Title: Of the Nightstars
Narrated: TorringMay
Typed by: Sorringmay
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: PG13 / Teen
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warning: This story is not to cannon. It will however have some spoilers to HBP. Please do not expect it to follow the story of HBP though.
Summary: After being abandon by the Dursley's as a baby, Harry is raised by another race. After 5 years of odd dreams and magical power surges, his adopted family is allowing him to go to Hogwarts in an attempt to learn to control his powers.
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CHAPTER 3
Harry stepped aboard the scarlet train wrinkling his nose as the pungent smell of oil, metal, leather and wood cleaner that assaulted his offended appendage. He made his way down the hall looking into the individual compartments, taking note of all the other children on boards chatting happily with friends and class mates.
Some gave him curious glances, others smiled in greeting, and there were a few who ignored him all together, to busy with finding a place to sit or storing away luggage. As he himself made his way down the hall, a red head stepped in front of him.
"There you are Harry," said the red head. "Hermione and I saved you a seat in our compartment."
Harry wasn't sure if it was the calling of his name, or just the overly cheerful voice of Ron Weasley that brought the attention to him, it did not take long however for someone to spot the tell all scar on his forehead. The corridor broke out in whispers of "It's Harry Potter," and "The-boy-who-lived."
"Bugger off, all of you," snapped Ron to those in the hall. "Last thing he needs you lot bugging him."
Harry smiled his thanks as he ducked into the compartment Ron indicated. Hermione was already seated a book held loosely in her hand as she watched them enter. "Ron," she said in a chiding tone, "That is no way for a perfect to act."
"But 'Mione, that were being bloody gits to Harry."
Harry watched Ron take the seat next to Hermione as he pushed his trunk into its spot before taking the seat opposite of them. "Is everyone likely to respond that way?" he inquired feeling a bit a trepidation as the pair exchanged a look.
"Oh Harry I wouldn't worry about it to much. Once you are sorted into your house they will help you settle in." Harry raised an eyebrow at Hermione's comment but said nothing.
"Yeah, bet you're in Gryffindor, after all you defeated you-know-who and he was a slimy Slytherin."
Sorting, houses, Gryffindor, Slytherin? Harry had no idea what either of his companions were speaking of. "I'm sorry but what do you mean by sorted?"
"Oh mate, that's right you don't know," cried Ron softly. "Being sorted tells you which of the four houses you are in."
Well he supposed that made some since, but he still did not understand. Hermione, seeing his confused look shook her head at Ron before explaining. "There are four houses at Hogwarts. Each house is like a segregate family that helps you through the school year. You can earn or loose points for your house depending on your behavior." She took a breath looking to see if Harry was following. Smiling when she saw he was she continued. "as Ron said there are four houses. Hufflepuff is known for its friendship and loyalty, Ravenclaw's are smart and detailed, Gryffindor is brave and courageous and then there is Slytherin who are – "
"Slime foul loathsome prats," Ron burst in.
"Ronald!" Hermione huffed in exsasperation. "Slytherin is known for being sly and cunning." The last words were snapped towards Ron.
"Come on 'Mione, ever single witch and wizard that's ever gone bad has come form that house."
Harry was a bit taken back by the amount of venom the Ron's voice held. While there were people he didn't particularly care for in the elven kingdom, he could not recall ever feeling so upset with someone to speak of them in the manner that Ron was speaking of this house they were discussing.
"What house are you in?" he asked trying to draw his two companions to a more pleasant topic.
Ron smiled proudly, "Gryffindor mate." He pointed to his trunk which bore a red and gold emblem of a lion on it. "We have had some of the best adventures, plus we have put the Slytherin's in there place the last few years."
Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's words before commenting. "Each year we earn house points to when the house cup. Four of the last five years Gryffindor won."
"The only reason we didn't win fourth year," Ron interjected, "was do to the tri-wizard tournament."
"Tri-wizard tournament? What is that?" The thought of a magic tournament was exhilarating. He would like to participate in it if he could.
"Well," Hermione said with a slight frown, "see the tournament doesn't happen often," Harry frowned as his hopes were dashed, "and that year didn't go as it was suppose to. See the Goblet of fire pick a champion for each of the three schools, but or friend Neville also was picked. It was an elaborate trick to being back the Dark Lord." The last words were said in a mere whisper.
Furrowing his brow Harry stared at the brunette. "How would a tournament bring him back?"
Ron and Hermione exchanged a meaningful look before turning back to him. "They used the tournament mate to kidnap Neville. Almost killed Neville but then one of those freak storm things happened. Neville said that lightning started shooting down all around him keeping him safe, but…"
Watching as the red-head ran a hand through his shaggy locks, Harry thought about what had been said. It sounded far to close to one of his dreams that had resulted in a magic surge.
"Sorry mate, it just that it was not …it was hard for us. Neville is so…well he is really nice and he is shy and to have he-who-must-not-be-named do that to him, to cut him and…it's just hard."
Shaking his head that he understood he quietly watched as Hermione rested her head against Ron's shoulder.
It was in that moment that their solitude was interrupted.
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Several compartments from Harry, Ron and Hermione's a dark haired girl sat running her fingers through the soft white-blond hair of her friend who's head was currently resting in her lap as the rest of his long lean body stretched out across the bench. Pansy Parkinson was worried about her friend as she felt how strained his muscles were as he rested against her.
She looked up as the door slid open permitting the dark skinned Blaise Zabini. The sixth year Slytherin was looking none to pleased as he forced the lumbering bodies of Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle to scoot over so he could sit down. A look of disgust crossed his handsome face as he watched his seat mates shove enormous amounts of sweets in their mouths.
"Where have you been," Draco's voice drawled through the compartment as he watched Blaise through heavily lidded eyes. "Chasing the red-head?"
"Blaise," Pansy snapped staring at the boy across from her, "You are not chasing after that blood-traiter are you?"
Blaise rolled his eyes at her before sneering, "Pansy you no better than that. I have far to much pride to stoop so low as to be interested in the likes of a Weasley."
"That's why you are always staring at her isn't it," was Draco's knowing response.
"Bloody hell Malfoy, you know I'm not about to chase a tainted skirt." Blaise huffed at them turning his nose up.
Pansy smirked looking coyly across the way. "Then where were you?" she inquired in a sickly sweet voice.
Rich brown eyes narrowed on her. "I happened to be checking out the rumors that one Harry Potter was aboard the train."
It was Pansy's turn to roll her eyes. "Please Blaise we all know that the brat died as a baby. The ministry just uses his name to keep people from knowing the truth." In her rant, Pansy had failed to notice that Draco had gone ridge.
"What did you find out," snapped the blond as he sat up, his eyes taking a dangerous glint to them.
Blaise watched him warily for a minute, but seeing that the anger was not directed towards him, he responded. "Well there is a boy fitting his description sharing the compartment with Weasel and Mud-blood. Even has the scar," he finished, tossing Pansy a superior look.
"Oh please you know it is just a hoax – "
"Pansy shut up." Draco barked giving her a dirty look as he snarled. "The Dark Lord himself said that Potter was alive and it's his fault that my father is in Azkaban."
Pansy's mouth hung open, though she was not sure if it was because Draco had referred to actually talking with the Dark Lord or the Potter was alive."
"How could Potter be responsible?" Blaise asked quickly holding his hands in front of him as Draco turned his angry eyes on him. "I mean how did he do it. I only know that the Ministry flooded."
Draco watched him for several seconds before answering. "The Dark Lord said Potter's magic signature was all over the flood of water that trapped my father and the rest. It's Potter's fault," he finished with a growl.
The ferocity in Draco's voice was enough to stop even Vincent and Greg from their snack binge, as they looked to their leader curiously. A charged silence filled the compartment till Draco surged to his feet striding the short distance towards the door. "Where are they? He demanded.
Blaise told him as he watched the blond stock from the room like a cat on the hunt. His gaze swept back across the compartment to Pansy watching the girl's worried face. He watched as her eyes went out of focus for a moment then snapped back to look at him horrified.
"Get everyone out of the hall!" she yelled at him as she ran for the door to yell at several third year Ravenclaw's to get back into their compartment. Blaise having witnessed Pansy's premonitions before, hurried to clear out the hall in the opposite direction.
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Draco Malfoy slammed the door to the compartment open his eyes searching out his prey as his pointed handsome face twisted in a gruesome mask of hatred. Eyes landing on the dark haired boy he stepped all the way into the compartment, his wand forced into the stunned boy's face.
"Potter," he snarled his eyes glaring daggers, "It's all your fault," he screeched. "They said it was your magic signature, it's your fault." The boy's voice grew stronger and more enraged with every word.
Harry's eyes grew wide as he realized the blond boy's verbal assault was directed towards him. He watched as the wand was lowered towards his face his own eyes narrowing as he realized the danger he was in. Immediately his magic activated as his trainers had taught him. Recognizing that not only was he and possibly those in the compartment with him, in danger from the screaming boy, but there were two more large boys right behind him, still standing in the hall.
His father had already explained to him that most wizards could not do magic with out a wand, and seeing as the blond was slightly shorter and more petite, Harry figured the best way to deal with him was to physically restrain him. He would have to use magic to deal with the other two boys, who were both cracking their knuckles readying to back up their friend.
Harry, never taking his eyes off the blond, noticed the sound of Ron starting to stand, drawing the blond boy's attention. With a single swift movement, Harry grabbed the boy's wand hand wrenching it so that he would not be able to perform any spells, as he spun the other boy around pinning him against the wall.
Seeing their friend and leader in trouble, the other two boys surge forward, but Harry released his magic focusing on forcing a strong wind through the corridor. The overwhelming gusts of wind picked the rotund boys up and flung them down the hall as if they were mere rag dolls. The sound of splintering wood was lost on Harry as he turned his attention to the boy he had pinned against the wall.
He maneuvered his body forcing the blond into a spread eagle position as he lowered his face next to the others ear. "I don't know why you chose to attack me, nor do I care at the moment. Just understand that if you attempt to bring harm to any around me I will make you pay for it." Then as deftly as he had trapped the boy, Harry thrust him into the hall, slamming their compartment door shut.
He turned back to the pair who were both looking at him wide eyed.
"Blimey Harry that was amazing," Ron whispered as Harry retook his seat.
"Amazing," Hermione cried, "He just attacked another student."
Ron's mouth dropped open for a moment before replying, "Malfoy attacked him first 'Mione. You didn't expect him to just sit there while the ferret hexed him did you."
"What about Crabbe and Goyle?" exclaimed the near hysterical girl. "What about them?"
"Hermione," Harry said softly, "I can guarantee you that they had just as much intention of hurting not only me but you and Ron as well."
Hermione turned a disbelieving face towards him, "and how can you tell that?" she demanded.
"Their aura's showed it," Harry said matter of fact.
Both goggled at him a minute before Ron sputtered out a startled "what?"
"I saw their auras, they were planning on causing as much damage as they could, too all three of us."
"You can see auras?" Hermione asked in astonishment.
Harry scratched the back of his neck as the last of the adrenaline drained off. "Well," he replied hesitantly, "I can't see them like my father does; I have to use my magic so it's different."
He heard Ron swallow audibly as Hermione started to flip through one of her books. Pulling at his lower lip he watched them wondering why his ability to see auras bothered them.
"Here it is," the girl said pushing her finger into the page. "Oh my," she looked up at Harry shocked before looking back at her book. "It says here that one must use the element of spirit to see auras."
"Merlin could do that," Ron said with a matter-of-fact look.
"Ron," chided Hermione, "That is just a myth. Honestly, you will believe anything."
At this Harry smiled. "Actually Hermione, the elves taught Merlin too. The Nightstars and the Sunchasers taught Merlin how to use several of the elements."
Harry spent most of the rest of the trip informing his new friends about the history of Merlin as he had been taught by the elves.
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"Thestrals," Harry smiled as he looked over the gleaming scales as several of the animals flexed there large black wings.
"What are you on about mate?" Ron said passing him headed towards one of the carriages.
"The thestrals pulling the carriage," Harry said looking at his new friend baffled.
"Harry," Hermione said cautiously, "There is nothing pulling the carriage. I think Dumbledore – " Before she could finish Harry dragged her over to one of the animals offering his hand for it to smell. It huffed in a few breaths before nuzzling his hand. He then took Hermione's hand and ran it along the scaled flank.
"Oh," Hermione yelped in surprise drawing her hand back staring at the place in front of her. "How? I can't…" She looked up at Harry for an explanation.
"What's the matter mud-blood, afraid of a little magic?" Draco Malfoy sauntered past them shooting Harry a deadly look before sneering at Hermione.
Harry smirked. "You can't see them either," he said in a knowing voice.
The blond wizard spun around to snarl at Harry. "There is nothing there Potter, even a child can see that." The interaction between the two wizards was quickly drawing the attention of the rest of the students, especially after the rumors of the incident on the train.
Harry's smirk turned into a wicked smile as his own green eyes locked on to those of grey. "So since you can't see them what does that make you, senile?" He watched as the blond's nostrils flared in anger, noticing the movement that indicated he was reaching for his wand.
Harry reached for the spirit element in each of the equestrian animals, spreading it like a blanket over those looking on. Shocked gasps and a few startled yelps were heard around them, but Draco Malfoy refused to take his eyes off the green pair standing so defiantly in front of him.
With several gentle sounds made in the back of his throat, Harry asked the thestral closest to Draco to nudge the boy. As the animal turned towards them it decided instead to nip at the arm that now held the wand. Draco turned his head to snap at who ever was pulling on his sleeve to see the large scaly head. With a yelp he jumped back tripping on his robes to land hard on his backside, causing all those around him to burst into laughter.
With a chuckle of his own, Harry vaulted into one of the carriages waiting for Hermione and Ron to join him. The brunette had a broad smile on her face and Ron was still roaring with laughter when they reached the castle.
"Come on Harry," Hermione called as they reached the entrance. "Professor McGonagall wants to meet with you before you are sorted."
Harry followed the bushy hair down a side hall and into a classroom where a very stern looking witch stood waiting for them. "Mr. Potter," said the witch who despite being shorter than Harry still managed to give the impression of looking down on him. "Welcome to Hogwarts. It is rather unusual to have a student start as late as you have, so we will wait until all the other students are sorted before I will call your name." With that she lead him down another passage into a large room with four long tables, already filled with students. The professor indicated that was to remain as she disappeared behind another door across the hall.
Within moments she returned leading two lines of very frightened young students. She stopped them abruptly in front of the head table where all the teachers were seated looking down on them. Professor McGonagall then came forward with a stool and a battered hat which she place for all to see.
Harry watched in fascination as his magic could see the hat pulsing with life. Suddenly the hat began to sing a song about unity. While Harry was lost to many of the references he understood the theme and wondered at the article of clothing's insistence to unite. Once it was finished McGonagall stepped forward calling each child up placing the hat on their head. It did not take long for Harry to make the connection between the name called out and the table the children went too afterwards. As the last of the first years promptly took off towards the Hufflepuff table a tall slender man with long silver-grey hair and beard stood holding up his hands for silence.
"It is always an honor to have new students join us and this year we have the privilege of having a new student joining the ranks of our sixth years." With that the old man gestured to the stern witch.
"Potter, Harry."
There was an immediate clamber as student tried to get a better look at the tall dark haired wizard boy who made his way to the stool. Sitting down he waited for the hat to descend, anticipation dancing through him.
'Well, well, well. It's about time Mr. Potter,' said a voice into his mind.
'Hello hat,' he thought back mentally smiling.
'Cheeky aren't you,' was the amused reply. 'So where shall we put you Mr. Potter?'
'Isn't that your job to decide,' replied the wizard in amusement.
'As I said cheeky, but you have a good heart to you, a good mind, brave and cunning. Mr. Potter I think you truly are what this school needs.'
Harry furrowed his brows, 'what do you mean by that?'
'Look at the four tables in front of you and what do you see?'
'Students?' Harry inquired.
'Look with your magic.' The request startled Harry and he opened up to his magic not realizing that the hat was aware of his magic. The hat chuckled at Harry's intake of breath. 'Yes, division. This school has become segregated with no one to lead them to unity. You Harry could go into any of the houses and find a good home.'
'But how would that help all of them?' Harry asked.
Again their was a knowledgeable chuckle from the hat. 'You will need to bring down the walls that have been built between the houses. Every other student here has become defined by their house, but you have been raised away from this, you have learned the benefits of unity, and…you can see their spirit.' Harry gave a small gasp at the hat's knowledge of his ability. 'If you are up to the challenge?'
The hat waited as Harry contemplated what was being asked of him. 'I am not sure I know how to do such a thing, but I am willing. At least I won't be bored,' was the humor filled reply.
'Very well then, I think the best place to put you then is Gryffindor. While they are brave and courageous, they have built up a prejudice against the Slytherin that is immense. If you can bring peace between those two houses, the others will follow easily. This will not be an easy task Harry.'
Harry considered the hat's warning and smiled. 'It seems of recent not much is. Let's do it,' he told the hat with a smile.
The feeling a laughter flowed over him before the hat made it's pronouncement.
"Gryffindor!"
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Hello again everyone. We hope you like this chapter (especially since Torring made me re-write it three times). We appreciate any reviews so please feel free to leave them, besides I use it as incentive to get Torring to write more .
If you catch any errors, they are mine. Let me know so I can correct them (Figured out how to do that after I post). – SorringMay