Authors Note: Another update...and it didn't take me months to post it! Pigs or cows must be flying somewhere! I want to thank everyone who has reviewed, favourtied, and followed Child of Ilúvatar! It's your encouragement (and death threats from my muse) that have kept me at this story. I would like to give ample warning to all who are still reading my story that the rating is likely to go up over the course of the next few chapters. Lila isn't exactly a shy creature and is quite creative when it comes to cursing—she blames it on her upbringing and an aunt who could give sailors and pirates a run for their money in terms of their foul mouths. I would also like to remind everyone that I did —and am— taking some creative liberties with the two author's universe. I am trying to keep everything within the realm of possibility, which means a lot of research, but I am fiddling with things that need to be fiddled with.

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.

"I trust everything is well my dear?"

She simply stood there staring at him, her mismatched eyes (one grey and the other blue) revealing nothing about the path her thoughts had taken and watched with hidden amusement as the long stretch of silence had the aged wizard fiddling with his pipe. She could practically see him working out whether her silence was a precursor to a vocal tirade or to something much worse. The very idea that she was making one of the Istari slightly apprehensive was enough to make her own eyes twinkle in amusement. When he gave no indication that he was going to do little else than sit there and fiddle with his pipe and make tutting sounds, she crossed her arms over her chest and leveled a look at him that she had often used on her students.

"If you ever knowingly put my brothers or friends in danger again I'll set fire to your eyebrows," she let her words sink in for a moment before she respectfully added. "sir."

Gandalf's lip twitched and there was unmistakable twinkle in his eyes as he inclined his head. He clearly was no stranger to threats and given who he was traveling with that did not come as a surprise. "You have my word that I will do my best to keep them safe and that I will not put them in danger again." He drew on his pipe and gave her a knowing smile. "Am I to take it by the expression on Mr. Potters and Ms. Weasley's face that you will be continuing your journey with us?"

She nodded, her full lips twisting into an amused sort of smile. "Yes, but that is contingent on one or two things." He nodded at this, the thick plume of some curling around them. "and I would like to know just what Thorin did to them. I haven't seen them dislike anyone this much since Umbridge took up the position as DADA professor." At his confused look she added. "She was an old toad of a woman that made orcs look like fluffy white rabbits in frilly tutu's."

His lip twitched again, and it was obvious that he was barely resisting the urge to laugh. "It is not so much what he did as how he behaved."

Her eyebrow arched in a manner that left little doubt that she believed that wasn't all he had done. "So, he was a rude inhospitable wanker? Or just a dwarf? " She gave the wizard a lazy smile when the glare and/or scowl she could feel burning holes into her head increased. "and he can hear every word I'm saying, can't he?"

Gandalf's gaze casually slid in the direction she knew that Thorin was in, assessing him briefly before returning to her. "I do believe he has heard every word you said and is now taking his ire out on several of his companions." He made a sound that could have been laughter or could have been him clearing his throat. "Now than my dear," He tucked his pipe into his mouth and his expression turned serious. "I do believe that you said that your continued assistance was contingent on one or two things?"

She nodded and after casting a quick glance towards Thorin to make certain that he was still giving his comrades a verbal beating, she cast the muffliato spell and said bluntly. "I need to go to Rivendell and Thorin has to continue to not be such a dwarf." It was obvious by his startled expression that he wasn't expecting that one of her demand—that or he wasn't expecting her to be so blunt about it. "Lord Elrond might know of any instance where magic was used on a dragon and he might also have some idea as to why we're here and how to get back." She honestly didn't think she needed to spell out why Thorin had to be on his best behaviour but better to be safe than incredibly sorry later. "And Thorin's continued 'good' behaviour will ensure that he isn't cursed into oblivion –and Ginny knows some fairly nasty ones just to let you know– and I won't have to continually convince them to stay."

Gandalf settled back against the tree. "I do not believe that we will have any more issues from Thorin and his lack of hospitality. I do believe he realised what his behaviour would cost him if he continued treating your companions with such open hostility."

She frowned at this. "I understand that dwarves can be a mistrustful lot but what exactly did they do that warranted such hostility?"

She watched him fuss with his pipe and in that moment, Lila wondered just how much the wizard was going to keep from her. "It is not so much what they did as it was the manner of their arrival and of course what you and your female companions are." She nodded at this bit of information, although it was not anything she hadn't heard before or experienced herself. The few witches that had roamed the lands of Middle Earth had not been exactly Glinda the Good Witch of the North and it had had a resounding effect on the peoples of Middle Earth and their impression of their kind—and none of them were exactly favourable. "It did not matter that I had brought them into our camp that night or that young Miss Granger was serious injured. He did not trust them, and I am sorry to say expressed his mistrust though his actions and his words."

Lila was beginning to get an idea of what it had been like for her companions and why they were so hostile to the King under the Mountain. Had she been in their position she very much doubted that she wouldn't have behaved the same way towards Thorin; although with much less restraint.

Gandalf fell silent for a moment, the smoke from his pipe curling into the shape of ship as he exhaled. "But as I said I doubt we will have any more issues on that account."

"Oh, I'm certain that we won't cause if we do I'll make sure he can't grow so much as hair on his chin." She gave him a smile that left little room for doubt that she would carry out her threat and that she would enjoy every minute of it. Lila knew that her siblings and friends were certainly capable of taking care of themselves (they had proved as much throughout the entire war) and that a few of them wouldn't appreciate her interference, but she had always been overprotective when it came to those that were close to her; and they were as close as it got. She also knew that if she didn't do it that Ginny most certainly would now that they had managed to find her (it was the only explanation that Lila could think of that would explain the fact that Thorin hadn't been cursed into oblivion by the young witch).

He nodded. "I will make sure that he is made aware of your stance and your threat against his beard." His brow puckered, a look of concentration and concern on his face. "As for the other request." He paused, almost as if he were hesitant to voice his thoughts aloud. "I had of course thought of seeking out Lord Elrond's council but—"

She interjected when he paused. "Thorin despises the race of elves and we'd have a better chance getting old Smaug to put on a pretty dress and dance."

He chuckled, his laughter deep and rich. "Yes, Thorin's enmity towards the elves is a formidable obstacle." He smiled, mischievously, and with blue eyes twinkling. "But I think it is one we can find our way around if we put our heads together my dear."

A small lopsided smile curved her lips. "I was hoping that you might say that." They both shared a conspiratory look before she dropped the spell around them. She would have liked to have discussed a plan of attack but the itch between her shoulders blades had intensified to the point that told her dropping the spell was the right option to take, at least for the time being. They could talk when Thorin wasn't watching the pair of them so closely. "I'm glad we're on the same page Mithrandir." She said respectfully.

"Mithrandir?" Blaise questioned, sounding slightly confused.

She turned to face the pair of them as they approached and simply took them in for a moment with happiness. It had not been all that long since she'd finally been given the opportunity to get to know her brothers and after only four years with them, the idea that she could have lost them so easily terrified her; especially when she'd already had to endure that particular feeling during the war. It has been absolute hell for her during the war, knowing that they could be taken away from her at any moment; especially after such a short time of knowing one another. Lila still wasn't certain how she managed to not go completely insane during the latter half of the war, with all the worrying she had done, and the whole evading being killed by a sadistic psycho who looked like his face had caught fire and someone had tried to put out with a spanner.

"Gandalf has many names in this land," She said as she scratched at her wool cap. "The race of men call him Gandalf the Grey whereas the elves call him Mithrandir." Her brothers stared at her—well it was more like down at her—with similar expressions and she stared back with a look of her own. "What? Just because Granger didn't get around to asking a ton of questions doesn't mean I didn't. " She shook her head. "I didn't have the luxury of crossing paths with a company of dwarves or an Istari, so I had to ask a lot of questions, so I could first figure out where I was and to then figure out where you lot could be."

Draco eventually shook his head. "Well at least that hasn't changed." Draco's lip twitched as if he were fighting the urge to smile or laugh. "Perhaps Mithrandir can tell you why or where you lost those several inches."

She winced at the way he butchered Sindarin and was thankful that whatever had brought them here had at least given them the ability to speak Westron. The idea of having to teach them either language was comparable to teaching first year's basic spells; migraine worthy. She however was not thankful that they had once again brought up the subject of her height (and the fact that it was different in this world than it was theirs) in front of Gandalf. It was going to be hard enough keeping her prior knowledge of this world a secret from the old man, let alone the other issues that had occurred when they had been yanked into Middle Earth. It was well known through Middle Earth that Mithrandir was, well, to quote a few people 'an old meddling coot' and she knew that if he found out that she had prior knowledge of Arda or any of the other little secrets she was trying to keep hidden he would begin to meddle, and she would likely want to throttle him.

Lila was certain that the only reason someone hadn't tried to strangle the man with his own beard was because he was still respected –despite all his meddling– and because he wasn't a twinkling-eyed Cracker Jack wizard; far from it if rumors were true.

Just as she suspected Gandalf's brow slowly arched and those blue eyes began to twinkle. She wasn't sure whose twinkle was more annoying, Dumbledore's, or Gandalf's. "Do you mean to say that you are not this short in your own land?"

Lila huffed out a breath of annoyance. "No, I'm not this short in my land." And that's all I'm telling you and your bloody twinkling eyes. Before any more questions about her height –or lack thereof – could arise, she linked arms with her brothers and whirled them around. "Alright boys I need to grab my things before we head off." She marched off in the direction of her makeshift camp site, giving them no time to object or to make any further comments. Lila knew that she was not fooling the old wizard and she was fairly certain that he already knew she was hiding something, but they also both knew that she wasn't going to discuss anything until she was good and ready to discuss it. Stubborn, secretive people could usually spot the same characteristics in others and knew when not to push.

However, as unwilling as she was to discuss with Gandalf all that had changed, her brothers were an entirely different matter altogether. She knew that if she didn't squash this now they would keep bringing it up at the most inopportune moment; whether they meant to or not. She also knew that they would be upset with her if she knowingly kept something from them.

It didn't take her long to gather what she had once they reached the tree she'd made her camp in. In fact, it had taken Draco and Blaise longer to climb the tree and then stop grumbling about her choice in camp site than it had to get everything. What few items she had collected during her time in middle earth were either placed in a bag similar to Hermione's beaded bag (she really was a talented witch) or strapped to her person. The bow and quiver she attached to her back had the pair of them shooting each other furtive looks…which quickly turned into open mouth gawking when she shoved a rather nasty looking ax into the canvas bag. It was their looks that prompted her to bring up the real reason that she had drug them here.

"Before we join the others I think there are some things we should discuss first."

Authors Note: The next chapter is already completed, and I will post it sometime this week or next!

Reviews:

SkinyLove2625, DaisyHannah09, foxxy moxxy soxxy: Thank you for reading my lovely little story and I'm glad that you're enjoying it thus far.

Perminatly Lost In Thought: At this point I'm not sure if I'll include what happened during the time skips, but there should be less jumps now that we're getting further into the story. As far as pairings go I'm not certain who the secondary characters are going to be with at this point. I know with absolute certainty who Lila and Thorin (his pairing makes me laugh myself silly) will end up with and that Hermione will not be with Ron (I wasn't overly fond of that pairing in the book) but nothing in set in stone for the others.

RedBear5: Thank you for catching those typos for me! I unfortunately don't have a Beta reader at this point and even after reading the chapters over and over again I'm still not able to catch everything.

ZabuzasGirl, Kyubbi lover 98: I am trying to update with a bit more frequency so barring any issues (life, attack of the road blocks, and a disgruntled muse) you should see more updates in the coming months.