Amulet of Time 2: Two Worlds, Two Wars

Chapter 7: Attack!

Harry's time with the elves passed far too quickly for his liking. He really enjoyed seeing Gaerwyn and Lolide again, and the healer had been continuing his lessons in the evenings. They had finished the lessons before he left the founders' time, and he had been given some books to read. Since he had already read the books in his first six weeks at Hogwarts, he was ready to move on. Lolide had taken it upon herself to teach Harry the new elven history, everything that had happened since he had last seen her. It was a long time to cover, as time in the elven world passed more quickly than in the human world, but Harry was finding it fascinating.

The other elves in Falaryth had been rather hostile towards Harry the first few days he was there. However, he had made an effort to be polite to them, showing he was familiar with and respectful of their customs, and they had soon come around. Some of the younger elves, who could not remember the time before the elves and humans had cut their ties, were still wary of him. The young elf-children thought he was wonderful. He spent many mornings sitting in the nursery tree, telling the youngest ones stories of the human world.

Eventually, after a month in the elven city, it was time for him to return to Hogwarts. The weekend would be over in his world, and both he and Minh-Minh-Lama had lessons first thing on Monday morning. Saying goodbye to Gaerwyn and Lolide was as hard this time as it had been last time, but he promised to come and visit them again the next time Minh came home. Their trip, which coincided with Christmas, meant that the holidays were out of the question, but he said he would come one weekend after they had returned.

Minh and Harry left late in the evening, knowing they would arrive back at the common room late on Sunday night. They wanted to arrive late, as there was less chance of them being seen by one of their Housemates. With a last wave to Lolide and Gaerwyn, the students disappeared in a flash of light. Arriving back in the common room each moved to head straight for bed. Before Minh could disappear up the staircase, Harry called her back to ask her something that he had been wondering about since they had arrived at Falaryth.

" Minh, do you just live with your mother and aunt?"

Minh looked at him curiously, a little surprised by the question.

" Yeah, didn't you gather that?"

" Well, yes. I was just wondering, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your father?"

Minh got a sad look on her face and Harry immediately regretted saying anything. He was about to tell her it didn't matter, but she spoke up first.

" My father died when I was tiny. I don't remember him much."

" I'm sorry."

" S'ok. My mother always knew he would never live to see me grow up. He was a human, you see, and you know humans don't live as long as elves."

" You're half human?" Harry asked, rather surprised.

" Yes, but don't tell the other elves. My mother told them my father was killed in battle, which is true, but she never told them I was half human. I would have been outcast if they knew."

" I won't say anything, you have my word. But why do you look like an elf if you're half human?"

" Well, elf blood is more potent than human blood, as we have more magic. I look like an elf, but my magic is slightly weaker and I won't live as long as a normal elf would. If I have a child with another elf, they would be a full elf, as the blood is stronger. However, if I was to have a child with a human, they would be less like an elf. The pointed ears would be the first thing to go. They would be human, but their magic would be much stronger than normal, and they would outlive their friends. But that's unlikely to happen. As soon as I finish Hogwarts I'm going back to Falaryth. I like the human world, and it's nice to see how my father grew up, but I belong with the elves."