After walking into the building, the elf stopped to survey his surroundings. Placing hands on his hips, Uiliam smiled vaguely to himself. ~What a lovely place,~ he thought to himself. ~Needs more windows.. but I suppose that it is meant to seem stuffy.. It *is* a school, after all.~

Walking into the Great Hall, the man once again stopped, clasping his hands behind his back. His long, wavy blonde hair moved with each slight stance, with each slight gesture. His eyes surveyed the people in the hall, those almond-shaped eyes searching for one half-elf.. that did not seem to be there. Shrugging broad shoulders, Uiliam walked deeper into the hall.

A deep green poet's shirt graced his torso, and a black vest shadowed the rich fabric. His pants were a deep brown, made of the softest leather, and his knee-high boots barely made a creak. His perfectly-pointed ears twitched at the sounds of forks and spoons, of knives and chatter. He graced each student with a level gaze, almost in scrutiny. The man seemed to glow faintly.

"Hm.. it appears my dear little Mahou is not here," he muttered to himself. He put a slender hand under his chin, rubbing it thoughtfully. His voice reminded one of proud wolves on the hunt, or a cool wind through a valley. "But there are so many.. humans.. here. And some.. not so human." He smiled to himself as his eyes graced over Piotr with a swoop, then settled on Nimue. He winked at her and turned them to the teacher's table. "It seems.. that a few have left."

Walking toward the table, Uiliam stopped, once more looking at the students. He noticed a few of them looking at him, and smiled at each one in turn. Putting some stray golden locks behind a delicate ear, standing in the middle of the Great Hall.

Students were beginning to leave for class and most of the staff had appeared to have left. Nimue had stayed at the Gryffindor table chatting to friends. She had wished a word with Anders to tell him the news about Mahou but he'd gone outside and she didn't want to trail around after him.

However, seeing him come back inside and heading back to the head table, she expected to see Dumbledore who was with a new student, she excused herself and intercepted him.

"Good morning, Mr. Grimalkin. Did the Headmaster keep you studying all night?" she said with a smile, "I'm just off to History of Magic class. Will you be around later? I have some good news to share."

Nimue had just gotten the words out of her mouth when she saw Uiliam Sparkstone. She recognised him from the picture that Mahou had been looking at a while earlier. He winked at her which was slightly disconcerting.

Anders ran a hand through his hair and grinned shyly at Nimue. "Not QUITE working all night," he said. "But I did fall asleep in his study. He and Dmitri have organised a few days off for me."

"Excuse me Anders. That is a friend of Mahou Amberstone's. He is an elf. I'd better tell him where she is."

Nimue approached the elf with a gracious smile. "Good morning. I am Elizabeth Hawkwood a classmate of Mahou Amberstone's. I am afraid Mahou has left for our first class of the day and Professor Dumbledore is currently with a new student. I am sure he won't be long if you'd care to wait?"

Anders glanced up when the elf entered the room and his dark brow furrowed in a slightly suspicious gesture. He had no way of knowing yet what had transpired between Nimue and Mahou that morning, and as a consequence was still very aware of the potential danger to his beloved Nimue.

As a consequence, he excused himself for the second time from the head table and strode purposefully over to stand beside her, saying nothing, but just making his presence felt.

Uiliam looked down at Nimue from his 6' height with a dashing smile. "There is something about you.." he started, then stopped, nodding his head. "I believe I shall wait. I did, after all, write to him first. So should it not be appropriate for me to wait?" He grinned again. "Elizabeth Hawkwood, eh? I am Uiliam Sparkstone." He nodded to her once, and only once, and that was barely.

Uiliam seemed to have a slight air of 'I’m better than you' about him. His eyes rarely met anyone's, and when he acknowledged someone, he did so like he would a child. Well, he WAS over one hundred..

Turning away from Nimue, Uiliam still spoke to her. "So, before you depart, miss, would you care to tell me a bit about this learning place? It seems.. rather.. adequate." He barely nodded in Anders' general direction.

Nimue was glad of Anders presence even though she realised after the fact that he might be concerned for her safety. However, Nimue reasoned that if Mahou had meant Uiliam to make up for her perceived humiliation in the forest, the half-elven girl would not have been so open at breakfast or left the Hall.

She also could tell that Uiliam Sparkstone was slightly curious about her. She expected this would soon pass as long as she did nothing to overly engage his interest.

Nimue's background had afforded her some experience with people who considered themselves 'superior' for reasons of wealth, position or lineage. Her father had counselled her at any early age that with such people (or beings) one should always be polite and respectful without being self-effacing.

She nodded politely, "Of course," , "it is appropriate that you should wait, Uiliam Sparkstone. I am certain the Headmaster will not be long."

She then addressed his question about Hogwarts, "The school was established over a thousand years ago some time before the turn of the millennium in the Common Era. Although a thousand years is a relatively short period of time for your peoples, in these lands it represents an unbroken tradition of education in the magical arts. The school does not discriminate between those born into families of magical lineage and those who are born with the pre-disposition towards magic to non-wizarding folk. Indeed, such people are seen to strengthen the magical community by reminding us that we live side-by-side and share this land with those who do not share our ways."

********

Marvo yawned. He had been up early to finish his report to the Ministry regarding some questions they had about the events in the woods.

He stretched and took a small marble from his pocket and popped it into his mouth. "mmm Nice." he said, mostly to himself. "Not as good as the real thing." He sighed.

Looking around he saw the elf arrive and was considering going over when he saw Nimue approach.

"Go for it Lizzy. Your always better with 'Those sort' of people"

He started to lightly butter some bread. "Elves. Should feel sorry for them really. Not able to cope with humans being better at relating to other than them. I hope Mahou's human side wins out" He bit into the bead and gave a small yelp!

Calling over a house elf he whispered to it. "Can you get me some low fat spread?"

Andy looked around and spotted Marvo. "Hello," he said. "Beautiful day isn't it?"

He inhaled deeply. The crisp air filled his lungs with life. He sat down next to Marvo. He reached for the bacon, but then thought of Marvo's "condition" so he went for an apple instead. "How are you, Marvo?" he asked.

"Andy! Hi. I'm fine that. a little" he yawned, "tired, but that will pass"

He smiled as Andy picked up the apple "So how are things with you? I've been doing a little research. Looking into way to solve you.. situation. Not a lot to report so far. a couple of possible spells to help lead me in the right direction. but a lot of research needed before I can perform them"

Marvo looked over the Elf. "Did you see we have a visitor? See the ears twitch? He's probably hearing everything we say. They have extremely good hearing you know."

He smiled over to the elf, "Maybe I'll go and introduce myself. Or maybe I won't. Depends if he's hear officially or not" He winked at Andy. "never a dull day in the life of a Auror. even in training"

Uiliam glances at Marvo, twitching his ears at the words of the boy. ~*No need to feel sorry for me, human,*~ he spat bitterly. He muttered under his breath, and in his own language.. which was more insulting than just saying it aloud. ~*Feel sorry for your own inadequacy.*~

Turning back to Nimue, Uiliam forced a smile at her politeness. He knew a trained one when he saw one. She was just being polite, he thought, to please him, and to make him think she was so well-mannered. ~Well,~ he thought, ~she is but human.~ Chuckling mentally, Uiliam smiled genuinely for a moment.

"Ah.. a thousand years is but a breath to some elves," he told her wistfully, with a touch of boredom in his musical accent. He didn't have the full Irish accent like Mahou. His was intermingled with the more prominent, harmonious, elfin accent. "I suppose some of the students are.. as you say.. Muggle-born? And some are but half like my dear sweet Mahou?" He smirked. "I wonder how this school could still be in existence," he mused, looking around.

He had obviously not meant that comment to any of the folks present. "If I had my way, it would be replaced, or at least repaired." Looking back at Nimue and the others, Uiliam seemed to have the expression like he had just recalled they were still there.

"Ah, yes, do you not have some little.. class you must attend to? Yes?" he said to them, his blonde brows raised. He clasped his hands behind his back again, leaning over a bit, as if speaking to a little girl. "You do not wish to be late, do you?" He flashed her a smile that would denounce insuperiority to any who would listen. Standing up straight, Uiliam further ignored the humans before him, looking around the Great Hall, a look of disdain on his face.

Of course, the elf had misread Nimue though he clearly was unaware of this. Nimue's manners were quite genuine and she just had no particular interest in pleasing Uiliam. His lack of interest in her didn't bother her in the slightest, in fact she was pleased by it. She could get on to her classes and if lucky snatch a few minutes with Anders.

"I would never say muggle-born sir but yes, a number of our students who attend comes from a such background and there are those like Mahou who have one parent born into a non-wizarding family."

Nimue thought his remark about Hogwarts was a strange one but declined comment. She had of course met Paula Amberstone briefly when she and Mahou's father Weatherlite had visited the school. Nimue briefly wondered how Paula had fared when meeting with Weatherlite's 'folk' if Uiliam Sparkstone was anything to go by.

"Indeed, we all have our first classes to attend, Uiliam Sparkstone as this is a school. May I advise Mahou Amberstone of your presence? I am certain she will be delighted to hear of your visit."

As she waited for Uiliam to notice her again, she gave a small reassuring smile to Anders.

Uiliam sighed audibly and turned toward Nimue, plastering another forced smile on his face at her 'bothering' him again. "If you would be so.. kind.. yes. I would like it if you would tell leannan that I am here. Mahou, if you could not have guessed." He scoffed, laughing a bit. "I would hardly call Weatherlite Amberstone 'non-wizarding'. Weatherlite is one of the best Elfin magick-users in Ireland. Mahou is lucky to have such lineage."

He stared at Nimue, his slanted eyes cool and collected, if not a tad bored. "Elfin magick is different than your kind," he said, 'your kind' dripping with a certain tone. "No silly wand-waving or such nonsense."

Nimue blushed slightly, "I meant no disrespect towards Weatherlite Amberstone, Uiliam Sparkstone. I may have misunderstood Mahou, I had thought her mother had been a muggle born witch."

He waved his wrist in dismissal at the lot of them. "Go one to your class, now. You do not wish to keep your professor waiting." He fully turned his body to the side, flashing them all a profile view of the athletic elfin body, obviously telling them the conversation was more than over.

The elf had obviously 'dismissed' them and not a moment too soon as far as Nimue was concerned. His disdain for those not of his 'kind' was apparent. She wondered if he was the source of Mahou's prejudice against humans.

She turned to Anders Grimalkin, "Are you free to walk with us to Professor Binns' class? I am sure Mahou's friend will entertain himself here waiting for Dumbledore."

Anders ripped his icy stare from the elf's back and turned to Nimue. "The pleasure would be mine, I am sure, Miss Hawkwood," he said, putting an arm somewhat protectively around her. He gave her an encouraging little hug of support, then let go of her, but slipped his hand around hers.

He didn't trust this elf at all.

Anders had struggled all his life to make something of himself and it was always the way with him. If someone put on 'superiority', his defensive streak came to the fore. He had a chip on his shoulder roughly the size of the Empire State about superiority. And it showed in his angry expression, an expression he was clearly fighting to keep under control.

"Let's go," he said, his voice taut and unnatural.

Uiliam was exceedingly glad when Nimue and company left him be. He didn't feel like dealing with humans right now, anyway. Not ever, really. Sighing softly, he looked directly at Marvo.

"Auror, eh?" he asked, clasping his hands behind his back again. "Yes, I can hear you just fine. Yes, my ears do twitch when something less-than-pleasing hits them. And, yes, Lord Headmaster Dumbledore does know that I am here. Now, if you do not mind.. boy.. will you kindly refrain from talking about me unless you are talking at me."

His eyes never turned from their calm pools, his voice never rose or changed from his bored tone, and his stance stayed as collected as always. Uiliam was a prime specimen of elf.. though.. the way he acted towards humans was a little severe.

His beautiful, thin face turned from the gnat known as Marvo and settled to look upon other things. He grazed over a group of Hufflepuff girls and they began to giggle audibly. Uiliam made no notion that he had noticed, of course, and just decided to see what else there was to see. The ceiling was a nice trick, though a bit mundane, so thought the elf standing below it. He would rather be in a building made out of marble, or just sitting under a tree conversing with the spirit therein. Tucking some lustrous blonde locks behind one ear, Uiliam waiting for Dumbledore.. with much impatience, though, of course, he let none of that be apparent.

*********

Hailey and Ali had dashed to the Ravenclaw common room, skidding precariously though the hallways in their sodden shoes.

They hurriedly changed into clean robes. Her voice muffled by her shirt, Ali asked, "Hailey, would you be a dear and tell me the time?"

Hailey was secretly relieved that Ali hadn't pieced together the cause of their recent mishap, and gladly pushed up her sleeve and glanced at her terribly Muggle digital wristwatch. "We have five minutes till class starts."

Ali wiped the last bit of syrup off her shoes and glanced up at Hailey, who was tying the laces of her running sneakers. While Ali suspected who was responsible for her sticky shoes, since she had just recently made up with the culprit it seemed better to let it lie. She sighed and said, "I don't think we're going to get to class on time."

"Second understatement of the year." Hailey rolled her eyes and grabbed her book bag, still speckled with corn flakes. Ali followed suit, absentmindedly brushing off some scrambled egg as the two of them skidded haphazardly through the corridors.

As Hailey ran pell-mell down the corridors, dodging students, she considered the weight of the bag hanging precariously over her shoulder. Swinging it in front of her, a quick glance at its contents confirmed her suspicions. She skidded to a halt and called, "Ali, I think I left my history book in the Great Hall!"

Ali zoomed passed her, then stopped suddenly, and turning to Hailey pointedly. "Are you sure? You are confident it's not back in our dorm?"

"I don't think..." She paused at the irritated look on Ali's face, and quickly amended, "I'm certain it's in the hall....but you don't have to come, I don't want to make you any more late for class."

"Hmmm....." Ali said, and began to think aloud. "Since the punishment is the same for five minutes late as 20 minutes late, I'm sure you could use the extra help finding it," she concluded as she began to head toward the great hall. <we're likely to get into a lot of trouble with Professor Binns, but at least Hailey isn't having to do it alone> she thought to herself.

Hailey sighed with relief. "Thanks, Ali, I owe you...again." Trying not to attract attention to themselves (as the hallways were now nearly empty because class had started) they moved as quickly as possible to the Great Hall. Upon walking through the doors, Hailey was so busy scanning the Ravenclaw table for her missing book that she didn't notice the tall, strikingly handsome man standing at the far end of the room. Her voice rather muffled because she was on her knees under the table, Hailey asked, "What is it that Professor Binns does to punish tardiness, anyway?"

Ali went over to the Hufflepuff table, noting that there were still several students left in the Great Hall, including an exceptionally tall, Arian-looking fellow. Thinking nothing of it, she began searching for the book where she had taken her spill. "I hear he makes students write dates over and over again, or even spells if they were mentioned in the lecture," Ali responded as the house elves began to clean up. "It's not here at this table."

Hailey groaned and rose to her feet. "Not over here, either....wait, found it!" She happily fished it out from beneath the Slytherin table, although it looked a bit worse for the wear. Stuffing it in her bag, she said, "So, since we're learning about that guy who created an artificial blizzard to stop invaders, we're going to have to repeat the spell for creating snowstorms? How useful."

She rolled her eyes and her wand dropped out of her bag, rolling to a stop a few feet away. As she bent to pick it up, she said absentmindedly, "What's the spell anyway, amplus ningo?" A single snowflake drifted onto her hand, and she looked up in confusion at the enchanted ceiling.

Ali had begun walking toward her absentminded friend as soon as she found the book. She reached Hailey just as she finished her question, and stared at her, mouth agape as she looked at Hailey's face, Hailey's wand, and back at Hailey again. Regaining her composure, she didn't break her horrified stare away from Hailey as she shouted, with surprising fierceness, "Everyone get under something, NOW!!!"

She grabbed Hailey's arm and pulled her under the table. "Yes, Hailey," she spoke in a low voice, "that is exactly what the spell was, congratulations." Snow began plummeting toward the ground.

********

Marvo winked at Andy and stood up in front of Uiliam giving a deep (and slightly mocking) bow.

" My humble apologies my Lord! Had the headmaster informed us that a member of 'The Gentry' was going to be visiting I'm SURE we would have arrange a much warmer welcome for you"

He straightened up pulling the front of his robes, "But I'm sure if you visit your relatives down in the kitchen, then you would get the reverence you deserve"

It's possible Marvo had more to say, but just then a snowflake landed on his nose and he looked up. "What?"

Uiliam's expression did not change when he laid eyes upon Marvo for the second time. He had an intense look of boredom in his steely eyes, and his beautiful face was calm and collected. "I assure, you, child, that the House Elves," he crossed his arms, "would be rather glad to see me. I would be sure that I would be a nice change from human orders."

He noted the evident sarcasm and acid. "I would hardly expect anything pleasant to come from you, child, and thus I shall stay in my frame of mind. I do hope that you, among all the humans in this place, are not speaking for them all? Because if you are.. I would say they need a new one. You are most insulting to look upon, and even moreso to listen to."

Uiliam looked up at the snow, holding a hand out like a fascinated boy, though his expression just flowered a smile and not the wide-eyed enjoyment. Snow was one of Uiliam's favourite things, so he just stood there, as it piled up around him, quite content with the silencing blanket of chilly freedom.

"Well 'Ancient one' Thankfully I do not speak for all" Marvo smile did however waver slightly at the mention of his 'looks'.

"well at least my looks are natural! And not some product of a para-pheromonal glamour. Now if you will excuse me. I have some 'mere-humans' to speak to. I am sure we shall speak later." Marvo did not bother to bow this time. he just turned and walked off.

As the blizzard started to fall harder Kat began ushering the remaining students out of the hall along with the other prefects. Fortunately many had already left for classes.

Ali was huddled in her autumn coat, the melting snow already seeping through her breaches. She heard the muffled shouting of students, and heard them scrambling to leave, so she assumed she and Hailey were going to be stuck there awhile.

Hailey was in a panic with the realisation that it truly was all her fault and the apparently renewed disgust from her friend. Ali sighed softly, a cloud of steam bellowing from her mouth and crooked nostrils, and interrupted Hailey mid-panic: "Well, I'm very impressed that you remembered that aspect of the lesson," Ali said, meaning for to be encouraging but sounding sardonic instead, "Do you remember the spell the opposing wizards used to cancel it out?"

"No!" Hailey squeaked. "He's supposed to cover that today." She swallowed convulsively and stared at Ali wide-eyed. "And I didn't do the reading."

"Neither did I," Ali replied, then took her tan hands out of there pockets and gave Hailey a reassuring hug, "Don't worry, all we have to do is skim through tonight's reading and we can stop the snow from falling. That way we'll only be in half the trouble." She said, feigning confidence that she almost never really felt, and threw Hailey one over her warmest smiles.

Hailey gulped again and nodded meekly, handing over her battered history book. Ali flipped it open and started skimming the pages, murmuring to herself. Looking over her shoulder, Hailey bit her lip nervously and tried not to hyperventilate.

"Snow storm of 73...evil sorcerer...amplus ningo...aha! Here it is, the counter-spell!" Ali exclaimed, and she began searching her bag for her blood-red wand.

Hailey sighed with relief and pulled out her own wand, grateful for something to do. She glanced at the book, then called out, "Pausa nimbus niverus!" Pausing, she looked at Ali and shrugged, then poked her head out from under the table. Hailey reappeared a few seconds later, grinning. "It worked."

Marvo looked around and saw Hailey and Ali under the table. He forced his way through the snow and knelt down beside them. He look straight at them. His right eye glowing a deep red

Turning her head at the sound of crunching snow, Hailey found herself face to face with a glowing red eye. She yelped and stumbled back, knocking into Ali.

"Hello. Hailey Daniels and Ali Bonavelli isn't it? I have a feeling you may have some explanation for this?" Marvo didn't look angry. It was possible there was a hint of amusement in his voice. But he did look a little scary.

Ali turned her head to view the speaker, and recognised his face instantly. His skin was soft and unwrinkled, which match the calm in his voice. However, after the startled yelp of her protector, she was unable to remain collective herself. "I'm s-s-s-sorry...we d-d-d-didn't mean to...w-w-w-we w-w-w-were late...f-f-f-f-forgot her b-b-b-b..."

"I forgot my book, so we came back to get it, and I accidentally picked up my wand when I was talking about the blizzard spell we're learning about in history, it was an accident, I'm sorry!" Hailey sputtered in a rush, unnerved by his gaze and the fact that he knew their names. After all, two average Ravenclaws aren't exactly well-known. They both climbed out from under the table, brushing the snow from their shoulders and staring at their feet.

Marvo looked puzzled for a moment. That was quite a powerful Spell, not one that should have been activated by just saying the words while holding a wand.

His eyes flicked over to the elf. He Smiled. "Oh I see. Well you should be more careful that that Hailey. You should know better by now. Still. No harm done, but I can't guarantee you won't lose any house points for it. Now. Come on. We'll be late for History of Magic"

He helped the two of them out from under the table and ushered them towards the door.

"I assume you know a drying spell?" He said, glancing at their wet robes.

As they walked out he gave one more glance at the Elf. *Curious* He thought. *Something to investigate*