Disclaimer: I own only the obvious, the rest belongs to JK Rowling.
Authors Notes: Here's chapter seven. Hope you like and please review.
-Chapter Seven-
Neville was walking along the edge of the Forbidden Forest. There was something about the place that drew him to it. Ever since the time in his first year when he'd have to serve detention with Harry, Ron and Malfoy, he had been drawn to the woods. It was the same feeling he got in Professor Sprouts classes. It was as though the plants themselves were calling him home.
Suddenly the plants began to stretch after him, grabbing hold of his robes, shoes and legs. Neville just watched in horror, then he got angry. He glared at the plants and they began to retreat back into the forest, leaving him there on the ground gasping for air. However, before he could get up the plants came back. This time they weaved themselves together and rose into the air. Suddenly the plants turned into a woman. She had long, black hair and brown eyes. Her robe was a deep forest-green, with golden leaf-patterns all over. She smiled at him, and stretched out her hand for him to take it. Neville just watched in fascination and didn't move.
"Don't worry Neville." The woman said. Her voice sounded like mild summer- wind blowing through a peaceful forest. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"W-who are you?" Neville asked, still not taking her hand.
"My name is Lily Joyleaf," she replied. "I'm an Earth Elemental, just like you. And I'm here to teach you to control your powers."
"Back up there, lets start from the top." Neville said. "Earth Elemental? Me? Teach?"
The woman laughed and sat down on the ground, petting the grass with long, thin, elegant fingers as though it was a pet, like a dog, an owl or something like that.
"You know what an Earth Elemental is?" when he nodded, she smiled again. "Well, you are one. And I am one. There's very few of us left in the world. I know about three other Earth Elementals. Now, if you don't train your power, in the end it will kill you. That's what I'm here for. To train you, either you want it or not. We can not have an untrained Elemental running around." Here she looked sternly at him. "And also if you don't train them, you will, in the end, go mad."
"Why would I go mad?" Neville asked. "That is if I am an Earth Elemental?" he added quickly.
"You feel the call of the plants, don't you? It's the feeling of peace you get when you come close to the forest." Lily explained patiently. "In the end this feeling will get so strong and demanding that you would have no choice but to listen to it. You would loose your mind, run into the forest and become a tree or a flower. In the end your would die when winter comes."
Neville was shocked. He had had no idea that he was an Elemental, he also hadn't known that it came with a price as high as this. He looked at the woman sitting calmly in front of him. She was currently weaving two plants together, making a wonderful Celtic cross with an intricate pattern. The whole thing was glowing slightly green, but the light only added to the mystery around the cross. Neville was transfixed. He stretched out a hand to touch the floating cross, but before he could get that far it undid itself and melted into the ground, turning into two straws of grass. Neville looked up at Lily, and found her studying him carefully.
"Will you teach me?" he asked. "I don't want to loose my mind." Neville shuddered at the memory of his parents.
"Of course I will dear," Lily replied, smiling. "Lets meet here every night from now on, and I'll teach you to control your powers. Don't worry, you don't have to go through any kind of tests or anything, that is except if you don't want to try for the Earth Master position."
"Earth Master?"
"He is the Earth Elemental that keeps tracks of us others. No one knows who he is, though he knows every one of us. And no one has met him face to face, though we get our orders from him." Lily saw the confused expression on Neville's face, and continued. "He tells us if we are going to get directly involved in the fight against Voldemort, or if we should work from the sidelines and send our plants into his castle to spy on him. Yes, Neville, we can talk to our element. But that will come later in your training."
"Cool." Was all the Gryffindor boy could come up with. "So, when do we start?"
"Meet me here tomorrow night, and I'll teach you the basics." Lily got up and helped Neville up too. "Now, I believe that it's time for dinner?"
"Oh, you're right!" Neville began to run, but when he turned back to say 'goodbye', Lily was gone. 'Oh, well, I'll thank her tomorrow.' He thought to himself and continued to the main doors of Hogwarts.
Lily watched the boy walk into the school, and let go of the breath she had no idea that she had been holding. Suddenly her features began to change. She grew smaller, her black hair shorter and messy, she got green eyes and glasses. A second later a fifteen year old boy was standing where Lily had been. A little golden ball landed on his shoulder. The boy petted the ball lovingly, then started to walk towards the school.
-------------------------
"Faster Potter! Watch your left side! That's better!" Harry, and the other students, were having the class with the Elf, the dwarf and Madisa. Harry was currently fencing with the Elf, who had let him borrow one of the Elf- made swords he had brought. "Don't let your attention go somewhere else, Potter." Cassar said, looking down on Harry who had ended up on his behind for the third time that class. "Or you'll end up on your back before you could say 'snidget'. And I doubt that your opponent would wait for you to get up again." The Elf may be soft-spoken, calm and polite in the corridors and halls of Hogwarts, but he always had constructive criticism ready in class. "You may be faster and better than the rest of the class, Potter, but you aren't good enough yet. You still have a long way to go before you are ready for a real duel." The Elf stepped backwards, always keeping an eye at Harry. "Get up and lets try again."
'Listen to me this time Harry.' The voice was back, again. Harry had begun to trust it almost as much as his own instincts. 'Don't hold back, use that swing-trick of yours.' The voice suggested.
Harry and Cassar got into the starting positions, and raised their swords. Cassar was the first to attack. This time Harry met him face to face instead of dancing out of the way, something that surprised the Elf. Harry managed to lock their shields together, swung around and had a dagger pointing at the Elf's back in a second. When they parted the Elf was looking at him with respect.
"You've been holding back, haven't you?" Harry just smiled slyly and bowed. "Could you show me that move again? I've never seen anything like it before."
"Sure. When you lock the shields together," Harry demonstrated, "and begin the swing it looks like a retreat, and your opponent will follow. That leaves you to safely stick a dagger into his back like this."
"Smart, very smart." Cassar said. "Is there a countermove?"
"Yep, just don't follow the swing, and stand still." Harry replied. "It works on horse back too."
"It seems that even I still have something to learn."
"You'll learn as long as you know that you'll need it." Harry said. "Now, how about another round?" Harry and Cassar got into the positions, lifted their swords and attacked.
"That was one hell of a move, Harry." Ron said in awe as they met up outside the showers, waiting for Hermione. "You've got to teach me that trick. I've had enough of the Elf beating me every time."
"Me too," Hermione added as she exited the girls showers. "Anyways, we should go to the library and finish the Potion Essay for Snape."
"I finished it last night." Harry replied. "You go ahead. I have something other I need to finish, and it'll take some time." He pushed them in the direction of the library. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
"Alright, if you say so." Ron said. "See you later." He and Hermione left.
Harry shook his head, and went off to the dungeons. For the potion he was going to make he was definitely going to need Snape's help. And that meant that he had to change into Rex Chase again. Harry sighed and set his plan into action.
-------------------------
Severus was in his chambers, in one of those few, blessed peaceful moments without students, reading one of Shakespeare's plays, when he heard a loud crash from the storeroom. He jumped up, swearing to all the gods that this student was definitely in for it bad. One moment alone for a whole month, and then this happens! Whoever it was, was going to loose all their house points, Slytherin or not.
Severus walked in the door to the storeroom, and wasn't surprised to find Harry Potter there, waiting quietly. He was about to say something when Potter began to grow; his features changed, along with his robes. A second later Severus was face to face with Rex Chase again.
"Cursed Polyjuice," the brown-haired man said, rubbing his neck. "Ah, how nice of you to come." He continued turning his jewel-blue eyes on Severus.
"What in heavens name is going on here?" Severus asked.
"I had to be Potter to get into the school, so I got some hairs from the kid. It cost me one whole hour to tire him out in a duel, hit him with the full Body-Bind and then explain what I wanted. Damn he is good. My shoulder's still sore." Chase said. "Oh, yeah, back to the case at hand. I need your help with a potion Snape. The Phoenix Song potion. I believe you know it?"
"Of course I know it, Chase." Severus replied. He closed the door. "I'm not a Potions Master for nothing. Why do you want it?"
"For some spies that are questioned under Veritaserum. That's all you're getting out of me."
"One of the main ingredients in this potion is a phoenix-feather. Where, pray tell, are you going to get hold of that?" Severus asked.
"From Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes." Chase replied. "And I am not going to get it. I have it." He took out a sparkling red feather from one of the hidden pockets in his clothes. "Now, are you going to help me or not?"
"Can't say I have an option," Severus mumbled and took the feather.
"Splendid. I need the potion within the next few days. To send it to me, just give it to Mr Potter, and he'll take care of the rest." Before Severus could reply, Chase was gone with a pop.
'You can't apparate or disapparate inside Hogwarts.' It was the only thought that ran through Severus' head as he stared at the spot where Chase had been.
-------------------------
Well, what do you think? I know, it's short again. Don't bite my head off. I wasn't even sure if I was going to have time to post this.
Thanks to:
Miranda Flairgold, Scarlett-Dragon, Lily Evans, Sev Rickman, AGTB13, aqualaria, Lady Foxfire, Calistal, Ashley, jadeite, Arizosa, clingon87, Pampered Tigeress, libertygrl413 and WeasleyTwinsLover1112.
Authors Notes: Here's chapter seven. Hope you like and please review.
-Chapter Seven-
Neville was walking along the edge of the Forbidden Forest. There was something about the place that drew him to it. Ever since the time in his first year when he'd have to serve detention with Harry, Ron and Malfoy, he had been drawn to the woods. It was the same feeling he got in Professor Sprouts classes. It was as though the plants themselves were calling him home.
Suddenly the plants began to stretch after him, grabbing hold of his robes, shoes and legs. Neville just watched in horror, then he got angry. He glared at the plants and they began to retreat back into the forest, leaving him there on the ground gasping for air. However, before he could get up the plants came back. This time they weaved themselves together and rose into the air. Suddenly the plants turned into a woman. She had long, black hair and brown eyes. Her robe was a deep forest-green, with golden leaf-patterns all over. She smiled at him, and stretched out her hand for him to take it. Neville just watched in fascination and didn't move.
"Don't worry Neville." The woman said. Her voice sounded like mild summer- wind blowing through a peaceful forest. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"W-who are you?" Neville asked, still not taking her hand.
"My name is Lily Joyleaf," she replied. "I'm an Earth Elemental, just like you. And I'm here to teach you to control your powers."
"Back up there, lets start from the top." Neville said. "Earth Elemental? Me? Teach?"
The woman laughed and sat down on the ground, petting the grass with long, thin, elegant fingers as though it was a pet, like a dog, an owl or something like that.
"You know what an Earth Elemental is?" when he nodded, she smiled again. "Well, you are one. And I am one. There's very few of us left in the world. I know about three other Earth Elementals. Now, if you don't train your power, in the end it will kill you. That's what I'm here for. To train you, either you want it or not. We can not have an untrained Elemental running around." Here she looked sternly at him. "And also if you don't train them, you will, in the end, go mad."
"Why would I go mad?" Neville asked. "That is if I am an Earth Elemental?" he added quickly.
"You feel the call of the plants, don't you? It's the feeling of peace you get when you come close to the forest." Lily explained patiently. "In the end this feeling will get so strong and demanding that you would have no choice but to listen to it. You would loose your mind, run into the forest and become a tree or a flower. In the end your would die when winter comes."
Neville was shocked. He had had no idea that he was an Elemental, he also hadn't known that it came with a price as high as this. He looked at the woman sitting calmly in front of him. She was currently weaving two plants together, making a wonderful Celtic cross with an intricate pattern. The whole thing was glowing slightly green, but the light only added to the mystery around the cross. Neville was transfixed. He stretched out a hand to touch the floating cross, but before he could get that far it undid itself and melted into the ground, turning into two straws of grass. Neville looked up at Lily, and found her studying him carefully.
"Will you teach me?" he asked. "I don't want to loose my mind." Neville shuddered at the memory of his parents.
"Of course I will dear," Lily replied, smiling. "Lets meet here every night from now on, and I'll teach you to control your powers. Don't worry, you don't have to go through any kind of tests or anything, that is except if you don't want to try for the Earth Master position."
"Earth Master?"
"He is the Earth Elemental that keeps tracks of us others. No one knows who he is, though he knows every one of us. And no one has met him face to face, though we get our orders from him." Lily saw the confused expression on Neville's face, and continued. "He tells us if we are going to get directly involved in the fight against Voldemort, or if we should work from the sidelines and send our plants into his castle to spy on him. Yes, Neville, we can talk to our element. But that will come later in your training."
"Cool." Was all the Gryffindor boy could come up with. "So, when do we start?"
"Meet me here tomorrow night, and I'll teach you the basics." Lily got up and helped Neville up too. "Now, I believe that it's time for dinner?"
"Oh, you're right!" Neville began to run, but when he turned back to say 'goodbye', Lily was gone. 'Oh, well, I'll thank her tomorrow.' He thought to himself and continued to the main doors of Hogwarts.
Lily watched the boy walk into the school, and let go of the breath she had no idea that she had been holding. Suddenly her features began to change. She grew smaller, her black hair shorter and messy, she got green eyes and glasses. A second later a fifteen year old boy was standing where Lily had been. A little golden ball landed on his shoulder. The boy petted the ball lovingly, then started to walk towards the school.
-------------------------
"Faster Potter! Watch your left side! That's better!" Harry, and the other students, were having the class with the Elf, the dwarf and Madisa. Harry was currently fencing with the Elf, who had let him borrow one of the Elf- made swords he had brought. "Don't let your attention go somewhere else, Potter." Cassar said, looking down on Harry who had ended up on his behind for the third time that class. "Or you'll end up on your back before you could say 'snidget'. And I doubt that your opponent would wait for you to get up again." The Elf may be soft-spoken, calm and polite in the corridors and halls of Hogwarts, but he always had constructive criticism ready in class. "You may be faster and better than the rest of the class, Potter, but you aren't good enough yet. You still have a long way to go before you are ready for a real duel." The Elf stepped backwards, always keeping an eye at Harry. "Get up and lets try again."
'Listen to me this time Harry.' The voice was back, again. Harry had begun to trust it almost as much as his own instincts. 'Don't hold back, use that swing-trick of yours.' The voice suggested.
Harry and Cassar got into the starting positions, and raised their swords. Cassar was the first to attack. This time Harry met him face to face instead of dancing out of the way, something that surprised the Elf. Harry managed to lock their shields together, swung around and had a dagger pointing at the Elf's back in a second. When they parted the Elf was looking at him with respect.
"You've been holding back, haven't you?" Harry just smiled slyly and bowed. "Could you show me that move again? I've never seen anything like it before."
"Sure. When you lock the shields together," Harry demonstrated, "and begin the swing it looks like a retreat, and your opponent will follow. That leaves you to safely stick a dagger into his back like this."
"Smart, very smart." Cassar said. "Is there a countermove?"
"Yep, just don't follow the swing, and stand still." Harry replied. "It works on horse back too."
"It seems that even I still have something to learn."
"You'll learn as long as you know that you'll need it." Harry said. "Now, how about another round?" Harry and Cassar got into the positions, lifted their swords and attacked.
"That was one hell of a move, Harry." Ron said in awe as they met up outside the showers, waiting for Hermione. "You've got to teach me that trick. I've had enough of the Elf beating me every time."
"Me too," Hermione added as she exited the girls showers. "Anyways, we should go to the library and finish the Potion Essay for Snape."
"I finished it last night." Harry replied. "You go ahead. I have something other I need to finish, and it'll take some time." He pushed them in the direction of the library. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
"Alright, if you say so." Ron said. "See you later." He and Hermione left.
Harry shook his head, and went off to the dungeons. For the potion he was going to make he was definitely going to need Snape's help. And that meant that he had to change into Rex Chase again. Harry sighed and set his plan into action.
-------------------------
Severus was in his chambers, in one of those few, blessed peaceful moments without students, reading one of Shakespeare's plays, when he heard a loud crash from the storeroom. He jumped up, swearing to all the gods that this student was definitely in for it bad. One moment alone for a whole month, and then this happens! Whoever it was, was going to loose all their house points, Slytherin or not.
Severus walked in the door to the storeroom, and wasn't surprised to find Harry Potter there, waiting quietly. He was about to say something when Potter began to grow; his features changed, along with his robes. A second later Severus was face to face with Rex Chase again.
"Cursed Polyjuice," the brown-haired man said, rubbing his neck. "Ah, how nice of you to come." He continued turning his jewel-blue eyes on Severus.
"What in heavens name is going on here?" Severus asked.
"I had to be Potter to get into the school, so I got some hairs from the kid. It cost me one whole hour to tire him out in a duel, hit him with the full Body-Bind and then explain what I wanted. Damn he is good. My shoulder's still sore." Chase said. "Oh, yeah, back to the case at hand. I need your help with a potion Snape. The Phoenix Song potion. I believe you know it?"
"Of course I know it, Chase." Severus replied. He closed the door. "I'm not a Potions Master for nothing. Why do you want it?"
"For some spies that are questioned under Veritaserum. That's all you're getting out of me."
"One of the main ingredients in this potion is a phoenix-feather. Where, pray tell, are you going to get hold of that?" Severus asked.
"From Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes." Chase replied. "And I am not going to get it. I have it." He took out a sparkling red feather from one of the hidden pockets in his clothes. "Now, are you going to help me or not?"
"Can't say I have an option," Severus mumbled and took the feather.
"Splendid. I need the potion within the next few days. To send it to me, just give it to Mr Potter, and he'll take care of the rest." Before Severus could reply, Chase was gone with a pop.
'You can't apparate or disapparate inside Hogwarts.' It was the only thought that ran through Severus' head as he stared at the spot where Chase had been.
-------------------------
Well, what do you think? I know, it's short again. Don't bite my head off. I wasn't even sure if I was going to have time to post this.
Thanks to:
Miranda Flairgold, Scarlett-Dragon, Lily Evans, Sev Rickman, AGTB13, aqualaria, Lady Foxfire, Calistal, Ashley, jadeite, Arizosa, clingon87, Pampered Tigeress, libertygrl413 and WeasleyTwinsLover1112.