A/N: Same disclaimer as the previous chapter. Please read and review!

The sky was getting dark quickly, and Malfoy and Hermione lit their wands.

"We should, err…go see if there's any civilization around here." Hermione stuttered.

Now that the heat of the battle had died down a bit, things got slightly awkward with Malfoy. Her head raced with questions. Why was he helping her? Why did Harry-She pushed all thoughts of him and her other fallen friends to the back of her mind. Later, she would let the grief come. But now, she had to first find a way to survive the night.

As they cautiously ventured into the dark forest, a flicker of flame caught her eye. "Malfoy," she whispered and tilted her head towards the fire in the distance. He nodded and they quietly crept closer. Three large trolls were gathered around the fire. A fence surrounding a couple ponies was there as well as-a small movement made her squint her eyes.

Something small was creeping towards the ponies. It straightened up and she could see that it was a man. A very small man. Malfoy prodded her shoulder and pointed to the little man. She nodded impatiently and crawled closer to see what he was doing. It seemed like he was trying to free the ponies by the way he tugged at the rope holding the fence together. When the ropes wouldn't give way, he crept towards the trolls. Hermione feared for the little man who couldn't have been taller than her chin as he tried to remove a crudely made knife from one of the trolls.

Suddenly, the troll reached behind him and scooped up the little man, and sneezed on him. Hermione let out a little gasp the man reminded her of a hobbit from the Lord of the Rings. Her favorite books growing up. The trolls squealed in shock and dropped him. Soon they were trying to catch the little man, who scuttled away, ducking between their legs. However one of the trolls caught hi and was dangling him upside down. Hermione couldn't stand to see him be eaten, so she stepped out from her hiding place. Before she could get the trolls' attention another man, though slightly taller, leapt from the bushes. He was holding a sword and slashed at the trolls' legs.

"Drop him!" he yelled.

"You what?" one of the trolls grunted.

"I said, 'Drop him'." His eyes glittered with a warning at the trolls. As if sensing another presence, his gaze flickered to Hermione, who still stood there, and his eyebrows frowned in confusion. He managed to look back in time for one of the trolls tossed the little man back at him.

A battle cry erupted from the bushes and other en burst forth, attacking the trolls. Hermione spotted the little man crawling and scurrying back towards the ponies. Hermione made up her mind and dashed to help. She faintly heard Malfoy hiss at her to get back, but she was already at the ponies. She pushed the little man aside and muttered, "Diffindo."

The ropes came apart and she opened the gate. Malfoy was now at her side and was about to pull her back into the bushes when one of the trolls grabbed her and the little man and held them by their arms and legs.

"Put your arms down," it snarled, "or we'll rip theirs off!"

"Bilbo!" the first man called and Hermione's eyes widened with shock. Bilbo…Baggins? Then that must mean the men were not men at all! They were the dwarves of Erebor! Her mind reeled once more. Middle-Earth? Was that where they had landed? But they were just a story, a figment of one brilliant author's imagination, weren't they?

While her mind was racing, she faintly heard Malfoy scream, "Put her down!"

But the dwarf, Hermione guessed was Thorin by his regal posture, stuck his sword in the ground with a frustrated expression. The others had no choice but to accept their leader's decision as they too threw down their weapons. She glared at Malfoy and he hurriedly stowed his wand.

Soon the trolls had stuffed them all into brown sacks tied at their necks. Hermione knew this part well. The trolls argued amongst themselves for so long until the sun rose and would turn them to stone. All they had to do was stall them.

"Wait!" Bilbo called out and struggled to his feet. "You are making a big mistake!"

"You can't reason with them!" a dwarf cried out. "Their halfwits!"

"Halfwits?" another answered. "What does that make us?"

The trolls gave him suspicious glares. "I mean with the sage. You'll need some stronger seasoning before you plate up this lot. I mean, have you smelled them?" The dwarves struggled and yelled insults at Bilbo for that.

"And what do you know about cooking dwarves?" a troll snarled. But the other troll waved it off.

"Let the flurburhobbit speak."

"The secret to cooking dwarves is…" he faltered, not knowing what to say. "Is…"

"Go on!" The troll stepped forward menacingly.

"Yes, I'm telling you! The secret to cooking dwarves is.."

"To skin them first!" Malfoy added in a helpful tone, but the dwarves started yelling at him and struggling in their sacks.

"Tom, get me fileting knife," the troll gestured. But the other troll impatiently picked up the fat dwarf Hermione guessed was Bombur and dangled him over his mouth.

"Wait!" she called out desperately.

"Not that one! He's…Infected!" Bilbo searched his brain for more ideas. "He's go worms in his..."

"Tubes!" Malfoy once again supplied.

"Yes!" Bilbo looked relieved. "In fact they're all infested. Terrible business. I wouldn't risk it, I really wouldn't."

Once again, the dwarves were shouting and struggling, until after a well-administered kick to one of their heads, they all caught on to Bilbo's plan and started yelling again, this time confirming his claims.

"What would you gave us do then? Let them all go?" The troll glared.

"Well…"

"You think I don't know what you're up to? These little ferrets are taking us for fools!"

"Ferret?" Malfoy screeched.

"Start with the woman!" The troll pointed at Hermione and she paled. Where was-?

"The dawn will take you all!" a tall figure stood on a rock, and slammed his staff onto the rock, which split. The rays of sunlight streamed through the crack. Immediately the trolls turned to stone as they tried to shield their eyes from the gleaming sun.

Quickly, Hermione and Malfoy cut through their sacks with muttered "diffindo"'s. Once she was free, Hermione made fast work of freeing the dwarves and Bilbo as well.

"And who might you be?" A deep voice said behind her. She turned around and excitement bubbled within her. Hermione met the twinkling blue eyes of Gandalf the Grey. But he also looked strikingly similar to another powerful wizard she knew.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Malfoy gasped next to her, looking skeptically at their old headmaster.

"Good day, Mr. Malfoy. I see you are looking far better than when we last met." Malfoy paled, remembering that night on the Astronomy Tower. He lowered his eyes quickly.

"Professor?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

"Hello, Ms. Granger. What an odd coincidence to see you and Mr. Malfoy standing before me."

"Why aren't you dead, sir?" Malfoy asked quietly.

"Before I answer you, you should know that I am known here as-"

"Gandalf." A deep voice said from behind him, Gandalf turned around met Thorin's intense stare. He then faced Hermione and Malfoy.

"Later, then," He winked good-naturedly at them before following Thorin, where only sent them a distrustful glare.

"What the hell, Granger?" Malfoy looked at her with slightly crazed eyes. "Why is Dumbledore here? He's supposed…I killed…Snape Killed him!"

"Your guess is as good as mine Malfoy," Hermione spat. "But…here he's called Gandalf the Grey."

"How do you know that?" Malfoy asked suspiciously.

"Well, if you had paid attention, you would have noticed Thorin calling him Gandalf not a minute ago."

"Thorin? Who? What?" Malfoy spluttered.

"I think we're in Middle earth…" Hermione bit her lip nervously.

"Where the hell is Middle Earth?" Malfoy was still utterly confused.

"Middle Earth…Middle Earth. Haven't you read the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings? No, I suppose you haven't. It is quite a muggle story." She mused.

Before Malfoy could open his mouth, Dumbledore…err Gandalf called them over.

"My Malfoy, Ms. Granger, May I introduce you to the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield?" Hermione felt the urge to shudder as Thorin scanned them over with icy blue eyes.

"Thorin, this is Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. Where were past students of mine." Gandalf's eyes twinkled merrily.

"Ms. Granger, am I correct to assume you have read…books on Middle Earth?"

"Yes, sir." Hermione nodded.

"Good, then you and Mr. Malfoy can make yourselves useful." Gandalf looked them over with an approving smile.

"Sir, our arrival was not mentioned in any of the books. Would it be dangerous to…change the outcome?" Hermione wondered.

"My dear, your situation is not as severe as time travel." Gandalf said kindly. "I trust that whatever you with to alter will only be helpful towards this quest. However, I must ask you not to interfere too much. There are valuable lessons that must be learned on all stages of this quest. By everyone."

"Yes, sir." Hermione nodded.

"Can someone tell me what the bloody hell is going on?" Malfoy asked tensely.

"It means, Mr. Malfoy, that you will be donating your skills for the benefit of this quest." Gandalf said simply.

"Gandalf," Thorin's deep timbre interrupted. "This is my quest. How do I know these people can be trusted?"

"These two are highly talented witches and wizards," Thorin's eyes widened a small bit in surprise. "I trained them myself. To not trust them would be to not trust me."

"Prove it." Thorin commanded.

Hermione rolled her eyes. By now, the other dwarves were standing around and ogling the two newcomers. "Petrificus Totalus!" She lazily waved her wand at Malfoy.

The others let out yells of shock as Malfoy suddenly tipped over, as stiff as a board. Hermione smiled cheekily at him as he glared up at her accusingly.

"What have you done?" Thorin snarled. "You would harm your own friend?"

"First of all, Master Dwarf, he is not my friend. Second," She waved her wand over Malfoy and lifted the hex. He stood up quickly, adjusting his robes importantly.

"I will get you back for tat, Granger," he hissed threateningly in her ear.

"Is that enough proof for you, Thorin Oakenshield?" Gandalf chortled.

"Fine." Thorin glared. "Balin, give them the contract."

Hermione signed the contract without a second thought after glancing it over. Malfoy, however was scrutinizing ever word. "Laceration? Evisceration? Incineration? Just what exactly is this quest about?"

"A quest, Master Malfoy to reclaim a homeland. And slay a dragon."

"Like…my name sake, dragon? A dragon." Malfoy paled.

"Afraid, ferret?" Hermione taunted.

"No," Malfoy muttered and signed the contract. "Don't forget it was I who stood between you and dear Tom Riddle."

Hermione's lips thinned. She had tried to push all thoughts of…Earth away from the center of her mind. The pain came back full force and her eyes clouded with tears.

Gandalf noticed the sorrowful look on her face, and sharply rapped Malfoy on the head with his staff. "Perhaps we should continue and search for this troll cave."

Thorin gave them one more calculating look before turning away.

"Perhaps you should tell me the conditions of your arrival." Gandalf asked somberly.

"Harry…he's dead." Hermione could no longer hold the tears back. Her breath came out in ragged gasps. Surprisingly Malfoy placed a comforting hand on the small of her back.

Gandalf's blue eyes glistened with tears as well. "He was a horcrux as well?" suddenly his powerful demeanor collapsed and his shoulder drooped. "And what of you, Mr. Malfoy? The last I remember, you and Ms. Granger were on less than friendly terms."

Hermione quieted her sniffles. This was something she wanted to know as well.

"At the Manor, when Bellatrix…she asked me to identify Potter, Granger, and Weasley. And I could have. One word from me, and Potter would've been dead. But then…I remembered what you said. That night on the Astronomy Tower. That I wasn't a murderer. I didn't believe you. Until that moment. So I lied. And I talked to Potter when we were dueling. I let Dobby in through the Manor's wards. And I believed you, Professor. I wanted to be good. So I became a spy for Potter." Malfoy finished thoughtfully.

More tears gathered in Hermione's eyes. It was Malfoy who had saved them at the Manor. Malfoy who saved her. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing. Malfoy looked terrified as he awkwardly patted her back. Gandalf proudly. "Well done, Draco. Well done."

Hermione sniffled and stepped back. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Gandalf!" Thorin called from the trees ad the three were jerked out of their trance and scurried into the forest.

Hermione found herself walking next to Fili and Kili, the heirs to Thorin's throne.

"Mistress Granger," Fili began.

"Are you really a great sorceress that can entrance even the most foolhardy dwarves under one of your spells?" Kili finished with wide eyes.

Hermione smirked. These two reminded her of the Weasley twins. "Yes."

"Can you really? Can you show us?" Kili asked eagerly. He was rather tall for a dwarf or she was simply short, Hermione noted, she was only about an inch or so taller than him.

She smirked again. Hermione pointed her wand towards Draco and gave it a little flick of her wrist. Draco let out a noise of surprise and transfigured into a ferret. He gave a squeak of protest and Fili, Kili, and a few nearby dwarves let out great big guffaws of laughter.

She let out a tinkling laugh and transfigured him back.

"Bloody hell, woman! Will you stop using me as your bloody puppet to amuse this lot of hairy dwarves!" he roared. His eyes glinted dangerously.

Hermione laughed, unconcernedly. "Come on, Ferret, can't you take a joke?"

Malfoy growled angrily and took a step menacingly in her direction. Kili and Fili hurriedly stepped between them.

"Come, Master Ferret, the lady was only demonstrating her great powers." Kili grinned.

Malfoy narrowed his eyes, huffed and turned back around. "Bloody Gryffindor. You should be in Slytherin for your…" he muttered, his voice trailing off as he continued ranting under his breath.

"What is a Gryffindor?" Fili asked curiously.

Hermione spent the rest of the trip explaining cheerfully all the wonderful aspects of Hogwarts.

"-and the library!" her eyes lit up at the mention of her precious books.

Hermione glanced at Malfoy who was now walking next to her. "Couldn't stay away from me could you?" She teased lightly.

"I promised Potter I'd protect you." He murmured. Not quiet meeting her eyes.

"And why would you think I need protecting?" she asked with an affronted air. "I'm just surprised you've stopped calling me a filthy little mudblood to be honest."

"I don't believe in that, you know I don't." Malfoy frowned.

Hermione tilted her head pensively. This new Malfoy baffled her, but as she met his grey eyes that once held nothing but contempt when looking at her, and found that they were just as scared and haunted as hers were, she found herself beginning to believe him.