Hey everyone,
I was actually planning to have Eldorian city resemble Minas Thirith from Lord of the Rings, yet in the end I decided not to. Instead of that, did I decide to go for something a little more authentic and still something I always believed a castle to look like – at least before I got my own first look at Hogwarts school.
Excited, yet,

Venquine1990
PS. Inspiration comes from Leonette, check out their stories.

Chapter 10
Settling Into The City

23rd of December 1976
Eldorian City, Ariador
Hari's POV

The ride from Lotelle to Eldorian city was definitely tense, even though those from my time were looking relieved to see that, while there was still a hint of shadow showing in Snuffles's eyes, both he and Lupin were sitting close on either side of me and were looking as if they had been fully reunited after Snuffles's death.
Those from the present time had definitely been both worried as well as confused, except for Remus, who had obviously been told by Mr. Weasley at least a bit of what had happened to his older friend, yet after a bit of a ride did I get my first look of not just the capital of my kingdom, but also the castle that is to be my new home.

And to my utter shock does the castle itself look slightly simple, but still majestic and – before I first saw Hogwarts – looking exactly like I always thought a castle would look like. The main castle is a large rectangular building that stretches from west to east with several rectangular, square or circular towers settled here and there.
There are four circular towers that reach three floors higher than the main castle that are located in the four corners of the space, while the main castle itself is four floors high with square or rectangular towers at every few points around the front or back of the castle and most of these are at least two floors higher.
And finally, in the very center of the main castle is a circular tower that raises just as high as the Astronomy tower of Hogwarts and that has a single open floor exactly under the pointed roof at the top, while the rest of the main castle has a flat roof with a waist-high curtain-wall that can be used as a lookout post.

"The tower in the center is where the royal family resides alongside anyone they deem acceptable, though that is more often than not a rare occurrence, due to this world having barely ever had anyone other than the residents of the world itself in them. Underneath it is the throne room where all royal duties to the people are fulfilled."
Grandpa tells us as we all gaze at the massive structure in absolute shock and Hermione asks: "Then what is the rest for?" Yet grandpa smiles and says: "You'll see." Just when we pass a huge outer wall that I can only assume is build for the people's protection against – whatever it could be in this world that threatens them.
Yet, to my utter shock, is there nothing behind this outer wall but gardens and small patches of forest, with patches of land that are obviously used for crops and fruits and some parts that have fruit trees growing on them and while I wonder where everyone is, do we pass this large part of the nutritious looking landscape.
What follows is what seems like the outer wall of the castle itself and while we pass through this, the large door leading into a humongous hallway that reaches higher above us than some of the giants we recently fought, before we enter what I thought was the rest of the castle. Yet this I discover is not to be true at all.

After passing the hallway, do we enter a huge space of land that is made up of trees, a huge trench that goes all around the rest of the castle and a single drawbridge that must have been put down for us the minute we started passing through the hallway and only then do I notice that the large wall behind us has segments separating it into parts.
"The outer wall – is the city?" Hermione asks shocked, having obviously leaned out of the carriage to see this for herself as I now notice how, like with the rectangular and square parts that divide the wall, there are also parts of the wall that turns indoors and there are doors all around this side of the wall and grandpa says:
"Yes, the Elves of this kingdom have long since accepted to live closely together due to this being the capital of our kingdom and thus the one place – next to the Wall and Lotelle – being most prominent to be attacked. However, we haven't reached the castle just yet, you know." The man ends with a large grin on his face.

This makes Hermione and me share a shocked look before we look past the second hallway we are passing through and my eyes are wide as saucers as I see what lies behind this. A huge market place. Simple stalls with all kinds of merchandise, actual shops that are no more than two stories high – and elves everywhere.
Elves behind the stalls shouting about their merchandise, elves with or without kids moving to either the stalls or the stores, elves sitting together at small gazebos and open places with benches talking with each other in a language I would have understood, had it not been for the fact that so many of them are all talking together.
"This is central square. It's the whole reason this city is the Capital of our kingdom. It doesn't matter if it's a Sunday or a Wednesday, there is always commerce and there are always either stalls or stores open for merchandise. Plus, this is only part of the central square. Behind the castle are our factories and our bigger companies.
The ones that export out to the other cities and that take care of all the merchandise being sold here. we also have those that work here live on this side of the wall and those working for the companies on the other side. It does make for an almost constant amount of movement every few years, but no one has complained in centuries."

Grandpa tells us, pride and joy lacing his voice as he speaks and while I am amazed at how lively my kingdom actually is, do I feel my heart soar with relief as this is exactly what I wanted to create by ending the war with Voldemort in my own time, a thought that makes me look around with tears of joy shining in my eyes.
"This is like the kind of country Dumbledore is fighting Voldemort for." My mum then says and I nod, loving how I shared a near similar thought with her and then I feel someone touching my hand, making me look back inside the carriage and see Lupin smiling at me with a look in his eyes that says he understands my thoughts.
I smile back at the man and then look back at my castle, that might not be as widespread as it first looked, yet that is still as wide as the tower above it is high and while I still wonder what we are supposed to do with four floors that consist of so many rooms, do I still feel content with knowing I have a new home.

An hour later.

After we arrived at the front door to the castle, did grandpa show us around a bit, telling us he would show us the entire castle in the morning and so only showing us the throne room, the dining hall above this and the staircase to both the dining hall as well as the tower above it before returning us all to the dining hall.
Yet, where the hall had been incredibly decorated but empty at our first arrival, does it now have several elves of different kinds moving around the room, moving from several doors that are apparently hidden behind tapestries and curtains and who are putting plates and bowls all over the large table in the middle.
Looking at all this in shock, do I suddenly notice how there are exactly enough chairs in the room for all of us and grandpa says: "The chairs and table here are actually charmed to respond to the amount of people passing through this door and only the royals and their guests ever pass through this door, the other elves go through their own."

"Why is that?" Hermione asks, her tone of voice making Ron and me share a worried glance as she must already be comparing the elves that are moving in front of us to the House Elves at Hogwarts and grandpa seems to recognize this tone as well as he smiles: "Don't worry, it's no rule or law, it's just easier for them that way."
"But –." Hermione then tries again, only Snuffles steps in and lies a hand on her shoulder as he says: "Hermione stop. I know what you're trying, but you're forgetting something important here." Our friend looks at him and he says: "Hari – is – royal, remember?" And the girl turns red before she nods slightly at the man.
"A House Elf liberator?" Grandma then asks Snuffles and the man nods before grandma nods back and motions for one of the elves, who instantly responds, setting down the large bowl with silver-looking lid before he rushes over and grandma repeats her earlier statement to the elf, the man nodding before he moves out of the room.

Hermione looks at her and she smiles as she says: "Let's just say that there is a book here in the Capital that doesn't exist at Hogwarts and that gives a much deeper description of House elves, Elven slaves and all other forms of servants that have existed in both worlds since the beginning of time than any other book in existence.
It's definitely a worthy read and it's something Hendros had me read during the time we were getting to know each other. And yes, Hermione, while I am a Black, was I also a House Elf Liberator – at least I was until I read this book." And while this shocks us both, does Hermione still nod with a contemplative look.

Then we all move over to the dining table and while, a few minutes into the meal, the elf returns and hands Hermione the book, do the other elves leave us alone for the rest of the meal, only appearing when one of our courses is over and replacing it with the next in less than five minutes, which astounds me immensely.
After this, does grandpa help us up to the tower, the staircase itself actually in the very center of the tower and separated from the rest of the tower with a circular wall, while each floor has a large hard-wooden door and the top of the tower itself having an open ceiling with several windows showing the open sky.
Some of these windows are with glass panes, others are open and making it so that, while the space itself is a little small for our large group, the space itself doesn't feel cramped or overheated due to our own body temperatures as the open windows allow for a constant, cooling wind to blow through the entire room.

Yet, grandpa stops at the floor below the top floor and says: "Sorry, but the top floor is only for those of the royal line – and yes, Lindilwen, the magic of the room has already recognized your future position, so there is a room –." However, then suddenly the man stops and looks up with a raised eyebrow aimed upwards.
"What's wrong, dad?" My own dad asks and the man says: "I am connected to the top floor and for some reason do I sense there being one more room than there should be. I can sense the room I share with your mother, one for you, one for Lindilwen, one for Hari – and another one that is connected to Hari's room."
The others look shocked, yet I don't as I smile at my godfather and say: "I understand that, grandpa. I care for Snuffles very, very much and it really hurt when I lost him. Plus, he is a Black like grandma, so my care for him along with his relation to her must be recognized by the magic of the upper floor and add a room for him."

The man nods with a warm smile on his face, yet that night do I get proof that – human world or Elven world – I can always fall victim to nightmares, especially nightmares that are very old as I cry and scream while, in my dream, I am stuck to the floor while watching Death Eaters torture, kill and revive Snuffles, only to repeat.
Yet before I have to witness this for more than three times, do I hear someone shouting from very, very far away and this voice breaks me from the hold the nightmare has over me and returns me to the land of the living, where I notice how I am being held closely by someone with strong muscles hidden under slightly wasted skin.
Realizing I am in the arms of the man whose pain was the topic of my nightmare, do I cling to the man with all that I am, hating how this is because – after almost two years – I had been forced to remember his murder, yet feeling so grateful that I now have living, breathing evidence that the murder has been prevented.
This fact makes the tears I had been shedding in pain of what my nightmare was showing me be changed for tears of grateful relief and while Snuffles gentle keeps holding me, does he not speak a word as he allows me to cry, his silent understanding making my heart swell with love and gratitude for his caring understanding.

Then, once my heart feels a little more light with the emotions I have been feeling ever since seeing him as well as the others that have been saved from certain death, do I slowly pull away and while Snuffles keeps his hands on my upper arms, does he smile with warm understanding shining in his eyes before a tentative voice sounds.
"Hari dear?" I look to my side and see grandma and grandpa, as well as mum and dad standing in the doorway, all of them with looks of worry on their faces and I sigh as I say: "As you know, there are seven of those you met yesterday that were saved from death when they were brought here. Snuffles was one of them and –."
Here I lower my head, my fringe softly touching Snuffles's arm that is still on my upper arm and I whisper: "I just – never really got over that. I – I just forced myself to forget about it in order to fight the war we had started against Voldemort and how important it was to take him down as quickly as possible. But I never really moved on."

The others nod and dad says: "I don't think I could stand losing Padfoot either, pup. War or no war." This makes me smile at the slightly younger teen and then Snuffles softly says: "Thanks Prongs, I got this." And his younger friend nods with a loving smile before helping his parents and future wife back out of my room.
I smile at their retreating backs, loving how they can so easily accept that, because Snuffles has known me longer, he is the better option to get me through this and then feel that the cloth that is wrapped around Sirius' arms around my shoulder changes to a long thick fur and when I look up, do I see Snuffles the Grim.
The large, bear-like dog softly rubs his muzzle against the side of my face with his eyes closed before turning on his axis and lying his body over my lower body, the large weight not at all oppressing, but actually feeling warm and comforting and with a grateful smile do I lie myself back down under the cover and fall asleep.

The next morning

Snuffles is still asleep, only he has moved himself so that he is now lying straight across the bed and, in my sleep, have I moved so that I am curled up against his side, yet now I am awake and after watching the large animal sleep soundly for a while, do I move out of bed and over to the large balcony at the back of my room.
The doors to this are made of stained glass, the image showing two teenage royals, one a girl the other a boy, and while I love how this intimate design proves that this is a bedroom for the royal heirs to the throne, do I open them, making sure not to let too much light through the still closed curtains before moving onto the balcony.
The balcony itself isn't all that big, is made of dark brown stone and granite, with dark bronze railing all around that has an extra layer of dark stone railing at the top of this, proving that the lower railing can be used to sit on and I do so, gazing out over the entirety of the kingdom and all its incredibly glory as I mutter to myself:

"It will take time, Snuffles. The years of war, the things I've suffered through it, the losses I've had to try and accept while being required to continue fighting Voldemort and his men, all of the things I had to face both before and during the war, the – the fights that made me lose exactly those most important to me.
I know all of it will take a lot of time, especially seeing as, to me, the war has only ended six days ago and the fact that we are now in the middle of yet another war, but – but this world isn't at war and – and Merden did the right thing to bring us here to read these books. Yes, reading about my past is hard, but – it will help.

And – and in time I will be able to let everything behind me. The things the Dursleys did to me, the pressure of the fame, the stupid behavior of the Boy-Who-Lived fans, the ridiculousness of the Ministry, the terrors of Voldemort and his Death Eaters and – and even the people I lost and couldn't save coming here.
In time, I will be able to leave all that behind me, move on and start a life that – well, a life I'm sure my dad would have wanted for me had he known about this world when I was born. Cause – cause I know that, if he had known of this world when I was born, he would have taken me here and I would have become Crown Prince.
And – and yes, he is Crown Prince now, but – but that doesn't take me my royal heritage. I couldn't really make my parents proud by being who others wanted me to be and trying to mix parts of my own personality with the image the public had of me as a hero, but now, now that I am where I belong – now I can."

And with that, do I turn back into the doorway, where Snuffles is standing as a full human once more, a glimmer of tears showing in his grayish blue eyes, yet a look of true pride on his face and I whisper: "I'm going to do the James and Lily of 1981 proud, Snuffles. Care to help?" The man nods and joins me at my side.
He wraps his arm around me, just like he did last night after I had woken from my nightmare and after a warm glance with lots of loving promises between surrogate father and surrogate son is shared between us, do we both turn to the magnificence that is the Elven Kingdom, ready for the rest of the reading and everything else.

Okay, that was incredible!
I will say that it did have a slightly darker edge to it than I planned and it may not have all that much content in case of time that passed or events that took place, but I just wanted the gang to get settled into the City and after the last chapter did I feel that Harry could possibly have the most issues settling in.
Also the bond between Snuffles and Hari, that is going to play a massive role in future chapters, it's just that a little something has to happen before their actual bond – and the oath that was start in last chapter – can come to completion. And I will warn you beforehand; it will be hurtful and it will concern Hari and Lindilwen.
Be warned,

Venquine1990
PS. Inspiration comes from Leonette, check out their stories.