Chapter VI:

Chapter VI:

The wizarding world knew so little of the cultures that were outside their own. Knowing so little led to the prejudices that still existed. The purebloods still teased the Muggleborns; the house elves were still treated lower than dirt except those that had the luck to know Estel Galad and his family; the Centaurs were still treated as half humans even when they were smarter than their wizarding counterparts when it came to telling the future and many still hid themselves for fear of the past.

Until 20 years ago, the Eldar were just a myth yet included in such stories as King Arthur and Merlin. Many of the stories that were once told around the fire never to be forgotten were.

No one knew that the Founder Rowena Ravenclaw was an Elf and that she didn't die as many of the accounts said, but sailed at the death of her husband and daughter, her only heir. Now one knew that over the years since elves had come to Hogwarts as teachers and administrators making sure that the school stayed as the Founders wanted it to be.

Better yet hardly anyone knew that it was her portrait that guarded the elven apartments. Antien knew who she was though and each time he went through the door he bowed respectfully and she nodded her head in greeting. That day it was the entirety of his family including Alexa. Antien knew that his father had a slightly haunted look in his eyes ever since he returned from Imladris, but he refrained from asking knowing he wouldn't get an answer out of him.

But that day wasn't about strangers or broken tombs but about setting up for Lily's birthday, it being the 8th of December. Antien smiled at the memory as he recalled how his young sister had begged to have her birthday, her 11th birthday, at Hogwarts. Lily's other friends and family would be showing up that night for her party and the girl was dancing around the room in complete happiness. Antien knew that she had received her Hogwarts letter that morning, offering her a spot the next fall.

Antien worked hard to put the streamers throughout the room as he tried to block out the feeling he had struggled against since his kind-hearted kidnapping.

Antien heard the door open behind him and he turned to see Severus Snape standing sheepishly in the doorway.

'Mae govannen, Naracion,' his father called. 'What's wrong?'

Professor Snape smiled in a way that slightly terrified all the students in the room. 'Nothing terribly is wrong. I am only wondering why Lily has yet to bowl me over in one of her gigantic hugs.'

Antien merely rolled his eyes as Lily did just that wondering how the man could be so terrifying in the classroom and so… favorite-uncle-like among family.

'Practice. Lots and lots of practice,' Severus said as he past Antien with Lily still clinging to him.

'How do you do that?' Antien asked.

'All of us are entitled to our secrets. If I told you, who said you wouldn't spread it all over the school and then no one would ever do any homework for my class ever again.'

'And that would be the end of the world, of course,' Vayna called from the kitchen.

Severus laughed. 'Now that is a talent I wished I had.'

'Then the world would most certainly end,' Vayna countered setting the punch bowl on the table. 'Severus Snape with sonic hearing, I get chills of utter fright just thinking about it.'

Severus said something completely unintelligible to which Vayna slapped him on the shoulder and laughed.

"Is your family always like this?" Alexa said, suddenly appearing next to him. "Because if it is I might bow out now. I mean Professor Snape almost seems human, despite the fact that I can't understand him."

"We're sorry, Alexa. I'm sure they didn't mean to leave you out of the conversations," Antien said. "It's only we haven't had a non-speaker in the family for a long time."

"Obviously."

Antien explained as much as he could his family and how people like Professor Snape and Sirius Black, who were bitter enemies in school could be actual friends now. It really just boiled down to the war and those they lost. As to the language, Antien told her not to worry that it would all be explained eventually. She didn't like the "eventually" part.

Speaking of Sirius, he and Remus had just shown up carrying a huge package between them and calling "Where's the Birthday Girl?!"

"UNCLE SIRIUS! UNLCE REMUS!" Lily screamed as she launched herself at them with a gratefully looking Severus behind her. Estel managed to save the present from being dropped with a fast spell and moved it only to reveal a red haired Tonks.

"And lets not forget Auntie Tonks!" the shape shifter called. Lily just laughed and hugged her after getting through Sirius and Remus.

Right behind them stood the shy yet energetic Teddy Lupin. Lily stopped short when she saw him and after a bashful hello they hugged.

Antien once again turned to Alexa. "Now you have someone to talk to. Tonks never learned yet for some reason she can understand it. Don't know how though..." he said wistfully before smiling cheekily. Alexa took a light swing at him, which he dodged and went back to decorating.

… … … … … … …

The songs had been sung, the cake devoured and they were just sitting down for Lily to open the many gifts that had appeared in the sitting room. As Lily worked her way through the mountain of presents, Antien let his mind wander through the many events that brought them to her birthday. His thoughts were broken when he heard the startled and gleeful screams of his sister and the swift hug from her.

'You're welcome, Lils,' Antien said smiling not seeing the looks Sirius and Remus sent each other.

He watched as she reached for the last wrapped gift and she pulled the card from the package. "I heard it was your birthday and couldn't resist getting a gift for my honorary Goddaughter. Love, LG," Lily read confusion running through her voice. She ripped open the paper quickly before her parents could come up with a good excuse to stop her. It turned out to be a journal. "For the thoughts of the girl who is about to embark on the best years of her life. Love, The Dragon," the inscription read on the inside cover and it was then that Sirius spit his drink across the room and shot Estel a worried and surprised glance. It was then that Antien knew that the "Adults" were going to ward the kitchen and have a very deep and totally private conversation. And though Antien wanted to know what they were going to talk about he saw the pained look in his father's eyes and knew that it was something he had to deal with before any of the kids found out.

"Can I see that journal, dear?" Tonks said in a cheerful and admiring voice masking the worry in her eyes. Lily handed her the book and Tonks quickly muttered a few spells before handing the book back. When Tonks discreetly shook her head, a little of the worry left Estel's eyes, yet it wasn't very discreet to those who noticed that all of the adults stood at the same time and started to clean up.

"Hey James!" Antien called to his brother. "How about we show Lily how to really use her gifts?" James smiled and nodded and Lily looked a little worried.

"Just don't destroy the living room!" their mother called from the kitchen before the wards went up. Antien just laughed.

… … … … …

"Who would do such a thing?" Amariel asked the moment the wards went up. "Who would use his name…"

"No one knows enough about our lives to know to use it." Estel said. "If anything they would use DM instead of LG."

"What are you saying Estel?" Sirius asked and Remus looked worried.

"I have been meaning to ask you something, Amariel. I went with Legolas to Imladris a few weeks ago. The gardeners found Locien's tomb broken into and his body gone." Estel registered her gasp and the gasps of those who didn't know but went on anyway. "They said that it seemed to have happened only about a week before but I touched the stone and I know it was at least a month if not more before. And the magic was… I don't know… free some how. Uncontrolled. It actually burned my skin." While Amariel seemed to be thinking the facts over, it was Elladan and Elrohir that looked surprised and concerned.

Though it was Elrohir that was first to ask for Estel's hand. The burn had mostly healed in the weeks since it happened even though Estel had done little to heal it. Elrohir examined it for a moment before turning to his brother and spout off several phrases that sounded like Rohirrim, a language that Estel had yet to learn. Legolas and Vayna looked somewhat surprised at what they were saying yet said nothing.

"How-?"

"Our father was a healer and though neither my brother nor I really took up the art we do understand a few things," Elrohir explained quickly.

Vayna said something quickly and Elrohir frowned, an expression that was so rare on his face Estel grew very worried. Elrohir released his hand, wet a cloth and told him to wrap it around his hand. While Estel didn't think it would do anything, he followed the instructions and waited while the four elves argued.

"FINE!" The declaration came so suddenly and so loud that the others winced.

"The magic that broke the tomb is the most pure and most free that exists in the universe. None of us have ever seen it, but we know its effects," Vayna said this rather quickly and in a really annoyed tone never looking at anyone but the offending male elves.

"But what does it mean?" Tonks said from her place sitting on the counter.

"It means that the Valar themselves have sent their messenger."

'So you have come to it at last?' A voice rang out. The strange family turned to the door to see it open and a blond elf standing there with their children behind him.