My internet has been screwed up. It's quite irritating. New chapter! Closer to Hogwarts and therefore closer to Draco/Harry! Yay!
He was going to Hogwarts; the school he could have attended for the past six years, the place his parents met, and the place where everyone would have known him as the Great Harry Potter.
Airion was happy he hadn't led that life.
After the trip to Diagon Alley, Airion was busied with final training. He had completed his animagus form and he had had his final assessment in manual, sword, and bow fighting. He learned all he could in earth and water elemental magic and Severus was happy in his magic casting. He was far past a seventh year; he was as good as Severus and had finally defeated him in a duel. That was when Severus decided he had taught Airion all he could.
Airion and Eccaia would be taking the train with Draco.
He didn't want to leave.
This was his home. He couldn't imagine living anywhere else, let alone considering it 'home'.
He went to his favorite garden the morning that they were leaving. He was barely past sunrise but Airion needed this.
"I will come back to you. You are my home. I will stop this so that you won't have to deal with any more war. I will do whatever I have to in order to protect you." He said as he rested his hands and his cheek against his tree's hard trunk.
He would not let Voldemort destroy all he came to love in this world. He had taken away his parents. He had taken away his chance at a normal life. He would not take away the one place he loved above all else.
He said his final goodbyes and walked back to his rooms to get his luggage and to meet up with Eccaia.
He met Neci on the way up.
"How are you, Cugu?" she asked as she wrapped her arm around he brother.
"I'm alright I suppose. I do not want to leave." He said leaning his head on her shoulder because even though she was a woman, she was also an elf, and elves were naturally tall creatures. That was besides the fact that Airion was quite short for his age.
"Yea, but it's only for a year, plus I'm sure you can come back for winter and spring break. Also, Draco and Eccaia will be there so you won't be alone. Sev will be there too, don't forget." She went on as she attempted to comfort him. Airion only shrugged and sighed.
After long goodbyes and tears from Vanya, the four of them left. Severus was taking them to the train station and then, unhappily, taking the train with the students to Hogwarts.
They were taking a portkey that Dumbledore had acquired for them and they would be arriving in a remote corner of the station.
"So we run through a wall?" Airion asked after they had arrived. He still looked a little green though, the portkey had not agreed with his stomach.
Draco nodded, "Yea, It allows wizards to find the platform."
"Uhm Draco, I'm not a wizard." Eccaia said looking worried.
"Anyone with magic in them can pass through." Severus broke in suddenly as he continued to user them towards the wall.
One by one they went through.
After Severus had ushered them on the train he stalked off to find himself an empty compartment, there were much too many annoying brats running around, why couldn't they all be like Airion? He seemed so mature for his age, even compared to Draco.
The three of them were once again alone.
"Well, I should head over to the prefects compartment, I'm Head Boy this year" Draco said proudly as he attached the pin to his chest.
Airion personally thought it looked cheesy and boastful, but who was he to criticize wizarding customs.
"You guys can go find an empty compartment; I'll find you after I finish taking control of them." He said and walked off, flipping his hair as he walked away.
Airion and Eccaia shared a look and smirked at the arrogant blonde's attitude. No matter how hard the boy attempted to seem cool and superior, the two elves had witnessed him screeching like a girl when a worm had been placed in his hand by Airion, who had been trying to share his love of nature.
The boy was terrified by small, harmless worms.
It was utterly hysterical.
The blonde attempted to play it off, but Airion and Eccaia could not take him seriously after that.
The three had become even closer as the summer had progressed. Vanya and Rilien had begun a courtship, and therefore had less time to spend with the three.
Airion and Eccaia had both been unsurprised by the development, but they were happy for their friends. Hopefully the relationship worked out and the two would be happy together, but Elvish courtships usually lasted two to three years, so the relationship could change.
During the time that Rilien and Vanya had spend courting, Draco, Airion, and Eccaia had spent their time getting to know each other.
Surprisingly, Eccaia, the bookworm, and Draco, the egocentric pretty boy, had become very close. It scared Airion slightly. The blonde boy had brought out the girly side of Eccaia that Airion had never seen before. Draco had even given her a make-over, not much, but enough that now she seemed more mature and less of a girl who spent her time with healing books.
Now standing alone in the hall of the train where more children seemed to swarm, the two made their way to a compartment.
They entered but found themselves not alone.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I thought it was empty, we will just leave." Airion said as he began to turn to leave. A heavy hand landed on his shoulder
"Airion wasn't it? Remember me? You don't have to leave, join us!" Airion turned to see the red head that he had met at the book store.
"Oh! Hello, Ron, right?" Airion said, smiling as he sat in a vacant seat, Eccaia following his motions. Ron sat down also, next to a shy looking brown haired boy.
"Yea, this is Neville Longbottom." Ron said pointing to the boy as he fished for something in his pocket and soon pulled out what seemed to be a small, brown frog.
"Hello Neville. I'm Airion and this is Eccaia. We are from an Elvish village and we are spending the year at Hogwarts." Airion said, still looking curiously at the animal, which Ron now seemed to be trying to eat.
"Don't eat that! It's just a poor creature!" Airion cried as the boy finally shoved the frog in his mouth. Ron looked at him oddly.
"Mate, that was a chocolate frog, it's candy." He sputtered around a mouthful of chocolate.
Airion seemed horrified. "Why would they make animal shaped candy? Especially if they act alive!" He asked as he turned even paler than he originally was.
"Iuno, just do I s'pose" Ron said shrugging. Airion still looked slightly sick, he had never eaten meat before, let alone a fake, candy animal.
"So," Ron asked as he wiped his hands on his trousers, "are you guys going to be sorted?"
"I do not think so. I'm pretty certain we will just have rooms to ourselves. I am not here for classes; I have come in order to search for what we elves call our heartmate." Airion said and Ron seemed satisfied.
"Ah, well I can not wait for you to meet Mione, she's Head Girl this year. She's my best friend, besides Nev here of course." Ron said, elbowing Neville in the shoulder
"Ah, our friend is Head Boy." Airion said with a smile on his face thinking about how excited Draco had been about getting the badge, but he wouldn't be one to make him lose his happiness.
"Really? Well hopefully you can meet Hermione later. Ron, didn't you say you'd help me search for Trevor?" Neville, who hadn't really spoken yet, asked Ron, a pleading noise evident in his voice.
Ron looked disappointed but sighed and stood, "Yea Nev. Listen, I'm going to go help Nev search for his toad who got away from him, we'll see you at the sorting." Ron said as the two boys stood and left the compartment.
"Well they are quite different." Eccaia said finally as she pushed her long hair behind her ear. Airion nodded.
"Yea, but they seem friendly. I have a feeling they don't like Draco though. Draco seemed to really hate the fact that I met Ron at the Alley. I hope I got through to him, but you know how hard headed that boy can be." Airion said as he pulled out his sketch book as Eccaia picked up her thick book on Healing which Airion had bought her for her birthday.
Airion loved to draw. It was something that Neci and he bonded over. When he had been a small child, still terrified of the new world where he lived, Neci would take him into the forest and they would draw.
She allowed him to finger paint and then he moved to scribbles. Yet as the years went on she taught him the finer details. His favorite was charcoal. Neci preferred acrylics and pastels like many elves, yet Airion thought black and white seemed to have more depth. He would miss his sessions with her. It had been one of the few escapes from his hectic schedule that he had the past summer.
Currently he was sketching Eccaia, eyes narrowed in concentration, book open, finger posed over it anticipating the moment that she could turn the page and continue on the next page. She was sitting cross legged and the sun was shining behind her.
Eccaia was one of his favorite models. For many years he had sketched most of the community, the elves content to aid him in his hobby, yet his favorites were Eccaia, Neci, and Severus. He had even managed to find Neci and Severus curled up on a couch in Neci's room, hands intertwined. That had been an amazing sketch, yet he knew what to keep silent, and hadn't shown anyone, even them two.
He wanted to draw Draco, but he hadn't had the courage to ask.
Speaking of Draco, the door slid open to reveal the blonde aristocrat, a blonde who seemed to be fuming.
"I can't stand that Dirty Mudblood. I just want to.." He stopped mid rant when he saw the disappointment blooming in Airion's eyes once again.
He sat down stiffly in a seat and cradled his head in his hands, sighing deeply.
"I'm.. sorry. I just can not stand her sometimes. She's intelligent, but she kept pushing my buttons. I'm just strung out right now. I'm sorry." He said strained, his voice pained.
Airion felt sorry for his friend and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder as Eccaia looked up in interest at the boy's breakdown.
She watched him for a second and then rummaged through her bags, finally pulling an object out.
"Here," Eccaia said suddenly, holding out the small package to Draco who looked up curiously, "It's a special tea leaf. We use it for treatments; it allows for the body to relax, it relieves a lot of the stress that pains you. Only drink it at most once a day though, preferably at night." She said with a small smile.
Airion grinned. She always seemed to know how to fix things.
Draco also offered a small smile and accepted the package. "Thanks Eccaia. I'm sorry for my outbreak, it's just with coming back I'm going to have to deal with the Slytherins, school, and the uncertainty of when my father will show up and try to kill me." He attempted to joke at the end but Eccaia and Airion both heard the concealed truth that underlined it.
"You know I'll be here. Big ol' scary Malfoy can't stand up to me. Draco you've seen me." Airion said with implications to things that shouldn't be said out loud and Draco nodded.
"I know, it's just that I've always known where I fit in and now I and stuck in the middle. I defected from the dark but haven't been accepted into the light." He said and Airion smiled at him.
"You're with us. The elves have not taken a side yet. We are the grey area and I'd prefer it if you were here with us anyhow." Airion said. The trio seemed to fall into silence after that.
Suddenly Airion's eyes darkened as he remembered something that appalled him.
"Draco. Did you know they eat chocolate frogs that seem to be alive? It is disgusting." He said in all seriousness. Draco just laughed at his friend, his depression forgotten for the time being.
As Draco and Eccaia began discussing healing techniques, something that they both loved, Airion turned to Aranel who was resting lazily around his wrist as usual.
'hello' Airion hissed to his beloved familiar who looked up at him slowly.
'hello. Are we almost there? This train is making me nauseous.' She said flicking her tongue out
'I do not know. It will probably still be awhile.' He said
She nodded in understanding, 'Alright. So what is wrong with the pale one?' She asked as she used her name for Draco, the name that Draco despised and that made Aranel laugh.
'He is worried about this year; he has left the dark side and yet doesn't know where he stands.' Airion replied, having already explained the war to her.
'Isn't it obvious? He belongs with you, it doesn't matter dark or light, it matters where you are.' She said and Airion looked down at her in confusion.
'He does not have to do what I do; he is his own man and can make decisions for himself.' Airion said as he began to stroke her small head and she purred in pleasure.
'No he stays with you. The pale one has one place. It is obvious he belongs with you.' She said
'What do you mean?"' Airion asked now completely perplexed by her words, but she refused to say more, insisting that if he was too blind and stupid to see what was in front of him then she was not going to ruin the surprise.
Eventually after hours of Draco introducing the two elves to wizarding traditions, including chocolate frogs to Airion's dismay, the trio arrived at Hogwarts. Draco had to leave them and take a carriage while Airion and Eccaia took boats with the first years.
The two took a small boat together while the smaller eleven year olds were paired in fours. The castle was magnificent, but Airion personally thought it seemed cold and unfriendly. It was the opposite of his forest home- which he now longed for.
hdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhd
Draco sighed as he departed from his friends. Friends. It was the first time he ever actually felt that he had real friends. He opened a carriage and slipped in, he was alone in the small area, alone with his thoughts.
Granger was Head Girl. That meant he would have to work with her all year. Draco rested his head on the carriage window, staring out into the darkness that surrounded him. He never liked the bushy haired know it all, yet he would bet anything that once Airion met her, he would beg Draco to cease his teasing and name calling. Why did he continue to bend to his will? Why did he wish to please Airion so much? It did not make sense to him.
He didn't understand Airion. He liked the raven haired boy, liked him more than any of his casual shags, yet the other boy seemed indifferent to him. Sure they were friends, but Draco felt a pull towards the elf, something stronger than he felt with Eccaia.
'Yes,' Draco decided, 'it's time to step it up, time to start making my move.'
The carriage jolted to a stop as it reached the castle. Draco was prepared to enter the castle, prepared to face those in Slytherin who would now turn their backs on him, prepared because now he had actual friends and nothing would beat that- nothing except a certain long haired Elvin boy spread nude on his bed.
Draco smiled at that thought and continued to walk into the castle.
Airion and Eccaia were waiting to be called. They had been told to wait behind while the other children got sorted. The older woman, McGonagall, had seemed nice enough but Airion was anxious to make sure Draco was alright, from what Draco had told him, his house would not be pleased with him and it made Airion nervous.
Eventually the two heard their names being announced and they walked out into the hall. The first thing Airion noticed was the huge mass of people but soon after the shock his eyes focused on the blonde man at Slytherin table and quickly narrowed as he saw his friend alone and being glared at.
He didn't like that. No, not at all.
Airion was pulled back to reality as Eccaia elbowed him and he looked back at Dumbledore whose eyes were sparkling annoyingly. The man was dressed is brilliant silver and gold stripped robes.
Aranel secretly moved so she was behind his ear and hissed "Bumblebee" Airion began snicker but stopped as Dumbledore began to speak.
"These two have come a long way in order to spend time learning about the wizarding world and to do research concerning some Elvin traditions. Airion and Eccaia will be placed in separate, private rooms as they will not be students, but they may sit with whomever they wish during meals. Hopefully they do not mind a few questions asked by curious children." Dumbledore, or rather Bumblebee, said and waved towards the tables, as if asking them to sit.
Airion and Eccaia both immediately moved towards their pale friend, eager to be by him as the looks being thrown at him were unsettling to say the least.
Dumbledore looked slightly put out by their movements but continued on. "We would also like you to welcome this year's Defense teacher, Neci Eruanna, who is from the same Elvin community as our younger visitors."
Airion, Eccaia, and Draco all snapped to attention as they heard Neci's name being said and were shocked to find their teacher and elder sitting at the head table. She smiled and winked at them.
"Dig In!"
Food spread out in front of the trio but they were still in shock. Severus was smirking and Neci seemed to be giggling behind her hand. It was going to be an interesting year.
dhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhd
Maerwen rushed through the castle, frantically searching, trying to find it. It had to be here. She fell to her knees as she reached a well hidden alcove, small and barely noticeable. She only knew it was there because she had created it.
With trembling fingers she reached in and grabbed the small case hidden far in the back. Everything was coming to an end, yet everything was just beginning. She just hoped that, even if she did not make it, her poor children would.
This case, the small thing that seemed harmless, might make all the difference and she'd be damned if she even let the darkness touch it.
Elvish: Cugu: Dove
A/N I'm so sorry it took so long! Oh my gosh, I've been so busy. My life has been the most stressful it has ever been. With ACT's and AP's, my junior year is killing me. I can't say when the next chapter will be, it might not be until the end of May or even June. I'm so sorry guys! I will not abandon this but please understand that I'm trying my best and yet I can hardly even stay on top of my school work. I hope you are all patient and continue to read and review! I love you all and I promise I will be back as soon as possible with another chapter!
