1 Chapter 2 The Flowers may rise in Spring

A/N: Sorry, it's been so long *ducks as various objects are thrown at her* I am sorry for the cliffhanger, I promise no more as horrible (I think *evil grin*). IT is the Ring, I meant to say that, but it didn't happen (I wrote the end quickly). No, Lucila, I WILL NOT post Earth-Child (I have issues with that story, as you well know). As for all of you who want some romantic subplots, I hadn't planned on any ('cept for R&H), but I will try to add one in. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hermione was awoken by voices.

"Wood duck?"

"Are you sure? I was thinking robin."

"No, no. Not robin"

"What then?"

"How about a gull?"

"Yes! That's it! She's a seagull!"

Hermione lifted her head. Birds? Why are they talking about birds? She thought groggily, as she sat up dazedly in bed, dislodging both Crookshanks and the two books on her bed. Lord of the Rings fell off her bed and hit the floor with a satisfying plump. The voices stopped, and a head, belonging to Lavender Brown, emerged from outside her bed curtains.

"We thought you'd never wake up. You NEVER sleep in"

"I slept in!" Hermione squeaked, "What time is it?" she nearly shouted.

"Relax. It's only 8 o'clock," Hermione relaxed. There was a Quidditch match today at 10 against Slythrien, and both Harry and Ron were liable to hurt her if she didn't show up, lethal book or not. She got out of bed, and started to get dressed.

"Are you ok Hermione? You haven't slept in since third year," Paravati looked worriedly at Hermione. Annoying and Trelawney-worshipping set aside, they were still Hermione's friends.

"Fine," Hermione tried to remember how she had fallen asleep, but she couldn't. That book… "I think," she said softly, and then quickly, "So, what are our chances today, you think?"

"How should we know? You're the one who is best friends with two of the players, and one the captain at that," True, of course. Harry was captain now, and Ron had replaced Oliver Wood as keeper.

"Good point," Something occurred to her as they all walked down the spiral staircase to the common room, then on to the Great Hall, "Why were you talking about birds?"

"Oh that," Paravati looked slightly uncomfortable, "Birds are very important in the psychic world. We were discussing what birds would describe the personalities of those we know…" She went on, but that was when Hermione stopped listening. After a few minutes of listening to absolutely nothing, she rushed ahead, leaving Paravati and Lavender alone in the Charms hallway.

"Yes. She is most defiantly a seagull."

"What is Ron, then?"

"A puffin"

"Also a water bird, and so perfect for him."

"We should have foreseen this."

~

A brilliant burst of magic awoke Gandalf. The next thing that he was aware of was the sounds of a very distressed pony, closely followed by sounds of a very distressed hobbit. In the split second it took him to gain control of his senses, he was full awake and upright, followed closely by Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli (in that order). After that, grumbelings of three suddenly awaken hobbits could be heard.

As soon as Frodo saw that Gandalf was awake, he quickly turned to him, "Gandalf! What happened? I-I was just-just..."

Gandalf interrupted him, "What ever just happened is no fault of yours Frodo."

"But, sir," as soon as Sam had seen that his pony was in distress, he had woken up considerably, "What DID just happen?"

"Yeah," Pippin stood up next to Sam, completely ignoring the fact that, after sleeping facedown on the grass, he face was streaked, "Where in Middle-earth are we?"

There was mumbled agreement to this assessment among the Fellowship. They all looked at Gandalf. Gandalf looked around him at the dark forest, then up, at the stars that were not familiar to him. Something seemed to dawn on him.

"I am afraid, my dear hobbits, men, elf and dwarf, that we are not in Middle-earth at all."

For once, even Aragorn looked dumbstruck. They all looked blankly at each other.

"Well," Pippin said, his eyes as wide as saucers, "That certainly makes things more difficult." The fellowship looked at him

"Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Obvious," Merry stated all of their opinions as he slugged Pippin in the arm.

"What'd I say?"

~

"Have another Sandwich, Harry?" Hagrid offered the plate to Harry, who shook his head, "Hermione? Ron?" they both shook their heads.

The three had come, right after the great feast, to talk with Hagrid, who had just comeback from his long summer errand for Dumbledore. He had been extremely evasive on that subject, but had been very interested in every thing going on at Hogwarts, like Hermione being made a prefect, Neville finally finding his old Remembral, the incident the day before that had gotten Harry in trouble with Snape, the Quidditch games, and Hermione's obsession with Lord of the Rings. Hagrid had laughed heartily at all of it, offering them stoat sandwiches whenever they asked him a question about where he had been all summer.

"So, Hagrid," Hermione prompted, changing the subject, "Who took care of Fang for you?"

"Oh, Olympe's got a friend who takes care o' dogs. Picked 'im up afore I got here. 'e was glad ter see me o'course-" Hagrid was cut off as Fang lifted up his head and gave a gigantic growl. He bounded over to the door and scratched at it, barking like mad.

"When you gotta go…" Ron shook his head. Hermione glared at him. Hagrid looked puzzled.

"Wonder what's got 'im riled up?" Hagrid opened the door to his cabin, and Fang nearly bowled over the door as he raced into the Forbidden Forest, barking. Hagrid looked worriedly at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and then grabbed his crossbow before running out of the cabin, closely followed by the Fifth years.

~

"How is it," Ron panted as they followed Hagrid, "how when ever we're in the Forbidden Forest, we end up running?"

"I wouldn't know," Harry gasped, trying to keep up with Hagrid's long strides. Fang's barking was constantly ahead of them. They raced through the dark forest, not knowing what was ahead of them. Ron was beginning to think that Hagrid was a little daft, going through the forest like this; there could be werewolves, after all (Not to mention giant spiders!) Ron gulped, but continued in the path of Harry, who in turn was running in the path of Hagrid. Hermione was behind Ron, panting worse than he was.

Suddenly, as they reached a clearing, Fang stopped, still barking. Hagrid stopped as well, as did Harry. This did not bode well for Ron, as he was running so blindly that he ran into Harry. Harry barely noticed, as he was staring blankly at whatever Fang was barking at. Hagrid was doing the same. Hermione, being more considerate, helped Ron up, and then both of them turned to see what Hagrid and Harry were staring at.

The clearing held the oddest assortment of people and/or creatures Ron had ever seen. There were two normal men (though they were dressed in the oddest way), a dwarf in chain mail with an ax at his side, a tall, blonde, fair man with pointy ears, an old man with a wizards hat and long white hair (he almost looked like Dumbledor) and four of what Ron would call children, except they had older faces, and had bare, hairy feet. One of them held a pony.

For a moment the two parties just stood, staring at each other; they both seemed to be equally shocked about seeing the other there. Then, as if by an unspoken command, both parties raised their weapons: The men, the child- like beings, and the old man drew their swords, the fair man lifted up his bow and notched it inhumanly fast, the dwarf raised his ax. Hagrid put up his crossbow, Fang bared his teeth, and both Harry and Ron took out their wands. Only Hermione didn't move. She had the oddest look on her face: a look almost like recognition. She held up a hand to Hagrid, "Don't shoot! They aren't going to hurt us."

Ron looked at her, "Are you mad? They sure look like they're going to hurt us!"

"Harry," she turned to Harry, completely ignoring Ron, "Go get Dumbledore. Now!" she added the last as Harry hesitated then ran hurriedly in the direction they had come, still giving backward glances at the nine in the clearing.

"Dumbledore?" the old man said, his bristly eyebrows furrowed.

"Yes. Dumbledor is the headmaster of the school mysteriously landed next to," Hermione defiantly seemed to know the group now.

"Put down your weapons," the old man ordered his group, "I know where we are now." The group in the clearing obeyed, but looked at each other confusedly. Ron and Hagrid weren't so quick to put down their weapons.

"Hermione," Ron still though she was mad, "what is all of this? Aren't they going to kill us? Who are they, anyway?"

"Well, Ron, " Hermione smiled a little at him, "if you had actually listened to me the past two months when I talked about my book, you would know."

Ron stared at her, completely uncomprehending. Hermione shook her head, "Honestly. Ron, there are four hobbits and an elf in that clearing. It's the Fellowship of the Ring."

Of all the people in the clearing, only Fang and the pony did not drop their jaws.

~

A/N: I apologize again for the long wait: I've had musical performances and finals, if that's any excuse. I hopefully will get the next chapter written with in a month, at the most. I also apologize for my Hagrid- I hope I didn't do too bad. Again, if anyone has any ideas as to romantic subplots, tell me. Read and Review!