5. A MATTER OF NATURE
When Harry, framed by Sirius and James, entered the Great Hall, Lucius had already sat down at the Slytherin table, barely sparing them a glance so absorbed was he in his conversation with the beautiful blonde girl next to him. Sirius gently pushed him over to the Gryffindor table, and Harry felt peace and calm flow through him at the warm, large hand on the small of his back. The grey-eyed boy even pulled out his chair for him.
Harry wanted to protest that he wasn't a girl, but thought better of it. Sirius likely only wanted to be polite, it wouldn't do to snap at him. Snapping at dominants was not something he should be doing. Harry scowled at himself for that last thought. He needed to find a way to stop thinking like that.
He made to sit down, but before he could take a seat, Dumbledore, who had somehow managed to arrive in the Great Hall before them, stood up from his seat, demanding attention. Harry had the dreadful feeling that he knew exactly what would happen now, and he wished the ground would split up to swallow him. His fears were confirmed when Dumbledore began to talk. He suppressed a groan, barely, and ducked his head.
"My dear students, may I have your attention for a moment to introduce you to Harry Parker, who will join the Gryffindor seventh years?" He made a vague gesture in Harry's direction that would have caused everyone to turn their eyes on him, if they hadn't been staring since the very moment they had entered. "Mr. Parker is in the quite unique situation of being a submissive elf."
Most of the wizard-raised students gaped openly, and even the professors seemed stunned.
"I ask you all to help him to settle in here at Hogwarts and I must impress on you not take advantage of him for, if you did so, I would be forced to expel you immediately," though Dumbledore's voice still sounded cheerful, there was no doubt about the seriousness of his statement. "Now, I don't want to keep you from all that delicious food, though one would think that you would be finished by now." He sent twinkles left and right, and some students had the grace to blush.
"Take a seat, Harry." Sirius chuckled when he saw how red Harry's face had become. "Let me introduce you to everyone. This is Lily Evans, Jamie's girl-friend."
Harry stared at his mother in awe. She was so beautiful with her fiery red hair, pale skin and expressive green eyes. The few photos he had of her didn't do her justice; they captured but a shadow of this radiant young woman sitting opposite of him. She smiled at him, and he tentatively smiled back, at once feeling much better.
"Peter Pettigrew." Sirius motioned to a chubby boy Harry had never seen before, who sat opposite of Harry and was staring at him with curiosity. "And Remus Lupin."
Aslender hand moved into Harry's line of vision, and he pulled back, tumbling from the chair and scrambling to his feet in horror, whimpering.
His wings resurfaced to wrap protectively around his tense body. "No! Get away from me!"
"Harry, what?" Sirius asked, surprised, grabbing Harry by the shoulders.
"Werewolf," Harry whispered so low even Sirius had to strain to hear him. "Bad."
"I didn't think you of all people would be so prejudiced. You're a fucking submissive elf, for Merlin's Sake. At least Remus doesn't burden others with his needy nature," Sirius spat, always quick to lose his temper, and Harry shied back and whimpered. "Sit back down. You're causing a scene, and Remus doesn't need that. He doesn't need you. In fact, we don't need you."
Harry's whimpers grew louder, and he covered away from both Sirius and Remus. He tried to ignore the direct order, he tried to calm down, to think rational. He couldn't go near Remus, he couldn't disobey Sirius. As Sirius forced him back in his chair, he began to shake uncontrollably, twisting his hands into fists, his fingernails digging into his palms.
"Please, no, I can't, I'm sorry," he pleaded, but to no avail.
"You'll sit right there in that chair and apologise to Remus," Sirius grumbled, his hand closing painfully on Harry's shoulder. "Then I'll give you another chance."
Harry made himself as small as possible, trying to block out Sirius words. Not again.
"Harry," a gentle voice called from behind, and Sirius' hand was removed to be replaced by Lucius' soothing, caressing hand, "come with me, all right? You can sit with me at the Slytherin table so those idiots can think about their actions. Black, take back your order."
"I want him to apologise..."
"A forced apology isn't worth anything," Remus said softly, looking decidedly hurt and uncomfortable, which made Harry feel that much worse.
"Have you ever stopped to consider that Harry can't do anything about his reaction?" The blond snapped, pulling Harry, who was still trembling and sobbing, into his arms. "If you have but a ounce of decency, you will take back your order, Black. Now."
"Just let him go, Sirius," James said. "Let Malfoy take him to the Snakes. If he is so prejudiced, he'll fit in with them just fine."
"Fine, you can go, Parker. You're spoiling my appetite anyway." He glared, and Peter nodded emphatically.
Lucius sneered at the Gryffindors, but gently tucked Harry under his arm and led him over to his own table, trying to calm him down with whispered words.
"I didn't mean to react like that, I didn't mean to make them angry, I didn't mean to cause you trouble," Harry whispered brokenly, leaning heavily against Lucius' side.
"It's not your fault, they should have known better than to force you to sit next to him. It's a natural reaction for a submissive elf," Lucius murmured soothingly, piling some food on Harry's plate. "Eat something, yes?"
Harry listlessly pushed his food around, putting some of the mashed potatoes in his mouth to please Lucius, while brushing his tears away with the other hand.
"You'll get used to it." Narcissa leaned around Lucius, patting Harry's hand. "The whole lot of them totally freaked me out when I came into my inheritance. And Gryffindors are not known for their sensitivity."
"It doesn't feel like I'll get used to being an elf anytime soon," Harry muttered morosely.
"When did you come into your inheritance?" Narcissa asked curiously.
"About two month ago..." Harry mumbled, not sure how to react to this new, not jealous Narcissa. "Sorry, but you are Narcissa, aren't you?"
"Oh, how rude of me." Narcissa gasped. "I'm Narcissa Black, a submissive veela, it's nice to meet you, Harry."
"Black? Are you and Sirius related?" Harry cocked his head in confusion, chancing a quick look at Sirius, who sat with his back to them, unabashedly flirting with a blonde girl close to him, and then back to Narcissa, trying to find similarities between the two.
"Yes, we are cousins." Narcissa scrunched up her pretty nose as if she didn't like being reminded of that fact. "But, wait a moment, Harry. Did you say two months? What did you do during that time? I thought there was no dominant where you are coming from."
"The son of the man who brought me here was supposed to take care of me." Harry hunched his shoulders; he didn't like talking or even thinking about Draco. "He hated me and didn't exactly treat me absolutely okay."
"Why don't your parents take care of you?" Lucius asked gently, absently squeezing Harry's hand. "And who was that man?"
"They died when I was little," Harry answered quietly. "I was taken in by Muggles and they ask the Headmaster of my school for help when I got into my inheritance. They didn't really know what to do with me. That man was - he knew my parents, and he owed the Headmaster a favour. His son and I were in the same year, so I guess it seemed like a good idea to them. I'm not allowed to tell you more, please don't ask me."
"It's alright, Harry, you don't have to tell us. Calm down," Lucius reassured him. "That's just the usual curiosity bestowed on new students. Have you finished eating? Or rather playing with your food?"
Harry blushed brightly as he looked down at his plate full of food that now seemed rather unappetising. "I'm finished."
Lucius offered each of the submissives one arm, Narcissa to his right, Harry to his left, and then guided them to the Slytherin common room.
"The password is Vindico," Lucius said, and the wall gave way to the entrance to the snake pit. "Promise you won't tell anyone about it."
"I won't." Harry looked pleadingly up at him. "I promise I won't tell anyone."
"Good." Lucius smiled briefly. "You can stay down here for a while if you want to, and then I'll bring you up to Gryffindor Tower, all right?"
"Thank you." Harry sighed in relief and allowed himself to be led over to one of the black leather couches, snuggling into Lucius as soon as they had all sat down.
He relished in Lucius' gentle fingers combing through his hair, even though Lucius and Narcissa led a conversation of their own, exchanging chaste kisses every once in a while.
His body felt pleasantly heavy and relaxed, and the stress and worry slowly drained from him. Still, Sirius' enraged and disgusted voice haunted him, echoing in his ears, his father's angry face and Remus, who looked so hurt, flitting before his eyes. He still felt the panic from earlier. He had never expected his reaction to the werewolf would be so extreme, so completely uncontrollable, and he was suddenly glad the Remus in his time hadn't visited him.
He decided to read one of the books Hermione had given him, if only to distract himself from the sudden pang of homesickness that threatened to overwhelm him. He started with the thickest book so he would be able to bury it deep within his trunk and would never have to walk around with it again. Unshrinking it and sitting up, he quickly found the page Hermione had high-marked for him and began to read.
Elves
Like fae, fairies, nymphs and muses, elves are pure light creatures, who naturally live in very close contact and harmony with nature. Their element is the earth and their home primely forests.
Full, or natural, elves differ greatly from the elves born of a union with humans:
Natural elves live in one forest for most of their life, seldom leaving it and therefore seldom being seen. They guard their forest with their unique magic and strength, much like nymphs guard their waters.
They avoid contact with humans and other magical creatures, though they lovingly take care of the animals and plants in their forest. They form groups of up to twenty elves, led by the strongest dominant and his submissive. Though they have wings, they much prefer, with a few exceptions, to stay on the ground and use them mostly to shelter themselves and their friends from harsh weather and attacks.
In appearance, their skin colour is the most stunning aspect, ranging from a deep violet to a bright green. Their pointed ears are another attribute. Dominants and older elves have longer ears than submissives or elfings. Their ears can grown to be as long as their forearms. Their hair is mostly a dark brown or black and reaches past their backs, with very few exceptions. Their eyes often match their skin colour.
In contrast to this, human or magical elves are even rarer for the evident reason that elves seldom bond to humans. They still have a very close connection with nature and animals, but don't feel the need to make a home in one specific forest, though in one case a magical elf fell ill because he avoided forests all together.
Their outward appearance only in the rarest of cases sports the green or violet skin colour, most elves having very fair skin that is said to emit a certain glow. Their eyes are intense. The most frequent colours are deep brown, forest green and clear blue. If they have wings, they are of the same colour as their hair. Their ears are also less pointy. Not all of these characteristics are apparent in magical elves as their human traits are mostly active.
Not much is known about the skills of elves, though most accounts and legends speak of their considerable power. Allegedly they have the ability to communicate with most animals and to see a person's true intentions. Elves also are rumoured to have healing and elemental powers (with control over the elements water and earth), though there are no accounts supporting these legends.
Harry stopped reading and sighed. At least I'm not green, he mused, I have to be grateful for small favours. The book didn't really help him to better understand his behaviour and feelings, and after that paragraph came a list of books that would supposedly give him more information. Hermione had high-lighted a few, but didn't seem too impressed all in all. The list of books was followed by several specific cases of magical elves, but after reading a few lines of each, Harry concluded those elves didn't have many active elfish genes. He doubted very much that it would help him to read about someone who had issues about his pointy ears.
"Didn't help?" Lucius noted in amusement Harry how tugged his hair in frustration, gnawing his bottom lip. "There's not much information about elves, is there?"
"No." Harry pouted. "If I had wanted to know that pointy ears and earrings don't mix well, I'd have read a fashion magazine."
"Maybe you really should leaf through one of those, Harry." Narcissa smiled winningly at him. "Those things you are wearing don't do much for you..." She stared in distaste at his too large and worn clothes.
"I like them," Harry said defiantly, clutching his Weasley sweater, but couldn't help the blush from raising in his cheeks, "and they're comfortable."
"But, Harry, they make you look like... like a beggar," Narcissa protested. "You really should wear clothes that don't swallow you whole. These make you look even smaller."
"And?" Harry challenged. "I really don't think it'd make much of a difference if I wore tighter clothes only that it'd make me feel uncomfortable. I'm much too small, anyway, I should get used to it."
"You are not too small," Lucius intervened, giving Narcissa a look that clearly stated she should stop now. "Submissives are supposed to have a slight figure."
"Narcissa is not so small," Harry argued. "She's much taller than I am."
"Okay, submissive elves are supposed to be so small." Lucius sighed. "But whatever the case, you are not too small, you are perfect. I won't have you refer to yourself as anything else."
"Oh, you know other submissive elves?" Harry scowled at him before putting his hands in front of his mouth, looking fearfully at the dominant. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, Harry." Lucius replied generously, patting Harry's hair. "You are right, I don't know any submissive elves, but I know enough about them to know they really are supposed to be so small. And you are perfect and beautiful." He took a hold of Narcissa's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "And no, Cissa, I don't plan on leaving you. You are my mate, you know that, don't you?"
"Yes, I know." Narcissa kissed his cheek in thanks before getting up. "I think I'll go to bed. See you tomorrow, Harry. Good night, Lucius."
"Bye, Narcissa," Harry mumbled and received a brilliant smile in return.
Many appreciative looks followed Narcissa's slim form as she disappeared to the dorms, and though she seemed oblivious to them, Lucius certainly wasn't and sent glares left and right
"How do you know Narcissa is your mate?" Harry asked to distract Lucius from his jealousy that made him feel queasy.
"She has the most alluring scent, and I feel this tugging sensation whenever she is away, compelling me to go and find her," Lucius offered readily. "Veelas also dream of their mates after they first met them: At first, the dreams are vague, but with time the identity of the veela's mate is revealed." A dreamy look crossed his face, and Harry felt like he was intruding before Lucius once again turned to him, smiling. "I hope you'll find someone to dream about as well, Harry. You deserve someone like that, but until then, I'll be here to help you."
"Thanks for being so nice to me," Harry whispered.
"I do my best, Harry." Lucius smirked. "And you make it rather easy for me, too."
"Don't you think I'm a burden?" Harry asked carefully. "I mean, you have Narcissa, why would you even want me around?"
"Look around you, Harry, what do you see?" Lucius questioned, making a vague gesture with his hand.
Harry cautiously glanced around the Slytherin common room: The dark green tapestries that hid the cold stone walls, the black leather furniture, the flickering fire in the crate. He didn't understand what he was supposed to notice. It was just as he remembered from his time, only with more students since the last time he had been here during the holidays.
Lucius chuckled when Harry turned clueless eyes on him. "The people, Harry, not the room itself. What do you see?"
Harry looked around once more and then quickly ducked his head, pressing closer to the blond. "They're all staring at me!"
Lucius smirked and nodded. "They all wish to be in my place."
"Because of Narcissa?" Harry asked hopefully, shivering when Lucius scowled.
"Yes, also because of Narcissa, but right now because of you, Harry."
"But, why... Oh, because you can order me around?" Harry asked sadly, even more confused when Lucius shook his head.
"No, Harry, because you're beautiful, because your presence makes others feel good-"
"That wasn't in the book," Harry protested, staring down at his hands.
"Does something have to be in a book to be true?" Lucius demanded, and Harry hastily shook his head. "You see, Harry, I don't know much about elves, but I know about submissives-"
"Yeah, great," Harry muttered testily. "As if being a fucking elf wasn't bloody well enough. No, I also have to be a stupid submissive!"
"I know it is hard, Harry, but when you find your mate, he'll take care of you and-"
Harry glared at the blond. "That's another thing, who the hell decided that I was gay? I certainly didn't!"
"Well, if you really aren't gay, your mate will be a dominate female of course," Lucius stated calmly, seeming not at all bothered that Harry kept interrupting him. "Though, they are rare. But I wouldn't worry about that, Harry. Nature made sure to create someone just for you." He smiled encouragingly at the miffed elf.
"You mean I was created for someone," Harry said bitterly. "I'm nothing without my mate. All those supposedly great powers won't help me at all as long as I haven't found my mate, who tells me what to do to with them. I'll just be a handy weapon."
"Shush now, Harry, you should hear yourself. So much bitterness and so little self-esteem aren't a healthy combination." Lucius sighed, pulling Harry into his side. "Rest assured that I don't see you as merely a potential weapon, but on the contrary as a potential friend. I think your fire is something to admired, and it's rather refreshing to meet a submissive who isn't scared out of his or her mind."
"I'm scared often enough," Harry murmured, shyly leaning more into Lucius' gentle touch. "It's not fair, Lucius."
"I know, Harry," the blond admitted. "But we'll just have to make the best out of the situation, won't we? Though, that's a rather Slytherin trait, I'm afraid."
"I'm Slytherin enough," Harry argued, crossing his arms over his chest.
Lucius smirked in amusement. "Very well, then you will feel right at home here, though, I should probably bring you up to Gryffindor Tower before curfew."
"Okay," Harry answered with little enthusiasm; he almost wished the Hat had sorted him into Slytherin this time.
Lucius slipped an arm around his waist and guided Harry to the Gryffindor Tower, also showing him the classrooms on their way.
"Harry." Lucius stopped in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, who was swooning over Lucius and whispering to herself how cute Harry was. "I want you to go directly to your dorms, ignore Potter and Black and whatever they might say. I'll stay out here for about ten minutes, so if they give you trouble, you'll come back out again, okay? And if something happens after that, or if they don't treat you right, you'll come down to Slytherin, so I can take care of you. Does that sound all right to you?"
"Thank you, Lucius." Harry smiled. "Good night."
Lucius gently pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead before knocking against the Fat Lady, who nearly drooled as he touched her and blushed quite vividly while fluttering her eyelashes. Lucius then disappeared in the shadows.
A small first or second year opened the door, staring at Harry in awe, before letting him pass. Harry hardly glanced up as he quickly crossed the common room. He could sense Remus, James and Sirius sitting near the fireplace, and he could also feel that they weren't at all happy with him, but thankfully they didn't say anything and allowed him to reach the dormitories without causing a scene.
The seventh year dorms were not, like in his own time, the highest dorms in the tower, but were on the third level between he sixth and first years. Other than that, however, the dorms were almost identical, with the same Gryffindor red four-poster beds and the same high windows and dark red curtains. Harry was glad to find his things at the foot of the bed farthest to the right, far away from Remus and the upset dominants.
He quickly changed into his pyjamas, brushed his teeth and then curled up in one corner of his bed, his hangings pulled tightly shut.