CHAPTER 12

Disclaimer: am not in possession of any Hobbits or LOTR-related creatures. Or Harry Potter characters for that matter.

*I was thinking as I was writing this chapter, the fact that Gandalf and Dumbledore are cousins in my fic, is made really ironic by the rumour that Sir Ian McKellen might be playing Dumbledore in the future Harry Potter films*

I suck I know, this chapter has taken way to long to be uploaded. But my exams are over, my computer is working great so I'll be writing more very soon : )

REVENGE AND THE RING

'That was great,' said Harry to the Hobbit's later on, 'you really got Malfoy!'

'Revenge is sweet,' said Ron.

The four Hobbit's, plus Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room that night. Harry and Merry had played Exploding Snap a few times, and Ron had taught Frodo how to play Wizards Chess but now the set lay forgotten as they sat and talked.

'You see, you managed to sort Malfoy out without the use of a wand,' said Hermione, 'turning people you don't like into various creatures isn't the answer.'

'But it's still fun,' added Harry

'You're forgetting they haven't successfully turned anyone into anything yet,' Frodo reminded Hermione.

'Yes, I know, but-' began Hermione but Ron interrupted her.

'Hold on! The Hobbits haven't heard about how Professor Moody turned Malfoy into a ferret.'

The Hobbits all pricked up their ears at this, 'tell us!' said Merry eagerly.

And so Ron relayed the story of how Mad-Eye Moody lost his temper with Malfoy and turned him into the Amazing Bouncing Ferret. Most of the common room roared with laughter at this story, it was a favourite tale of theirs to listen to and to tell to others.

'Well, that's something I'd have liked to see very much,' said Sam smiling.

'Maybe if you stay here long enough it'll happen again,' said Harry

There was an uncomfortable silence then.

'Yes, I suppose we'll have to leave pretty soon,' said Pippin slowly

Harry noticed how quickly Frodo changed, from laughing one minute to looking scared and tortured the next. He must have such a burden to carry Harry thought to himself.

'When - when do you think you'll have to - to leave,' asked Hermione

'I really don't know,' said Frodo, 'it's only a matter of time I suppose,' he said, half to Hermione, half to himself.

There was another awkward silence, Harry remembered there had been a lot of these silences when people talked to him about Lord Voldemort. He had gotten used to them slightly, but, he realised, it must be all new to Frodo.

'Hey, um, how about we go and see Dobby? Go down to the kitchens?' said Ron, trying to break the silence.

'Yes, maybe we'll get some more cakes,' said Pippin jumping up straight away.

Hermione rolled her eyes, 'see what you've done?' she said Ron exasperatedly but Ron just grinned sheepishly.

'Are you coming to the kitchens Mister Frodo?' asked Sam looking worriedly at his master. Frodo looked pale by the firelight in the common room.

Frodo nodded, got up slowly, and followed Harry out of the portrait hole. He didn't notice Sam's concerned face watching him as he went.

They arrived at the kitchens to find the House-Elves washing up after dinner. They seemed unusually quiet until the caught sight of Harry, Ron, Hermione and the Hobbits, then they lost all concentration.

'The Bobbits are back!' squealed one excited Elf which set the rest of them off.

'They're more popular here than you are!' whispered Ron to Harry, who grinned as he caught sight of Dobby.

'Hello, Dobby,' he said but Dobby appeared to be looking for someone else.

'Where is Legolas?' he asked Harry. Ron shrugged.

'Did you have a nice chat with him,' asked Hermione.

'Dobby nodded his head vigorously, his ears flapping wildly, 'oh yes Miss, we talked for hours, he is such a different Elf to me, you see.'

'Yes, I'm sure Hermione's noticed,' said Ron cheekily. Hermione looked daggers at him but Dobby didn't notice.

'Food!' he squeaked, 'where is Dobby's manners? Are you hungry sirs? And you miss? Are the Bobbits hungry?'

Harry burst out laughing but Dobby didn't get the joke, and was already running off to find food. He came prancing back with a plate of delicious looking sausage rolls.

'There you go, sirs, miss, and Bobbits,' he said setting the plate down, 'there is one each there for you.'

Merry and Pippin looked disgusted at the mention of 'one each' but they tucked in anyway. The sausage rolls were gone in only a minute or two. Dobby looked surprised.

'You want more?' he asked.

'No!' said Hermione quickly, 'we need to be getting back. It'll be bed time soon.'

'Oh, OK then Miss,' said Dobby,' bye Harry Potter sir! Goodbye Ron Weezy! Goodbye Bobbits!'

'You know you just turned down more food,' said Merry once they were outside.

'Is that all you Hobbits think about?' asked Hermione

'No way,' said Pippin, 'we love our ale too.'

'And pipe weed,' added Sam.

Ron rolled his eyes but said nothing as they made their way back up to the common room.

As they passed one particularly dark corridor Frodo suddenly stopped.

'Did you hear something?' he said, listening

Harry shook his head, 'no, I can't hear a thing,' he said.

'No, listen,' said Hermione, 'I thought I could hear a noise too. From that corridor.'

'Well what kind of noise?' asked Pippin

'Like a scratching, rustling noise,' said Frodo, straining his ears to hear it again.

Harry listened carefully too, 'I think I head it too,' he said after a minute.

'Oh no,' whimpered Sam, 'what is it?'

'I don't know,' said Harry, 'come on, Ron, we'll go have a look.'

'What?' said Ron, looking terrified, but he followed Harry anyway. They got a little way down the corridor and then both pulled out their wands and muttered "lumos" giving them some light to search by.

'I don't think there's anything here you know,' said Ron after a bit.

Harry was about to agree but then he was something that made him freeze. Moving along the floor was a trail of black cloth. He nudged Ron and pointed towards it. Ron's eyes widened and he made to run back but Harry grabbed his cloak and pulled him back. Now Harry was sure he could see a black figure in the shadows - or was that the dark playing tricks on his eyes. There was only one way to find out. Harry signalled to Ron who nodded his head.

Together they swung the light from their wands onto where the black cloth was trailing. Ron gasped and stepped backwards in fright as the Black Rider swept around as if to face him. Ron lost his footing and fell backwards onto Harry. The Black Rider let out a horrifying screech and started to walk menacingly down the corridor towards Hermione and the Hobbits, taking big strides.

Harry and Ron scrambled up off the floor, their wands aimed towards the Black Rider.

'Hermione! Run!' shouted Harry as the Black Rider came up on her and the Hobbits. Hermione turned and ran, as did Merry and Pippin, but Frodo stood, rooted with fear as the Black Rider descended on him.

'What spells have we learnt that deal with Black Riders?' said Ron to Harry, but Harry shrugged. They hadn't learnt to deal with them!

'Come on Mister Frodo,' urged Sam, pulling at his masters arm but Frodo didn't move. He reached slowly into his pocket and pulled out the Ring.

'No!' shouted Sam but it was too late.

As the Rider made to snatch the Ring, Frodo put it on his finger and disappeared, just as Harry and Ron raised their wands and shouted "expelliarmus" at the Rider.

There was a flash and the Rider crumpled to the ground in a black mass.

'Do you think we stunned it?' said Harry worriedly to Ron.

Ron shrugged but didn't have long to worry about it as teachers began to appear to see what the fuss had been about.

'Professor Dumbledore!' said Harry with relief, 'a Black Rider got into the castle!'

'We managed to disarm him,' said Ron.

Gandalf and Aragorn also appeared just as Professor Dumbledore bent down to take a better look at the Rider. He shook his head gravely.

'This is not a Nazgul,' he said to Harry and Ron.

Harry and Ron looked utterly confused but then the Rider began to struggle on the ground and Malfoy's head popped up from the black material.

'Ah, Mr. Malfoy,' said Aragorn, 'we meet again.'

Malfoy looked highly embarrassed as him and Goyle, who had had Malfoy standing on his shoulders, struggled to free themselves of the black costume.

'I think that this warrants a severe punishment,' said Gandalf, 'what do you think Professor?'

Just at that moment, Hermione, Merry, Pippin and Sam came running back.

'Harry!' said Hermione in a panic, 'we can't find Frodo since he put the Ring on! He's vanished!'

Gandalf looked worried as Harry, Ron and Hermione relayed the story of how the apparent Black Rider had scared Frodo into putting the Ring on.

'This is more serious than we thought then,' said Gandalf, 'we must find him.'

'Oh, I think you'll find that Frodo won't have gone far,' said Dumbledore, 'but all the same, we must find him quickly! I trust you six will want to help. We'll deal with Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Goyle.'

'Come on,' said Sam urgently to Harry, 'let's start searching!'

'Why don't we split up?' said Hermione, 'Sam, you go with Harry, Ron and Merry can look on this floor, and Pippin and I will search near the kitchens. We can meet up again in the common room in ten minutes'

'Right,' said Ron, 'good idea, let's go.'

Harry and Sam ran off in one direction and Ron and Merry went in the other, as Pippin and Hermione made their way downstairs.

Oh, where could he be,' fretted Sam as he followed Harry up a staircase.

'I don't know,' said Harry, 'let's try a few classrooms first.'

They checked in the Charms classes, and then Transfiguration and finally Defence Against the Dark Arts but there was no sign of Frodo.

'What if he's still wearing the Ring though,' said Harry to Sam, 'we won't be able to see him even if we're right next to him!'

'I don't think Mister Frodo will keep it on for long,' said Sam, 'once he's away from that horrible Black Rider I'm sure he would have taken it off.'

'We've been looking for nearly ten minutes,' said Harry checking his watch,' we should meet up with the others.'

Sam nodded, looking pale and worried as he followed Harry to the portrait of the Fat Lady.

'Polka Dot,' said Harry tiredly and the door swung open.

Harry and Sam climbed through the portrait hole into the common room which was empty. Except for-

'Frodo!' cried Sam and ran over to the armchair where Frodo was sitting by the fire.

'I'm alright, Sam,' said Frodo, although he did not look it. His eyes looked dark and tired and he seemed jumpy and on edge.

'Are you sure you're OK?' asked Harry

Frodo smiled weakly, 'I'm sure, thank you,' he said.

'I think you should know though, that wasn't a Black Rider after all,' said Harry sitting down in the chair opposite Frodo.

'It wasn't?' asked Frodo

'No,' said Harry Grimly, 'it was Malfoy being a prat. He probably thought it would be funny after you all insulted him earlier.'

'Well it wasn't funny!' burst out Sam, visibly shaken by the nights events

'It's OK, Sam. don't let it worry you,' said Frodo comfortingly, 'there was no harm done.'

Just then Ron and Merry walked in, closely followed by Hermione and Pippin.

'Oh, Frodo!' exclaimed Hermione, 'thank goodness you're OK!'

'Have Harry and Sam told you about Malfoy?' asked Ron. Frodo nodded.

'Well, we have more good news,' said Pippin proudly, 'we heard you Headmaster talking to Gandalf and Malfoy might be expelled for this!'

There was a chorus of cheering after this remark, Ron in particular did a little victory dance across the common room.

'Well, all's well that ends well,' said Sam, smiling.