A/N- I knew I wouldn't be able to get away without doing it.. so, thank you for all your help, Malishka. You too, Nadia.
Disclaimer- The oh so wonderful
JK Rowling thought of the delightful characters Harry, Ron and Hermione,
along with the setting of the Forbidden Forest.
They Were Elves
It was pure lack of having anything better to do that caused Enmity to follow the golden trio into the woods that day. Hermione, Harry, and Ron were always finding trouble and when Enmity spotted them enter the Forbidden Forest she decided to tag along.
As a sixth year Slytherin, Enmity wasn't a favorite of the seventh year Gryffindors. It was a known fact among the young wizards and witches of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that there had always been a house rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin. If possible, it had intensified with the arrival of Harry Potter.
Enmity's cunning personality and disregard of rules suited Slytherin's standards perfectly. Even her looks seemed to suit the house.
Enmity's hair was the same mahogany shade of brown as the swirls of color living among the iris and whites of her large eyes. Her hair hung down to her waist in perfect synchronization and not always without dead ends. Her face was long with an angular nose and high, arched eyebrows. When twisted into a rare smile, her pink lips would take the shape of a heart. Most times, they lay flatly on her face as two thin lines.
Her figure kept the long shape, and was much too thin for her black school robes that the strange girl almost always occupied.
As her guides slowed their pace, Enmity grabbed a branch of the nearest tree and began to climb to its top. She watched as the golden trio entered the empty clearing below her.
What she saw next, however, was more than she had ever anticipated. Enmity was surprised she hadn't fallen from the tree in astonishment at the three who had entered. Tightening her grip on the branches surrounding her, for fear of being seen, she leaned closer for a better view.
Three creatures like those she'd never seen before stood in front Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Trying hard to process the image in front of her, she leaned closer for a better view. But alas, the three creatures and seventh years were gone.
She climbed down completely now, and in a frantic fury, let herself drop from the tree, prepared to search her entire surroundings for a glimpse of any other creatures or even the trio. Hearing a far off voice she began in that direction and soon hurried along a newly found trail of broken leaves and branches, undoubtedly made by the clumsy feet of her fellow students.
Ignoring the crisp noon breeze and even the fact that she hadn't an idea of what she could be getting herself into, Enmity continued deeper and deeper into the forest.
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"The persistent fool," rang the voice of one of the creatures Enmity had caught sight of.
The musical tone was owned by a female elf, and as it drifted towards the three Gryffindors behind her, Ron Weasley took to swooning.
"Mistress, what is it?" asked the elf to her right, looking worriedly to his companion on her other side.
"She's following us."
While both elves stiffened, and Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's pubescent actions, Harry took to contemplating just who could be following them.
"The girl?" asked the one to her right, once again.
"Indeed," she replied.
"But she's only a mere human," added the one to her left.
"She's quite the feast on the eyes, though," the other contributed.
"And you both surpass her age in numbers she couldn't comprehend."
At this, both male elves fell quiet. She continued to speak.
"Humans are the reason we had to come here. Dealing with these three will be enough, another need not to be added to the trouble."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stopped, casting uneasy looks at each other. What did she mean by 'dealing with these three'?
"She's only a young girl. What harm could she bring us?" The one to her left seemed almost concerned.
"And those behind us are only children. We've all agreed they could only bring trouble to us. You cannot have your judgment clouded by a pretty face.
"Go back, and deal with her. We'll," she motioned towards the other elf who was looking on in amusement, "continue on with these three."
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Enmity had begun to doubt what little reasoning she had for continuing along the path of broken leaves. The creatures she had viewed in the clearing hours ago were truly magnificent. She needed a moment to watch them again, paste their image firmly into her mind. But was that worth risking her life in the Forbidden Forest?
The sun had dropped below the trees, causing darkness to fall upon the forest much too early. The tiny bit of sunlight that did fall through the densely packed trees was only enough so that Enmity could continue following the path.
Ignoring the deafening howls and rustling of nearby leaves, Enmity let her footsteps fall slower and soon come to a complete stop. Tired and cold, Enmity finally gave up and fell onto the ground.
He chose that moment to walk forward.
He was enough to stop Enmity from shivering, although he surely intensified the possibility of danger.
His brown hair fell in unequal lengths around his face, ending at the nape of his neck. The scruff of beard that led around his jawbone created a rather unruly look. Unnaturally long ears stood out among his locks of hair, along with the rest of his features looking as if they'd been artfully derived from his flesh to produce something both dignified and strong.
His skin glistened in the little moonlight that now shone on them, and Enmity caught herself admiring his shirtless state and how low the pants, seemingly made from the bark of a tree, hung on him and showed off his calf muscles below. She blushed and stared up into his eyes, almost mirrors of her own. His, however, contained the knowledge of centuries and a hardness she could not sequester.
He too was staring at her, and his features hardened upon realizing it.
He began to approach her and Enmity made a move as if to run. She was scared and it was painstakingly obvious. His eyes roved across her features and stopped at her eyes. It seemed an eternity before he turned away. Enmity felt as if he'd ripped out her lungs.
She wanted to look back into the powerful eyes, find what had made time stand still, but even she knew that what she would find in there was forbidden. She needed to leave. Steadying herself with a shaking hand, Enmity led her weakened knees upwards.
Just as Enmity stood, the low grating voice of the one whose eyes she had indulged herself in, spoke hoarsely, "Scream."
Enmity gulped.
"Scream," he said, a little more loudly this time.
Enmity boldly shot him a questioning glance.
"SCREAM!" He bellowed, now quite aggressively.
Enmity decided right then and there that she'd do whatever he asked.
A horribly loud and throaty scream unleashed itself from her vocal cords, and once finished she stared expectantly at him.
With one movement of his arm, he had broken a branch from the nearest tree. They both looked at its end, which was sharp with splinters and enough to create a deep gash in either's flesh. Enmity didn't have time to question his motive before he had lunged at her.
He didn't use the branch against her, though. He used it against himself, striking it against his right arm and creating a sizable gash from which blood flowed freely.
Sounds of footsteps met their ears. He cast a sorrowful glance at her and letting the blood fall onto his own hands he stepped into the trees and out of view. Enmity let out a small breath of air, rooted to the spot.
"That's her blood then?" Asked an expectant male voice.
"Yes," His voice faltered slightly.
"I needed to see you were loyal, Jask."
The last voice was female and to Enmity, it sounded more like song. "The others are behind me. They'll not tell anyone about us."
Their voices faded and lurching footsteps approached. Enmity would surely have enjoyed the sight she feasted her eyes on next if she hadn't gone through the ordeal she had. The three Gryffindors she had followed in here, all scarlet faced, were tied together with sickly gray vines and looking like contestants of a Muggle three legged race, only there were four legs this time.
Enmity shook her head and walked
ahead of their protests and shuffling feet. Feeling quite stupid, she left
the forest muttering "They were elves."