Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Harry Potter or the Lord of the Rings. And I'd also like to add that throughout the story I will have no choice but to adapt certain lines from the movie. I did not come up with them, Peter Jackson and New Line did.
Chapter 3: The Journey Begins
Harry turned to Frodo, who looked as surprised as he was. "My uncle always talked about leaving," he said slowly, "I never thought he was actually going to do it!"
"Did he say where he wanted to go?" asked Harry.
"The mountains. He wanted to go back to the Lonely Mountain, where he ended up in his first adventure that he told you about. And Rivendell. He wanted to see the elves again."
Harry had been shocked when Bilbo and Frodo told him about the elves of Middle-Earth, which was what this world was known as. Apparently the elves here were nothing like the ones at Hogwarts, they were free, and humans here held them in nothing but the deepest respect. Hermione would've been pleased, but maybe it was better that she didn't know. It would probably make her all the more obsessed with S.P.E.W., the society to gain house-elves their rights.
"Where's Gandalf?" he asked suddenly. He'd just realized that the wizard was nowhere to be seen.
"I don't-wait, there he is!" Frodo watched as Gandalf walked up to Bag End, opened the door, and disappear from sight.
"Come on, let's go talk to him," said Harry. They both got up and started walking toward the house. It was easier said than done. The hobbits kept coming up to them, bombarding them with questions. It seemed they expected that as Bilbo's nephew and heir, Frodo should know where Bilbo was, and they were now suspicious of Harry, who had turned up in their land without any explanation. Finally, the two friends managed to reach Bag End. Frodo ran in first, yelling, "Bilbo! Bilbo!" He stopped when he saw what was on the floor.
"What is it?" asked Harry, stepping in.
"It's Bilbo's ring," said Frodo, picking it up. Harry had no idea why, but he was suddenly filled with a strange desire for it. He quickly shook it off. After all, it was just a simple golden band. But it was a very pretty one…
"Gandalf?" asked Frodo. Harry was jerked from his thoughts as he saw Gandalf sitting by the fire, puffing his pipe, muttering words under his breath.
Suddenly he looked up at Frodo and smiled. "Bilbo's ring," he said, "He's gone to stay with the elves. He's left you Bag End, along with all his possessions." Gandalf took the ring and sealed it in an envelope. "Keep it somewhere out of sight," he said. Then he got up and started getting ready to leave.
"Where are you going?" asked Frodo, sounding distressed and bewildered.
"There are some things I need to work out." replied Gandalf.
"What things?" asked Frodo.
"Questions that need answering."
"But you've only just arrived! I don't understand."
Harry was feeling slightly put out; Frodo didn't understand, at least he hadn't been dropped in some world he knew almost nothing about. Harry was still trying to work out what was happening to him, let alone wonder where Bilbo had gone, what this mysterious ring was, or why Gandalf was leaving so soon.
Gandalf had paused, and turned to look at both of them. "Neither do I," he said simply, "Keep it secret; keep it safe." He turned to leave. "Oh, and Harry? Could I have a word with you outside please?"
Harry stepped outside and shut the door. He saw Gandalf looked deadly serious. "Harry," he said urgently, "I know you're confused and upset over what's happened to you, but I need to ask you a favor."
"What?" asked Harry.
"Could you please stay here and keep an eye on Frodo?" he asked, "I know you want to go home, but I also realize that that's not possible for you at the moment, and I really need someone here to look after him, and if the need arises, to protect him."
Harry let the last few words sink in before answering, "All right. I'll do it. But first, there are some things I need to know. Where's Bilbo? How'd he disappear? What's so important about his ring? And how come you need me to protect Frodo? Surely you don't think anyone in the Shire is dangerous?"
"No Harry, I don't. But it's not the Shire-folk that are worrying me. And I promise to tell you everything about Bilbo and the ring, when I have the time. But right now I really must leave. Just promise me that you will watch Frodo for me."
"I will," said Harry.
"Thank you. By the way, Frodo should be able to at least tell you how Bilbo found the ring, and what it can do, if you really want to know. Good-bye!"
Harry watched him leave, wondering when this nightmare would end.
But as the days passed, Harry felt that he could definitely get used to life in the Shire. It was a very peaceful place; the hobbits were friendly enough, once they got over their original suspicions. Harry hadn't forgotten what Gandalf told him, but it was hard to believe that anyone could be in danger in a place like this. Frodo had explained the whole story about how Bilbo found the ring, including the part about Gollum. Harry thought he sounded it a bit like Kreacher.
One night, months after the party, Harry, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin were at the local pub: The Green Dragon. It was a cozy little place, not unlike the Three Broomsticks. There the hobbits danced, sang, and drank a lot. It had become a favorite hangout for the five, who had quickly become good friends.
On this particular night, Merry and Pippin had gotten up on a table and started dancing and singing and drinking song. It didn't take long for the whole pub to join in. Frodo grabbed some ale and some stilled water for Harry, since he didn't drink, and they sat with Sam, his father the old Gaffer, and Ted Sandyman and his father.
Despite the fact that the Shire was so beautiful and peaceful, the Gaffer reported that all was not as well in the outside world. Apparently dwarves and elves were now constantly crossing the Shire's borders, but no one knew why. "The mountains are fair teeming with goblins," the Gaffer was saying. Harry knew in this world the goblins, and their larger versions, the orcs, were plain evil, not like the crafty bankers of his world. "War's brewing," the Gaffer continued.
"Far off tales and children's stories, that's all that is," said Ted, "You're beginning to sound like that old Bilbo Baggins. Cracked he was."
"And young Mr. Frodo, here," said the Gaffer, chuckling, "He's cracking!"
"And proud of it!" said Frodo, handing them their drinks, "Cheers Gaffer!"
"Well it's none of our concern what goes on beyond our borders. Keep your nose out of trouble and no trouble will come to you!" said Ted. Harry disagreed, but wasn't about to say it.
As they walked out, the bartender, Rosie, was saying good night to everyone. Harry couldn't help but notice the way Sam stared at her. As Ted stayed behind to do a whole thank you routine, he muttered, "Oh mind who you're sweet-talking!"
"Don't worry Sam," said Frodo, "Rosie knows an idiot when she sees one!"
Sam thought about that for a few seconds. "Does she?" he asked anxiously.
"Don't kid yourself Sam, you're no idiot!" laughed Harry.
It was very late by the time Frodo and Harry got home. They waved good-bye to Sam and stepped inside. It was then that Harry got a prickling on the back of his neck-a sure sign they were being watched.
"What the…" said Frodo. The place was a mess. It looked not unlike the Gryffindor dormitory, the day that Ginny had torn it apart looking for her diary. Harry walked inside, and went to light a few candles, when he heard movement behind him. He wheeled around and saw a hand grab Frodo's shoulder.
"Frodo, look out!" he yelled, and whipped out his wand. "Stupefy!" he said. The spell hit its target, there was a low grunt, and something fell to the floor.
Frodo shrank behind Harry. "What is it?" he asked.
Harry muttered, "Lumos," and his wand lit up at the tip. He shown it in the face of the thing he just stunned. He turned pale. "Uh-oh," was all he could manage to get out.
"What!" asked Frodo frantically, "What did you get?"
"Gandalf," said Harry simply, "I am in BIG trouble!"
Gandalf, as it turned out, was more forgiving then Harry had expected and feared. "Foolish boy," he was muttering, "But I suppose I shouldn't have startled you like that."
"Startled is putting it mildly," said Harry, "You gave me a real bad scare!"
"I'm sorry," said Gandalf, "But I need to know if that ring is still secret and safe!"
"Oh, that?" asked Frodo, "It's somewhere here." He shuffled through some papers before producing the envelope. Gandalf grabbed it and flung it in the fire. "What are you doing?" cried Frodo, voicing exactly what Harry was thinking.
Gandalf poked at the burning envelope with a fire tong, and managed to pick up the ring. "Hold out your hand Frodo," he said. Frodo hesitated. Getting his hand burned by a hot ring was not exactly at the top of his list of things to do. "It's quite cool," said Gandalf, as if he'd read the hobbit's mind, and he dropped the ring in Frodo's hand. "I want you to tell me," he continued, "Can you see anything?" Harry was utterly mystified. What was this all about?
"Nothing," said Frodo, "There is nothing." Gandalf looked relieved. "Wait," said Frodo suddenly, "There's some writing. It's some form of Elvish, I can't read it."
"There are few who can," said Gandalf, his eyes full of dread, "The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter hear."
Frodo now looked horrified. "Mordor?" he said fearfully.
"In the Common Tongue, it says: 'One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them. One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them!'" replied Gandalf.
Harry stared at him. "Ok…you lost me around the part where you threw the ring in the fire."
Gandalf sighed. "Sit down," he said, "This will take a lot of explaining."
Harry stared at him. "So you're saying that this ring that can make people invisible is actually a powerful dark ring made by a Dark Lord named Sauron, who sounds like my archenemy Voldemort by the way, and that if people find it they get all possessed and turn wraith-like and if Sauron finds the ring the world as we know it is doomed."
"You have the idea," said Gandalf.
"And Bilbo found it, so wait, was he possessed by it?"
"No. He resisted its evil. In the end he let it go of his own will. He'll be fine."
"Good," said Frodo, sounding relieved.
"But what are we supposed to do about it? Sauron doesn't know it's here, does he?" asked Harry, dreading the answer.
"No one knew it was here anyway," said Frodo, "Except for you, me, Gandalf, and Bilbo. Right Gandalf?"
"There was one other, who knew Bilbo had the Ring," said Gandalf heavily, "I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum, but the Enemy found him first."
Harry gulped. This wasn't good.
"I don't know how long they tortured him, but amidst the endless screams and inane babble they discerned two words: Shire and Baggins."
"Shire! Baggins! But that will lead them here!" cried Frodo, "Take it Gandalf!"
"No!" said Gandalf.
"You must take it!" said Frodo, trying to give it to him, but Gandalf backed away.
"You can not offer me this ring!" he said.
"I'm giving it to you!" said Frodo.
"Just take it!" shouted Harry, "If anyone can carry it it's you! What's the worse that could happen!"
"Through me it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine," snapped Gandalf, "No matter how good my intentions would be!"
"But it cannot stay in the Shire!" cried Frodo, sounding thoroughly distressed now.
"No. No it can't," agreed Gandalf, throwing a meaningful look at the other two.
It hit Frodo then. "What must I do?" he asked.
"You mean what must we do," said Harry, "I'll help you with whatever you have to do!"
Gandalf smiled. He was relieved; he needed Harry to go with Frodo but was afraid the boy would be unwilling. Harry had never really wanted to be here anyway. It was quite a sacrifice on his part, because it showed that he was starting to accept the fact that he wouldn't be going home anytime soon. But there wasn't much time to think of things like this. "You must leave," Gandalf said to them, "And leave quickly."
"Where? Where will we go?" asked Frodo, starting to get his things ready as he spoke.
"Get out of the Shire! Make for the village of Bree!" replied Gandalf.
"Will the Ring be safe there?" asked Harry.
"I don't know Harry," said Gandalf, "But I'll be waiting for you at the Inn of the Prancing Pony. I must see the head of my Order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me; he'll know what to do. Now remember, travel only by day, and stay off the road. And you'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you Frodo, for that name is not safe outside the Shire."
"I can cut across country easily enough," said Frodo.
"Yeah, you don't have to worry about us!" said Harry, trying to sound confident.
Gandalf smiled, "My dear Frodo," he said, "Hobbits really are extraordinary creatures. You can learn all there is to know about there ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years, they can still surprise you! As for you Harry, I'll be worrying about you every second of every day until I'm absolutely certain that you are both safe!" No sooner had the words left his mouth when there was a rustling noise from underneath a window. "Get down," whispered Gandalf. Harry, who'd had far too many experiences to not know what to do, grabbed Frodo and ducked down. Gandalf thrust out his staff and hit something in the head. He reached down and pulled out a very startled and very frightened Sam. "Confound it all Samwise Gamgee! Have you been eavesdropping!" he yelled furiously.
"I haven't been dropping no eaves sir, honest!" stuttered Sam, "I was just under the window there, if you follow me!"
"A little late to be trimming the ferns don't you think? Speak!" Gandalf never let his guard down.
Sam was so scared he was close to tears. "N-nothing important! That is, I heard a great deal about a ring and a Dark Lord and something about the end of the world! Please Mr. Gandalf, sir, don't hurt me! Don't turn me into anything unnatural!"
Harry and Frodo were now laughing so hard it was hard for them to stand. They were half-relieved, half-amused by the sudden turn of events. Even Gandalf was trying hard not to smile. "No," he said, "Perhaps not. I've thought of a better use for you!"
Gandalf's idea, as it turned out, involved Sam coming along for the journey. In a dangerous mission like this, you could never have too many companions, as far as he was concerned. He led them into the wooded area where they first found Harry and stopped. "Is it safe?" he asked Frodo. Frodo put his hand by the pocket where he kept the Ring. "Never put it on. For the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember, the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found!" He looked at Harry. "Harry, I need you to listen to me very carefully. You are of the race of Men, despite the fact that you are a wizard. You will be naturally drawn to the Ring, but you must resist that. If you don't, I don't want to think of the consequences."
Harry nodded. He felt very nervous. He'd never liked that feeling he got that night after Bilbo's party, the night he first saw the Ring.
Gandalf mounted his horse and rode off. The three of them looked at each other, and then set off.
It wasn't too bad of a journey at first, and Harry started to feel better as they walked through country fields and across streams in the open sunshine. Suddenly Sam stopped. "This is it," he said.
"What's it Sam?" asked Frodo.
"If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been."
Harry grinned mischievously, "Kinda exciting isn't it?" Then he walked back to Sam. "I understand Sam," he said, "I remember when I first boarded the train to got to school and learn to be a wizard. I had this feeling like I was taking a big step, starting a whole new life."
"What's a train?" asked Sam.
"Follow me and I'll tell you!"
"That's not fair!" protested Sam.
"Take it or leave it," replied Harry, starting to walk away.
Sam sighed, and ran after him.
That evening they stopped to make camp in a little forest. Suddenly they heard voices singing. "Harry, Sam," said Frodo, smiling, "Wood-elves!"
They ran up near the road, where they could see beautiful people dressed in white, walking along the road, carrying banners and singing something Harry couldn't understand. Despite that he was mesmerized. These elves were definitely not like the miserable little slaves that were used to being forced around by wizards.
"They're going to the harbor beyond the White Towers," said Frodo.
"They're leaving Middle-Earth," said Sam.
"Never to return," finished Frodo.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"The Elves are building ships and sailing across the Sea to the Undying Lands in Valinor. Once they leave they can never come back. It's sort of like dying," explained Frodo.
"So it's like Heaven?" asked Harry.
"In a way, yes."
"Are they all leaving?"
"Most of them are."
"I don't know why," said Sam, "It makes me sad."
And Harry was left to ponder all of this for the rest of the night. When they got up the next morning, he was rather tired.
They continued their journey and started cutting through a corn field. Harry and Sam unintentionally fell back as Harry started telling him all about Hogsmeade, the Three Broomsticks, and their world famous butterbeer. Sam was fascinated, until he looked up and saw that Frodo was gone. "Mr. Frodo?" he called. There was no answer. The two of them began to panic.
"Frodo?" called Sam frantically.
"Oh great," said Harry, "Don't tell me we just lost him. I don't want to face an angry Gandalf!"
"I'm right here!" said Frodo, coming around the corner. The other two were relieved.
"We thought we'd lost you!" said Harry.
"Gandalf specifically told me: 'Don't you lose him Samwise Gamgee!'" said Sam.
"Yeah, he said something similar to me, the night of Bilbo's party," said Harry.
"You guys, we're still in the Shire! What could possibly happen?" asked Frodo/
That's when Merry and Pippin decided to make their entrance by running out of the corn and tackling all three of them. Pippin looked utterly delighted at the sight of them. So did Merry.
"Harry. There you are," he said, sounding all business, "Hold some of these will you?"
"So what did you guys do this time?" asked Harry.
Sam already had the answer. "You've been into Farmer Maggots' crops!"
"Again?" asked Harry.
"It was only a few mushrooms…" Merry started to say, but he was interrupted by the sound of dogs barking and Farmer Maggot yelling. "Run!" he yelled.
"I've got a better idea," said Harry. He aimed his wand in the direction of the noises. "Locomoter Mortis!"
The yelp that followed told Harry he'd done his job. "You blasted wizard!" he heard Farmer Maggot shirek, "Curse you! I lost the feeling in my legs again!"
Merry and Pippin were laughing. Harry turned to a confused Frodo and Sam and said, "It's the Leg-Locker Curse, I've used it before on little misadventures I've had with these two. But we have to hurry; it wears off pretty quickly."
With that they plunged through the corn and ran until they got to a ledge that led outside the field into the woods. They tried to stop, but bumped into each other and ended up rolling down the hill into a little road that led through the trees.
As they got up, Pippin, of course, was the first one to spot mushrooms growing along side the road. He, Merry, and Sam ran over and started filling their pockets. But Harry was feeling a little jumpy; he'd just got that funny prickling on the back of his neck again. He looked at Frodo, who was staring avidly at the road. He walked up to him. "Frodo," he said quietly, "I think we'd better get off the road and hide. I don't know why, but I get the feeling something's out there."
"You and me both," muttered Frodo. He turned to the others. "Get off the road!" he said, "Quick!"
Luckily the hobbits found the perfect spot to hide, an overgrown tree root that branched out like a roof over there heads when they jumped underneath it. Unluckily for Harry, it wasn't big enough to conceal him. He had to run a little deeper in the woods and get behind one of the thicker trees. Not a moment too soon. He heard a horse ride by, and then it stopped. Something jumped off it. Harry risked a look, and what he saw filled him with dread. A dementor! What on earth is a dementor doing here? he wondered. But then he realized it couldn't be a dementor: the air didn't feel any colder, it wasn't darker, and this thing wasn't gliding, but walking. Harry also remembered that a dementor had no need to ride a horse. So what was it?
Harry was still panicking slightly when it hit him that the hobbits were in more danger than he was. This black rider, or whatever it was, was now crouching near the root, sniffing the air. Any moment now and it would find his friends. Harry had to do something fast. He looked around and saw a rock nearby. "Accio," he whispered. His idea was to try to fling the rock somewhere for the rider to see so that he would chase after the "decoy". But the rider heard him, and looked up. It started to make its way towards him.
Harry didn't know what to do. He was trapped. After a few tense seconds, he decided the only thing to do would be to try to repel it like a dementor. He leapt out from behind and yelled, "Expecto Patronum!" A huge silvery stag leapt out of his wand and charged the black rider. The effect was better than he had hoped. The rider was hurtled through the air, and fell near its horse. It gave an angry, unearthly screech that made the hairs on the back of Harry's neck stand. But he held his ground, wand raised. "Get it!" he yelled to the stag, and it galloped towards the rider, who immediately fled on his horse. The stag chased it down the road and out of sight.
The hobbits dashed out from behind the road, gasping their thanks. "No problem," said Harry, "But we'd better go!"
They ran through the woods. Even when night fell, they kept going, mainly because they could hear the rider shrieking, and worse still, there were others answering. Harry wanted to light his wand, but he didn't dare attract these riders. So they were forced to keep running in the dark, ducking behind trees occasionally.
Pippin was exhausted, confused, scared, and hungry. "What is going on!" he demanded finally, as they checked to make sure the coast was clear for the tenth time.
Merry wasn't sure, but he had a pretty good idea. "That Black Rider was looking for something. Or someone. Frodo?" he asked.
Frodo knew he could trust these two, he just wasn't sure how they would take the information. Finally he said, "I have to leave the Shire. Harry, Sam, and I must get to Bree."
Merry nodded. "Right. Buckleberry Ferry. Follow me!"
They dashed off after Merry, but found their way soon blocked by a Black Rider. The hobbits screamed, while Harry completely lost it and started shooting every spell he could think of. "Stupefy! Expelliarmus! Inpedimenta!" he yelled, but the spells seemed to go right through the rider. The most they did was knock him off his horse. But it was enough to give the hobbits time to escape to the Ferry. Except for Frodo. He was slower than the others. Harry quickly scooped him up and ran as fast as he could. He hadn't run this fast since that night in the graveyard. The hobbits were screaming to him, praying for him to run faster. The Rider was close behind though; it was almost upon him when he leapt over the bridge and (with the help of some of his magic) managed to land on the Ferry. He looked back.
The Rider had halted at the edge of the dock. It was shrieking again in anger. Then it turned and followed some more of its friends as they galloped away.
"How far to the nearest crossing," gasped Frodo. After that little episode of being nearly squashed by Harry, it was no wonder he was out of breath.
"Brandywine Bridge, 20 miles," replied Merry. He took a paddle and started to row away.
"Here," said Harry, "It'll help if I do this." He tapped the end of the ferry with his wand and it shot off across the river.
"Thanks Harry," said Merry, "That'll definitely save us some time."
"Good thing too," said Frodo, "We need to get to Bree as soon as possible."
"Why?" asked Pippin, "You still haven't told us what's going on! Who were those Black Riders, and why were they after you?"
Frodo looked at Sam and Harry. Harry nodded. "Go ahead," he said, "Tell them." Sam didn't say anything.
"Ok," said Frodo, "You might want to sit down. This'll take a lot of explaining."
A/N: Ok, I really don't know if Rosie is the bartender of the Green Dragon or not. It's not mentioned in the book, and I'm not sure really what her job at the pub was anyway. The movie never made that really clear. And this chapter was longer than I expected, but I really wanted Chapter 4 to be about Bree. This means the next chapter should be shorter. Review!
To my reviewers:
UK All The Way: They'll turn up, don't worry! The thing is they all fell into different areas of Middle Earth. The story will mostly be from Harry's POV anyway, until we get to chapters in The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
Genesis: Thanks for your advice! I'll try to change it as much as possible, though in the end it's going to have to turn out the same. This is more about how the experience changes Harry, because he now has finally found people who understand what he goes through (ex. Frodo, Aragorn). As for the Fellowship, I'm hoping to write a sequel if this one turns out good, where they go to Hogwarts and help with the final battle between Harry and Voldemort. That should make for an interesting turn of events!
Keep reading and reviewing, all of you! It makes me want to write more!
