STORY THREE

So Sue Me

Chapter 1

"Harry! Harry!"

Harry opened his eyes groggily, to find himself presented with the concerned face of Hermione hovering above his own. Ron stood behind her, looking worried.

"Huh?" Harry said thickly, struggling to sit up. Everything was bleary and out of focus. "I can't see," he added stupidly after a moment.

"Oh," said Hermione, her expression lightening a bit. "Here." She fumbled in her robes and produced his glasses. Harry took them, feeling grateful and disoriented.

"Are you all right?" Ron blurted as Harry shoved his glasses back on.

"I think so," Harry said. "What happened?"

Hermione bit her lip. "You can't remember?"

"No," Harry replied, slightly irritated.

"You were sending an owl," Hermione said after a moment. "You slipped, and hit your head. You kind of blacked out," she added, looking slightly upset.

"I'm fine now," Harry said a little too loudly, and stood up. He could see now that they were in the owlery. Funny – he couldn't remember coming up to send an owl. Last he knew he'd been having that funny dream again, the one with the picture chamber. . .

"Er," said Harry awkwardly. "I think I don't remember. Who was I owling?"

Ron gave him an anxious look. "You mean you don't remember?" he said.

Harry shook his head. "Who was it?"

"Elrond," Hermione informed him. "You really don't know?"

Harry stared at her. "Who?"

Hermione gave him an odd look. "You know, Elrond," she said impatiently.

"Wh—," Harry began, but stopped mid-sentence. Obviously he was supposed to know who this Elrond was – especially if, as Hermione claimed, he'd been in the act of sending him a letter before – before – whatever it was happened.

"Listen, it's almost time for dinner," Hermione said, eyeing the setting sun anxiously. "We'd better go down."

"Yeah," said Harry distractedly, and followed them from the owlery.

Dinner in the Great Hall was noisy as usual. Harry, Ron, and Hermione slid into seats near the rest of the Weasleys.

"Look at that girl," Fred said admiringly the moment they had sat down. He motioned toward the staff table – Harry noticed with a jolt that an extra chair had been placed there. It was now occupied by a dazzlingly beautiful girl, with long, shining black hair and silvery-purple eyes. Harry blinked; looking at her eyes was rather hard, as they seemed undecided as to whether they ought to be silver or purple.

"She's new," George added, breaking into Harry's thoughts. "Think she's s'posed to be Sorted tonight. Say, Harry," he continued, turning to Harry with a grin. "You probably know her already, right? She's Elrond's daughter."

"Uh . . . no – I mean, yeah . . . I don't think so," Harry floundered. "I don't think I've seen her, I mean." He wondered once again, utterly confused, who 'Elrond' was.

"Well, Professor McGonagall said she spent most of her life in Mirkwood and Lothlorien," said Ginny from across the table. "McGonagall's really happy to have her back – I've never seen her like this before –,"

Harry was, by now, completely lost. "Yeah," he muttered, still staring at the girl seated beside Professor McGonagall.

Their conversation was cut off as Dumbledore rose, tapping his goblet for silence. It fell almost immediately, and the Headmaster beamed.

"We have a special guest tonight," he announced. "May we please welcome Legolawen, Princess of the Istari."

There was a loud round of applause; Harry noticed that even those students seated at the Slytherin table were clapping wildly.

When quiet had descended once more, Dumbledore continued. "Some of you may know of her, as she is the daughter of our own Professor McGonagall, who is very happy to have Legolawen with us for the remainder of this year."

He reached down and retrieved the Sorting Hat from where it had sat by his feet and waved it aloft (Bet it doesn't like that much, Harry thought absently). "Now, Legolawen –," he made a few quick motions with his wand and a stool appeared in front of the staff table – "Prepare for your Sorting." He waved his wand again and the Sorting Hat floated gently along the staff table, coming to rest atop the stool.

Legolawen stood, her ebony hair swishing dazzlingly as she approached the stool. Harry noticed that her robes, unlike most of those worn by Hogwarts students, were an icy purple (perfectly matching her eyes, he noted) decorated with a delicate vine pattern. They were undoubtedly the most interesting – not to mention beautiful – robes he had ever seen.

She lifted the Sorting Hat with long, delicate fingers decorated with many twining silver rings, sat on the stool, and placed the Hat on her head. Her violet eyes fluttered closed for a moment; she was the picture of perfect repose. Remembering his own nerve-wracking Sorting, Harry could only be jealous.

For several minutes – the longest period of decision Harry had ever seen – the Hat was silent. Legolawen seemed to be mentally conversing with it, still looking serene and beautiful beneath the tattered grey rim. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the rip at the brim of the Hat opened, and a moment later it proclaimed its choice –

"GRYFFINSLYTHERHUFFLECLAW!"

Pandemonium erupted in the Hall; never before had the Hat shouted such an unintelligible House name. Dumbledore stood, raising his arms commandingly; a moment later silence fell once more.

"It seems," said Dumbledore, his clear eyes twinkling merrily, "That our Sorting Hat has met a dilemma. Princess Legolawen possesses so many admirable qualities that it has been unable to make a final decision regarding House placement. So Legolawen will be free to spend time with whatever House she wishes; in each, a bed in a dormitory and a spot by the fire shall be held welcomingly open for her whenever she wishes to visit."

Legolawen stood then, placing the Sorting Hat gently back on its stool. "I am honored by such a sentiment," she said, and her voice was musical, with a slight accent Harry couldn't place. "But my loyalty shall always be to Gryffindor, and to my mother."

McGonagall beamed – funny, Harry thought, he didn't think he'd ever seen her beam before – stood, and embraced Legolawen. There were tears in both their eyes, clearly visible through the hall.

"Now," said Dumbledore jovially, "Let us resume our banquet! Legolawen, you may choose any of these four tables to dine at this evening."

Legolawen smiled and thanked Dumbledore, and then made a beeline for one of the tables – with a jolt, Harry realized it was his own. With even more surprise he noticed that the beautiful new student was heading right in his direction . . .

"Move over, Hermione," Ron was demanding loudly. Hermione snorted in exasperation, but Ron pushed her anyway. "Here, Princess," he shouted loudly. "Sit here, here's a spot!"

Hearing him, Legolawen glided over and – to Harry's astonishment and great joy – sat between the two of them.

"Thank you," she said, her voice like a tinkling silver bell. Ron's jaw had gone slack, and he was staring rapturously at Legolawen.

"Ah . . . you're welcome," he said. Hermione, from his other side, gave another derisive snort.

Legolawen turned to Harry, her silvery-purple eyes luminous. Harry felt his own jaw go slack as he stared into the icy violet depths, losing himself in their power . . . sure, they were kind of giving him a headache, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from hers . . .

" . . . Potter," Legolawen finished. With a start, Harry realized she'd been talking to him.

"Er, yeah . . . uh, what was that?" he asked in confusion.

"You must be Harry Potter," Legolawen repeated with a dazzling smile.

"Yeah . . . he is . . . I mean, I am . . ." he felt vaguely disoriented, as though he had just woken up from a very deep sleep.

"Mae govannen," Legolawen said. Harry stared.

"My what?" he asked in confusion.

"Mae govannen," Legolawen repeated, and a slight crease appeared between her brows. "Surely you know the greeting?"

Harry shook his head in befuddlement. "No . . . I don't think I do . . ." he said faintly. His head was beginning to throb painfully from the effort of meeting her swirling bicolored gaze, but (he thought) what was a little pain when he was so obviously in love?

"Sorry," Legolawen said, sounding confused – but no less beautiful – now. "It is a greeting among my people – I felt sure that you would have heard it before, being as you are often in contact with my father and the Elves –,"

"Oh," said Harry, finally seeming to understand. "You mean House-Elves? Well, I'm not really in contact with any very often – just mostly Dobby, he's really quite a nutter. . ."

"House-Elves?" Legolawen asked, clearly puzzled now. Then she laughed – "Oh, no, I am speaking of the High Elves . . . my father, Legolas – even I am Halfelven . . ."

"Oh, right," Harry said, not understanding a word of what she was saying. He could hardly see now, his head was aching so badly. "I think I'm going to go to bed," he said blearily. Not catching Ron and Hermione's odd looks, he stumbled blindly from the Great Hall and, moments later, collapsed into bed without even undressing.

It would take him quite a while to work this out.