-Who's your date? -

Saira was awoken in the morning by a tapping at her window. She rubbed her eyes before stepping onto the cold floor to see what it was to find a tiny owl was fluttering outside.

"Mani en --?" --What the? —

Saira stumbled to the window and opened it. She still wasn't quite used to all the wizard ways of life. The small bird fluttered in and landed on her dresser dropping a letter and flew away before Saira could do anything. She took a closer look and saw it bore the crest of Hyrule's former royal family, the Triforce symbol.

"Oh my god. Please be good news," She said as she ripped it open. It was written in Elvish making it easier for Saira to read.

'Dear Sairalinde,

I bring good news to fill your heart. Your brother is safe. Not but ten minutes ago he staggered out of the Forest Temple. He has defeated the evil that took refuge there. The only dire news is that he is rather injured. It is nothing that cannot be healed so do not worry. Saria and Rauru are helping him all they can. I refuse to let him continue until he is fully regenerated. He still has much to accomplish and your love will prove helpful for him to succeed. Do not forget why you are there. Link wants me to remind you that he loves you. Legolas should have given you a book of spells. They will be useful to you in the future. It contains the most powerful spells known the elves. I've asked Legolas to teach them to you. Stay on your guard and keep up your skills

Namaarie,
Princess Zelda'

Saira held the letter and read it over and over again. All of a sudden Liz burst in smiling ear to ear.

"What are you so happy about?" Saira asked smiling equally as large now.

"Well some people are saying that professor Moody turned Malfoy into a ferret!"

"What? Why?" Saira asked worriedly.

"Apparently he tried to curse Harry while his back was turned" Liz shrugged.

"Why would Draco want to do that?"

"No offense Saira, but Malfoy isn't as great as you think he is. Plus, he and Harry have been rivals since their first day at Hogwarts" Liz said, "C'mon, get dressed. It's Hogsmeade weekend"

"What weekend?" she asked walking to her dresser

"Hogsmeade. The local town" Liz clarified.

"Oh, ok"

"Me, Hermione and everyone will wait for you downstairs."

"Ok, I'll be there in a minute" Saira quickly changed when Liz left the room. She put on her cloak and raced downstairs. She was surprised to see Isilwen, Aranel, and Ita.

"Well, the whole gang's here" she said

"C'mon, I'm starving" Ron said

Everyone laughed as they headed out. The girls walked in front while the boys tagged along behind. They fell back a little so that they could talk.

"How do you say your name again?" Ron asked Ita'istar.

"I-tuh-iss-tar" he pronounced slowly

"It-oh-is-tear" Ron tried to repeat

"Uh, just call me Ita. I-tuh" he said with slight irritation

"Right"

"What does it mean?" Harry asked curiously

"Illusionist" Ita answered nicely having more respect for Harry.

"That's cool. So how come you've never tried to hang out before now?" Ron asked

Ita looked ahead at Saira who was laughing with the girls. It was because of her, but he didn't want to say so.

"I'm a loner. I prefer to be by myself, or no offense, with other elves. It was the way I was brought up. Nothing against you gents."

"Hey, I got a question" Ron said, "If you already know a lot of magic, how come you have to come here?"

"I'm not at liberty to say" Ita lied. The only reason he was here is because of his father, but he liked to keep that information to himself.

"C'mon you slowpokes" Hermione called from the bottom of the stairwell

"Alright. Alright." Ron yelled.

They walked outside where there were carriages waiting to take them to Hogsmeade. Saira noticed nothing there to pull them adding to her confusion of this world but she didn't want to ask and seem ignorant. They girls shared a carriage while the boys climbed into the one behind them.

"So, have you all got dates for the Yule Ball?" Isilwen asked though her tone made it sound like she didn't care.

"I don't yet, but it's not for another two weeks" Liz said confident she would have a date.

"Like you'd even need to try and get a date Liz. I know a lot of people who'd love to go with you. I'm going with Terry Boot" Aranel said

"I'm going with Ita" Saira said not knowing about Aranel

Liz saw that Aranel's eyes watered momentarily and gave her a weak smile in comfort.

"Isilwen, are you going with anyone?" Liz said to change the subject.

"Yeah, I'm going with a guy from Beauxbatons. His name is Thomas," she said again with a tone of not caring.

"Is there anyone you want to go with Liz?" Saira asked

"Well … have any of you guys seen that one elf from Durmstrang? I've seen him around but I haven't had a chance to talk to him."

"Well, if you see him in Hogsmeade, maybe you will" Saira quickly said a Hylian spell to herself that draws two people together. The carriage came to a stop and they stepped out.

"Where do you guys want to go first?" Harry asked walking up with the others.

"I've never been here before so what all is there to do?" Saira asked in response.

"Why don't we go to the Three Broomsticks?" Hermione suggested

"Yeah, that sounds good" Ron agreed

They all walked over towards it. Ita broke away from the guys and walked closer to Saira. The Three Broomsticks was packed with people trying to escape the bitter cold outside.

"We'll get the drinks. You get a table," Ita said

"Ok" Liz said, "I see an open table in the back"

As they sat down, a thought occurred to Saira."Hey Hermione, you never said who you were going with" Saira pointed out.

"Ginny Weasley said Neville asked you but you told him you were already going with someone," Liz added

Hermione just sat there smiling as if happy with having a secret. "Drinks are here"

"Butterbeer for everyone" Harry said carrying two.

"Except for us" Ita said carrying Elvish drinks.

"Well, if it isn't the group of frea --" Draco began to say until he spotted Saira sitting with the Gryffindors.

"What?" Saira was shocked by his behavior even though her friends had told her.

"Saira! I didn't see you" he stuttered.

"Freaks?" she finished his word firmly.

"Excuse me?" he said innocently.

"Were you about to say 'freaks'?" Saira was fuming.

"N-n-o. No" He stuttered again.

"Then may I ask what you were going to say?"

"I-I wasn't going t-to say anything"

"Uh huh. You liar!" Saira got up spilling her drink and pushed her way through the crowded building.

"Saira, wait!"

Saira didn't stop until she was outside.

"Saira! Please stop!" Draco had followed her

"Why!" she screamed, "Why should I when you only consider me and my friends to be freaks? You're just like everyone back in my home! I thought this place was different but all the worlds are corrupt! I am doomed wherever I go."

Ita came running out but stopped and waited for Saira to finish.

"Saira I didn't mean to you"

"But its okay to call my friends that?" Saira said lowering her voice some.

"You don't understand"

"What don't I understand?"

"If you knew what's happened between us --"

"I don't care. Hatred begets more hatred. It's part of what drove my home to ruin. I thought this place was different. I thought you were different. Shows how naïve I still am" Saira began to walk away

"Saira please" he tried to grab her arm

"Tinechor!" Saira yelled. A wall of light surrounded her. Draco recoiled in pain as a shock went up his arm and Saira began to run away and she did not stop until there was no road left to run down. A large boulder was on the side of the road and Saira sat down and began to cry. Behind her a soft voice whispered a spell.

"Dispel magic" Saira said seeing the light around her disappear. "One of the Old World spells. Very few know of them. How do you?"

"My mother was a friend of the Lady of Light and before she died, she wanted me to learn them, and I kept that promise" Ita said walking up and taking a seat next to her.

"I have been here for less than a week and have cried more than tears than I thought I had left. They never end it seems"

Ita pulled her close and comforting. Saira closed her eyes and laid her head of his shoulder. The warmth of his touch was nice to feel.

"Everything is not as bad as it seems," he said softly

"I am so lost. I am supposed to accomplish impossible things and I don't even know where to begin"

"No one said it had to be done overnight and no one said you had to do it alone."

Saira looked up at Ita with thankful eyes. But then she felt as if she were going to faint. She stood up but immediately began having a vision.

"Saira?"

Saira saw Ita's familiar face. He was shouting at a girl but her face was hidden at the moment. They were in the common room in Gryffindor tower.

'Aranel' Ita said, 'But she's my best friend'

It was Liz who spoke next, 'She wishes it was more'

Saira blacked out and fell to the ground.

Hours later, Dumbledore's crooked nose and half-moon spectacles were the first thing she saw as she opened her eyes. She blinked several times to get rid of the blurriness.

"You gave your friend quite a shock," he said with a short laugh.

She sat up and her head still throbbed with pain.

"Where am I?" Saira said no recognizing the room she was in.

"The hospital wing"

"Why?"

"Apparently you blacked out in Hogsmeade. Luck Mr. Dorthon was there"

"Who?"

"Ita'istar is probably how you know him"

"Oh, yes. I had a vision and the next thing I know, I'm lying here"

Saira just noticed Ita was sleeping in an armchair across from her bed

"Saira, have you ever blacked out from having a vision before?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

"No, well, from a simple vision anyway. Do you have any idea why I did?"

"I can only guess. What happened before you blacked out?"

"Well, I yelled at someone then I walked away. Oh, I cast a shield spell. Could that have weakened me?" Saira asked

"That could very well be. The spell you cast takes much energy out of the person who does it. It may also be combined with the stress you are putting yourself under. I have been informed that Lady Galadriel told you it's your undertaking to find the third Treasure. Unfortunately she failed to mention something rather important."

"What?"

"I'm not sure she even knew but when you are meant to find the Treasure, you will have a vision that reveals the location."

"Really?" she asked hopeful.

"Yes, so do not strain yourself. You are here to learn. Do not trouble yourself without cause. Be a young person and do not grow up too fast"

"If only you'd told me such things years ago" she said knowing she was already far too mature for her age.

Dumbledore rose and left. Saira noticed a box of candy sitting on a tray at the end of her bed. She crawled over and opened a box with the words Chocolate Frog written on it. Liz had shown her these during the week. She must have opened it rather noisily because Ita woke with a start.

"Have you been here all night?" Saira said with a mouthful of chocolate

Ita laughed. "Yeah. I wanted to make sure you were okay so Dumbledore told Madam Pomfrey to let me stay. Course I have a crick in my neck from that damn chair"

"Come here" she said wiping her hands off on the sheets that would be dismay to Madam Pomfrey when she found it. Ita walked to the side of her bed."Turn around"

Ita was confused but he did it anyway. Saira put her hands on his neck and said a healing spell she used many times in Hyrule. Instantly the pain in his neck disappeared

"Wow, thanks"

"Ita, can I ask you something?" Saira asked thinking of her brief vision.

"Sure" he said still rubbing his neck in awe

"Why did you follow me?"

"I didn't think you should be alone"

"Well, that's not really what I wanted to ask but I was curious. Something has been bothering me"

"What?"

"The reason I blacked out was because I had a vision" she began

"What about?"

Saira wasn't expecting such an understanding reaction but continued anyway

"Did you and Liz argue the other night?"

"Yes" he said not following her

"'Aranel…but she's my best friend'" Saira quoted

"But how --"

"I saw it... Ita, I don't want to be the reason you lose your best friend. You don't realize how much you need them until you don't have them"

"Saira, you have nothing to worry about" he said confidently.

"But --"

"Believe me. You will not come between us. I have known Aranel since I was three. She'll understand" he assured

"She'll understand what exactly?"

"That I don't think of her anymore than friends" Ita smiled "I better go. Namaarie"

Saira knew his logic was all wrong, but he left before she could say anything. Not but five minutes went by until Liz came in smiling from ear to ear.

"What are you so happy about this time?" Saira asked

"First tell me what happened. You stormed out. Ita said he'd follow and for us to stay, then half an hour later he bursts in carrying an unconscious you. Note exactly the scene we were expecting."

"I used a spell that weakened me then add a vision. I just couldn't take it. There's very little I can any more it seems."

"Well, I'm glad you're okay."

Saira could tell Liz wanted to tell her something. "So what's your news?"

All of a sudden Liz burst and started telling Saira what happened at an alarming speed."Oh Saira after you left, the boy from Durmstrang came over. He asked me what my name was and he asked me to go on a walk. As we walked he said he felt like he was drawn to me. He said he'd seen me around and just never had the nerve to come talk to me. But today he saw me and said he felt like he just had to. And before Ita came back with you, I asked him to the Yule Ball"

"That's great. I'm so happy for you" Saira said, "So what's his name?"

"Voronwer. But he just goes by Voron"

"Well, we've all got dates to the ball now"

Liz abruptly looked sad. "Saira, I know you don't really know since you haven't been here that long but I can tell you that if you go to the ball with Ita, you will hurt Aranel"

"I do know. Ita said he would take care of it, I just hope he doesn't act too insensitive. But if something happens, I won't go with him"

"How do you know?"

"That doesn't matter"

"Time's up" It was Madam Pomfrey

"What?" Saira asked

"Time's up. I told her she had 5 minutes. You need your rest"

"I'm fine"

"No, no, no. That young elf was here all night. Mr. Malfoy too and even the headmaster."

"When can I leave then?"

"At lunch."

"Fine" Saira sighed.

"Namaarie. Tenna telwan" --Farewell. Until later-- Saira said to Liz

"Namaarie. Quel esta" --Rest well-- Liz said jokingly as Madam Pomfrey shooed her out leaving Saira with nothing but her thoughts.