Harry Potter and the End of the Beginning

Disclaimer – Nothing you recognize belongs to me, it's all J.K's

Chapter One

Harry sat in the sun with Ron and Hermione trying not to dwell on what had just taken place. Within the space of an hour he had attended the funeral of his mentor and broken his own heart, as well as Ginny's by ending their relationship.

Ron and Hermione were sitting very closely he noticed, and he couldn't help but wonder if they had finally admitted what everyone else already knew.

The crowds of people had begun to thin out after the ministry had left and now Hogwarts had once again become a peaceful place. The future of Hogwarts was still very unsure though. After Dumbledore's death no one knew what the next step should be. How could the school remain open without its figurehead?

Harry however had already gone over all these thoughts and settled on musing over the horcruxes. Over and over in his head he kept saying "Something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's, the locket, the cup and the snake." He knew that he somehow had to find and destroy all these things; the problem was he had no idea where to begin. Without Dumbledore around to explain everything, Harry was beginning to feel like he was drowning.

Ron and Hermione had decided that they would accompany him where ever he needed to go. This was a bad idea from the start he knew. But how to get them to see that this was something he couldn't do with them.

So lying in the sun next to the lake with his two best friends Harry tried to figure out an escape plan – what he didn't know was that currently the means for his escape was just walking through the Hogwarts gates.

The group of elves walked tall and proud into the Hogwarts grounds. They passed the groups of people still left from the funeral and made their way up to the white tomb. The leader, a young woman approached the tomb alone and then suddenly dropped to one knee in front of it.

Harry leaned over to his friends and said "I knew that Dumbledore had some interesting friends but they're elves."

"High elves Harry, no one has seen the high elves since the time of the founders. How on earth did Dumbledore know them?" Hermione said in an awed voice. "We're witnessing history, this is amazing."

The groups of people were openly staring in amazement at what was taking place in front of them. Professor McGonagall walked up to the group of unusual visitors and began to speak in hushed tones to all of them, except the young woman who remained crouched in front of the tomb.

Suddenly she stood up and turned to McGonagall and the other elves all stood down allowing her to take charge of the situation.

"Professor, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, just a pity about the circumstances. I thank you for sending word." She said just loud enough for the trio to hear. "I cannot change what has come to pass but I can help with what is coming, I need to speak with him."

The trio all exchanged a curious look while McGonagall looked decidedly uncomfortable.

"I don't know what you had planned with Albus, but he is still a child. I'm not sure that you meeting with him would be the best idea."

The elf looked directly at McGonagall.

"I'm sorry you feel that way but there are things that now must be taken care of. Your leader is dead and I must begin to train his heir, I am after all the only one who can."

McGonagall sighed loudly. There was complete silence over the whole area as everyone present waited with baited breath to find out what on earth the two women were talking about. Harry had an uneasy feeling starting up in his stomach. He had the strangest feeling he knew what was about to happen.

McGonagall looked at the elf and with a resigned expression on her face, nodded and began to walk towards Harry.

Harry's feeling of uneasiness grew as the Professor stopped in front of him and said "Harry I would like you to meet Elle Burgess."

He looked at the elf. She looked about the same age as him and had dark brownish reddish hair that was long and straight and hung almost to her waist. Large silver eyes looked him up and down taking in everything.

"Of course. Harry it's wonderful to finally be here with you. I have been waiting for some time for this day. I would like to offer an invitation for you and one other to come with me and begin training." Her tone had changed when she began to speak to him. She was so quiet that only those close by could hear her. Harry was floored. He glanced at the Headmistress and saw her nod slightly, giving approval.

"I can't just leave with you, for a start I have no idea who you are. You could be just trying to get me away from Hogwarts so that you can kill me, you could be working for Voldemort!" Harry exclaimed loudly

"I think we should continue this discussion in the heads office." Professor McGonagall began to usher the group towards the castle when the lead elf turned towards Ginny, who was sitting with the rest of her family watch in disbelief.

"You, the redhead girl. I think you had better join us."

And so the group made their way to Dumbledore's office. Eight elves, the headmistress, the famous Gryffindor trio and Ginny Weasley.