Disclaimer: Harry Potter and related characters and settings belong to J. K. Rowling. The Lord of the Rings and related mythology belong to the heirs of J. R. R. Tolkien.
A/N I sure love it when these titles fall right into place. That way, I don't have to look them up and possibly butcher up the translation or the grammar as I'm sure I've down with some of the previous chapters. Anyway, the title of this chapter is in Westron, the Common Tongue of Middle-Earth. It translates, "The Shire".
Chapter 20: Suzat
Later on, Hemione couldn't recall much of what had happened afterward. She had the vague recollection of falling asleep in Harry's arms as Buckbeak flew silently on through the night. Harry too appeared to be rather worn out and didn't say much; they were both simply too exhausted to really do anything. During the night, Hermione felt as if Buckbeak had landed somewhere and she was sure she could hear a somewhat familiar voice complaining about something but by that time, slumber had already laid a claim on her.
Hermione awoke with the feeling of the sun on her face and something soft all over her skin. Feeling a gentle nudging, she opened her eyes to see Harry's brilliant green orbs starring at her.
"Hermione, thank God you're awake," said Harry, a smile adorning his face.
"Harry, you're here," said Hermione, smiling as well. She was about to lean over and give Harry a hug when she suddenly realized something: she was completely naked under the sheets. And apparently, so was Harry. Furthermore, they were in the same bed.
Hermione let out a shriek ad pulled the sheets higher up. "H-Harry, where are my clothes?" she asked, blushing bright red.
Harry's cheeks colored scarlet as well. "Er, I don't know," he said, "I woke up to find ourselves in this state. Don't worry, I didn't do anything... inappropriate."
"I know you wouldn't do that," said Hermione, "But where are we? What happened after we escaped Azkaban? And where are our clothes?"
"Um, I don't know," said Harry still blushing. "They were already gone when I woke up."
"I had my wife wash them," said a familiar voice from their right. Harry and Hermione looked over to see Tom Brookmiller the hobbit sitting in a rocking chair smoking a pipe. "Those garments were filthy, I wasn't about to lend you two borrow my bed wearing cast offs like those."
"Tom?" asked Harry.
"That's right, its me," said Tom. "The hobbit who gave you two that sword and it looked like you put it to some use; had to clean that nasty, smelly black stuff off of it. What was that anyhow?"
"Er, Orc blood," said Hermione.
Tom had a serious coughing fit. "I HAD TO WASH ORC BLOOD?" he exclaimed.
"Now, now Tom," said a female hobbit whom suddenly entered from the room next to theirs. To Harry and Hermione's relief, she was carrying a bundle that was clearly their clothes. "There's no need to shout at our guests. And besides, if you cleaned it properly there should be no reason to fret so much."
"Fine, fine," grumbled Tom. "This is my wife, Violet."
"A pleasure to meet the both of you," said Violet Brookmiller. "Now, now get dressed both of you. I've cooked up one of my specials in the kitchen." The hobbits left the room leaving Harry and Hermione to themselves.
"Um, I guess we should put our clothes on," said Harry feeling awkward.
"Good idea," Hermione answered, a little awkwardly as well. The two climbed out of bed and got dressed facing away from each other.
"You know, that was rather rash of you: letting yourself be captured so you could rescue the prisoners in Azkaban. Whatever possessed you to do something as crazy as that?" said Harry, sternly.
"I wanted to help out in some way," said Hermione, a little defensively. "Besides, who are you to lecture me about doing things rashly? You're the one who always jumps into action without thinking things through!"
"Do you know bloody worried I was about you?" shouted Harry, turning around to face Hermione. "Do you have any clue how devastated I was when I thought you were captured?"
"Well perhaps I thought you deserved to be worried about me for once rather than the other way around!" shouted Hermione, also turning to see Harry. "Maybe I thought you needed to know what it felt like to be in my shoes!"
"This isn't about me! Don't turn this into something about me!"
"It's always about you Harry! Maybe this time you'll get a clue for once!"
"Oh I got a clue all right! Except the only clue I got was that the woman I love was in the clutches of my mortal enemy and I was helpless to do anything about it!"
Hermione stopped and starred at Harry. "You love me?" she whispered.
Realizing what he had just said, Harry slapped his hand over his face. "Bloody hell," he groaned. "Hermione, I didn't want to tell you like this but..." Harry couldn't say anything more s Hermione's lips were suddenly on his.
"I love you too, Harry," whispered Hermione in between kisses. "And I'm so sorry for causing you so much worry."
"I'm sorry as well," whispered Harry. He would've said more except Hermione's lips were on his again.
The two were showing signs of wanting to take the kiss further when the hobbits entered the room again. "OK, OK break it up! There will be no copulating in my hole," said Tom. Harry and Hermione sprang apart, blushing scarlet.
"Come on you two," said Violet. "We're going to take you through the Shire. There's someone here who wants to see you two."
* * *
The first thing the Harry and Hermione realized while walking through the Shire was that the Hobbits lived underground, literally. The entire town was within a large cavern the ceiling close to 50 feet above them. That ceiling had many well placed windows within them that illuminated the entire town brightly as so that during the day, it was every bit as bright within the caverns as it was outside. The large cavern stretched like this for at least two miles, the entire town arranged along streets with mounds of hobbit holes everywhere. Most of the Hobbit holes had gardens of vegetables and flowers around them, and there were occasionally some open grassy areas with trees and the occasional small woods. Several streams were in the cave, running through water mills and covered with bridges where the path led. The young Hobbit children, usually under a foot tall were very curious about the 'Big Folk' that were visiting the Shire and often came up to see Harry and Hermione. The grown up Hobbits however tended to either shake their heads at them or just ignore them all together.
"Why do you live completely underground?" asked Harry.
Tom answered, "When the Big Folk moved into that place they call Oxford centuries ago, many of the Hobbits decided they didn't want anything to do with them so they built these underground 'colonies' all over this region. There about 20 of them all. Built them all ourselves we did."
"Yourselves?" asked Hermione. "Didn't the Ministry of Magic?"
"The Ministry only deals with magical creatures," said Violet, "There's nothing magical at all about the hobbit folk."
"That's injustice!" said Hermione, indignantly.
"Who cares!" said Tom. "We don't want anything to do with wizards anyway. We've been fine on our own all this time. Anyway, we're here."
They entered what appeared to be a makeshift stables of sorts. In reality it was a storehouse but its floor was now covered with straw and a temporary wooden fence had been put up around it. In it stood Buckbeak looking rather content. And with Buckbeak was none other than...
"Gandalf!" exclaimed Harry.
"Oh my," said Hermione, "Gandalf the White."
"Yes, indeed that t was I have been called upon Middle-Earth," said Gandalf, his white robes swishing as he turned to face the two teenagers. "Welcome to the Shire Heir of Elessar and Image of Luthien."
"I-I've been called that before," said Hermione a little apprehensively. "But I' having a hard time believing it."
"There are many things that would surprise you yet young maiden," said Gandalf. He walked over to them and studied Hermione's face carefully. "It is true that Luthien and Arwen were she-Elfs of incredible but what truly made them beautiful were the hearts that beat within them. It was because of the beauty of their hearts that they were able to love Beren and Aragorn so unconditionally to the point where they willfully gave up their immortality to be with them. You my child are mortal. Though you slightly resemble them you are not them and will be spared of the tragedy that fell to those named 'Tuniviel'. However, it is your heart and the unconditional love it holds for the Heir of Elessar that has truly made you their image." Hermione blushed as did Harry.
"The time is at hand young Harry Potter," said Gandalf turning to Harry. "The Army of Darkness marches upon these shores. Hogwarts shall be attacked in less than a day."
Harry and Hermione paled. "Is there any way to save the castle?" asked Harry.
"That is an answer I cannot answer for certain," said Gandalf. "Voldemort-Sauron's army is vast and powerful but it is not invincible. Rejoice for there is hope yet, the plight of the Dunedain has not been forgotten: help shall come from the West. But even with that help I believe that the armies of darkness can only truly be defeated when the Icicle and the Flame are reunited."
As Harry pondered over this riddle Gandalf turned to Hermione. "The Valar have granted you a great honor Hermione Granger," he said. "You have been granted three wishes. However, these wishes cannot be made consciously. Saying you wish for something will not grant you your wish; they must be made subconsciously, in your heart. It is most likely you won't even realize you have made your wish until after it has been granted."
"Three wishes..." said Hermione.
"It is best if you not think about too deeply," said Gandalf. He then led Buckbeak out toward them. "Now hurry. Be swift. Hogwarts is in dire need of your help."
* * *
The Magical Centers of Britain had already fallen into the hands of the Dark Powers. The Ministry had long been under Death Eater Control ever since the Fudge's fall and the annihilation of most of their forces. Diagon Alley was soon subjected to their rule as well as residents barricaded themselves within their homes, hoping for a dim hope that was fading each day. Orcs patrolled the streets of the Alley regularly and Dementors often clustered together near the dividing street between Diagon and Knockturn Alley.
Up to the North, the town of Hogsmeade was being evacuated, all of its residents relocating onto the Hogwarts grounds where it was safer. Yet, everyday more and more orcs were being magically transported to the outer regions of Scotland, led by Death Eaters waiting patiently for the wright time. Scouts from the castle reported vast numbers: so many that magic couldn't conceal them properly.
The side of light wasn't without its allies. Fearing the Orcs, the Goblins had broken their neutrality and sent scores of their forces to Hogwarts. Dwarves to, mustered by their friend Angnathron had bolstered the ranks of the school. Even the centaurs, many of them slaughtered by the hands of the orcs, sought sanctuary within the castle grounds, preparing for their own part in the upcoming war.
Upper class Students were being taught more and more combat spells and taught how to fight unarmed. Younger students too were instructed to fight should the going truly turn desperate. The House Elves were given explicit instructions to unleash the full assault of their magic upon the orcs at the right times. It was perhaps the greatest form of irony that it took a crisis of this level to truly unite (if only temporarily) the sentient beings of the Magical World.
Yet, it would not be enough. It all began one evening while the sun was setting as Albus Dumbledore walked out onto the balcony of his tower, his phoenix Fawkes upon his shoulder. And he saw it: thousands and thousands of Orcs surrounding the castle, their ranks further bolstered by trolls, vampires, and Dementors. Leading them were the Death Eaters, as if they had already claimed victory in the war.
"So Fawkes, it has come to this," said Dumbledore, gravely. The Battle for Hogwarts had begun!
To be continued...
A/N Too much has been happening recently and I'm feeling rather overwhelmed and stressed out. For now let's leave at the fact that I'm in Sydeney, Australia and the next chapter shouldn't take too long to come up. Thanks for reading.