Elia had retired to her bed after the encounter with Rita Skeeter. Now Elia was dreaming. There was something unusual about this dream. It seemed so real....

There were wolves running through the forest. Elia was outside Hogwarts and could hear them as they drew closer. They were howling. The night was clear and she could easily see dark shapes in the trees.

One of them separated from the pack and came towards her. It was a cream coloured wolf. He yellow eyes glowed in the starlight. He was a strong young wolf and had an air about him that told her that he was the leader of this wolf pack.

He sat in front of her, and as she looked at him, her vision blurred a little, and there before her stood Randal, his blond hair waving in the wind and his yellow eyes sparkling in the starlight.

"Hello, Elia. I hope you don't mind me intruding like this. This is a real dream, and you will remember it when you wake up. I am able to create dreams like this, only I don't tell everyone."

He smiled at her and shuffled a little. "I, er... thought this would be a good way to ask you... if, um... you'd like to go to the Valentine Feast with me? That is if you're not already spoken for..."

Randal waited to see what she would say.

Elia looks acutely embarrassed, and looks down at her bare feet. "I... umm... no, I'm not going with anyone..." She looks up and smiles. "Yes, I'd like to go with you."

She looks around at the forest, and at the other wolves, looking slightly bemused. "This is really odd," she murmurs, "but very nice." She smiles again. "You're an animagus? Or is it just the dream?"

"Thank-you." Randal blushes.

He wonders how to answer Elia's questions. "This is just a dream to you. I have the ability to walk the dream world as a wolf." He starts to look embarrassed, wondering if Elia really meant animagus or if she like so many others actually thought that horrible name... Werewolf...

Elia nods, apparently believing Randal, and looks down at her shabby pyjamas. "Couldn't you have dreamt me something a little nicer?" she asks, grinning.

Randal looked apologetic, "Sorry."

Elia's clothing immediately turns into an amazing pale blue satin dress. There is an embroidered panel in the front, and the skirts are full and run down to the grass that she is stood on. On her feet are delicate satin slippers that are managing not to get wet even though the ground is damp.

"Is that better? You look stunning in it."

Elia laughs quietly. "Wow." She looks down, absolutely amazed. "Wow," she repeats, grinning. "Thank you."

"I better go now. Never know where that sister of mine might be." He stopped and an idea flickered into life...He pulled a blade of grass, same as the first time they had met, and transformed it into a red rose. Only this rose had no thorns...

"Here." He gives her the rose and smiles. "I will see you tomorrow." Then he seems to blur again, and the cream wolf lopes back into the forest.

When Elia awakes in the morning, she will find that she is still holding the rose - proof that the dream was real.

In Another Time, Another Place

As the young House Elves sat around the fire they stared up at the Elder House Elf with bated breath, waiting….just waiting....finally, When he was sure he had their undivided attention, he began.

"It was long ago, in the land of Hogwarts. Many of our people were there for the Master was good and kind and there was lots of work for all"

Some of the younger House Elves went 'ooh' at the thought of this paradise.

The Elder House Elf put up his hand for silence. "But then came… The Tribbles!"

Gasps of horror came from all around the fire and he waited for the excitement to settle before continuing. "Horrible they were, making their music everywhere and leaving their fur and not knowing how to clean up!" More gasps of horror.

"We gathered up all we could and put them in as many places as was possible, but for every one we cleans, a hundred more would make a mess!" Again, gasps.

"So we gathered together, at the mid of night and made our plans. And so the Great Tribble Hunt of 2001 came into being, and long have our people spoke of the bravery and courage of our people on that night….dusting was left, plates from dinner unwashed, clothes left unironed, even the floor was upswept!"

A small young House Elf gave out an 'eeek' and fell faint to the floor at the very thought of such blasphemous behaviour from the Elves. He was quickly carried off by an elder.

"A long night it was, full of danger, for no room in the land of Hogwarts was to be left unchecked, for if even one Tribble was to remain, then it would all be for nothing."

He paused to clean a speck of dust from the floor. "So we gathered, and gathered and Gathered, all the time having to ignore the dust and the fur and the… then washing up!"

Another young Elf fainted away and was quickly 'cleaned up'.

"Then just as the first light of dawn began to rise we looked upon the land of Hogwarts and found it empty of all those dreaded creatures. Once more the might of cleanliness had defeated the dreaded dirty" Cheers. He smiled down at the crowd gathered around him.

"Wise one? What did they do with the Tribbles? Sir?" A young House Elf, eyes wide as saucers asked.

"Ah, my dear. That is in itself another story entirely!" He patted her on the head. "Now my children. Go now and clean up. For remember, one day, if you're not good and you don't do what your Master says….. One day the Tribbles may come back for you!"

Fear ran through the crowd and they scurried off, picking up every scrap they found as they do.

So ends the tale of the Great Tribble Hunt.

Present Time

The next morning at Hogwarts there is not a Tribble to be found anywhere within or without the school and its grounds.