Disclaimer all characters, settings, etc, are the copyright of JK Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing

The Return

Chapter 3

Hermione's love

It had been a week since they had spoken to Dumbledore's portrait; nothing had happened since that night, no mysterious sightings no voices calling for help. The kitchen of the Weasleys was once again a normal place. Molly Weasley was dishing out supper to those members of her family who had not left to resume their normal everyday lives. Bill, Fleur and Charlie, had gone back to London along with the twins Fred and George who had gone back to their shop in Diagon alley. Hagrid was back at Hogwarts, whilst Remus and Tonks had gone home as had Hermione's mum and dad.

Hermione who had stayed at the Burrow in case Harry returned was poking at her supper remembering the kiss from Harry, her only love, while Molly tried in vane to get her to eat something. Ron and Luna sat planning their future. Professor McGonagall, who had called in each evening, sat waiting to talk to Molly.

"Wonder what it will be like having the director of magical beasts as my wife?" Ron said out loud.

Mr Weasley looked up from his paper work, "Minister of magic, did you say, where?"

Ron and Luna laughed. Hermione and Molly looked at him as though he had gone crazy before laughing. Before the laughter had died away there was a loud crack and Dobby the house elf appeared in the middle of the room.

Hermione's face lit up "Hi Dobby, how are you? I wish you had popped in last week, Ron and Luna got married. We all wanted you to come, wrote the invite everything," she nodded over to the fireplace.

Dobby followed her eyes, his own enormous eyes shone bright as he saw an envelope with his name in neat blue ink across the front.

"Sorry Dobby but we were told you're away on holiday, we did not know how to get in touch with you," Ron said as the little elf slowly read his invite to the wedding.

Huge tears welled up in his eyes as he cried "Such people Dobby knows thanks to Mr Potter, to have such friends Mr Potter is blessed. Dobby is proud to know Mr Potter. Such kindness you all show Dobby just like Mr Potter does."

"Dobby Mr Potter is dead, I thought you knew that, sorry," Hermione said to the little house elf.

Mr Weasley spoke, "Hello Dobby, how are you?"

Before the elf could answer Professor McGonagall spoke "Now Dobby I thought you were on holiday, do they need me back at the school? Has something happened?"

Dobby looked around the room "No nothing has happened professor," then he turned to Ron and Luna "Dobby has a message for Mr Potter's Friends," he bowed low almost touching the floor with his long nose. "With your permission I am to ask if you will accept a visit from the elf King's ambassador."

"Elf King?" repeated Ron.

"Yes sir I am to say he awaits your decision."

"I never knew the elves had a King," Mr Weasley was saying as he rose to get a better view of his visitor.

"You may tell the ambassador that we will be pleased to see him," said Mrs Weasley, more to humour the usually eager little fellow.

As Mr Weasley sat down on the other side of the table there was another crack and Dobby was gone.

Professor McGonagall said "We must be working him to hard, I never heard of the elves having anything other than wizard families. Admittedly some of those families should never have been allowed to have one, keeping them in awful conditions," she shuddered at the thought and remembered how the Malfoy's had treated Dobby till Harry had tricked Mr Malfoy into giving the elf his freedom.

Crack!, this time an even louder crack swept through the kitchen and there stood Dobby dressed in his shrunken maroon jumper, a few woolly hats perched on his head and his latest addition to his wardrobe an old pair of football shorts. They actually reached the ground on Dobby.

Along side Dobby stood another elf, this one though was much more human looking and he was dressed in what can only be described as expensive royal robes of deep emerald green with white trim.

He bowed with much swirling of his hands, "It is a great pleasure to meet the friends of the great Harry Potter, allow me to tell you my name," he carried on without pause. "I am Anlow son of Gord, ambassador to his majesty King Benlow."

Glancing up at the humans he smiled, he knew he had their full attention they were all sitting looking at him some with open mouths. It was as though Ron had heard his thought; he closed his mouth so fast his teeth came together with a crack.

The elf resumed his speech. "We in the elf Kingdom have for thousands of years had knowledge of things that humans do not, things that the maker has made unavailable to humans, Harry Potter is right now benefitting from that knowledge, if I am to continue you must all swear not to pry, nor to go anywhere within our Kingdom without an escort of the royal guard. Be it known to you this vow can not be broken, on your life you must swear. Remember therefore if you swear this oath and break it you will surely perish, I will return for your answer in one hour."

There was another crack and both elves were gone.

It was several minutes before anyone spoke; it was Mrs Weasley who broke the silence.

"Well what do you make of that Minerva, for the first time in many years we know that the wizarding world is safe we don't have to worry if our families will be alive in the morning, and along comes an elf and tells us we could be putting our lives at risk if we go with him to sort out what is obviously a strange affair."

Minerva McGonagall did not look to happy, "Well I would very gladly join with you all to get to the bottom of this, as I am sure you will all agree to the elf terms. However I am afraid I must put my school first and so will not be able to go with you. Though I do wish you luck in your endeavours, Hagrid on the other hand will I am sure, be happy to represent Hogwarts."

"Yes you are right Minerva; Hogwarts can ill afford the loss of another head so soon. We would of course welcome Hagrid as a valued friend," said Arthur Weasley as he rose from his chair

"You should however leave as soon as you can, it would only be fair for Hagrid to know what he will be getting himself into and be given the chance to say no."

With a sad look Minerva rose to leave "I tell you now I will never speak to any of you who come back dead, so goodbye and good luck. Ron take good care of Luna, I shall be expecting more young Weasley's at Hogwarts in the future." she turned on the spot and was gone.

Mr Weasley spoke again "Well Molly I think we should send Pigwidgeon to Remus as I feel sure he will want to be in on this."

Pigwidgeon flew to Mrs Weasley's side at the mention of his name. He had calmed down a lot since he had arrived as a young eager owl; he now stood at Mrs Weasley's elbow as she wrote a quick note to Remus. With the note tied to his leg the owl left through the ever open kitchen window.

Ron sat being very quiet.

"What are you thinking?" asked his father as he studied Ron's face.

"Well" Ron began "you and mum can't go, some one has to be at home and you have to be at work. Me and Luna are now supposed to be on honeymoon in Egypt so we are ok. I don't suppose for one second that Hermione or Ginny will want to stay behind so it will be just the four of us and Remus. Oh yes and Hagrid, Harry was after all like the son he never had, so I don't think he will be staying behind, that's it then all settled."

Mr Weasley looked with disbelief at his son then at his wife Molly.

"You know he's right Arthur," she said looking around the room.

"Yes I suppose so," he said sadly, he looked at his only daughter. She had stopped cooking and from the expression on her face he knew she would go no matter what he said as would Hermione.

Ten minutes later Hagrid was knocking on the kitchen door, he had been informed about the elf and the oath and had been given leave by headmistress McGonagall. "Dear old Minerva," he said as he entered the kitchen, "right put out she is, real annoyed she can't go with us if you ask me."

Mrs Weasley made them all a mug of tea as they waited for the hour to pass, none of them spoke except to say thank you or pass the sugar. Remus and Tonks arrived with just five minutes of the hour left, "Is there anything else we should know Arthur?" Remus asked as Molly poured tea for Tonks.

Arthur answered "You know as much as we do at the moment Remus."

A loud crack announced the arrival of the ambassador. This time he was alone, Dobby having done his task it seems had returned to Hogwarts. "I see we have more of Mr Potter's friends here now, this is a good sign, for the more people we can take the better the chances of success are."

"Would you like a seat Mr Ambassador and maybe a cup of tea?" said Mrs Weasley.

"Anlow son of Gord finds all that Dobby the house elf, said about the friends of Mr Potter is indeed true, yes indeed dear lady I would enjoy having a drink whilst I tell what must be done." The elf sat at the table using two cushions to give him extra height, putting him on eye level with the Weasleys.

"First things first then, I would be happy if you called me Anlow, much less of a mouthful than Mr Ambassador. I should also like to know your names if you would be so kind as to divulge?" he paused and looked at Mr Weasley who was sitting at the other end of the table.

"I'm Arthur Weasley."

"Ah yes the wizard who loves to help the Muggles."

He then looked up into the black shiny eyes of Hagrid.

"You must be the renowned Hagrid, beloved of magical creatures the world over."

What could be seen of Hagrid's face behind his great bushy beard turned to a bright red colour and Hagrid tilted his head downward to try to hide his embarrassment.

"Way to go Hagrid," said Ron grinning; Luna elbowed him lightly in his side "sorry sir," said Ron as though back at school.

"And you young sir, would you be the brave hearted Mr Ronald Weasley, who has often helped Mr Potter to fight evil."

Ron's face turned a colour to match his hair. He nodded as he thought of the times when he had occasionally gotten a little jealous of Harry's fame, yet here he was, known outside the wizarding world as a fighter of evil.

Anlow was now looking at Luna.

"I am Ron's wife Luna," she told him.

"Ah yes the only witch in Britain with 'true sight', able to see the creatures hidden from the rest of mankind."

Anlow looked at Hermione carefully a huge smile on his face. "And you must be Hermione Granger, the greatest witch alive today and the source of the love we use." He seemed to study her for a while before he spoke again. "Yes I can see that now, you are most certainly Hermione Granger, eventually to be known as the greatest witch to have ever lived, and whose love is the only thing that keeps Mr Potter with us. For without the great love you have for him. But no, not now I will get to that later, for now I must say I am pleased as will be the King when he knows of the love you all carry for Mr Potter."

He focused on Molly as Hermione spluttered unintelligibly turning the brightest crimson as she did so.

"You then my dear must be Mrs Molly Weasley. The one that Mr Potter regards as the nearest person to a mother he has ever known since that dreadful day when he lost his real one so many years ago."

Now even Molly was blushing.

Anlow turned to Remus and Tonks "I don't think I know you two, though I do feel the great love you share, and you carry a great burden Mr…?

"Remus, Remus Lupin, and this is my dear wife Nymphadora, who likes to be known as Tonks."

Anlow nodded to Tonks he then turned his gaze on Ginny. He looked at her long red hair and her pretty face before saying "You must be the beautiful Ginny Weasley, friend of Harry and wife of Neville."

Ginny looked at the elf, as he was about to say something else, "Sorry to interrupt" said Ginny "but did you say that Harry is alive."

Anlow looked at Ginny for quite a few seconds before he answered her question "I am afraid I did not actually say that my dear, if you will allow me to continue I am sure you will all soon understand." he then took a sip of his tea.

Everyone in the room was silent waiting to hear what the elf had to say even Pigwidgeon and Hermione's cat Crookshanks sat up to listen.

Anlow spoke again "First I must ask you all to swear an oath not to tell, not to pry and only go where you are escorted, and you must remember that breaking the oath will have dire consequences." They all one by one swore the oath, "good that done, now we are ready."

"Three and a half years ago the house elf Dobby arrived at the court of King Benlow begging for an audience with the King. Now as this had not happened for over a thousand years the King was anxious to learn how this house elf Dobby, had managed to get permission to visit a court that should be unknown to all but we free elves.

Dobby was granted his audience and related his tale of the human that had helped set him free from the suffering he was going through with his wizard family.

He told of all the mistreatment and cruelty, told how once free he had been given a job of work, for which he was paid weekly. Then Dobby told of his friend's great battle. Some of these things were already known to the elf King, along with many more things. Things that had been foretold by the Maker. It was in fact the King who had, through a young woman given the prophesy that would lead Mr Potter down the road that destiny had laid for him.

Dobby pleaded with the King to help Mr Potter. He even offered up his own life for his friend but it was when Dobby offered to return to slavery with those who despised him, that the King promised he would help. Not in the battle itself. Nor in the out come of who would win, for these are things that lie outside his power.

As the battle between good and evil raged. The King watched and when

Mr Potter struck the final blow and won the fight the King saw his wounds and knew that death was approaching. In that moment between life and death the King stepped in and took Mr Potter to the elf Kingdom.

Now it is told that only a truly great love can reach into the realm between life and death and bring back someone from there, but it must be a totally unselfish love. An enduring love with out conditions, even when life seems gone from the loved one, the love must remain strong.

Hermione's love for Mr Potter is such a love. it takes great magic to keep a person in the realm I speak of, and our King and we elves whilst resisting death with all our powers were waiting to see if Hermione's love was strong enough to reach out and pull him even closer to us so that he could be pulled back to this realm.

We were happy to see that we were slowly winning, but as Hermione got busier helping Luna organise her wedding, and the wedding grew closer King Benlow noticed that Mr Potter was slipping further away and he realized why very quickly. So he sent out an elf to check, and the report was that you Hermione were getting so involved with your best friends plans that your heart did not spend as much time calling out to your true love.

Oh yes we elves can hear your heart as it cries out for your loved one. The Muggle's as you call them some times have an insight to this love that baffles the rest of us. Like the saying they have that some people are made to be together, 'a marriage made in heaven' they call it.

Though I don't think they know that love is the main thing that keeps their world together. Anyway Hermione and Mr Potter share such a love and it is important you all remember this.

Our King knowing this and that something must be done, called together all the wise elves of the Kingdom and together we used all our elfish magic to enable the King to call forth Mr Potter's spirit and to briefly transport him to you. The King knew that if you saw him, your heart would once more start to call out and cry for your loved one," Anlow paused to take another sip of tea.

"So what we saw was Harry's Ghost?" said Ron.

"No, no-my dear fellow what you saw was his spirit," Anlow said impatiently.

"What's the difference?" said Ron.

It was now Hermione who spoke up "A ghost is just a memory, a shadow of who someone was. a spirit is the actual soul of the real person," she looked at her best friend who still looked puzzled "Oh Ron some times you are so exasperating," she sighed.

Ginny leaned forward "Then it really was, Harry who kissed Hermione at the wedding? The part of him that is still living."

"Yes." Anlow answered.

Ron's face lit up "I see now, why didn't you say that before."

"Oh be quiet Ron," Molly said "do go on please Anlow."

Remus cleared his throat "Might I ask a question?"

Anlow nodded

"Well we had a funeral and we all saw Harry in that Gold casket. Hundreds of wizards were there. He was most definitely not alive, so how can what you tell us be so?"

"That my dear friend was just a simple bit of elfish magic. No doubt if you could all see individually what it was you did see, then you would have been quite surprised, for the Harry Potter in the casket you placed in that mausoleum looked different to each and every one there. You each saw him as you knew or imagined him to be, where as in fact the casket was actually empty."

Anlow took another sip of his tea. "Now to continue, as I said the King knew your love would be rekindled and once more Mr Potter would be safe in the realm between life and death till the time came when we would know what was to be done next. What none in the elf world knew nor thought about were the other sorts of love that would arise, the motherly love that you have Molly.

The love a great friendship creates, Ron.

The sisterly love that you, Ginny and Tonks, hold for him.

The fatherly love that you three hold for him, Arthur, Remus and you Hagrid.

And the love of a grandmother that shines out from Minerva McGonagall. All these sources of love allowed the King to get Mr Potter close enough to Hermione his one true love, to place a kiss upon her, thus letting her know it was really him.

We now know that to bring back Mr Potter, the battle of wits that our King is constantly fighting to keep death away must be taken to the highest court by as many as we can find to join the battle. It may be dangerous, for without elfish magic you are all mortal and you will be going up against death himself, if you lose he will exact a price for challenging him.

So there you have it. For three and a half years our King has fought a constant war of wits but now he grows tired and though we elves can and indeed do help out with our magic, we don't know how long it can go on, King Benlow believes it is now time to make a stand." Anlow sat back sipping at his tea.

The silence was deafening as they all sat there taking in what they had just heard, the silence was shattered by the arrival of Dobby.

"Dobby has heard that Harry Potter needs Him, so Dobby is here."

Arthur Weasley stood up "Well Molly dear it seems we will all be going after all, you best let the boys know. Now Dobby would you go to Minerva and tell her we need her more than Hogwarts does. Pigwidgeon will you go and find another couple of owls and get them back here. Well Anlow I think we owe you and your people and especially your King a huge vote of thanks."

"It is Dobby who you should thank, for without his intervention we would not be here now," Anlow smiled at Dobby as Dobby's pallid skin turned a funny shade as each and every one there hugged him in thanks. Pigwidgeon returned with two barn owls, they must have been fairly close by because he had only been gone for five minutes. Molly set about writing to her sons, giving a rough outline of what had been said. Pigwidgeon set off for Charlie, one of the barn owls was sent off to Bill.

"Who's the other owl for?" Molly asked.

Send it to Neville tell him the same as you told the boys, said Arthur as he poured himself another mug of tea.

"Wonderful stuff that, what did you call it?" Anlow asked Arthur as he lifted his mug to take a sip.

"Why it's just tea," a surprised Arthur said.

"Tea you say, I wonder if King Benlow would like it?"

Arthur took a box of tea bags from a cupboard and gave them to Anlow and explained how it was to be made, he also gave some sugar just in case the King had a sweet tooth.

Anlow spoke up "Well friends of Mr Potter I must now report back to my King, but worry not for I will return in six of your hour's, we will then depart to engage death in the battle for Mr Potter's soul. The hearing has been set for seven hours from now."

Bidding their new found friend a safe journey those in the Weasley house stood and waved as Anlow disappeared with a loud crack. Ron turned to sit once more at the table and saw Hagrid was silently weeping, "What ever is wrong?" he asked just loud enough for Ginny and Hermione to hear as they sat one each side of Hagrid While Ron sat opposite.

"Come on Hagrid it's not that bad surely, and now we have a chance of getting Harry back."

"I thought I'd lost him," Hagrid sniffled into his huge table cloth sized hanky.

Ginny and Hermione both sat with tears falling down their cheeks as Hagrid's meaning became clear. If all went well they would be able to have Harry back once more.

"Well then you lot, you should all get some rest," Mrs Weasley looked around as she spoke. No one made any move; instead they all sat around the table deep in their own thoughts. They were interrupted by a popping noise outside. Remus looked through the window and saw Neville; he moved to the door and held it open for him while he entered.

Ron told him all he had heard, he sat enthralled by his telling. "We will of course understand if you don't want to come, after all it is going to be very risky we could all die."

Neville having arrived was not going to change his mind, he had faced death before with Harry, and if he could help he would. Harry was after all one of the few friends he had had, he had great affection for the one who had once told him he was a cool friend, he also knew his wife would be going with them, of that he was certain.

A series of pops and cracks told those in the kitchen that more people had arrived, first one of the twins came in, followed by Fleur and then Minerva,

the door was closed quietly by the second Weasley twin as he entered last.

Molly took time to tell them what had been said and what had to be done. Every one of them was willing to risk it for Harry; he had after all been close to them all. Even Fleur who had been quite aloof when she first met him, but he had saved her in the maze and he had saved her sister out at the black lake.

Fleur was explaining why Bill had not come. He had been called away by his Goblin bosses on some sort of emergency and she had no way to contact him, and so she had fetched the twins Fred and George in his place.

A loud pop came from behind them as Dobby appeared. "Dobby has a message for the friends of Harry Potter, in a few hours all those in this kitchen will be collected by the elf King."

Hermione was sitting with a frown on her face.

"What's wrong dear? you look a bit worried" said Arthur.

Hermione looked at her self adopted father "Well I was just thinking if the elves are so magically powerful, why is it they allow so many of their kind to live in slavery? It just doesn't seem right somehow."

She turned as Ron said "Maybe it is something from the past something in our distant history, after all we know that Dobby has some great power.

I mean he sent Lucius Malfoy flying when he tried to curse Harry, and he can apparate inside Hogwarts where we find it impossible due to the protective charms. he doesn't need a wand or charms or anything he just thinks it and it happens. Our little friend has power that even Voldemort would have cherished, like I say there must be some reason. Dobby come here a moment will you".

Dobby joined them at the table and Ron handed him the two cushions that Anlow had sat on. "Come on little friend sit with us we want to ask you something," Hermione said as she pulled a chair a little closer.

Dobby placed the cushions and sat next to her, "Harry Potter's friends are so good to Dobby, thank you Miss Hermione."

Ron looked at the elf with affection "Now listen Dobby we are not just friends of Harry, we think of you as a friend too, so we would like you to accept us as your friends."

Dobby his eyes glistening nodded "Mr Weasley wants Dobby as a friend then that is what I will be."

Luna gave her new husband a look of surprise, and then looked at him with deep love in her eyes as her heart swelled. She thought I have loved this tall gangly red head since before we all started Hogwarts, what a fool I was not to show it for so long, but I suppose that's how love works. Some times you don't do anything about it till you think you might lose the person. In her mind she saw a picture of a green light taking Ron away from her, it had been one of her nightmares while they fought the war.

Ron was asking Dobby if he knew why elves lived as slaves.

"Dobby doesn't know why really, something happened long ago, but it may also be because elves have to have work to do, or they go a little funny just like my friend Winky or like poor old Kreacher so lonely when he died, it is cruel not to let an elf work sir."

"How is Winky these days?" Ron wanted to know.

Dobby's eyes brightened a little as he told them that Winky had now almost been cured of her addiction to butterbeer and was now working in the kitchen of Hogwarts instead of just sitting and crying. Some days were better than others, thanks to the headmistress having had a talk to the Hogwarts house elves about helping her instead of ignoring her.

Professor McGonagall called for quiet as she and Mr Weasley stood near the sink. All eyes were on her as she asked Dobby if he could give them any idea what they would be up against.

All Dobby could tell them was that it had been more than a thousand years since anything like this had happened and then it had been a failure, no one had returned to tell what had happened.

Mr Weasley reminded them all that Anlow had said it was love that would be the only power that they would have.

"I have gathered from what he said that our magic will be of no use, so can I suggest we all spend the remaining time thinking of Harry and why we want him back amongst us, think of the things that endeared him to us and not about anything negative, that's all I can think to say for now."

"I agree with Arthur," said Minerva.