DISCLAIMER: Just playing with someone else's toys. Not getting paid, so don't sue.
AN: ok, to my reviewers, I LOVE you guys. I hope the answer to my riddle isn't disappointing. I know this has taken…. 3 or so months to get out and I'm sorry, I've been having issues and also writers block whenever I tried to write but I finally got it out, please don't hate on me for taking so long and making this total crap… please stick with me!
8. Cruel Summer
Run… run… run… RUN!
That's all that was going through the girls head as she ran for her life toward the only thing that could save her: Hogwarts.
"…Don't let them get you Taz! Run!" she heard her father yell, "Go to where it's safe!"
Here eyes welled up with more fresh tears at the horrible memory, but she just kept running up the dark, tree lined pathway. The castle could be seen, up a ways, through the rapidly thinning trees.
"Almost there, you git, now come on! Don't give up now!" she yelled at herself.
She had watched both her parents die. She wished she had just kept running like she was right now, she wouldn't have had to see it.
FLAHSBACK
"CRUCIO!" shrieked the tall, robed man.
The beaten woman fell to the ground with a blood curdling scream, writhing in pain.
He lifted the spell, an evil grin spreading across his skull-like face. Voldemort glided over and lifted her up to eye level by the back of her head.
"So, you're Tagora Tipharah." he hissed as he slammed her head repeatedly into the wall. "Well, you won't be for very much longer, hmmm?" He just kept slamming her head into the wall.
"Stop it you vile snake, STOP IT!" screamed an angry man as he fought against the Death Eaters restraining him. They just held him there, making him watch his wife die.
Voldemort stopped and looked over at the broken man." Or what Ethan? You'll spit on me? Kick dirt in my face?" He let go of Tagora, letting her to crumple to the ground in a bloody heap. "You can't hurt me, and you know it. Your wand has been snapped, my men are restraining you, and what do you think you're going to do? Empty threats anger me, your parents learned that the hardest way possible. Oh what, you didn't know?" Voldemort cackled again, taking Ethan's face in his bony hand, bringing his face level to his own. "You'll be with you pathetic parents soon enough. Now, where is the girl?"
He searched with his red cat-like eyes around them, hoping to spot her in the trees.
Chills went up and down her spine as those horrible eyes ran over her hiding spot.
"Where are you, little girl? If you come out, your father will live, I daresay it's too late for your mother." He gave a malicious laugh.
The girl gave a low growl, she swore to herself that that vile creature will be struck down by her hand. She shifted after his eyes moved away from her. She looked at her dying, if not already dead, mother. 'I will be that monster's end…'
"You don't want me to come out there and look for you, brat. The longer you hide, the worse you death shall be. I suggest you come out now, but I will admit, if you don't, I will absolutely love making your blood boil." Voldemort said while shooting stunners randomly out into the darkness, one missing her by mere inches.
"Don't listen to him!" Ethan screamed out into the dark forest surrounding them, "Don't let them get you Taz! Run! Go where it's safe. RUN!"
"She's already gone, Ethan, or just incredibly stupid. You taught her better than that didn't you? She can't hear you. She would have been out here minutes ago trying to save your pathetic life." Voldemort sneered, "Why'd you run, Ethan? Being king to a vast empire too hard for you?" He kicked Ethan in the stomach, knocking him ba. "Afraid your parents wouldn't like your Dark Elf bride?" He kicked him again. "You know, I've already killed Lucius. The only ones left now are she and Draco. The vampires helped me out with ridding the world of the Arioth line, they killed Gagalin and Tigra. …but now I need the children, where are they?"
"Even if I knew where they were, I wouldn't tell you, you fucking bastard!" Ethan spat. "I hope you never find them, I hope they crush you. I hope she gets both…"
"Crucio" Voldemort said fiercely.
The Death Eaters holding him let go and watched him writhe. Voldemort held it on him until he stopped screaming.
"Find the Elvin half-breed, kill her."
That's when she started to run.
END FLASHBACK
Albus Dumbledore had a quite relaxing evening for a change, not a single upheaval; Voldemort had not caused any major problems for about a week and a half now. The Weasley boys and Co. must be close.
He was just sipping tea, reading a few documents, lounging behind his large desk, when suddenly, a tall, raven hair girl ran into hiss office followed closely by McGonagall.
"They killed my parents!" the girl cried, collapsing to her knees, "Ethan and Tagora Tipharah are dead! I saw him kill my parents!"
The girl's electric blue eyes looked into Dumbledore's eyes which were not sparkling as they usually were. Dumbledore had risen from his seat, hands spread, leaning over the desk. She blinked, inhaled sharply and fainted. McGonagall caught her.
"What do we do, Albus? He'll be after..."
Hushing her, Dumbledore rushed over and scooped up the girl out of McGonagall's arms.
"Minerva, find out if Gagalin and Tigra Arioth are alright. If I'm right, they're already dead. Find out who killed them and when." He took a pinch full of Floo powder and stepped in to the flames. "Hurry, Minerva!"
"But where…"
"The only place that's safe. GO!"
Minerva McGonagall turned and ran out of the door faster than she had in her entire life.
"Number 12, Grimmauld Place!" Dumbledore shouted and vanished.
Harry and Draco broke apart from their kiss when they heard lots of shouting and people running past there door. Then someone knocked on it.
Harry ran to the door and opened it, a tall blonde woman went right by him into the room. It was Narcissa.
"They killed Ethan and Tagora, Draco. They're dead!" Narcissa bawled as she reached out for her son to hold her.
Draco standing there shocked took his mother into his arms. "What about..."
"She's fine. Ethan was smart, he told her always to run to Dumbledore at Hogwarts if he ever told her to go somewhere safe." She sobbed into his shoulder.
"Where is she?" Draco asked her calmly.
"She's in the spare room at the end of the hall. Molly, Minerva and Tonks are looking her over, she fainted you see, still out cold."
Harry looked down the hall.
Ron and the twins were hanging over the thin banister of the stairs, trying to see around the room's guard. Moody just kept trying to push them back up the stairs and then finally pulled out his wand. Harry could hardly make out anything, but Moody kept talking louder and louder.
"…And if I hear one little 'poof' from up there, I'm going to skin you alive. This girl needs to recover. Now get up them stairs damn it!" Moody growled lowly to the boys. "No one is allowed in this room. It's none of your business who's inside it either."
'This girl must be important if Moody's protecting her. He doesn't trust anyone.' Harry thought as he looked to the scared and angry Draco.
"Draco," Narcissa squeaked, "I think she'd love for you to be there when she woke up. Bring your boyfriend if you want to."
Neither boy really comprehended much of what Narcissa had just said, they were in utter shock of this new predicament. The boys just followed her down the hall; Draco grabbed his boyfriend's hand, lacing their fingers together.
"Who is she?" Harry whispered to Draco.
"She's my cousin. Out of the thirteen I have, she's the only one I can tolerate." Draco whispered back sullenly. He sighed, "She's my best friend."
Harry saw a tear run down Draco's face. He squeezed his hand reassuringly. Draco gave a faint smile. Harry realized they had finally come to the door. Narcissa nodded to Moody who opened the door for them allowing them inside. Harry hadn't noticed the disturbed look on Moody's face when he noticed how close Harry was to Draco.
The women already inside the room were sitting around the small table over by the closed, grimy window. "Hello, Narcissa…." Molly said, and then she looked at Harry and Draco, "Hello boys."
"Hello." the boys chorused.
Draco realized he was still holding Harry's hand and released it, running his hand through his hair. Molly eyed him suspiciously.
"How is she, Molly?" Narcissa asked, looking intently on the sleeping figure of her dark haired niece.
"No physical harm, but she witnessed them die. She's just in shock. She was told to run and we're assuming she hid herself and watched it, the poor dear." Molly said tearfully.
Draco walked towards the bed slowly. He kneeled down besides her.
Harry noticed a stool over in a corner, took it and set it next to Draco for him to take and sit on. Draco scooted it over, closer to his sleeping cousin, and sat on it. He took her hand in his.
Her eyes fluttered slowly open. Harry was stunned at how bright blue they were.
Draco smiled as she looked up into his eyes. She smiled faintly, obviously tired.
"Hello, Tasma." Draco said, getting up from the stool, and sitting on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?"
Tasma rolled her eyes. "I've been better, Draco." she said, slowly sitting up looking around her and then stopped dead. It was as if she had temporarily forgotten what had happened and then just remembered. A hunted look took over her face. "He came and killed them." She said hollowly. She looked down at her hands. "he did… god, he did…"
She looked into Draco's eyes again. "Daddy told me to run, but I didn't, well, I did... But I stopped and watched them die. I didn't want to watch them die, I thought they might go away, I thought I could save them!. I didn't mean to see it, I wish I hadn't. It was horrible, Draco! Why mum and daddy? Why!" She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into him.
Everyone was just watching the two sobbing teenagers, wishing they could do something for them, wishing they could do something for themselves.
"Well, seeing as how our new, sleeping guest is right below us, I don't think we'll be able to get any work done, do you boys?" George asked, sounding agitated.
"A day off?" Fred said with a hopeful grin.
"Oh thank Merlin," sighed Ron, "I thought you two were never going to let me have a break."
George glared at Ron, "Listen little bro, we didn't ask you to move in here with us. We didn't ask you to help us,"
"Actually, we did," piped in Fred
"Oh shut up, Fred." barked George.
Ron looked at his twin brothers, starting to back up slightly. They were going to start fighting. They never fought, ever.
"What's bothering you mate?" Fred questioned trying to place a hand on his twin's shoulder.
"Oh I don't know," George said sarcastically pushing his hand away, "Maybe it's the fact that there's some girl down stairs delaying our work! I wanted to have the new Maniacal Mixture line out by next week! But now, thanks to her, it'll be late!"
"We have deadlines?" Fred asked with annoyance tingeing his voice, "I wasn't aware we had deadlines, Georgie-boy, I thought we just got done when we got done."
"Look, Fred, this is serious business." George said angrily. "This is life now; this is how we live, Fred. It isn't just an idea or one big joke anymore. This is real! I don't think you get it!"
"You don't think I understand that? I do understand, damn it! It's just so what if we have a few days off, we've been working nonstop for… who knows how long! Business is booming! We're doing fine, George. We need a break, I think we deserve one."
George looked at them, then around him at the various projects put on pause. He finally sighed and said "Alright. We'll have a week or so off. Satisfied?"
"Very" Fred and Ron chorused.
"Let's go to the sitting room and play some chess." said Ron.
George sighed, "Oh, all right."
"Sounds good, little bro." said Fred, grinning.
There was a knock on the den door, Hermione got up and opened it to reveal a nervous looking Ginny.
Hermione greeted her and led her inside.
She entered the room; Sirius was sitting on the love seat looking kind of irritated, reading a book… Upside-down.
Ginny guessed she had interrupted something by the way Sirius was pouting and the way Hermione's hair was tussled.
"What you reading Sirius?" Hermione said, noticing too that the book was upside-down
"Nothing." He grumbled and set the book on the side table.
"Well, Gin, what's up?"
"Mum wanted me to come up here to tell Sirius that we um…We, umm... we have a new house guest." Ginny stuttered tensely.
"What?" Sirius groaned, "Not someone else, who is it?"
Ginny was relived at Sirius's reaction, she though he may have done something brash.
"Tasma Tipharah. Her parents were killed by You-Know-Who. She's Draco's cousin. Apparently, she's Lucius' sister's daughter..." Ginny said, easing into the situation..
Sirius's eyes widened, "Wow, Lucius' sister's daughter... Tasma?" He got up and started pacing. "Her mother, Tagora, hasn't been spoken of in many, many years… Poor soul, she was a very good woman. She was the first child of Millicent Malfoy, a secret."
"Bu I thought…" Hermione started, but Sinus just ignored her and kept talking.
"She was pregnant with the love-child of the Dark Elf prince, Gagalin. This wouldn't have been a problem you see, he could have had her changed." Hermione raised her eyebrows intrigued.
Sirius grinned, "Elves can do that, change mortals into immortals. Tricky business, but on with the explanation and Hermione keep your mouth shut... Now, there wouldn't have been a problem, if the both of them weren't married to other people... When Tagora was born, she was taken and raised by Gagalin and his wife, Tigra. Tagora hated being a princes, she wanted to be an adventurer. One day she just got up and left, leaving a note to her parents telling them that she would come back soon and not to send anyone after her or to watch her. Her parents reluctantly let her do as she pleased. Gagalin had a soft spot, a major soft spot, when it came to his daughter. He had to do whatever she wanted him to do for her."
"So they just let her go?" Ginny asked in shock. "I wish my parent would do that."
"They knew she could take care of her self. She was 19 years old and had never left the city by herself for that whole time. Her father knew he had held her back too much and tried to make up for it by letting her go. He did, however, send someone to watch her anyway. Not a constant watch, more like a monthly check-up. One day the watcher came back and said Tagora had vanished. No trace of her. That was 17 years ago… The last thing anyone heard about Tagora was that she had run away with the high Elvin prince, Ethan. This fact sparked animosity between the two Elvin breeds." Sirius had a strange expression on his face. He looked amazed at what was coming out of his mouth.
Hermione took this all in. "Wait a second… Back to the whole 'Tagora is Lucius' sister' thing, why was he so fair?"
"Gagalin missed Millicent and came back to her one last time, they made love… she conceived Lucius. At first, she wasn't sure if he was Gagalin's or her husband, Xavier's. Once he was born though, she could tell, but Xavier could not." Sirius smiled as Hermione cocked an eyebrow and opened her mouth, but he quickly put a hand over it and continued talking. "He was blond and fair skinned like Millicent, but he had Gagalin's piercing steel grey eyes... Millicent just let Xavier believe Lucius was his and raised Lucius together. Gagalin didn't learn of him until Millicent wrote a letter to him on her death bed confessing it. Gagalin went to Lucius once, told him the truth. He didn't believe a word of it, he was a Pureblood wizard, not a 'half-breed elf'. They never spoke since."
"Then how come Tasma and Draco know about each other? Did Gagalin know about Tasma?" Hermione said, taking in every word Sirius was saying.
"No one spoke of Tagora anymore either. Somehow Lucius found out about her and then wanted to find her. He never did find her or believed anything Gagalin has told him. Tagora being Tagora found out about her brother and sought him out. Lucius, as she would say, was good looking but not a good looker, she fortunately was good at both. She showed up on his doorstep, three years after Gagalin had. She came with her husband and two year old daughter, Tasma. No one knew of Tasma until that day. Gagalin has never met Tasma or her cousin. Narcissa took Draco and Tasma upstairs to let the Elves discuss their business. Lucius finally listened to her and understood what he was. He told her that he would not change his life because of his blood. He was happy being what he was, but he was glad to have a better sister than the ones he grew up with. Tagora told him that he one day may have to become king of the Dark Elves, but he just shook his head saying that it would never happen."
"Then that means that Draco is an Elvin prince." Hermione said looking shocked. "Women can't take the thrown, only men. If Lucius is dead, than that means Draco is next in line for kingship... oh my god. I wonder if he knows…"
Sirius huffed, "I doubt it. Narcissa being her won't tell him until the day before the coronation."
"Wow," Ginny said, "I've kissed a prince." She giggled.
Hermione smiled. "Yes, well, he and Harry will rule the Elvin world."
"What?" Ginny squeaked excitedly.
"Harry?" Sirius asked frantically.
"Oh calm yourself, Sirius." Hermione said, patting him on the shoulder, "Draco can't take the thrown alone, he must have a mate. And since he's dating Harry right now, supposedly anyway, and they stay together," she smirked, "he'll become king as well."
"Oh my god, this is unreal." Sirius said.
"Harry's going to hate that. His life just keeps getting more and more complicated." Ginny sighed in sympathy for her friend upstairs.
"Yea, you can say that again." Sirius said tiredly. "That boy's gotten in over his head, boy, I'll tell ya…"
Hermione sighed and leaned into Sirius's chest.
Ginny smiled at the two. "I'm going to go up stairs and see what's going on."
"Wait," Hermione said. "I believe we shouldn't anything about the whole Elvin prince thing to anyone yet. I'll go to Dumbledore with our findings and see if he knows or not, of course him being him, he already knows. He should be informed at once."
"Right, baby girl." He said kissing her on the forehead. "You know, you should tell Harry about us sometime soon, or I can do it if you want. "
Hermione smiled warmly at him, "How 'bout we tell him together?"
Sirius smiled, "Sounds damn good, baby."
"Ok, well," Ginny said, "I'm going up stairs. Are you coming up with me so you can tell Dumbledore, Hermione?"
"Yes, I'm coming." Hermione said as she got up and headed towards the door. She turned around and said, "I'll be right back, Sirius, don't miss me too much."
"I miss you already." Sirius whined
"No you don't!"
"How do you know?"
"Ugh, whatever, Snooky!"
"God, don't call me that!"
"Ok, Snooky"
"Hermione!"
The girls left giggling.
"So, you'll be where after I get down with Dumbledore?" questions a still smiling Hermione.
"In the sitting room," Ginny said, smile fading fast. "I'll just read or if anyone's there play chess with them or something. I don't know…I miss the boys, I wish they would come around more."
"Yea, it's too quiet down here without them." Hermione replied, looking down the hall at Dumbledore's study entrance. "Who knows, maybe they'll come down. Well, I'll see you later."
"Yea," said Ginny continuing down the hall, "See you."
Hermione stood looking at the door. She was about to knock when it opened and she came face to face with the man she was looking to talk to.
"Hello, Hermione. Did you need something?" Dumbledore said, eyes a twinkling.
"Well, I was with Sirius and Ginny, and we figured out something having to do with Draco and our new house guest."
Dumbledore smiled. "You are a very clever witch, Hermione. Come inside and have a seat in front of my desk, if you please, m'dear." He stepped aside allowing her entry.
She sat in the comfy, yet worn, chintz chair facing Dumbledore.
"So young lady," he said as he took his seat behind his large oak desk, "what have you come to tell me?"
"Well, sir, Ginny came and told Sirius and I about Tasma. He knew who she was and told us about her parents. Ginny told us that she was Draco's cousin and so he told us how that all worked and well, seeing how Lucius is gone, doesn't that mean that, well, Draco's going to be next inline for kingship."
Dumbledore listened to her intently, smiling. At then end of her little explanation clapped his hands together. "Well done, Hermione. Yes, Draco is intended to become the next King of the Dark Elves. His mother does not yet wish to reveal this to him, she fears it will scare him a little to much and seeing how he maybe extremely fragile at the moment seeing how he lost his father and now his aunt and uncle."
"What about Draco having to have a mate in order to take the throne? What will…?"
Before Hermione could finish, Dumbledore held up his hand.
"Trust me my dear, we have everything under control. I have spoken to Narcissa about the recent developments concerning her son and a certain young Mr. Potter. You shall find out when everyone else does about Mr. Malfoy's and Mr. Potter's fates. It is up to them you see, not I, to create this future. Now, I believe you'll find Harry in the kitchen, alone. I believe you wished to discuss something with him?"
Hermione blushed. "You always know don't you?"
"No, not always," He took off his glasses, smiling, to polish them on his robe. "I'm just a very educated guesser.'
"Thank you, Professor. If you need any help…"
"Thank you, I'll keep you in mind, Hermione. I'll see you at dinner, if not before."
Hermione got up and went to the door. "Thank you, Professor."
"...It's a cruel, cruel summer
Leaving me here on my own
It's a cruel,
It's a cruel cruel summer
Now you're gone
You're not the only one..."
-Bananarama "Cruel Summer"
AN: ok, again, sorry for taking so damn long. hope you liked it. REVIEW! please, i love my readers and sorry for making you all think that i hasd abandoned you.
Next Chapter: Hermione and Sirius' tale of coming together...
