Hermione is starting to get fiercer and far more violent. There are two of the people from Hogwarts left alive, and three from the Death Eaters. More deaths are in store.

This is NOT the final chapter. There is more.

- xHx

Ginny, Merry, and Pippin lounged at the edge of the clearing, observing the Ents. Ginny was anxious to find out what their solution to the problem would be. She had her wand out and was rapping it lightly on her right thigh as she waited.

Finally, Treebeard turned around. She stood.

"The Ents cannot hold back this storm. We must weather such things as we have always done," he said.

"How can that be your decision?" Merry and Ginny both shouted.

"This is not our war," Treebeard said, trying to placate both Hobbit and witch.

"But you're part of this world! Aren't you?"

Ginny put a hand on Merry's shoulder, taking an additional step forward. "Treebeard, please. Even if you do not fight, you will either be killed or enslaved. Sauron does not care what he destroys."

"You are young and brave, Master Merry and young Rosmir. But your part in this tale is over. Go back to your home."

She shook her head and held in the fury that tried to boil out of her as she helped Merry and Pippin prepare to journey back to the Shire.

"Maybe Treebeard's right," Pippin said to his best friend. "We don't belong here, Merry. It's too big for us. What can we do in the end? We've got the Shire. Maybe we should go home."

Merry was depressed by the thought of leaving without doing anything. "The fires of Isengard will spread and the woods of Tuckborough and Buckland will burn. And," he paused, glancing from Pippin to Ginny and back again. "And all that was once green and good in this world will be gone. There won't be a Shire, Pippin."

"At least you two can painlessly return home. I can only leave this world for home one way, and that is by death."

The two Hobbits looked at each other and back at their new, dearest friend. "Surely there are other ways?" Pippin said. "There has to be a fallback plan."

"If there is, I know nothing of it, but I have to die to return." Ginny sighed, scratching at her scalp. "I know one thing, though. Soon as I find some place to bathe, I'm taking the opportunity."

"Aragorn! Fall back to the Keep! Get your men out of there!"

Hermione did not spare a glance for Aragorn as she kept Goyle and Nott distracted. All three now bore the wounds of their fight. Hermione's shoulder bled; Goyle was suffering a split lip, a black eye, and a severed right arm; and Nott was close to death with a high number of wounds.

"Hísiven, to the Keep!"

"I must fight to the death, Aragorn!" She did not turn as she shouted the reply.

The Death Eaters' attention was grabbed by Gimli's voice from behind her, and both wands rose as he shouted, "What are you doing? What are you stopping for?" Hermione didn't need to look to know that Legolas was towing Gimli from the field and they aimed for him.

"No! Immobulus!"

Both Death Eaters froze, and she stowed her wand, pulling her bow from her back and firing three arrows. Each struck its mark; Nott, Goyle, and then Rodolphus Lestrange, and she began running. Not to the Keep, but toward the stairs. Haldir needed her help.

And in a single second, she knew there was nothing for it.

She watched, feeling helpless, as an Uruk dug his black blade into Haldir's back. She could do nothing to save him, but she could get her own sort of revenge. She notched an arrow, drew back, and released, watching with morbid satisfaction as the arrow met its mark, buried itself deep in the Uruk's windpipe. Only then did she turn and run for the Keep.

Ginny, Merry, and Pippin rode upon Treebeard's branches, watching the scenery from so far above.

"I will leave you at the western borders of the forest. You can make your way north to your homeland from there," the Ent said.

They continued for a short while without a word, when Pippin suddenly said, "Wait!" Ginny looked up at him, her eyebrows furrowed. "Stop! Stop! Turn around. Turn around. Take us south."

"South?" Ginny muttered. "But that would take us past Isengard, Pip."

"Yes. Exactly. If we go south, we can slip past Saruman unnoticed. The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm. It's the last thing he'll expect," Pippin said.

"That doesn't make sense to me. But then, you are very small. Perhaps you're right," Treebeard said. He paused to take a breath. "South it is, then. Hold on, little Shirelings. I always like going south. Somehow it feels like going downhill." As he spoke he turned, walking south.

Ginny raised her hand toward Pippin, who was perched a foot above where she sat, and he clapped his hand to hers. "That is a great idea."

"Are you mad?" Merry said. "We'll be caught!"

"No, we won't. Not this time," Pippin said.

"Especially not if I can help it," Ginny added, twirling her wand lightly and tapping it three times on her left thigh.

I do apologize. The Extended Edition of The Two Towers is no longer available on xfinity OnDemand. I'm starting to lose track of the story and lose sight of my muse.

Other than that, the story seems to be progressing well. As with the previous chapter, the reviewers will get a reward in the form of a short excerpt from Chapter One of part 2 of this story. I intend to put it up as soon as this story is over. At least one more chapter left of this part, possibly two.

Sorry for the shortness of it as well.

- xHx