A/N thanks for your reviews and support.

kirsty21: thanks for your review my friend. ^_^.

Ray Hadrian: thanks for your review my friend. Thank you!

WhiteElfElder: thanks for your review my friend. Well... that remains to be seen. Though he will have a long way to earning trust.

DarkRavie: thanks for your review my friend.

mizzrazz72: thanks for your review my friend. True but there is a particular saying out there. We will just have to wait and see where this goes.

...

Barty apparated back to Malfoy Manor where his Lord, Marvolo he forcefully reminded himself was staying. Over the last two nearly three years things had changed drastically with his Lord. When he first was resurrected madness ate at his mind. It had made him nearly unpredictable when it came to his actions and moods. At one time the Elite, a dozen members of the Death Eaters who were trusted above all others could get away with much. Could speak to Marvolo and call him by his chosen name in private. It had taken until his bonding with the first of the elementals for this to return.

Draco Malfoy the air elemental had been the first to be claimed. It had been no surprise when he chose Lucius for his mentor. According to the young Malfoy Heir elementals must choose someone they have a kinship with. If they cannot trust their mentor their magics would run wild. A mentor was supposed to be there to help control the magic when the master couldn't be. While it doesn't have to be family it seemed to work better for the two.

With some of his sanity returning also started the process of looking less like a snake human hybrid. As much as he disapproved of the association he couldn't contradict the accuracy of the assessment. Even as loyal as Barty was he knew it was true.

Even with the bonding of one of his elementals the Dark Lord still had bouts of insanity. His temper would flare and when it did the manor would shake with the force of his magic. Though he had begun to treat the Elite better again they still avoided him. Only Barty continued to stick close by.

Nott had followed not long after the Malfoy Heir. The two were proud purebloods who accepted their positions easily. Concessions were made that they wouldn't be forced to needlessly kill. As they were children Barty could understand their fear. No one wanted to be a murderer before they even had time to finish school.

That had mostly fixed their Lord's looks and sanity. The bouts were few and far between. Typically it only came if someone was stupid enough to approach one of the elementals uninvited and weren't their mentors. It was strange to see him protective like that.

This would be the third bonding. Barty had nearly missed it attending Potter's birthday party. They had confirmed that Luna Lovegood was the water elemental. She was a strange girl always speaking in a dreamy sort of way. Most thought she was insane including both of the other elementals. They had not been happy to see her band.

Barty snorted when he thought of the girl's arrival. Somehow Lovegood had arrived at Malfoy Manor with her father and without an invitation. She knocked on the gates asking in her usual tone to be let in. They were going to refuse until she showed her band. How she knew Marvolo was here he would likely never know.

Silently Barty entered the meeting room where the Elite and Inner Circle were waiting. Lovegood and the other two elementals were were standing by Marvolo. For his part the Dark Lord sat on throne silently watching them. When his red eyes found Barty he motioned for him to approach. Without any hesitation Barty did so and stood with the elementals and their mentors.

Marvolo began as he stood, "Welcome my friends. Tonight we are here for a claiming of another elemental. Tonight I will add my third of four elements into my control. This will be the first time those outside of the Elite will witness it."

Barty could feel the eagerness of the Inner Circle around him. It made him want to sneer at them. They were purebloods and should show more decorum than this.

Marvolo for his part did ignore them as he moved to stand in front of Lovegood. He grabbed her wrist covering the band and declared, "Luna Lovegood, in front of Lady Magic I hereby claim you as my Water Elemental."

All three of the current elementals let out hisses of pain as their bands flashed their colors. Lovegood glowed briefly as Lady Magic accepted his claim. When he released her, she staggered back before regaining her balance. Then without prompting she joining Nott and Malfoy.

Barty only listened with half an ear as Marvolo gave out orders to the Inner Circle. From there they were dismissed leaving only the Elite and Elementals.

They stood quietly for a moment before Marvolo asked, "Barty what news do you bring?"

Barty came forward and explained what had transpired that evening. He explained how he interacted with Potter and the way the boy's magic had reacted. The other children shifted listening to his words. Lovegood wouldn't look at them. Interesting he had the feeling she knew more about this than she was letting on.

Marvolo must have noticed his attention for red eyes turned to look at his Water Elemental. Lovegood refused to look at the Dark Lord.

Marvolo ordered coldly, "Luna look at me and tell me what you know about Potter and the Fire Elemental."

To his surprise Lovegood fought the order from Marvolo. All of the Elite knew that the elementals couldn't ignore an order from their Lord. Their magic would do everything possible to force them to obey. No one knew how it felt but by the look on Lovegood's face it wasn't pleasant.

After two minutes of silence she grit out, "Harry is your Fire Elemental. He does not know what the band on his arm means. He does understand his magic isnt reacting way it supposed."

Well that answered that. Getting Potter to agree to the claiming will be difficult. While Marvolo could try the claiming now it would be unwilling. That would cause untold pain. While the boy had been an enemy he now belonged to the Dark Lord and the Dark Lord protected what was his.

Marvolo narrowed his eyes then he asked, "Why did you come here for the claiming? Were you protecting Potter from being claimed?"

Again the girl went silent. Minutes passed and sweat began to form on her brow. She was fighting the urge to answer and answer honestly. She held out for longer this time. Her muscles began to twitch as if she had been cursed and her jaw locked. The other elementals shifted uncertainly as they watched.

Then she said, "I came here to protect Harry from you."

"Protect him from me? If he is truly one of my elementals I won't hurt him."

Coldly she returned, "With your sanity not fully returned. You maybe able to hide it from the others but I can still See the truth. He will never willingly follow you as you were with only two elementals. With my claiming your mind will finish its healing but you still need to get him to willingly agree to the claiming."

A dark look crossed the man's face as he asked, "And how would you suggest I do that?"

That's when her electric blue eyes turned to Barty. An ice cold shiver went down his spine.