--oo00oo--
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Fighting Sword
Chapter 1: Leaving a home
--oo00oo--
Lifting the rather unremarkable hemp bag over his shoulders Harry headed away from the large group of persons that had gathered to see him off from the training camp he was transported to ten short months ago by the elfin portkey. The unpleasant day, possibly the worst in his life, felt like an entire lifetime away; he could barley remember the day he had arrived on the training field during one of most intense war game of the year but he could still remember clearly the moment he looked up from the portkey. He was surrounded by creatures he had only ever heard of in the Quibbler and there was some unknown cures headed towards his head. Within a moment the adrenalin rush that had ended less then an hour before was back full force and Harry, without having to think, grabbed the discarded shield lying next to his foot and blocked the curse before diving behind a nearby boulder for shelter.
Peeking around the large stone Harry watched as the crowed of creatures parted and four very irate looking humanoids walked through the gap that was created and spoke to him in words he couldn't understand; when he said as much in English, he was captured and brought into an interrogation room of sorts.
Two long hours filled with frustration and intimidation passed as he was interrogated through many different methods before he was asked to give them his name. Some of the methods he recognized as magic or muggle in nature but others he had hadn't a clue about. Once he gave his name to the humanoids surrounding him and they checked his forehead for the scar the camps director came forward and apologized to him in person and offered him a chance to train with the mages of battles. It turned out he wasn't only famous in the wizarding world.
Within days Harry was friends with most of the persons at the training camp and was doing surprisingly well in learning their races ways. It didn't take very long for the training guides to notice just how well Harry was fitting in. Once the guides noticed Harry's ability to understand the workings of other minds not of his own race they decided to watch him for mage potential. Harry, of course, cast his very first elfin charm that same day.
"I'm going to miss having you around Harry. You and Lynn really raised the bar with the competition you two had. It really helps me whip the others in shape." Alfihar, an elf Harry was walking with, laughed, "I can still remember your first day training with us. I was shocked how well you got through the obstacle course, and a human!"
Harry stopped at the Border and smiled, "I remember that day, I was in the worst shape out of anyone in the end; I could barely stand."
"As I remember it you couldn't stand and ended up being carried out, but you got through everything without any real problems and didn't complain about the shape you were in afterwards, weren't even afraid of the troll!" Alfihar stopped and faced Harry fully. "But then that may just be a human thing?"
"No, most humans are all for self preservation, as you know, and would get the hell out of there as fast as they could." Harry laughed and took a last look at what had been his home for the last couple of months. It hadn't changed much from when he first arrived, but then it had been there for millions of years thanks to the magic that protected it from the outside word "I faced one before, when I was eleven."
"That does fit in with what seems to be your own personal brand of luck. I may be seeing you latter if my request for a vacation doesn't get rejected again." Alfihar shook Harry's hand and gave him a quick hug before Harry walked away from the camp and Apparated. 'You're going to make a great warrior some day.'
--oo00oo--
It was the day before the students would arrive at Hogwarts for the new school year and Severus Snape was eating supper at the Leaky caldron after a long day of shopping for the next school year.
Snape loathed doing this year after year but it was his job as the potion professor to make sure all the potion ingredients the school may require over the year was stocked and often he would grab a few things for his own, privet use. He didn't mind the actual shopping; in fact he rather enjoyed getting out of the dungeons and away from Albus to bargain for potion ingredients. It was the last minute shoppers, the screaming children and the big crowds that he could do without. And of course, there's always that chance that he may run into someone that he really didn't want to run into.
Severus looked up when a man he'd never seen before sat down next to him. The man looked to be in his late teens early twenties with short spiked hair. He wore leather pants, tight fitting sleeveless shirt and one of those muggle robes he believed was called a trench coat. The man wasn't very tall but the presence that he gave off made him seem as if he was. The first thing that crossed Severus's mind was the man was most likely the older brother of one of his muggle born students. Then Severus's eyes wondered down to a wand holster on the man's arm.
He quickly turned his head and continued to watch the man from the corner of his eye. The man was speaking with the bartender about what he should order but his speech held an accent Severus had never herd before; it was almost musical to listen to.
As he watched the man eat he noticed the man's forearm and two of his fingers were callused, showing sign of bow work. Frowning Severus looked back down at his finished plate and thought. Who was this man and were did he come from? It was obvious the man was some sort of fighter or worrier from the battle scars along his arm and the way he carried himself.
The usually loud room suddenly became silent and Severus looked up, looking for the cause of the silence. Severus didn't have to look far. A mythical elf was standing by the door looking around as if he was trying to find some one in the dimly lit room.
The usually unbearably loud room became abruptly silent startling Severus out of his thoughts. He looked up, to find the cause of the sudden silence; he didn't have to look far. A mythical elf was standing calmly by the door, like he belonged there among the wizards, looking around as if he was trying to find a friend in the dimly lit room.
"Alfihar! Come join me." The unordinary man sitting next to Severus stood and waved the extraordinary mythical creature towards him while pulling a stool out for the elf. "Can I order you some water?"
"Of course you can. It's the least you could do for me after the hell you put me through this day. No wonder you didn't want to go yourself, I completely forgotten how terrible our relatives were." As Snape listened he realized that the elf's voice held the same musical accent to it as the young man's did. "Have you already a room for the night that I can place your belongings?"
"Yes, I do Alfihar, will you allow my help as thanks. My room is just upstairs; we can store some of your belongings there while we do tonight's shopping. Are we in agreement?"
"Thank you Harry, I better take your offering. I have much I need to pick up if I'm to be a professor at Hogwarts. I am glad Albus is always so welcoming. Do you know yet what you need for your school year?"
"No I do not, I'm hopping that one of the stores will have an idea of what books or supplies I need. If I am unable to find out by that method I fear I will have to take a trip up to Hogwarts tonight and move my shopping until tomorrow morning but then I will not be able to go into muggle London. I'm finished here lets head upstairs and drop this stuff off then head out."
Severus silently watched the pair get up and leave while trying to deal with his shocking realization on where the missing boy-who-lived had spent his summer. No wander why no one could find him; he was hiding out with mythical creatures.
--oo00oo---
Harry sighed in defeat. He needed to send on owl to Hogwarts for the information he needed before he could get his school supplies. He tried to figure out what books he needed from Flourish and Blots by asking the guy behind the counter but that was pointless because sixth and seventh years had different levels and Harry didn't have a clue what classes he was in.
Harry spotted Snape heading his way shortly after he left Flourish and Blots with Alfihar, who was trying his best not to laugh at the young man next to him. Snape looked slightly relived underneath his frustrated exterior. He stopped in front of Harry and handed him a list of needed books before walking away and apparating.
Harry smiled and looked down at the list of supplies and groaned. "I can't believe the amount of books on this list. Hermione is going to love this. And stop laughing it's not funny!"
"No, but it can't be that bad. Why don't you read it out?"
"Sure, but if I lose my voice from this you owe me. Be ready by Constant vigilance, Perfecting your battle skills, Recognizing an enemy, Knowing the enemy, Practical Defence: for those who like to be prepared, Advanced Defence Against Dangerous Creatures, Advanced Defence Against Dark Spells, Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts, Grade 6, Dark Arts Outsmarted, Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, Self-Defensive Spellwork fourth edition, Advanced Transfiguration Volume 1 & 2, Guide to Learning Advance Transfiguration, The near impossible transfigurations, Untransfiguration the ultimate guide, Advanced Potions Grade 6, by Potions Master S. Snape, Antidotes for Advanced Poisons by Potions Master S. Snape, Advance Potions for the defensive, Advance Potions for the offensive, Advance Household potions, Advance Medical Potions, Advance theory of potions, Advance draughts, Advance Elixirs, Solutions to potions and potion mistakes, Study guide for Newt level Potion brewers, Magical beasts of wonder, Magical creatures around us, Dark creators: A guide, Monster book of monsters, Rare and dangerous beasts, Encyclopaedia of plants, Advanced Herbology by Professor Sprout, Plants of the seas, Plants of deserts, Plants of the woodlands, Plants of plains, Fresh water plants, Plants from the frozen north, Healing herbs, The Advanced Book of Spells, Grade 6, Advance charms, Hexes charms Curses Jinxes and so much more for the advance caster, How to counter the not so basic hex charm or curse.
"That is a bit of a list. But this is now Newt Level. You'll now have a lot of time outside of classes for studying and your classes will all be longer. You may even get classes during the weekend. Now how did you do on your OWL's?"
After sighing Harry tore open the envelop holding his owl scores and read them out loud, "On the practical I managed to get Exceeds Expectations in Transfiguration, Outstanding in DADA, Outstanding in charms, Outstanding in Potions, Poor in Astronomy, Exceeds Expectations in Herbology, Dreadful in Divination, Outstanding in Care of Magical Creatures. That's good; I never thought I'd get an O in potions. On the Theory I got an Exceeds Expectations in Transfiguration, Outstanding in DADA, Outstanding in Charms, Exceeds Expectations in Potions, Acceptable in Astronomy, Acceptable in History of Magic, Exceeds Expectations in Herbology, Dreadful in Divination, Acceptable in CoMC. That gives me six outstandings, five exceeds expectations, four acceptables, one poor and two Dreadfuls. That gives me 11 owls above acceptable."
Six classes, forty one books and nearly all the titles have the word 'advanced' some were in them. "Hermione is going to love this." Harry sighed before heading towards Gringotts to get money out for all of the supplies he needed to buy this year. He needed to get all new robes and wizarding attire because his old robes and clothing was worn thin, as well as he wanted to get them made with a specialty fabric that would be resistant to magic. He also needed new dress robes. He already had a custom wand holster and thermal underwear made with magic resistant cloth. "How much do you think it's going to cost to get a whole new wardrobe full of clothing?"
"The wizarding part won't cost you much, you'll get good deals but knowing you you'll want a few muggle pieces that will most likely cost you a little more. You'll also want to get all the optional books for school as well as spare potion and spell components kits for the Newt level. I also recommend that you get past kits as well. If you see anything book that you think may be helpful ask me and I'll take a good look at it if I agree you'll get it as well."
"Okay, thank you Alfihar. I was planning on going into muggle London in the morning before getting onto the Hogwarts express but if we don't hurry up we won't be able to get all our stuff before the shops close. I need to go to the apothecary, Flourish and Blotts, Madam Malkins, Magical Menagerie, Obscurus Books, Quality Quidditch supplies, Scribbulus, and Fred and Georges joke shop."
"Okay, how about we split up while you go to Malkins, the menagerie and the quidditch store then we can meet up at scribbulus and finish up together then stay at the book store until near closing when we head up to the Weasley store."
"That sounds good."
--oo00oo---
Harry was about to enter Magical Menagerie, the same magical-creature shop that Hermione got Crookshanks, when he heard a scream coming from the other side of the door. Now curios, Harry entered the store where he saw a most humorous sight in front of him. The woman that was usually behind the counter was screaming at a snake and was attempting to use a broom to scare/push it back into its cage while another woman was standing on a stool at the other end of the store screaming in fright. Harry stepped fully into the store and asked the snake what was happening because, obviously, the two women were overly worked up to speak with. After having a short chat with the snake Harry looked up at the woman with the broom, who had not noticed Harry's presence, and asked her how much the snake was. "Free, just get him out a here!"
Harry bent over and lifted the snake up to his neck and let it make its self-comfortable. Once the snake wand itself around his neck, just under his robs where it was warmest Harry began to look at supplies for his new familiar. The store had self-heating stones warming balls and a small non-splash bowl for water. Harry bought the stuff along with things for his owl then headed out to meet Alfihar.
Once Harry arrived at scribbulus he went straight to the baskets set in the corner for costumers that were buying more then they could carry. When he turned from the pile of baskets, with one in hand he was standing nose to nose with Alfihar, "You know I could have cursed you. Pay better attention or someday I will."
After a few tries and swallowing a huge lump in his throat Harry managed to choke out a fearful, "yes sir."
"Good, now let's continue our shopping. I'm almost finished with this place so hurry."
It only took Harry a couple of minutes to get everything he needed from the store and go to the register to pay. He only got what he needed which was the same every year. Only this year he got extra parchment and quills.
--oo00oo--
Fred was just walking forward to lock the door at the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes when Harry opened it and walked in alone, Alfihar deciding that he had a lot to do at the castle before morning. It took Fred only a moment to realize who had walked in and even less time before he was calling for his brother who was in the back. After a quick hug he locked the door so no one else could enter the store and his brother came out from the back.
"Harry, good to see you mate! Did you have a good summer away from the Dursleys?" Asked George wearing an apron with the store logo and his brothers name across the front.
"Yes I did but I can't talk about it although I would love to tell everyone about it."
"Figures. So are you here? Is it just for a social visit" one of the brothers started
"or are you needing supplies for school?" the other brother finished, gesturing for Harry to fallow them into the back.
"Not unless you have something that you think I could use. I'm not much of a prankster although your products can be handy at times"
"Well there is one thing we got together for your birthday that we believe you may enjoy having."
"But we weren't able to get it to you then"
"So we would like to"
"Give it to you now."
Pulling out a box from behind his back, Fred held it out for Harry while the other brother stood up next to him. "This has some special things in it we won't be selling for a while."
"Not unless we need to."
"And we would like you to promise us
"you won't be leaving some of these laying around."
"Although, we already have everything by us patented."
"I promise."
"Good." Fred replied while Gorge opened the box.
"Now at the top of the box we have these little beads that look like ear studs to anyone that really looks."
"But you have to be looking to notice them."
"All you do is tap them"
"With your finger"
"To get them working"
"Just like this"
"And they both magicly inhanse sound."
"They also transfer sound from one to the other."
"So if you leave one somewere"
"you'll be able to here whats happening were you left it"
"with the other one"
"that's our new version extendable ears"
"this here"
"is our true seeing eyes"
"they are like muggle contacts"
"they correct your vision while you wear them"
"they also let you 'zoom' your vision in on things"
"they will also make it easer to see people arouras"
"and if you know where to look you can see if someone is lying"
"the extendable ears help with that as well."
"Now below that is the dogs snout."
"All you need to do is sniff this"
"And you'll be able to sniff anything"
"Just be carful not to sniff anything to foul"
"Because your sniffer will truly"
"Become one good sniffer with this"
"And below that is a potion that will last for about a week."
"Its mainly a hair lengthener"
"but it also changes the colour to chary blonde"
"and changes your eyes to blue."
"There is a fake wand"
"Basic healer's kit"
"A weeks worth of Nourishment potion"
"Pepper up"
"And true mind to help your mind keep going"
"Even when your not"
"Shield charms"
"Instant darkness Powder"
"And Decoy Detonators"
"So you should now"
"Be prepared for everything"
"We call this kit"
"The basic arours kit"
"So aside from these, what"
"Can we do for you"
"Today."
"I just came to say hi and thank you for this but I really need to head out and get some sleep. I have a good four hours of shopping to do in muggle London before having to board the Hogwarts express. Thank you for this. I have a feeling I'll probably be coming back for refills."
"Okay then Harry"
"Well see you tomorrow."
--oo00oo--
It had become custom for the new dada teacher to be announced at the last staff meeting before the arrival of the students, so instead of preparing for the brats that would be arriving latter that day Severus was sitting in an overstuffed chair near the back of the staff lounge listing to the old hag ramble on about how she has foreseen who the next idiot would be.
Losing his pations Severus got up and headed for the entrance to the staff lounge but before he was able to make his escape the extraordinarily tall, dark and thin elf that he'd seen with Harry the day before walked into the rooms. He had pointed ears and wore some sort of muggle robe thrown over the tight dark muggle clothing.
The man, or elf, was also covered in runes and blades.
"Hello! I, Alfihar, am to be the next professor of defense at this magnificent school. I am not born an elf but am in fact a human Metamorphmagus who was found at an early age and raised by elves. Now I hand you to the Headmaster."
Severus ignored the headmaster's voice as he gave the usual beginning of the year comments and watched the new professor. Something about him seemed… familiar?
----oo00oo---