Chapter 10
Nostalgic Dragons
It took all of ten minutes for Sam to explain that he had indeed not "made up" Middle Earth and that no he did not walk backwards instead of forwards; a fact that oddly enough seemed to disappoint Pomona as well as Filius.
"Fine." Rolanda threw up her hands in defeat. "So if he's from Middle Earth and isn't even the same species as us... where's Minerva?"
Filius groaned softly, rubbing his wrinkled forehead with a hand.
"I would gather that she is where Mr. Gamgee came from." he ventured.
"They replaced each other!?" Rolanda exclaimed, only Pomona's arm keeping her from attacking Sam. "Not much of a trade in my opinion." she huffed, retaking her seat at the herbology professor's insistence.
"Rolanda! Honestly!" Pomona sighed. "I agree it is unusual but think of the man's feelings."
"He's not a man... he's a boy and he's not even a human one at that." Rolanda whined. Filius cleared his throat; reminding his fellow colleagues that he himself was not fully human. Not that one could truly look at the tiny professor and not remember that fact.
"What ever he is, he is a person and therefore worthy of our tact." A snort from Rolanda dared not agree with him.
"How am I going to get back?" Sam asked, venturing the question only because the yellow eyes finally drifted from him to the window.
"Just click your shoes together and say 'there's no place like home'..." Rolanda sneered.
Pomona giggled.
"What's so funny?" Pomona covered her mouth.
"You just reminded me of Snape is all..."
Rolanda's mouth fell open. "I did not!"
Filius sighed... a storm was coming and he preferred dry weather to thunderclouds.
"Please... this is about getting Minerva back here and young Samwise back there. Not about the Wizard of Id." He admonished.
"Oz. And don't use that tone with me." Pomona returned, dusting her robes off, which as usual had a film of dusty earth on them. She did her best to remain clean, but they always seemed to pick up soil. "I was only making a point."
"Well point elsewhere then." Rolanda huffed, truthfully she felt slightly nostalgic. Severus Snape was dead after all and the simple times when he had been nothing but an annoying git had come and gone. Now he and many others that came to mind along with his memory were buried and slowly but surely the grass was growing; blades of blissful requiem.
Filius folded his small hands.
"Perhaps if Minerva, on her side of the portal, if indeed it is a portal, came through at the same time Samwise from out side went out... they could return as they were before."
Three pairs of eyes blinked ignorantly at the Deputy.
"So...they'd have to be at the bathtub and marsh?" Pomona asked.
"Well, I am not certain if Minerva went to the marsh where he was collecting reeds. After all, Mr. Gamgee does not recall seeing the Headmistress on his way through and Rolanda pulled him through a good several minutes after Minerva went through her side."
"But how in Merlin's name would we get Minerva to go to where ever she needs to go!" Rolanda asked, the edge unmistakable.
"Be patient, Ro. Filius is still thinking." Pomona hushed.
"Ah, but that's assuming Minerva went to the Shire in Middle Earth to replace Samwise." Rolanda slapped her head at Filius continued mutterings. This might take awhile...
---
Minerva had never been a great party lover; but she found herself utterly charmed by the hobbits' party antics. They seemed adorably unspoiled as they laughed, danced, talked and ate; almost akin to children in an untainted part of life. She couldn't remember ever having been to a party before and feeling joyful. Of course... there had been those few parties that she had attended with Albus, but never "with" him and never just him.
She had been asked only a small handful of questions by several curious hobbits, all wanting to know her name, where she was from and by what manner she had come to the Shire. Most had been delighted to hear that she had come with Gandalf, as if his business was a great source of local gossip; which from what she had heard so far, they kept very good track of. And all had welcomed her with their cheerful bows and hearty greetings. Enough food had been passed her way throughout the short time she'd been there to feed half of Hogwarts and she began to start linking Hobbits to House-elves in her mind; despite the physical and social differences.
It was rather difficult to note every feature of the party, as she would have liked, due to her vision, but Gandalf had carefully depicted everything she had asked about in intricate yet succinct as time was a precious commodity. He appeared to be enjoying himself as well as she watched him light several smaller fireworks for the children, his deep chuckles wafting through the air as the butterflies and children danced.
He had a gentle kind heart. That much she had seen, even without her glasses. The manner in which he spoke to her and assisted her spoke volumes and although they had only known each other for a short time, she felt as though she had known him for far longer. Oh the follies of time and age.
"Are you enjoying yourself, my dear?" Gandalf asked, suddenly beside her seat. She smiled, nodding.
"Yes, it is a splendid party." She thought she saw someone or something climb into Gandalf's cart, parked not far away, but waved it off as a figment of her imagination.
Many of the younger hobbits were dancing livelily off to one side of her and she turned to watch them. Earlier Gandalf had joined in with them, showing a more fun side of his more stern character.
An explosion of a tent seemingly taking flight not far from the cart nearly toppled Minerva over and she turned quickly in her seat to watch the tent soar high into the air, propelled it would appear by a firework. Not an expert on the sciences of pyrotechnics, Minerva still doubted that Gandalf would launch a firework under a tent, not to mention he had been going toward the ale barrels as the tent had risen.
A cry of 'Dragon' rose from the assembled hobbits and chaos emerged from the gaiety of the party guests. Shielding her eyes, she could barely make out the dim outline of what could have been a dragon swooping toward the ground. Her breath caught in her throat, but as she rose to escape, Gandalf gently laid a hand on her shoulder.
"It would appear a Brandybuck and a Took released my dragon..." he muttered, "Only one of light and fire, but mine nonetheless."
Chuckling, Minerva watched the dragon burst into a brilliant shower of white and orange light. No doubt it had been meant to be used as the grand finale of sorts; unfortunately it seemed the tent along with a mischievous someone had nearly ruined the idea. Still it was not without its cheers and general applause as the hobbits dusted themselves off and returned to their drinks, food and dances.
She took Gandalf's arm as he went to find the culprits, both of whom stood dazed and burnt with hair sizzled standing like beacons to be caught.
Gently removing Minerva's hand from his arm, Gandalf approached the two and sternly took each by their ear, earning protesting squeaks of pain.
"Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took..." he murmured, looking from the first to the latter. "I might've known."
Only years of having caught students in far more bizarre situations kept Minerva from chuckling. However her attention was diverted from Gandalf and his disciplining of the young men by Frodo Baggins. He seemed sad or at the very least bored beyond thought, resting against the side of a tent.
He had seemed like such a happy and content young man, and it struck Minerva as odd that he would not be among those partying.
"Are you well, Mr. Baggins?" she asked, amazingly able to reach his side without either breaking her neck or bumping into anyone.
Frodo turned slowly, unfamiliarity creasing his brow. No doubt he was not accustomed to being addressed by his uncle's name.
"Um... yes of course, thank you." he nodded, smiling.
She had been a teacher far too long to not recognize the tell tale signs of covered disappointment. No doubt it was about a girl, or a friend. A missing friend, perhaps.
"I just can't seem to find Sam." At her eyebrows raising, he quickly followed his statement with, "He's my friend, Samwise Gamgee." Ah... so her suspicions had been correct.
"Speech! Bilbo, Speech!" Everyone began to head for seats and the like as they called for a traditional hobbit speech.
"Well I hope you find him... Frodo." He smiled at her.
"Thanks." Taking his tankard of ale he went to find a seat, smiling as he applauded his uncle.