The Lost Tales of Elves and Wizards: A Harry Potter Fanfiction
Chapter 3
Once at the castle Eledhwen enlisted the help of the house prefects to guide and direct the students to the appropriate corridor instructing the other students to show the second years where to sit in case they'd forgotten. They entered the Great Hall in a very organized fashion starting with Slytherin house students and seating them, then Gryffindor and then Ravenclaw and then Hufflepuff following last. All the school's professors and Headmaster Dumbledore were already seated at the High Table. Eledhwen took her seat next to Dumbledore and the empty seat where Minerva McGonagall would be sitting once the sorting ceremony was completed. Professor McGonagall suddenly walked in and announced, "The first years have arrived, shall I bring them in now Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes, please Professor McGonagall," he said waving a hand.
She turned swiftly and stepped just outside the doors the entire student body facing that way watching eagerly, obviously, to see the famous Harry Potter. They heard a shrill but muffled voice behind the doors at that moment, "Move along now! The Sorting Ceremony's about to start. Now form a line and follow me." She entered then, all of the young, curious and timid first years following behind her. She had them arrange up front in a nice single line and set a four-legged stool in front of them where she placed the Sorting Hat. The first years looked on with extremely puzzled looks on their faces. Then the Sorting Hat came out of its sleep and perked up preparing to sing its usual song. Some of the first years jumped back a little in surprise of this as it went on to sing.
"Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Once it finished it's fabulously funny song the entire hall burst into applause and the Sorting Hat kindly bowed to each of the tables and fell silent again. Professor McGonagall whisked out her scroll which held the names of the first years in alphabetical order. She called the first student up, "Abbot, Hannah!"
And so the Sorting Ceremony began. Everyone waited eagerly for Harry's turn hoping that he would be in their house. He was a great celebrity after all having killed the Dark Lord Voldemort some way or another. Even though no one knew how he had done it, and at such a young age too, he had to have naturally been a fabulous wizard to have accomplished what he did. Whichever house had him was sure to win House Cup every year for the next seven years. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw students glanced at Slytherin certainly hoping – no - praying, that Harry would not end up there. They absolutely could not stand it if Slytherin won another House cup that year. But how could Harry possibly fall into their clutches when the evil wizard he destroyed was once a member of that vile house? How terribly wrong would it be if he ended up as a cursed Slytherin? Finally Harry's turn came.
"Potter, Harry!" said Professor McGonagall forcefully. The entire room hissed with whispers then and focused its entire attention on Harry as he walked up to the stool. Professor McGonagall set the hat on top of his head which was so large it covered his eyes.
"Hmm…Difficult. Very difficult," said the hat, obviously thinking very hard, "Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness yes – and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting…So where shall I put you?" It thought for a moment then burst out, "Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that – no? Well, if you're sure – better be GRYFFINDOR!"
The entire room, all except Slytherin, burst out into the loudest cheers and applause you ever heard before. The professors clapped for him and the ones who once were in Gryffindor house clapped a little more heartily than the others. Harry smiled brightly shaking people's hands at his table and greeting them. He then looked over to the High Table and smiled at Hagrid who gave him a thumbs up. He glanced over at Dumbledore and noticed Miss Eledhwen next to him. He looked at her curiously for a moment and she gave him a pleasant smile. His cheeks flushed crimson and he changed his glance quickly back to his new friends. Professor McGonagall finished reading off the names and the Sorting Hat finished its sorting. Soon it would be Eledhwen's time to come and sing the opening song. Every year on the first day of school it was up to Eledhwen to choose a song and sing it as the opening song for the school. It was a long held tradition the school had since it first came into creation.
Dumbledore stood up facing the students, "Now it is time for the opening song by our lovely Enchantress Eledhwen en Imladris. Lady Eledhwen, if you would."
She stood and walked around the High Table to the center stage. Harry could finally get a good look at this strange woman. He had felt a sort of pleasant warmth fill him when he saw her before. She was extremely beautiful with waste length flowing hair that shimmered in the candlelight. It was of a very light blonde, at moments he thought it even appeared a pure white gold from the way it looked in the light. She had it pulled back on top in a braid and allowed it to flow freely in the back. Her eyes were a striking blue-violet color and her smile was just radiant. She walked very gracefully, taking care of how she stepped, shoulders back, chin up, but not in an arrogant manner, she was very illustrious. He also noticed her ears. It was very curious as they were pointed! A little more-so than anyone's ears ever might have been. He wondered why this was.
Eledhwen took center stage then and spoke in the most gentle and engaging voice you had ever heard, "This year I will be singing the beautiful song, 'Think of Me' written and composed by the humans-er-Muggles, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Charlie Hart from the stage adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera.
She stood very tall with all eyes on her, then she waved a hand and an entire orchestra of instruments appeared floating above the room. They slowly began playing a very soft tune, then she sang, and it was the most beautiful and melodious singing one had ever heard, almost like being enchanted by a siren's song.
"Think of me, think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me once in a while -
please promise me you'll try.
When you find that, once again, you long
to take your heart back and be free -
if you ever find a moment,
spare a thought for me…"
The orchestra grew louder and a swift gust of wind blew in wrapping around the woman transforming her black teacher's robes into a shimmering violet ball gown.
"We never said our love was evergreen,
or as unchanging as the sea -
but if you can still remember
stop and think of me . . .
Think of all the things
we've shared and seen -
don't think about the way things
might have been . . .
Think of me, think of me waking,
silent and resigned.
Imagine me, trying too hard
to put you from my mind.
Recall those days
look back on all those times,
think of the things we'll never do -
there will never be a day,
when I won't think of you."
The orchestra a medley all on its own for a while until she sang again.
"Flowers fades,
The fruits of summer fade,
They have their seasons, so do we
but please promise me, that sometimes
you will think – ah ah –"
She went on to sing a splendid arpeggio of 'ahs' high and low only to finish with the most high and beautiful,
"ah-AAAAH-OF MEEE!"
The room burst into huge applause and cheers, even the Weasley twins were so kind as to give her a few whistles. She curtsied gracefully and her eccentric gown transformed back into the plain, black teacher's robes. She took her seat again between Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. Albus took a stand then, beaming delightfully at the students.
"Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"
A huge feast appeared before them all at their tables. The first years eyes grew so large with glee and everyone started feasting. Eledhwen turned her attention to a conversation with Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall as she cut through a slice of chicken breast.
"So I'm sure you two are quite delighted at the result of things, hm?" she said smiling.
"Well his father and mother were both Gryffindors. I am not surprised at all," said Professor McGonagall.
"Indeed…although you know very well that Slytherin would have been just as suitable for him. You've seen wickedness and greatness come from both houses have you not?" Dumbledore said, clearly hinting that he knew something. She just looked down at her plate.
"Yes…I suppose I have…" A wry grin poked at the corners of her cheeks. She turned her attention over to Professor Snape then and noticed he was glaring at someone while Professor Quirrell rattled on to him. She looked in the direction of his gaze and saw Harry cringing a little and lightly touching his scar. She turned back to Snape and called to him, "Professor Snape!" He turned his head and noticed her giving him a stern look. He coughed a bit and went over to her.
"Yes Miss Eledhwen, what is it?"
"Might I speak to you outside for a moment?"
"Of course…" He sneered.
"If you'll excuse us," she said standing up.
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall let them go and starting conversing amongst each other. The two of them quickly went out behind closed doors. They took the stairs down to the Slytherin Common Room. Eledhwen spoke quickly in a bit of Parseltongue and the walls opened allowing them passage. The walls took a moment to close behind them. She turned swiftly facing Snape.
"Was that him? What is he up to? Could it be? I get awful feelings when I am around him...don't you?"
"Yes…" he said, "He is very suspicious that one. I can definitely sense an evil presence."
"We'll have to keep our eyes on him. I am positive he is after the Sorcerer's Stone…"
"For…?"
"The Elixir of Life. Voldemort never had any interest in worldly materials, only for power and eternal life."
"This certainly explains his interest in you…" Snape said prying a little.
She met his gaze, "I saw the way you were looking at Harry Potter. Don't you think for one minute I won't have my eye on you too young man. That boy will not pay for the crimes of his father or whatever nonsense you have trilling around inside that warped mind of yours."
He was taken aback by her ferocity. She turned that conversation around faster than a bludger could blind side a wizard. It brought him straight back to his younger years when he was a student at Hogwarts. Everyone had always held Miss Eledhwen in high regard and had the utmost respect for her, but that also came from her kind nature and her ability to treat the students like adults. She did however have her moments. She had the ability to flip her personality almost instantly from a kind and sweet-hearted woman to a vicious and piercing viper. It always caught everyone off guard since she rarely lost her temper. He had only seen her like this three times in his whole life as well. Once before when his arch-enemy James Potter received a tongue lashing from her for one of his pranks gone terribly awry on Severus. He found great pleasure watching his despised enemy shrink miserably before her malicious onslaught of the most furious and disgusted speech she ever gave. The second time was when she found out about him outing the Potter's to the Dark Lord Voldemort and that lashing was far worse than any other had received from her in decades. The third time was just now. But this was too much for Severus - her, this girl, who looked to be about twenty-five, twenty seven at most, calling him a 'young man'? It was almost outrageous.
"I don't know what you mean my Lady," he retorted, playing dumb and feeling like a foolish student again.
"Of course you don't. Well regardless we need to keep a close watch on Quirrell. I know he's up to something. Every time he gets near me my skin crawls…"
"Are you sure it's not because of the way he smells?"
She started laughing, "Hmm, that might be it."
The walls behind opened suddenly and the Slytherin house students walked in. Slytherin's prefect Robert Theodoric appeared first and saw the professors looking a bit surprised.
"Umm, what can I do for you Professors?" he said very confused, "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, everything is just…perfect Mr. Theodoric. Miss Eledhwen and I were just inspecting a possible leak here in the Slytherin Common Room. All is well though. Carry on."
"Oh, well, alright then. First years please follow me, mind the Professors."
Professor Snape and Enchantress Eledhwen stepped through the crowd and quickly made their way out.
"Quick thinking Severus. Sure you're not really a Ravenclaw?"
"Ravenclaw may have all the wit, but Slytherin has the cunning."
She grinned to herself and headed towards the upper staircase, "Naracion. Le hannon ar' 'quel undome." (Severus. Thank you and good night.)
She smiled warmly at him and scarlet began to fill his pale cheeks. He coughed.
"Ah-hem…yes, goodnight then," he scuttled off to his study hiding his flushed face.