Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter characters, but I do own the OCs and the plot! Okay, on with the story!
Note: All of the chapters of this story are edited occasionally, and updated every few weeks, if I have the time. I'm sort of ashamed of the beginning. It is rather… clichéd. I ask you to bare with the first few chapters and to somehow keep your disgust at a short level. My writing skills are still developing and I ask that you be a little lenient for the beginning. My thanks in advanced. – Jeni Black
Chapter 1
"Oh dear Merlin!" Molly Weasley squealed. She threw the paper down on the table and kept on rereading it, starting to sob frantically, repeating 'no' over and over again and shaking her head, blinking rapidly. Just then, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger slipped into the room in curiosity, wondering what the elder Weasley was making such noise about. Hermione, ever the information-hungry girl, grabbed the Muggle newspaper and began reading to herself. She was scanning the article quickly, and muttering out certain clippings from the newspaper, her voice growing in alarm with each word she read.
"Body discovered bloody... Vernon Dursley... disappeared out of thin air... nowhere to be found... green eyes, black hair... Oh no… no, no, no, no!" Hermione said in rapid succession, shaking her head in denial. Tears started forming in her eyes and she sat down slowly, rereading the article repeatedly in disbelief. Ron grabbed the Muggle newspaper from her hands and began reading as well. He glanced at the slumped forms of one of his best friends and mother and shifted his gaze to the object in his hand. His eyes darted back and forth from the paper as he read quickly, taking in the information. Hermione began to cry hysterically next to him, rambling on and on about how unlikely that was Harry, although it was near impossible it wasn't.
"Harry's disappeared... near death," he muttered to himself disbelievingly. Harry was stronger than that. He couldn't be kidnapped by Death Eaters, could he? He buried his head in his hands and a single tear escaped, however much he had tried to refrain it from coming. First it was Sirius, then Harry. Although he was not as close to Sirius as he was to his best friend, he still mourned the death of Harry's godfather. The pain of losing his best friend was just too much. There were too many deaths around him that it was starting to overwhelm him. The rest of the Weasley clan filed in one by one, curious to see what the commotion in the kitchen was all about.
"Ronniekins, why are you crying?" Fred asked, oblivious to the horrible news the three had read. Ron ignored the insult pointedly and held out the newspaper, shaking his head in denial. Fred took it hesitantly. The paper was flipped to a page somewhere in the middle and was moist at some parts. Fred read the article that seemed to be the one they were reading earlier aloud for all to hear, his eyebrows creased in thought.
"'On July 31st, at 3:37 PM, a body was discovered at Number Four Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. The body was discovered bloody, and much damage was done to the bones. The body was taken to the hospital to be treated. The family living in the house confirmed, rather reluctantly as observed, it had been a man named Vernon Dursley who had done the damage. Mr. Dursley was taken away to prison, where he awaits trial for child abuse. Charges have yet to be made against him.
The body belonged to a rather young boy. As of now, his information has yet to be released to the public.
While at the hospital though, the boy woke with a start and disappeared out of thin air. Miss Geraldine Avon was the nurse watching over him at the time. She was checking up on him and had left the room when he suddenly disappeared out of thin air sometime around 5:56 PM. Not a trace of him was left behind, and he was nowhere to be found in the hospital. His description includes green eyes, black hair, and a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead. If anyone has any information on the missing boy, contact the Surrey Hospital immediately at 555-1234.'"
The other Weasleys all gathered around the table, heads bent in respect and sadness, and Ginny trying to deny the fact under her breath.
"He was a good young man," Bill muttered, staring at his hands regretfully. He had never gotten to know Harry all that well, and was guilty of not doing so while he was around.
"On his birthday too, the poor chap," Charlie murmured. He had also not been able to get to know the teenager very well because of his work. Hermione looked around at everybody and wiped the tears she didn't know escaped.
"He's not dead," Hermione said quietly, but firmly. "I just know it! He's much stronger than that! He would've fought tooth and nail to get away!"
"Even so, 'Mione, that doesn't change the fact that he's gone," George snapped back at her.
"We need to contact Dumbledore," Mr. Weasley suggested strongly, his face an unusual stony mask. "Dumbledore probably already knows, but we need to know what he's going to do about it."
As it turned out, Dumbledore did know. He had sent out a search party that lasted for a few weeks before they finally quit, turning to more important events. The Weasleys were outraged, but Dumbledore gave a calm explanation. "I've been in contact with dear friends of mine who knows where he is and is going to do their best to protect him. You need not worry. He is safe, as far as we know. We have to continue our effort towards ending the war instead of searching for one boy, although he may be important." The Weasleys reluctantly agreed with him, as he had a point.
One night, Ginny curled up in her bedspread, staring at the ceiling in deep thought. She gave a grieved sigh and turned to her side, looking out her window. "Harry, wherever you are, give us a sign. Come back soon," she whispered, her eyes slipping shut. Unknown to her, a soft breeze blew slightly and a small ember started on her previously unlit candle and then went out. No sign of the flame ever appearing was visible to the naked eye, and Ginny's creased forehead finally relaxed in her sleep.
Three figures stood in the shadows, slowly moving from one to another. "Why are we here?" said a one of the figures, a male. All of them were shrouded in shadows, yet you could make out their regal and graceful figures if you looked hard enough.
"We have business to conduct with these people," one of the other figures said, a definite feminine tone in her voice. They moved on down the road. They passed a street sign. Grimmauld Place, it read.
"Yes...and I wish to see what they have been doing these past… year and a few weeks, is it?" said the last figure, a masculine tone to his voice. They finally stepped out of the shadows. The first figure was a tall one, at the height of 5'11. He had black hair that went a little past his shoulders and blue eyes. The female was tall as well, though several inches shorter. She had black hair that went down to her waist and striking emerald eyes. The last was taller than the female, perhaps by no more than five centimeters. He, like the first figure, had a well toned body, gained from constant activity, though not bulky with muscles. He seemed to be a twin of the female, for he too had black hair and emerald eyes. His hair was not as long and went down just past his shoulders, tied with a black band at the base of his neck. All – bar the female – were wearing long black cloaks. The female was wearing a pure white cloak. A little shimmer was following them, which were concealing swords, arrows, a bow, and many other weapons. They were all unusually pale and had elegance and grace that nobody could miss. They all had a powerful aura, another that nobody could miss, even non-magical folk.
"Princess Aurenia… Aure…" the first figure consulted the female, "who is currently ruling the Ayras if your presence is not there in Atlantis?"
"Ah, 'tis Arwyse there," Aure answered. "Arwyse is a noble Ayra. She would never betray her power. She has enough responsibility in herself to rule the kingdom, but simply does not wish to."
"Arwy is an odd girl, Aure," her twin commented. Aure scowled at him heavily. "She is much too hyperactive. 'Tis gets very irksome after many a while." Aure smirked, and slapped him on the back of his head. He pushed her lightly and she nearly toppled over the first figure.
"My apologies, Elsar!" Aure said hurriedly. Elsar shook his head at their antics.
"You must have some carefulness around your godfather," Elsar warned. "I am not quite young anymore, Ember."
"Eh? One never expected you of all to say such words!" Ember said in mock horror, dramatically placing the back of his hand on his forehead. "The end must be nearing!" Elsar glared at him, but eventually started chuckling with Aure.
"But Ember, Elsar has been living with the Entaris for nearly fifteen years!" Aure protested after she finished laughing.
"Ah. Yes, well, I have been there for twenty-two!" Ember shot back. Elsar rolled his eyes at both of them. "My age in 'tis young world would be seventeen and in our world thirty-nine, yet in experience, I am much older than both of you."
"We're here," Elsar informed them as they reached a gap between Number 11 and Number 13 Grimmauld Place. "One who knows me very well would never think that I would ever come back to such a place – and willingly!" Ember and Aure gave him an encouraging smile as they chanted the phrase 'The Order of the Phoenix Headquarters is located in Number 12 Grimmauld Place' mentally. Each of them put their hoods up. The three of them prepared for the interrogation that they knew was going to come. The door slid open, revealing a nervous Mrs. Weasley.
Mrs. Weasley gave a squeal and yelled for her husband the other Order members immediately, waking the portrait of Mrs. Black. Elsar, Ember, and Aure flinched at the shrieks. Finally, Ember grew tired of it and gave the portrait a glare. It shut up immediately, to the curiosity of the Order members.
"We wish to see Professor Albus Dumbledore of Hogwarts, Madame Weasley," Elsar said, disguising his voice. Aure waved a hand and a small translucent globe engulfed the house and the three of them outside. It had swirls as a design, and an occasional rose entered the design. It was very beautiful, although it was not supposed to be that way…
"Aure, one would think from your careless mood that 'tis amuses you," Ember remarked, also disguising his voice, playing along with the plan they had made, going along in a flippant and careless attitude.
"That would be because it does," Aure answered. "Why, is it not supposed to be amuse me?" Ember raised his eyebrow, as if saying 'What do you think?'
"Who are you?" barked 'Mad-Eye' Moody. Aure mentally cheered the man on. He was straight to the point and never dawdled. He would have made a great Lord… Ember warned her that Moody would act like such.
"'Tis best if we step out into the yard, Monsieur Moody," Elsar suggested, as part of the plan. He, Ember, and Aure stepped back into the grass to show their point.
"We're not stupid," shouted Bill Weasley from somewhere near the middle of the group. The group had apparently huddled closely together, blocking the door, as his voice was muffled. 'We're not stupid,' Aure thought in her head. 'Tch. Then you would know not to block the door like so. If we knock the one in front back, all of you would fall easily.'
"Nor are we, but 'tis the best way to keep your house intact, Monsieur Weasley," Aure remarked. The Order members seemed to regard this, and shouted another question.
"The Muggles will see us, won't they?" yelled Charlie Weasley.
"'Tis why I conjured a ward, Monsieur Weasley," answered Aure. Finally convinced that no one would see them, and that they couldn't afford the Black House to be destroyed, the Order members stepped outside. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Neville, who had come that summer by request, looked on from the windows.
"Now, answer us: Who are you?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"Prince Ember of Eirith, Prince of the Entari Elves and her twin brother," Ember said, putting his arm around Aure.
"Princess Aurenia of Atlantis, Princess of the Ayra Elves and his twin sister," said Aurenia, smiling up at Ember.
"House elves?" came from somewhere in the tightly clumped group. Ember and Elsar snickered while Aurenia shook her head in an amused way.
"No, most definitely not," Aurenia replied, her shoulders shaking from the idea. "Or else we'd be three feet shorter than everybody in here, no offense meant for the house elves."
"Aure…" Ember said in a warning tone. That question was not expected, and they needed to be on time to get back inside. Aurenia backed down slightly, her hands up in the air in a defeated manner. The Order was curious to what Ember was warning about. The slight jab at house elves didn't affect him that much, did it?
"Lord Elsar of Eirith, the Prince's godfather and counselor, and their 'babysitter'," finished Elsar, jutting each thumb towards Aure and Ember. Though no one could see it, Ember and Aure rolled their eyes at Elsar.
"Why will you not take your hoods down?" Snape asked, raising his eyebrows at them. Aure opened her mouth to speak.
"That is not a question to be answered at the moment," Ember cut off before Aure could answer. "Albus Dumbledore will know if you could bring him to us."
"How do we know you're not Death Eaters in disguise?" Moody asked suspiciously.
"Death Eaters are brainless," Elsar remarked. Ember and Aure chuckled at the jester-like attitude they had planned Elsar to make and the Order members cracked small smiles.
"If Death Eaters had somehow acquired brains, then they would realize 'tis not a good thing to be with a Dark Lord who wages war with the elves," Ember added. Everyone turned to him, thinking to themselves about what he had just said. It was rather confusing.
"They are attacking your world too?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Yes, but Voldemort," Ember was pleased that none flinched at the name, "is not wise in doing so. We Entaris are decidedly neutral towards siding, but we are not afraid to use the 'Dark Arts' to fight those who have wronged us."
"So you are Dark," Remus muttered.
"They are, but there is a difference between Dark and Evil," Aure commented.
"Evil means that we are willing to harm innocents who have done them no wrong, but Dark simply means that we use 'Dark Magic' to accomplish what we need be," Ember explained. "We do not attack innocents unless they have harmed another innocent. Entaris are simply Dark. We are also usually male, but there have been a few female Entaris in history."
"We Ayras are also sided with the Light, but we are not comfortable with using Dark Magic," Aure continued. "We are more of the stereotypical type of elves who are pure Light. We are mostly female, but there are a few male Ayras in our society right now."
"Now that that is done, we must speak to Albus Dumbledore immediately," Elsar finished.
"Is it an emergency?" Moody asked. "Can't it wait for another day?"
"'Tis but a conversation discussing alliances, am I correct, Prince Ember?" Elsar said nudging Ember.
"But of course," Ember confirmed. "All of us should reenter the Noble House of Black and wait for Headmaster Albus to enlighten us with his presence. 'Tis rather hot out in the English lands."
"Of course, Your Highness," Mrs. Weasley said, inclining her head in a small bow.
"Please, Madame Weasley, 'tis Ember," Ember insisted. Mrs. Weasley gave a small nod and led everybody back into Number 12, where Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville were waiting anxiously for the story.
"Mister Weasley, Mister Longbottom, Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, if you could leave us be for a while longer?" Ember asked to the four politely. They nodded, a few raising their eyebrows at him, and left the room. Elsar pointed his finger at the door and a small spark formed at the tip of his finger.
"We are warded, my good sirs and ladies," Elsar informed them. Aure rolled her eyes, but that was also part of the plan so she had to go through with it. They weren't supposed to expect what would happen next.
"Now we wait for Albus Dumbledore," Ember remarked. He and the others simultaneously sat down at three different chairs, each right beside the next. They waited patiently as Severus Snape went to get Albus Dumbledore. Ember tapped his foot patiently as ten minutes passed. He was taking just as much time as they had expected him to. Ember got up and walked to the fireplace in which Snape Flooed out of. He felt the fire for a few minutes with his eyes closed. A few minutes later, his eyes snapped open.
"Aure, Elsar, Snape has been intercepted!" he yelled out in alarm, as they had rehearsed. Aure and Elsar came immediately. "Don't leave the house, no matter what!" Ember instructed the Order members. In a flash of white and black light, all three of them disappeared. The other Order members could just stare for a few minutes, having nothing else to do without their leader there and being ordered to stay put.
As if on cue, the front door of Number 12 Grimmauld Place tumbled open. It was then that all hell broke loose.
Edited on: June 1, 2004 and July 5, 2004
Author's Notes: I changed a great deal of this chapter. I'm hoping that you all would reread the entire story from beginning to where I left off so you can understand The Plan better. Those of you who have just started reading this are probably confused and rightly so, but DO NOT READ ON UNTIL I'VE FINISHED THE EDITIONS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE JUST STARTED TO READ THIS! IT WILL BE HIGHLY CONFUSING!
Below are pronunciations and descriptions of people and places here that are mentioned and what we know of them so far. As more characters are introduced, they will be added to the list as they appear. Old characters and places will be removed from the list and the new ones are added at the end of every chapter. At the very end, I will be putting up a full chapter with descriptions to everything and anything that is mentioned about each Elf as a finale.
Pronunciations, People, and Places:
Eirith – [AY-rith] – capital of the Entari Kingdom
Aurenia – [oh-REH-nee-ah] – Princess of the Ayras, twin sister of Prince Ember, daughter of King Estrian and Queen Azurei
Aure – [oh-REY] – Aurenia's nickname
Ember – [EM-burr] – Prince of the Entaris, twin brother of Princess Aurenia, son of King Estrian and Queen Azurei
Ayra – [AI-rah] – the Light Elves of Terredepaix
Entari – [en-TAH-ree] – the Dark Elves of Terredepaix
Arwyse – [AR-wih-see] – a friend of Aurenia's that is currently filling in the position of Princess at Terredepaix while Princess Aurenia is out on business