About Eragon's ears

It was a normal dinner, until the rumors came in.

"Have you heard about the recent rumors?" Ginny leaned over the table and the mounds of food on it.

Harry looks at her in confusion, "It's literally the third day of the school year. How are there already rumors?"

"It's Hogwarts, Harry." Ginny replies simply. "You haven't heard?" Her voice lowers to a whisper. "Some people are saying that the caretaker is part elf."

Ron, who was secretly listening in besides them, chokes on his food.

"What?!" Hermione exclaimed, then blushes a deep red for accidentally exposing herself as well. "Mr. Eragon...is an elf?!"

Ginny gestured her to be quiet, looks around rather cautiously before continuing, "You know how the caretaker never changed his awful hairstyle?"

Harry thought back to the few times when he saw the caretaker, "What's wrong with his hair?"

Ginny rolls her eyes, "Whatever. You boys won't understand anyway."

"Is it about how the hair at the sides are too long?" Hermione asks rather hesitantly.

Ginny nods rather absently and lowers her voice even more, and the trio had to lean in to listen, "Parvati swore that she saw the caretaker's ears are pointed."

Ron coughs out non-existing food, "That's not possible!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, how in the name of Merlin's beard can the caretaker be related to an elf?" Ron sees the rather murderous look on Hermione and hurriedly adds, "Not that it's a bad thing, it's just they're so different."

Harry turns to the hall gates, where the caretaker was leaning against the wall. Somehow, the caretaker seems to catch his gaze and stares back, a slight smile on his face.

Blushing slightly from the embarrassment of being caught, Harry turns his head towards the teacher's table instead, where he sees Umbridge eating a piece of cake with too much daintiness.

He settled for staring at the forgotten stew on his plate instead.

An elf? That seemed like the furthest stretch Harry has ever heard of.

"So, Hermione?" Ron asks.

"What?"

"You gonna list the caretaker under your SPEW protection?"

Hermione pauses momentarily, then blushes in anger, "There's no proof yet that shows he's part elf!"

"Yeah, yeah I know." Ron grins. "Are you gonna give him a hat then?"

"Oh, shut up for Merlin's sake!"

During midnight, Harry being Harry, decided to go for a walk.Taking out his invisibility cloak, he quietly steps out of the common room and goes to the first window that he sees. The moon was a very thin crescent, so there really wasn't much to admire, but it was enough to sooth his nerves that has been jumping about since... well, everything.

"Harry Potter." A sudden voice emanated in the silence, and Harry nearly jumped as he turns around stupidly, only to see the new caretaker, Eragon.

"Mr... Mr. Eragon!"

The caretaker raises an eyebrow, "You shouldn't be here at this time, you know?"

"Er, sorry." Harry stammers. "I couldn't sleep."

"Why, you're going to sleep out here?" Mr. Eragon replies.

"Er..." Harry didn't know how to answer that.

"Time to go back, Mr. Potter."

"Just another minute?"

"Mr. Potter." Eragon crosses his arms, and Harry suddenly feels himself at the end of a stare that rivals Professor McGonagall.

"Ok." Harry began walking back, then stops, turns around, and asks very hesitantly, "Mr. Eragon, if you don't mind me asking this so suddenly, but are you really..."

"Part elf?" The caretaker tilts his head. "I'm not deaf, of course I've heard the rumors."

Harry blushes again as Eragon continues, "It's only the third day of school. You students should put that enthusiasm into your studies." Harry agrees silently at that statement.

"Are you curious?" Eragon points at his ears, where the tips are covered firmly. Hesitantly, Harry nods.

"Well, put that curiosity into your schoolwork, not here." Eragon puts his hand down and crosses his arms against his chest. "Good night, Mr. Potter." With that, he stops talking and stares intently.

Harry the tomato promptly runs for the Fat Lady.

During next morning's breakfast, the rumors have somehow seemed to spread across the whole school, including the staff.

How did this happen? Harry wondered.

Ron seems incredulous at this whole trend as well. Swallowing his soup, he said, "I heard some Ravenclaws arguing over the possibility of the caretaker being a cursed prince."

Ginny shrugs, "He has the looks."

At this moment, a noticeable gasp came from Hermione, as she stutters out, "Look!"

Harry turns, and like many others, gapes at the caretaker and his new hairstyle.

"Well, Merlin."