Disclaimer: R E M I A L C S I D

A/N: Sorry for the delay in chapters guys. I've been helping get ready to move.

Phoenix – "Don't worry. We will continue with this story."

Kev – "I just need to make a few more adjustments in the new place before I can go back to writing as often as I used to. And just so you know: A – O's are counted as Owls."

Phoenix – "I've been having sooooo much fun inspiring you Kev." (Gives great big bear hug)

Kev – (Unable to speak or move because of closeness of beautiful woman) "Story…Here…Read!"

Chapter Four: Castle Waltz

Professor Rai Warren stood to the polite applause of the students. He bowed once and took his seat again. He looked around the Great Hall. He could feel the magic emanating from each and every person. He paid no mind to Dumbledore's speech. He wished to be home in his herb garden. Rai wanted to wander the forest paths and feel the soft ground trough his soft leather moccasins.

He didn't like the robes he wore. They were heavy and made him too warm for comfort. He hated the shoes he had to wear. They hurt his feet and left hardly any room for his toes. The castle itself was brimming with magic and that made him uncomfortable. To make his discomfort worse was that all things were alive except stone. Rai had liked to listen to the trees talk and the grass whisper. Here in the castle he could hear none of their comforting words.

To top things off he had felt a strangely familiar presence during his daily meditation. He had no need for sleep. Rai only needed to meditate for four hours a cycle. During meditation he usually viewed his memories of his homeland. For some odd reason he had yet to determine he had felt as though another person was watching these memories with him.

Professor Warren sighed and ran a hand through his golden blond hair. He was becoming tense and he needed to calm down. All of the food on the table looked and smelled very good. Rai however didn't need to eat as much as these humans did. He had already eaten his fill: a few slices of toast, a piece of chicken, and a glass of water.

And of course he had been forbidden to tell anyone of his heritage. Rai looked up and found the Great Hall emptying out. He stood and made his way to his private chambers. He stopped at a painting of a young princess dressed in a lovely blue gown. "Good evening Professor."

"I've already told you, call me Rai. All of this "professor" business makes me uncomfortable."

"So sorry. Would you like to enter your chambers Rai?"

"Yes I would please. Pine grove" The painting swung open to reveal a door. He entered the room and immediately began to remove his hot and heavy robes and hard shoes. He replaced them with an outfit of plain clothes. His loose shirt and pants were of an off white color. They were incredibly thin and he slipped a pair of loose moccasins on his feet. He needed two more hours of meditation and then he would be set for the next day.

He sat cross-legged on the hard stone floor and began to meditate. His body rose a few inches off of the ground and his mind slipped into a state of semi-consciousness. At first he played his memories, as he usually would have. He found himself tending his herb garden back home.

After a few moments he found his dreams being shoved aside. A woman was now standing in front of him. Her skin was a pale gray and her long hair hung to the small of her back. It was completely white. Her eyes were a curious shade of deep red. She could easily be the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

"So you really are one of them," she whispered.

One of who, Rai thought.

"An elf." She stared curiously into his eyes.

How did you know my heritage? Rai hadn't told anyone about his being an elf. How could this woman know that?

"I've met one other. It has been nearly one thousand years since I have seen her last." The woman took up a similar position to the one Rai knew he was in at the moment.

Who are you? How could one woman live one thousand years and still be alive, not to mention be so beautiful.

"I'm flattered that you find me so attractive." She giggled. "But I'm quite a bit older than you are. Three thousand two hundred and fifty seven years older in fact." Rai was stunned into speechlessness. "I am Hogwarts."

You are the spiritual manifestation of the castle? Rai snapped out of his blankness. Who was the other elf?

"I believe her name was Princess Liyallan." She became thoughtful; "I believe she fell in love with one of the students here. She married him a while back." The woman grinned, "You and I must have more of these little chats but I have to go and make sure the students are safe. Farewell until the morrow good elf." The woman's image faded from his mind and Rai fell to the ground with a thud.

He stood rubbing his pained tailbone and moved off to check his lesson plans for the first classes.

Harry had just had the weirdest dream. It hadn't been a vision because he hadn't awoken immediately afterward and he didn't feel any pain at all. He stared out of the window through the crack in his bed curtains and thought about his dream. The new professor had been there. Rai Warren was his name. And there had been a woman. She had been very pretty if not a bit odd looking. She had gray skin and long white hair.

The two had talked for a while. Harry hadn't been able to hear what was being said but he knew that Professor Warren had heard something that had startled him. The woman had smiled and left after a few moments. Both the professor and the woman had seemed so familiar. He thought he had known the woman for several years now, though he knew he had never seen her before. And Professor Warren seemed to have a familiar air about him that Harry just couldn't place.

He listened to the sounds of the night as he contemplated his dream. He could hear one of the other boys shifting in their beds. He heard Neville mumble something and Ron's snoring was ever-present. He really hadn't meant to drop off like that. He had indeed been trying his best to stay awake but he had fallen into a deep sleep where he experienced his dream.

Harry watched the crescent moon wax across the sky. He wondered what Remus was doing right then. Probably sleeping peacefully. In three weeks time the moon would be full again. He sighed heavily. If only there were some way to keep Remus safe. He didn't want to loose anyone else. His old professor was all he had left. He would most likely die of grief if Remus or any of his close friends were killed. He would also have to make a point to ask ex-Professor Lupin more about his parents.

After all of that thinking Harry couldn't return to sleep, which he felt was a good thing. He stood and made his way to a small writing desk. He magically lit a candle and sat down. He pulled out an envelope that he had opened several times. These were his O.W.L. results. He hadn't shown them to Ron or Hermione yet. He pulled the sheet of parchment containing the list of his results.

Transfiguration – Theory: EE; Practical: O

Charms – Theory: O; Practical: EE

Divination – Theory: D; Practical: T

Defense Against the Dark Arts – Theory: O; Practical: O

Care of Magical Creatures – Theory: EE; Practical: A

Astronomy – Theory: A; Practical: EE

History of Magic – Essay: D

Potions – Theory: O; Practical: O

Herbology – Theory: EE; Practical: A

We would like to congratulate Mr. Harry Potter on his being the first in his year. The Ministry of Magic is proud to see such achievements. We would like to encourage you to continue your hard work.

Signed,

Studos Quillpin – Department of Education

Albus Dumbledore – Hogwarts Headmaster

Harry could never let Hermione see his results. She had been distraught to find that she was only second in their year and he just couldn't bring himself to tell her that he had gotten more owls than she had. She had shown them her results and she had gotten thirteen owls. Ron had only gotten eight placing him somewhere around ninth or tenth. When they had asked about his results he had replied with an evasive "good enough."

Ginny had surprised them all by making fifth year prefect with Luna and getting eleven owls. Mrs. Weasley had gone on a shopping spree. Having seen the state of their vault the year before, Harry had made a few inquiries with the Gringotts goblins about having about three thousand galleons transferred from his own vault. "Aunt Molly" had been surprised to say the least but after a few baffled looks and evasive answers from Harry she had shrugged and taken as much as she needed.

Harry watched as the moon danced across the sky, banishing the color from the castle grounds and the Forbidden Forest. He knew that any of the adults he knew would be telling him to get more sleep. But he just couldn't bring himself to close his eyes. Tonight had been one of the few nights he had slept at all.

Harry had already chosen his new classes. He had a few classes that he hadn't before. He was taking Advanced Transfiguration, Advanced Potions, Advanced Charms, Advanced D.A.D.A, Magical Dueling, Beginners Healing, Apparation, and Magical Tracking. He and his friends were separated for longer periods of time this year.

They were all taking Advanced Transfiguration, Advanced Charms, Advanced D.A.D.A, and Apparation. Ron was taking Magical Dueling and Beginners Healing but would also be taking Muggle Artifacts and Wizard Political Studies. Hermoine was taking Advanced Potions, and Magical Dueling but would be taking Advanced Theoretical Studies and Wizard World Cultures.

Not only was Harry taking Newt level classes, but he also had quidditch to worry about. He was also continuing his Occlumency lessons. He was very distressed by that for a while until he was informed that he would be taking lessons from Remus on the weekends as well as with Professor Snape during the week. That more than made up for his upcoming torture with the Potions Professor.

Harry watched as the sun peeked over the horizon. He had only gotten two hours of sleep that night but he didn't mind. He never felt particularly sleepy anymore and he wasn't ever fully awake either. He felt a bit like a zombie. He stood and went for a shower, needing to be ready for the first day of classes. He sighed again as he collected his clothes. He hoped that this year would be uneventful.

A/N: I hope that satisfies you until I get settled into my new home. I always have fun writing these stories so make sure to tell me what you think. (Looks around nervously) Phoenix has gone for a nap so I need to get my breath back before she wakes up. I seriously need to have a chat with the agency. It is very hard to concentrate when a woman has her chest pressed against your back while your typing. (Takes a deep breath) See you next time. Ciao!