Chapter 1: Hammers and Horseshoes
Author's Note: It's good to be writing these again. Anyway, a lot of people who read my first fic expressed they wanted to learn a little more about Elanus Green. I thought I'd detail a little about a particular year at Hogwarts during his day.
Elanus Green manned the bellows on his Uncle Gene's small forge. They were making horseshoes this evening. He pulled down the lever and then the chain in a slow rhythmic pattern. It was necessary to keep the forge fires burning hot, the day before he had faltered a bit and the blade for the neighbor's plow was nearly ruined. Thankfully Uncle Gene was truly a master and mended the blade just as perfectly as it had been before it broke. Elanus loved coming to America every year to work, though he truly wished he was the one doing the hammering on the metal. Gene dipped the glowing 'U' shaped object into a bucket of water, producing a vast amount of steam. Elanus wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled. Gene was a bit shorter then average and of no real striking looks, though he appeared younger then he really was. The thing that set Gene apart from most people was his strength. He had been a master machinist and metallurgist for many years, and still worked in a factory produced things made of steel. In his spare time he mended equipment for the farmer and ranchers that lived nearby. Elanus could remember a time when his uncle had been out on a ranch looking a tractor over. An angry bull saw Gene and Elanus as intruders. When the bull snorted and charged the two, Gene simply turned around and hit the bull between the eyes with his bare fist and continued working on the tractor. The bull fell over dead, it's skull was cracked at the point of impact. He could also remember the rancher being very displeased, but wisely not wishing to anger Gene any further.
"It's done, I think we're done for the day," Gene said, "Unless you want to try your hand at something?"
Elanus eagerly nodded and Gene smiled and manned the bellows, his thick arms straining as he pulled the levers and chains. Elanus liked it here in America, especially in Texas where his uncle lived. He was learning all sorts of things they'd never teach at home. He selected a rod of steel and carefully cut a few inches from it. Elanus was a student in England, at a very special school. He would be starting his sixth year as a student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was a bit frightened at the prospect of going back, he always found school dull. They never let anyone find practical ways of using magic and rarely let students tinker around with magical artifacts and devices. Carefully, Elanus took a pair of tongs and gripped the piece of rod in them, and shoved it carefully in the burning embers of the fire.
"Don't leave it in too long," Gene said, pumping the bellows.
"I won't, just until it's red right?" Elanus asked.
"Perhaps a bit longer," Gene said. "Wait until the tip begins turning white."
Elanus stared at the glowing rod a few seconds and brought it out of the fire. He took a large hammer and began pounding a rough shape from it. A few more sessions in the fire and many poundings later the lump began to resemble a knife of some sort.
"Make a fine utility or skinning knife," Gene said.
"I think so," Elanus said, pounding the knife out. In a few minutes the knife began to take shape, albeit very rough and crude. "It's not looking very good."
"It's your first time, you're doing well. You can't expect to be a master in one summer," Gene said.
Finally Elanus heated the blade and stuck it in the bucket of water. He repeated the process twice and then took it to the grinder. He carefully shaped the blade under the grinder and it began to look more like a knife then a beaten piece of metal.
"Don't grind too long, remember," Gene reminded.
Elanus smiled and moved to a polisher to take the bluish oxidation from the blade. This was what he wanted to do at Hogwarts, make things, useful things to wizards. He didn't want any part of enchanting pots and pans or making pens that write by themselves. Always he was looking for new ideas, and the muggles had plenty. They had automobiles and airplanes and gadgets to make house work easier that the wizard world simply didn't have. Elanus was also intrigued by a muggle movie, and books with a character named 'James Bond'. His dream was to make magic devices and be an Unspeakable, the closest thing the wizard world had that compared with the muggle secret services.
"You know, I could enchant the things here to move on their own," Elanus said as he polished his blade.
"I could get an electric grinder, and electric bellows too you know," Gene said, smiling. "This teaches you to work hard and with what you have. What happens when the power goes out? Or what if you don't get your magic just right? Rely too much on magic, or even electricity, you don't know what to do without it."
Elanus nodded, "I go back to school next week." Elanus waited for the blade to cool and handed it to Gene.
"Have you packed everything?" Gene asked.
"Yes sir, are you really coming to visit this year? You and Aunt Annie?" asked Elanus.
"I'll try, your aunt isn't well, what with the baby on the way and all. I don't know if she'll be able to come," Gene said.
"Well, I understand if you can't," Elanus said.
"I have family over there too, you know. My father wants me to meet my sisters," Gene said. "I should be able come around Christmas time, maybe I can get a tour of your school."
"I'm sure my mother can arrange it," Elanus said. "She has a few connections."
"Aye, so does my stepmother so I'm told," Gene said.
"Really?" Elanus asked, looking at Gene curiously, "Anyone I might know?" he pried.
"I'm not certain," Gene said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I've heard mention of Hogwarts from her over the telephone, though I think she took me for an ordinary," Gene said, looking around with a rather blank stare on her face.
"Muggle?" Elanus offered.
"Yes, muggle!" Gene nodded, "I didn't have the heart to tell her my nephew went there too."
"She might have graduated from Hogwarts," Elanus said, "It is interesting though".
"Well don't go poking into other's business too deep," Gene said. "You might be frightened at what you find."
Gene put his arm around Elanus and examined his work and nodded approvingly. The two went into the house where a thin red headed woman was cooking ham. Gene kissed her on the cheek and grinned at her. The woman smiled faintly and patted him on the cheek.
"Elanus why don't you get cleaned up?" Gene said.
Elanus nodded and darted up the stairs. Soon the sound of water running was heard overhead.
"He's going back this next week," Gene said.
"I know dear, he's been absolutely miserable about it for days," the woman said.
"He really doesn't like it there does he?"
"Well, Hogwarts is a bit demanding, poor Arnold barely graduated, and you know he's not a slacker."
"Annie, he tells me they're very restrictive about him making things there," Gene said, "He sounds oppressed, isn't there a school here where they might be a little less restrictive about invention?"
"I could ask," Annie shrugged. "I think the only school is in Salem, and it's very elite. He's going to graduate in a year anyway, I think he'll manage."
The water upstairs shut off and a few minutes later Elanus came downstairs.
"Well you smell better," Gene commented.
"You're one to talk," Elanus said.
"He's right dear, go get cleaned up," Annie said.
Gene trudged off and soon water was heard running. Elanus leaned against the kitchen sink and grinned.
"Don't you dare, he hates that," Annie said reaching for faucet.
"Oh yes, I must," Elanus said, holding his aunt back with one arm and turning the knob marked 'hot'. As the water began streaming into the sink a yelp, a thud and a muffled curse were heard from the bathroom.
"Just like your father," Annie said trying not to laugh, "I better go see if the old man is alright."
"I'd be more worried about the bath tub," Elanus chuckled.
Annie grinned back and Elanus and told him to stir the peas that were in a small pot on the stove. Elanus stirred the peas and heard his aunt shriek. He dropped the spoon and ran back to the bathroom. Annie was on all fours coughing violently.
"Uncle Gene!"
Gene burst through the bathroom door, half-dressed and looked down at his wife. He knelt down and rubbed her back. Within moments Annie's coughing subsided and she sat up.
"I'm ok," Annie said. "Something startled me is all."
"What was it?" asked Elanus.
"I don't know, my eyes were playing tricks on me, a shadow moved around is all," Annie answered.
"You scared me there for a moment," Gene said, "Do you want to me to finish cooking?"
"No I can do it," Annie replied, "I'm alright now." Annie stood up and walked back to the kitchen.
"You aren't doing anything magic are you?" asked Gene.
"No, I told you I can't do magic here for some reason, it doesn't work right," Elanus replied. "I've been seeing some strange stuff myself on occasion; I don't know what to make of it."
"Yes, it certainly is odd," Gene said.
"It always seems to be when Aunt Annie is upset, or really happy or something," Elanus said.
"Could she be magical?"
"I don't think so, I know she went to Hogwarts with my dad, but she didn't show any magical talent, so they let her go so to speak," Elanus said. "Besides if I can't use magic here all that well, she probably can't use it at all."
"You're probably right," Gene said.
Soon Annie called for supper and they went into the kitchen to set the dinner table. Gene turned off the TV and the three ate. After the meal was eaten and the dishes cleaned they relaxed in the living room for an hour or so before retiring for the evening.
The week passed far too quickly for Elanus' liking and he was grudgingly putting a small suitcase in the back of an old green pickup truck. He stared at the suitcase for a few minutes and then hopped into the passenger side of the vehicle and shut the door. Gene started the old truck up and pulled out onto the road.
"Good think Amarillo has an international airport," Elanus said.
"Well you know what they say about Amarillo," Gene said, "Has more ways to leave town then any other city in the country."
Elanus laughed, "Well the people here sure are proud of it. Say didn't Lindbergh land here in '29?"
"Yep, and I hear they're planning on bringing some supersonic airplane through here too," Gene said.
They arrived at the airport and Gene carried Elanus' suitcase into the terminal building for him. Elanus presented his ticket to a woman behind a counter and was given directions to the waiting area for his flight. The two watched the airplanes take off and land for a few minutes. The boarding announcement was made and Elanus sighed.
"It's been a great summer, Uncle Gene. I can't wait until next summer to come back," Elanus said.
"I'll be waiting for you," Gene said, "See you at Christmas."
"May the Lord guide your steps," Elanus said shaking his uncle's hand, "and may your fires never die."
"Walk in the Light of the Lord," Gene responded, "and may your hammer never falter."
Elanus picked up his suitcase and walked to the boarding terminal and handed the attendant his ticket. Gene stood in silence as he watched the plane leave several minutes later.