Ash Tree
Disclaimer: See chapter one. Reviews are welcomed, flames are not.
Chapter 14
Harry, for want of a better word, was extremely bored at Hogwarts. Because of his time Underhill, his classes were now too easy for him. Now being part elf, he no longer needed a wand. If he wanted something, he could magic it up with just a thought.
The hardest part for Harry was keeping his ears under wraps. It would not do for anyone to report back to the Dark Tosser that he was doing wandless magic and now came into a creature inheritance. Or even worse – Dumbledore finding out!
Harry figured once it did, the old crackpot would label him, Harry – a Dark Creature or Potter – the new Dark Lord.
As King Boric would say, "How droll."
In his studies Underhill, he learnt that there were no such things as dark and light magic, as magic was neutral. It was all about Intent, that was why there were Sidhe and Unsidhe – Light and Dark Elves. Intent was everything.
Then there was the fact that he needed to keep Lithôniel and Glenndaugion a secret, as well. If the Ministry found out that High Elves had returned, he wasn't too certain what they would do. He did know that the Unspeakables would be popping out of the woodwork, wanting to examine/experiment on them.
That still didn't solve his problem. What to do? Just was he to do!?
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sitting in Snape's DADA class became a lesson of patience. To think that Dumbledore found someone to take over potions and put Snape in Harry's favorite class. It was worse than when Umbridge was here.
The snarky professor egged him on with sly innuendos and outright slurs. Harry, however, would have none of it.
The one and only time Snape loudly insulted Harry's parents in class, the professor found himself unable to breathe. As he passed out, Harry loosened his grip. Walking over to check on the half-conscious professor, he bent and whispered, "I warned you. Next time will be the last time. And no one can prove it was me."
With bits of wandless magic that no one in class could prove, spells would misfire, as desks and chairs seemed to have minds of their own.
After a week of preforming petty pranks on Snape - and by extension, Malfoy - during the DADA class, Harry decided enough was enough, left and did not return.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Draco Malfoy did not know what to make of this new Potter. The Scar-head just didn't want to play his little power games any more.
Nothing he said or did was making any difference. The only positive thing was the so called 'Golden Trio' seemed to have had a splitting of the ways.
Even though he couldn't get a rise out of the Scar-head, Malfoy was certain that Potter was the one behind all of the pranks in their classes, but he just couldn't prove it.
When did that ever stop him? He knew that his godfather would always back him up. Hmmm. . . He needed to pick his moment to complain.
Draco's thoughts turned to the Weasel, who was spending too much time with that tart, Brown. Disgusting. Shameful!
However, without the Weasel or Scar-head, the Know-It-All was left floundering as she was left alone by her former protectors. Draco needed to give it more thought before he went after her.
The Weaselette was showing her immaturity by shrieking her displeasure that Scar-head wasn't fawning all over her.
Maybe Draco should just sit back and do nothing. No, where was the fun with that?
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Dobby was in heaven. His Master Harry was back, and he was with the High Ones, true High Ones. There was much work to do.
First, he was able to save Winky. She was now looking better and staying in the tent with the High Ones and the fairies. She made sure the tent was well-kept, and served good food to everyone.
Next, Master Harry asked him to keep an eye on the Old Whiskers and nasty potions master and report anything they plan to do.
Kreacher was given the task to find all the stolen items that the sneak thief stole from Master Harry, sir.
The High Ones thanked him and Winky for their services. This was high praise for those such as him and Winky.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Hermione frowned. There was something wrong with her friend Harry. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. He seems to be very distracted. So, she decided to follow him.
Classes were over for the day. Harry didn't seem to want to hang out in the Common Room, and he wasn't in the Library.
Why was he heading into the forest? Everyone knew it was forbidden, after all. So why was he going into the forest this time of the evening?
Suddenly, she lost him. Where did he go? She could smell the lingering smoke and burnt flesh. So this was where the acromantula nest used to be.
"Why are you here, human? Leave!" came the voice behind her.
Turning she found herself staring at the tip of an arrow. "Hmm... I am looking for my friend."
"Leave. You are not welcomed here," ordered the centaur.
"That's alright, Bane," came Harry's voice. "I will take care of this."
"As you wish, Maethorion." The centaur un-nocked his bow and faded back into the shadows.
Hermione frowned. "Harry! Why are you going into the Forbidden Forest? Why did the centaur call you Maythornen? What is going on!?"
"Maethorion," Harry corrected, as he led her away from the clearing and his tent and back out of the Forest towards the castle. "I was given that name this summer. I kinda like it. At least, I can step away from the Boy Who Lived nonsense for a time."
She started to round on him for always disappearing when he held up his hand. "I'll tell you anything you want, as long as you don't tell anyone else, especially Dumbledore."
"Professor Dumbledore," she corrected crossly.
Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you want to know or not? One thing I learned over the summer: Friends do not correct friends by demanding a change in behavior. So, are you my friend or not?"
Hermione huffed and stamped her foot on the mossy ground, ready to give an angry retort, only to stop herself at the stern look his was giving her.
Suddenly, she was reminded of her father. He always gave her that type of look when he was correcting her behavior.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Albus Dumbledore pondered his options, as he sat behind his ornate desk, running a lemon drop around his tongue and across the back of his teeth.
So far this term, Harry had rejected all his attempts to rein him in. Could not the boy see that he, Albus, only had the best intentions? Harry needed to be brought to heel and accept his destiny.
He just needed Harry to accept that Miss Weasley was the prefect wife.
"Everyone could see that the girl would be the prefect wife for him," he mused aloud. "It's for the greater good, after all. Besides, Arthur and Molly are very Light, and perfect for my plans."
He shook his head as he stroked his beard. "By Merlin! To threaten me with Line Theft . . . Ridiculous! Nonsense! I cannot allow Harry to go Dark!"
To be brought up by the short hairs by destroying that marriage contract and threatened to be brought up before the Wizengomot was over the top. Albus didn't need to have his reputation called into question, yet again.
Unnoticed, sitting on Fawkes' perch, were three pairs of sharp, mischievous ears listening to his asinine plans.
Albus did not pay much attention when Fawkes with his new friends flaming out a few minutes later.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
That night, as dinner was being served, Professor McGonagall tapped on her water glass, causing the noise to die down.
Albus stood as he casted a sonorous on himself. "I have decided that we should liven things up a bit. Since the Yule Ball was such a hit a couple of years ago, I am happy to announce a Halloween Masquerade Ball for those fourth year and up. I am certain it will be as big hit as the Yule Ball."
A scraping sound as a student pushed back his chair silenced the growing noise of excitement. Albus looked over at the Gryffindor tables as Harry Potter stood.
"With all due respect, Headmaster," Harry's voice carried throughout the Great Hall. "I must decline to attend this Ball."
"I am afraid, Harry, my boy," Albus informed him, with a concerned frown. "You must. This is a mandatory event. I insist that you attend." After all, it is in your honor, the headmaster thought.
"I refuse to attend a frivolous party held on the night that celebrates the death of my parents . . .You know them? James and Lily Potter? They were cruelly murdered by that Dark Tosser Riddle in front of my crib? You expect me to dance the night away, instead of honoring their sacrifice?"
Harry paused as he turned to face the students and sneered. "I have no problem with the Ball, by any means. The ladies are probably already designing their costumes. Just count me out."
Albus frowned as he had no argument that could sway Harry's mind. He thought he had the best plan for getting Harry and Miss Weasley together. Before he could regain control of the situation, he watched as Harry turned to exit the Hall.
"POTTER!" shouted Severus, beside the Headmaster at the head table. "Fifty points for ruining dinner with your dramatics."
Harry turned and snarled. "Professor, would you dance on the anniversary night your mother was killed by a monster, before your innocent eyes?"
Snape narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.
"No? I thought not. Good evening. I have suddenly lost my appetite."
Professor McGonagall frowned. "The boy is right, you know. He has the right to mourn for his parents." She grimaced – it was something she honestly should have thought of before now, and she couldn't have said why it slipped her attention.
The Headmaster shook his head after the boy had left. Harry hadn't mourned on this night before. So why should this year be any different?
Besides – if Harry didn't go to the Ball, it would interfere with Albus's plans, and he wasn't having it.
"He has to attend the Ball. And that is that."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
That evening, Harry, Lithôniel, Luna and Glenndaugion were discussing the problem of the ward-stone.
"The Bumble-Bee has a lot to answer for," Luna commented. "To fix the stone, you will need help."
Harry sighed. "Melda heri, it would be best to contact your father. He would know best how to proceed. I know I have studied runes, but from what the general and Barney reported, it would probably be over my head."
"Do not sell yourself short, melda heru. You have come a long way in your studies," she replied, squeezing his hand. "But you are right, Ada would know best."
0o0o0o0o0o0o
During the days leading up to the Masquerade Ball, many tried to change Harry's mind about attending. Most of those were girls hoping to dance with the Boy Who Lived.
Harry, however, was having none of that. If he was going to be attending any Ball, it would be with Lithôniel on his arms. They would be dressed in High Court garb from Underhill.
Hermione sighed. After the confrontation in the forest and what Harry had allowed her to know, she realized just how messed up the situation was. She tried to tell Ginny not to pin her hopes on Harry asking her to the Ball. He would not be attending it.
She looked over at Luna and saw the tiny fluttering of fairy wings hiding in her blonde hair. To think that the Wizarding World had drove the solitary fairies out of the Great Britain centuries ago. It was a shame. They were so magical.
Luckily, Professor Snape wasn't paying any attention to the Ravenclaw girl, as the fairy would have been cut up for potion ingredients faster than Ron could say 'Quidditch.'
Hermione was coming to dread Halloween as much as Harry did. It wasn't going to be pretty.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Lithôniel smiled as she danced in the arms of her beloved savior.
Maethorion had taken to the courtly lessons set by her mother with some reluctance. Now, as long as he had her in his arms, the world seemed to melt away.
Music within the clearing was soft and sweet, as it floated across the clear midnight air. Fairy lights dotted the darkness with soft glittering. They were practicing for the Masquerade Ball the next night.
"So, everything is in place?" Maethorion asked, as he glided his beloved around the clearing.
Lithôniel laughed. "Yes, my love. Magic is quite vexed with the adults in that school. Everything is set."
"So be it," Maethorion intoned. "I can't wait to return to the Valley and see Jack and Kathleen's new daughter."
"I, as well," she agreed, with a wistful sigh. "Last letter Mary said that Kathleen is doing well and the new babe is growing like a wee weed."
"You will hold our child when the right time comes. Never fear, my love," he pulled her closer. "I promise you. You will be holding our child in your arms."
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A/N: I know this is a gentle cliffy. Do not worry the next chapter is ready and waiting. Someone commented that Hermione was slightly two dimensional. Sorry she isn't very important in this story and as some have noticed I am not a great fan of Ginny or Dumbledore.
Another comment was the fact the ward-stone problem was the same in Demon's Bane. Many writers, after being very prolific, tend to use the same plot device in different stories, just tweaking them a bit. It happens. Sometimes, even writers run out of original ideas.
Again, special thanks to Miriam for her help in smoothing out a couple of areas in this chapter.
Until next time. – GF snd Miriam
melda heru/melda heri – beloved lord/lady
Ada – Father