Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay. I don't really have any excuse other than lack of will power! That, and an overload of new ideas spilling out of my head at inconvienient times of night! For those of you who read my Harry/Lucius fic, Starting Over, I am pleased to announce that I have started a sequel. I hadn't planned on writing one, until one reviewer pointed out that I had forgotten poor Remus and Sirius in the final chapters. After that, I found myself with brilliant ideas just waiting to be written! I hope you will be on the look out for it. It will be called Of Darkness and Light, although I have no clue when it shall be posted!

This chapter is dedicated to my cousin Adelle, who is totally awesome, and got me Kylie Chan autographs!!!! I love you Delzy!! Check out her fanfics here on ! Writing seems to run in the family!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters.

The Forest of Faeries

Chapter 3

"Grandfather Oak"

Albus's POV

I find this whole situation to be entirely fascinating. The Malfoy child seems to be most taken with young Harry, and Harry too seems most taken with Draco. Not, it seems, that he would care to admit it aloud.

As the guardian of this part of the forest, it is my duty to protect its inhabitants, and I must confess to some worry over Draco's fiancé. My sources tell me that she's not exactly the nicest girl around.

What sources you might ask? Well then here is your answer my dear friends! I am what they call a leszi, a shape-shifting dryad that protects the forest and its people. I am however, not the same as young Lilanthe. My powers come from extreme age and wisdom, rather than from birth and parentage. My sources are others of my kind, those in other parts of the forest. They that border the Parkinson lands do not speak highly of the young mistress, who has not been raised to respect the forest as master Draco has.

I fear that this relationship between Harry and the young Malfoy heir will not end well. Harry has not yet experienced what it is that makes most of our kind so frivolous in their liaisons. I believe that he understands that he will far outlive Draco and even Draco's descendants, but the difference between that understanding and the comprehension that comes with the experience are two very different things indeed. It saddens me what Harry will have to endure before he truly understands what it is to be faery.

I sense someone in the forest, or rather two someones. One I am able to identify as Draco, but the other is not someone I recognise, and it is a mortal so I must investigate.

My investigation reveals a young man with dark skin and hair tailing Draco into the forest. He was far enough behind that master Malfoy hadn't realised he was being followed. Now that wouldn't do at all! Unless this stranger was accompanying master Malfoy, I could not allow him to enter the forest. I'll admit to being remiss when I allowed Draco to find the glade. I had recognised him as a Malfoy and had allowed him into the forest. Never had I expected that he would find the glade. I would not make that mistake a second time.

I waited in tree shape, hidden in shadows until Draco passed by me, and out of sight of the other boy. I shifted back as the boy came around the corner towards me, using my powers to confuse the boy on to a path of my choosing. It was most amusing to watch his confusion as another path appeared out of the fog almost before his eyes. Chuckling to myself, I used my powers to make him follow me. No doubt he thought it was still Draco he was trailing. Reaching the end of the trail, I concealed myself again, changing back into my tree shape. I laughed, which in tree shape results in quivering branches, as he looked around in shock. I had led him back out of the forest and into the grounds of Malfoy Manor! I heard him voice his confusion in a bewildered tone as he made his way back towards the manor. My work was done for now, but I had a feeling he would be back.

I was right. The following evening, I sensed Draco and the other boy behind him. Once again I led the boy back to the manor, I chortled loudly as he cursed and stormed back towards the manor. Even as I laughed I knew that this would be a regular occurrence for a while, although I suspected that it wouldn't be long before Draco gave in to his friend and allowed him to accompany him on his nightly visits to us. Personally, I was looking forward to it.

What can I say? I'm complicated! Now if you'll excuse me, there's a woodsman north of here cutting down a Rowan tree without permission, and I have some wrath to visit upon him!

Normal POV

A carriage pulled by two chestnut horses travelled briskly down the main street of the village. The villagers lined the streets, knowing that this had to be master Draco's fiancé. All were hoping for a glimpse of the girl who was to be their lady, but the drapes across the carriage windows stayed firmly shut.

Sandrilene, the village seamstress and the stitch-witch from whom Draco commissioned his attire, nudged the blacksmith's apprentice, a tall black girl in sturdy, soot smeared clothing. "Well Daja, this looks promising, doesn't it?" she said sarcastically.

"Yes." Daja replied wryly as the crowed dispersed with an ill-contented murmur. "Somehow I pity Draco."

"No wonder he doesn't want to marry her." Sandrilene said primly. "If she won't acknowledge us, her future subjects, she won't sit well with Draco at all!"

"Or with Lord Lucius and Master Severus." Daja added. "I'd love to know what happens up at the manor."

Sandrilene grinned. "We've got it covered, remember?" she reminded her friend.

Daja returned her grin. "Ah yes, I'm sure the manor servants will keep us posted."

* * *

Pansy Parkinson sniffed disdainfully as the village surrounding her future husband's manor came into view, and pulled the heavy curtains across the windows. This was nothing like the opulence of the town surrounding her home. Still, she was positive that her future husband would more than make up for their dismal surroundings.

Pansy had grown up knowing she was going to marry Draco Malfoy. She had never laid eyes on him personally, and had only ever seen photographs of the young man that her mother had betrothed her to at birth. Ever since her mother had first given her a photograph of her intended, Pansy had been in love with him; or rather, in love with the idea of him. Not that she could tell the difference between the two. No, Pansy was convinced that she and Draco would be madly in love for the rest of their lives.

She didn't realise how short-lived her dream would be.

She arrived at the manor gates at precisely two 0'clock, and opened the curtains to watch as the coach pulled up the large driveway. From her seat she could see the Malfoys waiting for her arrival. Arriving at the bottom of the drive, she stepped out of the carriage with the assistance with her footman. Looking up, her eyes rested on Draco for the first time.

Draco shuddered as the girl ascended the steps, and forced himself to think of Harry. That made facing her easier; the mere thought of the dark haired dryad made his heart race and brought a smile to his lips. If Lucius and Severus noticed the abrupt change in his demeanour from where they stood on either side of him, they said nothing.

The girl curtsied gracefully. "Lord Malfoy, it is a pleasure to meet you at last." She said to Lucius.

Lucius returned her curtsey with a small bow of his return. "Miss Parkinson, the pleasure is all ours." He said, but Draco was fairly certain that was a blatant lie. He could've sworn he heard Severus snort under his breath. Getting a proper look at his fiancé, he could see she had a pug nose and a somewhat squashed face, set under a curtain of thin dark hair that hung loose around her shoulders, draped in what Draco assumed was supposed to be an alluring manor. Instead, it only served to make her look like something crossed between a prostitute and a banshee. Her heavy makeup only succeeded in completing the look. The mental image the thought produced made Draco want to snigger.

He was broken out of his disdainful appraisal of the girl by a sharp nudge to his ribs that came somewhat less than subtly from Severus. He copied his father's minute bow, and cringed as he spoke. "Miss Parkinson, it is an honour to meet you at last." He said politely, if a little distantly.

"I'm sure." She simpered, "As it is a pleasure to meet you too, Draco."

This time, Draco managed to suppress the shudder, but just barely. "If you will, my lady, I would like to show you around the manor." He offered belatedly, following another nudge to the ribs, from Lucius this time.

She giggled. He winced. Wonderful, a giggler. "I would be honoured." She said primly.

Reluctantly, Draco offered her his arm, picturing Harry once again as he lead the rather revolting girl into the manor.

Leading her into the lobby of the manor, he saw her look around with distaste, although she made no comment, for which he was eternally grateful. However, he knew it would only be a matter of time before she made some comment. He was aware that she only refrained from doing so because she was in the presence of his father, and it would be rather a large faux pas to insult the Malfoy ancestral home in front of the manor's lord. Unfortunately for Draco, his father took that moment to announce his leave. "If you will excuse me Miss Parkinson," he said cordially. "I have some work that I must attend to." He bowed to the girl, before turning towards his office and walking away, Severus followed him with a raised eyebrow in Draco's direction.

They don't like her either. Draco realised suddenly.

Climbing the stairs, Draco and Pansy met Blaise as he was coming out of his room. "Draco!" he greeted cheerfully, before noticing the girl beside him, "You must be Miss Parkinson." He bowed slightly, a sentiment she returned with an equally miniscule curtsey. "How do you find Malfoy Manor so far?" he asked her.

"It is an interesting place. But seems rather unexciting, don't you think?" she replied, and Draco suppressed the urge to smack her.

"On the contrary, Miss Parkinson, I find the Manor and the surrounding area to be quite beautiful." Blaise told her. "Especially compared to the moors where I grew up. Dreary, desolate place if you ask me."

Draco smiled gratefully at his best friend behind the girl's back, and saw the other boy's lips twitch upward in an almost imperceptible grin. Turning to the girl, Draco said. "Would you like to see the gardens, Miss Parkinson?"

The girl's nose turned up, crinkling in distaste. "I think not. I fear that the sun is bad for my complexion. Gardens are to be viewed only from windows."

Gods! Draco thought. Could this girl be any shallower? "In that case, perhaps I can show you to your rooms?"

"Yes." Pansy tittered. "I should like to freshen up before dinner."

Never mind that dinner is hours away. Draco thought wryly. He nodded to Blaise and escorted Pansy to the room the House Elves had prepared for her. "I shall see you tonight, Miss." Draco said politely.

Pansy giggled. "Indeed you shall." She replied coquettishly. She looked around the lands. "It's rather dreary here. When we're married, I'm going to brighten this place up!" she gushed. "I know we're going to be very happy together!" Draco shuddered, scared for the décor of the manor, and his family's sanity. No way in hell was he marrying this superficial cow. Harry's face blazed through his mind once more, and for a brief moment, he entertained the thought of what it would be like to marry the beautiful young dryad.

Later that night, after dinner, and after leaving Pansy at her door, he returned to his own room to find Blaise leaning against his door.

"So that's her." Blaise said. It was a statement, not a question.

Draco sighed. "That's her." He agreed grimly. He filled Blaise in on what she had said about their future.

"I guess I was wrong about her not wanting to marry you." Blaise commented.

Draco grimaced. "I would say that that is the biggest understatement of the century!"

Blaise chuckled, despite the seriousness of the situation. "Yes, and I could tell that your fathers are just as thrilled with her as you are. I got the distinct impression that Lucius would've liked nothing more than to put her on the first carriage home."

"Him and me both." Draco said wryly. "Did you hear her complaining about the décor? Her only saving grace was that father wasn't there to hear her."

"And you have all these gardens, and she couldn't have given a toss."

"Good." Draco said fiercely, thinking of Harry for the thousandth time that day. The gardens and the woods were theirs, keeping Pansy away was an added bonus. He put his hand in his pocket, his fingers closing on the ring box. He wondered when he'd gather the courage to give it to him, and felt a sudden desperate need to see the beautiful dryad.

"I'm going to go for a walk." He told his friend. "Clear my head a bit."

"I wish you'd tell me where you keep going every night." Blaise said, disgruntled.

"I can't tell you Blaise. Not yet, anyway." Draco replied. "And there's no sense in following me either." he added pointedly, and Blaise had the grace to look sheepish. "So you will tell me eventually?" he asked.

Draco sighed. "Truthfully Blaise, I don't know if I'll ever be able to tell you." He answered. "It's not really my secret to tell."

Blaise groaned. "Now you've really got me curious!"

Draco laughed, and waved goodbye to his best friend before sneaking out of the manor and heading towards the forest.

Harry looked up and smiled the moment Draco entered the clearing, his smile becoming even tenderer when he saw the blond boy stop and speak with Neville. He was amazed at how well the Malfoy heir had assimilated with the Faeries of the Forest. It was like he was supposed to be here, with Harry.

Standing, the young dryad made his way towards the blond human a smile still gracing his features. His heart glowed when the taller man smiled back at him. Draco said goodbye to Neville, and followed Harry to a secluded corner of the glade, waving to Hermione, sitting over the other side with Ron and Lilanthe, as they went.

"So," Harry said after a moment. "Today was the day."

Draco nodded. "It was." he replied.

"How did it go?" Harry asked.

Draco groaned. "It was awful." He whimpered. "The girl is revolting."

Harry couldn't help but laugh at the dramatic, rather disgusted look on Draco's face. "Surely she wasn't that terrible?" he soothed.

"Oh, but she was!" Draco exclaimed, and proceeded to tell Harry about the entire disastrous day.

When he was done, Harry took his hand. "But you aren't really planning to marry her, are you?" he asked curiously.

"Gods no!" Draco shuddered. "I never had any intention of doing so!" Harry felt a strange sense of relief flood through him.

"The thing is," Draco said seriously, looking into Harry's vivid green eyes. "The only thing I could think about all day, was you." Harry gasped. "And when I was going to be able to see you again." Draco finished.

Harry was at a loss for words, so he simply smiled radiantly up at the blond, a gesture that took Draco's breath away. They sat together in silence for a long time, simply enjoying each other's company, and their close proximity.

Draco walked up the front stairs to Malfoy manor shortly before dawn, and was surprised to find his father waiting for him when he stepped into the Entrance Hall.

"Draco." Lucius greeted him.

"Father." Draco returned the greeting. The look in his father's eyes confused him; a look of understanding that made Draco wonder if his father knew what he was doing in the forest every night.

"You've been out late every night recently." Lucius said.

"I find it difficult to sleep." Draco replied.

"You should be careful in the forest Draco." his father told him gently.

"And why is that father?" Draco asked quietly.

"Things are different in the forest then they are out here, my son." Lucius said.

"I am aware of that father. I know what I'm getting into." Draco assured him.

"I merely remind you that time passes differently for them than it does for us." Lucius responded. "I do not wish to see you get hurt."

Draco had no doubt as to whom the them his father was referring to were. "Thank you father, I'll keep that in mind." He said simply.

"That's all I ask, Draco." Lucius replied. "Now get some sleep."

Lying in his bed fifteen minutes later, Draco could only think of Harry.

So? What does everybody think? Please leave a review. The next chapter will have more quality Harry/Draco time in it, as now I've gotten all the preliminary stuff out of the way! Look forward to hearing from you all!