AN: finally time for an update... life is working me hard for this summer.

3. Imladris

Lord Elrond watched the sleeping boy for a few minutes. The heartache he had felt coming from the boy in his vision and when he was healing his head wound was still there but after many hours of reaching out to the boy in the darkness it had dulled slightly.

He still wondered what would cause such a young boy to feel so heartbroken. He had hoped that he would find out as soon as the boy woke up but after trying to carefully ask about it, it became clear that the boy was very private and closed off. To ensure that a small bond of trust was created he had stopped that line of questions.

Lord Elrond understood now that it would take a while before the boy would let him in. What ever happened to the boy, fact was that he didn't even trust a stranger enough to give him his family name or his father's name. For now he would have to focus on building a bond of trust between him and the boy.

Slowly the elf-lord make his was to his library. He hoped the Lady of the Golden wood would know some answers about his vision of Harry and where the young man came from.

"Galadriel?" Elrond called out in his mind once he had seated himself in his library.

"I'm here. You have had an interesting few days." The reply came. It made him chuckle slightly. She always knew.

"You can say that."

"You want answers."

"I need them to give to the boy. He doesn't trust and I can't build that without understanding where he came from and why he came here. I wondered if you know more about him."

"I do not know much more than you. I saw the same vision and felt the same pain. It chilled my heart. The child is very special. The Valar send him here for a reason. One of them his to help him heal his heart and save his world."

"His world?"

"Surely you noticed he is not from this world. Even you know about the different dimensions and time flows."

"Yes, but I never thought…"

"Our task is to help him. And that we shall."

Elrond sighed as he felt Galadriel close off their connection. They would communicate soon again. He had felt Galadriel's curiosity towards his new guest. She would ask about him often. Maybe even decide to risk a visit.

Elrond sighed and got up. Some many questions, so few answers. It was time to tell his wife and children about his vision and about Harry. So that together they decided what they would tell the young boy.

H&H&H&H&H&H&H&H&

No matter how long he would live, Harry was sure he would never his first weeks in Imladris. It was one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen. It rivaled Hogwarts. However, Harry was sure there no place so peaceful as the elven city is.

During that first dinner Lord Elrond and his family told him about the world around this beautiful place. They told him the short version of the history of Middle Earth. The good and the bad. Harry concluded that this world was much like his world had been during the dark ages.

After a short story about Middle Earth Lord Elrond explained his theory that Harry came from a different dimension or different time flow. That he was now in a completely different world. One that was relatively peaceful for the elves as they rarely involved themselves in the world of men.

When Harry asked if the elf-Lord knew how he had managed to come to Middle Earth, Lord Elrond explained his theory. He told Harry about his ability to see things that were, are, and had not yet come to pass.

"I had a vision of you a few minutes before my sons brought you to our gates." Lord Elrond explained. "I saw you in a room with your bird on your shoulder. You were crying and were overwhelmed by grief and heartache. I could feel it with you. As the vision ended I heard the Valar asking me to help you. I'm still not sure why they asked that but I'm willing to see what I can do for you."

"So the Valar brought me here?"

"I won't be able to explain it in any other way."

Though Harry didn't have the best track records with people who could see the future he couldn't help but believe Lord Elrond.

"Why?"

"I wouldn't know. Perhaps there was something you did or that was going to happen to you that they felt the need to bring you here."

Harry couldn't think of anything at that time but later when he was back in his bed he remembered wishing for another place. A place where he could be happy. He told Lord Elrond about his wish the next morning.

"So you think it was all due to my wish?" Harry asked for the second time during that conversation.

"Yes, Harry. I know it might be hard to believe but wishing is a very powerful magic. If there had been a shooting star when you made your wish it would certainly been granted."

"I have never heard of magic like that." Harry shook his head.

"You are human, you shouldn't have heard about magic at all. If it really was Wishing magic it's a miracle it worked for a human." Lord Elrond pointed out. "The elves have had magic in them since they first set foot on Arda. It's a strong magic that not everybody can wield. We are very careful to wish for something with whole our heart but to wish under a shooting star…"

Harry hadn't told him about him being a wizard yet. Something had held him back the night before when they spoke candidly. He blamed it on Mad-eyes constant vigilance being drilled into him. Now he realized it was time to come clean.

"But I should." He whispered as he looked out over a beautiful paddock full with horses.

"I'm sorry?" Lord Elrond replied.

Harry smiled up at him and pulled his wand out of his pocket. He pointed at the horse's watering manger and whispered "aguamenti". A yet of water shot out of his wand and filled the manger. Beside him he felt Lord Elrond jump slightly.

"I am a wizard, Lord Elrond. In my world a wizard wields magic through many means. I'm not off age yet and still learning. We start with learning to control our magic at the age of eleven through the use of a wand. More powerful or trained wizards and witches can do it wordlessly and wandlessly."

Lord Elrond stayed silent for a long time. So long that Harry started to worry that the elf would take him for something dangerous. He carefully fingered his wand incase he suddenly needed to defend himself.

"You certainly know how to surprised somebody, Harry." Lord Elrond said with a soft smile. "One day you'll have to tell me all about you can do with your magic. I would also like to hear more about your world but today is not that day. The day has too few hours left for those stories."

Harry sighed in relieve and nodded. He wasn't ready to talk about everything, not yet. Lord Elrond continued their walk and Harry followed him. Lord Elrond gave him the time to really look around and take in all the beauty that surrounded him. After a while they arrived at a seating area and Lord Elrond motioned for him to sit.

Lord Elrond took the time to tell him a bit more about life as the ruling head of one of the elven cities. He retold stories of the birth of the twin and of Arwen. He was giving Harry a chance to get to know him a bit more.

After a while he left Harry claiming there were matters to attend to. Harry took this chance to let it all sink in.

Harry realized that his disappearance wouldn't go unnoticed. He was sure the whole Order would be in quite a state right now. He felt sorry for Mrs. Weasley, Ron and Hermione, maybe even the twins. They always had his best interest in mind. They would be so worried about him.

However, he couldn't bring himself to care much about the rest of the Order or Dumbledore. After all that had happened the last few years and especially during his last school year Harry found that he didn't care much for most of them and their opinion.

They had treated him as a stupid child or a weapon that should only be used once. They had shunned him and never wondered about his feelings. They didn't care about him and his wishes, they only wanted him to get rid of Voldemort. He wouldn't be surprised that once he killed the dark wizard he would get arrested for murder.

He was also very angry with his Headmaster. He was convinced that had Dumbledore been honest with him, Sirius would still be alive. Had he known the possibility of Voldemort placing false images in his head he would have never charged off to the ministry like that.

The next day Harry and Lord Elrond found themselves on the same bench again. This time they talked about the possibility of Harry going back and if Harry even wanted to go back. Lord Elrond knew that something back in England had hurt Harry a lot and he told Harry that he would understand if the wizard never wanted to return there. After a long conversation about pro's and con's Lord Elrond promised Harry to look into how he would be able to go back but that the decision would ultimately lay with Harry.

In the meantime Harry was a guest to the lord of Imladris and would be treated as such by everybody whom entered this realm. Together they decided that it was best to his magic hidden from everybody but Lord Elrond's family and most trusted counselors. Lord Elrond thought it was better for Harry's safety.

The first week Harry spent a lot of time alone. He just wandered around the beautiful gardens and thought about things. He thought about his life and how it had been up until arriving in Imladris. He didn't like what he saw when he looked back. He had been abused, used, hated and mislead too many times. He had only a handful of real friends but outside that group he had nothing. He had a vault full with gold, yet he couldn't spend it for fun. If he was really honest to himself his life had been anything but fun.

During one of his long walk he had been joined by Lord Elrond's lovely wife, Celebrían. Harry had come to trust her more than anyone in Imladris. He told her of his thought and thanks to her wise council he realized that it was the past and that he couldn't change it. He couldn't go back and do it differently.

So, his focus shifted to his future. His immediate future that is because it would be a long time before he would know if there was a possibility for him to return to England. Lord Elrond all but ordered him to try and enjoy life. He made it very clear to Harry that he wanted to young man to be happy in Imladris.

At first, he found it very difficult to relax and have fun. His pain and depression weren't as bad as they had been back home but he still suffered from them greatly. He had regular nightmare and moments were memories felt like a hot iron sword being stabbed in his heart. He knew there was a chance he would never see them again but he missed his friends. It hurt him greatly that he hadn't even had the chance to apologize for his mistake that almost lead them to their death. Still, the pain started to lessen and his depression left him. Slowly weeks passed and while he still worried a lot about home Harry found himself enjoying his stay in Imladris a lot.

He had been given his own room in the royal housing of Imladris. Celebrían, who was slowly become a mother like figure to him, had arranged a closet full of new clothes for him so that he wouldn't stand out in his jeans and t-shirt between the elves. With the right clothes, his pale complexion and raven hair he would almost fit in.

Harry spent a lot of time with Celebrían. She seemed to enjoy his company while she worked in her gardens. While he helped her, she would tell him the full version of the history of Middle Earth. Her stories were just what he needed to forget about his issues and about his life on Earth. Even if it was just for a little while.

Harry also enjoyed spending time with the three young elves. He had always wanted siblings and the three mischief makers fitted that role perfectly. Arwen was a very curious and brave creature. Harry thought she would do really well in Gryffindor house if she had been a witch. Arwen had really connected with Hedwig and the three of them could often be found in the forest next to the royal housing.

Harry spent most of his evenings with the twins. During the day, the twins had to go through rigorous training with Glorfindel and Erestor. In the evening, they had taken it up on themselves to teach Harry how to wield a sword and ride a horse. According to Harry the twins were the elven version of Fred and George. Where ever they went mayhem followed them.

Harry found that he had real talent for wielding a sword. Even Glorfindel had been impressed with his progress. The old elf watched many of his trainings with the twins. Sometimes he even joined them in a sparring game. To Harry it was a good way to get out all his frustrations and anger. He would put everything in each blow he gave with the sword. It resulted in a completely exhausted Harry dragging himself back to his room and falling asleep at the sight of his bed.

When Lord Elrond had time, he would take Harry with him for a walk through Imladris. They would talk about all sorts of things. Slowly Harry found himself opening up to the elf. With time Harry told him about his life at the Dursley's. He told him about the abuse, the neglect and about the starvation.

All Lord Elrond did was giving him a chance to get everything off his chest and offer kind words. He never pressed for more information and that was what made Harry trust him. Lord Elrond never wanted anything from him besides the rare occasion when he would ask about magic or about life on Earth. But that was pure curiosity.

The last time they had taken such a walk Harry had gotten his whole story out. He had started with why he had been living with his aunt and uncle and somehow it had opened the floodgates and everything came out.

Lord Elrond had waited patiently for him to get through his story. He hadn't flinched when Harry got angry and shouted, nor had he failed to smile with Harry when he told something funny. There was nothing but kindness in the man.

Once Harry got everything out he collapsed in a chair and cried. It was the first time he really cried. Not the controlled tears that had escaped him at Privet Drive, not the soft sobs he had let go when he saw Sirius fall through the veil, he just cried.

Lord Elrond had placed a hand on his shoulder and softly rubbed it in a fatherly fashion. After a while Harry regained a bit of his composure and stopped the loud sobs.

"Harry, there is nothing I can do or say that will make the pain go away. I don't have potions to heal a broken heart or an elven spell that can draw the darkness out of you. All I can offer you a place here in Imladris where you can live in peace. Maybe here, with time your wounds will slowly heal."

Harry looked up at the kind elf next to him and nodded. Lord Elrond pulled him in a strong hug and that was just what he needed.