Chapter 6

A/N: As always thank you everyone for the lovely reviews, they make me so giddy with excitement!

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Night…

The figure moving through the shadows was taking full advantage of this time as it slipped through the corridors unheeded, finding its destination easily, opening the door slowly and looking around before stepping inside as he shut the door behind him. It was here that the shadows seemed to beg at the male's feet as he stared at the chairs and desks gathering dust in the corners of the room. Not the ideal place he would usually seek out…but it would do for tonight. No silly students or those idiotic teachers and order members would look here.

Yes…it was perfect.

Obsidian eyes looked to the shadows at his feet now, taking the form of obedient dogs as he let himself drift into thought. Now he let his full attention sway over them, where they perked up with ears straight and shady muzzles shut. Absent mindedly he let his hand drift over them, through them, and back into the empty air once more as their tails wagged and they stared up at their master, waiting. They were called when needed after all. What task would be set upon them this dark night? A perfect night with no light to rid them from existence, it was the ideal night for them to play.

"Lie down," came the slow drawl of the man that was the master, the shadows pooling around his feet once more, swirling and shuddering…ripples swimming at the edges before it cleared, like a massive mirror and the man smirked before his expression became one of indifference as he sank into a low bow.

"My Lord," he spoke clearly, obsidian eyes directed at the wall, not at the bundle that lay in the arms of the short fool of a man that could be seen in the reflection of the shadows. "I await your orders at…Hogwarts. What is it that you require?"

"Braeden…my most….loyal servant…" The hiss began from the bundle and the one called Braeden could just see the look of envy in the face of the small man that held his master. "Well done….well done…" once more the bundle rasped on and once more the tall figure standing among the shadows bowed graciously.

"Thank you…My Lord."

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Hogwarts certainly had never seen teenagers like this.

They ran down her halls, jumped off the moving staircases and whooped as they sparred on the grounds, without a care in the world. They were strong. That was clear; their magical auras issued waves of power so unique…so strong. Their presence within the school seemed to be a coming of change for all. Already it had begun…the simple changes, her students and teachers alike looking to these strange children…oh change would begin soon, the castle could sense it. Something would happen this year…unlike any other year since the very beginning.

It was through a night that dark skinned boy known as Alex allowed himself to drop the façade, the students of the school were asleep, there would be no one to hinder him if he was himself for a little while…surely the portraits would stay quiet if he asked them politely, yes? He needed a break. He needed a walk to clear his mind. They were still troubled by the aura that sparked from the diary, yet they had yet to figure out what to do with it. In no book in the library could they find the answers they sought, but one thing was for certain…they had to destroy it. It was too dark…its very existence seemed just…wrong.

Harry frowned, pushing the thought away as if it could bring the disturbing aura back to his mind; he was out and about to clear his mind, was he not? Not to trouble it with such thoughts… Maybe he should seek out James…the boy seemed to know the answer to most problems and this one being on subject of clearing his thoughts of such troubling ones, but no, the water elemental was sleeping, as his other companions were sleeping in the tower that had been allowed to them as a place to stay while residing at Hogwarts.

He would not bother them.

Instead he carried on in his walk, not bothered by teacher nor Filch or even Mrs. Norris the cat. He was alone, at least he thought; the portraits were sleeping, the corridor was silent.

It seemed nothing could ever prepare the elemental for the events that were about to unravel. He surely had not heard footsteps behind him, maybe he had been too deep within his own thoughts, his attention else where….but even so he should have been more on his guard, Aaron could tease him about such later, Sarah could lecture him, and Isaac and James would surely stand by to watch the two gang up on him.

No, he didn't notice the pair of footsteps before it was too late, finding himself in a head lock before emerald eyes looked up to discover the two redheads that had followed him.

"Wotcher Harry, tried to escape us, heh?" Fred, or was it George, spoke to him with a wide grin.

"We suspected as much," the twins said together.

"But it was," said George.

"A pleasant surprise," continued Fred.

"To find out we were right!" The two spoke as they broke out into Cheshire grins. All the while Harry had stared with his jaw slack before he forced his mouth to close once again and he had thought himself prepared for such sneak attacks….surely his friends had tried such attacks a million times already… Slowly but surely Harry squirmed out of their hold, standing before them now, and surprisingly almost as tall as them, maybe a few inches off as he squared his shoulders.

"How did you find me then?" If it was so possible Harry could have sworn that the two's grins became much, much larger in that moment as they brought out what appeared at first to be a simple parchment before they placed the tips of their wands against it.

"We solemnly swear we're up to no good."

In those words Harry was amazed as the parchment became a map. "The Marauder's map," the twins corrected him, he must have spoke his observation aloud.

"There are people…"

"It shows everyone," Fred cut him off with a laugh.

"All the time," George added.

"So even the wind could not mask me from the map…" Harry mumbled under his breath to the amusement of the twins, who had leaned in to capture what the younger boy spoke of.

"What do you mean by wind?" They questioned as one, to Harry's surprise once more, he really needed to stop letting his guard down…especially with the twins around like this.

"We had thought," George began.

"That you had," Fred continued.

"Been using a polyjuice potion," they ended together.

"Not exactly," Harry replied, "it's…a long story."

"It's still night." The twins responded.

"I suppose you'll just keep pestering me until I give you answers?"

"Of course," the two chirped to Harry's groan.

"Come on then."

Morning found the Weasley twins grinning like loons with the knowledge of where their ickle Harry had been for so long. The night had proven to be a long one and the twins had decided to stick around in the elemental's tower, accompanying and watching as they sparred in the early hours in the morning before joining them for breakfast.

"We still can't believe,"

"You get up,"

"So early in the morning," the twins spoke now as the group was content to dish breakfast for them as they spoke in cheerful conversation.

"Pah, it's not that bad!" Sarah chirped, the wind elemental had gotten along with the twins easily, happy to have more friends equally enthralled with quidditch as she was. "I find it nice to get up in the morning and get moving!"

"Sparring?" The twins questioned.

"Good training for the mind at body." Isaac answered with a nod.

"We wouldn't mind teaching you if you would like," James added to the redheaded twin's delights.

"Yes please!"

One certain brunette was missing from the Great Hall that morning as she searched through the library, already five books were open or discarded on a table she had found for herself in an out of the way part of the room. She was so close…she was sure of it! She almost had the answers…where had that book been? She was sure she had seen it before….There!

"Merlin….pure…elemental….magic," Hermione's eyes flashed through the pages as her finger pin pointed what she was looking for. Elemental….elementals….power of the elements! This was new knowledge to the Gryffindor book worm, who could hardly contain herself. She was sure she had finally pin-pointed the quintet…

The first known elementals since Merlin…

Fascinating.

A/N: And so the chapter ends! Oh my…shady figures in the shadows of Hogwarts, curious twins, training from the elementals and Hermione has found her answer, but how will this affect her other questions?

Hmmm….I see a cliff hanger!

Until next time,

-Green