"Good day all, my name is professor White and I'll be your DADA teacher for this year. Unfortunately I'll be gone for a couple of weeks, so you'll have another teacher next time."
"Who is it?" someone asked.
"I'm not sure if I am allowed to tell you this, but you will find out anyway. It's someone who you probably already know: professor Remus Lupin."
The Gryffindors cheered, Remus had been their favourite DADA teacher ever.
"What! That werewolf is coming back!" Draco exclaimed. "I thought they had decided that he wasn't allowed to teach any longer!"
"I think you'd better show some respect towards your teachers, young man." Gandalf's voice bellowed above all the others. He walked towards Draco, and stopped when he was standing right in front of him.
"What if he attacks the students?" Draco sputtered.
"I'm sure they are taking the necessary precautions. No need to be afraid." Gandalf's deep voice spoke tauntingly.
"Afraid! I'm not afraid!"
"Then what are you complaining about?"
"It's just that… I….He. Well he's just a very bad teacher." Draco finally blurred out.
"That's rubbish, Malfoy! And you know it! He is the best teacher we've ever had. No offence professor." Ron told him.
"None taken Ron." Gandalf said smiling at the redhead. "Now, why don't you all quiet down, so I can start your first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson of the year and The Valar knows you'll be needing them in the future."
"Did you hear that?" Hermione asked Harry and Ron, quickly walking towards the library. Ron and Harry struggled to keep up with her as they tried to get through a large group of students.
"Hear what?" They both questioned.
"You just never pay attention, do you?" Hermione sighed exasperated, throwing her bag on a table in a far away corner in the library, which they had reached by now.
"That guy, with whom Legolas was "fighting", called him: Crazy Elf."
"So?" Ron said shrugging his bag off his shoulders.
"RON! He called him an ELF, AN ELF. You do know what an Elf is, don't you." Hermione said, getting a little irritated
"Sure I do! Small creatures, wearing dirty laundry, totally crazy, big ears and abnormally large eyes. There's no need to get so agitated, love."
Hermione just glared at him at that. "You just don't use your brains, do you! There are different sorts of Elves. Don't you understand what his presence here means?"
Ron looked a little confused at Harry, who also seemed totally clueless.
"It means that he's probably a few thousand years old and there's no reason for him to be here, because he knows everything already. Unless of course he's here for another reason…" Hermione explained.
The boys eyes widened in surprise.
"But you can't say for sure that he's an Elf." Harry stated. "Perhaps he just calls him like that, because he's so pretty."
"Think about it Harry. First there is his appearance: he's a little pale, has the most beautiful golden hair and his face, well… he's just too beautiful to be human. First I thought he was Veela or something, but an Elf makes much more sense. Further more there's the fact, that his ears are apparently very sensitive: another Elven trait. Although his ears don't appear to be pointy, they could have easily fixed that by a simple cosmetic spell. It wouldn't be too hard to get around that one.
Third there is the fact, I actually came up with that one just now, but it totally makes sense if you think about. Remember the first potion's lesson, well Legolas wasn't there and had send Neville to tell Professor Snape to meet him outside the dungeon. After that we suddenly had potions class on the fifth floor, while all the other students still have it in the dungeons. This might be because he glows in the dark." Hermione looked a little smug now, pleased with herself that she had all figured it out by her own. "Oh and there's of course the language he spoke with professor Strider. I have been on holiday in the Netherlands and I can tell you one thing; that wasn't Dutch, what they were speaking. And at last: he seems awfully close with Professor Strider and a little with Professor White, which is kinda strange."
Ron and Harry were still progressing all this new information, when she had finished..
"Hmmm, you may have a point here, 'Mione. I think the best thing we can do for now, is to check if he really has pointy ears and just keep a close watch on all the parties involved." Ron suggested.
"Right, I agree. Hermione could you do an anti- cosmetic spell?" Harry asked
"Sure, no problem. I can do it at lunch, if you want to. But I'll make sure I'm the only one who sees his real ears. Because he could be on a secret mission for Dumbledore and I really don't want to mess everything up by revealing his true identity."
"Okay, that's settled then. Make sure you don't gasp or anything. Just try to keep a straight face. We can't look too suspicious." Ron commented. "Well, I think we'd better get going. I don't want to be late for Transfiguration."
As the bell rang, telling them that their last class had finally ended, Legolas grabbed his things together and quickly left the classroom. Ron, Hermione and Harry had been casting him weird looks throughout the day and it was frankly making him a little jumpy. They were really getting suspicious now. He made his mind up and decided that Gandalf needed to know about this. He swiftly turned around and walked back towards the now almost empty classroom.
"Hello Gandalf."
"Oh, hi Legolas. Is there something you would like to know?"
"No, I came here to tell you about the growing suspicion between Ron, Hermione and Harry. They will not stop staring at me and I am positive they know something, or at least assuming all sorts of things."
"Dumbledore already warned me about them. I think we can inform them about the situation."
Legolas let out a relieved sigh.
"But only when I have returned. I want to keep an extra eye on them, so they don't do anything foolish." Gandalf added quickly in warning.
"Alright, that sounds fair to me, but do return swiftly, Mithrandir. I don't want them to find out by their own. They may get the wrong assumptions, which could turn out very nasty for us." Legolas warned.
"I know my dear Elf, I will try my best and return with haste."
"Thank you my friend, have a safe journey." With that Legolas walked out of the room,
I really hope Gandalf does return shortly. I can't even…Legolas had been so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't even notice the person coming out of another deserted hallway, before it was too late. There was a loud bump as both of their heads collided.
"Ouch!" Legolas exclaimed, rubbing his head.
"Next time watch where you're going, will you!" The other person snarled. "Oh it's you."
"Yes it is me, professor Snape. And I guess you weren't paying attention either, otherwise you could have easily evaded me."
"You're right, I'm sorry. … Are you okay, by the way?" Severus asked apologetic.
"Yes I'm fine, you?" He asked, more closely examining the man in front of him this time. He looked pale as a ghost, while his eyes had a reddish taint to them. Had he been crying? No, impossible!
"Reasonable good under the circumstances, since I forgot to take my bloody potion this morning." Severus muttered under his breath, momentarily forgetting about the Elf's advanced hearing abilities.
"Are you ill?"
"No, I am not!" Snape snapped, realizing his mistake. He had already said too much to his liking. "Now, I have urgent matters to discuss with the Headmaster, so if you would be so kind to let me through."
Legolas quickly stepped aside, allowing the potions' master to pass.
He ran the rest of his way towards Transfiguration, he hated being late.
Transfiguration class went by in no time. He enjoyed the subject immensely. It was absolutely fascinating to see how one could change all kind of objects and even living beings to whatever struck your fancy. Legolas had been totally dumbfounded when McGonagall had turned into a cat and back again. She was what they called an Animagi. The Elf pondered about the possibilities a person would have when they could become an animal, when one wanted too.
Not really knowing what to do next, he decided to simple explore the castle for a bit. He didn't have much homework anyway and it could prove useful if he knew a little about the large building.
When he started to climb the stairs towards the second floor, he heard a soft voice calling out his name.
He turned around to see it was a girl from his class. She looked flustered en was shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "Hi Irene." He said, giving her a warm smile.
"Hello Legolas. I – I uh…. I – I wanted to … uh… ask you something."
"But of course, go ahead." He said, smiling encouragingly.
She hesitated for a moment before saying: "Doyouwanttogototheballwithme?"
"I beg your pardon, I didn't quite catch that."
She led out a long sigh. "Would you like to go to the ball with me?"
"Ball? What ball?"
"You know the one next week, because of Hogwarts one thousand's birthday."
"Right.." he muttered. Oh man, what was he going to do? If he'd say yes, Aragorn would surely kill him. Why in the name of Elbereth was this girl asking him anyway. He hadn't even spoken to her before! He just had to find a way to reject her in the most painless way.
"Well, I don't know. I actually did not give it much thought yet, but I think I would just rather go by myself, sorry." Was all he could come up with right now.
"Oh , okay." She said in a small voice. "See you around then."
"Yeah, bye."
Oh my, what was that all about, maybe I should go and see Aragorn after all? Who knows maybe there are going to be more girls, lurking in the corridors, wanting to invite me to the dance.
"Professor Strider? Are you there?"
"I'm back here!" Aragorn replied, poking his head around a very large plant. He face lit up as he saw who it was. "Legolas." He smiled, strolling up to him and giving him a warm embrace. "I missed you, how was your first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson?"
"Oh, it was alright, but not as great as your classes." Said the Elf, snuggling up closer in the Man's embrace. A content sigh escaped his lips. This felt just too good to be true. "Estel?"
"Hmmm."
"Promise me you'll never leave me."
Aragorn shifted his head a little so he could look at the beautiful green eyes of his lover.
"I promise," He answered, planting a soft kiss on the waiting lips before him. "that I'll never ever leave you, unless I die of course."
"Please don't speak of such things, Estel. But when you do die one day, I'll die with you, because without you I can not live."
"I love you, Legolas. I don't know what I ever did to deserve someone like you. But now I do have you, you can be ensured that I won't let you go easily again."
"Why on earth wouldn't you deserve me, Aragorn? You are capable of giving so much, you're a fierce warrior and on top of that you are a King."
"I know, but it's just…" The Ranger started, but was cut off by Legolas, who kissed him passionately.
"Come let us not talk about these things any longer. I know of better ways to use our precious time together." The Prince whispered seductively in his ear.
"I really should get going Aragorn. Ron, Hermione and Harry are suspicious as it is. I don't want to help them in unravelling my true identity, if I stay here it will only make things easier for them." Legolas said a two hours later, putting back his clothes on. "Besides I'm starving and I also have an appointment with Dumbledore. He helps me with my spells and enchantments remember."
"I guess you're right. See you tonight then?" said Aragorn, standing up as well and approaching his love.
"I would not miss it for the world." Legolas replied smiling and kissing the Ranger again, before walking out of the Greenhouse.
"Hey, there you are. We have been looking all over the place for you. We missed you at lunch." Ron said, walking up to him as Legolas entered the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Sorry, I was with professor Strider, catching up on some Herbology." He lied
"Oh, okay. Dumbledore came and asked for you. He told me to tell you that he wanted to see you as soon as possible."
"Alright, thank you. I'd better go to him right away then. See you at dinner."
Legolas walked quickly out of the portrait whole and to Dumbledore's office.
He stopped at the wooden door behind which were the spiral staircases which led to the Headmaster's room.
Right, what was the password again. It had something to do with the food they call candy. Hmmm… think, think…yes got it!
"Willy Wonka's chocolate bar"
The door opened silently and revealed the spiral staircases behind it. Legolas quickly walked upon the staircases and knocked on the door.
"Come in." he heard a soft voice say.
"Ah Legolas, thanks for coming. I wanted your lesson to start earlier today, as I have urgent matters to attend to this evening. I hope you don't mind?"
"Of course not Albus, it's fine with me."
"I'm glad to hear that. Now last time we covered some easy curses, which I hope you've been practicing a little."
"A little indeed, I couldn't find much spare time to do so. I'm sorry."
"That's alright, I know you've been busy lately." Albus replied, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses. Legolas looked at him little confused, not sure what the old wizard was getting at. Surely he didn't know about his affair with Aragorn, but then again this was Albus Dumbledore, a wizard with propounded powers.
"Yes, I have." Was the only answer Legolas could think of. Not sure he was supposed to reply at all.
"Well today, I'm going to teach you some spells from the first year's second trimester. I won't teach you all the spells they've learned only the most useful ones for this particular mission. Now say after me: Alohomora"
"Alohomora"
"This particular spell will open up doors and all kind of things for you, even if they are locked. Now grab you hand and make that nice wrist movement we've been practicing: a swish and flick and say Alohomora………very good." Dumbledore said smiling, when Legolas pronounced it perfectly. "Now let's try it on that window."
Legolas faced the window he was supposed to open and gathered all the strength he could find inside of him and imagined that it went all to his wand. He closed his eyes and said:
"Alohomora." The window flew open, the glass breaking as it hit the wall.
"Well at least you opened it, hah." Said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. "I think you summoned too much power. It's an easy spell, so that isn't necessary. I know it's hard to see how much you exactly need in the beginning, but it will be easier later on, trust me. Now let's do it again."