Blue Hair, Pointed Ears, and a Wand
AUTHOR: Yarrharr
RATING: PG, nothing more violent than what's in the books
DISCLAIMERS: I don't own Harry Potter, Hogwarts, or anything besides Nadea and the characters I created. It all belongs to JK Rowling, the most talented and imaginative author on the planet. Thank you for sharing your world with us!
SUMMARY: A young Irish Elf (aka Sidhe) goes to Hogwarts. Her adventures begin.... (ok, I'm not good at summaries)
A/N: This is my first Harry Potter story. Chapter One is an introduction of sorts, providing background for the rest of the story. I came up with the idea for this story a year ago, but didn't start writing it down until recently.
Chapter 1: Prologue
It was a bright, clear morning, quite the opposite of the portent-laden, stormy night that is usually depicted in such a situation. There weren't even ominous murmurs in the air, just the songs of a few zealous birds. But Russ Calder came hurrying up the road just the same, his work robes flapping around his calves. Maire! Liam! he called as he opened the gate of the green picket fence beside the road. Behind it, surrounded by a small, neat garden, was a thatched-roof cottage. The door and windows were open now that summer and sunny weather had arrived. A young woman with striking blue hair and pointed ears appeared in the doorway. She smiled at him as he came up the path.
Russ! How good to see you. I'd make you a cup of tea, but I'm doing some cleaning now and--
The man interrupted breathlessly. There's no time for that. I came to warn you, Maire. You, Liam, and the baby have to get out of here. There's summat happening down in the village. Hekkon McDougal and some others are angry, they're sayin' they won't rest til they've gotten rid of every human in the Reserve.
What? A mob of villagers? she said, laughing. You're talking daft, Russ.
I'm dead serious! I've heard Hekkon talking in the pub. He blames humans for what the Dark Lord did, and he thinks they're working agains' us. They'll come up here after Liam, I've no doubt. You've got to get away! His voice was urgent and fearful. Not much could scare Russ Calder, a sun-tanned fisherman who went out in raging storms and fought the occasional kraken that tried capsize his boat. Once she perceived his concern, Maire became more serious.
Where could we go? she asked.
You can take my fishing boat. It's not fast, but it'll get you down the coast to Kilcarra.
She was going to ask something else, but just then a child shrieked inside the house and a moment later, a tiny girl wearing a blue smock tumbled onto the doorstep. The girl, who was fourteen months old and precocious, beamed at Russ from the vicinity of his feet. Her hair was as turquoise as her mother's.
Look what Nad-ee found! she said, referring to herself in the third person as some toddlers do. She uncurled a small, grubby fist, revealing a slimy frog. The girl gurgled happily at her discovery.
Her mother glanced distractedly at her, her mind on other matters. That's nice, dear. Now go inside and fetch your da. Quickly.
The girl toddled inside. It is a popular myth that small children walk unsteadily because they don't have a good sense of balance. The truth is that they're too concerned with the wondrous world around them that they don't pay attention to how their legs are working. She crossed the living room rug to the back of the cottage. Up a flight of steep stairs she climbed, managing to fall only once. Along the way she clutched her ribbiting prize gently, so it wouldn't get hurt.
The second story of the house was more like an attic than a real story; the bare rafters sloped upward in an inverted V, making for little headroom on each side. A tall man with curly brown hair was trying to fix the window overlooking the backyard of the cottage. He poked his wand at a shutter hinge, which creaked feebly.
the girl said, lifting her arms to him.
Liam smiled when he saw her. There's my elfling, he said. He picked her up, tickling her chin, and his daughter giggled.
Russ is outside. He talking to Mummy. She say me get you.
Does she? All right, then. He stuck his wand in his trousers pocket and walked downstairs, still holding the little girl. Once on the ground floor, he went into the bedroom and put her in her crib.
No, Daddy, she protested. Nad-ee doesn't want crib.
Just for a little while, okay? I'll play with you later, I promise. He kissed her on the forehead, smoothed her blue hair, and left.
What did you want me for, dear? he asked his wife upon reaching the door.
Russ says there's trouble in the village. Hekkon and some of his friends are throwing humans out of their houses in the area. We'd best get out before--
Too late for that, he said quietly. He pointed down the road.
A band of people was striding up the road from the village. They weren't shouting, they weren't waving torches or spiky farm implements, and there weren't even very many of them. But their fierce, quiet determination and grim faces were every bit as frightening. Each one of them had pointed ears and vividly-colored hair, like Maire and Russ: they were Sidhe.
Maire, Liam, and Russ watched silently as the small crowd approached. Their self-appointed leader, a heavy-jawed man whose hair was grass green, opened the gate. Soon the dozen or so men and women had filled the garden and stood several icy yards away from the door. A few of them defiantly stepped on the plants.
Liam stepped forward, held his arms out wide, and spoke. Good morning, everyone. Since we're all neighbors, let's be honest here. What's the matter, and why have you come here?
The matter is, growled their leader, Hekkon, that you're human, and we want you OUT. Indistinct murmurs at his back showed the crowd's assent.
Liam repeated, as if it was in a foreign language. Hekkon, surely you don't mean what I think you mean--
Don't act dumb, human. We want you an' your wife to leave the Reserve. We'll give you three hours to do it, or else we'll come up here with torches. The man's words seemed to hang in the air, solid, immutable.
Liam frowned. when he spoke again, his voice was soft and measured. I suppose you've threatened all the other humans in the village? Tossed them out of their homes?
Someone in the crowd jeered. Oh, we're not threatenin' you, human. You gets to decide whether you want to stay and watch your house burn down.
We have been your neighbors for years. The Ministry--humans, mind you--set up this reserve for all of you, and now you want to repay them by throwing out their employees? Why? What reason could you possibly have for this?
'Twas you and your round-ear friends, Hekkon said, using a Sidhe epithet for humans, that brought You-Know-Who into the Reserve! You're all his servants! Twas your fault that Gilbert and his wife died! He pointed a long, accusing finger at Liam, who had turned ashen gray.
At this, Maire exclaimed, How dare you accuse my husband of that! He fought against the Dark Lord for six years, risking his own life and family to bring him down. When he was defeated, Liam rejoiced as much as any of you!
Worse traitors than him have concealed their loyalties! Hekkon shouted.
Inside, the toddler pulled herself up using the rails of the crib. She wanted attention. She had tried crying, but when no one came to pick her up, she had stopped. Now she heard shouts from outside. Suddenly the frog squeezed out of her hand and plopped to the floor. It croaked, hopping a little. She reached for the animal, but it was too far away. She leaned on the crib railing--and fell.
The girl bumped her head, but didn't cry about it. She reclaimed her pet and sat on the floor, looking around. After a few moments she walked out of the bedroom and across the front room. Reaching one of the windows that looked into the front garden, the toddler grabbed the sill with one hand. She stood on her tiptoes and peered out the window. A bunch of big people were standing around and yelling at each other, her mother included.
Listen to yourselves! Maire addressed the crowd, which contained too many familiar faces. Liam has lived here for four years. I have lived here my whole life. My daughter plays with your children and knows no other home. Would you take her away from that? How can you be prejudiced against your own neighbors?
Then a young man stepped out of the crowd. He had the same heavy jaw as Hekkon; Maire recognized him as the man's nephew. He turned to the angry villagers and said, to everyone's surprise, She's right. We shouldn't be persecuting her husband just because he's human. He turned toward Liam. We should be persecuting him....because he helped kill Lord Voldemort!! He raised his wand quickly and shouted a curse. A bolt of green light flashed, struck Liam in the chest, and he fell to the ground. His wife screamed and knelt beside hi, Hekkon's nephew pointed his wand at her, but before he could curse her, Russ Calder had whipped out his own wand.
Russ shouted. Red light leapt from his wand to the killer, rendering him unconscious. The crowd watched, aghast.
From the window, she saw the green bolt hit her father. She saw him fall and heard her mother scream, but she wasn't sure what had happened.
Her small, round face knit in a frown as she pressed one hand against the glass. she said.
* * *