I'm going to try and not get excited about posting so soon after my last upload. The last time I did that there was a rather significant gap between the chapters--I think it may have been a year, ugh! At any rate here's the next chapter!

Disclaimer: Once again, Harry Potter and his universe were 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.

"Lila?" Draco questioned as she closed the distance between them, his expression neutral, despite the concern he-foolishly- felt compelled to conceal from her and the others. While her brother had come along way when it came to dealing with his emotions (their father had certainly done a number on them both, and she had not even lived with the man), there were still occasions that he reverted and attempted to hide what he was feeling and thinking, and no amount of prodding or needling would get him to reveal the paths his thoughts had taken him down; much to her frustration.

"I just needed to talk to Gandalf about any possible remedy for my nightmares." She lied smoothly as she dropped her other pack down, ignoring the overwhelming guilt she felt about lying to them. As much as she wanted to confide in them, she knew at this point telling them anything else would only generate more questions she didn't have answer to (or didn't want to answer) and add to the concern they were already struggling to deal with, and she did not want to add to that if she could help it...at least not just yet.

"Did he have anything that would help?" Hermione asked curiously as she began casting the protective spells they used whenever they happened to make camp for the night (which wasn't as often as all of their backside would have liked).

"No," She admitted as she began picking up sticks for their fire, needing the distraction. "he didn't think it would be wise attempting any kind of spell or potion given that we're not from here."

"Yeah, no need to add to the problems we've already got." Ron said around a mouth full of food (how was he always eating!?) as he helped her collect wood.

Yeah, too late for that Weasley.

Lila blinked a little when she suddenly felt something akin to curiosity brushing along the connection they shared, and realised after a moment that Thranduil had undoubtedly felt her guilt, and like anyone, wondered about its source. She hesitated for a moment before trying her best to communicate that she was trying to figure out a solution to their current predicament, and that she hadn't meant for any of this to happen. Yeah, not going to get used to that anytime soon, she thought when she felt his acknowledgement—or at least what she assumed was acknowledgment. There wasn't exactly a manual for deciphering elvish emotions and she wasn't even certain he understood what she had been trying to say.

"A farmer and his family used to live here." Gandalf said ominously as he looked around what used to be a home, the twinkling in his eyes quite pronounced.

Penny in the air.

Lila flicked a glanced In Thorin's direction, curious to see whether the king Under the Mountain would rise to the obvious bait, or if he would simply ignore his 'off the cuff' remarks as he had done on numerous other occasions; he didn't disappoint. Her lip twitched in barely contained amusement when Thorin blatantly ignored Gandalf's words and barked out a few orders to his men, a look of distrust etched into his features when his gaze eventually found hers. Thorin clearly suspected that Gandalf was up to something and -rightfully in this case- believed that she was at the root of it; though whether that was due to the conversation she'd had with Gandalf only moments ago or his serious trust issues, was beyond her.

"I think it would be wiser to move on." He continued in the same concerned tone, clearly not about to be deterred by Thorin's obvious feigned lack of interest. "We could make for the Hidden Valley."

And the penny drops, she thought as she watched Thorin's face darken and his hands clenched into tight fists, amazed that his tone of voice as he spoke was devoid of the hostility and deeply rooted disdain she knew he harbored towards the elves.

"What's the Hidden Valley and why does King Wanker look like he's had a hot poker shoved up is arse?" Lila's lip twitched at Ginny's comment, though she did wonder why the younger girl was resorting to name calling when she'd caught the pair of them talking (amicably) on several occasions.

"It's where the Ñoldor Elves live and where we might find answers to our questions." She said as she began unpacking her bag, glad that they had found a way to converse in English.

"Ñoldor Elves?" Hermione asked curiously as she came back over to where they were, her hand almost automatically searching her bag for the journal she had been writing in.

"There are three groups of elves and several groups of sub elves" She began as she attempted to find the tent they had been using for the last few evenings, most of them having grown tired of sleeping outside. "The Ñoldor elves are known as the second clan as they were the second elves to awake at Cuiviénen." She paused and added after realising they wouldn't have any idea what she was talking about. "Cuiviénen was the place where the Elves awoke after their creation and for some time resided."

"What are the other two groups called?" Hermione asked as the quick-quotes quill undoubtedly jotted down both her earlier words and Hermione's question.

"Hmmm, let's see," She said with a thoughtful expression as she dug through the information in her head. "The first clan of elves are the Vanyar, who despite being the smallest of the three are considered the fairest and most noble of the High Elves, and then the third clan is called the Teleri, who was the largest of the three and who are typically referred to as sea elves." She frowned a little at that last bit. "Although, the term Teleri also includes the Sindar, Laiquendi, and the Nandor elves, who were considered cousins."

Hermione frowned slightly as she read over what the quill had written. "Why are there different groups of elves? Is it because they look different? Or...? "

Lila smiled and shook her head. "Yes and no, while some of the different groups are fairer in appearance, a lot of it has to do with what happened during The Great March from Cuiviénen, which was basically when the Elves journeyed to Valinor, and where the elves settled." She paused in her retrieval of the tent. "For example, because the Teleri were the largest of the Eldar clans they had two leaders during The Great March, Elwë and Olwë who were brothers. The story goes, that when they reached Beleriand -which I can tell you about later Granger- Elwë went wandering into the forest, which apparently, he did often, and fell in love. Its said that the two stood spellbound for several years and that when they finally awoke, Elwë set up shop in Beleriand, and the group that stayed with him became the Sindar Elves."

She was happy to note that the only person who had a slightly glazed look on his face from all thr information was Ron... though that was hardly surprising. While the second to youngest Weasley excelled in some areas, (he was unmatched when it came to wizards chess and tactical plans in battle), in other areas he simply floundered; much like a gaping carp. "Meanwhile, Olwë, having grown tired of searching for his brother, who they couldn't find, led the larger part of the Teleri to Valinor, and would later be known as the Falmari."

"...I have several questions," Hermione paused at everyone's groan and huffed. "but I'll wait and ask them later."

She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing when Draco looked up at the sky, undoubtedly to see if pigs were flying.

"Is it weird having all this information in your head?" Luna asked as she sat next to Harry and grabbed hold of the hand that was absently itching at his scar, almost cradling it in her own.

Lila looked thoughtful for a moment before she shrugged. "It wasn't before I came here." She admitted as she handed Blaise the tent. "At the time, this place wasn't real, and was just a figment of my imagination. But now that we're here…yeah, it's a little odd having all this information." Though, it certainly isn't the weirdest thing in my head, she thought as she watched Gandalf head for his horse, his expression thunderous.

"Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?" Bilbo asked nervously as Gandalf easily mounted his horse and grabbed hold of the reins.

"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense." Bilbo exchanged a confused look with Balin before asking cautiously.

"Who's that?"

"Myself, Mr. Baggins! I've had enough of dwarves for one day." Lila simply shook her head when Gandalf caught her gaze and gave her a tiny wink before riding off, absently wondering how it was possible that Gandalf and Dumbledore were so similar when the two men had never met and were from different…places.

"Come on, Bombur, we're hungry."

"…Should we be worried?" Draco asked as the Dwarves began setting up their own camp and making dinner, his expression only slightly concerned.

"No," She said shaking her head as she hauled her things into the large tent. "I suspect he's gone off to try and find a way to get us to Rivendell."

"Do you think he'll be able to get us there?" Harry asked as he entered the tent, still holding Luna's hand.

She snorted as she tossed her things into her bunk. "Yes, the man is more like Dumbledore than any of you realise." She scowled a little. "only he's had way more than a few centuries to hone his meddling skills."

"Yeah, I've noticed that a few times." Ginny groused as she set her things in the bunk next to hers. "I thought he was going to start foaming at the mouth when he discovered what we were capable of, especially us girls."

Lila nodded. "Only five Istari were sent here from the Undying Lands and witches -the few that there are- aren't exactly the most trustworthy beings in this world." She wandered back into the main part of the floor, adding as she flopped into an empty chair at the table, her forehead finding its hard surface with a small thud. "though with good reason. They aren't exactly the nicest people and more often than naught they prey on the innocent."

"What happens when we get to the Hidden Valley?" Hermione asked, the sound of pots and pans clinking together following her words.

"We do your favourite thing." Draco drawled as he pulled out a chair at the table and sat next to her. "We ask a million questions and find a library." She couldn't see her brother's expression, but she was certain he was smirking at the brunette.

Somethings never change.

The laughter that followed was soothing and alleviated some of the concern that was presently eating away at her. "The library is quite…" Lila trailed off and blinked when she realised that the feeling of content wasn't solely hers, and that part of it was coming from Thranduil. Was he trying to help her? Or was he simply testing whatever connection they shared?

"…Lila?" Blaise questioned, his tone slightly concerned.

"Um, sorry, its massive." She closed her eyes as the conversation shifted away from the library and on to dinner and who would take watch that night, and focused on the evenness of her breathing and the almost physical connection that she could feel between her and Thranduil. She had no idea whether she could use the connection to send Thranduil an actual message, but given her options –or lack thereof— she really didn't see the harm in trying. The image of herself motioning to Imladris slowly took shape as she pulled its likeness from one of her many childhood memories and solidified once she had a firm hold on the memory of the Elven town.

We're going to Imladris to see if Lord Elrond can provide us with any answers or help us. It might behoove you to get your arse there too, unless you want to be stuck like this for the foreseeable future.

She pushed both the thought and the image across the connection and was both amused and unsettled by the surprise she felt moments later followed by what she thought may be understanding, or hoped it was at any rate.

Bloody hell. What kind of mess have I gotten us into Thranduil, she thought as she he hit her head against the table, blatantly ignoring the people who had suddenly stopped talking and were all now staring at her.