D/N: I don't own anything! Everything belongs to Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and the screenplay writer I know the correct name for the script people now. Hehehe The one thing that I do own though is this made up spell that I am going to put in the chapter. Oh and by the way from now on these are going to be long chapters or at least this one will be long. Hehe too much info I guess.

Ch. 8 The Journey Begins

Everyone stayed at a standstill. Hermione was still in the grasp of whoever it was that had gotten a hold of her. Harry didn't know what to do. He stood there frozen still to what it seemed to him forever. In reality it was only about for three seconds. Suddenly he felt a rush of wind at his side as he saw Ron jump forward, his wand out of his pocket.

"Let her go!" he screamed as he held out his wand in front of him, pointing it at the shadowy figure.

"Ron wait!" exclaimed Frodo, but it was too late.

"Flipendo!" bellowed Ron as a green light flashed from his wand. It hit the figure square in the chest. It sent him flying across the yard and he landed on the grass, groaning. Hermione ran over behind a stunned Harry. Ron turned around looking very proud at what he had just done. Frodo was in apparent shock. He looked at Ron with much more respect than he would have normally shown him.

"Wow," was all he could say. Then as if recovering from the shock, he ran outside. He went over to where the shadowy figure was lying sprawled on the ground. Standing over him, his expression changed. Harry went to where Frodo and the man were. The man was groaning. Standing over him, Harry realized why Frodo had been shocked to find out who it was.

"Gandalf are you alright?" asked Frodo. He helped Gandalf back onto his feet.

"Alright? All right! (Frodo and Harry gulped, from the door Ron looked as if he has just seen a ghost.) A 13-year-old amateur wizard has just attacked me. My back hurts and I landed on my ass!" Gandalf was furious.

Ron gulped. "Gandalf, I am SO sorry! I didn't realize it was you, I -I can I help you?" Ron felt terrible, he went down the stairs and over to where Frodo and Harry were helping Gandalf up. Gandalf cursed under his breath he shook himself free from Frodo and Harry. His staff was lying on the ground beside the place where he had been. He swiftly picked it up. Ron bent down to pick up Gandalf's hat, for it was lying on the ground as well. Gandalf snatched it away from Ron. Ron hid behind Frodo as Gandalf went up the steps. Malfoy was trying very hard not to laugh. Gandalf shot him a deadly glance and Malfoy became silent. Hermione had her hands over her mouth, her eyes still wide with fright. Gandalf stopped halfway down the hallway.

"I am so sorry Gandalf, but I thought you were a robber or something. Why did you hold Hermione like that?" asked Ron trying to make Gandalf understand the reason for his attack.

"Because Hermione could have screamed her head off like she had done just a few moments ago and woken up the whole neighborhood! Besides I wanted to make sure no one would get their attention drawn to the house. What in blazes happened here?" he exclaimed looking around at the mess.

"Someone broke in, Gandalf", answered Frodo closing the door.

"When did this happen?"

"Just now, or at least we came in to the house and everything was like this. We think that the thief had entered through the window over there." Frodo pointed over at the window. Gandalf turned around and stared at Frodo.

"Is it secret, is it safe!"

"What?" asked Malfoy; Gandalf ignored him. He was still looking intently at Frodo. Frodo nodded and Gandalf sighed. It seemed that with that sigh a huge load had been taken off his shoulders.

"Frodo," said Gandalf he stopped and turned to the wizards " Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, there is something that you all must know."

Gandalf then took the envelope that had still been in Frodo's hand and threw it into the fire. Frodo gave a sort of a cross between a yell and a yelp. Harry too gasped. Frodo dove for the tongs( I think that is what they are called oh well you get what I am trying to say) that were by the fireplace, but Gandalf held him back. In the fire of the little chimney they could all see the envelope slowly burning away, revealing the Ring. Ron, Hermione, and Malfoy leaned over to see if they could get a better glimpse of the Ring. Gandalf grabbed the tongs and picked it up.

"Hold out your hand Frodo. It's quite cool," said Gandalf as he held out the Ring in the tongs. Frodo did as he was told. Gandalf dropped it into Frodo's hand. Hermione looked over Frodo's shoulder to get a better view of the Ring.

"What do you see? Can you see anything?" asked Gandalf.

"Nothing," answered Frodo looking at it and shaking his head. He held the Ring in his fingers. "Wait, there are markings it's some form of elvish I can't read it." Hermione went around Frodo, so that she was facing him. She held out her hand. "Can I see it?" she asked.

"NOOO!!!!" exclaimed Gandalf as he sort of jumped (hitting his head on the ceiling, in the process) and blocked Hermione's hand from getting a hold of the Ring. Hermione took back her hand quickly and stared at Gandalf. Gandalf turned around and looked into her face, while he rubbed his head in the place he had hit it on the ceiling.

"You can not touch the Ring," he said.

"How come Frodo is holding the Ring then?" asked Ron.

"Because this is the One Ring, forged by the Dark Lord Sauron."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

About 45 minutes of explaining later....

"So let me get the straight", said Malfoy sitting comfortably in one of the chairs in the dining room. By now Gandalf had explained to all of them about the One Ring of Power. Frodo had decided to sit everyone down. He was slowly walking around the kitchen serving Gandalf some tea. Harry, Ron, and Malfoy were all sitting down in chairs, all except for Hermione who was thinking and preferred to stand up.

"So let me get the straight," repeated Malfoy, " long, long ago there was an evil dark lord that came from this place called...."

"Mordor," said Gandalf.

"Yea, and he made this one Ring of power that had the power to take over all of Middle-Earth. Then of course there was a war. And it seemed that Sauron's forces were winning. Till all of a sudden this guy named, who?"

"Isildur," said Frodo from the pantry.

"Yea him, he comes over and cuts the Ring off of Sauron's hand. So then Sauron is destroyed. And all his evil people were defeated. So then Isildur keeps the Ring and everything ends all happily ever after. But now it turns out that the Ring had been forgotten and hadn't been found until now. Now Sauron has somehow resurrected from the dead and is coming back for the Ring. Is that about right?" He said this all very fast.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry blinked. Gandalf took a swig from his mug of tea. He cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Almost, except Sauron did not rise from the dead like you so put it. His spirit endured because he is one with the Ring. So since the Ring survived, so did Sauron. Now he is coming back, he is coming for the Ring."

"Alright then we will put it away, we will never speak of it again. No one knows it's here do they?" said Frodo. He took the Ring and walked out of the dining room. He stopped and turned around awkwardly.

"Do they, Gandalf?"

"Yes, someone knows," said an unexpected voice. Everyone turned to see Hermione coming forth out of her little corner where she had been this whole entire time. She looked at all of them. Everyone, except Gandalf, seemed to be at a lost.

"Honestly, don't you guys pay any attention? Gollum, Gollum knows that Bilbo has it. For, if I am not mistaken, that Ring is the same Ring that Bilbo found in Gollum's cave. You know during his adventure."

"You are correct, Ms. Granger," said Gandalf with a slight smile.

"Don't you remember the riddles in the dark? Gollum asked Bilbo who he was or where he was from, or something like that, and Bilbo answered that his name was Bilbo Baggins of the Shire." continued Hermione.

"Your right, Hermione. I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum, but the enemy found him first. I do not know how long they tortured him, but among his many words they discerned two words. Shire. Baggins." Gandalf looked at all of them.

"Shire, Baggins, but that would lead them directly to us!" exclaimed Harry.

"What are we going to do?"asked Ron.

"What! What does that exactly mean are we going to die?" yelled Malfoy.

"No, no you are not going to die, not unless if we act quickly," said Gandalf. He looked at everyone earnestly. Harry was sweating. Hermione had a determined look on her face. Malfoy was panicking. Ron was turning (if could be possible) paler than ever. Frodo who was still holding the Ring closed his hand over it. Everyone turned to look at Frodo. Frodo looked at each of their worried faces and said, "What must I do?"

"You must leave, and leave quickly," said Gandalf. Frodo stared at him for a split second and then dashed off into his room to get all his belongings.

"Leave? Leave where? Where is he supposed to go? Come to think of it where are we suppose to go? Gandalf, Gandalf, damn you listen to me!" It was Malfoy speaking. He threw a book at Gandalf's back. Gandalf had been following Frodo around giving him basic instructions. So far he had been ignoring the wizard's remarks, until Malfoy had thrown the book at Gandalf to get his attention.

Gandalf turned around and stared at Malfoy. Malfoy was furious, it was clear he wasn't going to stop there. "What the hell are we suppose to do? You are telling Frodo what he is suppose to do, but are you forgetting about us?" Malfoy's face was glowing pink. Ron, Hermione, and Harry were all staring at him. Gandalf sighed and turned around. Frodo was off in the kitchen packing some food to take on the trip. They kept on hearing all these bangs and clangs of pots and pans falling down on the ground. Frodo was obviously having some trouble getting the food into his backpack. Gandalf sighed and looked at the wizards.

"You can't just leave us here Gandalf. I mean what about you taking us to Isengard. We need to get there. Ron, Hermione, and Malfoy need to get back to England." Harry said, even though he was secretly grateful that Ron, Hermione, and even Malfoy had stayed with him for so long.

"Yea, Gandalf we have been waiting long enough for you to take us to Isengard", said Ron.

"You children must understand that this is serious business. We are talking about the possible end of Middle Earth, as we know it. So Frodo must go and take the Ring to the village of Bree!" He said his last sentence loud enough so that Frodo could hear from the kitchen.

"Well, where are we going to stay? Where are you going?" asked Hermione hands on her hips.

"I have to go see the head of my council, he is both wise and powerful, trust me he will know what to do," said Gandalf.

"Hold on a minute, isn't the head of your council, Saruman?" asked Harry. Gandalf made a funny face.

"Damn! You are a smart lad Harry," said Gandalf with a forced smile.

"You mean to tell me that, you are going to the exact same place that we are suppose to be in right now!" roared Malfoy.

At this moment Frodo walked in carrying a pack on his back and holding a walking stick. He looked around at all the angry faces there. " Oh almost forgot my cloak!" and he disappeared into his room again.

"Well, why don't you four stay with someone? Samwise for instance," offered Gandalf.

Frodo returned carrying an emerald green cloak. He looked around at everyone. Ron was muttering something under his breath. Harry was trying very hard to hold back Malfoy from attacking Gandalf. Frodo all of a sudden got an idea. By this time Gandalf and the wizards had gotten into a heated argument.

"Gandalf! Gandalf!"

Gandalf and the others stopped yelling. They all turned around and stared at Frodo. Frodo, now that he had everyone's attention, said, "Why don't they just come with me? I mean I could use their company and Gandalf you saw what Ron did to you. They could help me. It's convenient for you too Gandalf. Bree is much closer to Isengard then the Shire. So it may all work out in the end. Don't get me wrong; I hate to get you guys into trouble. But it seems to me that it is the only way." Frodo shrugged and gave them a "why not" look.

"That is an excellent idea Frodo!" exclaimed Hermione. Everyone else agreed to this idea. Gandalf did, though, reluctantly.

"All right everyone go and get packed", said Gandalf. As all of them disappeared Gandalf continued to give Frodo further instructions. He warned him about the many dangers that he might be facing. Gandalf also told Frodo to watch out for the wizards for they were only still children, and to especially look after Harry. Frodo nodded even though he didn't know what was wrong with Harry. Harry and the others returned shortly each of them carrying packs. Malfoy was complaining about how he was doing "servant's work". Suddenly by the open window the bushes rustled.

"Get down!" commanded Gandalf. "Huh?" asked Ron, but Hermione pulled him down. The bushes rustled again. "What is going on?" asked Malfoy, but Harry shushed him. Gandalf grabbed his staff and held it out in front of him just like Harry would with his wand. The bushes rustled again. Gandalf went to the window and sort of hit whoever it was in the bushes with his staff. Everyone heard a great growl. Gandalf stood back. He then stooped down to pick up whoever or whatever it was that was in the bushes. Everyone gasped for when Gandalf lifted it up it was a big black dog.

"Ah!" exclaimed Gandalf as he dropped the dog. The dog was big and it was growling showing its teeth. Harry was in shock, that dog was the exact same dog that he had seen practically a month ago. The dog growled then bounded out of Frodo's garden. Then they all heard a yell. Frodo got up and ran to the door yelling, "Sam! Sam?" Everyone else followed. Frodo wrenched open the door and ran outside still calling Sam's name. Harry and the others followed. They all stopped at the door.

"Help me, Mr. Frodo! Help!"

Everyone gasped. Sam was on the ground being pinned down by the big black dog. Sam was trying to get up, but the dog was bigger than he was. Frodo ran to his side carrying his walking stick, and with it he started poking at the dog so that it would leave Sam alone. The dog growled menacingly at Frodo. Frodo didn't want to hurt the dog, but…. He grabbed the stick and whacked the dog on his hindquarter. The dog growled even more and tried to grab the walking stick with his jaws. Hermione came rushing down the stairs her wand in her outstretched hand. The dog looked up and saw Hermione. It immediately got off of poor Sam then it turned around and ran towards Frodo's gate. It leaped over the fence and once on the other side it turned around and gave a final growl, baring all its teeth. Then it ran off into the night.

Harry and the others ran over to Sam's side, who was being helped up by Frodo. Sam was gasping for air.

"Are you alright, Sam?" asked Frodo as he let Sam rest in a nearby garden bench.

"Yea, I'm alright, Mr. Frodo. Thank you for saving me."

"Actually Sam it is Hermione here that you should be thanking," said Frodo turning around to Hermione, " she was the real hero, er, heroine tonight." Hermione smiled and blushed.

"Yes, she was," muttered Gandalf thoughtfully. Then he focused his attention to Sam. " And what in heavens name were you doing out here, Samwise Gamgee?" Sam looked up at Gandalf guiltily. "Um…"

"You wouldn't happen to be eavesdropping would you?"

"I haven't been dropping no eaves, sir honest (lol i love that line). Well, no except I heard Ms. Granger, here, scream some time ago and I came over to find out what was going on. Then I looked at Mr. Frodo's bushes under the window there and I thought to myself, oh those bushes need to be trimmed. So I began cutting the bushes with my shears. I started at the front and then as I was getting closer to the window that was when you came out of the window and pulled up that devil of a dog out of the bushes. He growled and then came after me so I decided to run for it. And…"

"And you were eavesdropping", said Hermione her arms crossed. Sam looked at her and then at all the other faces.

"Alright I was eavesdropping but only for a little while. And then that dog attacked me and…"

Gandalf held up his hand. He looked dangerously at Sam. Sam began to tremble. "Well, as you probably know Samwise, eavesdropping is not a very good thing to do now is it?" Sam shook his head. "And such actions should be punished, am I right?" Sam shook his head, but then Gandalf gave him that cold look and Sam immediately nodded his head. "I thought you would agree with me, so for your punishment and I have a feeling you already know enough to understand, you will be accompanying Frodo and the wizards on their little trip. Understand!" Sam gulped and nodded again furiously. Gandalf smiled and said, "Good, now that we are all organized we must get going!"

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

They trudged on foot into the nearby woods by the Shire. Gandalf led the way constantly on the look out for any sign of anyone. It was early dawn and not many people were around, in fact hardly anyone at all. The sky was just turning an early morning orange. It was a bit chilly, Hermione's teeth kept on chattering. Before they had left Hermione had cast a new spell upon the house so that everything would be put back in order. It was the spell of Ordium. She had said it right before they had left Bag End. And all the furniture put themselves back as they were. Frodo had been very grateful and so had Gandalf for he was in a hurry. They reached a little glen in the woods, Gandalf stopped and looked at them.

"Now remember, the enemy had many spies birds, beasts. Is it safe?" he asked looking at Frodo. Frodo looked up at Gandalf and put his hand over his pocket, which was near his heart. Gandalf knelt down and looked at Frodo intently.

"Never put it on for the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power." He then bade farewell to everyone else and got on his horse and with a "Ya!" he was gone.

Frodo turned around and looked at his friends. He sighed. "Well, best be off then." He started heading in the direction of the cornfields.

"Frodo?" asked Malfoy. Frodo turned around. " Aren't we supposed to be going the other way?"

"No Draco, it is toward the East that we must travel, that is where Bree lies," answered Frodo. He turned and was about to continue his walk when Malfoy once again interrupted. "Well, I mean Hobbiton is that way and don't we need horses? Or ponies? I mean you don't really think we are going to walk all the way." He gave a hollow laugh. Frodo looked at him. Malfoy's face fell. "Oh no, you really do plan to walk don't you? But, but can't we get at least two ponies these packs are heavy and, and…"

"Shut up Malfoy and quit complaining. My gosh you would think that you have never done work in your life before," said Ron. Malfoy frowned.

"What's the matter, Malfoy afraid you are going to pass out after 30 minutes of walking?" asked Harry "Afraid of a little manual work, huh?"

Malfoy went over to Harry until he was face to face with him. Then he spat in Harry's face. Harry growled and took off his glasses and slowly wiped them off. Then he placed them back on his head and shook his head with a slight smile then jumped on Malfoy. They rolled down on the ground punching and scratching each other.

"Harry, stop it!" exclaimed Hermione. Frodo and Sam had been walking ahead apparently getting sick of Malfoy's complaints when they heard the fighting and went back to the little glen.

"Harry, STOP!" exclaimed Hermione. "Get 'em Harry, punch him in the nose for me! Come on Harry!" cheered Ron. Hermione turned to Ron. "Ron, you aren't helping!" Ron shrugged and continued to cheer Harry on. Hermione just rolled her eyes. Then Frodo and Sam arrived, and Frodo grabbed Malfoy by the back of his robe. Sam grabbed Harry by his cloak and had to literally wrench Harry off of Malfoy. Malfoy had a black eye on his left eye and Harry had a bloody nose. They both looked at each other and it seemed that they were still trying to fight each other with their eyes. The two hobbits let go of Harry and Malfoy. Malfoy wiped away some blood from a cut on his lip.

"Ok let's make something perfectly clear, okay? The only reason you are coming along is because there was nowhere else to leave you guys and because I am a nice caring hobbit. But if you guys are going to behave like this the whole entire time then I suggest that you shut your traps and keep off of each other." Frodo was furious. Harry nodded, but Malfoy snorted. Frodo turned on Malfoy.

"What the hell are you going to do to us, huh throw a rock at us?" Malfoy started to laugh real hard. Frodo went over to him until he was directly inline with Malfoy's eyes. Malfoy stopped laughing and stared at him.

"Do you have something to say to me, shrimp?"

"Yeah, actually I do," answered Frodo. He then took off his pack and said, " Happy Birthday. All right everyone, Ron, Hermione, and Sam give your packs to Harry and Ron. As punishment you guys will have to carry not only your packs but our packs as well. How you going to do that I have no earthly idea, but since Mr.Malfoy seems to have a smart attitude he might be smart enough to figure it out. And you won't get to have anything to have any dinner."

Malfoy crossed his arms and said, " I won't do it." Harry went over to Malfoy and whispered, "Don't make it worse than it already is." Frodo walked over to Harry and Malfoy who were standing beside each other and he said, " Alright if you want it that way fine." He looked down and gave a mischevious grin for in a blink of an eye he had snatched both Harry's and Malfoy's wands from their pockets. "Hey!" both Harry and Malfoy exclaimed. "If you don't do as I tell you than you won't get these back." Frodo smiled and held the wands away from Harry and Malfoy. Harry and Malfoy looked at one another then they both bent down, grumbling, they somehow managed to get the two extra packs onto their backs and they continued to trudge on. By nightfall they were tired and sore. Not to mention hungry. When they reached their campsite Frodo made Harry and Malfoy gather the firewood and start a fire, without their wands. Once they finally did Harry and Malfoy had to watch everyone else eat some nice juicy sausages. Sam then took out a flute he had carried along with him and began to play. Frodo then took up Hermione and they began to dance around the campfire. Ron looked on while still munching on some sausage. Harry and Malfoy watched. Afterwards Frodo sent them all to bed.

Later on that night Harry woke up. He felt someone at his side. He slowly opened one eye to see who it was. It was Frodo he was standing up looking up at the moon. Then he went over to a nearby log and sat down, still staring at the moon. Harry got up and put away the blanket that had been lying on him and walked over to where Frodo was sitting.

"You should get some sleep," said Frodo without turning around to see who it was.

"I can't sleep", said Harry coming up behind Frodo. Frodo kept his steady gaze at the nightsky. "That makes two of us", he answered. "It is strange Harry, to think that the fate of your whole entire world lies in your hands, literally." Frodo turned around and showed Harry the Ring lying in his outstretched hand. Harry looked at the Ring and then back up at Frodo. Frodo was looking into Harry's face with what seemed to be concern. "Harry, what is the matter?" Harry looked a bit aghast at what had just been asked of him. "Nothing", he answered,"why do you ask?"

Frodo turned around on the log and faced the horizon again. "Oh is is just something that Gandalf said. He told me to take care of you guys, naturally. But he gave me specific instructions to keep an eye out for you. So I figured if there is something wrong, Harry, you would tell me and make my job of watching you easier." Frodo turned around to look at Harry again. Harry looked at Frodo. "So, is there something that you wish to tell me, Harry?" asked Frodo. Harry's mind drifted to just last year when Albus Dumbledore had asked him the exact same question when the whole thing about the Chamber of Secrets was going on. Harry remembered his last response and then he remembered that night when Gandalf had left. When he had bent down to pick up the Ring and how his scar had begun to hurt. "Harry?" Harry was snapped back into reality. He looked at Frodo and shook his head, " No, there is nothing", he answered. Frodo nodded solemnly and said, "You look tired you better get some sleep."

"Alright, good night Frodo" said Harry as he went back to the place where he had been sleeping. "Good night", answered Frodo.