All About Elves
Harry breathed in, trying to calm himself down. It was only a small performance, he told himself, there wasn't even that big of a crowd around. It was in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week. But this was the first time he was really performing alone- he hadn't done that since the talent show so long ago. Draco was at a meeting in Knockturne, while Luna was at their press offices. Neville was in the crowd, waiting for him to come out on stage.
Harry watched the elves perform their juggling act, balancing the strangest collection of items on their long noses and spindly fingers. Harry fidgeted with his guitar, watching the elves take their bows. The crowd clapped heartily. The elves had come a long way from their little tricks- they were making their performances into a real art.
Harry was really proud of them. The littlest elves, he'd learned, were already learning how to dance and help their families with their performances. They were the first generation of elves for as long as anyone remembered that had been born free. All of the elves had been affected by this. They took pride in their work and Harry couldn't be happier for them.
In the last year or so, he'd learnt a great deal about the elves. They had become much more forthcoming than they ever had when he'd visited them in the kitchens, back during his years at Hogwarts. He'd learnt that elves had no single leader, but worked as teams. No elf was ever alone, it seemed. The eldest of their team was the one that the others looked up to, and followed. In the past year, eight new elves had been born, which was a record- normally, an elf was born every few years or so at Hogwarts, and even less elsewhere.
While the elves technically had parents, they all thought of each other as brothers and sisters. They bred, not for love or...sex (ew), but for increasing their numbers. More hands meant more work could be done, according to the elves. They chose their partners through their magic, although they wouldn't tell Harry any more than that. The elves had come into their own in Hogsmeade, not only performing on the streets and working in their labs, but working in their cafes and restaurants, and buying items from the stores.
Harry reckoned it was the only place in the world where elves could live as freely as any human being. And he was kind of proud about that.
Harry clapped for them when the elves exited the stage. Harry came on, still clapping for them. The crowd's clapping quickened as they saw him.
"Hello everybody, they're great, aren't they? Hear it for the elves!"
There was some cheering and hollering, loudest from the smallest children. Hary spotted Neville in the crowd, and gave him a wink as he caught his eye. Harry adjusted the mike, and heard some whistles and catcalls.
"Some of you might have heard of me before- I'm Kit, from Forbidden. The others are a bit busy right now, so I thought I'd treat all of you to a solo perfomance."
With a flourish of his hands, a stool appeared, making the children gasp appreciatively, and the parents chuckle. They still thought it was an illusion or some effect that had kept the stool hidden in the first place. Harry sat on the stool, and started to strum quietly.
"Any requests anyone?"
A few songs were called out, and Neville called out one with a grin. "This New Day!"
Harry laughed and nodded. "Alright, This New Day it is." He'd just written it the other day, and it was Neville's new favorite song.
He began to sing, his voice quiet at first, but growing clear and loud.
From the darkness day is dawning
In my darkest hour I seek the light
All the pain and all my sorrow
May it ease with this new day
He closed his eyes at this, clutching the mike- the crowd was silent listening on in awe. A smile spread on Neville's lips.
May my tears remain uncounted
And I bid the Goddess be my Guide
For Where you lead you'll know I'll follow
At the Dawning of this new day
At this crossroad the way seems clouded
And I bid the Goddess be my Guide
Grant me grace and grant me vision
At the dawning of this new day
May my strength and may my power
lift me up and light my way
I seek faith and I seek wisdom
At the dawning of this new day
At the dawning of this new day
At the dawning of this new day
People began to clap at the last refrain, and Harry opened his eyes- he'd kind of forgotten that he had been singing in front of a crowd. He smiled sheepishly. It was a short song, but it had affected the audience deeply.
He started strumming his guitar, and began to sing once more, feeling a lot less nervous. Neville gave him a thumbs up, and Harry didn't even notice when he left to go to work.
Tippy bowed so low that her nose brushed the ground. On the ground before her were bronze knuts and sickles. Her brothers and sisters bowed beside her. She was one of the groups that performed in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. They'd never asked for money, but when the muggles had started to give it to them, the wizards started to too.
"We is thanking you." Tippy said, grinning widely as she started to put the coins into the bag that her brother Tiggy carried. Her siblings bowed to the witches and wizards, who were soon going about their business once more. The families with small children lingered- the house elves loved it when the little humans came, they were the most enthusiastic, dancing along right with the elves. Well, most of them anyways.
A little boy and his Father stood there, the little boy looking at them uncertainly.
"Father, you never told me that house elves performed in the streets at Diagon."
"Well, they didn't used to." The man said, squeezing his son's shoulder. He held a cane in his hand, and wore a frown on his face. Tibby got a bit nervous, seeing the man's expression. She signaled behind her back, and the others quickened with picking up their coins. Sometimes the humans weren't so nice to them.
The man's face lit up as he saw someone coming from the other side of the street. "Dolores, it's good to see you again."
Tibby shrunk into herself, shoving the last bit of money towards her brother. Her brother clutched the small bag in his arms tightly. The elves were well aware of Umbridge. They'd heard of her enough from the Centaurs and the Goblins. While she had been at Hogwarts, she'd treated them little better than the pureblood meanies, and thought lowly of them. She looked down her nose at Tibby, straightening her hair.
"I would say Good morning, but I shan't, since there are vermin on the streets today." She sneered, not even acknowledging the elves.
Tippy swallowed thickly. Some of her brothers and sisters popped away. Tiggy, her brother, still stood at her side, clutching the money to himself. Tippy wanted to tell him to pop away, go home, but her voice wasn't working for some reason.
"And they're even earning money now...I thought elves always worked for free." She sneered, and took the money bag from Tiggy. Tiggy gaped at her, and looked to his older sister for help.
"Misses Umbridge, We is free elves, we is owned by nobody." Tippy said bravely, chest puffing out. She no longer wore a tea towel with the Hogwarts crest, and had proudly donned dark red rose blossoms onto her leafy dress. She was the oldest out of her siblings- while the elves had no leaders, they certainly respected their elders. Her tiny fists clenched as she looked up at the toad woman, big eyes narrowing.
"We is wanting our money back."
The woman's brows climbed into her hair in visible surprise. "Now, dear, that is no way to speak to your betters." She said. Tippy reached for the money, but Umbridge held it up, out of reach.
Tiggy kicked the woman's shin in anger. Tippy gasped- elves had never hurt any wizard on purpose before, as far as she knew. It probably didn't hurt the toad woman much, but she looked downright angry. She struck Tiggy, making him fall to the ground.
The little boy that stood with his Father was looking on with wide eyes. "Father...she hit that elf!"
"Dolores, don't bring yourself to their level. They're little more than animals." The man drawled, lip curling as he saw Tippy helping her brother up. She saw her brother's blood coming from his mouth, and felt...anger, for the first time.
Umbridge took their money, slipping it into their pocket. Tippy grew even angrier. While elves didn't have much use for money, they were saving it up to buy things for their littlest elveses, like the toys that the wizards bought for their little ones.
"WE IS NOT ANIMALS!" Tippy yelled angrily, before she could stop herself. "WE IS ELVES!"
The others on the street looked over at the commotion, a bit confused. Tippy gasped at her forwardness, and took a step back from the evil woman, feeling even more scared now. What had she'd done? She'd never yelled at a human before!
Tippy kept her hold on her brother as she disappeared with a loud crack.
Umbridge pursed her lips. "Well, that was most unusual."
"It's that Vita's doing. Rumors are saying that Vita pays them to work at Hogsmeade now! Can you imagine?"
Umbridge shook her head. "Well, that has to stop. Elves are clearly already thinking they are above their station. That cannot do. It's bad enough that the muggleborns are running amok." She said, glaring at a witch who passed by, wearing muggle clothes. Said witch looked at her a bit confusedly, but passed on. She hadn't heard what Umbridge had said.
"I quite agree." The man said smoothly. "You know, sometimes I wonder if that Potter kid and his lot have too much control over things. Something has to be done about this company that they own. It seems like they're...everywhere."
Umbridge nodded. "Quite right. I will talk to the Minister. Good day." She sniffed, and walked down to the Leaky Cauldron.
Tippy sniffled, blowing her nose on Firenze's mane. "And then she is taking our money! I is getting so mad, I is yelling at her!"
Firenze gently handed her a leaf so that she wouldn't blow her nose anymore on his hair. "There, there Tippy, it is only natural to feel anger. After all, Mars passes through the sky for everyone."
Tippy was a bit confused at the reference, but went on. "When she is hurting Tiggy, I is so upset. I is getting in trouble, aren't I?"
Firenze shook his head. He gave her a gentle smile, ruffling up her wispy light colored hair. "You are safe here, Tippy. Do not worry. That woman will get what is coming to her one day."
"I is hoping so. She is a mean old toad."
"I suppose you're talking about that Dolores Umbridge again?" Griphook asked, gnawing on a beetroot as he came through the clearing. Griphook had grown close to Firenze in these past few months. The Goblin was a visitor often during their off hours. The small group was settled on the far edge of the forest, a place where humans had never gotten to. Well except for Harry. But he wasn't fully human, was he?
The Goblin sat down on a stump, finishing up his beetroot. "That woman is the worst. I hear the were-packs have to always make themselves scarce when she goes on her 'tours' of Diagon Alley. Good thing she never goes to Knockturne."
Firenze looked thoughtful. "I wonder what Diagon Alley is like. None of my clan have never been there before."
Griphook made a face. "It's not that big of a deal. Too many humans about, stinking up the place."
"Not all the humans is bad." Tippy said, sniffling.
Griphook rolled his eyes at this. "You used to be a slave for them- hell, most of your kind are still enslaved to them. You can't trust humans. We've been at war with them more than once over their greed and avarice."
"Tippy makes a point, though. Some humans are good. That Neville fellow, and Miss Luna are exceptional, and Harry-"
"Potter is not fully human. And the others are exceptions." Griphook interrupted.
"But you are getting treated better, by those that live in the village." Firenze pointed out.
Griphook made a face. "You don't see us eating in those cafes with them, do you? You don't see us buying their clothes, or living in those little cottages, do you? No, we're separate. And that's fine. That's how it's been for centuries, and we're better off that way."
"Are we?" Tippy asked quietly. "I is earning money. I is allowed to buy things in Hogsmeade. I is giving presents to littlest brothers and sisters. I is making my own clothes now." She held out her dress. "I is like human now, yes?"
Firenze and Griphook exchanged a look. Both of their species had been at war with the humans on and off for centuries, and knew what the humans were capable of. While Firenze had never gone further than Hogsmeade, he had heard the stories that the elders had passed down through the generations. The elves, while having been around for just as long as them, had been fairly isolated and oppressed, and were just now knowing what freedom was like. They were still naive about humans.
Tippy dropped her skirt, looking rather sad. "That Umbridge lady is saying we is no better than animals." She whispered. "I is thinking and feeling too."
"Tippy, forget it. You're just gonna cause you and your kind lots of pain. You have no chance against the wizards. They've got magic, and they're much bigger than you, and you have no weapons, or war-magic like we Goblins do." Griphook said.
Firenze spoke up, squeezing her shoulder. "Tippy, some of your brothers have expressed an interest in learning the art of making bows and arrows, like we do. They go on patrols with us- perhaps they would be interested in learning some of our other ways as well?" He looked to Griphook.
Griphook frowned. "I cannot share our knowledge freely, especially with someone who is not of our race."
"Perhaps that is the problem. None of us can fight the humans on our own, but together..."
"But not all humans are bad!" Tippy cried as she saw Griphook grin scarily at Firenze's suggestion. "Some are good! Some are giving us money, is thanking us when we is working! Only Toad Lady is bad!"
"So...we wage war on the toad woman, and only her?" Griphook sneered. "There are many others like her. If we don't get rid of all of them, it will never end."
"I is not wanting to fight." Tippy said quietly, wringing her hands. "We elves is not fighting sort. We is only wanting to not be hurt anymore."
"Sometimes you have to fight for your rights." Firenze said, looking at her thoughtfully. "But I respect your thoughts of peace. Perhaps there is a peaceful way of solving this?"
"How?" Griphook narrowed his eyes. "Treaty after treaty we have signed with the humans, and they are constantly going back on their word. When will they learn?"
"I'm not sure." Fireze looked up at the sky above them thoughtfully. "While our world is becoming united in some ways, in others, it is still parted greatly. If we want to make changes, we need Harry Potter."
"Harry Potter is the bestest!" Tippy said happily, clapping her hands together.
"What do we need him for?" Griphook said. Normally, he wouldn't consider it at all, but Potter wasn't a full human. And Potter was the one that gave them this gig at Hogsmeade, and had made them a great deal of money over the years...
"He is the bringer of change." Firenze said cryptically. "Where he goes, change follows. I do not know for sure if it is purposeful on his part, or it is just...Fated to happen, but happen it does. I do know that Harry Potter is not a fan of Madam Umbridge as well. Something to do with the werewolves, I believe."
The three of them sat in silence for a bit.
Tippy spoke first. "I is talking to my family." She bowed low to them both, her nose brushing the floor. "Good night, Firenze and Griphook." And she popped away quietly.
Firenze and Griphook shared a look. Griphook stood from his stump, and stretched a bit. "You got a bit of that ale from your camp?"
Firenze smiled. "Why yes, I do."
Tippy watched the Great Harry Potter stare at her thoughtfully. He had his guitar in his lap, and the funny looking sheet music spread about him. Tippy had been so scared to speak to the Great Harry Potter herself- she'd never spoken to him directly before. And never something about this.
"I see." The boy finally said.
Tippy bit her lip, wringing her hands. She could feel his anger mounting. "I is not wanting to get angry, Great Harry Potter sir, but I is not helping it-"
"Your anger was justified." The boy said, his voice calm. He patted the earth next to him. They were sitting in the main camp of the elves, not far from the Centaur's camp. Their camp had grown quite a bit since settling in- their huts were short, but long, to accommodate their numbers. A strange variety of wizard, centaur, and muggle items decorated it the camp, from objects that had been lost or left behind.
The elves were going about their business, but Tibby could see the others staring at her and the Great Harry Potter with their wide eyes. She'd talked to her family about what had happened, and everyone was depending on her to talk to the Great Harry Potter, to see if he could do anything.
It was only luck that brought Harry Potter to their camp the day after she'd spoken to them. Or Fate, like Firenze had said.
"You deserve to be treated like anyone else. All of you work hard, and do more than your share. I know that none of us could do what we do without all of you." Harry smiled at her, tucking a lock of hair behind his ear.
Tippy smoothed down her dress as she sat down next to the half-human. "Great Harry Potter sir, I is only wanting my family to be's happy and is not hurting."
"Which is what everyone else wants. You're no different than I."
Tippy shook her head quickly. "No, Great Harry Potter sir, you is! You is different! You is special! You is-"
Harry held up a hand, and she went silent. He was smiling at her- he wasn't upset? "Tibby, let me see your hand."
The elf held it out, curious. Was he going to punish her? None of the Hogwarts elves had ever been punished before- not like their brothers and sisters in the Out There. Their hands met, and Harry nodded.
"See, you've got five fingers. I've got five fingers. You've got eyes, I've got eyes. You have a family, and I have a family as well. You care for them just as much as I care for mine. We are the same, you and I."
Tippy was silent, taking that in. Harry continued.
"While the Goblins and Centaurs may not look like us, they are the same as well. They care for their families, their clans, their homes. They want to make sure everyone is safe and well cared for. We are all the same- we are equal."
Tippy's ears wiggled as she thought deeper. "Is that why we is getting paid for our work now?"
Harry nodded. "All of you have the right to buy whatever you like, because you earn that money. No one should be able to take it away from you." His voice grew hard. "Umbridge has caused a great deal of problems over the years, and she's only gotten worse."
Tippy started to wring her hands again. "What is we doing?"
The boy looked thoughtful, setting his guitar aside. "We think and plan for now. I will see what I can do about getting your money back. After all, you are Vita's employees, and we look after our employees."
"Kind of like...family?" Tippy asked hopefully.
Harry chuckled, looking down at her. "I suppose so."
Tippy's spindly fingers absently played with the rose blossom on her shoulder. "The elves in the Out There has families too, but they is not treated well." She said sadly. "We is wanting them all to be happy, like us. Can you helps them too?"
Harry tilted his head. "Well...why don't you help them?"
"Me?" Tippy asked in surprise.
Harry started to pick up his notes and things. "It's just a thought. It has to start from somewhere, doesn't it?" He paused in his note collecting, getting an idea. "You should come with me to the Ministry. You've got to deal with your fear face to face. We'll get your money back from Umbridge, together!"
"No...I...is...scared." Tippy said quietly. "I can'ts!"
Harry hugged her, and she quieted, a bit startled. While Harry was smaller than most full grown humans, he was still bigger than elves. Tippy could smell honeysuckle and berries on him, and she could feel his magic just...humming beneath his skin.
"Don't be scared. I'll be right there with you." The boy murmured, and Tippy found herself nodding, wanting to be brave, just like him.
Tibby stood in a line of five elves, chins held high. They were to recieve their feathers today. A small, select group of elves were allowed to patrol the forest with the Centaurs- the elves had started to consider it an honor to guard the forest alongside them.
It was an honor to get the redfeather from Firenze. When Firenze had called for him, Tibby was a bit confused, but he came. The other elves that were chosen were older than he, leaders of their teams. He didn't understand why he was chosen.
Firenze's hooves beat quietly on the earth as he paced back and forth in front of them.
"Like your elders before you, you five have been chosen to work with us in guarding the Forest. You will each be assigned a partner, and patrol a certain part of the forest. You and your Partner will work together for a year, while you are train in our arts."
The elves exchanged glances at this. What sort of arts?
Firenze paused in front of Tibby. "Tibby, you are the younger brother of the elf Tippy, correct?"
Tibby blinked. "Yes Mister Firenze Centaur sir."
Firenze raised a brow, and then addressed the others. "You will earn your Feathers if you find your Partners. Your objective is to get to the Black Lake unscathed, and find your Partner before you cross paths with the Acromantula."
The elves shuddered at this. They were snacks for the large spiders, and did their best to stay away from their hollow. The other elves popped away quietly. Firenze turned to look at Tibby. "Tibby, you will be assigned to me."
"You, Mister Firenze Centaur sir?" Tibby exclaimed in surprise.
"Just Firenze. Come, Tibby." He helped the elf onto his back, and they began to trot through the forest. "Your sister is a friend of mine. Did you know?"
Tibby shook his head, clutching at the Centaur's mane as they quickened their trot.
"No, I is not knowing."
"Well, we are. Have been for some time. She is a very special elf."
"I is thinking so too." Tibby said proudly.
"Which is why you should try your best to be a good brother. She is going to need help. I suppose you've heard that she talked to Harry Potter?"
Tibby bit his lip, huddling against the centaur's back as they lept over a log. "Yes Firenze sir."
"Then you know that Tippy will be going to the Ministry with him next week. What do the other elves say about her?" Firenze asked as he pulled some brush back, trotting over a shallow creek.
"We is...scared for her, but happy. We is wanting that Toad Lady to stop bothering people again. We is thinking that Tippy is brave. I...I is wishing I was as brave as Tippy."
They came to a sudden halt, and Tibby's eyes widened as he saw the clearing. The Fairy Clearing. The elves never usually ventured this way. It was an unspoken rule that the fairies deserved their privacy. Firenze helped Tibby off of his back. "Tibby, you are going to have the fortune of meeting Mab." The centaur said quietly. "The Fairies are going to go to sleep again for the season soon, so we must do this now. Will you be brave enough to do this?"
"To do what?" Tibby asked as they approached the Fairy House.
"Queen Mab, I have a very brave elf here to meet you." Firenze called out. Tibby huddled in between the Centaurs' legs as the fairies began to appear out of their hiding places. He gasped in delight at the sight of them, looking around with wide eyes.
An elegant looking fairy approached, the most beautiful of them all. She gave him the longest of looks. "Elf." She smiled. "Welcome."
Tibby gave a slight bow of his head, fighting the urge to get to his knees and bow all the way to the ground for her. While small, her power was strong.
Mab looked up to Firenze, wings flickering. "Firenze, how is your clan faring?"
"Very well, Queen."
"Good, very good." The mused, and floated back down so that she was at eye level with Tibby. "Follow me, Elf."
Tibby looked up at Firenze, looking rather unsure. Firenze gave him the slightest of nods. Mab led him down to the pond, by the rocks.
"Drink from the water. It's the last warm day of the fall, you surely must be thirsty."
"I...I is...Is you sure?" Tibby asked nervously, looking at the clear water.
Mab floated down to stand on the rocks. "I am quite sure. It's very good water."
She and Firenze shared a look as Tibby cupped some water into his hands, and brought it up to his lips to drink. He did not see this look. If he had, he might of thought that they knew something he didn't. He drank the water, closing his eyes. It was the sweetest, best water he'd ever tasted.
And just like that, he fell asleep on the rocks.
Firenze gently turned him over onto his back, and Mab floated onto the sleeping Elf's chest.
"It has been done. He will be the first, and the magic will spread. By the spring, their full magicks will return, and with it, their true forms." She looked sadly at the elf. "Aeons ago, these beings were my comrades, my brothers and sisters in arms. And they've been reduced to lowly, magic-starved servants, begging for kindness."
She fought against her tears. "We must strive for peace, but it is very hard when the humans must hurt others so much."
"Hopefully the elves will remember their true place in our society." Firenze said calmly. "And they will be treated as Equals, like the rest of us."
"There is inequality among the humans as well." Mab said, sitting down on Tibby's chest, running a tiny hand over his cheek. "There always has been. For as long as there is greed, there is inequality. For as long as there are beings looking for an answer, for someone to look up to, there are beings who take advantage of that trust." She patted the Elf's cheek.
"You've seen it, haven't you?" She asked absently.
"Yes." Firenze murmured. "She does not understand it yet. But she will."
"With Harry Potter at her side, she cannot have a better guide." Mab said with a small smile. She flew up, and sat on the Centaur's shoulder. "I do believe that things are changing." She said happily.
"They have been for nearly twenty years now. Since the Lion-child was born."
Mab sniffed. "Well, I was only reawakened properly a few years ago, if you recall."
"I do." Firenze looked down to the sleeping elf. "We should put him somewhere until he wakes up. Perhaps the shade of the tree? A sunburned Elf is not a good sight to see."
The song: This New Day, by Kelliana, from her album, I Walk With The Goddess. It's a pretty awesome album. You can't help yourself as you sing along and dance to it. She has a gorgeous voice. She's got a few albums out, check her out! :3
NOTE: Chapter title is a play on words on an old movie called All About Eve. It's good, check it out.
Some of you mentioned that my link to my deviant page got eaten up by ffnet- here it is again.
http: / hecateslover . deviantart . com /
(without the spaces, and add another /, for each one. For some reason, the extra ones got eaten when I saved.)