Chapter Seven The Elf

The crossing was simple. The sails were set and the boat moved through the waters with a hidden intelligence guiding its' rudders. The group sat quietly, each with their own thoughts.

Lupin was the only one who seemed to be energized. The full moon rose like a giant gold coin and grinned down on them as if it knew a private joke it wasn't sharing. Lupin leaned against the railing, his neck stretched, his eyes fixed on the orb and he didn't transform.

Harry saw the look on his face once again. The look of astonishment and joy. He wondered how many years it had been since the man could go out at night and not keep track of the moon phases; how many years he had been able to act like a normal human being. Harry glanced over at Snape. The man was looking back, his face unreadable.

"Remus?" Harry struggled to his feet. The man turned to him and his face was lit up with a warm happy grin.

"Oh Harry," he breathed and turned once again to stare. Harry saw the change, the straight shoulders and thick hair and the youthfulness that had returned. "I didn't think it was true," Lupin said. "I am cured."

Harry smiled. He looked out to sea at the reflection of the moon on its' surface. The sea was calm, benign and then he looked forward, towards the bow and saw the island in the distance. The smile faded from his lips. Ron was huddled on deck with his cloak pulled tightly around him although it was a warm night. He was also looking forward.

Moses stood and stretched and moved on cat-feet towards the wheel. He craned his neck to check the sails and nodded at Snape who bounced to his feet. Harry saw the waves crashing against the rocks even before he saw the details of the island. They were immense.

"Does he know where to land?" he asked Snape as he swept by him. Snape ignored him and moved on. Harry was grasping the railing, leaning as far over the side as he dared. The waters below them were frothy with foam. They were nearing the island.

The boat danced in the fingers of the waves, twisting and turning, skipping over waves and bobbing in troughs. Water drenched them and ran in torrents down open hatches. All of them scurried to secure the hatches and their belongings.

One moment the boat was actually flying backwards and then had done an about-face and was whipped along at fantastic speeds towards a looming gigantic rock. They were helpless to steer it through the waters. The eyes of caves carved in the face of the cliff looked on like dead, seaweed-draped, seamen frowning at the intrusion. Harry wrapped a rope around one arm to keep from being washed overboard. He held his breath as the little boat was covered in a wash of water. They bobbed to the surface long enough for everyone to take their next breath and another wave crashed down on them.

Harry had a glimpse of a childhood memory as he struggled to catch his breath between waves. He was sitting on the curb in front of #4 Privet drive. He was about four years old. Rainwater rain in torrents down the gutter and into the sewer. He watched in fascination as little bits of twigs spun wildly around in the water and hurried towards the gaping maw of the sewer drain. He searched wildly for every small thing he could find to drop in the water and then would follow it along until it disappeared.

He spit out sea water and absentmindedly wondered if some godlike person was sitting on their own curb watching the present tiny boat as it twirled towards shore. Once again he thought about magic. There were times when even magic could not help them, he thought and the thought deepened his despair.

Then, they were through.

Harry was laying face-down on the deck, coughing up sea water when he heard the dull, moaning grunt of the hull hitting sand. A body thudded against him and he reached out with his eyes closed and lunged for it. He caught a handful of soggy cloth in his hand and held on.

The night was calm and they sat gently rocking back and forth as the tide tried to pull the boat from its' grounding. Harry rolled over and looked up at the diamond speckled night sky and then rolled his head. Ron looked back.

"You can let go of me now, Harry," his friend said, sitting up and resting his hands on the deck.

"We survived," Harry responded in an even tone.

"Yeah, we did," Ron answered in an uncertain voice. They looked at each other in the twilight, drenched and exhausted.

A pair of hands lifted them to their feet. It was Snape. "Gather your belongings and follow. Be silent. No speaking." He was barely whispering. "They've probably seen us come ashore."

Harry jerked around to study the line of rocks the size of small houses. The light of the moon was absorbed by the dense black of the volcanic landscape. It looked alien and uninhabitable. He saw nothing that said there was any living creature there at all.

Without speaking he collected his bag and climbed off into the black sand. All of them were there, wet and bedraggled, but alive. He wiped the moisture from his glasses and feeling like he couldn't walk more than ten steps, he forced himself to follow the men ahead of him.

…..

It was a torturous climb to the top of the cone. Even the light of the full moon didn't help them place their feet. If they reached for a rock to steady themselves, their hands were cut by the sharpness of the obsidian.

Try as he might, Harry couldn't help but think that he'd never make it to the prison let alone to the other side. they still had to go down the face of the inside of the cone and to the castle. He stopped and the others who moved ahead of him. They were going slow so they wouldn't leave him behind and each one took a turn at coming back to throw his arm over their shoulder and around their necks and continue the climb.

He wanted to say, Let me stay behind, leave me for a minute, I can't go on. Each time he stifled the groan threatening to escape and he moved on.

When Ron stepped back and took Harry's arm, he whispered, "Harry, why are you so ill? What's wrong with you?"

"Voldemort poisoned me, Ron." Harry said it and felt his friend jerk with astonishment. He was pleased that he didn't let out a noise which would have earned them Snape's wrath. "Snape says He has the antidote. He and Petra are giving me something that helps."

"Dirty, rotten…" Ron growled under his breath. "I'll kill him myself!"

Harry grinned feebly, "You do that, Ron." He felt exhaustion, like he'd never experienced in his life. He knew tiredness from living with the Dursleys but not like this...this soul-penetrating tiredness that made it difficult to breathe let alone walk. With the 'task' that lay ahead and his constant worry about Hermione and Ron and Lupin-about all of them-he was losing the battle. "Ron, I can't…can't ...go on." He went to his knees on the sharp rocks and felt them cut through the material of his clothes and bite into his knees. Then, he rolled to his back breathing through lungs that felt on fire.

Snape stepped back and pulled him to his feet and then over his shoulder. He nodded for Ron to move ahead. Harry closed his eyes and swallowed his shame. He was so tired he couldn't even struggle to make the man put him back on his feet.

It took them the better part of the night to climb to the summit. Their way was hindered by gigantic rocks and deep crevices and seams of ancient lava. Harry rode on Snape's shoulder until he closed his eyes and fell asleep. It was only when fresh water was dripped into his parched mouth that he opened his eyes and found himself lying on a bed of grass.

The night sky looked lighter and Lupin was holding his head and talking to him. "We're at the top, Harry. Drink a little more and then we'll go on."

Harry noticed the others in a small group talking. "I'll be fine now, Remus," he said, sitting up. He took the flask and sipped the cool water. It was reviving him. He sat and watched as the dawn broke over the edge of the volcanic cone. He had never seen anything like it.

Molten orange light rushed over a dense carpet of trees and below, there was a blue ring of water. Sitting in the middle was a white castle. It had a number of turrets and spires and resembled the beauty of Hogwarts' towers and spires. To Harry it gave off a vapid, eerie aura unlike it's twin sister. He held the flask of water in his hand, forgetting for a moment why he was there. The view was spectacular.

"Time to move on," a deep voice said carefully. "Can you walk on your own?"

Harry glanced back up the hill at Snape, crouched a foot away from him, and nodded. An all-too-familiar vial of green liquid was handed to him.

"Have your wand ready but not in sight," Snape said. "Our magic doesn't work against elves very well. If you need to, use a stupefying charm on them. Chances are you'll be dead before you even know they are there." He looked out over the scene and then back at the others. "We have just a short distance to go and then you can rest and eat something." He was being very kind and Harry nodded, trying to look grateful.

Ron joined them and Snape stood and walked over to talk to Moses.

"What's up?" Harry asked.

"They're meeting someone," Ron said, sitting beside Harry. "They all look nervous. Anyway, are you ready mate? Need my help?"

Harry got to his feet and felt the effects of the green liquid take effect immediately. "No, I feel fine now."

The trees were ancient and many wore veils of moss. They walked on a carpet of dried twigs and leaves. The air was pungent with the smells of the forests. They walked in a line with Moses at the head, their cloaks trailed on the lawn of green and rustled gently. Harry felt the magic of the area. The sights, the smells, the very moisture in the air mesmerized him. He even thought he glimpsed a small herd of unicorn between the veils of greenery. He inhaled deeply and felt himself smiling. His feet seemed to follow the narrow animal track downhill without his conscious will.

He stopped and let the others move ahead. There was profound silence. Not a bird or an animal rustled in the gloom of the trees. Suddenly, he felt the hairs on his neck rise and the gooseflesh on his arms and scalp and he thought he heard a noise. He turned slowly in a circle to examine the woods around him and found that he was alone. He grasped his wand more tightly and rubbed it's smooth surface with the ball of his thumb.

"Thee are a trespasser in my land," a voice drifted down to him. "Do not move or thee will surely die."

Harry glanced up into the dappled sky and through the intertwining branches and saw, sitting perched on a branch, like a bird, a creature. He was so astounded he forgot to raise his wand.

Laughter like the tinkling of crystal floated down to him. The creature was smiling. "It also might be wise to close your mouth young one. Birds will nest in it." The creature hopped to the next branch and then smoothly floated hand over hand from one branch to another until he landed in front of Harry.

"Hel….hello," Harry stuttered. He was looking down, studying the beauty of the face. Like a porcelain doll, the features and skin were unmarked by flaws. The eyes were blue, the nose narrow, the lips cupid and pink. The creature had long pale gossamer hair that flowed in a straight line to its' fingertips. The body was thin and dressed in clothing that appeared to melt into the colors of the forest. The hands were thin and long. One of the hands held a bow and the other an arrow; both were at his side. The elf smiled and moved across the carpet of green without making a sound. He seemed to flow from one spot to another and Harry blinked his eyes wondering if he was dreaming or delusional.

"Thee is Harry Potter?" the creature asked.

Harry wondered for a moment if it was a female or male and then nodded in astonishment at the question, "Yes. How…how... did you know?" The others were ahead and out of sight and Harry decided to keep his wand at his side. There was something very unusual about the elf- for Harry knew it had to be an elf- knowing his name.

"I was told thee would come. I am expected here," the creature answered. "Milosh summoned me. I come to help a friend."

Harry searched his mind for the name and then remembered Moses calling himself Milosh. It made sense to him. "You're the one they were going to meet."

The elf nodded. "Better thee meet me than another of my kind. We do not tolerate humans to live or enter our forest. We saw thee come ashore."

"Are you here to help us?" Harry said.

Once again he bowed his elegant head once, "I will guide thee to the fortress."

It was then that Harry noticed the delicate, elongated ears ending in a point. They looked so velvety soft that he had a difficult time not reaching to touch and examine them. Why didn't Hagrid ever mention elves. He was at once filled with remorse and concern because the thought brought up Hermione's image. What she wouldn't do to meet one of these creatures, he thought.

The sounds of the forest came back, the rushing of a mountain stream, the squirrel chiding them from a branch, even a refreshing breeze cooled his sweaty face. Harry saw the others returning.

"What is your name?" he gushed, wishing they would stay away a moment longer.

The elf smiled again. It was so beautiful Harry felt all anxiety rush away from him and he longed to do something to preserve it. He wanted the others to disappear and leave him alone with the elf.

The elf answered, "Thee cannot speak the name, it is too difficult. Thee may call me Sooki."

Harry grinned. He felt so light-headed with the presence of the elf that he lost all thought of the journey ahead.

Moses approached them and knelt, one knee to the ground. He spoke in his own language and waited, head down until the elf turned and spoke to him. Snape followed suit. Lupin bowed his head and kept it bowed. Ron stood back shyly, smiling as brightly as Harry was.

"When we meet one of our 'friends', we show them our respect by kneeling with our necks exposed," Moses said, rising and taking Harry's arm and turning him aside. He did the same with Ron. They moved away from the elf. "It is to say that we show our trust in asking they will not kill us and we will not harm them. Now turn and go to your knee." Moses looked at both of them darkly and then composed his face and turned back to the elf.

Harry dropped unsteadily to his knee and then weakly to both and Ron dropped down beside him.

The elf walked over and rested a hand on Harry's shoulder. The touch was electrifying. In a heartbeat, a rush of smells flooded his nose. He could smell the pine, the aroma of the moss, flowers scattered over the forest floor and the freshness of the mountain stream. His ears were filled with the sound of a harp plucked string by string. He closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the expansion of his senses.

"Thee has been hurt," the elf said. "This is black magic I feel running through thy veins, but thee is not evil."

Harry looked into the clear blue eyes with the long delicate lashes. There was a sadness there; pure and simple.

"Yes," Harry answered. "I was poisoned by an evil wizard."

A thin finger touched his forehead and ran along the lightening scar. Harry felt a cool sensation. He'd never let anyone touch it. His eyes were closed when the touch left his brow. He wanted desperately for it to stay there. When he opened his eyes he saw the elf standing in front of Snape.

The elf stood looking up at Snape, he was chest-high to the man. "How is our son, Ramond, now that he has a human father?"

Snape's face changed from it's stony grimness and softened. "Ramond sends his love to his true father. He grows tall and healthy."

The elf smiled and bowed. Evidently Snape had just offered a compliment. Sooki spoke again, "We have heard of the female thee searchs for in the great walled fortress of Azkaban."

Harry's mouth dropped open. Hermione!

"What news have you?" Moses asked, joining Snape.

"She has found a way to send messages through the house elves who serve the Dark Lord abiding over the dwelling," Sooki said in disgust, a frown shadowing his face. "We do not like the house elves. They are too ready to fawn over humans and to serve them."

Moses raised his brows in surprise. "House elves?" Ron and Harry looked at each other and grinned.

Sooki nodded and shrugged. "The female is with the Rom. They have barred themselves in the dungeons and are away from the Dark Master. They know that thee will come soon. We have sent this message and it has been received."

"If she knows, then Malfoy knows," Snape said quietly. "Through him then the Dark Lord will know. We'll never be able to get to them. The only chance we had was the element of surprise."

Moses squatted down as if seeing a bonfire before him. He was chewing vigorously on a piece of grass. Harry and Ron joined them. "Let's think on this paschal. It would be a shame to come this far and stop." His eyes drifted up to Harry. "This Kalo Beng visits you in here?" He pointed to his own head. "Can you do the same? Can you travel into his head?"

Harry stared at him and then looked up at Snape. It had never occurred to him to willingly try and reach Voldemort's mind. The thought sent chills through him. "I..I don't know," Harry stammered.

Snape frowned, looking very uneasy and glared at Moses. "What have you got in mind?" he asked.

Lupin spoke up for the first time, "We may not be able to accomplish all of our goals, Moses. We certainly came for Hermione and for the antidote to the poisoning. Trying to do more is insane. We can take them back to Hogwarts. School starts soon. Let's just do that much and leave the rest."

Harry understood his reluctance and his attempt to protect him. Harry also thought that if they didn't proceed this time, he'd never find a way to do it again. He spoke softly before an argument broke out, "We may never have another chance Remus. I…I... don't want to go on waiting for him to snatch another one of my friends or to kill one of them. The longer I wait the harder it'll be. He doesn't have an army yet. He's not killing people by the dozens. If I wait, then he will have. How can I reach him then?"

The rejuvenated man turned to stare at him with soft gray-brown eyes. He then looked from person to person shaking his head slowly. He laughed suddenly and turned away from them. "What am I saying? Let's just go get Hermione and the antidote. It's like I'm saying we can waltz right in there and they'll both be standing there waiting for us to gather them up." Lupin ran his fingers through his hair in a moment of frenzy. He turned again, and said, "Harry, the chances of accomplishing that are infinitesimal. Do you even have any idea how to kill Voldemort?!"

"Lupin!" Snape whispered viciously. "Not here! Not so close!" The elf became ashen and had taken a step back while Moses tilted his head back and listened to them while they stood over him arguing. He was scratching in the dirt with a stick and watching Harry.

There were several minutes of silence.

Moses rocked back and sat on the forest floor, resting his elbows on his knees. "Come, we will rest for awhile," he said. He carried a small leather bag at his side and began to pull out bread and cheese wrapped in a cloth. He sipped at his own water flask and took his hat off to use as a fan. One-by-one each one of them sat down. The elf circled Lupin several times and then sat in front of him like a child addressing an adult. The thin hand went out and touched him on the chest.

Harry watched in fascination. Lupin had the same look on his face Harry knew he'd worn when the elf-child touched him.

"Thee has had the venom of the werewolf sucked from thee recently," Sooki said. "Our son has become very powerful."

Lupin nodded, his eyes had a faraway look to them.

"We can bring back the wolf in thee," the elf said. "Thee will having the living wolf inside and not the monster who took over thy life."

"Why, why would I want that?" Remus asked, startled at the suggestion.

"Together we will run through the light of the forest and swim the water to reach the fortress. We can enter and those who protect it will not see, or hear, or feel us." Sooki sat back on the ground as Moses had done. "These others, thy companions, they will take different paths. Together we can steal the Rom and the female friend of these two away with us."

Remus looked sick with the thought, but nodded slowly, "If that's what has to be done."

"No!" Harry hissed. "You can't!"

"No, we can't waste him to fetch the girl," Ron said. They all stopped and stared at him. He had a faraway look on his face. It wasn't his voice rumbling from deep within his chest. "He will soon play another part of more importance."

"Ron?" Harry reached for his arm. Ron had never shown any divination powers, and had been the worst in Trelawney's class besides himself. Ron blinked and stared at Harry.

"What's happening?" he asked, his face screwed up in bewilderment.

"He's right," Snape said carefully. "You need to stay with us and not go after the girl."

Lupin shot to his feet, "You want Voldemort," he began in a hoarse whisper, "That's all you've come for. It doesn't matter that Hermione and the Rom people are caught in between him and you. And…and... look at Harry." Lupin glanced over at him. "He's dying! You don't care about him either. He looks half dead already. How do you intend on using him to kill...that bloody wizard?!" Lupin was red-faced with anger. He continued, hissing his words rather then yelling, so much so he sounded like a teakettle. "Well, I won't let you do it. I won't let you sacrifice him."

Harry stepped back watching the two face off once again.

Snape didn't look at Harry but answered, "He will do what he needs to do."

"I won't let you kill these children," Lupin said pulling out his wand. "We can get Hermione and the Rom and get away."

"Remus! Stop! It's alright," Harry gasped and stumbled forward in an attempt to get between them. Like dancers they both sidestepped and remained facing one another with him out of the way.

"Why should we trust him Harry?" Lupin asked glaring at the other man. "Ron was right. He let your mother and father die. Why should he protect you? All he wants is Voldemort. He had the chance to stop him from killing your parents and didn't. Ask him why."

"If you keep saying his name aloud, Lu...pin, he will most surely sense it and find us," Snape said softly, while remaining calm. The glare on his face turned to a savage, fierce squint. "You blame me for not saving James Potter and Lily. Now you're accusing me of placing their son in harm's way."

Lupin nodded, and answered, "Yes, why not? It's been clear from the beginning that you don't like Harry. You've abused him in classes. Now he's just another means to get something for yourself. What is it Snape? Want to be Voldemort's right-hand man?" His voice was mocking.

Harry was feeling weak and was again struggling to make peace between them, he spoke to Snape, "Tell him. Tell him the truth."

Snape glanced over.

Harry nodded, and said, "Tell him."

The fierceness left the man's face and he frowned and said, "I don't need his pity."

Harry walked over tiredly and put a hand on the wand pointed at Remus' heart. "I swore an oath to you and I won't break it, I won't tell him, but you must. It's time he knew."

Snape was hesitating. Harry turned to Remus, "It's alright. Put your wand down."

"No, it's not alright, Harry. He's got you talked into sacrificing yourself. We came here to rescue Hermione. That's all. You don't have to kill Vol…Him this time. Both of them," he nodded to Moses," want you to do this now. It's folly."

"I have to have the antidote, Remus. How am I to get it?" Harry asked.

"If he's so willing to sacrifice someone, let him sacrifice himself. His cover remains intact. Let him go to his master and fetch it for you. A sign of good faith." Remus was still glaring and growing angrier. "Chances are he's the one who brewed the poison in the first place."

Snape's arm came up again and Harry was growing more weary. He turned to Snape once again. "Tell him. Resolve this now. Tell him why you are not in the Dark Lord's service anymore."

The elf had not involved himself in the scene taking place in the small clearing. He stood with his back to them and seemed to be listening to the forest. He turned at that moment.

He spoke so quietly, but clearly, it was like a bell ringing out. "My people search for thee. They sent a messenger to the others when thee came ashore. Now, it's time thee follow me quickly. They will track thee and kill thee and there will be nothing we can do. Gather thyselves and come." He turned and like the fleet-footed animals of the forest he was moving through the trees and almost lost to sight.

Moses leapt to his feet and followed silently.

If you want to live, follow me," Snape said to them all and followed Moses.

Lupin nodded and said to Harry, "Very well. But I will know what this is about before the end of the day," and they headed through the shadows of the trees, moving as quickly as they could.