The first rays of sunlight pierced the mist, illuminating the fields along the River Otter. After a long night flight, they were finally home; the flying car prepared to land.
> [System Alert: Destination Reached]
> [Current Area: Hobbiton (Tower Edition?)]
> [Area Status: Absolutely Safe]
> [Sanity Recovery Speed: +10/min]
Below, a lopsided house stood between an orchard and a garden. It looked as if several houses had been stacked on top of each other, held together by magic. Four or five chimneys perched on the roof, several pairs of Wellington boots were strewn by the door, and a few fat hens were pecking in the yard.
"That's my house," Ron pointed downwards, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "It's a bit run-down, I know."
"No, Ron."
"It's a miracle. It's the Last Homely House."
The wheels touched the ground gently, and they landed safely.
"Looks like no one's awake." Fred glanced at the shut door and let out a long sigh of relief. "We can sneak upstairs and pretend we've been asleep the whole time."
It turned out he might have jinxed it—in the worst way possible.
Suddenly, the door flew open. A short, plump woman wearing a flowered apron stormed out. The background behind her seemed to be engulfed in raging flames.
> [Warning: Boss Level Unit Encounter!]
> [Name: Molly Weasley]
> [Title: Beorn's Wrath / The Dragon Shouter / Guardian Dragon of The Burrow]
> [Danger Level: Red - Extreme]
"We're doomed," George groaned.
Mrs. Weasley's roar instantly echoed through the entire yard, startling a flock of chickens into the air.
"Beds empty! No note! Car gone... You could have died, you could have been seen... Or seen by Muggles..."
> [High Decibel Sonic Attack Detected!]
> [Willpower Check... Failed!]
> [Acquired Debuff: Intimidated (All stats reduced by 40%, Duration: Until she cools down)]
Rove instinctively took a step back, hiding behind Harry—as the Ring-bearer, Harry had the highest aggro value, the thickest plot armor, and the most ridiculous [Orphan] destiny aura.
"...And look at this, who is this?" Mrs. Weasley's gaze suddenly swept over Harry and Rove, her volume instantly dropping from a roar to a gentle whisper. "Harry? And Rove? Since you're here, come in for breakfast. Never mind these rascals."
The speed of this face change left Rove in awe.
"What high-level mind control technique is this..." Rove whispered to Ron while following Harry. "Did your mum go to the mysterious East to learn a skill called 'Face Changing'? Or is it some high-level Druid form switching?"
Ron grimaced. "I wish it were magic; at least there'd be a counter-curse. It's talent, mate. Pure talent."
---
The Burrow's kitchen was cramped but filled with warmth.
Everything here was novel to Rove. The frying pan scrubbing itself in the sink (Rove even wanted to spar with it), the knitting needles clicking away on their own, the aged hams and bunches of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling...
The System interface was frantically refreshing with various [Life Magic] entries.
He sat at the long table, facing the mountain of sausages, fried eggs, and golden toast served by Mrs. Weasley.
> [Item: Hobbit Feast]
> [Ingredients: Love, Magic, High Calories]
> [Effect: Restores Stamina, Removes Fatigue, Maxes out Sanity, Acquires Buff 'Taste of Mom']
Rove didn't immediately pick up his knife and fork. He first vigilantly scanned the surroundings, and only after confirming safety did he begin to wolf down the food.
"Slow down, child, no one's going to take it from you." Mrs. Weasley looked at him affectionately and added two more sizzling sausages to his plate. "You must be starving."
"Thank you for your generosity, my Lady." Rove mumbled with a mouth full of food. "This is the most delicious Lembas... I mean, breakfast I've ever had. Ten thousand times better than dry marching rations."
Just then, a balding man with thinning red hair walked in.
"Nine raids!" Arthur Weasley slumped into a chair and unfastened his cloak. "Nine! Old Mundungus tried to sell his Invisibility Cloak to a Muggle... tried to put a Memory Charm on him, but ended up hexing himself."
Then he saw Harry and Rove.
"Good heavens, Harry Potter! And this is..."
"Rove Baggins, sir." Rove put down his fork and performed a knightly salute.
"A pleasure!" Arthur's eyes lit up; he was clearly interested in something on Rove. His gaze landed on a ballpoint pen sticking out of Rove's breast pocket.
"Is that... is that what Muggles use to write?" Arthur pointed excitedly at the pen.
"Not exactly, sir." Rove took the pen out and spouted nonsense with a straight face. "This is a recording tool of Gondor scholars. It requires no inkwell because the ink is sealed within this tube. It's a lost art."
"Ink sealed in a tube!" Arthur marveled, taking the ballpoint pen. "Ingenious! How clever these Muggles... I mean, Gondorians are!"
> [Acquired Reputation: Arthur Weasley Affinity +20]
---
After breakfast, Mrs. Weasley asked them to de-gnome the garden.
"It's easy," Ron explained to Harry. "Gnomes are pests. All we have to do is grab them by the ankles, spin them around until they're dizzy, and throw them over the hedge."
The garden was full of these small, leathery monsters with potato-like heads.
> [Mission: Clear Scouts Around the Camp]
> [Target: Goblin Scouts]
> [Quantity: Large]
> [Reward: Mrs. Weasley's Apple Pie]
Harry and the Weasley brothers were having fun; the garden was filled with flying gnomes and their squeals.
But when Harry turned to look at Rove, he froze.
In a corner of the garden, Rove had tied three gnomes tightly to a fence post using garden vines—though the knot looked a bit strange. He was crouching in front of them, holding the broken sword hilt, his eyes cold.
"Speak!" Rove growled, pressing the broken hilt against a gnome's throat. "Where is Saruman's army? Who is your commander?"
"Gerroff! Gerroff!" The gnome screamed, trying to bite Rove's finger.
"Tough guy, huh?" Rove sneered. "Looks like you want a taste of Gondorian interrogation."
He pulled a piece of half-eaten toffee from his pocket and forcibly stuffed it into the gnome's mouth.
"Mmph! Mmph!" The gnome's teeth were glued shut by the strong toffee; no matter how hard it tried, it couldn't open its mouth, only emitting terrified whimpers.
The two gnomes beside it saw this and wailed in terror, sensing a fear far worse than being thrown over the hedge.
When Rove untied the vines, those three gnomes didn't need throwing. They screamed like maniacs and rushed for the hole in the hedge, running faster than if they had been thrown.
"See that?" Rove stood up and said to the dumbfounded Harry and Ron. "To deal with scouts, psychological warfare is key. They will bring fear back to the nest and won't dare return for a while."
Harry looked at the fleeing gnomes, then at the solemn-faced Rove.
"Rove," Ron gulped. "Are you sure you don't want to be a guard at Azkaban in the future? I think even Dementors would be afraid of you."
Rove shrugged and put away the broken hilt.
"As long as the peace of the Shire is protected, a Ranger cares not for reputation."
He turned around, looking at the Burrow under the sunlight, a genuine smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Here, there was no Voldemort, no Death Eaters, only noisy gnomes and a warm breakfast.
Here, there was no shadow of the Dark Lord, no prying eyes of Death Eaters, only noisy gnomes, warm breakfast, and the bond called family.
If this was a moment of peace in Middle-earth, he was willing to protect it!
Read advance chapter in my Pat****
ilham20
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Hogwarts Might Makes Juctice!!!!