Chapter 25 Speculations

Remus' head was reeling. Ever since that day a week ago when he'd observed Corintur flying on the quidditch pitch, he couldn't stop wondering if maybe, just maybe… but no, that was impossible. Yet, even as he told himself over and over that he was insane for even thinking that Corin was Harry, his senses and his heart kept telling him otherwise. Just little things that only he seemed to notice; habits that did not fit with one of a purely elven background, like, for example, drumming his fingers during a staff meeting. This was a human tendency that he had never heard of elves doing. Of course, he had no illusions that he was an expert on elves, but that was just one of the things he'd noticed.

Besides the obvious fact that Corin owned a Firebolt and flew it with a daring and skillful style that matched his former pupil, other similarities stood out to Remus. One example was his eyes, which were the exact shade of Harry's, if not even brighter. Of course this proved nothing; all elves he'd seen had very striking eyes. But then there was how friendly he was with Laurea, an elf who was well known for pleading with the wizarding world about Harry's innocence. He'd also noted that Corin owned an owl the same size and relative color of Harry's old owl Hedwig. The owl had the same mannerisms too, like a stern, motherly figure.

The final clue that seemed to validate it all was Corintur's attitude around him, Sirius, and the other staff and older students. He was so reserved, almost cold, around them in contrast to the open and somewhat carefree attitudes of the other elves in his party, and rarely spoke to anyone unless he was addressed directly. His eyes always seemed to hide something, and he remembered seeing a pained expression on the elf's face so briefly that he'd thought he had imagined it. Now that he thought back on it that had been the precise moment that the sixth year Gryffindors had walked into the room. At this revelation, he stopped pacing so quickly he almost fell.

It was late at night and Remus was in his rooms pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace. His rooms were identical to that of Corin's with the entrance opening to a small common room; a bedroom was through a door to the left and a private office to the right. It was decorated in Maroon and bronze with a light colored wood on the floors and furniture.

As he pondered this new revelation, he stared sightlessly into the fire, which was little more than coals and a few blackened logs, while running a shaky hand through his grey streaked light-brown hair.

"Is it possible?" He whispered incredulously. How can a man become an elf, and he is an elf no doubt about that. Glamour charms could account for the ears and face shape and a hair growth potion for his hair length, but nothing can fake the graceful movements of elves. And the old Harry would never be able to fight a well as Corintur does. Sure he lost to Laurea and her brother during those mock fights at the beginning of the year, but if this whole wild theory were true, that would make sense if he had only been training since March when he escaped.

Remus gave a heavy sigh and collapsed in a chair in front of the fire. Now that his suspicions were all but proven true, he didn't know what to do. Oh, he knew what he wanted to do which was to bolt straight out of the room to Corin's and beg forgiveness. But he knew that were he to do that, Corin would be long gone by morning. He would run again, and Remus couldn't blame him. His only option was to wait, wait and hope that sometime in the future Harry would give them all another chance.


The next morning, Corin was making his way out of the Forbidden Forest after his morning run as Stealth and towards the Quidditch pitch where the elves had fighting practice at six o'clock every morning. Although it was more than just elves now; several students as well as Sirius and Remus had inquired about more opportunities to train, and that had been the only time available that didn't conflict with class schedules or quidditch practice. Corin had reluctantly agreed, if only because he knew how few students would be willing to wake up at five thirty in the morning. Most students didn't wake up until at least seven, which is when breakfast started, if not later. So far, only fifteen people consistently showed up every morning which included Sirius, Remus, Jemma, Brice, Jackson, and Raven.

He glanced around the field and saw that almost all of the elves were there and already sparring with various weapons. Some fought each other; others were instructing the students, showing them new moves and correcting them when they made mistakes. Anarion and Oron were fighting furiously with swords. Oron looked to be winning so far as he suddenly went on the offensive, making his sword blur through the air and forcing the other elf to retreat. Several students that he knew were learning sword fighting stood a distance away, staring in awe at the two elves whose movements were so fast and fluid that it looked like a dance.

Knowing that it would be awhile before either elf won, since both were equally good with the sword, he summoned his sword and glaive from his room and moved to an empty area of the field to practice. Setting his sword to the side, he brought his glaive up in front of him and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath then let it out slowly, but as he breathed out he felt his skin start to tingle with magic. The only thing he could liken it to was the time he, Aranel, Laurea, and Oron had had that archery contest when he had gone from mediocre to a perfect shot. But this was so much more extreme compared to that. He recalled feeling a tingling in his fingers and arms, some around his eyes and cheekbones. But now… his body was literally throbbing with magic, in time with his heartbeat.

He took another trembling breath and started to move, no not move, dance. Never had he felt so in tune with a weapon before, it literally felt like another extension of his body. The glaive sliced through the air with the grace and skill of a master of the art of glaive fighting. His eyes were still closed and his mind was only focused on the rhythm of his movements, so he didn't see when all the elves and humans on the field slowly stopped what they were doing to watch.

It looked as though he was fighting an invisible opponent, his movements so quick they were hard to follow with the naked eye. His hair flew behind him as he twisted and turned, dodging and blocking strikes that only he could see. Laurea, who had been working with Raven and Jackson on their own glaive fighting, gazed in awe at her soul mate. Her breath hitched as he executed a move that only elves who had been training for years could even attempt to do. She and Oron shared a look of astonishment.

"Looks like you won't be beating him anymore little sister." He muttered quietly, never removing his gaze from Corin. She nodded and smiled brightly as she continued to watch. Finally Corin's movements started to slow and he came to a stop, his glaive resting in the same position it had started in.

Slowly he opened his eyes, and as he considered what had just happened, he felt his heart rate speed up and his breathing quicken. He brought his weapon down to rest in both hands and stared at it as his mind raced. This is not just some side effect from being of elven ancestry, the perfect shot I can somewhat understand, but this?? I've never heard of anything like this happening before. I think I need to write to Soron and have him consult the council. Something big is happening, and I want to know what.

He looked up and was just about to head across the field to explain what had happened to Laurea when he froze. Every elf and human on the field was staring at him, some with slack-jawed expressions on their faces. Laurea and Oron were watching as well, proud and amazed looks on their faces. Suddenly wishing for a hole in the ground to open up and swallow him, he grabbed his sword and made his way over to them as quickly as possible. As if his movement set off a signal, everyone got back to practicing like nothing out of the ordinary had happened. When he had reached them, they just kind of stared at each other for a moment, unsure of what to say.

"Sooooo…" Oron said when no one spoke.

"Yeah, that about sums it up." Laurea said with a grin. Then her face turned serious, "What happened, melamin?" (my love)

Corin's eyes got a far off look in them as he remembered. "It was amazing, I felt magic flowing through me. And every move I made felt as if I had done it hundreds of times before. I just… knew what to do." He turned back to look at them. "Do you know what's happening to me? Have you ever heard of this happening to someone before?"

Oron shook his head. "No, I've never heard of anything like it. But Corin, what you did… some of those moves not even Laurea can do. By the stars, some of them are so advanced only a master who has trained for hundreds of years can do them."

Corin's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Finally he shook his head and muttered something like 'why is it always me?', and then spoke. "I'll write your father tonight and have him take this matter to the council. Maybe then we'll find some answers."

They nodded in agreement and then headed back to what they had previously been doing. He was about to do the same and start working with his sword when he felt eyes on him. Figuring it was just a couple awestruck students, he glanced up but froze when his eyes met Remus'.

He knows. Corin swore to himself silently as he observed the expression on Remus' face cycle from amazement to wistful to self-loathing and kept his eyes on Remus as the werewolf averted his gaze and looked away.

Bloody hell, he knows… what do I do now?


That afternoon just after lunch, Remus was standing on the shore of the lake watching the giant squid when Corin found him. He just stood there observing him for a moment, Remus still unaware he was there, debating his decision to come. Finally he took a deep breath and made his way over to stand next to his old professor. Remus had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he gave a startled jump when he noticed Corintur standing quietly next to him staring out at the lake, a blank expression on his face.

"So you know." It was a statement, and Remus flinched at the cold tone in his voice.

"Yes." He just whispered in response.

"How?"

"I saw you on your Firebolt, saw your skill at flying, the color of your eyes, remembered little things that I had dismissed before. When I put it all together, there was only one conclusion I could draw." Remus spoke quietly, and kept his eyes on the water and mountains in front of him.

"I see." He took a deep breath, trying to settle his nerves. "Tell no one of this. Perhaps one day I'll be able to forgive…" His voice trailed off and he swallowed with difficulty.

Remus nodded and the view in front of him grew distorted as his eyes became glazed with tears. "Upon my magic, I will tell no one who you are." He felt a flare in his magic as he said these words, and knew that the wizard's oath he'd just spoken would hold him to his word.

"Thank you, Professor. You can talk with the Headmaster if you wish; he is the only human here that knows who I am." Remus gave another nod, acknowledging that he had heard. "I have a class soon, so I must go. I'll see you at dinner."

"I'm sorry, Harry." Remus said in a barely audible whisper.

The young elf paused as he was about to leave. "I know Remus, I know." He said softly, and then was gone.


Hey!!! I actually got a chapter out in under a month!!! yay! sooo, Remus finally knows. I love Remus! He's one of my absolute favorite characters, kinda reminds me of me. except for the whole lycanthrope thing. (i think i spelled that right. for those that don't know, that's werewolfism.) I've got a whole calendar full of approximate dates, and this chapter takes place in about mid-October. The Halloween costume ball will be coming up soon, so that'll be fun.

Well, hope you like this chapter, please feel free to leave a review.

Arye