Chapter Seven

"So? You excited?" Remus asked Arcas as he helped Arcas pack up all the stuff he would need for his year in Hogwarts.

"Excited? About what?" Arcas asked, tilting his head to the side which made Remus want to coo, before he pulled himself together.

"Teaching! Putting knowledge into the heads of people who look up to you!" Remus said, he really liked teaching, it made him feel so important in those young peoples lives.

"Yeah. Perhaps." Arcas said, making Remus frown at his hesitance.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. I have just never been near so many people before, except when we went shopping that one time, and when I went searching for my mate. Besides that, I stayed alone, hid in hotel rooms. I don't like crowds." Arcas admitted with a shrug. Remus frowned and then grabbed Arcas' shoulders in a hug.

"You'll be fine! You just need to get used to it. You will only ever be around the students when you are teaching them anyway, and classes normally only have around twenty students. Two houses from each year. You'll be fine."

"Maybe. I won't really know until it happens so there really is no need to worry. I don't have to teach them anything other than History do I?" Arcas asked suddenly, worry crossing his face.

"No, why? Would that be an issue?" Remus asked, frowning at the Star now nibbling his lower lip.

"Well... I don't know anything do I? I only know what I watched for three thousand years. Which is a lot of history. Some of it is even useful! Though I'd imagine that no one really wants to know most of the things I picked up. Like Napoleons favourite breakfast." Arcas muttered, making Remus grin in amusement.

"You'll be fine. If someone asks you something you don't know, then jus send them my way or Sirius'. Though you may want to send them to me first..." Remus added as an after thought.

--

Arcas looked at the castle in front of him in awe. It was huge, and quite impressive. He was going to get lost almost straight away, he just knew it. Unless he just never left the classroom. Then he wouldn't have to deal with the crowds either.

Arcas nibbled on his lip as he followed Sirius and Remus up the steps and into the castle. Inside Dumbledore was waiting for him with a twinkle in his eyes, which Arcas wondered how he got and if it was a spell or not.

"Now then Mr... Ah, it would seem you need a last name." Dumbledore said with a twinkle. "No worries, we can tell everyone that your last name is Potter. It will help when we announce you as Harry."

Arcas frowned at the meddling old man, "Actually, there is no need."

"My dear boy, you need a last name. Whatever shall the students refer to you as?" Albus said, making Arcas grind his teeth.

"Not as a Potter. I have not been a part of that family since I was six, over three and a half thousand years ago. Perhaps I could come to you with a name of my choice Professor Dumbledore." Arcas said with a sweet smile.

"Of course my dear boy! Now, I will show you to your rooms. They are not far from your classroom on the second floor."

"Actually, I was wondering if I could stay in the same rooms as Remus. It would make me feel a lot more comfortable." Arcas admitted quietly. He really didn't want to be staying in a set of rooms on his own.

"Well I am sure I can get the House elves to sort that out, as long as that is okay with Remus." Dumbledore said, looking at Remus and Sirius. Both of whom looked shocked at the request, though there was a hint of hurt in Sirius' eyes.

"How come you don't want to stay with me? I'll let you move in with me! We can catch up!" Sirius said with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I think I would feel more comfortable with Remus. No offence, but I feel protected by the wolf." Arcas said with a small smile and a shrug.

"Well, as long as that is what you want Arcas, then by all means, you can move into my spare room." Remus said, still looking slightly shocked, though his face showed his happiness.

"Ah, well then that's settled. I'll have the House Elves take your luggage to your rooms then. Please make yourselves at home. I'll see you at dinner tonight to introduce you to the school. I will need your surname by then." Dumbledore said with a somewhat strained smile before turning and walking back to his office.

"Wow. You pissed off Dumbledore. I'm impressed Arcas." Sirius said, clapping him on the back and making Arcas fly a good few feet forward before he regained his balance.

--

At the start of year feast Arcas was a bundle of nerves. He had to endure all the returning students staring at him, the giggles of the majority of female students and also a fair few male ones, which made him twitch uncomfortably. The wait between the returning students and the first years getting sorted seemed to be never ending, even with both Remus and Sirius trying to take his mind off it.

"You'll be fine Arcas. Have you told Dumbledore what your last name is yet?" Remus asked, placing a hand on Arcas' shoulder.

"Yes, I told him when I came in. Why do you think they are all staring at me? And why are they giggling?" Arcas asked, looking at the students nervously.

"They think you're hot. So they giggle and imagine you and them together." Sirius said bluntly, making Arcas frown and Remus gape at him.

"I can't believe you just said that!"

"Doing what?" Arcas asked, making both men snap their heads to look at him at break neck speeds.

"What do you mean?" Remus asked warily, ignoring the motions Sirius was making to make him shut up.

"Well what are they imagining us doing? Can't be very exciting." Arcas said, looking thoroughly confused and not noticing the muffled laughter coming from Flitwick, who was sitting next to Remus.

"Er... I believe, to them, it is very exciting." Sirius said, making Arcas look even more confused and Remus to look upwards as though asking for help from a higher being.

"Oh. Women are strange. You don't think my mate will be like that do you?" Arcas asked, nibbling on his lower lip, and fiddling with the cutlery on the table in front of him.

"No, of course not. For one thing, you told us that your mate was a male." Remus pointed out, making Arcas smile and thus making half the female population of Hogwarts sigh loudly.

Finally, much to Arcas' relief, Hagrid appeared and led the first years into the hall, all the other students hushed and watched McGonagall as she put the stool down in front of the hall then nodded to Hagrid in thanks.

Arcas watched all this in slight bemusement and then stunned disbelief as a tatty hat was placed on the stool and then actually sang to them. Arcas didn't actually take in what was being sung, he was far too impressed and shocked that the hat was actually singing to begin with. Then he worried that his hat might do the same and quickly dragged the white hat off his head, much to the amusement of the teachers around him.

"Don't worry, I have yet to meet another singing hat besides that one." Remus whispered. Arcas smiled at him but still didn't put his hat back on and shoved it away from him on the table.

"As I call your names, you will come forward and place the hat on your head to be sorted. Allet, Marie." A small girl with her blonde hair tied back in pigtails walked forward nervously and sat on the stool, placing the hat on her head.

Arcas watched with fascination as the girl seemed to be communicating with the hat on her head, which didn't exactly make Arcas any more inclined to put his hat back on.

"Is that normal?" Arcas whispered to Sirius, seeing as Remus actually seemed to be paying attention and clapped when the girl was sorted into Slytherin. Arcas quickly clapped and then turned back to Sirius.

"Yeah, the hat talks to you in your mind to find out which house you are best suited to." Sirius whispered back, making Arcas look at him as though he were insane and then shove his hat all the way off the other end of the table.

"This world is strange. I don't belong here." Arcas whispered in panic.

"Yeah you do. How much more magical can you get than a Star? Like a living Star!" Sirius whispered excitedly, making Remus look at them disapprovingly.

"Stars are more physics than magic." Arcas pointed out bluntly, not even bothering to whisper seeing as the hat chose that moment to yell out another students house.

"Oh yes, because I'm sure every Muggle learns of the point when a Star will come and visit for tea and crumpets." Sirius said sarcastically, making Arcas blush then frown.

"What's a crumpet?"

Sirius sighed, but didn't have a chance to answer though, because at that moment the final student got sorted and Dumbledore stood, silencing the entire hall.

"Ah, welcome and welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. As you can see, we have a new professor, and a new subject to learn. Please welcome Professor Orsini." Dumbledore said, gesturing to Arcas, who smiled and waved shyly, making many students sigh. "Ah, yes, he will be teaching a new subject, History of War. He will be more than willing to talk to any of you if you have any questions.

"I would also like to remind everyone that the Forbidden Forest is just that, and there will be severe consequences for anyone found in the Forest. There is also a new list for the year of banned items. It can be found outside Argus Filch's office. Now, I believe that I everything I need to announce, so... Dig in!"

The food suddenly appeared in front of everyone, making the first years gasp in astonishment and Arcas the look at the food suspiciously.

"I may be somewhat naïve as to this world and how it runs, but I'm pretty sure food is not supposed to appear in front of you. Where does it come from?" Arcas asked, prodding at the chicken Remus placed in front of him.

"The house elves make it and send it up using their magic." Remus explained, whilst Sirius placed some more food on the plate in front of him.

"Just try it, I have yet to find food better than Hogwarts food." Sirius pointed out, digging into his own food and smiling reassuringly at Arcas.

"Do they wash their hands?" Arcas asked, still looking at the food on his plate as though it were about to attack him.

"What on earth do you need to now that for?" Siirus asked, looking at his godson in startled confusion.

"I'd imagine they do. Sirius is right though, why do you want to know?"

"Do you know how many people have died of food poisoning. Only in the last century or so have the numbers started to decrease due to scientist discovering bacteria."

"Er... I really don't think that is a problem here. You do realise that all the food you ate at Grimmauld place was prepared by a house elf. Plus, you're a Star, do you really think you would get food poisoning?" Remus asked, making Arcas smile sheepishly but still not touch the food.

"I don't need to eat. Whole benefit of being a Star I suppose. It won't nourish me, just make me feel a bit stodgy." Arcas muttered, prodding at a potato half-heartedly.

"We know that Arcas, but we agreed that you would eat the food at the feast otherwise it would look a bit suspicious." Sirius said soothingly, handing the distressed Star a goblet of pumpkin juice.

"I know, but I will have to go and find some real food for me soon. It has been far too long since I had something decent to eat." Arcas said, looking mournfully at his plate. "I don't like this anymore. It's seeming less like an adventure and more like a mess. I don't even know who my mate is or if I'll be meeting him anytime soon."

"Cheer up. It won't be that bad. You'll find your mate soon enough and then you'll be free to do whatever you wish or leave if that is what you want."

"How will I find him? Dumbledore has efficiently trapped me here for at least a year. I don't like this anymore. I want to go home and be with my mother and her mate."

"What has made you think all this? You were fine earlier today." Sirius pointed out, making Arcas pout and cross his arms.

"I'm hungry and everyone is staring at me. I want my mate and I want to go home." Arcas said sulkily, making Remus sigh and Sirius roll his eyes.

"Right then. What do you normally eat?"

"Fire. I consume fire, normally the fire of my home. How else do you think we glow." Arcas asked despondently.

"And the fact that you haven't eaten anything for at least a month would be the reason that you are no longer glowy?" Sirius asked, feeling a little guilty at being one fot he reasons his godson had been starving himself.

"Pretty much."

"So where will we get the fire you need?"

"You won't. I'll have to appear near a source. There aren't many left on earth anymore."

"Any what?" Remus asked, taking his attention away from his plate to look at Arcas interestedly.

"Volcanoes."

"Pardon? I could have swore you said volcanoes." Remus said, trying to cover up the fact that he had spat his mouthful of pumpkin juice across the table. Sirius sniggered at his friends plight, but looked at Arcas curiously as well.

"Yes. There is a substance in them that I believe you call lava. It is the nearest thing to what I consume from my home that you can get here." Arcas explained with a shrug. The food in front of them disappeared and then reappeared with desserts instead and making Arcas look at the food with suspicion once more.

Remus sighed and placed some cherry pie on his plate, followed by a couple of scoops of ice cream before turning to Arcas. "Okay, so you need to go inside a volcano later on tonight. Right now though, do you want to try and at least eat something?"

"Fine." Arcas said with a frown and picked a muffin to nibble on.

--

later that night, after the start of term feast, some Gryffindor's were sitting up in the common room, discussing a certain new professor.

"Was it me, or did he not seem quite so attractive when we met him earlier this year?" Ginny asked, just one step away from sighing, making Ron look at her in horror.

"You met him earlier in the summer? What is he like? What did he say?" Lavender Brown said, leaning forward eagerly. Parvati shuffled forward in her seat and Seamus grinned widely.

"Oh yeah, we met him. He was even more hot close up. I dunno what Ginny is on about." Seamus said, making Ron and Neville look at each other and roll their eyes.

"So? What else do you know? Where's he from? How old is he? I mean, he doesn't look that much older than us." Parvati pointed out.

"Yeah, that's what we thought. Apparently though, he is over three thousand years old. If that's true, that means he's not a human!" Ron said, making the three that weren't at Grimmauld Place over the summer look at him.

"Really? I wonder what he is!" Lavender exclaimed excitedly.

"Yeah, that's what we were wondering. Me and Hermione searched all of our books to see if there were any clues, but we couldn't find anything! He is rather attractive though, isn't he." The females in the group and Seamus all nodded in agreement with Ginny, making Ron gasp in betrayal.

"Hermione! Not you as well!"

"Well he is attractive Ron. Even you have to get over your prejudices and accept that." Hermione said, making Ron gape at her. "And close your mouth, you'll catch flies."

"But we don't know what he is! He could be a vampire!"

"Don't be ridiculous Ronald. We met him in broad daylight. There aren't many Vampires strong enough that can do that." Ginny said, the rest of the Gryffindor's laughing at the arguing trio.

"Actually, if he is over a thousand, and if what he told you is true, then he is way over that, then he wouldn't have any trouble at all with walking in the daylight for a couple of hours." Parvati pointed out, making Ron look smug and Ginny to gape at her and then huff, crossing her arms over he chest.

"Well, what does it matter? Dumbledore obviously trusts him to teach us, so he is obviously safe to be around. And with more than three thousand years under his belt, I think he has learnt control. That is if he is a vampire. He could be something else."

"What?" Ron asked, making Ginny blush and shrug.

"I don't know. Hermione and I didn't find out anything else."

"This is all very interesting but what did he seem like? Did you learn anything else interesting about him?"

"Um... his first name is Arcas? We didn't really talk to him for that long. He was leaving just as we arrived." Neville said with a shrug, making the other three groan and pelt him with cushions.

--

"Order! This meeting of the Order has now started. Does anyone here have any idea on who Harry's mate is? As you all know, he is now a teacher at Hogwarts and so will not be allowed to leave the school premises until the holidays." Dumbledore said, making the small group gathered in front of him nod in agreement.

"Well we have come up with a few people it can't be, and thus narrowing the group. It is obviously no one female, as he said so himself. It is also no one here, nor anyone he met whilst at Grimmauld place. Of course this is assuming that we know his mate and that they are even a wizard!" Moody growled, slamming his hand down on the chair arm.

"It is a wizard Moody. He is a Star, a Muggle wouldn't be able to cope with it." Kingsley stated.

"Exactly, there is also something else that I have researched. He said, that when he arrived, his mate was still here in England, but that he is no longer sure that his mate is still here in England. I checked all astronomy notes over the past couple of months and I have managed to find out when he possibly came. There were only three events in Britain wizarding world that are note worthy."

"What? And do we have a list of people attending? We can at least then narrow them down to the more likely people." Molly said, the others gathered in the office agreeing with her.

"Well two should be easy to get the guest lists for. It would be your young Bill's wedding. Another would be an election party at the ministry and the last would be the graduation ball here. All were held on the same weekend."

"Well I can get a list for the wedding and I'm sure you have a list for Graduation." Molly said, smiling happily at the chance to help.

"Indeed. Arthur, Kingsley, I will need for you to try and get the ministry guest list for us. We can take off all females, then narrow them down to people who possibly left the country."

"Well that will be easy for us. Charlie, his friend he brought with him, and Bill and his friends from Egypt. Everyone else live in England."

"We'll add them to the list then. It doesn't matter if they are married or not, the Star will not care."

"So what shall we do when we have a main suspect of Harry's mate?" Moody asked.

"We find them and hide them. Harry must not find his mate until Voldemort is dead."

--

Two weeks into the school year and a young, red haired man ran through the halls towards the Headmasters office with a sheet of paper in his hands. Passing by Arcas and Remus as they made their way down to visit Sirius in his rooms the floor below them.

"Remus, who was that?" Arcas asked, sounding a little breathless.

"I believe it was one of the eldest Weasley sons. Not sure which though. Why?"

"Because I think it was my mate."

--

Later that day, Arcas, Sirius and Remus walked into the Great Hall and noticed Bill Weasley sitting at the head table next to Dumbledore, talking in low murmurs.

"Ah." Remus said, stopping just before walking though the open doors. Sirius nibbled on his lower lip and glanced at Arcas, who was staring at Bill with a frown.

"What's wrong?" Arcas asked quietly, not taking his eyes off of Bill, who had now noticed and was beginning to shift in his seat a little.

"He's married." Remus said, as Sirius placed a comforting hand on Arcas' shoulder.

"Married? What's that? I remember watching something about that. Is it when humans tie knots? And they get dressed up in strange clothes for the day. I never got the tying knots thing though. I never saw anyone tie any." Arcas muttered to himself, whilst Remus and Sirius looked at him as though he has grown an extra head.

"It is when two people decide that they love each other so much that they wish to spend their life together and make their relationship official and recognised by the law." Remus said, realising that there was a more likely chance that Arcas had no idea what he was saying. The small smile and blank eyes on Arcas' face only further solidified that.

"Oh. Right."

"Look, never mind right? You said you weren't sure it was your mate. You only saw him for a couple of seconds. Lets go meet him and stop standing here getting funny looks from the staff and students." Sirius said, shifting nervously from one foot to the other as everyone in the hall glanced at them.

The three sighed in unison and made their way up to the table, taking the three empty seats next to Bill. Arcas made sure he was in the middle of Remus and Sirius.

"Hi, I'm Bill. You must be Arcas Orsini. Please to meet you." Bill said, leaning around Remus to shake Arcas' hand. Arcas smiled weakly and quickly took his hadn back when Bill let go.

"Hi." Arcas said, before shrinking back into his seat and leaning into Sirius, "He's not my mate. But he was close to him not long ago." Arcas said quietly, not realising that Remus, Bill and Dumbledore all heard him.

No one, but Bill noticed that Dumbledore had an extra twinkle in his eyes as he turned to talk to McGonagall on his left.

--

Above Ireland, a star fell out of the sky. Well that is what parents told their children. Astronomers of course, knew that it was nothing more that space debris hitting the earths atmosphere and that there would have been nothing left as it seemingly hit earth.

The parents were closer to the truth. Two stars and their mates arrived on the southern most coast, being met by another.

Callista had arrived to help her son, and had brought with her Sirius and Dorea and her own mate, Alethea. Regulus (the Star) met them and then the three disappeared from the beach in a barely seen flash just as a group of muggles came to investigate the supposed fallen star.

--

"My Lord. I have news on the stranger spotted in Diagon Alley." A cloaked figure came to kneel in front of the Dark Lord sitting on his new throne.

"What have you found out?"

"It is a Star searching for his mate My Lord. But that is not all. The Star's name is Arcas and he is currently teaching at Hogwarts."

"I already knew that. If you have nothing else new to tell me..." Voldemort trailed off, aiming his wand at the minion in front of him.

"No! I realise you knew that My Lord. However, Arcas Orsini is not the Stars real name."

"It isn't? Do you know what it is?"

"Harry Potter."

The high pitched laughter of the Dark Lord echoed through the halls, making the Death Eaters in attendance cringe and glance behind them in fear.

Okay, so this chapter took a wee while longer to write than normal. However, things are beginning to move along now. The main thing, Dumbledore now has a clue as to who Arcas' mate is. There also seems to be a spy within the Order... Whoever could I be? You can guess all you like, but you will never find out until I decide to tell you! Lol!

Hopefully I haven't disappointed anyone with this chapter. The pairing is now set, as you can probably guess. Harry/Charlie it is. I'll admit, I'm rather happy with the result. It was very close though, there was only five between it. Which shocked me, I'll admit that.

Thank you for the reviews so far, the response has shocked me so much!! I'm so glad so many of you like it. Please review this chapter and if you have any questions, please ask them, I promise to reply!! I do try to reply as soon as I can, and I do eventually!! Promise!!