Chapter 4

Elvin Realm, Royal Castle, 10:00 am, July 31st, 1989

The house elf raised his hands, waving them and watching the magic as a thin of layer of dust lifted and disappeared. Nodding happily, he turned to other chores that were in need to be done. As he raised his arms again, preparing to polish the stairway, he paused when he heard laughter coming his way.

A long black haired girl with startling lavender eyes raced by dressed elegantly in a beautiful velvet violet dress that complimented her eyes beautifully. Behind her, her younger brother could be seen chasing his older sibling. His usual messy mop of black hair had lengthened over the years and was now simply tied in a low pony-tail. His gorgeous green eyes that Chiara had fallen in love with all those years ago had simply become lovelier and even more alluring. He was dressed in a green button-up dress shirt, black slacks and black boots.

"Hurry up Aries!" Amorina shouted, giggling. She raced ahead of her younger brother, running down the stairs laughing hysterically.

Aries sped up grinning. He slid down the banister slowly gaining on his 13 year old sister. Both siblings ran past the castle house-elves, shouting apologies as they passed. The house elves chuckled amongst themselves.

"It's young Master Aries birthday, is it not?" one elf asked turning to another. The other nodded.

"Indeed, I believe young Mistress Amorina is leading the young Master towards his party."

Both elves laughed yet again. "We had better get to the kitchens then. They'll be quite a crowd tonight." The other elf nodded and with a 'pop' both disappeared.

The house-elves of the Elvin Realm prided themselves on their intelligence and the people that they served. Unlike the house-elves of the wizarding world, they were more dignified, highly intelligent, and were able to do things without being ordered to do so. They were though, like their distant cousins, highly loyal to their masters. Though similar in that aspect, there were still big differences between the house-elves of the Wizarding world and the house-elves of the Elvin Realm. A major difference that was noticeable to anyone that had seen both types of house-elves would be the difference in speech and clothing.

Instead of the squeaky, stuttering, broken sentences of the Wizarding world's house-elves, the Elvin Realm's house-elves speech was clear, precise, in regular tones, and quite intelligent.

They wore clean uniforms of different colours classifying what station they worked at. They felt dignified, and they were utterly devoted to the SilverWing family and especially the young Master and Mistress.

"Aries, Aries, hurry on up mon petit frére." Amorina ran through a door, closing it horridly shut.

"Well done Rina, come here now sweetie." Amorina quickly ran to her mother, hugging her giggling and watching the door expectantly. Scattered giggling and laughing were hushed by the adults as people held their breath.

The ballroom where Amorina had run into was decorated with gorgeous bubbles floating around, charmed so that they last and wouldn't pop. Their were silver and gold streamers and on a big white banner in large green cursive writing were the words "Happy 9th Birthday Aries!" People were scattered throughout the room, many adults and young children, all watching the door with excitement and clear mirth in their eyes.

"Amorina! I know you're in there-" Aries froze in the doorway, eyes wide as he saw what was before him.

"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY" Everyone laughed at the dumb-founded expression on the young child's face. Aries, when he finally came out of his stupor, laughed along, a blush prominent on his young face.

"Thank you everyone." At those words, all the young children in the room laughed and raced at Aries, all talking at once. The adults watched smiling happily at their children, and then turning to the others and started conversation.

"Happy Birthday Aries, you must be excited for all the presents." Aries nodded happily, a grin in place as he turned to face his old friend Draco Malfoy.

The young blond boy grinned happily at his dark-haired friend. Draco's mercury-silver eyes were shining with mirth and youthful joy. He was dressed up just as anyone else at the party in fancy clothing. Draco was like a little prince, Aries mused, dressed in a white dress shirt, a grey vest on top, black dress pants with matching belt, black boots, and to finish, his friend was adorning the Malfoy signet ring on his little finger.

"Draco! It's so good to see you, how's the Wizarding World? Did you learn any magic yet?" Aries embraced his friend warmly and waited attentively for him to answer.

It seemed that Draco's grandmother was a sister to a deceased ruler in another kingdom in the Elvin realm. Draco was just about as royal as Aries was, yet they lived very different lives. While Aries lived in the Elvin Realm, Draco and his family stayed the Wizarding world, the home of Draco's grandfather. Aries, who did not know much about wizards was always fascinated with his best friend's stories describing creatures and the people he knew and met.

"No, not yet, but father says that he'll start teaching me as soon as I learn the theory. Honestly though Aries, you should see some of these tombs, they're completely dull. I'm going to die of boredom before I learn anything."

"Oh the horror, the world will just collapse the day that one Draco Malfoy dies of boredom." Fleur Delacour's sarcastic voice started. Draco, startled, jumped and mock-scowled when he saw who it was. Gabrielle, who was holding her sister's hand, giggled.

The Delacours, veelas or part-veelas, were allies and close friends to the Elves. Fleur, even though she was only 12, was already showing the beauty that all Veela were well known for. She was dressed in stunning blue dress robes with silver trimmings and and silver embroidery. Her younger sister wore dark midnight-blue robes, and like her older sister, had silver embroidery and trimmings on her dress robes. Both were pale, and had fair complexions, yet where Fleur had shimmering silver-blond hair much like Draco, Gabrielle had dark black hair.

"Fleur! Gabby! It's so good to see you!" Embracing both girls tightly, Aries greeted them. "Oh! There's something I wanted to show you Draco, come on! I'm sorry Fleur, Gabby, we'll be right back." With that, Aries grabbed Draco's hand and dragged him out the door, not leaving the other boy any chance to say a thing. Gabrielle and Fleur watched blinking as Harry dragged a slightly red-faced Draco away.

"Hphmm! Boys. If they wanted to be alone, they should've just said something." Fleur scowled, her younger sister shrugged slightly confused about the whole situation.

Across the room Chiara and Narcissa Malfoy watched their children, or more specifically, their sons. Both women had calculating looks in their eyes as the men around them took a step back.

"Chiara…are you thinking what I'm thinking my dear?" Narcissa smiled delightedly, taking a sip of wine.

"Indeed, they would be quite the match." Both women giggled, imagining their children together in the future.

Antony cleared his throat, "Chiara dear, I don't think we should be arranging anything of that sort." Chiara glanced at her husband briefly before turning back to Narcissa and Danielle Delacour who had just joined them and started talking again to the women.

Lucius chuckled, "Women, we won't be able to talk to them out of anything when they have their minds set on something." Antony turned to Lucius laughing.

"Ah, Lucius, it is good to see you my friend. Yes I suppose it is quite impossible." Pierre Delacour laughed as well, brushing back silky blond strands.

"Lucius my friend, how are you?" Lucius nodded in Pierre's direction an easy smile in place.

"Well, as well as can be." The tone and the words could be interpreted further and Antony and Pierre watched their friend worriedly.

"Lucius-" Lucius stopped both with a hand.

"Later my friends, right now is a happy occasion." The men relaxed but all three kept in mind of the talk that would take place later on.

"Oohhh Lucius!" Lucius turned and immediately stepped back, slightly nervous.

"Y-yes dear?" The look in Narcissa's eyes were mischievous and simply screamed that she was plotting something.

"I was thinking…Draco is such a dear child isn't he?" Lucius nodded, still not seeing what his wife was talking about.

"And Antony, our little Aries is a beautiful child, and soon he'll quite the little heartthrob, correct my dear?" Antony who had been sniggering at his friend's situation suddenly found himself on the spot, gulped and nodded quickly.

Danielle giggled and linked her arm with Pierre. Pierre watched both scenes with both his friends with their wives.

They are SO whipped.

"Pierre…." Pierre turned to his wife. Danielle smiled sweetly, a little too sweetly. Pierre gulped.

Disregard that last thought…WE are so whipped.

Elvin Realm, Royal Castle, 10:45 am, July 31st, 1985

"See Draco. Look, the rosebush we planted together." Aries grinned watching his younger friend.

Draco walked toward the thriving bush, touching a rose petals in awe. "It's growing." He breathed. Aries grinned and nodded. He took Draco's pale hand into his tan one.

"Yep, and Mother said that it'll be here always and it'll keep growing and growing."

Draco squeezed their intertwined hands. "Like us." He blushed, looking sideways at Aries, only to see he was looking back at him. He grinned and squeezed Draco's hand back.

"Like us."

Elvin Realm, Royal Castle, Antony's Study, 10:00 pm, July 31st, 1985

"Lucius, my friend, what troubles you?" Both Antony and Pierre sat back watching their friend pace in front of the fire. They took a sip of wine and continued to wait for him to reply.

"The Dark Lord," Lucius finally said. Antony and Pierre were immediately on their feet. Antony grabbed Lucius' arm and looked his friend in the eye.

"What's going on Lucius? What does Voldemort want? Has he found out about Aries?" Antony was panicked; he loved his son and knew his son would probably get involved with the wizard's war sooner or later.

Lucius shook his head, "No, he hasn't found out about Aries, though he's still suspicious. He never did order an attack on the Potters. For now, all he suspects is that some of the lower ranking Death Eaters attacked them one night without informing him."

Antony relaxed slightly but was still troubled. Pierre himself, let out a sigh of relief. Lucius smiled slightly at his friends, though he himself was relieved. Aries, his nephew, was just as dear to him as Draco was. All three men were and had always been close and it warmed their hearts to see that their children were continuing the friendship between the families.

"What has you worried then Lucius?" Pierre finally voiced.

Lucius turned to his friends, his eyes shinning with worry, further making his friends nervous. "The Dark Lord as you know has been…withdrawn these past years." Antony snorted, muttering, "…withdrawn my arse." Pierre choked on his wine and Lucius laughed outright.

"Yes well, after that fiasco with the Longbottoms, he hasn't been the same."

All three men burst out laughing. Pierre wiped away a tear, "honesty though, how does one get caught up in a child's accidental magic to be spelled into a baby?" All three men burst out laughing yet again.

For a moment, everything was calm and light.

Lucius, after sobering up, and calming down, continued on, "yes well, the Longbottoms, as well as the Wizarding world itself sees the young Neville Longbottom as the boy who will defeat the Dark Lord. I for one though, know that the Dark Lord has no such thoughts, though he is highly indignant over that night. He's bidding his time for now, the Wizarding world really thought he was gone. We are among a small number that actually know what conspired that night. The Dark Lord thought it was amusing that the whole Wizarding world thought he was gone and decided to use that to his advantage."

Lucius paused, taking a sip of his wine watching the fire's flames flicker. "I have just discovered now though, that over the years he has recruited spies and more followers. They are spies infiltrating the ministry, though…that isn't hard, and the Dark Lord is growing in power while the witches and wizards of the world are sitting back ignorant to what is going on."

Pierre and Antony sat quietly letting the information sink. Antony faced Lucius, his face grave, "he wants to ruin the peace doesn't he? He's led the Wizarding world into a false sense of security and when they least expect it, he's going to show himself again isn't he?"

Lucius nodded.

Pierre breathed, "You have to admit, it's brilliant. Recruiting followers over the years with no one to stop you, and then when everything's calm, bring destruction and terror upon the world and leave a bigger dent and more destruction than he could have had the world know he was still there."

Lucius and Antony both nodded.

"Lucius, what about Dumbledore? What has he done, does he know?" Pierre was watching Lucius closely waiting for a reply.

"Of course he does, I've informed him already. His group, the Order, have always been active, though, I believe the Longbottoms dropped out of the Order, refusing to believe that the Dark Lord was still with the living."

"Fools." Antony sneered. The two other men nodded agreeing completely.

"What is going to be done?" Pierre asked.

"I'm not sure, but I believe that the Dark Lord is preparing an attack soon. How soon, I do not know, it could be today, tomorrow, this month, next year, or in the following years. All I know is that he is preparing to strike soon. His followers are growing in number, and he's started to call his Death Eaters together more frequently."

Antony watched his friend begin to pace again, "Lucius are you alright? You know, you do not have to spy, it is dangerous."

"Yes I know, but we all have our parts and roles and this is simply mine. Do not worry my friend, I will remain safe. Though…" Lucius turned to face his friend, his features solemn, "…when the time does comes, I request safe sanctuary for Narcissa and Draco."

Antony stood and placed a hand on Lucius' shoulder, "You should not have to even ask that Lucius, you and you family as well as yours Pierre, are always welcome here."

All three men nodded and together in that room swore a promise to help each other as much as possible to keep their families safe in the upcoming years.

"Antony, train Aries well, he may be our only hope." Antony nodded to Pierre.

"I will…he already is a brilliant boy and holds more power than most. I believe my son…shall conquer this."

The three men shared a smile. Pierre raised his glass.

"To our families, to our future, to our children and to Aries!"

All three men toasted and drank.

Godric's Hallow, 12:00 am, August 1st 1989

"Happy Birthday big brother." Little 7 year old Sapphire whispered to her ceiling. Her all seeing blue eyes, inherited from where, her parents didn't know, closed.

The little girls black hair was long, spread out and blending in with her jet-black sheets. Her room was plain, a bed, a dresser, a vanity, a closet. Typical bedroom, yet nothing adorned the walls, it was as if no one lived their at all.

It wasn't as if her parents denied her anything, it was just that Sapphire denied it all. She denied the toys, the frivolous dresses, the bright colours, she denied it all, she denied her parents.

She sighed in her sleep, watching images and scenes unfold before her. She saws things that had been, that were, that were to come. She sighed one last time in her sleep, a whisper escaping her lips, "Love you big brother."

Godric's Hallow, Living Room, 12:00 am, August 1st 1989

James Potter was miserable. His daughter hated him, she hated him and Lily. Their daughter hated her parents.

It had taken a while, but James Potter had accepted what he had done to his son. He was sure Harry was gone, that he had died, the family tapestry had erased his name. James had accepted it all. He locked away his sorrow and pushed it away, turning his attention to his daughter instead.

Sapphire, his daughter, was smart, he knew that right when he first saw her. She had looked him right in the eye and had held contact where James saw the brilliant intelligence reflected there.

Over the years, he had tried numerous times to get his frosty daughter to warm up to him. He bought her numerous gifts and presents that any little girl would want. But no, she didn't want them, she didn't accept any of the gifts and she simply didn't accept him or Lily as her parents.

He didn't know why, even from birth, his daughter had shielded away from her mother and her father, an act that had hurt both parents. This act from their daughter had continued and was still continuing.

James placed his head onto his head despairingly. He was miserable, his daughter hated him, and his family was falling apart.

Lily had simply fallen apart from not being able to mother her child. Sapphire shielded away from her as a small enfant and whenever Lily had been able to pick their daughter up, Sapphire had shrieked, had cried. It broke both their hearts that their child, their only child didn't want to have any contact with them…and they didn't know why.

Elvin Realm, Royal Castle, 1:17 pm, August 1st, 1989

"Bye Draco. Farewell Aunt Cissa, Uncle Lucius." Aries and Amorina said hugging said people. Narcissa knelt down and embraced each child while Chiara did the same to Draco.

"Bye Aunt Chi," came Draco's soft voice.

"Good-bye, Draco. Grow up to be a strong young man for me won't you?" Draco nodded rapidly hugging the woman he considered an aunt one last time before stepping back towards his own family.

"I don't know when I'll see you next old friend, but keep safe." Lucius nodded to Antony's words shook his friends hand.

"As well as you, Antony."

Both men nodded and stepped away from one another. The two families waved one last time to one another before the Malfoy family was swept away by the portkey.

Aries turned to his father, "When'll we see them next father? When'll we see Draco, or Gabrielle or Fleur again?"

Antony knelled down to his son's level, "I'm not sure Aries, we're approaching dangerous times now." He turned to his daughter who looked troubled, holding her mother's hand tightly.

"You both will be going through training starting next week. The Malfoy's and the Delacour's will be doing the same. We want you children safe in the future, we want you to be able to protect yourself. We probably won't be able to see them again until your 11th birthday, Aries."

Aries nodded condescendly, reaching for his sister's hand. She took it and squeezed it before embracing her brother in a loving hug.

Antony and Chiara embraced tightly. Chiara was holding back tears. "The time's almost come hasn't it?" she whispered. Antony nodded, tightening his hold. Chiara shook.

Aries hugged his sister tighter, and watched his family holding onto one another.

I'll work hard, I won't let any of them down. I'll protect them…even if it kills me, I'll protect my family.

Well, chapter 4 has been written. I'm sorry for the wait, and it'll probably be another wait for the next chapter. As you all know, the school year is starting to end, and with that comes exams to study for, breakdowns to prepare for etc. etc.

-Tanzanite S.