It was early dusk the sun just barely peaking out the horizon the Dwarves gathering their things Gandalf was also bright and early as well seeing the company counting inventory of their weapons and other essentials he spotted Hermione still asleep.
"Miss Granger" he called out quietly as he shook her awake
Stirring her eyes opened up with Gandalf as her first sight.
"...and her I thought it was all a dream" she said with a chuckle and a small portion of disappointment
"Unfortunately it is not, now come we have a journey to venture" he chuckled back
Doing as told she grabbed her cloak and wand waiting alongside Gandalf, after their gear was packed the entire team left the Baggins home. Luckily before waking the young Hermione Gandalf traveled to the nearest stable to buy a horse for her to travel on. The company packed their ponys and the extra baggage on a spare pony they had.
"Alright now let's hurry I want to be out the Shire before nightfall" Thorin ordered leading
"Gandalf how far is it to get to the Lonely Mountain?" Hermione asked as tried to ride properly on her horse
"It's hard to say my dear, if we don't run into any trouble not long" he answered
"And if we run into trouble?"
"Then it might take longer than expected"
As they just exited the Shire putting a bit of distance between it and them a voice shouted out to them.
"Wait!!"
Looking back they saw Bilbo Baggins running as far as his short legs and breaths could take him.
"I signed it!! I signed it" he said stopping by Balin handing the unfolded contract
Balin held it firmly in hand and looked at it to see if everything was in order.
"Well everything seems to be in order, well master Baggins welcome to the company of Thorin Oakenshield" he said shaking his hand
"Very well get him a pony" Thorin ordered
"Oh no that won't be necessary-ah!" He began until he was interupted by Fili and Kili lifting him up onto a pony
A partial of the ride seemed to be of Bilbo trying to keep control of his pony, it was a mostly pleasant ride though Hermione saw Thorin catching a few glances of her and Gandalf.
"Tell me miss Granger, where do you come from?" Thorin asked refocusing on the trail
She was hesitant to tell the Dwarve until she came up with a answer.
"Just a small village from the south nothing grand" she answered
"The south you say, so you must be from near Rohan then, but my question to you Gandalf is how did you two meet" he commented
"Young Granger here was lost, asked her is she wanted to come long"
"And your answer?" Thorin asked returning to her
"I said yes, like Gandalf said I was lost and I needed some guidance" she simply answered
Deeming it as an acceptable answer he returned his attention back to the trail it had been a more than pleasant morning that is until it began to downpour Hermione had wanted to use a spell to keep it off them, but Gandalf advised her against it unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Gandalf! Can you do something about this deluge!?"
"Sorry master Dwarve, but if you want me to change the weather of the world you can find yourself another wziard!" He responded
"Are there others?" Bilbo asked
"Other what?"
"Other wizards" Bilbo asked the question also interested Hermione as well
"Yes, there are five of us two blues...unfortunately I have forgotten their names Radaghast the brown who prefers the company of forest and those dwell within and then there is Sarumon the white the head of our order" he explained
It had gotten dark as quickly as they noticed it finding a nice spot by some well covered rocks the company set up camp for the night. Bilbo nonchalantly walked over to his pony trying his best to hide his hand.
"Here you go" he said feeding the pony an apple
"That's nice of you" Hermione said making the hobbit jump
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you"
"That's okay, miss Granger you just caught me off gaurd" he said
A screech in the night made them look to the horizon as did Fili and Kili who sat by the fire.
"What was that?" Hermione asked
"Orcs" Fili answered
"Orcs?" Bilbo asked
"Yes, though they won't come this way probably just a hunting party" Kili answered
"Don't worry master Baggins, they won't come and snatch you in your sleep" Fili joked
"That is nothing to joke about" Thorin said his booming voice catching his nephews off gaurd
"I didn't mean anything by it uncle" Fili apologized
"That is because you know not of what you speak of" he said going to the nearby cliff and began to scan the horizon for the thing he hated most
It was quiet with only the crackle of the fire filling the void.
"Don't take too hard, Thorin has much reason to hate Orcs" Balin reassured them all
"Why does he hate Orcs?" Hermione asked taking a seat on a small rock
Balin smiled as he truly did love to retell the tale of Thorin Oakenshield.
"It was long ago when Thorin's father Thrain attempted to retake an old city of Dwarves..." Balin began
"Battle raged as Orc iron clashed Dwarven steel at the gates of Moria one dwarf after another died as well as an orc the stone painted red with blood the screeching of the orc horde was match with the roar of the Dwarven army. The tide had slowly went into the orc army we lost more men that was when 'he' the pale orc Azrog the defiler appeared on the battlefield our king at the time Thrain met him at the centre the two clash
The giant began to strike Thrain only managed to shield himself unable to fight back Azrog chopped of his head destroying whatever spirit we had until Thorin charged him sword in hand and fought the orc
The two until they could no longer draw breath that was until Thorin picked up a oak branch using it as a shield and with one blow he chopped off the pale Orc's hand that was when our spirit just like a miracle reappeared
Pushing the horde back into Moria we lost many that day, but at the cost of loss we gained a truly great king, a leader to reclaim our home"
As Balin finished his tale the other
Dwarves stood looking on at their king, Hermione was awe of the sight she had never seen such dedication and loyalty she could tell just by their faces that these men would sacrifice their life as would he.
"Get some rest, we have a long journey ahead of us" Thorin ordered
As young witch lay she had difficulty falling to sleep rising from her slot on the hard ground she went to find a place to think. Finding a place on a rock overlooking the hills she began to rub her wand gently thinking about her friends, what were they doing? Did they defeat Voldemort?" She would never know.
"You should be careful where you sit" Thorin suggested as he approached her
"Oh my apologies did I wake you?"
"No, I volunteered to stand guard that doesn't explain why you are awake"
"Oh nothing you could say I'm just feeling a bit troubled" she answered
"By what?"
"Had friends back...home and I was just wondering if they were having as much an adventure as I was" she chuckled slightly returning her gaze to her wand
"What is that?" He asked noticing it was no mere stick
"Oh it's my candle lighter, a small piece of home you could say" she said with a smile
"I'm sure you'll see it again, as I hope I can one day return to mine"
"That's why I'm here to help do just that" she added with a smile
"Well Lady Granger you should get some rest or you won't be ready by dawn" he chuckled as left
Gandalf looked on from a spot the two couldn't see him and smiled.
'Maybe miss Granger can get through that skull of his' he thought