For the first draft of this chapter, I had issues with the way Frodo's apparel would work out on a normal school day at Hogwarts. For this revised draft, I hope that issue has been resolved.

Chapter Five:

Fall Term Schedules

Frodo lazily stared up at the wooden ceiling, attached to the four-poster bed. It took him a few moments to realize he was still inside the Ravenclaw tower, at the wizardry school's castle. He heard knocking on the dormitory door. As he moved into a seated position on the mattress, Frodo heard Luna's voice that said to meet her down in the common room. He had no clue what she wanted, but he figured it must have been important. Right as he glanced at a chair, seated next to his bed, Frodo saw clothing that appeared hobbitish. On the right side of a black vest and jacket was a badge sewn into the fabric. In the centermost part of the foreground was a bronze eagle. In the background, there was a checkered banner decked in shades of blue and bronze, the very same colors that belonged to the house of Ravenclaw.

Once he dressed and put on the vest, jacket, and black breeches that also sat folded on the wooden chair, Frodo left the dormitory room through the small rounded door. On his way down the stone steps, Frodo found Luna standing in front of the fireplace, peering up at the Hogwarts crest, engraved in the stone above the mantelpiece.

Luna greeted Frodo as he approached, "Hello Frodo Baggins."

"Luna," greeted Frodo in reply. Hesitantly, he asked, "You needed to speak with me?"

"Yes," she answered. "The bell rang a few minutes ago, reminding us that it is time for breakfast, down in the Great Hall. Will you be joining me? I don't have a lot of friends, and most people tend to leave me alone because I am different. They don't understand…"

"That all sounds fine, but I'm afraid I will have to decline your offer. I need to return home. My uncle is probably worried sick about me. I'm certain he doesn't know where I am," said Frodo in a distraught tone.

"I wouldn't worry so much about your uncle, Frodo. I'm sure he'll come around in time," said Luna, dreamily. "We should head down to the Great Hall to pick up our schedules. I would suggest you come with me."

"Like I said, I won't be taking any classes here," said Frodo jokingly, still not understanding why taking classes were so important in the Wizardry World.

"That's not what Dumbledore said…"

"I know, but I can't. My school years have been finished years ago. You have to understand that I do not belong here," said Frodo with a stately voice.

"I do understand. You are lost in an unfamiliar world." She added, "I can understand your reasons for being homesick. It's typical for a first-year." She then asked in excitement, "Do you mind telling me what your world is like?"

Frodo shook his head. He tried not to sound harsh, as he stated, "I would rather not say anything, as you are only an acquaintance of mine. It wouldn't be polite."

Luna shrugged. "Oh well. I'll try again after we've become more than acquaintances." Changing the subject, Luna asked him, "I don't suppose you mind exploring the castle and grounds. I can give you a tour…"

"No thank you, Miss Luna," said Frodo, feeling slight regret at addressing Luna's name in a formal manner.

Luna did not notice, as she skipped towards the door, which led out of the common room. She turned to Frodo a moment later, with a concerned look in her eyes. "Are you coming?"

Frodo stared at the badge sewn into the jacket for a few seconds. He glanced up at the fourth-year Ravenclaw student, and then replied in a calm tone, "Sure." He then took one last look at the fireplace before following after Luna, at a run, over the threshold and down the narrow, winding staircase that led into the fifth floor corridor.

When Frodo and Luna arrived at the Great Hall, Frodo noticed several witches glaring at him. Before he had a chance to sit down at the table, assigned to the Ravenclaws, Frodo felt two firm taps against his shoulder. Frodo whirled around in fright, as he found Romilda standing behind him.

"Well, look who's finally decided to be afraid…" Romilda blurted out before the assemblage of students who were half-awake, "It's Frodo Baggins, of course!" Glaring back at the hobbit, Romilda snapped aloud in a muttering response, "If I catch you hanging out with the wrong crowd again, I'll humiliate you the same way you humiliated me."

"Is that a threat, Miss Vane?" asked Frodo, firing his words right back in her direction.

Glowering, Romilda stated, "Yes, and I wouldn't threaten you unless…"

Frodo interrupted her. "Then don't plan on threatening me again." He briefly noticed Luna digging into her warm eggs, while humming softly to herself.

Ignoring Luna, Romilda asked, "Is this the way you plan on starting the term, or is it your chance to prove how clever you think you are against powerful spells?" She pulled out her wand, as she gave him a fierce look that spread across her face.

Frodo looked nervously at the wand, and then returned his gaze to Romilda. Truthfully, he told her, "I won't fight you."

"I knew you would say that," said Romilda, scornfully.

He paused. "Unless you plan on starting a brawl, then we have nothing further to discuss."

"Oh, we have plenty to discuss when I'm finished with you…" Romilda was cut off by a firm tap across the shoulder. She faced Professor McGonagall, who stood behind her, with a bewildered look on her face. At once, Romilda apologized, "Forgive me, professor. I was showing our exchange student who…"

Professor McGonagall interrupted, before Romilda could rant onwards. "Miss Vane, we do not perform duels outside the classroom, as long as we are inside this castle. Is that understood?"

Calmly, Romilda answered, "Yes Professor McGonagall."

In a stern tone, Professor McGonagall ordered her, "Now, if you kindly return to your seat before I deduct points from Gryffindor…" she was cut off when Romilda rushed towards the Gryffindor table, in fright and bewilderment.

As the sounds of students, who enjoyed their conversations and breakfast, returned inside the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall handed to Luna a schedule of the classes she would take for the fall term. When Professor McGonagall told Luna briefly about O.W.L. year, Luna admitted in relief how glad she was not to have Umbridge teach Defense Against the Dark Arts for the year. Before Frodo had the chance to ask Luna who Professor Umbridge was and why she had been a horrid teacher, he was soon approached by Professor McGonagall.

"I trust last night was good, Mr. Baggins," asked Professor McGonagall.

Troubled, Frodo admitted, "It wasn't the way I had hoped." In an honest voice, he added, "All I would like is to return home. This has been a… interesting dream-within-a-dream, but I know I have to wake up and…"

"I see," said Professor McGonagall. She changed the topic, before Frodo had the chance to say or ask anything further. "Here is your schedule. Now, Dumbledore and I have agreed to write to Flourish and Blotts, and have them deliver your books by owls. As for your fencing sword, that will be harder to find. I do hope Professor Flitwick has something else in mind, other than using an actual sword, but I do not know." She then asked, "Do you have any questions?"

Frodo shook his head. "No." He added on a polite, calmer note, "Thank you."

Professor McGonagall nodded, "Very well. Good luck this term, Mr. Baggins." She then approached a group of fourth-year Ravenclaw students.

Frodo looked over his schedule with wary eyes. It seemed Mondays through Thursdays would be his busy days of the week, while the weekend was mainly focused on fencing lessons with Professor Flitwick. However, on that particular Monday – as any other Monday would follow, if he chose to stay at the castle for the entire fall term – his first class turned out to be History of Magic, which was right after breakfast.

Snapping him back to reality, Luna asked him in concern, "Frodo, are you all right? You look awful."

Returning his gaze to Luna, Frodo answered, hesitantly, "I need some air. Excuse me, Miss Luna." He rushed out of the Great Hall a brief moment later.

Once he was out in the Entrance Hall, Frodo sat down on a wooden bench. Realizing the class schedule was still in his hands, he decided to take another brief look. While confused by the writing and why he needed to take so many classes, if he was what the wizards and witches called "an exchange student", Frodo heard footsteps approach closer towards his path.

He looked up at Romilda Vane, as she spoke to him, "You are a complete git, Frodo Baggins. I can admit you have a nerve to leave me hanging in the middle of a conversation."

"Oh, and I thought there wasn't anything further for us to discuss, Miss Vane," said Frodo, sarcasm reflecting in his voice.

"Do you find me cross, Mr. Baggins?" asked Romilda, snappishly.

He paused briefly, and then answered, "That all depends on what you mean by 'cross'. From the way I heard it, you must think I find you an irritable sort. Of course, do I find you cross? You certainly have this knack for becoming easily annoyed with me."

Confused, Romilda demanded, "Speak in plain English, Baggins. I don't have all day."

"I believe you just answered your own question," said Frodo, throwing his words right back at her.

"Well, aren't we being the logical sort," said Romilda, shocked. "It's no wonder the Sorting Hat placed you in Ravenclaw."

"Then you are lucky most hobbits would prefer staying away from the irritable people, who do not choose to leave well enough alone," said Frodo as a matter-of-fact.

"Are you asking me to leave you alone?" asked Romilda, stunned.

"Didn't I already say what I think of you, Miss Romilda?" asked Frodo, sarcastically.

Disgusted, Romilda told him, "You're a git in my books, Mr. Baggins. Since you want your privacy, I'll leave you alone… if only for a little while." In warning, she added, "I am nowhere near finished with you, and you will tell me, the next time you see Harry Potter, what Harry thinks of me."

"I highly doubt he'll wise up to your wishes," said Frodo in a soft voice. Quietly, he told himself, "What have you gotten yourself into?" Moments later, Frodo returned to the Great Hall, where he saw Ron gorging down on his second breakfast at the Gryffindor table.