Sailor Capricorn: Gollum will be back, we just have to figure out how! *sweatdrop* Yep, you probably are the only (semi) sane one. I'm definitely not. Most of the time. I haven't seen that much Sailor Moon, but I like Sailor Mars best.
And we choose 1 and 6. Wait, that's not an option. Okay, 5. Me and Merri are really good friends who work together in writing cos it turns out better that way because we have both of our ideas. And thank you for reviewing! ~^_^~
Raen: Hey! You said you'd set Legolas and Trunks on me! You can't just take them back! Awww... Oh, and tone it down, you're scaring everyone away! *snicker* ~^_^~ Peeves will come, thanks for reminding me of him! And smoking at Hogwarts... hmmm, interesting concept.
Gill: Thanks for the compliments! And keep reading! ~^_^~
Tidmag: Why thank you! *blush*
Basilisk: Glad you like it so much! Please come again! ^_^
Pip: Okay! Well, this is chapter Five! *oooh, aaah* Disclaimer we own noboyd and nothing yadda yadda.
Merri: Here we go! Hold onto your hats and enjoy the ride!
CHAPTER FIVE: THE ROOM WITH NO ROOF
If you think the entrance hall, the marble stair and the doors to the great hall were big enough in the Harry Potter books, I assure you it was much bigger from the eyes of the hobbits.
"Wow," Merry breathed, more to himself than the dumbstruck Pippin beside him. The two hobbits stood back to back, slowly circling each other in the middle of the entrance hall. Sam and Frodo stood beside Gimli, who smiled approvingly.
Above them, Legolas and Aragorn were holding council with Gandalf. After coming to what seemed a mutual decision, Gandalf spoke to everyone.
"It seems the only thing to do at the present is accept the kind hospitality of Dumbledore and rest here tonight. Tomorrow-" He cut off as he noticed he didn't have everyone's attention.
"The roof's so high Pip, are you sure they have one?" Merry asked, staring straight up and not noticing what anyone else was doing.
"I think so Merry, or we'd be able to see the sky." For once Pippin replied with logic.
"Oh. Do you think that a really tall person built the roof?" Merry wasn't quite sure why he asked such a weird question.
"Dunno. Look at the stairs Merry, are all staircases that high?" Pippin's last rotation had brought him round looking at the stairs.
"Hmm, I wonder what's going to be for dinner?" Merry thought aloud. Pippin's slow circling brought him facing the rest of the Fellowship. He stopped and reached behind him, trying to get Merry's attention.
"What Pippin? What is it? Oh, ummm..." Merry turned around and stood next to Pippin. "Um, did you er, did you say something Gandalf?" he asked sheepishly.
"Are you quite finished Meriadoc?" Gandalf said with an air of controlled annoyance.
"Um, yes. Um. So. Oh look at that! The doors are opening," Merry spoke quickly, and grabbed Pippin's arm and started edging towards the door.
"Wait!" said Gandalf, holding up a hand. "Age before hobbits!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Gandalf walked in front with Aragorn and Legolas behind him. Gimli strode by Legolas and Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin brought up the rear. As Merry went through the doorway he stopped and patted Pippin's shoulder.
"Up! Look up! No roof!" Merry gripped the shoulder of Pippin's waistcoat and pointed upwards.
"This one doesn't have a roof!" exclaimed Pippin. The two hobbits stood still, staring up and around at the floating candles, the enchanted ceiling, the house crests, the staff table and then around at everything again.
Finally they rested their necks and scanned over the watching faces of the students at the tables.
"Wooow! Hey Pip, I don't understand it, so many young children in one room, I didn't know there were so many children in the world!"
"Maybe it's done with mirrors."
"No, I don't think so, I think it's this 'Witchcraft and Wizardry' thing."
"Come to think of it, we haven't ever been to a place like Gondor or Rohan with men in them, so maybe there's just lots of men in the world we haven't seen yet."
"Right."
"Excuse me, Merry, Pippin?"
"What Sam?"
"Gandalf sent me to fetch you. You're holding up the meal."
"Huh?" Pippin looked around and saw that the Fellowship was already seated and that everyone was watching and waiting for them. "Uh, oops." The three hobbits took of at a run to the table.
"Nice of you to join us," commented Aragorn. Gimli chuckled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So," Pippin asked Gandalf between mouthfuls, "how dya *munch* know the *chew* old guy up there?"
"I know the 'old guy up there' from a lot of places you wouldn't ever have heard of, young Peregrin," replied Gandalf with a chuckle. "He happens to be on the White Council and the Order of the Secret Fire (A/N a.k.a. Order of the Phoenix), same as me."
"Oh," said Pippin, finding his food a lot more interesting.
The hobbits sat among conversation that went over their curly heads, and chewed thoughtfully. They sat quietly for some time when they were sated, when something, or to be more precise, two somebodies caught their eyes. Two identical red-headed boys were craning to get a good look at them. Sitting near the boys were Hermione and Ginny, who they recognised. Thinking no one would notice them leaving, the four hobbits slipped down from the table and across to the girls.
"Hi!" said Pippin cheerily. Hermione and Ginny smiled. The red-heads gawked.
"Hi there!" replied Ginny. Around them people were getting up and heading back to the common rooms, trying to get as good a look at the hobbits as they could on the way.
"Hi," said Hermione. "Did you enjoy your meal?"
"Yeah," sighed Pippin.
"No mushrooms," said Merry.
"Oh! Can I introduce my friends to you?" asked Hermione. The hobbits all nodded. "These are my friends, Harry and Ron." She indicated them as she said their names. Recognition slowly dawned on Pippin and Merry, and Harry and Ron stared, open-mouthed. Merry grew uncomfortable and Pippin scuffed his toes on the floor.
"You!" cried Harry. Pippin looked up, his eyes big and apologetic. (Just like in FOTR movie after Gandalf yelled at him in Moria! AWWW! He's so adorable! ~^_^~ )
"We're sorry," he mumbled. Merry nodded.
"We didn't mean for you to get hit like that. Our friends thought we were in trouble."
"Oh, it's okay," said Ron. "You got us out of Potions, anyway!" Harry and Ron smiled, and Pippin and Merry met their smiles with matching ones. Suddenly Sam growled menacingly, put his fists up and stepped protectively in front of Frodo. Harry and Ron looked around in time to see Draco, Crabbe and Goyle walking hurriedly away. Hermione giggled and quickly told them what happened with Draco and Sam. Harry, Ron and the red-heads laughed uproariously.
"That's the funniest thing I ever heard!!!" exclaimed the nearest red-head. Pippin smiled proudly and turned to the boys.
"Who're you?"
"I'm Fred and he's George, but we answered to both," Fred replied. They looked at Merry and Pippin, and Merry and Pippin looked back, and they all smiled happily, in a connecting way.
"I think we're going to get on just fine," commented George.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*(this is fun)~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
MW: N E WAY! Soz about that but those things are cool... hmmm, yes... I would just like to comment that I wrote most of this chapter because Pip has lotza homework and mine seems to keep vanishing from the back of my hand every time I have a shower.... how strange... oh well, I had more time but Pip likes reading what I write and don't worry, GOLLUM IS GOING TO BE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!!! There's also going to be a bit of magic and mayhem and some flying hobbits so come back when we put it up!! Um, Pip just had a brilliant idea!! Hobbits playing Quidditch... the next chapter is going to be a long one.... he he he he.... hmm, now to return to my plotting for the next chap.
Pip: actually, she plots to take over the world... but keep it under your hats....