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!
Shamera
Hermione had been having an off and on day in general, waking up cranky and later in the day getting quite mellow. She wasn't sure if she could label the day as a 'bad' day or as an 'okay' day. It wasn't as if she really had anything that upset her a great deal that day (with the exception of Ron- but Ron always upset her, and she had learned to deal with it.) and she did have quite a memory to cherish from when they tied Ron up as bait, after all.
As well as Colin Creevey's film. But Ron didn't need to know that.
She had been quite shocked after lunch when Harry had finally seen it fit to inform his best friends that he wouldn't be going with them to classes because Dumbledore had already dismissed him. Of course, Hermione suspected that Harry didn't want to go with them not because he needed time to pack (what would Harry pack, anyway?) but because he hadn't finished that report for Charms that she had reminded him about the day before.
Her mood had improved as the day wore on, answering question after question correctly in Charms class, much to the dismay of the Ravenclaws. Sometimes Hermione wondered how it would have been like if she had been sorted into Ravenclaw- she had always felt so challenged and alive in classes with the Ravenclaws. It was as if she had the members of that house had a personal competition to get everything correct in class.
Neither side took it very harshly whenever they lost, but it was fun nevertheless whenever they could find a comeuppance with one another. So Hermione had been relieved when she managed to "win" the match for that day.
She had actually been in a pretty good mood when she had gone into the Great Hall arguing with Ron about one thing or another. She didn't even remember what it was about anymore, and that had only been just a few minutes ago.
"You guys don't have to come with me. Draco's coming with me."
Hermione nearly dropped her fork when she heard that. It wasn't a statement that she had expected to hear at all. Weren't Harry and Draco just starting to be friends? Like… just starting to get close to each other?
Definitely not close enough to be going anywhere alone together!
One glance at Ron told Hermione that he was thinking the same thing. Maybe it was because they were a bit too overprotective of Harry… but she figured that they had a right to be! Especially since Harry had gone through so much already… she readily paired him up with different people if she could, and teased him as well, but truth be told was that Harry had never gotten involved with anyone after he and Cho broke up.
Hermione didn't think she would have minded had this been something more like a 'date'… she would have been all for it, in fact. But this was one of Harry's adventures. The type that she and Ron got involved in every year. (With the exception of fourth year- but then, they did get involved a bit… only not in the very end, because they couldn't.) Hermione would have encouraged Harry and Draco at every chance possible- but this was just different!
The bushy-haired Gryffindor girl watched as Harry seemed oblivious to what he had just stated. He didn't seem to understand what was wrong with her and Ron that made them so still. And Hermione couldn't say that she was too surprised.
But she broke out of her thoughts soon enough, blinking for a long moment. "You don't want us to go with you… but you're going with Draco?"
They were the ones who went with him every year. Even if there were more people (like the Department of Mysteries in fifth year), they were the ones who were with him first and foremost. They always went with him until they couldn't go anymore… and then Harry would trek on alone. Not that Hermione wanted him to go through the final battle alone… she was determined each year that he would have his friends with him the next time he went on one of those adventures.
But… to not have her and Ron there? And only be going with Draco?
Harry seemed to have understood what was going on in Hermione's head as a guilty expression ran rampant. He held up his hands before him, scooting away from her slightly on the bench. "It's really not what you're thinking, Hermione! There's a lot more to this than you know right now!"
Ron seemed to have snapped out of his shock by then as well. "And… we don't have to come with you?"
Harry looked even guiltier at that. "I knew I should have phrased that differently…"
"More to this than I know, how?" Hermione demanded, wanting to know the entire situation. She was just itching finger her wand like she was doing this morning, and wanted to know exactly what was going on. "I think it's time you told us everything, Harry."
The dark-haired boy looked sheepish and abashed for a moment, one hand coming up to rub the back of his neck. "How about I'll tell you everything after dinner? This place is a bit crowded, after all."
Hermione set down her eating utensils. "Well, I'm not hungry anymore. I say we go back to the Gryffindor common room and have a nice, long discussion."
"Wait a minute!" Ron yelped. The redheaded boy did not look like he was getting from his seat anytime soon as he hunched over his gathered plate of food, giving Hermione a hurt look. "You might not be hungry, 'Mione… but I am not going back until I've had something to eat. Gee, I've only been tied up as bait and whacked around by you all day." He tried to glare at her.
She out-glared him, and Ron wilted, but didn't give in.
After a few seconds of glaring, Hermione sighed and turned to see Harry fidgeting on her other side. "Fine." She said. "But we're having that talk after dinner! And there will be no other interruptions then!"
The great fire that burned in the inner courtyard was beautiful. The sparks of red and gold flew into the air with a speed and grace that startled even the ever elegant faeries who danced near it. The edges of the great fire was tinted with a greenish blue, the result of the purified wood that had been doused with chlorine and coated with copper just that morning. Occasionally the flames would turn and dance with a green color that was so reminiscent of their prince's eyes that all the faeries would stop to admire it. There were other times when the sparks that flew into the air resembled green fireflies.
Emerald often wondered how the fire would feel. Would it be proud? Having such creatures dance around it in reverence, in this sacred ritual that the faeries undertook when they were to be bonded… would the fire feel honored? Were the sparks signs of happiness that could not be contained?
Or was the fire angry? Angry that it must be contained and controlled this way, appearing only when called upon and having to fade away when the ceremony was over? The wilderness that was displayed in the untamable flames, the intensity and passion that could often be love could also be the very strong emotion of hate and fear. If the fire had feelings at all, would the sparks strike out in anger at being forced tame?
The night air was filled with a wild magic that was known only to nature- one that would not be controlled even under the hand of the most powerful magical being alive. The powerful song of flutes and drums and choral voices permeated the air, making the strong winds swirl around them in a mad dance that felt so very alive.
Emerald closed his memorable eyes to fully enjoy the feeling of the flames on his face as he joined in people in the dance, in the celebration of another pair of united souls. He knew that he would die soon. With his coronation only a few moons away, Emerald had no illusions to his future.
He raised his arms in the air, feeling the ground underneath his bare feet and the dirt that was kicked up by the other dances. He raised his face into the night sky, never once opening his eyes, but instead smiling towards the stars as he allowed the rhythm and music to govern his body. For one of the few times in his life, Emerald allowed himself to forget about the circlet on his forehead that ensured to that he would never be able to let his guard down.
Emerald opened his senses to the wild magic surrounding the night, letting it fill him and swirl in the depths of his very being. The bonding ceremony meant that no one would be sleeping that night, as everyone would be up celebrating and dancing to the new couple's luck and fortune, as well as their fertility. The music would continue on until the next nightfall, although it would get more and more soothing after the sunrise to represent the harmony even after the passion fades. A bonding ceremony meant for celebration from nightfall to nightfall, representing the death of an old life until the death of their new life. With the population of the Sidhe Seelie faeries so small and their lifespan so long, there weren't many bonding ceremonies to attend.
He allowed his feet to escape his thoughts, taking him in great circles with the other dances around the great fire. Here was the passion that was represented in the dance, the utter conviction that there was nothing else as important as this, that one could lose themselves so immensely in something or someone.
He wanted to be able to lose himself. He wanted to forget all about his responsibilities, about his imminent death, about ways to ensure that the faerie line of his people would continue on. Draco had once joked that Emerald only needed to get someone pregnant, so that even after his death, the royal line of the faeries would continue on. Emerald certainly hadn't taken the statement as a joke, instead turning horrified at the prospect. If there was one thing that the faeries would not do, he had informed the poor, misunderstood vampire harshly, it was to take a bonding casually. In order for an heir to be produced, there had to be a proper bonding ceremony to entwine two souls together.
That was a long time ago.
Emerald smiled slightly at the memory, knowing that Draco would be out tonight, watching out for him. The vampire childe was like his personal bodyguard, really. He never seemed to leave the prince's side. At that very moment, Emerald knew, Draco would be watching him.
It was with bitterness that Emerald moved his pace up, dancing faster and faster around the bright green flames. He could both hear and feel the sparks near his face, dangerously close to his hair, as he twirled at such a speed it would make normal observers dizzy and concerned for his safety.
Another spin brought him out of the circle of dancers, and into the louder music that was reverberating in his head. The faerie prince finally opened his eyes to the bright colors of the clothing the dancers around him wore, and smiled brightly in response to the dark scowl that was covering the face of the very person he was thinking about. Draco Malfoy stood at the edge of the celebrations, arms crossed tightly over his chest and glowering at anyone who tried to look his direction. It wasn't hard to deduce that the vampire childe was not the type for such a wild and egregious celebration.
Yes, Emerald thought with amusement, everything had to be prim and proper for him.
The slight faerie prince made his way through the crowd easily to appear next to his closest friend, his amusement only growing as the glare was turned on him. "And why aren't you joyful for the couple on their happiest night?"
Draco was unable to keep up the glare for long in the face of Emerald's patient smile. "I think there are enough people being 'joyful' about this."
Emerald didn't respond, instead turning back to face the groups of well-wishers who were singing or dancing their hearts out. He had forgotten that Draco had never attended a bonding ceremony before, since there had not been one for many years.
It didn't help that the war had taken the lives of many of-age faeries.
"There are never enough joyful people." Emerald finally replied, making up his mind. He turned back to the blonde vampire, grinning at him with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Slipping his hands into those of his friend's, Emerald started pulling Draco toward the throng of people, laughing as the vampire childe actively tried to pull away.
"You will never feel magic as during a bonding!" Emerald admitted, "And during the bonding ceremonies, it's said that those who partake in the celebration can feel just a hint of the happiness that the couple are experiencing. That the actions of those today will affect the lives of the couple until they day they both die. You wouldn't want to create a dark cloud in their lives, would you?"
Before Draco could properly open his mouth to protest, he was surrounded on all sides with music and the feeling of giddiness in the air. He could only manage a sharp intake of breath before Emerald pulled him closer to the fire, illuminating the pale face with the bright flames.
Here, there was the hint of passion that would signify the happiness of a lifetime. Here, was the sweet agony of being so close to temptation, but having someone to pull you from the edge of the fire. Here was where Emerald could once again lose himself in the fantasy that he was not doomed and he would not be expected to come up with an answer and solution to everything. Here was where Emerald could pretend that the people were dancing in celebration of his bonding ceremony, something he knew that he would never see happen.
He was supposed to be wise and mature. The faerie prince was kind, compassionate, and understanding to all. He would never be allowed to panic, never be allowed to grieve for his stolen childhood and his dark and empty future. But it was in the midst of the magic that Emerald allowed himself tears of happiness and sorrow for all that will happen, and all that had come to be.
"Dance with me." He commanded in a low, husky tone in Draco's ear. The vampire shuddered before wrapping his arms around Emerald's waist, complying with his prince's every wish.
"Harry?"
The young Gryffindor in question blinked, and finally tore his eyes away from the roaring fire in the Gryffindor common room. "Yes?" He replied dazedly, still not too sure of where he was and what was happening. He knew that he had just remembered something important, like a huge report that he had due the next day which he hadn't started on… but the more he was coming back to reality from his thoughts, the more elusive the memory was.
Hermione and Ron sat in the couches of the abandoned common room, but looking a trifle vexed. The fire was glowing brightly in the red and gold draped room, and highlighting the faces of those who sat next to it. Harry decided that the fireplace could certainly make his best friends look quite demonic in their own form. He wandered distantly if they should try having a fireplace near them the next time they fought with Voldemort. Maybe they could just scare him off.
Or not. With his luck, the old V-man would look much scarier under the light of the fire than anything Ron and Hermione could pull off.
But looking at their frustrated faces, Harry quickly amended that. Ron and Hermione could be pretty scary onto their own right.
"The whole thing with you going off with Draco," Hermione started, her voice stern like when she was lecturing or tutoring either of them in whatever work they had missed. She leaned forward in her seat, placing her elbows in her knees while she looked hard at her best friend. "How did this happen, Harry?"
How did it happen? Harry wasn't so sure himself. There had been that pull from the very beginning, the fascination with Draco even before they had first talked. But he had thought it to be normal, thought it off as a high amount of curiosity about the new kid. Now Harry knew that it wasn't the case. There was definitely a pull that Draco exhibited that seemed to spellbind Harry to him.
"I don't know." He admitted. "But… everything just seems to fall together with him… just as it gets more confusing." The poor boy shook his head as he stared into the fireplace. "He told me so many things that made sense about my life, but gave me more questions as well…"
"He told you things about your life?" Ron prodded. "What kind of things? Is he somehow involved in the war? In the prophecy you told us about last year?"
Harry shook his head 'no'. "He's not involved in this war… at least, not until now. And he's not part of the last prophecy I told you about. But… he is part of another prophecy."
Ron looked like he was about to interrupt and ask more questions before Hermione settled her hand on his arm to stop him, and smiled reassuringly at Harry. She gave her boyfriend a quick glance to placate him, and said to Harry, "You need to tell us about important things like that. Or else we'd continue to bug you about it, because we're never going to go away."
Harry fidgeted. "It's just… this other prophecy? It's kind of… unbelievable, if you will."
"As unbelievable as everything we've been through?" Ron asked with a grin. "Giant chess sets, a basilisk under the school, escaped prisoners out for your blood, fighting dragons from broomsticks, and tentacled brains trying to eat us?"
"It wasn't trying to eat you, Ron." Hermione inputted absently.
"Well…" Harry rubbed the back of his head. "It's a little more difficult than that."
And looking at his best friends then, who were gazing back at him expectedly because they knew they would always be there for him even if he didn't tell them, Harry wondered at all his early reservations. Why had he hesitated to tell them again? No matter what, Ron and Hermione would be the ones to support him.
So Harry started telling them what Draco had told him that night they met (was it only a few days ago? It felt like an eternity) and all the information he had gleaned from the blonde. He admitted that yes, Draco was a vampire- that was why he had lived so long, and that no, Draco had never tried to hurt him. Then he moved on to the things that Dumbledore had said, which filled in the gaps for all the whys that Voldemort had in creating the first prophecy in the first place.
And when he ended his story, the two best friends of his sat shocked on the couch before him.
Harry sat in uncomfortable silence as he watched his best friends anxiously.
"This… this is a lot of information to be learning the last few days." Ron finally said quietly. The redheaded boy glanced over at Hermione, and saw the same grim set in her features. "How do you know you can trust Malfoy? Based on all this information, that is. We've learned all about the end of the faerie lineage, remember, mate? Their last war was against the dark creatures… if Draco Malfoy is a vampire-"
"He would never have hurt the faerie prince." Harry cut in. "It's easy to see… Draco would never have advocated the other side in that war."
"How do you know, though?" Hermione finally spoke up. "How can you be so sure and trusting?" She shifted in her seat, giving her dark haired best friend a strange look. "I know that you wouldn't think of it this way, Harry, but sometimes I think you're too trusting for your own good…"
Harry didn't think so. He could barely stand to trust anyone at all, especially with Voldemort out there and the war going on behind the Ministry's back…
"I'm not." he protested vehemently. "But I do trust my instincts on this. Draco wouldn't hurt me. He's telling the truth about everything. I don't know how everything came to be like this, but I do know that even though it's strange and bizarre and unbelievable… he wouldn't lie to me like that."
Hermione looked like she was about to protest, but then changed her mind. She crossed her arms over her chest firmly to let Harry understand that she wasn't so sure of his conviction. "Fine. I won't argue with you on this. But just so you know, we're going along with you."
"Wha-? But Professor Dumbledore-"
"I really don't think he even thought that we would stay behind when we knew you were going off on one of these heroic, must-save-the-world-or-at-least-the-wizarding-world expeditions." Hermione inputted. "We have to make sure that we beat back all the minions first, remember?"
"And make sure that Draco Malfoy doesn't get fresh with you." Ron said.
Harry sputtered at the last comment. But then, what had he expected? He thought to himself. It was much better than the reaction he had thought they would have, and he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
He supposed that leaving them behind so that he could have an adventure alone with Draco was a selfish idea, anyway.
Hermione clapped her hands together. "Well, then! It's settled. We should all turn in now, seeing that we're going to be leaving early tomorrow morning! Get some rest before we change head first into this new adventure of ours. We need all the strength available, after all. Especially considering that we barely got any sleep last night!"
She threw in a blazing glare at Ron's direction.
"That's not our fault." Ron grumbled, getting up from his comfortable position on the couch. He stretched a bit, grimacing at the kinks in his neck. "If anything, you should blame Ginny for letting her plant lose. We should have been given an award for putting up with and catching that thing."
"You have your reward- Ginny's high marks." Hermione placated.
"Yes, I suppose marks are the most important thing to you." Ron grumbled. The redheaded looked back when he realized that his other best friend hadn't been following them. "You coming, Harry?"
Harry shook his head in exasperation, but smiled to himself. Although it certainly got annoying at times when his friends seemed to make all his decisions for him, there were times when he knew that they made all the best decisions, and that he just shouldn't argue with them.
"Yeah." He replied. "I'll be up in a moment."
Draco was waiting inside the Headmaster's office anxiously the next morning, after a short talk with Dumbledore. The old wizard had informed Draco that Harry's friends would surely be going with him (as Dumbledore just seems to know everything that goes on in the castle, Draco didn't doubt what he said) and that the vampire should be aware of what to do.
He should be aware of what to do. The only problem was that Draco's wasn't aware of what to do after the thought: protect Harry at all costs! He had read the prophecy over many times, yes, but while Luna's wording was as good as the best seers in the world, her phrasing of the return of the faerie prince was vague due to the fact that it was so far in the future. And the fact that she's a child, of course.
So he was sitting alone in the Headmaster's office, seeing that he was the first to arrive. Draco felt silly with a small glass case held in-between his hands and rested firm on his lap. He had debated all night whether or not he should give it back, but in the end his original decision won over.
He traced the name engraved onto the glass with his fingers, letting the skin barely register the cool, uneven wedges where the letters met together in a beautiful calligraphy script.
Camthalion Lessien Coamenel-Súrion
He had to stop thinking about Emerald. Harry seemed to be bothered by the past, so Draco did not want to drudge it up for him until the dark-haired Gryffindor was well and ready to handle it. But it was painful starting over when there had been nothing wrong with the relationship to begin with. He had thought about all the times Luna or someone else had told him that it would be fun to start over again, this time knowing exactly what not to do so that he didn't make any mistakes in the relationship.
The only thing was that he had never had any mistakes with Emerald before. And Harry seemed… different, somehow. The same soul and the same heart, yes, but Harry was certainly not the persona to be the faerie prince. There was a fire and determination in Harry that had always been repressed with Emerald, buried deep underneath the need to be perfect for everyone else.
Draco perked up when he heard footsteps and talking outside the office, and sat up straight when he heard the correct password being said, and the sound of people in the spiral staircase that led to the room. He could distinctly here the Headmaster's footfall along with those of three others; one that he was sure was Harry's.
It took only a moment before the Professor Dumbledore guided his students in his office, eyes twinkling all the while behind half-moon glasses. "Ah! Mr. Malfoy- you are punctual as usual. It seems that you are all ready to go on this trip of yours."
Behind the Headmaster was a grumpy looking redheaded boy that looked like he certainly did not get enough sleep, a bushy-haired girl scrutinizing him in the most meticulous way… and his Harry, who looked sleepy and adorably dazed, but still managed to summon up a dazzling smile for him.
Mine? he asked himself as soon as he thought then, and soon amended. No, not mine. A spirit like that doesn't belong to anyone, instead it roams free and chooses who it wants to stay with.
"I assume that Mr. Potter has already debriefed the two of you on his situation?" Dumbledore asked the other two Gryffindors gently, and smiled when they both nodded. "Good, good! This makes it much easier to send you all on time. In fact, I'd say that we're all a little early- but then, you can never be too careful."
"Excuse me, Professor," the bushy-haired girl (Hermione Granger, Draco remembered correctly. She's Head Girl and one of Harry's best friends.), "How are we going to the faerie kingdom? It's certainly unplottable, and most likely has anti-apparation spells on it."
"My dear girl," Dumbledore replied. "The transport is all provided for by the elves." He rummaged through the top of his messy desk for a bit, and then pulled out a small, leaf shaped device. "This will work as a timed portkey for all of you, taking you directly to the middle of the faerie kingdom. Of course, it can't take can't you directly into the castle- that's something that you will have to do yourself, but it certainly does help the travel method, doesn't it?"
There were a few mumbled and hesitant agreements, as if they weren't too sure about it.
"The portkey is scheduled to activate at eight this morning- meaning you have a few minutes before you'll be off. It would be wise to use these minutes to familiarize yourselves with who you're going to be fighting alongside."
The old wizard gave Draco a pointed look, and then turned that same look on Ronald Weasley.
There was a few silent moments followed by shuffling sounds from Harry's direction before Hermione finally dared to approach Draco, looking both nervous and determined. She stretched out her hand to him with a stiff but unwavering resolve, looking very much the part of a perfect diplomat. "I'm Hermione Granger. It's a pleasure to finally get to talk with you."
Draco stared at her hand for a moment. A few hundred years ago, he wouldn't have stooped that low to even touch her. As his sire would have sneered out mudblood, Draco had gone out of his way to avoid having to deal with muggles and muggle-born. While he didn't hold the same animosity for them as his sire did, he had never felt comfortable around them- and felt as if they were inferior beings trying to extort their confidence by threats and weaponry.
Not now was not a time that he could hold onto his prejudices.
He grasped her hand firmly, mustering up a smile. "Draco Malfoy."
She looked about to say a snide reply, before staring at him intently and finally just settling for a nod before she withdrew her hand from his. Draco looked over to where Harry was standing slightly behind Ron, a small smile on the green-eyed Gryffindor's face.
Harry gave Ron a small nudge with his shoulders to try and get the redhead to be a little friendlier.
Ron grunted from the nudge, and turned a weak glare at Harry, then sighed when he saw the boy glare back at him. He finally turned back to the rest of the room, mumbling out an introduction to who he was and how 'glad' he was that they could work together.
All in all, his little speech sounded like something that Harry and Hermione had written for him and made him memorize.
Finally, Draco turned his head toward Harry with an impish grin. "Well? Do we need an introduction?"
"I don't think we should 'introduce' ourselves to each other in front of them." Harry teased, eyes gleaming and happy even from behind his tinted glasses. "Might not be proper."
Ron let out a strangled noise, while Hermione admonished, "Harry!" and the Headmaster pretended that he didn't hear what his students had just said. Draco grinned outright at Harry's daring, feeling his day brighten knowing that Harry wasn't too worried about the tension between his friends and Draco.
"All right, then," Headmaster Dumbledore interrupted cheerfully. "It's time to go! Now if you would all join hands to make sure that none if you are left behind… yes, just like Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy… and then off you go! Good luck to you all!"
Draco held Harry's hand tightly in his, trusting that wherever he ended up, he would be where he was supposed to if he was at Harry's side.
There was a bright flash of light, and a familiar tugging behind his navel before the Headmaster's office disappeared from before his eyes.
continued in chapter 11
Authoress' Rambles: Wow, that certainly took a long time... sorry, guys! I hate to say- but it's going to have a take a long time from now on. One, because the chapters are getting longer, and two because of way too much schoolwork. I hope to get a large chunk done when spring break rolls around, though, so it might not take forever after all! ^_^
This is finally the beginning of the countdown to the end of the story. Thanks for so much encouragement from chapter 9! ^_^ I was surprised by the number of people who commented on what I said... O_O you guys actually read the author's note! O.o;; Reponses too all my reviews are in my LiveJournal, and the link for that is in my ff.net profile. ^__^ Thanks so much to everyone!!