Chapter 2: The Arrival

Harry peered along the teacher's table, but there was definitely no sign of Hagrid. Instead his eyes caught a woman talking to Dumbledore. It wasn't until she turned to face the students that Harry recognised her. It was hard not to with her distinctive pink cardigan and wide toad-like mouth, not to mention that horrific bow on her head. It was the woman from his trial.

"That woman next to Dumbledore." Harry pointed and Hermione and Ron turned to look. "She was at my trial, she works for Fudge. What is she doing here?"

Hermione's lips narrowed. "She can't be." Her eyes sought along the teachers table. Before she could let them in on her suspicions Professor Grubby-Plank came in and settled in Hagrid's usual place. The first years had arrived.

Professor McGonagall brought out the Sorting Hat and placed it on its stool, the brim opened and it began to sing. Harry didn't pay too close attention to the song. Instead he was watching the Ministry woman wondering what she could possibly be doing here, and hoping it wasn't what he was thinking it was. Harry watched as the Sorting progressed, applauding in each of his new house-mates despite the odd looks some of them gave him.

Finally Dumbledore rose and lifted his hands. "To our new comers, welcome, to our old hands welcome back. There is a time for speech making, but this is not it. Tuck in." There were appreciative noises as the food appeared.

Harry piled up his plate and ate until his stomach felt like it was going to explode. Despite this he had nothing like the pile Ron went through. Harry still wasn't sure where his friend put all the food he ate.

Harry sat back feeling contently sleepy as the food disappeared and Dumbledore got to his feet again. At least some things were still the same. "A few reminders to begin with. First years take note that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds, some of our older students will do well to remember the fact also. Mr. Filch would like me to remind you that magic in the hallways between classes is forbidden, as are several other items that can be found listed on Mr. Filch's office door.
We have two staffing changes this year, firstly I would like to welcome back Professor Grubby-Plank who will be taking Care of Magic Creatures and please give a warm welcome to Professor Umbridge our new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher." The applause was considerably less than warm, but Dumbledore went on. "Now trials for the Quidditch teams will be..." He broke off as Umbridge got to her feet with a soft cough, hem hem.

Dumbledore looked surprised for only a moment before sitting and turning his attention to her. Murmurs went around the room; Umbridge certainly wasn't making a good start for herself.

As she began to speak Harry felt his mind tune out, and from what he could see everyone else was doing the same thing. Hermione seemed to be the only one who was paying any kind of attention. Harry frowned down at his cup thinking things over. The increasing numbers of whispers from the other students were direct at him he knew, but he felt odd as though something was calling him.

It was then that Harry heard the crying, it was a soft heartbreaking sound of utter agony. The whispers had increased and Ron elbowed him. Harry turned to look with everyone else.

Standing in between the two tables was a child. He was the single most beautiful thing Harry had ever seen. The boy didn't look to be more than five years old, tiny and slim he wore green-grey clothing that was ripped and torn.

By far the most unusual thing about him was his colouring. His hair was tri-coloured, black tipped with violet, with long golden strands curled around his pale dirt stained cheeks. Through his fringe peered a pair of glowing amethyst eyes that were so big they seemed to take up half his face, those breath-taking eyes dripped blue tears as they slowly scanned the tables.

Harry felt an odd tug somewhere in his stomach as the child's strange eyes found him. The boy took a few uncertain steps towards Harry, lifting a hand to rub the tears from his cheeks. When he was standing right in front of him Harry picked the child up startled by his feather-like weight. The boy gave a soft sigh of delight and laid his head on Harry's shoulder, his eyes falling closed.

It was only then that Harry realised that everyone in the Great Hall was watching him. Great this was just what he needed, more attention. Whispering started again and Harry turned towards Dumbledore, "Please return to your seat Harry and come and see me after Professor Umbridge has finished her speech." Harry nodded and sat arranging the boy comfortably on his lap.

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Yami turned his attention to the elf child. He had come all this way to sire-bond with a human? Yami decided that he understood elves even less than he understood humans.

The child tilted its bright eyes up to him and hummed a few low notes. To a human the sounds would have been nothing but pleasant noises, but to the Shade who understood the elves music based language they meant for him to remain nearby, but hidden. He settled down to wait.

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People were filing out of the Great Hall, but Harry was making his way up to the teachers table, the child held protectively to his chest. Hermione and Ron had to show the first years up to the dorms, but Harry had promised to fill them in on everything that happened.

Dumbledore studied him with more attention than he had shown since the hearing. "May I see the boy?" He asked most of the other teachers were watching with interest, Umbridge with snobby disgust. Harry was a little reluctant to hand the child over, but after a moment's hesitation he did so. Dumbledore balanced the boy on his knee and very gently brushed his strange hair from his ears. Harry blinked in surprise. The tiny boy's ears were sharply pointed at the tip. Harry frowned. "Is something wrong?"

Dumbledore smiled gently down at the boy and bounced him slightly, resulting in a series of bubbly giggles that made Harry smile. "Indeed not. Well Harry you are now the proud adoptive father of an elfin child."

Harry blinked "A what?" Dumbledore continued smiling downwards, no longer looking at Harry as the little boy began to play with Dumbledore's long beard. "Elves are race who inhabit a few of the larger and older forests in the world, they are distantly related to our House Elves.
They are powerful magical creatures, but very little is known about them. What is known is that their children remain so for about the length of one human life time. During this time they need constant care and attention they need something from their parents to allow them to survive. If their parents are killed or lost then the child will die unless it finds a surrogate. I know of only one case where an elfin child has chosen a human as its new parent. You will find his memoirs in the Library, his name was Richard Arkano. I recommend that you read them."

"So I have to keep him." Glowing eyes turned to him and for a moment they filled with tears again. Horrified that he would start crying again Harry babbled out, "I don't mean that, I just...I don't think I'm the best person to do this, couldn't you take him Professor?"

Dumbledore peered over his half-moon glasses, "I'm afraid not Harry, he has chosen you and so only you will do. Don't worry elfin children are rumoured to bring great luck to the people around them. Elves are also among the most powerful magical creatures, so I have no doubt that if you leave him somewhere he will find you again. However think of this Harry. If you refuse to care for him, he will die, that is a surety."

Harry swallowed and looked into the child's huge sad eyes. Then he grinned, "Alright then, what's one more thing, maybe he will be lucky and everything will go well this year?" As he picked the now smiling boy up again he gave Umbridge and Snape a triumphant look and hurried out of the hall. The teachers turned to each other discussing the new development, and everyone missed the dark shadow which detached itself from the roof and followed Harry out of the room.

Hermione and Ron were waiting in the empty common room, Harry had met up with Neville as he reached the portrait and now his fellow Gryffindor hurried past him up to the dorms.

Harry set his new ward on the couch carefully and explained everything to his two friends. Ron nodded sagely when Harry mention elves and Hermione promised to look up the memoirs Dumbledore had suggested. With a final goodnight they split and headed for the dorms. Seamus, Dean and Neville were busy spreading things around their beds in no particular order. "Hi guys." Harry said, the elf child had trotted after him and was now climbing onto the bed. "Hey Harry, how were your holiday's?" Dean asked.

"Not bad. Yours?" Harry figured that explanations as to the true horrors of his holiday's were not really needed or wanted.

"Okay I guess. Better than Seamus' anyway." Dean replied

"What happened?" Harry asked turning to the other Gryffindor.

"Mam didn't want me to come back this year." Seamus said without looking at Harry. Harry had to say he was glad. Harry had known that his would happen, but despite this fact his temper rose back to the surface. "Of course doesn't want you near the nutter." He snarled.

The room had gone very quiet and Harry didn't bother to reel in his anger, instead he looked at the elf child who now slept peacefully, curled up near Harry's pillow. Wishing he were able to be that calm Harry changed his clothes. The others were watching him warily. Ron padded over in his pyjamas, "So what are you going to call him?"

Harry blinked he hadn't even thought of names. The boy was either unable or unwilling to speak; he just hoped that Hermione's research would tell him something about how to take care of the tiny creature. "I don't know, I guess we will have to come up with some names and see if he likes any of them." He said in answer to Ron's question.

Harry climbed carefully into bed and as he settled down with his head on the pillow the elf opened his glowing eyes and whispered in a voice like a silver chime in the distance. "I am Yugi."

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As soon as the human child was asleep the elf child lifted its head and sung another low series of notes. Yami shifted uncomfortably, he wanted Yami to go to the other village and collect some clothing for him. Yami had several reasons for not wanting to go. The other Shade was the primary reason, but he also wasn't comfortable with leaving Yugi here alone with a human who had a strange taint on him. The tainting was something that Yami almost recognised and certainly didn't trust. But the elf was insistent and piercing. Yami gave in and flashed out of the building, heading for the village.

Yay Bakura next chapter, he won't feature much in this story, but I had to have him in here at least once, he's such a great character. Glad I finally properly introduced our little hero, calling him 'the child' all the time was repetitive and made my hands hurt.

My inspiration for the elves comes from the master of all things elfin, Tolkien, with a few additives so I can actually have a story.