Chapter 6 The Beginning

October 7

Discot and Chevis along with two impartial witnesses from the elven counseltransported to Hogwarts on the morning of the seventh for the meeting between Albus and Discot. Although the four elves appeared calm that was far from the case. This meeting would set the pace for elven relationships between humans for many years to come. Chevis personally thought that if the humans escaped war after this meeting they should get down on their knees and thank the twin because last night watching Harry and the twin interact was all that diffused Discot's righteous anger over the baseless accusations made against one of his own. Imagine believing even for a second that any elf would willingly harm a child. Unbelievable what some people could believe based on rumors, gossip and half understood fact.

The small group halted on the lawn before the great doors and waited for the humans to notice them. Fortunately it didn't take very long before the strangest group of humans that Discot had ever seen started to arrive. The old man came first flanked by five with flame hair that would have done a wood elf proud. Those six were followed by an old woman with a dead bird perched on her head and a man who looked like he had been chewed up by a dragon before being spit out. One of the females had the blue green hair only seen naturally on the royal family of sea elves and another male had skin even darker than a drow did. One of the males reminded Discot of a youngling playing at being a vampire and one of the normal looking humans had the stink of a lycanthrope around him.

When the strange group of humans was about three and a half meters away they stopped and the old man approached alone. When he was only about a meter away Discot held up his hand in a warding off gesture and the old man stopped. "No closer till terms are set." He snapped his fingers and Chevis stepped forward to his side. Dropping to his knees he pulled his hair around his shoulder so that his neck was exposed, he then bowed his head in an act of submission.

Discot laid a hand on Chevis' head. "This is Chevis, the dark elf who paid gold for the boy. If through any action of his the boy came to harm he offers his life to you to use as you see fit. If you find this acceptable then you will make your counter offer and we agree to your offer there will be no war. If we cannot come to an agreement of terms and we find you in the wrong there will be war. Do you understand these things human?"

It would have been an understatement to say that Dumbledore was shocked. If he understood this correctly this Chevis was offering to die rather than have humans declare war on the elves if they were proven to be in the wrong. Of course Albus wouldn't kill the man but, but, but…retribution or justice or revenge; whatever you wanted to call it would be served if he spent the rest of his life in prison. Or at least almost served. Albus stroked his beard as he lost himself in thought. He worked out the problems Harry's death had caused and how to get around them before he made a counter demand. "The boy who died was very special to us on several different levels. He was the pinnacle figure in a prophesy that predicted the death of our enemy Voldemort. He was friend, student and son to several of us. You can never make that right but we are not unreasonable." He motioned to the kneeling dark elf before continuing. "Him, the return of Harry's body and elven assistance in the war against our enemy. That is fair recompense for what was done. Do you agree?"

Discot said "We agree. Now what do you offer?"

Albus followed Chevis' lead and went to his knees. Head bowed he simply said "My life."

Chevis said something in elven to Discot and after listening he nodded once then told Albus, "Your life and three days service from the one who accused Chevis of harming the child."

Albus glanced over his shoulder at Severus before he shook his head no. "I cannot bargain another's life."

Severus stepped forward and said in a snide tone, "You have before Albus but this time I'll make the bargain myself. What will these three days of service entail?"

Discot smiled at the dour vampire wannabe before he answered. "Service would be servant or slave work. Nothing that will harm you except perhaps your pride. Do you agree?"

Going over the pro's and con's quickly he understood that if the elves came into the fight the light side would surly win he made his decision. Three days for a life a freedom if it went against his side as apposed to slavery from either Voldemort or Albus for Merlin knew how long. A bargain. "I agree."

Once terms were agreed to Discot conjured a large round table and chairs for everyone. He also placed a ward around the assembly that heated the air so the meeting could be held in comfort. Inviting everyone to seat themselves he asked the group at large. "Who would like to start?"

Severus glared at Albus. This was serious business and what does the man do? Pulls a sack of sweets from a pocket and starts offering them around. Shaking his head in disgust he turned down the candy before he offered to start the meeting.

"On August 19 Albus told me that Potter had been taken from his family's home. He asked me to contact some people I know to try and find out what happened to him. One of my contacts told me that the Dark Lord had used a potion that created a gas at Potter's residence. This gas rendered the boy unconscious. He was taken to a secret location. There he was stripped of his clothes, sold for four thousand galleons and the promise of 50 Drow followers. The Drow that purchased him promised the Dark Lord that the boy's magic would be stripped and that he would never be allowed freedom again. According to my sources the boy was fondled inappropriately, collared, shackled and chained before he was taken away." Severus glared at those seated around the table before he once again sat down.

Chevis gently smiled at those affected by the story the human had told. How like humans to care so much but to give so little. "Before I tell you what really happened I wish you to know. Elves never lie. We may not tell the whole story or give all of the facts but what we do say is always true. Do you all understand this?" He waited till each human indicated understanding before he picked up the narrative.

"Amongst my people I am a hunter. I find people or things that are missing. My last assignment was to find the heir to Slitherine. We knew that the lord had two children by a human woman and we knew both of those children had children of their own. I met a dead end with the children of the eldest but was able to locate the heir of his youngest child. Unfortunately this heir was damaged beyond our ability to help. He had been tainted by the blackest of magic and his soul was corrupted. It was during this time I found out that your Voldemort planned on kidnapping a child and using him in a ritual. After the ritual was completed he planned on turning this child over to his followers with instructions to hurt him as much as possible without allowing him to die."

Chevis sighed at the shocked looks on the faces around him. "Shurly this does not come as a surprise to you? Anyhow, I went back to the counsel and informed them of what I had found out. The counsel ordered me to acquire the child in any way possible to save him and I agreed. I returned to Voldemort and told him that some elves liked to play with young humans and that several members of our counsel had asked me to try to get the boy for them. Voldemort promised to contact me when he had the child to see if we could strike a deal for him. I agreed and continued my search for a usable heir which I finally found. It was a young sixteen year old male who resided with his family at number 4 Privet Drive"

Chavis flashed a feral grin at the gasps he heard from around the table.

"Yes, I'm sure you can sympathize with my distress when I found the house being watched by death eaters. After the boy was taken I went back to where your Voldemort was hiding. He and I struck a deal and I took the boy." Chevis bowed to Discot before he asked the Order members. "Do you have any questions?"

Questions? Questions? Of course he had questions. About a hundred of them as a matter of fact. Severus looked around at the humans and waited for someone else to start.

Albus cleared his throat and asked the most important question of all. "Is the boy dead?"

Chevis slowly shook his head no.

Remus got a hopeful look and blurted out "He's not dead? I want to see him!" Others around the table added their agreement to that with Molly being the loudest except she wasn't just demanding to see Harry, she as demanding his return.

Severus cleared his throat before standing to get Chevis' attention. "Are dark elves joining the death eaters?"

Chevis once again shook his head no but this time he also gave a verbal answer. "Humans seldom listen to what is being said. I promised your Lord Voldemort that fifty of us would call him Lord. I never said we would serve him."

Now that was a bit more than the twins could take without loosing it. George shook with laughter as he pointed a shaky finger at Chevis and gasped out "You – you tri- tricked him." Fred couldn't even get that much out, he was laughing so hard.

Molly scowled at her sons before she turned back to the elf. "What about the rest? Did you strip his magic from him and," Here her face turned redder than her hair, "and physically misuse him?"

Discot stood and walked around the table till he was beside Molly. He knelt down so he could look directly in her eyes and asked, "You have tried to be a mother to him haven't you?"

Molly's lip quivered and she gave a jerky nod. "I love him like one of my own. All of this not knowing how he is, it's killing me."

Softly so the others had to strain to hear he explained. "Chevis had the boy stripped for several reasons. The first was to make sure nothing touching him was charmed. Another reason was because the child fell down a flight of stairs and Chevis needed to make sure he took no hurt from that. He is not very good at diagnostic spells and anything between the one he casts on and himself clouds the results. He ran his hands across the child's body because touch aids him in reading the results of the spell. The last reason he had the child stripped was because the suppressor collar that was used to block the boy's magic will not work around objects. Once the collar is locked on and the block is active clothing can be worn again. They rest outside of the block. These things were done to protect the child. Chevis couldn't tell the child this in front of the evil one and so of course the child was afraid. For this we are sorry but it was necessary."

Molly reached up and wiped the tears that had gathered in her eyes away. In a shaky voice she asked him. "He's ok then? I need to see him please."

After giving it a few moments of thought Discot gave a decisive nod. Speaking louder he said, "After this is settled and we are finished here I will have my wife bring him so that you may all see him. Does that satisfy everyone?"

The humans around the table save two were in agreement that seeing Harry was alive and well would satisfy. Even Albus was sporting his twinkle and a grin. The two that still expressed reservations was Severus and surprisingly Tonks.

"Um, I hate to be a wet blanket but something is bothering me." That statement caught the attention of the others and Tonks finding herself the center of attention blushed but continued on anyhow. Jerking her thumb in the direction of Chevis she said, "He said elves never lie." She then pointed at Severus, "He said he was told that Harry would never be 'Allowed freedom again' was he wrong?"

Chevis simply said "He was informed wrong."

Discot stood and held up a hand for silence. When everyone was quiet and looking back at him he asked, "Do you still think that the boy was harmed by elves old man?"

Albus studied the other humans gathered around the table gauging their opinions from their expressions and of all of them only Tonks and Severus seemed uncertain. "Severus, Nymphadora,Do you two still have any questions or doubts?"

Severus scowled before he accused, "They aren't telling us everything."

Tonks nodded in agreement "I think they're hiding something too Albus."

Albus turned his troubled gaze back to Discot and asked, "Are you hiding things about what happened to Harry from us?"

"Old man, the purpose of this gathering is to determine if one of ours did as you accused. Do you still believe Chevis purchased the boy for a slave, to be misused and killed?"

Albus hesitated a moment longer before he answered, "No I do not. I also believe you have not been completely honest with us but I no longer think Mr. Chevis purchased him to hurt him."

"Chevis, you may work out how your bond servant will fulfill his service. Old man, After today if you try to interfere with me or mine or if you ever try to spread lies about me or mine I will kill you." Giving a grim smile Discot finished with "Honor has been satisfied. I am content."

Molly stood and gave Discot a shy smile. "Will you get Harry for us now?"

Discot gave the woman a warm friendly smile and said. "I have not forgotten Lady but I think there are several things we need to talk about first. Please be patient." Molly gave him a small frown before she nodded and sat back down.

"Old man, do these humans know of the prophesy made about the child and the evil one?"

Albus licked his lips nervously before he shook his head no. "I would prefer to keep it that way if you don't mind."

Moody blew out a gusty sigh and Mrs Longbottom hid a smile behind her hand. She was the one who answered the headmaster's statement though. "Albus, I'm not even a member of your Order and I know what the prophesy is about and all I have is second hand information from unreliable sources. Harry has to face him doesn't he?"

At Albus gobsmacked expression Kingsley said. "We all know Albus. It's not that hard to put the pieces together you know?"

Discot grinned at the flummoxed expression on the old man's face before he continued where he had left off. "Humans are notorious for misinterpreting prophesies before they are fulfilled." His grin turned ruthful. "This time I did as poor a job as you humans did. You see, I have taken the child as my own and our law states quite clearly that the parent or guardian of a child act as his hands and voice in all matters. I had thought that meant that I would be the one to kill the evil one and thus it would have been finished because of the part that said, 'either must die at the hand of the other' in my arrogance I though I was the 'power the Dark Lord knows not' I was wrong."

Chevis was shaking his head and laughing at Discot who reached out and lightly slapped the other man upside the head. His cheeks pinked and he continued. "I discounted the part that said 'And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal'. His equal, not future equal or has the potential to become his equal but at the time he was marked he was his equal. Harry was that powerful even then. Did any of you guess this?"

After Discot finished talking Albus mouth dropped open and the piece of hard candy fell down into his beard. He gulped a few times before he franticly shook his head no. "How can that be? He was only fifteen months old at the time!"

Minerva nodded quickly in agreement. "He's right. Babies have very small magical cores. As they mature the cores grow with them. That growth process doesn't stop till the wizard dies but the majority of the growth happens during eleven through seventeen years old. That's why we don't teach magic to children under the age of eleven. Most children don't have a strong enough magical core to be useful before then unless they are emotional enough to boost or jump their magic. It's impossible for a child so young to be the magical equal of someone like Voldemort."

Discot sat back and listened to the humans argue. It was humorous that although they were all in agreement they didn't seem to notice that yet. He let them go to it for a bit longer before he interrupted them once again.

"Tell me what you know of twins." He asked those assembled.

Fred and George both grinned at the question.

"Well, twins are the product of the mother"

"producing an egg that splits causing"

"two children to form instead of"

"One" both finished at the same time.

Mrs. Longbottom raised an eyebrow at the twins. Everyone else was so use to them speaking as one that they ignored it in favor of concentrating on what they said. Well, that and wondering what this had to do with a fifteen month old baby being as powerful as the Dark Lord.

After talk died down once again Discot took up his narrative. "You are partially right. Twins share a soul even if only for a short period of time. This sharing causes a bond to form that will only be broken with death of one of the twins. I am going to tell you all a story of a set of twins and I want you all to listen very carefully because I will never repeat this story after today."

He smiled gently at those around the table before he started. "Once upon a time a child was born to parents who loved him very much. This child was the most powerful wizard to have ever drawn breath. Before he came into the world a prophesy was made about him and another very powerful wizard. This other wizard was as black as the child was light. This is the prophesy.

'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…'

"At the age of fifteen months this evil wizard found the baby and tried to kill him with a powerful curse. The use of this curse takes a lot of magic to perform and after it is used the one who used it is weak. This child lashed out as his soul was forced from his body by the curse and he clove onto the nearest one that could save his life. That nearest one happened to be the evil wizard. The child forged the two souls into one before the blackness of the other caused a separation of the soul. By the time this happened the child was strong enough to pull his soul back to his body but the evil one who had been weakened by the killing curse could not do the same so his soul was cast adrift and his body destroyed.

"What most people do not realize about twins is that there is always a dominate one. Under normal circumstances the dominate one would have been the older one but because the older one had fractured his soul into several pieces and because he was left without a body and because of the magical strength of the child it was the child that became dominate. Actions taken later caused an even bigger gap between the strengths of the two as well as a closer bonding. Soon the child unknowingly was able to control the very body of the evil one on even the tiniest level.

"These actions were all initiated by the evil one without his knowledge of what he did. He first opened the bond with the child when he was eleven by trying to convince the child to join him in his evil work. The second action he took was in using the child's blood to build another body for himself. Later he forced the bond wide open by sending the child visions. The next mistake the evil one made was to possess the child which gave the child a blueprint as it were to how the evil one's body worked.

"Harry fulfilled the prophesy the night his parents died. It only took several years before the evil one understood that."

Discot stopped talking and watched the old man tangle the hard candy further into the mass of hair on his chin as he plucked at it. He listened with half an ear to the chaos around him as he watched drool form in the corner of the slack mouth before it dripped out of that mouth and fell almost directly on the candy before the old man realized he had been sitting there with his mouth hanging open like a half wit.

With a quick yank Albus pulled the candy from his beard and despite several hairs that stuck to it he popped it back into his mouth before he gagged and quickly pulled it back out. After plucking several hairs from his mouth he spoke. "Are you telling us that Voldemort is dead?"

At the question the table became quiet as the humans waited with bated breath for Discot's answer. "Yes he is dead."

"There is a potion that was invented long ago that if taken by a werewolf everyday after the full moon till the next full moon that will cause the werewolf to change and never be able to change back. It was made illegal. It has another use that has nothing to do with werewolves though. If administered to a human with a small amount of elven blood in them it will slowly change the human into a full elf. It forces the human parts out till nothing remains but the elven part. Harry was given that potion."

Molly screeched "What?"

Discot ignored her and continued with his story. "As Harry was being changed he lashed out in his fear but the only one he could reach was his twin." Discot shrugged. "He is the dominate twin so he pulled his twin into the change with him without even knowing what he did. Harry is now a high elf and high elves are unable to be evil so the part that was Voldemort was forced out of the weaker twin and all that was left was Tom Riddle, Harry's twin and another high elf."

"If you will wait here I will get my children." Discot stood and walked into the forest.

It took about thirty minutes before he came back accompanied by a little elven girl of about nine or ten, a beautiful woman carrying a young baby of about one and himself carrying another baby of about one. Putting the babies down on the ground he watched with a fond smile as the little green eyed elfling started to teeth on the ear of the plush rabbit he was holding before he fell to his bottom with a squawk.

Remus stood and stared down at the children before he turned shocked eyes back to Discot. "They're ba - babies." He stuttered out.

Discot grinned at him before he said "I know. Elves age much slower than humans. The twins are both about sixteen years old now." Molly fainted.

The End.

Took much longer to type than I thought it would what with work, my son, the hollidays ect. I have two chapters written for my other stories but haven had time to enter them into my computer yet. Promise I won't start another story again till at least one of the other two are finished. This trying to enter three put me way behind on my updates. (Well, I might but before I start to download it I'll have it in my computer already.)