Ethel has made it to The Shire and is meeting her new family.

I hope you enjoy this chapter xx

Sorry for any mistakes xx Comet96 xx

"You must be the wizard, Elrond was talking about," said a dark-haired woman as she opened the round door. I blinked at her startled by the roundness of her face and her shortness.

"I'm sorry," I muttered when I realised I was staring and it was rude. "Umm, yes, Lord Elrond sent me. I'm Ethel." I held out my hand for her to shake but pulled it away slightly, unsure if this species greeted people like that.

"Come in, lass," she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me into the house. Surprisingly, I seemed to fit well within the house and I frowned at the reminder of how small I was. Arwen would have to crouch in this hall. "I'm Belladonna Baggins, pleased to meet you."

"Baggins?" I was confused. Hadn't Elrond called her Took? "Lord Elrond called you Belladonna Took."

"I was a Took when I first met him. I've married my darling Bungo since then." She looked sad at the mention of her husband and could remember Arwen said he'd passed away two years ago. "Come along, you'll need to meet Bilbo and get settled."

I followed after the plump woman as she ushered me down the hall to a living area. A sad smile came to my lips as I was reminded of Mrs Weasley. Belladonna reminded me of her and I missed the motherly love Molly showered me in.

"Hello," a soft voice said as a man rose from his chair, tucking his pipe into his pocket. "My mother told me we'd be having a guest. I'm Bilbo Baggins." He dipped his head down in greeting and shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his feet.

"Ethel Rettop." I could have changed my name to Potter, but it felt wrong. I didn't feel like I deserved that title. I also resented that side of my life having been sent here. What happened to Harry and the others? I'd never know and I hated that. They could all be dead and I didn't want that reminder.

"Mother says you are a wizard? Is it true?" He seemed like he didn't know whether he'd be comfortable with the idea but wouldn't say so for it being rude.

"I suppose I am," I muttered, taking in the room and the portraits that hung on the walls. I was grateful for the beautiful portrait of Arwen and I that was held within the purple beaded bag. "What has Lord Elrond told you of me?" I asked, looking between the pair.

"He mentioned that you weren't from around here and your magic is different from what we've seen before," Belladonna said, nodding her head slightly as she went over what she'd been told. "He wished we'd be able to educate you on our lives and that you needed to be here as your fate lied in Bag End."

"I've been told the same," I mumbled, frowning at this mention of fate. Were we truly meant to believe what the Lady of Light said? Was she just like Trelawney? "Where I come from we women are called witches, we control out magic with these." I pulled my wand out and showed them the delicately decorated and polished white wood. "We go to school at the age of eleven, where we learn about magic and how to control and advance in our skills. We learn there for seven years before choosing which path to take for our career and go through more training." It was easy to explain but I was annoyed that I'd missed out on my last year at Hogwarts and any future I would have wanted to make.

"Are all wands like yours? Bilbo asked, looking carefully over the wand in my fingers.

"No, each wand is unique just like the witch or wizard." I paused staring down at my wand in thought. "The man that made my wand told me I was destined for a great quest." I glanced back at Bilbo, seeing that he was looking at me curiously. "It's made of aspen, and according to Ollivander, they draw a strong-minded and determined owner, one to be attracted to quests and often accomplished duellists."

"And are you?" Bilbo asked and it was my turn to look at him in curiosity. "An accomplished duellist?"

"I'm not sure I'd call myself accomplished, Bilbo. I can hold my own, but my wand often has my back and warns me of danger."

"What do you mean?" He was back to his curious stage and I wondered if this was what Lord Elrond was talking about when he said Belladonna and her family were adventures. They had the urge to learn and explore things they didn't know.

"My wand core is rare in the eyes of Ollivander. He usually sticks to unicorn hair, dragon heartstring, or phoenix feathers, but he'd been given some new cores one year and begun experimenting. It was the first time he used a Horned Serpent horn, but he had a feeling to mix it with this wood." I held up my wand, smiling as it glinted blue like sapphires in the light. "It hums when there's danger nearby. Which, in certain situations is perfect. It's saved my life on more than one occasion." It had been rather helpful during the Battle of Hogwarts. "It's 11 inches and slightly swishy and flexible." Noting the confusion on Bilbo's face I shrugged and tried to simplify it for him. "I don't know anything about wand making, Bilbo, but Ollivander said this wand was ideal for adapting and overcoming the unknown. He said it could be the wand of one who could gain exceptional power, but I doubt he knew what he was talking about." If he did, why did I end up here? Surely I was supposed to stay in my own world and fight?

"Come along, dear, I'll show you your room," Belladonna said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that settled at my words. She took me by the hand and dragged me through the halls and into a comfortable green room that reminded me of the Slytherin common room, but more homely.

"We weren't sure if you'd be joining us for dinner," Belladonna said as I hovered in the doorway of the dining room. "Come sit down, dear."

Bilbo was seated at the head of the table, digging into the fried fish that was plated before him. There was a plate to his left and a plate to his right. Belladonna was seated on his right which left the seat on his left open for me. Her name was too long and I cringed every time I said Belladonna in my head. I'm going to call her Bella from now on.

"How old are you?" Bilbo asked before looking ashamed of himself for asking. "I'm sorry."

"When did you arrive here?" Bella asked, giving Bilbo a pointed look as she poured some ale into our cups.

"I think Arwen said it was the year of 2908 when I arrived. I was sixteen then, so to answer your question Bilbo, I'm thirty-six."

"Oh, you are a baby," Bella said, giving me a small smile before turning to Bilbo. "Bilbo is thirty-eight so he will be your big brother."

"Big brother?" I asked, unsure of what she was talking about.

"Of course," Bella said as if it was obvious. "While you're our ward here, you must be part of the family. I will be your foster mother and Bilbo your foster brother." It was sweet or her and I had a feeling Lord Elrond had something to do with it. He knew how much I missed my Weasley family and the comfort of having a mother, even if it was a surrogate mother, gave me.

It was something I missed.

"I think I'd like that."

The months passed and eventually, I was with the Baggins for a year. It felt as if I'd known them my whole life and wondered if that was why Lord Elrond had moved me to Bag End.

It seemed Bilbo took his role of elder brother to heart, scaring off any hobbits that had a problem with me being there. To be honest, if it wasn't for the lack of hair on my feet, I would have fit in well. I was the same height as many of the hobbits and was often told by the hobbit women that I could have been mistaken for a young hobbit woman.

It was nice, feeling part of a family and even being part of a community that looked out for each other.

It felt like home.

"What sort of spell is, Avada Kedavra?" Bilbo asked, flicking through my textbooks one evening. I glanced up, mildly startled to hear the words. It had been some time since I heard spells like that being said.

"It's the killing curse," I told gom, setting down the blanket I had been mending. "Not many wizards or witches use it unless they really mean to. Nothing can be brought back once that curse is cast."

I was reminded of Harry, and my heart twinged at the thought of my cousin.

"Is this what killed your parents?" Bilbo asked, remembering the story I told him of my parents.

"It's what ended their lives but they were tortured using the Cruciatus curse first."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Bilbo. The war messed up a lot of families and the second war that followed was the same."

"You've lost a lot for someone so young," Bilbo muttered, a small frown on his face as he took my hand in his.

"I've also gained a lot, Bilbo. Arwen had become my sister and I have you as a brother."

"Aye, and a mother too," Bella said, coming into the room, holding out a green dress. "Come on, love, we've got to get you fitted for the party tomorrow."

I shared an alarmed look with Bilbo before climbing out of the chair and sighing in defeat as I followed Bella to her crafting room.

I couldn't remember who the party was for. I think it was someone from the Proudfoot family, Bilbo told me it was best to not mention the name to anyone for it would cause arguments.

"Again, again," a little voice called, grabbing onto my hand to gain my attention. At some point into the party, I had found myself pulled into a tent by the children and was entertaining them with a few spells.

"Avis," I chanted, smiling as the children danced around the tent trying to capture the birds as they flew above them

"Miss Fee, can you do the sparks?" Lavender asked, and I felt a twinge of pain as her brown eyes reminded me of one of my past friends.

"Of course," I whispered, flicking my wand so different coloured sparks filled the air above them like fireworks.

The four children stared up with wide eyes as they cooed over the sparks, their little hands trying to reach up for them

It was nice to be hidden away with the children and to show off my magic to them without a worry that I would have my wand snapped for exposing magic to young children. There were benefits to this world, such as the increase in my magical core, but there were also downfalls, such as the medieval era I found myself in.

"Is it true that Bilbo is going to Bree?" Eamon Proudfoot asked, his green eyes sparkling in wonder.

"It is, I'm travelling with him," I told the children, looking forward to the adventure to Bree. I was also looking forward to the visit I would be paying to Rivendell. After a few days in Bree with Bilbo, we would part ways. Him returning to The Shire and I would apparate to Rivendell to see Arwen and Lord Elrond.

"I want to be like you when I'm a lady!" Daisy shouted, her cheeks flushed with the thought of travelling.

"You can't!" Eamon exclaimed, looking put out at the thought of Daisy leaving The Shire. "You're not a wizard like Miss Fee."

"Will you fight trolls?" Bruno asked, the spark of adventure burning in his eyes. I knew that these children would only get their adventure from stories, they were no Took's that sought out adventure or be a Baggins' that had adventure fall into their lap.

Bilbo was destined for an adventure, one that I felt I was to join him on. It was perhaps why Lord Elrond had sent me here. I knew Bilbo wouldn't want to be part of this adventure and wondered when in our future it would come to us.

It was something we had to prepare for.

Thank you for reading xx