Authors Note: I am really sorry for how long its taking me to update this story-again! I am a horrible person who should be strung up by her toes and held over one of Neville potions. Have no fear though! I have two more chapters that shall quickly follow this one! I want to thank all those that have left reviews (they were greatly appreciated and encourages me to keep going) and all those that have are following this story! I hope you enjoy it as much as I am enjoying writing it!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his universe was created by the wonderful J.K. Rowling. The Hobbit, and all characters associated with his writing are the work of the brilliant and masterful J.R.R Tolkien.

Everything else belongs to me.

Thorin gradually loosened the hold on the small bronze key clutched in his hand as the tension eased from his body. It was the only outward sign that the king under the mountain had been concerned over the possibility of the newest members of their company departing. Though he doubted any of his own kinsmen noticed that anything was amiss and even if they had none would have believed that the tense set of his jaw and the tension in his shoulders had anything to the departure of the wizards.

He had not been overly welcoming towards the company of wizard and witches since their arrival a fortnight ago and he was not even sure that his behaviour towards them would change now that they had decided to stay. Regardless of what Gandalf said about the company of magical folk or the trust he seemed to have placed in them (rather easily), neither Thorin nor his kin could afford to trust anyone lightly. Not after what had befallen his people all those years ago when his father and grandfather had mistakenly placed their trust in the hands of elves. He would sooner hand himself over to orcs before he trusted anyone so easily again.

"They will stay then." It was more of a statement than it was a question.

Gandalf leveled a look at him that would have made a lesser dwarf squirm in his boots. He, however, merely arched his brow in question (he would not be made to feel bad for something he had warned the wizard about already).

"Yes, no thanks to you."

"I did warn you when you first extended your," He flicked a brief glance towards the calculating wizard. "kindness to them, that I would not go out of my way to make them feel welcome nor would I pretend that I desired the prescience of their company."

The old man hmped at his remark as he lit the end of his pipe and blew out several large rings of thick white smoke. "And yet it is obvious you are glad they are staying."

Thorin shifted against the tree stump. There was truth in his words of course, though he would never admit such a thing out loud and certainly not to aged wizard. Despite his unwillingness to extend his trust towards the company of magical beings and the misgivings he had about the entire situation he was no fool and even he could see that their continued presences on this undertaking would only ensure that more of his kin were alive after everything was said and done.

Already, the witch they called Hermione had helped them with the protective spells and enchantments she used on their camp each night. She and her magic had made the need of a guard unnecessary and had ensured that all of his men could rest easily through the night. Then of course there was the one they called Luna (a strange creature if he ever saw) and her ability to heal some of their more serious wounds and even the wizard whose appetite rivaled a dwarves was of some help with his strategic abilities. They all offered some form of skill to their quest and up until tonight had not begrudge his kin their talents, despite it not being their battle to wage—

and he had shown them nothing but contempt.

Thorin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in absolute frustration. He wasn't sure who he was more annoyed with at the moment, himself, for feeling even the slightest bit of remorse for behaviour he had warned Gandalf about or Gandalf for putting him in this predicament in the first place.

"Perhaps now that you have seen what effects your behaviour has –and can- have you will curb your incessant need to be rude and unfriendly towards them." Thorin opened his mouth to explain once more that he had warned the wizard the night he had brought them into their camp wounded and quite terrified that he would show them no kindness but before he could Gandalf's next words had his mouth snapping shut.

"You of all people should understand what they have gone through and what they will continue to experience until they are able to return home." Gandalf paused and his expression turned serious. "If they are able to ever do so."

Thorin's gaze casually moved away from Gandalf at his words and towards the young witches and wizards huddled together around their own campfire and again he sighed. It was true, he did understand what they were going through and to some degree knew what it was they were all feeling. They had been ripped from their home by some unforeseen force and hadn't a clue as to how they would find their way back, and to make matters worse one of their own was missing. Yes, he certainly knew and understood what they were experiencing, but that certainly did nothing to alleviate the feeling of discomfort he was experiencing over the entire situation, nor the uneasy feeling that had been creeping its way into his heart over the last fortnight. Thorin could not be sure of it, but something was coming, and that something was somehow connected to the wizards, of that Thorin was certain of.

When there were no words left to say Gandalf leaned back against the tree, obviously content for the moment to smoke his pipe, and listen to the conversation going on around him. Thorin considered the old man through the thick plume of white smoke and found himself once again wondering how Gandalf intended to help them when he had already sworn himself to their quest and what it would mean if they found the sister of the two boys before they reached Erebor.