courtyard. I think it's occupied."
"Oh," said Fatty, his gaze now turned to Frodo and Aria. Nodding, Fatty asked Folco as they walked down the corridor, "So Folco, I was wondering you like to play chess…" Fatty continued having a good conversation with Folco, who proved to be a merry sort of hobbit boy. They got along well, even as they left the Transfiguration Courtyard for the Herbology corridor.
Frodo, meanwhile, worked with Aria in their little study group. True, they didn't have the same classes, but both were determined to ask each other study questions. This was good practice, for they didn't know what was going to be on their final exams.
Aria asked Frodo, while reading through the Potion instructions, "What three ingredients are crucial to mixing a Forgetfulness Potion?"
"Valerian sprigs, mistletoe berries and… Lethe River Water," said Frodo, unsure about the last ingredient.
Aria checked the ingredients over in Frodo's textbook. She nodded. "Good memory."
Frodo perked up, a grin seeping on his face. He got it right. Good. He might just pass Potions' class.
Aria asked him, keeping a finger on the page, "Okay, my turn." She was eager to get a question right.
Frodo checked Aria's spelling textbook for a word. He gave it to her, "All right. What's the definition for the word 'holly'?"
Aria did her best to answer, "A green-leafed plant that grows on trees."
Frodo let a small grin crease his face. He said, "Be more specific."
Aria tried again, thinking hard on the answer, "A plant whose leaves and berries are used for Christmas. It's more of a traditional plant used in the winter season, quite useful for decoration."
Frodo gave her the correct answer: "Holly is a shrub, but you are right about its leaves and berries, also its branches, being used during the Christmas holidays."
Aria nearly panicked. She was close, but not close enough. How was she supposed to pass her classes if she couldn't get an answer just the way her teachers wanted? Frodo rubbed her back, holding her close in an effort of friendship. Aria was too uptight for her own good.
Frodo told her, calming her down somewhat, "Relax Aria. It's just an exam."
"No, school is important. It's…"
"Aria, is school really what matters? There's more to life than just school. Why do you think I wanted you to joke around more," said Frodo. Chuckling softly, he told her, "We'll stop studying for the day. I think you need a break."
"But Frodo…"
"Aria, let's stop and recuperate," said Frodo, closing Aria's textbook and passing it back to her. Aria did the same. His hand never left Aria's back as Aria put her book inside her satchel. He asked her, feeling a little braver, "How are you today? No, really?"
Aria explained. "Stressed. If I don't pass these exams, I won't get into second year. I just… I just…"
Frodo said, "Aria, you're overreacting. Breathe."
Aria did as she was told. As she took slow, deep breaths, Aria felt herself relax a bit. She was making the situation larger than it was, and acting like Hermione in the process. Aria still admired Hermione. It's just she couldn't understand how Hermione could study this far in advance.
Aria admitted to Frodo, "I don't see why we're studying this far ahead. We're not Hermione."
"You're right about that," said Frodo. "Are you trying to reach Hermione's way of thinking?" Aria nodded, but this was not what Frodo had in mind. He said, serious, "You shouldn't do that. Hermione's her own self. You're you."
"Should we really be studying this far ahead?" asked Aria, wondering what was the point.
Frodo admitted, "We're doing it in blocks, Aria. I just don't want to see you stressed out."
"You don't seem stressed," said Aria.
Frodo said, "Oh, but I am. What with Quidditch, homework, studying with you, hanging out with my friends – including you – my work load is loaded. I hardly have time to think of what else to do. Maybe that's what's important. Don't you think so?"
"I always did like having a balance. Thanks Frodo," said Aria.
"That's what friends are for," said Frodo, patting Aria on the back.
Frodo moved his hand off her back before things became too awkward and weird. He felt so strange and yet calm. But he had to keep himself in check: Aria was only his friend, nothing weird was happening between them. Then why did his heart flutter whenever he was with her? There was so much to ask, but he didn't really have time to question things. Maybe that was the way of it. How should he know.
This chapter feels more like a filler chapter, doesn't it? I don't know how many filler chapters there will be coming up, but we'll see. The definition matter is practically something I would do, since I had to go by memory when writing it here, at least until I looked it up and jotted it down again in this chapter. Okay, bye. :)
Footnotes:
*Fatty Lumpkin was actually the name of one of Tom Bombadil's ponies. This particular pony can be found in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring book. For the record, I didn't even know I recalled this name.