Chapter Four

Chapter Four

The portkey dropped them off in a dark and dingy hallway, which, to Sirius and Remus, seemed to be lit up slightly more than normal, by the glowing light coming from their impromptu guest.

"Where are we? It is... dark. Kind of... Um..." Arcas searched around for a suitable word that wasn't rude.

"You can be honest you know. Neither of us would care." Remus said, grinning slightly in amusement.

"Oh no! I may now know much about your peoples, but um... I know that would not be accepted!" Arcas said, shocked at the suggestion.

"Fine, we'll do it for you, won't we Moony?" Sirius said, grinning at his best friend.

"Sure thing Pads!"

"Right. Where to start? Ooh! Well, this place is certainly dark! It's got a certain mustiness to it!" Sirius exclaimed, though still managing to keep his voice down, much to Arcas' confusion.

"Why are we speaking so quietly? And do we not have a meeting to attend?" Arcas asked, looking around him and tilting his head at the drawn curtains on the wall. Humans were so strange.

"You're right. Shall we go and introduce you to the rest of the Order?" Remus asked, ignoring the first question completely. Being introduced to Mrs Black was a sort of initiation rite by now. He would find out sooner or later.

"What is the 'Order'?" Arcas asked as Sirius and Remus lead him down a set of stairs and into another room. Which appeared to be a kitchen when Arcas looked around him.

There was a large, long table in the middle of the room, with several people already sitting around it. And at that moment, all were staring at him. Arcas smiled shyly and then stepped behind Remus to hide from the distrusting stares.

"Remus, Sirius. Will you introduce us to your friend, and perhaps explain what he is doing here?" An old man, with a long white beard asked. Arcas squeaked and hid even further behind an amused Remus.

"Ah, well this is Arcas. We bumped into him in Diagon Alley and found out something about him, that I thought you should all hear as well." Sirius said, dragging a clinging Arcas from behind Remus. "Arcas, this is the Order."

"Hi." Arcas said, smiling gently and inching back towards the safety he associated with Remus.

"Hello, Mr..." The old man, who Arcas assumed to be the leader of this group, asked, clasping his hands in front of him and leaning forward in his chair.

"It's just Arcas, I don't have a um... surname?" Arcas asked, making the Order wonder why he was unsure of saying surname.

"Well, why don't you three take a seat, and we can do introductions." The old man said.

Remus and Sirius walked to the table and sat down in the two seats at the end. Arcas shrugged and then stood behind Remus' chair, wrapping his fist in Remus' shirt and pressing close to the back of his chair.

"Well, as it would seem you have been told, this is the Order of the Phoenix. We are the main defence against Voldemort and his followers. I am Professor Dumbledore, I am headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Hello." Arcas said shyly, not letting go of Remus' shirt.

"On my left are Arthur, Molly, Fred and George Weasley." Dumbledore said, indicating to the four red heads sitting at the table. "Next to them are Nymphadora Tonks, though she prefers to be called Tonks." Dumbledore added when the pink haired woman glared at him.

Harry smiled at them and waved before looking at the rest around the table. Trying not to focus on the one man, who's eye seemed to spin in the socket completely independent of the other eye.

"And on my right are, Mad Eyes Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Severus Snape and of course you know Sirius Black and Remus Lupin." Dumbledore said, making Arcas smile at the others and then nod in agreement with Dumbledore.

"Right then, so what is it that Remus and Sirius said you needed to tell us?" Dumbledore asked eventually, once everyone else had said their greetings to Arcas.

"Um... I suppose they want me to tell you who I used to be, but to be honest I don't really remember much about my youth. You kind of forget things after about thousand years or so..." Arcas admitted with a shrug , blinking at the looks of confusion and shock on everyones faces.

"You mean, Mr Arcas, to tell us that you are one thousand years old?" The greasy haired man, Snape, sneered, making Arcas shrink away from him.

"Well... technically I am three thousand, five hundred and twenty-three. Though I suppose in your terms I am just nearing seventeen. Time runs differently back home." Arcas explained, grinning shyly at everyone around the table.

"What exactly are you Arcas?" Dumbledore asked, making everyone, including Sirius and Remus, turn to stare at him.

"Ah, I think your term for them are um... stars." Arcas said with small smile, ignoring the gasps coming from around him.

"You're a star? Why are you here Mr Arcas?"

"There's no Mr, it's just Arcas... And as I told Remus and Sirius, I'm here to find someone." He explained with a small shrug.

"Who? I mean, maybe we can help you." The pink haired woman, Tonks said brightly. The red heads behind her nodded enthusiastically.

"Oh well, I'm not sure. See, it is sort of a rite of passage amongst our people. When we reach a certain age, we must leave to find our mate. Mine was predicted to be here, on this earth." Arcas said quietly, a small secret smile crossing his face.

"Do you now anything about them?" Molly Weasley asked kindly.

"They are male. And magical. They are human as well. And I believe that I came here because that is where I last sensed them."

"So you can sense them?"

"Sort of, though it is difficult to explain... I will know when I see them though." Arcas admitted with a shrug.

"Tell them who you are!" Sirius urged, getting the attention from everyone at the table.

"Who are you, Arcas?"

"I'm Arcas, though apparently you may have known my name before I left." Arcas said with a shrug, "See, before I left, I was known as Harry Potter."

With that announcement, a complete uproar exploded in the kitchen, making Arcas stare at them stunned and then hide almost completely behind a now standing Remus.

Molly Wealsey ran over to him suddenly, and grabbed him into a hug, making Arcas gasp in horror and shock, before he was suddenly dropped to the floor, as Molly shrieked in pain and looked at her hand and cupped her cheek that had come into contact with Arcas' skin.

Remus quickly bent down and held Arcas at the elbow to help him to stand. Tonks and Kingsley cast the healing spells they knew on Molly, before everyone turned to look at a horrified Arcas.

"You can't touch me! No one can except my mate!" Arcas said, stepping away form the group of now standing adults, the Weasley's now all looking at him with mixed horror and distrust.

"What are you Mr Potter?" Dumbledore asked, distrust also on his face, making Arcas shrink away from him and grab onto Remus' shirt once again.

"I told you. I am a star. We burn those that touch our skin. I am not human, my molecular structure is not the same as yours. I am made up of burning gases and um... stuff." Arcas admitted with a shrug.

"The Harry Potter we knew was completely human, the last I knew. How is it you are not, if you really are Harry Potter." Severus Snape asked with a sneer.

"I changed. I left and got changed. How else do you think Stars are formed? My constellation is the Ursa Minor. Just like my mother all those years before. Ursa Major, as you may have heard of her... I'm not sure... What do you call the stars?" Arcas asked, looking at everyone confused.

"We have the same names for some reason... We know of the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor... Though your mother is not Ursa Minor. I knew Lily Evans and she did not disappear at any point in her life."

"Lily Evans? No, my mothers name is Callisto." Arcas said, once again with confusion colouring his voice.

"What do you mean? You've never heard of Lily?" Sirius asked, turning to look at his estranged godson.

"I don't know who you're talking about." Arcas said with a shrug.

"Harry-"

Arcas interrupted Dumbledore with a small frown. "I would prefer to be called Arcas. It is the name I ave been referred to more during my life. Harry is too strange for me."

"Well Arcas. Now that you have been introduced to the Order, perhaps we should tell you more about the war we are fighting. I believe then, you will be able to tell us if and how you can help us."

"I do not want any part in your war Mr Dumbledore sir. I just want to find my mate and leave. Your war will not affect me or my people." Arcas said, shaking his head quietly.

"Whether you are willing admit it or not, the war against Voldemort will affect you." Dumbledore said gravely, which was somewhat ruined when Arcas started to snigger.

"What is big enough to affect the stars? I have been around long enough to see many wars, and not one has come even close to affecting the stars. Many of them are a lot worse than your little war. You may destroy each other in the war, but humankind will always pull through and a new generation of magical kind will come around." Arcas said with a shrug. The rest of the Order sat and stared at him in horror at his harsh words.

"And what exactly have you witnessed Arcas?" Severus asked, sneering at him. Arcas glanced at him with a raised eyebrow, not in the least intimidated.

"The Great War was the only war that could have come close to harming the stars. That was the only time that we elders got together to consider helping out one fraction of the war. In the end it was unneeded." Arcas said with a shrug, noticing that the Order seemed to be split between those who knew what he was talking about, and those who didn't. Clearly they needed a better History teacher. These wars should never be forgotten.

"The Great War? You mean the Muggle war? How did that affect the stars?" The pink haired woman, Tonks Arcas corrected himself silently, asked.

"No, the war which was the reason for the Elves to hide themselves away and made many species of Dragon to become extinct. How do you not know of this war?" Arcs asked, fury now showing through in his voice for the first time since he had been back on the planet.

"I am afraid, it is hard to find good history teachers these days. I believe the Goblin Wars are the interest of the current teacher." Dumbledore admitted not wanting to anger the, already temperamental Star any further.

"Then you need a better teacher. There is a reason that historians recorded all major events happening at the time. It was so that future generations could learn from them and make sure they don't get repeated. There are not enough species left for you to kill. However, your war will not effect my people, not will it reach the Elves or the notice of most other magical beings besides the humans."

"The Weres are already involved." Remus said quietly.

"The Wolves are involved, but the rest stay away. No one can find them, and they do not want to be involved. They remember the Great War and do not wish to be forced away like the Elves." Arcas said, before turning and walking towards the door.

"Where are you going? Are you not going to help us at all?" Dumbledore asked, moving around the table to step closer to the departing Star.

"I need to find my mate. That is my only concern with your kind. I will not find him talking to you about your pointless war." Arcas said, no longer finding the human species amusing. Just irritating.

"Pointless war? Now see here young man! This war affects both the magical and Muggle communities! This is no little war!! Many lives are at stake and you are refusing us the little help that could possibly end this war without too much blood loss!" The eldest woman, Molly, shrieked, making those with sensitive ears wince at the sound, and Arcas to roll his eyes once his ears had stopped ringing.

"To me, your war is pointless. If it strays into the Muggle world, then your war will be ended a lot quicker than you thought. You need to read up on their advancements, not ignore them and believe them to be inferior. They have managed without magic a lot better than you have." Arcas said and swung the door open to leave the kitchen. The shrieking of Molly, unfortunately, had awoken another shrieking woman. Only this time, Arcas wasn't entirely sure what to make of it... For one thing it was a portrait.

Another thing was the stunned silence his appearance caused, making the woman to bend into a low curtsey, blushing lightly.

"My liege! It has been many centuries since a Star has walked the walls of a Black house." The portrait said, before straightening out and looking at Arcas more closely.

"My lady. You know of the Stars?" Arcas said, eyes shining brightly at the prospect at talking to someone who knew of his people.

"Indeed, you may know of my sons namesake. He came to the Blacks for help to find his Mate."

"May I ask your name?"

"It is Walburga. And your constellation?" Walburga asked, making Arcas smile widen even further if that was possible. The rest of the Order had all arrived by this time and were now watching stunned as the young man in front of them managed to shut up the infamous portrait of Walburga Black.

"Who is that?" Percy Weasley asked his mother, walking further into the entrance hall.

"The rudest man I have ever met. Arcas."

"My constellation is the Ursa Minor."

"Arcas! I remember reading your story when I was a child! I loved the romance! How is your mother?"

Arcas looked at her, stunned that she knew his real name and history. "She is fine. I think she is both nervous that I am here to find a mate, and excited that I will now find my other half."

"Do you know who they are?"

"Alas, no. I only arrived a couple of months ago and so I am still searching. I have narrowed them down to being in this country though." Arcas said, smile dropping a little and making Walburga frown.

"Then it is the right of the Blacks to offer you our help and hospitality. My son will offer you a place to stay in this house and all the help he can give you if he knows what is good for him. For many generations, your people have lent your names to the Blacks, so we swore we would return the favour and help any Star that came across our paths to find their mate." Walburga exclaimed to the surprise of everyone in the room, and making Arcas flush with gratitude.

"We did?" Sirius said, walking forward and looking at his mother in shock.

"Yes, if you had not run away before your seventeenth, then you would have found out on your birthday." Walburga said with a scowl. Arcas turned to look at his godfather curiously.

"Why did you run away?"

"Let's just say we had a difference of opinion. However, I will agree to taking up this task."

"Then you shall once again be accepted into the Black's and Kreacher will listen to you from now on. Though I realise how hard it is for you two to get on. Now Arcas, I must admit, I never met Sirius, the Star, but from what I was told, you are much more stunning. Still haven't dared to cut your hair yet though?" Walburga commented, glancing at the Star's appearance.

"I refuse to cut my hair I until I find my mate. It is a vow that many Stars take. My mother before me did as well." Arcas said, tugging at a stray piece of hair in front of his face.

"A noble thing indeed little Star. So what shall you do in the mean time? You cannot just sit around this house between searching. You know you must await for him to come to you."

"I honestly do not know Ma'am."

"Call me Walburga please."

"As long as you call me Arcas."

It was at this point that Dumbledore shook himself out of his stupor and felt it time to interrupt. "I can offer you a place at Hogwarts teaching war history for the time you are here. It will make sure you know the future generations know of the wars in the past."

Arcas turned back to look at Walburga questioningly. She smiled at him kindly before glaring at Dumbledore. "And what is to say you will not hinder his main reason for being here?"

"I promise that I will not stop you from leaving once you find your mate, nor will I openly hinder any progress you might make in this endeavour."

"Then I suppose I shall take it. Would I have to live at the school, or here?" Arcas asked, looking back to Dumbledore.

"During term time you will have to live at the school, however we will provide suitable quarters and anything you need."

"Do you have another portrait that I can take with me? I enjoy talking to someone who knows of my kind. It is somewhat refreshing and helps to lessen the homesickness." Arcas admitted with a small blush adding colour to his face.

"Of course, Sirius can take you to the main family vault, which e will now have access to, and show you where they are. I will be glad to-" Walburga was interrupted by the arrival of several teenagers appearing in the hallway with a loud collection of pops.

"Hey Mum, what's going on? Why's everyone gathered in the hall?" A tall, gangly red head male, who Arcas assumed was related to Weasley's yelled, making Arcas raise an eyebrow.

"We were just introducing the new teacher to the Order, young Ronald." Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling and making all teens eyes search out and stop on Arcas, who inched towards the portrait.

"Who are you?" Ron asked, making the young bushy haired girl tut.

"I am Arcas. I will be teaching War History next term." Arcas said, soft voice managing to carry to the group.

"A new course? Will it be a required course?" The bushy haired girl asked enthusiastically.

"Yes Miss Granger, it is will a required lesson. Arcas, this is Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan, all seventh years at Hogwarts and Ginevra Weasley and Luna Lovegood, both sixth years."

"Pleased to meet you." Arcas said with a slight bob of his head.

"How can you be a teacher? You don't look older than Ginny!" Ron exclaimed, getting nods of agreement from the teens around him. Clearly he was the leader of this group, Arcas thought to himself. Also someone he will possibly have to keep an eye on.

"I assure you I ma old enough. I am over three thousand years old." Arcas said, smiling with suppressed amusement at the stunned looks that received.

"So then Arcas. Shall I show you o your room, and maybe me, you and Remus can get to know each other a bit better, and learn something that might help us find you your mate." Sirius said eventually, the stunned silence beginning to irritate him.

"That sounds like fun. Perhaps we can also find time to find Walburga's other portrait." Arcas said, closing the curtains of Walburga when requested by said portrait.

"Sure thing. Let's go then, there is possibly a special room kept especially for your kind if we were prepared for another of your people to come to us. I'll have to ask another portrait though." Sirius said with a shrug, leading Arcas and Remus up the stairs and leaving a very bemused Order behind.

A/N – Okay, so this was more a filler chapter than anything and also, Harry not finding his mate means that the poll is open for one more chapter. Next chapter it will be finished, and I will post who won. Though I am not guaranteeing that he will meet his mate for a while... It depends on how things run... I have already had to get rid of some plans, just because the story didn't seem to want to go that way... So now I'm just going with the flow!! Lol!!

Anyways, the results so far are:

Voldemort 7

Bill 9

Charlie 19

Draco 12

OMC (Original Male Character to those who wanted to know) 4

Severus 7

Blaise 3

OC (Obviously, if Harry has already met them, then they won't be his mate so this is no longer an option. Sorry.) 3