Apologies. I posted the wrong edit of this yesterday and am therefore re-posting the correct version. It's basically the same but with minor changes here and there which I felt made it more readable. Many thanks for the lovely reviews. It may be a day or two before the next chapter – maybe not. I'll try to update asap. To everyone who has reviewed, thank you so much. It's so nice to know you are enjoying it.

Chapter 3 – Do You Believe In Magic

The office of Cornelius Fudge was extremely crowded. His desk was strewn with tea cups and the remains of platefuls of biscuits. Although rather cynical by nature, the Minister was not one to offend those of high standing and influence and even though he had taken a few moments to fully comprehend the situation, he had always had a great interest in wizarding history and therefore had little difficulty in accepting the fact that he was being visited by Elves. Others, he knew, might be sceptical of such an event but he saw beyond the moment. He could anticipate how impressed the rest of the wizarding world would be and was immensely grateful the Elves had seen fit to drop in on Great Britain. What a feather in his cap!

Fudge was just contemplating the honours he might receive from the international wizarding community and also whether it was possible to fit another person inside the room when Mithrandir spoke:

'I must say, your hospitality is most unexpected but very welcome, Minister.'

Fudge beamed broadly and made to top up Arwen's cup; she declined graciously.

'Oh please, think nothing of it, dear chap, said Fudge. 'It's not every day one meets people of such distinction and renown. As I mentioned earlier, our children are taught about their heritage from a very young age. History of Magic lessons is considered extremely important at our school for young wizards and witches. As for myself, I have always been drawn to learn as much as possible about my ancestors.'

'And that is as it should be,' replied Mithrandir. 'However, if we might turn our attention to the matter in hand - namely that of the sudden disappearance of a creature from our world that, it would appear, has somehow travelled to yours. I am sure you would agree with me that it would take considerable magical powers to accomplish such a thing. I do not believe this creature could have undertaken the task itself and since the portkey by which we travelled brought us here, I believe the act was instigated by a person or persons in your country.'

Fudge nodded most enthusiastically;

'Oh Absolutely! Although it would be beyond the abilities of almost any wizard I can think of.'

'Almost?' Mithrandir replied. 'You mean you can bring to mind some who may indeed be capable of undertaking such a feat?'

'Well,' said Fudge, thoughtfully, 'there are only two whom I would feel confident could bring this about.'

'Oh, please feel free to share this valuable information with us,' urged Mithrandir, reaching for the last remaining currant bun, much to the annoyance of Gimli who had already eaten seven and had been about to reach for his eighth.

Fudge thought for a moment and continued.

'Well, as I said, there are only two. The first is Albus Dumbledore with whom I believe you mentioned on your arrival you are already acquainted. He is of course a wizard of great renown and headmaster of the school I mentioned earlier. I feel I should point out, however, that at this point in time we are most dissatisfied with his attitude. The second...well, were he alive he could be considered of prodigious ability. However, it is the official standpoint of the Ministry that he is no longer of this world.'

'Hmmmm, said Mithrandir, thoughtfully. 'And what would the name of this wizard be?'

'Oh, we never mention his name. He is referred to merely as He Who Must Not Be Named!' said Fudge, nervously.'

'What is so terrible about saying his name?' enquired Lord Elrond who until that moment had been discussing the quality of the crockery with Lord Celeborn.

'His name is too evil to mention!' announced Fudge. 'No-one uses it. To do so would be to invoke terrible emotions and memories in those who suffered at his hands. He was responsible for some appalling acts. No, we never say his name.'

Fudge removed a large pink and orange handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabbed his head.

Melpomaen sat upright in his chair and smiled enthusiastically;

'Could you perhaps whisper it so no-one except Mithrandir can hear?' he enquired of the Minister.

'No, never!' replied Fudge.

'But if you were to whisper it very, very quietly?'

Erestor thumped Melpomaen on the arm,

'Do not be foolish! A whisper is by definition already extremely quiet. Besides, to whisper would be the same as saying something aloud.'

'I beg to differ!' snapped Melpomaen, jumping to his feet. 'It is possible to whisper loudly AND quietly!'

Erestor rose abruptly to face his co-advisor.

'Loud or quiet, it is the same thing!' he announced pompously but was interrupted by Haldir, who, drawing upon his great experience of difficult situations suggested;

'He can simply write it down - then we can read it!'

Rumil gazed at his brother with a look of unadulterated admiration but Fudge shook his head vigorously.

'No...no! I could not do that either!'

'Then can you tell us the first letter?' said Melpomaen with a side-long glance to Erestor as though daring him to intercept his brilliant suggestion again.

'What on earth do you mean?' replied Fudge, looking somewhat bemused.

'Can you make the shape of it with your arms...like this?'

Melpomaen began to form the shapes of various letters of the alphabet with wildly flailing arms;

'A...C...D...F...'

'Just a moment,' interrupted Haldir, 'what happened to B and E?'

'If you feel you can do them then by all means, be my guest!' rejoined Melpomaen.

'I believe I may be able to interpret them,' announced Legolas and he shuffled through the chairs to find himself the space to move. He then began to twist and turn his arms in an attempt to form the missing letters.

'Oh, allow me to assist you!' offered Arwen and she promptly joined him 'I can put my arm here...and that will be the little line in the centre of a B and then...'

'Stop, stop!' bellowed Mithrandir. 'This is turning into a farce!'

'Trust the White Wizard to stop things just as they were getting interesting,' complained Lord Celeborn. I was looking forward to seeing how they would do a Q!

Elrond smiled sympathetically as Mithrandir told everyone to return to their seats. Gimli gave a little snort and muttered,

'Pah, I could have done the whole alphabet with only the aid of my axe!'

'Indeed?' snorted Haldir. 'And who pray would have the dubious pleasure of snapping your stubby little body back into shape afterwards, hmmm?'

Mithrandir glared them both into silence. Gimli sunk sulkily into his armchair whilst Haldir merely smirked at having had the last word.

'Now then, began Mithrandir. 'It would seem to me that we might begin to find some answers if we were able to question Albus Dumbledore. I am, of course, already aware of his undeniably outstanding abilities, having encountered him on several occasions previously.' He thought for a moment he saw the development of a nervous twitch in Fudge as he continued 'Yes, I believe a visit to Albus will be our first priority. Now then, Minister, how might we get to his school?'

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

A few minutes later, Elves, Dwarf and Wizard stood before the great gates of Hogwarts School. Arwen tucked the teacup the Minister had so kindly used as a portkey to transport them inside a small rucksack on her back.

'I will keep this safe,' she said to Legolas. 'It would be such a pity for that beautiful tea set to be spoiled by a missing piece.'

'Indeed,' agreed Lord Celeborn. 'It was of remarkable quality.'

Mithrandir approached the huge wooden doors and banged them with his staff. Everyone waited patiently until, after quite a while, they heard the sound of shuffling footsteps approaching on the other side of the gate.

A small wooden aperture opened in one of the gates through which the weathered face of the school caretaker appeared. He glanced at the unlikely group suspiciously.

'What do you want?' he enquired rudely.

'Ah, my dear man, my friends and I desire to speak with your headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.' Mithrandir announced.

'Why?' demanded the man, again just as rudely.

'Our reason is not for you to know,' replied Mithrandir, shortly. However, he composed himself and added, with a smile, 'perhaps you would be so kind as to let him know we are here? Just tell him Mithrandir wishes to speak with him.'

The man snapped the little wooden window shut and could be heard grumbling and muttering as he headed back to the school with his message.

'Bleedin' visitors...why can't they train house-elves to answer the bleedin' doors? Like I 'aven't got enough to do with all these brats runnin' about. It's always Filch what 'as to do everthin'!'

'What a charming fellow,' muttered Legolas.

'Yes, with those manners I suspect he must have Dwarven blood somewhere in his lineage.' replied Haldir, looking down his nose at Gimli.

'I'm warning ye!' roared Gimli, raising his axe

Haldir stepped quickly behind Lord Elrond as Legolas tried to placate his friend.

A short time later they heard a great creaking as one of the heavy gates started to open. Filch beckoned to them;

'Come on then...hurry up! Ain't got all day!'

Once they were all safely inside Filch closed the door behind them.

'Follow me...and don't wander off. I've counted you!'

They made their way through a large outer courtyard and gazed up at the facade of the school. It looked very old and quite austere.

'This is a school?' inquired Rumil. 'It looks more like a prison.'

'I am certain it will look quite different inside!' replied Arwen, confidently.

They passed into an inner-courtyard and were pleased to see other signs of life other than the dour caretaker. All about them children were passing through the cloisters which lined the courtyard, laughing and chatting noisily.

'How wonderful!' exclaimed Arwen. 'So many young ones.' Turning to Legolas she added 'I love children. I want seven...one for each day of the week!'

Legolas raised his eyebrows in surprise and he smiled as he pondered the task which lay ahead of the King.

'I shall have to advise him to take plenty of tonics on my return,' he muttered.

They passed through the main entrance into the school itself and looked about them in amazement. The grand entrance hall was lined with suits of armour and the walls adorned with many large and obviously old paintings. Melpomaen paused to look at one and leapt with surprise.

'Oh, what is it now, Melpomaen?' enquired Erestor.

Melpomaen did not speak but pointed at the painting of an old woman in a rocking chair. The woman in the picture smiled and waved at the two Elves. Erestor's eyebrows shot up in amazement but Melpomaen, always friendly, waved back.

'Keep up there!' yelled Filch when he noticed the two Elves had fallen behind. 'Around here, nosy strangers are likely to be turned into ferrets!'

Melpomaen and Erestor exchanged shocked looks and hurriedly rejoined the group.

Filch led them to a wide staircase and they began their accent to the first floor.

'Better hold on to the banister!' advised Filch.

Before any of them could ask why, the staircase began to move. It swung to the right and they noticed all of the other staircases, for there were several leading in various directions from the hall, seemed to be on the move too. It came to rest against a landing and Filch informed them;

'That was lucky. If it had gone the other way we'd have had a much longer walk. Well, here you are! Dumbledore said the one with the long white beard would be able to guess the password.' and with that he left them.

Dumbledore stared at a spot on the wall directly in front of him and concentrated.

'Well?' demanded Lord Celeborn. 'What are you waiting for, Mithrandir? Say the password. Apparently you should already know it.'

'I know many passwords,' said the wizard. Just give me a moment.'

The wizard's brows drew together in concentration. He thought for a few moments and announced, suddenly;

Ah, yes...MELLON!'

Legolas rolled his eyes and said to Elrond 'He has used that one before.'

However, it appeared Mithrandir's luck was in as an opening became visible in the wall before them, a constantly turning staircase moving within it.

'I believe we are meant to stand on these acceding steps and they will carry us to Dumbledore.' declared Mithrandir.

He stood to one side and urged them all onward. One by one they gingerly placed one and then both feet on a stair and were immediately carried upward.

They arrived at a small platform onto which faced a sturdy wooden door. Legolas reached out his hand tentatively to try the large brass door-knob when the door swung inward to reveal a tall wizard with long streaming hair and beard who was so like Mithrandir they could have been twins.

'Come in, come in!' announced Dumbledore, genially and he ushered them into his study

'Mithrandir, my dear old friend, how wonderful to see you again.'

'You look well, Albus,' returned Mithrandir.

'Ah, but not as well as you, I warrant,' replied Dumbledore with a smile.

As each person passed into the room they looked around in amazement. It was filled with so many whirling, ticking and tinkling objects. Rumil wanted to explore everything but before he could make a move Dumbledore had waved a short, wooden stick through the air and ten overstuffed armchairs appeared grouped around his large oak desk. Dumbledore invited them all to sit and settled himself into his own chair. Leaning forward and peering over his spectacles he spoke to his old friend.

'Well, Mithrandir, as I have said it has been a long time. Delighted as I am to see you, I fear your visit is not a casual one. Come, tell me why you are here.'

TBC

Please feel free to tell me what you think. I'm always open to constructive criticism.