Catalyst

Summary: In which Harry, Hermione, and Ron get sucked into Middle Earth by way of a defunct portkey on their way to the Quidditch World Cup. Set in the beginning of GoF/The Hobbit.

Author's note: I must insist; I do not own The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.

The last chapter had some plot building; some friendship and I believe Hermione cast a 'repairo' so that counts as magic. All promises kept. Also, no ponies. I am a woman of my word. This chapter I feel will stay mostly light hearted, maybe a dash of danger, and adventure. I don't think it'll curtail down dark and twisted just yet. Oh who am I kidding, it'll be just a smidgeon dark.

I wanted to thank those of you who reviewed; your feedback and words of praise were most appreciated!

Chapter Three

Harry shielded his eyes from the sun with an arm thrown over his face. "As lovely as Rivendell is," he stated out loud, a warm breeze washing over him, carrying the fragrant scent of the garden with it, "It gets bloody boring after a bit."

Ron scoffed from where he lay in a similar position nearby. "You're only saying that because you don't have an elf teaching you how to properly swing a sword."

"Yes, well Oin did warn him against strenuous activity." Bilbo's voice sounded from Harry's left. A bit heavier in some letters from, what Harry could only presume was, his pipe between his teeth. The wind stilled and a page crinkled.

"Five bloody hours!" Ron continued to gripe, and Harry could almost hear the Hobbit rolling his eyes.

"You asked for it Master Weasley."

"Begged for it." Harry concurred. "Besides it seems like you got off easy, Hermione's still at archery practice with Uldel."

"I don't think I can take much more of this." Ron whimpered dramatically. "You'll have to go on without me, mate. I'll just go to the Shire and keep those-" He paused, seemingly at a loss, "What were your relatives' last names again? Sackington-Baggins?"

"You've only had three sessions!" Harry exclaimed, throwing his arm off his face and hissing at the onslaught of sunlight.

"Sackville-Baggins'." Bilbo absentmindedly replied, he tapped his pipe against the trunk to the tree he leant against and slipped it into his waistcoat pocket, "Nasty sort of Hobbits. Caught Lobelia making off with a pocketful of my good silverware once."

"I'll just go keep Bilbo's silverware safe from Lobelia, you and Hermione can go traipse about killing things with swords and bows." Ron continued, ignoring Harry's outburst, as the brunette sat up to squint about the gardens. "Come and find me when you find the way home, yeah?"

Bilbo chuckled, "You may just need those swordsmanship skills to fend off my overzealous relatives, Master Weasley."

Ron groaned and Harry cackled gleefully, "Orcs, Wargs, Trolls and greedy Hobbit relations, the world is just full of danger Ron, no way to get out of swordsmanship classes now."

"Just you wait until Oin clears you for lessons, you lazy sod. You won't be laughing then." Ron countered sulkily. "Why can't we just use magic?"

"What happens if your wand breaks like it did in second year?" Harry countered earning him a begrudging sigh from Ron.

"Hermione's supposed to be the voice of reason." Ron quipped back petulantly, rolling over so he could look at Harry appraisingly, "I miss her."

Harry rolled his eyes skyward, "Slytherin's shorts, you saw her six hours ago. Besides I quite like being the voice of reason." Harry puffed his chest out slightly.

Ron hummed as if considering something, "But Hermione's better at it and much better looking."

Harry gaped at his smirking friend, "He's not wrong." Bilbo agreed amiably, flipping another page in his book.

Harry aimed his best puppy dog eyes at the Hobbit, "Bilbo that hurt! Whose side are you on!?"

Bilbo slyly glanced at Harry from under his fringe of curls, smirk belying his mischief, "My own, Master Potter." Ron guffawed, rolling back onto his back.

"There you are!" Hermione called to them as she strode purposefully across the gardens. Harry blinked at her in surprise.

"Hermione." Harry greeted, eying her hair appraisingly. She had pulled it back into a simple braid. "You've done your hair, looks nice."

Hermione beamed at him arranging her skirts so she could sit facing Bilbo. "Thank you Harry, Uldel suggested it. Makes it easier to focus on shooting when the wind picks up." She turned her smile on Bilbo who had closed his book on his thumb at her arrival. "Hello Bilbo! How are you today?"

"I am doing splendidly Miss Hermione." Bilbo smiled back at her, hand reaching up to ruffle his curls. "Your hair does look lovely in that braid."

Ron sat up to gape at his female friend, stuttering out a mumbled compliment along the lines of 'brilliant', his ears turn a bright red. Hermione's cheeks colored as she turned her attention to a blade of grass she had plucked and was mangling between her fingers, a small sweet smile crossed her face and Harry could only scoff, falling backwards again dramatically. "Well I'm glad you're here Hermione, Bilbo and Ron have been having a go at me. Quite unfair."

"Really?" Hermione glanced over at Harry in fond exasperation.

Harry nodded, throwing his arm back over his eyes, "Ron was saying how he missed you because I wasn't quite as pre-" Ron lunged over Bilbo with a loud war cry, causing the Hobbit to squawk in surprise. Hermione shook her head as her two best friends tussled in the grass.

A few days later found the trio making their way to Gandalf's chambers. Ron stretching his arms with a sour expression on his face and Hermione curling the end of her braid around her finger as they followed dutifully behind an elven woman. The woman turned sharply down a hallway and stopped in front of an ornate double door that harry only vaguely recognized.

As she reached for the handle the door heaved inwards allowing a man through. He stopped abruptly at the site of the quartet. "Master Brentan." The elf greeted with a slight bob of her head. "We were just coming to greet you."

He was dressed in dark cottons and wools, with a bow slung across his chest and a long sword at his left hip. His armor, consisting of only shin guards and braces along his arms, was made of well-worn leather. Dark hair was tied back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck, and his square jaw covered in stubble. The man's deep dark eyes seemed to look through them. "I am Brentan, son of Elmar, at your service."

"Harry Potter, at yours." He bobbed his head in a slight bow, imitating the elf.

She smiled sweetly at the man, "Hermione Granger, pleased to make your acquaintance."

Hermione planted a well-aimed elbow into Ron's ribs, "Oh, uh-Ronald Weasley." Ron rubbed his ribcage, scowling slightly at Hermione, "Bloody hell woman, do you sharpen those?"

She turned a stern look on him and he wisely took a step out of range. Brentan cleared his throat, looking amused. "I will be your escort To Rhun. Tell me, do you have any experience with weapons?"

Hermione opened her mouth, only to be interrupted by Gandalf as the old wizard stepped up beside the ranger motioning them inside the room, "Hermione and Ron have just begun training, Harry is recovering from a rather nasty wound and will be fit for combat training within the next few days." Hermione's irritated expression did not go unnoticed by Gandalf, the old wizard's eyes twinkled and the corners of his lips turned upwards. Having never seen the Wizard eat, Harry suspected he ran off of tobacco and the annoyance of others.

Brentan looked pensive, "What weapons?" He inquired, turning to Gandalf and making his way back into the room, the three teens following tentatively behind him.

"Hermione has taken to the bow and arrow quite well, and Ron favors a long sword." Gandalf replied sticking his pipe in his mouth and releasing a long stream of smoke shortly thereafter.

Brentan's dark gaze turned to study Harry, making the young wizard fidget under its intensity. "And what of you, lad?"

Harry blinked bottle green eyes at the ranger, "Long sword?"

Brentan's dark brows rose. "You're unsure?"

Harry shrugged, "I've only ever handled a long sword once before."

Brentan frowned "Consider it to have been a blessed life you've lived thus far." Harry quirked a brow at that, deciding to let the comment slide. "I will be continuing your training as we travel, it would not bode well for you to be unprepared for any hostile situations we might face. We leave in two days' time, I suggest you pack your bags sooner rather than later." He turned and, with a nod to Gandalf swept from the room, reminding Harry strongly of Snape as his dark cloak billowed behind him.

Harry's eyes drooped as he slumped next to Bilbo in the library, both Hermione and Ron were busy at their weapons lessons and he had found himself once again gravitating towards the older Hobbit's company. They had long since fallen into companionable silence, only interrupted by the sipping of tea or the flipping of a page. Harry glanced down at the small scroll he had opened on his lap; it outlined various theories on the creation of Orcs.

The theory he found most plausible so far was that captured eastern elves, otherwise known as grey elves, had been corrupted and distorted into the orcs of today. Reaching for his tea, he blinked some residual drowsiness. He sipped delicately on the now luke warm liquid, pausing as he caught the dark gaze of a child peeking out from behind one of the Library's towering shelves.

Harry blinked, the boy blinked back. "Hello." Harry greeted, bewildered, pretty sure this was the first child he'd seen in the whole elven city.

The kid ducked before he seemed to gather his courage and took a single step out from behind the bookcase. He allowed one hand to rest on it as if for support as he squared his tiny shoulders. Harry thought he couldn't be older than eleven. "Good day."

Bilbo blinked up at the small, now apparently human, child in mild confusion, "Oh Good day, young Master- uhm, who might we have the pleasure of addressing?"

Harry smiled as Bilbo lay down his own reading material to turn and give the child his full attention, looking just as curious at the child's appearance as Harry felt. The kid ducked his head in a semi bow, "My name is A-Estel." He offered after a moment of silence, stumbling over his name in what Harry thought might be nerves.

Bilbo 'ahed' sagely, tucking his thumbs into his waist coat pocket, "Well met Master Estel. I am Bilbo Baggins of the Shire."

Harry smiled at the kid, waving a little, "I'm Harry Potter." Estel smiled back.

He shuffled his feet slightly, hand still gripping the bookcase "I've heard of you." He admitted bashfully as if afraid of being scolded for eavesdropping. "You're one of the baby Istari!" Estel stated staring at Harry with something akin to wonder, his hand dropped from the bookcase.

Bilbo stifled a chuckle behind a cough and Harry felt his eyebrow raise up, "Baby what?"

"Wizard." Bilbo supplied, a smile still quirking his lips at his young friends expense.

Harry felt his lips quirk upwards as well, "Where did you get that idea from?"

Estel pondered the question for a moment. "Gandalf and the other Istari, were put on this earth by the Valar old and wise and ageless." He looked doubtful for a moment. "You are a wizard aren't you?"

Harry grinned flicking his wand at Bilbo's scroll making it levitate with a whispered charm, chuckling as the Hobbit squawked in surprise.

Estel's eyes grew round with wonder as the scroll slowly settled back on the table top. "Wow. What else can you do?"

Harry chuckled pocketing his wand. "I'm afraid that would be telling."

Estel smiled conspiratorially and hopped up onto a chair between Bilbo and Harry excitedly dropping his voice to just above a whisper. "I can keep a secret."

Harry hummed and tapped a finger on his chin in thought. "A wizard never reveals his secrets…" At Estel's disappointed glance he quickly scrambled to brighten the young boy's countenance. "But-Well I can tell you of the time I fought a Basilisk when I was not much older than yourself."

The boy beamed up at him and Bilbo settled back looking intrigued. As Harry began his story, he kindly ignored the Hobbit's muttered comment of "What do you mean, 'when'? You're still not much older than him now."

The fire blazed brightly on the veranda, the dwarves all drinking merrily about it. Harry found himself seated between Ron and Bilbo, Hermione perched primly on Ron's other side lips pursed as a large dwarf whose name Harry still didn't know tore a leg off of a chair and chucked it into the fire.

He peered to the left and over the shoulder of a dark brooding dwarf at Gandalf as he and Lord Elrond conversed quietly nearby.

Harry's gaze was drawn from the older men by one of the younger dwarves that sandwiched the broody one between them. "Oi!" His countenance was much like the two dwarfs to his left and Harry suspected that they were closely related if not brothers. "You were the bloke from the plains."

Harry nodded unsure of where this was headed. "Harry Potter, at your service."

"Fili, at yours." The dwarf grinned roguishly and Harry was strongly reminded of one of the Weasley twins, he squashed the flutter of homesickness the likeness brought about ruthlessly. "Fancy work with that twig of yours, tell me does it grow as you age into a staff like Gandalf's?"

Harry felt his eyebrow tick upwards, "What?"

"I mean, it's rather small isn't it?" the other young dwarf piped up eagerly knocking shoulders with his older relation. The older dwarf turned an almost fond scowl upon the youngster but remained silent. Ron choked behind him.

"It's not the size," Harry blurted out,

Hermione gasped disapprovingly rocking forward to fix Harry with her best affronted look "Harry James Potter, don't you dare finish that-"

"It's how you use it." He finished ignoring Hermione's indignant huffing.

Ron guffawed, slapping his knee as the two young dwarves shot calculating glances to each other over the hunched shoulders of their relative.

Harry suppressed a grin for a moment before a heavy hand made him turn his startled gaze upwards into Brentan's dark assessing one. "We will be traveling with the dwarves for the first leg of our journey." He informed them. A scoff from his left drew Harry's attention back to the broody looking dwarf.

"I'll not be responsible for their lives ranger." He growled at them. Clearly trying to argue a point that had been discussed prior to this moment many times before.

"Aye, Master Oakenshield." Brentan bit back a note of barely disguised hostility in his tone that caused Harry to shrink under his hand. "Because it is I who will be responsible for their safety."

The dwarves had gone quiet around them as the two men stared each other down over the flames. A scowl stole its way over the dwarf's features and Bilbo shifted uncomfortably from beside Harry.

"Concern yourself with your own company, Master Oakenshield and I will do the same." Brentan squeezed Harry's shoulder reassuringly. "Gather your things and get some rest children, we leave on the morrow."

Hermione had changed into a pair of trousers and a loose fitting tunic for travel, much to Brentan's chagrin. The argument the two had had before they stepped foot outside of Rivendell had probably been the most civil argument Harry had ever had the pleasure of hearing.

Her hair was still braided flipped over a shoulder as she tugged at the straps of her pack. Ron was regaling Bilbo with the story of their own encounter with a mountain troll after hearing about the shorter man's escapades from Fili and Kili, no doubt some of it had been greatly embellished.

They had already been on the road for three days, Harry felt himself stagger over a loose stone and scowled down at it as he passed carefully, ignoring the sniggers of Fili and Kili from behind him. The landscape they had been trudging through was beautiful, though Harry longed for the convenience of the floo, or even a horse. He shrugged his shoulders beneath the straps of his pack and winced as his muscles screamed at him. His hand migrated towards his sword and held the hilt firmly to try to lessen how much it wobbled on his belt in time with his steps.

The travel was grueling but Brentan's training every evening was worse still, Harry squinted at the man's back. He had been working him through the basics, and promised some practical application tonight. No doubt pitting him against Ron and Harry narrowed his eyes calculatingly at Ron's broad shoulders.

The red head was taller, heavier and had more experience than he did in combat already, having been sparring with Brentan since they began their trek from Rivendell. He sighed and ducked his head, eyes rising to stare at the looming mountains they were heading towards. Then he regarded the company they were traveling with, most of the dwarves were distant and mistrustful, save for the mischievous brothers, Oin, and Bombur. Harry had been introduced to Bofur and Bifur, Bombur's brother and cousin respectively and found that they were at least pleasantly distant.

He dropped back intentionally, noting the large dwarf lingering towards the back, looking faintly disgruntled and lonely. "Bombur," Harry greeted earning a smile from the dwarf, "How are you today?"

He grunted as he kept pace with Harry, "I'm faring fine, young master wizard! And yourself?"

"Worrying about my first sparring session this evening." Harry confided honestly. "No matter who I spar with I'll likely be done for within the first few minutes. Ron and Brentan are both bigger and better at this than I am." He continued noting Bombur's sage nod.

"We all have to start somewhere lad," He stated with a wistful look on his face. "Why I was never good with a long sword myself, but I can fight in pinch."

His statement earned a snort from one of the more intimidating dwarves in the company as he dropped back to walk beside Bombur. He was broad with a long grey beard and a bald head, he had various tattoos all over his exposed skin and flint hard eyes that made Harry nervous to hold his gaze for too long.

"Don't listen to him, he's more than just good in a pinch." He stated gruffly slapping Bombur's shoulder, "Bombur can fight anything with anything." He peered seriously at Harry for a moment, and maneuvered to walk between the young wizard and Bombur. "Name's Dwalin."

"Harry."

The day went by quickly in Bombur's company, Dwalin occasionally chiming in with an offhanded comment or two, soon enough the rhythmic sounds of metal on metal rang over the campsite, heralding the onset of evening.

Dwalin sat a ways off eyes assessing and back to the fire as he observed the young wizard stumble over his foot work. He frowned around his pipe and turned his steely gaze to the Hobbit who had plopped down next to him, fishing about in his waistcoat pocket for his own pipe. "Evening, Master Dwalin."

"Master Baggins." Dwalin growled. Turning his gaze back to the sparring match before him.

Brentan was purposefully allowing the boy to fall into a mental rhythm before jarring him out of it. Teaching him to be familiar with his foot work before trying to encourage him to remain aware and open minded. The dark haired wizard was trembling from the effort it was taking to keep his sword aloft. Typical issues for a beginner he mused. It wouldn't be long until the ranger called the end of the lesson.

Brentan swung from the right and Harry's arms trembled at the impact, bottle green eyes staring stubbornly into the dark brown almost black eyes of his opponent. A muscle twitch caught Harry's attention, Brentan feigned right and then struck from the left causing Harry to stumble off balance.

He gently tapped Harry's flank with the broad side of his sword with a wide mischievous grin. The boy yelped and hopped away a few paces, "Oi!" nearly dropping his own sword. Dwalin chuckled from the sidelines and Bilbo smiled fondly around his own pipe.

"You're anticipating." Brentan called, sheathing his blade. "And your foot work is in need of some attention, but all in all you're doing well."

Harry sheathed his sword in a tired practiced motion. "Thanks." He cast a glance towards the tree line where Hermione was notching another arrow and Ron was whirling through his stances fluidly.

Brentan clapped a hand on his shoulder, "You'll catch up quickly, Harry." He reassured following his gaze. "Tomorrow we'll focus on that footwork."

"How am I supposed to know where my opponent is going to strike next if I can't count on muscle movement?" Harry inquired as the two trekked towards the fire, drawing closer to their meager audience.

Brentan opened his mouth to answer but Dwalin beat him to it. "It's in everything." He puffed on his pipe, ignoring the raised brow directed at him from the dark haired ranger. "For instance, before Master Brentan feigned a strike he swayed slightly from one side to the next. You just need to know what to look for."

Brentan blinked as Harry turned to regard him curiously, "I wasn't aware I had such a tell." The ranger stated returning his dark gaze to the dwarf.

"We all have a tell, Master Brentan." Dwalin merely grunted around his pipe, still eyeing the teen next to Brentan with a steely unreadable gaze.

Harry shifted uneasily before bowing partially and scampering off towards the fire. Bombur greeted him jovially, pushing a bowl of stew into his hands and it wasn't long before the young wizard was sated and drowsy.

"So this is a magic wand." Harry jumped, ogling a dark haired dwarf as he twirled a wand about his fingers, Harry's wand.

"Oi!" He cried snatching it quickly from the dwarf's fingers. "How in Merlin's name-" He cursed quietly, observing the thief before him warily.

The dwarf's brows rose in surprise, before he leveled a sly look at the young wizard. "Quick reflexes, lad." He observed aloud, "Nori, at your service."

Harry remained silent for a heartbeat, "Harry Potter, at yours."

"You'd make a decent pick pocket." Nori stated simply, a small secretive smile gracing his lips as he reached up to stroke his beard thoughtfully.

"Why would I want to learn how to pick pockets?" Harry inquired after a moment of deliberation, keeping his wand clasped in his hands and both eyes on the dwarf.

The dwarf chuckled and leant in as if to tell Harry a secret, Harry leaned away slowly, eyebrows meeting his hairline. "Your barmy if you think I'm letting you get too close mate." He stated when the dwarf's brows puckered in confusion. The confusion gave way to mirth as Nori grinned, leaning backwards to allow the wizard some space.

"Subterfuge is a weapon all its own." Nori said, pulling a pipe from his coat pocket. "You could plant something on someone, or lift something just as easy. It's a useful skill to have."

"It's a dishonest skill to have." Harry corrected, trying to remain firm, though the dwarf was making it sound mighty tempting.

Nori smiled wryly from around the stem of his pipe. "You sound like my older brother, Dori. Never did approve of my life choices."

Harry shifted guiltily as Nori seemed to sink into a darker train of thought. "I'm sorry, where I come from it's not a… common skill." Harry finally admitted, glancing away to see Hermione deep in discussion with Ori, the scholar and scribe of the company and Ron nearby grinning with Fili and Kili as the brothers regaled him with a tale.

Nori was considering him now, "Oh?"

Harry nodded distractedly, turning his focus back on Nori, "Maybe, you could teach me?"

"Sure," Nori's grin was sharp and predatory as he held up Harry's wand a second time. "We'll start tomorrow." The wizard gaped for a full second before he lunged for the grinning dwarf.

Nori's lessons on picking pockets turned out to be more fun than Harry had anticipated. It turned into a game as they trekked east towards the mountains. The dwarf would plant an object in the young wizards pocket, often a small stone, a stick, or a braided lock of grass. In return Harry would need to plant the object on Nori without the dwarf noticing. The game continued throughout the day, Harry only managing to plant two objects on the dwarf throughout.

Nori's hand lightly slapped Harry's away from his pocket during dinner that evening causing the wizard to withdraw his hand quickly, trying not to show any signs of foul play on his face.

"Master Nori," Brentan addressed quietly, hand falling heavily onto Harry's shoulder in a friendly gesture, "A word, if you will."

Nori sent the man a tense smile, his own fingers brushing against Harry's sleeve, the wizard flicked at his knuckle surreptitiously before the thief could lift his wand. Nori stood to follow Brentan to the edge of the camp under the curious gaze of the company.

"What do you suppose that's about?" Ron wondered around a mouthful of stew, craning to look over his shoulder at the two.

Hermione crinkled her nose at his manners scootching a little closer to Bilbo. "Manners, Ronald."

Harry shrugged, and ducked his head slightly as he scraped the rest of his portion into his mouth. Ron stared at his friend as comprehension dawned. "You know something." He stated quietly after he had swallowed the rest of his stew.

"I do not." Harry countered just as quietly as Nori came to sit down next to him again, his posture stiff. Brentan placed his hand on Harry's shoulder again to get his attention; his brows were drawn together in consternation. The ranger motioned for the young wizard to follow him before striding away.

"My magical white arse you don't." Ron muttered as Harry stood to follow the ranger.

"Ronald Billius Weasley!" Hermione scolded, though she sounded just the slightest bit amused.

Brentan lead him over to the edge of camp like he had with Nori only minutes ago. The ranger was silent for a minute and Harry shuffled nervously in front of him as the older man collected his thoughts.

"What Master Nori is teaching you is typically seen as unethical." Brentan began, seeming to be weighing his words carefully. "That being said, it is a useful skill to have in ones arsenal as long as it is used appropriately and not strictly for personal gain."

Harry felt his shoulder's droop as tension left him and relief took hold. "I should have told you." He said, peering out from under his fringe at the taller man.

Brentan crossed his arms, "I am-" he exhaled sharply, "Disappointed that you didn't, but I am neither your father nor your guardian so I cannot dictate what you do and do not do. I can however offer advice and guidance."

Harry nodded, mulling over the man's words. After a moment of silence the ranger turned to head back to the company, "Brentan?" Harry called quietly, uncertainty heavy in his tone. The ranger paused turning to look at the wizard. "I-erm, Thanks. For looking out for me."

"Where the hell did it go." Ron muttered patting at his trouser pockets for his whetstone; He stood from his position to scout around nearby before scowling irritably and fixed Harry with his best glare. "Harry."

Harry attempted to look perplexed, but soon broke into a grin and brandished the stone using a small trick of the hand Nori had showed him the other night. In a matter of days the pick pocketing game had taken on a new level of risk, Harry had gotten good enough and picking Nori's pocket that the thief proposed they expand their targets to a small pool of their comrades.

"Give it here you thieving wanker." Ron demanded, wiggling his fingers in demand. Harry tossed it to his friend with a slightly more apologetic smile.

Granted Harry would never take anything from Dwalin's pockets or even Thorin's, but Ron and Hermione were fair game in his book. Nori raised a brow at him from across the fire, "We need to work on your facial expressions. You can't lie to save your life."

Dori scoffed from his position next to his younger brother. "What a positive influence you are on the boy." He muttered, disapproval tinging his tone. "It's a wonder Ori turned out so well." Ori blushed and curled over his journal a bit more.

Bilbo rolled his eyes from where he sat between Hermione and Harry, "They'll be at it for the rest of the night now."

Harry regarded the Ri brothers as they continued to trade snide remarks, "They do this often?" Bilbo nodded.

"The longest they went without arguing was a fortnight." Dwalin growled from nearby.

Ron looked up, crinkling his nose at the term. "Fortnight?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Two weeks."

Ron ducked back over his sword, running the whetstone down the edge, "Why didn't he just say that?" he muttered mostly to himself. "S'not like it's unheard of for sibling's to fight. I have six siblings; a fight breaks out at least once every other day."

Thorin's brows shot up in surprise and Kili leaned to look around his brother, flabbergasted.

"Six siblings?" Bombur inquired, clutching a roll of bread to his chest as if to soften the shock he felt.

Ron looked up, confused at the different levels of shock and awe he found aimed at him from around the fire. "Is that unusual?"

"Highly." Brentan replied, "Families usually have two maybe three children at the most, any more and the family would be nearly impossible to feed."

"Is that a normal number of children to have where you're from?" Gloin inquired, leaning forward interestedly.

Hermione shook her head, "No, but it's not unheard of."

"You must miss them." Bilbo stated, a sadness creeping into his voice.

Ron drooped, sheathing his sword "Yeah, I do."

Fili nearly bounced with excitement, "What's it like having so many brothers and sisters?"

Ron seemed to perk up at this "Well, my two oldest brothers, Bill and Charlie live on their own now. Bill's a curse breaker and Charlie works with dragons." Harry settled back content to let the memories of the burrow wash over him.

The company murmured in confusion at the mention of dragons and Thorin scowled darkly. "There is no working with dragons; they are beasts of greed and destruction."

"Maybe here, but where we come from, dragons are animals just like a hippogriff or a unicorn." Hermione pitched in informatively. She turned quickly back to Ron urging him to continue speaking, missing out on Bofur's muttered "Hippogriff?"

Ron nodded, "They are still dangerous though. Charlie has burns all over, Proud of 'em even." He paused as the company digested this. "Then there's Percy. He's a bit of a kiss arse, wants to be a politician someday. Then there's Fred and George, twins and pranksters, think everything's a bloody joke. Then there's me and finally my younger sister Ginny. She's a year younger than us." He grinned, shooting Harry a look "Used to have a huge crush on Harry."

Harry's eyes widened as grins were shot his way, and he felt his cheeks warm up.

"Sounds like your parents have their hands full." Gloin looked puzzled and somewhat grateful. "Thank the stars I only have Gimli. He's got enough energy for three dwarrowlings. Can't imagine an entire brood just like him."

Harry leaned forward to consider Brentan, the man's eyes seemed faraway. "What about you Brentan?" Harry inquired rather boldly.

The ranger blinked and focused on him in surprise, "I have a wonderful wife, Ella, and two daughters." He shot the three young magic users a considering glance, "They're about your age."

"A curse and a blessing to be stuck in a house full of women." Dwalin commiserated a mischievous twinkle in his normally serious gaze, he laid a heavy hand on Brentan's shoulder.

Brentan smirked fondly, "Aye, indeed it is."

Bifur laughed jovially before saying something in rapid fire Khuzdul making the rest of the dwarves break into raucous laughter.

A week later found the company in the misty mountains, the dwarves taking to the rocky terrain like a fish to water. Bilbo struggled towards the rear of the group with Brentan and his three magical charges.

"Take care you keep up!" Harry scowled down at the slick rocky ground as Thorin barked back at the stragglers.

The mood surrounding the company had turned dark. Dark as the clouds, dark as the weather. The rain seemed to pick up and the wind blew through his cloak, making Harry shiver violently. Hermione bumped shoulder's with him, frowning miserably at Thorin's back as he disappeared further up the mountain.

Ron panted behind them, "They're like bloody Billy goats. Could probably run up that cliff wall if they fancied it." Ron growled motioning towards the cliff face to their left, while maintaining a healthy distance from the sheer drop to their right.

Hermione stifled a giggle behind her hand and Brentan turned to give them an admonishing glance. His small smile ruined the effect however and the three teens shared a broad grin.

It wasn't long before the wind began to howl, lightning crashing around the mountain, Harry counted seconds between lightning and thunder until the two were simultaneous.

Hermione pressed into his side, her mouth inches from his ear. Her voice was whipped away by the gale around them. He turned to her, motioning that he hadn't heard and she seemed to gather herself, "I said," she screamed and Harry pushed his head closer to her to catch all of it, "That this is unsafe! We need to find shelter soon!"

Bilbo nearly staggered off the side of the cliff, Dwalin caught the hobbit by his cloak and yanked him back to safety swiftly.

Thorin turned his dark frown on the company, "We must find shelter!" His voice boomed over the sounds of the storm and Harry envied him that at least, but gave Hermione a comforting squeeze before she dropped back to walk with Ron.

"Watch out!" Dwalin called out, pulling Bilbo back with him to press against the mountain. A boulder hurtled through the rain towards them striking the mountain above them. The dwarves threw themselves towards the mountain, hoping to avoid the worst of the falling debris. With one hand Brentan fisted Harry's shirt and forcefully drew him backwards, the other flew out signaling Hermione and Ron, urging them to press against the rock wall.

"This is no thunder storm, it's a thunder battle! Look!" another dwarf called drawing the company's attention. A flash of lightning illuminated a massive stone being parting from the mountain adjacent to their own, a boulder in hand.

Bofur gaped, "well bless me, the legends are true! Giants! Stone giants."

Harry felt his hand fly out to grip Hermione's, Ron had a death grip on her other hand, and Brentan's hand still gripped his clothing as if the man were afraid his charges would blow away.

Thorin focused a wild eyed glance at his company, "Take cover!" The giant geared to throw his boulder, "You'll fall!"

"What's happening?" Kili cried out, the giant threw the boulder, Harry's eyes widened in horror as a second giant appeared from behind the mountain they now cowered on, bumping into it, causing another smattering of rocks to fall from above them. The boulder smacked into the second giant causing it to stagger backwards.

The mountain shuddered, the ground beneath their feet beginning to give way, "Kili!" Fili called out lunging to take hold of his brother's hand "Take my hand, Ki-" The ground between the two brothers split and fell. Leaving the company divided.

The Dwarves staggered, Ron pulled Hermione closer to him, her grip slipped from Harry's grasp. Brentan hauled Harry closer to him, eyes darting around taking in all of his charges. He shakily made his way past Harry, wedging himself in the midst of the young magic users, bracing them against the mountain with his arms protectively.

The two giants continued to clash, their movements powerful yet slow. A third giant emerged, throwing yet another boulder at the first two.

Some of the company jumped the chasm attempting to escape the ensuing madness. The boulder struck the head of the second giant, causing it to stumble and fall in the midst of the company, dragging along the cliff face as it dropped down into the chasm below.

"No! No, Kili!" Thorin screamed, nearly lunging over the side after them. Fili let out a wordless scream, and Harry felt panic well up in his throat as he moved to look for himself, he had to see if they were okay. Brentan pushed him backwards again.

"I'll not lose any of you!" He admonished sternly, "Stay put!"

"We're alright!" a cry resounded from below and Harry sagged in relief, "We're alive."

"Where's our hobbit?!" Bofur inquired, panicked. Harry's eyes darted around spying fingers grasping at the ledge.

"There!" He cried ducking out from under Brentan's grasp and diving for his friend's hands, catching hold of his wrists and gritting his teeth as the Hobbit scrabbled at his sleeves.

"Harry!" Brentan shouted, seemingly unsure of whether he should follow after his wayward charge or care for the two nearest to him. Dwalin grasped at Harry's shoulder's to keep him from being dragged down with Bilbo. Harry grunted as Bilbo began to slip out of his grasp.

"Bilbo! Hold on!" Hermione cried out from behind Ron. Thorin swung down from the cliff, hefting the hobbit back up onto the ledge before heaving himself up.

Dwalin drew the hobbit from the cliff's edge, "Thought we'd lost our burglar." Harry stood brushing himself off, breathing a sigh of relief.

Thorin drew himself up to his full height, looking down at Bilbo with an unreadable expression. "He's been lost ever since he left home. He should never have come. He has no place amongst us." He turned away, calling for Dwalin over his shoulder.

Author's Note: This chapter was extra-long, and actually it was supposed to be longer than it is, (originally tracking around 9,000 words but I peeled the last 3,000 off because I wasn't comfortable with it just yet) but that just means I have more for the next chapter. But boy was it a doozy to write! Seriously though. This is a long friggen chapter. I did have a lot of ground to cover and wanted to give you guys a little something more to chew on. The last few chapters were a bit short.

So Ron has been taking the spot light more often than not, not only because I think Ron often gets the short end of the stick in the books, but because I believe Ron really needs to have the spotlight every once in a while. He's a middle child, and friends with a celebrity. He's never recognized for something outstanding because either his siblings have already achieved it, or Harry overshadows him in some way. This is a large part of their conflict in fourth year I think, Ron's jealousy comes to a head.

Kl0udZ made a comment about Aragorn in their review, And while it was never in my plans to make him guide the trio of teens through middle earth, I decided to look into the matter because...curiosity that's why. He would have been a tiny lil tyke at the time of Bilbo's visit to Rivendell. Around ten or so. And my mind went "OHMYGODSOCUTEANDFLUFFY!" So I popped him in there for a scene. No real reason...or is there...?

I apologize for any spelling mistakes, weird word mistakes or punctuation errors I made. I try to read my stuff and reread to eliminate them but somehow when I go back after posting, I spot some that I missed and I find myself pointing at the screen with rage that they managed to live through my grammatical genocide. I apparently am not a very good Grammar Nazi. Mein old Grammar Fuerer (English teacher to some homicidal red pen wielding maniac to most) will be most displeased.

Anyhow, thanks again to all you lovely reviewers. All seven of you! I always look forward to feedback. But now that you've fed the author, she shall not be sated.

I demand more verbal sacrifices! Review!