Chapter 33
“My friends and family, we… We don’t come from this world…” Harry started to explain.
An hour later he finished with a reassuring smile. “We won’t be telling everyone all of this, this level of disclosure is for the Thain, the Master of Buckland and the King of the dwarves, Thorin Oakenshield. Only they will be receiving what we are tentatively calling, a 'Full Disclosure'. Everyone else will be given a standard 'Disclosure' and be told that we come from a land far from here, where the magic that we use, is more prevalent, but still fairly rare. That magic users hide from the non-magicals in fear of their lives. That’s why those that escaped took whatever chances they could, when they could. Hence, why some of us have been here for so much longer than others. We won't lie to them, but we also won't be telling them the complete story.”
“Huh…” Gerontius grunted. “I’m not the most enamored of wizards, the grey meddler included, other than his whizz-poppers... but you and your people… You’re different, you… You just want a home. And peace to live in it. And you’re prepared to offer that to others.”
“We are.” Harry nodded.
“Missus Wellgate has stated that if I thought your offer was genuine, she would accept it.” Gerontius said.
“Oh grand.” Harry smiled in relief.
“Moreover, would you be prepared to extend that offer to a few others?” Gerontius asked.
~~~
July 18th 2920
“Others?” Harry asked.
“It’s been nigh-on ten years since the Fell Winter and we’re only now just starting to recover, properly.” Gerontius answered. “Many died over that dreadful winter and even more died in the years after, we just didn’t have the resources to feed everyone. We missed an entire growing season and while we had stores put aside, it was nowhere near enough, not for the amount of people that needed to be fed.” He sighed. “Tuckborough probably wasn’t as bad as other places, we have to store food in case the roads are closed. We don’t exactly have the availability to harvest fields of grain if the road closes, so we stock up. The Great Smials have hundreds of store rooms and over that winter we housed most of the town, in the safety of our tunnels.”
“But that didn’t help out on the flatlands.” Fortinbras added. “People were fighting over scraps, because that was all there was.”
“It was.” Gerontius nodded. “Since then, the crops have been smaller, because we lost so many farmers, they saw to feeding their families, before themselves. But we’re recovering, slowly but surely. But for some, the losses were… significant…”
“I see…” Harry shook his head sadly.
“There’s a few that have not handled the recovery well.” Gerontius went on. “No... It's not so much the recovery but the… the memories of their lost loved ones linger, in every room, in every doorway, in the faces of their families and friends.” He corrected himself.
“Ah.” Harry grunted. “And you’re thinking a change of scenery might help them.” It wasn’t a question.
“I am.” The Thain agreed. “And I know that their skills will help in the building of a new town.”
“Tell me about them.” Harry directed. “No promises, but I’ll certainly listen and consider them.”
Gerontius consulted a slip of paper before he began. “Adelaide Grant married Gilibert Welsch… oh, it must be five years past.” He laid the paper down and continued. “It wasn’t a first marriage for either of them, Gilibert’s wife died in the Fell Winter and Adelaide’s husband, the following summer. Last summer Gilibert was gored by a goat, it seemed like a small wound, but it tore something vital and he bled to death, inside a minute. His sons inherited his estate and while they haven’t kicked Adelaide out of her smial, they haven’t welcomed her, either.”
“Does she have a trade?”
“She’s a seed-starter.” Gerontius replied. “Something that isn’t greatly sought after, I’m afraid.”
“Maybe here, it isn’t.” Harry objected.
“But for a fledgling settlement, it would be rather helpful.” Gerontius nodded. “It’s why I thought of you.”
“Could you make a note?” Harry asked. “I’ll at least speak with her and may make an offer.”
“Of course.” Gerontius nudged Fortinbras and the younger hobbit pulled a scrap of paper towards him, a quill already in his hand. The sound of scratching filled the silence. “The next are a set of four siblings. Jonah, Laura, Micah and Lena Woods. Their mother got the falling sickness a few years ago, lasted until Yule. Their father… he… he just fell apart. Stopped eating, stopped bathing, stopped caring. If you were being fanciful, you’d say he died of a broken heart.”
“Oh, dear.” Bungo sighed.
“Jonah’s the eldest and he’s held his sibs together, but there’s a couple of lads that are harassing the girls and while it’s unwelcome, they’re staying just on the right side of courteousness.”
“But that doesn’t make the girls feel any better.” Harry nodded, understanding what hadn’t been said.
“No.” Gerontius sighed. “Jonah’s a crop farmer, he only came home when their father fell apart. The younger sibs? Laura’s only ever cared for her family. Micah’s the lad that traded plants with you last month, he’s fascinated by your locks and has been trying to convince Jonah to let him apprentice with you.”
“And the other girl?”
“Lena’s too young for a trade, although she has great talent as an artist.” Gerontius answered.
“Add them to the list, please.” Harry looked at Fortinbras.
“Certainly.” Fortinbras made the appropriate notations.
“Next there Domnal Miller and his family.” Gerontius looked at his notes. “Domnal and his family have been at odds for years. No idea why, though.”
“I know.” Fortinbras cut in. “And I’d not suggest them. Domnal’s wife is… she’s a marriage wrecker, sets her eye to a hobbit and ignores the fact that she’s married or the fact that most of the hobbits she goes after, are also married. She’s… she’s not the sort of hobbitess you want around young, impressionable hobbits like Jonah and Micah.”
“Ah…” Gerontius shook his head. “I had no idea.”
“I heard Dom talking about moving to Greenholm.” Fortinbras added. “If I were you, grandfather, I’d let them go. Nora and Fennel Boffin are the magistrates in Greenholm, they won’t tolerate such disreputable behaviour. It’ll stop, whether Domnal is the one to pull Mae up, or not.”
“Ah. Gerontius nodded. “Fair enough.”
“Not interested.” Harry shook his head. “We want a family friendly place not… that…”
“No, you don’t.” Gerontius sighed. “And that only leaves Squire and Hattie Burrows. A young couple, only been married a year, I understand that they’re expecting their first child around Yule. Hattie’s a grass-weaver, she makes hats and small baskets. Squire is an animal tenderer, usually works with Giles and Ruben, likes to stay out of sight of the public, as he’s got some nasty scars from an accident when he was younger. Some people were surprised when Hattie still married him, as if there was any doubt. That girl’s been dizzy for him, since the day they met.” He blinked. “I wonder how she’d take Mae advancing on her hobbit?” He glanced at Fortinbras, who blinked and started to chuckle.
“I’ve half a mind to tell her.” Fortinbras managed to get out. “Hattie would gut her.”
“Quite probably with a knife, at that.” Gerontius added. “The two most devoted hobbits, I’ve ever seen.”
Harry smiled. “Good, good. And sure, add them to my list, I’ll speak to them, but you can tell Squire that scars aren’t really an issue for us. Remus has scars from a wolf attack as a child, on his face, neck, chest and arms. He’s married with a child, now. And one of the best people I know.”
“Excellent, excellent.” Gerontius nodded. “What sort of time restraints are you under? I can contact each of them, but how long do they have to think it over?”
“As long as they need.” Harry replied. “I can stay for up to a week, all I need to do is send a message to my people and that would take only seconds. Your hobbits can take as long as they need. I can come back and help them move pretty much any time, but avoiding winter would be a good idea.”
“Good, good.” Gerontius sighed in pleasure. “I’ll send Fortinbras out to each of them, requesting a meeting for tomorrow morning. Isadora, included. You can give them your offer and if they accept, you can give your lesser ‘Disclosure’, as needed.” He waited until Harry nodded. “In the meantime, Bilbo can show you to a guest room. Maybe Sigisimond’s?” The last question was directed at Bilbo.
“Of course, grandfather.” Bilbo nodded.
~~~
July 19th 2920
The meeting with Isadora had gone exactly as Harry had anticipated, the hobbitess had barely blinked at Harry’s Disclosure of magic, other than to ask how that would impact on her. Harry explained that the only impact on her, would be that her smial would be built using magic to support the structure until all the materials were in place. It would shorten the time it took from weeks to a few hours.
She had simply nodded and said that she was packed and could be ready to go, in a matter of hours. Harry replied by telling her of the other possible residents and of his upcoming meetings with them. It was decided that Harry would alert her later that afternoon, as to a possible departure time.
Then it was time to meet with the possible recruits.
Adelaide was a quiet hobbitess, sombre in her mourning, but clearly refusing to be dragged down by it. She listened calmly to Harry’s offer and with only a bare glance at Gerontius, accepted. Her only reaction to Harry’s magic Disclosure was to ask ‘if he’d shrunk that chair, could he shrink her greenhouse? She’d prefer not to leave it behind’. She would also only need two days to pack her possessions, but would require wagon space for it.
Not really an issue, not with magic available to Harry.
She nodded and after a little more discussion, Harry said that he would contact her after his other meetings and provide a departure time. A simple nod of acceptance and Adelaide left, she had a lot to do and only a short time to do it in.
Hattie and Squire were next for Harry to talk to and they were both pleased to accept, although Squire was hesitant until Harry conjured an image of Remus, Tonks and Teddy as part of his Disclosure. Then both were excited and agreed that, yes, they could be packed and ready to leave in two days. Moreover, they had their own wagon and it was large enough to take all their possessions. Gerontius assured Squire that if they were going, he was released from work, with a generous severance payment, effective immediately. The pair smiled and left to start their own packing.
Meeting the siblings had Harry smiling, they were so nervous but trying so hard to cover it. The younger brother, Micah, was the lad that had traded plants for a purse for his sister, at the market the month before. Once Harry detailed the offer and what they could expect, Jonah bluntly told Harry what the girls were being subjected to. He was surprised at Harry’s reaction but Gerontius didn’t even blink when Harry’s eyes narrowed and he growled a reply.
“I’ll teach you all how to use a knife and if anyone ever tries that on any of you, feel free to use that knife on them.”
Jonah grunted and after a short look at each of his siblings, he nodded to Harry and said they’d move. Harry went on to give them a magical Disclosure, that had three of the four giggling and Jonah snickering, as Harry turned teacup into a kitten. Both girls were a little disappointed when Harry said that the transfig would only last a few minutes, but it was very effective as a display.
And like Hattie and Squire, the siblings had their own wagon, and would easily be packed and ready to leave in two days. Lena and Micah even offered to run messages to Adelaide, Isadora and Hattie, as Gerontius was offering them guest rooms in the Great Smials, while they packed and asking each of them for a time, for Harry to come around with his wagon, to collect their things.
They would leave for Willow’s Pond on the morning of the 22nd, two and a half days from now.
~~~
July 20th 2920
Harry pulled the wagon to a halt in the Great Smials stable yard, just as he’d done when he’d first arrive in the town. Stepping down, he waved to Giles and Ruben and started to unhitch Honey and Toffee.
“Here, now, Master Harry, I’ll see to them. Mr Gerontius needs to speak to you, he said it was important but not urgent.” Ruben trotted over to take the reins from Harry.
“And knowing Gerontius, that was a bit of an understatement.” Harry snorted.
“I’d be thinking so.” Ruben nodded.
“Right, then. I’d best find out what all the panic is about.”
Ruben laughed and handed Honey to Giles, who’d joined them, and continued to lead Toffee further into the yard. Harry shook his head and headed into the smial and down to Gerontius’ office.
“Fortinbras?” Harry caught the eye of the Thain’s eldest grandson. “I’m told your grandfather wished to speak to me. Something about it being important but not urgent?”
“Ah.” Fortinbras grunted. “It’s a little bit of both.”
“Oh?” Harry asked.
“I’ll let grandfather explain.” Fortinbras ducked into Gerontius’ office and within a few seconds, was waving Harry in.
“Harry, thank you for coming.” Gerontius looked like he hadn’t slept in days.
“Are you alright?” Harry asked, ignoring Gerontius’ statement.
“I’m fine, just tired. Was woken a little earlier than I expected.” Gerontius sighed. “Part of being Thain, I’m afraid.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Yes, I hope there is.” Gerontius replied. “Pog and Olive Littlewren were killed last night.”
“Oh, Lord.” Harry blinked.
Gerontius sighed. “Their smial collapsed. It was one of the poorer homes, here in Tuckborough. Built above ground, together with a few other homes, between two ridges. Once the homes are built, soil is built up around them. It’s cheap and easy but less stable. Their smial was right in the middle, the least stable of them all. And last night, it collapsed.” He slumped back in his chair. “Olive was pinned by debris and it took some minutes to get her out. That happened before I was notified. A pair of tweens out for a lark, saw it happen and called for help. Fortinbras and his wife, Lalia, were among those that responded. Getting Olive out, did more damage than good, I’m afraid. She was gone before dawn.”
“I’m sorry…” Harry whispered.
“Aye, so am I, lad. They were good people. Good, hardworking people.” Gerontius sighed again. “I’m hoping that you might be able to use your… particular… skills… to stabilise the remains of the smial.”
“We’re working on clearing it.” Fortinbras said. “There’s a team there now, trying to shore it up, long enough for us to get Pog’s remains out, Olive said he was in the pantry, which was at the rear of the smial. And given how much the soil above it, has collapsed, we believe that Pog would have been crushed, instantly. We'd like to retrieve him, so that he can be farewelled with Olive.”
“Yes, I can help,” Harry held up a hand and let his wand show, “it would have to be subtle, but I can help.”
The two hobbits grunted and looked at each other. Gerontius nodded and Fortinbras headed for the door.
“Let’s go.” Fortinbras said as he opened the door.
“Right.” Harry was up and on the hobbit’s heels.
Fortinbras led Harry through the dips and rises of Tuckborough, but it was the sound of voices that showed Harry where they were headed. The slight dip between two rises had to be excavated and smials cleared, before the area could be rebuilt. If anyone wanted to build there, again. And that was, of course, assuming that Gerontius would even let them.
From back beyond the edge of the crowd that had gathered to help, Harry focused on stabilising the remaining structures. It was harder than he’d expected, filtering magic through the ground and up into the timbers of the smials. He had no idea if it had actually worked until a worker yelled.
“Ho!” The site went silent. “It’s stilled! Gently now, lads, gently!” The workers began from the front, working in a ‘V’ shaped wedge from the centre smial’s doorframe. Bucket by bucket, they emptied the smial. Bucket by bucket the space was cleared.
And Harry continued to watch, ensuring that his magic held. He ignored the concerned glances that Fortinbras sent him, instead focusing on holding the smials upright.
“Brace that wall!” The fore-hobbit ordered, pointing at a wall.
Another hour and Harry was beginning to tremble, six hours he’d been using his magic to hold back the collapse. Six constant hours of holding a single spell in action.
“That’s it! Done!” The fore-hobbit yelled a cheer went up. “The bracings are in place and the structures are as stable as we can make them. Good job, everyone.”
“Let go, Harry, let go. It over, it’s safe. Let go.” Fortinbras urged and as far gone as he was, it took Harry a few seconds to recognise what Fortinbras meant.
Harry heaved a in breath and let his magic retreat from the timbers, let it trickle back to him, slowly filling the empty well that was his core. When there was no more magic to be had, Harry grunted, he’d never done so much, used so much, been so close to all-out magical exhaustion before. Not even when he’d faced Voldemort.
“Huh…” He grunted again and slumped back against a tree.
“Done?” Fortinbras asked.
“Done.” Harry nodded slowly.
“Think you can make it back to the Great Smials?”
“Think so.” Harry nodded. “Going to try, anyway.”
“Alright, then. Let’s go. We’ll take it slowly, there’s no need to rush, now.” Fortinbras assured him.
Back at the Great Smials, Fortinbras led Harry straight to the room allocated to him, and sent a runner to Gerontius to let him know. It was only a few minutes before the old hobbit tapped on the open doorframe.
“Everything alright, here?” Gerontius asked.
Fortinbras nodded. “Harry just about over-did it. He held a…” He looked at Harry, as he sat in a chair near a window, rapidly demolishing a tray of pastries. “What was it? What do you call what you did?”
Harry hastily swallowed, before he answered. “It was a spell, Fortinbras. I cast a spell to hold the timbers stationary. While I used my magic to hold that spell in place, they couldn’t have fallen, not even if someone had jumped on them. It’s also why I’m so tired. Magic is a type of energy and I might have a lot of it, but even I run dry, eventually. Six hours seems to be my limit.”
“Is that… a long time?” Gerontius asked.
“Oh, yes.” Harry nodded and poured mug of tea, then frowned and held the teapot up. “Join me?”
“Oh, much appreciated.” Gerontius smiled and Harry realised for the first time, that Gerontius was much frailer than he’d been a month before.
“There you are.” Harry poured another mug of tea and slid it across the table to the Thain. “And yes, I doubt that anyone else could have lasted six hours, holding that spell.” He paused, his frown deepening. “No, that’s not quite true, I know of two possibly three people that could have done it. But at least two of them would have just ignored the request or possibly even waited until the greatest number of people could be harmed, before cancelling the spell. And the other? I’m not sure if he'd help or not. I always thought he was kindly man, but after what he put me and my friends through and what I learnt about his youth, since? I’m not so sure, anymore.”
“You parents couldn’t have done it?” Fortinbras asked.
“Not alone, no.” Harry shook his head. “Between them? Maybe. Between them, Sirius and Remus, yeah, sure. But not alone. No.”
“And not your friends?” Fortinbras asked.
“No.” Harry shook his head. “Maybe Ginny could, but…”
“But this Ginny is not here.” Gerontius said.
“No, she’s not.” Another head shake.
“Then it's good that you were here.” Gerontius assured Harry. “Without your help it might have been days before the smial-builders got the support bracings laid in. Days before we were able to bring Pog out.” He sighed. “Now, his family will be able to farewell Pog and Olive together.”
“I’m glad I could help.” Harry smiled tiredly.
“So am I, my friend, so am I.” Gerontius smiled back at him. “How goes the packing? I sent a runner to Missus Grant and told her you wouldn’t get to her this afternoon and why. She was most understanding.”
“Thank you.” Harry blinked. “I didn’t think to let her know.”
“You had other things to concentrate on.” Gerontius replied. “I did say that you would be around to speak with her, first thing in the morning.”
“Again? Thank you.” Harry nodded. “Lady Isadora’s furniture and boxed items are on the wagon. Lady Adelaide said, this morning, that she would have had her furniture ready, but had asked for a bedframe and mattress to be left until tomorrow morning. I understand that she and Lady Isadora have been given accommodation, here in the Great Smials, for tomorrow night?”
“Yes, all of your…” Gerontius paused thinking.
“Recruits?” Harry offered.
“Recruits…” Gerontius nodded slowly. “Yes, recruits would suit. All four of your recruit groups are staying with us, tomorrow night. Missus Wellgate will be with us tonight as well.”
“Sounds like tomorrow is going to be a busy day.” Harry huffed.
“Indeed, it does.” Fortinbras nodded. “I hope your… magic(?) will be restored by tomorrow, you’re going to need it.”
~~~
July 21st 2920
Harry laid the last roll of Lady Adelaide’s carpet on the wagon and stepped back.
“That’s it.” One of Adelaide’s late husband’s sons came out of the smial. “The only thing left is Adelaide's carpet-bag. And I understand that she’s going to need that tonight.” The two sons had turned up to help with packing Adelaide's possessions, but neither tried to hide the fact that both of them were relieved that she was leaving Tuckborough. There was no animosity, but neither was there anything more than basic respect for another living being.
It saddened Harry, even as he was pleased to have someone so accomplished and useful, added to their list of residents.
“Thank you, gentle-hobbits.” Harry gave each son a bow and watched as they bid farewell of Adelaide, with only the same courtesies that would be applied to a stall-holder at the markets.
Back at the Great Smials, Harry left his wagon in the capable hands of Ruben and Giles, while he escorted Adelaide to the room assigned to her. Then he was off to visit with Jonah and family to see if they needed any assistance, which they didn’t. But he did add his weight-reduction rune sequence to the chassis of their cart, which was really more of a wagon, than a cart. It would make the pulling so much easier for their sturdy draught ponies. The hardest thing to pack had been Jonah’s pony-drawn plough and Harry had resorted to shrinking it and storing it in a stasis-box.
After seeing the siblings on their way to the Great Smials, Harry called on Hattie and Squire. The young couple had packed everything but the kitchen sink, or so it seemed. In actual fact, a table, two chairs and their mattress were waiting to be added to their wagon and Harry was happy to help Squire in doing so. Then, like the siblings and Adelaide, the couple made their way to the Great Smials, nicely in time for afternoon tea.
That evening there was to be a grand party, farewelling the hobbits and celebrating the marriages of three young couples.
~~~
July 22nd 2920
Leaving Tuckborough, Harry had the sickening feeling that he was saying goodbye to Gerontius. Permanently.
He didn’t like it.
But there didn’t seem much that he could do about it, either. Willow’s Pond was less than a hundred miles away, but the only way to get there in a hurry was to apparate. And no matter how calmly Gerontius had taken Harry’s Disclosure of magic, he didn’t think the old hobbit would accept apparition, as easily. Even so, Harry decided that he could check in, at least monthly. With one of the more energetic ponies, like Flora or Iris, or once they’d foaled, Dancer or Delilah, in the sulky, it would be a day’s travel each way. Such a pity that Onyx and Ebony were too large for the sulky, maybe he should think about a sulky more their size?
Bilbo and Apple led the way out of Tuckborough, the little cart carrying Bilbo, Bungo and their bags as well as a collection of pot plants and gifts for Belladonna. Behind Bilbo was Jonah’s wagon, pulled by two of his four plough-ponies, great draught ponies that really couldn’t care less about what they pulled, as long as it was Jonah holding their reins.
Next was Squire and his wagon, again pulled by draught ponies. Squire’s ponies looked far more like what Harry and Co. had purchased, though, than the heavy beasties that Jonah had. The two he had still looked more than strong enough to pull Squire’s little wagon, even as heavily loaded as it was. And the pair that were tied to the rear of the wagon were near identical in size and markings, barring that one pair were black and white paints and the second pair were bay and white.
After that was Hattie, she’d somehow found and bought a wicker-basket box cart. And a pony to pull it, a pony that was built very much along the same lines as Dancer and Delilah, but the little bay pony wouldn’t have reached much higher than Harry’s shoulder. He guessed it was about three-foot-six-inches tall, a fine height for a hobbit’s pony.
It seemed that the three adult hobbitesses had taken time to get to know each other, while they were packing up their homes. And now they’d taken young Laura and Lena under their wings. Hattie was doing the driving, while Adelaide chatted and knitted a who-knew-what, Isadora had a pin-loom on her knee and was showing Lena how to use it. And Laura was embroidering flowers onto an apron.
And last of all was Harry. Sorry, make that Harry and Micah, who was peppering the dwarf with question after question about locks, keys and boxes. From best metals to use, to how big and small locks and keys could be, to what tools are needed, to how to know if the lock is broken inside or if you’re just using the wrong key… And so much more.
Reaching the flatlands in time for a late lunch, had Harry smiling, they were still two nights away from Willow’s Pond, but they were pretty much right on the schedule that Harry had predicted. The distance from the foothills to the East-West Road wasn’t all that far, six maybe seven miles, but they were easy miles.
Bilbo gave Jonah a wave and called for him to pull past, as Bilbo eased Apple over to the side of the gravel road. As each wagon or cart reached him, he’d smile and wave them on. When Harry reached him, he spoke.
“I’m going to go ahead, Harry.”
“Sure, Bilbo, we’ll catch up with you a few months.” Harry replied. “You get your father home, safely.”
“No, Harry, that’s not why.” Bilbo corrected. “Stonag and Lorenna? Father and I talked to them and… didn’t I tell you? They’ve agreed to move, too. I sent them notice when you told grandfather that we were leaving Tuckborough today. They were going to start packing and stay at the Green Dragon until lunchtime, today. I’m going to go ahead and make sure that they’re ready and tell them roughly where to meet up with you. I’ll drop father at home and come back, Apple will be fine if it’s just me in the cart.”
“Oh…” Harry blinked. “No, you didn’t tell me but… Okay…” He shrugged. “I can do a Disclosure, quietly. I’ll ask Jonah, Micah and Hattie to distract anyone that shouldn’t see.”
“Excellent.” Bilbo nodded. “I’ll be back in an hour or two.” He didn’t wait for Harry to reply, but clicked to Apple and encouraged the pony to move from a walk to a trot, easily overtaking the others.
Bilbo’s arrival at their overnight camp, was quick and easy. Squire took Apple and unhitched and unharnessed her, leading her into the little creek to wash her down.
“Harry?” Bilbo asked as he approached the dwarf’s wagon.
“Ah, you’re back.” Harry smiled at his little friend.
“I am.” Bilbo nodded. “I found Stonag and Lorenna, they’re a few minutes behind me. You’re going to need Jonah and Micah, though. Stonag’s picked up a dwarf, he’s a farrier, but he’s Man-raised, no dwarven beads, or clothes, even. Young, I’d say only a few years up on you, somewhere between Fred and Tonks in age. Good looking lad, well-spoken and quite polite. He’s wanting somewhere quiet to live, he said, had enough of adventures to last his lifetime.”
“Well, he’ll certainly come in handy.” Harry laughed. “I’ll have a word with him, once I’ve met Stonag and Lorenna.”
“I’ll run interference with the boys.” Bilbo grinned. “And, oh, that’s timing.” He laughed as two wagons rolled into camp. The first carrying a pair of hobbit and the second, a being that was clearly of a dwarven height, but due to the hood of his cloak, Harry couldn’t see his face.
Five minutes later and Bilbo introduced the two hobbits, Stonag and Lorenna. The young couple were nervous, explaining that they’d been working towards marrying for a few years now, but that empty smials in Hobbiton and surrounding areas were hard to find. And add in that there were already three bakers in Hobbiton, not including Stonag and you began to understand why they were prepared to move. Lorenna was one of only two button-makers, but she valued quality over appearance and because of that, her customer base was quite small, and with the button-maker that she’d apprenticed under having two other apprentices…? There wasn’t much call for her work.
Stonag looked startled when Harry transfigured his spoon into a dragonfly, but Lorenna just snorted. She was distantly related to the Tooks and had sat through many a tale of Gandalf and his magical whizz-poppers.
Then it was time to meet the dwarf. Harry wasn’t sure that this was a good idea but even if the dwarf was only going to travel with them as far and the Willow’s Pond, they still needed to meet.
Bilbo escorted the dwarf over and as he spoke, the dwarf pushed his hood back. “Harry?” The hobbit called and Harry turned around at the sound of his name. “This is-” Bilbo was cut off before he could finish.
“Harry?!” The dwarf squawked. “Harry Potter?!”
Harry saw the dwarf’s face and his eyes went comically wide. “Cedric?!”
“How the hell…?”
“How the blazes…?” The two said at the same time.
“I take it you know each other then?” Bilbo looked from one to the other.
“Yeah.” Harry answered. “Cedric went to Hogwarts.”
“Harry?” Cedric looked even more surprised. “Should you be talking about Hogwarts?”
“Who’s going to stop me?” Harry snorted. “The Ministry? Here?”
“Uh…” Cedric grunted.
~~~