Chapter 4
Chapter Four
King Haralith Dlartanseer-Shadowmage of the Dark and Light Elves of the British Isles otherwise known as Lord Harry James Potter was current pacing in his chambers. The Elvin King was known to his friends simply as Harry something that he hadn't quite managed to shake from his human life.
Images of might be futures flickered before his verdant green eyes. The five choices that were open to him which would bring such different futures and he had no idea what to choose. His advisors had different opinions about his plans though most felt the fifth option would be best but it just didn't sit well with Harry.
The first choice was joining the Dark. That was out for obvious reasons. His people would never agree to peace with the person who had murdered their would be King and Queen who had united the Elvin nation after a two hundred year war, a war that had started in the mid seventeenth century.
Never mind Harry's own personal feelings towards the man who had taken his parents from him. The man who had sentenced him to six years of hell with his mother's adopted sister, her obese husband and son. How Harry hated them.
If it weren't for the attack thanks to the Prophet's bloody fortune telling. Harry was a seer. It was unknown to most but Seer's and Prophet's held each other in low regard but people considered them the same. Seer's saw and remembered everything; so many futures all existing at one time. Prophets couldn't remember their prophecies, not all prophecies would come true depending on the decisions made surrounding the prophecies, and their wording was so obscure that the truth could be construed differently by everyone that made it. True prophets didn't have the constant headaches that Seer's had.
Harry shook his head back to the point on hand. The most important thing about Voldemort was the fact his people were slaves. Unlike vampires and werewolves they could literally be made into slaves.
That's what House Elves were even though most wizards had forgotten. He was safe from that fate now thankfully. It was only children whose magic and inheritance was still free and wild that could be taken, morphed, controlled, and bound to wizards. Then their children would suffer the same fate; children conceived not through Mating but orders. Harry had always considered it to be rape. His people were raped, beaten and enslaved by the Wizards.
For all these reasons joining the Dark side in this Wizarding War was out. That was without Harry's own Dark side thirsting for the revenge for the Wizard who had murdered his mother and father. That left four other choices.
Next was staying out of the war all together. That was quite impossible considering the fact that his people – especially the Dark Elves – were baying for Voldemort's blood. Also, if he did nothing the state of his people would remain as it always had been.
Thirdly, there was joining the Ministry of Magic. He couldn't do that considering that his people were considered an enemy to the state. They were to be arrested on sight. Harry knew why, of course, they feared that if the common people knew what they had done to the once proud Elvin nation they would be held in disdain.
Fourthly, there was joining the Order of the Phoenix. He didn't like the idea of the Order winning where all forms of Dark magic whether malignant or benign would still be banned. Dark creatures like Harry – who was both – and his mother and all Dark Elves would still be feared and persecuted by the Wizarding World.
The fifth option was the option that Harry liked the least. Not because of the fact that he knew it wouldn't work. Because unlike the rest of the plans Harry knew this would work. But because of what he would have to do to see it through; the innocent who would die.
The fifth option was the wait until the Ministry had fallen. Harry and his allies would then save the Wizarding World claiming that they couldn't watch their neighbours suffer and do nothing. They had previously thought the Ministry of Magic would be able to handle the Dark Lord but when it came clear that was impossible they came to their aid.
After the Dark Lord had fallen the Elves would remould the Ministry of Magic and the new Magical World in the way they liked. Not bad but different more on par with Europe and America; a government without corruption, bribery, and prejudice as much as possible anyway. It would be hard but with the threats dead or imprisoned it would be possible.
Of course, they wouldn't rule it like a dictatorship and make it clear to the wizards that they had no wish to take over. Only to help rebuild the Wizarding World were bigots like the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters couldn't have a foot hold. He was sure that when they realised that the King of Elves was the Boy Who Lived come to save them that it wouldn't be too hard to convince them.
Then inspiration struck him as it often did. The new idea – the new choice – opened up futures. He couldn't tell exactly what futures they were as there were others involved who would have decisions to make. But he could see that it was better than the rest of his idea because it was a mixture of them all.
Harry made his way quickly to the centre tower where he knew he would find his Great Uncle and teacher. Undion Dlartanseer had been reagent from when his brother and sister in law – Harry's grandparents – until a few days ago when Harry had been crowned.
He and his Mate had brought Harry up when he was a scared, broken child. Harry had been there when their second son was born. As well as the day when the boy was just a year old had been on their annual trip to the Light Elvin Clans had been kidnapped by humans. Harry didn't know where he was but he knew he'd be a House Elf. It was this more than anything that made Harry want to go through with his plan.
'Uncle Undion,' Harry called.
Harry walked into his Uncle's workshop. Since Draugdhuddon had been kidnapped Uncle Undion had barely left his workshop apart from to deal with running the kingdom. He hadn't come out since Harry had been elected King. He ate, slept, worked and lived in his workshop.
His mate, Uncle Hadian, wasn't much better. He stayed in his Wand and Staff shop in Magic Alley. True Magical Creatures by Wizard laws weren't allowed wands unless they had been sanctioned by a member of the Wizagamot. But why should they listen to corrupt bigots?
Harry knew that he was the only thing keeping them together. It was why he chose to reside in the Light Palace in the South of Avalon instead of the Dark Palace in the North. He didn't know how much good he was doing especially now that Harry had come of age.
It was partly his Great Uncles and his young Uncle that he was doing what he was doing. Harry wasn't an idiot he knew that chances were they wouldn't return the Elves to their rightful home. But they would likely return some trying to blag that they had returned them all and hopefully Draugdhuddon would be one of them.
'Haralith,' Uncle Undion said.
Even as Uncle Undion attempted to smile it did not reach his dark blue eyes that hadn't truly smiled in three years. Uncle Undion was the only one of their close family who insisted on calling Harry Haralith. It was Uncle Undion who picked Harry's Elvin name and refused to call him anything else.
***FLASHBACK***
The Longstreaks had just found out that Harry was in fact their future King. They had contacted the Reagent whom had only not been crowned as the Light King because the Light Crown refused to accept him as such meaning that his brother's child had survived without being stolen by the Wizards. Harry had been informed that his Great Uncle was going to be coming. Harry who only knew cruelty from his family was naturally scared.
'So you're my great nephew, huh?' smiled Uncle Undion.
'Y-y-y-yes, sir,' Harry looked up with big eyes.
'Now don't be scared,' Uncle Undion said with kind dark blue eyes. 'I'm not like those humans,' Uncle Undion said somehow making the word human an insult, 'did to you. I'm not like them.'
'Your not?' asked Harry hopefully not really believing it.
'So what's your name, then?' asked Uncle Undion.
'Harry, sir, Harry Potter, though only teachers call me that. The Dursleys call me Freak or Boy,' Harry said softly.
'You are not a freak,' Uncle Undion said kindly, 'and your way more than a boy. And as for your name; well we can't have the next king being called King Harry, much too human.' Uncle Undion frowned, 'Haralith, Haralith Dlartanseer-Shadowmage.'
***FLASHBACK ENDS***
'Uncle Undion,' Harry said, 'I have an idea for the Wizards. I am going to send letters of alliance to all three parties. To the Dark Lord I'll use the King of the Dark Elves title whilst to the Order and the Ministry I'll use the King of the Light Elves title. My demands will be to free all the Elves unlawfully kidnapped from us and return them to us in their care. That will mean that the Ministry has to change the laws to illegalise House Elf trade, the Order had to return all House Elves in their possession, and Voldemort has to order his Death Eaters to release their slaves. That and to change to laws that persecute us. Only then will we join them.'
'They'll never agree,' warned Uncle Undion.
'I know,' Harry said sharply. 'But they will attempt to pretend they are so will hopefully return some of our people back.'
'And then what will you do?' asked Uncle Undion.
'I shall revert back to staying Neutral until the Ministry falls although I will offer protection to those who have agreed with our demands to the best of their ability and knowledge,' Harry said. 'I plan to send these letters to the Prophet as well so that our demands are not being covered up leaving out the name of the addressee.'
'It is likely that the Death Eaters will not give into your demands,' warned Uncle Undion. 'And that – that – D-D- your uncle won't return to you.'
Harry's eyes hardened, 'I know.'
'I just want to warn you and protect you from hurt,' Uncle Undion said quietly.
'I know,' Harry said softly. 'You always have.'
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In Malfoy Manor the Dark Lord was in his chambers the best chambers that Lucius possessed. He was happy with the way things were going. The Ministry for Magic was crumbling with so many of their employees either in his pocket of Death Eaters of his. The only blight on his glorious world of Dark magic and Pure-bloods was Albus Dumbledore and his thrice damned Order of the Phoenix.
It was then that there was a tiny little elf owl carrying a piece of parchment sealed with a seal Voldemort didn't recognise. The little elf owl perched on Voldemort's desk obviously expecting a reply. Voldemort scowled at it resisting the urge to kill the little creature.
Dear Lord Voldemort,
It is my wish to secure your alliance for the future war. I am the Dark Elvin King of the British Isles. I agree that the Light have ruled for too long. They have made laws that have not only harmed my people but forced our once powerful race into hiding in fear of the Light.
Our people are proud warriors whom we shall loan you out for the duration of the war. We have tomes, rituals and power that would be of much use to you. How will the Light fight you if they have no knowledge of the spells you are using or have the true power we wield?
If you agree to our terms then our conditions will last you to the end of the war. The conditions are that you return all House Elves that are in your service to us. The exchange will be done in a magic free meeting room of Gringotts bank, a neutral location, of your choosing.
Be warned we will know if you do not return all the elves!
After the war we ask you to change the laws regarding our ability to carry wands, arrest us on sight, and enslave our children. In return we shall open our noble school to your children and graduates so they may learn the secret arts of the Elves.
Yours Sincerely
King Shadowmage, King of the Dark Elves of the British Isles
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In the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry Albus was sucking on a lemon trying to figure out how to persuade Horace to come back and work for him. Albus was thinking over his most recent staffing problem. Albus knew he needed a new Potions Master and a Defence Professor.
The problem was he was running out of candidates for the Defence position. All those who were qualified in Defence were busy with war efforts. Albus had thought that maybe the Aurors assigned to Hogwarts would be able to take turns in teaching Defence depending on schedules. It wasn't ideal but it would have to do. He would have to speak to Amelia about that. Surely she would see that the Aurors were already there and they would be able to protect classes more efficiently that way as well as teaching the children to defend themselves.
True with Remus and Alastor teaching for the last two years the numbers passing Defence OWLs had increased even if they were too late to increase the number of NEWT students. But hopefully with those OWL students Remus had passed like Fred and George Weasley more would pass NEWT students bringing them up to European standards. That was something Hogwarts needed considering more and more parents were sending their children abroad between the war and Hogwarts bad results. Only those who wanted their children to remain near them, were loyal to Albus or were traditionalists continued to send their children to Hogwarts.
As for Horace he was too frightened to dare publically support Albus by coming into his employee. If Harry Potter had been here he could have used their combined fame to convince him to work here. But unfortunately even if Albus had got off a lot of people's faith in him had plummeted and his popularity had taken a dive. He may have kept his positions in Britain but it had been only due to bribery rather than the fact that they still trusted him.
The international Wizarding World had not been so kind. The International Confederation of Wizards or the ICW had found out what had happened with his ward. That along with his so called bigotry concerning Dark wizards and creatures was condemned. The only reason he had been elected as the Supreme Mugwump was in 1946 when the magical – and Muggle – world was still in a mess from Gellert and his Muggle allies. The fact he had defeated Gellert had got the European and American support. But that was considered old news so he had been quickly removed as Supreme Mugwump in the late 1980s.
It was then that a small owl that Albus knew was an elf owl flew in through the window. Albus didn't recognise the owl but guessed that it was probably a concerned parent making sure their children were going to be okay. Still Albus checked the parchment for curses, finding none. The owl perched on his desk waiting for his response as he read.
Dear Lord Dumbledore,
It has been four hundred years since my people have become involved in human affairs. However, the events taking place in Wizarding and Muggle Britain has forced my hands. If things continue the way they are it is only a matter of time before the Dark Lord Voldemort seeks to attack us.
We are the Light Elves. We will always be Light. The Dark will always fear us as I am sure you have seen. This is why we hope to ally with the Light. We have contacted your Ministry of Magic for an alliance as well.
The Dark Elves whom we have only recently come out of a civil war with have requested an alliance with the Dark Lord. This is a warning that if the Dark Lord should give into their demands you will have a race of powerful warriors as an enemy. We who have personal knowledge of the Dark Elves and the way they fight and their bases can help you there.
The requests we have of you is that you free those of our kind who are enslaved by those in the Order of the Phoenix. That is the beings you call house-elves. We are not asking for the impossible as we know that even you can't forbid the entire Wizarding World from using our kind as slaves however much you may want to. The other thing is that you propose an act illegalising the sale of house-elves. We cannot ask you to make sure the act is passed as you are not the voters. All we ask is that you propose. If these conditions are met we shall ally to you.
The exchange of our stolen people shall be in the De Luc Palace in Normandy, France. The Veelas are your allies and respect my kind so will act as a neutral party and neutral ground. We only ask you not to trick or lie.
If you think you cannot do this one favour tell us and we will once more withdraw from the human world.
Yours Faithfully,
King Dlartanseer King of the Light Elves of the British Isles
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It was once more a late night in the office for Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic. He had been organising the alliance with the French. Hopefully they would be able to loan their far superior Aurors for the duration of the war.
Cornelius looked through his in tray of letters that had got through the screening process. Owls were not used in the Ministry of Magic premises. All official letters were sent to an outbuilding where they were screened for curses, potions or anything else harmful. They were then sent on to the person they were meant for or most appropriate to deal with.
It was this reason that Cornelius had no problems with opening the letter without checking if it was safe or not. Moody, of course, would have done so anyway but Moody was a paranoid bugger who a newly elected Cornelius had been glad to get rid of. Moody was not a peace time Auror. He now worked as advisor and trainer for the Auror department.
Dear Minister Fudge,
I do not like your kind and you do not like my kind. You are prejudiced bigots, kidnappers and rapists. You fear and crave our power despite being descended from magical creatures yourself.
However, we are now both facing the same problem of the so called Dark Lord Voldemort. We do not get involved with human conflicts not since you began kidnapping our children as slaves! However, we have Seen that the Dark Elves have allied themselves with the Dark Lord. We have just come out of a civil war with the Dark Elves where a treaty was drawn up purely because we were on equal footing. This may be all they need to garner enough power and support to wipe our clans out.
We are willing to put your past crimes against us aside in the sake of a future alliance. There are conditions to be met. Firstly, you must return every house elf that you, your employees, benefactors and allies own. Second, you must illegalise the Binding and Trade of House Elves no matter the generation. Third, de-criminalise our race so that we can be seen in the Wizarding World without being arrested.
We have also requested an alliance with Chief Warlock Dumbledore and his Order of the Phoenix. Notes of these alliances shall be in the Daily Prophet tomorrow and I have a copy of the Dark Elves request of an alliance with Lord Voldemort from my spy amongst the Dark Elves.
Remember if you attempt to try and deceive us. We shall know and the alliance will be dropped. We have contended with the Dark Elves for two hundred years. Do not think the rise of a human Dark Lord will cause us to lower ourselves to putting up with your slavery when we are allies.
If you agree to the terms of alliance set up a meeting at a time of your choosing in neutral Switzerland. If this is not to your satisfaction another meeting place can be arranged.
Yours Sincerely
King Dlartanseer, King of the Light Elves