The shire was one of the most if not the most happiest and cheerful places he'd seen in middle earth. The people of the land seems to be halflings that grow only upto four feet with large feet and bellies, they spend most of their time in the pleasantries of life which means more than five meals a day, parties and celebration for mostly everything. There was also something magical about the hobbits and land itself it seems as though they had this uncanny ability to grow anything, the first time he set foot upon the land he could feel the goodness it was a complete opposite that of the lonely mountain. As much as he thought he could not find why gandalf came here because if there was anything the hobbits showed aversion to, it was adventures.
Noticing the nearby residences increasing he stopped ignotus and got off his back asking him not to stray of too far he made himself invisible and apparated silently near Gandalf. He saw Gandalf approach a home, it had a perfectly round door like a porthole painted green with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. He saw Gandalf knock on the door and out came a hobbit with curly hair who seems to be in the prime of his life. The conversation that occurred next was something I didnt know whether to laugh but what was mind boggling was that why it seemed that Gandalf wanted this hobbit to accompany them on this journey. But knowing that there was more to this wizard as he was a maia and would be doing this for a reason as foolish as it may be, he decided to wait as it looked like the journey of the dwarves would likely start from here and resolved to make a plan on how to introduce himself.
He warded a nearby region and put up his tent and made sure to give ignotus a meal and made some food for himself. Later he was laying in bed not that he needed much sleep but contemplating what would happen tomorrow and if his magical senses were accurate, which it were, his journey in this world would officially start tomorrow.
It only took the next day for the first of the dwarves to arrive, he had a blue beard tucked into a gold belt with a green hood and introduced himself as dwalin. Next came a old dwarf named balin and next twin dwarves of the names fili and kili who were reminding him of the Weasley twins as they seemed young and mischievous and then came again and again until Gandalf himself came. He knew Thorin would be arriving anytime now and hedwig's call confirmed his suspicion " Master harry why do you sent me to such boring tasks the little man just went around to talk to other little men and came here!" Hedwig grumbled. Taking some treats he made himself he offered to her and tried to appease her "sorry Hedwig but the man was just a really important person, and ensuring his safety was essential, who else would I trust such a job with?" trying to appease her, not that what he said was not true she was his most loyal friend. She puffed up her a chest a little at the praise, it was kind of comical to see a smug phoenix.
Seeing Thorin arrive he decided that to give a few minutes before making his presence known. As he was ascertaining what he was going to divulge he prayed to God that the meeting would go down without a fight. " Hedwig we're going to make our presence known, please do me a favour and not flame out without telling me, okay ? " he asked as he didn't want them to spook them on their first meeting.
" I'll try master, but if they try to hurt you I'm gonna set their beards on fire ". Chuckling a bit at the image, he made his way to the door and loosened his magical aura slightly so Gandalf could sense his presence and knocked
As Gandalf was trying to tell the need for Bilbo to come on this journey, he was cut short by a knock on the door. He was confused who was at the door at this time as all the dwarves have arrived, he could sense a magical presence one he hadn't felt in a decade and was bewildered why he didn't feel it's presence until now, he could also sense the presence of something light and pure on the other side of the door. As he was musing in his thoughts on what it may be, their host Bilbo baggins was moving to answer the door saying " I thought all of you had arrived " showing confusion unknowing by him mirrored in the expression of the present dwarves.
As bilbo opened the door standing there was a young man in emerald robes of more than 6 feet, he had messy black with pale skin that seems to have an immortal glow in it. But the most striking feature was his emerald green eyes that seemed to glow slightly and the white and silver bird that had perched on his shoulder it had the same immortal glow and radiated a purity and light that he hadn't seen in ages.
The young man looked at Bilbo and bowed his head in acknowledgement as did the bird and said "Hello Mr Bilbo baggins, Harry Potter and my friend Hedwig at your service" he said extending his hand Bilbo returned the gesture and seems to look between the two for a second before saying "Pleasure to meet you, could you tell me who you are and what type of bird is that" said Bilbo a little excitedly at the end. The man named harry seems to find this amusing as showed by the small smile on his face as he said "Well I'll tell you after If you let me in for a cup of tea."
Bilbo seemed to hesitate for a moment before letting the man in saying "well i'm sorry, do come in but I already have some guests if you mind."
The man ducked his head as he came in and chuckled lightly and said " I don't mind at all, well actually I would like speak to them as well."
Forgetting about the presence of dwarves i'm didn't see Thorin raising his sword at the man and was caught in suprise as the man as If sensing the sword, turned around and looked at Thorin straight in the eye.
Thorin looked shocked for a moment before composing himself and warned " State your purpose here stranger or your end will be quick."
The man seemed to think for a moment before saying something that shocked everyone including me " I'm here to help you reclaim your birthright Thorin Oakenshield prince of durin's folk."
Overcome by shock Thorin faltered for a moment before all the other dwarves including Thorin raised their weapons as Thorin threatened "Tell me how you know my name and of our goal, or are you a thief trying to steal the wealth of our people." as Thorin and dwarves was going attack at the moment it seemed like the right moment to intervene but before he could, something beautiful happened that he nor anyone in the room would forget, beautiful song filled the air that calmed the dwarves and filled the air with hope.
The man raised his hands in a placating gesture "I'm sorry to startle you but I wanted to be honest. l'll explain my origins as best as possible but only after you all withdraw your and retire to your seats."
"How do we know that you won't try to attack us ?" questioned Thorin
"I think your resident wizard can vouch for that." said the man gesturing for the first time since he arrived toward me.
Thinking for a moment before coming to a decision, praying to the valar that it was right one I said "Though I do not know this man and cannot say the truth in his words, the presence of this bird however shows his lack of malicious intent. I have travelled all over middle earth and not in all my days have i encountered something so pure and of light."
As though flattered by his praise the bird seemed to raise its head slightly, the man looked at me and in those emarald eyes i could see age and wisdom beyond how he looked and also a restrained power that made it glow slightly. " Thank you, and yes pheonixes have that affect on most people."
As they moved and sat they could see the slight tension in the air, Bilbo seemed to catch this and said "I'll just get your tea."
Knowing that he had to take control of the situation before it escalated further Gandalf addressed the stranger " Now would be good time to tell us the reason of your presence here and who your are "
giving him a chance to speak.
"Like I said my name is harry potter, I come from a land far from here a lot far and when I first came i travelled all over middle earth trying to find my purpose here. It was when I was in Bree a few days ago that I felt Gandalf's presence and following you, saw that you were having a conversation with Thorin. I eavesdropped on your conversation and could ascertain your goal."he explained it also confirmed his suspicion that this man knew magic.
Thorin interrupted him "Eavesdropped on our conversation, how could you do that without us noticing you" he asked suspiciously.
The man straightened slightly and looked at me for a moment before saying " I can use magic" as if to prove it he raised his hand and a spoon hovered from the table and changed into a frog then changed into a box which burst into flames which he shaped into a horse before disappearing in a flash of sparks.
To say I was shocked would be an understatement and it was mirrored in all dwarves including Bilbo as it seemed he arrived just in time for feat of magic.
He looked Bilbo and smiled "Thank you Mr Baggins" and reached to accept the tea. Bilbo seemed to shook himself for a moment serving the tea.
Asking the question that he had been pondering "Harry if I may, where is this land that is so far that you came from?"
He seemed weigh his before answering" Even though it may be hard to believe I am not of this world not of middle earth or even the land across the sea, I come from a different world altogether one were there was a magical community with people gifted with magic and they have been able to wonderous things with it. And I know that you felt my arrival." gesturing towards Gandalf.
He looked at Thorin and said " Aye it has been a decade but I still remember the arrival of something in the magic of Arda, it was something the white council discussed but we couldn't trace it because the magic of this land refused to divulge anything about it." It was something that left them bewildered at the time. But ultimately it was decided that if nature itself refused to say anything it wouldn't do us any harm or so we hoped."As for your arrival from a different world, it is something I can accept as works of Erü couldn't confined to Eä. But you still haven't told us of how you came to be here and why you want to accompany us to erebor?"
Harry looked around before sighing "The reason for my arrival cannot be divulged until it's time, as for how I came, well a higher power even beyond the valar send me to help the people of this world. My magic guided me towards you and this is where my journey must start." he said with conviction. He raised his hand " I swear on my magic that all that I have said is true and I wish no harm towards the people of Arda, i also do not seek the wealth of the lonely mountain." as he finished a bright flash occured startling everyone including him. He had never seen anyone invoke magic in such a way and he knew the man in front of him was telling the truth.
The dwarves surprised by the flash panicked and started to raise their weapons "Stop, i do not know what he did but I could sense the magic he invoked and everything he said was true because if he hadn't magic would've punished him" he placated the dwarves looking at Thorin giving the reasurreance he could. Thorin nodded before gesturing for them to lower their weapons.
"I believe In what Gandalf said about you i do not know what higher power sent your here and hope that your presence may help, but what exactly do you intend to do to help us? " asked balin curiously.
"As I said I have over been most of middle earth, before coming i arrived in Bree i was in erebor I have felt the presence of the dragon there. I've heard the breathing of the dragon as placed my ears on the walls of the mountain. It is not dead and it is in a deep slumber and when awakened will lay waste to the innocent people of laketown." as harry said his last world most of the dwarves started shouting at the mention of the dragon's presence.
Before it could escalate Thorin silenced with a shout and said "We all knew there was a huge chance that Smaug was alive but we are not going to let that stop us reclaiming what is rightfully ours" as the dwarves seemed to gain their courage.
Dwalin looked harry and said in and appraising manner " So you said about the dragon what are you gonna do about it ? kill it! " and laughed but before he could reprimand him, he felt the temperature drop, harry had fixed with dwalin with a stare and his green eyes glowed brightly with an emarald fire, dwalin seemed to shrink slightly from it, and he said in a voice that send a chill down the spines of all including him "That's exactly what i intend to do, and I will." with such a undercurrent of power even he believed him.
As the temperature returned to normal harry said strongly that showed the warrior that was inside "Like I said I came here to help the people, including you, the evil of the dragon will be purged from this land."
Thorin who had been silent during this interaction stood up looked at harry and said "I do not know if we should rely on you but I sense the honour of a fellow warrior laced in your words and that is something I respect" his words receiving nods from several dwarves including dwalin who looked a little green.
"Does that mean that we don't need the hobbit" asked Gloin.
As everyone turned and looked at Bilbo he shuffled slightly under the scrutiny "His part in our journey is essential regardless of the wizards presence" said Gandalf.
"But why, if this man can kill the dragon then we can reclaim erebor and restore its glory. The hobbit would only be a liability." said dwalin with a glimmer of hope in his eyes at the prospect of reclaiming his home land.
Before Gandalf could say anything, harry said as he was thinking of the taint of the dragon that was present in the land "The dragon has made a taint that seeps into the very being of the whole mountain, everything from the gold that it lays to the soil and trees of the mountain exclude a sickness. Even if I kill the dragon the taint would still be there, even more so by the presence of its corpse and I do not know a way to purge it of your land" Harry's words shocking the present dwarves and Gandalf as he never thought of such a possibility.
Thorin was thinking of the things the wizard said and couldn't help but wonder if said taint could drive him to madness as it had done to his forefathers. As he looked at balin he could see same foreboding that he was feeling.
"What proof do you have for such a claim?" asked Gloin a little gruffly.
It was Gandalf who answered "The evil that the beasts of first age exclude is true, but i never knew the extent of how it had affected erebor."
As everyone was thinking of the current predicament harry was thinking about the hobbit, he knew from Gandalf's words that Bilbo was needed for the journey but something told him even Gandalf himself do not see the role the hobbit has to play. Pondering a certain line of thought he was brought out of his musing by Bilbo.
"The blessing of yavanna could cleanse the taint" Bilbo was suprised he had said those words out loud.
"What do you mean Bilbo?" asked Gandalf as how would someone use lady yavanna'd blessing in such a way.
Bilbo seemed to look around for a moment before saying "Hobbits have worked on these lands for generations, from our forefathers time we have prayed to lady yavanna to bless our lands. It's what makes us so good at growing most things"
Harry was genuinely surprised but on further thought he shouldn't be as he could feel the innate magic of the shire aver since he came here. Consequent to Bilbo's explanation the company of dwarves and Gandalf showed more enthusiasm for the hobbit to join them. A contract was passed between the dwarves and the hobbit specifying the conditions. Bilbo seems to show reluctance and it was decided that they would start their journey in the morning, but something told him that the hobbit would surprise all of them.
