Chapter IV:

Antien didn't know what to make of the young Hufflepuff that had taken to sitting with him and his family any chance she got. He didn't know where he heard the name Dursley, though it may have been in passing as stories if people his family once knew were exchanged as the many reunions he had gone to. But it still didn't explain the girl's expression before she told him her last name and he was curious.

A week later he was just finishing his mountainous load of work he acquired and Alexa was quietly working next to him with a look of complete pain on his face.

"You all right?" he whispered knowing they were in the library.

"It's only my Divinations homework. I'm beginning to regret taking the class."

Antien sighed dramatically. "Alas, fair maiden I am unable to help you in your quest for the Inner Eye."

"Shut it, Antien," she responded to which he smirked.

"I learned long ago that true human seers are few and far between."

"Human?"

Antien backpedaled slightly realizing his mistake. "Well, they say that a person's best chance at finding a true seer is in what the wizards call 'Creature Races': Centaurs, Vampires, Werewolves, and Elves."

"How would you know that? I haven't read that anywhere."

"You wouldn't. My aunt, Hermione, worked hard to find any missing information that was kept from the public these last 20 years. Though in the past you could call it the prejudices of the Human Wizard variety."

"Sort of like the prejudices against Muggleborns."

"I guess you can say that."

They were interrupted by the loud arrival of James and his two friends, who had taken up the call of James's grandfather and became pranksters.

"You're going to get caught, you know that, right?"

"Maybe, maybe not, little brother." Antien merely went back to his homework and tried to ignore them. He nearly succeeded until he got the unsettling feeling that he was being watched. As Antien discreetly looked around he didn't see anyone, so he catalogued it in the back of his mind for further thought, only to forget when James's prank blew up in his face.

… … … … … …

"I told you you would get caught," Antien said without looking up from the book he was reading as James walked in to his rooms. James had just returned from his last detention with Professor Snape for his most recent prank. The teachers had yet to find out about the others.

"So you did, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Nothing, just wanted to say: I told you so." Antien could feel James's glare through the book cover, but he just smiled and kept reading. James went to grab his things and left without a word. Antien sighed and put his book down before stretching. James's return was his cue to head to bed.

Antien had chosen a room decorated in deep forest greens and dark blues, his favorite colors and the most that remind him of home in Imladris. Antien knew that his parents and family stayed in these rooms when they returned to Hogwarts and the Wizarding world, he had heard the story often enough. They had also described each room in detail, so much so that he knew each room by sight, but he knew for a fact that they didn't describe the room he chose yet it was the only room he felt comfortable in, at least until recently.

He pulled the curtains closed and tried to fall asleep. He was just nodding off when he heard a huge crash from the main room. Antien bolted up in bed and quickly grabbed his twin blades and moved his way into the living room. He found the balcony doors open and the curtains blowing in the wind. The moon was almost at its fullest and Antien knew that his Uncle Remus would be counting down the days until it was full. Antien could feel his magic on edge as he scanned the room. From his place hidden on the stairs, Antien saw a figure buried in a dark cloak, a design he thought he recognized. The figure had his back to the stairs. Antien slightly crept down the stairs and brought his blades to the intruder's neck, who tensed.

"How did you get in?" he asked in a low, dangerous voice.

'You really should be more careful on what you set as your password, young Antien," the figure said in quiet elvish. Stunned, Antien's grip loosened just enough that the stranger broke loose and after a brief struggle, Antien received a harsh blow to the head and passed out.

… … … … … …

Estel looked up from the paper he was reading when he heard someone enter via the floo network. He smiled at Rodwen, who was helping Lily with her breakfast and nodded at Balan and Amariel before entering the parlor.

"Minerva," he greeted the Headmistress who stood with a concerned look on her face.

"Estel," she answered cautiously. "I am afraid I come as the bearer of bad news."

"What is it?"

"Where is Rodwen?"

"In the dinning room."

Minerva nodded. "It is best that she hears this as well."

Estel followed her with a dire sense of foreboding. Rodwen looked up as they walked in concern etched in her face.

"Minerva?" Rodwen questioned.

"I am sorry to intrude."

"Nonsense," Rodwen answered. "Tea?"

"No thank you."

"What is wrong?"

"Something happened." Minerva raised her hand to stop the comments. "James went to Antien's suite to meet him for breakfast. He gave the portrait the password only to find the main room in shambles. It was quite obvious that there was a fight of some kind." She paused. "Estel, James couldn't find Antien and while we are looking for him now, we have yet to find anything."

"What?!" four voices rang out in varying degrees of worry and outrage in their tones. Lily looked thoroughly confused and almost in tears.

"But where… what rooms was he staying in?" Rodwen asked as she and the rest realized they never thought to ask.

"We thought it best that he stayed in your old rooms." Minerva answered, starting to rethink that decision.

"But she would have protected him," Amariel whispered.

"Who?" Minerva asked but they ignored her.

"She would only protect against those that truly wanted to harm him and the intruder did have the password," Balan said back. Amariel didn't know if she wanted to smile or smack him as the comment could have gone either way.

"Who?"

They looked up at the professor with confusion in their eyes. "You mean Professor, that you never noticed who guarded the Elven Suite?" Estel said.

Minerva shook her head.

Rodwen smiled sadly. "Rowena Ravenclaw."

… … … … …

Antien woke slowly and regretted it then entire way there. He head was pounding. He groaned and turned on his side and slowly opened his eyes. He was glad to only find one lit candle glowing in the otherwise dark room. He didn't know where he was but he was pretty sure he wasn't in Hogwarts.

'Ah, you are awake,' a voice said. Antien struggled against his pounding head to turn over to see his attacker, who was seeped in shadow. 'I was starting to get worried.'

'Who are you?' Antien asked not really expecting an answer.

'A friend," the stranger said shifting in his seat.

'Of who? My father?' Antien propped himself up against the pillows that cradled his aching head. 'Only he had friends that are speakers.'

'Speakers?'

'You are a speaker of elvish,' Antien explained.

'Yes, I am.'

'But how?'

Antien could barely see the stranger smile. 'All will be explained soon, but now we must get you to the hospital wing for your head.' The stranger laughed at Antien's groan.

Antien looked around the room as he was helped up from the bed. 'Where are we?'

'A rather remarkable room in Hogwarts,' the stranger said.

'What room?'

'The Room of Requirement.'

… … … … … …

Estel escaped the dining room after awhile, not wanting to hear any more conversation about his missing son. He went to his rooms and unearthed his father's old map and after muttering the password, he searched every inch only to find nothing. Frustrated, Estel threw the tattered parchment on the bed and started pacing. Estel was starting to realize that it was a bad idea to send Antien to Hogwarts. Everything had gone to Hell rather quickly.

He didn't know how long he paced his bedroom, but he knew it had been awhile when Rodwen came in with a smile on her face. "They found him."

… … … … … …

Antien didn't seem really understand everything that was going on around him. At first, the hooded stranger was helping him up the next he was lying in a bed in the hospital wing being surrounded by his family.

Not really caring who was around he asked. 'What happened?'

'Other than you disappearing for two days?'

'It was two days?' Antien scoffed.

James smiled despite his mother's glare. 'No only about 18 hours.'

'Do you remember anything?'

'Yes.'

'What happened then?'

'James had just left form picking up his bag and I had decided to head to bed. I was just falling asleep when I heard a crash from in the common room. When I got there the balcony doors were open and a figure in black stood in the middle of the room. I asked him how he got in and he answered that I should have been more careful about my passwords. We fought and he knocked me out. I woke awhile later in what he called the Room of Requirement. I asked him who he was but he only answered that he was a friend. But that is not the worst part.' Antien paused and looked at his Father. 'Ada, he was a speaker.'

'What do you mean?' Rodwen asked.

'He spoke Elvish,' Antien clarified even though he knew his father understood.

At that moment, the healer appeared carrying a tray full of food and at the looks everyone was giving her she said. "You needn't worry, Professor McGonagall confided in me the details of young Antien in case he was anything like his father." Estel smiled at that. "Which he is becoming." She looked at the strange family gathered around the bed. "If you ever need a place…"

"Thank you Madam," Estel said sincerely. "We will keep that in mind."

"Now it time for my patient's dinner. You can stay as long as he eats." Rodwen gave Antien a look that said Oh, he will.

There came a nock at the Infirmary door and the healer spoke to the newcomer before walking over to the family. "There is an Alexa asking after you, Antien. If you would like me to let her in I suggest you change before I let her in."

Antien was confused until he felt someone's wand tap his head and a frisson down his back. 'A temporary one until we can reapply a more permanent one.' Antien look to his father gratefully.

The healer nodded and let the third year in. "Antien!" she yelled running over to his bed.

"Alexa!"

"I was so worried when you didn't come to breakfast and then the teachers were asking me if I had seen you. Oh… I'm so glad you're okay!" she said burying Antien in a hug. Antien awkwardly returned it.

"Antien, who is this lovely young lady?" Rodwen asked from her spot next to the bed.

"Uh, Mum, Dad… this is Alexa. She chose the moment I was piled with work to bother me… I mean befriend me." Alexa lightly smacked him on the shoulder and he mocked winced.

Rodwen smiled, happy that her son found such a good friend, yet Estel was studying the girl with utmost concentration until he reached a sudden and surprise conclusion.

"Dursley?" The girl meeped at the sound of her last name, yet she nodded turning to Estel, while the others stared. Then Estel started to laugh.

"You're not mad?" she asked.

"Mad?" he answered. "Crazy? Maybe. But angry? Definitely not. The fact that you are here shows that he is not like his father. " At that the girl visibly relaxed. "How is your father?"

"He is well, though I think he is still getting used to me being a witch."

Estel laughed again. "I always wondered what happened to Dudley. I guess now I know."

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A/N: I have had this chapter written out for a while now but I just haven't been in the mood to type but anyway, here is it. I hope you enjoyed it.