Harry Potter and the Conch of Ice

Disclaimer : Chapter 1
Recap :
(1) The students return to Hogwarts; the Golden Trio are entering their 7th Year. Draco is alive and found innocent of any wrong doing. Snape has also been found innocent in the death of Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore is alive and continues to be Hogwarts’ Headmaster.
(2) Snape has returned to be DADA professor. A small group of students from the School of Gaia, known as Elementals, will be attending Hogwarts for a year as their school was destroyed by Voldemort. The Elementals and Draco Malfoy know each other.

Battles, of One Sort or Another, Explained

Returning to the lower level of the Elemental’s tower, Draco noticed something peculiar about the Gaian’s common room. In Hogwarts’ houses, the common rooms were traditionally decorated in the colours of the house. Dark greens and silvers for his own Slytherins. Rich reds and golds for the Gryffindors. Brilliant blues and whites for the Ravenclaws. Blinding yellows and blacks for the Hufflepuffs. How Hufflepuffs could be so arduous in their work with yellow as one of their colours was beyond Draco’s comprehension. Surely that colour was distracting. Black and yellow…yellow and black…wasn’t there a muggle expression about being ‘busy as a bee’? Perhaps the analogy was equally true to the Hufflepuffs then.

Refocusing on the Elementals’ common room, Draco noted that the four fireplaces were aligned at right angles to each other. The overlying colour along the walls was green, which was more than likely, Draco realized, to symbolize their alignment with Mother Earth, the core of the Elementals’ strength and power. But the furniture gathered around each individual fireplace was a distinct colour. Blue for the Waters caught Draco’s attention first.

“They probably won’t go near the fire too much.” Dracy mused to himself, cracking a small smile.

Across from blue, was red for the Fires. Dividing those two elements, grey for the Winds and brown for the Earths had their sections. To Draco’s pureblood and tasteful eye, the room was rather overdone and chaotic with all of the colours clashing and blending, but the rich fabrics of velvet and leather managed to give the room a cozy feel.

Draco waited comfortably as he stood by one of the fireplaces in the Elementals’ common room. The flames of orange and red and yellow gently flickered upwards and licked at the inner walls of the hearth. Standing in front of the fireplace, Draco clasped his hands gently behind his back and allowed the light from the flames to cast his robed silhouette outwards to those joining him in the room.

Despite the stigma now associated with the Malfoy family name, Draco felt more like himself than he had in a while. He attributed this feeling, however, to the fact that he now had his “security blanket” back with him. Over the summer, while recovering, Draco was forbidden to use magic. His wand was removed from his possession and any use of non-verbal magic was adamantly prohibited. It had not taken him long to understand why these rules were in place, but it hadn’t made his recovery any easier for him. To deny him, any wizard, the use of his magic was like asking someone to cut off a limb. Life goes on, of course, but things just aren’t the same as when that person was whole.

After the Wizengamot hearing and being given permission to return for his final year at Hogwarts, Draco had started using his magic again for small things, if only to regain the feeling of holding his wand. He had returned for a brief stay at the Gaian School where he was again requested to not use his magic, both for his protection and theirs, and he had accommodated that request as any polite guest would.

Knowing that he was allowed to once again use and practice and learn magic provided a sense of security and normalcy to Draco. That level of awareness warmed him almost as much as the fire was doing.

In groups of two or three, the Gaian students made their way back down to their common room. Their tones were muted, despite the continual growth of their numbers. The Slytherin remained the only person to stand alone, but he was comfortable with this. Draco found it calming to physically be with people but alone in his thoughts.

It was painfully obvious to him who the few first years were. They trembled nervously and huddled together hoping to find strength in their meager numbers. Draco didn’t know what to do to calm them and tried to avoid making eye contact. Based on Dumbledore’s explanation, the students of the School of Gaia were split up around the world. These younglings should have been loud and excited to be at the start of their magical education, just as he had been when he had started at Hogwarts. Instead, they had found themselves aligned to a school that physically no longer existed and their numbers reduced to a pitiful handful here at Hogwarts. The only comfort that they could find would be in knowing that their counterparts around the world were probably feeling similar emotions of anxiety. Although, odds were they had not just experienced an attack from Voldemort’s Shadows a mere few hours previous.

A few older year students approached the younger ones and smiled.

“Hi, I’m Emily and this Michael and Jules. We are all Water. Who’s Water in this group?”

A couple of hands tentatively went up, followed by a few more.

“That’s great!” Emily gushed. “Welcome to the Aquas. You’re going to love it! You’ll learn how to control water and do things like this.”

Emily held out her arm and the students gasped as a ribbon of water coiled its way around her arm without touching her or getting her wet. Michael formed a similar snake-like ribbon and made it stand straight up from one palm. With a gentle push, the students watched his fluid ribbon jump into the air and arc over only to land straight up in his other palm. The first years applauded enthusiastically.

“They’re just show offs.” Jules stage-whispered conspiratorially, as he formed what appeared to be a cyclone of water in his palm. Creating a cyclone of water was probably as close as he would ever come to being a Dual.

Draco shook his head, amused at the efforts of the older students to calm the younger ones. The ability of the Elementals to control the water were familiar to him and Draco no longer found these little exhibits of control so shocking. He found his mind returning to when he had first met Tanis, a few days after that first shocking wake-up of his.

*** flashback ***

“Thirsty.” His voice sounded strained even to his own ears as he awoke.

“Here.” Draco felt a cool metal cup at his lips. Eagerly, he drank the liquid it held.

“It is good to hear again.” Draco said, making inane conversation. “But how are my eyes?”

His fingers reached up and were met with gauze.

“Your eyes are bandaged. The skin around them was burned badly. We don’t wish for an infection to set in so the bandages are necessary.” A female voice explained.

“Who are you?”

“A friend of a friend.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“Yes, it does. You just don’t like my answer.”

Draco tried to smile.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t jest while you’re in pain.”

“It’s not that bad.” He replied listlessly.

“Liar.”

“Yes, I am. It’s what I do.” Draco’s voice was cold as flashes of what he had done assaulted his brain yet again. Would he ever be able to forget? Would he ever be able to forgive himself? Was he even worthy of forgiveness?

“So I was told.”

“By whom?”

“Our mutual friend.”

“I don’t like that answer.”

“Ah, see…now you’re being honest.”

“Must be the pain.”

“Now’s who’s jesting?” Draco could hear the amusement in her voice.

“You have a nice voice.”

“Thank you. Although, it’s not so nice when I sing in the shower. Mandrakes cringe when I sing.”

“That means they like you.”

“Good point.”

“When will the bandages come off?” Draco asked, gently running the tips of his fingers over the patches covering his pale eyes.

“When you decide to heal up.”

“I don’t like that answer either.”

“Honesty isn’t killing you. Maybe you should try it more often.”

“Okay, try this…I want to see if you look like your voice.” Flattery usually worked with women and he decided to subtly apply that tactic here.

“What do you think I look like?” Yes, women were so predictable, Draco mused to himself.

“You remind me of what I feel like when I’m on my broom…flying with the wind right above the water.”

“I didn’t think the medication I gave you was that strong.” Amusement tinged her voice.

Draco choked out a laugh.

“Sorry. Right. No jokes.” The female voice apologized.

“No, it’s okay. I haven’t laughed in so long. Thank you.”

“Laughter is the best medicine or so I’ve been told. You should rest. I’ll be back later to check up on you.”

“Wait!” Draco panicked. “I can’t see. I don’t know where I am. Or who you are.”

“Your eyes will hopefully heal in time. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to tell you where you are just yet except to say that you are safe. But I can answer your last worry.” She paused and Draco felt his bed dip as she sat down beside him. She leaned down as if what she was about to say was for his ears only. “I am Tanis.”

Tanis and Mesphin had been his companions when his unknown friend was unavailable. Draco had learned that he was at the School of the Gaia, which meant that he was surrounded by Elementals. At first, he had been shocked to hear the ground moving around him and the wind picking up with no smell of a storm in the air, but over time he had come to respect their different form of magic. Draco peppered them with questions about the unknown girl, but they never answered. In time, he grew to enjoy their company, but he always looked forward to the visits of his unnamed nurse with more enthusiasm than for anyone else.

*** end flashback ***

“Glad to see everyone’s okay and found their uniforms.” Tanis proclaimed as she made her way down the spiral staircase. Draco turned and saw Tanis in her uniform. A modest white blouse showed off her golden hair. He noticed that she had resisted her usual urge to roll up the sleeves…for now. Cinching in her frame, a blue and grey vest complimented her eyes. Just as the Hogwarts’ robes depicted the house, a Gaian’s vest signified their Element. Two colours meant two Elements. It was rare to see two colours on a student and there were only two Duals in the school at the present time.

A short black pleated skirt showed off her long legs. Draco remembered those legs bracing his own during his time of recovery. Often they would sit on the foor, bare feet to bare feet and she would help him stretch his weakened muscles. Feet, now clad in black leather with delicate, yet modestly high, heels finished off the picture of the top student from the School of Gaia. The Slytherin couldn’t help but realize that Hermione Granger was in for a challenge this year if she wanted to have the top marks in all her classes. Worse though, for Granger, was that the female Dual was pretty…beautiful, actually, when compared to the Gryffindor bookworm. Draco, deciding to be honest with himself, grudgingly admitted that Granger was pretty in her own way…natural, even, especially when compared to some of the other Hogwarts girls who had taken to wearing a lot of makeup lately. But Tanis was beyond natural. She radiated a beauty which bespoke of all the wonders found in nature and it came from her very soul.

*** flashback ***

“How will we know if it has worked?” Draco asked.

Tanis leaned over and began to gently remove the bandages covering his eyes. Draco could feel the rolled up cuffs of Tanis’s shirt brush against his chin. She always rolled up her cuffs as if she was about to dive into some seriously strenuous work.

“If you can see, you are healed. If not…well…let us portkey over that distance if we need to.” Her voice was concerned but strong. Draco found himself trying to be just as strong.

“Where is she? Why isn’t she doing this?” The young man found himself asking.

Tanis hesitated for a moment, but it was long enough.

“She’s gone.” Draco stated. It wasn’t a question. He wasn’t surprised. After last night…

“Yes.” The last of the bandages was removed. “We’ve kept the lighting dark in here, so as not to stun you. Open your eyes.”

Slowly, Draco opened his lids. Things were fuzzy and blurred for a few moments, but slowly they began to clear and a shape came into focus before him. For the first time, he was able to see Tanis and he smiled.

“I was right…flying on my broom above the water.”

Tanis blushed.

“I wish…” Draco left the sentence hanging.

“I know.” Tanis nodded.

“Did she…”

“Say anything?” Tanis smirked. It was Draco’s turn to nod.

“She wishes you luck, Draco…and strength.”

“Well, if you’re the last thing I’ll see before the Wizengamot, I can’t complain.” Draco smiled. He reached out and gently touched Tanis’s cheek. “You know, if she hadn’t been here, I would have probably…”

Tanis held a finger up against Draco’s lips.

“We’ll have none of that Malfoy flattery here.”

*** end flashback ***

Tanis Carr, a Dual Elemental, Head Girl from the School of Gaia had been instrumental in Draco’s recovery and protection. She had explained to Draco that their ability to cure him with natural elements versus magic had been the key to his survival. Any use of magic would have been detected by the Dark Lord or his allies, putting Draco’s life in danger once again. It had taken longer than he would have liked…technically he was still healing…but he was physically alive.

Throughout Draco’s stay at the school, Mesphin had stayed just out of reach, egging Draco on. Whereas Tanis was blunt in her requests of Draco, Mesphin taunted the Slytherin into doing what he needed to do. Between the two of them, Draco began to physically recover. His emotional state was, however, fragile and he owed the fact that it didn’t break to his unknown caregiver.

The mysterious woman had taken him for walks out in the sun. He could feel the warmth beating down on his face. She signaled out protruding roots and low hanging branches so that no harm would befall him on their walks by tugging on his hand and steering him clear of being further injured. Occasionally, Draco would hear her hum or gasp, making him believe that she wasn’t a mute and that she chose to remain silent in his presence. She allowed him to talk and to heal and to work things out for himself. By not speaking, Draco felt that she wasn’t judging him. She was allowing him to judge himself. It was a trial more tiring than what the Wizengamot had thrown at him. He still didn’t know what he thought of his actions, but Draco appreciated her gentle efforts to give him the time and space that he needed.

*** flashback ***

“Come on, Malfoy, follow us!” Mesphin’s voice taunted him.

“I can’t see!” Draco had shouted in frustration. His fists clenched in his anger.

“So you can’t see with your eyes! See with your other senses!” Mesphin yelled back before muttering, “Spoiled Malfoy brat.”

“I heard that!” Draco bellowed.

“About time you learned to use your ears!” Came the equally loud counter.

Draco sensed his unknown friend beside him and reached out.

“No! Don’t help him!” Mesphin shouted. “Hey! No need to be so rude!”

Draco chuckled, assuming she had gestured something towards the Dual. It felt nice to have someone on his side. Draco felt his sleeve being tugged on lightly and he tentatively followed. Twigs snapped and leaves rustled beneath his feet.

“We’re in a forest.” He commented. “I can feel the sun rays…they’re sporadic. The rays are blocked by the leaves on the trees.”

“Very good, Draco.” Tanis praised. “What else?”

Draco sniffed the air. He could smell his friend…flowery and musky at the same time…it was pleasantly distracting and… “Water. I smell water and I hear it…a creek or small river?”

“Excellent!” Tanis clapped her hands excitedly. Draco could feel his guide tighten her grip on his arm.

“Are you smiling?” He asked her. Draco felt her tiny fingers take his own hands and bring them up to her mouth. He traced the tender lips and discovered that they were indeed forming a smile. Draco grinned.

“I made two of the three smile…not bad.” He joked.

“Hey, I’m smiling, too.” Mesphin commented drily.

“I don’t care.” Draco said haughtily. “You’re a prat.”

“Speak English, please.” Mesphin argued.

“I am…try learning it.” Draco fired at the male Dual.

“Come on you two…don’t ruin today. We’re going to have wonderful picnic by Willow Creek.” Tanis commanded. “It’s a beautiful day and if you two insist on ruining it, we girls won’t hesitate to send you back to the school in an instant.”

“Well then, far be it from me to ruin anything for either of the two most beautiful women in this forest.” Draco said gallantly, mocking his own blindness and offering out both his elbows. He smiled egotistically at where he thought Mesphin was standing as the two accepted his arms.

“Prat.” Mesphin muttered.

“See, you are learning English!” Draco remarked, passing the male Dual with the two females at his side.

At Willow Creek, the four young adults had a wonderful picnic. Mesphin created a small fire for them to roast potatoes and apples upon, while Tanis had kept their mugs filled with fresh water from the creek’s source she claimed.

Once, while the Duals were off exploring something in the woods, Draco and his unknown friend were left alone. He felt her shift closer to the fire, probably to grab a fallen apple or potato he mused, and heard her sharp gasp of pain.

“Come here.” He ordered, taking her hands. He squeezed one and heard her whimper. It was the only way for him to quickly figure out which hand she had burned. Gently, Draco dipped her fingers in his mug of water for a few minutes.

“Hold out the finger or fingers you burned.” He said softly. Running his hands along hers, Draco felt one finger extended, her index. Tenderly, he placed the finger against his lips and kissed it better. The blonde man heard her gasp again, but it had a different sound to it, he noted.

Unfortunately, Tanis and Mesphin returned at that moment, and using mud and leaves, they were able to create a soothing mud masque for the burned digit, something Draco would not have known to do. He grudgingly welcomed them back if only for her.

*** End Flashback ***

Draco hadn’t lied when he said that he felt Tanis’s school’s destruction was his fault. If what they said about the Shadows was true – and how could it not be – Voldemort must have somehow discovered that the Gaians were housing Draco and had taken it upon himself to destroy them. He hadn’t known that the young man had already left to return to Hogwarts.

“Mr. Malfoy has agreed to escort us back to the Great Hall. I for one am thankful as I am starving and would hate to get lost in this huge castle!” Tanis grinned.

“I’ll show you the way back on one condition.” The students warily looked at him. “You call me Draco.”

“You’re with Slytherin, aren’t you?” A first year piped up timidly.

Draco nodded.

“And that man with the black hair and black clothing, he’s Slytherin, too, right?” The first year continued.

Draco nodded again.

“And he’s the man that was supposed to have killed Dumbledore.”

“Emmett!” Tanis said sharply. “Manners! Really, you Fires are so crass sometimes!”

A few of the Fires chuckled until Tanis glared at them. They cast their eyes downward in shame.

Draco knelt down to be at eye-level with the first year. Was he ever this small?

“Actually, I was the one who was supposed to kill Dumbledore, but I couldn’t. Snape made it look like he had killed Dumbledore, but he didn’t.” Even Draco was impressed at his own ability to sound unemotional at what had transpired not too long ago.

Emmett frowned in confusion.

“So, he pretended to kill but didn’t and you were supposed to but couldn’t. Does that make you a coward.”

“Emmett! Enough!” Tanis grabbed the young boy. “Draco, I’m sorry.”

Draco shook his head and straightened himself up.

“It’s okay. He’s just saying what others are thinking.”

“I don’t think that.” Tanis said firmly.

“You’re in the minority then.” Draco sighed and ran a hand through his pale hair in frustration. “Let’s go eat.”

The group traveled in relative silence for most of the walk back to the Great Hall. Finally, Draco could handle it no longer.

“Can you tell me if she is, at least, alive? Was she hurt in your school’s destruction?” His voice cracked.

“Yes, to your first question. And no, to your second.” Tanis smiled faintly.

Draco nodded curtly, the emotions running through him causing turmoil and havoc in his heart. He was pleased that she was alive and well, but as long as she was alive, he knew that the Elementals would give no clues as to her identity. He also knew that she wasn’t an Elemental. Nature never changed around him when they were together. He thought that perhaps she was a squib, but doubted that. He sensed something magical about her but was unable to define it any further than that.

“Back in the Great Hall,” Draco started, willing his voice to remain neutral, “You said that it was good to see Dumbledore again. How long have you known he was alive?”

Tanis was silent.

Draco stopped walking and grabbed Tanis’s arm hard. He spun her around to look him and ignored the outraged gasps of the other Elementals.

“He was the ‘mutual friend’, wasn’t he?” Draco accused, his eyes hard. “You knew all summer that he was alive. I was suffering and you bloody well knew he wasn’t dead! Just one more thing you didn’t tell me!”

“I think you should speak with Dumbledore yourself, Draco.” Tanis replied softly, trying to extract her arm and failing. “This summer, what happened…all of it…should be explained by him.”

“All of it?” Draco hissed. “What do you mean by all of it?”

Tanis stared at the Slytherin, her blue eyes silently pleading for him to drop the subject with her.

Draco released Tanis and took a step back.

“Merlin. He was alive. She must have worked for him. That’s what you’re saying! Isn’t it?” His voice was laced with pain. “Everything I said, she told him, right?”

“Draco. Trust me when, while I am unable to answer your questions with the answers you want, I can say this…what was said by you to…her…remains between the two of you.” Tanis’s voice conveyed her honesty.

Unsatisfied with the answers, but acknowledging that he would get no more out of the Dual, Draco silently led the Elementals back down into the Great Hall. His robes, flapping beyond him as if conveying his anger.

HP***hp***HP

“Our remaining guests have arrived!” Dumbledore proclaimed as the students entered. An additional table had been created in the hall for the new students. Malfoy glared at Dumbledore as he took his seat at the Slytherin table. Dumbledore noticed this and nodded at Draco. The older wizard made a mental note to speak with the young Slytherin soon. The Gaians made room for each other at their own table. None of them sat until all of their fellow students had a spot at the table.

“Let the feast begin!” Dumbledore proclaimed. Dish after dish appeared containing steaming dishes, fresh salads, spicy condiments and warm yeasty rolls. The noise level rose as the students laughed and began to start talking about their upcoming classes and who would win the Quidditch Cup.

“Do Elementals play Quidditch?” Harry asked, his mouth full of mashed potatoes. He was uncertain if he would play this year. Umbridge’s declaration that he could no longer play had long been deemed null and void by the Ministry of Magic, but he really had lost all passion for it during the past summer. The Captain’s badge had arrived with his letter admitting him for his final year and he had promptly packed it in his trunk. With Dumbledore being alive, Harry started to feel alive himself and suddenly found himself looking forward to flying again and seeking the Golden Snitch.

“Of course, they can play.” Hermione rolled her eyes. “But there may not be enough of them to form a good team.”

“They don’t have to be good.” Ron said. “If that were a rule, Ravenclaw wouldn’t have a team either.”

The Gryffindors nearby laughed.

“So, are you going to tell us how you know them?” Blaise asked Draco as he speared a slice of juicy beef.

“No.” Draco replied, after swallowing a bite of buttered roll.

“But you do know them.” Blaise said knowingly.

“Yes.” Draco realized that there was no way to really lie his way out of that statement.

“I know this is going to be a silly question,” Ginny started back over at the Gryffindor table, “But how do you know so much about the Elementals, Hermione?”

“Duh!” Ron rolled his eyes. “She read it in a book. That’s how she knows everything.”

Hermione took a sip of her pumpkin juice and said nothing.

A loud laugh caused the Hogwarts students to look over at the Elementals’ table. A few of the Fires and Waters were playfully throwing balls of their Elements at each other only to giggle as they collided to form steam. The Winds then tried to blow the mist on to the Earths while dodging the pebbles dancing in the air around them. The first year Elementals clapped loudly and occasionally shrieked childishly as a stray Element hurtled harmlessly towards them.

“Who’s the blonde?” Blaise asked.

“Tanis Carr.” Draco replied.

“Ivyleaf called her a Dual. Judging by her cloak, water and wind?”

Draco nodded.

“And who’s her boyfriend?”

“Mesphin is not her boyfriend.” Malfoy bit out.

“Really. The way he was hanging on to her…”

“He was injured. You heard them. She was supporting his weight.”

“She can support my weight any time.” Goyle cracked at his own innuendo.

Draco grabbed his knife and lunged across the table. The tip of the pointy blade stopped just shy of piercing the idiot’s skin.

“Touch her…go near her…make any derogatory statements about her and I will personally see that you get a face to face meeting with the monster in the lake. Do I make myself clear, Goyle?”

The large boy’s face turned purple with rage.

“Do I?” Draco hissed, his hand never wavering. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Tanis had stopped eating and was openly watching him, blatant interest showing on her face.

“Yes.” Goyle whispered, his eyes narrow in anger.

Draco settled back into his seat.

“I need a new knife. This one is tainted.” He announced haughtily, causing a few Slytherins to laugh.

He looked up to see Tanis watching him with a raised eyebrow. Smirking, he dipped his head in acknowledgement.

Hermione watched the byplay silently. That was certainly…interesting.

The doors to Great Hall opened again and everyone twisted to look. Madame Pomfrey entered smiling widely. Trailing behind her, with barely a limp, was Mesphin, his dark skin cleaned up and his wounds healed.

Smiling widely, Tanis jumped up and ran to him. The Fire and Earth Dual opened his arms and tightly hugged Tanis when she reached him.

“You’re okay? No damage?” She whispered, breathlessly, and leaned back to look Mesphin up and down.

“Just my pride. How you ride those things baffles me.” He rolled his warm amber eyes down at Tanis.

“It’s simple, really. You…”

“I don’t need a lecture now, Tanis. Just food.”

Tanis smiled up into Mesphin’s face before giving him a powerful hug.

“Then food you shall have. Come on.”

Pulling away, Tanis held out a hand and led her fellow Dual towards their table. The other Elementals all stood while he found his seat. Again, as one, they sat and resumed their eating.

“Just friends, hmm?” Blaise mocked. “I don’t greet my friends like that.”

“I could have sworn that they were.” Draco murmured. “They are opposing elements on all sides.”

“Opposites attract.” Blaise sagely reminded his friend.

Draco mulled that over. Was that why he was fascinated by his unknown friend? He talked. She was silent. He was rash. She hesitated.

Draco stared over at Tanis and Mesphin who were laughing as they recounted their battle to their fellow students. He felt a sudden burning within him, like the rage he had felt for his father who forced him to do things Draco hadn’t wanted to do. The Elementals and their secrets and the events of the past summer had finally peaked within him. He had thought that they were more than just his healers…he thought that they were his friends. And they had lied to him about Dumbledore. Lied to him about her. Nothing seemed real…his life was fake, an illusion. Slamming his fork down, Draco stormed out of the Great Hall.

Three sets of eyes looked up and watched the young man leave.

“I see he is as emotional as ever.” Mesphin smiled, white teeth contrasting sharply with his dark skin.

“He hasn’t learned control. That has always been his weakness.” Tanis admitted. “We talked a bit, but he said very little.”

“Is he still asking about…”

“Yes.”

“Not good.”

“No.” Tanis replied sadly. “How much longer can we protect her from him?”

“I don’t know.” Mesphin acknowledged.

The third set of eyes noted the hushed conversation between the Duals and quickly returned their attention to the conversation at their own table.

HP***hp***HP

It was late and it took Tanis and Mesphin some time to ensure that their fellow Elementals were settled in safely for the night. Finally, when the moon gleamed down upon the school from almost its highest point, they made their way to Dumbldedore’s office. Fawkes cooed softly at seeing the Duals.

Dumbledore introduced the professors of Hogwarts one by one, including their position.

“Hello. I’m Tanis Carr and this is Mesphin Bane.” The two students wiggled their fingers in greeting and moved over to stroke Fawkes’ feathers. The phoenix wriggled happily on his perch. The professors stared at the friendly nature of the bird, most of them had had a finger or two nipped at when they tried to do the same thing.

“Bane, eh?” Hagrid boomed softly. “We’ve got a Centaur named ‘at in the Forest. Any relation?”

Mesphin stared at Hagrid, his amber eyes wide in disbelief. Tanis’s eyes danced in amusement. Slowly, Mesphin held out his left booted foot.

“One.” He said gently and slowly. And then extended his right foot. “Two. No sign of a third or fourth foot or hoof at that, Mister Hagrid.”

The half-giant had the good grace to blush.

“Jus’ Hagrid.” He said, looking down at the floor in embarrassment. “No tail either.”

“So what happened, Tanis?” Ivyleaf asked of the female Dual.

“Well, Headmistress…or…Professor…umm…” Tanis struggled for words. Her Gaian Headmistress was a Professor here at Hogwarts…what was the etiquette? She sighed and rubbed her forehead. The events of the past week were finally catching up to her and the Dual found herself feeling much more tired than her young years normally allowed.

“As you know, we were settling down for the night when we were attacked by the Shadows.” Mesphin started. “They came out of the darkness around us and our safety seemed only guaranteed if we stood close to the fires.”

“What were these Shadows?” Snape asked.

“We do not know.” Ivyleaf shook her head sadly. “I believe them to be creatures from Voldemort, but we do not know what their origins are. They weren’t Death Eaters or Dementors. But we have seen them once before.”

“It was Shadows which destroyed our school.” Mesphin proclaimed. “We lost some students…our friends…that night and we were not about to lose more.”

“We knew that the professors would be able to get into Hogwarts with the students and leave a way for us to enter afterwards. It was only logical that Mesphin and I remain behind to fight the Shadows.” Tanis’s face turned haunted. “We created a mist from Fire and Water, while Earth caused them to stumble and Wind made them lost.”

“It would have been foolish for me to remain on the ground so against my better judgment, I summoned my broom and took to the air.” Mesphin stated. “While the Shadows were also in the air, anything on the ground was easy prey for them.”

“I’m sure that wasn’t an easy decision for you to reach, Mr. Bane.” Dumbledore said comfortingly. “Earth’s are not known for their level of comfort in the air.”

Mesphin nodded, acknowledging Dumbledore’s gentle praise.

“When we knew the students were far enough away we bent the mist into another direction. The Shadows, believing then that the mist was being used to cover the tracks of the students, followed. Too late they realized that they were being led on a false chase and they began to howl.” Tanis shuddered at the memory of the sound. Mesphin laid a hand on her shoulder, as he took over the story.

“They attacked us, stronger than before, perhaps because they realized they it was only the two of us and the odds were in their favour of our own destruction. My broom was snapped in half by two of them and I fell to the ground. Tanis saw this and tried to stop my fall but she was attacked by a group of Shadows.”

“I saw Mesphin on the ground, holding his leg, while I dodged and twisted around the Shadows. I finally saw an opening and tried to burst through. Unfortunately, a new swarm of Shadows attacked me. I tried to slow them down by combining Wind and Water to create Ice, but even the cold had no effect on them. I fell from my broom as one of them crashed into me.”

“I called up the Earth.” Mesphin said quietly, flashbacks of the battle rampaging through his mind. He could feel the night air around him as if he was standing back at the battleground as an observer. “It raced up to greet Tanis and cushioned her fall. That’s why she’s not injured.”

“Except my pride.” Tanis remarked drily. “I called upon Wind to race me back upwards towards them. I thought that perhaps, if they were true Shadows they could be obliterated.”

“She was like a torpedo, flying up towards the Shadows, spinning so fast she was a blur.” Mesphin explained. “All I could see was Tanis swallowed up by a group of the Shadows and then there was this sound…like air exploding outwards.”

“I exploded water crystals from within them. They had no choice but disintegrate, if only temporarily, but that gave me the time to summon my broom back and retrieve Mesphin.” Tanis explained. “Mesphin held up a hand and I picked him up on to my broom and we flew here as fast as we could.”

“What happened to the Shadows?” Dumbledore asked.

The young Elementals frowned.

“We don’t know.” Mesphin admitted.

“There was a sound, like a hunting horn.” Tanis said. “They flew off as it blew. It was as if they were being summoned.”

“By Voldemort, more than likely.” Ivyleaf grumbled.

“It is good that you were able to arrive safely.” McGonagall said. “And that no students were lost in this incident. But why was Voldemort after you? No other groups of students from your school were attacked as they journeyed to their new homes.”

Tanis looked at Dumbledore expectantly. He nodded.

“It was punishment…both the school and tonight.” She said softly.

“Punishment?” McGonagall gasped. “But whatever could you have done?”

“We protected an enemy of his.” Ivyleaf said. “Two, actually.”

Snape looked up at this, his dark eyes gleaming.

“Malfoy.” He said, suddenly understanding Draco’s behaviour in the Great Hall. “But who is the second?”

“The would be me. Your killing curse packs quite a punch, Severus.” Dumbledore smiled. “Despite my ability to apparate away in the nick of time, and leave a shell in my place, I did not do so unscathed. I managed to make my way to Ailionora’s school where I was healed naturally. Fawkes was able to follow me and keep me company on my journey. No magic was used to heal me so that Voldemort and the rest of you would believe that I was dead. Draco took us a bit longer to find. He had not been so lucky and was near death when we managed to locate him. While awaiting his trial, the school healed him naturally. They notified the Ministry that he was alive to face the Wizengamot and paid a bond as means of good faith.”

“They essentially promised that he wouldn’t run and would show up for the Wizengamot?” Severus snapped. “While I was locked away in that hell of a prison.”

“We never said that defeating Voldemort would be easy, my friend.” Dumbledore said softly. Snape glared at him.

“Thank you for telling us what happened.” Albus said turning back to Tanis and Mesphin. “It is past curfew, however, and students are not allowed to wander the corridors unescorted. Professor Flitwick, perhaps you would…”

The little man nodded solemnly. If anything were to happen to the Duals on their way back to their tower, they needed a wizard stronger in charms than they were.

The professors remaining behind waited in silence as the students left. As the door closed they all swiveled to face Dumbledore. His face was serious as he started to tell his tale.

“I apologize to all of you and especially to you Snape for my forged death. While Severus was aware of the ploy, even he did not know if we were successful or not. That was key to my success…for everyone to truly believe that I was dead.” Dumbledore sighed and walked towards his fireplace. Reaching out, he waited for his digits on his good hand to warm up. “Finding young Malfoy was my first priority. We were certain he was alive and had to protect him. Once found, my true mission started. Harry would not be able to succeed at destroying the Horcruxes without vital information. I had to discern their weaknesses and strengths for him. With this knowledge, in combination with his education, Harry will be able to train to be an Auror while destroying the remaining Horcruxes.”

“What about Voldemort?” McGonagall asked. “He’s not going sit idly by while Mr. Potter treks across the globe.”

“I agree.” Dumbledore replied. “But while he knows that his long term goal is to destroy Potter and allow Dark Magic to rule us all, he is fixated on his short-term gratification.”

“Malfoy.” Snape said again, comprehension crossing his face. “If he feels that Draco Malfoy could not complete a simple task for him, the Dark Lord will want to kill him.”

Dumbledore nodded.

“But not just him, Severus. You have been found innocent in my death…obviously since I am not dead. You, as well, have failed in your task.”

Snape paled. McGonagall pursed her lips in mild amusement. She had not known Severus could become any paler.

“The safest place for the two of you is here at Hogwarts.” Dumbledore said.

“No, we should separate ourselves.” Snape argued. “The Dark Lord is not stupid and it will not take him long to realize that both Draco and I are here. He will stop at nothing to get to us.”

“I disagree.” Ivyleaf spoke up. “With the magic possessed by the wizards and witches here at Hogwarts and now supplemented by the power of the Elementals, this school is by far the safest place for anyone. He has seen how two Duals managed to trick his minions…”

“He destroyed your school! He killed some of your students!” Snape roared.

“We were not prepared for him.” Ailionora said softly. “When we are ready, he can not defeat us. Our plan worked tonight.”

“Sheer luck.” Snape sneered. “Two students with parlour act tricks of deception.”

Ailionora stepped up to Snape so that they were face to face.

“Those two students have more control over the Elements than we have seen in at least five generations. They are the reason more students were not lost last week and they are the reason none were lost tonight!”

“Nora.” Dumbledore reached out and placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder.

“Tell this ‘wizard’,” It was her turn to sneer. “Tell him, Albus, that if wants to see parlour tricks he need only look in a mirror. I’ve heard of his creativity when it comes to conjuring hexes. An Elemental’s strength comes from within…not by memorizing combinations of words.”

Snape’s dark eyes narrowed. Dipping his head towards Dumbledore, he quickly left he room. Shortly afterwards the remaining professors, including Staghorn and Ivyleaf, left as well to turn in. McGonagall sat in an arm chair by the fire swirling a snifter of fire whiskey.

“That went well.” She remarked drily.

“His anger is understandable, Minerva.” Dumbledore sat down in the companion chair with a sigh. “He did not know if I was alive or dead. He did not know if the accusations against him were true. To live in Azkaban is not easy. To come out, even with a verdict of innocent, does not make life very comforting outside either.”

“Severus wasn’t well liked to start with.” McGonagall commented. “And with all that has happened, I suppose that his circle of friends is even smaller.”

“I had hoped that the Order would welcome him back.”

“They might, but it certainly won’t be with open arms.”

“Not yet.” Dumbledore said mysteriously. “Not yet.”

“Have you heard of these Shadows before, Albus?” McGonagall asked, racking her own memory for a clue of what they could be.

“Sadly, no I have not.” The old wizard admitted. “I do however have an idea and if I am correct, we are facing some dark times indeed. It will take some research and digging to find out if my theory is true.”

“We have probably lost our best edge, Albus.” McGonagall mused. “Voldemort will not accept Severus back within his ranks.”

“I am aware of that, as is Severus.” Dumbledore agreed. “Unfortunately, I am unable to discern if he pleased about that fact or not.”

“That horn which summoned the Shadows…do you believe it was Voldemort calling them back?” Minerva asked.

“Most certainly.”

“But why would he do that? They were facing an almost certain victory against those two students? Why call them back before they had accomplished what they were to do?”

“Because Voldemort wants young Malfoy more than he wants to punish the students of Gaia. I am concerned that he has developed a plan to accomplish just that.”

“Are the school’s wards….?” McGonagall started.

“I have checked them all and they appear to be stronger than ever. The inner-strength of the Elementals is strengthening our protection.”

“Obviously, then, with both Draco and Severus back within our fold, they will be unable to leave the school.”

“There are two safe places for them, I believe.” Dumbledore said.

“And the second?”

“Grimmauld Place.”

“Unless you remove the apparating ward from the school, they will need to get to Hogsmeade before they successful remove themselves to that location.” The Transfiguration professor pointed out.

“I am aware of that. I can not remove the apparating ward from the school without rendering us exposed to Voldemort. He will be looking for a weakness…any weakness…and the removal of that ward will serve his needs quite nicely.”

“The trip into Hogsmeade is full of open areas for them to be attacked, Albus.” Minerva pointed out.

“I know.” The Headmaster sighed. “There are two safe places for them…unfortunately, at this point, I do not know how it is safe for them to travel between the two.”

“Perhaps we should call in some other members of the Order.” McGonagall suggested gently. “They can provide additional protection and more eyes to watch out for the students.”

“I’ll owl them first thing in the morning.” Dumbledore promised, sipping his fire whiskey and staring into the fire with worried eyes.

“Will they come if it means they’ll be protecting Severus? And we know how they feel about Lucius Malfoy.” Minerva’s eyes mirrored Dumbledore’s own.

“They will come because they know it is the right thing to do.” Albus Dumbledore said, unable to keep the tinge of doubt out of his voice. “At least, I hope they do.”