Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor do I generate and income
from this fan fiction. Same for Harry Potter and The Mists of Avalon.
Heck, I don't even generate REVIEWS, let alone anything else!
A/N: Welcome to another torturous chapter of Tales of the Nine. Not torturous to write, but if you think crossover fics are horrible, then it may be torturous. If you like HP and LOTR though, I think you'll like this story! Please review, all flames will be immediately fed to the Balrog or the Hungarian Horntail. Probably the Balrog.
*******Tales of the Nine**************************************************
The Fellowship, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, and several Professors were all gathered in Dumbledore's office. Many of the Fellowship were still in awe of the glittering contraptions littered about the room; Legolas was more intrigued by the magnificent looking phoenix who sat near Dumbledore's desk. They could hear the excited whispers of many people coming from the array of portraits that graced the walls and ceiling of the chamber.
Finally, everyone's eyes came to rest on Dumbledore, who was still transfixed by the strangely clad company in shackles before him. Several of them were staring at him as though he was a play; the look in their eyes was of pure disbelief. He finally sighed and looked at them with a hint of antagonism; the twinkle that usually could be found there had vanished. He stood up and walked in front of the Fellowship before addressing them.
"Who are you and what were you doing in the forest?" he asked.
Aragorn disliked his accusatory tone. "We are messengers, which is all you need know. We were only in the forest through the merest chance, and what we are doing is also not of your concern," he said.
"Why then did you attack the groundskeeper and a student?"
"The groundskeeper!?" Merry cried out in disbelief, "You mean he isn't a giant?"
Hagrid looked exceptionally ruffled at that statement, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione took it as though it had been a personal offense.
"Nah, I'm not a giant!" Hagrid said, "Not a full one at least," he added after a second of thought.
"Besides, who are you to jump to conclusions?" Harry said heatedly in his friend's defense.
"Yeah, what are you things anyway," Ron asked.
"I don't think they liked when you called them things, Ron," Hermione whispered in Ron's ear. The hobbits had bristled at his remark.
"We aren't things, thank you very much," said Sam petulantly.
"We're hobbits," said Frodo.
"Hobbits?"
"Yes, we are hobbits of the Shire."
"Right. Now I know I'm off my rocker."
"Well, you aren't the first not to have heard of us," Merry said after thought.
"It seems as though almost no one outside of Eriador even knows we exist," Pippin added with a long suffering look on his face.
Dumbledore held up his hands for silence and the debate came to a halt. He looked at Aragorn and asked, "Are you the leader of this group? Where do you come from?"
"Yes, I am the leader, or I have been since Gandalf fell in Moria. My company and I have come from Imladris, known to others as Rivendell," Aragorn answered swiftly.
"What is this Rivendell nonsense?" Snape asked contemptuously.
Aragorn turn sharply to face Snape.
"You do not know of Rivendell?" Aragorn asked in a puzzled voice.
Snape smirked. He strode over to Aragorn, still holding Pippin's chains, as the young hobbit was half dragged, half walked in Snape's wake.
"There is no such place as Rivendell," he said silkily, "Nor any such thing as hobbits either." At that, he turned to face the indignant faces of said hobbits. "Headmaster," he continued, "I believe they may be in league with the Dark Lord, especially with all of the nonsense they're talking about. Those things and places may be code words for some of his plans..."
Gimli flew into a passionate conniption the minute he heard, "I believe they may be in league with the Dark Lord."
"We are not serving the Enemy! We are against him!" the dwarf raged.
"So you say," said Snape contemptuously.
The Fellowship opened their mouths to protest in unison when Professor Dumbledore held up his hands for silence once more and said, "You're all innocent until proven guilty. We're not going to be able to get to the bottom of this tonight, so you'll all be sent to the dungeons until tomorrow, so that my colleagues and I can think on this. For the time being, you will remain there under lock and spell so that no more – ehem," he paused to decide on the right word to choose, "– incidents will occur. If you are innocent, we shall release you with a full pardon."
He signaled for the Professors to take the Fellowship back to the dungeons. They left Professor McGonagall with the three antagonistic and curious children and a completely befuddled gatekeeper. On their way out, Frodo asked his guard, Flitwick, "May I ask you a question?"
Professor Flitwick, who was actually a very kindhearted soul, didn't think it would harm anyone. "Yes," he replied.
"What is the name of this place?" Frodo queried as he surveyed his surroundings.
"You are in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Flitwick said.
"This is a school?" Frodo said incredulously, "A school of wizardry? But there are only five wizards! Actually, there are only four now," he sighed as he remembered Gandalf's fall in Moria.
"Wherever did you get that idea?" Professor Flitwick laughed. When Frodo looked at him strangely in response, Professor Flitwick was prompted to ask, "You actually think there are only five wizards?"
"Four, and there are only that many where I come from, though I suppose nothing here is the same, so I shouldn't be surprised," Frodo muttered the last part grimly under his breath.
They trooped with the rest of the company past their previous dungeons and down to a roomier, dry holding cell that was sparsely furnished and big enough for the whole Fellowship.
"I think you would be happier all together, unless I am much mistaken," Dumbledore said, his previously cautious mood softened under the thought that maybe the strangers were telling the truth. "We'll discuss this more in two days, once we have had a chance to think on what you've said." He paused at the door. "I'll have food sent down to you by the house elves as soon as possible," he finished. With that, he left the room.
************************************************************************
Most of the Fellowship sat on assorted mismatched chairs about the room; Frodo, Sam, and Pippin had managed to scramble up onto one of the beds while Merry sat on a blanket on the floor.
They discussed all of the things they had learned since ending up in this place with these strange people. Frodo had told them about the brief conversation he had had with Professor Flitwick and they began to wonder about how many wizards there were in this place, and what they were planning to do. The spoke until the food arrived; accompanied by the three children they had met.
************************************************************************
Hagrid spoke a short while longer with Professor McGonagall after the prisoners had left, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione were ushered out shortly after the rest of the people had gone. "It's about time the three of you got back to Gryffindor Tower," Professor McGonagall said as she showed them out.
"But what about our classes, Professor?" Hermione asked.
"Most of the classes will be on hold until everything gets sorted out," she said. Taking note of Hermione's horrified face she added curtly, "Don't worry; it shouldn't take more than a couple of days."
Ron and Harry exchanged grins behind Hermione's back before the trio set off to Gryffindor Tower. Once out of earshot of Professor McGonagall, Harry said, "This is great! No classes until that lot gets sorted out! Maybe those guys coming here wasn't such a bad deal after all!"
"It was almost worth getting shot in the arm for," Ron said sarcastically, but he grinned along with Harry.
"Honestly, you two, we're only five months away from O.W.L.s!" Hermione said.
"Hermione, we have FIVE MONTHS to study. Let's worry about that when it's actually time to," Ron said in an attempt to soothe her.
"Yeah, Ron's right, Hermione," Harry agreed, "I mean, how often do a bunch of weirdoes end up in the Forbidden Forest and cancel classes? I wonder if I could pay them to do this every time we had Divination or History of Magic?" he ended dreamily. Ron laughed and impersonated Professor Trelawney, the Divination teacher. "I predict that we shall be overrun by madmen who wish to kill Harry!" he said in his best mock-sympathetic, teary, scared voice.
Hermione threw up her arms in disgust and headed back to the common room without them.
A/N: Another chapter done. Whew! Next chapter, the Council at Hogwarts! (That title was just asking to be written, even though its not really a council.)
A/N: Welcome to another torturous chapter of Tales of the Nine. Not torturous to write, but if you think crossover fics are horrible, then it may be torturous. If you like HP and LOTR though, I think you'll like this story! Please review, all flames will be immediately fed to the Balrog or the Hungarian Horntail. Probably the Balrog.
*******Tales of the Nine**************************************************
The Fellowship, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, and several Professors were all gathered in Dumbledore's office. Many of the Fellowship were still in awe of the glittering contraptions littered about the room; Legolas was more intrigued by the magnificent looking phoenix who sat near Dumbledore's desk. They could hear the excited whispers of many people coming from the array of portraits that graced the walls and ceiling of the chamber.
Finally, everyone's eyes came to rest on Dumbledore, who was still transfixed by the strangely clad company in shackles before him. Several of them were staring at him as though he was a play; the look in their eyes was of pure disbelief. He finally sighed and looked at them with a hint of antagonism; the twinkle that usually could be found there had vanished. He stood up and walked in front of the Fellowship before addressing them.
"Who are you and what were you doing in the forest?" he asked.
Aragorn disliked his accusatory tone. "We are messengers, which is all you need know. We were only in the forest through the merest chance, and what we are doing is also not of your concern," he said.
"Why then did you attack the groundskeeper and a student?"
"The groundskeeper!?" Merry cried out in disbelief, "You mean he isn't a giant?"
Hagrid looked exceptionally ruffled at that statement, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione took it as though it had been a personal offense.
"Nah, I'm not a giant!" Hagrid said, "Not a full one at least," he added after a second of thought.
"Besides, who are you to jump to conclusions?" Harry said heatedly in his friend's defense.
"Yeah, what are you things anyway," Ron asked.
"I don't think they liked when you called them things, Ron," Hermione whispered in Ron's ear. The hobbits had bristled at his remark.
"We aren't things, thank you very much," said Sam petulantly.
"We're hobbits," said Frodo.
"Hobbits?"
"Yes, we are hobbits of the Shire."
"Right. Now I know I'm off my rocker."
"Well, you aren't the first not to have heard of us," Merry said after thought.
"It seems as though almost no one outside of Eriador even knows we exist," Pippin added with a long suffering look on his face.
Dumbledore held up his hands for silence and the debate came to a halt. He looked at Aragorn and asked, "Are you the leader of this group? Where do you come from?"
"Yes, I am the leader, or I have been since Gandalf fell in Moria. My company and I have come from Imladris, known to others as Rivendell," Aragorn answered swiftly.
"What is this Rivendell nonsense?" Snape asked contemptuously.
Aragorn turn sharply to face Snape.
"You do not know of Rivendell?" Aragorn asked in a puzzled voice.
Snape smirked. He strode over to Aragorn, still holding Pippin's chains, as the young hobbit was half dragged, half walked in Snape's wake.
"There is no such place as Rivendell," he said silkily, "Nor any such thing as hobbits either." At that, he turned to face the indignant faces of said hobbits. "Headmaster," he continued, "I believe they may be in league with the Dark Lord, especially with all of the nonsense they're talking about. Those things and places may be code words for some of his plans..."
Gimli flew into a passionate conniption the minute he heard, "I believe they may be in league with the Dark Lord."
"We are not serving the Enemy! We are against him!" the dwarf raged.
"So you say," said Snape contemptuously.
The Fellowship opened their mouths to protest in unison when Professor Dumbledore held up his hands for silence once more and said, "You're all innocent until proven guilty. We're not going to be able to get to the bottom of this tonight, so you'll all be sent to the dungeons until tomorrow, so that my colleagues and I can think on this. For the time being, you will remain there under lock and spell so that no more – ehem," he paused to decide on the right word to choose, "– incidents will occur. If you are innocent, we shall release you with a full pardon."
He signaled for the Professors to take the Fellowship back to the dungeons. They left Professor McGonagall with the three antagonistic and curious children and a completely befuddled gatekeeper. On their way out, Frodo asked his guard, Flitwick, "May I ask you a question?"
Professor Flitwick, who was actually a very kindhearted soul, didn't think it would harm anyone. "Yes," he replied.
"What is the name of this place?" Frodo queried as he surveyed his surroundings.
"You are in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Flitwick said.
"This is a school?" Frodo said incredulously, "A school of wizardry? But there are only five wizards! Actually, there are only four now," he sighed as he remembered Gandalf's fall in Moria.
"Wherever did you get that idea?" Professor Flitwick laughed. When Frodo looked at him strangely in response, Professor Flitwick was prompted to ask, "You actually think there are only five wizards?"
"Four, and there are only that many where I come from, though I suppose nothing here is the same, so I shouldn't be surprised," Frodo muttered the last part grimly under his breath.
They trooped with the rest of the company past their previous dungeons and down to a roomier, dry holding cell that was sparsely furnished and big enough for the whole Fellowship.
"I think you would be happier all together, unless I am much mistaken," Dumbledore said, his previously cautious mood softened under the thought that maybe the strangers were telling the truth. "We'll discuss this more in two days, once we have had a chance to think on what you've said." He paused at the door. "I'll have food sent down to you by the house elves as soon as possible," he finished. With that, he left the room.
************************************************************************
Most of the Fellowship sat on assorted mismatched chairs about the room; Frodo, Sam, and Pippin had managed to scramble up onto one of the beds while Merry sat on a blanket on the floor.
They discussed all of the things they had learned since ending up in this place with these strange people. Frodo had told them about the brief conversation he had had with Professor Flitwick and they began to wonder about how many wizards there were in this place, and what they were planning to do. The spoke until the food arrived; accompanied by the three children they had met.
************************************************************************
Hagrid spoke a short while longer with Professor McGonagall after the prisoners had left, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione were ushered out shortly after the rest of the people had gone. "It's about time the three of you got back to Gryffindor Tower," Professor McGonagall said as she showed them out.
"But what about our classes, Professor?" Hermione asked.
"Most of the classes will be on hold until everything gets sorted out," she said. Taking note of Hermione's horrified face she added curtly, "Don't worry; it shouldn't take more than a couple of days."
Ron and Harry exchanged grins behind Hermione's back before the trio set off to Gryffindor Tower. Once out of earshot of Professor McGonagall, Harry said, "This is great! No classes until that lot gets sorted out! Maybe those guys coming here wasn't such a bad deal after all!"
"It was almost worth getting shot in the arm for," Ron said sarcastically, but he grinned along with Harry.
"Honestly, you two, we're only five months away from O.W.L.s!" Hermione said.
"Hermione, we have FIVE MONTHS to study. Let's worry about that when it's actually time to," Ron said in an attempt to soothe her.
"Yeah, Ron's right, Hermione," Harry agreed, "I mean, how often do a bunch of weirdoes end up in the Forbidden Forest and cancel classes? I wonder if I could pay them to do this every time we had Divination or History of Magic?" he ended dreamily. Ron laughed and impersonated Professor Trelawney, the Divination teacher. "I predict that we shall be overrun by madmen who wish to kill Harry!" he said in his best mock-sympathetic, teary, scared voice.
Hermione threw up her arms in disgust and headed back to the common room without them.
A/N: Another chapter done. Whew! Next chapter, the Council at Hogwarts! (That title was just asking to be written, even though its not really a council.)