En Edhelen Min

Alice Longbottom rasped a cough from her throat as she sat up slowly, blinking blearily in the bright hospital wing. She gratuitously drank down the sweet honey water offered to her before clearing her throat and really opening her eyes for the first time in over a decade. The figure in front of her had long pointed ears, long auburn hair and strong, beautiful features. They wore mint green robes with a forest green trim and in their hand was the glass of water she had just drank from. The figure offered her an encouraging smile before they sat down beside her on the bed.

"Welcome back, Alice. My name is Maberin." He introduced himself. "I have been tending to you for the last three days and, might I say, both you and your husband have shown tremendous improvement under my care."

She smiled, finding his voice soothing and peaceful. She sighed and laid back against the pillow, breathing in the smell of fresh air and flowers. Peering around, she realised she was back in Hogwarts, which brought another smile to her face.

"Where are Frank and Neville?" She asked.

"Frank is in the next bed and Neville is currently in a herbology lesson. He will receive a summons at the end. He knows you are here and has only left your side to attend to his schooling. He will be most excited that you are awake." Maberin said, still using soothing tones.

"And Augusta?" She inquired.

"Is attending to family matters but will also be joining us shortly, I believe." Maberin smiled. "Are you hungry or in pain?"

Alice stopped to think for a moment before she shook her head. "I have been asleep for a long time, haven't I?"

Maberin nodded before clasping her hand gently in his own, rubbing small circles into it with his thumb. "Neville is currently fifteen years old. He was sorted into gryffindor, excels beyond all others in herbology and is an exceptionally loyal, brave and heart-warming young man. You will be very proud of him."

Alice smiled back before sitting up again, looking a bit surprised at the long lock of dark hair that fell forward over her shoulder and came to rest on the bed covers.

"Goodness." She muttered. "My hair was so short when I last saw it."

Maberin laughed lightly and produced a small red ribbon. "Shall I tie it back for you?"

Alice nodded before leaning forward to give the elf access to the rest of her hair. His ministrations as he gently brought her hair together were sending tingles over her neck and face, causing her to shiver lightly.

"Is it alright to remember?" She asked when he was done with the task. "Because I do remember, you know. I remember Bellatrix, her husband Rodolphus and his brother Rabastan. I remember what they did to us. They cursed my Nev, you know. Rabastan did it."

"They cannot hurt him, Alice." Maberin said softly. "Nor can they hurt you."

"What is happening with the war? Is it still going on?"

Maberin nodded ruefully. "I am afraid that Voldemort has returned and he has broken many captured death eaters out of the prison. But fear not, Alice, you are safe here."

"I will feel better when Frank and I are on our feet."

"Soon," Maberin soothed, "I will keep you both here until the end of the week and then Sirius has offered to help you reacquaint yourselves with your magic. I am sure your son would also like to attend."

A noise from the entry way disturbed them as Harry and Neville made their way into the hospital wing. Maberin moved away from his patient to allow her and her son to reunite in private whilst he made his way over to his own son and drew him into a strong embrace.

"Have you been to see your Adar?" Maberin asked, having decided that speaking elvish in Britain was rude to the British.

"Not yet." Harry answered. "I'm having lunch with Thalion first."

"Ah." Maberin said knowingly. "And what is he treating you to?"

"A picnic on my island." Harry smiled. "I haven't the heart to tell him that Draco and I did that the week before. It's odd; Draco seems to be a few steps ahead in this."

"Perhaps Thalion was never prepared to have competition." Maberin shrugged.

"Will Neville's father wake up soon?" Harry asked, keen to change the subject.

"Tomorrow, I expect. And I hear Madame Pomfrey will be returning the day after." Maberin smiled. "She surprised her healers when she came out of her comatose state by diagnosing and treating herself correctly. Her fast return to work and her pragmatism seems to be helping her to make a speedy recovery."

Harry smiled broadly. "I am glad, she is a good woman, if a bit overbearing. Will you still work here as a healer?"

"Oh, I expect so." Maberin said good naturedly. "We wouldn't want to put Poppy under too much stress so soon. Now, hop onto the bed, I want to run a few routine checks on you, okay?"

Harry obligingly kicked his shoes off and lay down on the hospital cot. He watched with no small amount of interest as his Ada began a series of physical and magical tests on his body and soul. Harry dutifully relayed the information of how he felt during each test and what effect the magics seemed to be having upon him.

"I am pleased to inform you that you have regressed to the first stage of grief which, as you know, is characterised by a mostly-listless feeling and broken up by irrational moments of extreme emotion. This is a precarious time, you could relapse any moment, so I want you to surround yourself with positive things and positive people and blot out the negative."

"I've noticed I'm definitely not grey anymore." Harry chirped, happily. "May I stop taking the calming draughts before I sleep? They make me feel groggy in the morning."

"You may, but you must remember that they can help you sleep and a healthy sleeping pattern and diet is paramount to your recovery. If you begin to suffer from insomnia, do not hesitate to take the draught."

Harry nodded. "Are you and the others remaining in the cottage or will anyone move to the castle?" He asked.

"Your Adar and I are moving into the castle so that I am on hand to tend the students and staff should there be an emergency. My healers are also moving into the castle, one for each house. The other elves, however, are remaining in the cottage."

"Then I will stay in the castle too." Harry declared, feeling a small spark of irritation at being driven from his retreat. "Do you know if Meglivorn will consent to pick up my training again?"

Maberin sighed. "Not with Bronadui so close. And, unfortunately, Thalion seems content to be stealing all of Meglivorn's time for training."

Harry huffed in annoyance and pushed his hair back behind his ears, which he now wore proudly and without a glamour. The news of his elvish heritage had spread quickly throughout the school but, thanks to some clever spell work by Draco, a new ward had been set in place which disallowed the students and staff to report personal details about a student to anyone outside the faculty and student body.

"Very well." He said finally. "I'm going to meet Thalion, Ada, I'll see you later."

"Visit me tonight before you retire." Maberin instructed. "Bronadui and I are staying in the room opposite Severus'."

Harry nodded and hastily left the hospital wing before heading outside. He waved in greeting at Hagrid and yelped as hands came over his eyes from behind him.

"Guess who?"

"Thalion." Harry grinned. "Have you been getting the food for our picnic?"

Thalion nodded and gestured at the basket by his feet. He picked it up with one hand and clasped Harry's hand with his other. He pecked Harry on the cheek lightly and started a brisk walk towards the boat on the lake.

"I thought we might go riding later." Thalion said. "I've a horse called Celeg whom I think would suit you well."

Harry squeezed Thalion's hand as his smile grew broader. "Is he one of Tolog's brood?"

Thalion nodded as he helped Harry into the boat. He set the basket down on the floor of the boat and kicked off from the shore. He expertly manoeuvred the boat to the other shore where he tied it up and helped Harry back out. He smiled as Harry picked a spot on the island which afforded an excellent view of the Hogwarts grounds and the Scottish countryside before he sat down to join him.

"I snuck some wine from Feredir's private stores before we left Toldolennor." Thalion grinned cheekily as he produced a bottle and two glasses.

"My parents will recognise the drunkenness in me immediately and I shall be in trouble." Harry scowled. "So, unfortunately, I will have to decline."

"I went to a lot of trouble to get this." Thalion said sternly as he poured the sweet liquid into the two glasses.

"To steal it, you mean." Harry corrected him dryly. "Thalion, no, I don't want to drink it."

Thalion sighed and flashed Harry a slightly strained smile before he lifted his own glass to his lips and took a long sip. His eyes, which were closed in delight at the taste, opened a fraction to see Harry scrutinising him with an expression on his face somewhere between morbid fascination and horror. He set the empty glass down as he finished it and flashed Harry a grin.

"See, nothing to worry about."

Harry chuckled and shook his head. "I will content myself with the strawberries, I think."

Thalion lifted a strawberry from one of the plates and dipped it in the wine before bringing it to Harry's lips. "Just a taste."

Harry resolutely kept his lips closed and shook his head.

Thalion sighed again before he devoured the strawberry, savouring the taste. "I don't know why you're so worried."

"I don't know why you're not." Harry countered. "I also don't know how you can't consider Feredir's household who, if Feredir discovers something missing from his wine cellar, will take the blame for your thievery."

"I will replace the bottle, Harthad." Thalion smiled. "But please indulge me by tasting the fruit of my efforts."

"Are you the imp upon my left shoulder, Thalion?" Harry laughed. "I will not drink the wine and I will not eat something doused in the wine."

"That is good to hear." A voice from behind them said.

Thalion froze at the voice and the look of abject terror dawning on Harry's face. He sat up straighter and turned around to face his father, Bronadui and Feredir standing together looking none too pleased.

"Good afternoon." Thalion said, grinning, causing Harry to squeak in indignation at his bravado. "Would you like to join us?"

The three older elves sat around the picnic basket and began to pick at the food and drink the wine. Their presence, however, caused an oppressive weight to push down on the two young elves who were well aware that their elders were most decidedly not happy with them.

Harry bit his lip and folded his hands in his lap, staring down at them whilst a myriad of emotions played across his face. He was angry at Thalion for getting him into trouble, he felt guilty for upsetting Bronadui and he was terrified that the three older elves would turn their wrath upon he and Thalion. Not wishing to anger them any further, he stayed silent, allowed his posture to slump and kept his head down, baring a sliver of skin on his neck submissively.

Bronadui surveyed his child carefully, feeling a pang of guilt at Harry's contrite posture. He collected several fruits and a sandwich onto a plate and pushed it onto Harry's lap, chuckling slightly as the youngest elf almost jumped out of his skin before scrabbling to stop the plate from falling.

"Eat." Bronadui commanded. "You are not in trouble."

Harry turned and smiled at Bronadui before leaning against him and picking at the food. "Did you hear that Alice Longbottom woke up?"

"Did she?" Alagos asked, "That is good news. You might get your mate back tonight, Bronadui."

Bronadui smirked and ruffled Harthad's hair at the revolted look on his face. "I do hope so." He said.

"Harry, do you want to head back to the castle now?" Thalion asked quietly whilst the other dominants were talking.

"You will not be going anywhere." Alagos growled, glaring at his son. "You will answer to Feredir for stealing from him."

"Harthad, you will return to the castle."

Harry nodded and stood. He shot Thalion an apologetic smile before almost running down to the shore into the boat. He didn't look back as he reached the other shore and sprinted up into the castle, bumping into Draco as he rounded a sharp bend.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Harry apologised as he stepped forward to check Draco was alright.

Draco laughed and embraced Harry. "It's not a problem, Harry. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Harry shrugged honestly and said, "I don't really know. What are you up to?"

"I'm heading over to the owlery to send a letter off to the veela council."

"Is it about your father?" Harry asked, lowering his voice to a whisper. He gave a sad smile at Draco's nod and wound his arm in the veela's. "I'll come with you."


Voldemort sat atop an obsidian throne in his hollowed out manor and sneered derisively at his followers. His most loyal knelt closest to him, their masks made of silver rather than white. He summoned one of them forth and stroked the cheek of their mask before gripping their left arm tightly and pressing his pale wand to his mark.

"We march against Hogwarts tonight." He addressed his inner clique ominously. "You will gather our entire armies and apparate to the ward borders of the forbidden forest and from there we will advance."

"And our children, my lord?" One death eater asked.

"Will join us and fight the light wizards from the inside out or they will die." Voldemort snarled.

Lucius nodded, curling his lips into a sneer. "Rest assured, my lord, that Draco will deliver."


Bronadui sat up in bed with a start, his heightened senses and elvish gifts detecting a sense of wrongness in the air. He glanced at his mate, sleeping peacefully and unperturbed, before he got out of bed and reached for his long sword and armour.

When he reached the hall he was greeted by Sirius who also seemed troubled and had emerged without a sense of purpose.

"Something's wrong." Sirius stated in a harsh whisper. "I can smell it."

Bronadui nodded. "Wake your mate and alert the headmaster. We must shut down the school and prepare."

"Prepare for what?"

"I don't know yet."

Bronadui turned swiftly on his heel and jogged to the entrance of the castle, drawing his weapons and practising a few warm up movements. As he reached the courtyard he was glad to see Alagos, Meglivorn, Feredir and the other elves all awake and ready. He approached the dominants who stood with their weapons drawn, staring determinedly into the distance.

"The submissives aren't quite awake yet." Feredir commented.

"I will never understand why they don't feel the danger as we do." Bronadui answered. "I let Maberin sleep."

"Perhaps there are physical differences to us after all? Perhaps we had forgotten; it has been long since we were faced with adversity." Alagos said before turning to the congregation of submissive elves who blinked blearily with sleep and confusion. "Go into the castle and wake the healers, tell them they must prepare for casualties. Ensure that you are deep within the castle and safe within secret rooms. You may cast spells to benefit the safety of the student body, faculty and yourselves, but you will leave the fighting to those trained in such matters."

"You will allow no harm to come to Harthad." Bronadui ordered. "Leave us."

As a portion of the elves entered the castle and began to walk at speed in different directions, a number of the adult wizards came out, followed by their squib caretaker.

"We are about to come under attack by a force wielding death magic and the dark arts." Bronadui explained. "They are hidden within the forests they have not and will not take to the skies or the waters; these are our advantages."

"And how will we be exploiting them?" Remus asked.

"You have called your society's armed forces, yes?" Meglivorn checked. "They will fight in the skies on your flying instruments. Both Feredir and I will support you school staff on the ground and the other elves, including Bronadui and Alagos, will be creating a miniature fleet to assault the attackers from the lake."

"What can you tell us about our adversary?" Bronadui asked.

"He is powerful." Albus answered. "He will not fight fair; he will try to break down his adversary mentally before he destroys them physically. He created several horcruxes, all of which I have destroyed, save one. He can only be killed by-"

"Enough." Feredir snapped. "Save your speech. We will not be endangering Harthad."

"Bronadui!" The staff and elves turned to see Maberin sprinting up toward the courtyard wearing healers' robes with a healers' satchel slung over his shoulder, followed by Draco Malfoy. "How could you let me sleep during a time like this?"

Bronadui caught his mate in his arms and pressed a kiss to his lips, silencing his frantic mate and establishing dominance over him. "I would have preferred if you had stayed within the hospital wing, mel'amin."

"Poppy has it covered." Maberin waved. "And there is no way I was going to let any of you go to war without a healer nearby. You need me and I won't hear anything otherwise. You have also almost gone into battle without contacting potential allies, you fool."

Draco chuckled slightly, drawing attention to himself. "Save your aurors for the ground," He said, "We will take to the skies."

The clutter of elves and humans looked up into the cloudless sky to see bird-like creatures circling overhead, having watched and heard everything and remained undetected. They turned back to Draco who had closed his eyes and begun to change, growing feathered wings and vicious claws. His eyes turned to white and a potentially fatal fire lit and burned along his feathers as he took to the air to join his uncle and their clan.

"Tonight, Lucius Malfoy will answer for his crimes." Maberin explained. "I imagine there are many amongst Lucius' allies who have much to answer for and this is as much their war as it is yours."

"Very well." Bronadui conceded. "Meglivorn and Feredir will still remain on the ground to co-ordinate the ground attacks and defences. When your forces arrive, Dumbledore, close down the castle and ensure it is impenetrable."

"Oh, and Headmaster, Harthad is no longer a horcrux. He exorcised himself many years ago when he first came to Toldolennor." Maberin said, smiling harshly. "You had no right to take him from his home."

Albus bowed his head before turning to his faculty and making the necessary arrangements. Behind him, Bronadui and all the elves, save three, began to spring down to the viaduct to prepare for their own assault and the veela up above circled in violent anticipation.


Voldemort strode forth, smiling cruelly as he lingered in the eaves of the forest. He cackled quietly, feeling proud of himself when his followers laughed with him at the feeble collection of staff and aurors standing against them.

"So, they are warned, then." He mused. "Bellatrix!"

"My lord?"

"When Hogwarts is taken, smoke out the traitor and make an example of them. No one betrays Lord Voldemort."

The dark witch bowed low, vowing, "It's head shall rest atop a spike my lord, next to that of Severus Snape's."

"Lucius, have you contacted Draco?" Voldemort asked, purring over Draco's name.

"My owl was repelled by the wards, my lord, and my patronus engulfed in flames. I have been thus far unable to reach him another way." Lucius answered. "The traitor has a long arm, my lord."

"So it would seem." Voldemort hissed.

"Do not concern yourself, dark lord; Draco has been well prepared for your rise to greatness."


Harry yanked his night robes over his head and threw them unceremoniously to the floor before fighting his way into his practice battle robes. He pulled the light chain mail vest over his leather top and stuffed his left leg knee deep into his leggings before losing his balance and toppling over backwards and shimmying his way into the rest of the garment. He then sprung up again, jumping in place a few times to get his blood pumping, before grasping his leather tunic and his weapons, attaching them to various parts of himself as he ran out of the boys' dorms and down into the gryffindor common room.

"Harry!"

Harry looked up as he bolted down the stairs and gave a nervous smile to Hermione as he stopped in front of her.

"Evening." He greeted her quietly.

"You are not going out there!" She hissed

"There are elves approaching who will attempt to stop me. They're going to try and block me inside the castle. Is there another way out?" Harry asked, ignoring his bushy haired friend.

"I can get you on the ground." Ginny Weasley announced as she emerged from the shadows. "Do you know what you'll do when you get down there?"

"Not yet." Harry admitted. "I'll figure it out when I go down."

Ginny nodded. "Wait here."

When she returned she had a broomstick slung over her shoulder and her wand in her hand. She cast a spell at the window in the common room, causing it to open and allowing a blustery wind to blow in. She mounted her broom, leaving enough room for Harry to ride double behind her. When she felt his arms wrap tightly about her, she kicked off and zipped out of the window, diving down towards the ground, drawing up before levelling off.

"Where to?" She yelled over her shoulder.

"The stables!" Harry yelled back.

Harry leaped off the broom as they reached the stables and threw open the doors yelling "Celeg! Celeg, come away from your hay!"

A shrill whinny sounded from within the dark stables and the sounds of hooves kicking open a door before a young pale horse trotted forth into Harry's vision. The horse butted his nose against Harry's hand in greeting and snorted happily at the sight of the weapons and armour Harry bore.

"Yes, my friend, we are heading to what you are bred for." He murmured as he fussed the horse's neck.

"I thought the elves had vowed to speak only English?" Ginny teased as she prepared to take off. "I'm heading back to the dorm; I'll buy you as much time as I can. Good luck."

Harry smiled at her in thanks before mounting the horse's bare back, gripping Celeg with his thighs and instructing the horse to ride toward the heated battle. As they approached, his nose began to sting with the foul scent of death and fire and the smoke hurt his eyes. He pulled Celeg to a stop and listened carefully, trying to discern what was happening by the sound alone.

He could hear his Ada barking orders to some of the staff members as he tended to the wounded, he could hear Severus snarling spell after spell, each cast was usually met by the sound of screaming from the opposition. Sirius was there too, growling, barking and biting at his enemies as he became something of a cavalry to the team on the ground. Up ahead Harry could hear the sounds of beating wings and could feel the heat bearing down upon the battleground as the veela set fires in their enemies flesh.

"Harthad! Cenin uduleg." Maberin said, smiling faintly at his child as Harthad approached him.

"Man sad adar?" Harthad asked.

"Adel le."

Harry spun round and shot Bronadui a terrified smile. "Gen suilon, adar."

"Man le si an? " Bronadui growled, "Anno nin i vagol!"

"Hebin i vagol anim." Harry answered quietly, adding, "Beriathon in edain a Hogwarts."

"He has prepared for this, mel'amin." Maberin interjected.

"This is war, Maberin! This is not a chance for Harthad to play at dressing up!" Bronadui snarled. "Back to the castle with you, Tithenlas, the darkness approaches!"

Harry got back upon his horse and stared over Bronadui's shoulder into the red eyes of the sallow-skinned, snake-like man robed in darkness approaching from the eaves of the forest. He noted that the man was spattered with blood and he held an ashen wand.

"Voldemort." Harry greeted him.

Voldemort gave a short bow, his movements like liquid silver. "Potter. Having a domestic on the battlefield? How quaint."

Harry shrugged indifferently before preparing himself, facing Voldemort head on. "I am not Potter. I am Harthad. I have given myself to the people of Britain-"

"You would fight for Dumbledore?" Voldemort spat angrily. "I know your tale, boy. This is not your war!"

Harry nodded. "Did I say it was? I am Harthad and have given myself to the people of Britain." He repeated. "I do not fight for any one person. In fact, I do not fight."

"You are prepared for war." Voldemort remarked.

"This is how they want to see me." Harry agreed.

Bronadui smirked and drew his sword. "Save your breath, my child, he does not understand. He lost what you represent long ago, and he is now about to lose all that he has left."

Harry nodded and watched as the elves and the remaining staff and aurors emerged from the forest and surrounded Voldemort. He noted that Sirius, Remus and Severus were none the worse for wear, the headmaster and his head of house too seemed to have held their own well. The others, however, had not fared well. Hagrid had a long gash spanning the width of his chest, the charms professor had a seeping wound on his thigh, the head of hufflepuff house and the astronomy professor were both littered with cuts, bruises and painful looking boils and the rest of the staff were nowhere to be seen.

Harry then turned his attention to the skies where several veela still circled overhead. Many had left the battle early after the fall of Lucius Malfoy but some had remained in support of Draco and out of a desire to see Voldemort dead. Draco himself appeared to be fine, Harry could see as he landed, save his hands and arms which were burned red raw from the heat of his own magic.

Voldemort tossed back his head and cackled. "Do any of you truly believe you can defeat the great lord Voldemort?"

Draco came to land in the clearing beside Thalion, casting a healing spell on a profusely bleeding gash on his face. Thalion had been one of the unfortunate ones to be on a boat obliterated by Bellatrix Lestrange before the water magics of the elves had drowned her. Her corpse now lay silent on the banks of the black lake, her clothes swollen with the water and her eyes staring upwards into the stars.

"It's over, Tom." Albus said. "Your armies are decimated, your horcruxes destroyed, your resources removed... What have you left to fight for?"

"His life." Bronadui snarled. "That is all it has ever been about."

"It is over, Voldemort." Feredir said. "You can consider your life officially ended."

"Death shall never take me!" Voldemort yelled desperately. "Even if he enters here, riding his pale horse."

Harry tilted his head in confusion before laughing lightly. "I am not Death, Voldemort; I am Hope."


AN: I think I have come to the conclusion that only two chapters remain before this story is over. Or one chapter and an epilogue, rather. I will not be writing a sequel. Reviews are appreciated, as always. Translations:

Celeg – swift/agile

Tolog – stalwart

Cenin uduleg – I see that you came

Man sad adar? – where is father?

Adel le – behind you

Gen suilon, adar – I greet you, father

Man le si an? – what are you here for?

Anno nin i vagol – give me the sword

Hebin i vagol anim – I keep the sword for myself

Beriathon in edain a Hogwarts – I shall defend the people and Hogwarts

Harthad - Hope