Child of the Stars

‘Grandfather look!” Harry almost burst into the room in his eagerness. As he came into the room he was immediately surrounded by the little lights welcoming him back. He beamed a smile at them before going to a table in the room and sitting down. “I did a lineage test and it shows my ancestors, and you were right!” Swinging the bag he got at Gringotts on the surface he stuck his hand in and pulled out two scrolls. Unrolling both he set the titles one to the side and spread out the aforementioned one.

While a number of the little lights remained settled on him, a double handful hovered over the parchment. The bright blue and silver-white of Polaris moving along until it hovered over his own name. “Yeah, that’s you. Look at this! The most direct connection is through my Mum, whom everyone thought she was a muggleborn but she wasn’t. Her grandfather was a Black.” Tracing the relevant lines he looked up with shining eyes.

“Oh, now I can see what your elven name is.” Darting away from the table he grabbed up his language primer, the notebook he worked on, and a quill bringing it all back to the table. He copied the elvish script down before flipping through the primer to figure out how it broke down. It was complicated by translating the elvish script to latin, in order to understand the phonetics of it. “Okay looks like you have a bunch of other names but one is on top, maybe the most widely known or the most important?” Harry speculated out loud before continuing. “Gil, okay that’s one of the ones that mean star. And Galad which is . . . um.” Harry paused frowning slightly. “So your name means really bright star?”

He got the sense of both amusement, pride, and general agreement. “So I got it right?” He beamed a smile and then moved to the right side of the tree. “So apparently I’m actually descended from three different elves look!” Polaris’ light followed Harry’s direction hovering over the indicated script. “So apparently my Dad is descended from the Peverell’s and one of them had kids with an elf.”

Even as he spoke a pair of mostly silver with bits of blue lights drifted over to settle over that script. Harry gave them a confused look and then started copying it down making a startled noise. “Oh! This is like two names.” Looking at them closely and how they stayed together. “Maybe like, twins?” With concentration he could pick up another sense of agreement and a pulse of what could only be love. “So genetically speaking either one of you could be my ancestor but shouldn’t only one of you be married to . . . You know what I’m not even going to ask.” Now amusement comes from the paired lights. To be fair it's not like he could get a detailed explanation right now. Nor was he sure if he wanted to even know about those kinds of details.

His grandfather continued to hover to one side, keeping him company with the others as he worked on the translation. “Okay Elured and Elurin. So the first part of each name is the same, which could mean, star person? Maybe the name of someone else?” Harry hummed slightly and kept working. “Okay I think I have it. First one is the heir of Elu and the second is remembrance of Elu.” He cocked his head to the side. “I’m guessing this Elu was pretty important and another ancestor but not one here?” Another general sense of agreement. Well at least he was on the right track.

Harry resisted the urge to chew on the end of his quill as he thought it over. “Probably not showing up on the tree because this person isn’t in this world maybe? Or because it's too many generations back, maybe both?” Not terribly important at the moment. He could always try dream-sharing with his new relatives and ask about their family. Glancing over, he got the sense they were communicating with his grandfather. Well Grandfather Polaris as they were technically his grandfathers as well. One of them would be his uncle but he wasn’t about to ask prying questions at the moment so grandfathers it was.

Instead he left them to their little conference as he slid his focus to the far left of the tree and the name in elven script there. None of the little lights seemed particularly interested as he copied it down and started his work on translating it. “Maglor is the name on top, okay what does that . . “ Harry’s voice trailed off as he got the sudden blast of complicated emotions coming from his Grandfather Polaris and the twins. His head snapped up to look over to their fae. There seemed to be a couple of other echoes of it from other lights, but Grandfather was the one he had the strongest connection to.

Attempting to parse out exactly what he was getting he watched as Gil-Galad, Elured and Elurin moved over to the script he was translating. Shock, apprehension, resolution, concern, there was more but that was what he could pick out at the moment. “Is everything alright? Did, did I get it wrong?” Almost immediately Harry got reassurance directed at him, and the sense that he was indeed correct. “So, is something wrong with this person?” He tapped the script. This time the young wizard couldn’t exactly figure out what kind of message he was supposed to get. “Okay let me guess, it's complicated?” The answer to that, much more clear, was some sort of rueful agreement.

With a sigh Harry looked around at the lights. “Well, I’m thinking this Maglor is not here then?” More agreement. Well now what? He was under the impression all the lost ones had been gathered here. Right now there was only one person he could ask and maybe get a clear answer. “Kreacher?”

The house elf popped into place next to Harry. “Does Master wish to get ready for bed now? Master has had a long day, yes.”

“Not quite yet, but I will soon.” No need to trigger another bout of fussing regarding that. Plus sleep had the added bonus of being able to communicate with his ancestors much more clearly at least at the beginning of his dreams. “Kreacher, one of the lost ones isn’t here, is it possible there are more out there?” Harry asked, fingertips still on the name of one that seemed to cause so much consternation.

Eyes widening the old house elf tilted his head in consideration. “Kreacher thought the Black family found all the lost ones. Kreacher helped them in their search.”

Pressing his lips together in a thin line Harry thought. There were only a couple of possibilities. One being that they missed one or more out there. Which, considering how dedicated they had been in the care of what they called the lost ones, he had doubts about. The second being, “Could one of the lost ones have hidden themselves?”

Kreacher’s ears drooped. “Kreacher does not know. If one of the lost ones really wanted to hide Kreacher supposed they could.”

The resurrection stone hidden in the case in his bag might be able to get him some answers. There were a couple of problems with that. One, Harry didn’t know if it would work as the fae of his ancestors seemed to be different from the souls of the humans and wizards of this world. So it might not work at all. Two, he wasn’t supposed to touch that or the elder wand until he understood them better. Thirdly, did he have any right to pull someone out of hiding?

“Okay, I’m going to finish translating later. While I get ready for bed, could you maybe fix a tea that will help me relax and go to sleep?” At least if he slept he could discuss this with the others and get more answers.

Nodding eagerly, Kreacher popped away. Harry got up with a sigh and headed for the door. At this point the little lights lifted off him when he reached the door. No longer needing to coax or bargain them off. He’d traveled in and out of the room enough that they could rely on the fact he would be coming back soon enough.

Harry had no idea when the last time they interacted with a live person outside of Kreacher. It had obviously been some time, which could explain why they were a little clingy. Now if this had been other wizards it would likely drive him up the wall. But these little lights, that were essentially the souls of the lost ones, didn't bother him at all. They only ever made him feel welcomed and cared for. Happy he was there without any expectations.

While in the bath he did mull lit all over. Hoping that the routine and soaking a bit would help relax and calm enough for ease of sleep. Of course his Grandfather did seem to have some way to help ease him into sleep. Polaris was also the primary elf he interacted with for multiple reasons. This was his family home, and Harry wasn’t entirely sure the other ones understood English or not. To his understanding they never lived in this world. Merely their fae was tossed here like refuse. The thought angered and saddened him. It added to his resolve to learn the spoken language they could understand.

Now he had another, a pair even, that would understand English and at least understand what he said out loud to them while awake. That was exciting. More family that already seemed more than willing to accept him. Of course there were some sort of problems with his last elven relative. Considering his luck, not that unexpected. Harry tried not to let it get to him because there would be answers.

So far Grandfather had answered every question, or helped give him guidance to figuring out answers on his own. Nothing was actively kept from him. There were questions he had not asked yet. Mainly about the oath he heard about. Mostly because he had so much to learn and wade through. Would he even understand anything about it if he didn’t have the basics down? Right now there wasn’t any urgency to learn by a certain date or time. Only his own curiosity and desire to learn was driving him forward. That and the agreement with Gringotts, which also had no deadline attached to it. If he asked about this oath, would there be a deadline imposed? Harry wanted to help them. Yet it was also nice to feel the freedom he currently had with his pace of learning.

Inhaling slowly Harry forced himself to relax as he climbed out of the bath. One thing at a time. Ask his questions of his relatives and soon he’d at least have some answers. Then he could decide what he needed to know next. Just stay calm and take it one thing at a time. If he told himself that enough times maybe it would work. Maybe.

When he re-entered the Room of the Stars he could see the steam coming off the tea waiting for him next to the couch. It had been made up with a pillow and blankets. Sure Harry could probably take them back to his room to sleep but this was more the place he wanted to be. It felt more like ‘his’ room than the actual bedroom he had. So for now, he’d keep sleeping here at night.

As always a collection of the little lights attached themselves to him as he entered and settled. This time the double light of the twins joined Grandfather hanging out in front of him. Close by but also where he could see them. Welcome and warmth. For a moment he basked in the feeling before he picked up his cup of tea. A feeling he very much cherished. One he would try to never take for granted.

Sipping the tea in silence, he just took in the room and those around him. So many lights, so many people. Harry had different levels of awareness of it all, but it didn’t feel overcrowded or overwhelming. Maybe due to the fact the presence was more emotional than physical? Maybe because they were so welcoming and caring? Okay maybe he was overthinking things again.

Setting the empty cup down on the tray he laid back on the couch pulling the blanket around him. The lights resettled around him, more drifting in to settle on his blanket. Almost like he was covered in colored fairy lights. The stray thought made his lips twitch in another smile. The last thing he saw as he closed his eyes, the lights of the twins and his Grandfather shining brightly.

Sleep took him swiftly and it wasn’t long before he opened his eyes to the memory of Lindor. Looking around he quickly spotted Gil-Galad and launched in his grandfather’s direction for a hug. Polaris gave a rich warm laugh as he easily caught Harry and spun him around in a hug. Hugs from family honestly were the best. Each made him feel just that much better than he had before.

“It’s our turn for hugs now.” Harry’s head shot up at the new voice that had an odd echo and he turned to see the source. A pair of elves with silver hair and blue eyes looking exactly identical. What would help him is while they wore the same colors, they appeared to contrast which was dominant on what article of clothing. For example the twin on the left wore a blue over robe with white accents and the one on the right had a white over robe with blue accents. Letting go of Grandfather he was immediately swept up in a hug by the one in the blue robe over the protests of his twin. A friendly bickering argument broke out over his head about who was supposed to get the first hug.

A huff of laughter escaped him even as the spike of bittersweet familiarity swept through him. The bickering stopped almost immediately as the pair both looked at him. “Little one?” Started one. “Is everything okay?” Continued the other.

“Yeah, you just remind me of my friends Fred and George,” Harry explained. “Well, just George now.”

Quickly he found himself held tightly between the pair of them. “Oh you have lost far too many little one.” The other chimed in, “But you have us now. Well and Gil over there I suppose.” Which earned them another huff of laughter that they answered with grins.

“Yes, yes you two are very amusing,” Polaris answered with a fond eye roll. Harry got the feeling they may be over exaggerating things a little for his benefit.

“M’not that little. You can call me Harry you know.” He looked up at the pair of identical elves.

“Hmm I don’t know brother,” one looked at the other. “He is littler than we are and he doesn’t exactly look like a Harry does he?” The second one cocked their head in thought before ruffling the young wizard’s hair. “Definitely not enough hair, needs to be longer, might take some of the wildness out of it.”

Apparently getting elves to call him by his first name was going to be some sort of odd challenge. And they had something against his hair. “So which one of you is which?”

The one in the white robe answered, “I”m Elured, and that’s my brother Elurin. Gil’s apparently claimed Grandfather, so you can just call us that for now, or we’ll come up with something different.” Elurin chimed in, “You can think about it.”

Harry nodded in agreement, “I will. Though if you keep calling me little one I might have to get really creative about it.”

“Oh-ho that sounds like a challenge of sorts. Maybe we should come up with a better name.” Elured grinned at Harry. “We could always ask Gil-Galad he’s probably come up with some options.

Twisting around to look at his grandfather Harry’s eyebrows went up on his face. “Does this mean I get an elven name?”

Polaris held out a hand to Harry, and the young wizard extracted himself from the twin’s embrace. He was promptly tucked into Gil-Galad’s side as the elf settled them on a padded bench. “Possibly, though we do have something a bit more serious to discuss at the moment.” The twin’s expressions turned solemn as they settled themselves into a pair of chairs facing the two.

“Maglor,” Harry stated quietly.

Gil-Galad inclined his head, “Yes. The issues require some explanation to put into proper perspective for you. We can go into more in-depth about the history of Arda later. Right now I’m just going to talk about what is needed for the moment.” Harry nodded his understanding, giving his grandfather his full attention.

“While this world is lit by the sun by day and the moon at night, before Arda had their equivalent of that there were two trees that waxed and waned. The golden tree Laurelin lit the day and the silver tree Telperion the night. Feanor, a great smith of the Noldor elves, decided to try and capture the light of the two trees into jewels. He was successful in capturing their essence and created three jewels called the Simarils.

“Then tragedy struck when Morgoth, the first and most terrible dark lord of our world destroyed the trees with the help of Ungoliant the great spider. The Valar, powers that governed our world and first thought creations of Eru Iluvatar, asked Feanor for the Simarils. They wished to break them open and recreate the trees from the essence that had been trapped within the jewels. Unfortunately, Morgoth had fostered ill will between the Noldor and the Valar, and he refused.” Harry could tell a great deal of detail was being left out, and more backstory. As his Grandfather promised more details at a later date, he held his questions for now and listened intently.

“The Valar did manage to save the last fruit of Laurelin, and the last flower of Telperion. Lesser powers were assigned to ferry across the sky one by day and one by night. However Feanor’s refusal brought him into greater conflict with the Valar.” Harry nodded slowly at the explanation. He could see if they were already on bad terms, coming and asking for a prized creation might not go over well. Also the point of the Valar, even if they found another solution, to recreate the trees.

His grandfather’s expression and that of the twins turned very grave as Gil-Galad continued the story. “Morgoth also coveted the jewels and stole them, using them to adorn his crown. He also killed Finwe, Feanor’s father.” Harry winced, imagining the fall out of that event must have been bad.

“Feanor and his seven sons swore an oath.” Now his relative’s expressions turned absolutely grim. “Essentially they swore to get back the Simarlis by any means, no matter who held them. Our world is one created by music, and elves have used words of power to fight. Chants, songs, all things that can have power behind them. I’ve done much thinking upon the oath, especially after here and learning how binding magical oaths can be. And they swore this oath by Eru Iluvatar, the creator of all.” Which made it pretty binding, Harry realized. Without being released from said oath, it could drive them to do extreme things.

“Then, by various means, Simlarils fell into elven hands, or elves seemed to stand in their way of retrieving them. Now all elves are considered kin, and to kill another elf? It is considered a terrible terrible thing. Three great kinslayings occurred. Feanor died after the first and his sons, bound by the oath, carried on two more. The second kinslaying included the destruction of Doriath and when Elured and Eluhir went missing. I assume that is when you arrived in this world?” The twins nodded grim agreement with Gil-Galad. Harry realized it probably meant their elven family were killed too then.

“I understand that Meadhros, Feanor’s first born, felt a great regret and went searching for you both. It does not change what happened, but they were not undamaged by their deeds.” The twin’s expressions didn’t change with that information. It all sounded like a huge tragedy to Harry.

Gil-Galad continued. “The Sons of Feanor fell in their pursuit until only two were left. Meadhros, and Feanor’s second born, Maglor.” Harry’s eyes widened. Yeah this was very complicated. He leaned heavily into his grandfather and Polaris’s arm tightened around him. “They both managed to gain one of the Simlaril. However the deeds they did to obtain them meant the very purity of the jewels burned them. In despair Meadhros threw himself and the Simlaril he obtained into a volcano. Maglor threw his into the ocean. Last anyone knew he wandered the shores.”

After a moment Harry quietly asked. “What happened to the third Simlaril?” A slight smile formed on Gil-Galad’s face. “That one had been brought to the Valar by Elwing and Earendil, the parents of a good friend and kinsmen of mine Elrond. It was placed in the heavens as the Star of Hope. Earendil ferries it across the sky every night.” The smile faded.

“Maglor rescued and raised Elrond and his brother Elros after one of the kinslayings. It is said of all the sons of Feanor he is the quietest and gentlest. He is also a bard of great power and renown.”

Right now Harry didn’t know how he felt about all that. Yes Maglor did terrible things, but he may have been compelled by the oath he took to do them. Was taking the oath in the first place the best of ideas? How could you tell if you weren’t actually there? It sounded like he also did good things. In the end Maglor was his family too. Harry wouldn’t outright reject him. He wanted to meet his ancestor. Wanted to know who he was as a person, not just the stories.

“So its understandable that Maglor would not approach us,” Elured started. “The real question is he hiding just as his fea, or is it still housed in his hroa?” Elurin added. At Harry's startled look the twin in blue continued. “Our hroa faded because of our great grief.”

“And possibly due to being Peredhel.” Elured chimed in. “Though apparently our fea are elven or we would have likely gone wherever the souls of this world go. I cannot say if we made a conscious choice or not.”

Elurin quietly explained, “I loved our family here, but I also missed the family we left behind.” Or maybe they were different enough that the choice was taken out of their hands entirely, Harry thought.

“And as I said before my hroa was badly damaged at the second dark lord's hands. I lived far longer than I thought I would, but eventually I too faded.” Polaris looked at Harry. “Elves do not die of old age, or illness. Only extreme physical or emotional damage.”

“So elves can be,” Harry began. “Thousands of years old, yes.” Elured looked amused at the expression on the young one’s face.

This was so much to take in and think about. Taking into account that Grandfather basically said he was light on the details about the whole tragedy, well, it was a lot. One little detail did stick out in his head. After a moment’s hesitation Harry asked, “So, you said in your world music, words, they could have power right? And Maglor was a bard. Would that maybe be why I have um, been hearing music? In Gringotts they said what I heard was the Song of Stone and were pretty surprised.”

The elves regarded Harry with surprise and then looked to each other. “Our great-grandmother was maia, that could be a part of it too.” Elured offered. “Combine that with a possible strong Voice and the wizard power, who knows what that might bring out.” Elurin added.

With a nod Gil-Galad looked back to Harry. “It would be a good idea for you to pay attention to that and then let us know what you hear, where, and if you can think of a why for it. Try not to do anything with it if you can help it.” He gives his grandson a small smile. “I can certainly understand that something might happen. It just may be wise to be cautious since we do not know what exactly may be happening.”

Taking in his overwhelmed look Polaris pressed a kiss to Harry’s temple. “You have heard much tonight. Perhaps it is time for you to get true sleep. Don’t worry, we will make sure your sleep is undisturbed by anything that would plague your mind.”

The twins got up also taking a turn to press a kiss to the top of the young one’s head as he rested against Gil-Galad. “Yes, rest little one.” Elured started. “Trust us to guard your slumber.” Elurin finished.

Harry grumbled, “Not little.” Which only earned him amused smiles as he once more closed his eyes. This time sliding into deeper sleep.

Afterwards the three elves regarded each other. “Possibly hearing magic as music?” Elured commented. “Don’t forget how damaged his fea is. He just seems so young for all of his years and supposedly maturity as a wizard, maybe stunted would be a better word.”

“And his hroa, his experiences have not been kind to his body. It's a miracle he’s even still alive.” Elurin contributed with a grim expression.

Gil-Galad repressed a sigh. “Yes, and we are all doing what we can. But it may not be enough. Soon he may not be safe outside of this sanctuary.” He paused and then continued. “We may need Maglor to help him, especially if he is still embodied. Will you two be okay with that? You are the ones most affected by what happened.”

The pair seemed to communicate back and forth between each other before turning back to the other elf. “For the little one, yes. There is much we would do for him.” Elurin added to his brother’s comment. “I cannot say if we have forgiven him, but enough time has passed, and you added to our understanding of it.”

“I’ll ask Kreacher to look for him then. The dverger might know something.”