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Disclaimer: Nope, I still do not own any of the characters in this fanfic, except Emily Malfoy. This chapter also introduces Megan Jones, who I also own. I used to own all of the characters… but then I woke up…Sadly that means I still do not own Gollum, for I find him quite hilarious.
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~ This fanfic contains spoilers from The Lord of the Rings books/movies and the Harry Potter books. ~
---------- Rated: PG-13 for violence and mild sexual reference. ----------
Two Heroes, Two Villains, One Ring
Ch. 4: Many Welcomes
Harry Potter and his friends had barely reached the common room when Harry suddenly dashed upstairs to his dorm. The common room was empty. Hermione looked at Ron, but Ron just shrugged. Harry returned a minute later with a roll of parchment and a quill in his hand. "What are you doing?" Ron asked curiously, although he was pretty sure he already knew the answer. His suspicions were confirmed when Harry answered: "Snuffles. I've been meaning to write to him." Harry sat down in a chair, next to his friends and began writing:
Dear Sirius,
Thanks a lot for the great Birthday present! I think it will come in very handy this year. I never thought that you would have a spare copy! I hope you are having fun at Moony's house. I suppose you two have a lot to catch up on. Everything went ok during the summer. I had no problem talking the Dursleys into letting me stay with the Weasleys for the last two weeks of the break. I think they were afraid that if they didn't let me go, Ron and his family would show up anyway, and turn them all into toads! (Pity they didn't though) Anyway, you wanted me to keep you informed on anything unusual happening at Hogwarts, so that is the true purpose of this letter. Earlier this morning, six strangers turned up at the school. They just appeared out of nowhere! Four of them claim to be of a race called Hobbits. The other two say they are an Elf and a Dwarf. They're like nothing I've ever seen before! All of them carried really primitive looking weapons. You know, swords, bows, axes and that kind of stuff. I don't think they mean us any harm, though. In other news, my scar hasn't hurt all summer. I don't know if this means anything or not. Maybe Voldemort's tired and wants to rest up before trying to kill me again. So, how are things going with you? If you have any ideas about any of this, please owl back ASAP. I look forward to hearing from you again. Please give my regards to Remus.
Your Godson,
Harry Potter
P.S. You're not going to believe this, but I got named Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team this week!
After letting Ron and Hermione read the letter, Harry folded the slip of parchment and slid it into his pocket. After a minute, Hermione broke the silence. "So, what was that Birthday present you were talking about, that Snuffles gave you?" Harry suddenly grinned mischievously. "Remember last year, when the fake Moody confiscated the Marauder's Map?" Ron and Hermione nodded. "Well, it turns out Snuffles had another copy of it, hidden away in his Gringotts vault. That's what he gave me for my Birthday." Ron grinned and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I want to send this right away," said Harry. "I think I'll use Hedwig this time. She hasn't been out in ages." Harry ran back up to the boy's dorm and returned shortly with a snowy white owl on perched on his shoulder. Harry smiled at the owl. "Are you up for a long trip, Hedwig?" The owl hooted happily. "Great! Could you take this to Snuffles for me? He's at Moony's house," Harry said as he gently tied the letter around Hedwig's ankle. Hedwig nipped him affectionately on the ear before flying out the window of Gryffindor Tower.
Harry smiled as he watched Hedwig fly away until she was out of sight. Ron spoke first. "We'd better head down to the Great Hall. Lunch will be starting soon." Harry quickly glanced at his new watch that Hermione had given him for his Birthday. It was a gold plated muggle watch, only Hermione had fixed it so it ran on magic and was never wrong. The watch now read 12:23. "I guess we'd better get a move on then."
The rest of the day went by quickly, without anything mildly exciting. It wasn't until that evening at dinner, that Professor Dumbledore and the teachers appeared again, along with the "guests". The teachers took their seats at the High Table with the "guests" beside them, as the students began to flow into the Great Hall.
After everyone was situated, Professor Dumbledore stood up and called for everyone's attention. "Now, before we begin our marvelous meal, I have a couple announcements and some answers to questions I'm sure all of you have been wondering about all day." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he glanced over at the Gryffindor table, then the Ravenclaw table, then Hufflepuff, and last, at the Slytherins. He allowed a moment of silence before continuing. "I'm also fairly certain that many of you have been formulating your own ideas about the mysterious appearances of our guests today. If you would kindly allow me to explain, I will do my best to do so." Dumbledore allowed another moment of silence before going on. "Six, total, were found this morning. Two were found on the bleachers of the Qudditch pitch, two in the Slytherin common room, and two more in the Forbidden Forest. However, I have been informed that three others are still unaccounted for." Dumbledore sighed. "I will not lie to you. These visitors are not of our world. They come from a land unknown to me, called Middle-Earth. They are neither wizards nor muggles, and they will be staying, here at Hogwarts, with us until we can figure out how to get them back to their home. They…" Dumbledore was suddenly interrupted by a shout coming from the Slytherin table. "Do these, er, 'guests', have names?" Dumbledore smiled. "Ah, my sincerest apologies, Mr. Curry. How rude of me. Allow me to introduce our guests. This is Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin. They are Hobbits," Dumbledore said, motioning to each one in turn. "This is Gimli the Dwarf, and Legolas the Elf." Many of the female students giggled as Dembledore introduced the Elf. Dumbledore spoke again. "I want you all to treat each guest curtiously, and make them feel welcome. They will be sleeping in the guest rooms, and starting Monday, will be observing some of your classes, seeing as how they are just as curious about us as we are of them. Now, did I cover everything, or does anyone have questions?" The room was eerily silent. "Very well" Dumbledore nodded to the guests and they took a seat at the nearest table, which just so happened to be the Gryffindor table.
Suddenly the room was filled with excited chatter. Dumbledore held up a hand for silence once more. "I have one more announcement, and that is this: We have a new student joining us this year. She is an American exchange student from Waddlegook School of Magic, and will be sorted as a fifth year."
Professor McGonagall walked out in front of the tables and placed a rather familiar, old looking hat on a stool. "Jones, Megan!" McGonagall yelled out. A stunningly pretty girl became noticed as she stepped out from behind the High Table and made her way towards the Sorting Hat. Her long blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail and her sky blue eyes sparkled like diamonds. She looked unusually calm and confident, not at all nervous like most first years when they get sorted. Megan Jones sat on the stool patiently as Professor McGonagall lowered the Sorting Hat onto her head. Several minutes passed in silence. Suddenly, that silence was broken by a loud bellow of … "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table exploded with applause as Megan smiled and took a seat opposite of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Now that all that has been said and done, let dinner begin!" With a wave of Dumbledore's hand, the tables were suddenly covered with platters of food
Harry and his friends began introducing themselves to the new Gryffindor. Harry, of course, got the same reaction he always got when meeting someone new: "Really? You're the Harry Potter? Do you really have the scar?" Ron rolled his eyes and Hermione giggled. Harry looked away, blushing. It was at this moment, that Harry first became aware that Professor Severus Snape was not at the staff table. Harry shrugged the thought aside and continued eating.
After dinner, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and their new friend, Megan started walking back to the Gryffindor common room. Suddenly, their path was blocked by none other than Draco Malfoy, flanked closely by Crabbe and Goyle. "What do you want?" Ron barked. Malfoy stepped back in mock surprise. "Weasley, I would have thought your parents would have tought you better manners than that." Malfoy eyed Megan curiously. "Well, Potter, I see you've found yourself a new girlfriend. Tell me, is this another one of 'Harry Potter's secret heartaches'?" said Malfoy as he laughed maliciously.
Harry and Ron scowled, but Megan took a step forward and extended her hand, smiling sweetly. "Megan Jones, very pleased to meet you. What's your name?" If Draco Malfoy expected any kind of spiffy comeback, this was not it. Draco stood there, speechless, a look of utter confusion on his face. Megan spoke again, softly this time. "I extended my hand so you could shake it. Didn't your parents teach you any manners?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione burst out laughing. "Uh, Draco Malfoy," Malfoy said in a small voice, while reluctantly shaking the girl's hand. Megan smiled. "Draco. That's a pretty name. Is your family native to England?" Draco was still at a loss for words, but he managed to say, "Yeah." "Cool!" Megan replied. "Would you like to give me a tour of the castle? This place is huge!" Draco looked thoroughly shocked. "Huh?!" was all he could think of saying. "Great!" Megan said cheerfully. "Let's go!" With that, Megan looped her arm around Draco's and started down the hallway in the opposite direction. Draco looked back at Crabbe and Goyle with a mixed look of shock, confusion, and despair before disappearing around the corner.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood there, unable to speak. "Well, that was certainly unexpected," Ron finally said. Moments later they all burst out laughing and started walking back to the common room. Crabbe and Goyle still stood there, more confused than ever.
A/N ~ There! It's finally done. I apologize for the long wait. I have had a lot of schoolwork. I couldn't work Gollum into this chapter, but I promise he will be in the next. I also apologize that the LotR characters did not have a bigger part. I am still setting the storyline. I will be out of town for a week so I will not be able to write. I will update as soon as possible.
~ Kettch