A/N: This will be the last chapter in this story. The sequel will have more in it, especially the relationships and the details of everything, and I know it'll be better than this one. As soon as I know the name of the sequel, I'll post a final chapter telling it onto this story. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 11: Farewell
As evening came on, they took the party inside. Everyone filed into the library, Harry leading the way, followed by the Fellowship, then everyone else. They all formed a circle around the Fellowship as Harry went to find the "Spells for War-Weary Wizards" book. He came back, the dusty tome in his hands.
Placing it on the table in front of the Fellowship, he looked up the spell that would return them to their home. Then, Harry raised his wand and, with a last final glance at his new friends, spoke in a dull, sad voice, "Recipricuro Aidia!" And with a bright flash of light, the spot where the Fellowship had stood was suddenly vacant. With grim hearts, they all started out of the library, trying to figure out what to do next.
* * *
They had a farewell feast for their friends, even though the guests of honor couldn't be there. The Great Hall was filled with sad faces, and the mood was unusually grim for a celebration feast.
Harry, Hermione and Ron were the gloomiest of them all. It seemed so amazingly quiet without their friends there with them.
Suddenly, Harry got an idea. He leapt off the bench, a look of pure excitement on his face. He ran up to speak to the Headmaster. After a few quietly exchanged words, he then ran over to Professor McGonagall. Their conversation was a bit longer. When Harry left the Head Table, both the Headmaster and the Transfiguration professor had grins on their faces.
Harry practically flew back to his spot at the Griffyndor table. He took his standard wizard's hat off his head and placed it in the middle of the table. "Here, watch this!"
Everyone nearby crowded in to see what the fuss was all about. Mumbling a spell none of the others had heard before, although Hermione recognized it as some sort of mimicking transfiguration spell. The hat started to glow. Its exceptionally small brim began to expand to almost ridiculous proportions. The end of the hat bent at an odd angle and stiffened that way. When it was done transfiguring, it was an exact replica of Gandalf's odd pointy hat.
Harry picked it up and put it on his head. The brim was so wide that it'd had to make the hole for his head bigger also, and it was so wide that it fell down almost over his eyes. He looked so incredibly ridiculous, nobody could keep from laughing. Granted, everyone but the Slytherins was laughing at the hat. The serpent house was laughing at Harry. Still, it helped to lighten the mood of the otherwise depressed supper.
* * *
Later that night, Harry went to see Dumbledore. For all you script-type story lovers, here's a treat.
Dumbledore: What's on your mind, Harry? You look thoughtful
Harry: Well, I was thinking about the spell, the first one? Why did it bring all of the Fellowship and not just Gandalf?
Dumbledore: An excellent question, Harry. I'll tell you why I believe it brought them all. I have two theories. The first is that Gandalf had a large role to play in the future of our guests' quest, and the future of that quest would have been unreasonably altered if Gandalf hadn't been there.
Harry: Hmm, I never thought of the consequences to Middle Earth.
Dumbledore: I doubt many have. My second theory is that everyone had a part to play, no matter how small. Gandalf had the largest one, but without Legolas and Aragorn, there'd have been four more Death Eaters for us to handle. We would have been completely taken by surprise, because Boromir wouldn't have been there to tell us that they were coming. Gimli was the comic relief right before the battle. Without that tension-breaker, we might have gotten over-excited and attacked too soon. As for the hobbits, well, the hobbits…They were comic relief, too, but perhaps they played some role that we don't know about yet. Perhaps they were too valuable in Middle Earth to risk here. We may know someday, or we may never find out. That's why they were vital.
Harry: I was thinking, Sir, should we give them a "Special Service to the School" award? Even if they'd never know about it, we would be able to remember them by it.
Dumbledore: It's already being made, Harry.
Harry: Good…Do you think we'll ever see them again, Professor Dumbledore?
Dumbledore: Perhaps, in time, we shall. We never know what the future holds for us.
Harry: I hope we do.
Dumbledore: **smile** Off to bed now, Harry.
Harry: Good night, sir.
**Harry leaves for his dorm, thinking of writing this all down somewhere, hoping that one day he'll get to see the Fellowship again, somehow. Suddenly, he gets an idea, and runs off to the library. ~ Maybe I don't have to wait for time after all ~ he grinned.**