Authors Note: Another Chapter as promised!

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.

Over the course of the next few days Thorin made an effort to curb his hostile behaviour towards the wizards and show them the same hospitality he gave to his kin. He certainly didn't go out of his way to be overly welcoming to the wizards but neither did he purposely aim his hostility at them either. He was courteous –as much as he could be– when it was necessary and when it wasn't he avoided the company of wizards as best he could. His change in temperament did not go unnoticed by the others and by the end of the week the others followed suit and soon the atmosphere around the campfire was not as strained as it had once been.

"What is it?" Thorin asked Gandalf when he noticed a queer look cross the wizards face as they dismounted to rest the ponies and give everyone a few minutes as well. After the heavens had opened and the torrential downpour had begun earlier in the day they were certainly in need of a short reprieve in which they could dry their clothes and eat something.

Gandalf shook his head as he tied his horse up. "It is just a feeling that there was something else behind that sudden downpour."

Thorin frowned deeply at the older man's sudden nervousness. "What do you mean?"

"Just be on your guard." With that Gandalf moved off towards the rest of the company.

Thorin sighed heavily (a small part of his mind pointing out that the particular action was becoming an increasing habit of his as of late) and tied up his own pony. How was he to be on his guard when he wasn't sure what it was he was supposed to be looking for? Honestly, the man was starting to test the limits of his patient with all his cryptic statements and constant riddles.

"Dawlin—"

Thorin's words came to an immediate halt as he watched the older warrior take a step in his direction only to end up several feet in the air in a net that had been constructed from a material Thorin had never seen before. The string of swear words that followed his old friends capture would have made even the most seasoned miners ears burn and only served to amuse his fellow dwarves.

"Bofour cut him down for there."

"No wait!"

Gandalf's words came too late and Thorin watched as every single member of their company soon joined Dawlin, in nets of their own or all smashed together in one. The possible danger that Gandalf had warned him of had Thorin's attention now and he quickly unsheathed his sword, his eyes searching for their attacker. He did not have long to wait. Thorin watched as a creature (for he was uncertain as to whether it was man, dwarf, or elf) crept from its hiding place and headed in the direction of the company. Garbed in a thick green cloak with the hood pulled up, sturdy brown breeches, boots, and a bit of fabric tied round its face to conceal its identity, the creature was perhaps a few inches taller than him and had an air about it that did not sit well with him.

"If you are not seeking an early death than I would advise you to come no closer to my men." The creature whirled around and in one swift motion pulled the blade that had been strapped to its back free of its sheath. The creature's movements only served to add to Thorin's ever increasing confusion over what it was for they were not as graceful as an elf's or as fluid as some dwarves, but somehow seemed to be a combination of the two. When the creature made no further attempts to move closer to his thoroughly caught companions or attack him Thorin's hand tightened on the hilt of his sword.

"We shall not be robbed of our belongings so easily, so it would be in your best interest to leave now while your head is still attached to your shoulders." Thorin's jaw clenched when he noticed the creatures oddly coloured eyes dance in barely concealed amusement. It was obvious to both that the creature had noticed the difference in their height and in his opinion rather foolishly believed that he would be no match for it. How wrong it was…

The creature advanced without so much as second thought and the clash of steal echoed around the clearing as Thorin raised his own to block its attack. Soon the only sounds that could be heard in the clearing was the sound of steal against steal, grunts from the two fighters, and a chorus of shouting from those being held captive from above.

Although he would never admit such a thing out loud the creature was an incredibly skilled fighter and even he –with all his training –was having difficulty against this mysterious foe. It did not move with the same graceful viciousness as an elf or the same brute force as a dwarf and yet there were several times during the fight where he felt as if he were fighting either one. Yet another riddle he had to deal with and this time it was wielding a sword!

"Ganger will you bloody hurry up already!"

Thorin wasn't altogether sure what had happened from one second to the next, one moment he was swinging his sword at the thief and the next moment he was unable to move anything but his eyes. No, words had been shouted so he knew that it had not been the wizards that had suddenly restricted his movements inadvertently—and yet he could not move. He watched with wide eyes as the thief pulled down the covering on its face and shot right past him and towards the nets that housed its victims. Thorin wasn't sure what surprised him more, the fact that the creature was a woman, or the words she uttered next.

"Draco!?"

Thorin mentally cursed the she devils for making it, so he was unable to move and therefore unable to see what it was she did next.

"Lila!?"