A/N: Look chapter 9! This one even longer than the last!
*****
Try to understand.
The four of them arrived at Care of Magical Creatures to find that the rest of their class had already beat them there. They were standing together, Gryffindor and Slytherin, without fighting. They caught snatches of whispered conversations, mainly along the line of who their new teacher was. Ashley, Harry and Hermione watched as Ron, who was tall enough to see over the rest of the classes heads, eyes widened.
What is it?' Ashley asked Who's the new teacher?'
He looked at her strangely What? Oh, some guy.'
Why's everybody whispering then?' Hermione asked
I think it's because he looks kind of young to be a teacher, he doesn't seem to be much older than the twins.'
They moved to stand at the edge of the class, so that they could see the teacher better. Ron was right, he didn't look old enough to be teaching, standing about 6"1 he was slender and very handsome. Blonde hair that reached to just below his shoulders was held back in a half-ponytail; his eyes were an endless green, and held the same kind of sparkling intelligence as Dumbledore's. He was dressed in simple, forest green robes, a silver oak leaf clasp just below his throat. The way that he was smiling at the gathered class, made his face seem even younger than it must normally look.
Hello, I am your new teacher, Professor Liam Jones.' he said, his voice was strangely accented, it had a lilting musical quality to it that seemed very foreign but at the same time strangely similar. As Hagrid is away on ministry business and wont be back till the start of next year and your last teacher unexpectedly resigned, Professor Dumbledore has asked me to take on the task of teaching you about intelligent magical creatures such as giants, werewolves, dwarves and Elves. For starters I'd like you to tell me anything you know about these creatures.'
Hands were immediately raised around the class and Professor Jones pointed to a pretty Slytherin girl, Blaise Zabini.
Yes, and you're name is...'
Blaise Zabini, sir' she replied, batting her eyelashes at him and flicking her hair back flirtingly We had a werewolf for our DADA teacher a couple of years ago so we already know a bit about them.'
Parvati Patil spoke next Well, most wizarding families have an elf working for them-'
Slave labour' Hermione whispered indignantly to Ron
-so we know about them too'
A puzzled look crossed Professor Jones' face but quickly turned into a smile Oh, you mean house elves' he said brightly I meant real elves, the forest people. How many of you here have actually heard of real elves before?'
Both Seamus and Draco raised their hands.
Right, I'm impressed, not very many wizards know about them, elves are o ne of the best kept secrets. Tell me how you know of the elves, Mr...' he said, pointing to Seamus
Seamus Finnegan, sir.' Seamus said I met one a few years ago, her name was Miriel.'
Professor Jones laughed, the sound like tinkling water I should have known that it would be something to do with Miriel. She loved to spend time with humans, one of the first elves that I met. And what about you, Mr...' he turned to Draco who had slowly edged over to stand between Ashley and Harry while he was talking.
Draco Malfoy' he replied nervously his usual confindence gone My father knew an elf'
And what was this elves name?' Professor Jones face had gone cold when Draco had said his surname and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Draco.
Kyrin' Draco whispered He died'
Professor Jones' eyes blazed He was killed. Kyrin Anira was the last Elf to have any contact with humans.'
Draco laughed, but it was a harsh and bitter laugh, no joy at all in it. Until now.' he replied, slipping into a strange singsong tongue You are Elian Indus, Prince of Elves, Son of the Elven King Deneh. But tell me, if relations are so strained between Elves and humans, why is the heir to one of the two Elven thrones taking on a teaching job at Hogwarts.'
Professor Jones blanched slightly, then quickly regained his composure. You speak the Elven tongue remarkably well for a human, Malfoy. Not many can speak it as fluently as you, and to reach the level that you appear to be at they would have had to study for many years. Professor Dumbledore and myself are the only beings, magical or no, outside of the Elven lands that can speak it that I knew of.' He said in english, then also slipped into Elvish. Your father is the one who killed Kyrin Anira.' he accused
Draco bowed his head I know. I am so sorry.' he said quietly, still in Elvish Your pain is my pain.' he said, using one of the traditional Elven phrase for offering condolence to those who had lost love ones.
The Elven prince, Elian glared angrily at him You could never know half the pain that I felt at his death. He would still be alive if not for your cursed family. The name Malfoy is now used to mean Elven-bane in our tongue!' he said harshly Do you know what his death caused our people?' he asked, eyes filled with pain. Do you-' his voice broke slightly Do you know what it caused me ?'
The class watched the exchange between human and Elf in stunned silence, none of them knew what was being said except Seamus who understood only a small bit, but all of them knew that something was wrong.
How could I not?' Draco asked, the sadness in his voice changing the beautiful language into something much sadder. Kyrin spoke about what his death would cost the Elves many times.' His mouth twisted into wry half-smile Although nowhere near as often as he spoke of you. We'd sit and talk for hours in Elvish, to improve my grasp of your tongue and to stop my father from understanding what we said.' his face turned bleak as he recounted the memories but there was a hint of unspoken wonder in his voices He loved you so much Elian, I remember one conversation we had clearly. "If you ever meet my Lian you would know at once why I love him. He is everything to me, all I ever needed in my life. He has beautiful golden blonde hair that is just made for running your hands through, and the most beautiful eyes that you will ever see. They are green like the lushest forest, green like sparkling emeralds but warm and full of life reminding you of moss after rain. And his lips Draco, his lips, so beautiful and always bing put to good use, Lian must be the best kisser in the known universe."
Lian blushed and a faint smile crossed his lips, but there were tears in his eyes.
Draco continued. "And his voice, Draco you should hear it, no music can compare to the beauty of it's sound. Hearing it is like the sun appearing after weeks of cloud." It was so hard, sitting and talking with him, knowing that he was going to die and seeing that he knew. I have never known such sadness before. A few days before he died, we were sitting together in his room, when he began to cry softly. "I would give up everything just to be with him once more, Draco, tell him I love, please tell him." I would have given my life if only it could stop his death, I would have done anything. But in the end nothing was enough to save him. I was with him when he died. I had to watch the life drain out of my closest friend, knowing that I was powerless to do anything to save him. His last words before he died were about you. "If you ever see Elian, tell him that I love him, that I love him more than words can ever tell. Tell him that he is not aloud to spend his life alone, he has to find someone else who can love him and who he can love back. Tell him that if he doesnot I will come back to haunt him." his voice turned to a whisper and his last words were barely audible. "Tell him I love him." I always marvelled at the love that you must have felt for eachother. It seemed to me that love like that would always be as distant as a fairy tale to me. The loved of blessed Princes and Princesses. I didn't think it would be possible for it to ever happen to me. But it did, and I owe so much to him for that, he's the reason that it happened, without him I'd just be a cold, heartless bastard, alone but for one friend that my father would do anything to be rid of. And so I'm telling you, do as he wished, he loved you to much for you to waste it. I wish with all my heart that it had been me instead of Kyrin, I would do anything for it to not have happened.'
Elian looked searchingly into Draco's face, then his voice slightly choked Please stay after the class. I would like to speak with you more.' He turned to face the rest of the class, returning his speech to english I am sorry that this lesson was so strange. I will try to actually teach you something tomorrow. You can go now.'
He turned and walked slowly into Hagrids hut, leaving the class gazing after him in stunned silence. Then as one they all began to talk loudly, before turning to leave.
Nobody noticed when Draco followed Elian, or when Harry silently followed him.
*****
Drac, wait' Harry said, grabbing Draco's wrist, when he reached the door to Hagrid's hut. What happened? What did you say? What language was that?
What? Oh, it was Elvish' Draco replied sadly He-he knew a friend of mine.'
You can speak Elvish? Elvish is a language? He knew your friend? Please inform.'
Draco smiled weakly as he pushed open the door. Later Harry, I said I'd talk to him.'
Harry made sure that noone was looking and wrapped his arm around Draco's waist.
And I plan to come with you.'
You won't understand-' Draco protested weakly.
Harry grinned I'm used to it.' he said It seems like Hermione's speaking a foreign language most of the time. C'mon, let's go.' When Draco didn't look like moving, Harry pulled him through the door. Remember, I'm supposed to be Hogwarts Golden Boy. It's my job to suck up to teachers.'
Elian was sitting on a chair by the window, staring out at the Forbidden Forest, a look of wistful longing in his eyes.
Umm...this is Harry, he insisted on coming with me.' Draco said nervously.
Elian turned around and Harry was startled to see that his eyes were filled with pain.
Is he in with your father too?' Elian asked Draco in Elvish.
Draco had to laugh. I trust Harry with my life. Besides, my father wants to kill him.' he replied, also in Elvish.
Elian's eyes widened and he offered them both a seat before turning to stare incredulously at Harry. What did you do?'
Harry sat down next to Draco and shrugged. I lived.'
Harry is fondly known in the wizarding world as "The Boy Who Lived"
Elian looked from Draco to Harry and then back again thoughtfully.
Although they were not openly showing that they were "together", there were signs that, if you knew how to read them, pointed to it. The way they were sitting, just close enough to be touching, but not enough for a normal person to suspect anything. The way that they always seemed to unconciously check if the other was there before speaking. And then there was the invisible bond that the two seemed to share, not quite as strong as the one that had been between him and Kyrin, but still noticable to one who had seen it before.
It was suprising to say the least. He had been warned by numerous teachers to watch out for the fith year Gryffindor/Slytherin class. Apparently they were always picking fights with eachother, a constant competition between the two houses, and according to most teachers these two were the worst. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, the infamous rivals, constantly at eachother's throats for one reason or another. He almost laughed aloud at how wrong they were.
Is this the one you were talking about?' He asked Draco curiously in Elvish The one that you love?'
Draco jerked away from Harry as if he'd been stung. Is it that obvious?' he asked worriedly, also slipping back into Elvish.
This time Elian had to laugh. Not particularly, no. Most people wouldn't notice, but then again, I'm not most people. I am an Elf.'
Yes, I had noticed.' Draco replied wryly.
Elian stretched, reaching his arms towards the roof and arching his back. Today has been good. I haven't laughed in far too long.' His face turned serious again as he remembered the reason. How did he die Draco? Elves are immortal.'
Draco's pale face turned even whiter and he clutched at Harry's hand. My father took his immortality. Then when he couldn't learn anything from Kyrin, he used a poison that slowly killed him.'
Elian clutched at the edge of his seat desparately. Please tell me he didn't-'
Draco knew what the Elf couldn't say, the rites to take away an Elf's immortality involved extremely potent and dangerous dark magic as well as a considerable amount of pain on the Elves behalf. Lucius Malfoy had made his son watch while the rite was perform and it had shocked Draco to the core. No living thing should go through something as horrible as what Lucius had done to Kyrin, most of all one so pure as and Elf.
I am so sorry Elian.'
The Elf bent his head and silent tears began to fall down his face.
Long minutes passed before he lifted his head to look at the two boys. He shall pay for this.' he vowed But I wish to know how it is that you were his friend when your father was the one who hurt him so much?'
Draco smiled sadly Either he felt sorry for me or thought someone need to teach me not to be a heartless bastard like my father is. Probably a little bit of both.'
Elian's eyes were filled with heart-wrenching pain. I don't understand how he could have been caught.'
Draco sighed and shook his head sadly Neither do I Elian. I don't understand alot about my father or how he does things, all I know is that he uses Dark Powers and has the will of Voldemort behind him.'
Harry blinked at Draco. Hang on a sec, why d'you keep calling him Elian? Could you please fill me in a bit here.'
Draco glanced over to where Elian had resumed staring out of the window, then shrugged and turned back to Harry. Professor Jones here is actually and Elven Prince named Elian Indus. My father captured a very close friend of his, Kyrin Anira, he-'
Harry interrupted again. Are we talking me/you close or me/ron close here?'
Draco smiled Me/you close. They were, I know this sounds corny, but they were soul-mates. From what Kyrin told me, they each had a part of eachother in their hearts, and were connected by their love for eachother. That means that when Kyrin died, a part of Elian died as well. I'm not sure I really understand it.'
Harry smiled lightly but his eyes were puzzled. You are clueless today.' he said jokingly.
Draco just shrugged and brushed a strand of his silver blonde hair out of his eyes. No one fully understands the way of Elves. Speaking of which-' he turned to face the Elf. Elian, why is it that you are teaching here at Hogwarts? You are an Elven prince. If my father, or worse, Voldemort found out that you are here...'
Elian smirked wryly. Most Elves have pointed ears Draco.' he said pulling back his hair to reveal normal, human-like ears. And there are other ways that Professor Liam Jones differs from the Elven prince Elian Indus. I am suprised that you figured it out.'
Now it was Draco's turn to smirk. I had a little help from Kyrin. He told me about you disguising yourself as human and going off to live with them under the name Liam Jones. Apparently you got lost and he had to come and rescue you before the king found out. Then there was the fact that you know so much about Elves, as you said, not many humans know much about them. And of course, you seemed to know Kyrin, and more importantly his Elven surname. Not even my father knew that.'
He obviously trusted you alot.' Elian replied And to answer your question, I came to get away from my memories. I had always been interested in humans, so when Dumbledore offered me the job I accepted. My father wasn't too happy about it but there was nothing that he could really do to stop me. He knew I was upset and didn't want me to be more so. Although coming here doesn't seem to have helped all that much in the memories department. I find that I am to teach the murderer's son. Then I find that the murderer's son seems to know more about Kyrin than anyone but me. It is strange to say the least.'
Harry frowned thoughtfully. I think that Dumbledore knows alot more about Kyrin's death than he's letting on.'
Draco and Elian both stared at him blankly.
Think about it.' Harry continued. Elian is doing the best he can to get away from memories of Kyrin, effectively slipping into denial, and trust me on this one, making it worse. Draco appears to be doing the same thing, he hasn't told anyone about Kyrin, not even me, his boyfriend, or Ashley, his best friend.' He glared at Draco accusingly who replied with a nonchalant shrug. Dumbledore is a known meddler, very good at "helping" people. He's done it to me a couple of times. This time I agree completely with him. You're both making it worse for yourselves by not talking to anyone.'
Elian's eyes blazed angrily. Did he even think about what would have happened if Draco was loyal to his father and found out who I was. I am an Elven prince! If I was killed by a human, both Elven houses would join together and declare war on humans! The results would be disastrous for both races!'
I think that he knew Draco wasn't working for his father, or for Voldemort.' Harry told him. Considering the fact that he asked Draco to spy for him.'
Elian didn't look much happier. I still don't like people meddling in my private affairs.'
Draco nodded. I agree.' he looked down at his watch then back up again. My fellow Slytherins are going to be crying for blood if I don't return soon. Whose blood, I don't know, but they will be.'
Harry leaned over and looked at Draco's watch too. You're right, I'd probably better get back soon too. We've already missed lunch. Amazingly, I'm grateful that Potions has been moved to tommorrow because Snape couldn't get someone to take the class while he's away this afternoon. Even if tommorrow is a Saturday.'
Draco mock bowed to Elian. I'll come and talk with you again, Professor Jones.'
*****
Harry Potter!' Hermione yelled angrily as Harry walked in through the common room door. All heads in the room turned her way. Where on earth have you been!' she stood up with her hands on her hips and glared at him. Don't you dare do that again! You just walked off to Merlin knows where, anything could have happened to you-'
Ron clamped a hand over her mouth to shut her up and pulled her back down into her seat.
Seamus turned from where he was draped over a seat talking to the sixth year Martyn Hansen Hermione you sound like your either his bloody wife or his mam!'
Hermione blushed as everyone started to laugh.
Sorry Harry,' she said quietly I thought maybe that awful bastard Malfoy might have jumped you or something.'
This time she clamped her own hand over her mouth when she realised what she had said could mean. And the fact that it could be true.
Ashley doubled over laughing and Seamus turned away from Martyn again.
I don't know Hermione,' he said, smiling wickedly I wouldn't mind having Malfoy jump. He is awfully sexy.'
Would you like me to tell him that?' Ashley asked sweetly He is my best friend after all. Mind you, I'm not sure what he'll say. You probably should've asked earlier, he isn't single anymore.'
Seamus tapped his chin thoughtfully. Well I'm not single either...I know, we can have a foursome!'
Harry glared at Ashley and Martyn glared at Seamus. Meanwhile Hermione had returned her attention to Harry.
So where were you Harry?' she asked.
With E-Professor Jones.' he replied sitting down on a chair next to Ashley. He wanted to ask me about Hagrid.'
This seemed to convince Ron and Ashley but Hermione still looked suspicious. What did he wan't to know?'
Harry shrugged There were scorch marks on the walls. He wanted to know if there'd been a fire.
Hermione looked triumphant. I told Hagrid it wasn't a good idea to-'
Ron clamped his hand over her mouth again when he noticed that most of the people in the room were trying not to make it too obvious that they were listening.
Shutup Hermione.' he growled out What happened to your usual excess of intelligence?'
Hermione sank back into her chair dejectedly. I think I'm still in shock from this morning. I'm not sure that I like it. It's just not right.'
Ashley jumped up out of her chair and stood, glaring down at Hermione. A collective gasp went up from everyone in the room as her hair darkened to pitch black.
Ron's right. Your usual intelligence is gone. I would have thought that you were smart enough not to say something like that in front of me.' she snapped. You pretend to be Miss-Righteousness and then you go and say something stupid like that. Perhaps what happened this morning doesn't fit into your overblown ideas of what a perfect world should be like but do not try and deny people happiness because of that!' she paused and took a breath before continuing in a slightly more subdued voice. I'll admit that I was shocked when we found out but it's their choice. They're happy with it and this could be one of their last chances to be happy. Think about what's happy to the three of us! You might not be involved but we are and we have every right to be happy. So give them a chance! If you can't do that then perhaps I judged you wrong. I thought that you were a nice person, but I have been known to be mistaken and perhaps this is one of those times.'
Hermione stared at her aghast. I didn't-' she began, but Ashley didn't let her finish.
Take a look at your attitude Miss-I'm So-Perfect-Granger.' she turned to Harry I'm going to go visit Remy, come with me?'
He nodded and followed her out of the room, stopping next to Martyn and Seamus he whispered, I wouldn't do anything too obvious.' he said. I think that you'll get a talking to from Hermione. It seems that she doesn't approve of that sort of thing.' he glanced wearily in her direction. Trust me.'
Seamus smiled innocently. What sort of thing Harry?'
I may need glasses, but I'm not blind.' Harry replied and left.
*****
This chapter was originally longer but I got bored of typing it. As soon as can motivate myself to type the rest chapter 10 will arrive. In the meantime be nice and review.
I think that I need a beta-reader, if you're interested e-mail me at emily@ingenious.com.au or watashiwa_shinigami@hotmail.com or review and tell me.
