Roped Into Helping

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 1

Hermione followed Harry into the Ministry of Magic. Knowing he would be faced with dangers with the faceless Death Eaters and their puppeteer, their so-called, Lord Voldemort. Her innermost voice kept telling her that she had to keep Harry Potter safe. She knew she had loved him, but the type of love she could not name. Not until she understood it, herself.

At the Ministry, they were separated from everyone else. Only to be led to a room that felt like death. Standing on a platform, with a sinister arch in the middle.

'The one ring to roll them all…'

Hermione looked towards Harry with fear. "I hear voices," Harry told her.

"This isn't good, Harry."

"I had hoped not." The two turned around, to see Lucius Malfoy, smirking at them. Only see their friends with wands at their necks, by other Death Eaters. "Give us the prophecy and no one would get hurt."

"No," screeched Hermione. "They won't allow us to live after this."

Harry pulled her behind him. Shoving the orb in her hands. Arming his wand before him.

"Seriously, Harry," she huffed at him.

"Not now Hermione." His tone was angry and focused. She didn't like it. She was not helpless, it was usually him and Ron that were helpless.

"Mr. Potter," drawled Lucius. "Even I would value Miss Granger's insight about now. Since she is the only one to keep you alive!"

In a blink of an eye, all hell broke loose. Light and dark wisps chased each other around the room. Flashes of spells were clashing. It was a mini war within the Ministry and Hermione could do nothing but through 'Proteco' and her and Harry.

Sirius was busy with Lucius. Giving Bellatrix LeStrange to zero in on the two friends. After a few spells hadn't worked against Hermione's shield charm. A wicked look came across Bellatrix's eyes, and it was the only split second decision to enhance the shield.

"Bambarda," yelled the witch in black. Blasting the two into the veil.

"NO," the two had heard Sirius and a few others. As they were, shimmered away.

Hermione knew no more. Then the deafening ringing inside her ear.

What felt like hours later, her eyes flickered open. Only to see a man standing over her.

"Are you alright, my dear?"

Hermione looked around. She felt lost and confused. But she could not find Harry. Nor did she have the orb with her.

"H...hi, could you tell where I am?" Hermione wanted to kick herself. She hardly ever stuttered.

"We are in the outskirts of a Hobbit town of the Shire." The man gave her a worried look. "Something tells me you're not from Middle Earth."

"Sir?"

"Gandalf the Gray, I am a traveling wizard."

Hermione blinked at him. "Hermione Granger, a magic user." She smiled at his surprised look. "I am a student at Hogwarts." Not understanding why she had told him that.

"Aw, you are a student of Albus Dumbledore's?" The elder man nodded. "Yes, that would make sense."

"You know Headmaster Dumbledore?" Hermione was surprised, but felt no immediate fear to defend herself.

"Not in a sense that you would think. But I have heard of him." He looked around. "Come, I have a party to throw and an impatient Hobbit waiting for me."

Gandalf helped her to her feet and into the wagon. Before he singled his horse to move. The two traveled for a bit.

"What is a Hobbit?"

Gandalf chuckled, "Little folk, called Halflings with big feet. They are cheerful people. Full of childlike wonder…" Then he had gone on, describing them as he could.

Just as he turned around a bend. They saw one sitting in the shade. Before they stood up, crossing their arms over their chest.

"I have in good authority to tell you, Gandalf. That you are indeed late!"

Hermione bit her smile, preventing herself from laughing. 'So, this is a Hobbit?'

"Late, late, a wizard is never late! I am, as I have always been, on time." Then a laugh ripped out of the Hobbit as well as the wizard, just as the two hugged. Once the two settled for the ride. "Frodo Bagins, I want you to meet Hermione Granger, my apprentice."

Frodo turned in his seat to see her. "Hello Lady Hermione, welcome to the Shire. I hope you'll enjoy my uncle's birthday party."

"Birthday party," asked Hermione with a hint of fear.

"Yes," Frodo smiled. "It's an all out town event. Everyone is invited. Gandalf is firing off his fireworks tonight."

Hermione turned to Gandalf with a slight glare. "What else do you do?"

The man chuckled. "Whatever the world needs me to be," he simply replied.

The three journeyed down the road. Before Frodo hopped off and ran off to help with the party. Leaving the two outside a gate. Where they walked up to a place that led into a hole in the ground.

"Can't you read," an elder Hobbit called out. "No more riffraff!"

"What about old, wandering friends," asked Gandalf.

Causing the aging to look up and gasp. "Gandalf," before the two hugged each other. "It has been years, my old friend."

"Do you still have it," Gandalf insisted.

The Hobbit deflated at that moment. "Come inside," then allowed them inside. "Who is your traveling companion?"

"Hermione Granger, my apprentice." Gandalf waved her to sit down. "Now Bilbo!"

The elder Hobbit looked like he wanted to do anything. But to discuss whatever Gandalf wanted to talk about. Almost reminding her of Harry.

'Where is Harry? We had both fallen into the veil. But I was pushed in first…'

"Tell me, Bilbo Bagins!" The inner house darkened with power that reeked out of Gandalf.

The elder Hobbit started to cry, before hugging Gandalf. "I should have done this long ago." Before, he showed a letter and placed it on his desk. "But I wasn't ready…"

"No one is ever ready. Even, you weren't, when you first left here."

Hermione had learned from Gandalf earlier. That he was the one to drag Bilbo away. On a long adventure across the lands. Helping a group of Dwarves to get their home back from a Dragon. It had seemed unbelievable to hear.

After a short time of talking. They made their way outside, only for the two elders to smoke. Then the party started.

It was a town event. That soon became a whirlwind of fireworks that ended with a Dragon, the dark sky becoming light as day. Then the end of the display. Only for Gandalf to assign two troubled Hobbits into washing dishes. Just minutes before the disappearing act from Bilbo Bagins and the chaotic that followed.

Hermione then learned the ring that scared Gandalf. Where he ordered Frodo to hide and keep safe. Before she and Gandalf rode into the night.

"The state of the world is on our shoulders!" It was the only bit of knowledge that Gandalf had managed to supply.