Disclaimer: I won nothing that you recognize from any of J.K. Rowlings books. Nor do I own the things belong to J.R.R Tolkien. Anything that I've invented I do own, you know what that is. Don't sue. And don't complain. Enjoy!

*`*`*`*`*`*

I love the time and in between

The calm inside me

In the space where I can breathe

I believe there is a distance I have wandered

To touch upon the years of

Reaching out and reaching in

Holding out holding in

I believe

This is heaven to no one else but me

And I'll defend it as long as I can be

Left here to linger in silence

If I choose to would you try to understand?

Chapter Six

The Ol'ore Malle

The Paths of Dreams

Deep in the woods, Centaurs and elves stopped their dancing. The pounding of hooves and the pads of paws against soft and fertile ground was heard from a distance. Several of a travailing band of elves showed their first signs of fear since arrival and retreated back into the thicket, but the older and wiser conversed in low tones with the centaurs before bursting out in merry mirth and calling back their people. "'Tis frequent visitors coming, werewolf and their friends have seemingly returned. May I ask some of the more skillful of the hunt to seek them out?" And all at once, the music began again and the dance resumed, feasters went back to their feasting and the wise, and not so wise, went back to their talk. Poetry flowed as frequently as the nymph nectar and the two governors of the creatures sighed; glad to see their people contented, however short a time it was to last.

Soft feet met soft turf, the elven hunters ran, seeking out their friends in a once known land.

Moony lay down happily, Padfoot scurried around the tree with Wormtail and Nut and Athens were flying around his head, diving down occasionally to deliver small berries and leaves, eventually giving him a crown. Pele looked at him thoughtfully for a moment and, having decided upon something, flew off, returning moments later with a thorn, placing it dead center, where the largest of the stones would have gone. Nut and Athens looked confused for a moment before bowing their heads.

'A crown of thorns,' thought Moony, 'how very appropriate.'

Prongs seemed rather dissatisfied with this and began to chase Pele around, who refused to go back on her decorative decision. After a few more "peaceful" moments had passed, Moony once again let out a howl, which stopped all play, stood up from his comfortable position, and signaled that it was time to move again. All followed him, though he knew not where to lead them. Pele suddenly stopped her flying and sunk back to the earth, changed into a doe and ran off in the other direction, her best friends following. At least, a large cat and a very white horse followed the doe.

"Was that the girls?"

"Suppose so."

"Were any of those things a danger to rats?"

"Everything is a danger to rats, Wormtail."

A frightened squeak ran through the forest's previously undisturbed air.

"So the first one was Lily, the doe, but I didn't get to see which one was the cat and the horse."

"Wait, Lily is a doe?" Sirius asked, amused.

Silence.

"Erm, yes." James answered truthfully.

"And James is a Stag…" Another silent, slightly indignant, pause. "This is just too good."

"Shut it, Padfoot."

The stag knocked the Grim over with his antlers.

Soft feet meet soft turf and eyes watch as strangers round upon them. Two of cloven hoof and one of padded paw, surprise staying their attack. 'They were expecting an enemy,' one of the hunt realizes. Greetings were given and friendly invitations exchanged; purposes to be found the same.

Running and playing, all the while, searching for a more blithesome place.

Magic, very strong, rushed under those light feet. Looking up, magical bird's reflection could be seen in their eyes, sharing space with wonderment. Their voices sang. They had found the Ones.

"Bickering as usual boys?" Pele was back and so were Nut and Athens, they were alone.

"Did we just catch a glimpse of your other forms?" Prongs said, exchanging one question for another.

"Yes, and no more questions for the moment. We're expected much deeper in the forest."

"It's not safe to go into much further."

"It's not safe, if you don't have a guard. Allow me to introduce our escorts to the party!" Pele flung her wings back behind her and four people jumped with agile ease from the branches above them, landing in front with a bow. They were all very tall and lean, but all else was covered in gray cloaks, cloaks made of magic thread and things that wavered with the air, blending, if the wearer so wished, perfectly into the background.

"We are pleased to see you, it has been too long. Yet you are all different from the last time we saw you, except you, Godric. But never mind that; there will be plenty of time for explanations during our merry making. Allow us to introduce ourselves, for you have not seen us since we were too young for our names to be chosen. I am Airendell, chieftain of the seekers of my people. This is Satair, Ravearth and Lableon. We will take you to the Centaurs, who are merrymaking with our people deep in the forest, away from preying eyes."

"Away from preying eyes, eh? Sounds like just the place we were looking for, lead on Airendell!"

The creatures formed a diamond around the group, one on each side, one to the front and one to the back, before dashing away. Had the group been humans, there would have no chance to keep up. As it was, they bolted into the very center of the forest and beyond. None of them had ever ventured so far; little did they know how large the flow of the forest floor spanned, how deep she could go.

*`*`*`*`*

"Welcome!"

The gang spun around to find their guides missing and two obviously grand elders standing behind them, a whole community of celebrators behind.

"Erm, hullo?"

Laughter followed making everyone feel relatively at ease, but concern still clouded their minds. The centaurs had never consorted with anyone but Hagrid as far as they knew. These beings almost looked…human. Only much more elegant and most certainly beautiful. For one crazed moment the Maurderers thought they were in the presence of angels, but something clued them in.

The pointed ears.

"You're elves aren't you?"

"Yes, how I would think you would remember!"

"Remember? We didn't even know the forest had elves, granted we've never been this deep before."

"But, don't you remember coming here with Godric long ago, in your time, when the forest was filled with my family. Before the first of the dark lords?"

"Excuse me? Godric…you mean Godric Gryffindor?"

"Of course, Godric, the one next to you."

"This is Remus." James nodded his antlers towards Remus, who was busy enjoying all the elven children crawling on him. He looked up into the eyes of everyone and realized that they must be talking about him, he blinked towards Clio, who landed on his back and nuzzled her head to him in reassurance.

"Hold up, where are our guides?"

"Why, we've been here the whole time." Directly behind the elders, stood Airendell and his friends. Without their cloaks, as awesome as those had been, they looked much more royal. Cloaks thrown back around their necks, revealing garb of periwinkle, white and gold. Their hair was long and their eyes shown with mirth at the predicament of their newly found friends.

Finally, Lily couldn't stand it. "I think I shall clear the air, if I may."

"If the fair maiden is willing to take on such a task, so be it." The Elder elf seemed to be humoring Lily; she ignored the unspoken slight.

"You, my dear elves, seemed to once inhabit the forbidden forest, for one reason or another had to leave it. But while you were still living here, however, Godric and the other founders came to visit you, right?"

"Why would they?" James was lost; he wasn't the only one.

"Because Godric was a werewolf." Remus was making his first attempt at communication. As a werewolf, as opposed to an Animagi or a Natural, it was harder for him to speak. "The sorting hat told me."

"Yes, you're right. On the three days of the full moon, Godric used to come see us for help and comfort for we once not only inhabited this- forbidden forest did you call it? - But we ruled it as well. In our day we called it Dor Faidwen, the land of release. Its name has changed though, it is now Tol Eressea, the lonely land."

"Why is it lonely?" Everyone was seated and had a reminiscent feeling of story times from there childhood.

"Because it no longer has its gardeners. Before man and many beasts, the earth was given to the elves to take care of. I believe up at the school all of you founded, you practice something called magic?"

"Yes, but once again, we didn't found it."

"No matter who founded it, what you call magic is not so for us." For the first and last time, the high elf seemed to be almost hesitant, as if unable to communicate the depth of what he wished to say. "It is our being, a part of us, just like our minds and spirits. I suppose you would call the magic our spirits. If you asked an elf, they would plainly tell you that we do not use magic. Most of our kind do not know what that word means. I must confess its use still confounds me, even after Rowena explained it to me so very patiently. Whatever it is, it fuels the Forrest and keeps it alive. Even when we have been absent for so long, it is still powerful. But it is no longer joyous. It is lonely and dangerous. Perhaps that is why you now call it forbidden?"

"Probably, I never thought about the forest needing to be taken care of, it's just such a wild thing."

"A wild thing it is, but even wild things need someone to watch over them sometimes. And that's why we've come back. We're going to take care of it one last time."

"You seem to care much about the forest, why did you leave in the first place?"

"There was to much evil on the edge of it. Time after time, since the school moved in, evil has settled in our forest, slowly delving deeper and deeper into her. The only hope to even keep it alive was to travel into other lands, so that we would not be destroyed. Godric and the others were very kind in helping us…. Until the split."

"You mean when Slytherin tried to leave the school?"

"Aye, that's right, and then he turned on everyone. We never knew what made him do it, he seemed so amicable on the midnight visits."

"He came? Here?" James was appalled.

"Willingly?" Peter squeaked.

"Oh yes, all of them. Helga, Rowena and Salazar used to come and support Godric during his transformations."

"Our only image of Gryffindor and Slytherin is of hem arguing…"

"Yes, in the last little while, possibly five or more years in your time, they began to have their differences show, but only a little. But right before we left they began to argue constantly. And as we left the forest, we heard rumor that Slytherin tried to kill Gryffindor. But lo, we didn't have time to stop, and we haven't come to live here again since then."

*`*`*`*`*

Interlude: The Great Greasy Git Grumbles

*`*`*`*`*

Severus Snape was not one to take frequent trips into the Forest, despite public opinion; Snape was no more pleased to have a conversation with a group of Hinkypucks then the next wizard. He had, of course, taken a few trips near the outskirts to collect potions ingredients (the potions master was too much of a coward and would never even think of endangering his son, heavens no). Never, in his entire ambitious Hogwarts carrier, had he been "dragged" this far into the forest. Damn Gryffindor's. It's their entire fault. Everything is their fault; including his impending position as a Death Eater.

Snape could of course, back this up with perfect logic. Lord Voldemort was a relative of Salazar Slytherin (whether ancestor or descendant, the Dark Lord would not say). Hundreds of years ago, Salazar and Godric had argued as to the purity of blood and whether or not that made a difference in the outcome of magic. Thus the first recorded war in light and dark magic in England began (unless Tolkein was truly serious about Sauron, which, of course, would in fact explain some things about the Worlds State). Unfortunately, the whole thing was never settled, despite Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs best attempts, and now, possible more than a thousand years later, they were still having wars about it. Severus didn't actually care that much about pure blood, of course he would never admit it, but it was obvious that, while not incredibly bright in everyday matters (for heavens sake, she voluntarily hung out with Potter), Lily Evens was a very talented witch. Passing even him in every subject except potions.

Severus continued to grumble about certain Gryffindor's bad habit of playing on the full moon. He had long suspected the reason for Remus' absences, but had never had proof, and that great all loving equal opportunity Headmaster would never kick Remus out. Then again, Snape could make his life a living hell until he dropped out, couldn't he? The fact that he had found the other Gryffindor fifth years to be sneaking out to "Help Remus" on the full moon was just a perk. A great, wonderful, perk. Severus obviously hadn't been raised for friendship, he was in fact not built for any kind of love. He never understood the fact that the school founders had risked becoming Animagi (a rarely practiced principle at the time) to help Godric. Let alone since Godric was a werewolf and even if several people had become soft towards the beasts over the recent years, they most certainly weren't then. The weakness of friendship must certainly be a strong one. Snape stopped to observe that he must have been getting closer to wherever those abominable Gryffindor's where. White fur from a Stags pelt was caught on a burnt tree, evidently there was some sort of brawl, but Severus couldn't find any traces of wand magic.

He continued on, never dropping his train of thought. If friendship was this much a threat to reputation, then Severus was glad that little Malfoy, his supposed best friend, was trying to plan his destruction. Never mind, Severus was about to become part of a much larger circle than the Slytherin house. He, on his 16 birthday, was going to be initiated and become a Death Eater. Severus had no doubt about passing, especially since it was tradition. The Snapes' didn't concern themselves with much other than themselves, and since they themselves where purebloods, they sided with what many would call the "Dark Side." Snapes' simply called it the winning side, the side of power. Power, that's why he was doing it. He would get the power, not by friendship with the Death Eaters; friendship did not exist in that circle, more than one Death Eater had handed his best mate over to the Aurors to stay out of trouble. No, the Death Eaters functioned under two simple and basic principles: a lust for power and sworn loyalty to one thing, and one thing only, Lord Voldemort.

They would do all his bidding, in exchange for power. They would have everything: family, power, and blood on their hands. Blood. That was the one thing Severus didn't quite have a taste for (besides Gryffindor's). Why did they have to kill the stupid muggles? Stupidity wasn't a reason for death.

'It is this time,' he told himself firmly.

He would have it all. And he would wipe those stinking smiles off of Black and Potters faces, permanently. Black and Potter had never really done anything to him, except for all the usual pranks they pulled on everyone, even each other. But sometimes, to some people, that's enough to drive them to do things that no one should do.

Family, Power, and Blood on his hands.

Damn those Gryffindor's.

*`*`*`*`*

Back with the Elves:

*`*`*`*`*

"All right, that's it!" Lily and the rest of the girls transformed into themselves, while the boys stayed in their forms to keep Remus calm.

"Godric was killed by Slytherin! This is whole new information!" Clio, apparently, didn't like new information unless it came from a good, hearty and reliable, book.

"We said he tried to kill Godric, not that he did. We have no idea how he actually died."

This calmed Clio down and she stopped waving her arms round like a mad woman, but she did pace and continue to mumble to herself, trying to remember if this was in one of her books and she had just missed it.

"Calm down Clio. And stops trying to re-think every book you've ever read! If you missed it the first time it wouldn't be in your memory, Clio!" Thalia stopped trying to reason verbally with her best friend and started to shake her.

Lily, used to such displays, ignored it and began to think out loud. Unnoticed by many whom where now watching Thalia and Clio go at it. "We know the legend of the Chamber of Secrets, Godric refused to 'purge' the school of those like myself 'unworthy' of magic. That probably set him off, then, knowing boys, they never resolved it and now Voldemort, Salazar's heir, is trying to purge the whole dang world.

"Airendell?" Lily called to one of the few elves not still engrossed in the spectacle that was her two best friends.

"Yes, Mistress Lily?"

"Just Lily please. How did Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff feel about the attempted murder?"

"Not to happy from what little I remember. They where very shocked, I suppose they didn't understand how deep the enmity ran between the other two founders. No one did. Rowena and Helga decided to stay out of it, as that seemed to be what the two men desired, and they took leave of the school to come with us partway on our journey west. Then we lost contact with them, until resent times we've had no human contact with the school."

"Have you had any contacts other than human?"

"Yes, Midnight, the chief Pixie for her clan. But you know her, you are the Mistress Natural, she has no doubt befriended you."

"She's done more than that. She ahs become our sworn tutor and guardian."

"You must be very gifted as both witch and Natural; she does often bother with humans."

"No, she does not, and as bothersome as she can be, she always proves her use in the end. Was there any other contacts?"

"Just Bumblebee."

"Bumblebee?" James was James again; Lily jumped about eight feet before hitting him on the arm.

Airendell smiled, "Yes, Bumblebee, the headmaster of your school."

"Dumbledore?" Lily was lost.

"Dumbledore means Bumblebee in Latin, no doubt Midnight and he decided to have fun, always knew they were off their rockers."

Lily was rather dumbfounded that James knew any Latin, then again, it might be part of every young wizard's knowledge of what the great Albus Dumbledore's name meant. After five years, Lily still felt she didn't know enough about the Wizarding World.

Seeing her confusion, James said, "My parents make me take Latin during the holidays, really boring, but I guess it has its uses."

"Why do you learn Latin?" Lily had forgotten about her previous line of question. Airendell was not bothered that he had been obviously forgotten, and decided to study this oddball group of soon to be Hero's. The Centaurs had entrusted much information to the elves and they now knew more about the state of things than pleased them.

"Knowledge of Latin and other stupid things like that are required of someone in my family."

"You're not really answering the question you know."

"Yes, I do. I really don't like talking about it."

"We all know you're family is rich James."

"Yes, and we all know yours is too."

"Not rich enough that knowing Latin is mandatory."

"True."

"Mistress?"

Lily turned, despite herself; James coughed, mumbling something obscene, Lily kicked him in the shins.

"Yes, Airendell?"

"Midnight is waiting for you, she is very anxious."

"Lead on." Lily left without James who seemed to be pondering something, while nursing his shin.

"She wanted Prongs too, which one is that?"

"That's him." Lily pointed to James; she didn't really feel like getting him, so Airendell beckoned that he should follow.

*`*`*`*`*

Good-byes:

*`*`*`*`*

"Its about time, I called for you three minutes ago." Midnight was again only eight inches

"How would we have heard you out here professor?"

"I wasn't blaming you, I was blaming Airendell, he's the one who has the best hearing of all his people. He probably heard me call before I even opened my mouth."

"You both flatter and berate me properly Midnight. Why did you want to see Mistress Lily and Prongs?"

"That's Master Prongs, not mistress."

Lily snorted but said nothing as Midnight was obviously antsy, and it had nothing to do with eating too much sugar or having to go to the bathroom.

"Someone's tracking us aren't they?" They asked reluctantly

"Yes, two someone's."

"Snape and Malfoy." Lily had not the eyes nor hearing of an elf, but she did know that Thalia merely hexed Malfoy and they were certain Snape was loose.

"What about them?" a new voice asked.

"Peter! Don't scare us like that. What are you doing here? Why aren't you watching the fight?"

"Thalia and Clio were working Remus up, so Sirius stopped them and they're all waiting for you guys. I got worried when you weren't there anymore, so I came to look for you."

'Pure Wormtail,' thought Lily. 'His loyalty is the only thing that keeps him going, he's not cut out for this sort of thing.'

"We were just talking about what to do next, Wormtail. It seems we haven't lost our other companions as well as we had hoped."

"I'm sorry to interrupt Prongs, but did you just call him Wormtongue?"

"No. Wormtail."

"Ah, that is a good thing. I do not have to give harm to your friend then." He sheathed his two blades and stared intently at Wormtail, who was unable to keep his gaze. "We owe much of the downfall to one with a similar name as yours, master Wormtail. You had better be careful with it."

"He'll keep his name, we all gave it to him, he's or friend." James was standing firm.

"I do not doubt that, and for it I am glad. You will need many friends, Master Potter."

"How did you know my last name?"

"James, you're not exactly unheard of, and Bumblebee and I have had to explain your uses to the elves several times over. Please do understand you need to get the others out, NOW! DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE GO TO THE PLANE PATHS! AND CLEAN UP THE MESS YOU TWO MADE!"

Midnight had yet to raise her voice at any of them and the effect was rather startling. She glowed quite brightly, and began to move towards the elder elf, which she seemed to know rather well. "The mess you two made," referred to the fight James and Lily had had while in animal form, they were arguing over directions and, needless to say, Lily got the long awaited wish of blowing fire at James.

"Padfoot, Moony, Pele, Athens, we need to move from here now unless we want Snape to tell the Death Eaters where their next enemy has made camp. MOVE!" Everyone did as commanded.

"How did you know why the elves were here?" Lily asked James as they exited the very heart of the forest.

"Its rather obvious they love that forest, it's a part of them, they looked at it very lovingly, they don't even tread the ground harder than they need to."

"Elves never tread the ground harder than they need to, but go on."

"They're going to protect the forest by any means necessary, it's their duty. They're obviously protecting it against a dark lord, and the only known one is… Voldemort."

"Good boy, say that name!"

"Not again so soon Lily."

"Fine."

"We are here, you know the paths from here on. Visit us again soon, we will find you at a better time. When we can talk to… Moony, too."

Everyone was grateful for this and as they passed each other Airendell passed Lily a peace of paper. She thrust it in her robes, earning a curious glance from James. Had they the eyes of an elf, they would have seen the Centaurs exchange worried looks with Midnight. "They can do it." She repeated to them. "Do not worry because they are young and unsure."

"Many who can, don't"

"These will, these will."

Even without the ears of an elf, they could hear the songs that followed them out of the forest. Evidently the elves were spread throughout the forest and singing of their sorrows and in their praises as they passed:

"How beautiful the day and night;

The earth is singing in the wind,

The voices rise and touch the ski

Telling all the earth's believing,

And in the night the sighs fall down,

And from the skies sighs fall down on me.

And when I move away from view

It rises up to touch the ski

Telling all that I believe in,

And from the night the earth shall sing,

And from the night the earth shall sing,

And from the night the earth shall sing again.

Ba dheas an la go oiche

Na gloritha binne I mo thaobh

'S aoibhness I gach ait gan gruaim

Athes ar mo chroi go deo

He-a-r-o-ro

He-a-r-o-ro

Ma Shiulaim o na laetha beo

An ghrian's an ghealach

My voice is singing in the wind,

Nil uaim ach smaointe o mo shaoil

Deora ar mo chroi go bron

He-a-ro

He-a-ro

He-a-o-ro"

*`*`*`*`*

The Run:

*`*`*`*`*

"Alright, so if we can't take any normal paths, we'll just have to figure another way out. I suppose the girl can fly out, Remus has to sneak back into the shack…But there's only one path we know of back there…and everyone knows it, well, everyone who's ever run through the forest."

"I assume Snape has?"

"At least the outskirts, and that's where the path is."

"Athens, Nut, go to the clearing by the edge of Bane's old spot, James' Broomstick should still be there, unless Hagrid found it. Bring it back, James and Peter can at least leave on that."

Athens and Nut did as commanded, James turned to Padfoot and Moony, "Padfoot, go along the path to Hogsmead, then take a U-turn and you'll face the shack, keep moony there and then wait for Lily, she should be there to carry you back."

"How is Lily going to carry me back?"

"She's a Phoenix, strength above just about every other animal, remember?"

"No, have you actually been paying attention in class Prongs?"

"Shut up you two. Prongsy, do you have your cloak?"

"Yes."

"Good, you'll need it to fly without being seen. But how on earth have you kept a cloak with you this whole time?"

"I hung it on my antlers, they make a great coat rack."

Clio and Thalia discontinued the discussion by dropping a Silver Arrow on James' head. Silver Arrows where not the best brooms for Quidditch, James had a Nimbus for that. The Silver Arrow was like owning a vintage automobile, classic. Unfortunately, this was not HIS classic.

"This isn't my broom."

"What?"

"Mine has my fathers initials inscribed in it, this doesn't."

"That's because its Lily's, yours wasn't in the clearing, but a note saying 'Gotcha where I wantcha' was."

"Snape should never quote modern pop culture, it doesn't suit him." Sirius took on the air of a great literary critique.

"Stop it. Padfoot, make for the shack, I'll be by in twenty minutes, James, take Peter, keep him in mouse form, the cloak will fit better that way. We're off."


Three birds made their quick escape up into the dormitories followed by a boy and a mouse. Two dogs were less lucky.

"Padfoot."

"Shush Moony, it's too hard for you to talk."

"Padfoot!"

"What!"

"I smell other humans, if we don't get out now…"

It was much easier for Sirius and Remus to get along in animal form; both being some sort of dog creature they could communicate with ease. The only problem was when it came time to wrestle Remus to the ground, say when a kid got in their way, the job usually fell on Sirius; him being the big black Grim that he was. Sirius both loved and hated this, who wouldn't love a chance to fight and play with a werewolf without getting harmed (a werewolf can't turn a dog into a wolf, only humans). But then again, he sometimes had to hurt Remus to keep him down, and no one likes to taste their best friends blood in their own mouth. Therefor Sirius opted to try and get Remus away from the spot, rather than have somebody (somebody most likely being Snape or Malfoy) spot him and freak. They ran, Sirius occasionally having to shove Remus in the right direction, all the way until Hogsmead, before they met trouble. Unfortunately, trouble was already there.

"Hello…I know you're one of Potters gang, now which one exactly?" Severus Snape was standing in their way, wand out, eyes ready to kill.

(A.N. the author would like to point out that this chapter is plenty long enough and she could just leave you right here, to wait another three weeks while I procrastinate with the next chapter, but being the wonderful person she is, here is the next and final part. You owe me.)

*`*`*`*`*

The Morning After:

*`*`*`*`*

'My head hurts. I'm hungry. Why is it so darn bright in here? Where are the others? Did something crawl in my mouth and die? Ewe, forget the hungry. What did Pomfrey make me drink? Oh wait, that was Padfoot's impromptu midnight snack last night. Last time I disregard Clio's advice, I hope she was joking about the armadillo droppings. My head still hurts, then again, so does everything else. That's it, I want my MUMMY!'

Such were the first brilliant thoughts of the day by one Remus J. Lupin. His second and third thoughts of the day were that he had been returned to his dorm room, that his friends were hovering by the edge of his bed. Fourth came the reason for the bright light, a hovering bulb of light with wings, floating in one of the many open windows in the dorm. The day was bright and mild, but there was a slight breeze outside. It tickled Remus' starling human skin and made him feel scalded for some reason. He groaned, inadvertently drawing his friend's attention to himself.

"My head hurts." He finally said, giving up the wild speculation as to what in the ham sandwich that bright dot could be.

"Good day to you too. Madam Pomfrey was kind enough to drop off some headache potion for you, should you need it."

"No, no, never mind."

"So your head doesn't hurt then?"

"Feels like a million Chimaera's are tap dancing on my brain yes, but I'll live."

"But my dear Moony, it's the quality of life that counts." Padfoot said, grinning and handing the cup to Moony, who pushed it away.

"Trust me, if I drink that, the quality of my life will drop below a Slytherin's."

"Shush! We do not speak of such things here!" Sirius was plainly joking, but he was also plainly made grumpy by the mention of a Slytherin before breakfast, and his coffee.

"Why shouldn't we? McGonnagal soundproofed the place after we moved in." James said grinning a grin to rival Sirius'.

"Aside from that obvious achievement, yes…"

"Guys, what happened last night?" Remus interrupted.

Sirius wrinkled his nose, "You smelled human flesh," Remus looked incredibly disappointed in himself. "But," Sirius quickly added, "you were the one to try to get out of there. I mean, you wanted nothing to do with it, I didn't even have to wrestle you! So you owe me one," he flashed a winning smile.

"I'll remember that, but I also remember seeing Snape, with a wand, pointed at you."

"Oh, that. Pele took care of it."

"How did she do that without reveling who she was?"

"Remember that " playful little spat" she shot at me? Well, imagine that, only when she's really mad."

"I'd rather not. You know she's really something special, notice how all those elves bowed to her and stuff? Everyone like, revered them, you'd better watch it mate, she won't-"

"Be around forever, I know, I know." James said, a lazy hand gesture shooing away the words and stares of the others, "Padfoot was kind enough to inform me of that while you were asleep, over and over again. Only with some more interesting idea's about her and Airendell."

"Somehow I can't picture Lily with an elf." Peter said in a matter of fact voice, the one that he usually only got to use in Herbology.

Sirius shrugged and Remus winced. "Those elves made me feel funny, there's something so…reminiscent, about them. They've been forgotten, they were the first creatures here, and we've left them behind." He looked up from his musings to see blank faces and raised eyebrows; he apologized. "I'm sorry. This has gotten way out of control. Someone could have really gotten hurt. If Lily hadn't swooped down on Snape, Padfoot could be dead, or worse"

Sirius made a disgusted face, as if he had half been wishing Pele hadn't come so he could have ripped Snape limb from limb.

"Or I could have hurt the girls, or even you…. I could have even bitten and elf! I could have injured a majestic being!" Remus was quite plainly begging for closer on the issue.

"You must really hold a high opinion of yourself, if you think you could harm one of those elves, my dear Moony."

"Sensei!"

"Would you please stop popping up all over the school like that?" Peter asked, the wind knocked out of him from shock.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't possibly. Dumbledore specifically requested I do so, it's in my job description."

"Oh, of course. And to what do we owe this visit?" James asked.

"I have come up with the specific task of getting your Quidditch captain to pick dates for both practice and games. Amos has requested a day in November and seeing how Mudungus Fletcher is absent and I don't have time to track him down, I have to ask the second in command. James, if you would?"

While James signed up for a spot, Sirius asked Midnight, "Isn't this Madam Hooches job?"

"Yes, but she's on a temporary leap of absence. So I, being the only truly impartial teacher in the school," The boys exchanged doubtful looks, "volunteered to referee in her place."

"Why did she leave?" Peter asked, concerned

"Death in the family, "Midnight admitted, drooping visibly. Everyone nodded, death in the families were becoming more regular than sick leave.

"Which reminds me, James, Dumbledore needs to see you in his office this afternoon about Christmas, he received a request from you're Grandmother and wished to get your opinion on it."

"Alright, but I don't know the-"

"Earwax, the password is earwax."

"Should you have told us all that?" Remus questioned.

"Oh, I'm sure you would never ever abuse that knowledge."

Sirius became mock serious, drawing the attention back to himself, "Oh my! The very idea! Shall we say hullo to Fawxes while we're there?"

"Please do. By the way Sirius, I hope you're not planning anything drastic for Severus, the third degree burns should be quite enough to settle him for a while, don't you think?"

"You don't know Snape." Sirius snapped, air hanging limp in his bite.


Peter jumped and crept closer to James, who wrinkled his brow and locked eyes with Sirius, while Remus dropped all gazes and stared and his Gryffindor sheets.

"Careful Sirius, the severed ropes of a burnt bridge can never match up again."

"Speak English will you?" growled Sirius, but she was gone. "What in the hell!" Sirius said jumping off the bed, causing Remus to hit his head, "Sorry Moony."

"Its Ok," Remus assured him. Sirius' little exclamation hadn't been a question, but Remus answered it anyway, "I think she meant don't burn the bridges between you and Snape."

"Bridges! If there are any bridges linking Snape and I they need to be more than burnt."

Remus heaved a sigh, "That's it, I'm hungry. Let's go down to eat, the Slytherin's are probably getting exited by our late appearance and the girls can't hold us seats forever."

Remus had hoped that this show of strength (he literally leapt off the bed, causing poor Peter to fall off of it), or at least the mention of food, would distract Sirius from his ramblings. It didn't. Though he did help Moony down the stair and knock over a suit of armor when it laughed at Remus' obviously exhausted state. He should have known the very mention of him sharing anything other than the strongest enmity between him and Snape would send him into chagrin. He had a feeling Professor Midnight did, so why did she mention it? Remus knew that half of the animosity Sirius felt toward Snape was on his behalf. Considering that both the first and last thing Sirius believed in was friendship. His father had taught him that; said it was the all mighty bond against anything and everything. His father was another reason Sirius didn't like Snape. The Blacks and the Snape's, both high profile families, both on opposite sides of the political arena. Never shared very friendly feelings. The Blacks were Gryffindor's (with an occasional Ravenclaw) and the Snape's were Slytherin's, two such families could never bond. But no murderous feelings such as the ones that Snape and Sirius posses for each other had ever been so openly exclaimed.

The final blow had been dealt last year, when the Dark Mark appeared over the Blacks house, the night before Sirius had returned from vacation with the Potters. Padfoot had made a good recovery; took on the job of being a good model to his sibling (two of which had been had been home with his parents when the attack happened, Sirius only had one left, an older female sibling who had just graduated). When Sirius got back to Hogwarts he was just as fun and crazy as ever, though Thalia sensed something was wrong he wouldn't let her in and they left it at that. The boys barely knew anything at all, except that he had returned to school with such an overwhelming hatred for Gryffindor's rival house that his whole subconscious, and sometimes conscious, thought was often bent on destroying it. In the tradition of his previous schemes, these were all wild, crazy and doomed not to work, but a guy could dream. This hatred was fueled by the not so common knowledge that Voldemort has once been the Slytherin Head Boy and Prefect, and from the even lesser known fact that Voldemort was in fact Salazar's heir. Dumbledore opened up a lot more about the war to people who were somehow or another caught up in it. Having lost most of his family to it, Sirius was now rather unwillingly in the thick of it.

Sirius targeted his anger mostly toward three families, in descending order: The Snape's, the Malfoy's and the Lestrange's. All openly (as openly as you could be without finding Aurors in your living room) Voldemort supporters. Snape's for power, Malfoy's for pride and Lestrange's for anything and everything. All with a blind faith that Voldemort would conquer the world and hand it to them to play with. Failing to recognize Voldemort's one true trait, that though they all served only him, he served only himself. Sirius had at least this for compensation. Though he was happier than go lucky most of the time, he always had the memory of his family at the back of his mind, and his blood would boil should anyone have less than vengeful feelings toward a Slytherin.

The boys finally reached the great hall, much to the disappointment of a certain table, and took seats by the girls. Even James and Lily stopped bickering in favor of discussing tactics.

"That's was amazing last night!" Thalia practically squealed, despite herself.

"Naturally." Said Sirius, back to his usual mood.

"I just can't believe the Gardeners have finally returned home." Clio said, shaking her head and settling into thought rather than finishing her statement.

"Yeah, think of all the fun this could mean," James said.

Lily rolled her eyes at him, "I hardly think they're here for fun."

"What else are elves good for?" Sirius asked, blank.

"Who knows…"

"Everyone will if you guys don't keep your voices down."

"Sorry." The collective voice that was the Marauder's sang.

"Perfectly understandable. Airendell slipped me a note. I haven't a clue what it means though, probably instructions of some kind or another."

"Not more philosophical junk," Sirius groaned.

'What?" Thalia questioned, drawing back to look at him.

"He's mad because Midnight said something confusing upstairs." Remus slipped in.

"She was upstairs? Since when does she visit you and not us?" Lily was rather offended.

"Oh come on, you've had her since you were like six, we're just making up or lost time," James poked her.

"Nobody has Pixie, and if they do its only for a very short while," she was stubborn.

"Whatever. We have Quidditch practice tonight. Someone tell Mudugus if you see him, I had to arrange it because he was off somewhere. Probably with Anna."

Everyone laughed, Anna Bones and Mudugus Fletcher were the new Hogwarts couple. Mudugus was a year younger but that didn't seem to bother either of them. Anna was head girl and Mudugus was Quidditch captain, the perfect couple.

"Clio, I'll need you too, I know you're only a second string but I need you to be there. The Hufflepuff Beaters are fantastic and I don't want to have to forfeit because one of our Chasers got knocked out and doesn't have a replacement, got that Clio? Clio?"

"What? Oh, yes, right. I'll be there."

"Distracted Athens?"

"Quite frankly, yes. Have any of you begun to see the pattern that's forming here?"

"No." They answered blankly.

"Pixie come out of her peaceful retirement from the forbidden forest, bringing an army of elves, and who knows what else, with her, and its at Dumbledore's request. To top it off, Hagrid told us this morning that the Centaurs are acting funny, talking to humans and coming out to the very edge of the forest. They never did that before. Getting ready for something, though he won't say what."

"So, what are you saying? That Dumbledore's getting reinforcements? But that's his job."

"Actually, it's the Minister of Magic's job, but that's not the point."

"Well then, what is it? And make it quick, breakfast's ending." Sirius hurriedly stuffed some more bacon in his mouth.

"Dumbledore's not calling upon France or America or whoever for war-wizards or funds. No, he's calling up things right out of our Fantastic Beats book! He's planning something…" Clio started to nimble her nail, a thoughtful but bad habit of hers. Thalia took her hand away and told her to suck her thumb if she needed to, but not to ruin the new manicure she had given her. Clio didn't approve of this suggestion.

"So, what you're saying is, Dumbledore's scanning the earth for things non-human to help in our battles? Why should they fight for us?" Remus asked.

"I don't know? Maybe, like for the elves, it's a last stand before they fade away. Maybe its got personal, like Voldemort's getting to cocky and hurting their territory, didn't they say dark lords had hurt their forests before? But they'd need to get into Hogwarts for that…" James was rounding up all his knowledge about the forest, to little effect.

"The forest has two sides stupid, one entry is at Hogwarts, but I'm sure somewhere out there you can get in from the other side."

"Ok, so that's one reason. But the Centaurs could just move, the forest isn't theirs, like it is the elves. What's their deal?"

"Honor for beats maybe? Centaurs are kind of prideful, maybe they're ashamed of some other magical beats actions and want to defend their name?"

"Didn't the profit say something about giants?"

"Yeah, it did."

All further exploration into the mind and actions of Albus Dumbledore and his accomplices were cut short as Snape approached them. "Good day all, did you have a good night?" He asked, his voice dripping with false sincerity.

"What's it to you?" James asked, slinging a careless but calculated arm around Lily, who momentarily considered killing him before she remembered their little game.

'I must remember to bewitch his cloak pink for this later,' she decided.

"Nothing, its nothing to me at all. I'd just hate to see what could keep such usually punctual Gryffindor's in bed all day."

"Yeah? Well, what about you Snape? Madam Pomfrey heal all your burns quickly, or did you have to stay overnight?" Thalia placed a hand on Sirius' arm.

Peter made a mental note of it, 'October 15, first time Thalia restrains someone other than herself.'

"How do you all seem to know about my unfortunate accident with Dumbledore's bird?"

"Rumors," Lily lied quickly, "but how did you manage to get burnt? We hadn't heard it was Fawxes, such a nice bird. What, were you silly enough to ridicule Dumbledore in the birds presence?"

"It was a Phoenix at least, and since we all know that there is only one in this school…" his gaze swept past from person to person, searching for an answer to his unasked question.

"Look Snape, just ask if its one of us, we'll tell you no, and we can both go back to finishing what little breakfast time we have left in peace."

"Down boy. When are you going to learn to curb that temper of yours, Black?"

Thalia was doing more than placing a calm hand on Sirius now, it was more like two calm hands, sever looks and her feet planted firmly on his.

"It'll be your downfall one of these days. " Snape continued, and bending down he whispered, "Just like it was your fathers."

Spectators now had the choice of watching Lily and James coo and one another and Snape and Black pulverize one another. The second choice was best because as soon as Lily and James realized that Snape and Sirius had gone past their usual hissing, they were out of each others arms (much to their own relief) and separating the fight. Remus held back Sirius and James held back Snape while Lily had Clio and Thalia by her in less than a second and they stood in-between the two human battle axes trying to talk some sense. All seemed to be going well, except for the fact that Remus was already so worn out that he had to let Thalia hold on to Sirius as well (she was never very good at talking sense into people anyway). That was until some simpering Slytherin girls stepped in to help their, "Snappy." Sirius almost forgot the hatred boiling over inside him to watch the cat fight that ensued, almost.

*`*`*`*`*

Up on the staff table the remaining teachers chattered amongst themselves, Minerva and Malfoy both being falsely polite while Albus and Pixie traded jokes. When the two former ran off the stop the fight (much to the disappointment of Pixie, her girls were having a spectacular win), Albus turned to the more pressing question he had hoped to ask Midnight all morning. "What do you think of them?"

"I like them."

Albus had plainly not been expecting this, perhaps because it was so simple, "You do?"

"Yes." Midnight said, evidently a little surprised herself. "The best the human race has to offer. They're almost beast worthy. They remind me of you in many ways."

"You flatter me."

Pixie grinned, "I do, but I mean it. Once they go through something's, they will be…great."

"Many are great."

"And many do not do the right things with their greatness, this I know. But these will."

Albus didn't say anything, Pixie was known to be overconfident at times, but she had also been around humans longer than any other had. A Midnight Pixie was no normal magical beast, a mixture of elves, fairies, dragons stone, flowers, unicorn blood and many other things unnamed by men. Their race was small and hidden; Pixie was their leader. Thus bearing the name of their species and the only one of her kind ever to bother with Humans. Perhaps she, like the elves, was having a last stand.

"If you line up dominoes just right," Midnight said, breaking Albus' concentration. "It only takes one small nudge in the right direction before they all fall down."

"Yes, but if you accidentally nudge one before the puzzle is complete, the whole thing is ruined, even if it's just half a moment to soon."

"You don't trust my skill Bumblebee?" Midnight asked, turning to her longtime friend, who had aged considerably since her last trip out of the woods.

"I do not, I doubt the Circumstances. I must wonder why, after all this time, you bother to come out from the woods? I thought you deemed it proper to stay with them until their dying day, possibly venture after some elves and Ents."

"Circumstances Bumblebee, there was never a dark lord before now."

"What about Grindelwald?"

"Pesky little fly he was, definitely bothersome and we lost many white liters in that fight. I am very proud of you for defeating him, though not surprised. But there is a difference between a world war and a fight between two towns over shipping expenses."

"Shipping expenses?" Albus asked, bemused.

"You know, the whole tea tax and all those little things you and your neighbors argued over a few years ago."

"Ah, yes, the Boston Tea Party?"

"That's it."

'She really is quite the eccentric, even I think so,' Albus thought. "As much as I agree with you on the subject of Voldemort being a bigger fish to fry, I do think that England and America's war over freedom was a little more than a spat about tea taxes, though, you where there at the time, not me."

"Well, that's all the sense I could get out of them. Honestly, you humans always ranting on about this and that and none of it ever turning out to be important!" She shook her head, "A lot more than you or I know rest on how we spend every waking, and several of our sleeping hours."

"So, you do think its up to us?"

"Well, maybe not us entirely." Her gaze strayed back to the table of now bickering Animagi and Naturals.

"Must we involve them?" He asked sadly, knowing the answer. As Midnight knew he did know, she didn't bother answering, instead, she posed a question for him.

"Albus, if you were to look into the Mirror of Erised, without thinking about socks, you would see nothing but us all being happy, wouldn't you?"

"I admit that I do occasionally wish for everyone who passes through these walls to be happier than I know they are."

"Even the Slytherin's?"

"Even Slytherin."

"That makes you a better man than me."

"My dear Pixie, I was under the impression that you weren't a man at all."

Midnight scowled, "Oh, don't insult me Albus. You know what I mean." She said, finally turning serious.

"Indeed I do," he sighed. "Indeed I do, though I wish I knew more."

"Albus I can't tell you. That's the horrible thing about knowing mans future, many magical beast know it, and none can prevent it."

"Yes, you're right."

Midnight beamed, she greatly respected Dumbledore and she actually valued his opinion of her (first human ever she cared enough about to bother).

"Can you at least tell me how to fry the great fish?" He asked jauntily, knowing that was the very reason she was here in the first place.

"First, we must catch it. Come along Bumblebee, we have much to discuss and the elves are waiting. I suggest you bring Minerva too, she will most certainly be of good use and she has finished breaking up the fight and handing out detentions. Oh my, it looks like those Slytherin's did take a beating, hum, pity." She clicked her tongue and Albus hid a smile, she didn't bother.

That morning, the morning after the full moon, the students of Hogwarts filed out of the great hall, eleven with freshly written detentions in their hands. Midnight, Dumbledore and Minerva all crossed the great lawns of Hogwarts to the forest, Midnight humming her new theme all the way, seemingly heedless of all else for a while. Until a tall, gray cloaked guide greeted them and she dived into the forest the bore her home.

I believe

This is heaven to no one else but me

And I'll defend it as long as I can be

Left here to linger in silence

If I choose to

Would you try to understand it?

I would like to linger here in silence

If I choose to

Would you understand it?

Would you try to understand…?

*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*

Authors Notes: Praise the LORD! It's done! This chapter was something of a task for me, though I am very proud of it, even though it is riddle with cheesy things. I had a hard time writing it earlier because of Christmas and all, and then after that I was sick, and then I lost my outline, and then after that I just got plain and down right lazy. But it's done now and I'm pretty happy with it.

The Song at the top and bottom of the story is from Sarah McLachlan and its called "Elsewhere," from her "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" album. Get any of her albums peoples, they're all wonderful. I'll be adding a song that represents the "theme" of the chapter at the top. The song the elves sang was by Enya from her "A day without Rain" album, another artist who has only wonderful albums.

I just finished reading all three of the Lord of the Rings books and saw the movie (twice) and I'm now reading the Silmarillion (wow, my spellchecker really doesn't like that word) so pardon me if I get a little…Mirkwood-ish on you. I've been planning this "Elven" element of the plot for a while, but reading the Hobbit and L.O.T.R. helped.

And word to everyone who made the Harry Potter movie. I say they did an awesome job, even if it was different in some places than the book, it still rocked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::does her happy Harry Potter dance::

I also completely forgot to tell you in the last note of this kind, that Pele is the Hawaiian goddess of fire (thus lily/Phoenix). Nut is the Egyptian goddess of the night sky (a raven is a bird of the night by mythology- Thalia) I've also seen it spelled Nuit. My computer doesn't like that one. And Athens comes from Athena, whose bird is the owl. Got it? Good. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and rest assured that the next chapter is all planned out and all I have to do is write it. ;-)

Also, if you so wish, go back and look because I re-loaded the previous chapters with songs framing them as in this chapter. It's not quite a song fic; they just help express the feelings of one or more characters. Also, the intro is new and shorter, now being properly called the synopsis and I beg you to R&R!

Peace!

Midnight Arrow-------à *o*