Harry Potter and The Elven Queen

Chapter 2

A Godmother, a Sister and a Sorting Feast

Sirius looked at Harry's face. He laughed. "Harry, you should see your face!"

Before he could say another word, however, Dumbledore spoke. "Sirius, I think you should take Harry down to the small room of the Great Hall. You will have more privacy, and I," his eyes twinkled over his glasses, "will get my office back." They all laughed and agreed.

When they had gotten to the room and closed the doors behind them, Harry raced over and hugged his godfather. He looked over Sirius' shoulder at his newly found godmother.

She was about Sirius' age, and was very pretty. She had short, chin length, curly brown hair which had natural golden highlights that reflected the light like fire when she moved. Her eyes were a sparkling blue and they seemed to show an inner flame. She was slim, but not tiny, and very muscular. She reached Sirius' shoulder and Harry stood nearly half a foot taller than her.

"She was my girlfriend before Azkaban and, now that I am free, we can get married. Mandy lived in America while I was gone and she has a fourteen year old daughter who looks a lot like her father. Her name is Mercedes, Merci for short, and you get to meet her on the first day of school. She is going to be sorted into Hogwarts as a Fourth Year.

Harry looked at them. They were so happy, and he felt like he was a part of the family now. Sirius kept talking. They had bought a house, near Ottery St. Catchpole, and were living near the Weasleys. "Practically neighbors." Sirius grinned. "The wedding is taking place next summer and Mandy has to let 'her passenger' down first."

Harry gaped. "She's pregnant?"

"And then there are the adoption papers-"

Harry stared at them. "Adoption?"

Sirius looked at him. "Well, since Merci is already mine and I love you like a son I know I could never take James' place, but would-"

Harry's smile lit up the room. "Would I! When? How soon can the papers be signed?"

Sirius just goggled, but Mandy hugged Harry. "I knew you would be a part of my family. You can help with the baby. It'll be arriving in early March. I'm only six weeks along When is your birthday?"

Harry said, "July 31."

"Oh, only a week and a half away! Well, I will have to see you then. I must get home because don't want my daughter to burn the house down. Your papers can be here in two days, and you can be adopted within the month. With that, she exited the room leaving Sirius and Harry alone together.

Harry jumped with realization. "What time is it?"

Sirius looked at his watch. "4:15."

Harry looked panicked. "I have to go. I promised Lia... Professor Ether that I would help her with...er... something."

Sirius started. "Liadin Ether?"

Harry turned back, almost to the door. "Yeah do you know her?"

Sirius sighed, "No. Her parents were killed by Voldemort, leaving Liadin and her sisters orphans. She lived in America while we were at school. However, we heard rumors about her in the Daily Prophet. The Ethers had magnificent voices and were world-renowned. They broke up a year after they left school. I wish I could meet her."

"Come on, then," Harry said as he walked out the door to Ether's classroom.

***

Ether was waiting in her classroom for Harry when he and Sirius walked in.

"Professor Ether, this is my godfather, Sirius Black."

"You're late," She smiled as she stood and walked around her desk. "You're his godfather? Will Harry be staying with you over the breaks, then?" She continued without waiting for an answer. "If you will excuse us, Harry and I have some work to do."

Sirius smiled, shook her hand, then left.

Ether turned to Harry, "We will continue with your training now. Have you picked your animal?" She looked at him and smiled after he nodded. "Then you have the opportunity to see me change. Not many have that honor." She winked at him and instantly turned into a white Bengal tiger.

Harry jumped. She was enormous, nearly ten feet long. The stripes that caressed her body were blacker than black against the snowy white of her coat. It was like looking at a starless midnight and a cloudless noon at the same time. Her eyes had stayed the same, just taking on a more cat-like appearance. She changed back, and Harry applauded. "I know you saw myself and Professor Duncan arguing. We were trying to decide who would teach you. He will be here in a moment and, depending on what you choose, one or both of us will help you."

At that moment, Duncan walked in. Looking at Harry he said, "Have you chosen?" When Harry nodded, Duncan changed into a horse. He was a chestnut stallion about 18 hands high with powerful, rippling muscles and soft brown eyes. He changed back, then asked, "What have you decided?" Harry looked at them. They only wanted to help. So he told them.

***

Harry woke on the first day of school bursting with enthusiasm. He had been in training for a week and couldn't wait to tell Hermione and Ron. They could get training, too, if they wanted. So could Ginny and Sarah, and maybe the two transfer students. Any older, Ether had explained, wouldn't have enough time to learn. Not to mention the difficulty of having NEWTs this or next year, and their ability to teach was limited. They just had to get permission from McGonagall. He was so relieved to finally have all of his friends back with him that he didn't notice Ether and Duncan's furtive glances at each other. He didn't even notice Dumbledore until he was practically on top of him.

"Harry, I need you to post his on the board just outside the main hall. I also need you to pass out the prefect badges when the students arrive. I will call them into the room just off the hall, and then you will give them to the people on the list. By the way, the password is goldenwing."

Harry looked at the list. It read:

Prefects

Gryffindor

Hermione Granger

Ronald Weasley

Harry Potter

Slytherin

Draco Malfoy

Pansy Parkinson

Hufflepuff

Justin Finch-Fletchey

Hannah Abbot

Ravenclaw

Derrick Fredrickson

Samantha Jules

Harry looked at the list again. The Gryffindors had three? And he was one of them? He looked at Dumbledore, who smiled and said, "Yes, there are three. When the teachers decided who would be prefects, there was a tie between you and Mister Weasley. You will also need to tell them that the first prefect meeting will be held tomorrow, at seven. Thank you, Harry."

***

When the carriages pulled up to the castle, Harry heard Dumbledore's magically enhanced voice announce the names on Harry's list, then say, "If the people I have just called will follow Mr. Potter, you will find out what this is about."

Harry led the people into the little anteroom and said, "Congratulations. You are Hogwarts' new prefects. When I call your name, please come and get your badge. Hannah." He passed out the badges, then the slips of paper with the passwords, and then they all went into the hall. They were just in time to hear Dumbledore announce the rules of the Sorting.

"This year, we have a treat. We have four new students, two of whom recently moved to England from America, one from Scotland, one from Britain. They will be in Fourth and Fifth year, and will be sorted into their houses first."

McGonagall called out from her list "Fionan, Brigitte." A tall, beautiful girl with shoulder length black curls stepped forward. Her hair had hints of red, and her eyes were of pure silver. She had lovely tan skin and there was something strange about her ears. She sat on the stool and put on the Sorting Hat, who announced "Gryffindor!" She gave McGonagall the hat and went to sit down at the table next to Harry. Then, McGonagall said, "Fionan, Mattin."

Her brother walked up to the stool. He too was tall, and had spiked golden hair with copper highlights. He had silver eyes, and the same skin and ears as his sister. He put on the hat, which promptly yelled, "Gryffindor!"

"MacCluie, Sarah." The next person could only be Duncan's niece. She had the same hair, but her eyes, instead of his black, were a bright blue-gray. She walked up to the stool, placed the Sorting Hat on her head, then waited. After nearly two minutes, it yelled "Gryffindor!" She sat down next to Ginny.

"Quinn, Mercedes." A short, thin girl walked up to the stool. Her long, waist-length hair was nearly black, and her dark blue eyes were huge in her tiny, pale face. She was very pretty, but lacked the luster that Ginny had to make her paleness beautiful. The hat was placed delicately on her head, then the school waited.

Harry looked at the girl. She looked as though she was going to faint. Then, into a silence the likes of which the school rarely saw, was yelled, "Gryffindor!" She stood up shakily and walked to the table, sitting next to Ginny.

Then the Sorting began in earnest.

"Abbot, Susannah." "Hufflepuff!"

"Andrews, Marcus." "Hufflepuff!"

"Bergen, Alexandra." "Ravenclaw!"

"Bergen, Alexis." "Gryffindor!" the list went on and on.

Finally, "Zanders, Illianda." became a Gryffindor. Then the feast began.

Harry started talking to Brigitte, who was very interesting. She introduced herself as Brig, and her brother as Mat. She talked a lot about America, then asked him where he was from and who he was.

Harry cleared his throat. "Brig, I think we should probably talk about this another time." He gave a look to Hermione and Ron, who nodded. "How about after dinner, when we go to the common room?" She nodded. "Why are your ears pointed?"

Mat interrupted. "Can we talk about this with you in the common room as well? It is not a short story." They all agreed to meet afterwards in the common room. Then Dumbledore stood up to speak.

"As you may have noticed, we have not one, but two new teachers. Introducing Professor Thomas Duncan, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," there was a loud applause, because he looked so likable, "and Professor Liadin Ether, our new Magical Drama teacher." This was met by curious applause, as no one knew what he meant. "Magical Drama will be an elective class. We will be having tryouts for a school play, and Professor Ether will be teaching. The play will be A Midsummer Night's Dream, by the greatest wizard author, William Shakespeare. Auditions will be held next Tuesday, and more will follow. They, along with Professor McGonagall, will also be having Animagus training for those in fourth and fifth year. Any student wishing to receive training will have to get permission from Professor McGonagall. Now, the school song, then prefects will lead the new students up to bed." They sang, then the prefects stood up and led the first years to bed.

Harry led the first years to their rooms while Ron led Mat to the fifth year boy's room. Merci had vanished. Hermione showed Sarah and Brig where their rooms were. Hermione and Brig came down, having left Sarah with Ginny. They met in front of the fire to answer the questions that couldn't be answered earlier.

Harry began, "When I was one year old, my parents were killed by the Dark Lord Voldemort. When he tried to kill me, the curse rebounded and hit him instead. I was saved because my mother loved me so much, she died trying to protect me." He paused to lift his hair away from his forehead, "I got out of it with this scar while Voldemort was reduced to little more than a ghost.

"He has tried, or one of his servants has, to kill me every year since I started at Hogwarts. He will come after me again. Last year, he rose from his former body and, in the process, killed another student...by the name of Cedric Diggory." This was met by silence. Harry's voice had cracked when he mentioned Cedric's name. Ron and Hermione, who knew the story, tried to comfort Harry with their eyes.

Brig and Mat looked at him in horror, but Mat was the one to speak, "You are in several prophecies from the great prophet, Patrick." Silence reigned over their conversation again. Brig looked at him sadly and nodded.

Harry looked away to clear his mind of thoughts of Cedric.

As he turned back around, Ron seemed to read his mind and ask, "Why are your ears pointed?"

Brig answered. "Because we are elves, from the Isle of Dreams, just off Ireland. We were moved to America just two years after we were born, and one year after the second prophecy came to pass. Our mother raised us alone; no elf knows who their father is. We were a rarity. Twins are rare; twins such as us happen once in a thousand years."

Hermione looked at them curiously. "Such as you?"

Mat nodded. "Do you see how opposite we are? Yet we were born of the same mother. I am the day to her night. We are among the most powerful elves in the world. Yet, we went to America."

Just then, the cock struck eleven. Hermione jumped. "We should get to bed. We have classes tomorrow." They went up the stairs and almost all went straight to a dreamless sleep. Not Harry.

***

"I see you have met my children," said the elf in front of him. "I sent them there, knowing you would meet."

"Why?" asked Harry. "Why did we need to meet?"

"It is your fate."

"Who are you? Why did I need to meet your children? Answer me!"

"I am the queen of elves, and they will meet their mates at your school. I have told them to stay there for the next three years, where they will grow in strength and in love. Good fortune surrounds you, Harry Potter. You will forget this when you wake, but dream of me again."

***

Harry woke to a loud bang in front of him. Mat and Ron were fighting over something, and sending curses at each other. They were in front of the door, and Dean, Seamus, and Neville were backed up against the wall. Harry grabbed his wand and yelled "Finite Incantatum!" The curses stopped, and they looked at him in shock. "Do I need to stun you two? What the bloody hell is going on?"

Ron was furious. "He was insulting my girlfriend!"

Mat looked just as mad. "I didn't mean to! Do you always overreact?"

Harry stepped between them. Harry motioned the other three out of the room. "End this now," he said with finality.

They both apologized. "Three things. First: never, ever fight each other with wands out. There were other people in here, and you could have hurt them. You are Gryffindors. We never fight each other. Second: Ron, who is your girlfriend?"

Ron glanced at Harry. "Hermione," he mumbled.

Harry gaped at him. "Hermione?! Since when did this happen? Wait," he cut himself off, "never mind that now. Third. What was said?" This caused both boys to start yelling again. "Stop! Stop! One at a time!"

Mat started. "All I asked was if Hermione had read the whole library. She does seem to know everything."

Ron's words were short and clipped. "He didn't need...to ask it like that."

Harry responded, "No, he didn't. However, you didn't need to attack him, since obviously, you did. Now, we keep quiet about this; we are going to have a nice breakfast."

***

Harry stopped Ron in the hall, then motioned for Mat to go ahead. "Why didn't you tell me about you and Hermione?"

Ron looked at Harry. "We didn't want you to feel like you were a third wheel. We had been writing over the summer, and when she came to stay with us, it just...happened. I'm..."

Harry interrupted him. "Don't be. I'm happy for you. Now I can go after your sister."

Ron looked at him, anger starting to win over the shame on his face. He growled, "If you ever..."

Harry laughed. "Joking Ron. Let's get to breakfast. We don't want to miss getting our schedules, do we?"

***

Downstairs, both boys ignored each other. Ron and Hermione sat together, and Harry sat next to Brig. Mat looked all alone until Ginny showed up. She introduced herself as she sat down next to Mat. Sarah was no where to be seen. They talked until McGonagall showed up with their timetables.

Monday

9:00 -10:00 Divination

10:15 -11:15 Transfiguration

Lunch

1:15 -2:15 Potions with Slytherins

2:30 -3:30 Herbology with Hufflepuffs

3:45 -4:45 Charms

10:15 -12:00 Astronomy with Ravenclaws

Tuesday

9:00 -10:00 Defense Against the Dark Arts

10:15 -11:15 Transfiguration

Lunch

1:15 -2:15 Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherins

2:30 -3:30 Charms

3:45 -4:45 Potions with Slytherins

5:00 -6:15 History of Magic

Wednesday

9:00 -10:00 Potions with Slytherins

10:15 -11:15 Transfiguration

Lunch

1:15 -2:15 Herbology with Hufflepuffs

2:30 -3:30 Divination

3:45 -4:45 Defense against the Dark Arts

10:15 -12:00 Astronomy with Ravenclaws

Thursday

9:00 -10:00 Herbology with Hufflepuffs

10:15 -11:15 Divination

Lunch

1:15 -2:15 Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherins

2:30 -3:30 Potions with Slytherins

3:45 -4:45 Transfiguration

5:00 -6:15 History of Magic

Friday

9:00 -10:00 Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherins

10:15 -11:15 Potions with Slytherins

Lunch

1:15 -2:15 Charms

2:30 -3:30 Double Defense against the Dark Arts

3:45 -4:45 Double Defense against the Dark Arts

10:15 -12:00 Astronomy with Ravenclaws

Harry groaned. "Divination first, Ron."

Brig and Mat looked at him apprehensively, "We have it first, too. Anything we should know?"

Harry sighed. "Every year, Trelawney picks one student who is going to die. Just take a wild guess who it always is," Harry said, voice heavy with sarcasm.

Hermione grinned, "Glad I dropped it. You will wish you had too by the end of class. Trust me."

***

Harry and Ron readied themselves for the smoky and dark room, while Brig and Mat followed, looking confused. They climbed up the ladder into the tower, and immediately understood.

The room was dark, perfume filled, and musty. It looked as though it had never been cleaned. Trelawney hovered over a table, adjusting the bowls of rune stones to her liking. She said in her airy voice, "Please, do not sit down. The orb has told me that you will be assigned a partner for this project. We will be working with ancient rune stones. This is a delicate process." She moved around, telling everyone where to sit. Neville was with Parvati, Lavender was with Seamus, and Harry was with Brig. Mat and Ron had been paired together and were wearing matching looks of disgust.

"Now, open your books, and follow the instructions. I will be coming around to help anyone who needs it." Trelawney then turned to Neville and Lavender. Harry opened the book, and he and Brig began. Brig tossed Harry's stones.

"Looks like you will be in terrible danger very soon and that you will meet your fate. What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Brig looked confused.

Trelawney, hearing Brig's confusion, drifted over to where they sat. "My dear, you have read his stones incorrectly." She gazed at the stones intently before informing Harry of his 'fate'. He will be cast into a role that he has never known before which will put him in terrible danger. Yet through that, he will find love and greatness. Now Harry, would you cast Brigitte's stones?"

Brig's stones landed in a well-known position. "You will rule the lands, and all will bow before you. You will find your soul mate, and your love is beyond breaking," Harry read.

"Your reading is so much better than mine!" Trelawney said angrily and turned away, only to be knocked over by Ron and Mat, each pummeling the other. Harry stood up and tried to pull them apart, only to be hit by both in either eye. He fell away and knew no more.

***

In a dark room, in a deep cave sat the Queen of Elves. She was beyond beautiful with her gold and black tresses and magnificent silver eyes. Harry had met her before but not in this room. A sleeping griffin sat next to her, its colors matching hers. The Queen rose.

"Harry, it is good to see you." Her voice was melodic, and her eyes showed that she meant it. "I hope my son and your friend did not hurt you."

Harry looked up at her. A tear glistened down her cheek. "What?" he asked. She showed him a mirror, where he could see, vaguely, his reflection. He had a large bruise on either eye, and his cheeks were reddening, too. He turned away, only to see the Queen fade away.

She called, "I will see you again soon!" Her voice echoed off the chamber walls, and then there was darkness.

***

Harry woke up again in the hospital wing. Hermione, Brig, and Ginny hovered over him while Ron and Mat sat on beds. Mat hadn't been seen to yet but Ron had. He had a black eye, a split lip, and was nursing his ribcage. Mat had a black eye as well, with a bruise forming on his cheek, and was cradling his wrist. Harry sat up. He felt his face. Hermione grabbed his hand before he touched it.

"Madame Pomfrey put something on your face to stop the swelling," he explained. "It was pretty scary. You have been out for about ten minutes. Trelawney was furious. She gave Mat and Ron both detentions, then awarded House Points to you for trying to break it up."

Harry looked around. Brig was teary-eyed, Ginny was angry, and Hermione was radiating a mixture of concern and disgust. "What happened?" Harry asked Mat.

Mat replied, "I said that his stones read that he would go through a trauma then be rewarded with the gift of life. I asked if that meant if he was going to get Hermione pregnant." Mat smirked. It seemed that he and Ron were getting off on the wrong foot.

Ron looked furious and said between gritted teeth, "And now I have to spend two hours with him tonight cleaning in Trelawney's room at dinner." Harry very nearly let his grin show, then saw the look on Hermione's face. Ginny wasn't looking too happy, either. "At least you won't miss tryouts tomorrow. You are both going to try out, aren't you?" Both boys looked at Harry, then Ron stalked out. Madame Pomfrey came in then, kicked out Hermione, Ginny, and Brig and all conversation was cut off as she tended to his swollen face.

***

Merci looked around at the hospital wing. Her future brother was there, the famous Harry Potter. Her mother had explained everything, and she had heard the other girls talking about him. He had faced Voldemort, or a person related to him, every year he was at school. She felt bad for him, but didn't know hi at all. She had seen him looking at her during the Sorting, but hadn't talked to her yet. All of his friends were in the room now, but when they left, she was going in to see him.

They had a lot to talk about.