Summary: AU. A "faerie" tale with elves, vampires, and reincarnation. Draco's a transfer student who arrives at Hogwarts during Harry's seventh year, trying to fulfill a promise made nearly a hundred years ago. But what is this promise and does it have to do with Harry? D/H!
Many thanks to Mednar, my beta! ^_^
Shamera
The young Prince of the Seelie faeries grew up to the
everything that his people had trained him to be. Still quite young in
faerie standards, the prince was already quite accomplished in many
areas of academia and fighting. His teachers ranged from his own parents
to the simple serving faerie down in the kitchens. He was taught by
everyone he met- from the simplest lesson of kindness and healing, to
the challenging ones of sword fighting and riding wild beasts. The
prince was taught to never underestimate an opponent, and to respect all
that he met for everyone was deserving of respect in one way or another.
But when time came that the prince was to be taught the darker aspects of life, there were none who could bear to teach him. He was much too pure, too kind and good. And it was all their doing, for they could not find it their hearts to tell the young prince about the meaning of pain and heartache, suffering and loss. The Prince continued to grow, and his teachers kept putting off teaching him about the wider world..
'Tomorrow,' they would always think to themselves. 'We'll tell him when he's ready. He's much too young to know now.'
And so the Prince continued to be oblivious to the evils of the world, content to live where he was much loved and nothing bad was allowed to come to him. The King kept to his promise, and the Prince was provided for in any aspect that he could imagine. That was the reason when he was finally denied permission to leave the kingdom, the young Prince could not understand why.
'We want to protect you,' his mother would say soothingly. 'You are our only child, and the hope of our people.'
The Prince wanted to comply, but curiosity got the best of him, and he soon found himself wandering beyond the borders of his kingdom, drawn out when he was hunting an exotic animal that he had never seen before. He had forgotten about asking for a guard, had forgotten his promise to not leave in his excitement. He had found the great beast and could not resist the allure of mystery that the creature exuded. That day the Seelie prince had willing followed the beast outside his kingdom, and it changed his life forever.
Virginia Weasley (who liked to be known as Ginny) found herself in the seventh year boys' dormitory one fine spring afternoon, rummaging around and snooping through different trunks and drawers in general. Not that she enjoyed snooping around in those trunks and drawers! Oh no, there were just far too many things that she had not wanted to see in her lifetime.
And just why was she going through the boys' things? It surely wasn't because she was looking for gossip information, as Ginny had never been a big gossiper like Lavender and Parvati were. And no, she wasn't rummaging through everyone's stuff to give her an excuse to go through Harry's things (she had gotten over her crush on him in fourth year, thank you very much!), but instead, she was looking for something specific.
Casting a complicated unlocking charm and throwing up the lid to another truck, she completely missed the sounds of the door opening and the few footsteps that came in.
"- and you just wouldn't believe this- What in the world? Ginny!"
The redheaded Weasley spun on her heels, not the barest hint of guilt on her face as she advanced on her older brother.
"Where is it? I know you took it, Ronald Weasley! And if you don't give it back, I swear I'll owl mom about this…"
Ron backed up straight into Harry, nearly bumping the smaller boy down the stairs. Harry gave a small squeak of protest and grabbed onto the doorframe, making sure to balance himself and adjust the glasses that went askew. Ron didn't even notice his best friend's dangerous position as he moved away from his younger sister, recognizing the look in her eyes.
"Where is what, Ginny? I swear I didn't touch your things at all…" it was then that he noticed the state of the room. His eyes widened and then glared at Ginny, quite indignant. "You were going through our things! You should have asked first, you know! If there's anything missing…"
"Oh, please." She huffed. "Like I've never seen your underwear before. You forget the things that Fred and George left around the house when they came back from their first year here. There's nothing in this room that can surprise me." Well… sort of. But she didn't really want to admit that to her brother.
Ron turned a deep red as Harry finally managed to not only balance himself, but edge himself into the room around Ron. The ebony haired boy didn't want to be knocked down the stairs by accident, after all.
"That still doesn't mean that you can go through our things! It's not like we would ever go through a girl's things!"
"That's only because you'd all be too embarrassed to. Well, maybe not Seamus, but he's an exception. What? Are you afraid I'd find the love letters you've written to Hermione?" Ginny mocked.
Harry looked at Ron. "You've written love letters to Hermione?"
The boy sputtered, now as red as his hair. "N-no!"
"Or the ones to Pansy?"
Even Harry choked now. "Pansy?" He shook his head fiercely. "Ron, I never know you liked those types of girls."
"I haven't written love letters to anyone!!"
"You sure about that, Ron?"
Ron turned his glare to his grinning best friend. "You're doing this on purpose." He stately flatly.
Harry snickered. He knew that Ron hadn't written anything resembling love letters. For one thing, Ron couldn't write romantic words to save his own skin. "You're too easy to bait." He turned back towards Ginny, trying his hardest to ignore the fact that she had gone through his things, and extremely grateful that he had never subscribed to the more… randy magazines, like Seamus did. "What did you lose that you might find here?"
Now it was Ginny's turn to blush. It wasn't because it was Harry who asked her (nope, nope, nope!), but because of what the answer would entail. She had already checked through the boys' dormitories from fourth year and up, and this had been her last stop. She had hoped to find it here so that no questioned would have to be answered.
"Well?" Harry asked, trying not to sound impatient as Ginny continued to try and delay her response. "We can't exactly help you if you don't tell us what you're looking for. Maybe we could just tell you if we knew where whatever it is you're looking for went."
"Well, it's… um…." She swallowed a bit, not looking quite embarrassed. "It's my project for Herbology. We were supposed to raise and take care of a magical plant, and I nearly finished my entire project… I have all the notes and everything, but my plant is missing."
"And why would you accuse the boys of stealing your plant?" Ron wanted to know. He sounded unconvinced that the reason was worth having a girl, especially his sister, go through his drawers. Ron was already stomping back towards his bed, purposely bumping shoulders with Ginny on the way to show her that he was still mad at her. She glared at him to convey that she knew that already.
"Because!" she snapped, but then looked sheepish. "Boys would more than likely steal it instead of girls."
Harry frowned. "And why couldn't a girl have stolen it?"
The blush was coming back to Ginny's face. "Well, girls have no use for it."
"And boys have a use for this plant?" Was Ron's muffled reply as looked searched through his trunk to ensure that nothing was missing (and that Ginny hadn't found the hidden compartments).
"Well, yes!"
Harry decided to search his own trunk as well. Not that he thought Ginny would have taken something, but more because Hermione would have a panic attack if she saw this mess. And he wanted to make sure that nothing got lost under the bed or something…
"And why would we have a use for your bloody plant?" Ron was complaining, sounding exasperated.
Ginny turned beet red. "Well.. well… it's a plant that helps… boys… grow."
The innuendo was not lost on either of the boys as Harry's head snapped up, only to bit the lid of his trunk sharply. He let out a string of curses, holding the tender part of the back of his head with both hands, wincing when his fingers found the place where he had hit.
There was a resounding pained cry from where Ron was. "Ginny!" He sounded panicked, "Why on earth did you pick a plant like that?!"
"It's wasn't me!" Came the immediate response. "I was late for class that day and every other plant had been taken!"
"Well, I can assure you that no one in this room took it." Harry said, still rubbing at the back of his head. "I'm pretty sure that if someone in this dorm stole a plant like that, it would be public information before the next day."
"Yeah, Seamus would never be able to keep his mouth shut about it." Ron mumbled.
Ginny was still quite red, and Harry almost felt sorry for her as her _expression got desperate and slightly panicked. "But where could it have gotten to??"
Draco was hungry.
More than that, he was frustrated and tired of having to be near all these hormonal teenagers. There should be a law written that teenagers not spend a significant amount of time together. Things heated up much too quickly, and he loathed having to watch couples make eyes at each other.
Especially since he had not felt that way for so long.
Luna Lovegood always seemed to make his life miserable wherever she went, he decided. It didn't matter that she was trying to make sure he was safe. It only mattered that she continually reminded him of what he had lost, especially with that stunt that she pulled in class.
Telling them his story. Telling these low-life nothings about a love so grand it should never be defiled from their lips. These gossip mongers would grab up the story immediately, spreading it and corrupting it to suit their fancies.
Of course, he didn't really feel like that. He was just a bit cynical at the moment, that was all.
He was hungry.
Draco let out a small growl of annoyance as he shifted in his seat in Arithmancy. He really didn't understand the point of all these infernal classes, but it surly wouldn't do to protest when he had to blend in. It was hard enough doing so when there were girls all around him staring after Luna had told her story…. his story. It wasn't his fault that he fit the physical definition of a vampire perfectly. Pale skin, quiet and watchful mindset, luminescent eyes, and a posture that spoke of a grace that was… otherworldly.
Of course, it didn't really help that he was a vampire.
He wasn't sure why he was still at this school, still staying in these classes of his- except for those eyes. Eyes of unerring green that had stared up at the sky with such a sad, wistful _expression. Draco had seen many whom looked like Emerald in his years, male and female… human or otherwise. But he had not seen eyes like that… eyes which carried within its beautiful depths the burden of the world… for so long. Nearly a hundred years.
He had been more than prepared to leave the school after Luna had told her tale. But after seeing those eyes… he couldn't. Not yet. He didn't know why, but all he knew was that he had to stay just a little longer.
He wanted the class to be over with. There was never anything of interest in Arithmancy. He had covered the subject once nearly two hundred years ago, and very little had changed over time. At least in other classes, due to recent discoveries, there was always something new to learn. He couldn't wait until the class ended and he was allowed back into his dorm room, where he could finally get something to eat. He'd been living off very little lately, but had been used to it. After all, he wasn't about to hunt near a school of children.
He had given up hunting a long while ago when the Ministry of Magic began tagging vampires. It was disgraceful, but somehow the Ministry had gotten a hold of all magical creatures, making them sign their rights away when they revealed that they were either a vampire, werewolf, or some other dark creature. If not for the intervention of his sire, all vampires would have been tagged long ago to ensure that they did not kill an innocent.
Draco disliked the modern world. The Ministry knew altogether too much, and yet nothing at all. It had potential to be a great ruling body, but yet it was so easily manipulated by those in power. It was most pathetic, and a repeat of the mistakes in the Roman empire that his sire had told him about. Power begets a longing for more power. Power corrupts absolutely.
That was the reason that he could not stand the muggle world. The world which should have learned from mistakes of the past and moved on to a better and more enlightened society. Even though the wizarding world was falling apart as well, they were as far gone as the muggle world. The wizarding world still had the chance at redemption if they only opened their eyes.
But of course, no wizard would ever trust the word of a dark creature. Especially a vampire. His opinions mattered nothing, and he knew that now. Years ago, Draco had wanted to change the world. Now, all he wanted was to fulfill the promise he made to Emerald so long ago. He wanted the peace that he had felt in the faerie world. He wanted… forgiveness.
Because no matter how much he knew that he could not have done anything more, Draco felt burdened. He had been indirectly connected to the fall of the Seelie faeries. And the more everyone forgave him, the more guilty he felt.
He really didn't want to dwell on the thought. He just wanted class the end.
The young faerie prince had never been away from his home before, never been out of the forest without at least the accompaniment of a dozen guards. So when the prince lost sight of the magnificent creature that had lured him away, he became scared. Although quite a bit older now, he was still a young child in faerie terms, and faeries had always been overprotective of their children.
It wasn't long into his panic before he heard a twig snap, and whirled around to find the most curious thing he had ever seen in his life. A boy with pale blonde hair helping a younger girl into the clearing, making sure that she did not step where she could hurt her bare feet. The faerie prince had never seen one not of his race before, and was once against swept away with his curiosity. He wandered towards the couple cautiously, inquiring as to who they were before they even noticed he was there.
The blonde boy had spun around, teeth bared and snarling. It was the young blond girl who had held him back, allowing the faerie prince to see the long fangs that the boy had. The prince startled, but did not seemed scared of them. It only heightened his curiosity as he had never seen someone with fangs like that before (nor had he ever been taught about dark creatures).
The girl tried to explain that she and her friend were seeking sanctuary in the faerie kingdom, and that the king of the Seelie would understand once he saw who she was. The prince was now overrun with questions in his mind, but he managed to inform them that he was from the faerie kingdom, but could not help to guide them as he was lost.
But the girl only laughed and told him that it was alright. She knew her way to the kingdom, and he could follow them back.
When the three of them had finally reached the kingdom of Sidhe faeries, the prince was greeted with many a relieved face, as everyone had worried about his safety. He only stayed long enough to reassure them of his welfare before going to greet his father and inform him of the guests that had arrived.
It was later that evening when Harry had lost his balance at the bottom of the staircase (thank Merlin not on the top) when the stones began to move. He wobbled and dropped his books, but managed to hit the ground too hard himself.
Rubbing sore palms and wincing, Harry wondered why in the world he had volunteered to return Hermione's books to the library. His two best friends had decided that they wanted some "alone time" with each other, and Harry had left before he could gag. Of course, it had been the stupid excuse he had used that got him into this situation.
Sighing and wondering at the bad day (which had turned out to be okay after the first class), Harry got to his knees and began picking up the heavy tomes that his best friend stated was for 'light reading'. Ginny had offered to help him carry the books, but the boy had refused, not wanting her to suffer his poor decision to help Hermione.
But still, he thought speculatively. It's good that I got away from Ron and 'Mione. Having to study with them another minute would have made me a diabetic!
Yes, the couple was sappy. Yes, the couple was sweet. While they fought all day, they made up for it in the evenings when they would just sit and stare into each other's eyes, sighing all the while.
Harry was sick of it.
Oh, he loved his best friends dearly, and knew that they were happy with each other. He wanted them happy with each other, he had more than encouraged it before they even got together. He had been their number one support from the first step, and usually didn't regret it.
But sometimes… (times like now *cough*) they were just a little too much.
Harry never even heard another set of footsteps before he saw a pale hand picking a few of the heavy books like it weighed nothing. He looked up quickly, almost banging into the other person's chin. His green eyes widened at the sight of the elusive and mysterious addition to the Slytherin house. Pale grey eyes stared at his face, unblinking and reflective, looking at him as if the Slytherin was trying to figure something out.
"Are you alright?" the blonde boy asked quietly. "I saw you fall."
Harry's face heated up, and he gave a quick nod. "Yes… I was just startled for a bit, that's all." He stood up, unnerved by the close proximity with the other boy. The Slytherin stood up as well, never taking those grey orbs off him. Harry's face only grew more flushed knowing that the blonde had witnessed his blunder. "Umm… thank you for helping me."
The blonde Slytherin only studied him for another moment before tucking the large amount of books he was holding for Harry upon one arm and with the faintest smile, held out an arm. "Draco Malfoy. I don't think we've ever been properly introduced."
Harry found himself reaching for the hand before he hesitated a moment. This was a Slytherin. Slytherins, according to most people, were nothing but low-life scum to be left on the bottom of your shoe. Every Slytherin there was seemed to be out to get him, and this could be another ploy to catch him unawares.
Two years ago, Harry would have been glad to make a friend. But now he was cautious enough to understand that perhaps Draco Malfoy had offered him his hand because Harry had yet to form any opinions about him. Maybe this was a plot to get him to let his guard down. He certainly didn't want to refuse the other boy in case the blonde was sincere, but Harry knew that he could not trust as easily as he once had.
Seeing the dark haired boy's indecision, Draco lowered his arm, now looking slightly amused. It wasn't what Harry had expected, but he was glad that the Slytherin didn't seem to take offense and allowed him to not make a choice.
"Harry Potter." He replied with a small smile. "But you probably already knew that."
"Yes." Draco replied honestly. "I've heard my house mates talk about you a lot. The 'nuisance' of their lives, if I'm not correct."
Harry grew red once more.
"But then, they've also said much about things that shouldn't be mentioned- many that I don't agree with. So I'm willing to discard their opinions about you before I can make my own."
"Should I be thankful?" Harry asked warily, glancing at the books that Draco had.
"Perhaps." Draco said. "Yes. No. It doesn't matter. Where are you going with all these books, anyway?"
"To the library, of course. I'm just going to return them for a friend. Thank you for helping me, but I think I'll be on my way."
Harry had expected Draco to perhaps shrug and give him back the books. He had even braced his arms for the extra weight, but none came.
"These look heavy. Are you sure you should carry this alone? I think I'll come with you."
Harry blinked, but then felt the same stubbornness that had been present with Ginny rise up again. "You needn't, really. I'm more than capable enough of getting this to the library just fine." He was used to people trying to help him all the time, perhaps because they thought that he wasn't able to get things done. He had been angry when this first started, but Hermione and Ron both explained to him that it was because of his small stature that everyone felt they needed to help him. It was a natural thing, not because they thought him to be weak.
"I know that you can get there fine. But these books can't be light."
"They're not." He admitted. "But I've done this many times before."
"Ahh." Draco smirked faintly. "Is this considered a form of exercise, then?"
Harry fidgeted for a moment, before giving up and starting to walk towards the library. Draco followed by his side, stepping to his own steps. He didn't answer the other boy's question, being a bit uncomfortable with the casual manner in which the Slytherin seemed to engage him in. Harry spared a glance at the taller boy through the protection of his wayward bangs, wondering what the pale enigma was thinking.
Draco wasn't like any other Slytherin that he had met before. No other had volunteered to help him, nor offered to befriend him. Seven years of bitter resentment towards Slytherins and the idea that he was fit for that house seemed to fall away with Draco Malfoy. Unlike the rest of his housemates, Draco wasn't taunting and malicious, preferring instead to watch quietly the ongoing of the school.
"Why are you helping me?" Harry found himself asking as they walked together down the silent corridors, filled to the brim with shadows that was created by the torches on the walls. He was curious. There was something about the other boy that just seemed… otherworldly.
"Should I not be helping you?" Draco asked amiably. His pace was brisk and graceful, looking more like he was gliding than he was walking. "I saw you struggling with these books."
"I thought you said you saw me fall."
"Yes, I saw that too." The Slytherin sounded amused.
Harry stared at him openly, thoughts racing. The other boy was mysterious, and Harry just knew that Draco was hiding something. Not just one something, but he was withholding many secrets. He wasn't sure if the secrets were being help from just him, or the public in general. Perhaps Draco was hiding secrets from himself.
The blonde Slytherin practically radiated danger. It was as if a deep, instinctual feeling inside him was saying that Draco was dangerous. That Draco was a natural predator that should not be trifled with. But even deeper was the sense that he was safe. That the tall blonde would not harm anyone, even though he had the potential to. He was safe.
Harry hadn't felt safe in a long time.
Finally relaxing some, Harry finally turned back to look in front of him. He smiled. "You're different from everyone else, Draco Malfoy."
The other boy quirked his lips upward. "I should think so."
Luna stared out the window of her guest quarters, basking in the breeze of the evening air. She wasn't used to being confined in one place, even if the place was as beautiful and full of magic as Hogwarts. She was surprisingly somber for the evening, not wanting to disturb the air of serenity that had enveloped itself around the school.
Tonight would be special, the winds whispered to her. Tonight was the beginning of something important, something that would be the beginning of a great chain of events. She could only stay one more day at this beautiful school before she had to leave, for she could not leave Tonks alone to guard any longer than she had to.
Luna had been meaning to tell Draco. She really had. She had come to the castle in the first place to tell him about the finding of the dragon, meaning that the time was near. She had been so excited- partially scared because she didn't know what would really happen- but had been gushing with happiness since she and Tonks had stumbled upon the sleeping dragon. Full grown, too!
She had wanted to mention it- just to make him feel better. Draco was one of her best friends, after all. If it hadn't been for him, she might not have been alive today. But his reaction… his _expression when she mentioned Emerald… he seemed devastated. Like he had nearly given up all hope already, and was clinging onto nothing but his anger to symbolize that he was still searching.
Draco Malfoy was a bitter one. He had been easy to anger since before she had met him. Luna once thought that Emerald would mellow him out, but it turned out that he didn't. Draco might have been content (and deliriously happy, although he had refused to admit it then) when Emerald was alive, but his bitterness towards the world only increased with Emerald's death.
She couldn't bring herself leave Draco alone. Although not particularly close, she had liked Emerald very much. And he had made her promise to look out after the wayward vampire. She had tried everything to save Emerald, but she just couldn't combat the curse. Her magic had never been too stable, and while she had never given it a second thought, Emerald's death had been the first time in her life where Luna felt like she had to learn more. She had to learn to control her magic, learn to harness its strengths.
She had a feeling that Albus Dumbledore knew. The old wizard had long been a friend of the elves, and knew far more than he let on. Still, he was only human with a human's weakness for mistakes. She had conferred to him when she first arrived, hoping that perhaps he would tell her the details that her elders had withheld from her. It was to no avail as Luna soon realized that the man did not want to indulge that information about why the dragon had appeared.
Stupid dragon. It would not awake until the day that someone came to challenge it for the faerie kingdom. It was actually her fault it was there. A hundred years ago, her magic had been too unstable and filled with ideas of its own. She had only wanted to protect the faerie kingdom, so she had created the fiercest dragon to guard its sleeping inhabitants, an invisible guardian that would attack those who tried to claim the magic of the faerie kingdom. The dragon would disappear once the prince came back to claim his birthright.
The only problem barring, though, that the prince could not claim his birthright without going through the dragon. She hadn't thought of that when she cast the spell.
Not only that… no one was supposed to be able to see the dragon. Luna had tried to weaken the spell she had cast so long ago- and she had done so to an extent. Once the faerie prince was born again, the invisible guardian would now be visible so that it could be fought. Seeing the dragon so solid an image meant that the prince had long been born…
She wanted to tell that to Draco to give him hope.
Don't give up. she wanted to say then. It won't be long until you see him again.
But she couldn't do it. Couldn't put him through the pain of giving him hope when she wasn't sure that Emerald could be found. If she told him of the news and he did not find Emerald within the next lifetime, he just might break. Long ago she had thought Draco too strong to ever break; but she changed her mind after the fall of the Seelie kingdom.
Draco was on the verge of giving up hope… and Luna didn't want to be the last straw that broke his mind.
continued in chapter 3
Authoress' Notes: I realized that I've never written Ginny in before, and she was a surprisingly fun character to do. Probably because she's not as restrained as Hermione, and that she once had a crush on Harry. I really don't know where that scene came from- only that I wanted to try and write Ginny, and have something funny. Don't worry- you'll hear from that plant in later chapters. XD It'll be back! And Ron and Hermione's relationship will be explained in the third chapter- I already have that part written. ^_^
Thanks so very much to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter! ^_^ Yes, Draco is the vampire. LOL. Everyone got that one in the bag. Responses to everyone is in my LiveJournal (the address is in my profile) and there's also updates on my writing. ^_~ Due to the great responses and encouragments by everyone, I want to try and update this story once a week (I'll try!) so I hope everyone will be able to see an update on Fridays/Saturdays.