Chapter 14 – 'Just A Little Tweaking'
"Gandalf, I do believe that I will stand out amongst the company, being, well… tall." Hermione teased a little while she helped Gandalf secure the dwarves packs on the back of the ponies.
He chuckled slightly, "I dare say you will, My Lady. Is that an issue?" Gandalf had picked up that she wasn't just teasing. Hermione actually appeared quite concerned by this issue.
"Maybe… I believe I must blend more. My presence will only draw attention. I assume it's not every day the people of Middle Earth see a group of dwarves travelling with a wizard and a female human. We will draw attention, especially me being the only woman, and a young one at that." A crease had started to form between her brows.
"What are you suggesting, Lady Hermione?" Gandalf knew she had a plan but he himself was unsure of what it could possibly be.
"Just a little tweaking that's all." A smirk started forming on her lips, before she ran back in the Hobbit hole ducking through the doorway. Gandalf knew that they were about to leave and hoped that she would hurry. Being the only one running late would not be a good way to start this journey.
…
Hermione rushed into the little Hobbit bathroom and stood in front of what would be a full length mirror for a Hobbit. Hermione stared straight at her reflection never blinking, never breaking focus, "Reducio." She watched as her reflection slowly started shrinking. "Finite Incantatum." Hermione made sure to stop somewhere in between the height of Ori & Thorin, the shortest and tallest of the dwarves present. Once she was happy with her height she cast a few healing charms on her bruises and cut lip until they disappeared. Satisfied, she left the room. Not having to duck anymore was wonderful. Hermione hesitated at the front door for a moment before rushing back to the dining table, scribbled a quick note and hurried back to the company.
The dwarves had all mounted their, not so little anymore, ponies , and looked as though they were about to go. "You weren't planning on leaving without me were you?" Hermione called from down next to Fili and Kili's horses. She giggled as she watched them look around for her.
"Where… What on earth! How did you get so small there lassie?" exclaimed Bofur from the back of the pack. This of course drew everyone's attention to Hermione's location.
"Just a little tweaking you say…" Gandalf chuckled at Hermione's new stature, "Well I think you blend in perfectly now, however, you won't be able to ride this horse then." His brow dropped as he thought of where he could find another pony in a hurry.
"Lady Granger will ride Master Baggin's pony," boomed the voice of their leader, "Seeing as he won't be needing it."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that…" Hermione started but didn't continue, seeing the intense look Oakenshield was giving her. Unbeknownst to her, Thorin's look wasn't one of distain but of curiosity. He analysed her new 'look' he noticed her bruises and abrasions were all but gone.
"Let us take a bet," Gandalf announced to the group, "on whether or not you think Bilbo will turn up. Hermione will ride with one of you if he shows, if not then she can stay on his pony." He looked down at the little witch, who nodded consent to this arrangement.
Bets and wagers were being made left, right and centre. Hermione was glad to hear a few betting that he would show, but the majority bet against him.
"I bet he will show." Hermione piped in as Gandalf helped her onto the pony.
"Then I'll gladly take your money, My Lady." Shouted Gloin from the front of the group.
"We shall see."
…
Bilbo woke with a start remembering what had happened last night and he quickly got up to investigate. He raced around checking to find his home dwarf free. Everything was in its place, untouched except for his now empty pantry.
Bilbo's eyes were drawn to two items placed on his dining table. He saw that the unsigned contract had been left behind, as well as a little note written in beautiful handwriting.
An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered. Think about it Bilbo… Our biggest regrets are not for the things we have done but for the things we haven't done.
- Hermione
…
The long line of ponies trotted slowly along the main path out of Hobbiton with the company. Thorin lead the charge with Gandalf right behind him. They had departed from Bag End at dawn. All of sudden as they travelled along the East Road a voice called out from the woods behind them.
"Wait!" Everyone halted their ponies and turned to look.
What they saw was Bilbo bounding towards them, with a large piece of paper blowing behind him as he ran. Gandalf and Hermione beamed at the sight, whereas Thorin and a few of the older dwarves looked on with discontent.
"Sorry I'm late." he puffed at them, holding the contract up, "I signed it." Balin took the contract and inspected it.
"Everything seems to be in order." Balin said loudly so that Thorin could hear, "Welcome Mr Baggins to the company of Thorin Oakenshield." Balin smiled down at him.
"Give him his pony." Thorin commanded, his indifference to the hobbit's presence was evident in the tone of his voice.
"No, No. That's not necessary. I can walk you know." Bilbo started to argue.
"Not all the way Bilbo," Hermione's gentle voice said from right beside him causing him to step away slightly. "Oh you startled me Hermione… Hey what happened to you? You weren't this short last night were you?" Hermione just chuckled at him before he squeaked as two strong hands lifted him off his feet. Fili and Kili settled him on the pony that Hermione had occupied only moments ago.
"Where's your pony Hermione?" Bilbo asked as he looked around seeing no free ponies.
He looked over only to see Kili lift Hermione and place her in front of him on his horse. Hermione felt slightly uncomfortable with this arrangement but thought it best not to complain.
"Hey! Who said you got to ride with her?" Fili whinged at his brother, "I'm older and more responsible than you, therefore she should ride with me."
Kili went to argue back but Hermione held her hand up to stop him, "I won't be riding with Kili the whole way." Kili's broad smile faltered a little.
"It would be my honour then, Lady Hermione, to have you ride with me tomorrow." Fili declared, flashing her his most charming smile.
"I'll take good care of you, My Lady, I promise." Kili said with a cheeky grin, earning a few chuckles from the others who knew that the young dwarf was up to mischief already. Thorin looked back at his nephew and gave him a warning glare which coincidently was identical the glare currently residing on Gandalf's withered face.
The company was on its way again. Fili rode alongside Hermione & Kili and Gandalf had pulled back to travel next to Bilbo. Hermione tried adapting to this foreign form of transport but really she was just trying to prevent herself from leaning on the cheeky dwarf behind her, who, now thanks to her Reducio charm, sat about 2 inches taller than herself. Hermione had determined that her new height was 4' 6" (1.38 m), the same height as Balin. She came an inch taller than Bifur, Bombur, Fili & Ori and was only half an inch taller than Dori, placing Hermione height-wise somewhere in the higher range.
Kili and Fili were very talkative as they told Hermione stories of their home in the Blue Mountains and made jokes about the other members of the company, their care-free nature reminded her a lot of Fred and George, but a few times Fili even reminded her of Ron. Poor George, Hermione couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose a twin. The thought of losing Harry or Ron had tortured her for many years. A shout [I'm not entirely sure whether to make that 'A shout' or 'Shouting'] quickly drew her from her dangerous train of thought.
"Come on Nori, pay up!" yelled Oin, who was riding behind Gandalf. Nori threw a small purse over Bilbo's head at him.
"What's that all about?" Bilbo questioned Gandalf.
"They took wages on whether or not you would turn up."
"What did you think?" only a moment passed before Gandalf caught a purse himself.
"I never doubted you for a second my dear fellow."
Bilbo heard Hermione shout something at a rather grumpy looking Gloin before he too tossed a purse back at Hermione. As she caught it she looked back over her shoulder at Bilbo and gave him an encouraging smile. Bilbo couldn't help but smile back at her kindness.
"Ahhchoo!" Bilbo sneezed before mumbling about having a reaction to the horse hair as he fumbled around his pockets.
"Stop! We have to go back!" Bilbo shouted, causing all the Dwarves to stop looking back at the Hobbit.
"I've forgotten my handkerchief." Bilbo explained, causing all the company to groan at his foolishness, well, except Hermione who frowned at the others.
"Here, use this." Bofur called as he tore a piece of his clothing and toss it at Bilbo. Bilbo caught it between two fingers, unsuccessfully trying to hide his disgust at the rag in his hands.
"Move on." Boomed Thorin's voice from the front, his irritation at having been delayed twice now laced his voice.
Hermione looked over her shoulder towards Bilbo and silently cast a cleaning charm on the rag in his hands. Bilbo looked up shocked, seeing the filthy stained cloth in his hand, miraculously clean itself. He looked around to see if anyone else had seen it but everyone was either in their own world or chatting to one another, until his eyes landed on Hermione whose smile widened as she gave him a wink before facing forward, disappearing behind Kili. Bilbo tried to rationalise with himself but he couldn't find any other reasoning for her behaviour. Gandalf had noticed the hobbit deep in thought and had eventually figured out what was troubling him. So for the rest of the ride that day, Gandalf tried to fill Bilbo in on everything he missed that morning, including the fact that Hermione was a witch from another world.
…
The Dwarves began setting up camp for the night. Each Dwarf had a duty of his own to complete. Hermione walked around the campsite and watched each Dwarf intently. Bombur was setting up ready to start cooking dinner. He gave Hermione a smile when he caught her looking.
"Want to help, Lady Hermione?" He asked, already making room for her to join him. Hermione knelt down beside the Dwarf and passed him objects when he asked for them, helping prep the food before dumping it in the boiling water. He got her to stir it until the vegies and meat soaked up the water, turning it from runny soup to a gluggy stew. Bombur, once impressed with the consistency, started spooning it out for the rest of the company. He offered Hermione her bowl.
"Thank you, for allowing me to help you tonight and teaching me how to cook stew." Hermione said openly smiling at the now bright red dwarf, he just chuckled at her pleasure.
"Anytime Lady Hermione, you were very helpful."
After dinner Oin offered to teach Hermione about medicinal herbs & plants in Middle Earth, showing her drawings & descriptions in a little notebook he had. They sat by the fire for hours, discussing medicinal properties of the plants and how to apply them in order for their cures to be most effective. Oin even asked Hermione to help him gather any along the way just in case he missed them himself. Hermione was glad that some of the dwarves were beginning to accept her. Tonight she had cooked their dinner and although they were suspiciously hesitant at first, each one eat their meal, and now their healer was teaching her about healing in this world. Hermione had missed learning so much over the last nine months during her Horcrux hunting and found the dwarves teaching to be refreshing.