"Bloody hell!" said Ron Weasley as the unexpected steam engine train pulled up right out side the Hogwarts. "I knew Dumbledore said we were going to have a surprise, but, what's this?"
"I know," said Harry Potter, just as stunned as Ron was.
"It's the Woodland Realm folk," said Hermione Granger, matter-of-factly. "I overheard Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall speaking about it last night."
"What's the Woodland Realm?" asked Ron, glancing at Hermione.
"I... I don't really know." she replied truthfully. Ron snorted.
"Whatever Ronald!" Hermione implored. Harry laughed as his two friends, once again, carried out their usual petty arguments.
The three students stood side by side at the school entrance. Suddenly, the floods of Elves began to leak out of the train, followed by the dwarves, then Bilbo, then Gandalf.
"Whoa!" the students gasped at the same time. They watched as the Woodland Realm was lead up to the entrance. Thranduil and Gandalf walked to the front of the pack with Hagrid, where Professor Mcgonagall and Dumbledore joined them.
"Students, please let us welcome... the Woodland Realm Folk!" began Dumbledore.
"See, I told you!" Hermione whispered to Ron, Followed by a smug look.
"They will be joining us for the day. So please, don't hesitate to ask them question and make friends. They came a long way to visit us."
"Be on your best behavior," added Professor McGonagall. "like Dumbledore said, they came a long way to see you. Also, lessons are cancelled for the day." this made the students cheer.
"Thank you," Gandalf said to Dumbledore after the pack of elves went up to the students and greeted themselves.
"Oh, it was my pleasure." Dumbledore said. The pair started walking to the students.
"He looks like Dumbledore." said Harry obliviously.
"That's what I thought." said Hermione as Ron nodded. They watched as the golden armored Elves shake the hands of their friends and classmates, when three turned and approached them.
They shook the hands of the students, each of them taking one's hand, then swapping. Harry made an odd eye contact with an elf.
After the Elves left, Ron breathed heavily and obviously. "Wow. This is unusual."
"Is it?" Harry questioned. Of all the things that happened on a day-to-day basis at Hogwarts, this seemed pretty normal. He spotted Bilbo next to Gandalf. "He looks the most like the elves we know."
"Yeah." Ron said. "Look, there's more!" he pointed to the dwarves, who stood in the middle of the crowd, not really knowing where to put themselves. But Hermione was looking at someone else.
"Oh, look at her!" said Herione, spotting Tauriel. She stared at the she-elf in amazement, watched as she moved around delicately, holding her bow. She was walking with Legolas, who also held his bow. The posture of these elves is amazing, Hermione thought. Harry and Ron turned to where Hermione was looking.
"I'm going to say hello." said Ron. He walked over to Tauriel and took her hand, shaking it awkwardly. "Hi, I'm Ron."
"Hello, Ron." Tauriel said plainly. She was startled by his approach. Then Ron turned to Legolas, and shook his hand. Legolas looked at him in confusion, then looked at Tauriel.
"Um, you guys look... cool." Ron continued. He quickly stepped away and ran back to his friends. Tauriel laughed and Legolas managed a smile.
When Ron got back, Hermione had gone. "Where's Hermione?" asked Ron, he was upset she wasn't watching him when he introduced himself to those elves.
"She's over there," Harry said, pointing to Thranduil.
The King was stood at the top of the stairs to Hogwarts, and Hermione was a few stairs down, talking to him.
"That girl..." said Ron as he wandered over to her, followed by Harry. Thranduil looked down at the approaching students.
"Oh, these are my friends." Hermione said, trying to sound as polite as she could. Thranduil nodded. "They're generally nice people, It's Ron that can be a bit..."
"Excuse me." Ron interrupted. "I'm always nice."
"Everyone come inside." Dumbledore was saying loudly, coming into view and stepping onto the stairs by Thranduil. Everyone watched him, and followed him inside.
As they walked into the school, Harry spotted his friends, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, followed by a few others. They were walking towards him, when Draco Malfoy stepped in.