Harry Potter and the Sanctuary of Light

Chapter 6 The Choice

Harry stood before the elven Council of Elders, nervous about what they had to tell him. Maybe it has something to do with Voldemort's next plans, though why they'd need to tell me I don't know. Soron had walked into lunch that day saying that he needed to take Harry back with him to the council. When asked, he'd just replied that everything would be explained when they got home that night. He would have continued pondering all possible reasons for him to be there, but the speaker for the council stood up and all talking stopped.

"Vedui' il'er." (Greetings everyone) "I will be speaking in English today as we have Corintur here as our guest. And even more importantly, because the subject of today's meeting concerns him." Harry shot a confused glance at Soron, but remained silent. "As you all know, our people have remained secluded from the human and wizarding populations. But occasionally, once in a great while an elf will leave the elven cities and visit human settlements. Very few have been known to fall in love with humans, but it did happen sometimes. The last elf to leave Kalayaana was Narmo Raumoraa, and after he left, we never saw him again. It can only be assumed that he fell in love with a human woman and never returned. Some characteristics of Narmo were his black and dark-silver animagus form and striking emerald green eyes..."

By this time, Harry was gaping at the speaker. All he could do was continue to listen in shocked silence as the old elf continued to speak.

"In seeing these similarities between Corintur and Narmo, we've been covertly looking into his genealogy, and have confirmed without a doubt that Narmo is Corintur's great-great-great grandfather on his mother's side."

At this point, Soron came over and escorted Harry to a chair before he could fall over. Merlin, I'm part elf... I've admired the elven culture for so long. Now I find out that's it's my culture too, my people, my family... Tears came to his eyes and he looked up as the elf continued to speak.

"Corintur you are given a choice. It doesn't have to be made tonight or even in the near future. But you have the choice to become an elf or remain a human. If you choose an elf, you will never die except in battle or from a broken heart. But you also will watch all your human friends die of old age yet continue living centuries after they've passed. It is not a choice to be taken lightly. Now, Soron I'm sure we've given him enough to think about. Take him home and inform us when he's made a decision."

Everyone stood but Harry, all he could think about was elf or human? Elf or human... The elf had reminded him that he'd have to watch all his human friends die. "What friends..." he whispered, lips trembling.

"Tula Corintur." (Come Corintur.) Soron clasped Harry's wrist and pulled him to his feet. "Lyea auteska." (We're going home.)

When they arrived at the large home of the Isilmolors', Harry still hadn't said a word. He greeted everyone quietly, and then said he was going up to his room to read for awhile. After he'd left, all of the children demanded to know what the council had told them that would make Corin so quiet and withdrawn. Soron explained the situation, and the three children and his wife sat silently for awhile going over this new information in their heads.

Finally, Oron spoke, "Well, I guess that explains this morning then." At the questioning looks, he elaborated. "This morning after Corin and I were done with sword-work, the girls challenged us to an archery contest. Cor' was at an average level through the first half, and then all of a sudden he shoots a bulls-eye. We give him another arrow, and he just sends another one and it hits dead-center again. Maybe his elvish genes are starting to kick in after being here for awhile."

"Yes, that's very possible." Soron stood there thinking for a moment. "Well, he has a very important decision to make. Don't pester him about it; he will decide when he's ready. Let's leave him alone for now and you can talk to him after dinner."

They all went back to their own pursuits, except Laurea. She went up to Harry's room and knocked on the door quietly.

"Tula," (Come.) She opened the door and went in. Corin was lying across his bed, an open book in front of him.

"You know, it's easier to read if the book is right side up..." She said with a slow smile. Blinking, Harry looked down at the book and saw she was right. With a small smile, he closed the book and sat up. She sat on the side of the bed next to him and studied him. Finally, she spoke. "How are you doing Corin?" And then she just listened.

"I'm... confused. I'm not sure who I am anymore. For fifteen and a half years, I've been Harry Potter. First a nuisance, the son of a despised sister that stood for everything they hated. Then I was 'the boy who lived'. Pushed into a whole new world where I was idolized by the population and made to fit an expectation. Then framed for something I didn't do and thrown in Azkaban, I lost the only friends I'd ever known. Now, I find I have the choice to remain human or become an elf." He looked up at her, pain in his eyes. "I want to say yes." He paused for a moment, and then went on. "But a part of me keeps hoping. Someday, maybe they'll learn the truth. Maybe I'll be able to go back to the wizarding world again. But then, would I even want to? They betrayed me." He said with tears in his eyes. "They actually believed me capable of that."

"Harry," she started with compassion in her eyes, "I'm not going to tell you what you should do. You'll figure it out in time. But whether you decide to go through the ritual to become an elf or not, I hope you know that you'll always be welcome here with my family in our house."

He smiled and reached over to squeeze her hand, "Dioh ile 'Rea." (Thank you 'Rea) They talked for a while longer until dinner. The family inquired about how he was doing, and he made the appropriate responses. Over the next week, life continued on as usual. But always in his thoughts was the choice. The good and bad of both possibilities continued to run through his head.

Finally, he made his decision. Calling the family together, he stood up. "I've decided to become an elf." Everyone smiled as he went on. "When I first found myself with this choice, I wanted to shout yes. The only thing that stopped me was the thought of my human friends" He shook his head and his eyebrows creased in pain at the memory. "But if they actually believed that of me, I'm not sure they were really my friends in the first place..." Looking at 'Rea, he continued. "If they ever do find out the truth, they will have to earn my trust back. And I might as well be an elf as they do it."

With that, they all jumped up and hugged him. "Besides," he continued, "how could I leave my family?"

"Well Corin," Soron spoke, "as long as you're positive, tomorrow morning I'll inform the council. The ritual will take place in a couple of days.