I Came Home For This?

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. If you will excuse me, I will go cry in my room now.

Summary: Harry has won the war, and now wants to return home. But home is not at Hogwarts, and definitely not at the Dursley's. Does Rivendell ring a bell? Meet the family, along with new adventures and a surprise appearance. Elf!Harry will be slash later.

Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction, so I want you to be critical about it and tell me what you think. Just don't be too mean about it. Also, don't be mad if I don't update right away. I have to write a story for World History as well.

CH 1: Yes, I Am An Elf

Harry whistled as he strolled down the halls to Dumbledore's office. He had every right to do so. Voldemort was dead, only a few people had died (and certainly no one he knew, though he still prayed to Mandos for them), and for the first time in his life, he finally felt free. As a young boy, his father had thought it best to tell his son of his destiny and prepare him for it. At the Dursley home, he wasn't even welcome, let alone free. Coming back to this world, he was burdened right from the beginning with protecting it. Now he could go home and live life the way he wanted to. Well, within his father's rules. It didn't bother him though.

"War Heads," Harry told the stone gargoyle. He jumped on the moving staircase, knocking on the wooden door when he reached it.

"Come in." Was the muffled answer. Walking into the room, Harry watched Dumbledore as he stroked Fawkes near the window, watching the kids below. Since Voldemort had been defeated two weeks ago, Harry had noticed a lightening to the old man's shoulders. He seemed more at ease as the shadow Harry had always seen darkening Dumbledore's brow (though no one else seemed to notice it) disappeared. "Ah Harry, what can I do for you?"

"I wanted to say goodbye." Dumbledore nodded, expecting it to happen a lot sooner.

"I was wondering when you would come. I would ask you to stay, but I know I cannot keep you. Your home calls to you like the sea calls to your kin. You miss your family. Anyone would, being away as long as you have. Can I persuade you to stay another month, maybe two? You belong here as well, just as much as your home." The young wizard was already shaking his head.

"No, Professor. Like you said, I miss my family and have been parted from them long enough. I do not belong here. I never have. Here," Harry pulled a book out of his leather sack. It was old and bade of brown leather-bound parchment. The pages had turned yellow and crinkly with use. "It contains some spells and the history of the magic of Arda. The magic there is quite different, more difficult to grasp. I thought it might interest you." Harry smiled as Dumbledore pulled him into a hug. "I will miss you, you know."

"So will I," The aging wizard whispered. "So will I."

Hermione impatiently tapped her fingers on the table as she watched her boyfriend down a butterbeer. Ron and she were waiting at the Three Broomsticks for their best friend. The red-head found nothing wrong with this, but the bushy haired girl was worried. She had often found Harry staring of in the distance in the last couple months, especially when the Dark Lord was defeated. Truthfully, he looked lonely. Was he thinking about Sirius again? She had thought the eighteen year old had gotten passed that. Had he lost someone in the war? The last she remembered, Harry hadn't known anyone who had died other then Sirius and Cedric. Hermione was interrupted from her musings when Ron elbowed her.

"Look, there he is," Ron was frowning. "What is he up to?" Hermione frowned as well. Harry was dressed weird. He was no longer wearing his customary jeans and t-shirt. He was wearing black leggings with knee high brown boots. The boots had no heal to it, offering the foot little protection from the hard ground. A burgundy tunic stretched across his torso, showing well toned muscles. A jet-black braid decorated each side of Harry's wild shoulder-length hair, dark blue and silver beads keeping them in place. He carried a weathered leather sack with him, the one Hermione only saw him use when he planned to travel somewhere during the summer or winter breaks. He made his way over to their table smiling, ignoring all the stares.

"Plan to join the traveling circus, mate?" Ron asked. Harry smile again as he shook his head, but Hermione noted it didn't reach his eyes. Ron noted it as well. "What's up?"

"I'm going home." Ron chuckled, stopping abruptly when he saw Harry's serious face.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione was confused. Harry had never settled down anywhere. He went to Hogwarts most of the year and when school wasn't in session, he would travel. He never went to the same place twice. He had gone to the States, New Zealand, Japan, India, Brazil, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, and who knows where else before Hogwarts.

"I never told you about my life before Hogwarts. It was assumed that I traveled a lot before Hogwarts because I did it a lot during the Hogwarts' year. I said nothing about it because I preferred it that way. In actuality, I rarely traveled. I had a home, still do, far away from here."

"Well, that's alright then," Ron laughed again. "You can apparate back and forth like you usually do."

"No Ron," Harry sighed. "Did I ever tell you guys about the Dursleys?" The two opposite him shook their heads. "Well, Petunia Dursley was my mother's sister. She married Vernon Dursley and had a son named Dudley. I was sent to them when my parents were killed. They hated magic and anything that had to do with it. I don't have any pleasant memory of them. My earliest memory is when I burned my hands on the stove making them breakfast because I could not see over the stove. My aunt yelled at me for that and I had no food for a week.

"One day when I was four, almost five, my uncle came home extremely drunk. I think it had something to do with a business deal gone wrong. I remember seeing so much anger in his eyes. I seriously thought I was going to die," At this point Harry's voice trailed off as his eyes watched the memory again. Hermione was trembling, Ron was pale. The dark haired wizard shook his head and smiled weakly at them. "I was frightened. I kept on wishing, 'get me out of here' and 'will someone please love me?' The next thing I knew, I was standing in front of a fluttering blue veil in a cold stone room."

"The Department of Mysteries," Hermione whispered. Harry nodded.

"I didn't know that at the time. I heard people coming, so panicked, I ran behind the veil, hoping to hide. I ended up in Arda, my home. I got a new start with a loving family. My brothers, Elladan and Elrohir, found me. They took me to my parents, Elrond and Celebrian. I also have a sister named Arwen and two uncles named Erestor and Glorfindel. My very first friend is Legolas. I love them all dearly, like I love you guys," Ron and Hermione were relieved. Harry had mostly grown up with a loving family.

"That's great, mate. When do we get to meet them?" Harry shook his head.

"You don't. The only reason I was able to survive going between the two worlds was because I was young enough to be changed. If I hadn't, I would not have been able to withstand the shock."

"What do you mean changed?" Hermione inquired, suspicious. Harry murmured under his breath. The change was minimal, but enough to shock both of his friends. His ears became pointed, the bones in his face more defined, his skin a little softer and paler. He looked younger, like he had not yet grown out of the childhood phase of life, though he was still rather tall, standing at 5 feet 11 inches, and having toned muscles. The most shocking was his magical power. Hermione and Ron have always been aware that Harry was strong, physically and magically. Now his magic felt almost tangible.

"You're an elf," Ron gasped.

"Yes."

"Why do you look so…so childish?" Harry smiled and laughed a little.

"Because I am still a child, really an elfling. I will reach my majority in a few centuries." Even his voice had changed. It sounded musical now, low and smooth.

"You're an elf," the red head repeated. Harry gave him a weird look and nodded slowly.

"Yes, I am an elf."

"You are not human."

Exasperated, Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ronald, we already discussed this and are moving on from the topic." She turned back to face the green-eyed wonder. "Will we ever be able to see you again?" Sadly, he shook his head.

"It is painful beyond belief. I only came back because I had a duty to this world. I don't believe I could live if I tried to travel back and forth regularly. Understand," he paused and gave them a small glare when they tried to interrupt. "Understand that you two are very important to me. You guys are my only family here. But I have to go back. My family needs me there. I need them just as much. I could not stand staying here just to watch all my friends here grow old and die, though I know it is selfish of me. I feel so empty here. I never truly belonged here, and I don't believe I ever will."

It was silent as the couple mulled the words over in their heads. Ron was the one to speak. "We understand, mate. It's still hard though." Hermione nodded in agreement, tears glistening in her eyes. She jumped to her feet to engulf Harry in her arms, himself hugging back just as tightly. Ron joined in as well. The trio could not stop a few teardrops from escaping. All they could do was try to make the moment last.

Harry panted as he landed on the hard ground, exhausted as autumn leaves rustled around his shivering body in the slight breeze. He smiled though his head felt like a dwarf decided to see if he had any jewels inside his head and his bones ached. Lets hope those twin miscreants are able to find me again this time.