Platform 3 ¼

Hermione was packing her backpack with things she might need for the day when her sister popped into the room. Elizabeth stared at the books and other things her sister had packed into the bag and shook her head.

"Your packing for an outing, not a trip, you do know that,"

"Don't you know that it is wise to be prepared," Hermione packed the last thing into her back and tied the draw string shut.

"That's the motto for Girl Guides. That's for camping trips,"

"Liz …"

"I told you not to call me that!"

"Fine, Elizabeth, that is the motto for everyday life." Hermione swung her pack over her shoulder.

"Can I come with?" This comment from her sister made Hermione turn to her.

"No. And anyways, why are you even interested in coming?"

"I can make Mum make you take me with you,"

"You just want to make my day miserable. She won't make me take you. We're a year apart only and you have your own friends." Hermione walked out the door. "Mum will say the same thing."

"You never go anywhere though, except the library or such places. You're such a bookworm Herm," Her sister followed her.

"Since I can't call you Liz, you can't call me Herm. What makes you think that I'm not going there today?"

"First of all, you took out all your allowance that was not in the bank fund but in your piggy bank. Second, you packed a map of London, of all places, when you can't even get there from here. Third, you did not pack a lunch, which you always do. You also didn't pack any of the notebooks you write in when you're doing your bookworm thing."

"You still can't go." Hermione hurried down the stairs and out the door. She got part way down the street and glanced back. She saw her sister at the front door frowning at her. Their mother had a hand on her shoulder holding her back.

M

Hermione arrived at the train station and saw the Elflings standing with two Hobbits. Irumi had her hair up in two ponytails that day, revealing her pointed ears. Hermione was a bit shocked at first, thinking it was Dal and Hedgin. But she then realized that these were two very different Hobbits. They were in fact dressed to the max in what one figured would be the style Hobbits would wear in Middle Earth. Hermione walked over to the group and was met with the two Hobbits smiling at her.

"Hello, I'm Pippin and this is my cousin Merry," The younger of the two Hobbits stuck out his hand and shook Hermione's.

"What exactly are two Hobbit's from the Fellowship doing on our outing to London?" Hermione stated with shock on her face.

The elflings gave her faces that said that the answer wasn't a very good one. Irumi was the one who told her. "They have quite a few Hobbit's angry at them for their little potato escapade. Not to mention word got out that they were causing trouble at my school again."

"Yeah, well, we felt since we got her into trouble, we might as well help," Pippin spoke up with a smile on his face.

"Pippin … we didn't know what kind of trouble we got her into until we got here. The last thing I expected was to have created a political problem for the Elves. Legolas, if he was around, would skin us alive for this goof." This statement from Merry caused the younger Elflings to grin and begin to laugh.

However, Ainel did not laugh. He had Errol in a cage so that they could take them back to the Weaslys'. "How do you two know I won't skin you alive? I have enough problems Elrohir and Elrodan's pranks as it is, I don't need them from you too."

"You know Elrond's sons?" Hermione asked.

"Well, duh," Pippin spoke up. "We got to fight with them."

Pippin felt someone hit his head. Merry glared at Pippin. "The only Elf I got to fight with was Legolas, remember? I was stuck in bed with injuries."

"Oh … sorry … I forgot Merry."

Hermione and everyone laughed. Even Ainel was laughing at this one. It was then that Hermione heard someone yelling her name.

"Hermione!" Hermione turned expecting her sister, while the others turned expecting to see Gigi. Hermione was the only one not surprised. Her sister stopped and looked at the group. She pointed at Merry and Pippin. "More Hobbits?"

"Of course we're Hobbits. What would be Elves?"

"No, you're too short to be Elves. They on the other hand are the right size to be Elves and … have pointed ears." A frown suddenly appeared on Elizabeth's face. Ainel pointed to a mirror on the wall and slowly a few members of the group began to sneak off and go through the mirror, unseen by Elizabeth who had her attention focused on her sister.

"What is the matter this time?"

"I'm telling Mum and Dad that you bewitched the Hobbits and Elves to be your friends. That's just wrong Hermione."

Hermione's eyes flared with anger, much like the times they did when she was facing down and intimidating a certain red head boy or a certain blond haired boy. "I've done no such thing."

Elizabeth felt a sudden tap on her shoulder and she turned around to look. It was then that Hermione felt two hands grab her and pull her towards the mirror. She felt the same feeling as she did when she went to and from nine and three quarters. By the time Elizabeth had turned around, she was gone.

M

"We have a problem with the fact my sister's figured out that you guys are Elves. She won't leave you guys alone."

"Well, eventually people at school were bound to find out." China stated. She glanced over to where Irumi was standing. The elfling had a miffed look on her face. Hermione walked up to her.

"I am sorry that my sister found out," Hermione was expecting the answer she got from Irumi.

"No you weren't." Irumi stated. But what Irumi said next shocked Hermione. "She's your sister and keeping things from family … it isn't easy. I should know. Anyways I don't blame you."

"What do you mean about knowing what it is like to keep things from family?"

"Well … Ai and I … we know how my cousin died and why he hasn't come back in it. We've had nightmares about it since we were little. And the thing is, for some reason I think that he saw us too." Irumi looked at the ground. "Anyways, I've only told my Grandada about it. I haven't told my Uncle. Parents … they shouldn't see or know how their children die. It would break my Uncle's heart if I told him. It might even kill him. All he has is Legolas."

"This is hard on you, isn't it, having seen his death. Have you told Galadriel?"

"Of course I have. She's the one who knows the gift backwards and forwards and is most adept at it. Grandada doesn't like her, but he insisted that we have a few lessons with her. He says that the gift tends to run in Elven families, so it isn't something to worry about. But she helped make the dreams a lot better."

"Do you think you'll ever get to meet you cousin in real life?"

"I really don't know. His death is why I hate human Wizards Hermione. They were the ones who did it. They are the ones who created the dimension where Middle Earth now lies instead of here. It was a huge group of them. Thankfully, the magic that did all that is gone. None still exist."

"But surely your cousin can come back from the Halls of Mandos?"

"Not if he never went there. You know how some spirits wander Earth out of their choice of not wanting to pass on? Well, these Wizards refused to let my cousin pass on. I am not sure, but I and Ai can sense it. Lady Galadriel can also. If it weren't for her being able to confirm it … I wouldn't believe this feeling myself. In order for my cousin to come home, whatever is blocking him from leaving must be destroyed. And that can only be done by Wizard magic as it was done by Wizard magic."

"But in order for that to happen, you have to trust us more,"

"Perhaps …" Irumi and Hermione looked when they heard Ainel call to them.

"I've got our tickets. Let's head out."

M

The train ride was nice and long. Hermione was enjoying riding on the train, even if it wasn't the Hogwarts Express. She was also excited to know that all her hopes and dreams were not for nothing. When the train pulled into the station, they got off. Ainel, Irumi and Ai were looking around for their Godmother, but couldn't find her.

"Ainel, do you think she forgot?" Irumi turned to the eldest among them.

"There is no way she could have, as old as that old Edain is. I called her last night to tell her that you guys were coming along too. She was quite pleased." The boy Elf pulled out a cell phone and made a call. After a few minutes he hung up... "She didn't forget. She's having problems with one of those blasted cats of hers. One that tends to trip her up, she said."

"I liked those kitties. That was one of the good things about my visit." Irumi sighed.

"She said we'll have to take Wizard transportation to get to her."

"She means the bus." Hermione said aloud.

Ainel looked at her then nodded his head. "Then you get to do the honors, as I haven't a clue what you're talking about."

Hermione led them to a secluded portion of the street and held out her wand hand. Everyone including the Elflings jumped as a huge double-decker bus appeared in front of them. They got on and headed to the back while Ainel gave the address. When they got off, Hermione's jaw dropped. She recognized where they were. She also knew who their Godmother was.

Author's Note –

Hermione pops up on the screen. "Well, I never in my life would have thought it was such a small world. I wonder if any of the readers can guess where we are and who this Godmother person is."