D/N: I don't own anything! sob Ok I am going to try to update at least every two weeks. Haha ok I will TRY!!!!

Ch. 7 Home Sweet Home

"He did WHAT!"

Frodo, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Malfoy were all sitting in Frodo's living room. They were sitting around a crackling fire that Hermione had made appear in the fireplace with one swish of her wand. Frodo and Harry had just told the others about Gandalf leaving. They reassured them that he would return shortly, but apparently they weren't taking the news all to well. Malfoy looked like he was going to faint. Ron had turned ghostly white.

"Why on earth did he decide to leave us!" exclaimed Malfoy waving his arms.

"I am not sure, but knowing Gandalf it was for a good reason", answered Frodo calmly. He got up from the armchair which he had been sitting in and excused himself.

"Where are you going?" asked Malfoy getting angrier by the minute.

Frodo turned around and answered calmly, "I am going to make some tea do you want some?" Everyone nodded yes and Frodo went off to make some tea.

At this moment Harry felt tempted to tell Ron and Hermione about what had happened during their absence here in Bag End. He wanted to tell them about his scar hurting and about the freaky whispers that he had heard. But the memory of Gandalf's anxious face held him back from telling his friends anything. Besides they were already paranoid as it is. Ron kept on running his fingers through his hair. Malfoy was biting his nails. Only Hermione remained quiet and thoughtful as she sat in the couch beside Ron. She had a faraway look as if she was seeing something passed the fireplace. Frodo returned shortly carrying a tray that held five cups of tea. Frodo passed them out to everyone and sat back down on the couch.

"So what are we suppose to do now? Gandalf is gone and we are stuck here. We may never get to go back home!" exclaimed Ron. He was hysterical. "We are doomed", he continued "doomed, doomed!"

Hermione had her arms crossed. She slowly uncrossed them, rolling her eyes. She turned to face Ron who was sitting beside Malfoy. Leaning close to Ron and Malfoy she put her hands on their shoulders. Staring into their eyes she said, " First thing we should do is, RELAX!"

Ron and Malfoy didn't say anything after that. Hermione, looking pleased with herself and returned to her normal sitting position.

"Besides I know that Frodo has probably already thought up a solution of what we should do", she smiled sweetly at Frodo. Frodo blinked and looked at Harry.

"Well, I think it is pretty obvious. You guys are welcome to stay here in my home until Gandalf returns. And I hate to tell you all this. You might as well make yourselves comfortable because I am afraid he won't be returning anytime soon. Depending on where he has gone, but my guess is that he won't return for another two to three weeks."

"WHAT! You expect me to live in a muddy hole like this for almost a month?" Malfoy seemed to have gone mad. Hermione offered him some tea to try to calm him down.

"Well, that is the best that can be done Malfoy so I suggest you better shut your trap before you are kicked out into the cold!" exclaimed Harry. He was getting mad at the ingratitude of Malfoy toward Frodo.

"It is alright, Harry. I don't blame you, Draco. But that is the best we can do at the moment. Besides I can think up loads of ways to entertain ya'll while you guys are here. Anyways I am happy that you are staying. At least I won't be here all by myself." said Frodo.

Everyone, except Malfoy, smiled. They all thanked Frodo for his generosity and hospitality. The grandfather clock in the hallway struck one o' clock in the morning. Frodo told them off to bed. Harry, Ron, and Malfoy went to their room. And Hermione went to hers. Lying there in his covers Harry began to think of the different ways that Frodo would be planning to entertain them. He realized how tired he was as he yawned and fell immediately to sleep.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

A rooster from outside crowed. The sun was barely rising over the horizon. The rays of the dawning sun flowed all over the countryside. It made its way up the hill of Bag End and through Frodo's window. It reached Frodo's bed and hit his face. Frodo's eyes flickered open. His eyes were met by a beautiful sunrise. He smiled to himself and yawned. He softly got up from his bed. He put on a casual vest and pants. After getting dress he softly opened his bedroom door. He crept outside and closed the door carefully. He went down the hallway on tip-toe. When he passed the boys' room he paused. He went to the door and put his ear to the keyhole. He could hear them snoring inside. He smiled and went to Hermione's bedroom door. He did the same thing and found that Hermione was sound asleep. He cautiously tip-toed his way into the kitchen.

After a couple of hours he looked at his handiwork. A tall pile of pancakes was piled high on a plate. Beside it was a pan filled with scrambled eggs. From the stove the smell of bacon filled the air. He checked inside the oven, the muffins were ready. He took out the special jar of hunny for the pancakes and set it down on the dining room table. He had just finished placing the last mug in its proper place when a very sleepy looking Harry walked into the kitchen. His eyes were drowsy and he was just putting on his glasses. When he did his eyes widened as he looked down at the feast before him.

"Good morning, Harry. I made everyone a big breakfast to make up for the shock last night. Here sit down. I hope you like your eggs scrambled. Fried eggs aren't necessarily my specialty." said Frodo as he pulled a chair out for him.

"Wow, Frodo, thanks! Of course, I don't mind" said Harry. He immediately sat down and began to help himself to some eggs and bacon. Frodo beamed at the fact that his breakfast had turned out the way that he had wanted it. Minutes later, Draco Malfoy came into the kitchen followed by Ron. Hermione was the last she had gotten dressed before she had come to breakfast ( she didn't have a nightdress, so she was forced to sleep in her under garments). Everyone sat down. When Hermione had took her place at the table, Frodo sat down himself and began to serve himself some pancakes.

They were all silent for a while, partly because they were all enjoying the food and the sounds of the birds chirping in the fresh, crisp, morning air outside. Frodo had left the kitchen windows open and the warm sunlight was streaming into the room. Finally after a while, Ron looked up from his plate and patted his stomach. "Whoo! I got to hand it to you, Frodo you really out did yourself this time."

Frodo smiled, " I am glad you enjoyed it." Harry put down his fork and wiped his mouth with his napkin. "So Frodo, what do you have in store for us today?" he asked. Frodo finished the rest of his orange juice. He set the cup down and said, "We are going shopping and I will give you guys the more detailed tour of Hobbiton."

For the next couple of weeks Frodo took Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco pratically everywhere. They, surprisingly, had a blast. Frodo took them to Buckland where his cousin Merry lived. Partly to show them how the hobbits lived by the nearby river and partly to show them the place where he grew up in. Merry welcomed them with open arms and he invited them to a dinner with the rest of the Brandybuck family. It was a nice rather formal dinner. But the food was delicious and the four young wizards enjoyed themselves a lot. After staying a day in Buckland, they all said good-bye to Merry and his family. Frodo then took the wizards to the land that belonged to the Tooks. There of course lived, Pippin. Pippin was more than happy to receive them and he himself personally showed them around his home. He, too, invited them to a dinner with his own family. This resulted in being a much more louder sort of dinner. Pippin had many younger relations and it was all very chaotic, but everyone loved it. During their stay in the Took's home, Sam and Merry came to visit. One night after the grand feast Pippin proposed that they all sit in the living room by the fire and have some hot chocolate. Everyone agreed to this and once they were all comfortable by the fireplace, Sam came up with the idea of interchanging stories with one another.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione took turns telling about their experiences during their first and second year. Some of this was new to Malfoy. Malfoy, too, told exaggerating stories about him and his many "adventures". It was time to go to bed, but Frodo promised that the next day he would tell them all a story that he was sure they would all enjoy. Everyone stayed in the Took's house that day. It was more of a hall then anything else. The next morning they all gathered in the same room as the night before. Frodo then began to tell them about Bilbo's adventure.

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit", he began. The telling of the story in fact lasted all day. Even though Sam, Merry and Pippin had heard the story before several times they were still fascinated by it. The Hogwarts wizards were spellbound by Frodo's words about Bilbo's adventure.

"You know when I was little, Bilbo would tell me these stories all the time. And all the time I would wish that I could have gone with him. But I suppose I will always remain in the Shire and be plain old Frodo." Frodo sighed.

"You know it is a shame, if you think about it. Harry here was only 11 years old and he already had a grand adventure! That is just sad!" exclaimed Pippin. He pouted. Merry snorted. Sam sipped his chocolate quietly.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

It had been exactly a month since Gandalf's departure. But for Harry it had seemed a lot shorter. Now they were going into the cooler weather of September. The leaves of the trees were beginning to turn warm colors. Orange, red and yellow. Frodo and the wizards had just finished having dinner with the Gamgees ( Sam had insisted on inviting them). They were all returning to Bag End, laughing about the conversation that had been held at the dinner table regarding Sam and his crush, Rosie Cotton. Sam had had a fancy for her since he was a hobbit lad. At the dinner table, Frodo had brought it up and Sam got more than enough tips on how to ask her "out" as Malfoy called it. Now with their stomachs full they were happy to return home. They went up the steps. Hermione got to the door first. She took out her wand and whispered, "Alohomora." The door unlocked and she opened the door and let herself in. She was looking around Bag End glad to return to bed after a long and tiring day. She glanced around. Suddenly she froze, her face filled with fear. Ron came in behind her. He was punching Harry playfully. Hermione grabbed part of his robe to attract his attention. Ron stopped and asked, "What?" Hermione didn't answer but pointed in the direction of the nearby fireplace. She heard Ron gasp behind her. The window was opened and there were papers scattered all over the place. Harry and Malfoy came up behind Ron and Hermione. Frodo came in last. His face was serious and filled with concern. He stepped forward.

"Stay here, Harry and Draco would you please come with me?" he whispered.

Harry and Draco nodded and they held up their wands and both muttered, "Lumos." The light from their wands illuminated the living area. And everyone gasped in horror. Every single piece of furniture had been turned over. The whole place was a mess it looked as if someone had been looking for something. Books were off the bookshelves, pictures lying broken on the floor. It was a complete mess. Harry walked cautiously around. It seemed that someone had broken into the house and had been searching for something, in haste. Frodo was breathing hard at his side, and Malfoy kept on stepping on the creaking floorboards.

"Alright, here is what we'll do. I will take the bedrooms, Harry, you take the living room and the sitting room. Draco, I want you to take the kitchen and the dining room. If you see anything give a yell." Frodo then turned to Ron and Hermione who were still at the entrance. "I want you two to stay here and watch the entrance for me. We don't want our robber to get out."

Everyone nodded. Frodo sighed and headed toward the bedrooms. In the hallway he stopped and picked up a candle. Hermione went over and lit the candle with a tap from her wand. Frodo smiled and thanked her. He then gave them all a very mischievous glance and disappeared into the darkness. Harry went forward into the living room. It was the same story. He looked around there seemed to be nothing stolen. He was just about to enter the sitting room when he heard Hermione scream. His blood ran cold and he went off to the entrance to see what was the matter. There he found Hermione clutching on to Ron as if her very life depended on it. She looked like she had just seen a ghost. Ron was looking at the direction that she was pointing at. It was in the direction that the sitting room was located. In a few minutes they were joined by Malfoy and Frodo.

"What's wrong?" asked Frodo.

" I saw a shadow moving over there," Hermione stammered.

"Where?"

"Over there in the sitting room, by the fireplace."

At that moment Frodo's eyes grew wide and he raced to the sitting room. It was all completely dark and the window was still open. Frodo looked around the sitting room. There was nothing. He then ordered that Ron would light a fire in the fireplace. Once lit, Frodo bent down on his knees over an overturned small chest. The papers that had been in the box were now spilled everywhere. He looked through them. Then as if he suddenly had remembered he went back to the chest.

All this time he kept on mumbling, "where is it, where is it?" Finally he opened up a secret compartment on the lid of the chest. And from the lid he pulled out a single, sealed envelope. Harry recognized it as the envelope that Gandalf had given to him a month ago. Then it clicked inside Harry's head. The Ring. Frodo was afraid that whoever it was that had broken into the house had stolen the Ring. Frodo felt the envelope making sure that the Ring was inside. He sighed as he felt the familiar shape of the golden Ring.

Suddenly, from the doorway Hermione once again screamed. Harry, Frodo, Ron and Malfoy all turned around looking at her. They all gasped. Hermione was being held by a shadowy figure in the doorway. Since it was dark they could not discern the figure's face, but one thing was for sure, he wasn't a hobbit. He had covered up Hermione's mouth. She was struggling, her eyes were open so wide. The man held her against him. Harry gulped.

Author's Note: Oooo cliffhanger, hehehe who is this mysterious person that has grabbed a hold of Hermione? Who will be brave enough to save her? Tune in next time to find out! LoL hehehe ok I will stop now. I accept all reviews, and bad reviews ( I can't remember what they are called) ;)