Author: enchanted nightingale

Beta Reader: pussycatadamah

Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely use them in my plot for fun. But other characters like Ailill Frideswide and those Elves that will appear in this chapter are mine, created for this story.

Summary: Voldemort and a few of his Death Eaters arrive at Harry's house a bit after his birthday. As they are about to attack, the Saviour of the Wizarding World has a surprise for them, and mostly for a certain blond.

Pairs: Harry/Lucius, Ron/Hermione, Neville/Ginny, Remus/Tonks

Chapter 13

January 1st

Harry enjoyed being so close to an open space. Growing up like a prisoner in Privet Drive had made him appreciate wide, open spaces. It was the reason he had fallen in love with Hogwarts, not just the castle but the surrounding lands as well. And now in Eilinel, with the huge trees, the green scenery, the sheer magic of the nature around the city, he could make a home here, he knew this. Ailill had not objected to short strolls around town, seemingly understanding his need for solitude as he left even Aapep behind. Enelya and Nariel did not mind. Well, the girl did but Nariel seemed to understand Harry's bouts of solitude better than the perky Elf. Nariel acted as a buffer against Enelya and kept her back when Harry needed space.

So Harry often walked around the forest outside Eilinel where the magic barrier that hid the lands of Elves from Muggle's and wizards alike was at its thinnest. Harry knew where the veil was the weakest as it shimmered and faded like fog parting in the breeze. Occasionally he got glimpses of the French forest that lay behind the magical barrier. Enelya had mentioned seeing many hikers; Muggle's and wizards traipse around the land.

One such day when the mists were thick Harry found out he was not alone in the forest. He knew the other party was not an Elf and soon realized that he was too close to one of the fractured places. He slowed down and waited for the other person to approach his location.

The mists were thick and a shape became more defined. Harry patiently waited till the figure took the shape of a man. Harry sucked in a deep breath when he realized just who the man was. The figure Rabastan Lestrange was hard to miss when the escaped convict was so close. The green eyed Elf gasped.

'What is a Death Eater doing in France?' the youth thought with some panic. The man was too close to Eilinel for Harry's comfort; his mentor had to know.

Harry took off running towards the city.

January 2nd

It was after yet another sparring session with Nariel that they were resting. Harry was nursing new bruises and Nariel was studying him.

"Your mind had not been on our fight," the Elf with the odd eyes commented.

Harry had a guilty look on his face. Here Nariel was helping him get better and grow stronger and his mind was elsewhere.

"I'm just thinking about Lestrange," Harry admitted. The whole thing was giving him a headache. He had spoken to Ailill and his mentor had promised to investigate this and after they returned to the wizarding world Ailill would talk to Dumbledore as well. But so far they had not had a breach in the defences of the city and they had no way of finding out whether it was a onetime thing or not. As it was Harry had been told not to return to that spot for his safety.

"Calm down," Nariel told him. "I'm not saying you should ignore the matter or forget it but at least do not let it loom over your life. Our city is well protected. No wizard, not even that Dark Lord of yours, can harm you or any of our kind on our turf."

Harry was amazed at how certain Nariel sounded.

"Get up," he told Harry. "We'll spar again."

Harry complied and tried to forget about any fears or doubts he held; it was the only way to avoid getting completely hammered by Nariel.

After one more hour of training they decided to end it as it was obvious that Harry's mind was not completely on this and even Nariel was getting a bit short with him. So they gathered their things and left the training grounds with Harry earning an invitation to Nariel's house.

The house of the Anwarünya family was truly majestic. While on the outer ring of Eilinel, like all the residential buildings but even in the general beauty of its surrounding it still stood out. Nariel's parents were Elbereth, Member of the Council of Elves, a scholar and one of the five Sages of the Library, and Idril Anwarünya, who was also on the Council and a gifted Seer. He also had an elder brother but Altariel was away as an ambassador to the Water Elves.

The building reminded Harry of a movie he had caught sight of one summer. Petunia had bemoaned how many awards the film had been given and Harry, still a child at the time, had admired the building. Roman had been the style, as he later learned. Likewise Nariel's home was a large square building. It had three floors with balconies at each of the five bedrooms, two of which were guest rooms, a large library and a training room Nariel often used a huge garden in the heart of the house and a natural spring hidden in the foliage. It was with the promise to use the spring fed indoor natural pool that Harry was led there and the teen did not regret it. Nariel and he spent the rest of the day fooling around in the water with Harry being amazed at how dignified his friend acted even when he looked like a drowned rat.

January 3rd

Enelya had an odd look about her. She was studying her new friend with a mixture of fascination and curiosity. Harry was sprawled on his bed at Ailill's house, his Hogwarts books surrounding him, parchment, quills and ink bottles neatly placed within distance. Most of it was already done but he had been nagged by his inner 'Hermione' consciousness and was currently doing a last minute check on his work. Ailill had encouraged him to stay in as he was busy with the Council and he had also warned Harry that it was reported that Rabastan Lestrange was seen in the forests that belonged to the Veela Council. The French Magical Ministry's equivalent for Aurors had been alerted and the guards of Eilinel were paying attention to the cracks between the two worlds while the generals and the ward-smiths were going over plans to fortify the city more. They were not taking any chances. Ailill had admitted to Harry that while Elves were generally stronger than magical humans, there was a lot of prejudice and jealousy towards the semi-immortal race and the Council did not want to take the chance of an attack against them even though they felt confident that Voldemort was not a real threat to them.

It was how Nariel found those two. More importantly he found Enelya with a book on Charms in her hands, the she-Elf actually reading the text and not doodling on the pages.

"May the gods have mercy," he muttered, making the girl glare at him.

"Don't make me hit you," Enelya glared.

"Your humour astounds me," Nariel drawled.

"Guys," Harry sighed.

"We'll keep it down," the she-Elf assured him.

While Harry worked his two friends helped themselves to the books the Dark Elf was not using.

January 4th

"You want to do what?" Sairalindë asked his student.

Enelya wanted to meet his eyes but she was afraid. Here this Elf had taught her how to fight and protect herself and her family, helped her hone her abilities and he was generally there to offer his advice and often bail her from any trouble she stirred and she was doing this.

"I want to see the world outside our home," Enelya admitted. She worried her lower lip as she voiced her thoughts. "I know I'm not anywhere near the age an Elf even thinks about leaving…"

"Enelya, most Elves leave to visit the other Elvin cities, not the human world," Sairalindë told her.

The usually carefree Elf sighed. "I know. But it just sounds so interesting and adventurous…"

Her mentor chuckled. "You're doing a poor job convincing me this is for the best," he told her. His eyes studied Enelya. "Are you doing this because of your new friend?"

"Harry is part of the reason," Enelya admitted. "But living in Eilinel is just so…boring!"

Sairalindë tried to ignore his building headache and gave a short nod. "I'll consider it but I make no promises. I will have to convince the Council, your parents and someone to act as your chaperon."

"I don't need a chaperon!" Enelya was indignant. She gulped at the look she was given. "Then again maybe I do," she hurriedly replied.

"Good, now off with you menace. I need to do something about the mess you stirred."

"Thank you Sage," she said. She gave a short bow and left the place just in case she pissed her mentor off and lost any chance to actually achieve her wish.

The adults were all gathered in Ailill's house that evening. Enelya's father, Thranduil Lúinwë, and Nariel's fathers were there, along with Sairalindë.

"That girl is going to drive me crazy,"… muttered.

"She really wants to leave Eilinel?" Elbereth asked. He shook his head, still having trouble believing that she would actually want to leave.

"She's not the only one taken by Ailill's charge," Idril admitted.

"Nariel too?" Thranduil wondered. The man was busy with his duties as an ambassador to the Vampires but he had heard his daughter ranting about the longsuffering second born of Elbereth and Idril.

Elbereth smiled. "Yes, if you want to believe that. He does not even seem to mind the fact that Harry is not as advanced as him. And we all know how much of a perfectionist that boy is and how he looks down on everyone that is not up to his level."

"Yes, Harry has a habit of picking up friends," Ailill commented.

"I'm wary about letting my daughter leave our city," Thranduil told them.

"With a magical war brewing out there Elves are safe only within the walls of our lands," was Sairalindë's opinion.

"I don't think our opinions matter much," Ailill said then. "I can practically imagine the retaliation Enelya might cook up if we don't agree."

"Yes, that girl can be sneaky with her grudges," Sairalindë agreed.

"When does the boy leave?" Thranduil inquired.

"The day after tomorrow," Ailill responded. "We are using a port-key to reach Britain. Harry saw a Death Eater lurking around the forest and we cannot take the chance that he might see one of the carriages."

"I hope I don't regret this," muttered Thranduil.

Ailill turned to the other two Elves.

"We'll talk to our son," Idril told him.

"What I'm worried about is their studies," Elbereth said then. "Ailill, can you take all three of them under your care?"

"I have taught greater numbers before," Ailill replied. "But they had been at equal levels. Enelya is not much with the sword. She's more of a long distance warrior and her spells are few but strong. Nariel is superb with a sword and air spells."

"And with a few healing techniques," Idril added.

Ailill nodded. "While Harry is just beginning his sword training and only recently managed seeing Auras without concentration or meditation."

"I would offer," Sairalindë spoke. "But Enelya is not my only student. I have classes I teach at the Academy."

"I could perhaps have them learn things themselves," Ailill mused. "Then I will check up on them, answer questions..."

"It has merit," Sairalindë commented.

"He's just lazy," Idril cut in.

Ailill smirked. "That too."

January 5th

Harry had already started packing. He and Ailill were leaving the day after and Harry was glad he would be finally returning to Hogwarts and his friends. But the best thing about it was that he would finally see Lucius again. At the mere thought of seeing the blond wizard after days upon days of not being able to see him, smell him, kiss him, Harry was giddy with anticipation. Even Aapep had taken to teasing him. His mentor merely smiled when he saw Harry almost jumping up and down and continued reminding Harry all the reasons why he should not jump the older man. But Harry merely took those comments in his stride and counted the hours.

"Knock, knock!" Enelya called out from the door. With a skip she entered the room Harry had been using during his stay in Eilinel. "Wow, you're almost packed already."

"Yes, well, Ailill said something about unspeakable horrors if I left anything to the last possible moment so…"

"Yes, my mentor is that way often," the she-Elf remarked. "Got any room in that trunk of yours?"

"Mm? No. Why?" Harry absently asked her; he went back to packing.

"No reason," she replied.

Harry shrugged and folded the last blouse and placed it in his trunk.

"I'm done," he told her. "Want to go for a walk into town?"

"Sure. Just the two of us or you want Nariel to join us?"

"Both of you," Harry told her.

"Bummer… That guy still can't take a joke."

"Yes well, I've known a few guys like him. We just need to work on him."

Enelya gave him a devilish grin. "Really?"

"Whatever entered that warped mind of yours, forget it now," Harry warned her. "I don't want to be flayed when your plan fails."

"My plans never fail!"

"Is that so? What about the one when you wanted to place snakes in the Library?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Enelya innocently replied.

"The purple paint prank on the armoury?" Harry smirked. "Or that time…"

"I can't hear you!"

Harry laughed. "Sure you can't. Now come on. I want to try that fruity drink again. They don't have those in Scotland."

"Of course they don't! It's an Elvin raised tree that produces that."

"I still can't pronounce its name," Harry admitted.

Enelya patted his head and ran before he could retaliate.

January 6th

Harry was packed and his trunk had been shrunk down and placed in his pocket. The Dark Elf had explained to Aapep what port-key travel would entail and the Runespoor had requested to be asleep during the ordeal. So Ailill had placed an Elvin sleeping spell on the snake that was now curled up in Harry's pocket.

"Where are those two?" Harry muttered.

"Waiting company?" Ailill asked.

The black haired Elf shrugged. "It would have been nice to have my friends see me off."

"Oh? That? Not happening," his mentor stated.

Harry gave him an inquiring look.

"They were too busy packing," Ailill responded.

The teen opened his mouth to ask when he heard Enelya calling his name. He turned and there she was, lugging a trunk behind her. A man that bore a startling resemblance to her was walking several metres behind her. Sairalindë, her mentor was following at a rather sedate pace with Nariel. The Elf with the mismatched eyes was glaring at Enelya's back. Two male Elves were at his side with Nariel being a perfect blend of both. Harry knew Elbereth already but not the other man.

Ailill noticed and whispered names and the social standing of those two Harry did not know in the teen's ear.

"Harry!" Enelya yelled.

The teen let out a huff of pain when she collided with him.

"Enelya!" Harry gasped. "I need to breathe!"

The she-Elf released him with an unrepentant face and stood next to him.

"Why are you carrying that?" Harry asked.

"Silly Harry," Enelya teased.

"We are coming with you," Nariel stated.

Harry was left spluttering.

End of chapter

A/N: It's more like an interlude. More action in the next chapter.

Also I need to inform you that I finally have a beta and there has been an edit of my entire story. No more pesky and irritating mistakes!