Harry Potter and The Elven Queen

Chapter 3

Why Angels Cry

Merci watched as her soon-to-be brother Harry slept peacefully in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had insisted that he sleep so she waited for the half an hour for him to wake. While waiting, she mulled over what she would say to him. It would be difficult.

**

Harry woke not long after, and immediately saw the last two people he had expected to see. One was sound asleep in a chair next to his bed, and the other was looking out the window at the night sky across from his bed. She was so beautiful, and he couldn't tell her.

"Hey, Gin," he said softly, so as not to wake the sleeping form of his almost sister. Ginny jumped, looking startled to see him awake. She rushed over to the side of his bed, then, noticing Merci next to him, she quieted.

"How are you feeling?" she asked in a near whisper. Not waiting for an answer, she continued. "Pomfrey was furious. She said that she didn't want to see you in the first day!" She laughed.

Harry grinned. She was so pretty when she laughed. "Where are Ron and Hermione?"

Ginny flushed. "Ron and Hermione are in the common room. She and Brig are trying to keep Mat and Ron apart. They both blame the other, of course, and nothing we can say will stop them."

Madame Pomfrey bustled in. For such a small woman, she could be incredibly intimidating. She stalked over and said, "Miss Weasley, I thought I told you to call me when he woke!" A small sound from Merci's sleeping form caused her to turn swiftly, and exclaim, "My goodness! How long has she been here?"

Ginny looked at Merci. "She's been here since before me, and I've been here nearly since Ron and Hermione."

Pomfrey choked. "That long? Oh, dear, I told her you would wake shortly, and here it's been nearly three hours! Well, Miss Weasley, you can see Mr. Potter at breakfast tomorrow. For the time being, I think you should just let her sleep." At this, she shooed Ginny out who waved goodbye from underneath the woman's bony arm. As Harry settled in for a good night's sleep, he wondered why Merci was here.

**

Harry woke up when the sun was still rising, only to see Merci peering intently at him. Her deep blue eyes fixed on his bright green ones, but he noticed that the rest of her was blurry. "What happened to my contacts?"

Merci started as though she hadn't just been looking at him. "The thin clear things that Madame Pomfrey took out?" At his nod, she continued. "She threw them out. She didn't know what they were. But Ron brought your glasses last night. Here." She handed him the familiar, well-worn glasses. She looked nervous for a second, then began to talk.

Merci was incredibly nervous. She needed to talk to him, and didn't want anyone to interrupt. She just didn't know how to say what she wanted, so she just started.

"You know my mom's pregnant, right? So, they told you who my dad is? Good, that makes it a lot easier. See, mom got pregnant with me just before dad went to jail. They went to school together, became friends, then mom got pregnant right after their engagement. Then you came and defeated You-Know-Who and dad went to jail. Mom was heartbroken but when she realized that I might be in danger from people who knew who I was, we moved to America. That was before I found out what I was.

"Mom had no idea where to go or what to do, so she contacted the Ministry in the U.S. They helped her get a house and a job in the ministry but that was ruined when they found out what I could do. No, don't interrupt. It is hard enough as it is to say this, but I am a Pyronimagus. I can see that you don't know what that means. It means that I am an inborn Animagus with magical fire capabilities. I am almost as rare as a normal animagus, but it is harder for me to control without teaching. That is why I'm here, you know. I am going to be taught how to control my changes and my fire.

"My magical creature can burn stone, Harry. I know it's hard to believe, but its tr..."

Just then, Madame Pomfrey hurried over. "You can go, Mr. Potter. And next time, Miss Quinn, please notify me that you will be staying."

**

Harry and Merci were walking silently to the Great Hall for breakfast when Merci stopped. "Harry, please don't tell anyone. I mean, its hard enough being a transfer student, but can you imagine if they knew what I could do?" Harry agreed not to tell anyone without her permission, and they walked into the Great Hall together, to many whispered comments.

Ginny watched as Harry walked into the Great Hall with Merci. She knew she shouldn't feel jealous but she couldn't help it. She watched as Harry whispered something to Merci and they separated. She shouldn't feel like that girl was taking her place but she did anyway. She didn't even notice the looks that Harry gave her as she ate in stony silence.

**

Sarah MacCluie was in love. She had found the most handsome, gorgeous, wonderful person and he felt the same way. That morning, he had found her in the common room, too early for anyone but them to be up, and he had said the most magical words to her. "Would you be my girlfriend?" Not only that, when she had said yes, the whole room lit up. He had already asked her to the Halloween ball, and what else could she say?

He sat next to Neville this morning, talking about everything, and occasionally glancing her way. After he was done eating, he walked over to escort her to her first class. Life couldn't be better.

**

Harry looked at Ginny. She was mad, but he didn't know why. Then he looked up as Dumbledore began to speak.

"I have a few announcements this morning. First, I would like to remind students that fighting is strictly prohibited, and will be severely punished. Second, I would like to remind everyone that auditions for the school play will be tonight directly after dinner. You must sign up according to year and house, and only fourth year and above may participate. Thank you, and have a nice day."

Harry grabbed his bag, wanting to be first in line to sign up for auditions. He and Liadin had talked over the summer and she had given him several helpful hints. He was just in time. It appeared that everyone would like to sign up. He was first in the Gryffindor fifth year page, and soon after was followed by his entire year, most fourth and sixth years, and several seventh.

He looked at his watch. It had been altered so that it would work at Hogwarts, like last years, and he never left without it. It was almost time for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Harry walked in with not a moment to spare. Defense with Professor Duncan would be interesting. He had talked to Duncan all summer, and had a hint of what would be happening.

Duncan lost no time. He began, "My name is Professor Duncan. This is a difficult course, not in the least of which because of the number of teachers that you have had. This, however, will be more of a training class. For the first semester we will be dealing with Dark Creatures, and the second with Dark Spells and Counter-Curses. We will have guests, such as an Auror, a Dark Creature expert, a Curse Master, and several of the more human creatures, like a vampire, a siren, a Mystia, and a Tigrea. You will learn about each when they come along. Now, today will be a practical lesson, to cover what you have learned. I have procured a creature for each student pair, mostly those that you have covered in the past years, and one at a time, each pair will fight one. Now, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom, come forward."

Hermione confidently drew her wand and strode up to the front of the room, while Neville looked ill and not at all confident. Duncan picked up a box. He said, "Now, I don't want any spells to deflect off into the class, so I will put up a shield charm that will stop any spells inside it form getting out. I know, this may sound as though it will ricochet inside, but the walls will absorb those spells. I will be inside in case anyone needs help." With that, he flicked his wand and said Impluvesika! A clear bubble enveloped him, Hermione, and Neville, plus what was in the box.

Duncan opened the box and stepped back. A kappa squelched out, leered at Hermione, then charged Neville. Neville squeaked and nearly dropped his wand, but Hermione just fired off two spells in quick succession, the Freezing spell and the Kappa spell. The Kappa spell rendered any Kappa magic in its range harmless, and the Freezing spell stopped it from attacking with its teeth and claws. Hermione stepped back and let Neville finish with a speedy banishing charm that put the creature back in its cage. Duncan released the shield spell, and then gave them full marks.

"Parvati Patil and Dean Thomas." They had to fight a Grindylow, for which Duncan provided a low level water spell that filled the shield up to their waists with water. They got full marks as well.

"Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnegan." They had a Hinkypunk, and defeated it, with Lavender only once getting distracted. They received a few less points, but otherwise passed fully.

"Brigitte Fionan and Ronald Weasley." They had a dozen Cornish pixies. Unlike Lockhart's pixies, though, these were powerful magical creatures. Ron and Brig looked at each other, then Ron stepped back. He seemed to be waiting. Brig then did something unexpected. She talked to the pixies. She only talked for about three minutes, but it was enough to get them to go back into their cage willingly. Everyone was staring at her as if she were insane, all but Duncan. He looked at her with deep respect, and not a little bit of awe. He hurriedly took down the shield, and let them sit in their seats with full marks.

"Mattin Fionan and Madeline Kase." Madeline was a little known Gryffindor who had always gotten good marks and did her classes well, though with little regard. She was nearly as good as Hermione. However, it looked as though Mat might outshine her in the test. Duncan lifted a small cage and released... a spider. He quickly threw up a shield, then stood back as Mat just stared at the tiny thing. Madeline, however, was racking her brain for the correct spell. Suddenly, she brightened, and cried out, "Mosela Vesilie!" The spider absorbed the spell, then began to swell. Madeline and Mat backed up against the wall and Madeline did a quick spell. The spider exploded, covering the shield and its inhabitants with a gooey substance. However, the goo dissipated fairly quickly and left a large egg in its place. He praised Madeline for her quick thinking.

He asked the class, "Do you know what that was?" When only Madeline and Hermione raised their hands, he shook his head. "That was a French Sable Spider. It will paralyze and cover its prey with that gooey substance, and then slowly ingest them. The spell Madeline used made it think that it was ready to die, but it only turns into an egg. The goo would have preserved us until it's young were old enough to eat. Good job, Madeline!"

"Finally, Harry Potter and Sefanie Moes." He carried a small black case over the shield area, then put up two shields, the one that he had been using, then another around himself that no one recognized.

Sefanie was a shy girl and one of the few purebloods not in Slytherin. She had Madeline help her with everything, and looked panicked as the shield closed around them. Harry was ready for anything. Except what came out. Duncan opened the case, then dropped it on the floor. A tall, hooded figure stepped out spreading cold all around. Harry was used to Dementors, but this was different. He looked at Sefanie. She wasn't moving and looked ready to faint. He tried to open his mouth, but the Dementor moved closer. Happy memories weren't helping. A hiss came out. "Harry Potter..." He felt a more powerful rush of cold, then it touched him. He screamed.

It hadn't been like this last time he had been touched by a Dementor. The cold was the same, but not the pain. It felt as though he was under Cruciatus, and there were no happy memories strong enough. He looked up into the Dementor's hood and instead of seeing scabs where there should have been eyes, he saw glowing red orbs. Voldemort...

He didn't notice Sefanie coming out of her reverie to scream "Riddikulus!" All he noticed was the pain and the vision. Then blackness over took him.

**

Duncan watched as a skeletally thin Dementor came out of the case. He had had no idea what Harry was afraid of, but this was the last thing that would have come to mind. He watched as a thin, bony hand snaked out and touched Harry's scar then watched him collapse. Sefanie cried out the spell, then sank to the ground, weeping. Suddenly, a black light erupted from Harry's chest and enveloped the room. A scream was heard, then silence.

**

Harry woke up only a minute after he collapsed. Everyone was staring at him. He looked around and asked, "What happened?" Duncan said, "Everyone, class is dismissed. If I could please see Mr. Potter, Mr. Fionan, and Miss Fionan before you leave?"

"Mr. Fionan, I would like to thank you for not demonstrating your full capabilities with the spider, and Miss Fionan, I would like to thank you for demonstrating your capabilities. I may have a job for you in the future. If you will excuse us?" They thanked him and left.

Duncan looked haggard and spoke to Harry. "When the black light came out of you, Harry, a scream went on inside the room. Do you know what that means?" When he shook his head, he sighed, "Then you may go, Harry, but I will be speaking to the Headmaster." Harry left, feeling more confused then ever. What had happened?

**

Harry was walking down the hall to lunch, lost in his own thoughts, when he ran into Merci. Literally. She nearly fell but grabbed his arm. "Guess what?" When he didn't, she said, "Well, Mom got an ultrasound yesterday, magical, of course, and it's twins!" Harry didn't know how to respond, but Merci didn't seem to notice. "Your adoption papers will get through by next Friday, so Mom and Dad are coming and we get to go away for the weekend in Hogsmeade! Cool, huh?"

They walked into the Great Hall for lunch and sat together, talking about their lives. Ginny again sat in silence, ignoring the questions of her friends. Even Hermione noticed, and sat next to her, promising Ron that she would be right back.

"Ginny, what's wrong?" Hermione looked at the sad redhead. She was near tears and was only picking at her food. Ginny tensed up, then said, "Not here." Hermione nodded, kissed Ron's cheek and told him she would see him in class. Then she and Ginny went to the common room.

Ginny and Hermione talked until right before lunch ended. When Hermione got outside, she said to Harry, "I need to talk to you." With that, she proceeded to ignore him.

Hagrid had new curriculum. "This year, we'll be studyin' the creatures that 'ad to do wi' the ol' Council o' Twelve. We will be studyin' winged horses, phoenixes, centaurs, sprites, griffins, gyrfalcons, and some o' the more human creatures, like Kititats, Wolven, Irisps, Tigrea, Mermaids of the Oceans, Huoreans, and Fai. Now, we will be doin this class a bit differently, and we will have a unit two or three weeks, take a test, then move on. We will start with winged horses, then move on to centaurs. For the rest o' class, I want you to read chapter 10 in your new books." He motioned for them to sit in the grass outside of his hut, then went inside. Hermione motioned to Harry, and they moved away form the rest of the class.

"Do you know what you are doing?" she hissed. Harry just looked at her blankly. "What are you doing with that fourth year, Merci?" Harry looked at her face. She was mad at him for that? Then he remembered. In all his time with them so far, he hadn't told either Ron or Hermione about Sirius and Amanda. "Get Ron, then I'll explain." Hermione just gave him an unreadable look, then motioned Ron over.

Harry started. "Do you know who Merci is?" When both shook their heads, he nodded. "I thought so. She is the daughter of Amanda Quinn and Sirius Black." Pausing to let it sink in, he continued. "Sirius and Amanda have filed for adoption of their godson." Hermione stood shell shocked, while Ron whooped. "Merci is going to be my sister by Friday latest, and I'm going be a big brother again after Amanda has her babies."

Hermione gave him a weirder look than the others had been, then asked, "Have you told anyone else?"

Ron, however, interrupted. "Who cares, Mione, Harry's gonna be a big brother!" He jumped around, cheering.

She talked over his cheers anyway, "I think you should talk to Ginny tonight, though. She is like family to you." Then she walked back to the rest of the class, followed closely by Ron. Harry stood for a second, then hurried after her. Ginny?

**

Potions was its usual affair, with Snape deducting points left and right for minor indiscretions. His mood hadn't improved, but his eyes showed a real change. Where before they were plain black, now they were dull, nearly lifeless, and looking in them made you want to scream. After that, they had History of Magic.

Binns was his usual boring self, but the topic was changed. "This year," he droned, "We will be studying the Council of Twelve, the Priestesses of Oln, the Elvish culture, and the Magical community of the Early Ministry. Please take out your notes." For the rest of the class, they took notes on the founding of the Council.

"Every hundred years, the Council changes its members, but if one dies, they can be replaced. Every Council has had a Kititat for the Head of the Council, and only recently have humans been added. In years past, it consisted of a Kititat, Wolven, a Centaur, an Irisp, a Tigrea, a Phoenix, a Mermaid of the Ocean, a Huorean, a Fai, a winged horse, and a griffin. Now, however, due to Muggle interference, the decline of the non-human races has forced the council to double the numbers and allow humans and elves onto it.

"The reason we are studying this is because of the now factual connection with the Founders. Apparently, this was the Hogwarts of the time, educating youngsters with the ability, and turning them out in the world when they have realized their potential."

The entire class was listening with rapt attention as Binns outlined the Council and its history. Not one fell asleep, and afterwards all agreed that it was very interesting.

**

Dinner was a happy time, as people discussed who would get onto the list for the auditions. Harry looked at Ginny, wondering what he should say. The Halloween Ball was in two months, and he really wanted to take her. He had rehearsed what he would say several times, but still the words wouldn't come out. That, and she seemed mad at him.

Dumbledore stood up. He said, "Auditions will be held in a classroom off of the Defense corridor and you will be sorted according to House and year. Auditions will conclude as of ten thirty and the list will be posted after dinner tomorrow. You will be released now according to house. Hufflepuff!" All of the Hufflepuffs walked out and the ones that were auditioning went to the designated corridor. Next came Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and, finally, Gryffindor.

Harry walked over to Ginny. "Could I talk to you please?" She nodded, and they stood just outside of the classroom everyone was filling into. So Harry began by telling Ginny what he had told Ron and Hermione, then he mumbled. "Well, I don't know what you thought I was doing with Merci, cause I only like you..." Just realizing what he had said, he blushed. Ginny looked up at his red face. Her dreams were coming true.

She glanced at him, then looked at the floor. Simultaneously, they asked, "Would you go to the ball with me?" Then, each answering the others question, they both said, "Yes!" Laughing out loud now, they walked in arm and arm, to cheers and catcalls. Auditions were about to start.